Manila Standard - 2023 October 14 - Saturday

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OFWs coming home Monday Leave Israel warzone as DFA confirms 3rd Pinoy death from Hamas attacks

By Charles Dantes, Rey E. Requejo and Vito Barcelo

HE first batch of Filipinos fleeing the war in Israel will head for home on Oct. 16, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said, as it confirmed a third Filipino casualty Friday.

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The third Filipino killed in the surprise attack by Hamas on Saturday was a 49-year-old woman from Negros Occidental, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Edu Eduardo de Vega said. Like the first two Filipino casualties, she too was a caregiver.

De Vega added that she was attending the music festival where Hamas gunmen slaughtered 260 civilians.

The most pressing concern at the moment, De Vega said, were the 131 Filipinos trapped in Gaza, which has been completely sealed off by Israeli troops who are bombarding Hamas targets in retaliation for Saturday’s attack.

Israel has imposed a total blockade on the Palestinian enclave and looks poised to launch a ground invasion on Gaza. “[President Marcos] said that the immediate concern is repatriation, but nobody right now can get in or out of Gaza… so, repatriation, of course, is not yet possible at this time," De Vega said.

VOL. XXXVII • NO. 242• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Gov’t on guard against ‘copycat’ terrorist strikes, says DND chief

By Vince Lopez THE Department of National Defense (DND) on Friday said it is on guard against “copycat” attacks by local Hamas sympa sympathizers following Saturday’s terrorist attack on Israel.

"We are monitoring possible spillover or copycat effects but we have not yet seen anything so far," Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said on the sidelines of the launching of the Asia-Pacific Min Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in a Convention Center Next page in Pasay City on Friday, Oct. 13.

1.1m Gazans given 24 hours to evacuate ahead of ground assault ISRAEL on Friday gave Palestinians 24 hours to leave Gaza City ahead of an expected ground of offensive in retaliation against Hamas for the deadliest attack in Israeli history.

The United Nations said it had been informed of the evacuation order shortly before midnight Thursday, six days after hundreds of Hamas gunmen broke through the militarized border barrier around the Gaza enclave and killed more than 1,200 people in Israel, drawing comparisons to the 9/11 attacks on the United States.

The UN said the mass relocation, affecting 1.1 million or about half the entire population of the Gaza Strip, to the territory's south was "impossible" and urgently appealed for the order to be rescinded.

Any Israeli ground operation is complicated by Hamas's holding -according to Israel's government -- of around 150 Israeli, foreign and dualnational hostages.

Hamas on Friday said 13 hostages, including foreigners, had been killed in Israeli strikes. The terrorists had previously reported four hostages killed in strikes, and the latest deaths came at "five locations targeted by Israeli fighter jets,” they said.

Israel has retaliated by hitting targets in Gaza with thousands of munitions, in strikes claiming more than 1,530 lives -- 500 of them children, according to the health ministry in Gaza.

FLEEING FROM, MASSING FOR WAR. A boy carries a mattress as Palestinians with their belongings flee to safer areas in Gaza City after Israeli air strikes, on October 13. Meanwhile, Israeli army Merkava battle tanks and other vehicles deploy along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on Friday. AFP

Rody threatens to kill legislator to help Sara get CIF—Colmenares

By Maricel V. Cruz FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte is threatening members of Congress with harm, in particular a

militant lawmaker, just so his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, can get confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) for her offices, a former legis-

Asiad gold to stay with PH despite Brownlee dope test

By Randy Caluag THE Asian Games basketball gold medal will stay with the Philippines even as naturalized player Justin Brownlee, who tested positive for a banned substance, faces a two-year suspension if he fails the confirconfir matory doping test.

“The gold remains with us,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Friday, moments after receiving the notice of BrownBrown lee’s failed doping test.

Next page

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2024 HOLIDAYS, NO-WORK DAYS ANNOUNCED NEWS / A2

lator said Friday.

Neri Colmenares, chairman of the Makabayang Koalisyon ng MamamaMamama yan (Makabayan) and Bayan Muna party-list, condemned Duterte’s death

Gilas Pilipinas forward Justin Brownlee

threat against ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro in a live television interview and said it “should not be ignored and must be called out.”

Next page

Marcos to DICT: Beef up defenses vs. cybercriminals

By Darwin G. Amojelar and Julito G. Rada PRESIDENT Marcos has ordered the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to beef up its defense against cybercriminals, as he expressed concern over recent data leaks in government agencies.

"Yesterday, the President called up and he's really very afraid of what's happening here. And he actually told us that we should really beef up our defenses,” DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Next page

DIESEL, KEROSENE PRICE ROLLBACKS SEEN NEXT WEEK NEWS / A2

NEDA OKAYS 10 INFRA PROJECTS WORTH P269.7B NEWS / A4

Justice summons bribe whistleblower to meet with NBI THE Department of Justice has required former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) executive Jefferson Tumbado to appear before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday to shed light on the corruption allegations at the agency.

This developed as the transport group Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers (Manibela), which Next page

SM SAN PEDRO OPENS. SM Center San Pedro,

SM’s 84th mall, officially opens its doors to Laguna residents on Friday following a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Pictured from left are SM Engineering Design and Development Corp. President Hans Sy Jr., SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, Laguna Vice Gov. Karen Agapay, Bishop Leo Murphy Drona, San Pedro City Mayor Art Joseph Francis Mercado, San Pedro City First Lady Mika Mercado, City Councilor Sonny Mendoza, Vice Mayor Divina Olivarez, City Councilor Michael Casacop, SM Prime Holdings Inc. President Jeffrey Lim, and Super Value Inc. President Herbert Sy.

NEWS 2024 holidays, DND: Congress to amend AFP laws no-work days announced C A2 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

pabilities needed to protect the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or 200 nautical miles from its coast.

This shift is now ongoing under Horizon 3 of the program.

Presidential Decree No. 415 in 1974 created the SRDP that requires the immediate prosecution of national defense projects for the acquisition of military material. The program aims to generate labor, spur industrial and commercial activities, and conserve foreign exchange resources.

On Thursday, the DND and AFP signed an agreement with the Cebu provincial government on land swapping.

Maricel Cruz and Vince Lopez (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

“Congress has promised us two things —the amendment of the modernization law and the procurement law of the Armed Forces,” Teodoro said in a press statement.

He said the SRDP will also be enhanced by investing or partnering with local manufacturers of defense equipment.

"That means to say, we will be able to invest long-term as equity partners or as

purchasers for locally manufactured defense goods and equipment," he added.

The DND chief said the proposed amendments are not only envisioned to fortify the country's defense capabilities but also to invigorate economic growth and development.

Meanwhile, an archipelagic country like the Philippines needs to invest in up-

grading and beefing up its naval and air defense assets to protect its vast territory, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said.

Brawner, in an interview with reporters, said the upgrading of the Air Force and the Navy's external defense capabilities includes the acquisition of more advanced jet fighters and other air assets needed to patrol along with naval vessels.

"We really need to invest in improving our maritime and air power as the Philippines is an archipelagic nation, unlike some countries (in Southeast Asia) that are land-locked," he added.

The AFP Modernization Program has shifted to provide the military with the ca-

OFWs...

"They may also wait one day, two days, three days, like what happened in Sudan. So, we're counting on the UN— and, of course, there will not just be Filipinos; there will be other nationalities as well. Of course, we have to anticipate the possibility... that only foreigners will be allowed out," he said.

"Our embassies in Cairo and Amman are already arranging their travel documents and passports. So they have the papers to be able to travel to the Philippines. The question is.. safe entry to Egypt. But we are working on that, in full accordance with the instruction of the President," he added.

De Vega said the government is hoping that the repatriates will be taken care of once they are at the border.

"I’m sure the international community, the Red Cross, and other organizations will find a way to provide them food and all that in case they have to stay at the border while their papers are being processed," he said.

Meanwhile, about 22 Filipinos—out of about 30,000 in Israel—have also opted for repatriation after fighting between Israeli troops and Hamas terrorists escalated, De Vega said.

De Vega said they were not direct victims of the war, but may have lost their jobs or facing hard times because of the fighting.

“The first batch at the government's expense will be leaving on Oct. 16—there are eight of them… And as promised, once they arrive, they’ll be given the proper assistance, the usual reintegration and other assistance packages provided by the DMW (Department of Migrant Workers) and OWWA (the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration)," he said.

The Philippine embassy in Tel-Aviv earlier said that apart from areas near the combat zone in southern Israel, the situation in Israel has largely stabilized.

The surprise attack by Hamas killed 1,200 people in Israel and terrorists took about 150 hostages in their surprise attack launched from Gaza on Saturday.

Israel retaliated by raining air and artillery strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza for six days, claiming more than 1,400 lives.

The first two Filipino fatalities have been identified as Angeline Aguirre, 32, a nurse, and Paul Vincent Castelvi, a 42-year-old caregiver.

Aguirre was killed after she chose to

stay with her elderly patient as gunmen shot up a bomb shelter in Israel.

Castelvi, who was also killed in a bomb shelter by Hamas gunmen, was supposed to fly home for Christmas.

The Philippine government earlier said that they were processing the return of their remains.

The Philippines on Thursday placed Gaza under Alert Level 3, meaning voluntary repatriation could start. Alert Level 2 was raised over Israel, meaning the deployment of Filipino workers there was suspended.

Israel is home to at least 30,000 Filipino workers, most of them caregivers.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it was ready to assist Filipino migrant workers repatriated from Israel and Palestine.

Meanwhile, De Vega said that in the West Bank, another Palestinian territory that is separated from Gaza, some 70 Filipinos there are doing well.

"They are not in danger because there are no hostilities there and the official Palestinian government is in favor of a diplomatic solution to their issues with Israel," he said.

ried out "within the next 24 hours."

Agence France-Presse correspondents said there were "heavy strikes" in the northern Gaza Strip on Friday morning, including Al-Shati refugee camp and Gaza City, primarily targeting residential buildings.

The Hamas media office reported Israeli air raids on Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south.

Israel's army said its "fighter jets struck 750 military targets in the northern Gaza Strip overnight" including "residences of senior terrorist operatives used as military command centers".

Israel says it seeks to eliminate the capability of Hamas, which itself wants Israel's destruction and said its attack Saturday sought to end Israel's "rampaging

without being held accountable".

Hamas, in a statement, said "our Palestinian people" rejected Israel's Gaza evacuation order.

Carrying plastic bags of belongings, with suitcases on their shoulders and children in their arms, Gazans were, however, moving to safer areas on Friday.

More than 423,000 people have already fled their homes in the territory, according to the UN. Such an evacuation order could transform "what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation," a UN spokesman said.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) later said it had moved its central operations center and international staff to the south of Gaza.

Egypt's Rafah crossing is the only route out of Gaza not controlled by Israel and has been bombed on several occasions this week.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt remains committed to ensuring the delivery of aid to Gaza, but urged Palestinians to "remain on their land" in a speech Thursday.

'Very painful' Gaza's 2.4 million residents are enduring the fifth war in 15 years.

Israeli fighter jets and drones have leveled entire blocks and destroyed thousands of buildings.

The territory had already been under a land, air and sea blockade since 2006.

AFP (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

in their country and were dispersed by their police using tear gas, raising fears of a possible spillover of Hamas-Israel violence in other parts of the world.

In the Philippines, Teodoro urged the public to be vigilant and help the military to stop any attempt for a surprise attack similar to what Hamas did in Israel.

"As much as possible, we are preparing [the troops]. But it also means that the communities should also be vigilant.

If they notice something off, they should report it to authorities," he said.

Teodoro said the DND is ready to repatriate the overseas Filipinos who want to go home due to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

"We are ready, willing, and able to facilitate repatriation. That’s the duty not only of the AFP but also the OCD [Office of Civil Defense] and actually, the NDRRMC [National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council]," he said.

On Wednesday, the AFP said that it already has an evacuation plan to help bring home overseas Filipinos affected by the war.

Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said C-295 and C-130 transport aircraft have been prepared for deployment for the possible evacuation of distressed With AFP (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Rody...

This felony is already consummated as soon as the threats come to the knowledge of the person threatened (Parea vs. People, G.R. No. 181626, 30 May 2011),” added Colemenares, a human rights lawyer.

"Duterte is once again endangering the lives of people this time for questioning the illegal P125 million confidential funds of his daughter in 2022. He is truly allergic to transparency and accountability. Now, he is threatening Congress so that his daughter can get more confidential funds," he said.

According to Colmenares, those threats also constitute a threat against progressive lawmakers and are attempts to stifle the exercise of freedom of expression.

"The public has the right to know where their public funds are spent," he said.

Makabayan members have said they have been red-tagged by the government, especially during the Duterte administration.

Red-tagging is the labeling of individuals and groups as members or supporters of the communist insurgency, opening them to violent attacks by state agents often resulting in deaths.

ONGRESS vowed to amend the modernization and procurement laws of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, along with the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) program, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. said Friday.

From A1

De Vega said the government is waiting for the humanitarian corridors to open to allow the safe passage of humanitarian aid and refugees.

“This is a diplomatic initiative. We are in touch with other governments in the region. Of course, the United Nations will hold a session today, the United Nations Security Council and we expect them to call for a humanitarian corridor to allow civilians to leave,” he said.

The government is exhausting all diplomatic initiatives to bring Filipinos home safe, he said.

De Vega said about 92 Filipinos who are trapped in Gaza want to be repatriated.

The Philippine embassies in Egypt and Jordan are now preparing for the repatriation of Filipinos in Gaza, with its officials already on the border to assist them once the humanitarian corridor opens.

But still, there is no guarantee that Filipinos and other nationalities would be given smooth entry into Egypt from Gaza, De Vega said.

1.1m...

From A1

The Israeli army confirmed Friday it had called on Gaza City residents to move "to the area south of the Wadi Gaza," which is just below Gaza City in the 40 kilometer-long territory.

"In the following days, the IDF will continue to operate significantly in Gaza City and make extensive efforts to avoid harming civilians," the army said. "Hamas terrorists are hiding in Gaza City inside tunnels underneath houses and inside buildings populated with innocent civilians."

UN officials working in Gaza said earlier they were informed by the Israeli military that the evacuation should be car-

Gov"t...

From A1

Meanwhile, National Security Council chief Secretary Eduardo Año called the Hamas attack a “deadly and barbaric terrorist assault” that targeted civilians and used hostages as human shields against a counter-offensive by the Israeli Defense Force.

He said he would push to have Hamas designated as a terrorist organization under Republic Act. Teodoro said that no country is exempted from the threat of terrorism, hence, it is important for the military to always be on alert.

“Anybody can copy whatever happened in the Middle East. We can call them disruptors or extremists. I mean it always happens. Any country in this part of the world or any part of the world, even in Europe, they are on high alert for the possible effects of this on their security situation," Teodoro said.

“It’s not only here that things happen.

There have been ISIS spin-offs in France, in the UK, wherever. Terrorism is a possibility anywhere,” he said.

Foreign media reported that pro-Palestine groups in Paris launched a protest

Justice...

From A1

supported Tumbado’s allegations of bribery against his erstwhile boss, suspended LTFRB chief Teofilo Guadiz III, vowed to push through with their Oct. 16 strike.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Friday geared up for the planned nationwide strike, holding an emergency meeting to discuss a contingency plan.

This includes establishing a multiagency command center at the Communications and Command Center to monitor the strike, MMDA General Manager Undersecretary Procopio Lipana said.

Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. also urged the House of Representatives to probe the allegations of corruption in the LTFRB, which is mandated to regulate land-based public transportation and safeguard the welfare and interests of Filipino commuting

commuters.

Justice Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano said the NBI had already issued a subpoena to Tumbado, but the subpoena "could not have been served due to the incorrect address on Mr. Tumbado’s affidavit.”

Tumbado had recanted his allegations against Guadiz, the LTFRB and the Department of Transportation, after initially saying bribes of as much as P5 million were being paid and were going up all the way to Malacanang.

According to Clavano, the NBI had obtained a certification that the address contained in Tumbado's affidavit "does not exist."

Because of this, the “NBI is in the process of serving another subpoena to the right address,” he said.

“This will delay the process a little bit as he (Tumbado) was supposed to appear on Monday if he had put the right address,” Clavano added. Rey E. Requejo, Joel E. Zurbano, and Maricel V. Cruz

From A1

Duterte came to his daughters' defense amid controversies over the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education’s requests for confidential funds in the 2024 national budget.

The former President, in the Sonshine TV interview on Tuesday, said the intelligence funds would be used against Castro, adding in Filipino: “But, the first target of your intelligence fund would be you, France, I want to kill all you communists.”

The left-leaning Makabayan “condemned in the strongest terms” the threat made by Duterte.

"Such a threat delivered on national television should not be ignored and must be called out. Duterte's red tagging and threats to activists and the opposition must be stopped," said Colmenares, the former party-list legislator.

"At the very least, what Duterte did is tantamount to grave threats, which is a crime committed by a person who shall threaten another with the infliction upon the person or of his family of any wrong amounting to a crime.

Marcos...

From A1

Ian Dy said in an interview with Dobol B TV. Dy said Mr. Marcos wants to know the technical details of the data breach incidents in government agencies. "[The President said] we shouldn't be reacting after the fact, we should be preparing before it happens,” Dy said, adding that Mr. Marcos committed to help the agency to fight cybercriminals.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Friday that the perpetrators of the data breach on its Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) a week ago will soon be brought to justice.

In a statement, PSA said an investigation into the causes and scale of the incident is being conducted jointly with the DICT National Computer Emergency Response Team-Philippines (NCERTPH), the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group, the Na-

tional Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division, and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) Compliance and Monitoring Division.

“The PSA and aforementioned partners are working tirelessly to prevent the further disclosure of data. Leads for the identification of the bad actors have been provided to the PNP and the NBI for further action,” it said.

Besides the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Dy confirmed that the Philippine Statistics Office, the Department of Science and Technology, and the PNP were hacked.

According to Dy, there are some 10,000 experts’ data involved in the DOST hacking incident, while the PNP was an old issue.

In a separate statement, Renato Paraiso, spokesperson of DICT, said the NCERT collected relevant logs from the PSA for thorough analysis and is currently probing the extent of the data breach, and if personal identifiable information may have been compromised. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos has declared next year's regular holidays and special non-working days but excluded from declaring the commemoration of the EDSA People Power Revolution as a holiday.

Mr. Marcos approved Proclamation No. 368, which Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin signed on October 11, stating the Department of Labor and Employment must implement the guidelines for the proclamation.

Excluded from the list is the observance of the 38th EDSA People Power Anniversary on February 25 next year, which falls on a Sunday.

Malacañang clarified that it respects the observance of EDSA anniversary but said that since it falls on a Sunday or the usual rest day for workers, it would have a minimal socio-economic impact to declare the day as a special non-working day.

Listed under regular holidays are the following: Jan. 1 - New Year’s Day March 28 - Maundy Thursday March 29 - Good Friday April 9 - Araw ng Kagitingan May 1 - Labor Day June 12 - Independence Day Aug. 26 - National Heroes Day (Last Monday of August) Nov. 30 - Bonifacio Day Dec. 25 - Christmas Day Dec. 30 - Rizal Day Meanwhile, the following were announced as special non-working days for 2024: Aug. 21 - Ninoy Aquino Day Nov. 1 - All Saints’ Day Dec. 8 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary Dec. 31 - Last Day of the Year Additional special (non-working) days: Feb. 10 - Chinese New Year March 30 - Black Saturday Nov. 2 - All Souls’ Day Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve Meanwhile, the announcement for the observance of Eid'l Fitr and Eid'l Adha will be issued once the Islamic holidays' approximate dates have been determined per the Islamic calendar.

Diesel, kerosene price rollback seen next week

By Alena Mae S. Flores PUMP prices will have a mixed movement next week, with oil companies rolling back diesel and kerosene prices and increasing gasoline prices, sources told Manila Standard.

The sources said gasoline may go up

by P0.40 to P0.60 per liter, while diesel will roll back P1.20 to P1.40 per liter and kerosene by P1.10 to P1.20 per liter.

This is based on the four-day monitoring on the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS), the pricing bench used by oil importers, they told the Standard.

This developed after the oil firms rolled back pump prices by P3.05 per liter for gasoline, P3 per liter for kerosene, and P2.45 per liter for diesel on Oct. 10.

These price adjustments resulted in a year-to-date net increase of P12.25 per liter for gasoline, P11.35 per liter for diesel, and P5.94 per liter for kerosene.

Department of Energy (DOE) director for the oil industry management bureau Rodela Romero said oil markets have eased despite the ongoing Israel armed conflict. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Asiad...

From A1

Brownlee, the most important figure in Gilas Pilipinas’ conquest of the men’s basketball event at the recent Hangzhou Games in China, tested for a banned substance as indicated in the report by the International Testing Agency (ITA).

ITA, which was commissioned by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to handle the dope testing for the biennial meet, said Brownlee has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for Carboxy-THC, a specified prohibited substance, according to the Prohibited List of the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA).

Brownlee has until October 19 to contest the result of his A Sample through appropriate procedures set by the WADA, ITA, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Tolentino, however, assured Filipinos that the gold medal, won by Gilas over Jordan in the finals, will not be forfeited. It would only be stripped of the gold if two of Brownlee’s teammates also test positive for doping. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

NEWS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023

INDIGENOUS BARONG.

IN BRIEF

Presidential sister Irene Marcos Araneta shows deep interest in indigenous, but superbly elegant barong tagalog designs on display at this year’s HABI Market Fair at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City. The fair is open until Oct 15.

Diana B. Noche

74 ‘railway cadets’ end MRT training AT LEAST 74 recruits also called “railway professionals,” have completed their intensive training under the cadetship program of San Miguel Corp.s (SMC) Metro Rail Transit-7 (MRT-7) project.

The railway cadets were trained through the Philippine Railways Institute (PRI), seens as a vital step towards ensuring that the soon-to-be-operational mass transit system provides a seamless and enhanced commuting experience for countless Filipinos.

The Fundamental Training Course (FTC), which began in July, was structured to provide the cadets with specialized skills and expertise. This rigorous preparation aims to meet the high standards required to handle the sophisticated operations of the MRT-7, set to revolutionize urban transit in the country.

In July this year, the SMC separately sent 40 cadets to Seoul to train under KORAIL, South Korea’s leading railway operator and the conglomerate’s technical partner. They completed their training in September.

2 policemen nabbed in Muntinlupa drug raid A POLICE and his colleague who went on absence without official leave (AWOL) were arrested during an antinarcotics operation in Muntinlupa City.

Pa. Rey Palomar Baldonasa, assigned to the National Capital Region Police Office - Drug Enforcement Unit, and Carlos Rivera Navarro, declared AWOL by the Caloocan City Police Office, were arrested during a raid along Purok 10, Amparo Street in Barangay Poblacion.

Seized from the suspects were a .9 mm Canik handgun and a magazine, PNP Identification Cards, and 10 grams of shabu worth P68,000.

The suspects are in police custody and charged with violating Article II, Sections 5, 11, and 26 of Republic Act No. 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and Republic Act 10591, related to Batas Pambansa 881, the Omnibus Election Code. Joel E. Zurbano

3 ex-TLRC execs convicted for graft HE Sandiganbayan has convicted three former officials of the state-run Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) for malversation of public funds and graft arising from the illegal disbursement of P4.8 million worth of government money to an unqualified non-government organization (NGO).

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Meanwhile, three officials of the Department of Agriculture face graft investigation for their alleged involvement in the manipulation of onion prices in 2022, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Friday.

Sentenced to long prison terms were ex-TLRC Deputy Director General Dennis Cunanan, chief accountant Marivic Jover, and sales and promotion supervi-

sor Belina Concepcion, They were each given 1o to 18 years of incarceration for malversation of public funds, plus six to 10 more years of jail time for graft.

In addition, they were perpetually banned from holding public office.

In a 72-page decision dated October 9, the Sandiganbayan said these individuals allowed the transfer of P4.8 million of public funds, a discretionary

fund or pork barrel of former Palawan Representative Antonio Alvarez, to NGO Kalinga sa Kapwa at Kalikasan Foundation, Inc. (KKKFI) without reviewing the grantees qualifications and without public bidding.

“With the individual and collective actions of accused Cunanan, Concepcion and Jover, the funds were illegally released to KKKFI. The release of the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) would not have been possible if not for the signatures and individual participation of the accused in the said transaction,” the anti-graft court ruled.

“In these cases, the prosecution has sufficiently established that the

GET THAT ECOVERSE EXPERIENCE. A multimedia art gallery that immerses visitors in the wonders of nature and the cosmos is now on-going at the and will last under Oct. 22. This interactive display of replicas of the universe offers total motivation and enlightenment for visitors. Manny Palmero

Agents foil Malaysian’s attempt to smuggle P25-m shabu at NAIA

By Joel E. Zurbano GOVERNMENT agents assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have arrested a 27-year-old Malaysian national for possession of illegal drugs worth P25 million.

PDAF funds released to [NGO] KKKFI (Kalinga sa Kapwa at Kalikasan Foundation, Inc.) amounting to P4.8 million for the implementation of the livelihood projects of the First District of Palawan remain unliquidated and that the livelihood project was never implemented,” the Sandiganbayan pointed out.

“Accused Cunanan should not have merely relied on the findings of the other TLRC/TRC officials as he should have personally verified the documents attached in the disbursement voucher.

It is [also] evident from the records that even the duty to monitor the implementation of the livelihood project was not done by accused Cunanan, Concepcion and Jover,” the Sandiganbayan said.

DTI to purge online market of bad traders

Cruise ship from Xiamen moors at Subic Freeport SUBIC Bay Freeport—The tourism industry is deemed livened as a cruise ship from Xiamen, China made its maiden voyage to port facility here with a thousand passengers.

The Blue Dream Star is the first luxury vessel of the eleven scheduled voyages to drop anchor at the Freeport from October 12 to November 21, 2023.

The cruise liner is the first to offer outbound cruises from China since the onset of the pandemic.

The arrival of this cruise ship was made possible through the efforts of SBMA chairman and administrator Jonathan Tan, whose thrust is to boost the tourism industry in the Freeport.

Yesterday, Malacañang issued Executive Order Nos. 271 and 72 regarding the admission and stay of foreign nationals in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as Temporary Visitors, who can stay for a maximum period of 14 days. Butch Gunio

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Customs personnel from the X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) detected the prohibited substance in the baggage of Mohammad Ahtsham bin Mohammad Afzal upon his arrival at the NAIA Terminal 3.

The foreigner planed in aboard Ethi-

opian Airline Flight ET-644 from Addis Ababa on Thursday night.

Investigations revealed that the suspect’s baggage was marked “X” due to suspicious images, leading to a total physical examination that resulted in the discovery of 3.7 kilos of shabu.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has taken custody of the suspect who will be charged with violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Dangerous Drugs Act, and RA 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization Act.

DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual vowed to address mounting consumer complaints across online selling platforms by weeding out unscrupulous traders selling fake products.

“I will task our eCommerce platform operators to do their part in weeding out potential sources of complaints,” Pascual said in his speech at the launch of the Philippine Online Dispute Resolution System (PODRS)Consumer Complaints and Assistance and Resolution (CARe) system Friday.

He reiterated the DTI’s commitment to observe and enforce Consumer Act, noting that the launch of the webbased national consumer complaint portal will protect the rights and interests of consumers.

“These systems are designed to streamline the dispute resolution of consumer complaints handling process, making it easier for individuals and businesses to seek redress and find solutions to these issues,” Pascual added.

Citing the Global Digital report published earlier this year, Pascual said internet penetration in the Philippines now stands at 73 percent of the total population, approximately 85 million Filipinos as internet users.

Customs-Limay confiscates P2.4-m smuggled fuel

By Julito G. Rada THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) at the Port of Limay in Bataan has foiled the entry of 40,000 liters of smuggled fuel valued at P2.4 million.

In a statement Friday, BoC said operatives led by acting district collector Guillermo Pedro Francia on Oct. 5 observed a fuel loaded truck attempting to pass through the checkpoint, which

when flagged down failed to present proper documentation.

In response, Francia directed the Port of Limay Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) to conduct a field test on the fuel in the trailer tanker. The test results indicated a “fail,” prompting a more in-depth investigation by the ESS – Customs Police Division (CPD).

Subsequent verification of the initial test result led to the confiscation

of the smuggled fuel.

Francia said they are committed in strengthening the anti-smuggling campaign through the implementation of regular checkpoints in their area of jurisdiction.

These efforts aim to detect and prevent the illegal transport of goods, ensuring the protection of the country’s economic interests and upholding the rule of law.

MTFI gets P1.4-m grant from Danish foundation MOA SIGNING. Grundfos country director Thomas Mikkelsen and Million Trees Foundation Inc. president and executive director Melandrew Velasco (2nd and 3rd from left) hold copies of a memorandum of agreement on shared concerns for the environment.

Grundfus granted €23,700 (P1.4 million) for its tree planting activities. . Also at the front row are Grundfos staff led by team manager Josephine Dela Cerna and MTFI special projects manager Me-Anne Velasco.

A PHILIPPINE non-government organization has received a €23,700 (P1.4-million) grant from Grundfos Foundation of Denmark, seen to dramatically boost its tree-planting activities in the country.

The Million Trees Foundation, Inc. and Grundfos of Denmark sealed yesterday in Quezon City a memo-

randum of agreement embodying the donation and stronger collaboration between them.

MTFI president and executive director Melandrew Velasco and Grundfos country director Thomas Mikkelsen inked the MOA, witnessed by the Grundfos IS Support & Operation

Team Manager Josephine De La Cerna and staff Kassandra Anne Carmesis, Justine Mislang, Adreian Villanueva and Jerome Dominic Atendido who made possible the grant approval.

Danish Paul Due Jensen founded Grundfos which eventually became the world’s leading pump company.

NEWS

A4 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

NEDA okays P269.7-b infra projects

By Charles Dantes and Julito Rada

T

HE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved 10 new infrastructure projects worth P269.7 billion, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said on Friday.

During a Palace briefing, Balisacan said the approved projects will boost the country’s health and transport sector while promoting green economy initiatives.

“With these approved projects, the Marcos administration reaffirms its commitment to aggressively advance infrastructure development to attain

our medium-term development goals of more high-quality jobs and better lives for all Filipinos,” Balisacan said.

President Marcos sits as chairman of the NEDA Board.

One of the approved projects is the upgrade and expansion of the BoholPanglao International Airport which

will increase the airport’s maximum passenger capacity from 2.5 million to 3.9 million passengers per year.

Another item in the pipeline is the Dialysis Center Project of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center which will make hemodialysis treatment more accessible and affordable for patients in Baguio City and surrounding areas.

The NEDA Board also approved the Green Economy Program that will help the national government, local government units, and the private sector mainstream green economy activities, such as reducing waste and pollution, and increasing energy efficiency and renew-

able energy deployment.

Other projects okayed by the NEDA Board include the changes to the BataanCavite Interlink Bridge and Cebu Bus Rapid Transit projects to accommodate an updated detailed engineering design that utilizes superior construction materials and a stronger bridge structure as well as to account for inflation.

The NEDA Board previously approved the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UPPGH) Cancer Center and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) PPP projects which are currently undergoing the bidding process.

HARD HATS ON.

Students from the Manuel Araullo High School go out of their classrooms after a magnitude 5.2 earthquake shook the capital on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023.

Danny Pata

THE Department of Justice on Friday said it has forged a joint initiative with the Bureau of Immigration to investigate and combat corruption within the bureau, particularly focusing on the reported “escort” system at airports.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco have vowed to thoroughly probe allegations of escort services provided by immigration officers at airports.

In a bid to stamp out corruption, Tansingco said there are 72 cases against Immigration officers and personnel that are currently pending before the BI’s Board of Discipline and over 100 cases initiated with the DOJ. The DOJ said a total of 73 BI employees have already received decisions this year, including dismissals and suspensions.

The BI employees sanctioned include a male immigration officer who facilitated the departure of 13 Filipinos later implicated in human trafficking and another who authorized the travel of a blacklisted Korean national.

“This is not an overnight problem. However, we are making substantial progress in tackling corruption, holding guilty employees accountable, and deterring others from straying,” Tansingco said.

Tansingco also underscored the implementation of technological upgrades to enhance security and curb corruption.

These include a transition from manual to automated passenger processing involving e-gates and AI technology, designed to reduce unnecessary person-to-person contact.

Team sent to repatriate 24 OFWs in Cambodia THE Department of Migrant Workers Department (DMW) deployed a team to Cambodia to repatriate 24 Filipinos who were allegedly forced to work in the Southeast Asian country.

DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the Filipino victims entered Cambodia as tourists as early as January.

“They were hired as tech support representatives but were forced to work in an online scamming facility in the O’Smach District located near the Thai border,” he said.

The DMW team left Monday to assist the Filipino workers and provide them legal and financial assistance as well as psychological first aid.

“They were supposed to be transferred from O’Smach District to another online scamming facility in the coastal city of Sihanoukville when the Cambodian National Police intercepted their convoy,” Cacdac said. Vito Barcelo

‘Trabaho’ law to help 2m unemployed Pinoys

DOJ, Immigration Magnitude 5.2 earthquake shakes Batangas, NCR to probe airport ‘escort’ services

By Rey Requejo

IN BRIEF

A MAGNITUDE 5.2 earthquake hit the country on Friday, the US Geological Survey said, shaking buildings in the capital, but there were no reports of casualties or damage.

The shallow quake struck about 100 kilometers south of Manila at 8:24 a.m. and sent students and office workers fleeing from their buildings.

“So far, everything’s okay. No casualties although this is the epicenter,” said Rafael Cuevas, a disaster agency official in Calaca city in Batangas province.

“We felt a strong shake... for less than 10 seconds.”

Mabini municipality disaster chief Arnold Panopio said: “At first it was just a slight jolt then it became strong

then stopped immediately.”

Panopio said no casualties or damage had been reported, but a local high school with around 2,000 students had suspended classes as a precaution.

Abby Bautista, a receptionist at Camp Netanya Resort and Spa in Mabini, told AFP the eleven Filipino guests staying at the hotel were unbothered by the quake.

POLL PREPARATIONS. Workers from the Malabon City Engineering Office arrange and paint ballot boxes that will be used during the Oct. 30 Barangay and SK Elections. Andrew Rabulan

SOME two million unemployed and six million underemployed members of the labor force stand to benefit from the newly-enacted “Trabaho Para sa Bayan” Law, Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles said.

He said the law will also aid more than 15 million informal workers who were adversely affected by the lockdowns imposed during the pandemic.

“Through this law we hope to improve the employability of Filipino workers through various upskilling and reskilling measures amid the changing demands of the post-pandemic environment and the challenges posed by the surge of technology,” added Nograles, chairman of the House committee on labor and employment.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the country’s unemployment rate rose to 4.5 percent in June, bringing the total number of jobless Filipinos to 2.3 million.

Maricel V. Cruz

Mandatory nutrition label of food products sought A CONGRESSIONAL leader on Friday urged Filipinos to be more conscious of the nutritional value of the food items they buy to ensure a healthy lifestyle.

Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar filed House Bill 9344 seeking the mandatory labeling of all pre-packed food products.

Under HB 9344, all pre-packed food products would be required to include a label containing the following information: number of servings or other units of measure per container, the total number of calories derived from any source and derived from the total fat.

It shall also include the amount of the following nutrients in each serving size or other unit of measurement of food: total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fiber, and total protein.

Maricel V. Cruz

Remains of OFW slain by co-worker arrives from Saudi Arabia THE remains of 32-year-old overseas Filipino worker Marjorette Garcia who was slain by her African co-worker in Saudi Arabia arrived in the country on Friday.

“Marjorette is home. Through the combined efforts of our Embassy in Saudi Arabia, our Migrant Workers Office, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Ad-

ministration, we have brought her home to rest,” Department of Migrant Workers officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in a statement.

“It is with broken hearts that we mourn her loss, that we bring her home in this manner, the victim of one senseless act of violence we have yet to com-

Ex-Pampanga mayor may face contempt charge for leaking executive session info

By Maricel V. Cruz FORMER Mayor Teddy Tumang of Mexico town in Pampanga may face a contempt charge from the House of Representatives committee on dangerous drugs for allegedly leaking information discussed during the panel’s closed-door session last week, a lawmaker said yesterday.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, committee chairman, said he would again invite Tumang to his panel’s next hearing on the recent seizure of more than 500 kilos of shabu worth P3.6 billion from a warehouse in Barangay San Jose Malino in Mexico.

Should Tumang refuse to cooperate, Barbers said the House committee would be forced to cite the former mayor in contempt.

House rules governing inquiries in aid of legislation prohibit the disclosure of information discussed in an executive session.

Barbers’ committee went into a closed-door session after an open hearing on Oct. 9 to give the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the National Bureau of Information a free hand to discuss details on the seizure of the large shabu shipment in Barangay San Jose Malino.

The former Mexico mayor attended the public part of the hearing along with other former and incumbent Mexico officials.

prehend,” he added.

OWWA chief Arnell Ignacio, together with the family of Garcia, received the remains at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 10:30 a.m.

“We are in coordination with her family and we will help the family left behind, especially her two children,”

Cacdac said.

Cacdac said the charge sheet that the DMW obtained from the prosecutor’s office in Saudi Arabia confirmed that Garcia was stabbed by her Kenyan co-worker.

The co-worker allegedly has grudges against Garcia as she was always favored by their employer. Vito Barcelo

FARM FRESH ADVOCATES.

Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban (left), Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr. (second from left), Farm Fresh co-founder Raphael Pelayo (right) and Farm Fresh Products founder Jerry Pelayo (kneeling) pose for a souvenir photo during the launching of the ‘Adopt-A-Town, Adopt-AFarmer’ program held at Bureau of Soils and Water Management convention hall in Visayas Avenue, Quezon City on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. The program intends to minimize, if not eliminate, post-harvest losses and wastage of farm produce, with Farm Fresh introducing its instant chopsuey and pakbet vegetable dishes that can serve as healthier alternatives to instant food products. Manny Palmero

OPINION

B1 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 Honor Blanco Cabie, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Hoping against Hope IN PREPARATION for the Synod on Synodality, a spiritual retreat in anticipation of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops began on the evening of September 30 and concluded after the dinner on October 3.

This retreat involved a variety of components, including the celebration of Holy Mass, moments of both communal and individual prayer, periods of contemplative silence, and guided sessions led by Mother Ignazia Angelini and Father Timothy Radcliffe, O.P. Father Radcliffe conducted a series of six meditations, each with a specific focus designed to prepare the participants for the Synod.

Timothy Peter Joseph Radcliffe, OP, born on August 22, 1945, is a Catholic clergyman and Dominican friar of English origin.

He held the esteemed position of master within the Order of Preachers from 1992 to 2001, being the sole individual from the English Province of the order to attain this role.

When faced with a vast, hungry crowd, the disciples questioned how to feed them with limited resources in the desert Radcliffe also took on the role of director at the Las Casas Institute, situated at Blackfriars, Oxford. This institute is dedicated to advocating for social justice and human rights.

Additionally, he has shown his support for initiatives aimed at fostering inclusion and outreach to the LGBTQ+ Catholic community.

In his initial meditation, titled “Hoping Against Hope,” Father Radcliffe encouraged the participants to implore God to liberate their hearts from fear.

He observed that, for some, this fear was rooted in the anxiety of change, while for others, it stemmed from the concern that nothing would change.

He also emphasized that through active listening to the Lord and one another, and by seeking to understand His intentions for the Church and the world, they would discover a shared hope that transcended their differences.

Below are some excerpts of his reflection: “This retreat gives them the courage and hope to set off on their journey. It does not always go well. They immediately fail to free the young lad from the evil spirit.

“They quarrel about who is the greatest.

They misunderstand the Lord. But they are on their way with a fragile hope.

“So we too prepare for our synod by going on retreat where, like the disciples, we learn to listen to the Lord.

“When we set off in three days’ time,

EDITORIAL

Voluntary repatriation

we shall often be like those disciples, and misunderstand each other and even quarrel.

But the Lord will lead us onwards towards the death and resurrection of the Church.

“Let us ask the Lord to give us hope too: the hope that this synod will lead to a renewal of the Church and not division; the hope that we shall draw closer to each other as brothers and sisters.

“This is our hope not just for the Catholic Church but for all our baptized brothers and sisters. People talk of an ‘ecumenical winter’. We hope for an ecumenical spring.

“We also gather in hope for humanity. The future looks grim. Ecological catastrophe threatens the destruction of our home.

Wildfires and floods have devoured the world this summer.

“Small islands begin to disappear under the sea. Millions of people are on the road fleeing from poverty and violence. Hundreds have drowned in the Mediterranean not far from here.

“Many parents refuse to bring children into a world that appears doomed. In China, young people wear T-shirts saying, ‘We are the last generation’. Let us gather in hope for humanity, especially hope for the young.”

Radcliff also discusses the challenge of finding common hope within a group, drawing parallels to the conflicting hopes of the disciples of Jesus.

Despite their varying individual hopes, they continued to walk together.

The central question raised is, “What shared hope can we have?” He emphasizes the need to reconcile contradictory hopes and find a unifying aspiration for the Church and humanity.

Radcliff then observes that in the context of a Synodal journey, it’s natural to worry about whether any meaningful progress is being made.

The media might perceive it as mere talk without concrete actions, focusing on a few contentious issues. However, we can draw inspiration from the disciples during the first synod who initially appeared ineffective, even trying to hinder a blind man’s healing.

When faced with a vast, hungry crowd, the disciples questioned how to feed them with limited resources in the desert.

But just as Jesus made do with seven loaves and a few fish to feed the multitude, our generosity and contributions during the Synod will be more than sufficient.

Trusting in the Lord’s provision for the harvest is key.

As a final note, he says even as people have different hopes and divisions, but by listening to the Lord and each other while seeking to understand God’s will for the Church and the world, they can find unity in a transcendent hope.

Better world community centers for a better PH

EvEryman

By Melandrew T. Velasco TONDO, the largest among districts of Manila, occupies an important place in the annals of the country’s history.

It is also the site of Smokey Mountain which for decades symbolized poverty before it became one of the pilot projects in the government’s war against poverty.

Smokey Mountain was then host to a dumpsite, a receptacle of over two million metric tons of waste, until its closure in the early 1990s.

In the commemorative coffee table book Teamwork for Enduring Peace and Sustainable Development, the 10th anniversary book of RPDev (Ramos Peace and Development Foundation, Inc.) that I authored, I wrote: “Smokey Mountain, for 45 years before FVR, represented the home of the country’s poorest of the poor. Its stark images of barefoot, bony children naked or in decrepit clothes who lived in shanties on top of the dumpsite, scavenging for bottles, housewares, plastics and even spoiled food evoked the image that abject poverty stalked the land…”

“The Ramos Government constructed 21 five-story typhoon and earthquake proof medium rise condominiums, which could shelter 3.520 families at affordable rates….”

Transforming Smokey Mountain into a vibrant residential-industrial complex was undertaken through the Smokey Mountain Development and Reclamation Project (SMDRP). It was a project to promote sustainable development and people empowerment.

This aspiration for sustainable development and people empowerment

has remained to this day and is shared by the country’s leading conglomerate, San Miguel Corporation (SMC). To help attain this, it has undertaken initiatives through its various CSR programs.

This year, as it celebrates its 133th anniversary, SMC through the SMC Foundation inaugurated its fifth community center.

The community centers manifest SMC’s unwavering commitment to nation-building and in helping uplift the lives of more Filipinos.

At the launch, SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang said the widening skills gap in the country’s disadvantaged communities that hinders their progress is a critical challenge.

RSA is no stranger to Tondo, having spent his younger years in the district.

“Our goal is to equip our Tondo beneficiaries with essential skills, instill in them a growth mindset, and a vision of a brighter future. By providing these families the opportunity to upskill, we hope to ultimately boost their income levels, decrease unemployment, elevate overall living standards, and help them realize intergenerational change,” RSA said.

Located in Tondo, the community center called Better World Smokey Mountain is a venue for learning and skills development.

It is a 3, 700-square-meter facility consisting of a four-story building that houses 39 modern classrooms. It also has two playgrounds, a cafeteria, and computer, arts, music and training rooms.

Target beneficiaries of the Better World Smokey Mountain are about 2,500 families, around 12,500 individuals from Tondo.

One way to fully harness the country’s labor force is to provide training to the unskilled and upskill the skilled workers aside from inculcating greater respect for blue collar jobs.

Thus, SMC has collaborated with the

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IVEN the strained situation in the Gaza Strip, scene of destruction caused by Israeli heavy airstrikes on Wednesday following the weekend surprise assault

by Hamas militants, the Philippine government has put Gaza under crisis alert level 3.

This calls for voluntary or assisted repatriation of Filipinos there, where at least three Filipino caregivers have been confirmed killed.

Officials say there are 137 Filipinos living in the Gaza Strip from a total 30,000 in various areas in Israel.

At least 70 Filipinos – including 19 caregivers and three hotel workers who have expressed readiness to leave – are seeking repatriation from Gaza.

Israel, reacting to the weekend surprise assault by the militants, pounded Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, a densely populated enclave of 2.3 million people.

Several Filipinos in Gaza have requested repatriation, but mounting evacuation flights remained a challenge as Israel continued to pound Hamas positions Within the framework of what’s established in the Glossary on Migration No. 7 of the International Organization for Migration, voluntary repatriation or voluntary return is “the independent or assisted return to the country of origin, transit or to a third country based on the free will of the person who returns.”

To be lawful under international refugee law, repatriation of refugees must be voluntary, safe and carried out with dignity and must always respect the mandatory principle of non-refoulement that prohibits sending people back to a place where their life and safety is in danger.

Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said only Gaza, which has now no

water and electricity, was under Alert 3, while Israel remained under Alert 2, which restricts non-essential movement of Filipinos and suspends deployment of workers there.

De Vega said several Filipinos in Gaza have requested repatriation, but mounting evacuation flights remained a challenge as Israel continued to pound Hamas positions.

He added there is a continuing blockade in Gaza, reason Philippine officials are looking for a diplomatic contact to allow 70 Filipinos to be repatriated.

According to the United Nations, more than 338,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip amid heavy Israeli bombardment, with Israeli forces saying 1,200 people, most of them civilians, were killed in the Hamas onslaught Saturday—the worst in the country’s history.

In Gaza, officials reported more than 1,000 people have been killed in Israel’s sustained campaign of air and artillery strikes.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed to “wipe out” Hamas and said there is “no contradiction” between launching a ground offensive and rescuing hostages.

Russia, China should discipline Israel CHINA and Russia should combine their power to put substance to what the UN stands for today.

But international relations now seem to demand some kind of firm rules from those who feel they have been given the extraordinary power to enforce some of its provisions.

Like any law in place, the State must somehow emphasize that such power exists to enforce those rules.

The state of Israel is a product of political mutation that rose out from the political aberration when Nazi Germany exterminated the Jews.

After that, Israel was created by the consensus exerted by the US called “unilateralism,” which was to enforce and vindicate Israel, such that the US today serves to rule the world, only to be observed by the members.

The UN charter is not a product of compromise with the thought of promoting peace.

The US usurped it as an opportunity after it won the war.

The present-day Israel is a state borne out of Palestine.

Long before the WWII started in ancient Europe, their hatred already existed against the Jews.

Old Hispanic rule made their vigorous campaign against Israel by expelling them from the Iberian Peninsula by way of Alhambra Decree in 1492.

It was the Spaniards that promoted the first anti-Semitic’s movement.

Their hatred of the Jews stem in their denial of Christ as a person and of its religion.

Jews today insist they are Christians, when doctrinally, they have nothing in common with Christianity.

The Muslims are even better than the Israelis for they acknowledge the existence of the Blessed Virgin Mary and mentions Angel Gabriel in their Koran.

The compromise that brought about the creation of the state of Israel was a total failure.

Since 1947, when the state of Israel was proclaimed by the advocates of Zionism, not an inch of land was ever conceded to the Palestinians to show their desire to reach a settlement agreement with the Palestinians.

In Better World community centers, activities are undertaken in collaboration with different non-government organizations Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to train manpower who can be employed in the company’s different projects or can become entrepreneurs.

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

The neo-Nazi occupiers of Palestine did not even take into account that they are the illegal occupants of Palestine.

In the nearly four major wars the Jews fought against the Arabs, not an inch was surrendered by Israel to the Arabs.

Rather, they take their conflict with the Arabs as an opportunity to legally expand.

The state of Israel has consistently ignored UN resolution 242 demanding that it withdraws from all the lands it occupied in the 1967 June war.

It has even rejected the two-state solution to the Palestinian question which goes to show that the present leaderships of the state of Israel are cold-blooded Nazis, worse than the followers of Hitler in World War II.

We are more concerned with the pent-up fury of the Palestinians who are being slaughtered daily by the Jews, than our own country’s promotion of peace and safety Israel today is an epitome of a fascist state pretending to observe the US idealism of freedom of democracy.

Israel has become the enforcer of the nuclear test ban agreement which no nuclear power state like Russia and China can enforce.

Israel has unilaterally imposed its will against states that threaten its own security when it bombed Libya, Iran, Iraq but not against Pakistan, India, China, UK and France.

Israel has been so selective as to what country should have a nuclear power, provided they will not threaten their existence.

They even sabotage the nuclear program of other countries. Without the world knowing it, Israel is the biggest arms

Training people for productive endeavors contributes to nation-building.

It is also a way of ensuring that every Filipino in the labor force becomes employable; and each home is self-sufficient in goods and income so its members could enjoy comfortable and decent lives.

It was in 2019 when SMC introduced its first community center, the Better World Tondo Center.

It aims to make food accessible to the poorest barangays of Manila and serves as a learning facility to help improve the lives of children of Tondo.

In Better World community centers, activities are undertaken in collaboration with different non-government organizations.

For the Better World Smokey Mountain, SMC is partnering with AHA Learning

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Head—Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

manufacturer in the world next only to Russia and the US. Many suspect the US is eyeing to make the fascist state of Israel to be its worthy successor to fight against Russia and China.

This explains why the US has not made obligatory for Israel to submit itself to the nuclear arms agreement.

Just like Israel, the US has maintained a strict silence on the status of Israel’s nuclear stockpile. The concept of accommodation has become doubly harder to reach with the development of nuclear weapons.

This situation has become a one-sided affair to intimidate, blackmail, and threaten other states opposed to idea of expanding the present state of Israel.

It has not even reprimanded that fascist state of the nuclear testing it conducted, although it is known that it has at its disposal nuclear weapons against any country that may threaten its existence.

That mutant state that calls itself a state of Israel since its inception as a rodent state by the US in 1949 has consistently voted for Taiwan viz. against China, every year in a resolution submitted to the UN general assembly.

Only the US and Israel would vote in favor of said resolution.

As a trivia, the US voted in favor of our delegate to the UN, Carlos P. Romulo, after the latter assured the US and Israel the Philippines will vote for the creation of the state Israel.

The Philippines stands a laughing stock.

We are more concerned with the pentup fury of the Palestinians who are being slaughtered daily by the Jews, than our own country’s promotion of peace and safety.

Even blacks from Ethiopia are now threatened with deportation by the corrupt Netanyahu government. (rpkapunan@gmail.com)

Center, Upskills+ Foundations Inc., Project Pearls, Sandiwaan Center for Learning Inc., and Tulay sa Pag-Unlad Inc. By 2030, SMC aims to uplift the lives of 15 million Filipinos.

I congratulate SMC as it celebrates its 133th anniversary.

Likewise, to RSA who has steered the conglomerate to where it is today and has not forgotten to think beyond business to promote the interest of the nation.

(The author, a book author and publisher, is president and chief executive officer of Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc. and also the president and executive director of the Million Trees Foundation Inc., a nongovernment outfit advocating tree-planting and environmental protection.)

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Chin Wong Joyce Pangco Pañares Jimbo Owen Gulle

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Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

B2 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

WORLD

UN urges Israel to call off north Gaza evacuation order UNITED NATIONS, New York—The United Nations urged Israel to rescind its call for 1.1 million residents of northern Gaza to relocate to the south of the territory within 24 hours, amid massive bombardments in retaliation for Hamas’s attacks.

“The United Nations considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretarygeneral, said on Thursday.

He told AFP that the UN “strongly appeals for any such order, if confirmed, to be rescinded avoiding what could transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation.”

Israel’s army said it has called for all Gaza City residents to evacuate their homes and head south of the territory

“for their safety.”

“The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) calls for the evacuation of all civilians of Gaza City from their homes southwards for their own safety and protection and move to the area south of the Wadi Gaza as shown on the map,” the army said in a statement.

“In the following days, the IDF will continue to operate significantly in Gaza City and make extensive efforts to avoid harming civilians.”

Dujarric said the army’s evacuation order applies to all UN staff and those sheltering in UN facilities –- including schools, health centers and clinics.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) is sheltering more than 60 percent of the 423,000 people displaced in recent days in the Gaza Strip. AFP

UNWAVERING SUPPORT. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (center) walks in the tarmac upon arrival in Amman, Jordan Thursday where he vowed unwavering US support for Israel in its war on Hamas but said the Palestinians also have ‘legitimate aspirations’ not represented by the Islamists. Blinken, who heads to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar and Jordan to put pressure on Hamas and secure the release of hostages, told reporters later the images were ‘new evidence of depravity and the inhumanity of Hamas.’ AFP

Ex-Indonesian Blinken, Jordan raise Palestinian minister nabbed needs as Israelis ready Gaza move over alleged graft

A

MMAN, Jordan – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Jordan’s king Friday about how to address a looming humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip as Israel readies a US-supported offensive following deadly attacks by Hamas.

Blinken huddled with King Abdullah II as well as Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in Amman at the start of a tour of six Arab countries that will also take the top US diplomat to Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

The Jordanian king, a longtime US partner, called for “opening humanitari-

an corridors to allow for the entry of urgent medical and relief aid to Gaza, and protecting civilians and stopping the escalation and war on Gaza,” a statement from the royal court said.

Blinken spent Thursday in Tel Aviv where he promised unwavering solidarity to US ally Israel after Hamas militants breached Israel’s southern border

on Saturday, killing over 1,200 people and taking about 150 more hostage.

Israel on Friday called on 1.1 million people to move south in the Hamasruled Gaza Strip, which is already under an Israeli blockade.

Israel has killed more than 1,530 people in strikes in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas attack and has cut off food, water and electricity.

Blinken spoke with King Abdullah on “ways to address the humanitarian needs of civilians in Gaza while Israel conducts legitimate security operations to defend itself from terrorism,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

US officials are working with Egypt, which also borders Gaza and was the first Arab country to make peace with Israel, on a plan for a safety corridor from Gaza.

But Jordan, home to two million Palestinian refugees, warned against permanent displacement.

“The crisis should not be spread to neighbouring countries and exacerbate the refugee issue,” the king told Blinken, according to the palace.

Hamas is financially backed by US arch-enemy Iran but also has longstanding ties with US partner Qatar, which has been seen as an intermediary in freeing the hostages. AFP

Large unguided bomb likely used in Myanmar—AI BANGKOK—Myanmar’s military used a large unguided aerial-delivered bomb in a deadly attack on a camp housing displaced people in the country’s north, Amnesty International said Friday.

The ruling junta has been accused of carrying out multiple bloody attacks on civilians as it struggles to crush resistance to its 2021 coup.

The latest incident on Monday night saw 29 bodies and 56 wounded pulled from the debris at a camp near the northern town of Laiza, on the border with China, according to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) ethnic rebel group.

An Amnesty International weapons expert analyzed photos and videos of the aftermath of the attack that “show evidence of a single massive blast that flattened dozens of nearby buildings –- including a church, preschool and many homes -– and started fires”.

“The size of the crater and observed damage is consistent with the largest aerial-delivered bombs known to be in the inventory of the Myanmar military,” the rights group said.

“Amnesty International believes the Myanmar military almost certainly used an unguided bomb, which is an inaccurate weapon completely inappropriate for use in the vicinity of civilians.”

The statement said the incident “may amount to a war crime.”

“The blast wave caused catastrophic overpressure and fragmentation injuries to the victims, including fatal wounds to heads, lacerations that exposed organs, and the removal and pulverisation of limbs,” the rights group said.

The junta had said bombs belonging to rebels in the area caused the explosion without giving evidence.

But Amnesty International said the military’s “explanation is at odds with consistent witness accounts, which noted the explosion served as the start of a coordinated attack”.

“The bomb fell on a large open field with regular vehicle traffic, unlikely to be an ammonium nitrate storage area,” the rights group added.

The KIA controls large parts of the Christian-majority Kachin state and has clashed with Myanmar’s military for decades.

The region has seen intense fighting since the coup, and the junta accuses the rebels of training People’s Defence Forces that have sprung up in resistance.AFP

SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY. This handout picture provided by the Palestinian Authority’s press office shows Jordan’s King

Abdullah II (right) meeting with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Amman on Thursday, as battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement continue for the sixth consecutive day in the Gaza Strip. AFP

JAKARTA, Indonesia—A former Indonesian government minister has been arrested by the country’s anticorruption commission, an official said Friday, after a series of accusations including pocketing more than $800,000 in public funds.

Graft remains rampant in the archipelago nation, which ranked 110th out of 180 nations in Transparency International’s latest corruption perception index.

Former agriculture minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo resigned last week because of the allegations levelled at him, and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) formally named him as a suspect on Wednesday.

He was detained on Thursday, with local media showing him being taken handcuffed into the commission’s offices in the capital Jakarta.

KPK spokesman Ali Fikri would not confirm if the commission had arrested Limpo on formal charges, but he told reporters Thursday evening that the commission detained him because of concerns he would flee or destroy evidence.

He said KPK investigators were still questioning Limpo on Friday.

“It is still ongoing. We will update... this afternoon,” Fikri told AFP Friday.

Fikri said Limpo missed the commission’s summons on Wednesday for questioning, citing family reasons.

He is the sixth minister to be investigated for corruption since President Joko Widodo took office in 2014.

The Indonesian leader told reporters Friday that “there must be reasons” for Limpo’s arrest.

“Let us respect the legal proceedings,” he said, according to state news agency Antara.

Limpo’s lawyer Febri Diansyah did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.

But he told reporters late Thursday the former minister “would not run away.” AFP

Biden slams Trump for describing Beirut-based Hezbollah ‘smart’ WASHINGTON, DC—US President Joe Biden condemned Donald Trump on Thursday for describing Hezbollah as “very smart” even as the Lebanese militant group exchanges fire with Israel following the Hamas attack on the US ally.

During a campaign speech in Florida, Trump also falsely accused the Biden administration of bankrolling the Hamas assault as a result of a prisoner exchange deal with Iran, which has historically funded Hamas and Hezbollah.

Biden said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that “our nation’s support for Israel is resolute and unwavering. And the right time to praise the terrorists who seek to destroy them is never.”

Trump had made his remarks to supporters in West Palm Beach as he was criticizing the White House.

“You know, Hezbollah is very smart.

They’re all very smart,’” Trump said.

White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said Trump’s remarks

were “dangerous and unhinged.”

Israel also reacted angrily, with Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi in a TV interview saying Trump could “obviously” not be trusted.

“It is shameful that such a person, a former president of the United States, aid propaganda and spreads comments that harm the spirit of IDF (army) fighters and the spirit of Israeli residents,” Karhi said.

“We don’t need to deal with him or

with the nonsense he says.”

Hamas gunmen killed 1,200 people in Israel and took about 150 hostages in their surprise onslaught from Gaza Saturday. Israel has retaliated by raining air and artillery strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza for six days, claiming over 1,350 lives.

Israel’s defense has been complicated by clashes in the north with Hezbollah in recent days, including cross-border rockets and shelling. AFP

Fate of Niger’s deposed president unclear after 80 days detained ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast—Niger’s ousted president Mohamed Bazoum, who was overthrown by military leaders on July 26, faces his 80th day in detention on Friday together with his wife and son.

Democratically elected to lead the West African nation, he remains adamant that he will not step down and has sought legal recourse in his plight.

Despite ongoing calls for his release by numerous countries and organizations, Niger’s new military regime is unrelenting.

Since the coup, Bazoum has been

held prisoner in his residence inside the presidential palace, with his wife Haziza and son Salem.

“His situation hasn’t evolved,” his Senegalese lawyer Mohamed Seydou Diagne said.

According to members of his entourage questioned by AFP, he is still “held captive without electricity” and with just intermittent access to water.

“He receives a supply of fresh food every two days and a visit regularly by his doctor,” one of the sources said, adding that he is fine as is his wife and son. AFP

SINGER SWIFT. A tub of popcorn in US singer Taylor Swift’s merchandise is pictured during the ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ concert movie world premiere at AMC Century City theater in Century City, California on Friday (Manila time). AFP

BUSINESS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023

B3

extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks slightly rise, buck higher US inflation

By Jenniffer B. Austria

DOTr turns over EVs, charging stations to LGUs

P

HILIPPINE stocks posted slim gains Friday as the US September inflation report boosted expectations of possible US Federal Reserve rate hikes.

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Friday turned over electric vehicles (EV), EV charging stations and other transport equipment to the local governments of Pasig, Baguio, Santa Rosa and Iloilo as part of the agencies’ promotion of low-carbon urban transport systems.

“We recognize the urgency of green recovery. We want to promote mobility through projects that will protect the environment,” Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said Bautista said the agency aimed to establish transit-oriented development in the Philippines, which focuses on low-carbon mobility.

“A sustainable and environment-friendly transport promotes faster, efficient and safe mobility,” he said.

As the recipients, the local governments units and three transport cooperatives will participate in feasibility studies to be used for gathering and research of low carbon transport systems.

One of the main objectives of the LCT project is to achieve a reduction of 69,103 tons of greenhouse gases in the country.

The agreement also involved transport cooperatives to help in the pilot of the EVs and EV charging stations.

St. Louis University, University of Cordilleras and University of Baguio will assist the local government in its data gathering and research using the EV and EV equipment for possible adoption in PUVs.

BRANCH OPENING. China Bank executives and guests grace the opening of its newest branch at the ground level of SM City Bataan on Oct. 10, 2023. China Bank aims to build lasting relationships with the people of Bataan, enabling them to achieve their financial dreams and aspirations. Butch Gunio

JFC’s Tanmantiong named as MAP Person of the Year

By Othel V. Campos THE Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) named Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) chief executive Ernesto Tanmantiong as the MAP Management Person of the Year 2023 awardee.

The “MAP Management Person of the Year” is an award that the MAP confers on individuals in business or government, whether a member of the MAP or not, who have attained unquestioned distinction in the practice of management, and have made valuable contributions to the progress of the country and in re-shaping national values.

It is bestowed on exceptional individuals who have posted a record of achievement and distinction as leaders and managers of organizations, and who are exemplary models who deserve to

be emulated by their peers and by the younger leaders and managers.

Tanmantiong clinched the prestigious award for accelerating Jollibee’s globalization, transforming it into one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies and for engineering an impressive recovery from COVID-19 pandemic, posting record-breaking sales and operating income.

He was also cited for his role in job creation, income generation and national development, for bringing pride to the country as one of the most successful Filipino global companies and for consistently espousing inclusive growth by providing opportunities to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Tanmantiong also supported actions against malnutrition by providing a systematic school-feeding program and

improving the poor’s access to food by implementing programs on agro entrepreneurship, technical-vocational education and disaster response.

He consistently pursued sustainable practices within the JFC on initiatives such as hiring seniors and persons with disability, implementing reusable dining wares and paper packaging, among others.

The distinction of “MAP Management Person of the Year” has been conferred 47 times in the six-decade history of the award.

MAP said Tanmantiong’s notable achievements are in parity to the award’s required integrity, leadership, and management qualities; contribution to nation-building and values formation; effective stewardship within the confines of the highest standard of business and management practice; among others.

Maynilad completes 224-km pipe replacement in Caloocan

By Othel V. Campos WEST zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) reported Friday the completion of the replacement of 224 kilometers of old, leaky and undersized pipelines in Caloocan City.

“We actually aim to replace a total of 244 kilometers of old pipelines in Caloocan City, so the 224 kilometers of pipes replaced brings us to 92 percent of our target. Simultaneously, we are also conducting pipe replacements in other cities where water loss is high.

In this way, we can accelerate volume recovery and boost available supply for distribution during El Niño,” said Maynilad president and chief executive Ramoncito Fernandez.

The P829-million pipe replacement project, which started in 2019, installed a new set of pipelines with bigger and wider pipes in 20 Caloocan barangays.

The new pipes are capable to answer to demand surges in the area as population grows.

The water company said some of the

pipes, installed even before the privatization regime, were about 70 years old.

These old pipes were responsible for leaks that cause low water pressure in the area.

The replacement project enabled Maynilad to recover about six million liters per day (MLD) of water, after years of construction in measured phases to manage impact on traffic.

Maynilad allocated P11 billion for pipe replacement projects from 2023 to 2027, in various portions of its concession area. The company is replacing a total of 477.2 kilometers of old, leaky pipes within the period, in line with its program to upgrade the distribution system and reduce water losses.

The company said that since its reprivatization in 2007, it already replaced around 3,188 kilometers of old pipes—about the same length as the distance between Manila and Tokyo in Japan.

Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of customer base.

Employees of west zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. complete the replacement of 224 kilometers of mostly 70-yearold, leaky and undersized pipelines in Caloocan City.

The P829-million pipe replacement project, which started in 2019, involves the total replacement of primary, secondary and tertiary pipelines in 20 Caloocan barangays.

The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange index inched up by 3.28 points, or 0.05 percent, to close at 6,266.34, while the broader all-shares index picked up 1.16 points, or 0.03 percent, to finish at 3,384.57.

Regina Capital and Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said investors digested the possible implications of the higher-than expected US consumer price index print of the global economy.

US inflation rate came in at 3.7 percent in September 2023, defying market expectations of a slight decrease.

Value turnover reached P5.23 billion, while foreign investors were in a net buying position amounting to around P81.53 million for the day.

Meanwhile, Asian equities went into reverse Friday, snapping a week-long rally, as a forecast-topping US inflation report revived fears the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates again before the end of the year.

Markets have enjoyed a fruitful few days since last week’s jobs report suggested the world’s top economy remained resilient but was not too strong to warrant more central bank tightening to tame prices.

The positivity pushed stocks higher as Treasury yields have come down after a succession of Fed officials lined up to suggest there was little need to lift borrowing costs from their twodecade highs.

However, the mood was darkened Thursday by data showing the consumer prices index rose slightly more than expected in September, highlighting the tough work still to do in the battle against inflation.

Still, the reading caused a spike in Treasury yields—exacerbated by a weak bond auction—and sent stocks tumbling in New York, though they pared some of those losses by the end of the day.

“Much of the ‘good’ work done in the past week in the form of bull flattening of the US yield curve has been undone by the latest US CPI report, which shows in particular still uncomfortably high core service sector inflation,” said National Australia Bank’s Ray Attrill.

While observers said the reading was unlikely to sway the Fed in its decision-making ahead of its next policy meeting in November, it shook traders out of their comfort zone.

Officials are expected to hold on rates next month, though there is much debate on their plans for December.

Hong Kong tumbled more than two percent, dragged by hefty selling in the tech sector, having enjoyed a strong run this week on hopes for more government support for the economy and struggling mainland markets.

There was little reaction to data showing a slight improvement in Chinese exports and imports, while inflation came in flat for September.

Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore, Mumbai, Seoul, Sydney, Jakarta, Taipei and Wellington were also in the red.

London edged up in the morning but Paris and Frankfurt were both down.

“At the moment we appear to be in no-man’s land when it comes to the prospect of further rate hikes with a still resilient US economy, and rate policy that is struggling to return inflation to target,” said CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson. With AFP

IEMOP, PEMC seek to collect P1.1 billion in market fees

By Alena Mae S. Flores

MENTAL HEALTH. Heads Up PH, the mental health and well-being umbrella program of Unilab Foundation, engages the community on mental health issues information and how to address them. It also employs the expertise of psychiatrists and health professionals and provides training, symposiums and targeted activities to different age groups and members of the community about mental health.

THE Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) and the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) are seeking to collect market fees from the electricity market participants amounting to P1.135 billion in 2024.

IEMOP is the operator, while PEMC is the governing body of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), the trading floor of electricity.

IEMOP and PEMC asked the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to grant their application for the issuance of a provisional authority authorizing IEMOP to impose a market charge fee of P0.0099 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to

all generation companies registered in the WESM based on their actual generation.

The parties submitted a breakdown of its budgetary requirements for 2024, including P484.14 million for personal services, P538.59 million for maintenance and other operating expenses and P112.28 million for capital expenditures.

“The market fee charge shall be recovered from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao generators, for their actual commercial operations in the WESM,” the ERC filing read.

The parties said sufficiency in resources is needed in any organization, more so in WESM, a dynamic platform operated 24 hours, 7 days

a week that is critical in sustaining a transparent and competitive electricity market.

“Given the substantial cuts and disallowances ordered in the recent issuances of the Honorable Commission in the preceding years’ market fees, IEMOP and PEMC both suffered deficits as early as 2020,” it said.

They said the prevailing market fee is “grossly insufficient” to cover the budget for 2024 especially in the wake of market developments that are needed to implement policy and regulatory issuances and the effect of inflation on the market system maintenance and supporting the WESM operations and governance including logistical requirements.

B4 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 Roderick T. dela Cruz Cruz, Editor Alena Mae S. Flores, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

Converge building ‘tech city’ in Pampanga

By Darwin G. Amojelar

C

ONVERGE ICT Solutions Inc. said Friday it plans to build a “tech city” in Mexico, Pampanga to house its largest data center and corporate headquarters.

Converge co-founder and chief executive Dennis Anthony Uy said the 200-hectare digital hub would rise in Mexico, Pampanga, representing the realization of his dream to see “an entire ecosystem of innovation” in the Philippines.

Uy said he expects the Tech City to attract the largest IT companies in the

world and the best ICT talent in the country.

“The Tech City will host the largest data center in the region, corporate headquarters, housing facilities and an events area. We hope that leading tech companies can make the Tech City its home in the Philippines,” said Uy. Uy advised Pampanga businesses

to look at digitalization to boost their growth, especially as the company’s young and modern fiber network has long been established in Central Luzon.

He highlighted the benefits of digitalization and the availability of infrastructure in the region.

“It is estimated that digital technologies have the potential to create an annual economic value of P5 trillion or $101.3 billion. But what’s important to note here is the fact that in order to achieve all these, we must have the correct infrastructure in place,” said Uy. The network of Converge now has a 670,000-kilometer fiber backbone.

As of end-June 2023, the fiber broad-

band provider’s network infrastructure passed over 16.6 million Filipino homes, equivalent to 62.3 percent of household coverage nationwide.

The company said with this extensive network that spans nationwide, it leveraged its fiber technology to serve the sectors of education, government, healthcare, financial services and entertainment.

“The President mandates that 95 percent of government services should be digital. There’s so much opportunity for e-services, and the likes of the Bureau of Immigration can benefit from this.

There could be an electronic court system also in the judiciary,” Uy said.

Figaro selling 20% of shares to raise P800m in fresh capital

GNPOWER SCHOLARS.

GNPower Mariveles Energy Center Ltd. Co. (GMEC) and GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co. (GNPD) hold a two-day Scholar’s Development Convergence on Oct. 10 and 11, 2023, at Mt. Tarak Guesthouse and Restaurant in Mariveles, Bataan.

Of more than 500 scholarship applications, 45 made it to the cut, making them scholars of GMEC-GNPD which operate the biggest coal-fired power plant in the country today.

GNPD operates under the private limited partnership of AboitizPower’s Therma Power Inc., Ayala Corp.’s AC Energy Holdings Inc. and Power Partners Ltd. Co.

By Jenniffer B. Austria FIGARO Coffee Group Inc. said Friday it is raising fresh capital to fund expansion plans.

Figaro said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board approved plans to sell up to 20 percent of the company’s outstanding common shares to third-party investors.

The primary shares will be issued out of the company’s existing authorized capital stock. The company has 5.468 billion outstanding shares.

Meralco, SMC power unit seek approval of 330-MW supply deal

By Alena Mae S. Flores MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco) and South Premiere Power Corp. (SPPC) of the San Miguel Group filed a joint application with the Energy Regulatory CommissIon (ERC) for the approval of their 330-megawatt emergency power supply agreement.

The EPSA covers Aug. 26 to March 25, 2024 at a delivered rate of P 8.0716 per kilowatt-hour which excludes value added tax but includes line rental.

“The implementation of the Meralco-SPPC August 2023 EPSA will af-

ford Meralco’s end-users with a reliable supply of electricity at reasonable rates,” the application read.

The parties said the EPSA would ultimately redound to the benefit of Meralco customers who stand to be exposed to volatile prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), the trading floor of electricity.

SPPC, a unit of San Miguel Power Global Holdings Corp. owns and operates the 1,200-MW combined-cycle power generating facility in Barangay Ilijan, Batangas.

The parties requested the ERC for a provisional authority or interim relief

Liechtenstein-based firm joins group to build 2 offshore wind projects in PH RENEWABLE energy developer Triconti Windkraft Group, a FilipinoSwiss joint venture signed a strategic partnership with Sea Wind Holding AG of Liechtenstein to develop two offshore wind projects with potential capacity of 1,500 megawatts.

Seawind’s entry would fast-track the development of the Fronterara Bay OSW project outside Manila Bay bordering the provinces of Cavite and Bataan and the Guimaras Strait OSW project along the shores of Negros Occidental.

The projects are expected to provide clean and reliable electricity to more than one million Filipino households and supply much-needed power vital for the country’s economic development.

“This partnership leverages Sea-

PHILEX’S GOLDEN ARROW. Philex Mining Corp.,

one of the oldest and largest copper and gold producers in Southeast Asia, receives a 3-Golden Arrow Award in the recent ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS) 2023 Golden Arrow Recognition ceremonies held by the Institute of Corporate Directors at the Golden Ballroom of Okada Manila. The ICD recognized top Philippine publiclylisted companies in corporate governance based on the 2022 ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS). Receiving the award on behalf of Philex are assistant vice president for corporate finance Paraluman Navarro and director Marilyn Victorio-Aquino.

Converge co-founder and chief executive Dennis Anthony Uy

wind‘s extensive know-how and experience in offshore wind development in Europe with Triconti’s deep local knowledge and strong network in the country. Furthermore, the offshore wind industry has the potential to create thousands of highly skilled jobs for Filipinos and build a new local industry,” Triconti Windkraft chief executive Lila Rosenberger said.

Triconti Windkraft Group is a Filipino-Swiss joint venture that is developing onshore and offshore wind energy projects with a combined portfolio of 4,000 MW in the pipeline. The company worked with the Department of Energy (DOE) and other organizations in building up interest, knowledge and promote opportunities in the Philippine offshore wind sector since early 2020.

Alena Mae S. Flores

confirming the authority of Meralco and SPPC to implement the EPSA, including the rates and tariff structure.

They said the EPSA’s delivered rate is lower by about P0.3939 per kWh than the effective cost of P8.4655 per kWh if the capacity is sourced from the WESM. “In fact, by sourcing the capacity through the Meralco-SPPC August 2023 EPSA, Meralco’s average blended generation rate will be reduced by about P0.0328 per kWh, resulting in savings to consumers of about P664 million,” the application said.

The parties said they were compelled to immediately implement the Meralco-SPPC EPSA beginning 12:01 a.m. of Aug. 26, 2023 due to the emergency nature of the unforeseen or unpredicted cessation by San Miguel Energy Corp./Sual Power Inc. of its obligations under the Meralco-SMEC 2019 PSA following a Court of Appeals’ decision dated June 27, 2023.

The parties said the Department of Energy itself was pushing for and welcomed the reopening of SPPC’s Ilijan power plant to stabilize the power supply in Luzon.

PLDT’S AWARDS. PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications’ #FarmSmart advocacy, a program that promotes the use of tech-enabled solutions to support Filipino farmers and strengthen food security, bag a Bronze Stevie during the 2023 Asia Pacific Stevie Awards. PH Digicon 2022: BOUNDLESS, the country’s most prestigious and one of the most soughtafter digital thought leadership events in Asia Pacific, powered by PLDT Enterprise also received the Gold Stevie.

Based on the stock’s closing price of P0.77 per share on Thursday, the sale of 1.09 billion shares, representing 20 percent of company’s outstanding shares, would generate roughly P800 million in fresh capital.

Figaro’s board also approved the conduct of a follow-on offering of either common shares or preferred shares over the next three years.

Figaro, whose main business unit operates and franchises a network of retail restaurants, said it would use the proceeds from the follow-on offering and sale of shares to strategic investors to fund store openings and expansion beyond 2024.

It has yet to finalize the terms and conditions of the fund-raising activities, saying this would depend on business needs and prevailing market conditions.

It said it would seek shareholders’ approval for the proposed transactions during the company’s annual stockholders meeting in December.

Food manufacturer Monde Nissin Corp. earlier acquired a 15-percent stake in Figaro for P820 million.

Figaro through its unit Figaro Coffee Systems Inc. operates Figaro Coffee, Angel’s Pizza, Tien Ma’s, The Figaro Group Express outlet and Cafe Portofino.

DBP grants P375-m loan to Puerto Princesa water district

By Julito G. Rada STATE-RUN Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) said Friday it granted a P375-million loan to the Puerto Princesa City Water District (PPCWD) to support initiatives aimed at upgrading the delivery of water services and addressing the needs of the rapidly growing population in the city.

DBP president and chief executive Michael de Jesus said the loan was extended under the bank’s Water for Every Resident (WATER) program, which is part of intensified efforts to improve local infrastructure and community facilities especially for fledging cities and municipalities.

PPCWD is a Category A water district established in 1976 that caters to 53,000 active customers. It serves 50 of the 66 barangays in Puerto Princesa City, which had a total population of 307,000 as of latest government data.

De Jesus said DBP would support PPCWD in the construction of a 3,000-cubic-meter reservoir and an ultraviolet disinfection system that would expand availability to clean water of the city’s residents.

He said the loan to PPCWD would also partly finance the installation of a transmission line that would serve strategic barangays in anticipation of increased economic activity in view of improvement of critical utilities and es-

sential public services.

“This worthy undertaking with PPCWD is an integral component of the WATER Program which has already provided a total of P25.5-billion for 94 borrowers as of end-August this year,” de Jesus said.

“By 2030, we anticipate that this program has financed P30-billion of investments in water supply projects,” he said.

DBP is the ninth largest bank in the country in terms of assets and provides credit support to four strategic sectors of the economy—infrastructure and logistics; micro, small and medium enterprises; the environment; and social services and community development.

SPORTS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023

C1

Riera U. Mallari, Editor Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

PVL clubs eager to make mark Games tomorrow 3 p.m. – Gerflor vs Nxled 5 p.m. – PLDT vs Cignal 7 p.m. – Choco Mucho vs Creamline

Lonnie Walker IV of the Brooklyn Nets is challenged by Jason Siggers of Maccabi Ra’anana during an exhibition game at Barclays Center in New York City. AFP

Israel’s Maccabi team: Our young people need to know there’s hope N

EW YORK —Israel’s Maccabi Ra’anana lost to the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets 135-103 on Thursday to begin a US tour, but sent a defiant message with their determination to play.

“It was unbelievable. Everyone got on their phones and saw the videos.

It was like something out of a horror movie. A bloodbath.

“I’m not gonna lie. Basketball feels kind of secondary right now.”

Before the contest, the Nets observed what the arena announcer called “a moment of silence in honor of all who lost their lives and to pray for peace.”

The lights were dimmed as players and fans paid their respects.

“The Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center condemn the terrorist attacks and mourn the senseless loss of life in Israel,” they said in a statement.

“We stand together against terror and our thoughts are with all who have been impacted by these tragic events.”

Nets center Nic Claxton said the team talked about canceling the game and

admitted he thought the game should be called off “because there (are) bigger things going on in the world than basketball.”

Mor, however, said the game was important to showing life will go on even in the wake of atrocity.

“The scenes and pictures [from there] make you worry about friends and family, and I felt I was here without any purpose, I didn’t think basketball had any role,” he said.

“But if I can use it to explain what our people are feeling, maybe that can help to let everyone know the impact this has had on our people.

“This is what we’ve done for our entire history as a country.”

The team’s tour continues on Monday at Cleveland and Tuesday at Minnesota. AFP

The squad was already in New York last Saturday when Israel was struck by bloody attacks, Hamas gunmen killing more than 1,200 people and taking about 150 hostages.

“People at home said it was important we play, so the whole world will know nothing will break us,” Maccabi coach Yehu Orland told the New York Post.

“That there are terrible things and we still have hope. Our young people need to know there’s hope.”

The Israeli squad led 39-34 after the first quarter but the Nets seized a 74-60 half-time advantage and pulled away in

the second half.

Mikal Bridges led Brooklyn with 23 points while Harry Giles had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Spencer Dinwiddie added 15 for the Nets.

Dwayne Bacon and Quinndary Weatherspoon each scored 17 points to lead Maccabi Ra’anana while Dakari Tucker added 14 points.

But the result was secondary in many ways to simply playing the contest.

“We got messages about bombs and missiles,” Maccabi forward Jonathan Mor told the newspaper of the team’s experience of Saturday.

Showdown of undefeated SSL squads

Maroons’ battlecry: Stop UST’s Cabanero

Games on Saturday

(Rizal Memorial Coliseum) 11 a.m. - AdU vs FEU 2 p.m. - AU vs ADMU 5 p.m. - NU vs UST

UNDEFEATED squads National University, University of Santo Tomas, Adamson and Far Eastern University figure in gigantic showdowns to fire off the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship Season 2 playoffs Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.

Action sizzles at 5 p.m. with the Lady Bulldogs and Golden Tigresses eyeing a flying start in a newly-formed Group E after topping their respective pools with no scars to show.

Fellow unbeaten teams Adamson and FEU lock horns in Pool F at 11 a.m. as Ateneo and Arellano clash in Pool E at 2 p.m.

Other squads University of the East and College of St. Benilde in Pool F complete the eight-team playoffs that will have carryover standings from the preliminary rounds.

But all eyes are on the Lady Bulldogs as the reigning champions looking for a deep playoff run anew to ignite a dynasty in the SSL backed by Mikasa, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Summit Bottle Water, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, R and B Milk Tea, Potato Corner, Rebel Sports, Converge ICT Solutions, Genius Sports and United Auctioneers, Inc. “Hindi kami puwedeng maging complacent. Hindi kami pwedeng mag-relax going into the playoffs. Mas competitive na dito at pataas nang pataas ‘yung level. Iyon ang laging mindset namin,” said NU mentor Norman Miguel.

The Lady Bulldogs rolled past UE, San Sebastian College-Recoletos and Jose Rizal U in Pool A of the prelims but will be ranged against an equally formidable Golden Tigresses, who also swept University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, Letran and CSB in Pool C.

By Peter Atencio STOPPING Nic Cabanero will be one of the main goals of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in their bid to continue with their best start in 26 years.

Cabanero is the leading scorer in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament with his average of 19 points after four games and he will be the main weapon of winless University of Santo Tomas in the Growling Tigers’ effort to secure their first win.

The Fighting Maroons, who are enjoying one of their best opening stints since making it to the Final Four for the first time in 1996, will confront the Growling Tigers at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The solo-leading Maroons come into

Games Saturday (SM Mall of Asia Arena) 9 a.m. – Ateneo vs FEU (Women) 11 a.m. – UP vs UST (Women) 2 p.m. – Ateneo vs FEU (Men) 4 p.m. – UP vs UST (Men)

the fight carrying the momentum of four straight victories, after holding their ground against the Far Eastern University, 80-76 in overtime, last Wednesday.

And they will be ready for anything that the Growling Tigers will throw at them, with coach Goldwin Monteverde having prepared the team for any level of difficulty that they will face.

Assistance coach Christian Luanzon said that Monteverde has told the squad that winning as many games in the first

WHILE coaches have fixed their sights on the ultimate prize, they all agree it will be a grind-out battle in pursuit of the coveted berths in the championship.

The Premier Volleyball League kicks off its season-ending All-Filipino Conference Sunday, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with half of the record 12 teams eager to make a mark and show their mettle in what promises to be the biggest-ever tournament in the country’s premier women’s league in terms of participation and quality of play.

Anticipation does run high among players and fans alike with the coaches under no illusions about the challenges that lie ahead, recognizing that the journey will be grueling, one that will demand determination, skill and teamwork.

For these teams, the All-Filipino isn’t just a series of matches but a testament to the hard work and dedication they have put in during the break. Players have sharpened their skills, reinforced their team work and prepared mentally and physically to reach their desired competitive abilities.

“For us, we always focus on every game, not just on the finals. We prepare hard for every game so hopefully, the outcome will be good for us,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses, whose wards will open their title-retention drive against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the 7 p.m. nightcap of an explosive triple-bill tomorrow.

“We are ready to play any team,” he added.

The Cool Smashers turned back the Petro Gazz Angels in sudden death last March to keep the crown in the league’s centerpiece tournament organized by Sports Vision.

While ace setter Jia de Guzman won’t be around after linking up with the Japan league, the Cool Smashers remain the marked team with a loaded roster headed by Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza and Ced Domingo with Kyle Negrito taking over the playmaking chores.

round will be a big thing for the Fighting Maroons.

“As coach Gold said in the last game, it”s always nice in the first round to gather as many wins as you can. In my experience as a player and as an assistant coach, if you are able to get at least 5 to 6 wins, malaking puhunan na ito papasok ng second round,” said Luanzon.

The Fighting Maroons will have two main weapons, with Malick Diouf being the second highest scorer after four games, with a norm of 15.5 points.

And Diouf won’t be alone as teammate CJ Cansino also ekes out 15.5 points per game.

Earlier, the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles battle the FEU Tamaraws at 2 p.m.

UP coach Goldwin Monteverde

White, Mojdeh lead junior stars in national swim tryouts EXPERIENCE prevailed as familiar faces emerged victorious at the start of the Philippine Aquatics-organized national tryouts NCR leg on Friday at the Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.

Vietnam-based Filipino-British Heather White and Micaela Jasmine ‘The Water Beast’ Mojdeh, both twotime World Junior Championship campaigners, led the top-tier junior swimmers as they reigned supreme in their respective classes to secure ‘provisionary’ status for the 44-man Philippine Team set to compete in the 11th Asian Age Group Championships slated Dec. 3 to 6 at the New Clark Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac.

The 16-year-old White, swimming under the Behrouz Elite Team, topped the girls’ 15-17 400m freestyle in a dominating fashion, clocking 4:35.57, almost four seconds ahead of second placer Fei Dolliente of San Beda (4:48.92), while the 17-year-old Mojdeh, a national junior record holder and semifinalist in 2022 World tilt, secured her place for another call of duty in the national team by winning the 200m Individual Medley with a time of 2:25.37.

Promising Kacie Tiongco, 14, from Mindanao, placed second (2:32.00).

“I’m very happy with my performance. I just arrived the other day so don’t have a chance to practice more.

Just lucky got the chance to train abroad before our stint in the World Junior meet last month,” said White, who along with Mojdeh, trained for months in the US before

Heather White

Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh

the World Junior Championship in Israel.

“Mas magaan ang loob ko ‘pag local tournaments dahil masaya akong nakikita ‘yung mga teammates ko at mga kapwa ko swimmers. Sa US talagang training hard kami, halos tatlong beses sa isang araw,” added Mojdeh, who is set to return to the US to continue her training and pursue a college degree.

Aside from the two prominent junior tankers, also making their presence felt were SEA Games gold medalist Chloe Isleta, who claimed the girls’ 18-over 200 M freestyle at 2:04.57 and the 200mIM (2:17.62), SEA Age group veteran Jamesray Ajido in the boys’ 12-14 200m freestyle

(2:01.21), Miguel Barreto in the boys’ 18-over 200m free (1:53.11) and 200m IM (2:13.24); Arabella Taguinota in the girls’ 15-17 100m breaststroke (1:13.40) and Chantelle Coleman in the girls’ 12-14 100m breast (1:19.82).

“Masaya kami at talagang united ang swimming community, ‘yung mga swimmers natin sa abroad talagang nag-uwian para makiisa sa ating tryouts. Ang purpose kasi natin dito ay makuha ang pinakamahuhusay, hindi “yung dahil may pambayad isasama na natin sa team, hindi tama ‘yun kaya talagang binago ng bagong liderato nina president Miko Vargas and Cong. Eric Buhain,” said tournament director Chito Rivera.

C2 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor E-mail: jdlacsamana@gmail.com

HOME/DESIGN

Swing it green F

OR golfers, part of the sport’s enjoyment is the tranquility of playing an 18-hole game among vast green spaces.

But the greenest golf courses are not actually green. On average, a golf course can consume a million liters of water a day to irrigate hectares of grass—leaving a negative impact to the environment.

Fortunately, changes in the golfing industry are now happening. The Mimosa Plus Golf Course in Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, is one of those golf clubs taking the lead towards true sustainability.

Iconic and sustainable layout Mimosa Plus is continuously modernizing and developing the golf course so that it not only becomes more playable, but ultimately, more sustainable. This major renovation project began as early as 2016 under the Filinvest Group.

Most iconic for its countless centuryold acacia trees, Mimosa Plus carries two 18-hole golf courses that wind around these massive, shady trees— making it unique from other golf courses in the country. Both the Acacia and

Mountainview courses are operating and offering breathtaking views of the natural surroundings, from running streams to the silhouette of Mt. Arayat.

The golf course itself was designed and built around the land’s natural layout and not one acacia tree was cut ever since its opening.

Today, Mimosa Plus uses less water and less fertilizer. Its chosen grass breed does not only cost less, it also drastically reduces the environmental footprint of the golf course.

Improved irrigation system Set in place is a new irrigation system, an Integrated Control (IC) System from Rain Bird, which allows Mimosa Plus to save as much as a thousand cubic liters of water since renovations began.

Mimosa Plus also established a Rainfall Monitoring System designed to automatically react to rainfall and adjust sprinkler application rates to take full advantage of natural rain, thereby eliminating over-watering. The system

saves water and electricity, while keeping the course drier and more playable, by pausing, adjusting, or canceling irrigation in the event of rainfall.

Bug hotel and tree-tagging Just recently, Mimosa Plus Golf Course won the Asian Golf Awards’ Best Golf Course in the Philippines— Silver award. The Mountainview and Acacia courses are also recognized as Best Golf Courses in the Philippines by Golf Digest There is a new Driving Range with 48 bays in place, and night golf was recently introduced.

But the most unique, latest feature is a “bug hotel” inside the golf course which has helped provide a safe and attractive habitat for insects, and increase their population.

Mimosa Plus also started this year tagging trees using Greenstand software. It is a creative tool developed to track every tree within the vicinity of the golf course. This initiative helps

WOMEN POWER IN THE COMMUNITY. Oldest international

bank in the Philippines, Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), continues to support the country’s steady recovery from the global pandemic by helping micro and small businesses to succeed. Bank officers led by its Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing Head Mai Sangalang recently visited women-led microentrepreneurs in the Bicol Region who are recipients of the “Standard Chartered Foundation COVID-19 Recovery Program” in partnership with leading microfinance institution Tulay sa Pag-Unlad, Inc. (TSPI). The microfinancing project launched last year has benefited more than 400 youth and

women microentrepreneurs, giving them affordable funding to restore, diversify and expand their microbusinesses. “Standard Chartered promotes economic inclusion and one of the most effective ways to do this is to support micro, small and medium enterprises which are the backbone of the Philippine economy,” explained SCB Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing Mai Gacilo Sangalang (Shown here with dried fish trader and exporter Funny Azales from Calabanga, Camarines Sur). “It is humbling to see the positive outcomes of the project and meet some of the young women entrepreneurs who turned adversity into opportunity during the pandemic.”

manage and monitor the surrounding environment, giving importance to other living organisms to foster their existence and balance the ecosystem.

The two 18-hole golf courses have expanded their landscapes by converting the unplayable areas into red cogon (Pennisetum). Huge areas of rough have been scraped and planted with the new grass. The grass does not need to be maintained too much unlike grass that requires regular mowing and trimming to maintain the aesthetics of the courses.

Going electric The Filinvest Innovation Park-New Clark City (located in Filinvest New Clark City in nearby Capas, Tarlac) recently marked a milestone with the arrival of its inaugural locator, electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer St. Battalion. The latter is keen on taking advantage of the park’s strategic location and growth prospects.

The Australia-based StBattalion

formalized with FCGC Corporation (a wholly owned subsidiary of full-range property developer Filinvest Land, Inc. [FLI]) a five-year renewable lease of two (2) ready-built factory (RBF) units, each measuring 2,500 square meters in gross leasable area.

At the contract signing ceremony at Crimson Hotel Filinvest City (Shown in photo) , were: FLI SVP and Industrial and Logistics Head Francis Ceballos; BCDA Director Reghis Romero III; Filinvest Development Corporation President and CEO Josephine Gotianun Yap; Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HE Hae Kyong Yu PSm; BOI Executive Director Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa; BCDA Executive Vice President Atty. Gisela Kalalo; Director St. BEIF, Pure-EVs & St. Battalion Stephen St. Baker; FLI President and CEO Tristan Las Marias; St. BEIF Founder & Vice-Chairman, PureEVs Chairman; and St. Battalion Director Trevor St. Baker; CEO & Pure-EVs. Director St. Battalion Paul Johnston.

ALSONS DEV RECOGNIZED FOR MIXED-USE PROJECTS.

REDEFINING URBAN LIVING. Victoria South of Alabang (VSA) is a community that is set to redefine urban living. Formerly known as Victoria Homes, VSA is a prime subdivision that is undergoing a revitalization by Breighton, a company known for its innovative and visionary real estate projects. At the grand unveiling event attended by Muntinlupa residents and local officials, Breighton’s founder and President, Isaac Sabas (Shown in photo) and General Manager Rebecca Caisip-Agbon, shared his vision for VSA. He spoke about how an innovative outlook and team can work wonders in breathing new life into a community. VSA offers two house models that are crafted with the lifestyle of today’s flexible and agile family needs in mind. Aliza, an ideal home for starter families, features a 145 sqm floor area with 3 bedrooms, 2 toilet and bath, and provision for 2-4 carports. Samantha, is even bigger, more spacious, and has even more breathable space with its 195 sqm floor area. Most of the lots are at 300 square meters in size, providing the additional canvas to customize even more to suit a family’s living preferences. VSA is close to the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX), with seamless access to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and Skyway.

Alsons Dev’s two residential developments recently secured accolades that showcase the company’s commitment to building exceptional communities. Northtown, Northtown Residences, and Narra Park Residences Davao bagged awards from the country’s leading real estate marketplaces. The Outlook 2023: Philippine Real Estate Awards by Lamudi bestowed the titles of Highly Commended for Best Affordable House and Best Mixed-Use Development in Visayas and Mindanao for Narra Park Residences and Northtown, respectively.

The 11th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards 2023 recognized Alsons Dev with the award for Best Housing Development in Metro Davao for Narra Park Residences, and Highly Commended title for Best Sub Division Development for Northtown Residences.

At the PropertyGuru Awards were, from left to right: Jolla A. Soriaga, Assistant General Manager for Business Units Group, Alsons Dev; Eric D. de la Costa, Vice President and General Manager, Alsons Dev; Jessa Mae D. Sisi, Sales Manager Alsons Dev; and Richard Raymundo, Managing Director, Colliers Philippines. The team received the award for Best Housing Development (Metro Davao) for Narra Park Residences.

GH TOWER SETS FOOTPRINT IN GREENHILLS CENTER. Ortigas Land recently unveiled GH Tower, its first modern office tower in Greenhills, a sustainable building with 15 storeys of workspaces. GH Tower is situated at the very heart of Metro Manila, inside Greenhills Center in San Juan City. Greenhills Center is currently undergoing a multi-billion redevelopment to transform the popular shopping district into a complete shop-play-live-work community. The amenities of GH Tower stretch out from inside the four walls of the building into the shop and play components of the directly accessible GH Mall and Greenhills Estate. Set to be completed in Q4 2023, GH Tower caters to the demands of the young and active workforce: Convenience, connectivity, comfort and a strong sense of community. Emlin Mae Javillonar, Ortigas Land’s Project Development Manager (Shown here at last week’s Occupiers Market Briefing, second from the left) pictures GH Tower as a hub for collaboration, networking, and innovation.“GH Tower is more than just an office building. It is a hotspot where great solutions and ideas are born,” she pointed out.

AGRICULTURE The farm grows a variety of vegetables and other crops through organic agriculture methods

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023

C3

Patricia Taculao, Editor E-mail: agriculture.manilastandard@gmail.com

Sowing seeds of hope

By Patricia Taculao

C

ONSIDERING the rising population and climate change impact, food security and sustainability remain top priorities for the local agriculture industry. While the government and other organizations are implementing programs and policies to address these concerns, Ibit’s Farm in Barangay Masicong, San Fernando, La Union, is taking necessary steps to help meet the common goal.

They managed to adopt five families before the pandemic halted their progress. Now that things have returned to normal, the Acostas plan to intensify their efforts again and encourage more farmer operators to guide small farmers toward proper farming practices.

Ibit’s Farm practices organic farming to promote sustainability in all their farming operations. However, this wasn’t easy to teach to other farmers, even the ones they adopted.

“Nasanay kasi sila sa conventional farming. In organic farming, we feed the soil. Sila, nasanay sila sa feed the plant,” Acosta shared.

Still, Acosta wanted them to learn that even though organic farming takes longer to bear results, it provides better, healthier options for consumers. It’s also a long-term solution that gives back to the environment and helps mitigate the impacts of climate change.

He emphasized their need to adapt to modern techniques and technology because these will help them maintain their farm operations and tap larger markets. One ideal example is using social media because it helps connect farmers to consumers with just a few clicks.

Ibit’s Farm is also a Department of Tourism-accredited farm tourism site and offers a pick-and-pay experience to guests. More importantly, the farm teaches its visitors their operations so they can better appreciate what farmers do for them and their role in food security.

Acosta hopes that more people, especially farm owners and even private individuals, can discover the relevance of adopting farmers and their families to help them succeed in the industry.

Throughout his years as a farmer and implementing their “Adopt a Farmer and its Family” program, Acosta relished helping the country become food secure while watching other local farmers lead better lives because someone supported them.

Manuel Gurion Acosta, a retired civil engineer, runs the farm. Ibit’s Farm draws its name from his wife, Marilene C. Acosta, who encouraged the farm operations to begin in 2016.

“The farm is purpose-driven kasi gusto naming makatulong sa mga farmers,” Acosta told Manila Standard Agriculture.

As a former civil engineer, Acosta didn’t have experience with farming. But this didn’t stop him from learning through workshops, pieces of training, and seminars from the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Training Institute. He took these lessons to heart and eventually encouraged other farmers to attend the sessions with him to gain more insight into farming.

It didn’t take long for the Acostas to develop and implement their “Adopt a Farmer and its Family” program, which aims to empower and improve the social well-being of farmers in their community.

A quick guide to growing blue ternate

Manuel Acosta is a retired civil engineer who now empowers farmers in his community while promoting organic agriculture

IBIT’S Farm in Barangay Masicong, San Fernando, La Union, is known for following organic farming practices. According to Manuel Gurion Acosta, a retired civil engineer who now oversees its operations, Blue tea is usually the farm grows pinakbet variety vegetables, namely consumed as a tea eggplant, okra, and sitaw, to name a few.

Yet, there’s one crop that the farm promotes: blue ternate, also known as Asian pigeonwings or butterfly pea. It has a distinct deep blue color with light yellow markings.

People commonly consume the flowers as tea, as it gives several health benefits, including weight loss, revitalization of skin and hair, and protection from free radicals, among other advantages. However, Acosta shared these can also be consumed as an extra ingredient for rice cakes or battered and deep-fried.

Seeing blue ternate’s commercial demand and success, many local farms began growing the perennial plant–like Ibit’s Farm. Fortunately, it doesn’t The thriving crops on Butangen’s farm take much effort to produce it.

Acosta shared that one of the few things to consider when growing blue ternate is its environment. It has to grow on a trellis in a secure area with moist soil and receives full sun. However, he warns that blue ternate doesn’t thrive under extreme weather conditions.

Typhoons or heavy rains can oversaturate the soil, leaving the plant’s

By JT Llanes roots waterlogged. And that’s something farmers should avoid.

When grown properly, blue ternate can be a healthy source of vitamins AS FAITH would have it, a son of Benguet and antioxidants or a profitable produce that can augment farmers’ income. returned to his roots of being a farmer after Patricia Taculao having the opportunity to finish his studies, having a 9-to-5 job, and even becoming an Overseas Filipino Worker or OFW. Johnny Butangen, a member of the Green Prosperity Credit Cooperative (GPCC) based in Barangay Cattubo, Atok, Benguet, decided to continue and expand the operation of his Blue ternate, Parents-in-law’s farm to support his family. or Asian After graduating college with a degree in pigeonwings, computer science, Butangen, who found a job as has a distinct deep blue an office worker in a credit cooperative serving color with local farmers in La Trinidad, Benguet, decided to light yellow become an OFW to support his growing family streaks in the for many years. middle After finishing his contract as an OFW, and with the accumulated earnings that he gathered, Johnny then decided to go back to Atok and invest his earnings in different equipment and

Ibit’s Farm teaches its farmers to feed the soil because it has more long-term benefits

Butangen grows strawberries following Good Agriculture Practices (GAP)

Benguet’s son returns to farming roots facilities needed in operating the 1,700 square meter farming area of his Parents-inLaw while considering a career in becoming a full-time farmer.

“My course in college as a computer science graduate had no relation to my work as a credit loan officer, as well as being a spray painter in a shipyard in South Korea for more than four years. My being a former credit loan officer with farmers as our clients and having direct experience in farming by helping my parents paved the way for me to return home and encouraged me to invest my earnings in agriculture and to become a fulltime farmer on our farm to continue its production,” Butangen explained.

Using the funds he earned from being an OFW, Johnny Butangen returned to his farming roots

Ilocos Sur farmers receive P17m worth of agri interventions IN PREPARATION for the dry season, the Department of Agriculture - Regional Field Office 1 (DA-RFO1) distributed a total of P17,720,952 worth of agricultural interventions during a distribution activity held at the DA-Ilocos Sur Research and Experiment Center (ISREC), San Juan, Ilocos Sur on October 6, 2023.

Around 2,009 bags of hybrid palay seeds worth P9,643,200 were distributed to nine municipalities in Ilocos Sur’s first district.

Aside from hybrid seeds, the DARFO1’s Rice Banner program also distributed three (3) pump and engine sets, a recirculating dryer, and a combine harvester for P4,597,052.

Corn growers from Sto. Domingo also received a four-wheel tractor from the Corn Banner Program, and three egg incubators were given to the Ilocos Sur Provincial Organic Producers under the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program.

The activity was led by 1st District of Ilocos Sur Congressman Ronald V. Singson, with San Juan Municipal Agriculturist Rommel Hilario, representative of San Juan Mayor Ma. Elaine Sarmiento, Provincial Rice Program Coordinator Engr. Julius Bragado, representative of Gov. Jeremias Singson, and Agricultural Programs Coordinating Officer (APCO) for Ilocos Sur Jomar Dayap. Representatives from the MLGUs and various farmers’ associations also attended the distribution.

Nine municipalities in Ilocos Sur’s First District received 2,009 bags of hybrid palay seeds

C4 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph rieramallari@yahoo.com

W

ITH today’s seemingly never ending hustle, the amount of work we need to do has been a measure of how to make use of our time which leads to endless multitasking.

And with most of these tasks requiring the help of technology, we all need a device that’s designed to be an ideal partner in finishing our work even when on-the-go and at the same time allows us to enjoy it for when we need to take a break.

Seamless performance for work and play The OPPO Pad Air is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon® 680 Chipset which delivers long-lasting and seamless interactions. With 8 CPU cores, and AI System Booster 2.1, the tablet is designed to get through with all your work, no matter how many they are happening all at once. In the same manner, the OPPO Pad Air allows you to switch apps in social media, play mobile games, and view photos or videos with ease. The OPPO Pad Air is also capable of External Memory Support MicroSD of up to 512GB. Part of OPPO Pad Air’s seamless performance is its ColorOS 13.1 Android system that lets you effortlessly cast your phone screen to the tablet for an immersive viewing experience and productivity across devices.There’s also a file drag and drop function by simply touching and holding a file, letting it float, and effortlessly drag it to another app for seamless processing. This can be best paired with the OPPO Reno 10 Pro + 5G. Massive Battery and Fast Charging Feature The OPPO Pad Air has a massive 7,100 mAh battery that allows you to be

HP study affirms: Smarter, secure tech is key for microbusinesses HP has revealed 56% of millennials (27 to 42-year-olds) and 55% of Gen X (43 to 58-year-olds) strongly believe that adopting technology for business is a smart choice for the future. But findings from the HP Smart Where IT Matters Study , show a generational gap is apparent, as Gen Z microbusiness owners now sit alongside baby boomers in displaying high levels of doubt and resistance to technology adoption in the Asian markets of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

Across the region, 77% of microbusinesses view technology as critical in helping mitigate business challenges. Countering this positive technology sentiment are the 69% of baby boomers (59 years and above) who see no clear benefit or return from investing in technology. Surprisingly, 57% of digital-native Gen Z (19 to 26-year-olds) also share similar doubts on the benefits of technology investments.

Similar to their regional counterparts, almost 60% of Gen Z and 71% of baby boomers in the Philippines are skeptical of investing in technology for their businesses. Additionally, only 36% of Gen Z and 22% of Gen X have a strong belief that technology is one of the key solutions to mitigating business challenges.

Meanwhile, over 50% of millennials expressed a strong belief in technology’s relevance in business, with 66% agreeing that adopting technology for business is a smart choice for the future.

The study conducted by research firm Kantar and commissioned by HP, surveyed approximately 1,200 microbusiness owners to explore the dynamics of technology adoption in Southeast Asia.

The study findings suggest that for microbusinesses to thrive in the digital age, Gen X and Millennials must take the lead to dispel lingering technology fear uncertainty and doubt. Over 70% of all microbusinesses fear the complexity and security of new emerging technologies, which highlights the prevailing challenge that business owners face when considering new investments.

“HP recognizes the vital importance of thriving microbusinesses to the growth of Philippines’ economy. Microbusiness owners want to beat the competition, grow customers and revenue, be moreefficient with time and money, so technology cannot be complex and intimidating.

Technology simply

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The ideal tablet for your productivity and entertainment fix is here and comes

Suspected phishing that mimicks WormGPT surfaces on the Darknet KASPERSKY Digital Footprint Intelligence experts have uncovered a series of websites on the shadow internet that appear to be selling fake access to the malicious AI-tool WormGPT. These sites have phishing-like characteristics, including varying designs, pricing, currencies used for payment, and some require upfront payment for access to a trial version. This trend, while not an immediate threat to users, underscores the rising popularity of black-hat alternatives to GPT models and emphasizes the need for robust cybersecurity solutions.

The cybercriminal community has started leveraging AI capabilities to aid in their nefarious business, and the darknet currently provides a range of language models specifically designed for hacking purposes such as BEC (business email compromise), malware creation, phishing attacks, and

Example of the suspected WormGPT phishing pages’ design and pricing. Source: Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence

beyond. One such model is WormGPT, a nefarious version of ChatGPT which, unlike its legitimate counterpart, lacks specific limitations, making it an effective tool for cybercriminals looking to carry out attacks, for example, Busi-

ness Email Compromise (BEC).

Phishers and scammers often exploit the popularity of certain products and brands, and WormGPT is no exception. On darknet forums and in illicit Telegram channels, Kaspersky experts

at an affordable price! The OPPO Pad Air is priced at P11,999 and is available in the Fog Gray colorway. The OPPO Pad Air also sports the OPPO Glow that involves a 5-layer coating giving an avant-garde texture.

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have found websites and ads, offering fake access to the malicious AI tool and targeting other cybercriminals, that are apparently phishing sites.

These websites differ significantly in several ways and are designed as typical phishing pages.

They have different designs and pricing. Payment methods also vary, ranging from cryptocurrencies, as originally proposed by the author of WormGPT, to credit cards and bank transfers.

Moreover, suspected phishing pages advertise a trial version, but access is only granted after payment.

“In the dark web, it is impossible to distinguish malicious resources with absolute certainty. However, there are many indirect pieces of evidence that suggest that the discovered websites are indeed phishing pages. It is a wellknown fact that cybercriminals often deceive each other. However, recent phishing attempts may indicate the level of popularity of these malicious AI tools within the cybercriminal community.

These models, to some extent, facilitate the automation of attacks, thereby emphasizing the increasing importance of trusted cybersecurity solutions,” explains Alisa Kulishenko, digital footprint analyst at Kaspersky.

Power Mac Center starts pre-orders for iPhone 15 APPLE Premium Reseller Power Mac Center (PMC) has opened pre-orders for the highly anticipated iPhone 15 series, which includes the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. To secure their devices of choice, customers can preorder in four convenient ways: (1) in-store at all Power Mac Center and The Loop branches nationwide; (2) online at the official Web Store <powermaccenter.com>; (3) The Loop by Power Mac Center in Lazada; and (4) Power Mac Center Store in the SM Malls Online app.

Online and app pre-orders start on October 12, at 12:01 AM. Customers who choose this option are required to pay the full amount on the day of the preorder. Meanwhile, in-store pre-order starts on October 12, during mall hours. Customers who choose this option can pay the full amount or place a security deposit of at least P10,000 from the day of the pre-order. Members of the loyalty program 1 Infinite Access may also use their points to pay (1 point = P1).

“Power Mac Center’s ‘iPhone for All’ campaign empowers everyone to easily get their dream iPhone on any of our online and offline platforms, and then pay for it in the way most convenient to them. As we await the arrival of the iPhone 15 series in our stores, we teamed up with the biggest banks to once again offer easy payment plans for our loyal customers. We also put together irresistible deals from our partner premium brands for accessories that will give that full new iPhone experience,” said Joey Alvarez, PMC Director for Marketing and Product Management.

Customers who will pre-order can also enjoy the

Check out great deals and get a chance to win up to P120k GC in the raffle

iPhone 15

following offers for every iPhone 15 purchase: ● Up to 30% discount on select AirPods ● 10% discount on Apple iPhone cases ● Up to 15% discount on all Beats by Dr. Dre products ● Up to 30% off on premium accessories from partner brands such as Adam Elements, Anker, Before Anything Else, Belkin, Energea, Laut, JTLegend, PanzerGlass, SwitchEasy, and ZAGG Get yourself a new iPhone 15 without breaking the bank with Power Mac Center’s exclusive credit card deals with partner banks BPI, Citibank, Metrobank, and UnionBank. You may contact your bank to know more.

Protecting your new iPhone in more ways Power Mac Center is more than just your Apple device provider. Thanks to its Mobile Care Service Center, customers can get personalized after-sales support for their new device from Apple Certified Technicians and Support Professionals. The Mobile Care Premium

Program lets customers enjoy longer service coverage on top of Apple’s 1-year warranty. Every iPhone 15 purchase comes with an additional one (1) year of unlimited diagnosis and software fix from Mobile Care.

Protect Plus is also available in all Power Mac Center and The Loop stores for additional insurance protection that allows customers to cover for accidental damage and theft for up to two (2) years.

Chance to win back the value of your iPhone 15 in the raffle All customers who pre-order iPhone 15 from October 12-19 are automatically included in the grand raffle. Every transaction is equivalent to 1 entry, and customers may be eligible for multiple entries but can only win once.

The winners will receive Power Mac Center Gift Certificates equivalent to the worth of the iPhone 15 they pre-ordered, which is up to a whopping P120,000! If they pre-ordered multiple iPhone 15 devices in a single transaction, only the highest amount will be considered.