Manila Standard - 2023 September 14 - Thursday

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has become impatient over the long-delayed release of the national IDs or the Philippine Identification System IDs (PhilIDs), the Department of Information and Communications Technology admitted on Wednesday.

“So, a

‘Explore PH for investments’

PBBM woos bizmen in Singapore, touts Maharlika Fund as ‘gateway’

By Charles Dantes and Maricel Cruz

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday asked foreign businessmen “to explore” the Philippines as a destination for investment.

During his speech at the 10th Asian Summit in Singapore, President Marcos said through the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), the Philippines would be a gateway of possibilities in the area of investment.

Mr. Marcos signed the MIF Bill into law last July, erecting the sovereign wealth fund. The President, who celebrated his 66th birthday yesterday and is on an official visit to Singapore for five days until Sept. 17, cited its importance in re -

viving the country’s economy. The wealth fund will serve as a longterm source of investment capital to be used to finance the government’s projects, Mr. Marcos noted.

Pinoy CEOs see prices going up toward yearend

By Joel Zurbano and Othel Campos

PRICES of goods and services are only going up toward the end of the year as companies account for more expensive raw materials, higher salaries, and the spike in petroleum products, a survey of local business owners revealed.

Despite this, most of the country’s chief executives are confident about their industries’ prospects for the next 12 months, according to the Philippine CEO Survey 2023 released recently by PwC Philippines and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP).

The survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers or PwC showed that 83 percent of CEOs are optimistic for the next 12 months despite the threats of inflation, macroeconomic instability, cyber risks, and supply chain constraints, said MAP president Benedicta Du-Baladad.

“Philippine business leaders have faced serious threats, but they have risen to the occasion and found new

By Vito Barcelo

MINIMUM wage earners in Central Visayas will receive a salary increase of P33 per day, which will take effect on Oct. 1, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced yesterday.

Farmers say gov’t zero-tariff plan for imported rice ‘ill-timed, a farce’

By Othel V. Campos

and

Vince Lopez

THE country’s biggest farmers union says the government’s plan to floor tariffs on imported rice to zero percent is

ill-timed, given the wet season harvest has started and the country’s granary will be topped-up soon.

“If we reduce the tariffs now, it will send the wrong signal to our farmers and

discourage them from increasing their production. Then, we will have our supply problems again next year,” said Federation of Free Farmers

LTFRB seeks NEDA help on fare hike

By Rio N. Araja

Fishers say no PCG escort to Scarborough

A P40 minimum wage hike in the National Capital Region took effect on July 16. Workers in the Calabarzon region will also receive a P35 to P50 hike in their daily minimum wage this month, the DOLE said.

(FFF) chairman Raul Montemayor.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Central Visayas granted a pay increase of

‘Warlords’ protecting Teves—DOJ

By Rey E. Requejo

FUGITIVE ousted Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie”

Teves remains in a country in Southeast Asia, the Department of Justice said on Wednesday.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said this was the information that reached him during the monitoring of the whereabouts of the congressman, the principal accused in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo last March.

The DOJ also received information that Teves is now being protected by some “warlords” in the country where he is hiding, Remulla added. Teves was reported to be shuttling between Cambodia and Timor Leste, where he also sought political asylum

after he was accused of masterminding the murder of Degamo and 10 others at the governor’s house in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

“He’s still there, still in Southeast Asia, supposedly under the protection of a few local warlords, that’s news to us but we’ll see, because that’s ASEAN. Under ASEAN, we can actually ask them more upfront about what’s happening in their country, especially if it is somebody who is a known terrorist being harbored by anybody,” he said.

The DOJ is also finalizing the letter

IN BRIEF

Plenary hearings on budget on tap

to be submitted to the United Nations in relation to Teves’ pending arrest warrant. It aims to get the help of UN member countries to arrest the former congressman, the Justice Secretary said.

Remulla expressed belief that the supposed protection of warlords will not be an obstacle to the arrest of Teves.

“We don’t see that as a problem. We can make this bilateral. In the bilateral relations of those countries, it is easy to get along. They will not allow this to become an obstacle in catching people wanted for terrorism,” Remulla said.

Illicit SIM cards storing P1 billion in cash, crypto

briefing in Malacañang.

President Marcos led a sectoral meeting last September 12, discussing the issuance of the digital version of national IDs or ePhilIDs.

“The President has expressed his impatience because a lot of things needed to be done and it’s all dependent on the deployment of a national ID,” Uy added.

THE DICT expects to issue some 80 million digital version of the national identifications before yearend.

Uy said even Mr. Marcos has become impatient over the protracted delay in the issuance of the national IDs, but gave no ultimate deadline on the matter.

“No ultimatum was given. We just set our own goal. I think, we were only given access to the database just a month or two months ago. So, our goal may be a bit ambitious because it was only last July that we had access, and we are hoping that by yearend, we will be able to deploy the national IDs,” Uy said.

“It took four years for the PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) to distribute, and they are not yet finished. We’re very optimistic, I believe in the capabilities of our people to do that,” he added.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan announced last month that the DICT would oversee the production of the e-PhilIDs.

So far, Uy indicated that information on some 80 million people have already been in their data with the help of the PSA.

“I think they have captured about 80 million identities already and it’s in their database. So, for us to be able to convert it to a digital format, we needed access to that database so that we can deploy it on a digital platform,” Uy said.

“So, that was the discussion and that was where we reported to the President as to how we are going to adopt it on a digital platform so that it can eventually be used for all our online transactions,” he added.

Asked if the Philippines is now on a shift towards digital ID, Uy explained that the release of the digital IDs would be parallel to the physical IDs as they will still be printed.

“As far as we’re concerned, we’re doing this in parallel because the public has grown impatient… I think four years or five years delay.

The public has grown impatient, and they don’t want to wait forever to get the physical ID, so we decided on a parallel move,” Uy said.

He vowed that the DICT would do its best to release soon the digital versions of the national IDs.

“So, while they’re taking their time to do the physical printed ID, ay we will also deploy our digital ID which is much faster. Our objective is to give our countrymen a nice Christmas gift,” Uy said. Charles Dantes

ABOUT P1 billion worth of money and cryptocurrencies were discovered linked to SIM cards confiscated in various raids by security authorities in less than two months, an official said Wednesday.

Among the biggest raids was the one in Pasay City where over 25,000 SIM cards were confiscated from an alleged Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) facility, Information and Communications Secretary Ivan John Uy revealed during the Kapihan sa Manila

‘Explore...

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“Given the strong fundamentals of our economy, I invite you to explore the Philippines as a destination for investment. Moreover, the Philippines’ strategic location within Asia, coupled with our membership in regional trade agreements, positions us as a gateway to countless possibilities,” the President said.

“We have also recently launched our own sovereign wealth fund, the Maharlika Investment Fund. The fund is designed to consolidate investible funds from government financial institutions to further drive economic development through strategic investments both domestically and overseas,” he added.

The President emphasized the Philippines’ capabilities to offer a myriad of opportunities across various sectors.

“From digital and renewable energy to manufacturing and tourism, we are a nation on the rise, ready to collaborate with partners who see the potential that we hold in the Philippines,” Mr. Marcos said.

“Our growth story is underpinned by a strong domestic demand and increasing fixed capital investment as a result of upbeat domestic activity and improved busi-

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P33, bringing the daily minimum wages in Class A to C areas to a range of P420 to P468 for non-agriculture establishments and P415 to P458 for agriculture and non-agriculture establishments with fewer than 10 workers.

The pay increase was a result of several petitions filed by various labor groups seeking an increase in the daily minimum wage due to escalating prices of basic goods and commodities.

The new rates translate to a 7.6 percent to 8.6 percent increase from the prevailing daily minimum wage rates in the region and result in a comparable 23 percent increase in wage-related benefits covering 13th-month pay, service incentive leave (SIL), and social secu-

an order granting a provisional increase of P1 to the current minimum fare, ahead of the hearing on their petition.

Bay forum.

The Department of Justice earlier said these SIM cards were believed to be used in online scams.

Uy said the registered SIM cards and the linked e-wallets are the likely depository of money stolen from various scams by criminal syndicates. Cards they sampled had amounts ranging from P50,000 to P100,000, he added.

Text scams still exist despite the SIM Registration Law because many consumers sell their registered SIMs and

ness confidence. We are a large market. We are comprised of 110 million consumers whose demand helps fuel our current and future growth,” he said.

The President boasted about the country’s economic growth, even drawing parallels to his late father’s administration.

“Despite high inflation and global market instability, our economy grew by 7.6% in 2022, the fastest rate of growth recorded by our country since 1976, coincidently, in the time of my father (Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.),” he said.

This developed as the Maharlika Investment Corporation, the company that will manage the MIF, is now accepting applications and nominations for membership in its Board of Directors.

In an advisory, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the following positions are available for applicants: President and Chief Operations Officer (PCEO), Regular Director, and Independent Director.

Requirements and qualifications are listed on the Department of Budget and Management website. Applications will be accepted until September 27.

Meanwhile, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez greeted President Marcos – his cousin -- on his 66th birthday, reminding the Philippine leader of “all the good he has done for the country.”

“Happy Birthday, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.!”

rity benefits such as SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG.

The DOLE said the wage increase is expected to directly benefit 346,946 minimum wage earners in Region VII.

About 399,572 full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum wage may also indirectly benefit as a result of adjustments at the enterprise level to correct wage distortion.

The last wage order for workers in private establishments in the region was issued on May 24, 2022 and became effective on June 14, 2022.

Calabarzon’s Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board issued the wage hike order on Sept. 1. The order is to take effect on Sept. 24.

Non-agricultural workers in the region will see their pay increase to P520 per day.

On the other hand, service and retail es-

Farmers...

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a fare increase in the flag-down rate and another petition for a P1 peso provisional fare increase on Sept. 26.

“We have yet to consult with the NEDA whether to grant a P1 provisional fare increase or not, and when is the appropriate time (to grant),” Guadiz said.

He has asked the groups to consolidate their request and present just reasons for a fare hike.

Amid the continued spike in petroleum prices, the groups Pasang Masda, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization, and Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines filed a petition to raise traditional jeepney fares by up to P5. They also asked the LTFRB to issue

The Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas, PISTON, Stop and Go Transport Coalition, and Federation of Jeepney Drivers Association of the Philippines also asked the LTFRB for a P2 increase in minimum fare.

“The fare increase is triggered by the increases in petroleum products,” Guadiz said. “But automatically, a fare increase is a cause of inflation.”

He assured the public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators that the LTFRB understands their state.

“My brothers in the (transport) industry, we understand your predicament. We feel what you feel but we cannot just come up with a decision that fast. We have to make a study. We know the necessity of a fare increase,” the LTFRB chief said.

some register using fake IDs.

“In the next few months, we will be cleaning up those records together with the telcos. What’s important is we identify the techniques that they use,” Uy said.

The DICT is now studying proposals to limit the number of registered SIMs per user or impose a fee to register a 3rd or 4th SIM per individual.

The department also warned the public that some scammers are moving to other platforms including Facebook Messenger and Viber.

Romualdez said. “Your leadership reflects a strong commitment to improving the lives of Filipinos, a dedication we deeply admire. As Speaker of the House of Representatives and a staunch advocate for your vision, I have the privilege of witnessing your unwavering commitment to progress.”

Romualdez has been Mr. Marcos’ constant companion in work-related matters here and abroad since the start of the 19th Congress on June 30, 2022. Some have described Romualdez as the President’s most trusted ally.

As such, Romualdez, Leyte’s first district representative, saw up close the President’s dedication and perseverance in pulling his countrymen from the dregs of the COVID-19 pandemic by pursuing his 8-point socio-economic agenda.

But the Chief Executive also deserves to savor his special day, the Speaker said.

“On this special day, remember the positive impact you have on our country. Your determination to uplift the lives of every Filipino is truly inspiring, and I am honored and privileged to work alongside you in achieving these goals,” noted the leader of the 311-strong House of Representatives.

The Speaker added: “Wishing you a birthday filled with joy, surrounded by your loved ones, and may the years ahead be filled with success and fulfillment in your mission to better our nation.”

tablishments employing 10 or fewer workers and manufacturing establishments regularly employing fewer than 10 workers will see their daily pay rise to P385.

Agricultural workers in Calaca and Carmona will see an increase of P89 in their daily wage due to their localities’ reclassification as component cities.

The new rates are expected to benefit over 719,000 minimum wage earners in the region, DOLE said.

DOLE said this will result in a “comparable 23 percent increase in wagerelated benefits covering 13th-month pay, service incentive leave (SlL), and social security benefits such as SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-lBlG.”

“About 1.6 million full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum wage may also indirectly benefit as a result of adjustments to correct for wage distortion. With AFP

tide the nation over until March to May 2024, in time for the dry season harvest.

THE House of Representatives will begin next week its plenary discussions on the proposed P5.768-trillion 2024 national budget.

This came after the House appropriations committee chaired by AkoBicol Rep. Elizaldy Co concluded what he described as comprehensive budget briefings on the measure.

Co commended the “exhaustive efforts” of his colleagues in the House appropriations committee, as well as fellow legislators for their diligent scrutiny of the proposed budget.

“We have taken significant strides towards finalizing the 2024 budget, which promises to be a landmark budget focused on national growth and the welfare of the Filipino people,” said Co. Maricel Cruz

Over 2,300 dead from Libya flood

LIBYA was reeling Wednesday from a massive flood disaster that killed at least 2,300 people when a surge of water devastated the eastern city of Derna, leaving another 10,000 missing according to the Red Cross.

Relief missions gathered pace with Turkey, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates among the first nations to rush aid to the war-scarred country, and the UN pledging $10 million in support for survivors, including more than 30,000 people left homeless.

The Mediterranean coastal city of Derna was hit by a huge flash flood late Sunday that witnesses likened to a tsunami after two upstream dams burst when torrential rains brought by Storm Daniel battered the region.

The wall of water ripped away entire buildings, vehicles and the people inside them. Many were swept out into the Mediterranean Sea, with bodies later washing up on beaches littered with debris and car wrecks. AFP

iPhones with USB-C charging ports debut

APPLE unveiled its new iPhone lineup on Tuesday, with its Lightning charger ports replaced on the newest models by a universal charger after a tussle with the European Union.

The European bloc is insisting that all phones and other small devices must be compatible with the USB-C charging cables from the end of next year, a move it says will reduce waste and save money for consumers.

The firm had long argued that its cable was more secure than USBC chargers, which are already deployed by Apple on other devices and widely used by rivals including the world’s biggest smartphone maker Samsung.

“USB-C has become a universally accepted standard. So we’re bringing USB-C to iPhone 15,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of iPhone marketing at a launch event. AFP

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opportunities for growth through creativity and innovation. The pandemic has forced them to adapt to the changing business landscape, and they have emerged stronger and more resilient than ever before,” she said.

However, among the 157 CEOs who participated in the survey, 42 percent said they planned to raise prices in the next few months.

branding a hastily called Tariff Commission hearing on the proposed tariff cut “a farce.”

“The exercise is rigged and designed to make it appear that stakeholders are being consulted on the proposal,” Montemayor said.

The FFF said the stocks that will be accumulated during the current harvest will

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“The only thing we do when we go to Scarborough Shoal is to log out at the PCG office here at Masinloc station, but the truth

However, Montemayor emphasized the need to prepare for the lean months next year from July to September.

The FFF said as much as 85 percent of the rice that is being imported is for premium grades for sale to well-off consumers.

“This is because the import price difference between premium and regular rice is very small whereas the profit margins for the former are much larger. Any reduction in tariffs will benefit the

is that no one escorts us to fish in that area,” said New Masinloc fisherman’s Association president Leonardo Cuaresma in an interview with radio dzBB.

“[In] 2016, it was said that our fishermen would be escorted so that they could fish freely in the shoal, but no one

buyers of premium grades of rice, not ordinary consumers who prefer to buy cheaper rice,” Montemayor said.

He said this is the reason why the retail prices of rice have hardly moved despite the entry of cheap imports, even before the current crisis.

The group alleged that since the passage of Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) in 2019, the Bureau of Customs has been turning a blind eye on the massive undervaluation of rice imports, which results in a de facto reduction in tariffs. With AFP

escorted us,” he said.

He said the PCG explained to them that the presence of Coast Guard personnel in the area might aggravate the tension with Chinese ships.

The PCG did not respond to Manila Standard’s request for comment.

5 hurt as quake shakes island in Cagayan town

By Vince Lopez

FIVE people were injured when a wall collapsed at the height of a magnitude 6.3 earthquake that shook Dalupiri Island in Calayan, Cagayan on Tuesday evening, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported.

In its latest bulletin, the OCD said two of the victims sustained brain trauma and head concussion, while the three others suffered minor injuries. The reporters however, were still for validation.

There were no reports yet about damage to infrastructures and displaced individuals.

The OCD Region II, along with the Cagayan and Isabela Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMCs) were still monitoring and assessing the situation.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Operations Center forwarded emergency alert and warning messages to affected residents. Search and rescue teams are also on alert and standby.

Government assistance such as emergency food packs are prepositioned for immediate distribution to affected residents, the OCD said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has mobilized personnel from the tactical unit of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 (MBLT10) in Calayan, Cagayan and is ready to provide assistance as directed by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC).

“Personnel of our tactical unit (MBLT10) is there in Calayan ready to provide assistance as directed by the MDRRMC.” according to AFP spokesman, Col. Medel Aguilar in a message to Manila Standard

LTO chief seeks law to penalize, define road rage

By Rio N. Araja

LAND Transportation Office (LTO)

chief Vigor Mendoza II on Wednesday said the agency would push the creation of a law that would clearly define and penalize road rage incidents.

The LTO is doing its own study to define what road rage really is and what tough penalties could be enforced upon those who would get involved in such incidents, Mendoza said.

He lamented the penalties in road rage incidents “are not that tough,” especially if it did not result in death or injury of an individual.

“Even the penalty—we read the law— the penalty is quite prohibitive. We cannot impose a penalty higher than four years. There must be death or injury for a penalty of suspension or revocation for four years,” he said.

“If the road rage incident is serious, I think there is a special law… with a corresponding penalty that would not be just a simple violation of (Republic Act) 4136, reckless driving or improper person. If there is really a specific penalty, define it and penalize road rage incident,” he added.

He said LTO is also crafting a proposed law to be presented in Congress “as far as road rage incidents are concerned but we’re doing complete staff work first since it is still difficult to say, difficult to define.”

Road rage incidents have reached headlines since last month as two cases have been reported in Quezon City and Valenzuela City.

LTO swiftly acted on these incidents by issuing show cause orders to the drivers involved.

In the incident in Quezon City, Mendoza directed the license revocation for two years of dismissed policeman Wilfredo Gonzales in relation to his guntoting act against cyclist Allan Bandiola.

CA confirms Gibo as DND chief, with 11 AFP officers

By Vince Lopez, Macon Ramos-Araneta

and Maricel V. Cruz

THE Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmed on Wednesday the ad interim appointment of Gilberto Teodoro Jr. as Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND).

The CA also confirmed the appointment of 11 generals and senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Meanwhile, the controversial provision that requires members to compulsorily contribute in the bill mandating the establishment of a pension fund for soldiers, policemen and other uniformed government personnel has been deleted, according to Albay Rep. Jose Sarte Salceda.

The CA committee on national defense endorsed Teodoro’s appointment, with only opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros questioning him during the hearing.

IN BRIEF

CHR backs measure on prisons monitoring

THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) looks forward to working with Senator Raffy Tulfo to push the passage of Senate Bill No. 2031 or the Jails and Prisons Monitoring Act of 2023.

MMDA

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday signed an agreement with the Philippine Reclamation Authority to establish the Roxas Boulevard Promenade from Epifanio de los Santos Avenue to Libertad Extension in Pasay City.

The MMDA has earmarked P70 million to construct the 800-meter park along the scenic boulevard, aiming to create a “greener, more vibrant, and more inter-

CA Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte manifested that the contingent from the House of Representatives would not pose any questions about Teodoro’s appointment as they had worked with him when he was still a Tarlac congressman.

Members of the CA likewise acknowledged Teodoro’s experience, leadership, expertise, and dedication to lead the DND and achieve a balance between maintaining internal security and strengthening the external defense of the Philippines. In throwing his support to Teodoro,

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said he believes in Teodoro’s capability. He also said Teodoro’s intention to protect the interest of Filipinos cannot be questioned. He noted that Teodoro was not only ‘qualified,’ but ‘over qualified’ so that he gave him his nod.

Senate President pro tempore Loren Legarda cited the need for a qualified and outstanding leader who will not only give security to the country’ territorial integrity and sovereignty, but will also push the interest of Filipinos.

She said Teodoro possesses these qualities so she was confident he can effectively watch the DND.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada considered an “inspired choice” Teodoro’s appointment and he is able to face all the challenges like the issue on territorial dispute, and regional peace particularly in the West Philippine Sea.

If the proposed measure is passed, the CHR will continue to pursue areas of collaboration with pertinent government agencies, such as the Bureau of Corrections, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Philippine National Police, “as complement to our own Constitutional mandate on jail visitation and services relating to the prevention of human rights violations in places of detention.”

The CHR backs Tulfo’s bill that seeks to ensure the safety and security of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) while serving their sentence.

SB 2031 “seeks to promote the safety and security of inmates and prison personnel by providing an additional layer of security inside prison cells” through security monitoring systems, composed of closedcircuit television cameras, motion sensors, and other relevant equipment to ensure the safety and security of inmates and prison personnel alike.

Rio N. Araja

Senator wants to boost tamban fishing trade

SENATOR Francis Tolentino has urged the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to upgrade tamban production for the country’s food security.

“This is part of your priority area plans— food security is number two and you have 438 ongoing projects for food security,” Tolentino said.

“Perhaps, you would agree with me that tamban upgrading of production is part of food security,” Tolentino said during the DOST budget briefing at the Senate.

He added that tamban is important as it is being used for sardines, a staple food for Filipinos.

“Canned goods are the foods of Filipinos especially during typhoon and relief operations,” he said.

connected metropolis.”

The park will feature biking and jogging lanes, a pet park, and a football pitch, a space for family bonding, fitness advocates, and or just plain leisure.

Construction was expected to be completed in time for the holiday season.

MMDA chairman Romando Artes said the project was an offshoot of the agency’s Adopt-a-Park project and aims to promote an active lifestyle and contribute to the overall wellness of Metro Manilans through the rehabilitation and develop-

SC

ment of parks and open spaces within the metropolis.

Funding will be sourced from the MMDA’s budget, but maintenance will be shared with the local government of Pasay.

Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto Rubiano welcomed the development, urging everyone to participate in this advocacy for the well-being of the people while taking care of the earth.

The MMDA was also in talks with the Parañaque City government and the PRA to extend the promenade until NIA Road.

clears 4 for denial of right to speedy trial

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Supreme Court (SC) has cleared four civilians also known as “Cavite 4” of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and inflicting damage on a Globe Telecom terminal for violation of their constitutional right to speedy trial.

In an eight-page resolution made public on September 12, 2023, the SC’s Third Division overturned the January 15, 2019 decision and April 12, 2019 resolution of the Court of Appeals dismissing the petition filed by the relatives of George Bruce, Jose Nayve, Romel Nuñez and Armando Matres.

The petitioners assailed the denial by the Regional Trial Court of Trece Martires City of their motion to dismiss the

criminal cases filed against them due to violation of their right to speedy trial under Article III, Section 14 of the 1987 Constitution.

“After conscientiously sifting through the records of this case, the Court discerns adequate basis to reverse the challenged issuances of the CA,” the SC ruled.

“Criminal Case Nos. TMCR-1096-15, TMCR-1097-15, and TMCR- 1120-17, pending before the Regional Trial Court of Trece Martires City, Branch 23, are dismissed for violation of the petitioners’ right to speedy trial. Petitioners George B. Bruce, Jose C. Nayve, Romel M. Nuñez, and Armando T. Matres are acquitted and are ordered immediately released from custody, unless they are being held for another lawful,” it said.

The senator also cited examples that DOST can replicate to boost tamban production such as the raising in Dagupan, Pangasinan of bangus fingerlings from Iloilo for more supply. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Ten more motorbikes for MMDA academy

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has received 10 more motorcycle units, this time from Senator Christopher Lawrence Go.

On Tuesday, Go led the turn-over ceremony of the motorcycle units he donated to the MMDA to be used for the agency’s Motorcycle Riding Academy, set to open on Sept. 27.

MMDA chairman Romando Artes said the motorcycles can be used as “classrooms on wheels” to teach the riders how to drive better and how to be responsible motorists.

Go also visited the state-of-the-art Communication and Command Center of the MMDA at the main office in Pasig City that he funded before to better organize disaster response, traffic management, and public safety in the National Capital Region.

As a member of the Senate Committee on Public Services, the senator believes in the goal of safer roads, responsible driving, and valuing the lives of every motorist. Joel E. Zurbano

set to build 800-m park along Roxas Blvd.

NIGHT OUT AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE. Some residents of Calayan island in Cagayan province spend the night outside their houses, while others opted for a local evacuation center following a magnitude 6.4 earthquake Tuesday night. The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is still validating reports of some injuries due to the tremor. MDRRMO-Calayan photo

ROXAS BLVD. PROMENADE COMING UP. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Romando Artes (second from left) leads the signing ceremony for the Roxas Blvd Promenade, stemming from the agency’s Adopt-a-Park project that aims to promote an active lifestyle and contribute to the overall wellness of Metro Manila residents through rehabilitation and development of parks and open spaces. Norman Cruz

PAGCOR PHOTO CONTEST. Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman and chief executive officer Alejandro Tengco (4th from right), president and chief operating officer Juanito Sañosa, Jr. (5th from right), and directors Gilbert Remulla (3rd from right) and Francis Concordia (3rd from left) pose with the prize winners in the conventional category of the 2023 PAGCOR photo tilt.

Remulla denies memo on inmates’ transfer

By Rey E. Requejo

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday denied that he issued a memorandum ordering the return to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City of 12 high-profile inmates currently detained at a maximum security facility in Occidental Mindoro.

Remulla ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to find out who is behind the fake memorandum circular as he advised Bureau of Corrections (Bu-

COA decision to bar payment to supplier stays

By Rey Requejo

THE Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the Commission on Audit (COA) decision disallowing the P2.3 million payment made by state-run Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) in 2011 to a supplier of Christmas decorations.

The decision stemmed from the TIEZA transaction that paid P2.3 million to Kabukiran Garden for the Christmas decorations project through direct contracting. The SC said while the Procurement Law allows alternative mode of procurement including direct contracting, resorting to such alternative mode must be justified.

“The procuring entity must justify the necessity for an item that may only be procured through direct contracting, and it must be able to prove that there is no suitable substitute in the market that can be obtained at more advantageous terms,” the high court said in a statement released Wednesday.

“In the case of the TIEZA officials, the Court found that they failed to show that Kabukiran Garden has an interest in the conceptualization, supply, and installation of Christmas decorations which isprotected by intellectual property.”

The SC pointed out that TIEZA officals “did not conduct the required survey to ensure the exclusivity of the source of the procured services and that there is no suitable alternative that can be obtained at a lower cost.”

It also cited COA’s observation that providers of Christmas decoration are abundant in the country.

“For failing to justify the TIEZA officials’ resort to direct contracting, the disallowance by the COA must be affirmed,” the SC said.

Cor) Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. to be careful against suspicious directives.

“I believe that certain government employees are in connivance in the issuance

of that memorandum circular,” he said in a media briefing.

Remulla expressed suspicion that employees from the DOJ and BuCor could be involved.

“I have talked to Director General Catapang to be careful about all communications,” the Justice Secretary said.

“Validate when there is doubt, especially when there were no talks on the issue and suddenly an order appears,” Remulla said, in his instruction to Catapang.

Remulla issued the statement after learning about the “fake” Memorandum Circular No. 003 addressed to Catapang dated September 8 that

was emailed to various officials and offices of the DOJ.

The fake memorandum circular—which also bore the signature of Remulla—instructed Catapang to “transfer” back to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Muntinlupa the custody of the 12 high-profile inmates, namely, Noel G. Martinez, Jerry R. Pepino, Herbert R. Colangco, Tomas B. Donina, Jaime V. Patio, Rodolfo T. Magleo, Engelberton A. Durano, German L. Agojo, Hans Anton Tan, Joel D. Capones, Peter Co and Nonilo A. Arile.

The said individuals are currently detained at the Sablayan Prison and Penal

Taiwan seeks 28k workers, favors Pinoys

By Vito Barcelo

TAIWAN will hire more than 28,000 foreign workers this coming December, favoring Filipinos to work as English teachers, hospitality workers, caregivers, and farmers, according to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) said the demand for Filipinos in the English teaching industry is high, after Taiwan launched its ambitious Bilingual

2030 policy, to boost its number of English-speaking individuals.

“For now, Taiwan needs more than 28,000 workers by December but they will officially announce that they are going to hire 800,000 workersas hospitality workers, caregivers, teachers, farmers, construction workers,” MECO chairman Silvestre Bello III said in a radio interview. He said teachers in Taiwan earn as much as P100,000 a month even before passing

the board. “If you are certified, you can receive P150,000 a month,” he said.

MECO data revealed that there are more than 200,000 Filipinos living and working in Taiwan, a democratic country with more than 23 million people.

Bello likewise assured the safety of Filipinos in Taiwan amid the continuing tension in the Taiwan Strait and the upcoming Taiwan presidential elections in January next year.

NEW SHANG PROPERTY. O cials of Shang Properties pose for a group photo as the company leads the launching of Laya Shang Properties, a new, trendy residential development focusing on the next generation of trendsetters and trailblazers at the Edsa Shangrila Plaza in Mandaluyong City. Norman Cruz

Authorities nab 2 suspects; seize shabu worth P136m

AUTHORITIES arrested two drug suspects and seized P136 million worth of shabu in Parañaque City on Tuesday night, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said Wednesday.

In a report, PDEA spokesperson Derrick Carreon said the suspects, Mark Joseph Cortez, 36, and Jacqueline

Espinosa, 37, yielded some 20 kilos of shabu wrapped in Chinese tea bags and buy-bust money during the operation at around 5:50 p.m. at Concorde Village in Barangay Tambo. He said a third suspect identified as Marion King John Cortez was able to evade arrest.

Joint operatives from the PDEA

Farm in Occidental Mindoro.

Remulla said the fake circular noted that the 12 inmates are under the Witness Protection Program and have testified against detained former senator Leila M. de Lima in the charges she is facing before the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court over her involvement in illegal drugs.

“If these inmates feel they would be benefited by the circular then they must have a hand in the preparation of the fake document. They just want to return to Muntinlupa,” he added. According to Remulla, the prison sentence of the 12 PDLs could get extended if they continue to commit such crimes.

IN BRIEF

Solon asks DOTr to revive Bicol Express

A LAWMAKER urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to pursue publicprivate partnerships in implementing the revival and modernization of the “Bicol Express, ” the rail line of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) that ran from Manila to Albay.

Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan of Bicol Saro party-list was earlier assured by DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chavez that the revival of the Bicol Express or the PNR’s South Long Haul Project remains a priority of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

But with no clear direction yet from China on whether it would continue to fund the project, Yamsuan said the DOTr should instead push through with its option of employing the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode to ensure that the project can begin implementation under the current administration.

“...Our dream is for the Bicol Express to provide affordable, safe and comfortable service for commuters and make Bicol’s economy the fastest growing in the country,” Yamsuan said.

The South Long Haul Project, which is included in the list of the President’s “Build Better More” infrastructure program, has a P3 billion allocation this year under the DOTr’s proposed budget. Maricel V. Cruz

Solon: Health workers deserve more benefits

REP. Ron P. Salo of Kabayan party-list has filed a bill enhancing the benefits for public health workers.

Salo filed House Bill 9127, which if enacted into law, will amend Republic Act 7305 or the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers.

“The Magna Carta of Public Health Workers was a crucial milestone in recognizing the vital role our health workers play in our society. However, the passage of more than three decades necessitates an update to reflect the changing times and to ensure that our public health workers are justly compensated for their tireless efforts,” Salo said in the explanatory note. “RA 7305, enacted on March 26, 1992, represented a significant step forward at the time, the bill’s provisions have become outdated in light of the evolving economic landscape,” he added. Maricel V. Cruz

Nograles hails lower teachers’ workload

RIZAL Rep. Fidel Nograles on Wednesday hailed the Department of Education’s (DepEd) move to reduce teachers’ workload. Nograles, the chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Labor and Employment, made the statement as the country commemorates National Teachers’ Month this September.

“We thank Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte and all other officials for this move. This is a timely intervention that will help ensure our teachers’ well-being,” Nograles said.

Duterte announced recently that teachers will enjoy a 30-day break after the school year and a reduction of their administrative tasks from 56 to 11.

Regional Office 4-A Special Enforcement Team, the PDEA National Capital Region, and the local police conducted the buy-bust operation.

The suspects will be charged with the violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

She said these two measures will soon be enforced in all public schools nationwide, with the DepEd set to release a memorandum to school officials soon.

“I am confident that the DepEd will continue to come up with measures to uphold the welfare of our educators.

For our part, we in Congress vow to continue to craft policies to this end,” the lawmaker said. Maricel V. Cruz

Padilla: Martial law ‘saved’ country from communism

THE declaration of martial law in the Philippines on September 21, 1972, saved the country from turning communist, Senator Robin Padilla said. Padilla, quoted by reports during a Senate hearing, said the public “only heard one narrative about the events of martial law.”

Padilla said communism was very powerful in Southeast Asia during the 1970s. The senator said according to one narrative, martial law made the country safe from communism. He also said many soldiers gave their lives to prevent communists from taking over the country.

Padilla said people should

also recognize these “other” heroes. He said he has filed a bill declaring September 21 a nonworking holiday to celebrate the unsung heroes of martial law. However, the senator said he is willing to change his Senate measure and make September 21 a working holiday if the labor department objects.

KAPIHAN FORUM. Members of the Kapisanan ng Social Media Brodkasters ng Pilipinas Inc.--(second from left) RJ Javellana, Mark Tolentino, Dave David, and Leo Olarte, KSMBP president—listen to media questions during the ‘Kapihan sa Manila Hotel’ discussion of the criminal case led against television hosts Vice Ganda and Ion Perez. The forum was hosted by former Senator Joey Lina (left) and former Press Secretary Sonny Coloma (right). Norman Cruz

LAST Monday, DOF Secretary Ben Diokno was quoted as having admitted the economic team was not consulted when Malacanang imposed a price ceiling on rice. In fact, Diokno said he and NEDA’s Arsi Balisacan were in Tokyo for high level talks when the announcement came, and “of course, we were shocked.”

In our article Thursday last week in this space, we wondered who could have advised the president, and surmised it could not have been the economic managers, so Diokno’s denial confirmed it.

DTI and DA are both part of the economic team, so are we to assume that they, particularly DTI, did not call Diokno and Balisacan in Japan, and unilaterally advised the president to impose the ceilings?

This gives credence to whispers in the economic community that somebody else who is not part of the economic team advised the president, and being the agriculture secretary himself, he jumped into the price ceiling action.

The recent move reminds me of another story, when candidate BBM pledged he would bring down the price of rice to P20 per kilo, a promise he sustained after being the newly proclaimed president of the land.

kilos. Computing national consumption at 118 kilos per person multiplied by 117 million Filipinos equals close to 14 million metric tons of rice.

Government is now mandated to have only 9 days (instead of 30) buffer stock, a decision made along when the RTL took effect.

When NFA informed the president in midApril this year that their inventory was down to 2 days, after supplying Kadiwa at a loss of P13 per kilo and calamity responses, and asked that 300,000 metric tons be imported to augment the stock, the president decided not to allow government importation at that time.

Imported rice, as a rule of thumb, must be in the country before the typhoon season (the lean months) arrives. By not acting in mid-April, government has just one day inventory as we write.

Meanwhile, the Russian interdiction of wheat from Ukraine roiled the entire grains market, causing India, the world’s biggest exporter, to ban exports of non-basmati rice. India did the same in 2008, a ban that was lifted only in late 2011.

Private importers even with permits already given, not by NFA, but by the Bureau of Plant Industry, stopped importing because world prices have become too high.

Strategic partnership with Australia W

The Philippines and Australia recently agreed to enhance their partnership by elevating their relations from a comprehensive to a strategic partnership. This essentially means expanding cooperation in various areas of endeavor.

The Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership (JDSP) signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week, in the words of the president, represents “a very, very important development” for our two countries.

“The Philippines and Australia share a long history of cooperation and an even longer history of friendship, and it is fitting that the elevation of our relations…signals our mutual commitment to deepening collaboration across a spectrum of areas that are vital to both our countries’ growth and prosperity,” he pointed out.

It is also the Philippines’ 14th largest trading partner in 2022 and the country’s 11th largest source of total Official Development Assistance (ODA) amounting to US$180 million as of December last year. The Strategic Partnership will enhance defense and security cooperation, strengthen counter-terrorism and law enforcement, and facilitate common action on mitigating climate change and achieving sustainable development goals.

The story goes like this: when pundits scored candidate BBM for having no platform other than “unity,” some campaign supporters who knew little about economics, much less the law of supply and demand, advised him to promise the P20 rice.

They harked on the days of President Erap when NFA sold rice at P16.50 to retailers (1998) who in turn sold to the consumers at P18.

Then, during the latter part of PGMA’s time, since NFA could not sustain the subsidized price, they upped the price to P23 release price to retailers who in turn sold it at P25. Even at that price, NFA was losing some P7-8.

But that was then, when the average cost of producing a kilo of palay was P10 to P11; now it is around P16, with fertilizers and other inputs more costly, and transport costs are very high.

As a result of the 2008 rice price crisis, when NFA was importing from Vietnam at up to a thousand dollars per metric ton (a world recordsetter), and then an average 700 dollars in 2009, even the P25 per kilo rice was unsustainable, and with very high imported inventories during those two years, NFA’s sovereign-guaranteed debt rose to P178 billion.

NFA’s “legacy” debt prompted DBM under Butch Abad to give a zero budget for the agency from the national expenditure program, compromised later to P2.5 billion for domestic palay buying. In today’s GAA, it is P9 billion.

To cut NFA losses and reduce our debt, we reduced government imports to 200,000 metric tons, more than a tenth of the previous year’s 2.25 million tons.

Then, to wean away NFA from imports, we bid out import licenses to the private sector to some 600,000 tons, also in preparation for the expiration of the WTO allowed quantitative restrictions on rice to protect local farmers.

We increased retail price to P27, and timed the announcement on December 8, 2010 after most people had already received their 14th month bonus, and Christmas was in the air after measuring through a survey potential consumer reaction.

Increased income from pricing and from bidding the private sector import licenses (as against zero in previous dispensations) plus short-term loan restructuring trimmed the P178 billion debt to some P143 billion in one year.

But Typhoon Pepeng which hit Central Luzon right during NFA’s anniversary (September 26), destroyed almost 1 million metric tons of palay in one single night of fierce winds and strong rains, flooding our farms just when harvest was about to start. If a super typhoon or two hits us between now and early November, we will have a shortage, given present market supply conditions. If we are lucky, the problem could recur if a strong El Nino hits us early next year.

The Philippine Statistics Authority estimates the per person average intake of rice to be 118

MONACO—Natural disasters are now happening so frequently that reinsurers — the firms that sell insurance to insurance companies — are scaling back their exposure to such risks.

While this may make business sense, it raises the question of whether individuals and businesses will be able to protect themselves against the effects of climate change if their insurance companies cannot even get coverage themselves.

Just weeks after wildfires caused major damage in Hawaii and parts of Europe, and as catastrophic floods ravaged Libya, the issue was front and center at a major industry gathering held in Monaco this week.

Reinsurers identified climate change as the biggest risk they now face in a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation.

“Climate change is the number-one risk once again as reinsurers bear the brunt of the cost of catastrophe claims from an ever-increasing number of extreme weather events,” the report said.

“As these losses spiral upwards, the survey highlights growing concerns that some areas

It has become too late to import, with Vietnamese rice at US$620-640 FOB per ton (20 sacks). Add freight, shipping and insurance costs of a conservative $ 25 per ton, that equals $645 to $665.

Total would thus be P36,440 to P37,570 per metric ton.

To that, BoC collects an import duty of 35 percent, which now brings up the cost to around 50,000 pesos or 2,500 pesos per sack, or 50 pesos per kilo without computing storage, transport, and profits to both importers and retailers.

With palay bought at 23-25, sometimes higher, and imported rice at the previous paragraph’s figures, the market price is now 55-60, even higher with better quality rice.

If our high officials imported in April-May, or gave import permits to the private sector then on condition that the rice arrived before the lean months, we would not be in this severe a crisis.

The only immediate solution, as Diokno and Balisacan themselves propose in lieu of price control, is to do away with the 35 percent tariff meanwhile.

But even that is too late, because tariffs can be lowered by the president only when Congress is not in session. That will have to wait until the recess by October.

As a band-aid solution, Malacanang authorized another “ayuda” to retailers.

USec Sebastian assures us harvest is just around the corner, and prices will then abate because of domestic supply.

There are two big IFs to fulfill this wish: one, that the harvest is good; and two, that there are no strong typhoons that will hit the rice-producing areas the rest of this month and well into the middle of November.

USec Sebastian knows the myriad solutions to our periodic rice crisis, but the effects of his programs will be gradually felt in the long-term, and requires utmost cooperation by the DA and the local government units, which can be rather spotty.

The prime minister of Vietnam proposed a five-year rice supply agreement to President Marcos, but the details we have yet to know.

Since Vietnam is cutting its export volume from 7 million tons to a mere 4 million by 2030, meanwhile shifting to better high value crops, its ASEAN neighbors, Indonesia and the Philippines will be dividing up that lower volume.

Can our rice production catch up to ensure enough domestic staple supply? That is the 64 dollar question.

Can Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, who is being pushed to the difficult job, do better than the president himself?

Can idealistic, qualified people like Cielo Magno ever fit into the topsy-turvy workings of this administration?

Meanwhile, our agriculture secretary cum president hies off to Singapore to talk with business leaders (about rice imports?) and of course, his annual hegira to the F-1 races.

For his part, Albanese said the signing of a new Strategic Partnership and other memoranda of understanding (MOU) “is an important symbol of the strength of our

relationship and our shared commitment to do more together.”

Albanese’s official visit to the Philippines is the first by an Australian head of government in 20 years.

In fact, the Philippines and Australia have maintained 77 years of friendship, spanning a wide and diverse range of concerns, from defense and security to economic cooperation and people-to-people cooperation.

Australia is the Philippines’ second largest partner in defense and security and one of only two bilateral partners with whom we maintain a Visiting Forces Agreement VFA, apart from the United States.

More on Metro traffic problems (Part 1)

IT LOOKS like the DOTr will maintain the protected bicycles lanes and is even planning for more.

This means the agency is thoroughly sold to the idea of exclusive bicycle lanes in spite of some Local Government Units advocating joint use to ease what they perceive as worsening traffic congestion. Could this be because of an SWS survey wherein it showed that one in three Filipino households own a bicycle?

This survey at face value does tend to validate the notion that there is widespread use of bicycles as a mode of transportation among Filipinos.

But this survey could be deceptive because it may not be painting the whole picture.

To be sure, this has to be validated by conducting a traffic study to find out how many bicycles are on the road at any given time which should include the average distance of the travel to include the purpose of the trip.

As I stated in my traffic article three weeks ago, a cost benefit study is necessary to determine whether setting aside 1.5 meter of the roads in the Metro area as protected bicycle lanes is the right thing to do and is not actually one of the causes of the worsening traffic gridlock. The standard width of a lane of road is 3.6 meters according to the Australian Road Board. Why Australian?

Because as I understand, that is what the DPWH is currently using because we do not have our own.

If one will stand at any point along a standard road and count the numbers of vehicles able to pass that point in an hour, one can theoretically count 1,900 vehicles because that is supposed to be the maximum capacity.

If we take EDSA as an example, four lanes are available for other vehicles because one is exclusive for the Bus Carousel.

The width of the other four lanes, however, if one will measure them, are actually less than 3.6 meters and therefore already constricted.

If 1.5 meters of the right most lane is further set aside as protected bicycle lane, then the remaining lanes will further be narrowed.

The width of the remaining lanes will probably be down to less than 3 meters which impacts travel time.

The narrower lanes will slow traffic flow especially during rush hours.

This is true with all the roads that have protected bicycle lanes.

Taking this into consideration, should traffic authorities allow for joint use of the bicycle lanes to allow for faster travel and lessen congestion or maintain the protected bicycle lanes in spite of the worsening congestion.

As a result of our upgraded bilateral ties, Australia will introduce new reciprocal work and holiday visa arrangements, double the number of slots for Filipinos in the Australia Award scholarships, re-establish the Philippine Institute at the Australian National University, and provide $4.4 million Australian grant for collaborative research on National Soil Health Strategy in the Philippines.

Canberra will also support a new fiveyear program focused on reducing violent conflict, reintegrating former combatants and improving community development livelihoods.

All told, a new era in our bilateral relations with our neighbor to the south has opened up, with bright prospects for closer cooperation in various fields in the years ahead.

probably go to court to challenge this like the way they did with regard to the no contact apprehension.

The shocking thing was the Supreme Court did grant a TRO which up to now has not yet been lifted.

No contact apprehension should have been a big help to traffic enforcement because it forces undisciplined drivers to be on guard and behave even in the absence of traffic enforcers.

Besides, this kind of apprehension is being done all over the world without any question except in this country where almost everything is being challenged in court.

It seems to me the answer is obvious but DOTr will have to study this carefully because traffic congestion is costing the economy billions of pesos every day.

With regard to bicycle use, I have come across reports of substantial use of bicycles as a mode of transport but no mention has been made on how the figures have been arrived at.

One easy way to find this out is to simply count how many bicycle riders are passing thru a protected bicycle lane.

My impression is that there are more bicycles on the road during weekends than during workdays.

But what is important is to have a reliable data on bicycle ridership to help MMDA and DOTr formulate the right policies that will deal with other vehicles.

One of these is how to treat cars without any passengers on roads like EDSA, Roxas Boulevard and other national roads in the Metro area.

For instance, should MMDA or DOTr implement a policy of restricting them from using EDSA on certain hours or letting them pay if they want to use restricted roads?

There are Cities in the ASEAN region that do this like Singapore.

Perhaps, MMDA can consider implementing a similar policy.

But in this land of many lawyers, people will

As climate catastrophes rise, reinsurers reduce risks

and types of business could become uninsur-

able,” it added. Ratings agency Fitch said in a note to investors ahead of the conference, which ends Wednesday, that some companies “were already retreating from the property-casualty market in 2022”.

It added that “even the strongest reinsurers have now pulled back, largely through tightening their terms and conditions to limit their aggregate covers and low layers of natural catastrophe protection”.

Another ratings agency, S&P, said “more than half of the top 20 global reinsurers maintained or reduced their natural catastrophe exposures during the January 2023 renewals, despite the improved pricing terms and conditions and rising demand”.

The reinsurance unit of insurance giant AXA raised prices 6.3 percent during the first half of this year, but it took in three percent less, mostly because of a reduction in exposure to natural catastrophes.

According to Fitch, reinsurers are reducing their exposure to so-called secondary peril events. These are smaller weather events,

which are becoming more frequent and virulent owing to climate change.

‘Doesn’t make any sense’

Reinsurers are still offering ample cover against the most severe weather events, Fitch added.

Data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) found that weather and climate disasters in the United States where losses exceeded $1 billion averaged 18 per year between 2018 and 2022, up from 8.1 events between 1980 and 2022, using inflation-adjusted figures. The United States was hit by a record-

breaking 23 such events in the first eight months of this year, it added.

This rising number of natural disasters has put pressure on reinsurers.

“There was an under-estimation of the frequency of events, and I think we underestimated the development of the population in different areas as well,” said Jean-Paul Conoscente, chief executive of the property and casualty branch of reinsurer Scor.

Scor began to reduce its exposure to natural catastrophes in 2021.

Fitch analyst Robert Mazzuoli noted that policies that paid out to insurers once a certain amount of damages from a particular risk, like hail, was reached, have completely disappeared when they were very popular only two or three years ago.

Providing coverage against risks with “really high frequency... doesn’t make any sense”, said Thomas Blunck, who heads up the reinsurance committee at the world’s top reinsurer, Munich Re.

These natural disaster policies were initially developed to protect insurers from extreme events and not against the volatility inherent

If I remember correctly, the reason given by those who went to court was that it would be grossly unfair to the car owners if, at the time of apprehension, it was someone else driving the vehicle.

What a flimsy reason.

Sometimes, I just chuckle every time I read about people complaining about the traffic gridlock because a lot of the traffic problems on the road are self-inflicted. With a little more road patience and driver discipline, traffic gridlock should not be as bad as it is.

Sadly, however, it is getting worse and is one of the major causes why the incidence of road rage is increasing.

The big challenge now to MMDA and the DOTr is to find out the cause of the sudden slowdown of travel time.

The Bus Carousel, was supposed to lessen congestion along EDSA but it apparently has not.

Was it something both agencies did or failed to do?

Could it be the introduction of protected bicycle lanes?

If so, to what extent?

Maybe it’s the number of new vehicles entering NCR’s limited road system.

Whatever the causes, they must be identified as quickly as possible and eliminated. Hopefully, both agencies will be equal to the job.

in the business, said Conoscente, explaining the development in the industry. ‘Brutal’ shift

But this repositioning of reinsurers is not without consequence for traditional insurers.

“This is part of the reasons which has driven us to have a rather negative outlook,” said Manuel Arrive, a Paris-based director at Fitch Ratings.

Jean-Philippe Dogneton, head of the French insurer Macif, criticized the “rapid” and “brutal” shift in the reinsurance sector.

Fitch’s Robert Mazzuoli said some reinsurers “were abrupt with their clients and treated them poorly”.

Given the current circumstances, insurers may have little choice than increase their rates or in turn reduce the risks that they cover, which is already happening in certain countries.

Scor’s Conoscente said for the moment “you can get insurance anywhere” but on the condition of being able to “pay the necessary price”.

For him, the real problem is that “a large portion of the population isn’t ready to pay the real cost” of climate change. AFP

E CAN certainly do better, in terms of growing our economy, protecting national security, and enriching our cultural life, with a little help from our friends.

opened up

Imported rice, as a rule of thumb, must be in the country before the typhoon season (the lean months) arrives

With a little more road patience and driver discipline, traffic gridlock should not be as bad as it is

Taiwan: 35 Chinese planes join carrier in Pacific drills

TAIPEI—Taiwan said 35 Chinese warplanes were detected around the island on Wednesday, with some then flying to join the Shandong aircraft carrier for naval drills in the Western Pacific.

Beijing, which views self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory to be seized one day, has stepped up military and political pressure on the island in recent years as relations deteriorate.

Taiwan on Monday detected China’s Shandong carrier — one of two in Beijing’s fleet — around 60 nautical miles (111 kilometres) southeast of the island as it sailed into the Western Pacific.

Chinese aircraft including fighters and drones were then tracked around the island from Wednesday morning, Taipei’s defence ministry said.

Some fighters “passed through the Bashi Channel to the Western Pacific to conduct joint sea and air training with the Shandong aircraft carrier”, the ministry said in a statement.

Taipei’s Ministry of Defence on Wednesday released an undated photo showing the Shandong being monitored by a Taiwanese Keelung class warship.

“The armed forces have monitored the situation and tasked air patrol aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond to these activities,” it said.

Beijing is yet to comment on the drills.

But the country’s Eastern Theatre Command — which organises drills around Taiwan — said Wednesday an “aviation unit” had carried out training “recently”, with a range of “thousands of kilometres”. It did not mention the island.

On Saturday, China said its troops were “on constant high alert” after two ships belonging to the United States and Canada sailed through the Taiwan Strait. AFP

Putin, Kim hold summit at Russian space center

MOSCOW—Russian

President Vladimir

Putin hosted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for talks on Wednesday that could see them forge an arms deal that would defy global sanctions.

Putin said he was “very glad” to see Kim, Russian state television reported, af-

ter Kremlin footage showed the pair shaking hands enthusiastically at the Vostochny Cosmodrome spaceport in the far east of Russia.

While Kim was in Russia, Pyongyang fired two ballistic missiles on Wednesday, the South Korean military said, the latest in a string of sanctions-busting tests.

Experts say Russia will likely use the talks to seek artillery shells and antitank missiles from North Korea, which wants advanced satellite and nuclear-powered submarine technology in return.

“We’ll talk about all the issues, without

haste. There is time,” Putin said, when asked by reporters whether military cooperation would be on the agenda.

Kim, who travelled overland to Russia in his bullet-proof train, was accompanied by an entourage that suggested the summit would have a strong military focus.

Among the top military officials accompanying Kim were Korean People’s Army Marshal Pak Jong Chon and Munitions Industry Department Director Jo Chun Ryong, according to the North’s state media.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu took part in the talks with Kim, as

did Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, images on Russian state television showed.

Ahead of the announcement of the talks, Russian news agencies published images of Kim and Putin touring the vast space centre.

“The leader of the DPRK shows great interest in rocket technology, and they are trying to develop (their presence in) space,” Putin said, referring to North Korea by its official name.

Kim thanked Putin for inviting him to visit, despite the Russian leader’s “busy schedule”.

Kim had earlier stressed the trip —his

first post-pandemic foreign travel — showed North Korea was “prioritising the strategic importance” of its Russia ties.

The meeting at the cosmodrome is symbolic, especially as Pyongyang failed twice recently in its bid to put a military spy satellite into orbit, experts said. Russia is eager for North Korea’s stockpile of artillery shells, while Pyongyang is looking for help with satellite technology and upgrading its Soviet-era military equipment, An Chan-il, a defector-turnedresearcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, told AFP. AFP

Japan replaces foreign, defense ministers in reshuffle motivated by internal politics

TOKYO—Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida replaced his defense and foreign ministers on Wednesday, while increasing the number of women in the Cabinet, in a major reshuffle.

The replacement of the two key ministers, which came as North Korea fired two ballistic missiles and tensions with China rise, was motivated by internal party politics.

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi was succeeded by former justice minister Yoko Kamikawa, 70, one of five women in the new cabinet, government spokesman Hirokazu Mat-

Dozens dead in Hanoi apartment fire

HANOI, Vietnam—Dozens of people died in a fire at an apartment block in Vietnam’s capital Hanoi, state media said Wednesday, with witnesses reporting screams from inside and a small boy thrown from the building.

The fire started just before midnight on Tuesday in the parking floor of the 10-story building, an area packed with motorbikes, witnesses said.

Authorities rescued about 70 people and rushed 54 to hospital, including “dozens of dead,” the official Vietnam News Agency said.

At least three children were among the dead, Viettimes, an online state newspaper, reported.

“I heard a lot of shouts for help. We could not help them much,” said Hoa, a woman who lives near the block and gave only one name.

“The apartment is so closed with no escape route, impossible for the victims to get out,” she told AFP at the site.

Photos by AFP photographers on the scene overnight showed flames and smoke billowing from barred balconies.

The blaze was out by Wednesday morning, as rescuers still struggled to access the building, which is down a narrow alley in a residential area of southwest Hanoi.

The building’s small balconies were surrounded by iron bars, with the apartment block having only a single exit — and no emergency ladder on the outside.

Around 150 people lived in the complex, authorities said. AFP

suno told reporters.

Kamikawa was justice minister when Japan executed five years ago the leader and members of Aum Shinrikyo, sentenced to death for their role in the fatal 1995 sarin attack on the Tokyo subway.

Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada was succeeded by Minoru Kihara, 54, who previously served as parliamentary secretary of defense.

Shunichi Suzuki retains his position as finance minister in the world’s third-largest economy.

Farm minister Tetsuro Nomura, who

recently was accused of calling treated water released from the stricken Fukushima plant “contaminated water”, was replaced by Ichiro Miyashita, 65. Kishida, 66, took office in October 2021 but his poll ratings have dived as rising prices hit consumers.

Kishida said on Sunday he plans to “implement a bold economic package” to address the impact of rising prices on voters. His standing has also faltered within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and he will have to stand for internal re-election next year. AFP

Russia’s ships damaged in attack on Crimea — Moscow

MOSCOW—A Ukrainian cruise missile attack on a shipyard in Sevastopol in Moscow-controlled Crimea damaged two ships undergoing repairs, Russia’s defence ministry said Wednesday.

Sevastopol port is home to Russia’s Black Sea fleet.

The city’s Russia-backed governor said the attack caused a blaze and injured 24 people.

Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, has been targeted by Kyiv throughout Moscow’s Ukraine offensive but has recently come under

more intense, increased attacks.

Kyiv has repeatedly said it plans to take back the peninsula.

“The Ukrainian armed forces launched a strike with 10 cruise missiles at the S. Ordzhonikidze ship repair plant,” Russia’s defence ministry said on Telegram.

Ukraine also “attempted an attack with three unmanned boats at a detachment of ships of the Black Sea fleet” during a sea crossing, it added.

“Air defence systems shot down seven cruise missiles, and the patrol

ship Vasily Bykov destroyed all unmanned boats.

“As a result of being hit by enemy cruise missiles, two ships undergoing repairs were damaged.”

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russia-backed governor of Sevastopol, Crimea’s biggest city, said on Telegram that he was at the scene of a fire at the shipyard.

“As a result of the attack, according to preliminary information, a total of 24 people were injured, four of them in moderate condition,” he said. AFP

MILITARY COOPERATION. In this pool photograph distributed by Sputnik agency, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (left) and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un (right) visit the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur region on Wednesday. Putin and Kim both arrived at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East, Russian news agencies reported Wednesday, ahead of planned talks that could lead to a weapons deal. AFP

DON’T CATCH THEM. Activists wearing masks depicting monkeys hold posters during a protest against catching and trafficking long-tailed macaques (Macaca Fascicularis), in front of the US embassy in Jakarta on Wednesday. AFP

SCREAMS, SHOUTS HEARD. A firefighter leaves the site of a fire at an apartment block in Hanoi on Wednesday. Dozens of people have been killed after a huge fire at an apartment block in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, state media said. AFP

PSEi dips to 11-month low on oil price spike

By Jenni er B. Austria

PHILIPPINE stocks fell to an 11-month low Wednesday on heightened investor concerns over rising oil prices ahead of the release of the US August inflation report.

The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange index lost 81.02 points, or 1.3 percent, to close at 6,149.18, while the broader all-shares index dropped 28.62 points or 0.85 percent.

“Everyone’s attention will be on US consumer price index report, and that data will determine whether our market rebounds or continuous its descent in the coming days,” China Bank Capital managing director Juan Paolo Colet said.

Adding to investors’ concern is the steady rise in oil prices, which jumped about 2 percent to a near 10-month high

HIGHSPEED TRAIN. Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo gestures during a trial of the new BandungJakarta high-speed train in Jakarta on September 13, 2023. AFP

Tuesday on tighter supply outlook.

Meanwhile, Asian equities mostly fell Wednesday ahead of the crunch US inflation report, with investors increasingly nervous that a recent spike in oil will put fresh upward pressure on consumer prices and force the Federal Reserve to lift interest rates again.

The central bank has insisted that its decision-making on monetary policy will be data-driven as it assesses a range of figures, which have for much of 2023 suggested that more than a year of tightening is having the desired effect.

That had fanned optimism that July’s hike was the last and officials would allow its measures to work through the economy and bring inflation to heel.

But a recent run of strong data, particularly on the jobs market and the services sector, has revived talk that more were on the way, with a surge in oil prices to 10-month highs adding to those concerns.

The pick-up has been fueled by Saudi Arabia and Russia’s decision to slash output until the end of the year, while floods in Libya have hammered its ability to pump.

“Global markets are feeling the heat from higher oil prices and their inflationary implications, as the recent price upswing carries inherent risks to the Fed’s inflation and interest rate outlook,” said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management.

“While the current surge might not tip the scales to a September hike, oil prices

at (more than) $90 per barrel do fit the Fed criteria that would justify another rate increase in either November or December.”

He added that crude’s advance could spark a “substantial uptick in headline infl ation, which may compel the Federal Reserve to adopt a more assertive approach than what investors are currently prepared for.”

The US consumer price index reading on Wednesday will be followed Thursday by the producer price index, with the Fed’s policy meeting next week.

Asian equity markets struggled Wednesday.

Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, Shanghai, Singapore, Seoul, Jakarta and Manila dipped, while Wellington, Taipei and Mumbai were in the green.

London, Paris and Frankfurt opened in the red.

The dour performance came after an

Saudi, Russian oil cuts to cause big supply shortfall—IEA

PARIS France—Oil cuts by OPEC+ allies

Saudi Arabia and Russia will cause a “significant” global supply shortfall through the end of the year, raising the risk of further market volatility, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday.

The warning in the IEA’s monthly market report comes a day after oil prices jumped following OPEC’s own update showed that

the gap between global supply and demand would be the widest since 2007.

In an effort to prop up prices, Saudi Arabia and Russia, its ally in the wider OPEC+ group, announced earlier this month that they would extend voluntary cuts until the end of the year.

“From September onwards, the loss of OPEC+ production, led by Saudi Arabia,

will drive a signifi cant supply shortfall through the fourth quarter,” the Parisbased IEA said.

“Oil stocks will be at uncomfortably low levels, increasing the risk of another surge in volatility that would be in the interest of neither producers nor consumers, given the fragile economic environment,” it added. AFP

Private, public funding of fossil fuels must stop; Smart scores in FIBA World Cup

ventional power projects. About $6.97 billion investments are needed for transmission projects.

The draft PEP clearly did not call for the complete discontinuation of the funding and use of fossil fuels, in sharp contrast to the message of UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres.

uninspiring lead from Wall Street, where tech giants including Apple, Amazon and Google parent Alphabet sank.

But in Hong Kong, troubled developer Country Garden extended a recent advance on news that creditors had given the OK to extend repayments more than $1 billion worth of yuan-denominated bonds, giving it breathing room to find cash to get out of a deep debt hole.

However, investors continue to fret over the outlook for the property sector, with many companies still facing default.

Traders are also keeping an eye on Japan after the yen’s recent rally this week faded and it returned to 10-month lows against the dollar owing to rising expectations of another Fed hike.

That has come even as expectations grow that Japan’s central bank is preparing to at some point move away from its ultra-loose monetary policy. With AFP

US gov’t accuses Google of paying $10b for monopoly

WASHINGTON, United States—The US government on Tuesday accused Google of paying out $10 billion a year to Apple and other firms in order to safeguard its monopoly over online search. The accusation came on the opening day of a landmark trial that is the biggest antitrust case in the United States in more than two decades.

“This case is about the future of the internet and whether Google will ever face meaningful competition in search,” said Justice Department lawyer Kenneth Dintzer as the United States government began making its case against the tech titan.

Over 10-weeks and with dozens of witnesses called to the bar, Google will try to persuade Judge Amit P. Mehta that the case brought by the Department of Justice is without merit.

“Google has for decades innovated and improved its search engine, plaintiffs escape this inescapable truth,” Google’s lawyer John Schmidtlein argued before the court.

Held in a Washington courtroom, the trial is the first time US prosecutors have tackled a big tech company head-on since Microsoft was targeted more than two decades ago over the dominance of its Windows operating system.

“Even for Washington DC, I think we have the highest concentration of blue suits in any location here today,” Mehta joked, observing the dozens of lawyers packed into his courtroom.

The Google case centers on the government’s contention that the tech titan unfairly gained its domination of online search by forging exclusivity contracts with device makers, mobile operators and other companies that left rivals no chance to compete.

Dintzer told Judge Mehta that Google pays out $10 billion every year to Apple and others to secure its search engine default status on phones and web browsers, thereby burying upstarts before they have a chance to grow.

Over the past decade, this created what the government calls a “feedback loop” in which Google’s dominance grew ever bigger because of its monopolist access to user data that rivals could never match.

“Through this feedback loop, this wheel has been turning for more than 12 years. It always turns to Google’s advantage,” Dintzer said. AFP

THE Philippines is embarking on an ambitious transition program to clean energy, aiming to achieve a 50 percent renewable mix by 2040 that will require investments of $153 billion.

It is a daring program but it can only be doable if the government puts its best foot forward. The 50 percent target will remain a pipe dream, unless policymakers agree to put an end to public and private funding of fossil fuels that pollute the air and contribute to global warming.

That is is easier than done, of course. Energy Secretary Raphael ‘Popo’ Lotilla through it all remains upbeat on meeting the renewable energy mix by 2050. The Department of Energy (DOE) is currently conducting public consultations on the draft 2023-2050 Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) that aligns with the objectives outlined in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.

The cornerstone of the draft PEP, says Lotilla, hinges on the increased utilization and accelerated RE development. Our desired goal is to attain a minimum of 35 percent RE share in the power generation mix by 2030, and 50 percent by 2040,” says Lotilla.

The DOE under its plan seeks to achieve energy savings on oil products, 10-percent electric vehicle penetration in road transport, advanced and interoperable information and communications technology in the energy chain, and a resilient and climateproof energy infrastructure.

Specifi cally, major investments are needed to realize the targets. The bulk of the investments, according to the plan, will be spent in the power sector for the construction of new generating plants costing $115.3 billion, including $94.3 billion for renewable energy and $21 billion for con-

For the UN chief, the key to tackling this crisis is to end the world’s reliance on energy generated from fossil fuels—the main cause of climate change. Fossil fuel subsidies, he says, are one of the biggest financial barriers hampering the world’s shift to renewable energy.

Guterres has consistently called for an end to all international public and private funding of fossil fuels, one of the major contributors to global warming, calling any new investments in them “delusional.”

The International Monetary Fund has revealed that $5.9 trillion was spent on subsidizing the fossil fuel industry in 2020 alone. The figure includes subsidies, tax breaks, and health and environmental damages that were not priced into the initial cost of fossil fuels.

That’s roughly $11 billion a day.

And the winner is...

The International Basketball Federation, or FIBA, is without doubt the indisputable victor in the recently-held FIBA Basketball World Cup in Asia. Germany, too, is the clear winner of the 2023 games after securing the nation’s fi rst trophy with an 83-77 victory over Serbia in the fi nal. Over 4.6 million German viewers cheered the team during the championship game.

Smart Communications Inc. is the other winner of the successful FIBA Cup. Smart and FIBA will continue to work together under a global partnership until after the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 in Qatar.

Smart president chief executive officer Al Panlilio, also the president of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), says FIBA was impressed with Smart’s stellar promotional work for the recently-concluded FIBA Basketball World Cup, and agreed for a fouryear extension of the partnership. Under the partnership, Smart delivered and influenced highly successful on-

ground and digital activations to delight basketball fans worldwide.

The centerpiece was the spectacular transformation of the Mall of Asia Ball into a colossal basketball with a hoop, which created one of the most breathtaking and monumental basketball tributes ever seen at a FIBA event.

Smart also unveiled a 400-square meter 3D Billboard at Bonifacio High Street Crosswalk and launched an interactive billboard with augmented reality integration along EDSA that showed larger-thanlife digital versions of players dunking on an actual rim installed on the billboard.

The four-year extension comes off the back of the excellent cooperation between both parties. Smart is expected to reach out to Filipinos worldwide with promotional campaigns in this next phase of the collaboration.

Andreas Zagklis , FIBA Secretary General, said FIBA was excited and pleased that Smart would continue to help it with many more events, including the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 in Qatar.

Says Panlilio: “As we renew our groundbreaking global partnership with FIBA, we look forward to bringing more exciting and immersive experiences to the fi ngertips of our subscribers, powered by our worldclass and award-winning mobile network.”

With the World Cup over, SBP is now setting its eyes on another regional tournament to help prepare Gilas Pilipinas for a successful campaign.

“We will now shift our focus to help Philippine basketball have a successful Asian Games campaign. With the recent performance shown by our Gilas Pilipinas team in the World Cup, we believe they will compete well in the Asian Games and bring honor to the country,” says Panlilio.

Panlilio, who was co-opted in the FIBA Central Board during their first meeting the board in Manila prior to the start of the World Cup, hopes Gilas will fare better after missing its mark in the FIBA World Cup.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com

SUBJECT : GUIDELINES ON ANNEX C OF RULE 12 OF THE SECURITIES REGULATION CODE INTERPRETING THE COMPARATIVE PERIODS REQUIRED IN THE MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

WHEREAS, Section 5 of the Securities Regulations Code (SRC) provides that the Commission has the power to provide guidance on rules, regulations and orders;

WHEREAS, Annex C of SRC Rule 12 provides details for the Non-Financial Disclosure Requirements in the Registration Statements that shall be filed with the Commission;

WHEREAS, the current wording of

Analysis portion of the prospectus;

, the Markets and Securities

sought guidance

En Banc on the interpretation of the phrase “for each of the last

fiscal years” indicated in Part III, paragraph A, subparagraph 2 (a) of Annex C. During the Commission En Banc Meeting held on 5 September 2023, the foregoing portion of Annex C was thereby interpreted;

NOW THEREFORE, the following guidelines shall be implemented to clarify Part III, paragraph A, subparagraph 2 (a) of Annex C of SRC Rule 12:

1. The portion which reads: “Discuss the registrant’s financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations for each of the last three fiscal years” shall mean that registrants are required to disclose two comparative periods for its last three fiscal years.

2. By way of illustration, a registrant shall provide the following disclosure comprising its two comparative periods in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis portion of its prospectus:

3.

By Jenni er B. Austria

CONGLOMERATE San Miguel

Corp. plans to raise P50 billion from the issuance of preferred shares in November to partially fund the construction of the P740-billion Bulacan airport project and refinance maturing debt.

Based on the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, SMC plans to issue P50 billion in preferred shares as an initial tranche from the company’s P65-billion long-term preferred shares program.

Under the plan, SMC will offer 666,666 million cumulative, non-voting, non-convertible and redeemable preferred shares at P75 apiece.

SMC said it would use the net proceeds to repay peso-denominated shortterm loan facilities and maturing bonds and fund the New Manila International Airport (NMIA) project.

The company said it would allot P16.53 billion to refinance short-term

By Julito G. Rada

loans, P17.29 billion to repay bonds and P15.8 billion to invest in airport and other airport-related projects.

The shares will be issued from the company’s Series 2 preferred shares currently held in treasury. The offer period will be from Nov. 6 to Nov. 13, 2023.

SMC said it would list the preferred shares on the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange on Nov. 20, 2023

The conglomerate tapped 11 banks to act as joint underwriters and book runners for the offering. These are Asia United Bank Corp., BPI Capital Corp., Philippine Commercial Capital Inc., SB Capital Corp., Bank of Commerce, China Bank Capital Corp., PNB Capital and Investments Corp., BDO Capital & Investments Corp., Land Bank of the Philippines and RCBC Capital Corp.

The conglomerate, which has investments in food and beverage, packaging, oil refinery, real estate and power generation, has been undertaking several big ticket infrastructure projects.

ADB lending $303m to prevent PH ood

THE Asian Development Bank said Wednesday it approved a $303-million (P17 billion) loan to reduce flood and climate risks and protect people and livelihood in three major river basins in the Philippines.

The country is one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change and disasters caused by natural hazards.

The Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project – Phase 1 will upgrade and construct flood protection infrastructure in the Abra River Basin in the northern Luzon region and the Ranao/Agus and Tagum–Libuganon River basins in the southern Mindanao region.

BSP’s move to depend on in ation—o cial

THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, is expected to keep the benchmark interest rates steady in its next meetings as inflation continues to hover above the target range.

“The governor has given forward guidance that we would like to see inflation go back at least to within [the] target before any change in the monetary policy stance is contemplated,” BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. said during the Philippine Economic Briefing in Dubai.

The BSP kept the policy rate unchanged in the last three meetings. Latest data showed that inflation in August rose to a two-month high of 5.3 percent from 4.7 percent in July on faster increases in the prices of food and agricultural products. Dakila said there was a need to safeguard inflation expectations. “Expectations coming from our survey respondents indicate that inflation would go back to within target starting next year,” he said. Julito G. Rada

Honda PH launches

hybrid variant of CR-V

HONDA Cars Philippines said Wednesday it expects to sell 300 units of the 6th generation CRV each month, with the first CR-V 2.0 RS e:HEV E-CVT full hybrid variant representing 30 percent of the projected sales.

The all-new CR-V debuted Wednesday at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. “We are looking at growing the brand faster than the market. And with the launch of the All-New CR-V and the best-selling BR-V, we are optimistic we will see improved sales by the end of the year,” said company general manager for sales Louie Soriano.

Honda said pre-selling numbers showed more than 200 units were pre-ordered for both the new CR-V petrol and hybrid variants.

Honda’s venture into the electrified cars platform stems from the goal of realizing carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities by 2050.

“We want our hybrid line-up to be distinguished as full hybrid as it built to perform three driving modes –electric, petrol and engine,” Soriano said. Othel V. Campos

SBMA takes over three buildings of locators

THE Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority said it took over three properties of locators inside the Freeport Zone Tuesday.

SBMA chairman and administrator Jonathan

Tan said the agency took over two buildings covering an area of 1,176 square meters from Parabion Inc. These are Bldg. 8321 along Zambales Highway and Bldg. 8359 along Bataan Road, both in the Cubi Triboa District.

“The company has committed contractual defaults that prompted the SBMA to take over their properties. One is failure to comply with development commitments, and two for non-payment of lease rentals and common use of service area [CUSA] fees,” he said.

The company amassed close to P10 million in debt as of July 28, 2023, the SBMA said.

The SBMA said it also took over a property of Ramphos Corp. which manufactures and sells amphibious ultralight aircraft. The property is a 966-square-meter portion of Bldg. 8045-C at the Subic Bay International Airport. Butch Gunio

The infrastructure takes into account future climate change impacts and incorporates nature-based solutions such as restoring and reconnecting old river channels for natural drainage and reinforcing riverbanks with mangroves and vegetation planting.

“Climate change is expected to raise risks from extreme weather events.

These river basin communities are highly vulnerable to climate-related

hazards, as we have seen in recent years when typhoons destroyed infrastructure, displaced families, and damaged crops,” ADB senior water resources specialist Junko Sagara said.

“The project will help lessen these risks and improve income and livelihood opportunities, especially for the poor and vulnerable,” Sagara said.

The project will help strengthen the Philippines’ capacity to perform flood risk management planning by providing training for government officials, installing equipment for weather and river flow monitoring and early flood warning, and introducing an asset management information system.

It aims to boost community-based flood risk management by supporting 22 local

government units and about 150 barangays in updating their climate and disaster risk assessments and integrating flood risk management in local development plans.

Training activities will be conducted to build the capacity of communities in climate change adaptation and managing flood risks. The project will include civil society organizations and beneficiary groups in its planning and implementation.

The feasibility study and design for the project were supported by ADB’s Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility, which has been helping Philippine government agencies access information on up-to-date technology and innovative designs in building major infrastructure projects since 2017.

GSIS sells Sta. Mesa lot for P258m to housing finance agency

STATE pension fund Government Service Insurance System said

it sold for P258 million its 14,000-square-meter property in Sta. Mesa, Manila to the Social Housing Finance Corp. to pave the way for

the construction of a high-rise condominium project. This will allow the SHFC to start building its housing project for nearly 1,000 informal settler families living in critical zones, including members of

the Ugnayang Lakas ng mga Apektadong Pamilya sa Baybaying Ilog Pasig at mga Tributaryo (ULAP-Manila).

SMC to issue P50-b preferred shares partly to finance airport Vista

“We didn’t think twice about selling the GSIS property to SHFC…,” GSIS president and general manager Wick Veloso said, adding that the fund fully supports the goal of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to address the housing backlog in the country.

GSIS in May 2023 introduced a three-pronged strategy to help reduce the housing shortage in the country under the Pabahay Para sa Bagong Bayaning Manggagawa (PBBM) housing program.

The lease with option to buy (LWOB) program allows potential homeowners to acquire a GSIS property without an initial down payment where they can choose from 15,000 residential properties available nationwide.

The Housing Accounts Restructuring and Condonation Program (HARCP), which has been extended until 2025, also waives all outstanding penalties and surcharges and provides extended payment terms for eligible borrowers.

GSIS said it would also construct housing condominiums for government employees in its properties in Fairview, Quezon City and Cogeo, Antipolo. The payment plan is tailored based on the salary grades of government workers to make these homes more accessible.

Veloso said every Filipino deserves the basic right to safe, affordable and secure housing.

The Subdivision and Housing Developers Association earlier noted a backlog of 6.57 million housing units as of end-2022.

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development projected that the housing backlog could reach the 10-million mark by the end of the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

G. Rada

Julito

By Alena Mae S. Flores

POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. asked the Energy Regulatory Commission to approve a capital expenditure budget of P40 billion to P50 billion to roll out its smart grid program from 2022 to 2026.

“Under the 5th RP [regulatory period] application, that’s close to between P40 [billion] and P50 billion. And part of that of course is the AMI (Advanced Metering In-

frastructure), automation, distribution management system, enterprise and after that the IT side. The program is huge,” Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronnie Aperocho said.

Aperocho said at the sidelines of the conclusion of the three-day Giga Summit that Meralco started the process to become a smart grid “because we have a good level of visibility already for the entire network.”

“Up to transformer level, we can now monitor and what remains is the last mile or those up to the customer meters. Last mile in the sense that if the customer has no electricity, they do not need to call us, the meter itself will send the signal,” Aperocho said.

Aperocho said Meralco’s smart grid program spans the distribution network including substations, back-end operations, smart meters, among others.

“For our substations, we started adopt-

VISTA Land & Lifescapes Inc. (VLL),

the real estate arm of billionaire Manuel Villar, announced Wednesday plans to return to the bond market with the registration of three-year bond program worth P35 billion.

VLL said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the initial tranche from the program would involve P10 billion worth of peso-denominated fi xed rate bonds, consisting of P6 billion base offer and P4 billion to cover oversubscription.

It will file and register the bonds with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The property firm hired China Bank Capital Corp., SB Capital Investment Corp. and Union Bank of the Philippines as joint lead underwriters and bookrunners for the transaction.

VLL did not say how it would use the proceeds from the fund-raising activity, but the company has P6.5 billion worth of five-year bonds maturing in December this year.

VLL tapped the bond market in December 2019 when it raised P10 billion from the sale of six-year bonds with interest rate of 5.6992 per annum.

The property firm has P25 billion worth of fixed-rate bonds listed with the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

VLL remains bullish on the property sector and plans to aggressively launch housing projects in the second half of the year after posting strong first-half results. Jenniffer B. Austria

ing the latest industry-standard IEC 61850 and proliferated the use of asset condition sensors such as online DGA, and bushing monitoring, among others,” he said.

“Our expansive distribution network will continue to be more automated as we scale up our distribution automation devices including remote-controlled reclosers and switches. This also involves using battery energy storage systems, and electric vehicles,” he said.

Wednesday

TELECOM CONFAB. Cebu hosts the prestigious ACC 2023—an annual event that helps shape the future of the telecommunications sector in Asia and draws in industry leaders, innovators and experts from across the world. Leading the ceremonial opening are (from left) Huawei Carrier Network Business Group director Wang Ye, PLDT Global president and CEO Albert Villa-Real, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan, PLDT rst vice president Mitch Locsin, ePLDT president and CEO Victor Genuino and Bankai chief business development o cer for Asia, Middle East and Oceana Aayush Barot. This year’s conference theme ‘Accelerate. Challenge. Connect.’ underscores the importance of collaboration in navigating the rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape.

CEO CONFERENCE. Aboitiz Group president and chief executive Sabin Aboitiz talks about transformation, authenticity and leadership at the Captains Courageous panel during the 21st Forbes Global CEO Conference at Shangri-La Singapore on Sept. 11, 2023. The conference, themed ‘Sea Change’ provided a platform for Aboitiz to share his vision and expertise as he spearheads the Aboitiz Group’s monumental journey toward becoming the Philippines’ rst techglomerate.

Fortuna forces standoff on Bisera’s error at final hole

DAVAO City—Mikha Fortuna battled

Yvon Bisera shot-for-shot and putt-forputt in a furious frontside duel then came out of a bungling backside skirmish a bit steadier to rescue a 71 and force a tie after 36 holes in the ICTSI South Pacific Classic here yesterday.

Fortuna matched the local ace’s threebirdie splurge in the first nine holes and remained a shot behind but charged back from two-down after a bogey on No. 10 to equal Bisera’s 143 aggregate as the latter holed out with a bogey on the long par-5 18th to end up with a 72. That set the stage for a final 18-hole shootout for the top P125,000 purse between two players in hot pursuit of a maiden Ladies Philippine Golf Tour win with one-time winner Sarah Ababa laying three shots farther back at 146 after a second 73 at the South Pacific Golf & Leisure Estates.

Gilas PH, women’s team open sessions to public

By Randy Caluag

THE Asian Games-bound Gilas

Pilipinas will have a joint practice session on Thursday (Sept. 14) with the national women’s team at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Gilas coach Tim Cone said the practice sessions will be opened to the public.

“We will share the court and have interactions between both teams,” Cone said in his social media post on X.

As promised, Cone has finalized the men’s basketball lineup for the Hangzhou Asiad, where he will try to improve his bronze-medal finish in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games when he handled the Philippine Centennial team also as chief mentor.

And unlike the World Cup team, where national coach Chot Reyes tried hard to hide his team’s practices from the world and Filipino fans, Cone said he prefers to be more accessible.

“The public is free to come and observe. The

gates will open at 4 p.m. NO tickets necessary,”

Cone added.

Cone’s Gilas team has been practicing since Monday (Sept. 13) with naturalized players Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame leading a line-up of players ready to serve the country again.

Some of them -- June Mar Fajardo, Roger Pogoy, Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson -- saw action in the recent 2023 FIBA World Cup team that beat China in the classification stage.

Comebacking Calvin Abueva and Terrence Romeo and World Cup pool members Chris Newsome, Moala Tautua, Calvin Oftana, and Jason Perkins are the other members of the Asiad-bound team.

The national team under coach Yeng Guiao placed fifth in the last edition of the Asiad in Jakarta, where NBA star Jordan Clarkson played for the first time as a naturalized player for the Philippines.

The last time the Philippines won gold in the Asian Games was in 1962 in Jakarta with a team composed of Hall of Famer Carlos “Caloy” Loyzaga, Narciso Bernado, Roehl Nadurata, Kurt Bachmann, and Eddie Pacheco.

The Philippines opens its campaign against Bahrain on Sept. 26 and takes on Thailand on Sept. 28, before facing Jordan on Sept. 30 in the Group stage of the men’s basketball competition at the Hangzhou Olympic Stadium.

Eala now highest-ranked SEA female netter

By Peter Atencio

A LEX Eala is poised to climb higher in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings.

From a career-best no. 195, the 18-year-old Eala has gone to world no. 187, even though she lost in the opening round of the Japan Women’s Open in Osaka.

Eala, who bowed to qualifier Himeno Sakatsume of Japan, 0-6, 3-6, is already the highest-ranked female netter in Southeast Asia, better than Thailand’s Lanlana Tararudee, who is at no. 248.

Eala is no. 14 in the Asian rankings, some 11 notches behind 184th-ranked Sakatsume.

China’s Qin Wen Zhang leads the Asian rankings and is world no. 22 in the WTA live rankings, followed by Lin Zhu.

The other week, Eala was a wildcard at the Winners Open in Romania, a WTA 250 event, beating Argentine Paula Ormaechea before conceding to Egyptian Mayar Sherif in the second round.

Two weeks ago, Eala qualified for the W100 Tokyo on the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour. In that netfest, Eala reached the second round in the singles and went all the way to the semis in the doubles, with partner Natsumi Kawaguchi.

PLDT, Smart celebrate PH’s successful hosting of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

THE country’s largest integrated telco network PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. celebrate the Philippines’ successful co-hosting of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 held in Manila, Jakarta in Indonesia, and Okinawa in Japan.

As FIBA’s official global partner, Smart powered the FIBAWC experience with enhanced network by boosting Smart LTE and 5G networks at FIBAWC venues, hotels of delegates and international media guests, practice locations, and the FIBA World Congress,

in partnership with technology partners Huawei and Ericsson. Together with PLDT, Smart also established a Command Center in their headquarters and mobilized dedicated teams to monitor network performance during the tournament.

Aside from that, employees from PLDT and Smart also shared their talents, tireless efforts, and dedication either as part of the FIBA Local Organizing Committee or of the FIBA Volunteers Program, passionately collaborating with various groups to ensure the success of this global event. PLDT and Smart President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio looked back at the two-week-long global showpiece, which kicked off at the Philippine Arena with a record-breaking opening day crowd of 38,115 fans.

“I’m extremely proud of all the Local Organizing Committee staff and volunteers, and feel extreme joy for the coming together of the FIBA community to make this World Cup a memorable one,” said Panlilio, who also sits as President of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and Second Vice President of the FIBA Asia Central Board.

“I learned many things in this FIBA World Cup 2023 and there is one lesson that got me through heart and mind: there are no big or small roles -- every role is important. I may not remember all the details, but I will definitely remember the experience of being part of this historic event that I can share with my children up to the next generation,” said AJ Morales, Employee Relations Assistant at PLDT, who volunteered as a courtside personnel during the games.

“Seeing how Yvon and Sarah play, I think I have a big chance to get the title,” said Fortuna, without sounding too confident. “The goal is to win this week but I’m not thinking about it. I just have to stick to my game plan.”

So does Bisera, who despite her lasthole mishap remained upbeat of her chances not because of her familiarity with the course but due to her big drives that kept on finding their targets in the first two days.

“I think my edge is on my driving, it’s pretty steady and I’ve been hitting the fairways the past two days,” said Bisera in Filipino. “I just hope to sustain my long game and for my putting to click.”

While admitting that the pressure to deliver at home is mounting, Bisera stressed: “I will just play my game, hit the fairways and greens and avoid three-putts.”

Truly, the outcome would most probably be decided on South Pacific’s last line of defense given its sloping surfaces and tough pin placements that continued to bedevil the games of the rest of the field.

They include Korean Seoyun Kim and Apple Fudolin, who carded 73 and 74, respectively, to share fourth place at 148 even as Daniella Uy’s bid for a third straight championship gained a slight boost after a 71.

The back-to-back winner at Forest Hills and at Del Monte, however, will have a huge block to hurdle to carry out her mission as she stayed too far behind at 149 at sixth, six strokes off the joint leader.

Pamela Mariano turned in a 74 for a 150 while Luisita and Villamor legs winner Harmie Constantino hardly improved from a 76 with a 75 for 151 and amateur Mafy Singson, who dominated the Valley stop, carded a 74 for joint ninth at 154 with Gretchen Villacencio, who made a 76.

That should put focus on the BiseraFortuna face-off with both looking to build momentum and put pressure on the other right in the first nine holes.

“I like playing at the frontside. For me, mas mahirap ang backnine kasi may mga crucial holes na lamang sa bogeys,” added Bisera, who actually flubbed birdie chances in the first three holes, including a threefoot putt bid on No. 1.

St. Clare MVP Estrada joins Letran Knights

THREE-TIME defending champion Colegio de San Juan Letran continued to boost its roster with the acquisition of John Sherick “Jimboy” Estrada, a former St. Clare CollegeCaloocan Most Valuable Player.

The 21-year-old Estrada led St. Clare’s “five-peat” in the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities last year.

At that time, Estrada claimed both the MVP and Rookie of the Year honors, as the school went on to snare its sixth overall championship. School officials said Estrada will first complete his residency period and will be eligible to play for the Knights for three years.

The Knights, coached by Rensy Bajar, will suit him up in Season 100.

By then, Estrada will be in the company Kobe Monje, Kevin Santos, Rafael Go, and Kyle Tolentino, who are expected to step up as leaders in Season 99 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which gets going on Sept. 24 with a double header at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Knights battle the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers at 3 p.m., while the Lyceum Pirates clash with the College of St. Benilde Blazers at 5:30 p.m. Peter Atencio

Mikha Fortuna charged back from two-down after a bogey on No. 10 to equal Yvon Bisera’s 143. Manny Marcelo

Tim Cone

Alex Eala

PLDT Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan with PLDT and Smart President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio and other stakeholders

PSC hosts financial literacy seminar

NATIONAL training pool athletes and coaches, numbering around 400, will receive insights from top financial executives in the country today as the Philippine Sports Commission hosts a financial literacy seminar at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.

The project, dubbed “Pera Mo, Kinabukasan Mo!”, is an initiative of the agency, overseen by PSC Commissioner Walter Torres, to provide a comprehensive understanding of financial literacy, offering insights, strategies and practical knowledge to enable informed financial decisionmaking to all national athletes and coaches.

“Our national team just came off two successful stints at the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, in which they were rewarded with cash incentives by the government last August. We felt the need to also guide them to take care of their hard-earned peso,” said Commissioner Torres.

The day-long seminar will feature top executives in the field, starting with renowned financial educator and author Chinkee Tan, followed by Landbank of the Philippines’ Overseas Filipino Bank Representative Officer Leover Loyola, Acting Senior Trust Management Specialist Neil Concepcion, Digital Marketing Officer Desiree Cabuyao and Treasury Manager Glenn Aguda for the morning session.

Pioneer Life Inc. Vice President for Marketing Corporate Affairs Liza Lichauco and Middle Income Insurance Deputy Head Hazel Inocencio-Zapanta will open the afternoon session, together with Scam Watch Pilipinas Co-Lead Convenors Mr. Art Samaniego and Jocel De Guzman, Pag-IBIG Member Services Officer Maricel Zamudio, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Senior Specialist Marcelo C. Matias.

“As sports continue to mold the discipline and dedication of our athletes in the game, it is also through those same values that they can be good stewards of their money,” said PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann.

SPORTS

Verstappen streak under threat in ‘perilous’ Singapore F1 race

SINGAPORE—Max

Verstappen’s bid for a record-extending 11th straight win faces a severe test in Sunday’s “perilous”

Singapore night race on the unpredictable Marina Bay street circuit.

The Red Bull driver’s third world title in a row is only a matter of time but the Dutchman has never triumphed under the lights in Singapore, where tropical storms, intense humidity and concrete barriers all await.

Safety cars and red flags will almost certainly play a part too, with memories of an “incredibly messy” race in Singapore a year ago fresh in Verstappen’s mind. Rain is again forecast for race weekend.

Verstappen was only eighth on the grid in 2022 after being underfuelled in Saturday qualifying and a pre-race deluge saw him start poorly on the sodden track, dropping back five places.

He clawed his way through the field with the help of several safety car and virtual safety car periods, only to slither on to an escape road while trying to take fourth place, eventually rejoining and settling for seventh.

Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez kept his cool out in front to win ahead of Charles Leclerc in a Ferrari and keep the champagne on ice for a bit longer.

“It’s better than eighth but it’s not what I’m here for, not with a car like that,” lamented Verstappen after the race. “It was just incredibly messy.”

Verstappen leads Perez by 145 points in this year’s championship and could clinch the world title with six races to spare at next week’s Japanese Grand Prix.

Mercedes are second in the construc-

Red Bull Racing’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen flashes his 10 fingers as he celebrates winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix race at Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit, in Monza. Verstappen won a record-breaking 10th straight Formula One race. tors’ championship, a distant 310 points behind, with team boss Toto Wolff believing that Red Bull are on course to win all 22 races this season.

“I think they need to screw it up themselves,” Wolff said after Verstappen’s 10th win in a row at Monza a fortnight ago made it 14 out of 14 for Red Bull in 2023.

‘One of the toughest’

If they complete the clean sweep, Red Bull would eclipse the record of Mercedes in 2016 when Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton won 19 of 21 races.

Red Bull team principal Christian

Horner warned that the unique Marina Bay challenge could upset their perfect season.

“It’s a street circuit, it’s one of the toughest on the calendar. We saw last year how perilous it can be,” said Horner.

“We’ll just do our best to keep this momentum running.

“One day we’re going to get beaten. It’s just a question of when, and we’ve just got to make the when as far away as we can.

“I think with every weekend that goes past there’s more expectation to keep up this amazing run of results.”

Salahog wavers, recovers to tie Quiban at helm

DAVAO City—Nilo Salahog held sway in the face of fiery assaults from a band of pursuers then hit a clutch birdie to save a 68 yesterday and rejoin Justin Quiban at the helm midway through the ICTSI South Pacific Classic heading to a wild finish here.

Salahog, who showed up the Tour’s big guns with a superb 67 in stifling conditions Tuesday, kept his mastery of the South Pacific course and the stellar field with a four-birdie run in the first 12 holes then rebounded from a miscue on No. 13 that momentarily dropped him off the lead with a birdie on the 17th as he tied an equally redhot Quiban at the helm at nine-under 135.

Quiban put in a solid 67 after a 68 in his steady pursuit of a second Philippine Golf Tour victory following a third place finish at Del Monte last week ruined by a last-hole slip and he liked with the way he’d been churning out low rounds coming off a series of stints abroad.

“I wasn’t expecting to lead but with the way I’m playing, I feel like I’m con-

THE organizer of the Le Tour de Langkawi 2023 (LTdL), the National Sports Council (MSN) on Wednesday introduced Terengganu state government as the main sponsor for the 27th edition of the race that will start in Kerteh on September 23.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), Dr

Nilo Salahog keeps his mastery of the South Pacific course. Manny Marcelo fident.

at Luisita in the same year.

“Driving, irons at putting, lahat magaganda,” said Salahog, whose last birdie came after he holed out with a pitch-in eagle on the par-4 penultimate hole in the first round.

“Yes, may pressure kasi maraming magagaling (na players) dito,” he added.

To overcome it, he stressed the need to stay focused and apply what he’s been training and practicing the last few months as he slugs it out with the seasoned Asian Tour campaigner in the pivotal round Thursday.

But a host of others likewise jostled for position in anticipation of a heated third round battle of power and hits with Marvin Dumandan seizing solo third at 137 after shooting an eagleaided 68 and Iloilo leg runaway winner Rupert Zaragosa also bouncing back with a four-under card for a 138.

LTdL 2023 Best of Asia jersey

Nagulendran Kangayatkarasu, said the ministry is very grateful to the state government of Terengganu and Terengganu Tourism as they were the first to verbally give their willingness to sponsor LTdL 2023.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Youth and Sports Hannah Yeoh, he said: “Terengganu’s initial commit-

“This year, the Terengganu state government through their ‘Beautiful Terengganu’ tourism branding will sponsor the ‘Asia’s Best Rider’ category who will be wearing the white jersey,” he said.

Also present at the ceremony was the Chairman of the Youth Development Committee, Sports and Terengganu NGO, YB Ustaz Hishamuddin Abdul Karim.

Dr. Nagulendran said the category of Asia’s Best Rider is quite synonymous with Terengganu because the state is nicknamed the ‘Land of Cyclists’ which gave birth to many talented national riders.

against each other to see who the best from the region is.

Since the inception of LTdL in 1996, Adiq Hussaini Othman has emerged as the only Malaysian to have won the title of Best Asian Rider which he did in the 2016 edition.

Terengganu also has further bragging rights as prodigal son Anuar Manan was also the first Malaysian to win a stage in the annual race series after doing so on Stage 5 at LTdL 2010, in addition to dominating the Sprint leader’s jersey the same year.

Additionally, Marang-born Muhammad Nur Aiman Zariff who topped the King of the Mountain category in 2020 and 2022, will also have the chance to defend the jersey this year.

Mercedes chance? Singapore lap times will be quicker this year because of construction work near the city-centre circuit which has meant the removal of four 90-degree corners towards the end of the lap.

The total number of corners has dropped from 22 to 19 with lap times around eight seconds faster. That will add a new element of uncertainty—team strategists will have less time to make calls on whether to pit for new tyres during the safety-car periods that frequent the Singapore race. AFP

Lito Adiwang pumped up to face Mattheis

SINCE being sidelined with an ACL injury 18 months ago, Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang has envisioned his return to the ONE Championship stage.

Now that it’s finally here, he couldn’t be any happier with his opponent.

Adiwang faces the always entertaining Adrian “Papua Badboy” Mattheis at ONE Friday Fights 34: Rodtang vs. Superlek. The strawweight MMA fight could go down as the fight of the night when they meet inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on September 22.

“He’s the perfect guy to face in my return. I’ve been thinking hard on my comeback, and I’ve always wanted someone who’s willing to go toe-to-toe, not someone who’s going to play it safe,” he said.

That assessment certainly fits Mattheis. One look at his resume and fans can instantly see what Adiwang is talking about.

Of his 11 wins, 10 have come from finishes. In fact, Mattheis has only reached the judges’ scorecards twice in his career – a testament to his willingness to give fans a show each time he competes.

“He’s a warrior, he’s a bad man, he’s called the ‘Papua Badboy’ for a reason, so I think he’ll go toe-to-toe with me – be it in striking or in exciting scrambles,” he said.

of

Chairman

The white jersey is also considered unique as other than vying for the main jerseys, it also gives the Asian riders an additional opportunity to compete

For this year’s edition, Terengganu is the starting location for Stage 1 of LTdL 2023 in Kerteh and Stage 2 in Kuala Terengganu, which will provide Harrif Saleh the motivation to add to his collection of victories after winning Stage 2 at LTdL 2019 and Stage 5 and Stage 7 at LTdL 2020.

Lito Adiwang

ing drives, accurate iron play and putting but braced for a sterner test in the last 36 holes of the P2 million championship supported by Kampfortis Golf, the official apparel of the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

I think I could hit the rounds that I’d like to shoot,” said Quiban, who first won in Binitin, Negros Occidental in 2018 then nailed a victory in PGT Asia

ment before the official launch of the tour on July 4, motivated MSN to try to get other sponsors so as to ensure the ProSeries-level race continues to be in the calendar of the International Cycling Union (UCI).

US news outlet hiring a Taylor Swift reporter

music reporters pass their days immersed in the phenomenon that is Taylor Swift , but one US news outlet said Tuesday it’s hiring a journalist dedicated solely to the pop titan.

Gannett’s career site now includes a job post seeking a “Taylor Swift reporter” for the Tennessean and USA outlets.

“The successful candidate is a driven, creative, and energetic journalist able to capture the excitement around Swift’s ongoing tour and upcoming

‘90s band

returns with new vocalist and fresh tracks

OPM rock band InnerVoices

InnerVoices, a band formed in 1992, has returned to the music scene with a new vocalist and three fresh songs. Originally, InnerVoices was founded by college friends who shared a passion for music. After balancing their professional and musical careers, they released their album and wrote songs in 2014.

After a brief hiatus from the entertainment world, InnerVoices regrouped in 2022 with a new lead singer and additional members.

During a media conference at the TakeOver lounge in Quezon City on September 7, the band’s drummer, Attorney Rey Bergado, explained what motivated their reunion and creation of new songs.

“During the pandemic, everything disappeared, so in the middle of 2021, we thought about how we could contribute to making people happy. That’s when we reunited and did our version of Gary V’s “Paano,” which was well-received by the audience,” said Bergado.

Since then, InnerVoices has been performing regular bar gigs at venues like Hard Rock Café Makati, Hard Rock Café Manila, Bar IX, 19 East, and Fin & Claw.

They also have some noteworthy shows on the horizon. On November 25, they will be part of the New Wave Invasion concert at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila, featuring top international bands like Flocks of Seagulls, The Church, Lotus Eaters, and Cactus World News. They are also set to perform with Side at 19 East on November 13.

According to the band’s new vocalist, Angelo Miguel, being part of the group has been an incredible journey for him.

“Honestly speaking, they are great to be with, and I

album release, while also providing thoughtful analysis of her music and career,” the post said.

“We are looking for a journalist with a voice – but not a bias – able to quickly cultivate a national audience through smart content designed to meet readers on their terms. This reporter will chronicle the biggest moments on the next portions of Taylor Swift’s tour, offering readers of USA TODAY , The Tennessean, and more than 200 local news sources an inside view.”

Gannett – which owns the national newspaper USA Today as well as many local newspapers –has slashed jobs repeatedly over the past several years

across local markets. In December it laid off six percent of its news division.

Now it’s seeking an “experienced” and “video-forward” journalist who is also “an energetic writer, photographer and social media pro” to cover Swift –and Swift alone.

The salary range is wide — between $21.63 and $50.87 per hour and requires international travel.

The hugely popular Swift, 33, is expected to set a record for the first billiondollar tour thanks to her career-spanning Eras Tour. Along with several new albums in recent years she has been re-recording her earlier work to resounding success.

AFP

GMA Public Affairs show Kapuso

Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) continues to raise the Philippine flag as it earns a finalist spot at the 2023 Asia Contents Awards (ACA) and Global OTT Awards – adding to the show’s long list of international recognitions.

Hosted by Jessica Soho, KMJS is nominated in ACA’s Best Reality and Variety category for its story “Sugat ng Pangungulila (Wounds of Woes).”

group called DAO Lifesaving Advocates.

“We are happy and grateful that our story about Daxen is being recognized by another prestigious international award-giving body. To be nominated is an honor by itself because the Busan Asian Content Awards is tough,” Soho said.

don’t feel stressed when I’m with them. When it comes to our music, what’s great about them is that they respect my opinion and my musicianship, and they trust me as their frontman,” Angelo said.

Encouraged by positive feedback from their fans, InnerVoices made the decision to release three brand-new original songs. Their debut release was “Isasayaw Kita,” a poignant ballad delving into the profound anguish of losing a loved one. This heartfelt composition emerged from the depths of lead vocalist Angelo Miguel’s soul, conceived in the wake of his former partner’s miscarriage, a heart-wrenching experience that marked the loss of their prospective daughter.

Next in line is “Anghel,” a soul-stirring rendition of a song that chronicles the unwavering love bestowed upon someone who may not have deserved such devotion.

Completing the trio is “Hari,” a composition by Edward Mitra born during the challenging period of the pandemic. The song’s tribal beat adds an exciting tone as it speaks about hope, perseverance, and resilience. It conveys the message that despite the challenges ahead, our destiny is in our hands.

Completing the band are members Joseph Cruz, Alvin Herbon, Ruben Tecson, and Rene Tecson

KMJS is the sole Philippine nominee in the category, joining Netflix’s Physical 100, SNL Korea Seasons 3 & 4, Let’s Feast Vietnam, Our Game: LG Twins, TVING’s Food Chronicle, and Content Wavve’s Bloody Game 2 “Sugat ng Pangungulila (Wounds of Woes)” featured the story of Daxen – a son of an OFW who suffered an undiagnosed skin disease. With the help of KMJS, Daxen’s neighbors, the local government units, and the hospital in Antique, Daxen was rescued and is now continuing with his maintenance medicines. After the episode was aired, help came not just from neighboring cities and provinces but also from Filipinos abroad. Daxen’s story even inspired his town to create a rescue volunteer

The winners of the ACA will be announced at the BIFF Theater, Busan Cinema Center in Korea this October.

Early this year, Daxen’s story gave KMJS its third New York Festival medal since 2019 when it won the World Gold Medal at the prestigious 2023 New York Festivals TV & Film (NYF) Awards.

Meanwhile, apart from awards, KMJS remains the most watched TV program in the country in August.

Data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement show that for the month of August, KMJS topped all programs with a combined (GMA and GTV) people rating of 16.3 percent in Urban Philippines and 14.8 percent in Total Philippines.

Online, KMJS’ numbers continue to grow. As the most followed Philippine TV program on Facebook, KMJS’ official Facebook page has already reached 30 million followers. Last September 3, KMJS aired the exclusive interview of Jessica with the wife of the late Mike Enriquez, where Lizabeth “Baby” YumpingEnriquez shared their love story and the medical journey of late brodcast journalist. The interview landed on #1 spot on YouTube Philippines.

Breakthrough gig for Adjeng

recalled.

TO BE chosen to perform at a major event celebrating original Filipino music is special for fast-rising solo act Adjeng. For one, it reflects the respect she has earned from industry movers.

Adjeng is on the roster of artists to appear at Pinoy Playlist, a three-day music festival scheduled from September 29 to October 1 in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. She goes on stage come Day 1, 6:00 p.m. at the Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall in Maybank Performing Arts Theater.

“I find this gig extra special because it’s the biggest and most inclusive celebration of OPM (Original Pilipino Music), a platform embracing original melodies, sounds, and rhythms,” said Adjeng who committed herself to putting out her originals. Used to fronting bands, Adjeng launched her solo career a couple of years back amid a pandemic. Some of her releases include the songs “Rollercoaster,” “More Than A Little,” “Be Kind, Kaya Mo Yan,” and “Must Be Love” — all picked for Spotify’s Fresh Finds and OPM Rising playlists.

“More Than A Little” was even plucked by Japan’s DJ Taro for his Spotify playlist Rhythm and Groove. A worship leader and advocate/ ambassador for mental health, Adjeng feels grateful she was given the opportunity to entertain in a music festival curated by luminaries, namely, national artist Ryan Cayabyab The CompanY’s main man Moy Ortiz, talent managerauthor Noel Ferrer, and BGC Arts Center head Maribel Garcia She noted, “To be part of this community of musicians joining this festival reminds me that there is much to do and much to be grateful for.”

The singer-songwriter plans to perform the singles she had released, as well as a composition she co-wrote that reached the finals of a televised songwriting competition. She will be joined by Christopher Buenviaje (guitar), Allan Abdula (drummer), Jan Michael Teodoro (bass), and Abby Clutario (keys).

Adjeng is a Communications Arts graduate who started out working as a content writer by day and performing in bars at night. She did acoustic gigs with AdJunDie a group also featuring well-reputed session drummer Junjun Regalado

and sought-after guitarist Ardie de Guzman

In 2004, their trio expanded and became Sipol whose lineup also included excellent players Marvin Querido (of Neocolours’ fame), Michael Guevarra, Soc Mina, Junjun Perez, and Toto Sorioso (who also went on to have his own solo career). Later she fronted another band called Wink (still including Regalado, along with Adam Cesante and JC Magsalin).

Both Sipol and Wink were signed by GMA Records (Alt-G).

“I learned so much from all my bandmates, and I still hold dear so many fond memories,” she expressed.

As a songwriter, Adjeng showcased her skill as a lyricist in her collaboration with Nino Regalado (brother of Junjun). They joined and got through the finals of both the Levi Celerio Music Festival (2004), and FILSCAP Songwriting Competition (2010) where they won second place in the Best Pop category. Another of their joint efforts made it to the Top 12 of Philpop in 2013.

Cayabyab invited them to tour with him in universities and provinces. “I became a sponge, absorbing and learning from Mr. C. and my fellow composers,” she

Qualified and tapped to join, Adjeng participated in the Elements Singing and Songwriting Camp in Dumaguete where she mingled with and learned from veteran composers and musicians. She recently participated in FILSCAP Songwriting Camp Year 5 and in the Anton Juan Masterclass (The Actor as Portal).

She shared, “To this day, I still do vocal training and take on as many workshops on songwriting and theater acting. Nothing like having a growth mindset while embracing life as a happily married woman and a hands-on mom.”

Also set to showcase their own music or OPM covers are pioneers Gary Granada and Joey Ayala, top bands Autotelic and Rivermaya, and solo artists Sam Concepcion, Ebe Dancel, Davey Langit, Lara Maigue, and Gian Magdangal.

The Pinoy Playlist Music Festival 2023: Gunita at mga Bukas will feature music talks, workshops, and the handing out of awards named after Cayabyab. One of the awardees is Regine Velazquez-Alcasid who is expected to grace the big event presented by the Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc. through the BGC Arts Center.

a perennial finalist in songwriting competitions, fronts for bands

scores international nod anew, remains local TV’s top show

MANY Today

American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift accepts the song of the year award for ‘Anti-Hero’ during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, New Jersey on Wednesday

Dermatology is serious science

By Robbie Pangilinan

MANY may regard dermatology as a lesser specialty in medicine as it deals with the “superficial” – the skin, hair, and nails. But, it is serious science. The science of dermatology is considered one of the most relevant specialties in medicine today. It is life-changing and transformative, to say the least.

“Aesthetic Dermatology became a focus when I saw how it impacted the lives of my patients. Confidence, self-esteem, and socialization are all affected by some skin conditions like severe acne, eczemas, dandruff to name a few,” says boardcertified doctor, Irene Gaile C. Robredo-Vitas , a Philippine Dermatological Society fellow.

Initially, Dr. Gaile was drawn to Ophthalmology, as she strongly wanted to understand a degenerative eye condition called Retinitis pigmentosa, which starts with night blindness and then leads to total blindness. This eye condition is in her family history.

But when she was exposed to Dermatology, Dr. Gaile realized this is the right path for her.

“It seemed like a better fit. Since I also planned on starting a family and wanted to strike a balance between work and life, I chose dermatology because it was one of the few medical specializations that allowed this,” shares Dr. Gaile, a Medical Director of dermHQ Makati and partner at Beautique MD in BGC.

Dr. Gaile believes in science and evidence-based products and treatments. She only offers those that come from companies and brands that invest in research and clinical trials. dr. Gaile says that this level of effort gives practitioners peace of mind when using these companies’ machines or prescribing their products.

Early on in her practice, Dr. Gaile was exposed to lasers and injectables such as botulinum toxins and fillers. These became her passion which led to the doctor-vlogger’s search for learning as much as she could, doing

Top health and beauty brand earns accolades at inaugural Investors in People Awards

THE leading health, wellness, and beauty retailer brand, Watsons Philippines, was recently awarded gold and silver recognition at the first annual Investors in People (IIP) Philippines Awards, a global affiliate company that provides advice and assessment services on people management.

The top honor is given to companies that champion the very best community of people who are driven by a purpose. It is about shining a light on a community –making a difference in people’s lives.

In the awarding that took place on July 27 at the Watsons Head Office, the brand received the Investors in People Sixth Generation People Management Practices Gold Accreditation and Investors in People Well-being Silver Accreditation. Watsons Philippines’ Managing Director, Danilo Chiong received these awards on behalf of the Watsons community.

“It was such an honor receiving

this award on behalf of the whole team. This has solidified our company’s ambition of having a good health and wellbeing strategy at the same having our principles in place. We have established a wellbeing vision and framework thus receiving positive responses from employees through our implemented initiatives,” Chiong said.

With Watsons scoring the gold level accreditation from IIP rightfully confirms that the organization has people practices in place and is successfully engaging the employees in creating a positive outcome or impact to the overall business.

Watsons was also awarded the Silver accreditation for Health and Wellbeing. The commendation assesses the organization’s employee wellbeing practices. Thus earning an IIP accreditation attests that a company’s people management initiatives are measured up with the international standards and best practices.

Criteria were based on a completed survey by Watsons employees giving their assessment of Watsons as an employer and organization specifically in the way it leads, supports, and improves people performance. About 85 percent of the total employees have completed the survey. Likewise, conversations, observations, and context discussions with the senior leadership team and a review of relevant documents were also part of the assessment conducted by Investors in People Assessors. Watsons Philippines has also been an inspiring partner for Investors in People since 2016 which is aimed to lead, improve, and support the company’s initiatives to attain exceptional performance within the organization. The data used to develop the initiatives, the goals of wellbeing programs, the communication and implementation plans, and the engagement of employees on the wellbeing initiatives.

further training, speaking about these procedures, and sharing her knowledge with her colleagues. She is a clinical instructor in a dermatology training institution, and an international speaker and trainer of laser and energy-based devices, injectables, suspension threads, and dermatologyrelated products.

The pandemic gave Dr. Gaile an opportunity to both learn and teach. She started a YouTube channel hoping to share her dermatological expertise on many topics and conditions. Her vlog talks about beauty and aesthetic tips, procedures, and products, and offers professional medical advice to those in need. She shares information, busts myths, and misconceptions, and lets her more than 80,000 subscribers into her personal experiences

“Training is very important not just to understand how to do procedures correctly on the right patients but of course to learn the science of how things work, what to do in case there are complications, and to be prepared for anything undesirable that might happen,” says Dr. Gaile, adding that it is very dangerous for a practitioner not to know the worst-case scenarios for a treatment.

Since Dermatology is indeed serious science, choosing a dermatologist is serious business, too. Dr. Gaile actually thinks that choosing a dermatologist is similar to selecting a lifelong partner.

“You should investigate, ask, and understand. Trust your skin to someone who sees you, not just your skin. Do not trust those who overpromise and oversell, in my opinion, these have no place in true care. Sometimes, it’s not about a complete overhaul but a subtle tweak that aligns with your lifestyle and habits.,” ends Dr. Gaile.

COVID-19 isn’t the only highly infectious disease on the rise. Tuberculosis (TB) has also seen an increase, with cases going from 263,000 in 2020 to 311,000 in 2021, per the National TB Registry. Globally, the Philippines is the fourth largest contributor to TB cases.

“Before COVID-19, TB was the leading infectious cause of morbidity and mortality in the world,” says Gregorio P. Ocampo, MD, from the Section of Pulmonology of the top hospital in the Philippines, Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed). “Although cases of TB have gradually declined, efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 have, as the WHO pointed out, reversed years of progress in the fight against TB.”

Like most diseases, early detection and compliance with treatment ensure a complete recovery from TB. The MakatiMed health expert cites five fast facts on the infectious disease that has resulted in the death of millions.

TB is caused by bacteria. “An airborne disease that spreads when an uninfected individual inhales the droplets of an infected person’s cough, sneeze, or saliva, TB is caused by the bacterium mycobacterium tuberculosis,” says Dr. Ocampo.

Often associated with poverty, TB is usually found in highly dense communities of low- and middle-income countries. Persons with compromised immune systems, such as the malnourished and those with HIV/AIDS, are vulnerable to this disease. Smokers are also twice as likely to be infected with TB compared to non-smokers.

TB has similar symptoms to other diseases. “A persistent cough (sometimes with blood in the mucus), fever, chills, weight loss, loss of appetite, and fatigue are classic symptoms of TB,” Dr. Ocampo

explains.

But they’re also symptoms of other diseases – COVID-19 and lung cancer, to name two. Health specialists can begin their diagnosis by listening to you breathe with a stethoscope and checking for swollen lymph nodes. They will likely order a TB skin test or blood test. “These will tell whether you are infected with the TB bacteria,” Dr. Ocampo points out. “Your doctor will also request for a chest x-ray and sputum test to detect the presence of active TB.”

You can have TB and not know it. Latent TB means you don’t feel sick or show any of TB’s symptoms even if your skin or blood test confirms you have the TB bacteria.

TB is curable. “A number of antibiotics are prescribed to a patient to take for an average of six months,” says the MakatiMed doctor. “Take these antibiotics as instructed by your physician and complete the recommended course of treatment. Failure to do so may not completely kill the TB bacteria or make it resistant to drugs.”

TB is preventable . Though there are no vaccines to protect you against TB, simple and mindful health habits can keep you free of this infectious disease. “Cover your mouth with a tissue, handkerchief, or the crook of your elbow when you cough or sneeze. Wash or sanitize your hands after coughing or sneezing. Wear a mask when you’re in crowded places or with someone exhibiting symptoms of TB. Eat a healthy diet. Keep your surroundings well-ventilated. Don’t share glasses or utensils with a person exhibiting TB symptoms. And see a doctor once you start showing symptoms yourself,” says Dr. Ocampo.