Manila Standard - 2023 September 15 - Friday

Imee: No takers for Agri post

By Othel V. Campos and Macon Ramos-Araneta

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been actively looking for an agriculture secretary, but there seems to be no takers, Senator Imee Marcos said on Thursday.

“He is fully aware [of the situation]. And I think he’s been looking for an agriculture secretary but I feel that nobody wants to accept,” the President’s older sister said. Earlier this week, the name of Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio

Marcos: PH should be less dependent on imports

By Charles Dantes and Maricel V. Cruz

Balisacan was floated as a possible contender for the Department of Agriculture portfolio, with no less than Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno describing it as a “sound proposal.”

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the biggest lesson the Philippines learned from the COVID-19 pandemic was to be less dependent on imports.

During the 10th Asian Summit in

Singapore, President Marcos said the Philippines, with a 96 percent employment rate, has rebounded fairly well from the pandemic.

“We have really come back fairly well in the sense that we have been able to return people to work,” Mr. Marcos said.

But he also said the pandemic revealed problems in the country’s supply

chains and its agricultural sector, which fueled the dependence on imports.

“I said, we cannot now continue to depend on importation, which is what has happened for the Philippines. In the past years, it became the easy way out. Just import more, import more rice, import more corn, import more of every-

China ships ‘swarming’ both sides of PH, says AFP

By Vince Lopez and Macon Ramos-Araneta

CHINESE vessels are active in Philippine waters on both sides of the country, with some 30 fishing boats swarming several shoals near the Reed Bank to the west and research vessels roaming the eastern side of the Philippine Sea, officials said Thursday.

Amid the renewed activity, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said it was China that was escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), and not the presence of US forces, as Sena-

tor Robin Padilla suggested.

But the Chinese Embassy in Manila, in a statement, stressed that China is an “important force” in ensuring peace and stability in the South China Sea despite its continued aggressions in the region.

“China is an important force for maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. It abides by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and is committed to upholding and promoting international rule of law,” the embassy said.

PH, US planning more projects at EDCA sites in ’24 — Brawner

By Vince Lopez

THE Philippines and the United States are eyeing more projects in sites covered by the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that will be operational next year, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen.

Romeo Brawner Jr. said.

on our joint exercises right away and also our joint operations,” Brawner said during his visit to the EDCA site at the Basa Air Base in Pampanga on Wednesday.

United States Indo-Pacific Command head Admiral John Aquilino said the developments in EDCA projects are moving at great speed.

the West Philippine Sea anew. AFP Photos

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Maricel V. Cruz

SENATOR Risa Hontiveros lashed back at Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday, saying she doesn’t want her respect.

“I am not asking for your respect VP Sara. What I was asking from you… was accountability,” Hontiveros said.

“So, you have to account where you will spend the confidential funds (Duterte requested for the Department of Education and the Office of the Vice President),” she said.

Earlier, Duterte said she has no respect for Hontiveros and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, who have questioned her office’s use of confidential funds in 2022.

“We’re very optimistic that for next year, we will have more of these projects operational so that we can work

“The work that his [Brawner’s] team has done in coordination with

She thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for supporting the P125million confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) the Office of the Vice President (OVP) requested from the Office of the President (OP) in December 2022, despite the lack of a line item for it under the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

House panel nixes Ombudsman push to not publish COA reports

By Maricel V.

Cruz, Macky Solon, and Rey Requejo

THE House appropriations panel has not adopted the request of Ombudsman Samuel Martires to remove the requirement to publish Commission on

Audit reports, as it approved the proposed 2024 national budget.

“That [requirement to publish] stays. Everything stays the same,” said Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, senior vice chair of the House appropriations committee.

BASE INSPECTION. General Romeo Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (center), and Admiral John Aquilino, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command (left), walk with US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson (right) as they inspect Lal-lo Airport and Naval Base Camilo Osias in Cagayan Province on Thursday. Inset shows some of the 30 Chinese ships the military says are ‘swarming’

and

SINGAPORE MEETING. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (second from right) examines a presentation at the 10th Asia Summit in Singapore on Thursday. With him on the Philippine panel are (from left) Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual. PCO Photo

470 BSKE bets face disqualification

By Vito Barcelo

AT LEAST 470 candidates for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) may be disqualified for engaging in premature campaigning and for violating election rules, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Thursday.

Comelec data revealed that the 470 candidates have already been issued show-cause orders.

Comelec chairman George Garcia said the number of election violators may increase in the coming weeks, as he repeatedly warned against early campaigning with the campaign period only running from October 19 to October 28.

To hasten the delivery of show-cause

From A1

But Hontiveros shot back that if Duterte does not know how to respect her colleagues, she should at least respect the public in spending its funds.

Hontiveros said it has been a week since Duterte faced the senators during the deliberations on the proposed budget of the OVP and the DepEd, which she also heads.

In that time, Hontiveros said, Duterte has offered more tirades than explanations of where and how she intends to spend the confidential funds.

Hontiveros also said her questioning of the budget is part of her job as a senator.

In the House, a senior lawmaker on Thursday said the controversial confidential and intelligence funds were retained in the proposed 2024 budget.

Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, senior vice chair of the House appropriations committee, said the committee made “few technical changes” in the budget measure and that these items were retained.

Her remarks indicated that the House appropriations panel did not touch the government’s request for P5.277 billion in intelligence expenses and P4.864 billion in confidential funds under the GAA.

The panel did not accede to the appeal of Ombudsman Samuel Martires, however, to remove the requirement to publish Commission on Audit reports, Quimbo added (see related story on A1 – Editors).

Quimbo also played down claims by Gabriela party-list that the budget did not focus on programs for women and children, saying these concerns were lodged in different agencies of the government.

The House aims to approve the budget on final reading before Congress goes on break from Sept. 30 to Nov. 5.

Also on Thursday, AKO Bikol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, chairman of the committee on appropriations, said he received a letter from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) assuring Congress that the Office of the President did not subvert the House’s power of the purse when it released contingency funds to the Office of the Vice President last year.

orders against election violators, the Comelec will send cause orders through email to barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan aspirants.

“We will issue the show cause orders faster. We will send them through email. We will send the show cause orders there so that we don’t have to use the postal offices because that takes quite a while,” the poll chief said.

The Comelec said there are over 1.4

million people who filed their certificates of candidacy for the 2023 barangay and SK elections. However, Garcia assured candidates will be allowed to explain their sides to determine whether the poll body would file complaints against them.

The Comelec has also created a task force to monitor premature campaigning.

The Comelec meanwhile said it has exempted the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) programs from the ban on the implementation of projects ahead of the BSKE.

In a memo, the poll body approved the exemption of DOLE’s various assistance and employment programs.

In related news, Garcia urged the Senate to restore at least P5 billion in Comelec’s proposed budget for 2024 in the wake of their preparation for the

2025 midterm elections and the upcoming BSKE.

During the Senate subcommittee on Finance hearing, Garcia said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved only P27.44 billion for the Comelec under the 2024 National Expenditure Program.

This is far from the P43.7 billion the Comelec is asking for next year. He noted that of the more than P27 billion funds, P22.938 billion was allocated to prepare for 2025 national and local elections.

With this, Garcia said only P4.6 billion will remain for their personnel services and capital outlay.

Garcia noted that if the budget cut will not be restored, they will encounter difficulties in preparing for the 2025 elections. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

Singaporeans invited to invest in RE projects

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in-

vited Singapore’s business leaders to view the Philippines as a new investment hub for the renewable energy (RE) sector as his visit to Singapore continues.

“The policy change comes as the Philippines seeks to attract foreign investments to boost the renewable energy sector and to meet our long-term climate targets,” the President told business leaders during a roundtable meeting at the 10th Asia Summit Fireside Chat in Singapore.

Mr. Marcos is currently in Singapore for a working visit.

Imee:...

Balisacan, however, said there was “no such offer.”

As this developed, Senator Marcos chided the National Food Authority for using only 30 percent of its budget –funds that could have been used to buy “palay” (unhusked rice) from farmers as a buffer stock for the government.

“Why don’t we pick up our local farmers who have been suffering from poverty? Why didn’t the NFA buy rice before July and August?” she said.

“They still have many money. Why don’t they buy rice from our local farmers? Why was there a need to embark on importation?” Marcos added.

She said rice importation should not be a knee-jerk solution but should be a last resort.

The NFA, for its part, said it has not been remiss in its mandate to buy rice from farmers, and that it is on track of its procurement target for 2023.

“The doors are always open all the time for farmers who wish to sell their palay to the government,” the agency said.

“But the problem is that we don’t have the necessary drying capacity for wet rice. And that’s what the traders are buying. Especially in the wet crop -

Marcos:...

thing,” Mr. Marcos said.

Politicians barred from handling Maharlika Fund

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said there would be no politicians involved in the handling of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) and assured that the sovereign fund would be run by professionals.

The President made his remarks during a sit-down conversation with former Australian trade minister Steven Ciobo at the 10th Asia Summit hosted by the Milken Institute in Singapore.

“The main assurance that we had to give was that it’s not going to involve politicians, because when the politicians get involved, then the decisions are no longer purely financial in nature, and that causes failure, I think. And it doesn’t make it an efficient management of the fund,” President Marcos said.

“We adopted the NEP [National Expenditure Program] provisions as they are. If the Ombudsman is making that request, that will be subject to further debate in the plenary,” Quimbo added in a phone interview.

However, committee chair Rep. Elizaldy Co said the panel is still open to studying Martires’ suggestion “and will carefully evaluate the impact and implications of such action.”

“I understand the concern about preventing premature judgments and confusion among the public when reading audit reports. The impact of such publications on government officials’ reputations is an important consideration,” Co said in a statement.

The Ako Bicol party-list solon assured the Ombudsman that his proposal “will be discussed thoroughly within the committee, and we will engage in a comprehensive review to determine the best course of action, in line with our commitment to transparency and accountability in government.”

On Monday, Martires told the panel of his desire to remove the budget allocated for the publication of COA’s Audit Observation Memorandum (AOMs) from the 2024 national budget.

“And the pandemic showed us that this was not a wise choice to have made and so we have continued to develop our agricultural sector and the aspiration once again is that we are able to provide a sufficient supply of food at prices that people can afford,” he said.

The President said there is still a long way to go before rice supply in the market returns to normal, but said the government has taken important steps on the road to recovery.

“We are trying to put the value chain, especially of agriculture, we are trying to put that value chain together… from research and development (R&D) all

The President, who celebrated his 66th birthday yesterday and is on an official visit to Singapore for five days until Sept. 17, cited energy’s importance in reviving the country’s economy.

Mr. Marcos also highlighted to foreign investors the Philippine government’s efforts to lower the country’s electricity rates.

He added that foreign investors can now enjoy 100 percent equity in the exploration, development, and utilization of solar, wind, hydro and ocean or tidal energy resources.

“With this development, I encourage our Singapore partners to consider the Philippines and take part in the coun-

ping season, when the harvest cannot be dried properly by farmers for lack of drying facilities,” it added.

For 2023, the agency has been given P9 billion to procure 9 days’ worth of buffer stock from farmers, but the budget has yet to be released, it said.

“The government usually releases the allocation in the third quarter of the year. Our budget is usually allocated during the wet season cropping. We are yet to get our budget for rice procurement,” the NFA said.

“So what they’re saying that we haven’t even spent the P8.5 billion is misinformation on their part. The money is not yet with us. Most of it is allocated in the second half, particularly in the third quarter,” the agency said.

Except in 2022, the NFA said it has always hit its target procurement.

In recent years when the NFA still exercised its previous food security mandate of keeping buffer stocks at 30 days inventory for the rainy season, the agency said it has exceeded its mandate more often than not by 200 percent.

In 2022, NFA missed 20 percent of its procurement mandate of 7 days as there was an upward pressure on the grain.

Last year, the buying price of palay went to as much as P232 per kilogram against NFA’s P19/kg.

In other developments:

• Agriculture Undersecretary Leoca-

the way to retail, to the market,” he said. His remarks came amid the ongoing surge in the price of rice in the Philippines.

To soften the blow, President Marcos approved the recommendation of government agencies to put mandated price caps on rice.

Meanwhile, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the Philippines has overtaken China as the world’s top rice importer.

The USDA’s latest “Grain: World Markets and Trade” report estimated that the total rice importation by the Philippines for the 2022-2023 trade year hit 3.9 million metric tons compared to China’s 3.5 million metric tons.

For the 2023-2024 marketing period, the projected importation for the Philippines is at 3.8 million metric tons as compared to China’s 3.5 million metric tons, the report showed.

Aquilino said another 63 projects in the nine approved EDCA sites were added aside from the 32 projects that were earlier approved.

try’s goal of increasing renewable share in power generation and offering lower cost and cleaner energy to the general public,” the President said.

Singapore is ranked 5th among the top destinations for Philippine products, according to President Marcos.

Last week, the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) announced the 50-centavo increase in kilowatt per hour (kWh) for the month of September, which would put the typical household rate at P11.3997 this month from P10.8991 per kWh in August Meralco said the increase was due to higher costs from its suppliers.

dio Sebastian said the government expects to import much less than the 3.8 million metric tons projected by the United States Department of Agriculture. “This indicates that the volume we imported in 2022 was much more than the deficit. We also expect that with the intensified efforts to produce more rice locally, we will import less than the projected 3.8 MMT in 2024. The uncertainty of depending on external sources for our staple and the high price of imported rice makes it imperative for us to produce more locally,” Sebastian said. The USDA report said the Philippines is set to overtake China as the world’s top importer of the food staple.

• Senator Ronald dela Rosa backed the passage of a bill that imposes tough penalties on those engaged in crimes regarded as economic sabotage in a bid to address the smuggling of rice and other agricultural products in the country. Under SBN 2432, economic sabotage is defined as activities such as “disrupting the economy by creating an artificial shortage, promoting excessive importation, manipulating prices and supply and evading payment or underpayment of tariffs and customs duties,” among others. “I must say that this is truly a proactive and prompt response to the alarming number of cases of smuggling in the country,” Dela Rosa said. With

Charles Dantes

Despite that, the USDA said it observed a delay in purchases due to the global prices.

“In 2008, top importer the Philippines continuously bought larger volumes as prices escalated; this year, it is delaying purchases, awaiting lower prices,” the USDA report said.

India is a top rice exporter but the report said it sent “shock waves” to the global rice market due to its export ban on milled white rice, among others. The second and third largest suppliers are Thailand and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization said that rice prices jumped 9.8 percent in August.

While at the summit, Mr. Marcos hailed the strong ties between Singapore and the Philippines during a roundtable discussion with Singaporean businessmen on Wednesday night.

EDCA sites to its US counterpart.

He added that the sovereign wealth fund would be run by professional fund managers to manage the ins and outs of the MIF properly.

Asked how the funding will be used, Mr. Marcos said it will be used “to transform” the country’s economy.

“So, those are the ways that we see. This will go into infrastructure, into power development, healthcare, all of the areas that we have identified as priorities,” the President said.

“So, to make a list, it’s really --- for us it’s agriculture, it’s energy, it’s ease of doing business, it is also the tax structure that we have to transform,” he continued.

Earlier, the President also said through the 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.

China...

From A1

It maintained that Beijing respects and acts in accordance with international law.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., meanwhile, said more countries have expressed their intention to participate in a joint sail in the WPS, “a very good indication” that there are like-minded nations who want to promote a rules-based international order and ensure security in the Indo-Pacific region.

The military reported a resurgence of Chinese swarming activity in the West Philippine Sea.

Aerial patrols conducted by the Armed Forces Western Command on Sept. 6 and 7 spotted 23 Chinese fishing vessels in Iroquois Reef at the southern end of Reed Bank, northeast of the Spratly Islands.

“Additional swarming was observed in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, where five Chinese fishing vessels were present, and in Baragatan (Nares) Bank, with two Chinese fishing vessels recorded,” the Western Command said.

A routine air patrol conducted by the Philippine Navy on Aug. 24 spotted 33 Chinese fishing vessels in Rozul (Iroquis) Reef within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf, “making this intrusion a violation of Philippine sovereign rights and jurisdiction.”

“Previous swarming incidents in the area have also been followed by reports of massive coral harvesting, further raising concerns about their harmful environmental impact,” it said.

The same air patrol also reported swarming activity in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, which is also located within the Philippine exclusive economic zone and serves as a marker for the approach to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

our team to further advance the capabilities here in the Philippines, I am really impressed with the work of the team. So I’m very happy,” Aquilino said.

“I was here a year ago. The advance of the runway and all of the sites is moving at great speed and it’s only because of the great partnership,” he added.

“And (the) United States has identified investment of almost $110 million to those sites to build capability capacity for the AFP to use every day and for the United States to fall in when invited,” he said.

Military public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Enrico Ileto said the AFP has presented its proposed projects for the

“Our American friends have heard what our proposals are and I believe they will assess how they can finance it, when we can start it and put a timeline on it. Their response was very positive,” Ileto said.

Aside from the Basa Air Base, Brawner and Aquilino also visited the EDCA site at the Lal-lo Airport and Naval Base Camilo Osias in Cagayan on Wednesday.

The visit was a prelude to the upcoming Mutual Defense Board-Security

Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) meeting at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

The MDB and SEB, established in 1968 and 2006, respectively, form the framework that directs and enables defense and security cooperation between the US and the Philippine forces. Brawner said yesterday’s MDB-SEB meeting demonstrated the “steadfast commitment of the Philippines and the United States in safeguarding our nation and the Indo-Pacific Region.”

‘Countermeasures needed vs. scammers’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Grace Poe on Thursday cited the pressing need to strengthen the government’s countermeasures against scams and cyber criminals.

Earlier, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) reported that 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. 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, DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy said.

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

Poe also said there is also a need to

CHR backs amendments on theft

By Rio N. Araja

THE Commission on Human Rights

(CHR) is supporting a proposal to delete a provision in Article 310 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) for singling out domestic workers (“kasambahay”) for qualified theft.

Under Article 310 of the RPC, qualified theft shall be punishable “if committed by a domestic servant, or with grave abuse of confidence, or if the property stolen is a motor vehicle, mail matter, or large cattle, among others.”

“While mutual trust and confidence exist between a ‘kasambahay’ and employer, there are also many other similar professions that necessitate such level of trust and confidence,” it argued.

“Therefore, it is discriminatory to single out domestic workers based on the said grounds. The law must avoid

perpetuating existing culture of abuse considering that the said provision has been used by employers to threaten their ‘kasambahay,’” it cited.

The CHR also said it welcomes another proposed amendment in Article of the RPC which is to replace the term “domestic servants” to domestic workers.

“CHR supports this amendment as the current term reflects the emphasis on class distinctions and tolerance of social injustice in the past,” it said.

The CHR also said it is supporting the amendment of Republic Act No. 10361 or the Domestic Workers Act or Batas Kasambahay, too,

“In recognition of the persisting instances of harassment against domestic workers, CHR supports the proposed amendments to strengthen penalties on crimes committed against domestic workers,” it noted.

study the DICT’s request for confidential funds.”Its dismal budget utilization rate of just 32.2% in 2022 leaves little confidence in terms of proper utilization of the fund,” Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, said.

“Confidential funds were not consistently granted to DICT but we will ask the Commission on Audit to discuss with us how the P1.2 Billion confidential funds were used in the past by the agency,” she added.

On Wednesday, Uy justified his agency’s request for P300 million in confidential funds under the proposed 2024 national budget. He emphasized the ad-

ditional funds would be used to go after online and text scammers who continue to victimize Filipinos.

Poe said lawmakers expect Uy to be prepared to defend the request.

Uy said that to go after cyber criminals, the government should invest in strengthening its tools against scammers.

“These cyber criminals are very wellfunded, very well-organized, and very highly technical. So, the government needs to match them, right now our hands are tied and to be able to catch up to them we need the proper tools,” he added. With Charles

Dantes

46 million IDs

printed—PSA

THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that it has already printed 46 million national IDs for the 80.5 million Filipinos who registered with the Philippine Identification System.

Fred Sollesta, PSA PhilSys Registry Office OIC and Deputy National Statistician, said PhilPost has already distributed 39 million national IDs and about 1 million physical cards are set to be delivered in the National Capital Region.

The official said the Bangko Sentral’s printers were unable to handle the large volume of physical cards that needed to be printed.

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 (DICT) admitted on Wednesday.

“So, a lot of delays have already happened and there are many of our countrymen who have been complaining that up to this date, they have not yet received their national ID,” said DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy during a press 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 d pendent on the deployment of a national ID,” Uy added.

Lawmaker urges CHED to prioritize funds for scholarships

By Maricel V. Cruz

DEPUTY Majority Leader Janette Ga-

rin on Thursday urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to prioritize giving scholarships to students instead of using funds for non-essential expenditures.

Garin urged CHED chairperson

Prospero De Vera III to provide the needs of the students, stressing that more funds must be allocated for the scholarship program.

“There’s a big difference between wants and needs. Maybe eto ‘yung checklist niyo pero mas kailangan siguro ng ating mga kabataan ngayon na mabayaran [ang tuition fees],” the House com-

mittee vice chairperson said.

Garin further said that CHED may collaborate with other agencies on programs such as the Integration of Natural Green and Renewable Energy toward sustainable schools, citing that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Energy (DOE) have the same projects.

In 2023, CHED proposed a total expenditure program of P30.7 billion, with P29.3 billion or 98.5 percent designated for funding scholarships through the Higher Education Development Program (HEDP).

For 2024, the agency’s proposed budget increased to P31 billion; however, there was a slight decrease in the allocation for HEDP, which now stands at P29 billion.

THE DICT expects to issue some 80 million digital versions 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 b cause 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. Charles Dantes

DIVE TOURISM. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco (right) inspects diving gear sold at an exhibitor’s booth at the opening of the first-ever Philippine Tourism Dive Dialogue at the Fili Hotel at Nustar Cebu on Thursday. The event features panel discussions with stakeholders and experts in the dive tourism industry. Norman Cruz

Measure of damages

“DAMAGES are given as a compensation, recompense, or satisfaction to the plaintiff, for an injury actually received by him from the defendant. They should be precisely commensurate with the injury, neither more or less; and this whether it be to his person or estate” (A treatise on the Law of Evidence, Wigmore, Greenleaf, and Harriman).

In common law, “[d]amages are never given in real actions; but only in personal and mixed actions” (A treatise on the Law of Evidence, Wigmore, Greenleaf, and Harriman).

However, in the Philippines, damages may be claimed in real actions such as ejectment, recovery of ownership and possession, or accion publiciana, among others.

“All damages must be the result of the injury complained of; whether it consists in the withholding of a legal right, or the breach of a duty legally due to the plaintiff” (A treatise on the Law of Evidence, Wigmore, Greenleaf, and Harriman).

The breach or violation of a right of another is known as a cause of action (Section 2, Rule 2, Amended Rules of Civil Procedure).

Damages may be claimed by an aggrieved party under Article 2197 of the New Civil Code.

Damages may be (a) actual or compensatory; (b) moral; (c) nominal; (d) temperate or moderate; (e) liquidated; or (f) exemplary or corrective.

In the Philippines, damages may be claimed in real actions such as ejectment, recovery of ownership and possession, or accion publiciana

“No proof of pecuniary loss is necessary in order that moral, nominal, temperate, liquidated or exemplary damages, may be adjudicated. The assessment of such damages, except liquidated ones, is left to the discretion of the court, according to the circumstances of each case” (Article 2216, New Civil Code).

Actual damages are adequate compensation for proven pecuniary loss suffered by another.

The “[i]ndemnification for damages shall comprehend not only the value of the loss suffered, but also of the profits which the obligee failed to obtain” (Articles 2199 and 2200, New Civil Code).

“[W]here the injury consisted in firing guns so near the plaintiff’s decoy-pond as to frighten away the wild fowls, or prevent them from coming there, or, in maliciously firing cannon at the natives on the coast of Africa, whereby they were prevented from coming to trade with the plaintiff; these consequences were held to be well inferred from the wrongful act” (A treatise on the Law of Evidence, Wigmore, Greenleaf, and Harriman).

“The damage to be recovered must always be the natural and proximate consequence of the act complained of.”

“Thus, where the defendant had libeled a performer at a place of public entertainment, in consequence of which she refused to sing, and the plaintiff alleged that by reason thereof the receipts of his house were diminished, this consequence was held too remote to furnish ground for a claim of damages” (A treatise on the Law of Evidence, Wigmore, Greenleaf, and Harriman).

Moral damages are awarded for “physical suffering, mental anguish, fright, serious anxiety, besmirched reputation, wounded feelings, moral shock, social humiliation, and similar injury.

“Though incapable of pecuniary computation, moral damages may be recovered if they are the proximate result of the defendant’s wrongful act or omission” (Article 2217, New Civil Code).

In the determination of moral damages by the court, the sentimental value of property, real or personal, may be considered (Article 2218, New Civil Code).

“Willful injury to property may be a legal ground for awarding moral damages if the court should find that, under the circumstanc-

P7.43 billion down the drain

es, such damages are justly due” (Article 2220, New Civil Code)

Moral damages may be recovered in (a) a criminal offense resulting in physical injuries;

(b) quasi-delicts causing physical injuries; (c) seduction, abduction, rape, or other lascivious acts; (d) adultery or concubinage; (e) illegal or arbitrary detention or arrest; (f) illegal search;

(g) libel, slander or any other form of defamation; and (h) malicious prosecution, among others (Article 2219, New Civil Code).

“Exemplary or corrective damages are imposed, by way of example or correction for the public good…” (Article 2229, New Civil Code).

“While the amount of the exemplary damages need not be proved, the plaintiff must show that he is entitled to moral, temperate or compensatory damages” (Article 2234, New Civil Code).

“In quasi-delicts, exemplary damages may be granted if the defendant acted with gross negligence” (Article 2231, New Civil Code).

“In contracts and quasi-contracts, the court may award exemplary damages if the defendant acted in a wanton, fraudulent, reckless, oppressive, or malevolent manner” (Article 2232, New Civil Code).

“Liquidated damages are those agreed upon by the parties to a contract, to be paid in case of breach thereof” (Article 2226, New Civil Code).

“When the breach of the contract committed by the defendant is not the one contemplated by the parties in agreeing upon the liquidated damages, the law shall determine the measure of damages, and not the stipulation” (Article 2228, New Civil Code).

“[I]f the parties themselves have liquidated the damages; the jury (judge) are bound to find the amount thus agreed. “But whether the sum stipulated to be paid upon breach of the agreement is to be taken as liquidated damages, or only as a penalty, will depend upon the intent of the parties, to be ascertained by a just determination of the contract” (A treatise on the Law of Evidence, Wigmore, Greenleaf, and Harriman).

“[I]n the proof of damages [for contracts], both parties must be confined to the principal transactions complained of, and to its attendant circumstances and the natural results; for these alone are in issue.” “The natural results of a wrongful act are understood to include all the damage to the plaintiff of which such act was the efficient cause, though in point of time the damage did not occur until sometime after the act [is] done”

(A treatise on the Law of Evidence, Wigmore, Greenleaf, and Harriman).

“Temperate or moderate damages… are more than nominal but less than compensatory damages, [these] may be recovered when the court finds that some pecuniary loss has been suffered but its amount cannot, from the nature of the case, be provided with certainty” (Article 2224, New Civil Code).

On the other hand, nominal damages are awarded to vindicate a plaintiff whose right has been violated, and not to indemnify him or her for any loss suffered (see Article 2221, New Civil Code).

“Injuries to the person, or to the reputation, consist in the pain inflicted, whether bodily or mental, and in the expenses and the loss of property which they occasion.

“[T]herefore, in the estimation of damages, [they are expected] to consider not only the direct expenses incurred by the plaintiff, but the loss of his time, his bodily sufferings, and, if the injury was willful, his mental agony also, the injury to his reputation… and the consequent public disgrace to the plaintiff…” (A treatise on the Law of Evidence, Wigmore, Greenleaf, and Harriman).

“The character of the parties is immaterial; except in actions for slander, seduction, or the like, where it is necessarily involved in the nature of the action.

(Full article online)

HEALTH experts do not necessarily make good budget or financial managers.

That’s one takeaway from the recent Commission on Audit (COA) report that said the Department of Health (DOH) wasted medical supplies worth P7.43 billion last year.

The state auditing agency found medicines and drugs that were “expired and/or near-expiry, damaged, overstocked, excessive, understocked, slow-moving, undistributed, distributed late and/or accepted below 18 months.”

The wastage of government funds and resources, COA said, was due to “deficient procurement planning, poor distribution and monitoring systems, and weakness in internal controls.”

The COA pointed out this was not the first time the Health Department had been called out for the same reasons, since it had expired, near-expiry, and damaged medicines worth P2.20 billion in 2019, P95.15 million in 2020, and P85.21 million in 2021.

“The presence of overstocked and slowmoving inventory items evidenced excessive spending as the procured items comprised [a] volume of inventory far more than what the Centers for Health Develop-

ment and Operating Units presently need,” the agency said. Government auditors lamented that “overall, the problem exposed management’s inability to safeguard, manage, and utilize health funds and resources economically and effectively.”

If that wasn’t a bad enough indictment of the health department, the state auditing agency warned that overstocked or slowmoving drugs are exposed to the risk of possible wastage because of poor conditions in warehouses.

MMDA must impose additional fines

THE recent decision of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to impose a heavy fine on motorcycle drivers who take cover from the rain underneath flyovers and footbridges, thus blocking the smooth flow of traffic, is long overdue.

It’s about time the MMDA finally got useful.

Late last July, the MMDA announced motorcycle riders caught sheltering underneath flyovers and footbridges during heavy rains would be subjected to a P1000 fine, to be enforced under the single-ticketing system implemented by the MMDA.

A misinformed senator claims the fine is too stiff for motorcycle drivers who earn a living driving their motorcycles. I disagree. In my opinion, the P1000 fine is just and proper.

Almost all motorcycle drivers are abusive, inconsiderate, thoughtless, uncaring, reckless, and they lack road discipline.

Statistics released by the MMDA indicate most traffic accidents in the National Capital Region involve at least one motorcycle. Such accidents involving motorcycles are often instances when the motorcycle driver races at breakneck speed, miscalculates the flow of traffic, and ends up skidding on the road, hitting a pedestrian or a vehicle, or damaging public property.

Going to specifics, what are many motorcycle drivers notorious for, particularly in Metropolitan Manila?

Many motorcycle drivers blatantly disobey traffic regulations. They routinely run an unauthorized counter flow when the road gets crowded, and when they are required to stop at an intersection, they block pedestrian lanes indiscriminately.

As a result, pedestrians must sidestep them and run the risk of getting hit by a motor vehicle, all because these abusive motorcycle drivers inconsiderately occupied the pedestrian lanes. They overtake on the right instead of on the left side of the road, and in reckless disregard of nearby vehicles. Even if they do not have the right of way, they insist

on forcing their way even when the vehicle ahead of them is halfway through making a turn.

Many motorcycle drivers give the dirty finger to motorists who blow their horns to remind the motorcycle drivers to follow traffic regulations.

Moreover, the maintenance of excessive supplies entails additional costs in terms of manpower and warehouse space which could have benefited the government’s health programs for the poor.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, however, said there are really losses every year, stressing that “a certain percentage of your supplies will really end more than the shelf life.”

He promised that the DOH would look into how they can mitigate the wastage and loss of essential medical supplies.

Health NGOs, such as the Council for Health and Development and the Coalition for People’s Right to Health , are correct in saying that the problems encountered by the DOH in the handling of medical supplies have clearly shown how inequality has worsened and is making life tougher for millions of Filipinos already struggling with poverty.

Indeed, as the two health groups emphasized, when one gets sick and requires medical intervention, the rising costs of medicines can easily drive a family into debt or financial crisis.

If the DOH has to deal with the problem of expired and undistributed drugs year after year, and last year sent P7.34 billion worth of drugs and medicines down the drain, shouldn’t there be accountability on the part of those responsible for the criminal wastage?

PEACE is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.”— Martin Luther King Jr.

PEACE, as we know by now, is not merely the absence of war, or conflict, or social division.

Peace is the creation of an environment where all can flourish regardless of class, ideology, religion, gender, or any other standard or measure of difference.

And it is a condition where justice, respect for basic human rights, economic development and social concord can all be achieved.

That peace is a goal—and a means by which we arrive at it—that must be attained in the here and now, not in the distant future, is precisely what three government agencies: Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), believe should be a key focus of the administration.

Recently the three offices signed a memorandum of agreement for the development of a communications strategy to support the government’s peace initiatives.

The rationale for this agreement to ramp up

More often than not, motorcycle drivers shamelessly disregard traffic lights at intersections which are not manned by traffic cops or MMDA traffic personnel.

Even if there are lanes on major thoroughfares for their use, these roadway outlaws on two wheels weave in and out of the road lanes for the use of regular motor vehicles.

This they do indiscriminately, at their whim and pleasure, and unmindful of the other motor vehicles on the same road, which are forced to make sudden adjustments and run the risk of colliding with other motor vehicles.

On many occasions, motorcycle drivers travel right smack in the middle of the lane, absolutely uncaring if they are blocking the way of vehicles behind them.

These two-wheel mobile road hazards also stop indiscriminately for anything, ranging from buying something from an ambulant vendor, to picking up someone.

When they park their motorcycles in an area with limited room, they often make it a point to waste as much space as they can so as to deprive cars and other fourwheeled vehicles a chance at making the

Unified messaging for peacebuilding

peacebuilding efforts was summed up by the PCO: “Beyond mere information dissemination, we aim to craft messages that resonate with diverse communities, building bridges of trust and understanding… We are dedicated to countering misinformation and crafting narratives that inspire, educate, and uplift.”

Hence, the three government agencies will conceptualize, develop and produce educational materials and create an online presence for the OPAPRU’s Local Peace Engagements and Transformation Program.

“Our collective efforts have the potential to transform not only individual destinies but also the destiny of our nation. Let this agreement serve as a guiding light, illuminating the path towards unity, understanding, and prosperity for all,” the PCO said.

This partnership, the agency added, will help former rebels and their families to integrate back into their communities and rejoin the mainstream of society.

Peacebuilding efforts are an indispensable requirement for sustained economic growth.

We cannot hope to attract more domestic and foreign investments and put up more regional growth centers with an unstable peace and order situation marked by hostilities between the military and the remnants of the armed rebellion in the countryside.

Peacebuilding efforts must also continue in

southern Philippines. It is true that two separatist rebellions have ended through political negotiations and former rebels are now busy helping the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in strengthening political structures and accelerating economic growth to reduce poverty incidence in the entire region.

While the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has declared that the Maoist-led armed insurgency in the countryside is now down to 1,800 combatants from 2,000 at the start of this year— a significant downgrading of its estimated peak strength of 25,000 in the mid-1980s— the task now is to consolidate whatever has been achieved in restoring peace by encouraging those who have given up the armed struggle to rejoin the main-

stream of society by giving them housing and livelihood assistance.

From the government perspective, the search for peace does not end with efforts to find a political solution to the armed conflict through negotiations.

The government tried to talk peace with the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army through its political arm, the National Democratic Front, but all the peace talks faltered because of the failure to agree, first of all, on a temporary cessation of hostilities while talks were ongoing.

Fighting in the countryside while talking across the negotiating table abroad obviously did not work, and indicated a lack of good faith on both sides.

For 55 years, the armed conflict between the AFP and the NPA led to no less than 30,000 lives lost on both sides, with many more wounded and whole communities displaced from their homes while the fighting raged. The government’s efforts to attain a just, comprehensive and lasting peace even without political negotiations at the national level began in 1993 with the creation of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process or OPAPP.

In 2021, its mandate was expanded to manage, direct, integrate, and supervise the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Process through fostering reconciliation and unity among the Fili-

most of the available parking space. Motorcycles delivering food are especially notorious for this unlawful and menacing phenomena on the roadways. I have a list of the names of their restaurantsprincipals.

One particular menacing behavior of motorcycle drivers is their penchant to shelter themselves underneath flyovers and footbridges during a heavy rainpour. They indiscriminately occupy any space they can find, and, during their indefinite stay there, they expect motor vehicles to make use of whatever available space there is left available under the flyover or footbridge.

In sum, almost all motorcycle drivers think only of themselves, and could not care less about the dangerous consequences of their recklessness and thoughtlessness on the roadways to others.

The aforesaid P1000 fine announced by the MMDA and currently imposed by it on abusive motorcycle drivers is a step in the right direction against these abusive users of our roadways.

Another measure the MMDA should implement is a fine of P1000 to be imposed on motorcycle drivers who block pedestrian lanes; those who station themselves on the other side of the road when waiting at intersections; those who engage in unauthorized counter flows; and those found on the wrong lane of a major thoroughfare.

The amount of P1000 may be stiff for motorcycle drivers who earn a living by driving their motorcycles.

However, it is the stiff amount which will compel troublesome motorcycle drivers to obey traffic rules and regulations.

At the end of the day, it should be emphasized that everyone using the public roadways must use the streets responsibly in the interest of public safety.

Quite frankly, public safety in the roadways must prevail over the income of motorcycle drivers who earn their living by driving their motorcycles on public roads.

The maintenance of excessive supplies entails additional costs in terms of manpower and warehouse space which could have benefited the government’s health programs for the poor

The search for peace does not end with efforts to find a political solution to the armed conflict through negotiations

It should be emphasized that everyone using the public roadways must use the streets responsibly in the interest of public safety

INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT. Mallgoers check out Ecoverse Experience, a newly-launched immersive multi-media art gallery depicting nature and the universe at the SM City East Ortigas in Pasig City. The interactive exhibit, designed to educate and inspire visitors about the importance of protecting Planet Earth and the environment, will run from Sept. 14 to 24. Norman Cruz

CA reaffirms RTC decision on legal row between the Manalo siblings of the INC

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has sustained its previous ruling that paved the way for the Quezon City Regional Trial Court to compel Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Manalo II, estranged brother of Iglesia Ni Cristo’s executive minister Eduardo Manalo, to reveal the identities of his witnesses and submit summaries of their testimonies in connection with the illegal firearms and ammunition case filed against him and several others.

In a two-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Fortunato Caringal, the CA’s former 9th Division held that petitioners Nathaniel Manalo, his nephew Victor Eraño Manalo Hemedez, Jojo Indek Moreno, and Jonathan Ledesma failed to raise new arguments that would warrant the reversal of its February 23, 2023 decision.

“After a careful review of petitioners’ motion, we find that the instant motion deserves scant consideration. As observed by the Office of the Solicitor

General in its comment, the arguments put forward by petitioners have been sufficiently addressed in our February 23, 2023 decision,” the CA resolution dated September 11, 2023 read.

“All told, in the absence of a novel argument raised by accused-appellant, we find no compelling reason to modify, much less reverse our February 23, 2023 decision,” the resolution said.

In its previous ruling, the appellate court found no grave abuse of discretion on the part of the trial court in directing the petitioners to disclose the names of the three witnesses they intended to present.

The petitioners argued that the trial court should not have allowed the disclosure of the names of their witnesses as this would violate their right against self-incrimination.

The CA held that the right against self-incrimination should be invoked at a proper time, that is, when a question calling for an incriminating answer is propounded.

DBM releases P11.6b for state teachers’ bonuses

By Julito Rada

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P11.6 billion for the 2021 performance-based bonus (PBB) of 920,073 personnel of public elementary and secondary schools nationwide.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, in a statement, assured the public school teachers that they will soon receive their performance-based bonus for the year 2021.

“The DBM stands with our nation’s educators and recognizes their ex-

traordinary work. We are one with our teachers in the pursuit of the immediate release of their bonuses,” Pangandaman said.

As of September 1, 2023, all 16 regional offices of the Department of Education (DepEd) have released the

CJ Gesmundo: First non-American to receive CJ Richard Holmes Award

THE American Judges Association (AJA) has bestowed to Philippine Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo the “Chief Justice Richard W. Holmes Award of Merit”, the first recognition for judicial reforms given to a head of judiciary outside the United States.

Gesmundo received the award during a luncheon of the 2023 Annual American Judges Association Awards in Honolulu, Hawaii last September 12.

Holmes was a justice of the Kansas Supreme Court from 1977 to 1990 and chief justice from 1990 until his retirement in 1995. He passed away in 1999.

In 1992, then Justice Holmes was given the “Award of Merit” by the AJA, an award renamed in 2000 as “Chief Justice Richard W. Holmes Award of Merit.”

“The yearning for justice knows no borders, and that dream of a society where justice reigns supreme is shared by all of us,” Gesmundo said in his acceptance speech.

“It is with humility that I receive this honor, not just for myself and the Supreme Court I represent, but also for my country –this award, I understand, having been first bestowed on a person from a foreign jurisdiction, in recognition of efforts to institute judicial reforms,” Gesmundo added.

The Philippines’ top magistrate underscored the SC’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI) as he noted that the plan “could not have been born except through hard work and dedication.” He expressed high hopes that one day “the justice that has eluded many, most especially the marginalized, will be at arms’ reach.”

He then shared the award with colleagues in the SC, judicial officers, court officials and employees, and members of the Bar. He also expressed his gratitude to the Judiciary’s development partners—international agencies and judicial organizations for their valuable assistance and support.

corresponding special allotment release orders (SAROs) and notice of cash allocations (NCAs) to the DepEd for the fiscal year 2021 bonuses of the schoolbased personnel.

The SAROs/NCAs were issued after the DBM’s evaluation and validation of the required updated documents, which DepEd submitted from April to August 2023. The basis for granting the 2021 bonus was DepEd’s accomplishments for the year.

The Final Evaluation Assessment for the DepEd was released by the Administrative Order No. 25 InterAgency Task Force in January 2023, while the necessary documents for

the purpose were submitted by the DepEd to the DBM from April to August 2023. This could be attributed to the remarkably high number of eligible personnel at around 900,000 employees of the DepEd, and the voluminous documents being submitted for the purpose. Evaluation of the documents was facilitated and processed by the DBM immediately after.

Meanwhile, the documentary requirements for the non-teaching personnel under the schools division offices in eight regional offices (NCR, CAR, RO Nos. III, IV-A, VIII, XI, XII, and XIII) have been returned by the

Marcoleta lands 10th in PAPI survey on 2025 senatorial elections

SURVEY showed Representative Rodante D. Marcoleta of SAGIP (Social Amelioration and Genuine Intervention on Poverty) Party-List, landing on the 10th among the Top 12 preferred senators for the 2025 midterm elections.

PARTY-LIST Rep. Rodante Marcoleta has made it to the Magic 12 circle in the voters’ top choices for senators in the 2025 mid-term elections.

A survey conducted by the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. (PAPI) showed Marcoleta of the Social Amelioration and Genuine Intervention on Poverty (SAGIP) landing in the 10th spot of the probable list.

PAPI conducted the research from Aug. 1519, with 1500 respondents. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro came in 11th, while lawyer Harry Roque, spokesman of former President Rodrigo Duterte, brought up the 12th slot. Leading the honor roll was ex-President Duterte, followed by Rep. Erwin Tulfo of the Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Partylist, Sen. Imee Marcos, former Senate president Tito Sotto, Dr. Willie Ong, Senators Christopher Go and Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa, former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, former Senators Tito Sotto and Mar Roxas, in that order.

It may be recalled that as a legislator, Marcoleta had authored some 283 bills, at least 39 of which were eventually passed into law. Two of these were related to tax reforms, while another two laws were enacted to help with the quality of education in schools. He likewise filed a number of bills supporting poverty alleviation and citizen welfare. Marcoleta was born to a family of farmers in Paniqui, Tarlac. He is second among nine siblings. He values education and was actually a diligent student. Due to poverty, there were constant struggles, but he was always optimistic as he would choose to see the brighter side of things.

Bulacan police chief, deputies charged with kidnapping, planting of evidence

A VETERAN Bulacan journalist and a lifetime member of the National Press Club has filed charges of kidnapping, serious illegal detention, and planting of evidence against Bulacan Police Provincial Director Colonel Relly B. Arnedo as principal and four deputies.

Several other policemen and civilians were also charged as accomplices for their roles in a drug buy-bust operation.

In his counter-affidavit with counter-charge released yesterday, Orlando L. Mauricio, editorpublisher of MetroNEWS Bulacan, the oldest Malolos-based English weekly in Bulacan, filed his complaint last Aug. 31, 2023, before Alejandro G. Ramos, senior assistant provincial prosecutor.

Mauricio, a correspondent of Manila Standard and an awardee of the ‘PNP Outstanding Journalist of the Year in 1997’, charged the respondents led by Arnedo for arbitrarily arresting his son, Oliver Paul dela Cruz Mauricio, at about 4:00 p.m. on Aug. 16, 2023 near his residence in Malolos City, without any warrant of arrest.

However, two hours later, the police team returned to the scene with his son already in handcuffs, who was pictured as having been just arrested in a “well-scripted, stage-managed buybust operations.”

The newsman, in his formal complaint, named the other respondents:

• PSSg Jose DP Uring, for grave threats, kidnapping, and planting of evidence;

• Lt. Col. Jesus Manalo Jr., chief of provincial intelligence unit; Lt. Col. Laurente A. Acquiot, deputy provincial director for operations, for kidnapping and planting of evidence;

• PSSg Salvador A. Quitaleg, Pat. Aries L. Oronce, P/Cpl. Harvin Jay C. Tolentino, Leolie dela Torre of PDEA, kidnapping and planting of evidence;

• P/Major Nurheda Usman of Bulacan Police Public Information Office, accomplice;

• Mary Joan Lopez Maclang, Barangay Kagawad of Mojon, Malolos; Perlito M. Garcia of DOJ-Malolos Office; Gina Lopez Borlongan of Saksi Ngayon tabloid, all accomplices in the planting of evidence;

• Lt. Col. Gina Mananquil Camposano, forensic chemist; and, Lt. Alejandro J. Agsalda, administering officer-forensic unit; accomplices in the planting of evidence.

The Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame has yet to comment on the case as of press time, despite repeated requests by the Standard.

Mauricio said he was not out to exact revenge against the police officers and their accomplices, who all conspired and planted evidence to make it appear that his son was into the sale of illegal drugs and therefore, a high-value individual (HVI in police parlance).

DBM to the DepEd for revalidation and revision.

The documents were sent back due to varying concerns, such as duplicate entries, incorrect information on the months of service, and certain personnel not found in the DepEd’s Personnel Services Itemization and Plantilla, among others.

Once received, revalidated, and approved by DBM, the documents will be endorsed to the DBM regional offices for processing of the SARO and NCA.

The DBM central office is also reviewing submitted documents for the 2021 PBB of non-teaching personnel in eight other DepEd regional offices.

IN BRIEF

Solon pins high hopes on salt industry revival

A SAYS revival of the country’s salt industry will contribute to efforts to ease the country’s rising unemployment problem.

“The passage of the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act could not have come at a better time especially since unemployment in the country has been steadily increasing,” said AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee.

“We look forward to this important piece of legislation being signed into law by the President.

The measure was recently passed on third and final reading in the Senate with a 22-0 vote. The bill was approved by the House of Representatives in May.

Lee was the principal author of the House version of the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act.

The lawmaker expressed concern with the second consecutive increase in the country’s jobless rate, which is up to 4.8 percent in July from 4.5 percent in June, according to the latest figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

“This is a problem that must be closely monitored because fewer jobs means more hungry families. But for every problem, there are many solutions—and the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act is one of them,” said Lee. Maricel V. Cruz

‘Careful in moving those age-old trees,’ says Goma

LEYTE Rep. Richard Gomez on Thursday batted for the conservation of age-old trees as he called for an upgrade of the government’s antiquated earth-balling system being used to transplant full-grown trees from one place to another.

Gomez said better technology for the transfer of full-grown trees is needed amid the growing risks of climate change.

Gomez’s proposal was contained in House Bill 9124.

The bill mandates the annual appropriation of funds for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the procurement, maintenance, and use of at least one set of machinery known as “earth balling equipment” per region to be used in road improvement and other developmental projects.

It defines an earth-balling machine as a mechanized apparatus specifically designed to relocate trees that obstruct road-widening efforts.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) define earth balling as “the process of moving trees by digging out the earth and the roots in a circular shape, leaving most of the root system undisturbed and intact.” Maricel V. Cruz

DILG inks pact with CDO school on drug campaign

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) program has gained anti-illegal drugs advocates among the youth of Cagayan de Oro with the signing of a memorandum of agreement with Xavier University (XU)-Ateneo De Cagayan.

This is in accordance with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s directive for a wholeof-nation approach in the campaign against illegal drugs.

“I am glad and grateful for the DILG’s partnership with XU-Ateneo de Cagayan.

Thank you very much for joining us in our fight against illegal drugs through our BIDA Program,” DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said. He stressed the important role of the schools and the church in the whole-of-nation BIDA campaign as they dwell on the holistic formation of the values of the youth and help them lead productive lives away from the temptation of illegal drugs.

DILG Region X Regional Director Wilhelm Suyko, who signed the MOA on behalf of the DILG, said youth involvement is a significant and strategic approach to further strengthen the advocacy of the program.

Marcoleta

NATIONAL HERITAGE DESECRATION. Residents of Sta. Ana, Manila vehemently oppose an ongoing construction of three high-rise buildings within the district’s sacred Heritage Zone as declared by the National Historical Commission. Danny Pata

KIDNAPPING OR POLICE ARREST? Manila Standard correspondent Orlan Mauricio presents CCTV screenshots of a white Toyota RUSH used by a police team who allegedly kidnapped his son, Oliver Paul, last Aug. 16 right in front of their home in Malolos City. Two hours later, Mauricio learned that the police have filed drug charges at the city prosecutor’s office, claiming that his son was arrested during a buy-bust operation.

Taiwan:

68 Chinese

warplanes,

10 vessels detected near island

TAIPEI—Dozens of Chinese warplanes and 10 navy ships were detected around Taiwan, Taipei authorities said on Thursday after warning that Beijing was conducting air and sea drills in the Western Pacific.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and relations have soured since Taiwan’s independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen came to power in 2016, with Beijing ratcheting up military and political pressure on the island.

Taiwan’s defense ministry said in a statement that 68 Chinese aircraft and 10 naval vessels were detected near the island between Wednesday morning and Thursday morning.

Taipei had already said some of those planes and warships were heading to an unspecified area of the Western Pacific to “conduct joint sea and air training” with China’s Shandong aircraft carrier.

The Shandong, one of two operational aircraft carriers in the Chinese fleet, was detected Monday around 110 kilometers southeast of Taiwan head-

ing into the Western Pacific, Taipei authorities said.

Japan’s defense ministry also said Wednesday its navy had detected six ships—including frigates, destroyers, one fast combat support ship and the Shandong—sailing through waters some 650 kilometers south of Miyakojima island, east of Taiwan.

It also confirmed that jets and helicopters had been detected taking off and landing from the Shandong.

Taipei warned this week that China was stepping up “grey zone” activities around the island, accusing Beijing of seeking to raise regional tensions and pressure the territory while avoiding all-out conflict.

China’s military “has been tasked to develop capabilities to take over Taiwan”, one expert said.

“Those military exercises are aimed at developing and practicing those capabilities,” Bonnie Glaser, a China expert at Washington DC’s German Marshall Fund. AFP

US: Russia-N. Korea satellite cooperation ‘quite troubling’

WASHINGTON, DC

—The United States on Wednesday voiced alarm at new military cooperation between Russia and North Korea after the two countries’ leaders met.

The cooperation announced during North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia’s far east is “quite troubling and would potentially be in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

He noted US concerns that North Korean satellites, on which Russian President Vladimir Putin promised cooperation, have been used to develop Pyongyang’s ballistic missiles.

The United States “will not hesitate” to impose sanctions if appropriate, Miller said. In related developments, Japan warned

Thursday against violating UN resolutions on arms deals with North Korea, after Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Kim Jong Un.

“We are watching (the talks) with concerns including the possibility that it could lead to violations of the Security Council’s ban on all arms-related material transactions with North Korea,” new Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa told reporters.

There has been widespread speculation that Putin is seeking arms from North Korea to use in his country’s war in Ukraine.

Kamikawa said that the “Russian invasion of Ukraine cannot be accepted.”

She added: “Japan has urged third parties not to provide support to Russian forces. We are watching related activities with concerns.”

Kamikawa, appointed on Wednesday, also said Japan will continue to

collect and analyse information and work with the United States, South Korea and other nations to ensure complete compliance with relevant United Nations resolutions.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said separately: “Any arrangements that would improve North Korea’s military capabilities would certainly be of concern.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in an interview aired Wednesday, said that Russia’s reliance on North Korea and Iran showed its dire situation as it wages its war in Ukraine.

“That’s kind of a ‘Star Wars’ bar scene of countries. So I think it does speak to Russia’s desperation,” Blinken told the Pod Save the World podcast.

“We’re looking to make sure that we, as necessary, can impose costs and consequences.”

Anatoly Antonov, Russia’s ambas-

Venezuelan astronauts could reach moon—Maduro

sador to the United States, slammed Washington’s response to the PutinKim summit.

“The USA has no right to teach us how to live,” he said in comments posted on the embassy’s Telegram.

“Washington’s duplicity is absolutely nothing new: Americans can supply weapons to a hot spot -- that is, Ukraine -- but Russian military-technical cooperation with foreign countries, according to the administration’s logic, is illegal.”

As for the threat of further sanctions, he said that “in the conditions of thousands of existing restrictions, it is unlikely that local Russophobes will find anything else that could hurt our interests.

“It’s time for Washington to throw away its sanctions baton and think about how to build equal relationships with all states.” AFP

Body of Ecuadorean crime boss stolen from cemetery

BOGOTA, Colombia—The body of Ecuadorean fugitive

Junior Roldan was illegally exhumed from a Colombian graveyard, police said Wednesday, months after the former Los Choneros drug gang boss was buried.

Roldan, who went by the alias JR, was accused of several attacks and murders in Ecuador’s prisons.

More than 430 inmates have died violently since 2021, dozens of them dismembered and incinerated in disputes between rival gangs linked to Colombian and Mexican cartels.

Roldan’s body disappeared from the vault where he was buried in May, local police told AFP Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).

Roldan was released from a prison in the Ecuadorean port city of

URGENT HIRING

Position: Thirty (30) Construction Managers

Job Description:

• Review work progress on a daily basis of all Construction Project planning process works.

• Prepare internal and external reports pertaining to job status.

• Manage team, subordinates, labors and disseminate works in order to complete as per Site plan.

• Forecast activity to ensure equipment and material availability for the work execution.

• Initiate immediate and appropriate actions required for all defects to be implemented on site.

• Manage the submittal of Inspection Request, Drawings/Shop Drawings, Materials, Method Statement.

• Ensure the project is constructed and documented in accordance with the contract documents.

• Oversee all onsite and offsite constructions and monitor compliance with building and safety regulations.

• Ensure quality construction standards and the use of proper construction techniques.

• Implement and coordinate schedules and activities.

Qualification:

• Bachelor’s Degree.

• With a minimum of (10) years of experience in railway constructions.

• With good leadership and managing skills, strong work ethics, familiar in budgeting and keen understanding of industry specific terminology, rules and regulations.

• Good communication skills and can comprehend both English and Korean writings.

• Must know how to interpolate plans written in Korean.

• Leadership and human resources management skills

• Familiarity with construction management software packages Interested Applicants may send your updated CV/Resume to HR: gellie.almodovar@hdec.co.krb grace.sangalang@hdec.co.kr

Guayaquil -- a hub for several drug gangs -- in February 2023 and was granted parole, a decision criticized by President Guillermo Lasso.

He was wounded in an armed attack in March, after which prison authorities lost track of him.

Colombian authorities found his body shot in the head in a rural area in the country’s northwest two months later.

After no one claimed the body, it was buried in a cemetery in Envigado on the outskirts of Medellin, Colombia’s second city, on May 18.

There are more than 13 organized crime groups operating in Ecuador, officials say, the oldest and most powerful of which is Los Choneros.

Following the murder of Los Choneros leader Jorge Luis Zambrano in 2020, the gang reportedly split into several factions.

Roldan, Zambrano’s former lieutenant, became part of the Las Aguilas gang, while Adolfo Macias, also known as Fito, began commanding the Los Fatales group.

Macias, imprisoned since 2011, was transferred to a maximum security jail last month soon after the murder of presidential hopeful Fernando Villavicencio, who was shot by Colombian hitmen days before the first round of voting. AFP

VICTIMS DISPLACED. A global effort to assist stricken Libya gathered pace on Thursday after a tsunami-like flood killed nearly 4,000 people and left thousands missing.

Military transport aircraft from Middle Eastern and European nations, along with ships, have been ferrying emergency aid to the North African country already scarred by war. AFP

BEIJING—Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said his country could send its first astronauts to the Moon in a Chinese spacecraft, hailing on Thursday a scientific cooperation agreement he reached with President Xi Jinping.

Maduro, whose oil-rich country is in profound economic crisis, has been in China since last week.

In Beijing on Wednesday, he met with Xi, with the pair agreeing to “upgrade” ties between their governments.

Maduro announced during his meeting with Xi on Wednesday the two countries had agreed to train young Venezuelan astronauts in China, with plans to eventually send them to the Moon.

A special task team “on scientific, technological, industrial and aerospace cooperation will sooner rather than later (send) the first Venezuelan man and woman to the moon in a Chinese spacecraft”, Maduro said. “Very soon, Venezuelan youth will come here to prepare as astronauts in Chinese schools,” he said.

China is pursuing plans to send a crewed mission to the Moon by 2030 and build a base there.

The world’s second-largest economy has invested billions of dollars in its military-run space program in a push to catch up with the United States and Russia.

China maintains close relations with the internationally isolated Maduro government and is one of Venezuela’s main creditors.

The Latin American country’s GDP fell 80 percent in a decade due to the effect of its economic crisis, with citizens struggling to access basic necessities and millions having fled the country.

In a video posted Thursday on social media, Maduro said: “Where we’re heading is for the Moon, to a splendid era for China and Venezuela.” AFP

Global aid effort intensifies for flood-stricken Libya

BENGHAZI, Libya—A global effort to assist stricken Libya gathered pace Thursday after a tsunami-like flood killed nearly 4,000 people and left thousands missing.

Military transport aircraft from Middle Eastern and European nations, along with ships, have been ferrying emergency aid to the North African country already scarred by war.

In addition to the missing, tens of thousands of people have been displaced after the huge flash flood slammed into the Mediterranean coastal city of Derna on Sunday.

Witnesses compared it to a tsunami after two upstream dams burst when torrential rains brought by Storm Dan-

iel battered the region. The wall of water ripped away buildings, vehicles and the people inside them. Many were swept out into the sea, with bodies later washing up on beaches littered with debris and car wrecks.

It was the second major disaster to hit North Africa in days, after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake killed nearly 3,000 people last Friday in Morocco.

The United Nations has pledged $10 million to support Libya’s survivors, including at least 30,000 people it said had been left homeless in Derna. That is almost a third of the eastern Libyan city’s pre-disaster population. Aid workers will face great challenges. AFP

PROMISED COOPERATION. This picture taken on Wednesday and released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency Thursday shows North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un (left) shaking hands with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin during their meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Amur region. AFP

Stocks rebound on mixed US inflation report

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PHILIPPINE stocks

bounced back

Thursday as investors digested the latest inflation report from the United States.

The main composite index jumped 59.22 points, or 0.96 percent, to close at 6,208.40, while the broader all-shares index rose 22.50 points to settle at 3,353.31.

Analysts said investors were expecting the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates unchanged despite the slight in-

China says EU car subsidy probe to impact trade

BEIJING—China warned on Thursday a probe by the European Union into Beijing’s subsidies for electric cars would have a negative impact on its trade relations with the bloc, which it accused of “naked protectionism”.

The investigation, announced on Wednesday, could see the EU impose duties on cars it believes are unfairly sold at a lower price, undercutting European competitors.

China “believes that the EU’s proposed investigative measures are to protect its own industry in the name of ‘fair competition’... and will have a negative impact on China-EU economic and trade relations”, a commerce ministry statement said.

It said the investigation was “naked protectionist behavior that will seriously disrupt and distort the global automotive industry supply chain, including the EU”.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the anti-subsidy investigation on Wednesday, vowing to protect the bloc against unfair competition.

The move was hailed as a “positive signal” by European automakers and by EU member states.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said during a visit to Berlin the probe was a “very good decision”, while Germany’s Economy Minister Robert Habeck said it showed the “right attitude” and was about tackling “unfair competition”.

Beijing has already hit back against the probe, with Wang Lutong, director-general of the Chinese foreign ministry’s department of European affairs, saying “many EU members subsidize their electric vehicle industries.” AFP

crease in US inflation in August. Inflation reached 3.7 percent in August, above the market estimate of 3.6 percent.

Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said the market would now await the report on the US Producer Price Index which could give more guidance on the Fed’s next policy action. A mixed US inflation report also boosted Asian equity markets Thursday as it soothed fears of a possible Federal Reserve interest rate hike next week, though the still hot reading left open the possibility of one more before year’s end. While the data did not provide the knock-out for any more tightening, analysts said traders were buoyed by the

fact they had got over a major hurdle unscathed, providing much-needed support to risk assets.

Wall Street ended broadly higher, though dealers remained nervous after Wednesday’s release, which showed consumer prices picked up on the back of a surge in oil prices, while core inflation -excluding energy and food -- was slightly higher than hoped but still acceptable.

The figures also got a mixed reception among analysts.

“These data are supportive of a pause in September,” said Rubeela Farooqi, at High Frequency Economics.

“However, the (policy committee) is not likely to declare victory until it sees further evidence of improvement towards the two percent target. They

will remain open to further rate hikes, if needed.”

And Neil Wilson at Markets.com said that “the implication may be that the Fed will be more minded to keep a rate hike on the table for this year even though I still think it will stand pat next week.”

However, Nationwide Life Insurance’s Kathy Bostjancic said: “The core CPI is a bit disappointing.

“This will keep the Fed on a hawkish alert and suggests a rate hike is possible in November and December.”

While readings on wholesale prices and retail sales are still to come this week, focus now turns to next week’s Fed decision, which will be pored over for possible clues about its plans for the rest of 2023. With AFP

Chip designer Arm targets $52-b valuation in biggest IPO

WASHINGTON, United States—British chip designer Arm is targeting a valuation of more than $52 billion for its initial public offering (IPO) on the Nasdaq exchange on Thursday, according to a company press release.

Arm, whose semiconductor design is integrated into the vast majority of smartphones worldwide, has priced its shares at $51, the firm announced Wednesday, ahead of the largest IPO New York has seen for almost two years.

The company, which is a world leader in smartphone chip design and is owned by the Japanese tech investor SoftBank, has announced it will list on the techrich Nasdaq stock exchange under the “ARM” ticker.

At $51 per share, Arm’s IPO valuation is at the top end of its target range, underscoring the enthusiasm among in-

vestors amid an explosion of interest in artificial intelligence.

Traders are looking at Arm’s IPO as a barometer for other tech IPOs, which have stalled in recent years as the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and higher interest rates lowered the appetite for riskier investments.

If Arm’s IPO does well, other companies may consider going public to raise funds, fueling fresh deal-making in the months ahead.

A number of tech giants including Apple, Google and Nvidia said recently they would be interested in purchasing Arm shares at the share price it has listed.

The listing of around 10 percent of the company is expected to raise roughly $5 billion for its owner, SoftBank. SoftBank, which has had mixed suc-

Musk, Zuckerberg visit US congress to discuss AI plans

WASHINGTON, United States—

Big tech bigwigs including Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg traveled to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to share their plans for artificial intelligence as the US prepares to draw up legislation to better control the technology.

Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic majority leader of the US Senate, has planned a series of so-called AI Innovation forums, closed door meetings where lawmakers can quiz tech leaders about the technology that has taken the world by storm since the release of ChatGPT last year. Europe is well advanced in its own AI Act and the pressure is on US lawmakers to avoid falling behind and seeing AI overwhelm society, with lost jobs, rampant disinformation and other consequences, before it is too late.

“Today, we begin an enormous and complex and vital undertaking: building a foundation for bipartisan AI policy that Congress can pass,” Schumer told the meeting, according to remarks shared with the media.

“In past situations when things were this difficult, the natural reaction...was to ignore the problem and let someone else do the job. But with AI we can’t be like ostriches sticking our heads in the sand,” he said.

OpenAI CEO and ChatGPT creator Sam Altman and Microsoft founder Bill Gates also attended the forum, which was closed to the press.

“I’m very optimistic about (AI), but it doesn’t mean that there won’t be some rockiness along the way,”

PSEi September 14, 2023

TOP GAINERS

Altman said as he entered the meeting.

“I have been very impressed with our interactions with lawmakers even though I know our industry loves to dig on them,” he added.

The three-hour morning session covered a broad range of AI issues including its dangers and potential, with participants agreeing that government had some role in dealing with the fallout from AI.

‘Service to humanity’

Musk praised Schumer for doing “a service to humanity here, along with the support of the rest of the Senate. And I think something good will come of this.”

Uncurtailed AI, the tycoon added to reporters after the meeting, “is potentially harmful to all humans everywhere.”

Whether the US congress can pass legislation to curb AI inno-

TOP LOSERS

MOST ACTIVE

cess with its investments in recent years, will retain ownership over the remaining 90 percent or so of the company’s shares.

Among its most high-profile recent failures was the dramatic collapse of the coworking company WeWork amid concerns over corporate governance.

Once valued at $47 billion, WeWork is now worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

SoftBank clearly hopes that this time around, things will be different.

Arm’s announcement Wednesday values the UK-based company at considerably more than the $32 billion SoftBank spent to buy it in July 2016.

However, the figure is far less than the $60 billion to $70 billion valuation it was reportedly hoping for as recently as a few weeks ago. AFP

vators with clear rules remains an open question, given the deep political divisions in Washington and the coming elections in 2024.

While both sides agree that tech can have very negative effects on everyday life, the parties often differ on what the solutions might be.

Tech companies also lobby hard to maintain a light touch regulatory regime that is pro-business and preserves innovation.

Some senators complained that the meeting was closed to the public and gave too much leeway to tech giants to influence lawmakers.

“This is not how it should be,” said Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican who works closely on AI issues.

“Senator Schumer has talked about tech for two years now and he hasn’t put a single significant tech bill on the floor,” he complained. AFP

TEXTILE FACTORY. A worker operates machines at a texile factory in Nantong, in eastern China’s Jiangsu province on September 14, 2023. AFP

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves a US Senate bipartisan Artificial Intelligence (AI) Insight Forum at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 13, 2023. AFP

BUSINESS

By Julito G. Rada

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona said Thursday he does not see any reason to raise the policy interest rate despite the faster inflation in August.

The Philippine Statistics Authority earlier reported that inflation rose to 5.3 percent in August from 4.7 percent in July. “It was just an uptick” that was caused by higher food prices, Remolona said during a briefing at the sidelines of the 2023 Global Policy Forum of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion.

Remolona commits to financial inclusion

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona on Thursday committed to making financial products and services safe, accessible and affordable for all.

“Like my predecessors, I am fully committed to broaden and deepen the reach of financial inclusion, toward financial health, resilience, and a better life for millions of Filipinos,” Remolona said during the 2023 Global Policy Forum of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion.

He said the lockdown at the height of the pandemic triggered a boom in online selling and digital payments for goods and services from businesses that were quick to adapt to mobility constraints. Citing available data, he said the share of digital transactions to retail payments in the country increased from 14 percent in 2019 to 42 percent in 2022.

Many consumers opened digital accounts or e-wallets. Government also used digital accounts to distribute cash assistance during the pandemic.

As a result, mobile wallet ownership surged from 8 percent in 2019 to 36 percent in 2021. This helped raise the overall number of Filipinos with transaction accounts from 29 percent in 2019 to 56 percent in 2021, or equivalent to 22 million Filipinos who became financially included in the span of two years. Julito G. Rada

First Gen, CENECO sign

20-MW supply contract

FIRST Gen Corp. said Thursday it signed a contract with Central Negros Electric Cooperative for 20 megawatts of baseload supply.

The signing concluded CENECO’s competitive selection process for the procurement of baseload power supply requirement conducted by the cooperatives’ third party bids and awards committee.

First Gen through its 100-percent renewable energy subsidiary Energy Development Corp. will provide 20 MW of power supply to CENECO for 10 years beginning the fourth quarter of 2023.

First Gen has been supplying clean and renewable power to CENECO since 2011, with a contracted demand of 20 MW. With the new contract, an additional 20 MW will be delivered, bringing their total contracted demand from First Gen to 40 MW, and its biggest supplier of renewable energy.

“Our relationship with CENECO is one that has been strengthened over time by mutual respect and trust. We’ve shared so much and weathered through many storms – literally and figuratively. And we’re still here trying to do something good for our stakeholders. And now more than ever, I feel like our relationship in terms of value is highlighted,” First Gen vice president for power marketing, economics and trading Carlos Lorenzo Vega said. Alena Mae S. Flores

“But these kinds of supply shocks dissipate usually… If there is no further supply shock beyond that uptick in August, then it won’t be necessary to hike the policy rate,” Remolona said.

“In deciding about the policy rate, we must be comfortable being within the target range. So far, we’ve been hit by supply shocks which are especially

harmful to the poor, and these are food and energy prices,” Remolona said.

“I think we should hit the target range by October if there are no supply shocks… We should be comfortably within the target range for the year,” he said. The policy-setting Monetary Board paused for the last three meetings after inflation eased in the past six months from a peak of 8.7 percent in January 2023. Inflation then picked up in August, on faster increases in the prices of food and agricultural products that could be traced to the impact of recent weather-related disturbances.

The BSP raised the policy rates by a total of 425 basis points to 6.25 percent

between May 2022 and March 2023, before taking what it called a “prudent pause” in the last three meetings.

The Monetary Board on Aug. 17, 2023 kept the overnight borrowing rate at 6.25 percent for the third time this year. The interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also retained at 5.75 percent and 6.75 percent, respectively.

It said the decision took into account the lackluster 4.3-percent gross domestic product growth in the second quarter, which brought the first-half expansion to 5.3 percent, below the 6 percent to 7 percent target range for the year.

The latest baseline projections continued to show a return to inflation target in

the fourth quarter of 2023 despite a generally higher path for inflation relative to the previous forecast from the monetary policy meeting in June, reflecting mainly the impact of higher international oil prices.

Average inflation in 2023 is seen to reach 5.6 percent, while the average inflation forecasts for 2024 and 2025 now stand at 3.3 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively.

Remolona said, however, the BSP is prepared to respond as necessary to safeguard the inflation target, in keeping with its primary mandate to ensure price stability. The Monetary Board will hold its next policy meeting on Sept. 21, 2023.

BSP rules out rate hike despite price uptick IN BRIEF

2 more groups buy bid papers for NAIA

By Darwin G. Amojelar

TWO more groups bought bid documents for the P171-billion contract to rehabilitate, optimize and maintain the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, bringing to five the interested parties in the project.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista said he is “extremely optimistic” that the bidding would be a success after five potential bidders expressed interest to participate in the auction.

The DOTr said Spark 888 Management Inc. and Asian Airport Consortium purchased bid documents for the auction. The DOTr did not provide more details on the two firms.

BDO DONATION. About 170 BDO Unibank Inc. employees participate in the Department of Education’s ‘Brigada Eskwela’ 2023 and volunteer their time and skills at Commonwealth Elementary School, one of the highly-populated elementary schools in the Philippines. The bank also donates laptops, computer tables, TVs and projector screens to the school. Leading the turnover ceremony are Commonwealth Elementary School principal Wilma Manio (third from left) and BDO head of sustainability office Marla Garin-Alvarez (fourth from left). With them are (from left) BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito, BDO independent director Vicente Perez Jr., BDO head of human resources group Evelyn Salagubang and BDO Foundation program director Rosemarie Espinosa.

Meralco eyes electric coops to reach more provinces

By Alena Mae S. Flores

POWER retailer Manila Electric Co.

(Meralco) plans to expand its distribution network through electric cooperatives, a top executive said Thursday.

“There is one last idea that I encourage Meralco to adopt, which is broadening investments in electric cooperatives in the country,” Meralco chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan said during the Giga Summit organized by the Meralco Power Academy.

“We might be efficient on the generation side of the business, but Meralco’s distribution footprint is limited to our

franchise area,” Pangilinan said, referring to Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and parts of Pampanga, Laguna, Batangas and Quezon.

Meralco is the country’s largest private sector electric distribution utility covering 38 cities and 73 municipalities with over 7.6 million customers. Its franchise area accounts for 55 percent of the country’s electricity output.

“So there are key areas in the country where electric cooperatives have got to level up to the kind of standards and efficiencies Meralco as a distribution company has achieved,” Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan earlier said Meralco wanted to expand its reach “especially the critical areas where there is a need for an efficient distribution utility.”

Some residents outside Meralco’s franchise such as those in Nasugbu were clamoring to be part of Meralco to mitigate power outages in their areas.

Nearly 70 percent of all households in the municipality of Nasugbu wanted to transfer their electricity service from Batangas I Electric Cooperative to Meralco.

The residents said having stable electricity from Meralco would uplift their livelihood and improve their quality of life.

PSE INDEX

San Miguel Corp., India’s GMR Group and the Manila International Airport Consortium also purchased bid documents earlier.

San Miguel is building the P734-billion New Manila International Airport in Bulacan, while GMR is the largest private airport operator in Asia and among the largest globally, handling passengers in excess of 100 million annually and a partner of Megawide Corp. for the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

MIAC is composed of AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Aboitiz InfraCapital, Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Alliance Global-Infracorp Development Inc., Filinvest Development Corp. and JG Summit Infrastructure Holdings Corp.

The DOTr and the Manila International Airport Authority began inviting interested parties on Aug. 23 to participate in a single-stage competitive bidding process for a rehabilitateoperate-expand-transfer modality, in accordance with the Build-Operateand-Transfer Law and its revised 2022 implementing rules and regulations.

IEMOP reports lower prices at spot

market

THE Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines which runs the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) said Tuesday electricity prices in Luzon declined in the first two weeks of September by P1.41 per kilowatt-hour.

“This decline is primarily attributed to ample supply margins and tamer demand compared to the summer months,” IEMOP head of trading operations Isidro Cacho said.

Cacho said if there would be no major outages and the current supply and demand scenario continues amid cooler weather, “then we expect the prices to be sustained at the current level if not lower, hopefully that will prevail.”

He said WESM data showed that the average demand in Luzon dropped by 361 megawatts to 9,119 MW from 9,480 MW, leading to a decrease in spot market prices to P4.12 per kWh in September from P5.53 per kWh in August.

Power supply in Luzon reached 13,394 MW during the period, with reserve margins at 3,845 MW. The Visayas grid also witnessed a decrease in average

SECURITY BANK’S AWARDS. Security Bank wins three awards at the HR Excellence Awards at Shangri-La at the Fort on Sept. 1, 2023, including Excellence in Workplace Wellbeing (silver), HR Leader of the Year for executive vice president and chief people officer Nerissa Berba (fifth from left) and HR Manager of the Year for first vice president and Human Capital Management (HCM) Academy head Eileen Reyes (sixth from left). With them are other members of Security Bank’s HCM team.

SEC recognizes crowdfunding portals, allows them to register buyers

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Securities and Exchange Commission said Thursday it issued a circular allowing crowdfunding portals to act as registrars of qualified institutional and individual buyer, as part of its efforts to boost the capital market.

A funding portal is an intermediary which facilitates transactions involving the offer and sale of crowdfunding securities through an online electronic platform.

The SEC said it issued SEC Memorandum Circular No. 12, Series of 2023 to include funding portals to the list of authorized registrars, provided they applied and complied with the registration

requirements under the Securities Regulation Code.

“Recognizing crowdfunding portals as eligible to act as registrar of qualified buyers will facilitate the process for qualified investors in accessing alternative investment opportunities, without the need to reach out to several different institutions,” SEC chairperson Emilio Aquino said.

“This is in line with our efforts to encourage more people to tap alternative sources of funding and investment, as we seek to unlock the full potential of the Philippine capital market.”

The primary purpose of a registrar is to evaluate the qualifications of a natural or juridical person in their applica-

tion as qualified buyer. It also maintains and makes available for inspection by the SEC’s representatives a registry book of qualified buyers, which is a similar function already exercised by crowdfunding intermediaries that registered to act as registrar of qualified buyers. As an authorized registrar, crowdfunding intermediaries and funding portals will no longer be reliant on third party institutions to assist potential investors with their application as qualified buyers. Micro, small and medium enterprises could raise up to P50 million in capital within a 12-month period from the investments from qualified buyers.

Based on the invitation to bid, the concession agreement and certain other documents that provide background information on the project will be made available to prospective bidders through a virtual data room upon payment of a participation fee of P2.75 million or $50,000.

The issuance of the draft concession agreement is set on Sept. 8, while the pre-bid conference will be on Sept. 22.

The bid submission is scheduled on Dec. 27, 2023.

The DOTr said the bidder should have a net worth of at least P20 billion and would be required to post bid security of P1.71 billion standby letter of credit as part of its bid proposal.

“If the bidder is a consortium and any consortium member or such consortium members’ affiliates is an airline-related entity, then such consortium member cannot own or be proposed to own more than 33 percent interest in such consortium,” the agency said.

sustained recovery with 21.6% increase in August to over 36,000 units

Car

By Othel V. Campos

VEHICLE sales grew 21.6 percent year-on-year in August on strong demand despite the elevation inflation, two industry groups said Thursday.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers Association said automotive sales reached 36, 714 units in August, up from 30,185 units in the same month in 2022.

“Consumer demand drives auto sales further by nearly 22 percent in August amidst the rising inflation numbers in

the same month,” said CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez.

Passenger car sales went up by 49.9 percent to 10,094 from 6,733 units a year ago, while commercial vehicle sales rose 13.5 percent to 26,620 from 23,452 units.

Data showed however that monthon-month sales declined 1 percent from 37,085 units delivered in July. Gutierrez noted the effect of high inflation on the overall consumer confidence particularly for big-ticket items. He said this is “not a welcome news to the consumers and industry alike if it will persist”.

DEPARTMENT

NO. 049 - 2023

Commissioner of Internal Revenue has determined the zonal values of real properties in the City of Parañaque (9th Revision), within the jurisdiction of Revenue District Office No. 52 – Paranaque City, Revenue Region No. 8B – South NCR.

This Order is therefore issued to implement the revised schedules of zonal values of real properties for purposes of computation of any internal revenue tax due on sale/ transfer or any other disposition of real properties. The zonal values established herein shall apply provided the same is higher than (1) the fair market value as shown in the schedule of values of the provincial or city assessor and (2) the gross selling price/ consideration as shown in the duly notarized document of sale or transfer of real property.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

RECOMMENDED BY:

ROMEO D. LUMAGUI, JR.

Commissioner of Internal Revenue

DEFINITION OF TERMS

BENJAMIN E. DIOKNO Secretary of Finance

RESIDENTIAL LAND/CONDOMINIUM PRINCIPALLY DEVOTED TO HABITATION.

COMMERCIAL LAND DEVOTED PRINCIPALLY TO COMMERCIAL PURPOSES AND GENERALLY FOR THE OBJECT OF PROFIT.

INDUSTRIAL DEVOTED PRINCIPALLY TO INDUSTRY AS CAPITAL.

AGRICULTURAL DEVOTED PRINCIPALLY TO RAISING OF CROP SUCH AS RICE, CORN, SUGARCANE, TOBACCO, ETC. OR TO PASTURING, INLAND FISHING, SALT-MAKING, AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL USES INCLUDING TIMBERLAND AND FOREST LAND.

GENERAL PURPOSE RAWLAND, UNDEVELOPED AND UNDERDEVELOPED AREA WHICH HAS POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT INTO RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, INSTITUTIONAL, ETC. MUST NOT BE LESS THAN 5,000 SQUARE METERS. VICINITY MEANS AN AREA, LOCALITY, NEIGHBORHOOD OR DISTRICT

REVISED ZONAL VALUATION – RDO NO. 052 - PARAÑAQUE CITY

REVISED ZONAL VALUATION – RDO NO. 052 - PARAÑAQUE CITY

THE ASSISTANT REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THIS REGION.

CERTAIN GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ZONAL VALUATION OF REAL PROPERTIES FOR RDO NO52 – PARAÑAQUE CITY

1. NO ZONAL VALUE HAS BEEN PRESCRIBED FOR A PARTICULAR CLASSIFICATION OF REAL PROPERTY.

WHEREIN THE APPROVED SCHEDULE OF ZONAL VALUES FOR A PARTICULAR BARANGAY -

a.) NO ZONAL VALUE HAS BEEN PRESCRIBED FOR A PARTICULAR CLASSIFICATION IN A PARTICULAR STREET/SUBDIVISION IN A BARANGAY, THE ZONAL VALUE PRESCRIBED FOR THE SAME CLASSIFICATION OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE OTHER STREET/SUBDIVISION WITHIN THE SAME BARANGAY OF SIMILAR CONDITIONS SHALL BE USED; AND

b.) NO ZONAL VALUE HAS BEEN PRESCRIBED FOR A PARTICULAR CLASSIFICATION OF REAL PROPERTY IN ONE BARANGAY, THE ZONAL VALUE PRESCRIBED FOR THE SAME CLASSIFICATION OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN AN ADJACENT BARANGAY OF SIMILAR CONDITIONS SHALL BE USED.

2. PREDOMINANT USE OF PROPERTY.

a.) ALL REAL PROPERTIES, REGARDLESS OF ACTUAL USE, LOCATED IN A STREET/BARANGAY/ZONE, THE USE OF WHICH ARE PREDOMINANTLY COMMERCIAL SHALL BE CLASSIFIED AS “COMMERCIAL” FOR PURPOSES OF ZONAL VALUATION.

b.) THE PREDOMINANT USE OF OTHER CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTIES LOCATED IN A STREET/BARANGAY/ZONE, REGARDLESS OF ACTUAL USE SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR PURPOSES OF ZONAL VALUATION.

3. ZONAL VALUES OF CONDOMINIUM UNIT/TOWNHOUSE:

IF THE TITLE OF A PARTICULAR CONDOMINIUM UNIT/TOWNHOUSE IS -

a.) A CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE (CCT), THE ZONAL VALUE OF THE LAND AND THE IMPROVEMENTS SHALL BE TREATED AS ONE; OR

b.) A TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE (TCT), THE LAND AND IMPROVEMENT SHALL BE GIVEN SEPARATE VALUES, i.e. ZONAL VALUE/GROSS SELLING PRICE/FAIR MARKET VALUE PER LATEST TAX DECLARATION WHICHEVER IS HIGHER AND, IN THE ABSENCE OF ZONAL VALUATION, PROPERTY SHALL BE VALUED PURSUANT TO RAMO 2-91.

THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUM SHALL BE CLASSIFIED AS COMMERCIAL AND TWENTY PERCENT (20%) OF THE ESTABLISHED VALUE SHALL BE ADDED THERETO.

4. AREAS FOR PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT (APD).

THESE ARE AREAS IDENTIFIED AS AREAS FOR PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT CERTIFIED TO AS SUCH BY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (DHSUD). IF IT IS UTILIZED FOR SOCIAL HOUSING, IT SHALL BE CERTIFIED TO AS SUCH BY THE PROPER GOVERNMENT AGENCY, SUCH AS PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON URBAN POOR (PCUP, NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY (NHA), ETC.

SECOND SALE OF LOT IDENTIFIED AS LOCATED IN THE APD SHALL NO LONGER BE VALUED AS AN APD AND SHALL BE TREATED AS AN ORDINARY REAL PROPERTY.

5. DIVISION OF A BARANGAY

IN THE EVENT THAT AN EXISTING BARANGAY IS DIVIDED INTO TWO OR MORE BARANGAYS, THE ZONAL VALUE PRESCRIBED FOR THE EXISTING BARANGAY SHALL BE USED FOR THE NEWLY CREATED BARANGAY

6. PARKING SLOT (PS)

IF NO ZONAL VALUE HAS BEEN PRESCRIBED FOR PARKING SLOTS, THE VALUE SHOULD BE 60% OF THE AMOUNT OF THE UNIT SOLD

7. INSTITUTION (X)

THESE ARE AREAS FOR SCHOOL, HOSPITAL AND CHURCHES. IF NO ZONAL VALUE HAS BEEN PRESCRIBED, THE COMMERCIAL VALUE OF THE PROPERTY NEAREST TO THE INSTITUTION, WITHIN THE SAME BARANGAY AND STREET SHALL BE USED.

8. ZONAL VALUE OR FMV ESTABLISHED IN THE SCHEDULE OF VALUES OF ASSESSORS. THE ZONAL VALUES ESTABLISHED HEREIN SHALL APPLY IN COMPUTING ALL INTERNAL REVENUE TAXES (i.e. CAPITAL GAINS, CREDITABLE WITHHOLDING, ESTATE, DONOR’S, AND DOCUMENTARY STAMP TAXES) DUE ON SALES, EXCHANGES, OR OTHER DISPOSITIONS OF REAL PROPERTY. PROVIDED, THAT THE SAME IS HIGHER THAN (1.) THE FAIR MARKET VALUE AS SHOWN IN THE SCHEDULE OF VALUES OF THE PROVINCIAL AND CITY ASSESSORS (i.e. LATEST TAX DECLARATION) AND (2.) THE GROSS SELLING PRICE AS SHOWN IN THE DULY NOTARIZED DOCUMENT OF SALE OR EXCHANGE AT THE TIME OF SALE OR EXCHANGE. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE VALUE OF PROPERTY TO BE USED IN COMPUTING ESTATE AND DONOR’S TAXES SHALL BE (1) THE FAIR MARKET VALUE AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE (i.e. ZONAL VALUES) OR (2) THE FAIR MARKET VALUE AS SHOWN IN THE SCHEDULE OF VALUES OF THE PROVINCIAL/CITY/MUNICIPAL ASSESSOR, WHICHEVER IS HIGHER.

Bisera scores breakthrough at home, beats Uy

by 3 shots

DAVAO City—Florence Yvon

Bisera’s lengthy pursuit of a maiden Ladies Philippine Golf Tour victory aptly ended on home turf yesterday, detaching herself from erstwhile coleader Mikha Fortuna in the early going then beating Daniella Uy by three on a 72 in the ICTSI South Pacific Classic here yesterday.

Bisera, who said Wednesday that she liked playing at the frontside of the challenging South Pacific course after posting a second straight solid 33 card, did flash her flair on the first nine holes, hitting two birdies to pull ahead of Fortuna, who, in contrast, tripped early with bogeys on Nos. 1 and 6.

While longshot Apple Fudolin mounted a searing frontside charge of 32 in a flight behind to rally from five down to within two aided by Bisera’s miscue on No. 8, the latter quietly deflected the threat with a brave run of pars at the exacting closing nine of the long but relatively flat layout.

She led Fortuna and Fudolin by three after 13 holes then coasted to victory furthered by her rivals’ rocky backside stints in their futile bids to make a run at the championship and halt Bisera’s impending title romp in the 54-hole event put up by ICTSI.

Gilas Women rise to no. 42 in world; Animam returns

By Randy Caluag

UNDER the stewardship of coach Patrick Aquino, the Philippine women’s basketball team, also known as Gilas Women, is slowly making bigtime progress in its global ranking.

Since handling the team in 2015, Aquino has steered the Filipina cagers to Group A and just recently, the team reached another first after climbing to no. 37 in the updated FIBA World Rankings. The team’s improvement from its erstwhile no. 42 standing came after their 6th-place finish in the 2023 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup, where they beat higherranked Chinese Taipei, 92-81, their only win in five games.

It was enough to retain a slot in Group A until 2025 and remain at no. 7 in Asia/Oceania.

Leading Asian countries are the world. no. 2 China, Australia (3rd), Japan (9th) and Korea (13th) and Chinese Taipei (33rd).

Except for Australia and New Zealand,

all the aforementioned countries will see action in the 19th Asian Games, with the Philippines going up against Japan in the group phase.

The women’s squad shared practice sessions with the Gilas Pilipinas men’s squad on Thursday, with Aquino saying he will bring all his acquired knowledge from Gilas coach Tim Cone to China where the Filipinas will make their Asian Games’ debut.

Aquino said his top center, Jack Animam, who has been in China after being tapped as an import in the China Women’s Basketball Association, will join the team’s practice upon arrival a few days before their first game on Sept. 27 against Kazakhstan.

“Naghihintay na siya doon para makapag-ensayo with the team,” said Aquino.

The PH women’s squad is grouped in Pool B together with Kazakhstan, Hong

Kong, and Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Japan. The top team per group will advance to the quarterfinals, while the second and third-placed teams per group will proceed to qualification for the quarterfinals.

Questions raised on composition of PH shooting team

By Peter Atencio

QUESTIONS have been raised on the composition of the Philippine national shooting team, particularly on the inclusion of skeet shooter Joaquin Ancheta in the contingent headed for the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games.

Philippine National Shooting Association chairman emeritus and businessman Luis “Chavit” Singson is asking concerned officials to look into the matter, with the national delegation for shooting set to leave for China on Thursday next week.

Singson said this after hearing the complaint of parent and former Asian Games’ campaigner Raoul Arambulo, who visited his Corinthian Gardens home on Thursday.

Arambulo, a member of the skeet and trap shooting aggrupation, believes that Ancheta should not be going to the Asiad as he did not finish in the two elimination tournaments organized by the PNSA and also did not continue competing during

the ISSF Lonato Cup, an Olympic qualifying event in Lonato del Garda, Italy.

“Naba-bother kami kasi dahil magpapada-

squad to the Asiad, including Amparo Acuna (rifle), Franchette Quiroz (pistol), and Elvie Baldovino (pistol) in the women’s division, along with shotgun shooters Hagen Topacio, Brian Topacio and Enrique Enriquez in the men’s side.

Olympian Jayson Valdez is also coming. Other shotgun shooters include Ito Carag, Eric Ang and Ancheta.

Majority of the contingent will be funded by the Philippine Sports Commission, which reviewed a list submitted by PNSA secretary general Iryne Garcia.

“OK naman kung qualified, kahit minalas lang sa mga international meet. May qualification ‘yan eh,” added Singson.

“This win means everything to me, very memorable since I did it on my home course and before my family,” said the 21-year-old Bisera, whose 215 total worth P125,000 capped a fine season-long campaign in the circuit supported by Kampfortis Golf that featured four Top 4 finishes in nine events.

Tied with Fortuna after 36 holes, Bisera pulled ahead with a birdie on No. 2 and built a two-shot cushion with another feat on No. 7 as the former failed to recover from dropped shots on Nos. 1 and 6.

“It’s a big help to get a two-stroke lead since for me, the backside is very difficult,” added Bisera.

Too tough in fact for the rest of her pursuers, who fell by the wayside one after the other, enabling Uy to snare runner-up honors in a flight ahead on a 69 for a 218 worth P86,000.

Fortuna double-bogeyed No. 14 and wound up with a 76 for third at 219 while Sarah Ababa ended up with a 74 for fourth at 220.

Harmie Constantino, winner at Luisita and Villamor Philippine Masters, shot a 71 to place fifth at 222 while Fudolin failed to sustain a brilliant nine-hole game with a backside 43 and dropped to sixth at 223 after a 75.

Hermosa, Alcoseba win 5150 tilt

MATTHEW Hermosa and Raven Alcoseba enhanced their promising triathlon careers as they fashioned out a pair of wire-to-wire triumphs in the Go for Gold Sunrise Sprint in 5150 Dapitan Philippines in Zamboanga del Norte last weekend. Hermosa took command after the swim leg in 09:58 and never looked back, cranking up the pace in the bike (30:56) and run (18:54) stages to win in 1:01:43 in the men’s side of the short-distance series dubbed as S2 disputed over the 750-m swim, 20-km bi ke and 5-km run. It served as the sub-category to the centerpiece 5150 Dapitan (1.5km swim, 40-km bike and 10-km run) race organized by The IRONMAN Group/Sunrise Events, Inc.

The 18-yearold Talisay City native, who teamed up with fellow first-timers Erika Burgos, Kira Ellis an d Iñaki Lorbes to secure the gold in aquathlon’s mixed relay in the last SEA Games in Cambodia, beat Irienold Reig, Jr., a surprise winner in 5150 Subic last year, who clocked 1:03:15 with leg times of 10:14 (swim), 32:04 (bike) and 19:02 (run).

Daniel Cadanos placed third in 1:03: 51 (10:29-32:17-19:15).

JUST when the Philippine Azkals appeared headed for another frustrating result at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, Jens Rasmussen darted out of nowhere, took the ball on his own, shredded the visitors’ entire defense before slamming the ball home with his wicked left foot in the 74th minute to bring faithful fans toiling at the Rizal Memorial Stadium back to life. But more importantly, the 21-yearold tied the ball game as the Philippines finally converted after several misfires in their friendly against Afghanistan three nights ago.

Seven minutes later, Christian Ron-

tini gave the Azkals the lead with a stunning header. The Azkals, who surrendered goals in the dying minutes in their previous two tune-up games, showed discipline and resilience to complete the comeback win, their second under Coach Hans Michael Weiss and their first since June when the friendlies started.

Despite gallant efforts of the OGs like Patrick Reichelt, Daisuke Sato, OJ Porteria, Carli De Murga and Neil Etheridge, the Azkals were not able to penetrate the Afghans’ defense in the first half. There were several chances but the visitors were at task in denying the Azkals. It was the Afghans who eventually took the lead in the 63rd minute courtesy of Omid Popalzay’s strike. Azkals’ head coach Weiss’ move to put in Rasmussen and Bienvenido Marańon in the game, however, eventually paid off. Marańon brought ener-

la sila ng hindi qualified. Nakakahiya tayo kapag kulelat ang ipapadala,” said Singson. The PNSA is sending a nine-member

gy to the Azkals’ midfield. And when it mattered most, the Azkals youngsters made a good account of themselves. Although Rasmussen came up with the spectacular solo effort, Weiss said he was not completely surprised because he knew all along what the young player could do on the pitch.

“I consider him as the future of the team because he has the body, the speed, the power and the ruthlessness in front of the goal. He is also very versatile— he can play on the wings and he can also play as a striker,” Weiss said of Rasmussen, who plays in Denmark.

Weiss also heaped praises on Rontini, who proved that he can also be relied upon when the team was looking for the go-ahead goal in desperation time.

“He is a fighter and you know he is a real player with a very positive character. He already has three goals in Indonesia on set pieces, so I was hoping that he would score during the game. But his goal was really spectacular, the way he jumped, the timing and everything. If you have this quality in the team and he utilizes it in the game, you are a happy coach. He can be a regular starter if he keeps on playing like

Arambulo’s group, the Moving Target Association, also questioned the non-inclusion of young air pistol shooter Carlo Valdez, who tied a 27-year-old national record in the men’s 10-meter air pistol event of the PNSA monthly eliminations recently at the Philippine Marine Corps shooting range in Taguig City.

that,” Weiss said.

Aside from the two, Weiss said he is also happy with the way Santiago Rublico and Justin Baas have conducted themselves on the pitch.

Rublico is one of the youngest, if not the youngest, on the team right now. “He played a fantastic game in the second half. He ran a little bit out of speed but he is super talented to watch,” Weiss explained.

Weiss said Rasmussen, Rontini, and Baas, who are all in their early 20s, and Rublico who is just 18 years old, will be the foundation of the team in the coming years. But as much as he praises the young guns, Weiss also paid credit to the older and much experienced players in the team.

The “senior” Azkals did their share in holding the line. Unlike in their last two games, a 2-1 loss in Manila and a 1-1 draw in Kaohsiung both against Chinese Taipei, where the Azkals conceded goals in the dying minutes, the team showed a different character against Afghanistan.

Weiss said the Azkals erased the ghosts of their last two games by showing patience and perseverance

Alcoseba, a former winner of the event held for those endurance racing campaigners seeking a new challenge and beginners wanting to immerse themselves into the popular tri-sport, posted a 1:08:38 time to reign in her side of the competition sponsored by Go for Gold Philippines and backed by Lungson ng Dapitan, Activ, Rudy Project, Santé, Mamnila Bulletin and Tempo.

until the final whis tle.

“It is now my job to rejuvenate the team. The veterans played a good game and as long as they can perform, they will be considered but then we have to give chances to the new generation. I really want to see players who can help us with their tenacity, power and dynamism. I want to see players like OJ (Porteria), who is like a non-stop running motor. He kept running for 90 minutes, he gave his all on the pitch and this should be the standard for any player on the team,” Wiess added.

Even Dan Palami, the Azkals’ team manager, has high hopes after the win against Afghanistan. He said that every w in is very important in boosting the country’s preparation for the Asian and World Cup qualifiers. Palami said that the Azkals showing grit and determination despite being a goal down in the second half is a big step towards the right direction.

(Full text at www.manilastandard.net)

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

Youth brigade makes Azkals dangerous, fun again

Florence Yvon Bisera:

‘This win means everything to me, very memorable since I did it on my home course and before my family.’ Manny Marcelo

Gov. Chavit Singson and Raul Arambulo Peter Atencio

Matthew Hermosa

The Gilas Women’s team

New show reveals truth behind Philippines’ most controversial crimes

Consulta embarks on a new mission as he hosts GMA Network’s newest true-crime anthology program Pinoy Crime Stories , which airs every Saturday, 4:45 p.m. beginning September 16.

Produced by the awardwinning team of GMA Public Affairs, Pinoy Crime Stories features the most compelling and controversial crimes in the country such as online crimes, slavery, murders, robberies, trafficking, kidnapping, abductions, rapes, and many Consulta is no stranger to crime

stories. He has been at the helm of the police beat and other law-enforcement agencies such as the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and Bureau of Immigration. His bold disposition in delivering news and special reports for the past 15 years has enabled him to make ground-breaking and investigative reports. He is one of the hosts of GMA’s flagship documentary program I-Witness and one of GMA Integrated News’ senior correspondents.

“Here in Pinoy Crime Stories , we will focus on every case – from investigation to resolution. We will feature actual interviews with crime investigators, witnesses, suspects, and even victims. We will also have realistic dramatizations of each case discussed and examined in every episode,” Consulta shares.

Francine Diaz, Seth Fedelin star in island survival drama

By Nickie Wang

FRESH from the success of Dirty Linen, the stage is set once more for the young stars Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin as they headline the online mystery series, Fractured

The young adult drama also boasts a starstudded ensemble, including Kaori Oinuma, Jeremiah Lisbo, Daniela Stranner, Raven Rigor, and Sean Tristan. It makes a grand debut on the iWantTFC app, website, and iWantTFC’s YouTube channel tonight at 8;00 and new episodes drop like clockwork every Friday.

Fractured revolves around a group of teenage influencers who are all invited to the paradise-esque remote island resort, Bella Vista. Despite their clashing personalities and hidden agendas, these clout-chasers’ desire to gain more online fame heightens as

From left: Star Magic artists Daniela Stranner, Jeremiah Lisbo, and Kaori Oinuma

they compete in creating the best content that will go viral on social media. Their dream vacation instantly turns into a dark tragedy as chaos ensues when they become the target of an unknown killer. Life-changing mysteries will slowly start to unravel, leaving each and everyone of them struggling for survival.

Who is the killer? Will their nightmare of a vacation help mend their fractured souls?

Directed by Thop Nazareno Fractured also features Jennica Garcia, Mylene Dizon, Kim Rodriguez, KaladKaren, Majoy Apostol, and Vaughn Piczon

An enchanting OPM night with Rey Valera

IT IS going to be a magical Friday tonight at 9:30 at CenterPlay, City of Dreams Manila’s Premier Entertainment Bar and Lounge with Rey Valera’s sold-out live performance.

Situated at the focal point of the main gaming floor, CenterPlay is City of Dreams Manila’s contemporary entertainment bar, snacks, and cocktail lounge built around a stage.

The renowned singer-songwriter, regarded as one of the pillars of OPM, will serenade patrons with his timeless tunes from the ‘70s to ‘80s, “Walang Kapalit”, “Kung Kailangan Mo Ako”, “Maging Sino Ka Man”, “Malayo Pa Ang Umaga”, “Sa Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako”, “Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo”, and “Kumusta Ka.”

Valera is anticipated to

perform his compositions that were popularized by Rico Puno: “Sorry Na, Puede Ba”, Pol Enriquez: “Ayoko Na Sa’Yo”, and Sharon Cuneta: “Mr. DJ” and “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko,” among others. The multi-talented balladeer is also a music director, film scorer, and television host. He was a former head judge of the singing contest “Sing Galing” and “Tawag ng Tanghalan” in the variety noontime show

It’s Showtime

While enjoying the live entertainment, revelers partake of CenterPlay’s light meals, signature cocktail concoctions, beers, wines, and juices.

For upcoming performances at CenterPlay, call 8800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@codmanila.com. For more information, visit www. cityofdreamsmanila. com.

For its pilot episode, Pinoy Crime Stories takes on the intriguing murder case of an 85-year-old woman who was found dead in her home in Paranaque last month. Her male helper was initially declared as a ”person of interest,” which placed him behind bars for one month, but was later discovered innocent upon the admission of two other female suspects with one of them even confessing her involvement in the crime to John Consulta.

Pinoy Crime Stories airs every Saturday beginning at 4:45 p.m. on GMA with a simulcast on Pinoy Hits. Viewers may also watch the livestream on GMA Public Affairs’ YouTube channel and Facebook page, and GMA Network and GMA Public Affairs TikTok account. Global Pinoys can watch it via GMA international channel GMA Pinoy TV.

Beauty queens’ chance to turn dreams into reality with P1 million prize

million cash prize awaits the winner of the inaugural Miss CosmoWorld Philippines 2023, recently launched with the press presentation of its 21 official candidates, held at House Manila, Newport World Resorts in Pasay

international pageant competition with a whopping $250,000, offered by the organization to finance the winning candidate’s business ideas in line with Miss CosmoWorld’s platform to develop triumphant female entrepreneurs.

The mystery series marks

bagged the after as second runner-up She the of CosmoWorld winner of thirty from the

The press presentation was graced by Miss CosmoWorld Philippines chairperson, Meiji Cruz and national director Rodin Gilbert Flores. Cruz, who is also the reigning Miss CosmoWorld 2022, bagged the title in Malaysia and the $100,000 grand prize after she was handpicked as Philippine representative by Binibining Pilipinas where she was second runner-up in 2021. She is now the franchise license holder of Miss CosmoWorld Philippines. The winner of the first Miss CosmoWorld Philippines pageant will earn a trip to Malaysia to join about thirty candidates from around the world in Miss CosmoWorld 2023 in November, which now boosts the biggest cash prize in

Vivian Vargas Hernandez of Quezon City was voted by the press as Miss Cosmic Beauty while Elda Louise Aznar of Davao del Sur and CJ Cuaresma of Aurora were the other two named as media favorites.

The rest of the candidates are Alia Rohilla – Albay, Amanda

Kaye Rhodes - Makati City, Angelli Mae Garcia - Mandaue

City, Anis Fatima Azees - Ilocos

Sur, Gezza Ilagan Avila - Quezon

Province, Jasmine OmayCarrascal, Surigao del Sur, Lara

Melisa Gaffud - Santiago, Ilocos

Sur, Larsine Grace Jensen

Candijay, Bohol, Liane Elizabeth

Duque – Laguna, Lienel Peña

Navidad – Albay, Maribelle

Manalili – Zambales, Mary

Josephine Paaske - Cordoba, Cebu, Rian Macklyn Dela Cruz - Malolos, Bulacan, Roella Frias - Calumpit, Bulacan, Samantha

Dana Bug-os - Caluya, Antique, Sheryl Velez - Mandaluyong City, Thañamae Rojas CahiligCebu Province, and Valerie Mae Guillermo - Tarlac Province.

***

A new beauty camp for aspiring beauty queens

WITH new pageants springing up like mushrooms, beauty camps

will follow. Phassion Productions beauty and talent company was established with the aim of finding a niche as one of the country’s go-to beauty camps to satisfy the needs of aspiring beauty queens and models.

Phassion Productions had a simple launching in Quezon City recently, led by chairwoman Cristy Reily , with chief operating officer Kenneth Nabua, CEO Bryant Aunor, and marketing head Jee Bermudez

Gracing the event were Miss Philippines Air 2023 Kerri Reily, Miss CosmoWorld Philippines 2023 Quezon City Vivian Hernandez, Hiyas ng Pilipinas Quezon City 2023 Angel Bianca Agustin, and Miss Tourism World Philippines 2023 Queen Mongcupa

Your dream to become a beauty queen and successful model is now within your reach with Phassion Productions. It offers valuable courses and necessary training to help you achieve success, which includes runway and modeling workshops, Full Glam makeup course, pageant look, personality development, and public speaking training. It also offers complete professional studio equipment. For inquiries, call 0960 2794736/ 0939 328 2481, or visit its e-mail address at phassionproductions@ gmail.com.

The star-studded cast of the online mystery series, ‘Fractured’

Kapamilya love team Seth Fedelin (left) and Francine Diaz leads ABS-CBN’s ‘Fractured’

the reunion of young stars Raven Rigor and Sean Tristan

OPM singersongwriter Rey Valera

Miss CosmoWorld Philippines Chairperson Meiji Cruz

City.

Discover Thai culinary royalty in back-to-back trade shows

By Nickie Wang

FOOD enthusiasts and industry professionals are gearing up for a culinary and nutraceutical extravaganza as Fi Asia Thailand 2023 and Vitafoods Asia 2023 prepare to kick off. Scheduled from September 20 to 22 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok, these back-toback trade shows promise to be a feast for the senses.

Fi Asia Thailand 2023 is known as the premier hub for the food and beverage sector in Southeast Asia. The upcoming trade show is set to bring together over 600 exhibitors, including industry leaders, distributors, and influential decision-makers, hailing from more than 40 countries who will converge in Bangkok.

“Fi Asia Thailand 2023 is not just a trade show; it’s a thriving community dedicated to inspiring and fostering growth in the ASEAN food and beverage industry. With an array of opportunities to network, learn, and collaborate, it is an unmissable event for anyone looking to make their mark in this sector,” explained Rungphech Chitanuwat, Informa Markets regional portfolio for

ASEAN and organizer of Vitafoods Asia 2023 and Fi Asia Thailand 2023. She was recently appointed the new Country General Manager of Informa Markets in the Philippines.

Visitors to Fi Asia Thailand 2023 can explore international conferences, technical presentations, and an innovation zone focusing on new ingredients. Beverage enthusiasts should check out the Beverage Ingredients Hub in the Bi Theatre.

At the Sustainability Square, visitors can savor the traditional Thai treat known as Kanom Look Choup, once reserved for Thai royalty but now enjoyed by all. Learn to make this exquisite dessert using mung bean flour and natural food colorants.

Meanwhile, the nutraceutical industry is evolving rapidly, driven by a growing focus on health and wellness, as well as advances in nutrition knowledge. Nutraceutical products play a crucial role in maintaining overall well-being and addressing specific health concerns.

Vitafoods Asia 2023, Asia’s leading event for functional ingredients and dietary supplements, aligns with the growing Asian nutraceutical industry,

Fi Asia Thailand 2023 showcases over 600 exhibitors, including industry leaders, distributors, and influential decision-makers

projected to reach USD 229 billion by 2023 (Healthy Marketing Team).

“With more exhibit spaces, we are expecting more than 8,000 participants from around the globe to join the event. In addition to the product showcasing, Vitafoods Asia 2023 will allow participants to immerse themselves in a global hub of nutraceutical knowledge,” said Chitanuwat.

At Vitafoods Asia 2023, expect expert insights, market trends, technical tips, and business strategies. Explore Omega 3 and Probiotics resource centers, Innovation Tours, International Pavilions, New Ingredients Zone, NutraFocus, and a Tasting Bar for

she said.

the latest nutraceutical products and knowledge.

“There will also be an ‘Innovative Health Hub’ that will showcase Asia’s top health and nutrition trends. You are all invited to join us and look into a world of innovation for a healthier tomorrow,”

Sculpting Success

Why fitness coaching is worth investing in

IN THIS age where information is readily available at our fingertips, the role of a fitness coach might seem redundant to some. However, it is undeniable that seeking the help of an expert provides us with benefits that go beyond what a simple online search or do-it-yourself gym session can offer.

Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a beginner on the path to wellness, here are the compelling reasons why getting the guidance of a fitness coach can be a game-changer in your fitness journey.

Personalized guidance. Fitness coaches create tailored workout plans and nutritional strategies to suit your unique goals, body type, and fitness level. This personalized approach ensures that you are making the most out of your efforts, optimizing results while minimizing the risk of injury. You have someone to monitor your progress!

Accountability. One of the biggest challenges in maintaining a consistent fitness routine is accountability. A fitness coach serves as your accountability partner, helping you stay committed to your goals, even on days when motivation wanes. Knowing someone is expecting you at the gym or for a virtual training session can be a powerful motivator.

Expert know-how. Fitness coaches are highly trained and possess in-depth

knowledge about exercise physiology, nutrition, and the latest trends in the fitness industry. This expertise enables them to provide evidencebased guidance and help you separate fact from fitness fiction.

Technique and form. Proper form is essential to prevent injuries and maximize the effectiveness of your workouts. A fitness coach will closely monitor your form, offering realtime corrections and adjustments to ensure you perform exercises correctly.

Motivation and support. Fitness coaches are not just about sets and reps, they also provide emotional support and encouragement. They celebrate your achievements, no matter how small, and help you navigate through plateaus and setbacks.

Time efficiency. A fitness coach can help you make the most of your precious workout time by designing efficient, high-impact routines that fit into your schedule.

One of the local celebrities who swear by the advantages of hiring a fitness coach is actor and brand ambassador Enzo

Pineda. Like other stars Julia Barretto, Janella Salvador, Erich Gonzales, and Marco Gumabao, Pineda has entrusted his fitness journey to celebrity fitness coach Ferdinand Laforteza (or @coach_flex on Instagram).

Laforteza offers coaching for weight loss, toning, bodybuilding, weight gain, and body transformation. He is a certified personal trainer with Exos Fitness Specialist certification.

“I first met coach when I messaged him through Instagram in 2021. After the online conversation, we immediately met at the gym and started training,” Pineda related how he approached Laforteza. “I wanted to push myself to greater heights physically and mentally and I knew coach is the man to

help because of his vast experience and recognition in the fitness world.” He continued to share how he immediately saw improvements in his physique.

“What I like about coach is his motivation and drive to make you better,” Pineda raved. “On days that I train by myself, he always checks on me if I completed my work and if I’m following the diet plan he instructed.” Pineda described his trusted coach as a fun and loving guy who has a genuine passion for fitness.

Growing up, the celebrity coach was heavily immersed in sports, particularly basketball. He was part of the UP Maroons during his years at the University of the Philippines. His clients, these days, often rave about his passion for the job. This seems to stem from his innate desire to be of help to others. Laforteza said, “I really love helping people change their lives by being fit and healthy. For me, that’s the secret to my longevity.” He has been in the fitness industry for 23 years now.

With his number of years in the business, the seasoned coach can now gauge a client’s potential success in a fitness journey. “I can tell who will have good progress or not. Those clients who really have good progress have something in common – they give 100 percent dedication to their fitness goals,” Laforteza shared.

As cliché as it is, he also reminded us that “consistency is the key.” Those who gained weight during the pandemic are encouraged to stay away from sweets, have an active lifestyle, and be consistent.

A fitness coach is not a luxury reserved for elite athletes or celebrities. Anyone looking to embark on a fitness journey or take their current routine to the next level can benefit from their expertise, guidance, and support. Investing in a fitness coach is an investment in your health, well-being, and the realization of fitness goals. While it’s challenging to do it on your own, you don’t have to do it alone.

Vitafoods Asia 2023 allows attendees to immerse themselves in a global hub of nutraceutical knowledge

“This is going to be a very informative and exciting three days for those who are into nutraceuticals, food and beverage ingredients. Come and join us and learn from the experts,” Chitanuwat said.

Fashion brand, local NGO partner for sustainability efforts

UNIQLO partnered with nongovernment organization CORA (Communities Organized for Resource Allocation) to host a coastal clean-up event along the shores of Manila Bay in July.

Over a hundred customers, volunteers, Uniqlo staff, and media guests joined the cause to help realize a cleaner and healthier coastal ecosystem. The initiative, along with Uniqlo’s broader Join: The Power of Clothing campaign to clean up ocean garbage, represents one aspect of the company’s ongoing efforts to contribute positively to the planet, society, and communities.

“Uniqlo’s commitment to transformative initiatives goes beyond fashion, as exemplified by the Join: The Power of Clothing project and this coastal clean-up drive that we have initiated recently in other Asian markets,” said Geraldine Sia, Uniqlo Philippines’ Chief Operating Officer.

“By partnering with CORA, a champion for sustainable development, we aim to make a lasting impact on the environment and inspire others to take action. We believe in the collective power of clothing to transform lives, and communities, and create a cleaner, healthier coastal ecosystem for all,” Sia added.

For the clean-up drive at the Las Pinas-Paranaque Wetland Park, Uniqlo collaborated with CORA, a Philippine nongovernment organization that fosters sustainable development by addressing a wide range of societal issues, including ocean and biodiversity conservation efforts.

“Our partnership with Uniqlo is a milestone in our sustainable development mission,” said Antoinette Taus Founder of CORA. “This partnership with Uniqlo showcases and demonstrates that when organizations come together with a shared vision, we can create meaningful change and pave the way for a greener, healthier future.”

Uniqlo’s coastal clean-up with CORA is one part of the company’s global mission to help foster a healthy planet. The company’s environmental efforts include a commitment to reducing single-use plastics, increasing the proportion of recycled materials in its products, and steadily reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with its 2030 targets.

At the coastal clean-up drive held on July 19, the volunteers collected a total of over 300 kilograms of plastic waste, which will be collected and recycled by CORA EcoIkot Center Women Champions.

Celebrity fitness coach Ferdinand Laforteza