Manila Standard - 2023 August 28 - Monday

PH DROPS BALL VS. ANGOLA 80-70, DIMS FIBA JOURNEY

By Peter Atencio

GILAS Pilipinas failed to match the energy of a scrappy Angolan side, dropping its second straight game in an 80-70 loss in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night.

Three-point shooting abandoned the Filipinos, while the Angolans transformed into marksmen from the outside, leading to the stunning 10-point win that silenced a predominantly Filipino crowd inside the Big Dome and infused life into their sagging chances to advance following an 81-67 loss to Italy on Friday.

“We did get a nice lead early. But we knew Angola would make a comeback.

Reyes, referring to the nationals' mere 12 boards. for open shots. It was surprising. We made different kinds of

plays to confuse the opponent. We got good shoots, sometimes we didn’t,” said Angolan coach Jose Claros Canals.

Gerson Goncalves shot a team-high 17 points, including four triples that helped the Angolans post their first win in two outings in Group A.

Two triples from Goncalves in the remaining 7:37 saw the Angolans unleashing a decisive 15-3 blast that transformed a 54-58 deficit into a 16-point, 73-57 edge, in the remaining 3:39.

NBA star Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz made 21 points for Gilas, which suffered their second straight setback following an 87-81 loss to the Karl Anthony Towns-led Dominican Republic on Friday.

The contest was last tied at 40-all when Kiefer Ravena made a driving shot in the final 7:04 of the third

But the Angolans started moving away off a pair of triples from

‘PH-China military drills now unlikely’

By Vince Lopez

THE joint military exercises that China has offered the Philippines in July might no longer push through considering the recent tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said Sunday.

“Well, with what they're doing, it looks like it won't happen anymore,” Brawner said in an interview with radio dzBB. On the other hand, he said military drills with countries the Philippines considers as “partners” like the United States, Japan and Canada would continue.

“We need to let the whole world know what is happening here in the South China Sea. Because of what is happening recently, we have been successful in exposing China's coercive and dangerous tactics,” he added.

Hundreds evacuate as Super Typhoon ‘Goring’ batters northern region

By Vince Lopez and Joel E. Zurbano

HUNDREDS of people fled their homes as floods unleashed by Super Typhoon “Goring” (international name: Saola) swept through mainly rural villages in the northeastern Philippines, rescue officials said Sunday.

Goring brushed past the northeast section of the main island of Luzon overnight Saturday, bringing its 185-kilometer-per-hour central winds within 125 kilometers of Tuguegarao.

The provincial government's press office released photos on its Facebook page of knee-deep floodwaters swamping homes in the municipality of Aparri.

Disaster officials reported that 1,968

By Rey E. Requejo

FOR an extra P2.63 billion in its budget next year, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it would process incoming and

outgoing travelers within 45 seconds.

The bureau’s pledge is part of its 2024 budget request of P4.24 billion, which is 163 percent more than its budget this year, House Deputy Speaker Ralph Rec-

to said.

Under budgeting rules, an agency’s deliverables—called “performance information—are part of its appropriations request.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

CONSUMERS will have to brace for higher pump and liquefied petroleum gas prices next week to reflect higher prices in the world oil market.

Sources said LPG prices may go up by P2 to P5 per kilo, which translates to a P22 to P55 per kilo increase for every 11-kilo tank, used primarily by households.

LPG is currently sold at P718 to

Checkpoints, gun ban start today for October 30 barangay, SK polls

THE three-month gun ban and police checkpoints for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls will start today (Monday), the Commission on Elections said.

"The Comelec is ready for the start of the election period and gun ban for the BSKE,”

Comelec spokes- person John Rex Lau- diangco said on Sunday.

The Comelec will also

ban carrying cash of P500,000 or more from Oct. 25 until election day on Oct. 30, Laudiangco said.

“If an individual cannot explain the purpose for the cash they are carrying, we will assume that they are engaging in vote buying,” he added.

Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia, for his part, said the poll body is bracing for a “hotly contested BSKE.

prices may go up by P5/k, diesel by P0.60/l this week

Pope calls disinformation ‘first sin’ of journalism

POPE Francis denounced "disinformation" and fake news spread to influence public opinion as journalism's principal offense.

"Disinformation is the first of the sins, the mistakes – let's say – of journalism," Francis told Italian journalists at a Vatican gathering to bestow him a journalism prize.

Widely considered a savvy communicator himself, the pontiff returned to the

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In late July, as tensions rose in the West Philippine Sea over its aggressive moves there, China proposed joint military exercises with the Philippines

But on Aug. 5, Chinese Coast Guard used water cannons on and tried to block Filipino boats that tried to resupply the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea

A number of countries, including the US, Australian, Japan, Canada and the European Union criticized China’s actions and urged it to abide by the 2016 decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that ruled Beijing had no legitimate claims to the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

The Philippine Navy, meanwhile, joined military exercises hosted by the US 7th Fleet using Singaporean facilities from Aug. 15 to 25.

The Maritime Training Activity Southeast Asian Cooperation and Training (MTA SEACAT) involved the use of real-time information exchange, coordi-

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Goncalves and Gerson Domingos in the last 19 seconds of the third, 56-52.

AJ Edu had nine points for Gilas, while Dwight Ramos and Kai Sotto added eight apiece.

Gilas had a mini-run in the fourth quarter, when Clarkson finally put an end to the Angolans’ run with his two freebies and a layup at the 3:05 mark to trim the deficit to 61-73, before two free throws by Sotto moved the hosts to within 68-73.

But Domingos hit a dagger three with 47.5 seconds left to move Angola to safer grounds at 76-68, en route to the win.

Hundreds...

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Most of the affected residents or 1,339 people were in Cagayan Valley while 629 people affected were in the Ilocos Region, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its latest report Sunday.

Goring headed south off Luzon's east coast early Sunday, with the state weather service saying it would stay in coastal waters instead of making landfall.

So far, 832 people or 213 families were transferred to 24 evacuation centers because of the super typhoon. There were also 265 people or 78 families staying in other places outside of evacuation centers.

Goring has also caused P40 million worth of infrastructure damage in Cagayan Valley where eight roads and two bridges were rendered passable, the latest report said.

NDRRMC spokesperson Edgar Posadas said several areas in the Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley were flooded

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Recto said that for 2024, the B.I. commits to “a primary inspection processing time for 99 percent of entering and exiting passengers.”

“That’s their promissory note to taxpayers: Increase our budget to P4.25 billion and almost all passengers will be gone in 45 seconds,“ he said.

Recto said the BI “better deliver on this pledge” as the P2.6 billion increase they are seeking will be for new equipment.

Whatever the system they choose, it should be able to filter out “undesirables” such as undocumented workers for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), without causing inconvenience to legitimate Filipino travelers.

Recto said “for clarity of objective,” Congress should insist that the processing time be clocked the moment a pas-

term "sins" to list what he called the four misdeeds of the media, according to the Vatican's translated statement of his comments. "Disinformation, when journalism does not inform or informs badly; slander (sometimes this is used); defama-

nated surveillance operations, tracking of and the eventual boarding, search and seizure of a designated ship of interest.

The exercise events took place on Aug. 25 in the waters of El Nido, Palawan.

Brawner’s comments on the Chinese offer came as Australia said it may soon hold joint patrols with Filipino ships in the West Philippine Sea.

“We are working closely together. Doing joint sails is something that we’ve been keen to pursue now for some time. The two defense forces have been working together to make that happen and to do that in the most effective way," Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense chief Richard Marles said.

"We’re really pleased with the progress of the discussions. We expect the first of those joint patrols to happen in the not too distant future,” Marles added.

Visiting US lawmakers, meanwhile, committed American military action to defend the Philippines under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty if Filipino forces came under an armed attack.

“We stand in full support to honor our commitment to stand by your sover-

All is not lost for Gilas, though, but the climb to the second round just got steeper as it needs to beat world’s no. 10 Italy by a huge margin to force a three-way deadlock at second spot, granting the Angolans also lose to the Dominicans on Monday.

In the first game at the same venue, Towns and Andres Feliz drilled in 24 points apiece as the Dominican Republic stunned Italy, 87-82, for their second straight win.

It was a crucial loss for the Italians, who will be hard-pressed to win their final game against Gilas.

The 7’0” Towns credited his teammates for the discipline they showed against the Italians, who slipped to second spot with their first loss in two outings in Group A.

because of the continuous rain.

“So far it's still manageable, because we haven't received any major reports or major requests for assistance,” Posadas said in an interview over radio dzBB.

Posadas said the council was also on red alert, implementing heightened preparedness measures as the cyclone intensified into a super typhoon while barreling towards northern Luzon.

Under red alert, the council's emergency operations center (EOC) at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, as well as its local counterparts, are in full force both physically and virtually and NDRRMC member agencies critical to response and preparedness are also fully staffed to address emergencies more quickly, he said.

"We decided to place these regions under red alert to ensure that we are more focused and prepared in responding or addressing all that is needed from us as super typhoon Goring threatens Luzon,"

the NDRRMC spokesperson said in an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

Posadas noted that the NDRRMC has identified the needs of the five regions under red alert, and that the council's resources were ready as they sought "the guidance of the President."

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD)

Joint Information Center head Diego

senger lines up and not when he or she is in front of the immigration booth.

“You can be processed in 45 seconds but stand in line for half an hour,” Recto said in Filipino. “It should be stated in the General Appropriations Act that the clock begins when the traveler starts to line up.”

Recto also questioned how the new guidelines on departing Filipinos aimed at combating human trafficking might affect this 45-second goal.

“Will this create a logjam that will hassle not just travelers, but Immigration officers as well?” he said.

Over the weekend, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) defended the new guidelines, saying they were not intended to intrude on people’s privacy or hinder travel.

Justice Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano, who represented the IACAT, which is headed by the Department of Justice, said the guidelines, in fact, strengthen government measures to fight human trafficking in the country.

tion, which is different from slander but destroys; and the fourth is... the love of scandal."

"I am concerned, for example, about the manipulations of those who interestingly propagate fake news to steer public opinion," he said, urging a "reawakening of responsibility,” as Europe grapples with the ongoing war in Ukraine.

"My hope is that space will be given to the voices of peace, to those who are committed to putting an end to this as to so many other

eignty and security," Illinois Rep. Jonathan Jackson said in an interview with GMA News.

“Congress will stand united in supporting that, yes, and that includes attacks on Philippine vessels,” said California Rep. Young Kim.

Kim and Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett met separately with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo and top Philippine Coast Guard officials Thursday.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said joint drills are an “important aspect in how we prepare for any eventuality.”

“This is our continuing effort to strengthen our capabilities and to have a closer working relationship with the militaries of our neighbors around the region,” Marcos said in an interview in Zambales on Friday where he witnessed Exercise Alon, the first large-scale amphibious landing military exercise involving the Philippines, Australia and the United States.

"Considering that there have been so many events that attest to the volatility of the region, this kind of exercise, this

“We just had to stay disciplined. We just have to find our shots in the second half. It was really a great win,” said Towns, who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves, as the Dominicans boosted their chances of reaching the Round of 16.

The Dominicans, coached by Nestor Garcia, will have a chance to go for a three-game sweep of Group A if they hurdle Angola on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Marco Spissu shot 17, while Simone Fontecchio added 12 points for the Italians, who are now in a must-win situation, going into the final group stage game with Gilas at 8 p.m. on Monday.

Fontecchio handed the Italians the lead for the last time, 39-38, with his

Agustin Mariano said Sunday there were no reported casualties so far due to the super typhoon.

The provinces of Cagayan and Isabela started to feel the effects of Goring on Saturday night.

Heavy rains and strong winds knocked down some electric posts, rendering almost the entire Districts 1 and 2 without power, Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Ruelie Rapsing said on Sunday.

There were also fallen trees reported near the municipality of Sta. Teresita, he added.

Flooding was also reported in the towns of Lal-lo, Sta. Ana, Gonzaga and some residents in the town of Baggao were evacuated due to the threat of a landslide.

Some residents in the coastal town of Divilacan in Isabela were evacuated as their houses are made of light materials, PDRRMO head Constante Foronda Jr. said.

Goring persisted in strength while moving south sourteatward east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora on Sunday afternoon.

Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 3 was raised over the eastern portion of Isabela and extreme Signal no. 2 was raised in the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan, the central portion of Isabela (Maco-

“Well, this is really not a hindrance to the right to travel. This is a policy of the government that aims at eradicating or stopping the widespread and worsening problem of human trafficking,” Clavano said in an interview on Saturday.

He appealed to outbound Filipino travelers, especially overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to follow the revised IACAT guidelines by preparing the required documents before proceeding to immigration counters at the airports to “ensure hassle-free processing of their travel documents.”

"In fact, according to our statistics, almost 99 percent of the time there is no problem at all,” he said, and it is only those who are vulnerable to human trafficking that may be required to show more documents.

Clavano made the statement after Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez criticized the new IACAT guidelines as ''more stringent rules [that] will unduly interfere with the

conflicts," he said.

Francis, 86, has interacted extensively with the media since becoming head of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics in 2013, appearing at ease and expansive in interviews – a far cry from his predecessor Benedict XVI.

Earlier this year, a documentary showing his no-holds-barred encounter with young adults, "Conversations with the Pope," was released on the Disney+ streaming service.

"You must know that, even before I

kind of close strategic cooperation between countries around the region is extremely important,” the President said.

The Philippines has existing Visiting Forces Agreements with both the US and Australia.

Senator Risa Hontiveros underscored the need to expand funding for the Philippine Coast Guard amid increasing tensions in the WPS.

"If we could further strengthen the men and women of our Coast Guard, arm them with advanced equipment –such as radar stations, automatic identification systems (AIS) hardware and others – we can more effectively hold China accountable for her hostile, aggressive, and illegal actions in the West Philippine Sea,” Hontiveros said.

Despite the PCG facing “a clear and present danger” brought about by China’s increasing hostilities in the region, the senator said funding for Coast Guard operations remained limited.

Since 2009, the agency has only been receiving “a measly” P10 million in intelligence funds annually, forcing the agency to rely solely on human intelligence to get up-to-date information.

dunk with 54 ticks to before the end of the first half.

An 11-2 run, touched off by Towns and Feliz in the last 8:13 saw the Dominicans moving away from a 41all deadlock and taking a 59-45 edge when their run ended four minutes later.

The Italians managed to come back, with Spissu hitting charities to stay within range, 82-85, in the final 19 seconds.

But, Lester Quinones’ two freebies two seconds later off Steffano Tonut’s foul, frustrated the Italian in the remaining time.

The Italians could no longer close the gap after Gianpaolo Ricci and Spissu bungled two three-pointers as time expired.

nacon, Cabagan, Tumauini, San Pablo, Benito Soliven, northern portion of Aurora and the eastern portion of Quirino.

Batanes, the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the rest of Aurora, the rest of Quirino, the rest of Isabela, Apayao, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Abra, the eastern portion of Ilocos Norte, Polillo Islands, the eastern portion of Benguet, and the eastern portion of Nueva Ecija and Calaguas Islands were under signal no. 1.

Goring is forecast to remain at Super Typhoon category until it makes landfall over southern Taiwan, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

The center of the eye of the super typhoon was estimated at 95 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora.

It was moving south southeastward slowly, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 230 km/h.

The weather service said the main threat was from heavy rain that could trigger flash floods or landslides.

Up to 200 millimeters (nearly eight inches) of rain was forecast to fall along Cagayan and Isabela's coasts during the day With AFP (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Filipinos’ right to travel.''

Rodriguez said requiring a traveler to show proof of financial capacity, like a bank statement or proof of income, would also violate the departing passenger’s right to privacy and unjustly subject travelers to the whims of the immigration officer.

“IACAT is allowing immigration officers to exercise 'subjective judgment, whims and discretion' on departing passengers. I am afraid that’s where extortion, harassment and corruption will arise,” he added. A former Bureau of Immigration commissioner, Rodriguez said human traffickers could even go around the additional regulations by providing their victims with show money.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said ''Filipinos traveling out of the country should not be treated as second-class citizens within our own airports.''

“Let us give our fellow Filipinos a chance to relax and visit their relatives without the stress,” she added.

became Bishop of Rome, I used to refuse the offer of prizes," the Pope said in receiving the award.

"I never received any, I didn't want them. And I have continued to do the same as the Pope. But there is a reason that has led me to accept yours, and that is the urgent need for constructive communication, which favors the culture of encounter and not of confrontation; the culture of peace and not of war; the culture of openness to the other and not of prejudice," he said. AFP

Speaker: Customs to inspect more rice warehouses

By Rio N. Araja

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin Romual-

dez on Sunday assured Filipino consumers that the surprise inspections at warehouses holding rice stocks last week will continue.

"I thank Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio for his initiative of peering into these suspicious warehouses at a time when Filipinos are grappling with rising prices of rice. This will make hoarders think twice about their schemes," he said.

“We need to carry out more of these inspections and I trust the commissioner to do so in order to keep rice traders obedient to the law," Romualdez added.

On Aug. 24, a joint contingent from the House of Representatives and the Bureau of Customs swooped down at warehouses in Bulacan and found over 200,000 sacks of rice that were seemingly being purposely held.

The BOC, armed with letters of authority, barred the owners of the Great Harvest Rice Mill Warehouse, San Pedro Warehouse and FS Rice Mill from retrieving the goods pending submission of the required documents on their rice importation.

During the Bulacan inspections, Romualdez said the discovered supply of rice should be released to the local market in order to mitigate the rising prices of the staple grain.

Over the past few weeks, the price of rice has been steadily rising, with retailers selling at P50 to P62 per kilo in Metro Manila.

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P935 per 11-kilo tank in Metro Manila.

Oil firms adjust LPG prices every first day of the month and pump prices every Tuesday.

Consumers are also facing higher diesel and kerosene prices.

Unioil Petroleum Philippines forecasted a P0.40 to P0.60 per liter increase for diesel and P0.35 to P0.50 per liter increase for kerosene.

On the other hand, gasoline prices may not move or may have a slight increase of P0.10 to P0.20 per liter.

World oil prices have moved upward as the market reacted to the announcement of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell of possible further rate hikes.

The forecasted increase for Tuesday will be the 8th consecutive week of increase for diesel and kerosene and the seventh consecutive week for gasoline.

On August 22, 2023, oil companies implemented an increase of P1.10 per liter for gasoline, P0.20 per liter for diesel and P0.70 per liter for kerosene.

These price adjustments resulted in a year-to-date net increase of P14.50 per liter for gasoline, P8.80 per liter diesel and P5.84 per liter for kerosene.

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“The barangay and SK polls are more personal because candidates and voters are blood relatives, neighbors, and even acquaintances. Therefore, we expect the polls to get more heated as we get closer to proclaiming winners,” he said.

Those running for barangay and SK posts are expected to file their certificates of candidacy (COC) starting today until Sep. 2. Once a person files his or her COC, he or she will already be considered a candidate and will be prohibited from campaigning except during the prescribed period from Oct. 19 to 28.

Voters in all 42,000 barangays across the country will have to vote for the following positions on Oct. 30: one barangay chairman, seven Sangguniang Barangay members (kagawad), one SK chairperson and seven SK members.

Ombudsman indicts, sacks Pampanga mayor

By Rio N. Araja

MOM SHOPS FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

A mother buys school supplies at the Commonwealth Public Market in Quezon City ahead of Tuesday’s reopening of classes.

CA junks KAPA plea to quash search warrants

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has junked an appeal by officers and agents of Kapa-Community Ministry International, Inc. (KAPA) seeking the reversal of the court’s decision issued last March which declared valid the 20 search warrants issued by a Manila trial court allowing the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to collect evidence in connection with the group’s alleged involvement in P50-billion Ponzi investment scheme.

In a three-page resolution, the CA’s 13th division did not give merit to the grounds raised by KAPA in its motion for

reconsideration filed last May 12, 2023.

KAPA asserted that the Supreme Court did not authorize the Regional Trial Court of Manila Branch 20 to issue and implement the questioned search warrants outside of its jurisdiction.

KAPA argued that the search warrants were implemented in violation of the Rules on the Use of Body-Worn Cameras in the Execution of Warrants issued by the SC.

The petitioner further claimed that the search warrants were issued based on “doubtful, hearsay, and inconsistent testimonies and documents which were not thoroughly validated and authenticated,” thus, evidence obtained in the implementation of the said search war-

LTO vows to help locate owner of vehicle with P1.3-b shabu

THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Sunday vowed to help the Philippine National Police identify the owner of an abandoned vehicle containing P1.3 billion worth of suspected shabu in Pampanga.

“We will immediately act on this. The can be assured that LTO will help establish the identity of the owner. We will not stop until someone is punished,” LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said.

“It is part of our mandate to coordinate and partner with other law enforcement agencies in order to ensure safety in our surroundings, including coordination with anti-criminality authorities. The LTO is always ready to provide assistance when necessary,” he added.

Last Aug. 25, law enforcers found a red Toyota Avanza (plate no. ZGS 643) in a parking lot in Mabalacat, Pampanga, with P1.3 billion worth of suspected shabu on board.

Mendoza promised to strengthen the agency’s partnership with the PNP and other law enforcement agencies in their anti-criminality operations.

“Eradicating crimes in the country is a whole-of-nation approach. We in the LTO remain committed to be part of these anti-criminality measures,” he said. Rio N. Araja

PNP: Criminality decreased

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday reported that criminality in the country decreased by 6.19 percent during the first eight months of the year.

Meanwhile, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. gave assurance that justice will be served to the family of a 15-year-old boy in Rodriguez, Rizal who was allegedly shot dead by a policeman last week.

The PNP’s Crime Research Analysis Center of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management said the data covered the period Jan. 1 to Aug. 23, 2023.

THE Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed from the service Mexico, Pampanga Mayor Teddy Tumang and three other officials for grave misconduct in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of construction materials worth P8.66 million from March 2009 to February 2010.

The Ombudsman approved the filing of multiple counts of graft and malversation charges against Tumang and seven others, including the private supplier of the construction materials, with the Sandiganbayan.

In a 17-page consolidated decision, the Ombudsman found Tumang, municipal engineer and former bids and awards committee (BAC) vice chair Jesus Punzalan, administrative officer and former BAC member Luz Bondoc, and municipal accountant Perlita Lagman guilty of grave misconduct.

In a separate resolution, the Ombudsman authorized the filing of 41 counts of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act through conspiracy against Tumang, BAC chair Marlon Maniacup, Punzalan, BAC members Lucila Agento, Bondoc and Romeo Razon, and private respondent William Colis, owner of Buyu Trading and Construction.

rants must be suppressed and declared inadmissible in any proceedings.

But the appellate court ruled that the Rules on the Use of Body-Worn Cameras in the Execution of Warrants which was issued on June 29, 2021, was applicable to pending and unimplemented warrants.

“At the time of the issuance of the subject search warrants, this administrative matter was not yet promulgated or effective,” the CA ruled.

“As the other arguments submitted by petitioner, the Court finds them exactly the same as the arguments and issues that have already been passed upon and settled in the decision dated March 27, 2023 being sought to be considered,” it said.

It also ordered the filing of another 23 counts of violation of RA 3019 and seven counts of violation of Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code against Tumang, Maniacup, Agento, Punzalan, Bondoc, Razon, Lagman and Colis.

“Based on the foregoing, there is no doubt that public respondents acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence, causing undue injury to the government and giving Buyu, through private respondent Colis, unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the procurement of base coarse and other materials,” the 27-page resolution read.

Graft investigators anchored their findings on a Commission on Audit report on the shortcomings in the Mexico municipal government’s purchase of base coarse and other construction materials intended for distribution to residents in various barangays.

The COA issued several notices of disallowance in 2013 against Tumang and other concerned municipal officials.

The Ombudsman said it found substantial evidence to hold Tumang and his co-respondents administratively liable for grave misconduct.

The respondents ignored established rules by approving the purchase of construction materials through an alternative “shopping” method despite clear absence of the conditions required by RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, the resolution stated.

The Ombudsman noted that, in contrast, Lagman displayed “manifest partiality and evident bad faith” by endorsing the vouchers belatedly, after the associated checks had already been issued and funds disbursed to Buyu.

The subject transactions were allegedly awarded to Buyu despite its “questionable capacity” as a supplier.

“Therefore, based on the foregoing, respondents should be held administratively liable for Grave Misconduct which is defined as a transgression of some established and definite rule of action, more particularly unlawful behavior or gross negligence by a public officer, attended by the elements of corruption, clear intent to violate the law or flagrant disregard of established rules,” the Ombudsman resolution read.

in January-August this year

Carnapping registered the highest reduction at 31.98 percent, followed by physical injury at 15.87 percent, and rape at 14.66 percent.

The PNP report also showed a 5.03-percent reduction; robbery, 6.36 percent; murder, 2.07 percent; motorcycle theft, 3.84 percent; and homicide, 0.73 percent.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude, especially to the concerted endeavors of our officers, the support of our partners, and the trust of our fellow citizens which contributed to this positive outcome. Let

FLOATING RESTAURANTS. Floating restaurants at Loboc River in Bohol gain popularity among local and foreign tourists, with value added attractions such as crystal clear water, lush forest canopy, and a mix of natural, historical, and cultural wonders.

us sustain this momentum and continue working hand in hand to build a nation free from the threat of crime,” PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda, Jr. said in a news release.

“These accomplishments also demonstrate the effectiveness of collaborative community efforts and the commitment of law enforcement to ensure the safety and security of every citizen,” he added.

In a statement, Acorda said Cpl. Arnulfo Sabillo and his alleged accomplice, Jeffrey Baguio, who were tagged

as prime suspects in the killing of John Frances Ompad,15, last Aug. 20 are now in police custody. The suspects also injured Ompad’s 19-year-old brother, John Ace.

“We are committed to ensuring that the bereaved family finds justice for their deceased loved one. Such actions are deeply regrettable and do not represent the values of the Philippine National Police. We will ensure a thorough and impartial investigation and appropriate action will be taken against those found responsible,” Acorda said.

SEVEN areas in the Western Visayas region have tested positive for red tide or paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) beyond the regulatory limit, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

The BFAR’s Shellfish Bulletin 20 dated August 26, 2023, showed the following areas tested positive for toxic red tide: Saplan Bay (Ivisan and Sapian in Capiz); Mambuquiao and Camanci, Batan in Aklan; the coastal waters of Panay; the towns of Pilar, President Roxas, and Roxas City in Capiz; the coastal waters of Gigantes Islands, Carles in Iloilo; and the coastal waters of Altavas, Batan, and New Washington in Batan Bay, Aklan.

Aside from these areas, the BFAR said the coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol, as well as the Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur remained positive for toxic red tide.

“All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from the areas shown above are not safe for human consumption,” the BFAR said. “Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are, removed before cooking,” it added.

PAO chief Acosta gets OMWP award

PUBLIC Attorney’s Office chief Dr. Persida Acosta has received another award, this time from the 7th Outstanding Men and Women of the Philippines for her “unparalleled commitment as a public servant.”

Acosta was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Public Service at the Music Museum, Greenhills in San Juan City last Aug. 25.

In her acceptance speech, Acosta viewed the recognition serves as “a reminder of my lifelong commitment to public service.”

“I have been here for 22 years and seven months as a PAO chief defending the poor and those in need,” she said.

Acosta will also receive another special recognition from the Global Iconic Aces Awards today at the Okada Manila in Parañaque City.

She has been chosen as a Global Iconic public servant with outstanding dedication to public welfare and social services.

On June 30, Acosta received the Honorary Public Servant of the Year Excellence in Government award at the Nation Builders and Mosliv Awards 2023 also in Okada Manila. She was also a recipient of the Lingkod Bayan Award, the Highest Presidential Award for Outstanding Public Service, from the Civil Service Commission. Rio N. Araja

Sen. Gatchalian urges administration to go after illicit traders to raise more revenues

By Joel E. Zurbano

SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian has urged the Marcos administration to go after unscrupulous traders to generate higher revenue

with a novel plan to address illicit trade,” Gatchalian told the economic managers in a recent Development Budget Coordination Committee briefing in the Senate on the 2024 national budget.

In the case of the tobacco industry, for instance, Euromonitor data provided by

Philip Morris showed that cigarettes sold from illicit trade have been steadily increasing from 10.8 percent in 2018 to 16.7 percent in 2022. This figure is projected to further rise this year to 18.5 percent or equivalent to P30 billion. Gatchalian emphasized that instead of

imposing new taxes, revenue-collecting agencies such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) need to enhance tax administration efforts as the imposition of new taxes is only to the disadvantage of taxpayers who fulfill their obligation to the

government.

“When we increase taxes, we are penalizing those who are paying taxes. We have to address illicit trade or it will be very hard to justify new taxes because some people are making P30 billion a year from illicit trade,” Gatchalian said.

by 6.19%

7 Western Visayas areas test positive for red tide—BFAR

collection. “The government needs to come up

Manny Palmero

QUEZON CITY FIRE. Firefighters battle a second alarm structural fire at Palanan St. corner Scout Alcaraz in Quezon City. Norman Cruz

Manny Palmero

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II

PAO chief Persida Acosta

Speaker, reps lead cash aid assistance in Novaliches

By Rio N. Araja

HOUSE Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Tingog party-list

Representatives Yedda Romualdez and Jude Acidre distributed P5,000 worth of financial aid to 1,00 qualified beneficiaries in District 6, Barangay Sauyo, Novaliches in Quezon City.

The congresswoman led the distribution of cash assistance to the residents held at the Greenville Court, Greenville Drive with the help of assigned leader Ashliah Baute from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Acidre stressed the importance of reciprocity and kindness.

Romualdez highlighted the Alagang Tingog centers in different areas of Quezon City.

“We have seven Alagang Tingog centers here in barangays Batasan Hills, Holy Spirit, Kamuning, Payatas, Bagong Silangan, Sta. Monica and Pasong Tamo,” she said.

Tingog’s overwhelming presence in Quezon City is a testament to its commitment to serving citizens, she, adding “we are always beside you. We will never leave you behind.”

The Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program under the DSWD aims to improve the living conditions of needy families, allowing them to meet their basic needs and improve their overall well-being.

Comedy star and standup comedian Wacky Kiray entertained the beneficiaries as an opening act.

Also present in the event were Tingog party-list’s partners in public service, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Rep. Marivic Co-Pilar.

Degamo kin may seek position vacated by Teves

RELATIVE of slain Negros Oriental Governor

Roel Degamo may seek election as third district representative to replace Arnolfo Teves who was recently expelled from Congress.

Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, the wife of the murdered governor, disclosed that “at least two cousins of the late governor have expressed interest in Teves’ vacated post.”

The mayor however said the family “is still looking for a way to only have one opposition candidate.”

“As the slain governor’s wife, I really hope we will be able to field even one candidate for our team. It saddens me when I see so many people interested because it reduces our chances of winning and giving the governor political justice as the votes will be divided,” Degamo, in an interview with ABS-CBN News, said.

The mayor said the potential candidates “are both the governor’s cousins.”

“They may have different family names but they are both people that we love and helped us in so many ways. That’s why I told them it was going to be hard because we love them both,” she said.

Degamo further said several allies were trying to convince her to run for the vacated congressional post, but she maintained that her priority was to obtain “political justice” for her husband, who was killed in an armed attack inside their private compound in Pamplona town last March.

Former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves was also reportedly eyeing to replace the expelled lawmaker, who is his older brother, and to return to the position he held

between 2007 and 2016.

Earlier, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed criminal charges against Teves Jr. in connection with the killing of Degamo in March.

DOJ spokesman Mico Clavano said an arrest warrant will soon be issued against Teves for murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder cases before the Manila Regional Trial Court.

“The Degamo case has already been filed in Manila. It is before the court and we are awaiting the issuance of a warrant of arrest,” Clavano said in a press forum yesterday.

Pending the issuance of a warrant of arrest, Clavano said the solon, who has yet to return to the Philippines, could not be labeled as a fugitive.

Teves has been tagged as “one of the masterminds” in the killing of Degamo as well as for the deaths of nine other persons and the injuries sustained by 18 individuals.

CA set to deliberate on promotion of Brawner as AFP chief of sta

THE bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) will deliberate on Romeo Brawner Jr.’s promotion to chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the rank of four-star general on Aug. 30, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel on Sunday said.

The committee on national defense chaired by Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo will hold its confirmation hearing on Brawner’s ad interim appointment on Wednesday, he said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. named Brawner as the 60th AFP chief on July 21, replacing Andres Centino, who is now the Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea.

HEROES. Passersby walk past a huge mural of Filipino heroes along Nagtahan Bridge in Manila on Sunday. The Philippines is celebrating National Heroes Day on Monday, August 28. Danny Pata

Gatchalian bill bats for vaccine, virology hub

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR

Win Gatchalian has renewed his push to create a virology and vaccine institute in the Philippines, citing the decline of unvaccinated children from 1 million in 2021 to 637,000 for those born in 2022.

Gatchalian warned the country’s persisting low child immunization coverage would increase the country’s risk of disease outbreaks.

Under the Virology and Vaccine InstituteofthePhilippines(VIP)Actof2022 or Senate Bill No. 941, Gatchalian seeks the provision of initiatives to boost local vaccine development, sustain production, and boost technology transfer.

The proposed measure seeks to create the VIP, which shall serve as the premier research and development institute in the field of virology.

Gatchalian said this will encompass all areas of viruses and viral diseases in plants, animals, and humans.

AT THE READY. The US Assault Carrier USS America (LHA 6) is seen docked at Pier 15 in Manila, next to the Japanese Navy vessel JS Izumo (DDH 183) on Sunday. Norman Cruz

The Constitution empowers the 25-member CA to pore over the competence, fitness and integrity of

key presidential appointees, and to approve or disapprove them.

Pimentel said 29 other newly promoted senior military officers from the rank of colonel to major general will also face confirmation hearings before the Romualdo panel on Aug. 30.

“The CA has likewise scheduled a caucus and a plenary session that day,” he added.

Brawner meanwhile commended the members of the AFP’s Visayas Command (VISCOM) in his visit to the VISOM headquarters for their stellar Internal Security Operations (ISO) in the Visayas region.

The AFP in a report said VISCOM’s intensified ISO from January led to a total of 90 government-initiated armed encounters in the entire Visayas region. Rio N. Araja

Advocacy group holds seminars on breastfeeding, child health

By Joel E. Zurbano

SENATOR Pia Cayetano’s advocacy group, Team Pinay In Action (PIA), has initiated two breastfeeding seminars in Quezon City. The activities aimed to increase public knowledge of the value of encouraging nursing mothers and emphasizing the benefits of breastfeeding in giving infants

the finest nourishment and natural defense.

The lectures took place at the Quezon City General Hospital (QCGH) on Friday with groups of lactating moms, expectant women, barangay health workers, and hospital staff in attendance.

The seminars are a cornerstone of Senator Cayetano’s year-round effort to advance mother and child health in both

Tulfo bill seeks jobs for senior citizens

DAYS after filing a bill to require companies to employ persons with disabilities, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, along with two colleagues, has filed another bill to amend the law requiring jobs for senior citizens.

House Bill No. 8971, signed by Tulfo, Jocelyn Tulfo, and Edvic Yap, introduced an act expanding the positions reserved for qualified senior citizens, amending Republic Act No. 9994 or “An Act

Granting Additional Benefits and Privileges to Senior Citizens. Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and Quezon City Rep. Ralph Tulfo backed the bill.

“Before I assumed post as a representative of ACT-CIS partylist, I kept on saying to push a law to provide enough jobs for the PWDs and the elders,” Tulfo, a deputy majority leader, said. Under the proposed measure, at least one percent of all the positions in the government agencies, offices or corporations shall be reserved for qualified senior citizens, and that private corporations with over 100 employees shall reserve at least one percent of all position(s) for qualified senior citizens. Rio N. Araja

urban and rural settings. The Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2010 (Republic Act No. 10028) was primarily sponsored by the senator. QCGH medical director Dr. Josephine Sabando said the seminars complement the hospital’s own efforts to raise breastfeeding awareness among its maternity patients, especially since

the event includes mothers and health workers from the surrounding barangays.

Sabando shared that QCGH has been operating its own human milk bank, established in 2015, where mothers donate their milk for infants staying at the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. Thus, breastfeeding awareness is also important in sustaining the milk bank.

KALIVUNGAN

FEST. Performers in colorful costumes dance at the capitol grounds in Amas, North Cotabato on Friday as schools showcase their musical talents during the Kalivungan Festival. The weeklong festival features ethnic traditions unique to the Cotabateños and celebrates the province’s 109th foundation anniversary. Robinson Niñal Jr.

Among the powers, functions, and duties of the proposed VIP are the undertaking of scientific and technological research and development (R&D) in the field of virology; the conduct of product R&D in the areas of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, among others; and the transfer of the results of scientific research and development for use of both the public and private sectors.

The research outputs of the VIP shall also be integrated into other plans relating to the management of public health emergencies relating to infectious diseases, as well as disease control and prevention.

Rillo: Bike lane plan to receive P500m funding

THE upgrading of bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways under the national government’s Active Transport Program (ATP) in metropolitan areas is guaranteed to receive at least another P500 million in fresh funding in 2024, Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo said on Sunday.

“To further stimulate humanpowered mobility, such as cycling and walking, there is an additional budget of P500 million for the development of active transport infrastructure and facilities in 2024,” Rillo, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, said. “We are all for active transport, which lessens harmful motor vehicle emissions, promotes cleaner air and improves individual and community health.”

The P500 million for the ATP in 2024 is lodged in the budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

The amount is on top of the P705 million earmarked for the ATP this year, and the P2 billion funding for the program in 2022, according to Rillo, who is also vice chairperson of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, added.

Rillo expressed confidence that the additional government spending for the ATP would encourage a greater number of Filipinos to use bicycles as an alternative mode of mobility.

What a week it has been

THAT was a memorable week, and not only because of the FIBA matches, where, sadly, we lost to the Dominican Republic, while doing our valiant best.

Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash along with his top aides in mercenary Wagner, or so the news reports tell us, with the US of A confirming the same along with Putin.

Immediately, the finger points to Putin as the one who planted a bomb in the plane Prigozhin last rode, but other reports, whether fake news or true, claim the bomb was cleverly hidden in a case of wine which CIA operatives planted because the mercenary leader failed to order his troops to march to Moscow in June, despite a huge monetary deal.

The dead cannot speak. But don’t celebrate yet.

Wagner may lie low in Ukraine, but having tasted money and power from statesanctioned violence, they will just regroup, choose another leader, and operate elsewhere in Africa and the Middle East.

The BRICS made headlines all over the world when they met in South Africa, even if local media ignored the event with scant reportage.

Putin was understandably absent, as there is a standing warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court, and sent the most durable foreign minister ever, Sergei Lavrov, while delivering his remarks online.

ume of the Pacific Ocean.

Meanwhile, the major “noble” houses of big business joined forces in asking the Ombudsman to reconsider its dismissal of airport executives and true reformists Cesar Chiong and Irene Montalbo.

Rare event that is because for once the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFGCCCI) joined the Makati Business Club, FINEX, SEIPI, and other organizations which in the past have not been as shy as the Chinoy businessmen in making comments of a political or judicial nature.

Like we stated in this space last Monday, after what happened to Chiong, private sector professionals in the mold of DoTr’s Jimmy Bautista and others will have cold feet in joining government.

Not worth the stress and hassle, the thankless job, especially when you get dunned for doing the right thing.

As if these events of the past week were not enough, here comes the IACAT which spells out as Inter-Agency Council Against (Human) Trafficking coming out with a stupid communique that makes foreign travel by Filipinos prohibitively difficult, with requirements short of asking one to produce his college diploma as the immigration examiners may require.

Cagayan de Oro’s Rufus Rodriguez, himself a former Immigration commissioner, assailed the IACAT, which would allow immigration people from exercising “subjective judgment, whims and discretion” on departing passengers, and which would give rise to harassment, extortion and corruption.

Quota system in law enforcement

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla recently called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to stop arresting people for the sake of accomplishments or meeting quotas.

That was a strong indictment of what Remulla must have felt was an unwritten law that made police personnel turn to shortcuts just so they can be promoted fast or be cited for awards or distinctions. While speculation was rife there really was a quota system in the PNP during the Duterte administration’s bloody war in illegal drugs, from 2016 onwards – with police offices from the regional down to the provincial to city and municipal level required to come up with a certain number of kills and arrests of drug suspects – there was no way for the public to confirm it.

But even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledged there were abuses committed by law enforcers at the time – with the same “nanlaban” narrative used time and again to explain the surge in killings.

Even Rodrigo Duterte himself admitted as much after he had left office, but did not bother to explain what abuses were committed and by whom. That there was in fact a quota system fol-

Everyone in the institution is expected to adhere to its basic mission ‘to serve and protect’

lowed by the police in the past administration that led to indiscriminate arrests and even planting of evidence just so the police can claim accomplishments in the anti-criminality and anti-illegal drugs campaigns may not have been validated, but PNP Chief General Benjamin C. Acorda has categorically denied there is a quota system now in place under his watch. “Imposing a quota on police operatives is counter-productive in the fight against crimi-

The EV incentive gap

The rest of the bigshots were there: Brazil’s Lula, India’s Modi, host Cyril Ramaphosa, and of course, Xi Jinping.

But the latter played hide and seek, sometimes present, most of the time absent, in the summit’s major events.

Nothing earth-shaking came out of the BRICS summit, even a challenge to the almighty dollar came pffftt.

But the five original nations welcomed to its fold Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and another “most hated” nation by the CIA -- Iran.

Those additions keep the whole world watching in suspense, as to what the enlarged grouping will do next.

Altogether now, without counting in Maduro’s Venezuela the BRICS countries have majority control of the world’s petroleum, derivatives like fertilizer, and even rare earth metals.

Meanwhile, Tokyo started releasing the wastewater from Fukushima’s nuclear reactor destroyed by the 2011 tsunami, into the waters of the world’s largest body of water, the mighty Pacific.

That brought a wave of fear from seafood consumers in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and China, even if our own DOST said there is nothing to worry about.

China immediately imposed a ban on the importation of Japanese seafood, which is quite a blow to the Japanese seafood industry, as China and Hong Kong constitute more than a third of its foreign market.

That should be a boon to Japanese consumers of abalone, king crab legs and other shellfish as the depressed foreign demand will mean lower prices.

Likewise to our high-end Japanese restaurants who source their shellfish from the Tsukiji market, and sell them at astronomical prices here.

After all, DOST Sec. Solidum tells us the nuclear contaminants would be dissolved into infinitesimal particles by the sheer vol-

WASHINGTON, DC—A proposal to allow alleged perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks to plead guilty and avoid the death penalty poses a powerful dilemma for victims’ families, some of whom still want to seek the ultimate retribution after two decades of legal limbo.

The proposal detailed by prosecutors in a letter this month could offer families of the nearly 3,000 victims the best path to a resolution of a case bogged down in pre-trial maneuverings in the Guantanamo military commissions for years—and with no end in sight.

For some families of those killed in New York’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania say a deal without a trial could mean the entire truth about what happened on September 11, 2001 might never be told. Others say that every year of delay means that more people pass away without seeing justice for their slain relatives—and increases the risk that the aging defendants themselves could die without ever being found guilty.

“All 9/11 family members want justice and accountability. Too many of us have died in the last two decades without either,” said September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, which backs the plea deal. “Plea agreements, which could be made

The universal howl against the surprise announcement got the DOJ’s Boying Remulla allaying the fears of the public, whose constitutional freedom of travel is henceforth clearly violated, coming out the next day saying that the IACAT rules would apply only to “first-time” travelers.

His spokesman, ASec Mico Clavano had to apologize for the IACAT mis-communication, and likewise assuaged fears.

The IACAT reminds us of the defunct (?) IATF of pandemic days which often shot itself in the mouth with confusing pronouncements that created panic during those edgy days of universal fear.

Meanwhile, our president is confronted with his biggest headache—the continuous rise in the price of rice.

We have been writing and warning about this since several months back.

Now the shit has hit the fan, or is about to, since the ceiling keeps getting higher by the day.

From P38-40 in February when onions were the poster boys of food inflation, now it’s the staple commodity going from P50 to P60, and higher.

Panic now rules the international grains market, with wheat, corn, barley, oats and other grasses interdicted by Russia, the domino effect causing India to ban rice exports, and Thailand and Vietnam limiting theirs but for the highest prices their traders could exact.

From $430 per metric ton in early May when NFA’s Bioco informed Malacanang about his fears, Vietnam’s rice is now going at $650 per ton, even higher.

SINAG and other organizations claim there is plenty of domestic production, something that in hushed tones the DA, caught in a cold war between “senior” undersecretaries Panganiban and Sebastian, publicly assure, but privately worry about themselves.

SINAG asks why NFA’s Bioco went to India to explore the possibility of importing rice, instead of buying palay from local farmers, asserting that it’s high time NFA is abolished. Full text at www.manilastandard.net

THE Department of Energy’s recommendation submitted to the Tariff Commission to include two-wheeled and three-wheeled electric vehicles in Execute Order 12 that provides zero tariffs on the importation of electric vehicles for five years is a commendable move.

It can accelerate the shift away from air polluting vehicles and make green transport modes accessible to the mass population.

According to DOE energy utilization management bureau director Patrick Aquino, they are confident that the TC will accede to include the incentive for e-bikes which is also being pushed by the National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry.

In an earlier statement, the DOE said it is pushing for a faster rollout of electric vehicles in the Philippines to help reduce dependence on imported and expensive fossil fuels to promote environment friendly and energy-efficient technologies.

The target is to roll out over 2.43 million electric vehicles that would significantly cut down carbon emissions and bolster investments that would create a new EV industry by 2028.

Shifting away from fossil fuel powered transportation modes to electric powered technology is now a global trend with the biggest industry brands already in a technology race to develop the most accessible and usable EVs for the micro mobility market.

Thirty percent of global mobility comprise two-wheelers such as scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles which serves as an essential segment in the transportation network.

As we are already living with the effects of climate change, the environmental factor is already a strong impetus to shift to green modes of transportation, but an even more compelling reason for millions of commuters considering investing in e-bikes is the ever increasing price of fuel.

The price of oil and petroleum products are predicted by experts to increase further in the second half of this year because of the rising demand of the world’s biggest oil consuming economies like the US and China and the volatility of the oil market at-

tributed to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russian oil which created a supply gap that other oil producing countries are not able to replace.

On Saturday, we were again hit by big price increases. Diesel went up by P4.10 per liter and gas by P3 per liter.

This was not enough as industry players have already announced yet another round of price hikes happening tomorrow for gasoline (P0.10 to P0.50 per liter), diesel prices (P0.35 to P0.65 per liter) and kerosene (P0.50 to P0.90 per liter).

According to the Oil Industry Manage-

Innovations in battery technology for

ment Bureau, this latest price jump of local petroleum prices has imposed a net increase of P20.60 per liter for kerosene, P26.25 per liter for diesel, and P14.70 per liter for gasoline. This situation will further add to the daily cost of living of every consumer as the increase in the cost of fuel is soon followed by a chain reaction in the price of commodities and services as operation costs will be affected.

The cost of transportation is also a daily burden for all commuters.

According to a 2022 survey by the automotive industry in the Philippines, ap-

US plea proposal for 9/11 suspects splits victims’

right now, would offer finality: an end to the 9/11 military commission, clear admissions of guilt, and life sentences without parole or any possibility of appeal,” they said.

But Dennis McGinley of the group 9/11 Justice said the deal would leave untold the full story behind the attack that killed his brother Danny in the south tower of the World Trade Center.

“All this is, is... to prevent a trial from taking place where Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is going to have to spill the beans,” he said, referring to the self-described 9/11 mastermind also known as “KSM.” Evidence tainted by torture

The deal, outlined in an August 1 letter from the office of the chief prosecutor for the Pentagon-run military tribunals, has been in preparation for two years in the case of KSM, Ammar al-Baluchi, Walid bin Attash, Ramzi bin alShibh and Mustafa al-Hawsawi.

Each has been held for more than 16 years at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where they are among the last 30 of what was once nearly 800 people detained extrajudicialy by the United States after 9/11.

They were formally arraigned in 2012 for the case, but since the beginning it has been mired in debates over prosecutors’ intent to use evi-

relatives

It said the defendants would have to agree to a “stipulation of facts,” which would provide details of the September 11 plot and their roles in it.

While the prosecutors said no deal was finalized, the letter was confirmation that such an arrangement appears to be where the case is heading.

And, indeed, the prospect of more delays sharpened last week when a military judge in a separate Guantanamo case rejected torturetainted confessions. Failed system

Dropping the death penalty in the case though could spark an emotional backlash not only from victims’ families but from Americans across the country, where anger remains deep over the Al-Qaeda attack.

nality and would only result in police taking shortcuts to meet their targets,” the country’s top cop explained.

“Whenever there is pressure for us to make accomplishments, diyan nagkaloko-loko ang pulis (that is where the police go wrong),” he said.

The police general emphasized while they want aggressive law enforcement operations, these should be done in accordance with standard operating procedures to ensure suspected criminals who are arrested are convicted in a court of law.

Acorda also gave assurances under his leadership, operatives are required to undergo a detailed briefing before they conduct operations.

This appears to have led to fewer cases of violations of the rules, with the number of police officers penalized this year dropping by 83 percent, with at least 1,690 police officers sanctioned due to various offenses from January to August and 583 dismissed from the service due to grave misconduct.

The PNP is on the right track in imposing stiff sanctions on police officers involved in violations of internal rules and regulations and in outright criminal activities.

After all, everyone in the institution is expected to adhere to its basic mission “to serve and protect.”

proximately 42 percent of respondents use public transportation while 22.3 percent of respondents preferred private motorcycles. The estimated number of motorcycles in the country is about four million or half of the total registered vehicles.

Innovations in battery technology for EVs are now solving the initial fear of limited range compared to the well-established refueling infrastructure of the internal combustion engines.

There are now EV batteries that can already run 80 to 120 kms per charge which is more than enough for the daily commute for most people.

The total cost of ownership of fourwheeled vehicles is still at the high end –early adopter level but industry players are promising more accessible pricing as technologies evolve and production expands to meet growing demand.

Retail prices of electric two-wheelers are already competitive compared to gas powered motorcycles and predicted to even be lower as battery costs continue, which used to be 35 percent of total cost, to go down. EV manufacturing is attracting investments from private equity, venture capital funds, as well as smart-mobility service providers.

The potential of developing a local twowheeled EV industry makes perfect sense given the demographic economics of the country and the over four million motorcycle users that can switch to e-motorcycles.

This is another strategic factor that should push the Tariff Commission to act fast on rectifying the exclusion of two- and threewheeled EVs from the five years, zero tariff incentive.

Addressing this policy gap as soon as possible will be a positive disruption that can create a new economic pillar and will promote green manufacturing, green transportation, and a sustainable economic system that will help contribute to achieving net zero emissions for the planet.

Trade Center, said that in private meetings earlier this year, prosecutors had no answer when asked how long a trial might take.

“The military commissions have by and large been a failed system,” she said. Moreover, she said, “no trial is going to lead to a death penalty because of the torture issue.” McGinley said the type of punishment didn’t matter to him at this point.

“Whether it’s the death penalty or life in prison, I want whatever the terrorists don’t want,” he said.

But he argued that a settlement will allow the government to keep information classified about the attacks -- information he said would implicate Saudi Arabia more deeply in the carnage.

dence that defense attorneys say was extracted through systematic torture at the hands of the CIA. The letter implicitly acknowledges that prosecutors cannot say when a full trial would begin, if ever. In the proposed deal, the accused “would accept criminal responsibility for their actions and plead guilty to the charged offenses in exchange for not receiving the death penalty,” the letter said.

“Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other 9/11 perpetrators should never be given a plea deal and should face the full measure of justice for their actions—the death penalty,” said New York Congressman Mike Lawler, criticizing President Joe Biden for the deal.

But Terry Rockefeller, of the Peaceful Tomorrows group, said the deal is the best chance for families to get closure, with the certainty that defendants will have no ability to appeal.

Rockefeller, whose sister died in the World

Riyadh has long denied any links with the hijackers, but suspicions have lingered over whether the attacks were funded with Saudi money, and McGinley’s group alleges that Saudi agents were involved in various ways.

He thinks a trial―with all evidence declassified―would be the best chance for families to get justice after two decades of waiting.

“The 9/11 community has been getting used and abused by our government for the last 22 years. At this point, it’s almost cruel and unusual punishment,” he said. AFP

While the prosecutors said no deal was finalized, the letter was confirmation that such an arrangement appears to be where the case is heading

Now the people reap the whirlwind of diminished supply, constricted import sources, and sky-high prices

EVs are now solving the initial fear of limited range compared to the wellestablished refueling infrastructure of the internal combustion engines

WASHINGTON, DC – A white man driven by racial hatred shot dead three Black people in a Florida discount store Saturday (Sunday in Manila) before taking his own life after a standoff with police, authorities said.

“He targeted a certain group of people and that’s Black people. That’s what he said he wanted to kill. And that’s very clear,” Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters told a news conference about the gunman, who was in his early 20s.

According to the sheriff’s office, the shooter, who has not yet been identified, entered a Dollar General store wearing a tactical vest, armed with an AR-style rifle and a handgun.

Manifestos discovered by the gunman’s family shortly before the attack “detail the shooter’s disgusting ideology of hate,” Waters said, and at least one of the guns had hand-drawn swastikas on it.

The shooting took place near Edward Waters University, a historically Black college in the southern US state.

The university said in a statement that the shooter had been on campus earlier that day, though no one was harmed.

“An on-campus Edward Waters University security officer engaged an unidentified male in the vicinity of the Centennial Library on campus,” it said.

“The individual refused to identify themselves and was asked to leave,” it added, adding the individual—later identified as the shooter—left “without incident.”

The FBI will investigate the shooting as a hate crime, said Sherri Onks, the bureau’s special agent for Jacksonville, a city of nearly one million in the northeast corner of the state.

There was no evidence the shooter was part of a larger group, officials said.

“We know that he acted completely alone,” Waters said. Mass shootings have become disturbingly common across the United States, with easy access to firearms in most states and more guns in the country than citizens. AFP

‘RACIAL HATRED.’ This video grab shows a press conference screen displaying a handgun found on the scene of a shooting in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday (Manila time). A white man driven by racial hatred shot dead three Black people in a Florida discount store before taking his own life after a standoff with police, authorities said. ‘He targeted a certain group of people and that’s Black people. That’s what he said he wanted to kill. And that’s very clear,’ Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters told a news conference about the gunman, who was in his early 20s. AFP

Florida gunman driven by racial ‘hate’ kills three —authorities IN BRIEF

3 US Marines dead in Australia crash

DARWIN, Australia—Three US Marines died Sunday after an Osprey aircraft crashed on a remote tropical island north of Australia during war games, US military officials said.

Five Marines had been rescued from the crash site and flown to a hospital in Darwin in a “serious condition”, the US officials said, while Australian police said they were triaging the rest of the injured crew at the scene.

“There were a total of 23 personnel on board,” US military officials said in a statement.

“Three have been confirmed deceased while five others were transported to Royal Darwin Hospital in a serious condition.”

Rescue efforts were complicated by the location of the crash—the remote and sparsely populated Melville Island about 60 kilometers north of the Australian mainland.

“Recovery efforts are ongoing,” US officials said, adding that an investigation into the cause of the incident had been launched.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incident as “tragic” and “regrettable” but stressed that authorities were still trying to piece together what happened. “We want to make sure that any information that is provided is absolutely accurate,” he told reporters.

The Osprey—a mix between a helicopter and a plane—was taking part in the Predators Run exercises, a joint series of war fighting drills involving thousands of soldiers from the US and Australia, as well as other military ies such as Indonesia and the Philippines.

Northern Australia has become an increasingly important staging ground for the US military in recent years, as Washington and Canberra work together to counter China’s growing clout in the Asia-Pacific region. AFP

fighters and essential workers were ordered to leave, authorities said.

The territorial government ordered everyone still in the town to travel to the local airport and await instructions.

“Anyone who remains in Hay River is doing so at their own risk,” a government statement said. “There will be no emergency services or response available.”

At this point, some two-thirds of the entire population of the Northwest Territories—a vast but lightly populated area -- has been evacuated to neighboring provinces, sometimes 2,000 kilometers away.

“Extreme southwest winds have pushed the fire closer to town along the highway, forcing crews and aircraft to pull back and regroup at a safe distance,” said Shane Thompson, the region’s environmental minister, calling the situation “very serious.”

Fire crews are fighting a wall of flames several kilometers long, authorities said, with heavy smoke hampering use of helicopters.

Hay River Mayor Kandis Jameson said 100 residents refused to follow the evacuation order.

“To look out the window and see that fire roaring towards your town was something I will never forget,” she told a news conference Saturday.

Meanwhile, fires raging near Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories that has been evacuated for a week, continue to burn “out of control,” according to authorities. AFP

PH to ship 1st mango exports to Australia in early September

By Julito G. Rada

FINANCE

Secretary Benjamin Diokno urged policymakers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to remain vigilant amid the risks that threaten the world economy.

Diokno delivered this message during the 10th ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting on Aug. 25, at Mulia Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia in response to the global economic updates and risks and shared the Philippines’ strategies before other ASEAN member states.

BRIEF

Stocks seen staging weak rally this week

STOCKS may stage a weak rally in this shortened trading week, after the benchmark index fell for five straight weeks, analysts said over the weekend. Financial markets would be closed Monday in observance of the National Heroes Day.

Philstocks Financial Inc. research head Japhet Tantiangco said the market reached bargain levels and was trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.64x, after declining 7.33 percent in the past five weeks, “We may see episodes of bargainhunting given the local market’s current position,” Tantiangco said. “However, we may not see a strong rally yet as confidence towards the economy is weighed by mounting inflationary risks and a tempered outlook.”

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell maintained a hawkish tone last week as he indicated during his speech at the annual central bank conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming that the Fed was prepared to tighten further as US inflation remained high. Jenniffer B. Austria

The AFMGM, chaired by Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Bank of Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo, gathered ministers and governors for discourse on global and regional outlook and development challenges.

“While the ASEAN economies continue to be a major engine of global eco-

nomic growth, policymakers must remain vigilant of multiple external risks faced by the world economy,” Diokno said.

“These include rising geopolitical tensions, monetary policy tightening, elevated domestic inflation and climate change,” Diokno said.

The International Monetary Fund, World Bank and Financial Stability Board presented the global economic outlook, challenges ahead and how Asia and ASEAN were projected to fare against ongoing risks.

The IMF said while global potential growth was expected to remain low, Asia would continue to drive half of

Diokno asks ASEAN to remain vigilant against external risks IN

global growth. The WB supported this view, saying the ASEAN’s long-term growth potential remained relatively good and could be boosted with labor reforms, investment in energy transition and stronger trade.

Diokno said ASEAN member states should adopt sustained investments in infrastructure and social programs; measures to address high inflation; diversification of external markets; enforcement of measures supporting labor and employment; and provision of affordable lines of credit for micro, small and medium enterprises, fisherfolk, farmers and local entrepreneurs to mitigate the impacts of global challenges.

By Othel V. Campos

AUTHORITIES finalized the maiden shipment of Philippine mangoes to Australia in early September this year, according to an update from trade platform Carabao Mangoes.Aus.

“We are proud to announce that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry [of Australia] supports the approval for the export of fresh mango fruit from the Philippines to Australia,” the platform said.

DAFF assistant secretary David Ironside said in an approval letter that Australia was looking forward to receiving high-quality mango fruit from the Philippines.

The platform is engaging its Philippine team to begin the harvest in the last week of August so it can go through the required bio-security process.

It said the shipment should be properly packed and loaded into a flight to Perth and Sydney, to arrive first week of September. The platform reminded buyers who pre-ordered that a final delivery date would be emailed and confirmation of orders would be required.

The Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Sydney collaborated with the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry-National Plant Quarantine Services Division for the delivery of the maiden mango shipment.

Sydney-based e-commerce and logistics provider Fastboxph and 1Export, a one-stop platform for cross-border trade and fulfillment services, were making the necessary arrangements, the platform said.

Protocols have been in place since 2016 for the export of mangoes to Australia such as the specific commodity understanding. The SCU is an arrangement document for the importation of fresh mango fruit from the Philippines to Australia under Australia’s Biosecurity Act 2015.

San Miguel adds P4.6b to SLEX capex for

2023

THE tollway unit of San Miguel Corp. increased its 2023 capital expenditures to fund the repair and maintenance of South Luzon Expressway.

SMC SLEX Inc., formerly South Luzon Tollways Corp., said its board approved a supplemental capex of P4.6 billion this year to fund projects. The company earlier allotted P7.4 billion for 2023 to partially finance the construction of an expressway from Batangas to Lucena and repair and maintain SLEX.

SMC SLEX started the construction of the 66.74-kilometer SLEX Toll Road 4 that would connect Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Lucena City in Quezon province in March 2019 The toll road will shorten the travel time from Sto. Tomas to Barangay Mayao in Lucena from the usual three hours to 45 minutes.

The P26.1-billion project is expected to be completed by 2026. TR4 is a part of SLTC’s 30-year concession which will last until 2036.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Filinvest City launches

1st EV charging station

FILINVEST City, an expansive prime property in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, on Friday inaugurated an electric vehicle charging station as it pursues innovation and eco-conscious mobility solutions.

Filinvest City is the first and only green-certified central business district. The charging station is located at Central Park “We do not want to be left behind by other countries with regards to electrification of vehicles, although, it will take some time for this concept to be fully adopted. For those looking to charge their cars, this is a spot for them,” Filinvest Development Corp. director Michael Edward Gotianun said.

Gotianun said the newly-inaugurated two-slot EV charging station is the first for Filinvest Land Inc. The company plans to roll out more stations in different properties.

“We are probably taking it into consideration, and along with the EVIDA [Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act] law, we are probably putting some parking charging stations in our other developments,” Gotianun said. Alena Mae

S. Flores

By Alena Mae S. Flores

TREE PLANTING. EastWest Ageas Insurance employees plant 400 endemic trees at Quezon City’s La Mesa Watershed as part of the company’s commitment to the Filipino community and the environment. With the fire of volunteerism lit within them, about 50 employees from the company’s head office traveled from Taguig City to participate in ABS-CBN’s ‘Plant a Forest’ initiative. EastWest Ageas Insurance, a joint venture between global insurer Ageas and East West Banking Corp., intends to expand its ESG support as a form of insurance for the planet’s future sustainability.

Maynilad’s third water treatment plant to open December

WEST zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. said over the weekend the construction of the P11-billion Poblacion Water Treatment Plant is on track and may soon serve the water requirements of customers in Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa and Cavite.

The water company said it started testing and checking the plant’s equipment and processes in preparation for partial operations by yearend.

It said the plant was 80-percent completed, and gradual commissioning commenced to ensure that it could produce an initial 50 million liters per day of potable water by December 2023.

Designed to produce 150 MLD at full capacity, the Poblacion Water Treatment Plant in Muntinlupa will help improve

water pressure and supply availability for Maynilad customers south of Metro Manila.

The facility will help enhance service reliability, and provide additional supply for customers so their water service would not be affected despite raw water quality shifts in Laguna Lake, which has become more frequent due to climate change.

The Poblacion Water Treatment Plant is targeted for full operations by the first half of 2024. Maynilad has two treatment plants in Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa that draws water from Laguna Lake and produce a combined 300 MLD of water supply for around 1.7 million customers in the south. The Poblacion Water

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 86, QUEZON CITY Room 306, 3rd Floor, Hall

Treatment Plant will be Maynilad’s third facility to get raw water from the same source.

Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of customer base. It is the concessionaire of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System for the west zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of certain portions of Manila, certain portions of Quezon City, west of South Super Highway in Makati, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in Cavite province.

Othel V. Campos

Super Grandia Van 2023 model with Engine No. 1GD9007503 and Chassis No. JTFWAJAP9N8011423; and 3) TCT No. 163-2021005481 with description “A parcel of land (Lot 27, Blk. 7 of the cons. -subd. Plan PCS-04-014101 being a portion of the cons. of Lots 2, S1-111-1, Lot 7, Blk. 25, Lot 1, Blk. 18, Lot 48, Blk. 14, of PCS-04-012915,

FLASH ANNIVERSARY. Executives and employees of Flash Express, the fastest-growing logistics and courier service company in the Philippines, celebrate the company’s second anniversary this August, recognizing its remarkable achievements and relevant contribution to the country by providing thousands of jobs, disrupting the e-commerce logistics industry through its advanced logistics systems and educating and giving opportunities to Filipino entrepreneurs. The company employs over 17,000 employees both from its operations and corporate support. Most of the employees are riders, couriers and warehouse staff. The company expects to increase the number of employees to 20,000 by end of 2023.

regulations

POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. said over the weekend it is sourcing more renewable energy in its supply portfolio as part of its long-term sustainability strategy.

Meralco said it contracted 1,880 megawatts of RE capacity from various suppliers, breaching its initial target of 1,500 MW, in compliance with and in support of the Department of Energy’s Renewable Portfolio Standards.

RPS mandates electricity suppliers to source a portion of their requirements from RE in the wake of the government’s goal to increase RE share in the country’s

energy mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. The RPS requirement is set at 2.52 percent per annum.

Meralco said RE was expected to account for 22 percent of its supply portfolio by 2030, and 18 percent of Meralco’s retail electricity supplier MPower Inc. by 2025 through strategic sourcing initiatives.

The move will eventually allow the company to reduce its total carbon emissions by 15 percent versus the projected baseline 2030 emissions, in line with its energy transition commitment.

“Our just, orderly and affordable transition to clean energy is at the core of our sustainability journey, and this commitment solidifies our drive to bring to life

projects that will help serve the country’s growing energy demand with greener power,” Meralco first vice president and chief sustainability officer Raymond Ravelo said in a statement. “We will continue to elevate and evolve our sustainability initiatives as we implement our long-term sustainability strategy that involves the adoption of nextgeneration clean technologies and deep decarbonization efforts as we aspire to be coal-free by 2050,” he said.

Meralco established its sustainability agenda in 2019 called Powering the Good Life, which is deeply rooted in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and supported by the four pillars of power, planet, people and prosperity.

Meralco taps 1,880 MW of clean energy to comply with gov’t

Extreme weather events now the new normal—UN agency

Sustained winds of up to 220 kilometers per hour were expected in Mexico’s coastal areas over the weekend. Ms. Nullis noted that, as it was often the case with tropical cyclones, “the threat is not just from the wind but also from water,” and rainfall of up to 152 millimeters was forecast in the affected areas in Mexico.

2 MGreen units bare recycling programs

MGEN Renewable Energy Inc. (MGreen)―the renewable energy unit of Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen)―recently launched the Basura-Palit-Gamit-Eskwela program to its host communities to instill environmental awareness among Filipino students. Anchored on One Meralco’s Race to Zero Waste program, MGreen introduced the new initiative through its subsidiaries BulacanSol, a 55MWac (megawatt, alternating current) solar power plant in San Miguel, Bulacan, and PH Renewables Inc. (PHRI), a 75 -Mwac solar power plant in Baras, Rizal. Basura-Palit-Gamit-Eskwela program aims to promote environmental awareness, preservation, and sustainability.

Weather agency spokesperson Clare Nullis said recently heat warnings have been issued by many weather services across Europe , including in France, Germany, Poland and Switzerland.

Meanwhile, parts of the Middle East were expected last week to see temperatures over 50 degrees Celsius, and Japan was experiencing a “prolonged” heatwave which shattered temperature records.

Speaking to reporters about the recent massive wildfires fueled by the hot and dry conditions in Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, Ms. Nullis highlighted the “many evacuations and much devastation.”

“Unfortunately, that is a picture with which we’ve become all too familiar this summer,” she said.

The WMO Spokesperson also noted

that Canada’s record-breaking season was continuing and that it was “completely off the charts” this year. As of August 17, more than 600 wildfires across the country were out of control, she said.

Even Canada’s far north near the Arctic Circle had not been spared, as a mass evacuation order was in force in the town of Yellowknife in the Northern Territories due to an approaching blaze.

Meanwhile, in the British Columbia town of Lytton, a record temperature of 42.2 degrees Celsius was reached this week, Ms. Nullis said.

Massive rainfall

WMO also warned that Hurricane Hilary had intensified “very rapidly” to a major category four hurricane off Mexico’s Pacific Coast, “fed by warm ocean surface temperatures.”

The usually arid southwest of the United States, including major cities such as San Diego, would also see “a huge amount of rain in a short time,” she said, with a high risk of flash flooding.

WMO climate expert Alvaro Silva said that “the frequency and intensity of many extremes, such as heatwaves and heavy precipitation, have increased in recent decades.” He noted that it can be said with “high confidence” that human induced climate change from greenhouse emissions is the main driver.

Dramatic impacts

The southwest Pacific was another region hit hard by the impacts of a warming climate, WMO said, with weather-related disasters “unravelling the fabric of society” there.

According to the UN agency’s latest report, sea level rise threatened the future of low-lying islands, while increasing ocean heat and acidification devastated vulnerable marine ecosystems.

DENR’s Yulo-Loyzaga: From the ivory tower to the environmental front lines

By VC Galvez

IT’S been a year since Secretary Toni YuloLoyzaga has moved out from the ivory tower, as it were, down to the front lines― to lead the fight to preserve, protect, and bring back to life, what some would say, the remains of the country’s natural resources.

In keeping perhaps with her persona, she has quietly adopted innovative ways to enable the DENR bureaucracy to work together in achieving goals she has set during her watch.

Navigating her way through what she has described as the department’s silos has been “very challenging.”

WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said the El Niño climate pattern would have a major impact on the region this year, bringing higher temperatures, disruptive weather “and more marine heatwaves and coral bleaching.”

Sea level rise accelerating

The WMO report shows that sea-level rise rates in the region were higher than the global rate, reaching approximately four millimeters per year in several areas. It also notes that ocean warming contributes 40 percent of the observed sea-level rise, “through thermal expansion of seawater”

The agriculture sector is one of the most-affected by climate-related disasters in the southwest Pacific, WMO said, and enhancing the resilience of food production was a high priority for the region.

Mr. Taalas stressed that implementing early warning systems was “one of the most effective” ways of reducing damage from climate disasters, as it empowered people to make risk-informed decisions. UN News

Through this program, students from BulacanSol and PHRI host communities have the chance to obtain various school supplies in exchange for recyclable materials such as newspapers, cardboard, plastic bottles and caps, papers, cans and plastic food wrappers. It

CEBU Pacific, the Philippines’ leading airline, is commissioning this quarter a demonstration run for an electric baggage tractor and charging stations as part of its ongoing electric vehicles (EV) transition program.

Baggage tractors are essential equipment used by airlines for towing carts and dollies in their ramp operations. CEB operates more than 100 units of baggage tractors, one of the highest numbers in the airline’s fleet of ground support equipment (GSE).

The 100-percent electric, zero-emission tractor will be operated and tested for CEB’s ground operations at Terminals 3 and 4 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila. The target this year is to bring in several units of electric baggage tractors for deployment at NAIA.

Our objectives for this demo run are multi-pronged. Since electric vehicles are a relatively new area for CEB, we want to test the technology and its operational viability and safety. We also intend to test the demo unit for various scenarios in our ground operations, so we are deploying it for both airport operations and cargo operations over the demo period,” said Javier Massot, CEB’s chief operations officer.

The electric baggage tractor and charging station demo units are provided by TLD Asia Limited (TLD). It uses lithium-ion batteries, which have a significantly longer life compared to previous-generation lead acid batteries. The charging station unit is a fast charger that is also provided by TLD.

“We’ve had to deal with a lot of legacy issues, as you know, and we’ve had to deal with some cultures and practices that are part of the history of this department,” says Yulo-Loyzaga without elaborating in an interview.

Innovations

Yulo-Loyzaga has laid down the infrastructure which will provide her department with the data she needs to make difficult, and maybe even controversial, but science-based decisions in the days ahead.

She has brought in two new undersecretaries―one to oversee organizational transformation and the training of the “next generation leadership” of the department, and another known expert in the field of environmental science to manage a geo-spatial database.

“These two achievements, along with the organization of the Water Resources

Management Office, I hope will characterize our first year as the introduction of evidencebased decision making in this department,” says Yulo-Loyzaga. She explains that the geo-spatial database aims to properly account for, value and manage our country’s natural resources, as well as a basis to identify priority areas for forestation, reforestation and afforestation.

It can detect encroachment on public coastal areas, illegal mining activities and industries without necessary permits and pinpoint water systems that can be developed for hydropower and water supply.

Mindoro oil spill

Even as she puts her department in order, Yulo-Loyzaga has had to go out to the field to deal with a different set of challenges.

In February this year, a fuel tanker sank off Naujan, Mindoro Oriental and spewed out about 800,000 liters of oil resulting in damages amounting to over P1 billion.

Yulo-Loyzaga flew out to check on the situation, met with the governor and the coast guard, and deployed a hydrographer ship to locate the sunken vessel.

“We needed to find out where the oil was heading. For that, we turned to the UP Marine Science Institute. We were able to anticipate the flow towards the shore,” she says.

Water quality has since improved in most areas affected by the oil spill. She, however, takes pains to point out it is the local government that can best monitor and protect the environment. “We are not there 24 hours, we are

undermanned as a department. But the local government is present and they do have environment officers… and we will support them,” she says.

Reclamation at Manila Bay

Yulo-Loyzaga has also begun to look into the multi-billion peso (P330.6 billion) reclamation projects in Manila Bay.

“Reclamation, of course, is one way forward in terms of the economic development of the different areas. However, we need a thorough approach that welcomes different perspectives from all groups,” she told reporters.

A task force composed of Filipino scientists and foreign experts will be formed this month to conduct an evaluation of the environmental impact of the ongoing reclamation projects.

Full text at www.manilastandard.net

also supports the implementation of Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, to prevent pollution.

In its initial run, a total of 175 kilos of recyclable materials were collected from more than 400 students from San Juan Elementary School in San Miguel, Bulacan and Pinugay Eementary School in Baras, Rizal. In exchange, they received various school supplies including pencils, crayons, notebooks, among others.

The collection and recycling of waste were done in partnership with GreenAntz Builders Inc., an environmental solution company that provides eco-friendly practices and green technology solutions.

Students of Pinugay Elementary School, Baras, Rizal weigh-in recyclable materials in exchange for school supplies.

“By instilling environmental awareness at a young age, we aim to foster a generation of responsible individuals who make sustainable practices part of their lifestyle,” said Jaime T. Azurin, president and chief executive officer, Meralco PowerGen Corporation-Global Business Power Corp. (MGen-GBP).

According to rngineer Wilfredo Santos, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office Head of San Miguel, Bulacan, the program complements the local government unit’s efforts in promoting ecological solid waste management among the residents of San Miguel, Bulacan.

Meanwhile, school principal Margie Mapa of Pinugay Elementary School expressed appreciation for the program, saying it helps augment their students’ school supplies, aside from promoting environmental stewardship.

Not down the drain: Wastewater offers a promising climate and nature solution

WASTEWATER is a growing health and environmental threat, accounting for almost as much planet warming emissions as the aviation industry.

Yet with the right policies, wastewater could provide alternative energy to half a billion people, supply over 10 times the water provided by current global desalination capacity and offset over 10 percent of global fertilizer use. These findings appear in an analysis published last week by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) and GRID-Arendal with the Global Wastewater Initiative (GWWI).

The report urges governments and businesses to treat wastewater as a circular economy opportunity, rather than a problem to be disposed of. There are multiple benefits for effectively collecting, treating, and reusing

new jobs and revenue streams. Additional advantages would result from reducing the volume of wastewater produced. Today, only 11 percent of the world’s treated wastewater is reused and around half of the world’s untreated wastewater still enters rivers, lakes and seas. To safely fulfill the poten-

tial of wastewater as a valuable resource, the report calls to reduce the volume being produced, prevent and reduce contamination, and manage it to capture the resources that can be safely reused.

“Globally, wastewater is full of potential, yet it is currently allowed instead to contaminate the ecosystems we rely on,” said Leticia Carvalho, principal coordinator of the Marine and Freshwater Branch of UNEP. “We must not let the opportunity simply disappear down the drain: it’s time to realize the promise of wastewater as an alternative source of clean water, energy, and important nutrients.”

The global water crisis is made worse by wastewater, which originates from kitchens, bathrooms and toilets, industrial effluent, agricultural effluent, stormwater and urban

run-off. Chemicals and excessive nutrients in wastewater degrade ecosystems, including soil, freshwater sources and oceans, contributing to food insecurity and other social issues.

Through the release of potent greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide, wastewater accounts for about 1.57 percent of global emissions, just below the climate harm caused by the global aviation industry. Yet wastewater can become a climate solution: in generating biogas, heat and electricity, it can produce about five times more energy than is required for its treatment―enough to provide electricity for around half a billion people per year. By reducing water insecurity, good management of wastewater can also support countries’ efforts to adapt to climate change. UNEP News

HEATWAVES sweeping large parts of the world offer yet another reminder that extreme weather events boosted by human-induced climate change have become “the new normal,” the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned.

Rising sea levels are threatening the future of low-lying islands in the South-West Pacific. WMO/João Murteira

Cebu Pacific stepping up transition to e-vehicles

Students of Pinugay Elementary School, Baras, Rizal weigh in recyclable materials in exchange for school supplies.

Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga

Asian teams scramble for Paris Olympic berth

AS top teams around the world take the spotlight in the FIBA World Cup 2023, much of the attention is also being drawn to the race on which will become the best-placed Asian team at the end of the tournament.

Such finish would grant the team an automatic berth to the 2024 Paris Olympics – a goal that is surely in the mind of every Asian team in the tournament.

However, opening day didn’t look too kindly on the region mates. So far, all Asian teams have dropped their first assignments, with Gilas Pilipinas being the lone team that managed to put up a fight and avoid being blown out by higher-ranked opponents from the Americas and Euro qualifiers.

The Philippines was even able to put itself in a position to win and was tantalizingly close to

Djokovic,

Alcaraz may meet again in US Open

NEW YORK—Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are on a US Open collision course as the final Grand Slam tournament of season gets under way on Monday with American teenager Coco Gauff chasing a breakthrough first major title.

A little more than six weeks after world number one Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in an enthralling finale to the Wimbledon championships, the two men could meet again at Flushing Meadows if the seedings go to play over the next fortnight.

Djokovic and Alcaraz whetted the tennis world’s appetite for another blockbuster showdown at the Cincinnati Open last week, with 23-time Grand Slam singles winner Djokovic downing the 20-year-old Spaniard in a four-hour classic.

Djokovic, 36, is making a longawaited return to the US Open this year after his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid-19 meant he was unable to gain entry to the United States.

In Djokovic’s absence at last year’s tournament, Alcaraz announced his arrival on the world stage with a brilliant run to his first US Open crown.

Second seed Djokovic, who opens his campaign on the Arthur Ashe main arena against France’s Alexandre Muller on Monday, says Alcaraz’s relentless, swashbuckling style is reminiscent of Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam singles champion who misses this year’s US Open due to injury.

“Each point is a hustle. Each point is a battle. You feel like you’re not going to get maybe in total five free points in the entire match,” Djokovic said of Alcaraz.

“You’ve got to basically earn every single point, every single shot, regardless of the conditions.” AFP

pulling off what was believed to be the improbable, if not for the exit of main man Jordan Clarkson in the final three minutes, allowing the Dominican Republic to escape with an 87-81 win.

The Philippines took the upper hand on several occasions during the game, never trailed by double figures, and engaged the Karl-Anthony Towns-led Dominicans in a nip-and-tuck affair with a total of 19 deadlocks and 15 lead changes.

The same couldn’t be said for its Asian neighbors.

Co-host Japan came the closest to Gilas Pilipinas’ feat, being able to put up a fight in the early going against Germany. The Akatsuki Five, even after splendid performances from Yuta Watanabe and Yudai Baba, still absorbed an 18-point defeat though, 81-63, at the hands of the Mo Wagner-led Deutch.

EJ Obiena sets sights on Asian Games’ gold

By Peter Atencio

ERNEST John “EJ” Obiena expressed confidence that he will return home with the Hangzhou Asian Games gold medal next month, after a failed attempt to win it five years ago in Indonesia.

The 27-year-old Obiena said this after challenging Swedish bet Armand Duplantis and strutting away with a silver medal in the men’s pole vault finals of the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday night (early Sunday in Manila).

“My aim is to win (in Hangzhou).

That’s the goal,” said Obiena following his runner-up finish to Duplantis.

Obiena talked about his performance in a Facebook post moments after he

cleared the 6-meter mark in his second try to secure second place, behind no. 1 and world record holder Duplantis.

Obiena told blogger Airnel Abarra on his social media post that he aims to make a higher jump in the Asiad if he is to claim the gold medal.

The 6’2” Obiena hopes to outperform Japanese bet Seito Yamamoto, who cleared 5.7 meters to snag the Asiad gold back in 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Duplantis took the gold medal in Budapest after jumping 6.10 meters

in his first try.

The 23-year-old Duplantis then tried to break his own record after failing thrice to clear 6.23 meters.

Obiena went on to match his personal best and the Asian record, but he was not able to get the 6.05-m and the 6.10m marks he attempted.

Australia’s Kurtis Marschall and American Chris Nilsen settled for the bronze with similar vaults of 5.95-m.

Duplantis said he appreciated the competition he got from Obiena, who proved to be in great shape.

“It’s great. I’m not that disappointed [to miss out on the world record] because it seemed like Chris (Nilsen), EJ (Obiena) and Kurtis (Marschall) were all in very good shape and they’re all guys that can jump six meters,” said Duplantis.

Duplantis even praised Obiena for his

effort to go higher against him.

“And for EJ to do that (clear 6.00m), especially on the first attempt puts a lot of pressure on you. You’ve got to really go out there and get it done. I’m glad I was able to do it,” he said.

The big crowd watched in awe and waited as the bar was raised to 6.05 m. This was where Obiena fell short with his first jump, while Duplantis continued on after making it the first time.

Obiena then tried to challenge Duplantis by moving the bar to 6.10 meters.

But Duplantis then sealed the gold medal by flying over the mark on his first jump, while Obiena fell behind after failing with his two final jumps.

“I’m really happy about all these consecutive golds. I don’t know where this one ranks, but I’m happy to keep winning,” said Duplantis.

Team USA, Reaves didn’t disappoint Filipino fans

By Randy Caluag

FIL-AMERICAN coach Erik Spoelstra saw it coming and was perfect when he said that Team USA players will get a rockstar treatment once they set foot on the court of the Mall of Asia Arena.

That’s exactly what happened when they played their first game in the FIBA World Cup 2023 against New Zealand. In every possession in every basket, the Americans got loud cheers from the Filipino crowd. Sure, Team America started tentatively, even allowing the Tall Blacks to get an early lead in the first quarter, but once they got their rhythm, the Americans coasted to a lopsided 99-72 win that jumpstarted their bid for redemption.

Spoelstra, whose mother, Elisa Celino is a native of San Pablo, Laguna, had said in a previous interview Team USA will be treated like royalty by the fans once they go out and get seen in Manila.

“The crowds are going to be rockin’. They’ve been waiting for this opportunity for all the teams to be there and show their enthusiasm for the game, this beautiful game that we are blessed to be a part of. But It’s going to

Skills’ test big boost to junior golfers

THE youngsters continue to relish the challenge they face in the Junior PGT Series, a golf development program aimed at reinforcing the players’ skills set by focusing on the three fundamental aspects employed in the sport.

Tournament director Jack Imperial has noted the great enthusiasm and keen interest shown by the participants eight legs into ICTSI’s initial foray in the junior ranks, particularly in the drive, chip and putt skills challenge at some of the country’s top championship courses.

“It’s like everyone is enthusiastic about joining, playing (in the JPGT). Even if the tournaments are held outof-town and on Sundays, they still choose to come and play,” said Imperial of the weekend-only series which features various age-group categories

for boys and girls.

“One can see their eagerness, especially with the DCP (drive, chip and putt),” he added.

Imperial pointed out the skills challenge is something different from the traditional 18-hole tournament format, also a feature of the JPGT Series, for it helps develop the players’ confidence.

It also fosters camaraderie among the players and parents.

“The pressure is there and it’s a good training for them because everybody is watching, their peers and friends, including their parents. They develop confidence in the process,” said Imperial.

“Personally, I can see their progress because they make it a point to practice during the break (from school),” he added.

Meanwhile, the series resumes to-

day (Monday, Aug. 28) with the 18hole stroke play tournament back at Mount Malarayat in Lipa City, Batangas featuring Round 5 competitions in the boys’ and girls’ 9-12 and girls’ 1314 age group divisions.

Clashing for the top honors in girls’

13-14 are Levonne Talion, Chloe Lim, Maria Monserrat Lapuz, Rafa Anciano and Chloe Rada, while Roman Ungco leads the boys’ 11-12 cast that includes Lujo Gomez, Matthias Espina, Aenzo Sulaik, Stefano Bautista, Inigo Gallardo, Lorenzo Juane, Enzo Corpus, Gabriel Garcia, William Sulit and Jacobo Gomez.

This early, Imperial said he has seen potentials from a number of campaigners in the 9-12 age group but stressed: “The very important age bracket is 13-15. The earlier you start, the better.”

be nuts. I can’t wait for our team to see it,” said Spoelstra.

The Filipinos have showered most of the love to Los Angeles Laker Austin Reaves, easily the tournament’s fan favorite.

The Laker was cheered on as soon as he joined the party four minutes into the first quarter. The 25-yearold budding star quickly made his presence felt as he put a semblance of order into Team USA’s offense, scoring a quick jumper and dishing out a beautiful assist to Paolo Banchero.

The pretty boy Austin was the do-it-all guy on the court as he logged 12 points (on two-of-two shooting from downtown), two rebounds, six assists, and three steals and the rest of the Americans got their game going for the lopsided win. Banchero top-scored with 21 points and grabbed four rebounds.

Coming from a small-town New Ark, Arkansas, Austin has a lot to prove, not just as an NBA player but also in representing a nation known for its basketball power. Coming to the Philippines, he was already told by Lakers’ assistant coach Phil Handy about how Filipinos are crazy about basketball, especially the American brand.

The Philippines’ Ernest John Obiena competes in the men’s pole vault finals during the World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest. AFP

Austin Reaves

Levonne Talion

Roman Ungco

AI revolution in video games has industry players treading warily

COLOGNE, Germany—From generating story lines to coding entire games to turning ideas into animation, artificial intelligence is front and center at Gamescom, one of the video game industry’s biggest fairs.

But even the ultra-connected industry is eyeing the innovation warily, with fears growing that jobs could be made redundant and artistic creations usurped.

“AI is really a turning point,” according to Julien Millet, an AI engineer and founder of United Bits Game studio, who attended the industry fair this week. Responsive non-playable characters or the automatic generation of images, code and game scenarios are among the possible uses for developers using AI.

AI is also capable of instantly producing illustrations from text, allowing producers to better “transmit their vision”, according to Millet.

But the images dreamed up by AI could threaten the work of concept artists, who visualise the video game world

before it is created digitally.

“I am worried for those jobs,” Millet said.

‘Dream world’

Attracting tens of thousands of video game lovers every year, Gamescom is an opportunity for studios to showcase their latest creations.

Many gamers turn up in cosplay costumes, as they throng the stands to try out

the potential new hits—this year including some that prominently feature AI.

Club Koala from the Singaporean studio Play for Fun offers players the chance to “create their own dream world, a personalised paradise island with unique characters” generated using AI.

“AI has become an integral part of everyday life” and has a “huge potential

to take the gaming industry to the next level”, Play for Fun CEO Fang Han said in a statement.

Berlin-based Ivy Juice Games also said it now uses AI through its game creation process.

“We use it to generate lines of text... to get some more storytelling into the game,” Linus Gaertig from Ivy Juice Games told AFP at Gamescom.

It is also using AI “to generate code”, Gaertig said, offering a new way for developers to build the games themselves.

“(AI) makes the game more unpredictable and so the game feels more real,” said Sarah Brin of Kythera AI, which uses the technology to generate character movements.

A case in point was demonstrated by US chipmaker Nvidia when it introduced the world to ACE, a software aimed at developers to create “intelligent in-game characters” using AI.

In its promotional video for ACE, a player speaking through a microphone is depicted having a conversation with a virtual ramen noodle chef in a sci-fi bar.

How is the chef? “Not so good,” comes the answer—crime is on the rise locally and the chef is worried.

But using AI to create sprawling virtual worlds could clash with claims to the intellectual property rights on the original images used to produce them. AFP

ROTC Games: VP Sara urges cadets to be role models

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte urged cadets to be a role model in discipline and unity as she guested the opening rites of the 2023 ROTC Games Mindanao Leg on Sunday at the Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex here.

“Be a role model in discipline. That’s why we are supporting ROTC,” said the 45-year-old Duterte, also an Army Colonel reservist.

Sen. Francis Tolentino expressed gratitude over the presence of the Vice President from the region, saying “It’s truly significant since she is a genuine advocate of youth and sports development through military service.”

“I am hopeful that our shared goals will be achieved, and that ROTC will be a vital force in ensuring that our young people are shaped and formed to protect this nation, promote unity and peace, and to lead with utmost integrity and honor,” added Tolentino about the vice president from Davao City.

Table tennis ‘Godfather’

Filipino-Chinese tycoon and philanthropist Stephen Techico (center, seated) is shown with o cials and members of the TATAND

Duterte, the eldest daughter of former President “Digong” Duterte, gave P30,000 each of the 11 teams seeing action in the competition as an added boost to their needs.

Over 1,300 cadets from the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy throughout the region are vying for gold in at least seven sports disciplines in four venues with the JFE memorial sports complex as the main venue.

Mayor John M. Dalupe along with Representatives Manuel Jose Dalupe and Khymer Adan T. Olaso and other top local officials led in welcoming the guests and officials.

“It is an honor to stand before you today as we kick off this remarkable Philippine ROTC Games Mindanao Regional Leg, that celebrates not only the spirit of sportsmanship but also the commitment to duty, discipline, and patriotism,” said Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann in a speech read by Mr. Kirsten Evan Regodon, PSC Consultant.

A FOUR-MAN Philippine team, led by women’s top player Kheith Rhynne Cruz and World Championship campaigner John Russel Misal, left Manila last August 4 for a month-long training in China under the sponsorship grant of table tennis’ long-time supporter, businessman Stephen Techico. In partnership with the Table Tennis Association for National Development, led by president Peter Lam, the nationals under the supervision of coach Kheaneth Cruz, will try to further hone their skills and mental preparedness for future local and international tournaments. The training program started on August 6 and will end on September 4. Joining the group are Cruz’s younger

brother Khevine and SEA Games’ veteran Chrishien Mae Santillan.

All are TATAND protégés and part of the group’s strenuous grassroots development program, which includes sending athletes abroad for training and competition.

Last June, the 17-year-old Cruz made history after winning two gold medals and a silver in the 2023 Southeast Asia Junior Table Tennis Championship in Brunei Darussalam. The pride of Paco Academy claimed the girls’ 17-under title and the girls’ doubles, with Santillan as a partner before leading the girls’ squad to a silver podium finish in the team event.

Misal, on the other hand, won his sec-

Games Wednesday

10 a.m. – FEU vs Perpetual Help (men’s)

12 noon – EAC vs UST (men’s)

2 p.m. – UE vs Perpetual Help (women’s)

4 p.m. – FEU vs Lyceum (women’s

COLLEGE of Saint Benilde imposed its will early over San Sebastian College-Recoletos and came through with a lopsided 25-14, 25-15, 25-18 victory yesterday to notch its second straight win in the 2023 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge at the Paco Arena in Manila.

Jessa Dorog started for the Lady Blazers and delivered on both sides, scoring nine points and seven excellent receptions to power the reigning NCAA champions to third place behind the idle Far Eastern U Lady Tams and University of the East Lady Warriors, who tote identical 3-0 cards.

“Personally, I’m happy. May mga points akong binantayan and nasagot naman nila and they improved on. Actually, I’m very happy inside; I’m satisfied,” said CSB head coach Jerry Yee.

The Lady Blazers pounced on their rivals’ sloppy service reception as they came through with six aces, including two from Dorog.

Michelle Gamit, on the other hand, controlled the battle upfront, netting 12 points on seven attacks and four blocks.

Kat Santos waxed hot for San Sebastian in the third set to finish with 10 markers but the rest failed to step up as the Lady Stags absorbed their fourth straight loss in the tournament organized by Sports Vision and backed by Bola.TV, Beyond Active Wear, Asics and Mikasa.

Lady Blazers turn back Lady Stags for 2nd win Khang nails 1st LPGA title; Saso 6 shots behind

VANCOUVER—A late birdie burst saw Megan Khang hold off a hardcharging Kim Sei-young on Saturday, taking a three-shot lead in the LPGA CPKC Women’s Canadian Open over the South Korean whose two eagles included a hole-in-one.

America’s Khang, chasing a first LPGA title, birdied four of the last five holes on the way to a four-under par 68 in the third round Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club.

She built an 11-under par total of 205 and despite a mid-round wobble ably withstood the pressure Kim piled on with a five-under par 67 for eight-under 208.

Former world number one Ko Jinyoung was alone in third after a 71 for 210 while England’s Georgia Hall and Japan’s Yuka Saso, formerly of the Philippines, shared fourth on 211.

“Honestly, (I’m) relieved that the day is over,” Khang said. “It was kind of like you look at the leaderboard and you know who is behind you and you try to ignore it as much as you can, but it’s kind of scary.”

On a day when low scores were hard to come by, Kim launched her climb by gaining four strokes in the space of three holes, sandwiching birdies at seven and nine around her hole in one at the 184-yard par-three eighth.

“I took a five-iron, I hit a really solid shot,” said Kim, who said it was the second ace of her life. AFP

TATAND sends 4 PH table netters to China for training

ond straight bronze medal in the SEA Games after claiming the bronze with partner Richard Gonzales in the 2023 Cambodia edition.

Aside from shouldering the team’s plane tickets and accommodation, Techico also handed allowances to all team members for their one-month stay at the Heibe National Training Center.

Also attending the sendoff were TATAND honorary president Wilson Tan, TATAND president Peter Lam, External Vice President Gilbert Shi, Vice President Alex Wong, Principal Peter Lim, Honorary President Charlie Lim, Ernest Salvador, and Philip Uy, who provided Joola equipment and training uniform for the team.

Benilde’s Clydel Catarig rejects a smash from San Sebastian College’s Katherine Santos in the 2023 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge at the Paco Arena in Manila.

during a send-o recently for members of the Philippine Team, led by siblings Khevine and Philippine women’s no.

1 Kheith Rhynne Cruz (front row). The group, which also included World Championship campaigner John Russel Misal and Chrishien Mae Santillan, left last August 4 for a month-long training at Hebei National Training Center in China.

Visitors play the Tekken 8 game at the Bandai Namco Entertainment booth at the Gamescom video game fair in Cologne, western Germany. According to the organizers, around 1,100 exhibitors from 53 countries presented their products during the fair. AFP

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte takes a selfie with participants of the ROTC Games as Sen. Francis Tolentino look on from behind.

A gripping tale of deceit unreels on afternoon television

By Nickie Wang

IN a tale of resilience and redemption,

The Missing Husband portrays the indomitable strength of a family shattered by an investment scam.

Premiering today on GMA Afternoon

Prime, the drama chronicles the journey of Anton and Millie, played by Rocco Nacino and Yasmien Kurdi, as they navigate the treacherous aftermath of losing everything they held dear to a fraudulent scheme.

Also led by a stellar cast including Jak Roberto, Sophie Albert, Joross Gamboa, the series delves into the harrowing realities faced by OFWs Anton and Millie. Initially drawn abroad in pursuit of a better life, their dreams are upended when an unexpected pregnancy leads them back to the Philippines. Eager to secure their future, they invest their hard-earned savings into a promising opportunity, only to discover that it’s a meticulously orchestrated scam. As their life savings vanish, their marriage frays,

and death threats loom, the couple finds themselves entangled in a web of danger and deceit. When Anton disappears, leaving behind a trail of blood, the suspense intensifies. Did he become a victim or an orchestrator of his own escape?

Millie embarks on a relentless quest to find her missing husband, uncovering truths that challenge her understanding of loyalty, love, and the extent of human resilience.

Also starring in the action-suspense drama are Nadine Samonte as Nona, a devoted wife and mother; Shamaine Buencamino as Sharon, Anton’s clingy and dependent mother; Michael Flores as Banong, Anton’s happy-go-lucky and lazy brother-in-law; Maxine Eigenmann as Leila, the grumpy and rude sister of Anton; Cai Cortez as Glenndolyn, Millie’s fierce yet funny best friend; Bryce Eusebio as Norman, the nerdy and aloof son of Leila and Banong; Patricia Coma as Arya, the smart and achiever daughter of Nona.

The series is produced by GMA Entertainment Group, led by Senior Vice President Lilybeth G. Rasonable. The creative team includes creative director Aloy Adlawan, creative head Dode Cruz, head writer Marides Severino, and writers Renato Custodio Jr., Mark Duane Angoas, and Maria Christina S. Velasco

The Missing Husband is directed by Mark Reyes and airs from Monday to Friday at 4:05 p.m.

Manila shines as arts and culture capital

THE Manila International Dance Festival, Kultura Manila, and Mister Manila are three flagship projects that bolster the status of the city as the arts and culture capital of the country.

Apart from the historic and cultural landmarks such as the walled city of Intramuros, Rizal Park, and the Metropolitan Theater, these projects, under the office of Vice Mayor John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto are celebrations that highlight the way of life, traditions and the many reasons why everyone keeps coming to

Manila.

Warner

Bros. delays

WARNER Bros. has pushed back the hotly anticipated release of sci-fi sequel Dune: Part Two until next year and postponed two other films – one of the biggest changes so far to the movie calendar amid the ongoing actors’ and writers’ strikes.

The studio confirmed that Dune: Part Two – originally scheduled to premiere on November 3 – will now open on March 15, 2024, and monster showdown Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire will now debut in April 2024, not March.

The official social media accounts for the two films on X, formerly known as Twitter, showed both the old and new release dates early Friday. Both are co-produced by Legendary Entertainment.

Warner also delayed the release of its animated of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim from April to December 2024.

The scheduling news comes as both the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAGAFTRA) remain on strike over wages and other conditions.

Under the strike terms, actors cannot shoot or promote any films affiliated with Hollywood’s major studios or streaming platforms – meaning Dune 2 stars and Timothee Chalamet would not be part of its marketing campaign.

Challengers – a tennis love triangle drama also starring Zendaya, who has more than 180 million followers on Instagram – was pulled from its scheduled premiere at the Venice Film Festival and pushed back to April 2024.

WGA members walked off the job in May, and actors followed suit in July. The double strike, not seen in more than 60 years, has brought Tinseltown to a standstill, and there has not been any meaningful progress in negotiations.

Dune: Part Two was widely expected to be a major contender for next year’s Oscars. The first installment in Denis Villeneuve’s fresh adaptation of Frank Herbert’s epic science-fiction novel won six Academy Awards out of 10 nominations.

But a March release could ultimately hinder its chances, as many Oscar favorites are released closer to the end of each year, putting them front and center for Academy voters. AFP

September

On September 8, the Manila International Dance Festival or MIDFest 2023 kicks off this Manila arts and culture renaissance at Rizal Park. Around 22 groups from all over the country, plus performing dance troupes from Indonesia, India, Malaysia, South Korea, and Thailand are coming together to present dances and music from different communities. Aside from Rizal Park, performances will also be at Fort Santiago, Philippine Christian University, and in partner malls.

Festival director Archie Dema-ala says that this project celebrates diversity, peace, and unity, through dance and music. His heart is most full of the cultural and heritage discoveries and exchanges between Filipino dance artists and their international counterparts. All the performances are free for public viewing.

Kultura Manila, meanwhile, is a fashion cultural extravaganza that is set to happen at Norman , Kultura Manila unveils a tribute to the evolution of the Filipino identity. Manila’s

top-tier fashion designers will showcase their reverence for their roots through their creations. Penaflorida explains that the event will feature a diverse range of outfits, including pre-Hispanic attire, Maria Clara ensembles, Filipino barong, Philippine terno, modern haute couture, and sustainable, earth-friendly garments. The search is on, and the pageant of Mister Manila happens also in October. As a matter of fact, the chosen candidates for the pageant will model for Kultura Manila.

Leading the Mister Manila pageant is director Sean Lim. What the pageant looks for is the quintessential man from Manila – with a great personality, emotionally intelligent, confident, with advocacy, a total maginoo that will become the face and male persona of the beloved city.

Vice Mayor Nieto explains that all these projects are most important because he knows how the arts and our culture are most helpful in making a better person. In a recollection as part of his speech during the press conference, the congenial vice mayor traced his career in entertainment with special emphasis on his acting days in Gantimpala Theater, and the mentorship and guidance of the late great director Maryo delos Reyes

In Gantimpala Theater, his young mind and heart absorbed the beauty of the Filipino language and classical Filipino literature. He is thankful for the discipline, hard work, and professionalism of his co-actors in the theater company, and the lifelong friendships he earned from being part of Gantimpala Theater plays.

From his theater learnings, he applied and put them to good use when he finally embarked on a showbiz career with the legend Delos Reyes as his manager.

Nieto became one of the finest actors of his era, possessing credibility, sincerity, and a good reputation that served as his talismans upon entering the realm of politics.

“I’m grateful to Gantimpala Theater for revealing the arts’ profound influence in nurturing patriotism and culture. My projects aim to amplify our rich heritage. I hope all in Manila and Filipinos truly embrace our arts and culture, not just in words,” said the actorpolitician.

In this day and age when there seems to be a preference for foreign culture and the arts, these projects by the office of Vice Mayor are laudable and deserve all our love and support.

Dreaming the dream of Manila, being the arts and culture capital of the Philippines, is not impossible after all.

Lovi Poe weds British boyfriend

Monty

By Angelica Villanueva

Blencowea in England

Lovi Poe's romantic journey culmi-

nated in a beautiful wedding ceremony on Saturday as she exchanged vows with her British boyfriend and film producer, Monty Blencowea

The touching moment of the ceremony was captured in a video shared by host Tim . In the video, Monty could be seen shedding tears of joy as he watched Lovi gracefully walk down the aisle towards him. Lovi herself took to social media to share a glimpse of her spe-

cial day. She posted a behind-the-scenes photo from her wedding and accompanied it with a heartfelt caption that spoke volumes about her feelings for Monty.

"I have found the one who makes my soul sing,” she wrote.

On the other hand, celebrity doctor Hayden Kho shared photos of the couple's garden wedding ceremony held at England’s historic Cliveden House, United Kingdom. The garden wedding was attended by Blencowea and Poe's family and friends. Among the celebrities who celebrated the momentous events were Rhian Ramos, Bela Padilla, and celebrity doctors Vicky Belo and Hayden Kho Ahead of her wedding, the Batang Quiapo star shared a sneak peek of her wedding dress fittings on her Instagram.

'Dune: Part Two,' other films amid strikes

‘The Missing Husband’ lead stars Rocco Nacino (left) as Anton and Yasmien Kurdi as Millie Jak Roberto

Timothee Chalamet (left) and Zendaya in a scene from ‘Dune: Part Two’

Joross Gamboa

Nadine Samonte

Sophie Albert

From left: Kultura Manila head Norman Penaflorida Vice Mayor John Marvin Yul Servo Nieto, and Mister Manila pageant director Sean Lim

Couple Monty Blencowea (left) and Lovi Poe lock lips during their wedding in the United Kingdom (Image courtesy of Jun Lalin)

the man

social films

The Lord Hollywood’s Zendaya

Jones Bridge by the first week of October. Led by fashion trailblazer Penaflorida the

By Angelica Villanueva

HOTEL Sales and Marketing Association Philippines (HSMA) is launching its much-awaited online travel fair, September Online Sale (SOS) 2023, which features at least 87 participating hotels and resorts across the region.

The travel sale offers the best deals that include discounts on room stays, weekend getaways, rejuvenating spa experiences, and other recreational offers, as well as on restaurants, meetings and conferences packages, and banquet occasions, such as weddings. birthdays, anniversaries.

“They can expect up to 70 percent discount on all the promotions of the hotel,” said HSMA Director and The Linden Suites General Manager Center Celeste Romualdo

On the other hand, HSMA Vice President and Project Head Amie Villena shared that the fourth edition of the month-long sale event promises an easy, convenient, and fulfilling shopping experience.

“Online shopping is never going away. It’s economical. You don’t have to sit through traffic to go to the fair, plus you have a month to really think through the deals you want to get. There is also a steady pattern now of travelers booking more of their vacations and trips online,” Romualdo added.

Despite the easing of pandemic restrictions, Villena explained that there is still a high demand for online travel sales such as the September Online Sale, given that customers still want a safe and hassle-free experience when purchasing their next getaway.

Meanwhile, HSMA President Loleth So revealed that the hospitality sector “is getting better” adding that the upcoming holiday season would contribute to its recovery.

LIFE

Crossing over to Wild Rose Alberta

WHILE chatting with my son at his residence in Dawson Creek, British Columbia (BC), I asked him how far we were to the neighboring province of Alberta. He said, “Only about an hour’s drive away.” With that reply, the insatiable tourist in me emerged once again, so we planned to visit Alberta’s nearby cities, just to have a look at what tourist attractions they offer.

Named after the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, the province of Alberta, which is in Western Canada, could easily become a nature lover’s favorite as it is filled with mountains, pine tree forests, and rich mineral deposits. It has a total of 600 lakes, all Instagramable from any angle. You will also find an abundance of wild roses all over the province which is why, sometimes, it is called “Wild Rose Country.”

It is home to six UNESCO World Heritage Sites: The Canadian Rockies, which is a mountain range that spans BC and Alberta; Dinosaur Provincial Park, which has fossils of about 35 species of dinosaurs dating back to around 75 million years; and, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, which shows layers of American Bison bones, representing around 6000 years of their existence in the area.

There are also the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, which is exceptionally rich in plant and mammal species; Wood Buffalo National Park, which is the largest national park in the country at 44,741 square kilometers; and WritingOn-Stone Provincial Park, which has a diverse natural landscape and, contrary to its name, writing or leaving marks on the stone walls is considered vandalism and is illegal, therefore, punishable by law.

tural Center. Unfortunately, since we were there on a Sunday, it was closed.

Next stop was the bigger city of Grande Prairie, which has a population of approximately 70,000 and is one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities. The city’s official symbol is the Trumpeter Swan, as shown in its welcome billboard because it is near the migration route and summer nesting grounds of this bird. They were also able to discover, in the areas north and west of the city, fossils of dinosaurs. The city’s dynamism is caused by its booming industries which include oil and gas, agriculture, and food services.

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE:

OVERHEARD: A blonde explained to her friend why she was late — “I was trapped on the escalator for hours because my office building’s power went out!”

But the reason why people from the neighboring cities of BC and Alberta drive to Grande Prairie is its shopping malls. Prairie Mall, with about 80 establishments, is the largest indoor retail shopping center in the region. There is also South 40 Shopping Center, and the Prairie Ridge Centre, all contributing heavily to the city’s coffers. In fact, my son and his family drive to this city every month to buy their household and wardrobe needs.

Unfortunately, all these six World Heritage Sites were too far to drive to. I was also thinking of visiting Edmonton, the capital of the province, but the six-hour drive going there and another 6 hours coming back would be too exhausting for the driver. So, we settled for what was within an hour’s drive from Dawson Creek.

Beaverlodge is a small town right after the border between BC and Alberta. People who drive through the main highway always make a stopover in this town because, right at its center, there is a giant statue of a beaver. Of course, we were no exception. As to the statue’s historical or cultural significance, nobody could tell us. All we know is that it makes a very good backdrop for photo ops.

But one thing that this town impressed me with was, in spite of its very small population (approximately 4000), it has its own Arts and Cul-

On our way back to BC, we passed by Swan Lake which has nine campsites with picnic tables and fire pits. While driving towards the area, I was imagining a body of water with regal-looking white swans floating around, like what we see in the movies or on TV. I had my camera ready and was planning to take many photos from different angles. Alas and alack, there were none. Instead, a throng of children and their parents were happily enjoying the summer weather, splashing around. I could see adults around 100 meters from the shore but the water was only up to their breast, which makes the lake attractive to non-swimmers.

We arrived back home, still with the sun up (the sun sets at 9:00 p.m. during summer) and it was a day well spent. Next time, I will probably want to drive farther and see more of Wild Rose Alberta.

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

“We all know for a fact that we are already approaching the high season. I can speak for Manila hotels and Manila hotels are doing very well,” she stated.

“[An] example is Bohol. Bohol is doing very well now as compared to pre-pandemic. Cebu is also doing very well. It varies but, generi cally, I can say the hospitality industry is breathing better now. We’re very hopeful that the approaching festive season is going to be even better than the previous,” she continued.

Adding more excitement with the upcoming travel fair is that September Online Sale vouchers have no expiry date, which allows Filipinos to make long-term travel plans. This al lows them to also get deals for two of the busiest travel seasons: the Yuletide holidays and summer.

“Domestic travelers now start planning their vacations early as this allows them to catch seat sales too,” So added.

The September Online Sale: Eat, Stay, Love, The Joys of Travel will run from September 1 to 30. Vouchers may be pur chased at www.HSMA.org.ph/SOS. The event is supported by the Department of Tourism, the Tourism Promotions Board, Atlantis, and Isentia.

ONE of the country’s biggest festivals is Davao’s Kadayawan Festival. Held every August, it’s a thanksgiving event that celebrates bountiful harvests, nature, and the city’s history and heritage.

In 2023, the festival celebrated its 38th year, with the theme “Colors of Abundance, Vibrance of Diversity, Festival of Festivals, the ‘Pag-abli sa Kadayawan,” and ran from August 10-20.

It was a return to form for the festival with tourists flocking to the city to witness the many events and festivities. From a colorful and vibrant opening ceremony to energetic concerts, and a rich cultural showcase of the entire city, Kadayawan 2023 was a beautiful spectacle enjoyed by locals and festivalgoers alike.

Among the many people visiting the festival was Miss Universe PH 2023 Michelle Marquez Dee who joined PLDT Home’s fun activities in Kadayawan, joining festival goers to celebrate the special event. She also toured the festival areas and did meet and greets with her fans at the PLDT-Smart Ponciano Store, PLDT Home booth at NCCC Mall VP, and at the main PLDT Home booth in Magsaysay Park.

The province of Alberta is filled with wild roses making

The giant statue of a beaver at the town plaza of Beaverlodge’s