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Expansions seen on hold due to tariff uncertainty

EXPANSION PLANS may have to be put on hold as companies seek more clarity in the direction of global trade, according to the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP).

“I’m sure the companies will tighten their belts if they know their revenue lines are not coming in,” MAP President Alfredo S. Panlilio said in the sidelines of a BusinessWorld Economic Forum on May 22. 

He expects an episode of minimal growth as trade stalls in the face of the US tariffs.

Mr. Panlilio noted that Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc. President Danilo C. Lachica expects “modest” growth for the leading Philippine commodity export.

The Philippines exported $12.14 billion worth of goods to the US in 2024. Of the total, 53% consisted of electronic products.

“We were going to continue with the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act roadshows, but we were kind of distracted by the reciprocal tariffs. But again, we’re employing about 3 million direct and indirect workers. We expect, trade negotiations and all, to see modest growth for the industry,” Mr. Lachica said.

“How is a Chief Executive Officer to manage business? There are always uncertainties. There are always new things that come onto your plate,” Mr. Panlilio said.

The Philippines posted weaker-than-expected 5.4% growth in the first quarter, with gross capital formation growth dampened in the face of a lack of clarity in global trade.

US President Donald J. Trump paused his reciprocal tariffs in April for 90-days but continues to apply a 10% “baseline” tariff rate for most trading partners. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Miners upbeat over Lotilla DENR appointment

RAPHAEL P.M. LOTILLA — ONENEWS.PH

THE new Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) leadership is expected to continue easing the permit processes for mining contracts, miners said on Sunday.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) said it hopes new Environmental Secretary Raphael Perpetuo M. Lotilla will continue the programs his predecessor initiated at the DENR, “specifically in the establishment of an enabling environment for mining.”

The chamber cited the “reduction of the mining and exploration permitting process as well as other investor-friendly initiatives.”

“We are eager to partner with Secretary Lotilla on programs that will enhance the environmental, social, and governance performance of mining contractors such as what our members are doing through the Chamber of Mines’ Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) program,” COMP Chairman Michael T. Toledo told BusinessWorld.

The DENR under former secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga in February issued an order requiring miners integrate the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) into their Social Development and Management Programs (SDMPs).

An SDMP is a five-year comprehensive plan required of mining companies for the “improvement” of the living standards of host and neighboring communities in their areas of operation.

COMP said it is banking on Mr. Lotilla’s “extensive experience as a professor, lawyer, chief executive officer, legislative liaison, and Energy secretary.”

It said it hopes Mr. Lotilla will carry out the administration’s “vision of maximizing the full potential of the Philippine minerals development industry in improving the lives of present and future generations without compromising the integrity of the environment.”

Greenpeace has noted that Mr. Lotilla will take the helm of the DENR “at a time of worsening climate, pollution and a biodiversity crisis.”

“We urge him to stay true to the mandate of the DENR to protect and conserve the environment for the welfare of present and future generations,” Greenpeace Southeast Asia Executive Director Jasper Inventor said.

In Mr. Lotilla’s previous post at the Department of Energy, “we’ve seen aggressive moves to enable dangerous nuclear energy, promote fossil gas, and reverse the moratorium on coal-fired power plants,” it noted.

Greenpeace urged Mr. Lotilla to “urgently” endorse to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. the Climate Accountability Bill, which seeks to create a system of reparations to hold polluters accountable.

Greenpeace also urged the new DENR leadership to push for a national ban on single-use plastics and amend the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022 “to mandate reduction,” and reconsider dozens of reclamation projects. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Local governments deemed weakest link in ease-of-doing-business campaign

BW FILE PHOTO

BDO CAPITAL & Investment Corp. President Eduardo V. Francisco said that he hopes the government will continue to improve the ease of doing business, especially at the local government unit (LGU) level.

“Most of my clients usually encounter problems at the LGU level. Despite getting support from the Board of Investments and the Department of Energy, when the projects are being implemented, suddenly my clients are being required to submit a lot of permits,” he said at the BusinessWorld Economic Forum in Taguig City on Thursday.

“I think that is the weakness of our government; we have too much democracy,” he added.

He said that the hope is for the government to be able to simplify the process by requiring fewer permits.

“Those who want to launch a startup go to Singapore because they will be given funding and tax incentives, which we do not provide in our country, and then it is even hard to get business permits (here),” he added.

Separately, Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) President Alfredo S. Panlilio said at the same forum that competitiveness will hinge on how much the Philippines pursues innovation, human capital development, and innovation.

Mr. Panlilio said the three pillars for raising competitiveness are “innovation-driven growth, human capital development, and a robust digital infrastructure.”

“Innovation is key to global competitiveness. By empowering businesses and startups through incentives, supportive regulatory frameworks, and investments in research and development, we position the country at the forefront of emerging industries,” he added.

“To ensure inclusive growth, we need to equip Filipinos with future-ready skills through improved educational systems, lifelong learning opportunities, and continuous workforce reskilling,” he said.

“By enabling equitable access to these resources, we can bridge socio-economic gaps and develop a resilient and adaptive workforce,” he added.

He said digital transformation improves efficiency, transparency, and accessibility of services across all sectors.

“Accelerating nationwide connectivity, ensuring cybersecurity, and promoting digital literacy will be fundamental in preparing the Philippines for global competitiveness,” he added.

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Secretary General Ruben J. Pascual said at the forum that previous and current administrations have failed to address property, infrastructure deficits, and the underdevelopment of agriculture, and human capital.

“We have not addressed poverty, and there is income inequality across (society)… Next will be infrastructure deficits; actually, it is more a slogan in every administration rather than actual performance because we face the same things like bureaucratic delays and financing gaps,” he said.

He said that another factor that contributes to the infrastructure deficit is fiscal irresponsibility, which can be seen in defunded infrastructure projects.

He also said that the government continues to fail in addressing the decline in export orientation.

“This is a strategy that we have to embrace immediately, especially because of the opportunities coming even from the Trump administration. We have lost many industries to Cambodia, to South America, and others,” he said.

“But I think for PCCI, at the heart of everything will be digital transformation. Because digital transformation will address agriculture, education, infrastructure, and governance for the country,” he added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

US BPO Techlog building fifth site in the Philippines

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said Techlog Center, a US company, is building its fifth site in the country, which will be operational early next year.

In a statement over the weekend, PEZA said that it signed a supplemental agreement (SA) with Techlog for its P877-million site in Bonifacio Business Park.

“The SA is for the new project of Techlog, particularly, to engage in business process outsourcing activities, which involve setting up voice operations and non-voice functions,” PEZA said.

The services it will offer include data analyses, timekeeping, document and payment processing, coding, and workforce management.

Expected to begin operations in January 2026, the new project marks the company’s fifth information technology operation, which will result in the hiring of over 900 workers.

At the end of 2024, Techlog has invested over P2.7 billion and generated more than 6,800 jobs.

“With the President’s order to embrace and promote digitalization of the economy, PEZA is committed to explore more partnerships of this nature to strengthen technology and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-driven investments in the Philippines,” PEZA said.

It said that Techlog’s expansion aligns with SDG 8, which is promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all.

“By integrating circular economy principles into its operation, such as refurbishing and sustainable re-manufacturing of used mobile phones and PCs, Techlog contributes to responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) and industry innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9),” it added.

According to PEZA, its investment approvals have been on an upward trajectory since President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. took office.

In the first four months, PEZA approved P63.52 billion worth of investment pledges, more than double the P29.96 billion worth of pledges from a year earlier.

The approvals in the four months to April cover 86 new projects that are expected to generate over 20,000 jobs. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Farm infra investment considered ‘more efficient’ than rice subsidy

RCEF.PHILMECH.GOV.PH

THE GOVERNMENT needs to focus on investing in farm infrastructure such as drying, storage, and irrigation facilities to bring rice prices down to P20 per kilo, the Makati Business Club (MBC) said.

Infrastructure investment is more sustainable and efficient than subsidizing rice prices, MBC Chairman Edgar O. Chua told reporters, adding that the key is to reduce farmer reliance on middlemen, many of whom have been providing farmers with storage and inputs.

“Consumers pay a very high price (for rice). We pay almost double what other countries pay, and yet our farmers are getting a very low price for their produce,” Mr. Chua said.

“In between, there are so many middlemen that make a margin. And some of them are lending money, some of them are providing storage facilities, some of them are providing fertilizer, etc. (to farmers),” he added.

“So, what’s needed is to address the inefficiencies in the ecosystem.”

The P20-per-kilo rice program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) has recently been expanded to parts of Luzon and Mindanao, after its initial rollout in selected Visayan provinces on May 1.

The DA hopes to provide subsidized rice to 14 million individuals by September and to keep the program running until the end of the President’s term in 2028.

The subsidy is shared by local government units (LGUs) and Food Terminal, Inc. (FTI).

Before the P20-per-kilo program, the National Food Authority (NFA) was selling rice to LGUs at P33 per kilo under a food security emergency declared in late January. Under this arrangement, it lost about P12 per kilo.

With the price of NFA rice at P33 per kilo, FTI and the LGU will need to pay P6.50 each to close the P13 gap. For government-backed Kadiwa markets, the subsidy is fully paid by the FTI.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. has said that the FTI will spend P4.5 billion on rice procurement and a further P500 million on logistics and packaging.

To be able to sell rice at P20 per kilo, the government could incur losses worth P10 billion – P12 billion, according to Mr. Laurel.

The DA said earlier this month it’s seeking a P10-billion budget for the FTI to sustain the P20-per-kilo rice program in 2026.

If realized, that would be more than the current P5-billion allocation from the Office of the President’s contingency fund.

Citing previous meetings with Mr. Laurel, Mr. Chua said the MBC is confident that the DA could address systemic issues that keep rice prices high.

“We were pleasantly surprised that he has identified all these issues that are actually hounding our agricultural sector,” he said.

“What would be important would be the political will to address those issues and support from various sectors of society.”

The MBC said it is seeking to promote good governance among farming cooperatives, which it said have been “politicized” as the people running them have been chosen due to their “connections.”

MBC trustee Manolito Tayag said agriculture has not grown significantly over the years, with its members being among the poorest of the population.

“The industry deserves focus from the government. And I think that should come in the form of better budget allocation in order to support growth,” he said.

He said the cure issue is the failed land reform program, which led to the dwindling size of farms, a problem that he said can be addressed by farm consolidation.

The average Philippine farm declined in size by 77% to 0.83 hectares in 2022 from 3.61 hectares in 1970, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

The CPG, retail, and consumer dynamic

IN BRIEF:

• Retailers and CPG companies are investing in technology and innovation to stay relevant and meet evolving consumer demands.

• The evolving relationship between retailers and CPG companies requires a focus on collaboration to address changing consumer behaviors.

• Companies that prioritize consumer needs and expectations will be best positioned to thrive in the future.

The relationship between consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, retailers, and consumers has undergone significant changes over the past five years. Disruption and innovation have forced CPG and retail companies to rethink their businesses, while consumers have reevaluated how they shop and what they need. The evolving relationship between CPG companies and retailers presents an opportunity for a more radical rethink of how they both go to market and measure success.

CPG companies, which create merchandise that customers frequently use such as food, beverages, cosmetics, and cleaning products, and retail companies, have both invested in new technologies, channels, and consumer touchpoints to stay relevant.

However, their roles have overlapped, leading to tension and increased competition for attention as the traditional model no longer remains linear. CPG companies make products, but they now also deliver and sell them directly to consumers, while retailers sell and deliver products to consumers while also making them. Consumers buy products, but they often personalize and co-create them with CPG companies. Additionally, with consumers focusing more on value and price, they’re showing less interest in brands (apart from luxury goods) and are instead more interested in what retailers themselves have to offer.

Consumers, who ultimately hold the power in this dynamic, are more informed and demanding than ever. Companies that can deliver on consumer needs and expectations will be in the strongest position to reset the relationship.

This article explores how retailers and CPG companies can strengthen their partnership to overcome disruption, better serve consumers, and thrive in a rapidly evolving market.

RETAILERS GAINING CONFIDENCE AND MORE CONTROL
Retailers, especially in the grocery sector, have become more empowered and confident. The pandemic accelerated their technology adoption, enabling contactless payments, self-service checkouts, and delivery services. These innovations have driven convenience and cost efficiencies, allowing retailers to exert more control over what they sell and focus on delivering value. Additionally, many retailers have taken on broader roles as community hubs and defenders of consumer interests, pushing back against price increases from CPG companies.

EMBRACING DIRECT CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT
As consumer engagement becomes more highly prioritized, CPG companies are using technology to build direct connections with consumers through direct-to-consumer (D2C) business models, subscription services, and social selling. According to the EY Future Consumer Index, influencers are on the rise, with 45% of consumers sharing that they follow social media influencers. As much as 74% say they find influencer product recommendations trustworthy, and 61% share that they purchased a product based solely on an influencer’s recommendation.

CPG companies have also focused on making supply chains more flexible and responsive, reducing costs and being more sustainable. By exploring new physical channels and adapting to the growing power of larger retailers, CPG companies aim to maintain production and execute growth strategies to gain higher sales volumes.

CONSUMERS DRIVING CHANGE WITH NEW BEHAVIORS
Consumers are shopping differently, with increased price sensitivity and a preference for online shopping, home delivery, and buying from thrift stores. Due to being online more often, they are more informed about product ingredients, company practices, and the environmental impact of the companies they shop from.

According to the EY Future Consumer Index, consumers are turning away from once-favored brands as their priorities and options change. As much as 74% have mentioned awareness of shrinkflation in the form of branded products now coming in smaller pack sizes, while 50% would make the switch to a new product if it provided better quality. Consumers are also more willing to try private labels, with 41% having switched already. Brands were not considered an important factor in 48% of purchase decisions, putting CPG companies at a disadvantage.

This shift in consumer behavior is reshaping the relationship between retailers and CPG companies.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION
As the relationships between CPG companies, retailers, and consumers have changed due to ongoing disruption and evolving needs, success now depends on fostering open, collaborative, and agile ways of thinking and working. By leveraging each other’s strengths and innovations, retailers and CPG companies can approach the future from a position of strength.

Creating seamless multi-channel experiences. Retailers and CPG companies must prioritize operating without friction across multiple channels to meet consumer demands. For example, some companies offer a “Buy Online, Pick Up In Store” (BOPIS) model and use mobile apps that allow customers to shop seamlessly across channels. By investing in marketing and innovation, they can create compelling offers for consumers wherever they are. Collaboration between retailers and CPG companies can help address common challenges and leverage each other’s strengths for mutual benefit.

BALANCING VALUE AND VOLUME
As consumers become more price-sensitive, retailers focus on delivering value, while CPG companies aim to drive volume. Both parties have a shared interest in striking the right balance between value and volume. Artificial intelligence or AI-led solutions, such as revenue growth management, can help customize and fine-tune portfolio, pricing, and promotions to achieve this balance. For example, a global food and beverage company uses artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance inventory prediction, utilizing analytics-driven software platforms to minimize inventory levels and costs while improving the accuracy of demand forecasting and streamlining supply chain workflows.

INNOVATING WITH DATA INSIGHTS
Retailers and CPG companies have vast amounts of consumer data but often lack a comprehensive view of future consumer behavior. By sharing insights and working together, they can gain a stronger understanding of consumer purchasing behaviors and create better-targeted campaigns. This collaboration can lead to more effective trade promotions and profitable business strategies. The use of CRM tools in particular can better stratify, assess, and create targeted promotional content for customers.

TURNING FRICTION POINTS INTO VALUE DRIVERS
The shopping experience has many points of friction, such as in apparel — customers expect the option to return unwanted goods at no cost to them and often engage in bracketing, which is defined as buying items in multiple sizes and sending back what doesn’t fit. To address this, retailers and CPG companies can use AI to help consumers make better buying choices and deliver a better shopping experience. The EY Index shows 59% of consumers trust AI-generated imagery to show them what a product would look like on them, 56% positively engage with AI to answer questions about an item, and 50% trust AI to take size measurements via their phone camera, as demonstrated by a Japanese clothing brand. Some companies also accept bracketing within defined limits, and offer faster or free returns to customers who meet a minimum actual spend or who are members of their loyalty programs.

LEVERAGING AI FOR GROWTH AND EFFICIENCY
AI offers endless opportunities to turn friction points into value drivers. Retailers and CPG companies can use AI to anticipate future consumer needs, reassess relationships, and drive growth and margin improvement. For example, a multinational CPG company uses an AI model that integrates forecasts and actual sales data between the company and its customers, linking consumer purchases directly to the source of materials. This approach eliminates traditional supply chain barriers and enhances data visibility, creating a cohesive ecosystem that connects different supply chains and optimizes inventory at distribution centers and stores. As AI becomes an essential part of the CPG and retail relationship, companies must align their strategies to maximize its potential.

FOSTERING A COLLABORATIVE MINDSET
Traditionally, CPG companies, retailers and consumers used to be a simple linear chain: CPG companies manufactured branded products, retailers sold them in their stores, and consumers bought them off shelves.

By focusing on collaboration, consumer-centricity, and innovation, retailers and CPG companies can strengthen their partnership and thrive.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Co.

 

Maria Kathrina S. Macaisa-Peña is a business consulting partner and the consumer products and retail sector leader of SGV & Co.

Weightlifting in grand return to 2025 Palarong Pambansa

TOKYO OLYMPIC gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo — FACEBOOK.COM/DEPARTMENTOFEDUCATION.PH

LAOAG CITY — Weightlifting makes a giant leap — and lift — to hoisting national awareness and hopefully global excellence down the stretch in a grand return to the 2025 Palarong Pambansa here, four years after delivering the country’s breakthrough Olympic gold medal.

The booming sport, last included in the Palaro during the 80s, found its way back home to join almost 30 events to be played across 40 venues around Ilocos Norte for a glimmer of hope to replicate the momentous feat by Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo in the Tokyo Olympics.

Over 1,700 medals are up for grabs among a 15,000-strong delegation from 18 regions led by 17-time champion National Capital Region starting with first three events of 3,000-meter run, long jump and javelin throw at 6 a.m. at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium track oval.

Either of the three premier athletic events will deliver the coveted first gold of the 65th Palaro edition serving as only the second hosting since 1968 for Ilocos Norte, the home province of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. from Batac City and the first Filipino Olympic medalist (bronze) Teofilo Yldefonso from the town of Piddig.

President Marcos led the opening ceremony on Saturday night while the Ilocano Shark Mr. Yldefonso is the silhouette on the official Palaro logo as a tribute to his incomparable legacy as an Olympian and war hero.

All other events will also start in different venues around the province dubbed as the “Renewable Energy Capital of Southeast Asia” owing to its wind farms with eyes on the medal-rich events like swimming, gymnastics, arnis and archery, where most of the bemedaled athletes rise.

But the spotlight, now more than ever, will also be shone brighter on weightlifting with no better — and also world’s best — luminary to advance the untapped discipline than the trailblazer Ms. Diaz herself.

Ms. Diaz, who’s also preparing for another shot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, serve as the tournament director in a noble, larger-than-life dream of unearthing the Filipinos’ limitless potential of weightlifting and other sports as well.

Save for this time, the dream is closer to reality — which she first shed light on by bringing home the gold in the Land of the Rising Sun to snap a long and winding hunt by a multitude of Filipino athletes for the first Olympic glory in almost a century.

With five divisions each for boys and girls’ secondary, weightlifting will serve as a demo sport for now — along with other debuting exhibition sports like futsal and kickboxing — but what’s important for Ms. Diaz is finally having an annual platform like Palaro that she never had back when she was just a dreamer.

The international competition — and success like she had from scratch without any grassroots competition — can then wait after making the best out of here.

“I can see the Philippine weightlifting having more participants and quality athletes in Batang Pinoy and Palaro for, of course, an Olympic gold soon. We want to go down to the regions to teach.”

Meanwhile, the advance games of team sports football, baseball and softball as well as boxing already got going on Saturday followed by the Palaro ng Lahi (Kadang-Kadang, Patintero and Sack Race) on Sunday to roll the red carpet for country’s premier scholastic sports competition organized by the Department of Education in cooperation with the Philippine Sports Commission, Department of Interior and Local Government and Ilocos Norte led by Gov.  Matthew Manotoc. — John Bryan Ulanday

Pagdanganan shoots 72 for joint 18th at Riviera Maya Open

BIANCA PAGDANGANAN — LPGA.COM

BIANCA PAGDANGANAN failed to make headway on moving day, carding an even 72 as she ran five shots off the pace in the Mexico Riviera Maya Open in Mexico Saturday.

Aiming to bounce back after submitting a 74 in Friday’s second round, Ms. Pagdanganan managed only a birdie on the par-4 No. 6 against a bogey on No. 14 in Round 3 to find herself stuck at two-under for the tournament.

It’s been a struggle for the Filipina Olympian after she opened with a sizzling 68 and grabbed a share of the lead initially.

Ms. Pagdanganan, who hit just seven fairways on a 274-yard average drive and 14 greens in regulation and needed 31 putts in the penultimate round, now sits at joint 18th with 214 as Jenny Bae of the US held on to the lead at 209.

Ms. Bae turned in a 71 in the third round, enough to give her a slim one-shot upperhand against Chinese Yahui Zhang and Japanese Chisato Iwai, who closed in on the American with identical 68s.

Australian Gabriela Ruffels  (71) is one shot back at 211. — Olmin Leyba

Gilas boys whip Vietnam

GILAS PILIPINAS YOUTH — SBP.PH

GILAS Pilipinas Youth shook off early jitters before fully asserting itself against Vietnam, 113-62, at the start of the FIBA U16 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers in Pampanga on Saturday.

Travis Pascual and Prince Carino rifled in 16 points each while skipper Jolo Pascual had 14 and Justin Hallare and Jhello Lumague chipped in 10 apiece as the Philippines joined Indonesia and Thailand in the march of opening-day victors.

The Indonesians routed Singapore, 68-47, while the Thais turned back Malaysia, 56-47, in the other matches at the Bren Z. Guiao Sports Complex in San Fernando.

While the final winning margin was one-sided, it didn’t reflect the anxious moments coach LA Tenorio and the Gilas U16 had in the first three minutes of action.

The Vietnamese jumped the gun on the jittery Filipinos, 13-4, putting the home crowd in shock and forcing Mr. Tenorio to call a timeout.

But the boys emerged from the huddle all fired up.

With a 13-2 counter, Gilas wrested the lead, 17-15, and it went on to take a 29-20 lead at the end of the first period. Momentum on their side, the Pinoy U16s subjected the Vietnamese to a 32-13 bombardment in the second to pull away to 61-33 at the turn, never to look back.

Mr. Tenorio after picking up the W in his coaching debut. “It was a learning process — for the boys and myself. We all will need to learn from our mistakes.”

Mr. Tenorio’s crew for sure can’t afford to commit lapses like it did especially in the opening minutes of the game against Vietnam with Thailand as its next opponent on Sunday night. — Olmin Leyba

The scores

The Philippines 113 – T. Pascual 16, Carino 16, J. Pascual 14, Hallare 10, Lumagub 10, Cruz 9, De Los Reyes 9, Restificar 8, Cabanero 6, Antolin 6, Tan-Chi 6, Miranda 3.

Vietnam 62 – Nguyen H.M.K. 13, Nguyen L.C.N. 12, Vo 10, Nguyen M.A. 5, Vu 5, Luu 5, Bui 5, Phan 3, Nguyen H.Q.B. 2, Nhu 2, Angus 0, Do, 0.

Quarterscores: 29-20; 61-33; 83-50; 113-62

Miranda comeback bid in drift race at Irohazaka Car Meet

DANIEL MIRANDA — INSTAGRAM.COM/DANIELMIRANDAA_

FILIPINO Daniel Miranda will launch his ambitious campaign  in the 2025 drift season when he sees action in the Irohazaka Car Meet unfurling soon at the R33 Drift Track in Pampanga.

The event will be the first of the five-legged series, which promises top-tier competition that aims to discover regional talent while kicking off the motorsport calendar.

Mr. Miranda’s comeback will be powered by Cebuana Lhuillier, headed by its President and Chief Executive Officer Jean Henri Lhuillier who is a known sports patron having supported not just softball from which he is its current head as well as tennis.

“We faced a few setbacks last year, but we’ve worked tirelessly to get everything dialed in during the off-season,” said Mr. Miranda. “I’m looking forward to pushing the limits and challenging some of the region’s best drivers throughout the series.”

“This season is all about performance, precision, and proving what we’re capable of,” he added.

The Irohazaka Car Meet brings together the region’s top drift competitors and car culture enthusiasts, providing a stage for unforgettable moments and breakout performances.

For Mr. Miranda, it’s more than just a race — it’s a statement of intent for the season ahead.

“A sincere thank you to Cebuana Lhuillier and all of my sponsors for your continued trust and support,” he said. — Joey Villar

T-Wolves rout Thunder

Conventional wisdom has continually noted that a playoff series doesn’t begin until homecourt advantage shifts. By this measure, the Western Conference Finals remains without an actual turning point; yesterday’s match between the Timberwolves and Thunder gave clear indications that the best-of-seven affair won’t be easily decided. With the season hanging in the balance, the hosts didn’t merely claim victory at Target Center; they presided over a 143-101 beatdown that underscored their capacity to take the measure of the competition.

With the emphatic triumph in front of 19,112 raucous fans, the Timberwolves didn’t as much avoid a zero-to-three hole as make a definitive statement. And considering the pressure they were under heading into Game Three, it’s fair to argue that they managed to change the tone of the series entirely. They came out with a level of urgency and aggression that had been missing in their previous showings at Paycom Center; they outscored the Thunder by a whopping 20 points after the first quarter, and the lead grew every period thereafter — to 31 at the half, to 37 after three, and to 42 at the final buzzer. There was simply no letup to their assault.

Needless to say, All-NBA selection Anthony Edwards led the charge. That said, equally important to the Timberwolves’ cause was the support he received — and not just on offense from such notables as Julius Randle, who put up 24 points, and rookie revelation Terrence Shannon Jr., who added 15 to complement his match-high 30. Hust about everybody in blue and white held the fort on the other end of the floor. And so dominant were they on defense that newly minted Valuable Player awardee Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could put up no better than 14 on a decidedly mortal four-of-13 shooting from the field.

There’s still a lot of hoops to be played, so it’s too early to say the Timberwolves  have found an answer to the league’s leading scorer. Nonetheless, head coach Chris Finch appeared to have latched on to something replicable: throw player after player at him, force the ball out of his hands, and clog the paint with smart and speedy rotations. It likewise helped that the bench tactician knew exactly when to call timeouts to nip potential danger in the proverbial bud, understanding that, given the faster pace and increased reliance on three-points shots in the modern era, no gap in the scores was safe.

There is, of course, still much to be done for the Timberwolves — beginning with the need to prevail once more tomorrow. Yesterday’s big win gives them momentum that they have to sustain, and the pressure shifts dramatically if they get to even the series at two games apiece. Make no mistake, however: It’s a big “if.” Forget about the shellacking; the Thunder are no pushovers, and Gilgeous-Alexander will be motivated to do much better. Which means the onus is on them to stay ready, and to keep believing in the cause.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

PHL Congress urged to push maritime research bill amid dispute with China

BW FILE PHOTO

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

PHILIPPINE lawmakers should come up with a measure that will provide the legal framework for maritime research in the South China Sea to boost the country’s entitlements to natural resources in contested areas amid worsening tensions with China, political analysts said.

This would let the Philippines to explore and exploit mineral-rich waters and strengthen its claims, said Josue Raphael J. Cortez, a diplomacy lecturer at the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde.

“There is an enormous risk that we do not have specific policies yet concerning such action within the disputed waters,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

A top Philippine security official last week urged lawmakers to craft more laws bolstering the country’s entitlements and sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea. Manila already has laws governing territorial boundaries and international transit within its waters.

The Philippines remains locked in a long-standing dispute with China over features in the sea that often leads to confrontations. A United Nations-backed tribunal in The Hague in 2016 voided China’s sweeping claims for being illegal.

The tribunal ruled that China had interfered with Filipino fishermen’s right to access Scarborough Shoal, a prime fishing patch that is close to major shipping lanes, and that the energy-rich Reed Bank lies within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile EEZ.

Efforts to drill at Reed Bank for its oil and natural gas reserves have been hampered by the sea dispute. The feature may hold as many as 5.4 billion barrels of oil and 55.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to a 2013 report by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Having a law allowing the exploration and exploitation of resources within the Philippines’ EEZ is crucial as the country seeks to diversify its power mix and fast-track its transition to renewable energy, House of Representatives Assistant Minority Leader and Party-list Rep. Sergio C. Dagooc, who is a member of the chamber’s energy panel, told BusinessWorld.

“It’s very important to concretize our claim over that area,” he said by telephone in Filipino, referring to Reed Bank. “Because if we venture into liquefied natural gas (LNG), but we still rely on imported supplies, it might lead to higher electricity costs.”

He said he would file a bill that would establish a legal framework for the country’s natural resource exploration in the South China Sea in the 20th Congress, which will open in mid-July.

“The crucial point here is that the bill should not come across as antagonistic to other claimant states,” Mr. Dagooc said.

Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim parts of the waterway, which is said to contain 11 billion barrels of untapped oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to the EIA.

Policymakers should also look at criminalizing “illegal foreign activities” within Philippine waters, said Rocio Salle Gatdula, a defense economist taking up security studies at Georgetown University.

“New legislation should also criminalize illegal foreign activities, such as unauthorized fishing or resource extraction in Philippine waters, and require foreign vessels to secure prior clearance to emphasize both deterrence and legal clarity,” she said via Messenger chat.

The government should also engage with coastal communities via public information dialogues to inform fisherfolk of their maritime rights, she said. “This would increase vigilance within citizens as a key part of national maritime security.”

Lawmakers should not reallocate the budget allotted for the Philippine military’s modernization program during congressional hearing set later this year, said Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco, a senior research fellow at the Ateneo Policy Center.

“Efforts should be exerted to prevent the budget for the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization program from being cannibalized by Congress,” he said in a Messenger chat.

The government should also ensure the proper management and implementation of the country’s Self-reliant Defense Posture law, he added.

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