Manila Standard - 2026 March 17 - Tuesday

By Maricel V. Cruz

Congress rushes fuel tax bill OK

By Maricel V. Cruz, Alena Mae Flores, Charles Dantes and Ram Superable

CONGRESS is pulling out all the stops to pass measures aimed at cushioning the impact of rising global oil prices on Filipino consumers, including the temporary suspension of fuel excise tax and amendments to the Biofuels Act of 2006.

The two measures, which were both certified as urgent by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., reached the Senate plenary on Monday after an all-member caucus was held. Earlier in the day, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a measure granting the President the authority to temporarily slash or suspend excise taxes on

Sen. Win

By Ram Superable

THE Philippine government should immediately enforce aggressive belt-tightening measures as escalating tensions in the Middle East threaten the stability of the economy, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian urged on Monday.

‘One

By Alena Mae S. Flores

Fare hikes up; transport strike set

By Rio Araja and Maricel V. Cruz

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has approved new fare adjustments for provincial buses effective March 15, even as the agency prepares to announce fare hikes for jeepneys and buses this week amid rising global oil prices. Meanwhile, the transport group PISTON an-

Gatchalian, who also chairs the Senate committee on finance, warned that volatile global oil prices combined with the country’s heavy reliance on imported crude place the Philippines in a vulnerable position during geopolitical conflicts.

“We do not know when the conflict in the Middle East will end, and it could

nounced a nationwide transport strike on March 19, Thursday, to protest against the series of fuel price hikes due to the Middle East war.

The Makabayan bloc in Congress expressed full support for the nationwide transport strike planned by PISTON.

In an updated fare guide, luxury provincial buses will have an additional P0.45 per kilome-

deal a major blow to the economy if the unrest there continues,” he said.

The lawmaker pointed to cost-saving measures already being implemented, like energy conservation steps alongside the four-day workweek adopted by several government agencies.

- P75 per liter to P76.3 - P91.60 per liter. Kerosene will also increase by P6.90 to P8.90 per liter, bringing the

“You

this world we’re handing off to them,” he said after collecting the best adapted screenplay prize.

“But also with the encouragement that they will be the generation that hopefully brings us some common sense and decency.”

“One Battle” tells the story of a

By Katrina Manubay

PBBM opens Mactan Expo Center

By Minerva Newman

LAPU-LAPU—President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday led the inauguration of the Mactan Expo Center at the Mactan Newtown in Lapu-Lapu, Cebu.

He was joined by Megaworld Corporation president and chief executive officer (CEO) Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso, Alliance Global Group president

to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

The subsidy is intended to help public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers cushion the impact of the oil price hike caused by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

In a joint press conference with Department of Transportation (DOTr) acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairpman Vigor Mendoza II, Gatchalian said the CRA payout for tricycle drivers will start on Tuesday, March 17, simultaneously in several areas across the 17 local government units (LGUs) in the National Capital Region (NCR).

“We will be able to finish the assistance to tricycle drivers by Thursday. The target based on local government units is around 139,000 NCR-based tricycle drivers. We are going to operate in 30 identified sites across 17 LGUs,” Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian reminded the tricycle drivers to proceed to their assigned payout sites on the day of the payout to ensure smooth distribution while also avoiding disrupting transportation services.. The distribution is divided into morning and afternoon batches.

“Don’t go to the payout sites if you don’t have a schedule yet,” Gatchalian told the tricycle drivers.

The DSWD chief enumerated the 30 payout sites as follows: Caloocan City - Buena Park, Barangay 80; UE Subdivision Club House 964; Pacquiao Covered Court Sports Complex Bagumbong; Glorietta Park, Barangay 187 Tala Las Pinas City - Aguilar Sports Complex, Pilar Village Makati City - Makati City Quadrangle Malabon City - ATIS Covered Court, Bgy. Potrero Mandaluyong City - Mandaluyong College of Science and Technology Gymnasium City of Manila - Patricia Paraiso Sports Complex, 658 Flora St., Tondo; Barangay 377 Covered Court, Pampanga St., Sta. Cruz; Dakota Covered Court, Barangay 659 Ermita; ASAC Covered Court, Barangay 627, M. Araullo St., Sta.Mesa Marikina City - Plenary Marikina Convention Center

Muntinlupa City -Muntinlupa Sports Complex Navotas City - Navotas Convention Center Paranaque City - Palanyag Gym, Barangay San Dionisio; Don Bosco Gym, Barangay Don Bosco Pasay City - Cuneta Astrodome Pasig City - Pineda Multipurpose Hall, Barangay Pineda; Damayan Multipurpose Hall, Barangay Pinagbuhatan Pateros City - Pateros Sports Complex, San Pedro Quezon City - Former District Action Office, Barangay Katipunan; SB Park Batasan Hills, Barangay Batasan Hills; 5K People’s Park Covered, Court, Barangay Milagrosa; Risen Garden, Quezon City Hall, Diliman; Buenamar Park, Novaliches, Barangay Novaliches Proper; SB Park, Barangay Tandang Sora San Juan City - Makabagong San Juan Theater, National Government Agency; Lakeshore Activity Center (LAC), Gate 3, C6 Road, Barangay Lower Bicutan

Valenzuela City - Valenzuela City Amphitheater; ALERT Multipurpose Hall; Secretary Gatchalian also assured other PUV groups, such as jeepney, taxi, bus, and transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers, that the CRA distribution will be expanded once the lists of names are already available and validated.

and CEO Kevin Tan, Lapu-Lapu Rep. Junard “Ahong” Chan, and Lapu-Lapu

Mayor Cindi Chan, among other guests. “This is for MICE (meetings, incen-

petroleum products during national or global economic emergencies to provide the government with a faster tool to address fuel price shocks.

“If the President can temporarily lift the excise tax, that is up to P10 per liter for gasoline and P6 per liter for diesel that can be taken off the price that people pay,” House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos said.

House Bill No. 8418, certified as urgent by the President, was approved with 247 affirmative votes, three negative votes and no abstentions.

At the Upper House, Senator Pia Cayetano sponsored Senate Bill No. 1982 for the temporary suspension or reduction of excise taxes on petroleum products during periods of extraordinary increases in global oil prices.

Cayetano said the Senate is prepared to adopt the House version of the fuel tax relief measure to fast-track the process.

“When fuel prices increase, the effects ripple across the entire economy. Transportation costs rise, the movement of goods becomes more expensive, and ultimately it is Filipino families who feel the greatest burden through higher prices of food and other basic commodities,” Cayetano said.

The President on Monday also certified as urgent a proposed measure seeking to amend the country’s biofuels law.

In a letter addressed to Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Mr. Marcos backed the immediate enactment of Senate Bill No. 1965 which seeks to amend Section 5 of the Biofuels Act of 2026 to allow the President to temporarily suspend mandatory biofuel blending if blended fuel prices are at least five percent higher than

price to P91.90 to P143.79 from P85 to P134.89 last week.

Garin said oil companies have a different number of days for the staggered implementation of the latest oil price hikes, but initial reports submitted to the DOE showed about two to three days.

Oil prices jumped further above $100 Monday and Asian stocks mostly fell as the Iran war moved into a third week with both sides showing no sign of backing down and diplomats trying to ensure safe passage for tankers through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

Crude shot up in the opening minutes after US President Donald Trump said at the weekend that forces struck military targets on Kharg Island, a scrubby stretch of land in the Gulf that handles almost all of Iran’s oil exports. He also warned attacks could expand to energy infrastructure if the Islamic republic interferes with transit through

tives, conferences, and exhibitions), and Lapu-Lapu City is lucky that you have it in here in your town because this will be a big draw for all kinds of activities,” Mr. Marcos said in his keynote message.

“Now, we are boosting tourism in Cebu with the opening of this Mactan Expo,” he added in mixed Filipino and English.

The Mactan Expo Center hosted its first major event, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

pure fuel, thus easing pump prices.

Under the current law, gasoline and diesel sold in the country must contain biofuel components such as bioethanol and biodiesel. While the policy supports renewable energy and local biofuel industries, the blending requirement can sometimes raise pump prices when biofuel components become more expensive or supply becomes tight.

Copies of the certification were also furnished to House Speaker Faustino Dy III and the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office.

“The President’s certification makes clear that this is an urgent matter affecting every Filipino household and the entire economy. The House stands ready to act swiftly on this measure so we can give the government the flexibility to stabilize fuel prices,” Dy said in a statement.

Cayetano, who also sponsored SB No. 1965, said the amendment seeks to balance consumer protection and long-term energy security.

“We must create policies that not only provide relief in the present, but also lay the groundwork for a more stable, diversified, and independent energy system for the Philippines in the years to come,” she said.

Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said that the removal of the excise tax may not compensate for the significant increase in fuel prices in the past two weeks, which has reached as much P40 per liter for diesel.

“Whether it’s P2 of excise tax or P4 or even P6, it’s not as big of an impact compared to what the jump is already. So that’s why the government is also focusing on assistance rather than control, because the price is going up and up, and out of control of the government,” she said.

But for Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, slashing fuel excise tax will still contribute

Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since the US-Israel operations began on February 28.

International Energy Agency members agreed last week to release a record 400 million barrels from stockpiles – by far the largest-ever response of its kind – to cushion the surge in prices caused by the war.

Japan said on Monday it was beginning the release of its strategic oil reserves after the International Energy Agency indicated earlier that the release would begin in Asia and Oceania before other regions.

Japan’s strategic oil reserves are among the world’s largest and stood at more than 400 million barrels as of December. The country holds reserves equivalent to 254 days of domestic consumption.

As this developed, Garin assured fuel supply is available until the end of April, with oil companies and the DOE are in talks with suppliers to ensure delivery.

“We have tasked all the oil companies to ensure that all their contracts are still being followed by their suppliers. PNOC (Philippine National Oil Co.) is tasked to find alternative suppliers. So

meetings that became common during the COVID-19 pandemic to further cut energy consumption.

Travel Exchange (TRAVEX), in February. It will also host the upcoming 48th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in May.

“This is a big boost to our tourism industry. We have to develop our tourism industry. We have such competition around our region. But we have a single advantage. And that is what we have come to call in the tourism industry here in the Philippines — the Filipino smile. And that is something that everybody appreciates,” Marcos concluded.

to efforts to provide relief to consumers bearing the brunt of the oil price surges.

“The amount may be small, given that pump prices will increase again, but the government is providing other forms of assistance,” he said.

Under existing law, excise taxes are embedded in the retail price of fuel, which means every increase becomes part of the cost of commuting, delivering goods and running businesses.

Under the pending measure, one trigger for the slash or suspension of the excise tax is when the average Dubai crude oil price, based on the Mean of Platts Singapore, reaches or exceeds $80 per barrel for one month immediately preceding the issuance of the suspension or reduction order, allowing government to act before the shock turns into a full-blown inflation surge.

A second trigger applies when a state of national emergency or calamity is declared by the President and the condition results in extraordinary increases in domestic pump prices of petroleum products, as certified by the Secretary of Energy, so the authority can be used when local price conditions become exceptional.

The bill provides that the suspension may be applied to specific petroleum products and may be implemented either as a full suspension or partial reduction of the applicable excise tax rates, depending on prevailing conditions and the targeted relief needed.

Any suspension or reduction authorized under the measure will be effective for a period not exceeding six months, unless extended or terminated earlier by Congress through a joint resolution.

To keep the grant of authority timebound, the bill states that the President’s power to temporarily suspend or reduce the excise tax on fuel products may be exercised only until December 31, 2028.

we have control on the supply, we have control on the power,” Garin said.

“The price is not really something that the Philippines, even the government, can control because we are so dependent on importation,” she added.

She said possible suppliers still include China and other countries such as South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, and Japan, among others.

Garin said the DOE is also checking with the oil companies if they need credit facilities to ensure the smooth importation of supply.

“The appeal of DOE is let’s all help each other. The more we save on fuel, the more secure we are. We won’t be lacking now, we won’t be lacking next week, and I’m sure we won’t be lacking in April. But let’s be sure,” Garin said.

VP Sara submits answer to House impeach raps

By Maricel V. Cruz

VICE President Sara Duterte on Monday filed her formal reply to the two impeachment complaints filed against her.

This was confirmed by Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, a member of the House justice panel, who said Duterte submitted her reply to the House Committee on Justice at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 16.

On March 4, the justice panel served a notice directing Duterte to respond to two verified impeachment complaints that the panel had earlier found sufficient in form and substance.

The notice, signed by House Justice Committee chair Rep. Gerville Luistro of Batangas, cited the panel’s earlier determination declaring the impeachment complaints sufficient in form and substance pursuant to Sections 4 and 5, Rule III of the Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings of the House of Representatives. Two verified complaints were specifically identified in the document: “In the Matter of the Impeachment of Sara Zimmerman Duterte as Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines,” filed by Reverend Father Joel Saballa et al., and “In the Matter of the Impeachment of the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines, Sara Zimmerman Duterte,” filed by lawyer Nathaniel G. Cabrera.

ter, while ordinary provincial buses will have a P1.00 increase in base fare plus P0.30 for every succeeding kilometer.

“The approved adjustments have already been reflected and incorporated in the newly issued fare guide to ensure uniform implementation across all provincial bus operators and routes,” the agency said.

The LTFRB clarified that the fare adjustments were approved through a provisional order issued on March 13.

“The LTFRB advises all provincial bus operators to strictly follow the updated Fare Guide and ensure that the approved fares are properly posted inside their units for the guidance of the riding public,” it said.

“Passengers are likewise encouraged to verify the correct fares based on the official Fare Guide and report any violations or overcharging incidents to the LTFRB through its official communication channels,” the agency added.

Earlier, LTFRB chairman Vigor Mendoza II said the agency will announce on Tuesday new fare adjustments for jeepneys and buses as the government grapples with the impact of rising global oil prices.

In a television interview, Mendoza said the fare increase had already been decided but the exact amount still needed to be approved by Giovanni Lopez, secretary of the Department of Transportation, which oversees the LTFRB.

“The fare increase is already certain. But we still have to justify the amount before DOTR Secretary Giovanni Lopez,” Mendoza said.

Gatchalian proposed promoting carpooling and reviving the use of virtual

pot-addled ex-revolutionary, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, who struggles to remember passphrases in a battle of wits against the terrifying Colonel Lockjaw, played by best supporting actor winner Sean Penn.

The film also won best editing and the inaugural award for casting. Anderson is one of the greatest auteurs of contemporary US cinema, but until Sunday had never won an Oscar, despite 11 previous nominations for ac-

Government agencies could also limit official travel, suspend nonessential activities, and postpone vehicle purchases

claimed films including “There Will Be Blood” and “Boogie Nights.”

‘Sinners’ wins four Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” a bluesy vampire fable that offers a meditation on America’s difficult racial history, had come into the evening with a record-tying 16 nominations.

It left with four awards, including best original screenplay for Coogler and best actor for Michael B. Jordan, who plays gangster twin brothers Smoke and Stack seeking their fortune in the segregated South.

“You’re an amazing, amazing per-

or equipment upgrades that are not critical to operations, said Gatchalian.

“Any small step, when implemented collectively, can make a significant contribution to the overall stability of the economy,” he added.

“We also must remember that this is a global reality. Many countries are starting to close for exports. So, the DOE and the Department of Foreign Affairs are working hard to make sure that the current contracts of our oil companies… don’t run dry,” she added. With new survey. The President’s distrust rating also declined to 44% in the new survey from 47% in December 2025. His trust rating likewise rose to 35%, compared to 32% in December 2025, according to the survey. Inflation and corruption have emerged as the most pressing national concerns for Filipinos, the survey said, with a majority expressing criticism of the administration’s efforts on these two issues.

son,” he told Coogler. “I’m so honored to call you a collaborator.”

Other prizes were best score for Ludwig Goransson and best cinematography for Autumn Durald Arkapaw, the first time a woman won in that category.

Coogler called his writing award “an incredible honor” as he thanked his family and cast members.

“I’m very nervous,” he said, “and they’re going to play me off. I grew up in Oakland, California, and we can talk a lot.”

Coogler, previously best known for “Black Panther,” would have become the first ever Black person to win best director if he had triumphed.

Out of 1,200 adults polled by Pulse Asia from late February to early March, 59% said the national government should immediately address inflation. Inflation was followed by graft and corruption in government and workers’ pay as the next most urgent concerns at 47% and 36%, respectively, the survey results showed. In fourth place is a group of urgent national concerns that includes reducing poverty (21%), creating more jobs (21%), fighting the sale and use of illegal drugs (21%), and combating criminality (17%).

PH rejects China’s ‘erroneous’ claim over Bajo de Masinloc

By Katrina Manubay

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday firmly rejected what it described as an erroneous and misleading statement from the Chinese Embassy in Manila, reaffirming the Philippines’ longstanding and indisputable sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc and the Kalayaan Island Group.

During a press briefing, DFA spokesperson for maritime affairs Rogelio Villanueva addressed recent

IN BRIEF

Amid fuel prices, sea patrols continue

MARITIME patrols in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) will continue despite rising oil prices, the Philippine Navy said Monday. Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said higher fuel costs could affect administrative tasks, prompting the agency to conserve energy in routine activities.

Operational matters such as maritime patrols will remain unaffected, he said, stressing that “sovereignty has no price.” Trinidad added that the Philippines will continue securing the WPS, particularly the northern islands where the fish-rich Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal is located. He also said joint military exercises with other countries will proceed as planned, noting that the guided missile frigate BRP Diego Silang (FFG-7) is currently in Australia for the International Fleet Review and the Multilateral Naval Exercise “Kakadu” from March 8 to 30. Rex Espiritu UPIS seeks action after building closure

THE University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) urged the university administration to take action after the closure of its high school building due to structural concerns. In a Facebook post, the school said it is struggling with a lack of facilities as classes are now being held in different spaces within UP Diliman.

“The building is not just a physical structure that can easily be replaced; it is a space that serves as a forge of students’ experiences,” the school said. High school classes are temporarily being conducted at facilities of the College of Education and the National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development.

UPIS said the arrangement is not sustainable, noting that scattered learning spaces and the loss of a safe counseling area have made it difficult to support students during a crucial stage of development. Rolando Ng III

Taguig cops arrest 4 robbery suspects

TAGUIG police on Monday reported the arrest of four suspects in separate operations linked to convenience store robberies and a shooting incident in Barangay New Lower Bicutan.

Two suspects were arrested following an investigation into a hold-up at an Alfamart store along M.L. Quezon Street in Barangay Wawa at around 2:20 a.m. on March 10. Police said two men entered the store, declared a hold-up, and threatened employees while one pointed a firearm at the cashier and the other took about P11,000 in cash and several chocolates.

Follow-up operations led to the arrest of the suspects, identified by their aliases “Axel” and “Bogie,” in San Pedro, Laguna. Authorities recovered a 9mm pistol, a magazine, and eight rounds of ammunition. Vince Lopez

claims made by the Chinese Embassy in Manila, emphasizing that the Philippines has exercised continuous and uninterrupted sovereignty and jurisdiction over Bajo de Masinloc for centuries.

“The Philippines flatly rejects China’s assertion of indisputable sovereignty over the entire South China Sea. This claim has no basis in fact, no basis in history, and no basis in international law. Full stop,” Villanueva said.

This response follows an alleged letter dated February 1990, purportedly from former Philippine ambassador to Germany Bienvenido Tan to a German HAM radio operator, Dieter Löffler.

The letter claimed that Bajo de Masinloc—known internationally as Scarborough Shoal—lies outside the Philippines’ territorial sovereignty as defined by the 1899 Treaty of Paris, but affirmed that the area falls

within the Philippines’ 200-mile economic zone.

Villanueva emphasized that the DFA will avoid engaging in speculation about documents of uncertain origin or authenticity, noting that debating materials circulated on social media by third parties has little value and can misrepresent established facts.

“China must be reminded that maritime and territorial claims are subject to established international legal procedures and dispute settlement mechanisms—not unilateral proclamations or social media posts,” he added.

The DFA official also noted that continued avoidance of established international legal processes raises questions about the strength of these claims, remarking that states confident in their positions would not hesitate to pursue international adjudication.

ANTI-RABIES

DRIVE. Dr. Hector David Dimaculangan, chief of the Manila City Pound, leads an anti-rabies vaccination drive for pet dogs of residents in Barangay 475, F. Florentino Street, Sampaloc, Manila. Department of Health data show 17 rabies cases nationwide from Jan. 4 to Feb. 21, 2026, lower than the 49 cases recorded in the same period in 2025. Norman Cruz

Stronger PH-Canada supply chain ties needed

THE Philippines and Canada must work together to develop “democratic” supply chains for critical minerals and reduce dependence on China as tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East.

This was according to experts and diplomats who spoke during a highlevel conference organized by the Stratbase Institute and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada last Friday. The forum discussed how Ottawa and Manila could strengthen bilateral ties and cooperate to improve economic security amid an increasingly volatile geopolitical climate in the Indo-Pacific.

Vina Nadjibulla, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada vice president for research, identified critical minerals—which underpin high-tech industries and advanced defense systems—as a cornerstone of the two nations’ deepening partnership.

“This is the moment to deploy our critical minerals, both for our digital needs and our sustainability goals, as well as defense industrial actions,” Nadjibulla said. She underscored the strategic need to build supply chains that are democratic and not dependent on China to navigate an increasingly “divided and dangerous” global landscape.

Stratbase Institute president Victor Andres Manhit reinforced this view, saying

that “economic security is national security” and that the Philippines is moving toward a new tax regime on mining and a future mining fiscal framework for critical markets to

facilitate strategic investments. He said the Philippines’ geostrategic position and young workforce are ready to contribute to securing abundant critical materials.

Gov’t assists Pinoys arrested in Dubai over online posts

By Katrina Manubay

THE Philippine Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced on Monday that it is providing legal assistance to two Filipino nationals arrested for posting or sharing online content related to recent attacks and air defense interceptions in Dubai.

In a statement, the embassy confirmed that the two arrested individuals are both overseas Filipino workers in the UAE.

“The embassy has been in communication with the families of the affected OFWs to provide timely updates and support,” the statement read.

“Legal assistance is being extended to the arrested individuals through the embassy’s retained legal counsel,” it added.

The embassy also said a request for a consular visit to the arrested nationals has been submitted to UAE authorities for approval.

“In view of the ongoing investigation and at the request of the families, the embassy is withholding specific information regarding the identities and other details of the cases,” the embassy said.

It also vowed to provide all necessary legal and consular support to the affected Filipino nationals.

Earlier, a local news outlet reported that authorities had arrested 10 people of various nationalities for allegedly distributing misleading and fabricated footage of intercepted attacks and landmark strikes on social media.

The report said those arrested include an Egyptian, a Filipino, a Vietnamese, a Pakistani, an Iranian, a Bangladeshi, a Cameroonian, a Nepalese, and two Indians.

Under UAE law, such acts are considered crimes and can result in imprisonment of at least one year and a fine of no less than Dh100,000 for deliberately spreading misinformation, threatening public security, spreading fear, and undermining social stability.

PNP to deploy 55K personnel to secure Holy Week 2026

By Vince Lopez

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said around 55,000 personnel and force multipliers will be deployed nationwide from March 29 to May 31 under Oplan Ligtas SumVac 2026 to secure the public during Holy Week and the summer vacation season.

“For this year’s operations, the PNP will deploy a total of 54,989 personnel nationwide, composed of 36,163 PNP personnel, 4,738 from augmented units, and 14,088 members from auxiliary groups and force multipliers, who will assist in maintaining security in places of convergence such as tourist destinations and transport hubs,” said Col. Anna Liza Macapinlac, chief of the PNP Public Safety Division of the Directorate for Operations, during a press briefing at Camp Crame.

“Among our key operational measures is ensuring maximum police presence in strategic locations to deter criminal activities and immediately respond to public concerns,” she added. Macapinlac also said the PNP has not monitored any specific threats but emphasized that police units will be on heightened alert starting March 29.

“As of now, there is no threat, but our intelligence units are continuously conducting threat assessments so we can provide our field commanders with proactive security operations,” she said.

She added that Police Community Relations units have been tasked to conduct a massive information campaign to raise public awareness and promote safety reminders during this period. The Anti-Cybercrime Group has also been ordered to intensify cyber patrols and information dissemination on fraudulent travel offers, fake online bookings, and other online scams to protect the public.

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2026

Manila allots P1.76b in stimulus funds

IN BRIEF

Vida calls for austerity on fuel consumption

JUSTICE Secretary Fredderick Vida on Monday urged Department of Justice personnel and attached agencies to conserve energy and fuel amid escalating tension in the Middle East.

“Bring this spirit of stewardship to your families. In times of crisis, no action is too small to spark big change,” Vida said.

Consistent practice could slash energy use by 20 percent or more, easing the crisis’s bite, Vida said, adding that fuelsaving measures should be extended from offices to homes.

The call echoed a directive of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for governmentwide energy efficiency, as pump prices are projected to surge further with no end to the conflict in sight. Pot Chavez

Avsegroup intercepts alien with P28-m shabu

AIRPORT security operatives have intercepted another suspected drug mule on arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from South Africa with over P28 million worth of shabu, a prohibited substance in the Philippines.

The Philippine National Police - Aviation Security Group (PNP-Avsegroup) said the suspect was a 48-year-old female Croatian national who flew in from Johannesburg with a connecting flight to Hong Kong.

Routine X-ray screening of the passenger’s luggage raised suspicions due to an uncanny image. Subsequent probe by a K9 team led to an alert suggesting possible presence of illegal drugs.

Further inspection revealed three improvised pouches wrapped in black duct tape concealed within a false compartment, containing 4,156 grams of white crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as “shabu,” worth P28.2 million. Joel E. Zurbano

OPAPRU forges tie-up with NY-based GNWP

THE Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) have formalized a partnership aimed at accelerating the enforcement of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in the Philippines. The partners signed a memorandum of understanding on March 11 at the GNWP office in the UN Church Center in New York City. Under the agreement, OPAPRU and GNWP will collaborate to strengthen local capacities, expand women’s leadership in peacebuilding, and ensure that national commitments on Women, Peace and Security are translated into concrete programs at the community level. The partnership supports the implementation of Executive Order No. 865, which directs the National Steering Committee on Women, Peace and Security to

Kanlaon mild eruption ignites forest fire

By Rex Espiritu

AUTHORITIES have reported a forest fire within the permanent danger zone (PDZ) of Mount Kanlaon in the Negros Island Region following its moderate eruption on Sunday evening.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) monitored the eruption between 6:07 p.m. and 6:08 p.m. on Sunday which spewed an ash plume that reached about 5,000 meters (16,404 feet) and drifted toward southeast to northeast.

By Maricel V. Cruz

Ash emission continued from 6:09 p.m. onward, with authorities noting ashfall in several communities, including Barangay Odiong in Moises Padilla and multiple villages in La Castellana such as Mansalanao, Cabagnaan, Cabacungan, Camandag, Manghanoy, and Biak-na-Bato.

Residents in Barangay Mailum in La Carlota City and Barangay Codcod in San Carlos City also reported a strong sulfuric odor. Disaster officials said a forest fire

THE House of Representatives aims to deliberate soon on 17 out of 52 priority bills under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council Common Legislative Agenda, with four measures lined up for approval as the chamber adjourns in time for the Holy Week break.

House Majority Leader Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos said the target shows how the House is working to turn the administration’s priority list into actual measures that can move from the committees to the plenary floor and, ultimately, into law.

“We are right on track to approving LEDAC measures on time. The public does not live on promises alone, they need results. And that is exactly what we are trying to deliver by moving these measures with urgency and discipline,” Marcos stressed.

He credited Speaker Faustino Dy III for keeping the House focused on measures that carry direct impact on public life, from energy and education to governance and social protection, saying the chamber has stayed on pace because the leadership understands that legislative work must be felt beyond the walls of Congress.

“The House of Representatives is working hard to pass the LEDAC measures because every member knows that these bills, if they become law, will help every Filipino family,” Marcos said.

“Especially now when the prices of goods are spiking because of the Middle East conflict. We need to work harder so that every Filipino feels that Congress and the government are there),” he added.

was observed within the volcano’s four-kilometer permanent danger zone, although the exact location was still being verified as of the latest report. The regional OCD said it is coordinating with local government units and aviation authorities, including the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

As of reporting time, operations at Bacolod–Silay International Airport remained normal, with no flight cancellations recorded.

By Pot Chavez

THE city government of Manila announced on Monday the release of P1.76-billion financial assistance to stimulate the local economy as oil prices surge amid the ongoing armed conflict in the Middle East.

“Starting today, we will release, to stimulate, to augment, to cushion our situation in the City of Manila, amounting to P1.7 billion. “We have to account for this in the future, our obligations over the coming weeks. But somehow, it (funds) are already in the hands of the barangays,” Manila Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso said in Filipino.

“The total direct individuals is more or less about 330,000 of them, Manileños. That is amounting to about 15 percent of our population. And most of these are the heads of the family, that may have what you call a trickle-down effect,” he added.

The financial package, which combines releases from the general fund and trust fund, was meant to inject liquidity into the city economy by accelerating payouts to residents, students, public sector workers, and barangays across the capital city.

Domagoso explained that raising the buying capacity of the community will benefit the local businesses such that jobs will be protected.

Meanwhile, the city government will also release P51.129 million in educational assistance for 17,043 students of Manila’s public universities. Financial assistance will also be provided to national government agencies operating in the city, with P103.28 million allocated for 16,425 beneficiaries under a city-funded assistance program.

Likewise, P71.319 million in PhilHealth professional fee sharing will be released to 6,495 healthcare workers from Manila’s city-run hospitals and the Manila Health Department.

importance as it involved factual questions, emphasizing that SC is not a trier of facts. Likewise, the SC ruled that the petition violated hierarchy of the courts as direct resort is allowed only in exceptional cases involving purely legal issues.

Earlier this year, Manila Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso announced that the city has updated its garbage collection fees, citing

and increased

OPINION A5

When will all this end?

IT WOULD seem that the Middle East conflict can only worsen.

The big question now is who will blink first, the United States with Donald Trump saying it will only end when all the leaders of Iran are gone. On the other hand Iran says it will not end soon but much much later on.

I can only quote the headline of one of today’s newspapers about the situation right now:

Another double-digit spike in oil prices set.

“Another double-digit spike at the pump is looming next week, amid the global oil crisis, threatening to push diesel above P100 per liter and gasoline close to the P90 mark.

Diesel may surge by P19.30 to P22.30 per liter, where gasoline could jump by P14 to P17 per liter.

The estimates were based on four days of trading on the Mean of Platts Singapore, a key pricing benchmark for refined petroleum products.

The Middle East war, which paralyzed maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, has “severely disrupted the supply chain” by cutting crude shipments from one of the world’s largest oil-producing regions.”

On the part of the Philippines, with the Middle East war affecting the global economy, which we saw after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, where 20 percent of the world’s oil needs goes through, I can only pray to God that it will be resolved soon.

For the Philippines with our oil dependency on the supply from the Middle East, we can only hope and pray that it will be solved. Signs are already

showing that the food supply of the country is greatly affected and prices have already risen.

In the first place, the government cannot continue subsidizing the country’s transport industry as it does now.

In the second place, with our kind of politics, things can only worsen for the country.

If we ever get through this Middle East conflict, I can only ask what next?

My gulay, with the recent flood control mess still unresolved, now comes this tragedy.

For a small country like the Philippines, with no less than the whole world suffering from the Middle East war, things can only worsen.

It does seem that problems come one after one another.

First the Flood Control mess, now this US-Iran conflict. Santa Banana, what will come next?

With the big countries now affected by the Middle East war, we can only hope and pray that the Philippines will not suffer as much. This Middle East conflict affects everybody, especially the marginalized.

If we ever get through this Middle East conflict, I can only ask what next? I hope and pray that God will spare us from this tragedy.

The algorithm and the flood

EVERY rainy season in the Philippines tells the same story.

Water rises. Streets disappear. Children wade through murky currents where roads used to be. Entire neighborhoods become rivers.

And then comes the inevitable question: Where did the billions of pesos for flood control go?

Now, the government says it may finally have an answer — not from whistleblowers or congressional hearings, but from an algorithm.

The Office of the Ombudsman, led by Jesus Crispin Remulla, announced last week that it will use artificial intelligence to analyze the vast evidence gathered by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure in its investigation of alleged corruption in flood-control projects.

The commission has turned over what Remulla described as “200 mega boxes of data” — mountains of contracts, engineering reports, photographs, inspection records, and hard drives containing thousands upon thousands of pages.

It is the bureaucratic equivalent of a crime scene the size of a mountain.

And somewhere in that mountain, investigators suspect, lies the story of how flood-control projects meant to protect Filipinos may have become pipelines for corruption.

The scandal traces back to revelations made by Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his State of the Nation Address last year. Marcos stunned many by publicly exposing anomalies in government flood-control spending — an unusual move in a political system where such scandals are often whispered about but rarely confronted at the highest level. Soon after, the infrastructure commission began combing through projects nationwide.

What it reportedly found was troubling: questionable contracts, suspiciously identical engineering reports, and flood-control structures that existed more convincingly on paper than in concrete.

One of the early cases involved a

₱289-million dike project in Oriental Mindoro. The lawmaker linked to the project, former representative Zaldy Co, now faces charges and has reportedly become a fugitive from justice.

But if the allegations are accurate, that case may only be the tip of a much larger iceberg.

The deeper scandal is structural.

Flood control in the Philippines is not just an engineering challenge — it is also a political economy.

Each year, billions of pesos flow into drainage systems, river walls, and dikes.

Anti-corruption investigations in the Philippines have a long history of starting with thunder and ending with a whimper

Each project means contracts, subcontractors, suppliers, and local political patronage networks. In theory, these structures prevent disaster. In practice, they can become lucrative opportunities for graft.

And so investigators now face a paradox: the corruption trail is so large that it may be impossible to follow using traditional methods.

That is where artificial intelligence enters the story.

Remulla says AI will function only as a “sorter tool” — a digital assistant capable of combing through millions of pages, organizing documents, and flagging suspicious patterns. Think of it as a microscope for corruption.

But technology alone cannot resolve the deeper tensions surrounding this investigation.

For one thing, AI raises uncomfortable legal questions.

Defense lawyers will likely argue that algorithms cannot replace human judgment in evaluating evidence.

Courts may eventually have to de-

Pollution risks

CLIMATE concerns have quickly risen following the recent attacks on fuel depots in the Iranian capital which quickly dived into darkness as poisonous black clouds rose from burning oil facilities.

Experts have since warned, particularly Mathilde Jourde from the Institute for International and Strategic Relations, that targeting nuclear, military and energy sites had “extremely polluting” consequences for air, water and soil.

With the never-ending strikes in Iran and elsewhere in the region, experts are pointing to “black rain” and acidic pollution, in which rainwater in Tehran has turned black after interacting with pollutants in the air, a result of high concentrations of soot, hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides from burning oil depots.

Experts say this “black rain” is highly acidic, with potential to cause skin burns and severe lung damage.

Reports from the Middle East, quoting pollution authorities, say air quality monitoring stations in Tehran, Khuzestan, and Isfahan have registered levels as “unhealthy for all” or “very unhealthy.”

Experts note the pollution is different from standard urban smog, describing it as an extreme mix of heavy metals and hazardous combustion by-products, akin to a massive industrial disaster, and the smoke plumes

have blanketed Tehran, a metropolis with nearly 10 million residents, and the surrounding areas. What does this mean?

—“—

The primary impact of the Iranian crisis on the Philippines is economic, caused by rising oil prices

Based on the immediate, severe environmental impacts reported as of March 2026, the air pollution caused by the Iran war and attacks on oil infrastructure constitutes a highlevel hazard, likely rated 7 to 8 on a 1-10 scale for regional impact, with significant long-term toxic legacy concerns. While the pollution is highly intense, its immediate, extreme effects are currently centered in the Middle East – affecting millions in Iran, Iraq, and nearby Gulf states – rather than uniformly across the entire global population.

Who covers AI

Which means air pollution from Iran is unlikely to have a direct, significant impact on the daily air quality in the the Philippines due to the geographical distance – over 7,000 kilometers – and atmospheric separation between the two regions. However, as experts argue, air pollution is transboundary, and under certain atmospheric conditions, long-range transport of pollutants can occur.

Fine particles, like those from dust storms in Iran’s dried-out wetlands or pollution from oil infrastructure, can travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers.

While pollutants can travel long distances, the concentration of pollutants decreases significantly over such large distances, and it is highly unlikely that Iranian pollution would directly reach the Philippines in high enough concentrations to break national air quality standards.

As far as climate change is concerned, air pollution affects regional monsoon intensities and trajectories, which can have indirect impacts on agricultural systems across Asia, according to climatologists. While severe air pollution in Iran is a serious health crisis for its own population, the direct, physical transfer of that poor air to the Philippines is, in the mindset of experts, negligible, although they stress the primary, tangible impact of the Iranian crisis on the Philippines is economic, caused by rising oil prices.

business blunders? Some insurers cautiously step up

NEW YORK – As more businesses trust artificial intelligence “agents” to independently grow their revenues, some insurance firms are stepping in to cover any mistakes -- while others are steering clear.

“The whole intent of using advanced AI is to substantially replace human assistance and oversight in decisions,” said Phil Dawson, head of AI policy and partnerships at the specialist insurer Armilla.

The trend of “agentic AI” has taken off, with bots handling computer tasks by themselves and businesses trimming ranks of human workers as a result.

“That really challenges some of the fundamental logic of existing insurance coverage,” Dawson said.

Companies in the AI race are striving to perfect the technology, but they have not eliminated the possibility of errors such as “hallucinations” in which fabricated output is confidently presented.

AI-related liability risks have been largely accounted for implicitly under insurance policies in what is referred to as “silent coverage”, analyst Sonal Madhok and law professor Anat Lior said in a research paper published late last year by the brokerage firm Willis Towers Wa000_96CW39Vtson.

However, they argue that the situation is similar to the liability coverage questions raised in the early years of cybercrime.

“We can expect policies to explicitly address AI in the near future, ending

cide how much weight to give findings generated by machines.

Transparency is another concern. Remulla has not publicly disclosed what software the Ombudsman will use or how it will analyze the data. In an investigation involving powerful political figures, critics worry about the possibility of selective filtering or algorithmic bias.

And then there is the oldest question in Philippine politics: Will the powerful actually be held accountable?

Anti-corruption investigations in the Philippines have a long history of starting with thunder and ending with a whimper.

the silent coverage era,” Lior and Madhok said.

Insurers are already moving beyond their “wait-and-see approach” when it comes to AI mishaps, according to Jonathan Mitchell, head of the financial sector practice at brokerage firm Founder Shield.

Some standard insurance policies

—“—

The trend of ‘agentic AI’ has taken off, with bots handling computer tasks by themselves and businesses trimming ranks of human workers as a result

now include “absolute AI exclusion” clauses that expressly deny coverage for AI-related mishaps, Mitchell said.

Dawson cited a commercial real estate firm that tried to have its AI agent covered as a regular employee but had to revert to a special policy.

AI malfunction’ protection

Founder Shield incorporates “AI malfunction and hallucination” scenarios specifically into professional services policies covering losses the technology causes clients.

Commissions are created. Reports are written. Headlines flare. And then the machinery of justice grinds slowly enough for political winds to shift.

Remulla’s decision to invite the commission’s legal staff to join the Ombudsman’s office suggests he understands the stakes. Institutional memory is fragile; investigations collapse when knowledge disappears.

But the bigger challenge is credibility. If the AI-assisted review leads to credible prosecutions — and perhaps convictions — it could mark a turning point in the country’s fight against corruption. Technology would have done

The scope of such policies can be extended, for a price, beyond computer networks to cover real world harm such as AI mistakenly ordering too much inventory for a company.

Armilla tests AI models for vulnerabilities before committing to coverage and assesses whether the client’s risk management framework adheres to international standards.

But like other insurers, Armilla can decline to take on certain risks.

For example, it avoids providing coverage for anything related to medical diagnostics or applications focused on mental health.

Munich Re, a global titan that does both insurance and reinsurance, provides coverage for companies that design AI models as well as those that use the technology.

“This risk of a model making errors or hallucinating cannot be fully avoided in any technical way,” said Munich Re’s head of AI insurance, Michael von Gablenz.

“AI systems, at the end of the day, are statistical models; and any statistical model has uncertainty in it,” he said. The AI risk brings with it great opportunity for insurers, though, with von Gablenz estimating the size of the market could eclipse that of cybersecurity insurance.

The Deloitte Center for Financial Services projects the global AI insurance premium market could grow to as much as $4.8 billion by 2032. AFP

something politics often fails to do: follow the evidence wherever it leads. If it fails, however, the opposite lesson may emerge.

Filipinos may conclude that even an algorithm cannot cut through the tangled web of power and patronage that surrounds public spending. Meanwhile, the rainy season will return, as it always does. Water will rise again in the streets. And somewhere, perhaps buried in those 200 mega boxes of data, lies the answer to a simple and devastating question: Why, after billions of pesos and decad

Trump pressures NATO, China over Iran

TEHRAN – President Donald Trump urged NATO partners and China to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the critical conduit for crude that Iran has effectively closed, as major economic players began releasing oil reserves on Monday to ward off supply disruptions.

Global oil prices have surged by 40 to 50 percent after Iran choked off the waterway and attacked energy and shipping industry targets in the Gulf in retaliation for the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic.

Crude prices were hovering around $100 on Monday as the Middle East war entered its third week, with Israel saying it still has “thousands of targets in Iran”, where it was also “identifying new targets every day”.

Trump said the United States was in discussions with Iran but that Tehran was not ready for a deal to end the war, although the Islamic republic’s foreign minister had earlier denied any talks with Washington.

“I don’t think they’re ready. But they are getting pretty close,” Trump said.

The US president had called on countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain at the weekend to send ships to escort tankers through the strait.

“It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens

there,” Trump told the Financial Times on Sunday. Unlike the United States, Europe and China are heavily dependent on the Gulf for oil imports.

Trump threatened to delay a planned summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this month if Beijing does not assist with reopening the strait.

He also warned that no response or a negative reply to his request would be “very bad for the future of NATO”.

But Tokyo and Canberra both said they were not planning deployments.

Trump’s comments came after Iran warned other countries against getting involved in the war, which has spread across the Middle East.

In a phone conversation with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot, Tehran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi called on other countries to “refrain from any action that could lead to escalation and expansion of the conflict”.

Arguing that the US security umbrella in the region was “inviting rather than deterring trouble”, Araghchi on X urged neighbouring countries “to expel foreign aggressors”. AFP

Israel in Lebanon assault vs. Hezbollah

JERUSALEM – Israel said Monday it had launched ground operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon while US President Donald Trump piled pressure on world powers to help reopen the vital shipping lane choked off by Iranian attacks.

Global oil prices have surged by 40 to 50 percent after Iran attacked shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and launched waves of missile and drone strikes on targets in the Gulf, in retaliation for the war launched against it by the United States and Israel.

Trump called over the weekend for countries including China, France, Ja-

20 Thai sailors return home after vessel hit

BANGKOK – Twenty Thai crew mem-

bers of a cargo ship attacked in the crucial Strait of Hormuz arrived in Thailand on Monday, with three of their colleagues still stranded on the vessel in the Gulf.

The Thai-registered Mayuree Naree was hit by two projectiles on Wednesday while transiting through the Gulf waterway, after departing a port in the United Arab Emirates.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had struck the Thai ship, as well as a Liberia-flagged vessel, in the strait because they had ignored “warnings”.

The 20 sailors landed at Thailand’s main international airport early Monday morning and were immediately escorted away by officials without speaking to gathered media.

The wife of one of the returned crew, who gave her name as Bass, told reporters she was still waiting to see her husband after the ordeal.

“We are all afraid, but they are employees -- if they refuse to go (out to sea), they won’t get paid,” the 32-year-old woman said.

“I don’t know where they went or when they will return home. The company hasn’t told me anything,” she added. AFP

pan, South Korea and Britain to send warships to escort tankers through strait that is only about 33 kilometres (21 miles) wide at its narrowest point.

The US president told the Financial Times it would be “very bad for the future of NATO” if they refused, and he has threatened to delay a planned summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Japan and Australia have already said they are not planning deployments. More than two weeks into the Middle East war, Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said they still had “thousands of targets in Iran, and we are identifying new targets every

day”.

Israel also announced the launch of “limited ground operations” against Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, a key front in the wider war.

“This activity is part of broader defensive efforts to establish and strengthen a forward defensive posture,” the military said.

The announcement echoes similar statements issued in 2024, when Israel and Hezbollah fought a major war in Lebanon, and in 2023, when the military launched a ground assault in Gaza in response to Hamas’s October 7 attacks. AFP

elected in a poll choreographed by the top

KYIV – Explosions rang out over the Ukrainian capital on Monday and AFP journalists witnessed air defense batteries fending off a barrage of Russian projectiles during a rare daytime attack on Kyiv.

Russian forces have stepped up longrange drone and missile attacks over recent months, mainly targeting energy facilities.

The barrage comes as US-led efforts to bring Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table appear to have been derailed by the US-Israeli war with Iran.

“Drone debris has fallen in the very center of the capital city. There are no fires or casualties. The enemy attack on Kyiv continues,” mayor Vitaliy Klitschko wrote on social media, as more explosions echoed over the city.

AFP journalists saw flashes and clouds of smoke, as residents of the capital sought cover during rush hour.

The Ukrainian air force meanwhile warned of a “high-speed target” aimed at Kyiv coming from the north of the country, which borders Russia.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sparked the bloodiest war in Europe since World War II, forcing the displacement of millions and killing hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians on both sides.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s newly installed defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov waltzed on stage like a stand-up comedian to take the mic in front of journalists in Kyiv as a sleek slideshow zoomed across a map of the country.

The Ted-talk style briefing -- a departure from the ministry’s previously stiff approach -- encapsulates the energy Fedorov is trying to inject into Ukraine’s war machine, four years into the Russian invasion.

Appointed in January, the 35-yearold with short salt-and-pepper hair is Ukraine’s youngest ever defense minister. AFP

Myanmar’s post-coup parliament sits packed with pro-junta allies

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar – Myanmar’s parliament convened on Monday for the first time since a 2021 military coup, AFP journalists saw, packed with projunta lawmakers elected in a poll choreographed by the top brass.

The majority of MPs hail from the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) while most of the remainder belong to the armed forces, which are entitled to a quarter of unelected seats under the constitution.

AFP journalists in the capital Naypyidaw saw MPs in the People’s Assembly begin proceedings Monday morning, electing USDP lawmaker Nanda Kyaw Swar as the lower house chairman.

The last election in 2020 returned a resounding victory for Aung San Suu Kyi but the junta claimed massive voter fraud and swept aside the results -- detaining the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, disbanding her party and triggering civil war.

After five years of military rule, the junta stage-managed a phased re-run of the vote in December and January, outlawing criticism of the poll and stacking the ballot with its civilian allies, according to democracy watchdogs. As MPs from the junta-backed election took their seats in the chamber, some exiled parliamentarians from the 2020 vote held a parallel session, asserting that their self-declared “National Unity Government” (NUG) remains the country’s rightful leadership.

“We have been witnessing an attempt to deceive the public with fraudulent representation through these fake elections,” said NUG acting president Duwa Lashi La in an online meeting of the shadow government.

“The coup commission is seeking international legitimacy through any available means,” he added. “We must not treat this as a normal political development.” AFP

party said on Monday the country will lift a cap on coal-powered generation capacity set at 80 percent and boost the use of nuclear power to about the same level. The world’s eighth-largest consumer of crude oil is feeling the squeeze on energy supplies as Iran has choked off the vital Strait of Hormuz, with the Middle East war now entering its third week. The disruption along the key oil route has sent prices soaring and prompted Seoul to impose a fuel price cap for the first time in nearly 30 years. Ahn Do-geol, an MP from the ruling Democratic party, told reporters after a meeting with relevant government agencies that the coal cap limiting generation to 80 percent would be lifted from Monday.

“Effective today the 80-percent cap will be removed,” he said.

The government will also raise the utilisation rate of nuclear reactors by more than 10 percent to help offset the impact of disrupted energy supplies, he said. AFP

TOKYO – Japan said Monday it was not currently thinking about ordering maritime security operations, after US President Donald Trump called for other countries to send warships to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.

“In the current Iran situation, we are not at the moment considering issuing a maritime security operation,” Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told parliament. Trump called for reinforcements on Saturday from countries including Japan after earlier vowing that the US Navy would “very soon” begin escorting tankers through the vital shipping lane for oil in the Middle East.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday that she had not received a request from Trump.

“The question is what Japan should do on our own initiative and what’s possible within our legal framework, rather than what’s requested by the United States,” she told parliament. “We have asked various sections of various ministries to discuss this.” AFP

INDIAN WELLS —

World number two

Jannik Sinner surged home to beat Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/4) on Sunday to capture his first Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000 crown.

Four-time Grand Slam champion

Sinner won his first title of 2026, rallying from 0-4 down in the secondset tiebreaker to seal the win against a resurgent Medvedev, winner of the title in Dubai last month who was riding a nine-match ATP winning streak.

That included an upset semi-final triumph over Carlos Alcaraz that ended the top-ranked Spaniard’s 16-match winning streak to start the season.

But Sinner, who didn’t drop a set in the tournament, proved just that bit better in a match where both sets went to the tiebreakers without a break of serve.

“I kept believing and kept pushing,” Sinner said of his closing burst. “I went for my shots a little more. A third set, we would have started even, so I tried my best to close it out and I am very happy.

“It was an incredible ending,” added Sinner, who said he wasn’t troubled by the hot afternoon temperatures thanks to the lack of humidity and some extra days of pre-tournament preparation.

Sinner didn’t face a break point in the one-hour 55-minute contest, winning 43 of the 47 points on which he put his first serve in play.

Medvedev saved the only two break points he faced in the seventh game of the opening set, but Sinner’s tiebreaker prowess proved too much.

Medvedev was up 5-4 in the first-set tiebreaker when he let a ball sail by him and it landed in.

He’d go on to save one set point, but Sinner gave himself another with a blistering forehand that the Russian couldn’t handle and pocketed the set with a thundering service winner.

Medvedev looked on track to level the match when he raced to a 4-0 lead in the second-set decider

Sinner whips Medvedev, wins 1st Indian Wells title

-- aided by Sinner’s second doublefault of the match.

But Sinner roared home to join Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer as the only players to win all six of the ATP’s hardcourt Masters 1000 tournaments.

“It feels amazing, great achievement,” said Sinner, who was already turning his gaze to the Miami Open, the second leg of the “Sunshine Double” where men’s first-round play begins on Wednesday.

“I have couple of days to relax (but) there is not so much time in between here and Miami ... we try to play the

best tennis possible there, too.”

Bittersweet feeling

Medvedev said the outcome was “bittersweet” after a semi-final victory over Alcaraz -- who beat him in the Indian Wells finals in 2023 and 2024 -- that felt like winning the tournament.

“But that’s not the reality,” he said. “There is a final to play. I had my opportunity, small opportunity in the first set. A bit bigger opportunity in the tiebreak in the second.

“But at the same time, I was hanging by not big margins in the whole set.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling where it

feels good to do what I did this week.

But of course I wanted to try to push him even more. He was serving phenomenal. (It) was super tough to be on the return position today.”

While Medvedev missed a chance to become just the second player to beat both Alcaraz and Sinner in the same tournament, the former world number one underscored his return to form after a disappointing 2025 campaign and will return to the top 10 on Monday.

“It’s great to see Daniil back playing this level,” Sinner said. “I do believe that tennis needs him.” AFP

Foreign, local aces brace for tough test in IRONMAN 70.3 Davao

THE upcoming IRONMAN 70.3 Davao is shaping up to deliver a fierce and unpredictable contest as around 1,000 triathletes from 30 countries gear up for the centerpiece race, which blasts off Sunday (March 22) in Davao City.

While overall participation for the entire race weekend is expected to reach more than 3,000 with the inclusion of side events, the main IRONMAN 70.3 competition itself has drawn a formidable international and local field eager to test themselves in one of the most competitive triathlon races in the country.

Athletes from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, China, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Israel, the Isle of Man, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Syria, Thailand, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Great Britain and Northern Ireland are set to line up against a deep contingent of Filipino triathletes. Heading the foreign challenge are Spain’s Rodrigo Delgado, Singapore’s Pin Wei Toh, India’s Ram Mannath, Greece’s Dimitrios Papadimitriou and Australia’s Benedict Carlie. Defending the home turf are Irienold Reig Jr., John Rey Rasay, Christian Seguia, James Usman, and Julian Teves, among others.

This year’s edition, set over the punishing 1.9km swim, a 90-km bike and 21.1-km run distance, will feature a modified bike course designed to add a new layer of strategy and difficulty as

BY the time I was just a tourist again in White Beach in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro enjoying the soft sand, cool clear waters and the soothing afternoon sun and clapping for runners each one of them summoning their last ounce of strength to reach the finish line of the 2026 Puerto Galera Trail Ultra, I had already made peace with my fate: I lost the thing I came here for. I joined the race wanting what all racers here want: finish and earn the medal. Instead, I came away with something harder to display. At first, that felt like disappointment. A quiet one, but real. The kind that does not break over you all at once, but settles gradually into the body. Not regret, exactly, because I did not regret joining. It was something milder and more private.

And yet there I was later, standing on the beach near the stage, watching runners from the 50K category come in one by one, sunburnt and exhausted and radiant with relief. I clapped for them. I cheered. And what surprised me most was the sincerity of my own happiness. I was not pretending to be gracious. I was not forcing sportsmanship out of politeness. I was genuinely happy for them.

That was new for me.

When I was younger, losing had a way of making me smaller. I would focus on errors and excuses and indignation. Bitterness came easily then, and with power and force, raising the hand that holds the finger pointed at those I blame.

But age gives us a different relationship to loss.

I am 47 now, old enough to know that the world does not rearrange itself around our wanting. Old

Splendido sets stage for erce PGT Q-School golf showdown

LAUREL, Batangas—At Splendido Golf Club here, reputation counts for little and survival hinges on nerve, precision and resilience.

A record field faces a punishing four-day test starting today (Tuesday, March 17) as the Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School unwraps, with only 30 coveted Tour cards available for the upcoming season.

Multi-leg winner Ira Alido headlines the huge 124-player cast that includes Ferdie Aunzo, Leandro Bagtas, Ramil Bisera, Jobim Carlos, Anthony Fernando, Albin Engino, Enrico Gallardo, Leonard Lofranco, Jonas Magcalayo, Tom Marcelo, Ivan Monsalve, Carlos Paking, Bobe Salahog, Boni Salahog, Kuresh Samanodi and John Michael Uy, among them.

A strong international presence further raises the stakes, with 43 foreign hopefuls – also a Q-School mark – joining the chase. Their entry tightens the competition for the locals while pushing them to further sharpen their games in pursuit of coveted Tour cards.

Some are former cardholders determined to regain their playing rights, while others are first-timers eager to break into the professional circuit and test themselves on a bigger stage. Among the veterans seeking to reclaim their status are Robert Pactolerin, Rey Pagunsan and Richard Sinfuego.

Leading the overseas contingent are South Korea’s Kim Tae Won, Japan’s Kento Watanabe, Daiya Suzuki and former Q-School medalist Toru Nakajima, along with Americans Riley Keagle and MJ Fecundo, Ireland’s Liam Cully, Singapore’s Lukeshvarunaa Elangkovan, Australian Sam Gervinas and Frenchman Ugo Ottogalli, all eager to carve out their place in the Philippine circuit.

athletes balance speed, pacing and endurance in the tropical conditions of Davao City. Meanwhile, Bea Quiambao banners the Filipino Elite Category alongside other members of the national team. Joining the competition in

enough to understand that disappointment is not always a verdict.

This is difficult to admit in a culture that worships victory so openly. We are trained to remember success in bright, polished images. The medal around the neck. The trophy lifted overhead. The easy retelling. We know how to celebrate and narrate achievement in the clean language of winning.

But when was the last time anyone proudly said: I joined, and I gave it my best.

We do not tell that story often enough.

Maybe because “giving it your best” has been reduced to the language of consolation. Trying hard matters only when you win. I’ve come to realize how we undervalue what it means to give something our best shot.

Winning feels amazing. Of course it does. It would be dishonest to pretend otherwise. To win is to feel, if only briefly, that the world has aligned itself with your desire, and it leaves evidence.

But there is another feeling that feels just as amazing, if it is genuine.

It is the feeling of having stepped fully into difficulty, of having exhausted both strength and resolve.

It does not carry the same celebratory aura of winning, but in some ways it is more intimate. It asks

their respective age-group divisions are Leyann Ramo, Nicole Andaya, Faye Abes, Joy Tiu, Gaea Maranon, Hope Santamaria, Hazel Sicat, and Aira Lopez, all gearing up for spirited battles.

The clash promises to be intense, with foreign standouts expected to push the pace while the country’s seasoned campaigners and emerging young guns attempt to defend home turf in what could turn into a wild, hot and furious battle across all age-group divisions in the muchanticipated return of the event to the country’s premier endurance racing scene.

The race is part of a broader initiative by the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Council, in collaboration with the Philippine Sports Commission and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, to further position the Philippines as a premier destination for endurance sports.

Organized by Sunrise Events Inc. in partnership with the Davao City government, the race weekend will also feature several side events that have helped boost overall participation.

These include the Sunrise Sprint triathlon on Sunday, designed for both beginners and experienced athletes with its shorter 750-m swim, 20-km bike and 5-km run format.

Friday will host the Gwapa Dabawenya Run with 5-km, 10-km and 21-km race categories, while young athletes will take the spotlight on Saturday in the IRONKIDS Davao, which features an aquathlon (swim-run) competition along with a kids’ run.

more of your character. It leaves a mark that says DNF—Did Not Finish.

How many things in your life have you left unfinished still?

When I was young, I wanted to climb mountains. It was one of those youthful ambitions that seemed possible to me. But my parents won’t let me. And by the time I am old enough to give myself permission, I was either busy or interested in something else. The dream did not explode or collapse. It just receded. It slipped quietly into that large, crowded storage room where so many unrealized plans go. DNF.

And then one day, there I was, climbing Mt. Malasimbo.

That is one of the strange mercies of life: sometimes it returns our forgotten desires to us in forms we do not immediately recognize. We think a dream has expired because we stopped speaking of it, when in fact it has only been waiting for another route back.

It happened for me, 30 years later, and I was with the people I wanted to share this experience with—my sister Nette and my brothers Norman and Joey. I told them I wanted us four racing as a birthday gift for me, and they said yes without hesitation. We are not serious runners. We’re not mountaineers. We shouldn’t be doing things like this. But in the name of always trying new things, we did.

We trained. We showed up. We tried to meet something difficult together, and we didn’t allow it to break us.

The older I get, the more I value these moments when the people you love agree to become beginners beside you. There is tenderness in that. Also courage. To enter unfamiliar terrain without expertise, without guarantees, and still choose to go—that is no small thing.

I’m happy we are still smiling until the end. That’s what I told my sister as I watched the videos I took of us ascending and descending the trails at Mount Malasimbo

We often think courage must look dramatic to count. But sometimes courage is simply this: saying yes to an experience your life has not exactly prepared you for. To have resolve stand side by side commitment. I know how many things in life remain trapped in intention. I know how many plans never survive beyond the sentence I want to. I know the quiet shame of ambitions that become habits of postponement. Following through mattered to me, and it mattered deeply. This race

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2026

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

Filipinas get another chance at World Cup football berth

THE World Cup journey is far from over for the Philippines women’s national football team.

Despite suffering a heavy setback in the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, the Filipinas remain in contention for a berth in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“While the scoreline isn’t what we wanted, we will focus on the next game because we still have a chance to reach the World Cup,” said Filipinas coach Mark Torcaso.

Torcaso made the remarks after the Filipinas absorbed a 7–0 defeat at the hands of the Japan in their quarterfinal clash on Sunday at Accor Stadium.

The Philippines will now face the Uzbekistan women’s national football team in the play-in round on Thursday at Cbus Super Stadium, where another World Cup slot is at stake.

Japan, meanwhile, advanced to the semifinals and will face the South Korea women’s national football team in Sydney on March 18 after the Koreans routed Uzbekistan, 6–0.

The other semifinal pits the Australia women’s national football team against China on March 17.

Japan coach Nils Nielsen expressed confidence in his squad’s defensive strength.

“It doesn’t concern me that our defense hasn’t been tested much. These players have had to work very hard to earn a place in this team and we are capable,” Nielsen said.

For Torcaso, the match still revealed bright spots for the Filipinas, particularly the performances of rookie goalkeeper Nina Meollo and young defender Jourdyn Curran.

Meollo, a 21-year-old Fil-British player from Ipswich, produced 10 saves in the first half to keep the Filipinas in the match early, while Curran, a midfielder from Seattle University, impressed on the defensive end. Peter Atencio

Junior Altas get back at Red Robins

GRADE 11 standout Chollo Bustamante erupted for a game-high 17 points as the defending champion University of Perpetual Help Junior Altas avenged their first-round defeat to the Mapúa Red Robins with a four-set victory, 25-22, 25-23, 15-25, 26-24, in the final elimination round of the NCAA Season 101 Volleyball Fiesta Boys Division on Monday at the Arellano Gym.

Bustamante, a native of Alaminos, delivered a career-high performance with 16 attack points and one service ace. Klarens Taino added 16 points built on 13 attacks, two blocks and an ace, while Gabriel Macatuno chipped in 11 points along with two excellent receptions. Setter Donald Sison contributed one block and 14 excellent sets, while libero JM Regorosa anchored the defense with seven digs and five receptions.

“Gustung-gusto talagang makabawi ng mga bata kasi tinalo sila ng Mapua sa first round in five sets. Kaya nagsipag sila at pampataas din ng moral papunta sa quarterfinals,” said coach Sandy Rieta. The Red Robins nearly forced a deciding set after reaching match point at 24-22 in the fourth frame. But the Junior Altas responded with a decisive 4-0 run to seal the match behind the combined efforts of John Lat, Bustamante and Taino.

Roderick Medino exploded for 33 points for Mapua (Malayan High School of Science). Both teams finished the elimination round with identical 11-2 records in Group A, although Paco-based Malayan dropped a point for a 33/32 quotient. Dennis Abrina

Eala climbs to world no. 29 ahead of Miami Open return

By Peter Atencio

ALEXANDRA Eala achieved a new career milestone after climbing to world No. 29 in the latest rankings of the Women’s Tennis Association just days before she competes in the 2026 Miami Open.

The 20-year-old Filipina star broke into the top 30 following a string of strong performances over the past three months.

Among her notable results were a round-of-16 finish at the Indian Wells Open, a semifinal appearance at the ASB Classic, and a quarterfinal run in the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Her quarterfinal stint in Dubai earned her 215 ranking points, while her campaign in Indian Wells added another 120.

NLEX finds winning rotation in victory over Magnolia five

THE NLEX Road Warriors found success with a revamped rotation as they notched their second straight victory, defeating the Magnolia Hotshots, 112–105, in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday at the Ynares Center Montalban.

Rookie LJ Gonzales fit seamlessly into a three-guard rotation in the fourth quarter, teaming up with Kevin Alas and Robert Bolick to orchestrate the Road Warriors’ offense after the teams were locked at 72-all.

Even as import Cady Lalanne was limited to just four points in the final period, NLEX found other ways to pull away.

Schonny Winston chipped in seven crucial points during the stretch, helping the Road

By Randy M. Caluag

FILIPINA rider Arianna Evangelista highlighted her successful transition from mountain biking to motorsports after receiving multiple honors at the 23rd Golden Wheel Awards. In her rookie year as a motorcycle racer, she emerged as one of the standout performers of the 2025 season after dominating several categories in the Ducati Cup Philippines. The three-time Philippine national mountain bike champion captured the Rookie Class Overall Championship and the Women’s Class Overall Championship, while also finishing third overall in the Supersports Class. She capped a breakthrough year in Philippine motorsports after bringing home multiple honors from the 23rd Golden Wheel Awards, a moment she

Warriors build a 111–103 lead with 47 seconds remaining.

“We just tried to see kung saan kami makakuha ng advantage, pero hindi naman sacrifice sa defensive end namin,” said NLEX coach Jong Uichico.

Lalanne still finished with a team-high 24 points, while Bolick and JB Bahio added 14 points each. Gonzales, the fifth overall pick in the rookie draft, and Alas contributed 13 apiece.

“It was a great comeback by us at the end of the first half. Nakabalik kami sa laro kasi maganda ‘yung intensity na ipinakita,” Uichico added.

The NLEX Road Warriors return to action against TNT on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Peter Atencio

With the new ranking, Eala moved ahead of Cristina Bucșa and Maya Joint, while trailing Marta Kostyuk and Emma Navarro in the standings. Eala could also be headed for an early rematch with world No. 2 Iga Świątek when the Miami Open main draw begins on Tuesday.

First, Eala must face the winner of the opening-round match between Laura Siegemund and Petra Marčinko. On the other side of the bracket, Świątek is set to meet the winner of the clash between Magda Linette and Varvara Gracheva before a potential showdown with the Filipina.

A meeting between the two would rekindle memories of last year’s tournament, when Eala—then ranked No. 140 and playing as a wildcard—stunned Świątek, 6–2, 7–5, in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Miami Open.

That victory became a defining moment in Eala’s career, highlighted further by her earlier upsets of top-10 players Jelena Ostapenko and Madison Keys during the same remarkable run.

described as a dream she never expected to realize. Evangelista, who competes in motorcycle racing, said the recognition was especially meaningful after years of watching the country’s top motorsport athletes receive the prestigious awards.

“Years back, pre-pandemic, when Andre (her boyfriend) was the one being awarded at the Golden Wheel Awards, I had this thought in my head: ‘Kailan kaya ako magkaka-Golden Wheel Award?’” Evangelista wrote in a social media post. She admitted the idea felt unlikely at the time, noting that she came from bicycle racing and did not initially see herself among the country’s top motorsport competitors.

The Golden Wheel Awards, organized by the Automobile Association of the Philippines, recognizes outstanding achievements by Filipino athletes in various motorsport disciplines, including car and motorcycle racing.

The awards capped what Evangelista described as an “unexpected dream,” crediting the people who supported her motorsports journey.

“A dream come true. A dream unexpected. A dream that became a reality,” she said.

OFW remittances sustained growth in January—BSP

By Thony Rose Lesaca

FILIPINOS working overseas sent $3.02 billion in cash remittances back to the Philippines in January 2026, up 3.5 percent from a year earlier amid a weaker peso and steady employment abroad, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data showed Monday.

The figure surpassed the $2.92 billion recorded in January 2025 but retreated from the $3.52 billion posted in December.

Reyes Tacandong & Co. senior adviser Jonathan Ravelas said the month-on-month decline was largely seasonal following the typical holiday surge.

“The key point is remittances are still higher than a year ago, showing OFWs’ income remains resilient. A weaker peso and steady overseas employment continue to support flows,” Ravelas said.

Land-based workers sent $2.41 billion in January, up 3.52 percent, while remittances from sea-based employees grew 3.54 percent to $607.78 million.

The BSP said the United States was the primary source of these funds,

followed by Singapore and Saudi Arabia. It said, however, that global banking practices often inflate the figures attributed to American shores.

A common practice of remittance centers in various cities abroad is to course remittances through correspondent banks, most of which are located in the US because banks typically attribute the origin of funds to the most immediate source, money sent from other regions often appears as a US transaction.

$3.02 billion

Cash remittances in January 2026

$3.52 billion

Cash remittances in December 2025

$2.92 billion

Cash remittances in January 2025

DA eyes P50 per kg. rice price cap to curb

By Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Agriculture is studying the imposition of a price cap of around P50 per kilogram for wellmilled rice to curb profiteering and temper retail prices as the country enters the peak harvest season.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the proposal is being reviewed by the department’s legal team and discussed with other agencies to determine whether the government can enforce such a measure amid volatile market conditions.

“Given the current market conditions, we are considering a price cap of around P50 per kilo for well-milled rice,” Tiu Laurel said on the sidelines

of a partnership signing with the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Asian Development Bank on Monday.

He said some imported rice is being sold for P60 to P65 per kg., which he described as significantly above reasonable levels.

The secretary said imported rice should normally retail at P48 to P50 per kg., but some traders appear to be taking advantage of earlier supply tightness when imports slowed and local harvests had yet to begin.

The department earlier considered imposing a maximum suggested retail price, but Tiu Laurel said a price cap may be more enforceable as harvests increase domestic supply.

The main harvest season started recently and will run until the end of April, which could help temper prices as fresh palay enters the market. Farmers in Nueva Ecija were reportedly selling palay at about P24 to P25 per kg. last week, although production costs rose slightly due to higher fuel prices. Global market pressures have also pushed up import costs, particularly freight charges from major suppliers such as Vietnam.

Tiu Laurel said freight rates for rice shipments have doubled from about $20 per metric ton to nearly $40, partly due to disruptions in global shipping routes linked to tensions in the Middle East.

Peso hits record low of 59.87 versus dollar; BSP signals market intervention

By Thony Rose Lesaca and Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Philippine peso sank to a record low of 59.87 against the U.S. dollar Monday, weakening by P0.135 from its March 13 close of 59.735.

Data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed the local currency opened at 59.71 against the greenback and touched an intraday low of 59.95.

Jonathan Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong & Co., said the decline reflected

tense investor sentiment amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.

“The peso weakened anew to 59.870 as the fog of the war keeps investors on the edge. Expect the currency to trade within the 59.600 to 59.900 levels in the near term, as uncertainty persists,” Ravelas said.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr. told Bloomberg the central bank was intervening in the foreign exchange market to manage the volatility.

“Since the dollar is down, I assume some intervention can push the peso back down below P60,” Remolona said.

The currency slump coincided with a selloff in the equities market.

Philippine shares opened the trading week

in the red but stayed above the 6,000 level amid concerns over the impact of spiking oil prices on the domestic economy.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index declined 52.39 points, or 0.87 percent, to close at 6,006.55. The wider All Shares index also tumbled 40.42 points, or 1.20 percent, to 3,341.69.

“The PSEi ended barely above the 6,000 mark, extending last week’s selloff amid cautious sentiment, driven by elevated oil prices and ongoing Middle East tensions,” said Luis Limlingan, head of sales at Regina Capital Development Corp. Limlingan added that the market remained pessimistic even after the central bank stepped in to support the peso, keeping traders defensive.

NorthPort, operated by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. completes structural works on the second and third 42.5-meter segments of the pier ahead of schedule, reinforcing the Terminal 1 wharf and advancing efforts to enhance the terminal’s structural integrity and seismic resilience.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the listing of PNB Holdings Corp. on the Philippine Stock Exchange by way of introduction, a process that allows for listing without an initial public offering. PNB Holdings, or PHC, is the real estate arm of the Lucio Tan-led Philippine National Bank. It manages a portfolio of high-value assets, including the PNB Financial Center and the PNB Makati Center.

The SEC said in a statement it rendered effective the registration of up to 46.93 billion common shares, subject to the company’s compliance with remaining requirements. With an initial listing price of P1.20 per share, PHC will have a market capitalization of P56.32 billion.

The planned listing follows PNB’s 2021 decision to declare property dividends covering 51 percent of its shares in PHC. Once fully distributed, the move is expected to expand the company’s base to more than 30,000 shareholders. As of February 2026, PNB had completed the distribution of 98.08 percent of the property dividends. The remaining 1.92 percent—equivalent to less than 1% of PHC’s outstanding shares—remains undistributed.

Under the stock exchange’s amended rules, securities of an unlisted firm may be listed when they are distributed as property dividends by a listed company to its own shareholders.

PHC derives its primary revenue from leasing and managing prime office and retail spaces, event venue rentals, and co-working space operations. To unlock long-term value, the company intends to undertake a strategic redevelopment program. The project will start with its Buendia property in Makati City, which is envisioned as a high-end, mixed-use development. Other sites in Makati and Pasay will be transformed into luxury communities.

FRE NO. 1202

OFFICE AND BUSINESS SYSTEMS INC. and

BUSINESS MACHINES CORP.,

OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE OF

ICTSI’s NorthPort on track to finish three-year terminal

By Darwin G. Amojelar

modernization by 2027

BANK CORPORATION) Mortgagee, to satisfy the mortgage debt in the amount of Php7,653,402.43 as of JANUARY 31, 2026 inclusive of interest, penalties and other charges, together with all the lawful fees and expenses of foreclosure sale, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City and/or his duly authorized Deputy Sheriff, hereby announces that on APRIL 21, 2026 between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Office of the Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio

UNDER ACT 3135 (AS AMENDED) UPON extra-judicial petition under ACT 3135, as by INTRACO OFFICE AND BUSINESS SYSTEMS INC., 2140 España St. Sampaloc, Manila / 1744 Dimasalang cor. Pepin St. Sampaloc, Manila / No. 63 Road 2, Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City, Debtors/ Mortgagee, to satisfy the mortgage debt in the amount of Php7,653,402.43 as of JANUARY 31, 2026 inclusive of interest, penalties and other charges, together with City and/or his duly authorized Deputy Sheriff, hereby announces that on APRIL 21, 2026 between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Office of the Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff, Regional Trial Court,

plan Bsd-10532, GLRO Rec. No. 7681), situated in the Dist. of Diliman, Q.City. Bounded on the NE., by Lot 55, and 53, Blk. N-2; on the SE., by Lot 50, Blk.

NORTHPORT, the country’s premier domestic cargo terminal, expects to complete its three-year terminal upgrade program by next year.

As the primary hub for domestic trade at the Port of Manila, NorthPort links the capital to the rest of the archipelago through passenger transport, inter-island shipping and containerhandling services.

To date, NorthPort has completed structural works on the second and third 42.5-meter segments of Pier 14 ahead of schedule. These milestones

TWO weeks ago, when the minds of almost all Filipinos were focused on bringing to justice the individuals responsible for the greatest heist in this country’s history, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, made a statement that not only was irrelevant to the most pressing needs of the times but also was off-the-mark. The Chief Executive was speaking about the qualities of a good President of the Philippines.

Trying to sound philosophical and datesmanlike, Mr. Marcos said that the most consequential requirement for a good President was being well versed in economics. “He should be an economist,” Bongbong Marcos declared. The most important problems of the Philippines being economic problems, the Chief Executive must be someone who has a good gasp of economics, he said for his opinion to be truly useful, Mr. Marcos should have said who among his predecessors he considered an economicconversant President, but he did not identify them.

The three former Philippine presidents who had the greatest formal exposure to economics were the two Macapagals - father and daughter - and Benigno Aquino III. Diosdado Macapagal had a good gasp of economics and his four-year term was a time of stability and growth for the Philippine economy. Gloria MacapagalArroyo’s nine-year stewardship of the Philippine economy was a troubled time essentially because her economic decision making was consistently influenced by political considerations. Noynoy Aquino learned his Ateneo de Manila University economics lessons well and during his term the economy made progress after the troubled Arroyo years.

In contrast, President Fidel V. Ramos had little exposure to economics during his years

reinforce the Terminal 1 wharf and advance efforts to enhance seismic resilience. As of February, strengthening works have progressed to the fourth and final 52.5-meter segment of the pier.

Current activities include resurfacing the remaining deck area, repairing damage to prevent deterioration and upgrading the fender system from 700 mm to 1,000 mm cell fenders to ensure safer vessel berthing. To minimize disruptions to operations, these tasks are being carried out in parallel.

NorthPort, which is operated by International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), said

final structural works and the remaining phases of the upgrade program are slated for completion in 2027. The modernization is intended to ensure NorthPort remains capable of supporting longterm domestic trade growth.

ICTSI is a leading independent global terminal operator, managing maritime gateway facilities across the Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The company focuses on origin and destination terminals, applying environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards across its portfolio of 34 terminals in 20 countries.

in military academies, yet most economists, Filipino and foreign, have given him a high rating for his incumbency’s management of the Philippine economy.

Of course, having someone sitting in Malacanang who has been trained in, or has a good gasp of, economies is a very good thing for the economy, but, as Fidel V. Ramos showed, it is not a sine qua non for the sound management of the economy. The domestic and international business communities are in agreement that the Philippine economy was in good hands when Fidel V. Ramos was sitting in Malacanang.

President Ferdinand E. Marcos, like Mr. Ramos, received no training in economics but he made up for that by assembling an economic management team that in quality has not been surpassed to this day. The team - Cesar Virata in finance, Vicente Paterno in investments, Gerardo Sicat in economic planning, Roberto Ongpin in trade and Jose Dans Jr. in public works and highways - compensated for all the bad things that were done by the martial-law regimes.

Here we go back to Bongbong Marco’s declaration that a President, to be able to a good

job of running this country, must be an economist. No, Mr. President, a good Chief Executive does not have to be an economist. The administrations of your father and Fidel V. Ramos attest to this. In the case of Ferdinand E. Marcos it was a case of the President of the Philippines hiring individuals who either were good economists; in the case of Fidel V. Ramos, it was a case of the President having a good, commonsense grasp of applied economics.

The single most important attribute of a good President of the Philippines is not being an economist but being a person of integrity. Honesty - the H word - is far, far more important for the upliftment of Philippine society and the rapid development of the Philippine economy than a dozen degrees from the most prestigious economic schools in the world.

The filipino people want an honest man or woman in Malacanang. They don’t want a dishonest economist running the affairs of this country. After the occurrence of the biggest heist in the history of the Philippine government, the Filipino people crave a Chief-Executive who, though not an economist, can look them in their eyes and say, “ I am an honest man and I’ve never stolen anything.”

One other thing. In this country today there is too much of the pot calling the Kettle black. Too many high officials are hurling accusations and giving advice who, being unclean themselves, have no right to do so. Too many high officials are looking at Teleprompters and pontificating, straight-faced, as though they have no debts to Philippine society. Enough of that. Honesty, not an economist’s credentials, is what the Filipino people want in these very troubled times.

(llagasjessa@yahoo.com)

By Othel V. Campos

THE government is fast-tracking the release of P10 billion in financial assistance for farmers and fisherfolk to provide relief as the harvest season begins and production costs rise.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the release of funds under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) program is being finalized alongside the Department of Agriculture’s fuel subsidy program.

“Once we finalize the PAFF guidelines and secure the SARO (Special Allotment Release Order) to fund us, we will release it immediately,” he said, emphasizing the urgency of providing aid to rural producers.

PAFF will benefit about 4 million smallholder farmers and fisherfolk, including rice, corn and sugar producers, as well as operators of motorized fishing boats.

Rice farmers cultivating two hectares or less are expected to receive roughly P2,350 each, with other sectors receiving aid based on their needs.

The assistance complements other government initiatives, including fuel subsidies and targeted support programs. These aim to ease operational costs and strengthen rural livelihoods amid rising expenses for inputs and logistics.

Tiu Laurel noted that emergency fuel subsidy funds are triggered when global oil prices exceed $80 per barrel for 30 days.

Distribution will be coordinated with local government units to ensure speedy delivery, while monitoring mechanisms are in place to prevent misuse or delays.

“The goal is to support our farmers now, so they can keep planting and feeding the nation while harvests are underway,” he said.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

LAGUNASOL Corp., a subsidiary of MGEN Renewable Energy Inc., is developing the 192-megawatt Concepcion Solar Power Project in Iloilo province at a cost of P8.417 billion.

In a submission to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, LagunaSol said the project supports the national goal of accelerating renewable energy deployment through market-based mechanisms led by the Department of Energy.

The company said the project could align with future rounds of the Green Energy Auction (GEA) Program. It may also consider the

Retail Electricity Supply option as part of its market strategy under the Retail Competition and Open Access framework, which allows eligible consumers to choose their electricity supplier.

LagunaSol intends to establish a utility-scale solar facility comprising approximately 300,960 photovoltaic modules. Each module has a capacity of 640 watts, and the facility will be

installed over about 135 hectares.

The company said the 192-MW installation is designed to provide large-scale clean power and improve reliability within the Visayas grid while complying with environmental standards. A baseline review indicated the site is not located within or immediately adjacent to any declared protected areas, Ramsar sites or recognized cultural heritage zones.

The project is expected to provide employment across various sectors, including technical roles, general labor and administration. LagunaSol said it will hire qualified residents from surrounding communities whenever feasible.

To reinforce these benefits, the project will adopt measures to strengthen local capacity, such as skills development, apprenticeship opportunities and the engagement of nearby businesses for goods and services. Recruitment will be conducted through transparent, merit-based processes.

ABACORE Capital Holdings Inc., together with Batangas Vice Gov. Hermilando Mandanas and Montemaria Resort OPC president Guoan Wu, led the ceremonial groundbreaking of Ice World, a new family-oriented attraction at the Montemaria International Pilgrimage and Conference Center.

The 2,000-square-meter indoor facility is designed to host 300 guests at a time. It will feature ice slides, ice villages and interactive ice sports for visitors of all ages.

“Ice World is designed to complement Montemaria’s one-of-a-kind environment, offering fun and interactive experiences for all visitors,” Wu said. “Our goal is to provide a unique attraction that appeals to families, tourists and pilgrims, creating lasting memories while appreciating the estate’s natural and cultural beauty.”

The event also featured the opening of the Montemaria souvenir shop, which offers memorabilia and locally crafted products, and the unveiling of the 9D Marine Adventure ride. The immersive attraction highlights the ecologically rich Verde Island Passage. Montemaria is home to the Mother of All Asia – Tower of Peace, a 98-meter statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and one of the tallest Marian statues in the world. Othel V. Campos

PRINCE Warehouse Inc. has partnered with COREnergy, the retail electricity supplier arm of Vivant Energy Corp., to power the Cebu-grown retail chain’s operations with green energy.

The partnership enables Prince Warehouse to optimize energy use across its retail operations, focusing on productivity, efficiency and long-term cost management.

By working with COREnergy, the retailer gains flexibility in aligning energy requirements with evolving business needs while supporting sustainability objectives through smarter energy choices.

“To remain relevant and responsive to our customers, we continue to rethink how we operate. Energy plays a critical role in keeping our stores efficient and resilient,” said Blake Nelson Go, vice president for business development and finance at Prince Warehouse, which has nearly 70 stores nationwide.

“Partnering with COREnergy allows us to make more informed energy decisions that support our growth, while maintaining reliable service for our customers,” Go added.

The collaboration comes as more commercial and industrial customers gain access to energy choices following policy developments that lowered the threshold for the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) framework to 100 kilowatts.

Businesses with qualifying electricity consumption now have the option to ex-

plore alternatives beyond their traditional utility, including working with licensed suppliers such as COREnergy.

Through COREnergy, businesses can manage energy more strategically, from optimizing supply arrangements to integrating sustainability into long-term operational planning.

The partnership reflects Vivant Energy’s focus on helping community-integrated businesses strengthen operational stability while adapting to a competitive energy landscape.

COREnergy said that as more organizations reassess how energy impacts profitability and performance, the company continues to work with forward-looking businesses by giving them greater choice in how they source and manage power. Alena Mae S. Flores

VIP CLIENTS. UnionBank Wealth, the wealth management arm of UnionBank, brings together its VIP clients for a series of by-invitation-only market outlook events designed to help them take bold strides in their wealth journey

of the Fire Horse. Leading the event at Solare Resort North and Radisson Blu Cebu are (from left) UnionBank Financial Services and Insurance Brokerage Inc. (UFSI) president and chief executive Ramon Tejero, UnionBank chief marketing and experience officer Albert

DAR chief orders probe on Hermosa land cases

DEPARTMENT of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III ordered an investigation into agrarian reform cases in Hermosa, Bataan, warning that officials responsible for delays or irregularities will be held accountable.

The directive, issued March 13, instructed DAR Region III Director Eric Francis G. Luna to conduct a full review of land cases in Barangays Balsik and Mambog. Estrella sought to determine why lawful orders for land distribution remain unimplemented despite previous mandates.

“Any negligence or undue delay

in the implementation of agrarian reform orders will not be tolerated. If lapses are established, heads will roll,” Estrella said in a statement.

The secretary said that while land distribution was previously ordered for qualified beneficiaries, the process remains incomplete. He said he would not allow Filipinos who have already been awarded land to be deprived of their holdings.

“Because of this, we are verifying the entire situation, enforcing the necessary actions and ensuring that the awarding of land to legitimate beneficiaries is completed,” Estrella said.

IN BRIEF

RLC taps geothermal power from First Gen ROBINSONS Land Corp. (RLC) has teamed up with First Gen Group to supply over 22 megawatts of geothermal electricity to power its key shopping malls in the Visayas and Mindanao as well as those of its subsidiary and affiliate. The agreement covers Robinsons Galleria Cebu, Robinsons Fuente Cebu, Robinsons Antique, Robinsons Roxas, Robinsons North Tacloban, and Robinsons Pagadian. It also includes RL Commercial REIT (RCR) properties Robinsons

The agreement, signed March 13 by representatives of First Gen and RLC, ensures geothermal energy supply for 8 shopping malls and a supermarket across 5 provinces. First Gen will source the power from its Unified Leyte geothermal facilities for the Visayas malls and from the Mt. Apo geothermal plant in North Cotabato for the RLC Mindanao mall.

“Consistent with the Net Zero goal of the Gokongwei Group by 2050, we at Robinsons Land are committed to keeping our carbon footprint as low as possible and ensuring sustainability through strong environmental performance and energy efficiency,” RLC president and chief executive Mybelle Aragon-GoBio said. Alena Mae S. Flores

Tax hike to push 5.5m PH smokers to quit A NEW survey of Filipino adult smokers suggests that raising cigarette taxes by 23 percent and requiring larger health warning labels could prompt millions to consider quitting. Increasing the excise tax from P69.46 to P90 per pack could lead about 5.5 million more smokers to weigh giving up the habit, according to the study. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Institute for Global Tobacco Control associate scientist and lead author Lauren Czaplicki said the 23-percent increase from the current rate would be

The study found that both the price of a cigarette pack and its packaging design significantly influence purchasing decisions. Higher taxes combined with larger, more prominent graphic health warnings increase the likelihood that smokers will consider quitting or avoid starting altogether.

The findings mirror results from a similar study in Vietnam and reinforce the importance of policies aligned with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance executive director Ulysses Dorotheo said the Filipinos surveyed are essentially saying that higher taxes and larger health warnings would help them quit.

“Higher prices and larger pictorial warnings make cigarettes less appealing and can strengthen smokers’ resolve to stop,” Dorotheo said. Othel V. Campos

Coins.ph empowers Filipina entrepreneurs

FILIPINA entrepreneurs lead 66 percent of small and medium enterprises and contribute roughly 40 percent of the national Philippine GDP, according to the Asian Development Bank. To support this demographic during Women’s Month, digital asset platform and financial app Coins.ph is promoting a suite of payment solutions designed to eliminate manual reconciliation and clearing delays.

The platform provides merchants with QRPH and Webpay tools to accelerate revenue collection. Through QRPH, which is available in static and dynamic formats, businesses can verify transactions in seconds.

The speed allows high-traffic establishments like cafes to serve up to 20 percent more customers during peak hours by removing the need to manually check bank screenshots. For online sellers and freelancers, Coins Webpay offers direct wallet integration with daily limits of up to P50 million.

“Filipina entrepreneurs are driving the growth of our economy,” Coins.ph global marketing director Amira Alawi said.

“They shouldn’t have to navigate multiple systems to manage their money. With our superapp, they can accept payments and immediately start using them to pay suppliers, restock materials, without waiting days for clearing,” she said.

Pag-IBIG housing fair features 20,000 homes

MORE than 20,000 affordable housing units across Central Luzon will be made available to aspiring homeowners during the Pag-IBIG Regional Housing Fair for Central Luzon on March 18 and 19 in Pampanga, including homes with monthly payments as low as P3,411 under the government’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program. The two-day event, to be held at the LausGroup Event Centre, is being organized by Pag-IBIG Fund in partnership with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.

More than 40 developers and housing agencies are expected to join, allowing prospective buyers to explore thousands of house-and-lot and socialized housing options from across the region in one venue, with on-site assistance for housing loan applications. Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary and Pag-IBIG Fund board chairman Jose Ramon Aliling said the housing fair supports the government’s continuing push to make decent and affordable housing more accessible to Filipinos.

“Through the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program, we are making homeownership more accessible to more Filipino families. By bringing developers, financing institutions and government agencies together in one venue, the Pag-IBIG Housing Fair gives aspiring homeowners an easier way to explore affordable options that match their needs and financial capacity. This initiative supports the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to help ensure that every Filipino family has access to safe, decent and affordable housing,” Aliling said.

San Miguel’s 2025 core profit surged to P79.6b

By Jenniffer B. Austria

IVERSIFIED conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) saw its core net income soar by 52 percent to P79.6 billion in 2025, boosted by stronger earnings across business units, better margins and tighter cost management measures.

Reported net income reached P94.7

billion on the back of gains from the fair valuation of investments and foreign exchange movements, the conglomerate said Monday in a statement.

One specific case involves 24.4558 hectares in Barangay Balsik that was placed under a 2011 coverage order. Implementation of the distribution should comply with a 2013 retention order that allows landowners to keep up to 5 hectares each under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, he said. In October 2025, a DAR land tenure services team attempted to survey the property to identify these retained areas. The activity was halted after the team was prevented from entering the site. Local officials reportedly declined to assist, opting to remain neutral in the dispute.

Operating income rose 13 percent to P181.6 billion on better operating performance, lower input costs, pricing initiatives and sustained efficiency measures across the group.

Consolidated revenues reached P1.5 trillion. SMC said steady contributions from its food, spirits and infrastructure businesses helped cushion the impact of softer crude prices and the deconsolidation of the Ilijan and EERI power facilities.

“Our 2025 performance shows the value of having a diversified portfolio and a clear focus on execution,” San Miguel Corp. chairman and chief executive Ramon Ang said.

“The strength of our businesses allowed us to navigate market changes, improve profitability, and remain disciplined in how we invest. Moving

forward, we will continue to strengthen our businesses and pursue opportunities that create long-term value,” he said.

Food and beverage unit San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc. (SMFB) posted a 13-percent increase in consolidated net income to P46.3 billion in 2025 fueled by record performance from its food business, continued expansion in spirits and higher international beer sales. Consolidated revenues reached P419.1 billion, up 5 percent from the previous year. Power unit San Miguel Global Power’s net income surged 290 percent to P48.3 billion, supported by a P21.9-billion gain from the Chromite transaction.

Revenues however fell 23 percent to P157.2 billion, with offtake volumes declining 20 percent to 29.2 million MWh, primarily due to the divestment and resulting deconsolidation of the Ilijan and EERI power plants.

T-bill yields hit multi-month highs on oil supply risks

By Thony Rose Lesaca

THE government raised P19.23 billion from an offering of Treasury bills on Monday as yields climbed to their highest levels in up to five months following a surge in global crude prices.

The Bureau of the Treasury made a partial award of the P27 billion on offer even as total tenders reached P36.79 billion. The auction ended 1.4 times oversubscribed, but demand for the longest tenor remained thin.

The committee awarded P8.71 billion in 91-day T-bills and P5.73 billion in 182-day debt. These tenors attracted bids of P18.13 billion and P11.30 billion, respectively. Average rates for the 91-day and 182-day bills settled at 4.900 percent and 4.948 percent. For the 364-day debt, the government awarded P4.79 billion out of P7.36 billion in total tenders. Unlike the shorter tenors, demand for the one-year paper fell short of the original P9 billion offering, fetching an average rate of 5.066 percent.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said average auction yields rose for a third straight week to hit their highest levels in three to five months. He said the upward trend began alongside the conflict in the Middle East.

PHINMA Education has acquired a controlling stake in Southeastern College in Pasay City for P690 million to expand its presence in the southern portion of Metro Manila.

The company said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange Monday the transaction involves the acquisition of shares from existing shareholders and an investment in additional shares to eventually acquire the land and buildings of the school.

Founded in 1946, Southeastern College will become the 12th institution for PHINMA Education in the Philippines and its 14th across its regional network.

The acquisition strengthens the

SMBC EXECUTIVE. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Manila Branch (SMBC) announces the appointment of Maria Angelica Balangue as head of corporate banking department in the Philippines, effective March 16, 2026. Her appointment underscores SMBC’s continued focus on strengthening its corporate banking presence in the Philippines and supporting the long-term growth and success of its clients. Balangue succeeds Ruben Victa who is retiring after five years of distinguished service with SMBC.

company’s position as the largest private higher education network in Southeast Asia in terms of enrollment. PHINMA Education Philippines country head Happy Tan said that with every school brought into the network, the focus remains on helping more Filipino students complete their education and move forward with better opportunities.

“Many of our students are the first in their families to go to college. We want them to know that college is possible—and once they begin their journey, we are committed to walking with them every step of the way,” Tan said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

Germany, PCIC move to safeguard mangroves

PHILIPPINE Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

GmbH signed last week an agreement to launch a pilot climate-risk insurance program aimed at mitigating the effects of extreme climate conditions on the mangrove ecosystem in Eastern Visayas.

PCIC president Jovy Bernabe said in a press conference the pioneering move would help cushion the economic impact of rising risks associated with climate change, including typhoons, storm surges and flooding, in the region.

“Protecting mangroves through insurance of PCIC helps safeguard coastal livelihoods by reducing recovery costs after disaster or extreme climate events,” he said.

Mangroves have an estimated economic value of about P50,000 to P200,000 a year, with Eastern Visayas being third among regions with high mangrove extent, according to the GIZ.

Under the partnership, PCIC will develop a parametric insurance product set to be simulated in Northern Samar and Southern Leyte.

“This pilot site has long been at the forefront of climate impacts. The lessons from major storms remind us that strong ecosystems are the most effective forms of natural protection,” Bernabe said.

GIZ will fund the risk-financing mechanism and provide technical assistance under the Strengthening Disaster Resilience and Risk Mitigation through Ecosystem-based Planning and Adaptation (E4DR) Project.

“By piloting mangrove insurance in this region, we demonstrate how nature-based solutions and innovative insurance mechanisms can work together to protect both ecosystems and coastal communities,” GIZ Philippines and the Pacific Island Countries Climate Action Cluster Coordinator Nicole Kranz said.

Local government units (LGUs) will be the policyholders under the pilot project.

In 2022, GIZ provided about EUR5.5 million for the E4DR, which will also cover PCIC’s insurance project for mangroves.PNA

Conclusion

Solar power provides lifeline to blackout-prone PH villages

INSIDE Barangay 183, Villamor in Pasay City, neat rows of leafy vegetables now thrive in a hydroponics system, with roots suspended in nutrient-rich water and leaves stretching toward the light.

This is the LOVE Garden, an urban farming initiative launched on February 11 by the country’s premier lifestyle and entertainment destination, Newport World Resorts. Conceived as a livelihood and sustainability program, the LOVE Garden was formally established through the donation of 600 seedlings and a fully supported The Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) hydroponics system to Barangay 183.

Carvalho said the world must prioritize timely, ambitious and coordinated actions that conserve, restore and sustainably manage seagrasses.

As that happens, countries need to ensure that local communities, who have been living in harmony with nature for thousands of years, benefit.

Ramping up these efforts is integral to reaching the Paris Agreement and many of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, said Carvalho.

Seagrass is also considered crucial for helping countries meet the goals of the Rio Conventions, which are the three primary global agreements tackling climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation.

In order to achieve the targets of each and secure an environmentally sustainable future, UNEP’s latest State of Finance for Nature report estimates a need for US$29 billion dollars in annual investment in seagrass beds.

Here are five surprising ways seagrasses can safeguard wildlife, benefit people and help lay the groundwork for a more sustainable future.

At

These

Seagrass meadows create biodiversity hotspots by providing habitat and nutrients for countless species.

Due to its sensitivity to a range of stressors and contaminants, seagrass is an early indicator of the ecological health of coastal areas. When seagrass suffers, so does biodiversity.

Seagrass supports fisheries and livelihoods around the world

Seagrass is similar to terrestrial plants in that it has leaves, flowers, seeds, roots and connective tissues.

Seagrass is a haven for marine species

Seagrass meadows are nurseries for 20 percent of the world’s largest fisheries, found a 2020 report from UNEP and partners titled Out of the Blue: The Value of Seagrass to the Environment and to People. The survival of many species, such as turtles, seahorses, manatees and dugongs, depend on these meadows.
Thanks to its leafy underwater canopy, seagrass also provides shelter for countless small invertebrates, such as crabs and shrimp, as well as many species of algae and bacteria.

Seagrass filters water for corals, a biodiversity hotspot

Often called ‘nature’s water filter,’ seagrass meadows were described as a super ecosystem in the Out of the Blue report. They help clean water by trapping carbon-rich sediments and absorbing nutrients and pathogens. Seagrass-dominated systems oxygenate water through photosynthesis, improving water quality and stoking coral growth.

As such, it is an important food source for fish, octopuses, shrimp, oysters, clams and squid, underpinning fisheries that support hundreds of millions of people around the world, according to the Out of the Blue report.

In Tanzania, for instance, a decline in seagrass was found to have a negative impact on the livelihoods of women who collect invertebrates, such as clams, sea snails and sea urchins.

Seagrass is important for nonmarine species, too

During their autumn migration, some geese and ducks graze on seagrasses poking out from coastal sediments. Other birds forage for invertebrates in the often shallow waters that surround the plants.

In December 2022, world leaders agreed to the Montreal-Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework, a pact designed to protect the diversity of life on Earth and ward off a looming extinction crisis. Carvalho said that as countries develop their national targets under the agreement, they must include protection for seagrass meadows.

“Seagrass meadows support a stunning array of life and safeguarding them is vital if we’re going to meet our global goals on biodiversity–and we have to,” she said.

Seagrass is an antidote to climate change Often referred to as a type of blue forest, seagrass meadows, much like their terrestrial counterparts, help to counter

First of Two Parts

LIKE many in the central Philippines village of Tabon, Analyn Fedelis makes a living fishing at night. That’s when many fish come closer to the surface and are easier to catch.

Bright lamps help draw them toward the boat. For years, though, blackouts made the after-dark sojourn a challenge.

“There’s not a day that goes by without a [power outage],” Fedelis says. “We rely on the lights to catch fish. If there is no light, there is no catch, and there will be nothing to sell.”

But for nearly a year, Fedelis has had insurance against blackouts: a small solar panel. The device powers a handful of lamps she keeps on her boat, along with some home electronics. The setup is especially valuable during typhoon season when strong winds and heavy rains often damage the local electric grid.

Fedelis is one of a growing number of women across Southeast Asia turning to small-scale solar systems to power fishing boats, farms and homes.

For thousands of people, the sun has become a welcome alternative to national electric grids, which in many places are patchy and prone to outages.

One of those women is Sumarni, a chili farmer on the Indonesian island of Lombok. With the help of the EmPower program, a joint initiative of the UN Environment Program and UN Women, she recently bought a solar dryer that dries agriculture produce.

Like many Indonesians, she has only one name. The device allows her to grow chilies during Indonesia’s wet season, when damp conditions would normally cause them to wilt and spoil before they go to market.

“When we were introduced to the solar dryers, I got really excited,” says Sumarni. “The results were great. Even with less sunlight, the chillis dried properly and didn’t rot.” (To be continued) UNEP News

By Evgeniya Kleshcheva (Second

of 3 parts)

What’s a medicinal plant?

There is no single definition of a medicinal plant, yet communities around the world have used various species in traditional medicine since the dawn of time. However, their use is not limited to ancient practices, but also a source of modern pharmaceuticals, food, perfumes, cosmetics and household cleaners.

With the growing interest in natural products in many countries, conversations among proper use and conservation have become even more important.

Conservation conversation For decades, wildlife conservation efforts focused primarily on animals, but that perspective has gradually expanded, Ms. Leaman explained.

“It is quite remarkable to consider how many communities–and not only rural harvesters or traditional users, but also the pharmaceutical industry–depend on medicines that have been derived in some way from plants,” she said.

The World Wildlife Day theme also highlights an important shift in global conservation priorities under

the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the international agreement regulating wildlife trade.

“In many ways, this is a declaration that we’re not just about animals,” Ms. Leaman said. “CITES itself is recognizing that many of the species involved in international trade are plants.”

30,000 plants: Uses and risks

Experts from the Medicinal Plant Specialist Group and the Royal Botanic Gardens in London have compiled global databases documenting species and their uses.

Around 30,000 plant species are widely recognized as medicinal or aromatic plants based on published evidence and trade data.

Like biodiversity more broadly, medicinal and aromatic plants face growing pressure, Ms. Leaman said. Recent assessments of European medicinal plants show threats from agricultural expansion, land-use change and unsustainable harvesting of wild plant populations.

Climate change is also becoming an increasingly serious risk, particularly for species growing in vulnerable habitats such as wetlands and mountain ecosystems. (To be continued) UN News

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

Fil-Am Autumn

Durald Arkapaw makes Oscars history with ‘Sinners’

By Angelica Villanueva

FILIPINO-AMERICAN Autumn

Durald Arkapaw made history at the 98th Academy Awards after winning Best Cinematography for the film Sinners, becoming the first woman and first woman of color to receive the award in the category.

Arkapaw collaborated on the film with director Ryan Coogler, marking their second project together following Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Set in 1930s Mississippi, Sinners explores themes of blues music, cultural appropriation, and the lasting influence of Black art.

“Whenever I say thank you to Ryan, he replies, ‘No, thank you. Thank you for believing in me and thank you for trusting me.’ And that’s the kind of guy I get to make films with. He’s a very honorable person,” Arkapaw said in her acceptance speech.

She also acknowledged the women who helped shape her journey.

“I’ve gotten to meet so many people, and I feel like moments like this happen because of you guys. These people are so beautiful, and I’m honored to be there photographing them,” she continued.

Arkapaw’s work on the film also marked the first time a woman shot a feature using the large IMAX 65mm and Ultra Panavision formats.

Before her victory, only three women had been nominated for Best Cinematography: Rachel Morrison for Mudbound, Ari Wegner for The Power of the Dog, and Mandy Walker for Elvis

In an earlier interview, the cinematographer said the story of Sinners felt deeply personal. “When I read the story, it felt very close to home,” she said.

The film entered the Oscars with a record 16 nominations.

Filipino celebrities test their nerve in Seoul pop-up resto in ‘Kumusta’

RESTAURANT kitchen in

ASeoul becomes the unlikely stage for a new cross-cultural television experiment that pairs Filipino and South Korean stars in a cooking challenge with real diners and real pressure.

The upcoming reality series Kumusta brings together South Korean actors Ji Chang-wook Kim Min-seok, and Seo In-guk with Filipino celebrities Jodi Sta. Maria, Janella Salvador, Francine Diaz, and Arci Muñoz

Guiding them in the kitchen is chef JP Anglo, whose restaurant Sarsa Kitchen + Bar holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction.

Instead of competing in a studio, the cast travels to Seoul and runs a temporary Filipino pop-up restaurant in the city’s upscale Gangnam district. For several days during filming in 2025, the actors took on full restaurant shifts, shopping for ingredients, preparing dishes, and serving customers while cameras rolled.

The show’s title comes from the familiar Filipino greeting “kumusta,” meaning “How are you?” The phrase captures the spirit of the project, which aims to turn food into a conversation between cultures.

Chang-wook, known internationally for dramas such as Healer and Empress Ki, serves as host and cultural guide for the Filipino cast as they adjust to life and restaurant service in Seoul.

“Actually, there is one reason that I chose to serve in the restaurant,” Chang-wook said with a laugh during a press interview. “It’s because I’m not good at cooking.”

Instead of working the stove, he focused on assisting diners and supporting the kitchen team led by Anglo. “I just supported and followed our boss, Chef JP,” he said.

The menu reads like a showcase of Filipino comfort food, including sisig lechon kare-kare sinigang, and palabok, along with desserts such as halo-halo

For Anglo, the challenge of turning actors into restaurant staff was daunting. “I actually told them that it’s impossible,” he said. “Non-chefs opening a restaurant and cooking Filipino food—the stakes were very high.”

Yet the cast embraced the task. “They were troopers,” Anglo said. “They embraced their roles the same way they would embrace their characters when they act. The heart was really there.”

Filming days stretched as long as 12 to 16 hours, mirroring the pace of a real kitchen. Actress Salvador spent much of her time working alongside the chef behind the scenes.

“It was my first time cooking,” she said. “I was mostly in the kitchen with Chef the whole time.”

Even familiar dishes proved demanding. “Ang palabok, ang hirap palang gawin,” she said with a laugh. “I now have a renewed respect for people who

“Even

the project offered a chance to share Filipino hospitality. “It’s not only about taking care of each other while working,” she said. “It’s also making sure every person who visited the restaurant felt cared for.”

Some of the most memorable moments came quietly in the kitchen as the cast watched Korean diners finish their plates.

“Janella and I would pinch ourselves when we saw them eating and enjoying the food,” Sta. Maria said. “It was a pretty cool moment for Filipino cuisine.”

Kumusta is produced by E&S Partners, a subsidiary of Echolive Korea, with filming and post-production handled by PODO Creative. Food company Rebisco serves as the show’s main sponsor.

The series premieres May 24 on TV5 as part of its Weekend Trip block and will stream internationally on Viu.

Miss Universe queens in Manila community and outreach programs

THREE reigning Miss Universe titleholders from China, Turkey, and India stepped off the global stage and into one of the Philippines’ most under-resourced communities to bring beauty and goodwill in equal measure.

The visit, organized by PlayTime Entertainment’s corporate social responsibility arm, PlayTime CARES, took the queens to Project Pearls in Tondo, Manila. The foundation works to uplift children and families living in extreme poverty through nutrition, education, and skills programs.

“For the delegates, this was not just

ceremonial,” said Krizia Cortez, director of public relations for PlayTime Entertainment. “It was a reminder that entertainment, at its highest form, connects people and inspires action.”

During the visit, the queens engaged with children through arts, creative play, and basic literacy exercises. They also participated in Project Pearls’ G.R.O.W. (Giving Resources and Opportunities to Women) program, learning how women in the community use upcycled materials to make accessories and small goods, while interacting directly with participants. The event underscores the growing trend

of entertainment platforms leveraging global influence for

impact. PlayTime CARES, in partnership with the

“Seeing our

LIFE & SHOWBIZ

EMPLOYEES of Mondelēz

International in the Philippines joined the Women’s Run PH 2026 organized by the Filipina CEO Circle, with 75 staff members taking part in the event held during Women’s Month to support gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The participants, made up of both women and men, joined the run for the third straight year, aligning the company’s activities with the broader message of International Women’s Day, which promotes equal opportunities and stronger support systems for women.

This year’s Women’s Month theme, “WE for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society,” led by the Philippine Commission on Women, calls for collective action and shared responsibility in expanding opportunities and leadership roles for women.

At Mondelēz Philippines, women hold 66.7 percent of the company’s top leadership positions, a figure the firm says helps strengthen decision-making through diverse perspectives.

The local business is led by Aleli Arcilla, the company’s first female managing director in the Philippines and an advocate of women’s leadership

Workers lace up for Women’s Run PH to back women empowerment campaign

LOVE, it seems, has become the quiet engine behind the songs of James Reid. And according to the actor-singer himself, the muse behind many of those melodies is none other than his girlfriend, Issa Pressman

In a recent interview, Reid admitted with disarming honesty that romance has slipped into nearly every line he writes these days.

“Yes, all of them!” he said when asked if Pressman inspires his music.

“I can’t help it. I think it’s the strongest emotion I have right now!”

Love is not just a passing theme but a steady rhythm in his life. Reid described his relationship with Pressman as an “incredible ride” that continues to grow stronger with time.

“Our relationship has been an incredible ride. The love is growing more and more every day, so that’s what I really write about. I guess most of it is inspired by her,” he said.

Two songs in particular sit close to his heart. Reid shared that he often dedicates “Pahinga” and “Blessed” to Pressman, tracks that echo the calm and gratitude he says he feels in their relationship.

The couple first went public with their romance in 2023, a development that drew plenty of attention. Yet for Reid, the formula that keeps their bond steady is surprisingly simple.

“Well, it’s something two people reach some time in their lives. Just choose each other every day!”

That philosophy also extends to how they deal with disagreements. Reid said they try not to let pride take the driver’s seat.

“I think I wrote it in one of my songs, ‘Pahinga.’ It contains the lyrics, ‘Ikaw ang mahalaga kaysa maging tama.’ Choosing each other

in the corporate sector.

“Progress happens when people actively support one another’s growth,” Arcilla said. “The theme #GiveToGain reminds us that investing in women through mentorship, opportunity, and support creates stronger teams, stronger communities, and a stronger future for everyone.”

The company continues to expand workplace programs designed to support women employees, including flexible work arrangements, leadership development, and mentoring initiatives. Wellness programs such as women’s health support and lactation spaces for new mothers are also in place to assist employees balancing work and family responsibilities.

Beyond the workplace, Mondelēz said it also supports women in communities through initiatives such as Aling Tindera, a program that allows women micro-entrepreneurs to earn income through plastic waste recovery while supporting sustainability efforts.

“When women are given the tools to succeed, they don’t just uplift themselves, they uplift the people around them. Everyone gains,” Arcilla said.

James Reid credits Issa Pressman as inspiration for latest songs

over being right or over a fight. Just waking up and choosing each other every day.”

Support, it turns out, flows both ways. Reid shared that Pressman is closely involved even in the creative side of his work, often offering ideas about how he can approach his roles.

That encouragement comes as Reid prepares for his upcoming primetime drama Someone, Someday, where he will star opposite Kathryn Bernardo

“That’s right! She is incredibly supportive. In fact, she comes up with a lot of ideas with my character and how I can make it work,” he said.

“There’s no weirdness or anything.

We’re all professionals. Acting is our job. We take it very seriously.”

*

*

*

Fresh from his stint inside the famous house of Pinoy Big Brother , Heath Jornales recently spoke about his admiration for fellow housemate Caprice Cayetano, who emerged as the big winner of Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0.

Asked about Cayetano, the young actor did not hold back his praise.

“I admire her so much. And I’m proud of her because she’s gone far already in her career. She’s simply great!” he said.

Inside the house, viewers often speculated about possible romantic sparks among the celebrity housemates.

But when asked if he secretly had a crush on any of the female contestants, Jornales quickly cleared the air.

“Well, honestly, none!”

Still, fans have been busy pairing him with Cayetano online, turning the duo into a budding fan favorite. Jornales said he sees the enthusiasm as something positive.

“Actually, it’s nice. We can feel that our fanbase is growing. Everything that we did inside Bahay ni Kuya, I’m grateful that the fans liked it,” he said. Adding to the buzz are reports that the two could soon appear together in a project, a development that has already

“Yes! I’ve heard about it and it’s definitely a happy development. I was surprised at first though I really haven’t talked to my management yet about it. This early, I’m thrilled,”

Board battles go big

Cyberzone celebrates the rise of Filipino Tabletop Champions

ONCE a side event, Filipino tabletop gaming now takes the spotlight with its own Cyberzone tournament series, showing the growing

Play” sessions and expert tips to

The grand finale of the Cyberzone Tabletop Throwdown will take place at the

atrium of

Parañaque on March 28 and 29. Freeplay registration opens on

28, giving players a chance to familiarize themselves with the arena before the main tournament on March 29. Slots are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis through the SMO App, downloadable via the App Store and Google Play.

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2026

NICKIE WANG, Editor

ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer

JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

BEAUTY

By Nickie Wang

“INVEST in people and don’t be afraid to hire people who are better than you.”

The advice from Kevin Tan, president and CEO of Alliance Global Group, Inc., resonated with hundreds of young entrepreneurs at the Taipan Youth Summit 2026 on Saturday at The Podium Hall in Mandaluyong City.

Returning after a seven-year hiatus, the summit, organized by ChiNOY TV and the Rotaract Club of Chinatown-Manila, brought together seasoned executives and next-generation business leaders to share insights on leadership, risk-taking, and building sustainable ventures.

Under the theme “Where Young Minds Take Shape,” discussions focused on a question that haunts many young professionals: continue a family business, pursue a corporate career, launch a startup, or find a hybrid path.

“The value of hard work, the courage to take risks, and opportunities that can be created even in difficult circumstances,”

Tan said. “Through this summit, we hope to create a platform where these experiences and entrepreneurial stories can be shared, not just to the Chinese-Filipino community but to the broader public,

because entrepreneurial spirit belongs to everyone.”

The summit also offered practical advice for young entrepreneurs navigating uncertain paths. Tan encouraged attendees to embrace risk.

“Don’t be afraid to fail,” he said. “Every failure is a lesson, every lesson builds resilience, and resilience is what makes leaders.”

The event, hosted by Gretchen Ho, featured conversations with young leaders who have navigated success and adversity across family legacy businesses, creative industries, and startups.

A key session explored whether to join the family business. Panelists included Eduardo Luy, president and COO of MacroAsia Corporation; Bryan T. Liu, vice president for sales and marketing of Golden Aces, Inc.; and Marvin Tiu Lim chief growth and development officer of Mega Prime Foods, Inc.

“When I’m faced with a decision I don’t understand, I ask why,” Liu said. “Why was this choice made, and how did we get here? That curiosity helps build trust and allows me to make informed decisions while learning from the past.”

Luy agreed, noting the advantage of family businesses. “When you work elsewhere, you’re one of many people doing the same thing,” he said. “But in a family business, you have a platform that’s hard to find elsewhere. It’s a unique chance, and many would fight for it. If you

have it, it’s worth serious consideration.”

Lim discussed preparing the next generation through structure and guidance. “Not everyone in the next generation will become entrepreneurs or executives,” he said. “Some are meant to pursue different paths. That’s why we encourage younger members to explore themselves first.”

He added that third-generation family members are often required to work outside the company for at least two to three years before joining.

“You have to prove yourself,” Lim said. “Past performance is a measure of future performance. If you haven’t demonstrated results elsewhere, why would you enter the company?” Lim also talked about the balance of benefits and responsibilities. “You might have more influence, and your voice may carry more weight. But expectations are higher. To whom much is given, much is also expected.”

By the end of the day, the message was clear: whether joining a family business or blazing your own trail, success comes from curiosity, courage, and a willingness to learn from those who came before.

Taipan Youth Summit aims to bridge the gap between seasoned business leaders and the next generation of entrepreneurs, inspiring young professionals to chase opportunities that not only grow their businesses but also make an impact on the country’s economy. Images from Gretchen Ho’s Facebook Page