Manila Standard - 2023 November 24 - Friday

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Gaza truce stalled; PH doesn’t see 2 Pinoy hostages freed right away ISRAEL said a four-day Gaza truce and hostage release will not start until at least Friday, stalling a breakthrough deal to pause the war with Hamas.

Israeli national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said the release of at least 50 Israeli and foreign hostages held by Hamas was still on track, but would not

happen on Thursday as expected.

"The contacts on the release of our hostages are advancing and continuing constantly," he said in a statement.

"The start of the release will take place according to the original agreement between the sides, and not before Next page Friday."

VOL. XXXVII • NO. 282 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2023 •

China starts war games too

Holds exercises with 5 ASEAN nations during US-PH patrols in WPS

By Rey Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz

C

HINA hosted a joint military exercise with five members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations around the same the Philippines and the United States held joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea.

China's joint military exercise, which began Monday at the southernGuangdong province, included Cambodian, Lao, Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese forces.

Experts said the joint military exercises appear to be Beijing's imagebuilding show of force in the region.

The drills are focused on counterterrorism and maritime security, said China’s official Xinhua News Agency.

Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Romualdez on Thursday said that Chinese President Xi Jinping wants the WPS issue resolved by the militaries of the two claimant countries.

Romualdez said this was conveyed during the meeting of President Marcos and Xi during the sidelines of the APEC Summit in San Francisco last week.

"I think in the end President Xi just

simply said that we should just keep talking about it and from the read out I saw from our report isthat President Xi said that let’s just have our military talk about all these things, our militaries to resolve these things in the West Philippine Sea,” Romualdez said in an interview with CNN Philippines. Romualdez, however, clarified in a separate interview that what he meant was Next page

PBBM commits to securing 17 seafarers ASAP

By Charles Dantes, Rey E. Requejo, Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Marcos on Wednesday said the government is committed to securing the safe return of 17 Filipino seafarers taken hostage by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

"Our seafarers are not alone. The government is doing everything in our power to bring them safely home," the President said in a Facebook post.

He said the government is in close contact with various countries to secure the safe release of the Filipino hostages.

“The safety of our 17 Filipino seafarers is of utmost concern. [The] DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) is in coordination with their counterparts in Iran, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia for updates, and the DMW (Department of Migrant Workers) is in regular Next page

POSTERITY PHOTO. Heads of the Country Delegations in the 31st Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), led by host Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and cohost Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (front row, second and third from left), pose before the forum’s inaugural ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center on Thursday. Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, head of the PH delegation (top row, third from left), joined other chief delegates from Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mexico, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Senate PRIB

Marcos orders quick aid to flooded, quake-hit areas Senate boss, Speaker to urge China

By Charles Dantes and Joel E. Zurbano PRESIDENT Marcos on Thursday ordered all government agencies to quickly provide relief and assistance to flood victims in Northern and Eastern Samar as he met with officials to

supervise the government's preparations.

"We are doing everything that we can. But let’s work with those whoare in the evacuation centers – even those who are still at home.… we have to go and make sure that they get the food packs, they get sufficient water supply,” the President said.

The President was initially set to land in Catarman, the provincial capital of Northern Samar, but bad weather prevented him from going there.

He went to Tacloban City instead where he held a situational briefing with Samar officials via Zoom.

The President’s visit to Samar is Next page

lawmakers to help in crafting COC

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz THE issue of tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) or the arbitral ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) against China’s expansive sea claims were not included in the resolution filed by the Philippines during the 31st Asian-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF31), which started Thursday in Pasay City.

But Senate President Juan Miguel

Zubiri said he and House Speaker Martin Romualdez intend to talk to the Chinese delegates to the Forum to seek a Code of Conduct (COC) with Beijing in the West Philippine Sea. The Senate leader hopes they can work out a COC with China’s delegates.

"That's what we are asking so there will be no more clashes, blockages, and water cannoning (by the Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia).

That’s what we’re trying to do. And the best way of doing it is befriending Next page them," he added.

CALAMITY BRIEFING. President Marcos leads a Zoom briefing – flanked by (from left) Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, and Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan – on Thursday from Tacloban City as he directs government agencies to repair roads and distribute aid to victims of calamities in Samar and Sarangani. PCO Photo

Remulla to ask Bersamin to clarify PH position on ICC

By Rey Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

It seems the Marcos administration is not closed to the possibility of reviving ties with the ICC amid a push from lawmakers to allow the probe into the deaths WILL the Philippines stick to its decision related to the Duterte administration’s to withdraw from the International Crimi- war on drugs. nal Court?

Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla on

Thursday said he will meet with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin to clarify the government’s position on its membership with the ICC. “I intend to meet with the Executive Secretary (today, Friday). Just to be able Next page

CHILDREN’S MONTH DANCE. Nursery pupils under DSWD-Pasay perform a folk dance during the Philippine Children’s Month celebration in Pasay City at the Cuneta Astrodome on Thursday. Danny Pata

AMPATUAN GETS 210-YR. SENTENCE

GOV’T CANCELING TEVES PASSPORT

NEWS / A2

NEWS / A2

NEWS

A2

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2023

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ampatuan gets 210-year sentence

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE Sandiganbayan Sixth Division has convicted Datu Andal Ampatuan of 21 counts of graft over the supply of fuel to the Maguindanao provincial government from a petroleum station he owned.

The anti-graft court sentenced Ampatu- months to 210 years in jail in total. an—one of the perpetrators of the infamous Ampatuan’s conviction coincides Maguindanao massacre—to between 6 with the 14th anniversary of the Maguinyears and 1 month to 10 years for each of danao massacre. the 21 counts, or between 127 years and 9 The massacre on Nov. 23, 2009 was

China...

From A1

for the militaries of both countries to try and bring down tensions in the area.

After the meeting in San Francisco, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said: “China carrying out construction activities on its own territory is a matter purely within the scope ofChina’s sovereignty and other countries have no right to point fingers at it.”

Romualdez admitted that Xi’s statement was not encouraging at all.

There is “no real clear sign that they’re going to be letting up any of these things that is happening,” he told CNN. “It goes to show there is really a disconnect in everything,” he added.

While the joint military exercises was ongoing in Guandong, a Chinese vessel shadowed ships of the Philippines and the US that were conducting a joint maritime patrol in the WPS, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said.

“There was shadowing. So we monitored a Chinese vessel shadowing the joint maritime patrol but there are no aggressive actions by China and I hope that this continues,” Brawner said.

He said three ships—two Filipino and

PBBM...

From A1

communication with the families of the hostages,” Marcos said.

Yemeni rebels seized the cargo vessel Galaxy Leader and held captive its 25 crew members, including 17 Filipinos, in retaliation forIsrael's offensive in Gaza, the DFA said. The other hostages are from Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and Mexico.

The Bahamas-flagged, Britishowned Galaxy Leader, with ties to Israeli businessman Abraham "Rami" Ungar, is operated by a Japanese firm.

The DFA said the 17 Filipino hostages were safe.

"All indications are that they are safe and not being physicallyharmed," DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

De Vega said one of them was able to contact his family in the Philippines.

"We can't reveal as many details as you would like in order to protect them as well. However, yes, they're being held. There's 17 of them.

And DMW is in touch with their families," he said.

De Vega said the Japanese company operating the ship and the manning

Senate...

From A1

Zubiri said there were "no specifics like the WPS or the arbitralruling" in the Philippine resolution at the APPF, which aims to strengthen the capacity of parliaments for regional peace and security.

Zubiri said the delegates from Japan, Mexico, and Australia also filed similar resolutions.

If the WPS issue would be put in the resolution, he admitted “there might be a protest or somebody might get angry.”

"It doesn’t change our position, we are friends to all, enemy tonone," added Zubiri, who along with House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez welcomed the 275 delegates from 18 countries at the Philippine International Convention Center.

According to Zubiri, the hosts shook hands with the Chinese delegation and even showed them the Senate President’s picture with Chinese President Xi

Remulla...

From A1

to make sure that we are on the same page on this matter.

Of course, we are asking for instructions from the Executive Secretary,” Remulla said.

“I will only clarify some things.

Because if we have plans to become

one US—were sailing together 30 nautical miles off the Malampaya gas field facility in northern Palawan when they spotted another vessel at 10:15 a.m.

Brawner said they observed a Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy vessel that appeared to be shadowing them from a distance of 6.5 nautical miles.

“The joint Philippines-US is not meant to agitate China,” he said.

"Our only objective is to make sure that we have interoperability withour ally, the US, and also to impose that objective of making sure that we promote the rules based international order,” Brawner said.

Brawner described the joint patrols as “successful.”

“So far, we believe that the joint maritime and air patrols betweenthe Philippines and the US have been very successful in the sense that there are no untoward incidents,” he said.

The 3-day joint patrols that ended yesterday would allow the longtime treaty allies to learn each other's maneuvers, AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said.

"This is a way to assert our sovereign rights over our maritime zones at the same time, promoting the international convention in support of rules-based international order," Aguilar said in a public briefing. agency of the seafarers are now coordinating with the rebels to ensure the safety of the crew members.

In a statement, the DMW pledged its unwavering support and assistance to the families of the seafarers.

“We are currently working with the Department of Foreign Affairs, aswell as officials of the registered shipping and manning agency of thevessel to monitor the safety and well-being of the 17 Filipino seafarers onboard the ship, and to bring them home safely,” the DMW said in a statement.

In response to the Red Sea incident, the United States, which has called for the immediate release of the ship and its crew, is considering designating Houthi rebels as a terrorist organization.

Speaker Martin Romualdez said the House of Representatives willsupport all efforts to secure the release of the Filipino hostages.

"We call on the international community to join us in condemning this act of piracy and to assist in any way possible to resolve this crisis. The Philippines is committed to working tirelessly to ensure our citizens' safe return and address the underlying issues that lead to such incidents," Romualdez said.

described as the worst violent electionrelated incident in country’s history.

Fifty-eight people were murdered then, 32 of which were members of the media.

The incident occurred during the filing of the certificate ofcandidacy of thenBuluan town vice mayor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu who ran against Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. for governor post in the 2010 elections.

Ampatuan was also ordered to pay up to P44.18 million as value of the undelivered fuel plus interest of 6 percent per annum and is perpetually disqualified

from holding public office.

The case stemmed from the Maguindanao provincial government’s decision to buy diesel fuel from Ampatuan’s petrol station in Shariff Aguak when his father was still the governor in 2008.

Reports said the court found that he conspired with his father, thelate Andal Ampatuan, Sr. and several government officials to award the contract for the purchase of fuel to his petroleum station without any bidding and in releasing public funds despite no completely delivery of the goods purchased. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Gaza...

In Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it was optimistic that the hostage release would push through, even though they don’t expect two Filipino hostages to be part of the first batch to be freed, because Israeli women and children will get priority.

However, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega expressed hope that theFilipino hostages would be included in the upcoming batches.Meanwhile,five Filipinos have successfully exited the West Bank and crossed the border to Jordan, the Philippine Embassy in Jordan said.

They were expected to be back in the Philippines by Nov. 23.The first batch of Filipino repatriates from the West Bank arrived in the Philippines on Nov. 9.

Violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has run for more than 15 years, but it has surged recently because of the Israel-Hamas war.

'We are winning' The hostage release agreement was approved by Hamas leaders and by Israel—despite fierce opposition from some within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government.

Minister for National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir described the deal as a"historic mistake" that would embolden Hamas and risk the lives of Israeli troops.

About 240 hostages were taken by Hamas and other Palestinian gunmenduring bloody raids into Israel on Oct. 7, which also killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, according to Israeli authorities.

The attack prompted a blistering Israeli offensive into Hamas-runGaza, which authorities there say has killed more than 14,000 people, thousands of them children.

Netanyahu has backed the agreement with Hamas, but vowed the truce will be temporary and will not end the campaign to destroy Hamas. AFP with Rey E. Requejo (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

From A1

A second Israeli official said that a temporary halt in fighting would also not begin on Thursday.

The delay is a hammer blow to families desperate to see their lovedones return home, and to two million-plus Gazans praying for an end to 47 days of war and deprivation.

The complex and carefully choreographed deal saw Israel and Hamas agree to a four-day truce, during which at least 50 hostages taken in the Palestinian militant group's deadly Oct.7 attacks would be released.

For every 10 additional hostages released, there would be an extra day's "pause" in fighting, an Israeli government document said.

Three Americans, including 3-yearold Abigail Mor Idan, were among those earmarked for release.

In turn, Israel would release at least 150 Palestinian women andchildren and allow more humanitarian aid into the besieged coastal territory after weeks of bombardment and heavy fighting.

It was not immediately clear what caused the delay, which came after weeks of talks involving Israel, Palestinian militant groups, Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

A Palestinian official told the Agence France-Presse Thursday that thedelay was due to "last minute" details over which hostages would be released and how.

Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said Thursday that implementation of the accord "continues and is going positively."

"The truce agreement that was reached will be concluded in the coming hours," he said.

Manila hopeful

Jinping when he visited the country during the Duterte administration.

Zubiri wanted to show them “that Filipino parliamentarians and the Filipinos are not bad and they can be good neighbors.”

“They can say thus when they return to China,” the Senate President added.

Meanwhile, Speaker Romualdez said in his remarks: “Peace remains a paramount objective. We are firm in our support for a rules-based international order, governed by the principles of international law and informed by the principles of equity and justice,” Romualdez said.

“We recall the 1982 Manila Declaration on Peaceful Settlement of Disputes, which emphasizes that all disputes should be settled through peaceful means. Let us remember that resorting to judicial procedures, including arbitration, is not an unfriendly act, but a practice of responsible global citizenship,” he added. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

part of a nationwide tour to assess the damage caused by the floods and last week's powerful earthquake in Mindanao.

From General Santos City, the President assured people in Mindanao that they would receive all the necessary assistance from thegovernment following the magnitude 6.8 quake that hit the region on Friday.

In an interview, President Marcos said the government has prepared allnecessary assistance and relief operations for earthquake victims, except for rebuilding their houses due to ongoing aftershocks.

“We can't even begin to rebuild because there are still aftershocks.

The problem with the earthquake, there is no forecast – we don't know what will happen,” he said in Filipino.

The President emphasized that the government will not abandon the earthquake victims.

‘Clear the roads’ President Marcos said the Department of Public Works and Highways(DPWH) should ensure that all roads are passable to allow faster distribution of food packs and relief goods to flood victims.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary RexGatchalian said they have already prepared over 100,000 food packs for distribution to the affected families in Eastern and Northern Samar.

Gatchalian added they are also finalizing the list of the affectedfamilies whose houses were either totally or partially damaged. This will be the basis of the financial assistance they will receive

from the government to start rebuilding their houses.

Before concluding the meeting, President Marcos said the Department of Agriculture (DA) will provide the necessary assistance to the affected families and will distribute seedlings and other agricultural products.

The President also assured local officials that the nationalgovernment is ready to provide additional assistance to the affected families.

State of calamity The provincial government of Eastern Samar declared a state of calamity on Wednesday due to massive flooding brought about by heavy rains.

Provincial board members approved the resolution days after Northern Samar passed a similar declaration.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said 12,817 families or 50,053 people were affected by the flooding brought about by the shear line – an area where warm and cold air meet– and a low-pressure area.

About 1,648 families or 5,776 people are now staying in evacuation centers, churches, and municipal halls.

Most of the affected families are from the towns of Jipapad, Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Can-avid, Maydolong, and Maslog.

The PDRRMO estimated initial damage to agriculture and crops in thetowns of Dolores and Maydolong at ₱4.3 million, mostly to rice fields, vegetable farms, and root crops.

Several national roads in the province were also rendered impassableby flooding and landslides. With AFP and Rio N. Araja (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

members again of the ICC like what's being said in Congress, I want to know how it affects the whole universe of the ICC and the Philippine government as it is,” he added.

Vice President Sara Duterte, however, called on House lawmakers to respect President Marcos' earlier statement that the Philippines will not cooperate with the ICC probe.

"We urge the House to respect the

position of the President, who is the chief architect of our foreign policy," the Vice President said in a statement.

Allowing ICC prosecutors to investigate alleged crimes under thejurisdiction of local courts "is not only patently unconstitutional but effectively belittles and degrades our legal institutions," the younger Duterte said.

"Let us not insult and embarrass

our courts by showing the world that we believe that foreigners are the only ones who have the ability to give justice to our own country," she added.

The resolution urging the government's cooperation with the ICC was discussed Tuesday at the House of Representatives and referred to the Committee on Justice. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Marcos...

From A1

Gov't canceling Teves passport, DOJ chief says

By Rey E. Requejo THE government has started the process of canceling the passport of fugitive and expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla said.

"If you are a fugitive from justice, your right to travel is impaired basically. Teves' passport is in the process of being canceled," Remulla said.

“You have a limit now on your constitutional right to travel when you are fugitive from justice and you cannot seek from a government for protection if you have a record that you are a fugitive from justice,” he added.

Arrest warrants have already been issued against Teves for multiplemurder charges in relation to the March 4, 2023 killings in Pamplona town in Negros Oriental.

One of the 10 persons killed was Negros Oriental Gov. Roel R. Degamo.

IN BRIEF Manibela rejects consolidation plan

DESPITE a series of talks with the government, transport group Manibela on Thursday still rejected the consolidation of operators into a cooperative under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Interviewed on ANC, Manibela president Mar Valbuena clarified his group—which was on the second day of a nationwide strike – was not against the modernization of PUVs per se but are opposing the phaseout of traditional jeepneys.

Unlike existing PUV cooperatives, “old” jeepney operators under the PUVMP’s consolidation process must apply for a “big, full or complete” loan with the Development Bank of the Philippines or Land Bank of the Philippines to be able to acquire new modernized PUVs, he said.

“Our units may be pulled out by the bank should we fail to pay our amortizations. What is our guarantee that this will not happen? Will the government provide us with a subsidy?” Valbuena asked.

“Instead of acquiring modernized units, why not modernize the old jeepneys to make it environment-friendly and roadworthy?” he said, noting P500,000 to P1 million would be enough to rehabilitate a traditional jeepney and make it look brandnew. Rio N. Araja

Ban on ex-PCGG chief stays—SC THE Supreme Court has sustained the ruling issued by the Court of Appeals that perpetually banned former Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) chairman Camilo Sabio from holding any public office and forfeiting all his retirement benefits.

The CA found Sabio guilty of grave misconduct for trying to influence his brother, then a CA magistrate, to side with the Government Service Insurance System in its ownership dispute with the Manila Electric Company.

In an 18-page ruling, the SC denied Sabio’s petition for review as the appellate court’s ruling on March 31, 2015 affirmed the Ombudsman’s resolution, which found him guilty of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

The anti-graft body held that Sabio’s attempt to influence the judicial discretion of his brother was a "flagrant disregard of well-known legal and more importantly, ethical rules" which "unduly prejudiced and compromised the image and independence of the judiciary, and government service in general." Rey E. Requejo

LTO suspends road rage SUV driver’s license THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Thursday ordered a preventive suspension of the driver’s license of a motorist seen sideswiping a motorcyclist and his female passenger in a viral road rage video in Mandaluyong City.

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II, in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview, believes the driver of the sports utility vehicle (SUV), Pedro Magalit, could have intended to harm the Angkas rider and his passenger when he sideswiped them following a traffic incident on Nov. 22.

“The video speaks for itself. It quite seems there is (a commission of) reckless driving. The charge against (Magalit) must be attempted murder. It’s not just a simple accident because there is an intent.

Even police operatives, by filing attempted murder charges, their (case) profile, have also seen that. As if there is an intent to kill or intent to injure at the very least," Mendoza said.

A show-cause order was issued against Magalit, 53, to explain his side on violating Republic Act 4136, such as reckless driving (Section 48), the duty of a driver in case of an accident (Section 55), and improper person to operate a vehicle (Section 27-a).

Operatives of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority arrested Magalit.

Rio N. Araja

NEWS

A4

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2023

MST.DAYDESK@GMAIL.COM

Reclamation plan can create 1 million jobs—Pasay official

By Maricel V. Cruz

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS. Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco (right) and his family led the annual lighting of the giant Christmas tree at the Navotas Citywalk and Amphitheater on Wednesday night. Andrew Rabulan

Rights activists file ‘delist’ plea from terrorist tag HUMAN rights activists based in Cordillera filed a petition before a Baguio City court questioning their terrorist designation and challenging the constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) in June 2023 branded Windel Bolinget, Sarah Abellon-Alikes, Jennifer Awingan-Taggaoa, and Stephen Tauli, as well as indigenous peoples and officials or members of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), as “terrorists,” ABS-CBN News reported.

The assets of the said individuals were also frozen by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

The petitioners had asked the ATC to remove their names from the list of terrorists, in a process called “delisting,” but the council denied their request. The petition named the ATC and AMLC as respondents.

The petitioners also alleged that their terrorist designation was “arbitrary and unconstitutional” because they were deprived of due process and the opportunity to contest the designation.

“The law subjects designated persons to a process without prior notice of the basis of the designation, a venue to counter such basis prior to their designation, and procedural modes of higher judicial review,” the petition said.

“Worse, they are already made to suffer the consequences of being a designated person and no recourse is provided by the said provision to challenge the factual basis for their designation,” it added.

PASAY City-backed reclamation projects in Manila Bay can easily generate at least one million jobs from horizontal development and commercial operations, Pasay City Administrator Peter Manzano said.

Manzano made the statement during a congressional hearing on Thursday on the proposed Manila Bay reclamation projects.

Manzano, who attended the briefing on behalf of Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto, spoke about the economic impact of reclamation efforts in Manila Bay, particularly under the Pasay Eco-City Coastal Development Projects.

The House Ways and Means Committee chaired by Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda conducted the hearing.

Foremost among these impacts, according to Manzano are the “millions of jobs and billions of revenues” the projects will generate.

The “Eco-City” endeavor included the 360-hectare reclamation project under a joint venture with SM Smart City Infrastructure and Development Corporation, dubbed “Pasay 360.”

“During horizontal development and commercial operations, private developers, investors, and business establishments at the Projects could easily generate over a million jobs, including those related to construction, business process outsourcing, retail, banking, hotels and restaurants, and the like,” Manzano said.

In general, Manzano said this joint venture with the private sector is “projected to create economic multipliers, and generate millions of jobs and billions of revenues by way of income and value-added taxes for the national government, and real property taxes and business taxes for the city.”

He said that as it is, Pasay’s development is held back by “acute land scarcity and urban congestion.”

The Eco-City project is designed to change all that, giving considerable windfall to the national government in the process.

Pimentel questions Comelec plan to rent machines for P19.79b in ‘25 S

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III raised concerns about the exorbitant rental rates of automatic counting machines (ACMs) proposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to be used for the 2025 national and local elections.

Under the proposed Comelec budget for next year, P19.799 billion is allocated for the rental of the ACMs. The Comelec said 127,740 ACMs will be used, and the rental fee for each machine is P155,000.

Pimentel said the rental rate of

P155,000 per machine “is excessively high,” especially when considering the financial challenges faced by the government, including a huge budget deficit.

“To spend nearly P20 billion on the rental of automatic counting machines,

with each machine costing P155,000 just to lease, is simply not wise, given our current financial situation,” he said.

He likewise questioned why the price tag ballooned to P155,000 per unit from P70,000 based on Comelec’s earlier statement.

Pimentel noted that the Comelec had firmly set the rental price at P70,000 per unit just last year. Furthermore, he emphasized that Comelec had previously indicated a requirement for only 97,000 ACMs to facilitate the upcoming midterm elections.

“It suddenly increased by 121%. That’s quite a dramatic increase. I think Comelec

PCSO is best gov’t controlled firm for 2022, agency says BEST GOCC. Officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) pose for a photo. The PCSO was named by the GCG as one of the “most improved and best performing” government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs). Shown in the photo are (left to right) PCSO Director Jennifer Liongson-Guevara; GCG Commissioner Atty. Brian Keith Hosaka; GCG Commissioner Atty. Geraldine Marie Berberabe-Martinez; PCSO Chairman Junie Cua; Executive Sec. Lucas Bersamin; PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles; GCG Chairperson Atty. Marius Corpus; PCSO Director Judge Felix Reyes (Ret); and Director Janet De Leon-Mercado during the GCG Governance Awards in PICC, Pasay City recently. Joseph Muego

HB seeks to amend Family Code for cohabiting gender-fluid couples HOUSE Assistant Majority Leader Margarita Nograles has filed a bill that seeks to amend the Family Code to include cohabiting gender-fluid couples in the administration of property ownership.

In seeking to amend Article 148 of the Family Code of the Philippines through House Bill 9502, Nograles, a nominee of Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list group, aims to set the param-

eters for property ownership of unmarried but cohabiting couples, regardless of their gender.

Under the proposed amendment, all couples covered by this provision, regardless of gender, will be granted limited co-ownership over their shared properties, addressing a crucial gap in the current legal landscape.

Nograles noted existing jurisprudence has inadvertently excluded gen-

der-fluid couples from the protection provided by this provision—a gap that her bill aims to bridge.

Furthermore, the bill provides that only properties acquired through the joint contributions of money, property, or industry by both partners during cohabitation will be owned in common, reflecting their respective contributions.

“In the absence of proof to the contrary, their contributions and correspond-

ing shares are presumed to be equal.

The same rule and presumption shall apply to joint deposits of money and evidence of credit,” the bill states.

“While it may take more time for the Philippines to fully accept unions of all couples regardless of gender, this bill is a crucial step in ensuring that vulnerable individuals are protected from economic exploitations within their relationships,” said Nograles. Maricel V. Cruz

‘More funds for public health facilities’ CAMARINES Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte has proposed giving more funds to the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) of the Department of Health (DOH) to provide better service to the community.

The Bicol representative also said in addition, more funds for the facilities will prevent existing and future super health centers “from becoming empty, dust-filled structures that sometimes end up being used only for card games and drinking sessions.”

Villafuerte suggested to DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa--during a recent Commission on Appointments hearing-that the annual DOH outlay for its HFAP needs a sizable bump so local government units that run super health centers

has a lot of explaining to do,” he added.

The Comelec meanwhile reported that it will implement internet voting for overseas Filipinos in the 2025 polls.

Comelec chairman George Garcia on Wednesday said this is to increase the voter turnout and to make it more convenient for overseas voters.

For 2025, regardless of whether there is a law or not, the Comelec is pursuing internet voting for overseas Filipinos,” Garcia, quoted by GMA News, said.

Garcia said that despite the 2022 polls’ seeing the highest overseas voting numbers, they were still less than half of the registered Filipino voters abroad.

are assured of sufficient funds to acquire top-grade medical equipment and pay for the salaries of doctors, nurses and other staff in these clinics.

Herbosa agreed with Villafuerte that HFAP reforms are necessary to improve the delivery of health services to the public, including changes in the state procurement system so it will no longer be mandatory for the government to purchase through public bidding the cheapest equipment that are of inferior quality and not the best ones available in the market.

Super health centers are better versions of rural health units and medium-type versions of polyclinics, and are meant to decongest hospitals especially in the provinces. Maricel V. Cruz

GIVING BACK TO LALAMOVE PARTNERS. Partner/drivers of the delivery application platform Lalamove receive P20,000 worth of educational financial assistance during the awarding ceremony of Lalamove’s ‘BiyahEdukasyon’ program held at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Norman Cruz

THE Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) recently named the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) as one of the most improved and best-performing government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs).

The GCG said it recognized the PCSO for its “remarkable accomplishments, outstanding disclosure practices, and high-performance ratings” in the inaugural GOCC Governance Awards Ceremony held at the Philippine International Convention Center.

In a video message, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. extended his congratulations to the GOCCs for demonstrating excellence and urged them to “uphold accountability, transparency, and integrity in (their) endeavors so that we can serve our people best, more efficiently, and more effectively.”

The PCSO earned the GCG nod after it achieved an impressive performance scorecard rating of 92.03 percent for 2022.

The Performance Evaluation System (PES) of the GCG is the process of appraising the accomplishments of GOCCs in a given fiscal year, based on a set of performance criteria, targets, and weights reported in a performance scorecard.

After a thorough validation by the GCG, the PCSO exceeded most of its targets set last year, particularly in gross revenue/sales, collection efficiency, and budget utilization.

Additionally, the PCSO has shown a solid commitment to rationalizing the use of charity funds, improving process efficiency, maintaining ISO certification, and ensuring the timely distribution of mandatory contributions.

The agency’s score of 92.03 % in 2022 is a huge leap of 35.73% compared to its 2021 score of 56.30%. Joseph Muego

A5

OPINION

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2023

mst.daydesk@gmail.com HONOR BLANCO CABIE, Editor

To The Point Emil P. Jurado

EDITORIAL

When POGOs become ‘monsters’ I THOUGHT I had written enough about Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations, and how they have become sinister, but it seems our government leaders don’t seem to realize what these POGOs have become.

I cannot understand why even President Marcos Jr. seems to be beguiled with the revenue they make for the government.

Despite what these POGOs have become, he continues to reject proposals to totally ban them. Santa Banana, these POGOs have become monsters and more sinister.

China, I am sure, must be laughing at us.

If the Marcos government continues to let POGOs have their way, China need not have to be more aggressive at the disputes at the West Philippine Sea.

—“—

If the Marcos government continues to let POGOs have their way, China need not have to be more aggressive at the disputes at the West Philippine Sea

POGOs have become a big fat monster, corrupting our government agencies to issue genuine Philippine passports, birth certificates and government-issued IDs to mainland Chinese, Santa Banana.

I say, enough is enough .

It has been shown that POGOs, in at least two police raids of so-called POGO hubs, are not only into human trafficking, but also into prostitution and other crimes like kidnapping for ransom, torture and money laundering.

Santa Banana, do we have to bear all these because they give us revenues?

Are they so important for us because of the money they give the government?

I say, ban them all immediately. They have become threats to national security.

And now there’s that plan to change their name. Changing their name is like calling a monster by another name.

I have been informed that many POGOs have to be relocated to the provinces where they can do their worst.

Santa Banana, we Filipinos can’t be that stupid!

Mister President, it’s time you act before

it’s too late.

Ban all POGOs and make people believe in you.

The case vs. Duterte One thing I like about former President Duterte is that whenever he opens his mouth, there’s always something I can write about as a columnist.

First, when he went on television on the network of spiritual leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, he came out with grave threats against Party-list ACT Rep. France Castro , threatening to kill her and accusing her of being a communist.

Santa Banana, despite the fact that the lawmaker has filed a grave threat case against the former President, now comes Duterte warning Congress, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police of the possibility of destabilization.

The mere mention of the word “destabilization” reminds us of how many soldiers and police have been killed by the communists in their attempt to take over the government.

I really don’t know what Duterte is up to.

But when he mentioned Speaker Martin Romualdez as allegedly being in cahoots with Castro to demonize Romualdez, then it becomes clear what the former President is up to.

Recall that in his effort to defend his daughter, Vice President Sara, he declared Romualdez is behind the move to discredit Sara as a probable candidate for President in 2028.

My gulay, Duterte even tried to stop the effort of Congress to look into the Confidential Funds after Sara sought to have P500 million for the Office of the Vice President and P125 million for the DepEd. In my over seven decades as a journalist, my gulay, I have never seen a former President as imaginative as Duterte is.

Rody’s case Now, the former President is in trouble.

Rep. France Castro has filed a case against him for grave threat.

I am not guessing, but as a lawyer myself, the case against Duterte is an open and shut case with the lawyers of Castro having the video of his statement over television.

Just how long this case will be resolved is anybody’s guess.

But the Revised Penal Code is very clear the penalty is a maximum of six months in jail and P100,000 in damages.

It’s laughable since Duterte himself is a lawyer and should have known the consequences of his actions.

Well, my gulay, if Duterte wanted a headline, he now has it, all because he just can’t keep his big mouth shut.

Citizen Barok

Louis ‘Barok’ Biraogo

The Marcos-Duterte alliance THE political gossip suggesting a rift between ex-President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, current Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, on the one hand, and the camp of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Martin Romualdez, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Congress on the other hand, is what it is -- gossip.

The gossip began when the House turned down Sara Duterte’s request for P650-million in confidential and intelligence funds in the 2024 annual budget of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.

Sara’s budget request was turned down by the House, not because of a rift between her and Romualdez, but because of the strong opposition her request had stirred.

First, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo revealed that last year the OVP under Sara Duterte spent P125-million pesos in just 11 days -- more than P11-million of taxpayers’ money daily.

That revelation certainly invited questions from the members of the House, as seen in the ensuing interpellation by three partylist representatives known for their staunch anti-Duterte and anti-Marcos stance: France Castro (ACT Teachers), Arlene Brosas (Gabriela) and Raoul Manuel (Kabataan).

Media outfits known for their strong anti-Duterte bias were quick to fan the political fire started by the interpellations.

One online news source operated by a corporation which lost its legislative franchise to operate its broadcast network during the administration of President Duterte had a heyday blasting at Sara Du-

terte. For that online news source, it was payback time.

China’s illegal expansionist activities in the West Philippine Sea which, at the time of the House budget deliberations, had reached provocative levels, prompted the House to channel the money sought by Sara to the military establishment to address the need to defend Philippine maritime territory from alien encroachment.

—“—

Undoubtedly, the Marcos-Duterte alliance is certainly worth keeping and defending by both sides As expected, anti-Duterte and antiMarcos groups quickly insinuated the House was against Sara Duterte all along.

Considering that Quimbo is with the opposition Liberal Party, her revelation was designed to put Sara in bad light.

Sure, Speaker Romualdez delivered a speech asserting the independence of the House, but it was to emphasize that legislation is all about national priorities, and is not a campaign to discredit anybody.

More importantly, Romualdez’ speech effectively debunked the false scenario peddled by the political opposition that the House had embarked on a campaign to

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Should we adopt nuke technology?

I

His administration, he added, would be very glad to pursue nuclear energy as part of the country’s energy mix by 2032 through the partnership forged with American firms.

T’S been described as the fastest agreement on nuclear energy as it was signed after the conclusion of negotiations between the Philippines and the United States only a month before.

—“—

The two agreements represent two steps forward in the Marcos administration’s efforts to ensure affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy supply in the years ahead

We’re referring to “Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy,” or the so-called 123 Agreement, signed last November at the sidelines of the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting in San Francisco, California.

For President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the 123 Agreement is the first “major step” in stepping up cooperation on capacity building between Manila and Washington and actually opening the doors for US companies to invest and participate in nuclear power projects here.

“We see nuclear energy becoming a part of the Philippine energy mix by 2032, and we would be more than happy to pursue this path with the United States as one of our partners,” President Marcos said in his remarks during the signing ceremony.

Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla signed the 123 Agreement with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Lotilla said the agreement allows the peaceful transfer of nuclear material, equipment, and knowledge from the US to the Philippines.

Beyond nuclear power applications to combat climate change, the 123 Agreement facilitates bilateral cooperation in

About Town

Ernesto M. Hilario

LPG industry seals tie-up with PNP

IF YOU use liquefied petroleum gas or LPG in your home, chances are you may be taking chances with your family’s safety with substandard tanks and deadly gas leaks.

That’s because the LPG sector has long wanted to get rid of those who only want to make a fast buck, consumer safety be damned.

But the wolves in sheep’s clothing lurking within the sector may soon find their happy days over once they are handcuffed and brought to jail by law enforcers.

Legit LPG manufacturers and dealers have found an ally in cleansing the industry of the bad eggs with the recent assurance from Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat, Jr., head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police, that he would be relentless in running after LPG business operators engaged in illegal practices.

Here, the CIDG can invoke Republic Act 11592, also known as the LPG Law, that lays down clear guidelines for the sector to ensure the safe and proper use of LPG products.

While the Department of Energy and the LPG sector have tried to keep the industry safe from the clutches of those engaged in illegal activities, what’s needed is decisive action from law enforcers.

Ample proof of this is the recent CIDG raid on a large warehouse illegally storing canisters and other LPG refill equipment, according to the CIDG Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Unit.

With Caramat himself giving the LPG sector firm assurances the CIDG will closely monitor those engaged in illegal activities, the government would benefit in the end as offenders will be compelled to abide by the law by obtaining the proper permits and paying the correct taxes.

Apart from stopping the illegal activities of a few opportunist LPG business operators, the CIDG will also strive to resolve other issues in the LPG sector such

as keeping employees and work places drug-free, and ensuring compliance with responsible practices for the safety of LPG users.

For former party-list congressman Arnel Ty of the LPG Marketers Association, what is important is for stakeholders to keep the industry clean and trusted by consumers, with law enforcers helping them obtain the seal of good housekeeping.

discredit Sara Duterte by turning down her budget request.

When an angry ex-President Duterte appeared on cable television to get back at the House, anti-Duterte elements ganged up on him. They conveniently forgot that Duterte’s remarks were those of a father protecting his daughter from political intrigue.

Castro, who remains angry at the Duterte administration for linking her to the local communists, filed a legally groundless criminal case for grave threats against the ex-president before the prosecution office of Quezon City.

Ex-Senator Leila de Lima, recently out on bail pending her anti-narcotics crimi-

nal case, said she will cooperate with the International Criminal Court in its efforts to put ex-President Duterte in prison for the deaths allegedly arising from the anti-drug war pursued during his administration.

In contrast, incumbent Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla reiterated his public announcement that any official of the ICC who insists on investigating the ex-President will be deported immediately.

Remulla explained the Philippines has withdrawn from the Rome Statute, the multilateral treaty creating the ICC. Senator Imee Marcos was quick to defend ex-President Duterte from his critics.

Imee recalled when he was the president, Duterte defended her father, the late Presi-

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

—“—

The Philippine government is also planning to file an environmental case against China over extensive damage to natural and marine resources in the West Philippine Sea Filing of court case vs. China Why not challenge China to submit to arbitration its territorial dispute over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal to finally settle which country has sovereignty over it?

That’s the suggestion of former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio recently. It appears a reasonable course of action, coming from someone who’s familiar with international law.

Carpio’s proposal is his response to China’s earlier allegation the Philippines illegally entered its waters near Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, which is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

“We have to challenge China to submit

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

a wide array of other peaceful uses of atomic energy, including plant breeding, livestock production, insect pest control, soil and crop management, water use efficiency, plastic waste disposal, food safety, health and medicine.

Earlier, Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) signed a cooperation agreement with the Ultra Safe Nuclear Cooperation of the US to undertake a Pre-Feasibility Study on Micro-Modular Reactors to explore clean and sustainable energy options here.

The two agreements represent two steps forward in the Marcos administration’s efforts to ensure affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy supply in the years ahead.

The Marcos administration has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent by 2030 and increase the production of clean energy.

The goal is to ensure that 50 percent of the country’s energy requirements comes from renewable sources by 2040.

Maybe those stoutly opposed to the country’s adoption of nuclear energy as part of our energy mix, citing our sad experience with the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, ought to reconsider their stand as technological advances have made it possible for modular nuclear reactors to provide safe and affordable energy supply.

the dispute to arbitration because that’s the only solution. Let the arbitral tribunal decide who has sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal,” Carpio said.

Bringing the dispute to arbitration, particularly before the United Nations International Court of Justice, should be voluntary, he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, Carpio said, could issue an official challenge to China to submit the case to the ICJ. If Beijing refuses, he added, it is because “their claim is weak and they know they will lose.”

“If China really believes they own it, then they should be willing to submit it to arbitration and we’ll tell the world we’re ready to arbitrate and let the ICJ decide the case and we will abide by that decision,” the former jurist argued.

Carpio explained the Philippines’ 2016 arbitral award invalidating China’s ninedash (now ten-dash) line virtually claiming the entire South China Sea “was only talking of the maritime dispute,” but the decision can also apply to territorial claims.

“These are two separate disputes governed by different laws. So we have to start a new case on the territorial dispute,” he said.

The Philippine government is also planning to file an environmental case against China over extensive damage to natural and marine resources in the West Philippine Sea. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla recently said they want to file the case by early next year. This is another step in the right direction.

Proposals to file cases against China in international tribunals may be timeconsuming and costly, but we might need to do this amid China’s insistence on its historically and legally infirm claim to own practically the whole of the South China Sea. (Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

dent Ferdinand Marcos Sr., from detractors.

Duterte even allowed the Marcos patriarch to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani despite the noisy protests of the communists and their allies in the Liberal Party.

When rumors of a possible impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte made news, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself declared he is vehemently against the same.

Romualdez has also declared there is no rift between the two families.

He added any possible misunderstanding between both camps, created by the political opposition, can be easily resolved.

Undoubtedly, the Marcos-Duterte alliance is certainly worth keeping and defending by both sides.

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

NEWS

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CICC WARNS AHEAD OF XMAS SHOPPING

PH has highest online scam rate among 11 nations

By Darwin G. Amojelar

T

HE Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) on Thursday advised the public to be extra careful in doing their Christmas shopping online amid the proliferation of scammers in this sector, saying the Philippines now rates highest at 35.9 percent incidence among 11 Asian nations.

The 2023 Asia Scam Report released at the 1st Anti-Scam Asia Summit in Taipei and published by GASA and Gogolook was based on data collected from nearly 20,000 respondents across 11 countries in Asia – the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia.

Based on the Asia Scam Report, 24.8 percent of Filipino victims respond too quickly to scammers’ demands and 21.1 percent of victims chose to take a risk despite uncertainty about the risk.

The CICC said online shopping scam was one of the nine mainstream scam scenarios and techniques identified in the Asian countries surveyed.

Other stings covered identity theft, investment, government/bank transactions, jobs, lottery, family/relatives relations, bill payment, and charity.

CICC executive director Alexander Ramos advised the public to be extra

careful when doing their online shopping, especially during the Yuletide season.

“Based on our observations, shopping scams usually increase during the Christmas season,” he said.

“Scammers take advantage of the high volume of online shopping and people’s vulnerability during this period,” Ramos explained.

The mindset and immediate response of Filipinos, when confronted with scams, make them vulnerable to the con games, according to Ramos.

“Some people easily believe on false promises even if they are too good to be true,” he said.

Other reasons for vulnerability include being enticed with incentives and over-trusting with friends and family members.

CICC urged the public to call hotline 1326 if they are victims of shopping scams and other cybercrimes.

REMEMBERING THE FALLEN.

Tulfo grills BOC over purchase of ‘overpriced’ Chinese X-rays

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Raffy Tulfo has questioned the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) procurement of low-quality mobile X-ray equipment from China with exorbitant maintenance costs.

Tulfo asked why the BOC chose China over other countries like the United States which have the same high-quality equipment at lower prices.

He said in 2016, the Philippine government paid P7.953 billion to the Chinese firm Nuctech Co. Ltd. for 30 units of mobile X-ray machines through a loan agreement with the Chinese government.

Even though the Commission on

Mayor cites NEPC benefits as power supplier to Bacolod BACOLOD City Mayor Albee Benitez viewed as a “milestone” the approval of the franchise of Negros Electric and Power Corp. (NEPC), currently under deliberations by the House of Representatives.

House Bill 9310 seeks the grant of a franchise to the NEPC a franchise to supply electricity to in Bacolod, Bago, Silay, and Talisay, as well as the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto.

Benitez said the approval of the NEPC franchise would not only pave the way for “reliable and affordable electricity for his constituents and business establishments but also promote environmental protection through the use of renewable energy.

The mayor said they now look forward to the positive changes that the NEPC will bring to Bacolod.

“With the approval of the Joint Venture Agreement with Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO), the city anticipates the entry of NEPC, promising cheaper and more efficient power supply, and most importantly, a shift towards green energy,” Benitez said.

“NEPC aims to implement ecofriendly practices and promote renewable energy sources within the city. By embracing cleaner alternatives and reducing carbon emissions, NEPC strives to contribute to Bacolod’s sustainability goals, fostering a greener future for generations to come,” he added.

Benitez sees no impediments in transferring the franchise from CENECO to NEPC, especially since the deal is supported by the residents, business owners, local government units, and various sectors, including non-governmental organizations.

Bacolod is one of the areas in Negros experiencing frequent brownouts and high power rates due to expensive fuel costs and a faulty distribution system.

Poor customer service has also been a common complaint. Bacolod, being a major economic hub, faces difficulty in attracting investments and new businesses due to the high electricity charges. Benitez believes that having a reliable power supply will contribute to the city’s economic growth.

Audit later found the transaction to be “exorbitantly overpriced” by P4.215 billion, the BOC still purchased the same model in 2020.

On top of these, Tulfo lamented that the BOC was paying roughly P700 million every year for maintenance of the equipment from Nuctech.

He also said the amount does not include the replacement of the machine’s parts.

What further angered Tulfo is how BOC is still paying for the maintenance of equipment that is non-operational.

According to Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, two of the 26 machines were non-operational, adding that they have requested upgrading of the equipment.

GIFTS FOR KIDS.

Philippine National Railways Assistant General Manager Celeste D. Lauta (right) leads the distribution of school supplies, toys, and food to the students of the New Life Tutorial Day Care Center on Thursday, the eve of PNR’s 131st Anniversary in Tondo, Manila.

Norman Cruz

Man climbs power post, causes 30-hour blackout in Marikina OVER 4,000 households in Marikina lost power supply, schools had to suspend classes, and stores closed shops after a man climbed up an electric post and stayed there for nearly 30 hours.

Meralco was prompted to cut off the electricity supply in Barangay Calumpang to prevent the man from being electrocuted, GMA News reported.

With the power interruption, Jesus

Flock Academy suspended classes amid intense heat being suffered by its students.

Malls and businesses in the area were likewise forced to temporarily cease operations due to the blackout.

Traffic lights were not spared from the adverse effects of the power cutoff, causing traffic jams along Marcos Highway.

Before noontime Wednesday, the man climbed down but only to

transfer to another post, allowing Meralco linemen to restore the power supply.

Meralco sub-transmission services head Abet Castillo the first pole the man climbed had an “underbuilt distribution system with transformers.”

The man’s brother arrived at the scene by mid-afternoon, allowing for a successful rescue operation.

The man was taken to a nearby health center for treatment.

A man cleans the memorial marker for the victims of the Maguindanao Massacre at the National Press Club in Intramuros, Manila on Thursday, the eve of the 14th anniversary of the worst case of media killings in the country. Norman Cruz

Probe NORDECO new credit line with DBP— group

By Maricel V. Cruz A CONSUMER group has called the attention of some concerned government agencies and the House committee on legislative franchises to look into the reported renewal of the credit line of the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative Inc. (NORDECO).

The Davao Consumer Movement (DCM) made the call as it expressed concerns that given NORDECO’s current financial state, it may pass on to its consumers payment of the loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines.

In an online post, NORDECO confirmed that it applied for an increase in the credit line with the DBP to improve its power service within its franchise area.

“This development would redound to better and quality service to our member-consumer-owners. We vow that NORDECO shall carry on in improving our services and contribute to the progress of the cities and municipalities in our franchise coverage areas,” NORDECO acting general manager Elvera Alingog said in a statement sent to reporters covering the House of Representatives.

The DCM also asked if NORDECO was given approval by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to renew its credit line, considering that NORDECO does “not have the healthiest financial status in the region.”

Meanwhile, pending before the committee on legislative franchises is House Bill 6740 calling for the expansion of the franchise area of Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) to cover eight areas in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro to finally solve the energy woes that have disrupted the livelihood and the well-being of its residents.

Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list Rep. Margarita Nograles has expressed confidence that expansion of DLPC’s franchise would receive the endorsement of President Marcos, even in light of a prior veto on a similar measure as this would allegedly overlap and infringe on the existing franchise of the NORDECO.

DA unwraps exhibit on resilience of PH farmers, fishers against climate change

EXHIBIT OPENING. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Kat Pimentel,

wife of Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, lead the opening of the Department of Agriculture’s exhibit ‘AMIA Isang DekaDA: Stories of Resilience.’ It celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA), which highlights the strength and determination of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk in the face of climate change.

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has launched an exhibit showcasing the resilience of Filipino farmers and fishermen against the harsh effects of climate change.

Newly appointed Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Kat Pimentel, wife of Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, led the opening of the exhibit dubbed “AMIA Isang DekaDA Stories of Resilience.”

The event is part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA), a DA project highlighting the strength and determination of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk in the face of climate change.

Mrs. Pimentel underscored the importance of the AMIA program in the context of climate change.

She praised the AMIA program for its efforts in training communities, particularly those dependent on agriculture and fisheries, to become resilient to the adverse effects of climate change.

She also highlighted a special provision in the proposed 2024 DA budget aimed at enhancing the resilience of agriculture communities through disasterresilient infrastructure projects and the development of climate-adaptive seeds.

Pimentel said climate change has brought environmental challenges that directly impact the country’s agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors.

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Car blast near Niagara Falls shuts down border crossing NIAGARA FALLS, Canada – A car erupted into a fireball at a US-Canada checkpoint near Niagara Falls on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), killing the two occupants, triggering border closures and sparking a massive security alert on the eve of a major holiday.

The regional FBI field office concluded the blast, which occurred around 640 kilometers northwest of New York City, was not linked to terrorism.

Witnesses described seeing a car traveling at high speed before it crashed into a checkpoint barrier and exploded into flames.

The blast happened at the major Rainbow Bridge crossing near Niagara Falls with nothing left of the vehicle which was incinerated except for the engine, according to New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

Confirming the two fatalities, she suggested the vehicle may have been from western New York state. The victims’ identities have not yet been made public.

US intercepts multiple attack drones launched from Yemen BAGHDAD, Iraq – A US warship patrolling the Red Sea intercepted multiple attack drones launched from Huthi-controlled areas in Yemen on Thursday, the US Central Command said.

“On the morning (Yemen time) of November 23, the USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) shot down multiple one-way attack drones launched from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen,” CENTCOM said on X. “The ship and crew sustained no damage or injury,” it added.

The Huthis have declared themselves part of an “axis of resistance” of Iran’s allies and proxies retaliating against Israel’s war with Hamas.

The conflict has raised the specter of a broader Middle East conflagration, with the frontier between Lebanon and Israel also seeing near-daily exchanges of fire.

The Huthis in Yemen have launched a series of drones and missiles towards Israel since the October 7 start of the Israel-Hamas war.

On Wednesday, Israel said it had intercepted a “cruise missile” heading for the south of the country, a shot claimed by the Huthi rebels.

“Our forces launched missiles at various military targets” in southern Israel, Yahia Saree, spokesman for the armed wing of the Huthis, wrote on X. “We will continue to carry out military operations until the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank stops,” he added.

The Huthis have also threatened to target Israeli shipping and on Sunday said they seized the Galaxy Leader, an Israel-linked cargo vessel and its 25 international crew, at the entrance to the Red Sea. AFP

Authorities on both sides of the border activated emergency responses and images showed access roads to the crossing swarming with emergency service workers and vehicles.

The White House said President Joe Biden had been briefed and was closely following developments.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told parliament “this is obviously a very serious situation.”

“We’ve seen this car coming down towards the border and he was flying -- over 100 miles an hour,” Mike Guenther, a Canadian visiting the United States, told CBS News.

The car then swerved and “hit the fence, went flying up into the air,” he said. “He went up into the air and we just seen the fireball and that’s all we could see. It was just covered in smoke everywhere.”

The incident came on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday, one of the busiest US travel days when millions of Americans take to the roads and skies. AFP

MEDICAL DATA. Children and their parents wait at an outpatient area at a children hospital in Beijing on Thursday.

The World Health Organization has asked China for more data on a respiratory illness spreading in the north of the country, urging people to take steps to reduce the risk of infection. China has reported an increase in ‘influenza-like illness’ since midOctober when compared to the same period in the previous three years, the WHO said. AFP

WHO asks China for more data on respiratory illness outbreak

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EIJING – The World Health Organization has asked China for more data on respiratory illnesses spreading in the north of the country, urging people to take steps to reduce the risk of infection.

Northern China has reported an increase in “influenza-like illness” since mid-October when compared to the same period in the previous three years, the WHO said.

“WHO has made an official request to China for detailed information on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children,” the UN health body said in a statement on Wednesday.

China’s National Health Commission told reporters last week that the respiratory illness spike was due to the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions and the circulation

of known pathogens, namely influenza and common bacterial infections that affect children, including mycoplasma pneumonia.

The Chinese capital of Beijing, located in the north of the country, is currently experiencing a cold snap, with temperatures expected to plummet to well below zero

by Friday, state media said.

The city has “entered a high incidence season of respiratory infectious diseases”, Wang Quanyi, deputy director and chief epidemiological expert at the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told state media.

Beijing “is currently showing a trend of multiple pathogens coexisting,” he added.

And at Beijing’s Capital Institute of Pediatrics’ Children’s Hospital on Thursday, AFP journalists saw crowds of parents and children dressed in winter clothes.

A parent surnamed Zhang accompanied her coughing nine-year-old son and said he had fallen ill with mycoplasma pneumonia -- a pathogen that can cause sore throats, fatigue and fever.

“There are really a lot of children who have caught it recently,” she said. “Of course that worries me!”

Li Meiling, 42, had brought her eightyear-old daughter, who she said was suffering from the same type of pneumonia.

“It’s true that a lot of children her age are ill with this at the moment,” she told AFP.

Manila

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ON DECK.

Security personnel stand near ambulances on standby Thursday as rescue operation enters its final phase, to free workers trapped in the Silkyara under construction road tunnel, days after it collapsed in the Uttarkashi district of India’s Uttarakhand state. Indian rescuers dug through the final meters of debris separating them from 41 workers trapped in a collapsed road tunnel for nearly two weeks. AFP

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that PRINCIPAL GLOBAL SERVICES (PHILIPPINES) LLC - Philippines Branch, with office address at 15th & 16th Floors, Ten West Campus Building, Le Grand Avenue, McKinley West, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as an Expanding Services Export Provider [Contact Center and Back Office Support Services - Ten West Campus Building, BGC, Taguig City], under Tier 1 (Export Activities - Services Export) of the 2022 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) of the CREATE Act, with project site located at 7th Floor, Ten West Campus Building, Le Grand Avenue, McKinley West, RCBC Plaza Tower 2, 6819 Ayala Avenue corner Sen. Gil Puyat, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Any person with valid objection/s on the aboveStandard mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, Manila

TODAY under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

Ambulances on standby as Indian rescuers near 41 trapped workers SILKYARA TUNNEL, India – Ambulances were on standby Thursday morning as Indian rescuers dug through the final metres of debris separating them from 41 workers trapped in a collapsed road tunnel for nearly two weeks.

Emergency vehicles and a field hospital stood ready, AFP journalists at the site said, preparing to receive the men who authorities hope will soon be freed from the tunnel

But she said she was “not particularly worried” about the WHO announcement.

“It’s winter, so it’s normal that there are more cases of respiratory illnesses. It’s due to the season.”

On November 21, media and public disease surveillance system ProMED reported clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China.

The WHO said it was unclear if ProMED’s report was related to the authorities’ press conference and that it was seeking clarification.

The agency has also “requested additional information on recent trends in the circulation of known pathogens, including influenza, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that gives rise to Covid-19), RSV affecting infants and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, as well as on the degree of overcrowding in the health system,” the statement added. AFP

in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand.

Engineers have been digging for days to drive a steel pipe through some 57 meters of earth, concrete and rubble that has divided the trapped men from freedom since a portion of the under-construction tunnel caved in on November 12.

After days of painfully slow progress, engineers with a powerful drilling machine made a sudden rapid

advance on Wednesday, before being slowed with just 12 metres (39 feet) to go after metal rods blocked the route.

But after workers through the night crouched in the narrow area cut through the metal rods, the route was reopened for the earth-boring machine to drill the final section, Praveen Yadav, one of the rescue team told reporters on Thursday morning.

“We have cut and cleared the way,”

(MS-Nov. 24, 2022)

he said, adding the drill would restart to make the hoped for final push.

Rescuers are hoping for a breakthrough within hours, although the government has also repeatedly warned any timelines were “subject to change due to technical glitches, the challenging HiNOTICE malayan terrain, Notice is hereby given to the that a Deed of Extra and unforeseen Public Judicial Settlement of Estate has been executed by the heirs emergencies”. late Spouses Teodoro AFP ofC. the Rey,Jr. & Amelia E. Rey,

North Korea to send new weapons to frontier after spy satellite launch SEOUL – North Korea said Thursday it would deploy new weapons and stronger armed forces to the border with the South, as Seoul’s spy agency said Pyongyang had received Russian help to successfully put a military spy satellite into orbit.

Tuesday’s launch of the WEAPONS TO THE BORDER. This picture taken and released on “Malligyong-1” was PyongWednesday from North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency shows yang’s third attempt at secura view (screens digitally blurred as received from source) of the Pyongyang ing a military eye in the sky General Control Center of the Korean National Aerospace Technology after two failures in May and Directorate, a day after the launch of a rocket carrying the reconnaissance August. satellite ‘Malligyong-1’, in Pyongyang. AFP

(SGD.) MARY ANN E. RAGANIT Acting Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service

North Korean state media claimed within hours of the launch that leader Kim Jong Un was already reviewing images of US military bases in Guam.

Seoul’s National Intelligence Service told lawmakers the launch had been a success but cautioned it was too early to say if the satellite was working as Pyongyang claimed, adding the North had been given “feedback” by Russia after Kim met Russian President Vladimir Putin in September. AFP

namely Philip Michael Rey, Jennifer Rey Abad, Francis Adrian Rey Galang & Aimee Christine Rey Galang over personal & real properties per Deed executed on Nov. 17, 2022, before Notary Public Atty. Marcus Aurellius M. Banares per Doc. No.650, Page 26, Book No. 2, Series of 2022.

(MS-NOV. 10/17/24, 2023)

NOTICE OF DEED OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE OF RUEL O. PRAXIDES Notice is hereby given to the public that the Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate of Ruel O. Praxides has been executed by and among his heirs, namely: Vince Ryan O. Praxides, and Marielle Jade Antonette Obniala and Charlize Nicole O. Praxides as represented by their mother Rosemarie Obniala, as per Doc. No. 69; Page No. 14; Book No. VII; Series of 2023 of the Notarial Register of Atty.

Mishael R. Occiano, Notary Public for and in the city of Iriga, and municipalities of Baao, Balatan, Bato, Buhi, and Nabua.

(MS-NOV. 17/24 & DEC. 1, 2023)

(MS-NOV. 24 & 27, 2023)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BUSINESS

A8

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2023

extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor

10-month car sales rose 25.9%, full-year target at 423,000 units

By Othel V. Campos

V

EHICLE sales sustained a double-digit growth in October on strong consumer demand, two industry groups said Thursday.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) said in a joint report their members sold 38,128 vehicles in October, up by 18.6 percent from 32,146 deliveries a year ago.

CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez said the aggressive marketing activi-

ties and supply improvement across all brands sustained the automotive market’s growth.

“Consumer appetite is high, and sales are driven by continued pent-up demand, which is also supported by easier access to credit,” Gutierrez said.

Passenger car sales increased 21.6 percent in October to 10,087 from

8,294 units a year earlier, while commercial vehicles sales went up by 17.6 percent to 28,041 from 23, 852 units.

This brought total sales in the first 10 months of 2023 to 352,971 units, up by 25.9 percent from 280,300 vehicles sold in the same period in 2022.

Passenger car sales in the first 10 months climbed 31.8 percent to 90,096 from 68,352 units, while commercial vehicle sales went up by 24 percent to 262,875 from 211,948 units.

CAMPI earlier revised its 2023 sales forecast to 423,000 units, representing

a 20-percent growth from the 2022 actual sales performance.

“We already achieved 83 percent of our 2023 forecast in October. With sustained demand, we are confident that we can achieve 423,000 units sales by year-end,” Gutierrez said.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. continued to dominate the automotive market with a 46-percent share, followed

by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. with 18.5 percent, Ford Motor Company Philippines Inc. with 7.4 percent, Nissan Philippines Inc. with 6.3 percent and Suzuki Philippines Inc. with 4.3 percent.

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE. Lalamove, an ondemand delivery platform, awards 100 partner driver beneficiaries with P20,000 worth of educational financial assistance in a ceremony of its BiyahEdukasyon program at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

PPA’s net income increased 15.4% in first 10 months

By Darwin G. Amojelar STATE-RUN Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said Thursday its net income grew 15.41 percent to P9.76 billion in the first 10 months of the year from a year ago.

The port authority posted total revenue of P21.06 billion, up by 30.19 percent from last year on higher volumes of cargo and vessel income.

It said that in October 2023, the actual revenue amounted to P2.25 billion, up 3.19 percent over the target of P2.18 billion and higher than by 71.55 percent than last year’s.

The total expenses of PPA in the first 10 months of 2023 climbed 46.39 percent from the same period last year on the high budget utilization for PPA project implementation.

The PPA was implementing 74 locally funded projects as of October 2023, with 36 ongoing projects in Luzon, 19 in Visayas and 19 in Mindanao.

These include the construction of wharf with breakwater piles at the Port Management Office (PMO) of Norther Luzon, Capinpin Port, Orion, Bataan Expansion in PMO Bataan/ Aurora, Banago Port, Bacolod development in PMO Negros Occidental and construction of a cruise ship port in PMO Surigao.

PPA general manager Jay Santiago expressed appreciation to PPA employees for working together to carry out the direction of the management’s efficient administration of expenses and streamlined delivery of services to port users and stakeholders.

“The figures will speak for itself. In PPA we take our job seriously and we mean business. These increasing figures are actually the fruits of the past year’s policy changes, planning, and strategic management,” said Santiago.

Investment pledges in economic zones likely to rise over 100%—PEZA PSALM asks investors to bid for CBK plants

By Alena Mae S. Flores STATE-RUN Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.

(PSALM) is wooing investors to join the privatization of the Caliraya– Botocan–Kalayaan (CBK) hydroelectric power plant complex in Southern Luzon.

PSALM scheduled an investors forum on Dec. 1, 2023 at the MultiFunction Hall 2- and 3 of the Asian Development Bank in Mandaluyong City to discuss the concerns of interested investors.

PSALM earlier tapped ADB as the transaction advisor to monetize the CBK hydro power plant complex which consists of separate facilities with a contracted capacity of 796.64 megawatts. It is run by independent power producer CBK Power Co. Ltd. under a 25-year build–rehabilitate– operate–transfer (BROT) contract which will expire in 2026.

The forum also aims to generate investors interest in the rehabilitation and asset management plan for the Agus-Pulangi hydroelectric power plants with a private partner.

“We are thrilled to conduct this one-day event that will convene a wide variety of investors to discuss PSALM’s privatization and disposal process,” said PSALM president Dennis Dela Serna in a statement.

“This is an opportunity for PSALM to provide participants with first-hand information regarding our privatization and disposal procedure. At the same time, we eagerly anticipate their inquiries and recommendations, as they could potentially aid in the improvement of our business process,” he said.

The forum is conducted annually

by PSALM to strengthen investor relations and facilitate the interchange of information to further improve the privatization procedure for its remaining assets.

Dela Serna earlier said that as technical advisor, ADB would review all existing studies, reports and designs regarding CBK to prepare for its privatization slated in June or July 2024.

INVESTMENT pledges at economic zones are expected to reach P140.88 billion in the first 11 months of 2023, up by 146.95 percent from P58.7 billion in the same period last year, according to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

PEZA director-general Tereso Panga expressed optimism the in-

vestment promotion agency would surpass its self-imposed targets for the year, including investments and exports.

“We are positive that the country’s economic zones will prosper with the highest GDP [gross domestic product] growth among countries in the ASEAN for 2023 to 2024, mak-

ing it one of the best performers in the region,” Panga said during the agency’s annual Investors’ Night on Nov. 22, 2023 at the World Trade Center (WTC).

PEZA said exports from the 422 economic zones across the country would likely sustain their growth this year.

PPP CODE.

Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center executive director Ma. Cynthia Hernandez discusses the significant reforms of the proposed PPP Code during the Philippine Infrastructure Summit 2023 at the Sheraton Manila Hotel on Nov. 22, 2023.

The proposed PPP Code will strengthen the government’s PPP program by consolidating all legal frameworks and creating a unified system to enhance private sector participation.

The agency said that as of September 2023, exports of goods and commodities from economic zones increased to $54.54 billion from $31.41 billion a year ago. Total PEZA exports in 2022 amounted to $44.3 billion.

Ecozone exports accounted for 57.6 percent of the total Philippine merchandise exports in the first nine months.

PEZA also accounted for the biggest share in the total foreign investment commitments in the third quarter.

Foreign investment pledges approved by investment promotion agencies (IPAs) reached P27.3 billion in the third quarter, up by 109.3 percent from P13.05 billion a year earlier. PEZA accounted for P18.33 billion or about 67.1 percent of the total foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments.

Other IPAs include the Board of Investments (BOI), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Authority of Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), Aurora Pacific Ecozone and Freeport (APECO) and Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA). Othel V. Campos

Steniel avoids delisting from PSE, but stock trading remains frozen TRADING of Steniel Manufacturing Corp.’s stocks will remain suspended even after the company complied with the 20-percent minimum public ownership (MPO).

The Philippine Stock Exchange said in a notice Steniel managed to comply with the public ownership requirement after its major shareholders sold some shares to various investors. This means that Steniel will no longer be automatically delisted from the local bourse.

It said, however, trading of Steniel’s shares would remain suspended because of non-compliance with reportorial requirements.

Steniel, incorporated on Sept. 13, 1963, is engaged in the manufacturing, processing and selling of paper products, paper board, corrugated carton containers and other allied products and processes.

“Given the company’s compliance with the requirements under the

Amended MPO Rule and the relevant guidelines, Steniel shares will no longer be automatically delisted on Nov. 23, 2023,” the PSE said.

Steniel’s major shareholder Steniel Netherlands sold 70 million common shares to Monceau Philippine Holdings Inc. and another 940,604 common shares to Segovia Capital Holdings Phils. Inc. Another Steniel shareholder, Greenkraft Corp., also sold 60 million common shares to a certain Ismael Cuan.

Steniel said the Bureau of Internal Revenue issued certificates authorizing registration of the transfers, while the transfer was recorded in the company’s books.

These transactions increased Steniel’s public ownership to 22.27 percent from 13.04 percent. Shares of Steniel were last traded on July 5, 2006 when they closed at P0.25.

Jenniffer B. Austria

LAZADA’S SHOPPING FESTIVAL. Celebrities and content creators kickoff Lazada Philippines’ 11.11 shopping festival during the ‘LazAffiliates Thanksgiving’ event on Nov. 9, 2023. Lazada achieved nearly 300-percent growth in sales, compared to regular days, during the three-day shopping festival. More than 140,000 brands and sellers participated in this year’s 11.11 sale.

B1

SPORTS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2023

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

Fortuna sets title faceoff with Duque

Filipino para archers Marzel Burgos and Agustina Bantiloc with their Korean opponents. Jonathan Josol

PH para archers bag Asian tourney bronze

By Randy Caluag

T Miguel Tabuena Manny Marcelo

HE Philippine pair of Marzel Burgos and Agustina Bantiloc overcame the mighty Koreans in the battle for the bronze in the Compound Open Mixed Team event at the recent Asian Para Archery Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.

an excellent chance of making it to the Paris Paralympics in 2024. “ We can make a mark here in the Asian Para-Championships and CQT Paris 2024 Paralympic Qualifiers,” said Josol. “ Bantiloc and Burgos surpassed the qualifying standard with scores of 635 and 658, respectively, in the qualifying rounds.

Burgos and Bantiloc knocked Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals before being subdued by India in the semifinals and bouncing back over South Korea in the bronze-medal match.

SANTA ROSA, Laguna—Mikha Fortuna moved a step closer to claiming her first pro victory, securing a decisive 4&3 triumph over Chihiro Ikeda to seal a championship clash with amateur Laurea Duque in the ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Invitational at the TCC course here Thursday.

Fortuna, 23, maintained her composure and executed her game plan in near-impeccable fashion, winning two of the first six holes and establishing a 4-up lead after 11.

Despite a stumble on the 13th, she stayed in control en route to victory, adding to her string of dominant runs, including a 5&3 romp over last year’s champion and top seed Harmie Constantino and a 5&4 win over Korean Seoyun Kim. Fortuna emphasized the importance of sticking to her game plan and staying patient. With one match to play, she has secured the top P280,000 purse in the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour side of the head-to-head duels as she faces amateur Duque in the finals.

“The key to winning today (yesterday) was pretty much the same – sticking to my game play and staying patient out there,” said Fortuna.

Despite her frustration after a setback on No. 13, she cited Ikeda’s strong play and putting skills.

“Like I said, it was easy to get frustrated towards the backnine. I wasn’t getting what I wanted,” said Fortuna.

“I had one bogey and I kind of got like, frustrated in a way. But I just stuck to it (plan) so it pretty worked today (yesterday).”

Tabuena pulls off win vs. Que, makes semis POC: PH tennis crisis over, elections set Dec. 11 Burgos and Bantiloc outscored the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, pair of Jin Young Jeong at Hwang China last month.

Sung Ki, 143-139, to bounce back Coach Jonathan Josol said Burgos, who from a medal-less campaign in the is from Davao, and Baguio’s Bantiloc, have

SANTA ROSA, Laguna—Miguel Tabuena did the unthinkable, orchestrating a jaw-dropping comeback from four holes down with eight to play to sting Angelo Que, 1-up, in a thrilling high-noon showdown in the ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Invitational here Thursday.

“I don’t think anyone who was 4-down would expect to come back.

But that was early on and I told myself there are a lot of holes left,” said Tabuena, who sealed his improbable backside run with a clutch birdie putt from under 20 feet, set up by an excellent 8-iron approach from a fairway bunker on the challenging No. 18 of the TCC course.

“It was against the wind so I thought it would be much closer than that but I was happy to make the putt,” added Tabuena.

Tabuena’s triumph propelled him to the semifinals, where he faced Justin Quiban in an afternoon duel at presstime. Quiban earlier secured his spot in the Last 4 by winning No. 6 and birdieing the eighth, ultimately clinching a 3&1 victory over Jhonnel Ababa.

Tony Lascuna and Elmer Salvador, on the other hand, sealed a clash of seasoned Davaoeno aces in the other side of the quarterfinals as the former repulsed a hard-fighting Marvin Dumandan, 3&1, and the latter stunning Guido van der Valk with a monster 30-foot par-saving putt on the 18th to escape, 1-up.

THE crisis at the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) is finally over with the election of members of the federation’s board of trustees as prescribed by the International Federation through the Philippine Olympic Committee has been set for December 11 at the Century Park Hotel in Manila.

POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino expressed relief over the reso-

The draw that hurts more than a loss nando Ari Sutaryadi busy. Patrick Reichelt eventually scored the breakthrough goal in the 24th minute, giving life to a stadium so much in need of an Erel Cabatbat Azkals’ win.

The second half, however, was quite different. The AzTHE Philippine Azkals drew with Indonesia in a highly-charged game last kals’ defense allowed the equalizer, Tuesday at Rizal Memorial Stadium a short stab by Saddil Ramdani in the to end its two-game homestand with a 70th minute. The Azkals went all out for the lead, but a crossbar and several single point out of a possible six.

The Azkals played well for the most earlier missed opportunities eventually part of the first half with seven attempts pegged the score at 1-1.

It was a result that was so painful to acon target in the first 20 minutes or so, keeping the Indonesian keeper Er- cept. Even the Ultras Filipinas, the most

The Designated Kit Man

lution of the Philta crisis which started on December 3, 2020 when the ITF suspended the national sports association.

The ITF suspension was borne out of what the world governing body deemed as the Philta’s board of trustees having an “exclusive membership” and not a regional representation.

As a result, the ITF sought the POC to create an ad hoc body to oversee op-

erations of the Philta, while revising the NSA’s charter that hinges on a membership bordering on a genuine nationwide representation.

The ITF put its imprimatur recently on the NSA’s amended by-laws through its senior legal counsel Hannah McLean and Thomas Needham with the election of the new members of the board of trustees specifically set before the year ends.

Mikha Fortuna Manny Marcelo

ROCK N’ ROLL RUN. Officials and sponsors of the ASICS Rock n’ Roll Running Series Manila presented by AIA Vitality grace the opening of the AIA Vitality Health and Wellness Expo at the Midtown Wing Exhibit Area of Robinsons Place Manila. They are (from left) Bernard Fernandez, Operations Manager of Hype-Pro Electrolyte Power Drink; Charlie Dungo, Department Head of Tourism, Culture & Arts in Manila; Sonak director Ishna Buxani; Kabir Buxani, director of Sonak Corp., official distributor of ASICS; Manila Vice Mayor Yul Servo; Melissa Henson, Chief Marketing Officer of AIA Philippines; Kats Cajucom, Head of Health & Wellness of AIA Philippines; and Princess Galura, president and general manager of Sunrise Events Inc., part of The IRONMAN Group. The RnR Series Manila will fire off midnight Sunday at Rizal Park with a soldout participant count of 9,400.

solid and rabid among the loyal Azkals’ fans, made sure that their sentiments were made known to the Azkals after the game.

A very disappointed and emotional Neil Etheridge returned the favor.

“We gave it everything, we left it all out there, but it wasn’t meant to be. Upset, disappointed but I know that the team gave their all for the country. Sometimes, as we all know, it just isn’t meant to be, but it’s far from over,” the Azkals’ team captain later said in a social media post.

The fans were right to criticize the Azkals, especially those who came to RMS to support the Azkals’ two home games to begin their campaign in the FIFA World Cup2026/AFC Asian Cup 2027 Preliminary Joint Qualifiers. They, too, made the effort to support the team and rally behind the Azkals. They had every right to be disappointed and angry.

The Azkals lost to Vietnam, 2-0, in the opener. Despite this, 9,880 fans were present in the game against Indonesia.

After Reichelt’s goal, optimism went off the roof, literally, for an Azkals’ win.

Even I hoped that the Azkals could hold on to the lead and get the win. But as always, the football gods’ cruelty and reality of the game went against our collective prayers.

The fans expected more and despite their efforts, the Azkals fell short. There were comments that we could have won the game if Gerrit Holtman, Sebastian Rasumussen, Raphael Obermair and other missing Azkals were present. Much criticisms, too, were levied against Hans Michael Weiss, head coach of the Azkals and Dan Palami, the team manager. The players, too, took the brunt of the anger and ire of the fans. Everyone, probably, at the stadium was angry and disappointed, including a respectable Indonesian contingent, who made a mighty effort to support their team. The difference was, no matter the result, they backed their team.

A fact that is not lost to us on how the

Azkals were treated after the game.

Say all you want. The players, who played to a disappointing draw, a hateful point after two games, and who came short to some people, whose standards do not require them to be present at the games, but are so brutal and unforgiving in their comments online, were the ones who fought hard on the pitch. They were the ones, who sacrificed their bodies against the tough and rough game of their opponents. They were the ones, who put their careers on the line. And not those players we keep on looking for, but were not present because of a myriad of reasons. We have a saying “Kung gusto, gagawan ng paraan. Kung ayaw, marami ang dahilan.” So it is what it is.

Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!

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

Manila

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Manila

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(MS-NOV. 10/17/24, 2023)

B4

LIFE

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2023

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

How to make a beauty business bloom Entrepreneurial tips from salon owner Dahlia Flores

E

VER since she was a little girl, Dahlia Flores has always envisioned herself owning a beauty salon. In her 30s, while based in Japan, has made the dream happen with two branches located in Tokyo and Manila.

Random Talk Kate Adajar

—“—

Regularly attend workshops, seminars, and Named after the symbolic cherry blossoms training sessions to ensure your skills and of Japan also known as sakura, Sakura Lounge knowledge are up-to-date, enabling you to offer JP and Sakura Lounge PH continue to bloom Happy employees cutting-edge services to your clients. Dahlia with Dahlia’s hands-on approach in handling the invested time and effort to personally equip business. Dedicated to keeping the branches wellare more likely to be with the know-how to perform the maintained, she shuttles back and forth. engaged and committed herself services her salon offers.

During the grand launch of her Quezon City to the success of the Love your employees.

A positive branch at 20 Lansbergh Place, Dahlia indirectly workplace culture with open communication, gave us tips on how to run a beauty business by just business mutual respect, and a healthy work-life balance, speaking her heart out. She is undoubtedly fueling contributes to higher employee satisfaction and this project with hard work and pure passion. productivity. Happy employees are more likely Here are some things I learned from her: Identify a niche. “Bakit ang mahal?”(Why is it so expensive?) to be engaged and committed to the success of the business. For This was Dahlia’s initial reaction to salon prices in Japan. Driven Dahlia, employees are like family.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and salons were by the desire to give high-quality service to both Japanese and Filipino clients at affordable rates, she worked on developing her not operational due to the mandatory lockdowns, she continued own business. Success often lies in identifying a unique niche or to pay for her employees’ salaries until things got back to normal. addressing a specific problem in the market. By honing in on an In return, Dahlia’s staff members stuck it out with her until the business recovered. She also provides yearly travel incentives underserved need, your business can distinguish itself.

Provide a personal touch. With a love for cherry blossoms, to reward them for their hard work. Her staff recently spent a Dahlia turned her salon into one that visually transports a client two-week vacation in Japan while the Manila branch underwent to Japan. I learned that it is important to develop a unique and renovations.

Have passion for customer service. Infuse your salon with personal touch that sets your salon apart. Whether it’s personalized consultations, custom-tailored services, or a warm and inviting a genuine passion for customer satisfaction. Train your staff to atmosphere, adding a personal touch creates a memorable and prioritize exceptional customer service, creating a welcoming and enjoyable experience for clients that goes beyond just the quality of positive impression on clients.

Innovate. The thriving business owner keeps herself updated the services offered.

Dahlia’s eyes lit up as she talked about promoting self-care and stays ahead by fostering a culture of innovation. Whether it’s improving existing products or services or introducing for both men and women and the joy of seeing clients happy. Regroundbreaking solutions, a commitment to continuous improvement enacting how a satisfied client reacts to having beautiful eyelash extensions or nicely manicured nails, she showed proof that ensures that the business remains relevant and competitive.

Learn. There is value in staying abreast of the latest trends, providing the gift of gratification to the target market can be the techniques, and technologies in the beauty and salon industry. best return on investment.

Businesswoman Dahlia Flores aims to deliver a highquality service at affordable rates

PH achieves Guinness World Record for longest travel livestream

Ultimate heartthrob Piolo Pascual

‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ star Donny Pangilinan

Celebs find ‘guaranteed partner for life’ LIFE has no guarantees and can be quite unpredictable. But while certainty may seem ideal, the highs and lows of life do make it exciting and fulfilling.

Celebrities Donny Pangilinan, Matteo Guidicelli, Sarah Geronimo, and Piolo Pascual know this all too well, being a part of an industry known for its volatility.

For Donny, who, among the four, is the latest to join showbiz, uncertainty comes in the form of roles he has never done before.

Meanwhile, being a young married couple in a new chapter of their lives, for Matteo and Sarah, it’s all about planning their life together.

As for Piolo, venturing into new investments can be a risky move.

However, they all have one thing in common that gives them the

TNT executives celebrate the record-breaking Petmaloop Challenge

THE Philippines clinches the Guinness World Record for the Longest Travel Livestream, covering 75 kilometers from Bustos, Bulacan, to Rizal Park in Manila, lasting over 26 hours.

Spearheaded by mobile brand TNT, a total of 33 content creators engaged in the Petmaloop Challenge, showcasing their hometown highlights on TikTok using a single TNTpowered smartphone relayed among participants.

The Petmaloop Challenge not only exceeded the required livestream hours but also met stringent criteria set

by Guinness World Records.

Fumika Fujibuchi, the Official Adjudicator, confirmed the record, applauding the real-time travel experiences and cultural emphasis showcased during the uninterrupted livestream.

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) President and CEO, Alfredo S. Panlilio, highlighted TNT’s role in achieving digital inclusion goals, democratizing access to mobile technology.

The achievement is shared with TNT’s 32 million subscribers, emphasizing it as the Philippines’ Biggest Mobile Brand.

Encouraging others to take on the Petmaloop Challenge, Lloyd Manaloto, First Vice President and Head of Prepaid and Content at Smart, emphasized the limitless potential enabled by the country’s best mobile network.

The Petmaloop Challenge unfolded in 19 provinces nationwide, featuring famous landmarks, tourist spots, and

Smart Communications, Inc. President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio

culinary delights. Participants showcased destinations from Davao City to Manila, uploading content on the Petmaloop Challenge TikTok account.

The initiative not only celebrates Filipino creativity but also underscores TNT’s support for seamless streaming nationwide.

Powered by Smart, recognized as the Philippines’ Fastest and Best Mobile Network by Ookla for three consecutive reporting periods, TNT’s Petmaloop Challenge stands as a testament to the brand’s commitment to superior mobile connectivity.

confidence to welcome adventures and live life to the fullest.

They have a guaranteed partner in Sun Life, the No. 1 life insurance company in the Philippines. As Sun Life clients, Donny, Matteo, Sarah, and Piolo can pursue their dreams no matter how uncertain life may feel.

This is the essence of Sun Life’s latest campaign dubbed “Guaranteed Partner for Life.”

“Sun Life has always been a dependable partner when it comes to supporting our clients, including our very own brand ambassadors, with their evolving needs and priorities over the years,” Sun Life Chief Client Experience and Marketing Officer Carla Gonzalez-Chong said.

“This can be seen throughout our 128-year history, where we have demonstrated our commitment and stood beside Filipinos amid world wars, economic crises, and more recently, a pandemic. They can count on us to be their guaranteed lifetime partner in their journey to a financially secure and brighter future.”

The campaign videos are available on Sun Life’s socials, @SunLifePH on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Celebrity couple Sarah Geronimo (left) and Matteo Guidicelli