Manila Standard - 2023 September 29 - Friday

P3.6B SHABU SEIZED, BIGGEST HAUL UNDER MARCOS GOV’T—DOJ

House okays P5.768-t post-pandemic budget

Small committee to tackle realignment of confidential funds

By Maricel V. Cruz, Julito G. Rada and Othel V. Campos

HE House of Representatives approved the proposed P5.768 trillion national budget Wednesday night by a vote of 296-3-0, but left controversial confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) intact, with a promise to later reallocate these from non-security departments to agencies on the forefront of national

P5.768-T PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2024

higher than this year’s budget of P5.268 trillion

of the country’s gross domestic product

P2.183 trillion budget for social services sector (education, health, culture, social security, among others), largest allocation among sectors

P924.7 billion budget for Department of Education, largest allocation among agencies

P1.42 trillion allocation for major infrastructure projects under the Build Better More program

Q3 pro-admin sentiment down to 43%—survey

By Julito Rada and Othel Campos

MORE Filipinos are dissatisfied with the Marcos administration but not enough are leaning toward the political opposition, the PAHAYAG 2023 Third Quarter survey results showed.

In a statement, lobbying and campaigns firm PUBLiCUS Asia Inc., which ran the survey, said the poll reveals “a decline in the proportion of Pro-Administration sentiment, while Anti-Administration sentiments have shown an increase.”

While these were “notable changes in the political landscape of the Philippines,” these shifts “do not appear to have an observable impact on the lean ings towards the opposition,” it added. The survey showed that the proportion of respondents who expressed their proadministration sentiments declined to 43 percent in the third quarter from 48 per cent in the second quarter.

‘OVP intel funds invalid but not impeachment ground’

By Maricel V. Cruz

and

Macon Ramos-Araneta

ALBAY Rep. Edcel Lagman said the re-

Congress passes several crucial priority measures

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

SPEAKER Martin G. Romualdez congratulated the House of Representatives for the speedy passage of 20 pieces of legislation aimed at uplifting the lives of the Filipino people. He reported "mission accomplished" to members of the House, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and the nation before

lease of P125 million in confidential funds to the Office of Vice President (OVP) in 2022 was “invalid” but may not be a culpable violation of the Constitution, one of the grounds for impeachment.

“It’s invalid,” Lagman said of the release, even though the 2022 General Appropriations Act did not allocate any such funds to the OVP headed by Sara Duterte. "You cannot unload funds from the

President’s contingent fund, for a release in the nature of a confidential fund, when there is no confidential fund in the first place. Because, otherwise, it will be a

By Charles Dantes and Rey E. Requejo

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and French President Emman uel Macron discussed security is sues in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in a phone call, the Presi dential Communications Office

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

A SENATE committee on Thursday cited Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) leader Jey Rence Quilario, also known as Senior Agila, and three others in contempt.

Senator Risa Hontiveros made the motion during the hearing of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs,

after Quilario and the others repeatedly denied that child marriages took place in the Surigao del Norte-based group despite testimonies by victims. Hontiveros moved to have Quilario, Mamerto Galanida, Janeth Ajoc, and Karren Sanico cited in contempt. No member of the committee objected to Hontiveros' motion, prompting Senator Ronald

TIMELY APPROVAL. Speaker Martin Romualdez (inset) delivers his closing message at the plenary of the House of Representatives before Congress adjourned Wednesday evening. The House passed the proposed P5.768-trillion national budget for next year by a 296-3-0 vote. Ver Noveno

ALL EARS. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks to French President Emmanuel Macron through a telephone call on

P3.6-b shabu seized in Pampanga

By Rey Requejo and Vito Barcelo

LAW enforcement agencies have seized P3.6 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu" in a warehouse in Mexico City, Pampanga, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday.

Remulla said the drug haul was "the biggest catch so far under the administration of President Marcos."

"A total of 530 kilos amounting to

House...

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The education sector was again given the largest allocation of P924.7 billion.

The amount includes funds for the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Program, textbooks, and feeding programs. The Department of Education (DepEd), which oversees the public K to 12 as well as high schools, got a 5.37 percent increase from its budget last year to P758.6 billion.

Infrastructure priorities including the North-South Commuter Railway System and Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1 resulted in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) getting an allocation for P822.2 billion. The allocation includes funds for road improvement.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) budget next year is double that of 2023, rising to P214.3 billion because of the administration’s focus on mass transport and rail systems.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) got P181.4 billion to enable it to support rice, corn, and other high-value crops production while the Department of Health (DOH) was allotted P306.1 billion.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was given a 5.2 percent increase to P209.9 billion.

The Department of National Defense (DND) budget increased by 14.16 percent to P232.2 billion mostly in reaction to Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

Speaker Martin Romualdez congratulated members of the chamber for the speedy passage of the 2024 General Appropriations bill (GAB).

In his speech before adjourning the ses-

‘OVP...

From A1 derogation of the rights of the Congress," he added.

The Office of the President, the Commission on Audit, the Department of Budget and Management have all maintained the legality of the release of the funds to the OVP, because it was taken from the Contingent Fund, which Congress authorizes for new and urgent expenses that were not anticipated during budget preparation and approval.

“It needs more intensive study, but I was just asked whether it’s a culpable violation of the Constitution. I said it may

Marcos,...

From A1 maintain the peace, to maintain the stability, [and] keep the shipping lanes... and airways open” in the WPS, said PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil.

The President also thanked France for its support in terms of upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), for its messages of support, and for even sending ships to patrol the vital waterway.

The phone call comes at a time of heightened tension between the Philippines and China because of Chinese ships in Philippine waters.

In a forum in Makati City on Wednesday, Western Mindanao Command chief Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos said the military is looking at "three lines of efforts" to

Q3...

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Anti-administration sentiments, meanwhile, grew from 18% in the first quarter of 2023 to 23% in the third quarter. This decrease indicates that fewer individuals “are aligned with the current administration as well as its priorities compared to the previous quarter," the firm added.

Filipino voters, however, remain neutral towards their political leaning toward the opposition (Liberal Party) at 45%, the poll showed.

Pro-opposition support is still “statistically stable” at 20%, slightly higher than the 18% posted last quarter, while anti-opposition support is at 33%, slightly lower than 35% last quarter, PUBLiCUS added.

Malacañang had yet to comment on the survey as of press time, but the decline in support for the present administration could be attributed to its struggle to contain

P3.6 billion street value were confiscated and believed imported through the Subic port," Remulla said. Customs District Collector Ciriaco

sion, Romualdez emphasized the House's steadfast commitment to fulfilling its constitutional duty of overseeing the national expenditure program with the highest levels of transparency and diligence.

He said the budgeting process was marked by rigorous discussions, particularly concerning confidential and intelligence funds, which the House scrutinized to ensure accountability.

“We underscored the need for agencies to abide by the strict accounting and auditing rules governing the handling and release of such funds and emphasized the need to safeguard its efficient and responsible utilization,” Romualdez said.

Earlier, the House leadership said it would reallocate confidential and intelligence funds, originally designated for non-security departments, to bolster security efforts in the West Philippine Sea.

A significant portion of these funds will now support the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and the National Security Council (NSC).

Additionally, the 2024 budgets for the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will be increased to enhance surveillance capabilities in the West Philippine Sea.

The move was announced by leaders of various political parties, including the Nationalist People’s Coalition, the LakasCMD; the Nacionalista Party; the PDPLaban; the National Unity Party and the Partylist Coalition Foundation in reaction to Chinese actions in the West Philippine Sea.

But Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said that because of time restraints, lawmakers were not able to discuss amendments to it, so the confidential and intelligence funds of the requesting agencies remain intact.

“However, there will be a small com-

not be, because when you say culpable, it’s an extreme case of liability. But in this case, it’s possible that there was a mistake in the interpretation of the pertinent regulations,” Lagman said.

"Because the Congress said that no funds will be there, because we did not appropriate any funds, and even the vice president then, [Leni] Robredo did not ask for those confidential funds. There were no confidential funds in the Office of the Vice President in 2022. The contingent funds cannot be used for confidential funds,” he added.

Earlier, the Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives led by Deputy Minority leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro claimed that Duterte may

further enhance the Philippines’ presence in the WPS.

Carlos said the initiatives include effective occupation of all islands now occupied by the country in the WPS, establishment of a stronger naval presence and enhancement of maritime domain awareness.

Garafil said Marcos invited the French leader to visit the Philippines whenever he heads to Asia.

French Ambassador to the Philippines

Marie Fontanel on Sept. 20 relayed Macron’s invitation for Marcos to embark on a state visit to France.

Macron told Marcos that a group of French ministers would visit Manila before the end of the year, as part of the efforts to strengthen the two nations’ ties and forge more cooperation. (See full story online at manilastandard. net)

inflation, an economist said Thursday.

“The latest ratings could be largely due to higher prices/inflation, especially rice and oil/petroleum/ fuel but external/exogenous in nature,” Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., told Manila Standard.

Foreign business groups said the challenges faced by the Philippines are similar to those faced by many governments around the world.

Inflation, for instance, is not unique to the Philippines, said British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (BCCP) executive director and trustee Chris Nelson.

“Inflation has increased. It is being felt not only in the Philippines but across the world -- US, UK, Europe. The government tries to increase interest rates, putting some pressure on the economy. And along the way, it can try to increase employment, because that’s what drives a lot of sentiment,” he said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Ugay said the seized illegal drugs were declared as animal feed from Thailand, packed in 881 bags. Each pack contained approximately one kilogram of shabu, Ugay said.

Remulla said the seizure of the illegal drugs from a warehouse in Purok 5 in San Jose Malino was a result of a multi-agency operation led by the National Bureau of Investigation.

He said investigators already have a list of persons involved in the criminal activity.

mittee of four that will tackle the proposed amendments, it could be done there, or it could be done during the bicameral conference,” Pimentel told CNN Philippines.

Pimentel said lawmakers have also yet to discuss the total amount to be reallocated. He noted that 28 government agencies have confidential and intelligence funds under the current version of the 2024 budget.

House appropriations committee chairman Elizaldy Co has said one of those they are considering is the ₱650 million allocated to the Sara Duterte-led Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.

Congressmen said in their joint statement that the reallocated confidential and intelligence funds will be placed under agencies tasked to ensure national security amid China’s continued aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea. They specifically mentioned the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, the National Security Council, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Pimentel said other agencies may still be added to the list like the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for its antiillegal drugs program.

Romualdez expressed confidence that every centavo in the national budget aligns with the administration's mediumterm fiscal framework, the eight-point socioeconomic agenda, and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, reflecting the overarching goals of economic transformation towards inclusivity and sustainability.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the government is on track to reach its development goals with the speedy passage of the 2024 budget bill in the House.

have committed “multiple violations for using P125 million in confidential funds in 2022 “when there was no congressional authorization for confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for that fiscal year.”

Castro said in the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the OVP has no appropriation for confidential expenses. She noted that the 2022 GAA was prepared and proposed by then President Rodrigo Duterte and enacted by Congress in 2021. Lagman meanwhile defended the decision of the House leadership to reallocate the confidential and intelligence funds to agencies which needed these

Meta putting AI in smart glasses

“The NBI is on the job now pursuing these people,” he said.

The NBI said the operation was done in collaboration with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Bureau of Customs, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

“The NBI will conduct a financial investigation in tandem with the AntiMoney Laundering Council against the corporations identified as being used as conduits to traffic the seized illegal drugs,” the bureau said.

After the House and the Senate approve their respective versions of the 2024 budget, both chambers will form a bicameral conference committee to iron out differences in the two versions before the bill goes to both houses for ratification.

The ratified bill is then sent to the President, who can veto it or place conditions on certain items in the budget. The bill becomes a law when the President signs it as the General Appropriations Act.

DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo

Panganiban thanked the House of Representatives for approving the proposed DA budget for 2024.

In line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to boost the country’s local agricultural production for food security and economic growth, the DA’s 2024 expenditure plan focuses on investments that lower production costs, improve the value chains, and promote consolidation and modernization, he said.

The DA will allocate P30.86 billion for the National Rice Program, P6.09 billion for the National Fisheries Program, and P5.28 billion for the National Corn Program.

The National Livestock Program, National High Value Crops Development Program, National Organic Agriculture Program, National Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture Program, and the Halal Food Industry Development Program will each receive P4.35 billion, P1.94 billion, P921 million, P436 million, and P19 million, respectively.

Isabela Representative and DA budget sponsor Antonio Albano said the proposed budget “is a clear articulation of the administration’s agenda for agricultural development that is the very foundation of our nation’s sustained growth in the years ahead.”

(See full story online at manilastandard.net)

funds the most. "The reallocation of confidential and intelligence funds from one department or agency to another is merely a transfer of allocation from one office to another which does not result in exceeding the total ceiling proposed in the NEP (National Expenditure Program)," Lagman said.

"In other words, it is a process of subtraction and addition of allocations which does not breach the ceiling," he added.

House leaders announced they would reallocate confidential and intelligence funds, originally designated for non-security departments, to bolster security efforts in the West Philippine Sea. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Socorro...

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"Bato" dela Rosa, the panel’s chairperson, to order their detention of the four at the Senate premises.

Before that, Hontiveros stressed that four witnesses present in the hearing, including an actual party to a child marriage, testified there were such unions at Sitio Kapihan.

“Hindi po, hindi po nangyayari (no, that did not happen),” Quilario said.

For his part, Galanida said he was “not aware” of such happenings.

“I do not know anything about such things in Kapihan… there are no child marriages because if there are, the parents themselves should have complained

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the 19th Congress adjourned for the first recess of its second regular session on Wednesday night.

In the Senate, 18 measures, five of which were included in the President’s list of priority bills, were approved by senators over three days before the end of

META chief Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday said the tech giant is putting artificial intelligence into digital assistants and smart glasses as it seeks to gain lost ground in the AI race.

Zuckerberg made his announcements at the Connect developers conference at Meta's headquarters in Silicon Valley, the company's main annual product event.

"Advances in AI allow us to create different (applications) and personas that help us accomplish different things," Zuckerberg said as he kicked off the gathering.

"And smart glasses are going to eventually allow us to bring all of this together into a stylish form factor that we can wear."

Smart glasses are one of the many ways that tech companies have tried to move beyond the smartphone as a user-friendly device, but so far with little success.

The second-generation Meta RayBan smart glasses made in a partnership with EssilorLuxottica will have a starting price of $299 when they hit the market on October 17.AFP (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Ateneo remains top PH school in global rankings

By Gabriellea Pariño

THE Ateneo de Manila University remained the top school in the Philippines, according to the latest global rankings published by the British higher education magazine Times Higher Education (THE). The Jesuit-run institution ranked within the 1011-1200 bracket, compared to its 351-500 grouping in previous rankings.

“It is an honor for us to be one of only four Filipino schools in the rankings, and proof that our work in teaching, research, and social engagement is recognized here at home and abroad,” said Ateneo university president Fr. Roberto Yap.

“Ateneo de Manila University is honored to continue its run as the top-ranked Philippine institution, public or private, in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.”

The University of the Philippines came in second place, while the University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University both landed at the 1501+ bracket of the rankings.

Cebu Technological University, Central Luzon State University, University of Eastern Philippines, Mapua University, Mariano Marcos State University, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines, Tarlac Agricultural University, and the Visayas State University were listed with "reporter" status, meaning that they provided data to be included in the rankings but did not meet the eligibility criteria. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

MTRCB upholds 12-day suspension of ‘It’s Showtime’

about it,” he said in Filipino.

Ajoc also denied there were child marriages, even though a witness in the hearing earlier said that Ajoc's own child was among those who were married.

Meanwhile, Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty, who was present in the hearing, requested that the four SBSI members be allowed to attend the preliminary probe of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Dela Rosa said they would be allowed to do so.

The Senate inquiry stemmed from allegations against SBSI that it abused more than 1,000 minors in Socorro town in Surigao del Norte.

At the initial hearing of the Senate committee, a certain “Jane” said she was forced to marry an 18-year-old last year, when she was only 14. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

the second regular session of the current Congress.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the chamber buckled down to work on the last week of their regular plenary session before the legislature goes on a monthlong break starting Sept. 30.

“Once signed into law, these measures will help shore up the Marcos administration’s initiatives to make the Philippines a prime investment destination,” Zubiri said.

THE Movie and Television Review and Classification Board upheld its decision to suspend the noontime show “It’s Showtime” for 12 days. The board denied the motions for reconsideration filed by ABS-CBN and GMA Network.

The ABS-CBN show debuted on GMA Network’s GTV channel on July 1.

"Said MRs sought relief from the Board's ruling dated August 17, 2023, regarding the July 25, 2023 episode of the live noontime television program 'It's Showtime!' Specifically, during the show's 'Isip Bata' segment, in which hosts Ryan Bang, Vice Ganda and Ion Perez allegedly acted indecently or inappropriately in the presence of children. In view of which, the Board's Decision dated 17 August 2023 is affirmed," the MTRCB said in its resolution. The suspension, however, is not yet final and executory and ABS-CBN and GMA Network can still file an appeal before the Office of the President within 15 days.

Nickie

Wang

Meanwhile, Romualdez also authorized all standing and special committees of the House to hold hearings during the congressional break.

In her formal motion in the plenary, House Deputy Majority Leader and Pangasinan Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas moved to allow all committees to continue their work of producing legislation during the break from Sept. 28 to Nov. 5, 2023. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

FACE OFF. A former member of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI), ‘Jane’ (left) faces the leader of the alleged cult, Jey Rence Quilario, during a Senate inquiry on Thursday, September 28, 2023. The probe stemmed from allegations against SBSI that it abused more than 1,000 minors in Socorro town in Surigao del Norte. Avito Dalan

Senator urges OTS to enforce one-strike policy

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE Office for Transportation Security (OTS) must enforce a one-strike policy against its personnel found involved in wrongdoings, Senator Grace Poe said Thursday.

She said the measure will weed out the undesirables from the good ones at the agency and will help restore the integrity of the office tainted by corruption and controversy.

“What we need in our airport are those who will watch our security, hindi bantaysalakay (not robber-guards),” Poe said.

The chairperson of the Senate committee on public services said the toughest actions should be put in place against erring OTS personnel to send a signal that the office is serious in reforming its ranks.

Investigations should be conducted swiftly and convictions backed by solid evidence to leave no room for intervention, she said.

Poe said the latest incident involving a female OTS staffer who swallowed US$300 worth of bills supposedly stolen from a passenger showed how some could do the unthinkable to carry out an illegal deed.

OTS management must “show its mettle in carrying out an overhaul in its system plagued with inefficiency and corruption through the years,” she reiterated.

By Maricel V. Cruz

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was right to reject proposals to temporarily reduce tariffs on imported rice, Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan of Bicol Saro party-list group said Thursday.

Yamsuan said the President’s action would spare small farmers “an act of grave cruelty” amid the peak

850 in Batangas seek aid for ‘vog’

AROUND 850 persons in the province of Batangas have sought medical aid or consultation for respiratory ailments caused by their exposure to volcanic smog or vog from the Taal Volcano, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Thursday.

“They are all being aided by the local government in the Batangas area and nearby LGUs. All of their needs, medical or any other assistance are being provided by the government, especially

the local governments,” OCD deputy spokesperson Diego Agustin Mariano said during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing over state-run PTV.

Most of the affected residents are sen-

ior citizens and children who are most vulnerable or at high risk to respiratory illnesses, Mariano said. He added that most of them have already been cleared or placed in outpatient care after receiving medical attention.

Mariano said the Taal Volcano Island remains off-limits with the last reported sighting of vog on Sept. 26 in Laurel, Batangas.

Vog from the volcano has so far affected 19 towns in Batangas since last week, he added.

Meanwhile, Mariano said the OCD

continues to help residents affected by the unrest of Taal, which has been under Alert Level 3 for the past four months. He said most of the residents living near or within the volcano’s permanent danger zone have been evacuated.

“When we rescue residents, we also rescue their animals. Our evacuation efforts are holistic and also covers their livelihood. We have animal evacuation centers. We have a system where they can identify the animals that they own,” the OCD official added.

Review, update Foreign Service Act lawmaker

A PARTY-list legislator has sought a review of the Philippine Foreign Service Act of 1991, saying that the law “may no longer be responsive to current economic realities and the cost of living in foreign posts.”

OFW Rep. Marissa Magsino said Republic Act (RA) 7157 or the Philippine Foreign Service Act of 1991 does not serve its purpose anymore.

She said the law was enacted on September 19, 1991 to reorganize and strengthen the country’s foreign service.

harvest season.

While the government’s ultimate goal is to lower rice prices, it should not be done at the expense of the country’s 2.4 million rice farmers, who are expected to harvest over 5 million metric tons of palay in the peak months of September and October alone, Yamsuan said.

“The decision of our President is right. It is easy to say that we should

lower tariffs to bring in more imported rice and pull down rice prices in the market. But who will suffer the loss?

Our farmers who toiled hard to plant but would not profit from it will be the ones to suffer,” he said.

“We may not be an expert in economics, but common sense tells us that if you flood the market with imported rice, this would lead to depressed farm-

gate prices at a time when our farmers are in the midst of the harvest season,” the lawmaker said.

“The band-aid solution of lowering rice tariffs at this time would be an act of grave cruelty to our farmers,” added Yamsuan, whose party-list organization represents the Bicol Region, which accounts for close to 7 percent of the country’s total rice production.

One of its objectives, Magsino said, was to provide suitable salaries, allowances and benefits that would attract competent personnel into the foreign service “on the basis of merit and demonstrated capability in the promotion of national interests,” she said.

The lawmaker said the compensation scheme established under RA 7157 covers various classes of positions under the government’s Foreign Service Group, from Foreign Service Staff Employee III with a Salary Grade 5, and to Chief of Mission Class I with a Salary Grade 29. Maricel V. Cruz

‘Reducing tariffs on rice imports an act of grave cruelty on farmers’

WAREHOUSE FIRE. Firemen try to control a fire hose to douse a blaze at a warehouse on G. Molina Street in Brgy. Bagbaguin, Valenzuela City, which reached Task Force Alpha on Thursday. Andrew Rabulan

Proof of payment

PAYMENT means the delivery of money, or the performance of an obligation (see Article 1232, Civil Code of the Philippines).

A debt shall be considered paid when the thing or service consisting of the obligation has been completely delivered or rendered (see Article 1233, Civil Code of the Philippines).

“When used in pleading, in respect to cash, it means immediate satisfaction, but when applied to the delivery of the bill or note, or other collateral thing, it does not necessarily mean payment in immediate satisfaction and discharge of the debt, but may be taken in its popular sense, as delivery only, to be a discharge when converted into money” (A treatise on the Law of Evidence, Wigmore, Greenleaf, and Harriman).

“[T]he settled rule is that one who pleads payment has the burden of proving it. Even where the creditor alleges non-payment, the general rule is that the onus rests on the debtor to prove payment, rather than on the creditor to prove non-payment” (A treatise on the Law of Evidence, Wigmore, Greenleaf, and Harriman).

Are POGOs good to go?

made in petitioner’s favor, to prove that it had indeed paid its obligations to the latter” (G.R. 158621, December 10, 2008).

“If a receipt was given for the money, it is proper and expedient to produce it, but it is not necessary, parol (extraneous) evidence of the payment being admissible, notwithstanding the written receipt, and without accounting for its absence.

“And if produced, it is not conclusive against the plaintiff, but may be disproved and contradicted by parol (extraneous) evidence” (A treatise on the Law of Evidence, Wigmore, Greenleaf, and Harriman).

“Payment shall be made to the person in whose favor the obligation has been constituted, or his successor in interest, or any person authorized to receive it” (Article 1240, Civil Code of the Philippines).

“Payment to a person who is incapacitated to administer his property shall be valid if he has kept the thing delivered, or insofar as the payment has been beneficial to him” (Article 1241, Civil Code of the Philippines).

“Payment made to a third person shall also be valid [if it] redounded to the benefit of the creditor. Such benefit to the creditor need not be proved in the following cases: (1) if after the payment, the third person acquires the creditor’s rights; (2) if the creditor ratifies the payment to the third person; (3) if by the creditor’s conduct, the debtor has been led to believe that the third person had authority to receive the payment” (Article 1241, Civil Code of the Philippines).

THE debate on whether Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs should go or stay may be over soon.

That’s because those in favor of letting POGOs go appear to have the upperhand as of now.

The Senate committee on ways and means led by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has recommended permanently banning POGOs in the country.

He was joined by 10 more senators in signing the committee report. He considers this an important step in preventing crimes involving several POGOs: “We are hoping that we reach our goal of maintaining peace in the country, which will lead to the growth of our economy.”

Citing data from the Philippine National Police, the lawmaker said it is clear thieves use POGOs to commit crimes that include human trafficking and various investment scams. The senators recommended several steps,

At least one lawmaker contends that banning POGOs is unlikely to happen any time soon because doing so requires legislation

including urging the executive department to stop the operations of POGOs; the Department of Labor and Employment to look for alternative employment for Filipino nationals employed by POGOs; and the Bureau of Immigration to cancel and revoke work visas issued to foreign nationals employed in the POGO industry.

National Economic Development Authority chief Arsenio Balisacan concurs with the Senate position. He said POGOs have a high social cost, and the government should encourage quality investments, those that will produce goods and services and not the ones that lead to crimes.

He expressed optimism the country would be able to make up for the lost revenue, as countries like Thailand and Indonesia do not need businesses similar to POGOs.

Then there’s the Department of Finance, which believes POGOs have substantial negative social repercussions that far outweigh the money streams they bring into the Philippines. While POGO revenues contribute to the government coffers, these come at significant social costs to the country, such as violations of labor laws. But at least one lawmaker contends that banning POGOs is unlikely to happen any time soon because doing so requires legislation.

Besides, House committee on ways and means chair Joey Salceda believes all concerns raised about POGOs are “issues of law enforcement” and the “solution to law enforcement issues is, frankly, to enforce the law.” For Salceda, banning an entire business on the basis of issues that law enforcement alone can address is like “burning the whole house down to snuff out the rats.”

And here’s the clincher: “In times like these when finding sources of growth is a challenge, we should be more imaginative.”

Diokno should give up his excessive salary first

“The debtor has the burden of showing with legal certainty that the obligation has been discharged by payment. Where the debtor introduces some evidence of payment, the burden of going forward with the evidence –as distinct from the general burden of proof –shifts to the creditor, who… [has to] produc[e] some evidence to show non-payment” (A treatise on the Law of Evidence, Wigmore, Greenleaf, and Harriman).

In the case of Royal Cargo Corporation v. DFS Sports Unlimited, Inc., the question raised was whether the original invoices were sufficient to prove payment “or, at the least, [if] the same raise a disputable presumption that respondent had indeed discharged its obligations to petitioner” (G.R. No. 158621, December 10, 2008).

The Supreme Court ruled in the negative.

“An invoice or bill is a commercial document issued by a seller to the buyer indicating the products, quantities and agreed prices for product or services the seller has provided the buyer.

“An invoice indicates the buyer must pay the seller according to the payment terms” (G.R. No. 158621, December 10, 2008).

“From the point of view of a seller, an invoice is a sales invoice [while] [f]rom the point of view of a buyer, an invoice is a purchase invoice. The document indicates the buyer and seller, but the term “invoice” indicates money is owed or owing” (A treatise on the Law of Evidence, Wigmore, Greenleaf, and Harriman).

“In Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Manila Mining Corporation, ‘sales or commercial invoice’ is defined as a written account of goods sold or services rendered indicating the prices charged therefor or a list by whatever name it is known which is used in the ordinary course of business evidencing sale and transfer or agreement to sell or transfer goods and services” (G.R. 158621, December 10, 2008).

“From the foregoing definitions, an invoice, in and by itself, and as opposed to a receipt, may not be considered evidence of payment. In addition, it does not mean that possession by a debtor of an invoice raises the presumption that it has already paid its obligation” (G.R. No. 158621, December 10, 2008).

“Furthermore, respondent’s defense of payment is made more untenable by its failure to present any supporting evidence, such as official receipts or the testimony of its employee who actually paid or the one who had direct knowledge of the payment allegedly

Ordinarily the debtor must pay the creditor the debt or obligation. If a third party pays for the debtor, the former “may demand from the debtor what he has paid, except that if he paid without the knowledge or against the will of the debtor, he can recover only insofar as the payment has been beneficial to the debtor” (Article 1236, Civil Code of the Philippines).

“Payment made by a third person who does not intend to be reimbursed by the debtor is deemed to be a donation, which requires the debtor’s consent. But the payment is in any case valid as to the creditor who has accepted it” (Article 1238, Civil Code of the Philippines).

“The payment of debts in money shall be made in the currency stipulated, and if it is not possible to deliver such currency, then in the currency which is legal tender in the Philippines.

“The delivery of promissory notes payable to order, or bills of exchange or other mercantile documents shall produce the effect of payment only when they have been cashed, or when through the fault of the creditor they have been impaired” (Article 1249, Civil Code of the Philippines).

Payments through GCash, Pay Maya, bank transfers, or other electronic means are now recognized modes of payment of debts.

Their proof of payment are their respective electronic receipts, but when presented in court the witness must submit an affidavit and testify on how these receipts were generated electronically pursuant to the Rules on Electronic Evidence (Rule 9, Section 1).

“The foreclosure of a mortgage, given to secure a debt, may also be shown as a payment made at the time of complete foreclosure; but if the property mortgaged is not, at that time, equal in value to the amount due, it is only payment pro tanto” (A treatise on the Law of Evidence, Wigmore, Greenleaf, and Harriman).

The manner of recovering the deficiency will vary depending on whether it is a judicial or extra-judicial foreclosure.

“The debtor of a thing cannot compel the creditor to receive a different one, although the latter may be of the same value as, or more valuable than that which is due” (Article 1244, Civil Code of the Philippines).

When property is alienated to the creditor in satisfaction of a debt in money it shall be considered as dation in payment and shall be governed by the law of sales (Article 1245, Civil Code of the Philippines). Full text at www.manilastandard.net

Are

IF THE latest figures released by the Philippine National Police are any indication, the answer to our question would be a positive one.

PNP Chief, General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr., told a recent media forum in Quezon City the overall crime rate has significantly decreased this year.

From January 1 to September 15, 2023, the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management Crime Research Analysis Center (CRAC) recorded 11,975 fewer incidents compared to the same period last year, representing a 7.874 percent drop in the crime rate.

The campaign against illegal drugs continues to gather steam, with a total 34,496 operations conducted, resulting in the seizure of over P7.2 billion worth of illegal drugs since the beginning of this year.

The PNP has also stepped up aggressive law enforcement operations, resulting in the arrest of a total 54,653 individuals including 56 wanted persons with rewards.

Meantime, the campaign against loose firearms led to the recovery and surrender of 34,404 firearms. As part of crime prevention efforts, the police leadership also intensified police presence and visibility in crime-prone areas and other public convergence points.

Acorda conceded there have been instances of misconduct and use of excessive force by some police operatives in certain cases, but said the PNP is taking decisive action to address these.

Proof of this, he emphasized, is from January 1, 2022 to August 30, 2023, the PNP resolved 4,082 cases, proving their commitment to cleansing its ranks of misfits and scalawags.

At the same time, Acorda said, he believes the majority of more than 226,000 PNP personnel are honest and upright and are committed to their duties.

Another key thrust of the PNP these days is what’s called the Integrity Enhancement Program, under which it has conducted nearly 116,000 random and mandatory drug tests, with any personnel found positive for drug use summarily dismissed from the service.

As for its plans for the rest of this year, the PNP is actively preparing for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections by closely monitoring 27 areas of concern and taking proactive measures to ensure a peaceful and fair electoral process.

The PNP chief also underscored the vital role of the media and the public as watchdogs of truth and justice as he emphasized the organization’s commitment

LAST year, the Commision on Audit (COA) reported that Benjamin Diokno, then the Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), was the highest-paid government official of 2021. Diokno drew a compensation of P41.81 million that year, far more than that of his boss, President Rodrigo Duterte. Diokno was also the highest paid government official in 2020.

Recently, the COA reported Diokno, the current Secretary of Finance, was paid P28.78 million for 2022, again far more than the compensation of his boss, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

For 2022, Diokno ranked second to incumbent BSP Governor Felipe Medalla who got P34.17 million. The fickle BSP Monetary Board Member Victor Bruce Tolentino, who last May denounced the Kadiwa rolling store project of President Marcos Jr. but later took back his criticism, is the fourth highest paid official for 2022, bringing in P25.67 million.

Last June, Diokno criticized the retirement pension program for military and uniformed personnel.

Diokno said military and uniformed personnel who benefit from the pension program should contribute to the pension fund.

It seems that Diokno considers military and uniformed personnel as spoiled beneficiaries who draw a pension without contributing to the pension fund.

Diokno’s compensation runs into millions of pesos for a job that keeps him in the comfort of his luxurious office. He seems unaware that soldiers and policemen, who put their lives at risk in the course of their duties, draw a lot less than he does.

According to Diokno, the unfunded liability of the pension fund for military and uniformed personnel is at P9-trillion already.

The military and uniformed personnel, Diokno said, stopped contributing to the pension fund during the administration of President Fidel Ramos. Subsequent presidents including his exboss President Duterte, Diokno said, also stopped contributions.

Diokno has been at the helm of the nation’s finances for the past seven years.

He had the ear of President Duterte, and has the confidence of President Marcos Jr.

Why is it only now that Diokno is noisily blowing the whistle on the pension fund of our military and uniformed personnel?

What took Diokno so long to do so? Has Diokno been sleeping on the job all along?

Incidentally, Fort Bonifacio, the military reservation that provided homes for our soldiers

who defend the country from internal threats and external aggression, was sold off to private interest groups under the Ramos administration. It took a soldier like Ramos to render his fellow soldiers homeless in the metropolis.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, who has had enough of Communist China’s aggression against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea, recently called for a local boycott of Chinese imports.

Since Diokno says the country does not have enough money, he can help the State by waiving in favor of the government even a percentage of his excessive compensation

Zubiri also urged the government to disallow Chinese construction companies from operating in the country, particularly in infrastructure projects that have a direct bearing on national security, telecommunications and bayside reclamation.

Diokno opposed Zubiri’s proposals. Without elaborating on his opposition, Diokno said the boycott will adversely effect the nation’s infrastructure program, which will be costly to the government.

China is provocatively seizing Philippine territory within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, in blatant violation of international law, and in the process compromising national security, and Diokno is more concerned about infrastructure and costs?

Besides, isn’t the proposed boycott a concern more of the Secretary of Trade and Industry rather than the Secretary of Finance?

Where are the priorities of Diokno anyway?

Weeks ago, Diokno announced the government’s free education program must end immediately because it is a big drain on the budget. Apparently, Diokno needs to read the Constitution’s mandate on free public education.

In fine, the highest paid government official in the country now wants to derail the pension fund for military and uniformed personnel, and to

stop free education in the country, all because the government does not have enough money. Since Diokno says the country does not have enough money, he can help the State by waiving in favor of the government even a percentage of his excessive compensation.

Under Diokno’s watch as BSP governor from 2016-2022, the Philippine peso deteriorated in value compared to other South East Asian countries’ currencies.

One is tempted to ask if Diokno deserves to receive the highest salary in the national government despite the downtrend of the peso. As for the fickle Victor Bruce Tolentino, many people suspect that he had P25.7 million worth of reasons to take back what he said against the Kadiwa project of President Marcos Jr.

At any rate, what is Tolentino doing about the value of the Philippine peso?

Congress should do something about the excessive compensation package of top Department of Finance and BSP officials.

At a time when many Filipinos are unemployed, hungry, sick and homeless, the excessive salaries and allowances of the likes paid to Diokno, Medalla and Tolentino are ostentatious and unconscionable benefits.

enforcement, even if some law enforcers turn out to be lawbreakers and rogues who deserve to be booted out. Customs reports gains vs. smuggling

In the same media forum but more recently, the Bureau of Customs reported it has made significant strides in the ongoing campaign against smuggling, resulting in the highestever seizure of items in the agency’s history, valued at P31.5 billion, comprising various commodities.

Commodities infringing on intellectual property rights is on the top of the list of seized items. This is followed by agricultural products, cigarettes, and drugs, respectively.

BOC Director for Intelligence Verne

warehouses in Bulacan, resulting in the seizure of 236,571 sacks of rice originating from Vietnam, Thailand and Pakistan. The BOC also found 36,000 sacks of rice in Tondo, Manila and a total of 20,000 sacks of rice in Las Piñas and Bacoor, with the claimants given a 15-day period to provide proof of payment of taxes and other regulatory duties for the imported rice stored in their facilities.

to good governance anchored on transparency and accountability: “Your opinions and constructive feedback are invaluable as we work together towards our shared goal of a safer and stronger Philippines.”

Clearly a feather in the cap of the current PNP leadership is the institution’s high 85 percent trust and approval ratings in the latest survey of government agencies. The PNP emerged in the top five. This goes to show as far as the public is concerned, the police force is doing its job of law

Enciso said this accomplishment goes beyond their regulatory tightening as it also signifies the agency’s commitment to tackling illicit trade across the country and maintaining fair trade for legitimate business, especially in the agriculture sector.

For the agriculture sector, the BOC seized a total value of P3.3 billion for this year alone. This compromises rice and other agricultural products, Enciso said.

The agency continues to conduct inspection of warehouses suspected of hoarding smuggled rice pursuant to Executive Order 39. The bureau conducted raids on seven

President Marcos Jr. recently certified as urgent a Senate bill imposing more severe sanctions for agricultural hoarding and smuggling.

Senate Bill 2432 or the “Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act” would repeal Republic Act 10845, or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016. The bill also aims to promote the productivity of farmers and protect them from unscrupulous traders and importers.

Smuggling, hoarding and profiteering are considered as economic sabotage and the government should run after those involved in these illegal activities with tooth and nail.

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

hoarding and profiteering are considered as economic sabotage and the government should run after those involved in these illegal activities with tooth and nail

When property is alienated to the creditor in satisfaction of a debt in money it shall be considered as dation in payment and shall be governed by the law of sales

2 foreigners with P76-m cocaine nabbed

By Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo

AIRPORT authorities in Manila have intercepted two foreign nationals caught with P76 million worth of cocaine.

The suspects were Siti Aisha Binti Awang, 64, and Nur Alaviya Binti Hanafe, 39, both Singaporean nationals.

A composite team from the Bureau of Customs, NAIA - Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG), and Aviation Se -

Blood donation in Caloocan draws hundreds

By Jun David

OVER a hundred donors from Caloocan and Valenzuela took part in an annual bloodletting event to mark the onset of the gift-giving season.

Dubbed “Dugong Bigay, Dugtong Buhay,” the activity was in support of the Voluntary Blood Donation Program spearheaded by the Department of Health’s Philippine Blood Center (PBC) in collaboration with SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) and SM’s Medical Services Division.

A total of 100 units of blood were collected from successful donors in SM City Grand Central, SM Center Sangandaan, and SM City Valenzuela during the oneday donation drive held at the mall. SM City Grand Central’s nurse, Mary Grace Batoon, said that before the blood extraction, volunteers underwent a medical interview, a physical check-up, and blood tests to qualify as donors. A lecture on blood awareness, its function, and the health benefits of donating blood followed.

curity Unit arrested the suspects upon arrival at Terminal 3 around 1 a.m. Thursday.

The suspects, who arrived at the airport on board Qatar Airways Flight QR-928 from Doha, attempted to smuggle 364 cocaine pellets using

four tin cans, two cylindrical containers, and a duffle bag.

Also confiscated from the suspects were identification cards, passports, boarding passes, baggage declaration forms, tags, and mobile phones. Airport authorities have heightened vigilance in the campaign against illegal drug trafficking in a bid to discourage international drug syndicates from using the Philippines as a transshipment point for illegal substances.

According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, marijuana, co -

Wage increase for workers in

caine, ecstasy, and shabu are among the top narcotics being smuggled and distributed in the streets, and these prohibited substances are manufactured by Chinese, Taiwanese, and Mexican drug syndicates.

Customs officials said they will continue their vigilance against different modes of concealment of illegal drugs through enhanced and improved profiling techniques. The campaign is in full support of Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio’s border control initiatives.

MOONCAKE FESTIVAL. Workers set up lanterns in preparation for the MidAutumn Festival or Mooncake Festival at Atrium Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo, Manila. The Mooncake Festival is a much-awaited celebration for Chinese families. Norman Cruz

Regions 2, 3, 7

By Vito Barcelo

A TOTAL of 682,117 minimum wage earners in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and SOCCSKSARGEN will receive wage increases.

This after the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) affirmed the wage orders submitted by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) in the said regions.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said the RTWPB in Region 2 issued Wage Order No. RTWPB 2-22 on 21 September 2023, providing a P30 increase.

Once the two-tranche wage adjustment takes full effect, the new daily minimum wage rate for Cagayan Valley will be P450 for non-agriculture and P430 for agriculture establishments.

The RTWPB-Region 2 also issued Wage Order No. 02-DW-05 granting a monthly increase of P500 for domestic workers bringing their monthly wage rate to P5,500.

For Region 3, its wage board issued Wage Order No. RBIII-24 on 19 September 2023, granting a P40 increase.

Under the new wage order, the daily minimum wage rates for the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales will range from P454 to P500.

Human rights body hails bill on employment for indigenous peoples

By Rio N. Araja

THE Commission on Human Rights

(CHR) on Thursday backed the passage of a proposed measure seeking equal employment opportunities for indigenous peoples (IPs).

The CHR welcomed Senate Bill (SB) No. 1026 authored by Senator

Jinggoy Estrada which aims to address the issues of poverty and inequalities affecting members of indigenous communities by providing them with access to equal employment opportunities and prohibiting discriminatory acts in their hiring and dismissal from work.

The bill, if passed, would be ti -

tled “Equal Employment Opportunities to Members of Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICC) Act” that shall guarantee that the rights of IPs are respected.

Under the bill, the government is mandated to reserve at least 10 percent of the rank-and-file positions in government services to IPs in areas

where indigenous cultural communities’ presence is dominant. CHR lamented that the indigenous communities and indigenous peoples continue to be one the Philippines’ most vulnerable groups from discrimination, displacements, killings, numerous human rights violations and social inequalities.

Marcos hails work of outstanding Filipinos

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos

Jr. on Thursday hailed outstanding Filipinos who showed excellence in their respective fields and cited their contributions to bring the country closer to “Bagong Pilipinas.”

“Your accomplishments bring us also closer to Bagong Pilipinas that we are determined to build—a nation that has a globally competitive education system, a safe and empowered citizenry, and a society that offers equal opportunities for all,” the President said.

President Marcos made his remarks during the award ceremony of the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos at the Malacañang Palace recently.

“The excellence that you have demonstrated in your pursuits is, truly, worth emulating,” he said.

President Marcos commended the 10 awardees, consisting of teachers, cops, and soldiers, for going the “extra mile” in contributing to their respective institutions and advocacies.

“We are not a damaged culture. I hate that. We are a great people and you are the example of that greatness,” the President said.

The awardees were commended for their service to the people and country and for unleashing a transformative force that created ripples of positive transformation in the communities and sectors that they serve.

“Your noble works as academicians, soldiers, and police officers are oftentimes the most demanding, exhausting, and wearisome professions out there,” Mr. Marcos said.

“Nevertheless, yours are also among the most important and hopefully the most rewarding and fulfilling vocations that there are,” he added.

LRT to deploy more trains to cater to more passengers during Yuletide

By Darwin G. Amojelar

LIGHT Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), the operator of LRT Line 1 said it will deploy more trains starting October 1 to cater more passengers ahead of the Christmas season.

With an expanded fleet composed of up to a maximum of 23 train sets deployed, a new train timetable will be implemented increasing the number of trips on weekdays from current 410 to 460 trips, and on weekends from the current 293 to 331 trips (Saturdays) and 307 trips (Sundays).

To date, a total of 7 Generation-4 train sets are already running along the main line for commercial service.

“Our transport capacity will increase by almost 10% for weekday operations and about 20% on weekends. We at LRMC are continuously thinking of ways to better serve our passengers with increased capacity and shorter waiting time,” LRMC Chief Operating Officer Rolando J. Paulino III said.

In line with the efforts of LRMC to improve its service through a continuous railway upgrade program, the

Villar: Farmers need more support on food security

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

company will implement adjusted LRT-1 operating hours on weekends and holidays starting 01 October 2023. On weekends and holidays, the first train is scheduled to depart from Baclaran and Fernando Poe Jr. stations at 5:00AM. The last trip leaving Baclaran Station is at 9:30PM, while the last train leaves Fernando Poe Jr. Station at 9:45PM.

On the other hand, there will be no changes in the weekday schedule of LRT-1 with the first train leaving both Baclaran Station and Fernando Poe Jr. Station at 4:30AM, while the last trip is still at 10:00PM and 10:15PM, from Baclaran Station and Fernando Poe Jr. Station respectively.

“The changes at the start of the operating hours on weekends/holidays will allow us to have more time to perform track works as part of our initiatives in upgrading the LRT-1 system,” Paulino said.

“The primary goal of these upgrade efforts is to provide efficient transportation for our dear commuters. We assure you that safety remains a top priority for LRMC,” he added.

Cruise missiles to nukes: North Korea’s arsenal

SEOUL – North Korea has enshrined its status as a nuclear power in its Constitution, with leader Kim Jong Un calling for bigger, more modern atomic weapons.

The move follows Kim’s declaration last year that North Korea is an “irreversible” nuclear power.

Here is a look at North Korea’s arsenal:

Cruise missiles tend to be jet-propelled and fly at a lower altitude than more sophisticated ballistic missiles, making them harder to detect and intercept.

North Korea has an array of short, medium and long-range cruise missiles.

Unlike their ballistic counterparts, cruise missiles are not banned from testing under current UN sanctions against Pyongyang.

In March, two cruise missiles launched from a submarine flew 1,500 kilometers, Pyongyang said, putting South Korea and much of Japan within range.

Intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs), which are rocket-propelled in the first stage of flight, have a range of about 3,000-5,500 km.

North Korea’s main IRBM, the Hwasong-12, is capable of hitting the US territory of Guam.

Pyongyang first successfully tested the Hwasong-12 in May 2017 and has since fired three variants of the missile over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean.

North Korea is banned from testing all ballistic missiles under current UN Security Council sanctions.

Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) have a minimum range of 5,500 kilometers and are primarily designed to deliver nuclear warheads.

North Korea first claimed to have successfully tested the Hwasong-15 — a

missile capable of reaching Alaska — on July 4, 2017 — as a gift for the “American bastards” on US Independence Day.

Three years later, an even bigger and more powerful Hwasong-17 was showcased at a massive military parade.

North Korea fired this “monster missile” in November 2022. Analysts believe that is the first successful full flight test of the Hwasong-17.

This year, Kim oversaw the successful test of North Korea’s newest ICBM, the solid-fuel Hwasong-18.

But all of North Korea’s ICBMs have been test-fired on a lofted trajectory — up not out, to avoid flying over Japan— raising questions about their performance, including surviving reentry into the atmosphere and accuracy over greater ranges.

A submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) can be launched from under the ocean making them extremely mobile and harder to detect.

Proven SLBM capability would take North Korea’s arsenal to a new level, allowing deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula and a second-strike capability in the event of an attack.

North Korea’s operational SLBM is called the Pukguksong-3, with an estimated range of 1,900 km. In October 2021, it announced a successful test of a new version of the missile.

Pyongyang’s exact sea-based launch capabilities remain unclear.

Previous tests were carried out from older vessels, including from a submerged platform, rather than an actual submarine.

North Korea said it fired two strategic cruise missiles from a submarine in March 2023, but analysts said it appeared they had been launched from above water level, thereby removing the stealth benefit of the weapon.

North Korea has also conducted what it called simulations with its “first tactical nuclear attack submarine.” AFP

SENATOR Cynthia Villar called on the government to support Filipino farmers to have access to safe and nutritious food.

This move, she said, will encourage them to strive harder to help the country attain food security.

“We should also help rural communities access better services from the government to make them stay there to feed us all,” Villar, the chairperson of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said.

Villar, a Guest Speaker at the Rotary Club of Makati event held at Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City, spoke about the country’s Food Security and Green Revolution.

According to Villar, these topics are relevant and timely as we continue to confront several challenges in the agricultural sector.

However, she assures that their commitment to lift and protect the Philippine agriculture sector will always remain unaltered.

She recalled that during the Marcos regime in 1973, “Green Revolution” was a popular program primarily geared toward rice sufficiency.

Recently, the Department of Agriculture under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. launched a new version of Green Revolution seeking to improve the nutrition of Filipinos by increasing production and

supply of fresh fruits and vegetables in the urban and rural areas.

It aims to turn communities into patches of green edible landscapes through the establishment of vegetable gardens.

“I have also been leading the campaign on vegetable gardening by distributing seeds and organic fertilizers while enticing people to grow their own food thru our four Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar Sipag) Farm Schools, one in Las Piñas - Bacoor, for NCR and Southern Tagalog and Bicol Region; one in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan for Central Luzon, Cordillera Region and Cagayan Valley; one in San Miguel, Iloilo for Visayas and Davao City for Mindanao,” said Villar.

After repairs, NLEX set to open SCTEX Pasig Potrero bridge

By Darwin G. Amojelar

NLEX Corporation said it is set to reopen the SCTEX Pasig Potrero bridge to all vehicle classes on Friday after the bridge underwent rehabilitation works.

“Travel will again be more convenient and seamless as this will alleviate traffic for motorists coming from Clark to Subic, and vice versa,” said NLEX President J. Luigi L. Bautista.

Bautista reassured the public that while the bridge is reopened, the company will continue the rehabilitation works to further strengthen the bridge.

It will be recalled that on July 16, the concessionaire and operator of SCTEX closed the bridge to all vehicles to conduct an emergency safety inspection and assessment due to constant heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon and typhoon Dodong.

After a thorough assessment by a third-

Karabakh population has fled—Armenia

YEREVAN, Armenia – More than 65,000 Armenians have fled NagornoKarabakh for Armenia, Yerevan said Thursday, as the exodus continued from the breakaway enclave which Azerbaijan recaptured last week in a lighting offensive.

By Thursday morning, “65,036 forcefully displaced persons crossed into Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh,” Armenian government spokeswoman, Nazeli Baghdasaryan, said in a statement.

Some 120,000 ethnic Armenians were estimated to be living in the territory before Baku’s offensive.

“The state is providing suitable housing to all those who do not have a predetermined place of residence,” she added.

On Sunday, Azerbaijan reopened the sole road linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, the Lachin corridor policed by Russian peacekeepers -- four days after Armenian separatist forces agreed to lay down arms and disband their army.

The return of the Armenian-populated separatist enclave under the control of the central government in Baku has led to a mass exodus of ethnic Armenians. AFP

party bridge expert, it was decided that the closure was necessary while repair works were ongoing. This is to ensure the safety of motorists as the heavy rains and strong river flow affected certain portions of the bridge. The tollway company immediately proceeded with the emergency substructure strengthening works, but due to the unpredictable weather and the high water level in the area, the team encountered difficulties in facilitating the safety works.

Taiwan unveils 1st locally-built submarine

KAOHSIUNG – Taiwan unveiled its first domestically built submarine on Thursday, with the massively outgunned island seeking to bolster its defenses against China.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory, and has in the past year stepped up military and political pressure, ramping up the number of warplane incursions around the island while diplomatically isolating it.

Taiwan has increased defence spending — allotting a record $19 billion for 2024 — to acquire military equipment, particularly from its key ally the United States, but its quest to obtain a submarine has faced obstacles.

President Tsai Ing-wen — strongly opposed by Beijing for her refusal to accept China’s authority over the island — launched a submarine program in 2016 with the aim of delivering a fleet of eight vessels.

The first prototype is named “Hai Kun,” which means “mythical sea creature” in Chinese, and was unveiled Thursday at a ceremony in the southern port city of Kaohsiung.

“History will forever remember this day,” declared Tsai, standing in front of the vessel draped in Taiwan’s flag colors. AFP

US Republican hopefuls slam Trump for debate no-show

SIMI VALLEY, United States – Seven US presidential hopefuls tussled over immigration, China and the economy Wednesday at the second Republican primary debate -- but saved some of their most strident remarks to slam frontrunner Donald Trump for spurning the showdown.

The former president, who is battling multiple criminal cases, has decided to skip the debates, and instead met auto industry workers in the battleground state of Michigan.

Trump’s no-show prompted former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie -- the

ex-president’s biggest antagonist among the candidates -- to accuse the 77-year-old tycoon of hiding “behind the walls of his golf clubs.”

“You’re ducking these things, and let me tell you what’s going to happen. You keep doing that, no one up here is gonna call you Donald Trump anymore. We’re gonna call you a Donald Duck,” he said, earning boos for the zinger.

Christie was facing off against Trump’s chief rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, as well as political newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy, former UN ambassador

Nikki Haley and Trump’s vice president Mike Pence. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum rounded out the field for the clash at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in Simi Valley, California, moderated by Fox Business and Univision. More than 3,000 kilometers away in Michigan, Trump was attempting to boost his blue-collar credentials and attack the pro-worker reputation cultivated by President Joe Biden, who visited striking union members in the state on Tuesday. AFP

More than half of

IMF MEETING. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (center, left side) discusses with a visiting team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the steps the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has taken to revitalize the country’s economy and recover from the pandemic and the measures to make the Philippines an attractive destination for foreign investments. Accompanying the Speaker during the meeting are Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Suansing and Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe. Ver Noveno

CONTINUING EXODUS. Refugees wait near a Red Cross registration centere in Goris on Wednesday. Armenia said earlier 28,120 refugees have so far arrived from NagornoKarabakh, a majority ethnic Armenian breakaway enclave defeated in a lightning offensive by Azerbaijan last week. AFP

PH improves 3 spots to rank 56th in global innovation index

By Othel V. Campos

THE Philippines climbed three spots to rank 56th in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2023 out of 132 economies included in the report.

The report noted that the Philippines continued performing above expectations based on its gross domestic product per capita as it effectively turned costly innovation investments into more and higherquality outputs.

“The improvement of the Philippine innovation ranking is a welcome development. But we have to continue being dissatisfied—dissatisfied not just in our current posture in the global innovation map but in the current way of things around us, whether products, solutions, systems, processes or practices. We need to develop among Filipinos a mindset that continuously innovates to challenge the norm until such a time that innovating becomes our norm,” Intellectual Property of the Philippines director-general Rowel Barba said.

Barba noted how Philippine innovation inputs improved for the first time since 2020, jumping by seven spots to 69th from 76th in 2022 and by 13 spots from 82nd in 2018—the year before the gamechanging Philippine Innovation Law and Philippine Startup Act were enacted.

He said the rise in innovation inputs could mean that the fundamental resources and conditions that make a vibrant innovation ecosystem are close within the country’s reach.

The Philippines ranking in the Credit sub-pillar went up 57 spots this year, from 115th to 58th, reflecting improved accessibility and availability of financing which had been the primary obstacles to startups.

Cebu Pacific eyes Boeing planes as Airbus engine issue affects fleet

By Darwin G. Amojelar

CEBU Air Inc., the operator of low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific, said Thursday it plans to purchase narrowbody aircraft from US plane manufacturer Boeing to “diversify risk” amid the issues with Airbus engine supplier Pratt and Whitney (P&W).

Cebu Pacific chief executive Mike Szucs told reporters the airline was in talks with Airbus and Boeing for a possible large order of aircraft.

“This is an extremely large order for somebody like Cebu Pacific certainly, but even in the Philippines by far, and the largest order I think that will ever be placed in the Philippines,” Szucs said

at the sidelines of the 2023 Aviation Summit.

“In the coming week or two, we will formally launch the request for proposal and may the best man win. It will be one or the other, we’re not gonna split it between the two. It could be that we order a whole load of new Airbus again, or it could be we order a whole

load of Boeing. We would think three to six months would be the whole process, hopefully,” he said.

Szucs said Cebu Pacific was looking at Boeing aircraft to diversify risk “because we’re facing issues at the moment” with engine issues with Airbus.

“So that we haven’t got all our eggs in one basket, and that is an argument. Frankly, we will look at the right outcome financially and operationally, but both products are really good. The Boeing 737 Max is an excellent product and we know because we fly around at the moment,” Szucs siad.

Cebu Pacific operated a fleet of Boeing 757 narrow body for international flights from 2001 to 2006.

“The A320 is an excellent product as well. That’s why we’re ambivalent in that sense. It will be the right financial answer so that we can pass on the best ticket prices for our paying passengers,” he said.

Cebu Pacific said it expected its fleet to end 2023 with 76 aircraft and grow to 91 aircraft by 2024. It is the youngest fleet in the Philippines and includes 25 P&W-powered Airbus aircraft.

The airline earlier said it would revise downward its growth rate in 2024 due to P&W aircraft engine issues.

Cebu Pacific said while there was no immediate impact on operations, “we expect that this will affect our fleet availability in 2024.”

REAL ESTATE WINNERS. The Outlook 2023: Philippine Real Estate Awards winners pose with their trophies. together with Lamudi Philippines country head Anurag Verma (seventh from left), Banko of Philippine Islands retail mortgage division head Bernadette Ocampo (eighth from left) and Lamudi associate director for corporate accounts Mark Bailey (ninth from left). Lamudi acknowledged the top real estate developers on Sept. 21, 2023. With 21 awards presented at the grand ceremony, the property platform recognized various real estate segments across the market in a voting process that included the help of 10,000 active seekers to ensure the impartiality and integrity of the awarding body.

DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DOT)

Secretary Christina Frasco said Thursday international visitor arrivals reached 3.97 million as of Sept. 27, representing 83 percent of the full-year target of 4.8 million.

Data from the DOT showed that South Koreans topped the list of visitors, accounting for 26 percent of the total. They were followed by American tourists with 16.99-percent share and Japanese travelers with 5.54 percent. Rounding up the top ten markets are China, Australia, Canada, Taiwan, the UK, Singapore and Malaysia.

Frasco expressed optimism that international visitor expenditures would hit or even surpass the projected P325billion revenues in 2023.

The DOT aims to attract at least 7.7 million tourists in 2024, or nearly double the baseline target for 2023.

The agency also reported that the sector opened over 21,000 new jobs to Filipinos during the Trabaho, Turismo, Asenso job fair. About 89,024 tourism workers were trained under the banner program of Filipino Brand of Hospitality.

Frasco said that as the sector rebounded near pre-pandemic levels, its share to the overall employment rose to 11.4 percent this year, with 93 percent recovery rate from 2019.

The contribution of tourism to the Philippine economy reached 6.2 percent of the gross domestic product in 2022.

Frasco said the approval by Congress of the proposed P2.7 billion budget for DOT next year would help increase visitor receipts to P1.87 trillion, as forecasted in the National Tourism Development Plan 2023-2028 and sustain the 5.35 million jobs contributed by tourism to the economy.Othel V. Campos

Foreign tourists reached nearly 4m as of Sept. 27 in line with 2024 goal

Life and love lessons from an award-winning actor

WHEN we met award-winning actor Jake Cuenca last Saturday, it was hard to believe he barely has a rest day with his jam-packed schedule. Sporting a rugged look that reminds us of his fierce character Eros in the hit ABS-CBN primetime series The Iron Heart, he personified grit, passion, and gratitude.

Our almost an hour-long conversation was free-flowing and filled with nuggets of wisdom.

Here are a few insights from Jake: Pursue your passion

There is no question that Jake is pursuing his passion. His

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eyes lit up when the subject is his acting chops. The character actor shared that it was a long journey before reaching this point in his career. “Before all of these projects, there were a lot of struggles. The pandemic was the biggest teacher of them all for me,” Jake opened up.

”It taught me things about myself. It taught me about how I really do love acting.” At one point, he shared having made a self-assessment. “You know, once the audiences are gone, the money is gone, the fame is gone, do you still love it? I certainly know I do.” Jake shared with conviction.

Roll with momentum

Jake is currently juggling projects, constantly shifting from one character to another. He seems unstoppable these days.

“Coming out of the pandemic, I feel so

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reinvigorated. Even in my spare time, I want to stay at it. I want a continuation of things,” Jake enthused. He talked about his work like a young boy would about his favorite toy. “I’ve come to a point in my life that I know my talent a lot better now, I can spread it around. I can do The Iron Heart (action drama) and be Eros and do Jack En Jill and be a comedian. But then I can also be a theater actor here and a singer in ASAP and do a mall show. I have come to embrace the industry and the multiple facets that come with it.”

With years of hard and heavy work that entails physical and emotional investment, it would be easy to assume Jake is craving for a break. I was surprised to know that he enjoys work so much that he is willing to skip having a vacation. Jake related how his manager was so excited to tell him that he was finally free to go on a getaway soon. He laughingly shared his reply, “You go on vacation. I’m not tired.”

The actor said he believes he has to be very honest with himself about what he truly needs. Jake shared his realization,” I don’t want to go on vacation. That was like a three-year vacation during the pandemic, I want to continue on.”

“The three years was enough of a break,” Jake explained. “That was enough of watching things and resting.” He seems to believe in striking while the iron is hot and that time is fleeting. “This moment will never happen again. I will never be this young again. I will never look like this again,” Jake told the press matter-of-factly. “I’ll be acting ‘til the day I die but the attention will not always be there. You will not always be full of life. I should not feel burnt out now. This is the best moment for me to show everything.” Read full story on manilastandard.net

Coca-Cola PH, partners collect more than 1,000 kgs of waste in coastal cleanup in Tanza, Cavite

COCA-COLA Philippines, together with Plastic Bank Philippines and Lighthouse Legacy Foundation, led over 200 volunteers to collect debris and marine waste at Julugan Fish Terminal in Tanza, Cavite, on September 16, as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). Employees from the Coca-Cola Philippines system, together with waste collection members of its Ecosystem Impact Program with Plastic Bank Philippines and volunteers from ICC Philippines, Lighthouse Legacy Foundation, the Local Government of Tanza, Philippine Coast Guard Cavite Chapter, and Don Bosco School of Theology collected more than 1,000 kgs of waste to help address coastal waste issues in the area.

Zed Avecilla, President of Lighthouse Legacy Foundation, commended Coca-Cola Philippines for its longstanding commitment to responsible waste management, highlighting the company’s “World Without Waste” strategy that was initiated in 2018, well before the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law was enacted in the country.

Avecilla also emphasized the impact of raising awareness on the importance of managing waste to prevent them from getting into Philippine waters- through events

like ICC. “What we are achieving through these events is the creation of awareness on responsible waste management and educating Filipinos about the EPR Law. In a way, we are appealing to their emotions to help the environment,” he said.

The ICC is renowned as the world’s largest volunteer effort for ocean sanitation, with The CocaCola Company serving as a founding member of the Trash Free Seas Alliance since 1995. In partnership with its local bottling partners, the company is engaging employees, consumers, and

communities in cleanups, providing resources, grants, and in-kind donations to help remove trash from beaches and waterways.

In the Philippines, Coca-Cola is doing its part to prevent marine debris through community-based initiatives like the Ecosystem Impact Program with Plastic Bank. This initiative helps build collection and recycling systems in communities to prevent plastic bottles from ending up in places where they should not be, while at the same time, empowering workers in the solid waste management sector.

Coca-Cola Philippines President Tony del Rosario reaffirms the company’s commitment to help address the plastic waste problem through the World Without Waste global sustainable strategy and the May Ikabobote Pa consumer company’s wider commitment to help tackle plastic waste. “No one wants to see empty packaging end up where it doesn’t belong. Our World Without Waste program is an ambitious global sustainable packaging strategy that aims to help drive a circular economy for our packaging in the Philippines. Together with our partners, we are making progress with still much more to do,” he said.

Dhang Tecson, Global Director for Country Operations of Plastic Bank, thanked Coca-Cola Philippines for its annual coastal cleanup activity as well as the company’s invaluable contribution to advancing the circular economy of plastics in the Philippines. “Maganda ‘yung ginagawa ng Coca-Cola kasi hindi lang sa ating mga bahay nasisimulan ‘yung action, kundi pati sa ating komunidad (What Coca-Cola is doing is great because change doesn’t just start in our homes but also in our community),” Tecson said. Coca-Cola bottles can have many lives

Coca-Cola Philippines President Tony del Rosario emphasized that coastal cleanup activity is part of the

The Coca-Cola Company’s World Without Waste global sustainable packaging strategy aims to make 100% of its packaging recyclable globally by 2025, use at least 50% recycled plastic in its packaging by 2030, help collect the equivalent of every can and bottle it sells by 2030, and bring people together to support a healthy, debris-free environment.

In line with this, Coca-Cola Philippines recently introduced new bottles made from 100% recycled PET plastic (rPET) for Coca-Cola Original (190ml and 390ml) and Wilkins Pure (500ml), in addition to Sprite 500ml introduced in 2019. The company also launched “May Ikabobote Pa” a consumer engagement initiative aimed at educating people about the actions they can take around recycling. Currently, Coca-Cola Philippines is expanding its network of over 2,800 recycling drop-off points across the country to make it easier for consumers to return their empty bottles.

Coca-Cola Philippines President Tony del Rosario joined hundreds of volunteers in the coastal cleanup at Julugan Fish Terminal in Tanza, Cavite

Plastic Bank Philippines, ICC Philippines, Lighthouse Legacy Foundation, and the Don Bosco School of Theology were some of the organizations that joined Coca-Cola Philippines in collecting debris and marine waste during the coastal cleanup

Assistant Editor

Van der Valk survives wild  3rd

round, hikes lead to 2

CLARK Freeport Zone—Guido van der Valk lived through a tricky backside test of will and character to churn out a plucky 68 on Thursday and take a step closer to wrapping up the Philippine Golf Tour season the way he had unfolded it.

And on a course that could yield birdies on any given hole, van der Valk hardly found the need to go for one down the stretch as he parred the last seven to piece a pair of 34s and find himself hiking his two-day, one-stroke lead to two heading to the final 18 holes of the ICTSI Mimosa Plus Championship at the Acacia course here.

Dropping to a tie with a hot-starting Michael Bibat in the early going and yielding the lead to Jhonnel Ababa midway through, the Dutchman regained control with back-to-back birdies from No. 10 and held sway at 16-under 200 through a run of pars as Bibat hobbled with a double-bogey on No. 15 and Ababa slowed down with a backside 37 after an eagle-laced 32.

Former sanda world champ Mandal nets PH’s 1st silver

HANGZHOU, China—Sanda warrior Arnel

Mandal threw everything that he could muster at Jiang Haidong, but failed to knock out his Chinese opponent, dropping a 0-2 setback in their championship encounter and settling for the silver medal, the Philippines’ first in the 19th Asian Games here on Thursday.

The 27-year-old Mandal unleashed a barrage of punches, but the Chinese was an elusive target in the 56-kg category finals at the Xiaoshan Guali Sports Centre.

``Ginawa ko lahat ng aking makakaya pero hindi ako pinalad,’’ said Mandal, the 2015 World Sanda Championship men’s 52kg titleholder, who stands to receive P1 million for his accomplishment as indicated in Republic Act No.

10699, also known as the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.

Tuesday night.

Bibat birdied the par-5 16th for the third straight day and matched van der Valk’s four-under card as he remained two shots adrift of the three-day leader at 202 in a tie with Ababa, who made a 69, and Dino Villanueva, who gained in moving day with a 66 and moved from four back at fifth to within two at joint second.

Pirates vow not to relax after victory over Knights

“Ayaw namin i-risk pa si Gideon. Bronze na ‘yan at mataas ang probability na matamaan ang injury nya sa mga kasunod na laban,’’ said Wushu Federation of the Philippines president Freddie Jalasco. Also securing a bronze was Clemente Tabugara Jr., who was assured of the medal after downing Kazakhstan’s Abdusamat Ashirov in the men’s 65kg quarterfinals before his run ended against Indonesia’s Samuel Marbun.

prob na nya Clem

By Peter Atencio

THIS early, the Lyceum Pirates’ 7069 upset of the defending champion Letran Knights won’t mean much.

Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan said this as the Pirates took the early lead with their second straight win the 99th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

By Riera U. Mallari

HANGZHOU—With Team Philippines only able to show a silver and four bronze medals after five days of hostilities in the 19th Asian Games, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann doesn’t feel the need to push the panic button yet. More will come, he said.

“We’re still hoping, we’re still confident that we will beat our four golds during our last Asian Games,” said the PSC chief in a short interview on Wednesday with Filipino scribes covering the games. The Philippines finished with four gold medals in the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, courtesy of Olympic gold medalist weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, skateboarder Margielyn Didal and golfer Yuka Saso, who won the individual title before teaming up with Lois Kaye Go and

Mandal’s teammate Gideon Pad ua concluded his Asian Games’ stint with a bronze in the men’s 60kg af ter Filipino wushu officials decided not to field him in the semifinals on Wednesday night due to a broken nose bridge following his emphatic quarterfinal win over Turkmeni stan’s Agajumageldi Yazymov on

Padaf-

The Philippine wushu team finished se

The Philippine wushu team finished its campaign with one silver and three bronze medals, including the one secured by taolu specialist Jones Inso in the men’s taijiquan-taijijian allround on Monday. Riera U. Mallari

PSC chief Bachmann: More medals will come

Bianca Pagdanganan for the team crown.

Of the four, Didal was the first to fall and failed to defend her Asian Games title here. Only Go is left of the golfers, while Diaz, who made a living in the 55-kg division, is moving up in unfamiliar territory at 59 kgs.

But Bachmann is unfazed.

“I was with Ricky Vargas last night, who told me he believes boxing can give two gold medals. I am also looking at EJ Obiena (of pole vault), I’m looking at Alex (Eala of tennis), other athletes, who can pull off a surprise and we still have weightlifting as well.”

But Bachmann emphasized the PSC treats all athletes equally, not just the medal prospects.

“What we’re all doing now is going around, watching a full game, be it with a no medal or medal chance, we’re showing support to everyone,” the chairman added.

AS he continues to prepare the Philippine Azkals, the men’s national football team of the country, for the upcoming Asian and World Cup qualifiers in November, head coach Michael Weiss says there is another aspect that the team has to improve further to bolster their chances against powerhouse teams such as Vietnam and Indonesia.

Weiss said right now, the team is promising with several younglings set to step up as the squad, just like almost everything, keeps on evolving for the better. He also said that the veteran members of the team are also doing their share in helping the team transition in the light of challenges posed by the tough competition. He said that the tools are there, but the team can be much better if the Azkals can also develop a different set of mindset once they are on the pitch, whether in a tuneup game or in an actual tournament.

“We should work on our aggressiveness, I would say some kind of brutality because our opponents are not soft. They defend with everything they have, sometimes with unfair means. So we also have to be a little bit more not so friendly and I will demand that from the Azkals in the next camp,” Weiss explained.

The Azkals are set to put up a camp for nine days in Bahrain for a couple of friendlies on October 12 and tentatively on the 14th. Weiss said these games will help the team find the ruthlessness they need against stronger and bigger teams.

“We have all the technical and tactical offensive strategies in our portfolio. So we have to fine tune them and more. It comes with one more camp and more time playing together,” Weiss said.

While he is not disclosing the possibility of new Azkals being added to the camp and eventually in the

“We arrived yesterday, we went to football as well to get it over with and see one game at least. There’s also dragonboat but I’m still thinking if I will still go back because malayo talaga. Cycling, I wanna go also. I also used to do triathlons and I love cycling as well. So hopefully I get to go out. But when it comes to point na sabay-sabay na lahat, we’ll be splitting already. Because so far in the past few days, sabay-sabay kami palagi.

“I guess now, with commissioner Fritz Gaston later, then we would split. Maybe Paulo (Tatad) can go with commissioner Fritz and I’ll go on my own.” The chairman also vowed to be with the athletes all through the Asiad.

“I’ll be staying here all the way to the end. I will be back for maybe a week or two break, then I’ll be back for the Asian Para Games,” he said.

November qualifiers, Weiss said that it may no longer be feasible to make abrupt changes in the team right now. He, however, made it clear that he is still hoping that those who are in his “wish list” will eventually show up. He reiterated once more that players, who are committed to the team will always be his priority compared to the best players out there but have not made themselves available during the camps.

“We can’t do things overnight and bring in new and young players and then think it will work immediately with the results. We have to find a good balance and take our time. We need, however, to speed it up as much as we can,” Weiss added.

In a list given to The Designated Kit Man by some rabid Azkals fans, who also serve as de-facto scouts for the team, close to a hundred players based in different countries were identified, including their positions, age and club they are currently connected to right now.

Several of these potential and future Azkals are just 15 year olds. The youngest is 13, while two are 14 years old. Most on the list are in their late teens and early 20s. The oldest is 30, and he is the only one in his 30s in the list. The list has been forwarded to Weiss and the management team of the Azkals.

Filipino football icon Stephan Schrock, who serves as consultant and adviser on the team, said that among his duties for the Azkals include identifying prospects and recruiting players to play for flag and country. He revealed that he is monitoring at least 50 players right

now. The problem, however, is that inviting the players to come to Manila and play for the Philippines is the easy part. For them to get the necessary documents to allow them to play for the team is among the bigger challenges in forming a strong Azkals team.

“It is not just a snap of the finger because they have a Filipino mom, dad or a grandparent. The main issue is that the parents gave up their (Philippine) passports and it is pretty hard to get back their citizenship or to give up their current ones,” Schrock said. “It makes sense for them, it also makes sense for us. But there are many conditions to consider. And there must be a commitment.”

Schrock was also candid in sharing that funding, too, plays a major part in the recruitment process.

“Funding is a big part of the game in every direction not only for the camps but throughout the year. Working with the Azkals is a full time job, not just a Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. something. Funding needs to be everywhere, not just for passports and documentation,” he added.

Incidentally, Schrock made his Azkals’ debut for Weiss more than a decade ago. Despite several differences in the past, the two are now inseparable in making sure that the Azkals will have a strong and fighting squad come November.

With less than two months before they play the games that matter most, here is hoping that the Azkals will get their acts together. The process is not easy, the prospect of tangling toe-to-toe with our rivals remains as daunt-

There are many more games ahead of them, and Malabanan hopes that the Pirates can build a winning streak, and gain momentum when they clash with the University of Perpetual Help Altas on Saturday.

“We’re happy that we’re on top, but we don’t stop and hindi pa naman ‘to ‘yung goal namin. Malayo pa kami sa goal namin and I don’t want na mag-relax kami because of that win,” said Malabanan.

The Pirates and Altas will meet at 4 p.m. at the FilOil-EcoOil Arena in San Juan.

“That win (over Letran) means nothing kasi wala pa naman kaming napapatunayan,” added Malabanan.

Earlier, the San Beda Red Lions and the Mapua University Cardinals will seek to catch up with the Pirates when they clash at 4 p.m. Friday.

Last Tuesday, the Red Lions pummeled the Arellano University Chiefs, 85-61, while the Cardinals prevailed over the San Sebastian Stags, 80-70.

The College of St. Benilde Blazers and the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers will collide at 2 p.m.

ing as ever and with so many parts still missing and wanting, but then again, when was the last time life was easy for the national team? At least the goal remains the same, and there are people who never let go of their faith on the team. And for this the Azkals need our support, as always, especially on the home games on November 15 and 21 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

On a personal note, please tune in at 3PTS–Pambansang Tambayan ng Sports aired live over DZME 1530 Khz this coming Sunday, October 1, 2023 from 2 to 3 p.m. GM Jayson Gonzales will give us an update via zoom on the current campaign of the national men’s and women’s chess teams in the ongoing 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

Legendary basketball coach Joe Lipa, on the other hand, will join us live in the studio. Please join me, Chino Trinidad and possibly Cong. Butch Pichay in our favorite tambayan.

Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!

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

Azkals need to be ‘brutal’

Gilas Pilipinas’ Scottie Thompson splits the defense of two Thailand defenders in the 19th Asian Games basketball competition. The Filipinos won, 87-72.

PSC chairman Richard Bachmann

Editor Randy M. Caluag,

(left) connects with a kick to the head of his Chinese foe.

Guido van der Valk (Manny Marcelo)

50 Years of Service Excellence:

Honoring LWUA’s Legacy in Building a Water Secure Future

Overcoming global water challenges

BOHOL – The 29th International Conference and Exhibition of the Philippine Water Works Association is set to take place from October 4 to 6 at the picturesque Hennan Resort in Bohol, Philippines. With the timely theme, “Overcoming Global Challenges in Water & Wastewater,” the event promises to be an essential platform for international collaboration and knowledge exchange in the field of water management.

The conference will commence with a momentous ribbon-cutting ceremony, symbolizing the inauguration of the exhibition area, followed by the official opening of exhibits. Distinguished personalities and leaders from the water industry will gather to mark this significant moment.

Atty. Vicente Joyas, president of the PWWA, will deliver the opening remarks, setting the tone for the conference’s discussions and deliberations. His insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the water and wastewater sector will provide a comprehensive perspective on the conference’s theme.

The conference will also be graced by the Hon. Edgardo Arcay, Mayor of Panglao, Bohol, who will extend a warm welcome to all participants. His presence underscores the importance of local and regional collaboration in tackling waterrelated issues.

Atty. Vicente Homer B. Revil, Administrator of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), will deliver an inspirational message. As a respected figure in the water industry, his words are expected to inspire and motivate attendees to work towards sustainable water management practices.

The highlight of the conference will be the keynote address by Senator Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios “Imee” Romualdez Marcos. As a prominent political figure and advocate for environmental causes, Senator Marcos will shed light on the critical role of policy and legislation in addressing global water challenges.

The conference will feature a series of plenary sessions and technical discussions focusing on sustainable water and wastewater practices and issues that need to be overcome. Experts, researchers, and practitioners from around the world will share their insights, experiences, and research findings in these crucial areas.

According to Atty. Joyas, the PWWA International Conference & Exhibition provides an unparalleled opportunity for professionals in the water sector to come together, share knowledge, and develop strategies that will shape the future of water management. We are excited to host such a diverse and esteemed group of speakers and participants.”

He invites interested participants to email at pwwa@gmail.com for more information and registration details.

SPORTS

2 eagles drive Uy to ICTSI Mimosa romp

CLARK Freeport Zone—Daniella Uy dusted herself off a previous setback that ruined a three-straight title drive and went right back at it, shooting a stunning eight-under 64 yesterday to secure the ICTSI Mimosa Plus Championship yesterday and emerge the winningest player on this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

What was expected to be a wild, down-to-the-wire battle among three of the Tour’s top guns turned into a fiveshot cakewalk for Uy, who cranked up her final round charge with two frontside eagles, leading to a 31 and a two-shot cushion after starting the final round one stroke behind Harmie Constantino (34) and Mikha Fortuna (35).

But the Forest Hills and Del Monte legs winner proved she’s far from being finished as she kept on powering up, hitting three birdies in a five-hole stretch

from No. 11 in a solid backside run that anchored her runaway victory on a 54hole, 14-under 202 total at Mimosa Plus’ Acacia course here.

“My 2 eagles did help me win this one,” said Uy, who drained a seven-foot putt off a wedge second shot from 126 yards on the par-5 No. 5 then set up a three-footer for another eagle on the next long hole on No. 9 off a 7-iron shot from 156 yards.

“After leading by three on No. 11, I still went for the par-5 14th and

made another birdie. That further boosted my confidence and I made another (birdie) on the next,” added Uy, who banked P120,000 for her latest feat in the circuit put up by ICTSI. Despite yielding the lead on a three-birdie, one-bogey card at the front, Constantino had hoped to wage a charge in the last nine holes. But mishits and missed putts dropped the Luisita and Villamor legs winner farther back, ending up with a run of pars for a 70 and solo second at 207. She received P85,000.

Fortuna, whose solid opening round 65 sparked hopes of a breakthrough stint for the Oklahoma U product, rebounded from a bogey on No. 7 with two straight birdies from the next and stayed within three shots off Uy with a birdie on the 11th.

But she double bogeyed the par-5 No. 14 to all but drop out of the title race and needed to birdie the next to save a 71 and tie for third with Korean Seoyun Kim at 208. Each got P66,000.

Tudor’s De Kleijn tops stage 8, Carr keeps Langkawi

By Randy Caluag

MELAKA, Malaysia--Arvid De Kleijn of Tudor Pro Cycling Team again displayed his vaunted sprint prowess and won his second stage in a mass finish at the Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi on Thursday.

All the riders finished with identical time of 4 hours 08.9 minutes in concluding the 174.7-kilometer stage that took the peloton on mostly flat roads from Karak to this historic city. Simon Carr of EF Education, who grabbed the overall individual leadership in the previous Genting killer stage, comfortably hung on at the top with an aggregate clocking of 23 hours 33.29 seconds, just 49 seconds faster than teammate Alexander Cepeda Ortiz.

leadership

The Filipino riders of 7- ElevenCliqq-Air21-RoadbikePhilippines, now reduced to just four, also came along with the big bunch.

Joshua Pascual went back to Manila to rejoin the national team, which is leaving on Monday to compete in the Hangzhou Asian Games while Junreck Carcueva was disqualified due to technicality.

Team captain Ryan Tugawin, Nichol Pareja, Ismael Grospe and Renz Michael Bondoc will continue to chase for glory in stage 7 from Muar to Seremban--123.8 km battle on flat roads with three sprint honors at stake.

But the penultimate stage is not expected to stir major shakeup in the overall standings that were shaped two days ago in the killer Genting Highlands stage.

Blazers trade  Lillard to Bucks

LOS ANGELES—Damian Lillard is headed to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he’ll team with two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo after a blockbuster trade from Portland. ESPN was among multiple media outlets reporting the three-team trade Wednesday, less than a month before the start of the season.

Lillard, a seven-time All-Star and the 2013 Rookie of the Year, confirmed the move on the X social media platform.

“The casuals won’t be addressed but the trailblazers fans and city of Portland that I love truly will be ... and they will be addressed truthfully. Stay tuned

“Excited for my next chapter! @ Bucks,” Lillard wrote.

ESPN and The Athletic reported that Lillard, who has spent all 11 of his NBA campaigns in Portland but requested a trade in July, was headed to Milwaukee in a three-team trade deal that also included the Phoenix Suns.

Portland will receive All-Star pointguard Jrue Holiday and draft picks from the Bucks. The Trail Blazers also land the Suns’ Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara, while the Suns get Grayson Allen from the Bucks and Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson from Portland. AFP

Daniella Uy kisses her trophy. Manny Marcelo

Ismael Gorospe and Nichol Pareja of 7-Eleven enjoys quick shower provided by Malaysian fire officers. Randy Caluag

Damian Lillard and Giannis  Antetokounmpo will now be teammates at Milwaukee. AFP

LWUA at 50: A golden legacy of water service and commitment to Filipinos

By Peter Paul Duran

THE Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) celebrates an extraordinary milestone in 2023—50 years of unwavering dedication to managing one of life’s most critical resources: water.

Established in 1973 under Presidential Decree 198, LWUA has played a pivotal role in promoting, overseeing, and financing the development of water supply systems in provincial cities and municipalities outside Metro Manila. These efforts, primarily through water districts (WDs), exemplify the government’s resolute commitment to ensuring water security for the nation.

At present, approximately 532 operational WDs serve over 22 million Filipinos across 648 cities and municipalities in the Philippines.

Laying the Foundations for a Water-Secure Future

LWUA emerged as a key funding and support source for WDs, providing diverse loan opportunities for different projects aimed at ensuring profitability, long-term viability, and compliance with legal standards.

The agency emphasized efficient resource allocation and stressed the importance of safe and healthy water provision, aligning with the vision of a water-secure Philippines inspired by successful global water system models. Initiatives like Patubig sa Buong Bayan at Mamamayan (PBBM) were launched to enhance water services for Filipinos.

LWUA’s establishment half a century ago was a transformative moment, underscoring the government’s commitment to securing safe, affordable, and sustainable water access for all Filipinos.

Attorney Vicente “Vince” Homer Revil, LWUA’s current Administrator, stresses the agency’s ongoing mission of ensuring comprehensive water service coverage at all three levels, reaffirming the commitment even after fifty years.

Collaboratively, LWUA and WDs have reached 5.4 million households, encompassing approximately 22.3 million individuals.

LWUA’s financial support for water-related projects, enhanced technical services, and adherence to national laws have ensured safe and potable water for the communities served.

During Atty. Revil’s tenure, LWUA solidified its role as a crucial lending institution, offering financial support for a diverse array of water-related projects.

These initiatives included household connections, watershed management, and essential infrastructure upgrades, significantly extending services to 23 percent of the rural populace. These strategic efforts greatly bolstered LWUA’s success and impact over five decades.

A Golden Celebration

Recently celebrated at the Manila Hotel, LWUA’s 50th-anniversary event was a moment to reflect on past achievements and outline future goals. Atty. Revil revealed shortterm and long-term objectives, highlighting the expansion of WDs’ service coverage and the operationalization of financially challenged WDs.

Moreover, the launch of initiatives like Patubig sa Buong Bayan at Mamamayan and the Save Water Advocacy showcased LWUA’s commitment to efficient and sustainable water services for Filipinos.

The commitment to providing safe, sustainable water extends into the next 50 years,

with LWUA drawing inspiration from successful water systems abroad.

Atty. Revil emphasized the importance of adequate capital, compliance with laws, and efficient transmission lines, reflecting the commitment to long-term viability, profitability, and safe water provision. The agency is committed to enhancing water security by focusing on river basin development and optimizing water impoundments.

“We have brought water to remote barangays, municipalities, cities, and provinces and empowered local communities to take charge of their water supply—ensuring that clean water is not a privilege but a right of every Filipino,” Revil stated during the event, graced by dignitaries, including key government officials such as Senator Francis Tolentino and former DOLE Secretary Silverstre Bello III.

Looking ahead, Atty. Revil outlined LWUA’s vision for the next half-century, emphasizing the agency’s dedication to creating a sustainable water landscape to ensure clean water flows to all.

“As we stand at the threshold of the next half-century, we are filled with anticipation and hope. We will collectively strive to build a water-secure future with the ultimate goal that ‘No one will be left behind,’” he said.

LWUA’s 50th anniversary marked not only a significant milestone but also a testament to its dedicated service, exemplifying the unwavering commitment to providing vital water resources to the Filipino people.

In closing his speech, Revil hopes LWUA’s legacy will inspire the agency’s robust workforce to work together in shaping a sustainable water landscape for our country.

“Together, we can craft a future where clean water flows to all,” Revil concluded.

LWUA Administrator Vicente ‘Vince’ Homer Revil

Unveiling of LWUA’s 50th-year marker during the anniversary celebration at The Manila Hotel

(from left) LWUA Administrator Vicente Homer B. Revil, DENR Undersecretary Carlo Primo C. David, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert Guevara, and LWUA Chairman Ronnie L. Ong.