Manila Standard - 2023 August 26 - Saturday

PH DEBUTS E-VISA SYSTEM IN CHINA TO PULL TOURISTS

DOE: MIXED FUEL PRICE MOVEMENT SEEN NEXT WEEK

12 canned over laptop mess

Ombudsman orders suspension of DepEd, DBM execs for 6

By Rio N. Araja

THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered a sixmonth preventive suspension of 12 current and ex-officials of the Department of Education and the Procurement Service office of the Department of Budget and Managem

Ombudsman Samuel Martires, in a resolution, ordered the suspension of DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla, former undersecretary Alain Del Pascua, former PS-DBM executive director Lloyd Christoper Lao, and other officials for a period not exceeding six months or until the cases were terminated.

Martires cited Republic Act

No. 6770 or the Ombudsman Act that says a preventive suspension may be imposed on a respondent if the evidence

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FIBA OPENER. Jordan

Clarkson pulls up for a jumper against three Dominican Republic defenders in the Philippines' opening game in the 2023 FIBA World Cup on Friday at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrives just before the match to encourage Gilas Pilipinas, and then stands with (from left) SBP president Al Panlilio, MVP Group chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, FIBA President Hamane Niang, and Speaker Martin Romualdez. Danny Pata, PPA Pool, and FIBA.basketball

Gilas five fades, bows 87-81 to Dominican Rep.

By Peter Atencio

BOCAUE, Bulacan—The Philippines broke the attendance record in a FIBA game but got its heart broken hours later by a resilient Dominican Republic team, losing 87-81 Friday night at the Philippine Arena and dimming its chances to advance in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. It was a winnable game for Gilas Pilipinas, which gave the Dominicans hell for 37 minutes, before folding in the final three, where it lost its steadying presence with the fouling out of its NBA star Jordan Clarkson.

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38,115 PH fans at Arena break FIBA attendance record

By Maricel Cruz

THE Philippines set a new attendance record for a FIBA (International Basketball Federation) game on Friday

night, as 38,115 spectators marched to the Philippine Arena on Friday night to watch the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 match between Gilas Pilipinas and the Dominican Republic.

It broke the previous FIBA record set during the United States' final game against Russia in the 1994 FIBA World Cup finals, which 32,616 fans watched in Toronto, Canada.

"We all knew the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 was going to be special and within the first day we already have evidence of this, having witnessed this

HISTORIC MUGSHOT. This handout image released by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office on August 24 shows the booking photo of former US President Donald Trump. AFP

ATLANTA—Former US president Donald Trump was arrested at a Georgia jail Thursday on racketeering and conspiracy charges and released on a $200,000 bond after having a historic mug shot taken.

Trump, who is accused of colluding with 18 other defendants to overturn the 2020 election result in the southern state, spent less than 30 minutes inside Atlanta's Fulton County Jail before leaving in a motorcade for the airport.

Like the other defendants in the case who have surrendered so far, the 77-year-old Trump had his mug shot taken during the booking process—a first for any serving or former US president.

In the photograph released by the sheriff's office, he scowled at the camera while dressed in a dark blue suit, white shirt, and red tie.

Marcos hails ‘extremely important’ Aussie-Pinoy military drills

By Charles Dantes, Vince Lopez, Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

AUSTRALIAN and Filipino troops stormed a beach

in the South China Sea in a military drill that simulated the retaking of an enemy-controlled island in the first major air, sea, and land exercises between the two countries. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hailed the

PBBM says rice supply ‘most critical problem’; Senator blames DA, NFA

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Friday said the country’s rice supply was the "most critical problem" as his administration continues to try to bring down prices.

"That is something that we are attending to with all of the partners that we have both in government and in the

private sector," the President said on the sidelines of the military exercises in Zambales. Mr. Marcos, also concurrently the agriculture chief, last week said the government is "closely monitoring" rice prices, which already topped P65 per

exercises as “an extremely important” example of close cooperation. Some 1,200 Australian soldiers and 560 Filipino Marines took part in the beach landing, arriving

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Another teen shot dead by cop in Rizal

ANOTHER minor was allegedly killed by a police officer in Rizal province just weeks after a teenager died in a Navotas police operation, authorities said Friday.

The latest incident on Aug. 20 involved a policeman who was conducting "Oplan Sita," a routine

anti-criminality inspection, in an area where several motorcycle robberies were reported in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez town, said Police Capt. Mariesol Tactaquin, public information officer of the Rizal police.

The victim's brother was riding a motorcycle and allegedly zoomed

AUSSIE-PINOY WAR GAMES. Philippine and Australian troops perform a Combined Amphibious Assault exercise -- one ending in a cloud of pink smoke -- as part of 'Exercise Alon' at Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui in Zambales on Friday. Armed Forces photos

Trump mug shot first for any past, current US prez

mos.

PH debuts e-visa system in China

By Charles Dantes, Rey E. Requejo, Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will launch an e-visa system that will allow foreign tourists to apply for a visitor’s visa online.

DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo said the e-visa system "will allow foreign nationals to apply for visitor's visas remotely through their personal computers, laptops, and mobile devices."

The e-visa system could also encourage more tourists to visit the Philippines.

12 canned...

From A1 of guilt is strong.

“The office finds sufficient grounds to preventively suspend the abovenamed respondents considering there is strong evidence showing their guilt,” the resolution read. The suspension order also included

38,115 PH...

From A1 historic moment," said Richard Carrion, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Chairman.

"Everyone inside the Philippine Arena will never forget the amazing levels of love for both basketball and the Philippines national team that was cascading around the venue," he added.

Earlier, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Friday conveyed his heartfelt wishes and unwavering support to the Philippines as it embarked on the historic journey of co-hosting the FIBA World Cup 2023, a momentous event set to enthrall basketball enthusiasts worldwide.

As the Philippines opened its doors to welcome basketball teams and fans from around the globe, Speaker Romualdez, the leader of the 311-strong House of Representatives, extended his best wishes for the Philippines to succeed in co-hosting the world's premier basketball event alongside Indonesia and Japan.

Romualdez said he strongly believes that the Philippines, renowned for its passionate love for basketball, will shine brightly as it showcases not only its organizational prowess but also its rich basketball culture.

“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,”

Trump...

From A1

Speaking to reporters after his arrest, Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, said it was a "very sad day for America."

"What has taken place here is a travesty of justice," he said. "I did nothing wrong."

Trump posted the mug shot on his own Truth Social platform with the caption "Election Interference" and a link to his campaign website.

A short while later, he also posted it on X—formerly Twitter, which was Trump's favorite bullhorn until he was banned from it after the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol by a mob of his supporters.

New owner Elon Musk reinstated Trump on X in November of last year, but Trump stayed away and posted instead on Truth Social. This was Trump's first post since 2021 on what had been Twitter.

Trump was given the inmate number "PO1135809" by the Fulton County Jail, which listed his height as six foot

PBBM...

From A1 kilo in some wet markets in Metro Manila.

The President earlier said high farmgate prices and some imported farm inputs contributed to the price increase. Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian earlier admitted it was "hard" to attain Marcos' campaign promise to bring down rice prices to P20 per kilo.

"We never promised," Sebastian said.

National Economic Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan also said Mr. Marcos' P20 per kilo of rice vision would only be possible if agriculture productivity improved, as the country needed to do a "lot of catching up" on the matter.

Manalo said the soft launch of the evisa system will be conducted in Shanghai, China.

"I am pleased to share that the Philippine e-visa system is ready to be soft launched for beta testing which will be led by the Philippine Consulate General

Salvador Malana III, Abram Abanil, Jasonmer Uayan, Ulysses Mora, Marwan Amil, Alec Ladanga, Marcelo Bragado, Selwyn Briones, and Paul Armand Estrada, who no longer work at DepEd.

The Senate Blue Ribbon committee, chaired by Senator Francis Tolentino, filed the administrative charges of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial

Romualdez said.

“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,” he added.

The Speaker also expressed his gratitude and sent his best wishes to all the teams participating in this global tournament, especially our very own 12-member Gilas Pilipinas.

"To the teams gracing our courts, thank you for being an integral part of this historic event. Whether you are competing in your initial rounds in Manila, Jakarta, or Okinawa, rest assured that the energy, spirit, and passion for the game resonate just as strongly across all venues," Romualdez said.

"As we draw closer to the climax of this tournament, we anticipate a crescendo of emotions, remarkable talent on display, and an exhibition of basketball artistry, all culminating on September 10th in Manila," he said.

Romualdez expressed his hope that this sporting event would serve as a unique opportunity to create indelible memories, witness extraordinary plays, and foster friendships that transcend borders.

"Let us come together to celebrate the spirit of camaraderie, competition, and basketball. Here's to creating unforgettable memories, witnessing extraordinary plays, and forging new friendships!" Romualdez stressed.

Maricel V. Cruz

three inches (1.9 meters), his weight as 215 pounds (97 kilograms), and his hair color as "Blond or Strawberry."

The billionaire has been criminally indicted four times since April, setting the stage for a year of unprecedented drama as he tries to juggle multiple court appearances and another White House campaign.

Trump was able to dodge having a mugshot taken during his previous arrests this year: in New York on charges of paying hush money to a porn star, in Florida for mishandling top secret government documents, and in Washington on charges of conspiring to upend his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

His arrest came one day after Trump spurned a televised debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, featuring eight of his rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination—all of whom lag well behind him in the polls.

He still stole the spotlight, though, with all but two of the candidates saying they would support him as the party's nominee even if he were a convicted felon. AFP (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Rice demand from July to December this year is projected at 7.76 million metric tons, according to DA data.

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros has deplored “inept leadership” at the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority as the cause of soaring rice prices.

She said this led to problematic policies and to the country's present agricultural supply difficulties.

Hontiveros said Malacanang should not look for culprits elsewhere, as the main culprits are within the DA itself.

"There may or may not be hoarders and price manipulators; let’s wait for the results of the investigations that the President ordered," she said.

She noted that it's clear that the DA should acknowledge its central role in the alarming rise in rice prices.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

in Shanghai," he said.

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said he supported moves to ease the visa application process for tourists and international students to boost the country's tourism sector.

During a meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council in Malacañang, the President said that he wanted to streamline visa processing and adopt an online platform to hasten the processing.

PSAC presented to the President updates on previous recommendations and new proposals for strengthening the tourism industry.

Included in the PSAC's recommendations are the standardization of information

to the best interest of the service for the procurement of supposed overpriced and outdated laptops amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

The procurement process for the laptop computers was conducted by the PS-DBM upon the request and authority of the DepEd.

Martires cited a Commission on Audit report on the “pricey” entrylevel, low-end laptops, saying the

Gilas...

From A1

The Utaz Jazz’s resident 6th Man hit 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, but fouled out in the final 3:50, leaving Gilas without its primary scoring weapon.

But even without Clarkson, Gilas was just within a basket at 79-81, in the last two minutes, but a three-point play from Victor Liz and a layup from the hulking Jean Montero finally put away the hosts for good.

NBA star Karl Anthony Towns redeemed himself from a bad shooting night by delivering the baskets that mattered most for the Dominicans, anchoring a key 6-0 run in the fourth quarter that put the visitors for good at 81-76.

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ star finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds in his duel against Clarkson.

The loss pushed the Filipinos to the edge, as they need to win their final two games –against Angola and Italy – to advance to the Final 16.

The bit of good news was the new record set by the Philippines of 38,115 fans in attendance, with

President signs disability pension measure into law

application procedure and information on student visa requirements and accreditation of clinics for medical clearance and certificate requirements for foreign students.

Another recommendation from PSAC is to allow students to submit visa applications online.

PSAC said that under the new proposal, students could forgo in-personinterviews to ease the process. They will only be required to appear in person if government agencies make a recommendation for security reasons.

The Philippines has the longest student visa processing period among its Southeast Asian neighbors. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

DepEd accepted the P58,300 amount for each laptop even if the estimated cost based on the annual procurement plan was P35,046.50 only.

The Ombudsman said Dell laptops with better specifications would only cost P22,490 to 25,000.

“Over 28,000 teachers were deprived of laptops to use during the COVID-19 pandemic as fewer units were purchased by the agency,” it added.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and FIBA President Hamane Niang in attendance to witness the historical moment (see related story—Editors)

The feat surpassed the old record of 32,616 set in 1994 in Toronto, Canada, where a powerhouse US team, led by Shaquille O’Neal and Reggie Miller, routed Russia to win the championship.

To help in the efforts, the government declared a non-working holiday in public schools and government offices in Metro Manila and Bulacan.

The SBP lured more fans for the opening date by putting up exciting festivities, including performances by Sarah Geronimo and Ben & Ben.

Clarkson, who had 18 points, three assists, and a steal in the first half, set Rhenz Abando for a layup that put Gilas in a 42-all tie at the half.

Liz shot 14 points, including a dunk that put the Dominicans in their last taste of the lead in the half at 42-40.

In the first game, also at the Philippine Arena, Simone Fontecchio, who looks forward to playing against Clarkson, led with 19 points for Italy, which pummeled Angola, 81-67. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law a measure to increase the disability pension for military veterans. Under Republic Act No. 11958, signed on Aug. 24, a veteran who is disabled due to sickness, disease, wounds, or injuries sustained in the line of duty will be given a monthly disability pension according to the prescribed rates.

The disability base rate for military veterans who have been rendered disabled in the line of duty will be raised to P4,500 from the current P1,000.

Veterans who are receiving P1,700— the highest disability rating--will now get P10,000 or an increase of P8,300, equivalent to 488 percent while the P500 monthly pension for the spouse and each unmarried minor child will be raised to P1,000.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada, chairperson of the Senate committee on national defense and security, peace, unification, and reconciliation, lauded the signing of the law, saying that this was a "significant milestone in recognizing and honoring those who have dedicated their lives to the service of our nation."

"The valor and dedication displayed by our veterans are immeasurable. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

'Goring' strengthens, moves to southeast

TROPICAL storm “Goring” intensified into a severe tropical storm while moving southeastward on Friday.

“Goring” is forecast to rapidly intensify and may reach typhoon category today.

Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 was raised over Batanes, the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands, the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan, and the eastern portion of Isabela.

The center of “Goring” was estimated at 260 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan.

It was moving southeastward slowly, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 135 km/h. Rio N. Araja

DOE: Mixed fuel price movement next week

CONSUMERS are facing mixed oil price movement next week as oil companies price their fuel products to reflect the movement of world oil prices.

According to industry estimates, diesel may go up by P0.40 to P0.50 per liter and kerosene by P0.35 to P0.50 per liter.

However, gasoline may not go up and may even go down by P0.20 to P0.30 per liter.

The Department of Energy director for the oil industry management bureau Rodela Romero confirmed the price movement but said the estimate is based on the four-day trading only.

Marcos...

From A1 in amphibious assault vehicles, by parachute, and on US Osprey aircraft.

Two advanced Australian F-35 fighter jets provided close air support, and Australian warships secured the surrounding waters.

China deploys hundreds of coast guard, navy, and other vessels to patrol and militarize reefs in the South China Sea, which it claims almost entirely, despite an international ruling that its position has no legal basis.

Friday's joint drills took place at a naval base about 240 kilometers east of Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing ground that China seized from the Philippines in 2012 after a tense standoff.

"Considering that there have been so many events that attest to the volatility of the region, this kind of exercise, this kind of close strategic cooperation between countries around the region is extremely important," Marcos told reporters.

"It is an important aspect of how we prepare for any eventuality," he said of the drills, which he watched with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles.

He said the close strategic cooperation between the two countries would aid in enhancing the Philippines’ military proficiency.

The President is set to meet the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who will be in the Philippines for an official state visit from Sept. 7 to

8. Security and defense will be part of their discussions, Marcos said.

This week’s exercises came after Chinese coast guard vessels fired water cannon and blocked a Philippine resupply mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Aug. 5.

The Philippine Navy deliberately grounded a World War II-era vessel on the shoal and set up a tiny garrison in 1999 to check China's advance in the area.

On Tuesday, a second Philippine mission managed to deliver supplies to the outpost.

The Chinese coast guard said it had decided to allow the resupply on humanitarian grounds as the Philippine vessels "did not carry illegal building materials for large-scale reinforcements."

The Philippines denied the Chinese claim, saying what it did in its own exclusive economic zone needs no approval from any other country.

The Philippines hosted a meeting this week with its fellow members in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China to negotiate a code of conduct in the South China Sea. Talks to craft such a document began more than 20 years ago. China has used the time to to build its capabilities by constructing artificial islands in the Spratlys in recent years. The lengthy and unproductive negotiations over the COC have also diverted regional attention away from Beijing's disruptive actions around the South China Sea. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

'Oil prices fell slightly in Asian trade due to concerns over slowing economic growth of China and other major economies while an uptick in U.S. production and exports showed supply may not be as tight as initially expected," Romero said. Alena Mae S. Flores

Another...

From A1

past the policeman -- identified later as Cpl. Arnulfo Sabillo, who was in civilian clothing -- who flagged him down. The officer chased the 22-yearold rider until they reached the latter's home, Tactaquin said.

She said the motorcycle rider then removed his helmet and threw it at the police officer, who fired his gun in retaliation. The shot hit the rider's 15-year-old brother, who came out of their house due to the commotion, in the stomach.

The teenager, John Francis Ompad, later died in the hospital, his family said. He would have been in Grade 9 this school year.

In another police operation in August, Navotas officers shot dead 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar after he was mistaken for a suspect they were chasing.

"There were lapses. First, the policeman was not in uniform. And when the helmet was thrown at him, his response seemed excessive. It appears that he used excessive force," Tactaquin told TeleRadyo Serbisyo. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

NO. 1 FAN. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. encourages Gilas Pilipinas just before their match agains the Dominican Republic at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. PPA Photo

Angara eyes bigger appropriations for education, health in ‘24 budget

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Juan Edgardo Angara said yesterday his Committee on Finance will work to increase the budgets for education and health in the final version of the 2024 national budget.

Meanwhile, to ensure the continuity of education even amid emergencies, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian pushes for the institutionalization of alternative delivery modes, including online learning.

As chairman of the Committee on Finance that is scrutinizing the proposed P5.768-trillion national budget for 2024, Angara said his experience in going over the last four General Appropriations Acts (GAA) has shown consistent support for the education and health sectors from Congress.

Minority leader flags VP Sara’s use of P125-m confidential funds in 2022

By Maricel V. Cruz

HOUSE

Deputy Minority leader and ACT Teachers

Rep. France Castro on Friday said Vice President Sara Duterte may have committed “multiple violations for using P125 million in confidential funds in 2022 “when there was no congressional authorization for confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for that fiscal year.”

Castro said in the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the OVP has no appropriation for confidential expenses. She noted that the 2022 GAA was prepared and proposed by then President Rodrigo Duterte and enacted by Congress in 2021.

“The Vice-President at the time, Leni Robredo, did not ask for and consequently was not given any confidential funds for her office for fiscal year 2022. VP Duterte began her term on June 30, 2022.

“However, according to the OVP 2022 annual audit report released by the Commission on Audit (COA), particularly on

page 38 of the Notes to Financial Statement, there was an additional allotment for confidential expense during the second semester of CY 2022 amounting to P125 million. It is also reflected under ‘Supporting Information to the Statement of Financial Performance’ found on page 20 of the same document,” Castro said.

As of press time, the office of the Vice President has yet to respond to Castro’s statements.

Castro said Duterte, who also serves as Department of Education Secretary, could have committed the following violations:

• First, is a violation of the Constitution

Article 6 Section 29 (1) No money shall be paid out of the Treasury except in pursuance of an appropriation made by law.

• Second, technical malversation and illegal use of public funds under Article 220 of the Revised Penal Code;

• Third, misuse of government funds and property under Section 80 Chapter 7, Book 6 Executive Order 292 of the Administrative Code and illegal expenditures under Section 43 Chapter 5 on the General Provision of the General Appropriations Act the punishment for this would be to return the funds, dismissal from office as well as disqualification from public office;

• Fourth, causing undue injury to a party under RA 3019 Section 3e or the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act;

• Fifth, at the very least grave or simple misconduct or conduct prejudicial to service which is just an administrative case if there is not enough evidence. Castro said there may also be violations of the Supreme Court ruling on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) if savings were used to fund this P125 million confidential fund.

Looking at the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) or the national budget as proposed by Malacañang, Angara said there would definitely be reductions from the budgets of some departments, agencies and offices because of the removal of non-recurring expenses.

“This is primarily because of nonrecurring expenses. These include infrastructure projects that are already implemented in the current year so the amounts for these are removed for next

year’s budget proposals,” Angara said.

“But these budgets usually go up by the time we have gone through the budget process in the House and Senate,” he added.

Under the 2023 GAA, the specialty hospitals operated by the Department of Health, namely the Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center and the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care were allocated a total of almost P7 billion.

This represents an increase of P1.1 billion from the P5.8 billion they received in 2022 and a raise of P2 billion from the P4.9 billion proposed by the Executive branch in the 2023 NEP.

The same was true for the budget of the Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP), which Angara said has consistently been hiked by Congress.

In the 2024 NEP, the MAIP was provided with a proposed budget of P22.3 billion, down from the P32.6 billion under the 2023 GAA.

Angara noted that the 2023 NEP only contained P22.39 billion for the MAIP but through the interventions of the members of Congress, the program ended up with the final amount of P32.6 billion.

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT COMES EARLY IN ANGELES CITY.

Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr., turns on the Christmas lanterns called “NingNing” along Abacan Bridge, ahead of the onset of the so-called “ber” months, signifying “beacons of hope for the undying spirit of the Angeleños to rise above adversities. Butch Gunio

Comelec: As much as P75m needed to hold special election in Negros Oriental IN BRIEF

BI detention cell also crowded

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday noted that congestion is not an exclusive problem of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) in its prison facilities, adding that overcrowding was also a main concern of the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) detention center in Taguig City.

Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesman Jose Dominic Clavano IV said they were simultaneously helping the BI because there are many foreigners detained in the BI detention facility.

DOJ exercises administrative supervision over both the BuCor and the BI.

“We need to deport these aliens at the immigration center,” Clavano said, in an interview with radio DzBB.

The DOJ official lamented that many of the detained foreigners could not be deported immediately because of their pending cases in Philippine courts.

“Many of them have instigated the filing of cases against themselves so they won’t be deported,” Clavano said. Rey E. Requejo

SC blocks solons’ contempt order vs. Cagayan governor

THE House of Representatives on Thursday night released Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba from detention at the Batasan premises following the Supreme Court (SC) issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the decision of a joint congressional panel to cite him in contempt.

The office of House Sergeant-at-Arms Napoleon Taas confirmed that the House committees on public accounts, and on suffrage and electoral reforms granted the motion of Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta to release Mamba.

“During the special meeting of the Committee on Public Accounts joint with the Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, by motion of Hon. Marcoleta, Governor Mamba is released from detention today at 9:11 PM and the Sergeant-at-Arms is ordered to implement the same based on his Statement of Undertaking,” Taas said in a statement to reporters. Maricel V. Cruz

QC dad sues village chief, other officials for graft

A SON of a former councilor has filed a complaint of graft and corruption, falsification of public documents and grave misconduct against a village chief in Quezon City before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Barangay Kaligayahan councilor Allan Butch Francisco Jr. sued village captain Alfredo Roxas; councilors Jim Mahusay; Alexander Rivera; former singer-actress Perla Adea; Arnel Gabito; Dionisio Gascon and Sofronio Grimaldo, and barangay secretary Josephine Penaranda for the approval of a barangay council resolution “interposing no objection to the application of M.M. Ledesma Laboratories Corp.” along Zabarte Road extension on April 15, the barangay assembly day.

He said there was no notice that a village councilors’ meeting would be conducted before, during or after April 15. Rio N. Araja

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has said it would need to scrounge around for P70-P75 million to fund a December 2023 special election for the seat vacated with the expulsion of Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr.

Meanwhile, Sen. Robinhood Padilla said the 2025 elections “hold the key to muchneeded reforms in governance.”

“We will be needing P70 million to P75 million, and that would have to come from our existing budget of the Commission,” Comelec chairman George Garcia said in an ANC interview.

“There is no special and supplemental budget for this purpose, so until today... we are trying to find the necessary budget to finance that special election,” Garcia said.

According to him, while the Comelec can find ways to fund the Negros Oriental special elections, the poll body would need financial support for the honoraria or compensation of the electoral board members,

teachers, and other personnel who would render election service.

“The Comelec will definitely, at all costs, find a way by which we can conduct the special elections (in Negros Oriental) as this is mandated by the Constitution and a directive of the House (of Representatives). It will be hard to explain that we cannot hold the election just because of lack of funds,” Garcia stressed.

“We have fiscal autonomy. Comelec can find solutions in terms of resources. We have excess paper ballots and paper so we won’t be needing much printing of ballots and election paraphernalia. But the problem is the honoraria of the electoral board members. That cannot be compromised. If we give this amount [of compensation] for the barangay and SK polls, it cannot be lower than that [for Negros Oriental polls],” Garcia said.

Congress voted on August 16 to expel Teves, who was Negros Oriental’s third

district representative, for disorderly conduct and continued absence despite an expired travel authority.

The House on Tuesday-August 22 approved a resolution calling on the Comelec to hold special elections to fill the seat vacated by Teves.

Padilla expressed beliefs that lawmakers to be elected in the 2025 elections will support the needed amendments to the Constitution to allow the entry of foreign investments as well as the more efficient operation of the government.

“I hope that in 2025, Filipinos intend to vote for candidates who may not be famous but believe that the form of government must change,” he said.

He cited the need for only one house in Congress to cut costs, pass laws more quickly, and allow the entry of foreign investors,” said Padilla.

The senator, chairperson of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments,

has been advocating reforms in the 1987 Constitution.

“Why do we need foreign investors? So we need not go abroad to work. Foreign investors will bring jobs that we need,” he added.

According to Padilla, the Philippines needs to bring in foreign investors like what Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia have done. Otherwise, he said Cambodia may threaten to surpass the Philippines in terms of economic growth.

He also pointed out that the current system of government can serve taxpayers better if the two houses of Congress - the Senate and House of Representatives - become one.

Besides, he said this was in line with the wishes of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to have rightsizing in government. “Rightsizing means government has to be wise in making do with less,” he said Macon Ramos-Araneta

Subic Bay Freeport passes anew strict security norms, quality management

By Butch Gunio

SUBIC Bay Freeport—DQS Certification

Phils. Inc. has certified anew the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for compliance with strict security standards.

According to Vicente Evidente, Jr., SBMA planning and development manager and the agency’s quality management representative (QMR), the third-party surveillance audit was the DQS’s first face-toface audit here since the pandemic, with the previous audit held online.

“We just had the second surveillance audit by the DQS, our first face-to-face audit since the pandemic. It entailed a more rigorous inspection than the online audit,” Evidente said.

“The DQS audit team found that the SBMA is compliant with the ISO standards, with special mention of the Seaport

department for its compliance with the International Ship & Port Facility Security (ISPS) that contributed to its high compliance ratings,” he said.

Evidente also explained that an ISPS code establishes essential security requirements for ships, ports, terminals, carriers, seafarers, and cargo as a means to prevent maritime security hazards or any mishaps.

During the two-day audit of ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015, the agency’s frontline departments were scrutinized for their compliance with the standards of Quality Management System and Environmental Management System, respectively.

Meanwhile, SBMA chairman and administrator Jonathan Tan lauded the men and women of the agency for successfully fulfilling the requirements for the said standards.

Sandigan allows co-accused farmer to turn state witness in P81-m graft suit

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Sandiganbayan has granted a motion to allow a co-accused in the cases against former National Tobacco Administration (NTA) chief Edgardo Zaragosa and his son to turn state witness.

The anti-graft court’s Second Division granted the prosecution’s motion to discharge farmer Constante Cabitac as a defendant in the cases filed by the Office of the Ombudsman last year against Zaragosa and his son former Narvacan Mayor Zuriel Zaragoza.

The case stemmed from the complaint lodged by former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Singson. Based on Singson’s complaint, the Ombudsman indicted the Zaragozas in May 2022 for graft and malversation of public funds, allegedly defrauding farmers of P81 million from the tobacco excise tax funds. Also charged before the Sandiganbayan were municipal accountant Melody Cadacio and Education Research assistant Mario Cabinte.

In its 27-page resolution on August 18, 2023, the Court sustained the prosecu-

tion’s stand that the testimony of Cabitac, as erstwhile president of the Federation of Farmers of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, is “indispensable and absolutely necessary” to prove the government’s case.

The ruling was penned by Associate Justice Arthur Malabaguio with Associate Justices Oscar Herrera Jr. and Edgardo Caldona concurring.

The prosecutors stated that it was Cabitac who personally encashed Landbank checks totaling P81 million in 2016 since they were issued in his name as president of the Federation of Farmers of Narvacan.

In all these transactions, Cabitac said he was accompanied by Cabinte and Cadacio who subsequently rode with him in an armored vehicle that brought them to the residence of then mayor Zuriel Zaragoza where he was made to turn over the entire sum to the latter. The prosecution said Cabitac’s testimony will connect all the documentary and testimonial evidence already presented to prove that the Zaragozas, in connivance with accused Cabinte and Cadacio, misappropriated the entire P81 million.

LIMITED TRAIN RUNS. Commuters pile up at the EDSA Extension station of the Light Rail Transit 1 which was compelled to limit operations between Gil Puyat Ave. to FPJ Ave. (formerly Roosevelt Ave.) due to mechanical troubles. Norman Cruz

TESDA ROLLS OUT FIVE-YEAR VOCATIONAL TRAINING.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority administrator Secretary Suharto Mangudadatu, joined by Unites States Ambassador to Manila Marykay Carlson and Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, launches the agency’s five-year national technical vocational and training program meant to retool workers to enable them to cope with new challenges of a digital workplace. Joseph Muego

‘Partido Federal open to all who want to help’

By Charles Dantes

THE Partido Federal ng Pilipinas is open for new members with the same vision as the current administration, President Ferdinad Marcos Jr. stressed on Friday.

The President, who also chairs the PFP, reiterated that aspiring new members are welcome to join the party as long as they are committed to

IN BRIEF

REP. Wilbert T. Lee of AGRI Party-list has urged the Department of Transportation and Land Transportation Office to automatically extend the validity of the driver’s licenses for 12 months.

This is after a Quezon City court issued a temporary restraining order halting the LTO from receiving 5.2 million plastic cards from the successful bidder, Banner PlastiCard.

“The affected drivers should not suffer because of this development.

It’s not their fault,” stressed Lee. “Automatically extending the validity of the driver’s license is the most rational and most practicable thing to do.”

The Bicolano lawmaker on Aug. 16 filed House Resolution 1203 urging the DOTr-LTO to automatically extend the validity of driver’s licenses of those affected by the TRO. Maricel V. Cruz

REP. Paolo Duterte of Davao’s first district remained as Davao Region’s top-performing Congress representative in the latest survey conducted by the RP–Mission Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD).

Based on the survey results, Duterte garnered a rating of 84.7 percent. This reflects a notable 3.4 percent increase from the 81.3percent he received in RPMD’s April 2023 survey.

Joining him in the top spot is Davao De Oro 1st District Rep. MariaCarmen Zamora with 85.2 percent, also an improvement from her ratingin the April 2023 survey, when she got 80.5 percent.

According to the RPMD, the survey results were based on the nationwide assessment of its Boses ng Bayan initiative’s findings on the performance of public officials. Maricel V. Cruz

LOCAL officials surrendered 24 more loose firearms to the Philippine Army in Maguindanao del Sur on Tuesday, August 23, as a result of the 1st Mechanized Brigade’s continuing campaign.

The firearms were surrendered by the chairpersons of the 19 barangays of General Salipada Pendatun town to Lt. Col. Jayson Domingo, Commanding Officer of the 1st Mechanized Battalion.

The turnover ceremony was held at the Municipal Gymnasium and was presided over by GSKP Mayor Rafsanjani Ali.

The firearms were formally received by Brig. Gen. Andre Santos, Commander of the 1st Mech Brigade. Vince Lopez

helping the government.

“Like I said during the elections, during the campaign, anyone can join, whatever their political colors

are. If they are ready to help why won’t we welcome them?” the President said in Filipino during a media interview after attending the joint Philippine-Australian military exercises in Zambales.

“As long as they’re willing to help the government, as long as they’re willing to help us in pursuing and promoting the policies that we have created for our people, then of course they are welcome to join,” he added.

Other than their willingness to

cooperate with the government, aspiring PRP members should also be willing to back the administration’s efforts in reviving the country’s economy and slowing down inflation, Mr. Marcos said.

“Right now, rice is our most critical problem and that’s something that we are attending to with all of the partners that we have both in government and in the private sector,” the Chief Executive said. He added that new members should

MAP calls for reinstatement of MIAA GM Chiong

By Othel V. Campos

THE Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) on Friday, called for the reinstatement of two Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) officials dismissed by the Ombudsman from service for alleged mismanagement and pledged its support to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, who appointed the expelled executives.

“While we recognize the authority of the Ombudsman, we encourage and welcome a review of the dismissal of MIAA

general manager Cesar Chiong and his deputy Ms. Irene Montalbo, which would hopefully enable their reinstatement,” MAP said.

Their reinstatement would allow the MIAA to remain on track in terms of improved public services, and it would contribute to the country’s growth and progress, the group added.

Other business organizations led by the Manila Business Club (MBC) have also shown their support to the dismissed MIAA officials.

Bautista recommended Chiong, considered his protege during their time in

the airline industry, to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to head NAIA.

Chiong was appointed in July 2022, but was ordered suspended by the Ombudsman last May.

MAP believes Chiong and Montalbo applied sound management discretion to achieve operational efficiencies at the Philippine international airports, which the Ombudsman based on its assessment of the situation found irregular.

The MIAA general manager and his deputy reassigned 201 personnel, without prejudice since there were no issues of demotion in rank or salary pay cuts.

P1.3b worth of shabu, P18m in cocaine seized by authorities

AUTHORITIES on Friday seized P1.3 billion pesos worth of methamphetamine or shabu from a car abandoned for six days at a parking lot of a supermarket in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

Meanwhile, government agents assigned to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport arrested a passenger caught carrying more than P18 million

worth of cocaine from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation-Task Force Against Illegal Drugs and Mabalacat police opened the suspect vehicle at 1:58 a.m. Friday and discovered the meth shipment, which was stored in over 200 tea bags in several sacks.

In a TV interview, NBI-TFID chief Jonathan Ross Galicia said this was a common modus of drug dealers, leaving a vehicle full of goods even on roadsides for others to pick up. But the driver of the van in Pampanga felt he was being tailed, and so just left the car, he added. Meanwhile, personnel from the Customs X-ray Inspection Project (XIP)

detected the prohibited substance inside the baggage of a female traveler upon her arrival at NAIA Terminal 3 around 6 p.m. Thursday. The investigation showed that the woman arrived from Hong Kong on board Ethiopian Airlines flight ET644 and was originally from Addis Ababa as her port of origin. Joel E. Zurbano

also be supportive of its candidates in the upcoming national election in 2025 and in 2028.

“Politics is a game of addition. And so, whoever cares to join us as part of a coalition, whoever cares to support our candidates in the upcoming elections. Well, of course, the first national election will be in ’25. Then, finally in ’28,” he emphasized.

On Thursday, President Marcos led the oath-taking ceremony for the new PFP members in Malacañang.

US-PH SOLONS MEET.

Local lawmakers welcome their American counterparts during a cocktail bu et reception Thursday night in Makati City. Pictured (from left) are Senator Francis Escudero, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, US Rep. and IndoPaci c Subcommittee Chairperson Young Kim, Rep. Randy Barr of Kentucky, Rep. Jonathan Luther Jackson of Illinois, Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco, and Rep. Jasmine Crokett of Texas. Ver Noveno

PH embassy in Beirut gets Velarde map

THE Embassy of the Philippines in Beirut, Lebanon has received an official replica of the Murillo Velarde 1734 Map, the first scientific map of the entire Philippine archipelago.

Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) and NOW Group Chairman Mel V. Velarde turned over the replica of the map, referred to as the “Mother of All Philippine Maps,” to Third Secretary and Vice Consul Glaiza M. Quarteros on August 11.

Velarde acquired the map from a Sotheby’s auction in London in 2014 and donated it to the Philippine government in 2017 through a Deed of Donation.

The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon now holds an official replica of the ancient map that was presented among the pieces of evidence before The Hague in the Netherlands, where the Philippines—under the leadership of the late former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio—sought a fair and unbiased resolution to the maritime dispute.

During the turnover, Velarde expressed his gratitude to the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon for requesting the replica, which the Embassy intends to display in its showroom at the Embassy’s new Chancery in Beirut to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Philippines’ historic victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at The Hague. Velarde hopes that more Embassies will be able to help increase awareness about the significance of the map in Philippine history.

Velarde and Vice Consul Quarteros signed the Deed of Donation and Acceptance during the turnover.

Navy intercepts P160m worth of smuggled cigs in Tawi-Tawi

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Philippine Navy has intercepted a motorboat loaded with P160 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Tawi-Tawi following intelligence reports from the Bureau of Customs.

Navy officers and crew members of ship BRP Jose Loor Sr. took into custody M/B Indah Nadz with 12 crews on board in the vicinity of Baturapac Island in Tandubas where they found 2,798 master cases of Oakley Original Cigarettes.

“The team intercepted and inspected the vessel loaded with master cases of assorted brands of smuggled cigarettes after receiving information from our intelligence group and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) in Zamboanga,” said Customs

Commissioner Bien Rubio.

Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy said the final inventory of the goods conducted by Customs personnel was made on Wednesday, the same day the vessel was intercepted.

“The total value of the illegally imported cigarettes is about P160,325,400 based on the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s regulation ofP57,300 per master case,” he added.

The motor boat, valued at P3 million, was also included in the inventory. CIIS director Verne Enciso said the team that inspected the boat did not originally expect to see smuggled cigarettes since the information it received was that it contained smuggled fuel.

“But this was not the case because it became immediately clear to our agents that the boat was carrying what could be smuggled cigarettes if the owner fails to present the proper documents,” Enciso said.

‘Fuel

of the future’: Gulf states bet on ‘green’

hydrogen

Need for power centers

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—

After riding a fossil-fuel boom for decades, Gulf Arab states are eyeing “green” hydrogen as they try to transition their economies and ease the climate crisis at a stroke.

Oil producers Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman are investing heavily in the climatefriendly fuel in a search for alternative revenues to crude and gas.

Green hydrogen, which is the hydrogen created when renewable energy electrolyzes water, appears to solve many problems: it is lowpolluting and has widespread potential uses, which could make it lucrative and planet-saving at the same time.

Experts predict it could still take years before Gulf countries can produce green hydrogen at a cost competitive with fossil fuel-based alternatives

But the fuel, which currently makes up less than one percent of total hydrogen production, is not yet commercially viable and needs a major scaling-up of renewable energy sources—a process that could take years.

Despite this, the Gulf monarchies sense an opportunity to remain major players in energy markets as oil revenues fall.

“Gulf states aim to lead the global hydrogen market,” said Karim Elgendy, associate fellow at Britain’s Chatham House think tank.

“They see green hydrogen as critical to remain major energy powers, allowing them to continue their influence as fossil fuel demand declines.”

Most hydrogen is produced from polluting fossil fuels, but green hydrogen is extracted from water using renewable energy such as wind, solar and hydropower.

While fossil fuels create harmful greenhouse gases when they burn, hydrogen emits only water vapour. It is touted for potential use in highpolluting industries such as transport, shipping and steel.

‘Export leaders’

Wielding its massive investment capital, oil-rich Saudi Arabia is constructing the world’s largest green hydrogen plant at NEOM, the $500 billion futuristic megacity being built on the Red Sea.

The $8.4-billion plant will integrate solar and wind energy to produce up to 600 tonnes of green hydrogen a day by the end of 2026, officials say.

In July the UAE, which will host the United Nations’ COP28 climate conference this year, approved a hydrogen strategy that aims to make it one of the top 10 producers by 2031.

EvEryman

By Thor Cuatro

MONLEON is a 3-year-old boy who loves jigsaw puzzles.

Almost every morning, he wakes me up and asks me to join him and “play puzzle.” This has been my routine lately.

Credit should go to his mom who last July gave him his first jigsaw puzzle, a surefire pacifier and one of the world’s greatest inventions after the wheel. Next came more jigsaw puzzles.

In one of MonLeon’s brilliancies, he managed to put together a 40-or-sopieces set within a few minutes without breaking a sweat. (Wow!)

Since then, he had cast aside all the Legos, plastic cars and trucks, fluffy balls and all other toys in his playroom, which we called Leon’s Den.

All jigsaws and nothing more.

“Hydrogen will be a critical fuel for the energy transition,” said Hanan Balalaa, a senior official at the UAE’s oil firm ADNOC, calling it a “natural extension” for the company.

“We believe hydrogen and its carrier fuels have great potential as new, low carbon fuels, that the UAE is well placed to capitalise” on, Balalaa told AFP.

But it is Oman, which lags Saudi Arabia and the UAE in fossil fuel production, that looks poised to lead the Gulf’s clean hydrogen race.

The sultanate is on track to become the sixth-largest exporter globally and the biggest in the Middle East by the end of the decade, the International Energy Agency said in a June report.

Oman aims to produce at least one million tonnes of green hydrogen a year by 2030, and up to 8.5 million tonnes by 2050, “which would be greater than total hydrogen demand in Europe today”, the IEA said.

According to auditing firm Deloitte, Middle Eastern countries, primarily the Gulf, will lead global clean hydrogen trade in the shortterm, exporting around half of their domestic production by 2030.

By 2050, North Africa and Australia are projected to have the greatest potential, although Gulf states will remain “export leaders”, the company said in a June report. Hope or hype?

The investment in green hydrogen has not curbed expansion in oil and gas, with both the UAE and Saudi Arabia planning to grow their hydrocarbon industries.

Experts predict it could still take years before Gulf countries can produce green hydrogen at a cost competitive with fossil fuel-based alternatives.

While the cost of renewable energy has fallen due to technological advances, green hydrogen cannot yet be produced at a profit.

“Gulf countries will focus on maximizing the sales of hydrocarbons as long as possible,” said Aisha al-Sarihi, a research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute.

“It will take years of trial and error for green hydrogen to become a commercially traded commodity,” the expert said, adding that it “can be the new fuel of the future” once the technology matures and costs fall.

Demand for hydrogen also remains unclear.

But Gulf states are long-time energy suppliers of import-dependent Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea that plan to incorporate it in their decarbonization plans.

Abdullah al-Nuaimi, the UAE’s former climate change minister, cautioned, however, that “the existing infrastructure for transporting hydrogen is not adequate and would require massive investment to modify”.

“The time required to overcome and solve the challenges facing hydrogen is too long,” he told AFP. AFP

That’s my boy, playful and creative!

Toddlers of his age come as rare as chicken’s teeth in our quiet neighborhood, a newly gentrified village of Gen. Trias City. “Tanders” (seniors) abound although it’s not a home for the aged.

So, one day I and my partner decided to find out how he would behave outside of his comfort zone.

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, after the seemingly ceaseless rain had stopped, we brought him to “the mansion that puzzles built,” a two-story house situated in a quaint barangay of Tagaytay City.

The road leading to the Puzzle Mansion was long and winding, with ups and downs, that made it look like a vast jigsaw puzzle in itself.

The short drive to some extent was as challenging as navigating a complex

In the President’s view, this 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, if Manila falls, the entire Philippines would fall,” Mr. Marcos said during the oath-taking of new members of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas in a ceremony at Malacañang.

The President said he would leave to local governments the discretion to decide for their respective constituents, noting it is “the first step of a federal government for the Philippines in all but name.” In the President’s words, “There has to be a central tenet and central principle to what we are doing. And we are talking here about federalism. What we have started to do, in all but name, is really give the discretion, the power, the function, as much as possible, to the lowest level as much as we can.”

We have yet to see the details in this rather broad framework to ensure political stability. It was in 1899 when Filipino revolutionaries Emilio Aguinaldo and Apolinario Mabini suggested dividing the

We have yet to see the details in this rather broad framework to ensure political stability.

islands into three federal states.

Under a federal government, power is divided between the central government and local state governments, with each state empowered to handle their own laws, finances, development plans, health, education, and infrastructure, among others. At present, the Philippines is a unitary presidential constitutional republic, with the President acting as both the head of state and the head of government.

Five years ago, then President Rodrigo Duterte broached the idea of federalism which he said would “catalyze progress in

Remembering PNoy’s mark

WE CANNOT talk about the Aquino parents-turned leaders without talking about the son. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III who passed away rather quickly and shockingly on June 24, 2021 at 61 years old. Like his mother, he was successful at becoming president.

It seems a lot of his presidential victory was attributed to the popularity of his parents who were both deemed People Power heroes.

Notably, a year before the presidential elections, his mother, former president Cory Aquino, passed away too.

Her 40th day gave him a platform to announce his decision to run for the presidency. Undeniably, these were huge factors to his win.

However, Noynoy Aquino himself led a strong campaign, utilizing the Filipino people’s feelings about Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s governance at the time.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s administration was tainted with scandal, corruption, and human rights violations.

The Hello Garci scandal alone, which erupted in 2005, was enough for Noynoy Aquino to build a campaign that pivots in an entirely opposite way.

He ran a campaign hinging on good governance with slogans like “matuwid na daan” and “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”

This campaign built on honesty also served as an implication that Noynoy, later called PNoy upon assuming presidency, will be the leader GMA was not able to become.

The political climate favored Noynoy Aquino perfectly.

I believe, though, that we must also recognize Noynoy Aquino’s achievements as president, outside of his electoral campaign or his parents.

First, he actually brought his anticorruption campaign to the government when he was president. Under Aquino, top officials including three senators, were arrested for corruption. His government also

prosecuted corruption within the military. He made sure to give attention to the economy as well. We achieved 6.2 percent GDP growth as well as investment-grade credit ratings encouraging economic growth.

With the economy expanding, it stimulated job creation and decreased poverty incidence from 26.3 percent to 21.6 percent.

all the geographic areas of our country by allowing them to be more self-determining, and less dependent on the national government.”

Based on the proposals submitted by the House constitutional amendments committee at that time, the territory of the future Federal Republic of the Philippines would be divided into five states composed of Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, Bangsamoro, and Metro Manila.

Under the proposal, each state shall have its own State Constitution, adopt its name, and choose a capital, flag, anthem, and seal, a unicameral state assembly with legislative powers, and a premier exercising executive powers.

The proposed federal charter retains the position of the President, who would act as head of state, and introduces the position of a Prime Minister, who would be the head of the government. President Marcos’ vision suggests “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.”

“With the power centers being given to the local governments, to the local districts and to those who are operating at the local level, and thereby bringing those power centers to many, many places, it makes for a more stable political structure and makes for more stable political life,” the President said.

We have our eyes peeled.

Like his parents, and like the presidents that came before him, Noynoy Aquino was not a perfect leader. His name was also marred by violations and questionable decisions. We must not forget this either. But I will always have space to appreciate what he has done for the Philippines, a space to commemorate his achievements.

I can only imagine how much harder it is for Noynoy Aquino, given that he was the son of two icons. When you have parents who are heroes, you are automatically on a pedestal. And you have to either be as good as they are, or even better, to remain on the pedestal.

I admire his commitment to leadership despite the difficulty of filling in such big shoes, an honest form of leadership at that. Noynoy Aquino is also a good reminder that we are never our parents. We are our own people.

In the same vein, we must remain accountable for our actions—whether it is related to our parents’ previous actions or not.

Another presidential feat Noynoy Aquino faced was the pursuit of the West Philippine Sea, supposedly a part of South China Sea. His administration courageously filed a case against China’s claims of the territory before The Hague. This was the same case that Manila won in 2016, after Aquino stepped down.

I will always admire Aquino standing firm to fight for Philippine sovereignty and territorial rights.

This is especially relevant today as we are plagued by questions on sovereignty and territorial integrity. In a time where the government appears to want to pit sovereignty and justice against each other, a reminder that they don’t have to be on opposite sides is good to have.

The mansion that puzzles built

It turned out to be a Guinness-certified world-record holder for having the largest collection of jigsaw puzzles of varying genre, art forms, sources, shapes and sizes

maze. If not for Waze, our efforts could have gone to waste.

Finally, we reached the Puzzle Mansion in all of its glory.

It turned out to be a Guinnesscertified world-record holder for

having the largest collection of jigsaw puzzles of varying genre, art forms, sources, shapes and sizes.

A signage proclaimed it was a hobbyist-resident of Tagaytay Georgina Gil-Lacuna who achieved that feat in November 2012.

The Mansion recently branched out into a bed-and-breakfast hotel on an adjacent lot.

It would appear that it already was assured of captive market, with all the hundreds of visitors and probably overnighters dropping by for a few hours.

We had a whistlestop visit to the Puzzle Mansion, and my kid was amused and amazed at the sight of countless jigsaw puzzles adorning every nook and cranny.

Lacuna’s first work featured a collage of Disney characters in a garage but a life-size portrait of Mona Lisa in

I believe this is even more relevant to keep in mind today with the current administration.

In a time of political turmoil and prices of necessities skyrocketing, we must envision the possibility of a more just society and an economy where we are more than barely surviving.

Cory Aquino assisted in a future like this; her son, Noynoy Aquino did as well. This only means that good possibilities remain on the horizon.

There are leaders who will steer the Filipino people towards hope, towards better lives, towards a better state of the nation.

In the meantime, we must remain steadfast in our beliefs and fight in the ways that we can. Noynoy Aquino did exactly this. We can too, whether we are Aquinos or not.

jigsaws stood out among her priceless and varied collections.

We toured the mansion until MonLeon found a corner that was set aside for kids to try out their skills at solving puzzles.

There he sat down and started tinkering with his newfound toy.

Midway through, however, mansion personnel signaled it was closing time.

My kid was visibly disappointed; it took us (I and his mom) a lot of convincing that he should take a break as we promised to buy him barbecue, his favorite.

When we got home, he immediately looked for his beloved toys. Obviously, this kid couldn’t get enough of jigsaw puzzles.

(The author is a freelance journalist who writes about practically any topic under the sun and the moon.)

THIS week, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. underlined the importance of bringing more “power centers” to other parts of this archipelagic nation of 114 million people to guarantee political stability.

In a time of political turmoil and prices of necessities skyrocketing, we must envision the possibility of a more just society and an economy where we are more than barely surviving

Putin condoles with victims’ families

KUZHENKINO, Russia – Russian President Vladimir Putin broke his silence Thursday on the plane crash a day earlier that reportedly killed mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin and other senior members of the Wagner paramilitary group.

In televised comments Putin offered his “sincere condolences to the families of all the victims”, describing the crash as a “tragedy”. Prigozhin was registered on the plane that was carrying nine others who are also presumed to have died.

Wednesday evening’s crash took place exactly two months after Prigozhin led a rebellion against Moscow’s top military brass, considered by some observers to have been the biggest threat to Putin’s long rule.

Although Moscow opened a probe into violations of air traffic rules, investigators have been silent since, as speculation of a possible assassination has grown.

Prigozhin recruited tens of thousands of Russian convicts to fight in Ukraine, often thrown into the front line.

Wagner’s future without Prigozhin remained unclear.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted Kyiv had nothing to do with the incident.

“I think everyone knows who this concerns,” he said, in what appeared to be a

reference to Putin.

“There is a court in The Hague, there is a court of God. But Russia has an alternative (court)—President Putin,” he said when asked again about the air crash later Thursday.

When Putin broke his silence on Thursday, he paid a qualified tribute to the mercenary boss and the paramilitary group he led.

“I knew Prigozhin for a very long time, since the early 90s. He was a man of complicated fate, and he made serious mistakes in his life, but he achieved the right results,” Putin said.

In an address to Russians during the Wagner rebellion on June 23-24 in which he warned against “civil war”, Putin had called Prigozhin—once his ally—a “traitor.” AFP

Java trash fire ‘emergency’ chokes locals with thick smoke

MAKESHIFT MEMORIAL. A portrait of Yevgeny Prigozhin is seen in Moscow on Thursday, who died in an air crash, with nine others, two months after he led a rebellion against Moscow’s top military brass, considered by some observers to have been the biggest threat to President Vladimir Putin’s long rule. AFP

US to begin training Ukraine F-16 pilots in September — Pentagon

WASHINGTON, DC—The Pentagon said Thursday (Friday in Manila) it would begin training Ukrainian F-16 pilots in the United States starting next month so they can use the advanced aircraft against Russian forces.

Ukraine has long sought these sophisticated fighter jets so as to better fight the Russian invasion, and is now engaged in a fitful counteroffensive aimed at retaking land held by Russian forces.

The US training will involve “several” pilots and “dozens” of personnel to maintain the aircraft, said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder.

“These pilots will be conducting English language training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas in September prior to attending F-16 flying training in Arizona” the following month, he said.

The Arizona training will take place at Morris Air National Guard Base, he added.

President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky spoke Thursday and discussed the training program, the White House said.

“President Biden reiterated the US commitment to support Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression for as long as it takes, and to hold Russia accountable for its actions,” a

White House statement said.

The US program expands plans already announced by European allies to train Ukrainian personnel to fly the US-made F-16.

Last week the United States told Denmark and the Netherlands they can transfer their F16s to Ukraine when the country’s pilots are trained to use them.

On Thursday, Norway said it too would give F-16s to Ukraine, with news agency NTB reporting the donation would be between five and 10 planes.

Ryder said the training would normally last from five to eight months, depending on the skills the pilots already possess.

Language training at the beginning was crucial, “given the complexities and the specialized English that’s required to fly these aircraft,” he said.

The US is moving ahead with its own training program in recognition that Denmark and the Netherlands could not handle all the pilot preparation that Ukraine needs, Ryder added.

“We know that as the Danes and the Dutch prepare to train those pilots, that at a certain point in the future, capacity will be reached,” he said. AFP

BANDUNG, Indonesia—A

dayslong fire at a landfill in Indonesia’s most populous province has been declared an emergency by local authorities as thick and putrid smoke from the blaze chokes nearby residents, officials said Friday. The fire at the Sarimukti landfill in Indonesia’s West Java province -- which serves the city of Bandung, home to 2.5 million people -- has been burning since Tuesday.

At least 67 people who live near the landfill have been diagnosed with mild respiratory infections and two were hospitalized due to the effects of the toxic fire, according to a local health clinic.

The headmaster of an Islamic middle school six kilometers from the fire said students were told to stay at home because of the fumes.

“The smoke was rather thick and disrupted the study activity as well as threatened the students’ safety and health,” Amin Bunyamin told AFP.

“We are worried for their health because the fumes from the burning trash are different. The smoke is choking.”

At least 30 fire trucks have battled to contain the fire at the 25-hectare site with no success, with authorities blaming high temperatures and strong winds for keeping it ablaze.

It forced the local government to declare a 21-day state of emergency in the area, West Java regent Hengky Kurniawan said Thursday.

Sprawling Indonesian cities on its most populated island Java lack modern waste management infrastructure to process hoards of solid trash produced each day.

Kurniawan on Thursday blamed the fire on discarded cigarette butts and called on residents not to throw them away, “especially in this drought season”.

He added that authorities were not well-equipped to douse the fire, so water bombs would be dropped from helicopters sent by the country’s national disaster management agency on Friday. AFP

China’s allies lead Pacific criticism of Fukushima water release

SUVA, Fiji—China’s Pacific allies—from Solomon Islands’ government to Fiji’s opposition—on Friday echoed Beijing’s criticism of Japan releasing wastewater from its disaster-hit Fukushima nuclear plant.

More than 500 Olympic swimming pools’ worth of treated wastewater will be released into the Pacific over decades in a plan endorsed by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

But China has issued a furious response, and its allies in the Pacific have backed that criticism despite safety assurances from Japan and the IAEA.

Solomons’ Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare—who has delayed elections and scolded Western powers while embracing Beijing’s checkbook diplomacy—issued a “strong statement against Japan’s decision”.

The water release, he said, “has an impact on our people, ocean, economy and livelihood.”

There was a similar message in the Fijian capital Suva on Friday, where a rare protest attracted hundreds.

Demonstrators carried placards saying “Nuclear-free sea!” and “Pacific Lives Matter.”

The protest was promoted by FijiFirst, an opposition party whose leader, ousted prime minister Frank Bainimarama, courted closer ties with China while in office.

The party accused Fiji’s government of “failing future generations by allowing Japan to dump its nuclear waste into our ocean”.

FURIOUS ALLIES. Protestors holding placards march on the streets of Fiji’s capital city Suva on Friday against Japan’s release of wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. China has issued a furious response, and its allies in the Pacific have backed that criticism despite safety assurances from Japan and the International Atomic Energy Agency. AFP

Other leaders appeared convinced by the safety assessments.

“Japan has reassured the region that the water has been treated,” said Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, who is currently chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, a regional bloc. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Stock market falls on Wall Street sell-off

PSEi August 25, 2023

TOP GAINERS

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PHILIPPINE stocks fell Friday, tracking the Wall Street sell-off, as investors awaited United States Federal Reserve’s Chairman Jerome Powell’s speech in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange index shed 65.17 points, or 1.05 percent, to close at 6,160.61, while the broader all-shares index declined

TOP LOSERS

MOST ACTIVE

25.17 points to finish at 3,332.40.

Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said investors opted to stay on the sidelines ahead of Powell’s speech. Analysts said investors were bracing for hawkish signals from Powell.

Asian markets also sank Friday as a mini rally came to a juddering halt ahead of a keenly awaited speech by Powell later in the day, with traders increasingly worried the bank would hike interest rates further.

The losses tracked a sell-off on Wall Street, where tech titans including Amazon and Apple were among the big losers as Treasury yields rose and data indicated the US jobs market was still

resilient in the face of tighter financial conditions. The Fed’s insistence that decisionmaking would be data-dependent has seen traders react to most economic indicators in a “good news is bad news” fashion, with healthy data seen as likely pressuring officials to hike to temper inflation.

A string of positive readings on the economy and jobs have weighed on equities this month, while policymakers appear split on the best way forward as they try to tame prices while looking to avoid causing a recession. Markets enjoyed a strong end to July on optimism that that month’s rate hike would be the last, with inflation con-

tinuing to ease and other data showing a softening in the economy. Some observers even suggested a cut could be on the cards at the end of the year or early 2024. But that has given way to the realization that more work is needed to get inflation down to—and held at—the Fed›s two-percent target.

Analysts said Powell must tread a fine line in his Friday speech at the annual symposium of central bankers and business leaders in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

“He will caution against easing too soon. I think that›s going to be a theme here,” former Fed vice chair Donald Kohn said. With AFP

Meta’s Twitter rival Threads now on the web

SAN FRANCISCO, United States —Threads, Meta’s challenger to depose Twitter as the go-to platform for celebrities, companies and governments, is now available on the web as it seeks to revive its underwhelming launch.

A web version of Threads is seen as key to attracting professionals and media types who are the most active users of social media and post mainly from their computers during working hours.

“Threads.net is now live for everyone. Let us know what you think,” posted Instagram head Adam Mosseri on Thursday, who also leads Threads. Until now, Threads was accessible only as a mobile app on iPhones and Android phones.

GOVERNORS MEET. (Front row, left) Brunei’s Minister of Finance Amin Liew Abdullah, Cambodia’s Minister of Finance Phiyorin Tep, Deputy of ASEAC Secretary General Satvinder Singh, Laos’s Minister of Finance Santiphab Phomvihane, Indonesia’s Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, Indonesia’s Central Bank Governor Perry Warjiyo, Laos’s Central Bank Governor Bounleua Sinxayvoravong, Malaysia’s Central Bank Governor Shaik Abdul Rasheed Abdul Ghaffour, Brunei’s Central Bank Governor Rokiah Badar, and East Timorese Central Bank Governor Abraao de Vasconcelos, pose for family photo after the opening of the 10th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Jakarta on August 25, 2023. AFP

Central bankers head to Wyoming seeking clarity on US rates

WASHINGTON, United States—Central bankers and academics from around the world have descended upon the town of Jackson, Wyoming searching for clues on the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy.

After 11 rate hikes in less than 18 months, the US benchmark lending rate now sits at a range between 5.25 and 5.5 percent -- its highest level for 22 years.

However, the rapid cycle of interest rate increases has failed to definitively quash inflation, which remains stuck above the Fed’s long-term target of two percent, despite slowing sharply from

recent multi-decade highs.

Analysts expect Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s opening remarks at the annual Jackson Hole economic symposium on Friday to address monetary policy ahead of the next interest rate decision in September.

They’ll also be looking for clues about the Fed’s likely policy trajectory in the coming months, when inflation is expected to approach its long-term target.

“The main takeaway from the speech to me is essentially going to be how much he talks about keeping rates high-

er for longer,” Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) President Adam Posen told reporters earlier this month.

This year’s symposium will examine “structural shifts in the global economy,” the Kansas City Fed, which organizes the annual retreat, announced in a recent statement.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will address the symposium on Friday afternoon, while senior central bankers from the United Kingdom and Japan will take part in a panel discussion on Saturday. AFP

Manila Standard TODAY

Germany’s booze-free beer boom amid rising health concerns

BERLIN, Germany—All the fun of the Oktoberfest, without the hangover: Germans are swapping traditional beer for non-alcoholic brews, driven by health concerns and the increasing quality of booze-free options.

Beers containing less than 0.5 percent alcohol—the legal limit to be classed as non-alcoholic—are no longer an uncommon sight in the country’s famous beer gardens.

“I like the taste of beer, but I don’t find it reasonable to always drink it with alcohol,” Kathrin Achatz, 40, told AFP at the BRLO beer garden in Berlin.

According to federal statistics office Destatis, the volume of non-alcoholic beer produced in Germany has almost doubled over the past 10 years, reaching 670 million litres in 2022.

In a 2022 survey by the Allensbach Institute, non-alcoholic beer represented around seven percent of total beer purchases.

“We are seeing a strong increase in demand,” said Holger Eichele, head of the German Brewers Federation, which represents the interests of the brewing industry.

BRLO, whose beer garden is located in Berlin’s central Kreuzberg district but which produces most of its beer from a brewery further out in Spandau, was an early adopter.

Improved brewing techniques

The brewery, which prides itself on producing all its beer in Berlin, launched its “Naked” non-alcoholic range in 2017.

Since then, sales have grown sharply, with a jump of 60 percent in 2022 compared to 2021.

“Since day one, this beer has been appreciated by our customers,” said Michael Lembke, one of the brewery’s managers.

Inside the brewery, about 15 workers clad in heavy boots are busy assembling orders in a maze of pipes and conveyor belts.

Co-founder of Berlin’s BRLO brewery Michael Lembke inspects a bottle of the company’s non-alcoholic “Naked” beer in Berlin on August 21, 2023. All the fun of the Oktoberfest, without the hangover:

Germans are increasingly swapping traditional beer for non-alcoholic brews, driven by health concerns and the increasing quality of booze-free options. AFP

Around 160 hectolitres of Naked beer are produced here every month.

Launched in the 1970s, non-alcoholic beer was initially designed for a niche market: motorists, pregnant women or recovering alcoholics.

But in recent years, the booze-free beverage has broken into the mainstream. The number of brands on offer has doubled since 2010 to reach more than 700, according to the German Brewers Federation.

This is partly down to improved brewing techniques that have led to an increase in quality -- something that had previously held nonalcoholic beer back from breaking into the mass market.

At BLRO, the drink is made with a special yeast that prevents alcohol from being created during fermentation, without compromising on flavor. The beer is fermented for a week in the brewery’s huge grey vats.

‘Enormous potential’

The boom in non-alcoholic beer in Germany has also been partly down to health trends and a growing awareness of the harmful effects of alcohol.

“There is a growing awareness of health imperatives in the population,” Eichele said.

“Sometimes you want to have a drink, but you don’t want to feel the effects of alcohol,” said Max Thomas, a 44-year-old Berlin-based Briton.

Although Germans are among the biggest consumers of alcohol in the world, at 10 litres of pure alcohol per inhabitant per year, consumption is falling, especially among young people.

According to a study by the Federal Centre for Health Education, 8.7 percent of young people aged 12 to 17 drink alcohol at least once a week. In 2011, that figure was around 14 percent, and in 1979 it was 25 percent. AFP

“The Threads team is working hard to bring this experience to parity with mobile, and will be adding more functionality to the web experience in the coming weeks,” a spokesman said.

The rival to Twitter (now called X) was rushed out in early July by Meta, which invited its more than a billion Instagram users to download the app.

This helped Threads become the fastest downloaded app ever, crushing the previous record held by AI sensation ChatGPT.

But the initial excitement did not last, with usage by the early adopters falling steadily ever since and users calling out for a web version of the app and other tweaks.

Many of the celebrities who were given a privileged early access to Threads - such as Jennifer Lopez or American Football star Tom Bradyhave posted only rarely. AFP

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

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, RICO D. MADLANGBAYAN Corporate Secretary

BUSINESS

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Ayala Group signed an agreement with Taiwan’s Gogoro to form a joint venture for the roll-out of two-wheeled electric vehicle battery swapping technology in Metro Manila.

Bernie Llamzon, chief executive of Gogoro Philippines, said the alliance sets the stage for an electric vehicle revolution in the country.

“Our cutting-edge swappable battery system and smart mobility solutions will provide Filipino riders with a sustainable, cost-effective, and techno-

DOTr seeks Korean support for more infra projects

THE Department of Transportation wants the Korean government to fund more road transport infrastructure projects in the Philippines.

The agency and state-owned Export-Import Bank of Korea recently held a coordination meeting to discuss and assess current projects funded by the latter such as the new Dumaguete Airport Development Project, the Philippine Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety Enhancement Project, New Cebu International Container Port Project and the LRT-2 Cogeo Extension in Rizal.

Secretary Jaime Bautista said KEXIM’s assistance in the design and implementation of transport projects could provide the maximum benefits for commuters and passengers.

“We hope to agree on how best to move forward with such projects as the new Dumaguete Airport, the new Cebu International Container Port, extension of LRT 2 as well as the Pangasinan airport feasibility study and the maritime safety enhancement project,” said Bautista.

He said with KEXIM’s support, Filipinos are guaranteed a better passenger experience through airport, seaport and railway projects.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Ejercito pushes infra masterplan

SENATOR JV Ejercito reiterated his call for the Philippine Comprehensive Infrastructure Masterplan to develop a blueprint for longterm and quality infrastructure projects in the country.

“This will become a masterplan of all plans and will be complementary with the local government units. We should work hand in hand for our country to move forward,” Ejercito said at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s legislative talk series.

He expressed hope the proposed bill would be included in the priority measures of the Marcos administration next year.

He said that as the Philippines was lagging 30 years behind its ASEAN neighbors in terms of infrastructure development, the proposed measure would serve as a roadmap for the continuity and sustainability of infrastructure projects even with the change of leadership.

Vietnam overtook the Philippines in terms of foreign direct investments. The Philippines ranked 5th in ASEAN with only $9.1 billion in FDIs last year, compared to Vietnam’s $17.89 billion. Othel V. Campos

P&G PH wins second time in 2023 HR Asia Awards

PROCTER & Gamble Philippines, the leading consumer goods company behind health and hygiene brands such as Safeguard, Tide, Joy, Head & Shoulders and Pampers, clinched victory at the 2023 HR Asia Awards.

P&G Philippines said that for the second consecutive year, it secured its place among the esteemed HR Asia Best Companies to Work.

The company remains at the forefront of fostering an exceptional workplace environment, underscored by its commitment to innovation, inclusivity and employee development.

“We are honored to be recognized for the second time in a row by HR Asia as one of the Best Companies to Work for in Asia. This is a testament to P&G’s commitment to prioritizing our people through best-in-class talent and leadership development programs,” said P&G country human Resource reader Vince Dizon.

P&G said it is one of the most sought-after multinational companies to work for in the Philippines because of its purposeful career and leadership development, promote-fromwithin approach and best-in-class training.

HR Asia is the premier publication recognizing excellence in HR and workplace practices across Asia, encompassing countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong, China and Taiwan. It identifies companies with exceptional HR strategies, high employee engagement and strong workplace cultures.

logically advanced means of transport while reducing carbon emissions,” Llamzon said.

Ayala said that under the joint venture, 917Ventures, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom Inc., will own 98 million common shares or equivalent to 49 percent of Gogoro Philip-

pines. Ayala Corp. will hold 21 percent.

Gogoro SG, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gogoro Inc., will own the remaining 30 percent or 60 million common shares.

The transaction is expected to close within 10 days from the signing of the subscription agreements, subject to customary closing conditions, including relevant regulatory approvals,

Ayala said that on closing date, the parties would infuse $8.5 million into Gogoro PH.

“Gogoro is Globe’s entry into the climate tech industry through 917Ventures Inc. The official signing of the joint venture is a big stride in our goal to provide

eco-friendly transport that places at the forefront environmental stewardship and mobility for businesses and individuals. Our enduring dedication to effecting positive change in Filipino lives is further underscored by this initiative,” Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu said.

Horace Luke, founder and chief executive of Gogoro, said they are establishing a new smart electric transportation era in the Philippines.

“Gogoro Philippines, our joint venture with Globe’s 917Ventures Inc. and the Ayala Group, continues our global mission to empower cities with intelligent, eco-friendly mobility solutions

Ayala to launch e-scooter battery swap IN BRIEF

that are open and accessible. Together, we are focused on accelerating the mass market shift to smart electric mobility and battery swapping addressing the urban mobility energy demands in a safe, sustainable, and scalable way,” he said. Ayala president and chief executive Cezar Consing said Gogoro Philippines would be an important part of the EV ecosystem of the company.

Gogoro Smartscooters are now in the streets of Manila, with Globe employees pilot-testing more than 50 vehicles under a two-month program meant to gain customer insights before the commercial launch later this year.

By Julito G. Rada

BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets led by the SM Group, declared regular cash dividends payable next month to be sourced from its surplus profit in 2022.

“Please be informed that the board of directors of BDO Unibank Inc., at its regular meeting held today, Aug. 25, 2023, approved the declaration of regular cash dividends on common shares of the bank in the amount of P0.75 per share for the third quarter of 2023 payable on Sept. 29, 2023 to all stockholders of record as of Sept. 12, 2023,” it said.

MANULIFE BRANCH. Manulife Philippines inaugurates its new Cebu 2Quad office, one of 47 branches of the company in the country, to further strengthen its agency force’s commitment to providing life and health protection and financially securing the future of more Cebuanos. Attending the branch opening are (from left) Manulife Philippines branch head Boy Archie, region head Nonoy Cupin, branch head Sol Arana, Cebu City councilor Rey Gealon, branch head Hannah Esguerra, region head Mira Esguerra, president and chief executive Rahul Hora, chief operations officer Maya Lee, executive region head Stella Bernabe, head of agency strategy and support Sailesh Nalinakshan, head of distribution operations Maiko Diaz de Rivera, zone head Paolo Javellana and branch head Beni Alcaraz.

CIP merging with 7 companies to become holding group

By Jenniffer B. Austria

CHEMICAL Industries of the Philippines Inc. said Friday it is merging with seven firms as it transforms into an investment holding company.

CIP said in a stock exchange filing its board approved the merger with Unioil Group Inc., Addventure Properties Inc., Citiworld Properties and Development Corp., Exquadra Inc., Quantumlink Realty Corp., Buklod Realty Corp. and Rivertanks Inc. CIP will be the surviving entity.

The company said it would issue new shares in exchange of the assets to be received from the absorbed companies.

CIP has yet to finalize the number of

shares to be issued to each of the absorbed companies.

It said that in preparation for the merger, its board also approved the increase in the company’s authorized capital stock to P2 billion from P190 million.

CIP said the proposed merger would be presented for shareholders approval during the company’s annual general meeting.

CIP’s major shareholders led by businessman Antonio Garcia sold their controlling stake to a group that includes a company owned by the Unioil Group Inc. in 2020.

The group earlier said it planned to use CIP as backdoor listing vehicle for

potential investments in industries related to government’s infrastructure projects including construction equipment industry.

Formed in 1958, CIP serves as the parent company of CAWC Inc. which is engaged in the manufacture of industrial chemicals, Chemphil Manufacturing Corp. which manufactures liquid caustic soda and other industrial chemicals and Kemwater Phil. Corp. which manufactures and trade chemicals.

The company and its subsidiaries sell their products mainly to detergent, beverage and car battery manufacturers, water concessionaires and paper industry.

PSE INDEX CLOSING

It said the dividend payment would be sourced from the bank’s surplus profits last year, net of previously issued dividends less capital adjustments per relevant regulations.

The bank posted a record net income of P57.1 billion in 2022, up 33.4 percent from P42.8 billion in 2021 on the sustained strength of core businesses despite the challenging business environment highlighted by higher interest rates and elevated inflation.

The 2022 results led to a return on average common equity of 13 percent, improving to 15.3 percent for the fourth quarter, from 10.5 percent in 2021 and 12.8 percent in 2019 before the onslaught of the pandemic.

The economic reopening triggered a 9-percent growth in gross customer loans. Total deposits climbed 14 percent, with net interest income growing 14 percent to P149.2 billion.

BDO registered a 47-percent jump in net income in the first half of 2023 to P35.2 billion from P23.9 billion a year ago. This translated into a return on common equity of 15.1 percent, whigher than 11.3 percent a year ago.

SECURITY BANK’S AWARD. Security Bank Corp. bags the New Consumer Lending Product of the Year award at the Asian Banking and Finance Retail Banking Awards 2023 for its Complete Cashback Platinum Mastercard. Accepting the award in Singapore on July 25, 2023 are Security Bank senior assistant vice president and product management and communications head Maricar Filart (second from left), senior assistant vice president and strategic data analytics division head Darling Dianne Santos (third from left) and vice president and acquisitions and partnerships head Gian Panganiban.

PSALM to issue invitation to bid for 797-MW CBK hydro plants in December

By Alena Mae S. Flores

STATE-RUN Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. will issue the invitation to bid for the privatization of the 797.92-megawatt CalirayaBotocan-Kalayaan hydropower plants in December 2023, a top executive said Friday.

“For CBK, our target of release of ITB is December 2023,” PSALM president Dennis de la Serna said.

“If we release, then six months after [is the bidding], barring any delays in between,” he said.

“PSALM finalizing our plans for CBK

in coordination with our consultant ADB [Asian Development Bank]. Various challenges on security asset, long term viable ASPA [asset sale and purchase agreement], transmission and power charges,” de la Serna said earlier.

“It’s going to be hard. We are hopeful for 2024,” he said.

PSALM initially set the CBK HEPP’s privatization this year after the successful sale of the 165-megawatt Casecnan hydroelectric power plant in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija to Fresh River Lakes Corp., a subsidiary

of the Lopez Group’s First Gen Corp.

Fresh River offered the highest bid amounting to $526 million for the CHEPP. PSALM is set to turn over the plant to the Lopez Group at the end of the year.

The CBK hydro facility consists of 22.6-megawatt Caliraya in Lumban, 20.8-MW Botocan in Majayjay and 684.6-MW Kalayaan I and II in Kalayaan, Laguna. J-Power and Sumitomo Corp. of Japan operate the CBK power plants.

PSALM is the agency tasked under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 to manage the assets and liabilities of National Power Corp.

FILINVEST Land Inc., one of the country’s leading property developers, is returning to the bond market with the planned issuance of up to P12 billion worth of fixed-rate bonds.

FLI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday its executive committee approved the issuance of pesodenominated bonds, with an aggregate principal base of P10 billion and an option for another P2 billion.

The bonds will have a fixed term of 3.5 years and will be due 2027.

This will be the first tranche to be issued from the company’s proposed P35-billion bond shelf registration program.

The company has yet to finalize other terms of the offering including timetable of the bond sale.

FLI has nine outstanding bonds listed with the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. worth P34.68 billion. About P2.7 billion worth of bonds issued in 2013 will mature this November.

The last time FLI tapped the bond market was in December 2021 when it raised P10 billion in fresh capital, consisting of four-year bonds due 2025 with interest rate of 4.5030 percent and six-year bonds due 2027 with interest rate of 5.2579 percent per annum.

The property firm plans to launch P16 billion worth of new residential projects this year as it aims to rebuild its revenue stream back to pre-pandemic levels.

FLI net income rose 15 percent in the first half of 2023 to P1.39 billion as consolidated revenues climbed 8 percent to P9.15 billion.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Filinvest Land set to issue P12-b fixed-rate bonds

BDO declares cash dividends for 3rd quarter

FIBA elects new officers; MVP receives Order of Merit

THE XXII FIBA Congress, which brought together delegates from 157 National Federations over the past two days, concluded in Manila on the eve of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, with the election of new officers and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Chairman Emeritus Manuel V. Pangilinan being awarded with a FIBA Order of Merit.

The Congress was opened by welcome speeches from International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach; Richard E. Bachmann, chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission; and HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, IOC Executive Board Member, President of the Jordan Olympic Committee and Founding Chairman of the FIBA Safeguarding Council.

The Congress unanimously voted on a new President, Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani, Treasurer, Ingo Weiss, and Central Board members and named Hamane Niang as FIBA Honorary President.The Ethics Panel and Nominations Panel were also appointed.

A special ceremony was held to honor the efforts and achievements of the National Federations, while Pangilinan was awarded with a FIBA Order of Merit.

Following the address of the President, the Congress heard a report from FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis on FIBA’s activities over the past two years, as well as the updated strategy for the new cycle of 2023-2027, approved by the Central Board. Strategic priorities of Empower National Federations, Women in Basketball and Shape International Club Competitions will now be FIBA’s main focus for the next four years.

Congress also received a report from FIBA Treasurer Ingo Weiss as well reports from the organizations officially recognized by FIBA: FIBA Foundation, World Association of Basketball Coaches, International Wheelchair Basketball Federation and the Deaf International Basketball Federation.

The second day of the Congress included Breakout Sessions for the delegates that included sessions on two of FIBA’s strategic priorities - Women in Basketball and Empower National Federations, as well as other topics including innovation presented by FIBA’s Equipment & Venue Centre, eFIBA, as well as Safeguarding and Integrity.

Additionally, FIBA’s Hall of Fame Ceremony for 2023 took place on the evening of August 23, where 12 recognized world-class basketball personalities were inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame at a special ceremony.

Americans begin journey for World Cup redemption

By Peter Atencio

AYOUNG

NBA players begin a journey for redemption when it takes on New Zealand at 8:40 p.m. on Saturday in the 2023 FIBA World Cup of Basketball at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Americans, led by scoring dynamo Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, placed 7th in the previous edition in China, following back-toback World Cup titles.

The climb to the zenith of FIBA basketball begins against the Kiwis, with

The US team

coach Steve Kerr declaring his young wards’ readiness for battle.

The team has been practicing behind closed doors and is getting ready to face a Kiwis side that is well-coached and known for its hard work on the floor.

“We have a young, hungry team and on the rise,” said Kerr.

Team skipper Jalen Brunson echoed Kerr’s words and added that he and his teammates are completely focused on a single goal, which is to

MOA Fan Zone offers World Cup experience for basketball fans

By Randy Caluag

BASKETBALL fans are in for a special, unique experience on and off the playing venues as the FIBA World Cup 2023 Fan Zone opened its gates on Friday at the Mall of Asia’s Music Hall.

The Fan Zone, which offers free admission until Sept. 10, has interactive booths, shooting challenges, arcade games, a fan shop, special performances, raffles, and live viewing parties.

The Fan Zone is open from 1 to 10 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

While major events are happening over at the massive Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on the day of the opening of the world’s biggest basketball tournament, the MOA Arena played host to Montenegro-Mexico tussle and the Lithuania-Egypt match.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio of the FIBA local organizing committee and Richard Carrion of the FIBA Central Board led

FIBA World Cup 2023 ambassadors and former Gilas Pilipinas players Gabe Norwood and Jeff Chan try some of the World Cup merchandise at the Mall of Asia Arena’s Fan Zone. Randy Caluag

in gracing the opening ceremonies together with FIBA World Cup ambassadors and former Gilas Pilipinas members Jeff Chan and Gabe Norwood and other local SBP officials and the MVP Sports Foundation.

Other officials present were John Lucas, events executive of the local organizing committee, and MVP Sports Foundation executive director Jude Turcuato.

The debut matches at the MOA Arena on Friday featured Montenegro versus Mexico at 4:45 p.m. and Lithuania against Egypt at 8:30 p.m. Single game tickets can be purchased at smtickets.com.

Over at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, the nearby Gateway Mall activity area also opened a merchandise booth, Gilas painting activities, and FIBA arcade games for the fans.

“It’s a basketball fever like no other. Even the FIBA has learned from us the way we run our programs,” said SBP executive director Sonny Barrios.

FEU Lady Tamaraws, UE Lady Warriors ease past rivals, stay at helm

FAR Eastern University rolled to its third straight victory with a quick 25-11, 25-10, 25-16 romp over Enderun Colleges to wrest control in the 2023 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge at the Paco Arena in Manila on Friday.

University of the East matched that romp by trouncing San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 25-14, 25-19, 25-14, as the Lady Warriors and the Lady Tams, who upended the Perpetual Help Lady Altas the last time out, stayed at joint lead in the early going of the single round elims among eight teams in the distaff side.

FEU interim head coach Manolo Refugia was pleased with his wards’ latest performance, saying, “Masaya ako kasi na-meet namin ‘yung objectives for this game – na malessen yung errors. Maganda naman ‘yung performance ng lahat.”

Rookie outside hitter Kiesha Bedonia took charge for FEU with 14 points, including the

Games Sunday

10 a.m. – San Sebastian vs St. Benilde (women’s)

12 noon – Lyceum vs Perpetual Help (women’s)

2 p.m. – Ateneo vs FEU (men’s)

4 p.m. – La Salle vs San Beda U (men’s)

decisive kills in the third-set that was close in the early going before the Lady Tamaraws reasserted their might to dispatch the Lady Titans in just a little more than one hour.

Faida Bakanke broke through with 10 markers on eight attacks and two blocks for the Morayta-based squad, which also drew seven points, including three aces, from Chenie Tagaod.

Erika Deloria topped Enderun’s offense with six points, but FEU held the Enderun’s best scorer Althea Botor to two inconsequential markers. The Lady Titans slipped to 1-2.

The FEU Lady Tamaraws

regain the gold medal.

And it will be challenging because Team USA will be facing teams that are more experienced.

“We have a lot of guys who come from different situations and play different styles of basketball but here, ego is left on the door and we just wanna win and that’s the most important thing on our mind,” said Brunson, who plays New York Knicks in the NBA.

Also leading the charge for the USA squad are rising stars Tyrese Haliburton, and Paolo Banchero, alongside veterans Brunson and Brandon Ingram.

New Zealand is fielding a not-so-tall roster in a tough Group C bracket, with hopes that it will still make the Top 16—the second phase of qualifying games. The Kiwis will play without center Sam Timmins and forward Dan Fotu, who were cut from the lineup, but they hope to be the faster team against Team USA.

Obiena faces

Duplantis, 10 others in world pole vault finals

OFF with FILIPINO star Ernest John Obiena will face off with 11 other finalists, including world record holder Armand Duplantis and world no. 2 Christopher Nilsen in the men’s pole vault championship round of the World Athletics Championships on Saturday at the National Stadium in Budapest, Hungary. Obiena qualified after clearing 5.55 meters in his first attempt before making 5.75 meters in his second bid.

Also joining Obiena, Duplantis and Nilsen in the evening final are Kurtis Marschall of Australia, France’s Thibaut Collet, Turkiye’s Ersu Sasma, Belgium’s Ben Broeders and Italy’s Claudio Stecchi, who all competed in Group A.

In Group B, the qualifiers are China’s Jie Yao and Bokai Huang, America’s Zach Mcwhorter, Poland’s Piotr Lisek and Robert Sobera.

“Laban Pilipinas!” said Obiena after his qualification.

When he made the finals last year in Eugene, Oregon, Obiena settled for the bronze medal.

The Italy-based Obiena was the first Filipino to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics when he leaped 5.82 meters during the Diamond LeagueBauhaus Galan in Sweden on July 3. Peter Atencio

team of

FOR COUNTRY. Gilas Pilipinas supporters display mini banners showing their support for the team during a visit at a souvenir shop inside the PITX in Parañaque City on Friday. The terminal is also a pickup point for buses headed to the Philippine Arena in Bulacan for the opening game of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 between the Philippines and the Dominican Republic. Norman Cruz

loss in the tournament organized by Sports Vision.

Ernest John Obiena

HOME/DESIGN

‘Smart homes’ in Manila

PROPERTY developer Megaworld recently broke ground for the 17-story residential condominium tower One Crown  Suites within the three-hectare Winford Resort in Sta. Cruz, Manila. Offering 389 ‘smart home’ units, One Crown Suites is perfect students and professionals working in Manila, since it will be surrounded by colleges and universities within the University Belt. At the groundbreaking ceremony was Wilson Sy, special adviser on Chinatown Affairs, Megaworld (center). Joining him were (left to right): Paul Chan, marketing manager, Megaworld Manila; Steve Velmonte, sales director, Megaworld Manila; Victor Solidum, senior assistant vice president and head of training and digital, Megaworld Manila; Engr. Jennie Torio, senior construction manager, Megaworld; Engr. Carlo Cuenco, project manager, One Crown Suites; Ken Tee, sales director, Megaworld Manila; Paulo Guevara, sales director, Megaworld Manila; and Engr. Dominique Olandesca, project manager, Bauer Foundation Philippines.

Living with nature in San Mateo, Rizal

COMMUNITY

Creators, Inc. (CCI) is taking on the challenge of sustainable living by investing in a masterplanned resort community in San Mateo, Rizal.

Amiya Raya offers 567 units straddling across an impressive 36 hectares, the biggest project among six property developments being built by CCI situated in the east of Metro Manila - in and around Rizal and Bulacan. Four of these have been fully completed— Monte Brisa and Fiorenza in Rodriguez, Rizal, and Valle Rosa and Altana in

Malolos, Bulacan. Two developments in San Mateo—Amiya Raya, and Shanti Condominium—are works in progress.

CCI has been in the business of real estate development for 18 years— conceptualizing, developing, and selling close to PhP3.0 billion in both ‘lot only’ and ‘house and lot’ inventories. Amiya Raya boasts a 270-degree panoramic view of the Metro Manila skyline, Laguna De Bay, La Mesa Dam, Manila Bay, and nearby mountain ranges. On most days, one can enjoy dramatic sunsets in the property. Adventure hub

Amiya Raya is also in the middle of the burgeoning nature adventure hub that Rizal province has become. Hiking trails around the area,

GREEN ARCHITECTURE ADVOCATE LAUDED

BY BCI ASIA. Primehomes Real Estate Development Inc. was named one of the top 10 developers in the Philippines at the recently concluded 2023 BCI Asia Awards. BCI Asia recognized Primehomes for its sustainable and innovative designs. “This recognition from BCI Asia Awards is an affirmation of our advocacy towards green architecture and responsible design that promotes efficient use of space,” said Primehomes Marketing Head Grace Feliciano. She explained that the developer follows a construction strategy aimed at transforming urban development in the country by fusing eco-friendly and multi-functional communities with city blocks and urban landscapes. Situated in the heart of Quezon City, Primehome properties provide easy access to locations like universities, business districts, commercial developments, and lifestyle hubs.

MPIF spearheads typhoon relief efforts

METRO Pacific Investments

Foundation (MPIF) and Tulong

Kapatid, the CSR alliance of foundations and companies under the MVP Group of Companies, recently rolled out a comprehensive medical mission and relief distribution, targeting communities in Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Ilocos Sur, and Bataan, that were affected by Typhoon Egay. Distributed were relief goods, water filters, mats and blankets, and essential medicines.

In Bataan, sacks of rice and Mwell On the Go bags, provided by Mwell, was added to the mix.

The combined offering was presented to First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and Bataan Governor Joet Cruz during the Lab for All caravan launch in Bataan,

“With the support, of our chairman, Manuel V. Pangilinan, we are able to aid efforts and crucial medical missions in the typhoon-affected area,” said Melody del Rosario, president of MPIF (shown in photo leading the

turnover of medicines to Mayor Agay Cruz of Guiguinto, Bulacan). “This allowed us to extend care and deliver essential assistance to those in need, showcasing the genuine Filipino spirit of compassion.”

ranging in difficulty for beginners and seasoned hikers, have become a popular weekend adventure among the younger set and families. Camping and glamping sites nearby are also a big draw for ‘barkadas’ craving for a unique staycation. Amiya Raya picked up from these much-loved activities in its overall design, mimicking the resort and nature park feel that these experiences deliver on. CCI’s developments ostensibly align with the company’s core belief that families who choose their properties deserve nothing but the best – in design and quality. These are meant to be forever homes—for now and for generations to come. Choosing a home in Amiya Raya delivers on that promise.

‘HOME TO LOVE, A SPACE FOR EVERYONE.’ LIXIL, the maker of pioneering water and housing products, recently hosted an awards ceremony and exhibition at The Arts House Singapore to celebrate the winners and finalists from the American Standard Design Award (ASDA) 2023. The winners were: APAC Grand Prize Winner/ 1st Prize Winner from IndoChina (Cambodia/Laos/Myanmar) Sin Ponleu; 1st Prize Winner from Australia Azra Hrnjic; 1st Prize Winner from India Riya Awati; 1st Prize Winner from Malaysia Grace Wong Jing Yee; 1st Prize Winner from the Philippines Aevan Georgeline de Jesus; 1st Prize Winner from Singapore Rossalinda; 1st Prize Winner from Thailand Marisa Chonpracha; and 1st Prize Winner from Vietnam Duong Pham Ngoc Hoai. The competition attracted over 1,500 entries from second year and above tertiary design school students from ten countries across the Asia: Australia, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The National winners each won a cash prize of USD 2,000 with the APAC Grand Prize winner walking away with a total of USD 5,000 cash prize.

All roads lead to Cebu for SHDA-DHSUD meet in October

THE Subdivision and Housing Developers Association, Inc. (SHDA) is set to hold the 31st SHDA - DHSUD National Developers Convention on October 5 and 6, 2023, at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City. With the theme “LOKAL NA BAI: Building National Growth Through Regional Development”, the event is expected to gather around 300 developers, policymakers, suppliers, and other housing industry stakeholders to discuss and explore innovative strategies that can stimulate economic progress at the local level, while contributing to the overall national development.

“We are thrilled to have NatCon this year in Cebu,” said SHDA Chairman, Arlene Keh. “It will bring together the brightest minds in the housing industry that will harness the potential of local communities, driving progress that resonates far beyond geographical boundaries.”

This year’s National Developers Convention in Cebu will be the third edition held in the city, following the successful events in 2008 and 2015.

Registration for the 31st National Developers Convention will open on August 21, 2023 and will be made available online. Please e-mail shda. secretariat@gmail.com.

Exploring rural retreats

Why visiting farm tourism destinations is a must

By Patricia Taculao

AS Filipinos enjoy long weekends, especially with the ‘-ber’ months just around the corner, many are exploring new possibilities for travel. Among the rising segments in the tourism industry are farm destinations that offer a respite from the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila.

Metro Manila’s neighboring provinces have been embracing the concept of agri-tourism, offering city-dwellers a chance to escape the concrete jungle and immerse themselves in the rustic charm of the countryside, abundant in lush fields, verdant orchards, and quaint farmhouses that await those yearning for fresh air. The farm tourism destinations offer respite and a chance to engage with local culture and traditions. Many farms invite visitors to participate in handson activities, from picking fresh produce to learning traditional crafting techniques. As Filipinos continue to value their agricultural heritage, these experiences offer a unique opportunity to connect with the roots of their culture.

Empowering barangays through sustainable agriculture

Bringing children to farm tourism destinations also provides them with an educational experience

As farm tourism continues to thrive in Metro Manila’s neighboring provinces, it serves as a reminder that the call of nature is strong, even amid urban living. These farm destinations offer a retreat where visitors can reconnect with the land, learn from

THE Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) plays a crucial role as one of the leading government agencies dedicated to tackling food security in the country. With its primary focus on conducting extensive research and development in agricultural crops, the bureau strives to enhance their adaptability and resilience against daunting challenges, including pests and climate change. In addition, the DA-BPI takes proactive measures by providing essential training and seminars to equip farmers and plant enthusiasts with the necessary knowledge and skills to improve their agricultural practices. With the current directive of President and Concurrent DA Secretary Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to ensure food security in the country, the DA-BPI continues to collaborate and partner with various government agencies and plant stakeholders. In one of its programs towards achieving food security, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) have joined forces to launch two groundbreaking programs - Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay (HAPAG) Kadiwa’y Yaman (Kay) Plants for Bountiful Barangays Movement (PBBM) and Green Revolution 2.0. HAPAG KAY PBBM Project is designed to empower barangays in adopting sustainable agriculture initiatives with a special focus on promoting community gardening. Aligned with the DILG Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2023-001, the project aims to encourage

tively impacts local economies. By visiting these rural areas, travelers contribute directly to the livelihoods of local farmers and businesses. The influx of visitors increases demand for farm produce, handmade crafts, and accommodations to stimulate economic growth. This symbiotic relationship between city dwellers and rural communities strengthens the fabric of our society and encourages a sense of unity.

Besides the people and learning about agricultural practices that local farms apply to get the best produce on people’s tables, farm tourism also promotes regional cuisines, allowing tourists to expand their horizons and palates. After all, exploring a region wouldn’t be complete without savoring its culinary offerings.

Farm tourism destinations excel in this aspect, offering visitors the chance to relish farmfresh produce and traditional dishes. From picking ripe fruits off the trees to indulging in meals prepared with locally sourced ingredients, the gastronomic experiences are a feast for both the palate and the soul. These interactions with local flavors foster a deeper connection with the culture and heritage of the region.

households and communities to cultivate fresh, healthy, fruits and vegetables in their backyards and available spaces. On the other hand, Green

Revolution 2.0 is a dynamic program initiated by the DABPI, and the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP). At its core, this initiative revolves around establishing barangay vegetable gardens, catering to the supply of fresh fruits and vegetables in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. By creating such gardens, the program aims to heighten awareness about the vital role of agriculture in achieving food security across the nation.

In line with the vision of President and concurrent DA Secretary Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., this collaboration seeks to transform communities into verdant patches of green edible landscapes. By increasing the production and supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, the program strives to enhance the nutrition of Filipinos while alleviating the burden on the country’s food system and supply chain. A key aspect of this approach is the active promotion of vegetable planting in households, encouraging individuals to take part in the movement towards a more sustainable and secure food future. The convergence of HAPAG KAY PBBM and Green Revolution 2.0 marks a bold step forward in the collective pursuit of food security in the country. By leveraging the power of sustainable agriculture, these programs aspire to nourish not only the land but also the lives of every Filipino, fostering a future where fresh and nutritious produce thrives in every backyard and every barangay.

rural communities, and play a role in supporting sustainable practices.

Farm tourism destinations are also ideal venues for families to bond without modern distractions. Here, the younger generations can have a firsthand view of educational experiences, like understanding how ecosystems work, learning where their food comes from to develop a healthier relationship with what they consume, and appreciating nature’s advantages.

Moreover, the growth of farm tourism destinations posi-

Some farm tourism destinations even offer a farm-to-table experience, allowing guests to treat themselves to fresh produce straight from the source and identify its natural health benefits.

In a world where balance is often elusive, these destinations welcome harmony between nature and humanity. So, whether you’re a weary urbanite or an adventurer seeking new experiences, the farm tourism destinations around Metro Manila stand ready to welcome you into their embrace.

PCAARRD, SLSU research microorganism role in carbon sequestration capacity of mangroves

By Butch Gunio

THE Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (PCAARRD) and Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) will conduct a two-year research on mangroves’ potential to mitigate climate change.

SLSU President Jude A. Duarte and Project Leader Ian A. Navarrete recently signed the memorandum of agreement of the project “Mangrove-Sediment-Microorganism Carbon Dynamics to Enhanced CO2 Sequestration Capacity of Mangrove Forests” with DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora at the DOST PCAARRD office in Los Baños, Laguna.

PCAARRD officials witnessed the signing.

Navarrete said previous studies have shown that storing carbon, or carbon sequestration, is one natural solution to climate change.

The PCAARRD-funded project aims to study mangroves from Surigao del Norte, Palawan, and Southern Leyte and identify the microorganisms responsible for enhancing the transfer of carbon dioxide into sediments through mangrove roots and leaf litter.

Ebora said the project will analyze and compare the microorganisms and biochemical processes in the three sites and develop a carbon

dioxide-methane flux model incorporating existing biochemical activities within the mangrove ecosystem. He added outputs from the research may serve as baseline information in policymaking and implementing management practices in the role of mangroves in mitigating climate change.

Fast home loan deals at Vista Residences’ Bankathon

WHILE recent years saw a considerable number of Filipinos moving to the suburbs, a vast number have chosen to stay in the metro, close to their workplaces and to the urban lifestyle they are accustomed to. Certified cityfolk—corporate denizens and those in manufacturing, retail, and services—want mobility and access to shopping malls, entertainment centers, premier schools and universities, and medical facilities.

This revitalized market is in the crosshairs of property developers with residential condo projects near or within the business and commercial districts of Makati, Taguig, Mandaluyong, Manila, Pasig, and Quezon City.

Leading the charge is Vista Residences, a condominium developer of Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. As the Philippines’ most trusted integrated property developer, Vista Land ensures that both existing and forthcoming VRI projects are in premier and growth sites nationwide.

“Vista Residences is in the wish list of home seekers whose highly mobile lifestyles would benefit from its close proximity to key destinations,” said Teresa Tumbaga, Division Head of Vista Residences, adding that “our posh condominiums feature upscale amenities and recreational facilities that project a living experience designed with utmost leisure in mind.”

RECENTLY launched in an experiential event in Bataan, HONOR 90 5G officially goes on sale starting August 26 at any HONOR Experience and Partner stores or online via Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop for only P24,990.

Much to the delight of the guests at the three-day launch in Bataan, HONOR 90 5G’s flagship camera was put to the test. Kicking off the festivities was a surprise mini plane stunt with a banner that read “HONOR 90 5G 200MP CAMERA” attached to it.

Guests from the media and HONOR stars were then challenged to an ATV racing challenge and Basketball Shootout. In the afternoon, they were treated to a speedboat ride exploring the waters of Bataan and just in time for the sunset, everyone was able to capture a magical moment over cocktails.

To end what might be the biggest smartphone launch in the country thus far, guests enjoyed a dinner by the beach while being entertained by a pyro number. Later in the evening, another explosive surprise unraveled in the form of a jaw-dropping fireworks display.

Groundbreaking 200MP

Flagship Camera

With its mid-range price point, HONOR 90 5G sports a 200MP Flagship Camera with a 1/1.4-inch sensor, a 12 MP ultra-wide and macro camera with a 112° field of view and a 2MP Depth Camera that helps the camera more accurately gauge distance. Supporting multi-frame fusion, noise reduction algorithm and pixel binning to achieve the light-capturing performance that is equivalent to having large 2.24µm pixels(16-in-1), the 200MP Main Camera produces excellent high dynamic range (HDR) photos and detailed, bright shots in low light situations.

World’s First Zero

Flicker Display

Reflecting HONOR’s commitment to humancentric technology, the HONOR 90 5G is equipped with industryleading eye comfort features. Receiving the TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certification and achieving the risk-free dimming level, the HONOR 90 5G is perfect for today’s entertainment-hungry generation who spend long hours viewing and watching content on their smartphones. The

HONOR 90 5G, with 200MP Flagship Camera safest smartphone for your eyes

display supports the industry’s highest Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) Dimming frequency of 3840Hz, effectively minimizing the strain it puts on users’ eyes when it is set at low brightness. The display also features Dynamic Dimming which simulates natural light to alleviate eye fatigue, as well as HONOR’s Circadian Night Display technology which filters blue light and promotes natural melatonin secretion to improve user sleep quality at night.

HONOR 90 5G Now Available!

Those who have successfully pre-ordered HONOR 90 5G, they can get a hand of it starting August 26. It’s not yet too late for those who haven’t as it will be available in-store also for only P24,990 in stunning Diamond Silver, Emerald Green, and Midnight Black at any HONOR Experience and Partner stores, or online via Lazada (https://bit.ly/3YAczVu), Shopee (https://bit.ly/45snjI6), and

TikTok Shop (bit. ly/HONOR905GTikTok).

HONOR Fans can also avail of the HONOR 90 5G via Home Credit for as low as P1,002 per month on a 0% interest installment payment. Leading credit card providers BDO, BPI, Citibank, Eastwest, Metrobank, PNB, and Security Bank also offer 0% interest, payable up to 12 months. For more updates and announcements, you may visit HONOR’s website www.hihonor.com or social media platforms: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram. com/honorph/) and TikTok: (Tiktok. com/@honorphilippines). To check out HONOR’s complete list of retail stores, go to https://www.hihonor. com/ph/retailers/.

Even as Vista Residences rolled out its well-designed modern homes in Metro-Manila, it urged aspiring condo dwellers who joined the Villar Group’s Bankathon 2023 last August 16 and 17 at Vista Shaw, Mandaluyong – Function Hall, an event that aimed to make homeownership a dream come true.

The game-changing initiative brought together prospective home buyers, bank loan officers, and VRI’s partner banks—and got the former on a quick path to their coveted Vista property through pre-approved bank financing.

“Convenience and access are a priority of our market, which gives them more reason to check out the Villar Group’s Bankathon,” Tumbaga points out. “We assure aspiring Vista homeowners that they will get the best home loan deals at the Bankathon, including a streamlined application process.”

Participating in this centerpiece event are eight of the Philippines’ leading banks: BDO, RCBC, Unionbank, Security Bank, Chinabank Corp., AllBank, Maybank, and Bank of Commerce, whose collaborative efforts helped property seekers navigate different financial avenues and secure favorable interest rates.

For fast home loan deals, interested parties may simply submit the following requirements: two

(2) Valid IDs, birth/marriage certificate, proof of billing, and at least one (1) proof of Income, preferably a certificate of employment (COE) or latest payslip.

For those eager to embark on the journey towards homeownership, check out the Vista Residences website (www.vistaresidences. com.ph) and the Vista Residences official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/VistaResidencesOfficial).

realme 11 Pro 5G: A winning combo of style and substance

By Paola Navarette

FANCY a sensibly-priced device with top specs and visually-pleasing aesthetics? Then the realme 11 Pro 5G might be up your alley. It’s got a stellar performance, it looks cool, and it’s got 5G.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the 11 Pro 5G is a testament to that.

Its back is swathed in premium vegan leather co-designed by realme Design Studio and former Gucci Prints and Textile Designer Matteo Menoto. It looks elegant, especially in the Sunrise Beige color we have on hand. What’s even better is the overall hand-feel of the device—the material allows comfortable grip for hours on end.

In a refreshing change from all the twin-reflex design camera layouts we’ve been seeing lately, realme went for a large, circular ring layout for the cameras on this latest addition to the company’s mid-range segment.

The rear camera comes with a trio, featuring a 100MP main camera with optical image stabilization and 2X zoom technology, a 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro sensor. The selfie camera, on the other hand, is 16MP. Furthermore, it has a Street Photography Mode that we are already familiar with, enabling users to capture fleeting moments in an instant.

Switching over to the front, realme has done a brilliant job with the display. The smartphone’s display is quite big at 6.72”, has a 1080 x 2408 (Full HD+) resolution— a plus point, a resolution of 2400x1080 pixels for that more colorful, immersive viewing experience for its users. 11 Pro 5G is a delight to use as the colors pop, its display size is great for watching videos, and its 120Hz refresh rate makes for a super-smooth gaming experience (as long as your game supports it!).

At over 950 nits, the smartphone’s

HONOR 90 5G in Diamond Silver display gets surprisingly bright, making outdoor viewing easy as pie, especially on sunny days here in the Philippines! As for sharpness, we found the smartphone to perform admirably, providing more than adequate detail in all scenarios tested, including reading fine text from a zoomed-out article. Charging the smartphone is suitably fast, too. It took just around 35 minutes to go from scratch to 100% using the supplied 67w SuperVOOC charging brick.

A few other notable features that appear in 11 Pro 5G includes a 5,000mAh battery, in-display fingerprint scanner, and Dolby Atmos stereo speakers. Arriving in Sunrise Beige, Oasis Green, and Astral Black color variants, realme 11 Pro 5G looks to be a promising contender in the premium mid-range space. Its stunning design, an extremely versatile set of cameras, and an industry-leading fast charging truly makes it an absolute head turner.

But if you have a little more money to

spend, its sibling, the realme 11 Pro+ 5G, is a nice choice, too, as it is equipped with a powerful 200MP OIS SuperZoom Camera, crystal-clear 120Hz Curved OLED Display, MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor, and 100W SUPERVOOC Charge. For more information and all the latest updates, follow realme Philippines’ Official Facebook page at http://facebook.com/realmePhilippines or visit the official realme website at https://www. realme.com/ph/.

Shown here are (from left) HONOR Philippines’ PR Manager Pao Oga, GTM Manager Steven Yan, Country Manager Sean Yuan, Vice President Stephen Cheng, and Brand Marketing Manager Joepy Libo-on displaying the HONOR 90 5G, now officially available in-store and online for only P24,990.

Miss Philippines Pauline Amelinckx with HONOR stars Kim Santiago, Apple David, Kate Katigbak, and Belle Dinglasa.

realme 11 Pro 5G in Sunrise Beige Sample photos

A vast number of Filipinos have chosen to stay in the metro, close to their workplaces and to the urban lifestyle they are accustomed to.