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DoJ names Immigration OIC after chief’s sacking over Guo

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE Department of Justice (DoJ) on Tuesday named Deputy Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado as the Bureau of Immigration (BI) officer-in-charge (OIC) after the dismissal of its former chief for the escape of an embattled former mayor.

In a statement, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said the appointment of Mr. Viado will take effect immediately and will remain until President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. appoints a new commissioner.

“It is essential that we assure our people that the services of our immigration bureau will remain uninterrupted and consistent regardless of any transition in leadership,” Mr. Remulla said in a statement.

“Viado will be in charge of the day-to-day operations of the bureau under the supervision of the Justice Secretary,” the DoJ said.

This comes after President Ferdinand R. Marcos on Monday dismissed Norman G. Tansingco as his Immigration chief for failing to prevent the escape of dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice L. Guo and her cohorts from the Philippines in July. 

Mr. Remulla earlier said he was disappointed with Mr. Tansingco’s performance due to BI’s lapses under his watch.

“This has been a big problem for the longest time, we have not been lacking reminders to the Immigration Commissioner about these problems,” he said in the same statement.

Mr. Remulla on Sept. 4 said he was not talking to Mr. Tansingco after he failed to promptly inform the DoJ about Ms. Guo’s escape. She was later arrested in Indonesia and brought back to Manila.

Mr. Tansingco learned of Ms. Guo’s departure on Aug. 15 but only reported the information after five days. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

P16B in calamity funds released

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

CALAMITY FUNDS released to government agencies as of end-August stood at P16.66 billion, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.

In an update, the DBM said National Government agencies received the bulk or P16.16 billion of the fund release as of end-August.

Broken down, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) received the biggest allocation at P9.84 billion, followed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at P5.51 billion.

Of the total, P374.97 million went to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, P343 million to the Department of Finance, and P100 million to the Department of National Defense.

Some P499.94 million was allocated to government-owned and -controlled corporations. Under which, the National Irrigation Authority received P450 million, while the National Housing Authority was given P49.94 million. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Paris direct flights to start on Dec. 8

MARK OLSEN-UNSPLASH

AIR FRANCE-KLM Group on Tuesday said it would start non-stop direct flights from Manila to Paris on Dec. 8 to boost tourist arrivals in both countries.

At a Palace briefing, Air France-KLM General Manager for Southeast Asia and Pacific Femke Kroese said the direct flights, would operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Each flight would take 14 hours to complete.

She said the airline would start ticket sales for the flights on Tuesday, with economy class flight return fares starting at $1,258 (P71,030.45).

The direct flights would connect the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which Ms. Fontanel said would serve as a gateway to Europe for Filipinos.

“The Philippine market has always been on our radar and Southeast Asia as a whole is a key strategic market for Air France and KLM,” Ms. Kroese said.

“Knowing that Paris is the second most visited destination by Filipinos in Europe, we do believe that there is a strong market.”

Last week, Philippine Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said the direct flights were expected to roll out in December, after the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and its French counterpart the Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile Française signed a deal to boost aviation cooperation.

French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel told the same briefing that the direct flights will boost trade and tourism exchanges.

“In foreign direct investment, by removing a psychological barrier to trade and boosting the interest of French and European investors in a particularly dynamic Philippine market,” the envoy said.

She added that the modernization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) made the “project possible” or getting it off the ground. Air France-KLM is also set to reopen an office in Manila following the launch of the direct flights.

Air France-KLM is also set to reopen an office in Manila following the launch of the direct flights. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

More digitalization funds sought

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) is asking for an additional P9.2 billion to its proposed P12.6-billion digitalization budget next year as more than 18,000 schools still don’t have internet access.

“We want speed up the process (of digitalization)… this is a priority of the President and the department seeing how increased digitalization can help us leapfrog some of the traditional resource gaps given some schools are doing double and triple shifting,” Education Secretary Juan Miguel “Sonny” M. Angara told a Senate Finance Committee hearing on the DepEd’s proposed P793.177-billion budget next year.

He said artificial intelligence-based education platforms could also compensate for the shortage of teachers and other resource gaps.

The secretary also cited partnerships with online education provider KhanAcademy opening 31 pilot schools in the country.

In a July report last year, the Asian Development Bank said the Philippines should use education technology to bridge the skill gap or risk job losses due to rapid technological advancements. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Sierra Madre dev’t body bill urged

A CONGRESSMAN on Tuesday urged Congress to pass a bill mandating the creation of a body tasked to protect the Sierra Madre Mountain Range from deforestation as part of efforts to prevent widespread flooding during torrential rains.

Filed by Rizal Rep. Juan Fidel Felipe F. Nograles in 2022, the measure seeks to establish the Sierra Madre Development Authority, which would oversee and protect the mountain range from deforestation, illegal construction of infrastructure, and help in the economic development of the indigenous population.

Mr. Nograles cited the need to quickly enact the measure after President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. noticed deforested areas in the mountain range during an aerial inspection on the damages caused by Severe Tropical Storm Yagi (Enteng) last week.

“I hope that the President’s recent statement about Sierra Madre’s deforestation will serve as a nudge in the right direction for us in Congress to prioritize the creation of the Sierra Madre Development Authority,” he said in a statement. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

College accreditation bill OK’d

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE SENATE on Tuesday approved on second reading a bill establishing a program that would allow senior high school and technical vocational school graduates to earn college degrees through work experience.

Under Senate Bill No. 2568, the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program would credit relevant work experience to school credits for a bachelor’s degree.

The bill would task the Commission on Higher Education to implement the program and to consult with stakeholders.

Applicants will have to be at least 23 years old, have completed a secondary school program, and at least five years of work experience in the industry related to the academic degree program they are pursuing.

“For many college dropouts, whose skills are not receipted by a diploma, the absence of academic credentials can and does lead to opportunity losses,” Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero said in his sponsorship speech in March. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

PBEd, USAID help 83,000 youths

ABOUT 83,000 out-of-school youths benefitted from the USAID Opportunity 2.0 Program for the first four years of its run.

The program, in partnership with the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) and the Education Development Center (EDC), engaged with 2,200 private sector partners comprising 45 business groups, 370 large companies, and 1,704 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The program aims to build networks in 15 cities nationwide, reach 180,000 out-of-school youths, train over 2,000 teachers, and engage 2,200 companies.

The program focuses on three key components: second-chance education, workforce readiness, and positive youth development, PBEd said on its website. It will run until next year, five years after its inception in 2020.

“I hope companies can remove the requirement for a college diploma, especially for entry-level jobs,” PBEd President Chito B. Salazar told reporters in an ambush interview in Filipino.

“[Graduates] should be evaluated based on their skill set, not necessarily having a college diploma right away,” he added. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Power firm Colight expansion sought

EVENING_TAO-FREEPIK

COTABATO CITY — The provincial government of Maguindanao del Norte pushed for a Cotabato-based power utility firm to expand services to the province to sustain its improving business climate.

Gov. Abdulraof A. Macacua told reporters last Monday that he and provincial planners are together working out the possible expansion of the operation of the Cotabato Light and Power Co. (Colight) in the province.

Colight is owned by the Aboitiz Co. that also operates the Davao Light and Power Co. covering Davao City and all of its districts around.

The Bangsamoro Business Council, or BBC, supported the effort of the Maguindanao del Norte governor’s office.

“Adequate supply of electricity in areas where local and foreign investors can put up viable businesses is very important,” the entrepreneur-lawyer Ronald Hallid D. Torres, chairman of BBC, said on Tuesday. — John Felix M. Unson

DLSU Green Archers battle dangerous Adamson Falcons

DEFENDING CHAMPION De La Salle University Green Archers — UAAP/NICOLE HERNANDEZ

Games on Wednesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
11:30 a.m. – AdU vs DLSU (women)
1:30 p.m. – UST vs ADMU (women)
4:30 p.m. – AdU vs DLSU (men)
6:30 p.m. – UST vs ADMU (men)

REIGNING CHAMPION De La Salle University (DLSU) wants a quick separation from the pack while University of Santo Tomas (UST) is out for another surprise when they tangle with separate counterparts in the second week of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Fresh from a tough first test against National University, La Salle braces for another large target on its back against the underdog but very capable Adamson University (AdU)at 4:30 p.m. prior to the main duel between Santo Tomas and Ateneo de Manila University at 6:30 p.m.

Tagged as the heavy favorites to repeat, the Green Archers were welcomed by a baptism of fire by the Bulldogs last weekend in a near defeat only for MVP Kevin Quiambao to come to the rescue.

Mr. Quiambao poured six of his 22 points in La Salle’s late flurry, capped by the booming triple in the last nine seconds to flip a 64-71 deficit for the gritty win. And La Salle expects the same teeth-to-teeth match against Adamson, on the heels of a 59-47 win against Far Eastern University to spoil Sean Chambers’ coaching debut.

“We will learn from these experiences. We’d rather play these kinds of game that will test us to the mettle. We’re just gonna keep on sharpening our saw and we’re gonna get better,” he said.

“We know that there are no surprises. All teams are gonna play us that way. And it’s just gonna make us better. It’s just gonna make this team better.”

One of the teams which indeed showed a massive improvement right off the bat was Santo Tomas, which will be out for quick follow-up against the rebuilding but still formidable Ateneo squad.

The Golden Tigers, in Pido Jarencio’s return last season, registered only two wins and a triumph today would already match that against the Blue Eagles, who absorbed a deflating 77-61 debut loss to powerhouse and host University of the Philippines. — John Bryan Ulanday

PHL chess squads eye better finish at Olympiad

DANIEL QUIZON — DANIEL QUIZON’S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

BUDAPEST, Hungary — The Philippines tries to reach for the stars as it aims for a top 20 finish and possibly better in the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad that will be unveiled tonight at the sprawling BOK Sports Hall in this Hungarian capital known for its long and cherished tradition in the sport.

Daniel Quizon, on his first-ever Olympiad, will get a chance to prove his worth early as he plays the top board in the first two rounds, in lieu of Grandmaster Julio Catalino Sadorra, who will only get to fly in Friday due to previous work and family commitments.

At board one, the 20-year-old International Master from Dasmariñas will be thrown into the lions’ den early where he will get an opportunity to flaunt his talent and earn rating points to claim the GM title.

Mr. Quizon has zoomed to 2490, or just 10 points away from breaching the 2500 rating plateau and clinching his dream GM title.

Mr. Quizon, who arrived on Monday along with the rest of the Philippine team that is being sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission through chairman Richard Bachmann and commissioner Ed Hayco and backed by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

IM Paulo Bersamina will man the second board while GM John Paul Gomez and IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia the third and fourth boards, respectively.

Woman GM Janelle Mae Frayna, for her part, will spearhead the women’s team that is also composed of WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Bernadette Galas, and Woman FIDE Masters Shanie Mae Mendoza and Ruelle Canino.

Also with the team were coaches GMs Eugene Torre and Jayson Gonzales and delegation head Atty. Roel Canobas.

Ms. Frayna was supposed to make history by becoming the first Filipina to play for the national men’s squad but decided in the end to reprise her old role as top board player of the women’s squad.

Like Mr. Quizon, it will also be the Olympiad debut for the 16-year-old Ms. Canino, who is being tipped this early to follow the footsteps of Ms. Frayna and become the country’s next WGM. — Joey Villar

Atlanta continues playoff push versus surging Minnesota

AS the regular season winds down, Tuesday’s meeting between the visiting Minnesota Lynx and Atlanta Dream in College Park, Ga., features teams in vastly different situations.

Minnesota (26-9) has already clinched a playoff berth, the club’s second straight and 13th in the last 14 seasons. The only gray area for the Lynx is what seed they will hold.

Currently in the No. 2 spot in the eight-team playoff with five games remaining, Minnesota sits three games behind the New York Liberty and one game ahead of the third-place Connecticut Sun entering play Tuesday.

The Lynx have won three in a row and 10 of 11, a spurt that began with a July 17 win over Atlanta.

Minnesota earned a 78-71 road victory over the Washington Mystics on Sunday. Napheesa Collier’s 19-point, 12-rebound effort propelled the Lynx to a four-game season sweep against Washington.

“You can’t take any game off. The competition is too stiff,” Collier said. “We have to come in with our A-game every day.”

Minnesota shot just 40.9 percent from the field but held Washington to 32 second-half points and forced 16 turnovers.

“We know that our defense is going to help us win games when we don’t have it offensively,” said Natisha Hiedeman, who scored 10 points off the bench. “Really cranking up the defense in the second half is what allowed us to win this game.”

Collier leads the team with 20.6 points per game and 9.8 rebounds, while Kayla McBride adds 15.3 points per game.

For Atlanta (12-23), every game is vital, as just one playoff spot remains. The Dream enter Tuesday one game behind the Chicago Sky for the final spot.

Following Friday’s 16-point comeback win against the Dallas Wings in overtime, Atlanta followed with another overtime game, falling to the Indiana Fever 104-100 on Sunday. — Reuters

Djokovic shut out as young guns usher in new Grand Slam era

BENGALURU — An epoch-shifting Grand Slam season dominated by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz has provided the clearest sign yet that the “Big Three” era of men’s tennis is finally over, with Novak Djokovic destined to be its last year-end number one.

The golden rule that you should never write off Djokovic still holds true, but after he, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer had won at least one Grand Slam title between them every season since 2003, this year there were none.

Sinner lifted the US Open title on Sunday following his breakthrough Australian Open triumph in January, while Alcaraz won the French Open and Wimbledon to mark the first time since 1993 that men aged 23 or under had swept the Grand Slams.

“It’s a bit different, for sure. It’s something new, but also nice to see,” said Sinner, who overcame the distraction of a doping controversy to help usher in a new age.

“It’s nice to see new champions. Nice to see new rivalries. I feel it’s good for the sport to have some new champions.”

The extraordinary dominance of the “Big Three” saw them win 66 of 81 Grand Slam tournaments from Federer’s first Wimbledon title in 2003 to Djokovic’s 24th major title at Flushing Meadows last year.

With Federer retired and Nadal hampered by injury, Djokovic single-handedly held back the younger generation in 2023 by winning three of the four majors and finishing as the year-end number one for a record-extending eighth time.

This year, Djokovic endured a lackluster Grand Slam campaign by his lofty standards, starting with a semifinal loss to Sinner at Melbourne Park and continuing with an injury enforced withdrawal from the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.

Mauled by Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, he suffered a chastening defeat by Alexei Popyrin in the third round of the US Open and was shut out of the majors for the first time since his injury-plagued 2017 season.

He did, however, produce a miraculous effort to stave off much younger rivals at the Paris Olympics, including Alcaraz in the final, and claim the gold medal he had long coveted.

“From a larger perspective, of course I have to be content,” Djokovic said in the aftermath of his US Open exit.

“It’s hard to see the big perspective right now. You’re just angry and upset that you lost and the way you played. But tomorrow is a new day. I’ll obviously think about what to do next.”

IMPOSSIBLE TASK
Having turned 37 in May, Djokovic is already past the age at which any man has won a Grand Slam title and finishing the season at the top of the rankings looks an impossible task in the twilight of his career.

Djokovic is ninth in the race to the season finale in Turin — the separate year-to-date standings that serve as a measuring stick for the battle for number one — and is unlikely to gain much ground in the Asian swing starting this month.

A more important target for a man who has always had a huge regard for the history of the game might be winning a 25th Grand Slam to surpass Margaret Court’s record.

Nowhere is that more likely to happen than at January’s Australian Open, where Djokovic has lifted the trophy a record 10 times in 19 appearances. — Reuters

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