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Over 4k farmers suffer El Niño hit in 41 provinces

136 of 137 Pinoys in Gaza evacuated ALL but one of the 137 Filipinos in war-torn Gaza have been evacuated after 14 of them left the Palestinian enclave through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt on Sunday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said last night.

By Vince Lopez OVER 4,000 farmers have been affected by an El Niño-induced dry spell in the Western Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula, which has also caused an estimated P151.3 million in damage to agriculture there, the government said over the weekend.

In a statement, Task Force El Niño said the administration continues to assist farmers badly affected by the dry spell.

This was despite the number of provinces affected by El Niño decreased to 41 from 50, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The state weather bureau said temperatures could reach up to 36.5 degrees Celsius nationwide and up to 40 degrees Celsius in Metro Manila and Northern Luzon.

VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 8• 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2024 •

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Over half of Pinoys want PH back with ICC—poll 55% also want gov’t to cooperate with drug war probe

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ORE than half of Filipinos are now in favor of the Philippines rejoining the International Criminal Court and support plans to seriously look into allegations of crimes against humanity that occurred in the Duterte administration, according to the latest OCTA Research survey.

Results of the “Tugon ng Masa” survey were released Sunday, showing that 59 percent agree it is time for the country to work with the ICC again as opposed to 41 percent who thought otherwise.

The same survey also found that 55 percent of Filipinos are in favor of the government cooperating with the ICC to investigate drug-related killings during the regime of former President Rodrigo Duterte, against the 45 percent who disagreed.

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NEDA: Admin working fast on inflation, food, job woes THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the Marcos administration is accelerating its efforts to address concerns raised in recent surveys, particularly on inflation, food security, job creation, and poverty alleviation.

NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the government is ramping up its efforts to manage price increases of basic commodities such as rice considering the El Niño phenomenon now sweeping the country and the continuing uptick in rice prices because of pressure Next page from the global market.

CHINESE REMOVE MASINLOC BARRIER THE Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) has removed the floating barrier it has installed at the Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, the Philipp ine Coast Guard said on Sunday.

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GIVING CHASE. This photo taken on Feb. 16 shows Chinese coast guard personnel aboard their rigid hull inflatable boat (left) closely trailing another vessel operated by the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources personnel from the BRP Datu Tamblot, after they attempted to enter the China-controlled Scarborough Shoal in disputed waters of the West Philippine Sea. A day later, the Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard vessels of ‘dangerous’ maneuvers for attempting to block local vessels dropping supplies to fishermen at the reef. AFP

Speaker leads aid turnover to 5,000 in Siquijor FOR SIQUIJOR.

Speaker Martin Romualdez hands out rice and financial assistance to local entrepreneurs at the Capitol Square in Siquijor on Sunday. Also present are Siquijor Gov. Jake Vincent Villa, Rep. Zaldy Villa, and other House members from the Visayas.

Ver Noveno

By Rio Araja SOME 3,000 small entrepreneurs and 2,000 students in Siquijor have received a total of P10 million worth of cash aid as part of two social as-

sistance programs of President Marcos that provide aid to certain sectors of society in difficult times.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, the main proponent of the Start-up, Investment, Business Op-

portunity and Livelihood (SIBOL) Program, and the Integrated Scholarships and Incentives Program (ISIP) for the Youth led yesterday’s roll out of the twin initiatives in Siquijor.

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#ANONGBALITA?

3 House solons question Senate sincerity over Cha-cha ceasefire

By Rio N. Araja IT seems the word war between the House of Representatives and the Senate is far from over.

At least three members of the House scored Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri for what they perceived as in-

GARIN

sincerity and weak leadership.

Zambales Rep. Jefferson Khonghun flagged Zubiri for what he felt was double talk when the Senate President smoked the peace pipe with Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez over the contentious issue of Charter change (Cha-cha).

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ROMAN

KHONGHUN

‘Remit coco levy asset sales to trust fund’ PROCEEDS from the disposition of coconut levy assets should be remitted to the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CFITF) forthe benefit of the coconut farmers and not to the national government, the Department of Justice rendered in an opinion released

over the weekend.

In a five-page legal opinion signed for the Secretary of Justice by Undersecretary Raul Vasquez, the DOJ clarified its Opinion series 2023 issued last May 31, 2023.

How old is Whang-Od? Netizen doubts her age

Troops may still use TikTok outside camp

Pacquiao too old for Olympics—IOC

SOLDIERS can sing, dance, and act to their heart’s content using the TikTok app, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) clarified Sunday– but only on their personal devices, not connected to any military networks, and still do it as “officers and gentlemen and ladies.”

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FILIPINO boxing icon Manny Pacquiao won’t be showcasing his legendary ring savvy in the Paris Olympics primarily because the former eight-division world professional champion is overaged.

A CORDILLERA native recently took to social media to challenge published reports celebrating legendary tattooist Maria Oggay, better known as “Apo Whang-Od,” as the oldest living “mambabatok” or native tattoo artist in Kalinga province.

Full story in Sports, page B1

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2024

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Chinese...

From A1

Despite this development, local fisherfolk continue to report incidents involving the Chinese in the area within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard said over the weekend.

The country’s deployments to Masinloc are only meant to support localfishermen and are neither a provocation nor an attempt to escalate tensions with China, the AFP said.

Meanwhile, the PCG said it monitored the presence of a Chinese Peo-

Over half...

From A1

Polling was conducted between Dec. 10 to 14 last year with 1,200 male and female respondents aged 18 years and above, OCTA Research said in its technical report.

“Across different major areas, the percentage of adult Filipinos who favor this idea ranges from 51 percent to 65 percent. The highest support is in Balance Luzon (65 percent), while the lowest is in Mindanao (51 percent),” it said.

“Consequently, the percentage of adult Filipinos not in favor of the Philippines rejoining the ICC as a member is highest in Mindanao (49 percent) and lowest in Balance Luzon (35 percent),” the polling firm added.

Over 4k...

From A1

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Task Force El Niño head, assured President Marcos that the agency and local disaster risk reduction and management councils (DRRMCs) were actively working to mitigate the impact of the climate disturbance.

El Niño was expected to affect 10 more provinces by the end ofFebruary, according to the task force, with 41 provinces already reeling under the intense heat.

PAGASA warned that the country still has to experience the full effects of El Niño, especially since the amihan or

3 House...

From A1

Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin chimed in, saying they also discerned an “apparent pattern of what some may call a supposed leadership vacuum in the Senate.”

“We are puzzled with the recent actions of the Senate with regard to their treatment of the House leadership and our institution,” Khonghun said.

Zubiri earlier said he and Speaker Romualdez have agreed to stop the word war between their chambers and to “work professionally.”

“Yet, on the same day, senators resumed and even intensified their attack on the House by claiming that we inserted a P27-billion ‘ayuda to the poor’ in the 2024 national budget for the

NEDA:...

From A1

Balisacan issued a statement after OCTA’s December 2023 Tugon ng Masa nationwide survey showed that majority of Filipinos were dissatisfied with the government’s efforts to manage inflation which hit 75 percent; poverty reduction at 46 percent; ensuring food

136...

From A1

The Filipinos will be brought to the Philippine Embassy in Cairo in Egypt before sending them on their

Troops...

From A1

Troops must also not post content on TikTok that would compromise their camps’ security, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla said in clarifying the ban on using the popular app on their work phones due to cybersecurity risks.

Padilla said the AFP does not authorize TikTok on devices connected to the military network as personnel are prohibited from “compromising

ple’s Liberation Army Navy vessel for the first time at the shoal, where a tense faceoff happened between the Philippines and China in 2012.

China’s PLAN ship stopped just 18 nautical miles from Masinloc as it seemed to monitor the PCG activities to help Filipino fishermen at the shoal, the Coast Guard said.

It was the first time China sent one of its “grey” vessels that close to Masinloc in recent times, the PCG added.

Asked if the Philippines would respond with its own military vessels like the apparent show of force by the PLA, AFP spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad said: “Our navy vessels are legitimately and rou-

tinely doing their maritime patrols for maritime domain awareness and territorial defense.”

“The operational commanders are tasked to uphold the mandate of the AFP to ensure the protection of our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and the national interest of our country.

The AFP deploys all its forces to fulfill its mandate,” Trinidad added.

In a related development, China on Sunday said it would step up law enforcement patrols in waters near Taiwan, after two Chinese nationals died in a boat incident involving Taiwan's coast guard.

A Chinese boat was carrying four people when it capsized on Wednesday near the Kinmen islands while

pursued by the Taiwanese coast guard.

All four on board were thrown into the water and two of the crew later died.

The AFP and PCG were also reacting after the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said the Chinese maritime militia were using cyanide at Masinloc to intentionally destroy the traditional fishing grounds Filipinos have relied on for decades.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the PLA Navy vessel was first monitored during a maritime patrol by the BFAR ship BRP Tamblot early last week. Vince Lopez with AFP

Highest support for this initiative was recorded in Balance Luzon (65 percent) and the lowest was in Mindanao (42 percent).

“The percentage of adult Filipinos who do not favor the government cooperating with the ICC in its investigation is highest in Mindanao (58 percent) and lowest in Balance Luzon (35 percent),” OCTA noted.

“This survey has a ±3 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level. Subnational estimates for the geographic areas covered in the survey have the following margins of error at a 95 percent confidence level: ±6 percent for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,” the firm said.

OCTA also said the proportion of adult Filipinos who agree with the Philippines working with the ICC varied

between 55 and 57 percent, based on socioeconomic classes.

It pointed out that there were no major differences among socioeconomic classes, with most adult Filipinos agreeing to the government cooperating with the ICC in its investigation.

In terms of age groups, OCTA said adult Filipinos who support the Philippine government-ICC cooperation ranged from 50 to 67 percent.

Those who are 75 years of age and older had the highest support (67 percent), while those who are 35 to 44 years old had the lowest support (50 percent), it pointed out.

Meanwhile, Filipinos who are 35 to 44 years old are the most likely to oppose cooperation with the ICC investigation (50 percent), while those who are 75 years old or older (33 percent) are the

least likely to do so.

OCTA observed that adult Filipinos living in rural areas (57 percent) expressed marginally greater support than adult Filipinos living in urban areas (54 percent) for the government's cooperation with the ICC in its inquiry.

The proportion of adult Filipinos who support this idea varied depending on gender—56 percent of males and 55 percent of females expressed their agreement.

In terms of educational attainment, OCTA said support for thegovernment's cooperation with ICC varied from 53 to 62 percent.

Adult Filipinos with college or postgraduate education showed the highest percentage of support (62 percent), while those with high school education showed the lowest percentage (53 percent). Vito Barcelo

northeast monsoon which brings cold air, was not yet over.

"We are not yet in our warm and dry season months. We will experience more intense weather in the coming season. We will experience El Niño, possibly up to March or April and May. It can extend up to June," Ana Lisa Solis of PAGASA's Climatology and Agrometeorology Division said in an interview with Super Radyo DZBB. Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama, spokesman for Task Force El Nino, said about 93 percent of the damage was in palay and six percent in corn.

“More qualitative. They are being given heat tolerant seeds, domestic animals, social protection, financial aid the

amount of which I don’t know, but these are going on,” Villarama said in a news forum on Saturday.

“Apart from the direct interventions, their irrigation canals and equipment are also being fixed to help the greatly affected farmers,” he added.

According to Villarama, the 41 provinces identified to be affected by El Niño have already been receiving interventions from the government through the task force.

He said most of the provinces experiencing drought in Luzon have also received assistance from the National Irrigation Administration and the Department of Agriculture.

Several strategies in farming have been identified, such as alternate wet-

ting and drying, and quick turnaround which the farmers could explore to continue planting rice, he added.

The DA also anticipates possible infestations in some farms due to the extreme heat, he said.

In the meantime, financial aid will be given to the affected farmers.

They will also be given an alternative source of income such as domestic animals or livestock and provided with heat tolerant and heat resistant seedlings, Villarama said.

The provinces of Apayao, Benguet, Cagayan, Cavite, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, and Pangasinan were reportedly experiencing drought.

people’s initiative campaign,” Khonghun noted.

“This latest incident leaves us now wondering: Has the Senate President lost his moral ascendancy to lead the Senate or is he takingus or a ride?

Are his colleagues not heeding his sentiments or is he really fooling us?” he asked.

The documents on the House-Senate conference committee report on this year’s budget “are now out in public,” Khonghun added.

“These documents contain the signatures of senators and congressmen who approved the report, which was ratified in plenary by both the Senate and the House,” he said.

Among those who signed the report was Senator Imee Marcos, who has started questioning the P26.7-billion Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) program, which is part of this year’s budget.

Speaker...

Designed to extend assistance to small entrepreneurs and students struggling amid the rising cost of living, SIBOL and ISIP pay-outs were held in Siquijor coinciding with the conduct of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair in the island province.

“We cannot deny that our smallscale entrepreneurs and even ourstudents need our help to improve their lives. If we help our entrepreneurs and students to succeed in their respective endeavors, we empower them to provide positive contributions to nationbuilding,” Romualdez said.

The programs were created in response to the challenge of the Chief Executive to the House of Representatives to provide meaningful assistance to those who needed it

the most.

The SIBOL program, an initiative of Romualdez in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), seeks to provide support not only to aspiring entrepreneurs and existing smallbusinessmen, but also to individuals seeking better employment opportunities.

“We believe that the business sector deserves this level of support. And why not? Through these enterprises, employment opportunities are generated and the economic growth is propelled forward,” Romualdez said.

“To all Filipino entrepreneurs, know that the House of Representatives is committed to the mission of equipping every one of you with thenecessary tools and providing the conducive environment for you to be successful. After all, your success ultimately redounds to the nation’s success,” he added.

security or access to affordable food (32 percent); creating more jobs (31 percent) and fighting graft and corruption (26 percent).

The NEDA chief, however, said the government is making significant strides in realizing substantial foreign direct investments that will generate more and higher-quality jobs to boost the incomes and purchasing power of the Filipinos.

“When President Marcos began his term, the Philippine economy was recovering from the record 9.5-percent contraction in 2020. The contraction set us back by about three years, with per capita gross national income (GNI) returning to its pre-pandemic level by the second half of 2023,” Balisacan pointed out.

“We have recovered and have indeed outshone our Asian peers as we posted

a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 5.6 percent in 2023, one of the fastest in the region,” he added.

Balisacan also said while external factors and domestic policy coordination challenges resulted in higher inflation in early 2023, both supply- and demand-side interventions worked to bring this down to 2.8 percent by January 2024, the lowest since October 2020. Darwin Amojelar

way to Manila, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega told GMA News.

The lone Filipino left in Gaza is a Catholic nun who chose to not be repatriated amid the Hamas terrorist group’s battles with the Israeli Defense Force in the territory, De Vega said.

Prospects for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire dimmed Sunday after the United States signaled it would veto the latest push for a United Nations Security Council resolution and mediator Qatar acknowledged that separate truce talks have hit an impasse.

Efforts to pause the over fourmonth-old war languished as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to reject international appeals to spare Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, where around 1.4 million people have sought refuge. With AFP

the communication and physical security of their installations.”

“What we prohibit specifically are devices connected to the military network. It’s their choice and inkling if they will use their personal device,” the spokesperson told Super Radyo DZBB. “That’s theirs (rights), but of course they must take caution that they have to carry themselves in a manner that when they do TikTok, siyempre as officers and gentlemen and ladies…

That’s what we remind them,” Padilla said. Vince Lopez

How...

interview other residents from Apo Whang-Od’s hometown in Buscalan village such as the couple Ama Sagmayao and Ina Kasang, Ama Henry Lammawin; and Ama Banag and Ama Bilig Longdason from Tabuk, who he said are older than the cultural icon.

“Ask them the following questions: How old are you? Who is older, you or Whang-od? If by doing so you discover the truth about her age, then I hope you discover the truth too, that she is not the last mambabatok,” Umaming said.

From A1

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Before Whang-Od received her Presidential Medal of Merit for herartistic and cultural contributions from President Marcos last week, a certain Michael Gambican Umaming questioned her age.

“To those from the media and in research, I just hope they will not perpetuate the lie that Whang-od is 107 years,” Umaming wrote in a Facebook post dated Feb. 13.

He then challenged journalists to

Oil prices to rise as Meralco says small refund up

By Alena Mae S. Flores CONSUMERS face higher oil prices this week, but if it is any consolation, the Manila Electric Co. is seeking guidance from the Energy Regulatory Commission on a minimal rollback arising from concerns raised over the March rates.

Unioil Petroleum Philippines said in its advisory over the weekend that oil prices are set to go up by Tuesday to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market.

Unioil said diesel will go up by P0.90 to P1.10 per liter and gasoline by P1.20 to P1.40 per liter.

The impending oil price hike is seen to wipe out last week’s rollback of P0.60 for gasoline and P0.10 for diesel.

Department of Energy (DOE) director for the oil industry management bureau Rodela Romero attributed the latest price hikes to several developments abroad.

These include the intensified Middle East conflict at the Lebanese border, the surge in US crude stockpiles, shipping disruption in the Red Sea and Suez Canal, and the forecast of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries of strong demand for 2024.

SC chides gov't over delayed land payments DELAYING the payment of just compensation to a landowner whose property was taken over by the government for public use is an “injustice.”

The Supreme Court (SC) made this observation in a ruling on the case of a property owner whose land was expropriated by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in 2000 for the construction of a bridge in Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao.

Records of the case showed that the landowner, Casimiro Tamparong Jr. of Barangay Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro, has not been fully paid up to the time of his death on Dec. 3, 2018.

“What more injustice can be caused to a landowner who, up to the time of his death, was not able to fully enjoy the benefits of the land taken from him by the government than to shortchange him with the delay in the payment of just compensation,” the SC said in a decision penned by Associate Justice Mario Lopez.

“Time, indeed, is costly to squander.

Delays, justified or otherwise, have irreversible consequences,” the decision read.

Documents showed that in 1999 the DPWH initiated expropriation proceedings over 7,555 square meters of land owned by Tamparong Jr. in barangay Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City.

On Nov. 27, 2000, the Regional Trial Court issued an order of expropriation declaring the government’s lawful right to expropriate the property to be used for the Cagayan de Oro Third Bridge and Approaches project of the DPWH. Rey Requejo

‘Remit...

From A1

This held that both the United Coconut Chemicals Inc. (Cocochem) and the Coconut Industry Investment Fund-Oil Mills Group (CIIF-OMG) are government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and thus arerequired to remit at least 50 percent of their net earnings to the national government pursuant to Republic Act 7656 or the Dividend Law. The DOJ explained that under RA 11524, the law creating the CFITF, “all Coconut Levy Assets shall be transferred to the Trust Fund for the benefit of the coconut farmers.”

The law states that the trust fund “shall be maintained in such manner for 50 years under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan and shall be used for the benefit of the coconut farmers and the development of the coconut industry.”

“We confirm, therefore, that the dividends and/or any proceeds of the GOCCs forming part of the Coconut Levy Assets shall be transmitted to the Trust Fund in accordance with the provisions of RA 11524,” the DOJ stressed.

The DOJ issued the legal opinion upon the request of CFITF-Privatization and Corporate Affairs Group Manager Undersecretary Catherine Fong.

In her letter-request, Fong sought DOJ’s confirmation of CFITF’s position that the dividends and/or proceeds of disposition of theCoconut Levy Assets should be remitted to the trust fund, pursuant to Section 7 of RA 11524.

Rey Requejo

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2024

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Senators seek better tourist-area hospitals

Weak EVOSS blunts benefits, says Gatchalian

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATORS are moving to establish and strengthen health facilities in popular tourist destinations nationwide after meeting with members of the Consular Corps, who highlighted the lack of health facilities in areas like Coron, Palawan.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri prompted the proposal, saying he plans to file a bill addressing the issue.

“How can we invite tourists to enjoy the dive spots and beautiful beaches here and promote it as a center for diving... when we do not have facilities when accidents happen?” Zubiri asked.

He suggested a bill under which provincial hospitals might be renationalized into regional hospitals overseen by the Department of Health (DOH) and outfitted with state-of-the-art facilities to serve both domestic and international tourists and residents.

Senator Christopher Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Health, underscored the pressing need to establish hospitals and comprehensive health facilities within these regions, ensuring both tourists and residents receive the highest healthcare services the community would need.

VEGGIES ON THE STREET. Vegetable vendors occupy the sidewalk to sell their goods to people walking or waiting along Commonwealth Avenue across Commonwealth Market in Quezon City on Sunday. Manny Palmero

NEDA bid to scrap telco franchise nixed T

HERE is “absolutely no way” that Congress will give up its power to closely supervise the telecommunications sector, which is heavily imbued with public interest, House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan said.

In a statement, 4Ps party-list Rep. Libanan thumbed down the proposal of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to scrap the legislative franchise requirement for telecommunications companies.

“We are determined to exercise our oversight powers to ensure the supply of dependable and affordable telecommunications services, including internet services, to the public at all times,”

Libanan said.

At present, every telecommunications company must obtain a franchise from Congress, which also enjoys the power to amend, extend, or revoke every franchise.

Libanan maintained that Philippine radio airwaves belong to the State and to the public.

The State, through Congress and the National Telecommunications Commission, merely assigns certain frequencies

to telecommunications firms, subject to user fees, according to Libanan.

Libanan, a lawyer, previously served as chairperson of the House committee on justice when he was representative of Eastern Samar’s lone congressional district.

As the sitting minority leader, Libanan is an ex-officio voting member of the House committee on legislative franchises.

“Let’s face it. Telecommunications is an extremely capital-intensive business that requires massive investments over several years. But this should not discourage resolute new players who have the wherewithal to compete,” Libanan said.

Libanan cited the case of Converge ICT Solutions Inc. and DITO Telecom-

munity Corp., which recently forged a landmark agreement that will allow them to share select terrestrial and submarine fiber optic cable assets so they can quickly expand coverage of their telecommunications services.

In a recent policy note, NEDA had pressed for the removal of the legislative franchise requirement for telecommunications firms to attract more players and foster stronger competition that could improve services.

“The dual licensing process could have a disproportionate negative impact on these small players, potentially influencing market entry dynamics,” NEDA said. With Rio Araja

POTENTIAL economic benefits the country could derive from the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) system, such as lower energy prices, are hampered by the weak implementation of the measure, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Sunday.

EVOSS intends to attract investments into the renewable energy (RE) sector, but since its enactment in 2019, a comprehensive implementation is yet to be realized for the country to fully benefit from it, Gatchalian said.

Further streamlining should be done for investors to enter the local RE market, he added.

“This is precisely the reason why we vigorously pursued the enactment of EVOSS but up to this time it has not been fully implemented,” said Gatchalian, who authored the bill in Congress.

He cited that investors still must go through 167 permits to establish RE projects. Previously, they had to endure 250 permits.

Data from the Department of Energy show EVOSS implementation stands at 85 percent as of November 2023.

As of last September, 48 processes from eight national agencies and two local government units have been included in the EVOSS process system.

In the case of a hydro project, for instance, the number of calendar days needed to establish such a project has gone down to 1,697 from 1,835 previously, the senator said.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2024

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Diokno: Review warrantless arrests H UMAN rights lawyer Chel Diokno said the arrest of film director Jade Castro and his companions accused of arson in Quezon province show the need for a review of policies and retraining for law enforcement on warrantless arrests.

“This case should concern everyone,” Diokno said, “because it could happen to any of us.”

He questioned the basis for the arrests, which lacked a warrant, and emphasized the importance of law enforcement respecting individual rights.

The Office of the Provincial Prosecu-

tor of Quezon on Friday recommended the filing of destructive arson cases against Castro and 3 others over their alleged involvement in the burning of a modern jeepney in Catanauan town on Jan. 31, reports said.

“When we allow our law enforcers to take it upon themselves to take

away our liberty, I think that must be very strictly construed and they must be trained in a way that they always respect the rights of ordinary people,” Diokno, who earlier questioned the basis for the warrantless arrests, said.

Witnesses in Mulanay town, which Castro’s group visited for a local festival, have said that they were eating at a food park there when the arson happened.

CCTV footage has also suggested they were in Mulanay, around 30 minutes away from Catanauan, at the time.

Police have their own witness and have pointed to Castro’s social media

posts critical of the government’s jeepney modernization program as potential motive for the arson.

He added that social media posts and opinions are part of freedom of expression and should not “be used against us this way.”

Diokno said that the case should be of public concern, especially for those who travel to remote places.

The Political Officers League of the Philippines (POLPhil) meanwhile said it stands in solidarity with Castro and his companions who were arrested without warrant.

‘SAGIP DUGTONG BUHAY.’

The Philippine Red Cross, GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF), and Ever Commonwealth Mall held a blood donation drive, dubbed ‘Sagip Dugtong Buhay,’ on Feb. 17.

Farmers seek to revoke pact with Cojuangco

By Rio N. Araja FARMERS in Negros Occidental have asked the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to revoke the 20-year-old joint venture agreement (JVA) between the late business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco and the ECJ Farm Workers Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Efarbempco), citing irregularity.

In an exclusive interview, DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III said he would welcome a dialogue with farmers only from Negros Occidental but not with the Batangas farmers, who would accompany the Negros farmers in a planned campout in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform central office in Quezon City today.

Task Force Mapalad, a federation of farmers and farm workers nationwide, said the Negros farmers, along with the Batangas farmers, would storm DAR. “I will let the Negros farmers enter my office if I am already well tomorrow (Monday). I am now sick after the land distribution in Agusan del Sur,” Estrella told the Manila Standard.

Marianito Josilva of Hugpong ECJ nag Mamumugon kag ARBs, in an eight-page letter to Estrella III, said the JVA will expire this year, and that the farmer-beneficiaries want the land to be returned to them through the cancellation of their collective certificates of land ownership registered in the name of Efarbempco.

CAB to raise fuel Solon urges PhilHealth to expand coverage to 100% Housing dep’t surcharge levels eyeing reforms next month for transparency

By Rio N. Araja

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) will raise passenger and cargo fuel surcharge levels next month ahead of the summer peak season and rising fuel prices.

In an advisory, the CAB said passenger and cargo fuel surcharges for domestic and international flights will be Level 6 from March 1 to 31, up from Level 5 in February.

Under Level 6 of the passenger fuel surcharge matrix, airlines are allowed to collect a fuel surcharge of P185 to P665 for domestic flights and P610.37 to P4,538.40 for international flights.

The CAB said for the cargo fuel surcharge, airlines are allowed to charge P0.95 to P2.78 per kilogram for domestic flights under Level 6 and P3.14 to P23.33 per kg. for international flights.

“Airlines wishing to impose or collect fuel surcharge must file its application with CAB on or before the effectivity period, with fuel surcharge rates not exceeding the above-stated level,” the CAB said.

The CAB said airline fuel surcharge is an optional fee, imposed and collected by airlines to recover fuel costs and stem losses caused by upward spikes in fuel cost.

It said fuel surcharge is not a part of the basic airfare and may be reduced or removed depending on the price of jet fuel in the market.

AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee on Sunday urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to expand benefits given to members. “(As much as possible) we want 100 percent coverage,” he said. “PhilHealth can do that and even expand the benefits.”

During a House committee briefing, PhilHealth expressed its commitment

to expand the benefits of its members and beneficiaries.

“110% agree. I would like to promise this committee, that kami dito at PhilHealth, we will deliver big time… Lahat yan, matutupad namin,” PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said.

“I would like to thank the leadership of PhilHealth, headed by president and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr., for

heeding our call as early as September 2023 during our budget briefing here in Congress to increase its benefit packages given the available budget of the agency,” Lee said.

Lee said lawmakers are glad of the 30% increase that PhilHealth already implemented, in terms of benefit packages. However, the solon said with an increase in premium, the state insurer should also increase coverage.

A DAY AT THE BEACH.

Families visit Dolomite Beach in Manila Bay on Sunday.

The beach first opened to the public in September 2020.

Norman Cruz

PURSUANT to the Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is institutionalizing reforms promoting transparency and accountability, and streamlining services in the housing sector.

Under Department Circular 2024005 signed on Feb. 14, Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar ordered the institutionalization of reforms in the agency, particularly on the issuances of licenses, certificates and permits.

“This (DC) is in line with the administration’s Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance to better serve the Filipino public,” he said.

The circular would not only promote transparency and accountability but equally important is that it will further streamline processes in the housing sector, hence, better delivery of public service,” he noted. Rio N. Araja

‘PH should follow other ASEAN members on constitutional reforms’ AKLAN Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr. on Sunday said the Philippines needs to revisit the 1987 Constitution to boost its competitiveness and attract more foreign direct investment, citing the amendments undertaken by other ASEAN countries as a benchmark.

While nations such as Indonesia,

Vietnam and Thailand, have adjusted their constitutions to reflect the evolving global landscape, the Philippines’ fundamental law has remained stagnant for 37 years, the lawmaker said.

The stagnation has resulted in the Philippines falling behind its regional counterparts, both economically and

Marikina City morning fire destroys 40 houses, injures 4 in Brgy. Tumana AT LEAST 40 houses were destroyed when a fire broke out across Brgy. Tumana in Marikina City on Sunday morning.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) responded to the incident, which occurred just before 8 a.m., according to radio reports. It took nearly an hour for the firemen to extinguish the blaze.

Four people reportedly sustained injuries thereafter, including a fire volunteer. The BFP is still investigating what caused the fire and assessing the amount of damage to the properties involved.

The Marikina Fire Station said 40 houses

were affected by the fire, and 60 to 80 families were rendered homeless.

No casualties have been reported Reports said the fire started at 7:47 a.m. at a house located on A. Santos Street.

Authorities reported that because the houses in the area were made of light materials, the fire quickly spread.

Firemen were able to put the fire under control at 8:46 a.m.

One of those injured had first-degree burn, while the other, a fire volunteer, had a wound on his hand.

The fire was eventually put out at 9 a.m.

YOUNG RIDER.

A child sits atop a motorcycle in Cubao, Edsa.

Motorcycles have become a vital mode of transportation for metro residents.

Manny Palmero

politically, Haresco said.

“Sila po sa Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, members of ASEAN, they have changed their constitutions so many times. Thailand, 20 times silang nagkaroon ng constitution; Indonesia, 9 times; Malaysia, so many times,” he said.

The revisions reflected the proac-

tive approach of these nations in addressing contemporary challenges and leveraging opportunities in the global arena, he noted.

He said the hesitance to revisit the 1987 Constitution originates from an unfounded fear that it would disrupt societal harmony. Rio N. Araja

A5

OPINION

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2024

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

So I See

Lito Banayo

EDITORIAL

The Ayuda Republic THE gnomes of 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington D.C., otherwise known as the World Bank, fashioned a program aimed at reducing poverty by conditional cash transfers (CCT), attaching certain conditions such as school enrolment, and receiving vaccinations for children of poor families.

It succeeded well enough in Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia and was also introduced in some Central American countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama where monthly cash payments were tied up to health and education programs.

In Asia, the World Bank advised countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Cambodia, and yes, the Philippines, to implement CCT to help alleviate poverty.

We called ours the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps and tied this up to health, nutrition and educational concerns, with DSWD implementing the cash transfers.

The Department of Health also has a Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients program to assist poor patients who cannot afford the high cost of medicines, apart from the PCSO aid that they are supposed to get, centralized through the Malasakit program, though I do not know whether the series of multi-million wins in the lotto have diminished the agency’s capability.

Then, again through the DSWD, there is the AICS or Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations, a catch-all ayuda that includes burial, transportation, education, food, and other support services for people caught in “crisis” situations, the definition of which depends on the selective charity of the legislators and their assigns.

And all along, I thought jueteng and “swer-tres” intelihensiya given to our officials by operators, some now under the guise of the STL, was the fount of such munificence.

TUPAD costs taxpayers some 13 billion a year; MAIP is 10 billion; and AICS is 34 billion pesos this year.

There are others, such 12 billion earmarked tariff collections from rice imports to help farmers increase their productivity, and so many programs of other agencies for their mandated constituents, mostly subsidies, as in the losing proposition called Kadiwa with the forgettable meaning.

And now comes AKAP, or Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita, which allocates a one-time 5,000 peso cash assistance for the “near poor” (Class D-2 in the surveys?), courtesy of our legislative “bleed-hearts” dispensed through the DSWD, costing 60 billion, with the recent revelation of a 27.5 billion augmentation sneaked in between the bicam agreement of the two houses of Congress and the printed copy of the budget.

As unearthed in the hearings conducted by senators now quarreling with our congressmen over the stupidly-concocted “people’s” initiative, AKAP, AICS, MAIP and even TUPAD are being utilized as inducements for collecting signatures to “abolish” the upper house via “joint” voting in amending the Constitution.

In a previous column last year, we stated government seems to have a simple solution to every problem in this benighted land, and that is “ayuda.”

Still and all, the total of these ayuda programs handled by DSWD, DOLE and DOH, already running into hundreds of billions, pale in comparison to the “ayuda” that legislators have awarded to themselves through the age-old and never-say-die pork barrel entitlements.

My sources tell me that for each of our congressmen, there’s 1 billion each, minimum, in the 2024 budget.

If you are more “active” and “supportive,” it gets to as high as 5 billion, and of course more for those in charge of the super-committees, such as appropriations and public works, headed by party-list congressmen.

As for the senators, why, some are complaining that “hating kapatid” is no longer the norm, wondering why some “only” get 3 billion for their pet projects, while the favored few get 5 or even 6 billion apiece.

Now do the math, and yes, you will need a calculator to compute.

—“—

Is the quality of these social services, despite being conditionally tied up to the ayuda, in woefully deteriorated state?

There are some 4.4 million recipients of this form of ayuda, now on-going for some two decades.

Has the 4Ps truly lifted our poor from their bondage through health and education, or is the quality of these social services, despite being conditionally tied up to the ayuda, in woefully deteriorated state?

Go to the wet market, and see that tinderas still have to do simple addition through calculators. Bragging aside, the kind of primary education I got in the fifties allows me, to this date, to add numbers in my mind faster.

Our learning poverty is terrible, whether in reading literacy, comprehension, or simple mathematics. War-torn Vietnam is way ahead of us.

But our politicians whose hearts “bleed” for the poor because there are political pogi points attached and, worse, selfish monetary cuts that could be gained in such programs, have been inventing more and more of these ayuda programs.

COVID 19 and the lockdowns imposed to contain the spread of the infections required ayuda programs as people could not go to work.

These days though, our highly creative politicians have elevated the art of the ayuda into a science, never mind if the names used for their give-aways are “pilit na pilit.”

For the out-of-work and the underemployed, benefitting some 180,000 informal workers, DOLE came up with a Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers or TUPAD. There is an attached Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko program as well by the labor department.

Citizen Barok

Louis ‘Barok’ Biraogo

ABS-CBN’s ‘renewal’ weaponized in Romualdez-SMNI showdown AS SHADOWS deepen over the political landscape of the Philippines, whispers of deceit slither through the alleys of power.

The cacophony of accusations echoes through the hallowed halls of influence, casting doubt upon the intentions of those who dare to ascend the throne of leadership.

In this labyrinth of machinations, one man finds himself ensnared in a web of lies spun by unseen hands, his name dragged through the mud of scandal and treachery.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez, a man thrust into the heart of a storm, now stands as the unwitting combatant in a twisted tale of manipulation and betrayal.

The stage is set with the rise of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) and the fall of ABS-CBN, two titans locked in a bitter struggle for dominance.

Yet, amidst the chaos, a nefarious plot unfurls its tendrils, seeking to tarnish the reputation of Romualdez and shift the blame for the recent woes of SMNI onto his shoulders.

Like a master puppeteer, unseen forces manipulate the strings of public opinion, weaving a narrative of deception and mistrust.

False rumors, cloaked in the guise of truth, dance across social media platforms, their siren song luring unsuspecting souls into the depths of misinformation.

Claims of ABS-CBN’s impending return to free television by 2024, purportedly with Romualdez as a covert collaborator, reverberate through the digital ether, fueled by whispers of political intrigue and clandestine agendas.

Yet, beneath the surface, the truth lies shrouded in darkness, obscured by the fog of deception.

Videos and articles, masquerading as sources of reliable information, paint a damning portrait of Romualdez, accusing him of orchestrating SMNI’s downfall for personal and political gains.

Hyperpartisan vloggers and news outlets, their tongues sharpened with venom, hurl accusations with reckless abandon, their words slicing through the fabric of truth like a dagger in the night.

Romualdez, a mere pawn in their twisted game, stands alone against the tide of lies that threatens to engulf him.

But amidst the chaos, a beacon of

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Teachers deserve salary hike

I

S THE public education sector making an unreasonable demand if they are now asking a minimum of P50,000 per month or nearly double for entry-level public schoolteachers?

Apparently not, especially considering the high cost of living nowadays, from food to fuel to basic services such as water and electricity.

Last year, the Department of Budget and Management rejected a petition by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) to approve an entrylevel pay for teachers from P27,000 to P36,000.

The teachers’ group pointed out that uniformed personnel received a whopping 100 percent increase in 2019 under the Duterte administration, so why can’t the government do the same for public school teachers?

The DBM said it could not approve the increase due to fiscal constraints, citing the high cost of increasing teachers’ and public workers’ pay and the salary distortion it would cause.

This time, the Makabayan bloc

—“—

But how long will the public school teachers have to wait so they can get a living wage? in the House of Representatives has refiled a bill seeking to nearly double entry-level public school teachers’ pay to P50,000.

This, they say, is a “living wage” amount that’s just enough to keep up with the rising cost of goods and services.

But what’s the response of the Department of Education to the proposed wage increase?

It appears that the agency has deferred its position on salary

Next are financial systems like banks, other financial institutions, and healthcare systems which all rely heavily on digital systems. If these get disrupted, there will be serious consequences.

And let’s not forget about private sector enterprises, the prime drivers of our economy.

Companies of all sizes are at risk as all handle customer data that can be used for scams like e-commerce fraud, extortion, business email compromise, identity theft, investment scams, romance scams, among others.

But it’s not all about the digital infrastructure; there’s also the urgency to train and upskill cybersecurity personnel and develop extensive public awareness – an

essential pillar of digital transformation that will instill a safety conscious or what experts call a “no trust” attitude in cyberspace behavior.

The weakest and most vulnerable target of hackers are the devices of the individual user. Hence, every personal devices like computers and smartphones must be protected.

Quite alarming is the intensification of cyberattacks reflected in the 2023 report of Globe Telecom which counted blocking more than 1.1 billion scam and spam messages, a 500 percent increase compared to its 2022 data.

In January, alleged Chinese hackers attempted to infiltrate several Philippine government websites, including the DICT, OWWA, a DepEd regional office, PCG, and even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s personal website.

The DICT traced the attack on OWWA’s website to an undisclosed location in China.

The DICT and Deep Web Konek reported that this threat stole over 750 GB of sensitive data.

On Feb. 6, the Philippine National Police reported 64,077 cybercrime cases before the House Committees on ICT and Public Information.

The DICT’s investigations saw instances described as clear acts of espionage, attributed to the APT Group 18 that uses the Gh0st RAT malware.

Undersecretary Dy stated the investigation indicates potential links to Chinese networks, but there is insufficient evidence to directly tie these hacking attempts to the Chinese government.

In response, the DICT is collaborating with other cyber entities like Google, Mandiant, Trend Micro Inc., and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center.

The full and prioritized execution of the National Cybersecurity Plan will hopefully raise a robust cybersecurity shield against the relentless attacks by malign actors serving a fusion of criminal and political agendas.

However, recent cyberattacks, allegedly originating from Chinese networks, underscore the ongoing challenges in cyberspace and its geopolitical dimension.

The government must continue to forge international cooperation and collaboration to mitigate what has become a common global threat of this digitally connected world.

deception lurk in the shadows, their hands stained with the blood of innocent souls, poisoned by the bitter wine of manipulation.

As the specter of misinformation looms large over the Philippine landscape, it falls upon the shoulders of every citizen to stand vigilant against the tide of propaganda.

We must not allow ourselves to be swayed by the whispers of deceit, nor blinded by the glare of falsehoods.

Instead, we must arm ourselves with discernment and critical thinking, forging a path towards truth amidst the

darkness of deception.

In the end, the battle for truth is not waged on the battlefield of politics, but in the hearts and minds of the people. Let us rise, then, as guardians of truth, defenders of justice, and champions of integrity. For only through unity and resolve can we hope to pierce the veil of lies and reclaim the light of truth that shines within us all.

The road ahead may be fraught with peril, but together, we shall prevail.

Let the truth be our guide, and justice our shield.

Open Thoughts Orlando Oxales

The National Cybersecurity Plan to fight a common global threat IN TODAY’S digitally connected world, where a mere keystroke can unleash a torrent of consequences, cybersecurity isn’t just a big buzzword; it’s a risk that all internet users must take seriously.

And nowhere is this more critical than in the growing digital economy of the Philippines, where the escalating incidence of cyberattacks continue to victimize individuals, business enterprises, and government institutions became the impetus for a robust National Cybersecurity Plan recently approved by the President.

The plan is a comprehensive, long-term strategy covering 2024-2028 led by the Department of Information and Communications Technology in close consultation with the technology industry designed to tackle cybersecurity challenges head-on.

The best cybersecurity practices and effective strategies of other countries served as valuable inputs for building and sustaining a systemic cyber defense posture.

Now, what’s in this plan?

First off, there’s a heavy emphasis on updating government policies that are incompatible, and are actually a hindrance to developing a digitally transformed society.

Procurement policies need to be responsive to the dynamic nature of cybersecurity services so that our government agencies can adequately avail themselves of the most appropriate security solutions.

There will be a nationwide mapping of cyber assets and infrastructure that will need to be secured. Think of it as fortifying the castle walls and knowing exactly where the treasures are hidden.

So, what are the country’s cyber assets and infrastructure that need protection?

First off, we’ve got government systems.

These are all the databases and networks that government agencies use, which are packed with sensitive information and therefore a big target for cyber-attacks.

—“—

We must not allow ourselves to be swayed by the whispers of deceit, nor blinded by the glare of falsehoods

clarity emerges, a voice crying out in the wilderness of deceit.

The truth, though obscured, still shines bright for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.

Romualdez, maligned though he may be, is but a victim of a sinister plot, a scapegoat sacrificed upon the altar of political expediency. The true architects of this grand

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

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

increases for teachers pending a World Bank study it commissioned last year that will assess the feasibility and extent of pay hikes long sought by education groups.

According to the DepEd, even prior to the refiling of a House bill, they had already engaged the World Bank to provide a study, not only on whether an increase should be made, but also on the ideal percentage of increases for the coming years based on projected inflation rates.

But how long will the public school teachers have to wait so they can get a living wage?

Understandably, education groups are piling up the pressure on government to immediately act on their urgent call for salary hikes for public school teachers.

If the previous administration was able to give the police and the military pay hikes primarily, it would appear, to keep their loyalty, why can’t the current administration prioritize the welfare of public school teachers who after all are in the frontline of molding the minds of the Filipino youth so they can become productive and responsible citizens later on?

Then there’s what we call critical infrastructure.

These are the systems that are critical for our society and the economy to function.

Think power grids, water treatment and distribution facilities, transportation systems, and communication networks.

—“—

The DICT’s investigations saw instances described as clear acts of espionage, attributed to the APT Group 18 that uses the Gh0st RAT malware

MORE OPINION ONLINE (www.manilastandard.net)

Backbencher By Rod P. Kapunan

Kwarta o Kahon?

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

Associate Editor Managing Editor News Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

WORLD

A6

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2024

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Thai ex-PM Thaksin returns home from hospital 6 months after arrest

BANGKOK—Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived back at his Standard Bangkok home from police hospital early TODAY Sunday, just six months after he was arrested following a dramatic return to the kingdom from 15 years of self-imposed exile.

The controversial billionaire, twice elected premier and ousted in a 2006 military coup, was jailed for eight years on graft and abuseof-power Manila charges upon his return in August.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the following estates have been extra-judicially settled among the heirs of Spouses Herminio S. Buenaventura, Sr. & Maria Emilinda D. Buenaventura: I. Estate of the late BUENAVENTURA, SR.

HERMINIO

S.

• Real Property  TCT No. 288792 (w/ improvement covered by Tax Declaration No. D-032-04145 / Quezon City) As per Doc No. 118; Page No. 25; Book No. 01; Standard Series of 2023 before Notary Public ATTY. GLENN Manila

TODAY

WIL D. EGANO.

II. Estate of the late BUENAVENTURA

MARIA EMILINDA D.

• Real Property  TCT No. 288792 (w/ improvement covered by Tax Declaration No. D-032-04145 / Quezon City) As per Doc No. 118; Page No. 25; Book No. 01; Series of 2023 before Notary Public ATTY. GLENN WIL D. EGANO. (MS-FEB. 12/19/26, 2024)

 Certified true copy of ACR or 1-Card Certificate/s of petitioner’s child/ children (issued by BI);

SCN FORM NO. 1 (R.A. NO. 9139)

 Certified true copy of NBCR/s of petitioner’s child/children (issued also by BT);

001847

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON NATURALIZATION IN N THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF JAMES WANG to be naturalized as Filipino citizen pursuant to Republic Act No. 9139.

SCN CASE NO. x - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - -- - - - - - - x PETITION Pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 9139, petitioner hereby submits a petition for naturalization to become a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines and respectfully declares: 1. My full name is JAMES WANG, but I have also been known since childhood as NONE or I have been judicially authorized to use the alias name(s) NONE .

2. My present place of residence is UNIT 23FG TOWER B CITY PLACE CONDO, CALLE FELIPE, GEN. LACHAMBRE ST., BINONDO/Municipality of MANILA Province of METRO MANILA and all my former places of residence are (please indicate periods of residence) 658 MEISIC ST., CRYSTAL MANSION, RM. 403 BINONDO, MANILA JULY 1998 - JUNE 2015 3. I was born on JULY 16, 1998, in MANILA Philippines. I have been a resident of the Philippines since birth. At present, I am a citizen or subject of CHINA 4. My father's name is ZHONG WANG and he was born on JULY 14, 1960, in CHINA. He is a citizen or subject of CHINA. My mother's name is PIEK SONG SIA and she was born on JULY 6, 1965 in CHINA. She is a citizen or subject of CHINA. 5. My trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is EMPLOYEE and from which I derive an average annual income of P1,300,000.00, inclusive of bonuses, commissions and allowances. My wife's/husband's trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is N/A and from which she derives an average annual income of P N/A .

(Where the above does not apply): I am exempt from the requirement of lucrative trade or occupation and from submitting income tax returns for the past three (3) years because I am a college degree holder [please state (1) degree obtained: BS INFORMATION SYSTEM, (2) name of school: DE LASALLE COLLEGE OF ST. BENILDE and (3) years graduated: APRIL 27, 2020 ] who cannot practice my profession (the practice of which requires a government licensure examination) by reason of my citizenship.

6. My civil status is SINGLE, I was married on N/A in N/A. My wife's/ husband's name is N/A and she/he was born on in N/A in N/A She/he is a citizen or subject of N/A and presently resides N/A. 7. I am legally separated from my spouse; my marriage was annulled, per decree of legal separation/annulment dated N/A granted by N/A. (please indicate the particular court which granted the same). I am a widower/widow and my spouse died on N/A in N/A. 8. I have NO child/children, whose names, dates and places of birth and residences are as follows: Name N/A

Date of Birth N/A

Place of Birth N/A

Residence N/A

9. I received my primary and secondary education from the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality: Name of School PHIL. CULTURAL COLLEGE PHIL. CULTURAL COLLEGE DE LASALLE COLLEGE, ST. BENILDE

Place of School MANILA MANILA MANILA

Dates of Study 2006-2011 2011-2015 2015-2020

Highest Grade Completed ELEMENTARY HIGH SCHOOL B.S. INFORMATION SYSTEM

10. I am able to read, write and speak Filipino and/or any of the following dialects of the Philippines: NONE 11. I have enrolled my minor children of school age in the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philipine History, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality: Name of Child N/A

But his sentence was cut to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn within days of his return and the government said last week the 74-year-old was eligible for early release because of his age and health.

Thaksin—wearing a neck brace and sitting next to his daughters Paetongtarn and Pintongta—was driven away Sunday from the police hospital in central Bangkok where he has spent the last half year.

A handful of people protesting his release had gathered in front of the hospital.

The car then drove to Thaksin’s home, where a welcome-home banner was tied across the gates.

One woman wearing a T-shirt with a picture of Thaksin emblazoned across the front said she had stood outside his house for two days.

“I want to tell him to fight,” she told local media. “If he is (here), the country will develop.”

The exact details of his release are not clear, but Thaksin may be subject to monitoring -- possibly with an ankle tag -- and restrictions on his right to travel.

The former Manchester City owner’s arrival in Thailand came on the same day his Pheu Thai party returned to government in alliance with pro-military parties, leading many to conclude that a backroom deal had been struck to cut his jail time. AFP

Name and Place of School

Date of Enrollment

12. I shall never be a public charge. I am of good moral character. I believe in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution. I have conducted myself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of my residence in the Philippines in my relations with the constituted government as well as with the community in which I am living. I mingled socially with Filipinos and have evinced a sincere desire to learn and embrace the customs, traditions and ideals of the Filipino people. I have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications under Republic Act No. 9139.

I am not opposed to organized government or affiliated with any association or group of persons who uphold and teach doctrines opposing all organized governments. I am not defending or teaching the necessity or propriety of violence, personal assault or assassination for the success and predominance of one's ideas. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude. I am not suffering from mental alienation or from any incurable contagious disease. The country of which I am a citizen or subject is not at war with the Philippines and grants to Filipinos the right to be naturalized citizens or subjects thereof.

13. It is my true and honest intention to become a citizen of the Philippines and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and, particularly, to CHINA of which at this time I am a citizen or subject. I will reside continuously in the Philippines from the date of the filing of this petition up to the time of my admission to Philippine citizenship.

14. My character witnesses are NATHAN JOSHUA BALETE VYand KEVIN NATHAN XU CHAN both Filipino citizens, of legal age, and residing at 528 LAVEZARE ST., RM. 403 GRACE TOWER, BINONDO, MANILA and UNIT 23B , 777 MANDARIN SQUARE, ONGPIN ST., BINONDO, MANILA respectively, who have executed sworn statements attached hereto in support of my instant petition, together with: (a) brief biographical data about themselves; (b) detailed statements on the dates they first came to know me, the circumstances of our initial acquaintance and the reasons and extent of our continuing familiarity; and (c) the number of times they have acted as character witnesses in other petitions for naturalization.

15. Attached hereto as annexes and made part of this petition are the duplicate originals or certified photocopies of the following documents (please check the appropriate box):  Authenticated copy of Birth Certificate of petitioner [issued by PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority)]  Certified true copy of petitioner’s Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) or I-Card Certificate [issued by BI (Bureau of Immigration)];  Certified true copy of petitioner’s Native-Born Certificate of Residence (NBCR), if available (issued also by BI);  Authenticated copy of petitioner’s Marriage Certificate, if petitioner is married (issued by PSA);  Authenticated copy of Death Certificate of his/her spouse if petitioner is widowed, or of his/her parent’s if petitioner is a student or candidate for a government licensure exam;

 Duty notarized Affidavit of Financial Capacity of the petitioner, or Affidavit of Support from the person financially supporting petitioner, if petitioner is either a student, a new graduate, spouse or war cities without income or a candidate for a government licensure exam, who has no own income. In addition, submit: (1)* Bank Certifications (two are required: [1] said bank certifications must indicate the present balance and [2] average daily balance for the past six months); (2)* Certificate of Employment if employed or Proof of Registration of Company if doing business (if doing business, please submit also the latest GIS (General Information Sheet) which was submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the financial statements of the company, which was submitted to the BIR/appropriate government agency]; (3)*Proof of Ownership of Real Property/ies such as condominium, etc.; and if owner of motor vehicle, proof of ownership of the same (4) Proof of Ownership of other property/ies, such as shares of stock, insurance, etc.

Note: If petitioner is relying on support from another person, the said person must also submit the above-mentioned documents.

Note: If petitioner is already a graduate but unemployed, submit a notarized affidavit of what petitioner is currently preoccupied with.  Latest Income Tax Returns (ITR) and Tax Documents (must show the receiving stamp of the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue)] for the past three (3) years of the petitioner or of the person supporting him/her, with Proof of Payment of said taxes (such as official receipts, alphalist, etc.)

Note: If petitioner is employed in a family-owned company, the company’s ITR and the company’s Proof of Payment of Taxes must also be submitted, aside from the submission of petitioner’s own ITR and tax documents and Proof of Payment of Taxes. Note: The company’s latest GIS (General Information Sheet), which was submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the financial statements of the company, which was submitted to the BIR/appropriate government agency, must also be submitted.  Duly notarized Affidavits of at least two (2) credible and disinterested witnesses who must be Filipino citizens (preferably natural-born citizens of the Philippines), of good repute in their community, and have no criminal record (Note: submit National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance of character witnesses; also submit a copy of the ID which the character witness used in the notarization of the affidavit) [Note: character witness must attest in the affidavit: (a) that he/she has known petitioner for at least 10 years or more (must also indicate how he/she got acquainted with the petitioner); (b) the good moral character of the petitioner (and how he/she mingles with Filipinos and the society); (c) that in his/her own opinion, petitioner has all the qualifications necessary to become a citizen of the Philippines and none of the disqualifications provided for by law);  Medical Certificate from a government hospital stating that petitioner is not suffering from mental alienation, or a user of prohibited drugs or otherwise a drug dependent, and that he/she is not afflicted with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or any incurable contagious disease [please attach the following to the certificate: (1) Neuro-Psychiatric Evaluation Report (from a duly licensed psychiatrist (who is a medical doctor), not a psychologist); (2) Laboratory Test Results for Drugs Test and HIV Teat, and, (3) other laboratory test’s (Note: all laboratory tests must also conducted from a government hospital)]; Note: Petitioners for naturalization are required to have their medical examination/diagnostic procedures conducted in a government hospital or facility, and not merely hospitals or facilities which are accredited by the government. The mere fact that the government hospital or facility is not near the residence or place of work of petitioner is not a valid reason for petitioner not to have said medical examination or diagnostic procedure conducted in a government hospital or facility. Note: It must be clear in the medical certificate and the diagnostic/laboratory test results that the subject of said medical examination or diagnostic/laboratory test is the petitioner.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

KREMLIN CRITIC. A man pays homage to Alexei Navalny, next to the Russian Embassy in France, (background) in Paris on Saturday. Russia’s top opposition politician Alexei Navalny died the day before at the Arctic prison colony where he was serving a 19-year term. His death, which the West has blamed on the Kremlin, deprives Russia’s opposition of its figurehead just a month before elections poised to extend President Vladimir Putin’s grip on power. AFP

Navalny’s ‘killers’ refusing to hand over body—allies

M

OSCOW – Alexei Navalny’s supporters have accused Russian authorities of being “killers” who were “covering their tracks” by refusing to hand over his body, as the Kremlin stayed silent despite Western accusations and a flood of tributes to the late opposition leader.

The 47-year-old Kremlin critic died in an Arctic prison on Friday after spending more than three years behind bars, prompting outrage and condemnation from Western leaders and his supporters.

His death, which the West has blamed on the Kremlin, deprives Russia’s opposition of its figurehead just a month before elections poised to extend President Vladimir Putin’s grip on power.

On Saturday, Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila, and his lawyer were refused access to his body after arriving at the remote Siberian prison colony where he had been held, his spokeswoman Kira

Yarmysh said.

“It’s obvious that the killers want to cover their tracks and are therefore not handing over Alexei’s body, hiding it even from his mother,” Navalny’s team said in a post on Telegram.

“They don’t want whatever method they used to kill Alexei to come out,” Yarmysh said in an online broadcast, in his backers’ strongest accusation yet of foul play.

Across the country, Russian police on Saturday moved swiftly to break up small protests in honour of the Kremlin critic, arresting more than 400 people in 36 cities, the OVD-Info rights group said.

“Alexei Navalny’s death is the

US threatens to block new vote on Gaza

 Certified true copy with school seal of the Diploma and Transcript of Records of the petitioner from the school’s he or she attended to and/or graduated from in the Philippines (Elementary, High School and College) Note: If petitioner is still a student, please submit a Certification from the school where he/she is currently attending, stating his/her year level, that he/she is currently enrolled therein, and please attach proof of petitioner’s enrollment therein and submit a certification as to the amount of tuition fee and other required school fees paid (such as official receipt/s, certificate of matriculation, etc.)

Note: if petitioner has no own income and is relying on another person for support, the person financially supporting petitioner must submit certifications as to the amount of tuition and other required school fees paid by said person for the education of his/her other dependents (example: the tuition and other required school fees of the children of the person financially supporting petitioner).  Certified true copy with school seal of the Diploma, Transcript of Records, or Certification (if applicable) from the school’s attended by, currently enrolled in, and/or graduated from by petitioner’s child children [the school’s must either be public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the DEPED (Department of Education), where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality); (Note: please submit a Certification from the school where said child/children is/ are currently attending, stating his/her year level, that he/she is currently enrolled therein, and please attach proof of said child/children’s enrollment therein and submit a certification as to the amount of tuition fee and other required school fees paid (such as official receipt’s, certificate of matriculation, etc.) for said child children’s enrollment in said school.  Clearances NBI Clearance; Barangay Clearance of the barangay where petitioner is currently residing (It should be a barangay clearance, not a residence certification); Police Clearance from the Police Station Police Office having jurisdiction of the place where petitioner is currently residing: RTC Clearance (Regional Trial Court), from the RTC which has jurisdiction over the place where petitioner is currently residing; MeTC/MTCC/MTC/ MCTC Clearance (Metropolitan Trial Court/Municipal Trial Court in Cities/ Municipal Trial Court/Municipal Circuit Trial Court, as the case may be) from the MeTC/MTCC/MTC/MCTC which has jurisdiction over the place where petitioner is currently residing); and Office of the Prosecutor Clearance, from the Office of the Prosecutor of the place where petitioner is currently residing.

Note: All clearances must be current and must not be expired.

16. Other documents submitted by the petitioner in support of his/her petition: PRAYER WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed that petitioner be conferred Philippine citizenship pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No, 9139.

Dated at Manila City, Metro Manila, this 11th day of JULY, 2023.

JAMES WANG Name and Signature of Petitioner Telephone Number: 0977-8241952 Email Address: cmqfbc@yahoo.com.ph

Right Thumbmark of Petitioner

Petitioner’s signature and right thumbmark

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) CITY/MUNICIPALITY OF CITY OF MAKATI) S.S. I, JAMES WANG of legal age and a resident of after being duly sworn, depose and say that I am the petitioner herein, that I have read the foregoing petition and know the foregoing petition and known the contents thereof, and that the same is true of my own knowledge.

JAMES WANG Name and Signature of Petitioner SUBCRIBED AND SWORN to before me at SAN JUAN CITY this 11th day of JULY, 2023.affiant exhibiting to me his Republic of India Passport No. V9303140 issued on December 14, 2022, a competent proff of his identity. _________________________________________ Official authorized to adminster oaths/Notary Public

 Certified true copy of Court Decree Judgment annulling/nullifying of petitioner’s marriage or granting legal separation, if such was the fact;  Authenticated Birth Certificate/s of petitioner’s child/children (issued by PSA); (MS-FEB. 19/26/MAR. 4, 2024)

worst thing that could happen to Russia,” said one note left among the flowers at a makeshift memorial in Moscow.

After initially pushing back at accusations they were to blame, there was no comment from the Kremlin on his death on Saturday, despite an angry chorus of condemnation from Western leaders.

G7 foreign ministers meeting in Munich held a minute’s silence for the leader on Saturday, while US President Joe Biden explicitly blamed Putin.

Putin, 71, has not commented.

In the past, on the rare occasions when he has been asked about his most vocal critic, the Russian leader famously avoided saying Navalny’s name.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference hours after news of her husband’s death, Yulia Navalnaya said Putin and his entourage would be “punished for everything they have done to our country, to my family and to my husband.” AFP

NO PROMISING PAUSE. People take part in a demonstration supporting the Palestinian people, in Mexico City on Sunday. The health ministry in Hamasrun Gaza said at least 28,858 people have been killed in the territory during the war between Palestinian militants and Israel. The war was triggered by Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,160 people.

Mediator Qatar acknowledged prospects for a new pause in Israel’s war with Hamas were ‘not really promising’ as Israel rejected appeals to hold off on a threatened assault on the Gaza city of Rafah. AFP

Biden says he told Zelensky ‘hopeful’ of renewed war aid REHOBOTH BEACH, United States—President Joe Biden on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) told Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky he is “confident” the US Congress will renew war aid, but added that without American help Kyiv could lose further territory to Russian advances.

“I spoke with Zelensky this afternoon to let him know I was confident we’re going to get that money,” Biden told reporters after attending church service in Delaware.

Failure by US lawmakers to approve new funding for military aid to Kyiv would be “absurd” and “unethical,” he said, adding: “I’m going to fight to get them the ammunition they need.”

The leaders spoke hours after Russia captured the eastern Ukrainian stronghold of Avdiivka, a major symbolic victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Avdiivka, now mostly destroyed, had been a symbol of Ukraine’s determined resistance to Russian aggression since 2014.

The White House said in a statement the Ukrainian withdrawal from the town came “after Ukrainian soldiers had to ration ammunition due to dwindling supplies as a result of congressional inaction, resulting in Russia’s first notable gains in months.”

Biden told reporters he is not confident another Ukrainian city won’t fall to Russian forces without an infusion of US aid.

“I’m not. I’m not. No one can be,” he said. AFP

UNITED NATIONS, New York— The UN Security Council could hold a vote next week, sought by Algeria, on a resolution seeking an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza, diplomatic sources told AFP Saturday (Sunday in Manila), although Washington again appeared set to block it.

Algeria launched discussions on a new draft after the International Court of Justice ruled in late January that Israel must do all it can to prevent genocidal acts in its war in Gaza, which it says is targeting Hamas militants.

The latest version of the text, seen

by AFP Saturday, “demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that must be respected by all parties.”

It also “rejects forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population,” and it “demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”

The Gaza war began with Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel responded by launching a relentless assault on Gaza that has killed at least 28,858 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

Algeria has requested a UN Security Council vote on Tuesday, but Washington signalled it is likely to veto the measure.

US President Joe Biden is working with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the leaders of Egypt and Qatar on a hostage deal that would bring about six weeks of a “prolonged pause in fighting,” US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement on Algeria’s proposed draft. AFP

ENVIRONMENT

A7

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2024

& SUSTAINABILIT Y

extrastory2000@gmail.com RAY S. EÑANO, Editor

PH acts to curb air pollution, fight climate change

T

he government is stepping up efforts to address air pollution in the Philippines to reduce risks to human health and combat climate change.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antoni Yulo-Loyzaga is leading the initiative through the launch of an Asian collaborative research monitoring mission. The job aims to contribute to a better understanding and management of air pollution, which ultimately protects the health and well-being of the populations of the participating countries.

Air pollution is a major global issue that poses significant risks to human health, leading to chronic heart and lung diseases, lung cancer, stroke and respiratory infections.

“Furthermore, it contributes to the climate crisis and hastens global warming. With the world in need of cleaner air, governments are now working to prioritize preventing air pollution as an essential solution to one of the most pressing environmental problems in the world,” Loyzaga said.

“By utilizing the data and knowledge provided by this mission, we can enhance our air quality monitoring systems, develop evidence-based policies, and implement effective measures to improve public health and combat climate change,” she said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources cited

the importance of international cooperation in addressing air pollution during the recent media launch of the Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality (ASIA-AQ) in Clark, Pampanga.

The ASIA-AQ project, led by the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is an international collaborative research initiative with South Korea’s National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER), University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Thailand’s GeoInformatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), and the Philippines’ DENR, Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), Manila Observatory and the University of the Philippines.

Loyzaga said the project would enhance air quality monitoring through access to advanced air quality monitoring techniques, including satellite data, ground-based observations and atmospheric modeling tools.

Improved monitoring capabilities will result to accurate and comprehensive assessment of air pollution that will help the local government executives implement interventions to address air pollution hotspots. DENR News

Metro Pacific Investments Foundation president Melody del Rosario (center) turns over donation for the rehabilitation of the Del Carmen Mangrove Propagation and Information Center to Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte Mayor Alfredo Coro II (third from right).

MVP Group oversees post-Odette recovery program THE Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF) is spearheading the nation’s recovery from Super Typhoon Odette, also known internationally as Rai, which struck in December 2021, causing widespread devastation across multiple regions.

The recovery phase seeks to ensure a comprehensive rehabilitation of the affected areas. MPIF president Melody del Rosario stressed the foundation’s end-to-end approach to disaster resilience.

“Our commitment goes beyond immediate relief as we aim for complete recovery. We work collaboratively with local government units affected

by Typhoon Odette by focusing on

projects that address different facets of recovery,” said Del Rosario.

MPIF’s recovery projects encompass livelihood, food security, environmental sustainability and climate change resilience aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reflecting the dedication of the MVP Group of Companies to social responsibility.

The recovery phase is seeking to achieve goals such as zero poverty and hunger, good health and well-being, gender equality, decent work and economic growth and climate action.

Under the leadership of Mr. Manuel V. Pangilinan, the MVP Group

raised a total of P30 million with contributions from Mr. Pangilinan himself, First Pacific, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), Maynilad Water Services Inc., Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., Philex Mining Corp. and Benny Santoso.

These funds were used for immediate relief efforts through the MVP Group’s subsidiaries. In addition , Makati Medical Foundation, Alagang Kapatid Foundation and PLDT Inc. provided an immediate response through network resilience, continuous availability of communication services and relief assistance to help communities mitigate disaster risks.

Four ways pulses nourish soils and boost carbon sequestration CONCLUSION

UN: Migratory species facing mixed threats MIGRATORY species globally are facing critical challenges, with nearly half in decline and over 20 percent threatened with extinction, a landmark UN report said last week.

Of most concern is the threat to migratory fish, with 97 percent of the species on the brink of extinction.

The two greatest threats to all migratory species are overexploitation and habitat loss due to human activity, according to the first-ever State of the World’s Migratory Species report, released February 12, 2024.

Amy Fraenkel, head of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) secretariat, highlighted the importance of specific habitats.

“They regularly travel, sometimes thousands of miles, to reach these places. They face enormous challenges and threats along the way as well at their destinations where they breed or feed,” she said.

The study–the first of its kind–was prepared by conservation scientists at the UN Environment Program (UNEP) for the CMS, as its state parties gathered for a major conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

The report also stressed the impact of climate change not only as a direct threat, but also an “amplifier” of other such threats as pollution and invasive species.UN News

This photo taken on December 3, 2023 shows migratory birds foraging at a field in Shangrao, in China’s central Jiangxi province. AFP

roundup Senate backs bamboo bill THE Senate has strongly supported the passage of the “Kawayan Act,” with bamboo as having the potential to contribute $3.5 billion to the economy and strengthen the country’s pollution control under its Sustainable Development Goal commitments.

The Senate bill, or an “Act Institutionalizing the Bamboo Industry in the Philippines and Appropriating Funds Therefor” has been broadly supported in the Senate.

An official legislative statement indicated Senator Mark A. Villar’s speech has been “overwhelmingly supported by the Senate having been co-sponsored by multiple senators, Senator Mark Villar including Senate President Migz Zubiri who is one of the coauthors and co-sponsors of the bill.

Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee for Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship. led sponsorship of the bill.

Villar cited multiple economic potentials and environmental values of the bamboo industry including its global trade value that is expected to reach $88.43 billion by 2030 among others.

The bamboo industry is also expected to contribute $3.5 billion to the Philippine economy. He also stressed the efficient pollution control capacity of bamboo as it releases 38 percent more oxygen than trees and sequesters 12 to 17 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare.

First Gen opens campus contest on climate ideas

STUDENTS from 29 universities and colleges from around the country have joined a P1million competition launched by clean energy provider First Gen Corp. for them to develop the best and most innovative ideas and solutions to cut their schools’ carbon footprint.

Lopez-led First Gen opened the tilt, dubbed “Code Green for Campuses,” as a way of encouraging students to contribute to the campaign against adverse climate change—a problem being aggravated by the continued buildup in the atmosphere of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping greenhouse gases.

The competition challenges the students to submit solutions and ideas in response to the following problem statement: “Given climate change, schools and universities are encouraged to look for ways to limit their carbon footprint. With this in mind, what innovative solutions and programs can you develop to manage, if not limit, your school’s current carbon footprint?”

First Gen vice president and head of corporate communications Ricky Carandang said that the school whose team submits the best solution or idea of decarbonization will win a P1-million prize in the form of an innovation fund for use as seed capital to bring to life the winning proposal.

Carandang said at least 52 teams from 29 schools, including the country’s top universities and colleges, registered as participants in the Code Green for Campuses competition during a recent virtual launch hosted by actor and motivational speaker RJ Ledesma.

Pulses have a natural capacity to mobilize phosphorous and other essential nutrients and micronutrients to soils which can contribute to healthier and larger crop yields. With this in mind, FAO and its Global Soil Partnership promote planting pulses in rotation with staple crops to enrich the soils and help yield more nutritious food.

For example, in Bangladesh, FAO promoted crop rotation of mung beans with rice crops. This project aims to combat “hidden hunger”–a micronutrient deficiency that occurs despite consuming daily adequate calories. This condition is prevalent in the populations of many countries.

2. Pulses help maintain soil biodiversity.

Soils are home to 50 percent of our planet’s biodiversity.

Typically, healthy soils contain earthworms, nematodes, 20-30 species of mites, 50-100 species of insects, hundreds of species of fungi and thousands of species of bacteria and actinomycetes. This is soil biodiversity: diverse living organisms interacting with one another and performing essential services such as nutrient cycling, soil carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emission.

A healthy soil biodiversity leads to not only greater resistance to and resilience against disturbances and stress but also enhances the ability of the ecosystem to suppress diseases.

This is where pulses come in.

Pulses help to increase the amount and diversity of microfauna in soil.

With more microbes, there is more nutrient recycling and soil organic matter regulation—thus, improving soil biodiversity.

Instead of misusing or overusing agro-chemicals which can result in environmental degradation, pulses used in crop rotation systems help to curb and control pests and diseases.

3. Pulses enhance soil structure.

Soil structure is the way in which individual sand, silt and clay particles are assembled. If the soil is crumbly and porous with welldistributed roots, there is good soil structure. However, if the soil is compact (tough to pull apart), the soil structure may be poor.

Producing legumes, such as pulses, improves soil structure. It has long term benefits, one of which is

increasing pore space and cohesion in soils, thereby improving waterholding capacity and soil aeration. In addition, due to the deep root system and longer growth period of pulses, soil structure effectively improves.

4. Pulses help to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Pulses with their ability to mobilize essential nutrients to soils can help reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and help to decrease greenhouse gas emissions--major drivers of climate change. They also increase root development, boosting carbon sequestration and contributing to climate change mitigation.

In addition, because of pulses’ broad range of genetic diversity, certain varieties that are more climate-resilient can be selected or bred. Especially with heat stress affecting crops, these pulse varieties can help farmers where water is less available.

Pulses and soils as a dynamic duo play a fundamental role in providing nutritious food, enhancing agrobiodiversity, mitigating climate change and boosting livelihoods. FAO/Samuel Aranda

By intercropping at least one pulse variety with a cereal-based crop, agricultural fields are better adapted to climate adversities like drought.

This model has already proven to be a success in Tanzania where cereals (maize, sorghum), legumes (beans) and nuts (groundnuts) are grown simultaneously.

Pulses and soils as a dynamic duo play a fundamental role in providing nutritious food, enhancing agrobiodiversity, mitigating climate change and boosting livelihoods.

They provide soils with essential nutrients; then soils provide food with essential nutrients for us, contributing to healthier diets overall. FAO News

BUSINESS

A8

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2024

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

PALAWAN HOUSING.

Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC) president and chief executive Federico Laxa and Mayor Lucilo Bayron spearhead the groundbreaking and time-capsule laying ceremony for Tandikan Ville in Barangay Irawan, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on Feb. 16, 2024. A shelter initiative under President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) program, the condominium-type development is poised to provide safe, decent and resilient housing to over 5,600 families.

Ayala eyes $400m from sale of LRMC, Manila Water stakes

By Jenniffer B. Austria

C

ONGLOMERATE Ayala Corp. expects to raise up to $400 million from the planned divestment of its 35-percent stake in Light Rail Manila Corp.

(LRMC) and the remaining 20-percent interest in Manila Water Co. Inc. Ayala chief finance officer Albert Larrazabal said in a recent interview with reporters the sale of these assets is part of the group’s plan to rationalize its portfolio and divest from non-core businesses that would generate $1 billion in proceeds.

The sale of these two assets and a few smaller assets will complete the $1-billion divestment plan.

Larrazabal said the sale of these remaining assets is expected to be completed this year.

Sources said the group’s existing partners in these projects are the potential buyers. For LRMC, the operator of Light Rail Transit Line 1, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. has the right of first refusal on Ayala Corp.’s stake.

Larrazabal said with the recent fare adjustment in LRT1, more strategic investors and private equity funds expressed interest in acquiring Ayala’s shares in the company.

He said that for Manila Water, the sale of 20-percent stake in the water concessionaire could be done in tranches.

When asked if the Razon group, now the majority shareholder of the water utility firm, is interested in acquiring the shares, Larrazabal said: “I cannot speak on behalf of Mr. Razon”.

“But Mr. Razon is extremely committed to the business, and he sees the potential and always indicated his desire to consider if ever we sell. He is a partner, and we will obviously take that into consideration,” said Larrazabal.

Among the non-core assets previously sold by Ayala are the four-kilometer Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway (MCX) to Prime Asset Ventures Inc. of businessman Manuel Villar for P3.8 billion and the controlling stake in Manila Water to Razon.

The conglomerate said it intends to use the proceeds from the divestment plan to fund the expansion of its core businesses in real estate, banking, telecommunications and power and scale up its emerging businesses in elective vehicle, healthcare and logistics.

Quezon Power investing P71b in Quezon LNG project

By Alena Mae S. Flores QUEZON Power (Philippines) Ltd. Co. (QPPL) plans to build a 1,200-megawatt liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant and an onshore regasification and storage facility in Mauban, Quezon with estimated investments of about P71 billion.

QPPL, owned by Electricity Generating Public Co. (EGCO) of Thailand, also operates the existing 460-MW pulverized coal-fired power plant in Mauban.

QPPL said in documents for public scoping for its environmental compliance certificate submitted to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that it expects the construction of the San Francisco power plant to begin this year and commercial operations to start by 2028.

The company said the proposed project is an LNG import terminal and combined cycle gas turbine power plant. The San Francisco power plant will use LNG as fuel and fuel

oil as back-up.

“The project is intended to provide a steady supply of power in Luzon. It will contribute to meeting the demand for dependable and reasonably priced baseload power supply for the present and in the future,” QPPL said.

“As a result of a greater supply base and lower generation cost, there will be increased trade, and lower electricity costs in the future that will further transform the communities into more developed ones,” it said.

DOTr plans to hold bidding for operations of EDSA Busway

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it intends to privatize the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the EDSA Busway in Metro Manila through a solicited bidding process.

“We’re aiming for a solicited bidding process,” DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista told reporters.

Bautista said, however, that a private company had submitted an unsolicited proposal for the project, without dis-

closing the identity of the proponent.

He said the agency was conducting a parallel study and engaged consultants for the NCR EDSA Busway.

The agency earlier signed consultancy services contracts with the Public-Private Partnership Center, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and SyCip Gorres Velayo & Company (SGV) for the O&M and feasibility studies for the NCR EDSA Busway.

“Solicited bidding offers a faster timeline compared to unsolicited pro-

posals. The Swiss Challenge process alone for unsolicited proposals can take 90 days up to a year,” Bautista said.

The NCR EDSA Busway Project involves the financing, design and construction of enhanced bus stations, operations control centers and parking depots and the purchase, operations and maintenance of a high-capacity busway plying through Circumferential Road 4 (EDSA) and other major and feeder roads.

B1

SPORTS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2024

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

Altas’ scoring rampage keys win over Blazers in NCAA caging Games Wednesday (Filoil EcoOil Centre) 8 a.m.- JRU vs Mapua 10 a.m.- AU vs CSB 12 p.m.- San Beda vs UPHSD 2:30 p.m.- EAC vs SSC-R 4:30 p.m.- Letran vs LPU

Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao (right) discusses with POC president Abraham Tolentino his intention to fight in the Paris Olympics.

IOC quashes Pacman’s Paris Olympics dream F

ILIPINO ring icon Manny Pacquiao won’t be showcasing his legendary ring savvy in the Paris Olympics primarily because the former eightdivision world professional champion is overaged.

In response to a letter from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) late last year appealing for the former senator’s stint in the Paris games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stressed that there is a 40-year-old age limit for athletes participating in the Olympics.

Pacquiao is already 45 years old.

In the same breadth, had Pacquiao met the age regulation, his

possible qualification for the Olympics still had to go through qualifiers, one of them last year’s Asian Games where Eumir Felix Marcial earned a light heavyweight clinching silver in Hangzhou.

“Too bad our beloved boxing icon is disqualified because of his age and that everyone needs to go through qualifiers, in all sports, to be able to participate in Paris,” POC president

Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Tuesday.

James McLeod, IOC Director for National Olympic Committee Relations, wrote the POC on its request for Pacquiao to be able to box in Paris.

“The only valid boxing qualification system for Paris 2024 is the one approved by the IOC Executive Board in September 2022 published and distributed to NOCs and boxing national federations on 6 December 2022,” McLeod said in his letter.

“This includes the age limit of 40,” McLeod said.

Pacquiao, too, couldn’t make Paris under the Universality rule.

“The Universality places for the

Olympic Games will not be allocated to NOCs with an average of more than eight [08] athletes in individual sports/ disciplines at the last two editions of the Olympic Games [Rio and Tokyo],” Mcleod added.

The Philippines had 19 athletes in Tokyo—all in individual sports—with Hidilyn Diaz Naranjo winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal and Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio clnching silver medals and Marcial bagging bronze in boxing.

So far, the four Filipinos have qualified for Paris—world No. 2 pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena, Marcial and artistic gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan.

Rondina, Flying Titans ready to take flight Sisi Rondina

MORE than her dynamic style of play, Sisi Rondina’s leadership will be a crucial element aimed at guiding the Choco Mucho Flying Titans to a dream finish in the Premier Volleyball League.

Despite their setback in the last All-Filipino Conference, where they narrowly missed snaring the championship against the Creamline Cool Smashers, Rondina remains optimistic about the upcoming centerpiece tournament reeling off Tuesday (Feb. 20) at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

The departure of key players like Bea de Leon, Dendez Lazaro-Revilla and Caitlyn Viray has created a void in the team, but the arrival of talented players such as Royse Tubino, Mean Mendrez, Mars Alba and Bia General is expected to more than fill that gap effectively.

Rondina expresses excitement about playing alongside her new teammates and showcasing their skills in a tournament that promises intense competition from 11 other teams, including two newcomers.

Having fully adapted to coach Dante Alinsunurin’s system and play patterns, the Flying Titans enter the AFC fray with utmost confidence.

And Rondina acknowledges the importance of overcoming off-days and nights but stresses personal improvement, particularly in her weakest aspect – receive.

Despite emerging the top scorer and ranking high in various statistics after the semifinals in the last AFC, she remains focused on refining her skills.

“Sana, kasi maraming mga instances na pwedeng off. Maraming pangyayari na hindi natin alam pero siyempre mas pino-focus ko talaga kung saan talaga ako weak, ‘yung receive ko. So, untiunti, nag-i-improve naman,” said Rondina, who emerged the top scorer (236 points). She also ranked third as the most efficient spiker (36.98 percent), placed ninth in serve (0.20 per set), finished No. 6 in digs (2.33 per set) and wound up the second best receiver with 38.67 percent efficiency.

Downplaying expectations for the

team, Rondina guarantees that the Flying Titans will approach each game with determination and winning mindset. She admits the uncertainty of the conference due to the level playing field but underscores the team’s commitment to hard work and adherence to Alinsunurin’s teachings.

“Expectations? Wala, kasi madaming teams ang sumali ngayon. Sabi nga, bilog ‘yung bola. Hindi natin malalaman kung ano ‘yung takbo ng conference,” said Rondina. “Pero sisiguraduhin po namin na magta-trabaho kami at siyempre ipapakita po namin kung ano ‘yung mga itinuturo ni coach Dante.”

“Hindi namin iniisip ‘yun (expectations) actually, hindi naman dapat iniisip ‘yun. Pero sabi ko, lagi kaming magta-trabaho, ipapakita po namin kung paano kami mag training at paano po namin maipe-perform yung mga tinuturo ni coach,” said Rondina.

While expressing happiness for her former teammates and their growth with their new teams, Rondina remains focused on Choco Mucho’s goals.

Tolentino smashes 60-meter hurdles national record

By Peter Atencio JOHN Cabang Tolentino, who is seeking Olympic qualification in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, broke the men’s indoor 60-meter national hurdles’ record for the second time in a row as he settled for a bronze medal in the ongoing 11th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Aftab Enghelab Sport Complex, Tehran.

The 22-year-old Tolentino checked in at 7.64 seconds for third place in the finals on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

On Jan. 13, the Spain-based Tolentino showed the good shape he was in when he eclipsed the Philippine record in the Euskadi Indoor meet in San Sebastian. He won the gold medal in 7.73 seconds, a time which went

below the 7.86-second clocking Eric Cray set in the Cherry and Silver meet in Albuquerque back in 2014.

“John’s impressive time of 7.64 has not only earned him a medal, but also set the new Philippine Indoor Record (pending ratification) in 60m hurdles,” said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association secretary general Jasper Tanhueco.

Earlier, Southeast Asian Games long jump champion and record holder Janry Ubas finished fifth in the finals.

Ubas, who is seeking ranking points that will qualify him for the Paris Olympics, leaped to 7.60 meters, way behind the 7.97m of gold medalist Mingkun Zhang of China.

Japanese leapers Yuto Toriumi and Daiki Oda grabbed the silver

and bronze with 7.89m and 7.76m, respectively.

As for Tolentino, he is within the quota ranking of possible Olympic qualifiers in the men’s 110-meter hurdles.

After being at no. 31 in Olympic quota rankings last month, Cabang dropped to no. 37 this month.

World Athletics will pick the possible 40, who can make the cut to the Paris Games in the men’s 110-meter hurdles and Tolentino remains in contention after joining more competitions to go with his Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games stints.

For Tolentino to make it to the Paris, he has to stay within the quota ranking of 40 until July, or hit the entry standard of 13.27 seconds in the 110-m hurdles.

John Cabang Tolentino

UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help went on a scoring rampage as it routed College of St. Benilde, 110-91, on Sunday and seized the solo lead in NCAA Season 99 junior basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Amiel Acido unleashed a 33-point game that he spiked with 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals in helping power the Junior Altas to their third straight win, good enough to keep them on top.

“Idol ko po si Scottie Thompson,” said the 19-year-old 12th grader.

It was an impressive effort for UPHSD as it set a new high in terms of total score in a game.

Johp Cleopas though stressed its too early to celebrate.

“I really appreciate the boys because they worked hard and they responded every time,” said Cleopas. “But I don t want them to be complacent. We want them to stay hungry and we don’t wan’t them to celebrate too much.”

Earlier, Letran vented its ire on San Sebastian College and hammered out a 78-66 victory and Jose Rizal University claimed its first win at the expense of Lyceum of the Philippines U, 85-79.

Still licking their wounds following a painful, embarrassing 88-72 loss to the San Beda Cubs, the Squires used their mental preparedness in engineering a defensive masterpiece that sealed them their second win in three starts.

“It’s more about viewing and mental preparation,” said Letran coach Allen Ricardo, who was also recently appointed interim mentor of the Knights.

The Staglets, in contrast, fell from the pedestal after absorbing their first setback after winning their first two outings.

The Light Bombers, for their part, drew strength from their mammoth rebounding effort in claiming their first triumph after two losses in a row.

Lee Marin spearheaded JRU’s attack and dropped a superb 30-point performance while Paul Enal and Martin Pineda, who combined for 22 of their team’s 52 boards.

Bulacan bet repeats as 7-Eleven bike champion EMMANUEL Dave Montemayor banked on his familiarity of the routes during the much improved 2024 7-Eleven cross-country mountain bike race at the trails of Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Montemayor took the overall top honors for a second straight year and was alone in the last 10 kilometers of an uphill trek to the Skyline finish line.

The 5’8” Montemayor found himself unchallenged during the final stretch of the 40-km ride in one hour, 42 minutes and seven seconds.

Montemayor, who is from Meycauayan, Bulacan, ruled the competition last year with a clocking of 1:46.30.

“Nag-alangan ako sa mga lusong.

Pero, bumawi ako pagdating duon sa mga ahon,” said Montemayor after he finally recovered from struggles he faced on a hot Sunday morning.

Unheralded Marc Lowell Valderama was behind at 1:43.14 to earn the silver medal, while Dhave Roa landed third in 1:43.34.

“Ganu’n din ang strategy nu’ng nakuha ko ito last year. Magandang resulta ito pagkatapos akong nasunog sa pag-practice ko para na national championship,” added Montemayor.

Later, Nicole Quinones celebrated with her father, former national champion Eusebio Quinones, when she went home with the top women’s honors.

The elder Quinones took the crown in the men’s 55-year-old category.

Peter Atencio

B2

SPORTS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2024

Mac McClung of the Magic dunks the ball during the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest as a part of State Farm AllStar Saturday Night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. AFP

Curry edges Ionescu in 3-point shootout WASHINGTON—Stephen Curry sank his last four shots from the right corner to defeat Sabrina Ionescu 2926 in a 3-point NBA-Women’s NBA Challenge at NBA All-Star Saturday festivities.

Ionescu set the score to beat, matching the best numbers by any player in the NBA 3-Point Contest, only for Curry to rally late for the victory, then hug Ionescu as both celebrated a successful effort.

“I knew I had to get hot,” Curry said of his closing run to win the challenge champion’s belt.

The first-ever shootout of the sexes was a groundbreaking showdown between elite guards—Golden State’s Curry, the NBA’s all-time 3-point basket leader, and WNBA singleseason 3-point record holder Ionescu of the New York Liberty.

“A night like tonight shows a lot of young girls and young boys that if you can shoot, you can shoot,” said Ionescu.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a girl or a boy. I think it just matters the heart that you have and wanting to be the best that you can be.”

Both shot from NBA 3-point range, Curry with an NBA ball and Ionescu with a WNBA ball.

“This couldn’t have gone any better in the sense of us two taking the challenge in front of this stage.

To deliver like that, like she said, the ball was unbelievable to watch,” Curry said.

“I don’t know if anybody can fill these shoes but this might need to be something we do more often.”

Ionescu challenged Curry after she made 37 of a possible 40 points in last year’s WNBA 3-Point Contest, the best score in any single round of a WNBA or NBA 3-point competition.

“That was amazing, just to be able to have this be the first of its kind event and come out here and put on a show, understanding what this means,” Ionescu said. “Excited to change the narrative and be able to do it alongside the greatest to ever do it.” AFP

All-Stars: NBA future in good hands once LeBron is gone W ASHINGTON—NBA All-Stars aren’t sure who will be the new face of the league once LeBron James is gone, but they are confident the NBA’s future is in good hands.

Several top stars spoke Saturday on the eve of the 73rd NBA All-Star Game at Indianapolis, where 20-time AllStar selection James, the NBA all-time scoring leader, represents the Los Angeles Lakers at age 39.

James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and four-time NBA champion, has been the top star in an older generation of talent that includes Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Phoenix’s Kevin Durant.

“It will be an amazing league regardless,” said Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “He has done amazing things for this league and for the game of basketball. You don’t want to take him for granted, obviously. But when he’s gone, it will still be great.”

Younger stars are already having an impact on the league with two-time NBA Most Valuable Players

Nikola Jokic of Denver and Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee winning titles and a host of others chasing crowns, including Dallas guard Luka Doncic, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Phoenix’s Devin Booker, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and GilgeousAlexander among them.

“There’s a lot of guys to pick from in this group of 24 that are here,” Curry said. “You see Luka, Ant, Shai, guys that are really coming into their prime... but have a perspective of what that means within the on-court/offcourt opportunities.

“The league is in pretty good hands when it comes to young talent that I think gets it and understands the magnitude of the platform we all have and will respect it as they come into their own.”

Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton expects players who lead their teams to success will spearhead the next generation.

“We got a lot of different guys that it could be,” he said. “The league is in great hands. It’s the most talent that has even been in this league.

“To be the face of the league, winning has to come with that. Whatever young guy takes that charge and is winning moving forward, that’s probably who it will be.”

Durant says it’s not so much about one face for the

future of the NBA as it is a collection of talent who inspire the next generation on and off the court.

“I’m going to miss a lot of guys,” Durant said. “But you see Shai, Ant, Book, Luka, (Philadelphia’s) Tyrese Maxey, Tyrese Haliburton. There are so many guys inspiring the next generation of hoopers after them to become basketball players that you can’t just pinpoint it to one or two guys.

“It’s about pushing the game forward, setting a different standard how we play. These guys are doing it right now.”

Wemby insanely dominant Among those Durant looks forward to watching in the future NBA is 2023 NBA Draft top pick Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 (2.24m) French rookie for San Antonio.

“Man, that dude can achieve anything he wants in this game. He’s only getting more comfortable as time goes on,” Durant said. “It’s just insane how dominant he’s going to be as he gets more comfortable.”

Boston’s Jayson Tatum hopes to be in the talk for the next face of the NBA. “When LeBron retires, the face of the league, that’s tough, but we win a championship, I’ve got something to say about it, I know that,” Tatum said. AFP

Golden Spikers stun defending champion Bulldogs UNIVERSITY of Sto. Tomas kicked off its redemption tour by sending a statement to the entire league.

In a rematch of last year’s finals, the Golden Spikers stunned defending champion National University, ending its 34-game winning streak in straight sets, 25-23, 26-24, 25-19, in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament, Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The last time that the four-peat seeking Bulldogs dropped a game was back in Season 81, an openingday 25-12, 25-16, 25-19 straight-set loss to Far Eastern University on February 16, 2019.

“I’m very happy that the team responded to our preparation. They responded well so masaya,” said UST head coach Odjie Mamon “The team responded well kasi hindi lang naman pagtuturo ng techniques and ‘yung mga tactics namin, here ‘yung tibay ng pagiisip saka ng puso nila na they have to be patient and disciplined,” he added.

NU tried its best to extend the game, slicing UST’s five-point, 19-14 advantage through a 3-1 run led by Jan Aba-

Dux Yambao high-fives fellow UST Golden Spiker Jayrack dela Noche.

nilla and Jade Disquitado to just three, 20-17, in the third set.

Unfortunately, consecutive errors from Abanilla and Obed Mukaba kick-started the Golden Spikers’ five-

to-nothing finishing kick, which was highlighted by Gboy Dela Vega’s match-clinching ace. “‘Di nga kami nanalo eh, the opponent scored points for us, makikita niyo

‘yun. Kami tatanggap lang kami ng regalo nila,” said Mamon as the Bulldogs committed 25 errors in the one-hour, 17-minute match Josh Ybañez top scored for UST with 13 points to go along with seven excellent digs and five excellent receptions while the pair of Edlyn Colinares and Jay Rack Dela Noche added eight points apiece.

Dux Yambao tossed 18 excellent sets and scored three points in the victory.

UST (1-0) looks to build from this win when they take on University of the East (0-1) on Wednesday, 12:00 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Nico Almendras and Jade Disquitado carried the scoring load for the Bulldogs with 15 and 13 points, respectively, with Mike Buddin expected to miss the next three weeks due to a right hand injury.

Mukaba was held to just five points, while team captain Joshua Retamar delivered 16 excellent sets in the loss.

On the other hand, NU (0-1) will face off against Ateneo de Manila University (1-0) on Saturday, 12:00 p.m. at the MOA Arena.

Cignal HD Spikers get throne back in PNVF Champions League IT didn’t take long for Cignal HD to get its throne back in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Champions League.

In sweeping fashion, the HD Spikers hit two birds with one stone following a 27-25, 31-33, 25-16, 25-18 win over the Iloilo D’Navigators to reign supreme in the PNVF Champions League men’s division over the weekend at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

With a perfect 5-0 campaign, the HD Spikers clinched its second title in the PNVF and avenged the tough defeat of their women counterparts against Petro Gazz in the women’s final last week.

“It’s very fulfilling, last year we lost, we revamped with young enthusiastic and eager players who want to be champions,” Cignal HD coach Dexter Clamor said. “It’s definitely a satisfying and

happy feeling.”

National men’s team spiker Joshua Umandal starred with a 28-point eruption on 23 attacks, four blocks and an ace—numbers that earned him the MVP honors.

He was also named the First Best Outside Hitter with teammates JP Bugaoan (Second Best Middle Blocker), who dropped 23 points in against Iloilo, and Gabriel EJ Casana (Best Setter) joining him in the Dream Team.

Iloilo’s Jayvee Sumagaysay emerged as the First Middle Blocker, his teammate John Benedict San Andres as the Second Best Outside Hitter, VNS Asereht’s Kevin Montemayor as Best Opposite Spiker and College of Saint Benilde’s Alvin Bryle Gomez as the Best Libero.

VNS was hailed with the Fair Play

The victorious Cignal HD Spikers pose with their trophy, medals and a replica of their P100,000 cash prize with PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara.

Award to cap the awardees in the men’s Sports+, Mikasa, Senoh, Foton, Philiptilt of the PNVF backed by PLDT, Ayala pine Olympic Committee and the PhilipLand, Nuvali, Cignal, One Sports, One pine Sports Commission.

Alcaraz slumps to shock ATP semis loss BUENOS AIRES—World number two Carlos Alcaraz slumped to a shock straight sets loss to Chile’s Nicolas Jarry in the semi-finals of the ATP Buenos Aires tournament on Saturday.

Defending champion Alcaraz, playing in his first tournament since losing in the Australian Open quarter-finals, was beaten 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 by his 28-year-old opponent.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz had been hoping to reach his first final since losing to Novak Djokovic in the Cincinnati Masters in August and clinch a first title since Wimbledon in July.

Jarry, ranked 21 in the world, claimed his first win over Alcaraz in three meetings, wrapping up victory on a second match point after almost two hours on court.

“Third time lucky,” Jarry said of his first win over Alcaraz. “Carlos is one of the best players so it means a lot, especially after the battles I’ve had a couple of days ago. It’s been very tough physically, so I’m very happy to be able to come back.

“I didn’t start very well and couldn’t win points on his serve, but I came back little by little.”

The Chilean didn’t face a break point in the opening set and after the pair exchanged breaks in the first two games of the second set, Jarry claimed the decisive break in the eighth game.

Jarry will face Argentine wildcard Facundo Diaz Acosta, ranked 87, in Sunday’s final of the claycourt tournament. AFP

B3

SHOWBIZ

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2024

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

I

N HIS latest scifi romance, A Glimpse to Forever, director Jason Paul Laxamana weaves a story about love, longing, and the thin line between reality and the virtual world. Inspired by his own experiences with social anxiety, Laxamana creates an interesting narrative that leaves the audience questioning the future of relationships in a techdriven era.

In an interview with Manila Standard Entertainment, Laxamana (Expensive Candy, 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, and Just a Stranger) spoke about how the film was conceived.

“The film has something to do with my experience as a person with social anxiety. During the height of the pandemic, I accidentally became popular on Facebook because I was releasing content using Snapchat filters and imitating elderly Kapampangans. I went viral because of that,” he recalled.

“Then I asked myself, why am I so confident when I have a filter but when I don’t, my social anxiety attacks me.

That’s the inspiration for the film, and of course, I love sci-fi. I watch Black Mirror,” he revealed.

The film stars Jasmine Curtis Smith

Jasmine Curtis Smith stars as Glenda in sci-fi romance film, ‘A Glimpse to Forever’

Diego Loyzaga completes the cast of ‘A Glimpse to Forever’ with a pivotal role

Jerome Ponce stars alongside Smith as Dante, a failed actor with social anxiety

Love in the time of virtual reality Very Wang

Nickie Wang

From left: Jerome Ponce, Jasmine Curtis Smith, director Jason Paul Laxamana, and Diego Loyzaga

as Glenda, a woman disillusioned with her fiancé. Seeking solace, she ventures into ForeVR, a virtual dating studio offering a smorgasbord of personalized companions.

There, she stumbles upon “The Boy Next Door,” a character initially rejected by others due to his bluntness. Yet, it’s this honesty that resonates with Glenda, sparking an unexpected connection with the virtual being voiced and controlled by Dante (Jerome Ponce), a struggling actor battling his own social anxiety.

As their bond deepens, Glenda and Dante find comfort and understanding in each other’s virtual personas. However, a challenge looms: ForeVR strictly prohibits revealing real identities. This rule forces them to grapple with the question of whether their love can blossom beyond the digital barrier, venturing into the messy reality where insecurities and anxieties reside.

With A Glimpse to Forever, Laxamana wanted to explore the complexities of virtual relationships and their impact on the human condition.

He doesn’t provide easy answers, instead choosing to pose questions that

spark critical reflection. Does love built on shared vulnerability in a simulated space translate to the real world? Can technology bridge the gap between our authentic selves and the personas we present online?

“I want the film to be an examination of where we’re headed about relationships with the rise of AI and virtual technology.

It poses more questions to the audience than it provides answers because we don’t know the answers. The film just wants to engage the audience to think about where we’re heading,” Laxamana said alluding to the film’s thematic depth.

“The film isn’t just about two individuals, it’s about the impact of technology on our social interactions and how it shapes our perception of ourselves and others,” he added.

Joining Smith and Ponce is Diego Loyzaga playing a pivotal role in the film that promises to be both emotionally engaging and intellectually stimulating.

From Viva Films, A Glimpse to Forever arrives in cinemas nationwide on March 6.

Scrubb brings back memories at Manila debut concert

By Angelica Villanueva STARRING Thai superstars Bright Vachirawit (Sarawat) and Win Metawin (Tine), the hit boy love (BL) show, 2gether The Series, was born out of the author’s love for the alternative pop-rock duo, Scrubb.

Four years later after the series’ success, the band made its debut concert on Feb. 10 at 123 Block in Mandaluyong City as part of its Asia tour.

Consisting of Thawatpon “Muey” Wongboonsiri and Torpong “Ball” Chantabubpha, Scrubb brought some of the beloved songs that were used in the series as soundtracks to finally perform live in front of hundreds of Filipino fans, whom you could easily identify as hardcore fans as most of them were wearing black and white jerseys.

They opened their concert by singing “Everything” (Thuk Yang). Suddenly, it felt like we were back in 2020 again – it’s pandemic and fans were eagerly waiting for Friday night to come to finally watch the latest episode of that BL series.

The song was followed by more familiar tracks such as “Khor” (Asking For), “Klai” (Close), and “Luek Luek” (Deep).

Muey and Ball were amazed at how the crowd could sing with them perfectly lyric by lyric. Maybe that’s what made the Manila concert even more special—that each person was

able to sing with them.

The crowd screamed at the top of their lungs upon hearing the first beats of “Koo Gan” (Soulmate), remembering familiar scenes from the series.

Fans were treated to more performances as they sang and grooved to the songs “Khon Nee” (This Person), “Roy Yim” (Your Smile), “Hai Thur” (For You”, “Tur Mun Rop Chun, Chun Mun Rop Ter” (You Revolve Around Me, I Revolve Around You), “Khamtop” (Answer), and “Khao Kan Di” (Click).

The concert was supposed to end with the song “Click” but to celebrate their first gig in the Philippines, Scrubb returned to sing more of their songs which delighted the fans.

the Asia tour singing “Close” for the second time.

“If you listen to Scrubb’s songs when you’re happy, you will be even happier.

If you listen when you are in love, you will be more deeply in love. And if you listen to their songs when you are sad, you will feel better.”

Now, we finally understand what Tine meant when he said this to Sarawat in episode four of the series. Every Scrubb song possessed a certain magic, carrying emotions deep within its melodies. Even though the lyrics might sound foreign to some Filipinos, they evoke powerful feelings - happiness, familiarity, nostalgia, love, comfort, and a sense of home.

Scrubb took to its Instagram to thank the Filipino fans for giving each of them a night to remember.

“We don’t have the words to express how grateful we are for what we see in front of us. You guys are amazing,” it wrote.

“We have made our last tour of Southeast Asia as complete as possible, and we couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We love Pop-rock duo Scrubb delights fans with hit songs you all. SALAMAT popularized by BL series, ‘2gether The Series’ PO!!!” it added.

Presented by Gabi Na Naman During the second part of the show, Productions, Scrubb: Live in Manila the band sang “Kep Man Wao Ai” also featured Senior High star Elijah (Keep It), “Ruk Nirun” (Eternal Love), Canlas and indie singer Toneejay, who and “See Scape”. served as the concert’s opening acts.

Scrubb ended the Manila leg of

Some scenes from the Enrique Gil’s comeback film are featured throughout the ‘Nakaraan’ MV

joem’s ‘Nakaraan’ MV teases Enrique Gil’s ‘I Am Not Big Bird’ movie scenes JOEM’S “Nakaraan” music video might just be the final nudge you need if you’re still on the fence about watching Enrique Gil’s comeback movie, I Am Not Big Bird.

While “Nakaraan” serves as the perfect soundtrack for a dramatic bus ride with window gazing, the official music video offers fans a glimpse into the antics of Enrique’s comedic quartet (Nikko Natividad, Red Ollero, Pepe Herera, and the King of the Gil himself) and their colorfully complicated “iyak-tawa” experiences in Bangkok. Enrique also delivers tear-jerking scenes, reminding us that moving on is rarely a straight line.

The song has gained momentum since its Feb. 9 release, captivating fans who witnessed joem’s live performance during the movie’s promotional mall tour. This was joem’s ‘Nakaraan’ is an acoustic followed by extensive airplay on Manila’s masterpiece that perfectly fits the biggest radio stations, media coverage film’s underlying theme of across various platforms, television moving on appearances, and physical guestings.

On Feb. 13, joem further solidified his presence with an appearance at the “I Am Not Big Bird” premiere night. These are undoubtedly exciting times for the young artist, and his future shines bright.

Watch joem’s “Nakaraan (From I Am Not Big Bird)” official music video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U74Kd6KG0IA

B4

LIFE

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2024

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

Mercury Rising Bob Zozobrado

Recognizing excellence in travel and tourism industry proclaim the outstanding honorees from their respective areas. These winners will then represent the regions at the national level, which will be announced towards the end of the year.

Sec. Frasco envisions these awards to introduce to our countrymen lesser-known destinations, for them to discover these “hidden gems,” towards further strengthening our domestic tourism industry.

Certainly, these citations will serve as an incentive to the LGUs to improve their services to visitors in their community continuously.

Many years ago, the DOT had already come up with the Kasama sa Lakbay, Kaunlaran ng Bayan (KALAKBAY) Awards and the Tourism Star Philippines. Although these two have

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco spoke about recognizing contributions to the industry in her keynote address

made their mark in developing our country’s Tourism Industry.

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE When one door closes and another door opens, you are probably in prison.

The categories of the Tourism Industry Awards are Institutional, Individual, Media, Tourism Product, and Special Awards, which are based on the observed ability to shape and influence travel trends, introduce new perspectives, and contribute significantly to the responsible and sustainable development of Philippine tourism.

Application forms, which are free of charge,

FTER several months of fine-tuning the criteria to be used for judging, finally, the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) Philippine Tourism Awards was launched early this month in a colorful ceremony attended by the leading stakeholders of our country’s travel and tourism industry.

A

hotels, resorts, destinations, LGUs, homestays, These awards will be the highest and most MICE venues, tourism front-liners, and prestigious in our industry other stakeholders who continue to promote In the process of honoring industry players sustainable tourism and the Filipino brand of and Local Government Units (LGUs) who have service excellence espoused by the DOT. demonstrated excellence in the development There will be two levels of these awards and promotion of tourism, these awards are – first, the Regional Directors of designed to instill the culture of Filipino The Philippine Tourism Awards will celebrate efforts by the private and public sectors to the growth of the tourism industry hospitality and excellence in the tourism sector. the DOT will They will also recognize individuals, corporate entities, and LGUs who have may be downloaded from the DOT website reached a certain level of contributed immeasurably to and submitted online or directly to the DOT success, the newly launched the growth of our industry, Regional Offices. These will then be reviewed Philippine Tourism Awards whose creativity, expertise, and validated to ensure their authenticity. is the modified version professionalism, and service have Our tourism industry’s stakeholders are of both and will be the been of the highest standards and already excited about the forthcoming ultimate recognition our have bannered the Filipino identity. recognition of the best among our hardworking tourism industry has been In her keynote address, Tourism players. They are the reason why our industry hankering for.

Secretary Christina Garcia has managed to bounce back strongly, and fast, The Tourism Pillar Frasco said that the awardsfrom the almost three years of devastation Awards will be given to giving body will be looking for brought about by the pandemic. These outstanding individuals, “institutions, individuals, pillars, Philippine Tourism Awards will certainly be a enterprises, and destinations changemakers, and trailblazers strong motivation for our stakeholders to work who have made significant in the different sectors of the even harder in giving our visitors more reasons contributions to our tourism industry who have helped make it to Love the Philippines. industry.

The Tourism one of the strongest pillars of our Industry Awards will be country’s economy.”

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail. given to both the private and Dancers perform a modernized Filipino folk dance with luminous nylon wings These awards will be bestowed on com public sectors which have

Art and culture come alive in this museum-like city KLOOK, Asia’s leading platform for experiences and travel services has announced that tickets for teamLab Borderless: MORI Building Digital Art Museum are now on sale.

The innovative digital art museum reopened with new exhibits and interactive experiences in Azabudai Hills in Tokyo on Feb. 9.

As the exclusive tourist ticketing platform for teamLab Borderless, Filipino travelers heading to Japan can finally get their hands on tickets through Klook.

The museum features brand-new installations, never before seen at any other teamLab museums globally. Travelers can expect interactive exhibitions like the ‘Bubble Universe’ and ‘Megalith Crystal Formation’, a tribute to the artistic brilliance of this world-renowned art collective.

Filipino travelers looking for immersive and unique museum experiences in Japan can also book tickets to teamLab Planets Tokyo DMM (Toyosu), teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka, teamLab Forest Fukuoka, and the new teamLab Future Park Okinawa through Klook.

This collection of boundary-pushing artworks evolve at the new teamLab Borderless, which is

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relocating from its previous location in Odaiba, Tokyo to Azabudai Hills in central Tokyo. It will move into more spaces, connect more intricately, change constantly, and create one borderless world. Mori Building has positioned culture as an important element in urban development and has created unique cultural facilities in each city.

As the importance of wellness grows, culture and art are becoming increasingly crucial elements that enrich people’s minds. In Azabudai Hills, where “Green & Wellness” is the pillar of its concept, teamLab Borderless will relocate and open in the hopes that the works of teamLab, which “aims to explore the relationship between the self and the world, and new forms of perception through art”, will stimulate visitors’ senses and foster culture.

With the Azabudai Hills Gallery, a diverse cultural outlet, and the public are installed throughout the city, Mori Building aims to create a museum-like city where art and culture come together.

Tickets to teamLab Borderless can be purchased on this link: https://www.klook.com/ en-PH/activity/20707-teamlab-borderlessadmission-ticket-tokyo/

Travel expo draws distinguished guests, industry leaders

Travelers can now avail tickets for the MORI Building Digital Museum using Klook

THE recently concluded PTAA Travel Expo 2024 was a great success. Pictured in the photo are Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco (center), PTAA President Marielgel Tankiang Manotok, and organizer committee chairwoman Patty Tiong visiting the SBMA Booth. They were greeted by members of the Hospitality Alliance of Subic Bay Freeport Zone (HAS) led by its Vice President Josephine Floresca (left) and HAS Secretary John Paul Dacuycuy (right) during Secretary Frasco’s brief visit.

Other distinguished guests who visited the booth included DOTR Sec. Jaime Bautista, PAL President and COO Capt. Stanley Ng, and TPB COO Marga Nograles.

The three-day event was attended by members of the travel and tourism industry from all regions of the country.