Globe taps First Gen for RE switch

September 10, 2024 | 12:01 am

GLOBE Telecom, Inc. has partnered with Lopez-led energy company First Gen Corp. to power its 41 facilities with renewables.

“Globe and First Gen share the same vision of a decarbonized and regenerative future where sustainability is ingrained into the organization and operations,” First Gen Vice-President for Power Marketing Carlos Lorenzo Vega said in a media statement on Monday.

Globe said it is planning to expand its partnership with First Gen to increase the number of its facilities being powered by renewable energy (RE) to 70 from the current 29.

“First Gen, a key collaborator since 2020, is one of its partners in this endeavor,” Globe said.

The Ayala-led telecommunications company said it will continue its commitment to expand its use of green-energy as part of its goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

“At Globe, sustainability and risk management are core strategies for building business resilience. This partnership with First Gen is a testament to our dedication to these principles,” Globe’s Vice-President for Risk and Property Management Raymond Martin Aguilar said.

Globe has set a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.

Net zero aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero while also offsetting any remaining greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

“To realize its net-zero ambition, Globe took the bold step of transitioning its sites to RE beginning in 2019

despite RE being limited and costlier than fossil fuels,” Globe said.

At the stock exchange on Monday, shares in the company closed P8, or 0.36% lower to end at P2,210 apiece. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Damosa Land invests P2B in Agriya Gardens, eyes 2027 completion

September 10, 2024 | 12:01 am

DAVAO-BASED property developer Damosa Land, Inc. (DLI) is investing P2 billion in its green residential development Agriya Gardens, which is expected to be completed by August 2027.

Situated within the Agriya township in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, Agriya Gardens broke ground in August and will have a gross developable area of 123,303 square meters (sq.m.).

“The investment cost is P2 billion. A unit at Agriya Gardens ranges between P7.5 to P14 million,” DLI President Ricardo “Cary” F. Lagdameo told BusinessWorld via an e-mail statement on Monday.

The project offers 404 units with lots ranging from 150 to 234 sq.m.

It will also feature California Mission-Style Architecture, which blends international structure and design into the new property.

“Agriya Gardens exemplifies Damosa Land’s dedication to sustainable and innovative community development, serving as a model for eco-friendly spaces that blend modern amenities with nature,” Mr. Lagdameo said.

As we continue to lead sustainable real estate in Mindanao, our focus remains on creating projects that enhance local growth, promote green living, and build vibrant, resilient communities, he said.

Mr. Lagdameo also noted that its commitment to countryside development can be seen in its various projects across Davao Del Norte, where not only does it provide quality homes, but it also invests in industrial initiatives aimed at attracting foreign investment and generating employment.

Among the amenities of Agriya Gardens are a one-kilometer linear park, a detention pond, and solar streetlights. It also has parks, a playground, and open spaces, all designed with permeable pavers, providing inviting areas for relaxation and leisure.

Agro-industrial developer Damosa Land said community farms are also to watch out for in the development, where people are expected to integrate farming into their food preparation, encouraging them to eat fresh products that they, themselves, will plant and harvest.For additional investments in Davao del Norte, Damosa Land said it is on track to develop Harbor View Villa and TRYP Condotel on Samal Island, he said.

Meanwhile, land development work for the University of the Philippines Professional School for Agriculture and the Environment in Agriya has commenced as well. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

TIFF 2024: Elton John dazzles Toronto’s red carpet for new documentary

September 10, 2024 | 12:01 am

TORONTO — A bespectacled Elton John rolled down the red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival in a purple golf cart adorned with stars, displaying a brand of showmanship befitting the world premiere of the documentary Elton John: Never Too Late.

Amplified by archival footage and photographs, the film is an intimate look at the singer-songwriter’s life and career through the lens of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which culminated with a 2022 performance at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

The documentary’s co-directors — R.J. Cutler and David Furnish, a Toronto native and Mr. Elton’s husband — hope fans learn something new about a celebrated megastar who has sold millions of albums and packed arenas worldwide since the 1970s. Mr. Elton is one of a rarified group known as EGOT winners, having taken home an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award in his career.

“It’s exciting and terrifying,” Mr. Furnish told Reuters on Friday at the premiere when asked what it was like to do a documentary about your spouse. Mr. Furnish also served as producer of Rocketman, an Elton biopic released in 2019.

A revealing moment in Never Too Late that shocked Mr. Furnish was a conversation from 1976 when Mr. Elton shared that he hoped to start a family one day.

“In the early days of our relationship, he said he never wanted to have children,” Mr. Furnish said. “And then, of course, we have children, so that was like a really nice surprise.”

The British-born Sir Elton, who started life as Reginald Dwight, began his rise to stardom in 1967 when he answered an ad for Liberty Records and joined forces with lyricist Bernie Taupin.

The movie, a co-production of Disney+ and Rocket Pictures, has something for everyone, said Mr. Cutler, whose directorial credits include 2021’s Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry and Belushi in 2020.

“If you grew up with his music as I did, you’re going to recognize this era, this remarkable five-year period from 1970 to 1975, where Elton released 13 albums, seven of which went to number one on the charts,” Mr. Cutler said.

“If you’ve come to Elton’s music in recent years, you’re going to learn about that period in a way that you probably didn’t even imagine.”

The documentary will appear on Disney+ later this year.

Sir Elton, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 for his contribution to music and charity, recently announced that he was recovering from a severe eye infection. On Friday, he declined to do red carpet interviews, but his husband assured Reuters that he was on the road to recovery. — Reuters

How PSEi member stocks performed — September 9, 2024

September 10, 2024 | 12:00 am

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Monday, September 9, 2024.

Marcos insists Quiboloy must face local charges before US extradition

September 9, 2024 | 9:05 pm

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Monday said televangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy must face child sexual abuse and human trafficking charges filed before a Philippine court after his arrest on Sunday, before he can be extradited to the US, where he is wanted for similar crimes.

“For the moment, extradition is not what we are looking at,” he told reporters in mixed English and Filipino, based on a transcript sent via e-mail by the Presidential Communications Office.

“What we are looking at are the cases and complaints filed here in the Philippines and these are what he must face first,” he added.

Mr. Quiboloy, who claims to be an “appointed son of God,” was arrested after weeks of police search. He is wanted for child sexual abuse and allegations of human trafficking in the Philippines.

He is also wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the US on charges of sex trafficking and bulk cash smuggling.

Mr. Quiboloy, who has denied the charges, is followed by millions of people in the Philippines, where the church has political influence. He is also the spiritual adviser of ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

“There is no special treatment,” Mr. Marcos said. “We will treat him like any other arrested person and respect his rights. We will demonstrate once again that our judicial system in the Philippines is active, vibrant and working.”

More than 2,000 police were deployed to search the compound in Davao City owned by Mr. Quiboloy‘s church, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), on suspicion that he was hiding there in a bunker.

Philippine police spokesperson Jean S. Fajardo on Sunday said Mr. Quiboloy was captured inside the compound, but did not provide details.

Israelito P. Torreon, Mr. Quiboloy‘s lawyer, disputed the government’s account, saying the pastor surrendered to the police and military because he did not want the situation to further escalate. “The innocence of Quiboloy will be affirmed by the court,” he told DZBB radio.

Mr. Quiboloy’s other lawyer, Ferdinand S. Topacio, told BusinessWorld in a Viber message on Sunday evening said they would “continue to protect his rights under the Constitution and the laws as we prepare for his defense.”

Mr. Marcos said Mr. Quiboloy‘s camp had set conditions for his surrender, including a guarantee he would not be sent to the United States to face charges.

“Putting conditions is not an option for someone who is a fugitive,” Mr. Marcos said, describing the law enforcement operation to capture Mr. Quiboloy as “police work at its best.”

“It is with some relief that I can say that this phase of the operation is over. We will now leave Quiboloy to the judicial system,” he added.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla told reporters he expects the US government to file an extradition request for Mr. Quiboloy “very soon.”

PRESENTED TO MEDIA
“Remember, we have a treaty with the US, it’s part of the law of the land,” he said. “We will have to play it out well, we have to study it properly so we know what to do.”

Like the President, the Justice chief said the embattled preacher should face charges in the Philippines first.

“He should face the music here, especially since he made it difficult for the police to find him,” he said. “In the end, he had to surrender or allowed himself to be caught anyway. He caused unnecessary trouble for our police and for the public. He should really be tried here,” he said in Filipino.

Mr. Remulla said he has ordered prosecutors to prepare all the evidence against Mr. Quiboloy for a swift trial.

He added that one of the complainants against Mr. Quiboloy had reached out to the department and could be placed under the government’s Witness Protection Program.

At a separate briefing, Interior Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. and national police chief Rommel Francisco D. Marbil presented to media Mr. Quiboloy and his four cohorts dressed in bright orange T-shirts, their faces covered by black scarves and face masks.

Davao Region Police Director Nicolas D. Torre III said they gave the accused an ultimatum for their surrender, adding that the deadline was extended to avoid harming civilians.

Mr. Marbil said they were 80% sure the televangelist was hiding in the church compound in Davao City. The five surrendered on the evening of Sept. 8, though negotiations started at about 1:30 p.m.

In April, a Pasig trial court ordered the arrest of Mr. Quiboloy for qualified human trafficking, while a Davao City court issued an arrest warrant for child sexual abuse.

He was indicted in a California district court on Nov. 10, 2021, and a federal warrant had been issued for his arrest. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana and JVDO

Manila to explore trade ties under ASEAN, RCEP, APEC

September 9, 2024 | 9:05 pm

PBBM Marcos — PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. — PPA POOL

THE Philippines will continue exploring trade partnerships under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and other frameworks, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said on Monday.

“By leveraging our collective strengths, we can advance initiatives that ensure supply chain security, counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and insurgency, and create an environment where trade can thrive,” he said in his speech at the Philippine Strategic Trade Management Summit at Taguig City, which was streamed live on Facebook.

“We will continue to upgrade industry standards, modernize regulations and establish linkages through various trade and investment frameworks such as the ASEAN, APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation), RCEP… All these so that we can see a more competitive region in the future,” he added.

In March 2022, the Philippines ratified the Arms Trade Treaty, which seeks to prevent illegal gun trading and regulate conventional firearms trade. It took effect three months later.

The country enacted the Strategic Trade Management bill in 2015, which set up the Department of Trade and Industry Strategic Trade Management Office. The office issues import and export permits for conventional weapons.

Mr. Marcos said his government is working on improving border control by training import and export officers in monitoring and inspecting these weapons effectively.

“As a crucial tool in our endeavor to uphold global peace and security, the Strategic Trade Management Act allows us to regulate dual-use goods and technologies to prevent their misuse, while encouraging lawful trade that benefits us all,” he said.

Last year, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo said Manila would push the creation of international guidelines on the ethical use of autonomous systems powered by artificial intelligence, noting that improper use could risk innocent lives.

In July, the Philippines renewed its call for North Korea to keep the peace in the Indo-Pacific region and to pursue dialogue in the Korean Peninsula.

Manila condemned Pyongyang’s missile test that month, saying it undermined peace, stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific region and Korean Peninsula.

Autonomous weapons are programmed to kill a specific target. The weapon is deployed to an environment where its AI searches for the target using sensor data such as facial recognition, according to autonomousweapons.org.

The country’s top diplomat has said the Philippines is eyeing a nonpermanent seat in the 15-member UN Security Council next year, citing Manila’s peace-building efforts.

“The rapid pace of advancement demands us to be more agile, more responsible, and it requires us to address both the speed and dual use nature of these new technologies,” Mr. Marcos said.

“It is about upholding the rule of law, protecting our people and contributing to global peace and security,” he added. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Office of the President’s 2025 spending plan breezes through House committee

September 9, 2024 | 9:05 pm

THE HOUSE of Representatives appropriations committee on Monday swiftly ended its hearing on the P10.50-billion proposed budget of the Office of the President (OP) despite questions on the President’s foreign policy and secret funds.

Abra Rep. Ching B. Bernos moved for the termination of the budget hearing as part of the “long-standing tradition and practice” of the panel to extend “parliamentary courtesy” to the OP.

The motion was carried even as some members of the panel objected to the budget’s swift approval, arguing that no government agency should be exempt from congressional scrutiny.

“If… we terminate the deliberations now… we are showing that the President himself is… evading the process of Congress to undergo scrutiny,” Party-list Rep. Raoul Danniel A. Manuel said in mixed English and Filipino during the OP’s congressional budget briefing.

The OP’s spending plan should be quizzed by congressmen, he added, noting President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s statement last week that no government agency is exempt from congressional grilling.

The President’s proposed budget for 2025 stood at P10.50 billion, 1.86% lower than its P10.70 billion 2024 budget.

The OP is asking for P4.56 billion in secret funds for next year, of which P2.25 billion will go towards confidential funds with the remaining P2.31 billion for intelligence purposes, according to the 2025 National Expenditure Program.

Some lawmakers raised questions the proposed confidential and intelligence funds, pointing out that it made up nearly half of the President’ budget.

“For the Office of the President’s P10-billion budget, almost half of it is allocated to confidential and intelligence funds,” Deputy Minority Leader and Party-list Rep. France L. Castro told the panel in Filipino.

Ms. Castro said the OP’s secret fund spending is not geared towards national security purposes.

The CIF is an allocation meant for surveillance and intelligence information gathering activities, according to a 2015 joint circular between the Commission on Audit, Defense, Budget and Interior and Local Government departments.

In the same hearing, Party-list Rep. Arlene D. Brosas raised concerns about the Marcos administration’s stance on foreign policy amid increasing tensions in the South China Sea.

“We have crucial questions about foreign policy. The government’s close relations with the US are very concerning amid the growing tensions in the West Philippine Sea,” Ms. Brosas said in mixed Filipino and English, citing the additional military bases, Balikatan exercises, war-provoking missile systems in Ilocos Norte, and the Agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy or 123 Agreement.

“It seems the government is ready for war.”

For Pangasinan Rep. Maria Rachel J. Arenas, who heads the House foreign affairs committee, these demonstrates the President’s commitment to protect the security and sovereignty of the nation.

“In fact, his stand… on the West Philippine Sea is really to show the world that… we will not give anything away,” Ms. Arenas told BusinessWorld after the congressional briefing. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Immigration chief fired over Guo

September 9, 2024 | 9:04 pm

BI-Bureau-of-Immigration — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Monday fired his Immigration chief for failing to prevent the escape of ex- Bamban Mayor Alice L. Guo from the Philippines in July, a palace official said.

The President had approved the relief of Immigration Commissioner Norman G. Tansingco, Cesar B. Chavez, acting secretary of the Presidential Communications Office, told reporters in a Viber group message.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla earlier on Monday said he was unsatisfied with Mr. Tansingco’s performance and that they had encountered “a lot of problems.” “If I were him, I would resign already.”

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

The bureau had yet to issue a statement about Mr. Tansingco’s dismissal. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Senate cites Guo in contempt

September 9, 2024 | 9:04 pm

Alice Guo — PHILIPPINE STAR/JESSE BUSTOS

A SENATE committee cited dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice L. Guo, who has been linked crimes related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), in contempt of the chamber for refusing to admit that she is a Chinese national despite fingerprint evidence showing otherwise.

At a Senate Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality committee hearing looking into crimes linked to POGOs, the former mayor also told senators that she has received a death threat against her but refused to say who threated her in public.

She will still be held at the Philippine National Police’s Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City, Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Barauqel, who moved to cite Ms. Guo in contempt after she insisted that she was born Filipino, said at the same hearing.

“I think around June… I’ve received death threats more than five times, through phone,” the ousted mayor told senators.

She refused to make public the individual who was supposedly threatening her, saying she was worried for her safety.

Her sister Shiela, who was also recently arrested in Indonesia, earlier told senators said she had hopped on three different boats to flee the country. The former mayor told the panel that she had left the country via yacht.

Ms. Guo, who was arrested and deported from Jakarta last week, has pending arrest warrants from the Senate and a Tarlac court. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

DPWH seeks more budget

September 9, 2024 | 9:03 pm

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Monday asked a Senate committee to increase its proposed P900-billion budget for next year so it can settle P60 billion worth of right-of-way obligations and avoid delays in flagship projects.

“To the best that we have estimated, the total consolidated obligations for the department for right-of-way payments total about P60 billion already,” Public Works Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan told a Senate finance committee hearing.

Covered by these right-of-way obligations are projects financed by official development assistance and public-private partnerships, he added.

He said his agency would focus on settling right-of-way payments ordered by local courts. Under next year’s P6.352-trillion national budget, the agency is asking for P36 billion to resolve right-of-way issues.

Mr. Bonoan said the Budget department only gave the DPWH P2.5 billion to settle for right-of-way issues this year, way below the P35 billion it had asked for. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Sulu not part of BARMM — SC

September 9, 2024 | 9:03 pm

THE Supreme Court (SC) upheld an earlier ruling declaring Sulu is not part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) after the province rejected the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (Republic Act No. 11054).

The high court’s ruling publicized on Monday is immediately executory, said Spokesperson Camille Sue Mae L. Ting in a press briefing on the same day.

The law, enacted on July 27, 2018, established BARMM as a political entity and its governmental structure. The majority of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) ratified it, except for Sulu. Sulu filed the petition as it was included in BARMM despite not ratifying the law.

Its inclusion in BARMM violated Article X, Section 18 of the Constitution, which said that “only provinces, cities, and geographic areas voting favorably in the plebiscite shall be included in the autonomous region.”

“As Sulu rejected the Bangsamoro Organic Law in the plebiscite, it was wrong to include the province in BARMM.” — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Nat’l ID not subcontracted — BSP

September 9, 2024 | 9:02 pm

national-ID-registration — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Monday said it did not subcontract the printing of the Philippine Identification System cards, or the National ID, to AllCard, Inc. (ACI).

“The BSP fully complied with the Agency-to-Agency Procurement Guidelines (Negotiated Procurement under Section 53.5 of the implementing rules of Republic Act No. 9184) and its agreement with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) regarding the printing of National IDs,” it said in a statement on Monday.

This came after a state audit report allegedly said the central bank allowed subcontractors to handle the printing of the National IDs.

“BSP personnel conducted the operation, while ACI provided equipment, raw materials, and technical support,” the central bank said.

According to the BSP, its transactions were also reviewed by the Commission on Audit (CoA), which “did not include any findings related to subcontracting” in its annual review report.

“This is different from CoA’s audit of PSA, which some parties are citing in their allegations and comments against the BSP.” — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz