Manila Standard - 2023 July 19 - Wednesday

PRESIDENT HOPES TO END 4PS SOON, REACH ZERO-HUNGER TARGET BY ‘28

COMMITTED to achieving zero hunger for Filipinos by 2028, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday led the kick-off activity of the Food Stamp Program (FSP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Tondo, Manila.

Apart from vowing to improve the quality of life of the Filipino people living in poverty, Mr. Marcos also said he hopes the country would one day end the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the government’s conditional cash transfer program.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian also clarified the pilot testing of the program will last until March 2024. The pilot is funded with $3 million (approximately P163 million) in grants

PBBM signs MIF bill into law

By Charles Dantes, Maricel V. Cruz, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Julito G. Rada

PRESIDENT Ferdinand

Marcos Jr. signed the Maharlika Investment Fund Law Tuesday, calling it a bold step towards the country’s “meaningful economic transformation.”

He signed the law days before his second State of the Nation Address, and about two weeks after Congress had sent the bill, which he certified as urgent, to the Palace for his signature.

Under the law, the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) is an independent fund that seeks to generate government revenue through investments in real and financial assets.

MIF will generate its capital fund through government financial institutions and the national government.

The President said that the money generated through MIF can be used for the

MMDA, groups set to negate SONA strikes

By Joel E. Zurbano and Rio N. Araja

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the government has a contingency plan to deal with a three-day transport strike that is planned to coincide with the President’s second State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA).

More than 10 of the biggest transport groups in Metro Manila and other parts of the country also decided Tuesday not to join the three-day strike planned by the Manibela group’s 200,000 members from July 24 to 26 to coincide with the SONA.

ICC nixes PH appeal, to resume drug war probe; Bato says ‘deadma’

By Charles Dantes, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel Cruz

THE International Criminal Court Appeals Chamber on Tuesday ruled to resume the investigation into the bloody war on drugs during the administration

of former President Rodrigo Duterte. ICC Presiding Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, during an open court hearing in The Netherlands, denied the appeal of the Philippine government against the resumption of the probe.

“It is rejected by the appeals chamber by the majority and the impugned de -

cision is therefore confirmed,” De Brichambaut said.

Three out of five ICC judges rejected the appeal.

Kristina Conti, a lawyer for some of the families of drug war victims, said she hoped the ICC ruling “will be a turn in the tide against impunity in the Philippines.”

Marcos ‘sure’ Duterte to brief gov’t on Xi meeting

By Charles Dantes and Rey Requejo

FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte doesn’t need permission to meet with China’s President Xi Jinping, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Tuesday, adding that he is sure his predecessor will share details of the meeting with the

current administration.

This developed as a former US defense official said China is trying to entice the Philippines and its neighboring countries into forming a “Chinese kind of hegemonic order” in the wake of the Duterte-Xi meeting in Beijing on Monday.

Elbridge Colby, former US defense assistant secretary for strategy and force development, failed to specify what Xi and Duterte discussed at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on Monday, but he described it as “misleading at best.”

In a post, Chinese Foreign Affairs

“Victims of Duterte’s ‘war on drugs’ are, as always, praying for genuine justice that has not been available for the poor, downtrodden, and powerless in the Philippines,” Conti said on Twitter. Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who headed the Philippine National Police during

‘China tack on US role in WPS an insult to PH’

By Rey E. Requejo

A US official on Tuesday said China’s claim that America is the “mastermind” behind the increasing number of countries recognizing the Philippines’ sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea is an “insult” to Manila. US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet said that it was China’s activities that have been inconsistent with the United Nations Convention

Survey: 8 of 10 want April-May summer break

EIGHT out of 10 Filipinos want a return to the summer break of students in the months of April and May, a Pulse Asia survey showed.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, commissioned the survey. The survey conducted from June 1923, 2023, asked respondents whether they agree or disagree with bringing back the students’ April and May summer break.

In this photo shared by Chinese spokesman Hua Chunying on Twitter,

Jinping (right) meets with former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Xi said he appreciates the “strategic choice” Duterte made

relations with

during his presidency.

LPA to become storm ‘Egay’ today

By Rio N. Araja

THE low pressure area (LPA) that the weather bureau has been monitoring will possibly develop into a tropical cyclone to be called “Egay” within 24 hours, the state weather bureau said Tuesday.

“Currently, it has no direct effect, but the LPA’s trough will bring scattered rain showers to Caraga and Davao Region,” Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Grace Castañeda said.

She added that the LPA, last tracked

Duterte’s term, said he was unfazed by the decision and stood his ground that he will not participate in the probe.

“Why would we cooperate? They have no jurisdiction over us. Let them do what they want. We are just here,” he said.

“Deadma, deadma,” Dela Rosa added, saying the Filipino slang word for ignoring issues.

He also questioned who will arrest the respondents in the case the ICC issues a warrant against them.

“Will the government import policemen from another country? That’s s big chaos,” he said.

In March, Duterte cursed the ICC for seeking to investigate his bloody war on drugs and was unapologetic for the thousands of deaths it caused.

Duterte called the ICC “sons of whores” and said he fought the drug war the same way he fought criminality in his hometown when he was a mayor.

He said he was ready to face the consequences and even “rot in prison” for his actions

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra earlier said the Philippines can no longer file an appeal with this decision.

Guevarra said the ICC could also indict certain individuals over killings in the drug war if there is sufficient evidence.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, however, said the country will not comply if the ICC issues an arrest warrant against individuals over killings in the drug war.

Under the drug war, at least 6,200 suspects were killed in police operations based on government records. Human rights groups, however, claimed the actual death toll could be from 12,000 to 30,000.

Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Bryony Lau said the ICC decision “marks the next step toward justice for victims of ‘drug war’ killings and their families.”

“The Marcos administration should back up its stated commitment to human rights and the fight against impunity by following through on its international legal obligation to cooperate with the court’s investigation,” Lau said.

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro commended the ICC.

810 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao, may head toward Northern Luzon area in the next few days. Castañeda, however, clarified that the forecast track may still change.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon or habagat will cause scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Zam-

bales and Bataan. PAGASA said flash floods or landslides are possible due to moderate to at times heavy rains.

The rest of the country will experience isolated rain showers caused by localized thunderstorms. Severe thunderstorms may also result in flash floods or landslides.

Rough to very rough seas are forecast over the western seaboards of Luzon. Fishing boats and other small sea vessels are advised not to venture into the sea, and larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) meanwhile said that one per-

son has reportedly died due to the onslaught of Tropical Storm Dodong last week, OCD Spokesperson Edgar Posadas said the agency is still verifying the report.

The official added that 47,220 individuals or 13,329 families were affected by the combined impact of the storm and the southwest monsoon rains in the Ilocos, Central Luzon, and Western Visayas regions, and in Calabarzon and Mimaropa.

A total of 1,788 families, meanwhile, were still inside evacuation centers in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and some in Western Visayas.

Solons, gov’t execs not exempt from footwear checks

By Joel E. Zurbano

LAWMAKERS and other government officials are not exempted from the footwear removal policy for security checks at airports.

The Office for Transportation Security (OTS), the agency enforcing the policy, clarified this Tuesday.

The footwear removal is being done at the final screening of passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport

(NAIA) and other airports nationwide. Also not exempted from the policy are officials of the Manila International Airport Authority, members of the Philippine National Police, Airport Police Departments, and military servicemen.

OTS spokesperson Kim Marquez cited the National Civil Aviation Security Program, which states that “only the President, Vice President, Heads of States and persons as requested by the Department of Foreign Affairs shall be

the beneficiaries.

The DSWD said it is in talks with the country’s economic managers for the program’s funding allocation, which has an initial allotment of P2.1 billion.

from the Asian Development Bank and the World Food Program.

Gatchalian pointed out that the program is not a dole-out but a development program that aims to invest in human capital.

Aside from digital stamps with P3,000 worth of food credits, the FSP will also provide nutrition development classes and training programs to reskill

The government’s “Walang Gutom (No Hunger) 2027” program requires an annual budget of P40 billion to provide the targeted beneficiaries with P3,000 worth of food stamps per month.

In his speech during the program, President Marcos said poverty alleviation is the ultimate goal of the administration by the end of 2028, and to ensure

NCR, W. Visayas top Civil Service Pen-Paper tests

THE Civil Service Commission (CSC) has released the list of topnotchers in the Career Service Examination - Pen and Paper Test (CSE-PPT) conducted in March.

on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the arbitral ruling that invalidated its massive nine-dash-line claim in the South China Sea.

In particular, Chollet cited China’s unilateral fishing moratorium in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“Any statement that somehow the US was putting a partner like the Philippines up to this is preposterous. I think it’s an insult to the Philippines,” said Chollet who is in Manila for a visit.

In a statement last week, China accused the US of mobilizing countries to gang up on Beijing to pressure it into accepting the arbitral ruling.

“As the mastermind behind the South China Sea arbitration, the US ropes in allies to play up the issue each year on the anniversary of the illegal award to gang up against China and to exert pressure, and force China into accepting the award,” the Chinese embassy said in a statement.

“We are firmly against this,” it added.

China’s remark came after a growing number of countries openly expressed support for the Philippines in the maritime row— a development welcomed by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo.

development of agriculture, infrastructure, and digitalization in the country.

“We now have an available fund that will provide us the seed money for investments and to attract other foreign investments and for us to be able to participate in those operations, in those investments without additional borrowings,” he added.

Following the signing of RA 11954, Mr. Marcos said his administration would “go out to the world and do the changes that are necessary for the Philippines to become an investmentfriendly nation.”

The Chief Executive said there are 194 priority projects approved by the National Economic and Development Authority that will benefit from the MIF.

The President also brushed off the possibility of corruption in using the sovereign wealth fund.

“Where do you think we will put

it [fund]? Are we going to buy fancy cars? Are we buying big yachts? It makes me laugh because that is so far from the truth,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

He assured the public that the MIF will be managed by a highly competent person with a good track record and outstanding integrity.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance in this massive and purposeful undertaking. I assure you that the resources entrusted to the fund are taken care of with utmost prudence and integrity,” the President said.

The MIF bill was authored by House Speaker Martin Romualdez and other congressmen including TIngog Partylist Rep. Yedda Romualdez and Senior Deputy Majority Leader Rep.Sandro Marcos, the President’s son.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said that he asked Mr. Marcos to add MIF’s priority programs in his second SONA next week.

“I asked the President earlier, Mr.

exempted from screening.”

She said the measure “was an old policy,” which was implemented to prevent a similar incident that happened involving an American Airlines flight from Paris in 2001 when a man tried to detonate a bomb hidden in his shoes.

But Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon questioned the policy.

“What’s the compelling reason? Is there data of footwear risk? Is there intel on threats? Is there an order from

that everyone enjoys a good, healthy, and productive life.

“We have always tried to rise up from the throes of poverty but the problem of hunger and malnutrition still remains. And that’s why it has become a priority of this government that we will fight all the poverty,” the President said.

“We will put in all the programs so that one day we can say that we are able to give our people, at the very least, the food that they need to survive, the nutrition that they need to survive,” Mr. Marcos said. Charles Dantes

FOOD STAMP HANDOUT.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gives the ‘Walang Gutom’ food stamp card to one of the 50 initial beneficiaries from Tondo, Manila on Tuesday, with DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio (from left) witnessing. A banner also shows the recipients what food they can get for their P3,000 in monthly credits (left photo).

PCO Photos

President I think it is good to share the priority projects under MIF in your SONA, For example, the flagship projects that you can share publicly to let people see that the country will benefit from the fund and that we would not need to borrow from others to develop the country,” he said.

Zubiri cited the Cavite-Bataan Toll Bridge as a flagship project that the President could share in his SONA.

He said the toll bridge would cut travel time from Bulacan to Bataan from three to four hours through the North Luzon Expressway to just 45 minutes passing through Cavitex. He said this would make it easier to deliver goods from the export processing zones to the ports of Manila.

“So I think that is a big game changer, that’s one example that I can think of, and [there are]] many others to come. But we’ll let the President announce [those],” he said.

Zubiri said he was confident the law could overcome any legal challenges, saying it is constitutionally sound.

With a rating of 92.63, Glenn C. Gonzales from the National Capital Region (NCR) topped the Professional level, while LM Tricia T. De La Cruz from Western Visayas topped the Subprofessional level with a 90.24 rating. Completing the list of top passers for the Professional level are Elijah Denelle E. Manuel (NCR), with a rating of 91.74; Gerardo A. Golong (NCR) with 91.39; Duane Jasper S. Tenorio (Southern Tagalog) with 91.12; Samantha Lorraine S. Jose (Cordillera Administration Region) with 91.10; Bennyvic Joyce J. Esguerra (Cagayan Valley) with 91.07; Julian Carlos A. Aliston (NCR) with 90.98; Kaye Berenice G. Barriga (Central Visayas) with 90.98; Theo Victor A. Cavite (Eastern Visayas) with 90.78; and Fatimah Lane P. Fungo (NCR) with 90.69.

Meanwhile, for the Subprofessional level, Dela Cruz is followed by Gwen L. Ambrona (Davao Region) with a rating of 90.17; Nelson T. Lim (NCR) with 90.14; Joelle Dianne F. Venegas (NCR) with 90.04; Louise Marie B. Pardilla (NCR) with 89.88; Krystelle Joy T. Zipagan-Soriano (Cagayan Valley) with 89.86; Jude Dominic Y. Erestain (NCR) with 89.70; Azlemere Kate V. Olegario (CAR) with 89.60; Reniel C. Cuña (NCR) with 89.55; Joyce Ann N. Tagunicar (NCR) with 89.40; and Dominic C. Arandela (Southern Tagalog) with 89.40. CSC Chairperson Karlo Nograles congratulated the career service passers. According to the CSC Examination, Recruitment, and Placement Office (ERPO), NCR achieved the highest passing rate in terms of regional performance.

Marcos...

Assistant Minister Hua Chunying said that Xi “appreciates the strategic choice Mr. Duterte made to improve relations with China during his presidency.”

At the sidelines of the pilot launch of the “Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program” in Tondo, Manila, Mr. Marcos said he was hoping for “progress” in the meeting of China’s leader and the Philippines’ 16th President.

Asked if Duterte requested his blessing for the trip, the President said no, adding there is no need to ask for permission “because the two (Duterte and Xi) are friends.”

“All of these things that we are seeing now, I hope that there’s progress during their talk. Because that’s what we want, a continuous line of communication with them,” the President told reporters.

The Chief Executive said he is open to any new lines of communication with the Communist giant, and if his predecessor will serve as the bridge between the Philippines and China, it’s okay with him.

“For me, it’s not important who or what it is, as long as we have someone we can communicate maybe they could help... I am sure (Duterte) will be able to tell us what happened during their conversation and see how that affects us,” said the President.

Former President Duterte meet with Xi on July 17 in Beijing, sparking curiosity owing to Mr. Marcos’ administration leaning toward a stronger alliance with the United States, China’s biggest rival.

Gatchalian said 80 percent of respondents nationwide like to bring back the student’s break during the summer months while 11 percent could not say if they agree or disagree, and only 8 percent said they disagree.

Overwhelming majorities of respondents in the National Capital Region (NCR) (81 percent), Luzon (73 percent), Visayas (90 percent), and Mindanao (86 percent) agree with the proposal to bring back summer breaks.

Across socioeconomic groups, agreement to bring back summer breaks to April and May is consistently strong among classes ABC (83 percent), D (81

ed due to the closure of some roads in Quezon City.

percent), and E (75 percent).

The senator seeks a re-evaluation to see if the school year should be conducted during the summer or revert to the old school calendar.

He filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 672 seeking a Senate inquiry to re-evaluate the critical factors in determining the school opening. Macon Ramos-Araneta

sure that the commuting public will not be inconvenienced by the transport strike.

Colby, in an interview with local channel ANC, said: “I think the proof has been in the pudding over the last decade or so, both in the continued aggressiveness of Chinese military and brazen activities but also in the relatively disappointing results of Chinese economic investments.”

“If the Philippines is alone with China, which is going to have a navy that is 1.5 times the size of the US Navy by the end of this decade, no one will be able to help the Philippines if the Chinese continue to try to push Manila around, which is already the behavior we see,” he added.

Meanwhile, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte announced the suspension of classes in all levels for private and public schools on July 24 in view of the SONA.

While some schools are on vacation already, summer classes may be affect-

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert Guevarra, MMDA acting Chairman Don Artes, and MMDA General Manager Undersecretary Procopio Lipana presided over a meeting yesterday with various government agencies and Metro Manila traffic bureau heads. The officials discussed measures to en-

The plan includes dispatching rescue vehicles to ferry passengers that might be affected and monitoring the weather condition on the day of the President’s SONA.

“We request the LGUs (local government units) to cooperate with the single dispatching system of the rescue assets

at the MMDA Command Center on the day itself. During the last transport strike, we were able to monitor through the CCTV cameras the convergence of rallyists, and can easily call the PNP (Philippine National Police) to maintain peace and order,” said Guevarra.

Artes said the team is prepared because of lessons learned from the previous transport strike in March.

Firemen ‘symbol of safety’ in communities

By Maricel V. Cruz

SPEAKER Ferdinand

Martin

G. Romualdez

cited the importance of fire trucks in communities and the critical role firemen play, as he commended their life-saving mission not just to put out fires, but also to prevent them.

“Their presence within our communities provides reassurance and peace of mind, knowing that in times of distress, there are brave souls ready to respond with unwavering determination,” Romualdez said.

“Let us remember that the flame of hope is kept alive by the bravery and selflessness of our firefighters and first responders,” the Speaker said on the occasion of the turnover of five units of 1,000-gallon fire trucks to the Bureau of Fire Protection in Quezon City.

Romualdez was the guest of honor and speaker at the turnover ceremony held at the bureau’s headquarters on Monday.

“This occasion serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our communities, as well as a celebration of the invaluable role our firefighters play as pillars of nationbuilding,” he said.

The Speaker pointed out that fire trucks are “not mere vehicles” because they “represent our collective dedication to equipping our local governments and their respective firefighters with the necessary resources to carry out their crucial duties.”

Similarly, “firefighters are more than individuals in uniforms.” “They serve as beacons of hope, guardians of life, and protectors of property,” Romualdez - the leader of the House of Representativesstressed.

“Let us work hand in hand to strengthen our emergency response systems, promote fire safety education, and enhance collaboration -between local government units and the Bureau of Fire Protection,” he said.

SBMA chief vows to end smuggling at Subic freeport

By Butch Gunio

BAY

SUBIC

FREEPORT – Subic Bay

Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chair-

man and Administrator Jonathan D. Tan vowed to stop smuggling during his term. Tan and Bureau of Customs (BOC) District Collector Atty. Carmelita Talusan earlier conducted an inspection of seized counterfeit goods worth P240 million in a warehouse in Subic Bay

Freeport on Tuesday. According to Tan, he was mandated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to look into the smuggling of goods inside the freeport.

Tan said the successful seizure of the shipment of counterfeit goods is thru the collaboration between his agency and the BOC Port of Subic.

“The cooperation between the SBMA and BOC Port of Subic will definitely

No foul play in OFW death in HK—DFA

By Rey E. Requejo

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday dismissed speculations that there could be foul play concerning the death of a Filipina whose remains were found floating in the water near Tsing Yi pier in Hong Kong.

DFA Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes said there is no evidence of foul play so far concerning the Filipino woman found dead around 6 am last July 13.

“According to the initial investigation [of Hong Kong authorities], there is no foul play being looked at. But of course, we have to wait for the official report on the cause of death,” Cortes said. “We have to wait for the official report on the cause of death. But for now, no foul play, and there is no person of interest,” the DFA official said.

yield positive results following the mandate that the President has given me. By working together, our agencies will certainly provide a more secure Subic Bay Freeport Zone that is free from smuggling,” Tan said.

The two officials inspected the shipments of counterfeit goods at a warehouse in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Tuesday wherein 1,269 cartons of misdeclared t-shirts were found.

Cortes said the family and the employer of the Filipino woman found dead were already informed, and that the Philippine government, Hong Kong authorities, and the Hong Kong employer will be providing assistance.

Cortes said the Hong Kong authorities would need to release the certificate of the cause of death before arrangements can be made for the repatriation of the OFW’s remains.

Villafuerte to LGUs: Set up ‘green lanes’ for business permits

CAMARINES Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte has called on local government executives to put up their own “green lanes” to streamline and expedite the processing of business permits in their respective localities.

Villafuerte, president of the National Unity Party, made the statement as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took another step to level up the ease of doing business (EODB) nationwide— and eventually turn the Philippines into a premier investment hub in the

region.

Villafuerte, a former governor and incumbent congressman representing Camarines Sur’s second district, made this appeal to local executives as he lauded the President’s kickoff last week of a project estab -

lishing business-friendlier “green lanes for strategic investments” in national government (NG) offices and LGUs to simplify and speed up the processing of strategic investment inflows across the country. Maricel V. Cruz

SEND OFF. Officials of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) headed by Secretary Suharto Mangudadatu (first row, ninth from right) lead the send-off ceremonies for 23 Filipino tech-voc graduates who are set to compete in the upcoming 2023 13th WorldSkills ASEAN competition at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Center in Singapore from July 18 to July 28. Joseph Muego

EXACTLY five days from now, on Monday, July 24, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will deliver his second State-of-the Nation Address or SONA before a joint session of Congress.

The customary report to the nation will be different from the 2022 SONA that basically outlined what he wanted to do in the coming year.

The 2023 SONA will allow the public a glimpse into what the administration has achieved one year later—and perhaps what else he wants done until his term of office ends in 2028.

We recall that in the previous year’s SONA the President directed the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) to draft a national development plan for 2023 to 2028.

The agency did just that and submitted the full blueprint not long after. This is what guides the entire government right now.

Since the first SONA, the Marcos administration has undertaken reforms in fiscal management and tax administration to increase revenue collection.

The country’s tax system is also being adjusted to align it with the requirements of a digital economy.

Recognizing that infrastructure is the backbone of the economy, the President vowed to continue and expand the infrastructure program of the previous administration: “We shall confidently build on this firm foundation established by my predecessor…We must keep the momentum, and aspire to build better more.” Since then, infrastructure development has become a high priority of his administration via the public-private partnership (PPP) program which holds great potential for expansion and innovation.

As part of its infrastructure push, the administration has embarked on modernizing the country’s railway system since this is cheapest way to transport goods and passengers.

Among the railway projects the government has committed to finish are the 147-kilometer NorthSouth Commuter Railway System; 33-kilometer Metro Manila Subway Project; and railway projects in Panay, Cebu and Mindanao.

Corollary to this, the President also promised to improve road and transportation systems throughout the country: “My order to the Department of Transportation or DOTr is really very simple: Full speed ahead.”

To give agriculture the priority it deserves, Marcos opted to head the Department of Agriculture for the time being so that it can come up with lasting solutions to rising prices and inadequate food supply. Today, the agency has been extending financial and technical assistance to farmers to increase production.

The government is also providing subsidies to farmers amid the soaring prices of fertilizers and pesticides, apart from establishing a national network of farm-to-market roads to help improve the delivery of goods to markets.

The President asked Congress to pass a law that will condone the loans of agrarian reform beneficiaries.

This law, signed recently, amends Section 26 of Republic Act 6657 and condones the loans of agrarian reform beneficiaries with unpaid amortization.

The administration has been working towards cheaper and reliable energy by expanding the present power supply and building new power plants.

“Our search for new power sources should always be with an eye to improving the mix of the energy supply between traditional and renewable

By Paula Ramon

AUSTIN, Texas – Amanda Zurawski, a resident of Texas, almost died waiting for an abortion she desperately didn’t want.

Weeks after the US Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion last summer, her doctors in the conservative southern state said they could not legally carry out the procedure she needed.

So Zurawski had to wait until the baby she had so dearly wanted made her sick enough for them to act—a delay she says might have cost her the chance of ever having children.

“I nearly died on their watch,” she says of Republican politicians who have increasingly pushed a hardline anti-abortion stance in the United States.

Zurawski, 36, has now dedicated her life to fighting what she sees as a regressive movement to strip women of healthcare rights—while she and her husband try for another baby.

“They say that they’re doing this because it’s pro-life, but I don’t understand what’s pro-life about this.

“Why did I have to almost die? Why are my

Lunar landing legacy

sources,” the President said.

The administration is also exploring the possibility of building small-scale nuclear power plants that comply with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regulations.

The administration is now ramping up digitalization to help improve government services. The Department of Information and Communication (DICT) has begun to expand digital connectivity across various islands in the country and started implementation of the National Broadband Plan. The National Identification System (ID) will play a big part in digital transformation.

The Marcos administration has acknowledged the “abundance of opportunities” that the tourism sector creates.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many global banks were predicting that the Philippines would become a big economy by 2050 and beyond

Hence, the Tourism and Public Works departments are jointly working to boost the tourism industry by improving roads and tourism spots and upgrade airports and seaports to make travel around the Philippines more convenient to tourists both foreign and local.

What the government has achieved since the 2022 SONA is to reopen the economy after three years of stagnation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The overarching goal is to make the country achieve middle-income status by 2028.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many global banks were predicting that the Philippines would become a big economy by 2050 and beyond.

With the country returning to an average annual growth rate of at least 6 percent, the government wants to further open up the economy through structural reforms and policies that would attract investments both from domestic and foreign sources, cut red tape and facilitate the ease of doing business.

The President is likely to announce on Monday that he has already signed the Maharlika Investment Fund as a key component of the government’s Medium-Term Fiscal Framework, 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda and Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, all of which are designed to bring about the country’s economic transformation.

Improving the country’s economic situation remains a priority of his administration, the President himself has said time and again.

But this is not a time for complacency, he pointed out. “Whatever it is that we have managed to do, there is still a great deal more to do…It is very clear that the most successful economies are those that are agile and resilient. And we have to put the basic elements in place to do that.”

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

future babies’ lives at risk?”

Fracture

THIS week, the world will celebrate once more that “one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind” that echoed back to earth on July 20, 1969 (July 21, 1969 Manila time) after four days, six hours and 45 minutes travel from Earth.

The Apollo 11 mission crewed by three astronauts – commander Neil Armstrong, lunar module pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and command module pilot Michael Collins – holds the record for the highest velocity reached by a crewed spacecraft at 24,791 miles or 39,897.247 kms per hour.

Armstrong was quoted as referring to the achievement as he made the first steps, written into history books for generations, as “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

But he insisted he actually said “one small step for a man,” and annotated the American Philosophical Society’s copy of the transcript accordingly.

Armstrong became the first person to step on the Moon’s near-black, powdery surface as an estimated 600 million people, including some from the Philippines, back on Earth watched the historic moment live on television.

This 2023 marks the 54th anniversary of the Apollo landing, which fulfilled President John F. Kennedy’s ambitious goal, set in 1961, to land a crewed spacecraft on the Moon and return to Earth.

Researchers think that soon after the formation of the solar system, Earth was struck by a Mars-sized object, intimately mixing the two bodies

Apollo 11 achieved this feat in just over eight days, traveling a total 953,054 miles or 1,533,791.74 kms.

The journey—and live audio and video transmission, courtesy of a custom low-light camera from Westinghouse Electric’s Aerospace Division—was an astounding technological achievement.

But the scientific results and specimens from Armstrong and Aldrin’s 21-hour-and-36-minute stay on the Moon produced invaluable data and fueled research long after the mission was over.

Many have said that while the mission was completed 50 years ago, it is still bearing fruit and has given man “a far better understanding of the origins of the solar system.”

Space analysts have said the observations and material collected by the Apollo 11 crew led to exciting discoveries: analysis of the chemical composition of lunar rocks helped strengthen the theory that the Moon was actually a chip off the young Earth.

Researchers think that soon after the formation of the solar system, Earth was struck by a Mars-sized object, intimately mixing the two bodies.

Some of the resulting vapor and rock later congealed into the single satellite that is our Moon today.

Analysts say this origin story would explain why the Moon doesn’t have a large iron core and is mostly composed of materials found in Earth’s crust, and why the ratios of many isotopes on the Moon’s surface are identical to those found in rocks on Earth.

One of the instruments left on the Moon’s surface—the Laser Ranging Retroreflector—allowed scientists to collect data for decades after Apollo 11’s return to Earth.

Findings include that the Moon is moving farther away from Earth and that the universal force of gravity is stable.

Speaker Romualdez: Hardworking leader

ONE apt description for Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the Philippines is that he is truly hardworking.

In turn, an appropriate description of the House under his leadership is industrious. These descriptions are supported by the facts and the statistics.

When Romualdez assumed the leadership of the 19th Congress in July last year, he promised to fast track badly needed legislation to get the country on the road to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Using his natural leadership, good nature and in-born initiative, Romualdez was able to cobble together an overwhelming majority in the House, which agreed with him that the task at hand -- national economic recovery -- was of utmost importance and priority. Even the few members of the minority, although officially towing the line of the political opposition, quietly acquiesced in the Romualdez plan, fully aware the future of the country and the people are at stake, and the pertinent legislation should not be delayed.

As Romualdez succinctly puts it, “the pandemic had derailed the nation’s economic development, and so it is of prime importance that we get back on the road and fast track badly needed laws which will put the nation back on that road.”

With Romualdez at the helm of the House for just a year, the lower chamber of Congress processed a total 9,600 legislative measures. These measures include almost 8,500 bills and more than a thousand resolutions. 577 bills were approved by the House on third reading.

All in all, an average of 30 legislative measures were processed by the House during each day it was in session.

Among the laws passed by the House during its first year are the Maharlika Investment Fund, the Magna Carta for Seafarers, the E-Governance Act, the Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act, the Philippine Passport Act, the Waste to Energy Bill, the Free Legal Assistance to Police and Soldiers Act, the Apprenticeship Act, and the E-Commerce Law.

Other bills approved under Romualdez’ stewardship include proposed laws creating the Negros Island Region, the Virology Institute of the Philippines, the Medical Reserve Corps, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Likewise passed by the House on third reading include the Magna Carta for Health Workers, the Build-Operate-Transfer Law, the law on valuation reform, the law granting financial incentives to distressed enterprises, the law governing national citizens service training, and the law on the rightsizing of the national government.

Included in the list of legislative accomplishments are approved bills concerning the modernization of the Bureau of Immigration, and the development of the Philippine salt industry.

We know that the House is in good hands with Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez at its helm

The Speaker is also pleased to reveal both chambers of Congress have ratified the bicameral conference committee report regarding the putting up of specialty centers in certain hospitals, which shall be under the Department of Health headed by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.

These congressional achievements were made possible by the cooperation and industry given by members of the House who realized that through the foregoing legislative measures, Congress can help President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. get the nation back on the path to economic recovery.

Romualdez expressed his thanks and appreciation for the cooperation given and industry shown by his colleagues in the House.

“Their cooperation and industry helped a lot in the unimpeded task of vital legislation,” the speaker said.

With half of 2023 over, Romualdez believes the House will need to begin its work on the national budget for 2024, which is officially called the General Appropriations Act. Under the Constitution, public funds may only be spent by the government pursuant to an appropriation made by Congress. Malacañang has proposed a national budget of a little less than P5.8-trillion for 2024, about 10 percent more than the budget for this year.

It is anticipated that Malacañang will submit its budget proposal to Congress after the State of the Nation address to be delivered by President Marcos this coming July 24. In the past several years, the House approves its version of the proposed General Appropriations Act by October.

After the Senate passes its own version of the proposed national budget, both Houses of Congress ratify a unified budget. Thereafter, it is submitted to the President in December. The bill submitted to Malacañang becomes a law once the President signs it. However, under the Constitution, the President may veto or disapprove specific provisions of the General Appropriations Act. This is called the president’s line veto. Undoubtedly, the task of national legislation is not easy.

With Romualdez leading the House, that task becomes less daunting, thanks to the leadership by example he always demonstrates when the House exercises its legislative power. We know that the House is in good hands with Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez at its helm.

Texas abortion case reveals new US reality

Abortion is one of the most significant fracture lines running through the United States.

The issue appeared to be legally settled in 1973 by the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Roe v Wade, while a steady majority of Americans had told opinion pollsters they supported a woman’s right to make such a decision.

But on the conservative and religious right it continued to bubble, with their eyes always set on eventually overturning Roe v Wade.

Last year, the conservative-dominated Supreme Court finally gave them their wish, striking down the half-century-old ruling and sparking a flurry of state-level restrictions and bans.

In Texas, that means doctors are barred from carrying out an abortion—unless the mother’s life is in danger.

Horrific wait

Zurawski and her husband Josh disapproved of the legal changes in Texas, but didn’t think it would affect them personally—they desperately wanted to start a family.

After 18 months of fertility treatment, the couple were excited when Amanda became pregnant.

“My husband and I always knew we wanted

children,” she told AFP from her home in Austin, the Texas capital. “Our baby was very, very much wanted.” But in August last year as she was planning her baby shower, Zurawski noticed something was wrong. At the hospital, doctors said her cervix had dilated, just 18 weeks into her pregnancy.

“We were told a miscarriage was inevitable,” she said. “I wanted to get on with it. I wanted to be able to put it behind us, get through the trauma, then begin mourning, begin grieving.”

But she couldn’t.

“The baby’s heart was still beating and the laws in Texas prohibited them from giving me the healthcare that I needed, which was an abortion.

“So I had to wait until my life was considered at risk. And at that point—under the law—the doctors felt like they could intervene.”

The wait was horrific.

“It took three days between when I was diagnosed and when I went into septic shock.

“For those three days, I was not only mourning the loss of the baby, but I was also terrified because I didn’t know what was going to happen.”

Zurawski spent three more days in intensive care, fighting off the illness.

The traumatic loss of her pregnancy left her battling mental anguish, while the sepsis left her with scarring on her uterus and one of her fallopian tubes.

The couple has since gone through multiple rounds of IVF in an effort to conceive the baby they so desperately want—so far unsuccessfully.

“The jury’s still out on whether this is going to have a permanent effect on my fertility and ability to have kids,” she said.

‘Going backwards in time’

Zurawski decided to tell her story in the hope

that she can help people to understand the harm their hardened ideological positions can cause. Her profile—white, married, professional— aligns her with some of the people she sees as pushing hardest against abortion rights.

“They try to paint people who need abortions as young women of color, single, uneducated.

“I don’t fit into that box. I look like the demographic that they want to believe would never need or want an abortion.”

Zurawski recognizes she is comparatively lucky —with the support of a loving partner, economic security and the ability to stand up for herself.

And as places like Texas become ever-more rigid about their anti-abortion stances, women will suffer, she says.

“It’s going to become less and less rare for what happened to me to happen to someone else.

“People are going to die from this.”

For Zurawski, the erosion in women’s rights in the United States is like “going backwards in time.”

“I can’t even imagine how all of this will impact me if I manage to get pregnant,” she says.

And if her wishes are granted, she is acutely aware that nothing in Texas has changed.

“Who’s to say this won’t happen again?” AFP

‘I nearly died’:

The erosion in women’s rights in the United States is like ‘going backwards in time’

BARMM agencies suffer mismatch between staff size, huge workloads 30 nominees to key gov’t posts up for CA okay

By Nash B. Maulana

THE bureaucracy of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is grossly undersized for the region’s growing number of programs and projects.

Contractors serving the region’s infrastructure programs have complained of “very slow” processing of payments of delivered contracted services and goods.

Two of the busiest agencies, the Ministry of the Interior and Local Governments (MILG) and the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) had the most

DOH warns vs. scammers asking for donations

By Gabriellea Pariño

THE Department of Health (DOH) has warned the public against scammers soliciting donations through text messages and other social media platforms purportedly under the name of the Secretary of Health or his chief of staff.

In an advisory, the DOH clarified that neither the Health Secretary nor his staff engaged in any form of solicitation of funds ostensibly for outreach activities.

“The Secretary is fully committed to upholding the integrity and maintaining respect accorded to such public office, as well as the trust of the Filipino people,” the advisory read.

The Health department encourages the general public to be cautious in communicating with accounts online that may resemble or imitate government officials.

In the previous month, the DOH faced similar problems with posers who were asking for donations from members of the House of Representatives.

The advisory stated that the DOH will not tolerate alleged illegal actions, and further called on the public to remain vigilant and to closely examine information received even from legitimate sources and platforms.

number of projects awarded to private contractors.

MILG Minister Naguib Sinarimbo said the agencies concerned are considering options to improve on the processing of payments for completed contracts.

For one, he has recommended the expansion of the size of staffing on such

essential office levels as the Finance and Management Services of agencies with the most number of programs and projects being implemented.

Service providers have protested instances of long delayed processing of payments for completed projects.

A certain service provider said one complete payment extends up to “almost one year” in BARMM. Although no specific agency was mentioned, infrastructure programs were often affected by such delays.

Sinarimbo said the MILG has a small finance office with only up to three personnel working on ledger entries of accounting obligations of all disbursement

vouchers in the processing of payments.

Another area of concern is the term of disbursement orders which provides the policy of reverting unspent (but already) obligated funds back to the issuing agency, the Ministry of Finance Budget and Management, in the case of the BARMM.

The ministry, he said, has recommended a review of such a policy which best suited a cash-based disbursement system in a very reserved state of resources and disbursement.

Sinarimbo said it was hardly foreseen in his ministry that with the agency’s expanded number of programs, there had to be a corresponding increase in the staffing design of its structural levels.

BONDING WITH CANCER-STRICKEN

TOTS. Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez immerses with cancer-stricken kids at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) in Quezon City following his first town hall meeting dubbed as ‘Congress at Your Service-We Listen, We Deliver’ where he also spoke on issues related to treatment, care and other problems confronting pediatric and adult cancer patients, their parents, and health practitioners. Ver Noveno

By Maricel V. Cruz

A MEMBER of the powerful Commission on Appointments on Tuesday confirmed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has nominated Philippe Jones Lhuillier for a second tour of duty as Philippine ambassador to Spain with concurrent jurisdiction over Andorra, a small principality between Spain and Portugal.

Lhuillier’s new nomination papers are now with the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA), according to CA Assistant Minority Leader and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel.

“Ambassador Lhuillier was nominated on July 14, and his papers were received by the CA on July 17,” Pimentel said.

“We now have a total of 30 presidential appointees or nominees awaiting confirmation hearings by the CA,” Pimentel said.

The 25-member CA is empowered by the 1987 Constitution to scrutinize the competence, suitability and integrity of key presidential appointees, including foreign service officers, and to approve or disapprove them.

Lhuillier first assumed office as Philippine ambassador to Spain and Andorra six years ago.

He served as Philippine ambassador to Italy from 1999 to 2010, and to Portugal from 2012 to 2016.

Under the Philippine Foreign Service Law of 1991, or Republic Act 7157, all diplomats have a six-year tour of duty when posted overseas, unless recalled for transfer elsewhere, due to a change in government.

Besides Lhuillier, Pimentel said the following appointees or nominees are awaiting CA confirmation hearings; Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa; 25 newly promoted senior military officers led by Philippine Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Rommel Roldan, Mersole Mellejor as Philippine ambassador to Nigeria with concurrent jurisdiction over 12 other Central and West African countries, and Raquel Solano as chief of mission, Class II at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Risa to DPWH: Go back to drawing board on Samal-Davao bridge project

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Risa Hontiveros has urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to act immediately on the complaints of environmentalists and business groups over the construction of a P23billion bridge connecting Samal Island and Davao City (SIDC).

Hontiveros said oppositors to the project have a valid reason, citing its impact on coral reefs and mangrove areas in Samal.

During a press briefing at the Senate on Monday, Hontiveros said she had actually raised the same issues during the 2023 budget deliberations for the DPWH. She stressed that the DPWH should reconsider the design of the project and conduct consultation with the stakeholders.

IN BRIEF

Spike in tourists flow seen by end-‘23

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it is expecting a significant increase in foreign tourists by the end of the year as the bureau is set to launch an online application for all types of visas and green lanes for frequent travelers.

According to BI tourist visa section chief Raymond Remigio, they predicted more than 91,000 tourist visa extensions during the first half of 2023.

“This is a significant increase from July to December of last year when we only saw around 77,000 extensions. Our aggressive information campaign and our efforts to make applications easier for the transacting public has definitely contributed to this rise,” he said.

Commissioner Norman Tansingco said they project a 20-percent increase in tourist visa extensions in the next six months.

“We fully support the Department of Tourism’s drive to invite tourists to visit and stay longer in the Philippines. The recent launch of our online visa extension is a significant step to make it easy for foreign nationals to comply with BI policies and prevent them from overstaying,” Tansingco said.

“Whether they choose to apply for extensions on-site or on-line, it will definitely be easy and convenient for them,” he added.

Remigio also reported that on-site tourist visa extensions can now be processed while you wait.

“With our streamlined operations, and with the management introducing online options, foreign nationals will definitely feel the change and improvements of our Bureau,” Remigio said. Vito Barcelo

Manila Standard TODAY

“The DPWH should do both of those things,” Hontiveros said. “I asked the DPWH about it during the last budget hearing and they have pointed out that there was an alternative site for the bridge.

The senator also mentioned a study by a Japanese group showing it would be more cost-effective to move the landing site of the bridge on a governmentowned property on the Davao side.

“Why will the DPWH risk the coral reefs and mangroves if there are.

“If there are criticisms, findings, recommendations and alternatives, the span was among the major infrastructure projects of the national government under the President Rodrigo Duterte administration.

5 cops in robbery-extort case surrender

FIVE policemen allegedly involved in a robbery-extortion against a computer shop in Sampaloc, Manila on Monday surrendered to their superiors and were placed in the custody of the Manila Police District (MPD).

First to yield were Cpl. Jonmark Gonzales Dabucol, and Patrol officers Jeremiah Sesma Pascual and John Lester Reyes Pagar.

They surrendered to Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) executive director Gilbert Cruz at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

The two other suspects, SSgts. Ryann Tagle Paculan and Jan Erwin Santiago Isaac, turned themselves in later in the evening.

The suspects were presented to PNP chief, Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., before they were remanded to the MPD on Monday evening.

“As of this moment, they are currently under MPD restrictive custody while their case is undergoing investigation. They will remain here. They have also surrendered their firearms,” MPD director, Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon, said in an interview.

The five suspects surfaced after Acorda ordered a manhunt against them, to be conducted by the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group and Intelligence Group.

Pagar maintained however, that their operation was legitimate and they welcome any investigation.

“We also have evidence in our possession that proves our innocence. We voluntarily submit ourselves to our beloved organization because we are open to any kind of investigation that our organization requires of us,” he said in a TV interview.

Aside from facing administrative charges, the five cops are also facing criminal charges of robbery with intimidation. Vince Lopez

As envisioned, the bridge straddles Brgy. Limao in the Island Garden City of Samal, and Brgys. Vicente Hizon, Sr. Angliongto and R. Castillo in Davao City.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

DEAR STOCKHOLDERS:

Please be informed that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of Allied Care Experts (ACE) Dumaguete Doctors Inc. will be held on August 10, 2023 (Thursday) at 8:00 o’clock in the morning, via Zoom Webinar, to ensure the safety of our stockholders who will be attending the meeting. For the conduct of the Webinar, please register on or before August 10, 2023, through the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/ register/WN_6mrzMcL8TT-loF4DAQjOXg

The link will provide you the process for the registration. You will receive a confirmation email once you have successfully registered in the platform, including the details and procedures in the conduct of the meeting. Voting will be done via the online tool which you can access once you have logged in to the Webinar.

The meeting shall be recorded (visual and audio) for future reference.

The Agenda:

I. Call to Order

II. Invocation

III. Determination of Quorum

IV. Welcome Message from the Chairman of the Board

V. Reading and Approval of the Minutes of the Y2022 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting

VI. Approval of the Y2022 Audited Financial Statement

VII. President’s Report

VIII. Ratification of the Acts and Proceedings of the Board of Directors, Officers, and Management of the Corporation

IX. Election of the Board of Directors for 2023-2024

X. Appointment of External Auditor for the year 2023

XI. Amendment of Article III of the Articles of Incorporation

XII. Other Matters

XIII. Adjournment

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on July 21, 2023 (Friday) shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. If you cannot personally attend the meeting, you may opt to send your proxy to attend in your behalf. Kindly submit your duly executed proxy form with the undersigned, via email at acedumaguetedoctors@yahoo.com. ph not later than August 9, 2023, but preferably by August 7, 2023, to enable your proxy to register in the Zoom Webinar. A sample proxy form is posted at the Corporation’s website for your reference.

[NOTE: Management is not soliciting proxies.]

The Information Statement and Management Report and SEC Form 17-A are available at the Corporation’s website at www. acedumaguetedoctors.com

You may contact the undersigned via email at acedumaguetedoctors@ yahoo.com.ph or at telephone number: (035) 523 5957 if you have inquiries/concerns regarding the meeting.

Very Truly Yours

Corporate Secretary Marietta T. Samoy

SELFIE WITH TAYLOR SWIFT IMPERSONATOR. A fan shares center stage for a selfie with Taylor Swift impersonator Taylor Sheesh during the Lavender Maze Grand Swifties Party at SM City East Ortigas. Norman Cruz

Thwarted Thai PM bet is chasing support

Kerry

tells China global warming represented a ‘threat to humankind’

BEIJING—US climate envoy John Kerry said Tuesday that global warming represented a “threat to all of humankind” and required “global leadership” as he met Chinese officials in Beijing.

“Climate, as you know, is a global issue, not a bilateral issue. It’s a threat to all of humankind,” Kerry told China’s top diplomat Wang Yi, stressing it was “a matter of global leadership.”

“We’re very hopeful that this can

BANGKOK—The liberal reformist seeking to become Thailand’s prime minister has said he was marshaling support for his next tilt at the job after military-appointed senators foiled his first attempt.

be the beginning not just of a conversation between you and me and us on the climate track, but that we can begin to change the broader relationship, the world really hopes for that and needs it,” he added. On fraught China-US ties more broadly, Kerry underlined that President Joe Biden was “very committed to stability within this relationship, but also to achieve efforts together that can make a significant difference to the world.” AFP

Manila Standard TODAY Republic of the Philippines

Efforts to elect a government have deadlocked on parliament’s refusal to endorse the candidacy of Pita Limjaroenrat, whose Move Forward Party (MFP) won the most seats in May elections.

Establishment lawmakers consider his party’s pledge to reform the kingdom’s strict royal defamation laws a red line and the Harvard-educated politician’s nomination fell 51 votes short last week.

Pita said the eight-party coalition supporting him had agreed to renominate him for a second vote Wednesday,

fenders can be jailed for up to 15 years. Just 13 members of the 250-strong upper chamber voted for him last week.

2. Applicant NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It holds a congressional franchise granted under Republic Act No. 9511, and is authorized to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through high-voltage back-bone systems of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, and for other purposes. The NGCP is authorized to conduct activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system.

3. Applicant SNAP-BI is a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal place of business at Binga Hydro Electric Power Plant, Brgy. Tinongdan, Itogon, Benguet Province.

3.1. SNAP-BI is the owner and operator of the Ambuklao Hydroelectric Power Plant, with a rate of 112.5 MW continuous output at 60Hz, including required ancillaries and spare parts, located in Bokod, Benguet (the “Generation Facility”), which was certified and accredited by the NGCP as capable of providing Contingency Reserve and Dispatchable Reserve.

4. NGCP and SNAP-BI may be served with orders, notices, pleadings and other legal processes through their respective counsels at the addresses indicated below.

ANTECEDENT FACTS

5. Republic Act No. 9136, also known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (“EPIRA”), provides that it is the responsibility of NGCP to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid in accordance with the performance standards for its operations and maintenance, as set forth in the Philippine Grid Code (“PGC”),3 adopted and promulgated by the Honorable Commission, and to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services (“AS” or Ancillary Services”) through the transmission

adding he was canvassing senators who did not support him in the first round.

“We still are talking to find more support,” he told reporters.

“There are several who missed the vote because of other duties,” he said.

“It is still possible they might vote.”

MFP won nearly 40 percent of the vote in May’s poll but Pita’s attempt at forming a government was blocked by supporters of the Thai establishment.

Junta-appointed senators oppose MFP’s proposal to soften the kingdom’s royal defamation law, under which of-

Thailand’s Constitutional Court could also take up a case Wednesday on whether Pita, 42, should be disqualified from parliament entirely for owning shares in a media company, prohibited for MPs under the Thai constitution.

Pita, who made his fortune in a family-run agrifood business, has said the shares were inherited from his father. The station has not broadcast since 2007.

He said Monday he was unfazed by the Constitutional Court case against him the same day as he submits himself to another parliamentary vote. AFP

sealed envelope, with the envelope and each page of the document stamped with the word “Confidential”. ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

31. It is a declared policy of the State to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power. To this end, there is a need to comply with the system requirements for AS to ensure grid system security and reliability. As mentioned above, NGCP has the mandate to procure the required AS. However, the Honorable Commission must first approve the contract before the same can be implemented.

32. As the demand for power in Luzon increases, the requirements of the system likewise increases. Ensuring the integrity of the system is essential to protect the interests of the public. The absence of system reliability and stability will certainly discourage investments and growth.

33. Applicants respectfully submit that the immediate approval of the ASPA by this Honorable Commission is a necessity to maintain the present reliability and security of the Grid. In support of these allegations, NGCP submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Ms. Lisaflor B. Kater, which is attached to this Application.

PRAYER

WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission:

1. Immediately ISSUE a provisional authority to implement the subject ASPA executed on 02 May 2023; and

2. APPROVE, after notice and hearing, the subject ASP A.

3. ISSUE an Order treating Annexes “A”, “H”, “I”, “K”, “L”, “M”, “N”, “Q”, and “X”, as confidential information pursuant to Section 1, Rule 4 of the ERC

hearing, via electronic mail (e-mail) at docket@erc.ph and copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph. The Commission shall give priority to the stakeholders who have duly submitted their respective comments and/or clarifications, to discuss the same and propound questions during the course of the expository presentation.

Moreover, any person who has an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission via e-mail at docket@erc.ph. and copy furnishing the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph, a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) calendar days prior to the date of the initial virtual hearing and must follow the requirements under Rule 9 of the ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicate therein the docket number and title of the case, and state the following:

1) The petitioner’s name, mailing address, and e-mail address;

2) The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3) A statement of the relief desired. Likewise, all other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file through e-mail at docket@erc.ph. and copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph, their Opposition or Comment thereon at least five (5) calendar days prior to the initial virtual hearing. Rule 9 of the ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure shall govern. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following:

1) The name, mailing address, and e-mail address of such person;

2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

3) The grounds relied upon.

All interested parties filing their Petition to Intervene, Opposition or Comment are required to submit the hard copies thereof through personal service, registered mail or ordinary mail/ private courier, within five (5) working days from the date that the same were electronically submitted, as reflected in the acknowledgment receipt e-mail sent by the Commission. Any of the persons mentioned in the preceding paragraphs may access the copy of the Joint Application through the Commission’s official website at www.erc.gov.ph

Finally, all interested persons may be allowed to join the scheduled virtual hearings by providing the

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Stocks decline on China’s sluggish growth

By Jenniffer B. Austria

LOCAL stocks fell for a second day on worries about China’s sluggish economic growth.

The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange index slipped 21.96 points, or 0.34 percent, to close at 6,528.80, as bears took over the market in the afternoon trading session.

Philstocks Financial Inc. analyst Claire Alviar said the negative sentiments in China had a “ripple effect” across the regional markets including the Philippines.

Alviar said the 2.8-percent remittance growth in May also did not boost market sentiments as it marked the slowest rate since February’s 2.4 percent.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the market correction happened amid recent hawkish signals from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

BSP Governor Eli Remolona, in a recent interview

Norway threatens $100,000 daily fine on Meta over data

OSLO—Norway’s data protection agency said Monday it would ban Facebook and Instagram owner Meta from using the personal information of users for targeted advertising, threatening a $100,000 daily fine if it continues.

The business practices of US big tech firms are under close scrutiny across Europe over concerns about privacy, with huge fines handed out in recent years.

The Norwegian watchdog, Datatilsynet, said Meta uses information such as the location of users, the content they like and their posts for marketing purposes.

“The Norwegian Data Protection Authority considers that the practice of Meta is illegal and is therefore imposing a temporary ban of behavioral advertising on Facebook and Instagram,” it said in a statement.

The ban will begin on August 4 and last three months to give Meta time to take corrective measures. The company will be fined one million kroner ($100,000) per day if it fails to comply.

“We will analyse the decision... but there is no immediate effect on our services,” Meta told AFP in a statement.

The Norwegian regulator added that its ruling was neither a ban on Facebook and Instagram operating in the country nor a blanket ban on behavioral advertising.

The Austrian digital privacy campaign group noyb, which has lodged a number of complaints against Meta’s activities, said it “welcomes this decision as a first important step” and hopes data regulators in other countries will follow suit. AFP

with Bloomberg Television, hinted about the possibility of further monetary tightening.

Most Asian markets also sank Tuesday as further weakness in China’s economy fueled worries about the effects on global growth, overshadowing optimism that the United States is winning its battle against inflation and could avoid a recession.

Regional traders extended Monday’s retreat sparked by disappointing second-quarter data out of Beijing that missed forecasts badly and highlighted the tough job officials face in getting the country’s post-Covid recovery back on track.

And while there is an expectation that fresh stimulus measures are in the pipeline, analysts warned that leaders were limited in how far they could go.

The figures came after last week’s reports showing inflation had flatlined, suggesting China was on the brink of a period of painful deflation, while exports plunged for a second straight month.

“You’re gonna see some stimulus coming in, which means that the second quarter may have been

more of the low, the third quarter a bit better,” Joyce Chang, global head of research at JPMorgan, said on Bloomberg Television.

“But we’ve taken half a percent off of China’s growth and I think that the deflation risks are there.”

Hong Kong led losses Tuesday, shedding around two percent following a five-day rally, as it reopened a day after being shut because of a severe storm.

Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Manila, Jakarta, Wellington and Taipei also dropped, though Tokyo, Mumbai and Bangkok edged higher.

Paris and Frankfurt dipped at the open while London was flat.

The losses came despite a positive lead from Wall Street.

In a report on China, Alicia Garcia Herrero and Jianwei Xu at Natixis CIB said in a report: “We are conservative about the extent of the policy support down the road. Fiscal policies may not be easily implemented in the current situation, given the already high public debt and the reduced efficiency of these policies.” With AFP

Seoul files suit vs. order to pay Elliot $50m in damages

SEOUL—South Korea has filed a suit against an order to pay hedge fund Elliott more than $50 million in damages over the controversial 2015 merger of two Samsung affiliates, Seoul’s justice ministry said Tuesday.

Elliott sued the government in 2018 after losing a proxy fight opposing the merger between Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T.

The US activist investor -- C&T’s second-largest single shareholder in 2015 -- had argued that the takeover willfully undervalued the construction firm’s share price, at an unacceptable cost to its shareholders.

The deal went through after the

state-run National Pension Service (NPS) -- which had a greater stake in Samsung C&T than Elliott and was deemed a deciding vote -- approved it.

The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes last month ordered the South Korean government to pay $53.6 million, which is around seven percent of the US activist investor’s claim. Seoul has said the ruling would cost the country a total of around 130 billion won ($103 million) including legal fees, interest and damages.

On Tuesday, South Korea filed a “lawsuit for cancellation”, the country’s justice ministry said in a

TOP GAINERS

statement.

It said that according to the commercial law’s general principle, “minority shareholders do not bear any responsibility to other minority shareholders for exercising their voting rights”.

“It is difficult to find an investorstate dispute settlement case in which the state is held liable for damages in cases where public institutions participated in shareholders’ meetings as minority shareholders and exercised their voting rights,” it added.

The merger was seen as helping ensure a smooth third-generational power transfer to Lee Jae-yong, a scion of Samsung’s founding family. AFP

Are we ready to become the center for hospitality excellence in Asia? (Part 2)

Despite the many attractive attractions we can offer as a destination, tourism products are highly substitutable. Any negative reviews not adequately addressed can result in tourists seeking alternative options. We certainly do not want another kidnapping and terrorism story in the Philippines that spread globally and almost crippled our tourism industry.

Rejuvenation

MOST ACTIVE

WITH all these things said, the Philippines has the potential to be a global leader when it comes to tourism and hospitality. But it will require continuous improvement and commitment to standards. Are we really serious about maintaining it? As we say, “quality has a cost.” How far can we go to maintain our desire to protect the integrity of excellence? Allow me to share what I refer to as the Three R’s for the continuous progress of our tourism industry.

Real investments and partnerships

We must invest in tourism drivers that can greatly advance the delivery of our services, such as accessibility, amenities, attraction, activities, and accommodation. Palawan is positioning itself as the primary cruise destination in the Philippines; to realize this vision, it invested in ports that can accommodate various types of cruise ships.

They are ready to welcome small and big cruise ships to their islands. Also, it is time to witness real partnership and collaboration among the government, private sector, and local communities to ensure sustainable and world-class Philippine Tourism. We need to develop more community-based sustainable tourism projects to provide opportunities for locals without inflicting the environment.

Reputation Building

How do foreign tourists perceive us as a country? What image do we portray in the international community that can boost their interest and desire to visit the Philippines? Safety and security is an utmost concern for any tourist. It is important to establish a solid brand that will not only promote the Philippines as a fun destination, as we say in our tourism slogan, “It’s more fun in the Philippines,” but a well-defined message that will assure tourists of their safety and security.

While preservation is a priority for natural attractions, it is important to note that too much familiarity with the destination, without any substantial improvements over time, can lead to boredom. Eventually, this can result in a decrease in tourist visits. For instance, in the case of Palawan, a tour guide informed me about the ongoing development of new attractions, both natural and events, in the southern part of the province. This aims to spread the potential tourism opportunities across the entire island.

The rejuvenation process does not disrupt the natural form of our country’s flora and fauna, which is the differential advantage of our country. However, introducing additional “attractions” that can ignite their curiosity can generate interest among tourists to visit and explore the destination.

Recently, the DOT launched its new tourism slogan, “Love the Philippines.” According to Secretary Frasco, the enhanced slogan goes to the very heart of every single Filipino with the distinct grace and hospitality with which we welcome every guest that comes to our shore, our communities, and our homes. She added that “Love the Philippines” recognizes our natural assets, our long and storied history, and our rich culture and diversity. The future of Philippine tourism does not solely depend on the key individuals directly responsible for its delivery. We are

the heart of Philippine tourism. Filipinos themselves are the genuine gem of the Tourism Industry.

I started and will end this article with a question: Are we ready to become the face of excellence in hospitality and tourism in Asia? Think about it.

The author is a Doctor of Business Administration student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University. He can be reached at jhon_-@dlsu.edu.ph.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

ANNOUNCEMENT

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (CA), for its consent to the nomination of:

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)

Mr. PHILIPPE JONES LHUILLIER AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY TO THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN, with concurrent jurisdiction over the PRINCIPALITY OF ANDORRA, with the salary and emoluments of a CHIEF OF MISSION, CLASS

The public may submit any information, written report, or sworn/notarized complaints or oppositions to the above nomination in seven (7) copies to the CA Secretariat, 6 Floor, PNB Financial Center, D. Macapagal Blvd., Pasay City, Metro Manila. For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 8834-2713, 8831-1824, 8831-0527, 8832-9830, 88342706 and 8551-1989. 17 July 2023.

MYRA MARIE D. VILLARICA Secretary

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS (MS-JULY 19, 2023)

G20 MEETINGS. South Korea’s Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho (center) arrives to attend the G20 Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors and Finance & Central Bank Deputies meetings at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar on July 18, 2023. AFP

BUSINESS

BOI, PEZA report big investment growth

By Othel V. Campos

THE country’s two leading incentive-giving bodies approved major investments in the first half that will generate jobs and lift exports in the coming months.

The Board of Investments said Tuesday it approved P698 billion worth of new investments from 155 projects from January to June, up by 203 percent from P230 billion it generated in the same period in 2022.

“The Philippines is poised to become Asia’s premier investment destination. The signs are emerging. Foreign investment pledges are at a record high,” said BOI chairman and Trade Secretary Al-

IN BRIEF

AFAB joins talk on BNPP conversion into data center

AUTHORITY of the Freeport Area of Bataan administrator Mohammed Hussein Pangandaman joined a meeting on the potential conversion of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant into a state-of-the-art data center. Bataan 2nd District Rep. Abet Garcia discussed land status, progress reports and insights on the proposed conversion of the mothballed facility, according to the AFAB report.

The project holds the promise of not only stimulating economic growth but also positioning the region as a key player in the digital infrastructure landscape, it said.

AFAB board director Michael Ballesteros also joined Pangandaman in the meeting.

Bataan Governor Joet Garcia earlier said the BNPP could be converted into one of the biggest cloud computing data center facilities in the world. It is a strong structure and equipped with a water-cooling facility which is suited for a data center.

Garcia said in the US, military barracks are used as data centers for being safe and secured. Butch Gunio

PH nickel miners betting on transition to clean energy

LOCAL nickel miners are betting on the global transition towards clean energy and smart cities to boost nickel demand over the medium to long term.

The Philippine Nickel Industry Association, the country’s largest private sector grouping of nickel mining players, said in a statement that aside from being a critical component in electric vehicles batteries, raw nickel ore is also processed to create stainless steel which is used in the development of mega cities and in renewable energy technology.

PNIA president Dante Bravo estimates the current value of investments in the global EV industry at $300 billion which is expected to grow to $1 trillion as EV sales double within the next five years.

“Clean energy and smart cities cannot be realized without nickel as nickel has cross-cutting use in the development and manufacturing of various clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles, solar panels, power grid systems, wind turbines, and new technologies such as hydrogen-based energy,” Bravo said.

Bravo said the reopening of the global economy and the rollout of China’s infrastructure investment plan would resume activity in the construction sector triggering momentum in the demand for stainless steel. Jenniffer B. Austria

94% of millennials, Gen Zs felt impact of inflation in Q2 METRO Manila’s middle-class Gen Zs and millennials expressed growing concern over the impact of inflation in the second quarter of 2023, according to a survey conducted by the Nomura Research Institute Singapore-Manila Branch.

The survey, conducted from May to June, revealed that 94 percent of respondents felt the effects of inflation during the period. The rising costs of essential goods and services, such as food, transportation, fuel and utilities, forced these young adults to make cuts in their non-essential spending, including leisure and entertainment expenses.

Among the respondents, 60 percent reported that the continuous price increases had the greatest impact on their food and beverage expenses, followed by transportation and fuel costs at 15 percent, and utilities such as electricity, water and internet bills at 14 percent.

An overwhelming 83 percent of participants said they had reduced their spending on non-essential goods, while 79 percent found it necessary to cut back on leisure and entertainment expenses. The survey also highlighted the financial challenges faced by this demographic. About one-third of respondents (32 percent) reported being unable to save over the past 6 to 12 months. For those who managed to save, 44 percent saved a lower percentage of their income. The persistent inflationary pressures led 38 percent of respondents to adjust their savings goals by either reducing the target amount or delaying their timelines.

fredo Pascual. Foreign investment approvals accounted for 60 percent of the total approvals at P423 billion, an increase of 5,621 percent from P7.89 billion in the first half of 2022. Domestic investments increased 23.8 percent to P275 billion from P222 billion. Germany was the top source of foreign direct investments with P393 billion; followed by Singapore with 16.8 billion; the

Netherlands, P3.57 billion; France, P2.04 billion; and the US, P1.9 billion.

Western Visayas topped the list as the recipient of biggest investments with P306 billion, while CALABARZON placed second with P164 billion. Rounding up the top five regions are Ilocos with P55.5 billion, Central Luzon with P28.7 billion and the National Capital Region with P25.6 billion.

“The increasing number of investments approvals reflect the growing attractiveness of the Philippines as an investment destination and highlights the country’s potential for further economic growth and development. The successful and speedy implementation of investments means more stable and higher-paying jobs for Filipinos without

unnecessary delays,” Pascual said.

The BOI continues to target investment projects that will strengthen the country’s position as a regional hub for sustainability, connectivity and innovation-driven manufacturing and services, as it continues to be on track of P1.5 trillion investments target in 2023.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority said its board pre-qualified eight big-ticket economic zone development projects with combined investments of P32.92 billion in the first half.

PEZA director-general Tereso Panga said new and expansion ecozones with minimum capital investment of P1 billion are subject to approval from the Fiscal Incentives Review Board and

presidential proclamation.

“This uptick in ecozone development investment is crucial as it indicates a growing demand for proclaimed areas, which is further supported by the rise in new and expansion projects,” he said.

The eight projects are on top of the 19 ecozone projects that are still pending at the Office of the President or awaiting presidential proclamation.

PEZA said of the eight approved new and expansion ecozone projects, three are manufacturing ecozones, one is an IT Center and four are IT parks.

PEZA said the North Cebu Economic Zone, a P27.1-billion manufacturing special economic zone in Medellin, Cebu is the biggest ecozone investment among the eight projects

By Darwin G. Amojelar

INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. said Tuesday it bagged a 25-year contract to operate and develop a major container terminal in South Africa.

The port operator led by businessman Enrique Razon Jr. said Transnet SOC Ltd. declared ICTSI as the preferred bidder for the 25-year joint venture with Transnet Port Terminals to operate and further develop its flagship Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 at the Port of Durban.

GREEN ENERGY CHAMPIONS. SM Prime Holdings Inc. and Citicore Renewable Energy Company sign a memorandum of agreement on July 11, 2023 as a joint commitment to champion renewable energy. SM Prime will source its energy requirements of up to 90 megawatts from CREC’s upcoming Lumbangan Solar Power Plant in Tuy, Batangas starting the first half of 2024. Signing the agreement are (from left) SM Prime energy consultant Jaime Patinio, SM Prime chief finance officer John Nai Peng Ong, SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim, CREC chairman Edgar Saavedra, CREC president and chief executive Oliver Tan and CREC senior manager for sales and energy trading Jerard Garcia.

Samat LNG pursuing $67-m gas terminal in Bataan

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Department of Energy said Tuesday Samat LNG Corp. is proceeding with its $67-million small-scale liquefied natural gas receiving terminal and regasification facility in Barangay Sisiman, Mariveles, Bataan.

DOE director for the Oil Industry Management Bureau Rino Abad said Samat LNG began securing the site and “they are moving fast.”

The department issued the notice to proceed to Samat LNG in January this year, directing the company to obtain permits from other government agencies and secure financial closing for the terminal and regasification facility.

Samat LNG has 12 months to comply with the requirements from the date of

PIPE

MAINTENANCE.

Manila Water Company Inc. manages to keep its non-revenue water average at 13.35 percent in the first half by implementing vigorous maintenance checks, replacement, rehabilitation and repairs in its more than 5300-kilometer distribution network. This enables the company to supply continuous and uninterrupted water service despite the reduced water allocation from Angat Dam which is now at 48 cubic meters per second. It sustains 24/7 water supply to 7.6 million customers in the East Zone of Metro Manila and parts of Rizal.

the issuance of the NTP to proceed with the project construction under Department Circular No. DC2017-11-0012 or the rules and regulations governing the downstream natural gas industry.

“They are closing the contract for the site, then they will proceed with the permitting,” Abad said.

Samat’s LNG project will be capable of importing 200,000 to 400,000 tons of LNG annually and is expected to supply LNG to fuel small-scale independent power producers, manufacturing companies and transport fleets.

LNG will be distributed to customers by a dedicated fleet of LNG trucks, small LNG vessels and barges within its neighboring regions.

Samat LNG originally planned to start commercial operations of its LNG

Pag-IBIG Fund cuts home loan rates, makes them more affordable

PAG-IBIG Fund made home financing more affordable for members as it lowered the interest rates on housing loans, top executives said Tuesday.

“We are keenly aware of the need to provide affordable housing to our members who dream of having their own homes. With Pag-IBIG Fund’s strong performance and robust fiscal standing, we are happy to announce that we have reduced the interest rates on our housing loan, making homeownership even more attainable for all Filipino workers,” said Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and head of the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund board of trustees.

“This is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to address the coun-

try’s housing backlog and help our fellow Filipinos gain better and dignified lives under the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing or 4PH Program,” said Acuzar.

Under the new rates, the Pag-IBIG Housing Loan now carries a lower interest of 6.25 percent per annum under a three-year repricing period from the previous 6.375 percent.

Interest rates for the 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30-year repricing periods were also reduced to 6.5 percent from 6.625 percent, 7.125 percent from 7.375 percent, 7.75 percent from 8.00 percent, 8.50 percent from 8.625 percent, 9.125 percent from 9.375 percent and 9.75 percent from 10.00 percent, respectively. The new rates came to effect on July 1.

Meanwhile, the agency’s home loan rate under its 1-year repricing period remains at 5.75 percent per annum, while

its special interest rate for home loans of minimum-wage earners under its Affordable Housing Program remains at 3 percent per annum, the lowest in the market.

Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive Marilene Acosta said the agency was able to reduce its home loan rates due to its strong fiscal standing, record-high collections and high performing loans ratio.

“We at Pag-IBIG Fund take to heart our responsibility to provide our members with affordable home financing. With our performing loans ratio at a high 92.53 percent and collections from both membership savings and loan payments at a record-high, we are able to effectively fund the high demand for our home loans without the need to borrow from the market,” Acosta said.

project by the first half of 2024.

The DOE earlier said small-scale LNG terminals, which are modular and can be constructed quickly, are ideal for an archipelagic nation such as the Philippines.

It said these LNG terminals can supply fuel for off-grid and on-grid capacities.

“Our aim is to bring LNG to the Philippines, enabling companies and others to change over from diesel to cleaner, more affordable gas as a fuel for power generation, manufacturing and as a transportation fuel,” Samat LNG president and chief executive Roy Watson said earlier.

“By doing so, we’ll play our part in shifting the energy mix an important step closer to the essential goal of longterm sustainability,” Watson said.

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Transnet SOC is a government stateowned company that owns South Africa’s railway, ports and pipelines infrastructure.

DCT Pier 2 is Transnet’s biggest container terminal, handling 72 percent of the Port of Durban’s throughput and 46 percent of South Africa’s port traffic.

The terminal has 1,760 meters of operational quay length and 120 hectares of container storage and backup area.

“Final award is subject to completion of legal agreements between Transnet and ICTSI,” ICTSI said.

ICTSI booked a net income of $154.61 million in the first quarter of 2023, or 9 percent higher than $142.28 million it earned in the same period last year.

Revenue from port operations reached $572.25 million, up by 8 percent from $528.27 million reported last year.

ICTSI handled consolidated volume of 3,102,105 twenty-foot equivalent units in the first quarter, or 9 percent more than 2,833,001 TEUs it processed in the same period in 2022.

The group’s estimated capital expenditure is about $400 million in 2023 mainly for the expansion of the company’s terminals in Australia, Mexico, Philippines and Democratic Republic of Congo.

ICTSI operates 33 terminals in 20 countries across six continents and continues to pursue container terminal opportunities around the world.

Megaworld spending P1.5b to build convention center in Lapu-Lapu City

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PROPERTY developer Megaworld Corp.

is spending P1.5 billion to build a twolevel standalone convention center within its 30-hectare township in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. Megaworld told the stock exchange Mactan Expo Center would offer almost a hectare of MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) space in Mactan Newtown.

“We hope to build another iconic landmark not just for Mactan, but for the entire province of Cebu. This convention center will be a unique standalone structure that will help boost the province’s

booming MICE industry,” Megaworld chief strategy officer Kevin Tan said.

The ground level will feature a convention hall that can accommodate up to 2,500 people for a theatre-type set-up and 1,600 people for banquet-style set-up.

The convention hall can also be divided into three smaller halls that can accommodate around 700 to 900 persons per hall for theatre-style and 500 to 600 persons per hall for banquet-style layout. Its mezzanine level will have two meeting rooms for smaller and intimate events. Each meeting room can accommodate 100 to 150 persons. Both meeting rooms may be combined into a single venue.

Razon

Power Chargers log 1st win, nip Defenders in 5

FIGHTING for nothing but a win – and pride – Akari and Gerflor set the mood in a day packed with knockout matches as the Power Chargers notched a 25-20, 22-25, 27-25, 25-27, 15-12 victory over the Defenders at the close of the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference elims at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Tuesday.

Akari blew a huge lead in the fourth set but pulled through in a back-and-forth decider, practically clinching the hardearned victory on the Defenders’ string of stretch-run miscues, including a misset by Aly Bertolano and a Justine Dorog cross-court hit that went wide at the finish.

Gerflor contested it via a block challenge that, however, proved unsuccessful, enabling Akari to pound out the win, its first after dropping its first three games in the five-team Pool A, including a five-set defeat to Chery Tiggo last July 11.

Gerflor closed out its maiden campaign in the league organized by Sports Vision without a victory in four games but the Defenders, with their prized rookies and a mix of seasoned campaigners, are expected to gain from the experience and contend the next time around.

They actually fueled hopes for a breakthrough win when they rallied

from 16-21 in the fourth to force extension before stealing the win after squandering their chance in the previous frame via the same fashion. They also fought back from two-point deficits in the decider, the last at 11-13 on a Bertolano service error, and threatened last at 12-13 on a Dorog through-the-block hit.

But Bertolano fumbled with her reverse set bid after a brief exchange and Dorog misfired in the ensuing Gerflor attack, enabling the Power Chargers to escape with the win.

“It’s never easy when you get three losses in the past, there’s a lot of feelings coming inside but we did the job that we had to do,” said Akari coach Jorge Souza de Brito. “In our thoughts it was not supposed to be in five sets but my request for them is that no matter if we play good or bad, we have to leave the court with the win.”

They did. Thanks to rookie Faith Nisperos’ game-long exploits, Dindin Manabat’s leadership and solid backup from Eli Soyud, Janine Marciano, Princess Madrigal and Trisha Genesis.

“We have a lot to improve and we are already preparing for the next (conference). Now is the time to step on the stats and physical training,” said Souza de Brito.

Obiena continues grind, seeks world’s no. 2 spot

By Peter Atencio

THE Philippines’ and Asia’s top pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ”

Obiena now has a chance to make it to no. 2 in the world rankings.

The opportunity to do so opened up for the 27-yearold Obiena last week when he found himself sharing 1422 points in second and third positions, with Chris Nilsen of the United States in the World Athletics Rankings.

But things changed after Obiena competed and won the gold medal in the Asian Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, while Nilsen claimed the bronze medal on the same day Sunday at the Diamond League’s Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial tournament in Chorzow, Poland.

Nilsen moved a point ahead of Obiena with 1423 points at no. 2 spot, while the Formia, Italy-based Filipino slipped to third, still with 1422 points.

This prompted Obiena to quickly pack his bags with his Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov and head for Istanbul, in time for the two of last four legs of the Diamond League in Europe.

The Diamond League is an annual series of toptier elite track and field athletic competitions comprising 14 of the best invitational athletics meetings in the world.

Rain or Shine to represent Philippines in Jones Cup

Obiena now seeks to see action in the Monaco leg on July 21, in London on July 23, and Zurich on Aug. 31, before the last stop in Brussels on Sept. 8.

“My Coach Vitali and I literally had to rush to the airport and I am landing soon in Istanbul, en route back to Europe. As many of you know, I am chasing on improving my ranking from current no. 3 in the world to no. 2 and important meets like Diamond League are critical given their weight in the ranking calculations. I want to achieve this for the Philippines,” said Obiena in a statement, following a Zoom meeting with scribes in Manila on Monday evening.

Top Swedish bet Armand Duplantis remains on top of the world rankings with 1566 points.

Obiena, who is now preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics, smashed the four-year-old record he owned when he cleared 5.91 meters on his second attempt in the Bangkok Asian meet. He surpassed the 5.71 meter mark he set back in 2019 in Doha, Qatar.

Obiena, whose huddle with Filipino scribes was made possible through his sponsor, James Lafferty, is already reserved of a berth in the Paris Olympics and promised to be consistent by going above 5.80 meters.

By clearing 5.91 meters in the 2023 Asian Championships, Obiena’s performance was considered as the biggest improvement recorded in the tournament’s history, where he bettered the record by 20 centimeters.

FIBA World Cup partners with ArenaPlus

WHEN the biggest international basketball event of 2023 unfolds on Philippine shores this August, fans from different parts of the globe can take an active part in breaking down and analyzing the outcome of the games.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 which will have the Philippines as the lead co-host will be partnering with ArenaPlus in giving fans the opportunity to make this once-in-a-lifetime event a truly engaging experience.

This partnership between ArenaPlus and FIBA comes as no surprise given that ArenaPlus has long been involved in sports and basketball. In the Philippines, ArenaPlus has become a fan favorite as the official partner of Asia’s first Play-for-Pay basketball league.

“We are looking forward to being a part of such a global sports undertaking as the FIBA Basketball World Cup,” said Jasper Vicencio, President of

Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc. “This a dream come true for us even as we continue to service clientele all around the world who relish the thrill of being able to analyze every game and successfully pick out which one will emerge victorious. Some call it luck, others believe it a skill. Whichever, the suspense generated is awesome.”

The 2023 FIBA World Cup will feature 32 of the top basketball countries bracketed into eight groups. Four of these groups will have their games in the Philippines. Co-hosts Japan and Indonesia will be hosting two groups apiece. The two best teams from each group will advance to the finals phase which will all be played in the Philippines.

Gilas Pilipinas will try to defend the home floor when they kick off the World Cup on August 25 in a game versus the Dominican Republic at the 55,000-capacity Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

PH boxers ripe for gold in Paris Olympics

THE Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines is up to the challenge of fulfilling a vision laid out 14 years ago to win a gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Newly elected ABAP president Rep. Robbie Puno said the federation’s goal right now is geared towards bagging that elusive boxing gold a year from now based on the blue print established by now chairman Ricky Vargas when he initially served as head of the boxing body in 2009.

“Ang marching orders namin from our chairman now is that sinabi niya in 2009 when he became president of ABAP nangako, siya na we

will go through three Olympic cycles, and on the fourth Olympic cycle we will go for gold.

Siguro that would be enough time,” recalled Puno of ABAP’s designed plan when Vargas first assumed the presidency of the association.

“It was a moderate kind of goal-setting na ginawa ng aming president that time and now our chairman Ricky Vargas. We’re on the fourth Olympic cycle in Paris so the intention is to really win the gold. And we expect to accomplish that.”

Puno graced the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum for the very first time Tuesday at the conference hall of the Rizal Memo-

rial Sports Complex, and was accompanied by ABAP secretary-general Marcus Jarwin Manalo and executive assistant Karina Picson.

The first step towards achieving the goal is to perform well in the coming Asian Games in Hangzhou China, which serves as qualifier to the Paris Games. Among those in the training pool now for the Asiad are Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio, bronze medal winner Eumir Marcial, Rogen Ladon, Ian Clark Bautista, Mark Ashley Fajardo, Aaron Jude Bado, Ronald Chavez Jr and Marjon Pianar, John Marvin, Ira Villegas, and Irish Magno.

RAIN or Shine is going to represent the PBA in the 2023 William Jones Cup set on Aug. 12 to 20 in Taipei, Taiwan.

The league has gotten an invitation to join the prestigious tournament, which will be coming back following a three-year lull due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the PBA Board, through chairman Ricky Vargas, has already gave its stamp of approval to ROS participation in the tournament.

Marcial is convinced ROS has what it takes to compete against some of the best teams from the Asian and Middle East regions.

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for the Raymond Yu and Terry Que-owned franchise, which is also looking to keep itself sharp while the league is on a two-month break to give way for the staging of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

“We are honored not just to represent the PBA, but also the country in the Jones Cup. The high level competition will also help us to better prepare for the upcoming PBA season. We will give it our best shot and hope to bring honor to the country,” ROS Board Governor and team manager Atty. Mert Mondragon.

The international level competition should also bode well for the development of the young core of head coach Yeng Guiao who has the likes of Rey Nambatac, Anton Asistio, Gian Mamuyac, Leonard Santillan, Shaun Ildefonso and Andrei Caracut.

The task of continuing the success of the Filipino teams in the regional cagefest now falls on Rain or Shine shoulders with the Philippines already winning a total of six titles in the past editions of the tournament.

Akari’s Ezra Madrigal scores against a Gerflor defender in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference elims at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Tuesday.

Shown here are (from left) Scottie Thompson, Arena Plus Ambassador & Gilas Pilipinas Team Member; Jane J. Basas, president & CEO, Cignal TV and Mediaquest; Rafael Jasper S. Vicencio, President Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc.; Andy Tsui, president DigiPlus Interactive; John Lucas, FIBA JMC Head of Operations.

Emerson Obiena

World Cup glory missing piece for Australia’s Kerr S

YDNEY—Sam Kerr says the only thing missing in her life is a major trophy with Australia—and the Chelsea forward plans to change that by winning her home World Cup.

Kerr made her Australia debut aged just 15 and has gone on to become one of the best players in women’s football.

Now 29, she is set to be the face of the World Cup when it kicks off on Thursday, her profile having soared to new heights since moving to Chelsea in 2020 and steering them to the domestic double this year.

“She is a nightmare to defend. Her energy levels are like a 12-year-old. She is infectious,” Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said recently.

“I don’t know a striker in world football who can do what she does. She’s

the best.”

Kerr is Australia’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Tim Cahill last year as the nation’s most prolific among men or women with 63 goals in 121 appearances. She has been shortlisted for the women’s Ballon d’Or and nominated for the Best FIFA Women’s Player consistently since 2017.

In 2019 Kerr became the first Australian, man or woman, to score a hattrick at a World Cup, but winning a major trophy with her country has eluded her.

“I just want to win a major tournament with the national team,” the Australian skipper said in a documentary, “Matildas: The World at Our Feet”, released in April.

“It’s the only thing missing in my life right now... if we win the World Cup, that would just be everything.”

The tournament in Australia and New Zealand will be Kerr’s fourth— but easily her biggest—World Cup.

‘I struggled a lot’

Born to an Indian father and Australian mother, Kerr played Australian Rules as a youngster and was convinced she would one day represent her beloved West Coast Eagles, like her brother.

She switched though to football aged 12 and made her debut for the Matildas as a substitute against Italy in 2009.

Kerr admits that shifting from Australian Rules—where there was little hope of earning a living as a woman —was not easy.

“I remember I struggled a lot,” she previously said.

“I’m really thankful for my time in the AFL, but I’m also thankful I had to make the switch because there was no pathway for me at that time in AFL.”

By now a footballer, she made her debut for the W-League’s Perth Glory aged 15, spending four years at the club before moving to Sydney FC.

Known for her pace, agility and heading ability—as well as her trademark backflip goal celebrations— Kerr left for the United States in 2013.

She went first to Western New York Flash, then Sky Blue FC in New Jersey and finally Chicago Red Stars. AFP

in ERC Case No. 2006- 049RC. THE PARTIES

2. Applicant NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It holds a congressional franchise granted under Republic Act No. 9511, and is authorized to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through high-voltage back-bone systems of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, and for other purposes. The NGCP is authorized to conduct activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system.

3. Applicant SIPC is a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal place of business at 7 Floor BDO Towers Paseo, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City.

3.1. SIPC is the owner and operator of the Panay Diesel Power Power Plant 3 composed of (2 x 12 MW and 2 x 13MW), with a rated capacity of 58.30 MW continuous output at 60Hz, including required ancillaries and spare parts, located in Dingle, iloilo City (the “Generation Facility”), which was certified and accredited by the NGCP as capable of providing Dispatchable Reserve and Black Start Service.

4. NGCP and SIPC may be served with orders, notices, pleadings and other legal processes through their respective counsels at the addresses indicated below. ANTECEDENT FACTS

5. Republic Act No. 9136, also known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (“EPIRA”), provides that it is the responsibility of NGCP to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid in accordance with the performance standards for its operations and maintenance, as set forth in the Philippine Grid Code (“PGC”),3 adopted and promulgated by the Honorable Commission, and to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and/or ancillary services (“AS” or “Ancillary Services”)4 through the transmission system 5

6. Similarly, the PGC provides that NGCP is responsible for determining, acquiring, and dispatching the capacity needed to supply the required Grid AS and for developing and proposing Wheeling Charges and AS tariffs of the ERC.

(1) copy of said documents in a sealed envelope, with the envelope and each page of the document stamped with the word “Confidential”. ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

31. It is a declared policy of the State to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power. To this end, there is a need to comply with the system requirements for AS to ensure grid system security and reliability. As mentioned above, NGCP has the mandate to procure the required AS. However, the Honorable Commission must first approve the contract before the same can be implemented.

32. As the demand for power in Visayas increases, the requirements of the system likewise increases. Ensuring the integrity of the system is essential to protect the interests of the public. The absence of system reliability and stability will certainly discourage investments and growth.

33. Applicants respectfully submit that the immediate approval of the ASPA by this Honorable Commission is a necessity to maintain the present reliability and security of the Grid. In support of these allegations. NGCP submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Ms. Lisaflor B. Kater, which is attached to this Application.

PRAYER

WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission:

1. Immediately ISSUE a provisional authority to implement the subject ASPA executed on 02 May 2023; and

2. APPROVE, after notice and hearing, the subject ASPA.

3. ISSUE an Order treating Annexes “X” and “Y” as well as Schedule 3 of the ASP A as confidential information pursuant to Section 1, Rule 4 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure and prescribing the guidelines for the protection thereof. Other just and equitable reliefs are likewise prayed for.

The Commission sets the instant Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-Trial Conference and presentation of evidence on the following dates and online platforms for the conduct thereof, pursuant to Resolution No. 09, Series of 202023 and Resolution No. 01, Series of 202124 (ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure):

Any interested stakeholder may submit its comments and/or clarifications at least one (1) calendar day prior to the scheduled initial virtual hearing, via electronic mail (e-mail)atdocket@ erc.ph and copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph. The Commission shall give priority to the stakeholders who have duly submitted their respective comments and/or clarifications, to discuss the same and propound questions during the course of the expository presentation.

Moreover, any person who has an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission via e-mail atdocket@erc.ph. and copy furnishing the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph, a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) calendar days prior to the date of the initial virtual hearing. The verified Petition to Intervene must follow the requirements under Rule 9 of the ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicate therein the docket number and title of the case, and state the following:

1) The petitioner’s name, mailing address, and e-mail address;

2) The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3) A statement of the relief desired.

Likewise, all other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file through e-mail

On April 18, 2023, the TPBAC issued a Notice of Award in favor of SPC Island Power Corporation19. informing the latter that it is to be awarded with a contract for the Provision of Ancillary Services in the Visayas Grid. The details of the award are as follows:

pop singer Taylor Swift is currently

Taylor Swift sets women's record for most number one albums

AMERICAN music superstar Taylor Swift now has more number one albums than any other female artist in history following the recent release of Speak Now (Taylor's Version), Billboard said Monday.

The record debuted at the top of the Billboard charts, becoming the pop queen's 12th number one album and surpassing Barbra Streisand for the most among women.

For male performers, Jay-Z and the Beatles both have over a dozen number one albums, though Billboard notes it has

changed its album ranking system over the decades to include anthologies.

Swift, 33, has also become the first living artist in nearly 60 years to have four albums in the top 10 at the same time, the organization added. They include Midnights, Lover, and Folklore Billboard said Swift had also become

the first living artist to have 11 albums in the top 200 simultaneously.

Swift's record-breaking feats come as she performs many of her best hits on the fan-frenzied Eras tour. The 106-date stadi-

Gold Aceron takes audiences on a thrilling ride in ‘Bisyo’

ACTOR Gold Aceron takes audiences on a thrilling and seductive ride in Bisyo, Vivamax's latest offering. The film features Gold as a young and ambitious individual with dreams of becoming a successful entrepreneur. But this isn't just any ordinary tale of ambition and success, it's spiced up with a sexy twist that will keep viewers hooked.

“This is a story about two friends who later on became mortal enemies. This is a beautiful story. In a nutshell, it’s about my character who goes head-to-head with an influential criminal to achieve his goal,” says Gold.

The film follows the journey of a young man named James (Gold). He may not be rich, but with his charm and unique strategies, he is able to make connections and bag himself a couple of much-coveted pairs.

Fueled by his passion for sneakers and unwavering determination,

Viva artists Ataska (left) and Angelica Hart

James navigates a path toward building his dream business. However, his aspirations take an unexpected turn when he comes face-to-face with a formidable criminal kingpin.

Gold captivating performance as James promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats, as the character fights not only for his dreams but also for his life. Vivamax viewers can anticipate a heart-stopping experience filled with action-packed sequences and tantalizing twists.

Boasting a stellar cast, including Ataska, Angelica Hart, Mark Anthony Fernandez, and Aerol Carmelo, this gripping action film is directed by

Daniel Palacio, whose masterful storytelling skills ensure a gripping narrative that will leave viewers wanting more.

The film promises to showcase the talents of Ataska as James' loyal girlfriend, Angelica in a pivotal role, and Aerol as James' best friend and the son of the notorious Vice Mayor Rodrigo Reyes (Mark Anthony).

In Bisyo, Mark Anthony delivers a compelling portrayal of a vice mayor who is a seemingly kind-hearted politician harboring a dark and sinister secret as a criminal kingpin. James unwittingly becomes part of the vice mayor's world, entangled in dangerous criminal acts that threaten to derail his dreams.

The film's gripping plot revolves around a high-stakes race of wit and strategy as James seeks to break free from Vice Mayor Reyes' toxic hold. Audiences will be taken on an electrifying ride as they witness James and the Vice Mayor engaging in a battle of wits, each trying to outsmart the other.

Bisyo premieres exclusively on Vivamax starting July 21.

Empowered queens on screen

unlikely hero learns to channel her newfound powers and fight through the splintering timelines of the multiverse to save her home, family, and herself.

Ocean’s 8

The film brings together a stellar cast with Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Rhianna, Awkwafina, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, and Anne Hathaway in an all-female heist movie. In the spirit of the Ocean’s franchise, Ocean’s 8 exudes glamour, sophistication, clever plans, sleek fashion, and a delicious twist at the end. Ocean’s 8 may be the most fun movie that shows empowered women in traditionally maledominant roles.

Everything Everywhere All At Once

Sucker Punch

DISCOVER a realm of empowered queens gracing the screens of HBO GO's hit shows, exemplifying strength, and resilience in captivating narratives. From the cosmopolitan lives of And Just Like That… Season 2 to the mind-bending multiverse adventures of Everything Everywhere All At Once, and the glamorous heist caper of Ocean's 8, to the surreal and visually stunning journey of Sucker Punch, these female-centric stories redefine women's empowerment in the entertainment world.

And Just Like That… Season 2

The eleven-episode second season of the Max Original series And Just Like That…, from executive producer Michael Patrick King, premiered with two episodes last June 22 on HBO GO.

Returning series regulars include Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Sara Ramírez, Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker, Karen Pittman, Mario Cantone, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler, Christopher Jackson, Niall Cunningham, Cathy Ang, and Alexa Swinton.

The show had a groundbreaking awards season this year, took home seven awards at the 95th Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Best Actress (Michelle Yeoh), Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), Best Supporting Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.

The film is an irreverent and bighearted sci-fi action adventure about Evelyn Wang (Yeoh), a flustered Chinese American mother who is contacted from a parallel universe and told that only she can save the world. The

A surreal, visually striking film, Sucker Punch by Zack Snyder features Babydoll (Emily Browning) as the main protagonist committed to a mental asylum but escapes into a fantasy world that is just as hellish. There are two ways to look at Sucker Punch, which audiences have done when it was first released in 2011. One group views it as perpetuating the stereotype of viewing women as objects and the other, represents empowered, strong female warriors fighting against oppression. Stream the biggest series and blockbusters for just an additional P199 per month on your PLDT Home Fiber subscription. To know more, visit pldthome. com/hbogo.

November She has re-recorded Fearless and Red

Last October, Swift became the first artthe of her tenth studio album Midnights AFP

um concert series kicked off in March and is within striking distance of becoming the first billion-dollar tour. Speak Now was originally released in 2010. Swift has vowed to re-record her first six albums so she can control their rights – a process she was contractually allowed to begin in November 2020. She has also ist ever to simultaneously nab all 10 spots on the top US song chart after the release

Vivamax's 'Bisyo' stars rising actor Gold Aceron

UMI will be performing some of her chart-topping hits such as 'Remember Me,' 'Love Affair,' and

Sensational R&B artist UMI to visit Manila in August

AMERICAN singer and songwriter UMI is gracing the Manila stage with her mesmerizing R&B performance next month via Insignia Concert Series The concert event will take place at Samsung Hall, SM Aura Premier in BGC, Taguig on August 15. Music enthusiasts can look forward to an unforgettable evening filled with UMI's soulful melodies, mesmerizing vocals, and captivating stage presence. UMI, known for her unique blend of R&B, soul, and alternative music, has been making waves in the industry with her powerful storytelling and honest lyricism. With her distinct sound and thoughtprovoking songwriting, UMI has garnered a devoted fan base and critical acclaim worldwide.

should pay attention to. Insignia Presents is committed to curating a platform that celebrates emerging talents and provides a stage for promising artists like UMI to shine. This concert will showcase UMI's impressive discography, including her charttopping hits such as “Remember Me," “Love Affair," and "Butterfly." Fans can anticipate an immersive musical experience as UMI performs her soul-stirring ballads and infectious tracks, creating an atmosphere of pure musical bliss.

cism. With her distinct sound and thought-

As part of the Insignia Concert Series, UMI's performance highlights the essence of this concert series, showcasing acts that are on the rise and the artists that fans

Tickets are priced at P2,650 and fans are encouraged to purchase tickets early, as availability is limited and demand is expected to be high. Tickets can be purchased online at www.InsigniaPresents. com or at any SM Tickets outlets nationwide.

For more information about UMI's live concert and ticket sales, visit www. InsigniaPresents.com

American

on her Eras Tour

'Butterfly.'

Aerol plays as Gold's best friend in the thrilling and sexy movie, 'Bisyo'

JULY 19, 2023

Nickie Wang Editor

Angelica Villanueva , Writer

By Patricia Taculao

AFTER 75 years since its inception, the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) is now well on its way to seeing the completion of its forever home in Silang, Cavite, Metro Tagaytay. Aptly dubbed the AAP Home or Tahanan, the new headquarters for AAP is a visual manifesto rising on a 200 square-meter lot.

Visual artist Fidel Sarmiento, the president of AAP, shared that it’s time for AAP to put itself first and strive to build a permanent home. He added that the need for the AAP Tahanan became imperative after the Kanlungan ng Sining or Art Haven in Rizal Park closed its doors on the organization in 2014.

Under Sarmiento’s leadership, the AAP and its extensive network banded together to establish their most significant collaborative obra maestra. Sarmiento also wanted their new home to be independent of the government. He drew inspiration

LIFE A home for artists, by artists

from two success- ful fundraisers co- sponsored by artists for Ondoy and Ormoc victims, the Artabang 1 and Artabang 2, since “tabang” in Bisaya means “help.”

The AAP President took matters into his own hands and pushed for the Artabang 3 with the Cebuanos, with proceeds directed toward funding the first-ever AAP Home.

“We asked 80 plus artists to donate their paintings for a one night auction last December 19, 2019,” said AAP Secretary and watercolor Hall of Famer Margaret Lim

Meanwhile, Sarmiento shared that they also created murals in an area near an artist who first took them in after departing from Kanlungan ng Sining.

Nakagawa kami ng mga murals at ‘yung ibang mga donasyon na binigay ng mga artist ay inauction ” he said.

Eventually, this limited budget led AAP to Silang, Cavite. Yet the organization’s journey toward building its forever

Penguin Random House publishes Remoto, Moll, other Filipino authors

READERS and authors in Southeast Asia (SEA) are stoked that Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade book publisher, is unearthing and sharing engaging voices in the region through its Penguin Random House SEA imprint established in 2018.

Headquartered in Singapore, PRHSEA publishes English-language adult and children’s fiction and nonfiction for Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, and Myanmar.

It shines a light on authors from the region while simultaneously opening the SEA market to international titles. Through translation, it is making local and regional works available to a much wider audience.

Now in its fifth year, Penguin Random House SEA proudly showcases many Filipino authors in its 2023 catalog.

Among those available now are works by acclaimed writers Danton Remoto and Maryanne Moll (I picked up copies of these at the recent National Book Development Board’s 1st Philippine Book Festival last June 2.)

Remoto’s Riverrun is a memoir-style novel about the coming of age of a young gay man who grows up in a provincial barrio and goes to university in cosmopolitan London. Each chapter, written as flash fiction, unravels scenes from the protagonist’s life, using de-

vices such as recipes, poems, and songs to nudge the reader’s senses alive.

The Heart of Summer: Stories and Tales, also by Remoto, is a collection of short fiction written in the realist and fantastic modes, meant to entertain, instruct, and provide resonant insight about how the past merges into the present.

Readers eager to read Filipino classics will welcome Remoto’s translation into English of Lope K. Santos’ Banaag at Sikat (Radiance and Sunrise). Remoto makes accessible to the world “the most important Tagalog novel of the early 20th century,” as historian Teodoro Agoncillo described it.

Novelist Maryanne Moll returns with The Maps of Camarines, a sweeping, generational narrative about three wealthy haciendero families and how their destinies – good and bad – are intertwined with those of the people around them.

I’ll be writing more detailed reviews of these books, but for now, let me tell you that they are unputdownable, totally engrossing, and engaging. Kudos to the authors and Penguin Random House SEA for giving their voices a platform to tell their stories to the world. Read full story on manilastandard.net

Dr. Ortuoste is a board member of PEN Philippines, a member of the Manila Critics Circle, and a judge of the National Book Awards. You may reach her on Facebook and Twitter: @DrJennyO

home wasn’t without roadblocks, as the COVID-19 pandemic slowed its progress.

It was during this time when Sarmiento and his fellow officers met what they call angels on earth. So even though the expenses piled up, donations in kind trickled in.

Some of these contributions came from the AAP’s friends in Sunshine Place, where Sarmiento is an art instructor. These offers surprised Sarmiento and his fellow officers because of the sheer amount and support from his students and friends in the recreational center.

From the foundations to the building’s structure, the organization saw its dream of a permanent home slowly take shape.

With 12,000 members, the AAP is now the most significant and oldest umbrella national artists’ organization, de-

spite being founded as a social group by Purita Kalaw Ledesma in 1948. Its roster boasts national artists and international luminaries, including Vicente Manansala, Jose Joya, and Botong Francisco, among other personalities.

The two-story building houses AAP’s base, office, gallery, and educational center, where other aspiring artists can learn from AAP officers.

Among its other purposes include becoming a central office for various artist groups across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao and a gallery for out-of-town artists who need to exhibit their works but can’t afford accommodations.

As the AAP Home nears completion, the organization continues to prove its dedication to empowering local artists and how a little Bayanihan goes a long way.

Whatthe Cinemalaya short filmmakers say

CINEMALAYA, the country’s biggest independent film festival, is just around the corner. This year, on its 19th edition, Cinemalaya features 10 short films in competitions, vying for the most coveted Balanghai trophies. We let the filmmakers themselves narrate what their films are all about: Arvin Belarmino: “Hinakdal (Condemned) is a film about prejudice – the way disadvantaged people are treated as if they’re barely human. They are made to conform to the system and humans in power like zombies without a will or future of their own.”

Daniel Magayon: “In Maudi Nga Arapaap (Last Dream), we did not highlight the evil creature or the Batibat. We focus on the story of the mother-daughter relationship, and on the medication of the protagonist’s sleep paralysis caused by the trauma given to her by her mother. This project gave me the challenge to create a horror film in broad daylight.”

Diokko Manuel Dionisio: “As a queer person, it is important for me to relay this message [in the film Kokuryo: The Untold Story of Bb. Undas 2019] to the audience because the LGBTQIA+ community, especially trans people, still experience discrimination because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE). It is also important for the audience to know and understand the cultural and material violence that trans people continuously live through.”

Januar Yap: “If there had been stories that point out the living irony that we are, Sibuyas ni Perfecto is my two cents into this dialogue. It takes its cue from two references – the Passion of Christ and Gulag Archipelago. This film, in most moments, takes the points of view either of invisible power (distant, cold) or that of an informed observer (sympathetic, inquiring).

The film closes in on Perfecto, the quintessential peasant who does not understand the Big Brother structure that had placed him in a cycle of poverty.”

Joshua Caesar Medroso: “In making ‘Tong Adlaw Nga Nag-snow Sa Pinas, it was always clear to me that the intent would always be to show the beauty of childlike dreams and innocence and the power of friendships in the face of a challenge. I’ve always told myself that we’ll make a film that will resonate not only with children but with adults as well.”

Kent John Desamparado: “I made this film [Ang Kining Binalaybay Kag Ambahanon Ko Para Sa Imo (These Rhymes And Rhythms Meant For You)] as a tribute to my hometown Sagay City, Negros Occidental, to my mother, and most of all, to my grandfather. I always miss the moments we had before he succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease.”

Kurt Soberano: “The memories of my grandfather, the supporting character in the story [in the film

Golden Bells], and the dream he had will be eventually forgotten in time. It is through the medium of cinema, I wanted to immortalize the spirit of the building and the people who shaped it. Encapsulate every detail of that fleeting period and preserve the essence of our family.”

Mae Tanagon: “Despite having good amenities, the workers in this sector are underpaid. Low-wage employment has become an essential feature of the labor market and a controversial topic for debate in many countries. The filmmaker knew that if she did a film regarding the workers behind the horse racing industry in the Philippines, it would critique the poor management of horse racetracks and thus might help workers in this sector.”

Mike Cabarles: “As someone who does not have a strong relationship with my both parents, I think it is important to examine the effects of it that is oftentimes neglected. This [Makoko Sa Baybay (I Am Going To The Beach)] is a story of two siblings who wait for their mother to arrive with the tale they dearly hold onto. As a youth, we always want to seek answers. We are longing for love and affection yet always molded by obscurities.”

Kim Timan: “As someone who grew up in an abusive and toxic household, I know how important it is to tell a story about a seemingly jolly child and their traumatic reality. It’s a sad reality for so many children who don’t feel safe in a place that they’re supposed to call ‘home.’ Through playtime and colorful characters, we want to speak to the survivors of domestic abuse in a way that even children will understand. And hopefully, it [the film HM HM MHM) resonates with them as much as it does with us.”

Sam Villa-real: “In this film [HM HM MHM], I want to again explore that same feeling of isolation of being a young, closeted LGBT child navigating through self-discovery in a very Christian home. With this film, It will be like playing with my toys for one last time, sharing the story of my lonely younger self that she wasn’t brave enough to tell.”

Located

Filipino visual artist and Art Association of the Philippines president Fidel Sarmiento

‘Riverrun’ by Danton Remoto

Maryanne Moll’s ‘The Maps of Camarines’