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Columbia begins suspending protesters after encampment talks break down | Mia Gonzalez | 30/04/2024 8:04 | COLUMBIA PROTESTS. Students gather for a rally in support of a protest encampment on campus in support of Palestinians, despite a 2 pm deadline issued by university officials to disband or face suspension, during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in New York City, US, April 29, 2024.
Caitlin Ochs/REUTERS
NEW YORK, USA – Columbia University on Monday, April 29, began suspending pro-Palestinian activists who refused to disband an encampment of tents on its New York campus after the Ivy League school declared a stalemate in talks seeking to end the polarizing protest.
University President Nemat Minouche Shafik said in a statement that days of negotiations between student organizers and academic leaders had failed to persuade demonstrators to dismantle the dozens of tents they set up to express opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza.
The university sent protesters a letter on Monday morning warning that students who did not vacate the encampment by 2 pm ET (1800 GMT) and sign a form acknowledging their participation would face suspension and become ineligible to complete the semester in good standing.
“We have begun suspending students as part of this next phase of our efforts to ensure safety on our campus,” said Ben Chang, a university spokesperson, at a briefing on Monday evening.
In her earlier statement, Shafik said Columbia would not divest assets that support Israel’s military, a key demand of the protesters. Instead, she offered to invest in health and education in Gaza and to make Columbia’s direct investment holdings more transparent.
Protesters have vowed to keep their encampment on the Manhattan campus until Columbia meets three demands: divestment, transparency in university finances, and amnesty for students and faculty disciplined for their part in the protests.
“These repulsive scare tactics mean nothing compared to the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians. We will not move until Columbia meets our demands or we are moved by force,” leaders of the Columbia Student Apartheid Divest coalition said in a statement read at a news conference following the deadline.
Hundreds of demonstrators, many wearing traditional Palestinian keffiyeh scarves, marched in circles around the exterior of the encampment chanting, “Disclose! Divest! We will not stop, we will not rest.”
Shafik faced an outcry from many students, faculty, and outside observers for summoning New York City police two weeks ago to dismantle the encampment.
Even though more than 100 arrests were made, students restored the encampment on a hedge-lined lawn of the university grounds within days of the April 18 police action.
Since then, Students at dozens of campuses from California to New England have set up similar encampments to demonstrate their anger over the Israeli operation in Gaza and the perceived complicity of their schools in it.
The pro-Palestinian rallies have sparked intense campus debate over where school officials should draw the line between freedom of expression and hate speech. Some pro-Israel counter-demonstrators have accused the other side of engaging in antisemitism.
Those protesting against Israel’s military offensive in Gaza have, in turn, asserted that their opposition to the Israeli government is being falsely equated with expressions of anti-Jewish hatred. Many Jewish students have themselves found common cause with the pro-Palestinian movement.
“The movement itself is not antisemitic,” said Nicholas Fink, a freshman history major at Columbia who has not participated in the protests.
He is one of a few dozen Jewish students who met privately with US House Speaker Mike Johnson during a campus visit by Republican members of Congress last week. Johnson and other congressional Republicans has claimed that Columbia has turned a blind eye to antisemitic rhetoric and harassment on its campus.
At the University of California, Los Angeles, where opposing sides had clashed over the weekend, pro-Israeli activists set up a large screen and loudspeakers to play a tape loop of the October 7 cross-border attack on Israel by Hamas militants. The video appears aimed at countering pro-Hamas chants that seeped into campus protests in support of Palestinian civilians besieged in Gaza.
UCLA also stepped up security around a pro-Palestinian encampment, consisting of more than 50 tents surrounded by metal fencing near the main administration building on campus.
Civil rights groups have criticized law enforcement tactics on some campuses, such as Atlanta’s Emory University and the University of Texas at Austin, where police in riot gear and on horseback moved against protesters last week, taking dozens into custody before charges were dropped for lack of probable cause.
Protests, and arrests, flared anew on the Austin campus on Monday.
Campus police backed by Texas state troopers attempted to break up a large student protest using pepper spray and flash-bang charges, arresting at least 43 people, according to defense attorney George Lobb, who said he confirmed the number with court and jail staff processing the detentions.
Video posted on social media showed police pulling individual students from a gathering on a grassy area where demonstrators sat and locked arms, some of them shouting, “Let them go!” State troopers in riot gear stood guard behind the uniformed police.
Virginia Tech said on Monday that 91 protesters arrested on Sunday night at a student-led encampment had been charged with trespassing. Video posted on social media showed demonstrators chanting, “Shame on you” as some were taken into custody. – Rappler.com
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Court orders arrest of Manibela head Mar Valbuena over cyber libel charges | Jairo Bolledo | 30/04/2024 8:46 | TRANSPORT. In this photo, jeepney transport group Manibela head Mar Valbuena, along with jeepney drivers, file a petition at the Office of the Ombudsman accusing the top officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board of violations of the anti-graft practices act in pushing for the government’s PUV Modernization Program and its push for consolidation of franchises to hasten the phaseout of the traditional jeepneys, on February 7, 2024.
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MANILA, Philippines – A Pasig City court has ordered the arrest of Manibela head Mar Valbuena over the cyber libel charges stemming from the complaints filed by Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.
In an order dated April 23, Presiding Judge Manuel Gerard Tomacruz of Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 158 issued a warrant of arrest against the transport group head. The judge set bail at P10,000 for each of the two counts of cyber libel filed against Valbuena.
The resolution of the prosecution ordering the filing of charges against Valbuena was only publicized last week. In the resolution dated February 22, Assistant State Prosecutor Maria Kristhina Paat-Salumbides recommended the filing of two counts of cyber libel against Valbuena.
The same resolution, meanwhile, junked the grave threats complaint filed against the transport group head for lack of probable cause.
In 2023, Bautista filed the cyber libel complaints against Valbuena who, he said, accused him of alleged corruption. Bautista’s complaints are based on Valbuena’s remarks in a press conference on October 9, where the Manibela head claimed that there was a “lagayan (bribery) scheme” that stretches from the DOTr, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board up to to the Office of the President.
Aside from the cyber libel charges, Valbuena and his fellow Manibela leaders were recently sued by the Quezon City Police District for their alleged “disruptive behavior” during a transport strike earlier in April. Valbuena, however, refuted the police’s claims and said they did not violate any law. – Rappler.com
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PCG reports damage after China uses water cannons in Bajo de Masinloc | Bea Cupin | 30/04/2024 12:41 | BAJO DE MASINLOC. Two CCG vessels use water cannons against a PCG vessel in Bajo de Masinloc.
Philippine Coast Guard
MANILA, Philippines – The China Coast Guard on Tuesday, April 30, used water cannons against two Philippine vessels in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), a feature some 100 nautical miles off the coast off the coast Zambales.
In a statement to media, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said China Coast Guard ship CCG 3305 used its water cannon against a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel at around 9:53 am.
Two other China Coast Guard ships, CCG 3105 and CCG 5303, also used their “jet stream water cannons” against the PCG’s vessel BRP Bagacay when it was sailing some 1,000 yards away from Bajo de Masinloc.
Tarriela said the twin water cannons “[targeted] the PCG vessel from both sides, resulting in damage to the railing and canopy.”
“This damage serves as evidence of the forceful water pressure used by the China Coast Guard in their harassment of the Philippine vessels,” he added.
The PCG’s Bagacay and the BFAR’s BRP Bankaw were patrolling waters near Bajo de Masinloc, also to distribute fuel and food to fisherfolk in the area. During their patrol, the two vessels “encountered dangerous maneuvers and obstruction from four China Coast Guard vessels and six Chinese Maritime Militia vessels.”
Bajo de Masinloc is a traditional fishing ground for fisherfolk of different nationalities, including Filipino, Chinese, and Vietnamese.
The PCG said the China Coast Guard had also installed a 380-meter floating barrier that covered the entrance of the shoal, “effectively restricting access to the area.”
“Despite the harassment and provocative actions of the Chinese Coast Guard, both the PCG and BFAR vessels stood their ground and continued their maritime patrol. They were not deterred and will persist in carrying out their legitimate operations to support Filipino fishermen and ensure their safety,” added Tarriela.
The China Coast Guard earlier claimed it “expelled” both the Bagacay and the Bankaw off the waters of Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Panatag or Scarborough Shoal.
China claims also all of the South China Sea, including waters near features such as Bajo de Masinloc. This is despite a 2016 Arbitral Award that said its claim was invalid. – Rappler.com
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Here we go again—another incident of the CCG bullying our own PCG with water cannons. But our PCG cannot retaliate using its own water cannons? (Note: unless the latter do not have water cannons.) Are we not ashamed of this?
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[Dash of SAS] Workforce drought across continents and its impact on the Philippines | Marguerite de Leon | 31/01/2024 17:40 | Nico Villarete/Rappler
An aging population and low birth rates are causing a seismic workforce drought. Many developed countries are scrambling to quell the tremors by loosening visa restrictions to attract people from countries like the Philippines, which is a primary source of migrant labor.
The tremors caused by a massive workforce shortage is echoing across the globe. From the fruit farms in Italy and Portugal where olives and fruits await their harvest, to the bustling restaurants in tourist spots grappling with a scarcity of hands. The clatter reverberates in the United Kingdom (UK) where the fallout from Brexit and the pandemic severed labor ties that went from European Union member states to the UK. Luggage piled up in London’s Heathrow Airport and construction projects are stalled because there are simply not enough people to do the job.
Underpinning this workforce vacuum is a common thread — an aging population and declining birth rates across many developed countries. The economic powerhouse status of the G7 countries (the world’s richest countries) is under threat because there are not enough people to keep the wheels of the economy running.
As a result, even the countries with the tightest immigration rules are loosening their grip on migration policies to let in workers skilled in anything from plumbing and health care to tech. Germany just announced an easier path to citizenship. Italy is expediting and increasing agricultural worker visas and the UK has added more categories to its shortage occupation list.
To be clear, the UK and Italy are among the loudest European countries, touting an anti-irregular migration policy, stopping boats that carry migrants and impounding humanitarian ships that try to rescue them. The relaxation of their immigration policies for certain occupations does not soften their hardcore stance which has been widely criticized by human rights groups across the world.
As a global source of migrant labor, the scramble to plug labor gaps has many implications on the Philippines.
According to government statistics, the largest number of overseas Filipino workers are in the 30-39 age bracket.
However, a large segment also belong to the younger age group between 25-29.
The data is indicative of the changing profile of the OFW as the demand for digital expertise grows. From being someone who is married or with children and pushed by limited employment opportunities to work abroad, the face of the OFW will increasingly became single individuals who are driven by adventure and the promise of career advancement to try making it abroad.
In the city of Berlin where I am currently based, for example, Filipinos contribute their unique flair to the international mosaic of talent in the city which is evolving into a start-up hub, expanding its reputation as Europe’s nightlife capital. In many of the start-ups in Berlin, the language spoken is English because of the international employees who outnumber the locals.
Many of the Filipinos here work in diverse occupations as scientists, digital content strategists, and data scientists. Many are single and have decided to move abroad more as a choice rather than a necessity. With the opening of the European Union Job Pool — which has been called Tinder for job seekers and employers — more Filipinos will be enticed to explore careers abroad. The best and much needed Filipino talents at their most productive years will power the economies of other countries, leaving the Philippines with its own kind of workforce shortage — one of expertise.
The looming workforce exodus from the Philippines also presents a darker prospect: the increased risk of human trafficking and forced labor. As opportunities abroad beckon, traffickers will sense this as an opportunity to exploit migrant workers, especially those working in vulnerable and high-risk sectors like agriculture and domestic care.
The government must resist its common knee-jerk reaction to institute deployment bans and roll out stricter policies that are not well thought out in their bid to counter human trafficking. For example, as a response to prevent the trafficking of migrant Filipino women, the age for working abroad as a household service worker has been raised to 24. This minimum age policy, which lacks basis, only pushes migration through underground channels where traffickers and scammers offer a promise of escape.
The demand for expertise across both white and blue jobs and the relaxed immigration policies to attract talent stands to run counter with the Philippines’ current bureaucratic recruitment policies to strike a delicate balance between labor protection and global labor market competitiveness.
For instance, a friend of mine was transferred by her existing employer to the company’s office in Berlin. What is important to note is that she was still working for the same employer who she has been working with for the last couple of years. She was simply going to be transferred to their European office.
She had to go through the same bureaucratic process of numerous visits to the government’s labor office and securing the necessary paperwork.
This delayed her departure for weeks. Other colleagues who were transferred from other countries to the European office were able to move a lot faster. This positions her and other Filipinos as a much less competitive and attractive candidate for such opportunities.
Overall, the government must transform its existing migration policies to reflect migration as not just a one-way journey but as a cyclical exchange of skills and experiences. It’s not just about leaving; it’s about returning not just physically but through ways that OFWs can give back and share skills that can be used to catalyze economic development and the uplift the lives of other Filipinos. This way, rather than just looking at labor migration as a source of remittances, migration becomes a fountain of economic growth for the nation. – Rappler.com
Ana P. Santos is an investigative journalist and writer who writes about the intersections of gender, sexuality, and labor migration. She completed a postgraduate degree in Gender (Sexuality) from the London School of Economics and Political Science as a Chevening Scholar. Follow her on Instagram at @anaallsaints.
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I agree with Ana Santos: “… the government must transform its existing migration policies to reflect migration as not just a one-way journey but as a cyclical exchange of skills and experiences.” In addition, I also agree with the idea that “migration becomes a fountain of economic growth for the nation.” But there is a social danger here. What if those migrants realize that the country in which they are working has a better government and offers a better future for their children? It will indeed be a one-way journey for them.
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Comelec says premature campaigning will be prohibited in 2025 midterm polls | jpcruz0306 | 30/04/2024 20:31 | Commission on Elections officials, teachers and election personnel, conduct a mock election and final testing and sealing of the vote counting machines that will be utilized for the October 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, at the Pasong Tamo Elementary School in Quezon City on October 25, 2023.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Premature campaigning rules will immediately apply to politicians once they file their certificates of candidacy (COC) for the 2025 midterm elections, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Erwin Garcia said.
“We will presume all those who will file their candidacies from October 1 to 8 as candidates already and therefore we will apply the premature campaigning [policies],” Garcia said during the third National Investigative Journalism Conference hosted by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism on Tuesday, April 30.
Under Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code, a “candidate” is not allowed to campaign or engage in partisan political activity outside of the campaign period. Violators may face potential disqualification from the elections and imprisonment.
However, in the landmark Peñera vs Comelec ruling in 2009, the Supreme Court said that an elective aspirant who filed their COC is only considered a “candidate” once the official campaign period starts.
Based on the 38-year-old election code, the campaign period for national and local candidates only starts 90 and 45 days respectively before election day.
Given this policy, the campaign period for national posts only starts in February 2025, creating a four-month gap from the COC filing period.
This gap has presented a legal loophole, allowing candidates through the years to engage in early campaigns without facing election offenses.
“For the longest time, from October to January, that’s when our candidates really go all out, spending their resources. That’s where the gap between the wealthy and the less fortunate candidates widens,” Lente executive director Rona Ann Caritos said.
This is not the first time the poll body under Garcia’s leadership enforced its premature campaign policy.
For the 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), the Comelec implemented the ban, issuing show cause orders to 7,500 candidates due to early campaigning.
Among them, 253 winning candidates weren’t proclaimed while their cases were pending.
The Garcia-led Comelec justified the premature campaign policy by saying that the Peñera doctrine only applies to automated elections, not manual polls like the BSKE.
Will the same argument hold up for the 2025 midterms, which will be automated? How will Garcia address possible legal issues?
It is unclear, but Garcia challenged potential critics to knock on the Supreme Court’s doors instead.
“If they want to go to the Supreme Court [to question this policy] and so be it,” he said. – with reports from Dwight De Leon and Jodesz Gavilan /Rappler.com
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Really? Will COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia stand up to such a policy? Let us wait and see.
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LTFRB: 60% jeepney consolidation in NCR ‘more than enough’ for commuters | lkyu0285 | 30/04/2024 19:19 | JEEPNEY. Early morning commuters rush to get a ride after several jeepney groups start a weeklong transport strike to protest the government's PUV modernization program, at Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on March 6, 2023.
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MANILA, Philippines – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is “confident” that at least 60% of jeepneys in Metro Manila will consolidate before the deadline passes on Tuesday, April 30.
“Right now, we are at 57%. We anticipate to reach the 60% mark by this afternoon dahil dagsa ‘yung mga tao ngayon (since lots of people are coming in),” LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said in a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon.
A 60% consolidation rate in Metro Manila would still mean that more than 19,000 jeepneys could potentially lose the right to ply their routes, based on the latest baseline data available. But Guadiz is firm that the remaining jeepneys will be “more than enough” to serve commuters.
“From my own perspective, after a thorough study, 60% is more than enough,” Guadiz said in a mix of English and Filipino. “You have other modalities here. You have buses, you have trains, you have tricycles. There are other modes of transportation that can cover these public utility jeeps that would now leave the streets.”
Besides being the Philippines’ center of economic and urban activity, Metro Manila is also key because its consolidation rate was previously the lowest in the country. Based on April 1 data, only about 52% of jeepney units had consolidated, equivalent to around 80% of routes.
Although some short routes may disappear because no jeepney operators there chose to consolidate, the LTFRB chairman said that those could still be serviced by jeepneys on other overlapping or nearby routes.
Guadiz also said that the Philippines has an “oversupply” of jeepneys, which is noticeable during off-peak hours when some jeepneys have barely any passengers onboard.
“We have an oversupply of public utility jeeps, and we really need to trim down the number if we are to make this jeepney modernization program as a success and as a viable alternative. So, hindi ho tayo kakapusin (So we won’t have a shortage),” Guadiz said.
To support this, Guadiz cited a study supposedly done “sometime in 2016” by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, before the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program was launched. Asked whether the results of the study still stand given the almost eight-year difference, Guadiz insisted that the number of jeepneys still needed to be cut down, especially given the development of new trains, like the Metro Manila Subway.
The nationwide consolidation rate as of April 23, 2024, stands at 78.33% based on units and 73.71% based on routes, equivalent to 150,179 units and 7,019 routes, respectively.
In terms of the number of consolidated operators, there are 1,715 cooperatives and 1,088 corporations.
“We are anticipating and expecting this to increase from 80% to about 82%. Case in point, right now, ang dami pong nagpupunta ngayon sa mga (many people are going to the) LTFRB regional offices. These are the doubting Thomases who thought that the government will extend the period of consolidation or those who thought that the Supreme Court will issue a temporary restraining order,” Guadiz told reporters on Tuesday.
Guadiz noted that jeepney operators were filling up offices in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao, hoping to file for consolidation before the deadline passes.
As early as January 2024, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said that the government doesn’t need to achieve a 100% consolidation rate. A 65% consolidation rate, he said, would be sufficient.
With the April 30 deadline coming to an end, Guadiz warned that those who failed to consolidate now “have already lost their franchise.”
“‘Pag wala kang prangkisa, that means colorum ka. ‘Pag colorum ka at bumiyahe ka (If you don’t have a franchise, that means you’re colorum. If you go out as a colorum vehicle), you are susceptible to being apprehended with the penalty of one year suspension for the driver and P50,000 for the motor vehicle that was apprehended,” the LTFRB chairman told reporters.
He added that the agency will not immediately start impounding these unconsolidated jeepneys by May 1. They will first be served a show cause order, following due process. Guadiz said that the LTFRB, in coordination with the Philippine National Police and Land Transportation Office, may begin enforcement around two weeks past May 1. – Rappler.com
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‘Better Chicken McDo’ helps make 2023 a ‘big year’ for Golden Arches | gdecastro0289 | 30/04/2024 18:16 | CAMPAIGN. A McDonald's Philippines marketing blitz boasting a 'Better Chicken McDo' helps boost McDo Philippines' sales in 2023.
Composite of screenshots from McDo PH YouTube
MANILA, Philippines – Billionaire Andrew Tan’s Alliance Global Group Incorporated (AGI) reported an uptick in sales of McDonald’s Philippines’ fried chicken after launching its “Better Chicken McDo” campaign in October 2023, which helped make the whole year a “big year” for partner George Yang’s fast-food franchise.
In its annual report disclosed on Tuesday, April 30, Golden Arches Development Corporation (GADC), a partnership between McDonald’s Philippines master franchise holder Yang and Tan’s AGI, reported that McDonald’s Philippines surpassed its sales targets in 2023.
“The year 2023 was a big year for McDonald’s Philippines as they introduced taste improvements to their burger and bone-in chicken menu that made more customers fall in love with the brand’s favorites,” AGI said.
“Systemwide store sales rose 22% YoY (year-on-year), propelled by front-counter channels shooting up 36% with dine-in sales climbing 48% YoY. Same-store sales expanded 15% YoY. McDonald’s continued to exceed its sales targets, surpassing previous year’s performance mainly attributed to its creative product offerings and promotions.”
In a bid to improve market share in the highly competitive fast-food business, McDonald’s Philippines launched in October 2023 its “Better Chicken McDo” with LGBTQIA+ celebrities Vice Ganda and Paolo Ballesteros as endorsers.
This was followed in 2024 by a McDonald’s Philippines campaign with Kapuso stars Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera. This new ad came out after the real-life couple starred in the family drama Rewind, now the Philippines’ highest grossing movie after it was shown in the annual Metro Manila Film Festival starting December 25, 2023.
The ads clearly target market leader Jollibee Foods Corporation, which dominates the Philippines’ fast-food business and the fried chicken category with its popular Chicken Joy.
McDonald’s Philippines says its new Chicken McDo now has a “bigger size, juicier taste, and crispier skin.”
“This improved product resulted in a +9ppts (percentage points) growth in Great Tasting Chicken Scores since the transition happened,” AGI said.
Prior to the “Better Chicken McDo” campaign, McDonald’s Philippines launched in June 2023 a “Best Burger” marketing campaign that trumpeted “softer buns, freshier ingredients, juicier patties.”
Ang Double CheeseburgER na hottER, juiciER, tastiER (vs. previous recipe), may bagong meal partnER na! The NEW Sweet Corn McShakER Fries! 🤤 Don't wait any longERRRR, pwede na mag-ordERRRR 🤭🤳 ASC Ref. No. G0134P040224M pic.twitter.com/jplSOdpVSy
“This then translated into month-on-month growth in the total beef burger category since Best Burger’s launch,” AGI said.
In 2023, McDonald’s Philippines opened 50 new stores – 43 in Luzon, 3 in the Visayas, and 4 in Mindanao. It also closed 14 stores – 13 in Luzon and 1 in Mindanao. Its total store count as of end-2023 was 740 from 704 at the start of the year. Luzon, including Metro Manila, has 82% of McDonald’s Philippines stores.
In comparison, leading fast-food chain Jollibee had 1,239 stores nationwide as of end-2023 or 499 more stores than McDonald’s Philippines.
Aside from its main competitor Jollibee, McDonald’s Philippines also competes with major fast-food chains such as KFC, Popeye’s, Mang Inasal, Wendy’s, Kenny Rogers, Burger King, Shakey’s, and Pizza Hut.
As of end-December 2022, Jollibee had a “store network market share” of 49% with McDonald’s coming in second at 29%, and KFC at third with 14%.
Golden Arches contributed 20% to AGI’s consolidated revenues and 9% to consolidated net profit in 2023. It had a workforce of 41,046 in 2023, and was expected to hire 17,439 personnel in 2024.
Other major subsidiaries of AGI are real property developer Megaworld Corporation; Emperador Incorporated, the world’s largest brandy producer; and Travellers International Hotel Group Incorporated, operator of Newport World Resorts.
Megaworld contributed 33% to the conglomerate’s revenues and income in 2023, followed by Emperador’s 31% and Travellers’ 15%.
AGI described the conglomerate’s performance in 2023 as “another record-breaking year” as revenues and income grew 15% from P183 billion in 2022 to P210.8 billion in 2023, while net profit increased 20% year-on-year from P25.189 billion to P30.3 billion. – Rappler.com
(Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article misstated that Andrew Tan is the owner of Golden Arches Development Corporation. Tan’s AGI is the strategic partner of George Yang in GADC, and Yang holds the master franchise to McDonald’s in the Philippines.)
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Banking, retail, food: Here are the most valuable Filipino brands in 2024 | Ralf Rivas | 30/04/2024 19:58 | MANILA, Philippines – London-based brand valuation consultancy agency Brand Finance recently released its latest Brand Finance Philippines 2024 report, with companies from the banking, telecommunications, and retail sectors emerging as top contenders.
The company’s value, stature, strength, and overall growth are evaluated in this report, along with how that specific business compares to its national, international, and local rivals. Over 5,000 global brands in more than 40 sectors and industries are evaluated annually.
The most valuable brand was BDO Unibank, with a 14% increase in brand value. It surpassed the massive fast-food chain Jollibee and Globe Telecom, which bagged the second and third spots, respectively.
Banks dominated the list. Joining BDO in the top 10 are Bank of the Philippine Islands (5th), Metrobank (6th), and UnionBank (10th).
After bagging the top spot for two consecutive years, PLDT went down to the fourth spot in 2024 after posting a 25% decrease in brand value.
Puregold, the only retailer in the list, retained its hold on the 9th spot after gaining a 16% increase in brand value from 2023.
Interestingly, Mang Inasal did not make it to the top 10, but Brand Finance recognized it due to brand familiarity as a result of its expansion strategies. It jumped by eight places to the 15th spot, representing a 201% gain in brand value.
The top 10 most valuable brands, along with its estimated brand value and “strength rating” are listed below:
“The growth in value of the most valuable Philippine brands echoes the positive sentiments of their nation’s economic outlook,” Brand Finance said. – Rappler.com
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Mayor of Antique’s Tobias Fornier town punches vice mayor over food aid | Herbie G | 30/04/2024 12:06 | FOOD FIGHT. Mayor Ernesto Tajanlangit III (taller man) of Tobias Fornier town confronts his vice mayor, Jojo Fornier, over a food aid dispute in Antique on Monday, April 29, as shown in a video posted on Facebook.
Screenshot
BACOLOD, Philippines – As temperatures soared, a mayor and a vice mayor in Antique province engaged in a food fight and ended up in a bizarre showdown, with one literally delivering a punchline on Monday, April 29.
Mayor Ernesto “Toto” Tajanlangit III of Tobias Fornier town punched the face of his vice mayor, Jojo Fornier, over a dispute about food packs for families suffering as a result of the El Niño phenomenon.
As the heat of the argument rose higher than the scorching temperatures plaguing the region, Tajanlangit lost his cool as he expressed his irritation towards Fornier for what he perceived as holding the 5,000 food packs from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) “hostage.”
Fornier, he alleged, delayed the distribution of the food aid.
Taking to Facebook, Tajanlangit claimed he felt insulted by Fornier’s actions, which he likened to “ninja moves,” as Fornier took custody of the food packs and proceeded with their distribution to drought-affected constituents.
Tajanlangit obstructed the delivery truck driven by Fornier, leading to a verbal and physical altercation between the two officials around 10 am on Monday as shown on the “Inside Antique” Facebook page.
In radio interviews in Iloilo City, Fornier asserted that he had sought the food packs directly from Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao, and not Tajanlangit.
Cadiao, speaking with Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo, corroborated Fornier’s statement.
Tajanlangit, however, insisted that the delivery of aid to their drought-hit residents fell within his jurisdiction and responsibility as the local chief executive.
“I am still the mayor. I am still alive. You should respect me,” he told said, alleging Fornier’s actions was a usurpation of public function and assault on a person in authority.
In response, Fornier said he was preparing to file a complaint against Tajanlangit for slight physical injury.
Tajanlangit said he would also file an administrative complaint against Fornier related to the alleged delay in providing aid to calamity victims.
Antique province was declared under a state of calamity by the provincial board on April 18 due to months of extremely dry weather conditions.
The town of Tobias Fornier is one of the 18 localities in Antique severely affected by the prolonged high temperatures over the past five month.
Damage to crops and livelihoods in the entire province was estimated at over P200 million, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC). – Rappler.com
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LTFRB: 60% jeepney consolidation in NCR ‘more than enough’ for commuters | lkyu0285 | 30/04/2024 19:19 | JEEPNEY. Early morning commuters rush to get a ride after several jeepney groups start a weeklong transport strike to protest the government's PUV modernization program, at Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on March 6, 2023.
Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is “confident” that at least 60% of jeepneys in Metro Manila will consolidate before the deadline passes on Tuesday, April 30.
“Right now, we are at 57%. We anticipate to reach the 60% mark by this afternoon dahil dagsa ‘yung mga tao ngayon (since lots of people are coming in),” LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said in a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon.
A 60% consolidation rate in Metro Manila would still mean that more than 19,000 jeepneys could potentially lose the right to ply their routes, based on the latest baseline data available. But Guadiz is firm that the remaining jeepneys will be “more than enough” to serve commuters.
“From my own perspective, after a thorough study, 60% is more than enough,” Guadiz said in a mix of English and Filipino. “You have other modalities here. You have buses, you have trains, you have tricycles. There are other modes of transportation that can cover these public utility jeeps that would now leave the streets.”
Besides being the Philippines’ center of economic and urban activity, Metro Manila is also key because its consolidation rate was previously the lowest in the country. Based on April 1 data, only about 52% of jeepney units had consolidated, equivalent to around 80% of routes.
Although some short routes may disappear because no jeepney operators there chose to consolidate, the LTFRB chairman said that those could still be serviced by jeepneys on other overlapping or nearby routes.
Guadiz also said that the Philippines has an “oversupply” of jeepneys, which is noticeable during off-peak hours when some jeepneys have barely any passengers onboard.
“We have an oversupply of public utility jeeps, and we really need to trim down the number if we are to make this jeepney modernization program as a success and as a viable alternative. So, hindi ho tayo kakapusin (So we won’t have a shortage),” Guadiz said.
To support this, Guadiz cited a study supposedly done “sometime in 2016” by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, before the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program was launched. Asked whether the results of the study still stand given the almost eight-year difference, Guadiz insisted that the number of jeepneys still needed to be cut down, especially given the development of new trains, like the Metro Manila Subway.
The nationwide consolidation rate as of April 23, 2024, stands at 78.33% based on units and 73.71% based on routes, equivalent to 150,179 units and 7,019 routes, respectively.
In terms of the number of consolidated operators, there are 1,715 cooperatives and 1,088 corporations.
“We are anticipating and expecting this to increase from 80% to about 82%. Case in point, right now, ang dami pong nagpupunta ngayon sa mga (many people are going to the) LTFRB regional offices. These are the doubting Thomases who thought that the government will extend the period of consolidation or those who thought that the Supreme Court will issue a temporary restraining order,” Guadiz told reporters on Tuesday.
Guadiz noted that jeepney operators were filling up offices in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao, hoping to file for consolidation before the deadline passes.
As early as January 2024, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said that the government doesn’t need to achieve a 100% consolidation rate. A 65% consolidation rate, he said, would be sufficient.
With the April 30 deadline coming to an end, Guadiz warned that those who failed to consolidate now “have already lost their franchise.”
“‘Pag wala kang prangkisa, that means colorum ka. ‘Pag colorum ka at bumiyahe ka (If you don’t have a franchise, that means you’re colorum. If you go out as a colorum vehicle), you are susceptible to being apprehended with the penalty of one year suspension for the driver and P50,000 for the motor vehicle that was apprehended,” the LTFRB chairman told reporters.
He added that the agency will not immediately start impounding these unconsolidated jeepneys by May 1. They will first be served a show cause order, following due process. Guadiz said that the LTFRB, in coordination with the Philippine National Police and Land Transportation Office, may begin enforcement around two weeks past May 1. – Rappler.com
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Online and offline, this Aklan village fights a wind farm to save their river | Paterno Esmaquel II | 30/04/2024 19:00 | TREASURES. Dolores Flores takes good care of her handmade 'taun,' a traditional trap she uses
to catch 'patuyaw' (native shrimp) in Nabaoy River.
Jed Nykolle Harme/Rappler
Before the sun rays kiss the crystal-clear waters of Nabaoy River, the soft rustle of bamboo leaves and the chirping of birds mix with the chatter of villagers.
The peace of this rural community in Malay, Aklan, however, has been disrupted by sounds of protest in recent months.
On the ground, adult residents refute the alleged benefits of a controversial windmill project that, according to them, threatens the river sustaining their village.
Online, a different battle rages for the youth who vehemently deny the false social media narratives about this renewable energy project.
Dolores Flores, 64, is one of the most affected residents. Every morning for more than 50 years, Flores, a mother of nine, has cast her traditional rattan and bamboo to catch patuyaw (native shrimp).
She can collect up to a half kilogram of patuyaw, which is then supplied to local restaurants and resorts. She earns P225 ($4) or less per day, which is not enough to make ends meet.
The problem is that her patuyaw harvest has declined over the past few years. She fears the situation will worsen due to the wind farm construction on a neighboring mountain. The nearby Napaan River, she said, “has already been affected,” and “its former beauty never came back.”
“I don’t want the same fate to befall us here in Nabaoy because our livelihood depends on the river,” Flores said.
Flores, along with hundreds of Nabaoynons, have called on the Malay local government unit (LGU) to stop the turbine expansion of the Nabas Wind Power Project, a renewable energy project of PetroWind Energy Incorporated (PWEI).
Vanessa Peralta, assistant vice president for corporate communication of PWEI, told Rappler that the 13.2 MW Nabas wind power project (phase two) is now supplying additional power to the Panay grid after its first three wind turbines were commissioned last April 4.
“This additional power further adds stability to the grid, especially now that demand is expected to increase due to the summer season and some power facilities, particularly hydro power plants, are affected by the dry weather,” Peralta said.
Villagers, who staged a protest last January 31, argued that the wind farm expansion project could pose irreversible damage to the Nabaoy River.
“Nabaoynons kept on saying that we won’t allow the project,” said former barangay captain Sentia Quinto, who owns Narra Resort, the longest ecotourism site along this body of water.
Quinto said Nabaoynons have reiterated to the LGU that they were not part of the project’s impact assessment, which means that Petrowind “will not be held responsible” for any harm done to the river. “What will happen to us then?” she asked.
Nabaoy River is not included in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Petrowind’s phase two expansion project, as it is not the project’s host site. The Malay LGU, however, said that Nabaoy River is the direct impact site, because it is the river which will be hit by mud coming from the mountains where the turbines will be erected.
Even if the Malay LGU endorsed the project at first, it eventually found out that the construction resulted in heavy siltation in Napaan River. This prompted the LGU to revoke its endorsement of the project’s expansion in Napaan in August 2023.
However, when asked about the damage found by the Malay LGU, Peralta said that “PWEI is fully compliant” as the Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR) released two reports disproving the allegations of critics.
Peralta said that the DENR reports – based on multiple inspections, as opposed to the critics’ one-time audit hike – confirm that the project complies with environmental laws and that Petrowind followed rules and guidelines on engaging stakeholders. She said the company has also employed effective measures to prevent negative effects on nearby rivers.
Villagers remain unconvinced about the benefits of the project, even if Petrowind promised a corporate social responsibility program – which the Malay LGU adopted on February 22 despite having no public consultation on it.
“They only did that now because many have been complaining,” Quinto said. “Petrowind has no concrete plans for us in the first place, because if there are, we should be included in their EIA.”
She was also enraged when Nabas Wind Farm reportedly posted on Facebook that they have conducted a public consultation with Nabaoynons. Quinto said it never happened. The local community also denied the post, saying that it was a meeting of Pawa, Napaan, Nabaoy Forest Developers Association (PANANAFODA), which does not concern Nabaoy as a whole.
“They merely took photos of us on the table, but there’s no [public consultation],” Nabaoy barangay captain Nolasco Claud told a provincial investigation committee, as seen in a video obtained by Rappler. “What they presented here were lies. That’s why we’re here, seeking help because our municipal officials in Malay didn’t hear us.”
Meanwhile, youth from Nabaoy have also encountered the same challenges in the online sphere.
“They block people who comment on their posts. They deleted our comments opposing them. This is their way of preventing people from knowing that they are spreading fake news,” said Stefhanie Bernabe, Sangguniang Kabataan kagawad of Nabaoy.
Bernabe said that since social media has become the primary source of information, Petrowind has been spreading disinformation online, confusing those who seek updates on Nabaoy River. According to her, based on the comments they read, many are manipulated through deceptive posts and fake narratives shared on social platforms.
In return, the SK Council also created a Facebook page, Nabaoy Environmental Defenders, to combat disinformation posted by Petrowind online.
“To defend ourselves, we shared evidence proving that the things said on social media were incorrect. We listened to the locals’ opinions directly. We talked to credible individuals for statements, especially those knowledgeable in environmental conservation and protection, so that others will know how precious our river is and what we are going through here,” Bernabe said.
Bernabe also said that they are constantly besieged by trolls and fake accounts, commenting about their support for the project.
To this, Peralta said: “That particular claim is a disinformation and we appeal to them to be more discerning and vigilant with all the information that is now circulating online. PetroWind does not promote nor tolerate disinformation and we only share factual and verified data backed by reports from regulating agencies such as the DENR.”
Researchers are calling for the protection of the Nabaoy River due to its “unique ecosystem.”
In a Facebook post, Philippine Nuclear Research Institute specialist Raymond Sucgang said Nabaoy River is able to produce “pure water” that is “like purified water.” This is because the river contains a very low concentration of dissolved ions, which makes it more desirable for drinking and other uses.
“Believe me, in my 15 years of experience in hydrology studies, this is the first time I’ve encountered water of this type. It’s highly suitable as a drinking water source because it requires minimal purification. There’s no need for costly multi-treatment processes like those used in most surface water treatment plants,” he said.
Nenette Graf, former Sangguniang Bayan member of Malay and head of the committee on environment, said that they can live without power, but can’t live without water. “Boracay is a tourism hot spot in the Philippines, and it generates multimillion dollars every year. Are we insane to sacrifice it for a six-megawatt turbine?”
Local leaders in Nabaoy proposed that if the Malay government intends to proceed with the project, it should be relocated away from the rivers and mountains of the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park, the last low-lying forest in Panay.
“The safest decision for LGU Malay and the Province of Aklan is to relocate the last three remaining wind turbines,” environmental advocate Ritchel Casidsid Cahilig told Rappler.
Wind Management Group and Department of Energy representative Clarita de Jesus said that relocation is possible. The stakes are high for Petrowind, however, because failure to complete the project would result in a penalty, given the Marcos administration’s aggressive push for renewable energy.
Peralta said in an interview with Kalibo Cable TV: “The relocation is not easy. Our stance here is that we have not violated any environmental rules. We are fully compliant and are following all regulations. Therefore, there are no grounds to halt or relocate the project because we are not in violation of anything.”
Despite community protests and evidence of environmental impact, Petrowind’s wind turbine expansion project will continue. “The Malay LGU has formally reendorsed phase two last February 22, 2024. We cannot speak for them, but we thank the Malay LGU for reendorsing the project,” Peralta said.
Villagers of Nabaoy are standing firm for their cherished river.
“We are not against renewable energy. That’s development,” said Vicky Aguirre, head of the municipal investigation committee looking into the project. “But we also have to ensure that it is sustainable.” – Rappler.com
*Quotes in the local language have been translated into English.
Jed Nykolle Harme is the associate editor of Aklan State University’s Eamigas Publication and the editor-in-charge of Explained PH-Aklan. She is also an Aries Rufo Journalism fellow of Rappler for 2023-2024.
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Results, team standings: 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference, Spikers’ Turf Open Conference | jisaga0269 | 2/5/2024 19:25 | CHAMPS. The Creamline Cool Smashers celebrate a winning play.
PVL IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines – Hard-hitting volleyball rolls off at the professional and semi-pro levels as the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference and the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference hit the homestretch!
Here are the results and team standings of both leagues:
FINALS
MAY 12
MAY 9
BATTLE FOR BRONZE
MAY 12
MAY 9
SEMIFINALS
Standings (win-loss-points)
Results
MAY 5
MAY 1
APRIL 30
ELIMINATIONS
Wins-Losses (Points | Set Ratio)
* – Semifinalsx – Eliminated
FINALS
SEMIFINALS
Standings (win-loss-points)
* – Finals
ELIMINATIONS
Wins-Losses (Points)
* – Semifinalsx – Eliminated
– Rappler.com
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IN PHOTOS: Bigger Timezone reopens in new area of UP Town Center | Steph Arnaldo | 30/04/2024 17:26 | MANILA, Philippines – Timezone’s UP Town Center branch just got a makeover!
The Katipunan community mall launched Timezone’s bigger and leveled-up entertainment facility on Friday, April 26, now located at the second level of UPTC’s Phase 2 zone, right by the walkway connecting the older wing to the new wing.
The original Timezone used to be located in a small corner space at the entrance building, taking up two levels, albeit a bit cramped. Now, Timezone’s renovated space is the largest venue of the neighborhood mall so far, at 1,535 square meters.
Since the Diliman area is filled with students, BPO workers, and families from subdivisions nearby, it makes sense to invest in the only gaming arcade in the area – complete with brand-new VR attractions, rides, group games, and more (yes, there’s an air hockey area, basketball corner, billiards, six-lane bowling alley, and bumper spin cars)!
Ready to let your inner child play? Here’s what you can expect from the new and improved Timezone at UP Town Center:
Other new games at Timezone include Minecraft Dungeon Arcade, the four-player shooting game HALO Fireteam Raven, and many more.
In March 2023, Timezone opened its biggest branch yet at Fairview Terraces in Quezon City, at almost 3,000 square meters with over 160 arcade games.
Timezone UP Town Center is open from 11 am to 9 pm. The mall is located along Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. – Rappler.com
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LIST: World Press Freedom Day 2024 events, activities | Waya Lao | 30/04/2024 17:22 | MANILA, Philippines — To mark the 31st celebration of World Press Freedom Day, publications and interest groups in the country will be conducting events and activities starting from Friday, May 3 and onwards.
This year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will host a conference themed: “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis,’’ in time of this commemoration. The theme stresses the instances of censorship experienced by media practitioners and the importance of genuine reporting for a sustainable future.
To emphasize the roles of independent journalism in a time of disinformation and climate crisis, here is a running list of upcoming events and activities initiated by student publications and advocacy groups for World Press Freedom Day:
For tickets and concerns about the event, you may RSVP through this link or contact Ms. Fay Sales at 09173183456. There is a P500 door charge which includes a free drink. The event opens at 8 pm.
The launch of the event will focus on “Capturing Creativity in Journalism: A Seminar on Photojournalism and Graphic Design,” a seminar workshop crafted for Junior High and Senior High students. Interested students from EAC – Manila must prepare P100 for ticket reservation and register through this link here.
To register and know more about the guidelines for the said event, you may refer to this link.
If you know of any other events commemorating the 31st World Press Freedom Day on May 3, we welcome you to share the details through the #factsfirstph chatroom on Rappler Communities or through [email protected] – with reports from Allaine Kate Leda, Adelainne Balbin, and Mika Soria/Rappler.com
Allaine Kate A. Leda is a Rappler intern from West Visayas State University – Main Campus. She is currently a fourth-year student taking up Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
Mika Soria is a Rappler volunteer from the University of the Philippines Diliman. As a soon-to-be graduate from the Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing program, they are interested in exploring writing in the field of journalism–most especially when it comes to stories centered on community and nation-building.
Adelainne Balbin is a Rappler intern from the Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila. She is currently in her fourth year in college taking up Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
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PCG reports damage after China uses water cannons in Bajo de Masinloc | Bea Cupin | 30/04/2024 12:41 | BAJO DE MASINLOC. Two CCG vessels use water cannons against a PCG vessel in Bajo de Masinloc.
Philippine Coast Guard
MANILA, Philippines – The China Coast Guard on Tuesday, April 30, used water cannons against two Philippine vessels in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), a feature some 100 nautical miles off the coast off the coast Zambales.
In a statement to media, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said China Coast Guard ship CCG 3305 used its water cannon against a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel at around 9:53 am.
Two other China Coast Guard ships, CCG 3105 and CCG 5303, also used their “jet stream water cannons” against the PCG’s vessel BRP Bagacay when it was sailing some 1,000 yards away from Bajo de Masinloc.
Tarriela said the twin water cannons “[targeted] the PCG vessel from both sides, resulting in damage to the railing and canopy.”
“This damage serves as evidence of the forceful water pressure used by the China Coast Guard in their harassment of the Philippine vessels,” he added.
The PCG’s Bagacay and the BFAR’s BRP Bankaw were patrolling waters near Bajo de Masinloc, also to distribute fuel and food to fisherfolk in the area. During their patrol, the two vessels “encountered dangerous maneuvers and obstruction from four China Coast Guard vessels and six Chinese Maritime Militia vessels.”
Bajo de Masinloc is a traditional fishing ground for fisherfolk of different nationalities, including Filipino, Chinese, and Vietnamese.
The PCG said the China Coast Guard had also installed a 380-meter floating barrier that covered the entrance of the shoal, “effectively restricting access to the area.”
“Despite the harassment and provocative actions of the Chinese Coast Guard, both the PCG and BFAR vessels stood their ground and continued their maritime patrol. They were not deterred and will persist in carrying out their legitimate operations to support Filipino fishermen and ensure their safety,” added Tarriela.
The China Coast Guard earlier claimed it “expelled” both the Bagacay and the Bankaw off the waters of Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Panatag or Scarborough Shoal.
China claims also all of the South China Sea, including waters near features such as Bajo de Masinloc. This is despite a 2016 Arbitral Award that said its claim was invalid. – Rappler.com
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Here we go again—another incident of the CCG bullying our own PCG with water cannons. But our PCG cannot retaliate using its own water cannons? (Note: unless the latter do not have water cannons.) Are we not ashamed of this?
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Philippines, Japan, Australia, US defense chiefs to meet in Hawaii | Bea Cupin | 30/04/2024 11:16 | SHOULDER TO SHOULDER. The defense chiefs of the US and the Philippines meet on the sidelines of an ASEAN Defense Ministers meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia on November 15, 2023.
Secretary Lloyd Austin/Handout
MANILA, Philippines – Months after a historical quadrilateral joint sail of their navies in the West Philippine Sea, the defense chiefs of the Philippines, Japan, United States, and Australia will be meeting for the second time ever in Honolulu, Hawaii in the first week of May 2024.
The meeting was first announced by Japanese Defense Minister Kihara Minoru and then confirmed by the Philippine Defense Department on Monday, April 29. The US Defense Department made the same announcement early April 30.
In a release, the United States Department of Defense said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III will hold bilateral meetings with both Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles and with Kihara. The US, Australia, and Japan will then have a trilateral ministerial meeting before the quadrilateral gathering takes place.
The top defense officials of the four countries first met on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore back in June 2023. Back then, the Philippines was represented by defense officer-in-charge Undersecretary Carlito Galvez and Japan was represented by former defense minister Hamada Yasukazu.
The navies of the four countries sailed together in early April 2024 amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea, an area of the South China Sea that includes the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. China claims practically all of the South China Sea, in defiance of a 2016 Arbitral Ruling that deemed Beijing’s claim invalid. Chinese vessels – from its navy, coast guard, and a fleet of fishing ships – are constantly in different parts of the South China Sea, including features within the West Philippine Sea.
Japan, Australia, and the Philippines are all allies of the United States. Ties between the four countries – bilateral and multilateral – have strengthened and developed in recent years especially as China grows more assertive not just in the South China Sea but in the rest of the Indo-Pacific. The leaders of the US, Japan, and the Philippines, recently expressed “serious concern” over Chinese actions in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea.
The US Defense Department said Austin’s Hawaii visit, which includes him presiding over the US Indo-Pacific Command change of command, happens as the US and its allies “[continue] to deliver historic momentum toward a shared regional vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
– Rappler.com
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Tots Carlos, Mylene Paat set to miss PVL semis openers amid Korean V-League tryouts | jisaga0269 | 30/04/2024 15:21 | TRYING THEIR LUCK. Creamline's Tots Carlos and Chery Tiggo's Mylene Paat react in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
PVL Images
MANILA, Philippines – PVL juggernauts Creamline and Chery Tiggo will be at least one player down apiece to open the 2024 All-Filipino Conference semifinals on Tuesday, April 30, as star spikers Tots Carlos and Mylene Paat are busy plying their craft in the ongoing Korean V-League (KVL) tryouts.
Coinciding with the opening stretch of the round-robin semis, the tryouts for the KVL Asian Quota draft hopefuls began last Monday, April 29, and will run until Wednesday, May 1.
Defending champion Creamline is set to take the bigger hit in its offense against sister team Choco Mucho on Tuesday, 4 pm, as Carlos is the Cool Smashers’ top scorer throughout the eliminations.
Chery Tiggo, meanwhile, will make do with a thinner bench against the Petro Gazz Angels at 6 pm as Paat, a former PVL MVP, is one of the Crossovers’ top second-six players behind a formidable starting lineup.
It remains to be seen whether or not Carlos and Paat will make it back to their respective teams in time for their second semifinal matches on Thursday, May 2 – just one day past the conclusion of the KOVO-mandated (Korean Volleyball Federation) tryouts.
In the meantime, Michele Gumabao will likely take over Carlos’ opposite hitter spot in Creamline’s starting six against Choco Mucho, while some combination of Cess Robles, EJ Laure, and Shaya Adorador will fill in Paat’s minutes against Petro Gazz. – Rappler.com
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‘Aggressive’ revert to old academic calendar eyed for school year 2024 to 2025 | Bonz Magsambol | 30/04/2024 13:05 | SCHOOL. Students and teachers hold regular classes at the General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City, on February 21, 2024.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Due to a “clamor” for a faster return to the old academic calendar, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Tuesday, April 30, that it has sent a letter to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. offering a more “aggressive” ending of the upcoming school year 2024 to 2025 in March 2025.
“In response to the recent clamor for a more immediate reversion to the April-May school break, the department has already submitted a letter to the Office of the President presenting other options, including a more aggressive alternative ending school year 2024 to 2025 in March 2025,” DepEd spokesperson Francis Bringas said during the Senate inquiry into the effects of extreme heat in the conduct of classes.
“In the meantime, we respectfully appeal to the committee to allow the President time to study the options carefully,” he added.
Prior to this, the DepEd had set an initial five-year timeline to fully transition to the old academic calendar, where classes start in June and end in March.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate basic education committee, said that he prefers the “aggressive” approach. “We need to revert to the old calendar. Weather is unpredictable,” he said.
Earlier in April, Marcos said the government would find a way to have “transition completed earlier to put the schedule of our schoolchildren back to normal at the soonest time.”
What’s the catch with the “aggressive” transition?
Bringas said that students will have shorter school days. According to the Republic Act 7797, school days in the Philippines should be between 200 and 220 days.
If approved by the President, students will only have 165 in-person school days for the upcoming school year, while the remaining will be done through distance learning. Aside from this, students and teachers will have shorter school break in the middle of the transition.
“If we do it aggressively, then ma-sacrifice natin (we sacrifice) yung some hours for the learners and some hours for the teachers,” Bringas said. He refused to give more information about the plan pending approval by the President.
The school opening in the Philippines was moved to October, instead of June, in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and remote learning was implemented. In the succeeding years, it was moved to August.
The reversion to the old academic calendar was triggered by public clamor because the summer months of April and May are not conducive to learning. In recent weeks, the DepEd declared in-person class suspensions due to excessive heat. The heat index in Iba, Zambales, for instance, reached a scorching 53°C on Sunday, April 28, the highest that the country’s weather bureau has recorded so far in 2024. – Rappler.com
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Tots Carlos, Mylene Paat set to miss PVL semis openers amid Korean V-League tryouts | jisaga0269 | 30/04/2024 15:21 | TRYING THEIR LUCK. Creamline's Tots Carlos and Chery Tiggo's Mylene Paat react in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
PVL Images
MANILA, Philippines – PVL juggernauts Creamline and Chery Tiggo will be at least one player down apiece to open the 2024 All-Filipino Conference semifinals on Tuesday, April 30, as star spikers Tots Carlos and Mylene Paat are busy plying their craft in the ongoing Korean V-League (KVL) tryouts.
Coinciding with the opening stretch of the round-robin semis, the tryouts for the KVL Asian Quota draft hopefuls began last Monday, April 29, and will run until Wednesday, May 1.
Defending champion Creamline is set to take the bigger hit in its offense against sister team Choco Mucho on Tuesday, 4 pm, as Carlos is the Cool Smashers’ top scorer throughout the eliminations.
Chery Tiggo, meanwhile, will make do with a thinner bench against the Petro Gazz Angels at 6 pm as Paat, a former PVL MVP, is one of the Crossovers’ top second-six players behind a formidable starting lineup.
It remains to be seen whether or not Carlos and Paat will make it back to their respective teams in time for their second semifinal matches on Thursday, May 2 – just one day past the conclusion of the KOVO-mandated (Korean Volleyball Federation) tryouts.
In the meantime, Michele Gumabao will likely take over Carlos’ opposite hitter spot in Creamline’s starting six against Choco Mucho, while some combination of Cess Robles, EJ Laure, and Shaya Adorador will fill in Paat’s minutes against Petro Gazz. – Rappler.com
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Jun Lana’s ‘Your Mother’s Son’ is not what it says it is | Steph Arnaldo | 20/04/2024 16:11 | Screenshot from trailer
Spoilers ahead.
MANILA, Philippines – In his essay on Ruben Abalos’s Hayok, a Bomba film released in 1970, Ishmael Bernal notes the use of the phrase “pagnanasang kaibaiba,” which roughly translates to “strange desire,” to illustrate bisexual desire.
It’s a euphemism my mind keeps drifting to as I mull over Jun Lana’s R-18 erotica, Your Mother’s Son, which I read as the director’s elaborate attempt at the Bomba genre, most notable for inducing spectatorial pleasure out of the explicit display of sexual and sexualized bodies – women’s bodies in particular. In this case, though, Lana stretches that desire, minus the bisexuality, into a May-December romance that definitely warrants a stronger adjective than “strange.”
Your Mother’s Son opens the inaugural EnlighTEN: The IdeaFirst Film Festival, marking a decade since the inception of the production company, the brainchild of film producer Percival Intalan and Lana himself. The film is originally titled Anak Ka ng Ina Mo, alluding to Ina Ka ng Anak Mo, a 1979 film by Lino Brocka. Much like the social realist master, Lana is eager to discourse on the grand by situating the story at the height of Rodrigo Duterte’s reign of terror, hardened by the pandemic. The result, however, measures up only to an extent.
It’s not that the preoccupation at the film’s core lacks interest. If anything, works of art that explore morally gray areas could be springboards to generate more thoughtful conversations. Reality, after all, is complex. If the point of our media consumption is solely to project our moral high ground, then our imagination is doomed.
Moral absolutism hinders us from truly understanding our past and how it shapes our present, from seeing what humanity really is. Naturally it’s way easier to imagine monsters in the context of myths, instead of actual human beings that exist among us, that lead ordinary, uneventful lives.
If the viewer, out of sheer discomfort, exits the theater gathering that the film asserts that sexually grooming a minor is despicable, the takeaway is of course rational. But if the work, or for that matter the entire 100 minutes of it, merely elicits what should be a universal knowledge by now, then it breaks little ground as far as insight is concerned. What is exposed in the process are the fractures obscured by the film’s broad pronouncements.
In the opening frame alone, the viewer could outright discern that Lana gestures towards a larger discussion. He eases us into the terrain, with a snappy campaign jingle, a common fixture of the Philippine electoral system, playing in the background. It’s from a leader gunning for a local post in a remote town, where Sarah (Sue Prado) and her “son” Emman (Kokoy de Santos) find a home, away from prying eyes. Before taking on two jobs, venturing into the food business and tutoring foreign students online, Sarah used to be a school teacher. Emman, meanwhile, tries to land a new job after a sudden layoff due to the pandemic, perhaps a factor why he gets into illegal drugs, alongside Amy (Elora Españo), who works for Sarah.
Such is the plain shape of the premise. These lives seem mundane and placid, until the film exposes its central subject — the secret “affair” that shatters the facade of a healthy, normal relationship. Of course, “affair” is a loaded word in this context, with issues of consent and power dynamics coming into play. As it turns out, Emman is Sarah’s former student. How this relationship comes about, the “sacrifices” that needed to be made, the violent reactions to the controversy the film eschews altogether, save for a close-up of a graduation photo depicting the two. The real point of conflict, or perhaps more urgent than Emman no longer wanting to keep the relationship private, begins when Oliver (Miggy Jimenez), one of Sarah’s tutees, shows up, after abandoning his abusive father, only to fall into the clutches of another abuser.
The film positions itself the way a Vivamax story plays out, raging with hormones, suffused with unbridled suspicion. Here, parallel to Todd Haynes’s May December, a woman is the figure of authority, a domesticated woman in particular (layer: Filipino, working class, living in the global south), and the film owes its appeal to how it examines such dynamics, the force that informs this woman’s pleasure and how she tricks the boys into wanting it. For instance, when Oliver caves into Sarah’s advances, it’s not out of desire, it’s hardly love, but out of a favor he thinks needs to be returned – consent being jeopardized by material precarity. The effect is essentially a sex thriller, not to mention the inclusion of a content by a local porn star at one point.
Sue Prado at the center of it is impressive and unsettling at the same time. As Sarah, she’s highly astute and on guard, commanding what goes in and out of the sheltered space, a maternal instinct of sorts. Her demeanor is that of an adult who knows exactly what she’s doing, which makes predators like her all the more culpable and dangerous.
As with Lana’s previous work, About Us But Not About Us, which shares a similar thematic thread with this film, Your Mother’s Son holds a full-throated promise of arriving at a grander discourse, the sweeping statement that supposedly magnifies every little detail. In fact, Lana declares in a talkback that the film is an allegory of the Filipino people’s attachment to abusers like the Dutertes and the Marcoses. But the claim winds up like a vague, spur-of-the-moment shower thought because the film steers clear of any sustained discussion of it and uses it merely as a backdrop.
There’s Emman donning a Duterte shirt; there’s a note about the dictator’s routine tirades; there’s also a point when Amy’s name figures in the drug watchlist. But despite all of it, there’s a towering disconnect between the actual experience of the film and our supposed, if not limited, response to it.
The film adds a political layer to the story, as though it were hyperlinking a few keywords to a Guardian explainer, and thinks that it solves the issue. The broader themes are all but sanded down into nothing, barely affording the viewer any room for introspection, the film’s most glaring lapse. The good thing, though, is that Lana still knows how to write a compelling endnote, leading to the final burst of emotion, to the inevitable thrust, with Kokoy de Santos at his most terrific.
Over the years, Lana has shown us how prolific he is as writer and director. But as much as I hate to admit it, he is tired, folks. His recent outputs, for a host of reasons, tend to collapse into his habitual tendencies. Of course, this is not to discredit some superb titles he’s offered us: Bwakaw (2012), Mga Kuwentong Barbero (2013), Anino sa Likod ng Buwan (2015), Kalel, 15 (2019).
With this latest sight, however, it’s difficult not to miss Lana’s unbridled inquiry and clarity of vision – one that pushes the viewer to rethink and refuse the fixities of their responses, especially to things they do not know. Will a collaboration with the culturally ubiquitous Vice Ganda bring back that caliber of Lana we’ve come to admire? Only time will tell. Substance, it seems, cannot be done in haste. – Rappler.com
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Anyone’s game: NU, UST gain Final Four edge as champ La Salle nears ouster | jisaga0269 | 28/04/2024 17:28 | MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament is nearing its most critical moments with the Final Four all set in stone ahead of a much-needed one-week break for all its competing athletes.
Season 84 champion and Season 85 finalist NU is back on top as the first seed after a 7-0 second-round elimination sweep.
Giant-slaying UST booked the other twice-to-beat berth as the No. 2 squad with yet another statement win against defending champion La Salle to end the elims, while underdog FEU rounded out its impressive turnaround from a 1-13 record just two years ago as the fourth seed with a 9-5 slate.
There are a lot of storylines to go through with just a handful of games left, with each tale being more intriguing than the next. (SCHEDULE: UAAP volleyball Final Four)
Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and the La Salle Lady Spikers are certainly feeling the pressure with each passing game heading to the Final Four.
Already bogged by injuries to key players Baby Jyne Soreño and MVP Angel Canino up until the latter’s much-needed return, the defending champions now face the unenviable task of going back-to-back against UST – a team that already beat them twice – just to book a finals comeback.
Six years removed from their last title defense – a three-peat completion, no less – La Salle is aiming to kick off another championship winning streak, but the path to get there will be as rocky as it can get.
Dubbed “Mini Miss UST” for their undersized roster before the season’s start, the Golden Tigresses are now standing tall after their historic 8-0 start evolved to a 12-2 finish and their first twice-to-beat berth in 13 years.
Incidentally, it has been 14 years since UST last hoisted a UAAP women’s volleyball trophy, and since the Tigresses’ last dominant stretch, it has been an up-and-down road with a handful of bumpy patches where they missed the Final Four altogether.
Today, however, with a cohesive crew led by possible rookie MVP candidate Angge Poyos, top libero Detdet Pepito, and star setter Cassie Carballo, no heights are too high for this small UST crew to reach, even with towering La Salle once again standing in their way of a finals return.
In the last three seasons of pandemic-era UAAP volleyball, the NU Lady Bulldogs, alongside La Salle, have been the shining beacons of excellence with three Final Four berths, two finals appearances, and one championship to show for it so far.
Led by all-around star Bella Belen and offensive juggernaut Alyssa Solomon, the perennial contenders are likely favorites to atone for their Season 85 finals shortcomings and once again rise to the top of the heap, with underdog FEU as their first challenge.
While Belen and Solomon continue to resist temptations of greener pastures outside the UAAP, the national team-caliber Lady Bulldogs will always be one of the top teams to beat in the foreseeable future.
Practically buried under the mountain of hype created by the three teams before them, the FEU Lady Tamaraws are in some ways in a world of their own, solely focused on raising back the bar of their legendary program and taking everything else as a welcome bonus.
Ending a five-year Final Four drought with a strong finish to the elimination round, the gutsy Lady Tamaraws are still raring to add more slain titans in their growing Season 86 catalog, and mighty NU is dead and center in their crosshairs.
Back-to-back wins against an on-fire Lady Bulldogs side are a tough ask, especially for this batch of FEU stalwarts just starting to regain their footing in the realm of UAAP contenders.
But if the likes of Gerzel Petallo, Chen Tagaod, and Faida Bakanke have any say on the matter, it’s that no team is untouchable to those who dare to be brave. – Rappler.com
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PCG reports damage after China uses water cannons in Bajo de Masinloc | Bea Cupin | 30/04/2024 12:41 | BAJO DE MASINLOC. Two CCG vessels use water cannons against a PCG vessel in Bajo de Masinloc.
Philippine Coast Guard
MANILA, Philippines – The China Coast Guard on Tuesday, April 30, used water cannons against two Philippine vessels in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), a feature some 100 nautical miles off the coast off the coast Zambales.
In a statement to media, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said China Coast Guard ship CCG 3305 used its water cannon against a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel at around 9:53 am.
Two other China Coast Guard ships, CCG 3105 and CCG 5303, also used their “jet stream water cannons” against the PCG’s vessel BRP Bagacay when it was sailing some 1,000 yards away from Bajo de Masinloc.
Tarriela said the twin water cannons “[targeted] the PCG vessel from both sides, resulting in damage to the railing and canopy.”
“This damage serves as evidence of the forceful water pressure used by the China Coast Guard in their harassment of the Philippine vessels,” he added.
The PCG’s Bagacay and the BFAR’s BRP Bankaw were patrolling waters near Bajo de Masinloc, also to distribute fuel and food to fisherfolk in the area. During their patrol, the two vessels “encountered dangerous maneuvers and obstruction from four China Coast Guard vessels and six Chinese Maritime Militia vessels.”
Bajo de Masinloc is a traditional fishing ground for fisherfolk of different nationalities, including Filipino, Chinese, and Vietnamese.
The PCG said the China Coast Guard had also installed a 380-meter floating barrier that covered the entrance of the shoal, “effectively restricting access to the area.”
“Despite the harassment and provocative actions of the Chinese Coast Guard, both the PCG and BFAR vessels stood their ground and continued their maritime patrol. They were not deterred and will persist in carrying out their legitimate operations to support Filipino fishermen and ensure their safety,” added Tarriela.
The China Coast Guard earlier claimed it “expelled” both the Bagacay and the Bankaw off the waters of Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Panatag or Scarborough Shoal.
China claims also all of the South China Sea, including waters near features such as Bajo de Masinloc. This is despite a 2016 Arbitral Award that said its claim was invalid. – Rappler.com
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Here we go again—another incident of the CCG bullying our own PCG with water cannons. But our PCG cannot retaliate using its own water cannons? (Note: unless the latter do not have water cannons.) Are we not ashamed of this?
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‘You are our home too’: Thai GL stars FreenBecky moved to tears by Filipino fans | Ysa Abad | 30/04/2024 10:10 | FREENBECKY. Thai stars Freen Sarocha and Becky Armstrong during their 2024 fan meeting in Manila.
Wilbros Live's Twitter
MANILA, Philippines – Thai GL stars Freen Sarocha and Becky Armstrong, known as FreenBecky, brought joy and excitement to their Filipino fans during their fan meeting on Saturday, April 27, at the New Frontier Theater in Cubao, Quezon City.
Filipino GIRLFREENs and Becky’s Angels, their devoted fans, were treated to an unforgettable experience as they bonded closely with their beloved stars throughout the almost two-hour event.
Kicking off the fan meeting with kilig, Freen and Becky serenaded the crowd with heartfelt performances of “Marry Me” and “Because of You.” At one point during their opening spiels, the actresses spoke Filipino phrases including, “Ang cute (So cute)!,” which prompted the crowd to squeal in delight.
The crowd screams as FreenBecky says, “ang cute!” #FreenBeckyFMinManila | via @BerdsKatlyn https://t.co/SvXNg1o9IP
In between performances, the two also actively participated in numerous games. For the “You Complete Me” segment, the tandem said they won’t be the FreenBecky that they are right now without their fans and family.
Both stars also prepared individual stages for their fans with Freen singing her song “Girlfreen” and Becky with “Pantone.” Soon after, the tandem returned onstage to perform “No More Blues” and their rendition of “At My Worst.”
FreenBecky earns the applause of fans as they sing “No more Blues.” #FreenBeckyFMinManila | via @BerdsKatlyn pic.twitter.com/fkGyIgQPV7
As the show was dwindling down, the actresses took the chance to talk more with their Filipino fans. Becky recalled about the warm welcome they get from their fans worldwide.
“Everywhere we go, we always get a warm welcome. It’s so sweet. No matter where we go, you guys spend a lot of time doing projects and everything, from banners to billboards to gifts to literally just your loud cheers. It’s so fulfilling to our hearts,” she said.
FREENBECKY2024 Fan Meeting in ManilaThank you, GIRLFREEN and ANGELS ♡♡Your love and support made our girls happy!Till our next fan meet together, we love you! ♡#FreenBeckyFMinPH2024 #FreenBecky #WilbrosLive pic.twitter.com/zbzYvVLP6g
Meanwhile, Freen apologized to the attendees as she disclosed that she couldn’t give her 100% for the show due to a health concern. But she promised that she’ll always do her best for her Filipino fans.
“This is my first time that I am not at a hundred percent regarding my health because I’m not feeling good but even though I’m not a hundred [percent], I’m really trying my best to come to see my Filipino fans and to make everyone happy. Thank you for warming my heart with your support,” she said.
Freen and Becky, who are best known for their hit Girls’ Love series GAP, also gave advice to their fans who are members of the LGBTQ+ community: “Be proud of who you are because you have the right to love who you want to love. Slowly, hopefully, the world will get to see that.”
Becky continued that she hoped their fans would always find comfort in them. “The reason why I call you guys my family is because we are like home. So no matter on a good day, or an amazing day, if you have something exciting, or especially if you have a bad day, you can also come back to us. We will be your sunshine always,” she said.
And it wasn’t just Freen and Becky who shared these sentiments. During the last segment of the fan meeting, a fan-made video showing their journey to stardom said the same, ending with, “You are our home too.” This made Freen tear up.
Fans erupt into screams when FreenBecky hold hands as they perform their last song for the night, “Pink Theory.” #FreenBeckyFMinManila | via @BerdsKatlyn pic.twitter.com/YzFIlJdl9p
The fan meeting ended with kilig once again, as the girls held hands and shared embraces as they sang their song “Pink Theory (Bossa version).” – with additional reports from Katlyn Bes Berdin/Rappler.com
Katlyn Bes Berdin is a Rappler intern.
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As temperatures rise, Cebu laborers demand ‘heat breaks,’ safer work environment | jsitchon0312 | 30/04/2024 11:44 | COALITION. Labor leaders announced the formation of a new coalition and plans to hold a demonstration on International Labor Day during a press conference in Cebu City on Monday, April 29.
John Sitchon/Rappler
CEBU, Philippines – Labor groups in Cebu challenged the national government to push for economic and eco-friendly solutions amid rising heat levels that continue to put workers at risk.
Jaime Paglinawan, chairperson of Alyansa sa mga Mamumuo sa Sugbo-Kilusang Mayo Uno (AMA Sugbo-KMU), urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to improve the monitoring of factories’ compliance with safety and “climate-appropriate” standards.
“Regarding implementation (of monitoring), we demand compliance via the installation of proper ventilation inside factories, especially those that can be very hot, and water stations with free drinking water,” Paglinawan said in Cebuano in a press conference on Monday, April 29.
The labor leader stressed that workers shouldn’t be seen as merely machine parts in a factory – they are people who deserve to get “heat breaks” or periods that allow workers to rest in order to cope with the hot weather.
On April 26, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma urged companies to consider flexible working arrangements for employees who are struggling with the heat.
Paglinawan cited multiple instances when workers in Cebu fell ill due to increased exposure to heat and failed to come to work for days or weeks.
Partido Manggagawa (PM) spokesperson Dennise Derige told reporters that food delivery riders are most affected by a lack of heat-resistant facilities as they are often made to wait long hours outside of restaurants when picking up delivery orders.
Derige said that food companies should provide a riders hub with adequate protection from heat or allow delivery riders to stay inside establishments until orders are ready for delivery.
“The most important is for DOLE to strengthen their inspection of companies for occupational safety and health,” Derige said.
Meanwhile, Teody Navea, Cebu chairperson of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) said that the national government must also pursue “just energy transition.”
Navea explained that the transition involves moving towards the use of renewable energy sources and ensuring that workers in the fossil fuel industry will be compensated and supported in a carbon-less economy.
He added that the government must be aggressive in shifting to sustainable and green energy sources so as to combat global warming and reduce the effects of climate change.
“Og naa gani transition, dili dapat maapektuhan mga mamumuo nga magtrabaho diha karon sa mga hugaw nga kompanya (If there is a transition, workers in pollutive companies should not be affected),” Navea said.
During the press conference, the Sugboanong Mamumuo Nagkahiusa Alang sa Living Wage (SANA ALL) coalition composed of labor groups in Cebu announced that they will bring their calls for better and safer working conditions to the streets on International Labor Day, May 1.
“The Labor Groups challenge President Marcos Jr., the Senate, and Congress to adhere to the 1987 Philippine Constitution regarding the living wage of P1,100 in Metro Manila, and even in Central Visayas, where the Family Living Wage for a family of five now reaches P1,268,” their statement read.
The coalition added that they will also bring up issues on trade union repression, red tagging, and intimidation efforts that prevent workers from joining labor unions, when they gather at the Fuente Osmeña Circle in Cebu City on Wednesday morning. – Rappler.com
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From Pampanga’s capitol to capital, Pinedas expand reach | Joann Manabat - CMS | 18/04/2024 19:16 | TRANFERRED. Former provincial district board member Mylyn Pineda with father Bong (center), and husband Archen (left) have transferred voter registration from Lubao town to the City of San Fernando on Tuesday, April 16.
Photo courtesy of Gerald Gloton
Pampanga’s political kingpin Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda and his daughter, Mylyn, together with her husband Archen, transferred their voter registration from Lubao town to the provincial capital City of San Fernando before noon on Tuesday, April 16, at the office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The buzz is, election season has begun.
The transfer happened a day after Mylyn tendered her resignation as board member of the 2nd Provincial District. Her resignation was addressed to her mother, Lilia “Nanay” Pineda, who, as vice governor, presides the provincial board. Mylyn was serving her second term.
The local media reported that 23 of the 35 barangay captains of San Fernando accompanied the Pinedas to the Comelec, leading to speculations that the former district board member might run for mayor.
Political observers also raise the possibility that it is the Pineda patriarch who will run for mayor, while Mylyn will run for the congressional seat.
The Pinedas of Pampanga are occupying the highest seats in the province. Bong’s only son Dennis, nicknamed Delta, is Pampanga’s governor. Bong’s wife, Lilia, is the vice governor. Their other daughter Esmie is mayor of Lubao, their hometown.
Bong entertained a couple of short interviews with the local media on April 16 which were uploaded on Facebook. He commented on the current city administration, and made references to his voting influence.
The mayor of San Fernando, Vilma Caluag, is serving her first term.
“Alam mo, gusto ko talagang bumoto rito para mapasunod ko rin ‘yung ibang gusto kong mangyari dito, di ba? Kasi dito sa pangkasalukuyan, eh ‘yung mga ibang bumoto dito sa administrasyon na ‘to, parang hindi tumama. Parang lang, ha? Kung sakaling boboto ako rito at boboto talaga ako rito, baka mayaya ko sila sa tamang pagboto,” said Bong.
(You know, I really want to vote here so I can make things happen, right? Because it looks to me like voters here made a mistake in electing the current administration. Well, at least in my opinion. So in case I get to vote here – and I’m going to vote here – I might be able to convince them to vote for the right candidates.)
“Alam mo, ang mangarap ng mabuti napakaganda eh. Siyempre malinis ang pangarap natin. Nakikita mo ‘yung Lubao kahit papaano napaganda natin, di ba? ‘Yung kapitolyo maganda rin,” he also said.
(You know, it’s good to have a vision. We have good intentions. You’ve seen how we’ve improved Lubao somehow. We’ve run capitol well too.)
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan accepted Mylyn’s resignation during its regular session through Resolution No. 8512.
Together with the Vice Governor, the 10 provincial district board members namely – Krizzanel Garbo, Rolando Balingit, Olga Frances Dizon, Sajid Khan Eusoof, Lucky Ferdinand Labung, Ananias Canlas Jr., Nelson Calara, Benjamin Jocson, Cherry Manalo, Claire Lim, and John Carlo Cruz – were present during the session.
3rd Provincial District Board Member Alyssa Michaela Gonzales was absent. Michaela is the daughter of House Senior Deputy Speaker and 3rd District Representative Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales.
Word has gone around too that the Gonzaleses and the Pinedas may now be political rivals as Mylyn could also be eyeing the congressional seat for 3rd District against Michaela or the mayoral race against Deputy Speaker Gonzales, who is serving his last term.
The 3rd District of Pampanga includes the provincial capital City of San Fernando and the municipalities of Arayat, Bacolor, Mexico, and Santa Ana. – Rappler.com
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Good luck to the Pineda Political Dynasty. Their soon-to-be political opponents in these new turfs are probably preparing their defenses now. The result would be which clan can bring better development to Pampanga and greater but subtler corruption.
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‘Aggressive’ revert to old academic calendar eyed for school year 2024 to 2025 | Bonz Magsambol | 30/04/2024 13:05 | SCHOOL. Students and teachers hold regular classes at the General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City, on February 21, 2024.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Due to a “clamor” for a faster return to the old academic calendar, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Tuesday, April 30, that it has sent a letter to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. offering a more “aggressive” ending of the upcoming school year 2024 to 2025 in March 2025.
“In response to the recent clamor for a more immediate reversion to the April-May school break, the department has already submitted a letter to the Office of the President presenting other options, including a more aggressive alternative ending school year 2024 to 2025 in March 2025,” DepEd spokesperson Francis Bringas said during the Senate inquiry into the effects of extreme heat in the conduct of classes.
“In the meantime, we respectfully appeal to the committee to allow the President time to study the options carefully,” he added.
Prior to this, the DepEd had set an initial five-year timeline to fully transition to the old academic calendar, where classes start in June and end in March.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate basic education committee, said that he prefers the “aggressive” approach. “We need to revert to the old calendar. Weather is unpredictable,” he said.
Earlier in April, Marcos said the government would find a way to have “transition completed earlier to put the schedule of our schoolchildren back to normal at the soonest time.”
What’s the catch with the “aggressive” transition?
Bringas said that students will have shorter school days. According to the Republic Act 7797, school days in the Philippines should be between 200 and 220 days.
If approved by the President, students will only have 165 in-person school days for the upcoming school year, while the remaining will be done through distance learning. Aside from this, students and teachers will have shorter school break in the middle of the transition.
“If we do it aggressively, then ma-sacrifice natin (we sacrifice) yung some hours for the learners and some hours for the teachers,” Bringas said. He refused to give more information about the plan pending approval by the President.
The school opening in the Philippines was moved to October, instead of June, in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and remote learning was implemented. In the succeeding years, it was moved to August.
The reversion to the old academic calendar was triggered by public clamor because the summer months of April and May are not conducive to learning. In recent weeks, the DepEd declared in-person class suspensions due to excessive heat. The heat index in Iba, Zambales, for instance, reached a scorching 53°C on Sunday, April 28, the highest that the country’s weather bureau has recorded so far in 2024. – Rappler.com
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MVP candidate Angge Poyos not after individual award, keeps eye on UAAP crown | delfin.dioquino editor | 29/04/2024 22:28 | SCORER. Angge Poyos in action for the UST Golden Tigresses in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament.
UAAP
MANILA, Philippines – A stellar run with the UST Golden Tigresses has put Angge Poyos in the running to become just the third rookie to win MVP in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.
NU Bulldogs star Bella Belen and La Salle Lady Spikers ace Angel Canino were the only two other players to achieve the feat.
Be that as it may, Poyos’ focus is on the bigger picture.
Poyos said the Season 86 crown is at the top of her list as the Tigresses enter the Final Four with a twice-to-beat bonus after beating the Lady Spikers at the end of the elimination round to secure the second seed.
The high-scoring Poyos dropped 22 points in the four-set win over the defending champions on Saturday, April 27 – a performance that earned her “MVP” chants from UST hopefuls.
“I have no expectations to get the award. That is just a bonus. The important thing for me is the championship. That has been our goal this season,” said Poyos in Filipino.
Poyos ended the elimination round as the second-leading scorer in the entire league with 290 points, just a point behind the record of fellow super rookie Casiey Dongallo of the UE Lady Warriors.
Her scoring will be crucial as the Tigresses look to complete their season sweep of the third seed Lady Spikers when they meet in the Final Four on Sunday, May 5, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
A win on Sunday will propel UST to its first finals appearance since Season 81 in 2019 and push the Tigresses closer to winning their first championship since Season 72 in 2010.
In the other Final Four pairing, top seed NU aims to make quick work of fourth seed FEU Lady Tamaraws on Saturday, May 4, at the Araneta Coliseum. – Rappler.com
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Lifelong discipline: How this Cebuano welder conquered the 42K marathon | Jasmine Payo | 28/04/2024 13:57 | CHAMPION. New Milo Marathon champion Florendo Lapiz proves that hard work pays off.
Rob Andrew Dongiapon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – There were no shortcuts to success for newly crowned 42K marathon champion Florendo Lapiz.
In a run as grueling as the one he finished, it took a combination of passion, dedication, and discipline, and no one would know it more that him as Lapiz finally ruled on his third try.
“This is far from easy,” said Lapiz after finishing first in the 2024 Milo Marathon Manila leg at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on Sunday, April 28.
“You have to be in your top condition to do this.”
Lapiz – a 33-year-old runner from Carcar City, Cebu – clocked in at 2 hours and 42.33 minutes, pulling off a dominating triumph over runners-up Salvador Polillo (2:49.54) and Wilfred Esporma (2:58.51).
Unlike many who crossed the finish line after him, Lapiz only needed a few minutes to compose himself.
“There are no secrets to this,” Lapiz said in Filipino. “Everyday I worked hard for this. It took a lot of training and self-discipline to reach this.”
Lapiz works as a welder on a ship in his hometown, yet he always finds time for his passion. He trains for over two hours on a near 20-kilometer course in the morning and redo half of it from late afternoon to evening.
“Running is a habit,” he said. “I’ve built my body up that it got so used to [running] already, so I only had to think about the mental part.”
It was Lapiz’s third attempt after his first two tries saw him falling shy of the top spot.
Now hailed as the new marathon king, Lapiz admitted the challenges in running in Manila, as the extreme humidity and high heat index affected many runners even as organizers bumped up the start time much earlier at 1 am.
His fellow Cebuano runner Lizane Abella, the Minglanilla native who topped the women’s side with a time of 3:21.05, cited the same challenges.
But both champions did not concern themselves of the external factors and just focused on completing the race.
“I left it all out there,” said Lapiz. “That was all I think about, leave everything there and complete this.”
Lapiz also coaches young runners in Carcar – an initiative that not only nurtures his locality’s youth but also his love of the sport, he said.
“I need to give back to the sport,” said Lapiz.
But more than this love, he remained steadfast in outdoing himself everyday.
“Keep improving everyday, that is what I want. That is the life of an athlete,” Lapiz said.
Next for Lapiz will be the Phuket marathon in Thailand, before competing in the National Finals of the 2024 Milo Marathon on December 1 in Cagayan de Oro.
Now that his training bore fruit, Lapiz said there’s no stopping from here.
“There are a lot of events out there that I still need to win,” he said. – Rappler.com
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Lifelong discipline: How this Cebuano welder conquered the 42K marathon | Jasmine Payo | 28/04/2024 13:57 | CHAMPION. New Milo Marathon champion Florendo Lapiz proves that hard work pays off.
Rob Andrew Dongiapon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – There were no shortcuts to success for newly crowned 42K marathon champion Florendo Lapiz.
In a run as grueling as the one he finished, it took a combination of passion, dedication, and discipline, and no one would know it more that him as Lapiz finally ruled on his third try.
“This is far from easy,” said Lapiz after finishing first in the 2024 Milo Marathon Manila leg at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on Sunday, April 28.
“You have to be in your top condition to do this.”
Lapiz – a 33-year-old runner from Carcar City, Cebu – clocked in at 2 hours and 42.33 minutes, pulling off a dominating triumph over runners-up Salvador Polillo (2:49.54) and Wilfred Esporma (2:58.51).
Unlike many who crossed the finish line after him, Lapiz only needed a few minutes to compose himself.
“There are no secrets to this,” Lapiz said in Filipino. “Everyday I worked hard for this. It took a lot of training and self-discipline to reach this.”
Lapiz works as a welder on a ship in his hometown, yet he always finds time for his passion. He trains for over two hours on a near 20-kilometer course in the morning and redo half of it from late afternoon to evening.
“Running is a habit,” he said. “I’ve built my body up that it got so used to [running] already, so I only had to think about the mental part.”
It was Lapiz’s third attempt after his first two tries saw him falling shy of the top spot.
Now hailed as the new marathon king, Lapiz admitted the challenges in running in Manila, as the extreme humidity and high heat index affected many runners even as organizers bumped up the start time much earlier at 1 am.
His fellow Cebuano runner Lizane Abella, the Minglanilla native who topped the women’s side with a time of 3:21.05, cited the same challenges.
But both champions did not concern themselves of the external factors and just focused on completing the race.
“I left it all out there,” said Lapiz. “That was all I think about, leave everything there and complete this.”
Lapiz also coaches young runners in Carcar – an initiative that not only nurtures his locality’s youth but also his love of the sport, he said.
“I need to give back to the sport,” said Lapiz.
But more than this love, he remained steadfast in outdoing himself everyday.
“Keep improving everyday, that is what I want. That is the life of an athlete,” Lapiz said.
Next for Lapiz will be the Phuket marathon in Thailand, before competing in the National Finals of the 2024 Milo Marathon on December 1 in Cagayan de Oro.
Now that his training bore fruit, Lapiz said there’s no stopping from here.
“There are a lot of events out there that I still need to win,” he said. – Rappler.com
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Extreme heat spurs Meralco sales, warns tight supply amid El Niño | Ralf Rivas | 30/04/2024 7:18 | MANILA, Philippines – The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) posted higher energy sales volumes in the first quarter of 2024, as air conditioners worked double time to counter excessive heat brought about by El Niño.
The company’s consolidated distribution utility energy sales volumes rose to 12,307 gigawatt hours (GWh) from 11,287 GWh, as volumes of Meralco and Clark Electric Distribution Corporation increased by 9% and 7%, respectively.
Meralco noted that temperatures rose by an average of 0.5 degrees, or from 26.71 degrees Celsius to 27.21 degrees Celsius.
“An approximate 2.5 GWh of consumption per day is noted for every degree rise in temperature,” Meralco said.
Commercial buildings comprised the biggest share of consumption at 38%, followed by residential and industrial at 34% and 28%, respectively.
Meralco’s commercial sales volumes grew by 11% to 4,678 GWh, which exceeds the pre-pandemic 2020 figure.
“Growth was headlined by the real estate sector driven by demand for office spaces in central business districts, followed by the retail trade sector as mall operators expanded and repurposed spaces that attracted more customer visits,” Meralco said.
The Pangilinan-led power company also noted that hotels, schools, and restaurants had “significant consumption upswing” due to an increase in in-person events that used cooling equipment “to ameliorate increasingly warmer ambient temperatures.”
Residential sales increased by 12% reaching 4,144 GWh during the first quarter, also due to the increased use of cooling appliances at home. (READ: Filipinos urged to reduce aircon use as red alert raised on power grids)
Through electricity bills, Meralco told its customers that consumption increases by up to 40% during summer.
Meralco has a total of 7.9 million customers.
Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronnie Aperocho said the higher sales figures in the first quarter reflects the country’s growing demand for power across all segments. This also reflects the country’s “improving economic prospects.”
Aperocho also noted that Meralco already reached record peak demand in its franchise area, which has exceeded 9,000 megawatts.
“With Red and Yellow Alerts hoisted over the Luzon grid several times this April, we anticipate a challenging power supply situation throughout this dry season, coincidental with the El Niño phenomenon,” Aperocho said.
Amid growing demand for power, Meralco chairman and chief executive officer Manuel Pangilinan is looking at nuclear energy.
“This year, along with our partner and in close coordination with the government, we hope to proceed with the full feasibility study on the possible adoption of nuclear energy. Similarly, we will endeavor to implement more sustainable initiatives to cater to more underserved communities in the country,” Pangilinan said.
Pangilinan said Meralco is expecting its full-year 2024 net income to reach over P40 billion, a 7.8% increase from 2023’s P37.1 billion. – Rappler.com
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3 parties join forces to challenge BARMM leadership in 2025 polls | Herbie G | 30/04/2024 9:24 | CHANGE. Former BARMM interior minister Naguib Sinarimbo gestures as he explains how the candidates of the coalition hope to change the leadership of the region's parliament in 2025.
Froilan Gallardo/Rappler
MARAWI, Philippines – Three major political parties of provincial governors have joined forces as they prepare to challenge the current Bangsamoro leadership in next year’s elections.
The coalition’s leaders said they would field candidates for seats in the parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the region’s first parliamentary elections in 2025.
Lanao del Sur Vice Governor Mohammad Khalid Raki-in Adiong, president of the Serbisyong Inklusibo-Alyansang Progresibo Party (SIAP), said they have coalesced with two other regional parties – Al-Ittihad-UKB party and Bangsamoro People’s Party – and would field candidates for the seats in the Bangsamoro parliament.
The coalition is headed for a direct collision with the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“The coalition will come up with a list of nominees for the BARMM parliament in 2025,” Adiong told reporters during the general assembly of SIAP in Marawi City on Sunday, April 28.
The legislative landscape of the BARMM adheres to strict guidelines, stipulating a minimum of 80 members in its legislature led by a Speaker.
Based on the rules, 40% of parliamentary seats are reserved for the region’s political parties. Under this setup, 32 more are reserved for parliamentary districts and eight others for sectoral representation. The BARMM’s 32 parliamentary districts are distinct from congressional districts.
Adiong said the coalition party candidates will run for all of the available seats, and if they win the majority, they would choose the first elected BARMM chief minister.
The current chief minister, Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, and members of the governing Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) are presidential appointees.
In a show of force, Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, leader of the Salam Party; Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman, chair of the Bangsamoro Peoples Party, and Maguindanao del Sur Governor Mariam Magundadatu, leader of the Al-Ittihad-UKB party, attended SIAP’s general assembly at the 3,700-seat Sarimanok Sports Stadium beside Lake Lanao in Marawi City, which was filled to the rafters by Lanao del Sur supporters.
Adiong clarified that governors of the provinces under BARMM have yet to decide whether to run for the region’s parliament in the 2025 elections.
He said he and his father, Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong, still have one more term and are more inclined to serve in their province.
Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra told reporters he would likely seek reelection in the 2025 elections.
Former BARMM interior and local government minister Naguib Sinarimbo, who has joined SIAP, said the candidates from the coalition will have a better grasp of the problems than the present leadership in the region.
He said many of BARMM’s officials belong to the MILF, the dominant group in the interim transition body running the regional government.
“It has become a perennial problem to connect the aspirations of the local governments on the ground with that of the BARMM regional government, which is manned by former rebels. As a result, the delivery of key services was affected,” Sinarimbo said.
He said the coalition would field candidates who have direct linkages with local governments and who understand the local dynamics in governance. –Rappler.com
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LIVESTREAM: PCIJ’s 3rd National Investigative Journalism Conference | Jodesz Gavilan | 1/5/2024 9:17 | MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) is hosting the Third National Investigative Journalism Conference (IJCon) starting Tuesday, April 30.
The event, which marks the 35th founding anniversary of the PCIJ, seeks to “offer a learning, sharing, and capacity-building venue for the participants to appreciate the importance of investigative journalism and watchdog journalism amid the increasingly challenging political and information environments.”
More than 100 participants are expected to join, with many coming from the media, civil society, and the academe across the Philippines.
This year’s keynote speaker is veteran journalist Howie Severino, who also serves as chairperson of PCIJ Board of Editors. PCIJ Executive Director Carmela Fonbuena will deliver the opening remarks.
Rappler is livestreaming the morning plenary sessions from Tuesday, April 30 to Thursday, May 2. Each session starts at 9 am.
Bookmark this page to watch the plenary sessions of the three-day event. – Rappler.com
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Court orders arrest of Manibela head Mar Valbuena over cyber libel charges | Jairo Bolledo | 30/04/2024 8:46 | TRANSPORT. In this photo, jeepney transport group Manibela head Mar Valbuena, along with jeepney drivers, file a petition at the Office of the Ombudsman accusing the top officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board of violations of the anti-graft practices act in pushing for the government’s PUV Modernization Program and its push for consolidation of franchises to hasten the phaseout of the traditional jeepneys, on February 7, 2024.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – A Pasig City court has ordered the arrest of Manibela head Mar Valbuena over the cyber libel charges stemming from the complaints filed by Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.
In an order dated April 23, Presiding Judge Manuel Gerard Tomacruz of Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 158 issued a warrant of arrest against the transport group head. The judge set bail at P10,000 for each of the two counts of cyber libel filed against Valbuena.
The resolution of the prosecution ordering the filing of charges against Valbuena was only publicized last week. In the resolution dated February 22, Assistant State Prosecutor Maria Kristhina Paat-Salumbides recommended the filing of two counts of cyber libel against Valbuena.
The same resolution, meanwhile, junked the grave threats complaint filed against the transport group head for lack of probable cause.
In 2023, Bautista filed the cyber libel complaints against Valbuena who, he said, accused him of alleged corruption. Bautista’s complaints are based on Valbuena’s remarks in a press conference on October 9, where the Manibela head claimed that there was a “lagayan (bribery) scheme” that stretches from the DOTr, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board up to to the Office of the President.
Aside from the cyber libel charges, Valbuena and his fellow Manibela leaders were recently sued by the Quezon City Police District for their alleged “disruptive behavior” during a transport strike earlier in April. Valbuena, however, refuted the police’s claims and said they did not violate any law. – Rappler.com
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5 militants killed, 3 soldiers hurt in Lanao del Norte clashes | Herbie G | 30/04/2024 7:44 | CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Army troops engaged a band of militants led by the new leader of the dreaded Dawlah Islamiyah in two encounters in Lanao del Norte on Monday, April 29, killing at least five of them.
Three soldiers were wounded in the clashes, the first of which took place in Barangay Cadayonan in Munai town, Lanao del Norte, the military said.
Major Mark James Mira, chief of the 6th Infantry Division’s public information office, said the troops are still on the hunt for Nasser Daud, a religious leader or ustadz, who emerged as the new leader of the group in the Lanao provinces.
Mira said Daud replaced Khadafi Mimbesa, also Kadapi Mimbesa, known as “The Engineer” and the leader of the terrorist group.
Mimbesa, whose group was identified as behind the bombing of a Mindanao State University (MSU) gym in Marawi during a Catholic Mass last December, was killed by Army soldiers during an encounter on January.
Dawlah Islamiyah, also known as the Maute Group, is a militant organization based in the Philippines. The group has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) and has been involved in various terrorist activities, including attacks, bombings, and clashes with government forces in Mindanao.
In an initial military report, authorities said units from the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade engaged about a dozen militants led by Daud at around 3:45 am in a 45-minute firefight in Cadayonan in Munai.
Soldiers subsequently found three militants dead at the first encounter site, while two soldiers were wounded and evacuated.
A second encounter took place as a team of Army Scout Rangers chased the fleeing militants in Barangay Maganding, also in Munai town.
Mira said two militants were killed, and another soldier was wounded in that gun battle, which lasted for about 10 minutes.
He said several firearms and ammunition bandoliers were found by the soldiers at the scene of the encounters. -Rappler.com
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Good work to all the army troopers involved. In particular, I appreciate this accomplishment of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade and Army Scout Rangers, which I believe are all under the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.
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GAME SCHEDULE: 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference | jisaga0269 | 27/04/2024 22:53 | PVL Images
The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) heads to another title showdown between the league’s top sister teams!
Defending champion Creamline and sister squad Choco Mucho dispute the PVL All-Filipino championship for the second straight conference in a best-of-three series. Here’s the schedule:
It’s all even again for the top four teams.
The semifinalists of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference battle in a single round-robin, where the top two teams will advance to the best-of-three finals. Here’s the schedule:
Near-daily volleyball is back to satisfy fans’ hunger for action as the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) releases its 2024 All-Filipino Conference schedule, starting on February 20.
The development comes after the UAAP also released its Season 86 men’s and women’s volleyball tournament schedules on a Wednesday-Saturday-Sunday rotation.
The PVL, meanwhile, stays in its usual Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday slate, kicking off Tuesday, February 20, at the PhilSports Arena with a double-header featuring newcomers Strong Group Athletics and Capital1 taking on contenders Petro Gazz and Chery Tiggo, respectively.
Capping off the conference’s first week is an appearance at the Araneta Coliseum, with reloaded Farm Fresh challenging the Creamline dynasty in the 6 pm triple-header main event.
Fans outside NCR, however, will have fewer chances to see their favorite PVL stars live unlike the past conference, as only the Ynares Center in Antipolo, Rizal and the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna are the announced venues away from Metro Manila.
The season-starting All-Filipino Conference is scheduled to run for three months until May 14 at the maximum, unless plans change.
Other notable elimination round matches are Choco Mucho vs. Petro Gazz on February 27, Petro Gazz vs Creamline on April 6, PLDT vs Chery Tiggo featuring multiple former F2 Logistics veterans on April 16, and the Creamline-Choco Mucho finals rematch on April 18.
Here is the entire conference schedule, as of Wednesday, February 14:
– Rappler.com
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Court orders arrest of Manibela head Mar Valbuena over cyber libel charges | Jairo Bolledo | 30/04/2024 8:46 | TRANSPORT. In this photo, jeepney transport group Manibela head Mar Valbuena, along with jeepney drivers, file a petition at the Office of the Ombudsman accusing the top officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board of violations of the anti-graft practices act in pushing for the government’s PUV Modernization Program and its push for consolidation of franchises to hasten the phaseout of the traditional jeepneys, on February 7, 2024.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – A Pasig City court has ordered the arrest of Manibela head Mar Valbuena over the cyber libel charges stemming from the complaints filed by Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.
In an order dated April 23, Presiding Judge Manuel Gerard Tomacruz of Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 158 issued a warrant of arrest against the transport group head. The judge set bail at P10,000 for each of the two counts of cyber libel filed against Valbuena.
The resolution of the prosecution ordering the filing of charges against Valbuena was only publicized last week. In the resolution dated February 22, Assistant State Prosecutor Maria Kristhina Paat-Salumbides recommended the filing of two counts of cyber libel against Valbuena.
The same resolution, meanwhile, junked the grave threats complaint filed against the transport group head for lack of probable cause.
In 2023, Bautista filed the cyber libel complaints against Valbuena who, he said, accused him of alleged corruption. Bautista’s complaints are based on Valbuena’s remarks in a press conference on October 9, where the Manibela head claimed that there was a “lagayan (bribery) scheme” that stretches from the DOTr, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board up to to the Office of the President.
Aside from the cyber libel charges, Valbuena and his fellow Manibela leaders were recently sued by the Quezon City Police District for their alleged “disruptive behavior” during a transport strike earlier in April. Valbuena, however, refuted the police’s claims and said they did not violate any law. – Rappler.com
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Eldrew Yulo bags 2 golds, 3 silvers in Pacific Rim Championships as PH nets 8 medals | delfin.dioquino editor | 29/04/2024 18:50 | MEDALISTS. (From left) Juancho Miguel Besana, coach Reyland Capellan, Eldrew Yulo, and John Ivan Cruz in the Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships in Cali, Colombia.
Reyland Capellan Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – The future is bright for Philippine gymnastics.
Eldrew Yulo powered the Philippines’ eight-medal haul in the Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships in Cali, Colombia, over the weekend.
Looking to step out of the shadow of his older brother, world champion Carlos, the younger Yulo stamped his class in the junior men’s level as he bagged two golds and three silvers.
Yulo on Sunday, April 28, ruled the floor exercise with 13.5 points as he edged Mexico’s Juan David Hernandez Andrade (13.35) and Colombia’s Camilo Vera (13.3) then went on to top the vault with an average of 14.025 points.
Netting 14.75 and 13.3 points in each of his two vault attempts, Yulo bested Chile’s Agustin Espinoza (13.9) and Hong Kong’s Ching Cheung (13.875).
Yulo also bagged silvers in pommel horse and still rings on top of the silver he won in the individual all-around on Saturday, April 27.
John Ivan Cruz delivered for the Philippines as well as he reigned in vault in the senior men’s division.
The floor exercise champion in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Cruz showcased his proficiency in vault with an average of 14.45 points to beat out Hong Kong’s Ka Ki Ng (13.95).
Another Filipino completed the vault podium as Juancho Miguel Besana nailed bronze with 13.9 points.
The Philippine men’s artistic gymnastics team flourished under the tutelage of coach Reyland Capellan, a former two-time SEA Games champion in floor exercise.
In senior women’s play, Ancilla Lucia Mari Manzano snagged bronze in vault after tallying 12.2 points to finish behind Costa Rica’s Franciny Morales (12.7) and New Zealand’s Ava Fitzgerald (12.65).
Justin Ace de Leon, Jhon Santillan, Jan Gwynn Timbang, Iza Yulo, and Kursten Lopez also represented the Philippines in the Colombia tiff. – Rappler.com
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FACT CHECK: Marcos is still president | Ailla Dela Cruz | 30/04/2024 7:15 | Claim: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has resigned from office.
Why we fact-checked this: A YouTube channel with 106,000 subscribers posted a video containing the claim on April 28. The video currently has 2,500 views and 90 likes.
The video’s thumbnail bears the claim: “Sa wakas PBBM bumaba sa pwesto. Ito ang nakakagimbal na balita ngayon.” (Finally, PBBM has resigned. This is today’s shocking news.)
The facts: Marcos still serves as the president of the Philippines.
No news outlet has reported on his alleged resignation and neither are there announcements on his official social media accounts.
Marcos is still exercising his duties as president. On Monday, April 29, he was in Maguindanao del Norte for the 10th anniversary commemoration of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the inauguration of the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project Stage II in Pikit, Cotabato.
What the Constitution says: When a president resigns, his vice president shall assume his role, as provided in Section 8, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution. To resign, the president shall submit a written declaration that he is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office” to the Senate president and the speaker of the House, according to Section 11, Article VII of the Constitution. Marcos has not made any such declaration, contrary to the video’s claim.
No proof presented: The video did not provide any proof to support its claim. Instead, it merely cited calls for Marcos’ supposed resignation among those who attended a prayer rally organized last month by supporters of doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy, who is currently facing multiple charges, including sexual and human trafficking, child and sexual abuse, and money laundering.
Quiboloy is a known ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte. During the prayer rally, Quiboloy and Duterte supporters called for Marcos’ resignation and floated a Duterte-Duterte tandem for the 2028 elections, with Vice President Sara Duterte running for president and her father seeking the vice presidency.
Marcos-Duterte rift: The video was uploaded amid a growing rift between the Marcoses and Dutertes. On April 19, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos spoke out against Sara Duterte, saying her husband’s running mate had “crossed the line” when she supposedly laughed at her father’s jab accusing Marcos of drug use.
The timing of the video also coincided with recent surveys showing Sara Duterte among the top contenders for the 2028 presidential election. A Pulse Asia survey conducted in March showed that Sara is statistically tied with Senator Raffy Tulfo in first place among potential presidential candidates. – Ailla Dela Cruz/Rappler.com
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at [email protected]. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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LIVESTREAM: PCIJ’s 3rd National Investigative Journalism Conference | Jodesz Gavilan | 1/5/2024 9:17 | MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) is hosting the Third National Investigative Journalism Conference (IJCon) starting Tuesday, April 30.
The event, which marks the 35th founding anniversary of the PCIJ, seeks to “offer a learning, sharing, and capacity-building venue for the participants to appreciate the importance of investigative journalism and watchdog journalism amid the increasingly challenging political and information environments.”
More than 100 participants are expected to join, with many coming from the media, civil society, and the academe across the Philippines.
This year’s keynote speaker is veteran journalist Howie Severino, who also serves as chairperson of PCIJ Board of Editors. PCIJ Executive Director Carmela Fonbuena will deliver the opening remarks.
Rappler is livestreaming the morning plenary sessions from Tuesday, April 30 to Thursday, May 2. Each session starts at 9 am.
Bookmark this page to watch the plenary sessions of the three-day event. – Rappler.com
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FACT CHECK: Chavit Singson not endorsing unregistered joint pain cure | jpcruz0306 | 30/04/2024 6:00 | Claim: Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson is endorsing a supplement that claims to cure joint pain.
Why we fact-checked this: The post bearing the claim has gained 3,000 reactions, 443 comments, and 608 shares as of writing.
It came from a Facebook page posing as an account of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, which has 1,200 followers.
The video shows Singson seemingly attesting to the effectiveness of the joint pain cure, saying that he felt better after taking the supplement for two weeks. The product, according to the video, was recommended by medical content creator Dr. Alvin Francisco.
The post directs the public to a website where they can buy a product called MaxiFlex. This website displays the logo of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and features a supposed interview of Vergeire with talk show host Boy Abunda, vouching for the said product.
The facts: The video of Singson endorsing supplements for arthritis and joint pain is manipulated.
The altered video originated from the former governor’s public apology regarding his illegal use of the EDSA bus lane on April 8. Nowhere in the 2:11-minute video did the Ilocos Sur businessman endorse any product. A closer look at the altered video also shows that Singson’s mouth movements appear unnatural.
Similarly, Vergeire did not endorse any health product in her interview with Abunda on January 28, 2023.
In a previous article, Rappler also debunked the claim that Dr. Alvin Francisco is endorsing MaxiFlex.
Unregistered with FDA: The FDA does not list MaxiFlex among its registered drug or cosmetic products.
Past fact-checks: Rappler has fact-checked various health-related claims touting the treatment and prevention of ailments like diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. These misleading posts typically include the names or photographs of celebrities and medical professionals:
– James Patrick Cruz/Rappler.com
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at [email protected]. You may also report dubious claims to the #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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After deadline, unconsolidated jeepneys have until mid-May before LTFRB crackdown | lkyu0285 | 29/04/2024 20:40 | STRIKE. Jeepney drivers plying the Guadalupe-Pedro Gil route encourage their fellow drivers along Agoncillo Street in Manila to join their transport strike protesting the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, on November 20, 2023.
Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will give unconsolidated jeepneys a 15-day leeway to still ply their routes before the government starts impounding their vehicles.
“Initially, during the first 15 days, sawayin muna ‘yung mga tao, bigyan ng reminder. Hindi naman po kaagad-agad (we’ll just tell people off, give them a reminder. It won’t be implemented right away),” LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said in a DZBB radio interview on Monday, April 29.
This comes just as the “final” deadline for jeepney consolidation approaches on Tuesday, April 30. The LTFRB has yet to release a memorandum circular stating exactly what will happen to unconsolidated jeepneys starting Wednesday, May 1, and whether or not they will be considered “colorum.” However, Guadiz has said in the past that those who fail to consolidate will have their franchises revoked.
The consolidation requirement has prompted repeated protests from some transportation groups, led by PISTON and Manibela, including an ongoing transport strike from Monday to Wednesday. Both groups oppose the revocation of their individual franchises.
PISTON and Manibela have also declared their intention to continue plying their routes after Tuesday, even if their jeepneys have not been consolidated. Guadiz warned that if jeepney operators and drivers do not heed the agency, the state would have the right to impound their vehicles.
“Pagbibigyan muna namin sila. Sasabihin namin huwag na kayong bumiyahe, bigyan namin sila ng show cause order. Pero despite all of this at talagang tuloy-tuloy pa rin po, ang pulis na ka-partner ng LTFRB ang magpapatupad niyan, iimpound po ‘yung sasakyan nila,” Guadiz said in the radio interview.
(We’ll give them some leeway first. We’ll tell them not to ply their routes and serve them a show cause order. But if they continue despite all of this, the police in partnership with the LTFRB will enforce the policy and impound their vehicles.)
Jeepney operators and drivers could face hefty penalties reaching P50,000, along with a one-year suspension for drivers. Impounded jeepneys will also be taken to an impounding facility in Tarlac.
In the meantime, Guadiz said operators have until 10 pm of Tuesday to file even just partial requirements to signify their intent to consolidate.
The LTFRB has yet to release an updated consolidation rate or a list of routes that could be affected come Wednesday. Rappler has followed up multiple times, but the agency said it was still finalizing figures.
The latest figures released to the media showed that as of April 1, 2024, more than 77% of public utility vehicle units have consolidated nationwide, which corresponds to about 75% of routes. Meanwhile, the consolidation rate in the National Capital Region based on PUV units remains to be just 52.54% – the lowest throughout the country, although this is equivalent to around 80% of routes, according to the LTFRB.
Based on LTFRB data as of December 31, 2023, there were 395 jeepney routes in Metro Manila with no consolidated entities. Nationwide, up to 1,948 routes had no consolidated jeepney or UV Express entities.
Currently, Guadiz said there are about 600 jeepneys in Metro Manila affiliated with PISTON and Manibela, the two transport groups most vocal in opposing the mandatory consolidation. The LTFRB chairman said he has already talked to other “rescue routes” that can take over routes that may be affected once unconsolidated jeepneys are off the road.
He also said displaced jeepney drivers could be absorbed by other cooperatives who will need additional manpower to serve new routes.
“‘Yung mga tsuper na nawalan ho ng jeepney na ipapasada po, meron pong mga bakante rito,” Guadiz said in the radio interview. “Ang mawawalan is the operator. Dahil hindi niya sinama ‘yung jeep niya, mawawalan siya ng hanapbuhay. Pero si driver po, na-aabsorb ng mga existing cooperatives.“
(Those drivers who will lose jeepneys to ply can fill other vacancies. It’s the operators who will miss out. Because they didn’t include their jeep, they will lose their livelihood. But for the driver, they can be absorbed by existing cooperatives.)
These same reassurances were given by former Office of Transportation Cooperatives chairman Jesus Ferdinand “Andy” Ortega, who said existing cooperatives promised to accept drivers from operators who were unable to consolidate.
Ortega, who now sits as the road transport and infrastructure undersecretary, emphasized that the April 30 deadline will not be adjusted to accommodate any group anymore.
“‘Yung ayaw talaga sumama sa consolidation now are the same people or group na talagang hindi sasali last year when I came to office (Those who really don’t want to consolidate now are the same people or group that didn’t want to join last year when I came to office),” Ortega said in a recent media briefing with transport cooperatives.
“It’s really more of respecting their decision na ayaw sumali (that they don’t want to join),” he said, adding that “almost 80%” have agreed to consolidate.
But some transport workers continue to fight back against the government’s policy of mandatory consolidation.
On Monday, transport groups led by PISTON, along with the Bayan Muna party, filed a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) to issue a temporary restraining order against the modernization program.
The groups’ petition argues that the consolidation requirement was “carried out by forces, rather than affiliation” with jeepney drivers “compelled to join cooperatives through coercion or undue influence, such as threats of license revocation or denial of permits.”
The groups also pointed to the prohibitive cost of some imported modern jeepneys, which can reach up to P2.8 million each – unaffordable for most operators, even with the “measly” government subsidy. (READ: Anti-poor? How gov’t defends PUV modernization, why jeepney stakeholders oppose it)
Transport groups filed a similar petition challenging the modernization program before the SC in December 2023, but that was denied in early March 2024.
PISTON also announced its ongoing three-day nationwide strike on Saturday, April 27. Although Manibela has not explicitly stated that it would join the strike, the group’s chairman Mar Valbuena said they stand in solidarity with their fellow operators and drivers.
“Itong tatanggalin natin ng trabaho ngayong Mayo 1, isipin mo – Araw ng Paggawa, ‘yun ‘yung araw na mawawalan kami ng hanapbuhay (This loss of jobs on May 1, think about it – it’s Labor Day, and that’s the very day that we’ll lose our livelihood),” Valbuena said in a press conference on Monday morning. – Rappler.com
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Maharlika eyes investments in Clark Freeport, New Clark City | Ralf Rivas | 29/04/2024 21:20 | PARTNERSHIP. Bases Conversion and Development Authority President and CEO Joshua Bingcang (second from right) and Maharlika Investment Corporation President and CEO Rafael Consing Jr. (second from left) sign a memorandum of understanding.
BCDA
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s sovereign wealth fund is eyeing major investments in the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone in Central Luzon.
The Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Monday, April 29, to explore investment opportunities in the latter’s portfolio.
The BCDA and MIC will “further discuss, share knowledge, and explore potential collaboration opportunities that will lead to a development of a feasibility study report.”
The MIC did not disclose a ballpark figure, but enumerated big-ticket items up for assessment, including:
“The Maharlika Investment Corporation, born from the vision of our nation’s leadership, carries a twin mandate: to secure a high rate of return on investments while simultaneously serving as a catalyst for the Philippines’ socioeconomic advancement. Our collaboration with the esteemed BCDA embodies this dual commitment,” said MIC President and Chief Executive Officer Rafael Consing Jr.
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto lauded the partnership, saying that it would create sustainable urban communities and generate job opportunities.
“I cannot think of a better inaugural investment portfolio for Maharlika than the BCDA’s flagship infrastructure projects within the vibrant Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone,” Recto said.
After the MOU signing ceremony, Recto received on behalf of the Bureau of the Treasury a check worth P1.1 billion from the BCDA representing its dividend remittance from its 2023 earnings, for the national government’s development programs and projects. This is double its total remittance of P527 million from its 2022 earnings.
It also brought the BCDA’s total dividend contribution to the national government since its founding in 1992 to around P9.6 billion. – Rappler.com
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MVP candidate Angge Poyos not after individual award, keeps eye on UAAP crown | delfin.dioquino editor | 29/04/2024 22:28 | SCORER. Angge Poyos in action for the UST Golden Tigresses in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament.
UAAP
MANILA, Philippines – A stellar run with the UST Golden Tigresses has put Angge Poyos in the running to become just the third rookie to win MVP in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.
NU Bulldogs star Bella Belen and La Salle Lady Spikers ace Angel Canino were the only two other players to achieve the feat.
Be that as it may, Poyos’ focus is on the bigger picture.
Poyos said the Season 86 crown is at the top of her list as the Tigresses enter the Final Four with a twice-to-beat bonus after beating the Lady Spikers at the end of the elimination round to secure the second seed.
The high-scoring Poyos dropped 22 points in the four-set win over the defending champions on Saturday, April 27 – a performance that earned her “MVP” chants from UST hopefuls.
“I have no expectations to get the award. That is just a bonus. The important thing for me is the championship. That has been our goal this season,” said Poyos in Filipino.
Poyos ended the elimination round as the second-leading scorer in the entire league with 290 points, just a point behind the record of fellow super rookie Casiey Dongallo of the UE Lady Warriors.
Her scoring will be crucial as the Tigresses look to complete their season sweep of the third seed Lady Spikers when they meet in the Final Four on Sunday, May 5, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
A win on Sunday will propel UST to its first finals appearance since Season 81 in 2019 and push the Tigresses closer to winning their first championship since Season 72 in 2010.
In the other Final Four pairing, top seed NU aims to make quick work of fourth seed FEU Lady Tamaraws on Saturday, May 4, at the Araneta Coliseum. – Rappler.com
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View from Manila: Propaganda masters? China drags Teodoro, Año in latest Ayungin narrative | Bea Cupin | 29/04/2024 21:56 | STAKING CLAIMS. A Philippine flag flutters from BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated Philippine Navy ship that has been aground since 1999 and became a Philippine military detachment on the disputed Ayungin Shoal, on March 29, 2014.
Erik de Castro/Reuters
MANILA, Philippines – The latest from China in its continuing narrative on the Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) is that no less than Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año had entered into an “internal understanding” and a “new model” with Beijing to keep the peace in the shoal. But Teodoro and Año branded this as mere propaganda.
Over the weekend, anonymous Chinese or foreign officials spoke with Filipino journalists about Ayungin Shoal, located just over 120 nautical miles off the coast of Palawan province. It’s a hot spot between both countries because the Philippines’ BRP Sierra Madre, which was ran aground in 1999 within the vicinity, now serves as the country’s outpost in the area.
In an exclusive interview, a “foreign diplomat who is familiar with talks between [Manila and Beijing]” told the Inquirer that it was Teodoro and Año who supposedly approved an “internal understanding” with Beijing about a “new model” of avoiding conflict in the shoal.
In another exclusive interview, a “ranking Chinese official” made the same claim to the Manila Times – that an “internal understanding” and “new model” were reached by both sides, and that it had the supposed knowledge and approval of Teodoro and Año.
Claims from the Chinese side about an “internal understanding” and “new model” over the West Philippine Sea issue are not new. But the nature of such “understanding” has evolved over the past few weeks and months.
Here’s a quick summary of what Chinese officials – named or anonymous – have made when it comes to the Ayungin Shoal.
The promise to tow it away. China claims that back when BRP Sierra Madre was first ran aground, the Philippines promised to tow it away. Repeated requests from the media for China to identify who made the promise have gone unanswered. Officials during the Estrada administration (and their relatives) have either denied any such promise or have actively evaded the question. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said that if such a promise exists, he considers it as good as rescinded.
“A gentleman’s agreement” made under former president Rodrigo Duterte. The former president himself seemed unsure, at first, if it was specifically about Ayungin Shoal but confirmed that the supposed agreement – also referred to as a “common understanding” – with Beijing was to maintain the “status quo” in the West Philippine Sea.
It was an anonymous Chinese official who first brought up the so-called gentlemen’s agreement in an interview with the Manila Times. In that same story, the said official bemoaned the Marcos administration’s supposed “inaction” toward Chinese proposals to “normalize” the situation in the South China Sea.
Manila’s Department of Foreign Affairs fumed over the disclosure of these discussions, saying that Beijing’s proposals would lead to “actions that would be deemed as acquiescence or recognition of China’s control and administration over the Ayungin Shoal as China’s territory.”
In other words, Beijing’s proposals were hard no-gos for Manila.
An “internal understanding” that was supposedly made in September 2023, according to the Inquirer story. China has noted in the past that in September 2023, Marcos’ special envoy to China for special concerns Ambassador Teddy Locsin Jr. visited Beijing for consultations.
A supposed “new model” agreed upon by the Philippines and China in end-2023, according to the Manila Times. The anonymous Chinese official claimed this was brokered through the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Western Command, whose area of operation includes the West Philippine Sea.
Philippine officials, across the board, have denied entering into such agreements.
Over the weekend, Teodoro said the defense department has not cut any deal with Chinese officials since the start of the Marcos administration in June 2022 (he only came in after the first year of the administration, when the appointment ban on losing 2022 candidates expired).
“As a matter of fact, the Department of National Defense has not had any contact with any Chinese government officials since last year. The narrative that unnamed or unidentified Chinese officials are propagating is another crude attempt to advance a falsehood,” said Teodoro.
He added: “This is all a part of the Chinese propaganda effort to steer the Filipino people’s attention away from the real issue and cause of the tensions in the West Philippine Sea, which is China’s obstinate refusal to adhere to UNCLOS, which they are a signatory to.”
In a separate statement, National Security spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said “propaganda masters are clearly working overtime in Beijing to sow discord and division in our country” to push its claim that the Philippines is the troublemaker and promise-breaker.
“The Chinese Embassy is reminded that any understanding without the authorization of the President has no force and effect. And therefore, the Philippines never broke any agreement because there was none to begin with,” he added.
Malaya also warned “the public, most especially the media” over China’s “trap.” “These are the same people who said that the entire South China Sea is theirs, who militarized artificial islands, who created military bases in our EEZ, who claim that the videos of blocking, dangerous manuevers, and water cannons are all fabricated by the media in cahoots with the PH government.”
To be sure, Manila and Beijing’s row in the West Philippine Sea is as much about narratives and stories as it is about naval and maritime presence.
Retired Chinese military senior colonel Zhou Bo, now a fellow at the Centre for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, told the South China Morning Post that China’s use of water cannons in Ayungin Shoal or Scarborough Shoal were “deterrence, not a use of force.”
To a question about possible US involvement in the South China Sea issue, Zhou also said: “I hope the Philippines would not be stupid to become more adventurous. They should know they don’t stand a chance vis-à-vis China. The strength of the Chinese side is way beyond that of the Philippines. Even if this situation may continue for a while, eventually the Philippine government will have to back down.”
Thus far, both in public and private, Marcos’ instructions when it comes to the Sierra Madre is clear: it should always be manned, and it should never be abandoned.
That’s easier said than done.
While the AFP has, through the years, found ways to improve the living conditions of the soldiers who are stationed there for weeks and months at a time. Soldiers have access to the internet, so they’re able to check in on relatives.
Tweaks and upgrades have also been made through the years to make sure that they’re as comfortable as can be aboard a rusting war ship and that the Sierra Madre isn’t blown away should a strong typhoon hit the area.
They’ve another debacle to contend with, as temperatures hit record highs on land: the unbearable heat of the open seas. But we’re told that the team on the Sierra Madre has adequate supplies, especially drinking water.
We’re also entering week two of Balikatan 2024.
The Multilateral Maritime Exercise in the West Philippine Sea with the Philippines, US, and France just concluded, which means the Vendémiaire and BRP Ramon Alcaraz should be separating from the other two Navy ships to conduct a bilateral sail, also in the West Philippine Sea.
US and Philippine vessels will sail back to land for air assault, beach landing, and live fire demonstrations in Palawan. The following week, Balikatan wraps up with two major exercises in Laoag City, capital of Ilocos Norte, which is President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s home province: a counter-landing and ship-sinking exercise.
It’s during the latter two weeks of Balikatan that the Philippines and US will be flexing their military assets, and, more importantly, their capability to work together.
A Chinese Navy ship was spotted in the vicinity of four navy ships that participated in the Balikatan exercises. – Rappler.com
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As usual, the Chinese propagandists strike again. How about their local cohorts? Are they dragging Teodoro and Año, too?
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Valenzuela LGU’s class suspension policy now takes heat index into account | jpcruz0306 | 29/04/2024 21:13 | Class Opening in Valenzuela City
Office of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian
MANILA, Philippines – The Valenzuela City government has revised its class suspension ordinance, now factoring in the “dangerous heat index” for automatic suspension of face-to-face classes.
The heat index, according to state weather bureau PAGASA, is what people “perceive or feel as the temperature affecting their body.” It is deemed “dangerous” if it reaches 42°C or above.
Under this amendment, in-person classes and work in public and private schools from pre-school to secondary level will be automatically suspended and shall shift to online synchronous and asynchronous modes when the “dangerous heat index” threshold is reached.
Meanwhile, the suspension of classes in public and private tertiary-level schools will depend on the announcement of the city mayor or the discretion of the school administration.
These mentioned amendments to the ordinance were made on Friday, April 26.
“With the extreme heat waves rendering on-site school facilities [not conducive] to learning and perceived hazardous to health, the local government pursues relevant action to protect its citizens while also upholding the quality of education for students,” the city government said on Monday, April 29.
Across the country, classes in public schools were suspended from April 29 to 30, due to extreme heat and a nationwide transportation strike.
Many other local government units, since the beginning of April, have also suspended classes due to excessive heat.
In February, the Department of Education announced a gradual shift back to the old academic calendar, starting classes in June and observing a break from April to May, in response to summer heat.
Critics, however, argue that it is only a stopgap measure that ultimately fails to address the country’s inadequately ventilated classrooms, unsuitable for the Philippines’ extreme heat.
Other local government units, such as the provincial government of Cavite and Binmaley town in Pangasinan, already shifted to a four-day work week also due to the dangerous heat levels. – with reports from Bonz Magsambol/ Rappler.com
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FACT CHECK: Spanish frigate Cristóbal Colón not in PH for maritime cooperation activities | Lorenz Pasion | 29/04/2024 21:30 | Claim: Spanish frigate Cristóbal Colón (F-105) is in the Philippines for maritime cooperation activities.
Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube video bearing the claim has over 6,628 views and 130 likes as of writing.
At the video’s 0:27 mark, a narrator says: “Sa isang simbolikong pagpapakita ng kooperasyong pandagat at bilateral na relasyon ang makabagong barkong pandigma ng Spanish Navy, ang Cris Balcon F-105, ay dumating sa Pilipinas ngayon.”
(In a symbolic show of maritime cooperation and bilateral relations, an advanced Spanish Navy warship, Cris Balcon F-105, arrived in the Philippines.)
The video also says that the frigate, shown to have the pennant number F-105, was docked at the Manila South Harbor.
The bottom line: The clip of the frigate shown in the YouTube video starting at the 0:27 mark was originally from a video by YouTube user Ramón Puig de Llano uploaded on the platform on January 18, 2020. In his video, Llano says he shot Cristóbal Colón’s arrival at La Coruna, a port city in Spain’s Galicia region.
No official reports: The official Facebook pages of the Spanish Navy, Spanish Defense Staff, the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, and the Philippine Navy do not have any announcements regarding the alleged arrival of Cristóbal Colón in the Philippines for a maritime cooperation activity. The false report also comes amid rising tensions between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea.
Philippine-Spain relations: The Spanish Navy has made several visits to the Philippines in recent years.
On September 5, 2019, the Spanish Navy frigate Méndez Núñez (F-104) arrived at Pier 15 of the South Harbor in Manila for a goodwill visit. This is the first time that a Spanish Navy ship traversed the waters off Cavite and Manila after the Philippines gained independence from Spain in June 1898, the Philippine Navy said.
High-ranking Spanish defense officials also went to the Philippines in 2020 and 2021 for official visits.
The Philippine and Spanish navies also trained together in a joint sea exercise on October 14, 2023, at the Gulf of Aden. The joint exercise was led by the Philippines’ Combined Task Force 151 and was composed of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force‘s JS Ikazuchi (DD107), Spanish Ship Navarra (F85), and Marina Militare Francesco Morosini (P431) of Italy.
Rising tensions in WPS: Several countries have shown support for the Philippines amid ongoing Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, as Beijing continues to defy a 2016 arbitral ruling invalidating its sweeping claims over the South China Sea.
Following the most recent incident of the China Coast Guard using water cannons against Philippine vessels last March, ambassadors of the European Union (EU), United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, and Germany issued statements expressing concern. (READ: Foreign governments stand with Philippines after latest incident in Ayungin Shoal)
EU Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron said that he was “concerned by recurring dangerous manoeuvres, blocking and water-cannoning from Chinese Coast Guard vessels and Maritime Militia against Philippine vessels engaged in resupply missions.”
A few days after the incident, the Philippines, Australia, Japan, and the United States conducted a maritime cooperative activity to “uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, and respect for maritime rights under international law” in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. – Lorenz Pasion/Rappler.com
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How can excessive heat affect you and your body? | Kaycee | 29/04/2024 20:25 | Pedestrians cover their heads as they experience a 40 degress celsius heat index in Manila, on April 2, 2024.
Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The dry season is upon us, and the sweltering heat isn’t going anywhere soon.
According to state weather bureau PAGASA, the highest heat index recorded so far was 53°C on April 28 in Zambales’ Iba town. Temperatures continue to be at dangerous levels or around 42°C to 51°C, and PAGASA said it may even get hotter in May.
The Department of Health (DOH) has already warned Filipinos to take precautions to keep themselves safe as temperatures continue to rise. So far, there have been 34 heat-related illnesses reported as of April 18. The department said the highest number recorded was in 2023 at 513 cases.
Here are the common heat-related illnesses and how to avoid them:
Staying hydrated is important as it could help one avoid other heat-related illnesses, including heat stroke, among other health conditions.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, these are the symptoms of mild and moderate dehydration:
For babies and children, other symptoms include:
Drinking water throughout the day helps.
Excessive sweating because of the heat can be bad for the skin. This could lead to blistering or what is called a heat rash, which can be itchy.
The blisters commonly form in areas such as the neck, the groin area, under the breasts, elbow creases, and even on the upper chest, although the blisters can form in any part of the body. While it is usually reddish, the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) noted that it may be “less obvious” for brown-skinned people.
Both the DOH and the NHS have advised the public to wear loose clothing in extreme heat to help regulate body temperature. This can also help the skin from getting irritated from clothing materials and skin rubbing together.
If one does get a heat rash and it gets uncomfortably itchy, the NHS said that using damp cloths or an ice pack on the affected area for at least 20 minutes may help ease the itch. Instead of scratching the itchy area, patting or tapping the rash can help too.
John Hopkins Medicine noted that heat cramps are considered the “mildest” heat illness. This usually happens during or after exercising or working under extreme temperatures, with the cramping or muscle spasms felt in the legs, arms, or abdomen.
When a person experiences heat cramps, drinking water or something with electrolytes can help. The person should also be allowed to rest in a cool area, while an ice massage can help soothe the spot where the cramping occurs.
If the cramping does not go away after an hour, it is advised to seek medical help.
Heat exhaustion usually happens when someone loses too much water and salt, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those vulnerable include senior citizens, those with high blood pressure, and anyone working under the sun or anywhere hot.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include being very thirsty, tiredness, dizziness, headaches, feeling sick, excessive sweating with the skin getting pale or getting a heat rash, high temperature, and having a fast heartbeat. This means your body is overheating.
Heat exhaustion can be treated by moving to a cooler place, removing unnecessary clothing, and drinking cold water. Cold packs may also help regulate body temperature.
Harvard Health said that heat stroke is the “potentially life-threatening form” of heat-related illness as extreme heat can damage heart muscle cells and blood vessels, as well as affect and damage internal organs.
Someone can be vulnerable to heat stroke if they are not used to high temperatures, not wearing proper clothing when it’s hot, deprived of sleep, overweight, or dehydrated.
There are several “warning symptoms,” which include abdominal and muscle cramps, being nauseous or dizzy, vomiting, having a headache, feeling weak, and either excessive sweating or the lack of it.
Harvard Health noted other neurological symptoms, including “odd behavior,” irritability, delusions, hallucinations, seizures, and getting into a coma.
One can prevent getting heat stroke by following some of the tips the DOH gave the public. These include staying hydrated, avoiding or limiting going outside from 10 am to 4 pm, wearing lightweight or loose clothing, and avoiding drinking iced tea, soda, coffee, and alcoholic drinks. – Rappler.com
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MVP candidate Angge Poyos not after individual award, keeps eye on UAAP crown | delfin.dioquino editor | 29/04/2024 22:28 | SCORER. Angge Poyos in action for the UST Golden Tigresses in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament.
UAAP
MANILA, Philippines – A stellar run with the UST Golden Tigresses has put Angge Poyos in the running to become just the third rookie to win MVP in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.
NU Bulldogs star Bella Belen and La Salle Lady Spikers ace Angel Canino were the only two other players to achieve the feat.
Be that as it may, Poyos’ focus is on the bigger picture.
Poyos said the Season 86 crown is at the top of her list as the Tigresses enter the Final Four with a twice-to-beat bonus after beating the Lady Spikers at the end of the elimination round to secure the second seed.
The high-scoring Poyos dropped 22 points in the four-set win over the defending champions on Saturday, April 27 – a performance that earned her “MVP” chants from UST hopefuls.
“I have no expectations to get the award. That is just a bonus. The important thing for me is the championship. That has been our goal this season,” said Poyos in Filipino.
Poyos ended the elimination round as the second-leading scorer in the entire league with 290 points, just a point behind the record of fellow super rookie Casiey Dongallo of the UE Lady Warriors.
Her scoring will be crucial as the Tigresses look to complete their season sweep of the third seed Lady Spikers when they meet in the Final Four on Sunday, May 5, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
A win on Sunday will propel UST to its first finals appearance since Season 81 in 2019 and push the Tigresses closer to winning their first championship since Season 72 in 2010.
In the other Final Four pairing, top seed NU aims to make quick work of fourth seed FEU Lady Tamaraws on Saturday, May 4, at the Araneta Coliseum. – Rappler.com
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Maharlika eyes investments in Clark Freeport, New Clark City | Ralf Rivas | 29/04/2024 21:20 | PARTNERSHIP. Bases Conversion and Development Authority President and CEO Joshua Bingcang (second from right) and Maharlika Investment Corporation President and CEO Rafael Consing Jr. (second from left) sign a memorandum of understanding.
BCDA
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s sovereign wealth fund is eyeing major investments in the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone in Central Luzon.
The Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Monday, April 29, to explore investment opportunities in the latter’s portfolio.
The BCDA and MIC will “further discuss, share knowledge, and explore potential collaboration opportunities that will lead to a development of a feasibility study report.”
The MIC did not disclose a ballpark figure, but enumerated big-ticket items up for assessment, including:
“The Maharlika Investment Corporation, born from the vision of our nation’s leadership, carries a twin mandate: to secure a high rate of return on investments while simultaneously serving as a catalyst for the Philippines’ socioeconomic advancement. Our collaboration with the esteemed BCDA embodies this dual commitment,” said MIC President and Chief Executive Officer Rafael Consing Jr.
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto lauded the partnership, saying that it would create sustainable urban communities and generate job opportunities.
“I cannot think of a better inaugural investment portfolio for Maharlika than the BCDA’s flagship infrastructure projects within the vibrant Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone,” Recto said.
After the MOU signing ceremony, Recto received on behalf of the Bureau of the Treasury a check worth P1.1 billion from the BCDA representing its dividend remittance from its 2023 earnings, for the national government’s development programs and projects. This is double its total remittance of P527 million from its 2022 earnings.
It also brought the BCDA’s total dividend contribution to the national government since its founding in 1992 to around P9.6 billion. – Rappler.com
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Cebu water district heads file complaint vs city officials over ‘trespassing’ incident | jsitchon0312 | 29/04/2024 20:50 | AUTHORITY. The Metropolitan Cebu Water District Board of Directors led by Lawyer Jose Daluz III filed a complaint against Cebu City officials before the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas on Monday, April 29.
John Sitchon/Rappler
CEBU, Philippines – The heads of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) sued Cebu City officials for abuse of authority, grave misconduct, and coercion, in connection with their role in the attempted takeover of the water district’s main office.
In a letter addressed to Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas Dante Vargas, MCWD Chairman Jose Daluz III and General Manager Edgar Donoso asserted that the city officials violated provisions in the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, as well as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Weeks ago, the MCWD claimed that lawyer John Dx Lapid, accompanied by city officials, unlawfully entered the MCWD building on the evening of April 15, allegedly harassing MCWD’s security personnel and forcing their way into the general manager’s office.
The MCWD chairman told reporters on Monday, April 29, that on top of the complaints against the city officials, the Daluz-led board of directors would also file a complaint with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) against Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama for his involvement in the incident.
“We will go to DILG to file [a case with] the Office of the President against the mayor for his actions that he did on April 15. We have videos that show he was on top of it, instructing Attorney Colin and (Police Colonel Ireneo) Dalogdog to go inside and take over MCWD,” Daluz said.
“This is an abuse of authority by the mayor,” he added.
In the complaint, Daluz and Donoso identified Cebu City administrator Collin Rosell, City Budget Officer Jerone Castillo, City Legal Officer Carlo Gimena, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Harold Alcontin, and City Transport Office head Raquel Arce as respondents.
Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama told Rappler in a phone interview on Monday afternoon, April 29, that he and the city officials will be waiting for a copy of the complaint before issuing a statement on the issue.
On April 22, the Local Water Utilities Administration appointed lawyer Joselito Baena as interim officer-in-charge (OIC) of MCWD. The move came after LWUA served a suspension order against Donoso on April 12.
Sought for his comment, Daluz insisted that Baena could not hold the OIC title because he is not even connected with the government.
“Before you can be officer-in-charge… you must be an existing employee of the government,” the MCWD chairman said.
Meanwhile, Donoso said that only the incumbent board of directors can appoint the general manager.
Daluz criticized how Baena didn’t provide the MCWD board with any resolution or letter about his appointment, or proof of his recent inspections in barangays as an officer representing the water district.
“If he can just visit and talk to us about what he can do, then that’s fine. He shouldn’t insist on being the OIC because now that we’ve got normal operations, we shouldn’t let anything disturb that,” the MCWD chairman said in a mix of English and Cebuano.
Rappler has reached out to Baena for his comment on the issue but has yet to receive any reply. This article will be updated once a statement has been given. – Rappler.com
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View from Manila: Propaganda masters? China drags Teodoro, Año in latest Ayungin narrative | Bea Cupin | 29/04/2024 21:56 | STAKING CLAIMS. A Philippine flag flutters from BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated Philippine Navy ship that has been aground since 1999 and became a Philippine military detachment on the disputed Ayungin Shoal, on March 29, 2014.
Erik de Castro/Reuters
MANILA, Philippines – The latest from China in its continuing narrative on the Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) is that no less than Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año had entered into an “internal understanding” and a “new model” with Beijing to keep the peace in the shoal. But Teodoro and Año branded this as mere propaganda.
Over the weekend, anonymous Chinese or foreign officials spoke with Filipino journalists about Ayungin Shoal, located just over 120 nautical miles off the coast of Palawan province. It’s a hot spot between both countries because the Philippines’ BRP Sierra Madre, which was ran aground in 1999 within the vicinity, now serves as the country’s outpost in the area.
In an exclusive interview, a “foreign diplomat who is familiar with talks between [Manila and Beijing]” told the Inquirer that it was Teodoro and Año who supposedly approved an “internal understanding” with Beijing about a “new model” of avoiding conflict in the shoal.
In another exclusive interview, a “ranking Chinese official” made the same claim to the Manila Times – that an “internal understanding” and “new model” were reached by both sides, and that it had the supposed knowledge and approval of Teodoro and Año.
Claims from the Chinese side about an “internal understanding” and “new model” over the West Philippine Sea issue are not new. But the nature of such “understanding” has evolved over the past few weeks and months.
Here’s a quick summary of what Chinese officials – named or anonymous – have made when it comes to the Ayungin Shoal.
The promise to tow it away. China claims that back when BRP Sierra Madre was first ran aground, the Philippines promised to tow it away. Repeated requests from the media for China to identify who made the promise have gone unanswered. Officials during the Estrada administration (and their relatives) have either denied any such promise or have actively evaded the question. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said that if such a promise exists, he considers it as good as rescinded.
“A gentleman’s agreement” made under former president Rodrigo Duterte. The former president himself seemed unsure, at first, if it was specifically about Ayungin Shoal but confirmed that the supposed agreement – also referred to as a “common understanding” – with Beijing was to maintain the “status quo” in the West Philippine Sea.
It was an anonymous Chinese official who first brought up the so-called gentlemen’s agreement in an interview with the Manila Times. In that same story, the said official bemoaned the Marcos administration’s supposed “inaction” toward Chinese proposals to “normalize” the situation in the South China Sea.
Manila’s Department of Foreign Affairs fumed over the disclosure of these discussions, saying that Beijing’s proposals would lead to “actions that would be deemed as acquiescence or recognition of China’s control and administration over the Ayungin Shoal as China’s territory.”
In other words, Beijing’s proposals were hard no-gos for Manila.
An “internal understanding” that was supposedly made in September 2023, according to the Inquirer story. China has noted in the past that in September 2023, Marcos’ special envoy to China for special concerns Ambassador Teddy Locsin Jr. visited Beijing for consultations.
A supposed “new model” agreed upon by the Philippines and China in end-2023, according to the Manila Times. The anonymous Chinese official claimed this was brokered through the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Western Command, whose area of operation includes the West Philippine Sea.
Philippine officials, across the board, have denied entering into such agreements.
Over the weekend, Teodoro said the defense department has not cut any deal with Chinese officials since the start of the Marcos administration in June 2022 (he only came in after the first year of the administration, when the appointment ban on losing 2022 candidates expired).
“As a matter of fact, the Department of National Defense has not had any contact with any Chinese government officials since last year. The narrative that unnamed or unidentified Chinese officials are propagating is another crude attempt to advance a falsehood,” said Teodoro.
He added: “This is all a part of the Chinese propaganda effort to steer the Filipino people’s attention away from the real issue and cause of the tensions in the West Philippine Sea, which is China’s obstinate refusal to adhere to UNCLOS, which they are a signatory to.”
In a separate statement, National Security spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said “propaganda masters are clearly working overtime in Beijing to sow discord and division in our country” to push its claim that the Philippines is the troublemaker and promise-breaker.
“The Chinese Embassy is reminded that any understanding without the authorization of the President has no force and effect. And therefore, the Philippines never broke any agreement because there was none to begin with,” he added.
Malaya also warned “the public, most especially the media” over China’s “trap.” “These are the same people who said that the entire South China Sea is theirs, who militarized artificial islands, who created military bases in our EEZ, who claim that the videos of blocking, dangerous manuevers, and water cannons are all fabricated by the media in cahoots with the PH government.”
To be sure, Manila and Beijing’s row in the West Philippine Sea is as much about narratives and stories as it is about naval and maritime presence.
Retired Chinese military senior colonel Zhou Bo, now a fellow at the Centre for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, told the South China Morning Post that China’s use of water cannons in Ayungin Shoal or Scarborough Shoal were “deterrence, not a use of force.”
To a question about possible US involvement in the South China Sea issue, Zhou also said: “I hope the Philippines would not be stupid to become more adventurous. They should know they don’t stand a chance vis-à-vis China. The strength of the Chinese side is way beyond that of the Philippines. Even if this situation may continue for a while, eventually the Philippine government will have to back down.”
Thus far, both in public and private, Marcos’ instructions when it comes to the Sierra Madre is clear: it should always be manned, and it should never be abandoned.
That’s easier said than done.
While the AFP has, through the years, found ways to improve the living conditions of the soldiers who are stationed there for weeks and months at a time. Soldiers have access to the internet, so they’re able to check in on relatives.
Tweaks and upgrades have also been made through the years to make sure that they’re as comfortable as can be aboard a rusting war ship and that the Sierra Madre isn’t blown away should a strong typhoon hit the area.
They’ve another debacle to contend with, as temperatures hit record highs on land: the unbearable heat of the open seas. But we’re told that the team on the Sierra Madre has adequate supplies, especially drinking water.
We’re also entering week two of Balikatan 2024.
The Multilateral Maritime Exercise in the West Philippine Sea with the Philippines, US, and France just concluded, which means the Vendémiaire and BRP Ramon Alcaraz should be separating from the other two Navy ships to conduct a bilateral sail, also in the West Philippine Sea.
US and Philippine vessels will sail back to land for air assault, beach landing, and live fire demonstrations in Palawan. The following week, Balikatan wraps up with two major exercises in Laoag City, capital of Ilocos Norte, which is President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s home province: a counter-landing and ship-sinking exercise.
It’s during the latter two weeks of Balikatan that the Philippines and US will be flexing their military assets, and, more importantly, their capability to work together.
A Chinese Navy ship was spotted in the vicinity of four navy ships that participated in the Balikatan exercises. – Rappler.com
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As usual, the Chinese propagandists strike again. How about their local cohorts? Are they dragging Teodoro and Año, too?
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After deadline, unconsolidated jeepneys have until mid-May before LTFRB crackdown | lkyu0285 | 29/04/2024 20:40 | STRIKE. Jeepney drivers plying the Guadalupe-Pedro Gil route encourage their fellow drivers along Agoncillo Street in Manila to join their transport strike protesting the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, on November 20, 2023.
Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will give unconsolidated jeepneys a 15-day leeway to still ply their routes before the government starts impounding their vehicles.
“Initially, during the first 15 days, sawayin muna ‘yung mga tao, bigyan ng reminder. Hindi naman po kaagad-agad (we’ll just tell people off, give them a reminder. It won’t be implemented right away),” LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said in a DZBB radio interview on Monday, April 29.
This comes just as the “final” deadline for jeepney consolidation approaches on Tuesday, April 30. The LTFRB has yet to release a memorandum circular stating exactly what will happen to unconsolidated jeepneys starting Wednesday, May 1, and whether or not they will be considered “colorum.” However, Guadiz has said in the past that those who fail to consolidate will have their franchises revoked.
The consolidation requirement has prompted repeated protests from some transportation groups, led by PISTON and Manibela, including an ongoing transport strike from Monday to Wednesday. Both groups oppose the revocation of their individual franchises.
PISTON and Manibela have also declared their intention to continue plying their routes after Tuesday, even if their jeepneys have not been consolidated. Guadiz warned that if jeepney operators and drivers do not heed the agency, the state would have the right to impound their vehicles.
“Pagbibigyan muna namin sila. Sasabihin namin huwag na kayong bumiyahe, bigyan namin sila ng show cause order. Pero despite all of this at talagang tuloy-tuloy pa rin po, ang pulis na ka-partner ng LTFRB ang magpapatupad niyan, iimpound po ‘yung sasakyan nila,” Guadiz said in the radio interview.
(We’ll give them some leeway first. We’ll tell them not to ply their routes and serve them a show cause order. But if they continue despite all of this, the police in partnership with the LTFRB will enforce the policy and impound their vehicles.)
Jeepney operators and drivers could face hefty penalties reaching P50,000, along with a one-year suspension for drivers. Impounded jeepneys will also be taken to an impounding facility in Tarlac.
In the meantime, Guadiz said operators have until 10 pm of Tuesday to file even just partial requirements to signify their intent to consolidate.
The LTFRB has yet to release an updated consolidation rate or a list of routes that could be affected come Wednesday. Rappler has followed up multiple times, but the agency said it was still finalizing figures.
The latest figures released to the media showed that as of April 1, 2024, more than 77% of public utility vehicle units have consolidated nationwide, which corresponds to about 75% of routes. Meanwhile, the consolidation rate in the National Capital Region based on PUV units remains to be just 52.54% – the lowest throughout the country, although this is equivalent to around 80% of routes, according to the LTFRB.
Based on LTFRB data as of December 31, 2023, there were 395 jeepney routes in Metro Manila with no consolidated entities. Nationwide, up to 1,948 routes had no consolidated jeepney or UV Express entities.
Currently, Guadiz said there are about 600 jeepneys in Metro Manila affiliated with PISTON and Manibela, the two transport groups most vocal in opposing the mandatory consolidation. The LTFRB chairman said he has already talked to other “rescue routes” that can take over routes that may be affected once unconsolidated jeepneys are off the road.
He also said displaced jeepney drivers could be absorbed by other cooperatives who will need additional manpower to serve new routes.
“‘Yung mga tsuper na nawalan ho ng jeepney na ipapasada po, meron pong mga bakante rito,” Guadiz said in the radio interview. “Ang mawawalan is the operator. Dahil hindi niya sinama ‘yung jeep niya, mawawalan siya ng hanapbuhay. Pero si driver po, na-aabsorb ng mga existing cooperatives.“
(Those drivers who will lose jeepneys to ply can fill other vacancies. It’s the operators who will miss out. Because they didn’t include their jeep, they will lose their livelihood. But for the driver, they can be absorbed by existing cooperatives.)
These same reassurances were given by former Office of Transportation Cooperatives chairman Jesus Ferdinand “Andy” Ortega, who said existing cooperatives promised to accept drivers from operators who were unable to consolidate.
Ortega, who now sits as the road transport and infrastructure undersecretary, emphasized that the April 30 deadline will not be adjusted to accommodate any group anymore.
“‘Yung ayaw talaga sumama sa consolidation now are the same people or group na talagang hindi sasali last year when I came to office (Those who really don’t want to consolidate now are the same people or group that didn’t want to join last year when I came to office),” Ortega said in a recent media briefing with transport cooperatives.
“It’s really more of respecting their decision na ayaw sumali (that they don’t want to join),” he said, adding that “almost 80%” have agreed to consolidate.
But some transport workers continue to fight back against the government’s policy of mandatory consolidation.
On Monday, transport groups led by PISTON, along with the Bayan Muna party, filed a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) to issue a temporary restraining order against the modernization program.
The groups’ petition argues that the consolidation requirement was “carried out by forces, rather than affiliation” with jeepney drivers “compelled to join cooperatives through coercion or undue influence, such as threats of license revocation or denial of permits.”
The groups also pointed to the prohibitive cost of some imported modern jeepneys, which can reach up to P2.8 million each – unaffordable for most operators, even with the “measly” government subsidy. (READ: Anti-poor? How gov’t defends PUV modernization, why jeepney stakeholders oppose it)
Transport groups filed a similar petition challenging the modernization program before the SC in December 2023, but that was denied in early March 2024.
PISTON also announced its ongoing three-day nationwide strike on Saturday, April 27. Although Manibela has not explicitly stated that it would join the strike, the group’s chairman Mar Valbuena said they stand in solidarity with their fellow operators and drivers.
“Itong tatanggalin natin ng trabaho ngayong Mayo 1, isipin mo – Araw ng Paggawa, ‘yun ‘yung araw na mawawalan kami ng hanapbuhay (This loss of jobs on May 1, think about it – it’s Labor Day, and that’s the very day that we’ll lose our livelihood),” Valbuena said in a press conference on Monday morning. – Rappler.com
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FACT CHECK: Link for CHED P5,000 cash aid for all graduating students is fake | Lorenz Pasion | 29/04/2024 20:00 | Claim: The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is giving P5,000 cash assistance to all elementary, junior high school, senior high school, and college students graduating in 2024. Interested applicants only need to fill out the online registration form.
Why we fact-checked this: Multiple Facebook pages posted the same claim. As of writing, one of the Facebook posts has 1,800 shares, 339 reactions, and 508 comments.
The facts: On April 22, an attached agency of CHED, Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST), debunked the claim and warned the public against similar false announcements on supposed cash assistance programs.
The post reads: “The Commission on Higher Education-UniFAST reiterates its reminder to the public of these pages that post FAKE NEWS and share links leading to CLICKBAIT SCAM ADS, which are designed to steal personal information by making promises that are too good to be true like cash payouts when applying for the Tertiary Education Subsidy or the Tulong Dunong Program (TES-TDP).”
The post also reminded the public to follow only the official website and accounts of UniFAST and the CHED regional offices for legitimate updates.
Fake link: The application link for the supposed educational assistance for graduating students is not from CHED. Once the link is clicked, it will redirect users to another website and ask for their personal information, which may potentially be used for online scams. (READ: Phishing 101: How to spot and avoid phishing)
CHED mandate: The post falsely claims that even elementary and secondary students can apply for the supposed cash aid from CHED. However, the commission’s mandate covers only tertiary education students, while the Department of Education serves as the governing body for primary and secondary education.
Pending bill: There is a pending bill in Congress that seeks to help new graduates. House Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar authored House Bill No. 6542 or the proposed “Fresh Graduates P5,000 One-Time Cash Grant Act,” which aims to support fresh college graduates as they look for jobs. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education.
Past fact-checks: Rappler has fact-checked several claims about alleged educational assistance from different government offices such as DepEd, CHED, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development:
– Owenh Jake Toledo/Rappler.com
Owenh Jake Toledo is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at [email protected]. You may also report dubious claims to the #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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[Rappler’s Best] Boiling point | lfangeles0309 | 29/04/2024 18:07 | Alejandro Edoria
It’s 35°C in Quezon City as I write this, and this would have been big news in my time as a reporter ages ago. But extreme heat has been the norm in recent years, such that the seemingly unthinkable has happened: classes are being suspended and work is being shortened because of it.
The temperature in other parts of the country is hotter (and is seen to get worse). Combine this with relative humidity and what you feel in your body would be what’s called the heat index. On Sunday, April 28, the heat index in Iba, Zambales, shot up to 53° – classified by the weather bureau as “extreme danger.”
The heat is upsetting our health, our work, our farms, our schools, our businesses – and altering our daily habits. Why, even chickens are feeling the heat, producing smaller eggs!
On Sunday, the education department announced the suspension of in-person classes in all public schools nationwide on Monday and Tuesday. The labor department is urging businesses to adopt flexible working arrangements. Some local governments – such as Cavite and Binmaley, Pangasinan – have already taken the initiative of shortening the work week to four days.
Not that we didn’t see this coming. The month of February, which was supposed to still bring in the cool breeze in these parts and snow in others, was recorded as the warmest February ever. The speed and fury of global warming means that, henceforth, we’d end up recording every month as the warmest. Experts have warned that the world’s average temperature could already “temporarily” cross the 1.5°C threshold this year. Read more about it here.
The impact cuts across the board, across classes:
Outside the Philippines, campuses are also at boiling point in degrees never before seen in recent history. Protesting students have encamped themselves in various US universities – to protest America’s continuing support of Israel in its war in Gaza and to demand universities to cut links from Israel.
The student protests and encampments have triggered points of views in polarized America – from the simplistic to the overwrought to the nuanced. Some of the conservative views are reminiscent of the red-tagging that Filipino students and activists have suffered under the previous Rodrigo Duterte regime, and continue to suffer. The student protest movement here, after all, is also no stranger to tussles with authority that have often turned violent.
Remember when Ateneo students called for a nationwide academic strike against Duterte at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic? And when Duterte threatened to defund the state-owned University of the Philippines if its students joined the strike? It was also Duterte who ended the 1989 accord between UP and the defense department that restricted police and military operations in UP campuses.
As Isabella Ramirez, editor in chief of the Columbia Daily Spectator, said in a recent interview about the conditions that set off the protests in her university: “How can you expect 18, 19, 20, 21 year olds to be trying to understand what is happening in such a time when not even our politicians and our national outlets understand what is happening to the fullest degree? We are very much processing as we’re learning…as we’re reporting…as it’s unfolding.” She articulates the values of campus journalists very well in this interview. Watch it. – Rappler.com
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After ‘forced’ jeepney consolidation, some cooperatives, routes may not be ready | lkyu0285 | 29/04/2024 17:15 | TRADITIONAL JEEPNEYS. Jeepneys ply Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on December 12, 2023.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – With another transport strike now happening in protest of the jeepney consolidation deadline set for Tuesday, April 30, some transport advocates warn that there’s a long way to go in realizing the modernization program.
There’s a growing possibility that in the rush to meet the deadline, jeepney drivers and operators consolidated into cooperatives in name only. These groups might not yet actually be ready for what consolidation entails.
“Nahirapan din po sila mismo sa pag-organize ng mga cooperatives nila. Kailangan nila ng masusing training sa fleet management, kailangan nila ng maayos na governance and financing – meaning maraming preparatory steps for a cooperative to really serve the commuting public,” Move as One Coalition advisor Kenneth Abante said.
(They’re having difficulty organizing their cooperative. They need proper training in fleet management, and they need good governance and financing – meaning there are many preparatory steps for a cooperative to really serve the commuting public.)
Rappler also spoke with National Confederation of Transport Unions (NCTU) secretary general Jaime Aguilar about the modernization program. He agrees that consolidation is an important step forward, but thinks that the government is “forcing” transport workers to consolidate too quickly.
“‘Yan ang hindi maganda sa nangyari dito sa PUV [Modernization Program]. Dapat pagandahin ‘yung programa para hindi ito sapilitan (That’s what isn’t good about what happened here with the PUV Modernization Program. They should have made the program better so that no one has to be forced),” Aguilar told Rappler.
He said many of the cooperatives who were forced to consolidate still need capacity building. As part of the transition, he expects that they need “at least two years” to practice fleet management, which involves coordination among members of the cooperative to deploy jeepneys where passengers need them most.
He also said jeepney drivers and operators need time to embrace the idea of a cooperative from a cultural viewpoint.
For example, before consolidation, a jeepney driver only had to meet their “boundary” for the day, but could otherwise choose to rest when they wanted to. But under a more formal setup like a cooperative, a jeepney driver would have to adjust to more defined routes along with the concept of fleet management.
“Mula sa informal labor siya, napunta na siya sa formal labor. Mas gusto nila ‘yung sarili nilang control (From informal labor, they now go into formal labor. They would rather still have control),” Aguilar told Rappler.
Angie Mata, another NCTU leader in Cebu, also highlighted how some jeepney operators and drivers are skeptical of forming cooperatives after decades of making a livelihood as individual jeepney drivers and operators.
“Imagine from an individual transport operator, i-group mo sila. Hindi naman sila gano’n ka-bonding,” Mata said. “May friends sila pero given ‘yung trust and confidence mo sa isang group mo, which is an economic activity na po…it’s been a struggle.“
(Imagine from being individual transport operators, they’re now grouped together. They haven’t even bonded with each other that well. They do have friends, but given the trust and confidence that you need to have in forming a group…it’s been a struggle.)
Transport advocates also criticized the government for sticking to its April 30 consolidation deadline even though it hasn’t completed its own project deliverables.
“We see that the consolidation deadline this April 30 is really senseless because in order for the modernization program to really improve commuter service quality, there’s a lot more preparation that you need to do,” Abante told reporters in a mix of English and Filipino.
For instance, Abante said, the government still lacks rationalized route plans for many areas around the country. These plans are supposed to include details about route networks, modes, and the required number of units per mode needed for each area. Back in March 2023, senators pointed out that only 8.8% of route plans have been approved, or just 139 route plans out of an expected 1,575 across local government units (LGUs) nationwide.
The government is struggling to produce all these route plans, partly because of the limited budget being allocated for the massive program. The Department of Transportation already previously admitted that it lacks the budget to even pay manpower to actually implement the program on the ground.
“The scope of implementation is everywhere all at once, with very little budget and staff,” Abante said.
Given budget constraints, the transportation advocate suggests starting the implementation along priority routes with “focused monitoring of actual service standards.”
Ideally, these routes would already have good local public transport route plans, along with a single consolidated franchise holder and an LGU that’s ready to help.
Aside from transport advocates, several of the country’s biggest worker and employer groups also called for an “urgent review” of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
“We call for an urgent review of the PUVMP in order to address its legal, financial, and human rights infirmities; a suspension of the deadline for consolidation for an indefinite period of time; and, advocate for the creation of an affordable, sustainable, and carbon-neutral mass transport system,” said a joint statement by the Leaders Forum.
The joint statement was signed by the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Philippine Exporters Confederation, as well as trade groups Federation of Free Workers, Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the government said it will stand firm with its April 30 deadline, which it views as the first step to rolling out and improving its program.
“For me, after April 30, there should not be a scenario para tayo mag-aaway, magkakagulo – tapos na po tayo doon (where we’ll be fighting – we’re done with that). Consolidation will end April 30,” Road Transport and Infrastructure Undersecretary Jesus Ferdinand “Andy” Ortega said during a press conference held with the transport advocates.
Ortega also said that although the government has no plans to do a phased implementation of the modernization program or to focus on priority routes, it will “be sensitive on concerns about areas that may experience problems.” – Rappler.com
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Eldrew Yulo bags 2 golds, 3 silvers in Pacific Rim Championships as PH nets 8 medals | delfin.dioquino editor | 29/04/2024 18:50 | MEDALISTS. (From left) Juancho Miguel Besana, coach Reyland Capellan, Eldrew Yulo, and John Ivan Cruz in the Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships in Cali, Colombia.
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MANILA, Philippines – The future is bright for Philippine gymnastics.
Eldrew Yulo powered the Philippines’ eight-medal haul in the Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships in Cali, Colombia, over the weekend.
Looking to step out of the shadow of his older brother, world champion Carlos, the younger Yulo stamped his class in the junior men’s level as he bagged two golds and three silvers.
Yulo on Sunday, April 28, ruled the floor exercise with 13.5 points as he edged Mexico’s Juan David Hernandez Andrade (13.35) and Colombia’s Camilo Vera (13.3) then went on to top the vault with an average of 14.025 points.
Netting 14.75 and 13.3 points in each of his two vault attempts, Yulo bested Chile’s Agustin Espinoza (13.9) and Hong Kong’s Ching Cheung (13.875).
Yulo also bagged silvers in pommel horse and still rings on top of the silver he won in the individual all-around on Saturday, April 27.
John Ivan Cruz delivered for the Philippines as well as he reigned in vault in the senior men’s division.
The floor exercise champion in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Cruz showcased his proficiency in vault with an average of 14.45 points to beat out Hong Kong’s Ka Ki Ng (13.95).
Another Filipino completed the vault podium as Juancho Miguel Besana nailed bronze with 13.9 points.
The Philippine men’s artistic gymnastics team flourished under the tutelage of coach Reyland Capellan, a former two-time SEA Games champion in floor exercise.
In senior women’s play, Ancilla Lucia Mari Manzano snagged bronze in vault after tallying 12.2 points to finish behind Costa Rica’s Franciny Morales (12.7) and New Zealand’s Ava Fitzgerald (12.65).
Justin Ace de Leon, Jhon Santillan, Jan Gwynn Timbang, Iza Yulo, and Kursten Lopez also represented the Philippines in the Colombia tiff. – Rappler.com
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DMW chief Cacdac’s priorities: Rights-centered recruitment, reintegration | Michelle Abad | 29/04/2024 14:44 | DMW SECRETARY. Newly appointed Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, leads the flag ceremony at the DMW headquarters, on April 29, 2024.
Angie de Silva/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Newly appointed Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac’s top priorities include putting forward overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) rights through quality, vetted recruitment processes, and implementing “full-cycle” reintegration programs, he said on Monday, April 29.
After leading his first flag ceremony as the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) secretary on Monday, Cacdac spoke to the media to discuss his priorities and the way forward for the Philippines’ newest department. Cacdac is the second secretary to lead the fully formed DMW, succeeding the late former secretary Susan “Toots” Ople, who died in August 2023.
“Top of mind [of my priorities] will always be… [the] rights-based approach, which is moving forward the agenda that Filipinos should be cared for and protected from the Philippine side, which is mostly ‘yung (the) recruitment side,” he said.
Cacdac explained that this rights-centered recruitment included the proper vetting of contracts, which include workers’ rights, like an abused domestic worker’s right to pre-terminate their contract in Saudi Arabia. This protection of rights extends when the OFWs go abroad, with Cacdac citing the Global Compact for Migration, which calls for safe, ethical, fair, and transparent labor mobility.
The new DMW chief also mentioned providing full-cycle reintegration programs, such as livelihood, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy programs in preparation for returning to the Philippines for good.
“Kung gaano kainit natin dinidepensahan ang kanilang karapatan, ganoon din ang pagdepensa natin sa kanilang kabuuang kita, so that magagamit nila ito sa kanilang pangangailangan, edukasyon, pabahay, pagkain, at ano pa man nilang pangangailangan sa kanilang pamilya,” he said.
(The intensity of our defense of their rights matches how much we will defend the money they earn, so that they can use this for their needs, education, housing, food, and whatever needs their family may have.)
DMW Secretary @HansLeoCacdac's 10-Point Agenda for the Department of Migrant Workers. #DMW #TahananNgOFW #BagongPilipinas pic.twitter.com/E5c9nVx3Y3
Cacdac’s priorities are not new practices, as the DMW had been implementing these from Ople’s term. The new secretary hesitated to distinguish his leadership style from Ople’s, mentioning how the two have always been aligned, even when Ople was with the nongovernment organization Blas Ople Center and Cacdac was in his previous posts in government.
“Through the years, we’ve agreed between ourselves to have these types of approaches and thrusts when it comes to OFWs. So, I fully commit myself to what we had taken up before with Sec. Toots, and we will further pursue these… programs and services,” he said.
Following Ople’s death, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Cacdac, then undersecretary for foreign employment and welfare services, as officer-in-charge from September 2023 until his newest appointment. It requires confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.
The DMW plans to enhance its bilateral agreements with OFWs’ host countries, with a vision to implement “safe, ethical, and fair” recruitment that would ensure host countries’ shared responsibility of taking care of OFWs while they are at work abroad.
Digitalization is also a priority, which aims to make OFWs’ processes faster and more convenient.
Cacdac also eyes implementing “brain gain initiatives,” a concept related to reintegration. Analysts have often pointed to the OFW phenomenon causing brain drain in the country, which happens when skilled Filipino workers leave the country to work elsewhere.
“Magbibigay rin sila ng tulong sa atin para mapagtibay ang labor market natin, mapalago ang investments natin, para ang mga natutunan din ng OFWs doon sa ibang bansa ay maibalik nila sa ating mahal na bayan,” he said, adding these initiatives would involve partnerships with the Technical Education And Skills Development Authority, Commission on Higher Education, and the Department of Education.
(They will also help us strengthen our labor market and grow our investments, so that OFWs can bring home the skills they gained in other countries.)
In a statement on Friday, April 26, OFW rights group Migrante Philippines called on the new secretary to expand the scope of the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund, which is the primary source of financial assistance for distressed OFWs. The DMW was allotted more than P1 billion for its AKSYON Fund for 2024.
The group said that many OFWs have reported to them their “disappointment” with the DMW because of certain challenges they face when trying to claim financial assistance.
“It is very difficult for OFWs to get assistance from the department. We are worried that the AKSYON Fund would be under-utilized, leaving thousands of OFWs who deserve assistance without any help,” the group said.
Migrante, a left-leaning group, noted that Cacdac has “opened his lines to Migrante through consultations.”
“Secretary Cacdac must ensure that immediate service is provided to every OFW. The process of repatriation should be expedited, and OFWs should be provided with legal, financial, and livelihood assistance,” they said. – Rappler.com
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SM’s plans for 2024: Instagram-worthy malls, esports venues | Ralf Rivas | 28/04/2024 15:56 | MANILA, Philippines – Mall and property developer SM Group is banking on Instagram-worthy installations and the growing popularity of e-sports to drive its growth this 2024.
During the group’s recently held annual stockholders meeting, SM Investments Corporation president and chief executive officer Frederic DyBuncio said they will be opening four new malls in 2024, one in Metro Manila, and three in provincial areas.
SM Prime, the group’s mall development arm, is set to build “larger-than-life installations and Instagrammable spots in various malls,” as well as having concert series in the cinemas and holding esports tournaments.
Here are some artist renders of the new SM malls, namely SM City Caloocan, SM City J Mall in Cebu, SM City Laoag, and SM City La Union:
The group will also unveil this year the SM Game Park at the Mall of Asia, which will house indoor sports activities.
“We have a young, dynamic, higher-earning population who will help support and drive economic activity,” DyBuncio said.
The SM group also unveiled some of its plans for its other companies.
Its residential property development arm, SM Development Corporation, is rolling out up to 10,000 residential units in the northern part of the Philippines and across Visayas and Mindanao.
SM Hotels is set to officially launch the first Lanson Place property at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.
In retail, Alfamart is set to expand its stores by at least 400 in 2024.
For its banking business, BDO will continue to expand its bank branches by up to 120 this year.
SM is also set to invest in renewable energy, following its acquisition of the Philippine Geothermal Production Company. It is set to explore new steam fields in northern and southern Luzon, with the aim to double the company’s current steam production of 300 megawatts in the medium-term.
“We expect our core businesses to continue its growth trajectory. Additionally, we anticipate that our portfolio investments will contribute significantly to our overall performance in the medium-term as these are well-positioned to capture opportunities in high growth sectors,” DyBuncio said. – Rappler.com
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[Rappler’s Best] Boiling point | lfangeles0309 | 29/04/2024 18:07 | Alejandro Edoria
It’s 35°C in Quezon City as I write this, and this would have been big news in my time as a reporter ages ago. But extreme heat has been the norm in recent years, such that the seemingly unthinkable has happened: classes are being suspended and work is being shortened because of it.
The temperature in other parts of the country is hotter (and is seen to get worse). Combine this with relative humidity and what you feel in your body would be what’s called the heat index. On Sunday, April 28, the heat index in Iba, Zambales, shot up to 53° – classified by the weather bureau as “extreme danger.”
The heat is upsetting our health, our work, our farms, our schools, our businesses – and altering our daily habits. Why, even chickens are feeling the heat, producing smaller eggs!
On Sunday, the education department announced the suspension of in-person classes in all public schools nationwide on Monday and Tuesday. The labor department is urging businesses to adopt flexible working arrangements. Some local governments – such as Cavite and Binmaley, Pangasinan – have already taken the initiative of shortening the work week to four days.
Not that we didn’t see this coming. The month of February, which was supposed to still bring in the cool breeze in these parts and snow in others, was recorded as the warmest February ever. The speed and fury of global warming means that, henceforth, we’d end up recording every month as the warmest. Experts have warned that the world’s average temperature could already “temporarily” cross the 1.5°C threshold this year. Read more about it here.
The impact cuts across the board, across classes:
Outside the Philippines, campuses are also at boiling point in degrees never before seen in recent history. Protesting students have encamped themselves in various US universities – to protest America’s continuing support of Israel in its war in Gaza and to demand universities to cut links from Israel.
The student protests and encampments have triggered points of views in polarized America – from the simplistic to the overwrought to the nuanced. Some of the conservative views are reminiscent of the red-tagging that Filipino students and activists have suffered under the previous Rodrigo Duterte regime, and continue to suffer. The student protest movement here, after all, is also no stranger to tussles with authority that have often turned violent.
Remember when Ateneo students called for a nationwide academic strike against Duterte at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic? And when Duterte threatened to defund the state-owned University of the Philippines if its students joined the strike? It was also Duterte who ended the 1989 accord between UP and the defense department that restricted police and military operations in UP campuses.
As Isabella Ramirez, editor in chief of the Columbia Daily Spectator, said in a recent interview about the conditions that set off the protests in her university: “How can you expect 18, 19, 20, 21 year olds to be trying to understand what is happening in such a time when not even our politicians and our national outlets understand what is happening to the fullest degree? We are very much processing as we’re learning…as we’re reporting…as it’s unfolding.” She articulates the values of campus journalists very well in this interview. Watch it. – Rappler.com
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FACT CHECK: Leni Robredo visited the sick during her term as VP | Lorenz Pasion | 29/04/2024 18:00 | Claim: Former vice president Leni Robredo did not visit the sick during her term as vice president, which was from June 30, 2016 to June 30, 2022.
Why we fact-checked this: The claim can be found in an April 26 post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The post includes a picture of Vice President Sara Duterte visiting an injured soldier, taken from a February 23, 2024 post on Duterte’s official Facebook page, along with the following text: “Visiting the sick must be a natural thing for the Dutertes. Even Leni did not do this throughout her term.”
As of writing, the post on X had around 22,800 views, 200 comments, 36 shares, and 103 reactions.
The facts: Contrary to the claim, Robredo visited the sick during her vice presidential term. The following news reports are some examples:
Previous related fact-checks: Rappler has fact-checked several false claims about Robredo before.
Ahead of the 2022 presidential elections, Robredo was cited as the top victim of disinformation by fact-checking initiative Tsek.PH, based on their curation of over 200 fact-checks in January 2022. At the time, then-presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was the top beneficiary of disinformation carrying positive messaging. (READ: Robredo is top target of disinformation in initiative’s January 2022 fact-checks)
Presidential front-runner: The post on X was made amid surveys showing Duterte as a top contender for the presidency for the 2028 elections. According to a survey conducted by Pulse Asia in March, Duterte and Senator Raffy Tulfo are statistically tied in first place among presidential candidates, with the Vice President receiving 34% in voter preference and Tulfo obtaining 35%. Meanwhile, Robredo ranked third with 11%.
In a separate survey conducted by Oculum Research and Analytics in the first quarter of 2024, Duterte emerged as the top choice for president, followed by Tulfo and Robredo. – Percival Bueser/ Rappler.com
Percival Bueser is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at [email protected]. You may also report dubious claims to #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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Cagayan de Oro transport group at crossroads amid franchise consolidation deadline | Herbie G | 29/04/2024 16:18 | WAITING. Two traditional jeepneys wait for passengers in Barangay Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City, on April 26, 2024.
Franck Dick Rosete/Rappler
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – A looming franchise consolidation deadline for public utility vehicles (PUVs) has sparked a wave of uncertainty and discontent among members of a public transportation group in Cagayan de Oro. Faced with alleged mismanagement and financial irregularities within the cooperatives, some operators find themselves at a crossroads, contemplating the sale of their jeepneys or repurposing the vehicles.
Amid mounting frustration and accusations of regulatory apathy, the prospect of being left behind in the wake of consolidation efforts haunts the PUV operators, prompting urgent calls for greater participation in modernization initiatives while staunchly resisting the surrender of hard-earned franchises.
The United Drivers’ Association (UNIDA) expressed indifference towards the looming April 30 deadline for the franchise consolidation.
Joel Gabatan, UNIDA president, said at least seven operators of jeepneys within the group have yet to consolidate their franchises. He said these operators, disheartened by the negative experiences shared by others who surrendered their franchises, are wary of the consolidation process.
Gabatan cited concerns regarding the alleged formulation of policies and the collection of substantial sums of money from members without proper approval from cooperative boards of directors.
He also criticized the alleged lack of financial transparency, noting the absence of some of the cooperatives’ financial reports.
Gabatan said several complaints were submitted to the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) in Northern Mindanao that have yet to be acted upon. He said there was a need for the CDA to address the issues faced by cooperative members.
“Mao ning usa sa butang nga akong gisulti sa LTFRB nga ipaaligrar sa CDA ang kahimtang sa mga miyembro sa coop,” Gabatan told Rappler.
(This is one of the things I mentioned to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board so that they would prod CDA to look into the situation of the members of the cooperatives.)
In addition to management issues, Gabatan noted that unconsolidated operators struggle to meet the capitalization requirement of some P50,000, a prerequisite for joining a cooperative or corporation.
He said most jeepney operators lack the financial means to meet this requirement, citing the example of his son, who sold his traditional jeepney for only P40,000.
Edwin Pelosas, the focal person for CDA-X’s transport operation, acknowledged that CDA received complaints regarding cooperative management challenges.
But Pelosas denied claims of delayed action by the CDA, saying these were being handled within the prescribed time frame mandated by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
He urged unconsolidated operators to refrain from selling their jeepneys and instead consider joining modernization programs.
“Ang nahitabo lang, naay mga tao nga dili sila makontento sa action ni CDA (What happened was, there were people who were not contented to the actions of CDA),” Pelosas told Rappler on Sunday, April 28.
Despite concerns raised by UNIDA and other operators, Abosamen Matuan, director of LTFRB Northern Mindanao, reported a high consolidation rate of 97% for public utility jeepneys (PUJs) and 96% for UV Express vehicles in the region.
Matuan expressed confidence that there would be no public transportation crisis post-deadline in Cagayan de Oro but assured contingency plans and continued efforts to encourage unconsolidated operators to modernize.
After the April 30 deadline, LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said franchises for individual PUV operators who failed to consolidate would be revoked, preventing them from operating their routes. –Rappler.com
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Marcos warns against attempts to derail 2025 Bangsamoro polls | Herbie G | 29/04/2024 14:38 | PHILIPPINE LEADER. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a departure speech as he heads to Tokyo for the Commemorative Summit on the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in December 2023.
PCO
GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned on Monday, April 29, that the full force of the state would go after any group threatening and derailing the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections in 2025.
“Huwag n’yo nang isipin (Don’t even think about it),” he said, adding that they better channel their efforts into helping give a better life to the Bangsamoro people.
Marcos’ remarks came as civil society groups in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) insisted on extending the term of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) for another three years and moving the elections to 2028.
Marcos was in Maguindanao del Norte on Monday to grace the commemoration rites of the 10th year anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro forged by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government in 2014.
He said the CAB is a continuing crusade for peace that should not be hinged on whims or depend on where the political winds blow.
Addressing a crowd at Camp Abubakar as-Siddique, the former camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Barira town, Marcos urged BARMM voters to exercise their right of suffrage in the coming first BARMM elections.
Marcos said that he would exercise “a strong political will” in ensuring smooth and credible elections, ensuring that voters in the region can freely choose their future.
“This is the fulfillment of your democratic right to realize and achieve meaningful autonomy as enshrined in the CAB,” Marcos said. “Safeguard those rights.”
Marcos had words for aspiring candidates in the elections, “We expect that you uphold the principles of Bangsamoro muna bago ang sarili (Bangsamoro first before self). Stand for a better Bangsamoro.”
While at the former main camp of the MILF, Marcos offered a wreath at the Marine Warrior Memorial to honor the 53 fallen soldiers during the all-out war in 2000 that was waged by the government during the Estrada administration.
The then-president Joseph Estrada raised the Philippine flag in the camp in July 2000 to mark its fall to government forces. He brought lechon (roasted pigs) and cases of beer to celebrate the fall of the camp. Camp Abubakar now hosts Camp Iranun, the headquarters of the 1st Marine Brigade.
Earlier in the day, Marcos led the historic graduation rites of the first batch of Moro combatants who successfully completed police basic training at Camp Salipada K. Pendatun in Parang town.
The graduating class consists of 100 trainees evenly divided between the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), 92 men, and eight women. The former guerrillas underwent a 23-week training course.
BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim said the recruitment from the ranks of the MILF and MNLF is provided for in the CAB and the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
Based on the law, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) can waive the age, height, and educational requirements for former guerrillas who wish to become policemen, subject to other existing policies and regulations.
Recruits who are accepted into the police force but lack the required educational attainment will be given 15 years to comply. Their ranks and salary grades are determined based on existing laws, rules, and regulations in the PNP. –Rappler.com
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Worsening water crisis spurs rationing efforts by private firms in Bacolod, Iloilo | Herbie G | 29/04/2024 15:35 | STRUGGLE. Residents struggle to fetch water provided by a private company in Iloilo City on Sunday, April 28.
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BACOLOD, Philippines – The situation has become dire, prompting private companies to step in and provide potable water to villages in Bacolod and Iloilo, where temperatures are rising and water scarcity is worsening.
The Villar group’s Prime Water, the bulk water supplier in Bacolod, and More Electric and Power Corporation, the electricity distributor in Iloilo of the Razon group, have initiated water rationing operations in the two cities of Western Visayas.
Farah Jenny Monteclaro, Prime Water manager, said on Sunday, April 28, that they set up 24 water storage tanks in a dozen El Niño-hit villages in Bacolod currently suffering from water scarcity. The barangays are Handumanan, Tangub, Mandalagan, Felisa, Vista Alegre, Villamonte, Taculing, Alijis, Sum-ag, Mansilingan, Barangay 40, and Banago.
Each barangay received two water storage tanks, each with a capacity of 2,000 liters.
The villages were identified as those currently experiencing intermittent supply of water due to the El Niño phenomenon, Monteclaro said.
In ramping up water rationing, Monteclaro said they are not just addressing water woes but also fostering partnerships with other concerned groups to improve water services in 61 barangays in Bacolod.
Meanwhile, MORE Power, the sole power distributor in Iloilo City, also distributed free water for washing and bathing to Ilonggo consumers, especially those affected by a 12-hour blackout due to maintenance work on Sunday, April 28.
Aside from water, MORE Power also provided a free charging area using a mobile generator for residents’ gadgets and appliances.
Roel Castro, president of MORE Power, said they have no choice but to continuously innovate to minimize inconvenience for consumers affected by the 12-hour scheduled power interruption.
El Niño put the entire Iloilo City under a state of calamity on April 22 due to a water shortage scenario.
Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas said they will be using more than a P12-million budget just for water procurement and rationing purposes.
Iloilo City is included among 25 local governments in the Western Visayas region now under a state of calamity. These include 18 local governments in Antique province, two each in Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson rejected the call of United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) to place the province under a state of calamity and to buy planes for cloud seeding.
Lacson assured Negrenses that the provincial government has available funds to assist the El Niño-hit farming sector.
Raul Fernandez, chief of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Region VI, issued Memorandum No. 25-2024, purposely aimed at activating select response clusters for affected local governments in Western Visayas. –Rappler.com
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[OPINION] Remembering RSP, Norman and Jessie – geoscientists for the people | Glenda Gloria | 29/04/2024 12:52 | April 28, 2005 saw the demise of three dedicated geoscientists who risked their lives for the sake of the people. A few minutes before nine in the morning, 19 years ago on Sunday, April 28, Raymundo S. Punongbayan, Jessie A. Daligdig and Norman M. Tungol, together with two other scientists of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and four Philippine Air Force )PAF) personnel, all perished when the PAF helicopter they were in crashed in the Sierra Madre Mountains over Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija, while returning to base after performing an aerial survey over the town of Dingalan in Aurora.
Ar-Es-Pi, that was how Dr. Raymundo S. Punongbayan (RSP) was fondly called by both his contemporaries and students. He was my professor in Geology 112 – Structural Geology, dreaded by many, including myself, as a killer subject in the BS Geology program of the University of the Philippines (UP).
RSP was infamously known to be the teacher who gave an entire class a grade of “incomplete” at the end of a semester, my batch included. Despite this, it was to him that I provided several years later, a copy of the first prints of my dissertation in, of all fields, Structural Geology!
I would maintain links with RSP professionally, sometimes to debate over concepts in structural geology. At other times, when he would explain to me how his signature resembled the profile of Taal Volcano, or when he would humor friends that the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991, was meant to celebrate his birthday on June 13.
More seriously, his popularity peaked when he and his team, in cooperation with geoscientists from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), were able to undertake anticipatory studies prior to the eruption, leading to relatively minimal damage and casualties, despite being categorized as the largest volcanic eruption in the 20th century.
To date, this remains among the best success stories of volcano disaster mitigation and management, discussed in conferences, and taught in schools around the world. RSP became a household name and some friends were convinced he would be a sure-win candidate if he ran for senator the year after.
I went to college with Norman. But he opted to graduate later, giving more importance to his ideology, sacrificing some school years so he could contribute in making the lives of marginalized countrymen more bearable, at least for a while. “Lakay” Jessie was an entire college generation ahead, but we found common ground in the studies we did: studying active faults and understanding how to minimize the disastrous effects of earthquakes by a technique called “trenching.”
In the latter part of 2004, coastal towns in central and southern Luzon including Dingalan in Aurora, and Infanta and Real in Quezon took the brunt of flashfloods, landslides and debris flows brought about by a series of typhoons culminating in December. Survivors were left homeless. Tasked to provide relocation sites, local governments needed technical assistance.
Marker in memory of dedicated scientists, Drs. Ray Punongbayan, Jessie Daligdig, Norman Tungol and colleagues who all perished in a helicopter crash in the Sierra Madre Mountains on April 28, 2005, serving the people. Photo courtesy of Dr. Ramon Quebral.
Phivolcs was among those government agencies with a mandate to provide technical assistance to find suitable relocation sites. Relocations sites should be at a minimum, safe from the hazards already suffered by the victims. In general, relocation sites should be located on high ground, but at same time away from active faults and slopes prone to landslides.
Geologists provide the critical expertise in evaluating suitable relocation sites. RSP, drawing from his experience as Phivolcs director, made sure the services of geologists were availed. He also preferred commencing assessment work with a bird’s eye view.
Hence, the aerial survey, albeit ill-fated.
More than their being excellent geoscientists, RSP, Norman and Jessie are remembered for their dedication to serve the people. – Rappler.com
Mario A. Aurelio, PhD is a professor at the National Institute of Geological Sciences – University of the Philippines – UP NIGS. Like Dr. Raymundo Punongbayan, he is a structural geologist who includes assessment of geologic hazards among his research interests. Among the subjects he teaches is Geology 112 – Structural Geology
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[EDITORIAL] Bakit hindi mahuli-huli si Apollo Quiboloy? | Lilibeth Frondoso | 29/04/2024 12:28 | Nico Villarete
Mabigat ang puwet ng Philippine National Police pagdating sa puganteng doomsday preacher na si Apollo Quiboloy.
Kinailangan pa silang kalabitin ni Senadora Risa Hontiveros tungkol sa revocation ng 19 firearms na ang tagal bago nila inaksyunan. Ang ilan sa firearms, kabibigay lang ng lisensiya nitong Abril 2023.
At magtatataka pa ba tayo kung inaabot ng siyam-siyam ang pag-aresto kay Quiboloy na ayon sa intel ng Justice Department ay nasa bansa pa raw?
Noong isang araw lang, nag-post ang isang miyembro ng KOJC ng video ni Quiboloy (which was public as of this writing) na kaharap ang birthday cake at kinakantahan ng happy birthday. Suspetsa ng mga source ng Rappler, ang video ay kuha lang kamakailan.
Bakit? Una, small-time ang piging na ito kung ikukumpara sa mga dating selebrasyon ng kanyang birthday na may floats, perya, parada, at napakaraming panauhing big-time. Noong isang taon lang, panauhing pandangal ang bilyonaryong si Manny Villar, ang mga senador na sina Robin Padilla, Bato dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino, Bong Revilla, Bong Go, at Mark Villar.
Pangalawa, iba ang damit at suot niya sa video na ito kumpara sa mga nakalipas na taon.
Pangatlo, pawang inner circle lang niya ang nasa piging kumpara sa normal niyang birthday na puro VIP.
Kung totoong recent lang ang video, kitang-kita ang kabuktutan, hindi lang kainutilan, ng pulisya na supposedly ay naghahanap sa kanya. Hindi ba simple lang na i-surveillance ang mga nasa inner circle ni Quiboloy upang matunton siya?
Sabi ni Antonio Montalvan II sa kanyang column na The Slingshot, dapat paretiro na raw nitong Abril 25, 2024 si Police General Alden Delvo, ang police director ng Region 11 na inatasang arestuhin si Quiboloy.
On the record si Delvo na inaaming umaattend siya ng kaarawan ni Quiboloy dahil magka-birthday sila. At nang hinalungkat ni Montalvan ang record ni Delvo, dati itong hepe sa San Pedro Police Station, Davao City.
Nang hinalungkat naman ng Rappler ang record ni Delvo, isa pala siya sa dawit sa Davao Death Squad. (BASAHIN: Now retired, top cop Alden Delvo leaves Davao Death Squad allegations unanswered)
Ayon sa pulisya, dalawang beses nilang sinuyod ang Tamayong Prayer Mountain. Meron pa nga raw silang tracker teams na nakabantay sa signal ng telepono ng pugante, pero negatibo daw. Eh bakit mo naman ia-anunsiyo ‘yun sa madla, kundi mo gustong maalerto rin si Quiboloy, hindi ba?
Enter former president Rodrigo Duterte, na harapang sinabihan ang kumpare na “Huwag mo naman akong damayin dito.” Iminarites ni Digong na kausap lang niya si Quiboloy sa telepono at nasa Tamayong lang daw ang Pastor. Anong nangyari sa tracker teams?
Ang papalit ba kay Delvo, na may conflict of interest, ang siya ring i-a-assign na hulihin si Quiboloy? Kasing kupad din ba niya?
Mahalaga ring tanungin ng Crame kung may bribery at corruption bang nagaganap sa likod ng kabiguang mahuli si Quiboloy.
Maliban sa mga warrants of arrest na inisyu ng mga korte ng Davao City at Pasig City, andiyan din ang arrest order bunga ng contempt order ng Senado na lantarang binastos ni Quiboloy.
Alam naman natin na minsa’y umuusbong ang mga contempt order ng Senado mula sa mga bruised ego ng mga senador. Pero hindi ito totoo sa kaso ng komite ni Senadora Risa Hontiveros.
Lehitimo at makatuwiran ang pakay ng komite na nais busisiin:
Bansa tayong tumitingala at sumasamba sa religious leaders – at marami sa kanila ay ginamit ang pagmamahal ng mga tagasuporta upang yumaman, sumikat, at maging tuntungan para sa higit pang pulitikal na kapangyarihan. Sumasagi sa isip si Ruben Ecleo Jr. ng Dinagat, pati na rin si Señor Aguila ng tinaguriang kulto sa Socorro, Surigao del Norte.
Kung titingnan natin ang big picture, case study si Quiboloy ng abuse of religious power at ang galamay ng mga tulad niya na nakakokontrol ng pulisya, burukrasya, at pulitika.
Case study rin ito ng kainutilan ng pulisya na maging puwersa ng rule of law sa harap ng kuwarta at kapangyarihan.
Argumento rin ito laban sa baluktot na lohika ni Senador Robin Padilla na encroachment daw ito ng freedom of religion, at paglabag sa separation of church and state.
Ayon kay Rappler Managing Editor na si Miriam Grace Go, “bulag lamang” ang hindi makakakita ng “exploitation of the devotion of his followers” at ng influence-peddling.
Bulag lamang o nagbubulag-bulagan ang hindi makaaaninag na ginagawa niyang katawa-tawa ang batas. Sabi ni Joseph Nathan Cruz, dapat gamitin ng estado ang “full might of its police apparatus” at intelligence funds para mahuli ang pugante, na malamang ay pahila-hilata lang sa Davao at nag-e-enjoy sa marangyang buhay sa piling ng isa nitong inner circle o kumpare.
PNP, patunayan ninyong hindi na kayo alipores ng mga diyos sa Davao. Patunayan ‘nyo na lingkod bayan kayo at propesyonal. Arestuhin ‘nyo na si Quiboloy. Stop the impunity. – Rappler.com
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Tama: “PNP, patunayan ninyong hindi na kayo alipores ng mga diyos sa Davao. Patunayan ‘nyo na lingkod bayan kayo at propesyonal.” Dapat patunayan nila. Paano kong hindi nila mapatunayan?
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Students suffer in wilting heat, thwarting education efforts | Chito de la Vega | 29/04/2024 11:16 | File photo of a student answering his learning module
Lisa Marie David/Reuters
MANILA, Philippines – Sweltering heat in the Philippines can curb farm production, disrupt water and power and weigh on businesses, but it also takes a toll on students, hampering the Southeast Asian nation’s efforts to catch up to its neighbours in education.
Heat indices have hit 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in various regions in the Philippines, as the weather phenomenon El Nino intensifies the heat enveloping the nation in its summer months of March to May.
The Philippines scores among the lowest in the world in math, science and reading, partly because of years of inadequate remote learning during the pandemic, according to the Programme for International Student Assessment, an international study of education systems.
“It is extremely hot now. The heat burns my skin, it’s not like the usual (summer) heat that is tolerable,” said senior high school student Kirt Mahusay, 23, whose education was halted during COVID-19.
Thousands of schools have suspended classes due to the heat, affecting more than 3.6 million students, education ministry data shows.
“In May, we’re expecting more class suspensions because of the heatwaves. We’re seeing an average of more than 52 degrees Celsius (125 F), so you could imagine how stressful that would be for learners,” said Xerxes Castro, basic education adviser for the Save the Children Philippines.
The wilting heat – part of a band spreading across much of South and Southeast Asia, exacerbated by climate change – makes it harder for students to learn.
Children are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses such as dizziness, vomiting and fainting when exposed to extreme heat for long periods, according to Save the Children Philippines.
Students and teachers have expressed concerns about difficulties in remote teaching and learning, especially in poorer areas where homes are not conducive for studying and may lack access to good internet connectivity.
“I could not focus because I get dizzy” from the heat, Esmaira Solaiman, a 20-year-old senior high school student whose learning was delayed during the pandemic, said after attending an online class from home.
Students attending in-person classes in the capital Manila resort to portable fans, notebooks and even cardboard boxes for a bit of breeze to offer relief.
“My blood pressure is already increasing because of the heat,” said 62-year-old secondary school teacher Memia Santos. “Our backs are wet and at times we get dizzy.”
– Rappler.com
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In Bangsamoro visit, Marcos warns of ‘those who preach ideology of dismemberment’ | Dwight de Leon | 29/04/2024 12:56 | File photo of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Noel Pabalate/PPA Pool
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a warning against separatism advocates during his visit to Maguindanao del Norte for the 10th anniversary commemoration of a landmark peace deal on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“As we defend the gains that we have achieved, we will be vigilant against the enemies of peace. We will bear the full force of the state against terrorist elements, to those who preach the discarded and debunked ideology of dismemberment. The people will reject your selfish agenda,” Marcos said in a speech on Monday, April 29.
The statement comes months after former president Rodrigo Duterte and his allies floated the possibility of a separate Mindanao, although that call garnered little support among leaders in the region. Marcos’ predecessor later said he was just joking.
Peace-building in southern Philippines, particularly in the Bangsamoro, has been a decades-long journey, hampered by the proliferation of insurgency movements.
In 2014, the Philippine government under the administration of the late Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), compelling the latter to surrender its firearms and decommission its armed wing in exchange for the establishment of an autonomous Bangsamoro.
In 2018, the Duterte administration passed the Bangsamoro Organic Law, paving the way for an interim parliament who were supposed to be replaced by an elected set of officers in 2022. The coronavirus pandemic, as well as the absence of a Bangsamoro electoral code, delayed the first parliamentary polls in the BARMM to 2025.
In his speech, Marcos assured residents of the region of an “honest, orderly, and credible conduct of the electoral process.”
“Let this also serve as a warning to those who may plan to threaten and derail this upcoming election. Don’t think about that anymore because your enemy is the government,” he said.
“Instead, channel your energy to help build productive and thriving communities where citizens are offered wide livelihood opportunities and healthy living spaces,” Marcos added.
Some civil society groups have called for another three-year extension for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority due to supposed unimplemented provisions of the CAB, but Marcos is not keen on the idea, according to Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez. – Rappler.com
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La Niña may happen in 2024. Here are the flood-risk areas in Metro Manila. | Chay Hofilena | 22/04/2024 13:36 | MARIKINA FLOODING. In this file photo, Marikina Disaster Response team members and residents monitor the water level marker at the Marikina Riverbanks, after it rose to second alarm due to the continuous monsoon rains as Typhoon Egay exits the country, on July 27, 2023.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
The Philippines can expect more storms in the latter half of this year due to La Niña, according to state weather forecasters. For several areas in Metro Manila, a heavy downpour means there will be floods.
In the Philippines’ densest region, analysis of government data showed that barely one in 100 evacuation facilities are permanent shelters. At least 60 in every 100 of Metro Manila’s “evacuation centers” are schools and basketball courts.
Rappler mapped the evacuation centers in the capital region and looked at the facilities’ and people’s exposure to floods. In our months-long investigation, we found that one-fifth of Metro Manila’s land area are high-risk flood zones. Several evacuation centers are built in these areas and there is not enough space for the surrounding community.
According to a disaster resilience expert, the Philippines has made significant strides since strong typhoons battered the country in recent decades. But Metro Manila still has a long way to go.
In the past three decades, nearly 107,000 Filipinos in Metro Manila have been affected by typhoons each year. Among cities in the metro, Marikina City has always been the hardest hit, where nine in 100,000 Metro Manila residents have died from typhoons since 2003.
Flooding is a fact of life in Marikina City. Essentially a catch basin, it lies in the Marikina Valley, bound by the Sierra Madre mountain range to the east and the hills of Quezon City to the west. The Marikina River cuts through the western portion of the city.
The Torres family lived near the Marikina River for as long as they can remember. Arlene, 33, and Reizan, 31, grew up in houses apart from each other when they were young. When they got married, Reizan moved into his wife’s house.
Just like the Torreses, their home has endured tough times. Repeated flooding has stained the wall and left a musty smell inside. From blue and green walls, they have since repainted them to white.
Of all the typhoons she has lived through, Arlene said Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) in 2009 and Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) in 2020 were the ones she could not forget.
“I remember it very well. It was on September 26, [2009],” she said. Within six hours from landfall, Ondoy brought a deluge of rain equivalent to a month’s volume in the country.
Arlene, a high school student at the time, was left stranded at her school due to Ondoy’s downpour. She said the students were asked to go home because the flood had been rising, but they were unable to leave the premises.
“It was my older sister who rushed home. The water was already so high that she had to use a boat to reach our parents. They made a hole in the roof on the second floor of our house to avoid the flood,” Arlene recalled.
“We laid our father on a table to prevent him from getting wet again,” she said. But because of runoffs from the mountains and the trash that blocked access to roads, we could not get anyone to bring him [to the hospital]. He was cold and was coughing up blood. Days later, when we finally arrived at the hospital, he was declared ‘dead on arrival.’”
Ondoy was the deadliest typhoon that Metro Manila had faced in recent decades, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) data showed. At least 464 people were killed due to the onslaught of the typhoon, and more than half of them were from Metro Manila.
For many Filipinos, Ondoy was a turning point. It exposed Metro Manila’s vulnerabilities and lack of preparedness. A year later, lawmakers passed Republic Act No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.
The Torreses are among millions of Filipinos who face the risk of having their homes flooded during typhoons or heavy downpours. According to government data, at least eight in 10 Manileños live in flood zones.
More than a decade since Ondoy, Arlene and Reizan still live in the same house where the latter survived the deadly typhoon.
Having lived through strong storms, the Torreses knew what they had to do when Ulysses made landfall – get all the essential items and documents, prepare for evacuation when the Marikina River reaches 15 meters above sea level, and move their appliances and furniture to the second floor.
Living near the river, Reizan had to regularly monitor the updates on the city government’s social media feeds during Ulysses. He knew that once the river’s water level rose to 15 to 16 meters, his wife and children had to evacuate to his in-laws.
So they did. Arlene and the children went to her sister’s house but Reizan was left at home to guard their belongings. Then, the flood reached the second floor. Reizan said he was fortunate that rescuers went to their area.
“When the water reached the second floor, the refrigerator was knocked over. I lost the will to guard our things. There was no use in staying. I just left,” he recalled.
Ulysses made landfall in the middle of the pandemic, in November 2020, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometer per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 205 kph as it crossed Central Luzon.
During Ulysses, the Marikina River’s water level rose to 22 meters, breaching Ondoy’s record of 21.5 meters. While Ondoy brought more rain than Ulysses, PAGASA noted that it was possible that Sierra Madre was unable to absorb them – three storms had hit the country within three weeks before Ulysses – resulting in a runoff.
According to UN OCHA [United Nations for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs],, over 40,000 houses in Marikina were partially and fully submerged under flood water. All evacuation centers were packed, leaving residents to seek temporary shelter in the homes of their families and friends.
Evacuation centers are supposed to provide refuge from disasters. However, not all evacuation centers in Metro Manila are located in safe areas. They are not enough for everyone.
Analysis of the data from government hazard portal HazardHunterPH showed that one-fifth of Metro Manila’s land area is at high or very high risk of floods.
Among cities in Metro Manila, Navotas will be the most affected when flooding hits. About two-thirds of Navotas’ land area will be submerged by floods, while half of Malabon, Marikina, and Pasig will be swamped with water.
Latest shelter data from OCD and the Department of the Interior and Local Government showed that over 1,300 evacuation centers were listed as evacuation centers in the capital region. Rappler mapped these facilities to see which of them are in high- and very high-risk flood zones.
Areas with a high risk of flooding may be under one to two meters of water for over three days, according to the environment department’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau, one of the government offices involved in the creation of HazardHunterPH. For an average Filipino, this depth is already waist- to chest-deep.
Those with a very high flood risk may face over two meters of flooding. This height is taller than the average Filipino.
According to our analysis, one in five evacuation centers in the metro are built in high-risk areas. Several of them are in Quezon City, Valenzuela, and Pasig.
Aside from the risk, the designated evacuation centers in the metro could not possibly cater to every resident.
Small cities San Juan and Navotas have the lowest evacuation center-to-population ratio in Metro Manila. San Juan has one evacuation center for every 2,200 residents, while Navotas has one for every 5,600 residents.
In the capital Manila, only two evacuation centers were in official government lists for a population of over 1.8 million people. According to OCD, the Delpan and Baseco evacuation centers can fit 3,700 people. (To be concluded) – Rappler.com
NEXT: La Niña: What ought to be done to be better prepared
*$1 = P56.60
All quotes were translated into English.
Vianca Jasmin Anglo is a data analyst pursuing a postgraduate degree in Human Development and Services. She was part of the public health, pandemic management, and response in the Philippines. Her years of experience in social development demonstrate her commitment to human well-being through data analysis.
Reporting for this story was supported by the Environmental Data Journalism Academy – a program of Internews’ Earth Journalism Network and Thibi.
METHODOLOGY
This data story examined the link between evacuation centers and flood risk in Metro Manila. We obtained the latest evacuation center data from the DILG – which appeared incomplete – and supplemented it with 2021 data from the OCD. Capacity information from these lists are incomplete, limiting our analysis to the evacuation center-to-population ratio.
Using spatial software and Google Sheets, spatial analysis was conducted to pinpoint the intersection between evacuation centers and their corresponding flood susceptibility category from HazardHunterPH. For the full description of our methodology, please read it here. Data cleaning and analysis can be accessed here. This story was a result of collaboration between the author, and the data and story mentors from Thibi, Thet Win Htut, and Aika Rey, respectively.
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Now retired, top cop Alden Delvo leaves Davao Death Squad allegations unanswered | Jodesz Gavilan | 29/04/2024 13:03 | All eyes are on the Davao region police as they seek to implement the numerous arrest warrants issued against doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
At the top of the regional police hierarchy is Brigadier General Alden Delvo, who celebrated his 56th birthday on Thursday, April 25. He shares the same birthday with the fugitive Quiboloy.
A report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted him as saying that he spent several birthdays at the KOJC instead of his home. But he assured the public that the police are doing their best to arrest Quiboloy, who is the subject of arrest warrants from Davao City and Pasig City courts, on top of a Senate arrest order. He is also on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most-wanted list for sex trafficking of children, among other allegations.
Delvo warned: “Those who could be coddling the pastor, whether they be friends or, worse, members of the police or the military, we will file a case of obstruction for (sic) justice once we find out about it.”
Delvo is now retired as he has reached the mandatory retirement age of 56 for Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel. He will not only leave office with Quiboloy still on the run, but also leave behind unanswered allegations from former cop and self-confessed Davao Death Squad (DDS) hitman Arturo Lascañas.
The DDS is a notorious group accused of carrying out hundreds of killings upon the orders of then-Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who became president in 2016.
Delvo’s name was mentioned 46 times in the 186-page affidavit submitted by Lascañas to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as part of its investigation into killings under Duterte’s nationwide drug war and in Davao City. Rappler reported about the content of this affidavit in November 2021.
Rappler reached out to Delvo via phone calls, text messages, and Viber messages for comment on these allegations, but he has not replied. The Davao regional police’s public information office told Rappler on Thursday morning that it already forwarded our request to Delvo’s office. We will update this story as soon as we receive a reply.
Delvo, who was appointed regional director of the Davao region in March 2023 is part of the close network of Duterte and former Philippine National Police chief and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. He served as close senior aide of Dela Rosa after working with him for many years in Davao City, before transferring to the PNP’s Directorate for Comptrollership. He also served as chief of the PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Office during the last months of the Duterte administration and headed the area police command in Eastern Mindanao.
Lascañas, who was a Davao cop for nearly 35 years, claimed that he first met Delvo when the latter was a young police inspector at the Davao City Police Office. Delvo, a member of Philippine National Police Academy Class of 1995, referred to Lascañas as “’Nong” or “Manong” (elder) as a sign of respect.
“He wanted to know the ‘unwritten law’ of police work, and wanted to learn the A to Z in the business of killing people,” Lascañas said in his affidavit. “He embraced the evil one’s policy of killings, and I am partly to blame.”
Lascañas detailed a system where Duterte supposedly freely ordered his men to kill individuals during his decades as Davao City mayor. Based on Rappler’s count, he narrated at least 100 killings linked to Duterte whom they codenamed “Superman.”
Delvo was one of the 21 cops that the Office of the Ombudsman in 2012 found to be “guilty of simple neglect of duty.” They were suspended for a month or ordered to pay a fine equivalent to one month’s salary.
In his affidavit, Lascañas included Delvo’s name in his narration of at least four killings that occurred before Duterte became president. Delvo’s participation allegedly ranged from relaying kill orders to DDS members to being part of a surveillance team that followed targets.
1. Relayed order to abduct a certain Sali Makdum
Lascañas alleged that Delvo was supposedly involved in the abduction and killing of a certain Sali Makdum sometime between 1999 and 2000. He claimed that this operation was ordered by Dela Rosa and approved by Duterte.
“[Dela Rosa]…ordered me thru cellphone and personally thru then-Senior Inspectors Antonio Rivera and Alden Delvo…to erase/kill without a trace alias Makdum,” he said in his affidavit.
Makdum also figured in the testimonies of another DDS whistleblower Edgar Matobato. In 2017, a regional trial court in Panabo City issued a warrant of arrest against Matobato over the kidnapping of Makdum.
Rappler reached out to Dela Rosa via message and his Senate office’s email on Thursday morning, April 25, but received no reply. He previously refused to comment on an earlier investigative series on the same Lascañas affidavit published by Rappler in November 2021.
In February 2024, when Lascañas resurfaced with more allegations after years of hiding, Dela Rosa said: “Sige, pabayaan mo lang siya mag-allege siya nang mag-allege. Basta malinis ang konsensiya ko, bahala siya sa buhay niya.” (Go ahead, let him allege all he wants. My conscience is clear, he can do whatever he wants.)
2. Allegedly led team that abducted and killed two suspected extortionists
Delvo was allegedly part of a team of Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) operatives involved in the abduction and eventual killing of two Muslim individuals, whom they claimed were “suspected extortionists.”
The abduction allegedly happened in Mati, Davao Oriental, in 2003 using three vehicles. Lascañas said that it was Delvo’s team of young personnel “who led the action.”
The team then “blindfolded, gagged, and hogtied” the two victims, brought them back to Laud Quarry in Davao City after Dela Rosa allegedly ordered to “immediately neutralize them without the benefit of tactical interrogation.”
3. Allegedly involved in killing of person who reportedly plotted to assassinate Duterte
Lascañas said that sometime in 2003, Delvo called for a confidential meeting where they were told about an operation “against a high risk personality, who was allegedly planning to assassinate Duterte.” He said that this “intelligence information” was from Delvo, Dela Rosa, and Sonny Buenaventura, who Lascañas described as a close bodyguard of the then-city mayor.
“[Delvo] would be the one to call and instruct us on our role as stand-by, back-up police elements,” Lascañas said.
Delvo ended up calling days after, Lascañas claimed, and “asked for [Lascañas]’ location because he badly needed back-up elements and assistance.” But the Davao cop said he was too far away, so he would ask another DDS hitman to follow instead.
It was only after that Lascañas discovered that the man believed to be plotting the supposed assassination of Duterte, and who was the DDS’ target, was then-Monkayo mayor Joel Brillantes. The hitman, Delvo told Lascañas in a phone conversation, was a dismissed Davao City policeman, who was eventually killed by the DDS.
A Philippine Star report in 2003 confirmed the assassination of Brillantes, quoting police as saying they believed it was an “offshoot of the ongoing mining row at Mt. Diwalwal.” But the suspect in the assassination of Brillantes was identified as a “barangay tanod” who, according to the report, was killed by the mayor’s bodyguard.
4. Allegedly involved in the death of former cop
Former cop Allan Estrada, who was facing kidnap-for-ransom charges, was killed by police in a shootout in August 2007. He was one of the most wanted individuals in the Philippines, according to a Philippine Star report.
But Lascañas said that Estrada “did not resist the arrest.” Instead, Duterte “handed [Lascañas] a handgun to plant it on [Estrada]’s body as evidence.”
“Because of this ‘accomplishment,’ [Delvo] was awarded with a ‘spot promotion’ to the rank of Police Lt. Colonel,” Lascañas said in his affidavit.
In 2009, Delvo was one of the awardees in the Search for the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service, an award-giving body organized by Metrobank Foundation, PSBank, and the Rotary Club of New Manila East, according to a Philippine Star report.
When Duterte was sworn into the presidency in 2016, he brought with him from Davao City not just his men, but also the violence, turning his local anti-crime efforts into a nationwide affair.
He waged a bloody anti-illegal drug campaign that led to more than 6,000 people killed in police operations alone, as of May 2022. The death toll could reach 30,000 to include victims of vigilante-style killings, according to estimates by human rights groups.
But it was not only the war on drugs that Duterte expanded, but also the DDS system.
Delvo, who was then already installed as senior aide to Dela Rosa in Camp Crame, allegedly offered Lascañas a “buena mano” contract, asking him to kill suspected drug lord Melvin Odicta. It meant a P10-million reward money from Duterte himself.
But Lascañas was already planning to submit his retirement documents.
“I feigned accord to the killing contract, it was a ‘big time’ business of killing, according to [Delvo],” Lascañas said in his affidavit. He also said Delvo made a series of follow-up calls, even offering to provide a get-away motorcycle for his “DDS-hitman shooter.”
Odicta and his wife, Merriam, were gunned down by an unidentified man as they were disembarking from a passenger ship in Aklan in August 2016. Duterte said he was not surprised that Odicta was killed because he “was really being hunted.” The then-president said Odicta was “wanted and he is the number one drug lord.”
Lascañas claimed he received a “balato” (share) of P200,000.
That meeting was followed by another in October 2016, but this time in a Chinese restaurant in Greenhills, San Juan – just a few kilometers from the PNP headquarters – upon the invitation of Dela Rosa.
Lascañas said in his affidavit that Delvo, who sat beside him, asked “in whisper if [Duterte] gave me a quota [on] how many to kill in a day in Davao City before.” He replied that there was no quota, but there would be a bonus of “either money or material things” if they could reach five kills in a day.
“[Delvo] then told me that President Duterte, through…then-PNP Chief [Dela Rosa], gave him a quota of at least ten killings per day nationwide, in which Dela Rosa nodded in confirmation without a word,” Lascañas recalled.
The meeting happened during the same month that Lascañas and other Davao City cops appeared before a Senate hearing into alleged state-sponsored killings across the Philippines. This was following the exposé of Matobato.
Lascañas said in his affidavit that then-senator Alan Peter Cayetano told them to stay loyal to Duterte and deny all accusations.
Before he flew back to Davao, Lascañas said Delvo called him for a meeting in Camp Crame to offer him “another contract killing with P10-million reward from President Duterte.”
Lascañas said Delvo would also offer “safe havens” inside Camp Crame whenever he relayed orders to him from more senior personalities.
Lascañas’ allegations first became public after Rappler released a series of reports on his affidavit in November 2021. The ICC has since continued its own investigation into the killings under Duterte, including those that happened during his time in Davao City from 2011 to 2016.
Duterte left office in 2022 unscathed. Delvo, meanwhile, continued to rise through the ranks, even becoming Davao regional police director in March 2023. He was also recently recognized by the Metrobank Foundation.
Drug-related killings in Davao region also continued, with more than half of the 104 reported killings in Davao City alone happening since the start of his appointment in March 2023, according to data from the Dahas Project of the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center.
After Delvo’s retirement from office, leaving behind a still on-the-run Quiboloy, what happens to Lascañas’ accusation against him that have reached the ICC? – Rappler.com
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Now retired, top cop Alden Delvo leaves Davao Death Squad allegations unanswered | Jodesz Gavilan | 29/04/2024 13:03 | All eyes are on the Davao region police as they seek to implement the numerous arrest warrants issued against doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
At the top of the regional police hierarchy is Brigadier General Alden Delvo, who celebrated his 56th birthday on Thursday, April 25. He shares the same birthday with the fugitive Quiboloy.
A report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted him as saying that he spent several birthdays at the KOJC instead of his home. But he assured the public that the police are doing their best to arrest Quiboloy, who is the subject of arrest warrants from Davao City and Pasig City courts, on top of a Senate arrest order. He is also on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most-wanted list for sex trafficking of children, among other allegations.
Delvo warned: “Those who could be coddling the pastor, whether they be friends or, worse, members of the police or the military, we will file a case of obstruction for (sic) justice once we find out about it.”
Delvo is now retired as he has reached the mandatory retirement age of 56 for Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel. He will not only leave office with Quiboloy still on the run, but also leave behind unanswered allegations from former cop and self-confessed Davao Death Squad (DDS) hitman Arturo Lascañas.
The DDS is a notorious group accused of carrying out hundreds of killings upon the orders of then-Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who became president in 2016.
Delvo’s name was mentioned 46 times in the 186-page affidavit submitted by Lascañas to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as part of its investigation into killings under Duterte’s nationwide drug war and in Davao City. Rappler reported about the content of this affidavit in November 2021.
Rappler reached out to Delvo via phone calls, text messages, and Viber messages for comment on these allegations, but he has not replied. The Davao regional police’s public information office told Rappler on Thursday morning that it already forwarded our request to Delvo’s office. We will update this story as soon as we receive a reply.
Delvo, who was appointed regional director of the Davao region in March 2023 is part of the close network of Duterte and former Philippine National Police chief and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. He served as close senior aide of Dela Rosa after working with him for many years in Davao City, before transferring to the PNP’s Directorate for Comptrollership. He also served as chief of the PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Office during the last months of the Duterte administration and headed the area police command in Eastern Mindanao.
Lascañas, who was a Davao cop for nearly 35 years, claimed that he first met Delvo when the latter was a young police inspector at the Davao City Police Office. Delvo, a member of Philippine National Police Academy Class of 1995, referred to Lascañas as “’Nong” or “Manong” (elder) as a sign of respect.
“He wanted to know the ‘unwritten law’ of police work, and wanted to learn the A to Z in the business of killing people,” Lascañas said in his affidavit. “He embraced the evil one’s policy of killings, and I am partly to blame.”
Lascañas detailed a system where Duterte supposedly freely ordered his men to kill individuals during his decades as Davao City mayor. Based on Rappler’s count, he narrated at least 100 killings linked to Duterte whom they codenamed “Superman.”
Delvo was one of the 21 cops that the Office of the Ombudsman in 2012 found to be “guilty of simple neglect of duty.” They were suspended for a month or ordered to pay a fine equivalent to one month’s salary.
In his affidavit, Lascañas included Delvo’s name in his narration of at least four killings that occurred before Duterte became president. Delvo’s participation allegedly ranged from relaying kill orders to DDS members to being part of a surveillance team that followed targets.
1. Relayed order to abduct a certain Sali Makdum
Lascañas alleged that Delvo was supposedly involved in the abduction and killing of a certain Sali Makdum sometime between 1999 and 2000. He claimed that this operation was ordered by Dela Rosa and approved by Duterte.
“[Dela Rosa]…ordered me thru cellphone and personally thru then-Senior Inspectors Antonio Rivera and Alden Delvo…to erase/kill without a trace alias Makdum,” he said in his affidavit.
Makdum also figured in the testimonies of another DDS whistleblower Edgar Matobato. In 2017, a regional trial court in Panabo City issued a warrant of arrest against Matobato over the kidnapping of Makdum.
Rappler reached out to Dela Rosa via message and his Senate office’s email on Thursday morning, April 25, but received no reply. He previously refused to comment on an earlier investigative series on the same Lascañas affidavit published by Rappler in November 2021.
In February 2024, when Lascañas resurfaced with more allegations after years of hiding, Dela Rosa said: “Sige, pabayaan mo lang siya mag-allege siya nang mag-allege. Basta malinis ang konsensiya ko, bahala siya sa buhay niya.” (Go ahead, let him allege all he wants. My conscience is clear, he can do whatever he wants.)
2. Allegedly led team that abducted and killed two suspected extortionists
Delvo was allegedly part of a team of Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) operatives involved in the abduction and eventual killing of two Muslim individuals, whom they claimed were “suspected extortionists.”
The abduction allegedly happened in Mati, Davao Oriental, in 2003 using three vehicles. Lascañas said that it was Delvo’s team of young personnel “who led the action.”
The team then “blindfolded, gagged, and hogtied” the two victims, brought them back to Laud Quarry in Davao City after Dela Rosa allegedly ordered to “immediately neutralize them without the benefit of tactical interrogation.”
3. Allegedly involved in killing of person who reportedly plotted to assassinate Duterte
Lascañas said that sometime in 2003, Delvo called for a confidential meeting where they were told about an operation “against a high risk personality, who was allegedly planning to assassinate Duterte.” He said that this “intelligence information” was from Delvo, Dela Rosa, and Sonny Buenaventura, who Lascañas described as a close bodyguard of the then-city mayor.
“[Delvo] would be the one to call and instruct us on our role as stand-by, back-up police elements,” Lascañas said.
Delvo ended up calling days after, Lascañas claimed, and “asked for [Lascañas]’ location because he badly needed back-up elements and assistance.” But the Davao cop said he was too far away, so he would ask another DDS hitman to follow instead.
It was only after that Lascañas discovered that the man believed to be plotting the supposed assassination of Duterte, and who was the DDS’ target, was then-Monkayo mayor Joel Brillantes. The hitman, Delvo told Lascañas in a phone conversation, was a dismissed Davao City policeman, who was eventually killed by the DDS.
A Philippine Star report in 2003 confirmed the assassination of Brillantes, quoting police as saying they believed it was an “offshoot of the ongoing mining row at Mt. Diwalwal.” But the suspect in the assassination of Brillantes was identified as a “barangay tanod” who, according to the report, was killed by the mayor’s bodyguard.
4. Allegedly involved in the death of former cop
Former cop Allan Estrada, who was facing kidnap-for-ransom charges, was killed by police in a shootout in August 2007. He was one of the most wanted individuals in the Philippines, according to a Philippine Star report.
But Lascañas said that Estrada “did not resist the arrest.” Instead, Duterte “handed [Lascañas] a handgun to plant it on [Estrada]’s body as evidence.”
“Because of this ‘accomplishment,’ [Delvo] was awarded with a ‘spot promotion’ to the rank of Police Lt. Colonel,” Lascañas said in his affidavit.
In 2009, Delvo was one of the awardees in the Search for the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service, an award-giving body organized by Metrobank Foundation, PSBank, and the Rotary Club of New Manila East, according to a Philippine Star report.
When Duterte was sworn into the presidency in 2016, he brought with him from Davao City not just his men, but also the violence, turning his local anti-crime efforts into a nationwide affair.
He waged a bloody anti-illegal drug campaign that led to more than 6,000 people killed in police operations alone, as of May 2022. The death toll could reach 30,000 to include victims of vigilante-style killings, according to estimates by human rights groups.
But it was not only the war on drugs that Duterte expanded, but also the DDS system.
Delvo, who was then already installed as senior aide to Dela Rosa in Camp Crame, allegedly offered Lascañas a “buena mano” contract, asking him to kill suspected drug lord Melvin Odicta. It meant a P10-million reward money from Duterte himself.
But Lascañas was already planning to submit his retirement documents.
“I feigned accord to the killing contract, it was a ‘big time’ business of killing, according to [Delvo],” Lascañas said in his affidavit. He also said Delvo made a series of follow-up calls, even offering to provide a get-away motorcycle for his “DDS-hitman shooter.”
Odicta and his wife, Merriam, were gunned down by an unidentified man as they were disembarking from a passenger ship in Aklan in August 2016. Duterte said he was not surprised that Odicta was killed because he “was really being hunted.” The then-president said Odicta was “wanted and he is the number one drug lord.”
Lascañas claimed he received a “balato” (share) of P200,000.
That meeting was followed by another in October 2016, but this time in a Chinese restaurant in Greenhills, San Juan – just a few kilometers from the PNP headquarters – upon the invitation of Dela Rosa.
Lascañas said in his affidavit that Delvo, who sat beside him, asked “in whisper if [Duterte] gave me a quota [on] how many to kill in a day in Davao City before.” He replied that there was no quota, but there would be a bonus of “either money or material things” if they could reach five kills in a day.
“[Delvo] then told me that President Duterte, through…then-PNP Chief [Dela Rosa], gave him a quota of at least ten killings per day nationwide, in which Dela Rosa nodded in confirmation without a word,” Lascañas recalled.
The meeting happened during the same month that Lascañas and other Davao City cops appeared before a Senate hearing into alleged state-sponsored killings across the Philippines. This was following the exposé of Matobato.
Lascañas said in his affidavit that then-senator Alan Peter Cayetano told them to stay loyal to Duterte and deny all accusations.
Before he flew back to Davao, Lascañas said Delvo called him for a meeting in Camp Crame to offer him “another contract killing with P10-million reward from President Duterte.”
Lascañas said Delvo would also offer “safe havens” inside Camp Crame whenever he relayed orders to him from more senior personalities.
Lascañas’ allegations first became public after Rappler released a series of reports on his affidavit in November 2021. The ICC has since continued its own investigation into the killings under Duterte, including those that happened during his time in Davao City from 2011 to 2016.
Duterte left office in 2022 unscathed. Delvo, meanwhile, continued to rise through the ranks, even becoming Davao regional police director in March 2023. He was also recently recognized by the Metrobank Foundation.
Drug-related killings in Davao region also continued, with more than half of the 104 reported killings in Davao City alone happening since the start of his appointment in March 2023, according to data from the Dahas Project of the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center.
After Delvo’s retirement from office, leaving behind a still on-the-run Quiboloy, what happens to Lascañas’ accusation against him that have reached the ICC? – Rappler.com
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How does this make you feel? | Rappler | https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/davao-death-squad-allegations-unanswered-police-alden-delvo/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3CqNG7rQtKF2zCe_garmi2F13lIYJuy-XHOwoEuV5FlUy3qJSQjjJbYz8_aem_OpOqjyDyU5XxJNtbo4XX3w |
Now retired, top cop Alden Delvo leaves Davao Death Squad allegations unanswered | Jodesz Gavilan | 29/04/2024 13:03 | All eyes are on the Davao region police as they seek to implement the numerous arrest warrants issued against doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
At the top of the regional police hierarchy is Brigadier General Alden Delvo, who celebrated his 56th birthday on Thursday, April 25. He shares the same birthday with the fugitive Quiboloy.
A report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted him as saying that he spent several birthdays at the KOJC instead of his home. But he assured the public that the police are doing their best to arrest Quiboloy, who is the subject of arrest warrants from Davao City and Pasig City courts, on top of a Senate arrest order. He is also on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most-wanted list for sex trafficking of children, among other allegations.
Delvo warned: “Those who could be coddling the pastor, whether they be friends or, worse, members of the police or the military, we will file a case of obstruction for (sic) justice once we find out about it.”
Delvo is now retired as he has reached the mandatory retirement age of 56 for Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel. He will not only leave office with Quiboloy still on the run, but also leave behind unanswered allegations from former cop and self-confessed Davao Death Squad (DDS) hitman Arturo Lascañas.
The DDS is a notorious group accused of carrying out hundreds of killings upon the orders of then-Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who became president in 2016.
Delvo’s name was mentioned 46 times in the 186-page affidavit submitted by Lascañas to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as part of its investigation into killings under Duterte’s nationwide drug war and in Davao City. Rappler reported about the content of this affidavit in November 2021.
Rappler reached out to Delvo via phone calls, text messages, and Viber messages for comment on these allegations, but he has not replied. The Davao regional police’s public information office told Rappler on Thursday morning that it already forwarded our request to Delvo’s office. We will update this story as soon as we receive a reply.
Delvo, who was appointed regional director of the Davao region in March 2023 is part of the close network of Duterte and former Philippine National Police chief and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. He served as close senior aide of Dela Rosa after working with him for many years in Davao City, before transferring to the PNP’s Directorate for Comptrollership. He also served as chief of the PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Office during the last months of the Duterte administration and headed the area police command in Eastern Mindanao.
Lascañas, who was a Davao cop for nearly 35 years, claimed that he first met Delvo when the latter was a young police inspector at the Davao City Police Office. Delvo, a member of Philippine National Police Academy Class of 1995, referred to Lascañas as “’Nong” or “Manong” (elder) as a sign of respect.
“He wanted to know the ‘unwritten law’ of police work, and wanted to learn the A to Z in the business of killing people,” Lascañas said in his affidavit. “He embraced the evil one’s policy of killings, and I am partly to blame.”
Lascañas detailed a system where Duterte supposedly freely ordered his men to kill individuals during his decades as Davao City mayor. Based on Rappler’s count, he narrated at least 100 killings linked to Duterte whom they codenamed “Superman.”
Delvo was one of the 21 cops that the Office of the Ombudsman in 2012 found to be “guilty of simple neglect of duty.” They were suspended for a month or ordered to pay a fine equivalent to one month’s salary.
In his affidavit, Lascañas included Delvo’s name in his narration of at least four killings that occurred before Duterte became president. Delvo’s participation allegedly ranged from relaying kill orders to DDS members to being part of a surveillance team that followed targets.
1. Relayed order to abduct a certain Sali Makdum
Lascañas alleged that Delvo was supposedly involved in the abduction and killing of a certain Sali Makdum sometime between 1999 and 2000. He claimed that this operation was ordered by Dela Rosa and approved by Duterte.
“[Dela Rosa]…ordered me thru cellphone and personally thru then-Senior Inspectors Antonio Rivera and Alden Delvo…to erase/kill without a trace alias Makdum,” he said in his affidavit.
Makdum also figured in the testimonies of another DDS whistleblower Edgar Matobato. In 2017, a regional trial court in Panabo City issued a warrant of arrest against Matobato over the kidnapping of Makdum.
Rappler reached out to Dela Rosa via message and his Senate office’s email on Thursday morning, April 25, but received no reply. He previously refused to comment on an earlier investigative series on the same Lascañas affidavit published by Rappler in November 2021.
In February 2024, when Lascañas resurfaced with more allegations after years of hiding, Dela Rosa said: “Sige, pabayaan mo lang siya mag-allege siya nang mag-allege. Basta malinis ang konsensiya ko, bahala siya sa buhay niya.” (Go ahead, let him allege all he wants. My conscience is clear, he can do whatever he wants.)
2. Allegedly led team that abducted and killed two suspected extortionists
Delvo was allegedly part of a team of Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) operatives involved in the abduction and eventual killing of two Muslim individuals, whom they claimed were “suspected extortionists.”
The abduction allegedly happened in Mati, Davao Oriental, in 2003 using three vehicles. Lascañas said that it was Delvo’s team of young personnel “who led the action.”
The team then “blindfolded, gagged, and hogtied” the two victims, brought them back to Laud Quarry in Davao City after Dela Rosa allegedly ordered to “immediately neutralize them without the benefit of tactical interrogation.”
3. Allegedly involved in killing of person who reportedly plotted to assassinate Duterte
Lascañas said that sometime in 2003, Delvo called for a confidential meeting where they were told about an operation “against a high risk personality, who was allegedly planning to assassinate Duterte.” He said that this “intelligence information” was from Delvo, Dela Rosa, and Sonny Buenaventura, who Lascañas described as a close bodyguard of the then-city mayor.
“[Delvo] would be the one to call and instruct us on our role as stand-by, back-up police elements,” Lascañas said.
Delvo ended up calling days after, Lascañas claimed, and “asked for [Lascañas]’ location because he badly needed back-up elements and assistance.” But the Davao cop said he was too far away, so he would ask another DDS hitman to follow instead.
It was only after that Lascañas discovered that the man believed to be plotting the supposed assassination of Duterte, and who was the DDS’ target, was then-Monkayo mayor Joel Brillantes. The hitman, Delvo told Lascañas in a phone conversation, was a dismissed Davao City policeman, who was eventually killed by the DDS.
A Philippine Star report in 2003 confirmed the assassination of Brillantes, quoting police as saying they believed it was an “offshoot of the ongoing mining row at Mt. Diwalwal.” But the suspect in the assassination of Brillantes was identified as a “barangay tanod” who, according to the report, was killed by the mayor’s bodyguard.
4. Allegedly involved in the death of former cop
Former cop Allan Estrada, who was facing kidnap-for-ransom charges, was killed by police in a shootout in August 2007. He was one of the most wanted individuals in the Philippines, according to a Philippine Star report.
But Lascañas said that Estrada “did not resist the arrest.” Instead, Duterte “handed [Lascañas] a handgun to plant it on [Estrada]’s body as evidence.”
“Because of this ‘accomplishment,’ [Delvo] was awarded with a ‘spot promotion’ to the rank of Police Lt. Colonel,” Lascañas said in his affidavit.
In 2009, Delvo was one of the awardees in the Search for the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service, an award-giving body organized by Metrobank Foundation, PSBank, and the Rotary Club of New Manila East, according to a Philippine Star report.
When Duterte was sworn into the presidency in 2016, he brought with him from Davao City not just his men, but also the violence, turning his local anti-crime efforts into a nationwide affair.
He waged a bloody anti-illegal drug campaign that led to more than 6,000 people killed in police operations alone, as of May 2022. The death toll could reach 30,000 to include victims of vigilante-style killings, according to estimates by human rights groups.
But it was not only the war on drugs that Duterte expanded, but also the DDS system.
Delvo, who was then already installed as senior aide to Dela Rosa in Camp Crame, allegedly offered Lascañas a “buena mano” contract, asking him to kill suspected drug lord Melvin Odicta. It meant a P10-million reward money from Duterte himself.
But Lascañas was already planning to submit his retirement documents.
“I feigned accord to the killing contract, it was a ‘big time’ business of killing, according to [Delvo],” Lascañas said in his affidavit. He also said Delvo made a series of follow-up calls, even offering to provide a get-away motorcycle for his “DDS-hitman shooter.”
Odicta and his wife, Merriam, were gunned down by an unidentified man as they were disembarking from a passenger ship in Aklan in August 2016. Duterte said he was not surprised that Odicta was killed because he “was really being hunted.” The then-president said Odicta was “wanted and he is the number one drug lord.”
Lascañas claimed he received a “balato” (share) of P200,000.
That meeting was followed by another in October 2016, but this time in a Chinese restaurant in Greenhills, San Juan – just a few kilometers from the PNP headquarters – upon the invitation of Dela Rosa.
Lascañas said in his affidavit that Delvo, who sat beside him, asked “in whisper if [Duterte] gave me a quota [on] how many to kill in a day in Davao City before.” He replied that there was no quota, but there would be a bonus of “either money or material things” if they could reach five kills in a day.
“[Delvo] then told me that President Duterte, through…then-PNP Chief [Dela Rosa], gave him a quota of at least ten killings per day nationwide, in which Dela Rosa nodded in confirmation without a word,” Lascañas recalled.
The meeting happened during the same month that Lascañas and other Davao City cops appeared before a Senate hearing into alleged state-sponsored killings across the Philippines. This was following the exposé of Matobato.
Lascañas said in his affidavit that then-senator Alan Peter Cayetano told them to stay loyal to Duterte and deny all accusations.
Before he flew back to Davao, Lascañas said Delvo called him for a meeting in Camp Crame to offer him “another contract killing with P10-million reward from President Duterte.”
Lascañas said Delvo would also offer “safe havens” inside Camp Crame whenever he relayed orders to him from more senior personalities.
Lascañas’ allegations first became public after Rappler released a series of reports on his affidavit in November 2021. The ICC has since continued its own investigation into the killings under Duterte, including those that happened during his time in Davao City from 2011 to 2016.
Duterte left office in 2022 unscathed. Delvo, meanwhile, continued to rise through the ranks, even becoming Davao regional police director in March 2023. He was also recently recognized by the Metrobank Foundation.
Drug-related killings in Davao region also continued, with more than half of the 104 reported killings in Davao City alone happening since the start of his appointment in March 2023, according to data from the Dahas Project of the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center.
After Delvo’s retirement from office, leaving behind a still on-the-run Quiboloy, what happens to Lascañas’ accusation against him that have reached the ICC? – Rappler.com
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GAME SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball | jisaga0269 | 8/5/2024 20:35 | It’s down to the last two teams standing as the University of Santo Tomas and National University battle for the UAAP volleyball championship in both the women’s and men’s divisions!
The league’s best separate themselves from the pack as the Final Four showdown kicks off! Here’s the schedule:
UAAP Season 86 volleyball action intensifies as the second round of the men’s and women’s divisions begins on Wednesday, March 20.
The contenders will separate themselves from the pack, with each game determining which teams will make the Final Four. Here’s the schedule:
Volleyball action is back in the UAAP!
Stars from both men’s and women’s divisions are set to ply their growing skill sets once again in front of thousands of fans, beginning on Saturday, February 17 and Sunday, February 18, both at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Here are the first-round schedules for both divisions:
*The March 13 games will be played at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Notable matches include women’s champion La Salle’s debut against contending Adamson on Saturday, 4 pm, at MOA, while men’s three-time defending titlist NU rolls into an immediate finals rematch with UST on Sunday, 12 pm, also at the same venue.
La Salle and NU – finalists in the last two women’s tournaments with one title won each – will wrap up their first-round schedule on March 16, 2 pm at Araneta. – Rappler.com
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[In This Economy] Is the Philippines quietly getting richer? | Chay Hofilena | 26/04/2024 11:49 | David Castuciano/Rappler
The Economist recently ran a piece titled, “Without fanfare, the Philippines is getting richer.”
Paywalled as it is, many people only got to read the title and the social media captions. On X (formerly Twitter), the post about it got angry and bemused reactions from Filipinos, ranging from “no, it’s only the rich who are getting richer” to “meh.”
I got to read the article itself, and I agree with many of the points made, including: the Philippines “is often an afterthought for investors,” “the economy has quietly boomed under a variety of regimes (from Aquino to Duterte), “growth has been brisk since 2012 (except during the pandemic),” and “the Philippines has enormous untapped potential: warm weather, pristine beaches, coral reefs and a culture of hospitality.”
But it’s important to nuance some of the other claims made.
First, the author says that under the Marcos administration, “growth is expected to be around 6% over the next few years.” The Economist includes a graph showing the growth of Philippine GDP (gross domestic product) vis-à-vis its ASEAN neighbors. The article then echoes a World Bank projection that the Philippines “will soon be an upper-middle-income country.”
In the same graph, though, it’s quite apparent that the Philippine recession (or economic downturn) during the pandemic was ASEAN’s deepest. We’re still feeling the permanent scars wrought by the pandemic recession, and I wrote before that we will need growth to be above 10% annually if we are to get back on the pre-pandemic trajectory by 2028. Growth of about 6% just won’t cut it.
While it’s true that the Philippines is quietly getting richer, one should note that regional neighbors like Vietnam are becoming richer a lot faster.
Development is often measured by an economy’s average income, or GDP per person. If you look at the Philippine trend of GDP per person, it has been growing a lot slower in past decades compared to many of its ASEAN neighbors (see graph below). We’re growing so slowly that Vietnam (which was a lot poorer than us just a few decades past) already became richer than us in 2020.
The Philippine government likes to trumpet that we will soon become an upper-middle income country, based on the World Bank’s definition. But as I wrote recently, we were projected to achieve this status as early as 2018! Six years later, we’re still dreaming of it. Indonesia made the transition just this year, and Vietnam is on track to cross over faster than us. We must all ask: why is the Philippines taking too long to become an upper-middle income country?
The Economist piece was right to describe President Marcos as “the son of an appalling kleptocrat” who was “helped by a massive campaign of disinformation aimed at rehabilitating the family name.” But we need to provide context to some other statements, like: “Whereas Mr Duterte filled key posts with his drinking buddies from Davao…Marcos has mostly appointed technocrats” who are “widely praised.”
In case the author missed it, Duterte, too, appointed his own coterie of PhD-wielding technocrats. And while Carlos Dominguez III, the previous finance secretary, was not a technocrat per se (he was a businessman), he pursued economic policies that were very much in line with what technocrats would ordinarily pursue (including tax cuts for corporations).
The article also quotes an officer of the Ayala conglomerate who appreciated the “high level of collaboration between the government and the private sector.” He may well be referring to the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), a group of billionaire tycoons who advise the President on business and economic matters. However, there are talks of the PSAC serving as a “shadow Cabinet,” pursuing corporate interests and asserting its pro-business agenda as it whispers in the President’s ear.
The article also says that “Mr Marcos is nowhere near as bad as many observers feared.” He is commended for continuing to upgrade the country’s infrastructure, for aggressively wooing foreign investments, and for being not as foul-mouthed as Rodrigo Duterte.
But not everything is so rosy. First off, the benchmark for leadership was so low that Marcos now appears as a huge improvement. Second, Marcos himself pushed for questionable policies that could endanger the economy. In his first year in office, he led the creation of a pseudo-sovereign wealth fund despite the lack of government surpluses, and despite the risks posed on the financial sector. Marcos is also pushing for economic charter change, which, apart from being needless, also risks political changes to the Constitution (there are rumors of lawmakers wanting, say, term limit extensions).
The article lauds the “national digital identity system” (Philippine Identification System or PhilSys) without mentioning the numerous data leaks from various government agencies – incidents that have shaken public confidence in cybersecurity. That could well be the reason why, as the article points out, only about 70% of Filipinos are registered under PhilSys, “far behind the nearly 100% rate in India, a poorer country.”
A big obstacle to growth mentioned in the piece is: “several laws discourage foreign investment: foreigners may not own stakes of more than 40% in a wide variety of industries, from public procurement to trading.”
But the article also omits to say that many reforms have already liberalized various sectors despite the constitutional limits. Proponents of charter change are, in fact, just opening up three sectors: higher education, advertising, and public utilities. The rest of the economy already allows full or majority foreign ownership. Yet despite this, investments remain anemic. I discussed possible reasons for this in my previous pieces on economic charter change.
Finally, the article mentions the phrase “Trump-proof” even as it acknowledges that the “global environment is deeply unpredictable” and that Donald Trump, if he wins in November, could suddenly declare war on outsourcing” – a major cash cow of the Philippine economy.
Despite these global uncertainties, I would agree with the general idea that the Philippines is getting quietly richer. But we could be a lot more prosperous now if not for the myriad domestic constraints (like rampant corruption and red tape) that keep pulling us back. – Rappler.com
JC Punongbayan, PhD is an assistant professor at the UP School of Economics and the author of False Nostalgia: The Marcos “Golden Age” Myths and How to Debunk Them. He was recently named one of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) for 2023. JC’s views are independent of his affiliations. Follow him on Twitter/X (@jcpunongbayan) and Usapang Econ Podcast.
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It is appreciated that our country is “getting quietly richer.” But this should not be the sole focus and top priority. Instead, our government should prioritize addressing the socioeconomic problems of poverty, employment, purchasing power, equity, and government debt. But this is not so because our society intends to hide “neo-feudalism,” as discussed by Prof. Sam Vaknin.
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Cracks in MILF show as key figures join Lanao del Sur governor’s political group | Herbie G | 29/04/2024 12:22 | LINES DRAWN. New party members take their oath before SIAP president and Lanao del Sur Vice Governor Mohammad Khalid Raki-In Adiong in Cotabato City on April 27.
SIAP
GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines – Prominent political figures in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) positioned themselves for the first regional parliamentary elections in the Muslim-majority region.
Barely a year before the elections, political boundaries have been drawn and rifts have become prominent within the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the dominant group in the BARMM regional government.
On Saturday, April 27, known political figures from within and outside BARMM gathered in separate events in efforts to solidify their political bases and make public their intentions to challenge in the elections the current MILF leadership of the BARMM.
Conspicuously in these events, Joharie “Butch” Abu, the vice mayor of BARMM’s capital Cotabato City and whose father was a senior MILF leader, announced his decision to bolt the MILF’s United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) to join the Serbisyong Inklusibo Alyansang Progresibo (SIAP), a regional political party founded by Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr..
Abu, who was inducted weeks earlier into the Marcos political party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), said it was not an easy decision for him to leave UBJP, a party led by BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, a close ally of his father.
Abu’s father, the late Hadji Salik Abu, more known as Ghazali Jaafar, was the MILF’s vice chairman for political affairs who was appointed in 2017 to chair the BTA.
Already ill, the elder Abu collapsed during oath-taking ceremonies in Malacañang. He became the first BTA speaker. But, less than a month into his term, Abu died on March 13, 2019.
In an official statement released on Friday, April 26, the younger Abu disclosed his intention to “seek a higher position,” sparking speculations that he would challenge his 2022 running-mate and now Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad “Bruce” Matabalao or to seek a seat in the BARMM parliament.
Abu took his oath as SIAP member along with several Cotabato City legislators – Hunyn Abu, Marouf Pasawiran, Henjie Ali, Abdulrakim Gabby Usman, and Kusin Taha, and 18 village chairpersons.
The mass oath-taking rites on Saturday were held in Cotabato City and attended by SIAP officials and many of their supporters.
Among those who took their oath, surprisingly, was lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, the former BARMM interior minister whose public appearances became scarce after his controversial split from the BARMM government in December last year.
Sinarimbo was introduced in the ceremonies as president of the SIAP chapter in Cotabato City and the BARMM Special Geographic Areas, which were recently created into eight new towns whose mayors and other officials will be appointed by the BARMM chief minister.
Sinarimbo, known among colleagues in the regional government as a no-nonsense political strategist, played a crucial role in the formation of UBJP until it was officially accredited as a political party by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
He denied that he has turned “anti-BARMM,” pointing out what he accomplished for the Bangsamoro region.
Sinarimbo said SIAP is open to alliances and coalitions with other political parties in the region, including UBJP, taking into consideration the political situation and geographic spread of the region.
SIAP is in a coalition with other political parties like the Al-Ittihad- Ungaya sa Kawagib nu Bangsamoro (AIUKB) party, and the Bangsamoro Peoples Party (BPP).
AIUKB was founded by Secretary Suharto Mangudadatu of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), while Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman founded the BPP.
“To run a government in a parliamentary system, we need to have coalitions and alliances with other political parties,” said Sinarimbo.
At the AIUKB regional party convention in the town of Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao del Sur, on Saturday, Sultan Kudarat Governor Pax Ali Mangudadatu, took a swipe at the BARMM leadership.
“The BARMM was not created to benefit only a few, not the ‘datu,’ not the chief minister, not the members of parliament, but to serve every constituent of the Bangsamoro region,” Mangundadatu said.
He said the presence of other political party leaders from all over BARMM in Saturday’s convention was an indication that “we are all ready to face voters and are not scared to have the elections.”
Mangudadatu’s remarks touched on calls by civil society groups insisting on their demand for the term of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to be extended until 2028, effectively canceling the first BARMM parliamentary elections in 2025.
The AIUKB convention was graced by Hataman, Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, Sulu Representative Munir Arbison, Maguindanao del Norte Representative Dimple Mastura, Maguindanao del Sur Representative Tong Paglas, and Lanao del Sur Mayors’ League president and SIAP chairman Dimnatang Pansar.
This early, political lines have been drawn and have shown cracks in the MILF, which was responsible for forging a peace pact – the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) – with the government in 2014.
The CAB led to the establishment of the BARMM via the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) which provides for the creation of the BTA to serve as a transition and lawmaking body before a supposed election of new officials of the BARMM in 2022.
No elections transpired that year, and instead, the BTA’s term was extended by the national government, with old and new members mostly from the MILF given until 2025 to serve in the interim body.
The 2025 elections will end BTA’s term, and it will be replaced by a new set of BARMM lawmakers who will be voted into office regionwide.
During a Grand Iftar gathering in northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao del Norte, in March, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. quoted Marcos as saying, “The BARMM elections need to happen to give legitimacy and accountability to officials who will be chosen by the people.” – Rappler.com
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LTO’s old IT system enables fraud, and motorists pay more for it too | lkyu0285 | 28/04/2024 9:09 | Alejandro Edoria/Rappler
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) was supposed to have transitioned to a new information technology system years ago. But the agency’s continuing decision to run its old and new IT systems in parallel has opened loopholes for fraud and cost motorists billions a year in computer fees.
Right now, there are IT systems for the LTO operated by two separate, competing companies: Stradcom Corporation and a joint venture headed by German firm Dermalog.
Stradcom, which has managed the aging LTO IT system since the late 1990s, has been part of a phaseout agreement signed in 2016. Meanwhile, Dermalog’s joint venture is the one behind the government-owned Land Transportation Management System (LTMS).
How can there be two separate IT systems managing data involving millions of motorists and motor vehicles? If there is a new system, why hasn’t the old one been phased out? These are where the problems and loopholes lie.
The result: a system that allows failed roadworthiness tests and smuggled ultraluxury Bugatti Chirons to slip through.
Motorists have also had to suffer through slower service times in instances when their data is registered in one IT system but not in the other – all while having to pay P169 every time they transact with LTO using the old system.
It’s an open secret that many motorists and huge corporations – with their fleet of vehicles – skip mandated roadworthiness tests for their vehicles. A source familiar with the registration renewals and insurance business told Rappler, on condition of anonymity, that certain inspection and emission testing centers offer “special” or “no-show” services, essentially allowing motorists to pay their way to a guaranteed passing mark.
Tests processed through the LTMS are all electronically transmitted, meaning it’s harder to tamper with inspection results. But since the old IT system is also still running, could there have been some way to bypass that system to get these spurious test results through?
Earlier in March 2024, sources close to the LTO confirmed to Rappler that a motorist with a motorcycle that failed roadworthiness tests still managed to renew the mandatory motor vehicle registration in an LTO office in Central Luzon using the Stradcom system.
Based on a report by a private motor vehicle inspection center (PMVIC), the motorcycle failed both its carbon monoxide (CO) emission and rear brake tests. For motorcycles registered for the first time on July 1, 2017 and onwards, CO percentage by volume should only be 2.5% or less. This motorcycle’s emission test showed it emitted 3.32%, as encircled in red.
According to the Department of Transportation, the results of most road worthiness tests conducted by PMVICs – such as the brake and headlights tests – are only recommendatory. However, passing the emission test is mandatory for all motor vehicles to be registered and renewed with the LTO.
Yet on the same day, an LTO-issued official receipt seen by Rappler showed that the vehicle owner was able to renew the motorcycle’s registration, a process that requires the motor vehicle to obtain a passing mark on its emission test or motor vehicle inspection report.
The only way this motorcycle’s registration could have been renewed is by using the old Stradcom system. That’s because the PMVIC’s failing report would have already been automatically submitted to the LTMS, preventing the motorcycle from being renewed there. The P169 “comp fee” on the official receipt, encircled in red, also indicates that it was processed through the old IT system – not the new LTMS.
This is also why fixers and LTO personnel who allegedly collude with them are “allergic” to the LTMS, multiple industry and LTO sources told Rappler.
Rappler has reached out to Stradcom and LTO multiple times for their comment on the no-show services that continue to be facilitated, and whether Stradcom’s system has safeguards against these. Both Stradcom and LTO have not responded.
A 2020 Journal Online post, however, spoke about “system innovations” in the LTO’s IT system. It said that Stradcom’s “Private Emission Testing Center Information Technology Facility links LTO and private emission testing centers to enable electronic uploading of data and authentication of records prior to motor vehicle registration.”
Quoting Stradcom spokesperson Lorie Bundoc, the post said that this computerized system was supposed to “help ensure transparent transactions, objective decision-making, and cut red tape. Our system provides information on irregularities in transactions and flags incomplete applications.”
But there were other problems, too. A former LTO assistant secretary also told Rappler that before the agency switched fully to the LTMS, forging driver’s licenses and medical records was easy to do under the old system. That’s because Stradcom’s system relied on scanning paper documents of driver’s license exam and medical test results, which could be tampered with before they were uploaded.
The retired LTO head also said he once monitored a driving school with only one instructor and small classrooms yet it managed to issue more than a thousand certificates in a span of just two to three months.
There is also the recent and high-profile Bugatti Chiron fiasco. Two of the luxury sports car – among the world’s most expensive – were smuggled into the country and even successfully registered in the LTO. These vehicles were not registered in the new LTMS, but rather in Stradcom’s old IT system, according to several sources and an initial investigation by the LTO-NCR.
This would have been impossible, if not more difficult, to do under the LTMS because registering a smuggled vehicle in the system would leave a glaring audit trail through the fingerprint scanner that would immediately expose the perpetrator’s identity.
Industry sources told Rappler that the LTMS is equipped with biometrics verification so that every renewal and approval requires the evaluator to scan fingerprints. A “liveliness” feature is also able to detect whether the fingerprint scanned is faked or somehow recorded.
Rappler also learned from individuals handling the LTMS that there was actually an attempt to use the new IT system to register the Bugattis, but because the transaction required a fingerprint scan, the attempt was abandoned. This was likely when the perpetrators instead turned to Stradcom’s system to complete the registration of the smuggled vehicles.
But even if you aren’t concerned about these cases of fraud, the parallel use of the LTO’s new and old system can still affect you. For one, you simply have to pay more.
If you’ve transacted with the LTO, you may have noticed on your official receipt that you were charged P169 for “comp fee,” or computer fees. That amount does not go to the LTO or government, but instead to Stradcom – the company managing the LTO’s old IT system.
The two official receipts above were issued by the LTO around the same time in October 2023. On the left is an initial motor vehicle registration of a sports utility vehicle in Muntinlupa City, and crucially, the motorist was not charged an additional computer fee because the registration was processed through the LTMS.
On the right is another initial motor vehicle registration, this time of a motorcycle in the LTO National Capital Region (NCR)’s West Regional Office. Because it was processed under Stradcom’s system, the motorist had to pay an additional P507 – P169 multiplied thrice since an initial registration lasts for three years.
Why do you need to pay computer fees to Stradcom? Under Stradcom’s build-own-operate (BOO) scheme with the LTO, the government does not pay for the set-up, operation, or maintenance of its IT system. Stradcom does. In return, the company recovers this through fees. Motorists have to pay P169 for every LTO transaction. A source that operates a PMVIC also told Rappler that they have to pay P45 every time that they upload inspection test results into the Stradcom system.
Way back in October 2005, a report by the Commission on Audit (COA) already warned that the public would have to bear the cost. In the COA Management Services Report No. 2004-03B, the state auditor said that “the interest of the public was not adequately protected under existing condition where IT fees are imposed without taking into account its acceptability to the end-users and establishment of the rate of return,” pointing out that an increase ranging from 4% to 440% of the LTO base fee at the time was added to the IT fees.
Meanwhile, motorists are charged no extra fees when transactions are done with the LTO through the LTMS. That’s because the government already invested around P8 billion for the hardware and software components of the IT project, which is now owned by the government as well.
Sources within the LTO told Rappler that motorists aren’t given the option of which IT system to use when registering their vehicle, renewing their license, or otherwise transacting with the agency. It’s apparently up to LTO personnel to decide where to encode the motorists’ data, with some LTO offices literally having two computers operating the two different IT systems beside each other.
It also seems as if these problems were foreshadowed in the 2005 COA report, which flagged how Stradcom’s contract lacked continuity.
“The BOO scheme for the LTO IT Project is disadvantageous as this would not provide project continuity. At the end of the 10-year concession period, the project has to be started anew as only the database will be owned by the LTO. The IT facilities and application systems, the costs of which were recovered through the collection of IT fees from the public, remained with the project proponent,” the COA said in its observations.
Rappler sought comment from both Stradcom and LTO on the two IT system setup and the computer fees charged to motorists. Neither have replied, even after multiple follow-ups with their respective spokespersons.
In a past letter to the editor in the Philippine Star that responded to an open letter that it had published, Stradcom defended its BOO arrangement, saying that it provided the “strongest impetus to make sure that the LTO IT System is always running efficiently since any downtime or slowdown in the LTO IT System would translate directly to a negative impact on Stradcom’s revenue.”
“In fact, the existing LTO IT System is even better than the LTMS as delivered by the Dermalog Joint Venture because the LTO IT System as acquired by the government under a BOO arrangement [is] at zero cost to the government, unlike the LTMS which was acquired using the direct mode of procurement wherein the government had to appropriate funds therefor,” Stradcom wrote.
Meanwhile, LTO Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, in an Inquirer report, also defended the current arrangement and the collection of computer fees: “[T]he reason behind the charging of computer fees is plain and simple: it is being done in areas where LTMS is not yet functional due to internet connectivity [problems], and for the convenience of LTO clients who would seriously be affected if we chose to revert to manual processing, rather than taking advantage of the existing old system.”
Mendoza also said that the payment of computer fees was limited to only “a handful of specific transactions that cannot be processed under the LTMS.” Yet Metro Manila, one of the areas least likely to have internet connectivity issues, continues to use the old system.
Almost 10 years after COA’s report, we’re now seeing the dangers it cited manifest, sometimes in almost comically petty ways. A source involved in the Stradcom-Dermalog system transition told Rappler that as early as August 2019, the LTMS system itself was ready to go live.
But what wasn’t ready were the LTO offices because in these offices, the chairs, tables, wiring, and even electrical outlets were owned by Stradcom. LTO personnel in certain offices reportedly couldn’t even place the new system’s computers on the tables because Stradcom site supporters would tell them that the tables belonged to Stradcom.
There is also one final, painful cost to running two parallel IT systems: inefficiency. Those transacting with LTO may, at times, notice long delays in processing what should be a simple motor vehicle registration renewal. That has prompted many questions on whether the LTMS leads to slower service times than the old system.
But sources in the LTO told Rappler that the delays come from having two parallel systems whose databases are not synced. Stradcom has reportedly failed to periodically submit its updated databases to Dermalog.
Stradcom has repeatedly asserted that it turned over its electronic database 10 times to the LTO. However, its last submission of updated data in June 2023 contained data only up to December 31, 2022 – which means that registration data for new motor vehicles in 2023 were excluded. LTMS needs the up-to-date data to complete transactions.
What this further means is that when renewal time comes, motorists whose vehicles were registered under Stradcom will find it difficult to renew since their registration information won’t show up in the LTMS. The process of fixing this is long and painful: first, a ticket has to be filed with the LTO’s Management Information Division, which would then need at least two weeks to import the data from Stradcom to LTMS.
And these are not just isolated cases. Data from the LTO’s annual report shows that from January to September 2023, there were 1,839,164 new motor vehicles registered. But based on LTMS data obtained by Rappler, only 333,152 new vehicles were registered under the LTMS over the same period. This suggests that potentially more than 1.5 million motorists whose initial vehicle registrations were made under Stradcom could face delays when the time comes to renew their vehicle registration.
Motorcycles – which make up the bulk of registered vehicles – will be the most adversely affected. Prior to an LTO memorandum circular that took effect on May 15, 2023, motorcycles with engine displacement of 200cc and below were required to renew their registration every year. This means that motorcycles not covered by the LTO circular will need to renew their registration – and could be in for a long wait if their data is stuck in another IT system.
Mendoza did not respond to Rappler’s requests for comment. He had previously claimed in an Inquirer report that there were no delays in motor vehicle registration due to data migration issues since “97 percent of transactions under this process have already been completed.” The few instances of delay, he said, happen only “during LTMS downtimes.”
Mendoza also claimed in the same report that Stradcom has submitted all of the “legacy data” in line with his “aggressive drive to fully migrate to the new IT system.”
At the end of the day, it’s the motoring public that quite literally pays the price. – Rappler.com
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As Catantan earns spot in Paris Olympics, 3 Filipino fencers fall short | delfin.dioquino editor | 28/04/2024 23:19 | REPRESENT. Noelito Jose of the Philippine fencing team.
Noelito Jose Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – While fencer Samantha Catantan turned her dream to reality by qualifying for the Paris Games, three other Filipinos fell short of their Olympic aspirations.
Noelito Jose, Hanniel Abella, and Nathaniel Perez all got the boot in their respective categories in the Asia-Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifier in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, held from Saturday, April 27 to Sunday, April 28.
Seeded 14th after the pool stage, Jose suffered an early exit in men’s epee as he absorbed a narrow 15-13 loss to No. 3 seed Jian Tong Sito of Singapore in the round of 16.
Perez also crashed out of the round of 16 off a 15-8 loss to Australia’s Joseph Glasson in men’s foil.
Abella, meanwhile, reached the quarterfinals in women’s epee after a 15-6 rout of Iran’s Reihaneh Rezaei Tadi in the round of 16, but she saw the end of the road following a 15-8 beating from top seed Kiria Tikanah of Singapore.
Tikanah, who competed in the Tokyo Games, went on to rule the event to book a return trip to the Olympics.
Fencers who vied for Paris berths in Fujairah faced an uphill climb since the Asia-Oceania qualifier offered just one Olympic spot for each of the six individual categories.
Catantan overcame the odds as she topped the women’s foil, becoming the first fencer from the Philippines to qualify for the Olympics in over three decades since Walter Torres participated in the 1992 Barcelona Games.
Bucking a knee injury in the finale, Catantan hacked out a dramatic 15-14 win over Kazakhstan’s Sofiya Aktayeva.
Aside from Catantan, another Filipino fencer in Maxine Esteban will see action in Paris, although she now represents African nation Ivory Coast.
Esteban also competes in women’s foil. – Rappler.com
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[Judgment Call] Who’s after Quiboloy? The media should be. | lfangeles0309 | 28/04/2024 18:34 | Alyssa Arizabal/Rappler
We are used to a few critics in the media industry who habitually trash investigative reports done by Rappler. Sometimes, it seems because our exposés involve the moneyed and the influential whom they rub elbows with; at other times, it just appears that they want to downplay our scoops.
But a reaction recently took the cake. Rappler ran photos and acquisition details of mansions and other properties of preacher-cum-fugitive Apollo Quiboloy in Canada, California, Las Vegas, and Hawaii. One of our avowed critics, a news publisher, said in so many words on social media that there was nothing wrong with that accumulation of wealth. The subtext was: Isn’t Rappler nitpicking, making a big deal out of a non-story?
The critic’s reasoning was: Quiboloy didn’t buy his properties using government funds, so there’s no corruption. If he used the money of the organization he built, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), to acquire his wealth, then what prohibited him from doing so? Followers offered the money freely anyway.
That line of thinking is problematic. And so is Quiboloy defender Senator Robin Padilla’s logic that the Senate’s order to arrest Quiboloy for snubbing inquiry in aid of legislation is an encroachment on religion, and therefore violates the constitutional principle of separation of church and state.
These arguments conveniently remove the larger context of why Quiboloy’s lifestyle should be scrutinized. He is accused of criminal activities – some of them allegedly committed cross-border. He is facing charges for these grave crimes:
Only the blind – and those pretending to be blind – will deny that Quiboloy and his close aides were able to carry out these elaborate crimes by exploiting the devotion of his followers at KOJC.
Only the blind – or those who benefit from others’ blindness – will dismiss the possible connection between these alleged illegal activities and the financial gains that enabled Quiboloy to accumulate so much wealth. He came from humble beginnings and has no visible lucrative livelihood outside of church donations (I shudder even having to imply that religious offerings are a form of “livelihood”).
Only the blind – and those blinded by political ambitions and expediency – will overlook that Quiboloy, by hiding, is mocking our judicial and legislative systems. I don’t even think he has gone to ground because he is fearful; he is hiding out of contempt, watching in amusement as the network (and walls) he has built through favors dispensed in the past are likely scuttling authorities’ efforts to arrest him. (From where, do you think, did he get the audacity to set conditions for his surrender?)
By the way, politicians had gone to him for endorsements before. Don’t you think they gave donations in exchange? Where do you think the politicians and government officials sourced those donations?
And as I write this, the Philippine National Police has just revoked the firearms licenses of Quiboloy. Why do you think does a religious preacher need at least 19 guns (worth about P2.3 million)? There definitely could be more – since he could reportedly afford to give the Dutertes a separate haul of firearms.
All these bring us back to why Rappler has been on Quiboloy’s trail. We report about crimes. We expose exploitation. We explain the interconnection of people and circumstances that allow abuses. We probe even private entities when their actions breach laws and become detrimental to society. Even if – and even more so if – those nongovernment personalities and institutions are in a position to influence a body of faithfuls. (Check out our coverage of abuses in the Catholic Church and of controversies hounding the Iglesia ni Cristo.)
So, again, why is Rappler after Quiboloy? Because the media should be.
Public interest. Public trust. Citizenship. Community.
If only for these reasons – and they are more than enough – any self-respecting newsroom will and should contribute to the scrutiny of this man on the run. – Rappler.com
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Step by step: San Miguel not looking too far ahead as sweep looms amid flawless run | delfin.dioquino editor | 28/04/2024 21:37 | STANDING TALL. June Mar Fajardo in action for the San Miguel Beermen in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – The way things are going, San Miguel sweeping the elimination round of the PBA Philippine Cup appears more like a certainty than a possibility.
Banking on the one-two punch of June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez, the Beermen rolled to their ninth straight win and clinched the top seed after a 120-103 thrashing of NLEX at the PhilSports Arena on Sunday, April 28.
Fajardo and Perez combined for 50 points, while four other San Miguel players scored at least 14 points as the Beermen moved within two wins from becoming the first team to go unbeaten in the elimination round in a decade.
But as San Miguel head coach Jorge Gallent has been preaching all conference long, the focus is on the next task at hand and nothing more.
“Our next goal is the 10th game. We’re just going step by step,” said Gallent. “As of now, we’ll think of the 10th game. If it comes, it comes. That is not really in our minds.”
Held to single-digit scoring last game, Fajardo dominated this time with 20 points and 21 rebounds for his first 20-20 performance of the season.
Fajardo reached the 20-point mark off a floater with under 25 seconds as he stayed in the game until the final buzzer – a show of commitment for a Beermen side determined to play at the highest level for the full 48 minutes.
“We needed to win. We wanted to win. We wanted to get the No. 1 spot because that has been our goal even before the start of the conference. We got it now,” said Fajardo.
“The challenge for us is how we’re going to stay on top.”
Perez paced San Miguel in scoring with 30 points, marking the fifth straight game he scored at least 25 points.
Terrence Romeo and Jericho Cruz supplied 15 points apiece off the bench, while starters Don Trollano and Marcio Lassiter added 14 points each in the victory.
Rookie stalwart Enoch Valdez posted 18 points and 8 rebounds to show the way for the Road Warriors, who suffered their third straight loss and fell to 5-4 as they badly missed the presence of star guard Robert Bolick.
Bolick missed the game to be with his wife Cassandra, who gave birth to their son on Sunday.
Another rookie in Jhan Nermal stepped up for NLEX with 16 points and 5 rebounds, while Matt Nieto tallied 14 points and 7 assists.
San Miguel 120 – Perez 30, Fajardo 20, Romeo 15, Cruz 15, Lassiter 14, Trollano 14, Enciso 6, Brondial 4, Teng 2, Tautuaa 0, Ross 0.
NLEX 103 – Valdez 18, Nermal 16, Nieto 14, Anthony 12, Herndon 11, Rodger 8, Miranda 7, Semerad 7, Fajardo 4, Amer 2, Taha 2.
Quarters: 25-15, 50-41, 83-71, 120-103.
– Rappler.com
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Want to go to Boracay or Iloilo? Go to Antipolo and hop on a P2P bus. | jreyes0314 | 26/04/2024 23:09 | MANILA, Philippines – If you’re thinking of going to Boracay or IloIlo, all you have to do is head up to Antipolo and ride a bus from there.
Yes, Antipolo. We’re not kidding.
RRCG Transport and Robinsons Antipolo are now offering daily point-to-point (P2P) bus rides from Antipolo to Boracay and Iloilo starting Friday, April 26.
Here’s what you need to know about the newly launched bus route:
The bus departs from the Transport Terminal at Robinsons Antipolo at 11 am daily. From the terminal, the route makes stops at Cubao, Batangas, Caticlan, Antique, Capiz/Estancia, and finally, Tagbac, Jaro, Iloilo.
If you’re planning to alight at Caticlan to head to Boracay, the whole ride is estimated to take 18 hours – meaning that you’ll arrive at your destination at 5 am. If you’re worried about comfort for the long ride, here’s what the inside of the bus looks like:
The bus will be making major stopovers from Robinsons Antipolo to Boracay at Alabang, Turbina, and Batangas.
Each one-way bus ticket going to Caticlan costs P2,400, while a one-way ticket going all the way to Iloilo – the route’s last stop – costs P2,700. Both ticket fees already include the roll-on/roll-off (RORO) fare.
Tickets are booked by contacting RRCG Transport’s customer service at 09503949335. Upon calling the provided number, choose Robinsons Antipolo as your departure point, input your preferred destination, select your seat, and provide your name and contact details.
Cash payment for the tickets is made through the cashier at the Transport Terminal in Robinsons Antipolo. After this, the cashier should hand you your receipt, as well as the seat number you chose upon booking.
Make sure to already be at the terminal at least 30 minutes before your departure time.
Robinsons Antipolo’s newly launched P2P route is a one-way trip, so you will need to book another ticket back to Antipolo from the booking terminals at Caticlan and Iloilo.
Each bus ticket from Caticlan to Antipolo costs P2,000. There are two departure times each day from the Caticlan Port: 3 pm and 7 pm. You may book your ticket at the Caticlan Port.
Meanwhile, a bus ticket going back to Antipolo from Iloilo costs P2,400. The bus departs at 4 am daily from the Tagbak Bus Terminal, where you can also book your ticket. – Rappler.com
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FACT CHECK: No news of Rhenz Abando leaving KBL team Anyang JKJ | Lorenz Pasion | 29/04/2024 10:44 | Claim: Filipino import in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) Rhenz Abando departed from his KBL team Anyang Jung Kwan Jang (JKJ) Red Boosters.
Why we fact-checked this: A YouTube video bearing the claim was posted on April 25 and has 217,259 views, 1,300 likes, and 100 comments. It was crossposted the same day on Facebook with 1.7 million views, 35,000 reactions, 139 shares, and 118 comments as of writing.
In the video, a narrator says: “Tila tuloy-tuloy na at wala nang makakapigil pa sa pag-alis ng ating kababayan at former highest Pinoy import sa KBL ng Korea na si Rhenz Abando sa koponan nitong Anyang Red Boosters. Matapos ang mga iba’t-ibang rumors na kumakalat kamakailan na bibitawan na si Abando ng Anyang para kumuha ng matangkad na Asian o Pinoy import ay eto na nga at nagkakatotoo na ito.”
(Nothing seems to stop the departure of our fellow Filipino and former highest Pinoy import in Korea’s KBL, Rhenz Abando, from the Anyang Red Boosters team. Following several rumors that have been spreading recently that Anyang will release Abando to hire a tall Asian or Pinoy import, here it is, it’s coming true.)
The video’s title also claims that Abando will join a team playing in the East Asia Super League.
The bottom line: As of writing, there are no reports from reputable news organizations or sources confirming Abando’s departure from Anyang or his next move. The 25-year-old Filipino import will end his contract with Anyang JKJ at the end of the KBL season this June, and he is not yet thinking about his next professional move although he may remain with Anyang. The former NCAA player signed with Anyang in 2022. (READ: A late scratch, Rhenz Abando not ready for comeback)
In an interview with sports news website Tiebreaker Times uploaded on Facebook on March 10, Abando said, when asked about what’s next for his career and whether he would stay with the KBL: “I don’t know what’s the plan…Depende kung saan may better option. Sila pa rin naman ‘yung may rights sa akin, so malaki pa rin ‘yung possibility (It depends on which is the better option. They have the rights, so there’s still a big possibility for me [to stay]).”
According to Tiebreaker Times, Abando will focus on recovering from back pains caused by an injury he suffered last December.
Anyang JKJ and Abando’s social media updates: On Abando’s official and verified Instagram account, the Anyang JKJ Instagram username is still in his bio as of writing. Additionally, Abando was part of a recent video by Anyang JKJ uploaded on April 16 on its official YouTube channel.
Fact-checks: Rappler has published fact-checks debunking related claims to Abando and other Filipino ballers:
– Owenh Jake Toledo/Rappler.com
Owenh Jake Toledo is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
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Tournament pitting best pool players from Asia, Europe named after Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes | delfin.dioquino editor | 27/04/2024 20:07 | ICON. Efren 'Bata' Reyes continues to represent the Philippines despite his old age.
Lisa Marie David/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The legend of Efren “Bata” Reyes continues to grow.
In honor of the man widely regarded as the greatest pool player of all time, the World Nineball Tour will stage the inaugural Reyes Cup in the Philippines from October 17 to 20.
Following the format of the long-running Mosconi Cup contested by teams representing Europe and the United States, the Reyes Cup will pit the best players from Asia against their counterparts from Europe.
“The Efren Reyes Cup is not just a tournament – it’s a celebration of the sport we love and I am excited to see the pool community come together for its first edition in the Philippines,” said Reyes in a statement.
Singapore’s Aloysius Yapp is in line to captain Team Asia, while Spain’s David Alcaide is on track to lead Team Europe.
Filipino star Carlo Biado, a former nine-ball world champion, also has a shot at making Team Asia.
Matchroom Pool boss Emily Frazer said the Reyes Cup is a dream turned to reality.
“Given the storied history the Philippines has on the sport, it is only right that we honor Efren in his home country,” said Frazer.
“Efren’s passion for the sport has been unwavering for over 50 years, he is the perfect figurehead for this tournament and our sport.”
Although already 69 years old, Reyes remains active in the sport as he represented the country in the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia last year. – Rappler.com
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Amazing tournament named after an amazing Man. Congrats Efren
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[ANALYSIS] Promoting PPP via a sufficiently empowered media | gdecastro0289 | 29/04/2024 7:50 | Guia Abogado/Rappler
This addresses two concerns. One, the criticality of infrastructure build-up as a blanket platform that provides a basic pathway out of latent economic woes. And two, initiatives to develop an empowered, determined and dogged media that not simply reports on infrastructure, but asks the right questions and effectively investigates, audits, and keeps infrastructure’s traditional propensity for fraud and corruption from burying us deeper in debt and destitution.
That second concern is important as many in media metamorphose into mere mouthpieces on one end and on the other, to survive, media meanders into entertainment, providing opium for cancers. As such, unfortunately providing no diagnoses, and thus, leading to no cures.
But first, an environmental scan.
We are not dead. At least not yet. Never mind that there are several vulnerable medium to small-scale enterprises, including former formidable corporate giants, who might think our economy is headed towards that inevitable condition as existential threats from incompetent economic management under the Marcos administration worsen.
One recent example is our continuing dependence on two of the most influential goods that account for the debilitating inflation that the diminished purchasing power of the peso and the high underemployment data simply cannot catch up with fast enough.
Even kitchen table food staples like rice, sugar, even salt that account for a substantial portion of our basket of goods and the consumer price index remain stratospherically priced and imported. So does the manic-depressive roller-coaster ride in fuel prices whose weekly schizophrenia has led the public to completely capitulate and surrender its ill-fate to the oil companies and the limp-wristed bystander perspective of impotent energy authorities who oversee these sectors.
Despite the undeniably positive directions taken by the Department of Agriculture (DA) – now under new, greatly improved, and professional management – to study, consult and provide focused support for Philippine rice farmers, the importation bias of the DA’s former failed leadership remains. While such bias might temper rice prices a tad, traders and importers continue to be the primary beneficiaries, cursing by the wayside the historically victimized farmers already on subsistence mode.
The inequity that favors a select few at the expense of the many is characteristic of the renewed cronyism afflicting the headline inflation drivers from food to fuels.
A case in point is the prospect of continuing in the business of rice planting by a moderately successful rice farmer who, as he barely ekes out a profit, is now threatened with having to defend his anemic income against a threatening tax audit. ‘Dead” is a word he eloquently uses to describe prospects for continuing his heroic entrepreneurship.
It is not surprising. Death is an appropriate word. Recently, even one of the largest and perhaps most iconic sugar refineries (central azucarera) was forced to permanently close, an inevitable demise catalyzed by the unbridled prohibitive costs of operations to provide a local staple relative to the importation of cheaper refined sugar. Its defining death, again a boon for a select few sugar traders and importers.
Regarding the other catalyst of debilitating headline inflation, the dizzying ups and downs of fuel prices as well as the continuing power outages since the start of the year provides a tsunami of volatility that shelves capital formation, foreign direct investments (FDI) and keeps us at the end of the list of desired destinations among investors.
When the late former president Benigno S. Aquino declared the Philippines as “open for business,” he realized the importance of both infrastructure and FDI as critical to alleviating structural economic inequities, the inflationary effects of food shortages, the surrender to foreign fuels and the curses we enumerated above.
Aquino’s “Private-Public Partnerships” (PPP) program and the “Build, build, build” initiative needed FDI, both domestic and foreign capital, lest they exert tremendous fiscal burdens and necessitate aggressive taxation. Note that among recent presidents, only Aquino avoided new taxes while kicking off a series of tax reforms that increased the exemption brackets for the poor while effectively lowering income taxation for corporations. It is a belief in the Laffer Curve and supply-side economics where lowering taxation, increasing efficiencies, and reducing regulation promotes freer trade and development.
And allow us to add, it reduces the amount of tax money stolen by crooks.
To avoid bloating debt, fiscal deficits, and increased taxation, such an initiative requires the infusion of private capital in infrastructure to lower the costs to process goods through individual value chains.
Note how competently planned farm-to-market infrastructure shortens the gaps between farmers and consumers. Note how ports, railways, roads, and bridges reduce travel time, decrease instances of food waste and spoilage, and avoid those extortion “checkpoints” that artificially increase food prices. Note how farmer’s markets, strategically located hubs, drying facilities, cold storage, and cold chain infrastructure funded by critical FDI and PPP can alleviate food inflation.
So here we invariably answer two of our reader’s amazingly perceptive questions.
Private sector capital is critical for infrastructure development, and we cannot back-burner that because of the negative effects of a transactional relationship between government and the private sector. That said, third-party watchdog audits, checks and balances, investigative reporting, and serious scrutiny by our threatened media – what was once a potent and effective Fourth Estate – is needed.
Despite the conflicts of interest and the hidden snakes that live within the capital structures of most of local media, some have boldly taken mitigating measures. For instance, Rappler is constantly developing its independence using innovative forms to fortify its autonomy and financial freedom including attracting in-depth discourses and analyses, more extensive coverages and beefing up its in-house capacities to dive deeper into issues.
In the academe where the foundations and the future of our nation is formed, students and educators alongside mid-career media professionals are now undergoing extensive training and education on investigating the relationship between the private sector and government in infrastructure. These are recent developments catalyzed by the realization that crony capitalism has returned with a vengeance.
We are not dead yet. There is hope. – Rappler.com
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I agree that “Crony Capitalism has returned with a vengeance.” But this is the Marcos-based kind of Crony Capitalism. This is because there was also the Duterte-based Crony Capitalism, which is now weakened, if not dead. In addition, I appreciate the information that there is a partnership between the academe and local media in general and among students, educators, and media professionals in particular, which is directed at “investigating the relationship between the private sector and government in infrastructure.” I hope they can care for themselves as they confront the Corruption Machinery of the Marcos-Romualdez Political Dynasty. Will they survive when it unleashes its Repression and Disinformation forces against them? As for now, they are “not dead yet,” but later, they may genuinely die.
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Anyone’s game: NU, UST gain Final Four edge as champ La Salle nears ouster | jisaga0269 | 28/04/2024 17:28 | MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament is nearing its most critical moments with the Final Four all set in stone ahead of a much-needed one-week break for all its competing athletes.
Season 84 champion and Season 85 finalist NU is back on top as the first seed after a 7-0 second-round elimination sweep.
Giant-slaying UST booked the other twice-to-beat berth as the No. 2 squad with yet another statement win against defending champion La Salle to end the elims, while underdog FEU rounded out its impressive turnaround from a 1-13 record just two years ago as the fourth seed with a 9-5 slate.
There are a lot of storylines to go through with just a handful of games left, with each tale being more intriguing than the next. (SCHEDULE: UAAP volleyball Final Four)
Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and the La Salle Lady Spikers are certainly feeling the pressure with each passing game heading to the Final Four.
Already bogged by injuries to key players Baby Jyne Soreño and MVP Angel Canino up until the latter’s much-needed return, the defending champions now face the unenviable task of going back-to-back against UST – a team that already beat them twice – just to book a finals comeback.
Six years removed from their last title defense – a three-peat completion, no less – La Salle is aiming to kick off another championship winning streak, but the path to get there will be as rocky as it can get.
Dubbed “Mini Miss UST” for their undersized roster before the season’s start, the Golden Tigresses are now standing tall after their historic 8-0 start evolved to a 12-2 finish and their first twice-to-beat berth in 13 years.
Incidentally, it has been 14 years since UST last hoisted a UAAP women’s volleyball trophy, and since the Tigresses’ last dominant stretch, it has been an up-and-down road with a handful of bumpy patches where they missed the Final Four altogether.
Today, however, with a cohesive crew led by possible rookie MVP candidate Angge Poyos, top libero Detdet Pepito, and star setter Cassie Carballo, no heights are too high for this small UST crew to reach, even with towering La Salle once again standing in their way of a finals return.
In the last three seasons of pandemic-era UAAP volleyball, the NU Lady Bulldogs, alongside La Salle, have been the shining beacons of excellence with three Final Four berths, two finals appearances, and one championship to show for it so far.
Led by all-around star Bella Belen and offensive juggernaut Alyssa Solomon, the perennial contenders are likely favorites to atone for their Season 85 finals shortcomings and once again rise to the top of the heap, with underdog FEU as their first challenge.
While Belen and Solomon continue to resist temptations of greener pastures outside the UAAP, the national team-caliber Lady Bulldogs will always be one of the top teams to beat in the foreseeable future.
Practically buried under the mountain of hype created by the three teams before them, the FEU Lady Tamaraws are in some ways in a world of their own, solely focused on raising back the bar of their legendary program and taking everything else as a welcome bonus.
Ending a five-year Final Four drought with a strong finish to the elimination round, the gutsy Lady Tamaraws are still raring to add more slain titans in their growing Season 86 catalog, and mighty NU is dead and center in their crosshairs.
Back-to-back wins against an on-fire Lady Bulldogs side are a tough ask, especially for this batch of FEU stalwarts just starting to regain their footing in the realm of UAAP contenders.
But if the likes of Gerzel Petallo, Chen Tagaod, and Faida Bakanke have any say on the matter, it’s that no team is untouchable to those who dare to be brave. – Rappler.com
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Lifelong discipline: How this Cebuano welder conquered the 42K marathon | Jasmine Payo | 28/04/2024 13:57 | CHAMPION. New Milo Marathon champion Florendo Lapiz proves that hard work pays off.
Rob Andrew Dongiapon/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – There were no shortcuts to success for newly crowned 42K marathon champion Florendo Lapiz.
In a run as grueling as the one he finished, it took a combination of passion, dedication, and discipline, and no one would know it more that him as Lapiz finally ruled on his third try.
“This is far from easy,” said Lapiz after finishing first in the 2024 Milo Marathon Manila leg at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on Sunday, April 28.
“You have to be in your top condition to do this.”
Lapiz – a 33-year-old runner from Carcar City, Cebu – clocked in at 2 hours and 42.33 minutes, pulling off a dominating triumph over runners-up Salvador Polillo (2:49.54) and Wilfred Esporma (2:58.51).
Unlike many who crossed the finish line after him, Lapiz only needed a few minutes to compose himself.
“There are no secrets to this,” Lapiz said in Filipino. “Everyday I worked hard for this. It took a lot of training and self-discipline to reach this.”
Lapiz works as a welder on a ship in his hometown, yet he always finds time for his passion. He trains for over two hours on a near 20-kilometer course in the morning and redo half of it from late afternoon to evening.
“Running is a habit,” he said. “I’ve built my body up that it got so used to [running] already, so I only had to think about the mental part.”
It was Lapiz’s third attempt after his first two tries saw him falling shy of the top spot.
Now hailed as the new marathon king, Lapiz admitted the challenges in running in Manila, as the extreme humidity and high heat index affected many runners even as organizers bumped up the start time much earlier at 1 am.
His fellow Cebuano runner Lizane Abella, the Minglanilla native who topped the women’s side with a time of 3:21.05, cited the same challenges.
But both champions did not concern themselves of the external factors and just focused on completing the race.
“I left it all out there,” said Lapiz. “That was all I think about, leave everything there and complete this.”
Lapiz also coaches young runners in Carcar – an initiative that not only nurtures his locality’s youth but also his love of the sport, he said.
“I need to give back to the sport,” said Lapiz.
But more than this love, he remained steadfast in outdoing himself everyday.
“Keep improving everyday, that is what I want. That is the life of an athlete,” Lapiz said.
Next for Lapiz will be the Phuket marathon in Thailand, before competing in the National Finals of the 2024 Milo Marathon on December 1 in Cagayan de Oro.
Now that his training bore fruit, Lapiz said there’s no stopping from here.
“There are a lot of events out there that I still need to win,” he said. – Rappler.com
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GAME SCHEDULE: 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference | jisaga0269 | 27/04/2024 22:53 | PVL Images
The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) heads to another title showdown between the league’s top sister teams!
Defending champion Creamline and sister squad Choco Mucho dispute the PVL All-Filipino championship for the second straight conference in a best-of-three series. Here’s the schedule:
It’s all even again for the top four teams.
The semifinalists of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference battle in a single round-robin, where the top two teams will advance to the best-of-three finals. Here’s the schedule:
Near-daily volleyball is back to satisfy fans’ hunger for action as the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) releases its 2024 All-Filipino Conference schedule, starting on February 20.
The development comes after the UAAP also released its Season 86 men’s and women’s volleyball tournament schedules on a Wednesday-Saturday-Sunday rotation.
The PVL, meanwhile, stays in its usual Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday slate, kicking off Tuesday, February 20, at the PhilSports Arena with a double-header featuring newcomers Strong Group Athletics and Capital1 taking on contenders Petro Gazz and Chery Tiggo, respectively.
Capping off the conference’s first week is an appearance at the Araneta Coliseum, with reloaded Farm Fresh challenging the Creamline dynasty in the 6 pm triple-header main event.
Fans outside NCR, however, will have fewer chances to see their favorite PVL stars live unlike the past conference, as only the Ynares Center in Antipolo, Rizal and the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna are the announced venues away from Metro Manila.
The season-starting All-Filipino Conference is scheduled to run for three months until May 14 at the maximum, unless plans change.
Other notable elimination round matches are Choco Mucho vs. Petro Gazz on February 27, Petro Gazz vs Creamline on April 6, PLDT vs Chery Tiggo featuring multiple former F2 Logistics veterans on April 16, and the Creamline-Choco Mucho finals rematch on April 18.
Here is the entire conference schedule, as of Wednesday, February 14:
– Rappler.com
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Who’s old? PBA elder statesmen show they can still keep up with young guns | delfin.dioquino editor | 26/04/2024 19:15 | CONTESTED. Beau Belga in action for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – Young guns are slowly taking over the PBA, but the elder statesmen of the league have shown they can still keep up.
The likes of Beau Belga, Mark Barroca, Kelly Williams, and Japeth Aguilar – all at least 37 years old – continue to deliver as their respective teams sit at the upper half of the Philippine Cup standings as of Friday, April 26.
Belga, 37, has been a pleasant surprise for a Rain or Shine side that has turned things around after an inauspicious 0-4 start, averaging all-around numbers of 17.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1 steal through 10 games.
Putting up just 11.5 points in those four straight losses, Belga doubled his average to 22.8 points as the Elasto Painters won five consecutive games to propel themselves to playoff contention.
A vasty improved scorer this conference, Belga also thrives in the other departments, ranking fourth in the league in both rebounds and assists.
Like Belga, Barroca is enjoying his best scoring conference at 38 years old as he churns out 15.6 points through seven games for Magnolia.
The Hotshots shook off a shaky 1-2 start and won four games in a row with Barroca turning back the clock – a stretch that saw the two-time Finals MVP average 19.0 points.
Barroca affects the game in other ways as well, ranking second in assists (5.7) and third in steals (2.1) among all league players.
And he is doing all of that while nursing a wrist injury as Barroca – who has played in 571 straight games – closes in on the second spot in the all-time most consecutive games played list currently held by Alvin Patrimonio (596).
“The veterans are seeing the challenge from the young ones and they’re doing extra work on their conditioning,” said TNT head coach Chot Reyes.
“We know everyone in the league now is paying extra attention to their nutrition, to their off-court work – really improving on their conditioning regimen, their fitness. So that’s what we’re seeing now.”
Reyes did not have to look far when he made that statement as he continues to rely on 42-year-old Williams.
The second-oldest player in the league after 46-year-old Rafi Reavis of Magnolia, Williams has been a steady presence for the Tropang Giga, who tote a 5-4 record.
Although the former league MVP can no longer put up lofty numbers like he used to during the peak of his powers, Williams remains a valuable piece for TNT as he averages 7.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.
Williams’ 17-point, 13-rebound double-double in a come-from-behind 108-101 win over Phoenix on Wednesday, April 24, that saw the Tropang Giga storm back from a 23-point deficit is a prime example of his worth.
The same goes for 37-year-old Aguilar, who has found ways to shine in a stacked Barangay Ginebra squad featuring Christian Standhardinger, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, and Maverick Ahanmisi.
Aguilar averages 13.7 points and 5.8 rebounds as the Gin Kings carry a 6-3 card.
“The influx of young blood has been very good for the league. It’s been very difficult for us. Before, even if we had a bad game, we know certain games are sure wins. That’s no longer the case,” said Reyes.
“Every game now, doesn’t matter who we play, we know it’s going to be a challenge. It demands our best,” Reyes added. “And that challenge is forcing the vets to really up not their game, but their conditioning.”
“They’re all upping their conditioning. And that’s brought about by the challenge seeing all the young blood coming in.”
Indeed, age is just a number. – Rappler.com
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Fearless fencer: Samantha Catantan overcomes injury to earn Paris Olympics berth | delfin.dioquino editor | 27/04/2024 23:34 | FENCER. Samantha Catantan in action for the Philippines in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Josh Albelda/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Filipina fencer Samantha Catantan bucked an injury and a crucial penalty on her way to the Olympics.
Catantan earned her place in the Paris Games as she ruled the women’s foil category in the Asia-Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifier in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday, April 27.
The former UAAP standout edged Kazakhstan’s Sofiya Aktayeva, 15-14, in the final to become the first fencer from the Philippines to qualify for the Olympics in over three decades since Walter Torres competed in the 1992 Barcelona Games.
Tested in every way possible in the finale, Catantan powered through and delivered an impassioned performance.
Catantan trailed 9-12 in the third and final round after she incurred a one-point penalty following a red card from the referee.
But the 22-year-old Catantan bounced back and scored four of the next five points to tie the count at 13-13.
The last point of that stretch, however, came at a cost as Catantan hurt her left knee off a lunge.
It was the same knee Catantan injured last year before her gold-medal match in the Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Then worried of aggravating the injury, Catantan surrendered and settled for silver.
Catantan, though, refused to be denied this time as she opted to continue with the match against Aktayeva after a five-minute injury timeout.
After the two traded points for a 14-14 tie, Catantan pulled through and scored the final point that allowed her to book her ticket to Paris.
Overcome with emotions, Catantan fell on her knees and cried with her hands covering her face.
Catantan beat out 13 other fencers who were vying for the lone Olympic spot up for grabs in women’s foil.
She finished the pool round as the No. 4 seed and got a bye in the round of 16 before she disposed of Oman’s Israa Al Siyabi in the quarterfinals and South Korea’s Hong Sena in the semifinals. – Rappler.com
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Results, team standings: UAAP Season 86 volleyball | Jasmine Payo | 5/5/2024 21:02 | ROARING. NU's Bella Belen (left) and Alyssa Solomon react in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball finals
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournaments reach a tipping point with the men’s and women’s finals!
LOOK: UAAP volleyball championship schedule
Here are the results in the men’s and women’s divisions:
MAY 15
May 11
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
– Rappler.com
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PBA homecoming set as San Miguel to retire Arwind Santos’ jersey | delfin.dioquino editor | 27/04/2024 10:28 | TEAM ICON. Arwind Santos in action for the San Miguel Beermen in the 2019 PBA Governors' Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – One of the greatest players in San Miguel franchise history will get the recognition he deserves.
The Beermen will honor Arwind Santos and retire his jersey when San Miguel battles Blackwater in the PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday, May 1, at the PhilSports Arena as appreciation for the success he brought to the team.
Santos wore No. 29 throughout his 12-year run with the storied franchise, which he helped lead to nine PBA championships.
“We’re going to pay tribute to Arwind for all of his contributions to the franchise. It is just a way of giving back,” said Beermen team manager Gee Abanilla on Friday, April 26.
“The management liked what he gave us in the past. Just showing some gratitude.”
Santos, 42, joined San Miguel in 2009 and became a cornerstone of a dynasty that took the league by storm.
With Santos forming the vaunted “Death Five” with June Mar Fajardo, Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter, and Alex Cabagnot, the Beermen dominated and won at least one championship in each of the seasons from 2014 to 2019.
That run of supremacy included a record five straight Philippine Cup titles.
While playing for San Miguel, Santos won MVP in 2013, a pair of Finals MVP plums, and two Best Player of the Conference selections.
The Beermen parted ways with Santos in 2021 and traded him to NorthPort, where he spent the next two seasons before he left the league in 2023.
Abanilla said Santos, a member of the 40 Greatest PBA Players list, is pleased by the news.
“He is happy, we’re happy,” said Abanilla.
Santos last played in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, where he won a championship with the Pampanga Lanterns. – Rappler.com
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LIST: Filipino athletes who qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics | jisaga0269 | 12/3/2024 21:31 | CHAMPION. The Philippines' EJ Obiena celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's pole vault in the 19th Asian Games.
Dylan Martinez/REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines – The clock is ticking for the world’s best athletes to punch their tickets to the 2024 Paris Olympics, and so far, the Philippines is on track to once again be well-represented in the top quadrennial multi-sport showpiece.
Several Filipino standouts have already qualified to fly the flag in Paris, with many more in the wings waiting for their shot at ultimate sporting glory.
The Philippines will have a lot to prove in the 2024 Olympics after a historic 2021 run in Tokyo, where living legend Hidilyn Diaz won the country’s first-ever gold through a masterful weightlifting display.
Additionally, the 19-strong Filipino delegation also secured the nation’s biggest medal haul ever in a single Olympics, with Diaz’s gold topping a big four-medal tally, boosted by two silvers and one bronze from boxers Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio, and Eumir Marcial, respectively.
Here is the updated list of athletes hoping to make more history for the Philippines in Paris, in chronological order of qualification:
First on the list is one of the Philippines’ best hopes for a 2024 Olympics medal, pole vaulting superstar EJ Obiena.
Ranked No. 2 in the world just behind reigning Olympic champion Mondo Duplantis, the 28-year-old is looking to capitalize on a monumental 2023 season highlighted by notching a new personal and Asian record 6-meter jump on June 10, 2023 and an early Paris qualification on July 3, 2023.
Looking to prove doubters wrong after a controversial split with his old coach, artistic gymnastics phenom Carlos Yulo punched his Olympic ticket on October 1, 2023, and has continuously trained to perfect his craft just in time for Paris.
At just 24 years old, the two-time world champion, six-time Asian champion, and nine-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games champion is gunning for his first Olympic gold, particularly in his floor exercise pet event.
Prior to even stepping foot in Paris, Aleah Finnegan is already a history maker for Philippine gymnastics, as her qualification on October 3, 2023, marked the first time a Filipina gymnast qualified for the Olympics since 1964.
Only representing the Philippines for two years so far since her 2022 SEA Games debut, the 21-year-old prodigy is out to make herself a household name with a stellar Olympics debut, and perhaps, win even more hearts with her first medal.
Another familiar face in the upcoming Olympics, boxing star Eumir Marcial is up for another round (or two, or three) with the world’s best, and is looking for a better shine to his 2021 bronze medal.
Qualified for Paris on October 4, 2023, the 28-year-old veteran makes a forced jump to the men’s 80kg class after his favored 75kg division was scrapped for the 2024 Games and is now out to prove himself and the world that he can still bring his best foot forward in the ring even in uncharted territory.
One of the Philippines’ best female boxers today, 31-year-old Nesthy Petecio is right in the middle of her athletic prime, and now has a golden opportunity to improve on her historic 2021 Olympic silver with a return trip to the sport’s biggest stage.
After qualifying on March 12, 2024, Petecio returns to the women’s 57kg event in Paris, where she has a chance to make more history for Filipina boxing.
Making her Olympics debut in July, Aira Villegas joins Petecio as the other Filipina boxer who will give the Philippines a much-needed extra medal chance, this time at the women’s 50kg class after also booking her spot on March 12, 2024.
At 29 years old, the Leyte native already has significant experience under her belt to make her go toe-to-toe with other world-class sluggers and possibly snag an Olympic medal in just her first try.
Weightlifter John Ceniza looks all set for an Olympic debut after securing his Paris Games spot after a strong performance in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup men’s 61kg event in Phuket, Thailand, on April 2, 2024.
The 26-year-old rising Cebuano star stayed well inside the qualification cutoff as only the top 10 in each weight category will compete in the sport’s biggest stage.
Elreen Ando sealed her Olympic return after a solid showing in the IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand on April 3, 2024 to secure her place in the women’s 59kg division of the Paris Games.
The 25-year-old Cebuana weightlifter, though, had to do it at the expense of Hidilyn Diaz – the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medalist – as only one weightlifter per country per weight category will advance to Paris. She bested Diaz with a total lift of 228kg in the World Cup to stay inside the top 10 qualification cutoff.
Ando, who shattered the Southeast Asian Games record last year, aims to surpass her Olympic debut performance where she finished seventh in the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Reigning Southeast Asian Games champion Vanessa Sarno secured a spot in the Paris Games on April 7, 2024, paving the way for the Philippines to have its biggest weightlifting contingent in the Olympics in nearly four decades.
The 20-year-old pride of Bohol stayed inside the top 10 of the women’s 71kg class in the IWF Olympic Qualification Ranking after an impressive stint in the World Cup where she shattered her own national record in the snatch event.
Far from the Olympic radar, Levi Jung-Ruivivar pulled off the improbable to become the Philippines’ third gymnastic bet in the Paris Games.
The Filipino-American teen, who narrowly reached the final as the last qualifier, captured a silver in the women’s uneven bars of the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup Series in Doha, Qatar on April 19, 2024.
With her medal breakthrough, Jung-Ruivivar hiked her qualification points to become the country’s 10th Olympian in Paris.
Joanie Delgaco became the Philippines’ first female rower to qualify for the Olympics on April 21, 2024 after a strong performance in the women’s single sculls of the World Rowing Asian and Oceanian Olympic Qualification Regatta in Chungju, South Korea.
Delgaco finished fourth in the 2,000-meter event, staying in the top five to earn her ticket to Paris.
Philippine fencing booked a return trip to the Olympic stage after three decades as Samantha Catantan topped the continental Paris Games qualifiers.
A former UAAP standout, Catantan ruled the women’s foil category in the Asia-Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifier in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates on April 27, 2024 to become the first Filipino fencer to earn an Olympic spot since Walter Torres competed in the 1992 Barcelona Games.
A fourth gymnast joined the Philippines’ Olympic cast as Filipino-American Emma Malabuyo sealed her bid with a medal-winning performance in the qualifiers.
Malabuyo, a varsity member of the University of California, Los Angeles, claimed her spot in the Paris Games after bagging a bronze in the individual all-around of the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships on May 24, 2024 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam made sure to book a return trip to the sport’s biggest stage.
Although the Cagayan de Oro boxer took a longer route after falling short in the two previous qualifiers, Paalam did so convincingly this time, winning all of his five bouts in the the men’s 57kg of the World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand to claim his Paris Games ticket on June 1, 2024.
Paalam, who had a thrilling debut run in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 before settling for silver, hiked Philippine boxing’s Olympic contingent to four.
Make that five Filipino boxers in the Paris Games.
Hergie Bacyadan made Philippine boxing the biggest contingent for the country in this year’s Olympics after earning her spot in the women’s 75kg.
A former world champion in the combat sport vovinam, Bacyadan earned a unanimous decision win over Venezuela’s Maryelis Yriza in the World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand on June 2, 2024 to book her ticket to Paris.
Earning another trip to the Olympics, golfer Bianca Pagdanganan completed the 60-women field after making the Paris Games cut-off in the world rankings released on June 25, 2024.
But the 26-year-old Pagdanganan aims for a better showing this time after finishing 43rd in the Tokyo edition in 2021.
Golfer Dottie Ardina reached the quadrennial showpiece for the first time after making the the 60-women cut-off for the Paris Games released on June 25, 2024.
The 30-year-old Ardina competed in just two LPGA events this year, but looks to rebound in Paris after a tough season.
Filipina-Japanese judoka Kiyomi Watanabe secured a second consecutive Olympic stint after clinching one of the two continental quotas reserved for Asia in the women’s -63kg category on June 25, 2024.
The 27-year-old bet targets a better showing in the Paris Olympics after a first-round exit in the Tokyo Games.
Lauren Hoffman earned her Paris Olympics spot via the world rankings in the women’s 400m hurdles on July 2, 2024.
Hoffman – the Filipino-American who holds the national record in the women’s 100m hurdles – accomplished the feat by the skin of her teeth as she made the 40-entry cutoff at the 39th spot, collecting just enough points to advance.
Another hurdler made it to the Paris Olympics via the world rankings as John Cabang Tolentino qualified on July 2, 2024.
Tolentino, a Filipino residing in Spain, finished 30th out of 40 qualifiers in the men’s 110m hurdles, just a couple of months after setting the Philippine record in the same event.
Swimmer Kayla Sanchez advanced to the Olympics for the second straight edition as she qualified via universality on July 3, 2024.
Helping Canada win a silver and a bronze in the Tokyo Games, Sanchez will represent the Philippines this time a year after her citizenship switch as she is set to see action in the women’s 100m freestyle.
Like Kayla Sanchez, Jarod Hatch formalized his Olympic entry via universality on July 3, 2024.
Hatch, who won three medals in the previous Southeast Asian Games, will compete in the men’s 100m butterfly. – Rappler.com
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TNT, Uratex to represent PH in world streetball finals in New York | Jasmine Payo | 28/04/2024 20:47 | CHAMPS. TNT Tropang Giga and Uratex Dream celebrate their title romps in the 3x3 national finals of the Red Bull Half Court tourney.
MANILA PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
MANILA, Philippines – Not even the scorching hot weather in Manila could derail the TNT Tropang Giga’s 3×3 basketball mastery.
Bannered by Almond Vosotros, Lervin Flores, Matt Salem, and Chester Saldua, the TNT Tropang Giga escaped the Davao-based Blancas Golden Knights, 15-13, in the national finals to earn a ticket to the Red Bull Half Court World Finals in New York in October.
“Everyone of us here worked hard for this. Actually, this is our first time to experience this, playing under the sun. No excuses, despite the heat, we kept it all together,” said Vosotros after the grueling streetball finals that rolled off from 10 am until 8 pm in an outdoor halfcourt at the Bonifacio Shrine.
Entering the tournament as a wildcard, TNT ruled all its pool games, before running through a gauntlet of teams from Cebu, Davao, and Manila to repeat as Red Bull 3×3 champs after winning last year’s edition.
“As soon as we found out that we would play on an open court, we decided to set up our training under hot conditions,” said Vosotros.
“We trained from late mornings to afternoons to get ourselves ready because we know we will play good teams that want to beat us.”
The Blancas, who won the tournament’s Davao leg, almost spoiled TNT’s quest, draining three consecutive contested jumpers, giving the multi-time PBA 3×3 champions a huge scare.
Tied at 13, Flores completed a two-point play with under 5 seconds left to salvage the win.
“I told myself that we really needed to win. We played through the heat in the afternoons, we are the pros here, and we played for Gilas Pilipinas too. We protected our pride,” Flores said.
For TNT’s longtime 3×3 coach Mau Belen, the tournament was a litmus test unlike anything they have experienced.
“With these types of tournaments, especially now that it was played on an open court, we got tested on how solid we are as a team,” said Belen, who called the shots for Gilas 3×3 in last month’s FIBA Asia Cup.
“We did not know who we would face in the quarterfinals or the semifinals, or for the championship, so that is where the fun begins for us. As we grow through battles like these, I see my players grow too for the team,” she added.
Meanwhile, WPBA champion Uratex Dream will once again carry the Philippine flag in the Red Bull World Finals after ruling the women’s side.
Uratex entered the quarterfinals of the World Tournament last year, becoming the only Philippine team then to get past the eliminations. – Rappler.com
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P72-B ill-gotten properties considered ‘abandoned and surrendered’ to PCGG | Jodesz Gavilan | 28/04/2024 18:33 | MANILA, Philippines – At least nine ill-gotten properties worth P72.157 billion are considered “abandoned and surrendered” in 2023 to the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).
In its 2023 audit report dated April 25, the PCGG’s audit team said that these properties are not facing any contest since “ownership has finally been decided in favor of the government.”
The agency, established after the fall of the Marcos dictatorship, is mandated to recover the wealth stolen by the Marcos family and individuals linked to the late dictator. His son and namesake, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is the incumbent Philippine president.
The assets and properties that were “voluntarily surrendered, assigned, or ceded or waived to the commission as ill-gotten wealth, or through settlement or after judicial determination” include real estate linked to cronies J.Y. Campos, Roberto Benedicto, Antonio Martel, Simplicio Palanca, Alejo Ganut Jr. and Jolly Bugarin.
The PCGG said that its asset management department worked with several appraisal companies to determine the latest valuation of these properties.
One of the high-value items are two adjoining lots in Ortigas Center, Pasig City that have an assessed value of P70.63 billion in 2023. It is where the Payanig sa Pasig Amusement Park used to stand before being replaced by Metrowalk.
Others include six Piedras lots worth P1.086 billion, a property in General Mariano Alvarez in Cavite worth P328.77 million, and a lot previously occupied by Banahaw Broadcasting in Naga City with a value of P89.28 million. These are all valued based on 2023 rates.
The five remaining properties are currently valued using 2022 appraisals. These include a property managed by Bacolod Real Estate Development Corporation worth P569.85 million, a P13.076-million lot in Tagaytay City, land in Puerto Galera worth P6.7 million, property in Caloocan City worth P3.7 million, and property in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro P1.17 million.
The PCGG has so far recovered P280 billion cash and non-cash ill-gotten wealth, according to its 2023 accomplishment report. – Rappler.com
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COA lifts disallowance on CAAP’s P192-M achievement bonuses | Mia Gonzalez | 28/04/2024 20:13 | COA. The Commission on Audit on Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, on October 2, 2018.
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MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Audit has lifted the Notices of Disallowance that it had issued against the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on its unauthorized payment of P192.19 million in achievement bonuses in 2014.
Voting 2-1, the COA en banc granted the appeal of CAAP, and reversed its January 24, 2022 decision that had affirmed the NDs.
COA chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba and Commissioner Mario Lipana voted in favor of lifting the disallowance while Commissioner Roland Café Pondoc dissented.
COA cited the April 29, 2016 memorandum issued by then-Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., which addressed the main reason for the disallowance.
“The payment of Achievement Bonus for 2014 was disallowed principally on the ground that it was granted without authority. In this case, since the Executive Secretary issued a post facto approval, the defect of the absence of authority to grant the Achievement Bonus is cured,” the COA said.
In his dissent, Pondoc cited the 2022 Supreme Court ruling on the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office petition against COA, that a letter from Ochoa supposedly granting post facto approval cannot be accorded validity as it sanctions benefits that violate budgetary and auditing laws.
Pondoc also said that such post facto approval by the Office of the President would be a violation of Section 261 (g) (2), Article XXII of the Omnibus Election Code since Ochoa’s memorandum was issued nine days before the May 9, 2016 elections.
The COA Commission Proper had earlier declared the bonus as an “irregular expenditure” as it was not in the agency’s corporate operating budget. It also earlier sustained the stand of the audit team that CAAP’s fiscal autonomy and the board’s authority to set the compensation and benefits are not sufficient legal bases to grant the extra bonus because of the lack of prior approval from the Office of the President.
The COA had also said at the time that since the bonus was released in mid-2014, it could not have been sourced from CAAP’s supposed savings since the latter could not be declared until the end of the fiscal year. – Rappler.com
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La Niña: What ought to be done to be better prepared? | Chay Hofilena | 22/04/2024 19:30 | Alyssa Arizabal/Rappler
Part 1 | La Niña may happen in 2024. Here are the flood-risk areas in Metro Manila.
To avoid another Ondoy, a disaster resilience warned that interventions need to be customized according to each city’s needs. There is no “one size fits all” solution.
Guillermo Luz, chief resilience officer of non-profit Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), said that measures could be a combination of engineering interventions, infrastructure upgrades, or nature-based solutions to avoid runoffs from Sierra Madre.
The so-called evacuation centers in the Philippines are facilities that are not originally designed to be evacuation centers. Schools, basketball courts, and government buildings become evacuation centers when disasters hit.
“It’s important to kind of look at alternative sites and build evacuation centers – not always using our schools.… You don’t want to evacuate people into another area that’s still at risk. So we have to identify and build centers in areas which are low for hazards,” Luz said.
Metro Manila also faces earthquake-related hazards aside from flooding, as the West Valley Fault runs under the metropolis.
In March, the House of Representatives had submitted to the Senate the third reading copy of House Bill (HB) No. 7354, which, if passed into law, would mandate every city and municipality to have a permanent evacuation center. Thirteen cities in Metro Manila currently do not have one.
According to a discussion paper by the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department at the Lower House, one evacuation center that meets all the requirements of the bill would cost each Metro Manila local government unit (LGU) at least P65.7 million ($1.16 million)*.
If a structure were to be upgraded to be a permanent evacuation center, the cost starts at P49.3 million ($870,000). While Metro Manila has some of the wealthiest cities in the Philippines, the price tag is considerably high.
If lawmakers get their way, construction of, and upgrade to, permanent evacuation centers would be shouldered by the national government.
Apart from evacuation centers, Luz said that addressing drainage problems in the metropolis is of paramount importance. Metro Manila also needs more pumping stations to move water from submerged areas to prevent or reduce flooding faster.
“Floods occur not only during a typhoon, but during actual heavy rainfall now without having to hit typhoon status. I think one of the root problems is the drainage situation within Metro Manila,” Luz said.
At present, if another Ondoy struck the capital, Manila would turn into a “river.”
The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) runs 71 pumping stations to reduce flooding. The city of Manila houses the highest number of pumping stations at 27, followed by Malabon City at 16. But it is not enough.
The MMDA and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), with a loan from the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, are building 20 new pumping stations and rehabilitating 36 existing ones through the $500-million Metro Manila Flood Management Project.
It also aims to clean waterways and drainage channels, build new drains if needed, and introduce solid waste management programs in barangays. Some 2,500 families living near waterways will be relocated.
The project is set to close in November, six years after it became effective. But as of February, only three of 36 pumping stations have completed upgrades and 10 are ongoing rehabilitation. Four of the 20 new ones are set to be bidded out.
In a message, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said that “the loan facility will probably be extended for another two years.” Artes had previously said that the loan has to be restructured and that the government was also proposing that the World Bank fund a 50-year drainage system master plan.
In a congressional oversight hearing on March 12, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called out MMDA and DPWH, saying that the agencies need to play catch up given the prospect of La Niña in the latter half of the year.
Gatchalian pointed out that low-lying Navotas City has recently inaugurated new pumping stations built using its own funds. He asked DPWH: “If a local government can implement pumping stations right away, what seems to be the bottleneck in implementing pumping stations related to this project?”
DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain responded that under the restructured program, the department will rehabilitate a total of 26 pumping stations and build only four – as opposed to the initial target of 36 and 20 pumping stations, respectively. Only 600 of the targeted 2,500 families will be relocated. In effect, the Philippine government reduced its targets to reach them.
Sadain explained that the coronavirus pandemic was among the reasons why the loan-funded project was delayed.
“We can still catch up the 30 (sic) pumping stations that are actually targeted for completion within the next two years,” the public works official said, giving assurances.
In the meantime, according to Sadain, the DPWH has built nine pumping stations using its budget.
Since Ondoy and Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), Luz said Metro Manila has seen a lot of progress in terms of disaster prevention. But a lot still needs to be done.
“I think one of the lessons we all learned as a country after that is the investment in preparedness and prevention. Right now, we have a lot less human lives lost since Yolanda. And there are many times actually that we have storms where zero lives are lost and I think that’s a good sign of progress,” Luz said.
The disaster resilience expert said that local governments have started investing in emergency operations and command centers, but at some point, there will be too many.
“To really kind of feel the full benefit of these centers, they should be connected to each other.… If you have connectivity to another network or sister center (in another city), then at least you still have your information intact, then you can somehow figure out a way to tap into the information,” Luz said.
“So I think the next big [step] is really sharing all the information. In disaster response and even in preparedness and prevention, it’s important that everyone sees the same picture,” he added.
He also said that mayors should invest in updated hazard maps and look at flood models to determine the most vulnerable areas and ensure that “those are always free and clear” of risks. Since Ondoy, damage to houses and infrastructure has significantly gone down but thousands of people remain affected, disrupting livelihood and schooling.
On an individual level, Luz said that Filipinos only have to do the bare minimum as citizens. First is to pay attention to weather reports and second is to be mindful of their trash.
To prepare households for floods or disasters, Luz suggested using PDRF’s PH72 as a guide, a simple tool adapted from San Francisco’s SF72, which details how people can prepare for the first 72 hours of a disaster. It includes information on what supplies to prepare and planning how to meet your family should you get separated during an emergency.
Similar to PH72, the Torreses of Marikina have devised their own system during disasters. For them, one can never be too complacent.
“Be ready at all times. Don’t ever think that your area will not be flooded,” Reizan said. “Each family member should know what to do. Prepare your documents. Ready your clothes and belongings. Save some money. You can never really rely on anyone but yourself.” – Rappler.com
*$1 = P56.60
All quotes were translated into English.
Vianca Jasmin Anglo is a data analyst pursuing a postgraduate degree in Human Development and Services. She was part of the public health, pandemic management, and response in the Philippines. Her years of experience in social development demonstrate her commitment to human well-being through data analysis.
Reporting for this story was supported by the Environmental Data Journalism Academy – a program of Internews’ Earth Journalism Network and Thibi.
METHODOLOGY
This data story examined the link between evacuation centers and flood risk in Metro Manila. We obtained the latest evacuation center data from the DILG – which appeared incomplete – and supplemented it with 2021 data from the OCD. Capacity information from these lists are incomplete, limiting our analysis to the evacuation center-to-population ratio.
Using spatial software and Google Sheets, spatial analysis was conducted to pinpoint the intersection between evacuation centers and their corresponding flood susceptibility category from HazardHunterPH. For the full description of our methodology, please read it here. Data cleaning and analysis can be accessed here. This story was a result of collaboration between the author, and the data and story mentors from Thibi, Thet Win Htut, and Aika Rey, respectively.
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Mario Dionisio Jr. juggled security guard job and law school, now he’s a PAO lawyer | Jairo Bolledo | 27/04/2024 8:00 | INSPIRATION. Mario Dionisio Jr. worked as a security guard to send himself to law school. Now, he is the district head of the Public Attorney's Office in Quezon City.
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Perfectly ironed sleeves, partnered with black pants and shoes. Towering height, calming but commanding voice. These things can easily be associated with Mario Dionisio Jr., a Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) lawyer.
Dionisio spends most of his time inside their office located in one of the top floors of Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma Hall in the Quezon City hall compound. He heads the PAO Quezon City district.
As the chief, Dionisio oversees 87 lawyers under his supervision. He ensures that their PAO lawyers have the eagerness to help their indigent clients. Dionisio said they cannot let their guards down and be lax, otherwise, their case loads would pile up.
“We have to be proactive enough kung paano namin matutulungan ‘yong korte sa disposal ng mga kaso (on how we can help courts dispose of cases),” Dionisio told Rappler in an interview.
Dionisio has been with PAO, the government’s primary legal office that provides free legal assistance to indigent Filipinos, for the last 16 years. However, it took him just as long to get there, if not more.
To afford sending himself to law school, Dionisio worked as a security guard.
All by himself, he enrolled at the Manuel L. Quezon University School of Law. While studying for most of the day, Dionisio worked as a security guard for establishments during the night. Time management was key.
His day back then usually started at 11 am. After preparing for school, Dionisio would travel to Quiapo, Manila, from his rented room in Cubao, Quezon City, to study. He said he typically stayed in the library from 12 noon to 5 pm to read.
His classes would end at 9:30 pm, so he had 30 minutes to travel from school to work. While on duty, Dionisio made sure the establishment he was guarding was safe. On the side, he studied some of the required readings and cases for school.
At 6 am the next day his shift would end, giving him only around five hours to sleep before preparing again for school. Dionisio survived the first few years of law school in this set-up, but things became much harder later on.
He narrated how his class schedule, on top of varying assignments for his security guard job, took a toll on him. It was difficult for him, he said, since there was no permanent establishment he was assigned to guard. He jumped from one location to another, until the assignments became much farther.
Financial difficulty was also another challenge for Dionisio. He could not afford to buy law books, so he made sure he spent time inside the school library. While there, Dionisio said he would write in a small notebook the pertinent provisions that he needed to memorize. He also photocopied some of the books, so he had copies of the cases he needed to read.
“‘Yon lang ‘yong naging paraan ko kung paano ako makapag-aral doon sa mga cases na in-assign. You have to be ready for the recitation, eh hindi naman po puwedeng wala kang nabasa at all (That was my way to study the assigned cases for school. You have to be ready for recitation, you cannot go to school without reading anything at all),” he told Rappler.
When he was in fourth year, he quit his security guard job, tried his luck, and applied for a job in a government agency. The National Tax Research Center (NTRC), under the Department of Finance, opened its doors to him and hired him.
Although he grew up in idyllic Aklan province, Dionisio knew at a young age his life would not experience the same green pastures if he did not persevere. He was still an infant when his father died, so Dionisio said his grandparents took care of him. His mother transferred to Manila to work as a domestic helper, leaving Dionisio and his siblings in Aklan.
Due to poverty, he and his two siblings did not grow up together; a typical set-up for underprivileged families. As he remained with their grandparents, his other sibling was taken by their mother’s second cousin, while the other was taken care of by their uncle.
He studied hard and finished high school on time. The problem was, his mother told him she could not support his tertiary education because their eldest sibling was still studying at the time. “Probinsiya” (province) culture, Dionisio said, as some families in the countryside can only support one college student at a time, if none at all.
Dionisio knew he needed to do something. He inquired about schools that offered scholarships.
Fortunately, he was admitted by the Northwestern Visayan Colleges in Kalibo as a scholar. Since the condition for his scholarship was to maintain good grades, Dionisio said he studied really hard. After four years, he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology.
After graduating, Dionisio flew to Manila to apply as a cop in Camp Bagong Diwa. The Philippine National Police rejected him because he was not yet 21 years old at that time. He said he could not return to the province because there were less opportunities there. He decided to apply for a security guard post, and shortly after, decided to enroll in law school.
The rest was history: “Sobrang laki ng pagkakaiba ng buhay ko noon at buhay ko ngayon. Actually, ‘yong mga kakilala ko sa probinsiya, nagugulat nga sila na abogado ka na pala. Hindi nila iniisip ‘yon na magiging abogado ako kasi nga sino ba naman [kami], wala namang kakayahan ‘yung pamilya, ‘di ba?”
(There’s a big difference between my life then and now. Actually, those people I know from the province were surprised to learn that I am now a lawyer. It did not occur to them that I would be a lawyer because I came from humble beginnings, right?)
After hurdling law school, Dionisio did not immediately become a lawyer as he flunked the Bar exams on his first try.
“No’ng time na hindi ako pumasa sa Bar exams, iniyakan ko ‘yon eh. Sabi ko kay Lord, ‘Ipasa mo lang ako, Lord at magsisilbi talaga ako sa bayan at ipapangako ko sa Iyo, I want to have a covenant with you na gagawin ko yung nararapat: ang tumulong sa mga mahihirap,'” Dionisio said.
(When I did not pass the Bar Exams, I cried. I told the Lord, “Please allow me to pass, Lord, and I will serve the country, and I promise you, I want to have a covenant with you that I will do what’s right: help the poor.)
On his second try, he passed the 2006 Bar exams. The results were released in 2007. Dionisio said he was sure God was with him because his application with PAO went smoothly. Of the big bunch of applicants who sought to enter the office, he was the only one picked for the vacancy in PAO Manila.
Another thing was, when he was still applying to be a PAO lawyer, a multinational company offered him a job and he was told he could start immediately for the corporation. For Dionisio, it was a test, a temptation. He followed his heart and kept his promise; he turned down the corporate job even though he was not yet hired for PAO at that time.
He left his job at the NTRC to transfer to PAO in 2007. Public lawyering was indeed challenging, he said, because of the workload and low pay of PAO lawyers back then.
“Tapos there was a time nga na tatlong courts ang hawak ko. Lagare ako umaga-hapon, then every day mayroong hearing (And there was a time that I handled three courts. I worked from morning until afternoon, every day there was a hearing),” he said.
After years of working as a PAO lawyer, he was promoted to division head. Later on, he was also picked to become assistant district head. In 2019, he was chosen to lead PAO Manila as its district head, before he was transferred to Quezon City in late 2023.
Just like other public lawyers, Dionisio has a fair share of threats. At the height of the drug war, he held a case involving a police officer. He would travel all the way from Manila to Angeles in Pampanga to attend court proceedings and to his client’s needs.
Dionisio shared that every time he traveled, there was constant fear that he felt, especially since police were implicated in some cases. The last straw was when he received death threats, he said, so he asked the PAO to remove him from the case.
“Actually, lagi namang nando’n ‘yong panganib na ‘yon, lalo sa aming mga abogado. Kaya lang, siyempre, doon pumapasok ‘yong paniniwala ko sa Diyos. Doon pumapasok ‘yong panalangin ko na every day, pagbangon ko pa lang sa umaga, humihingi na ako ng guidance (Actually, the threat is always there, especially to us lawyers. But, of course, that’s where your faith in God comes in. I pray every day, from the moment I wake up, I already ask for guidance),” Dionisio said.
But for Dionisio, the most memorable case he has handled was one involving a child in conflict with the law (CICL). Back in the day, Dionisio said he was assigned to handle a case of a CICL accused of frustrated homicide. With Dionisio’s assistance, authorities decided to sanction the child with diversion and put him under the custody of nongovernment organization, Association Compassion Asian Youth, Inc. for reformation.
Dionisio said under a sanction of diversion, a CICL is handed a diversion contract containing all the terms and conditions he or she needs to comply with. Once the CICL has been reformed and has satisfied all the terms and conditions, the child can be discharged. The case will also be sealed permanently, Dionisio added.
The PAO lawyer said his CICL client is now an aircraft mechanic. Every time his client would be invited to share his experience as one of the models and evidence of the effectiveness of the juvenile justice system, the former CICL would always acknowledge Dionisio as the PAO lawyer who changed his life.
“Napaka-fulfilling ang trabaho ng isang PAO lawyer. At hindi mapapalitan at hindi mapapantayan ng salapi ‘yong pakiramdam na ‘yon na nakatulong ka sa mga tao, na ikaw ‘yong naging instrumento kung paano sila nakalagpas doon sa legal challenges ng mga tao, kung ano na problema ang kinasasadlakan nila. Hindi ‘yon mapapalitan ng pera,” Dionisio said.
(The job of a PAO lawyer is fulfilling. Money can’t buy that fulfillment you feel when you were able to help people, when you became the instrument for their getting past their legal challenges and whatever problem they were embroiled in. You can’t exchange those for money.)
“‘Yon ‘yong dapat na magiging driving force ng mga aplikante o nagnanais na pumasok sa PAO (This should be the driving force for wanting to be a part of PAO). You should have the heart to help. You should have the compassion to help the poor, the indigent, the marginalized.” – Rappler.com
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Rappler Talk: Leila de Lima, a woman of faith | Paterno Esmaquel II | 28/03/2024 19:30 | Bookmark and refresh this page to watch this Holy Week episode of Rappler Talk at 8 pm (Manila time) on Maundy Thursday, March 28
MANILA, Philippines – She lost her freedom but found her faith.
In this Holy Week episode of Rappler Talk, former senator Leila de Lima opens up about her relationship with God which, in her words, became “intense” when she was detained for six years, eight months, and 21 days.
How did her time in jail strengthen her faith?
What are her views on forgiveness and revenge? In previous interviews, De Lima said she has not forgiven her “chief oppressor,” Rodrigo Duterte, but she is praying for the grace to be able to forgive the former president. What does she mean? And why does De Lima, vilified as a senator and as a woman during Duterte’s presidency, see the need to forgive?
De Lima also talks about the five cats, out of around 20, whom she brought home from her detention facility – Avatar, Doll, Lily, Otto, and Duchess – as well as two new kittens, Shogun and Golda. In this Rappler Talk interview, recorded on March 22, the former senator says she believes God sent these animals not only to keep her company, but also to make her “more human.”
Watch De Lima’s interview with Rappler senior multimedia reporter Paterno Esmaquel II, at 8 pm (Manila time) on Maundy Thursday, March 28. – Rappler.com
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Human rights at the heart of lawyering for public attorney Noliver Barrido | Jairo Bolledo | 26/04/2024 20:00 | PUBLIC LAWYER. PAO lawyer Noliver Barrido squeezes in time and effort at the PAO Central Office in Quezon City.
Rappler
Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) lawyer Noliver Barrido initially thought he would become a doctor.
Growing up, Barrido said he had a proclivity for pure and natural sciences. In school, he exceled in science so he took a program related to it. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and then later decided to enter medical school. But things didn’t work out as he had planned.
Barrido said he believed his aspirations were valid and refused to think he failed – his path was only redirected. He thought hard and later realized he had been pursuing his ultimate dream all along: to help people.
Barrido first became a volunteer for nongovernment organization (NGO) Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), which helps in promoting and advocating for human rights in the country. As a TFDP volunteer, Barrido said he went to far-flung areas to help implement projects that allowed people to understand their basic human rights.
They helped people from all walks of life (from victims of large-scale mining in mountain ranges, to the youth) to be more informed about what they deserve and are entitled to as human beings. Barrido told Rappler he also spent some holidays inside prisons to uplift the spirits of persons deprived of liberty.
“‘Yong mga exposure ko sa TFDP, ‘yon ‘yong eventually nagpapasok, nagpapa-realize sa akin na mukhang hindi ako pang-natural sciences. Mukhang dito ako sa social sciences,” Barrido told Rappler. (My exposures with TFDP eventually made me realize that I was not for natural sciences. I realized I was more for the social sciences.)
Barrido said his involvement with TFDP was the main reason why he chose to study law and become a lawyer. He said his experience helping people for TFDP before now helps him in his profession as a public lawyer. Aside from both TFDP and PAO catering to indigent clients, Barrido said his previous organization also advocated for human rights, which is very similar to PAO’s mandate to ensure the rights of those who need legal assistance.
His passion for human rights remained with him as he entered PAO, Barrido said. In PAO, he added, there should be a human rights-based approach in handling cases to better determine what rights were violated and what rights people are entitled to.
“Hindi ko tinitingnan na ito ay trabaho lang, kung hindi may malalim na adbokasiya, at ‘yong adbokasiya na ‘yon ay nanggaling pa doon sa pinanggalingan ko na NGO,” Barrido said. (I don’t regard this as just work, but something that is part of my advocacy, and that advocacy comes from my experience with the NGO I came from.)
A PAO lawyer for seven years, Barrido heads the labor section of PAO Central Office and is also part of the special and appeals case service (SACS).
Under SACS, Barrido said he handles cases that are set for appeal. So either PAO is the winning party, or the losing one. They prepare the appeal filed with the Court of Appeals, Supreme Court, or Office of the President.
His other responsibility, being their labor section’s head, demands more time and exerts more pressure.
Barrido checks the outputs of lawyers under him to ensure quality. The checking includes a review of grammar, arguments, and cited jurisprudence to make sure that their clients’ cases are well represented in court. He said they try to maintain high standards, such that they won’t file a case that isn’t properly checked.
On a daily basis, lawyers would seek him out in their small office to ask for advice or talk about concerns regarding the cases they handle. Barrido said that in a day, he would check two to three cases. He would also talk to his subordinates for around 10 to 15 instances in a single day.
At times, Barrido said his direct intervention is needed for troubleshooting.
“Pumapagitna po tayo. Kasi may mga times po na may mga abogado po tayo na may problema sa kliyente, may problema sa kaso. Kailangan din po nating gabayan o tulungan,” Barrido said. (We intervene. Because there are times when our lawyers have problems with their clients, with their cases. We need to guide or help them.)
Republic Act No. 9406, also known as the PAO law, mandates the PAO to provide legal assistance to indigent Filipinos who need it. The legal assistance covers criminal, civil, labor, and administrative cases, among others. But being a public lawyer in the Philippines is not an easy task.
In fact, there is a “high turnover of public attorneys,” said the PAO in its 2023 accomplishment report, with 36% or majority of its personnel staying for only four years or less. The usual reasons cited were the heavy workload and resignations of their lawyers to engage in private practice. Some also transferred to the judiciary, prosecution, or other government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations.
Of the millions of Filipinos it serves, the PAO only has 2,505 lawyers. For 2023, each PAO lawyer served around 4,997 clients, while one lawyer handled an average of 333 cases within the same period. PAO chief Persida Acosta earlier said they need at least 4,000 lawyers to meet the demands of the office.
“So paano mo ma-handle ‘yon [cases]? Paano mo matututukan ‘yong isang kaso? Paano mo makakabisado ‘yong facts no’ng case, arguments, etc. kung sobrang dami? So tingin ko, ‘yon talaga ‘yong number one na problem,” Barrido told Rappler. (So how can you handle the cases? How can you focus in one case? How can you memorize the facts of the case, the arguments, etc. if you handle too many cases? So I think that’s the number one problem.)
The heavy workload could compromise not only the quality of their job, but also the health of PAO lawyers, Barrido said. The tediousness of the profession could lead to burnout, he added.
“In terms naman sa health, may iba ‘kong mga kakilala na umabot sa gano’n na kinailangang magpa-ospital, mag-undergo ng psychiatric counseling dahil umabot na sa gano’ng point ‘yong effect ng workload,” Barrido said. (In terms of health, I know a few people who had to go to a hospital or undergo psychiatric counseling because the stress from the workload already reached that level.)
Despite this string of challenges, Barrido is optimistic that things will be better for PAO lawyers like him. He believes that lawyers who belong to the younger generation of PAO lawyers can help improve the situation.
Since his generation is into technology, they can provide suggestions on how to use it to improve their work and quality of service. Barrido added that it’s important for young PAO lawyers like him to continue the mandate of helping indigent Filipinos to preserve the integrity of their office.
“Hindi puwedeng mawala ang PAO. Puwedeng mag-improve, puwedeng magdagdag ng mga lawyer, maging modernized ang approach sa mga kaso, sa mga pagse-serve sa client. Pero kailangan, andiyan pa rin ang PAO,” Barrido added. (PAO should remain. It could be improved, have additional lawyers, modernize its approach to cases, in serving clients. But PAO needs to continue to exist.)
As a PAO lawyer for almost a decade, Barrido has had a fair share of interesting and challenging experiences in handling public cases. Among the most memorable ones he handled was a drug case involving a man from northern Philippines.
This case was complicated because it was up for appeal and Barrido said the lower court’s decision was actually favorable to his client already. If they appealed, there was a chance their appeal would be dismissed and the penalty would be harsher. At worst, Barrido said his client could have faced two counts of life imprisonment. He said his conscience would not have been able to take it had it happened.
Barrido said he wanted to explain the options to his client in detail, but the client refused to go to the PAO central office, citing monetary concerns and old age. To reach out to him, Barrido traveled all the way from Manila to La Union to meet on the time they both agreed on. Despite traveling for eight hours just to meet his client, Barrido said the man bailed out on him without a word.
Later on, the client apologized to Barrido and said he thought the PAO lawyer would have him arrested. The case proceeded and to Barrido’s surprise, he and his client later won the case. Because of this experience, he realized that in their work, they need to reach out to their clients and build a connection with them to create trust and a healthy working relationship.
Aside from offering a rich experience, Barrido shared that the PAO also provides good training for lawyers since they are exposed to a variety of cases. The challenging arena also enhances their discipline in terms of time management because of the heavy case load.
Barrido said choosing PAO is also practical because it provides a competitive salary, on top of the the fulfillment that comes with being able to help others. In PAO, pay is considerably good compared to other government lawyers, with entry level public attorneys receiving P95,083 as their basic pay.
“Hindi naman nalugi ‘yong PAO o ‘yong abogado kung pipiliin niya ‘yong PAO. Kasi kung magiging practical tayo, hindi lang naman ano, hindi lang siya purely advocacy eh. Kailangan meron ka ring personal na growth as a person, as a professional,” Barrido told Rappler.
(Both lawyers and PAO win when PAO is chosen as a workplace because lawyers are also well compensated. Because if we were to be practical, it’s not all just advocacy. There should also be personal and professional growth.) To be concluded – Rappler.com
NEXT: Part 2 | Mario Dionisio Jr. juggled security guard job and law school, now he’s a PAO lawyer
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Big fishers encroach on small fisherfolk’s municipal waters | Iya Gozum | 6/4/2024 9:30 | Big fishers encroach on small fisherfolk’s municipal waters
Small fisherfolk have preferential rights in municipal waters under the law. But a recent court victory by a big operator is threatening to change the game.
PUBLISHED APRIL 6, 2024 9:30 AM PHTBY Lian Buan, Iya Gozum
READ: Part 1 | Top officials with private interests spoil effort to track big fishers
Municipal fisherfolk remain among the poorest Filipinos, earning only an average of P363 (US$6.45)* a day, and the possibility of losing preferential access to their fishing grounds poses an added threat to their existence.
After three commercial fishing operators successfully evaded the state requirement for a tracking system, the next battleground for them is obtaining the right to fish inside municipal waters or the rich fishing grounds within 15 kilometers from the shore.
The Fisheries Code gives small fisherfolk preferential rights to this area. But a big fishing operator partly owned by the family of former National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) chief Gamaliel Cordoba won a court case contesting the provision, and gained the rights to this fishing ground.
Malabon Regional Trial Court Judge Zaldy Docena, who also favored the three commercial fishers in the tracking system case, ruled in December 2023 to allow Mercidar Fishing Corporation to operate within the 15-kilometer municipal waters.
Mercidar Fishing Corporation, Rappler has confirmed, is partly owned by Monica Elena Cordoba, the wife of Cordoba, former NTC chief and now Commission on Audit (COA) chair appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in October 2022. Under Cordoba, the NTC did not issue service identity numbers needed for the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), a tracking system that commercial fishers are resisting.
“Mercidar Fishing Corporation [may] be allowed to operate on all territorial waters in the Philippines without regard to the 15 kilometer limit,” said Docena on December 11, 2023.
Rappler sought Mercidar’s comment via email and text message but we have yet to receive a response. We will update this story once we get a reply.
The tracking system and the 15-kilometer cases were not the first time that Docena favored commercial fishers. In 2014, Docena also stopped the implementation of a fisheries ordinance that bans the use of the destructive hulbot-hulbot gear. But he was reversed by the Supreme Court later on.
Docena was sanctioned by the Supreme Court at least two more times for other cases, both with suspension as penalties. One of the suspensions had to do with irregular issuances of search warrants.
Asked if he could comment on the impression that his rulings had consistently favored big fishers, Docena told Rappler through a family relative, “I am just interpreting the existing law to the best of my ability. Whether I agree with the law or not, or what I think of their consequences – these are questions that I am duty bound to exclude from my interpretation.”
The judge, who retired just after the Mercidar win, denied personally knowing the involved fishing families in the court cases.
Rappler’s three-month investigation into government records and interviews with fisherfolk, advocates and bureaucrats, show commercial fishers being favored by the court and some regulators. The battle for the 15-kilometer zone now makes small fisherfolk worry that an impending amendment of the law, a priority of Marcos, could favor commercial fishers again.
In a vast ocean of depleting marine resources, it is in shallow waters where sunlight can penetrate and a number of fish and marine resources thrive. Given preferential use under the Constitution, small fishers find livelihood in the 15-kilometer zone, their refuge from unequal competition against big fishers who have the technology like fish finders and echosounders.
When Docena gave Mercidar the right to fish within the 15-kilometer zone, the judge included a caveat: commercial fishers can operate within 15 kilometers, but they cannot fish in shallow areas. The decision said commercial fishers can only operate within the zone if the waters are at least seven fathoms (equivalent to 12.8 meters) deep.
Shallow waters or those less than seven fathoms deep are roughly only 10% of municipal waters, marine scientist Rene Abesamis said, citing an initial analysis done by a colleague. It means 90% of the municipal waters are already fair game for commercial fishers.
If Docena’s ruling will be taken as precedent in the amendment of the Fisheries Code, small fishers will be left with next to nothing, and big fishers will have virtual monopoly over almost all of Philippine waters.
Removing the 15-kilometer boundary and simply following the seven fathoms measurement present a “technically demanding” job for the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (Namria), said Abesamis, because they would have to “do an analysis where they would outline the depth contour of the seven fathoms.”
Namria would have to map this for the entire country’s coastline, all 36,289 kilometers, the fifth longest coastline in the world. Currently, only 311 coastal municipalities (out of 822) have certified municipal water boundaries, according to Aaron Andro Ching of Namria.
Any way the wind blows, the Malabon ruling only legalizes what has long been accepted practice at sea. There had been reports in the past of commercial fishers encroaching on municipal waters.
“They have defeated the law, actually,” said biologist Wilfredo Campos, a member of the National Science Advisory Group (NSAG) which had been advocating ever since to keep commercial fishers out of the 15-kilometer zone.
In 2023, online platform Karagatan Patrol detected 28,822 commercial fishing vessels operating inside municipal waters through the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), a sensor on board a weather satellite operated by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
In 2019, the Philippines divided waters into fisheries management areas (FMA) in a bid to conserve and manage stocks. Karagatan Patrol’s data show that most of the commercial fishing vessels encroach on the municipal waters of FMAs 4 and 5 – FMA 4 covers Zamboanga Sibugay, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Negros Occidental, Iloilo and Negros Oriental; while FMA 5 covers Antique, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan. FMAs 4 and 5 are major fishing grounds for sardines and galunggong, said Campos.
In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24, 2023, Marcos said he would prioritize amending the Fisheries Code.
“Our Fisheries Code must be revised to incorporate and strengthen science-based analysis and determination of fishing areas. This approach will protect both the interests of our fisherfolk and our fisheries and aquatic resources,” said Marcos.
Four months after giving this marching order, Marcos finally vacated his interim post as Agriculture Secretary and appointed his campaign donor and fishing tycoon Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. Before his appointment, Tiu Laurel served as president of family-run Frabelle Fishing Corporation. One of the immediate concerns then was the glaring conflict of interest, which the agriculture chief shrugged off.
In an ambush interview on April 3, the agriculture chief confirmed they are looking at changing the delineation of municipal waters by depth instead of distance.
At least from the draft he’s seen that came from the DA-BFAR, Tiu Laurel said “20 fathoms is what’s being contemplated.” 20 fathoms is around 37 meters.
This 20 fathoms proposal also came from commercial fishers, said Ruperto Aleroza, vice chair for basic sectors of the National Anti-Poverty Commission. “According to the technical person, NGO researchers whom we consulted, waters 20 fathoms deep are as close as within 5 kilometers from the shore, meaning the space will become smaller for municipal fisherfolk,” Aleroza told Rappler in Filipino.
Conservation groups worry that court rulings may no longer be necessary for commercial fishers to win this 15-kilometer battle. If they succeed in their lobbying, the amendment of the law may just reflect their wishes.
The pre-consultations seem to be engaging commercial fishers more, said Aleroza.
“What’s happening is that commercial fishers get to talk more [in these consultations], and BFAR – we’re also wondering – instead of playing their role to facilitate the opposing sectors, the impression is, whatever the version of commercial fishers is, that’s what they are facilitating,” Aleroza told Rappler in Filipino.
Aleroza said NAPC did its own consultations, which resulted in resolutions calling on Marcos “to firmly uphold the constitutionally-guaranteed preferential right of artisanal fishers over the 15-kilometer municipal fishing grounds.” They are waiting for a more comprehensive meeting with either Marcos or Tiu Laurel.
“If we want sustainability, we should protect critical habitats that produce aquatic resources like coral reefs. If you allow commercial fishing to enter, and studies have shown they destroy coral reefs, what future will we rely on?” said Aleroza in Filipino.
In 2019, the NSAG already told BFAR that more fishing activities in municipal waters would prevent fish species from respawning properly.
“[A]ny additional fishing, such as the proposed operations of commercial vessels in municipal waters, would contradict the solution to the problem of overfished scad and sardine stocks,” the NSAG told BFAR back then. But BFAR did not respond, according to Campos.
Mercidar argued in its complaint that the 15-kilometer is not only unconstitutional, it also does not hold any scientific basis. The story goes that when Marcos’ father, the dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos passed Presidential Decree No. 1015 in 1976, he banned commercial fishers from the seven-kilometer zone, and banned trawls in waters seven fathoms deep or less, only because he had a penchant for the number seven.
Abesamis, the marine scientist, said the question of whether the 15-kilometer boundary is scientific or not seems more of a distraction. The boundary is set to give an edge to small fishers, 31% of whom live below the poverty threshold.
“I read that as a social thing. Here’s where small players can fish,” Abesamis told Rappler. “That’s the spirit [of the law].”
The resistance to VMS and the opening up of the 15-kilometer zone have caused the sea to shrink for the municipal fishers. Even the agriculture chief said that commercial fishers operating in municipal waters are within the purview of local government units. “That’s not under the DA,” he said in Filipino.
And this is exactly what’s happening at the local level. Small fishers are edged out further by local government ordinances that demarcate zones, resulting in arrests at sea.
In Navotas, which is covered by Docena’s court rulings for VMS and the 15-kilometer zone case, small fisherfolk are apprehended when they go outside the Navotas side of the sea.
Rogelio Guevarra, 57, from Navotas, was arrested in 2022 when he reached the waters of Cavite. He calls his apprehenders “maritime,” which refers to the Philippine National Police Maritime Group. Guevarra said they were initially told to follow them to shore to get the proper permits.
A source who was once part of the maritime’s advisory body told Rappler that it is made up of members of different stakeholders, including representatives from commercial fishing companies. This has been confirmed by Rappler through a current member of the advisory body.
But Guevarra, his son, and fisherfolk from two other boats, were taken instead to Parañaque. They were made to pose for mugshots, and fined P3,000 ($54) per boat when they were earning a maximum of only P2,000 ($36) a day.
“Nangutang lang ho kami noon,” Guevarra said, recalling having to leave his son at the detachment area to get bail money. “Kasi dito sa paligid namin, walang mahuling isda, kaya doon kami namamalakaya.” (We only borrowed money then. There were no fish to catch here in our area, that’s why we were fishing there.)
The fisherfolk were trapped: if they stayed in Navotas, there would be no catch. But if they fished elsewhere, they risked getting arrested.
After Guevarra was arrested, he stayed away from fishing whenever he could. Staying within their zone has been tough because, according to him, there have been fewer and fewer areas to fish ever since San Miguel Corporation (SMC) started building the New Manila International Airport in nearby Bulacan in 2020.
According to Guevarra, big waves drive fish to hide in underwater excavations used by the ships for the airport’s construction. But they cannot follow the fish to that area, citing incidents of drop-ins by individuals who simply tell them to stay out of the airport zone.
“Sa labas naman, mababaw, wala naman hong isda,” said Guevarra. “Kaya napipilitan kami, ‘pag dumadaan ‘yung barko, lumalayo kami. Pagka wala nang barko, saka kami umaarya.”
(Outside, the waters are shallow, there are no fish. We’re forced to hide further whenever the dredger passes. When it’s gone, that’s when we fish.)
We sent SMC emails requesting for comment on this story, but they have yet to respond. The intimidating presence of armed SMC personnel was earlier reported in the pre-construction consultations with the community, but the conglomerate told UK-based non-government organization Global Witness in 2023 that the personnel were there to “secure the area” and “prevent outsiders from causing disruption.”
BFAR, tasked to increase fisheries and aquaculture production within ecological limits, said it cannot intervene.
“We note that the management of the municipal waters belongs to local government units,” BFAR spokesperson Nazer Briguera told Rappler. “Hence, it is within the jurisdiction to enact and implement municipal ordinance which they deem necessary.”
From January to October 2023, the maritime police apprehended at least 66 fishermen from Navotas, according to figures from the Parañaque’s agricultural, fisheries, and aquatic services office. This is roughly half of the fisherfolk arrested at sea, the others hailing from Cavite and Malabon.
Implementing their local ordinance is a way to keep the best interests of their local fishers, said Amie Hernandez, officer-in-charge of the city’s agriculture office. The maritime police apprehend local fishers and the latter are taken to city hall to pay fines at the treasury office, Hernandez told Rappler.
Right now, Parañaque is revising Ordinance No. 06-02 released in 2005, Hernandez said, to increase penalties and add eight buoys to mark the delineation of their municipal waters.
Arrests based on zoning ordinances have long been a recurring issue across the country, according to Dennis Calvan of the conservation group Rare Philippines, and a member of the government’s fisheries advisory committee.
Municipalities exercise territorial rights within their zones, resulting in extreme measures such as arrests. It is a case of local governments wanting to exercise autonomy in all areas – even over waters that are hard to govern.
As fish stocks dwindle in their area and arrests abound, Guevarra said they mainly rely on baklad or fish corrals for their catch. These are stationary traps made of bamboo stakes and plastic nets that can capture fish.
Inside Guevarra’s house is a small booth where the family sells flavored shaved ice to augment their income. There are days when they would still sail to fish. It had been, after all, their way of life for generations. And they have mouths to feed.
“Kung nasaan ‘yung isda, talagang pinupuntahan namin, dahil ‘yun talaga ang buhay namin,” said Guevarra. “Kung pagbabawalan kami doon at wala kaming mapuntahang may isda, talagang mapipilitan kaming pumasok doon sa bawal na sinasabi nilang bawal.”
(Where the fish go, we go, because that’s our life. If we’re not allowed in some areas, but we can’t find another place with enough fish, then we don’t have a choice but to fish in those areas.)
Guevarra goes out to sea only to accompany his son. His neighbor, 73-year-old Celso Sebastian, has quit fishing altogether, the only job he has ever known in Navotas. The catch has exponentially decreased in recent years, and he decided that the threat of being arrested at sea was no longer worth the few fish he is able to take home.
“Ayaw ko na, hindi ko na kaya ang ganyan (I quit, I can no longer bear it),” Sebastian said. He has also already sold his boat.
Calvan called this a “desperate situation that could get even more desperate.” If not stopped, he said poverty incidence will increase and depletion of resources will continue.
“There will be no more preferential rights as guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution. It’s like we’re saying, [the waters] are free-for-all.” – Rappler.com
Disclosure: Oceana, a co-petitioner in the Supreme Court VMS case, is an advocacy partner of Rappler. The group was not used as a source for the story, however in the latter part of reporting, we referred to data from Karagatan Patrol, which is an initiative of Oceana.
$1 = P55.43
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It looks like Goliath is winning. For David, the small fishermen had better plan how they would “quit fishing altogether, the only job (they have) ever known.” It is now just a matter of timing, and the soonest will be the best. They should be realistic and must not expect that Marcos Jr.’s Government will consider their welfare a greater priority than that of the commercial fishing corporations. NGOs that are working for them should help them in this exit out of the fishery industry sector.
How does this make you feel? | Rappler | https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/investigative/big-fishers-close-in-small-filipino-fisherfolk-battle-municipal-waters/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0QU1m7a2oaMm01mFo11m1LGqf1BNMZ5rSZnAnNVTRzxS1HvJtOUqxj33U_aem_fPlcrAXkZXVGlDw5q-uxzQ |
This is the most affordable tourist spot in the PH, with the cheapest accommodations | Steph Arnaldo | 4/4/2024 13:53 | Shutterstock
MANILA, Philippines – What’s the most affordable tourist spot for budget-conscious travelers looking to enjoy the best of the Philippines this summer? For the months of April to May, it’s Iloilo City, according to digital travel platform Agoda’s data.
Iloilo has been named the “most affordable tourist destination in the Philippines,” having the cheapest accommodations and travel deals on average, compared to other Philippine tourist spots. This year, Iloilo’s average room rate goes for P2,814.
Iloilo takes over Bacolod, which was the Philippines’ cheapest travel destination in 2023.
Agoda said that “despite being a tourist destination with the lowest average room rates, each location has a lot to offer to visitors.”
Iloilo is often referred to as “The Heart of the Country” because of its central geographical location and is known for its beautiful beaches, historical landmarks, hidden lagoons, churches, and the freshest seafood around. Popular spots include Islas De Gigantes and the nearby Guimaras Island with the sweetest mangoes.
Agoda also shared the cheapest average destination cities (and underrated gems) across eight other Asian countries, starting with Udon Thani in Thailand, which has an average room rate of P1,576.
It’s part of the “big four” cities in Thailand’s Isaan region, and is considered a lively city, particularly at Nong Prajak Park and the surrounding lake. A stroll down the boulevard and you’ll see the Chinese Gate and the Udon Thani City Museum. It’s also nearby Vientiane, the capital of Laos, which is on the other side of the Mekong River.
Indonesia’s rising metropolis in East Java has an average room rate of P2,195. The thriving port city with Javanese, Chinese, and Arab cultural influences offers heritage architecture, modern buildings, and the Pasar Atom market with traditional crafts and delicacies like Lontong Balap and Sate Klopo.
Located in Central Vietnam, Hue has an average room rate of P2,420 and is rich in history and culture (being the former imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty). Imperial City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with majestic palaces and temples, can be found in Hue. Tourists can take a boat cruise through the city on the Perfume River!
The state capital of Sarawak in Malaysia offers an average P2,758 room rate and is situated on the island of Borneo, along the Sarawak River. Surrounded by natural beauty, Kuching is a plethora of arts and crafts – check out the Main Bazaar, Carpenter Street, and the Sunday Market for local handicrafts and souvenirs. Kuching’s nearby Bako National Park has rainforests, wildlife, and beaches to visit.
Bengaluru’s average room rate is at P3,096. Called the “Silicon Valley of India,” Bengaluru is a rising technology hub with a lot of historical charm and rich culture, found in the majestic Bangalore Palace or the 16th century Nandi Temple. It also has a bustling South Indian culinary scene.
With an average room rate of P3,996, Narita is a sought-out destination of travelers, especially since it houses the famous Narita International Airport, the gateway to Tokyo. The beautiful city in Japan’s Chiba Prefecture is also known for the Shinsjoji Temple, the traditional Naritasan Omotesando Road, and the seasonal beauty of cherry blossoms!
Taiwan’s second biggest city has an average room rate of P5,684, and is easily accessible through the international airport and a high-speed rail connection to Taipei and Taoyuan. Kaohsiung’s Yancheng District showcases street art and shopping spots by the pier, and the city itself is known for its culture, temples, art, street food, music scene, and more. – Rappler.com
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