Marcos to sign bill expanding RCEF

December 8, 2024 | 8:17 pm

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is set to sign into law on Monday a bill seeking a P20-billion increase in the government’s annual fund for rice farmers, according to Senate President Francis Joseph “Chiz” G. Escudero.

Mr. Escudero said the bill, which will amend Republic Act No. 11203, the Rice Tariffication Law, will extend the implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) and expand its funding to P30 billion yearly from P10 billion currently.

With the bill’s signing, the “country’s rice farmers will receive greater support through the provision of farm machinery and equipment, free distribution of high quality inbred certified seeds, and other interventions,” he said in a statement.

The law extends the life of the RCEF, which was set to expire this year, until 2031.

RCEF, which is intended to modernize the rice industry, is funded by import tariffs generated under the 2019 rice tariffication law, which liberalized rice imports.

The law stripped the National Food Authority (NFA) of its power to import, allowing private traders to bring in rice with no restrictions. They must pay a 35% tariff on grain sourced from Southeast Asia.

“An increase in the annual allocation to the RCEF will also be instituted, from the current P10 billion to P30 billion until the year 2031,” Mr. Escudero said.

Under the bill, a buffer stock of rice will be maintained, equivalent to 30 days at any given time, “to sustain disaster relief programs of the government during natural or man-made calamities and to address food security emergency situations on rice,” the Senate leader said.

The bill seeks to strengthen the Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Plant Industry, to conduct a “stronger inspection and monitoring” of warehouses and agricultural facilities to ensure a stable supply of rice in the market and ensure the quality of rice being sold to consumers.

“We want to avoid a situation where the price of rice shoots up unnecessarily due to smuggling or hoarding. This has long been a problem in the country that should be addressed immediately,” Mr. Escudero said.

The new law also authorizes the Agriculture Secretary to designate importing entities, except the NFA, to import rice when there is an extraordinary increase in rice prices. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Ride-hailing hub at NAIA-T3 opens

December 8, 2024 | 8:16 pm

Grab-NAIA T3 — NAIA Terminal 3 has started operations of a centralized transport network vehicle service hub for easier and more convenient access to ride-hailing services. — SMC MEDIA AFFAIRS GROUP

SAN MIGUEL-LED New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) has opened a centralized hub for ride-hailing services at the Terminal 3 (T3) of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the private operator of the country’s main gateway said.

“With a centralized hub and diverse transportation options, we are bringing more order and efficiency to the airport. This is part of our commitment to making travel smoother and stress-free for every passenger,” NNIC General Manager Angelito A. Alvarez said in a media release on Sunday.

The new facility is a 6,000-square meter hub, located within the multi-level parking building at Terminal 3. It has 401 parking slots, 18 loading bays and dedicated lanes for Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) and has multiple entry and exit points.

The hub is designed to improve traffic flow and passenger experience by reducing curbside congestion and ensuring a seamless traffic system, NNIC said.

The private operator of NAIA said the TNVS hub started fully operating on Dec. 8, in time for the expected high influx of passengers for the holiday season.

NNIC said Grab Philippines was the first operator to shift to the facility during its initial launch on Dec. 5.

DBDOYC, Inc., the company behind the Angkas motorcycle taxi app., will also transition to the facility through its four-wheeled ride services Angcars.

Joyride Ecommerce Technologies Corp. (Joyride), through its app-based metered taxi services called “Super Taxi,” will also join the two operators in the hub beginning Dec. 10.

The three operators have already committed to deploy dedicated airport pickup drives to ensure efficient services, NNIC said, adding that dedicated on-the-spot bookings at lounges will also be set up for passengers without a mobile app.

NNIC, which took over the operations and maintenance of the country’s main gateway in September has earlier outlined its plan to modernize and rehabilitate NAIA which includes addressing issues such as traffic congestion, overcapacity and aging infrastructure. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Special need teachers fall short

December 8, 2024 | 8:15 pm

classroom-students-teacher — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE SENATE education committee on Sunday flagged the lack of over 7,000 teachers in the special needs sector.

There is an estimated shortfall of 7,651 special needs teachers based on public school enrollment for School Year (SY) 2023-2024, Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said, citing an oversight review of Republic Act No. 11650, Instituting a Policy of Inclusion and Services for Learners with Disabilities in Support of Inclusive Education Act.

There were only 5,147 special needs education teachers, while there were 323,344 learners with disabilities aged two to 17 enrolled for SY 2023-2024, he said in a statement.

“One of the challenges in implementing inclusive education is the supply of qualified teachers,” the senator said in a statement.

“The intention is to address the supply issues in terms of teachers with knowledge in special needs education.”

Mr. Gatchalian said the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) should ensure the availability of qualified special needs teachers.

RA No. 11650 mandated schools to ensure that all learners with disabilities have access to quality education, such that no learner shall be denied admission because of disability.

It also aims to train and equip teachers and school personnel in the care, development, education, and advancement of learners with disabilities.

Under the law, the DepEd is mandated to collaborate with the CHED to ensure that updated courses on inclusive education, which should respond to the needs of learners with disabilities, are included in bachelor of elementary or secondary education programs.

The law also mandated the development of a scholarship program for in-service teachers to pursue required master’s degree units in special needs education, inclusive education, or related courses.

Grantees will be required to fulfill a return service obligation within the DepEd.

“The reason why we wanted to come up with a scholarship program is precisely to address the shortfall, because moving forward, as we encourage more parents to send their children to school and as we implement the Child-Find System, we will see an uptick in enrollment and we have to make sure that we have teachers who are trained in special needs education,” Mr. Gatchalian said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Release bonuses, gov’t told

December 8, 2024 | 8:13 pm

A CONGRESSMAN on Sunday urged the Philippine Health and Budget departments to expedite their release of performance-based bonuses for government healthcare workers, which he said have been unpaid for the past three years.

“The delayed release of their bonuses is an insult to the sacrifices of health workers,” Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee said in a statement in Filipino. “Let’s not wait for another year to pass before they receive it.”

The performance-based bonus is a government incentive program for its workers in a bid to increase productivity and service quality across all agencies, according to a Department of Budget and Management circular.

An organization of healthcare workers last month appealed for the government to release their performance bonus as they languish and struggle to make ends meet. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

PHL journalists to get AI training ahead of 2025 polls

December 8, 2024 | 8:13 pm

GOOGLE News Initiative (GNI) has teamed up with digital consultancy firm Bastion Digital to conduct workshops on artificial intelligence (AI) for Philippine journalists.

The GNI AI Workshops Program, which runs from February to June next year, is a 16-week long course that seeks to provide generative AI training and tools for Philippine newsrooms and journalists to improve their reporting.

“Google is deeply invested in the Philippines’ digital future and the responsible adoption of generative AI,” said Jackie Wang, Google country director for Thailand and the Philippines, said in a statement.

“The Google News Initiative is committed to enhancing journalism’s crucial role in an informed and progressive society, particularly as the 2025 midterm elections draw near. We’re proud and excited to offer Filipino journalists AI training designed to improve accuracy, efficiency, and innovation in their reporting,” Ms. Wang added.

The Commission on Elections said the AI workshops for newsrooms would help ensure truthful and accurate reporting ahead of the midterm elections.

“Upskilling a key electoral stakeholder will no doubt contribute toward ensuring a free, orderly, honest, and credible electoral exercise,” John Rex C. Laudiangco, director — education and information department at Comelec, also said.

As of last year, 32% of newsrooms reported already using generative AI tools creating news content, according to a survey by market research platform Statista.

News organizations participating in the workshop must be based in the Philippines and serve Filipino audiences. It must commit two to three people participants for the program.

“This program, led by principal AI consultant Shaun Davies, encourages a ‘test and learn’ approach, empowering organizations to embrace innovation at their own pace,” Bastion Digital Director Janni Ruall said.

Interested news organizations may apply until end-January 2025. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

P840,000 worth marijuana seized in GenSan

December 8, 2024 | 8:12 pm

COTABATO CITY — Anti-narcotics agents on Friday foiled an attempt to ship P840,000 worth of compressed dried marijuana leaves via a big forwarding company operating a branch in General Santos (GenSan) City.

Using drug-sniffing dogs, agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-12 (PDEA-12) and policemen found seven kilos of marijuana in parcels stored in the forwarding firm’s cargo storage facility in Barangay Apopong.

Benjamin C. Recites III, director of PDEA-12, told reporters on Sunday that their operation last Friday premised on tips by confidential informants aware of the circulation of such illegal merchandise in cities in and provinces in Central Mindanao via legitimate cargo and parcel transport outfits.

Personnel of police units and PDEA agents in different regions in Mindanao had seized, in one operation after another in recent months, dried marijuana in sealed parcels from online suppliers facilitating distribution via legitimate cargo forwarders.

The PDEA-12 and intelligence units of the Police Regional Office 12 are cooperating in identifying the real shippers and consignees of the marijuana in parcels confiscated during an interdiction operation on Friday in General Santos City. — John Felix M. Unson

Mapua star Escamis dodges question on final year of play

December 8, 2024 | 7:10 pm

Mapua-Escamis — MAPUA CARDINALS — FACEBOOK.COM/NCAA.ORG.PH

MERCURIAL Mapua guard Clint Escamis’ legendary performance in the just concluded NCAA Season 100 senior basketball finals may just turn out his swan song.

“Let’s just first enjoy the moment,” said Mr. Escamis, who evaded questions by the media if he would stay for one final time to chase another championship.

But should Mr. Escamis forgo his final year, he will leave behind a legacy that he helped forge after his epic effort in the series that powered the Cardinals to a 2-0 sweep of the College of St. Benilde (CSB) Blazers at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and ended their long 33-year title wait.

Mr. Escamis was the heart and soul of a Mapua team that swept the second round of elimination in nine games, hurdled Lyceum of the Philippines University in the Final Four and conquered CSB in the finals.

He dished out memorable effort after memorable effort that included a brilliant game-winning triple in that second round win over CSB where Mapua had to dig its way out of a 26-point hole.

Mr. Escamis was also spectacular in the Final Four where he dropped a career-high 33 points that he followed up with a 30-point masterpiece in an 84-73 win in the series opener.

He had an 18-point encore in the title-clinching win in Game Two that could have been higher if not for cramps that hobbled him most of the second half.

“What can I say, we couldn’t have won it without Clint,” said Mapua coach Randy Alcantara.

Should he leave, Mr. Escamis knows Mapua is in good hands with the emergence of future stars including Cyrus Cuenco and JC Recto and a talented youngbloods in Chris Hubilla and Lawrence Mangubat.

“I keep saying that we need to play as a team if we want to win and we did,” said Mr. Escamis. — Joey Villar

Wizards top Nuggets, end 16-game skid despite Nikola Jokic’s 56 points

December 8, 2024 | 7:10 pm

JORDAN POOLE had 39 points to help the host Washington Wizards overcome Nikola Jokic’s career-high 56 points and beat the Denver Nuggets 122-113 on Saturday to end their 16-game losing streak.

Poole hit a career-high nine 3-pointers and was one of four Wizards to score in double figures.

Justin Champagnie had 23 points, Jonas Valanciunas finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, Jared Butler scored 12 points and Carlton Carrington added 10 points in the win.

Washington’s 16-game skid tied a franchise record.

With Jamal Murray (hamstring) and Aaron Gordon (calf) out, the Nuggets leaned on Jokic. The three-time NBA MVP shot 22 for 38 from the floor and was 3-of-5 from three-point range. He added 16 rebounds and eight assists. Jokic’s point total was second in franchise history, trailing only David Thompson’s 73 in 1978.

Julian Strawther scored 18 points off the bench, Christian Braun added 14 points and Michael Porter Jr. added 11 for the Nuggets, who have lost three of their past four games.

The Wizards, who shot 48.4% from the floor, earned their first win since Oct. 30 despite not having No. 1 pick Alex Sarr, who missed the game with a sore back.

Washington, which led by as much as 15 points in the game, went on a 7-0 run to take a 30-19 lead with 3:26 left in the first quarter. The Wizards had a season-high 69 points in the first half and led the Nuggets 69-57 at the break.

The Wizards pushed their lead to 78-63 after two free throws by Valanciunas with 9:15 left in the third. But the Nuggets cut their deficit to 81-77 after a three-point play by Jokic with 5:22 left in the quarter. Jokic hit another basket inside to trim Washington’s lead to 91-88 with 2:08 left in the third.

Butler’s layup with 0.3 seconds left gave the Wizards a 99-93 lead entering the fourth.

Jokic scored 23 points on 9-of-20 shooting in the third. Poole led the Wizards with 14 points in the quarter.

The Wizards went on a 7-0 run to start the fourth quarter, pushing their lead to 106-93 on Carrington’s floater with 9:56 left in the game. Strawther’s basket inside cut the Nuggets’ deficit to 116-111 with 1:29 left but Denver couldn’t complete the comeback.

The Nuggets finished 5-of-24 from three-point range, while the Wizards were 16-of-41. — Reuters

Ja Morant leads Grizzlies to rare road win over Celtics

December 8, 2024 | 7:08 pm

JA MORANT had 32 points, nine rebounds and nine assists to help the visiting Memphis Grizzlies defeat the Boston Celtics 127-121 on Saturday night and earn their first win in Boston since 2013.

The victory ended Boston’s six-game winning streak against Memphis. The Grizzlies had lost 16 of their last 17 games against the Celtics, including the last 10 in Boston.

Boston led 103-99, but a 10-0 run handed Memphis a six-point lead with 7:19 to play. The Grizzlies maintained the lead after that.

Jaren Jackson, Jr. added 27 points, nine rebounds and three steals for the Grizzlies, who went 15 of 33 on 3-point attempts. Jackson scored 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Jayson Tatum had 17 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists for the Celtics, who shot 18 of 60 from long range. Boston received 23 points from Jrue Holiday and 22 from both Payton Pritchard and Jaylen Brown.

Boston’s Sam Hauser left the game in the first half with right adductor tightness and did not return.

Marcus Smart, who spent his first nine NBA seasons with the Celtics before he was traded to Memphis in a three-team deal that brought Kristaps Porzingis to Boston, was 1 of 11 from the field and scored three points.

The loss ended Boston’s three-game winning streak and its seven-game home winning streak.

A 10-0 run gave Memphis an early 18-8 lead, and the Grizzlies led 31-27 going into the second quarter.

Memphis took a 12-point lead following a Morant basket with 29.8 seconds remaining in the first half and led 66-54 at halftime. The Celtics shot 36% from the field in the first two quarters and made only 9 of 31 from long range.

Pritchard’s 3-pointer capped a 13-3 run that sliced the Memphis lead to 88-86 with 1:37 left in the third quarter, but Boston trailed 94-89 entering the fourth. — Reuters

Real Madrid closes in on leader Barcelona with 3-0 Girona win

December 8, 2024 | 7:08 pm

GIRONA, Spain — Real Madrid narrowed the gap on LaLiga leaders Barcelona to two points with a commanding 3-0 win at Girona Saturday thanks to goals from Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler and Kylian Mbappe

Second-placed Real have 36 points with a game in hand on Barca, who drew 2-2 at Real Betis.

Girona suffered a sixth loss in 16 league matches and remain eighth on 22 points, two points off the European spots.

Bellingham opened the scoring in the 36^th minute by capitalizing on a loose ball and firing home from the center of the box before setting up Guler with a fine through ball to double the lead 10 minutes after the break.

The England midfielder, who scored for a fifth consecutive LaLiga match, was having an outstanding game but was forced off after taking a knock shortly before Mbappe made it 3-0 with a shot from a tight angle in the 62^nd to wrap up the win.

Real boss Ancelotti told reporters Bellingham was all right but they also lost full-back Ferland Mendy to a muscular problem ahead of their Champions League clash at Atalanta on Tuesday.

“(Bellingham) is fine, he is available. We’ve had the muscle injury to Mendy but the rest of it is just knocks, nothing more,” the Italian manager said.

Girona have struggled without key players through injury and now face difficult matches at home to Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday and away to Mallorca next Saturday in LaLiga.

“The team has suffered a lot of injuries. It’s costing us more. We still have months to keep growing,” Girona defender Miguel Gutierrez told Movistar.

“We have to keep going. We have two very important games. In the Champions League against Liverpool, we’re playing to get through. In LaLiga against Mallorca.”

Girona are 30^th in the Champions League table, three points behind Real who are 24^th and occupy the final qualifying spot for the playoffs. — Reuters

Manchester City drops points at Palace; error-strewn Man United loses to Forest

December 8, 2024 | 7:02 pm

MANCHESTER CITY’S struggles continued in a 2-2 Premier League draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday, while Manchester United lost 3-2 in their first defeat by Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford in 30 years to prolong their rocky start under Ruben Amorim.

Brentford extended its unbeaten home run with a 4-2 win over Newcastle United, while Aston Villa beat Southampton 1-0.

Liverpool, which leads the standings, was set to kick off the weekend action at Everton but the last ever Merseyside league derby at Goodison Park was postponed due to storm Darragh.

Erling Haaland and Rico Lewis scored for City, who won in midweek but have lost four of their last six league games and twice trailed at a wet and windy Selhurst Park.

They remain fourth on 27 points, a point behind Chelsea and Arsenal and eight off Liverpool but having played a game more.

“We took a point. We fought incredible and came back twice,” City manager Pep Guardiola told the BBC. “It’s a season to suffer. We’ll see what happens in the last months.

“We tried. We cannot talk about the title race when we lose four games in a row and draw. We have to do more games to be consistent. It’s difficult in the situation we have. I’m really pleased for the players — they fought and did everything.”

Daniel Munoz and Maxence Lacroix scored for Palace. City defender Lewis got their second equaliser in the 68th minute but was shown a red card in the 84th after a second booking.

Manchester United’s defensive weaknesses were exploited again as it fell to Forest, who are two points behind City in fifth, while the scale of the task facing Amorim was apparent as his side languishes in 13th place after a disjointed display.

“Tough game in a tough moment, but we have to continue the job,” the new United manager said.

The hosts went behind within two minutes as Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic headed home a corner, before United levelled when Rasmus Hojlund pounced to slot home a rebound.

Amorim’s side started the second half equally badly and again conceded within two minutes when Morgan Gibbs-White’s shot somehow took goalkeeper Andre Onana by surprise.

Onana was at fault again when Chris Wood sent a looping header over him and defender Lisandro Martinez. Bruno Fernandes pulled one back but United’s fans were left frustrated again.

Brentford held on to beat Newcastle at the Gtech Community Stadium after the visitors twice came from a goal down in the first half before Nathan Collins and Kevin Schade struck to wrap up the points.

Brentford climbed to seventh place in increasingly windy conditions while the Magpies are 12th.

Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa also scored for Brentford, while Newcastle’s goals came from Alexander Isak and Harvey Barnes.

“One of the best results you can have in that weather, both sides were struggling, the wind was carnage,” Collins said.

A first-half strike by Aston Villa’s Colombia forward

Jhon Duran was enough to secure the points in their home win over bottom side Southampton.

“We have to thank our fans because it was difficult in the weather today,” said Villa manager Unai Emery.

Duran had netted in the 24th minute, chasing down a long ball and capitalizing on some sloppy defending before charging into the box and powering a finish past goalkeeper Joe Lumley.

Villa moved up to sixth, while Southampton remains rooted to the basement, eight points from the safety zone. — Reuters

The benching of Draymond Green

December 8, 2024 | 7:01 pm

Draymond Green was just heading into his third year with the Warriors when he got the call to be a permanent member of their First Five. To argue that it signified a leap of faith would be an understatement. As a 35^th overall pick in the 2012 draft, he didn’t seem to have the physique or the skills required of a rotation player. He was an undersized power forward at 6’6”, and he lacked the traditional offensive prowess the blue and yellow demanded of regulars in the National Basketball Association. Still, he found himself with the golden opportunity following a coaching change.

Green’s ascent to stardom was, perhaps, fated. For one thing, the Warriors appeared to be only too ready to move on from David Lee; the erstwhile All-Star then had an albatross of a contract that belied one-dimensional predilections and a troubling history of injury. For another, newly installed bench tactician Steve Kerr represented a fresh set of eyes that provided bias-free impressions of his unique set of skills, and on how it could complement backcourt scorers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson under a pace-and-space system. And the rest, as the cliche goes, is history.

These days, the Warriors have their dynasty in the rear-view mirror. Thompson is gone, and the other vital cogs are much older. And while it’s still too early in the 2024-25 season to count them out, it’s fair to argue against their capacity to stand toe to toe with the league elite given their uneven roster. For a while there, it looked as if Kerr would be able to leverage loose substitution patterns into wins. It was never going to be sustainable, of course; there’s a reason fewer cogs get to see action in the playoffs.

The other day, Kerr made a decision hitherto deemed all but impossible in the Curry era: He sent Green to the bench in favor of projected future big Jonathan Kuminga. For longtime fans, it translated to the Warriors coming full circle; all things considered, the latter’s promotion was as necessary as Lee’s demotion 10 years ago. And while they still ended up losing to the Timberwolves, the change figures to stick for a while in the face of a glaring lack of scoring options.

Creditably, Green has taken the turn of events in stride. Not normally predisposed to accepting any change in the status quo, he has accepted it with uncharacteristic peace. “I am a product of my vet being willing to take a backseat for me,” he noted. “So you got to give back what came to you. That’s what this is about.” To be sure, the Warriors are walking a tightrope. In large measure, his stellar court vision is precisely what makes the offense hum, and why Curry has thrived all this time. Then again, Kerr has no choice. They’re reeling, and they can’t keep doing the same things over and over again while expecting a different result.

Have the Warriors latched on to a formula for success? It’s anybody’s guess. At the very least, they have Green’s cooperation — as critical an ingredient as any.

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.