Manila Standard - 2023 September 1 - Friday

AT LEAST 15 DEAD AS QC HOME USED AS T-SHIRT FACTORY BURNS DOWN

Work, classes suspended today as storms boost ‘habagat’ rains

By Charles Dantes, Othel V. Campos, Joel E. Zurbano, and Rio N. Araja

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

WEATHER

declared the suspension of government work and classes in public schools in Metro Manila on September 1 (Friday) due to the continuous rainfall the country is currently experiencing.

PH rejects 10-dash China map

DFA cites UNCLOS, arbitral ruling in nixing ‘attempt to legitimize sovereignty’

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE Philippines on Thursday rejected the 2023 standard map of China, which includes the West Philippine Sea as part of its territory, and became the third nation to assail Beijing's attempt to assert sovereignty over disputed maritime territories in the South China Sea.

by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China on Aug. 28, 2023, because of its inclusion of the nine-dashed line (now a 10-dashed line) that supposedly shows China's boundaries in the South China Sea," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The new map also lays claim to the Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin Plateau.

"The Philippines rejects the 2023 version of China’s Standard Map issued

"This latest attempt to legitimize China's purported sovereignty and jurisdiction over Philippine features and maritime zones has no basis under

Next page

PBBM eyes ASEAN statement on sea code, WPS incursions

By Rey Requejo and Charles Dantes

THE completion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea – which has been under negotiation since 2002 or more than two decades ago – will still take some time, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

This as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to make a strong push for a statement on recent Chinese incursions

Musk: X to offer video, audio calls

NEWS / A2

in the West Philippine Sea during the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Indonesia next week, DFA ASEAN Affairs Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu said.

"It [COC negotiation] has been happening for a long time. I think it will take a little bit longer to finish it,” Espiritu said.

He said discussions on the issue should not be rushed.

"There's a lot [of impediments],

NEWS / A2

10-DASH LINE

DOJ suspends revised travel guidelines

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

EV TRANSFORMATION FLEET. Aboitiz Power Corp. presents its Electric Vehicle (EV) Fleet Transformation Program in support of the country's Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act on Thursday in Quezon City. Photo shows (from left) Aboitiz Power Distribution Chief Technology Officer Mark Valencia, AboitizPower Head of Corporate Services Jokin Aboitiz, Cotabato Light President and COO Val Saludes, AboitizPower Distribution Utilities COO Anton Perdicesm, AboitizPower President and CEO Emmanuel Rubio, Davao Light President and COO Rodger Velasco, and Visayan Electric Company President and COO Engr. Raul Lucero.

BPOs ‘disturbed’ by abuse of Filipino AI workers

By Othel V. Campos

regulated business process outsourcing (BPO) companies are "shamelessly abusing" Filipino workers working in

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has put on hold the revised travel guidelines for Filipinos leaving the country after the new requirements, initiated by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), drew strong criticism from lawmakers.

The suspension came after the Senate adopted two resolutions urging the IACAT to suspend and review the new guidelines and authorizing Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri to seek a

By Alena Mae S. Flores

PETRON Corp. said Thursday it is increasing its liquefied petroleum gas or cooking gas prices by P6.65 per kilogram, or P73.15 per 11-kg tank, effective today to reflect the higher contract price of LPG in the world market.

Petron said it will also increase the price of auto LPG by P3.70 per liter (VATinclusive) by 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 1.

The country's lone refiner said in

President Duterte during a National Security Council meeting attended by four former presidents including (from left) Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Fidel V. Ramos and Benigno Aquino III. Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque says Malacanang is inclined to ask the four ex-presidents to attend a meeting on issues besetting the West Philippine Sea. NSC file

FATAL FIRE. Officers of the Bureau of Fire Protection and Quezon City DRRMO recover the body of one of at least 15 persons who died in a fire at Gloria Avenue in Barangay Tandang Sora on Thursday morning. Manny Palmero

SIMs shouldn't be sold’

Musk: X to offer video, audio calls

WASHINGTON—The social media platform X will begin offering video and audio calling, owner Elon Musk announced on Thursday, a step towards turning the former Twitter into an "everything app."

"Video & audio calls coming to X," Musk wrote in a post on the platform, without specifying when the new features would be available. The calling features would work on iOS, Android, Mac, and PC systems, and no phone number would be needed, he said. "X is the effective global address

PH...

From A1 international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)," it added.

The Philippines asserted that the 2016 Arbitral Ruling issued by thePermanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has already invalidatedChina's dash-line claim, which was originally a nine-dash line.

"It categorically stated that 'maritime areas of the South China Sea encompassed by the relevant part of the 'ninedash line' are contraryto the Convention and without lawful effect to the extent that they exceed the geographic and substantive limits of China's maritime entitlements under the Convention,'" DFA said.

DFA Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu said the Philippines is considering including in its statement about Manila's position when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets his ASEAN counterparts during the 43rd ASEAN Summit in September.

"Definitely there are external partners who support us," Espiritu said, although he said he could not be sure there would be consensus support from the regional bloc.

In the face of a strong backlash, China has asked affected countries to remain "calm" and urged them to "refrain from

PBBM...

From A1 including the different national interests. Since there are several countries and ASEAN is also involved, we have to come up with a compromise every step of the way,” the DFA official added.

During the 42nd ASEAN Summit in May, Mr. Marcos called on the bloc to hasten the completion of the legally binding pact with China.

During his trip to Jakarta from

Work,...

From A1

Under Memorandum Circular No. 30 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, the inclement weather brought by Typhoons "Goring" and "Hanna" and the southwest monsoon or "habagat" enhancing the rains caused today's suspension of work and classes, which were also halted Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, private companies and offices were left to their own discretion to suspend work.

However, the memo said government agencies involved in the delivery of health services, disaster and calamities preparedness, and other vital services are to continue with their work.

Meanwhile, “Goring” caused P357 million in damage to agriculture, affecting 8,483 farmers in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Western Visayas, the Department of Agriculture said Thursday.

Meanwhile, the state weather bureau said Severe Tropical Storm “Hanna” (international name Haikui), and two other tropical cyclones outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) were enhancing the southwest monsoon or "habagat," causing showers and gusty winds over several parts of the country.

At least...

From A1

Quezon City Fire Department chief

Aristotle Bañaga said one of the three survivors claimed some victims were not able to jump out from the second floor because the rest of the windows had grills.

He said most of the victims were stay-in workers who could have been

Petron...

From A1 its advisory the price hikes reflect the international contract price of LPG for the month of September. Other LPG retailers are also expected to adjust prices. The price increase is higher than the

book," the billionaire added. "That set of factors is unique."

Last month, Musk and his newly hired chief executive Linda Yaccarino announced the rebranding of Twitter as X, saying it would become an "everything app" inspired by China's WeChat that would allow users to socialize as well as

over-interpreting the issue."

Wang Wenbin, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman, said it was only "a routine practice" for China to release a map signifying the supposed extent of its territory, that was only its "exercise of sovereignty in accordance with law."

The release of the map comes on the heels of China's aggression in the South China Sea, by deploying navy ships and harassing foreign personnel, including Filipinos, patrolling the vast ocean.

The DFA called on China "to act responsibly" and abide by its obligations under UNCLOS and 2016 Arbitral Award, which Manila considers "final and binding" but which Beijing rejects.

At the upcoming ASEAN Summit, Marcos is expected to continue to push for adherence to a rules-based international order to settle disputes, including the overlapping claims in the SCS.

The Philippines will continue to uphold and exercise freedom of navigation and overflight with the South China Sea, in accordance with international law,” he said.

The UNCLOS, adopted in 1982, lays down a comprehensive legal framework governing all activities and uses of the world's seas and oceans. It also establishes general obligations for safeguarding the marine environment and protecting the freedom of scientific research on the high seas.

The Philippines, China, and several

Sept. 5 to 7, the President is set to hold bilateral meetings with at least four leaders: Korean PresidentYoon Suk Yeol, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.

Espiritu added that the President is also eyeing to discuss food and energy security, migrant workers protection, and the country's potential in the digital economy with his counterparts during the summit.

“Other priority areas of cooperation with dialogue partners will also be

Malacañang on Thursday afternoon suspended government work and classes in all levels in Metro Manila due to bad weather. The suspension took effect at 3 p.m.

Several streets in Metro Manila were also flooded as of Thursday morning due to heavy rains in the previous hours brought by the southwest monsoon.

The DA said the damages represented a production loss of 15,856 metric tons (MT) on about 16,145 hectares of agricultural land. Rice, corn, and high-value crops were affected.

The DA said it had positioned P100 million worth of rice, corn, and assorted vegetable seeds for distribution to affected farms, and drugs and biological drugs for livestock and poultry raisers.

The department will also provide a Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas.

As of Thursday, Goring was following a mainly west-northwest path across the waters off Guangdong, China.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Thursday that 305,481 people or 85,395 families were affected by Goring in 1,152 barangays in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas and Cordillera Administrative Region. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

sleeping at the time the fire broke out. The fire started at 5:30 a.m. at the owner’s 200-square-meter residential unit that was turned into a warehouse for t-shirt printing and manufacturing.

Chief Supt. Nahum Tarroza, BFPNational Capital Region fire marshal, said the chemicals used for t-shirt printing could have caused the fire to spread rapidly.

“When the first responders arrived,

forecasted P2 to P5 per kg by industry players last week. Sources concurred with the probable hike, which would translate to P22 to P55 per kg increase for every 11kilo tank, used primarily by households.

LPG was sold at P718 to P935 per 11kg tank in Metro Manila prior to the increase, government data showed. Local oil firms adjust LPG prices every first day of the month and pump prices ev-

handle their finances.

X's payment branch Twitter Payments LLC was granted a "crucial" currency transmitter license from the US state of Rhode Island on Monday, allowing it to "engage in cryptocurrency-related activities" such as exchanges, wallets, and payment processors, the crypto website CoinWire reported this week.

The license allows X to "securely store, transfer, and facilitate the exchange of digital assets on behalf of its users," according to CoinWire.

Since Musk bought Twitter last October, the platform's advertising business

other littoral states are locked in a territorial dispute over the resource-rich SCS where Beijing claims around 80 percent of the strategic waters.

The Philippines on July 12, 2016 won its petition filed before the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) after the arbitral tribunal invalidated Beijing’s claim of supposed historic rights over almost the entire SCS.

China, however, has repeatedly ignored the PCA ruling.

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday took a swipe at China for releasing a map that showed the West Philippine Sea as part of Chinese territory.

“China is delusional," Hontiveros said. "They're just doing anything to get our territory.”

“India has already lodged a protest against China for issuing this ridiculous map,” she added, saying the DFA should follow suit.

She said the DFA should also coordinate with the National Resource andMapping Authority (NAMRIA) to update a map that clearly shows thecountry’s exclusive economic zone, continental shelves, and territorial seas in the West Philippine Sea.

“We know that China is a master manipulator, willing to bend the truthfor her own gain, at the expense of countries like ours. China will continue to spread fake news, fund pro-Beijing mouthpieces,

discussed. The President will continue to promote our rules-based international order, including UNCLOS, especially in the South China Sea,” the official added.

Espiritu disclosed that the Philippines was able to express its “displeasure” over recent incursions in the West Philippine Sea, including the water cannon attack by Chinese Coast Guard vessels against Philippine Coast Guard ships en route to Ayungin Shoal for a resupply mission, during an ASEAN-China meeting on the COC last August 22 to 24.

"We stressed that all these actions

DOJ...

From A1 temporary restraining order (TRO) before the Supreme Court (SC) against its implementation.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who also heads IACAT, defended the revised guidelines, saying they were intended to streamline departure procedures and not curtail people’s right to travel.

“The revisions were not intended to burden the general public but rather to enhance the overall experience of departing passengers,” he said.

Remulla acknowledged the need to suspend the implementation of the guidelines to address the concerns raised by senators and the public.

He also assured the public that the DOJ is committed to upholding the rights and welfare of all individuals, including the right to travel freely.

“We assure the public that the revised guidelines aim to strike a balance between national security and the facilitation of smooth and efficient travel,” he said.

The Senate adopted resolutions after several senators expressed apprehension that the stricter guidelines for depart-

the house was totally engulfed by fire. If you've seen our pictures, it's really gone. The chemicals of the paint and the fabrics contributed to the fire,” Tarroza said. He said the shop only had a barangay permit, which was secured only this August.

It also did not have other necessary permits, such as a business permit and a mayor’s permit. The city government will be extend-

ery Tuesday. They raised the price of kerosene by P0.80 per liter, diesel by P0.70 per liter, and gasoline by P0.30 per liter effective 6 a.m. Tuesday, triggering the 8th consecutive week of increase for diesel and kerosene and the seventh consecutive week for gasoline.

Meanwhile, the Department of Energy's Oil Industry Management Bureau

has collapsed as marketers soured on his management style and mass firings that gutted content moderation.

In response, the tycoon has moved towards building a subscriber base and pay model in a search for new revenue.

Many users and advertisers alike have responded adversely to the site's new charges for previously free services, as well as its changes to content moderation and the return of previously banned farright accounts.

Musk also killed off the Twitter logo, replacing its globally recognized blue bird with a white X. AFP

anddistribute propaganda materials. We must push back. We must not rest until China stops her absurdity.”

Senator Francis Escudero said China can issue as many maps as itwants, but this will not affect the PCA ruling in the Philippines’ favor. He added that any unilateral declaration by a state has no weight or standing in international law.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said the Philippines isunder no obligation to recognize the territorial claims of other countries.

Stratbase ADR Institute, a think tank, rejected the map as “a desperate attempt [by China] to legitimize its territorial claims.”

“It is a mockery of the rules-based international order and of basic decency,” the institute said in a statement.

“We reiterate that the arbitral award issued by the Permanent Court ofArbitration is clear and final-- China’s ninedash line is baseless and illegal. China’s claims to sovereign and historic rights in the maritime area are contrary to the UNCLOS."

"The publication of the map has the dangerous potential of propagating disinformation by advancing the Chinese narrative that the West Philippine Sea is part of their territory. No attempt to redraw geopolitical boundaries will make this acceptable, as this is a blatant violation of international law,” it added.

should be avoided because they undermine trust, they escalate tension in the South China Sea, and they undermine peace and stability in the area," he said.

Espiritu said among the points discussed during the negotiations were the definition of necessary terms; the legal or the non-legal binding nature of the COC; the relationship of the previous Declaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea; and the purview of geographic extent of the COC.

"These things are very detailed and very wide in themselves," he said.

ing Filipino passengers would hamper the people’s constitutionally guaranteed right to travel.

The stricter guidelines require all international-bound Filipino passengers to undergo immigration inspection for assessment, clearance, and documentation.

They are also required to show basic travel documents, a passport, valid at least six months from the date of departure, an appropriate valid visa (whenever required), a boarding pass, and a confirmed return or round trip ticket, when necessary.

The guidelines added that the primary immigration officer (IO) of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is mandated to interview the passenger about the purpose of his or her travel and inspect the basic travel documents.

The guidelines allow the immigration officer to ask questions and require the passenger to show additional supporting documents to establish the purpose of travel.

The passenger may only be allowed to leave after sufficiently establishing his or her declared purpose of travel.

The primary immigration officer may refer outbound passengers to a secondary inspection if they fail to establish their purpose of travel during the primary inspection or are unable to produce supporting documents such as proof of financial capacity to travel.

ing burial and financial aid, scholarship, and job or livelihood opportunities to the victims’ immediate relatives, Belmonte said.

The mayor, however, appealed to the public to stay vigilant and immediately report any suspicious business operations within a residential area.

“We need the help of the general public. That place is a private village where there is a homeowners’ association,” Belmonte said.

recently completed the draft Philippine National Standards on the LPG dealer's showroom and warehouse requirements to ensure compliance with safety practices.

The draft PNS provides for the minimum requirements for an LPG dealer's showroom and warehouse to ensure safe and proper storage of LPG cylinders and canisters during retail operations. For example, an LPG dealer's facility

Registered SIMs shouldn‘t be sold, NPC warns public

THE National Privacy Commission warned the public against selling their registered SIM cards, saying they will face penalties that include fines and imprisonment.

The NPC issued the advisory after it received reports of individuals offering P1,000 in exchange for registered SIM cards. Those who sell or transfer the ownership of their registered SIM card without following the proper procedure, the NPC said, face imprisonment from six months to six years, or a fine of P100,000 to P300,000, or both.

Original SIM card owners risk being exposed to legal action if the SIM card registered in their name is misused for illegal activities, the commission said.

“This practice is not only prohibited under the SIM Registration Act (RA No. 11934) but it also places data subjects in a vulnerable position, exposing them to potential legal repercussions, risks, and harms if a SIM card, registered in their name, is misused for illicit activities,” the NPC said.

"Timely reporting can help prevent potential misuse of your personal data," it said. "Scrutinize the intentions behind such offers and verify the credibility of the individuals making them.”

PH paves way for ‘Nikkeijin’ to return to Japan

THE government has waived fines imposed on war-displaced descendants of Japanese migrants, a move that will allow them to finally travel back to Japan after having been rendered stateless for decades and considered illegal residents in the Philippines.

The descendants, known as Nikkeijin, have been unable to obtain either Japanese or Philippine citizenship after losing their birth records during World War II.

The fines imposed by the Philippines have likewise accumulated from the time of their birth, making it difficult for them to obtain a passport or travel document to be able to return to Japan.

“The BI recognizes the needs of Filipinos who have the status of Nikkeijin under Japanese law. They are Filipinos who are likewise descendants of Japanese nationals," Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement.

Under the new immigration guideline, a Philippine Nikkeijin may travel abroad with or without a Philippine passport with a deferment of payment of immigration fees. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

BPOs...

From A1 as revealed in a recent Washington Post report of such an unregulated firm based in Mindanao.

In an exclusive interview with Manila Standard, IT-Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) president Jack Madrid said incidents such as the reported BPO sweatshops in Cagayan de Oro Cityhave nothing to do with legitimate IT-BPM companies operating in the Philippines.

“What’s going on with this story has nothing to do with our industry.

But obviously, we are and we will be affected to a certain extent because I think it positions us, some of our labor force, potentially being perceived as not skilled. But this is happening in other poorer countries other than the Philippines,” he said.

“Anything that is negative will affect all of us,” Madrid added, noting that the business group is not aware of the extent of how unregistered BPO activities are exploiting, allegedly, millions of Filipinos employed in the lowest rung of the AI subsector.

The Washington Post identified the foreign firm involved as Scale AI, based in San Francisco, California. It owns a platform called Remotasks, which has hired several Filipino "taskers" since 2017. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

may be a showroom, or a showroom and a warehouse. This showroom consists of the LPG display area, office space for business transactions, and stock area for LPG cylinders available for sale, and empty or returned cylinders/canisters.

Among the standards include open-air storage where LPG cylinders shall be kept in well-ventilated or open air and ground level.

Senators seek probe on road rage incidents, ‘trigger-happy’ PNP men

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATE President Juan Miguel

Zubiri and Senator Raffy Tulfo are seeking a Senate investigation into the rampant road rage incidents that often involve the use of firearms and endangering innocent lives

Tulfo and Zubiri filed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 769 after Wilfredo Gonzales, a dismissed police officer, was caught on video assaulting and brandishing a gun at a cyclist in Quezon City last Aug. 27.

Under the resolution, Tulfo and Zubiri said the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and other relevant authorities are directed to implement stricter regulations and penalties on road rage incidents involving threats to pull firearms in public.

Despite a lawmaker’s criticism of its “trigger-happy” culture, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said

IN BRIEF

AFP chief proposes creation of Army unit for missiles

ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP)

Chief-of-Staff, General Romeo Brawner Jr. is proposing the creation of a permanent Army unit that will be in charge of a cruise missile system for the military. Brawner said, “in the Philippine Army, for instance, we are proposing for the creation of a missile regiment which will be the one in charge of maintaining and, later on if needed, firing these weapon systems.”

“Because of the new advent of technology in warfare, we will have to also adjust doctrines and our organization,” Brawner said in response to Senator Risa Hontiveros’ query about his flagship programs as the head of AFP during last Wednesday’s Commission on Appointments deliberation.

“For instance, because of the arrival of missile systems which we’ll be using to defend our territory from possible external aggression, we will have to create units that will be able to man these modern weapons,” he added.Vince Lopez

Bangsamoro vows justice for 9 civilians killed in 2020

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Bangsamoro

Human Rights Commission (BHRC) said it is committed to continuing the fight for justice for the nine Moro civilians who were murdered in a gun attack in Kabacan, North Cotabato three years ago.

On August 29, 2020, at around 12:20 pm, five suspects opened fire on nine Moro farmers near a granary along Aringay Road within University of Southern Mindanao (USM) campus in Kabacan, Cotabato.

Eight victims died on the spot while one victim survived and was taken to a hospital.

The Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament adopted a resolution strongly condemning the said massacre and requesting the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to fasttrack the conduct of their investigation so that justice will be brought and that perpetrators of the heinous crime will be immediately punished.

“We are with you until the end, we will never abandon your case,” BHRC Chairperson Atty.

Abdul Rashid Kalim told the bereaved families of the victims in a press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Bobby Lagsa CA Justice Fernando retires after 45 years in service

COURT of Appeals Presiding Justice Remedios

A. Salazar Fernando will retire on September 2 after serving the government for 45 years both in the executive department and the judiciary.

The judiciary will hold a retirement ceremony in her honor on Friday, Sept. 1, during the CA’s full court session that starts at 2:30 p.m. Reception will be held at the at the Diamond Hotel starting at 5:30 p.m. Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo will be present in both events.

Fernando graduated with a psychology degree from the College of the Holy Spirit and her law degree from the Ateneo de Manila University Law School where she was honored as among the top five graduates in 1977.

After passing the bar examinations, she joined the Supreme Court as a law clerk and later transferred to the Presidential Management Staff of the Office of the President.

In 1983, she was appointed judge of the municipal trial court (MTC) in Sta. Rita, Pampanga, and also served as acting MTC judge of Lubao, also in Pampanga, in 1984.

After three years as trial court judge, she was appointed chairperson of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTRFB) in 1987 and served as an assistant secretary of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in a concurrent capacity in 1991. Rey E. Requejo

Salceda asks CSC to release eligibility rules for SK officials

fewer of its officers were misbehaving.

Earlier, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro cited a Navotas police operation that killed a 17-year-old due to supposed mistaken identity, a police officer who accidentally shot dead another teenager in Rizal, and the viral road rage incident where an ex-policeman brandished a gun in front of a cyclist.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Brigadier General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. meanwhile said there were lapses in the investigation on the viral road rage video involving Gonzales.

Nartatez said if only the Galas Police Station in Quezon City investigated properly and obtained footage of the incident, Gonzales should have been arrested.

Nartatez said the press conference of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) with Gonzales on August 27 made the situation worse.

Gonzales said he and the cyclist went to the police station following the incident and settled the matter.

Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas on Thursday demanded accountability from Quezon City Police District (QCPD)

chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III following his resignation, saying that it is “an attempt to evade public scrutiny and outrage.”

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Thursday ordered the People’s Law Enforcement Board to investigate as to what actually transpired during the amicable settlement between the cyclist and Gonzales.

PLEB lawyer-executive officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said the Station 11 commander of the Quezon City Police District, Lt. Col. Jake Barila has a lot of explaining to do in connection with the gun-toting incident involving former policeman Wilfredo Gonzales as seen in a viral video.

He clarified that the probe is meant to determine whether protocols were followed and whether administrative lapses were committed.

Any complaint filed against the Galas police station in relation to the conduct of settlement procedures would be tried, and the personnel involved may be held accountable for grave misconduct and oppression punishable by dismissal from the service or suspension.

Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja

By Maricel V. Cruz

HOUSE Ways and Means chair and Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda on Thursday requested Civil Service Commission (CSC) chairperson Karlo Alexei B. Nograles to release the guidelines for the issuance of the Certificate of Eligibility for officials of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) under Republic Act 11768.

The law--which Salceda authored-amended the SK Reform Act and introduced benefits to SK officials.

The law, which was enacted in July 2021, gave the relevant agencies 90 days to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations. The IRR, however, was only issued in September last year, and the guidelines for the CSC eligibility have not yet been issued.

The law also entitles SK Treasurers and Secretaries to the same benefit. The same law granted SK officials honorarium as part of their benefits.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) meanwhile suspended the filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) for BSKE in Metro Manila, Abra and Ilocos Norte on August 30, due to typhoon “Goring”.

Comelec chairman George Garcia said that the filing of COCs, which was supposed to end on September 2, Saturday, would be extended until 5:00pm of September 3, 2023, Sunday. The poll chief clarified that the extension of the filing of COCs will apply only in Metro Manila, Abra and Ilocos Norte.

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said work in all Comelec offices in the three areas were suspended on Thursday “due to severe rains and flooding… brought about by Typhoon Goring.”

The Comelec also reported that three out of four recent incidents of violence were not related to the upcoming 2023 BSKE.

START OF THE YULETIDE SEASON.

beginning

Malacañang honors outstanding scientist, trade official

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. conferred Thursday the Order of National Scientist on Dr. Carmencita Padilla and the Presidential Medal of Merit on Trade Assistant Secretary Allan Gepty in a ceremony at Malacañan Palace in Manila.

During the conferment rites, Mr. Marcos thanked Padilla and Gepty for their outstanding service to the country and to the Filipino people.

“Both Dr. Padilla and Asec. Gepty

exemplify what it means to be a public servant and these awards are our form of recognition and a testament to that service. Their service goes above and beyond typical duties and responsibilities and their achievements have created and will continue to create a positive and lasting impact,” President Marcos said.

Awarded by virtue of Presidential Decree 1003-A, the Order of National Scientist is the highest title conferred

by the Philippine president on a Filipino with outstanding achievements in science and technology.

A clinical geneticist, Padilla has been cited for her pioneering work on newborn screening and the establishment of the Philippine Genome Center (PGC).

Padilla’s notable studies on national programs for newborn screening provided the basis for the enactment of Republic Act (RA) 9288 or the Newborn Screening Act of 2004.

Laudiangco said these incidents include: in Cainta, Rizal last week where the barangay tanods and the suspect were shot dead; in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao where four police officers were injured and the suspects of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters; and the incident in Midsayap, North Cotabato where Barangay Malingaw Punong Barangay aspirant Haron Dimanes were gunned down.

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) chief minister Ahod Ebrahim meanwhile reported that the filing of COCs “has been going well so far.”

The official said no violence related to the COC filing in the region had been reported since the activity started on August 28. Vito Barcelo

CASH GIFTS FOR SENIORS. Mayor Lani Cayetano led the distribution of birthday cash gifts to senior citizens in the 10 new ‘EMBO’ barangays now under the care of Taguig. Under the program, qualified beneficiaries from Barangays Cembo, Comembo, Pembo, East Rembo, West Rembo,  South Cembo, Pitogo, Post Proper Northside, Post Proper Southside, and Rizal, will receive a P3,000 to P 10,000 cash gifts, depending on their age bracket. Joseph Muego

Customs conducts full audit of storage facilities with seized goods

By Julito G. Rada

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has conducted a full audit of all its accredited condemnation facilities in a bid to maintain transparency and keep the trust of the public.

Condemnation facilities serve as the places where seized and abandoned goods from the country’s ports are destroyed and disposed of.

The full audit and inspection were based on the directive of Customs Deputy Commissioner Vener Baquiran, head of BOC’s Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group, to ensure the integrity and compliance of accredited condemnation facilities.

“These facilities are crucial in maintaining transparency and accountabil-

ity of our operations,” Baquiran said in a statement.

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said in a statement that the audit reflects their commitment “in upholding the highest standards of our operations and maintaining public trust with the Bureau.”

Pursuant to Section 7.2 of CMO No. 24-2021, as amended, the Port Operations Service, through the Auction and Cargo Disposal Monitoring Division, has audited 38 facilities, comprising 100 percent of the BOC-accredited condemnation facilities all over the Philippines.

The official assured that the bureau is committed to upholding high standards and maintaining public trust.

Combined elements of the BOC

and the Philippine Navy meanwhile seized more than P160 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Tawi-Tawi.

The government operatives intercepted a motorboat loaded with P160.3 million worth of undocumented cigarettes motorboat in the waters of Baturapac Island, Tandubas, TawiTawi.

“Twelve crew members of the motorboat failed to present proper documents to prove the regularity of the prior importation of the alleged smuggled cigarettes. The motorboat, identified as “MB Indah Nadz” was carrying 2,798 master cases of “Oakley Original” brand cigarettes when apprehended,” Port of Zamboanga Acting District Collector, Engr. Arthur G. Sevilla, Jr. said. Vito Barcelo

SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian said he will raise the recurring issues on the hiring of teachers ahead of the Senate deliberations of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposed 2024 budget.

Gatchalian has repeatedly urged the DepEd to speed up its hiring process. Data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reveals that as of February 17, 2023, there are 24,254 unfilled teaching positions in the DepEd.

This is equivalent to almost 3% of the DepEd’s 879,789 teaching positions. The bigger portion of these unfilled positions are entry-level positions such as Teacher I, Special Science Teacher I, Special Education Teacher I, and Master Teacher I.

The DepEd previously said that the hiring process, which also involves the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the DBM, usually takes six months.

FIRST GREEN ARMY BRIGADE

COMMANDER. Former Junior Chamber International (JCI) World President Victor Jose

The Commission on Audit (COA) also took note that while the DepEd was able to obligate 95% of its total adjustment allotments of P658.5 billion in its 2022 budget, the unutilized balance of P32.6 billion can be attributed to unfilled teaching positions, as well as the delayed, partial, and non-implementation of various programs, activities, and projects.

In a Senate basic education hearing, Gatchalian also pointed to the number of schools that do not have enough teachers for school year (SY) 2022-2023 based on DepEd data and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.

Out of 39,186 total schools for Kindergarten to Grade 6, 9% (3,505) have insufficient teachers. Twenty-four percent (2,412) of 10,188 junior high schools, and 34% (2,522) of 7,520 senior high schools do not have enough teachers. Macon Ramos-Araneta

I. Luciano    was named as the first Green Army Brigade (GAB) Commander of the Million Trees Foundation, Inc. (MTFI) in simple rites at Eddie’s Barn-SMC Multi-Purpose Center at Million Trees Nursery and Eco Learning Center at the La Mesa Watershed in Quezon City recently.

Luciano, also former Clark International president and CEO, donated P100,000 to the MTFI.  For his generosity, he was recognized as First GAB Commander to serve as an example to other private individuals to show care for Mother Earth and to support a noble advocacy like planting of million trees annually to protect critical watersheds. Present during the rites were MTFI Chairman Emeritus and AMTC founder Gen. Reynaldo V. Velasco (ret.); MTFI President and Executive Director Mel Velasco; JCI Senators Lia Seelin, Gene and Techie Bautista, and Norman Macapagal. Fruit-bearing trees were planted in honor of the GAB Commander. At least 500 narra saplings will be planted on behalf of JCI Senate Philippines at the La Mesa Watershed for the calendar year 2023.

Gatchalian vows to press DepEd on continuing shortage of teachers

A seller arranges a Christmas parol in a store in Quiapo, Manila signaling the

of the ‘ber’ months. A parol is a traditional Christmas ornament that symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem. Norman Cruz

New law raises disabled veterans’ pension

By Maricel V. Cruz

DISABLED veterans and their dependents will enjoy a more dependable and stable source of income after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the law increasing their monthly disability pension by as much as five-fold, according to Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

“With the recent signing of the law increasing pension benefits for disabled veterans, a brighter future awaits those who have selflessly served our nation,” Romualdez said.

“This significant step ensures that disabled veterans will not only receive the recognition they deserve but also gain the financial support they need to lead fulfilling lives,

SPEAKER MEETS

SINGAPOREAN ENVOY. Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez warmly greets Singaporean Ambassador to the Philippines Constance See Sin Yuan during the celebration of the 58th National Day of the Republic of Singapore Wednesday night at Fairmont Hotel in Makati City.

Speaker leads cash aid release in Malolos City

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin

Romualdez has spearheaded the distribution of financial aid to some 2,000 drivers and student-beneficiaries in Bulacan province.

The move was in line with the policy of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to provide better services to the people through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under Sec. Rex Gatchalian, a former congressman and mayor of Valenzuela City.

Romualdez, head of the 311-member House of Representatives and husband of Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, distributed P5,000 aid to each of the 1,000 qualified Jeepney Operator and DriversAssociation members, as well as 1,000 students.

The AICS payout was held at the Valencia Hall of the BulacanState University in Malolos City.

Romualdez, who was guest of honor during the ribbon-cuttingceremonies, expressed admiration for the organization of Tingog “where the Filipinos’ inherent bayanihan trait is still very much prevalent.”

“This center represents more than just a building; it is a pillar of hope. It stands as a symbol that, despite the challenges and adversities, the spirit of bayanihan prevails,” he said as he inaugurated the Alagang Tingog Center (ATC) in the first district of Bulacan on Wednesday.

“I am incredibly proud to be associated with a team that works relentlessly towards making a difference,” the Speaker added, highlighting the “innate attribute of Filipino culture to help each other, which apparently remains customary despite today’s digital age.”

free from the economic burden of their disabilities. It is a reaffirmation of our commitment to our heroes, demonstrating that we stand with them, providing the means for a more secure and dignified future,” he added. Republic Act (RA) 11958 or “An Act Rationalizing the Disability Pension of Veterans” was signed by President Marcos last August 24. It amends RA 6948 enacted in 1990 to provide a monthly pension to veterans who were disabled due to sickness, disease or injuries sustained in the line of duty. Under the new law, a veteran’s

disability benefit increased by 350 percent from the current P1,000 to P4,500.

Consequently, veterans who were receiving the highest disability benefit of P1,700 will now receive P10,000, representing a 488 percent adjustment under the newly enacted law.

Romualdez noted that disabilities often limit a veteran’s ability to work and earn a living. “Thus, a more substantial disability pension ensures that veterans and their dependents have a reliable source of income to cover daily living expenses, healthcare costs, and other essential needs,” he pointed out.

According to the Speaker, veterans

Pinay peace negotiator is Ramon Magsaysay awardee

FILIPINA peace negotiator and professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer is among the recipients of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Awards.

Ferrer was commended “her deep, unwavering belief in the transformative power of non-violent strategies in peacebuilding, her cool intelligence, and courage in surmounting difficulties to convey the truth.”

Ferrer teaches political science at the state-run University of the Philippines. She was also a former senior mediation adviser at the United Nations and founding member of the Southeast Asian Women

Peace Mediators founding member. Together with other women peace makers, Ferrer initiated the drafting of the Philippines’ first National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security which was eventually adopted by the government in 2010 as part of the country’s commitment to the UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

Founded in 2020, the Southeast Asian Women Peace Mediators as a pioneering group of women engaged in convening safe spaces for dialogues and supporting mediation initiatives in countries like Myanmar and Afghanistan.

“Conflicts are best resolved not through the annihilation of one party, but by the mutual transformation of all players towards a common vision and shared responsibilities and accountability,” Ferrer said in a statement.

The Ramon Magsaysay Awards, considered Asia’s premier prize and highest honor, also recognized three other personalities from different fields: Ravi Kannan from India for holistic healthcare, Eugenio Lemos of TimorLeste as a food sovereignty visionary, and Korvi Rakshand of Bangladesh for championing education-for-all.

MANILA STREET FLOODS. A passenger jeepney de es knee-deep water along United Nations Avenue in Manila due to southwest incessant rains unleashed by typhoon Goring. Norman Cruz

NBI undergoes major revamp of key o icials

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has reshuffled officials in key positions.

The revamp came weeks after the NBI underwent public scrutiny and a Senate investigation when one of their inmates, Jad Dera, was discovered being escorted out of their detention center to have a hotel dinner with his girlfriend. The NBI was also criticized after inviting sexy dancers to perform in their

fellowship night.

NBI Director Medardo de Lemos signed 52 special orders appointing officials under the NBI modernization law or RA 10867.

He has appointed Joselito Amon as officer-in-charge of the Office of the Deputy Director for Legal Service. Jose Doloiras was named Assistant Director for HumanResource and Management Service. Angelito Magno was designated as

who suffer from disabilities incurred during in line of duty also require ongoing medical care and assistance.

“A higher disability pension provides them with the financial means to access the necessary medical treatment, adaptive equipment, and support services to improve their quality of life,” he said. Since families of disabled veterans often bear the financial and caregiving burdens associated with disabilities, Romualdez said a higher pension can alleviate some of these pressures, allowing families to better support their loved ones and maintain their own well-being.

IN BRIEF

Gov’t needs P12.9b for 2024 TUPAD

THE Marcos administration eyes P12.92 billion budget for the implementation of the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) emergency employment program, Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD), in 2024.

In a statement, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the allotment of P12.92 billion for the TUPAD program under the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) was necessary to boost job creation for Filipinos.

The DBM said TUPAD, a community based package of assistance providing emergency employment, was expected to benefit over 1.36 million displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers.

TUPAD aims to provide jobs to Filipinos for a minimum period of 10 days to a maximum of 90 days, d pending on the nature of the work to be performed.

“All disadvantaged workers aged 18 and older are qualified as program beneficiaries. Senior citizens are also eligible for the program, provided that they are fit to work and would not engage in hazardous work,” the DBM said.

NLEX rushes work on San Simon ramp

THE North Luzon Expressway Corp. (NEX) said it expects to complete works to elevate the 200-meter portion of San Simon in Pampanga before the year ends to address massive flooding in the area.

“The goal is to enhance safety, accessibility, and mobility of motorists especially during the rainy season. We aim to complete the project as soon as possible with minimal disruption to the motorists,” NLEX president Luigi Bautista said.

The works included the completion of a detailed engineering design for the pavement raising of both the north and south bounds of the 200-meter portion under the Tulaoc overpass by 0.7 meters, as well as, the design for the flood walls with sump pits and sump pumps to manage flood waters and avoid another flooding incident in the area.

The tollway company will also raise the pavement of the San Simon ramp and improve its drainage system.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Negros Or. 3rd district special poll set Dec. 9

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the filing of certificate of candidacy for the vacant position of Negros Oriental third district will be Nov. 6 up to Nov. 8, while election will be held Dec. 9, 2023.

The special election will be conducted to fill the vacancy in the House of Representatives created by the expulsion of Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves.

Comelec chairman George Garcia has confirmed that the poll body has received the Certification of Permanent Vacancy and the Resolution Calling for a Special Election from the House of Representatives.

chairman of the regular bids and awards committee in addition to his post as Assistant Director for Regional Service.

Noel Bocaling was appointed as Assistant Director of the Comptroller Service.

Aside from the appointment of the 4 assistant directors, De Lemos also reshuffled 48 others, including regional directors from various NBI offices in the provinces, assistant regional directors, their executive officers, and line agents.

After this three-day window, the election period will officially be in effect from Nov.9 to Dec. 24 to ensure safety before, during, and after election day. Gun ban will be in effect during the election period, Garcia said.

“It is prohibited to bear, carry, or transport firearms or other deadly weapons in public conveyance, or even if licensed to possess or carry the same, unless the appropriate Certificate of Authority has been secured from the Comelec,” the Comelec said. Vito Barcelo

Baghdad seeks lifting of OFW deployment ban to Iraq

CITING improved security situations, the government of Iraq on Wednesday appealed to the Philippines lift the deployment ban on overseas Filipino workers to Iraq.

A 19-member delegation from Baghdad currently in Manila for the 8th Iraq-Philippines Joint Committee Meeting (JCM), the first to be held after 10 years.

On the sidelines of the bilateral talks, Iraq’s Deputy Minister of Health and

head of delegation Khamees Hussein Ali said Baghdad intends to hire more Filipino workers, specifically nurses.

Ali said they are seeking the removal of “red lines” between the two states, referring to the current deployment ban and alert level status in the country.

“We are trying to move all the things that affect Filipino workers to come to Iraq because now in Iraq the security is very good, everything is

good now, so it is okay to bring Filipino workers into Iraq,” he said.

In the same interview, Iraq Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs advisor Adnan Kareem Salman said have invited Filipino officials to Iraq and assess the current situation there.

“The Ministry of Labor wants to remove the ban on the Filipino workersin Iraq. Filipino workers don’t make any problem and they are very liked by our country,” he said.

Ver Noveno

Excerpts from the SC Internal Rules

THE Internal Rules of the Supreme Court “shall govern the internal operations of the Supreme Court and guide its exercise of judicial and administrative functions” (Section 1, Rule 1).

It “shall be interpreted in accordance with the mandates of the Supreme Court under the Constitution, applicable laws, and the Rules of Court…” (Section 2, Rule 1, A.M. 10-4-20SC published on May 7, 2010 with subsequent amendments).

The performance of judicial functions and administrative supervision over all courts and their personnel shall be exercised by the Supreme Court en banc or through its Divisions (see Section 1, Rule 2).

To constitute a quorum in the Supreme Court en banc, eight members must be present (see Section 2, Rule 2). The Supreme Court en banc shall decide “cases in which the constitutionality or validity of any treaty, international or executive agreement, law, executive order, presidential decree, proclamation, order, instruction, ordinance, or regulation is in question” (Section 3, Rule 2). The Court en banc shall also decide cases which raise novel questions of law; cases that affect ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls; or cases involving decisions, resolutions, and orders of the Commission on Elections and the Commission on Audit (Section 3, Rule 2).

Included in the cases to be decided en banc are the dismissal of a judge, official or personnel of the Judiciary, the disbarment of a lawyer, their suspension for a period of more than one year, or a fine exceeding forty thousand pesos; the reinstatement of a dismissed judge or a disbarred lawyer, or the lifting of their suspension; or discipline of a Member of the Court, a Presiding Justice, or any Associate Justice of the collegial appellate courts (Section 3, Rule 2).

To constitute a quorum in the Supreme Court en banc, eight members must be present

The power of the Supreme Court en banc to decide extends to cases where a doctrine or principle laid down by the Court en banc or by a Division may be modified or reversed; cases involving conflicting decisions of two or more divisions; cases where three votes in a Division cannot be obtained; or Division cases where the subject matter has a huge financial impact on businesses or affects the welfare of a community (Section 3, Rule 2).

The Supreme Court en banc can handle other Division cases which are in the opinion of at least three Members of the Division appropriate for transfer to the Court en banc. Any member of the Division may also request the Court en banc to take cognizance of cases which the latter may “deem [to be of] sufficient importance to merit its attention” (Section 3, Rule 2).

“All [other] cases and matters under the jurisdiction of the Court not otherwise provided for by law, by the Rules of Court or by these Internal Rules to be cognizable by the Court en banc shall be cognizable by the Divisions” (Section 4, Rule 2).

“Unless the Court en banc decrees otherwise, a quorum [of a Division] shall consist of a majority of all Members of the Division… ”(Section 5, Rule 2).

“Every initiatory pleading already identified by a G.R. or a UDK number shall be raffled among the Members of the Court.

“The Member-in-Charge to whom a case is raffled, whether such case is to be taken up by the Court en banc or by a Division, shall oversee its progress and disposition unless for valid reason, such as inhibition, the case has to be re-raffled, unloaded or assigned to another Member” (Section 1, Rule 7). There are two raffle committees, one for the en banc and the other for Division cases.

The regular raffle of en banc and Division cases shall be held on Mondays and Wednesdays, respectively.

Each is composed of a Chairperson and two members who shall be designated by the Chief Justice from among the Members of the Court on the basis of seniority (see Sections 2 and 5, Rule 7).

“The [Supreme] Court is a court of law… primar[ily] task[ed]… to resolve and decide cases and issues presented by litigants according to law.

“However, it may apply equity where the court is unable to arrive at a conclusion or judgment strictly on the basis of law due to a gap, silence, obscurity or vagueness of the law…” (Section 1, Rule 3).

“The [Supreme] Court is not a trier of facts [because] its role is to decide cases based on the findings of fact before it” (Section 2, Rule 3). “Hence, [t]he Court cannot issue advisory opinions on the state and meaning of laws, or take cognizance of moot and academic questions, subject only to notable exceptions involving constitutional issues” (Section 3, Rule 3). The Supreme Court not being a trier of facts, “shall respect [the] factual findings of [the] lower courts….”

It will review the factual findings if: (a) the conclusion is a finding grounded entirely on

CHR cooperation with ICC

cooperate with them in any way, shape, or form.”

speculation, surmise and conjecture; (b) the inference made is manifestly mistaken; or (c) there is grave abuse of discretion (Section 4, Rule 3).

The factual findings of the lower courts shall also be reviewed by the Supreme Court if:

(a) the judgment is based on a misapprehension of facts;

(b) the findings of fact are conflicting; or

(c) the collegial appellate courts went beyond the issues of the case, and their findings are contrary to the admissions of both appellant and appellee (Section 4, Rule 3).

The review of factual findings of the lower courts by the Supreme Court is proper when:

(a) the findings of fact of the collegial appellate courts are contrary to those of the trial court;

(b) said findings of fact are conclusions without citation of specific evidence on which they are based; or

(c) the findings of fact of the collegial appellate courts are premised on the supposed evidence, but are contradicted by the evidence on record (Section 4, Rule 3).

“Where the Constitution, the law or the [Supreme] Court itself, in the exercise of its discretion, decides to receive evidence, the reception of evidence may be delegated to a member of the Court, to either the Clerk of Court or one of the Division Clerks of Court, or to one of the appellate courts or its justices who shall submit to the Court a report and recommendation on the basis of the evidence presented”(Section 2, Rule 3).

“[W]hen the [Supreme] Court disposes of the case on its merits and its rulings have significant doctrinal values; resolve novel issues; or impact on the social, political, and economic life of the nation. The decision shall state clearly and distinctly the facts and the law on which it is based.

“ It shall bear the signatures of the members who took part in the deliberation” (Section 6, Rule 13).

Essentially, “when the [Supreme] Court disposes of the case on the merits, but its ruling is… meaningful only to the parties; has no significant doctrinal value; or is [of] minimal interest to the law profession, the academe, or the public [it issues only an unsigned resolution].

“The resolution shall state clearly and distinctly the facts and the law on which it is based” (Section 6, Rule 13).

Litigants and counsels are sometimes concerned when they receive an unsigned extended resolution from the Supreme Court because it appears to have been “prepared by the Office of the Member-in-Charge or by the Office of the Clerk of Court or Division Clerk of Court…”

However, the unsigned extended resolution can only be released “upon instructions of either the Chief Justice or the Division Chairperson, who… approve[s] the resolution”

(Section 6, Rule 11).

If the Supreme Court “comprehensively resolves [a] motion for reconsideration filed in the case or when a dissenting opinion is registered against such resolution [by a Member of the Court].

“The signed resolution shall no longer discuss issues resolved in the decision and need not repeat the facts and the law stated in it. It shall also bear the signatures of the Members who took part in the deliberation” (Section 6, Rule 13).

On the other hand, a minute resolution is issued by the Court “quoting an excerpt of the minutes of Court sessions pertinent to a case [and] shall be prepared by the court attorneys in the Office of the Clerk of Court or the Division Clerk of Court and personally reviewed, approved, and initialed by the Clerk of Court or the Division Clerk of Court”

(Section 6, Rule 11).

The Supreme Court issues minute resolutions when – “the Court: (1) dismisses a petition filed under Rule 64 or 65 of the Rules of Court, citing as legal basis the failure of the petition to show that the tribunal, board or officer exercising judicial or quasi-judicial functions has acted without or in excess of jurisdiction, or with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction; denies a petition filed under Rule 45 of the said Rules, citing as legal basis the absence of reversible error committed in the challenged decision, resolution, or order of the court below;

(3) dismisses an administrative complaint, citing as legal basis failure to show a prima facie case against the respondent;

(4) denies a motion for reconsideration, citing as legal basis the absence of a compelling or cogent reason to grant the motion, or the failure to raise any substantial argument to support such motion or the decision of the Court has already passed upon the basic issues in the case; and

(5) dismisses or denies a petition on technical grounds or deficiencies” (Section 6, Rule 13).

Hence, litigants and their counsels must apprise themselves of the Internal Rules of the Supreme Court and its amendments so that that they will not resort to speculations and baseless conclusions on the actions taken by the Court. By doing this, they will not contribute to the erosion of the trust and faith of the people in the judicial system.

WHEN the current chairman of the Commission on Human Rights, Atty. Richard Palpal-latoc, was appointed to his post by President Ferdinand R. Marcos last year, human rights groups raised quizzical eyebrows and quite possibly feared that he would remain quiet on the ticklish issue of human rights.

He was, after all, a former law partner of Atty.

Vic Rodriguez, the spokesman of then presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos and later first Executive Secretary of the Marcos administration for a few months until his exit from the Cabinet.

And Palpal-latoc was also a prosecutor under the Department of Justice and, therefore, would have adopted the government position on the issue of alleged human right violations during the Duterte administration’s bloody war on illegal drugs.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla had categorically stated early on that the DOJ would not allow the International Criminal Court to come over and investigate drug cases as the country had already renounced its ICC membership in 2017.

The ICC would be violating Philippine sovereignty, he said, if it insisted on doing a fullblown investigation of drug war deaths as our judicial system was working well and did not need an external entity to meddle in our internal affairs.

No doubt, human rights groups would welcome the CHR’s position that stands in direct contrast to that taken by Malacañang and the DOJ

This official government position was reiterated by no less than President Marcos, who declared:

“We’re done talking with the ICC. Like what we have been saying from the beginning, we will not

Shoot first, ask questions later

SOMETIME in July 1982, former vice president Emmanuel Pelaez was going home to his home in Quezon City when two carloads of armed men blocked his car and fired, killing the driver.

Pelaez survived and was rushed to the hospital.

It was there that he asked Brig. Gen. Tomas Karingal, Quezon City police chief at that time:

“What is happening to our country, General?” referring to the apparent deterioration of the rule of law and the rash of unsolved killings. Ironically, the police general himself would be targeted by assassins years later.

“What is happening to our country, General” may well be asked by the citizenry today, more than three decades later, amid the recent series of killings and violent confrontations between police and ordinary people who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. In the latest incident, a dismissed former policeman was caught on video pulling out a firearm and cocking it while assaulting a cyclist during a road altercation in Quezon City.

The widely circulated video generated public outrage after the gun-toting ex-cop said the victim of the road rage had agreed not to press charges.

But a prominent lawyer-cyclist who later learned what really happened said the victim had been forced to agree to settle the case under duress at the police station.

The Quezon City police chief later submitted his resignation after allowing the dismissed police officer to hold a press conference right at the police office.

A few days earlier, 15-year-old John Francis Ompad was killed after being “accidentally” hit by police in Rodriguez town in Rizal province who were shooting at his 19-year-old brother, who supposedly tried to flee on a motorbike after being flagged down by a law enforcer in plainclothes accompanied by a civilian.

On August 2, six police officers from Navotas City police substation 4 responded to a shooting incident.

A suspect in the shooting was caught but another escaped. Based on a tip, the second suspect was reported to

be hiding in a boat along with the teenager, 17 yearold Jemboy Baltazar.

The teenager “suddenly leaped into the water,” police said.

One of the police officers fired shots into the water, with the teenager sustaining an undetermined number of gunshot wounds.

The six police officers admitted their mistake but claimed they did not intend to kill him.

All six were disarmed the day after the incident and placed under restrictive custody at the Northern Police District headquarters in Caloocan City.

They have already undergone inquest proceedings for homicide before the Navotas prosecutor’s office.

The team leaders in charge of the operation were transferred to the Northern Police District headquarters and face administrative charges for command responsibility.

“The act of firing the shots exhibited lapses in

What is very clear now is that these series of unfortunate incidents should not happen again

proper judgment,” the police said.

The Navotas police chief was later sacked from his post for his alleged failure to oversee the operation that killed Baltazar.

“He failed to supervise the conduct of police operation and corresponding investigation.

Hence, he is liable under the doctrine of command responsibility,” according to the NCRPO.

The human rights group Karapatan called the incident a “cold-blooded murder” and said cops should exercise due diligence in police operations.

Mothers and heroes

EVERY year, when August strikes, everyone’s ‘Filipino-ness’ seems to double.

This is most likely attributed with the festivities of Buwan ng Wika, the commemoration of Ninoy Aquino Day and the celebration of National Heroes Day all jampacked in a month. One thing I have noticed though about National Heroes Day, whether it is with thought pieces or publication materials posted online, they often feature men.

Noble men of course, like Andres Bonifacio, Jose Rizal, Lapu-Lapu, and Apolinario Mabini.

Still, there is a glaring absence of women.

With this observation, I’ve decided to dedicate National Heroes Day to everyday Filipino women who I also consider Filipino heroes.

Being a good mother alone is already honorable.

It is difficult to choose to be a good mother every day. It requires endless patience, discipline, understanding, and grit.

What’s even harder is having to be a good person too, outside of motherhood. Motherhood is all-consuming, all-encompassing; to find time to help the marginalized while also being a good mother is a heroic act.

Yet, this is what these mothers do all the time.

Edith Burgos is known for being the mother of missing activist Jonas Burgos.

Sometimes, ‘wife of late press freedom icon Joe Burgos’ is added to the list.

However, outside of these, she is also a respected human rights defender. From a Carmelite who had a vow of silence, she was pushed forward into activism when she began to search for her son and seek justice.

Today, she works with other victims of enforced disappearances to ensure they have the support that they need for their own journeys and fights.

In fact, some have resorted to calling her Nanay Edith. She is now not only the mother of Jonas, but the mother of those in the Desaparecidos community.

Another mother of a desaparecido is Dittz De Jesus. She is the mother of Bazoo De Jesus who was disappeared with Dexter Capuyan in Taytay, Rizal on April 28, 2023. She has been calling for both her son and Dexter to be surfaced.

But it appears the CHR is taking seriously its mandate as an “independent office” as the 1987 Constitution calls it that can “investigate on its own or on complaint by any party, all forms of human rights involving civil and political rights.”

What the CHR chairman said recently was the agency was “willing to cooperate” with the ICC on its investigation into the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

But he admitted that the commission does not know yet which specific cases the ICC would look into. He also said the court had not yet sought the CHR’s assistance regarding any case.

While the CHR only has recommendatory but not prosecutorial power, it can grant “immunity from prosecution to any person whose testimony or possession of documents or other evidence is necessary or convenient to determine the truth in any investigation conducted by it or under its authority.”

Palpal-latoc told media recently “if the ICC will request us to help them [provide] the evidence we have gathered in the cases we have already investigated, we can share it…If our participation would help find a solution to the problem of human rights affecting Filipinos, we will perform our mandate.”

No doubt, human rights groups would welcome the CHR’s position that stands in direct contrast to that taken by Malacañang and the DOJ.

But will the CHR stand pat on this? That we’ll have to see.

The Gabriela Women’s Party also condemned the shooting and highlighted the “culture of impunity” that persists within the country’s law enforcement agencies. Following the two killings, the Commission on Human Rights has recommended the entire PNP should undergo retraining on human rights.

“The retraining should not be focused on a specific police station, but the entire police force, CHR chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc said. He also pointed out if only the police would follow their own operating procedures, human rights violations would be prevented.

If the deaths of innocent civilians indicate a serious lapse in judgment by PNP personnel, then they will have to face the legal consequences. They cannot be rash in their actions and shoot first before asking questions.

This should serve as a wake-up call to the police their response to particular crime situations should be carefully considered to avoid unnecessary and excessive use of force.

The PNP should not tolerate misconduct and clear violation of operational procedures by anyone in the organization.

It should now conduct refresher courses and continuing education for police personnel so they will learn new skills and adapt to innovative approaches in community policing, rather than simply resorting to point-and-shoot at every opportunity when facing crime situations.

What is very clear now is that these series of unfortunate incidents should not happen again.

The PNP should give clear assurances that those responsible shall be held to account by the proper investigative and judicial bodies.

At the same time, the institution should see to it that those assigned to ground operations are properly briefed on established rules of engagement.

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

As an OFW based in Italy, she brings a new perspective on the plight of the families of the disappeared. While she asserts their human rights, she also shows the added difficulty of having to be abroad while she looks for her son.

A woman and mother working with migrants such as Dittz De Jesus has also passed away recently–Susan “Toots” Ople.

According to her daughter, Estelle Ople Osorio, she did not only lose a mother but a great friend.

Toots Ople was a genuine advocate for the rights of OFWs.

Every day,

In fact, she was the pioneer Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers.

In 2004, she also established the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, an NGO focused on serving OFWs and their families. Some women find their acts of heroism later in life, some find the call early. Such is the case for Bibeth Orteza. Before Bibeth became a mother, she found herself deep in student activism during Marcos Sr.’s regime.

As an actor and writer, she was and continues to be conscious of using her talents to make a political stance.

She was a founding member of UP Repertory. In an article speaking of her belief that art is activism, she also says, “You need to say something in whatever you do.”

She is currently the chairperson of Concerned Artists of the Philippines. Carol Araullo found activism early in life too. She was a student activist first, the mother of

Atom Araullo second.

Joking aside, she did serve the student council in UP Diliman as a councilor of the College of Arts and Sciences and as vice-chair of the University Student Council.

After this, Carol proceeded to go underground to organize in other schools such as Miriam and Ateneo. Carol’s activism continues to this day as the chair emeritus of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).

Finally, I will be remiss if I do not include in this column my wife Titay, truly a mother and hero.

We met in the late 1970s as students in Ateneo de Manila University in the moral philosophy class of Dr. Manny Dy and became close friends and eventually romantic partners in the 1985, capping that relationship on May 4, 1985 when we got married. We raised three sons together and are proud of what they have become.

Our sons know their mother is awesome as they witnessed recently how she supported me as I struggled with my physical and mental challenges.

She has forgiven me so many times -- more than seventy times seven -- for my many failures.

Titay has a doctorate in pastoral counseling and currently works with the Catholic Safeguarding Institute.

Their mission is to help the Catholic Church in reforming itself with new protocols and mechanisms to prevent sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults. On a daily basis, I have seen Titay’s dedication to this important work.

Every day, these women choose to fight for truth and justice alongside their roles as mothers.

We must honor them not only as mothers, but also as modern day heroes.

They truly show that women are stronger, braver, and tougher than what the world tells us women are. To exist at the same time as these heroes do is truly nothing short of an honor.’

Website: tonylavina.com. Facebook: tonylavs X: tonylavs

Edition of HlPSAP published by the IFAC, and The Applicability of IPSASs (Final Pronouncement, April 2016).

Notwithstanding the aforementioned issuances, the Annual Financial Reports for NGAs, LGUs, and GCs revealed the magnitude of existing dormant accounts, other than those already covered by existing COA issuances. The details and validity of these accounts cannot be fully ascertained due to the lack/ unavailability of supporting records/documents and the lack of the necessary knowledge of the present accounting personnel. For these reasons, the fair presentation of the financial statements has been affected.

2.0 PURPOSE

This Circular is issued to prescribe the guidelines and procedures on the proper disposition of all dormant accounts of NGAs, LGUs and GCs, not covered by specific laws, rules and regulations, amending COA Circular No. 2016-005, and to fast track the cleansing of dormant accounts of government ,agencies for the fair presentation of accounts in the financial statements.

3.0 LEGAL BASIS

The Commission shall have exclusive authority, subject to the limitations in Article IX-D of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, to define the scope of its audit and examination, establish the techniques and methods required therefor, and promulgate accounting and auditing rules and regulations, including those for the prevention and disallowance of irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant lor unconscionable expenditures, or uses of government funds and properties.

4.0 COVERAGE

4.1 This Circular covers all dormant receivables arising from regular trade and business transactions, claims from entities’ officers and employees and other dormant receivable accounts; dormant unliquidated cash advances for operating expenses, payroll, special purpose/time-bound activities or undertakings and travel as well as advances granted to Civil Society

years or more and where settlement/collectability could no longer be ascertained.

5.8 Dormant Unliquidated Cash Advances - advances granted to disbursing officers, agency, officers and employees; which remained non-moving for ten (10) years or more and where settlement/collectability could no longer be ascertained.

5.9 Dormant Unliquidated Fund Transfers - advances gtanted by the source agency to implementing agency for the implementation of programs/projects which remained non-moving for ten (10) years or more and where settlement/ collectability could no longer be ascertained.

5.10 Disposition of Dormant Accounts - all of the procedures to be undertaken to clean the books of dormant accounts such as but not limited to the write-off or derecognition of accounts and/or preparation of adjusting entries to bring the balance of a particular dormant account to zero.

5.11 Entity - a national government agency, a government corporation, or a local government unit.

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

5.13 Government-Acquired Asset Corporation - a corporation: (1) which is under private ownership, the voting or outstanding shares of which were: (i) conveyed to the Government or to a government agency, instrumentality or corporation in satisfaction of debts whether by foreclosure or otherwise, or (ii) duly acquired by the Government through final judgment in a sequestration proceeding; or (2) which is a subsidiary of a government corporation organized exclusively to own and manage, or lease, or operate specific physical assets acquired by a government financial institution in satisfaction of the debts incurred therewith and which in any case by law or by enunciated policy is required to be disposed of to private ownership within a specified period of time.

5.14 Impairment - a loss in the future economic benefits due to uncertainty of collectability of the receivables or the amount in respect of which recovery has ceased to be probable.

5.15 Recovery of Accounts Written-off - payment received pr settlement through other mode from a government entity/debtor on previously written-off dormant accounts.

5.16 Write-off of Dormant Accounts - the process of derecognizing the asset account and the corresponding allowance for impairment from the books of accounts, and transfening the same to the Registry of Accounts Written-Off This does not mean condoning/extinguishing the obligation of the accountable officer/debtor.

6.0 GENERAL GUIDELINES

6.1 This Circular is issued for one-time cleansing of all dormant accounts covered herein, thus, in no case shall the procedures in this Circular be used to further derecognize subsequent dormant accounts.

6.2 All government entities shall determine the existence of dormant accounts in their books.

6.3 When accounts are non-moving for ten (10) years or more, the Head of Accounting Unit shall prepare the following schedules, for monitoring purposes, to be submitted to their respective Audit Team Leader (ATL)/ Regional .Supenrising Auditor (RSA)/Supervising Auditor (SA):

a. Schedule of Dormant Receivables, Unliquidated Cash Ad Intra/InterAgency Fund Transfers (Annexes 1-3); and

b. Schedule of Other Dormant Accounts (Annex 4).

6.4 The entity shall determine whether the dormant accounts identified are covered by specific laws, rules and regulations prescribing guidelines for the proper disposition and/or procedures to address the issue on dormancy.

6.5 If the dormancy of an account cannot be addressed through Item 6.4 above, then the entity shall apply the procedures prescribed by this Circular.

7.0 PROCEDURES FOR THE PROPER DISPOSITION OF DORMANT ACCOUNTS

7.1 The Head of Accounting Unit shall:

a. Conduct regular and periodic verification, analysis, and validation of the existence of all dormant accounts;

b. Secure/collate all available documents relative to the said accounts, such as books of accounts, records, financial statements, ledgers, schedules, vouchers/documents and all other documents;

c. Review, analyze and determine the existence and validity of the accounts;

d. Reconcile the account with other related accounts in the tal balance;

e. Ensure fairness in the· presentation of accounts in the financial statements, taking into consideration the provisions of applicable IPSAS or PFRS on specific accounts and prepare the necessary adjusting entry/ies for the following:

i. Correction of inadvertent errors, or inaccurate measurement, calculation or computation. In case of government agencies adopting IPSAS, use the account “Accumulated Surplus/(Deficit)” while those adopting PFRS, use the account “Retained Earnings/(Deficit)”; and

ii. Recovery/settlement of previously written off accounts.

The above adjustments need not be submitted to COAl for approval but are subject to the usual audit.

f. If the review/analysis, of the account/s is not possible due to the absence,of records and documents or when original documents are lost or destroyed, or cannot be produced, in consonance with COA Circular No. 93-404 dated October 18, 1993 re: Reporting requirement in case of losses of documents evidencing financial transactions and/or records of accountabilities, the Head of Accounting Unit shall:

i. Prepare letters, signed by the Head of Agency (HoA), addressed to each concerned accountable officer (AO)/personnel (i.e. the officer/s or employee/s responsible for handling that particular account) demanding the AO to execute a certificate of justification as to why the supporting documents are not available in hisher office or in any other office. He/she shall also include a narration/documentation of all the efforts exerted by Management to locate such documents. In case of retirement, death or separation from service of AO, the current AO shall execute the required certificate of justification. Refer to Annex 5 for the pro-forma certificate of justification.

ii. Henceforth, clearance should not be issued to AOs unless the appropriate documentation on transfer of accountability to the new accountable official and/or request for relief from accountability for the loss or damaged documents have been filed with the Commission.

iii. Prepare a list of available records relative to the dormant account and indicate the extent of validation made thereof. All documents must be attached to the list include a detailed list of the lost documents or records; and

IV. Prepare and submit a detailed report to the HoA together with all the documents in Items 7.1.f.i. and 7.1.f.iii, recommending the conduct of an investigation to determine the cause/s of the loss of documents and pinpoint the officialls and employeels liable for such loss.

7.2 Upon receipt of the report of the Head of Accounting Unit, the HoA shall cause the conduct of such investigation. The HoA shall create an Investigation committee to determine the cause/s of loss or destruction of documents, pinpoint the official/s and employee/s liable for such loss, and look into the absence or presence of negligence on the part of the AO. (Annex 6)

7.3 Within five working days from receipt of the order from the HoA, the investigative proceedings shall commence and shall be completed within 30 working days thereafter .

7.4 Within five working days from the completion of the investigation, the Investigation Committee shall submit to the HoA the Investigation Report (IR) (Annex 7) and the complete records of the case, for his approval. The IR shall be treated with confidentiality.

7.5 Within five working days from receipt of the IR, the HoA shall render a decision.

copy of the IR, duly approved by the HoA, together with the decision shall be furnished to the Accountant.

8.4 The ATL and SAIRSA shall decide on the request to perecognize from the books the account for amounts not exceeding P100,000.00 per account, per subsidiary ledger or per item, per fund, per government entity within 15 working days from receipt thereof.

8.5 In case the ATL and SA/RSA deny the request to derecognize from the books the account due to failure to comply with the conditions ahd requirements under Items 8.1 and 8.2, the requesting party may request for reconsideration of the decision of the ATL and SA/RSA within 15 working days from the receipt of the decision, provided that the basis for the denial has been satisfactorily complied with. The ATL and SA/RSA shall decide on the request for reconsideration within 15 working days from receipt thereof.

8.6

issue an Order to Answer to the SA/RSA/ATL concerned.

ii. Within 15 working days from receipt of the Order to Answer, the SA/ RSA /ATL shall submit the Answer together with the entire records of the case to the CD.

b. Regional Director (RD) having audit jurisdiction over the LGUs, WDs, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and stand alone agencies, within his/her region.

i. Within five woIking days from receipt of the Appeal Memorandum, with proof of service of copy thereof to the A’uditor concerned, the RD shall issue an Order to Answer to the SA/RSA/ATL concerned.

ii. Within 15 working days from receipt of the Order to Answer, the SA/ RSA/ATL shall submit the Answer together with the entire records of the case to the RD.

8.7 The CD/RD shall decide on the appeal within 15 working days from receipt of the Answer ,of the SA/RSA/ATL. The.decision of the CD/RD on appealed request is final and non-appealable.

8.8 For amounts exceeding P100,000.00 per account, per subsidiary ledger or per item, per fund, per government entity, the ATL and SA/RSA shall forward the entire records of the requests to the CD/RD, together with their comments and recommendations, within 15 working days from receipt thereof.

8.9 The CD/RD shall review the entire records of the requests and shall decide on amounts involving more than P100,000.00 but not exceeding P1,000,000.00 per account, per subsidiary ledger or per item, per fund, per government entity within 15 workings days from receipt thereof

8.10 In case the CD/RD denies the request to derecognize from the books the account due to failure to comply with the conditions and requirements under Items 8.1 and 8.2, the requesting party may request for reconsideration of the decision of the CD/RD within 15 working days from receipt of the decision provided that the basis for the denial has been satisfactorily complied with. The CD/RD shall decide on the request within 15 working days from receipt thereof. The decisions of the CD/RD in his/her original jurisdiction will be final and executory.

8.11 For amount exceeding P1,000,000.00 per account, per subsidiary ledger or per item, per fund, per government entity, the CD/RD shall forward the entire records of the requests together with his/her comments and recommendations to the Assistant Commissioner (AC) of the Sector within 15 working days from receipt thereof.

8.12 The AC of the Sector shall review the entire records of the requests and shall decide on amounts exceeding P1,000,000.00 per account, per subsidiary ledger or per item, per fund, per government entity within 15 working days from receipt thereof.

8.13 In case the AC denies the request to derecognize from the books the account due to failure to comply with the conditions and requirements under Items 8.1 and 8.2, the requesting party may request for reconsideration of the decision of the AC within 15 working days from the receipt of the decision provided that the basis for the denial has been satisfactorily complied with The AC shall decide on the request within 15 working.days from receipt thereof.

8.14 In the event that the AC will deny the request, the requesting party may appeal from the decision of the AC of the Sector to the Commission Proper (CP) within 15 working days from receipt of the decision, in accordance with COA Resolution No. 2016-0222 dated December 19, 2016.

8.15 The decision of the CP shall become final and executory after 30 working days from notice of the decision. A motion for reconsideration may be filed within 30 working days from notice of the decision on the grounds that the evidence is insufficient to justity the decision; or that the said decision of the CP is contrary to law. Only one (1) motion for reconsideration of the decision of the CP shall be entertained.

8.16 No filing fee shall be imposed on a request to derecognize the dormant accounts from the books of accounts. However, the appeal filed before the CP shall be imposed a filing fee equivalent to 1/10 of 1% of the amount involved, provided the total filing fee shall not exceed P20,000.00 as prescribed under COA Resolution No. 2013-016 dated August 23, 2013 re: Amendment of Commission on Audit Resolution No. 2008-005 dated February 15,2008 entitled ‘’Imposition and collection 0/ filing foes on cases filed be/ore the Commission on Audit in the exercise of its quasi-judicial function, as amended by COA Resolution No. 2018-017 dated February 1, 2018. Legal research fee equivalent to 1% of the filing fee but not less than P10.00 shall also be imposed.

8.17 Payment of filing fee may be charged to the requesting agency if it is determined that there is no contributory negligence or misconduct of the AO, otherwise, it shall be reimbursed or chargeable against the personal account of the AO.

9.0 JOURNAL ENTRIES

9.1 The Accountant shall prepare the Journal Entry Voucher (JEV) to effect the adjusting entries in the books of accounts within five working days upon receipt of the COA decision granting the authority to derecognize from the books the dormant accounts. The illustrative accounting entries are shown in Annex 9

9.2 Enter the details of the dormant Receivables, Unliquidated Cash Advances and Fund Transfers written-off in the Registry of Accounts Written-Off (RA WO) (Annex 10) or in the Registry of Derecognized Dormant Accounts (RODA) (Annex 11) for other dormant accounts derecognized.

9.3 Submit the JEV, together with the supporting documents, to the ATL.

9.4 Upon receipt of the JEV, the Audit Team concerned shall review it immediately to check the accuracy of the derecognition

WORLD

Storm Idalia lashes Georgia, Carolinas after Florida

PERRY, United States – Florida began assessing the damage Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) from Idalia’s flooding after the powerful storm inundated coastal communities and knocked out power to thousands, as the system advanced up the southeastern US coast bringing additional rain deluges and dangerous storm surge.

After roaring across the Sunshine State, Idalia barreled into neighboring Georgia and weakened to a tropical storm that nevertheless was drenching the region with up to 25 centimeters of rain and bringing life-threatening storm surges to coastal communities, officials said.

They described Idalia and its recordhigh surging waters as a once-in-alifetime event for the area of northwest Florida most affected.

While there were no immediately confirmed deaths, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stressed “that very well may change,” given the storm’s magnitude.

State officials said first responders including search and rescue teams were operational, but warned it could take time to reach more remote areas blocked by fallen trees or high water.

Idalia struck as an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 hurricane in Florida’s marshy, sparsely populated Big Bend area around 7:45 am, the US National Hurricane Center reported.

North Korea fires 2 missiles towards East Sea

SEOUL, South Korea—North Korea said it fired two short-range ballistic missiles as part of a “tactical nuclear strike drill” prompted by US-South Korean military exercises, state media reported Thursday.

The launches came hours after Washington deployed B-1B bombers for combined air drills with Seoul and a day before the allies wrap up their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which always infuriate Pyongyang.

The North’s army said the missiles were fired late Wednesday in a “tactical nuclear strike drill simulating scorched earth strikes at major command centers and operational airfields” across the border in South Korea.

The “tactical ballistic missiles” were fired northeastward from Pyongyang International Airport and “correctly carried out (their) nuclear strike mission”, the army said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

“The drill is aimed to send a clear message to the enemies,” it added.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected two short-range ballistic missiles fired from the North towards the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, just before midnight.

The missiles flew around 360 kilometers before landing in the water, and the launches are now being analyzed by South Korean and US intelligence officials, the JCS said in a statement. AFP

RECOVERING BODIES.

Firefighters work at the scene of a fire in Johannesburg on Thursday, accounting for at least 63 killed and more than 40 injured in a fire that engulfed a five-story building in central Johannesburg, the South African city’s emergency services said. AFP

The storm crashed ashore packing maximum sustained winds of approximately 215 kilometers per hour near the community of Keaton Beach, with a possible storm surge of up to 16 feet (about five meters) in some coastal areas, the NHC said.

Though Idalia weakened to a Category 1 hurricane and eventually a tropical storm with winds of 60 miles per hour, it remained dangerous as it raked over Georgia and into South Carolina.

Ben Almquist, emergency management director for Charleston, South Carolina, told CNN late Wednesday: “We still have plenty of floodwaters throughout the city right now,” and some rescue operations were underway.

But Thursday morning was shaping up to be Idalia’s last gasp.

“Everything should be improving once we pass the (Wednesday) midnight hour for just about everybody,”

Ron Morales, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service based in Charleston, told the city’s The Post and Courier newspaper.

First strike in 6 decades closes famous Japan department store

TOKYO, Japan—The shutters were down on one of Japan’s best-known department stores on Thursday in the sector’s first strike for six decades, sparked by fears that its mooted new US owner will slash jobs.

The Seibu in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district attracts around 70 million visitors a year to its 14 floors, where its ultrapolite staff sell everything from sushi to Armani seven days a week.

Sitting atop one of the world’s busiest railway stations, it is the jewel in the crown in the Sogo and Seibu chain of 10 department stores owned by Seven & i Holdings around Japan. However, the 83-year-old building in Ikebukuro needs renovation and because the chain has not made a profit for five years, Seven & i wants to sell it to US investment group Fortress. Unions, fearing job cuts, called a oneday stoppage for Thursday—the first by Japanese department store workers since 1962.

“At this point, the union is not convinced if the sale plan is based on business continuity and (that) the plan ensures keeping workers’ jobs,” union chief Yasuhiro Teraoka told reporters earlier this week.

The stoppage is so rare that it has made national headlines, with Japanese television journalists broadcasting live outside while a news helicopter filmed overhead.

“I’m so interested so I took a twohour train ride to see it. I think it will have a great impact nationally,” pensioner Susumu Aso, 68, told AFP.

“(A strike) is something that I have only seen in textbooks,” one young passerby told broadcaster NHK.

Japan’s department stores have struggled in recent years to adapt to 21stcentury consumers’ shopping habits.

Michael Causton, co-founder of research firm JapanConsuming, said the number of department stores has tumbled from 311 in 1999 to 181.

“Away from the main conurbations, suburban and terminal shopping malls have taken over... as the main shopping destinations in most cities, leaving department stores and older shopping buildings with fewer and fewer customers, while local shopping streets are full of empty store fronts,” Causton said.

Strikes are rare in Japan, with only 33 recorded in the world’s third-largest economy in 2022, according to the labour ministry.

“Roughly 80 percent of labour unions say their relationship with the management is stable, so labour negotiations perhaps didn’t need strikes,” a ministry official told AFP.

The Sogo and Seibu strike “involves a change of a managing company and change of management policy that could threaten jobs, which is an issue that cannot be solved under a long-term, stable labour-management relationship,” Hiroyuki Minagawa, a labor law specialist and professor at Chiba University, told AFP. AFP

Gabon coup leaders make general transitional president

LIBREVILLE, Gabon—Leaders of the coup in Gabon have named a general transitional president after seizing power on Wednesday following disputed elections in which President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose family has ruled for 55 years, had been declared winner.

The claimed takeover sparked condemnation from the African Union and alarm from Nigeria over “contagious autocracy” in a continent where military forces have seized power in five other countries since 2020.

Bongo, 64, who took over from his father Omar in 2009, was placed under house arrest and one of his sons arrested for treason, the coup leaders said.

In a dramatic pre-dawn address, a group of officers declared that “all the institutions of the republic” had been dissolved, the election results canceled and the borders closed.

“Today, the country is going through

Judge rules US ex-cardinal not competent to stand trial

NEW YORK—A Boston judge ruled

Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) that former top US Catholic official Theodore McCarrick was cognitively unable to stand trial for sexually assaulting a teenage boy five decades ago.

Based on the testimony of a forensic psychologist that the 93-year-old has dementia, “Mr. McCarrick is not competent to stand trial,” ruled Massachusetts state judge Paul McCallum.

With that ruling, the state prosecutor withdrew the case against the former cardinal, the highest US Catholic official to face charges in the sweeping scandal over the systemic sexual abuse

of minors in the Church.

“The commonwealth does not have a good-faith basis to proceed any longer with the prosecution given the testimony and the opinion of the psychologist that Mr. McCarrick is not restorable to competency,” the prosecutor said. McCarrick, who was silent as he followed the hearing by video conference, was charged in 2021 with three counts of indecent assault and battery against a then-16-year-old boy.

The youth was unnamed in the complaint but has since been identified as James Grein, 64.

The 1974 incident allegedly took

place on the campus of Wellesley College in Massachusetts during Grein’s brother’s wedding reception.

The victim says McCarrick led him into a room and groped his genitals while “saying prayers,” according to the criminal complaint.

Grein, who now speaks publicly about his experience, said McCarrick, calling himself “Uncle Teddy,” continued to abuse him for years.

The charge was filed two years after McCarrick was ejected from the Catholic Church, when he became the highest-ranking Church figure to be expelled in modern times. AFP

Building fire in Johannesburg kills 63, injures 40 others

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa—

More than 63 people have died in a fire that engulfed a five-storey building in central Johannesburg on Thursday, the South African city’s emergency services said.

Dozens of others were injured, some suffering from smoke inhalation, and were taken for treatment at local hospitals, Emergency Management Services spokesman Robert Mulaudzi said. “We’re on 52 bodies, which we have recovered and also 43 people who sustained minor injuries,” Mulaudzi told local broadcaster ENCA. Firefighters who were called to the scene put out the flames and search and recovery operations were ongoing.

“We are moving floor by floor conducting these body recoveries,” Mulaudzi said, adding the death toll was expected to rise.

It was not immediately clear what caused the blaze, which broke out overnight.

The building, which has been evacuated, is located in a deprived area of what used to be the business district of South Africa’s economic hub, and was used as an informal settlement, Mulaudzi said.

Television footage showed fire trucks and ambulances outside the red and white building with burned-out windows, which had been cordoned off by police. AFP

a serious institutional, political, economic and social crisis,” according to the statement on state TV.

It was read by an officer flanked by a group of a dozen army colonels, members of the elite Republican Guard, regular soldiers and others.

The elections “did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon”, the statement said.

“Added to this is irresponsible and unpredictable governance, resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion, with the risk of leading the country in chaos.”

“We—the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions on behalf of the people of Gabon and as guarantors of the institutions’ protection—have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime,” it said. AFP

Amnesty calls for action on rights in Xinjiang

GENEVA, Switzerland—Amnesty International decried Thursday the “woefully inadequate” international response after the UN released a bombshell report last year detailing a litany of abuses in China’s Xinjiang province.

On the first anniversary of the report, Amnesty lamented that the international community, including parts of the United Nations, had “shied away from the kind of resolute steps needed to advance justice, truth and reparation for victims”.

The rights group singled out UN rights chief Volker Turk for failing to “clearly emphasise the urgent need for accountability for (China’s) alarming violations”.

His predecessor Michelle Bachelet released her long-delayed report on the situation in Xinjiang on August 31, 2022, just minutes before her term ended, after facing significant pressure from Beijing to withhold the document.

It detailed a string of violations against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, urging the world to pay “urgent attention” to the human rights situation in the far-western region.

The report—harshly criticised by Beijing—highlighted “credible” allegations of widespread torture, arbitrary detention and violations of religious and reproductive rights. AFP

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. Aerial view of burned rubbles where a house stood after a power transformer explosion in the community of Signal Cove in Hudson, Florida on Thursday, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. Idalia slammed into northwest Florida as an “extremely dangerous” storm, buffeting coastal communities with cascades of water as officials warned of “catastrophic” flooding in parts of the southern US state. AFP

PRESIDENT ARRESTED. This video grab from a video obtained by AFPTV from Gabon 24 on August 30, 2023 shows Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi (center), spokesperson of coup leaders, declared “all the institutions of the republic” had been dissolved, and President Ali Bongo Ondimba placed under house arrest while one of his sons arrested for treason. AFP

BSP: Inflation likely

faster

in August on high rice, fuel prices

INFLATION rate likely picked up in August from 4.7 percent in July on higher prices of fuel and rice, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Thursday.

It said in a statement the August inflation might have settled within a range of 4.8 percent to 5.6 percent.

The Philippine Statistics Authority will release the official August inflation next week.

“Higher prices of rice and other agricultural commodities due to weather disturbances, sharp rise in fuel prices as well as increased transport costs owing to higher train fares and toll rates, and the peso depreciation are the primary sources of upward price pressures in August,” the BSP said.

Meanwhile, lower electricity rates from major providers could contribute to downward price pressures for the month, the BSP said.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that inflation in July eased to a 16-month low of 4.7 percent from 5.4 percent in June, pulled down by slower year-on-year increase in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 4.5 percent from 5.6 percent.

This was the sixth consecutive month of deceleration in the headline inflation and the lowest since March 2022’s inflation of 4 percent.

The July 2023 inflation was also slower than 6.4 percent a year ago. It brought the average inflation in the first seven months to 6.8 percent, higher than the 2023 target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona earlier said there was still room for local monetary authorities to increase the prevailing interest rates, if needed, without contracting the economy.

Remolona said the third pause of the Monetary Board last Aug. 17, 2023 was a “prudent” move but the BSP remained ready to hike if the upside risks materialized.

He particularly said the softness in the second-quarter GDP of 4.3 percent, a slowdown from 6.4 percent in the first quarter. Julito G. Rada

THE government’s budget deficit eased to P47.8 billion in July 2023 from P86.8 billion a year ago on the back of a 33.40-percent growth in revenue collection that outpaced the 16.22-percent increase in expenditures, according to the Bureau of the Treasury.

This resulted in a seven-month budget shortfall of P599.5 billion, down by 21.22 percent or P161.5 billion from the P761-billion gaps registered in the same period last year, data from the Treasury showed.

“The NG [national government] registered a substantial growth of 33.40 percent or P103.1 billion in its July revenue collection, reaching P411.7 billion, as both tax and non-tax collections improved for the period,” the Treasury said.

It said the positive outturn for July drove the collection in the first seven months to P2.3 trillion, 11.58 percent or P235.7 billion higher than a year ago.

Taxes, comprising the biggest portion (88.74 percent) of total revenue, expanded 10.52 percent, while the balance of 11.26 percent (P255.8 billion) from non-tax revenues also improved 20.72 percent.

Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said the budget deficit could continue to narrow in the coming months, after the tax collection season in April, amid the further reopening of the economy towards greater normalcy.

Ricafort said this could lead to increased sales, profits, employment, livelihood and other business/economic activities that fundamentally increased the government’s tax revenue collections.

He said this could “be offset by the effects of the lower individual income tax rates for most income brackets since 2023 under the TRAIN Law that could still reduce government’s tax/ BIR revenue collections, going forward, but could still be partly made up by any higher tax base/collections due to the resulting increased business/ sales/other economic activities due to higher take home pay by most income brackets since the start of 2023.” Julito G. Rada

By Julito G. Rada

INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc., the world’s largest independent terminal operator across six continents, signed a $750-million (P42 billion) six-year term loan agreement Thursday with Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. to further expand the former’s port operations worldwide.

ICTSI chairman and president Enrique Razon Jr. and Metrobank chairman Arthur Ty witnessed the signing of the loan agreement by ICTSI executive vice president, chief compliance officer and chief sustainability officer Christian Gonzalez and Metrobank executive

vice president and institutional banking sector head Mylene Caparas.

Metrobank said in a statement the amount was the largest bilateral facility it extended so far. It was also the biggest credit facility secured by ICTSI, one of the world’s largest, in-

dependent terminal operators across six continents. Proceeds of the six-year loan facility will be used to refinance the global port operator’s short-term obligations and fund strategic mergers and acquisitions, it said.

Metrobank said the financial support to ICTSI serves as a platform to fulfill its ambitious strategic development plans and further economic growth.

“ICTSI plays a vital role in various markets. Its efforts in building catalysts of growth worldwide make the Filipino standard, a goal for all. We are happy to be able to support ICTSI’s global initiatives and we are proud to play a role in its success,” Metrobank institutional banking sector head Caparas said.

ICTSI, Metrobank sign $750-m six-year term loan agreement IN BRIEF

ICTSI holds a strong track record for investing in both new and existing terminals that will fuel the growth of its offshore and domestic operations.

“Our long-standing relationship with Metrobank enables us to carry out our objective of continuously making our terminals around the world more globally competitive, more efficient, and more accessible,” said Gonzalez.

“At the same time, this relationship enables us to act more proactively on M&A opportunities of all sizes. Metrobank has been a tremendous partner for us in building our global portfolio and in expanding our position as one of the Philippines’ true global corporate players,” Gonzalez said.

GCash, Fuse launch small loan program

FINANCIAL super app GCash, together with Fuse Lending Inc., expanded their lending portfolio with the launch of “sakto” that enable users to borrow amounts as low as P100.

“Sakto Loans serves as an expansion of our suite of lending options GLoan, GCredit and GGives, which has provided users with a convenient way to borrow money with just a few taps on their phone,” said Tony Isidro, chief executive of Fuse, an affiliate of Globe. A GCash study found that nine of 10 Filipinos have to borrow money to make ends meet, but with the rigorous loan application process set by formal institutions and banks, more than half resort to borrowing from informal lenders with high interest rates and sometimes abusive collection practices.

“We at GCash take great pride in the fact that our story and our success are written and rooted on the ground. We are deeply connected to all our customers,” said GCash chief executive Martha Sazon.

“We know them, we seek to understand their circumstances, and we are right there with them, providing digital solutions that ease the challenges of daily life,” she said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Hot money posted

Gov’t asked to shield economy from global slowdown

By Othel V. Campos

THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday called on the government to protect the economy from a global slowdown by involving businesses to create a more inclusive growth pattern that would leverage natural and human resources.

“It is essential that our top priority is to invest in the foundational challenges that drive domestic competitiveness and productivity—good governance focused on facilitating and supporting doing business in the country; health, education and skills; infrastructure; research and innovation; and trade connections and export growth,” said PCCI president George Barcelon during the chamber’s first Kapi-

han Forum at the Astoria Plaza Hotel in Mandaluyong City.

Barcelon painted a macro perspective of the local business environment as he called for an alignment of goals from the national and local governments.

He said this would enable local businesses to move more quickly to achieve the goal of a productive, sustainable and inclusive economy. He said one of the basic issues that turn off investors is red tape.

Barcelon underscored the need to reduce red tape and make it easy for investors to register and do business in the country and allow 100-percent foreign ownership in areas where they want to invest and 100-percent repatriation of their profits.

“Let us also open up agriculture to foreign investments, engage our LGUs

$962-m inflows in July

and make them more friendly and welcoming to investors. With more investments, we create more businesses and more jobs for our growing population. With more Filipinos employed, there will be more consumers who will spend and stimulate our economy. This is the way forward for our economic transformation,” he said.

Barcelon said some critical domestic productive sectors such as agriculture were declining, while the mining industry was stagnant.

“The unsound fundamentals in these sectors are why joblessness and poverty remain so entrenched. They also ultimately explain why our country has the highest inflation and second highest unemployment rate in Southeast Asia,” he said.

HR LEADERS. SM Prime Holdings Inc. vice president Maria Margarita Guevara (left) and SM Development Corp. vice president for HR Rhoneil Caimol, together with SM Supermalls vice president Cheryll Ruth Agsaoay (not in photo), are recognized among the Top Most HR Leaders in Asia during the Asia Best Employer Brand Awards 2023 on Aug. 17, 2023 at the Pan Pacific, Singapore. Also awarded among Asia’s Best Employer Brands 2023 are SM Prime, SM Supermalls and SM Development Corp.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Energy Regulatory Commission approved the petition of Manila Electric Co. and Panay Energy Development Corp. to recover from consumers P884.545 million due to high fuel costs.

It said in a decision dated March 8, 2023 but released on Aug. 29 it approved the joint motion for contract price adjustment filed by Meralco and PEDC and the joint motion for power supply agreement termination.

The ERC made the decision on a vote of 3-2, with chairperson and chief executive Monalisa Dimalanta issuing a separate opinion and commissioner Catherine Maceda issuing a dissenting opinion.

The commission, in granting the price adjustment motion, was unanimous in finding that the PSA allowed for price adjustments in case of “extraordinary

event…that results in an increase of actual fuel costs from the fuel prices at the time of bid submission…” under certain conditions.

The parties filed the price adjustment motion on Jan. 20, 2022, citing the “change in circumstance” provisions in their PSA.

Meralco and PEDC said the significant increase in global cost of coal in 2022 led to the latter suffering losses of P962,240,261.00 as of September 2022.

The ERC computed an actual loss of P884,545,417 upon verification of document submitted by the parties. The regulator said the majority of the commission ruled that conditions specifically defined by the CIC provisions found in the PSA were present in the case.

Meanwhile, the majority of the commission, in granting the termination motion, also found that there was basis to end the PSA on the basis of mutual agreement of the parties.

FOREIGN portfolio investments or “hot money” posted net inflows of $962 million in July, a significant improvement from $0.28 million in June and a reversal of the $103.14-million net outflows a year ago, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed Thursday.

The BSP said in a statement the July figure was a result of the $1.6-billion gross inflows and $614-million gross outflows.

The $1.6 billion registered investments in July improved by $687 million or 77.2 percent from $889 million in June. Majority of the registered investments were in peso government securities ($996 million or 63.2 percent) while about 36.8 percent were in Philippine Stock Exchange-listed securities ($580 million). Transactions in the first seven months also yielded net inflows of $158 million, smaller compared to the $675 million in the same period last year.

Registration of inward foreign investments delegated to authorized agent banks by the BSP is optional under the rules on foreign exchange transactions. Julito G. Rada

Aboitiz Power expands electric vehicle fleet ABOITIZ Power Corp. on Thursday launched its corporate electric vehicle fleet transformation as part of its contribution towards a greener and cleaner mobility in the country.

The move also supports Republic Act 11697 or the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, which mandates industrial and commercial companies to have EVs comprising at least a 5 percent of their fleet. Aboitiz Power now has about 2 percent EVs on its fleet.

The law aims to reduce the dependence of the local transportation sector on imported fossil fuels.

“As a leader in the energy industry, we want to incorporate innovations that will improve the efficiency and sustainability of our operations. The world is facing developments in climate change, global connectivity, population growth, urbanization, and digitalization, and these changes demand that businesses like ours transform to remain relevant,” said Aboitiz Power president and chief executive Emmanuel Rubio.

The EVs were manufactured by Build Your Dreams and will soon be deployed to the three key cities of Aboitiz Power distribution utilities, specifically, Visayan Electric, Davao Light and Cotabato Light. Alena Mae S. Flores

Meralco and PEDC filed the termination motion on June 23, 2022, citing PEDC’s inability to meet its contractual obligations by virtue of the losses it incurred.

The ERC said Meralco and PEDC stipulated in the PSA that the parties had the option to terminate at the instance of a CIC.

Dimalanta said in a separate opinion that by filing the termination motion before the commission decided on the price adjustment motion, the parties were deemed to have abandoned their request for price adjustment and, hence, it could no longer be acted upon by the commission.

Dimalanta said while there was substantive basis to allow the termination of the PSA, “the parties should be penalized for failing to observe the procedural requirements provided in the PSA itself to effect such termination.”

Higher tax haul cut budget deficit to P47.8b in July

ERC grants bid of Meralco, PEDC to recover P884m in fuel costs from consumers

International Container Terminal Services Inc., the world’s largest independent terminal operator across six continents, secures a $750-million loan Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. to further expand its port operations worldwide. Closing the deal are (from left) ICTSI vice president and treasurer Arnie Tablante, ICTSI executive vice president, chief compliance officer and chief sustainability officer Christian Gonzalez, Metrobank president Fabian Dee, ICTSI chairman and president Enrique Razon Jr., Metrobank chairman Arthur Ty, Metrobank EVP and institutional banking sector head Mylene Caparas and Metrobank SVP and corporate banking group head Anton Yap.

Bogdanovic in a ‘giving’ mood; Serbia undefeated

By Peter Atencio

BOGDAN Bogdanovic felt unselfish when Serbia pulled off a 115-83 thrashing of South Sudan.

The 6’5” shooting guard of the Atlanta Hawks passed the pass ball around so much that his young teammate Nikola Jovic of the Miami Heat looked good as the Serbians went on to sweep Group B of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 on Wednesday evening at the Araneta Coliseum.

“He’s a great kid. He’s always improving. We need him. We need him to be better than me every single game, because we want to win more games,” said the 31-year-old Bogdanovic, deflecting credit from himself, after he finished above his averages with his 23 points, two rebounds and nine assists.

He instead pointed to the 20-yearold Jovic, who had 25 points (on a perfect 9-of-9 shooting that included 5 treys), two rebounds and three assists, earning him the TCL Player of the Game award.

This was Jovic’s highest output so far, after he unloaded 17 points, had three rebounds, and four assists in their 94-77 demolition of Puerto Rico.

The performance caught the eye of his Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

“Everything we were doing with our program from the conditioning to the weight-room work to the rehab work to the basketball skills development was to prepare him for summer league and then potentially have an opportunity to play for his national team,” said Spoelstra in a statement.

Another teammate also did well off Bogdanovic’s leadership on the floor-Nikola Milutinov, who turned in a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, to go with 3 assists.

“I’m just happy and proud that we won and we showed the character at the end. For us, we are happy with the result right now but the tournament is just starting for us,” added Bogdanovic.

With their sweep, Serbia is now in the second round and is set to clash with Dominican Republic and Italy.

VisMin bets dispute Junior Golf national finals berths

THE ICTSI Junior PGT Series goes nationwide as it stages the JPGT VisMin leg starting today (Friday, Sept. 1) with a huge field clashing for top honors in five age-group divisions in both the drive, chip and putt format and 18-hole stroke play competition at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro.

Spread over two days, the tournament, which also serves as part of the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. talent-search program, drew a total of 158 players, including offspring and kins of former and current leading pros with Visayas and Mindanao long considered as the spawning ground of golf talents in the country.

But on top of the titles staked in the boys’ and girls’ 8-and-under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 and 15-18, the chance to compete and face the Luzon leg top qualifiers in the national finals at The Country Club in October is what motivates the field also made up of junior golfers and/or members/dependents of various VisMin golf clubs.

Keen competition is seen in all age categories with the premier boys’ 1518 roster featuring 44 players, headed by former national team member Jacob Caijta, along with Adrian Bisera, Aldrien Gialon, Rex Zaragosa, Cody Langamin, Zeus Sara and Gabriel Rosal.

Headlining the cast in the girls’ 15-18 division of the tournament put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments are Crista Miñoza, Abby Abarcas, Kiara Montebon and Alethea Gaccion.

Each participant will compete in the 18-hole stroke play to be played under the Molave points scoring system, and drive, chip and putt with corresponding points to be earned according to the player’s standing in each format.

USA battles Montenegro; Kerr looking for perfect mix

By Randy Caluag

AFTER a masterful three-game sweep of the first phase, Team USA begins its grind in the Round of 16 of the FIBA World Cup 2023 as it takes on the Nikola Vucevic-led Montenegro on Friday (Sept. 1) at 4:40 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

With coach Steve Kerr’s trust and belief in his young, energetic NBA players and top-notch NBA coaches, Team USA posted lopsided victories over New Zealand, Greece, and Jordan and installed itself as the legitimate team to beat in this tournament.

The scary thing is, Kerr is still looking at what his perfect combination on the floor should look.

Kerr admitted that he’s still trying to get the perfect combination. While

cruising past Jordan, Montenegro was already on his mind.

“We just wanted to look at some of the lineups. The tricky part with FIBA is that you only have a few weeks to figure out your team as opposed to an NBA season where you have six or seven or eight months,” said Kerr.

“I liked what I saw. The game wasn’t competitive, but it was a good flow from both groups. We’ll see. We haven’t made any decision moving

forward, but we just wanted to look at some things.”

And with Anthony Edwards and Austin Reaves living up to their starry billings and everyone else seeing action and contributing both in offense and defense, USA is the favored team against a Montenegro team, which prides itself of a leader in Vucevic of the Chicago Bulls.

With Vucevic averaging 20.7 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, he has proven himself the heart of soul of the Montenegrin squad that defeated Mexico and Egypt before losing to Lithuania for a 2-1 card that brought them to the next phase.

Displaying an energetic, cohesive brand of play, Team USA would be a tough nut to track.

It won’t be easy finding an antidote against a basketball symphony that

includes Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Reaves of the LA Lakers, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart of the New York Knicks, Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, and Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic.

The USA and Montenegro have qualified for the next round along with Brazil, Georgia, Greece, Puerto Rico, Serbia and Slovenia, Australia, Canada, Dominican Republic, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Spain. All teams carry their first-round records into the second Round, where they will compete for quarterfinal berths, with the two top teams of the four groups qualifying for the Final Phase.

Those that were eliminated, including Team Philippines, will fight it out for rankings in the classification phase with some Asian nations gunning for a slot in the Paris Olympics 2024.

Field set for 2nd round of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

THE 16-team field for the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 was confirmed on Wednesday, with six teams claiming the last remaining slots on the final day of First Round action.

Brazil, Georgia, Greece, Puerto Rico, Serbia and Slovenia all moved into the second group stage with wins and can still dream of winning the 19th World Cup. The other qualified teams, Australia, Canada, Dominican Republic, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Spain, United States were known beforehand.

The Second Round games will take place in Jakarta, Manila and Okinawa.

All teams carry their First Round records into the Second Round, where they will compete for Quarter-Finals berths, with the two top teams of the four groups qualifying for the Final Phase.

Here are the groups for the Second Round.

tralia and Georgia Group L: Canada, Spain, Brazil and Latvia.

The full schedule for the upcoming World Cup games is available on the

World Cup website, where you can also find more information about the competition system.

Dominican Republic have shown that they fear no one - and can beat anybody, too. Now, they will get to see how they handle powers Serbia while also getting to play Americas rivals Puerto Rico. After a perfect run in the exhibition season, Italy were beaten by the Dominicans and finished with a 2-1 record. They are now flying back under the radar in Manila’s Araneta Coliseum.

In the Manila Mall of Asia-based Group J, United States continue their quest to get back the World Cup trophy. After going perfect in Group B, the fivetime world champions will face two more European sides in Group D winners Lithuania and Montenegro after beating Greece in the First Round. The Greeks also managed to reach the second group stage with a 2-1 record.

Bigger than basketball: South Sudan wins hearts, minds at World Cup

SOUTH Sudan has lurched from one crisis to another since winning independence in 2011, but the country’s basketball team are determined to “change the narrative” on the world stage.

South Sudan are competing at the Basketball World Cup, currently taking place in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, and have won plaudits for their dynamic play and positive attitude on and off the court.

Playing in the tournament for the first time, they pulled off a historic win when they beat basketball-obsessed China 8969 in their second game.

Their hopes of reaching the second round ended after a defeat to Serbia on Wednesday, but they still have the chance to claim a qualifying spot at next

year’s Paris Olympics.

Captain Kuany Ngor Kuany, who was born in South Sudan but moved to Australia as a nine-year-old, said the tournament was “a tool to promote the image of our country”.

“We’re literally one, that’s what this basketball team stands for—for unity, a pathway for peace and development in the country, and just a way to change the narrative,” he said.

“For us, that’s why it’s so much more, so much bigger than basketball.”

The team are a mix of players with South Sudanese heritage and those born in the country.

Forward Nuni Omot was born in a refugee camp in Kenya, where his parents spent three years after travelling

more than 400 miles to flee civil war in Ethiopia.

Two of the squad play in the United States, while the others are scattered around the world playing in leagues in Australia, Denmark, Taiwan, France, Belarus and Senegal.

American-born head coach Royal Ivey is an assistant for the Houston Rockets in the NBA.

The impetus for the team came from Luol Deng, a former NBA player who was born in Sudan and raised in London after his father, a former Sudanese government minister and political prisoner, was granted asylum by the United Kingdom.

Deng spent 15 years in the NBA before becoming president of South Sudan’s basketball federation after he retired. AFP

Team USA coach Steve Kerr gives Jordan’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson a hug. FIBA

Group I: Serbia, Dominican Republic, Italy and Puerto Rico Group J: USA, Lithuania, Greece and Montenegro Group K: Slovenia, Germany, Aus-

GMA Integrated News embraces bigger challenge as Filipinos’ ‘news authority’

ALONG with the changes and challenges of this fast-paced world, GMA Integrated News embraces a greater mission to bring wider public service as the “News Authority ng Filipino” introduces its new tagline: “Mas malaking misyon, mas malawak na paglilingkod sa bayan!”

“Being the most trusted news organization in the Philippines is a great responsibility,” said GMA Network Senior Vice President for Integrated News, Regional TV, and Synergy

Oliver Victor B. Amoroso

“The multi-platform campaign of GMA Integrated News – 'Mas malaking misyon, mas malawak na paglilingkod sa bayan' – strengthens our commitment to pushing 'Serbisyong Totoo' further by embracing a bigger purpose to bring fair, balanced, and accurate news to a much broader audience as the news authority of the Filipino,” he added.

Together in one studio for the first time since the pandemic, news personalities from GMA News Manila, GMA Regional TV, GMA News Online, and GMA Super Radyo gathered for the GMA Integrated News Omnibus plug that debuted on air and online last August 7.

“This was a massive production endeavor involving many departments in the Network.

We had to time everything, the logistics, the setup, and the actual shoot so as not to hamper the news operation,” said Vice President and Deputy Head for News Programs and Specials

Michelle Seva

With over 1,000 journalists and personnel across all platforms, 12 strategically located regional TV stations that air newscasts in local languages, 7 Super Radyo stations nationwide, and almost 204 million subscribers online, GMA Integrated News brings the biggest and most important news and updates to Filipinos here and abroad.

“It is an honor for all of us to be a part of the largest and most trusted news organization in the country,” said GMA Integrated News pillar and 24 Oras anchor Mel Tiangco

GMA Integrated News has solidified its status as the “News Authority ng Filipino” in less than a year since its rebirth as a dynamic multi-platform and mega news agency.

It is the home to the leading and most trusted news programs on Philippine TV. Its flagship newscast, 24 Oras, is still the most watched TV program for January 1 to July 31, 2023, in Total Philippines (combined Urban and Rural) according to Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

Together with the rest of its newscasts –24 Oras Weekend, Saksi, GTV’s Balitanghali, State of the Nation, Dobol B TV, and Regional TV News – GMA Integrated News keeps viewers updated throughout the day.

GMA Integrated News also delivers the most regional newscasts in local languages.

Across the regions, viewers tune in to GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon, GMA Regional TV Balitang Bicolandia, GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Tagalog, GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak, GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas, GMA Regional TV One Mindanao, and the morning news programs Mornings with GMA Regional TV, GMA Regional TV Live!, and At Home with GMA Regional TV Across the airwaves, its Super Radyo nationwide is the first to deliver headlines, breaking news and special coverage. GMA News Online likewise ensures that netizens read and watch only the most up-todate, clear, and factual news and information.

Unmoved by the changing of the seasons, GMA Integrated News remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering factual news on television, radio, and online – bringing the biggest news and stories of the Filipinos to the world.

Criminal Cinema unveils MV for single ‘Apple’

By Nickie Wang

MUSIC enthusiasts gathered at the Balcony Music House In Makati on August 26 for the grand unveiling of the highly anticipated music video for “Apple” by the rising Filipino band Criminal Cinema

Presented by Rolling Gum, the event offered more than just a music video premiere, featuring a lineup of incredible artists, insights into the upcoming Bobapalooza Music Festival 2024, and an introduction to the force behind it all, Rolling Gum.

Criminal Cinema, a dynamic quartet comprising Kelvin, Clark, Anthony, and Sam, took the stage amidst much

anticipation.

The band, formed in 2020, has been making waves in the local music scene with its unique sound and captivating performances.

“Apple,” the group’s standout single, initially debuted on September 23, 2022, and since then, it has gained a dedicated fanbase.

The evening wasn’t solely centered around Criminal

Cinema’s performance, as the stage saw an impressive lineup of other Filipino bands, each adding their distinctive flavor to the musical celebration. CHNDTR, Figvre, Nemic, Halina, and One Click Straight graced the event with their stellar performances, igniting the atmosphere and ensuring that the audience’s musical cravings were thoroughly satisfied.

Gayle Oblea, the Chief Executive Officer of Rolling Gum, the creative media company behind Criminal Cinema, provided insights into the event’s significance. She emphasized that the night held three core objectives: showcasing the exceptional talent of Criminal Cinema, offering a glimpse into the realm of Rolling Gum, and heralding the arrival of the eagerly anticipated Bobapalooza Music Festival 2024.

“The festival, slated for the

ABS-CBN is TikTok’s top entertainment account in Southeast Asia

THE country’s leading content provider, ABS-CBN, keeps delighting online audiences with relatable, engaging content. It’s now a Southeast Asia leader on TikTok, garnering 2,850,148,520 video views in H1 2023 – averaging 898,817 views per video – according to TikToktainment data.

Among the most watched videos of @abscbn on TikTok are clips from the popular Kapamilya revenge drama series Dirty Linen, which captivated audiences with its riveting storyline and powerhouse ensemble cast since its premiere early this year. The game-changing teleserye has amassed over 2.3 billion views on TikTok.

In addition, highlights from other ABS-CBN shows like It’s Showtime and FPJ’s Batang Quiapo among others, have also contributed significantly to the total video views of @ abscbn on TikTok, which currently has 5.3 million followers and 274.7 million likes.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN PR account @abscbnpr on TikTok was the overall top performer, amassing 81.9 million views, from April to June and the number one account during the month of May and the first half of August in both the entertainment info category.

ABS-CBN’s commitment to continue serving audiences with entertaining and inspiring stories boosts the company’s transition into being an agile digital company with the biggest online presence among all media companies, and a growing list of digital properties that appeal to a wide array of audiences.

upcoming year, promises to be a grand musical extravaganza and is anticipated to draw a massive crowd of around 40 thousand attendees over two days,”

Oblea told Manila Standard Entertainment

“It’s going to be an experiential event, and I think that’s what sets Bobapalooza apart from all other festivals in the country,” she added.

As the night unfolded, attendees were treated not only to a mesmerizing showcase of musical prowess but also to a glimpse of the vibrant musical future that Rolling Gum and Criminal Cinema are weaving together.

A well-deserved recognition for beauty queens

PROMINENT women celebrated for inspiration and empowerment at two recent award ceremonies. The 2nd Global Iconic Aces Awards 2023, held at Okada Manila, honors global influencers. Meanwhile, the 7th Outstanding Men & Women of the Philippines 2023, at Music Museum, recognizes impactful individuals. Bennilyn Amigo-Molina leads the former, and Richard Hiñola II heads the latter.

At the Global Iconic Aces Awards, well-deserved recognition went to Pauline Amelinckx, The Miss Philippines 2023/Miss Supranational 2023 1st runnerup, named Global Iconic Woman of Beauty and Inspiration and Empowerment Advocate; Shamcey Supsup-Lee, national director of Miss Universe Philippines, cited for her remarkable achievement as Iconic Woman of Inspiration and Influence with Notable Achievement in Pageantry; and Cory Quirino, president of Mutya ng Pilipinas, recognized as Iconic Woman of Inspiration and Exemplary Figure of Empowerment.

Meanwhile, Inner Wheel Club of Muntinlupa Filinvest District 383, Mrs. Face of Tourism

Philippines 2023 Susan Villanueva, and Sparkle GMA Artist Center were big winners during the 7th Outstanding Men & Women of the Philippines 2023 Awards.

IWC Muntinlupa Filinvest D383, well-known for its charity works, led by club president Riza Oben Dormiendo, Mrs. Philippines Face of Beauty International 2019, was awarded Best All Female NonProfit Organization.

Villanueva also graced the stage of the Music Museum as one of Most Outstanding Women in 2023, while Sparkle, GMA Network’s talent management arm, which has produced some of the brightest names in Philippine showbiz, was awarded Outstanding Artist Management of the Year.

Other recipients were Meiji Cruz, Miss Cosmo World 2022; Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte (Exemplary Servant with Notable Development Projects and Programs), actor Ara Mina (Iconic Woman of Inspiration with Significant Achievements in the Philippine Entertainment Industry), and Mrs. Philippines International (Global Iconic Beauty Pageant Honoring Outstanding Wife and Mother).

GMA Integrated News introduces its new tagline, ‘Mas malaking misyon, mas malawak na paglilingkod sa bayan!’

The four-piece band consists of Kelvin, Clark, Anthony, and Sam

Alternative rock band Criminal Cinema

Media company ABS-CBN continues to provide relatable and engaging content for Kapamilya audience

Pauline Amelinckx

Rolling Gum's Chief Executive Officer Gayle Oblea

“This was a massive production endeavor departments Urban and Rural) according to Nielsen TV Au vision, radio, and online – bringing the biggest news and stories of the Filipinos to the world.

Shopping for a cause

FURNITURE and home stores West Elm and Pottery Barn recently supported chemist Pinky Tobiano’s “Shopping for a Cause” for the families affected by Typhoon Egay in Bustos, Bulacan.

Plants, crops, and even animals were affected by the calamity. A lot of families also lost their homes. Pinky’s farm in Bustos, Bulacan was severely damaged and even her parrots drowned.

No wonder, the recent “Shopping for a Cause,” initiated by the Queen of Tablescaping in partnership with West Elm and Pottery Barn in their flagship stores, had a special place in Pinky’s heart.

She was prompted to extend a helping hand in her own little way by inviting her friends to check out the products at West Elm and Pottery Barn so they could make their purchases. Shoppers enjoyed a 20 percent discount on all their purchases.

A percentage of the sales went to the victims of Typhoon Egay in Bulacan, where Pinky and her team extended help to those devastated.

“I am so grateful to all my family and friends who braved the rain and traffic to support this

cause. I am so thankful to all of them,” Tobiano said.

She added, “I am so thankful to SSI (Store Specialists, Inc.) group, who was very instrumen tal for making this happen (SSI, West Elm, Pot tery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids).”

Making the event extra special was Pinky’s latest magazine-worthy tablescape, TableLove by Pinky, where she combined West Elm china and other tableware with such blooms as orchids, tulips, hydrangeas, and baby’s breath.

Known for her colorful, bright, and often dainty arrangements, Pinky resorted to black ribbons, for the first time, in her latest tablescaping presentation.

She masterfully highlighted black, which, she emphasized, is not often associated to mourning or sadness. Instead, black evoked quiet elegance, resulting in a more gender-neutral and classy tablescape.

Guests who checked out most West Elm products in “Shopping for a Cause” discovered handcrafted, in-house designs for original style and quality.

How to have it through atomic habits

SINCE I was a kid, the bookstore has always felt to me like Disneyland. I am always on the lookout for that one book that could bring me magic. What I was looking for could be in the form of a heartwarming feeling I can’t express in words, an Aha! moment, or a lifechanging idea that will uplift my wellbeing.

Yes, I have been chasing magic without realizing it back then. Fast forward to today, a recent book discovery taught me that magic happens even in the most mundane and seemingly insignificant things.

At its core, Atomic Habits, a book that took me so long to finally complete, is about the profound impact of tiny changes on our lives. Bestselling author James Clear contends that significant transformations don’t result from dramatic, sweeping overhauls of one’s life but from the accumulation of small, daily habits. He introduces the concept of “atomic habits,” which are the small, incremental actions that, when compounded over time, lead to remarkable results.

Clear supports his argument with compelling evidence and real-life examples, making it clear that anyone, regardless of existing habits or circumstances, can utilize the power of atomic habits to achieve their goals. The book’s strength lies in its ability to bridge the gap between theory and practice, offering readers a step-by-step guide to harnessing the power of small habits for lasting change. Allow me to give you an idea.

The Four Laws of Behavior Change. Clear introduces the framework of “The Four Laws of Behavior Change,” which serves as the backbone of the book:

Cue: Make it obvious.

Craving: Make it attractive.

Response: Make it easy.

From students to professionals Immigration lawyer Marlene Gonzalez answers questions on US immigration

By Nickie Wang

US immigration lawyer Marlene Gonzalez has risen to prominence as a well-known figure in the Philippines, emerging as the go-to expert for Filipinos aspiring to travel or work in the United States of America.

With her expertise, Attorney Gonzalez addresses the concerns and inquiries of Filipinos seeking to navigate the intricacies of traveling to the US.

“Some of the most frequently asked questions are how do I go to the US? How do I visit the US? How can I work in the US or come to the US as a student?” Attorney Gonzalez starts.

The lawyer explains that the most frequently asked questions revolve around how to visit, work, or study in the US. She begins by shedding light on the process of obtaining a tourist visa.

“In order to get a tourist visa, you have to show that you are only coming to visit for a temporary period. You are allowed up to six months at any given time to visit the US and sometimes, what will be issued will be a ten-year visa. It will be issued and attached to your passport. It’s good for 10 years but each visit is only good for six months,” Gonzalez says.

Crucially, applicants must showcase their intention to engage in activities like touring Disneyland or visiting family while maintaining strong ties to the Philippines, such as holding a job or being a student. Attorney Gonzalez underscores the importance of demonstrating these connections to successfully obtain a tourist visa.

Regarding pursuing studies in the US, she advises potential students to establish contact with and enroll in their desired US educational institution. Demonstrating admission and payment of the required service fee is essential. She outlines the significance of proving financial capability to cover tuition and living expenses. Additionally, she notes that sponsorship from a US-based family member or utilizing parental assets to finance education can facilitate the process.

For those aspiring to immigrate to the US without family sponsorship, Attorney Marlene offers insights into alternative pathways. She highlights the demand for skilled workers in various industries, including nursing, which requires a bachelor’s degree for green card eligibility.

“There are a lot of companies here that need workers. It could be skilled workers. Nurses for example can be petitioned for a green card and a bachelor’s degree is required. If you don’t have a degree, you can also come as a cook, or a cashier, this is something that we have already worked with. It just takes a longer time to process but actually better than a family petition since the waiting time for these cases takes years,” Attorney Gonzalez explains.

She explains that even individuals without degrees can find opportunities in professions such as cooking or cashiering, albeit with longer processing times. These avenues can present more viable options than traditional family-based sponsorships, which often involve extended waiting periods.

For further guidance and information, individuals are encouraged to meet Attorney Marlene at booth 92 during the Travel Sale Expo and Global Tourism Conference and Trade Fair at the SM Megamall’s Megatrade Hall. The event, scheduled from September 19 to October 1, provides a valuable platform to connect with Attorney Gonzalez and her team.

To explore more and get in touch with Attorney Gonzalez and her team, visit: https://www.us-journey.com

Reward: Make it satisfying.

These laws provide a clear and practical blueprint for understanding and changing your habits. Clear’s writing style is engaging, making these concepts easy to grasp and implement in one’s own life.

Here are a couple of highlights:

Identity-Based Habits: One of the standout features of “Atomic Habits” is Clear’s emphasis on identity-based habits. He argues that the key to sustaining positive changes is to shift one’s identity by adopting habits that align with the person you want to become. Instead of merely focusing on what you want to achieve, focus on who you want to become. This shift in perspective has the power to transform your approach to habit formation.

The Two-Minute Rule: Clear introduces the concept of the “Two-Minute Rule,” which is a game-changer for anyone looking to establish new habits. The idea is to make any habit you want to build take less than two minutes to start. This removes the barrier of procrastination and makes it incredibly easy to begin. Over time, these small beginnings can lead to significant progress.

Habit Tracking: Clear stresses the importance of habit tracking as a means of self-accountability. He offers practical advice on how to implement this technique effectively. Tracking your habits not only provides a sense of accomplishment but also allows you to identify patterns and make necessary adjustments.

The Role of Environment: The author highlights the influence of the environment on behavior and habit formation. By optimizing your surroundings to support your desired habits and minimize temptations, you can make it much easier to stay on track.

The Plateau of Latent Potential: Clear introduces the concept of the “Plateau of Latent Potential,” which is a critical insight for anyone feeling stuck or frustrated in their pursuit of change. It’s a reminder that often, the most significant results come after a prolonged period of consistent effort, even if it feels like you’re not making progress.

In the self-help and personal transformation genre, Atomic Habits stands as a timeless guide. Real-life success stories, practical tips and applications, and a thorough guide to habit formation and mastery await you inside the book. Its practicality, backed by scientific research and real-life references, makes it a mustread for anyone looking to transform habits and in turn, life.

Bestselling author James Clear tackles the profound impact of tiny changes on one’s life in ‘Atomic Habit’

From left: Personalities Anna Magkawas, Jing Pulido, WSI Retail Manager 3rd Gina Bonoan, Group Manager Sherry Ann Bolisay, and WSI senior designer and Nueva Ecija 1st Councilor Kingston Tan grace Tobiano's 'Shopping for a Cause'

Immigration lawyer Marlene Gonzalez helps Filipinos with their concerns and inquiries about traveling to the US

From left: Singer Erik Santos, former beauty queen Bianca Manalo, and businessman Juancho Robles

From left: Pinky Tobiano, Erik Santos, chef Marie Pagkalinawan, Preet Singh, Moira de la Torre, Markki Stroem, Juancho Robles, and Mac Merla

philanthropist Pinky Tobiano