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Marcos hopeful on ADB partnership

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said he hopes his country’s green projects would benefit from a six-year program with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), citing annual economic losses worth billions due to climate change.

The Philippine government and ADB on Thursday launched the six-year Country Partnership Strategy, which focuses on human development, economic competitiveness and quality infrastructure, and natural resources management and disaster resilience.

In his speech at the turnover ceremony at the Presidential Palace, Mr. Marcos cited his country’s vulnerability to climate change and noted that its damage to the national economy could reach up to 7.6% of the gross domestic product by 2030.

“With annual economic losses due to climate change exposure potentially reaching 7.6% of gross domestic product by 2030. It is a critical challenge,” he said.

Citing a recent World Index Report showing that the Philippines remained the most disaster-prone country for the 16th straight year, Mr. Marcos said it has been more important for his country to invest more in renewable projects and climate solutions.

Under the partnership strategy, the ADB will help the country tailor-fit solutions based on its needs. It will leverage partnerships and increase cofinancing for priority projects. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Mindanao opportunities explored

The 33rd Mindanao Business Conference (MBC), which opened on Thursday at the KCC Convention and Events Center in General Santos City, aims to explore the range of opportunities in Mindanao.

Carrying the theme “Unlocking the Potentials and Opportunities in Mindanao,” the event gathered business leaders to discuss business trends, opportunities, and macro points of view on where the country’s economy is headed.

“The theme of the conference may seem to be a cliche but in reality, there remains a wide range of opportunities for investment for Mindanao,” Joji Ilagan Bian, chair of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Committee on BIMP-EAGA, told BusinessWorld.

Ms. Bian said business leaders can explore areas in digital technology, energy, and environment sustainability and even agricultural innovations.   

“Now is the time to look beyond and capture the tremendous technological changes that are happening in the world,” she said.

Ms. Bian added that these Mindanao Business leaders who will be networking and discussing common areas of interest must be encouraged to go beyond the traditional mode of doing business to be able to expand their business horizons.

The 33rd Mindanao Business Conference is poised to kick off with exciting events, beginning with the MBC Fun Golf Tournament, which attracted nearly 60 enthusiastic participants. Maya M. Padillo

PhilHealth pays Baguio in advance

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

BAGUIO CITY — The Baguio City government has received the promised second capitation fund or advance payment from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) after posting an exceptional performance in implementing the Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) program.

Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong and the City Health Services Office team, led by Acting City Health Officer Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, received P33.2 million from PhilHealth-Baguio Chief Social Insurance Officer Janet Palaez during the flag-raising ceremonies here on Monday.

The capitation fund is under PhilHealth’s sandbox innovation program which grants primary care provider networks (PCPNs) in the country advance payments even before services have been rendered.

Baguio City was among the first seven PCPNs in the country that were frontloaded capitation funds receiving P16 million in December 2023.

Ms. Palaez said the city was granted the second capitation fund after posting a 111% accomplishment exceeding its baseline of 60% of the target in the performance of its Konsulta tasks. — Artemio A. Dumlao

P4.4M worth of shabu seized 

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

COTABATO CITY — Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-9 (PDEA-9) seized P4.4 million worth of shabu from three peddlers entrapped in a residential area in Ipil town in Zamboanga Sibugay on Wednesday night.

Maharani Gadaoni-Tosoc, director of PDEA-9, told reporters on Thursday that the suspects are now detained, to be charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Two of the suspects, one armed with a nine-millimeter pistol and the other carrying a vintage .30 caliber Carbine rifle, first resisted and opened fire at the PDEA-9 agents and policemen to whom they have sold P4.4 million worth illegal merchandise and attempted to run after the gunfight ensued.

Gadaoni-Tosoc said the entrapment operation was premised on reports by municipal officials and barangay leaders in Ipil about their large-scale peddling of shabu in the adjoining Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur provinces and in barangays in Zamboanga City. — John Felix M. Unson

Magmatic eruption looms for Kanlaon volcano amid rising activity- PHIVOLCS

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has issued a warning about the potential for a magmatic eruption of Kanlaon volcano. This warning is due to the increasing volcanic activity observed.

“If this kind of trend continues like it has a flow progression or worsening (volcanic activity), what we might see is a possible magmatic eruption, which could be effusive,” Ma. Antonia V. Bornas, Chief of Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division (VMEPD) said in mixed Filipino and English during a phone interview. 

In a magmatic effusive eruption, Kanlaon is expected to emit a steady flow of lava.  

While this type of eruption is less violent compared to an explosive eruption, it can still present danger, primarily on nearby communities.   

In a volcano advisory on Thursday, PHIVOLCS reported that Kanlaon released a peak sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission of 11,556 tons per day on Wednesday.  

This level of SO2 emission is the highest recorded since PHIVOLCS began instrumental gas monitoring of the volcano. 

Ms. Bornas said, SO2 serves as an indicator to assess the state of magma beneath the volcano.  

“So pag tumataas yan that is concerning kasi ayun nga may shallow magma ka na nagpo-produce ng mataas na concentration ng mataas na SO2 [When that increases, it is concerning because it indicates the presence of shallow magma producing high concentrations of SO2],” Ms. Bornas said.  

For comparison, Bornas said that Kanlaon’s average background sulfur dioxide emission is only 300 tons per day or less. 

“It is really alarming, naamoy na sa communities, araw-araw may narereport tayo ng SO2 fumes [It’s really alarming; the communities can already smell it, and every day we receive reports of SO2 fumes],” Ms. Bornas said. 

Sulfur fumes were reported reaching several localities including Brgy. San Miguel, La Carlota City; Brgy. Masulog and Brgy. Pula, Canlaon City; Brgy. Codcod, San Carlos City; Brgy. Inolingan, Moises Padilla.  

According to PHIVOLCS, prolonged exposure to volcanic sulfur dioxide can irritate the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract. 

Apart from the highest SO2 levels, a total of 79 volcanic-tectonic (VT) earthquakes have also been recorded for the past 24 hours on Wednesday.  

Although it is significantly lower than the 337 (VT) earthquakes recorded on Tuesday, PHIVOLCS has reminded the public to remain cautious.  

“We shouln’t look at just the short-term increase and decrease… Kung titignan yung size ng mga VT events malalaki pa rin yan [If we will look to the size of these VT events, it is still big in number],” Ms. Bornas said.  

Given the threat of magmatic eruptions, PHIVOLCS reminds the public to avoid entering the 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) to minimize volcanic hazards such as pyroclastic density currents, ballistic projectiles, rockfalls, and others. 

It is also recommended to avoid outdoor activities and wear a mask, preferably an N95 facemask, to prevent irritation.Edg Adrian A. Eva

PHL men, women jumpstart Olympiad quest with 4-0 wins

RUELLE CANINO — FACEBOOK.COM/BANGKOKCHESSCLUB

BUDAPEST, Hungary — There was really no surprise when the Philippines had trouble-free opening round victories over Aruba in the men’s division and Malawi in the women’s side of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad at the BOK Sports Hall here Wednesday night.

For the Filipinos, that round served as the calm before the storm as they are all collectively aware that the real battle is just about to begin.

And it will be when the country faces an all-super Grandmaster German side on one hand for the men and a powerhouse United States on the other for the women in the second round Tuesday night.

That is why it was important the Filipinos, whose trip was financed by the Philippine Sports Commission through chair Richard Bachmann and commissioner Ed Hayco and backed by National Chess Federation of the Philippines chief Butch Pichay, got the needed boost and confidence from their 4-0 decimation of the Arubans and Malawians to jumpstart their ambitious campaign.

Olympiad debutants Daniel Quizon and Ruelle Canino provided the spark by delivering contrasting victories with the former surviving Juan Pablo de Mey in 35 moves of a Sicilian on board one and the latter swatting Anne Simwabe like a fly on board four in an English duel also in 35 moves.

Of the two, Mr. Quizon, 20, had struggled more since his style can be likened to a boa constrictor, slowly and silently squeezing his way to turn that slight positional disadvantage into a smashing victory.

In contrast, Ms. Canino, like a predator to a prey, wasn’t shy of going straight for the jugular as she won the exchange early, made it a full rook edge, and, when her foe, stubbornly refused to resign, went for a pawn mate that she nearly consummated had Ms. Simwabe not resigned a move before.

While Ms. Canino’s victory was swift, Jan Jodilyn Fronda was faster as she was the first to register the win — a 35-move triumph over Tupokiwe Msukwa on board three — for the country, or just less than a minute ahead of the former.

As if on cue, John Paul Gomez, Janelle Mae Frayna, Shania Mae Mendoza, Jan Emmanuel Garcia, and then Mr. Quizon all swooped down on their helpless foe one by one, leaving Paulo Bersamina as the lone Filipino sitting and battling for a win.

Despite being time-troubled, Ms. Bersamina eventually prevailed to complete the great start for the Philippine team coached by GMs Eugene Torre and Jayson Gonzales with Atty. Roel Canobas as delegation head.

The seventh-seeded Germans, composed of GMs Dmitrij Kollars, Matthias Bluebaum, Alexander Donchenko and Frederik Svane, sank Madagascar, 3.5-.5, while Americans of IM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova, IM Carissa Yip, GM Irina Krush and IM Anna Zatonskih, also seeded No. 7, pounded Jordan, 4-0, to launch their respective medal bids. — Joey Villar

Altas gun for share of NCAA lead against Chiefs

Games on Friday
(Filoil EcoOil Arena)
12 p.m. – JRU vs Letran
2:30 p.m. – UPHSD vs AU

UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help eyes a share of the lead with College of St. Benilde and San Sebastian College-Recoletos as it tackles Arellano University on Friday.

Brandishing a new coach in Olsen Racela and a heavily tweaked starting five, the Altas still came through with an 82-66 victory over the rough-playing Jose Rizal University Bombers Tuesday.

Mark Gojo Cruz, straight out of high school at UPHSD, flourished on his seniors’ debut with an all-around game of 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in the Las Piñas-based dribblers’ morale-boosting first win.

While Mr. Racela was satisfied, he still thinks everything will be part of the learning curve.

“We’re learning, adjusting with each other. It will be a long process,” said the former PBA star.

The Chiefs, for their part, shoot for their first win and bounce back from a heartbreaking 87-80 defeat at the hands of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals on Sunday.

Game time is at 2:30 p.m.

Also eyeing their first victory are Jose Rizal University (0-1) and San Juan de Letran University (0-1), which collide at 12 p.m.

The all-bald Knights, now coached by Allen Ricardo, have also dropped their first outing — a stinging 91-84 defeat to the overachieving Stags Sunday. — Joey Villar

US, Italy, Spain all win Davis Cup openers

THE United States made light of the absence of several top singles players as they began their Davis Cup Finals group stage campaign with victory over Chile on Wednesday.

Reilly Opelka and Brandon Nakashima both came through lengthy three-set battles to give their team a winning lead in the Group C opener in Zhuhai, China.

Olympic doubles silver-medallists Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek then beat Matias Soto and Tomas Barrios Vera to wrap up a 3-0 victory and join Germany at the top of the table.

Defending champions Italy were without world number one and newly crowned US Open champion Jannik Sinner but made a positive start as they took a winning lead against Brazil in their opening Group A tie in Bologna.

Spain boasted Carlos Alcaraz in their ranks but the world number three was given a scare against Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac, losing the first set tiebreak before winning the second set 6-1 at which point Machac was forced to retire to hand Spain an unassailable 2-0 lead in Group B in Valencia. Roberto Bautista-Agut had earlier beaten Jiri Lehecka 7-6(1) 6-4.

American captain Bob Bryan was unable to call upon the likes of US Open runner-up Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe or Tommy Paul but his team showed its strength in depth.

Opelka, ranked 309th in the world after wrist surgery, beat 116th ranked Cristian Garin 6-3 4-6 7-6(3) before Nakashima, the world number 40, beat Alejandro Tabilo 7-6(5) 2-6 7-6(3).

Ram and Krajicek also needed three sets in the doubles to give 32-time Davis Cup winners the US the perfect start as they bid to reach the last eight for the second time since the new format was introduced in 2019.

Four groups of four nations are being contested in four different cities — Zhuhai, Bologna, Valencia and Manchester — with the top two from each group progressing to the final eight-nation knockout round in Malaga in November.

Italy’s Matteo Berrettini beat Brazil’s Joao Fonseca 6-1 7-6(5) to give his side a flying start and Matteo Arnaldi then outlasted Thiago Monteiro 7-5 6-7(4) 7-6(5) in a match lasting three hours and 39 minutes to put the hosts into a 2-0 lead.

Britain also had home advantage as they took on Finland in their Group D clash in Manchester and made it count with debutant Billy Harris sealing victory after Dan Evans had begun proceedings with a win over Eoro Vasa.

Harris, given his chance in the absence of British number one Jack Draper, beat Otto Virtanen 6-4 7-6(4). — Reuters

Skylar Diggins-Smith steers Storm past Sparks

SKYLAR DIGGINS-SMITH recorded 26 points, five assists, four steals and three blocked shots while leading the Seattle Storm to a 90-82 victory over the host Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday night.

Gabby Williams scored 17 points and Nneka Ogwumike had 16 points and eight rebounds for the Storm (22-14), who recovered from a 13-point second-quarter deficit. Ezi Magbegor contributed 14 points and eight rebounds and Jewell Loyd scored 12 points for Seattle despite 3-of-15 shooting.

Diggins-Smith made 10 of 13 field-goal attempts one game after becoming the Seattle franchise record holder for assists in a single season. Her total sits at 232 after the Wednesday game.

Rickea Jackson registered 22 points and seven rebounds and Azura Stevens added 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Sparks (7-30), who lost their sixth consecutive contest. Odyssey Sims had 16 points and six assists and Rae Burrell scored 14 points for Los Angeles.

Jackson’s basket gave the Sparks their last lead at 72-70 with 6:35 left in fourth quarter. Seattle answered with a 14-4 burst to put the game away.

Diggins-Smith made a jumper and Sami Whitcomb followed with a tiebreaking 3-pointer to give Seattle a 75-72 lead with 5:45 remaining.

Loyd made two free throws with 32.3 seconds left to end the spurt as Seattle led 84-76 while improving to 3-0 against Los Angeles this season.

Seattle shot 47.1% from the field, including 6 of 19 (31.6%) from 3-point range.

The Sparks hit 49.2% from the floor and went 7 of 17 (41.2%) from 3-point range. Stevens matched her career high of four 3-pointers.

The game was tied before Seattle opened the third quarter with a 9-3 run, the last two baskets coming from Diggins-Smith to give the Storm a 50-44 lead with 8:10 remaining.

The Sparks battled back to tie it after 58 on two free throws by Jackson with 2:39 left.

Diggins-Smith scored the final four points of a quarter-ending 6-0 burst as Seattle took a 66-60 lead into the fourth quarter.

Earlier, Los Angeles held a 30-17 lead after a trey by Stevens with 7:52 left in the second period. — Reuters

Washington Mystics slam Chicago Sky, edge closer to playoff position

ROOKIE AALIYAH EDWARDS scored 15 points and Brittney Sykes contributed 12 of her 14 during a game-defining first quarter as the Washington Mystics won their fifth straight road game, demolishing the Chicago Sky 89-58 on Wednesday.

Sykes scored six straight points during a 10-0 run that highlighted a first quarter in which Washington shot 47.6%, went 4-for-10 from 3-point range and held a 14-7 rebounding advantage to go ahead 29-13.

That effort set the tempo for the Mystics (12-24), who are tied with the Atlanta Dream (12-24) for ninth place in the WNBA with four games remaining. The Sky (13-23) hold the eighth and final playoff spot. The Mystics have won six of their past eight games overall, with five of those victories coming on the road. — Reuters

Clark’s wear and tear

The Fever were on a high as they prepped for their homestand against the Aces yesterday. Having claimed 10 of their last 13 matches, they figured they had the momentum to finally get the better of the defending champions. The first two contests between them hadn’t been particularly close; considering that they lost both by a combined 38 points, it would be fair to argue that their relative inexperience was no match for the competition’s unflinching steadiness. Still, they were confident, if for no other reason than because rookie Caitlin Clark, recipient of three consecutive Player of the Week awards, seemed to be hitting her stride at the right time.

Forty game minutes later, it was clear to all and sundry that the Fever still had a lot of growing up to do. That the contest was a slog from the get-go should have given them fair warning of the need for them to prove their capacity for success via unconventional means. In catapulting to their first playoff berth since 2016, they relied on an adrenaline-laced offense that highlighted their strengths and minimized — perhaps even hid — their weaknesses. Unfortunately, the Aces were too smart to let them dictate the tempo. Instead, they were treated to an elephant-walk pace that exposed their frailties.

To be sure, the Fever fought through all the smoke. And, lo and behold, they collectively played excellent defense that masked their individual deficiencies, keeping them in the set-to despite their shooting woes. Ultimately, however, Clark’s uncharacteristic futility from the field in her 38 minutes on the court told on their competitiveness. Her counting stats — 26, three, and six — belied just how awfully she played, by far the worst since she was chosen first overall in the draft last April. Even on the handful of times she found herself open, her shot was short. Her legs were putty by the end.

Considering how much the Fever have relied on Clark to generate points for them, it’s a wonder they stayed close until the final buzzer. It certainly didn’t help their cause that Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston had a tough time as well, and was out on fouls come crunch time. That said, there are a few upsides they can cling to as they line up for the rematch tomorrow. On a night when the Aces’ A’ja Wilson broke the league records for points scored in a single season, they can at least point out that she needed a whopping 28 stabs at the basket to produce 27 markers.

Make no mistake. The Fever will learn, maybe enough to claim tomorrow’s outing. Or maybe not, given the wear and tear on Clark’s body. In time, she will learn to pace herself so that she doesn’t make a disappearing act precisely when her exertions are required. Until then, she may want to keep her emotions in check and not be too hard on herself. She’s already in the midst of a transcendent campaign. Imagine how much better she can still be moving forward. To paraphrase theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, she would do well to find the serenity to accept the things she cannot change, the courage to change the things she can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

 

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.

Pope Francis urges Singapore’s political leaders to ensure fair wages for migrant workers

POPE FRANCIS checks “Dendrobium His Holiness Pope Francis,” the orchid hybrid named in his honor, during a welcome ceremony at the Parliament House in Singapore, Sept. 12, 2024. — REUTERS

SINGAPORE — Pope Francis on Thursday urged political leaders in Singapore, a leading global financial hub, to seek fair wages for the country’s million-plus lower-paid foreign workers.

In likely the last major speech of an ambitious 12-day tour across Southeast Asia and Oceania, the 87-year-old pontiff singled out concern for Singapore’s rapidly ageing population and its migrant workforce, primarily centered in the construction and domestic services industries.

“I hope that special attention will be paid to the poor and the elderly… as well as to protecting the dignity of migrant workers,” said the pope, in an address to about 1,000 politicians and civil and religious leaders at the National University of Singapore.

“These workers contribute a great deal to society and should be guaranteed a fair wage,” he said.

There were 1.1 million foreigners on work permits in Singapore who earned less than S$3,000 ($2,300) per month as of December 2023, including 286,300 domestic workers and 441,100 workers in the construction, shipyard and process sectors, government data shows.

Many of the migrant workers come from nearby countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, China, Bangladesh and India.

The pope’s speech came after private meetings with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the country’s parliament building, where the pope was greeted with a formal honor guard and the playing of the Vatican anthem. He was also presented with a white orchid plant, a new hybrid that was named in his honour.

Singapore is also confronting a rapidly ageing population. Its fertility rate dropped below 1 in 2023, and the country will be considered what the United Nations calls a “super-aged” society in 2026, when the proportion of the population aged 65 and above is projected to reach 21%.

Concern for migrants has been a common theme for Francis. Earlier on his 12-day tour, he asked leaders in Papua New Guinea to work for fair wages as that country becomes a major target of international companies for its gas, gold and other reserves.

On Thursday, the pope also praised Singapore’s efforts to confront climate change, calling them a model for other countries.

Singapore’s government says rising sea levels due to global warming could have major implications for its low-lying coastline and it is planning to spend S$100 billion ($77 billion) over the course of the century on the issue.

“Your commitment to sustainable development and the preservation of creation is an example to follow, and your search for innovative solutions to address environmental challenges can encourage other countries to do the same,” said the pope.

The pope, who has prioritized trips to places never visited by a pope, or where Catholics are a small minority, is only the second pope to visit Singapore, following a brief 5-hour layover by the late John Paul II in 1986.

Singapore, with a population of 5.92 million, is plurality Buddhist, with about 31% of people identifying with that faith. The Vatican counts about 210,000 Catholics in the country. There are also strong Muslim, Hindu and Taoist communities.

The pope praised the country as “a mosaic of ethnicities, cultures and religions living together in harmony,” and said the political officials were “preventing extremism and intolerance from gaining strength or endangering social harmony.” — Reuters