Manila Standard - 2023 November 4 - Saturday

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

instagram.com/ manilastandard

manilastandard.net

Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net For advertisement: email: advertise@manilastandard.net • 85646229

BIDDING FOR 2025 ELECTION SYSTEM SET

NAME MIGRANT WORKERS CHIEF TOO, PBBM TOLD

NEWS / A4

NEWS / A3 VOL. XXXVII • NO. 262• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Marcos names new Agri chief

Tasks fishing tycoon, old friend Francisco Laurel with reining in food prices

By Charles Dantes, Maricel V. Cruz, Julito G. Rada, Othel V. Campos and Macon Ramos-Araneta

P

RESIDENT Marcos handed the post of Agriculture secretary to a fishing tycoon on Friday, as the government struggles to rein in surging food prices.

PBBM, Japan premier agree to boost defense cooperation

By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed Friday to bolster defense cooperation between their countries amid China's expanding military presence in the region.

At their meeting in Malacanang,

Kishida and Mr. Marcos confirmed they will begin negotiations on a new bilateral treaty, known as a reciprocal access agreement, to strengthen security ties and facilitate joint defense drills, government sources said.

It will be Japan's first RAA with a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the third

following pacts with Australia and Britain that took effect earlier this year.

Kishida arrived in Manila on Friday afternoon.

Kishida and Mr. Marcos also agreed to work together toward a special Japan-ASEAN summit in Tokyo in December. Japan is scheduled to host the gathering to commemorate 50 years of

friendship and cooperation with the regional bloc.

On Saturday, Kishida is slated to become the first Japanese premier to deliver a speech to the Philippine Congress, in which he is certain to address Tokyo's basic policy on Southeast Asian diplomacy for the future, the government said.

Next page

Francisco Laurel, president of the deep-sea fishing company Frabelle Fishing Corp., understood "the problems that agriculture is facing," Marcos said after swearing in the new secretary.

Marcos made himself Agriculture secretary after becoming president in June 2022 and has overseen a surge in prices for produce, including staples like onions and rice.

He sparked criticism in September when he imposed a temporary price cap on rice, which some economists warned could distort the market and lead to shortages.

Marcos said Laurel's priority was gaining "control of the prices of all the agricultural commodities that are going up." Next page Francisco Tiu Laurel

HONORED GUESTS. President Marcos and First Lady Lisa Araneta-Marcos walks with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and his wife, Yuko (right) after the welcome ceremony held in his honor Friday in Malacanang. PCO Photo

President hopes Pinoys can leave Fuel price rollback next week; Power rates rising war-torn Gaza by this weekend

By Alena Mae S. Flores

By Charles Dantes and Rey E. Requejo PRESIDENT Marcos on Friday said he is hopeful that Filipinos who are trying to leave war-torn Gaza will be able to do so by Saturday, as the Israeli government has promised safe passage for civilians.

The Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines, Ilan Fluss, successfully contacted both the foreign minister of Israel and the Philippine Ambassador Junie Laylo, the President said.

“So, they promised us that the Filipinos will be able to go out today or tomorrow. That is what they promised us.

Saturday at the latest,” the President said in Filipino.

The Philippine government is ready to bring the Filipinos home, with buses and embassy personnel on standby in Cairo.

The Rafah Crossing is the only path out of the Gaza strip into Egypt.

President Marcos also offered assistance to Thais, Vietnamese, and other Southeast Asian nationals stranded at the crossing.

"It looks like we are the ones there first because the presence of Filipinos in the area is much higher than the others," President Marcos said.

Next page

27 Pasay cops sacked over POGO case THE chief of police of Pasay City and 26 other police officers have been relieved from their posts amid an investigation into a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in the city that was raided by authorities for human trafficking and other illegal activities last month.

Pasay City Police Director Colonel Froilan Uy, Substation Commander Capt. Criz Antonio Cataluña, and 25 police non-commissioned officers are facing an investigation for possible neglect

of duty.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing in Camp Crame on Friday that Col. Mario Mayanes would replace Uy as Pasay chief of police, while replacing Cataluña would be Maj. Christel Carlo Villanueva.

"If this POGO has existed for a long time and there are illegal activities, remember, the PNP has a one-strike policy.

Next page

CONSUMERS can expect a price rollback across all products by Tuesday next week to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market.

Industry sources estimate the price rollback for diesel at P1 to P1.30 per liter, kerosene at P0.85 to P1.05 per liter and gasoline from P0.40 to P0.70 per liter.

Meanwhile, power distributor Meralco has hinted at a potential increase in overall electricity rates in November.

Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said prices of electricity at the spot market, where the utility sources part of its supply, have risen recently.

Zaldarriaga also noted the repricing of Malampaya natural gas, which lifts prices higher than they were from the

Comelec resolves ties, proclaims all BSKE poll winners

By Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said it has resolved cases with tied votes in 1,252 barangays for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) and have completed the proclamation of all winners throughout the country.

At least 49 candidates who tied for the BSKE were declared official winners through tossing coins and drawing slots, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

Next page

previous quarter.

But he said not all cost inputs are already on hand, which is why Meralco is set announce to the final rate changes by late next week.

Department of Energy (DOE) director for the oil industry management bureau Rodela Romero confirmed on Friday the anticipated rollback in pump prices based on the four-day trading,.

Next page

BSKE DONE.

Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia gives final updates on the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections at the Comelec main building in Intramuros, Manila, on Friday. Norman Cruz

NEWS

A2 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

agricultural production with the help of our President. But I cannot do this alone,” he added.

Legislators led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez welcomed the appointment of Laurel as the new Agriculture secretary.

Romualdez said Laurel’s experience in the private sector would help him in his new job.

"The private sector, with its innovation, efficiency, and competitive spirit, has much to offer when integrated with public sector objectives. By merging private sector strategies with the public sector's broader goals, we can harness the best of both worlds," Romualdez said.

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Leesaid he is hopeful that the Agriculture department under Laurel's leadership will mean a more productive era for the agriculture sector.

"We believe that… the administration has taken good steps in developing and providing the necessary support to agriculture. But the challenges facing the sector are still numerous and overwhelming. We hope that with the leadership of Secretary Laurel, the government's focus will remain on this to finally address the decades-long problems of our countrymen whose livelihoods depend on it," Lee said.

Reps. Ron Salo of Kabayan and Bernadette Herrera of Bagong Henerasyon congratulated Laurel on his appointment.

"His wealth of experience and dedication to the agricultural sector make him an excellent choice for this vital role,” Salo said.

Herrera said "this long-awaited appointment marks a significant milestone” in the government’s efforts to strengthen and revitalize the agricultural industry.

"Secretary Laurel’s impressive 30 years of experience in the sector is a testament to his deep knowledge and understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead,” she said.

Economists, too, were hopeful about Laurel’s appointment.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said he hoped Laurel could replicate his business success at the Department of Agriculture.

“Let us see..,” Ricafort said, adding

that Laurel needs “to protect his good name and reputation in the business community.”

Security Bank Corp. chief economist Robert Dan Roces said this latest appointment should take a load off the President, who has held the post concurrently since he assumed office.

He said a full-time secretary could put more focus on agricultural output.

The President’s economic team was mum on Laurel’s appointment, and efforts to get comments from them drew no response.

Agricultural stakeholders and business groups welcomed the appointment of Laurel.

The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) said they were confident that “a proven and tested agribusiness entrepreneur” such as Laurel would be able to manage the Agriculture portfolio efficiently and well. It vowed its full support and cooperation with the Department of Agriculture under Laurel’s watch.

The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc (PCAFI) said they have been anticipating the proclamation of a new DA secretary for more than a week now.

“We have preliminary meeting with him two weeks ago and we had expressed our full support and cooperation for the benefit of our agriculture stakeholders. We welcome him and we wish him all the luck and the blessings of our Lord,” said PCAFI president Danny Fausto.

A group of rice traders and miller also expressed support for the new Agriculture secretary. Orlando Manuntag, co-founder of Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM) said the appointment of Laurel “is a good and wise decision by the President.”

“There will be a point person to focus on the DA's primary goal such as productivity, efficiency and recovery of our agriculture sector,” he said.

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president George Barcelon said Laurel is “quite known in the fishing sector not only in the Philippines but globally. His deep fishing ventures extend to as far as South Africa.”

He added that Laurel have been meeting with some Agriculture stakeholders

over the last few weeks, probably to familiarize himself with the issues confronting the sector.

Laurel is a graduate of University of Santo Tomas with a degree on computer science.

Frabelle was established in 1966 as a small trawl fishing company before eventually shifting to purse seining small pelagic fish and then to tuna.

By 1981, Frabelle expanded its operations beyond Philippine waters into the Western and Central Pacific regions.

It now has a fleet of over 100 vessels and a workforce of 5,000.

Laurel also holds positions in other companies. He is chairman of the Westpac Meat Processing Corp., president of Markham Resources Corp., and chairman of Bukidnon Hydro Energy Corp.

Laurel joined his father in Frabelle in 1985 and succeeded his father as president of the company when he was just 28.

Under his leadership, Frabelle grew into a diversified business with stakes in power generation, real estate, meat and seafood processing, cold-chain network, aquaculture, and shipbuilding and repair.

Fishing remains the core business of Frabelle, the world’s third largest tuna fishing company. It has a major presence in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and has satellite offices in South Africa, Vietnam, Singapore, and China.

Laurel was also president of Agusan Power Corp., which operates a 24.9 megawatt hydro electric power plant in Agusan del Norte. He was also the chairman of the World Tuna Purse Seine Organization that advocates sustainable resource management of fishing operations globally and a member of the Private Sector Advisory Council for Agriculture.

Currently, he is a captain and commander in the Naval Affiliated Reserve Force NCR of the Philippine Navy.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, pointed out possible conflicts of interest.

"Our commercial fishing fleets have recently resisted efforts of the DA to monitor and regulate their operations,” the opposition senator said.

Still, she said she welcomed Laurel’s appointment, after calling for almost two years for the appointment of a fulltime secretary.

to maintain order. He said the exodus could be completed in two weeks.

De Vega said the DFA also included the names of 19 Filipinos who refused to be repatriated from Gaza—as well as their Palestinian spouses—in the list that it submitted to the authorities.

Israeli strikes on Gaza since Oct. 7 have killed at least 8,796 Palestinians, including 3,648 children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

Israel launched the strikes after Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 300 soldiers and 1,100 civilians, and taking more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli figures.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday met with Philippine Ambassador to Israel Junie Laylo and other foreign diplomats to discuss its current war with Hamas, which has already claimed the lives of thousands of civilians on both sides.

In a post on X, Herzog said he sat down with Laylo and envoys of Thailand, Tanzania, and Nepal, which are among the countries whose citizens were killed when Hamas launched a surprise attack on the Jewish state on Oct. 7.

"I share in their deep sorrow and ask [that] they convey to their people our deep pain and our concern for the hostages," Herzog added.

The Israeli leader assured the diplomats that the Israeli government will do everything to also rescue the foreign hostages taken by the terrorists.

Herzog held a meeting with the envoys as he learned that among those murdered and taken hostage by Hamas, were foreign workers who came to Israel as agricultural workers.

Some of the victims were also exchange students as well as workers pro-

viding care for the Israeli elderly and those with special needs, he said.

Two Filipinos were assumed to be taken hostage by Hamas while four were confirmed killed.

Thailand reported that 20 of its citizens were killed while 14 were taken captive.

Nepal said 10 of its nationals died.

"They are all victims of Hamas' murderous terror campaign that does not distinguish between race or religion," he added.

Herzog also said he was comforted to hear that many nationals of the mentioned countries in Israel, particularly those caring for the elderly and working in the fields and orchards, insisted on staying there.

Earlier, the Israeli government, through its embassy in Manila, honored several overseas Filipino workers who stayed with their elderly employers and risked their lives during Hamas' attack.

Some of them survived, but some were also killed, including one of the four Filipinos who were confirmed dead during the assault.

Meanwhile, the DFA said it is considering raising its alert level over northern Israel as early as next week if the tension there escalates.

De Vega on Friday said they are still waiting for the recommendation from Laylo.

The DFA earlier said that it is looking into raising the alert level in some areas in Israel from Alert Level 2 to Alert 3, which involves voluntary repatriation.

Nonetheless, De Vega clarified that there is no travel ban to Israel for Filipinos.

Israel on Friday began sending thousands of Palestinian workers back to Gaza who had been stranded inside Israel since its war with Hamas erupted, a Gaza border official said.

"Thousands of workers who were blocked in Israel since Oct. 7 have been brought back," Hisham Adwan, head of Gaza's crossing authority, said.

Israel said late on Thursday it would start deporting the workers back to Gaza.

"Israel is severing all contact with Gaza. There will be no more Palestinian workers from Gaza," the Israeli security cabinet said in a statement.

"Those workers from Gaza who were in Israel on the day of the outbreak of the war will be returned to Gaza," it added, without specifying how many people would be sent back.

Before the war started, some 18,500 Gazans were holding Israeli work permits, according to figures provided by COGAT, the Israeli defense body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs.

Israeli ground troops encircled Gaza City on Friday in their war against Hamas, as top US diplomat Antony Blinken arrived in Israel for a trip focused on "concrete steps" to minimize Palestinian civilian casualties.

Ahead of Blinken's arrival, Israel's military said on Thursday it had "completed the encirclement" of the narrow Palestinian territory's largest city—signaling a new phase in the nearly monthlong conflict.

Fighting was triggered by Hamas' bloody raids on Oct.7 that Israeli officials say killed more than 1,400 people.

The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says more than 9,000 people have died in Israeli bombardments, mostly women and children.

Fresh Israeli strikes rocked the Gaza Strip on Friday morning, and the Gaza health ministry reported at least 15 deaths in Gaza City's Zeitun neighborhood and seven in Jabalia refugee camp. With AFP

27 Pasay..

Comelec...

From A1

From A1

If something has been happening there within your knowledge and you did nothing, then you will be charged with neglect of duty,” Fajardo said.

On Oct. 27, a task force led by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Department of Justice raided the POGO hub operating inside a six-story building along Williams Street in Pasay City.

Authorities discovered a nine-room KTV area, a pharmacy with a physician and two patient beds, a restaurant, a hotpot "shabu-shabu" area, and nine money vaults inside its premises.

The PAOCC earlier said there is an "abundance of evidence pointing to sex trafficking" on the site.

During the raid, two male Chinese workers, Shui Niu, 27, and Lu Hao Yu, 22, approached members of the raiding team and said they were being kept against their will and showed torture marks on their bodies.

Shiu Niu claimed to have been kidnapped and was sold five months ago for P500,000 from another POGO, while Lu Hao Yu said he was being held for more than a year and made to work 15-hour days.

About 731 workers, including seven Filipinas, were also rescued from an aquarium-style viewing chamber of a massage parlor on the building's second floor. Joel Zurbano and Vince Lopez

In a press conference, poll chairman George Garcia said 44 SK kagawads and six barangay kagawad in 19 barangays were tied but the Comelec only broke the tie for the seventh spot in five barangays.

Garcia made the pronouncement after citing reports that regional poll offices had already proclaimed the winning candidates in cases with tied vote counts.

The Comelec permits coin flips as a way of deciding tied votes as “the law mandates that it should be decided by luck,” Garcia said.

Tied votes can also be settled by drawing lots.

“I am glad to inform you that we are 100 percent done with the elections. [We have] just resolved the last tie,” Garcia said.

The Comelec registered a voter turnout of 75.76 percent for the barangay elections and 76.08 percent in SK elections based on 160 of 1,634 cities and municipalities as of Nov. 3.

These latest numbers are far higher than the voter turnout for barangay and SK elections in 2018 at 71.20 percent and 65.51, respectively.

The Comelec vowed to release the list of winning candidates in all barangays nationwide in the Comelec’s website next week.

Also on Friday, the Comelec said it has decided against filing cases against teachers who backed out of poll duty on Election Day. “The Comelec will instead file [cases] against individuals who threatened them.

In fact, we appreciated the efforts of teachers and described them as heroes,” Garcia said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Marcos...

From A1

Year-on-year inflation accelerated in September to 6.1 percent, from 5.3 percent in August, driven by a 10 percent rise in food prices.

About a quarter of the country's labor force works in the agriculture sector, but it accounts for less than 10 percent of the economy, official figures show.

Poor yields, high costs, insufficient investment in irrigation and machinery, lack of access to cold storage facilities and farm-to-market roads, and cropdestroying typhoons have long plagued the sector.

Pest outbreaks as well as soaring oil and fertilizer prices since Russia invaded Ukraine have only added to its woes.

Laurel, 56, said his goal was to ensure that Filipino farmers had abundant harvests and that food was available to consumers "at the right price."

Frabelle Fishing Corp. is part of a food, real estate and power generation conglomerate.

It has a fleet of more than 100 vessels operating in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, according to its website.

Marcos expressed his confidence in Laurel, saying he had a good understanding of the challenges facing agriculture.

“I have known him since we were boys so, I am in appointing him because I know his character. I know that he is very hardworking,” Marcos said in Filipino.

He said he told the new secretary to focus on agricultural production and mechanization.

“Let’s look at what countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam did.

Maybe there is something we can learn that is applicable to the Philippines,” the President said.

Laurel, who contributed P30 million to Marcos’ presidential campaign, said he would continue to carry out the President’s programs.

“My goal is to ensure that our fellow citizens can buy sufficient and nutritious food at the right price. The key to this is the modernization of the agriculture sector, along with improving the welfare of our farmer and fisher brothers,” he said in Filipino.

“I firmly believe that we can increase

President...

From A1

The President noted that the situation was complicated by the fact that Palestinian husbands of some of the Filipinos were not allowed to leave Gaza.

“Of course, they don't want to leave their husbands and children. So, these are the problems that we are facing,” he said.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Philippine embassy have announced the repatriation of a few batches of Filipinos from Israel, but so far, only two Filipino doctors have been able to leave Gaza.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it was confident, too, that the remaining Filipinos stranded in Gaza would be allowed to cross at Rafah and enter Egypt “within a few days.”

“I cannot tell when, but we are hopeful and confident it will be within a few days.

It will not take two weeks or 10 days for our countrymen to cross the border,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said, in an interview with GMA News.

De Vega said he believes Filipinos may be given priority in crossing the border because of the country’s close ties with Egypt and Israel.

“We are having discussions with them through diplomatic representations,” the DFA official said.

On Thursday, two of the 136 Filipinos in Gaza successfully crossed into Egypt. The two Filipino doctors are volunteers for the international humanitarian aid group Doctors Without Borders. The DFA said they are now safe in Egypt.

De Vega said about 7,000 foreign nationals are allowed to use Rafah Crossing to exit Gaza but only 500 to 600 are allowed to cross the border daily

PBBM,...

From A1

The premier vowed to strengthen bilateral relations with the Philippines to maintain a free and open international order based on the rule of law amid the complex geopolitical challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

“Japan and the Philippines are both maritime nations and strategic partners sharing fundamental principles and values,” Kishida said in his opening statement at the Palace.

“And as the international community faces complex crises, we would like to strengthen our cooperation with the Philippines to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law to ensure a world where human dignity is protected. I very much look forward to discussing issues with you in-depth today,” he added.

“Excellency, it is a pleasure to welcome you to Manila, to the Philippines,” President Marcos said to Kishida during his arrival ceremony inside Malacañang Palace.

Previously, the Philippines, Japan, and the United States agreed to a trilateral agreement on various fronts that commenced this year.

“Our meeting today builds upon the momentum of the recent past and we look forward to expanding cooperation with you, especially in key areas, such as economic development, development cooperation, and security cooperation,” the President stated.

“Our decades of cooperation have developed into a robust and Strategic Partnership built on trust, mutual respect, and common values,” he added.

Japan and the Philippines have been seeking to boost trilateral defense cooperation with the United States in response to China's construction of artificial islands with military infrastructure in nearby waters and frequent intrusions into the territorial seas of others.

Tokyo has dismissed Beijing's claim over the Japan-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, while Manila has long been at odds with the communist country over its sovereignty claims over almost the entire South China Sea. In late October, Manila and Beijing blamed one another over a collision involving their vessels in the South China Sea, home to some of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

During his stay in Manila, Kishida is poised to promise to provide the Philippines with coastal surveillance radars under a new support framework for like-minded nations that share values such as the rule of law and respect for basic human rights, the sources said.

Japan has designated four AsiaPacific countries—Bangladesh, Fiji, Malaysia, and the Philippines—as recipients of the grant program, called official security assistance, or OSA, earmarking 2 billion yen ($13 million) for the fiscal year through March 2024.

In his three-day tour to Southeast Asia, Kishida is also arranging to visit Kuala Lumpur to talk with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday.

The two leaders may exchange views on ways to promote diplomatic and defense cooperation, as Kuala Lumpur, along with Manila and other ASEAN nations, has overlapping territorial claims with Beijing in the South China Sea, the sources said.

Fuel...

From A1

"We will be expecting another round of rollback on prices of petroleum products. This rollback adjustment is attributed on the contained situation of the Israel Hamas war; additional crude production outputs from OPEC and US; slowing fuel demand growth due to weakening global economic growth," Romero said.

On Oct. 31, 2023, the oil companies implemented a mixed adjustment on the price of petroleum products.

The oil firms cut the price of kerosene and diesel by P1.20 and P1.25 per liter, respectively but increased the price of gasoline by P0.45 per liter.

These price adjustments resulted in a year-to-date net increase of P14.20 per liter for gasoline, P10.45 per liter for diesel and P5.04 per liter for kerosene, the DOE said.

On Nov. 1, the oil companies increased the price of cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)

by P0.45 to P0.50 per kilo per kilo, equivalent to P4.95 to P5.50 per kilo for an 11-kilo tank used primarily by households.

NEWS BOC exceeds October revenue target by P1b

By Julito Rada and Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Friday said it surpassed its collection goal in October 2023 with over a billion pesos, driven by a relentless drive against smuggling and the implementation of trade efficiency measures.

Preliminary data showed that BOC collections in October reached P78.616 billion, representing 1.4 percent or P1.084 billion higher than its collection target for the month.

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the remarkable performance demonstrated the agency’s dedication to excellence, reinforcing its mandate to increase revenue collection and enhance trade facilitation in support of the country’s economic development.

“Our relentless drive against smuggling and the implementation of trade efficiency measures significantly contributed to the increase in revenue collection,” Rubio said.

“We are doubling our efforts to provide financial resources to support the government’s programs and projects,” he added.

The October revenue performance brought the ten-month collections to P739 billion, 2.4 percent or P17.287 billion higher than the P721.717 billion target collection for the period.

This year’s revenue also increased by 3.57 percent or P25.482 billion from the previous year’s collection of P713.522 billion.

On October 18, 2023, the BOC further boosted its trade facilitation efforts with the signing of a memorandum of agreement with PHLPOST aimed at expediting clearances, enhancing security controls, and simplifying customs procedures.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023

Marcos asked to name DMW chief

By Maricel V. Cruz

H

OUSE of Representatives Minority Leader and 4Ps partylist Rep. Marcelino Libanan on Friday urged President Marcos to designate Anew Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) secretary.

Libanan made the call following the President’s appointment of Francisco Laurel Jr. as Secretary of Agriculture.

“The President’s decision to finally relinquish the post of Agriculture Sec-

retary is most welcome, as he can now concentrate wholly on his job as Chief Executive,” Libanan said in a statement of Friday.

“We would also urge the President to

name a new migrant workers secretary right away, considering that the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas might escalate and put more Filipino workers in harm’s way,” Libanan said.

The DMW, together with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), should be ready to put contingency plans into action, Libanan said.

The top DMW post became vacant when Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople passed away on August 22.

The DMW is currently headed by Hans Leo Cacdac as officer-in-charge.

States, Australia, Japan, Canada, South Korea, and the European Union amid “coercive” Chinese activity in the WPS. Geopolitical analyst Don Mclain Gill, citing recent developments, said China was already “expressing its dissatisfaction” over the Philippine government’s seeming reluctance to assert its sovereign rights on the disputed waters.

“Based on its disinformation cam-

paigns, it makes it seem like it is in Manila’s best interest not to do anything about securing its sovereign rights,” Gill told the ANC. “It is anxious with the way we are overtly now engaging in a way that reflects our interests, our sovereignty, our sovereign rights and territorial integrity,” he added.

An official has said the Philippine military was exploring possible joint

Police nab three kidnap suspects in Binan City

KIDNAPPING SUSPECTS.

The faces of these three Chinese nationals arrested for alleged kidnapping are blurred to protect their right to privacy.

The trio were nabbed following hot pursuit operations by the police in Binan City, Laguna province.

Roy Tomandao

resupply missions with other countries in the West Philippine Sea following a diplomatic row with China arising from two vessel collisions in the area.

Late last month, Chinese Coast Guard ships tried to block Philippine vessels on their way to deliver supplies to troops stationed at the Ayungin Shoal, leading to collisions that damaged BRP Cabra and civilian ship Unaizah May 2.

THE OTHER FACE OF GREETING A VISITING JAPANESE PREMIER.

A group of climate and energy justice campaigners from the Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) stage a protest rally against Japanese fossil fuel projects in front of the Embassy of Japan as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida conductS his first official state visit in Manila on Friday Nov.3, 2023.

Norman Cruz

By Roy Tomandao CAMP Paciano Rizal –Elements of the Laguna provincial police force have arrested following hot pursuit operations in Binan City three Chinese nationals suspected for kidnapping, extortion, grave coercion, and possession of firearms.

Acting Laguna police chief Col. Harold Depositar, identified the suspects only as alias Tan, a resident of Sta Cruz, Manila; alias Yang; and alias Yang.

Binan police chief Jonathan Robert Rongavilla, in his report, narrated that they received information through a phone call about a kidnapping incident.

Initial investigations showed that the victim, identified ony as Shoroming, was abducted by the suspects in Pasay City on October 30, 2023, and held captive in a rented apartment at a subdivision at Brgy. Tubigan, Biñan.

The suspects allegedly demanded P1 million ransom and a luxury vehicle in exchange for the victim’s release.

However, the victim managed to escape and seek help from the residents in the subdivision who called the police for assistance.

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Friday, Marcos said he had just inaugurated Laurel.

“I have just administered the oath of office for the new secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Francisco Laurel. And, this is because it is time that we have found somebody who understands very well the problems that Agriculture is facing,” Marcos said in the briefing.

Marcos held the position of DA Secretary for more than a year since the start of his term.

RIDERS FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS. Suspended ride-hailing and food delivery riders show their mobile phones indicating their notices of suspension for allegedly joining a massive mobilization opposing their employers’ recent imposition of ‘unfair fare matrix.’ Manny Palmero

PH urged to conduct joint patrols with allied nations at WPS CHINA has become anxious about how the Philippines is strengthening efforts to secure maritime domain and assert its rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), observers said on Friday.

The observers, along with some experts, urged the Philippines “to immediately conduct regular joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea with like-minded states” which include the United

A3

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

LNMB fills to brim with 84k visitors during Undas FAMILIES and friends of heroes did not neglect their solemn duty to visit their departed during the past All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Data from the Armed Forces of the Philippines showed that some 84,300 people crowded the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.

“On Nov. 1 alone, a total of 42,790

visitors flocked (to the) LNMB during the observance of All Saints’ Day. The national cemetery serves as the resting place for soldiers, Philippine presidents, national heroes, patriots, artists, and scientists,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief, Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement.

He also disclosed that the volume of visitors at the LNMB on Oct. 31 and Nov. 2 were recorded at 14,681 and 26,829, respectively.

“The outpouring of visits at the LNMB is a testament to the enduring spirit of patriotism and gratitude to those who served the nation with unwavering dedication,” Trinidad noted.

New Zealand Navy ship here on 3-day visit

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Philippines has an unusual visitor from New Zealand—the naval vessel HMNZS Aotearoa – which dropped anchors for three days in Manila staring October 30 as part of its effort to “strengthen longstanding maritime and diplomatic ties between the two maritime countries.”

Aotearoa is part of New Zealand’s Defence Force (NZDF)’s largest naval deployment to the Indo-Pacific.

“This three-day ship visit is a testament to the enduring friendship and cooperation shared between New Zealand and the Philippines and signifies New Zealand’s commitment to promoting peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” the New Zealand Embassy in the Philippines said in a statement.

Aotearoa’s port call built on the maritime alliance between the two countries, which was bolstered in November 2021 when foreign ministry officials of both sides met to come up with a bilateral mechanism that charted the direction of the two countries’ engagements, including maritime security.

“The HMNZS Aotearoa’s visit to the Philippines underscores New Zealand’s dedication to maritime security, regional stability, and fostering diplomatic relations in the Indo-Pacific. Ito ay nagsisilbing patunay sa matibay na samahan ng New Zealand at Pilipinas (It serves as a testament to the strong and enduring partnership between New Zealand and the Philippines),” New Zealand Ambassador to Manila Peter Kell said in a statement.

Aoteroa, an auxiliary ship and reputedly the largest ship that the Royal New Zealand Navy has operated, engaged in various activities that promoted cultural exchange and maritime cooperation during her visit.

BuCor welcomes planned penal summit THE Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Friday welcomed a projected summit by the Department of Justice on the country’s penology system, saying it may hasten the release of qualified prisoners.

“The Supreme Court’s plans to conduct a National Jail Decongestion Summit in coordination with the Justice Sector Coordinating Council is a very welcome move that will definitely benefit PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) since one of the topics that will be up for discussion is the root causes of prolonged detention in jails which contribute to overcrowding,” BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said in a statement.

The BuCor chief also cited an initiative of the Supreme Court to establish new policies meant to expedite the processing of criminal cases and the release of qualified PDLs. Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo earlier visited the National Bilibid Prison – Medium Security Camp and the Pasay City Jail where he addressed the inmates.

BuCor, under Catapang’s administration, has so far set free a total of 6,322 PDLs under the “Bilis Laya” program.

They were released due to expiration of their maximum sentence, acquitted of the charges against them, given parole or granted probation, while others were released on cash bond.

A4 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

NEWS

Bidding for 2025 poll system set

By Vito Barcelo

T

HE Commission on Elections will hold an open the bidding on Nov. 8, 2023 for the P18.827-billion lease contract for a new automated election system for the 2025 midterm polls.

It will also decide next week whether or not to ban Smartmatic in the bidding process.

Comelec chairman George Garcia said the invitation to bid has been uploaded by Comelec on its website.

The contract is for the lease of 110,000 automated counting machines and other election-related materials and expenses.

“The poll body will procure not just the hardware to be used for the 2025 polls but also the software needed for the trans-

mission of results and internet voting for overseas Filipino workers,” he said.

The poll chief said the use of a fully automated system is required by law and that the manual counting of votes tends to be marred with delays and errors, especially when a voter’s handwriting is illegible.

Meanwhile, the decision on a petition to ban service provider Smartmatic in the bidding process for the country’s next election system may come out next week, Garcia said.

“A draft resolution will be presented

Specials polls set for Teves’ replacement

on Wednesday, so the Comelec en banc could either approve or reject it,” he said.

Smartmatic has been the poll technology provider since the country first held automated elections in 2010.

The petition against Smartmatic was filed by former Department of Information and Communications Technology chief Eliseo Rio Jr., Augusto Cadelina Lagman, Franklin Fayloga Ysaac, and Leonardo Olivera Odono on June 15.

However, Smartmatic denied the allegation, saying it was false and baseless with the aim of maligning the company.

By Vito Barcelo THE Commission on Election (Comelec) on Friday said it will hold a special election in Negros Oriental on December 9, 2023 to replace Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., who is wanted by for the killing of Gov. Roel Degamo and nine others.

In a press briefing, poll chairman George Garcia said P75 million was allotted for the special election.

He said aspirants for the vacant third district of Negros Oriental have three days, or from Nov. 6 to 8, to file their certificate of candidacy.

The election period will then start on Nov. 9 and will run until Dec. 24, during which a gun ban will be in effect.

The campaign period is from Nov. 9 to Dec. 7.

“From Nov. 9 to Dec. 8, the specific prohibited acts are: (1) the release, disbursement, or expenditure of public funds; (2) the construction of public works, delivery of materials for public works, etc.; and (3) the appointment or hiring of new employees, creation of new positions, filling of new positions, promotion or giving of salary increases, renumeration or privileges,” Comelec said in a statement.

The House of Representatives expelled Teves on Aug. 16 for his “disorderly behavior and for violation of the Code of Conduct of the House of Representatives.”

The Constitution states that in cases of vacancy in the Senate or House of Representatives, a special election may be called.

VISITING JAPANESE LEADER.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida leads the wreathlaying ceremony at the Rizal Monument in Manila on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. National Hero Jose Rizal visited Japan in 1888. At Hibiya Park in Tokyo, a bust of Rizal and a stone marker below it were erected by the Rizal Society of Japan because the hotel where Rizal stayed eight years before his death was located near the park.

Joey O. Razon

Marcos to DSWD: Reward for info on missing beauty queen now at P250,000 Be innovative in fighting poverty

By Maricel V. Cruz PRESIDENT Marcos instructed the Department of Social Welfare and Development to come up with innovative programs to combat and end hunger and poverty in the country even before the recent Social Weather Station survey on hunger and poverty was released.

DSWd Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the order was hinged on Mr. Marcos’ desire to end hunger and make the countrt more inclusive with no one is left behind.

The latest SWS survey showed that nearly half or 48 percent of Filipino families rated themselves as poor during the third quarter of the year.

Conducted from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, the SWS survey estimated that around 13.2 million families consider themselves as poor — higher than the 12.5 million estimated in June 2023.

“This is the reason why the DSWD came up with the Food Stamp Program (FSP), which was designed primarily to alleviate the lingering incidence of food poverty and malnutrition among low-income Filipino households through the provision of meal augmentation worth P3,000 on a monthly basis,” Gatchalian said.

The FSP is currently in its pilot run and the scale up of the program is slated for middle of 2024.

THE reward for information on the disappearance of Batangas beauty queen Catherine Camilon has reached P250,000.

This after the business sector in Batangas and the Presidential AntiOrganized Crime Commission raised P150,000 more, Police Region 4-A head Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas said.

Batangas Vice Gov. Mark Leviste

earlier offered P100,000 for information on the missing Camilon a resident of Tuy, Batangas.

The police officer tagged as a person of interest in the disappearance of Camilon, who was last seen in Lemery, Batangas, has remained mum.

PRO 4A public information office chief Lt. Col. Chitadel Gaoiran said the cop is still under police custody.

“He is not saying much. He did not admit nor deny anything about the disappearance of Catherine,” Gaoiran said.

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

Because the person of interest is a personnel of the local police, Lucas said the case has been transferred to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) unit in the region.

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

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

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

Duterte: No plans to run for senator in 2025 polls

By Maricel V. Cruz

HOLIDAY SNAPSHOT. Children dressed as elves pose for a group photo during SM City San Mateo’s Christmas tree lighting on Saturday night, Oct. 27, 2023. Manny Palmero

DAVAO City Rep. Paolo Duterte said he is “overwhelmed” by his inclusion in the top 12 choices for senator in the 2025 midterm elections in recent surveys but said he will is not interested in seeking a national position.

A series of surveys conducted by various pollsters placed the young Duterte in the so-called Magic 12 list of choices for senator.

“First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to my fellow Filipinos for continuing to place their trust and confidence in me. I started in politics serving Dabawenyos and I would like to retire doing the same,” Duterte said.

“Besides the fact that I do not have the capacity to finance a nationwide campaign, what little I have saved is allotted for my retirement and for the education of my children,” he added.

The lawmaker said that even during the term of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, some people have already been egging him to run for senator.

“And I can be honest that it crossed my mind to run when a few people are encouraging me to vie for a Senate seat, especially during the presidency of my father, Rodrigo Duterte.

But I don’t think it would be that easy,” he said.

‘Brgy. officials should have a say in dev’t projects’

By Maricel V. Cruz A LEGISLATOR from Mindanao called on newly-elected barangay officials to make their voices heard in the implementation of critical development projects to ensure they get to meet the priority needs of their respective communities.

Rep. Paolo Duterte of Davao City said with barangay officials at the frontlines of providing basic services to the people, they are in the best position to determine the projects and programs that will have a positive impact in the lives of their constituents.

Thus, their recommendations should be strongly considered in the

implementation of government projects, he said.

“With your fresh mandate, you can become instruments of meaningful change in the barangays that you are tasked to serve,” said Duterte, who began his career in government service as a village chief in Barangay Catalunan Grande in Davao City.

Bulacan lawmaker accepts failed cityhood bid

By Maricel V. Cruz

SAN Jose del Monte City Rep. Florida Robes said she accepts the will of the people of Bulacan in rejecting efforts to transform the component city into a Highly Urbanized City.

Robes, who spearheaded the campaign

for HUCn said the Bulakenyos have spoken in the recent plebiscite that coincided with the barangay elections on October 30.

“We sincerely thank all our beloved San Joseños and our fellow Bulakenyos for your participation in the previous plebiscite,” said Robes, chairperson of the House Committee on Good Gov-

ernment and Public Accountability.

“Although the campaign we advocated failed, we fully accept the will of the people.

This is the spirit of our democracy, and you can count on our full support,” she added.

More than 800,000 voters rejected SJDM’s conversion into a highly urbanized city.

HAND-TO-MOUTH EXISTENCE. Shanties are dwarfed by the skyline of Ortigas

business district as seen from floodway in Pasig City on Friday. National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the government on track in its efforts to reduce the poverty rate to 9% by 2028 after a new survey showed that 48%, or 13.2 million Filipino families, rated themselves poor in September, up from 45% or 12.5 million households in June. Manny Palmero

OPINION

B1 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023 Honor Blanco Cabie, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Filipinos cannot be called traitors to treaty they never drafted IT IS most sinister to accuse Filipinos as unpatriotic for suggesting the South China Sea belongs to China.

As repeated several times, the historical basis which is the treaty of Paris signed by the US and Spain on December 10, 1898 formally ceded the archipelago to Spain by the US for 20 million dollars.

Stating this historical truth does not make any Filipino writer unpatriotic.

His position on this is crucial and quite important because this involves the fact that at the turn of the 19th century, the US became an imperialist power in Asia.

This crucial determination of the US as a global imperialist power in Asia remains contested to this day.

Article III Section 1 of the Treaty of Paris provides, to quote: ARTICLE III Spain cedes to the United States the archipelago known as the Philippine Islands, and comprehending the islands lying within the following line: A line running from west to east along or near the twentieth parallel of north latitude, and through the middle of the navigable channel of Bachi, from the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) to the one hundred and twenty seventh (127th) degrees meridian of longitude east of Greenwich, thence along the one hundred and twenty seventh (127th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich to the parallel of four degree and forty five minutes (4°45′) north latitude, thence along the parallel of four degrees and forty five minutes (4°45′) north latitude to its intersection with the meridian of longitude one hundred and nineteen degrees and thirty five minutes (119°35′) east of Greenwich, thence along the meridian of longitude one hundred and nineteen degrees and thirty five minutes (119°35′) east of Greenwich to the parallel of latitude seven degrees and forty minutes (7°40′) north, thence along the parallel of latitude seven degrees and forty minutes (7°40′) north to its intersection with the one hundred and sixteenth (116th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich, thence by a direct line to the intersection of the tenth (10th) degree parallel of north latitude with the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich, and thence along the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich to the point of beginning.

The United States will pay to Spain the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) within three months after the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty.

The indisputable fact clearly indicates the US could not be a party to any dispute between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. Being a party to a dispute in the South China Sea remains an issue which it is uncannily silent.

Instead of endorsing the authenticity of the treaty where the US is the vendor of the archipelago to that Treaty, the US keeps on skirting the issue about the signed Treaty, and insists the US and the Philippines have a defense treaty for which the US is committed to defend this country.

Our defense agreement with the US

came much later after the signing of the aforesaid Treaty.

Our much later agreement allowing the US to install nine military bases under EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) as a sort of guarantee to protect the county from possible Chinese invasion is an imagination constantly inculcated into the minds of our local political analysts; that China is about to invade us.

Our agreement to install US military bases came long after we demarcated the first boundary in the South China Sea.

The indisputable fact clearly indicates that the US could not be a party to any dispute between China and the US in the South China Sea

As one political analyst would ask, when we demarcated our boundary, did it mean that all areas outside of our boundary considered as areas outside of our territory?

Remember, it was the boundary used in the Treaty of Paris that we adopted, and China can never be faulted by the US for the seemingly unequal demarcation made in the South China Sea. If the baseline of the boundary we made to separate the Philippines from China through that body of water called South China Sea and appears to favor China, it is nobody’s fault.

We ratified after the grant of our independence in 1946 and the US signed it as a seller of the archipelago.

If the boundary appears to encroach on our territorial waters, meaning less than 12-mile limit from our baseline, China has every right to defend that area, it forming part of our international waters.

Take our claim in the Scarborough Shoal or Huangyan as China would call it.

Scarborough has since time immemorial been called by us ours because it is considered as a historical fishing ground for our fishermen.

Objectively, Scarborough Shoal is outside of our exclusive economic zone defined by the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas or UNCLOS. To be precise, it is 230 kms from the town of Orani Bataan.

On the other hand, Scarborough Shoal is outside of China’s 200-mile EEZ. In that situation, the Philippine is claiming that Scarborough is part of our territorial waters on the basis that China cannot extend another 200-mile EEZ to justify the concept of continuity of its boundaries from its shoreline.

Full article at manilastandard.net

EDITORIAL

Confronting challenges OON as he uttered the last word of his oath of office and felt the congratulatory hand of the appointing authority, the newly appointed agriculture chief saw before him a bulletin board of problems he must address.

S

This, after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gave up the Cabinet portfolio he held concurrently since last year and appointed fishing tycoon Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. the Department of Agriculture secretary.

Laurel’s ad interim appointment will be presented to the Commission on Appointments when Congress resumes session on Monday.

Before then, we join others who welcome his appointment, at a time of rising commodity prices, including agricultural products, with the inflation rate quickening to 6.1 percent in September.

His marching orders include curbing the rising prices of some agricultural commodities, pursuing modernization, and checking how neighboring countries are managing their agriculture sectors.

He also faces issues of rampant agricultural smuggling, which President Marcos has blamed for the increase in prices.

We are aware the Department of Justice said criminal and administrative cases would be filed against several DA officials it linked to smuggling, hoarding, and profiteering.

The President repeated his marching orders to Laurel, which include the control of agricultural commodities’ prices, recovery from avian flu and African swine fever.

he would most likely be familiar with: commercial fishing vessels’ resistance against DA’s monitoring measures.

Some, however, have expressed concern that Laurel, who owns Frabelle Fishing Corporation, a deep sea fishing company supplying fresh, frozen, and processed seafood products to domestic and international markets, would only advance his business agenda.

But in the main, agriculture groups are willing to work with Laurel, saying they expect him to “commit” to resolving urgent concerns in the sector.

Others expressed hope he could “live up to the expectations” that came with the role.

“We wish Sec. Francis Tiu Laurel Jr. success and are prepared to work with him. At the same time, we hope that he will listen closely to and act promptly on the urgent concerns especially of small farmers, municipal fishers and other disadvantaged members of the agricultural sector,” the Federation of Free Farmers said in a statement.

We agree that Laurel’s appointment can be intimidating.

But we join others who raise their hope that Laurel would make a firm commitment, once he gets the nod of the Commission on Appointments, to strengthen the agriculture front, reduce tariffs on all agricultural commodities, resolve price issue and dismantle price cartels.

Laurel would have to steer an agency struggling with a problem he would most likely be familiar with: commercial fishing vessels’ resistance against DA’s monitoring measures

Aside from these, Laurel, who must contend with alleged cartels that hurt Filipino consumers, would have to steer an agency struggling with a problem

The seed germinates IN HIS spiritual message titled “The Seed Germinates,” Father Timothy Radcliffe drew a parallel between the period from the first session of the Synod in October 2023 to the second in October 2024 and the process of gestation.

Over the next 11 months, Father Radcliffe stated, “If we remain receptive and empathetic to the individuals we have encountered here, open to their aspirations and anxieties, their words will take root in our lives, and ours in theirs.

“This nurturing will yield a bountiful harvest, a deeper understanding, and in this renewal, the Church shall be revitalized.”

The 11--month break, according to Radcliffe, will be “the most productive stretch of the entire Synod”, a time of growth and progress. Referring to a remark once made by Jesus, “The kingdom of God is like someone sowing seeds in the ground and then going about their daily activities while the seeds sprout and grow, even though they don’t understand how.”

He said that over the past three weeks, the synod participants had been inundated with an abundance of words, sometimes feeling like an overwhelming deluge.

According to him, most of these words have carried a positive sentiment, brimming with hope and aspirations; words that have been “planted in the fertile soil of the Church and will silently work within us, in our thoughts and our subconscious, over these eleven months.

“Eventually, when the right time comes, these words will yield results.”

He illustrated this point by referring to Rainer Maria Rilke, the Austrian poet, who wrote, “Despite all the farmer’s efforts and concerns, he can’t reach down to where the seed is slowly ‘Transformed into summer.’ The earth gives.”

Even when it seems like nothing is happening, we can trust that loving words will blossom and flourish in the lives of

people we might not even know.

As St. Therese of Lisieux wisely noted, “It is confidence and nothing but confidence that must lead us to Love,” he

those holding contrary opinions.

It’s essential to maintain a prayerful disposition and resist the temptation to embrace a partisan mindset, as it would only drag us back into the sterile language of societal conflict.

The synodal process is more akin to an organic and ecological endeavor, resembling the act of planting a tree rather than waging a battle.

Although conflicts may occasionally arise, understanding our approach, even for ourselves, can be quite challenging, he opined.

Yet, according to Radcliffe, if people were to remain open to the people they’ve encountered during this time (synodal process), receptive to their hopes and fears, “their words will take root in our lives, just as ours will in theirs. This will lead to a bountiful harvest, a deeper truth, and a rejuvenation of the Church,” he said.

He pointed out that in the outset, humanity’s role in the Garden of Eden involved being caretakers. Adam’s responsibility was the care of creation, as he used God’s creative words to name the animals.

He then urged his listeners “to nurture the fragile entity known as the Synod.”

The question the participants face is whether their words will be filled with hope and productivity or if they will opt for cynicism and destruction. Will their words feed the growth or contaminate it?

“The destiny of this garden rests within our grasp, and each of us plays a part in this decision. Just as St. Paul advised the Ephesians, Let no harmful speech leave your lips, but only that which is beneficial for building up others according to their needs, so it may be of help to those who listen,” he concluded.

Even when it seems like nothing is happening, we can trust that loving words will blossom and flourish in the lives of people we might not even know

adds.

Radcliffe then reminded his audience about the story of Abraham and Sarah, who were promised numerous descendants, more than the sands on the seashore, yet nothing seemed to be happening.

Sarah even laughed at the promise when she heard it multiple times, hidden in her tent as strangers conveyed the message in Genesis 18.

But within a year, she would give birth to a child of joy. In effect, the synodal fathers are anticipating new life, a period of active expectation.

For Radcliffe, the concept of “active expectation” offers a stark departure from the prevailing cultural norms, especially in a time when global culture tends to be polarized, confrontational, and dismissive of differing viewpoints.

The speaker emphasized that people often ask, “Which perspective do you align with?” Upon returning home, we might encounter inquiries about whether we supported a specific side or opposed

‘No income, no life’: Jerusalem’s Old City suffers as war rages JERUSALEM—The once bustling streets of Jerusalem’s Old City have fallen eerily quiet, with the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas keeping away tourists and their much-needed cash.

In the maze-like warren of shopping streets that surrounds the city’s holy sites, most businesses remained shuttered, nearly four weeks into the war.

The few remaining shopkeepers brave enough to open their stores wait day after day for tourists that have yet to return.

“There is no tourism industry any more,” said Marwan Attieh, 48, a thirdgeneration tour guide and souvenir shop owner.

“We have families, we have children...

(There is) no business, no income, no revenue, no life. How can you spend money, if you don’t have money?”

The walled Old City in annexed east Jerusalem is home to some of the holiest sites for Christians, Jews and Muslims and has drawn pilgrims and travellers for centuries.

Yet Jerusalem’s lucrative tourism

sector has all but collapsed since October 7, when Hamas militants from Gaza stormed across the border in an attack that killed at least 1,400 people, according to Israeli officials.

Following the onslaught, Israel has struck back hard at the Hamascontrolled Gaza Strip with a relentless bombing campaign that has killed more than 9,000 people, mainly civilians, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.

‘No people’ The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where most Christians believe Jesus was crucified and buried, stood largely empty on Thursday, other than the occasional priest stirring in its cavernous halls.

“Before, this place was really alive, full of people praying and offering their problems to God and in general very spiritual,” said Pietro Mazzocco, a 31-year-old Italian seminary student studying in Jerusalem.

“And now it’s completely empty, as

ManilaStandard

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Telephone numbers 8-5646225 and 8-5646229 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandard.net

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

While many flights to Israel have been suspended and tour packages canceled, a few tourists managed to reach the largely deserted Old City you can see here. There are no people.”

While many flights to Israel have been suspended and tour packages canceled, a few tourists managed to reach the largely deserted Old City.

Rachid, a 24-year-old French tourist, refused to cancel his trip to Israel, saying he wanted to see the situation on the ground with his own eyes.

He arrived earlier this week via the

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

land border from Jordan, following lengthy interrogation sessions by Israeli authorities.

“It’s a bit weird, nobody is in the streets,” he told AFP, adding that he had been stopped several times by Israeli police since arriving.

“People are afraid on both sides,” he shrugged. “People are sensitive. They don’t know who I am or where I’m from.”

‘They kick everybody’ Outside of the tourism bubble, daily life has also taken a hit.

Attendances at Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque are down, while checkpoints and patrols in occupied east Jerusalem have been beefed up.

Many residents of the mostly Palestinian-populated Old City are afraid to leave their homes, citing harassment and physical violence by Israeli security forces.

In the nearby West Bank, the number of deaths of Palestinians has surged amid a flurry of Israeli operations, with more than 130 killed in clashes with the

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

military and settlers.

On Wednesday, a general strike was called in solidarity with the residents of the besieged Gaza Strip, with businesses closing across the West Bank, including east Jerusalem.

On Thursday, many shop owners declined to speak to AFP out of concern for their personal security.

“It’s a dangerous time. It’s not safe,” said Emad Sideyyi, a shop keeper in the Old City.

“The soldiers, they kick everybody,” he said. “They don’t deal in a good way with people.”

For most, the war cannot end soon enough.

But with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing that a ceasefire with Hamas remained off the table, despair appeared only to be deepening.

“We hope to have a peace for everybody,” said Sideyyi. “We don’t want to kill each other like animals. We need to live.” AFP

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

WORLD

B2 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Ciaran’ batters West Europe, leaves 10 dead B

RUSSELS, Belgium—At least 10 people were killed as Storm Ciaran battered Western Europe with record winds of up to 200 kilometers per hour, causing travel mayhem with closed ports and flight and rail disruptions.

Three people died in Tuscany, Italian authorities announced on Friday, reporting record rainfall and the declaration of a state of emergency.

Tuscany governor Eugenio Giani said the three dead included an 85-yearold man who was found drowned in his house.

“What happened tonight in Tuscany has a name: climate change,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Florence mayor Dario Nardella said the “situation is critical” in the city.

Trees felled by gale-force winds caused most of the deaths in Europe. In the Belgian city of Ghent, a five-yearold Ukrainian boy and a 64-year-old woman were killed by falling branches.

Falling trees had earlier killed a lorry driver in his vehicle in northern France’s Aisne region, and French authorities also reported the death of a man who fell from his balcony in the port city of Le Havre.

A man in the Dutch town of Venray, a woman in central Madrid and a person in Germany also died.

Some 1.2 million French homes lost electricity as the storm lashed the northwest coast. Almost 700,000 remained without power on Thursday evening, according to network manager Enedis.

French President Emmanuel Macron

was due to visit the storm-battered region of Brittany on Friday, the Elysee presidential palace said.

The storm interrupted rail, air and SAD SIGHT. Pedestrians look at a big wave crashing on a dike in Lomener, western France, on Thursday, as the weather is impacted maritime traffic in Belgium where the by storm Ciaran hitting western Europe. At least 10 deaths and a lot of damage: after crossing the north-west of the country with winds reaching 200 km/h, storm Ciaran reached the north of France and England Thursday afternoon. AFP port of Antwerp was closed and flights from Brussels were disrupted.

The wind gusts in the western Brittany region were “exceptional” and “many absolute records have been broken”, national weather service MeteoYANGON—Myanmar’s junta chief members of the State Administration safety.

France said on X. vowed Friday to strike back after an al- Council, as the junta calls itself, report“There is fighting every day, with The prefect for the local department liance of ethnic minority groups seized ed in the state-run Global New Light of heavy artillery shelling and air strikes said gusts as high as 207 km/h (129 towns and blocked trade routes to China Myanmar newspaper. as well.” mph) were recorded at Pointe du Raz in the biggest coordinated offensive He also accused the Kachin IndeHe said an important bridge was on the tip of the northwest coast, while against the military since it seized pow- pendence Army (KIA) in neighboring down, effectively cutting the town in the port city of Brest saw winds hit 156 er in a coup.

Kachin state of attacking “transport fa- two, and people from outlying villages km/h.

Fighting has raged for a week across cilities” and military bases, and warned were moving in to seek shelter from In southern England, hundreds of a wide swathe of northern Shan state, the military would retaliate. clashes in the countryside. schools were closed as large waves forcing more than 23,000 people from On Wednesday a junta spokesman “Thousands of people are stuck in powered by winds of 135 km/h crashed their homes according to the UN, in said the military had lost control of town. We still have food to eat by sharalong the coastline. what analysts say is the most severe Chinshwehaw town, a major trade hub ing with each other,” he said, adding On the Channel Island of Jersey, military challenge to the junta since it on the border with China’s Yunnan that 10 civilians had been killed and 10 residents had to be evacuated to hotels seized power in 2021. province. wounded. overnight as gusts of up to 164 km/h The Myanmar National Democratic A resident in Hsenwi, a strategic Communications with the remote redamaged homes, according to local Alliance Army, the Ta’ang National transport node some 90 kilometers from gion are patchy and access impossible media.

Liberation Army and the Arakan Army Chinshwehaw, told AFP that locals while fighting rages, so AFP was unable More than 200 flights were canceled said on Thursday they had captured were cowering in their homes as clashes to immediately confirm the casualty toll. at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, a madozens of outposts and four towns and raged.

“Those who have knowledge of medjor European hub. blocked vital trade routes to China.

“It’s chaos—neither the military nor icine are helping to treat the wounded Air, rail and ferry services saw can“The government will launch coun- the alliance groups are in control of the —people dare not to go to the hospital cellations and long delays across sevter-attacks” against the armed groups, town,” the resident told AFP by phone, although we heard it’s open,” the resieral countries. AFP Min Aung Hlaing said in a speech to requesting anonymity to protect their dent said. AFP

23,000 displaced in Myanmar’s ethnic attacks—UN

US, China to seek climate progress in California talks WASHINGTON, DC—The United States and China, the world’s two largest greenhouse gas emitters, said Thursday (Friday in Manila) they will hold climate talks this weekend in California, raising new hopes for headway at the COP28 summit in Dubai.

The talks, on the eve of an expected US visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, will take place at the Sunnylands desert resort -memorable as the site of Xi’s first US summit after he assumed power a decade ago.

US climate envoy John Kerry will welcome his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua from Saturday through Tuesday at the estate near Palm Springs, the two governments said.

The two sides will discuss “enhanced implementation and ambition and efforts to promote a successful COP28,” the US State Department said in a statement.

Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said the two sides “will have an in-depth exchange of views on promoting action and cooperation on climate change and supporting the success of COP28 in Dubai.”

World leaders and climate negotiators will gather in Dubai from November 30 for the latest UN-led summit as record-shattering temperatures, rising wildfires and worsening disasters heighten alarm about the fate of the planet.

The United States and China, the world’s two largest economies and frequent adversaries, are together responsible for nearly half of the greenhouse gas emissions blamed for rising temperatures, with a goal of checking warming to 1.5 Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels looking increasingly out of reach.

The US-China meeting “is an encouraging sign” for COP28, said Rachel Cleetus, a climate expert at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

“The world is in a dire situation. So havManila ing the opportunity to find some breakStandard throughs and areas of collaborative agreeTODAY ment ahead of time will be important,” she said.

One key issue at NOTICE OF PUBLICATION the Dubai summit be hammerNotice is hereby given to will that an “Affidavit of Self- ing out details of a Adjudication” has been so-called loss and executed by LOURDES E. JOHNSON, as sole heir damage fund, which of the late LAWRENCE would compensate D. JOHNSON, who died intestate on September 18, the poorest nations 2018, under Doc. No. 352; as they cope with Page No. 72; Book No. 25; Series of 2023, executed the consequences of before Atty. Carlos C. climate change -- not Abesamis, Notary Public simply assisting them for Pasig City in adapting. AFP (MS-OCT. 21/28/NOV 4, 2023)

GLOBAL RESPONSE.

UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres reacts during a meeting with Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the second day of the UK Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, in central England, on Thursday.

Guterres told the summit AI had ‘possible long-term negative consequences’ on everything from jobs to culture, while its concentration in a few countries and companies ‘could increase geopolitical tensions.’ AFP

UN chief calls for ‘united’ voice to AI threats UN SECRETARY-GENERAL Antonio Guterres called Thursday for a “united, sustained, global response” to artificial intelligence threats, as Western allies agreed a safety framework for new cutting-edge models at a world-first summit in Britain.

The UN chief said the world was “playing catch-up” and needed to “get ahead of the wave”, as he addressed the inaugural AI Safety Summit attended by various political, technology and other figures from around the world.

The two-day gathering at Bletchley Park, north of London, ended Thursday with Western governments and companies involved in so-called next generation “frontier” AI agreeing a new safety testing regime.

Governments from G7 and EU countries, as well as Australia, Korea, Singapore, struck a deal with AIleading companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind and Microsoft, to test their latest models before and after release.

It comes amid growing concerns around the emerging tech, ranging from job losses and cyberattacks to humans’ ability to remain in control of future systems.

Guterres told the summit that AI had “possible long-term negative consequences” on everything from jobs to culture, while its concentration in a few countries and companies “could increase geopolitical tensions”.

Warning it might “exacerbate the enormous inequalities that already

plague our world”, he demanded a “united, sustained, global strategy, based on multilateralism and the participation of all stakeholders”.

Hailing the new “landmark” agreement around testing, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he believed it would help “tip the balance in favour of humanity”.

Sunak, who struck an alarmist tone in a recent speech warning of AI’s potential dangers, also announced that renowned AI academic Yoshua Bengio would lead a team producing an inaugural report into AI safety.

“The late Stephen Hawking once said, AI is likely to be the best or worst thing to happen to humanity,” Sunak told a news conference concluding the summit. AFP

Australian woman linked to alleged mushroom murders faces trial court MORWELL, Australia—An Australian woman appeared in court Friday accused of murdering her in-laws with a toxic mushroom lunch and attempting to kill her estranged husband four times.

Erin Patterson, 49, is charged with three counts of murder for allegedly dishing up a poisonous beef Wellington that killed her parents-in-law and a third lunch guest, the wife of a local pastor.

Police have previously suggested the crusted beef fillet was laced with death cap mushrooms.

Patterson, a former newsletter editor, was taken into custody this week following a headline-grabbing, threemonth investigation.

The alleged triple murder has rocked the sedate farming town of Leongatha, about two hours’ drive southeast of Melbourne.

Leongatha is better known for its medieval society’s re-enactments and its annual daffodil festival.

Patterson has also been charged with repeatedly trying to murder her estranged husband Simon Patterson, who was identified in police charge sheets released to the media on Friday.

Police said Simon Patterson “became ill after meals” on separate occasions in 2021 and 2022, and have charged Erin Patterson with four counts of attempted murder. AFP

Trump sons grilled on stand in New York civil fraud trial

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

NEW YORK—Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump testified on Thursday (Friday in Manila) in the New York case against the family real estate business and blamed accountants for company financial statements the authorities say were fraudulent.

The former president’s two eldest sons were the first members of the Trump family to testify in the trial in which the Trump Organization is accused of inflating the value of its assets by billions of dollars to obtain more faSONS GRILLED. Donald Trump Jr. (2nd left) and Eric Trump (center) arrive at vorable bank loans and insurance terms.

New York Supreme Court Thursday (Friday in Manila) for the fraud trial of the Trump Don Jr and Eric Trump are both exOrganization. Eric Trump is in court to testify one day after his brother Donald Trump Jr., testified he had not been involved in the organization’s financial documents at the ecutive vice presidents of the Trump center of the prosecution. AFP Organization, a sprawling network

of companies managing residential buildings, office skyscrapers, luxury hotels and golf courses around the world.

Don Jr, 45, dressed like his brother in a dark blue suit and light blue tie with slicked back hair, was the first to take the stand and he testified that while he signed off on financial statements he relied on the expertise of accountants for their accuracy.

His testimony was followed by that of his younger brother Eric, 39, who had a more difficult time under intense questioning from Andrew Amer, a lawyer with the New York attorney general’s office, which brought the case. AFP

BUSINESS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023

extrastory2000@gmail.com

Globe defends late payment fee, describes it as ‘standard practice’

By Darwin G. Amojelar GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Friday charging late payment fee is “standard practice” in other sectors in the Philippines and abroad.

The telecom unit of the Ayala Group said that charging a late payment fee is standard practice for services with monthly recurring bills including banks and credit card companies.

Globe said earlier it would implement a late payment fee of P50 for mobile postpaid, broadband postpaid and Platinum subscribers if they pay after the monthly due date.

Globe spokesperson Yolanda Crisanto said its customer is given at least 27 days after the bill cut-off period to settle it without late payment fee.

“Given that most services including banks, fintech, credit cards, bill payment services, utilities like power and water are

B3

JOB PLACEMENT. The Job Placement Office (JPO) of the Lyceum of the Philippines receives the Best Public Employment Service Office (PESO) award as the Department of Labor and Employment’s partner in promoting employment at the school level. Leading the ceremony during the 23rd National PESO Congress on Oct. 25 to 27 in Palo, Leyte is Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma (right).

all charging late payment fee for a long time, it is only now that telco customers are being asked to pay late payment fees,” she said.

The company also said that late payment fee is not a new fee, but has been part of the Globe subscription agreement with customers.

Globe said it would start enforcing late payment fees stipulated in the subscription agreement for mobile and broadband postpaid customers starting Dec. 1, 2023 to encourage on-time payment of monthly dues and ensure uninterrupted services.

Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares opposed Globe’s plan to penalize its postpaid subscribers for late payments, saying many subscribers came to him complaining about the penalty.

“I think that Globe should be considerate to their subscribers and scrap this fee. It should also improve its service, instead of thinking about profit first,” Colmenares said.

Stocks climb after overnight Wall Street gains

By Jenniffer B. Austria

P

HILIPPINE stocks rose Friday to mark the start of November trading in positive territory following overnight gains on Wall Street.

The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange index picked up 15.49 points, or 0.26 percent, to close at 5,989.27, while the broader all-shares index rose 8.83 points, or 0.27 percent, to settle at 3,263.05.

China Bank Capital managing di-

rector Juan Paolo Colet said stocks advanced on the back of US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell’s remarks that analysts said were less hawkish than expected.

Colet said, however, the local mar-

ket’s failure to close above the critical resistance level of 6,000 indicates that investors remain cautious ahead of the release of US and Philippine inflation rates next week.

Value turnover also remained thin at P3.2 billion.

Meanwhile, Asian equities extended a global rally Friday as investors were caught up in a wave of optimism that the Federal Reserve has finished its cycle of interest rate hikes, with eyes now on the release of US jobs data.

Meralco’s peak demand predicted to grow 2.9% to 8,346 MW this year

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER retailer Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) peak demand is expected to increase 2.9 percent this year to 8,346 megawatts from 8,111.02 MW in 2022.

“This 2023, peak demand in Meralco’s system is expected to increase by 2.9 percent. As economic activity normalizes, peak demand is expected to grow annually by an average of 4.3 percent per year from 2022 to 2032,” the company said.

Meralco’s 2022 peak demand was 3.9 percent higher than 7,808 MW in 2021.

Meralco said Luzon grid peak demand went up at a faster rate of 4.1 percent to 12,113 MW in 2022 from 11,640 MW in the previous year.

It said the entry of renewable energy systems would affect the long-term movement of peak demand.

The peak demand would be also affected by the effectiveness of new energy efficiency measures put in place and, by the changes in consumption behavior arising from the “new normal” brought about by the pandemic, it said.

“The magnitude of these will only be realized as the industry continues to develop,” the company said.

Meralco used the load factor approach when forecasting the peak demand. This was assumed to occur in the month of May every year due to seasonal increase in electricity consumption during the dry period.

Meralco’s monthly peak demand is projected to be at its lowest in January on cooler temperature.

Meralco expects residential connections to grow at an average rate of 4 percent annually from 2022 to 2032.

Residential customers are expected to account for 49.3 percent of the total captive consumption at the end of the forecast period.

Captive commercial connections are projected to increase 3.1 percent annually from 2022 to 2032, accounting for 42.1 percent of total captive consumption in 2032.

Captive industrial connections are anticipated to grow at a slower rate of 1.5 percent, which will account for 8.2 percent of captive consumption in 2032.

EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. McDonald’s Philippines (Golden Arches Development

Corp.) teams up with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to reaffirm its commitment to providing employment opportunities to beneficiaries of the JobStart Program.

Signing the memorandum of agreement at McDonald’s UN Del Pilar in Manila are (from left) DOLE Undersecretary Carmela Torres, Secretary Bienvenido Estudillo Laguesma, McDonald’s Philippines president and chief executive Kenneth Yang and vice president for human capital group Ruben Marasigan.

PCX joins global campaign vs. plastic pollution THE global community is poised to take another step closer to its goal to win the war against plastic waste in the upcoming meeting of a high-level group tasked by the United Nations to craft a landmark international law against plastic pollution.

Among the organizations that will be represented during the discussions of the International Negotiating Committee in Nairobi, Kenya is PCX, one of the world’s leading plastic waste-offset programs, founded in 2019 by impact entrepreneur and philanthropist Nanette Medved-Po. PCX teams up with companies and local governments to clean up plastic waste and divert it from nature by supporting accredited project partners that collect and responsibly process the waste in a fully traceable platform.

PCX’s mission is to clean up some 80

years’ worth of plastic waste and ensure no plastic waste enters nature. PCX encourages the elimination of unnecessary plastic and enables responsible collection and waste management for any plastic that remains, so that it does not end up in nature.

Medved-Po, as founder and chairperson of PCX and part of the official Philippine delegation, will provide inputs on designing and implementing financing mechanisms to reduce plastic pollution, including in the fragile marine environment.

The staunch environmentalist hopes to provide feedback and share insights into how the Extended Producer Responsibility mechanism can be more effectively executed given PCX’s unique experience in dealing with both voluntary and mandated compliance to the EPR Act in the Philippines.

After a fallow past two months, markets have recovered some of their mojo after the US central bank left borrowing costs on hold for a second straight meeting and hinted that no more increases were likely.

While boss Jerome Powell left the door open for another lift as officials battle to bring inflation down, traders were skeptical of such a move, with elevated Treasury yields seen acting as a substitute for more tightening.

The news provided fresh hope that

the Fed will be able to guide the world’s number one economy to a so-called soft landing and avoid a recession.

It also lit a fuse under equities Wednesday and the rally continued in Asia going into the weekend.

“Asian stocks are coat-tailing the bullish momentum in US stocks and longdated Treasuries as investors read in the tea leaves the strong possibility that the Federal Reserve has completed its cycle of rate hikes,” said Stephen Innes, at SPI Asset Management. With AFP

B4 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023 Roderick T. dela Cruz, Editor Alena Mae S. Flores, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

Production index climbed to seven-month high—S&P

MAYA’S AWARD. Maya chief compliance officer Julie Reyes (center) accepts the ‘Most Innovative Company of the Year’ award at the Asia CEO Awards 2023.

Maya features a digital banking solution that combines a digital wallet and the security and comprehensive services of a bank.

By Julito G. Rada A GAUGE of manufacturing activities in the Philippines climbed to a seven-month high in October, which augurs well for the fourth-quarter economic performance.

The S&P Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) increased month-on-month to 52.4, the fastest since March 2023.

PMI is a survey-based economic indicator designed to provide a timely insight into changing business conditions in the goods-producing sector.

The latest data was also higher than the previous month’s 50.6, but still slower than 52.6 a year ago. A PMI score above 50 represents growth or expansion within the manufacturing sector.

“Resuming the expansion mode that has been ongoing for nearly all months since September 2021 [except for contraction mode in August 2023 at 49.7], the Philippines defied the manufacturing PMI contraction mode [below 50]

in other developed countries in recent months,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said in a report Friday.

He said further economic reopening narrative with the final lifting of the COVID public state of emergency since July 22, 2023 and further recovery in local and foreign tourism and new school year also supported the latest pickup in local business/economic activities, including the latest manufacturing PMI data.

“Better weather conditions in October 2023 and the end of the ghost month since mid-September 2023 also supported the pickup in manufacturing and overall business/economic activities in the country,” Ricafort said.

Ricfort said the manufacturing gauge could still improve further in the coming months, after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lifted the COVID-19 state of public health emergency throughout the country since July 22, 2023, leading to more manufacturing/production activities.

BOI: Investment approvals surpass P1t

By Othel V. Campos

T

HE Board of Investments (BOI) said Thursday night investment approvals jumped 86.7 percent in the first 10 months of 2023 to P1.07 trillion from P576.21 billion in the same period in 2022.

BOI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo expressed optimism the remaining projects in the pipeline would fill the gap to achieve the 2023 investment target of P1.5 trillion.

“I think we still have renewable energy projects that should come, adding to the initial year-to-date tally,” Rodolfo, who also serves as the Department of Trade and Industry undersecretary, said in an online briefing.

He said majority of the approved investments are RE projects, including the offshore wind power projects of Co-

penhagen Infrastructure New Markets Fund (CI NMF) Corp. worth P329.74 billion.

The BOI is still assessing more RE investments that include several solar power projects. Others are local publicprivate partnership (LGU-PPP) projects such as the mart city project in Cavite and a mining project.

DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual said the BOI approvals proved that the Philippines is in the right direction to become Asia’s premier investment destination of choice.

“Foreign investment pledges are at a record high. But the job is not done. Together with our other investment promotion agencies (IPAs), we will continue to work to generate more investments into the country to provide more jobs for our countrymen,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority said a five-day trade mission to Taipei yielded potential investments of P20.65 billion from several Taiwan-based companies.

PEZA director-general Theo Panga said among the projects discussed during the forum is a proposed compostable packaging manufacturing from a consortium of Japanese and Taiwanese companies with an estimated project cost of

AirAsia parent firm, Nasdaq-listed Aetherium announce $1-b merger

By Joel E. Zurbano CAPITAL A Berhad, the investment holding company of AirAsia, Airasia Move, Teleport and Capital A aviation services group, signed a letter of intent with Nasdaq-listed Aetherium Acquisition Corp. for a proposed business combination merger that will form Capital A International.

The proposed business combination would result in Capital A International becoming a standalone publiclytraded company in the United States, leveraging the “AirAsia” brand and capitalizing on core capabilities in aviation, travel and hospitality and digital technologies.

Capital A International will generate revenue from brand royalty and aircraft

P11.36 billion.

Led by a leading brand of compostable products and resins with offices in Asia, Europe and North America, the consortium is interested in the manufacturing of innovative finished products for applications like compostable packaging and compostable food service applications in the Philippines.

PEZA also noted another potential investment of P7.95 billion from a manufacturing and renewable energy company using recycled wastepaper as raw material for the vertical integration of low-carbon paper making and eco-packaging. The same company also signified interest to invest in a waste-to-energy plant.

EXPERIENCE HUB. PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) launch their newest experience hub with a smart home concept at the SM Mall of Asia to respond to the growing demand for future-ready homes in Pasay City.

leasing and tactical acquisition, incubation, and partnerships to provide platforms for entrepreneurs. The proposed business combination will be at an indicative equity value of $1 billion based on an independent valuation of the AirAsia Brand.

Capital A chief executive Tony Fernandes said this is a coming-of-age moment for the company, which has morphed from AirAsia into a low-cost, value-driven aviation and travel services group in five entities.

“We are confident that the exposure to the U.S. financial markets and Nasdaq listing would help us accelerate the delivery of our strategy as we improve access to capital, broaden our shareholder base and meaningfully raise our profile globally,” he said.

DOTr assures Japan of timely completion of yen-funded railway projects

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Transportation said Friday it is on track to completing the Japanese yen-funded railway projects in the Philippines.

The DOTr’s railways sector assured Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who has long supported the Philippines’ ambitious rail expansion, that the progress of development was on track for completion. Prime Minister Kishida arrived in Manila Friday for a two-day official visit.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista praised PM Kishida, who hails from a country “with 150 years of experience in

rail development, with 30,000 kilometers of rail, with 25 billion riders a year.”

“There are no better senseis than these kind, compassionate, generous, hardworking and honest people,” Bautista said, calling PM Kishida a “tireless cheerleader for Philippine progress.”

“The Philippine railways sector has been a recipient of billions of pesos in Japanese aid. PM Kishida, long before he was Prime Minister, has been instrumental in funneling Japanese assistance to the country’s ambitious rail expansion,” he said.

Bautista said that when Prime Minister Kishida was still Japan’s Foreign Af-

fairs Minister in 2017, “he was already a backer of our country’s drive to modernize our transportation system.”

“To us, Prime Minister Kishida has always been a member of the Philippine railways team. He’s all aboard,” he said.

Nine Philippine big-ticket transport projects—two aviation, two maritime, five railways—are being built or will be delivered on the back of P1.315 trillion worth of Japanese aid.

The five railway projects are the LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension, LRT Line 2 East Extension, MRT Line 3 Rehabilitation and Maintenance, North-South Commuter Rail System and Metro Ma-

nila Subway Project.

Prime Minister Kishida is set to visit the subway project depot and its train simulator room in Valenzuela City on Nov. 4.

Civil works are ongoing for the 36-km Metro Manila Subway Project. With 17 stations, the project is set to reduce travel time between Valenzuela and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 from 1 hour and 30 minutes to 35 minutes.

The Japanese leader, Bautista said, “would be happy to know that the Philippine side has lived up to its commitments, that despite challenges, we are on track to what we have committed to deliver.”

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida

DBCC expects revenue collection to exceed P3.73-t target for the year

BEST BRANDED PHOTO. Manila Water Foundation (MWF) bags the ‘best branded photo’ for its Philippine campaign celebration of the World Oral Health Day at the FDI World Dental Federation’s 2023 World Oral Health Day Awards held in Sydney, Australia. A highlight of MWF activities was the #MouthProud Photo Features, featuring individuals expressing their support and sharing personal commitments to their oral health.

THE interagency Development Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC) said Friday it continues to take the necessary measures to ensure that the economy remains on track with the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF) and among the best-performing economies in Asia in 2023.

The DBCC is composed of the heads of the Departments of Finance, Budget and Management and the National Economic and Development Authority.

It said in a joint statement the government revenue performance was expected to exceed the target set during the 184th DBCC meeting in April 2023.

Data showed that in the first nine months of the year, total revenues reached P2.84 trillion, up by 6.8 percent year-on-

year. Both tax and non-tax revenues grew 6.4 and 10.5 percent, respectively.

Actual revenue collections exceeded the program in the nine-month period by 3.0 percent, owing to the higher collections from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and non-tax revenues of P152.57 billion.

The emerging total revenue collection for 2023 is now P3.84 trillion to P3.90 trillion, above the P3.73 trillion approved DBCC level for the year.

Meanwhile, tax revenue is expected to be at P3.50 trillion to P3.55 trillion.

The emerging revenue effort for 2023 is estimated to be at least 15.7 percent, surpassing both the MTFF target and 184th DBCC-approved level at 15.3 percent and 15.2 percent, respectively.

Julito G. Rada

SPORTS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023

C1

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

Builders sink Lifesavers in Spikers’ Turf Games Sunday 11 a.m. – MKA San Beda vs Air Force 1 p.m. – Ateneo vs Sta. Elena-NU 3 p.m. – Davies-Adamson vs Santa Rosa 5 p.m. – XentroMall vs Navy

Arnel Aguilar of the CSB Builders scores against two Lifesavers in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference at the Paco Arenaon Friday.

Generals boost Final 4 goal, put Knights out of contention

By Peter Atencio

T

HE Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals drew above average performances from three mainstays as they kept their Final Four semifinal hopes alive in the 99th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

Nat Cosejo, JP Maguilano and Ralph Robin took turns in dishing out important points that allowed them to whip the defending champion Letran Knights, 82-69, on Friday at the FilOilEcoOil Arena in San Juan.

Cosejo, who averages 14.27 points per game, struck with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, to lead the Generals pick up their seventh win in 12 games.

The Knights, who were held to 13 points in the first quarter, took their fourth straight loss to tally a 1-11 win-

Aleia Aielle Aguilar

loss record in the team standings.

Unfortunately for the Knights, who got 14 points from Kobe Monje, the loss put them out of contention for the Final Four for the first time in six years.

“Siyempre unang-una, masaya kaming lahat kasi nakuha namin ‘yung panalo, pero Letran is Letran. ‘Yung heart of a champion laging nandiyan, hindi mawawala sa kanila iyon. Malaking bagay na nawala sa kanila si Javillonar, so nabawasan sila ng big man sa loob. Kung mapapansin niyo, mas

marami sa amin ang mga big man na nag-dominate sa ilalim, sa rebounds at scoring,” EAC assistant coach Noy Catalan said.

Catalan called the shots in the absence of head coach Jerson Cabiltes, who was helping out with the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, which had a game against the San Juan Knights in Game 2 of the MPBL North Division Semifinals in Palayan City.

Maguilano, who norms 14.09 points, unloaded seven points in the third period as EAC moved from a 46-41 lead, off his triple, which came during a 13-5 run, and handed EAC a 59-44 edge with 5:34 to go.

Robin, who averages 11.39 points per game, delivered 16 points this time around.

EAC will next meet the struggling San Beda University Red Lions on Sunday while Letran will face the Lyceum Pirates.

EAC’s Nat Cosejo

Six-year-old Aguilar bags jiu-jitsu title, becomes 2-time world champion SIX-YEAR-OLD Aleia Aielle Aguilar became the country’s first, youngest world champion last year in the combat sports of jiu-jitsu, where her family is known for.

On Thursday, the pretty daughter of Maybelline Masuda and Alvin Aguilar—the founding father of Filipino mixed martial arts—retained her crown after clinching her second straight world title in the Abu Dhabi World Festival Jiu-Jitsu Championships at the Mubadala Arena in United Arab Emirates.

Aguilar banked on her experience by pouncing on United

Arab Emirates’ bet Maitha Earani, as she submitted her with an armbar maneuver with 12 seconds, to bag the gold medal in the Girls Kids 2 white belt 17-kg category.

She defeated Brazilian Gabriella Kulzer, 4-1, in the semifinal round.

“Great to see my daughter fighting and representing the flag this time. Her hard work, discipline have finally paid off in training all these years,” Aguilar said. “Last year, I didn’t see it live. I am happy and we’re all very proud of you for making another historic moment for the Philippines.”

Aguilar added that her daughter didn’t blink against her opponents every time they tried to fight back.

“She was always ready every time they made their move, every time they tried something on the mat. She is fearless,” Aguilar said.

Alvin, his wife Masuda, baby Axelia and son Lucho witnessed another great performance from Aleia Aielle, who wrapped the Philippine flag all over her shoulders after the magnificent triumph.

Aguilar, the president of Wrestling Association of the Philippines, and founding head of Universal Reality Combat Championship and DEFTAC Philippines, arrived from Abu Dhabi after guiding the Philippine delegation to a successful campaign in the World Combat Sports as chef de mission.

Distance Swim Super Series lures 800 young athletes to Munti SOME 800 young swimmers are expected to compete in the second stop of The Distance Swim Super Series scheduled on November 25 and 26 at the Muntinlupa Aquatics Center, Brgy. Tunasan, Muntinlupa City.

Organized by Swim League Philippines, in collaboration with the Muntinlupa City Government, the tournament is open to all young swimmers regardless of swimming clubs and affiliation.

“Swim League Philippines is united in the call of the Philippine Aquatics Inc., for cooperation and unity to end the divisiveness in the aquatics community. All of us are partners in a mission to strengthen the sport by having a solid grassroots development program,” said SLP president Fred Ancheta-Galang.

The tournament is open to swimmers in Classes A, B, C, D and Motivational categories.

Ancheta insisted that there is also a di-

vision for para-swimmers and coaches, former athletes, and trainers (Masters).

“We have already received fillers from different swimming clubs and at this early stage we will reach 800 participants,” said Acheta.

For those who wish to join, contact the SLP Secretariat at mobile no. 0917 7140077 or send a message to swimleaguephilippines@gmail.com. Inquiries can also be sent to rollyflame@ yahoo.com.

Ancheta also announced the successful completion of the SLP-AOSI tryouts that will form the team that will compete in next year’s Asian Open School Invitational Aquatic Championships in Bangkok, Thailand Tryouts were held in SLP tournaments starting this Oct. 7 (Muntinlupa Aquatic Center), Oct. 14 (Cebu City), Oct. 14 (Isabela City), and Oct. 28 (Rizal Memorial Sports Complex).

Members of the Behrouz Swim Team

ST. GERRARD Construction-Benilde’s two-week wait to showcase its wares resulted in a 25-15, 25-16, 25-20 victory over Philippine Coast Guard as the Blazing Builders flexed their muscles early then held sway to down the Lifesavers in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference at the Paco Arena on Friday.

After a pair of easy set wins, Benilde coach tried out new combinations in the third, enabling the Lifesavers to strike within striking distance at 18-20. But Adriane Austero, Reiven Valera and Joseph Reolalas took over for Benilde to end the game in just 74 minutes in Pool C play.

“Sabi ko naman every time na magfill in kami ng kung sinong player, dapat hindi magbabago ‘yung momentum. Eh medyo nag-iba nagpasok ako ng second-stringers dahil ito ‘yung chance nila para ma-expose since first game rin para sa mga susunod mas ready sila,” said Benilde coach Arnold Laniog.

Arnel Aguilar led the Blazing Builders with 12 points and eight excellent receptions while Jacob Herrera finished with 10 points and Valera added seven points in two sets, Mike Balbacal chipped six points and Bryle Gomez tallied 14 receptions.

Kevin Dela Vega and Lerry Francisco paced the Lifesavers, who fell to 0-2, with seven and six points, respectively.

Benilde, meanwhile, will have another long break before returning to action on Nov. 12 against Davies Paint-Adamson while Coast Guard resumes its bid for the elusive win against powerhouse Cignal on Wednesday.

Benilde, UST in knockout volley game Games today

(Rizal Memorial Coliseum) 11 a.m. – CSB vs UST 2 p.m. – UE vs AU

NCAA champion College of St. Benilde and UAAP’s University of Santo Tomas slug it out in a knockout tiff to complete the Final Four cast in the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.

Action erupts at 11 a.m. with the Lady Blazers and the Golden Tigresses spiking it in the deciding Game 2 for the right to face Far Eastern U in the semifinals starting right away on Sunday.

Unbeaten National U, also the defending champion, and Adamson are the protagonists in the other Final Four pairing of the SSL Season 2 backed by Mikasa, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Summit Bottle Water, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, R and B Milk Tea, Potato Corner, Rebel Sports, Converge ICT Solutions, Genius Sports and United Auctioneers, Inc. Up against the odds with a twiceto-win handicap, St. Benilde proved its pedigree as the two-time reigning NCAA champions with a thrilling 25-22, 23-25, 18-25, 25-23, 15-11 win over UST in Game 1.

The Lady Blazers, who finished third in Pool F, battled back from a set down by pulling off slim wins in the last two sets to neutralize the Golden Tigresses’ twice-to-beat incentive as the No. 2 team in Pool E. Wielyn Estoque, Gayle Pascual and Zamantha Nolasco connived in a lethal troika in Game 1 for St. Benilde, which is out to continue a deep rally this season after not even making the quarterfinals in the inaugural tilt.

“Maraming options ang UST Hirap din kami pero syempre lalaban tayo Pipilitin natin. Kung mag-respond, good. Kung may breaks, better. Ganoon lang,” said St . Benilde coach Jerry Yee, expecting a fiery vengeance from the España-based spikers.

C2 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023 Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor E-mail: jdlacsamana@gmail.com

HOME/DESIGN Bath time just got more colorful

Signature comfort from Dunlopillo THERE’S an age-old adage: “A good night’s sleep is the best doctor.”

Since its inception in the 1930s, Dunlopillo has taken this wisdom to heart, having been established as a brand synonymous with a good night’s sleep through its premium bedding solutions.

In contrast to mattresses crafted from synthetic components, Dunlopillo mattresses are produced using 100% natural latex foam which are free from harmful substances, naturally antimicrobial and hypoallergenic, making them ideal for people with allergies or respiratory issues. Dunlopillo mattresses’ wide range of firmness and support play a pivotal role in preserving the alignment of the spine and neck, effectively mitigating back pain and other sleep-related discomforts as well as promoting better sleep quality, and ensuring perfect sleeping posture.

“We are excited to open Dunlopillo Suites and introduce more of our products to Filipinos,” said Borja Solans, President of Dunlopillo Holdings.

“We look forward to becoming an integral part of the Filipino homes, helping individuals and families experience the unparalleled comfort that Dunlopillo is known for.”

A

MERICAN Standard recently launched new finishes—Polished Cool Sunrise, Brushed Hard Graphite and Matte Black— to enable consumers to add a more personal touch to their bathroom spaces.

The timeless beauty of Polished Cool Sunrise will brighten up your home.

Whether you prefer a more sophisticated feel or want a touch of vibrant color to your bathroom, this bright gold polish can infuse your space with a comforting glow that will match what you’re looking for.

For those who want to transform their bathroom space, the Brushed Hard Graphite shade and its rich grey hue and textured finish will create an atmosphere of zen and tranquility in any room.

The striking beauty of Matte Black can either help you set a bold statement, or establish understated elegance.

All three-color finishes are available in the Acacia Evolution faucets, EasySet Concealed Auto Temperature Mixer and EasySet Exposed Auto Temperature and select accessories.

Real estate revolution in the offing with ChatGPT? THERE has been a lot of buzz lately on the acceleration of AI (artificial intelligence) technology and one of its new iterations, ChatGPT. This chatbot developed by San Francisco-based OpenAI, and uses machine-learning algorithms to understand written language and generate responses based on user inputs or chat entries.

Science fiction?

Proponents of the AI technology and all the hype surrounding it suggest its potential utility in real estate—an industry that has traditionally been, well, traditional. For many real estate professionals, transactions are completed through elaborate human interactions—face-to-face presentations, in-person viewings and inspections, and market expertise—and using AI technology or machine learning to automate real estate professionals’ work may seem like a science fiction.

But AI technology already has many uses in real estate, including AI-powered valuation models, human-like chatbots that answer user queries, and revenuemaximization tools, to name just a few.

It is not implausible to expect generative AI technology like ChatGPT to soon perform more meaningful work in real estate, such as generate property marketing materials by just typing a few keywords, mine data to identify sellers who are likely to sell, and launch chatbots that carry almost human-like conversations that will help shape broker–client relationships.

Real estate agents in the United States, as reported by CNN, , are already using ChatGPT to speed up repetitive tasks like writing property listings so they can focus on more important tasks.

Limitations are inevitable But despite all its benefits, ChatGPT is not without limitations. Since it is trained on online data to generate replies to user prompts, its responses are limited with what it can only find online (its knowledge cutoff is 2021). There have also been reports of inaccuracies. Others have also pointed out that ChatGPT has the capability to share personal information, which could violate privacy laws; run the risk of violating

NEGOTIATING SKILLS, EXPERTISE.

In commercial real estate, a successful deal is the mutual understanding between a buyer and seller. This requires remarkable negotiating skills and expertise on the part of the officeleasing professional – something that any machine-learning algorithm will as of yet be hard-pressed to do.

copyrighted materials; and can potentially generate fake news or misleading content – the latter could have serious ramifications.

For a number of basic tasks, however, ChatGPT holds some promise. Here are a couple of examples where chatbot was used generate real estate-related content.

Makati Commerce Tower Makati Commerce Tower is a skyscraper located in Makati City, Philippines. It is a Class A office building that offers premium office spaces for lease. The building features modern and efficient office spaces, as well as a range of amenities for its tenants, including meeting rooms, a café, and a fitness center. It is conveniently located near the central business district of Makati and is easily accessible via major roads and public transportation. With its prime location, top-notch facilities, and first-class services, Makati Commerce Tower is a popular choice for businesses looking to establish a presence in the Philippines.

At first glance, the content generated

by ChatGPT for this building may seem impressive, but if you look closer you will see that it is fairly generic and lacks the details that may make this building more interesting to potential tenants. For instance, it was unable to say exactly how far it is from “the central business district of Makati” and “major roads and public transportation.” A person familiar with the project, for example, will be able to write that the Makati Commerce is “approximately 30 minutes or 7 kilometers from Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport via Skyway and 3.7 kilometers or 20 minutes from the Ayala Station of MRT-3 via Ayala Avenue.”

There are also interesting bits of information about the building’s location itself that ChatGPT has failed to mention —such as it being situated in San Antonio, a gentrifying Makati neighborhood that is now teeming restaurants and shops.

Chatbot was then tasked to write a property listing description for a condo unit in Bonifacio Global City.

Two-bedroom condo in The Suites, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig This luxurious two-bedroom condo in

The Suites Bonifacio Global City Taguig is the epitome of modern city living. With its spacious and elegantly designed interiors, the home boasts an open-plan living and dining area with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide an abundance of natural light. The gourmet kitchen is equipped with top-of-the-line appliances and ample counter space for your culinary needs.

The bedrooms are both comfortably sized and feature luxurious en-suite bathrooms.

Enjoy stunning views of the city from the private balcony. The building offers a range of amenities including a fitness center, pool, and 24-hour security. Located in the heart of Taguig, this condo is surrounded by the city’s best dining, shopping, and entertainment options. Experience the finest urban living in this beautiful twobedroom condo in The Suites Bonifacio Global City Taguig.

This description written by ChatGPT is fairly generic, although it was able to capture some of the condo project’s main selling points (e.g., open-plan living and dining area, floor-to-ceiling windows).

However, details more specific to this unit understandably was not captured (e.g., orientation, furnishing, level). This again is something that can only be provided by a human who has seen the property firsthand.

Total game changer?

So what do all these mean to real estate professionals? Some may say that ChatGPT is a “total game changer” when it comes to marketing and prospecting as it has the potential to speed up content generation for marketing collaterals and, hence, provide more time to be devoted on meeting clients and assisting them during property inspections.

Although the platform has been demonstrated to be useful, it is definitely not perfect. There have been reports that ChatGPT’s popularity means it regularly reaches full capacity, resulting in frequent down time. The program was also trained with writing responses from the Internet up to 2021, so some information is outdated (and some might not be available at all). In the United States, Realtors are also guided

by NAR’s code of ethics that prohibits the exaggeration or misrepresentation of pertinent facts—another potential issue that might arise with the use of ChatGPT. Contracts and memoranda And there are certainly areas that ChatGPT’s usefulness might be very limited, such as contracts and memoranda.

Real estate professionals tailor-fit contracts according to the preferences and requirements of the parties involved, which vary greatly from deal to deal.

The perception that ChatGPT has the potential to replace human workers is unlikely at the moment. What it can help real estate professionals with, however, is perform routine and repetitive tasks, which after all is what AI technology is best used at.

HOUSING VISIONARIES. PHINMA Properties recently launched a housing design competition together with De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, School of Environment and Design (DLS-CSB-SED), empowering architecture students to unleash their creativity and develop innovative solutions for the evolving lifestyle of Filipino families. The competition, a curricular collaboration with Benilde’s Architecture program involving its Housing classes, challenged young visionaries to conceptualize and visualize constructible housing ideas that cater to the needs of middle-class families. The participants were tasked with creating schematic proposals for three housing typologies: 50-square-meter (sq.m.) lot townhouses, 80-sq.m. single attached homes, and 125- sq.m. single attached homes. PHINMA Properties pledged a substantial cash prize to reward the nine winners whose visionary ideas will be deemed as exemplifying the essence of innovation and sustainability. Shown in photo are the DLS-CSB-SED’s architecture students with chancellor Benhur Ong, vice chancellor Angelo Marco Lacson, dean Dottie Asela Domingo, architect Jojo Gutierrez, president Rafael B. Felix of PHINMA Properties Holdings Corp. (PPHC), and PPHC’s chief business development officer Francis Z. Villegas.

Gold standard for marine plywood

At the 100th-anniversary celebration in Davao City, SMWPI presented awards and expressed appreciation to their employees. Shown in photo (from left): Donny Ang, assistant manager; Ramir Balansag, general manager; Randy Ng, executive vice president; Ricardo Lee, vice chairman; Pedro Chao, (chairman); Wilson Chiam, treasurer; Wesley Ng (on behalf of Mr. Benjamin Ng, president); and Ethel Tomas (asistant manager).

SMWPI Wood Products Inc. recently celebrated its 100th-year anniversary, manufacturing high-quality wood grade and marine plywood products in the country.

Established in 1923, SMWPI has set the gold standard for marine plywood. It’s flagship product—Santa Clara Marine Plywood—is used by

local and international boat makers, home builders, and furniture makers.

SMWPI Wood Products Inc. (SMWPI) is the Philippines’ leading manufacturer of top-quality wood grade and marine plywood since 1923. It has modern facilities in Toril, Davao City, and Esperanza, Agusan Del Sur.

AGRICULTURE

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023

C3

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

Coconut projects launched to ensure quality coconut hybrid supply

By Butch Gunio

F

The ‘Gulayan sa Paaralan’ aims to minimize malnutrition among students

OUR coconut research projects were launched to ensure sustainable production of quality coconut hybrids, improve hybridization processing facilities, and capacitate coconut farmers.

DA-Cordillera completes support for ‘Gulayan sa Paaralan’

The implementation of the projects is led by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and funded under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan’s Coconut Hybridization Program research component.

The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST PCAARRD) monitors the projects.

The program, “Identification of Promising Philippine Coconut Populations for Hybrid Production Using Next Generation Tools and Technologies,” with two component projects, will be implemented by a team led by Mary Ann M. Abustan of the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS) UPLB. The first project seeks to identify elite coconut populations based on their agronomic characteristics and molecular identities. Meanwhile, the second project will explore the proteomic profile of local coconut varieties toward the discovery of proteins and peptides.

Abustan said the result of the projects will help develop hybrids with improved qualities and potential yield and increase Philippine coconuts’ value in various product applications.

Meanwhile, the project, “Improvement of Coconut R&D Laboratory for Hybrid Production,” led by Speedy D. Crisostomo of IPB CAFS, targets to address the need for an efficient pollen processing facility to strengthen the hybridization activities in Luzon.

UPLB will also implement the project, “Building Capabilities in Designing

By JT Llanes

Coconut hybrids have a faster growth rate, increased fruit production, higher copra yield, and better resilience to water stress

DOST-PCAARRD representatives during the laboratory and filed visit at UPLB (Photo from Crops Research Division, DOST-PCAARRD)

Climate Resilient and Regenerative-Coconut-Based Farming Systems: A Training of Trainers Series in Support of Coconut Hybridization Program,” through the leadership of Edna A. Aguilar of the Institute of Crop Science CAFS. She said the project will engage and capacitate trainers from local government units, the Philippine Coconut Authority, other state universities and colleges, and farmer organizations from disaster-prone areas on mitigating climate risks and improving their coconut management practices.

Crops Research Division Director Leilani D. Pelegrina said that the projects are a testament to the long history of the R&D partnership between DOST PCAARRD and UPLB. She encouraged the institutes to sustain their coconut research teams and strengthen collaboration with other institutions in uplifting the coconut industry.

ONE hundred fifty schools in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were the beneficiaries of the “Gulayan sa Paaralan” Program (GPP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) under the High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), in collaboration and implemented by the Department of Education-Cordillera (DepEd-CAR).

The “Gulayan sa Paaralan” seeks to provide the optimal supply of nutrition through the consumption of vegetables and fruits, minimizing the malnutrition of students.

It also allows for a learning experience for students, increasing their knowledge and skills in fundamental agriculture and implying a more scientific view of the consumption of securely produced food.

Albert Jay Lab-oyan, DA-CAR HVCDP coordinator for GPP, said the schools underwent the screening process of the Department of Education (DepEd) based on their guidelines, forwarded to the regional agriculture department for the allocation of P1.8 million pesos worth of agriculture inputs for 2023.

The provisions include upland and lowland seeds, cultivating tools, garden hoses, and wheelbarrows.

Of the eight School Division Offices in the region, 20 schools were identified in Abra, 20 schools in Apayao, 16 schools in Benguet, 16 schools in Benguet, 15 schools in Baguio City, 20 schools in Ifugao, 20 schools in Kalinga, 19 schools in Tabuk City, and 20 schools in Mountain Province.

Region XII, BARMM new seed growers undergo training Industry experts sharing insights on Inbred Rice Seed Production and Seed Certification

THE second batch of new seed growers from Region XII and BARMM eagerly took the fundamental training courses on Inbred Rice Seed Production and Seed Certification at the Agricultural Training Institute Regional Training Center XII (ATI-RTC XII) in San Felipe, Tantangan, South Cotabato.

The comprehensive training covered essential topics discussed by rice specialists and industry experts, who also demonstrated the Palay Check System, a dynamic rice

crop management system presenting the fundamental technology and management practices as Key Checks.

Besides the Key Checks, industry experts provided insights into rice morphology, inbred rice seed production, seed sampling, and seed testing, among other topics.

The training went beyond theory with engaging activities, including actual seed sampling and testing and hands-on experience in field inspection and rouging.

The second batch of new seed growers during their hands-on training experience

The new seed growers participating in engaging activities to complete their basic training

The piglets diversified Bacangan’s livelihood, providing her with another source of income

Bacangan can now grow various crops at stable prices thanks to the greenhouse

Benguet farmer embraces change, sets example for community

By Leny D. Mendoza Photos by Adriane Banganga

Agriculturist, her association was fertilizers, and various farm inputs to organized and eventually chosen as a transform their farming practices. beneficiary of the AMIA Project. They The diversion dam resolved their IN BANGAO, Buguias, Benguet, a received a diversion dam unit, a concrete irrigation woes, ensuring year-round remarkable transformation is taking root, tank, a pump and engine, HDPE pipes, planting. The greenhouse expanded and it all centers around a determined and a greenhouse, nursery support, livestock, Bacangan’s horizons, allowing her to resilient woman named Grace B. cultivate diverse crops at stable Bacangan. prices. The ten piglets provided Bacangan, a farmer and

by AMIA added a new dimension the current Chairperson of the to her livelihood.

Macascassa Farmers Association, Bacangan’s income has seen has become the embodiment an annual increase of 15 percent, of change, not just for herself proving the effectiveness of but for her entire community.

AMIA’s support.

Beyond Her journey from conventional financial gains, her profits have farming to agricultural excellence helped cover her husband’s is a testament to the power dialysis treatment, making a of education, innovation, and noticeable difference in their community support. lives.

Before the winds of change Moreover, her journey is touched her life, Bacangan’s not just about personal growth; farming practices were traditional, Grace B. Bacangan is a farmer from Benguet and the current it’s about inspiring others. She and her expectations were Chairperson of the Macascassa Farmers Association devotes her time to educating uncertain. She was content when the barangay council and fellow her vegetable crops fetched farmers on becoming DA farmermarket prices ranging from 10 to beneficiaries. Her dedication to 15 pesos. this cause stems from her deep Enter the Adaptation and love for farming and desire to see Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture her community prosper.

(AMIA) Program from the In addition to AMIA, she is Department of Agriculture (DA), also a beneficiary of the Highwhich focuses on climate change Value Crops Development to enable the local communities Program due to her Good in the agri-fishery sector to pursue Agricultural Practices (GAP) sustainable livelihood while certification. She also actively effectively managing climate The success of Bacangan’s transition from conventional participates in the KADIWA risks.

Program of the agency, farming to one that follows Good Agricultural Practices Under the guidance of (GAP) can be attributed to education, innovation, and cherishing the opportunities it the Office of the Municipal community support brings.

TECH

C4 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph rieramallari@yahoo.com

Globe adds 35 areas in most consistent fixed broadband network Q3 rating AS concrete proof of its service quality and commitment, Globe has achieved recognition as the Most Consistent Fixed Broadband Provider in 33 towns and cities and two provinces nationwide for the third quarter of the year based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data.

This follows Globe’s achievement in the previous quarter where it secured the top spot in 31 locations.

Consistency pertains to the percentage of a provider’s data samples that meet minimum thresholds for both download and upload speeds.

High consistency scores indicate better and more stable internet performance.

Among the impressive scores across the country, Dangcagan, Bukidnon leads with 90.76, closely followed by San Luis, Pampanga at 90.55, and Mandaluyong, Metro Manila at 89.21.

The other top-scoring towns and cities are: Luzon: ● Santa Ana, Pampanga - 88.94 ● Candaba, Pampanga - 88.58 ● Alaminos, Laguna - 88.22 ● Lipa, Batangas - 87.7 ● Mataas Na Kahoy, Batangas 87.7 ● Tiaong, Quezon - 87.41 ● Aliaga, Nueva Ecija - 87.3 ● Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija - 86.93 ● Santo Tomas, Batangas - 86.57 ● San Rafael, Bulacan - 86.52 ● Mexico, Pampanga - 85.85 ● Dona Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan - 84.84 ● Camaligan, Camarines Sur 78.79 ● Calauag, Quezon - 78.13 Visayas: ● Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo - 87.12 ● Dumangas, Iloilo - 87.11 ● Sogod, Cebu - 85.71 ● Bacolod, Negros Occidental 85.34 ● Cabatuan, Iloilo- 83.64 ● San Jose de Buenavista, Antique - 83.1 ● Don Carlos, Bukidnon - 82.92 ● Pavia, Iloilo - 82.01 ● San Francisco, Cebu - 80.59 ● Pinamungahan, Cebu - 75.39 ● Mabinay, Negros Oriental 66.67 ● Sibalom, Antique - 63 ● Palompon, Leyte- 59.81 ● Badiangan, Iloilo - 54.25 ● Bontoc, Southern Leyte - 38.94 Mindanao: ● Tubod, Lanao del Norte - 80.14 Meanwhile, these two provinces logged overall speed improvement: ● Pampanga - 85.46 ● Catanduanes, Philippines- Catanduanes - 86.21 Ookla®’s findings solidifies the global industry’s trust in Globe’s performance and methodologies behind its benchmarking.

“We are immensely proud of our team’s dedication to bringing only the best broadband experience to our valued customers. These consistency scores are not just numbers but a testament to our commitment to deliver uninterrupted connectivity,” said Raymond Policarpio, Vice President of Globe At Home Brand Management.

Globe, acknowledging the increasing reliance of its customers on stable connectivity, has tirelessly worked towards strengthening and expanding its fixed wired solutions. As of 2022, the company has deployed an impressive 3.7 million fiber-to-the-home lines, with 1.4 million rolled out in the year alone. Globe is also proactively transitioning its fixed wireless and legacy technology patrons to fiber connections.

Aiming to provide more Filipinos with high-speed internet, Globe recently launched GFiber Prepaid, a fully digital sachet fiber proposition.

It offers customers the freedom from lockup periods and monthly fees.

The service demands no documentation for application and offers diverse payment methods, including the innovative Buy Now, Pay Later option via GCash.

For detailed information on Globe’s cutting-edge broadband solutions, visit https://new.globe. com.ph/gfiber or explore the GlobeOne app. *Disclaimer: Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data on fixed Consistency Score® for Q3 2023. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.

realme Pad 2: Ambitious upgrade, refined software, faster performance

By Riera Mallari

I

NEVER enjoy streaming videos on phones.

I only do when it’s absolutely necessary, like when I’m out of town and I only have my phone with me to watch a game of my favorite NBA team.

Television has always been my go-to platform when it comes to videos.

My next favorite? Through a tablet.

This is the reason why I carry with me a tablet whenever I go on a vacation or have an out-of-town coverage, just in case I get the urge to stream videos on Netf lix or HBO or the NBA. It may not be as immersive as a 50” Smart TV, but at least the screen is larger than a smartphone’s.

This is the reason also why I jumped at the opportunity of reviewing realme’s latest tablet offering—the realme Pad 2, the second generation of the realme Pad that came out three years ago, now with an ambitious upgrade, refined software, faster performance and smoother display.

In a nutshell, the realme Pad 2 comes with an 11.5- inch LCD screen, Helio G99 chipset, 120Hz refresh rate, and 8.360 mAh battery with 33-watt fast charging.

Variants/Price It has two variants, the realme Pad 2 in 6GB+128GB LTE, which has a SRP of P13,999, and its faster sibling, the realme Pad 2 8GB+256GB LTE (our review unit), which is sold for P17,990. Even the base variant alone gets you plenty of RAM and storage and LTE connectivity, hence delivering a solid experience all around.

Design/weight/display The dual tone finish looks pretty cool, with its metallic finish adding to a premium hands-on feel. One drawback though is the weight at 518 grams, even though it’s got a fairly balanced weight distribution. The solution probably is to get a nice tablet support to make it stand.

The display is an 11.5-inch 2K (2,000 x 1,200) screen that supports up to 120Hz refresh rate. This is still

The realme Pad 2 is an excellent budget tablet that gets a lot of things right, such as its stunning design, nice display, dependable performance and solid battery life. At its price tag, it easily trumps its competition.

an IPS panel with a 2k resolution, like the original realme Pad, although it brings some notable upgrades everywhere it matters. The 10 bit color depth is capable of producing over a billion colors and a crisp display that delivers plenty of sharpness and details for your content viewing pleasure.

For the best viewing angle, though, look at content from a perfect line of sight.

As for the audio, you get a set of quad speakers, with Dolby Atmos support here, which definitely can get loud.

But, personally, I’m not a fan of tablets as your go-to audio source. Just get a separate Bluetooth speaker.

Performance Powering the new tablet is the MediaTek Helio G99 chipset, which definitely is no slouch.

So everyday usage on relatively lightweight apps is pretty much smooth sailing. With casual usage of millennials on the go, who are always outside and like to travel; the entertainment junkie, who can’t get enough of social media content, videos, and/or books; and even kids or teens, who need a steady gadget for their online classes and videos and light games, multitasking between apps can be done without any worry with the realme Pad 2.

When checking of emails, browsing through social media, working

on Google Docs, or listening to music on Spotify (the use of a Bluetooth earbuds is recommended), you won’t face any major performance issues throughout the day. With up to 8GB of onboard RAM, you’ll be able to switch between apps without problems, although it won’t be extremely fast, like a flagship smartphone.

Software The realme Pad 2 has also optimized its memory management algorithm with the latest Android 13 Based on the UI 4.0, designed specifically for tablets.

This allows the UI to be more intuitive, with the same design layouts and features you’d find on a realme smartphone for added ease of use overall and navigation, meaning under casual usage, I could multitask between apps without any hassle.

Other features also include Split Screen, Floating Windows, Smart Sidebar, Reading Mode, Google Kids Space, Dual Window, and a new Dock Design.

Battery Battery life is where the Realme Pad 2 really stands out, as its 8,360mAh battery is a huge up-

grade over the 7,100mAh capacity of the first realme Pad. Casual and moderate usage will net you 3 to 4 days on a single charge, even as the device’s standby time is outstanding as well, ensuring you won’t have to worry about the battery giving up on you.

Even with heavy usage (gaming and Netf lix binging), the realme Pad 2 will bring you around eight to nine hours.

Charging time is also excellent as the bundled 33W charger takes roughly an hour and 50 minutes to fully charge the tablet.

Verdict The realme Pad 2 is an excellent budget tablet that gets a lot of things right, such as its stunning design, nice display, dependable performance and solid battery life.

At its price tag, it easily trumps its competition and that is enough of a reason, for you to get one.

Xiaomi Smart Band 8 lets you be in competition with yourself

By Paola Navarette GETTING fit (and staying there) often feels like being a lawyer and defending yourself against yourself.

There can be so much compromise involved over what to eat for lunch or how often to workout in a week.

Do the calories in a spanish latte count if the said coffee makes your heart race, thereby making you burn calories anyway?

Experts, however, suggest that if we have a better idea of how we move our body throughout the day, sticking to a workout routine will feel more fun.

That’s why fitness trackers are super popular nowadays for those who want to set goals to increase daily movement and, of course, gain a better picture of their health.

Called by Xiaomi itself their wearable that lets you step into the world where “sports meet style,” the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 is an upgrade from the Band 7 that includes sleeker appearance, new UI interfaces, and useful fitness features.

The Band 8, priced at P1999, is equipped with the same bright 1.62-inch AMOLED display as the previous gen, but thanks to the new powerful processor, it can now drive the screen to a refresh rate of 60 Hz— delivering a super smooth experience with eye-catching operation and swipe motions.

In terms of body material, the Band 8 finally now has a metallic finish and a new quick-release mechanism. Like a traditional watch, you can remove one side of the strap from the Band by pressing the snap and pulling it outwards—this is a practical change as it lets you switch up your look effortlessly with the brand’s range of strap designs and materials.

Beneath the hood, the Band 8 features many of its previous predecessors’ core features with minor upgrades. It’s lightweight, water resistant up to 50

The new Xiaomi Smart Band 8 blurs the line between tracker and watch

meters, and has the same activity trackers: calories burned and steps taken. The wearable measures your pace and distance with built-in GPS, so after your walk, for example, the watch will show you your trail.

Best of all, Band 8 also retains health tracking features. Wear it like a regular watch and it will monitor your sleep, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels in the background. It distills health metrics into easy-to-understand scores that put data into context, helping you understand whether you got a good night’s sleep and are ready for a tough workout at a glance.

Activity tracking is what Xiaomi does best, and the Band 8 makes it easy. Sticking with its pattern of sport mode overload, Band 8 now supports up to more than 150 sports modes, the most interesting one being aerobic boxing. It also has the ability to view a replay of your running activity overlaid onto a map and has warmup and stretching guidance so you can easily find a routine that you enjoy.

What perhaps is my favorite feature in the wearable is the larger battery life (289mAh versus 235mAh), which can last for up to 16 days with regular use or six days with the always-on display enabled. It still has the powerful fast-charging feature, which users like myself can personally attest to. I made a habit of removing the Band 8 whenever I’m in the shower, and by the time I’m done, it’s already fully charged.

If you don’t already have your hands on a stylish and feature-rich wearable, the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 is a great pick. On the wrist or even attached to a running shoe, the device tracks key fitness stats and offers useful health monitoring tools to help you keep an eye on your wellness. It’s a powerful, entrylevel smartwatch at a great price.