Manila Standard - 2023 August 25 - Friday

LOYZAGA FINALLY ENTERS BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME

SPORTS / C1

Gilas in World Cup spotlight

PBBM to lead Pinoys in cheering on home team vs. Dominicans

By Jimbo Gulle and Vince Lopez

FILIPINOS will show the world just how hoops-mad the country is when they troop to the Philippine Arena in Bulacan today to support the Gilas men’s national team that makes its debut against a formidable Dominican Republic side to kick off the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to be among 52,000 Pinoys and tourists from across the globe who are seen attending the opening ceremonies and filling the massive stadium on Friday.

INSIDE

THE Philippine men’s basketball team is seen making the “biggest positive surprise” in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, according to a poll of the accredited media covering the tournament co-hosted by Manila, Jakarta in Indonesia, and Okinawa in Japan.

Before the once-every-four-years event tips off at the Philippine Arena, Okinawa Arena and Indonesia Arena today, the media covering the premier basketball event were invited to tackle the tournament's burning questions in the official Media Projections Survey.

The poll showed that 22.2 percent of the FIBA media think Gilas Pilipinas will make the biggest splash in the event on its home soil, followed by Canada at 9.9 percent. Germany and South Sudan were tied for third at 7.4 percent.

The survey also indicates that Gilas (11.2 percent) is just behind the United States (61.5 percent) as the team with the most pressure to win in the event.

FIBA said the survey takes a deep dive into the

WEATHER

‘Goring’ poised to intensify into typhoon

TROPICAL Depression “Goring” could strengthen to become a typhoon or even super typhoon by Saturday, the state weather bureau said Thursday.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Goring may steadily intensify throughout the forecast period and could reach the tropical storm category by Thursday night or early Friday.

"While the current intensity forecast indicates the progression towards typhoon category, the inherent volatility of attaining super typhoon category remains a possibility,” PAGASA said.

No tropical cyclone wind signal has been hoisted over any part of the country, but PAGASA expects this to change beginning Thursday night.

PAGASA said Goring could also enhance the southwest monsoon, which could cause occasional rains over the western portions of Central and Southern Luzon beginning Sunday.

The tropical depression is less likely to bring heavy rains for the next three days, but the weather bureau said that any westward shift in the forecast track may result in heavy rainfall over Cagayan Valley.

Goring was last tracked 355 km. east northeast of Calayan, Cagayan, or 300 km. east of Basco, Batanes, moving north-northwestward at 15 kph.

It packs maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph. Rio N. Araja

P505m in smuggled rice seized at Bulacan depots

By Joel E. Zurbano and Maricel V. Cruz

GOVERNMENT agents seized smuggled rice worth P505 million on Thursday in an operation joined by lawmakers led by House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio at three warehouses in Bulacan.

The warehouses, owned and operated by Great Harvest Rice Mill Warehouse, San Pedro Warehouse, and FS Rice Mill Warehouse are located inside the Intercity Industrial

Complex in San Juan, Balagtas in Bulacan, were found to contain about 202,000 sacks of imported rice from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.

"I have ordered the owners of these warehouses to present the necessary documents that will support its rice importation, as well as the amount of rice they have been keeping in these warehouses," Rubio said.

Rubio thanked Romualdez and Reps. Erwin Tulfo, Wilfrido Mark Enverga, and Ambrosion Cruz Jr. for joining the inspection at the establishments.

Prigozhin, Wagner boss who defied Putin, presumed dead in private jet crash

KUZHENKINO, Russia—An investigation was underway in Russia on Thursday into a plane crash that left Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin presumed dead—two months after his rebellion against the country's military leaders—fuelling speculation about a possible assassination. A day after a private jet on which Prigozhin was registered crashed between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Russia had still not confirmed the warlord's death. Moscow said all ten people onboard were likely killed and opened a criminal case into violations of air traffic rules.

Russia's aviation authority published a list of

LET THE GAMES BEGIN. The renowned Naismith Trophy of the FIBA World Cup stands tall in Ilocos Norte as part of a nationwide tour before becoming the sought-after prize among 32 teams competing in the tournament starting today at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan (inset).

SMUGGLED RICE UNCOVERED. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (center), along with other lawmakers, joins the fact-finding mission of the Bureau of Customs in inspecting several rice warehouses in Bulacan as part of the exercise of the oversight powers of Congress. The inspection was conducted amid allegations that hoarding of rice supply is driving up the price of the staple grain. Ver Noveno

18.8m enrolled for new school year

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

WITH less than a week before classes open in public schools, some 18.83 million students have enrolled for the school year 2023-2024 so far, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Thursday.

This is expected to rise to 28 million enrollees—the bulk of them in public schools--when classes open on Aug. 29.

Data from the DepEd show that enrollment was highest in Region IV-A or Calabarzon, with 3.11 million enrollees.

National Capital Region or Metro Manila followed with 2.35 million enrollees and Region III had 2.06 million.

The DepEd is encouraging students and parents to enroll ahead of the opening of classes.

“We accommodate late enrollees although we don’t encourage them to be late so that class programming can be more efficient, particularly in big

Gilas...

From A1

Just coming close to that number will help the country erase the previous World Cup attendance record of 32,616 set in the 1994 event in Toronto, Canada, according to the host Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

The Philippines is hosting the quadrennial event for just the second time since 1978, when then-Yugoslavia beat a Soviet Union side 82-81 in overtime at the Araneta Coliseum for the gold medal.

This year, the “Big Dome” in Quezon City is one of three venues for the event, along with the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City and the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

To help ease organizers’ woes – especially over traffic—in hosting the World Cup for the first time in 45 years, President Marcos declared Friday as a non-working holiday in Metro Manila and Bulacan for government offices and schools.

FIBA...

From A1 minds of media representatives from over 50 different countries and aims to reflect their overall expectations ahead of the federation’s flagship event about the brightest stars and the best teams. The survey also confirmed the status of the Americans as the main title favorites, and suggested a close race for the

P505m...

From A1

"The smuggling of agricultural products, in particular rice… poses a grave threat to our economy. It creates a ripple effect that impacts the core of our agricultural sector—our farmers," he said.

Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy underscored the role of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in the administration’s thrust to get to the bottom of hoarding that drives up the cost of rice in the market.

"If proven true, hoarding such a huge amount of rice grain will have legal consequences,” he said.

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) chief Verne Enciso said the agency coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Balagtas and personnel from Brgy. San Juan.

After warehouse representatives

Prigozhin, ..

From A1 names that were onboard the Embraer Legacy plane late on Wednesday.

It included Prigozhin and his righthand man Dmitry Utkin -- a shadowy figure who managed Wagner's operations and allegedly served in Russian military intelligence.

President Vladimir Putin, who in June faced the biggest challenge in his more than two-decade rule as Prigozhin led an armed mutiny, has not spoken publicly on the crash.

During the rebellion on June 23-24, Putin gave an address to Russians in which he called Prigozhin—once his ally—a "traitor".

But Western leaders reacted, with US President Joe Biden saying "I don't know for a fact what happened... there's not much that happens in Russia that Putin's not behind".

France saw "reasonable doubts" about the crash, with a government spokesman agreeing with Biden's assessment.

schools,” DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged local government units (LGUs), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to support DepEd’s Balik Eskwela 2023 campaign by ensuring a peaceful and orderly class opening on Aug. 29.

“Peace and order are paramount priorities in Balik-Eskwela 2023. To our LGUs and law enforcement units, be vigilant and be on your toes to ensure the safety of our students, parents, and teachers as classes are about to start,” DILG

As early as last week, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and officials of the North Luzon Expressway, which leads to the Philippine Arena, warned motorists to expect stopand-go traffic leading to the venues, especially wherever Gilas Pilipinas or the favored United States team of National Basketball Association stars play.

Led by NBA star Jordan Clarkson, Gilas takes the floor against the Dominicans – bannered by their own NBA mainstay, 7-footer Karl-Anthony Towns—at 8 p.m. local time (1200 GMT), after Italy takes on Angola in the 4 p.m. (0800 GMT) opener.

Coached by Chot Reyes, the host team is hoping to get at least two wins in three matches for a chance to advance past the elimination round on home soil (see related story on C1 -- Editors).

On Thursday, an inter-agency conference, presided over by Police Lt. Gen. Michael John Dubria, brought together key stakeholders and experts to discuss the comprehensive security strategy at the headquarters of the Philippine National Police in Quezon City

TISSOT Most Valuable Player award between USA's Anthony Edwards and Luka Doncic of Slovenia as the early front-runners.

Other questions looked at the nations most likely to finish on the podium, the strongest groups in the event, which players can be expected to lead the different statistical categories, and other interesting angles.

Over half of the media surveyed, or 61.5 percent, picked the USA to win the

acknowledged Rubio’s letter of authority, the Customs team inspected the warehouses and found hundreds of thousands of sacks of rice grain that the authorities suspect will lack import documentation.

"As with our protocol, the team padlocked and sealed the warehouse temporarily and proceeded with the inventory of the found goods," he added.

If found without proper importation and proof of payment, seizure and forfeiture proceedings will be conducted on the shipments for violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

The fact-finding team from the House of Representatives joined the Customs inspectors at Rubio’s invitation.

“The amount of rice here is good for three months. Technically, that’shoarding,” Romualdez said.

“If you hoard it and the price goes up, that’s greed,” he added in Filipino.

He said they wanted to see if the

Even influential pro-Kremlin figures, such as state television personality and Putin ally Margarita Simonyan, seemed to suggest that it could have been an assassination.

"Among the versions that are being discussed (about the crash) is that it was staged. But personally, I'm leaning towards the more obvious one," she said on social media.

Power struggle

In June, Prigozhin had sent his fighters marching into Moscow to unseat Russia's top generals in a dramatic 48 hours that shook Putin's authority.

Prigozhin had for months complained about the way Moscow's offensive in Ukraine was being led, where his fighters were often spearheading battles.

In Ukraine, some people rejoiced at the apparent death of a man whose fighters were known for exceptionally cruel efforts.

"I feel really happy that this person died, if it is true," government worker Iryna Kuchina told AFP in central Kyiv.

"Let's hope that it is."

Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said. Abalos urged LGUs to deploy law and traffic enforcers, barangay police officers, medical personnel, and other force multipliers to ensure a safe school opening. He also urged the PNP to work with LGUs to increase police visibility within school premises and to establish police help desks near school zones.

Also on Thursday, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called for the expansion of the voucher system to address the lack of classrooms in public schools.

Only available for Senior High Schools at the moment, the voucher system lets qualified students attend classes in private schools which will receive a subsidy.

Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate committee on basic education, said the voucher system should be expanded to cover learners from Kindergarten to Grade 6 to spare the government from allocating more resources to build classrooms.

Focal persons from the MMDA, the Department of Health, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the Manila International Airport Authority, and representatives from the Local Organizing Committee of FBWC 2023 were briefed on the complex details of the security plans.

The NLEX Corporation on Wednesday announced suggested routes for FBWC participants. It said ticket holders are urged to take the Ciudad de Victoria exit on NLEX passing through the RFID lane.

With the expected high volume of vehicles, NLEX Corp. told motorists to expect a heavy flow of traffic on Friday. Alternate routes via exits in Marilao, Bocaue, or Tambumbong have also been provided for vehicles headed towards Sta. Maria, Bulacan.

A truck ban will be implemented in selected municipalities leading to the venue, officials said, as local government units will make detailed announcements on their official social media pages.

NLEX said traffic personnel will be deployed in strategic areas to ensure a

World Cup, with France second, Spain third, Slovenia fourth, and Australia fifth. Canada was picked to be the “biggest disappointment” of the event, followed by Spain and the US in a tie for second in the survey. But they were also chosen “most likely to be on the podium” – winning gold, silver, or bronze medals – along with France, Australia, Slovenia, Germany, and Serbia. The scribes picked Group H, which features Canada, Latvia, Lebanon, and

proper duties had been paid for the imported rice.

“Our assessment is that the supply of rice is really enough, especially with the imports,” Romualdez said even as he lamented thatsome traders have been exploiting the international price to jack up local rice prices.

Some traders, he added, were even holding back locally produced rice and matching its price with international pricing.

He urged the traders to move their stock and support the state-owned Kadiwa stores to help the public cope with rising prices.

Enverga, who was part of the House team, added: "Rice hoarding is economic sabotage in its highest degree. It not only destabilizes prices in the market through arbitrary manipulation, but it also adversely affects the ability of Filipino families to cope with day-to-day living.”

For the past few weeks, the price of rice has been steadily rising with

Three crew members were among the dead, including the only woman onboard: a stewardess identified as Kristina Raspopova.

Little is known about the rest of the passengers, with Russian media saying most were Wagner mercenaries.

Dramatic descent

On the site near the village of Kuzhenkino, some 350 kilometers (220 miles) north of Moscow in the Tver region, Russian police patrolled the area, with some masked men carrying rifles.

The plane was flying from Moscow to Saint Petersburg, where Wagner's headquarters are based.

The Flightradar24 tracker website said the plane appeared on their radar until the last 30 seconds and descended "dramatically" around 15:20 GMT.

Some Wagner-linked Telegram channels had initially suggested that the plane was shot down by Russian air defense, on a day when Kyiv hit Russia with more drone attacks.

The Russian army, which had a fierce rivalry with Prigozhin, had also not commented on the crash.

“If you have a well-designed voucher system that is properly implemented, you won’t need to build more classrooms. You give the voucher to the student, and the student goes to the nearest, least congested school," Gatchalian said.

Aside from tapping private schools’ excess capacities, the voucher system could also help private schools recover from a drop in enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data from the DepEd and the Learner Information System show that from the pre-pandemic level of 4.3 million in School Year (SY) 2019-2020, enrollment in private schools is down to 3.62 million for SY 2022-2023, a decline of 16 percent.

Meanwhile, 32 percent (12,524) of 39,186 schools for Kindergarten to Grade 6 have congested classrooms.

Bringas said the agency faces a backlog of around 159,000 classrooms nationwide, which would require a budget of P397 billion.

safe and smooth journey.

Dubria said delegation arrivals from August 22 to 23 totaled 2,017, comprising 793 participants and 1,224 FIBA officials and staff. “These numbers underscore the magnitude of the event and the collective efforts required to ensure its smooth operation,” he said.

More than 3,000 participants are expected, including FIBA members,World Congress attendees, government officials, media, and foreign embassy representatives. About 2,000 guests will arrive from abroad, Dubria added.

The security personnel deployment plan entails 2,589 police officers from the National Capital Region Police Office, 363 officers from Police Regional Office 3, and 2,904 personnel from other government agencies and force multipliers, he said.

“The collaborative efforts of the Specialized Task Group, which includes representatives from various government bodies, signify the Philippines' dedication to hosting a safe and successful FIBA Basketball World Cup,” Dubria said.

France and is playing in Jakarta, as the strongest among the eight four-team groups in the 32-nation tournament.

While Doncic is expected to be the leading scorer and assist man of the event, France’s Rudy Gobert was picked to be the top rebounder and best defensive player, the survey showed.

Slovenian star Doncic was also seen in the poll taking the game-winning shot, while USA’s Steve Kerr was voted as the best coach of the World Cup. Jimbo Gulle

retailers selling at P50 to P62 per kilogram in Metro Manila.

“We need to know if there is truly some basis to accusations that hoarders are responsible for the spike of rice prices in the market. Inspections such as these send a powerful signal to all the hoardersand manipulators out there to stop burdening the Filipino people for profit,” Romualdez said.

“Aside from our oversight functions under the law, we are also doing this in aid of legislation, as we have pending measures in the House of Representatives that seek to penalize the act of hoarding rice and other basic agricultural necessities,” Romualdez added.

Reps. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Brian Yamsuan, and Wilbert Lee all filed bills seeking to strengthen anti-agricultural smuggling laws and stiffer penalties for hoarders, price manipulators, and even government officials involved in the crime.

In Russia's second-largest city of Saint Petersburg, native to both Putin and Prigozhin, some Wagner supporters came to the private military group's offices to mourn the fighter chief.

People laid flowers and patches bearing the Wagner skull logo at a makeshift memorial outside the mercenary group's headquarters, AFP journalists said. 'No words' "Guys, we just have no words right now," said a masked man and alleged members of Wagner at the site.

"Let's support Yevgeny Viktorovich (Prigozhin) and all our commanders.

We need your support now."

Wagner offices were still operating and even recruiting in Russia after Prigozhin's rebellion, which saw his men take over a military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and march on Moscow.

In Siberia's Novosibirsk, a region from where Wagner heavily recruited, people also laid flowers at the company's headquarters. Men in military fatigues with

Gov’t now lets PUV operators transfer CPCs

By Rio N. Araja

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board will now accept applications for the transfer of Certificates of Public Convenience for public utility vehicles.

“The LTFRB is very mindful of the situation, and that is why we took careful consideration in the issuance of this circular. We needed to strike a balance between allowing a legitimate CPC transfer and at the same time deter any form of abuse,” chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said.

Some transport groups, such as the Nagkakaisang Samahan ng mga Nangangasiwa ng Panlalawigang Bus sa Pilipinas Inc., requested the LTFRB to review Memorandum Circular 2016010 that prohibited the transfer of CPC to other operators.

Under Memorandum Circular 2023027, or the “Guidelines on the Transfer of Certificate of Public Convenience,” it essentially lifts the “prohibition on the acceptance of application for sale and transfer, whether voluntary or involuntary, of CPC.”

This way, it will be easier to distribute aid to operators such as the Pantawid Pasada or the fuel subsidy program of the government. Operators can now easily join the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) since they will be able to transfer and register their vehicles much faster.

With regard to applications for transfer of CPC, the Board listed some conditions before any application is allowed. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

High Court blocks detention order vs. Cagayan gov

THE Supreme Court has blocked a detention order the House of Representatives issued against Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba, whom lawmakers wanted to be punished for allegedly snubbing hearings on election charges in the 2022 polls.

On Thursday, the SC issued a temporary restraining order blocking the implementation of contempt and detention orders issued by the House joint committee on August 17.

Mamba had questioned the orders before the High Court on Tuesday (see related story on A3—Editors).

The Court also required the House joint committee to comment on the petition within five days of receipt of the notice.

Still, Mamba on Thursday apologized to legislators as he appeared before a joint congressional committee investigating the alleged illegal expenditures of the local government during the 2022 election campaign.

“I am indebted to you all for my failure to come here and participate.

My apologies,” Mamba told members of the House committees on public accounts, and suffrage and electoral reforms. “I am really sorry for that.”

The governor said he could not attend the hearings because he was swamped with work due to the typhoon that recently hit the province.

“I know the consequences, it was lost in my thoughts. I’m really sorry because I was responding to the needs of my constituents,” Mamba said.

“I was also in a quandary about what to prioritize,” he added. Maricel V. Cruz

the Wagner skull insignia on their shoulders placed flowers near portraits of Prigozhin and Utkin.

Prigozhin's fate had remained unclear since his mutiny was halted by a highly unusual deal brokered by neighboring Belarus, which involved Prigozhin and his fighters going into exile in the Moscow-allied country.

The Kremlin had "guaranteed" that Prigozhin would not face criminal charges for the rebellion and be allowed to live in Belarus.

The deal raised eyebrows, with Putin not usually settling for such a compromise.

In Belarus, the fate of the remaining Wagner fighters there also remained unclear. Minsk has for weeks played up the presence of the fighters, saying it had set up a camp for them.

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the exiled opposition leader of Belarus, said Prigozhin would not be missed in her country.

"He was a murderer and should be remembered as such," she said on social media. AFP

Ombudsman files graft charges against DBM, Pharmally execs

By Rio N. Araja

THE Office of the Ombuds-

man has ordered the filing of three counts of graft charges against former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Christopher Lao, two other former DBM executives, and Pharmally officials in connection with the government’s purchase of P4 billion worth of RT-PCR test kits.

Aside from Lao, also ordered indicted for three counts of graft were former DBM procurement director Warren Liong, DBM procurement management officer Paul Jasper de Guzman, and Pharmally officials Twinkle

Dargani, Linconn Ong, Justine Garado, and Huang Tzu Yen. The Ombudsman said Pharmally got the huge P4 billion government contract even if its paid up capital is only P625,000.

“Said award to Pharmally was a complete disregard of the provision that the procuring entity should directly negotiate or procure from a legally, technically and financially capable supplier, distributor, manufacturer, contractor or co sultant as embodies in the Government Procurement Policy Board and the Procurement law,” the Ombudsman added. In response to the Ombudsman’s decision, the camp of Pharmally officials maintained that they are not liable for graft or any form of corruption.

Ferdinand Topacio, the counsel for the Pharmally officials, said in a statement, that “we are prepared to exhaust all remedies under the law to assail the indictments, and look forward to our day in court, where we can—once and for all—prove that these persons have done nothing wrong, and that these charges stemmed

from a political vendetta which has ultimately backfired on its authors, and will continue to haunt these politicians,”

Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Thursday welcomed the Ombudsman’s filing of graft charges against the DBM officials.

“I hope this day will serve as a warning to all planning to steal from the nation’s coffer that justice will soon come,” she said.

Hontiveros said this is an important step toward exacting accountability and justice against those behind this “deplorable wastage of government funds while Filipinos are suffering from a global pandemic.”

The findings of the Office of the Ombudsman also validated the initial draft of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Report last year, also recommending the filing of charges against executive officials tagged in the anomalous transaction for pandemic supplies.

Former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon meanwhile expressed strong support for the recent Ombudsman ruling on the Pharmally scam

IN BRIEF

DND chief hails lawmakers on pension plan

DEPARTMENT of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro thanked the House of Representatives for agreeing to adopt proposals on the substitute bill on the government’s Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) Pension Reform.

“We thank our legislators for understanding the position of the department on the issue of pension reform and on our part, we pledge to exert our utmost efforts in transferring available real estate assets into the proposed AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Retirement Trust Fund,” he said in a statement.

In pushing for his proposals, Teodoro pointed out that the distinction between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the rest of the uniformed services go beyond the differences between the nature of their duties and responsibilities.

“While these differences are significant and should be fundamental considerations for the proposed changes in their respective pension systems, from a financial perspective, I must point out that the AFP will not increase its force size in the same manner as the other services, whose numbers are tied in to the country’s growing population,” he said. Vince Lopez

Chief Justice cites importance of mental health

CHIEF Justice Alexander Gesmundo said enhanced physical and mental health of court officials and employees will eventually lead to improved quality of judicial service. This was the message conveyed by Gesmundo who led the opening of the Supreme Court’s (SC) Sportsfest 2023 last Wednesday, Aug. 23 at the SC-Court of Appeals (CA) gymnasium in Manila.

In his speech before more than 1,000 participants, Gesmundo said that one of the objectives of the five-year Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations (SPJI) is “to address the needs and welfare of its internal stakeholders so they can perform their duties in the delivery of justice effectively.”

According to the top magistrate, the SPJI’s objective “seeks a more inclusive and more responsive Judiciary Health and Welfare Program for all court officials and employees covering their physical, mental, and social well-being.” Rey E. Requejo

House panels order Cagayan gov’s detention for not attending hearings

By Jessica Bacud

CAGAYAN Governor Manuel Mamba has been detained for failing to attend a Congressional investigation into alleged illegal spending of his provincial government in the 2022 elections.

The House Committee on Public Accounts and the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms cited Mamba for contempt and ordered that he be detained in the chamber.

In a statement, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez welcomed on Thursday Mamba’s voluntary surrender a week after a joint House panel cited the governor for contempt, owing to his repeated non-attendance at an inquiry of the House Committees on Public Accounts and on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms.

Romualdez said “Governor Mamba’s choice to voluntarily surrender is a commendable stride in safeguarding the integrity of our democratic institutions.”

“It signifies his readiness to collaborate with the House’s proceedings and underscores a steadfast commitment to the fundamental principles of accountability and transparency that form the cornerstone of our democracy,” the Speaker said.

During a joint hearing held on August 17, members of the two committees decided to cite Mamba for contempt. Cagayan Provincial Information Of-

ficer Rogelio Sending was also cited for contempt and detained even if he was present at the hearing.

The inquiry sought to conduct a special audit or fraud audit investigation of the Cagayan provincial government’s alleged illicit spending during the campaign period from March 25 to May 8, 2022.

It also called for an investigation on Mamba’s alleged vote-buying. The Commission on Elections in late 2022 disqualified Mamba for violating the spending ban.

Mamba said he was “surprised” upon receiving the detention order issued by a House of Represenatives joint panel. Mamba said it was his understanding that he was “excused” from attending its hearings.

“I don’t have a subpoena, they didn’t summon me, and they excused me, Mamba said.

The public accounts panel’s chairman, Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano of the Abang Lingkod party list, earlier said that the governor had not shown up for the hearings since the hearings started on May 31.

Mamba stated that although he had attended the meeting on May 31, he had been excused from the subsequent public hearings because of the ongoing legal disputes between the Supreme Court and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) about the same issue of public spending during election season.

Villar proposes reclamation projects to secure approval from NEDA, DOF

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SEN. Cynthia Villar wants reclamation projects to have the approval of government agencies such as the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Department of Finance (DOF) before these projects are issued an Environmental Certificate Compliance (ECC) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“Under the current set-up, the DENR will issue an ECC. But unfortunately, those ECCs were issued without consultations. That’s the problem. Maybe, we can include not only DENR, but also NEDA, or the Department of Finance,” Villar said.

She also said government agencies should make it “harder” for reclamation projects to get ECCs because only one DENR subagency—the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)— is issuing the said clearances.

Villar also said the EMB director issues the ECC “without consultations.”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said all 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay, except for one, have been suspended.

The ECCs were issued during the time of DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, Villar said.

Villar said 15 of these reclamation projects are found in Metro Manila (Region 4-A) and 4 are found in Cavite (Region 4). She said she has been strongly fighting the two planned reclamation projects in Las Pinas as it will impede the flow of water from four rivers - the Paranaque River, the Las Pinas River, the Zapote River and the Molino River.

Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, cited warnings by experts about massive floodings in the areas of Las Pinas and the nearby Bacoor City if reclamation takes place.

issuance of Notice of Finality of Decision and COA Order of Execution

WHEREAS, pursuant to its rule-making authority vested under Section 6, Article IXA in conjunction with its power, authority, and duty to examine, audit and settle all accounts pertaining to the revenue, receipts, expenditures or uses of funds and property of the Government under Section 2(1), Article IX-D, both of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the Commission on Audit issued COA Circular No. 2009-006 dated September 15, 2009 prescribing the use of the Rules and Regulations on Settlement of Accounts (RRSA);

WHEREAS, in the same vein, COA adopted the 2009 Revised Rules of Procedure of the COA (RRPC) which took effect on October 28, 2009 after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation;

WHEREAS, the Notice of Finality of Decision (NFD) is issued on all final and executory decisions of COA, and by practice NFD has also been issued on final and executory decisions ofthe Supreme Court (SC) involving COA decisions; WHEREAS, while per RRSA and RRPC, the COA Order of Execution (COE) is issued to enforce the settlement of an audit disallowance/charge pursuant to a final and executory decision of COA and/or the SC (Sections 23.1 and 23.2.2 of RRSA; Section 3, Rule XIII of the 2009 RRPC), its issuance for final and executory decisions of COA and SC on money claims against the government is being done on a case to case basis, under specific authority, usually upon motion of the winning-claimant;

WHEREAS, on final and executory judgment of the courts, arbitral body or COA on money claims, settlement thereof requires the determination of the source of funds available for disbursements,1 in adherence to the public policy that disbursements of public funds must be covered by the corresponding appropriation as required by law;2

WHEREAS, COA’s authority under the law, and the recent jurisprudence is to ensure that the adjudged government agency should abide by the judgment by ascertaining the authenticity and completeness of the final and executory judgment sought to be executed, properly identifying and obligating the funds appropriated for the purpose, including in the agency’s appropriation/budget fund therefor ifnone is available, recognizing the corresponding liability in the books of accounts, and propriety of the actual disbursement of such amount;

WHEREAS, there is a need to update the provisions of the RRSA and the 2009 RRPC to provide a uniform and consistent actions in the issuance ofNFD and COE;

NOW, THEREFORE, this Commission RESOLVES, as it does hereby RESOLVE, to amend the following provisions of the RRSA, as follows:

1. Section 22 of the RRSA is hereby amended to read as follows: (amendments underlined)

22.2 The NFD - shall be issued by the authorized COA official to the agency head to notify that a decision of the Auditor (Form 7, Annex A), Director (Form 7 A. Annex B), or CP (Form 7B, Annex C) has become final and executory, there being no appeal or motion for reconsideration filed within the reglementary period, or that an entry of judgment has been issued by the Supreme Court esC) on its decision involving COA decisions/resolutions.

22.3 The NFD shall be signed by the:

xxx

22.3.5 Commission Secretary, for decisions of the Commission Proper and/or the SC.

2. The following sub-sections under Section 22 of the RRSA shall be added to read as follows:

22.7 An NFD (Form 7B, Annex C) shall be issued notwithstanding that a Petition/or Certiorari (PC) has been filed with the SC questioning COA decisions/resolutions on the NOINC. Nonetheless, the subsequent issuance by the SC of Status Quo Ante Order, Temporary Restraining Order, or Writ of Preliminary Injunction shall cause the issuance of a Notice of Recall (Form 7C, Annex D) for the said NFD, with an advice to drop in the meantime the receivables previously recorded in the books of accounts.

22.7.1 Where the SC affirmed in toto the decision/resolution of COA affirming the NDINC, the previously issued NFD, which has not been recalled for grounds specified in Section 22.7, shall remain valid. However, where the SC modified the COA decision/resolution, an amended NFD (Form 7D, Annex E) shall be issued to reflect the modifications.

22.7.2 Where no NFD has been issued, or when the one previously issued has been recalled for grounds under Section 22.7, an NFD shall be issued for the first time or anew (Form 7B, Annex C). respectively, to reflect the decision/resolution ofthe SC.

22.7.3 Where an NFD has been issued or when the one previously issued has been recalled for grounds under Section 22.7 and the SC reversed or set aside the COA decision/resolution affirming NDINC, no new NFD shall be issued as the entry of judgment is a sufficient basis of the dropping of receivable from the books of accounts and the issuance of Notice of Settlement of Suspension/ Disallowance/Charge (NSSDC).

BE IT RESOLVED FURTHER, that the 2009 RRPC be amended as follows:

1. The following definition under Section 4 - Meaning of Words in Rule I of the 2009 RRPC, shall be added to read as follows:

x. Process of payment - refers to the settlement of claims against the government by virtue of a final and executory judgment which shall include: (l) ascertaining the authenticity and completeness of the final and executory judgment sought to be executed; (2) identifying and obligating the funds available therefor; (3) recognizing in the books of accounts the corresponding liability; and (4) actual payment and/or disbursement of funds, which shall be subject to post audit. For unfunded obligations, the process shall be preceded by the inclusion of the amount of the claim in the: (1) budget/appropriation for approval by Congress in the case of national government agencies; (2) appropriation ordinance in the case of local government units; and (3) corporate operating budget in the case of government-owned and controlled corporations.

2. Section 2, Rule XIII of the 2009 RRPC is hereby amended to read as follows: (amendments underlined)

Section 2. Notice of Finality of Decision (NFD) - An NFD directing the persons liable to pay/refund the amount disallowed/ charged or the agency concerned to initiate the process of payment in case of money claims shall be issued by the following officials, upon a decision that has become final and executory:

a. Auditor - for NDINC or Decision issued by him b. Director who supervised the special audit team - for NDINC issued by the audit team c. Director - for decision rendered by him d. Commission Secretary - for decisions of the CP and the Supreme Court.

In case of money claims. the subsequent filing of a Petition for Review of the decisions of the ClusterlRegional Directors before the CPo or of a Petition for Certiorari (PC) before the Supreme Court in the case of COA decisions/ resolutions, shall suspend the issuance of an NFD until the decision thereon shall have become final and executory. The NFD to be issued for the decisions of the ClusterlRegional Director, CP, or Supreme Court granting the money claims shall include a directive to the concerned government agency to initiate the process of payment as defined in Section 4(x) of these Rules. (Annexes F and G)

3. Section 3, Rule XIII of the 2009 RRPC is hereby amended to read as follows: (amendments underlined)

Section 3. COA Order of Execution (COE) - In case of failure of the persons(s) liable to refund the amount disallowed/charged upon issuance of the NFD. the COE directing the CashierlTreasurer/Disbursing Officer to withhold payment of any money due such person(s) shall be issued by the following:

a. Director - for NFDs issued by him and by the Auditor

b. General Counsel- for NFD issued by him and by the Commission Secretary. and for judgments rendered by the Supreme Court No COE shall be issued on NFD involving money claims, the directive in the NFD being sufficient to initiate the process of payment. All issuances of the Commission inconsistent herewith are deemed modified or repealed accordingly.

This Resolution shall take effect after 15 days from publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Done this 7th day of August 2023 in Quezon City, Philippines.

GAMALIEL A. CORDOBA

MAYORS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE. Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong and other local government o cials led the o cial launch of “Mayors for Good Governance” movement at the UP Diliman Film Center in Quezon City on Thursday. The movement is dedicated to uniting local chief executives, upholding good governance principles, and transcending political di erences to combat corruption. Manny Palmero

NIA chief admits anomalies cause protracted delays in infra projects

THE acting chief of the Irrigation Administration (NIA) on Thursday admitted that there was corruption in the agency.

Testifying at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee inquiry on alleged irregularities in irrigation projects, acting NIA administrator Eduardo Guillen Eduardo hesitantly admitted there were irregularities such as long delayed implementation of projects.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo castigated Guillen for evading questions raised during the hearing.

“Don’t include other agencies. I’m just talking about NIA Let’s accept it. You agree? Kasi the only time you can solve a corruption problem in the agency you are handling is to accept that there is corruption. Kasi, if you don’t accept that there is corruption, how can you solve that corruption problem? Denial is not the right answer,” Tulfo told Guillen.

Guillen admitted that there were “lapses” within the agency, but Tulfo argued that “lapses” and “corruption” were two different matters.

Asked again to admit if there’s corruption in NIA, Guillen answered in the affirmative.

“So you admit that there’s corruption? Right? So if there’s corruption, we must solve this. So you admit that there’s corruption?” Tulfo again asked.

“Yes po. Kaya inaayos natin iyong sistema,” Guillen responded.

Tulfo also chided Guillen for ostensibly “sugarcoating” his answers.

“Gagamitan mo ako ng salitang lapses, isu-sugarcoat mo pa…So meron korapsyon sa NIA, ina-admit mo na. Kaya nandyan ka, so-solve-in mo at tutulong ka. You’re not gonna be a part of the problem, but you’re gonna be part of the solution,” the senator said.

Guillen admitted that there are delayed NIA projects including the Balog Balog Dam in Tarlac which was initiated during the watch of former President Corazon Aquino.

“May mga delayed po na projects... Mahirap kasi iyong nasa anomaly kasi deep investigation po talaga iyan. Ang nakita ko po, may mga delayed na project, like in the case of Balog Balog (dam)... Iyong mga delayed projects po, in-issue-han namin kaagad iyong mga contractors ng catch-up plan,” Guillen said.

Marcos says PH has taken first step toward federalism

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the government is on its “first step” towards federalism as he led the oath-taking of new members of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) in Malacañang.

Mr. Marcos, who is also the political party’s chairman, told the PFP inductees that there was still a long way to go before achieving federal government in the Philippines, adding that the country’s political structure should stabilize first before moving forward.

“There has to be a central tenet and a central principle to what we are doing. And that is—we were talking here about federalism and what we have started to do,” the President said.

He stressed the need to have power centers outside Metro Manila to help in creating a steady and reliable political structure, citing that once the power centers in Manila fall, the whole country will also fall.

“That is very simple. That derives a very simple idea that the stability of a political structure is much more reliable when we have many power centers.

If the power centers only belong here in Manila,then pabagsakin mo ‘yung Manila, bagsak ang buong Pilipinas. (If Manila falls, the entire Philippines would fall),” Marcos said.

He emphasized that power centers in different local government units make for a more stable political structure even at the lower level of governance.

Moreover, the Chief Executive told the PFP members that there is still a lot to be changed in setting the political party’s goal.

“We are attempting to be—to transform the government, to transform the bureaucracy, to transform even the thinking of ordinary Filipinocitizens and our politicians,” he said.

Presidential son and Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand Alexander Marcos was among the newly sworn

members of the political party.

PFP was formed in 2018, while Mr. Marcos joined the party in 2021 and took the chairmanship as he was also unanimously voted as its presidential candidate.

The President said he would leave to local governments the discretion to decide for their respective constituents, noting that it is “the first step of a federal government for the Philippines in all but name.”

The move, he said, would make the country’s political structure and political life “more stable.”

“Because if something happens in one place, even if it falls, suffers irreparable damage, engages in a war or whatever, the other areas [in the country] will remain unaffected).”

He said the federal set-up would continue by bringing more power centers to other parts of the country.

The Philippines is currently under a unitary form of government, with power and authority vested mostly in Manila.

Under a federal government, power is divided between the central government and the local state governments.

Tracker team formed to locate missing Chinese POGO worker

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday created a tracker team to look for a missing Chinese national allegedly involved in the operations of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators POGO) facility in Pasay City.

“We received a report yesterday that there is allegedly a missing Chinese national from the Pasay raid site in Rivendell,” DOJ spokesman Mico Clavano said in an interview.

was among the 27 people who were recommended to be charged for violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Clavano said the Chinese national was detained at the POGO facility in Pasay.

“We don’t have a complete handle on all the exit and entry points. There are many windows and emergency doors that, well, we have put guards there, but we don’t know them as well as the scammers know them,” Clavano admitted.

PBBM SUPPORTS FEDERALISM.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. engages in a pep talk with new members of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) who took their oath at the Heroes Hall of Malacañang. Alfred Frias

IN BRIEF

COA open to amend rule on

intel funds

THE Commission on Audit (COA) on Thursday said it is open to amending a 2015 joint circular on the use and auditing of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF).

COA chairman Gamaliel Cordoba made this disclosure during the budget hearing of the agency at the House of Representatives.

COA seeks a P13-billion 2024 budget.

The 2015 joint circular was issued by the COA, the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of National Defense, and the Governance Commission for Government Owned and Controlled Corporations.

“Within the third quarter of this year, magpapatawag po kami ng meeting sa ating stakeholders. Puwede tapusin [ang review] within the year, and we will update the committee and Congress of any changes,” Cordoba said. Maricel V. Cruz

Risa: PCG needs more funds amid WPS crisis

SENATOR Risa Hontiveros has cited the need to expand funding for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) amid the increasing tension in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Hontiveros said the Senate must strengthen the PCG by providing it with greater funding for intelligence operations and maritime patrols in order to help the agency better perform its mandate amid rising tensions in the WPS.

During her privilege speech on her proposed Senate Resolution No. 744 calling on senators to empower the PCG and uphold national sovereignty, Hontiveros congratulated the PCG personnel for successfully carrying out on August 22 a rotation and resupply mission for the BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal She hopes that the entire Senate can also stand firmly behind the PCG. In the budget process, Hontiveros said she encourages all sectors to support the increase of the PCG’s funds.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

‘Work-from-home to help ease traffic’

FREEDOM REGAINED. Bureau of Corrections director general Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., (second from right), assisted by Public Attorney’s O ce chief Persida Acosta, hands over certi cates of discharge and some gifts to a group of inmates, part of 197 persons deprived of liberty who were simultaneously released from incarceration in a ceremony held at the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. Joseph Muego

Clavano said the tracker team will include members of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Immigration’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU).

“We are doing everything to get him back,” Clavano said. He said the missing Chinese national

According to him, they must determine who was guarding the room of the missing Chinese as members of the Presidential AntiOrganized Crime Commission, the Philippine National Police, the NBI, and FSU were present.

Gloria Quintos, lawyer of the missing Chinese national, said she was also looking for her client.

MMDA studying motorcycle use of EDSA bike lanes

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it was studying a proposal for bicycles and motorcycles sharing common lanes along EDSA, “Ini-entertain din natin ang idea na yan ay puwedeng gawing shared lane for motorcycle and bicycle,” MMDA

general manager Procopio Lipana said.

“Nakita natin na hindi na ganoon karami ang gumagamit ng bike lane as compared noong pandemic. Pangalawa, sa ngayon po ay mayroon tayong more than 160,000 [motorcycles]…na bumabaybay ng EDSA araw-araw,”

Lipana said in a radio interview.

The MMDA would meet stakeholders on the proposal on Aug. 29 to come up with recommendations that would be submitted to the transportation department, Lipana said.

For the time being, the MMDA will

continue apprehending motorcycle riders and other motorists who use the exclusive EDSA bike lane, Lipana said. The MMDA has apprehended about 1,500 motorists on the bike lanes and may start issuing tickets next week, he said.

QC gov’t launches community-based basketball league

THE Quezon City government has launched a city-wide basketball league to kick off its sports grassroots initiative aimed at keeping the youth off the streets and from the use of illegal drugs.

The sports project was rolled out last July 22 at the Amoranto Sports Complex, participated in by 116 Barangay Teams with almost 3000 people in attendance, composed of athletes, families

and barangay officials. Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto tossed the ball to signal the opening of the league. The basketball league is one of the many athletics activities that the city government offers to residents under its QC Sports Citywide grassroots program aimed at encouraging the youth to engage in sports activities for their personal development.

The program offers participants the opportunity to become future athletic champions of the country through sports programs and trainings that are fully supported by the city government.

“Kahit sa anong larangan ng sports na gusto ng ating kabataan, our vision and goal is to be their partner in this journey and to mold them into becoming outstanding athletes of the city and the nation,” Sotto said.

SENATE Majority Leader Joel Villanueva believes the Work fromHome Law (WHL) or Telecommuting enacted in 2019 can address the worsening traffic condition, especially in the metropolitan areas.

Villanueva said this setup was proven effective when the law took effect during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He pointed out that work productivity did not suffer because of the alternative working arrangements provided by the new law.

In fact, he said an e-commerce and digital transactions grew by 20 percent from 2021 to 2022.

This was amid the fact that most people are still working from home.

The WFH Law was also instrumental for the IT-BPO sector wherein 23,000 new jobs were created at the time of the pandemic in 2020 and 100,000 in 2021 with revenues increasing by around 12 percent in 2021, reaching a total of $28.8 billion.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

YOUTH BASKETBALL

FEST. Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto presides at THE ceremonial jump-ball to kick o the citywide basketball tournament meant to keep the youth o the streets and away from illegal drugs.

Substantial evidence in administrative cases

“THE quantum of proof in administrative proceedings necessary for a finding of guilt is substantial evidence or such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind may accept as adequate to support a conclusion” (National Bureau of Investigation v. Najera, G.R. 237522, June 30, 2020).

It is a degree of proof lower than proof beyond reasonable doubt and preponderance of evidence.

“The standard of substantial evidence is satisfied when there is reasonable ground to believe, based on the evidence submitted, that the respondent is responsible for the misconduct complained of.

“It need not be overwhelming or preponderant, as is required in an ordinary civil case, or evidence beyond reasonable doubt, as is required in criminal cases, but the evidence must be enough for a reasonable mind to support a conclusion” (Miro v. Mendoza, et al., G.R. 172532, 172544-45, November 20, 2013).

“The burden to establish the charges (in administrative cases) rests upon the complainant. The case should be dismissed for lack of merit if the complainant fails to show in a satisfactory manner the facts upon which his accusations are based; [and] [t]he respondent is not even obliged to prove his exception or defense”(G.R. 237522, June 30, 2020).

In the case of NBI v. Najera, “agents from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) composed of Conrado Najera, Frederick Liwag, Joel Respeto and Wilson Monton posed as customers in a disco and amusement center to verify a complaint for human trafficking. [T] he team were allegedly provided with two lady entertainers who offered sexual pleasures for a fee” (G.R. 237522, June 30, 2020).

“Afterwards, Conrado announced a raid and apprehended 27 employees including the cashier Francis (Francis) Quilala.

Who’s afraid of floods?

“Hence, it is always demanded from the complainant to present a panoply of evidence in support of the accusation” (G.R. 237522, June 30, 2020).

“Similarly, the NBI did not submit substantial evidence showing that Conrado performed the raid without authority from his superior.

“Notably, Chief Peneza is a key person that can shed light on this issue but [has] decided to disassociate himself from the investigation for unexplained reasons” (G.R. 237522, June 30, 2020).

“Nevertheless, Conrado is not completely absolved from any administrative liability [since] [i]t is undisputed that Conrad did not bother to inform the Anti-Human Trafficking Division about the raid.

“This infringed the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003…”[which requires] “the NBI to coordinate closely with all the member of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking…” (G.R. 237522, June 30, 2020).

In the case of Miro v. Mendoza, et al., “the administrative… charges arose from the alleged anomalies in the distribution at the LTO (Land Transportation Office) Cebu of confirmation certificates, an indispensable requirement in the processing of documents for the registration of motor vehicle[s] with the LTO” (G.R. 172532, 172544-45, November 20, 2013).

“Specifically, the private complainants accused Alingasa of selling the confirmation certificates, supposed to be issued by the LTO free of charge.

“This scheme allegedly [started existing] existed upon Mendoza’s assumption in office as Regional Director of LTO Cebu” (G.R. 172532, 172544-45, November 20, 2013)

“[T]he Deputy Ombudsman [later] found Mendoza, Erederos and Alingasa guilty of grave misconduct and imposed the penalty of dismissal from the service.

“Peque, on the other hand, was only found guilty of simple misconduct and was meted the penalty of [a] reprimand” (G.R. 172532, 172544-45, November 20, 2013).

THE residents especially in low-lying areas, who have to contend with rising floodwaters, evacuation to higher ground, vulnerability to leptospirosis and other potentially deadly diseases from wading in contaminated waters, and miserable, disrupted lives from the recurring disaster almost year-round.

But believe it or not, it does appear the politicians are the ones who really like floods, because they are given the opportunity to secure multi-million peso projects for flood control that ultimately lead to never-ending floods because the funds ultimately end up in private pockets. Indeed, how many flood control projects have really worked, particularly in Central Luzon and parts of the National Capital Region, two areas where floods continue to wreak havoc on the lives mainly of ordinary people for many decades now.

Now here comes another 50-year drainage masterplan drawn up for the metropolis by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) that was recently approved by the World Bank, which will provide a loan for its implementation.

“Our current drainage systems are no longer designed to accommodate such a huge volume of water in Metro Manila,” according to the

Can somebody in the DWPH explain to all and sundry why P225 billion for flood control for one year isn’t throwing good money after bad?

MMDA. The master plan, we’re told, part of the Metro Manila Flood Management Project, would remain “relevant and efficient” as it would last for 50 years. The Department of Public Works and Highways will take part in the construction of the system.

Will this work? We really don’t know, until after the project is completed half-a-century from now.

Our immediate concern, however, is the here and now.

Next year’s proposed national budget contains P225 billion for flood control.

You would probably think this is a small amount to spend for flood control throughout the country, but Sen. Francis Escudero doesn’t think so.

In fact, he considers the amount “too big” for “tubig.”

The lawmaker believes the amount is larger than what is being recommended for building new classrooms, hospitals, irrigation systems, and railway constructions.

He pointed out that flood control even beat the railway budget by over a P100 billion.

The railway budget is only P153 billion and irrigation is at P31 billion.

And flood control is bigger than the entire agriculture budget, which will be allocated P181 billion in 2024. Escudero is bothered and bewildered no end how the executive branch can justify the need to spend more for flood control compared to planting for food security.

We are as flummoxed as he is, and can somebody in the DWPH explain to all and sundry why P225 billion for flood control for one year isn’t throwing good money after bad?

Transport sector needs high-octane fuel

THE best executive, it is said, is the one who has enough sense to pick good people to do what he wants done, and the selfrestraint to keep from messing with them while they do it.

We’re reminded of this bit of wisdom amid what seems to be gargantuan problems in the transportation sector that have defied easy solutions up to now.

What’s clear is that Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista faces a raft of challenges in all sectors: land, sea and air.

of the president.

While this may be seen as a sign of humility, could it mean that he intends to continue as Transportation chief come what may?

A month later, we’re told, a ranking official of the political party that swept President Marcos Jr. to the highest elective post in May 2022 expressed support for Bautista and warned that his dismissal would impair the public image of the Marcos administration.

would be a good candidate for the plum post.

“The arrested persons were detained at the NB1 Office at TaftAvenue, Manila but were later released; [t]hereafter, Francis filed an administrative complaint against the raiding team claiming that the center is not involved in prostitution” (G.R. 237522, June 30, 2020).

Francis claimed that “Conrado ransacked the premises and instructed the other agents to confiscate cigarettes, mobile phones and money from the cash register.

Moreover, Conrado attempted to extort P500,000.00 in exchange for the employees’ freedom”(G.R. 237522, June 30, 2020).

“On the other hand, Conrado and his team countered that… Francis fabricated the accusations so he may gain leverage over the charges that they intend to file against him. Lastly, they denied the extortion incident” (G.R. 237522, June 30, 2020).

“Later, the NBI found that the raid was unauthorized and that the agents failed to coordinate the operation with the Anti-Human Trafficking Division and the Violence Against Women and Children Division.

“The NBI then charged the raiding team with grave misconduct before the Office of the Ombudsman…”(G.R. 237522, June 30, 2020).

The Supreme Court found “that there is no substantial evidence to hold Conrado liable for grave misconduct. Foremost, there is no evidence to establish the extortion. It is incumbent upon the NBI to prove that Conrado attempted to solicit money from Francis” (G.R. 237522, June 30, 2020).

“Yet, the NBI failed to present competent evidence and merely relied on Francis’ unsubstantiated narrations. It is settled that an allegation of bribery is easy to concoct but difficult to prove.

“The Deputy Ombudsman believed the complainants allegations that Alingasa collected ₱2,500.00 for the issuance of confirmation certificates and, thereafter, remitted the collections to Erederos and to Mendoza.

“He relied largely on the affidavits supporting the respondents’ guilt [and] found the affidavits and the NBI/Progress report strong enough to establish the respondents’ guilt” (G.R. 172532, 172544-45, November 20, 2013).

“On appeal to the Court of Appeals, the Court of Appeals (CA)granted the respondents petition and reversed the Deputy Ombudsman’s joint decision in the administrative aspect.

“The CA ruled that the Deputy Ombudsman’s finding of grave misconduct was not supported by substantial evidence because the affidavits… were not corroborated by any other documentary evidence” (G.R. 172532, 17254445, November 20, 2013).

“The CA also found that the affiants failed to categorically specify that the respondents personally demanded from them the payment of ₱2,500.00—an allegation that the appellate court deemed material in establishing their personal knowledge.

“Without this allegation… the CA held that the statements in the affidavits were hearsay…”(G.R. 172532, 172544-45, November 20, 2013).

The Supreme Court said “the only pieces of evidence presented by the complainants to establish the respondents’ guilt of the act charged are: (1) their complaint-affidavits and (2) the NBI/Progress report.

“As correctly found by the CA, these pieces of evidence do not meet the quantum of proof required in administrative cases” (G.R. 172532, 172544-45, November 20, 2013).

Full text at www.manilastandard.net

One, public outcry over the increase in MRT fares and the prospect of higher fares in taxis, buses and jeepneys as various as fuel prices go through the roof.

Two, the shortage of plastic driver’s licenses at the Land Transportation Office and even a court order to stop the contract awarded to a new supplier.

Three, never-ending safety issues in the maritime sector that make sea travel a constant nightmare for those taking even short inter-island trips.

Four, the recent massive power outages at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport that left many airline passengers grumbling and groaning and sweating for hours on end.

Five, the dismissal order by Office of the Ombudsman against former MIAA head Cesar Chiong for reassigning hundreds of airport personnel during his brief stint.

Chiong plans to appeal the decision.

And six, flagship transport projects that seemingly take forever to start and so long to finish.

Critics contend Bautista should have tendered a courtesy resignation after the NAIA power outage, but he has managed to keep his post despite the various issues in the transport sector.

Maybe because he has powerful backers within the administration and the private sector?

Secretary Bautista has fended off calls for him to resign amid talk of a Cabinet shake-up in May this year, saying that Cabinet Secretaries serve at the pleasure

The party official’s comments may not have been intended to put the administration in a bad light, but it did serve to underscore what some believe is under-performance on the part of the DOTr.

Tugade, the insiders claim, has already shown his dedication to improving the country’s land transportation system and has been commended for his plans to make it more convenient for motorists to avail themselves of its frontline services, including renewal of driver’s licenses and vehicle registration.

Will President Marcos keep Bautista at the driver’s seat, or appoint someone else?

All we can say is what the DOTr needs at this point may be a leader with his foot on the accelerator at the right time but always ready to step on the brakes when the need arises.

Yes, a leader who can choose good people to do what is good for the department, but also willing to let them make the right decisions without breathing down hard on their necks all the time.

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

IN AN essay I earlier wrote in this column, I discussed the on-going anomaly hounding the Department of Tourism (DOT) under Secretary Maria Christina Frasco.

That anomaly is about the Frasco fiasco regarding a tourism promotional campaign which involves P49-million of taxpayers’ money. Last month, the news media revealed that Frasco’s DOT contracted DDB Philippines, a high-end public relations company, to come up with a campaign package to promote tourism in the Philippines.

To repeat, the price tag on that campaign package was P49-million.

Among the items included in the campaign package are a new tourism campaign slogan, a corresponding promotional logo embodying the slogan, and a videogram highlighting tourist destinations located in the Philippines.

The DOT eventually allowed the public dissemination of the submitted videogram. Soon thereafter, the DOT found itself in a controversial, embarrassing predicament. It turned out the videogram submitted by

Does this mean that President Marcos Jr. intends to keep Bautista at DOTr at all costs?

We don’t really know, to be honest.

But if the heat in the kitchen gets too hot to bear, we won’t be surprised if Bautista decides to give up the post.

Insiders are saying that Bautista should seriously consider stepping aside and allow someone more qualified to take over.

The scuttlebutt is that former Land Transportation Office chief Jay Art Tugade, who had resigned after only a few months in office due to what he admitted were policy differences with Bautista,

On logos for government agencies

DDB Philippines contained stock footage of tourism sites, not in the Philippines but sitesabroad. One footage is about acres of dessert sand dunes obviously in the Middle East!

Likewise, DDB Philippines fraudulently made it appear the same stock footage are its original video creations, even if they were merely acquired from an outlet that sells stock footage.

News of the Frasco fiasco made it to the local and international news, thereby embarrassing the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Why Frasco and top DOT officials failed to notice the anomaly in the videogram is not explained by the DOT. That failure suggests that Frasco and her DOT team either did not review the videogram thoroughly, or they are not familiar with tourist destinations in the Philippines.

It is very disturbing to realize that Frasco, the Secretary of Tourism herself, and her minions in the DOT are not even acquainted with tourist destinations in the Philippines.

How can they even start promoting tourism in the Philippines if they themselves aren’t familiar with tourist sites in the country?

Further, DDB Philippines came out with

for their respective agencies, and in the process save taxpayers’ money?

a patently simplistic new campaign slogan, namely, “Love the Philippines,” to replace the existing one, “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”

As I stated in my previous article, “Love the Philippines” sounds more like an exhortation for Filipinos to patronize local products, rather than as a tourism campaign slogan.

I also mentioned that Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Nancy Binay are among the many prominent personalities who dislike the new slogan.

MORE OPINION ONLINE (www.manilastandard.net)

China is ‘frying us in our own fat’

money on its new logo has not been explained satisfactorily.

The lame excuse given by Pagcor is that other factors necessary for the final preparation of the new logo had to be paid for.

That’s not all.

DDB Philippines also came up with a new promotional logo stating “Love the Philippines.” The logo looks like a hybrid of a Letras y Figuras type of painting during the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines and a denim manufactured using a vinta sail.

Sadly, the phrase “Love the Philippines” drowns in the awful background of mixed colors that seem to defy the principles of artistic color use.

A news item in the websites states that the DOT campaign logo cost P300,000 of taxpayers’ money. Like the DOT, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), the government agency in charge of legalized gambling activities in the country, is also in the spotlight. Incidentally, gaming is a euphemism for gambling.

Last month, Pagcor revealed to the public its new logo which cost the taxpayers a whopping P3-million.

The expensive new logo looks like a hybrid of the Petron trademark and the hairdo of a character from the Simpsons animated television series. Why Pagcor wasted that much taxpayers’

Not to be outdone, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) also spent public money on its new logo.

Unlike the large sums of money wasted by Frasco’s DOT and Pagcor on their new logos, the Tesda spent P10,000 for its new design. The amount was a cash prize given to the winner of a logo-making contest organized earlier by the Tesda.

Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines (PDDCP) is a government agency that specializes in creating designs, including logos. I have seen a logo prepared by PDDCP for a government office and I must say that many of them are worthwhile designs.

To the best of my knowledge, PDDCP can create logos for government agencies.

Why didn’t the heads of the DOT, Pagcor and Tesda simply request PDDCP to prepare new logos for their respective agencies, and in the process save taxpayers’ money?

There are good reasons for many taxpayers to suspect that if the heads of the said three government agencies were to pay for their new office logos from their own personal pockets, they would not even entertain the idea of calling for such expensive new logos.

The quantum of proof in administrative proceedings necessary for a finding of guilt is substantial evidence

Trump to be arrested in election racketeering case WORLD

IN BRIEF

Japan releases water from Fukushima plant

NAMIE, Japan—Japan began releasing wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday despite angry opposition from China and local fishermen.

The start of the discharge of around 540 Olympic swimming pools’ worth of water over several decades is a big step in decommissioning the still highly dangerous site 12 years after one of the world’s worst nuclear accidents. Live video provided by plant operator TEPCO showed two engineers clicking on computer mouses and an official saying— after a countdown—that the “valves near the seawater transport pumps are opening.” Monitors from the UN atomic watchdog, which has endorsed the plan, were due to be on site for the procedure, while TEPCO workers were scheduled to take water samples later on Thursday.

Japanese officials have repeatedly insisted the wastewater release is safe.

US approves sale to upgrade Taiwan warjets’ air tracking

WASHINGTON, DC—The United States said Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) it approved the sale to Taiwan of advanced sensor equipment for its fighter jets, the latest upgrade as fears rise over China’s increasing assertiveness over its claim to the island.

The State Department said it informed Congress of the $500 million sale of F-16 Infrared Search and Track systems and related equipment to help Taiwan “maintain a credible defensive capability.”

The sale will help Taiwan “meet current and future threats by contributing to the recipient’s abilities to defend its airspace, provide regional security and increase interoperability with the United States through its F-16 program.”

The new system, built by Lockheed Martin, improves fighter jets’ ability to detect airborne threats, increasing the chances of F-16s’ survival during combat.

ATLANTA, United States—Donald Trump is to surrender on racketeering charges at a Georgia jail on Thursday (Friday in

spotlight and was the focus of questions posed to the candidates seeking to be the Republican standard-bearer next year.

Manila), setting

the stage for a fourth criminal trial next year as he campaigns to recapture the White House.

The 77-year-old former president will be arrested at Atlanta’s notorious Fulton County Jail, accused of conspiring with 18 co-defendants to try to overturn the 2020 election result in the key southern state.

The booking of the billionaire real estate tycoon, which may feature a

mugshot for the first time, comes just hours after he spurned a primary debate featuring eight of his rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Trump may have been absent from the stage of the televised debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but he still stole the ABSENT TRUMP.

Asked if they would support Trump as the party’s nominee even if he were convicted in one of the four criminal cases he is facing, every candidate raised their hand except former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie.

Instead of the debate, Trump opted for an interview with Tucker Carlson, a conservative former Fox News talk show host.

During the rambling pre-recorded interview, which aired on X, formerly known as Twitter, at the same time as the debate, Trump said it did not make sense for him to take part while he was leading his rivals by “50 to 60 points” in the polls.

Manila Standard TODAY

But China’s environment ministry on Thursday blasted Japan as “extremely selfish and irresponsible”, saying it would “track and study” the impact of the release on its waters. AFP

Manila Standard TODAY

Taiwan’s presidential office thanked the United States Thursday for “its supply of defensive weapons to us and its ongoing commitment to Taiwan’s security.”

“Taiwan will continue its self-defense resolve and strengthen its all-out national defense capability in order to safeguard national security,” it said in a statement. AFP

Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON AUDIT Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City

CIRCULAR No.: 2023-006

Date: Aug 02, 2023

TO : All Heads of Departments, Bureaus, and Offices of National Government Agencies including State Universities and Colleges; Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations including Water Districts; Local Government Units; Chiefs of Financial and Management Services, Chief Accountants, Cashiers, Disbursing Officers, Budget Officers; Assistant Commissioners, Directors and Auditors of the Commission on Audit (COA), and All Others Concerned

SUBJECT : Guidelines Implementing the Preservation of Electronic Vouchers, Supporting Documents, and other Records and Reports submitted to Audit Teams pursuant to COA Resolution No 2023-007 dated AUG 02, 2023

1.0 RATIONALE Republic Act (RA) No. 87921, otherwise known as the Electronic Commerce Act approved on June 14, 2000 provides the legal recognition of electronic data messages and electronic documents in commercial and noncommercial transactions. Under the Rules on Electronic Evidence, an electronic document is admissible in evidence if it complies with the rules on admissibility prescribed by the Rules of Court and related laws, and is authenticated by the manner prescribed therefor. Moreover, the 2019 Amendments to· the 1989 Revised Rules on Evidence refine the appreciation and admissibility of electronic evidence as original of documents.

Section 27 of RA No. 8792 mandates all government entities to accept the creation, filing or retention of electronic data messages or electronic documents. Those that perform governmental functions using electronic data messages or electronic documents are authorized to adopt and promulgate appropriate rules, regulations, or guidelines pertaining thereto. They should, among others, specify the manner and format in which such electronic messages shall be filed, created, retained or issued; the control processes and procedures to ensure adequate integrity, security and confidentiality of electronic data messages or documents; and other attributes required of electronic data messages or documents.

Mindful of these developments, this Commission issued COA Memorandum No. 2021-0132 and COACircular No. 2021-0063 that provide guidelines on the admissibility of electronic docUments as audit evidence, use of electronic signatures and digital signatures which can reduce the processing of paperbased records. These guidelines lay the foundation for modernizing the accounting and auditing procedures and processes where electronic audit evidence are made available for remote audits, teleworking, and alternative work arrangements under a new work environment.

In the same context, COA Resolution No. 2023-007 dated August 2, 2023 authorizes the preservation and custody of vouchers and supporting documents, and other records and reports submitted by government entities in electronic form, and establishes a modified process in performing COA’s custodial function, subject to regulations.

To keep abreast with the changing time and conditions and better serve the Government and all stakeholders, this Commission shall, through responsive regulations, facilitate online government transactions in support to Government’s initiative for e-Governance, continuity of public service delivery, and zero-contact policy.

2.0 SCOPE

This Circular shall apply when government entities submit vouchers, supporting documents, and other records and reports to this Commission in electronic form pursuant to existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

3.0 DEFINITION OF TERMS

3.1 Agency Records Disposition Schedule refers to a records control schedule specific to the agency in terms of organization and functions showing the period that each”record series is to remain in the office area or storage (inactive) and governing record preservation and destruction.4

3.2 Capture refers to procedures that result in the storage of a record in a recordkeeping system, including the registration and classification of the record and the addition of metadata about the record.

3.3 Electronic Records and Documents refer to: (i) records or documents originally created, captured, and stored in electronic format using a computer or electronic device, including information or the representation of information, data, figures, symbols or other modes of written expression, described or however represented, by which a right is established or an obligation extinguished, or by which a fact may be proved and affirmed, which is received, recorded, transmitted, stored, processed, retrieved or produced electronically6; (ii) digital version of financial transaction documents and reports, as well as non-financial transaction documents which are subject to audit and from which audit evidence may be obtained, including records or documents obtained by the agency as proof of receipts or expenditure; (iii) email messages, word-processed documents, electronic’ spreadsheets, scanned copy of a paper document, digital purchase receipts; or (iv) vouchers and supporting documents, and other records and reports in electronic form regularly submitted by government entities to the audit teams.

3.4 Electronic Document Portal is a system where documentary requests from audit teams are lodged. The documents or files may be uploaded to this system to facilitate submission to the audit teams.

3.5 Metadata describes the context of electronic documents. It provides information about the document’s location, author, the date it was created, etc.7

4.0 GENERAL PRINCIPLES Electronic records and documents, having been granted legal effect and admissibility, are generally acceptable proof of government transactions subject to compliance with applicable law and rules.

Generally, government entities are encouraged to adopt digital transformation initiatives or e-Governance projects, with consideration of advances in technology, to streamline its operations for more efficient, effective and economical delivery of public services.

5.0 GUIDELINES

The following guidelines shall govern the custody, safekeeping and preservation of vouchers, supporting documents, and other records and

reports submitted by government entities to the audit teams in electronic form.

5.1 No government entity may enjoy the advantages of the provIsions of this Circular, unless they comply with the controls and the regulations stated herein, particularly the need to install internal controls as affirmed by the Internal Audit Unit, Compliance Department, or its equivalent.

5.2 The provisions of COA Circular No. 2021-006 dated September 6, 2021 or Guidelines on the use of Electronic Documents. Electronic Signatures, and Digital Signatures in Government Transactions, as far as it does not contradict this Circular. shall be integrally read and adopted in these guidelines, and shall extend its application to instances when government entities submit Electronic Records and Documents (EROs) including those not needing signatures. The Management Representation as required in said Circular shall be accompanied by an Affirmation page as a mandatory attachment (Annex 1).

Records and Documents Capture

5.3 Government entities may submit in electronic format ERDs to their respective audit teams pursuant to these guidelines through the online Electronic Document Portal (EDP).

5.4 For purposes of compliance with the demand for and submission of ERDs by the government entities, submission through the EDP is considered as submission to their respective audit teams. The original paper documents or the source documents of those digitized documents shall nonetheless be forwarded to the audit team concerned. Provided, such requirement to forward the paper counterpart shall be discontinued after the termination of the transition period per transitory clause.

5.5 On a per-transaction basis, the voucher with its complete supporting documents should be submitted together, either entirely (a) in electronic or (b) paper-based. For transactions where the government entities are not capable of submitting entirely in electronic, such transaction will not be covered by this Circular, and the government entity shall proceed with the usual paper-based submission. Supporting documents, including those from third parties, that are in paper form may be digitized by scanning them, provided the authorized personnel of government entities shall ascertain its authenticity prior to scanning, thereafter shall certify it authenticity by affixing their signatures therein before submission following the rules in COA Circular No. 2021-006 dated September 6, 2021. The written authorization of such personnel shall be furnished to the audit team concerned.

5.6 It remains the responsibility of government entities to reasonably ensure the authenticity of all vouchers and its complete supporting document prior to submission to the audit teams.

5.7 For the purpose of uploading ERDs through the EDP, the heads of government entities shall designate a focal officer, and copy of such designation shall be furnished to the audit team concerned. The link or Uniform Resource Locator of the EDP shall be sent via email to the focal officer. The same email will contain instructions to upload additional records and/or documents if needed. After receiving the link, the focal officer may proceed with the following steps:

a) Click the link provided in the email notification;

b) On-the “Upload Requested Document” page, input the following:

1) Document request reference number (can be found in the notification email); and

2) Focal officer’s email address (for confirmation), then click “Send New OTP”;

c) Input the One-Time Pin (OTP) sent to the agency focal officer’s email to valid’ate user authenticity; and

d) On the resulting page, click “Browse” and select the documents/files to be uploaded and click “Submit.”

The EDP user’s manual can be downloaded at https://mika-el.coa.gov. ph. Concerns, issues, and queries in uploading documents/ files through the EDP may be sent to· the Information Technology Audit Office (ITAO) via email address support.mikael.portal@coa.gov.ph, or call 8952-5700 local 4020/2119.

5.8 A notification of successful upload containing the unique document reference number following a standard naming convention (MIKAEL- <Year>-<Request Serial No.>-<Document No.» will be sent to the agency focal officer as proof that the EDP has captured the record .

5.9 Metadata of the ERD shall be managed by the EDP to ensure authenticity, utility, integrity,and security of records over time. Metadata that describe the content and structure of the record, as well as the background of its creation; shall include the following:

a) Reference code (a unique identifier that links to the description);

b) Title (Name of the record);

c) Description;

d) Name of the creator;

e) Date of creation/last modified/last accessed;

f) Data and time of uploading;

g) Retention period; and

h) Other fields as may be necessary.

5.10 The EDP-accepts file formats that have low risk of becoming obsolete to ensure long-term accessibility, such as the following:

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (center) speaks, flanked by former US Vice President Mike Pence (left) and entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy, during the first Republican Presidential primary debate at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Thursday. But the spotlight was still stolen by Donald Trump even as he boycotted the showdown. AFP

“Do I sit there for an hour or two hours, whatever it’s going to be, and get harassed by people that shouldn’t even be running for president?” he said.

Trump dismissed the four criminal indictments filed against him as “nonsense” and said the Justice Department had been “weaponized” under Democratic President Joe Biden to hamstring his White House bid. AFP

compliant with this Circular. Moreover, nothing in this Circular shall be construed as prohibiting audit teams from printing them when necessary.

5.16 This Comission, through the ITAO, STSS, shall adopt organizational, physical, and technical security measures to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the ERDs from the digital vault, in compliance with RA No. 10173, otherwise known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations. High standards and protocols shall be implemented and continuously reviewed by the IT AO, STSS, to ensure the integrity of the digital vault and the admissibility of its contents as evidence in any proceedings.

Access and Use of Records

5.17 ERDs submitted to the digital vault shall remain accessible and available to the audit teams concerned. Request by parties concerned for copies ERDs from the audit teams may be authorized pursuant to COA Circular No. 2013-0068 dated September 18, 2013.

5.18 The ITAO-Director, through its Electronic Evidence Unit (EEU), in responding to requests of interested parties, shall certify that any ERD from the digital vault has integrity and is free from any alternation from the time of capture to presentment; and has implemented high standards, protocols and strictest controls. The ITAO Director shall further certify that the ERD extracted from the digital vault is the exact copy of the ERD received from a government entity and uploaded in the digital vault, in case the same is required in any proceeding.

5.19 The ITAO, STSS, as technical support, shall provide access to ERDs to all officials and members of the audit teams following a role-based access control based on least-privilege access.

5.20 The copy of ERDs in the digital vault shall be the controlling copy in case of discrepancy between several copies from different sources.

5.21 The ITAO, through its Audit and Research Services, shall provide technical assistance to the audit teams concerned with the implementation of this Circular, and when needed, conduct series of training for capacity-building in coordination with the Professional and Institutional Development Sector.

Retention and Disposition

5.22 The retention period of ERDs in the digital vault shall be based on the Records Disposition Schedule approved by National Archives of the Philippines (NAP) in compliance with Item B, Chapter VII of the NAP Electronic Records Management Policy (ERMP). However, ERDs may be retained for an extended period, provided that there is available storage. Disposal of ERDs after the retention period is on a first-in, first-out basis, and only upon the approval from the audit team leader concerned.

5.23 The ITAO, STSS shall periodically generate a list of ERDs for disposal based on their retention period, such list will be forwarded to the audit team for information and confirmation prior to any disposition of the ERD.

5.24 The ITAO Director shall, through the EEU, certify the ERDs that have been disposed of and the reason for the disposal. Meanwhile, ERDs that are subject of a pending case or investigation shall not be approved for disposal. The EEU of ITAO shall maintain a registry of all ERDs that are involved in any proceedings.

5.25 There shall be no automatic software-driven records destruction, and only secured disposal methods shall be used in compliance with the NAP’s ERMP.

6.0 SAVINGS CLAUSE Cases not covered by this Circular shall be referred to this Commission for resolution, through the Systems and Technical Services Sector.

7.0 REPEALING CLAUSE

For clarity, par-agraph 9, page 6 of COA Circular No. 2021-006 dated September 6, 2021 is hereby modified as follows:

To ensure verifiability of digitally-signed documents, the same shall be maintained in its original form and submitted electronically. For this purpose, any print-out of these documents are considered subsequent copies of the original and shall have a notation (footer) or disclosure stating: “This document is digitallysigned” or other similar wordings. All other COA issuances inconsistent herewith are hereby revoked, amended or modified accordingly.

8.0 TRANSITORY CLAUSE

There shall be a period of evaluation during which the government entities shall, notwithstanding the provisions herein, forward to the audit team concerned the original source documents of those scanned or digitized documents. The period will last for such time that all stakeholders of this Circular are well adjusted to the use of ERDs. The Commission shall review and evaluate the implementation of this Circular every year thereafter and may terminate or extend the evaluation period upon the recommendation of the Legal Services Sector.

9.0 EFFECTIVITY

This Circular shall take effect after 15 days from publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Print-out or hard copies of ERDs need not be preserved by the audit teams. However, the original paper document or the source document of those d,igitized documents submitted during the period of transition shall be preserved:by the audit teams. Provided, after the period of transition, audit teams may demand for the submission, through the issuance of Notice of Suspension, of the original when a genuine issue is raised as to the authenticity of the submitted ERDs or when the submitted ERD was discovered not

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PROPERTY developer Megaworld

Corp. is preparing to launch its third residential condominium project within its mixed-use estate in General Trias, Cavite which it expects to generate about P1.8 billion in sales.

Megaworld said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Thursday it would unveil the 14-story Maple Park Residences inside the 140-hectare Maple Grove township project.

Maple Park Residences will offer 200 ‘smart home’ units in varying types and sizes ranging from studio (up to 30 square meters), studio with balcony (up to 35 sq. m.), onebedroom with and without balcony (up to 44.5 sq. m.) and two-bedroom with and without balcony (up to 76.5 sq. m.).

“The concept behind Maple Park Residences draws inspiration from the Scandinavian countries as well as communities in Makati where residents are surrounded by lush open spaces in the middle of a modern and urban city. Maple Park Residences will offer both the excitement of urban living and the laidback setting of Cavite,” said Eugene Lozano, first vice president for sales and marketing at Megaworld Cavite.

The project is slated for completion by 2028. All units will be equipped with wireless smart home systems that can be accessed remotely using a dedicated phone app.

The property firm said Maple Park is also poised to rise as the first Megaworld residential condominium development to feature a dedicated electronic vehicle-charging facility at the parking area to accommodate multiple vehicles at a time.

Other green and sustainability features in Maple Park Residence include low-flow rate fixtures to promote water conservation, occupancy sensors in hallways and parking floors that help conserve energy, LED lights for units and common areas, rainwater harvesting system and its own materials recovery facility.

Maple Park Residences will be accessible to future residents via the six-lane, 30-meter wide Maple Grove Boulevard, which was recently integrated into the 12-kilometer General Trias-Tanza Bypass Road.

Megaworld is developing Maple Grove as “Cavite’s first-ever modern central business district.”

By Alena Mae S. Flores

“We are already in advanced discussions to participate in SC 6B Cadlao field with drilling scheduled this year and production next year,” PNOC EC planning and budget department manager Alexis Dela Torre said in a recent Senate hearing.

SC 6B is located southeast of the Malampaya gas field and southwest of the Galoc oil and gas field. The Cadlao oilfield redevelopment targets 6.2 million barrels of economically recoverable oil.

PNOC EC submitted a letter of intent to Sacagsco Limited to farm-in to SC 6B, including the drilling of the Cadlao 4 well as the first stage of redevelopment.

Sacgasco holds its SC 6B interest in wholly-owned subsidiary Nido Petroleum Phils. Pty. Ltd. Nido has 9.09-per-

cent stake in SC 6B and is increasing this to 72.727 percent. Its shareholdings will be reduced to 52.727 percent once the farm-in of PNOC EC is approved.

Other SC 6B joint venture partners are The Philodrill Corp. with 17.455 percent, Oriental Petroleum and Mineral Corp. with 4.909 percent, Forum Energy Philippines Corp. with 2.455 percent and Alcorn Petroleum and Minerals Corp. with 2.455 percent.

PNOC EC signed a letter of intent to Nido to farm-in to SC 6B and participate in the drilling of Cadlao 4 by acquiring a 20-percent participating interest.

PNOC EC will pay Nido $3.34 million upon execution of the agreement and an additional $10.1 million to be paid upon cash calls as operations com-

mence. The final amount is dependent on the approved costs of the Department of Energy.

The farm-in agreement is subject to the approval by the DOE and the usual respective board and joint venture.

Sacgasco managing director Gary Jeffery said Nido was planning an extended well test in its two-well Philippines drilling campaign “as it can provide early cash flow.”

“Placing the Cadlao EWT [extended well test] as a priority in our planned drilling program, to be followed by a Nandino exploration well, with an EWT upon success, will make for an exciting and potentially transformational eightmonth period for Sacgasco and Nido in the Philippines,” Jeffrey said.

Sacgasco plans to tap the DP2 drillship Deep Venture for the drilling operations as it can drill in water depths of 80 meters to 1,500 meters.

The Cadlao drilling and EWT is planned for 2023 and 2024. The company said and in the event of a successful EWT, “a full field development may include multiple wells with a dedicated oil production facility.”

BSP commits to digital financial system transition

Daraga-Legazpi Diversion Road, Bogtong, Legazpi City

Contact No. 09753729932/09257800974 www.acemclegazpi.com

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

DEAR STOCKHOLDERS:

Please be informed that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of Allied Care Experts (ACE) Medical Center- Legazpi, Inc. (“ACE-LEGAZPI”) will be held on September 28, 2023 (Thursday) at 8:00 o’clock in the morning, via Zoom Webinar, to ensure the safety of our stockholders and guests.

For the conduct of the Webinar, please register on or before September 20, 2023, through the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_C0GoKFX8QxSqJKUj7k-mwA

Once you have successfully registered, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about the webinar meeting.

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; voting in the election of directors may also be done in absentia through the above link. 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 Audited Financial Statements for Y2022

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 Y2023-Y2024

X. Appointment of External Auditor for Y2023

XI. Other Matters

XII. Adjournment

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on September 8, 2023, Wednesday, 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 acemclegazpi@gmail.com not later than 5:00 p.m. on September 20, 2023, to enable your proxy to register in the Zoom Webinar. A sample proxy form is available 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.acemclegazpi.com

You may contact the undersigned via email acemclegazpi@gmail.com at mobile number: 09753729932/09257800974 if you have inquiries/concerns regarding the meeting.

Very truly yours,

By Julito G. Rada

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said it is committed to adopting global central banking standards and transitioning to a digital financial system while promoting price stability, financial stability and efficient payments and settlements system in the country.

BSP Governor Eli Remolona said the amendments to Republic Act No. 7653 or the New Central Bank Act had strengthened the regulator’s capacity to execute its primary goal of maintaining price stability that is conducive to sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

He said the BSP’s consistent efforts to execute this mandate guided individuals and businesses in making sound decisions on saving, borrowing and investing with confidence on the power of the Philippine currency.

“Recent global and local events like the COVID-19 pandemic helped shape our perspective as central bankers,” Remolona said.

“While the technical nature of our work re-

quires managing a delicate balance between inflation and growth, we also acknowledge our role in helping Filipinos access banking services, increase their financial literacy, and protect themselves from fraud and cybersecurity threats,” he said.

Remolona said he remained optimistic the country would be ready for a better digitalized financial landscape, given the increased use of digital payments in the country over the last five years.

“We consider these facets of central banking critical to inclusive and sustainable economic growth―where individuals in far-flung areas in the provinces are offered the same financial services as those living in Metro Manila or in any urbanized city,” he said.

Data from the 2022 Status of Digital Payments BSP Report showed that the volume of digital payments in total retail payments climbed to 42.1 percent from 30.3 percent in 2021. Meanwhile, the share of digital payments in terms of value reached 40.1 percent, a slight decline from 44.1 percent in 2021.

will be able to further contribute towards the goal of building a sustainable and livable environment for the Filipino people,” de Jesus said. The DBP recently granted a P900-million funding support to Johndorf Ventures Corp., which is expected to bolster the firm’s drive to build 39,000 housing units by 2025.

PAL upgrades Comfort Class service on PH flights

PHILIPPINE Airlines said it upgraded its Comfort Class service on domestic flights in line with its continuing commitment to comfort and convenience in-flight. Launched in September 2022, PAL’s Comfort Class is offered on all domestic flights operated by the airline’s Airbus A330 Bi-class, Airbus A321ceo, Airbus A320 and De Havilland DHC-8400 Next Generation aircraft.

The airline unit of the tycoon Lucio Tan said Comfort Class passengers would enjoy access to PAL’s Mabuhay Lounges in Manila, Davao, Iloilo and Cebu airports, dedicated check-in counters, an increased mileage accrual to 115 percent for Mabuhay Miles Members and assigned overhead bins for their carry-on luggage items. PAL’s Comfort Class passengers are treated to enhanced in-flight snack options. The newest offerings include gourmet sandwiches like the Chicken Waldorf Sandwich and the Crunchy Salmon with Celery and Parmesan Sandwich. Darwin G. Amojelar Yanson matriarch gets honorary doctorate

THE University of Negros

Occidental-Recoletos is set to confer Doctor of Philosophy in Business Management (honoris causa) to Olivia Villaflores Yanson, the matriarch of the Yanson Group of Bus Companies, on Aug. 30, 2023 in Bacolod City.

The citation is given to Yanson, co-founder of the YGBC, in recognition of her contribution to the world of business. Yanson, or OVY, is known for being an entrepreneur and a philanthropist. She was a nurse by profession, having obtained her undergraduate degree from Siliman University in 1956, before she ventured into entrepreneurship. Yanson has received numerous recognitions from various institutions for her accomplishments and socio civic works. She was a recipient of the 2001 First Hamiling Bayawanon Award in the field of business and entrepreneurship, 2006 Oriental Negrense Award for outstanding achievement in social entrepreneurship, 2007 Signum Lasallianum (Award of Excellence), 2007 Go Negosyo Outstanding Negrense in the field of Entrepreneurship, Most Outstanding Silimanian Award in the field of Entrepreneurship, the Order of Horace B. Silliman Award, the 2007 Banwahanon Award as Outstanding Entrepreneur (Bacolod City).

Yanson received the 2008 Making a Difference for Women Award (Soroptimist International of Bacolod), the 2008 La Gran Dama de Negros (The Negrense Heritage Society), The Outstanding Bayawanon award and the 2018 Outstanding Negrense Award for Humanitarian Work.

Inchcape signs joint venture deal to distribute Changan cars in PH

By Othel V. Campos

INCHCAPE Philippines, a subsidiary of global automotive distributor Inschape, announced Thursday a joint venture agreement with Chinese automobile manufacturer Changan International Corp. to exclusively distribute Changan vehicles in the Philippines.

Inchcape managing director for South Asia and Pacific Alex Hammett said the global distributor is looking forward to working with Changan which is a leading OEM company based in Jiangbei, Chongqing, China.

“This is an exciting milestone for us as we see strong growth potential in the Philippines and opportunities for shared success with Changan. This is a great example of our strategy in action, accelerating the performance of our mobility company partners, and Inchcape being the automotive distributor of choice,” he said. The distributor said the partnership would leverage the strengths of both parties, including Changan’s advanced research and development capability, competitive products, superior services and supply chain and Inchcape’s local market insight, rich experience of distribution and retailing and advanced digital capabilities in delivering excellent customer experiences.

STATE-RUN PNOC Exploration Corp., the oil and gas arm of Philippine National Oil Co., wants to take a 20-percent stake in Service Contract 6B or the Cadlao oilfield in Palawan.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LOYALTY PROGRAM. Digital Advantage Corp. (SM Advantage Card) head of sales and marketing Jay Beltran (center) shares

how the SM Advantage Card has become ‘one of the most pervasive loyalty programs in the country’ during the 29th National Retail Conference and Expo at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City. With Beltran are (from left) Philippine Retailers Association president Roberto Claudio Sr. and PRA chairwoman Rosemarie Ong. SMAC is SM’s loyalty program with a wide network of stores including The SM Store, SM Markets, Specialty Stores and other partner merchants where its members earn and redeem points every time they shop.

RIDER TRAINING. Motorcycle ride-hailing platform Angkas announces its collaboration with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Riding Academy to elevate rider training and passenger safety in the country by sharing its specialized riding curriculum. The partnership aims to empower future riders with the knowledge and skills required to navigate the roads safely, efficiently and with the utmost consideration for passengers. Attending the partnership agreement are (from left) MMDA director for enforcement traffic discipline office Atty. Victor Nuñez, MMDA general manager Procopio Lipana, Angkas public affairs head Jauro Castro and MMDA chairman Atty. Romando Artes.

Chito Loyzaga honors father Caloy: He played for love of PH

IN a FIBA Hall of Fame induction held in the Philippines, basketball immortality awaited 12 inductees this year as part of the Class of 2023.

The stories, the achievements, the speeches of each one, were enough to awe the entire room, which was filled with delegates for the FIBA Congress Manila 2023 and basketball personalities from the Philippines and abroad.

But for Filipinos in the room, for a country so enamored with the sport, none of the names resounded as much as “Carlos ‘Caloy’ Loyzaga”.

When called, his three children, Joaquin “Chito”, Ernesto “Joey”, and Carla “Bing” took the stage to receive the trophy on behalf of their late father. The applause was loud, to understate the matter.

Chito then went on to deliver a resounding speech, short but sweet. The ultimate message? The name on the back of the jersey matters little compared to the flag in the front of the jersey.

The legacy of Caloy Loyzaga, in Chito’s words, was that he played “for love of country, for the flag”. He gave it his all, showed sportsmanship and good character. That, perhaps, is what sets him apart from many.

“Imagine, that was not too long after

Adiwang returns to action vs. Matheis

LITO “Thunder Kid” Adiwang is ready to recapture his lost thunder as he returns to action for the first time in over a year.

The 30-year-old is staging his comeback against Adrian “Papua Badboy”

Matheis at ONE Friday Fights 34 on September 22 at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

“Masaya ako at finally, makakabalik na din ako sa ring to continue the dream,” he said.

It’s a long road back for Adiwang who tore his ACL at ONE X against Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado last year and had to rethink his future, leaving Team Lakay and has found a new home with HIIT Studio in Bali, Indonesia.

But Thunder Kid is ecstatic that this fresh start can only net him positives as he looks to brandish his new and improved self while reasserting his position as one of the top contenders in the strawweight division.

“Tingin ko, if everything will work as planned, makikita natin ang mas technical na Thunder Kid combined with more power,” he said.

Matheis though is no pushover, as seen in his last match where he knocked out Zelang “Lil’ Gun” Zhaxi at ONE Fight Night: Lineker vs. Andrade II last February.

Yet Adiwang has full trust in his capabilities, saying, “I need to show him that there are levels in this game.

“I may be out for more than a year but it only boosted the fire in me to get back in the game and win against whoever they put in front of me. I’m here doing the work and sacrifice to level up my game, improve the things that I need to improve on. Para sa akin, I will do my very best to win this fight,” he said.

Adiwang’s comeback fight coincides with a banger main event with Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon defending his ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship against the reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Kicking Machine” Superlek Kiatmoo9.

the war. The struggles, the difficulties they had to go through to represent the country, to play for the flag. That was no joke,” said Chito.

The recognition for Loyzaga’s basketball exploits may perhaps seem belated, considering what he achieved and the time since he set his accomplishments.

But the achievements of the man they called “The Big Difference” are timeless.

From his days at San Beda College, his international stints leading to since unmatched triumphs for the country, his time with the Yco dynasty, and even his post-playing days where he achieved some more as a coach, Caloy does not belong to one particular time frame. In Philippine basketball lore, his name should come up again and again, and again. His body of work should be the one that players who came in the years after his career should have aspired for, and current and future players should strive to reach.

He exuded not just skill, but class. He knew his responsibilities, his priorities in basketball, and, because he was the biggest man of his day, with the broadest of shoulders and a barrel chest, he knew he had to deliver. And deliver, he did. And that, is the big difference.

Gilas needs crowd, perfect game to have a chance vs Dominicans

By Peter Atencio

THE support of a big crowd on opening day Friday will certainly be a big boost for Gilas Pilipinas when it plays its first game against a confident Dominican Republic at the start of their campaigns in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan

With spectators expected to reach a record 50,000 or more, Team Philippines comes into their 8 p.m. fight against the Nestor Garcia-coached Dominicanos with an aggressive mindset and a taller roster from previous national squads.

Coach Chot Reyes is bringing in a “sizeable” but fast team, finalized Wednesday after Thirdy Ravena, Calvin Oftana and Bobby Ray Parks were excluded in the final cut.

“One thing is for sure, we need the support of the crowd. We have to be able to punch above our weight. The crowd will be a good determining factor,” said Reyes.

Seven-foot-three Kai Sotto and

Scottie Thompson are returning from injury, and are expected to blend with Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson in Gilas’ bid to come up with a “perfect game” against the Dominicans.

The three will make up Gilas’ move to be more fast-paced against the Dominicans, along with Kiefer Ravena, CJ Perez, Roger Pogoy, Dwight Ramos, Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, Junemar

Fajardo and AJ Edu.

“The most important thing is for us to come in with a very calm, focused, intentional, yet aggressive mindset coming into the ballgame,” added Reyes, stressing Gilas will need to minimize their turnovers, which have bothered them during their tuneups.

Dominican Republic Garcia said the presence of a big crowd in Bulacan excites the Dominicans, and their preparation in the clash with Gilas will be a big key to victory.

The Dominicans, according to Garcia, have been upbeat ever since they qualified to the tournament proper with their 79-75 upset of Argentina in the second round of the qualifiers.

“We are in a good mood right now because we qualified for the World Cup, and won the title in Central America,” said Garcia, who added that the players have gained each other’s trust going into their first match in Group with the Filipinos.

The Dominicans’ game will see Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl Anthony Towns leading the charge.

Afan crowned world grappling champ for 1st time

RISING

star Fierre Afan is making a name for himself from one overseas tournament to another—this time capturing his first-ever title as a world grappling champion.

Three months after ruling the United World Grappling Asian Championships with two gold medals last June in Astana, Kazakhstan, the 19-year-old grappler from Marikina City dominated the 2023 World Grappling Championship last Tuesday in Warsaw, Poland.

Afan, representing the Philippines for the third straight time, showed his brute strength in the -71 kg GP Gi men’s division final, stunning French Ethan Sebastian Forrez, 15-2, for his first world champion gold medal.

Laban, Gilas Pilipinas!

GILAS Pilipinas will make its debut in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 8 p.m. today against the Dominican Republic at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. The Pinoy squad is in Group A along with Angola and Italy. Thirty-two teams are competing in the tournament.

Group A, B, C, and D are in Manila in the biggest basketball event of the year while two groups will slug it out in Okinawa, Japan and in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Tournament favorite USA is Group C, along with Jordan, Greece and New Zealand, while Spain will battle Iran, Ivory Coast and Brazil in Group G at the Indonesia Area in Jakarta.

Gilas will be bannered by Jordan Clarkson, Junemar Fajardo and Kai Sotto along with Dwight Ramos, Rhenz Abando, AJ Edu, CJ Perez, Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, Keifer Ravena, Scottie Thompson and Roger Pogoy. Aguilar, appearing in his third straight FIBA World Cup, will be the team captain. Despite the odds, the Pinoy team is expected to give the opposition a good fight amid the solid support and the prayers of a basketball crazy nation. Hoping that Gilas will do well in the tournament. Laban, Pilipinas!

Speaking of rising above the challenges and pain, mentally and physically, upcoming triathlon star Aidanreed Mercado overcame a nasty crash midway in the 2023 PTO Asian Open held in Marina Bay, Singapore last Sunday to finish second in the 16-19 years old age bracket of the Duathlon Standard event.

Mercado, also one of the country’s premier junior duathletes, finished 7th in

“It was so difficult, but I made it. It’s so sweet,” said Afan, who will be representing the country in the World Combat Games October 21 to 30 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “All opponents here are so strong, quick, versatile and smart that’s why I fought wisely, and I outsmarted everyone.” Afan beat 20-year-old Poles Eryk Marcin Szychowski, 10-3, in his first fight before subduing Alau Sakenuly of Kazakhstan, 4-2, in the semifinal round.

Lucas Aguilar, the son of Wrestling Association of the Philippines president Alvin Aguilar, bagged two bronze medals 63 kg U-17 grappling gi and no gi classes.

Aside from Afan and Aguilar,

other Filipino grapplers supported in the tournament by the Philippine Amusements Gaming Corporation, the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission, were Aisa Ratcliff, Lucho Aguilar, Joko Silverio and Annie Parungao.

Afan was coached by Alvin Aguilar and Michael Tabamo. Lester del Rosario also served as the an international referee during the weeklong competitions.

“He [Afan] has definitely proven himself time after time that he’s ready for bigger things,” Aguilar, also the founder of DEFTAC, said. “I am looking forward to Afan’s future and I am very excited to see him fight in the World Combat Games.”

the male 16-29 age category, 10th overall out of 433 male competitors and 14th out of the 572 total participants in the event. These feats are no laughing matter considering that the 18-year-old had bruises and scratches all over the left side of his body and on both knees and elbows after his spill with 16 kilometers left in the bike and another 4.5 kilometers run in the contest. Mercado said he was traveling at least 4555 kilometers per hour in the first bike lap when he crashed. “Mga quarter to six po ng umaga pero the thing po about Singapore is mga 7 a.m. pa ang sunrise kaya medyo po wala pa araw nu’n. Medyo madilim pa po tapos downhill portion pa ng highway. May hindi po ako napansin na sira sa daan kaya ayun po nag crash ako,” he said.

Despite his injuries, the swelling alone would make ordinary mortals to quit, Mercado will himself to rise and finish the rest thinking of his family, friends, coaches, his Aunt Jem Jaime and all those who supported him just for him to compete in Singapore. He was also thankful that he didn’t suffer any head injury.

“Hindi ko nga lang po naibigay ng todo kung ano ang ginawa ko sa training dahil nga

po sa mga injury ko,” Mercado admitted. He also learned a lot from the experience that hopefully will add more to his resolve in future races and competitions. It also made him wiser too despite his relatively young age.

“I just have to deal with any current situation and be adaptive at the same time. I’ll be out there to represent the country, my loved ones, my parents, coaches and everyone else,” he added.

For the meantime, Mercado will rest to allow his body to recover and for his injuries to heal. He also has to stay focused for another chapter or race in his young life. The 18-year-old will start his pursuit of a college degree next week. Mercado is an incoming Legal Management freshman at De La Salle University Manila.

Incidentally, Sophia Capistrano, Mercado’s teammate and longtime friend, finished second overall in the women’s side of the 2023 PTO Asian Open. She also bagged the silver in her age bracket.

Mercado said he and Capistrano are eyeing to compete in the 2023 Asian Duathlon Championships in November. To prepare, they will join local and commercial races prior to the event and of course in between

their studies. Like Mercado, Capistrano is also studying at DLSU.

In another bit of good news, the Philippine Football Federation announced the appointment of Mark Torcaso as the new coach of the Philippine Women’s National Football Team last Wednesday. Torcaso is the current Women Coach of the Year of the Australian League after guiding Western United to the grand finals of the inaugural season of the competitions early this year.

Joining Torcaso on the Filipinas are Sinisha Cohadzic and Andrew Durante as assistant coaches.

Torcaso said the team will prepare for the forthcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, China next month and the AFC Olympics Qualifiers in Perth, Australia in October. Cohadzic, on the other hand, will handle the Girls’ Under-17 national team that will compete in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in Vietnam, also in September. Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!

For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat

Chito Loyzaga, representing his late father and FIBA Hall of Fame inductee Carlos Loyzaga, is congratulated by FIBA president Hamane Niang.

Coach Chot Reyes plays table tennis against Jordan Clarkson during a Gilas break.

Fierre Afan of Team Philippines throws Ethan Sebastian Forrez of France to the floor during the tournament.

1.1

1.2

2021-0194 dated July 21, 2021 provides for the adoption of four additional IPSASs contained in the 2019 Edition of the HIP SAP published by the International Federation of Accountants (IF AC). One of the IPSASs adopted is IPSAS I8Segment Reporting, with an objective of establishing principles for reporting financial information by segments.

1.3 In view of the abovementioned developments and in consonance with the rulemaking function of this Commission under Section 2(2)5, Article IX-D of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and Section 25(4)6, Chapter 2, Title I of Presidential Decree No. 1445 or the Government Auditing Code of the Philippines, this Circular is issued to provide guidelines on the implementation of IPSAS 18Segment Reporting

2.0 COVERAGE

This Circular shall be implemented by all NGAs, GCs classified as NonCPSEs formerly termed as Non-Government Business Enterprises (NonGBEs)7, and LGUs.

3.0 DEFINITION OF TERMS

For the purpose of this Circular, the following terms shall be construed to mean as follows:

3.1 Entity - an NGA, GC classified as Non-CPSE, or LGD.

3.2 Geographical segment - a distinguishable component of an entity that is engaged in providing outputs or achieving particular operating objectives within a particular geographical area.8

3.3 Government Corporations (GCs) - government-owned or controlled corporations, government financial institutions, and government instrumentalities with corporate powers/government corporate entities, including their subsidiaries, and water districts. The regional, branch and field offices are component units of the corporation.9

3.4 Local Government Unit (LGU) - any province, city, municipality or any other political subdivisions.

3.5 National Government Agency (NGA) - any government agency, department, bureau, office or its operating/field unit.

3.6 Non-Commercial Public Sector Entities (Non-CPSEs) - are entities that have all the following characteristics as enumerated under paragraph 10 of the Preface to IPSAS based on the 2019 Edition of the HIPSAP:

a. Are responsible for the delivery of services to benefit the public and/or redistribute income and wealth; b. Mainly finance their activities, directly or indirectly, by means of taxes and/or transfers from other levels of government, social contributions, debt or fees; and c. Do not have a primary objective to make profits.

3.7 Segment - a distinguishable activity or group of activities of an entity for which it is appropriate to separately report fmancial information for the purpose of (a) evaluating the entity’s past performance in achieving its objectives, and (b) making decisions about the future allocation of resources. 10

3.8 Segment accounting policies - the accounting policies adopted for preparing and presenting the financial statements (FSs) of the consolidated · group or entity as well as those accounting policies that relate specifically to segment reporting. 11

3.9 Segment assets - those operating assets that are employed by a segment in its operating activities, and that either are directly attributable to the segment or can be allocated to the segment on a reasonable basis. 12

3.10 Segment expense - an expense resulting from the operating activities of a segment that is directly attributable to the segment, and the relevant portion of an expense that can be allocated on a reasonable basis to the segment, including expenses relating to the provision of goods and services to external parties and expenses relating to transactions with other segments of the same entity. 13

3.11 Segment liabilities - those operating liabilities that result from the operati activities of a segment, and that either are directly attributable to the segme can be allocated to the segment on a reasonable basis.14

3.12 Segment revenue - the revenue reported in the entity’s statement of financial performance that is directly attributable to a segment, and the relevant portion of entity revenue that can be allocated on a reasonable basis to a segment, whether from budget appropriations or similar, grants, transfers, fines, fees, or sales to external customers or from transactions with other segments of the same entity.15

3.13 Service segment - a distinguishable component of an entity that is engaged in providing related outputs or achieving particular operating objectives consistent with the overall mission of each entity.16

4.0 OBJECTIVE OF IPSAS 18

The objective of IPSAS 18 is to establish principles for reporting financial information by segments. The disclosure of this information will:

a. Help users of the FSs to better understand the entity’s past performance, and to identify the resources allocated to support the major activities of the entity; and

b. Enhance the transparency of financial reporting and enable the entity to better discharge its accountability obligations.17

The Financial information that can be derived from segment reporting will be useful for planning and future references, such as decision-making, forecasting and budget preparation.

5.0 GUIDELINES ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF REPORTABLE

SEGMENTS

Identification of Segments

5.1 The public sector entity shall identify as separate segments each distinguishable activity or group of activities for which financial information should be reported for the purposes of (a) evaluating the past performance of the entity in achieving its objectives, and (b) making decisions about the allocation of resources by the entity.18 Segments can be identified based on service or geography. Entities are usually managed along with their service lines and by virtue of their mandate.

Reporting Structure

5.2 In most cases for public sector entities, the major classifications of activitities identified in budget documentation will reflect the segment structure for which information is reported to the governing body and the most senior manager of the entity. The segments reported to the governing body and senior management of the public entity will also reflect the segments reported in the FSS.19 For example, major programs which are usually the mandate of an NGA can be lifted from the current appropriations law. Such major programs can be identified as major segments of the entity since activities grouped within the program are for the achievement of a particular operating objective.

Senior Manager may refer to the Head of the Department/Agency for NGAs, Board of Directors/Trustees for GCs classified as NonCPSEs, and Head of the province, city, municipality or any other political subdivisions for LGUs.

5.3 Determining the activities which should be grouped as separate segments and reported in the FSs for accountability and decisionmaking purposes involves judgment. In making the judgment, the

entity needs to consider the following:

a. The objective of reporting financial information by segment, as enumerated in Item 4.0;

b. The expectations of users of FSs regarding the key activities of the entity;

c. The qualitative characteristics of financial reporting i.e., the relevance, reliability, and comparability over time of financial information; and

d. Whether a particular segment structure reflects the basis on which the governing body and senior manager require financial information to evaluate past performance in achieving objectives and make future resource allocation decisions.20

Segment Classification

5.4 Factors that will be considered in determining whether outputs (goods and services) are related and should be grouped as service segments for financial reporting purposes include:

a. The primary operating objectives of the entity and the goods, services, and activities that relate to the achievement of each of those objectives, an whether resources are allocated and budgeted on the basis of groups of and services;

b. The nature of the goods or services provided or activities undertaken;

c. The nature of the production process and/or service delivery and distribution process or mechanism;

d. The type of customer or consumer for the goods or services;

e. Whether this reflects the way in which the entity is managed and financial information is reported to senior management and the governing board; and

f. If applicable, the nature of the regulatory environment, (e.g., department or statutory authority) or sector of government (e.g., finance sector, public utilities, or general government).21

5.5 On the other hand, an entity may be organized and report internally to the governing body and the senior manager on a regional basiswhether within or across national, state, local, or other jurisdictional boundaries. When this occurs, the internal reporting system reflects a geographical segment structure.22 In the Philippine setting, a state is equivalent to a region.

5.6 Factors that will be considered in determining whether financial information should be reported on a geographical basis include:

a. Similarity of economic, social, and political conditions in different regions;

b. Relationships between the primary objectives of the entity and the different regions;

c. Whether service delivery characteristics and operating conditions differ in different regions;

d. Whether this reflects the way in which the entity is managed and financial information is reported to senior managers and the governing board; and

e. Special needs, skills, or risks associated with operations in a particular area.23

Multiple Segmentation

5.7 In some cases, an entity may report to the governing body and senior manager segment revenue, expense, assets, and liabilities on the basis of more than one segment structure, for example, by both service and geographical segments. Reporting on the basis of both service segments and geographical segments in the external FSs often provides useful information if the achievement of an entity’s objectives is strongly affected both by the different products and services it provides and the different geographical areas in which those goods and services are provided.24

Reporting Structure not Appropriate

5.8 In most cases, the segments for which information is reported internally to the governing body and the most senior manager of the entity for the purpose of evaluating the entity’s past performance and making decisions about the future allocation of resources, will reflect those identified in budget documentation and will also be adopted for external reporting purposes in accordance with the requirements of IPSAS 18. However, in some cases, an entity’s internal reporting to the governing body and the senior manager may be structured to aggregate and report on a basis that distinguishes revenues, expenses, assets, and liabilities related to budget-dependent activities from those of trading activities, or which distinguishes budget-dependent entities from commercial public sector entities. Reporting segment information in the FSs on the basis of only these segments is unlikely to meet the objectives specified for IPSAS 18. This is because these segments are unlikely to provide information that is relevant to users about, for example, the performance of the entity in achieving its major operating objectives.25

5.9 If the purpose of financial reporting to the governing body and senior management is to evidence compliance with spending mandates rather than for purposes specified in Item 5.1, then the entity may not report expenses, revenues, assets, and liabilities by service segment, geographical segment, or by both. These reports may be constructed to reflect only expenditures by nature (for example, wages, rent, supplies and capital acquisitions) on a line item basis that is consistent with the budget appropriation or other funding or expenditure authorization model applicable to the entity. Hence, the requirements of IPSAS 18 shall not be applied in this case.

Newly Identified Segments

5.10 If a segment is identified as a segment for the first time in the current period, prior period segment data that is presented for comparative purposes shall be restated to reflect the newly reported segment as a separate segment, unless it impracticable to do so.26

6.0 SEGMENT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS

6.1 Paragraphs 52 to 75 of IPSAS 18 provide the disclosures for segment reporting, which includes but not limited to the following:

a. The segment revenue and segment expense for each segment, where segment revenue from budget appropriation or similar allocation, segment revenue from other external sources, and segment revenue from transactions with other segments shall be reported separately;

b. The total carrying amount of segment assets for each segment;

c. The total carrying amount of segment liabilities for each segment;

d. The total cost incurred during the period to acquire segment assets that are expected to be used during more than one period for each segment;

e. For each segment, the aggregate of the entity’s share ofthe net surplus (deficit) of associates, joint ventures, or other investments accounted for under the equity method, if substantially all of those associates’ operations are within that single segment;

f. If an entity’s aggregate share of the net surplus (deficit) of associates, joint venture, or other investments accounted for under the equity method is disclosed by segment, the aggregate investments in those associates and joint ventures shall also be disclosed by segment;

g. A reconciliation between the information disclosed for segments and the aggregated information in the consolidated or entity FSs. In presenting the reconciliation, segment revenue shall be reconciled to entity revenue from external sources (including disclosure of the amount of entity revenue from external sources not included in any segment’s revenue); segment expense shall be reconciled to a comparable measure of entity expense; segment asset shall be reconciled to entity assets; and segment liabilities shall be reconciled to entity liabilities

h. The basis of pricing inter-segment transfers and any change therein;

i. Changes in accounting policies adopted for segment reporting that have a material effect on segment information shall be disclosed, and prior period segment information presented for comparative purposes shall be restated, unless it is impracticable to do so; and

j. If not otherwise disclosed in the FSs or elsewhere in the annual report, an entity shall indicate:

1. The types of goods and services included in each reported service segment;

2. The composition of each reported geographical segment; and

3. If neither a service nor geographical basis of segmentation is adopted, the nature of the segment and activities encompassed by it.27

If not otherwise disclosed in the FSs or elsewhere in the annual report, the entity is encouraged to disclose the broad operating objectives established for each segment at the commencement of the reporting period, and to comment on the extent to which those objectives were achieved.28

6.2 In addition to the defInition of a segment revenue in Item 3.12, segment revenue includes an entity’s share of net surplus (deficit)

of associates, joint ventures, or other investments accounted for under the equity method, only if those items are included in consolidated or total entity revenue. Segment revenue does not include:

a. Interest or dividend revenue, including interest earned on advances or loans to other segments, unless the segment’s operations are primarily of a fInancial nature; or

b. Gains on sales of investments or gains on extinguishment of debt, unless the segment’s operations are primarily of a financial nature.29

6.3 Aside from the defInition of segment expense in Item 3.10, IPSAS

18 provides that segment expense does not include:

a. Interest, including interest incurred on advances or loans from other segments, unless the segment’s operations are primarily of a fInancial nature;

b. Losses on sales of investments or losses on extinguishment of debt, unless e segment’s operations are primarily of a fInancial nature;

c. An entity’s share of net deficit or losses of associates, joint ventures, or other investments accounted for under the equity method;

d. Income tax or income tax-equivalent expense that is recognized in accordance with accounting standards dealing with obligations to pay income tax or income tax equivalents; or e. General administrative expenses, head office expenses, and other expenses that arise at the entity level and relate to the entity as a whole. However, costs are sometimes incurred at the entity level on behalf of a segment. Such costs are segment expenses if they relate to the segment’s operating activities and can be directly attributed or allocated to the segment on a reasonable basis.

For a segment’s operations that are primarily ofa financial nature, interest revenue and interest expense may be reported as a single net amount for segment reporting purposes only if those items are netted in the consolidated or entity FSs.30

6.4 Segment assets shall include related receivables, loans, investments, or other revenue-producing assets if a segment’s segment revenue includes interest or dividend revenue. They do not include income tax or income tax-equivalent assets that are recognized in accordance with accounting standards dealing with obligations to pay income tax or income tax equivalents. Segment assets include investments accounted for under the equity method only if the net surplus (deficit) from such investments is included in segment revenue.

Segment assets are determined after deducting related allowances that are reported as direct offsets in the entity’s statement of financial position.31

6.5 For segment liabilities, if a segment’s segment expense includes interest expense, its segment liabilities include the related interest-bearing liabilities. Segment liabilities do not include income tax or income tax equivalent liabilities that are recognized in accordance with accounting standards dealing with obligations to pay income tax or income tax equivalents.32

6.6 Inter-segment transfers shall be measured on the basis that they occur. This is one of the transactions eliminated when computing for the consolidated reports as provided in the sample disclosure stated in Item 6.10.

6.7 Assets that are jointly used by two or more segments shall be allocated to segments if, and only if, their related revenues and expenses are also allocated to those segments.33 Joint assets are considered as segment assets if a reasonable basis for the allocation of joint assets to each segments sharing exist.

6.8 Unallocated assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses that are not directly attributed or allocated on a reasonable basis to individual segments because they support a wide range of service delivery activities across a number of segments or are directly related to general administration activities that are not identified as a separate segment, shall be disclosed for the reconciliation of segment information to the entity’s reported FSs.

6.9 Considering the first-time adoption of IPSAS 18, the presentation of the comparative information for calendar year (CY) 2024 is not required. However, after CY 2024, comparative information for the current and immediately preceding year shall be reflected in the FSs.

6.10 Separate sample disclosures in the notes to FSs with a schedule of segment reporting information for the NGA, a GC classified as Non-CPSE, or LGU are provided as Annexes A.1, A.2, and A.3, respectively.

7.0 PAG TO IPSAS 18-SEGMENT REPORTING

All provisions of IPSAS 18 and its amendments shall be adopted by all NGAs, GCs classified as Non-CPSEs and LGUs, as applicable, and in accordance with the following PAG:

7.1 As discussed in Item 5.1, an entity may report either service segments or geographical segments or both.

Identification of Segments

PAG1. For uniformity, public sector entities shall identify segments based on service lines which are distinct and separate in their reporting structures, unless the reporting based on geographical segments will result to a more useful information in achieving the entity’s objectives. In this event, the entity shall disclose reasonable basis in applying the geographical segments.

7.2 COA Resolution No. 2021-019, which prescribed the adoption of additional IPSAS, including IPSAS 18, shall take effect on January 1, 2022.

Effectivity Date PAG2. In view of the fact that the guidelines for the adoption of IPSAS 18, as contained in this Circular, is issued at a later date, the mandatory effectivity date is further deferred to January 1, 2024, to give entities enough time to make the proper transition in their adoption of IPSAS 18. However, earlier application is encouraged.

8.0 SAVING CLAUSE

Any request for clarification or technical assistance on the implementation of this Circular or matters not covered hereof shall be referred to this Commission, through the Government Accountancy Sector, for resolution.

9.0 REPEALING CLAUSE

All circulars, memoranda, and other issuances or any parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Circular, are hereby amended, modified, or revoked accordingly.

10.0 EFFECTIVITY DATE

This Circular shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation. It shall take effect on January 1,2024. GAMALIEL

A pageant like no other

A pageant that takes pride in our own native dogs took the spotlight during the celebration of National Aspin Day 2023. Campaigning under the slogan “I Love My Aspin,” the 2nd Ginoo at Binibining Aspin 2023, presented by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), was held at UP Town Center, Ayala Malls in Quezon City on Sunday.

Eighteen Asong Pinoy (Aspin) contestants walked the stage in their creative Filipiniana costumes that brought fun and excitement to a crowd of dog lovers who stayed up to watch the event.

Chuchu of owner Guy Singzon wearing a Moriones-inspired warrior costume, was named Binibining Aspin 2023, while Blackie, showcasing a colorful Mamang Sorbetero ensemble, bagged the Ginoong Aspin 2023 title.

Blackie, a rescue dog, was adopted from the Second Chance Aspin Shelter Philippines, Inc., in July by his adoptive fur-dad (this writer), who also made the farewell walk for outgoing Binibining Aspin 2022 Kelly, who could not make it but was represented by Kimmy

Chloe of Merlyn Fenix and Snowy of Sarah Geronimo finished as Binibining Aspin 2023 first and second runnersup, respectively, while Milo of Alena Guanlao, and Pampu of Rona Albarillo were named Ginoong Aspin 2023 1st and 2nd runners up, respectively.

The top 3 finalists in male and female categories were asked by host Gelli Victor about the inspiration for their costumes. Chuchu and Blackie were crowned by PAWS executive director

Ana Cabrera

“First time that I had a hard time as judge. I wanted all of them to win,” said singer-songwriter Ice Seguerra. Other celebrity judges were Jeffrey Hidalgo and Daiana Meneses. * * *

Misters of Filipinas partners with Golden Topper

The Misters of Filipinas Organization has recently partnered with real estate company Golden Topper, Dot Property Awards 2022 Best Developer in Cebu, which will serve as Gold Sponsor for the coming 10th Misters of Filipinas pageant anniversary edition. The valuable partnership was forged in a ceremony presided over by Carlo Morris Galang, Prime Events Production Philippine Foundation, Inc (PEPPS), makers of Misters of Filipinas, and Allan L. Crisologo, president of Golden Topper Group of Companies, held at the Golden Topper Office in BGC, Taguig City.

“The partnership is a realization of our shared goal of transformative impact on the communities, and in upholding Misters of Filipinas’ core values of innovation and unity in diversity as a platform to support meaningful causes and advocacies,” said Morris-Galang.

Meanwhile, PEPPS announced the Swimwear Competition Misters of Filipinas 2023, now ongoing, will be held in Queen City of the South, Cebu City from September 8 to 11.

Gela Atayde goes full throttle into mainstream stage

IN a dazzling display of talent, creativity, and spunk, rising Kapamilya actress Gela Atayde and her dance crew, Legit Status, clinched the top spot in the MegaCrew division at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship held in Phoenix, Arizona on August 6.

Maintaining its lead throughout the fierce competition and showcasing its unmatched dancing prowess and solid teamwork, the team eventually bested 54 other dance groups from all over the world with their sound performance.

Thousands of fans and guests cheered on as Gela and Legit Status were announced as the winner and had the distinct honor of singing the Philippine national anthem, representing the country with pride in front of international acts.

“From all the sleepless training nights, missed events, injuries, failures, heartaches, and doubts to the great runs, good laughs, happy tears, great memories, and this championship. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through in my life so far but I am so grateful for how it turned out,” said Gela.

Citing her older brother Arjo Atayde as her main inspiration for getting into dancing, Gela has shared a breakout performance with AC Bonifacio in Asap Natin ‘To

With the hope of conquering more stages for her fiery dance moves and impeccable routines, Gela makes sure to keep herself grounded by continuously honing her talent from the mentorship she receives from the equally passionate people she’s meeting along the way.

Following her triumphant return, Gela is set to embark on another stage of her career: acting.

Apart from her show-stopping dance performances, she is now ready to make a mark with her starring role in Senior High. The highly anticipated TV series offering produced by ABS-CBN and Dreamscape is composed of the hottest teen stars of today, Andrea Brillantes, Elijah Canlas, Zaijan Jaranilla, and Xyriel Manabat

Gela expressed her enthusiasm for the role she is about to play as it is very close to her personality. Making it a full circle moment for the young actress is the fact she will also be working with her mother Sylvia Sanchez and her best friend Kyle Echarri on the show.

“Being part of a family that is passionate about acting has played a huge role in opening my eyes to the beauty of the craft. I am really grateful to all those who paved the way for me to tick another goal off of my bucket list. Senior High is really gonna be special for me, not only because it’s my first acting gig but also because I’m sharing the camera with my mom,” said Gela.

Truly, Gela has many more moves in store for the business and she is all set to carve her very own path to stardom at full speed.

Bayanihan 2023 season production at The Met

BAYANIHAN’S 2023 season production takes center stage at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila today and tomorrow, August 26.

Titled Continuum: A Dance Spectrum

Through the Years, the performance showcases dances performed by Bayanihan, the National Folk Dance Company of the Philippines.

Bayanihan is a world-famous dance company that has received numerous international awards.

There will be three performances: one today at 3:00 p.m., sponsored by the Philippine Women’s University, and a gala performance at 8:00 p.m.; and another tomorrow at 8:00 p.m.

The season production is presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in collaboration with the Bayanihan Folk Arts Foundation.

For more information and ticket reservations, please contact Monette at 0917 871 4429 or Helen at 0922 555 1534.

Kier King advances to Indonesia’s 'D' Academy Asia 6' finals

SINGER Kier King, a former contestant from Idol Philippines Season 1, has secured a spot in the Top 6 finals of the esteemed Indonesian singing competition, D’ Academy Asia 6. The upcoming round of performances is scheduled for today.

Over the past two months, King has consistently held a top1 position in Dangdut Academy Asia 6, a renowned talent show in Indonesia. This competition marks the sixth season of the Asian-level dangdut singing contest.

Supporters from the Philippines, Indonesia, and across Asia have rallied behind King as he continues his journey towards a potential victory. Music enthusiasts and fans are encouraged to stay tuned through Indosiar, a major Indonesian television network boasting 26.3 million YouTube subscribers. The competition streams live on Vidio, an Indonesia-based over-the-top video streaming service.

As one of the two representatives from the Philippines, King has consistently amazed both judges and audiences with his captivating performances and exceptional vocal prowess. He expresses his gratitude for achieving this feat, saying, “When I joined D’ Academy Asia 6, I didn’t have high expectations since Dangdut was a new genre for me. However, as the competition progressed,

I grew to appreciate the beauty of Dangdut music. I’m thankful for the opportunity to learn and represent the Philippines on an international stage.”

In this new generation of Filipino talent, King has expanded his singing skills by embracing dangdut songs—a genre of Indonesian music that blends elements of Arab and Malay folk music. Acknowledging the challenge, King admits, “Learning dangdut songs and cengkok hasn’t been easy for me. Coming from a pop R&B background and influenced by Western music, the shift to Indonesia’s style has been quite a transition.”

King extends his gratitude to his support system, including his family, the Lx2 Entertainment family, and fans from both the Philippines and Indonesia. He shares his love and appreciation, stating, “To my Kingsters Family in the Philippines and Indonesia, I hold you all dear! Thank you for your unwavering support and for staying up late to watch my performances.

Your encouragement is my strength, and I hold you all in high regard. Terimaksih banyak aku mencintaimu!” He concludes, “I hope you’ll never tire of supporting me.”

In the upcoming rounds of Dangdut Academy, King will compete against fellow Filipino contender Lovely Restituto and other exceptionally talented singers from Indonesia and Brunei.

‘Senior High’ star Gela Atayde expresses her excitement to begin her journey as an actress

The author with Blackie, the Ginoong Aspin 2023 winner, and judge Ice Seguerra (right)

The official candidates of Misters of Filipinas 2023 during the signing ceremony between Misters of Filipinas Organization and Golden Topper

‘Continuum’ features world-class performances from the Filipino dance company

Singer and social media personality Kier King

LIFE Putting a celebrity face on farming

Bea Alonzo joins forces with PSA for agriculture, fisheries census

By Nickie Wang

IT has been a decade since the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) last conducted the Census of Agriculture and Fisheries, making a recent media conference organized by the government agency a significant event.

During the conference, Deputy National Statistician Minerva Eloisa Esquivias told Manila Standard Life that they are thrilled to have actress Bea Alonzo on board as the celebrity endorser for the upcoming 2022 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries.

“Apart from her status as one of the most sought-after celebrities in the country, Bea is a passionate advocate for sustainable farming. This commitment is evident through her ownership of an organic farm in Zambales, which serves as a tranquil haven for both her family and herself,” Esquivias said.

The statistician aims to raise greater awareness with the actress’s involvement. By having Bea on board as part of the project, she believes that there will be an increased level of attention and consciousness about the initiative. Bea’s influence and popularity can potentially help the initiative reach a wider audience and garner more interest from the public.

“We want to achieve mileage. This collaboration is seen as a strategic move to enhance the visibility and impact of the project, ultimately leading to a greater understanding and participation in the goals of the Census of Agriculture and Fisheries,” Esquivias added.

The upcoming 2022 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries will mark the seventh in a series of decennial agricultural censuses and the sixth decennial census of fisheries in the country since 1903. The PSA holds the responsibility of gathering and compiling fundamental information about the agricultural and fishery sectors in the Philippines.

The significance of this endeavor by the PSA cannot be overstated, as up-to-date information on agriculture and fisheries enables economic development planners to address the challenges and opportunities within these sectors, contributing to the nation’s growth and prosperity.

The 2022 CAF is set to commence officially on September 4. The PSA will deploy a team of 15,841 enumerators and 5,430 census supervisors across the nation. Their task includes conducting a comprehensive census on agricultural and fishery households, as well as engaging with operators in crop farming, livestock, poultry, aquaculture, and fisheries, alongside barangay officials.

Utilizing Computer Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI), these data collectors will amass information that will serve as the foundation for governmental policies and programs aimed at improving the conditions of the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

Through this partnership, Bea officially joins the ranks of “CAFarmers,” extending her support to advocate for and celebrate this significant cause.

All members of the agriculture and fishery sectors are strongly encouraged to partake in the upcoming census, aligning with the 2022 CAF’s tagline, “CAFarmer, CAFisher, Tayo ang Bida!”

“I would also like to encourage other celebrities who are into farming to engage in this activity. This happens once every 10 years. By participating, we aid our government in accurately tallying the individuals within this sector, a crucial step in understanding its dynamics and needs,” Alonzo ended.

Beyond math

“50 plus 5, plus 30, minus 55.” This was just one of the mathematical equations thrown at young mental arithmetic trainees during a live demonstration last week. I was in awe of how quickly young champs Rheana Campos (10) and Conner Yao (7) were able to give the correct answers without pen and paper. The two recently won at the ALOHA Mental Arithmetic International Competition Malaysia 2023.

“Here in the Philippines, mental math is more popular than mental arithmetic,” Ivy Sato, Chief Executive Officer of ALOHA Mental Arithmetic, began as she introduced an integrated and accredited international training program. She added, “When you say mental arithmetic, it is not just about basic math operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division It also deals with higher arithmetic operations like fractions, decimals, percentages, and square roots all in the mind.”

In a society dominated by technology, the timeless art of mental arithmetic is making a remarkable resurgence. Among programs available, ALOHA (Abacus Learning of Higher Arithmetic) Mental Arithmetic stands out as a means of cognitive development and academic success for children. This innovative approach to learning mathematics not only sharpens young minds but also fosters a love for numbers that lasts a lifetime.

During a recent Q&A, here are the incredible benefits of ALOHA Mental Arithmetic for kids I learned:

Mastering the art of calculation.

ALOHA Mental Arithmetic is a program that introduces children to the wonders of arithmetic without the need for calculators or even pen and paper. Through a system of mental calculations, young learners are encouraged to visualize numbers and perform complex arithmetic operations in their heads. This unique approach enhances their numerical fluency, enabling them to solve problems swiftly and accurately.

The program is designed to progressively challenge students, starting with basic addition and subtraction and gradu-

ally advancing to multiplication, division, and even complex calculations involving decimals and fractions. This gradual progression ensures that children build a strong mathematical foundation at their own pace, instilling confidence and a sense of accomplishment as they tackle increasingly challenging problems.

Boosting brainpower. One of the standout benefits of ALOHA Mental Arithmetic is its impact on cognitive development. Numerous studies have shown that mental arithmetic engages multiple areas of the brain, including memory, attention, and problem-solving abilities. By regularly practicing mental calculations, children not only become mathematically proficient but also improve their overall cognitive skills.

This brain-boosting effect extends beyond math class. Students who excel in mental arithmetic often exhibit enhanced concentration, better memory retention, and improved analytical thinking. These skills are not only essential for academic success but also for navigating the challenges of daily life.

Building confidence and resilience.

ALOHA Mental Arithmetic doesn’t just teach math, it cultivates important life skills. As children overcome mathematical hurdles and witness their own progress, they develop a sense of self-assuredness that extends far beyond the realm of numbers. This newfound confidence encourages them to tackle other challenges with enthusiasm and determination.

Additionally, the program instills a sense of resilience in young learners. They learn that making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process, and these mistakes are valuable opportunities for growth. This resilience, honed through the rigorous yet rewarding practice of mental arithmetic, equips children with the emotional tools to persevere in the face of challenges. Fostering a love for mathematics.

One of the most remarkable benefits of ALOHA Mental Arithmetic is its ability to foster a genuine love for mathematics. Many children perceive math as a daunting subject and actually fear it but ALOHA changes that narrative. By making math fun, engaging, and accessible, this program ignites a passion for numbers in young hearts.

Through interactive activities, games, and friendly competitions, ALOHA transforms math from a chore into a source of joy and pride. Children not only appreciate the beauty of mathematics but also recognize its relevance in their everyday lives. Instead of having unnecessary school stress, this newfound enthusiasm often translates into academic success.

If you wish to get your children to try the brain development program, check out ALOHA Mental Arithmetic Philippines on Facebook. The program is accredited by Malaysian Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association (MAMAA) and Zheijang Abacus Association of China.

RENOWNED global apparel retailer, Uniqlo, today unveiled the ninth issue of LifeWear magazine, which latest edition highlights the much-anticipated release of the Fall/Winter 2023 collection.

LifeWear magazine, a complimentary publication, embodies Uniqlo’s core philosophy of enhancing the comfort and quality of people’s daily lives.

The upcoming Issue 09, themed “Modern Layering” for the Fall/Winter season, delves into the art of combining garments in layers, unlocking a world of boundless fashion pos-

interwoven. The potential of these garments is truly inexhaustible when fused creatively.”

Kinoshita further emphasized that while clothing may not possess intrinsic character, it holds the power to amplify the individuality of the wearer. This highlights the significant influence of how we choose to dress. In the upcoming LifeWear edition, there is a notable focus on elevating layering to an artistic form. The magazine showcases sophisticated interplays of color, specifically highlighting the prevailing shades of gray and navy for the current season.

sibilities through the skillful coordination of essential pieces.

Takahiro Kinoshita, Executive Vice President and Creative Director of the Fast Retailing Group, shared his insights: “While every Uniqlo garment boasts a profoundly simple design, adaptable for anyone’s wear, the real magic emerges when these pieces are

Alongside this, practical layering methods take the spotlight, making use of the long-standing 20-year-old HEATTECH technology and the enduringly popular Ultra Light Down. This edition instills a sense of anticipation for the cooler weather, which provides the perfect backdrop to indulge in the artistry of layering.

Young Filipino champs with parents at the competition in Malaysia earlier this month

Yo ung mathematicians Rheana Yasmin Campos (left) and Jake Conner Tibayan Yao are named aa the champions of ALOHA Mental Arithmetic International Competition Malaysia 2023

Actress Bea Alonzo embarks on a new journey as the celebrity endorser for the upcoming 2022 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries

A Basketball World Cup to Remember

FIBA World Cup mania sweeps PH

By Randy Caluag

THE FIBA World Cup 2023 in Manila promises to be a totally unique basketball experience, not just for the players from all over the globe, but for the millions of local and visiting fans as well.

No less than American coach Steve Kerr of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors expressed his excitement about visiting the Philippines and having to play in front of Filipino fans.

Kerr is coming with two assistant coaches—Fil-American Erik Spoelstra and former Philippine team naturalized player Chip Engelland--who may have probably told him beautiful stories about the country.

“I’m so excited to go to Manila,” Kerr said in a social media post. “I’ve never been to the Philippines, so I know this will be fun.”

“I know how popular basketball is [there],” Kerr added, citing a team staffer, who played in the Philippines a long time ago. “But he’s told us how basketballcrazed the fans are there. So, it’s going to be a lot of fun. We’re really excited.”

Team USA, although not parading veteran NBA stars, is still the team to beat. It will have the likes of Austin Reaves, Anthony Edwards, Paolo Banchero, Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, and Josh Hart for the World Cup. The USA is grouped with Jordan, Greece, and New Zealand in Group C which will play at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Team USA is one of the 32 teams competing in the World Cup, 16 of which will be hosted by Manila while the rest will be playing in Japan and Indonesia.

The Philippines will open its campaign

The Mall of Asia Arena (SBP)

against the Dominican Republic on August 25 at the Philippine Arena, then against Angola on August 27, and Italy on August 29.

ALL-DRESSED UP

During the opening, the Philippine Arena and the Mall of Asia Arena will simultaneously open the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in a red-carpet welcome.

The local organizing Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas hopes to break the record for the most number of audience in a game at the massive 55,000-seater Philippine Arena in Bocaue. The Smart Araneta Coliseum will be the venue, where the Philippines’ very own Gilas Pilipinas team hopes to emerge as the best

Asian finisher in the hopes of making it to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The MOA Arena will host Team USA and the final phase, including the championship game, where Spain hopes to defend the title.

“As far as preparedness is concerned at MOA Arena, we are ready,” said Mark Solano, the venue head designated by the FIBA Basketball World Cup Local Organizing Committee.

During the Final Phase, qualifiers from the Group Phase in Okinawa and Jakarta will fly in to compete for podium finishes.

The MOA Arena will have a newly designated players’ entrance constructed for faster access, from the bus drop-off

area to the changing rooms, with the seats refurbished, the walls repainted, and the dugouts dressed up.

“All the toilets, cubicles, and even the tiles are new,” said Solano, who added that shower heads are able to accommodate 7-footers underneath.

On the second floor, a Naismith Lounge has been put up for VIPs, like former NBA stars and now FIBA World Cup ambassadors Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitzki, and Pau Gasol. It’s where they can leisurely hang out as the place have been all spruced up for comfort and privacy.

Numerous fun shops to purchase souvenirs will also be installed in designated areas at the concourse.

Debuting at the MOA Arena are Montenegro versus Mexico at 4:45 p.m., and Lithuania against Egypt at 8:30 p.m.

FREE GOODIES, RIDES FOR FANS

Apart from top-notch basketball competitions, world-class entertainment, fun games, and collectibles await the fans at the opening day venues.

Famous Filipino new wave/rock band The Dawn, online streaming sensation Ben & Ben, and Asia’s Popstar Royalty Sarah will rock the Philippine Arena in between the two scheduled games.

Organizers have deployed 400 49-seater premium grade airconditioned buses from 12 strategic take-off points, namely, the PITX Bus Terminal, Mall of Asia Arena, One Ayala Bus Terminal, BGC Market Market Bus Terminal, SM Megamall, Araneta City, Trinoma, SM North, Clover Leaf Ayala Mall Bus Terminal, SM Baliuag, SM Pampanga, and SM Clark, to transport fans to the venue. The free shuttle bus rides are scheduled to depart from each boarding terminal at 11 a.m. and 12 noon, and hourly from 1 to 5 p.m.

Opening-day ticket holders for the Philippine Arena games may go to https://bit.ly/3rNFIR4 to choose their preferred pick-up location and time of departure. All they will need to do is arrive on time and show their opening-day ticket/s.

The buses will be available after the Gilas Pilipinas-Dominican Republic game to take fans back to their starting point.

When fans get to the Philippine Arena, there is even more in store.

A coupon for a free Jollibee Cheesy Yumburger will be given at the gate upon presentation of opening-day tickets, and once inside, there will be FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 merchandise handed out to patrons in the different sections, such as scarves, fan clappers, and rally towels. There will also be special LED wristbands distributed, which will enable everyone in the arena to be part of a special lights’ show that will take place.

Beyond all these, fans at the Philippine Arena will also have a chance to be part of FIBA World Cup history, as the goal is to set the record for attendance and break the existing number of 32,616.

FIBA Congress (SBP)

A Basketball World Cup to Remember

Office of the House Speaker

Message

M E S S A G E

23 August 2023

As we proudly open our doors to the world for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, the Philippines is poised to create not just a sporting spectacle but a celebration of a shared passion. Basketball is deeply embedded in our nation's heart. The rhythmic dribbling of the ball and the echo of swift court movements have become a symphony to our everyday lives.

As we proudly open our doors to the world for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, the Philippines is poised to create not just a sporting spectacle but a celebration of a shared passion. Basketball is deeply embedded in our nation’s heart. The rhythmic dribbling of the ball and the echo of swift court movements have become a symphony to our everyday lives.

Spirit of volunteerism in

air

for PH World Cup hosting

THE FIBA Basketball

From bustling cities to our remotest barrios, from polished indoor arenas to makeshift courts with rims crafted from barbed wire, our love for the game knows no bounds. The 25,000 indoor courts, and the innumerable outdoor ones, are a testament to this devotion.

From bustling cities to our remotest barrios, from polished indoor arenas to makeshift courts with rims crafted from barbed wire, our love for the game knows no bounds. The 25,000 indoor courts, and the innumerable outdoor ones, are a testament to this devotion.

It is a moment of pride that Manila will be at the epicenter of this grand tournament, hosting the medal rounds and offering a stage for basketball giants from all over the globe. We have eagerly awaited this opportunity for years, and now the time has come for us to share our enthusiasm with the world. We are not just hosting a sporting event; we are inviting all to experience a piece of our culture, our joy, our unity, and our pride.

It is a moment of pride that Manila will be at the epicenter of this grand tournament, hosting the medal rounds and offering a stage for basketball giants from all over the globe. We have eagerly awaited this opportunity for years, and now the time has come for us to share our enthusiasm with the world. We are not just hosting a sporting event; we are inviting all to experience a piece of our culture, our joy, our unity, and our pride.

To the teams gracing our courts, thank you for being part of this historic event. Whether you are playing your initial rounds in Manila, Jakarta, or Okinawa, know that the energy, spirit, and passion for the game resonate equally across all venues. And as the climax of the tournament approaches, we anticipate a crescendo of emotions, talent, and basketball artistry, culminating on September 10th in Manila.

To the teams gracing our courts, thank you for being part of this historic event. Whether you are playing your initial rounds in Manila, Jakarta, or Okinawa, know that the energy, spirit, and passion for the game resonate equally across all venues. And as the climax of the tournament approaches, we anticipate a crescendo of emotions, talent, and basketball artistry, culminating on September 10th in Manila.

Let us celebrate the spirit of camaraderie, competition, and basketball. Here’s to unforgettable memories, extraordinary plays, and forging new friendships!

World Cup 2023, the biggest basketball event in the world that takes place just once every four years, will begin soon in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia. While each of the host nations would want to present top-notch basketball entertainment, they desire to show off the best of what their country, and of course, their people, can offer.

In the Philippines, the “bayanihan” spirit – the concept of working as one to attain a common good – is very much alive and made all the more apparent through the Volunteers Program that the Philippines FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Local Organizing Committee (LOC) launched on November 30, 2022.

to deliver its “Filipino Brand of Service Excellence” (FBSE). To enhance this, the LOC tapped Mr Joey Pacheco, one of the most sought-after training consultants in the country, to develop them to “Becoming a FBWC Service Champion!” Further, the LOC engaged the Department of Foreign Affairs to conduct training on protocol for volunteers assigned to the International Relations and Protocol group.

It helped a lot that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the LOC hosted a pair of windows for the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, the FIBA Draw Ceremony, and test events, giving the volunteers much-needed exposure and experience. Outstanding volunteers were identified and were automatically carried over for the World Cup and the FIBA World Congress that will be held in the days leading up to the games.

Let us celebrate the spirit of camaraderie, competition, and basketball. Here's to unforgettable memories, extraordinary plays, and forging new friendships!

Mabuhay ang Philippine Basketball! Mabuhay ang FIBA World Cup 2023!

“Sustaining engagement activities will still be conducted even during their actual volunteer work to continually refresh and reinforce the concepts learned during their trainings,” Aro said.

Mabuhay ang Philippine Basketball! Mabuhay ang FIBA World Cup 2023!

FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ SPEAKER HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ SPEAKER HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Email: speaker@martinromualdez.ph

Starting then, more than 13,000 applied for the Program, and, as of August 9, 2023, 760 volunteers have been signed up to be deployed to the different Functional Areas of the LOC, assigned to perform about 35 different roles, ranging from spectator services, protocol assistants, courtside operations, and security, among several others.

While most of those who signed up were more than qualified, the Volunteers Program committee, led by its Head, Art Aro, narrowed down the search using four main criteria: must be a Philippine resident, at least 18 years old, fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and willing to render a minimum of 10 consecutive shifts. Those who fit the criteria underwent interviews, and those who made the cut were signed up.

The recruits then underwent training programs centered on developing a customer-centric mindset. The LOC partnered with the Department of Tourism

LOC Deputy Event Director Erika Dy mentioned that the Volunteers Program has garnered high praise from FIBA officials, who meet regularly with Aro and his team. “Everything is in order. Looks like everyone is ready.”

Dy also noted that the Program went the extra mile to ensure smooth operations, particularly at the game venues. “Aside from the usual venue services, we are supplementing with spectator services. The team will be really customer-facing; they will lead all ushers, gatekeepers, everybody else that faces the fans at the venue; they will be in charge of all the entrances, have maps for that.”

Faced with the chance to showcase team spirit and renowned Filipino hospitality, the volunteers are prepared for the challenge ahead, of giving fans from all over the world the best basketball extravaganza possible.

PSC chief Bachmann: Let’s watch the games, support Gilas Pilipinas

PHILIPPINE Sports Commission Chairman

Richard Bachmann reiterated his support for the country’s hosting of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and called on basketball-loving Filipinos to watch the games, especially Gilas Pilipinas matches, starting August 25 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

“As the games return to our home soil, this historic event will forever be etched in the chronicles of our basketball history. So, I invite our kababayans to watch the games, may it be live or online,” said Bachmann.

The sports agency chief also thanked the Office of the President for the declaration of Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 27, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin by the authority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., suspending work in government offices and classes in public schools at all levels in Metro Manila and the Province of Bulacan on August 25.

“The PSC came out with this appeal to the Office of the Executive Secretary a few weeks back. We’re thankful that this was granted immediately to ensure the safe, orderly, and successful conduct of the opening ceremonies,” added Bachmann, who previously served as Operations Head of the country’s FIBA Local Organizing Committee prior to his PSC chairmanship.

Opening rites of the FIBAWC, paired with the much anticipated first game of Gilas Pilipinas against Dominican Republic, will be held at the Philippine Arena, which

PSC chairman Richard Bachmann houses a maximum seating capacity of 55,000.

Succeeding games will be at the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City and the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

“We are optimistic that with the immense support from our national government and the PSC, many of our Filipino basketball fans will fill up the seats in every game and be part of history,” concluded Bachmann.

FIBA World Cup volunteers

A Basketball World Cup to Remember

Clarkson, Doncic lead players to watch in FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

By Peter Atencio

THE FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 is here.

To be co-hosted by the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, the tournament will run from August 25 to September 10, featuring 32 teams, all pumped up to win the most coveted prize of all -- a world basketball championship.

This World Cup is also the primary qualification route for teams seeking berths in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The top two finishers from Europe and the Americas, plus the top teams from Africa, Asia and Oceania, will all join host France at next year’s games.

And while basketball is a team sport, individual brilliance is also celebrated in the games. Here are the players to watch.

1.

Rudy Fernandez—Spain

Rudy Fernandez, who is set to retire in a year’s time, is one of the players to watch.

The 38-year-old Fernandez will have his final games for Spain in the coming days, and at 6’6”, is known for his great ball-handling skills.

Fernandez is also known for his capable defense, playing and covering point guards, shooting guards, and small forwards.

Spain, which won the 2019 World Cup and last summer prevailed in the

EuroBasket 2022, will have Fernandez fill in the absence of Ricky Rubio, who won’t be around to take care of his mental health.

Fernandez, who plays for Real Madrid in the Euro League, has been a regular for Spain for over two decades, from the junior to the senior level. He contributed to Spain’s quest in claiming the gold in both the 2006 and 2019 editions of the FIBA World Cup.

Fernandez plans to retire after the 2024 Paris Olympics.

2. Anthony Edwards—USA

Team USA finished its five-game exhibition showcase in preparation for the FIBA World Cup with a 99-91 win over Germany on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, with Edwards leading with 34 points. The 22-yearold Edwards, who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA, is emerging as the Team USA’s goto guy whenever they need a basket down the stretch.

Edwards showed what he can do in blowout wins against Puerto Rico and Slovenia, which played without Luka Doncic, during their tuneup games. Sunday’s final tuneup game against Germany was the best game Edwards had shown, before they flew to the Philippines.

Coach Steve Kerr liked what he saw in Edwards when he scored 34 points on 11-of-21 shooting from the field.

3. Josh Giddey—Australia

Australia boasts of a roster full of NBA players, including those who

were around when the team claimed the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. There’s Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Josh Green, Matisse Thybulle, Dante Exum, and Jock Lan-dale. But it’s the 6’8” Giddey, who stood out during the tuneup matches. In the first friendly game of the Boomers last week, Giddey almost had a triple-dou- ble (14 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in 24 minutes) as Australia easily won against Venezuela, 97-41.

Giddey is on his third year with the Boomers, after becoming one of the final cuts by the Australian basketball team roster for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and was put in the reserve list instead. As Kai Sotto’s teammate with the Adelaide 36ers, Giddey averaged 10.9 points and 7.3 rebounds.

4. Rudy Gobert— France

Experience is something that will keep France in the thick of the fray in the World Cup. With three tough first-round opponents in Group H waiting for them in Jakarta, the Gobert-powered France has made it known that gold is the goal in the world championship.

The 31-year-old Gobert has always been the force inside for the Les Bleus,

especially when he is combined with veterans like Evan Fournier, Nando de Colo and Nicolas Batum.

Gobert’s lethal presence down low can also be counted upon for France, which will also have stalwarts from the Tokyo Olympic silver medal team, led by Guerschon Yabusele and Mustapha

Fall. The 32-year-old Gobert averages 13.4 points on a scorching 65.9% shooting clip, to go with 11.6 rebounds for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA.

5. Militunov, Petrusev, Ristic— Serbia

NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic may not be with the Serbian team joining the 2023 Basketball World Cup, but in his stead are three veterans willing and able to fill the void.

A combination of special play ers is the key to Serbia’s campaign.

And they are Nikola Milutinov, Felip Petrusev and Du- san Ristic, who make a deadly mix for Serbia.

Once these three control the paint, Serbia is expected to dominate the game until the end.

Serbian head coach Svetislav Pesic is expected count on their inside/outside game, in order for Bogdan Bogdanovich to work wonders with his scoring.

6. Jordan Clarkson—Philippines

Naturalized Filipino player Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz will provide answers to the Gilas Pilipinas’ need to score and have a leader inside the paint.

Clarkson has proven to be a serious scoring threat for Gilas.

But for Clarkson to be effective, he has to jell with a roster, which includes Kai Sotto, centers June Mar Fajardo and AJ Edu, and forwards Jamie Malonzo and Japeth Aguilar.

Clarkson is at his best making plays for the team, but can also take charge when the offensive plays become stagnant.

7. Luka Doncic— Slovenia

Remember him in the World Cup. His name is Luka.

Doncic, the superstar guard of the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA, is poised to set records in the FIBA tournament, as he has already etched his name as the record holder for the second-highest scoring performances in both EuroBasket and Olympic history.

The 24-year-old Slovenian sen sation has already flashed his tripledouble skills in friendly matches, with his summer tune- up games producing near tripledouble averages of 22.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 8.0 assists.

His pre-World Cup production is noteworthy, considering no player has ever had a triple-double in a FIBA World Cup game. So be ready for some Luka magic.

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 to showcase Philippines’ economic and tourism rebound

THE upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will showcase the Philippines’ robust recovery in terms of economy and tourism. That’s according to Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco during a recent gathering with embassies and consulates in the Philippines organized by PLDT Enterprise.

“We view the FIBA World Cup as an opportunity for the country to reintroduce itself to the world, not only in the aspect of fun and adventure, but more importantly, the strength and diversity of our culture. We recognize how powerful a tool sports and world events such as the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 can help in expressing confidence towards our country, and more importantly, an openness towards travel and tourism,” said Frasco.

Representatives of over 25 countries who are participating in the tournament attended the event, as well as PLDT Chairman and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Chairman Emeritus Manuel V. Pangilinan; PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. President and CEO and head of the FIBA local organizing committee Alfredo S. Panlilio; FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 (FBWC23) Executive Director David Crocker; Foreign Affairs Senior Special Assistant Alex Lamadrid; and PLDT, Smart, SBP and Philippine sports organizations executives.

Last March, Malacanang issued Executive Order no. 5, ordering the formation of the interagency task force directing a whole of government approach towards supporting the FIBA World Cup.

“We are glad that our President is very eager to support sports tourism in the country and the efforts of MVP, PLDT, Smart, and the SBP to ensure that the FIBA World Cup in the Philippines is a rousing success,” Frasco said.

To entice participants and speculators to explore more of the Philippines when they visit during the events happening from August 25

to September 10, 2023, the Department of Tourism has consolidated a tourism consortium consisting of the Philippine Tour Operators’ Association, the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association, the Pacific Asia Travel Association, and the Tourism Congress of the Philippines to come up with tour packages for international guests “to ensure authentic, immersive, and genuine experience in the Philippines.”

Guests can visit discoverphilippines.

travel for tour packages from more than ten of the biggest travel agencies and

over 75 hotels and resorts across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

“Aside from boosting tourism and international relations, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 is also an opportunity for the Philippines to showcase its viability as an investment destination for global businesses. This is aligned with our commitment to support the government in its endeavors to ensure that the country remains an attractive and reliable investment destination.

This global event also provides livelihood opportunities for micro, small,

medium, and large enterprises in the country, thus helping the growth of our economy,” said Panlilio.

Mr. Crocker also made a presentation on what the FBWC23 was all about and how it is expected to be the biggest global sporting event for 2023.

“I encourage all of you to rally your respective countrymen to take advantage of this rare opportunity not only to witness this spectacle in the sport of Basketball but to also enjoy the various world class tourist destinations of the country,” he said.

As a staunch supporter of sports, PLDT and Smart have been active in sports development -- from grassroots to the national level. The telcos are part

of various groups working tirelessly to help nurture athletes, build training grounds, and bring international sporting events closer to Filipinos whether live or online. The MVP Sports Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to this endeavor, has also been supporting 17 national sports agencies to support athletes who represent the Philippines in global tournaments.

To support this endeavor, basketball fans can purchase their FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 tickets for the Philippine Arena and the Smart-Araneta Coliseum games via ticketnet. com.ph, while tickets for the SM Mall of Asia Arena contests are available via smtickets.com.

AGAINST THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

A Basketball World Cup to Remember Laban, Gilas Pilipinas! Play your hearts out!

By Randy Caluag

CHOT Reyes is no longer talking a lot about his patented small-ball rotation as Gilas Pilipinas starts its quest to emerge as the Asian best finisher in the FIBA World Cup 2023, co-hosted by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.

After playing and losing a friendly against a legitimate World Cup qualifier in Team Montenegro, Reyes now expects his big men to play important roles.

“Our bigs really have their work cut out (for them). They must help on penetration, protect the rim and still be able to come out and close out on their men, the ‘bigs’ when they’re shooting on the outside,” said Reyes.

After a short, activities-filled preparation, the Gilas Pilipinas squad, led by Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson, kicks off its campaign against the Dominican Republic Friday (Aug. 25) before an expected mammoth crowd at the massive Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. Their 8 p.m. clash will happen after the 4 p.m. battle between Italy and Angola. Their tune-up match with Montenegro had served Gilas in good and bad stead.

First, the good side. It has given Gilas a true feeling of what the World Cup is all about.

“This game really makes us feel that we’re really in the World Cup, the kind of team that we’re playing. They have been a team for a long time, great talents

and everything else, smooth system, offensively and defensively, I like how we competed,” said Reyes. But the negatives gave Gilas a little worry. “We competed with them for the entire first half, we just had a letdown defensively in the third quarter. When we give quality teams like Montenegro momentum like that, a lead like that, it would be hard to recover, that was a

good example of a brief letdown and you see what happens.”

This is exactly what Reyes expects against the Dominican Republic, which is bannered by Karl Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Towns is returning to the team for the first time in 10 years.

There are currently 15 players under the Gilas pool and Reyes said he would

announce his final 12 on the day of the opening day of the World Cup that will run up to Sept. 10.

He certainly needs the likes of his big men June Mar Fajardo, Kai Sotto, Japeth Aguilar, and AJ Edu to contain Towns and match other Dominican stalwarts, including Victor Liz, Eloy Vargas, and Luis Mendoza -- as well as younger stars Jean Montero, Lester Quinones, Justin Minaya and Andres Feliz.

Clarkson has proven himself to be a scoring threat during the Gilas tune-up games. But who will consistently provide him with the necessary support?

It may come from the big men inside the paint or the shooters like Dwight Ramos, Bobby Parks or the Ravena brothers of Kiefer and Thirdy, or Rhenz Abando and Jamie Malonzo, depending on who will make the cut in the guard positions.

Reyes has no qualms about his goal of centering the team’s energy on trying to beat the Dominican Republic and Angola and lesser focus on Italy.

“Italy is Italy. We all know the quality of that team. Fortunately, they are our

third game. Our focus really is the Dominican Republic and Angola because those are the two games we really have to get,” Reyes said in a previous media interview.

Bracketed in Group A, the Filipinos will next face Angola on Aug. 27 and Italy on Aug. 29, both at the Araneta Coliseum.

“So right now, our concern is the Dominican Republic. A lot of our efforts are really poured into preparing for the Dominican Republic and Angola,” said Reyes.

Gilas is seeking to win at least two of its three preliminary games and make it to the second round, hoping to become the best finisher among Asian countries in order to seal a slot for the 2024 Paris Olympics

The last time the Philippines met Dominican Republic on the court was during the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in July 2021, when the Filipinos suffered a crushing 94-67 defeat.

The Philippine team was represented by an inexperienced squad bannered by Jordan Heading and Ange Kouame and then younger Kai Sotto.

Doncic headlines

‘Nothing Else Matters’ global campaign launch

MIES (Switzerland)—The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 has launched its global creative campaign ‘Nothing Else Matters’ ahead of the highly anticipated men’s flagship event getting underway later this month.

The selection of players showing the broad crosssection of talent at the World Cup is headlined by global superstar Luka Doncic, China’s anchor Zhou Qi and two host countries’ heroes - Philippines’ ace Jordan Clarkson and Japan’s leader Yuta Watanabe.

The original creative, developed in-house, merges the personal off-season hobbies of the players with their unique on-court talents in a manner that is sure to delight fans.

To provide fans with unique access to their heroes and convey authentic storytelling, each player was shot in iconic locations strongly tied to their paths. Doncic was filmed in Ljubljana, Clarkson in San Antonio, Watanabe in Miyazaki and Qi in Qingdao City.

State-of-the-art filming techniques and computergenerated imagery were used to create a smooth transition for each player from their personal leisure time into the intensity of a FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 battle which delivers a fusion of action, basketball skills and stunning locations. All of those elements have all been combined to provide an exciting, kinetic film that will bring to life the #NothingElseMatters message globally.

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Global Campaign Launch

The production was led by UK agency Be Media and directed by Will Clark Smith.

Leaving aside their off-season hobbies, stars from 32 countries are slated to compete at the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, set to tip-off on August 25 across the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia and concluding with the Final to be held on September 10 in Manila at the Mall Of Asia Arena.

A select number of preparation games will be available to watch on Courtside 1891 with Max or World Cup bundle and even some for free on Plus (subject to geographical restrictions).

Laban, Gilas Pilipinas! (FIBA)

Karl Anthony Towns (FIBA) Kai Sotto (FIBA)