A
chising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced yesterday.
LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said the board decided to increase the minimum fare for traditional PUJs to P13 from the current P12 and for
HACKERS have started exposing data of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) on the dark web, the state health insurer admitted Tuesday, a day after denying the group’s $300,000 ransom demand and dismissing the threat of information getting leaked online as “clearly a bluff.”
PhilHealth senior vice president and spokesman Israel Pargas said identification cards of their employees have been leaked online so far after the Medusa ransomware attack on their system. He said “membership data, financial data and claims data” remained intact.
“The ransomware attack DID NOT
THE mandated price caps on regular and well-milled rice could be lifted soon, a Department of Agriculture (DA) official said Tuesday, echoing the assessment made earlier this week by Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno.
In a Palace briefing, Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) Director Glenn Panganiban said global rice prices have slowly decreased, and local supply is expected to increase as the harvest season begins.
“Based on our parameters, we seem to be ready [to lift the price caps]. But of course, it’s up to the President to decide on it,” he said in a mix of Filipino
affect our servers containing members’ private information. PhilHealth’s membership database, claims, contribution and accreditation information which are stored in a separate database are intact and completely unaffected by the said cyberattack,” it added in a clarificatory statement last night.
UP CLOSE. Gilas Pilipinas center Angel Kouame flips a shot past three Iran defenders in their Asian Games men’s basketball quarterfinal match Tuesday in Hangzhou, China. POC Photo
“Only the application servers and employees’ workstations have been affected by the said cyberattack. Hence, files stored locally in the hard drive of the infected workstations may have been compromised.”
“An inventory is being conducted in order to determine the extent of information which may have been exfiltrated from these workstations.”
By Riera U. Mallari
HANGZHOU, China—Gilas
Pilipinas averted a monumental fourth-quarter collapse and hung on to a scrambling 84-83 win over Iran on Tuesday to advance to the semifinals of the 19th Asian Games at the ZJU Gymnasium here.
It took a Justin Brownlee basket in the final 44 seconds and a Calvin Oftana rebound off an Iran miss to finally secure the win for the Filipinos, who will now battle in the semifinals a Chinese host team seeking payback against Gilas for humiliating them in the FIBA World Cup last August.
“It went down to the last play, and we’re lucky to win,” said coach Tim Cone. “But we shouldn’t have put ourselves in that position. But these are the kind of games are in international (tournament). They could turn on a dime.”
After a massive 80-41 win over Qatar on Monday, Gilas looked primed to duplicate the ghastly win after leading the Iranians, 71–54, going into the final quarter. They had led by as many as 21 points earlier. But the Iranians would not fold down easily, outscoring the Filipinos, 29-13, in the final period, where they even led twice, the last at 83-82. Brownlee then saved the Filipinos with a floater to give them back the lead at 84-83, before Oftana soared for the rebound off Matin Aghajanpour’s missed threepointer with 25 seconds to secure
Barcelo
THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said K-12 graduates are having a hard time getting
ELEVATED inflation, which has affected consumer demand over the past few months, is still the top concern of Filipinos, according to a recent Ulat ng Bayan Survey for the month of September conducted by Pulse Asia.
The survey found that 74 percent, or almost three-fourths of the country’s adult population, considered inflation -- the rate of increase in the prices of
goods and services -- as the top concern that must be addressed (see related story on page A4 – Editors). Across all income classes, elevated inflation is also the top concern at 67 percent in Class ABC, 75 percent in Class D, and 75 percent in Class E.
“Inflation is the most urgent national concern identified by our people, this is the issue where the national administration obtained its lowest performance
A GRADE 5 student in Antipolo, Rizal has died, around two weeks after he was allegedly slapped by his teacher, the Department of Education division office in the city said Tuesday.
The student, Francis Jay Dumikib, succumbed to a brain hemorrhage on Monday afternoon, 11 days after being hospitalized, his family said.
“DepEd Antipolo is taking appropriate actions to address the alleged child abuse incident in Peñafrancia Elementary School, Antipolo City,” the department said in a statement yesterday.
“We have already forwarded the required Intake Sheet, Incident Report, and Narrative Report to the Office of the Regional Director, DepEd Region IV-A CALABARZON, for information and appropriate action,” it added.
THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Tuesday welcomed a congressional decision to augment its budget by reallocating confidential funds from other civilian agencies, saying this would enable it to enhance its monitoring, control, and surveillance in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
BFAR national director Demosthenes Escoto said the bureau is using its current assets and available resources to combat illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, which it said is a persistent threat in Philippine waters. The additional funding, he added, would help the bureau ensure the sustainable use of the country’s marine resources and safeguard the livelihoods of Filipino fishing communities.
On Monday, the United States and the
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan—
Edward S. Hagedorn, Palawan 3rd District congressman and former mayor of Puerto Princesa City, died on Tuesday, nine days before his 77th birthday on Oct. 12.
His death was announced by his family on his Facebook page.
“With heavy hearts, we inform you of the passing of a beloved friend, brother, husband, father, and public servant, Edward Solon Hagedorn. Our dear congressman died peacefully on October 3rd, 2023, after 76 years of shining his light into the world,” the family said in a statement.
Hagedorn was known for his accomplishments in the fields of environmental conservation and tourism during his public service career.
During his entire service as a mayor, Puerto Princesa earned a reputation for excellence as an eco-tourism destination and a model for environmental protection worldwide.
Hagedorn publicly revealed his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer during the flag ceremony at City Hall on Feb. 27 this year.
Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron took to social media to express sadness over the passing of Hagedorn.
“Today is a very sad day for Puerto Princesa City because former Mayor and Congressman Ed Hagedorn passed away at 4:09 a.m. on Oct. 3, 2023,” Bayron said.
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez extended his deepest condolences to the Hagedorn family for the passing of a public servant, who inspired many people.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our cherished colleague, Rep. Edward Solon Hagedorn. More than his roles in the political arena, Congressman Ed was a guiding light and inspiration to many of us personally. His passion for the environment, tourism, agriculture, and peace was not just a professional pursuit, but a reflection of his soul,” Romualdez said in a statement.
Every moment with Congressman Ed, he said, was filled with laughter, wisdom, and profound insights.
“His genuine warmth and ability to touch lives went beyond titles and protocols. To me, and many of us at the House of Representatives, he wasn’t just a colleague, he was family,” he added.
“To have known and worked with Cong. Ed has been an honor and a privilege. His spirit and legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire us all,” he said.
In a separate statement, House ecology committee chairperson and Laguna Rep. Marlyn Alonte said Hagerdon was an “environment crusader” and the “guardian of Palawan” who served as mayor of Puerto Princesa for more than two decades.
Alonte said Hagedorn will always be remembered as the “champion” of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Philippines launched annual joint naval war games, days after the latest diplomatic row between Manila and Beijing over the disputed South China Sea. More than a thousand sailors from the two allies are taking part in the annual “Samasama” (Filipino for Together) anti-submarine, surface, and electronic warfare drills off Manila and the south of Luzon.
China’s aggressiveness in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost
From A1
“The said Notice is in faithful and substantial compliance to the requirement of the National Privacy Commission to proactively reach out to and inform data subjects who may be affected by the malicious posts of the attackers.”
“Likewise, this is a reminder to the public to stay vigilant in protecting personal and sensitive information. We are actively reaching out to the public and the employees whose information may have been compromised,” PhilHealth said.
Department of Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary Jeffrey Dy said based on
From A1
modern PUJs to P15 from P14.
“We only approved a peso provisional fare increase for the first four kilometers, but there is no additional increase for the succeeding kilometers. This is applicable to modern and traditional public utility jeepneys throughout the country,” Guadiz said.
Several transport groups earlier filed a petition for a P5 fare increase for the first four kilometers and P1 for the next kilometers amid the spate of oil price hikes every week.
Pasang Masda president Roberto Martin said the fare increase would translate into an additional P350 to
DA...
From A1
and English.
He said the DA and the Department of Trade and Industry would continue to monitor the prices so they will not increase drastically again.
Panganiban said the harvest is expected to reach 1.9 million metric tons of rice in October alone.
DA Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla said that rice production has increased with the country obtaining 52 days’ worth of rice supply by the end of September.
She presented the report during the sectoral meeting with President Fer-
Gilas...
From A1
the win. The 6-foot-6 Brownlee had 36 points,
From A1
senior high school graduates are mostly entry-level positions such as clerical support staff, crafts and trade workers,
the Antipolo Schools Division Office told mediamen.
in its entirety despite a 2016 international ruling that it has no legal basis, has become a growing concern for Washington and its regional allies.
US Pacific Command chief Vice Admiral Karl Thomas told sailors at an opening ceremony in Manila that the rights of all nations to ensure national sovereignty were “under attack every day on the high seas.”
The “rules-based international order” that guaranteed regional peace for decades has been “ripped at and tugged at and tested to benefit not all nations but one nation,” he said, without mentioning China specifically.
“There’s no better way to ensure sovereignty and security than to sail and to operate together,” Thomas said.
their initial analysis, among the information leaked online were PhilHealth employees’ identification cards, including Government Service Insurance System IDs.
Dy said they also saw copies of employees’ payroll and other details such as “their regional offices, memos, directives, working files, [and] hospital bills” on the dark web.
Pargas said PhilHealth is still determining the extent of the breach.
“Right now, the National Privacy Commission is also doing another investigation looking deeper into the incident, looking into what really happened and what was the cause, and even looking into people and systems in the corporation to see if there is any negligence with regard to the
P400 in take-home pay for drivers and operators, but noted that the fuel price increases were way higher than the price cuts.
STOP & GO national president Zaldy Ping Ay also said the P1 provisional fare increase was too low, citing a Department of Energy report that fuel prices are expected to remain high until December.
He said drivers lose an average of P507 daily amid the recent pump price increases, prompting the group to seek a P2 provisional hike instead. Commuters also expressed dismay over the increase, with Primo Morillo, convenor of The Passenger Forum, calling for the suspension of the excise and value-added taxes on fuels.
Martin said once the price of diesel fuel drops below P57 a liter, PUV driv-
dinand Marcos Jr. — who is also the concurrent Agriculture secretary — in Malacañang on Tuesday.
Sombilla said that the positive indicators might signal the lifting of the price caps.
President Marcos signed Executive Order No. 39 on Sept. 5, imposing mandated price ceilings on regular and wellmilled rice in public markets. Regular milled rice must not sell for more than P41 per kilo, while well-milled rice may not sell for more than P45 a kilo.
In signing the executive order, Mr. Marcos blamed the rising cost of rice on illegal importers, smugglers, and hoarders.
Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual noted that the prices of special and premium rice, which are not covered by the
eight rebounds and four assists, while Junemar Fajardo hauled eight boards and four assists on top of his 18 points. Gilas plays China at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, marking the first time the Philippines plays in a semifinal in the
machine operators, and sales and services workers.
Laguesma urged both the private and government sectors to hire senior high graduates. The Department of Education already began pilot testing the revised curriculum
He added that it was important to maintain the right to sail through the area “free from worries about being attacked” or “intimidated.”
Beijing has deployed patrol boats in recent weeks that Manila says harass Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels and Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a special operation last month in which PCG personnel cut a rope tethering a floating barrier at the Chinesecontrolled Scarborough Shoal.
Manila said the barrier had prevented Filipino fishermen from entering the fish-rich ring of reefs, which China seized in 2012.
Beijing responded by warning Ma-
part of the corporation,” he said.
For her part, Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas slammed PhilHealth for its belated admission of a data breach since the Medusa ransomware attack on September 22.
“This should prompt an urgent independent investigation by the House to put concerned agencies to task and to identify the perpetrators of the data breach,” she said.
“The implications of this cyber attack might be worse in magnitude, considering the belated admission of PhilHealth and the pendency of investigations of concerned agencies such as the National Privacy Commission. Unfortunately, we have yet to hear from Malacañang on this issue,” Brosas added.
ers and operators will be ready to revert to the P12 base fare.
Oil firms implemented a mixed price movement yesterday with a price rollback of P2 per liter for gasoline and P0.50 per liter for kerosene, and an increase for diesel by P0.40 per liter.
These resulted in a year-to-date net increase of P15.30 per liter for gasoline, P13.80 per liter for diesel, and P8.94 per liter for kerosene.
Meanwhile, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary-general Renato Reyes attributed the fare hike to the government’s “inaction” against the continuous spike of oil prices.
“We should call out the government and demand a decrease in the massive fuel tax to ease the prices of fuel and jeepney fare,” Reyes said.
cap, have started to go down due to the harvest season.
“The elements that we need to see, the indicators are there that will point to possible lifting of the ceiling,” he said.
In the Palace briefing, Panganiban said the President is doing all that he can to give Filipinos a comfortable life.
He would not comment on a suggestion that a 14 percentage point drop in the President’s approval rating in a third-quarter Pulse Asia survey might be the result of the price caps.
“I cannot comment on that one. My take on that is the President is really committed to serving all. I think he is the President for all, not only for the farmers but also for the consumers,” Panganiban said.
Asian Games since 2002. The Filipinos lost to host South Korea then, 69-68.
Led by NBA star Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jaz, the Filipinos beat the Chinese, 96–75, in their last meeting at this year’s World Cup last month.
TROPICAL Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is still hoisted over Batanes as Typhoon Jenny moves north northwestward over the Philippine Sea, the weather bureau said Tuesday afternoon.
Jenny was last tracked 325 kilometers east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes. It maintained its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 190 kph. Gale-force winds will prevail in Batanes.
On the other hand, strong winds will prevail in areas where TCWS No. 1 remains hoisted: Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the northern and eastern portions of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, Santa Maria, San Pablo, Tumauini, Cabagan, Ilagan City, San Mariano, Santo Tomas, Dinapigue, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Gamu, Quirino, Delfin Albano, Quezon, Mallig), Apayao, the northeastern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong), the northern portion of Kalinga (Balbalan, Pinukpuk, Rizal, City of Tabuk), and Ilocos Norte. Rio N. Araja
Ombudsman files raps vs ex-SRA chief
THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of criminal charges against former Sugar Regulatory Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica over the delay in the procurement of farming tools.
In a 21-page resolution, the Ombudsman said Serafica violated the Government Procurement Reform Act following a three-year delay in the acquisition of 25 units of ripper harrower.
The invitation to bid for the procurement of the harrowers was opened from Aug. 23 to Sept. 13, 2017, but the notice to proceed was only issued on Sept. 3, 2020, the Ombudsman said.
“In this particular case, this Office cannot turn a blind eye on the three year period it took to issue a notice to proceed. The delayed award, by itself, could have only amounted to Simple Neglect of Duty and Misconduct but the protracted period to notify the supplier to proceed with the delivery of the harrows is a badge of (1) want of even the slightest care, or a conscious indifference to consequences, and (2) flagrant disregard of an established rule.”
From A1
rating,” said Dr. Ana Maria Tabunda, Pulse Asia research director.
Pork producers probe excessive ‘liempo’ prices
The Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines is investigating reports of excessive price increases of pork in local markets.
The price of liempo (pork belly) has reached over P400 per kilo in some markets, the group noted, even as farmgate prices have remained steady.
Nic Briones, the group’s president, said they sold pigs at an average farmgate price of P170 per kilo, and normally retailers add just P120 per kilo. They suspect someone taking advantage of the current high prices of other goods especially with pork being in greater demand for the holiday season, he added.
Police are investigating the incident, while the Dumikib family was waiting for the results of an autopsy to confirm the cause of death, television reports said last night.
The DepEd will also form a factfinding committee to oversee the investigation, lawyer Kelvin Matib of
The teacher, whose name was withheld and is now on indefinite leave, is facing a possible homicide charge and a violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law, apart from administrative charges.
Francis Jay felt an earache after he was slapped on Sept. 21, his mother Elena told TV reporters. He lost his balance, vomited, and was taken to hospi-
tal on Sept. 26. Her son had gone three straight days to school after the alleged incident, she added.
“My son told me about it repeatedly. He would not have done so if he wasn’t hurt,” Elena said. She went to the school the next day but only talked to Francis Jay’s class adviser, not the teacher who slapped him, she added.
The student’s family is appealing to Vice President and Education Secretary
– the K-10 or Matatag curriculum – in a bid to address basic education woes.
Five Metro Manila schools joined the pilot run for the revised K-10 curriculum along with 35 other public elementary and high schools around the country.
Sara Duterte-Carpio to give their son justice and to aid in paying their hospital bill and the child’s wake.
DepEd Antipolo has formed a team of “selected Registered Guidance Counselors, School Health Nutrition Unit (SHNU) Representatives, Youth Formation Development (YFD) Coordinators, EPS in Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao, Child Protection Specialist, and Focal Person,” its statement said.
Next to inflation, Filipinos expressed the need to raise the wages of workers (at 49 percent) for them to cope with the rising prices of goods and services.
It was followed by job creation (27 percent), poverty alleviation (25 percent), and eradicating graft and corruption in the government (22 percent).
They would assist with possible interventions like reorientation of the Child Protection Policy of all concerned stakeholders, and debriefing of concerned learners and teachers.
“We are saddened by the death of our dear learner and we express our deepest condolences and prayers to the bereaved family. Rest assured that the Department recognizes the best interests of our learners as a primordial consideration,” it said.
By Rey E. Requejo
THE Supreme Court (SC) has required both the Executive and Legislative branches to comment on the petition seeking to declare as unconstitutional Republic Act (RA) No. 11954 or the Maharlika Investment Fund Act of 2023.
During its en banc session on Tuesday, the SC resolved to ask Malacanang and Congress to comment in 10 days on the petition and on the plea for a temporary restraining order to stop the respondents from implementing RA 11954.
The law on the country’s first-ever sovereign investment fund was signed by President Marcos last July 18. The fund will be managed by the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) which now has a seed capital of P150 billion.
Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, the House of Representatives, and the Senate, were named respondents in the petition.
The petition was by Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, former congressman and Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Javier Colmenares, and former Bayan Muna congressmen Carlos Isagani Zarate and Ferdinand Gaite.
The petition cited three “serious grounds” in seeking the unconstitutionality of Maharlika Investment Fund Act, namely: “RA 11954 is void because it was passed in violation of Section 26 (2), Article VI, of the 1987 Constitution; the test of economic viability as mandated under Section 16, Article XII of the Constitution was not complied with prior to the creation of the Maharlika Investment Corporation; and RA 11954 violates the independence of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as provided for under Section 20, Article XII of the Constitution.”
SENATOR Mark Villar on Tuesday said the proposed Internet Transactions Act (ITA) is now up for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval after the House of Representatives adopted the Senate’s version of the ITA.
Villar made the statement during the Senate Finance Committee hearing on the Department of Trade and Industry’s budget for fiscal year 2024.
“The House of Representatives adopted in toto the Senate’s version of the Internet Transactions Act,” Villar said.
According to the House of Representatives’ website, Senate Bill 1846 was adopted by the lower chamber on September 27. SB 1846 was approved on third and final reading in the Senate last September 25.
Under the bill, digital platforms or emarketplaces will be subsidiarily liable with the online merchant or retailer if it fails to perform its responsibilities, which can cause damage to the consumer.
The proposed ITA also establishes a code of conduct for all businesses involved in online businesses (or e-commerce) to safeguard and advance consumer interests.
Villar said the ITA, once enacted into law, can prevent online scams and assure the safety of both consumers and merchants engaged in e-commerce.
It can be recalled that in his first State of the Nation Address, President Marcos asked Congress to approve the E-Commerce Law.
In his speech, Mr. Marcos said this will “establish an effective regulation of commercial activities through the internet or electronic means to ensure that consumer rights and data privacy are protected, innovation is encouraged, fair advertising practices and competition are promoted, online transactions are secured, intellectual property rights are protected, and product standards and safety are observed.”
THE family of slain broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa on Tuesday said they stand united in their call for justice to ensure those responsible for his death are held accountable.
It has been a year since the veteran newsman was shot to death by gunmen.
“On this occasion, we remember Ka Percy Lapid whose life was tragically cut short one year ago. The family stand(s) united in our call for swift justice to ensure that those responsible for this loss are held accountable,” newsman Roy Mabasa, Percy’s sibling said in a statement sent to reporters.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary
Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said contempt charges await three vloggers (video bloggers) who published online an interview with fugitive former Bureau of
SECURITY DRILLS. Members of the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group (PNP-ASG) conduct security exercises at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2. The exercise simulates an active shooting encounter escalating to a bombing incident within the airport vicinity.
A protester holds a sign asking for justice for slain radio broadcaster Percival ‘Percy Lapid’ Mabasa. One year after Mabasa’s killing, members of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Freedom for Media Freedom for All (FMFA), and others, troop to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to appeal for justice.
LTO chief wants roll out of online system in Oct.
LAND Transportation Office chief Vigor Mendoza II wants the full implementation of the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) this month.
Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag who is wanted for murder in connection with the killing of Mabasa.
He said the act of these vloggers undermines the courts and the legal processes. The DOJ chief, meanwhile, said law enforcers are validating leads on Bantag’s current whereabouts as well as several John Does.
Bantag and former BuCor deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta are facing murder charges before the Muntinlupa and Las Piñas regional trial courts over last year’s killing of Mabasa and Cristito Villamor Palaña (alias Jun Villamor),
an inmate at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
Mabasa was shot by armed men near his home in Las Piñas City on Oct. 3, 2022.
Senator Risa Hontiveros meanwhile said the story of the slain broadcaster is all too common in a country that is supposedly free and democratic.
Speaking a forum dubbed as “Keeping the Flame of Freedom Alive: Case Study of Percy Lapid Mabasa at UP Diliman,” Hontiveros said that in 2022, the global watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists ranked the Philippines as the 7th most dangerous country in the world for media workers She also noted that the Philippines has a sorry track record when it comes to achieving justice for media killings.
Macon Ramos-AranetaTHE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is undertaking a series of initiatives to formalize small-scale mining operations.
The DENR also said it will review laws that cover small-scale mining to modernize industry standards and increase protection for small-scale miners.
DENR
David emphasized that these initiatives underscore the agency’s dedication to responsible, inclusive, and globally com-
petitive mining practices, all while ensuring the welfare and protection of smallscale miners.
He stressed the importance of a progressive, step-by-step approach to formalization, with the ultimate goal of integrating small-scale miners into the broader mining sector.
“The small-scale miners are there. We have to bring them into the fold of the mining sector. The core of DENR’s strategy lies in individually registering these small-scale
miners, serving as the basis for a more organized structure,” David said.
“We’re looking to register small-scale miners, individually, at first, followed by the establishment of a loose organization as the foundation for a more formal association. Sort of like a cooperative towards a Minahang Bayan registration.”
Legal recognition of small miners, according to David, will help ensure they get adequate support to operate within established standards and safety protocols.
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
SENATOR Cynthia Villar cited the importance of Mindanao, particularly the Davao Region, in supporting economic development.
Villar said one-third of Mindanao is devoted to agriculture, while Davao Region supplies 40% of the country’s food requirements. The challenge, she said, is how to harness the potential of the region for further economic growth.
“Davao Region is still the top coconut producer which contributed 14.4% to the country’s total production. Zamboanga Peninsula followed with 13.6% and then Northern Mindanao with 12.9%,” Villar said during the 25TH
The LTMS is a platform that allows the public to make online transactions of the agency’s services.A technical working group would be created to focus on the LTMS to ensure a 100 percent operational by this month.
“We are forming a TWG. I want to, once and for all, ensure that this TWG would focus on our goal to make sure that whatever glitches we may encounter with our computer program have already been eliminated,” he said.
“So in the meantime, we will limit the… we will slowly gradually hopefully by this end of month be 100 percent LTMS, na tayo,” he added.
According to the LTO chief, he has already talked to regional directors and district officers about his goal to completely migrate toward the use of LTMS when providing service to the public. Rio N. Araja
Quezon City named most competitive LGU
QUEZON City has been named as the country’s Most Competitive Local Government Unit under the Highly Urbanized Cities category of the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI).
Mayor Joy Belmonte personally received the awards during the DTI’s Philippine Creative Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Congress recently held at the Manila Hotel.
She was accompanied by Business Permits and Licensing Department chief Margie Santos and Small Business Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office chief Mona Yap.
The city received six awards from the Department of Trade and Industry, including the 1st Overall Most Competitive City recognition; 1st Place as Most Competitive in Innovation; 1st Place as Most Competitive in Infrastructure; 1st Place as Most Competitive in Resiliency; 2nd Place as Most Competitive in Economic Dynamism, and 1st Place as Top Intellectual Property Filers (special citation). Rio N. Araja
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) has completed the Joint Ready Reserve Unit CADRE Training for Disaster Response (CTDR) in Zamboanga City.
Davao Agri-Trade Expo held at SMX Convention Center.
Due to this, she said has authored and sponsored several measures in the Senate geared toward agricultural development “May these legislations assist the agriculture sector as a whole to ensure food security and better income to our people,” she said.
Villar said for Mindanao, she filed Republic Act No. 11547 which declared Davao City as the “Chocolate Capital” and Davao Region as the “Cacao Capital” of the Philippines.
This is in recognition of the two regions’ contributions to making the Philippines world-renowned by winning awards and distinction as one of the best chocolate maker in the world.
The CTDR was held at the WestMinCom Grandstand Basement at Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City from September 23 and 30.
Thirty officers and enlisted personnel from the regular and reserve force from the 9th Regional Community Defense Group, 6th Air Force Reserve Center, Naval Reserve Center Western Mindanao, Air Force Liaison Office-Western Mindanao, and Joint Task Force Zamboanga participated in the joint face-to-face lecture and practical exercises.
The training was facilitated by the Philippine Red Cross-Zamboanga City Chapter and the Office of the Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Reservist and Retiree Affairs, led by Capt. Edwin Ello. Vince Lopez
THE honeymoon period is essentially over for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte in terms of public approval and trust ratings, according to a political analyst.
Meanwhile, ACT Teachers partylist Rep. France Castro attributed the decline in approval ratings of Marcos and Duterte to the Philippine economy and secret spending by top government officials.
A TOAST TO THE ELDERLIES.
DTI wants PH to be AI leader in Asian region
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) wants the Philippines to be an artificial intelligence (AI) center of excellence in Asia in the near future.
Trade Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba said their goal for the Philippines was to position it as a powerhouse for AI.
In yesterday’s Senate finance committee hearing on the agency’s proposed P7.91-billion budget for next year, Aldaba said AI will be a physical center.
She said the proposed building will house data scientists, researchers, and engineers who will conduct AI research and development.
The research, she said, aims to support the needs of industries including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), start-ups, large companies and multinational industries.
She said the center will also provide training and capacity buildings on AI to come up with new products and services.
She said they have been proposing P200 million for this center for two years but their requests have not been granted.
Macon Ramos-Araneta
SENATOR Christopher Go has expressed concerns about the proposed P19.9-billion funding allocated for unpaid allowances for healthcare workers.
“We want to know if this budget is enough to cover the balances due to our healthcare workers. We must properly compensate our health workforce,” said Go. He also reminded concerned agencies to provide proper compensation and allowances due to our health workers.
Go’s concerns echoed his previous calls for DOH and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to expedite the release of COVID-19 allowances for healthcare workers.
He underscored the urgency of providing healthcare workers with their well-deserved benefits, especially for their services during the pandemic.
“We have passed the laws for this, this health allowance. It’s difficult to be a frontliner during pandemic. No amount will be enough to pay their sacrifices,” she said.
Macon Ramos-Araneta
THE Taguig City government has announced the inclusion of a 101-year-old woman in the list of centenarian awardees in Embo villages.
Mayor Laarni Cayetano and Councilor Raul Aquino personally visited Segundina Dela Cruz Laurente of Barangay Cembo to give her a birthday cash gift of P100,000 as part of the local government’s service extended to the villages now under the control of Taguig.
Through the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs, the city’s centenarians, like Lola Segundina, will continue to receive P100,000 in the next few years as long as they live.
Joel E. Zurbanoa healthy
MALACAÑANG encourages national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units to support senior citizen activities during the annual celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week or “Linggo ng Katandaang Filipino.”
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva called on Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to ensure funding for the increase of the monthly social pension of the country’s indigent senior citizens.
In Memorandum Circular No.34, the Palace ordered the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) to lead the activities and programs during the observance of the elderly week.
Department of Tourism Secretary
Ma. Cristina Garcia-Frasco (left) admires the quality handcrafted balisong of Taal, Batangas in one of the stops of the Philippine Experience Program (PEP) around the Calabarzon Region. A flagship program of the DOT, the PEP also visited other sites of interest such as the NHCP Museo ni Emilio Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite, the Bakood Marching Band Festival in Bacoor, Taal Heritage Town, Tagaytay Ridge, Casa San Pablo, Villa Escudero, Quezon Provincial Capitol, Pagsanjan Falls, and the towns of Paete, Lumban and Sta Cruz in Laguna, adventure and culinary gems in the countryside. Also in photo are diplomats from the Embassy of Korea, and Tourism Congress of the Philippines president Bob Zozobrado. Bernard L Supetran
“All NGAs and instrumentalities, including GOCCs (governmentowned or -controlled corporations), GFIs (government financial institutions) and SUCs (state universities and colleges) are hereby directed, and all LGUs are hereby encouraged, to extend full support for and cooperation with the NCSC in the conduct of relevant activities and programs for senior citizens during the annual celebra-
tion of the Elderly Filipino Week,” the memorandum stated.
Republic Act (RA) 11350, or the “National Commission of Senior Citizen Act,” ensures the full implementation of laws, government policies, and programs for senior citizens.
The memo, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on September 29, would be implemented through the funding of the current and available appropriations of concerned agencies.
Villanueva, principal sponsor of the Increased Social Pension of Indigent Senior Citizens Law, said the proposed National Expenditure Program for 2024 appropriates P49.80 billion for the social pension of indigent seniors involving P1,000 per month stipend.
In another development, the GABRIELA Alliance of Women rallied behind the Filipino people in their expression of discontent and condemnation over the criminal negligence of the Marcos administration amid the declining purchasing power of workers due to regionalized low wages, the continuing contractualization, jobs insecurity, and the weekly skyrocketing prices of goods such as rice, oil, among other basic commodities.
The analyst, Dennis Coronacion, said the significant drop in Marcos’s and Duterte’s approval ratings should serve as a wake-up call for the country’s top two highest officials.
“Madami na ang naniniwala na hindi na OK ‘yung kanilang ginagawa.
This is normal and expected. Tapos na sila sa tinatawag natin na honeymoon period,” Coronacion said in a radio interview.
He issued the observation based on Pulse Asia survey, conducted from Sept. 10 to 14 that showed Marcos’s approval rating decline from 80 percent to 65 percent last June.
On the other hand, Duterte, daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, also suffered a decline in approval ratings, dropping 11 points to 73 percent.
ILOILO Rep. Janette Garin on Tuesday cited the number of government agencies asking for confidential funds has increased, saying it has ballooned from 16 in 2012 to 28 this year. Garin reminded agencies that requests for confidential funds must not be abused.
“Many have joined the fad, and that there have been abuses. If we look at the historical data, the jump started in 2017,” she told a Monday interview with ANC.
The lawmaker said she has submitted proposed amendments to the Small Committee convened by the leadership of the House of Representatives.
She is the vice chairperson of the committee on appropriations.
Garin underscored the urgency of reallocating confidential funds within agencies, such as the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Transportation, Office of Transportation Security and Office of the Solicitor General.
THE Department of Foreign Affairs
(DFA) on Tuesday said a suspect in the killing of a Filipina worker in Saudi Arabia has been arrested.
Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros seeks a Senate inquiry into the death of Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Marjorette Garcia who was found dead with stab wounds in Saudi.
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Paul Cortez said the suspected killer of Garcia, a domestic worker in Saudi since 2021, was neither a Filipino nor her employer.
“As far as we were told by the embassy, the suspect or supposed perpetrator of the crime has been arrested by the Saudi police and they are now investigating the case,” Cortes said.
“It was not an employer who murdered our compatriot. As far as we
know, they know each other or are like co-workers,” he added.
Officials were still awaiting initial investigation results so they could release additional details, Cortes said.
According to the DFA official, the DFA, the Department of Migrant Workers, and the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh were coordinating with Garcia’s family and her employer to streamline all assistance needed for the case.
She stressed the critical need to redirect such funds toward anti-smuggling campaigns while supporting the essential activities of the Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, safeguarding the West Philippine Sea and our invaluable fishing grounds.
Garin said the total confidential funds in 2016 was P720 million, and this escalated in 2017 to P2.07 billion, further doubled in 2020, to P4.57 billion.
An agency may only avail of confidential funds for as long as this could be justified and proven that such is necessary, Garin pointed out.
Rio N. Araja
By Vito Barcelo
THE volume of tourist arrivals in the country is expected to rebound in the coming months, after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) processed more than eight million Filipino and foreigner arrivals from January to August this year.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the bureau is expecting an increase in the number of visitors by October and December.
During these months, balikbayans, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and foreigners return home or visit the Philippines to reunite with their families and friends, and experience the local Christmas celebration.
Tansingco said the BI has processed a total of 8,117,286 Filipino and foreign passengers since January this year.
Prior to the pandemic, the agency recorded more than 11 million arrivals during the same period, a far cry from the 2,873,423 recorded during the same months in 2022.
“We are getting there. The significant increase in arriving passengers shows that tourism and international travel is already on the rebound,” Tansingco noted.
Tansingco said that the agency also supports efforts of the DOT in making things faster and simpler for arriving passengers, to give them a great experience from the moment they arrive in the country.
‘P19b may not be enough to pay healthcare workers’
DURING the pandemic, conferences and seminars were held online.
Rather than let scholarly activity altogether cease, academics used technology to keep the show on the road to keep constructing knowledge with their colleagues.
Because Zoom made it possible for anyone with an internet connection to join an online event, conferences and the newlydubbed ‘webinars’ became more democratic. Participants now came from farther afield than usual.
From Batanes to Sulu, from other countries, it was possible for scholars to enjoy learning and sharing opportunities formerly denied to them due to the cost of travel.
Now that the world has returned to face-to-face interaction, research conferences are being held in person again, here and abroad.
Taking advantage of the technology that proved itself as a stalwart communication partner during the pandemic, some conference organizers this year have offered a Zoom option for scholars who can’t make it onsite.
It’s also important to solicit feedback and seek ways to improve the inclusivity and accessibility of future conferences
Other organizers, however, declined to do so.
One was a conference held recently in a neighboring SEA nation.
Researchers from a certain continent were allowed to join online, but not those from other countries.
How can such an exclusionary policy in any way be considered good for research?
Research is often perceived as an egalitarian pursuit, meritocratic in its selection processes, based on achievement rather than any other criteria.
But the reality within the world of academic research is that some conferences privilege some by insisting on face-to-face participation.
Such a policy excludes researchers who cannot afford the cost of travel and accommodation, exorbitantly high registration fees, and other related expenses. However, many talented researchers, particularly those in the early stages of their careers, face financial constraints.
They may be part-time or untenured and this may make them ineligible for university funding or grants.
But these are precisely the kind of people who need to present at international and local conferences, in order to climb the academic ladder.
It’s not only the lack of funds that may bar a researcher from physically participating in a conference.
There are also issues such as weak passports (difficulty getting visas) and medical/physical disability issues. Circumstances that are out of a person’s control should not limit their opportunities.
It’s true that face-to-face
countries, developed, emerging or developing.
conferences foster better networking and collaboration opportunities. Being physically present at a conference allows for spontaneous interactions, discussions, and connections that can’t be replicated through virtual means.
But the privilege of in-person attendance perpetuates inequality within academia. By prioritizing those who can physically attend, conferences risk missing out on diverse perspectives and innovative ideas that could contribute to the discipline.
Excluding researchers who are good enough to have their abstracts accepted but can’t afford or are physically unable to travel also undermines the meritocratic ideals that should be fundamental to academic research.
Conferences that adopt exclusionary policies send a clear message that the value of research is not solely determined by the quality of ideas or the rigor of their research process, but is also contingent on one’s financial resources and physical condition.
Exclusionary policies also contribute to a lack of diversity within the research community.
Diversity in academia is not just a matter of social justice; it is essential for the robust construction of knowledge. When conferences privilege certain people, they limit the diversity of voices at the table.
The organizers of conferences that insist on face-to-face participation must also consider their role in perpetuating inequality.
Their policies may be excluding marginalized voices and reinforcing the status quo – in other words, they may be gatekeeping.
Organizers should create inclusive spaces that prioritize the quality of research and ideas over financial means or physical condition.
The privilege of research is a complex issue that should be critically examined within the academic community.
Conferences that insist on face-toface participation, without providing alternative options for those unable to attend, perpetuate inequality, exclude talented researchers, and hinder the construction of knowledge.
Among the ways conference organizers can seat more researchers at their tables is by adopting a hybrid (onsite and online) format and being more sensitive about the cost of their registration fees and other fees.
It’s also important to solicit feedback and seek ways to improve the inclusivity and accessibility of future conferences.
By implementing proactive measures that embrace inclusivity, conference organizers can truly advance the construction of knowledge, celebrate diversity, and ensure that academic research remains a vibrant and equitable endeavor for all.
* * * FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO / Email: writerjennyo@gmail.com
THE world is now at the halfway point to achieving access to clean and affordable energy, the key to the development of agriculture, business, communications, education, healthcare and transportation.
This is contained in Sustainable Development Goal 7, one of 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
By 2030, developed and developing countries should have enhanced international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology.
These include renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossilfuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.
Experts have said lack of access to energy supplies and transformation systems has been a constraint to human and economic development.
The environment provides a series of renewable and non-renewable energy sources i.e. solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, biofuels, natural gas, coal, petroleum, uranium. Increased use of fossil fuels without
With just under seven years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we call on world leaders for quick delivery for sustainable development, leaving no one behind
actions to mitigate greenhouse gases will have global climate change implications.
Energy efficiency and increased use of renewables contribute to climate change mitigation and disaster risk reduction.
The facts are:
3 billion people rely on wood, coal, charcoal or animal waste for cooking and heating
Energy is the dominant contributor to climate change, accounting for around 60 per cent of total global greenhouse gas emissions
Since 1990, global emissions of carbon dioxide have increased by more than 46 per cent.
Hydropower is the largest single renewable electricity source today, providing 16 percent of world electricity at competitive prices and dominates the electricity mix in several
Bioenergy is the single largest renewable energy source today, providing 10% of world primary energy supply.
Authorities have set targets linked to the environment:
By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services
By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology
By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States, and land-locked developing countries, in accordance with their respective programs of support
Sad to note that at midpoint of Agenda 2030, the SDGs are in jeopardy as progress stalls amid the climate crisis, economic fluctuations, conflicts and pandemic aftermath. With just under seven years left to achieve the SDGs, we call on world leaders for quick delivery for sustainable development, leaving no one behind.
By Armida Salsiah AlisjahbanaTHIS year we pass the halfway mark both on our journey towards implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and the signing of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Asian and Pacific countries have seen mixed progress on both.
One of the most pressing challenges is the transition to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, as encapsulated by SDG 7. Without a significant acceleration of effort, reaching SDG 7 and its targets for energy access, renewable energy and energy efficiency will elude our region.
Given the significance of Asia and the Pacific in terms of global energy supply and consumption, actions taken here will set the tone for the global trajectory of progress on SDG 7 and the fight against climate change.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific will place these issues at center stage during this week’s Asian and Pacific Energy Forum. This meeting will provide a platform for the region’s energy ministers to plan a regional
SEPARATION of powers is a political doctrine that aims to keep separate the three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial.
This is also known as a system of checks and balances, with each branch given certain powers to check and balance the other branches.
The principle of separation of powers seeks to avoid one group having all the power and prevent arbitrary excesses by government.
The 1987 Constitution follows this doctrine by defining the powers of the three branches of our government.
But what if one branch encroaches on the powers of another? In that event, there’s likely to be a Constitutional crisis, with government unable to move or make a decision unless one side gives way to the other.
We have such a situation right now in the recent ruling by the Supreme Court declaring Acting Governor Fatima Ainee Sinsuat as the only one rightful governor of Maguindanao del Norte.
But President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has also appointed Adulraof Macacua to the position of governor of the province.
The clash between the judicial and executive branches is well in evidence in this case.
There’s a third element involved here, however, which is the legislature.
The Supreme Court, through Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, pointed out “it would be absurd and contrary to the intent of Congress and the will of the sovereign constituents of the new provinces to interpret the law in a way that unduly and unreasonably delays its operation and corporate existence.”
Here, the High Court interpreted the law passed by Congress creating the two Maguindanao provinces.
What it basically said is the President’s appointment of Macacua as Governor of Maguindanao del Norte goes against the intent of Congress and the sovereign will of the people of the province.
While the President has the power to appoint officials, it is important to bear in mind the Judiciary’s role is to interpret and
uphold the law.
If the decision of the Supreme Court is ignored by the Executive branch, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM, as well as by Mr. Macacua himself, this could be a dangerous precedent that would undermine the time-honored principle of separation of powers and the rule of law.
But who is Adulraof A. Macacua?
He recently became a member of the President’s political party, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
What is important at this point is to avert a full-fledged constitutional crisis that could adversely affect the peace process and the rule of law in the province as well as in BARMM
He was also known as Sammy Gamba when he was still the Chief-of-Staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the armed component of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The government and MILF concluded a comprehensive peace agreement years ago that led to creation of the BARMM.
Given Macacua’s background and recent affiliation with the President Marcos’ political party, his appointment as Governor of Maguindanao del Norte has raised concern as to whether he is committed to uphold the Constitution and serve the best interests of the people in the province.
After all, as a former leader of a rebel group that once engaged the government in armed hostilities for many years, could he be relied upon to maintain the stability and integrity of democratic institutions in the province, particularly in those areas where the wounds of armed conflict have yet to
be completely healed? Does Malacañang’s appointment of Macacua also intend to send the message he is the most competent to lead the province because of his military background?
Maguindanao del Norte is where Camp Iranun is. It used to be called Camp Abubakar, and was the largest MILF camp before being captured by the armed forces during the Estrada administration, if I’m not mistaken.
Several other major MILF camps— Camp Darapanan, Camp Omar—are also in the province. As a former MILF leader, Macacua can easily gain the support of the people in former camps of the rebel group.
The Supreme Court decision to declare Acting Governor Sinsuat as the rightful holder of the top political office in the province could be considered a clear assertion of the Judiciary’s independence.
But it could also upset the delicate balance between the Executive and Judiciary branches of government.
What is important at this point is to avert a full-fledged constitutional crisis that could adversely affect the peace process and the rule of law in the province as well as in BARMM.
The Executive and Judicial branches of government should strive to meet halfway and iron out differences in perspectives, especially since the region needs to consolidate the gains already made in the peace process and to strengthen self-rule after decades of armed conflict.
It would be a pity if the political situation in Maguindanao del Norte deteriorates and causes uncertainty and doubt on the future of the province and BARMM as a whole.
What Maguindanao del Norte needs is stability and good governance.
The Executive and Judicial branches should get their act together and thresh out issues so that the rule of law is upheld not only in Maguindanao del Norte but also in the whole of Southern Philippines.
(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com )
agenda for a sustainable energy transition. Looming large among these issues is the lack of access to electricity and clean cooking fuels for hundreds of millions of people.
This deprivation has far-reaching consequences, and is a harsh reminder that, while the region has made significant strides in economic development, not everyone has enjoyed the fruits of progress.
Lack of access to electricity hinders healthcare, education and economic opportunities. Moreover, the reliance on traditional cooking fuels such as fuelwood contributes to respiratory diseases that disproportionately affect women and children.
Energy poverty exacerbates existing inequalities, trapping communities in a cycle of deprivation.
To bridge the energy gap and promote climate-friendly sustainable development, increasing renewable energy and energy efficiency is an imperative.
The transition to renewables opens avenues for economic growth and job creation.
Energy efficiency lowers the need for new supplies, relieves pressures on our energy systems, increases productivity and reduces waste, simultaneously saving money for households and businesses.
The momentum behind these changes is growing and the opportunity to close these gaps must be seized
Together, renewable energy and energy efficiency foster energy security.
Realizing the SDG 7 targets requires increased financial flows.
According to the Secretary-General’s Global Roadmap for Accelerated SDG Action, annual investments in access to electricity must increase by $35 billion and by $25 billion for clean cooking by 2025.
A tripling of renewable energy and energy efficiency investment is needed by 2030.
Scaling up finance at this rate requires a large infusion of private finance to bolster insufficient public sources, alongside a shifting
of national budgets away from fossil fuels.
Carbon pricing mechanisms can incentivize businesses to transition towards cleaner energy solutions.
Innovative business models and financial instruments can attract international finance.
But for these to be successful, governments must provide predictable and enabling policy environments.
To ensure the stability of the energy transition over the long term, governments must keep an eye on over-the-horizon risks.
Key among these is the ensuring and adequate, stable and predictable supplies of critical raw materials needed to construct the millions of solar panels, wind turbines and batteries of the future.
Our region holds immense potential for critical raw materials production, making it a key player in the global energy transition.
However, regional collaboration is needed alongside responsible mining and extraction practices that minimize environmental damage and social disruptions.
Moreover, investing in recycling of critical raw materials can reduce our consumption of finite resources.
While transitioning towards clean energy is
a moral and environmental imperative, a just transition ensures that no one is left behind as countries move away from fossil fuels and towards sustainable resources and technologies. This includes reskilling and reemployment opportunities for workers in declining industries, as well as community support to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of the energy transition. Achieving SDG 7 requires a multifaceted approach.
This is not a challenge that any one country or sector can solve in isolation; it demands collaboration, innovation and shared responsibility.
As we reflect on our progress at this halfway point, it is timely for countries across Asia and the Pacific to recommit to a regional vision where all citizens have access to clean and modern energy and the full potential of renewables and energy efficiency are realized. The momentum behind these changes is growing and the opportunity to close these gaps must be seized.
(The author is Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific).
KYIV – Ukraine said Tuesday it
Kyiv has warned that Moscow is restarting a campaign of aerial attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure that last year left millions without heating and water for long periods.
“On the night of October 3, 2023, Russian occupiers attacked (Ukraine) with 31 Shaheds (unmanned aerial vehicles) and an Iskander-K cruise missile,” the air force said, specifying it had downed the missile and 29 of the drones.
President Volodymyr Zelensky this week urged the European Union to widen sanctions on Russia and also Iran for its supply of attack drones for Moscow’s forces.
Meanwhile, experts in Washington DC said Ukraine’s troops would soon run short of essential ammunition and equipment if Republican hardliners succeed in stopping US military aid, undermining operations on the ground and reducing their ability to defend against Russian strikes, experts say.
Top American officials have repeatedly insisted the United States would back Kyiv for “as long as it takes,” and Washington has committed more than $43 billion in security aid since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 —over half the total from all Western donors.
YEREVAN, Armenia—Moscow said Russian and Azerbaijani forces on Monday came under sniper fire in Nagorno-Karabakh, days after Baku secured the surrender of Armenian separatists in an offensive to regain control of the mountainous territory.
The report came as Armenia said one serviceman was killed along its shared border with Azerbaijan, underscoring the volatility of the region even after Karabakh’s capitulation last week.
“In the city of Stepanakert (Khankendi) a joint Russian-Azerbaijani patrol was shot at by an unknown person using a sniper weapon. There were no casualties,” the Russian defence ministry said.
Russia deployed its peacekeepers to the mountainous region in 2020 as part of a ceasefire deal it had brokered between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
But mired in its war in Ukraine, Moscow refused to intervene when Azerbaijan launched a lightning offensive at the end of September.
Separatists capitulated and said 220 were killed in the fighting, while Azerbaijan reported 199 dead.
Another Armenian serviceman was killed when Azerbaijani forces opened fire near the eastern village of Kut on Monday, Armenia’s defence ministry said.
It also announced two were wounded. Azerbaijan had rejected
But Republican opposition led Congress to remove new funding for Ukraine from a recent compromise bill to avoid a US government shutdown, highlighting that continued American support is not guaranteed.
“It would be devastating for the Ukrainians” if US aid is halted, said Mark Cancian, a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
“The Ukrainian military would weaken and then ultimately perhaps collapse,” though it “might be able to just hold on on the defensive,” he said.
The United States has supplied a vast arsenal to help Kyiv fight to regain territory seized by Russia, ranging from small arms ammunition and artillery rounds to vehicles, sophisticated rocket launchers, tanks and mine-clearing equipment.
“Militaries in conflict need a continuous flow of weapons and supplies and munitions to replace what’s destroyed and gets used up,” Cancian said.
If US aid were completely cut off— something the White House insists will not happen—the impact would not be immediate, given that previously authorized assistance is still in the pipeline. AFP
UNITED NATIONS, New York—The United Nations Security Council on Monday approved a Kenyan-led mission aiming to bring stability to Haiti, a year after leaders in the violence-ravaged Caribbean nation first pleaded for help.
The Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation has been in freefall, with armed gangs taking over parts of the country and unleashing brutal violence, and the economy and public health system also in tatters.
Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have been calling since late 2022 for international support to back the fledgling police force, but much of the global community had been jaded by the failure of earlier interventions in Haiti.
Monday’s resolution passed with 13 votes in favor, with China and Russia abstaining. It was hailed by Haitian foreign minister Jean Victor Geneus as
bringing a “glimmer of hope for people who have been suffering the consequences of a difficult political, socioeconomic, security and humanitarian situation for too long.”
A breakthrough in plans for the force came in July, when Kenya volunteered to lead the force and send 1,000 personnel.
The resolution calls for the deployment of a “multinational security support mission”—not officially a UN force—with a “lead country” coordinating with the Haitian government.
The mission is initially approved for one year, with a review after nine months.
The force aims to provide “operational support to the Haitian National Police, including building its capacity through the planning and conduct of joint security support operations,” the resolution says.
The mission will also aim to create conditions to hold elections, which have not taken place in Haiti since 2016.
Guterres in a recent report said that the security situation in Haiti has only grown worse, with the gang members both more numerous and better armed than the police.
Nearly 2,800 homicides were recorded in Haiti between October 2022 and June 2023, with 80 minors among the dead, the UN report said.
The United States has been advocating a multinational force. On Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said his department would continue working with Congress to provide $100 million in foreign assistance, and that the Pentagon is prepared to provide up to $100 million in enabling support.
But President Joe Biden has made clear he will not put American troops in harm’s way. AFP
NEW YORK—A combative Donald Trump lashed out at the judge and attorney general on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) on the first day of a trial for civil fraud that could see the former president barred from doing business in New York state.
The 77-year-old Trump, who is facing legal battles on several fronts, denounced the business fraud case as a “sham” intended to torpedo his bid to recapture the White House next year.
“This has to do with election interference, plain and simple,” Trump said as he arrived for the opening day of what could be a three-month trial. “What we have here is an attempt to hurt me in an election.”
New York Judge Arthur Engoron has already ruled that Trump and his sons Eric and Don Jr committed fraud by in-
NEW DELHI, India—Indian police raided the homes of at least eight journalists and activists on Tuesday, local media reported, deepening concerns over a crackdown in a country where media freedom has nosedived.
Those raided are reported to be connected to the English-language news website NewsClick, with Indian authorities filing a case in 2021 alleging the organization was receiving foreign funding.
The New York Times in August reported that NewsClick was financed by US millionaire Neville Roy Singham, who it said “sprinkled its coverage with Chinese government talking points”—
NewsClick journalist Aritry Das said police “barged into my home” at dawn, questioned her about her reporting and seized her laptop, phone and computer hard disks, she wrote on social media.
The Mumbai Press Club expressed its “deep concern” at the raids in a statement, reporting that “multiple journalists affiliated with NewsClick have been subjected to raids”. It demanded the police stop “from what is perceived as a targeted harassment campaign against these journalists.”
Also raided in connection to NewsClick was historian and activist Sohail Hashmi. “From the warrant that they reluctant-
NAIROBI, Kenya—Hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese refugees fleeing Sudan’s brutal war are facing “a hunger emergency”, the United Nations warned Tuesday, with 90 percent of families going multiple days without meals.
The fighting between forces loyal to Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah alBurhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo has forced nearly 300,000 South Sudanese to return home in the last five months, the UN’s World Food Program said.
The crisis was taking a particularly harsh toll on its youngest victims, with 20 percent of children under five malnour-
ly showed me, the raid at my residence was related to an investigation into NewsClick,” Hashmi told AFP.
Hashmi had to hand over his laptop, phone and hard disks containing more than a decade of his writing, calling the raid a “combination of intimidation and a crackdown on freedom of press and speech.”
There was no immediate response from the police, with raids carried out in both the capital New Delhi and in Mumbai.
Press freedom in India has plummeted since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, rights activists and opposition lawmakers say. AFP
flating the value of the real estate and financial assets of the Trump Organization for years.
New York Attorney General Letitia James is now seeking $250 million in penalties and the removal of Trump and his sons from management of the family empire.
“Justice will prevail,” James told reporters. “No matter how powerful you are, no matter how much money you think you may have, no one is above the law.”
Trump was not required to attend the opening day of the trial but chose to do so, taking a seat at the defense table flanked by his lawyers.
“It’s a scam. It’s a sham,” he told reporters before entering the Manhattan courtroom. “My financial statements are phenomenal.” AFP
WASHINGTON, D.C.—A far-right lawmaker launched a bid on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) to oust US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his post, triggering the most serious showdown yet within the Republican party as it battles to contain firebrand supporters of ex-president Donald Trump.
Matt Gaetz, a representative from Florida, entered his resolution from the House floor, later telling reporters McCarthy “doesn’t have my support anymore, and he doesn’t have the support of a requisite number of Republicans to continue as the Republican Speaker.”
“Bring it on,” McCarthy quickly responded on X, formerly known as Twitter.
ished, the WFP said.
“We are seeing families leave one disaster for another as they flee danger in Sudan only to find despair in South Sudan,” said Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP’s country director in Juba.
Since fighting erupted in Sudan in midApril, at least 7,500 people have lost their lives, according to a conservative estimate from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.
Multiple truces have failed to stop the violence that has driven tens of thousands over Sudan’s borders and raised fears of a humanitarian crisis engulfing the wider region. AFP
The resolution, a rare maneuver which requires a simple majority to pass, could force a vote within days and comes after McCarthy brokered a last-gasp budget deal with Democrats over the weekend, temporarily avoiding a government shutdown.
Gaetz has vowed retribution since the deal was struck.
The Florida congressman and Trump loyalist is a leading figure within the small group of far-right Republican legislators who ignited the shutdown crisis with their refusal to adopt fresh federal funding without deep spending cuts. AFP
had downed over two dozen Iranian-made attack drones and a cruise missile launched by Russian forces from the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014.Thousands of South Sudan returnees fleeing war at risk of hunger, UN warns
By Julito G. Rada
ACTIVE official development assistance (ODA) loans and grants to the Philippines amounted to $32.40 billion in 2022 as the government shifted from pandemic recovery to economic transformation, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Tuesday.
“The portfolio reflected the government’s initiative to sustain a continuous rollout of programs aimed at addressing the socioeconomic scarring brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, while also seeking to secure assistance for enabling social and economic transforma
Stocks reverse losses
amid index rebalancing
LOCAL stocks reversed early losses Tuesday to stay afloat the 6,300 level, spurred by latest index rebalancing.
The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose by 1.46 points, or 0.02 percent, to close at 6,305.99, the while broader all-shares index went up 6.5 points, or 0.19 percent, to finish at 3,405.52.
China Bank Capital managing director
Juan Paolo Colet said the PSEi inched up on market-on-close buying after trading in the red for most part of the day’s session.
“The move was helped by a surge in trades of Union Bank of the Philippines and Nickel Asia Corp. as institutional funds prepared for the changes to the PSE benchmark that will take effect on Wednesday,” Colet said.
Nickel Asia is set to replace Aboitiz-led UBP in the 30-company PSEi following to the bank’s non-compliance with the 20-percent minimum free float required for index inclusion. Jenniffer B. Austria
SAN FRANCISCO—Apple on Monday said it is working to fix a “bug” it said was among reasons some newly released iPhone 15 smartphones are heating up.
The iPhone maker will address the problem in an update to its iOS 17 mobile operating software and is collaborating with developers of some apps adding to the problem, according to the Silicon Valley tech giant.
“We have identified a few conditions which can cause the iPhone to run warmer than expected,” Apple said in response to an AFP inquiry.
Some handsets of the freshly-launched iPhone may feel warmer for a few days after initial set-up due to increased background activity, according to Apple.
“We have also found a bug in iOS 17 that is impacting some users and will be addressed in a software update,” Apple said.
“Another issue involves some recent updates to third-party apps that are causing them to overload the system.” Apps that seemed to be making chips inside iPhones heat up due to workloads included Instagram, Uber and an Asphalt 9 car racing game, according to online posts. AFP
BRUSSELS—The EU will signal Tuesday how Brussels will muscle up to counter China’s aggressive trade policies, including by unveiling a list of sensitive technologies that must be kept out of Beijing’s hands. Brussels is building a trade armory to protect the bloc from actions by rival countries, including a tool aimed at punishing nations that seek to put pressure on one of its member states.
The European Commission will publish a list of critical technologies it believes Europe must not make easily available to countries where Brussels fears they could harm the bloc’s security, EU interests or human rights.
The European Parliament is also set to give its final green light on Tuesday to a mechanism that would allow the bloc to impose tariffs, restrict investment, and limit access to public contracts for nations seen as engaging in economic blackmail.
It is a response to a dispute with China over trade restrictions imposed on EU member Lithuania after it strengthened ties with Taiwan. MEPs will also quiz the commission on Tuesday about the EU’s relations with China following a visit by trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis to China last month.
Although the European Union says it seeks to maintain dialogue with Beijing, Brussels has stepped up its efforts to curtail critical trade with China. AFP
KNOWLEDGE PARTNERS.
The National Development Company (NDC), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) tasked to support companies and industries, and Quest Ventures, a top venture capital firm in Asia, sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to embark as knowledge partners to drive startup innovation and investments in the Philippines. Signing the agreement are (from left) NDC chief innovation officer Jerahmeel Chen, NDC general manager Anton Mauricio and Quest Venture head of environment, social and governance April Ong-Vaño.
tion beyond the pandemic,” Balisacan said in a statement. The NEDA’s 2022 Official ODA Portfolio Review Report showed that the country received 106 loans amounting to $30.20 billion and 320 grants equivalent to $2.20 billion in 2022.
These funds came from 20 development partners—with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) making the largest contribution, accounting for 33 percent of the total ODA in the country.
The government received only four program loans amounting to $1.02 billion for COVID-19 response and recovery in 2022.
This represented a significant decline in the number of loans dedicated to addressing and alleviating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to previous years, with 2020 having 25 and 2021 with 15 COVID-19 loans.
“The significant reduction in ODA devoted to addressing damages brought by COVID-19 reflects the country’s transi-
tion towards the new normal and is now focusing on achieving growth in the postpandemic world,” Balisacan said.
NEDA said the infrastructure sector received most of the ODA in 2022, with a share amounting to $16.07 billion.
The investments in the sector supported the ‘Build-Build-Build’ infrastructure program of the Duterte administration, which is continued by the Marcos administration through the ‘Build-BetterMore’ infrastructure program.
Included in the big-ticket projects are the Capacity Enhancement of Mass Transit Systems in Metro Manila LRT Line 1 South Extension; Cebu-Mactan Bridge and Coastal Road Construction Project; and the Second Health System Enhance-
ACEN’S AWARDS.
ACEN Corp. receives four Golden Arrows by the Institute of Corporate Directors at the 2023 ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS) for exemplary corporate governance.
Attending the ceremony on Sept. 28 at the Okada Manila Hotel are ACEN executives (from left) Lawrence Andrew Quina, manager for legal and regulatory; Corazon Dizon, chief finance officer; Eric Francia, president and chief executive; and Alan Ascalon, vice president for legal and regulatory.
ABOITIZ Power Corp. on Tuesday underscored the role of technology to hasten the country’s energy transition plan, an executive said Monday.
“The realistic pace to do transition is underscored by the available technology that allows you to do it in a reliable and affordable way. Given what is available today, we believe what is realistic is a practical and gradual approach that will allow for technology development,”
Aboitiz Power chief finance officer Liza Montelibano said in a statement.
Montelibano was part of the panel at the 3rd Asia Green Growth Partnership Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo, Japan held recently.
“If we really want to hasten the transition, a lot of the support has to go into [the] development of technology. Once it’s economically viable, I think the rest will fall into place,” she said.
Montelibano said there is a need to balance energy transition to greener technologies with the aspiration for reliable and affordable electricity.
“Balancing the energy trilemma of reliability, affordability, and sustainability is very complex. You need secure
and reliable [electricity] to power human progress [and] you need affordable power for social stability and development,” the executive said.
She said these considerations become more significant as electricity demand is projected to increase by 6.6 percent annually until 2040, requiring the doubling of supply in 11 years to help support the growth and development of industries, cities and rural communities.
“With that kind of situation, we need all forms of energy to be able to support [the] requirement,” Montelibano said.
Montelibano said the influx of intermittent sources like solar and wind should ideally be complemented by an affordable solution as well as viable low carbon baseload technologies.
Montelibano said that absent any breakthroughs in these areas, liquified natural gas (LNG) would be a transition fuel in the near term to gradually displace coal and complement the variability of renewables.
“What you seem to be seeing now is the international community adding pressure, just really pulling out [of fossil fuel projects]...You already have a lot of financial institutions that don’t support thermal facilities,” Montelibano said.
“But the existing capacities play the role of buying time to keep the grid stable, so that renewable and low-carbon technologies can develop,” she said.
The Philippines wants to increase the share of renewable energy in its power generation mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040, with the remainder being allocated to thermal power plants, most of which compose baseload capacity.
Montelibano said the power grid should also be upgraded to accept more variable renewable energy without compromising the stability of the whole power system.
ment to Address and Limit COVID 19.
Other sectors that also received substantial amounts of ODA are Governance and Institutions Development ($7.16 billion), Social Reform and Community Development ($6.14 billion), Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, and Natural Resources ($2.66 billion), and Industry, Trade and Tourism ($0.37 billion).
Balisacan said the ODA acquired in 2022 underscored the government’s continued emphasis on developing robust infrastructure, fostering good governance, promoting social reforms, enhancing agriculture and natural resources, and driving industry, trade, and tourism for comprehensive and sustainable development.
A US supplier of quality broiler breeding stock plans to expand its operations in support of the country’s restocking efforts challenged by bird flu, an executive said Monday night.
Aviagen Broiler Breeding Group Inc. business manager for Asia Pacific Rafael Monleon said the company was exploring the possibility of creating more distribution networks to fully support broiler supply and availability.
“Sometimes the availability and the supply of our products are not enough. We are considering expanding our distribution network,” he said in a press briefing at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Taguig City. Aviagen supports the distribution of broiler breeding stocks through subsidiary Aviagen Philippines.
The company is doing a feasibility study on whether to pursue the expansion plans or simply sustain its current operations.
“The Philippines has a very vibrant poultry industry which is growing very well over the years. We want to see further liberalization of the agriculture sector,” Monleon said.
Aviagen supplies broiler breeder stock to more than 100 countries under the Arbor Acres, Range and Specialty Males brands.
American participants in the first US Agricultural Technology Trade Mission to the Philippines are looking forward to creating strategic partnerships in different fields.
Ten US-based companies looked at business opportunities in Davao and Manila. These include Aviagen Broiler Breeding Group Inc., Abomar Equipment Sales Corp., Archer Daniels Midland Company, Cargill Inc., Northwest Missouri State University, Pepsico Inc., Sukup Manufacturing Co., Valmont Industries, Veea Inc. and Viasat.
US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said the trade mission injects innovation into the vastly expanding opportunities for Filipino farmers by connecting them to US technology solutions.
THE Department of Energy (DOE) said Tuesday it received 25 applications for 13 of 20 pre-determined areas (PDAs) under the 4th Open and Competitive Selection Process (OCSP4) for hydro, geothermal and wind energy resources.
PDAs refer to locations with potential RE resources, as supported by sufficient technical data, and are suitable for further developments.
The DOE said three PDAs for geothermal resources with a total potential capacity of 160 MW, 14 PDAs for hydropower with 87.96 MW and three PDAs for wind resources participated in the OCSP4.
DOE assistant secretary Mylene Capongcol said the OCSP4 turnout was “very good.” “We received applications especially for wind projects, there are number of bids per PDA,” Capongcol said.
This is the first OCSP round to offer PDAs for wind projects, resulting from the recently-completed resource assessment for wind energy.
The OCSP is being adopted as a mode for the selection and award of renewable energy (RE) contracts particularly for identified PDAs through a bidding process.
The OCSP4 Review and Evaluation Committee (REC) presided by Capong-
col conducted the opening of bids and the determination of completeness of bid submission with on-site and virtual attendance of the bidders on Sept. 28, 2023.
Bidders with incomplete submissions were given until Oct. 2, 2023 to file for a motion for reconsideration.
The REC is reviewing the motion for reconsideration from four bidders, including two hydro and two wind PDAs.
Based on the prescribed timelines, the legal, technical and financial evaluation of all bids is expected to be completed by Oct. 12, 2023, while the awarding of RE contracts is targeted on Nov. 24, 2023.
All RE developers whose applications
were accepted are required to settle the processing fees within three days from receipt of the payment order.
The DOE said PDAs where no bid was received may be declared open for direct application pursuant to the existing guidelines.
QuadRiver Energy Corp. submitted a bid for the 5 MW Tinoc 4 hydro power project, 16.2 MW Alilem hydro project, 15 MW Main Aklan hydro project, 4.5 MW Sawaga hydro project and 3.3 MW Catuiran (Upper Cascade) hydro project. All QuadRiver Energy applications were found to be complete.
Alena Mae S. FloresTHE National Development Company (NDC), an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) tasked to support companies and industries, and Quest Ventures, a top venture capital (VC) firm in Asia, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to embark as knowledge partners to drive startup innovation and investments in the country.
NDC general manager Anton Mauricio and Quest Venture head of environment, social and governance April OngVaño signed the agreement in Manila on Monday.
“We are excited to join forces with Quest Ventures in our pursuit of innovation and startup industry growth.
With their significant footprint in Singapore and across Asia, Quest Ventures brings valuable cross-border insights, best practices and extensive network that aligns with our key objectives in enhancing the local venture capital ecosystem and promoting sustainable investments,” Mauricio said.
The collaboration aims to leverage their combined expertise and resources as well as to strengthen linkages between government and private sector. NDC will leverage its newly-established Philippine Innovation Hub (iHub) for this collaboration. iHub is also the headquarters of the Startup Venture Fund (SVF), the Philippine Ecommerce Platform (PEP) and the Ph AI Research Center (PAIR).
THE International Monetary Fund on Tuesday cut its 2023 growth forecast for the Philippines to 5.3 percent from the 6.2-percent estimate it made in July as elevated inflation continued to impact consumer spending.
IMF’s latest forecast was below the 6 percent to 7 percent target range of the interagency Development Budget Coordinating Committee. It was also low-
er than the World Bank’s 5.6 percent projection, which was also a downward adjustment from the bank’s previous estimate of 6 percent.
IMF said that in 2024, it expects the Philippine economy to grow 6 percent, an upward revision from its original forecast of 5.5 percent.
Inflation peaked at 8.7 percent in January 2023 but eased in the succeeding months before picking up to 5.3 percent in August. This brought the average in the first eight months to 6.6 percent, above the target range.
IMF said in a statement that “a higherfor-longer policy rate path is warranted until inflation firmly falls within the target range.”
Michael Ricafort, the chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., told Manila Standard a GDP growth of 5.5 percent to 6 percent for 2023 is “still realistic.”
“[It is] also still among the fastest growing economies in ASEAN,” Ricafort said. He said the elevated consumer prices would still reduce spending by consumers and businesses, industries, the government and other institutions.
“Higher borrowing costs/financing costs will slow investments and other
By Jenniffer B. AustriaRESORTS Group Holdings Inc., a company led by businessman Dennis Uy, is in talks with Cebubased property developer AppleOne Properties Inc. for possible investment in its casino venture.
PH Resorts said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Tuesday it signed a non-exclusive and non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with AppleOne owned by couple Ray and Venus Manigsaca.
THE Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) said Tuesday it approved the delisting of infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).
The PSE said in an advisory it ordered the delisting of MPIC’s shares from the official registry of the exchange effective Oct. 9.
Shares of MPIC were suspended after its public float fell below the 10-percent required minimum level for listed firms.
MPIC completed a P28.4-billion tender offer to acquire remaining shares held by minority investors.
Based on MPIC’s tender offer report, the bidders in the tender offer—First Pacific Company Limited through affiliate Metro Pacific Holdings Inc., GT Capital Holdings Inc., Mitsui & Co. Ltd. and MIG Holdings Inc. of MPIC chairman and president Manuel Pangilinan—acquired 5.464 billion shares at
P5.10 apiece.
This is equivalent to 19.04 percent of MPIC’s total issued and outstanding listed shares.
Including the shareholding of the bidders, this was equivalent to 97.22 percent of MPIC’s total issued and outstanding listed shares.
MPIC is the second company to voluntary delist from the local bourse this year. In February, Eagle Cement Corp. was delisted from the exchange after it was fully acquired by San Miguel Equity Investments Inc. of San Miguel Corp.
The PSE also involuntarily delisted two firms—Unioil Resources & Holdings Co. Inc. and PICOP Resources Inc.—over non-filing of reportorial requirements and nonpayment of penalties for disclosure violations.
Jenniffer B. AustriaUnder the MoU, AppleOne can make an investment in PH Resorts’ subsidiaries, with the intention of obtaining at least a majority of the equity interest or an asset purchase of the land and improvement of the 13.5-hectare Emerald Bay Resort Hotel and Casino in Cebu.
“The consideration for the investment and resulting percentage of ownership are still subject to final negotiations by the parties, which are expected to be completed within 60 days,” PH Resorts said.
PH Resorts has been looking for new investors for Emerald Bay after negotiation with Bloombery Resorts Corp. of ports and gaming tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. was terminated early this year.
Emerald Bay, the flagship project of PH Resorts, is envisioned to be the premier integrated resort in the Visayas and Mindanao. It will have a total of 146 gaming tables and 729 electronic gaming machines (EGMs) as well as 780 hotel room bays and five villas.
business/economic activities as these increase debt servicing costs in the economy and slow demand,” Ricafort said.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas raised the policy rate by a total of 425 basis points to 6.25 percent between May 2022 and March 2023, before taking what it called a “prudent pause” during in last four Monetary Board meetings. World Bank East Asia and Pacific chief economist Aaditya Mattoo said on Monday the big concern for most of the economies in the region was the slowing global growth.
By Othel V. CamposINTERNATIONAL Tourism receipts reached P344 billion from January to September this year, as arrivals topped the 4-million mark, Department of tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said Tuesday.
Data showed that international visitor arrivals reached 4,066,741 tourists in the nine-month period, representing 84.72 percent of the 4.8 million baseline target for 2023.
Frasco presented the new industry data at the Senate hearing for the proposed 2023 budget of the DOT.
The tourism chief said the sector is the second top driver of economic growth in the first semester of 2023, with its share to the gross domestic product (GDP) at 6.2 percent.
Tourism receipts in 2022 reached P1.87 trillion, with local tourism accounting for the biggest share of P1.5 trillion, while foreign travel receipts was at P387 billion.
Arrivals in 2022 reached 2.65 million, or only half of the total arrivals in the first three quarters of 2023.
Frasco said inbound flight frequencies in the first half surged by 180 percent at Clark International Airport, 640 percent at Kalibo International Airport, 300 percent at Cebu International Airport, 200 percent at Bohol International Airport and 50 percent at Davao International Airport.
The recent statistics released by the Official Airline Guide showed the Philippines departing seats reached 4.2 million as of September, or equivalent to 90 percent recovery from 2019 statistics.
Cruise tourism is also on the rebound as the DOT said about 121 port calls are scheduled to resume operations in more than 30 island destinations, which would bring in more than 110,000 tourists.
THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) opened this year’s celebration of the National Shelter Month, highlighting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program on Monday. DHSUD said that having decent yet affordable homes provides stability and security to a family during the celebration with the theme Pambansang Pabahay: Matibay na saligan ng mapayapang pamayanan “Sa pagkakaroon ng sariling tahanan na disente at ligtas, ang ating mga kababayan ay nagiging mas produktibong miyembro ng komunidad,” DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said. Yan po ang misyon natin sa pagsu-
sulong ng Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program ng ating mahal na Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr.—ang mabigyan ng disente at abot-kayang tahanan ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino para sa ikabubuti ng kanilang pamumuhay,” he said.
DHSUD kicked off the celebration of the National Shelter Month 2023 with the launching of housing exhibit at its Central Office in Quezon City, in collaboration with partner-developers and key shelter agencies (KSA). Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte was the guest of honor and speaker during the opening ceremony.
Various shelter-related activities were lined up by the technical working group, headed by Undersecretary Randy
Escolango.
Officials of the DHSUD and its KSAs are expected to appear in various media channels to discuss the essence as well as the upcoming activities of NSM 2023. The DHSUD regional offices also prepared activities happening for the whole month with the participation of KSAs and other stakeholders.
DHSUD said that in support to the NSM, the first-ever Philippine Urban Forum is also slated on Oct. 5 to 6 at the Philippine International Convention Center, with the theme: Transforming our cities and building resilient communities. An online forum is set before the culmination activity toward the end of the month.
TWO trap marksmen will join two of the Philippines’ top female shooters, Amparo Acuna and Franchette Quiroz in the search for qualifying points and slots for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
This developed after two of three members of the national team in the men’s shotgun, Hagen Topacio and Carlos Carag, were given enough points following their competitions in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Quiroz, now the highest ranking shooter from the Philippines after the Asiad, and Acuna will be in the company of Topacio and Carag in joining international meets and opportunities to go higher in the Olympic Qualification system.
After her stint in the Asiad, Acuna moved up again is now no. 134 in the Olympic qualification rankings (from 152) in the 50-meter rifle, 3-prone position.
Acuna, who is previously at no. 175, rose higher to no. 157 in the 10-meter air rifle event.
Both Topacio and Carag did not make the finals. But Topacio’s score of 117 and Carag’s tally of 114 in the qualifications were enough to push them in the International Shooting Sport Federation’s Olympic Qualification Rankings, which is updated monthly.
The 33-year-old Topacio now has an OQR of 188, with Carag behind at 207.
A third trap shooter, Eric Ang fired a 107 to land 38th place in the Asiad meet, but this was not enough to earn Olympic ranking points.
The four shooters are now preparing for the 15th Asian Shooting Championship 2023 in two weeks.
The Asian meet, slated from October 22 to November 2 in Changwon, Korea, will offer two Olympic qualification slots in 12 events.
HANGZHOU—Two birds with one stone. Tokyo Olympics’ bronze medalist Eumir Marcial shoots for a win that will get him a seat to the Olympics and catapult him to the finals of the men’s boxing competitions of the 19th Asian Games at the Hangzhou gymnasium on Wednesday night.
Fresh off a sensational second-round knockout win over SEA Games champion, Thailand’s Weerapong JongJoho, Marcial tries to stretch his unbeaten streak in the Asiad when he clashes with Ahmad Ghousoon of Syria in one
of two semifinal bouts at 80kgs.
A win by the 27-year-old Marcial, who is now a pro boxer, will net him a seat in the finals, but more importantly, punch him a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Boxing is one of six sports in these Asian Games, which serve as a qualifier to the Olympics.
Already assured of matching the same finish he had during the 2018 edition of the Asiad in Indonesia, Marcial bagged a bronze in the Tokyo Games, while fighting as a middleweight.
But he appears to be settling in his new weight class at light-heavy given the outcome of his previous fights.
Ghousoon, who comes from a family of boxers and served as flagbearer of Syria during the Asiad opening ceremony, fights with an aggressive stance and doesn’t know how to back down, a style which Philippine head coach Ron-
PATRICK Tambalque and Korean Ji Won Lee snatched victories from the clutches of defeat as they captured the boys’ 13-14 and girls’ 15-18 crowns, respectively, in a pair of sudden deaths highlighting the ICTSI Junior PGT national finals at The Country Club in Laguna on Tuesday.
Tambalque, who topped the five-round Luzon elims, parred the last three holes to log 49 points under the Modified Stableford (Molave) scoring system from a gross 77 as he forced a playoff with Vis-Min series topnotcher Clement Ordeneza, who blew a huge lead with a closing five-over card in the last four holes.
Lee, on the other hand, bogeyed the tricky par-3 17th and finished with 50 points from a gross 76, enabling Cagayan de Oro’s Alethea Gaccion, who closed out with three pars, to force a sudden death.
But Tambalque and Lee both birdied the playoff hole (No. 10) in overcast skies to lead the eight winners in the 18-hole stroke play finale of the pioneering season-long
series put up by ICTSI that featured the drive, chip and putt challenge and 18-hole tournaments.
Joining Tambalque and Lee in the podium are Jared Saban and Quincy Pilac (9-10), Ralph Batican and Precious Zaragosa (11-12), Isabella Tabanas (girls’ 13-14) and Zeus Sara (boys’ 15-18).
Alexander Crisostomo, meanwhile, came in third in boys’ 13-14 with 47 points from a gross 79 while Lia Duque placed third in girls’ 15-18 with 43 points from a gross 83 with Angelica Bañez ending up fourth with 40 points.
Tambalque and Lee’s victories also averted a complete domination by the VisMin bets, who won four age-group titles in the talent-search organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Luzon elims topnotcher Pilac and No. 2 Zaragosa captured the girls’ 9-10 and 1112 trophies, respectively, with the former posting 42 points from a gross 84 for a three-point romp over Rafella Batican, who scored 39 points.
HANGZHOU—Backstopped by the son of an athletic legend and a new Fil-American recruit, the Philippines advanced to the finals of the 4x400 men’s relay of the 19th Asian Games here after topping heat 2 at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium on Tuesday.
Fil-heritage athlete Umajesty Williams led the charge of the Philippines with a team-best 44.16 seconds, followed by athletic great Isidro del Prado’s son, Michael, who timed 45.88.
Joyme Sequita and Frederick Ramirez provided decent support at 46.74 and 49.37,
respectively, as the Philippines ruled the heat with a new national record of 3:06.15. That proved enough to beat the 3:06.60 of fellow final qualifiers Sri Lanka and Korea (3:07.10).
The Philippines, the reigning 4x400 champion in the Southeast Asian Games, will have a repeat showdown in the finals at 8:35 p.m. on Wednesday against its SEAG runnerup Thailand (national record 3:06.96), Iraq (NR 3:07.58), Bahrain (NR 3:06.2), Korea (NR 3:04.03), India (NR 3:03.81), Sri Lanka (3:06.60) and Qatar (NR 3:01.00).
ald Chavez finds to Marcial’s liking.
“Palusob,” Chavez described the 27-year-old Syrian, a 5-0 winner against Taijikistan Shabbos Negmatulloev in the quarterfinals.
Marcial said the experience he gained from his sparring sessions while in the US and the training he had during the boxing camp of the national team in Australia got him ready.
After winning his first four pro fights, Marcial has taken a break from his professional obligations to focus on the Asiad.
There was a scheduled pro fight last August, but Marcial’s camp sought for a new schedule.
HANGZHOU—Gilas Pilipinas
women’s team made an abrupt exit in the 19th Asian Games following a 93-71 loss to South Korea in the quarterfinals late Monday night.
An 11-2 run late in the opening period was all the Sokors needed to take control of the match that had the Filipina cagebelles playing catch up the rest of the way after taking the early initiative, 5-0.
The first quarter ended at 23-13 for Korea, which later led by as many as 25 points at the Shaoxing Olympic Sports Centre gymnasium.
Khate Castillo topscored for 18 points in a losing cause for Gilas, which also got a double-double from center Jack Animam with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
When everything was over, Animan, Mae Cabinbin, and Janine Pontejos were all reduced to tears as they tried to console each other on the way to the dugout.
“Im proud of these girls for what we achieved here together. Nothing to be ashamed of,” said head coach Pat Aquino. “They fought well with pride and honor.”
The Filipina cagebelles ended their bid with a 2-2 record, losing their last two games against powerhouse Japan and South Korea.
The Sokors and Japanese will now tangle in the semifinals, while China and North Korea clash in the other Final 4 pairing.
LITO “Thunder Kid” Adiwang thinks that the newest Russian sensation Ilya Freymanov is someone who can rule the ONE featherweight MMA division for a long time.
In fact, he believes the #3-ranked contender is about to take the next step toward that vision when he takes on top-ranked Thanh Le for the ONE Interim Featherweight MMA World Title at ONE Fight Night 15 this Saturday inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
“I love Thanh Le. He’s a former champion. I love his fighting style, but Ilya has the edge here, especially if Thanh Le can’t knock out Ilya early,” Adiwang said.
The HIIT Studio representative believes that between the two, it’s the Russian who has more weapons in his arsenal.
A NEW general secretary will help handle the affairs of the Philippine Football Federation following the appointment of Mikhail Kristopher “Coco” Torre to the post.
Torre, who previously worked at the federation’s media department and the Philippine Football League, officially took over last Sunday.
The change came following the resignation of Atty. Edwin Gastanes last Sept. 30, weeks before the PFF holds its quadrennial elections, which is slated this November.
With his new job, Torre will also take on the role of PFF Head of Competitions and commissioner of the Philippines Football League, after his appointment was approved by the PFF Executive Committee Sept. 23 following the endorsement of PFF president Mariano Araneta Jr.
“We have trust and confidence in Coco Torre, a young and dynamic leader, who has demonstrated tremendous work ethic and integrity in carrying out different roles in the PFF in the past,” said Araneta.
Torre, who said his job will last only until the elections, looks forward to working closely with Araneta for the remainder of his term.
“I look forward to a more collaborative PFF that further empowers stakeholders in our efforts to promote and develop football in the country. I look forward to working closely with him for the remainder of my term,” he said.
NEW YORK— Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Stephen Curry were among the NBA superstars who said on Monday they were interested in playing for the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
An American lineup of NBA talent will seek a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal next year in France, where Durant could become the first US man with four basketball golds.
“I will play in the Olympics next year,” Durant said during media day for the NBA Phoenix Suns.
All-time NBA scoring leader James, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar who won gold in 2008 and 2012, downplayed his interest, saying simply, “Yeah, I do.
I do have interest. We’ll see what happens.”
But other players said that four-time NBA champion James, a forward who turns 39 in December, has been a major
force behind the scenes in pulling together top players for the 2024 Olympic roster.
“I would love to,” said Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers. “I know Bron is in the forefront of creating a hell of a roster. But that’s first and foremost on how my body is, how my health is, to finish the season.
“It all depends on how well we do and how far we go this season. That would play a lot into my decision on going and playing over in France.”
James knows well the impact a sixmonth NBA regular season and two months of playoffs can have upon players and their bodies even before the grind of preparing and playing for Olympic gold.
But James downplayed the wear and tear factor.
“Physical toll? I’ll see how I feel at the end of the season,” he said.
“From the players that we have here off the top of my head that could fill that roster up, I don’t think it would be too much of a physical toll.
“I wouldn’t have to do much. Rebound a little bit, pass a little bit, defend, block some shots, you know? But we’ll see. We’ll see what happens.”
Lakers power forward Anthony Davis, who figures to be a key big man on the US roster, noted he had already told teammate James that, “If they ask me, I’m in.”
Asked by ESPN if he had been recruiting players for the Olympics, James replied, “We’ve been in communication.”
Golden State Warriors guard Curry, the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-point baskets, has won four NBA titles but never an Olympic gold medal. He wants the chance in Paris. AFP
“Judging from the previous fights of Ilya, I saw that he’s a complete fighter. He can strike, he can grapple, he can wrestle,” Adiwang said.
“He has this fire to dig down deep and chase for finishes, no matter where the fight goes.” Adiwang’s fascination with Freymanov shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, it’s hard not to be a fan of the Russian.
In his debut, Freymanov smashed former two-division ONE MMA World Champion Martin Nguyen, stopping “The Situ-Asian” with knees and punches in the first round.
But the surging featherweight grabbed Adiwang’s attention most in his bout against heavy hitting Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg.
In that fight, Zoltsetseg hurt Freymanov early, but the Kuznya Fight Club representative dug down deep and turned the tides on the flashy Mongolian before the first round ended.
“I was really impressed with him in his victory over a fighter (Zoltsetseg) that I was with in ONE Warrior Series,” he said.
“In that fight he got groggy, he got rocked by ‘Shine’s’ punches, but still he showed his fighting spirit. He fought hard and turned the tide, and he ended up submitting the Mongolian.
THE National Basketball Association and Setanta Sports Philippines Limited (Setanta Sports), a subsidiary of international sports television company Eurasian Broadcasting Enterprise Limited based in the UK, today announced a multiyear agreement to deliver more than 120 NBA games each season through overthe-top streaming and pay television in the Philippines.
The agreement builds on the NBA’s multiyear collaborations with Eurasian Broadcasting Enterprise Limited and Setanta Ukraine Limited to deliver games through Setanta Sports’ pay TV channel and streaming platform across select countries in Europe and Asia.
Beginning with the 2023-24 NBA season that tips off its broadcast in the Philippines on Wednesday, Oct. 25, Setanta Sports will deliver live NBA games in the country through its streaming platform and pay TV channel. Additionally, Setanta Sports’ streaming platform will offer live and on-demand access to original NBA programming, including the NBA’s wraparound content series “NBA 360,” which features exclusive interviews and be-
hind-the-scenes access to players, coaches and more. Fans in the Philippines can access the Setanta Sports platform by registering to the streaming service and downloading the Setanta Sports App on connected devices, including smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs.
As part of the new multiyear agreement, Setanta Sports will provide its subscribers and registered users in the Philippines across both over-the-top streaming and pay television with the opportunity to purchase the NBA Playoffs package on NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service available on the NBA App. Pricing for the NBA Playoffs package offered by Setanta Sports will be announced at a later date.
“We’re delighted to extend our cooperation with the NBA to include the Philippine market, where basketball continues to be the most popular sport,” said Setanta Sports Philippines CEO Giorgi Pruidze. “This collaboration will build on our extensive sports portfolio, which includes various premier international soccer
EDUARD “Landslide” Folayang made sure to go back to his roots even after a triumph.
The former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion paid homage and celebrated with his fellow Igorots in Singapore with a meet and greet.
Folayang met with the United Cordilleran Chapter Singapore at Toa Payoh Park where they didn’t just mingle but also did a traditional Igorot dance.
It’s a refreshing activity for Folayang who ended his five-year win
drought as he repeated over Amir Khan at ONE Fight Night 14: Stamp vs. Ham last Saturday at Singapore Indoor Stadium. The 39-year-old proved that he still has a lot left in his tank, knocking out his Singaporean foe at the 1:57 mark of round three in the very same venue where he main evented the inaugural event of The Home of Martial Arts over 12 years ago.
But this activity is just the much needed breather for the Lions Nation MMA founder before leaving the Lion City.
Folayang is set to fly for Thailand to coach Joshua “The Passion” Pacio in his match against the undefeated Mansur Malachiev at ONE Fight Night 15: Tawanchai vs. Superbon on Saturday as the former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion aims to also restart his road to redemption.
and basketball leagues, and we look forward to showcasing the best NBA games on Setanta Sports to deliver a must-have platform for sports fans nationwide.”
“Filipino fans have an incredible appetite for NBA content, and we are thrilled to work with Setanta Sports to bring them even more NBA action year-round,” said NBA Asia Head of Content Partnerships and Direct-toConsumer Kelly Cooke. “With the 2023-24 season fast approaching, this collaboration will provide our passionate fans with new digital offerings and even more ways to watch their favorite teams and players across the wide range of platforms they’re engaging with.”
Fans in the Philippines can shop for official NBA merchandise at the NBA Stores at SM Megamall and SM Mall of Asia and at NBAStore.com.ph.
For all the latest NBA news and updates, fans in the Philippines can visit www.nba.com, download t he NBA App, and follow the NBA on Face-
By Nickie Wang
SENATOR Ramon “Bong” Revilla’s 57th birthday celebration on September 25 at the grand ballroom of Okada Hotel Resort in Parañaque City was a joyous and star-studded affair. The event also marked his 50th anniversary in showbiz, with the program set to become a TV special titled Idol Ko Si Bong, scheduled to air on GMA-7 on October 7.
The TV special will feature a lineup of renowned personalities, including Jillian Ward, Robin Padilla, Phillip Salvador, Jinggoy Estrada, Maricel Soriano, Beauty Gonzalez, Ara Mina, Sunshine Cruz, Jean Garcia, Rochelle Pangilinan, Rabiya Mateo, Sanya Lopez, Tirso Cruz III, Niño Muhlach, Roi Vinzon, Gardo Versoza, Long Mejia, Betong Sumaya, Mitoy Yonting, Ogie Diaz, and Lani Mercado
Speaking to Manila Standard Entertainment, Senator Bong said that he aspires to revive the film and television industry and improve the system to assist those in the industry. He shared his gratitude for the blessings he has received, emphasizing the rollercoaster of life and expressing hopes for the well-being of his family and fellow citizens.
“My birthday wish is for a thriving film industry and the health of my loved ones,” the senator shared.
“After what happened to me, it’s like rollercoaster. Ups and downs, and ups. So, I just hope na basta maayos ang lahat, healthy lahat ng pamilya ko. Ang bayan natin, ang mga kababayan natin, kung
KAPAMILYA singer Darren Espanto’s dance challenge for his latest single “Bibitaw Na” has already spawned over 1.3 million views on TikTok two weeks after the song’s release.
Apart from netizens who are taking the blues away with the easy dance sequence, celebrities such as Martin Nievera, KZ Tandingan, Colet and Sheena of BINI, and Cassy Legaspi have also taken on the fun challenge.
Meanwhile, the pop heartthrob opened It’s Showtime on September 30 with the engaging performance of his dance-pop track, dedicating it to those who are on the verge of quitting.
“To all those who have experienced a situation like that, who found themselves in the same position where they needed to let go for their own good, this is for you,” Darren said in Filipino during his live performance in It’s Showtime In a previous Instagram post, he described “Bibitaw Na,” which he composed himself, as “the perfect relapseno-more anthem.” He first performed the song in ASAP Natin ‘To in Milan followed by its digital drop last September 15.
The excitement with Darren’s first solo single under Star Music continues with the upcoming drop of “Bibitaw Na” music video.
By Angelica VillanuevaP-POP Kings SB19 are set to hold a fan meeting with their fans this month as part of their 5thanniversary celebration.
The boy group announced on Sunday that the One Zone: SB19 Half A Decade Celebration Fanmeet will be held on October 28 at the Araneta Coliseum.
“Get ready to step into One Zone, A’TIN! Join us on October 28, 2023, at 7 PM at the Araneta Coliseum for the SB19 Half a Decade Celebration Fanmeet!” SB19 said.
“This is your chance to be part of an unforgettable night as we celebrate together. Don’t miss out on this special occasion,” the group added.
Ticket prices for the fan meeting range from P1,000 to P7,000 for General Admission and VIP Standing and Seated, respectively.
papaano tayo makakatulong,” he added.
In the same interview, his wife, Congresswoman Lani wished for her husband’s wishes to come true, especially regarding their health, as they age. She also expressed a longing for the resurgence of Philippine cinema, reminiscing about the days when cinemas were full.
“And we hope that our dream of reviving the vibrancy of Filipino cinema will come true. We really miss watching movies in packed theaters. The landscape has evolved now, people are going digital. So, we hope to rekindle the enthusiasm for watching movies in theaters once again,” the actress-turned-politician said.
Jimmy Santos, Bayani Agbayani, Dawn Zulueta, Jackie Lou Blanco, Mariz, Ronnie Ricketts, Gladys Reyes, Senators Manny Pacquiao, Lito Lapid, Chiz Escudero, JV Ejercito, Mark Villar, Imee Marcos, Bong Go, Francis Tolentino, Grace Poe, and Bato de la Rosa are among the notable attendees.
Also present were Tirso Cruz III, Christopher
Additional perks such as shirts, caps, posters, photo cards, and lanyards vary depending on the ticket tier purchased.
In a post on the group’s X account, the P-pop superstars also shared their plans for the monthlong celebration of their anniversary as part of showing their gratitude towards their A’TINs.
Kalahating dekada na tayo, A’TIN! Maraming salamat sa patuloy na pagsuporta at pagtangkilik sa aming musika at mga kwento,” the post read.
“And with that, we’ve prepared a month-long celebration para sa inyo. Mark your calendars for all these activities you won’t want to miss!” SB19 continued.
The P-pop group will be having their ‘Atin Atin Lang’ activity every Monday of October. The celebration also includes the release of a new episode of their variety show,
de Leon, Lorna Tolentino, Amy Austria, Gina Alajar, Isabel Rivas, Azenith Briones, Ricky Davao, Mariel Rodriguez, Mayor Ina Alegre, Iza Calzado, Vice Governor Mark Leviste, Speaker Martin Romualdez, Congressman Sam Versoza, Federico Moreno, Harlene Bautista, Arlene Muhlach, and Herlene Budol.
Other guests included Tonton Gutierrez, Richard Gutierrez, Ruffa Gutierrez, Eddie Gutierrez, Annabelle Rama, director Mac Alejandre, John Nite, Jeffrey Santos, Carlo Maceda, Efren Reyes Jr., Wilma Doesn’t, Angelu de Leon, Mikee Cojuangco, Dudut Jaworski, Ynez Veneracion, Rez Cortez, Dindo Arroyo, Antonio Vinzon, Lala Vinzon, Miguel Tanfelix, Ysabel Ortega, Long Mejia, and Malou Choa-Fagar
Also present were Atty. Felipe and Atty. Annette Gozon of GMA-7, Lilybeth GomezRasonable, Redgie Magno, Carlo Katigbak, Cory Vidanes of ABS-CBN, Wilma Galvante of NET25, and Senator Bong’s family.
TRUE FM has achieved another significant milestone by winning the “Best Radio Station” award at the recently concluded 11th Makatao Awards of the People Management Association of the Philippines
This recognition underscores the significant progress Radyo 5 has made since successfully rebranding its radio station in March of this year and transforming its programming to deliver truthful and impactful news and public service shows on the FM band.
According to NIELSEN ratings, the station holds the No. 7 position in the FM band and the No. 8 spot among all radio stations in the country, surpassing DZBB, which ranks No. 10. Meanwhile, based on KANTAR ratings, TRUE FM secured the Top 5 spot for the second quarter of
Moreover, Radyo5
TRUE FM has increased its weekly listenership, which now stands at an impressive
23 percent. The number of its Facebook followers has reached 5.2 million, making it the most followed radio station page in the country. These metrics confirm the significant
relatable, and reliable content” anchored on its battle cry, “Dito Tayo sa Totoo!”
TRUE FM’s leading programs include Mon Gualvez’s Bangyon Bayan with Mon Ted Failon & DJ Chacha, the flagship news program Radyo5: Balita Pilipinas, Lourd De Veyra’s Sana Lourd, Danton Remoto’s Pinoy Konek, Bro. Jun Banaag’s Dr. Love, Senator Raffy Tulfo’s Wanted sa Radyo, Dr. Edinell Calvario’s Healing Galing Cristy Fermin’s Cristy Ferminute, and more.
“With these achievements, Radyo5 TRUE FM reaffirms its commitment to transparency, accuracy, and fairness in journalism while continuing to provide quality content that resonates with its target audience,” said Raul M. Dela Cruz, Radyo5 TRUE FM General Manager. “Tune in to the country’s real, relatable, and reliable radio station and find out why more and more listeners are getting hooked on Radyo5 TRUE FM’s engaging programs,” he said.
FASHION icon Heart Evangelista-Escudero graces the October cover of Indonesia’s renowned international fashion magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, marking her expanding influence across Southeast Asia and the global fashion scene.
Heart’s presence at prestigious international fashion events like the Milan Fashion Show, New York Fashion Show, and the ongoing Paris Fashion Show in France has bolstered her growing global fashion following. Bazaar proudly introduced her as the “October 2023 digital cover star” on its Instagram account, showcasing her in various fashion poses adorned with Tiffany & Co. jewelry. She represented the brand as one of its prominent global brand ambassadors.
During her maiden visit to Jakarta in August, Heart found time for a photo shoot with Bazaar , where she candidly shared her life experiences and passion for fashion.
The article, written in Bahasa Indonesia for the online magazine, carries the headline “The Heart of the Matter.”
In Singapore, Heart graced the cover of ICON magazine’s August issue, earning the title of “Fashion Queen.” The magazine described her as a fearless fashion maven who conquers new challenges with the simplicity of kindness and authenticity.
In a recent Instagram post, Heart mentioned that the Paris Fashion Show would soon conclude, sharing glimpses of her attendance at various fashion shows and collaborations with iconic designers such as Dior, YSL, Roberto Cavalli, Fausto Puglisi, Tods, Balmain, Bally, Versace, and more.
Heart’s appearances at the Paris Fashion Week have graced the pages of Vogue, Glamour Magazine UK and Mexico, Daily Mail UK, Purepeople France, Marie Claire France, Le Figaro France, Harper’s Bazaar in Greece, US, and Vietnam, Elle in Spain, Japan, and Vietnam, Parati Spain, Grazia Magazine Italy, Vanity Fair Italy, Berliner Zeitung Germany, Hola Mexico, Mag Lebanon, Tatler Asia, L’Officiel Thailand , and many others.
Heart’s Instagram posts on the Paris Fashion Week account feature her in photos captured by the renowned
WHILE the cinemas are still struggling to bring back their audiences to the big screen, the film industry has never been more alive.
Film events have been happening around the metro and in the regions. Great news abound, with Filipino films winning in different international film festivals and breaking boundaries.
Director Carl Papa’s Iti Mapukpukaw has been named the official entry to the 96th Academy Awards, and it is a welcome news.
Meanwhile, the British Council launched the Climate Film Lab, a three-day intensive training workshop and mentoring sessions by seasoned filmmakers and media professionals from the United Kingdom and the Philippines.
In collaboration with DAKILA, Picture People (UK), and iMedia (UK), the lab will provide grants and support to 10 filmmakers to realize their stories. Application is still ongoing until 15 October.
As part of its commitment to unite people in addressing the challenges of climate change, the organization kicks off the film project with special screenings of its global Climate Stories Playlist in the Philippines in different venues until October 22.
“The British Council uses art to spark creativity, innovation, conversations, and actions among individuals in between countries. We are thrilled to partner with DAKILA on putting the spotlight on the climate emergency, an issue that affects us all and is very prevalent here in the country,” British Council head of arts
Mich Dulce
Climate Stories Playlist features nine short films – six from the UK, one from Canada, one from the USA, and one from the Philippines. Each film explores what the climate crisis means to different people –personally, politically, and culturally, with unique narratives that reflect on the relationship with homeland, community, indigenous culture, and climate change, and with a vision of hope, courage, and change.
The screenings are part of DAKILA’s ongoing Active Vista Human Rights Festival, with the
theme “Rebelasyon,” showcasing artistry that aims to open the eyes and minds of viewers and creators.
“At the British Council, we are passionate about connecting people through English, education, and arts and culture. Our commitment to supporting vital projects that highlight important topics such as climate change, diversity, and inclusion remains unwavering. Through our 45 years in the Philippines, we have stood firm in our dedication to fostering positive change through our work, and we look forward to doing more in the coming years,” says Lotus Postrado, British Council’s Country Director in the Philippines.
To know more about the British Council and their work, visit britishcouncil.ph.
* * * Don’t miss the Spanish films featured in the Pelicula Spanish Film Festival from October 5 to 15 at Shangri-La Plaza’s Red Carpet. Organized by Instituto Cervantes and the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, this annual event will showcase 23 films, with seven available online for viewers in
Australia and Singapore.
Pelicula, established in 2002 by Instituto Cervantes de Manila, celebrates Spanish-language cinema, presenting the latest acclaimed works from Spain and Ibero-American countries.
A highlight of this year’s program is Pelicula en Verde, where a tree will be planted for each viewer of speciallymarked films, including Alcarràs (Carla Simón, 2023), As bestas (Rodrigo Sorogoyen, 2022), El Olivo (Icíar Bollaín, 2016), Fonos (Gabriela Badillo Sánchez, 2021), and Tierra (Julio Medem, 1996). This initiative, in partnership with the Haribon Foundation, is sponsored by Acciona, a prominent Spanish infrastructure company with Asian headquarters in Manila.
The festival will also pay tribute to acclaimed filmmaker Carlos Saura, screening his films Embrujo, Goya en Burdeos, and El Rey de todo el mundo
In addition to Spanish films, the festival will feature works from Ibero-American countries like Chile, Colombia, Argentina, and Mexico, including a SpainMexico co-production.
As in previous years, viewers can vote for their favorite films for the Audience Choice Awards, with the winning film screened on the festival’s last day, October 15.
All screenings are free on a first-come, first-served basis, with films in Spanish (or their original language) and English subtitles. Visit the festival’s website (https://pelikula/org) or Instituto Cervantes de Manila’s Facebook page for updates.
fashion videographer Samet Gorgoz in “Street style looks Womenswear Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2024.”
Heart’s journey is a testament to her trailblazing spirit in the fashion world. She has proven that one can achieve success without necessarily being a professional fashion model strutting down the catwalks. Her accomplishments have inspired others to follow in her footsteps.
Notably, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and Anne Curtis have begun to venture into the world of fashion, following Heart’s lead. Both made their debut appearances at the Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks.
KASUSO Foundation, in collaboration with Araneta City, announces its Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign, themed “Let’s Bridge the Breast Cancer Care Gap: Fair and Square.” The initiative aims to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer education and support.
Partnering with 35 contemporary artists and 15 photojournalists, the campaign offers unique experiences, including art exhibits and conventions, to promote early detection and access to care during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
As the centerpiece of this campaign, Kasuso Foundation, in partnership with Araneta City, is presenting Susuportahan Kita , a one-of-a-kind contemporary art exhibit featuring the works of some of today’s most celebrated artists.
The exhibit delves into various themes related to breast cancer. It explores the physical and emotional challenges, emphasizes the significance of family and community support, underscores hope and resilience, and highlights the need for early detection and treatment accessibility. Beyond personal narratives, it serves as a commentary on broader societal issues affecting Filipina women, such as inadequate healthcare inclusivity.
Some artists are breast cancer patients or survivors, while others are motivated by stories of affected loved ones. Notable artists like Mideo Cruz, Raquel De Loyola, Jef Carnay, and more contributed their pieces, encompassing various creative expressions, from powerful sculptures to thought-provoking
paintings.
The Susuportahan Kita exhibit opens grandly on October 7 at Gateway Mall in Araneta City and remains open to the public throughout October. Proceeds from artwork sales support Kasuso’s efforts to assist women affected by breast cancer.
Esteemed photojournalist Jimmy Domingo will offer insight into the daily struggles of breast cancer patients through his photo exhibit, shedding light on the current breast cancer landscape in the country.
Throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Kasuso Foundation will host a range of events, including a Benefit Art and Photo Exhibit, Kasuso-Con Art Convention, Breast Health Talk, Floristry Workshop, and patientfocused parties. Their goal is to stress early detection’s importance and advocate for equitable healthcare access for all affected women.
Kasuso Foundation invites media support to spread their advocacy, aiming to eliminate breast cancer fatalities among Filipinas.
Georgia M. Pangan, President of Kasuso Foundation, believes in the power of art to stimulate change and discussions on vital issues. The “Susuportahan Kita” exhibit and the Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign aim to create a lasting impact in the fight against breast cancer, ensuring that everyone receives the necessary care in their journey.
For more information about the “Susuportahan Kita” exhibit, visit their social media pages or contact 09173181048.