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TAIWAN BLASTS ‘EVIL NEIGHBOR’; US, ALLIES REBUKE CHINA MILITARY DRILLS TAIPEI—Taiwan blasted its "evil neighbor" on Friday after China encircled the island with a series of huge military drills that were condemned by the United States and other Western allies. Apart from the US, Japan and Australia also rebuked China, which announced sanctions against US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her immediate family —without providing details on the punitive measures. Japan lodged a formal diplomatic complaint against Beijing, with five of China's missiles believed to have landed in its exclusive economic zone. And Australia—which has a troubled relationship with China, its largest trading partner—condemned the drills as "disproportionate and destabilizing".

Carlos: We’ll be neutral on Taiwan issue

JETS AND ROCKETS. These screen grabs from videos by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command made available on the Eurovision Social Newswire (ESN) platform via AFPTV show a missile being fired and fighter jets on the runway during a Chinese military exercises toward the coast of Taiwan on August 4. AFP

By Vince Lopez and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE country will not side with either the United States or China on the issue of Taiwan, National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos said Friday, a day after Malacanang called for restraint as tensions mounted between the global giants after the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the Philippines' northern Next page neighbor.

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 170 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Food prices at 45-month high Palace says June inflation of 6.4% expected due to global events

By Julito G. Rada and Maricel V. Cruz

NFLATION jumped to a 45-month high of 6.4 percent from 6.1 percent in June, on faster increases in the costs of food, non-alcoholic beverages, and transportation, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Friday.

The rate this month was also higher than the 3.7 percent registered in July 2021. For the first seven months, inflation averaged 4.7 percent, above the 2022 target range of 2 percent to 4 percent, the PSA said. National statistician and civil registrar general Dennis Mapa said the price index

for food and non-alcoholic beverages rose 6.9 percent in July, higher than from 6.0 percent in June. The transport index went up 18.1 percent, following the 17.1 percent rise in June. The PSA also cited an increase in the indices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco (8.5 percent); clothing and footwear (2.5 percent); furnishings, household

equipment, and routine household maintenance (3.1 percent); recreation, sports and culture (2.2 percent); restaurants and accommodation services (3.4 percent); and personal care and miscellaneous goods and services (2.8 percent). The July inflation fell within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ forecast range of Next page

Fuel rollback next week, power rate cut in August By Alena Mae S. Flores CONSUMERS can expect a price rollback of more than P1 per liter across all oil products next week due to the softening of global oil prices. Sources told the Standard on Friday that the price of unleaded gasoline is seen to go down by P1.56 per liter, diesel by P1.96 per liter, and kerosene by P2.42 per liter. The Department of Energy (DOE) attributed the rollback to the decision of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies to increase its output by 100,000 barrels per day in September and ongoing recession fears in the US that could dampen demand. As this developed, power retailer Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is hoping its overall power rates will go down in August despite indications of a rise in generation charges, its spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga said. Electricity charges for August "can go either way," Zaldarriaga said. "In the event of an upward pressure, it may not go up as much, but there is also the pos-

sibility of downward pressure." He said Meralco has yet to receive final billings from its suppliers, but there may be “an upward pressure” in the generation charge. US President Joe Biden called on OPEC and its allies to increase oil production, but they only agreed to increase output by 0.1 percent of global demand. World oil prices have trended downward in the past weeks due to lockdowns in China and fears of a global economic slowdown. On August 2, local oil companies cut diesel prices by P0.60 to P0.75 per liter, and kerosene by P0.75 per liter. However, gasoline increased by P0.75 per liter. These resulted in the total year-to-date adjustments at a net increase of P19.65/liter for gasoline, P32.35/liter for diesel, and P27.30/liter for kerosene. As for Meralco, Zaldarriaga said: "We expect the quarterly repricing of the Malampaya natural gas in July, where more than 30% of our supply comes from, to weigh on the August bills." The repricing reflects the

LOW GOING HIGH. Merchants tend to their agricultural products despite heavy rains at Quinta market in Quiapo, Manila on Friday. The Philippine Statistics Authority said inflation in July accelerated to 6.4 percent due to higher transport costs and select food prices, among others. Danny Pata

Farmers’ group pushes gov’t ASEAN calls to buy palay at P23 per kilo for peace in S. China Sea

By Othel V. Campos, Vince Lopez, and Macon Ramos-Araneta

FARMERS are seeking an increase in the buying price of paddy rice or palay by the government to P23 per kilogram (kg) to augment farmers’ income and encourage the attainment of self-sufficiency in rice production.

KUDOS FROM U.S. United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson (left) pays a courtesy call on Speaker Martin G. Romualdez to congratulate him on his election as leader of the House of Representatives on Friday, as they also discussed stronger Philippine-US bilateral relations under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Ver Noveno

In a forum organized by the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. (PCAFI) Friday, farmer leader Sonny Sioson said increasing the price of palay is key to helping the agriculture sector survive market challenges. “This is the only way for agriculture to survive, for farmers to have a decent income and for the economy to flourish. Increasing the buying price will encourage a new Next page

PRESIDENT NAMES DIMALANTA TO ERC

GOV’T DEBT RISES BY 14.6% TO P12.8T

NEWS / A2

BUSINESS / B4

THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) called for peace and stability in the South China Sea as it pushes for the early conclusion of a code that would reduce tensions in the area. The 10 Southeast Asian foreign ministers made the call during the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Aug. 3, the joint communique of which was released on Friday. "We discussed the situation in the South China Sea, during which concerns were expressed by some ministers on the land reclamations, activities, serious incidents in the area, including damage to the marine environment, which have eroded Next page

News

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Dimalanta named new ERC chair P By Vince Lopez

“(Dimalanta) is an alumna of the University of the Philippines and was former Legal Counsel and compliance officer of Aboitiz Power Corporation,” Press Secretary Rose Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles said in a state-

ment. Marcos Jr. also appointed new officials to the Philippine National Railways (PNR) and the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA). In a statement, the Department of

Transportation (DOTr) said Jeremy Regino was appointed as acting general manager of the PNR, while Henry Uri was designated as acting member of the PNR Board of Directors. Meanwhile, lawyer Hernando Cabrera was appointed as LRTA's new administrator. Dimalanta's term will expire on July 10, 2029. She served as chairperson of the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) from 2019 to 2021. She was instructed to “prioritize the welfare” of Filipino consumers

Food...

the weaker peso could still lead to higher prices or cost of imports. The peso slightly depreciated against the US dollar by 0.5 percent in July to close at 55.13 against the greenback, after the sharp weakness of P2.605 or 5 percent in June. Ricafort said inflationary pressures could ease in the coming months in view of the sharp decline in global crude oil prices to new six-month lows, erasing all the increase since the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. He also noted the decline in other global commodity prices such as wheat. Malacañang on Friday said it has already anticipated the uptick in the country's inflation because of global events such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and COVIDrelated lockdowns in China. The Palace made this remark after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the domestic rate of price increases rose further to 6.4 percent last July. “I understand that these were projected even before given the inputs due to the international events that have led to the increase in the prices of petroleum,” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said in a Palace briefing.

Cruz-Angeles said all of these had already been factored in and were even mentioned in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25. In his speech, Marcos said inflation has accelerated in recent months mainly due to significant increases in international prices of oil and other key commodities. Marcos said the average inflation for 2022 is projected to range from 4.5 to 5.5 percent following the uptick in fuel and food prices due to the ongoing RussiaUkraine conflict and the disrupted supply chains. House ways and means committee chairman and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, meanwhile, said he would strongly recommend to the House leadership to tackle the Bayan Bangon Muli special powers bill to ensure that the President has the latitude to manage price, supply, and logistics bottlenecks. "The most important concern of the government will remain food security, food sufficiency, and food prices," Salceda said. He also suggested that adjustments in monetary policy can be used only to adjust to global conditions, but "they are no substitutes to supply and price solutions in the real economy."

Salceda predicted the monthly inflation could peak to as high as 8.5 percent and annual average inflation could reach 6.0 percent. "Food inflation continues to be on a rapid momentum, from 4.9 percent in May, to 6.0 percent in June to 6.9 percent in July. While there are indications that the momentum is shifting, if all indications are correct, every month will continue to have higher year-on-year inflation than the previous month," Salceda said. Salceda said the most important concern of the government will remain food security, food sufficiency, and food prices. At the same time, he said fuel price inflation was slowing down, possibly because the world was starting to adjust to the Russia-Ukraine war. “Barring any major developments, I expect fuel price inflation to slow down even further to below 5% by November," he said. Salceda said he expects transport inflation to remain below 20 percent at least until September. "However, we must cautiously watch this development, particularly given the resumption of full face-toface classes by around the same month. Transport prices remain elevated and accelerating, although the momentum also appears to have slowed down."

cost, and Meralco's distribution charge has not moved since its reduction in July 2015. In July, Meralco's overall rate went down by P0.7067 per kWh to P9.7545 per kWh from P10.4612 per kWh in June. The July rate reduction effectively reversed all increases in the overall power rates since the start of the year. The distribution-related refund ordered by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) offset the increase in generation charges. With the volatility in world oil prices, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said there is a need for Congress to examine the impact of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine on the country’s energy security and affordability. In filing Senate Resolution No. 78, Gatchalian pointed out that the drastic increase in global oil and coal prices has reverberated across the domestic market, with local pump prices experiencing con-

secutive weekly gains. Gatchalian took note of the 22% increase in gasoline prices to P77.71 per liter in May from P63.58 per liter in January, and diesel pump prices soared by 49% to P75.92 per liter in May from P50.95 per liter in January. During the same period, many PUV drivers opted not to ply their usual routes while provincial buses and taxis were operating only at 20-30 percent capacity, leading to a lack of available public transportation, according to Gatchalian. “There is a need for Congress to be apprised of the short, medium, and long-term effects and implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the Philippine economy, in particular, the country’s oil supply and the effects of the continuous elevated global oil and coal prices on domestic oil and petroleum products,” the senator said. Gatchalian, the chairman of the Committee on Energy in the 18th Congress, con-

ducted a hearing in March to seek specific solutions and programs from the DOE and relevant government agencies to mitigate the impact of the Russia-Ukraine crisis on the country’s oil supply and prices. ERC directed Meralco in an order dated June 16 to implement an additional Distribution True-Up refund totaling P21.8 billion for 12 months or until the amount is fully refunded. ERC recalculated the difference between the Actual Weighted Average Tariff (AWAT) and the final Interim Average Rate (IAR) of P1.3522 per kWh from July 2015 to June 2022, following a downward adjustment in Meralco’s Regulatory Asset Base for the 3rd Regulatory Period. The refund is equivalent to P0.8656 per kWh for residential customers and will appear as a separate line item called “Dist True-up 4” in the power bills starting this month. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

the physical textual negotiation of the Single Draft COC Negotiating Text during the 36th Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (JWG-DOC) in Siem Reap. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said the COC should be consistent with the UNCLOS and should not prejudice the rights of external parties. Among China's proposals is to limit the involvement of any countries that are outside the South China Sea. "Minister Hayashi touched on the Arbitral Tribunal's award as to the disputes between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China in 2016 and the COC and stressed that COC should be consistent with the UNCLOS and should not prejudice the legitimate rights and interests of all stakeholders using the South China Sea," the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. At the ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting on August 4, Hayashi also raised concerns over "unilateral attempts to change the status quo" by force, which he said are "continuing and intensifying in the East and South China Seas." He said Japan strongly opposes such actions. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Carlos... In a television interview, Carlos said: “We will just continue engaging with both parties, both actors, and the President (Ferdinand Marcos Jr.) has declared repeatedly that we will engage critically and constructively with both China and the US.” “On my hand, remember that China is our neighbor, but at the same time we have continuing conflict with China in regard to the contested South China Sea, and on the other hand we have the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951, so we are a defense ally of the US,” Carlos added. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Manila is concerned with the "rising tensions" in the Taiwan Strait, which is just north of the country. In a statement Thursday, the DFA reiterated the country’s adherence to the One-China policy, recognizing the People's Republic of China as the sole Chinese government. "The Philippines adheres to the OneChina policy. The Philippines urges restraint by all parties concerned. Diplomacy and dialogue must prevail," it said. In a Palace press briefing, Press Sec-

retary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said the Taiwan issue was not discussed in the Cabinet meeting called by the President yesterday. “It was not mentioned in the agenda. If regarding on international relations, we’ll always be cautious. Suffice it to say, the situation is monitored extensively. We don’t have any reactions or statements regarding that,” Cruz-Angeles added. This developed as Sen. Risa Hontiveros said China Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian “should not presume to lecture the Philippines as to how we should pursue our foreign policy objectives.” “The Philippines is a sovereign state, following an independent foreign policy,” the opposition senator said in a statement. "Must I also remind the Ambassador that in our pursuit of our independent foreign policy, the Philippines has every right, at any time, to review, amend, or modify our foreign policy," Hontiveros said. She said the Chinese envoy “shouldn’t pontificate on such policies,” especially considering “that his country stubbornly and steadfastly refuses” to recognize a decision rendered by an international arbitral court. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

will be cleaned and dried with a moisture content of 14 percent, 95 percent purity, and guaranteed 65 percent recovery when milled. Many rice traders are taking advantage of fresh harvest palay, buying them from farmers for as low as P8/kg, especially from the farmlands in the Bicol region. Sioson said there was a time when the National Food Authority (NFA) bought palay from farmers at P20.70/ kg, during the term of Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol. That was the alltime highest buying price. However, the NFA’s buying price dropped to P19/kg during the term of Agriculture Secretary William Dar. While the proposed budget for the agriculture sector is at P181 billion

for 2023, PCAFI is seeking to double spending on dairy production and allot a decent budget for creating a vibrant salt manufacturing industry. PCAFI president Danilo Fausto said despite the country’s long shoreline, the country imports over 93 percent of its salt requirement. “It’s funny that we are importing salt when we are an archipelago with 35,000 kilometers of shoreline. With that we can be self-sufficient in salt instead of importing from Australia and China,” he said. At Friday’s Cabinet meeting, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. focused on how the government could assist agrarian reform beneficiaries, including condoning payments of amortizations on loans, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-

Angeles said. She said the administration is also looking at providing legal help for land disputes, as well as credit assistance and modern farm equipment. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), meanwhile, said the government is committed to ensuring food security and affordability, and reducing transport and logistics costs to arrest the rise of inflation and protect Filipino consumers. The statement came as the Philippine Statistics Authority reported Friday that the country’s inflation rate for July 2022 rose to 6.4 percent, a 45-month high (see related story on A1 – Editors). (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday appointed corporate lawyer Monalisa Dimalanta as chairperson of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), replacing Agnes Devanadera.

From A1

5.6 percent to 6.4 percent for the month. The BSP said in a statement it was consistent with its assessment of elevated price pressures over the near term—including the approved wage and fare hikes and the expectation of higher prices. “The risk to the inflation outlook is tilted on the upside for 2022 and 2023 but is broadly balanced for 2024," the BSP said. It said the protracted war between Russia and Ukraine and the impact of higher oil prices on the cost of goods and services were likely to drive up inflation, as were domestic food prices due to shortages in the supply of several key food items. Meanwhile, the global recovery is likely to be slower than expected due to tighter global monetary policy conditions and the continued uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic, the BSP said. The BSP said it was prepared to take all necessary policy action—raising interest rates--to bring inflation closer to the government’s target over the medium term and deliver on its primary mandate of price stability. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said

Fuel... From A1

impact of the international oil prices in the past six months when Dubai crude averaged around $102 per barrel, an 18 percent increase from September 2021 to March 2022 average price. "However, we hope that the improved Luzon grid situation, which had a red alert and series of yellow alerts in the June supply month, lead to lower WESM prices and mitigate the impact of higher fuel prices and peso depreciation," Zaldarriaga said. WESM, or the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, is the trading floor of electricity in the country. "In addition, this month’s rates will no longer include deferred generation costs, which accounted for about 13 centavos of the generation charge in July," the official said. The generation charge is a pass-through

ASEAN... From A1

trust and confidence, increased tensions, and may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region," the statement read. "We reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation," it added. The ASEAN ministers welcomed the progress in the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) talks and urged all parties to continue promoting an environment "conducive" to the negotiations. "We stressed the importance of undertaking confidence building and preventive measures to enhance, among others, trust and confidence amongst parties, and we reaffirmed the importance of upholding international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)," they said. China and Asean are currently working to speed up the COC negotiations' conclusion. In May 2022, the two parties resumed

Farmers’... From A1

a new generation of rice farmers as this will be the government’s guarantee for a better agriculture industry,” he said. Sioson. chairman of Central South Luzon Rice Farmers Cooperatives, said farmers are longing for a more stable and equitable support price. He said some farmers till an average of three to four hectares only, with income ranging from P90,000 to P110,000 per cropping, and for those tilling less than three hectares, many are earning less than P90,000 per cropping. Sioson said farmers will make sure that the palay sold to the government

From A1

in her new role as the chief regulator in the restructured electricity sector, Cruz-Angeles said. According to the DOTr, Regino was previously administrator of the LRTA, while Uri was a broadcaster and member of the Board of Directors under the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA). Cabrera, meanwhile, served as LRTA's spokesperson before his new post. The new appointments will be confirmed by their respective Board of Directors, the DOTr said.

Marcos bats for review of SOPs during disasters PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday floated the need to review standard operating procedures (SOPs) to create a uniform and coordinated approach during disasters. “I think we have to review our SOPs when there’s a warning. So what do we immediately do when the alert is given to us? How do we preposition the things that we will need?” Marcos said in a Cabinet meeting. Marcos made the remark in the wake of a magnitude 7 earthquake that rocked northern Luzon on July 27. The number of deaths from the earthquake that rocked Abra and other Northern Luzon provinces last July 27 has climbed to 11. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Friday reported that the latest fatality from the tremor is from Tubo, Abra. This brought the number of confirmed deaths in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to 10 while Ilocos Region has one death. Some 410 individuals were injured in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and the CAR. Vince Lopez (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Taiwan... From A1

"Australia is deeply concerned about the launch of ballistic missiles by China into waters around Taiwan's coastline," foreign minister Penny Wong said. Meanwhile, Beijing on Friday condemned Lithuania's endorsement of Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan this week, calling it "erroneous" and accusing the Baltic NATO nation of violating the one-China principle. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis had been the only highranking official from a European Union country to publicly support Pelosi's trip this week, saying she "has opened the door to Taiwan much wider". "Those erroneous remarks made by some Lithuanian politicians further undermine the bilateral relations between China and Lithuania," China's diplomatic representation in Vilnius told AFP. During military exercises on Thursday and Friday, China fired ballistic missiles and deployed fighter jets and warships around Taiwan. Taipei's military said 68 Chinese fighter jets and 13 warships crossed the "median line" that runs down the Taiwan Strait during Friday's military drills by Beijing's forces. "(We) condemn the communist military for deliberately crossing the median line of the strait and harassing the sea and air around Taiwan," the defense ministry said in its latest statement. The Chinese People's Liberation Army declared multiple no-go danger zones around Taiwan, straddling major shipping lanes in the world and at some points coming within 20 kilometers (12 miles) of the island's shores. Beijing has said the exercises will continue until midday Sunday. Also, China said Friday it was ending cooperation with the United States on a litany of key issues including climate change, anti-drug efforts, and military talks, as relations between the two superpowers nosedive over the island of Taiwan. China’s foreign ministry hit back further, suspending talks and cooperation on multiple agreements between the two— including on fighting climate change. Beijing has insisted its war games are a "necessary" response to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, but Washington countered that China's leaders had "chosen to overreact". Pelosi has defended her trip to the selfruled, democratic island, saying Friday that Washington would "not allow" China to isolate Taiwan. "We have said from the start that our representation here is not about changing the status quo here in Asia, changing the status quo in Taiwan," she told reporters in Tokyo on the final leg of an Asia tour. "As of 11 am, multiple batches of Chinese warplanes and warships conducted exercises around the Taiwan Strait and crossed the median line of the strait," Taipei's defense ministry said in a statement. The median line is an unofficial but once largely adhered-to border that runs down the middle of the Taiwan Strait, which separates Taiwan and China. Chinese incursions have become more common since Beijing declared in 2020 that the unofficial border no longer existed. AFP journalists on the Chinese island of Pingtan saw a fighter jet flying overhead, prompting tourists to snap photos as it flew along the coast. A Chinese military vessel was also visible sailing through the Taiwan Strait, they added. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

News IN BRIEF

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2022

FIRST FRIDAY MASS. Despite the

rains due to a low-pressure area in the country, Catholic devotees attend the first Friday mass of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo Manila on Friday. Danny Pata

DOJ plans to convert NE rehab center into prison THE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday revealed plans to convert as the Mega Drug Abuse Treatment Rehabilitation Center (MDATRC) in Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija into a detention facility for prisoners of the Bureau of Corrections. The DOJ through spokesperson and incoming Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano stressed that persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) now detained at the medium and minimum-security compounds of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City may be transferred to MDATRC. “Fort Magsaysay is good place because there is an existing drug rehabilitation center there),” Clavano said. Rey E. Requejo

Authorities probe death of passenger at NAIA AUTHORITIES are investigating the case of a man who died after he reportedly jumped off the third floor of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Thursday afternoon. Michael Laureño, 26, a resident of Barangay Sto. Nino, Tomas, South Cotabato, was rushed to the Pasay City General Hospital but his attending physician declared him dead while undergoing treatment due to severe head and body injury. Initial investigation conducted by the Airport Police Department (APD) showed that the incident happened around 1 p.m. outside the departure area of NAIA Terminal 1. Laureño fell to the ground in front of the Assistant General Manager for Emergency and Security (AGMES) office. Joel E. Zurbano

Comelec asks Congress to give budget for HQ CONGRESS is being asked to allot a budget for the construction of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) own headquarters. Comelec commissioner George Garcia said the regulator is “pleading with Congress to give us even a minuscule budget to put up our own building.” The Comelec has been leasing several offices in Manila for their operations, which means a higher rental cost for the agency, ABS-CBN News reported. The official’s request comes after the Comelec’s IT office at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila caught fire and raised concerns about the security of the electorate’s data.

SC: Free jailed persons even sans release orders

By Rey E. Requejo

HE Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the immediate release of prisoners who have served their jail terms even without release orders from the courts unless they are being held further for other lawful cause. “Any further delay in the release from imprisonment of a person deprived of liberty (PDL), except for reasons allowed by law, is nothing but unjust,” the SC said, in a circular issued last Thursday by Court Administrator Raul Villanueva. Villanueva stressed that the circular was issued when several government agencies “have expressed concerns over delays” in securing release orders from courts for PDLs who have served their jail terms and the delays also “delayed the release of PDLs

from imprisonment.” “Considering Release Orders are not necessary for the extinguishment of criminal liability and have no bearing on a PDL’s completion of his/her sentence of imprisonment, all first and second level courts need not issue any Release Order for a PDL who has (a) completed his/her service of sentence and (b) when there is no other lawful reason for him/her to stay incarcerated,” stated the circular issued to all trial courts. The SC also directed the immediate

‘NO’ TO RECLAMATION.

CHR welcomes probe into drug war under Rody

Fisherfolk members of Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas troop to the DENR office in Quezon City as they challenge DENR Secretary Ma. Antonio Yulo Loyzaga to take stand against reclamation projects in Manila Bay. Manny Palmero

By Rio N. Araja THE Commission on Human Rights on Friday welcomed the commitment of Justic.e Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to pursue the probe of the drug war under the Duterte administration. Executive director Jacqueline Ann de Guia also lauded the Department of Justice’s initiative to share all of its data with CHR. “CHR, likewise, welcomes the reiteration of DOJ’s agreement to collaborate with CHR,” she said. In 2020, CHR and the DOJ through its Administrative Order No. 35 signed a data sharing agreement covering cases of extra-legal killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other grave human rights violations. The arrangement demonstrated the mutual cooperation of the two institutions to uphold human rights and serve the ends of justice for drug war victims. Joel E. Zurbano

COURTESY CALL. Tabaco

City Mayor Krisel Lagman-Luistro (second from left) and other officers of the League of Cities of the Philippines during a courtesy call at Malacanang. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hosted a dinner after the courtesy call. Norman Cruz

release once the jail term is served and no other lawful cause for detention are “those who have not yet paid the fine which forms part of the penalty of the crime committed and for which the court did not order any subsidiary imprisonment in case of non-payment thereof.” “Those who have unresolved applications for probation, or who may have later moved for the withdrawal thereof,” it said. “Those who have charged under Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and have not yet undergone rehabilitation and the drug dependency examination as may be required by the court, the completion of which shall be subject further action of the proper authorities,” the SC added.

DOH fails to hit target, revises booster mark THE Department of Health (DOH) revised its targets for COVID-19 booster shots after it failed to reach its initial daily goal. DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said government now needs to administer 443,892 additional doses daily and inoculate 20,774 senior citizens per day so the country can reach 23 million shots by Oct. 8, ABS-CBN News reported. The DOH earlier said it did not reach the target number of 397,000 individuals to be vaccinated per day in the first week of the new administration. The Marcos administration earlier initiated its “PinasLakas” COVID-19 booster campaign. Currently, DOH has administered 384,000 booster shots and inoculated 17,000 more elderly since the launch of the campaign on July 26. The DOH meanwhile said it has detected 104 more cases of highly transmissible omicron subvariants BA.5, BA.4, and BA.2.12.1. The government meanwhile found 95 additional cases of the omicron BA.5, 7 more cases of the BA.4, and 2 new cases of the BA2.12.1. The latest figures raise the country’s total to 3,107 BA.5 cases, 174 BA.2.12.1 cases, and 104 BA.4 cases, Vergeire said. Of the 95 new BA.5 cases, a total of 83 have recovered, while 5 were undergoing isolation, and the status of the remaining 7 patients was being verified, Vergeire said. The Makabayan Bloc in the House of Representatives meanwhile has sought a congressional investigation on the reported expiration of million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. The group filed on Friday House Resolution 179 urging the House Committee on Health to look into the matter. Maricel Cruz, Willie Casas

DILG issues orders to LGUs to enforce measures against monkeypox THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has directed local government units (LGU) to enforce measures to prevent the spread of monkeypox in the country. “With the first confirmed case of monkeypox in the country, the DILG urged LGUs to undertake proactive measures to assist in the prevention of

its transmission and spread in their respective areas of jurisdictions,” the department said in a statement Friday. DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said LGUs should be prepared for any eventualities even if health authorities are already monitoring inbound and outbound travelers for possible monkeypox cases.

Abalos advised LGUs to prepare their health offices and response teams to implement the guidelines of the Department of Health (DOH) on the surveillance, screening, management, and infection control of monkeypox. LGUs should closely monitor travelers from countries with monkeypox cases who are experiencing signs and

symptoms, he said. Local authorities should also check with private healthcare facilities to ensure that suspected and confirmed monkeypox cases are reported to the DOH within 24 hours, Abalos added. On July 29, the DOH reported the first case of monkeypox in the country who arrived from abroad on July 19. Willie Casas

PH hopes more Reds to surrender THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) expressed hope that more members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) will leave the armed struggle and lead new lives as peace-loving and productive citizens. Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. made the remark as he reported the recent surrender of 100 ASG members and supporters in Sulu and 50 former NPA and Militia ng Bayan members. “I will go to another place again and there will be another batch of surrenderers and I hope this will continue so that we can attain genuine peace,” Abalos said in a Palace press briefing. He added that this development will

pave the way for real progress and development in the province of Sulu, which is a known stronghold of the ASG. “The land is fertile and ready for agriculture. So, ito ay parang naihahanda na for (it seems this is being prepared) economic progress,” he added. Asked on the exact number of ASG fighters in Sulu, Abalos said he cannot give a figure but the group’s force is now limited to a “very small number”. Abalos also called on the remaining NPA and ASG members to return to the fold of the law. tayong babangon muli (Together we will rise again),” said Abalos, echoing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for unity. Vince Lopez

News

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2022

Solon seeks IRR on new law vs. sexual abuse of children

By Maricel V. Cruz

MISS WATER LILY. Beauty pageants take a new twist with Miss Las Piñas Water Lily competition inspired by the water-borne plant and has been celebrated by the city for 15 years now. In photo are the contestants showing off their costumes made up of water lilies. The winner will be declared Las Pinas’ ambassador of goodwill and will represent the local government in environmental and livelihood activities during her term. Danny Pata

FL treats lady envoys to lunch at Malacañang FIRST Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos has hosted a luncheon in Malacañang Palace for lady ambassadors in the Philippines, thanking them for supporting the President’s administration. The luncheon took place on Wednesday, August 3, at the Rizal Hall, according to a video posted by the Radio Television Malacañang on Friday. The guests list showed US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Loss Carlson, South African Ambassador Bartinah Ntombizodwa Radebe-Netshitenzhe, Papua New Guinea Ambassador Betty Palaso, Austrian Ambassador Bita Rasoulian, Sri Lankan Ambassador Shobini Kaushala Gunasekera and Nigerian Ambassador Folakemi Ibidunni Akinleye. Also present were Sweden Ambassador Annika Gunilla Thunborg, Denmark Ambassador Grete Sillasen, Germany Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel, France Ambassador Michèle Jeannine Andrèe Boccoz, Netherlands Charge D’ Affaires Monica Theodora Geertruida van Daalen (Netherlands), and Panama Charge D’ Affaires Lhuana Pamella Lopez Amorim. “Thank you for supporting my husband’s administration. I hope we get to do this more often,” Araneta-Marcos told her guests. Mrs. Marcos took the occasion to tour her inside the Palace. The Simeona F. Chanyungco Lahing Kayumanggi Mananayaw ng Marikina Inc. rendered traditional Filipino dances during the event. “I really appreciate the atmosphere here of women supporting other women in important roles and that’s why we’re so honored to be here as per your first official engagement here, supporting you as a very important woman in this country. Frankly in this region and globe,” Carlson said. “It’s a very challenging position to take up so we’re really grateful for the opportunity to be here and grateful for the opportunity to support each other,” she added. Rasoulian likewise thanked AranetaMarcos for her “most gracious hospitality.” Vince Lopez

LTFRB eases rules on school buses as F2F classes reopen THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has allowed school transport services to resume operations as face-to-face classes resume this month. School buses with active certificates of public convenience (CPC) or provisional authority and those with expired CPC, but with pending application for extension of validity to operate are now allowed to resume operations. “Transport services with expiring CPCs dating from March 31, 2022 to August 31, 2022 have been allowed to file an application for extension of validity, with the LTFRB waiving penalties,” the LTFRB said in a statement. The agency will also waive penalties for school service units with pending confirmation from March 31, 2020 to August 31, 2022,” it added.= School transport services allowed to operate must also comply with stringent guidelines. The operators should also observe health and safety protocols. The LTFRB is considering opening over 100 routes, particularly within the university belt and other areas with a high concentration of students, to meet the expected increase in passenger demand. Rio N. Araja

TINGOG party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez on Friday called for the swift implementation of a new law against online sexual abuse of children. The Congress-approved Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children bill lapsed into law last July 29. The measure, with Romualdez as a co-author, was docketed as Republic Act (RA) No. 11930. Romualdez batted for the immediate formulation of the implementing rules and regulations of the law so these could be promulgated and published, and enforcement could start soon. The sooner the concerned state agencies begin enforcing the law, the fewer the children who would be at risk of abuse and exploitation, Romualdez said. “We owe it to every Filipino child to ensure their safety and protection both online and offline - in their schools and their homes - and to make the internet an enabling and empowering space for growth

and learning. The true strength of our nation is seen in the smiles of children. The well-being, integrity and safety of our children are the most precious gift we can give them,” Romualdez said. Romualdez added that the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened online maltreatment of children because the health crisis has caused joblessness, loss of income and livelihood, and untold suffering among the people. “As a mother and as a legislator, my commitment is to ensure online safety for all our children,” Romualdez stressed. She pointed out that Tingog partylist has always advocated the protection of children against all forms of abuse and exploitation. RA 11930 penalizes the acts of producing, willingly accessing, and knowingly sharing any form of child sexual abuse and exploitative material. It highlights the responsibilities of social media websites and electronic service providers in the treatment, handling, posting, and distribution of such stuff, and in preserving evidence of violations of the law.

BBM to adopt co-accused’s evidence in ill-gotten wealth trial by Sandigan

RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday sought the adoption of evidence presented by his co-accused in the ill-gotten wealth case still pending before the Sandiganbayan. During the day’s pre-trial of the case, Marcos’ legal counsel, lawyer Manuel Plaza, informed the anti-graft court’s Second Division that his client intends to adopt the evidence presented by the heirs of Rebecco and Erlinda Panlilio and Modesto Enriquez. Civil Case 0014 accuses the Panlilio couple—reputedly cronies associates of Marcos’ parents, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and former First Lady Imelda Marcos— of acting as dummies in acquiring several com-

panies by securing financial assistance from state institutions on liberal terms “for their financial and pecuniary interests.” These companies included the Ternate Development Corp., Monte Sol Development Corp., Olas del Mar Development Corp., Fantasia Filipina Resort, Inc., Sulo Dobbs, Inc., Philippine Village, Inc., Silahis International Hotel, Inc., and Hotel Properties, Inc. The charges also claimed that the Panlilio

couple — as well as Enriquez and several others — took advantage of their close ties with the Marcoses to come up schemes and strategies “in order to enrich themselves at the expense of” the Philippine government. “I don’t see any problem with that,” Sandiganbayan Second Divisionchair Oscar Herrera said, reacting to Plaza’s proposition. Plaza told the court that he would need to secure a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) with his client to enable them to adopt the evidence of the Panlilios and Enriquez. “The entry of appearance is different from SPA, your Honors,” Plaza explained. Government prosecutors from the Office of the Solicitor General and the Presidential Commission on Good Government said such adoption of evidence on the part

BRIGADA ESKUWELA.

Parents and EcoWaste Coalition volunteers brush up chairs at the San Agustin Elementary School in Quezon City with lead-free paints to avoid exposing the students to unnecessary health risks. Manny Palmero

Pag-IBIG posts record P33.32b savings in H1 2022 PAG-IBIG Fund members have collectively saved P38.82 billion in the first six months of the year, representing an increase of P7.23 billion or 23 percent compared to the P31.59 billion collected during the same period last year. In a statement, the Pag-IBIG said this set a record for the highest amount saved by members of the agency for the first half of any year. “I am happy to note Pag-IBIG Fund’s excellent performance in its members’ savings collections. Our strong collections mean that we have funds to finance our programs and continue providing affordable home and cash loans for our members. This is our contribution to the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to resolve the country’s housing backlog and provide a better

life for Filipinos,” said. Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, who heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund board of trustees. Driving the double-digit growth was the continuing popularity of the agency’s voluntary Modified Pag-IBIG 2 (MP2) Savings. MP2 Savings amounted to a record-high P19.40 billion in the first half of the year, growing 47 percent from the P13.23 billion collected during the same period last year. Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive officer Acmad Rizaldy Moti, meanwhile, attributed the agency’s record-high collections to the trust of members in preferring to save with Pag-IBIG Fund, and the support of the business community for the

proper and on-time remittance of their employees’ Pag-IBIG Savings. “The continued growth of our members’ savings is truly remarkable. We are grateful to the business community for responsibly remitting the Pag-IBIG contributions of their employees on time, and to our members for their continued trust in saving with Pag-IBIG, particularly in the MP2 Savings. Should the upward trend in our collections hold, we expect another record-high in terms of total members’ savings by the end of the year. More importantly, with our robust fiscal position, we are confident that we can continue to finance the increasing demand for our loans while keeping interest rates low. This is one of our ways of bringing “tapat na serbisyo, mula sa puso” to our members,” Moti said.

of Marcos should be put in a proper court motion or pleading. Herrera agreed and then set the continuation of the pre-trial on Wednesday next week, August 10. The Sandiganbayan, in a June 22 ruling, gave Marcos another chance to present his evidence to defend himself in connection with Civil Case 0014, saying such move “is in the higher interest of substantial justice, and, considering the nature of the case where defendants stand to lose their properties.” The presentation was set for July 7. On July 7, the Sandiganbayan granted Marcos’ camp’s motion to defer the proceedings to August 5 since, according to Plaza back then, they were given only a short period to prepare.

LTO chief tells IT contractor to improve, or quit SHAPE up or ship out. Newly-installed Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief, Assistant Secretary Teofilo Guadiz III issued this warning as he looks at the possibility of replacing the agency’s current foreign information technology (IT) contractor due to alleged poor performance and involvement in a criminal case. In a media interview during the 1st Regional Directors’ Conference in Quezon City, Guadiz said that he has received reports on the regular glitches of the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS), the LTO’s online portal developed by Dermalog, which has slowed down transactions in various LTO offices nationwide. He cited mounting complaints about the slow processing of driver’s license applications, which takes up to a week from its previous turnaround time of only two hours. Most of these complaints were being shared via social media, which he said put the LTO in a bad light. The LTO chief was also apprised about the qualified theft case filed against Dermalog by its local partner, the Verzontal Builders, Inc. at the Quezon City prosecutor’s office. Dermalog has partnered with Verzontal and two other companies, Holy Family Printing Corp., and Microgenesis Software, Inc. for the bidding of the P3.19-billion DOTr Road Transportation Infrastructure Project (LTO-Component A), which pertains to the LTMS. Guadiz plans to meet with the officials of Dermalog next week to inquire into the IT contractor’s action plans to resolve the issues of LTMS, specifically the driver’s license application and motor vehicle registration systems. Meanwhile, Guadiz has started calling on other eligible IT providers to participate in the possible bidding of the project on system automation to improve the services of the agency to the public. Jun David

Ex-newsman takes oath as DSWD Usec VETERAN newsman Jerica Francis Javier has been appointed as the new Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary for Operations. Javier, who has worked as a media practitioner for over 25 years, took his oath on Tuesday, August 2. As a journalist, he has been a staunch proponent of promoting bet- Javier ter-living conditions for the Filipinos. Javier covered the overseas Filipino workers communities in such countries as Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Macau, China, Singapore, and New Zealand. Among his notable accomplishments as a newsman was his reporting on illegal drug transactions inside the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) as a segment producer on TV 5. He also covered Philippine National Police

(PNP) and the Department of National Defense (DND) for almost 10 years for the Journal Group of Publications. Javier has been working as an executive producer of the Erwin Tulfo Center for Media and Public Service since April 2017. He also produced investigative reports as a senior segment producer at TV 5 Aksyon Prime News from November 2010 to March 2017. Javier wrote columns for People’s Tonight since January 2011. The 39-year-old journalist-turned public servant began his career as a reporter of the Liberty Newspaper from May 1997 to December 1997. He also worked for People’s Balita from December 1997 to May 1998 and for Philippine Tribune from May 1998 to February 1999. Jun David

MOBILE ATMS. Landbank president and chief executive officer Cecilia CBoromeo, along with Manila Mayor Maria Sheilah Lacuna-Pangan and Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto, lead the blessing and inauguration of the Landbank mobile ATMs at the Plaza Rajah Sulayman in Malate, Manila. Norman Cruz

Opinion FVR’s template of good governance

LAST July 31, Fidel V. Ramos (FVR), the 12thpresident of the country from 1992 to 1998, died from COVID complications. He was 94 years old. It is interesting that FVR died the day before the country would commemorate the death anniversary of Cory Aquino, the president he succeeded, who died on August 1, 2009. Cory and FVR were both good presidents of the Philippines but for different reasons. Cory led the restoration of democracy in the Philippines; Ramos defended that democracy as a soldier and, as president, showed its potential for nation-building. Contrary to what is portrayed by the movie Maid in Malacanang, Marcos Sr was ousted, driven out by the Filipino people. I know that for a fact as I was there in the gates of the palace that night the Marcoses left to celebrate our liberation from dictatorship. FVR was instrumental in that happening. FVR is my hero and, as far as I’m concerned, one of the best Presidents the country has ever had. In fact, I would count only Manuel Quezon as arguably better than FVR. I am biased of course in saying this because, at 35 years old when I was appointed, I was one of the youngest serving Cabinet Undersecretaries during the FVR administration. It was in January 1996 that I was appointed to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, thanks to then DENR Secretary Victor O. Ramos who recommended me for the job. I actually didn’t know both Ramoses personally although VOR knew of my reputation as an environmental activist and climate expert. VOR would later tell me that FVR immediately approved my appointment, commenting after he saw my curriculum vitae, ”Where did you get this guy?” During his term as president, FVR navigated the country into still waters as it was buffeted by debilitating crises one after another. There was the power shortage, the crippling Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 that devastated many Asian countries, and the Flor Contemplacion debacle. He initiated economic reforms that opened up the economy to foreign investments, literally freed up the skies and the air waves from monopolies, made peace with the Moro National Liberation Front, and advanced negotiations with the National Democratic Front. I was assigned to assist in both negotiations and can attest the seriousness with which FVR approached the issue of peace in our country. One of his best policy actions was the repeal of the Anti-Subversion Law. He would have been appalled at red-tagging.. As a young impressionable official of the DENR, it was truly gratifying to see that FVR was genuinely committed to sustainable development. FVR boasted about us when the DENR disallowed the building of what would have been the largest cement plant for the world in Bolinao, a town in FVR’s home province of Pangasinan. He liked that the Philippines was described in the international press as The Green Tiger

of Asia. FVR was hands on in the Kyoto climate negotiations and was thrilled when US President Bill Clinton called him to enlist the help of the Philippines in concluding the negotiations in its final days. He sent me and Secretary Ramos the thank you note of Clinton and congratulated us for our work in Kyoto. On a personal note, he would bring me to provincial Cabinet meetings and put me on the hot seat to answer questions about mining. There were insinuations in the press, fed by vested interests, that I was a communist and not to be trusted. But FVR never believed that. Up to the last time I saw him, just before the pandemic, he would also tell everyone around us that he was very proud of me and the work I continued to do.

FVR reminds us that we can be a great country and not the bickering, conflictdriven, and disunited nation that Marcos, Erap, GMA, PNoy, and Digong have given us As he did when I worked for him, FVR would continue to send me notes sharing his thoughts and ideas about sustainable development. FVR’s leadership style should be emulated and become a template for future administrations: Complete staff work, a consensus building and inclusive approach to decision making, a global perspective, a passion for peace, adherence to democratic principles and processes, a total commitment to levelling the playing field, modernization of our economy and government processes, reforming the tax system, and an emphasis on the social reforms, basic decency, peaceful settlement of social conflicts, and, above all, his belief that we can overcome our differences and tribalism and come together as one Team Philippines. FVR was not only a stabilizer but a unifier as well. He nurtured unity amidst diversity. Others would exploit those differences or pitted us against each other – even for good causes like national security, social reforms, anti-corruption, and the war vs drugs. As a pragmatist, Ramos not only acknowledged that there were challenges but at the same time sought to resolve these issues through unity. FVR’s attitude is one we badly need today as we continue to face the COVID pandemic and the imminent threat of another health emergency – the Monkeypox – dangling over our heads. FVR reminds us that we can be a great country and not the bickering, conflict-driven, and disunited nation that Marcos, Erap, GMA, PNoy, and Digong have given us. I can only hope that Marcos Jr would follow the FVR template of governance. Website; tonylavina.com. Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

Bank gone rogue EvEryman By Richard Orsino THERE is now a clamor among some members of the House of Representatives to open a congressional inquiry into what some conservative banking observers call a bank’s abhorrent arm-twisting of its client. Reports exposing a client’s financial standing, which is uncalled for, have been publicized. Recently, some media outlets have reported that a local bank has started to take steps to foreclose the loan collateral of a businessmanclient for allegedly defaulting on his bank payments. One news item declared it to be the “largest corporate default in Philippine history.” The quesion is: Is it prudent to drag the media into a client-to-debtor issue that can be properly and ethically addressed through closed-door negotiations? Pieces of information about the client’s finances are published in both traditional and social media. If the objective is simply to obligate the client to settle his payments, why bring it out to the media? Is the bank eyeing to also embarrass the client in public? Whatever agenda the bank has behind the expose of its client’s financial standing, resorting to leaking information to the media, the action is outrageous and unthinkable – ironically in line with the institution’s catchy marketing slogan. So, this is the way to deal with the client’s unpaid debt: exposing him. Whether bogus or not, the information

released to the media should be enough of a cause to trigger a congressional inquiry in aid of legislation. It has set a precedent that puts in danger the confidential nature of bank transactions. While it may be possible that the news releases were part of a smear drive against the particular client, the continuing defamation by the bank will likely put the integrity of the whole banking community in question.

We cannot afford to have banks and other financial institutions going berserk and rogue, perform these seemingly unethical and almost predatory practices especially now that the nation is facing an economic crisis After all, banking is a public trust. How can we trust banking institutions if they can simply disclose information the minute they deem it comfortable to let loose? What happens to the bank secrecy law that stipulates non-disclosure of banking transactions and details, such as information on clients’ activation of other banking services like loans and other financial transactions?

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2022

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EDITORIAL

Is the no-contact policy too oppressive?

HE No Contact Apprehension Policy is an idea whose time has come.

The use of Closed Circuit TV to identify and apprehend traffic violators 24 hours a day is the most modern, efficient way to instill discipline and make our roads safer for everyone. The Metro Manila Development Authority was the first to implement such programs, covering major thoroughfares, especially along EDSA. The MMDA must be doing it right and efficiently that we could rarely hear complaints from motorists. The agency was right when it did not totally eliminate the presence of enforcers in areas where CCTV cameras were installed. Both the CCTV and the enforcers were there to complement each other in manning the intersections. The payment system was smooth and the fines are reasonable and just within the range of penalties imposed by the Land Transportation Office, the national government’s authority in land transport policies. The most common violations on the road are disobeying traffic rules like beating the red light, driving on prohibited roads like entering a one-way street, illegal turns, or overtaking. Under LTO,

these violators are each fined P1,000. Disobedience to traffic control signals and signs; obstruction of pedestrian lanes; driving on the yellow box, over speeding; non-wearing of helmet for motorcycle riders; and disregard for lane markings cost P2,000 in fines.

The most common violations on the road are disobeying traffic rules like beating the red light, driving on prohibited roads like entering a one-way street, illegal turns, or overtaking Then Manila City came up with its own sets of penalties which are much higher. Interest on unpaid penalties is also imposed, unlike the MMDA which only reports to the LTO “with a request that its registration not be renewed until the penalties or fines are fully settled.” A passenger-app rider who was caught by NCAP several times had his penalties ballooned to P70,000. One taxi driver was caught one night with two violations called “stepping on the line” and had to

shell out P7,000. So much to pay for seemingly negligible violations that may have not even caused traffic to stall or harm other road users. Is NCAP anti-poor? Are the intersections equipped enough to fit NCAP implementation? But then again, wrong is wrong. It is just hoped that NCAP is not becoming a money-making venture for an LGU, and its partner operator, instead of a tool to instill discipline on the road. After Manila, other cities have followed suit like Quezon City and Valenzuela, and more are on the chase. This early, some transport groups are calling on the LGUs imposing NCAP to address confusing rules. Riders are requesting that NCAP be implemented only on intersections with traffic lights that have a timer to guide the motorists. Several transport groups also claim, in a joint statement, that “the fines (are) oppressive and disproportionate to violations committed under (the) circumstances.” Meanwhile, hard-headed public utility vehicle drivers -- especially those whose jeepneys have no record on LTO (colorum), continue – to load and unload on prohibited zones, e-trike drivers make wrong turns and beat red lights and cause massive clogging on intersections and go scot-free. LGUs must also invest in infrastructure to make this work efficiently. And be reasonable to poor motorists.

Pelosi’s political stunt to bluff China BOTH the United States and Taiwan are acting like desperate children seeking the attention of the world as if to tell the international community that they are still a force to reckon with. The US and China are shamelessly wooing friends that should any of the latter falter to either of the former’s condition, they would readily punish them to isolation or slap them with economic sanction for failure to toe the line. The US has denigrated its approach to diplomacy to such abominable level. China has shown to the world that diplomacy has maintained its high level of diplomacy by not allowing emotion to prevail over sanity and irrationality as waged by the US. The US has lost its composure as shown by its irrational approach of constantly and consistently using sanctions on countries that violate its self-imposed red lines. To people of sober minds but guided by their sense of practicality, the question is: What if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made her visit to Taiwan an official one? Yes, she was welcomed by Tsai Ing-wen, but did the US gain anything from that political stunt? It would have been totally different if Pelosi required Taiwan to break diplomatic relations with China or urged the Taiwanese government to declare independence from China or allowed the government of Taiwan to purchase offensive weapons, including nuclear weapons, from the US which could clearly be interpreted as intended to make war with China rather than merely provoke China into war. But in this case, the visit of Pelosi to Taiwan was merely intended to vex China on how far it could go along in its childish game of provoking China. In the vernacular, anybody who enters into this game, “‘ika nga, ang pikon ay laging talo.” That is exactly what those provocateurs wanted to happen. In deeper analysis of what Pelosi did, one rightly stated her provocative action: that if China violently reacted like going to war with the US, China would find itself in difficult situation. Even if the action taken by Pelosi was merely to provoke China, is it worth the cause to allow it to plunge into war for which US purposely sought to happen? Most important, heads of states or heads of government who could read the mind of Pelosi snubbed her visit because they value more We cannot afford to have banks and other financial institutions going berserk and rogue, perform these seemingly unethical and almost predatory practices especially now that the nation is facing an economic crisis.

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

their trade with China than in giving luster to the trouble-making adventure of one US legislator. Even South Korean President Yoon SukYeol did not welcome Pelosi at the airport, probably saying that even her own president did not endorse her sneaky visit to Taiwan. Probably, President Suk-Yeol has more to lose for South Korea’s economy than in attending to political gimmickry by an old wag in US politics. In fact, it was embarrassing for the Singaporean President to welcome Pelosi at the airport.

It seems this female version (Nancy Pelosi) of Rip Van Winkle lawmaker refuses to wake up to the reality that China has emerged not only as a political and military power to reckon with but an economic power most countries must deal with for their own economic survival Now that the visit is over, the focus of public attention will now be on the action taken by China and not on the provocative visit of Pelosi. Had China reacted violently, the US would be placed in a completely defensive position until such time the public would forget the issue, and instead twist it to aggression committed by China to a defenseless renegade island. In fact, Nancy Pelosi is now talking much of her self-style crusade as a fight for democracy. But since when has the issue of freedom and democracy been the center of the struggle between China and Taiwan? What China should do is to monopolize its clear advantage, which is its economic edge over Taiwan. On this particular issue, nobody can challenge China, not even the members of the European Union. Fighting them on this uncontestable issue is It is fair and justifiable to remind banks that under the current situation, the stability of the entire banking and financial systems is imperative. Congress may need to review and amend the

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

for China to retrace the root cause of the envy that country has lately been getting from the West. All of a sudden, the West, which has been the promoter of imperialism, introduced slavery and colonialism to human civilization as their enemy and threat to their so-called global order. Since China has emerged as a successful world economic power, the West, led principally by the US, has been targeting China as a threat to their global dominance and world order, and the US has taken Taiwan as their guinea pig to fight for the dying cause of US imperialism. The launching by China of its Belt and Road Initiative, the subsequent creation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in June 2001, and the formation of the BRICS as a political organization are some proofs on how China has become an economic giant to reckon with. Pelosi is acting as the spoil breaker for the US against China. The US as an empire has become so desperate that it raises issue to every country that breaks diplomatic relations with Taiwan, such as the tiny Solomon Islands. Practically, all countries in the Pacific Ocean have established ties with China except those areas that remain under the control of the US like Guam and the Marianas. China even managed to penetrate most areas in Latin America where it considers as its last bastion of that infamous Monroe doctrine. Most pitiful is that most members of the United Nations have abandoned the US by joining the Chinese and Russian-sponsored political and financial institutions. The whole game of wanting to capture friends through diplomacy or blackmail has become paramount to US modus operandi just to keep afloat that Taiwan is still very much around to make some nasty adventurism for the US. This explains why Nancy Pelosi acted like that of American cartoon call “wonder woman” – thinking she can still turn the tide against China by making that sneak trip to Taiwan in blatant disregard of the One-China Policy promulgated in the Shanghai communiqué for the sole purpose of provoking China into war with the US over Taiwan. It seems this female version of Rip Van Winkle lawmaker refuses to wake up to the reality that China has emerged not only as a political and military power to reckon with but an economic power most countries must deal with for their own economic survival. (rpkapunan@gmail.com).

General Banking Act. To this, we agree. (Richard Orsino is a retired executive who worked for three decades in the telecommunications industry.)

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Jimbo Owen Gulle

Associate Editors News Editor City Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

World

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Iran nuclear talks restart, US urging Tehran to take deal

BLOODY EVIDENCE. A woman with fake blood stains brandishes a paper reading ‘Olenivka’ during a protest of friends and relatives of Azov battalion servicemen of Russian-controlled prison in Olenivka near Donetsk, following the recent strikes that killed Olenivka’s Ukrainian prisoners, in Kyiv on August 4. A US official accused Moscow of preparing to plant fake evidence to make it look like the recent mass killing of Ukrainian prisoners in an attack on a Russian-controlled prison was caused by Ukraine. AFP

VIENNA—Negotiators kicked off a fresh round of talks over Iran’s nuclear program in Vienna on Thursday, seeking to salvage the agreement on Tehran’s atomic ambitions. Officials from world powers and Iran were meeting in the Austrian capital for the first time since March, when negotiations, which began in 2021 to reintegrate the United States into the agreement, stalled. A senior EU official said progress was being made on some of the remaining obstacles, including guarantees that the United States would not scupper the deal by going back on its word in the future. “We have now quite substantial

More grain ships leave Ukraine amid military tactics controversy K YIV—Three ships loaded with grain for the global market left Ukraine on Friday, amid a mushrooming controversy over accusations that the war-torn country is violating international law and endangering civilians in its defense against Russia’s invasion.

The vessels loaded with more than 57,000 tonnes of Ukrainian grain departed Black Sea ports under a recent agreement between Moscow and Kyiv

Trapped Mexican miners’ families pray for miracle AGUJITA, Mexico—Dozens of rescuers battled Thursday to free 10 workers trapped in a flooded coal mine in northern Mexico, where desperate relatives waited for news more Manila than 24 hours after a cave-in. Standard As night fell again in Coahuila TODAY state, family members cried and comforted each other while hopes of finding survivors dimmed with each passing hour. “What we want is for them to retrieve the bodies,” Angelica Montelongo said with a sad and tired look, before summoning up new hope that her brother Jaime would be rescued. “But hey, God willing, right? You have to have faith that they’re alive,” she said. Soldiers, emergency workers and rescue dogs were deployed to the mine in Agujita in the municipality of Sabinas after the latest disaster to strike Mexico’s main coal-producing region. “What I want with all my soul is that we rescue the miners,” President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told reporters in Mexico City. “We must not lose faith. We must not lose hope,” he added. Five miners managed to escape alive after the cave-in Wednesday and were taken to hospital, civil defense national coordinator Laura Velazquez said, adding that two had been discharged. “Time is crucial here,” she said. Authorities said the mine’s three shafts descended 60 meters (200 feet) and the floodwater inside was 34 meters deep. AFP

aimed at easing a global food shortage. The government in Kyiv said on social media two ships carrying Ukrainian maize—the Maltese-flagged Rojen and the Turkish Polarnet—set off from Chornomorsk while the Panama-flagged Navistar departed Odessa. “Our main goal is to increase the transshipment volume in our ports. We have to process 100 carriers per month to be able to export the necessary amount of foodstuffs,” said Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov. Grain shipments have resumed under a deal struck last month between Kyiv and Moscow—mediated by Turkey and under the aegis of the UN— in a bid to alleviate a crisis where food prices have soared in several countries. But the rare diplomatic win has been

overshadowed by a report Thursday in which Amnesty International listed incidents in 19 cities and towns where Ukrainian forces appeared to have put civilians in harm’s way by establishing bases in residential areas. Victim blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky equated the accusations to victim blaming in an evening address in which he said the rights group had sought to offer “amnesty (to) the terrorist state and shift the responsibility from the aggressor to the victim”. “There is no condition, even hypothetically, under which any Russian strike on Ukraine becomes justified. Aggression against our state is unprovoked, invasive, and terrorist,” he added. “If someone makes a report in which

the victim and the aggressor are supposedly equal in some way... then this cannot be tolerated.” After a four-month investigation, Amnesty said it had found that the Ukrainian military had established bases in schools and hospitals, and launched attacks from populated areas, asserting that the tactics violated international humanitarian law. The group noted, however, that the tactics “in no way justify Russia’s indiscriminate attacks”, which have battered civilian populations. On Friday, the Ukrainian presidency reported Russian bombardments targeting several towns and villages, including Nikopol and Kryvyi Rig in the east, where houses and a gas station were damaged by shelling. AFP

(MS-JUL. 30/ AUG. 6 & 13, 2022)

Erdogan hopes to sound out Putin on Syria, Ukraine wars

ISTANBUL—Ending the war in Ukraine and starting a new one in Syria are expected to dominate talks on Friday between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Turkish leader will be riding high from the diplomatic success of helping orchestrate the resumption of Ukrainian grain shipments across the Black Sea when he flies to Sochi for his second talks with Putin in just 17 days. But there are tensions. Erdogan was told by Putin in Tehran last month that Russia remains opposed to any new offensive that Turkey might be planning against Kurdish militants in northern Syria. Analysts believe these strains form part of the “competitive cooperation” that has defined the two leaders’ relation over the past 20 years. “Russia’s war on Ukraine has restored Turkey’s self image as a key geopolitical player and given Erdogan more visibility than at any time in the last few years,” European Council of Foreign Relations fellow Asli Aydintasbas wrote in a report last week. “Most Turks support their country’s balancing act and quasi-neutral position between the West and Russia.” CYAN MAGENTA Attempts YELLOW by NATO BLACK member Turkey to remain neutral in the face of Moscow’s historic standoff with the West over Ukraine are starting to pay off. Months of Turkish efforts saw Moscow and Kyiv sign a UN-backed agreement in Istanbul last month to resume grain deliveries from Ukrainian ports. The first ship from Ukraine crossed Istanbul on Wednesday. Three more ships destined for Turkey and markets in Ireland and Britain set sail on FriSHIITE RITE. In this long exposure, Shiite Muslims take part in a mourning ritual in Iraq’s southern city of Basra early on day under a landmark deal designed August 5 during the Muslim month of Muharram in the lead-up to Ashura, a 10-day period commemorating the killing of Prophet to relieve a global food crisis caused Mohammed’s grandson Imam Hussein in the battle of Karbala in year 680. AFP by the war. AFP

Malaysian flips citizenship ruling on babies born abroad PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia—Malaysia’s Court of Appeal on Friday overturned a landmark ruling that had enabled mothers with foreign spouses to automatically pass on their nationality to children born overseas. A Malaysian woman with a foreign spouse who gives birth abroad cannot automatically pass on her nationality. Similar restrictions do not apply to Malaysian men, who enjoy a straight path to citizenship for their offspring. A group of Malaysian mothers had challenged what it said were discriminatory citizenship rules, arguing they breached constitutional equality guarantees, and won before the High Court last September.

But the Southeast Asian country’s government appealed the verdict, arguing the rules were in line with the constitution. A three-judge panel, voting 2-1 on Friday, overturned the High Court’s ruling. “The government’s appeal is allowed. The High Court decision is set aside,” said judge Kamaludin Mohamad Said. He added that the High Court “cannot on its own whim and fancy rewrite constitution as it would lead to absurdity”. The mothers who had filed the case and activists, many of them in tears, said they were disappointed with the decision. Outside the court, Lavinder Kaur, 43, cried aloud as she clutched her 19-year-

old daughter’s hand. “My daughter is without any Malaysian documents. She cannot enrol in a school,” she told reporters. “Why discriminate against the women?” Gurdial Singh, a lawyer for the mothers, told AFP they would file an appeal before the Federal Court—the country’s highest tribunal. Suri Kempe, president of NGO Family Frontiers which helped bring the case to court, described the latest ruling as a “setback” but said they would fight on. Socially conservative Malaysia is among only a handful of countries worldwide with such rules, with campaigners long complaining they were discriminatory. AFP

Thai nightclub fire kills 13, probe ordered BANGKOK—Thailand’s prime minister on Friday ordered an investigation into a massive blaze that tore through a nightclub, killing at least 13 people. The fire broke out around 1:00 am (1800 GMT Thursday) at the Mountain B nightspot in Chonburi province’s Sattahip disNOTICE trict, about 150 Notice is hereby given that kilometers (90 the estate of the late Atty. miles) southeast Lydio I. Lachica, located of Bangkok. at 84 Liberation St. Galas Video footQuezon City, has been age posted by a extrajudicially settled service among his heirs as per rescue Extrajudicial Settlement showed deswith Waiver of Rights per perate revelers Doc. No. 262, Page No. fleeing the club 54, Book No. V, Series of 2022 of Atty. Arnold Cacho, screaming, their clothes ablaze, Notary Public for Manila as a huge fire

guarantees,” the official said. “It’s my understanding that Iran is happy and feels satisfied with what is in the text”. A demand by Tehran that the United States remove the country’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from the State Department’s official blacklist of “foreign terrorist organizations” has been dropped from the discussions, the official added. It will instead be handled “in the future”—after the deal. Tehran and Washington still have to agree on “issues related to sanctions lifting and a couple of nuclear questions that did not exist in March as the Iranians advanced their program”, the official said. AFP

raged in the background. The Sawang Rojanathammasathan Rescue Foundation said 13 people were killed and more than 40 injured, 14 of them seriously. The service said the blaze was accelerated by flammable acoustic foam on the walls of the club, and it took firefighters more than three hours to bring it under control. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha offered condolences to the victims’ families and said he had ordered a probe into the fire. The dead—four women and nine men—were found mostly crowded by the entrance and in the bathroom, their bodies severely burned, the service said. They were aged between 17 and 49 and all are believed to have been Thai. AFP

BIG BIRD BATH. An emu bird plays in the water at the Servion Zoo in Servion on August 4 as Switzerland experiences a heatwave. AFP

Hungary’s Orban tells US global ‘right’ must unite WASHINGTON—Right-wing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Thursday that “globalists can all go to hell,” as he invited American conservatives to join hands in a worldwide fight against progressives. The nationalist leader was a guest of honor at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Texas, where his tub-thumping speech was greeted with wild applause. “We have seen what kind of future the globalist ruling class has to offer, but we have a different future in mind. The globalists can all go to hell,” he told a cheering crowd. “We must take back the institutions in Washington and in Brussels. We must find friends and allies in one another. We must coordinate the movement of our troops because we face the same challenge.” CPAC, an annual gathering of conservative activists from around the United States, is also expected to hear from former US president Donald Trump, who has spoken admiringly of Orban. Orban’s authoritarian populism jibes with the crowd at CPAC but goes down less well at NATO and in Europe, where his support for Russia’s President Vladimir Putin puts him at odds with other leaders. His appearance Thursday comes after he provoked a storm with a speech European politicians slammed as “openly racist.” AFP

Business PSEi August 5, 2022

TOP GAINERS 1 2

MBC ABSP

LAST PRICE 8.49 10.1

% CHANGE CHANGE 2.18 34.55% 1.5 17.44%

3 4 5

FPI V MB

0.25 0.82 0.355

0.03 0.09 0.035

13.64% 12.33% 10.94%

6 7

CAT ABS

10.04 10.2

0.91 0.85

9.97% 9.09%

8 9 10

BALAI ELI ATN

0.72 0.209 0.4

0.06 0.016 0.03

9.09% 8.29% 8.11%

TOP LOSERS 1 2

FAF IPO

LAST PRICE 0.62 6.02

% CHANGE CHANGE -0.06 -8.82% -0.48 -7.38%

3 4 5

APVI FCG PBC

13.36 0.63 15.26

-1 -0.04 -0.94

-6.96% -5.97% -5.80%

6 7 8

MARC WEB NIKL

1.34 2.88 5.53

-0.08 -0.16 -0.3

-5.63% -5.26% -5.15%

9 10

RLC BSC

17 0.395

-0.9 -0.02

-5.03% -4.82%

MOST ACTIVE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

SECB SCC AC BDO SM CNVRG ACEN MONDE ICT ALI

VOLUME 29,193,530 54,371,500 1,631,810 4,672,600 630,640 23,725,900 53,683,400 20,841,200 1,739,100 11,883,400

VALUE (PHP) 2,378,773,806 2,224,589,025 1,136,283,560 546,823,025 492,313,385 475,727,425 473,791,150 326,475,690 322,922,346 309,114,530

US exports hit record $260.8b in June—data WASHINGTON, United States— American exports set another record in June, narrowing the US trade gap for the third consecutive month, according to official data Thursday. Goods and services exports rose by $4.3 billion last month to $260.8 billion, topping the prior record set in May, while imports fell by $1 billion, the Commerce Department reported. That trimmed the US trade deficit by 6.2 percent to $79.6 billion, the data showed. Sales of US goods abroad were boosted by gold, natural gas, aircraft, and foods and feeds. Petroleum exports were the highest on record at $29.1 billion, but petroleum imports also hit an all-time high of $27.8 billion, the report said. Services exports, including travel and transport, rose slightly hitting a new peak. Meanwhile, imports of autos and parts fell sharply. The US trade gap with China rebounded after narrowing in May, rising $4.7 billion to a new record of $36.9 billion on a surge in imports after dipping the prior month, the report said. That was the highest in nearly three years. Companies in recent months rushed to replenish depleted inventories amid strong demand from American shoppers, but sky-high inflation has raised concerns that consumers will pull back causing firms to become more cautious. The Federal Reserve is raising interest rates aggressively to dampen demand and cool inflation, and many families are having to spend a greater share of their incomes on staple goods. Mahir Rasheed of Oxford Economics said that despite the headwinds in the global economy “exports have maintained stronger than expected resilience.” But he cautioned that with the Fed moving to cool demand and tamp down inflation “we expect the ongoing slowdown in the economy to further arrest trade flows in the second half of 2022.” AFP

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market tumbles; ICTSI, BDO lead losers

HE stock market fell Friday on profit taking and a government report of the inflation rate hitting a 45-month high of 6.4 percent in June. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index sank 77.61 points, or 1.2 percent, to 6,405.50 on a value turnover of P12.7 billion. Losers beat gainers, 108 to 66, with 49 issues unchanged. International Container Terminal Services Inc. of business tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., the biggest port operator, dropped 1.8 percent to P184.60, while Security Bank Corp., the eighth largest lender in terms of assets, slipped 0.1 percent to 82. SM Investments Corp. of the Sy Group declined 1.5 percent to P780, while unit BDO Unibank Inc., the largest bank, also fell 1.5 percent to P116.90.

The rest of Asian equities mostly rose Friday as a drop in oil prices to preUkraine war levels stirred hopes of a slowdown in inflation and central bank interest rate hikes, while focus turns to key US jobs data later in the day. Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Jakarta, Mumbai and Singapore rose, though Bangkok and Wellington dipped. Taipei surged more than two percent on easing concerns over a conflict with Beijing, even as China conducts its largest-ever military exercises around Taiwan in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit this week. However, while markets have enjoyed a broadly positive week, optimism remains at a premium as traders fret over issues including the conflict in Eastern Europe, China’s military drills around Taiwan and a possible global recession. Crude edged up but expectations that economies will contract--dampening demand—have sent the commodity tum-

bling more than 10 percent this week, with US data indicating Americans were driving less now than in summer 2020 at the height of the pandemic. And while analysts are beating the drum of recession, traders are taking heart from the possibility of a reprieve from central bank monetary tightening. “The recent fall in oil prices, which are now trading below the levels immediately before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has contributed to the market’s perception that inflation is likely to peak soon, taking pressure off the Fed to raise rates as aggressively,” said National Australia Bank’s Rodrigo Catril. Traders will now be closely watching the release of a crucial US jobs report on Friday for a fresh snapshot of the world’s top economy. The Federal Reserve has said its rate decision will be guided by data, with signs of economic weakness seen as likely to mean any increases will be light. With AFP

HIGHER LENDING RATE.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Shaktikanta Das arrives for a press conference at the RBI headquarters in Mumbai on August 5, 2022. India’s central bank on August 5 hiked interest rates for the third time in four months, as Asia’s third-largest economy contends with a widening trade deficit and weakening currency. The RBI raised its key lending rate by 50 basis points to 5.40 percent—a level last seen in August 2019—three months after kicking off a monetary tightening cycle in May. AFP

Indonesia’s economy grew by 5.4% in Q2 JAKARTA, Indonesia—Indonesia’s economic growth accelerated in the second quarter of 2022 despite global uncertainty, official data showed Friday, thanks to soaring commodity prices and easing COVID-19 restrictions. Southeast Asia’s largest economy expanded 5.4 percent on-year in AprilJune, slightly up from 5.01 percent in the previous three months, the Central Statistics Agency said. Exports, which account for a quarter of the country’s gross domestic product, grew 19.7 percent as prices for commodities were boosted after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “The disruption of the global supply chain has led to the increase in prices of Indonesia’s key commodities, resulting in a windfall to export performance,” statistics agency head Margo Yuwono said. The easing of COVID-19 restrictions across Indonesia and increased spending during the Eid al-Fitr holiday were also a boon for domestic consumption, Yuwono added. The 5.5-percent jump in domestic consumption, which accounts for more than half of the economy, was helped by the government’s social aid for lower-income households. But Gareth Leather, senior Asia economist at Capital Economics, said growth was expected to cool in the second half of the year as commodity prices retreated and a tourism surge that came after Indonesia reopened its borders eased. “While an increase in tourism arrivals should provide a further boost to GDP in the third quarter and beyond, the boost from domestic reopening is largely over,” Leather said in a note. “In addition, the recent decline in commodity prices, along with slower global growth, will hold back exports.” Indonesia dropped quarantine requirements for all travelers with a negative PCR test in March, leading to a spike in tourist arrivals. The country welcomed more than 740,000 visitors in the first half of the year, an increase of more than 900 percent on-year. AFP

From coffee to toothpaste, Nigerians buy small as hardships bite By Camille Malplat LAGOS, Nigeria—From five grams of toothpaste to 10 milliliters of cooking oil, many Nigerians struggling with soaring prices now buy their basic necessities in small quantities packed in tiny plastic bags to be consumed on the same day. Consumer brands behind this “sachetization of the economy” see it as a creative innovation, allowing consumption for all Nigerians, the majority of whom live on less than $2 a day. But critics see the development as an economic and ecological aberration, even as Africa’s largest economy struggles with the inflationary fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine. In the streets of Lagos, the vibrant economic capital of Africa’s most populous country, small sachets are now part of the decor: they color its streets, packing the wood and tin shops found on the corner of most streets. Sitting on a stool, Ibrahim Atahire has been running his small grocery store for 30 years in a busy area of Obalende, a popular district of the megalopolis. “At my place, you can buy everything in small quantities,” said the 55-year-old trader with a streaked grey beard. On its stand, everything is sold in sachets: coffee or powdered milk for just one cup, a few grams of cereal, toothpaste for one brushing, razors packaged and sold individually, washing powder and fabric softener for a single wash. Even mosquito cream to relieve bites is sold in a package smaller than the palm of a hand. For lunch, cooking oil is purchased in sachets, as are spices, tomato sauce, crushed garlic and ginger powder. One sachet, for each ingredient and for each meal.

“I have been selling sachets for several years, but recently people can no longer afford to buy in normal quantities, so that is all I am selling now,” Atahire said. In a parallel street, Sanni Aicha was searching the stalls for the cheapest packet of cooking oil. The mother of two confides that she is “no longer getting by.” “Before I used to get oil in cans, but for two years everything has been so expensive.” 95 million poor Nigeria has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, which pushed up consumer prices in 2021 by 17 percent and forced an additional six million Nigerians into poverty. It is now suffering the fallout from the war in Ukraine. In 2022, the World Bank predicts inflation of 15.5 percent and one million more poor people, with the national poverty line calculated at $1.93 at 2011 levels per person per day. June inflation was 18 percent. In all, the number of poor people in Nigeria is expected to reach 95.1 million--nearly half of the population—by the end of this year, the institution said. “A lot of people that used to be in the middle class are now falling into poverty... People that used to consume those products at a bigger size, but they can’t afford those sizes any longer,” said Tunde Leye, an economist at SBM Intelligence risk analysts. “Big brands were losing market because people are unable to buy in big quantity, so they started to sachetize so they could reach that part of the market.” Sachets really hit the Nigerian market in the early 2010s, with brands offering consumers products in reduced quantities to entice them to try new products, says a former marketing manager for a major Eu-

A vendor hangs sachets of goods at Ibafo market, Ogun State in southwest Nigeria, on July 28, 2022. Many Nigerians now buy their basic necessities in small quantities packed in tiny plastic bags to be consumed on the same day. AFP

ropean brand in Nigeria. But in 2016, when the country fell into recession after the fall in oil prices, “everybody was buying sachet. So we started to sell every product in sachet,” the manager said. Since then, the economic situation has not improved much, so demand for small packaging has exploded, said one director of a plastics factory in the country. “Inflation is so high. Sanitary pads are now sold as single units,” said the entrepreneur, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Floods The sun is setting in Obalende, and Aicha is scouring the streets in search of the most competitive price. “Buying in sachets almost every day

costs me more at the end of the month,” said the peanut seller. For cooking oil it is on average 20 percent more expensive, she says. This is how the poorest end up “spending more” than the others, SBM economist Leye said. All the more so in times of high inflation when the prices of sachets increase almost every day. The packaging also poses a major environmental problem, by generating “always more plastic,” said Nigerian environmental activist Oluwaseyi Moejoh. Sachets not only color the stalls of Lagos, they are also found on the ground: scattered on the potholed sidewalks or in the plastic magmas which clog its open sewers and overflow each rainy season. AFP

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, ‘India’s Warren Buffett,’ set for take-off with new airline MUMBAI, India—The world is gripped by recession fears, jet fuel prices are sky-high, and aviation is a notoriously fickle industry. But the billionaire dubbed “India’s Warren Buffett” is launching an airline on Sunday. Co-founding Akasa Air was a rare departure into entrepreneurship for Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, who made his fortune on the stock exchange as a value share investor and is often compared to the Berkshire Hathaway chairman and CEO. The 62-year-old’s entry into the capital-intensive sector has raised eyebrows, with many pointing to the checkered history of billionaire-backed airlines in

India as well as the daunting global economic outlook. “A lot of people question why I’ve started an airline. Rather than answer them, I say I’m prepared for failure,” the billionaire said at an industry event in February. “It’s better to have tried and failed than not tried at all.” Several such ventures have failed in recent years. Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya is fighting extradition from Britain on charges of financial fraud after his pet project Kingfisher Airlines went bankrupt in 2012, losing Indian banks more than $1 billion.

Disgraced entrepreneur Subrata Roy counted Air Sahara as a part of his empire for more than a decade, until consecutive losses forced a sale to fellow self-made billionaire Naresh Goyal’s Jet Airways in 2007. Jet collapsed in 2019, with many blaming the Air Sahara deal for its downfall. “People say that in order to become a millionaire, you first become a billionaire and start an aviation company,” quips Anas Rahman Junaid, founder and managing director of rich list Hurun India. But as one of the world’s fastestgrowing air travel markets, the country

of 1.4 billion people has also proved a wealth creator for some airline entrepreneurs. “The richest aviation billionaires in the world are from India: the founders of IndiGo,” Junaid says, referring to Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia— whose 2006-launched airline is India’s top domestic carrier. Barring British entrepreneur Richard Branson, whose $6-billion net worth is derived from diversified Virgin Group companies, Junaid says Gangwal and Bhatia—each worth over $4 billion— have created the most wealth from a “pureplay aviation business.” AFP

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

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2022

Business

SM Prime taps Aboitiz clean power By Alena Mae S. Flores

M PRIME Holdings Inc., one of the leading property developers in Southeast Asia, said Friday it secured a long-term clean energy supply deal with Aboitiz Power Corp. to power ts malls and other properties.

Aboitiz Power under the agreement will supply reliable and responsiblysourced energy from Tiwi and MakBan Geothermal Power Plants and PV Sinag’s power plants operated and managed by AboitizPower subsidiary Aboitiz Renewables Inc. to SM Prime. “This partnership with AboitizPower is aligned with our unwavering commitment to being a catalyst for economic growth and steward of nature. We will continue providing world-class amenities within our sustainable lifestyle cit-

ies that have been beneficial and inspirational to millions of Filipinos,” said SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim. The long-term contract will power SM Prime properties, including malls, leisure homes, offices, hotels and other establishments under the retail competition and open access regime by the end of 2022. Aboitiz Power said it was thrilled to be SM Prime’s partner in building sustainable lifestyle cities. “We thank SM Prime for trusting

us to be their partner in their transition to clean and renewable energy. It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to power various SM Prime properties with our renewable assets,” said AboitizPower senior vice president for commercial operations business unit Sandro Aboitiz. Aboitiz Power said it would expand its Cleanergy portfolio in the next ten years to support the government’s plans to boost the renewable energy industry in the country. The Department of Energy aims to increase the country’s renewable energy supply share to 35 percent by 2030. Aboitiz Power expects to have 50:50 Cleanergy and thermal capacity mix by 2030. “We consider it a great milestone for our group to be in support of SM’s transition to renewable energy and

are working to rapidly expand our renewable portfolio as the demand for Cleanergy grows. We have supported a growing number of corporations transitioning to clean and renewable energy and we are excited at the prospect of seeing a future where Cleanergy is the norm,” said Aboitiz Renewables Inc. vice president for commercial strategy, sales and engagement David Aboitiz. SM Prime said it was committed to providing safe and sustainable spaces for its stakeholders. The developer said it builds legacy communities based on the core sustainable pillars of economy, people, environment and community. SM Prime is also a key player in the SM Green Movement that aims to improve the quality of life of communities through sustainable solutions to promote a green planet, green living and a green culture.

Grab buys motorycycle taxi Move IT

SM Prime Holdings Inc. secures a long-term deal with Aboitiz Power Corp. on clean energy supply, realizing its goal of increasing its renewable portfolio to more than 50 percent. Attending a luncheon after the signing of the long-term supply agreement are (from left) SM Prime energy consultant Jaime Patinio, AboitizPower senior vice president for commercial operations Sandro Aboitiz, SM Engineering, Design and Development president Hans Sy Jr., SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim, AboitizPower president and chief executive Emmanuel Rubio, Aboitiz Renewables Inc. vice president for commercial strategy, sales and engagement David Aboitiz, AboitizPower vice president for retail James Byron Yu and SM Prime chief finance officer John Nai Peng Ong.

Japan reaffirms support to PH infrastructure development By Julito G. Rada JAPAN reaffirmed its strong support for the Philippines’ infrastructure program, citing the policy continuity from the Duterte to the Marcos administrations. Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa relayed this support during a courtesy call meeting with Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno. “The ambassador reiterated Japan’s continued support for the Philippines’ massive infrastructure program, the development of Subic Bay and Mindanao and other sectoral cooperation in health,

energy, agriculture and ICT, among other areas,” Diokno said in a statement Friday. Japan’s financial contribution to the Philippines’ nation-building efforts under the Duterte administration reached 1.38 trillion yen, above the 1-trillionyen committed by then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2017. Japan is also the Philippines’ largest provider of official development assistance, with committed loans and grants amounting to around $10.2 billion, or 31.8 percent of the country’s total ODA portfolio as of December 2021. Koshikawa said the Japanese government appreciated the continuity of the

“Build, Build, Build” program under the Marcos administration. Under the government’s Medium-Term Fiscal Framework, it seeks to sustain infrastructure spending at 5 to 6 percent of GDP annually. The Japanese government supports several big-ticket infrastructure projects in the Philippines including the Metro Manila Subway Project, North-South Commuter Railway Project, rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3, Dalton Pass East Alignment Alternative Road Project, Central Mindanao Highway Project (Cagayan de OroMalaybalay Section) and the Parañaque Spillway.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, August 5, 2022

-77.61 PTS. 6,405.50

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

712,868,039 86,232

TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES DECLINES

12,712,260,041.90 66 108

UNCHANGED

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022

BSP DONATION. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas donates money to five health

institutions as part of the month-long celebration of its 29th anniversary and corporate social responsibility. BSP Governor Felipe Medalla (right in each photo) leads the turnover of checks to Philippine Red Cross, Philippine General Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines and National Kidney and Transplant Institute. With Medalla are (from top left, clockwise) PRC chairman Richard Gordon, PGH director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, PHC executive director Dr. Joel Abanilla, NKTI executive director Dr. Romina Danguilan and LCP executive director Dr. Vincent Balanag Jr.

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

55.7120

Japan

Yen

0.007519

0.4189

Pound

1.216000

67.7458

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127393

7.0973

Switzerland

Franc

1.047120

58.3371

Canada

Dollar

0.777182

43.2984

Singapore

Dollar

0.726691

40.4854

Australia

Dollar

0.696500

38.8034

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652590

147.7811

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266241

14.8328

Brunei

Dollar

0.724061

40.3389

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000067

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.027801

1.5488

UAE

Dirham

0.272279

15.1692

Euro

1.024700

57.0881

Korea

Won

0.000768

0.0428

China

Yuan

0.148181

8.2555

India

Rupee

0.012634

0.7039

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.224417

12.5027

New Zealand

Dollar

0.629400

35.0651

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033395

1.8605 Source: BSP

Ayala Land’s income jumped 51% to P4.9b in second quarter on increased revenues By Jenniffer B. Austria PROPERTY developer Ayala Land Inc. said Friday second-quarter net income jumped 51 percent to P4.9 billion from P3.26 billion in the same period last year on the back of double-digit growth in revenues. ALI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange second-quarter consolidated revenues climbed 18 percent year-onyear to P28.7 billion amid resilient sales from office leasing and commercial lots, coupled with strong recovery in mall and

Robinsons Retail doubles net profit

ROBINSONS Retail Holdings Inc. said Friday net income more than doubled to P1.55 billion in the second quarter from P724 million in the same period last year, fueled by positive operating performance and fullquarter impact of the austerity measures implemented last year. RRHI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the second-quarter net income also exceeded the pre-pandemic level in 2019 by 44 percent. Second-quarter consolidated net sales jumped 19.8 percent to P42.9 billion from P35.8 billion a year ago. Same-stores sales rose 15.5 percent on higher transaction count across segments, given improvements in mobility and easing of border restrictions. Operating income went up 75 percent to P2 billion from previous year’s level of P1.16 billion. “Our banners performed very well during the second quarter. Our cost-efficiency efforts have also continued to yield positive results,” RRHI president and chief executive Robina Gokongwei Pe said. Jenniffer B. Austria

Globe, partners eye longest cable network

GLOBE Telecom Inc. and its partners are spending $150 million to build the longest submarine cable network to boost connectivity across the country. Globe, Eastern Communications and telecommunications and digital solutions provider InfiniVAN on July 14 began the deployment of fiber cables to build the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network. PDSCN is a joint project among the three companies to improve both mobile and broadband connectivity and fiberize previously unserved areas across the three main island groups. Executives of Globe, Eastern Communications InfiniVAN, and Japanese vendor partner Kokusai Cable Ship Co. Ltd. gave a simple sendoff to state-of-the-art ship Cable Infinity, the “number one high-technology cable ship in the world” in ceremonies in Subic Bay, Zambales. Darwin G. Amojelar

BDO Insure offers travelers’ protection

By Darwin G. Amojelar GRAB Philippines said Friday it ventured into ride-hailing motorcycle services with the acquisition of Move IT, a local transport solutions provider. “We concluded a deal to acquire Move IT’s operations in the Philippines,” Grab Philippines senior director for strategy and operations Ronald Roda said, without disclosing the purchase cost. “What will happen moving forward is we will keep Move IT as a separate entity. There’s a change in ownership, but there’s no merger of operations,” Roda said. Roda said Grab would help Move IT further scale its motorcycle taxi fleet and improve the efficiency of its platform to help serve more commuters. Move IT has less than 1,000 driverpartners on its fleet. Roda said the company was expecting to hire at least 6,000 driverpartners within three months. Grab Philippines will also work with Move IT to further enhance its safety and service quality standards and be at par with Grab’s motorcycle taxi services across Southeast Asia. Move IT will be independently operated using the existing technology and app and will continue to comply with the standards set by the Department of Transportation’s Motorcycle Taxi Pilot Program. Move IT chairman Francis Juan will continue to lead the company, leveraging his deep knowledge on the motorcycle taxi industry to better address market gaps and leverage untapped market opportunities. “As we turn a new chapter for our country, Grab Philippines will continue to play an active role in bringing forward the spirit of bayanihan and value-creation—and this milestone that we humbly share with Move IT clearly expresses that,” said Grab Philippines country head Grace Vera Cruz. “As one of the first tech platforms who firmly believed in the potential and value of the Philippine market ten years ago, we’re doubling-down on our commitment to outserving the needs of the Filipino people, and we are optimistic that through Move IT, we will create more livelihood opportunities, spur greater economic activities, and help improve every Filipino’s daily commute,” she said.

IN BRIEF

hotel business. The company said first-half net income also rose 34 percent to P8.1 billion as revenues improved by 9 percent to P53.3 billion. “The increased economic activity has enabled our various business segments to generate quarter-on-quarter improvements and support the growth of our diversified real-estate portfolio,” said ALI president and chief executive Bernard Vincent Dy. “We look forward to sustaining our recovery for the rest of the year, anchored

on the country’s stable fundamentals and new socio-economic agenda,” he said. Property development revenues reached P34.1 billion in the first six months as robust commercial lot sales cushioned lower residential revenues. ALI said residential revenues fell 9 percent to P27.4 billion on stretched payment terms arising from the challenges of the pandemic, while office-for-sale revenues went down 28 percent to P1.5 billion on limited inventory. Revenues from commercial lots more

than doubled to P5.3 billion on strong demand at Arca South, Nuvali and Vermosa. The company’s commercial leasing business, which includes shopping centers, office buildings, hotels and resorts generated revenues of P14.6 billion in the first half, a 54-percent increase from a year earlier. Revenues from shopping centers doubled to P6.87 billion on higher basic rent and tenant sales, while revenues from office leasing increased 12 percent to P5.39 billion, owing to the contribution of newly-completed offices.

BDO Insure, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BDO Unibank Inc., offers financial and emergency medical protection to travelers through its comprehensive travel insurance plans with COVID-19 coverage as more Filipinos are traveling again. Sixty percent of the respondents, who are based all over the country, plan to travel domestically this year, while 50 percent are ready to fly to international destinations, according to a recent survey commissioned by an airline company. The travel insurance plans available through BDO Insure include coverage for emergency medical treatment for COVID-19, travel inconveniences benefits and access to a 24/7 emergency travel assistance hotline. “Although we try our best to plan our trips to the very last detail, sometimes, we still encounter unexpected events and inconveniences such as baggage loss, flight delays, trip termination or cancellation, or worse, medical emergencies. Having travel insurance provides the financial protection for these unwanted events,” said BDO Insure general manager Ma. Theresa Tan.

Gov’t debt climbed by 14.6% to record P12.8t in end-June OUTSTANDING government debt climbed by more than P1.6 trillion, or 14.6 percent, in June to hit a record P12.79 trillion from P11.17 trillion a year ago as the government borrowed more to fund infrastructure projects and COVID response efforts, data from the Bureau of the Treasury. The Treasury said the government debt also rose P296 billion, or 2.4 percent on a month-on-month basis from P12.49 trillion registered in May. “The national government’s debt portfolio climbed by P296.06 billion or 2.4 percent in June due to the net issuances of domestic and external loans as well as currency adjustments. Of the total debt stock, 31.5 percent was sourced externally while 68.5 percent were domestic borrowings,” the Treasury said. Domestic debt amounted to P8.77 trillion as of end-June, up by P101.66 billion or 1.2 percent from the endMay 2022 level. “For the month, the increase in domestic debt was due to the net issuance of P96.30 billion in government securities and the P5.36 billion impact of local currency depreciation against the US dollar. From the end-December 2021 level, outstanding domestic debt has increased by P596.70 billion or 7.3 percent,” the Treasury said. External debt amounted to P4.02 trillion, up by P194.40 billion or 5.1 percent from the May tally. The Treasury traced the increment in external debt to the impact of local currency depreciation against the US dollar amounting to P186.94 billion and the net availment of external financing amounting to P43.18 billion. This offset the P35.72-billion effect of net depreciation against the US dollar on third-currency denominated obligations. Broken down by composition, commercial loans accounted for 55.4 percent of total external debt, while multilateral and bilateral loans represented 34.2 percent and 10.5 percent, respectively. Total national government guaranteed obligations increased P14.21 billion or 3.6 percent month-on-month to P413.93 billion as of end-June. Julito G. Rada

Sports

Coach Ayo, Chooks 3x3 part ways ALDIN Ayo has resigned from his post as head trainer of Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3. Ayo admitted it was a difficult decision that he had to make with a heavy heart. The 44-year-old mentor has to take care of his mother who has been diagnosed with stage four cancer. Ayo is an only child, hence his desire to be there for his mother and devote his time and attention to her. “It was a tough decision to leave Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas but I need to be on my mom’s side in the battle that she is facing,” said Ayo about his 69-year-old mom. “I’m very grateful to Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. and Boss Ronald Mascariñas for giving me the opportunity to train and coach the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 National Team and to represent the country through the sport we love most. I’m forever grateful.” Ayo replaced Eric Altamirano as the head trainer of Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 back in November 2020. Under Ayo’s watch, he led the Chooks team to greater heights, capped by winning the 2022 Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3x3 Super Quest—the country’s first title in the pro circuit since 2014. “We are thankful for the service of Coach Aldin Ayo not just to our teams but also to our organization. He brought a lot of changes to the way our team was run,” said Mascariñas. “Coach Aldin will always be family to us and we will be here for him and his family in these trying times.” Chico Lanete will be the interim head coach of Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 in the meantime. For his part, Ayo vowed in helping with the transition.

Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. and Boss Ronald Mascariñas (left) and Aldin Ayo

Spotlight on youngsters as IRONKIDS blasts off YOUNGSTERS take center stage ahead of the iron-willed men of endurance racing as they clash for top honors in four age-group divisions in the IRONKIDS Philippines reeling off Saturday at The Mactan Newtown in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. A total cast of 222 sets out for the swim-bike-run competition over varying distances in each race category of the junior version of the IRONMAN, all eager and ready to get going after being sidelined for a long while due to pandemic. The centerpiece 13-14 class drew 54 entries, including 37 boys, in a race set over over 400-m swim, 12-km bike and 3-km run. The 6-8 group will be held over the 100m, 2km bike and 1km run distance; the 9-10 bracket will feature 200m swim, 6km bike and 1.5km run, and the 11-12 category is slated over the 400m swim, 6km bike and 2km run. Action starts at 5 a.m. for the transition open and race briefing with the 13-14 category firing off at 6 a.m. to be followed by the 11-12 side at 6:40 a.m., the 9-10 group at 7:20 a.m. and the 6-8 division at 8 a.m., according to the organizing The IRONMAN Group/Sunrise Events, Inc. The 11-12 side includes 25 boys and 20 girls while 40 participants mix it up for the 9-10 trophy, including 23 girls. The 6-8 field features 14 boys and 15 girls. For details, or visit http://ironkidsphil.com/site/ or social media accounts ironkidsphil on Facebook and Instagram. Meanwhile, over 2,000 entries from 46 nations are all primed for the Megaworld IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines presented by AIA Vitality unwrapping tomorrow, also at The Mactan Newtown, where the stakes are high and the test a lot tougher than past IM staging given a new, refreshed 1.9 km swim, 90km bike and 21k run racecourse.

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2022

CJ Perez of San Miguel Beer pierces the defense of Meralco as he scores on a layup in Game 2 of the Beermen’s semifinal outing against the Meralco Bolts at the Araneta Coliseum. The Bolts won, 99-88.

Meralco gifts returning Black 99-88 Game 2 win over SMB By Peter Atencio

HE Meralco Bolts celebrated the return of coach Norman Black with a 99-88 triumph over the San Miguel Beermen on Friday in Game 2 of their best-of-seven 2022 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup semiﬁnals at the Araneta Coliseum.

Cliff Hodge gave Black a warm welcome as he struck with 17 points and 14 rebounds to help the Bolts equalize the series at 1-all. Allein Maliksi knocked in 15 points for the Bolts, who also relied on Aaron Black and Reymar Jose in the final period to move them out of trouble.

Black scored 14 points with Chris Newsome, while Jose chipped in 13 for the Bolts, who will seek a 2-1 lead against the Beermen in Game 3 on Sunday, also at the Big Dome. Jose banged in 10 points, while Black shot seven points in the last period as the Bolts proved steadier in the dying minutes. Junemar Fajardo unloaded 22

points, including a layup underneath that allowed the Beermen to stay close for the last time at 74-76, with 10:30 left. But Jose’s triple followed by two charities provided answers for every basket scored by Fajardo in the last 8:50 as Meralco went on to move out of range, 83-76. The Bolts then started protecting a nine-point edge, 85-76, following Black’s sniping. “We wanted everybody got involved in the offense. It made it even more difficult for teams to stop us, more manageable if a lot of guys out there are scoring,” said Black. The American mentor earlier left the team’s coaching chores to Luigi Trillo after staying for weeks in the

United States to grieve the death of his mother. Fajardo made 10 points in the final period, but they were not enough to stop the Bolts, who moved up by 10 on Raymund Almazan’s layup in the final 4:19, 90-80. The Scores Meralco 99 – Hodge 17, Black 15, Maliksi 15, Newsome 14, Jose 13, Banchero 9, Quinto 9, Almazan 7, Pasaol 0, Baclao 0, Pascual 0, Belo 0, Caram 0. San Miguel 88 – Fajardo 22, Lassiter 16, Perez 14, Cruz 11, Manuel 7, Herndon 6, Tautuaa 5, Brondial 4, Ross 3, Enciso 0. Quarters: 34-20, 51-48, 76-72, 9988.

Alegarbes caps PH swim drive with 3rd straight gold in 11th ASEAN Para Games SURAKARTA, Indonesia—The prolific Filipino swimmers sustained their winning drive Friday by adding three more golds, with rookie Ariel Joseph Alegarbes completing a sweep of his three events in another meet record in the 11th ASEAN Para Games at the Jatadiri Sports Complex in Semarang. Alegarbes took off like a torpedo in ruling the men’s 50-meterfreestyle S14 race in 25.74 seconds in securing his third straight gold medal, duplicating the feat of female teammate Angel Otom last Thursday in the stint supported by the Philippine Sports Commission. Fellow newcomer Marco Tinamisan sustained his sweet performance with his second straight gold medal while Gary Bejino finally scored a breakthrough after two runner-up finishes in capturing his first in the swimming competition. Tinamisan bagged the gold in the men’s 100-meter freestyle S3 event in a winning time of 1:54.15 while Tokyo Paralympic veteran Bejino ruled the men’s 100-meter freestyle S6 race in 1:13.80 to raise the PH para swimming team’s gold

total to 12. The PH para-athletes, who surpassed their golden haul of 20in the 2017 Malaysian edition after their sweep of the men’s chess P1 individual and team events last Thursday afternoon, hiked their output to 24 golds, 23 silvers and 43 bronzes with swimming’s latest contribution. They have already exceeded the previous tally of 20 gold, 20silver and 29 bronze medals the country won in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur five years ago, and, if the 11th ASEAN Para Games official website is to be followed, would place the PH campaigners in fourth overall. The present APG website tally shows Malaysia precariously holding to the fourth place with a tally of 24-13-5. Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo, who is back in Manila, credited this sterling showing to the late President Fidel V. Ramos, who had urged Barredo to form the para sports group way back in 1996, which was then known as the Philippine Sports Association of Differently-abled Athletes.

“It was FVR (Ramos’s popular initials) who initiated the formation of the para movement in the country so we pay our tribute to the late President in offering the showing of our athletes in the 11th ASEAN Para Games in Indonesia to him,” he said. “This is totally unexpected but once again I thank my father Abner for introducing me to swimming so I could overcome my asthma as a young boy,” said Alegarbes, who also won gold and silver medal in the Asian Youth Para Games in Manama, Bahrain last December. Among those contributing silvers to the Philippine campaign were Marcelo Burgos and Angelo Manangdang, who were seeing action in their first international tournament, in the men’s compound doubles in archery and Andrew Kevin Arandia in the men’s singles event Class 9 of table tennis. Thailand buried the Philippines in a hail of triples on the way to a 87-36 romp in capturing the men’s wheelchair 5x5 basketball gold at the GOR Sritex Arena.

Tense Jinkee at ringside as son Jimuel wins US fight By Randy Caluag WHAT’S the reaction of celebrated boxing mom Jinkee Pacquiao as she personally watched his eldest son Jimuel fight for the first time? “Nakangiti, pero pinipigilan lang umiyak. First time kong mapanood ang anak ko lumaban (namumula na mata),” said Pacquiao in a Facebook post, along with photo that says it all. Behind her smile were the fear, tension and tears that wouldn’t fall. In the end, it was a mother’s love and support that prevailed. “Thank you Lord sa panalo na ibinigay mo sa anak ko,” added Jinkee, wife of Philippine boxing icon, former eight-division world champion Manny “The Pacman” Pacquiao. “Jimuel, I’m so proud of you! I will always be here for you. I love you, son!,” she continued. It was Thursday night (Saturday Manila time) when Jimuel, 21, won via unanimous decision over Dylan

Jimuel Pacquiao wins as tense mom Jinkee watches at ringside. (Photo courtesy of Jinkee Pacquiao FB)

Merriken in a three-round bout in Montebello, California, US. The younger Pacquiao rebounded from an earlier loss to Chris Smith and improved his amateur record to four wins against a loss. Also providing moral support at ring-

side of the Quiet Cannon Conference and Event Center were Jimuel’s female siblings Mary Divine Grace and Queen Elizabeth. Jinkee promised that the whole family will watch Jimuel’s next fight. “Next time lahat na kami manonood

sayo! Kasama na si @mannypacquiao @pacquiao.michael and @israel.pacquiao. We love you so much!” Jimuel is training under Filipino Marvin Somodio at the Wild Card gym owned by Freddie Roach, his father’s long-time trainer.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2022

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

Home/Design

A life well lived

Golf Ridge Private Estate, a masterplanned community to boost Clark’s potential

OOD, arts, furniture, gaming, and a newly opened international airport – these are just some of the drivers that make Pampanga one of the top destinations in the country, be it for travel or for settling down.

Filigree’s Golf Ridge Private Estate at Mimosa+ Clark, located at the Culinary Capital of the Philippines, may be just the right spot for people looking for a place of leisure and luxury with all the amenities and facilities that make urban living convenient. The place is ideal for people to settle in, retire, and enjoy the fruits of their hard work, away from the noise, pollution and congestion that make life in highly urbanized areas so stressful. Fast-tracking Clark as next economic hub With its greater accessibility to Metro Manila because of extended and expanded expressways, Pampanga has become desirable with the modern Clark International Airport that is envisioned to fast-track Clark as the

country’s next economic, business, and leisure hub. With the tourism sector’s reopening of local tourist spots particularly this summer, people are expected to discover the beauty of this province. Golf Ridge Private Estate in Filinvest Mimosa+ Leisure City is poised to add to the blossoming potential of

Clark, being the high end residential development that will prime up the city. It will likewise offer the coveted country club-like lifestyle north of Metro Manila. “Golf Ridge not only offers country club living but also lets residents experience the gastronomical and leisure adventures Pampanga is known for,” said Daphne Sanchez,

Filigree deputy head. The ultra-high-end property is ideal for empty nesters, retirees, business owners, executives and others who have earned the right to enjoy a more slowpaced, lifestyle in a residential area that will insulate them from the pressures of Metro Manila. Clark, Pampanga, which hosts the Clark International Airport, is

highly accessible to Golf Ridge Private Estate. Three major national highways connect the estate to all parts of Luzon —North Luzon – Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac—Expressway (SCTEX), and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union—Expressway (TPLEX). The completion of the expanded Skyway 3 project will further reduce travel time to and from the province. Perfect antidote to stress Golf Ridge Private Estate provides the perfect antidote to the stresses and strains of urban life. Some 75 percent of the total development is dedicated to open spaces. “Greenery or access to restful green vistas were part of priorities,”” explained Sanchez. “Filigree has always designed its properties to have an element of nature. The golf residential community will be surrounded by hundred-year-old trees with the rolling terrains of the Mimosa Golf Course as its backdrop.” Units at Golf Ridge range from 82 square meters to 249 sqm starting from one-bedroom to three-bedroom units. Each unit has its own balcony for a view of the lush landscape of the surrounding greens. Golf Ridge Private Estate is part of the overall blueprint for Filinvest Mimosa+ Leisure City that aims to be the choice home in the north.

ATHARRA PRIMELAND, SMS HOSPITALITY NETWORK INK ACCORD. Atharra Primeland Development Corp. (APDC) recently signed a hotel management agreement with Manila-based SMS Hospitality Network to manage Atharra Suites Panglao, a 221-room, 5-story hotel in Dao town. The business partnership is set to propel the firm’s expansion in Bohol’s property market, one of the country’s top tourist destinations. Once opened in 2023, Atharra Suites will target travelers to Panglao, who want to combine business and leisure. “With the emergence of remote work location set up, as well as the vibe and energy of a co-working space, modern travelers can have the flexibility of working far from their homes to their favorite holiday destination,” said president and CEO of SMS Hospitality Nikki Rocha. At the signing were (left to right) ADC vice president for operation Alexander Zafra Jr.; president Godfrey Digal; chairman Alfonso Damalerio II; SMS president and CEO Nikki Rocha, and managing director Francis Asuncion.

ABOITIZ EARMARKS P1.4 BILLION FOR WEST CEBU ESTATE. Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC), the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, is investing P1.4 billion into the expansion of the West Cebu Estate (WCE) to host more industrial locators in the province of Cebu. With the development of 39 hectares of the 540-hectare estate, the expansion is expected to generate an additional 14,000 jobs upon its completion by 2024, and will include the diversification of WCE’s locator mix to include light to medium manufacturing. In its groundbreaking ceremony, Cebu Industrial Park Developers, Inc. President Rafael Fernandez de Mesa, noted the growing demand for industrial spaces in key areas in Cebu, as the country gears up for recovery. At the event were (from left to right): Jun Rodriguez, President of JC Rodriguez Construction Corporatio; Cebu Division Chief Floreza Alpuerto from the Board of Investments; de Mesa; Cosette V. Canilao, President and CEO of Aboitiz InfraCapital; Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General BGen. Charito “Ching” Plaza; Cebu 3rd District Representative and Deputy House Speaker Pablo John Garcia; and Alex Binghay, Mayor of Balamban, Cebu.

MEGAWIDE BAGS AWARD FOR CEBU PROJECT. Megawide Construction Corp. recently won the Mid-Rise Category for excellence in this year’s Philippine Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards (PECCA) for its construction of the Plumera Mactan project. The project, a development by Cebuano company Johndorf Ventures, is a 20-building condominium development located in Brgy. Basak, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. Megawide is undertaking design and construction works for the project. PECCA is organized by the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) and the American Concrete Institute Philippines (ACIP). Precast concrete is the main structural material used for Plumera, with Megawide’s proprietary precast technologies enabling faster construction, higher standardization, and high-quality finishes, with lower overall longterm costs. Last year, Megawide won in two PECCA categories: Best Infrastructure, for Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2, and Decorative Concrete, for Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange. DMCI HOMES UPGRADES CASHLESS PAYMENT WITH MAYA. Developer DMCI Homes recently tapped Maya Business to bring better payment and financial services experiences to its residents and property investors. DMCI Homes residents and property investors can now settle their payments for association dues and reservation fees using Maya or any credit, debit card, and other e-wallets at its different payment locations equipped with the Maya One terminal. Soon, they will also be able to pay using the Pay Bills feature of the Maya app. Meanwhile, DMCI Homes can bill customers and offer them one-click payment options through Maya Payment Links - a form of digital invoices sent via email or messaging apps. “As a property developer in the Philippines, it is our job to enable all our services with leading-edge cashless technologies that will benefit our community,” said Enrico C. Wong, DMCI Homes Property Management Corporation Senior Vice President. Visit www.maya.ph and www.mayabank.ph for more information.

Motoring

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2022

MILO RIVERA, Sub-editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Lexus: Deep connection between man, machine T

HE Goal: To bring out the best driver in you

Developing a car that delivers a driving experience like no other takes years of research and development; a large team of engineers and master test drivers; as well as cutting-edge test tracks that simulate every type of road condition in the world. Rigorous testing, constant refinement, and a mission to constantly improve, are hallmarks of Lexus. Participating in prestigious international races to test new technologies also play a huge role in the evolution of Lexus as a driver-oriented luxury brand. But what are the attributes that make a car special? What makes it fun to drive? According to Lexus’ engineers: It must respond faithfully to the driver’s intentions. For example, it must turn as soon as you turn the steering wheel. As you accelerate rapidly, the vehicle must faithfully follow your intended line. If the vehicle responds slightly better than the driver expects, this will surely turn enjoyment into delight. On the other hand, less responsive vehicles don’t change direction right away when you turn the steering wheel. This means you need to continually pay careful attention as you drive. Whether at high speed or just around town, a car that gives feedback through the steering wheel and offers direct handling is the mark of a special vehicle. This trait, combined with exceptional power delivery, is what enthusiasts look for. Lexus aims to not only improve on the brand’s level of refinement, but to also create vehicles

that carry a unique Lexus Signature identity. This philosophy is known as the “Lexus Driving Signature” and this marks a new chapter in the evolution of the luxury brand. What is the Lexus Driving Signature (LDS)? In its purest essence, LDS pursues linear operation that is faithful to driver’s intentions. The goal of LDS is to amplify confidence, comfort, and overall love of driving through the faithful execution of driver intentions. Another key to the development of the Lexus Driving Signature is the ShimoyamaTechnical Center Test Track—where the toughest and most challenging roads in the world have been recreated. Imagine a road course that duplicates every possible kind of on-road scenario in the world. A road where vertical changes are so severe and abrupt that finding the proper suspension damping setting is critical. In a place like this, the stability and handling of a car would be put to the test. Enveloping drivers and passengers in another layer of protection is Lexus Safety Sense (LSS) a comprehensive suite of active safety equipment which includes a Pre-Collision System (PCS); Adaptive High Beam System; Automatic High Beam System (AHB); Lane Tracing Assist (LTA); Lane Departure Alert (LDA); and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC). These complement the host of comprehensive standard safety that is already found on every Lexus. Moving forward, the evolution of driving enjoyment will not be lost in an electrified future. In fact, it might even be enhanced. Lexus has already revealed a new, core Lexus Electrified technology to support the vision exemplified by

Chery Auto sets highest sales rating in June

AGGRESSIVE Asian brand CHERY Auto Philippines is riding the strong momentum it started during the second quarter as it sets yet another record in its month-to-month sales figures last June. CHERY Auto Philippines distributor United Asia Automotive Group Inc. (UAAGI) has reported a sizable 140-percent increase in its total vehicle sales in June compared to the previous month of May. It was the highest monthly sales performance for the brand in the Philippine market since it began operations in late 2019. “We are thrilled by the continuous growth and popularity of the CHERY brand in the challenging business climate. It’s a testament to the consumers’ awareness and acceptance of the solid value for money proposition that our CHERY vehicles offer,” said CHERY Auto Philippines/UAAGI President Erroll Dueñas. The record sales figures are amplified by better brand awareness, thanks to marketing initiatives such as the media drives up and down Mount Samat last April and May, as well as the launch of the official mother club in June to build a community of all Tiggo owners in the Philippines. The passionate market reception given to the brand’s newly unveiled flagship, the Tiggo 8 PRO, has

also contributed to the staggering sales growth. Such was the demand for CHERY Tiggo 8 PRO that surpassed the initial target by a whopping 233 percent. Other sales achievers from the brand were the Tiggo 2 PRO, whose sales figures exceeded targets by a strong 140 percent, and the Tiggo 7 PRO, which surpassed targets by 109 percent. A highlight of the Tiggo 8 PRO is its comprehensive suite of Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) with 12 safety functions: Rear Cross-Traffic Assist, Blind Spot Detection, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Door Opening Warning, Forward Collision Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Integrated Cruise Assist, Intelligent High-Beam Control, Lane Departure Warning, and Speed Limit Sign Recognition. Last but not least is the brand’s industryleading warranty and PMS program, CHERY Premium Preserv, which features an industry-leading 10-year/1 million-km engine warranty, a 5-year general warranty, FREE 3-year full preventive maintenance service (PMS), and FREE 3-year roadside assistance for the Tiggo 2 PRO, Tiggo 5x, and Tiggo 7 PRO. The Tiggo 8 PRO gets a 7-year general warranty, FREE 3-year full PMS, and FREE 3-year roadside assistance.

FX, cargo variants now available for new Toyota Lite Ace TOYOTA Motor Philippines (TMP) strengthens its support to Filipino micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the addition of two more variants of its newest light commercial vehicle, the All-New Lite Ace. After unveiling the Panel Van and Pickup variants during last month’s launch, the Lite Ace line up dubbed by the automotive leader as Kasosyo sa Asenso is expanding with the introduction of the Lite Ace FX Utility Van and the Lite Ace Cargo Aluminum Van. Both variants are available for preorder in all Toyota dealerships nationwide starting August 1. The FX Utility Van-variant has up to 12-person seating capacity (including driver), perfect as people transport, while the Cargo Aluminum Van variant best fits agricultural businesses or transportation of dry goods and other materials. Owning the Lite Ace FX Utility Van and

Cargo Aluminum Van will give customers peace of mind in their everyday hustle with its high-quality safety feature like SRS Airbags. On top of this, both variants come with a 1.5L gasoline and are powered by 5-speed manual transmission, common among all the Lite Ace variants. Customers can also avail special MSME financing packages for these two variants through Toyota Financial Services Philippines (TFSPH). FX Utility Van will retail at Php 727,000.00 while the Cargo Aluminum Van will be priced at Php 699,000.00. Official release is expected on September 2022. Visit toyota.com.ph/asenso to know more about the latest addition to your Kasosyo sa Asenso! Download the myTOYOTA app for Andriod or iOS, or follow Toyota Motor Philippines on Facebook and Instagram, ToyotaMotorPH on Twitter and be part of our Viber community at Toyota PH to get the latest updates.

the futuristic LF-30 concept car. Lexus Advanced Posture Control technology regulates the drivepower output from high-torque electric motors on all four wheels to adjust vehicle posture in tune with human sensibilities. Completely independent control of front and rear drive wheels allows appropriate provision of front-wheel drive, rearwheel drive, and all-wheel drive, depending on the

driving situation—like when tackling a sharp and slippery corner, for example. At Lexus, the connection between man and machine will only continue to become deeper, meaningful, safer, and even more exciting. Vehicle dynamics and safety will continue to evolve, and so will the art and enjoyment of driving. This is how Lexus can bring out the best driver in you.

All-New Honda Wave ESX features best of all worlds in 2 wheels THE young and the driven are in for a ride as Honda Philippines, Inc., (HPI) announces the release of The All-New Wave RSX at Honda Dealerships nationwide. The newest underbone presents a sporty dynamic sharp design and better fuel efficiency like no other. The All-New Wave RSX makes for quite the everyday ride—whether for the daily grind or exciting weekend trips—perfect for the young go-getter always on the road. Ride the wave in style Designed to Redefine Your Ride and performance, The All-New Wave RSX features a bona fide outgoing vibe. A strong front look, exquisite rear design, and a sporty muffler will surely turn heads and create a strong impression wherever, whenever. Own the streets en route to work, socialize with friends, or simply feel the ride’s strength and power. Running across the body is a stunning set of sticker designs that expresses a sophisticated sense of riding style. A sporty meter panel completes the look of the motorcycle designed for versatile, everyday travels.

Enjoy maximum fuel efficiency Stay on-the-go with an engine that switched from Carburetor to the more efficient PGM-Fi or Programmed Fuel Injection. This technology makes the reliable ride fuel efficient up to 67.8 Km/L based on World Motorcycle Test Cycle Method, a huge step-up for its winning performance. That means you’re spared from obsessively checking the fuel gauge every now and then, and focus on enjoying a hassle-free time on the road. Get reliable power with utmost convenience and safety Keeping The All-New W a v e RSX going is a 4-stroke, SOHC, air-cooled 109cc Honda

Engine that proves dependable for all traveling needs. With maximum power of 6.46kW @ 7,500rpm and a top torque of 8.70Nm @ 6,000rpm, the bike presents just the right package with an enhanced riding experience, guaranteed in tune with a well-rounded lifestyle. Meanwhile, The All-New Wave RSX’s telescopic front suspension and twin rear shock guarantee greater comfort. In terms of safety, mechanical leading trailing brakes with a front hydraulic disc (for the disc type only) keep the rider in control at all times. The All-New Wave RSX also includes a Secured Key Shutter with a seat opener for better safety and an Automatic Headlight On (AHO) feature. This underbone also features a bigger U-Box and full chain case. The All-New Wave RSX will be available in three color variants across two types. There’s Phantom Dark Silver Metallic & Candy Caribbean Blue Sea for the Drum Type with a suggested retail price of P61,900.00, which will be available in August 2022. While Candy Rosy Red for the Disc Type with a suggested retail price of P64,900.00, which will be available in September 2022.

Keep vehicle’s steering, suspension system top grade AS A helpful and useful machine for transportation, your vehicle is subject to the usual wear and tear. You may not be fully aware, but there are some driving habits that could cause unnecessary strain to specific parts of the vehicle, especially the steering and suspension systems. For school bus operators and those owning vehicles that provide transport service to students, these days are particularly important as face-to-face classes finally resume in the coming school year. As everyone prepares for the school opening in the coming weeks, BSB Junrose, the local distributor of Sankei 555 Steering & Suspension Parts, shares these helpful tips in taking care and maintaining vehicles’ steering and suspension systems. Drive carefully and slowly when there are road bumps and holes. Despite government efforts to keep the roads in the best condition, there are still many areas where there are holes and bumps along highways and street roads. School buses, vans, SUVs, or cars can surely handle those inevitable road issues, but take note that frequently hitting

those hazards can eventually cause possible wheel misalignments and potential damage to suspension parts. Thus, it is a must to always drive more carefully and slowly when passing through such roads. Keep your hands more on the steering wheel when driving. Many drivers, especially of vehicles with manual transmission are not fully conscious that they may already be resting their hand more on the gear lever. The gear stick connects directly to the vehicle’s control rod. Your arm’s weight could push the car’s selector forks against gears unnecessarily, leading to wear. Make it a habit to keep both hands on the steering wheel as often as possible when driving. Always use the vehicle’s parking brake. The hand brake or emergency brake must always be used whenever the vehicle is being parked—not just when parking on hills or slopes. It facilitates an added safety and secured hold when parking. Moreover, this practice helps protect the vehicle’s transmission and other parts. Know the simple signs of possible damage to steering or suspension.

Be aware of the common warning signs when there are possible steering and suspension issues. Is the steering wheel shaking or vibrating when you are driving? Are there noises produced when turning your vehicle’s steering wheel? Is the vehicle pulling to a side when you are driving it? Do you notice squeaking, clunking, or banging sounds under the hood? Is there excessive play or looseness in the steering wheel? ••• “You can protect your vehicle’s steering and suspension by observing ideal driving habits. When there are inevitable issues caused by the usual wear and tear, among the most recommended steering and suspension parts in the market today come from the leader, Japan’s Sankei Industry Co. Ltd. Steering and suspension parts are safety items. When it comes to safety and lives of passengers, second best should not be good enough,” said Benjamin Bangayan Jr, President of BSB Junrose, a local distributor of the best and most trusted autoparts brands. Available from the Sankei 555 brand are Rack & Pinion Steering Type, Front Suspension & Steering Linkage Type, and joints steering parts—including tie rod end, rack end, arm shaft, idler arm, side rod, control arm, pitman arm, ball joint, stabilizer link, and cross rod that are all directly imported from the Japanese manufacturer. These carry Japanese engineering, manufacturing processes, and precision care.

Is the NCAP doing more harm than good? THE anger of many motorists who received notice of violations through the “no contact traffic apprehension” is spreading like wildfire in the metro. The No Contact Traffic Apprehension is a policy not only of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) that “utilizes CCTV, digital cameras and/or other gadgets or technology to capture videos and images to apprehend vehicles violating traffic laws, rules and regulations” but also of some local government in Metro Manila. So far, they are now having heydays in collecting fines from those violators in the cities of Manila and Quezon and there are reports that some other cities in Metro Manila will have its “no contact apprehension” scheme following suit. These fines are being branded as

excessive and disproportionate to the violations committed. Many violators who have gone viral in social media have shown the numerous violations shown to them together with the hefty sum of fine they have to pay. Have you seen that motorcycle delivery guy who has shown several violation notices that amounted to several thousands of pesos? Tsk..tsk..tsk.. Many of those who have already

queued for the renewal of their vehicles were dismayed when they found out that they have committed a violation without knowing it (since they have not received any notice yet). But they need to pay the fine/s first before they can register their cars. What if one doesn’t have enough money to pay? That would surely affect the registration process and may result to another fine for delayed registration. We have reports that there are groups that are now ready to file a case in court against the validity of the implementation of this “no-contact apprehension” policy. They say that it is too much and is an added burden to the everyday pains and sacrifices of the motorists plying the traffic- and potholes-laden roads of Metro Manila.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2022 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

Kaspersky provides rules on how to protect data KASPERSKY security expert Andrey Sidenko recently released a statement on Roblox leaked documents and a few rules to help not only to protect data, but also not to be in a location that can harm psychologically. “Roblox is an online gaming platform that allows users to create their own game simulations and virtual locations, where they can play in different locations themselves or invite other users. There are both harmless and very popular locations, where users can choose a pet and take care of it, or go through an obstacle course with their characters. The genres of such games are almost unlimited and the number of daily active users was 50 million by the end of 2021, most of which were schoolaged children,” said Sidenko. He added: However, in the game world they may also meet fraudsters, who can either be members of the selected playthrough or even be its authors. Threats from them can come both inside the game world they often show aggression, deception or intimidation. For example, the theme of the Roblox game world might be used to create phishing resources in order to steal login and password from the account and further withdraw funds from the victim; or under the guise of in-game currency (Robux) users can be offered to register with a real name or pay for a “no-lose lottery,” participation in which will bring nothing but loss of money. “Although Roblox has a system of content moderation, you should not rely on it completely. It can be especially dangerous for school children, who due to their lack of experience may not be aware of many cybersecurity rules,” said Sidenko. Here are a few rules to help not only protect your data, but also not to find yourself in a location that can harm you or your children psychologically. 1. Do not share your real name, place of residence, school, or other personal information that can help attackers identify you in the real world; 2. Only chat with those users who you know personally; do not chat with strangers in Roblox or anywhere else; 3. Use a complex and unique password and always end the session at the end of the game, especially if you choose to connect from an unfamiliar device. Don’t forget to use two-factor authentication; 4. Roblox is using internal content monitoring system and if you come across any unwanted ads, cheating, online grooming, different types of harassment or aggression towards you or other users you should report it to the moderators; 5. Critically evaluate the information you encounter in the game world. Abusers may use a variety of techniques, including social engineering. For example, they may offer you a reward in the form of ingame currency (Robux) for detailed information about yourself. If someone offers you this, then in all likelihood it’s cheating and the fraudster clearly has “own interests”. 6. Use antivirus solutions and parental control programs to be sure that your child can use the Internet safely.”

Tech & Gadgets By Maria Michaela Nabaza

OBILE gaming is becoming mainstream in the Philippines, with many Filipinos spending their leisure time playing mobile games. On the other hand, these gaming apps are large in size and graphically demanding. Phones overheat or glitch during matches because they cannot handle these apps. We have created a list of budget-friendly gaming phones so Filipino gamers can play worry-free.

Best, affordable gaming smartphones in PH

Infinix Note 12

Infinix may have a winner in its hands with the its all-new Note 12, a smartphone that brings the smoothest gaming experience for casual and heavy gamers alike. From its sleek 6.7” FHD+ True Color AMOLED Display, 33W Flash Charge, a hefty 5000mAh battery and more, the NOTE 12 offers well-rounded and innovative performance features for multi-taskers and heavy users so they can bring their gaming and passions to the next level. Its MediaTek Helio G96 Ultra Gaming Processor provides more speed and power to the NOTE 12, while the octacore processor incorporates two powerful Cortex-A76 processor cores clocked up to 2.05GHz and Mali-G57 GPU that works in tandem to harness next-level intelligence for groundbreaking performance.

In addition, unlike other smartphones, the Tecno Camon 18P doubles the screen refresh rate to 120HZ.

Realme Narzo 50

Infinix expands the NOTE 12’s 8GB memory to 13GB by integrating RAM and ROM to provide users with up to 5GB extended RAM, thereby improving the phone’s processing speed and accelerates performance for multi-tasking And the best part? The Infinix Note 12 can be had with a very official price of P8,999.00 for 128GB and P9,999.00 for 256GB.

Vivo Y21T

The Y21T provides users a remarkable gaming experience with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 octa-core processor, Adreno 610 GPU, 4GB RAM +128 GB Storage; and 6.51-inch HD+ display. Its powerful processor results into a smooth and lag-free gameplay. It is also supported by Multi-Turbo 5.0, a feature that enhances the system processor speed, network connection, and performance while on power-saving mode.

The Y21T’s 5000mAh battery has enough power to last for about 7 to 9 hours, while con consuming less power to ensure efficient energy distribution. The 18W Flash Charge lets users charge their phones quickly so they can get back into their games ASAP.

Tecno Camon 18P

Leap forward with Tecno Camon 18P, with an official price of P10,990.00. This smartphone runs on a Helio G96 chip and Octa-core CPU Powered by Mediatek. Its 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM allow a smooth and lag-free gaming experience. The smartphone charges quickly thanks to its 5000mAh battery and 33W Flash Charger.

The Realme Narzo 50’s robust Helio G85 processor will give you a powerful performance in the world of games for P7,990.00. Its octa-core processor has a base speed of up to 2.0GHz and is combined with a powerful ARM Mali-G52 GPU to provide an outstanding gaming experience. Its best feature? Be amazed at its huge 6,000mAh battery, that is powerful enough to support continuous gaming for hours and an 18W fast charge.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 is one of the fastest-charging budget phones sporting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset, a 5,000mAh battery, and a 33W pro fast charge. The price? The Redmi Note 11 4GB + 64GB is priced at P8,999, while the 6GB + 128GB is worth P9,999. This smartphone runs on an Android 11 operating system and MIUI 13 software. A fingerprint scanner, 4G LTE connectivity, Hi-Res audio, and 64GB or 128GB of expandable storage are included.

Filipino YouTube creator Ahrcéus makes finals of online global talent show uTure HE will compete against two fellow creators in the penultimate episode of the $100K YouTube-exclusive talent show uTure, hosted by superstar gaming creator Ali-A Up-and-coming Filipino YouTube content creator Ahrcéus has a chance to win a whopping $100,000 and become the face of the next generation of gaming content creators in the finals of online global talent show uTure. uTure, created by YouTube gaming creator Ali-A and sponsored by YouTube, is a global talent show to find the next generation of YouTube gaming creators. Each week, contestants step up to hilarious yet unprecedented challenges in various games such as Fortnite, Fall Guys, and Rocket League. Judged by some of the world’s biggest YouTube creators such as DanTDM, Loserfruit, and Mythpat, the lowest scoring contestants are then put up for elimination, but fans can vote via www.uTure.show to keep their favorite contestant in the

Filipino YouTube content creator Ahrcéus

show each week. The contest will be coming to a grand close with Ahrcéus and two other final contenders battling it out in a variety

game extravaganza on Sunday, August 7 at 1 a.m. Philippine time. Ali-A will announce the winner in the final episode on Saturday, August 13.

Ahrcéus, who currently resides in Bahrain, has been a lifelong gamer, aspiring voice actor, and passionate content creator for 11 years. His aim is to make the world smile in each and every video he makes, growing a following on YouTube by balancing creative flair and humor with exceptional editing. Ahrcéus goes up against fellow content creators BBelle and Mikeeey from the United States. The last trial facing the finalists will involve unforeseen challenges in a variety of games where they need to show their skills in a multiple of formats including YouTube Shorts, a collaboration with a previously eliminated uTure contestant, and a free choice option to showcase their own content creator style. Stay up to date with the uTure Show on instagram.com/uTureShow, twitter. com/uTureShow, tiktok.com/@uTureShow. and watch it exclusively on YouTube.com/uTure.

Next-generation architecture array microphone enables pre-configured audio capture TECHNOLOGY is essential for efficient and painless workplace collaboration. But how many times has one said (or heard another party say) “Can you hear me?” during a technology platform-based meeting? Audio-visual and IT technologists continue to acknowledge the trend toward microphone technology with intuitive, yet simplified, functionality. In addition, dependable audio capture, ease of implementation in all kinds of spaces, design aesthetics, compatibility with existing platforms, and scalability are also expected by integrators and end users. Shure, the Niles, Illinois, U.S.-based audio products company, responded to the need of AV integrators and end users for intuitive, simplified functionality, and recently launched its next-generation architecture array technology with its MXA920 ceiling array microphone. “The new microphone provides pre-configured audio capture, with minimal set up required, through its proprietary ‘automatic coverage’ technology—drastically reducing the time and cost of deployments for integrators,” said Tia de Guzman, marketing communications manager of Audiophile Compo-

location of every speaker to your camera control system for more accurate camera tracking. Plus, the onboard digital signal processor (DSP) delivers noise and echofree performance. The microphone’s new DSP algorithms enable the output of more natural speech for participants to be heard clearly and precisely.” The executive further explained that the product is certified for use with Microsoft Teams when used with the audio company’s networked loudspeakers and DSP. “The final output is, consistently, total audio clarity and intelligibility for AV conferencing across room types and challenging acoustic spaces—hybrid executive boardrooms, higher education hybrid

Vick Teoh, Shure Senior Specialist, Market Development, Southeast Asia, presents the latest AV conferencing technology of Shure at the launch of the MXA920 in Audiophile’s Experience Center, Brgy. Marikina City, Diego Silang. nents, Shure’s local distributor. “This model’s next-gen array architecture enhances directional pick-up, for more natural speech,” added De Guzman. “In

layman’s terms, this means you can capture only the meeting participants you want to capture – while avoiding the areas you want to exclude. The system sends the precise

classrooms, and hybrid corporate and government meeting spaces,” the company’s press statement said. “Two hardware form factors, square and round, support design integration into most facilities and meeting spaces,” said De Guzman, stressing that “today, AV conferencing customers require next-gen solutions that capture the voice naturally, fitting into a room’s aesthetic, and making it effortless to connect participants—no matter where they are. With our new networked audio capture technology, audio professionals here [in the Philippines] can achieve easier deployment and better accommodate demanding applications like camera tracking, voice lift, and sound reinforcement.” Available models include square (white only) or round (white, black, or aluminum) options that are all paintable to match the room décor.