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SC clears way for OMB to probe bank accounts of Erap, mistresses By Rey E. Requejo

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 137 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

THE Supreme Court has paved the way for the Office of the Ombudsman to proceed with its investigation into the bank accounts of former President Joseph Estrada, his alleged mistresses,

and several others with Allied Banking Corp., now Philippine National Bank. This is in line with the Ombudsman’s continuing investigation into the alleged irregularities that took place during Estrada’s term as President. Next page

BBM extends free bus rides On EDSA Carousel til yearend, free transit for students on trains

By Mervin Vince Lopez

RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday approved the memo presented by Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista extending the free EDSA Carousel bus rides until December, as well as free rides for students who will be using the Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT3), Light Rail Transit-2 (LRT2), and Philippine National Railways (PNR) when in-person classes resume in August. This developed as the increase in the minimum fare in public utility jeepneys (PUJs) to by 2 pesos to P11 took effect yesterday after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) granted the petition of public transport groups. The new administration will also have to deal with the impending hike in fuel surcharges for airline travel, and current petitions to raise fares for provincial buses as well. The memo on the free bus and train rides came after the President’s meeting with Bautista and Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez at Malacañang. “Considering the availability of budget for Service Contracting under the General Appropriations of 2022, the undersigned recommends the conNext page

Palace declares vacant Duterte filled positions PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday declared vacant government positions appointed by the previous administration, including noncareer and contractual workers effective July 1, 2022. Memorandum Circular No. 1 signed by Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez said most of the officials appointed by

President Rodrigo Duterte who held Cabinet, deputy Cabinet posts, and executive positions in government agencies and corporations are considered vacant. “Vacancy in the heads of departments, offices, agencies, and bureaus where no replacement has been appointed or designated, shall be filled up Next page

FIRST EVENT AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. beams as he addresses guests during the 75th Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Air Force at AirForce City in Clark, Pampanga on Friday. The Chief Executive then signs the pledge board together with Air Force Chief Lt. Gen. Anthony Canlas Sr. (inset). See related story on A2

DBM releases P6.2b to fund ayuda to 6m poor beneficiaries

STILL FREE. In this file photo, passengers alight at the Roosevelt station of EDSA Carousel bus route, which President Ferdinand Marcos said will remain free until December, as well as free rides for students who will be using Metro Manila’s train systems when in-person classes resume in August.

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released a total of P6.20 billion to bankroll the first tranche of the Targeted Cash Transfer (TCT) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The TCT will be distributed to six million beneficiaries from the poorest 50 percent of the country’s population, to help them cope with rising prices of fuel and other commodities, the DBM said in a statement Friday. Specifically, this includes four mil-

lion households enrolled under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and two million social pension beneficiaries. The beneficiaries will receive P500 monthly cash subsidies for six months to be distributed in three tranches. This means they will receive P1,000 for the first tranche to be distributed through the cash cards issued by the LandBank of the Philippines, or other approved modes of distribution. Next page

Gov’t wants to ramp up trading activities with US—Romualdez By Othel V. Campos PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants more economic activities between the Philippines and the United States under his administration, Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel “Babes” Romualdez said Friday. “The President told me that he really

would like to see more economic activities between the United States and the Philippines,” Romualdez said in a CNN Philippines interview. “I think we are already going along that path right now. We’ve had quite a number of economic forums in the past, we’re going to have more of that,” he added. Next page

DOH: All regions post sharp rise in COVID cases, but still low-risk Enrique Manalo, PH envoy to UN, named DFA chief

FANTASY BEAUTIES. Binibining Pilipinas 2022 candidate Mary Justinne Gavino Punsalang looks like a mermaid as she poses beside a 3D painting, while her fellow candidates ‘walk’ across a mural at the Art in Island family museum in Cubao, Quezon City on Friday. Danny Pata

By Willie Casas ALL regions in the country continue to see an increase in COVID-19 infections, with 88% of provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent charter cities showing positive growth rates, the De-

partment of Health (DOH) said Friday. Based on its regular COVID-19 situationer, most areas are showing a sharp increase in cases, with the National Capital Region reaching almost 450 cases daily. Next page

By Rey E. Requejo and Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday appointed a career diplomat, Enrique Manalo, as the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, replacing Teodoro Locsin Jr.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles confirmed that Marcos swore in Manalo, the Philippines’ permanent representative to the United Nations under the Duterte administration, at Malacañang – verifying a story the Manila Standard ran on Thursday about his

impending appointment. Angeles said Manalo asked for a few days to wind down affairs in his previous post. Manalo’s career in the Philippine Foreign Service spans nearly four decades, Next page

News

SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

NBI files raps for deaths of inmates E

IGHT murder complaints have been filed against 22 members of the National Capital Region Police Office over the questionable deaths of some high-profile inmates during the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Bureau of Investigation said Friday.

agents discovered that there was a system or a method for there to be COVID or make it appear that someone died of COVID. There was criminal intent,” NBI spokesperson and Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin said. The viral disease was used to cover up the alleged murder of high-profile inmates, the NBI said, adding it had testimonies of several witnesses and inconsistent records of the BuCor, NCRPO, and New Bilibid Prison (NBP) hospital. “The Hari site, Building 4, was used as a quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients. It was suspicious because others did not

manifest COVID-19 symptoms. They said that the inmate succumbed to COVID-19 but when the fatality was swabbed again, they tested negative,” Lavin said. The report cited the case of inmate Benjamin Marcelo, who was moved from the Hari site and taken to the hospital after five hours. According to the NBI, the CCTV footage showed Marcelo in a cadaver bag instead of a stretcher when he was transferred. The prison officials said they did a medical intervention, but the black bag was “very indicative” that the person was already lifeless, Lavin said.

“We will follow the evidence and leave it to the prosecutors for their appreciation and to act accordingly,” said NBI Director Eric Distor in a television report after the bureau filed the charges against the policemen. From May to July 2020, at least eight high-profile inmates died at the New Bilibid Prison, including convicted

drug lord Amin Boratong, Jaybee Sebastian, and several Chinese drug lords. The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said the inmates died due to the spread of COVID-19 infections. However, the NBI Death Investigation team discovered that there was an alleged “criminal intent” in the deaths. “Our Death Investigation Division

SC... From A1

BBM hears mass, picks ‘Pangarap’ as Palace home

In an 18-page decision, the SC’s First Division dismissed for lack of merit the petition filed by PNB seeking to overturn the Court of Appeals decision dated June 16, 2006 and resolution issued on September 20, 2006. In its June 16 decision, the CA denied for lack of jurisdiction PNB’s petition seeking to stop the Ombudsman from compelling it to produce bank documents or records of Estrada, Laarni Enriquez, Guia Gomez, Joy Melendrez, Peachy Osorio, Rowena Lopez, Kevin or Kelvin Garcia and Jose Velarde. The motion for reconsideration filed by PNB was also dismissed by the CA on September 20, 2006. The appellate court stressed that its jurisdiction over orders or decisions of the Ombudsman extends only to those rendered in administrative disciplinary cases. In its petition for review filed before the SC, the PNB asserted that the appellate court erred in holding that it has no jurisdiction over petitions seeking to question orders of the Ombudsman issued in the ordinary course of its investigatory powers. The petitioner also lamented that the CA erred in holding that such petitions should be filed before the SC. In its decision made public on June 28, 2022, the SC noted that Estrada had been found guilty of plunder and was imprisoned due to his conviction. Although he received clemency and his civil and political rights had been restored, the high court stressed that the investigation against him, his mistresses, and several others is still ongoing with the Ombudsman. Because of this, the SC stressed that it is necessary to decide on the petition based on its merit.

Enrique... From A1

By Mervin Vince Lopez and Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. spent part of his first working day marking the 75th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force at Haribon Hangar in Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City, Pampanga, emphasizing the importance of military preparedness. “We have a foreign policy to be friendly to all and an enemy to none, but we shall remain alert and ready to defend [the country] to the hilt,” Marcos said. Before going to Malacanang, Marcos attended mass at the San Miguel Parish

BBM... From A1 tinuation of the Libreng Sakay (Free Ride) program for all passengers of the Edsa Bus Carousel,” a portion of the DOTr memo from Bautista read. The move will ease the burden on rising living expenses and help Filipinos save money, especially with the impending return of face-to-face classes after more than two years. The DOTr said current MRT-3 fares are already heavily subsidized, which was vital in its decision to recommend discontinuing the free rides for all passengers. “Considering the welfare of students, however, whose learning outcomes have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, the undersigned recommends implementing a Libreng Sakay for Students Program for the first quarter of School Year 2022-2023 or from 22 August 2022 to 04 November 2022,” another portion of the DOTr memo read, covering MRT-3, LRT-2, and PNR. The Department of Education, now under Vice President Sara Duterte, estimates that more than 38,000 schools are set for the resumption of face-to-face classes. Meanwhile, in an order released on

joining the department in 1979. He represented the Philippines as the chairman of various international meetings and conferences. He also served the DFA in various capacities before his first appointment as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary in 2003. Manalo also became the ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2011 to 2016; non-resident ambassador to Ireland from 2013 to 2016; ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, and head of the Philippine Mission to the European Union from 2010 to 2011; and ambassador and permanent representative to the Philippine Mission to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland from 2003 to 2007. The incoming DFA chief’s other tours of duty leading up to his eventual appointment as head of a diplomatic mission included the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York and the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. With Mervin Vince Lopez

Gov’t... From A1

Palace... From A1

Rodriguez also issued MC 2, mandating strict compliance with the strengthened standards of complete staff work (CSW). “The CSW is to be undertaken for the processing and evaluation of requests for Presidential issuances, authorization, and other approvals to ensure compliance with such form and substance,” stated MC 2. The order was issued to enable the Office of the President to adequately assess and indicate approval or disapproval of the proposal. Any request that fails to comply with the strengthened CSW requirements and standards will be received “without action or returned to the proponent,” the memorandum circular said. Vito Barcelo

by the next-in-rank and most senior officials as officer-in-charge,” the memorandum said. However, it stated that all contractual or casual employees whose contracts expire on June 30, 2022, will continue in service until July 31, 2022, unless earlier terminated or renewed by the heads of the hiring agencies in accordance with their specific needs and requirements. At least 4,000 government positions are vacant and need to be filled up to ensure continuous and effective delivery of public service.

This developed as three other Cabinet officials laid out their plans to help the economy on their first days of office. Manuel M. Bonoan, who formally assumed his role as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) succeeding Roger G. Mercado, vowed to continue all multibillion projects implemented by the previous administration “without delay.” “Let us work together, let us continue working as a team,” Bonoan said. Tourism Secretary Christina GarciaFrasco echoed the President’s vision, noting two essential building blocks in ensuring sustainable tourism: effective local government planning and implementation, and shared tourism governance by the public and private sectors. The former mayor of Liloan town in Cebu noted the goal is to improve the overall tourism experience for both domestic and foreign tourists. New Labor Secretary Bienvenido

Senators keen to tackle ‘endo’ measure anew By Macon Ramos-Araneta RETURNING Senator Jinggoy Estrada has underscored the need to strike a balance between the employees and the employers in the proposed bill on “endo,” the practice by which some companies avoid regularizing their workers by dismissing them before they reach their sixth month, then rehire them. As chairman of the Senate labor committee in the incoming 19th Congress that opens July 25, Estrada said his panel will surely have to deal with bills to end labor contractualization. President Rodrigo Duterte ended his term on June 30, without signing into law the proposed Security of Tenure (SOT) and End of Endo Act, despite promising to pass such a law during his campaign to be president. The proposed measure seeks to institutionalize the right to security of tenure of all casual and contractual employees Estrada, who also served as the Senate labor committee chairman in the 17th Congress, described the endo bill as “very complicated” but said he would file a new bill. He promised to sit down with Labor Secretary Benjamin Laguesma to find means to provide relief to the workers amid the unabated increase in the prices of gasoline and basic goods and services. The senator said his track record would show that he is pro-labor. It is the reason why protecting the interest and welfare of workers was among his campaign promises. He said he is happy that the government heeded his call for an increase in the minimum wage for workers in Metro Manila, but in the provinces, it’s still low. He acknowledged that a nationwide salary increase would be difficult since the cost of living in Metro Manila is higher than in the provinces. “We have to set a balance,” he said. Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, said first-term Senators Robin Padilla and Raffy Tulfo have expressed support for the Security of Tenure Bill or the measure seeking to stop labor-only contracting. In a podcast interview with Howie Severino, Hontiveros vowed to push for the anti-endo measure, the universal pension for senior citizens, the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) bill, and measures catering to the welfare of workers under the gig economy.

Church inside the Palace compound. The mass was officiated by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula. Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio also attended the mass, as did other Cabinet secretaries and officials. In other developments: * The President has chosen Bahay Pangarap as his official residence, Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said. “From what I’ve told, the First Family will be staying in the Pangarap which is on the other side of the Palace” Romualdez, a relative of the new president, told CNN Philippines. * The National Library of the Philippines

said the Bible used during Marcos’s inauguration was the same one used during the inaugural ceremony of his father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., in 1965. To defend Filipinos, the President said the country’s airmen must be equipped with “more state-of-the-art fighter planes and armed with more firepower.” “It is my honor and privilege to recognize our courageous and dedicated airmen who are ever-ready to defend the Philippine airspace from intruders, ensure the protection of our precious freedom, and secure our islands from unwanted elements that will sow chaos in our land,” Marcos said.

Wednesday, the LTFRB said the new minimum fare – up from P9 -- is applicable during the first four kilometers, with no increase in succeeding kilometers. For modern PUJs, the minimum fare was increased to PHP13 for the first four kilometers. The Duterte government had received petitions for a fare increase for jeepneys, transport network vehicle services (TNVS), and buses, LTFRB Executive Director Kristina Cassion said in June. This was hundreds of jeepney units offering free rides on behalf of the government stopped running, with their operators feeling the bite of skyrocketing gas prices. Juliet de Jesus, managing director of the Samahan ng mga Transport Operators ng Pilipinas said that something would have to give to keep buses on the roads despite long-winding delays on their petitions to both increase the minimum fare and a grant for a subsidy. Drivers of public utility buses, many of which serve the EDSA Carousel in the metro’s busiest thoroughfare, had protested delayed payment of the Duterte government’s Libreng Sakay program under service contracting and harsh treatment by their employers. Petitions filed by groups represent-

ing provincial bus drivers and operators pushed for a P4 to P7 fare increase that would increase the minimum fare from P15 to P20. On the fuel surcharge for air travel, the Civil Aeronautics Board had said fuel prices continued to spike in June, which warranted another surcharge increase this month. CAB said the applicable fuel surcharge is determined based on one month’s average of jet fuel MOPS (Mean of Platts Singapore) prices in its peso-per-liter equivalent. According to CAB, July rates may reach Level 11 from the current Level 7 in the fuel surcharge matrix. Under Level 11, airlines may collect a fuel surcharge of P355 to P1,038 per passenger for a one-way domestic flight and from P1,172 to P8,714.84 for international flights originating from the Philippines. The rates depend on the distance of the flights. For a Manila-Caticlan flight with up to 400 kilometers, a passenger may be charged a fuel surcharge of P507. The current fuel surcharge under Level 7 for the same route is P346. The Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP) said they are waiting for CAB’s announcement so that the airlines can file their respective petitions.

“Benny” E. Laguesma vowed to make his department a “more responsible and responsive institution that reaches out to needy workers, especially those in rural and far-urban areas.” “I would like to see DOLE become more conscientious and committed to delivering services, especially to those with limited knowledge and access to DOLE,” the new labor chief said in a ceremony with outgoing Secretary Silvestre Bello III. Marcos had reappointed Bello to head the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan. Ambassador Romualdez said he also had a discussion with Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno on acquiring more investments from the US. “(Diokno) would like to continue if not double up on our effort in promoting the economy and getting more foreign investments, particularly in the United States,” he said. Romualdez described the ties between the Philippines and the US as “very stable and strong” as the Biden administration clearly wants to work with the Marcos presidency.

In his inaugural address on Thursday, Marcos stressed the importance of strengthening and cultivating relationships with the other states, saying the transformation of the world economy and post-pandemic recovery will depend on partnerships with other nations. Last month, United States Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met Marcos and discussed how to strengthen the alliance between the Philippines and the US. They also discussed the economy, human rights, and a free Indo-Pacific region. Meanwhile, Secretary Bonoan’s appointment to the DPWH is a homecoming of sorts. He has an extensive career as a public servant that started at DPWH as early as 1967, spanning four decades until his retirement in 2010 as Senior Undersecretary. His practice as a professional civil engineer continued when he joined the private sector and became the top executive of one of the leading companies engaged in the construction, management, and operation of expressway networks. With Rey Requejo and Vito Barcelo

“The DBM will ensure the timely and prudent release of funds, as well as work closely with all implementing agencies to help ease the burden of the vulnerable population most affected by the global crises,” the statement added. In March, former President Rodrigo Duterte ordered that the monthly cash aid for the poor be increased from P200, which was proposed by his economic managers, to P500 amid inflation concerns. But up until Duterte’s term ended on Thursday, June 30, the cash assistance remained undistributed. At the time, the DBM said that financial constraints limited the government’s support to poor households to P500 each month for a maximum of three months. According to DBM officer-incharge Rose Marie Canda, the financial assistance will have 13 million beneficiaries and will run for three months, translating to a large amount for an unprogrammed project. “A large amount is needed to finance an unprogrammed program or project like this, so even if we want to give more, we are unable to do so,” Canda said last March. Julito G. Rada

DOH:... From A1

rates, with some reaching over 200%. The COVID-19 positivity rate continues to go up in the National Capital Region (NCR), as well as nine other areas, with Cavite registering the highest increase, according to independent monitoring group OCTA Research on Friday. The Philippines on Thursday logged some 1,309 new COVID-19 infections, the highest daily tally since February 25 when 1,671 COVID-19 new cases were reported. This moved the chief of the government’s Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) to say Friday she supports administering mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to children aged 5 and younger. The DOH has also asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand the inoculation of the second booster

dose to seafarers and overseas Filipino workers, the VEP added. While a slight rise in cases was observed in Mindanao in mid-June, it is now showing signs of plateauing with 50 cases recorded per day. The rising growth rates, however, have no effect on decisions made by the Inter-Agency Task Force as to what a region’s alert level may be. Recently, the IATF decided to heed the recommendations of experts to remove the two-week growth rate as an indicator to determine a region’s risk classification and subsequent alert level. Former Health Secretary Francisco Duque even said the two-week growth rate has lost its significance and relevance and may in fact just be an “alarmist” metric.

The DOH has flagged 89 areas for case increases, of which 57 have shown positive one-week and two-week growth rates and 32 with either a positive one or two-week growth rate. Lucena City, Bohol, and Tawi-Tawi have also logged a moderate to critical risk ICU bed utilization rate. On a national scale, however, ICU utilization remains low risk with a 15% occupancy rate. Despite the increasing infections, all regions remain under low-risk case classification. This is even if all regions have seen positive two-week growth

DBM... From A1

News

SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2022

PAL signs CBA with staff after rounds of negotiations By Darwin G. Amojelar The management of Philippine Airlines (PAL) has signed a collective bargaining agreement with the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP) after completing rounds of negotiations. “The signing of the collective bargaining agreement is a testament of the value of employee - management cooperation and collaboration as a means toward industrial peace and the full recovery of our national flag carrier,” Capt. Stanley Ng, PAL president, and chief operating officer said. “With open lines of communication in an atmosphere governed by mutual respect and trust, we will be able to reach consensus on issues we are duty bound to address as stakeholders of a vital aviation entity,” he added

CITY HALL TOUR. Manila

Mayor Honey Lacuna tours the Manila City Hall to familiarize herself with the offices of local government departments on her first day of office. Norman Cruz

China, PH urged to ‘properly handle’ SCS territorial disputes C

HINA and the Philippines can improve international relations by properly handling ongoing disputes in the South China Sea, Chinese vice-president Wang Qishan said. Wang, who was attending the inauguration ceremony of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday, said the Philippines was a priority for China’s diplomacy, the South China Morning Post reported. “The Chinese side has always placed the Philippines as a priority in its neighboring diplomacy, and looks forward to working with the new Philippine government to carry forward friendship, enhance mutual trust, and continue cooperation, so as to usher in

a new ‘golden era’ for China-Philippines relations,” Wang, in the SCMP report, said. Wang attended Marcos’ inauguration as a special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping. He also met Marcos’s predecessor Rodrigo Duterte. Wang said the two nations should “adhere to the proper handling of disputes and jointly safeguard the peace and tranquillity of the South China Sea.” The two countries have been at odds for years over the disputed waters. China has claimed sovereignty over almost the entirety of the waters, which are also claimed by Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. President Marcos, during his election campaign, earlier said he would negotiate a deal with Beijing to resolve the territorial disputes. The election of Marcos is seen as a relief to China, as Beijing has enjoyed warmer ties with Manila over the

past six years under Duterte’s China-friendly policy. The Chinese government also offered billions of dollars in investments, including railways, roads and bridges. The Philippine government however earlier announced the termination of talks between the two nations over a joint energy exploration deal signed in 2018. The Philippine government cited constitutional constraints and sovereignty issues as the reasons. The move could allow Marcos to pursue exploration opportunities with other countries, SCMP reported. Earlier, Marcos said he would use a 2016 UN arbitral ruling to assert the nation’s territorial right over the South China Sea, vowing his administration “will not compromise on sovereignty issues.” The said ruling was rejected by Beijing citing its historical claims to the disputed waters.

US, PH Customs agents complete border protection training program By Rey E. Requejo THE United States Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) Program and the US Customs Border Protection (CBP) have recently concluded a weeklong training with Philippine counterparts on international passenger interdiction aimed at helping improve the country’s border security. In a statement, the US Embassy in the Philippines stressed that the training was held from June 20 to 24 in Clark where EXBS experts administered the training for the 21 officers of the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Immigration assigned from the Clark, Manila, Cebu, and Davao ports of entry. Customs Deputy Collector Dr. Jesus Llorando said there is a need for close collaboration with Philippine border

agencies, while Immigration-Clark Terminal Head Supervisor Ma-an Krista Lapid-Legaspi highlighted the importance of passenger interdiction training and the partnership between CBP and BOC. EXBS Regional Advisor Ransom Avilla noted the unique challenges and benefits of border security and regulatory agencies working side by side. “In light of the pandemic, this iteration of the international passenger interdiction training is very timely as the world borders start to open once again,” Avilla said. “While the focus at the borders has been guarding against COVID-19-infected passengers, we need to focus again on suspicious travelers who may take advantage of the disruption the pandemic has brought,” Avilla added.

THE no-contact apprehension program took effect on Friday along 15 major roads in Quezon City following the dry run of the program from October 2021 to June. “Road safety is our priority,” Task Force for Transport and Traffic Management head Dexter Cardenas said. NCAP will utilize state-of-the-art cameras with artificial intelligence technology to capture, photograph, and record the conduction stickers and plate numbers of vehicles in violation of traf-

fic rules and regulations. It will be implemented 24/7 in select roads. The program takes effect on Quirino Highway (Susano Road, Zabarte Road, and Tandang Sora Ave-Sangandaan), E. Rodriguez (Tomas Morato, Gilmore, Hemady), Aurora Blvd. (Hemady, Gilmore, Broadway, 20th Street), West Ave (Baler), East Avenue (BIR Road), Kamias (Kalayaan) and P. Tuazon (13th, 15th). To verify a notice of violation or to check your plate number, visit the nocontact.quezoncity.gov.ph site. The

‘NO CONTACT.’ A “No Contact Apprehension” sign is posted along the corner of Kamias Road and Kalayaan Avenue in Quezon City. The Quezon City government started the full implementation of the program on July 1. Manny Palmero

NOV will be received within 14) day (for QC residents) or more (for non-QC residents) through e-mail and/or a private courier. Motorists who received a NOV, may pay the corresponding fine, within 30 days from receipt thereof, online via nocontact.quezoncity.gov.ph website, over-the-counter in select banks, or cash payment at the Ground Flr, DPOS Building, QC Hall Compound in Kalayaan Avenue. A monthly penalty of 5 percent surcharge against violators for NOVs that remain unpaid beyond the 30-day pe-

riod will be imposed. Motorists who would want to contest their NOV can file an appeal to the QC Traffic Adjudication Board (QC TAB) within ten days from receipt of their NOV. The QC TAB is located at the QC Department of Public Order and Safety. “With the NCAP in full gear, we expect motorists to be more careful and disciplined when plying our roads. We want to instill in them that no one is exempted when it comes to traffic rules and regulations,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

GMA sends condolences to Andaya family

BLACK NAZARENE DEVOTEES. Devotees of the Black Nazarene attend the Holy Mass in front of Quiapo Church, in Plaza Miranda in Manila City on the first Friday of the month. Joey O. Razon

IN BRIEF Police chief lauds cops deployed in inauguration METRO Manila police director P/Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad commended his men for the successful security operation during the historical inauguration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila on Thursday. “The National Capital Region Police Office acknowledged the selfless sacrifice of our men in partnership with our counterparts in the Armed Forces, various government agencies, and force multipliers for their contributions in the peaceful, orderly and successful inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on June 30 at the National Museum in Manila,” said Natividad in a statement. More than 19,000 police officers, soldiers, coast guards, and members of other agencies were deployed during the event. Natividad said the efforts of those men paid off since there was no significant untoward incident reported during the span of the ceremony. “We owe this successful security operation to the effort, hard work and sacrifices of all those who participated in securing this event from the preparation stage up until the actual moment of this celebration,” he said. Around 800 ‘VIP’ guests, including foreign visitors, legislators, and government officials, attended the colorful inauguration. At least 5,000 Marcos supporters were allowed to view the ceremony from the golf course fronting the National Museum while around 1,000 others held a protest action in Plaza Miranda Freedom Park in Quiapo, Manila. Joel E. Zurbano

Cayetano vows to focus on priority plans

QC starts ‘no-contact’ traffic apprehension program on select major roads By Rio N. Araja

With the signing of the new CBA, FASAP and its members are committed to give its full support to PAL’s recovery and give the best service to the riding public. “The goodwill and mutual respect between management and the union will surely be a vital element in the fasttracking of PAL’s recovery,” Bob Anduiza, FASAP president said. “The new CBA offers much needed improvements in the salaries and earnings of the cabin crew members, and most importantly, the resolution of the long standing disagreement on the retirement issues in the CBA is a major morale booster for the crew,” he added. The country’s flag carrier earlier posted a net income of P1.2 billion from January to March, rebounding from a P8.5-billion net loss it incurred in the same period last year.

FORMER President Gloria Arroyo has expressed her condolences to the family of late Camarines Sur lawmaker Rolando “Nonoy” Andaya, Jr. Andaya was found dead at his home in Naga City on Thursday. His passing was confirmed by family members. “My family and I join those who mourn the death of former DBM Secretary and former Congressman Andaya. Nonoy was an indispensable and trusted member of our official family as he headed the Department of Budget and Management for four years,” Arroyo, quoted in a GMA News report, said. “He was kind and down-to-earth, a good friend to many, and well-respected by his peers,” she added. In the statement, Arroyo also said she recalls the time when Andaya served as

the House Appropriations panel chairman during her term as Speaker from July 2018 to May 2019. “As my colleague in Congress, he was an important ally who showed his meticulousness and dedication when he played a major role in cleaning up and fixing the national budget,” she said. “The Bicol region has lost another son it can definitely be proud of. Dios an mabalos sa saimong karahayan, Sec. Nonoy. May you rest in peace,” she added. Andaya also ran for Camarines Sur governor in the 2022 elections but lost to incumbent Gov. Miguel Villafuerte. Marcos’ administration Budget chief Amenah Pangandaman also fondly remembered Andaya, GMA News reported.

MINUTES after she was formally sworn in on Thursday as the Taguig’s chief executive, returning Mayor Laarni Cayetano hit the ground running by visiting programs that embody her administration’s three priorities - health, economic development, and peace and order. Cayetano checked the city’s Love Caravan in Barangay Balagtas Covered Court, Lower Bicutan, where residents benefitted from free medical and dental services such as checkups, wellness checks, lab tests, and dental extractions. She first launched the project in 2010. The city chief executive also expressed her intention to continue to improve the health programs developed by her predecessor, former mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano, especially those that seek to combat COVID-19. As part of her administration’s economic development thrust, Mayor Laarni visited the Work for Pay Orientation at R.P Cruz Elementary School, which was attended by more than 200 poverty alleviation program beneficiaries from Barangays New Lower Bicutan, Lower Bicutan, Hagonoy, San Miguel, Tuktukan and Bambang. The Work for Pay initiative is a Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged (TUPAD) Workers of Department of Local Employment aimed at families affected by the pandemic but who are not among the national government’s ayuda beneficiaries. The TUPAD program was funded under Bayanihan 1 and 2, which were passed when now-Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Mayor Laarni were serving their terms in Congress. Joel E. Zurbano

PH signs pacts on marine conservation

THE Philippines through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has signed partnerships with the Republic of Korea and Germany to pursue development projects on marine litter management and peatlands conservation, respectively. The Enhancement of Marine Litter Management in Manila Bay project and the Ensuring Sustainable Benefits from Peatlands through Protection and Wise Use (ESBenePeat) project were formally launched on June 22, following the presentation of EMLM’s pre-signed Record of Discussions (ROD) and Grant Agreement (GA) for ESBenePeat. “Please be assured that the DENR will value and remain committed to the agreement that it has earlier entered into with your respective organizations during my incumbency,” former acting Secretary Jim Sampulna said. “These joint initiatives will certainly help in the attainment of our country’s goals and international commitment on climate change,” he added. The ROD and the GA served as the legal implementation instrument of EMLM and ESBenePEat, respectively. “These joint initiatives will certainly help in the attainment of our country’s goals and international commitment on climate change,” he said.Rio N. Araja

Private citizen Leni launches NGO project to help the poor F

SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2022

News

ORMER Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday officially launched a movement geared at helping poor Filipinos experience a better quality of life.

Dubbed Angat Pinas, Inc., Robredo said that the movement, was her first action as a private citizen. Angat Pinas Inc. was also described as a non-government organization, would hit the ground running to provide anti-poverty programs. Robredo explained that the corporate name of the entity was Angat Pinas, Inc. because the Angat Buhay was already taken. “It (Angat Pinas Inc.) was the one approved for our registration because there is already an Angat Buhay [entity] which last activity is 2003,” she said. “The approval of our corporate existence is already out so we can start our work. Our programs, however, we will still be called Angat Buhay,” she added. She said the Angat Buhay programs will focus on three main areas: health, education, and disaster response, to address the country’s most urgent problems. “We are saddled with stunting, at pag ganoon, maaga napag-iiwanan ang mga bata. We will also continue community learning hubs, because we have learners already in Grade 5 and 6 but

are still non-readers. We would need volunteer tutors for that,” Robredo said. Proceeds from the sale of over 900 artworks given to Robredo by supporters during the 2022 presidential campaign will fund the Angat Buhay programs. Supporters can donate via the Angat Buhay app any amount ranging from P1,000 to P20,000. Robredo she decided to pursue her Angat Buhay visions because of the spirit of volunteerism manifested by her people during der presidential campaign. “We cannot allow our efforts to go to waste. We expect to improve and be more excellent at it,” she said. “The challenge is, how do we encourage the groups to be involved in the community. It does not depend on us alone. It is up to all of us to show that we are not a failure. We succeeded because we sparked the spirit of volunteerism,” she added. Robredo will sit as one of Angat Pinas, Inc. board members while the corporation will be led by executive director Raffy Magno.

BACK TO THE PALACE. The Romualdez family gathers round at a familiar place, Malacanang no less, after attending the inaugural of their cousin, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday. Leading the group was matriarch and former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos. Also in the group are Juliette Gomez-Romualdez, House Majority Leader Rep. Martin Romualdez, Tingog Rep. Yedda Romualdez, Philip Romualdez and newspaper publisher Sandy Prieto-Romualdez. Ver Noveno

Nurses ask BBM to raise ‘entrant’ salary to P50k a month By Willie Casas THE country’s nurses are asking newly installed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to raise their starting salary to P50,000 a month. Maristela Abenojar, president of the Filipino Nurses United (FNU) said they will present a 10-point nurses’ agenda to the new administration. “Top most po doon sa 10 na laman ng agenda ay itaas ang sahod ng nurses sa mga pampubliko at pampribado ... gawin po itong P50,000 a month. ‘Yan po yung entry salary,” Abenojar said. She cited inflation and the living wage set by the National Economic and

their family amid the “economic crisis”. According to Abenojar, PNU has appreciated Marcos’ remark on improving public health during his inauguration speech on Thursday. Abenojar also lamented that 71 percent of healthcare workers in the country have yet to receive their One COVID Allowance . She said some benefits for healthcare workers for January 2022 were only released last week. Abenojar said some nurses in private hospitals have yet to receive their special risk allowance (SRA) for January to June 2021.

Another big haul for under-fire Customs: P30m in frozen chicken from China seized

Senator scores DILG, LGUs over delayed aid release to trikes SENATOR Win Gatchalian has scored local government units (LGUs) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for the long delay in the distribution of fuel subsidy to tricycle drivers. The delay, Gatchalian stressed, was due to the inaccuracy of the beneficiaries’ names submitted to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). Gatchalian said it has come to his attention that a random check made by the Land Bank of the Philippines showed that a number of those in the list of targeted beneficiaries submitted by the DILG and LGUs did not match with the names of e-wallet account holders. This prompted the LTFRB to ask the DILG to rectify the list. Under the DILG Memorandum Circular 2022-047, LGUs were directed to submit a validated list of tricycle drivers, tricycle franchisees, addresses, electronic wallet accounts and number of operating tricycles and other details within their respective jurisdictions. The details must be prepared and certified correct by the head of the Tricycle Franchising Board and the head of the local Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA), and certified as well by the city or municipal mayors and vice mayors. This will ensure that the list forwarded to the LTFRB was correct and legitimate. Unlike the other beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pasada where the eligible public utility driver-beneficiaries received their subsidies through their existing cash cards, Landbank is supposed to remit the subsidies of non-cardholders like tricycle drivers through e-wallets. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Development Authority (NEDA) in coming up with the proposed amount. In private hospitals, some nurses receive P8,000 to P10,000 monthly, while those working in public hospitals get P35,000 monthly under Salary Grade 15. However, Abenojar said many nurses do not get this amount because around 50,000 of them are contractual workers. Abenojar warned that the healthcare system in the country might collapse due to the alarming “exodus” of nurses for employment abroad. According to her, around 316,000 of the 917,000 Filipino nurses chose to work overseas to meet the needs of

By Joel E. Zurbano

DOWN BUT NOT OUT. Former Vice-President Leni Robredo who lost her presidential bid addresses the launch of Angat Pinas Inc. geared at sustaining her pro-poor advocacies dubbed Angat Buhay program, powered by the spirit of volunteerism among her followers. Manny Palmero

CUSTOMS operatives intercepted five 40-foot container vans at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), loaded with frozen chicken products worth P30 million from China. Members of the MICP-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service on Wednesday seized the smuggled shipment consigned to Lycan Consumer Goods Trading. “We need to act fast if we want to catch up to these groups. My standing order is to not delay the issuance of needed documents that will allow our agents to do their jobs well,” said Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, who has criticized the latest “smear campaign” against his agency related to agricultural smuggling. Senator Imee Marcos on Friday sought a deeper investigation into the illegal practice and the prosecution of culprits within the first 100 days of the new administration led by her brother. This was after the Senate Committee of the Whole earlier this week released a list of 22 personalities from the Bureau

Zubiri: BBM inaugural ‘golden age of PH politics’ INCOMING Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri viewed the inaugural of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as a “rebirth of the golden age of Philippine politics.” Zubiri said the event was “an age where we looked up to and respected our institutions and offices of government.” He also said Marcos’ invoked national pride due to many factors. Firstly, according to him, was the choice of the venue was “brilliant” because the National Museum “is steeped in history and tradition,” adding the edifice was used by “our coun-

try’s great leaders of the past.” Secondly, Zubiri said the military parade showcased the country’s air, sea and land assets together with the proud men and women of the Armed Forces. “They invoked national pride and showed us as a strong republic ready to defend our nation from any aggression both from external and internal threats,” he said. Zubiri said the parade of healthcare frontliners, overseas workers, and other civil sectors of the country and “honoring them with that recognition shows our respect and love for the real people who make this country great.”

He noted that the speech of the President focused on unity as the key to address adversity. He said Marcos indicated that there was nothing that cannot be achieved if the government and the people worked together as one. “It also showed Marcos would be a listening President and would be consulting with all the sectors to achieve a consensus,” Zubiri said. “And I most especially like his emphasis on agriculture and education which will be the backbone of our growth as a nation,” he added. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Cayetano vows to file P10,000 aid bill amid clamor for ayuda’s release

JOINT OATHTAKING. Arjo Atayde formally

takes his oath a Representative-elect of Quezon City, District 1 I during a joint inaugural of the city’s newly elected congressmen and city councilors, at Eraño G. Manalo Hall of EVM Convention Center Central in Diliman, Quezon City. Mayor Joy Belmonte and Vice Mayor Gian Sotto are also in attendance, along with Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo. Jr.

SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday shot back at his critics who have been demanding P10,000 ayuda from him as supposedly part of his campaign promise. They have been pressing Cayetano to give them the said amount because they voted for him when he ran for senator in the last elections. But Cayetano clarified that the distribution of P10,000 in direct cash aid to every Filipino family is “a legislative proposal” which needed action from the Senate, the House of Representatives, and Malacañang. “To those who are bashing me over the 10k ayuda, if I am only capable of

giving each one of you P10k, I will do so,” he said. Due to this, Cayetano committed to immediately file the 10K Ayuda Bill as well his other priority bills in the Senate to get the ball rolling on their approval and eventual implementation. Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of Taguig City officials led by his wife Mayor Lani Cayetano, the former House Speaker said contrary to what some of his online bashers are saying, the P10k ayuda is different from the privately funded Sampung Libong Pag-asa program which distributed P10,000 to select beneficiaries from May 1, 2021. Macon Ramos-Araneta

of Customs, Department of Agriculture, and local government officials purportedly involved in, or are protectors of, agricultural smuggling. In a related development, Rep. Paolo Duterte of Davao City has called for reforms in the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to make the agency financially sustainable and more responsive to the needs of small subsistence farmers. The Customs bureau placed the shipment under 100 percent examination after receiving “derogatory information” that it contain frozen chicken products and not “hotpot balls” as declared by the importers. Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Raniel Ramiro received the information that paved the way for the issuance of the Pre-Lodgement Control Orders (PLCOs) by MICP District Collector Romeo Allan Rosales. The CIIS men oversaw the 100 percent examination of the shipment and found it to contain frozen peeled chicken breast, frozen skinless chicken breast, frozen skinless cut chicken, frozen peeled chicken breast, and frozen chicken skinless big breast. with Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel Cruz

Solons support BBM, Sara calls for unity, growth FORMER Speaker and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco on Friday called on the people to rally behind the new leaders, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, in their call for unity and help them fully deliver their mandate. “I humbly appeal to all my kababayans to support our new leaders, including Vice President Inday Sara Duterte, and help them fulfill their mandate to the Filipino people. Now more than ever, the call for unity is more urgent, more important if we want to improve the plight of every ordinary citizen,” Velasco said. He said Marcos’ overwhelming victory in the May election was “historical”, as he was chosen by more than 31 million voters to “take the top job and navigate the country” amid the ongoing pandemic and Ukraine-Russia conflict. Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte appealed to the 19th Congress to give its full backing to the President’s call for unity and building back better by working on new legislation in support of Marcos’ priority concerns, such as economic transformation, sustained infrastructure development, tourism development, agricultural modernization, and food sufficiency.

Opinion A better inaugural speech than usual

LISTENING to Marcos Jr. delivering his inaugural address, one could not help but wonder how the latter would measure up to the oratorical prowess of his father, Marcos Sr. For all his notoriety no one could question the older Marcos’ sharp intellect and oratorical skills. His uncanny ability to deliver speeches extemporaneously was something to behold, a testament to his rapier sharp intellect and vaunted photographic memory. In his booming baritone voice and flowery style characteristically his, Marcos Sr. in 1965 started off by laying down the sorry state of the economy, the inertia of the bureaucratic institutions and the threatening clime of the geopolitical landscape.

There was a call for unity and cooperation but this was followed by the promise that the government will deliver on its promises and will not ask the people to do more As his speech progressed, the elder Marcos slowly but surely called upon the people for collective action in order to overcome societal ills to culminate with the now oft repeated promise “This (country) will be great again!” In contrast, Marcos Jr.’s delivery was more subdued, simpler and formal, no oratorical flair. At the outset he made it clear that he is there not to talk about the past (possibly referring to the controversial and contentious past of his family history) but about the future. A future of sufficiency, even plenty of readily available ways and means to get done what needs doing – the people and his administration. Mentioning the pandemic which ravaged the entire world, and the gains lost and missed opportunities because of it, Marcos Jr. expresseed the need for radical steps to recover therefrom. For the first time, a new President did not call for sacrifice from the people. Sure, there was a call for unity and co-

operation but this was followed by the promise that the government will deliver on its promises and will not ask the people to do more. About the on-going conflict in Ukraine, he warns that while the tragedy of war and the spread of the virus are not of our own making, the ill effects will somehow visit our shores. Thus, the need for a stronger resilience, quicker adaptability. They are our best prevention, they are our best protection, he adds. He thanked the outgoing administration for the hard decision made but cautioned that that there is a way to put more means and choices in your (people’s) hands, adding the government would not dictate but provide what is needed to get past a problem. In a veiled tone, will the Marcos presidency take a different path from that taken by the Duterte admin, say on the war on drug, pandemic response or the propensity of the Duterte administration towards authoritarianism? Certainly, this Marcos made a promise to make the country food secure (clearly rejecting a globalist view of the economy that makes us dependent on other countries), to fight for climate justice which I totally support, and for transparency in public health decisions. Absent in the speech was any mention of human rights and corruption, which would have been awkward anyway given the family history Marcos Jr. said that his administration is drawing up a comprehensive all-inclusive plan for economic transformation. Special mention on the need for the need to focus on agriculture and achieving food self-sufficiency and in addition rued the deplorable state of the education system, which according to him needs to be refocused, including teaching materials which must be retaught. At this point, he emphatically said he is talking, not about history but of the basics, sciences, sharpening theoretical aptitude and imparting vocational skills such as in the German example. I liked his emphasis on overseas Filipino workers and the priority his government will give to support them. I wished he mentioned Mary Jane Veloso and commit to have her life saved. Marcos Jr. harped on his unwillingness to take a confrontational approach which he demonstrated to his critics during the campaign. He said that instead of confronting them, he listened and searched for better solutions, to seek, and not scorn dialogue. This was the best part of the speech and to me made yesterday’s inaugural’s speech one of the best in recent years. Full version on www.manilastandard.net

Starting on the wrong foot

IT IS customary to give incoming administrations a honeymoon period as a show of support and good faith, but even traditions must give way when very dangerous tendencies start rearing their ugly heads. And that is exactly what happened when incoming ES Vic Rodriguez announced the appointment of Christopher Pastrana as General Manager of the Philippine Ports Authority. The appointment reportedly caught the two other members of the screening committee, Naida Angping and Anton Lagdameo, by surprise. More importantly, the appointment was announced at the same time as that of incoming DOTR Secretary Jimmy Bautista, even before the latter has accepted. And that was critical, because PPA is an agency attached to the DOTR, such should have been vetted with him. That courtesy was extended to incoming Finance Secretary Ben Diokno, who had a say in the appointments of the respective heads of BSP, BIR and BOC. But not in the case of PPA. And the plot thickens, once one starts going deeper to find out who Pastrana is, and who his business partner is. Pastrana is the President of two companies- Archipelago Philippines Ferries Corporation and Philharbor Ferries and Port Services, Inc.

On the other hand, Pastrana’s daughters own Philippine Archipelago Ports and Terminal Services, Inc. APFC owns FastCat. PFPSI and PAPTSI both operate PPA port terminals. Pastrana’s brother-in-law is another big port operator. His name is Rommel Ibuna, and he owns Prudential Customs Brokerage Services, Inc. Pastrana, his daughters and his brother-in-law operate over 18 ports, more or less 20 percent of the ports operated by PPA. These considerations should have legally disqualified Pastrana from being appointed to PPA, or to any other government agency that regulates his businesses. But it seems that ES Rodriguez failed to see this, even if Pastrana’s business partner is Dennis Trajano, Rodriguez’s bilas (their wives being sisters). Trajano, in fact, sits as Chairman of the board of all three companies. But wait, there’s more, Pastrana’s brother-in-law is also a port operator himself, a certain Rommel Ibuna. As a result, Pastrana will end up regulating not only his businesses and those owned by his brother-in-law, but also lord it over the businesses of their competitors.

I was thinking that hijacking can only be done in the open seas, but not in land-based terminals

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SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2022

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EDITORIAL

The ugly side of ‘diskarteng Pinoy’

HE highly vaunted Filipino ingenuity or Diskarteng Pinoy has often been used as our trademark solution to problems. Filipinos were already doing repairs and household-saving solutions even before the word “life hacks” were introduced in the modern internet world. Filipinos abroad are known for picking old electronic items or furniture thrown on the streets and giving them a second life. With the rising cost of living, especially in Metro Manila, Filipinos who have fulltime jobs resort to having part-time work for additional resources. For the under-employed or those with mismatched jobs like nursing graduates working as call center agents, they take double jobs for additional income. But Filipino ingenuity has its bad side, too. Due to the worsening economic slump, street “workers” are growing in numbers. While we are already used to sidewalk vendors that are normal fixtures in the third world and developing countries, the Philippines has other forms of urban creatures loitering its cities. It is a common sight for jeepney terminals, some situated on street corners, where drivers are assisted by “barkers.”

While we are already used to sidewalk vendors that are normal fixtures in the third world and developing countries, the Philippines has other forms of urban creatures loitering its cities These are the people who loudly call out passengers and announce the jeep’s routes. There’s also the taxi barker despised by both the drivers and passengers. They are usually the street mainstays who intimidate both the drivers and passengers to pay for their “services” of looking out for taxi cabs and opening the door for passengers. They also demand payment, commission, tip, or whatever you may call it, from taxi drivers for “providing” them customers. Double whammy! In Metro Manila, especially during rush hours, passengers and taxi drivers seek out each other. There’s actually no need for third-party “agents” like these scum-

bags pouncing on hapless citizens. They should be apprehended for extortion. But as they hide behind the Pinoy practice of “diskarte,” they’re not taken seriously and are allowed to operate by the police. There are also these windshield cleaners usually found at corners with traffic lights. They approach cars during red signals and supposedly clean the front windshields with their cleaning solution, contained in glass and a custom-made wiper. They force their “services” even when not asked for them. They demand payment, and in some incidents, they tap, kick or even graze the car when the owner refused to pay. What’s distressing is that most of them are children. If it is not a form of extortion, then what is? If they are not stopped, these small acts of lawlessness may transform into a higher form of criminality. Snatching? Robbery? But hey, even street begging is illegal in the Philippines and punishable by two years imprisonment. But this is not to put down our less unfortunate Filipinos. That’s their only way to survive in this difficult time and they have no other choice. But law and order must prevail. They have to be taken out of the streets and provide them with better options. Let’s give Diskarteng Pinoy a more valuable meaning.

A desperate party-list substitute THE laws are clear that the Comelec approves a decision to substitute party-list candidate and must be published in two newspapers of general circulation. Ronald Gian Carlo Cardema filed a petition to stop retired Comelec commissioner Rowena Amelia Guanzon from taking her oath as P3PWD party- representative. Comparing the disqualifications of Cardema and Ret. Guanzon of the Comelec, it is best to trace back the nature of their disqualifications. Based on Republic Act 7941 or the Party-List System Act, representatives of the youth sector must be at least 25-year-old but not more than 30 years old on Election Day. Cardema is 34 years old. However, election lawyer then, George Garcia, representing Cardema,argued that there was no misrepresentation as Duterte Youth represented both the youth and professional sectors. And assuming that Cardema cannot be classified as youth, he can be classified as a representative of the professional sector, according to Garcia. Rather, the Comelec acted harshly to remove him. It would have been a different situation if what was decided involves election fraud. This calls for the immediate removal from office. In the case of Rowena Guanzon, she purposely, consciously and maliciously lied under oath which makes her criminally liable. This is worse because the person committing criminal act is no less than the former Comelec commissioner. Rowena Guanzon, a public officer in charge of ensuring we have a clean, honest and peaceful election in this country. To quote a portion of Cardema’s complaint Petition which was granted no less than by the Supreme Court -- “In their petition on June 15 (Wed), publication was printed ahead of June 15 Comelec En Banc Resolution to approve substitution.” If their list was published/appeared in the newspaper on June 15, clearly it was paid/printed in the newspaper on the night of June 14 and is therefore not compliant with a future order of the Comelec later on the daytime of June 15…” In her Certificate of Acceptance of Nomination, Guanzon stated under Oath that “I am eligible, I possess all the legal qualifications, and none of the disqualifications provided by law, this is clearly And here I was thinking that hijacking can only be done in the open seas, but not in land-based terminals. Think again. Another area of concern for the new administration is that of the Metro Rail Transit 3 which is, again, under the DOTr. According to sources within the MRT3, Michael Capati, who was designated as OIC-General Manager and Director for Operations, has been lob-

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

material representations and lying under oath.” This alone is sufficient to prosecute Rowena Guanzon for misrepresentation. Altering the date just to qualify to become congressman by substitution is worse. She became a congressman without being elected by the people. In fact, she became a party-list representative by mere substitution. It was a big blow to her reputation as a lawyer. Analyzing the concept of party-list system under R.A. No. 7941, one could sense the procedure which Guanzon has taken advantage of has nothing to do with our democratic system. People really do not vote for a person or

candidate for the office. People only vote for the party-list accredited by the Comelec. In that, the accredited party-list submits to the Comelec the names of five nominees who will select who among the five nominees the party will allow to take their post as congressman, he being the first nominee. Many observe this system is wholly undemocratic. Instead of people voting to elect the highest number of votes to be declared a winner, people are made to select from an innominate party. Second, even under this system, people do not really elect persons to represent them. It is only through the party-list who can choose the person to represent them in Congress. There is also an anomaly of allowing party-list to substitute nominees. Even if the majority of the people who voted for that party-list on the basis that they are members of the party-list, still that person may not be able to take his post as congressman if he does not rank as first nominee. Even on this technical aspect of nomination, the procedure is still circumvented

by corrupt politicians by what they call substitution of who should take the position like what Guanzon did. The party-list called Pamilya, Pasyente at Persons with Disabilities or 3PWD is an anomaly, for having allowed a person representing them who does not appear to be physically disabled or incapacitated by any other illness. Guanzon remains to be physically strong as a bull to persons who might disagree with her. Surely, this party-list nominee will never win through a democratic process of a clean, honest and peaceful election. Before she switched to become a party-list candidate of P3PWD, she created an uproar by releasing her obiter dictum ahead of the decision to be drafted and written by the commissioner tasked to write in rejecting the nuisance disqualification petition filed against BBM. Guanzon affirmed the decision that Marcos was slapped with an 18-month sentence. She said the Court of Appeals never meted out the penalty of a three-year jail sentence against Marcos, Jr. when it modified the 1995 TRC decision. Moreover, obiter dictum made by Guanzon has now become what we call in law “moot and academic” because BBM was elected overwhelmingly by the majority of the Filipino people. Nothing could be more and above the sovereign will of the people than the election of BBM as against a disgruntled and substituted congressman who wanted to make a mockery of our electoral process. Guanzon purposely leaked her decision ahead of the Comelec decision written by the majority of the commissioners of the Comelec. Guanzon wanted to play the game of a smart aleck by trying to beat her retirement. She hoped that after retiring from the service she would be able to snatch a post by pretending to be disabled. Besides, how can Guanzon fairly decide on the disqualification case against BBM when she openly shouted on the top of her voice on social media that the elected president is, according to her, “a thief” and she being an appointee of President Aquino? Her being partisan is unprecedented in the annals of Philippine politics where a Comelec commissioner openly campaigned against a presidential candidate. (rpkapunan@gmail.com)

bying to be retained under the present leadership. However, this early, employees of the agency are raising opposition against Capati following his announcement he would indeed be retained. This writer has been furnished a copy of a letter sent by Gary Kenneth Alpapara, president of the MRT3 Employees Association sent to President Bongbong Marcos

through ES Rodriguez. In his letter, Alpapara is raising issues against Capati, the details of which follow: a) Allegedly disregarding the main objective of the Agency which is the safety of the passengers, employees and property with his deliberate order to run the train even if it has severe technical problems; Full version on www.manilastandard.net

This alone is sufficient to prosecute Rowena Guanzon for misrepresentation

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Int’l Criminal Court marks 20th year with Ukraine in sights

AUCTION SALE ACME PAWNSHOP, INC.

NOTICE OF LOSS Name of the issuer: CAMP JOHN HAY GOLF CLUB, INC.

Auction sale on July 05, 2022 10:00 a.m. MJ Holding Bldg., Almanza Las Piñas; 12:00 noon Alabang Town Center Stall 2074 U/L, 2:00 pm G/F Majalco Bldg. Benavidez St., Legaspi Village, Makati and L&R Bldg., 1018 Pasay Road, Makati and 4:00 pm Circle C G14, #17 Congressional Ave. Bahay Toro D1, Quezon City All items Pawned February 1-28, 2022

Name of the Stockholder: BENJAMIN PHILIP G. ROMUALDEZ Stock Certificate No.: 1174 No. of Shares: 1 As per Doc. No. 96; Page No. 20; Book No. II; Series of 2022 before Notary Public ATTY. SHEILA C. CENITBELGICA (MS-JUNE 25, JULY 2 & 9, 2022)

THE HAGUE -- The International Criminal Court marks its 20th anniversary on Friday, with the Ukraine war giving the tribunal new impetus after two decades of criticism and controversy. Since its founding Rome Statute entered force on July 1, 2002, the world’s only permanent war crimes court has had a poor record of just ﬁve convictions. But The Hague-based ICC remains the

E-mail: car@mgb.gov.ph; car_mgb@yahoo.com; mgb.cordillera@gmail.com

NOTICE OF APPLICATION OF BENGUET CORPORATION FOR EXPLORATION PERMIT Notice is hereby given that pursuant to Section 21 of DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2010-21, Series of 2010, the Consolidated Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 7942, otherwise known as the “PHILIPPINE MINING ACT OF 1995”, BENGUET CORPORATION filed an application/proposal for Exploration Permit for the exploration of gold, copper and other related minerals particularly described as follows: Tenement No.

Exploration Permit Application (EXPA) No. 122

Name of Applicant :

BENGUET CORPORATION

Contact Person and Address

LINA G. FERNANDEZ President 106 Universal Re Building Paseo De Roxas, Makati

ENGR. VALERIANO B. BONGALOS, JR. Vice President/Resident Manager Benguet Distric Operation Balatoc, Virac, Itogon, Benguet D)

Date Applied

November 12, 2021

Area Coverage

282.3526 HECTARES

Location

Barangays UCAB, VIRAC AND AMPUCAO all in the Municipality of Itogon Province of BENGUET

Technical Description of the Unpublished Area: For details, kindly refer to the attached Technical Decription and Location Map

Term of the Permit if approved: Two years, renewable for like periods but not exceed a total of eight years

In recent years the court has sought to improve, with new probes into the IsraeliPalestinian conﬂict, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Venezuela, and the Philippines. Ukraine is now where the court has a chance to prove its credentials. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent ICC investigation into alleged war crimes has made the international community realise the importance of the rule of

law, says ICC prosecutor Karim Khan. “If we don’t hold on to the law today, I think there is very little hope for anybody’s tomorrow,” Khan told AFP in an interview in May. “That growing realisation has been rendered more acute because of the events of the 24th of February and the events in Ukraine -- and I think it’s long overdue.” AFP

(MS-JULY 2, 2022)

Republic of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources MINES AND GEOSCIENCE BUREAU Cordillera Administrative Region 80 Diego Silang St., Baguio City 2600 Tel. No. 63 74 442 6392; Fax No. 63 74 304 2596; Website: www.car.mgb.gov.ph

court of last resort for grave charges such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression, when member states are unable or unwilling to prosecute. In recent years the court has sought to improve, with new probes into the Israeli-Palestinian conﬂict, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Venezuela and the Philippines. Ukraine is now where the court has a chance to prove its credentials.

Exploration Activities: YEAR 1 a) Research Work b) Regional Geological Survey Studies c) Tunneling

YEAR 2 a) Tunneling b) Drilling

The applied area covers 2,285.0423 hectares. About 282.3526 hectares was not published, hence, this publication, Section 21. Publication/Posting/Radio Announcement of an Exploration Permit Application of DAO 2010-21 provides that previously published valid and existing mining claims are exempted from publication/posting/radio announcement.

EXPA No. 122 is formerly an application for Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (APSA) No. 009 that was denied by the Office of the MGB Regional and Central Offices, however, reinstated by the DENR Secretary on October 5, 2021. The conversion from APSA No. 009 to EXPA No. 122 is in accordance with the DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2021-25, Implementing Rules and Regulations of Executive Order No. 130 Entitled: Amending Section 4 of Executive Order No. 79, Series of 2012.

Area Clearance for APSA No. 009, now EXPA No. 122 was granted by the Undersecretary for Mining and Legal Affairs on 15 February 2006 in consonance with DENR Memorandum Order (DMO) 95-03, as amended by DMO No. 2005-05 re: Mandating the Office of the Undersecretary for Mining and Legal Affairs to Rule on Appeal covering Denial of Area Clearance for Mining Applications.

APSA No. 009 now EXPA No. 122 was endorsed to NCIP-CAR in 2003 for the required Certification Pre-condition.

17 dead in Odessa strikes; Russia quits Snake Island K YIV—At least 17 people were killed and dozens wounded Friday in missile strikes on Ukraine’s Odessa region, a day after Russian troops abandoned positions on a strategic island in a major setback to the Kremlin’s invasion. The news came after NATO leaders wrapped up a summit in Madrid, with US President Joe Biden announcing $800 million in new weapons for Ukraine. “We are going to stick with Ukraine, and all of the alliance are going to stick with Ukraine, as long as it takes to make sure they are not defeated by Russia,” he said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov compared surging diplomatic tensions to the Cold War, telling reporters: “As far as an Iron Curtain is concerned, essentially it is already descending... The process has begun.” There was a glimmer of hope however, when Indonesian President Joko Widodo said he had given Russian President Vladimir Pu-

tin a message from their Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky. It came after Widodo visited both Moscow and Kyiv. Neither side has revealed what was in the note. Early Friday, missiles were fired at an apartment building and recreation centre about 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the Black Sea port of Odessa, which has become a strategic flashpoint in the conflict. The nine-storey apartment building was partially destroyed, leaving 14 people dead and 30 wounded, the emergency services said. Three people, including a child, were killed and one wounded in the attack on the recreation centre, they said. The strikes, in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, were

launched by aircraft that flew in from the Black Sea, said Odessa military administration spokesman Sergiy Bratchuk. “The worst case scenario played out and two strategic aircraft came to the Odessa region,” he said in a TV interview, adding they had fired “very heavy and very powerful” missiles. Earlier this week, there was global outrage when a Russian strike destroyed a shopping centre in Kremenchuk, central Ukraine, killing at least 18 civilians. Putin has denied Moscow’s forces were responsible. ‘Goodwill gesture’ Friday’s attacks came a day after Russian troops abandoned their positions on Snake Island, off the coast of Odessa. The island had become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance in the first days of the war, when the rocky outcrop’s defenders told a Russian warship to “go f*ck yourself” after it called on them to surrender—an incident that spurred a defiant meme. AFP

Xi hails China’s rule over HK at handover anniversary

This “Notice of Application” shall be: (a) Published one in two (2) newspapers; one of general circulation published in Metro Manila and another published in Baguio City or Benguet Province where the proposed permit area is located. (b) Posted on the Bulletin Board of the MBG-CAR, Provincial Capitol of Benguet, Municipality of Itogon copy furnished the concerned Barangays of Itogon, Benguet where the proposed permit area is located for a minimum period of one week copy furnished the MGB-Central Office; (c) Radio broadcasted daily for one (1) week in a local radio program and shall consist of the name and complete address of the applicant, area location, duration of the permit applied for and instructions that information regarding such application may be obtained at the Regional Office(s) concerned. Any and all persons having adverse claims, protests and/or opposition to the above-mentioned application are hereby notified that their adverse claims should be filed within ten (10) days from the last date of publication/posting directly with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Regional Office CAR or through any concerned Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) or Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) of the DENR for filing in the Regional Office for purposes of its resolution by the Panel of Arbitrators and/or concerned appellate body/ies pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 7942 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations. Adverse claims, protests or oppostions should be accomplished in accordance with Sections 203 and 204 of DENR Administrative Order No. 2010-21, Series of 2010 and a copy thereof shall be furnished to the applicant /contractor by the adverse claimant. For further particulars, file or course your inquiries to the Regional Director, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, DENR-CAR, Baguio City. Issued on _____________________, 2022

FLAG OVER FLAG. A man waves the Chinese flag to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the city’s handover from Britain to China, in Hong Kong on July 1. AFP

Stop interfering in Afghanistan, says leader KABUL—The Taliban’s reclusive supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada called Friday for the world to stop telling them how to run Afghanistan, insisting sharia law was the only model for a successful Islamic state. Akhundzada, who has not been ﬁlmed or photographed in public since the Taliban returned to power in August, was addressing a major gathering of religious scholars in the Afghan capital called to rubber-stamp the hardline Islamist group’s rule. Over 3,000 clerics have gathered in Kabul since Thursday for the three-day men-only meeting, and Akhundzada’s appearance had been rumoured for days—although media are barred from covering the event. “Why is the world interfering in our affairs?” he asked in an hour-long speech broadcast by state radio. “They say ‘why don’t you do this, why don’t you do that?’ Why does the world interfere in our work?” Akhundzada rarely leaves Kandahar, the Taliban’s birthplace and spiritual heartland, and

(MS-JUNE 25/JULY 2 & 9, 2022)

apart from one undated photograph and several audio recordings of speeches, has almost no digital footprint. But analysts say the former Sharia court judge has an iron grip on the movement and he bears the title “Commander of the Faithful”. His arrival at the meeting hall was greeted with cheers and chants, including “Long live the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”, the Taliban’s name for the country. Akhundzada’s appearance comes a week after a powerful earthquake struck the east of the country, killing over 1,000 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless. No women are attending the clerics’ meeting, but a Taliban source told AFP this week that thorny issues such as girls’ education—which has divided opinion in the movement—would be discussed. No mention of girls’ education Akhundzada did not mention the subject in his speech, which was conﬁned largely to telling the faithful to strictly observe Islamic principles in life and governance. AFP

REST STOP. Migrants rest after crossing the Rio Grande River as they wait to get apprehended by Border Patrol agents as National Guard agents sit on a car across the street (out of frame), in Eagle Pass, Texas, at the border with Mexico on June 30. Every year, tens of thousands of migrants fleeing violence or poverty in Central and South America attempt to cross the border into the United States. AFP

HONG KONG—President Xi Jinping hailed China’s rule over Hong Kong on Friday as he led 25th anniversary celebrations of the city’s handover from Britain, insisting that democracy was flourishing despite a years-long political crackdown that has silenced dissent. Xi’s speech was the finale of a twoday victory lap aimed at celebrating the Chinese Communist Party’s control over the once outspoken business hub after authorities stamped out huge democracy protests. Since Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020, opposition has been quashed and most leading pro-democracy figures have fled the country, been disqualified from office or jailed. But Xi said Beijing had always acted “for the good of Hong Kong”. “After reuniting with the motherland, Hong Kong’s people became the masters of their own city,” he said. “Hong Kong’s true democracy started from here.” The tightly choreographed trip is the Chinese leader’s first outside of the mainland since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and his first to Hong Kong since the massive protests overwhelmed the city in 2019. Friday’s ceremony included the inauguration of the city’s new government, led by John Lee—a former security chief who oversaw the police response to those demonstrations. “After all the storms, everyone has painfully learned that Hong Kong can’t fall into chaos and Hong Kong can’t afford chaos,” Xi said. “It must get rid of all disturbances and focus on development.” ‘Erosion of autonomy’ Friday marks the halfway point of the 50-year governance model agreed by Britain and China under which Hong Kong would keep autonomy and key freedoms, known as One Country, Two Systems. The anniversary used to be a prime example of those freedoms in action. For years after the handover hundreds of thousands of residents would take part in a march every July 1 to voice political and social grievances. But that rally, like all other mass gatherings and protests in Hong Kong, has been banned for more than two years. Critics, including many western powers, say Beijing has effectively torn up the promise that Hong Kong would retain its way of life after the handover. “We made a promise to the territory and its people and we intend to keep it, doing all we can to hold China to its commitments,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Business PSEi July 1, 2022

TOP GAINERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2 3 4 5

KPH ACEX SGI DFNN MG

9.8 11.6 0.94 3.63 0.123

2.3 1.7 0.1 0.33 0.011

30.67% 17.17% 11.90% 10.00% 9.82%

6 7 8 9 10

BSC ANI PHES VITA BHI

0.395 5 0.39 0.63 0.084

0.025 0.27 0.02 0.03 0.004

6.76% 5.71% 5.41% 5.00% 5.00%

TOP LOSERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2 3 4 5

LFM LSC GERI DIZ SFI

16.66 0.54 0.84 3.98 0.086

-4.34 -0.09 -0.08 -0.31 -0.005

-20.67% -14.29% -8.70% -7.23% -5.49%

6 7 8 9 10

CEBCP AT SECB C ZHI

41.3 4.94 87.3 1.33 0.158

-2.2 -0.26 -4.1 -0.06 -0.007

-5.06% -5.00% -4.49% -4.32% -4.24%

Manila

Standard

SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

TODAY

Stocks close flat; Ayala issues, BDO top gainers T HE stock market closed nearly flat Friday as the rest of Asian equities struggled again Friday following another selloff on Wall Street fueled by recession fears, with warnings of a bleak outlook for the global economy as central banks slam on the brakes to battle soaring inflation.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added just 9.92 points, or 0.2 percent, to 6,165.35 on a value turnover of P3.7 billion. Gainers edged losers, 94 to 83, with 48 issues unchanged. Conglomerate Ayala Corp. of the Ayala Group advanced 4.2 percent to P625,

while unit and major property developer Ayala Land Inc. rose 2 percent to P26. Semirara Mining and Power Corp. of the Consunji Group, the biggest coal miner, climbed 2.9 percent to P36, while BDO Unibank Inc. of the Sy Group, the largest lender in terms of assets, added 1.4 percent to P112.10. Meanwhile, data showing US consumers—the backbone of the world’s top economy—were growing increasingly reticent about spending dealt a fresh blow to equities Thursday, with the S&P 500 suffering its worst January-June since 1970. With the war in Ukraine showing no sign of ending—keeping energy costs elevated—there is an expectation that borrowing costs will continue to rise and send economies into recession. “If anyone thinks that equities can rally into the back of the year, they are making the assumption that the Fed is

going to let go of its entire focus on price stability and step back from that,” Seema Shah, at Principal Global Investors, told Bloomberg Television. “We have a very different view. We think things are going to get pretty tough.” After a broad retreat on Thursday in Asia, markets battled to recover but with little conviction. Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, Sydney, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta and Wellington all fell, though there were small gains in Bangkok. Taipei shed more than three percent to fall into a bear market—a 20 percent drop from its recent peak. Hong Kong was closed for a holiday. Losses across world markets this week come after a rally last week fueled by hopes that an economic slowdown or signs of recession would lead central banks to ease off their monetary tightening drive. With AFP

MOST ACTIVE 1

BDO

VOLUME 2,855,540

VALUE (PHP) 322,426,961

2 3 4

SM SCC MER

294,440 6,259,800 576,000

228,415,910 225,746,745 203,209,502

5 6 7 8

ALI AC TEL MEG

6,139,400 255,500 92,180 69,259,000

160,707,790 159,265,990 155,185,905 147,530,930

9 10

JFC CNVRG

696,040 6,507,800

141,369,918 138,430,650

Manila

Standard

TODAY

FOURTH OF JULY. Travelers arrive at O’Hare International Airport on June 30, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. Based on projections from airline carriers, Chicago’s airports expect more than 1.6 million travelers for the busy Fourth of July travel weekend. AFP (MS-JUNE 25, 2022)

Supply crunch, inflation deflate Japan’s biggest manufacturers TOKYO, Japan—Confidence among Japan’s largest manufacturers sagged for a second quarter on rising costs and supply constraints, though the service sector was boosted by economic reopening, a key survey showed Friday. The Bank of Japan’s closely watched Tankan survey showed confidence among large manufacturers at plus nine, below expectations of 12 and sharply lower than the 14 in the March survey. A positive figure means more manufacturers see business conditions as favorable than those that consider them unfavorable. The survey reaches about 10,000 firms and is considered to be the broadest indicator of how Japan Inc. is faring. Corporate Japan has faced several problems as the Ukraine war pushes up oil prices amid general inflation that has boosted raw material prices. A global supply chain crunch as well as China’s stringent anti-COVID measures have also hampered manufacturing activity. The yen has depreciated quickly in recent months, meaning imported food and energy products are growing more expensive in addition to general price increases. Japan’s large non-manufacturers, however, are more confident as pandemic-related restrictions are lifted, encouraging domestic travel and gradually opening its borders for foreign tourists. The survey found their confidence at a reading of 13, compared with the March survey’s nine. The survey also showed that more businesses expect to raise their prices to reflect increasing costs, with large manufacturers seeing consumer prices rising 2.0 percent a year from now. A parts supply shortage, including semiconductors, drove down sentiment among large producers of cars and machinery, key drivers of the economy, Stefan Angrick, senior economist at Moody’s Analytics, wrote in a note. AFP

Hong Kong economy faces uncertain future 25 years after handover By Holmes Chan HONG KONG, China—When Hong Kong transitioned from British to Chinese rule, Edmond Hui was a floor trader at the bustling stock exchange, witnessing the roaring growth of a city at the crossroads of the West and Asia. Under a deal signed with Britain ahead of the 1997 handover, China promised Hong Kong could keep its capitalist system for 50 years, an arrangement that helped the city thrive as one of the world’s top financial hubs. Friday marks the halfway point of that experiment, with uncertainty clouding the economic future of Hong Kong—a city reliant on an increasingly isolated China, struggling to shake off the reputational damage from political unrest and pandemic-induced border closures. Hui, now the chief executive of a mid-tier stockbroker with nearly 300 employees, said posthandover markets have undergone a drastic shift, becoming more China-focused than ever. “Before 1997, foreign capital propped up half of the market,” he said. “After 1997, things changed gradually until the whole market was held up by Chinese capital.” China’s meteoric rise in the past two decades yielded vast benefits for Hong Kong, which became the gateway for mainland firms to raise funds and for foreign businesses to access what is today the world’s secondlargest economy. “Hong Kong was sort of a poster child of free trade and open markets,” veteran pro-Beijing Hong Kong politician Regina

Ip told AFP. But the interlocking of its fate with China has also led to warnings about over reliance and complacency. Chinese companies made up around 80 percent of the market capitalization in Hong Kong’s stock market this year, up from 16 percent in 1997. And Chinese firms now account for seven of the top 10 holdings of the benchmark Hang Seng Index, which used to be anchored by homegrown brands such as Cathay Pacific and Television Broadcasts Limited. Hong Kong’s GDP, meanwhile, has gone from being equivalent to 18 percent of mainland China’s in 1997 to less than three percent in 2020. Hui greeted this comprehensive shift with a mild shrug. “It’s just a matter of changing who’s boss,” he said. “We can only hope that our country’s momentum will surpass that of Europe and the United States.” ‘The gateway to China’ As China’s economic and political power has grown over the last few decades, so have tensions with Western nations—which has also affected Hong

Kong. Beijing cracked down on dissent in the city after massive democracy protests in 2019, prompting the United States to revoke Hong Kong’s preferential trade status on the grounds that it was no longer autonomous enough. Washington also sanctioned some Hong Kong officials. “Back in 1997, we were able to play the role of a very important middleman. But now... everyone has more doubts about our background,” Yan Wai-hin, an economics lecturer at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, told AFP. “If a trading partner feels that (Hong Kong) isn’t a neutral middleman... then the mutual trust might be lost.” Yan said regional rivals such as Singapore were looking to capitalize on what they saw as an opening to supplant Hong Kong. AFP

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING On the ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) of the PROPOSED SAMAR AGGREGATES PROJECT of the MAJESTIC EARTH CORE VENTURES INC (INC.) located in BARANGAYS SAN JOAQUIN, BA-AY, AND BINALIW, CITY OF CALBAYOG, SAMAR PROVINCE. Notice is hereby given to all parties who wish to give their opinion regarding the implementation of the PROPOSED SAMAR AGGREGATES PROJECT to attend the Public Hearing scheduled on: Date

Time

Venue

13 July 2022 (Wednesday);

09:00 AM (Registration starts at 08:00 AM)

Barangay San Joaquin Covered Court, Brgy. San Joaquin, Calbayog City, Samar Province

The Public Hearing is being conducted in connection with the review of the EIS of the aforementioned project by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The following is the project information: Project Name Project

Samar Aggregates Project

Project Location

Barangays San Joaquin, Ba-ay, and Binaliw, City of Calbayog, Samar

Project Capacity

561, 600 MT/yr

Project Type

Resource Extractive Industry

Project Rationale

With the quarrying of basalt and production of aggregates and base course, this proposed project will satisfy the requirements for road and bridge construction, and vertical structures construction. Because of the higher demand for quality aggregates brought by the Build, Build, Build Program of the current administration, continuous supply of construction materials must be satisfied. • Quarry

Component

Area/ Capacity • 15.5 Ha

Project components

• Crusher • Overburden/topsoil stockpile • Aggregate Stockpile • Mine (Haul Road)

Proponent

Majestic Earth Core Ventures Inc.

• 561, 600 MT/yr • 3.1 hectares • 2,500 m2 • 12m x 540 m @max. 10% gradient Proponent

All interested parties who wish to attend or participate in this Public Hearing should preferably confirm their attendance/participation and may give their opinion(s) in a concise position paper to the ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT DIVISION (EIAMD) of this Office through email at eia@emb.gov.ph, three (3) days before the Public Hearing schedule. Those who will not be able to register or submit written positions may be given the opportunity to share their issues on the day of the hearing itself. The project’s EIS and Executive Summary for the Public are downloadable on our website: (kindly access the Notice of Public Hearing/ Consultation link found in our website) while copies will be available in the following offices:

This picture taken on June 24, 2022 shows chief executive officer of brokerage firm Bright Smart Securities, Edmond Hui, posing for a photo in the Central district of Hong Kong. Hui, now chief executive of a mid-tier stockbroker with nearly 300 employees, said post-handover markets have undergone a drastic shift even as Hong Kong pursued ambitions of being a major international finance hub. AFP

•

EMB Region 8 DENR Compound, Jones Street, Tacloban City Tel. No. (053) 832-2319

•

City Environment & Natural Resources Office- Calbayog Calbayog City Hall, Calbayog City, Samar, Province

For more details, please contact the EIAMD Division at this Office at telephone number (02) 8539 4378 loc. 116 and look for the project case handlers Engr. Joel Polintan and Engr. Jason Paolo Esguerra.

(MS-JUNE 25, 2022)

(MS-JUNE 25 & JULY 2, 2022)

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2022

Business

IN BRIEF Citicore Energy REIT voted best company

CITICORE Energy REIT Corp., the country’s first energy REIT, was voted the Philippines’ Best Company in the recently concluded FinanceAsia’s 22nd Best Companies in Asia Poll. The company also bagged seven country awards, which include Best Investor Relations, Best Managed Company and Best Small-cap Company in the Philippines. CREIT president and CEO Oliver Tan was also voted Best CEO of the year. “We would like to thank FinanceAsia for continuing to provide the platform that allows the financial community to vote for deserving and well-managed companies to be recognized. We are very grateful to the investing public for believing and supporting CREIT’s ideals and value proposition, being the first renewable energy REIT in the market. What made this one-of-a-kind offering even more memorable is that the groundworks were completed during the time of the pandemic,” said Tan. CREIT was also chosen as the Regional Awardee of Best Managed Company under the Energy Category in the recently concluded FinanceAsia’s 22nd Best Companies in Asia Poll.

Union Bank clarifies UnionDigital launch

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. The Department of Social Welfare and Development and the United Nations Children’s Fund tap Land Bank of the Philippines for the distribution of multi-purpose unconditional cash transfers in typhoon-prone communities in Catanduanes and Northern Samar under the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund for Anticipatory Action. Signing the memorandum of understanding are (from left) DSWD Undersecretary Felicisimo Budiongan, UNICEF Philippines deputy representative Behzad Noubary, LandBank senior vice president Marilou Villafranca and UNICEF chief of social policy Anjanette Saguisag.

DOTR to sustain ‘Build, Build, Build’

By Darwin G. Amojelar

he newly-appointed secretary of the Department of Transportation vowed to continue the “Build, Build, Build” program of the Duterte administration and focus on moving passengers and goods. Secretary Jaime Bautista, former president of Philippine Airlines, said the Marcos administration would provide “accessible, affordable, comfortable and safe transport service throughout the country” through the use of the transport systems. “As discussed during my initial meeting with President Bongbong, we will transform the Philippine transport industry and elevate it to global standards,” Bautista said.

“We should focus our efforts at moving passengers and goods that use our roads, airports, seaports and railways,” he said. Bautista said the department would also continue the “Build, Build, Build” program started by the Duterte administration. “I would like to assure Secretary Art [Tugade] that we will seriously consider continuing the various programs implemented under [former] President

Peso depreciates to 17-year low of 55.09 to a dollar

PSE INDEX CLOSING

By Julito G. Rada THE peso fell again Friday to post a nearly 17-year low against the US dollar following signals from the US Federal Reserve of more and aggressive rate hikes in the coming months. The peso closed at 55.09 against the dollar, down from 54.975 on Thursday. It opened at 54.98 and registered its weakest level for the day at 55.31. Total volume turnover reached $1.292 billion, up from $1.248 billion on Thursday. Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said in an emailed reply to Manila Standard query that it was the local currency’s weakest level in nearly 17 years or since Oct. 25, 2005 when it settled at 55.26 against the greenback. Ricafort attributed the peso’s weakness to “higher US dollar vs major global currencies recently amid hawkish signals from Fed officials.” “[The] market sentiment [was] also partly weighed by softer net foreign portfolio investments/hot money data and manufacturing PMI data,” Ricafort said. “For the week, the peso weakened by 0.105 or 0.2 percent [narrower vs last week’s peso weakness of 1.235 or 0.2 percent], thereby could already signal some stabilization in the foreign exchange rate movements,” Ricafort said. He said that since the start of 2022, the peso exchange rate weakened by a total of P4.091 or 8 percent from the end-2021 closing rate of 50.999. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported on Friday that foreign portfolio investments or hot money posted a net outflow of $270 million in May, a reversal of the $416.7-million net inflow a year ago and $1.4-billion net inflow in April amid the uncertain global environment. It said the net outflow in May resulted from the $1.2-billion gross outflows and $966-million gross inflows for the month. “The $966 million registered investments for May 2022 reflected a decrease of 55.7 percent [or by $1.2 billion] compared to the $2.2 billion recorded in April 2022,” the BSP said.

Duterte’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ initiative,” Bautista said. “We do not need to reinvent the wheel. These big-ticket projects truly deserve continuity to strike the maximum benefits for the Filipino people,” he said. Bautista said to successfully perform his duties as secretary, he sought the help of the agency’s officials and employees in addressing various issues concerning the transportation sector. “As a newcomer to this office, I anticipate the usual hesitation to any changes in the way you do things. I promise to listen to your suggestions. I have always been a good listener,” he said, addressing the DOTr officials and employees. “I will not pretend to have all the solutions. With many daunting tasks ahead of us, I ask for your help in making this administration succeed in solving the

seemingly insurmountable transport concerns of Filipinos,” he said. Bautista said he is keen on making a difference in the agency. “We will surely be under scrutiny if we can’t deliver. My confidence is derived from my own experience at overcoming far pernicious issues that allowed us to sharpen our perspective at attacking contentious problems,” he said. Meanwhile, newly-appointed Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said he wanted to break down the “silos” between DTI, its attached agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations. “Because that is the only way we can fully harness the capabilities of our people to address problems that will come our way,” he said during the turnover ceremony Friday.

6,165.35

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

508,216,773 49,900 3,706,599,139.39 94 83 48

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

54.9700

Japan

Yen

0.007368

0.4050

Pound

1.218000

66.9535

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127452

7.0060

Switzerland

Franc

1.047120

57.5602

Canada

Dollar

0.776759

42.6984

Singapore

Dollar

0.719787

39.5667

Australia

Dollar

0.690100

37.9348

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653012

145.8361

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266532

14.6513

Brunei

Dollar

0.717206

39.4248

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000067

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.028329

1.5572

UAE

Dirham

0.272279

14.9672

Euro

1.048300

57.6251

Korea

Won

0.000776

0.0427

China

Yuan

0.149252

8.2044

India

Rupee

0.012665

0.6962

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.226963

12.4762

New Zealand

Dollar

0.624000

34.3013

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033720

1.8536 Source: BSP

THE government’s total outstanding debt as of end-May 2022 declined P267.41 billion or 2.1 percent to P12.50 trillion from the record P12.76 trillion in end-April 2022 due mainly to the repayment of provisional advances from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Bureau of the Treasury said Friday. Of the total debt stock, 30.7 percent was secured externally while 69.3 percent were domestic borrowings. Domestic debt amounted to P8.67 trillion as of May, which is P270.40 billion or 3.0 percent lower compared with the end-April 2022 level. “This resulted from the P300.00 billion repayment to the BSP which was partially tempered by the net issuance of government securities. From the end-December 2021 level, outstanding domestic debt has increased by P495.04 billion or 6.1 percent,” the Treasury said. But external debt was P2.99 billion or 0.1 percent higher from the previous month at P3.83 trillion. “For May, the increment in external debt was attributed to the impact of local and foreign currency fluctuations against the US dollar amounting to an additional P5.63 billion and P9.41 billion, respectively,” it said. Julito G. Rada

By Alena Mae S. Flores

NEW DTI CHIEF. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez turns over the leadership of the Department of Trade and Industry to incoming Secretary Alfredo Pascual. The ceremony also commemorates the important milestones and achievements of the department under the leadership of Lopez and facilitates the formal transition to the new management team.

Metro Pacific buying P16.2-b stake in Jakarta’s toll road firm METRO Pacific Investments Corp. said Friday an indirect subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. is acquiring a 40-percent stake in a toll road concessionaire in Jakarta for P16.24 billion. Metro Pacific said in a disclosure to the stock exchange PT Margautama Nusantara, an indirect subsidiary of MPTC where it holds a total equity interest of 89.66 percent, signed a conditional share and purchase agreement with Perusahaan Perseroan PT Jasa Marga (Indonesia Highway Corporatama) Tbk. to acquire 40 percent of the outstanding shares of Jasa Marga Jalanlayang Cikampek, or JCC. JJC is the concession holder of Jakar-

Gov’t outstanding debt decreases to P12.50t

Linde’s hydrogen plants in Batangas start production

Friday, July 1, 2022

9.92 PTS.

UNION Bank of the Philippines clarified on Friday that its digital lending arm UnionDigital will be launched later this year and not this month, as earlier mentioned by one of its officials in an online briefing Tuesday. “This is in relation to the article titled, ‘UnionBank launching digital lending subsidiary next month,’ published last June 28, 2022 in Manila Standard, Business section...,” it said in an email. “We would like to clarify a recent statement made regarding the launch of UnionDigital. We are ensuring an amazing experience for our customers with ongoing due diligence. UnionDigital is targeted to launch in the 3rd or 4th quarter of this year. We will keep you posted as soon as we have more news to share. Stay tuned,” it said. UnionBank Fintech Group head Erika Dizon earlier said the launch is set in “July 2022,” a year after securing a license to operate from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Julito G. Rada

ta-Cikampek Elevated toll road, a 38-kilometer fully-elevated toll road forming part of the trans-Java network. It serves as an entry/exit gate from Jakarta to West, Central and East Java. Japex has been in operation since December 12, 2019. MPIC said that following the completion of the transaction, it would hold a 40-percent indirect interest in JJC which would be equity accounted as an associated company of the MPIC Group. “The transaction is being carried out pursuant to MPTC’s plan to expand its toll road investment portfolio in Indonesia,” MPIC said. PT Bintaro Serpong Damai, where

MPTC owns a majority interest, allotted P2.7 billion to construct Makassar New Port Access Toll Road. The project is about 3.2 kilometers in length and directly provides access to the Makassar Port in South Sulawesi. The MNP project will connect the Makassar Port to Makassar City through other toll road projects of MPTC in Indonesia. MNP is expected to encourage economic growth, aid in the distribution, logistics and the facilitation of export and import routes and ease the congestion of traffic for the delivery of goods and logistics transportation with its direct access to the Makassar Port. Darwin G. Amojelar

LINDE Philippines announced Friday the commissioning of its nitrogen and hydrogen production plants at the manufacturing complex of JG Summit Olefins Corp. in Batangas City. The plants will supply the industrial gas requirements for JGSOC’s naphtha cracker plant expansion. Linde invested over $10 million in the new facilities. “The technology and solutions that Linde can offer, our experienced team and local infrastructure enable us to support some of the largest projects in the country,” said Linde Philippines president Raymond Santayana. The project includes the installation of an Ecogan Nitrogen generator, the latest addition to Linde’s range of compact onsite nitrogen plants, featuring an innovative, energy-efficient design. Linde also installed a pressure swing adsorption plant recovering and purifying byproduct hydrogen from the naphtha cracker. Nitrogen will be supplied throughout the naphtha cracker complex, and nitrogen and hydrogen will be provided to JG Summit’s polyethylene and polypropylene plants. JGSOC is the Philippines’ only integrated polyethylene and polypropylene resin manufacturer. The naphtha cracker, designed to primarily produce polymer-grade ethylene and polymergrade propylene, provides feedstock for the downstream PE and PP polymerization plants, which in turn provide a stable supply of PE and PP resin for the local plastics industry.

PSE expects publicly-listed companies to raise more than P200b in capital this year By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Philippine Stock Exchange expects capital raising activities to reach the P200billion mark this year, given the pipeline of public offerings in the second half. “The record fund raising in 2021 will be difficult to break because of the sizable amount that was generated by the Monde Nissin Corp. initial public offering. We have a robust pipeline of public offerings in the second half and if all of these materialize, capital raising may

still reach the P200-billion mark,” PSE president and chief executive Ramon Monzon said. Data showed total capital raised from the IPOs, stock rights offerings and private placement reached P61.92 billion in the first half, down 49.4 percent from P122.46 billion recorded in the same period last year. Last year’s fund raising activity was boosted by the P55.89-billion IPO of Monde Nissin, the largest on PSE record. Eight companies conducted IPOs in the

first six months this year, including five that were listed on the main board and three on the small, medium and emerging board of the PSE. Among the listed firms that debuted this year were Haus Talk Inc., Figaro Coffee Group Inc., Citicore Energy REIT Corp., Bank of Commerce, CTS Global Equity Group Inc., Raslag Corp., VistaREIT Inc. and Balai ni Fruitas Inc. “Given the lineup of maiden offers in the next half of the year, we may see a 26year high in terms of the number of IPOs

in a year,” Monzon said. He said to sustain the listing activities at the PSE, the bourse put in place rules for initial listing through preferred shares offering. Monzon said this would give companies the flexibility to tap the equities market by selling preferred shares, instead of common shares. The PSE reported that daily average value turnover in the first half reached P7.52 billion, down by 16.1 percent yearon-year.

Sports

Williams leads TNT Giga past Terrafirma MIKEY Williams took time to have fun, but still came up with 31 points as he led the Talk N Text Tropang Giga to a 108-75 smothering of the Terrafirma Dyip on Friday in the 2022 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. The 30-year-old Filipino-American cager from Los Angeles, California struck with 12 points as the Tropang Giga took a 31-14 lead in the first period, en route to their seventh win in nine games. The 6’2” Williams then was held to two points in the second period as Dyip put up a fight and came close, 48-49, at halftime. But Williams added another 11 points as the Tropang Giga bounced back in the third period with another 17-point spread at the end of the quarter, 84-67. “Today’s win is a little more relaxing, less pressure on our backs. We need a game like this,” said Williams. JP Erram knocked in 18 points for the Tropang Giga, with his two big baskets during an 11-0 run in the third period allowing TNT to move away, 76-58, in the 3:20 mark. Erram’s triple in the final 4:29 later saw the Tropang Giga enjoying a 33-point spread, 108-75. “We were businesslike after halftime. We knew that this is a tough team,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes. RR Pogoy drilled in 15 points for the Tropang Giga as he shot seven points in the third canto, with his layup in the remaining 7:44, sending TNT ahead, 61-57. Javi Gomez de Liano sank 12 for Terrafirma, including a layup and charity in the final 1:32 of the second period, helping the Dyip move close, 42-47. Peter Atencio

Triathlon wannabes gear up for Sunrise Sprint BEGINNERS wanting to race without having to worry about long periods of training and those seeking to immerse themselves into triathlon brace for a spirited duel in Go for Gold’s Sunrise Sprint on July 10 in Panglao, Bohol. The short-distance event, featuring 750m open-water swim, 20km bike ride and a 5km run, is back with a promise of a more exciting edition among over a hundred participants from at 23 teams, all ready and raring to get going following a two-year hiatus due to the global health crisis. Dubbed as S2, the sub-category to the centerpiece Sun Life 5150 Triathlon is also aimed at providing a venue for those making a comeback in the evergrowing sport and at the same time provide quality triathlon experience on an Olympic-style course setup. Nicole Adlawan (25-29), Raven Alcoseba (20-24), Frances Erediano (1519), Dato Arroyo (45-49), Earol Belonguil (15-19), Kate Borja (20-24), Renz Corbin (20-24), Philip Geniston (45-49), Lui Besa (25-29), Sui Besa (15-19) and Justine Hermosa (15-19) head the bidders in various age-group categories of the Sunrise Sprint. “As we leave behind this time of uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is my hope that the start of the Go for Gold Sunrise Sprint series will symbolize strength and hope – hope for everyone that things will eventually get better and time to draw strength from each other as we heal around the world,” said Go for Gold PH founder Jeremy Go. Go for Gold is a sports CSR (corporate social responsibility) arm of Powerball Marketing and Logistics Corp., the licensee of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, which aims to promote nation-building through sports development and create ways to encourage young individuals to pursue excellence through physical literacy. Also on tap are the men’s and women’s relay and the mixed relay. The Sunrise Sprint wave start is set at 8 a.m. for the male side and 8:05 a.m. for the women’s at the Bellevue Resort beach. “Sunrise Sprint is a great opportunity to welcome new and upcoming triathletes, showcasing the growth of the sport,” said Princess Galura, general manager of the organizing The IRONMAN Group and Sunrise Events, Inc.

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2022

TNT’s Mikey Williams pierces the defense of Terrafirma’s Andreas Cahilig and Joseph Gabayni in a PBA Philippine Cup game won by the Tropang Giga, 108-75.

Coach Stajcic: PH women’s booters progressing, evolving By Peter Atencio

HE Philippine national women’s football team is living up to expectations.

National coach Allen Stajcic said he is seeing encouraging results following the friendly games and training camps that the Filipinas had during trips to Europe and Australia over the last two months. “We’re progressing, we’re evolving. Our results in Europe were encouraging,” said Stajcic on Zoom a few days before they play on home soil in the ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championship 2022 from July 4 to 17. Improvements are expected to be seen when the Filipinas meet the Aus-

tralian Matildas on Monday at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium. The much-awaited 7 p.m. showdown comes right after Singapore takes on Malaysia at 4 p.m. “We know how much more we have to improve. There’s a lot of improvement in our game,” added Stajcic. The Filipinas are coming back to Manila following a series of friendlies in Europe and this includes their 0-1 loss to the Republic of Ireland, last week at the Bellis Field in Antalya, Turkey. After that, Sarina Bolden made two goals for the Filipinas on Thursday last week when they turned back Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3-0, at the Matija Gubec Stadium in Krsko, Slovenia. Over the weekend, Katrina Guillou scored the winning goal as the Philippines ended its series of international friendlies with a 2-1 triumph in their second encounter with Bosnia and Her-

zegovina in Brezice, Slovenia. Football Federation National Playing on home soil means Training Center in Carmona much to members of the Filis one of the training venues. ipinas, one of two ASEAN Meanwhile, the Matilnations that qualified for das are seeing action the FIFA Women’s World against the Philippines Cup 2023. after their friendly “How exciting it is matches in Spain. to be play in the PhilipIn their last game, the pines. We’ll have family, Matildas played with new extended family, and it faces and were stunned by will just mean much more host Spain, 0-7, in the absence to play in front of friends, of several stars at the Estadio family and supporters,” said Nuevo Colombino, a multi-purskipper Tahnai Annis. pose stadium in Huelva, Spain. The Filipinas are bunched Alen Stajcic Australian superstar captain with four-time winner Thailand, Sam Kerr, Steph Catley, Alanna Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, and Ma- Kennedy, Caitlin Foord, Kyah Simon, laysia in Group A. Mary Fowler and Ellie Carpenter (inGames of the tournament will also be jured) were out when the Matildas sufat the Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna fered the loss against the Spanish side, and the City of Imus Stadium in Cavite which is preparing for next month’s On the other hand, the Philippine UEFA Women’s Euro 2022.

Megakraken is FINIS tourney overall champion

FINIS PH Managing Director Vince Garcia is with Bacolod swimming star and Philippine Sportswriters Association awardee Kyla Soguilon.

THE Megakraken Swim Team scored 591.5 points to clinch the overall team championship in the Visayas leg of the FINIS 2022 Short Course Swim Competition Series recently at the University of Saint La Salle swimming pool in Bacolod City. The Iloilo Tiger Shark Swim Team placed second (395 points), while the La Herencia Swim Club took third place (387.5 points) in the two-day event, which attracted 280 swimmers, including upand-coming junior tankers and FINIS brand ambassadors Alexi Kouzenye Cabayaran of the Santa Fe Crocs Swimming Team in the girls’ 15-16 age group and Kyla Soguilon of the Aklan Swimming Club in girls’ 16-17 class. “It was successful in a way, as per interviews with the parents and coaches. They considered it a well-organized event, with lots of swag for the swimmers and coaches never seen in other tournaments,” said FINIS Philippines Managing Director Vince Garcia.

“The environment was festive, but with serious competitiveness, a far cry from the negativity of the lockdowns. The people were shouting non-stop, especially on the relays,” he added. Garcia, a veteran triathlete, said that FINIS is feeding two birds with one seed in organizing the event, officially launched last April with the Manila leg as it boosted the country’s swimming grassroots program. It also intends to elevate the competition level in terms of the fun environment and innovative processes. He stressed that FINIS Philippines introduced online registration via RaceYaya to the swimming community, even as they are in the process of establishing a database for FINIS events record-holders and gold medalists for each (Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao) leg before the Mindanao leg. “That would be a guide for the fast swimmers of Mindanao to see who’s the fastest in Luzon and the Visayas, and they want to make sure they can

beat those times,” Garcia said. Aside from bagging FINIS-designed crafty medals, the top 16 finishers in the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao leg (tentatively on July 30-31) will earn slots in the National Finals, tentatively scheduled in September this year at the New Clark City in Tarlac. Garcia said that aside from organizing tourneys, FINIS Philippines is also holding the Open Water Swim Camp on July 9 and 10 at the Paya Papagayo Beach Inn in Olongapo City. It is a comprehensive swim camp handled by American Swimming Coaches Association-certified coaches including Garcia, Frank Lacson, Maritess Escobar, and Patrick Joson. Also, FINIS is the official swim partner of the 83rd Central Northern Luzon - CAR Swimming Coaches Invitational Swim Series and the 5150 Triathlon series in Panglao Island on July 10, Tagum City; Davao on September 4; and Subic Bay on October 23.

Avaricio seeks to extend LPGT run at Eagle Ridge CHANELLE Avaricio expects to come out better and stronger three weeks after logging her third win in five Ladies Philippine Golf Tour events, targeting another top podium finish in the ICTSI Eagle Ridge at Aoki Invitational unfolding July 5 at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club complex in Gen. Trias, Cavite. Opting to pass up a planned sortie in the US, Avaricio worked on her game during the break, focusing on her iron play and putting, thus making her ready for another crack at the crown in the 54-hole championship serving as the seventh leg of this year’s circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and held simultaneously with the men’s tour.

“I’ve learned a lot at Pradera (Verde), especially on shots that I needed to do (in necessary situations),” said Avaricio after romping off with a six-stroke victory over Sarah Ababa and Chihiro Ikeda at Pradera, whose sleek surface likewise brought out the best in the former Alabama State U mainstay. “I was able to learn on how to play on Pradera’s greens, which are very fast. And I hope to keep on improving – and produce more wins,” she added. But Eagle Ridge’s Aoki, one of the four championship courses inside the sprawling golf complex, is more than a test of putting with challenges and dangers abound in almost every corner of the long but well-maintained layout,

especially if the winds come into play in all three days. That should make the rest of the compact 16-player field wary but motivated to prick Avaricio’s bubble, including Ikeda, Ababa, Pamela Mariano, Marvi Monsalve, Florence Bisera, Gretchen Villacencio and rookies Martina Miñoza and Lesley Icoy. While last year’s Tagaytay Highlands leg winner Sunshine Baraquiel, who also tied for second at Mt. Malarayat last May, won’t be around to train in the US, Harmie Constantino is back on a course so dear to her, having nailed two victories at Aoki on her way to snaring the Order of Merit title in her rookie season last year.

Chanelle Avaricio

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SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2022

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor E-mail: jdlacsamana@gmail.com

Home/Design

Living the good life in Ortigas

Living spaces, thriving spaces

ASS housing developer 8990 Holdings, Inc. recently unveiled its largest condominium community project to date at Urban Deca Homes Ortigas. 8990 executives led by company president Anthony Vincent Sotto formally opened the expansive amenities area for residents during a “Community Fiesta” event. Well-manicured lawns and young trees—totalling about 1.3 hectares— lies at the center of this 13.2-hectare project along Ortigas Ave. Extension in Bgy. Rosario, Pasig City. Two new basketball courts are now at the site, while a huge clubhouse is currently under construction. The first three towers (Towers M, N and O) of Urban Deca Homes Ortigas’

PROPERTYGURU Philippines Property Awards “Best Lifestyle Developer” winner SM Development Corporation (SMDC), is currently designing a residential development for professionals and entrepreneurs in Makati City. Red Residences is just a short walk from the Makati CBD, which, for residents—especially those driven by their craft—means round-the-clock access to pursue their aspirations, sans the stress and hassle of a daily commute. Feeling the pulse With a row of concept restaurants, artisanal food finds, specialty boutiques, contemporary art galleries, performance spaces, and underground bars right within the neighborhood, Red Residences offers its residents an exciting social life. It’s

a tapestry of art and culture curated to attract not just the young and hip, but the discerning and creative. Leading an impassioned life To lead an impassioned life, you have to pay attention to your wellbeing. The key is to build an environment conducive for the high life you see for yourself—the very idea that Red Residences was built on. To stimulate productivity and get the creative juices flowing, the development flaunts a “Power Deck” with collaboration corners and social halls where young urbanites could touch base and exchange ideas. The “Fuel Hub,” on the other hand, offers a fitness station and a lap pool to help you recharge and re-energize after a long week in the fast lane. When it comes to finding bal-

ance and practicing mindfulness, the Think Lounge, Reflective Garden, and jogging trails at the “Focus Zone” give you a well-deserved respite from it all; and to unlock the time you need for the more important things in life, there’s a commercial strip at the ground floor of the development to give you utmost convenience, with daily essentials merely an elevator ride away. Red Residences, riding on the back of an awarded, trailblazing developer and such a strategic location such as Chino Roces Avenue, all in all makes an investment worthy of one’s hard-earned money. With Red Residences completing Makati’s skyline, a life full of passion, however you define it, is just around the corner.

NREA FETES DEL ROSARIO, DENSING, OPENS HOUSING EXPO

Meeting every lifestyle need REAL estate developer Federal Land Inc. is introducing more retail and recreation choices with its lifestyle hub, Met Live. Located at the corner of Macapagal Avenue and EDSA in the integrated community of Metro Park in the Manila Bay Area, Pasay City, Met Live is Federal Land’s latest retail destination in the area. It offers a wide selection of retail spaces perfect for dining outlets, coffee shops, banks, and other specialty stores. Authentic Thai restaurant Mor Thai is among the top restaurants in the area. Other crowd-favorite international

restaurants in Met Live include Mala Sze Chuan Hotpot (Chinese cuisine), Jang Geum Kitchen (Korean), Tiong Bahru (Singaporean), Persia Grill (Middle Eastern), and 8 Treasures (Hong Kong). “With improving economic activities in 2022, we are seeing the full potential of the Manila Bay Area and will continue to invest in this space,” said Federal Land Commercial Development head Mylene del Rosario. “This remains aligned with our goal to sustainably enrich lifestyles with well-built living and commercial spaces in strategic locations.”

REAL estate practitioners affiliated with the National Real Estate Association (NREA) will honor Secretary Eduardodel Rosario of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, and Undersecretary Epimaco Densing of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for their and their agencies’ commitment and contribution to housing during the last six years. This will be during the opening and inaugural viewing of NREA’s three-day, in-person Housing Trade Exhibits on July 1, 2022 at the Palm Drive Activity Center of Ayala Malls, Makati City, it was announced by architect Ronie Biando, NREA national president. In addition to the exhibits of top residential developers, and allied industry participants, the event will feature presentations by sponsors, performances from Center for Pip Music. Including an on- the -spot poster making contest on the second day. For her part, Imelda Magtoto, Board Vice Chairlady, said that among the invited guests during the ribbon cutting ceremonies are DHSUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario; Makati City’s re-elected Mayor Abigail “Abby” Binay, Marlen Acosta represented by Vice Mayor Monique Yazmin Lagdameo; Pag-IBIG Fund president Acmad Rizaldy Moti represented by senior vice president Benjamin Felix, Jr.; DILG undersecretary Epimaco Densing III and Glorietta general manager Hamm Katipunan. Among the top exhibitors are Phirst Park Homes Inc.; PagIBIG Fund, Ferris Sobell Properties, Inc.; Bria Homes, Inc.; Davies Paint Philippines; Development Bank of the Philippines; Federal Land, Inc.; Duraville Realty & Development Corp.; E. GAnzon, Inc.; Hausland Development Corp.; Ayala Land, Inc.; Glorietta Mall; Megaworld Corp.; Vista Residences; Filipino Homes; Torre Lorenzo Development Corp.; Mapecon Philippines, Inc.; CitiHomes Builders & Development Corp.; Keller Williams Philippines; Imperial Homes; Krla Kris Realty; Raemulan Lands, Inc.; and Center for Pop Music Philippines. The exhibits are also supported by Chanti Gems; E. Ganzon, Inc.; Davies Paint Philippines, Inc.; Duraville Realty & Development Corp.; SM Development Corp.; Hausland Development Corp./Fiesta Communities and Philippine Guarantee Corp..

planned 22 towers, were turned over earlier this year. “This development is just another milestone we have achieved in helping close the ever growing housing backlog which is estimated to reach about 12 million by 2030,” Sotto said. To learn more about Urban Deca Homes Ortigas’ 2- and 3-bedroom units, visit www.8990holdings.com.

ENJOYING EVERYDAY WELLNESS IN CEBU. Alveo, the upscale brand of top property developer Ayala Land, has successfully introduced a development in Cebu City that offers the best combination of a laidback vacation feel with the modern convenience of condominium living. The 2.6-hectare master planned development Solinea is an urban residential resort-inspired community in Cebu Business Park . The development boasts of an expansive resort lifestyle zone, the Ultramarine, a central amenity area anchored by a 1,000-square-meter pool complex. Solinea now offers fresh prime inventory with its latest and last tower, Cerule. This is the final opportunity to get into this sought-after, inimitable living experience in Cebu Business Park.

Move to where your life is

MANY Filipinos need to wake up, on average, about three hours before their shift starts, to fight through the traffic and hopefully, clock in on time. Time is an immensely valuable resource that unfortunately gets lost in regular traffic. This is why RLC Residences properties, are located in strategic locations, allowing commuters to be close to where they need to be. The Radiance Manila Bay (inset), for example, serves as a direct dropoff point for public utility vehicles gives residents a regular dose of peace of mind. Living near work lets people have more time for fitness activities. Taking a relaxing

dip in The Magnolia Residences swimming pool, or enjoying a quiet time in the Library Lounge at The Trion Towers, may be just what the doctor ordered. Interested individuals may connect with rlcresidences.com. One can also follow RLC Residences on Facebook and Instagram.

Motoring

C MOTORS, one of the Philippines’ largest multi-brand automotive and motorcycle groups, inaugurated on June 28, 2022 the AC Motors Centrale facility in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

New Ayala auto hub rises in BGC

Isuzu

Honda

Kia

Volkswagen interior

trade in vehicles from any brand, in the Philippines to launch a used not just those sold by AC Motors. car program, which is powered by an AC Motors is the ﬁrst dealer group online automotive portal with one of

the country’s largest digital audiences. The auto facility also offers beneﬁts and membership privileges through the AC Motors Fleet program, Ayala Rewards Circle and the Ayala Enterprise Circle for small and medium enterprises and large corporations. “AC Motors Centrale showcases the combined strengths and synergies of our automobile and motorcycle portfolio and will play a pivotal role as we enter the

Hino Motors turns over modern PUV to Lung Center HINO Motors Philippines, the country’s exclusive manufacturer and distributor of Hino trucks and buses, ofﬁcially turned over its modern PUV unit donation to the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City recently. The donated unit was one of three modern PUVs that HMP lent LCP at the height of the pandemic. As one of the country’s designated COVID-19 referral facilities, LCP accommodates COVID-19 patients not only from Quezon City, but also from nearby cities across Metro Manila. Hino’s modern PUVs served as transportation and delivery vehicles for LCP’s health workers and, hospital staff as well as for important medical deliveries when public transport was restricted due to the strict lockdown protocols. “We are glad to have been able to support our frontline workers and our country during this critical time. At the core of what we do at Hino Motors Philippines is our passion and commitment to bring people and goods to wherever they need to be in the most efﬁcient way possible, and this partnership with LCP has allowed us to do that. We hope that our donation can continue to aid LCP and its frontline workers as they continue to provide the healthcare services that our fellow Filipinos need today,” said HMP Chairman Vicente Mills, Jr. LCP Executive Director Dr. Vicente Balabag shares that HMP’s donation will enable them to continue offering comfort-

next stage of mobility, electriﬁcation. This venue will become a part of our sustainable electric vehicle ecosystem, allowing our customers to comfortably enjoy the EV models which we will soon be introducing,” Zara said. AC Motors is a portfolio company of AC Industrials (ACI), Ayala Corporation’s holding and investment company for industrial technology, manufacturing, and vehicle distribution and retail interests.

Pilipinas Shell, Northern Star ink deal By Alena Mae S. Flores

Attending the turnover ceremony were Atty. Rose Marie T. Gonzalez, VP for Legal and Administration, Hino Motors Philippines; Dr. Sullian Sy-Naval, MD, Deputy Executive Director for Medical Services, Lung Center of the Philippines; Dr. Vincent M. Balanag, Jr., MD, CESO III, Executive Director, Lung Center of the Philippines; Mr. Vicente T. Mills, Jr., Chairman, Hino Motors Philippines; Ms. Ma. Nicolasa S. Torres, Division Chief, Material Management Division, Lung Center of the Philippines; Engr. Cesario M. Yangat, Division Chief, General Services Division, Lung Center of the Philippines; Dr. Gerald V. Tejada, MD, Medical Specialist II, Pathology and Laboratory Department, Lung Center of the Philippines.

able daily transportation to their employees. “We are truly grateful to Hino for this timely and generous donation. The PUV units they lent us during the lockdowns have been very useful in ensuring that our employees are able to come to work safely. This modern PUV that they are turning over to LCP

now will help us keep our healthcare workers safe and protected as we continue to face the challenges posed by the pandemic,” Dr. Balabag added. Hino’s modern PUV units come in fully customizable 4-wheeler and 6-wheeler variants. These vehicles have also been awarded

the Department of Transportation’s Certiﬁcate of Compliance for passing the Philippine National Standard’s requirements and other standards set by the government. For more information about Hino Motors Philippines and the Hino modern PUVs, please visit https://hino.com.ph/.

Motolite to highlight product superiority, tech advancements at Overland challenge EAGER to showcase the durability, performance, and technological advancements of its automotive batteries, Motolite has accepted the challenge to partner with Mototesto and Petron to stage the Philippine Overland Expedition Challenge: Pacific Coast Stage, the first-of-its kind off-the grid adventure event in the country. Motolite, the most-trusted battery brand in the country, will specifically showcase the groundbreaking features that it introduced to the New Excel and the recently launched Excel EFB (Enhanced Flooded Battery) plus other technologically advance lead-acid and new formulation batteries at the Philippine Overland Expedition Challenge. Motolite’s support for and partnership with the Overland community stems from Motolite’s thrust of seeking out and supporting trailblazers that provide new adventurous experiences to the Philippine market. As such, Motolite will be providing free batteries to the competing vehicles and also offer big discounts to those that will be participating in the four-day, 285-kilometerlong epic overland journey that will begin at the Laus Group Event Center in San Fer-

HONDA, ISUZU, VOLKSWAGEN, KIA UNDER ONE ROOF

By Othel V. Campos

AC Motors’ automobile group president Antonio “Toti” Zara III said the new auto hub carries 4 of AC Motors’ popular brands under one roof - Honda, Isuzu, Volkswagen and Kia. “I am proud to announce that we have a mobility destination, located at the center of one of the country’s biggest and fastest growing business districts. AC Motors Centrale is a one-stop-shop that houses our brands under a single roof, giving customers the ability to choose the vehicle that best suits their needs from a wide range of models,” he said. The new auto hub sits on a 3,000sqm space at 932 28th street corner 9th Avenue, right at the center of BGC and offering a seamless digital customer experience as one of the most digitized dealer networks. About 45 percent of AC Motors’ current sales have been coursed through its many online portals. It has recently launched online financing application tool and highly digitized processes further enable a transparent and efficient experience for our customers. “What sets AC Motors Centrale apart, aside from being able to house all our brands under a single roof, and giving customers the ability to choose the vehicle that best suits their needs from a wide range of models, is that we take this experience to the next level by offering AC Motors’ new used car program, AC Motors Trade+, which opens up a whole new world of enterprise and ownership opportunities for our customers,” Zara said. AC Motors Trade+ is an auction-based service for new buyers and existing owners that streamlines the entire process of selling used cars, offering just a fiveday turnaround time from inspection, to auction, and payment. Customers would also be able to

SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2022 MILO RIVERA, Sub-editor

nando, Pampanga to Dingalan, Aurora and ends at General Nakar, Quezon. Motolite’s Excel series of batteries is built for tough road conditions, making it perfect for overland adventures across rugged off-road terrain. With German

Motolite Excel series’ high-purity electrolyte, specially manufactured at Motolite’s state-of-the-art facility, is formulated to minimize water loss and slow down selfdischarge, which are key concerns in tropical applications.

technology and tropicalized battery design, the Motolite Excel series is packed with innovations that make it last at least 70% longer than competing imported lead-acid batteries. With studies showing that the number of days with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius per year has doubled since the 1980s, it’s good to note that the

All this means that motorists can be conﬁdent that their batteries won’t run out of water even when subjected to extreme temperatures under the hood and excessively hot weather. The Motolite Excel series also has thick, rigid, and full-framed positive and negative grids with wire architecture optimized for mechanical endurance, high-temperature

corrosion resistance, and current delivery. The series also boasts of specially formulated paste to increase cranking capability and cycle endurance. The cell design, meanwhile, increases mechanical durability and prevents internal short-circuits. Motolite’s glass-mat laminated polyethylene separator envelopes secure active masses, preventing shedding even on deep discharges and tough road conditions, resulting in exceptional durability and longer service life. Its cells are designed to have snug-fitting and anchor-bonded elements, improving the vibration resistance and mechanical durability of the battery. Its thicker posts and through-the-partition cell connectors, on the other hand, promote more efficient current flow, helping achieve maximum capacity, delivering exceptional durability, and ensuring longer service. The Motolite Excel series’ casing, a product of Motolite’s recycling initiative, is impact-resistant and all-weather, with polypropylene covers and containers designed for all types of battery trays and compartments.

PILIPINAS Shell Petroleum Corp. (Pilipinas Shell) and Northern Star Energy Corp. (Northern Star) have inked a deal to transform Northern Star’s existing sites in Region 1 into Shellbranded Mobility stations. “This partnership will allow us to reach more customers and communities in La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra, and Mountain Province, in line with our commitment to serve the growing and evolving energy needs of every motoring customer and pedestrians alike,” said Randy del Valle, Pilipinas Shell vice president for mobility. More than just a fuel site, the Shell Mobility station offers an expanded range of products, full vehicle servicing, and even retail/lifestyle and food offerings targeted to each local market. The partnership adds around 100 sites to Pilipinas Shell’s nationwide portfolio throughout the long-term life of the partnership. These Mobility sites will support the increasing travel and economic activity in Baguio City, Sagada, Banaue, La Union, Pagudpud, and other tourist hotspots in the region. Pilipinas Shell’s Mobility business growth will be adequately supported by the Subic import terminal, with a 54 million liter storage capacity. “This investment is an important step in accelerating Pilipinas Shell’s growth ambition of 1,300—1,400 sites by 2025. With La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra, and Mountain Province being one of the largest transport areas in the country, the partnership is expected to significantly increase both fuel and non-fuel revenues for Pilipinas Shell,” said del Valle. He said the deal also enables the company to provide more employment opportunities for the local communities in the said areas. Pilipinas Shell and Northern Star will work together to integrate operational practices in alignment with Shell standards seamlessly. Del Valle said Pilipinas Shell is looking forward to applying Northern Star’s strong operational excellence and expertise as demonstrated through speedy and consistent site growth and best practices.

Tech & Gadgets LG takes flight with new line of monitors C4

SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2022 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

G PHILIPPINES unveiled its new lineup of monitors and showcased its newest, powerful and most technologically advanced monitors yet, in a Top Gun-themed event hosted by Andrei “Dreister” Felix. According to Sungjae “Airboss” Kim, managing director for LG Philippines, the company remains committed to innovating and enhancing its monitor line-up to adapt to the needs of its consumers. He added, “We’ve made great strides to elevate the user-experience of our monitors–from adapting to flexible workstations and upgrading our systems with new generation gaming standards.” Meanwhile, the country’s most influential gamers, creatives and content creators attest to the power, image quality and versatility of LG’s latest monitor line-up. Actor, TV host and #FitGamer, Eric “Eruption” Tai enjoyed the immersive race car gaming set-up during the event featuring the 32GQ950 OLED Monitor. He said, “The contrast is just amazing with the bright whites and the deep, dark blacks. It provides a truly immersive experience whether you’re gaming for hours on end or just relaxing and bingeing on series and movies. And, it’s also equipped with HDMI 2.1”. Eric was joined on stage by Jane Pactoranan business development manager and she further explained that the LG UltraGear 32GQ950 boasts a 4K resolution on a 32-inch Nano IPS display alongside a rapid 144Hz refresh rate (O/C 160Hz) and swift 1ms (GtG) response time. It also has a VESA certified DisplayHDR 1,000 which means this display should offer a dynamic contrast with brighter whites and deeper blacks and up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness. Just the same, “PBA Ironman” LA Tenorio was impressed with LG’s marquee monitor, the 48GQ900 OLED, due

LG Electronics Philippines managing director Sungjae Kim (center) with the country’s influential content creators (from left) Magic Liwanag, LA Tenorio, Gab Valenciano, Myrtle Sarrosa, and Eric Tai. The event was hosted by Andrei Felix (leftmost).

to its size and impressive image quality. Equipped with the award-winning OLED technology with self-lit pixels, the 48GQ900 OLED monitor boasts of its immersive display and quick response time, ensuring its compatibility with next-gen consoles. The self-lit pixels also help keep response time incredibly fast according to Janille Umali, B2B marketing communications officer. The massive display of the monitor is designed to provide a better viewing experience like no other. It has anti-glare and low reflection technology built-in, ensuring that there are no distractions and you only focus on your game. This, of course, also helps reduce eye strain when used for long periods of time. Just like LA himself as one of the country’s formidable basketball pointguard, this monitor is as fast as they come. It has a 0.1 ms response time and 120hz speed. It can even be overclocked to 138Hz if you really want to push the envelope. This high speed reduces ghosting in games and helps objects render clearly and makes everything smooth and fluid. It has an ultra slim design that you can wall mount, or display in your living room, game room, or anywhere else.

It also comes with its own remote control. When it comes to sound, this is no slouch either. It comes with two 20w speakers built-in. LA can chat with his teammates and gaming friends with 4-pole headphone outs and you can even be more immersive with the use of virtual 3D surround sound with DTS:Headphone X. Music and lifestyle photographer “Magic” Liwanag, couldn’t help but agree with the product’s versatility, claiming that the LG Dual Up 28MQ780-B is a godsend for creatives like him. “The 16:18 aspect ratio and the freedom to swivel [the monitor] allows me to multitask in a completely different way,” he adds. Greg de Jesus, marketing communications officer for home entertainment expounded that the LG’s Ergo line is designed for these kind of users with this in mind as they get to work the way they want to. You can adjust the monitor by moving it forward or backwards, swiveling, rotating, tilting and more. Configure the setup any way you want to increase your productivity and immerse yourself in your work. It also

LG UltraGear

offers DCI-P3 98%**—an elevated color spectrum that brings brilliant color to life and doesn’t hurt your eyes because of the ambient light sensor. Gaming content creator, Myrtle “MyrtleGail” Sarrosa, was particularly drawn towards the 29WP500-B 29-inch, 21:9 UltraWide monitor saying, “What I

love about this monitor is that even if ideally pang work siya, sobrang bilis pa rin for gaming.” She was joined by Ryan Nulud, IT monitor, sales and marketing manager and demonstrated how the monitor’s wide field of view is perfect for working from home or home learning. You can easily manage textbooks, lectures, conversations and searches in a single view and turn the wide screen into your favorite online classroom. The space is wide and expansive. It enables you to work with reports at a glance with datasheets and slides side by side without repeat Alt-tabbing. It also comes with AMD Free Sync and Dynamic Action Sync, which helps gamers by providing seamless, fluid movement in hi-resolution and fast-paced games. It virtually reduces screen tearing and stuttering. Myrtle and Ryan was later joined by Gab “Viper” Valenciano, who is a tech geek and an avid LG monitor fan. He has been using LG monitors in his own studio for years now and was so ecstatic to try the LG UltraGear 32GN500 monitor with a flight simulator setup to simulate a realistic Top Gun environment. He was thoroughly overwhelmed by the image quality and clear details that the LG UltraGear 32GN500 provides. “Aside from the solid features, the design is killer as well. It’s virtually borderless and looks good anywhere you put it, whether in the living room or your man cave. Two thumbs up for me.” He also noticed that blurring and ghosting is almost nonexistent that he always thought was normal and unavoidable. Thanks to the monitor’s speed, you get fast and smooth gameplay. The 165Hz Refresh Rate and 1m MBR helps smoother gameplay, reducing blur and ghosting. It also has NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium for clearer, smoother and faster movement.

Coming soon: Infinix unveils 180W Thunder Charge tech INFINIX has unveiled the seriously fast 180W Thunder industry at present. The 8C cell has lower internal resistance when compared Charge Technology, which will debut on selected Infinix flagship phones that will be announced in the second half with the conventional single electrode lug structure, plus a multi-electrode lug, which reduces more than 50% of the internal of the year. The breakthrough new technology will enable users to resistance and produces less heat. Furthermore, the 180W Thunder Charge uses two 8Cachieve the time for a 1-50% charge of the 4500mAh battery in just four minutes, providing users with a faster and safer ad- rated batteries in series, so the charging power of each battery is only 90W while being charged, reducing heat vanced smart device charging experience. and increasing longevity. “Following last year’s The 180W Thunder Infinix 160W fast chargCharge also adopts automating Concept Phone release, Infinix 180W Thunder ic bidirectional-power supCharge is another industry ply technology to lengthen breakthrough that delivers phone’s battery life by 2% ultra-fast charging technolcompared to traditionally ogy to the public. Infinix double cell battery designed aims to keep improving phones. daily efficiency through The automatic bidiiteration and innovation of rectional-power supply fast charging technology so technology reduces the that users around the world area of the power supply circan be the first to expericuit by 60%, increases the ence efficient and conveniprecision of the circuit layent digital life,” said Joseph The Infinix 180W Thunder Charge is another industry breakthrough out and saves space. Cernitchez, Marketing The charging technology Head of Infinix. works using dynamic distribution. Industry-leading 180W Charging Technology Three parallel charge pumps support the highest Ultra-fast charging has never been as prevalent as it is powered conversion yet on an Infinix device, achievtoday and with the production of safer methods of charging 99% charging conversion efficiency, which avoids ing at a higher voltage rate, the technology is becoming overloads and overheating. more and more popular in mid range devices. This is the pinnacle of Infinix charging technology to date. Regular smartphones with fast charging features generally A Safer way to Charge use batteries with a charging rate of 1 to 3C, while 180W ThunKeeping safety a key priority, 180W Thunder Charge has 111 der Charge uses batteries with a rate of 8C, which effectively software and hardware security protection mechanisms to proreduces the chances of the battery overheating due to the fast tect smartphones, chargers, and charging cables. The security protection is triggered during abnormal charging technology. Infinix cooperated with the world’s leading battery man- scenarios—such as high temperature, increased voltage, ufacturers to develop a new 8C battery cell, which is the electromagnetic interference and more—to ensure the maximum-charging-rate- rechargeable lithium battery in the safety of the smartphone’s system.

Shown here are (from left) SMFI School Building Program head Juris Soliman, SM Investments Corporation AVP for Corporate Affairs Victor Persius Chan, SMFI Executive Director for Education Programs Linda Atayde, SMFI Trustee Engr. Ramon Gil Macapagal, Maxeon Fab4 General Manager Glenn Everett, Maxeon Global ESG Matt Kasdin, and Maxeon Engineering Director Pauline Palma during the signing of the memorandum of agreement for Sinag Schools program.

Maxeon Solar Technologies, SM Foundation ink pact for Sinag Schools program SM Foundation and Maxeon Solar Technologies recently powered its partnership for Sinag Schools program, which intends to provide clean and renewable energy to schools in grassroot communities. This social good collaboration will bring and install Maxeon’s solar panels to an SM School Building, specifically with low operating expenses. The school recipient identified was the Lemery Pilot Elementary School in Batangas. In addition to the solar panel installation which intends to power positive change in the way energy is consumed in public schools, the program also aims to enhance the understanding of students in terms of energy management and the need to transition to cleaner energy alternatives with lower environmental impacts. Maxeon and SMFI are set to have the launch and final energization ceremony in July 2022. For more information, follow SM Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,

Xiaomi reaffirms commitment to data security, privacy XIAOMI, the world’s leading consumer electronics and smart manufacturing company, recommitted itself to protecting customer data during its annual Security and Privacy Awareness Month completed today. It held employee training events and expert seminars at the Xiaomi Technology Park in Beijing, China and at Xiaomi’s Technology Operation Center in Singapore. This was the third consecutive year that it held special classes for its engineers and other employees and led discussions with industry executives, IT security experts, and the public about the importance of data security and user privacy protection. Xiaomi also released updated white papers on security and privacy along with its annual transparency report detailing its data security activities. The purpose of the month-long series of events was to bolster its user security and

privacy protection practices and to build trust in Xiaomi’s products through transparency and accountability. Xiaomi has built a comprehensive governance structure to protect data security and user privacy. This involves cooperation between cybersecurity experts, smartphone operating system engineers, lawyers, and legal compliance experts. Overseeing these specialists is a Security and Privacy Committee led by senior executives. Cui Baoqiu, Xiaomi Vice President and Chairman of the Xiaomi Security and Privacy Committee, called data security and user privacy protection a key to the long-term, sustainable development of the company’s global business. “Protecting the data security and privacy of our users is the top priority,” he said. “Our customers care about this issue more than any other. Xiaomi is committed to offering safe and reliable Android smartphones and IoT products.”

Employee training events and expert seminars at the Xiaomi Technology Park in Beijing, China and at Xiaomi’s Technology Operation Center in Singapore.

Eugene Liderman, Director of Android Security Strategy of Google, highlighted Xiaomi’s contribution to the Android system. “One of Android’s

biggest strengths is the diverse ecosystem of partners. Xiaomi is a great example of this and it’s great to see their continued investment in cyber security

and YouTube: @SMFoundationInc. Maxeon is headquartered in Singapore. The company designs, manufactures, and sells Maxeon® and SunPower® brand solar panels. Maxeon has sales operations in more than 100 countries, operating under the SunPower brand in certain countries outside the United States. Maxeon is a leader in solar innovation with products that span the global rooftop and solar power plant markets through a network of more than 1,700 trusted partners and distributors. A pioneer in sustainable solar manufacturing, Maxeon leverages a +35-year history in the solar industry and numerous awards for its technology. SM Foundation, through its School Building Program, is an active partner of DepEd’s Adopt-a-School program. This social good initiative aims to promote quality public education by building classrooms nationwide. To date, it has turned over more than 100 school buildings to grassroots communities. hygiene across their product portfolio”, he added. Professor Liu Yang, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, said, “As the security challenge is becoming the focus of many technology discussions, industry stakeholders attach more importance to the urgency of managing vulnerabilities at hardware, software and even in the massive open-source space. Xiaomi has made tremendous effort to address the issue, safeguarding users with technology expertise, and continuously exploring new methods for better data protection.” With the world’s largest consumer IoT platform, Xiaomi is constantly working to improve IoT security and privacy protections. Xiaomi held its fifth annual IoT security summit on June 29 and 30 in Beijing. Industry executives and experts discussed a wide range of issues from data security governance frameworks and cross-border data transfers to the security of internetconnected electric vehicles and solutions for software supply chain security threats.