Manila Standard - 2023 October 28 - Saturday

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INSIDE

PALACE ALLOWS ONLINE STUDY, WFH ON OCT. 31

A 8-PAGE TECH AND GADGETS ANNIVERSARY ISSUE (PART 2)

NEWS / A2 VOL. XXXVII • NO. 255• 5 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P20 • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SectionS D & e SPEECH TO MAYORS.

President Marcos speaks to the Philippine Mayors Forum at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Quezon City on Friday. Mr. Marcos called on the local chief executives to explore potential international partnerships and other strategies to improve the delivery of public service in their respective localities (story on A3).

PCO Photo

Marcos rallies troops amid emerging threats Orders AFP leaders to secure, defend nation

By Vince Lopez

be ready to adapt and respond to emerging national security and defense realities that exist in our country and in our region,” the President said.

RESIDENT Marcos on Friday “As the new leaders of our AFP, you are expected to help ensure that the Armed Forces will be more agile, flexible, and called on the Armed Forces of the responsive to better address emerging issues confronting our naPhilippines (AFP) to be ready to tion. We must be ready. Our Armed Forces must be capable of securing and defending the archipelago from emerging threats,” secure and defend the Philippines against he added. emerging threats.

Mr. Marcos issued the challenge as US and Philippine Defense chiefs said they would "increase the pace and scope" of In a speech delivered during the mass their engagements, following China's unlawful actions that led to oath-taking ceremony at the Ceremonial two collisions in the West Philippine Sea. Hall of Malacañan Palace in Manila, Mr. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III and Secretary Gilbert Marcos asked the newly-promoted AFP Teodoro discussed in a call the Chinese coast guard and militia generals and flag officers to make vessels' "dangerous and unlawful maneuvers" that caused collisure that the military sions with Philippine resupply and Coast Guard ships, the Dewould be more ca- partment of National Defense (DND) said. pable of addressAustin and Teodoro "reaffirmed that the Mutual Defense Treaing the challenges ty extends to both countries’ public vessels, aircraft, and armed confronting the forces—to include the Coast Guard—anywhere in the Pacific to country. include the South China Sea," the DND said.

“You must not only anThe pact states the two countries will come to each other's ticipate, but you must also Next page

P

Israel raid Gaza anew; 50 OFWs back home Monday THE Israeli military said Friday its ground forces backed by fighter jets and drones carried out another "targeted raid" in Gaza as it prepares for a land invasion.

This developed as a fourth batch of

Filipino repatriates fleeing Israel's war with Hamas will come home next week, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Friday.

"A fourth batch is poised to come

home on Monday (Oct. 30)… a rather Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador to the large group, around 50, this is the big- Philippines Ilan Fluss acknowledged that gest group yet," DMW Officer-in-Charge two Filipinos in Israel were "likely kidHans Leo Cacdac told TeleRadyo Serbi- napped” by militant group Hamas, which syo in Filipino.

Next page

‘Oplan Biyaheng Ayos’ in place for Undas travelers

By Darwin G. Amojelar and Joel E. Zurbano THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday activated Oplan Biyaheng Ayos 2023 to intensify security and monitoring in transportation hubs nationwide for the upcoming barangay elections and All Saints Day or Undas.

Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista and Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II inspected vehicles and facilities at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) as part of joint government efforts to ensure the safety and convenience of travelers.

The heightened alert status for land transportation agencies under the DOTr will last until next week, he said.

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‘UNDAS’ EXODUS. A bomb-sniffing dog helps a Philippine Coast Guard officer inspect bags bound for Palawan at the Manila North Harbor on Friday, while passengers flock to check-inb counters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 to beat the long-weekend exodus for Undas or the combined All Saints-All Souls Days holidays. Danny Pata and Robert Gines

Diesel, kerosene prices seen going down next week DIESEL and kerosene prices are expected to go down next week, but gasoline prices are seen to rise, industry sources told the Standard.

Based on the first four trading days of the week, the price of diesel fuel may decrease by P1.40 per liter and kerosene

by P1.20 per liter, sources said.

But pump prices for gasoline may go up by 20 to 30 centavos per liter.

These figures will change depending on the close of the trading on Friday, the sources added.

On Oct. 10, the oil companies implemented a price rollback of P3.05 per liter for gasoline, P2.45 per liter for diesel and P3 per liter for kerosene.

Last week’s price adjustments resulted Next page

Campaign ends today for BSKE; PNP on full alert

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta A CANDIDATE for barangay chairman was shot and seriously hurt in Quezon province, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Saturday, the second such shooting in October. The first victim was running for barangay councilor in Bucay, Abra.

Candidates were also reminded that the campaign period for the Baranagay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) will end on Saturday, Oct. 28, and that no campaigning will be allowed on Sunday.

Meanwhile, more than 100 candidates will face charges for vote buying.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said candidates with pending cases would not be proclaimed.

“Candidates buying votes may face disqualification as well as imprisonment of one to six years. Vote sellers, he added, may also be imprisoned for the same period,” he said.

Gracia identified the ambush victim in Quezon as Ruben Ilagan Pasia, 63, a resident of Barangay Malaya, General Luna, Quezon.

He added that the police have been alerted to the increase in election-related violence.

The poll chief also urged the public to help the Comelec fight vote-buying, fake news, violence and terrorism.

The Omnibus Election Code states that the campaign period shall not include the day before and the day of the election.

Garcia reiterated that campaigning Next page

Missing beauty queen case: Cop now a person of interest THE family of missing beauty queen Catherine Camilon will be provided with a security detail after authorities revealed a policeman was a person of interest in the case.

"We already instructed the chief of police of Tuy, Batangas to give security and assistance to the family of Miss Catherine," said Region 4-A chief of police Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas.

Lucas said the police officer is now with the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit in Camp Vicente Lim in Laguna.

"He did not say he had something to do with the disappearance.

He also did not say he had nothing to do with it," Lucas said.

Camilon represented Tuy, Batangas in the Miss Grand Philippines 2023 pageant.

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SM OPENS 85TH MALL. SM Prime Holdings recently opened SM City Sto. Tomas, its 85th supermall and fourth in the province of Batangas. In photo are Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas (3rd from left) with Sto. Tomas City Mayor Jhun Marasigan and his wife Elizabeth (center), Sto. Tomas City Vice Mayor Catherine Perez (3rd from right) and Vicar General Msgr. Ruben Dimaculangan (4th from left). Others in photo are (from left) SM Engineering Design and Development Corp. President Hans Sy Jr., SM Supermalls’ President Steven T. Tan, SM Prime Holdings Inc. President Jeffrey C. Lim, and SM Retail Executive Director Herson Sy.

NEWS AFP names Japan eyes more PH investments new Public A2 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

In his speech before the Philippine Business Conference and Expo in Manila Hotel, the Japanese ambassador said there is room for the Philippines and Japan's partnership "to grow even further" considering that both countries have "very

strong, solid economic ties."

The Japanese diplomat stressed that the presence of different chambers at the event on Thursday proved that there is "a big vote of confidence on the Philippine economy, and the region.

Koshikawa noted that two "potent tools for success" of the Philippines-Japan economic relations, namely: accelerating investments and creating innovation.

On accelerating investments, Kazuhiko said Tokyo would share its strength with Manila in terms of infrastructure development, energy security, global warming prevention, and the improvement of the business environment.

"The Philippine economy is on the upswing, and this creates a bigger window of opportunity for everyone," he stressed.

"We believe that aside from the revenues from the service industries and international remittances from overseas workers, it is vital for the Philippines to create a level-play-

Secure,...

States defense commitment to the Philippines is ironclad," US President Joe Biden said Wednesday.

"Any attack on Filipino aircraft, vessels or armed forces will invoke our Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines," he added.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts of the Philippine exclusive economic zone, and has ignored a 2016 international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

Ayungin Shoal is about 200 kilometers from Palawan, and more than 1,000 kilometers from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan island.

Meanwhile, Kyodo News reported that the Japanese and Philippine governments are considering negotiations on a new bilateral treaty to boost security cooperation and facilitate joint drills amid China's growing military activities in the Indo-Pacific region.

During their scheduled early November summit in the Philippines, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Marcos are expected to approve negotiations for a "reciprocal access agreement (RAA)," facilitating the presence of visiting forces, diplomatic sources said.

It would be Japan's first RAA with a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the third following the agreements with Australia and Britain

that took effect earlier this year.

Negotiators from both sides are set to delve into the intricacies of the treaty by the end of this year, aiming to sign it as early as next year, Kyodo News said.

At the summit, Messrs. Kishida and Marcos are expected to pledge to step up joint military exercises by the two nations, in a move that would further promote trilateral security cooperation also involving the United States.

In the face of China's territorial claims in the East and South China seas, Japan and the Philippines aim to enhance deterrence through regular joint training exercises with the United States, the sources said.

In his speech Friday, the President acknowledged the “positive and encouraging” developments in the country’s internal security situation, but said much remains to be done.

Mr. Marcos urged the military officials to step up the AFP’s joint planning and operations to ensure interoperability across all its units and platforms.

He also emphasized the importance of greater collaboration with other government agencies and civil society groups to come up with “innovative, effective, and efficient” solutions to the challenges that stand in the way of achieving peace and unity.

“We must maintain our vigilance and guard against those actors – whatever nature or form they may take – who would

threaten and jeopardize the peace we have striven and fought for all these many years,” Mr. Marcos said.

About 31 newly-promoted AFP generals and flag officers, including AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., took their oath before the Commander-inChief.

Also on Friday, the Philippines announced that its missile frigates, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) and a multi-purpose attack craft armed with a Spike-ER (extended range surface-to-surface) missile successfully fired their weapons during a gunnery exercise on Thursday.

In a statement, PF spokesperson Lt. Giovanni Badidles said these live-fire drills took place near Capones Island, San Antonio, Zambales as part of the "Exercise Pagbubuklod" being held from Oct. 23 to 27.

He added that live-fire exercises are essential for the sailors to build confidence, improve understanding, and finetune the proper execution of these lethal capabilities.

"The successful conduct of these major training activities significantly fulfills the overall objectives of 'Exercise Pagbubuklod' to optimize the utilization of assets and equipment, train personnel, and develop tactics and procedures ensuring success in operations," Badidles said.

Some 30,000 Filipinos are in Israel, mostly working as caregivers, officials said.

Meanwhile, nearly half of Israelis are opposed to an "immediate" military ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, according to a survey published Friday that was cited by the daily newspaper Maariv.

According to the poll by the Panel4All institute, 49 percent of respondents said it would be better to "wait" before launching a ground offensive on the besieged Palestinian territory.

Just 29 percent of respondents said the offensive should start "immediately".

The poll was carried out on October 25 and 26 with 522 people questioned for the survey in the country of approximately 10 million.

Last week, 65 percent of those surveyed by the same institute said that they supported a military invasion of the Gaza Strip, according to Maariv. However, that survey did not specify the timing of the operation.

Israel has launched blistering air and artillery strikes on Gaza for nearly three

weeks after Hamas militants staged the worst-ever attack in Israel's history.

"During the last day, IDF (Israeli military) ground forces, accompanied by IDF fighter jets and UAVs, conducted an additional targeted raid in the central Gaza Strip," an army statement said.

"The IDF identified and struck numerous terror targets, including anti-tank missile launch sites, military command and control centres, as well as Hamas terrorists," it said, saying troops "exited the area at the end of the activity".

Black-and-white footage released by the military showed a column of armoured vehicles as a thick cloud of dust billowed into the sky after the strikes.

The military conducted a similar ground operation using tanks and infantry the previous night in the northern part of the Palestinian territory.

The latest incursions came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated earlier this week that Israel was "preparing for a ground offensive".

But Hamas said Israeli troops had also tried to stage an incursion by sea by the

southern town of Rafah early on Friday, which it said was thwarted by its armed wing.

"The enemy tried to carry out a largescale amphibious operation on Rafah's coast at dawn on Friday, where the attempt was discovered and confronted by fighters," an Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades statement said.

"The (Israeli) air force intervened and they fled by sea, leaving behind a quantity of weapons."

Contacted by AFP, the Israeli military said it was checking details of the claim.

On October 7, throngs of Hamas gunmen poured from Gaza into Israel, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 229 more, according to Israeli officials.

In retaliatory Israeli air and artillery strikes, at least 7,028 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip, including 2,913 children, according to figures released by the Hamas-controlled health ministry.

The fatalities in Gaza are the highest since Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Palestinian territory in 2005. AFP with Rey Requejo

Biyaheng Ayos through the increased number of personnel in ports as well as intensified safety and security operations.

Frontline DOTr-attached agencies and government agencies like the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) also announced the temporary suspension of leaves and increased working hours to address the expected influx of both motorists and commuters.

The MMDA said on Friday it will allow provincial buses to pass through the EDSA Busway in anticipation of a high number of passengers coming to and from provinces for the village and youth council elections and observance of All Saints and All Souls Day. MMDA chairman Don Artes said provincial buses will be allowed to pass through the bus lane from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. beginning today until Nov. 6 to ensure smooth and continuous travel for provincial buses and make passenger trips comfortable.

Provincial buses from North Luzon can reach terminals in Cubao, Quezon City while those coming from South Luzon can stop at the PITX. The agency is also suspending the number coding scheme on Monday, Oct. 30, the day for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), and on Nov. 1 and 2.

The MMDA is deploying 1,400 traffic enforcers to manage traffic flow along EDSA and other major thoroughfares until midnight.

Traffic personnel have been deployed in several areas in Metro Manila, particularly in cemeteries, transport terminals, and major roads. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Campaign...

our trust," Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said in a recorded video message, speaking in Filipino.

She said winners of the upcoming BSKE will play a “very significant role” in the delivery of public service to their communities, so voters must exercise prudence.

“They are the ones that we can immediately go or run to. They are closer to us and we know them. That's why we should value our votes," she added.

Lacuna also urged all running candidates to be gracious in accepting the results of the Oct. 30 polls, noting the need for fair and peaceful elections.

“Let's be humble in accepting the verdict of our constituents. Be magnanimous in victory, gracious in defeat," she said.

Lacuna signed on Thursday Executive Order No. 34 imposing a liquor ban from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2.

This means all selling and consumption of alcoholic beverages are prohibited to ensure the peaceful conduct of BSKE, as well as the Undas 2023.

Manila Public Information Office (PIO) chief Princess Abante warned that liquor ban violators may be sentenced to one to six years imprisonment under the Omnibus Election Code.

By Rey E. Requejo

J

APANESE Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko on Friday said that Japan is committed to continuing its investments in the Philippines' big-ticket projects due to the growing interest of Japanese businessmen to invest in the country.

From A1

defense in case their metropolitan areas or territories are attacked.

"Both secretaries committed to redouble efforts to strengthen bilateral coordination, interoperability, and support for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” the DND said.

The agency added that the two Defense chiefs "commended recent bilateral military cooperation, including the bilateral sail last month off the coast of Palawan, and committed to increase the pace and scope of US-Philippines engagements."

Teodoro and Austin will meet in Jakarta, Indonesia, on the sidelines of the upcoming ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus.

Manila said on Monday that Chinese vessels "intentionally hit" Philippine boats which were on a resupply mission for troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal on Oct. 22.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning accused the Philippines of "continuing to spread false information.”

Manila's longtime ally, Washington, has led a chorus of international criticism and backlash against China's interference in the resupply mission.

"I want to be very clear. The United

Israel...

From A1

invaded the Jewish state on Oct. 7 and killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians – including four overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

"It is likely that there are two OFWs that have been kidnapped. But I'm saying this, it is likely," Fluss said in an interview.

The two Pinoys were the same ones previously identified by Israeli defense forces among the 180 hostages still held

by Hamas in Gaza.

One of the OFWs, Gelienor Pacheco, has been seen on a list of hostages recorded by Palestinian authorities, according to his wife, Clarice, who continues to hold out hope her husband will be rescued soon, ABS-CBN reported.

Around 80 Filipinos are still in Gaza awaiting to exit the Strip through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, which has only been opened for humanitarian aid trucks so far.

‘Oplan...

From A1

Also part of the inspection, Mendoza said, are random drug tests for bus drivers to ensure they are not under the influence of any illegal substance.

“We also advise our riding public to inform us of any misbehavior on the road. We have hotlines and they can even tag our office on Facebook and other social media accounts,” he said.

LTO regional directors, he said, have been instructed to intensify road-worthiness inspections on bus terminals nationwide.

In a separate statement, the Office for Transportation Security (OTS), another attached agency of the DOTr, said a task group would man the Transportation Operations Center 24/7 for coordination with stakeholders and government security agencies.

“The OTS also deploys auditors and inspectors in airports, seaports, bus terminals, and rail stations to ensure that transport operators implement and maintain adequate security measures to protect the traveling public from any untoward incident and acts of unlawful interference which may be committed by lawless elements during this peak season,” it said.

Similar to other frontline transportation agencies, the OTS canceled the vacation leaves of airport security screening officers to ensure adequate manpower at security screening checkpoints in all airports nationwide.

Earlier, the PCG, Maritime Industry Authority, and the Philippine Ports Authority -- all under the DOTr -- announced their participation in Oplan

From A1

outside of the campaign period is prohibited by law, and shall be considered an election offense.

"To those who will defy, be ready to face the full force of the law and the consequences of your illegal acts," he said.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada said it was important to give priority to maintaining peace and order during the BSKE, which he said is a crucial part of the democratic process.

"We urge all candidates and their supporters to peacefully participate in the democratic exercise while abiding by the rule of law and adhering to election regulations," Estrada said.

"Any form of violence, intimidation, or disruption will and should not be tolerated," he added.

Also on Friday, the city government of Manila urged registered voters in the nation's capital to participate in the nationwide BSKE and be prudent in their choice of future leaders.

“In the previous days of campaigning, we hope that you have already assessed carefully who we think deserves

Missing...

From A1

The CIDG 4-A will investigate the case while the Regional Internal Affairs 4-A will conduct a separate administrative investigation.

Lucas said the policeman who is a person of interest in the case has already been relieved of his post.

ing field for its business environment that is as attractive as, or more attractive than that of the other ASEAN countries," he said.

On creating innovations, Kazuhiko said, Tokyo would support entrepreneurs and start-ups and develop human resources.

According to him, it is vital for both countries to encourage more innovations from the private sector that should "design an enabling environment for entrepreneurs and startup businesses to thrive."

To achieve such a goal, Kazuhiko said, Tokyo will implement the following: build human resources and networks for startup creation; strengthen the supply of funds for startups and diversifying strategies; and promote open innovation.

The cop, whose identity was not yet revealed, was allegedly in a romantic relationship with Camilon.

Lucas said it was also the police officer also gave Camilon the vehicle she used when she was last seen in Lemery.

He said police investigators remain optimistic that Camilon is still alive.

On Oct. 16, Camilon's sister, Chinchin, took to social media to ask for help from netizens to locate her sister.

Affairs head

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday announced the appointment of Col. Xerxes Trinidad as the new chief of its Public Affairs Office (PAO).

Trinidad, former Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson and head of its public affairs office, replaced Lt. Col. Enrico Gil Ileto who is pursuing his Master's in National Security Administration.

Trinidad assumed as the AFP PAO chief in simple rites presided over by AFP deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan at the military's headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Friday.

“In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, the landscape of public affairs and communication has evolved. We must adopt and innovate. I am committed (to) leveraging the power of technology and social media to reach a wider audience and ultimately bring the AFP closer to the Filipino people,” Trinidad said in his assumption speech.

Trinidad also served as assistant chief of staff for civil-military operations of the PA's 4th Infantry Division and commander of the 36th Infantry Battalion. Vince Lopez

Palace allows WFH on Oct. 31 for gov't, schools MALACAÑANG on Friday authorized work-from-home arrangements for government employees and asynchronous classes for public schools on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin signed Memorandum Circular No. 38, which allows government employees to travel and properly observe the country's commemoration of All Saints' Day on November 1, 2023.

"In order to provide government employees the full opportunity to properly observe All Saints' Day on November 1, 2023, and to allow them to travel to and from the different regions in the country, work-from-home arrangements in government offices shall be implemented, and asynchronous classes in public schools shall be conducted on October 31, 2023," the memorandum circular stated.

However, government agencies whose functions involve the delivery of basic and health services, preparedness/response to disasters and calamities, and other vital services should continue with their usual operations.

Bersamin also stated that heads of private companies and private schools have the discretion to implement similar arrangements for work and classes.

Charles Dantes

Diesel...

From A1

in a year-to-date net increase of P13.20 per liter for gasoline, P12.65 per liter for diesel, and P7.19 per liter for kerosene.

Meanwhile, various groups pushing for an increase in the renewable energy component of the country’s power supply mix criticized the government for pushing liquefied natural gas as an alternative.

On the third anniversary of the coal moratorium, the groups called on the Energy Department to stop promoting the use of LNG as a transition fuel from coal-fired power plants.

Power for People convenor Gerry Arances said the country can attain 100 percent renewable energy in a few years’ time, contrary to the DOE's projection of only 50 percent renewable energy in the mix by 2040.

On Tuesday, President Marcos also ordered the shortening of the trigger period for the release of fuel subsidies – from three consecutive months to only one month that the Dubai price per barrel exceeds US$80.

Mr. Marcos issued the directive during a review of the mitigating measures for high fuel prices in a sectoral meeting at the Palace on Tuesday, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said.

Lotilla said the President also ordered agencies to simplify the release requirements as it took time to release the funds for fuel subsidies in the past.

Department of Energy data showed Dubai crude was at $92.35 per barrel as on Monday. It has remained above $80 per barrel since August.

NEWS Marcos enacts law on LGU classification PRESIDENT Marcos has enacted Republic Act (RA) No. 11964, which institutionalizes the automatic income classification of local government units (LGUs), Malacañang announced on Friday.

RA 11964, also known as the “Automatic Income Classification of Local Government Units Act,” classifies municipalities into five classes based on their average annual regular income.

Thus, municipalities with annual average income of P200,000,000 are classified as First Class; those with average annual income of P160,000,000 or more, but less than P200,000,000 are Second Class; those earning P130,000,000 or more, but less than P160,000,000 are Third Class; those with annual average income of P90,000,000 or more, but less than P130,000,000 are Fourth Class; and those with an average annual income of less than P90,000,000 are Fifth Class.

The Department of Finance, in consultation with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the LGUs League, has the authority to adjust the income ranges based on In compliance with the law, the DOF must also undertake regular income reclassification once every three years to ensure that the LGU income reclassification conforms with the prevailing economic conditions.

The first general income reclassification will be made within six months after the law’s effectivity and every three years thereafter. Charles Dantes

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PBBM tells mayors to prepare for new challenges, boost services

By Charles Dantes

P

RESIDENT Marcos on Friday urged the country’s local chief executives to prepare for new challenges and to learn best practices in boosting the delivery of public services.

“Let me challenge our mayors to not only make the most out of this forum.

Let us make good use of this forum,” the President said during the Philippine Mayors’ Forum in Quezon City.

The gathering coincides with the 32nd Anniversary of the enactment of the Local Government Code of 1991 embodying the guidelines on devolu-

tion, efficiency, and self-sustainability, The Chief Executive stressed that there are new challenges that should be addressed by both the local and national governments.

“I welcome this forum which seeks to harness the power of innovation, digital governance, and resiliency-building to ensure that the government can bet-

ter respond to the demands of the times and, when I speak of government, I speak of government at every level,” Mr. Marcos noted.

The President said programs similar to the forum are “a very effective multiplier” in terms of the efforts of the government and the support of the United Nations (UN) that will accelerate the capacity-building of local governments.

He encouraged the mayors to make use of the UN program and take advantage of the knowledge, training, and experience that the organization has gained not only in the Philippines, but all around the world.

“The learnings from the UN programs should be applied and amplified to their constituents,” Mr. Marcos said.

“In that way, we are able to achieve more. So we must also explore international partnerships such as that with your counterpart, not only in the Philippines but in other countries as well.

In that way, we will learn the best, best practices in improving public service delivery,” he added.

He also assured the mayors that his administration will remain their leading partner in enhancing their capacities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Ambisyon Natin 2040.

PBBM AT MAYORS’FORUM. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. graces the Philippine Mayors Forum at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Quezon City and calls on the local chief executives to explore potential international partnerships and other strategies to improve the delivery of public services to their respective constituents.

PCO photo

Solon urges PhilHealth to expand coverage by 20% Zamboanga City customs agents

By Maricel V. Cruz TINGOG party-list Rep. Rep. Jude Acidre has called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to increase its coverage by 20 percent across-the-board.

Acidre said PhilHealth’s case rate

system was introduced to simplify the reimbursement process for healthcare providers and ensure timely and sufficient financial support to patients.

“However, it has been noted that the case rates have been continuously misaligned with the rising costs of healthcare services in the country,”

Acidre said.

The practice of “pay whichever is lower” in the current case rate system puts the patients in additional financial burden as this often forces them to pay a large portion of the hospital bills even after availing themselves of their PhilHealth benefits.

BOOK LAUNCHING.

Dr. Doni Wilson, reputedly a worldrenowned stress management expert, launches her book entitled ‘Master Your Stress.

Reset Your Health’ during a press conference at the Shangri La Mall in Mandaluyong City.

In her book, Wilson shares her expertise on how to control anxiety, boost energy, and beat being burnt out through the science of epigenetics.

Manny Palmero

seize P24.6-m smuggled cigarettes

By Vito Barcelo and Joel E. Zurbano BUREAU of Customs agents have intercepted in Zamboanga City a motorized wooden boat ferrying hundreds of boxes of smuggled cigarettes worth P24.6 million.

The seizure of smuggled goods was accomplished in coordination with the military’s 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company “Seaborne” off Brgy. Sinunuc, Zamboanga City, according to a BOC statement.

“The team conducted a joint maritime patrol operation, leading to the interception of a motorized wooden watercraft marked “MB Utoh Mat Mat,” loaded with boxes of cigarettes, the statement read.

The BOC said the five crewmen of the seized vessel claimed they were bound to Zamboanga City from Jolo, Sulu, but failed to provide documents proving the lawful importation of cigarettes.

An inventory conducted by the BOC on October 23, 2023 revealed that the vessel was carrying 423 boxes of cigarettes of various brands such as President and Cannon Menthol.

Acting District Collector, Arthur G. Sevilla Jr. said the Port of Zamboanga is closely coordinating with other operating units in conducting

Palace places DAP under NEDA to streamline their functions MALACANANG has issued an executive order transferring the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) from the Office of the President to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The Palace said Executive Order No. 45, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas

Bersamin, aims to streamline and rationalize the functions of the two agencies and to align the DAP’s programs with the government’s socioeconomic agenda.

“Pursuant to the right-sizing policy of the national government, it is imperative to streamline and rationalize the functional relationships of agen-

cies with complementary mandates to promote coordination, efficiency, and organizational coherence in the bureaucracy,” the EO read.

The DAP is a state-run institution that provides human resource development, research, data collection, and information services to support the country’s

development efforts.

The NEDA is the main agency that formulates and coordinates social and economic policies, plans, and programs.

The EO also seeks to enhance the capacity and productivity of civil servants and improve bureaucratic efficiency.

Charles Dantes

Cayetano harvests vegetables at Taguig school’s urban farm MAYOR Laarni Cayetano led a vegetable harvest at the Senator Rene Compañero Cayetano Memorial Science and Technology High School urban farm, manifesting Taguig City’s commitment to sustainable, organic urban farming for food security.

The 800-square meter urban farm is the 8th of such project by the local government unity implemented among the city school.

Equipped with hydroponics, aquaponics, a greenhouse, and various gardens, the farm produces a variety of vegetables, including root crops, gourds, beans, and spices. These harvests support city programs like Urban

Farming Seminars, Taguig Love Caravan, and Dietary Supplementation.

The city government encourages residents to create their own urban farms for a healthy, farm-to-table lifestyle.

President Marcos has praised the urban farming program in Taguig and urged other local government units to follow suit. He emphasized that urban farming is proof that Filipinos can cultivate farm produce even in the city and that it is supported by the government.

Taguig is implementing the urban farming project in line with the city’s thrust to promote a green environment and healthier lifestyle for the people.

Joel E. Zurbano

BUMPER TO BUMPER. This traffic jam has been an inscrutable signature of the circumferential Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) connecting the cities of Caloocan and Paranaque, and has been a perennial enigma for local authorities over time. Somehow, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, in a bid to beat the expected monstrous traffic mess when people flock to the provinces for the traditional observance of All Saints Day or Undas—and back to the big city after the holiday—will allow passenger buses to pass through EDSA from 10 pm. to 5 a.m. starting yesterday (Friday) until Nov. 6. Manny Palmero

maritime patrol operations pursuant to the directive of Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio to improve strategies in BOC’s fight against the illicit cigarette trade.

Meanwhile, Rubio ordered a thorough investigation into alleged pilferage at a Pasay City warehouse, which was recently padlocked for alleged infringement on intellectual property rights.

The bureau will also investigate 77 people, including 10 Chinese nationals, who have been arrested and may face criminal charges.

On Thursday, the authorities conducted an operation leading to the arrest of the suspects who were caught carrying the forfeited illicit goods while inside the padlocked warehouse onAcosta Street in Barangay 77, Pasay.

A truck van was also spotted while being loaded with the forfeited goods.

One of the suspects, a woman, claimed they were instructed by their Chinese employer to go to the warehouse to ship some goods. Upon arrival, they discovered the gate was already open.

“We don’t know who opened that gate. It’s already open and we’re in a hurry,” she said.

SSS runs after delinquent employers

By Rio N. Araja THE Social Security System (SSS) has called the attention of a trucking company in Manila for alleged non-remittance of its workers’ premium payments.

Under the Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) campaign, Binondo branch head Lazaro Canals, along with Tondo branch account officer John Daniel Wong, served notices of violation to six delinquent employers, including the trucking company.

Four business establishments failed to remit a total of P2.71 million in unpaid contributions with penalties for their 79 employees, while the two employers did not report their business with seven employees to the SSS. The SSS ordered the erring employers to settle their delinquencies within 15 days after receiving the written notices, lest the state pension fund would file criminal cases against them.

A4 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

NEWS Baterina acquitted, Napoles gets more years for new raps

EARLY CHRISTMAS IN CALOOCAN.

SM City Grand Central Mall Manager Engr.

Christian Bryan Umali, Rep. Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy, and SM Supermalls Assistant Vice President for Operations Ana Datu lead the lighting ceremony of a giant Christmas tree with colorful decorations with the theme ‘Grand Holidays’ in the city of Caloocan on Friday.

Andrew Rabulan

By Maricel V. Cruz

Solons rally behind Speaker anew

By Maricel V. Cruz

A

GROUP of legislators have cited Speaker Martin Romualdez for his “decisive, result-oriented leadership” that has transformed the House of Representatives into a pivotal partner of President Marcos in his goal to sustain a robust economy postpandemic and make growth sustainable and inclusive for all Filipinos.

In a joint statement, Reps. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Miguel Luis Villafuerte, and Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata of Camarines Sur expressed their strong and continued support for Romualdez at the helm of the bigger, highly productive chamber of the 19th Congress.

“Because of his decisive, result-orient-

ed leadership, Speaker Martin (Romualdez) has managed to shepherd through the 300-plus strong House this early the final approval of all of the President’s priority bills for the year—three months ahead of schedule,” Villafuerte, president of the National Unity Party and former CamSur governor, said.

“The House has certainly been a highly productive legislative chamber on the Romualdez watch, crafting a substantial number of social protection measures in support of the commitment of President Marcos not to leave any Filipino behind in his Administration’s quest for a peaceful and prosperous nation,” Migz Villafuerte, also a former governor, said.

Horibata said: “Under the Speaker’s leadership, the bigger chamber has likewise passed a substantial number of measures meant to further stimulate the economy post-pandemic, and create more jobs and livelihood opportunities in step with the Marcos administra-

tion’s goal of inclusive high growth.”

The CamSur congressmen noted the earlier-than-expected passage in the chamber of all 20 priority bills targeted for approval by the President and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) by endDecember 2023.

Along with the Speaker’s active participation in Mr. Marcos’ successful investment missions overseas, this has “transformed the House into a pivotal partner of this Administration in its agenda for keeping our post-pandemic economy on a high-growth track to ensure more jobs and better living standards for Filipinos,” they said.

DA Asec, 16 others face charges over Kadiwa onion supplier deal THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of graft charges against Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista and 16 others over an allegedly anomalous deal with an onion supplier for the agency’s Kadiwa stores.

The Ombudsman also ordered the dismissal from service of Evangelista and Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) vice president John Gabriel Benedict Trinidad III. The Ombudsman found Evangelista “guilty of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.”

Ombudsman Samuel Martires, interviewed over dzBB, said based on the pieces of evidence they have gathered,

THE Sandiganbayan on Friday acquitted former Ilocos Sur congressman Salacnib Baterina in the cases involving the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund allocation (PDAF) worth P35 million.

While Baterina was cleared of graft, malversation, and direct bribery, detained businesswoman Janet LimNapoles was found guilty of graft and malversation in the same case.

The decision adds another 32 to 60 years of prison time for Napoles, who has already been sentenced by the anti-graft court to at least 40 years imprisonment for four counts of malversation of public funds conviction and another 24 years for four counts of graft in other cases.

In its ruling, the court’s Special Second Division said it found no evidence to ‘’sufficiently prove’’ that Baterina had any involvement in the funding of Napoles’ non-government organizations, which carried out livelihood projects that turned out to be non-existent.

“In this case, it was established that accused Baterina’s signatures in the documents that would have shown that he misused to pre-select and endorse KMFI (Kaagapay Magpakailanman Foundation Inc.) and PSDFI (Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc.) to implement his projects were forged,” it said.

The anti-graft court, however, ordered Baterina and his co-accused to return to the government the P35 million that was illegally disbursed.

FOR THE DEARLY DEPARTED.

Two senior citizens offer a prayer before the tomb of their departed loved ones at the Manila North Cemetery on Friday, days before All Souls Day on Nov. 2.

Danny Pata

“it seems that the prices of onions have been manipulated.”

“It seems there was no bidding that took place. The CCTVs we had showed only one person brought the three envelopes (of bids) handed over to the senior vice president. Those involved were able to create an artificial shortage of onions,” he added.

In August, Evangelista, Trinidad, Administrative Officer V Eunice Biblanias, DA OIC-Chief Accountant Lolita Jamela, and FTI Budget Division Head Juanita Lualhati were slapped with a six-month preventive suspension without pay for the questionable procurement of onions by FTI from Bonena Multi-Purpose Cooperative. Rio N. Araja

Ombudsman The Medical City’s new investor expected to own 63.94% of firm nixes Bantag murder raps

By Rio N. Araja

THE Office of the Ombudsman has absolved Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang of murder and grave misconduct raps filed by ex-BuCor chief Gerald Bantag.

“For lack of probable cause... and for want of substantial evidence [the criminal and administrative cases] are dismissed,” read the Ombudsman’s decision.

In January, Bantag sued Remulla for allegedly being the mastermind behind the killing of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid in October 2022 as well as for the death of Jun Villamor, the inmate who allegedly acted as the middleman in the Lapid murder ploy.

An autopsy on Villamor’s remains showed him having a “history of asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation.”

Bantag included Catapang in his complaint for allowing the transfer of inmates from New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City to the National Bureau of Investigation.

He said Remulla had a motive to order Lapid’s death after the broadcaster criticized the Justice chief in an episode of his show aired days before he was killed.

The Department of Justice, however, linked Bantag to the deaths of Lapid and Villamor.

PROFESSIONAL Services Inc. (PSI), the parent company of The Medical City, has announced the completion of a Mandatory Tender Offer on Sept. 20 by Universal Healthcare Services Pte. Ltd. (UHSPL) and Kambal Health Services Pte Ltd (KHSPL), affiliates of CVC Capital Partners.

Through its affiliates, CVC will own 63.94% of PSI, the latter said in a statement. The Medical City, meanwhile, is

the largest healthcare network in the Philippines under a single brand.

CVC Capital Partners is a leading global private markets manager focused on private equity, secondaries and credit, with $140 billion in assets under management.

The investment alliance between The Medical City and CVC seeks to expand Philippine health care capacity by augmenting resources for its five Philippine hospitals and 60-strong clinic network,

the largest in the country.

Chairman Jose Xavier Gonzales, from lead Philippine shareholder Fountel Corporation, welcomed the CVC investment, saying: “More than the capital infusion of Php12.7 billion, CVC’s global health care partnerships will facilitate TMC’s own aspirations to move the needle globally in precision medicine, while elevating Filipino health care practice as a true patient partner.”

LAND ROW. Lawyer Levito Baligod presents to the media a copy of the charges he filed for his clients with the National Bureau of Investigation regarding the alleged illegal enforcement of a writ of execution over a P14-billion, sevenhectare property in Barangay Damayang Lagi in Quezon City in a press conference on Thursday. Manny Palmero

Water agency sacks 2 recalcitrant executives THE Board of Trustees of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) has removed both its board secretaries from their posts as they were ordered to explain their alleged refusal to return a board resolution that calls for sanctions on an erring water district official.

A LWUA show cause order was issued to Assistant Board Secretary Danilo Beleno Jr. for alleged insubordination and conduct prejudicial to the

LWUA Board of Trustees’ power and function.

The LWUA is chaired by Ronnie Ong, a former legislator and nominee of Probinsyano party-list group in the House of Representatives.

On Oct. 25, Ong as the chairman and the Board called an executive session to vote for the removal of Beleno Jr. and Board Secretary Stephanie Clare Rojas for loss of trust and confidence as coterminous appointees of the Board of Trustees. Maricel V. Cruz

Dr. Alfredo R.A. Bengzon, founding director and former President and CEO, returns as Chairman Emeritus.

According to Gonzales, “A joint foundation has been established in his name in partnership with his other legacy institution, the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, to drive much-needed health policy reform and leadership development at the national and local government levels.”

DICT, socmed giants eye cybersecurity boost THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has teamed up with Google, YouTube, TikTok, and Meta to intensify cybersecurity efforts as online scams and other cybercrimes tripled from January to June 2023.

“Cybersecurity has become a deep concern for everyone, and the reason for this is the rapid move from brickand-mortar to digital landscapes. The scale, speed, and level of penetration of digitalization in our everyday lives is unprecedented,” DICT Secretary Ivan John E. Uy said.

He added that the economic presence of ASEAN through e-commerce presents a very attractive pie for cybercriminals and cyber threat actors.

As reported by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) under the Office of the President, the total number of online scams – such as those that happen across social media – went up to nearly triple what it was in the same period of 2022, in the first half of 2023, reaching 4,446 reported cases.

Social media comprises one of the key pillars of digital transformation, especially as more than 70 percent of Filipinos are active on various socmed platforms, directly contributing to the potential pool of victims of online scams, DICT noted. Darwin G. Amojelar

OPINION

B1 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023 Honor Blanco Cabie, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Friends in the Lord FATHER Timothy Radcliffe, Dominican friar and former Master of the Order of Preachers, started his 3rd meditation titled “Friendship” delivered on the occasion of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops that began last 4 October with a reflection on the meaning of friendship and how it can be used to bring unity to a divided world.

He also discussed how friendship can be used to deepen our relationship with God and with each other.

Thus, he began with this reflection -“On the eve of his death, Jesus prayed to his Father, expressing a desire for unity among his followers, echoing the words “May them be one as we are one” (John 17.11).

However, throughout the New Testament, we observe divisions, conflicts, and excommunication among the disciples.

The purpose of our gathering at this Synod is to address our own divisions and seek unity of heart and mind, which can serve as a precious testimony in a world plagued by conflict and inequality.

Jesus offered this friendship to his disciples, tax collectors, prostitutes, lawyers, foreigners, and anyone who was willing to accept it The Body of Christ should embody the peace promised by Jesus, a peace the world yearns for, Radcliffe continued.

Reflecting on the sources of division, such as conflicting hopes and diverse visions of the Church as a spiritual home, Radcliffe urged his listeners to “recognize that these tensions need not tear us apart.

“We carry a hope that transcends our differences, and the Kingdom is a spacious home with “many dwelling places” (John 14.1).”

While not every hope or opinion is equally valid, Radcliffe made it clear to his listeners that they should understand that orthodoxy is expansive, while heresy is narrow.

“The Lord leads us from the confinement of the sheepfold to the wide-open pastures of our faith, eventually leading us from the locked room of doubt to the boundless vastness of God” he said.

To achieve unity, he encouraged the retreat participants to “go beyond mere rational debates, saying that . . . as followers of Christ, we should cultivate a deeper friendship with the Lord and with each other, reminiscent of the friendship Jesus offered to his disciples, tax collectors, prostitutes, lawyers, and foreigners.”

Adding that even when classical norms dictated that friendships were only possible between the good or equals, God consistently engaged in unconventional friendships, such as with Jacob, David, and Solomon.

According to Radcliffe, “the message

EDITORIAL

Ironclad commitment of the gospel goes beyond transmitting information; it is an act of friendship.

This involves loving those we preach to and embodying a spirit of friendship with people from various backgrounds and beliefs, even those we may disagree with.”

Radcliffe clarified the foundation of the participants’ efforts at the Synod should be the friendships they form.

For him, this might not make headlines, but it is through friendship that the participants can transition from an individualistic “I” to a collective “We.” Touching on the Instrumentum Laboris, he said the document acknowledges the loneliness experienced by many priests and emphasizes the need for care, friendship, and support.

He characterized friendship as a creative endeavor, in which the Synod participants are tasked with forming improbable friendships, especially with those whose perspectives differ from one’s own.

According to him, despite the potential awkwardness, the “essence of friendship lies in simply being with one another and enjoying one another’s presence.”

Ultimately, our world craves authentic friendships, yet he warned that destructive trends like populism and extreme individualism often hinder meaningful connections.

To counter these trends, Radcliffe urged the need to share our doubts and questions honestly and seek the truth together.

Because, according to him, by sharing concern for the truth, friendship can still flourish, despite differences and uncertainties.

In these times between the first and second coming of Christ, we must become the face of Christ for each other, recognizing the invisible and offering our genuine presence to others.

Friendships should be built on understanding and recognition, and our world hungers for such connections.

Finally, as followers of Christ, we need to understand that friendship is seen as a way to deepen our relationship with God and with each other.

The Vatican II document Dei Verbum states that “the invisible God speaks to men and women as friends” (Dei Verbum, 2). This means that God wants to have a personal relationship with us and that we can approach him as we would approach a friend.

The healing friendship of God can help us overcome the prisons we create for ourselves. It can help us find peace and comfort in difficult times.

Furthermore, this friendship is not limited to a select few but is offered to everyone, regardless of their background or social status.

Jesus offered this friendship to his disciples, tax collectors, prostitutes, lawyers, foreigners, and anyone who was willing to accept it.

It was the first taste of the Kingdom of God.

How Philippine halal can be globally competitive EvEryman

By Dindo A. Danao

I THINK what the Philippine halal needs to be globally competitive is a holistic program, including the role of marketing and support mechanisms in the global perspective.

We need to achieve the following: 1.Our government should prioritize the establishment of a Halal Board of the Philippines mandated to oversee the the halal industry through a well-defined enabling law and Implenting Rules ad Regulation.

It is heart-warming to know that Sen. Robinhood Padilla and Sen. Win Gatchalian agreed to finetune the measures governing Halal.

2.We should clearly define what halal is.

It goes beyond dietary restrictions to include treatment of animals and lifestyle practices and refers to practices and behaviors that are considered permissible according to Islamic teachings.

3.Halal provides the Philippines an opportunity to increase its agriculture and food exports.

It could be a part of the vision of President Bongbong Marcos to gain more investments which will translate into higher economic activity, more quality jobs and better quality of life for Filipinos.

With halal, the Department of Trade and Industry aims to generate P230 billion in investments and create 120,000 jobs in the sector within five years.

The plan is to tap the growing demand from 1.9 billion Muslims across 57 countries spanning Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas, plus the local market.

The global halal market is expected to reach $7.7 trillion in value by 2025.

4.We need to have an effective domestic marketing. Halal is for everybody – a way of life that inculcates purity in oneself.

A misnomer among Filipinos is that halal is limited to Muslims. It transcends food to cover purified lifestyle, customs and tradition.

5.The government should motivate investors to support the halal sector.

It may offer incentives to producers so they can meet complex technical requirements in manufacturing halal products.

Just like in the Maharlika Investment Fund where clear IRRs are imperative and should be acceptable to all stakeholders, a well written law and IRR for the halal sector will come in handy for both the national government and the investors.

We also need to ensure corrupt-free implementation of such measure.

6. The DTI should actively promote halal, from local to global stage, with generallyaccepted marketing principles and branding strategy.

We need something like PH HALAL brand. We can use the PH HALAL logo in packaging and advertising materials We should start with research to improve Halal products, ingredients and services.

This will give the halal sector the opportunity to scan the global competition or

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HE reaffirmation

by Washington and Manila of their commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty signed in 1951 is heartening, after China’s latest aggressive action during a routine resupply mission to the Filipinos at the Ayungin Shoal this week.

T

The reaffirmation was made Friday during a conference call between Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in Manila and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III in Washington, DC. A joint statement said the two defense chiefs discussed the incident on Sunday at the Ayungin Shoal, only 200 kilometers off Palawan, particularly China’s “dangerous and unlawful maneuvers that caused collisions with Philippine resupply and Coast Guard ships, putting the safety of Philippine vessels and crew at risk.”

It is consoling that in the same phone

There have been increased concerns among neighboring countries, with China making aggressive territorial claims and deploying military assets to disputed islands in the South China Sea including the West Philippine Sea call, Austin reinforced Washington’s support for Manila after the Ayungin Shoal incident, which has raised the level of tension in the region.

“The Secretaries reaffirmed that the MDT extends to both countries’ public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces – to include the Coast Guard – anywhere in the Pacific to include the South China Sea,” the joint statement added.

The MDT, signed on August 30, 1951 by their representatives in Washington, DC, has eight articles

and requires both nations to support each other if another party attacks the Philippines or the United States.

There have been increased concerns among neighboring countries, with China making aggressive territorial claims and deploying military assets to disputed islands in the South China Sea including the West Philippine Sea, with Beijing’s mythical TenDash Line which practically gobbles up the whole South China Sea. Such concerns have escalated since the Philippines-China standoff at Scarborough Shoal in 2012.

“Secretary Austin reiterated his commitment to the Philippines and the Indo-Pacific is ironclad,” the statement said.

Both Teodoro and Austin commended the military cooperation between Manila and Washington, including the bilateral sail last month off the coast of Palawan and committed to increasing the pace and scope of US-Philippines engagements.

We are buoyed up that in face of China’s assertiveness, the United States has reiterated its commitment to the Philippines and its willingness to defend the country’s sovereignty in the South China Sea.

They want Marcos to engage in a proxy war with China QUITE strange is the report made by an American security expert by the name of Raymond Powell.

Through tweeter, he alleged that China’s coast guard, on August 8, 2023, fired water cannon at our coast guard vessel.

The incident was repeated on October 22 when the Philippine vessel was monitored stealthily moving towards the Chinese coast then stationed to secure the floating rafters they place around the shoal.

Yes, there was a somewhat intended collision because China’s coast guard wanted to prevent our fishing boat from crossing the rafters.

The Chinese coast guard knew our fishing boat wanted to cross to deliver supply to our personnel manning our purposely grounded BRP Sierra Madre stationed inside the contested Shoal.

Both vessels suffered a negligible dent as the purpose was only to merely prevent the Philippine fishing boat from crossing the rafters.

The calculated collision was purposely done to prevent us from delivering our supplies to our navy personnel manning the hand-me-down surplus from the US navy.

Nonetheless, it caused a slight dent to our fishing boat.

The US navy tried to make an issue of the incident in that there was reconnaissance spy plane from the US navy watching the incident as it happened.

The purpose of the Australianbased spy agency was to monitor any unfavorable incident in the area and make sure to immediately report the incident to the media.

Our vessel was out to resupply our navy personnel guarding the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in the Ayungin Shoal or Scarborough Shoal since 1999.

I remember China’s former ambassador to the Philippines, Madame Fu Ying,

Come to think that we have other markets to tap like other Middle Eastern countries, North Africa, Southeast Asia, East Asia, North America, Europe, and other areas what others do in the foreign markets.

Switzerland, for example, has no cacao production, but by importing raw materials and efficient processes, they produce the best chocolates in the world.

We should also achieve competitive pricing for exports to countries that require halal products including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and personal care items.

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

argued with the Philippine media by exhibiting a Philippine-made map indicating that Scarborough Shoal as belonging to China.

The ambassador claims Scarborough Shoal known in China as “Huangyan Shoal” is submerged during high tide, which reason why the International Arbitration Court ruled that no state can establish sovereignty over a piece of rock or establish boundary line of 200-mile exclusive economic zone just to expand further China’s EEZ which is separated by a great body of water in the South China Sea.

The calculated collision was purposely done to prevent us from delivering our supplies to our navy personnel manning the hand-me-down surplus from the US navy Awarding the whole of SCS will render the concept of freedom of navigation meaningless.

The Ayungin Shoal is beyond the 200mile EEZ of China from its own coastline.

The same can be said of the Scarborough Shoal.

The area is not within the 200-mile EEZ from the Philippines from the Orani town in Bataan.

China, on the other hand, rather based its claims as historic right aptly named as “Nine-Dash Line” under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).

(Editor’s Note: Beginning in 1952, the

In a recent visit to Brunei, the Trade Minister showed us a halal chicken plant run by many Filipinos including 15 who came from Luzon who are not even Muslims.

This means we can also export skilled labor to the Middle East, Southeast Asia or Europe to support the Halal industry on a global scale.

7.The Philippines should identify the markets for Halal products, including ingredients, finished products, services or manpower.

8.We need to improve our regulatory environment for halal. There should be only one governing agency for all halal products.

The Philippine Halal Board should help craft and implement the IRR, with quasi legal powers to implement the law.

The Senate and the House of Representatives should also review existing Halal laws and have them purified into one enabling law.

9.The Department of Tourism and the Department of Foreign Affairs should hold education/awareness campaigns among

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

People’s Republic of China used a revised map with nine dashes, removing the two dashes in the Gulf of Tonkin.

(In September this year, China unveiled its 2023 standard map with a ten-dash line – an updated version of its nine-dash line used to make territorial claims in the South China Sea which sparked outrage among China’s neighbors.

(The nine-dash line already covers more than 90 percent of the SCS, but the new edition features an additional dash located east of Taiwan, seemingly extending China’s territorial claims in the region.)

Only China and Taiwan commonly agreed on this claim of historic right, which if one may say is self-serving, as it serves only the interest of the two countries.

The Philippines is objecting in allowing China to expand another 200 miles, for that would unduly destroy the purpose and objective of the EEZ. The US legally remains a non-claimant to any of the islands in the SCS. Legally, the US and the Philippines are estopped from claiming as parties to any of the islands.

Our concurrence of the treaty signed by the US and Spain means the US relinquished our sovereignty over all those islands and territories after it signed the treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898, except for that minor amendment granting a narrow passage to international shipping in the Sibutu Strait in Mindanao.

Despite the proximity of the boundary that separates the Philippines from the island of Palawan which now constitutes part of the SCS, with the edges of the boundary of less than 12 miles under international law, the Philippines can exercise legitimate sovereignty and enjoy indisputable right over the area. Read full article on manilastandard.net

stakeholders – from foreign investors to frontliners such as restaurant staff, tourist guides and drivers.

Embassies should promote Philippine Halal in countries where applicable.

In Saudi Arabia, for example, you need multi-racial approach to market our homegrown products. You have 700,000 OFWs there as your baseline market.

When I was hired as a sales consultant for Sony in Saudi Arabia, we had to produce 10 different posters to cater to different nationalities.

Come to think that we have other markets to tap like other Middle Eastern countries, North Africa, Southeast Asia, East Asia, North America, Europe, and other areas.

This means we need multi-lingual promotional tools at the point of sale.

10.We should organize an annual halal congress at the national and regional levels to raise awareness and promote best practices.

(The author is a public relations and marketing consultant)

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

Associate Editor Managing Editor News Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

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B2 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Hurricane causes 27 deaths, major blight in Mexico’s Acapulco city ACAPULCO, Mexico – Hurricane Otis caused at least 27 deaths and major damage as it lashed Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco as a scale-topping category 5 storm, officials said yesterday.

Otis crashed into Acapulco with furious winds of 165 miles (270 kilometers) per hour, shattering windows, uprooting trees and largely cutting off communications and road links with the region.

The storm partially destroyed many buildings, leaving gaping holes in the walls of high-rise towers.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador arrived at the scene late Wednesday, after his convoy found roads blocked by landslides and other debris, forcing officials to walk part of the way.

Some residents slogged for hours through mud and debris in an attempt to find food and shelter.

“Acapulco is a total disaster. It is not what it was before,” said 24-year-old Eric Hernandez.

“The shops had all been looted, people were fighting for things. So we decided to walk as there wasn’t anything left there,” he said. AFP

HELPLESS WALK. A man walks on a looted supermarket after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on Friday. Otis killed at least 27 people as it lashed Mexico’s beach resort city as a scale-topping category 5 storm, officials said in what residents called a “total disaster.” AFP

Biden: Iran leader was warned vs. attacks on US troops in Syria W

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters, declining to say how it was delivered.

Later Thursday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said US forces conducted precision strikes on two facilities in eastern Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The Pentagon says US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria have been attacked at least 16 times this month as tensions rise in the Middle East. It blamed “Iranianbacked militia groups.”

Biden told a press conference Manila “There was a direct message relayed. on Wednesday that he had warned Standard TODAY That’s as far as I’m going to go,” US Khamenei of a response if the attacks

ASHINGTON, DC – President Joe Biden sent a message to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warning against strikes on US troops amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, the White House said yesterday.

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continue.

“My warning to the Ayatollah was that if they continue to move against those troops, we will respond, and he should be prepared. It has nothing to do with Israel,” he said alongside visiting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Iran meanwhile warned Washington at the United Nations General Assembly over Israel’s campaign of air strikes and artillery against Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attacks.

“I say frankly to the American statesmen and military forces who are now managing the genocide in Palestine, that we do not

China FM calls for ‘stable’ US ties on visit to weigh potential Xi summit in California WASHINGTON, DC – China’s top diplomat voiced hope Thursday (Friday in Manila) for more stable relations with the United States after months of turbulence as he paid a rare trip to Washington to prepare a potential visit by President Xi Jinping.

President Joe Biden has invited Xi to San Francisco to participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, but he has also stood firm on China in the run-up,

keeping up a stream of targeted sanctions and staunchly backing US allies in disputes with Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi began by meeting Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who told his guest that he looked forward to “constructive conversations” that will include a dinner and more formal talks.

Wang told Blinken, who paid a visit to Beijing in June, that China wanted to “reduce misunderstanding.”

welcome the expansion and scope of the war in the region,” Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said.

“But I warn if the genocide in Gaza continues, they will not be spared from this fire.”

The United States has moved two aircraft carrier groups near Israel since the Hamas attacks in what it says is a bid to deter Iran and its allies from broadening the conflict.

On Sunday Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also ordered the activationCYAN of MA air defense systems in the region and notified additional forces that they may be deployed soon. AFP

Parliamentarian in sex crimes freed on bail

“We seek to expand cooperation that will benefit both sides so that we can stabilize USCYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK LONDON– British police said they had China relations and return them released on bail a lawmaker from the to the track of healthy, stable ruling Conservative party the day after and sustainable development,” he was arrested on suspicion of multiple Wang said. sexual offenses, including rape.

Acknowledging that differLondon’s Metropolitan police, who ences will still come up, Wang did not name the MP, said officers desaid that China hoped to retained a man in his 50s following allegaspond “calmly, because we are tions of indecent assault, sexual assault, of the view that what is right rape and other misconduct offenses and what is wrong is not determore than a decade ago. mined by who has the stronger “In January 2020, the Met received a arm or the louder voice.” AFP report relating to alleged sexual offenses having been committed between 2002 and 2009,” the force said, adding they were alleged to have occurred in the British capital.

“He was taken into custody and has since been bailed pending further inquiries to a date in mid-June,” it added.

A spokeswoman for the Conservatives’ office dealing with party discipline said the MP concerned had been instructed not to attend parliament or its various adjoining buildings while the probe continued.

The Conservatives will not decide whether to suspend the suspect from the parliamentary party until after the police probe has concluded, reports said.

The arrest is the latest in a series of scandal involving a British lawmaker, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s ‘SENSELESS SHOOTING.’ Hearts with messages are hung all over the downtown area in Tories in particular embroiled in numerLewiston, Maine on Friday, in the aftermath of a mass shooting of at least 18 people in what President ous controversies, several of a sexual Biden described as “yet another senseless and tragic mass shooting.” Police named the suspect as nature. AFP 40-year-old Robert Card -- seen in surveillance footage pointing a semi-automatic rifle as he walked into the Sparetime Recreation bowling alley. AFP

‘Armed and dangerous’ Army reservist still at large after US mass shooting LEWISTON, United States – An urgent police dragnet entered its second day late Thursday (Friday in Manila) for a man accused of gunning down 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar in the US state of Maine, as President Joe Biden mourned “yet another senseless and tragic mass shooting.”

Dozens of law enforcement agents surrounded the family home of 40-year-old suspect Robert Card, but by mid-evening agents left the property in Bowdoin, near Lewiston, to hunt for him elsewhere.

A wide area around Lewiston remained locked down more than 24 hours after Card allegedly went on a rampage, culminating in the deadliest mass shooting this year in America.

Thirteen people were also wounded.

Authorities erected roadblocks, ordered schools and businesses closed, and told residents to stay indoors.

Governor Janet Mills said the suspect was “considered armed and dangerous, and police advised that Maine people should not approach him under any circumstances.”

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Card was seen in surveillance footage pointing a semi-automatic rifle as he walked into the Just-in-Time bowling alley on Wednesday.

In early evening, law enforcement agents surrounded the Card family home in Bowdoin, bringing in armored vehicles, and sending up drones and a helicopter.

State police warned “please come outside” and “we don’t want anyone to get hurt” over a loudspeaker near the home, but later said the warnings were routine and not confirmation that Card was inside. AFP

BUSINESS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023

B3

extrastory2000@gmail.com

stocks fall Hot money posts $698-m net outflows PHbelow 6,000

By Julito G. Rada

F

OREIGN portfolio investments or hot money posted net outflows of $698 million in September, a reversal of the net inflows of $153 million in August, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Friday.

This resulted from the $1.6 billion gross outflows and the gross inflows of $888 million for the month.

The $888 million registered investments for the month went down by $553 million or 38.4 percent from $1.4 billion recorded in August.

About 52.1 percent of registered in-

Wilcon’s 3rd quarter net income dropped 17.8% on weak sales WILCON Depot Inc., a leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer, said Friday it booked a net income of P908 million in the third quarter, down 17.8 percent year-on-year on higher operating expenses and weak sales.

Wilcon said in a stock exchange filing third-quarter net sales were flat at P8.79 billion because of the slowdown in foot traffic and transaction count in old stores. As a result, same-store-sales declined 5.7 percent year-on-year.

Operating expenses accelerated by 17.4 percent to P6.562 billion on the back of expansion-related operating expenses.

Wilcon expects new stores’ operating expense to drag net income until the fourth quarter as the company continues to expand its network.

“Overall demand for major home improvement and finishing construction supply continues to be soft for retail, but resumption of projects by major developers increased project sales by 75.5 percent. Although project sales only account for 1.4 percent of total net sales, the buyers of these projects are potential Wilcon customers,” said Wilcon president and chief executive Lorraine Belo-Cincochan.

Net income also declined by 7.9 percent in the nine-month period to P2.72 billion, while net sales improved by 4.9 percent to P29.94 billion.

Belo-Cincochan said Wilcon would still pursue its store network expansion as it aims to deliver on its commitment to have 100 stores by 2024, despite the challenging economic environment.

Jenniffer B. Austria

vestments were in Philippine Stock Exchange-listed securities ($462 million), most of which were investments made in banks, holding firms, property, food, beverage and tobacco and utilities companies.

The balance went to peso government securities at $425 million or 47.9

percent.

Investments in September mostly came from the United Kingdom, Singapore, the United States, Luxembourg and Switzerland with combined share of 88.5 percent.

The $1.6 billion gross outflows in September increased by $298 million or 23.2 percent compared to the gross outflows of $1.3 billion in August.

The US remained to be the top destination of outflows, receiving $1.0 billion or 63.6 percent of total outward remittances.

Registered investments in September went down from $892 million recorded in September 2022 by $4 million or 0.5

percent, while gross outflows increased by $326 million or by 25.9 percent vis-àvis the gross outflows posted in September 2022 at $1.3 billion.

The $698 million net outflows in September were also larger than the $367-million net outflows recorded in the same period a year ago.

Hot money transactions from January to September this year yielded net outflows of $387 million, a downswing from the $222-million net inflows noted for the same period last year.

Portfolio investments are also called hot money because of the ease they are invested in and taken out of the financial markets.

MARRIOTT IN BOHOL. AppleOne Group signs an agreement with Marriott International, the global leader in the hospitality industry, to bring JW Marriott Residences to Panglao Island, Bohol. Attending the signing ceremony on Oct. 20 are (from left) Marriott International senior director for mixed-use development in Asia Pacific (excluding China) Penny Trinh, Marriott International vice president for hotel development in Asia Pacific Steve Baek, AppleOne president and CEO Ray Manigsaca and AppleOne co-founder and chairman Venus Manigsaca.

after rate hike

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Philippine Stock Exchange index fell below the 6,000 level Friday as investors digested the 25 basis-point interest rate hike implemented by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The 30-company bellwether lost 56.50 points or 0.94 percent, to end the week at 5,961.90, while the broader all-shares index dropped 19.55 points or 0.60 percent, to settle at 3,246.47.

All sectoral indices ended in the red as the BSP resumed its hawkish stance by delivering an off-cycle rate hike to bring back inflation to the target range.

Regina Capital and Development Corp head of sales Luis Limlingan said investors also evaluated the slew of corporate earnings that came out on Friday.

Meanwhile, Asian markets rose Friday after strong earnings from two tech titans provided hope for a bounce on Wall Street, while traders were also steeling themselves for key US inflation data.

The gains come at the end of a rollercoaster week for equities, but the Middle East crisis continued to cast a shadow as Israel said ground forces had raided central Gaza for a second day.

And while figures showed the US economy enjoyed its best growth since late 2021 during the third quarter, observers said there was a belief it had peaked and the new year would see a slowdown.

However, questions remain over how long the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates at elevated levels.

All three main indexes sank Thursday, with the Nasdaq again the worst performer owing to tech firms’ susceptibility to higher borrowing costs.

But blockbuster earnings from Amazon and Intel after the markets closed—and a surge in after-hours trade—provided Asian traders with hope for a bounce in New York at the end of the week. With AFP

Metro Pacific Health completes purchase of 60.88% stake in Lucena hospital METRO Pacific Health Corp.

(MPH), the country’s leading private hospital network, completed on Oct. 25, 2023, the acquisition of a 60.88 percent stake in Lucena United Doctors Inc. (LUDI), the owner and operator of Lucena United Doctors Hospital and Medical Center (LUDHMC).

This followed its launching of a tender offer for the balance 39.12-percent stake held by LUDI’s other shareholders.

LUDHMC is a Level 2, 95-bed hospital that has been serving the healthcare needs of Lucena, and neighboring towns and municipalities of the growing Quezon province. The hospital, founded in 1981 by a group of nine doctor-families, sits on almost a hectare of land situated in Barangay Isabang outside the congested city center, and closer to the thriving residential developments.

LUDHMC president Dr. Gerardo Carmelo Salazar welcomed MPH’s investment in LUDHMC as the partnership would support LUDHMC in establishing itself as the undisputed leader in private healthcare in the province.

“We are confident that this will help perpetuate the legacies of our founders and bring LUDHMC closer to their dream of becoming a completely equipped, tertiary medical center serving the Quezon Province,” said Salazar.

MPH corporate development director Jose Noel C. de la Paz lauded the completion of the investment.

“Our investment in LUDI has been in discussion for almost 10 years, and we are excited to finally complete this transaction and start working with the LUDHMC community to expand the hospital and upgrade its medical capabilities. With this, it is our goal that residents of Quezon no longer need to go to Metro Manila for more advanced care,” he said.

De la Paz announced the appointment of Maria Louzel Diaz-Tiozon as LUDI president and chief executive,

bringing with her over 20 years of expertise in strategic human resource and general management in the financial services and healthcare industries.

“She has been with the MPH group since 2014, with her last position being vice president and head of human resources and member of the senior management team of Cardinal Santos Medical Center,” de la Paz said.

Meanwhile, MPH chief executive Dr. Harish Pillai underscored the strategic importance of the investment.

“The integration of LUDHMC into the Metro Pacific Health group is a testament to our commitment to make

quality healthcare more accessible and affordable for every Filipino. With the size and scale of our group, we will be able to leverage on shared resources and best practices that will bring the MPH standard of care to more communities outside of greater Metro Manila,” said Pillai.

LUDHMC becomes the 23rd hospital in the MPH network and the 5th hospital in Southern Luzon, following recent investments in Antipolo Doctors Hospital in Rizal and Medical Center Imus in Cavite, in addition to Calamba Medical Center and Los Baños Doctors Hospital in Laguna.

Metro Pacific Health (MPH) seals the investment of its 23rd hospital—Lucena United Doctors Hospital and Medical Center.

MPH chairman Manuel Pangilinan (seated, third from left), along with key executives from both entities, attended the signing ceremony.

BSP sees increased credit card spending on economic recovery

BRIGHT SMILES. Colgate, the leading oral health brand in the Philippines, continues to

empower the nation with the confidence to smile through its Bright Smiles Bright Futures (BSBF) program, a global initiative dedicated to protecting children’s oral health. More than 1,300 children from Sorsogon province took part in the BSBF community program in September.

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier expects a sustained increase in the use of credit cards as the economy recovers from the impact of the global health crisis.

Fonacier listed positive developments that could trigger the further use of credit cards of Filipinos during the 43rd anniversary of the Credit Card Association of the Philippines (CCAP) Friday.

“The positive macroeconomic prospects provide the backdrop for robust spending. Despite the higher inflation and interest rates, the latest BSP surveys showed a more upbeat outlook for Filipinos for the next quarter and beyond due to higher jobs, security of tenure and higher income from remittances and other sources,” Fonacier said in an online briefing.

She cited the latest labor force survey showing that the unemployment rate declined to 4.4 percent in August from 5.3 percent a year ago. Remittances also grew 2.5 percent in July year-on-year.

“These developments have translated to an upbeat

loan demand from consumers. Household loan demand, for one, increased due to higher consumption and more attractive bank financing terms,” Fonacier said.

“These bode well for Filipinos who use credit cards for their daily purchases. The credit card industry in the Philippines remains in a strong position,” Fonacier said.

CCAP chairperson Magdalena Surtida said that since 2022, consumer spending on travel and dining out was still on the rise, as people who longed to see family and friends during the lockdown were now doing so, and with a vengeance.

“As for business travel, we have not yet seen it go back to its pre-pandemic level as business meetings can still be conducted online,” Surtida said.

Surtida reported that as of end-June 2023, the industry generated P619 billion worth of credit card receivables, 29 percent more than in the same period last year.

Year-to-date, the industry has seen card spend increase by 39 percent to P853 billion. Julito G. Rada

B4 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023 Roderick T. dela Cruz, Editor Alena Mae S. Flores, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

Metrobank’s profit climbed 35.6% to P31.8b in 3 quarters

By Julito G. Rada

ECONOMIC MEETING. Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman (left), together with the rest of the Economic Team, attends the 7th Investment Coordination Committee – Cabinet Committee (ICC-CC) meeting on Oct. 27, 2023 at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) in Pasig City. The meeting covered the approval of social infrastructure projects that aim to enhance agricultural productivity and maritime safety, among others. The approved proposals will then be endorsed to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by the President, for confirmation.

METROPOLITAN Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank), the second-largest lender, said Friday it posted a record net income of P31.8 billion in the first three quarters of 2023, 35.6 percent higher than a year ago, fueled by asset expansion, improving margins and healthy non-interest income growth as asset quality continued to improve.

This translated into a return on equity of 12.8 percent, higher than 10.0 percent recorded in the same period last year.

Metrobank said third-quarter profit grew 38.7 percent to P10.9 billion from the same period last year.

Metrobank president Fabian Dee said the sustained growth showed that the bank remained strong and resilient despite the unpredictable market conditions.

“We will continue to work on keeping our sound capital and liquidity positions as we look for more market opportunities,” Dee said.

Net interest income surged 24.4 percent to P77.2 billion as of September from a year earlier, on the back of higher margins. Gross loans climbed 7.1 percent year-on-year, with consumer loans increasing 16.5 percent.

Net credit card receivables went up 29.5 percent, while auto loans increased 21.6 percent. Commercial loans were up by 4.8 percent, tracking the country’s modest economic growth.

Total deposits rose 14.5 percent to P2.3 trillion from a year ago, of which low-cost current and savings accounts (CASA) represented 59.2 percent.

Trading and foreign exchange gains expanded 45.5 percent to P3.6 billion, while fee income rose 9.7 percent to P12.2 billion.

Cost to income ratio improved to 51.5 percent from 54.5 percent last year. The robust 21.9-percent growth in revenues outstripped the 15.1-percent increase in operating expenses.

2023 investments expected to exceed P1.5t

By Othel V. Campos

T

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) expects investment approvals to surpass the P1.5trillion target for 2023 with several more projects undergoing assessment in the next two months.

Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said investments registered at the Board of Investments (BOI) already reached P1.2 trillion.

“We are still targeting to reach the P1.5 trillion, and if I’m not mistaken, we have already reached P1.2 trillion as of October,” Pascual said at the sidelines of the 2023 International Franchise Expo at the SMX Convention Center Manila.

He said the government was exerting efforts to attract more investments

despite the global headwinds and their impact on local businesses.

The DTI earlier said most investment approvals consisted of renewable energy projects that saw a big jump in application after the government opened the renewable energy sector to 100-percent foreign ownership.

Meanwhile, Pascual underscored the significance of digital transformation to advance the development of Philippine enterprises. The DTI chief also emphasized the vital role of the franchising

Association (PFA) share similar goals— fostering collaboration, promoting best practices, and driving economic development through franchising. Since its establishment, the PFA has been at the forefront of empowering businesses to grow, fostering job creation, and making significant contributions to the overall development of our nation,” he said.

PFA chairman Sherill Quintana said it has been 12 years since the Philippines hosted the International Franchise Expo in 2011.

“We’re really excited about this, seeing that foreign countries recognize the big potential for franchising in Asia and Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual the Philippines,” she said. sector as a tool to advance economic Trending concepts in global franchisgrowth during the International Fran- ing shifted to sustainability in products chise Expo. and industry practices.

“The Department of Trade and IndusQuintana said there are a lot of eco try (DTI) and the Philippine Franchise

SEC clears P35-b bond shelf registration of Filinvest Land

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the P35billion bond-shelf registration program of property developer Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI).

The SEC, in a meeting on Oct. 26, approved the registration statement of FLI covering peso-denominated bonds which may be issued in one or more tranches.

FLI will offer up to P10 billion of bonds due 2027, with an oversubscription option for another P2 billion.

FLI plans to use the proceeds from the fund-raising activity to partially

products available for franchising—environment-friendly and vegan products like green cosmetics.

She said while the emerging trend in decentralization of moving away from the center of commerce in the cities, businesses now are known to survive even at the barangay level.

“We can see now the opportunities for Filipino entrepreneurs in the countryside. They don’t need to market their products in the big cities. The vibrancy of business can be diffused in the countryside. Another emerging trend that is disrupting the industry is the involvement of more millennials and Gen Zs in the franchising sector,” she said.

The 2023 International Franchise Expo will run from Oct. 27 to 29, featuring over 1,000 brands from 350 local and international companies.

WORLD BREAD DAY.

Pilmico Foods Corp. celebrates ‘World Bread Day’ in support of all bakeries, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), restaurants and others where they supply consistent highquality flour. Every year on Oct. 16, the world celebrates the event to honor all kinds of bread in different countries. A dietary staple in people’s lives for centuries, bread plays a much more significant role in the lives of those who bake bread as their primary source of

finance the full redemption of the company’s bonds and partially fund capital expenditures.

The bonds will be offered to the public from Nov. 16 to 22 in time for listing at the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. on Dec. 1, according to the latest timetable submitted to the SEC. The company engaged BDO Capital & Investment Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., EastWest Capital Corp., First Metro Investment Capital, PNB Capital and Investment Corp., RCBC Capital Corp. and SB Capital Investment Corp. as joint lead underwriters and bookrunners for the offering.

Meralco commits to reduce carbon emissions by over 20% in 7 years

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) on Friday announced plans to reduce its 2030 direct emissions by more than 20 percent as part of its move to become coal-free before 2050.

“We recognize our impact on the planet, and we will do more as part of our earnest commitment to sustainability.

As we chart the path towards a brighter and greener energy future, Meralco will continue to evolve and elevate its sustainability agenda to continue powering the good life for all,” Meralco first vice president and chief sustainability officer

BATTLE OF NIGHTINGALES.

The Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU) team, who won 2nd place at the first National Championship of the Metro Pacific Health Battle of the Nightingales, correctly answers a question during the quiz bowl proper of the event on Oct. 20, 2023. Over 500 students from 200 schools participated in the hospitallevel rounds, competing to be their hospital’s representative in the National Championship.

The team of Our Lady of Fatima University – Lagro won first place. The competition is part of MPH special event called Project Nightingale, the group’s collective response to a pressing challenge in the healthcare landscape—the nursing shortage.

Raymond Ravelo said in a statement.

The company is looking at sourcing 22 percent of its supply portfolio from RE by 2030, and 18 percent of that would come from retail electricity supplier MPower Inc. by 2025.

“In the coming years, Meralco will accelerate its shift to green energy through the adoption of next-generation clean technologies. Ultimately, we will drive deep decarbonization to advance longterm energy security with earth-friendly power,” Ravelo said.

Meralco’s target covers the company’s projected 2030 baseline Scope 1 emissions, which refer to greenhouse

gas emissions directly generated by the company from thermal power generation and from the use of fuel for vehicles and other equipment.

Meralco said a just, orderly and affordable transition to clean energy is the central thrust of its long-term sustainability strategy, which begins with the company’s investment in RE to serve the country’s growing energy demand with greener power.

This includes the distribution utility’s program to source an increasing portion of its supply portfolio from RE. Meralco contracted 1,880 megawatts (MW) of RE capacity from various suppliers, exceeding its initial target of 1,500 MW.

Meralco, through power generation arm Meralco PowerGen Corp., is accelerating its RE buildout to develop greener generating capacities to power the country with sustainable energy.

MGen committed to invest at least P18 billion for its RE buildout which will cover capacities from clean technologies such as solar and wind.

Meralco’s sustainability agenda “Powering the Good Life” is deeply rooted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals with heightened focus on affordable and clean energy, responsible consumption and production and climate action.

Meralco first vice president and chief sustainability officer Raymond Ravelo

BMI sees Bangko Sentral hiking policy rate by another 25 bps in November BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas may raise the policy rate by another 25 basis points to 6.75 percent in its November meeting because inflation is expected to remain higher over the target range in the coming months.

The 6.1 percent inflation in September was the highest reading since May. “Our expectations for headline inflation to fall below the BSP’s target of 4.0 percent in Q4 now seem increasingly unlikely,” BMI said in a report Friday.

“With headline inflation expected to stay higher for longer and the BSP’s still hawkish slant, we now expect policy rates to be hiked once more by

25bps in November,” BMI said.

BMI revised its year-end inflation forecast upwards to 4.7 percent from 4 percent and also moved its 2024 average forecast from 3.6 percent to 4.0 percent.

The BSP’s Monetary Board, in an off-cycle meeting Thursday, raised the target reverse repurchase (RRP) rate by 25 basis points to 6.50 percent. The BSP hiked by a cumulative 450 bps its policy rate since the start of its tightening cycle, pushing borrowing costs to their highest since 2007. The key motivation behind the latest decision was to temper inflation expectations.

Julito G. Rada

SPORTS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023

C1

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

Angels target share of lead vs. Chameleons in Ilocos Sur Games Saturday (Candon, Iloilo Sur) 4 p.m. – Galeries vs F2 Logistics 6 p.m. – Nxled vs Petro Gazz

Jerrold Mangliwan of the Philippines is jubilant after stealing the win from his downtrodden Japanese rival Hiroka Ueyonabaru in the men's 400-meter T52 Class. (PSC Media Pool)

Mangliwan stuns Japanese, delivers PH’s 5th gold medal

By Randy Caluag

H

ANGZHOU—Paralympian Jerrold Pete Mangliwan on Friday ruled the men’s 400 meter - T52 wheelchair race after a downthe-wire battle to the finish worthy of multiple slowmo replays, handing Team Philippines its fifth gold medal in the 4th Asian Para Games here.

Trailing for the most part of the race, Mangliwan poured it all in the final 30 meters to turn back pacesetter Hirokazu Ueyonabaru, the 2020 Paralympics’ bronze medalist and complete the come-from-behind win at the Huanglong Sports Centre Stadium

Mangliwan topped the race with a personal best time of 1 minute and 01.54 seconds for the medal that slew the ghost of his disappointment in the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics, where he was disqualified for lane infringement.

The Kalinga Apayao pride was brim-

ming with confidence going into the race, claiming he’s more comfortable in the middle-distance event than in sprint races, including the 100m category, where he bagged a silver medal on Tuesday.

“Basta ibibigay ko ‘yung best ko kasi chance ko na ‘to. Sabi ko nga ang chance, hindi ‘yan binibigay ng basta-basta. Kumbaga, chance of a lifetime ito. (I promised to give my best.

Chances don’t come often, and this is a chance of a lifetime),” said Mangliwan.

“Wala akong masabi. Nakuha din sa hirap na ginagawa natin. Humingi ako ng medal kay Lord, gold pa ang binigay.

(I’m speechless. Finally got it with hard work. I asked God for a medal, and He gave me gold).” said Mangliwan in

gaining his first gold after three previous unsuccessful tries in the Asian Para Games.

“Very privileged and blessed lang.

Hanggang ngayon nagbo-blossom ‘yung dedication ko, kasi palagi ‘yan and regardless kung anuman tayo, darating ang panahon na makukuha din. (I’m very privileged and blessed.

My dedication has blossomed and I knew my time would come.),” said the 44-year-old Mangliwan, who only placed fourth in the Jakarta edition in 2016.

Hirokazu was just a fraction of a second behind at 1:01.79 for the silver medal, while another Japanese, Tatsuya, took the bronze with 1:04.96 clocking.

Navy shows esports might in ROTC Games PHILIPPINE Navy showed its force in esports when it bagged the gold medal in the Call of Duty: Mobile event in the 2023 ROTC Games National Championships held online on Thursday.

Navy, which was being represented by John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, edged Army’s STI West Negros University, 2-1, to capture the gold medal in the two-day tournament.

The school first made its gold-medal campaign felt with a 2-0 win over Davao Del Norte State College before blanking PATTS College of Aeronautics with a similar 2-0 score.

PATTS, which represents the Air Force, set-

tled for the bronze medal after a 2-1 victory over Tanauan Institute Inc. Following their dominance in boxing on Thursday, Oct. 26, Philippine Army hopes to collect more mints when eight of their athletes battle in the kickboxing finals being held at press time.

Betty Mae Churping clashes with Air Force’s Camille Joy Sanchez in the female 52kg; Kathleen Igualdo and fellow Army Angelie Musa compete for the female 56kg gold; Pauline Gallardo battles teammate Kristel Llenas in female 60kgs; Christopher Manipon meets Navy’s Jerome Negapatan in the 57kg male; and Mark Christian Ursabia

squares off with Air Force’s Ghen-Yan Berdon in the 60kg male.

The only non-Army final pits Navy’s Klenov Pacada over Air Force’s Lloyd Salva in the 63.5kg male.

In 3x3 basketball, University of Cagayan Valley bolstered its bid with victories over Ramon Magsaysay Memorial College, 21-20, and Our Lady of Triumph Institute of Technology-Pagadian, 21-11, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Also prevailing in their matches were PATTS College of Aeronautics over Tanauan Institute Inc., 21-17; and Jose Rizal Memorial State University over OLLTC, 21-14.

Philippine Aquatics Inc. gets PH Olympic Committee approval

By Peter Atencio A NEW swimming body has been recognized after the Philippine Swimming Inc. was dropped from the membership of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

The new national sports association for aquatics sports known as Philippine Aquatics Inc. will take its place in the POC’s list of members.

The POC General Assembly gave the nod to accept Philippine Aquatics Inc. from its roster of members following a meeting Friday at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant in Paranaque.

“We have removed PSI from membership due to non-recognition of the international federation. The approval of the new federation of swimming was passed by the membership committee,” said POC president and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham Tolentino.

The removal of the PSI from the POC’s membership comes 10 months after the World Aquatics or FINA, withdrew is recognition of the PSI Board members and its head Lailani Velasco.

Philippine Aquatics president Michael Vargas said the recognition paves the way for smoother operations for the swimming NSA, with a lot of national and international events set to go on in the coming months.

Philippine Aquatics, Inc., according to Vargas, is now awaiting the final schedule of the 11th Asian Age Group Championships following the postponement of its hosting this December.

“We’re excited, finally. It’s been a long journey for us. Hindi biglaan. Matagal din ito,” said Vargas.

Asian Aquatics, through its president Sheikh Khalid B Al Sabah, will give final confirmation on the new date of the Asian Age Group meet by Nov. 4.

POC chief Abraham Tolentino

PETRO Gazz motors up north in pursuit of a third straight win and a share of the lead with Creamline in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference elims as the Angels slug it out with the Nxled Chameleons in the third stop of the PVL on Tour in Candon, Ilocos Sur. The Angels had a rather light draw to start their campaign in the centerpiece tournament of each PVL season, soaring past the Galeries Tower Highrisers and the Gerflor Defenders in a pair of three-set romps that practically didn’t demand the best from the two-time Reinforced Conference champions and runners-up in the first conference.

While ranged against another league newcomer, the Angels expect to encounter stiffer challenge from the likes of Lycha Ebon, Jho Maraguinot, Krich Macaslang, Camille Victoria, May Luna, Chiara Mae Permentilla, Judith Abil, Janine Navarro and playmaker Kamille Cal. Nxled, handled by Japanese coach Taka Minowa, marked its league debut with a three-set win over Gerflor but faced and bowed to a solid F2 Logistics next. The Chameleons 6 p.m. match with the Angels will also test their character and resiliency this early stage of their campaign.

But expect Petro Gazz coach Timmy Sto. Tomas to motivate his stellar crew to work more efficiently since another victory will more than prepare them for the tougher grind ahead.

The Angels, led by Grethcel Soltones, Aiza Pontillas, Jonah Sabete, Ranya Musa, Kecelyn Galdones, Marian Buitre, Dzi Gervacio and Remy Palma, will next face the Cargo Movers on Nov. 2, clash with the Chery Tiggo Crossovers on Nov. 4, before renewing their rivalry with the Cool Smashers on Nov. 9.

Meanwhile, the Cargo Movers, back in the hunt after getting stunned by the surging Akari Chargers in 5, go for their second straight win against the Defenders in the 4 p.m. match of a twinbill that also marks the league’s return to Ilocos.

Chery Tiggo shocked Creamline to rule the Open Conference and become the country’s maiden pro volley club champion in bubble setup in Ilocos Norte in 2021.

Dominance cagefest set at Ayala Malls Manila Bay HIGH-LEVEL grassroots action takes centerstage when the 1st Dominance Premier Basketball League powered by Sailun Tire comes off the wraps on Saturday at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay. The best club and school-based teams in seven age divisions in Metro Manila will compete for pride and glory for a chance to emerge as the first-ever champion of this tourney that features the future stars of Philippine basketball.

Aside from the cash prizes for champion and runner-up, participants will also get to enjoy social media exposure, in-game photos, and team certificates.

The country’s best collegiate and high school coaches will also be invited in the playoffs to give young players a chance to showcase their skills and talent.

Set to be disputed are titles in the 10-under, 11-under, 12-under, 13-under, 14-under, 16-under and 18-under categories.

In the 12-under division, Hustle Squad bannered by Rajko Manicad of De La Salle University-Integrated School and Edzel Tumandao of Colegio San Agustin Makati is tipped to draw attention as well as Immuno Gummies led by Nathan Sungui of La Salle Green Hills and Rajko Baluyot of Ateneo de Manila University.

Also entered in this tourney that has Cuzco Kola, Desely Corporation, Wilson, Apolega Tire and Services, and Arthroplasty and Orthopedics Laguna as sponsors with Perpetual Help Medical Center as health care provider are Aguilas and Nuvali in 10-under, JNB and Slix Camp in 11-under, LDG Academy and Red Pirates in 12-under, and Pilipinas Immuno Gummies and RA Elite in 13-under categories.

TECH

C2 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph rieramallari@yahoo.com

JBL brings back iconic ‘70s audio designs with Authentics speakers Vista Residences to join summit for financial inclusion VISTA Residences, the condo developer of Philippine real estate titan Vista Land and Lifescapes, Inc., announces its participation in the highly anticipated 2023, an annual initiative that aims to empower Global Filipinos in achieving their homeownership dreams.

Set to take place on November 10, 2023, at The Tent at Vista Global South, C5 Extension Road, Las Piñas City, the summit underscores Vista Residences’ commitment to encouraging and helping Filipino families live comfortable and successful lives.

To date, previous summits have discussed income opportunities and entrepreneurial ventures for OFWs, accompanied by engaging raffle draws that featured an array of coveted prizes.

This year, the summit will focus on securing the financial future of OFWs and their families through discussions on wise investments and smart paths to homeownership.

Reiterating the company’s profound dedication to the continued prosperity of Global Filipinos, Teresa Tumbaga, Division Head at Vista Residences, states, “Vista Residences genuinely wishes to give back to the country’s hardworking OFWs, who for decades have helped kept the Philippine economy resilient through setbacks and downturns.”

The 12th OFW and Family Summit, Tumbaga says, will provide expert guidance and invaluable insights on property investments and financing options. On the other hand, as a frontrunner in the housing sector, Vista Residences, Tumbaga adds, will be around to offer OFWs and their families various opportunities to invest in its condo projects nationwide.

Finally, Tumbaga stresses the role of financial awareness in every Global Filipino’s success.

“Vista Residences believes that informed decision-making is the cornerstone of a secure and prosperous future, which is why events like the upcoming summit are very helpful.”

Vista Residences is a wholly Filipino-owned and managed property developer in the country.

Vista Residences focuses on building vertical developments in the Metro’s commercial and business centers that cater to the needs of the Filipinos of today. For more information, visit Vista Residences at www.vistaresidences.com. ph, email info@vistaresidences.com.ph, follow @VistaResidencesOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, or call the Marketing Office at 0999 886 4262 / 0917 582 5167.

The JBL Authentics 500, JBL Authentics 300, and JBL Authentics 200

L

EADING audio equipment manufacturer JBL breathes new life into its iconic JBL L100 speaker from the 1970s and the timeless turntable with modern technologies while keeping the retro designs intact.

JBL’s latest product pairing, showcased during its recently concluded exclusive and official launch in the Philippines, promises to take nostalgic audio experiences to new heights with immersive sound, wireless connectivity, and sleek finishes. The brand has also unveiled other audio innovations set to be dropped in the market soon.

Inspired by products of decades past, the Authentics range features elements from some of its more iconic designs such as the Quadrex grille pattern, from the phenomenally popular JBL L100 home speakers that were first released in 1970.

Blended with contemporary touches like softer flowing edges and a subtle convex form that intimates at the force of powerful sound waves, JBL’s Authentics range, and the new Spinner BT timetable, fuse timeless heritage designs with the best of modern audio technologies, bringing a sound that never goes out of style.

JBL Authentics Speaker Range: Modern Twist on Classic Design The Authentics Speaker range carries JBL’s heritage and unique 70s design elements– the Quadrex grille pattern, premium aluminum frame, and custom leather-like enclosure. This distinctive retro finish complements the 20th century aesthetics, a statement of one’s bold taste and style.

JBL’s environmentally conscious manufacturing means the series were made in part with 100% recycled fabric, 85% recycled plastics and 50% aluminum, and comes in a FSC-certified carton box printed with soy ink.

The Authentics series lets the whole family enjoy music streaming services via built-in Wi-Fi in stunning high definition, or stream music through AirPlay, Alexa Multi-Room Music (MRM), Chromecast built-in, and Spotify Connect for smart listening and zero interruptions. Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa may also be accessed simultaneously, giving listeners the most freedom and convenience to control more smart home devices and

Executives of Bayad and Ventaja on their partnership signing.

They are (from lefy) Ventaja Chief Operations Officer Zaida G. Batallones, Ventaja Chief Executive Officer Vincent Paul D. Grey, Bayad President and CEO Lawrence Y. Ferrer, and Bayad Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer Dennis S. Gatuslao.

play from more music streaming services handsfree. It boasts seamless Bluetooth pairing and intuitive controls and JBL One app.

Powering today’s new era of modern sounds, the Authentics range comes in three variations: The JBL Authentics 500, the most feature-packed in the series offering with Dolby Atmos® music performance for an immersive room-filling sound; The JBL Authentics 300 with a convenient metal handle and built-in 8-hour battery so users can take superior sound in any room they go; and the compact JBL Authentics 200 that can fill any space with get big, balanced sound, amazing clarity and deep bass.

JBL Spinner BT Turntable: Uncompromised Sound of Records The JBL Spinner BT’s vibrant design and elegant finish consists of an aluminum platter and tonearm, black MDF plinth with JBL orange or gold accents, a contemporary front panel, and a hinged dust cover that makes the unit an aesthetically pleasing sight.

It produces a smooth, distortion-free sound driven by a belt drive and motor with an optical sensor underneath. The die cast aluminum platter ensures records are played perfectly in time at 33⅓ rpm for albums, or 45 rpm for EPs and singles. The black

MDF plinth enhances sound tonality for an uncompromised sound of records.

For more information and high-res visuals, please refer to the Spec Sheets, Product and Lifestyle Images of the JBL Authentics range and JBL Spinner BT turntable here.

The brand also announced fresh sets of audio innovations such as wireless headphones line, open ear headphones and party box soon to drop in the market.

The JBL Live 670NC and 770NC headphones deliver powerful JBL Signature Sound in a comfortable on-ear and over-ear headband style, respectively.

Both let users enjoy 65 hours of music streaming, plus a 5-minute speed charge that gets them going for another four hours.

The JBL Soundgear Sense wireless open-ear earbuds A new flex is the JBL Soundgear Sense, a true wireless open-ear headphones with intuitive touch controls and four voice mics, featuring JBL OpenSound Technology with air conduction that make a comfortable wear for hours. It has a detachable neckband that provides an even more secure fit, and an IP54 rating means that sweat or even a light rainfall will be no issue for on-the-go audiophiles.

New Google Maps updates: Immersive View for routes, other AI features

Bayad, Ventaja elevate digital financial solutions for Filipinos overseas IN an effort to make greater strides in the country’s digital payment transformation, CIS Bayad Center, Inc. (Bayad)– the pioneer brand in the outsourced payment collection system and a full-service fintech subsidiary of Meralco – has officially renewed its partnership with Ventaja International Corp., a fintech institution, initially developed as a telecom prepaid card provider for Filipino migrant workers based overseas, and is now offering a variety of financial services such as remittance, loading and bills payment services for both government and household utilities, all of which, are powered and supported by Bayad’s robust biller aggregator system.

Bayad brings in Meralco, Autosweep, Easytrip, SSS, and many others biller brands in Ventaja’s mobile application called Payremit and through Ventaja’s domestic and international payment centers.

With this, even Filipinos overseas can be able to help settle their families’ bills in the Philippines and regularly pay for their government contributions at the same time.

Bayad President and CEO Lawrence Y. Ferrer shared, “We continue to expand our payment footprint globally, as we

JBL Spinner BT turntable

aim to elevate the payment experience of our kababayans. Our goal is centered on boosting their financial wellbeing, as we help them seamlessly settle their families’ bills in the Philippines, and at the same time, invest for their future through government contributions.

“We are with Ventaja in helping OFWs strengthen their ties to home, and we highly value every story of hard work that our kababayans experience before they are able to provide for their families’ needs back home”, added Ferrer.

Ventaja President and CEO Vincent D. Grey also shared “We are thrilled and grateful for our renewed partnership with Bayad as we both maximize the opportunity to offer enhanced payment services to Filipinos overseas. This way we can further financial inclusion and help boost the country’s economic growth.”

For fintech institutions like Ventaja that are interested in being part of Bayad’s extensive channel network, you may send an email to partnerships@bayad. com. Bayad enables partners to attain a nationwide presence and provides endto-end support services for efficient payment and collection processing.

OVER the past few years, Google Maps has transformed how people interact with the world with features like eco-friendly routing to help you take fuel or energy efficient routes, and Live View to help you orient yourself when walking with augmented reality. Today with the power of AI, we’re announcing even more updates so you can confidently plan and navigate trips, make sustainable choices, and get quick inspiration for things to do.

Know before you go with Immersive View for Routes Google Maps provides over 20 billion kilometers of directions every day. And with AI, we’re reimagining how you plan your trips before you go. At I/O this year, we announced Immersive View for routes, an entirely new way to preview every step of your journey—whether you’re driving, walking or cycling. This week, Immersive View for routes starts rolling out in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dublin, Florence, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paris, San Francisco, San Jose, Sea le, Tokyo and Venice on Android and iOS. Say you want to bike along the water to the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Just request cycling directions, then tap the Immersive View preview to see your route in a stunning, multidimensional view from start to finish.

You can prepare for each turn as if you were there with detailed, visual turn-byturn directions, and use the time slider to plan when to head out based on helpful information, like simulated traffic and weather conditions. That way, you can easily avoid riding during rainy weather or heavy traffic.

All of this builds on our work for Immersive View for places, which uses AI

These Maps updates make it easier to plan and navigate with confidence and give you a whole new way to search and explore.

to fuse together billions of Street View and aerial images so you can know what a restaurant or landmark is like before you go. Now developers can also create their own immersive experiences with the launch of Photorealistic 3D Tiles in Google Maps Platform this week.

Easily understand your surroundings with Lens in Maps Google Maps also makes it easier to understand your surroundings once you get somewhere—like if you’re exiting a subway station and need to orient yourself or if you’re scoping out a new neighborhood and need to find the nearest coffee shop. Lens in Maps (formerly called Search with Live View) uses AI and augmented reality to help you quickly acclimate yourself — whether you’re navigating a new city or discovering local hidden gems.

Simply tap the Lens icon in the search bar and lift your phone to find information about nearby ATMs, transit stations, restaurants, coffee shops and stores. In our biggest expansion of this feature yet, starting this week Lens in Maps is coming to more than 50 new cities including Austin, Las Vegas, Rome, São Paulo and Taipei.

Navigate with confidence with a more detailed map Today, hundreds of millions of drivers depend on Google Maps’ helpful information about real-world conditions, like nearby crashes or upcoming traffic jams.

Soon, the navigation map will reflect the real world even more accurately. In addition to updated colors throughout the map, you’ll see more realistic buildings to help you better orient yourself - like if you’re driving downtown and need to understand where you are during the final stretch of your ride. And on highways, where some of the trickiest driving maneuvers often happen (like that annoying exit that requires you to quickly cross multiple lanes), you’ll see improved lane details to help you feel prepared. These updates start rolling out in the coming months in 12 countries, including the U.S., Canada, France and Germany.

AGRICULTURE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023

C3

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

Garlic is an early documented medicinal herb used to maintain health and treat diseases

Guava is popular in folk medicine as treatment for various diseases

DA Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and Regulations Mercedita A. Sombilla

DA unveils Food Safety Awareness Week 2023

By Krystelle Ymari A. Vergara, DA-AFID THE Office of the Assistant Secretary for Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (DA-OASR) leads this year’s celebration of the Food Safety Awareness Week with the theme, “Pagkaing ligtas, masustansiya, at sapat, susi sa magandang kalusugan ng lahat.”

The celebration, held every last week of October to intensify public awareness and participation in government efforts related to the promotion of food safety, is an annual celebration under the Presidential Proclamation No. 160, series of 1999.

“By having safe, nutritious, and adequate food as the foundation of a healthy Philippine society, we affirm our belief that food safety stands to make an indispensable contribution to nation-building,” DA Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and Regulations Mercedita A. Sombilla expressed.

Food Safety Awareness Week 2023 celebration is a significant milestone as it coincides with the tenth anniversary of the passage of Republic Act No. 10611, or the Food Safety Act. Spearheading the initiatives related to food safety is the DA-Food Safety Focal Group (FSFG), which plans, formulates, monitors, and evaluates all food safety-related initiatives of the Department.

The Group also serves as the primary consolidator and disseminator of information regarding food safety and harmonizes DA’s related efforts among its member agencies.

It is headed by the DAOASR and is composed of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS), Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), Food Development Center (FDC), National Dairy Authority (NDA), National Food Authority (NFA), National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and the Regional Field Offices (RFOs) of the Department.

Ampalaya has benefits like reducing inflammation, fighting free radicals, and reducing blood sugar levels

A natural treasure trove of healing

By Patricia Taculao

M

ODERN medicine has provided wonders in healing and treatment to preserve and achieve good health. Yet before the advancements, many people relied on plants with medicinal properties to treat their ailments.

Herbs and plants widely used for their medicinal properties have become a household staple. For instance, garlic is a popular spice that people commonly use in their dishes to add a burst of flavor. It is one of the earliest documented herbs used to maintain health and treat diseases, like controlling cholesterol levels and regulating blood pressure.

Another medicinal shrub, or small tree, mainly distributed in the tropics and sub-tropics, is akapulko, which is also known as ringworm bush or senna. Some Filipinos can find akapulko growing abundantly in their backyards. Nearly every part of the plant has medicinal uses.

Deconcoctions made from its leaves, flowers, and bark are used to treat skin diseases like eczema or pruritis, while a decoction of the wood can be used in cases of constipation.

With the abundance of medicinal herbs across the country, the Philippine government took the necessary steps to keep everyone safe from misusing medicinal herbs by publishing an approved list of what they can use. One example from the Department of Health’s list is tsaanggubat, which goes by other names like Scorpion Bush or Fukien Tea Tree.

The leaves of tsaang-gubat are traditionally used for their anti-spasmodic properties to relieve symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Some people also use it as a mouthwash and body cleanser.

Even vegetables have medicinal properties to maintain good health. Bitter gourds or ampalaya can kill bacteria, reduce inflammation, fight free radicals, reduce blood sugar levels, and more.

Its stems and leaves can also be used in cancer treatment, viral infections, bacterial infections, a bitter digestive aid, and diabetes.

Some fruits also have some medicinal properties, adding to their list of benefits. Guava or bayabas is one such fruit. It’s a phytotherapy plant popular in folk medicine as it’s believed to have active components to treat and manage various diseases, including malaria, gastroenteritis, ulcers, and toothache, among other ailments.

There’s still an abundance of medicinal plants across the Philippines that many communities have harnessed for years, especially since they have access to nature.

While traditional medicine provides benefits to people, it’s still necessary for consumers to be careful about what they consume. When in doubt, it’s always best to seek out professional help.

LSPU, PCAARRD to supply Quezon, nearby provinces with mangrove crab seed stock

By Butch Gunio RESIDENTS of Quezon and nearby provinces will soon have a reliable source of mangrove crab seed stocks through the project of Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) Los Baños and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOSTPCAARRD).

The project, “Adoption of Improved Hatchery-Nursery Culture System for Commercial Production of Mangrove Crab Seed Stock in Infanta, Quezon,” aims to roll out an improved culture

system for mangrove crab hatcherynursery management and operations, which in turn would provide a steady and dependable supply of hatcherybred crab seed stocks for Quezon and nearby provinces.

PCAARRD said LSPU has successfully set up a fully functional mangrove crab hatchery and has released the first batch of mangrove crab broodstock into one of the tanks in the facility.

The PCAARRD team visited and evaluated the on-site condition of the Quezon facility and recent accomplishments aligned with the project’s objectives.

established by LPSU in Infanta, Quezon.

Both PCAARRD and LSPU identified the best practices to employ for CSU adoption.

They also delved into the administrative, financial, and project management aspects of LSPU’s operation of the mangrove hatchery.

The LSPU presented CSU the lessons gained from the tedious procurement process to the construction of the hatchery facility, covering the details of Mangrove crabs have a wide variety of tank dimensions, selection of roofing ecological and biogeochemical impacts. materials, holistic hatchery design, Cagayan State University (CSU) intricacies of the equipment essential to embarked on a benchmarking activity its operation, and others. Read the full on the mangrove crab hatchery facility story on manilastandard.net

Innovative greenhouse to boost urban food security in Iloilo City Text and photos by Myleen S. Subang, DA-RAFIS 6

Hydroponics is a modern farming approach that allows farmers to grow crops year-round

A P1 MILLION-WORTH greenhouse equipped with hydroponics technology was turned over to the Iloilo City Farmers Federation on October 18 to enhance food security in urban and peri-urban areas. The Camalig Farmers Association in Jaro, Iloilo City, will manage the facility.

Iloilo City Farmers Federation President Marivic Pastolero underscored the significance of this initiative.

Pastolero further elaborated on the pressing issues the Camalig farmers face, noting that typhoons and other adverse weather conditions damage their lettuces, and through this facility, they can get a higher volume that can sustain their current market, and they hope to expand their market at Iloilo City hotels and other restaurants.

Apart from the facility turnover, a harvest festival was held with 150 kilograms of lettuce harvested and a total of P27,000 income for the Camalig farmers.

The efforts to enhance urban food security extended beyond Barangay Camalig, as another P1-million greenhouse, equipped with a drip fertigation system, was turned over to the Jibao-anCalahunan Farmers Association in Mandurriao, Iloilo City. This facility is dedicated to cultivating bell peppers, expanding the range of fresh produce available to the city’s residents.

These initiatives are part of the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP), a High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) component. Focusing on sustainability, innovation, and enhanced food security, Iloilo City is forging ahead to provide residents with a steady supply of high-quality, locally-produced vegetables, regardless of the weather challenges.

The greenhouse can help farmers sustain their lettuce production and find bigger markets

C4 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023 Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor E-mail: jdlacsamana@gmail.com

HOME/DESIGN

RLC launches SYNC, Sierra Valley Gardens R At the Sierra Valley Garden groundbreaking were from left: Terp Asia Construction Corp. head for project management Ryan Escalona; RLC Residences senior consultant and project construction head engineer Jose Rovie Cipriano; RLC Residences senior vice president and business unit general manager Chad Sotelo; Robinsons Land head of corporate project procurement engineer Rodanil De Silva; RLC Residences assistant vice president and business development and design head Stephanie Anne Go,and RLC Residences senior director, marketing head and chief integration officer Karen Cesario.

LC Residences, the residential division of real estate company Robinsons Land, recently broke ground for two of its latest projects, SYNC and Sierra Valley Gardens.

“Sierra Valley Gardens Buildings 3 and 4 and SYNC N-Tower are among the many projects we recently launched to the public, each with unique features tailored to the needs and lifestyle of condo-seekers,” said Chad Sotelo, RLC Residences senior vice president and business unit general manager.

Located in Bagong Ilog, Pasig City, SYNC is a four-tower residential

development and currently the only condominium in the area with direct access to C5 Road. N-Tower, the third building of the development, was launched last October 2022 and boasts efficiently-designed units with smart home features and productivity upgrades, and more than 20 indoor and outdoor amenities exclusively available to residents.

Sierra Valley Gardens, on the other hand, is the first smart suburban community in Cainta, Rizal. Located within the Sierra Valley destination estate, the condo project offers studio to 2-bedroom units with balcony options, equipped with smart home features and home upgrades, resort-like amenities and facilities, plus direct access to the soon-to-rise mall and office buildings within the estate.

Quezon City game-changer THE Ascott Limited (Ascott) recently announced the opening of its latest serviced residence, Citadines Roces Quezon City, in the Quezon City. Located in Don A. Roces Avenue Diliman, Citadines Roces promises to be a premier destination for both business and leisure travelers seeking a comfortable and convenient getaway experience in the heart of Metro Manila.

Set to open its doors in November 2023, the serviced residence offers 200 wellappointed suites, including studio, onebedroom, and two-bedroom apartments.

Each residence is thoughtfully designed to provide a combination of style and comfort while also showcasing its modern look designed for functionality.

The serviced residence boasts a range of amenities, from a retail podium offering convenient shopping options to performance spaces that inspire creativity, Citadines Roces Quezon City also features an all-day dining restaurant, function spaces for meetings and events, a swimming pool, a fully equipped fitness center, and a resident’s lounge for both relaxation and socializing.

Rising landmark in Cebu

THE Mahi Center is an upcoming business and lifestyle hub situated at the heart of Lapu-Lapu City.

The development is a project of the AppleOne Group, a property developer industry in the VisMin region with internationally acclaimed developments under its belt such as The Residences at Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort and Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort.

The Mahi Center is AppleOne’s first

mixed-use development designed by ArchiGlobal. A gateway to the Mactan Economic Zone, it is an architectural marvel comprising a five-story office tower that will seamlessly integrate IT facilities, office spaces for companies and BPOs to cater to the demand for more employment opportunities in Cebu, and commercial and retail ventures.

The Mahi Center is near the MactanCebu International Airport, and stands

as AppleOne’s pioneering venture into Lapu-Lapu City’s thriving IT sector. The center will also have Fairfield by Marriott Cebu Mactan, a 9-floor premier global business hotel with 196 rooms operated by the Marriott International. AppleOne was recently recognized at the Property Guru Awards for Best Mixed Use Architectural Design in the country, and also received high commendations in the Best Mixed Use Development category.

PH1 World Developers receives back-to-back real estate awards PH1 World Developers (PH1WD) is making waves with back-to-back property development awards this September.

The company took home two top spots in this year’s Lamudi Philippines The Outlook 2023 Real Estate Awards. PH1 World Developers was named “Real Estate Innovator of the Year” for using “progressive building solutions to address the country’s housing backlog”, and “Best Boutique Developer in Luzon” for addressing the “specific aesthetic and functional needs of its clientele”.

Meanwhile, PH1WD projects also received awards for excellence in concept and design.

My Enso Lofts, located in Timog, Quezon City, was recognized as “Best Loft Type Condominium”

by South-East Asian awardsgiving body Dot Property Awards last September 14.

“We are honored by the support shown by our peers in property development as we pursue our mission to disrupt property development conventions in the Philippines,” said Gigi Alcantara, PH1WD President.

“These awards are a testament to the dedication of our incredible team and the belief of our clients and partners in our developments. We will continue to introduce innovative concepts to our properties and innovative engineering solutions to deliver extraordinary experiences for our customers,” she continued.

Extra Space at No Extra Cost My Enso Lofts and Modan Lofts Ortigas Hills both feature PH1WD’s unique “Extra Space at No Extra Cost” offering made possible through the developer’s exclusive Add-Loft Technology that increases the total volume of livable space in condo units by up to 38% - at no extra cost to the buyer.

“Through this concept, we the value engineering capabilities give more than extra space to our of our parent company Megawide,” customers. We also give extra said Alcantara. value to their investment thanks to In July of this year, PH1WD

was officially acquired by listed infrastructure developer Megawide Construction Corporation, a strategic move for both parties

that unlocks more possibilities in the areas of design, engineering and construction of vertical and horizontal projects.

Sustainable Technology in the Era of AI 7TH TECH & GADGETS ANNIVERSARY ISSUE (PART 2)

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023 E-mail: advertise@manilastandard.net

Artificial Intelligence: Ally or adversary?

By Patricia Taculao

N

OWADAYS, technology is proving its prowess in various fields and the opportunities it offers when tapped. Artificial intelligence, or AI, is an example of a technological innovation taking the world by storm.

In simple terms, AI refers to the science of making machines that can think like humans. The technology can process large amounts of data in ways unlike humans. Its goal is to be able to do things such as recognize patterns, make decisions, and judge like humans.

Through AI, users can access significant amounts of data that could help them accomplish their daily tasks. This step into the future has been the topic of many mediums for decades, like debates and science fiction, and it has now become a reality.

AI through the years One of the early tasks of AI is computing, with its developments intimately linked to the process since the technology became available during the Second World War. It helped delegate duties that only humans could perform before.

From 1940 to 1960, there were significant technological developments as a desire to understand how to combine machine functions and human thought began increasing.

At the start of 1950, John Von Neumann and Alan Turing founded the technology behind AI, transitioning from computers to 19th-century decimal logic dealing with values from 0 to

9 and machines to binary logic.

The two researchers formalized the architecture behind contemporary computers and demonstrated its capability as a universal machine that can execute what is programmed.

Meanwhile, John McCarthy of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology coined the term AI, which Marvin Minsky of Carnegie-Mellon University defines as “the construction of computer programs that engage in tasks that are currently more satisfactorily performed by human beings because they require high-level mental processes such as perceptual learning, memory organization, and critical reasoning.”

Eventually, scientists explored the possibility of developing AI with human logic and reasoning to perform more complex tasks.

By 2010, there was a new spike based on massive data and new computing power, which helped AI become more popular among users across the globe.

Accessing immense volumes of data allows people to use algorithms for image categories and recognition. A quick search on the internet and other platforms can bring numerous results thanks to AI. In the meantime, the discovery of

Is AI the advent of the Apocalypse?

very high-efficiency computer graphics card processors to accelerate the calculation of learning algorithms also added to the boom of AI in the modern world.

According to experts, this type of learning enables considerable progress in text recognition. For example, smart-

phones know how to transcribe instructions and carry them out efficiently but have yet to contextualize the users’ intentions.

Benefits of artificial intelligence Many private individuals and businesses utilize AI daily because it makes

their tasks more productive. There’s no doubt that these systems transformed various industries. With continuous use, people learned to harness the potential of AI and explore its numerous possibilities.

One positive impact of Turn to D3

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023 E-mail: advertise@manilastandard.net

Sustainable Technology in the Era of AI 7TH TECH & GADGETS ANNIVERSARY ISSUE (PART 2)

Alibaba Cloud unveils new services to solve generative AI development issues Error-prone AI A chatbot dog LIBABA Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, today announced a series of innovative AI products and services at the 2023 Alibaba Cloud Global Summit.

The comprehensive set of new products are designed to meet the burgeoning demand for Generative AI development from customers worldwide.

The extensive AI solutions from Alibaba Cloud, spanning from AI computing platforms to AI acceleration services and AI-centric applications, are designed to assist customers in creating their own Generative AI applications in a more efficient, security-focused, and costeffective manner.

Selina Yuan, president of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group, said: “To cater for the thriving demand for generative AI, we are constantly introducing innovative products and services to tackle different pain points of our global customers.

Our comprehensive AI services are designed to help customers seize the unparalleled opportunities offered by this unstoppable technology trend.”

“As part of our commitment to foster more inclusive and innovative application development for generative AI, we have been joining forces with industry leaders to further extend our capabilities for different scenarios, ” added Yuan.

Comprehensive AI Services for Generative AI Development ● To reduce AI process complexity, Alibaba Cloud introduced PAI-Lingjun Intelligent Computing Service, a comprehensive

leads Japan’s elderly astray

Selina Yuan, President of International Business at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group, speaks at the Alibaba Cloud Global Summit.

AI computing platform for highperformance computing tasks, such as foundation model training and inference. It offers large-scale deep learning and intelligent computing capabilities on Alibaba Cloud. The service also provides full-process AI engineering capabilities, including AI development, AI training, AI role management, and computing resource management. The platform, already in use in Mainland China, will be available in Singapore from early 2024, followed by more general availability across Asia throughout the year.

To accelerate AI model training and inference, Alibaba Cloud launched Alibaba Cloud AI Acceleration Solution, which uses leading datasets and hardware accelerators to manage dataintensive applications, optimizing the utilization of computing instances to expedite AI model training and inference tasks. According to the Stanford DAWN Deep Learning Benchmark, it can speed up AI model training by 70% and inference by up to three times. The solution includes layers for cloud-native AI suite, AI

job scheduling, AI data acceleration, AI computing acceleration engine, resource scheduling, and computing resources, with each layer offering specific acceleration solutions for different scenarios.

To simplify building AI-based search service, Alibaba Cloud unveiled OpenSearch LLM-Based Conversational Search, its proprietary large-scale distributed search engine that enables intelligent search services in e-commerce, multimedia, social media, and big data queries in enterprises. Empowered by large language models, the service allows enterprises to rapidly build a dedicated conversational search system, ensuring security, accuracy, and reliability in search results. It also supports multimodal search results such as answers, URLs, and images to cater to specific business search requirements.

Technology Partnership to Foster Innovative Application Development Alibaba Cloud announced a series of partnerships with global technology leaders to offer customers more advanced and security-focused

cloud services, accelerating their digital transformation journey: To promote innovative application development for enterprises, Alibaba Cloud collaborates with Red Hat to make Red Hat OpenShift, a platform for building, deploying and managing applications at scale, deployable on Alibaba Cloud. Red Hat OpenShift on Alibaba Cloud combines the industry’s leading hybrid cloud application platform powered by Kubernetes with Alibaba Cloud’s robust hybrid infrastructure.

Optimized with full-stack automated operations, it offers a more consistent experience across environments to help customers boost productivity more effectively.

Accelerate Digital Transformation for Global Customers Alibaba Cloud also announced collaborations with enterprise customers in markets including Malaysia, South Korea, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates, underscoring its unwavering commitment to its over 4 million global customers in exploring new opportunities presented by digital transformation and new AI trends.

This illustration photo taken in Tokyo shows a mobile phone text conversation with generative artificial intelligence chatbot ‘Dai-chan’, a service provided by Osaka Prefecture via the communications app LINE, incorrectly answering the question ‘is the Osaka Expo cancelled?’ with the reply ‘unfortunately, the Osaka Expo has been cancelled.’ A cartoon canine AI chatbot designed to cheer up and inform lonely older residents of western Japan is in the doghouse after providing error-laden responses. When a user asked about the World Expo planned in Osaka in 2025, the dog incorrectly responded that the event was cancelled. AFP

Artificial... From D1 using AI is reducing human error to help save time and resources, while achieving accurate and efficient results. AI also automates repetitive tasks and processes because it enables the automation of routine monotonous tasks such as data collection and data entry, among other functions that take up much of humans’ time. It allows them to focus their resources and energy on other pressing tasks that AI has yet to cover.

Since its inception, AI can still handle significant data that can be challenging for humans. It can make conclusions from the available information in less time while expounding or transforming the data they received.

AI can also facilitate quick decisionmaking by gathering reliable and valuable insights. Its developments also allow it to perform risky tasks efficiently.

For example, some companies rely on robots for sea or space exploration, help rescue operations, and more.

Nearly every industry across the globe has embraced AI because of how it streamlines processes and how it can continue to expand its possibilities.

The negative side of AI Despite having many advantages that benefit people, there are still some downsides to artificial intelligence.

One main problem is disinformation.

Since AI has yet to understand people’s intentions, receiving commands from prompts can only encourage the technology to produce data without sharing the same purposes, making the output prone to disinformation or making it easy for others to alter the results.

An example is the production of deepfakes, which some people or groups use for controversy or disinformation campaigns. Even AI language tools can generate fake texts that could sound as compelling as an authentic one without having a shred of truth.

TOKYO—A cartoon canine AI chatbot designed to cheer up and inform lonely older residents of western Japan is in the doghouse after providing error-laden responses.

Powered by generative artificial intelligence, “Dai-chan” was this year launched by Osaka authorities who called it the first of its kind in a country where one in 10 people is age 80 or older.

But the chatbot, which features a Shiba Inu cartoon dog and answers in the Osaka dialect, has shown itself far from faithful to the truth.

When a user asked about the World Expo planned in Osaka in 2025, the dog incorrectly responded that the event was cancelled.

That answer gained public attention, with Japanese newspapers and broadcasters reporting on the dog who got the wrong end of the stick.

“Dai-chan, you’re good,” one social media user joked.

Despite slow progress and budget challenges, the world fair is still scheduled to go ahead.

Among other incorrect answers, Dai-chan said the “G7 foreign ministers’ meeting will be held on November 4” rather than the slated November 7-8.

Makers of AI With disinformation and fake news becoming increasingly prevalent, transparency should take high precedence among AI platforms. AI can be faulty because the input data doesn’t pass through a filter before it reaches users. Whether it’s to generate a written article or code, bugs can cause errors in the material and disrupt the process entirely.

Since AI is available for everyone, there are no legal safeguards for inspection, eroding the rule of law and diminishing individual rights.

Yet, one primary concern about the rise of AI is how it can replace people

from doing tasks assigned to them for decades. Numerous countries are experiencing unemployment rates, which have begun to spike because computers save time and resources from major companies.

Transitioning to a more automated world will be a significant challenge for many countries while ensuring workers have the skills and support they need to move toward new opportunities. Having this disadvantage from AI can lead to a growth in income polarization and mass unemployment. Economic insecurity can be a significant threat to governments and cause doubt among the pub-

lic.

AI has undoubtedly left a significant mark on the public throughout the decades. People have begun welcoming its presence in daily activities, complex or mundane. However, there remains a debate on whether or not it remains an ally or adversary in society.

Despite the advantages and disadvantages of the new technology, people have still yet to categorize AI as good for them or otherwise. With new developments on AI emerging, the jury’s still out and everyone is on the edge of their seats as they await the final verdict about artificial intelligence.

Asked by an AFP reporter if the mooted Sapporo Olympic Games will be pushed back, the bot dog said: “The Sapporo Olympics is postponed! It’s not cancelled so I look forward to it!”

Earlier this month, the Japanese Olympic Committee said Sapporo had given up its bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics as public support for hosting the games waned after a string of corruption scandals over the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Asked about the decision, Daichan responded: “The Olympic Committee decided to postpone! It is a decision considering safety! Good job, the Olympic Committee!”

The government has defended the chatbot.

Its purpose “is to broaden communication base for elderly people and not to give correct answer every time, and users seem to be enjoying Dai-chan with an understanding of the limits of what generative AI can do,” an Osaka official in charge of the project told AFP. AFP “Dai-chan is designed as a talking dog that is 10 years old (in terms of human intelligence) tasked with preventing elderly residents from becoming isolated,” Osaka governor Hirofumi Yoshimura told Japanese media.

Sustainable Technology in the Era of AI 7TH TECH & GADGETS ANNIVERSARY ISSUE (PART 2)

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023 E-mail: advertise@manilastandard.net

New dangers and fears: AI risks outlined ahead of summit ONDON—UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Thursday that governments must be “honest” about the risks posed by artificial intelligence, as he prepares to host a global summit on the issue in Britain next week.

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In a speech in London, Sunak said while AI could bring opportunities for economic growth and the chance to solve problems that were once thought to be “beyond us”, it would also raise “new dangers and new fears.”

“The responsible thing for me to do is to address those fears head on, giving you the peace of mind that we will keep you safe, while making sure you and your children have all the opportunities for a better future that AI can bring,” he said.

“Doing the right thing, not the easy thing, means being honest with people about the risks from these technologies.”

Sunak’s speech comes ahead of a two-day international gathering starting next Wednesday at Bletchley Park, central England, where top British codebreakers cracked Nazi Germany’s “Enigma” code.

Bringing together world leaders, experts and others, it aims to “build a shared global understanding of the

risks” posed by AI, according to Sunak’s office.

During his speech, he announced that Britain would create an AI Safety Institute to examine and test new types of AI and explore its risks, including social harms like bias and misinformation.

The only people currently testing the safety of AI are the organisations developing it, Sunak noted. They should not be relied on to “mark their own homework”, he said.

‘Risks’ A government study also published

Thursday, written with the support of 50 experts, warns that AI has the potential to enhance terrorist capabilities in developing weapons, planning attacks and producing propaganda.

It says generative AI, which creates text and images from written prompts, significantly increases risks to safety and security.

“By 2025, generative AI is more likely to amplify existing risks than create wholly new ones, but it will increase sharply the speed and scale of some threats,” the paper says.

Risks in the digital sphere, such as cyber-attacks, fraud, scams, impersonation and child sexual abuse images, are most likely to manifest and to have the highest impact, it adds.

Global regulation is incomplete and “highly likely” failing to anticipate future developments, the report notes.

It recommends industry, academia, civil society, governments and the public all collaborate to help regulate the sphere.

AI is tipped to increasingly perform tasks more efficiently than hu-

mans, but Sunak stressed the technology should be thought of as more of a “co-pilot”, that can help people do their job.

He cited the example of a care worker who could use the technology to help with paperwork.

However, the UK leader noted AI’s future role in an evolving labour market was unpredictable.

The best way to prepare the country for those possible changes, he said, was to educate people in a way that will properly equip them for the future. AFP

Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivers a speech on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in London. Sunak said on Thursday that the government must be “honest” about the risks posed by artificial intelligence. AFP

The impact of AI, sustainability and inclusivity AS we ushered in 2023, Artificial Intelligence (AI) claimed the spotlight, dominating headlines and capturing interest of diverse industries in the Philippines. Its influence has permeated sectors ranging from media, finance, energy, and customer service. This surge in adoption begs a vital question: is AI a friend or a foe?

The answer lies with how AI aligns with businesses’ priorities, particularly for sustainability. A recent study commissioned by Alibaba Cloud revealed that 98% of businesses in the Philippines prefer to collaborate with cloud vendors committed to sustainability.

This result underscores a growing commitment to green practices within the business community.

organizers to achieve sustainability goals. The Energy Expert was piloted to identify the sources of the carbon emissions from the temporary venue construction and operation of the event, quantify the carbon footprint generated by a venue and visualize the venue’s sustainability performance via an integrated dashboard and online reports. This AI-driven approach led to the adoption of renewable energy sources and minimized power consumption.

Since its global launch, Energy Expert has aided over 2,900 businesses and organizations in saving energy and reducing carbon emissions across its operations. Its latest partners include the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), and the International Canoe Federation (ICF).

AI-driven sustainability solution: Alibaba Cloud’s Energy Expert As a response to businesses’ growing demand for sustainability, Alibaba Cloud launched its Energy Expert solution globally last year. This innovative solution utilizes advanced analytics and AI technologies to guide businesses toward carbon neutrality. Energy Expert intelligently evaluates carbon emissions, environmental impacts, and energy-efficient strategies, paving the way for sustainable growth and offering a glimpse of a future where AI becomes a crucial ally in preserving the planet.

At international events like the first Olympic Esports Week, Alibaba Cloud partnered with event

Sustainable and inclusive AI at Hangzhou Asian Games The 19th Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023 served as a notable stage for Alibaba Cloud’s AI prowess.

During the event, the Energy Expert introduced a sustainability web application encouraging participants to adopt a low-carbon lifestyle, raising awareness on eco-friendly behaviors such as green travel, waste sorting, recycling, and food waste reduction. This initiative, supported

by AI, allowed participants to earn carbon points redeemable for rewards.

Moreover, the web application featured the Carbon Footprint Snapshot, a user-friendly tool enabling users to easily assess the

By Allen Guo

General Manager for the Philippines, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence

environmental impact of common items. By uploading images of everyday objects users can gain insight into these items’ carbon footprint, thanks to Alibaba Cloud’s cutting-edge AI algorithm. This not only enhances environmental awareness but also expands users’ understanding of the impact of everyday items.

Another remarkable AI innovation during the Asian Para Games was Alibaba Cloud’s AI Digital Avatar, Xiaomo, which played an essential role in promoting inclusivity, especially for the hearing-impaired community.

Xiaomo became accessible as a mini-app integrated into Alipay, the payment platform, serving as a sign language interpreter for two-way translation between sign language and spoken Chinese.

During the Asian Para Games, Xiaomo enabled hearing-impaired participants to communicate with volunteers, seek medical assistance, and access essential services, enhancing their overall experience.

Xiaomo’s influence extended to media broadcasts and information dissemination, providing real-time sign language translations during video broadcasts and incorporating sign language in the Asian Games Organizing Committee’s news announcements. This demonstrated the broader impact of AI in breaking down communication barriers and ensuring inclusivity, highlighting its potential as a force for positive change.

advance not only its cloud services, but also state-of-the-art technology in artificial intelligence, sustainability remains a top priority.

In this era of advanced technology, Alibaba Cloud is unwavering in its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, with a specific pledge to power its cloud computing infrastructure with 100% clean energy by no later than 2030. In the past financial year, Alibaba Cloud made notable carbon reduction progress, among which it has achieved a significant increase in the utilization of clean energy in its self-built data centers from 21.6% in 2022 to 53.9% in 2023.

While attaching a great importance to sustainable and inclusive AI solutions, Alibaba Cloud has unveiled a comprehensive range of AI products and services to meet the rising demand for Generative AI development. This includes AI computing platforms, acceleration services, and AIcentric applications, all aimed at helping customers create their own Generative AI applications in a more efficient, security-focused and costeffective way. It’s partnering with industry leaders and collaborating with Red Hat to deploy Red Hat OpenShift on their platform, supporting digital transformation for enterprise customers.

As advanced technology and AI continues to impact various societal pillars—from businesses, to academia, and public sectors— Alibaba Cloud’s vision remains Alibaba Cloud’s Commitment clear: a future with AI that is not to Sustainability only a friend but also a guardian of As Alibaba Cloud continues to our planet.

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Sustainable Technology in the Era of AI 7TH TECH & GADGETS ANNIVERSARY ISSUE (PART 2)

ASUS solidifies commitment to sustaining an incredible future, collects over one ton of recycled waste with CORA PASIG CITY—ASUS solidifies its commitment toward an two ASUS Zenbook laptops to CORA to aid them in their incredible, sustainable future and its thrust toward a circular administrative tasks. This includes recording data from economy and collected a landmark 1.67 tons of plastic and their Eco-Ikot Center in Parañaque City and managing other recyclable wastes through a series of activations in other programs and campaigns with public and private partnership with nonprofit organization Communities organizations.

Organized for Resource Allocation (CORA). The ASUS x The CORA Eco-Ikot Center is an inclusive and holistic CORA sustainability campaign spanned three phases, each recycling system that allows communities to exchange focusing on and involving various stakeholders for a holistic recyclables for points, which can be redeemed for various approach toward promoting eco-friendly products, reducing incentives. The first of its kind in the Philippines and the waste, intensifying awareness about circular economy and world, CORA’s Eco-Ikot Center provides a sustainable climate action, and educating people on how to lead an eco- solution to the plastic pollution crisis. conscious lifestyle.

ASUS x CORA Mall Caravan “At ASUS, we believe that For the second phase, ASUS innovation and sustainability go installed CORA Eco-Ikot Center hand in hand. As we continue pop-ups in three ASUS Exclusive innovating our products, we Stores, making it accessible for strive to be more sustainable.

Filipinos to recycle and reduce We are immensely thankful for plastic waste. Filipinos got to everyone, including our partner take home ASUS and CORA CORA, the ASUS Philippines merchandise in exchange for employees, our partners, clean and dry plastic bottles. dealers, and all the Filipinos who The CCWCs educated them and helped us in this meaningful other mallgoers what is circular mission to protect and save our ASUS culminates its partnership with the nonprofit economy and the benefits of environment through recycling organization CORA after a successful three-phased recycling common plastic waste. plastic and other everyday project that involved ASUS employees, partners, Mallgoers were also able waste, giving them a second dealers, and the public in its thrust toward to experience the Zenbook life, and promoting a sustainable sustainability and reducing plastic waste.

S 13 OLED and learned the and incredible future for the importance of supporting and people and the planet,” ASUS using eco-friendly products, Philippines Country Manager George Su said. further cementing ASUS’ sustainability thrust.

In 2007, ASUS launched its first sustainable notebook, the The ASUS x CORA Mall Caravan collected over 1,100 ASUS Bamboo Series. It received numerous environmental plastic bottles, equivalent to 28.5 kg. It was held at SM certifications and accolades for its revolutionary Cyberzone in Megamall, North EDSA, and Mall of Asia. engineering and design. Early this year, ASUS launched the Celebrating International Coastal Cleanup Day most sustainable Zenbook ever, the Zenbook S 13 OLED For the final leg, ASUS celebrated 2023 International (UX5304), underscoring the company’s 2025 Sustainability Coastal Cleanup Day by combing the shore of Las PiñasGoals and its commitment to environmental stewardship. Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP) of trash and debris led Taking a significant step toward circular product design, the by Zenbook S 13 OLED Ambassador and CORA Founder Zenbook S 13 OLED is an EPEAT Gold registered product Antoinette Taus, together with volunteers from ASUS with a positive environmental impact across the entire employees, media, influencers, partners, and dealers. This product lifecycle, from material use and manufacturing to joint effort of 75 volunteers collected 646.2 kg. of plastic assembly, use, and end-of-life. waste, Styrofoam, rubber materials, and stuffed toys. The Circular economy starts with us trash accumulated was turned over to the Parañaque City ASUS held a knowledge-sharing activity with its Local Government Unit for proper waste disposal. employees dubbed ASUStainable Solution: Circular The data collected during the event will help CORA and Economy Starts with Us. CORA and its Circular Center government agencies address the dire waste problem in Women Champions (CCWC) presented the country’s Manila Bay. The LPPWP is part of the Manila Bay coast current plastic situation. They educated ASUS employees on and was reported to carry an estimated 9.46 billion pieces how they can contribute to a circular economy by recycling of plastic waste. typical household wastes, such as plastic bottles. Aside United Nations Goodwill Ambassador and CORA from instilling personal change, the workshop encouraged Founder Antoinette Taus also shared, “We need to reduce our employees to disseminate what they learned to their family waste overall and make sure that the waste we do produce and friends. After the seminar, a two-month recycling ends up in the right places, to the circular economy.” activity among ASUS employees was held, where they The collective efforts of ASUS Global and its collected plastic bottles, soft plastics, sibak, colored paper, local markets contributed to the significant strides in and cartons. These office and home wastes were collected sustainability focus areas. In the recently announced ASUS through CORA’s Eco-Ikot Center pop-up, where dedicated 2022 Sustainability Report, the global technology leader trash bins were set up in the ASUS office. ASUS employees detailed that it exceeded ENERGY STAR standards by generated 840.6 kg. total waste. The waste collected was 34%. Its eco-friendly products also accounted for 87% of then brought to CORA’s partner Sentinel Upcycling total product revenue. These and more led ASUS to bag Technologies to transform them into high-quality products multiple 2023 Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards and such as benches, school chairs, and mobile trash bins. receive international recognition. ASUS will continue to Under the innovation and value creation pillar of the create local and global initiatives toward being a net-zero ASUS 2025 Sustainability Goals, ASUS also donated enterprise in 2050.

HATASU ebike continues to grow its influence in the local market

UN panel to recommend how to govern use of AI

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NITED NATIONS—The UN secretary-general on Thursday set up a panel of experts to make recommendations in the field of artificial intelligence, a technology with “transformative potential” yet also great risks to democracy and human rights.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

“The last year has seen an extraordinary advance in the capabilities and use of artificial intelligence (AI), through chatbots, voice cloning, image generators, video apps and more,” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

He called on the panel to race “against the clock” and make recommendations on how to govern the use of AI by the end of 2023, identifying the risks it poses and the opportunities it presents.

“In our challenging times, AI could power extraordinary progress for humanity,” Guterres said, referring to advances in areas like public health, education and even the fight against climate change.

“But all this depends on AI tech-

nologies being harnessed responsibly.”

He said the groundbreaking technology is “concentrated in a handful of companies and countries.”

“The potential harms of AI extend to serious concerns over misinformation and disinformation; the entrenching of bias and discrimination; surveillance and invasion of privacy; fraud, and other violations of human rights,” he warned.

Guterres said he didn’t want to enter into doomsday scenarios, but noted that “AI could undermine trust in institutions, weaken social cohesion, and threaten democracy itself.”

Guterres picked some 40 experts in technology, law and personal data protection -- coming from academia, government and the private sector -- to sit on the panel.

They include Amandeep Singh Gill, Guterres’s special envoy for technology; James Manyika, vice president in charge of AI at Google and Alphabet; Mira Murati, technical director of ChatGPT developer OpenAI; and Omar al-Olama, minister of AI in the United Arab Emirates. AFP

Congratulations to

In time for its first year anniversary, HATASU Philippines teases a new product coming this November!

ICYMI, there’s an ebike brand that’s been growing in the local market. HATASU ebike is a mobility solution brand that aims to provide safe, value-for-money, and sustainable products that meet the daily riding needs of Filipinos.

There’s a HATASU ebike for all your needs!

HATASU currently has 5 ebike models and one more coming this November! Each ebike offers different functions that address varying needs. The best part is, that no gas is needed! All units cost as low as P20 per full-cycle charge of up to 8 hours.

HATASU’s two-wheeler models KUMI and NERO, are the brand’s riding solution for students, young professionals, and office workers so they can get to places hassle-free.

HATASU’s three-wheeler products MAKO and MAKO 2 are best for families and small businesses since it’s packed with ample storage solutions and comfortable seats. Parents can use it to fetch their kids from school or to run their daily errands. Businesses can use it as a delivery vehicle.

HARU, HATASU’s latest three-wheeler that

seats one person with an additional backseat, is the brand’s riding solution for individuals who need a vehicle but do not know how to ride a bike and/or are not confident to drive a two-wheeler.

Equipped with beginner-friendly features, even someone with no prior experience driving an ebike can easily hop on and use it!

HATASU ebike achieves nationwide reach in less than a year!

Having only been in the local market for only almost a year, the brand has already achieved nationwide coverage with over 500+ Authorized Dealer Stores and 9 Concept Stores in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. It also provides it’s customers with different payment options through partnership with it’s financial partners, achieving a full- circle effort– from pre-sales to aftersales. The brand is humbled to be trusted by more than 10,000 HATASU users in the Philippines in just 10 months since inception.

For more info and other brand updates, follow HATASU Philippines on Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/HATASUPH and on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@hatasuph. Hop On, HATASU Na!

TECH & GADGETS on your

7th YEAR ANNIVERSARY Greetings from:

E1

Sustainable Technology in the Era of AI

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7TH TECH & GADGETS ANNIVERSARY ISSUE (PART 2)

Acerpure uses technology to help make people’s lives easier and healthier ACERPURE products were designed for people of different ages and lifestyles with one thing in common-a desire to have better air quality at home.

As a company, Acerpure focuses on developing lifestyle and consumer products that utilize smart features to enhance the quality of life while also benefiting users’ environmental surroundings.

“We created our products to fit all homes. For example, many people in the Philippines live in condominiums so they don’t have a lot of space for so many appliances.

Our air purifiers are small so they can fit smaller spaces but their CADR ratings are high and equal to the big air purifiers,” said Stanley Kao, Acerpure president, who visited the Philippines recently to launch the brand.

The Clean Air Delivery Rate, or CADR tells consumers how efficient air purifiers are at removing a certain

Acerpure Cozy F2

contaminant from the indoors. The three pollutants measured are pollen, smoke, and dust, which are the most common ones found in the home’s indoor air.

“We want to create an Acerpure home ecosystem for consumers to live with ease and comfort,” said Sue Ong-Lim, Acer Philippines General Manager.

Acerpure products all feature Integrated Technology, which ensures that all homes are dirt-free, the air is breathable, and the water is pure. Smart Integration showcases app capabilities for easy control and monitoring via smartphones and other devices. These products are also eco-friendly and engineered with the environment in mind for energy-efficient operations and minimal waste generation.

Acerpure, a subsidiary of Acer, is a lifestyle company that offers air and water purifiers and a vacuum cleaner.

Kao said the company plans to release more products in the future.

For the Philippine launch, Acerpure introduced four products.

Acerpure Cozy is an air circulator that comes with3D Airflow Technology in which the turbine blade fan is combined with the spiral flow guard for a greater and more concentrated range. this air purifier projects air up to 15 meters away, completely circulating the air five times per hour. In addition to this, it sports an energy-efficient DC motor so the minimum airflow power consumption is just 1.18W. Acerpure Cool is an air circulator and purifier with a 4-in-1 HEPA filter that includes a pre-filter, activated carbon filter, and HEPA 13 main filter. It also isolates harmful gases and removes odors. It also has an AG+ Silver Coated Filter, which is said to have the ability to remove bacteria and viruses.

Acerpure Cool are supported by the Acerpure Life app, downloadable from the App Store or Google Play.

This app detects indoor air quality and sends automatic notifications of indoor and outdoor air pollution alerts. It can also control, monitor, and start the air-purifying functions even when you are not home.

Acerpure Clean V1 is quieter and more effortless to use as compared with other vacuum cleaners. It is light, convenient, and powerful. It has a 1.5kg ultralight and cordless body, visual battery life with a running time of 60 minutes on a full charge, different modes for different cleaning usages, an electric power brush with hair-free technology, and four built-in LED lights.

Its lighter version, the Acerpure Clean V1 lite, is super lightweight at 550g with 13000Pa suction pressure power and a maximum of 15 minutes of cleaning time.

To further raise awareness about Acerpure in the Philippines, the company has tapped international superstar Sandara Park as its brand ambassador. SB19 and Team Payaman are also launching a web challenge called Team Mahangin.

“The Mahangin Challenge featuring SB19 and Team Payaman will put Acerpure products to the test, said Princess Laosantos, Acer Philippines Senior Marketing Manager.

For more details about Acerpure products, visit Acerpure’s official Facebook page (@ AcerpurePH) or the official website, www. acer.com.

Acerpure Cool C2

Acerpure Clean Acerpure Clean V1 with Arrow Brush

WHO says AI can transform healthcare if understood properly ENEVA, SWITZERLAND—Artificial Intelligence has the potential to transform health treatment but rapid roll-out without fully understanding how AI performs could end up harming patients, the World Health Organization said on Thursday.

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The WHO said AI held great promise for healthcare but also came with challenges, notably around privacy and the potential to entrench existing problems.

The United Nations’ health agency

issued a new publication detailing some of the main regulatory considerations on AI for health, so that authorities can build or adapt their guidance on using it.

“With the increasing availability of health care data and the rapid progress in

analytic techniques -- whether machine learning, logic-based or statistical -- AI tools could transform the health sector,” the organisation said.

The WHO said AI could strengthen Turn to E2

Embracing a more connected lifestyle with BIDA Fiber powered by Converge FOR a budget-conscious housewife like Imelda Singcol, a resident of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, the need for an affordable and dependable internet service could not be emphasized enough.

With her grandchildren immersed in online classes and her need to communicate with relatives far-away, connectivity has rapidly become a part of their lives.

Even at her age, Imelda longed to stay connected to the world with all the forms of media available on the internet. “For someone my age, the internet is so important because I don’t have any other forms of entertainment. My day just doesn’t feel complete without the internet,” she said.

However, while other households are reaping the benefits of being connected, their family only depends on the internet plan of her niece, who was living next to their house. Because of this, they could not maximize their digital experiences as they usually

encounter instability issues.

“We couldn’t connect because the services available here were expensive, and we couldn’t afford them,” said Imelda.

A ray of hope emerged when Aly, a sales agent, introduced a budgetfriendly and dependable internet solution to Imelda. BIDA Fiber, the newest connectivity plan of Converge, is a low-cost postpaid solution suited for families on a tight budget, but requires the speed, reliability, and convenience of a postpaid connection.

For only P888 per month, subscribers can get to connect up to six devices at the same time and enjoy unlimited, all-access web browsing, streaming, and mobile gaming.

Upon knowing this, Imelda wasted no time, immediately availing the said service. With the connectivity from BIDA Fiber, the Singcol family effectively embraced the digital world, making education and entertainment readily accessible.

“In the afternoon, when I have

nothing to do, I turn on the TV to watch vlogs there. I am very happy during those moments everyday,” she shared with enthusiasm.

She added that the service goes beyond mere affordability but it’s about delivering a high-quality connection that has transformed their lives. BIDA Fiber enabled them to communicate better, gain access to a vast range of entertainment options, and also to be informed about the latest news within their community.

“I have also heard from our cousins that their connection is excellent.

It’s good. No lags. The service is great,” Imelda confirmed, echoing the positive feedback from her family.

Imelda is just one of the many residents in Cebu whose digital lifestyles have been enriched by this affordable fiber postpaid solution. She bore witness to the remarkable change in her family’s online experiences without stashing a significant amount in their monthly budget.

“It’s a very big help,” she concluded.

Through BIDA Fiber, Imelda and her family now have access to an internet service that fits perfectly within their budget. With BIDA’s fast and reliable fiber connection, their online activities are now much seamless whether it’s for online learning, video streaming, or video messaging.

Imelda Singcol is one of the subscribers of BIDA Fiber in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

She said that BIDA Fiber has been a great help for the online education needs of her grandchildren and her daily fill of entertainment.

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Sustainable Technology in the Era of AI

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7TH TECH & GADGETS ANNIVERSARY ISSUE (PART 2)

Globe’s next-generation leaders delve into AI, humanity G

LOBE’S next generation leaders shared invaluable insights on the blend of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the human experience at the 7th International Design Conference, an event that marked the 50th anniversary of the Design Center of the Philippines.

Returning with more disruptive design concepts and an immersive environment that encouraged attendees to rethink limits, the twoday conference, held in cooperation with Globe, unveiled the evolving landscape and transformative potential of design.

Design luminaries and gamechangers from the design sector and the Philippine creative economy collaborated to captivate audiences with immersive keynote presentations, provocative fireside chats, inspiring case studies, future-focused visioning, and an industry meet-up.

Globe’s Wil Sarmiento, Director and Head of Customer Lifecycle, and Paolo Toledo, Director and Head of Creatives, stood out with their forward-thinking perspectives.

They joined worldrenowned personalities such as awardwinning design critic and author Alice Rawsthorn, program director of the Danish Design Centre Christina Melander; Sarah ichioka, founding director of Desire Lines; Dr. Anna Whicher, Policy Consultant of the “Making Design Count: The Value and Impact of Design on the Philippine Economy”; and Professor Daniela Bohlinger, Sustainability Design Pioneer.

Sarmiento, delivered a keynote that delved into the future skills in the age of human-machine collaboration, underscoring the potential of a symbiotic relationship that harnesses

Paolo Toledo (left), Globe Head of Creatives and Wil Sarmiento, Globe Head of Customer Lifecycle

the strengths of both.

“Remember the value that you bring to the table: creativity, empathy, and the ability to change. AI will open doors that only humanity will be able to walk through,” he pointed out.

In a thought-provoking panel discussion led by Beth MacDonald, Chief People Officer of Biocellion SPC, Toledo, highlighted the intrinsic value of human intuition and design in

an AI-driven world.

“Being human is the greatest design of all. While technology provides efficient solutions, it simply answers “what’s right” or “what’s needed”. BUT it’s us humans who trigger innovation and purpose. We hold the power to ask “what’s next?” and more importantly, “what for?” he said.

The International Design

Conference, with its rich legacy of championing design innovation, is a thought leadership platform that celebrates the intersection of design, business, technology, and policy while thriving at the edge of disciplines to remain provocative and to use design and creativity to ask difficult questions and to take the audience to new territories.

Globe’s design leaders not only

contributed to this dialogue but also illuminated the path forward, emphasizing a future where technology and human ingenuity seamlessly converge.

For more information about the International Design Conference and its key takeaways, please visit www. facebook.com/DTI.DesignCenterPH. To learn more about Globe, go to https://www.globe.com.ph/.

challenge of audio quality. The audio Codec aims to deliver crystalclear audio regardless of network conditions, even in areas with spotty connections.

Webex’s efficiency with its AI Codec allows for massive transmission redundancy to recover from network packet loss.

Webex AI Codec also has builtin speech enhancement functions like noise removal, de-reverberation and bandwidth extension, to deliver unprecedented audio clarity.

Webex will similarly apply machine learning techniques to improve video quality using Super Resolution. It will deliver high-definition meetings with amazing video quality regardless of bandwidth conditions.

Webex AI Assistant Helps Workers and Customers The newly launched Webex AI Assistant will power a robust set of capabilities that empower people to do their best work. It will also minimize work and costs for IT, ultimately driving business value. Webex AI Assistant will prompt users with questions, like “ask me about the meeting,” that users can respond to with typing sentences, such as “catch me up on the 15 minutes I missed in the meeting” or “catch me up on all the meetings I missed on Friday while I was on PTO,” to generate answers in real-time. Webex AI Assistant is already natively integrated into Cisco Collaboration devices and will span the Webex portfolio.

are needed to safeguard privacy and integrity, the WHO said.

Pros and cons “Artificial intelligence holds great promise for health, but also comes with serious challenges, including unethical data collection, cybersecurity threats and amplifying biases or misinformation,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“This new guidance will support countries to regulate AI effectively, to harness its potential, whether in treating cancer or detecting tuberculosis, while minimising the risks,” he added.

The WHO said AI systems depend

on the code they are built with and the data they are trained on, and better regulation could help manage the risks of AI amplifying biases present in training data.

“For example, it can be difficult for AI models to accurately represent the diversity of populations, leading to biases, inaccuracies or even failure,” the WHO said.

“To help mitigate these risks, regulations can be used to ensure that the attributes—such as gender, race and ethnicity—of the people featured in the training data are reported and datasets are intentionally made representative,” the organisation added.

The WHO outlined six areas for regulating AI for health.

They include externally validating data, evaluating systems before release so as not to amplify biases and errors, looking at consent requirements on data privacy, and fostering collaboration between regulators, patients, governments and healthcare professionals. AFP

Cisco... From E3

Juergen Boos, director of the Frankfurt Book Fair

Did a computer... From E4 “The field of science and specialist books is already further along and has already dealt with it more.”

These areas were “easier than the field of fiction, where I think at the moment people still tend to look a bit more at the risks”, she added.

Artificial intelligence’s relationship with publishing threatens to throw up a host of legal problems, with one major “grey area” being who owns copyright of AIgenerated content, said fair director Boos.

“Then you get into a real mess, and it is a huge theme. There is also really a lot of money involved,” he said.

Legal clashes There are already AI-related legal clashes involving top writers.

Last month, “Game of Thrones” author George RR Martin, John Grisham and Jodi Picoult were among several writers who filed a class-action lawsuit against ChatGPT creator OpenAI over alleged violation of copyrights.

Along with the Authors Guild, an organisation representing writers, they accused the California-based company of using their books “without permission” to train ChatGPT’s “large language models”, algorithms capable of producing humansounding text responses based on simple queries, according to the lawsuit.

Translation is another thorny area, with some industry players feeling artificial intelligence would miss the nuances and subtleties needed to render complex literature into other languages.

Efforts are being made to make it clearer when AI has been involved in producing a book.

Amazon recently released new guidelines that require authors who want to sell books through its self-publishing unit to tell the company in advance if their work includes material generated using artificial intelligence.

And some recognise the opportunities when it comes to AI and writing -- for example, in producing stereotypical romance novels.

This, Boos joked, could bring “some relief” that “people don’t have to deal with that kind of content any more, and it can simply be generated at home on the computer.” AFP

that person up to speed when they return.

New Webex AI Codec Helps Customers Achieve New Levels of Audio & Video Quality People are regularly impacted by network impairments, which may have a direct impact on calls and meetings.

For example, a user may experience disruption when connecting from their car, a hotel room, or a rural area with poor connectivity. Choppy audio or video often derails conversations and frustrates people—from meeting participants to customers calling into a business’ contact center.

Cisco is unveiling a new AI Codec in Webex, a new generative AI solution that will redefine realtime communication and solve the

WHO... From E1 clinical trials, improve medical diagnosis and treatment and supplement medical knowledge and skills.

For example, AI could help in places with a lack of specialist, by interpreting radiology images and retinal scans, it said.

However, the WHO added that AI is being rapidly deployed, sometimes without a proper understanding of how such technologies perform, “which could either benefit or harm end-users”, both patients and professionals alike.

When using health data, AI systems could be accessing sensitive personal information, so robust legal frameworks

Sustainable Technology in the Era of AI 7TH TECH & GADGETS ANNIVERSARY ISSUE (PART 2)

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023 E-mail: advertise@manilastandard.net

China’s Baidu says its upgraded AI bot rivals latest ChatGPT B

EIJING, CHINA —Chinese internet giant Baidu unveiled the newest version of its AI chatbot ERNIE on Tuesday, claiming it rivals the capabilities of OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT.

Baidu led Chinese tech firms in rolling out generative artificial intelligence apps, which are trained on vast amounts of data and interactions with users to answer questions, even complex ones, in human-like language.

Released to the public in August, ERNIE marked a major step for China’s tech sector, which is aiming to compete with the likes of Microsoft and ChatGPT maker OpenAI while staying within strict government controls.

Robin Li, Baidu’s founder and CEO, said during a presentation that ERNIE’s “comprehension, creation, logic, and memory... are in no way inferior to those of GPT4”, referring to OpenAI’s latest model.

AFP was unable to independently verify the claim.

Li then grilled ERNIE with a series of puzzles, and asked it to write the outline for a martial arts novel.

The bot set to work, gradually creating new characters as the audience followed the composition in real time on a giant screen.

The latest version of ERNIE is currently open to select developers

and not available to the public.

Chinese tech firms have ramped up investments in the technology after the success of ChatGPT sparked a global AI gold rush.

The internet is tightly controlled in China, however, and ahead of the

rollout of domestic chatbots such as ERNIE, the government published guidelines on the development and use of generative AI. Content generated by this tech must “reflect core socialist values and must not contain (elements

Cisco unveils Webex AI strategy AT WebexOne, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) on Thursday announced a new AI strategy for Webex that will improve communication and collaboration.

Unlike AI offerings that solely focus on text or documents, Webex will use realtime communications for audio and video to solve everyday challenges, such as ensuring crystal-clear audio and video calls and meetings despite low bandwidth.

Cisco also announced the launch of its new Webex AI Assistant with new capabilities that will bolster productivity and accuracy for customers. The Webex AI strategy and Webex AI Assistant will be applied across the full Webex portfolio — The Webex Suite, Cisco Collaboration devices, Webex Contact Center, Webex Connect and Webex Control Hub. Customers like McLaren Racing and Team DSM are testing Webex’s new AI capabilities.

“We’re at the tipping point of a new era of hybrid work, with AI holding the key to helping us bridge the gap and enable us all to work and communicate to our full potential,” said Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice

President and General Manager, Cisco Security and Collaboration. “Our Webex platform has long enabled our rapid pace of innovation. Today’s announcement is a monumental step forward, as customers will benefit from AI being pervasive in every aspect of the Webex platform.”

Introducing Real-Time Media Models Visual and audible cues like gestures and walking out of the room during a meeting provide invaluable context about human interactions. Cisco’s new Real-Time Media Models (RMMs) in Webex will enhance audio and video quality. The models have the ability to take multiple media streams and produce multiple outputs, such as people and object recognition and action analytics like movement and gestures.

RMMs in Webex will also enable audio and video channels to be used as signals of context in traditional text-based capabilities like meeting summaries and highlights. By uniquely fusing together AI for text, audio and video, Webex users will benefit from rich real-time insights. For example, in the future, Webex may be able recognize that a meeting participant stepped away from a meeting, and capture meeting notes to bring

relating to) the subversion of state power”, according to regulations.

These controls prevent ERNIE from answering any questions on subjects considered sensitive by Chinese authorities, such as the country’s leadership or its 1989

crackdown on pro-democracy protests.

When tested by AFP in August, ERNIE would ask to “change the topic” when queried on Tiananmen and Taiwan, the self-ruled island that China considers its territory.

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Sustainable Technology in the Era of AI 7TH TECH & GADGETS ANNIVERSARY ISSUE (PART 2)

Did a computer write this?

Book industry grapples with AI FRANKFURT, Germany—From lowquality computer-written books flooding the market to potential copyright violations, publishing is the latest industry to feel the threat from rapid developments in artificial intelligence.

Since the launch last year of ChatGPT, an easy-to-use AI chatbot that can deliver an essay upon request within seconds, there have been growing worries about the impact of generative AI on a range of sectors.

Among book industry players there is “a deep sense of insecurity”, said Juergen Boos, director of the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world’s biggest, where the topic was in focus last week.

They are asking “what happens to authors’ intellectual property? Who does new content actually belong to? How do we bring this into value chains?” he said.

The threat is plain to see—AI writing programs allow budding authors to produce in a matter of day novels that could in the past have taken months or years to write.

A flood of titles that list ChatGPT as a coauthor have been offered for sale through Amazon’s e-book self-publishing unit.

Still, critics say the works are of low quality and sense little threat from AI for now.

British author Salman Rushdie told a press conference at the fair that recently

someone asked an AI writing tool to produce 300 words in his style.

“And what came out was pure garbage,” said the “Midnight’s Children” writer, to laughter from the audience.

“Anybody who has ever read 300 words of mine would immediately recognise that it could not possibly be by me.”

“So far I’m not that alarmed,” he added, during a rare public appearance since a near-fatal stabbing attack last year in the United States.

‘Still not great’ Jennifer Becker, a German author and academic, echoed his sentiments, telling a panel discussion that the results when it comes to AI writing fiction “are still not that great”.

“There is a lot of potential to use it -- to use it collaboratively.

“But I still don’t see the point where we really hand over the writing work to AI completely autonomously. That wouldn’t make for an interesting book.”

Industry players stress however that in some areas there is more openness to dealing with artificial intelligence.

“It depends a bit on the genre,” said Susanne Barwick, deputy legal adviser of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association, who has been in discussion about AI with publishers.

Turn to E2

SKYGO Christmas promo launched CHRISTMAS just got brighter for those who dream of owning a motorcycle, thanks to Skygo’s exciting promo, “P5,000 Mo, Sagot Ko!” For many Filipinos, the dream of owning a motorcycle often feels out of reach due to limited budget. Skygo understands this and is here to make your motorcycle dreams come true by offering an amazing chance to make owning a motorcycle easier.

With a minimum downpayment of only P3,000 for any of its motorcycle units, Skygo will add P5,000 on top, reducing the monthly cost. It’s not just a promotion, it’s a game changer. Owning a motorcycle is more affordable than ever!

The best part is you get to choose from Skygo’s brand-new motorcycle models under their three categories: Business, Scooter, and Specialty.

Business Motorcycles: Commonly seen among various provinces, they serve as tricycles or transporting farm goods. Skygo offers the King and Wizard models under this category.

Scooter Motorcycles: Perfect for urban areas, these scooters are known for their modern features and easy maneuverability. Skygo’s popular scooter units include KPV 150 and Blink.

Specialty Motorcycles:: This category caters to diverse preferences. If you love off-road adventures, the Stallion model is your go-to-choice. For classic motorcycle enthusiasts, the Earl and Boss models exude timeless charm.

Additionally, there’s the Moped, a city favorite, often used as motorcycle taxis.

With this range of selection, there is definitely a Skygo motorcycle that suits your interest and personality. The choice is yours!

But the excitement doesn’t stop there—this promo is available nationwide, bringing the joy of riding to all Filipinos!

As President of Skygo Retail Winston Sia said, “This is Skygo’s way of giving back to the growing community of Filipino riders, especially during the season of giving.” It’s not just a transaction, it’s a gift from Skygo to the passionate community of Filipino riders.

Please note that this promo cannot be combined with other existing promos or offers. Furthermore, it applies to installment payments only, no cash deals.

So, are you excited to have your very own Skygo motorcycle? Branches are open and located nationwide so visit the one nearest you and apply now! For more details and updates, visit Skygo’s Facebook Page: skygoph

KPV 150

Wizard 175

Stallion