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Immigration bureau told to hasten deportation of foreign POGO workers

PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

A PHILIPPINE senator on Thursday called on the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to fast-track the deportation of foreign nationals apprehended due to their involvement in Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

“I’ll give (the BI) a deadline in two weeks do something about it… I want them accounted for and they are deported before the end of the month,” Senator Rafael T. Tulfo told a Senate hearing.

Mr. Tulfo said that the 438 foreign nationals allegedly involved in POGOs should immediately be deported.

BI legal division Chief Arvin Cesar G. Santos said that the agency would comply with the deadline and “submit an official report to the Senate committee.”

According to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, there were 42 internet gaming licensees, seven content providers, and 11 support providers that were shut down, as of Dec. 31.

A Senate Committee report, however, found that illegal financial activities and scam hubs have persisted despite moves to outlaw POGOs. The report also said that public officials were also involved in facilitating crimes, from human trafficking to money laundering.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. Issued last year an executive order, banning POGOs due to their links to organized crime, such as human trafficking. This is in line with his policy directives during his third State of the Nation Address to shut down POGOs by the end of 2024.

In the same hearing, Senator Mark A. Villar raised concern over the potential involvement of government agencies in running these illegal operations.

“Some of their fake documents were marriage certificates, birth certificates and passports of foreign nationals using Filipino names. These illegal agencies that issue fake documents are sure to have connections with various government agencies,” Mr. Villar added.

He said that these agencies might be accomplices in the issuance of fake documents to foreign POGOs.

“We need to look at the angle that there is an inside job. This is the possible reason for the continued entry of foreign nationals into the Philippines using fake documents,” he added. — Adrian H. Halili

LPA monitored outside PAR

PAGASA.DOST.GOV.PH

THE STATE weather bureau on Thursday said a low pressure area (LPA) that it is monitoring outside the Philippines’ area of responsibility (PAR) had a low chance of developing into a tropical depression.

The LPA was last located 370 kilometers northwest of Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan at 8 a.m. on Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in a report.

It has a low chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours, it added.

PAGASA is also monitoring the shear line affecting Northern Luzon, and the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which is influencing the weather in Mindanao.

It said the shear line may cause cloudy skies with scattered rain and isolated thunderstorms in Batanes and the Babuyan Islands.

PAGASA flagged possible flash floods or landslides.

It said the ITCZ may result in cloudy skies with scattered rain and thunderstorms in Caraga, the Davao Region, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, and Bukidnon. It also flagged possible flash floods or landslides. 

Meanwhile, PAGASA said the Visayas, Bicol Region, and Romblon may experience cloudy skies with scattered rain and thunderstorms due to the easterlies.

Easterlies could also cause partly cloudy to cloudy skies with thunderstorms in Metro Manila and other parts of the country. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

NOLCOM joins US, Canada drills

BAGUIO CITY — Naval forces attached to the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM), joined last Wednesday’s 7th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) off the waters of Northern Luzon.

The Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL), which operates under NOLCOM’s operational control, served as the participating unit representing the Philippine Navy alongside maritime forces from the United States and Canada, said Army Major Al Anthony B. Pueblas, spokesman of the NOLCOM.

The maritime exercises sought to strengthen coordination, improve cooperation, and enhance maritime security among our American and Canadian counterparts, said NOLCOM chief Lt. Gen. Fernyl G. Buca.

NOLCOM, through the NFNL deployed BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS17) and Beechcraft King Air (NV394) in the Division Tactics, Anti-Submarine Warfare, and Communication Exercises, to improve operational readiness.

Mr. Buca explained “NOLCOM’s participation in the 7th MMCA reinforces our commitment to protecting our maritime territory, securing our sovereign rights, and working with our allies to promote regional stability.” — Artemio A. Dumlao

PCO’s Chavez on leave, appoints OIC

EMERALD ANNE R. RIDAO — PCO.GOV.PH

PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS Office (PCO) Senior Undersecretary Emerald Anne R. Ridao has been appointed officer-in-charge (OIC) of the agency while acting Secretary Cesar B. Chavez is on leave, according to the agency.

In a special order dated Feb. 12, Mr. Chavez said the undersecretary will take care of the “day-to-day operations” of the agency from Feb. 17 to 21.

He said in a separate Viber message to reporters that he will try to work at “full capacity” while on leave. The acting PCO chief did not give a reason why he was going on leave.

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. appointed Mr. Chavez, who was also a senior undersecretary at the time, as acting PCO chief in September. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Peso strengthens vs dollar

BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO strengthened against the dollar on Thursday on news of potential Ukraine-Russia peace talks and as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) paused its rate-cut cycle.

The local unit closed at P58.06 versus the greenback on Thursday, climbing by 13 centavos from its P58.19 finish on Wednesday, Bankers Association of the Philippines data showed.

The peso opened Thursday’s session weaker at P58.25 against the dollar. It traded within a wide range as intraday best was at P58.02, while its worst showing was at P58.34 versus the greenback.

Dollars exchanged rose to $1.64 billion on Thursday from $1.24 billion on Wednesday.

“The dollar-peso initially traded higher on growing bets that the Federal Reserve will lessen cutting interest rates on the wheels of the higher CPI (consumer price index) print, but was lower in the afternoon after news of Trump and Putin agreeing to negotiate ending the war in Ukraine,” a trader said in a phone interview.

The dollar weakened due to lower global crude oil prices on news of potential Ukraine peace talks, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort likewise said in a Viber message.

US President Donald J. Trump said both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed a desire for peace in separate phone calls with him on Wednesday, and Mr. Trump ordered top US officials to begin talks on ending the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.

The conversations came after Mr. Trump’s Defense secretary earlier said Kyiv would have to give up its long-held goals of joining the NATO military alliance and regaining all of its territory seized by Russia, signaling a dramatic shift in Washington’s approach to the conflict.

In the foreign exchange market, the dollar lost 0.2% to 154.15 yen, having jumped 1.3% overnight following the US CPI data.

US consumer prices rose by the most in nearly 1-1/2 years in January. The closely watched core inflation index, which excludes food and energy prices, rose 0.4% in the month, above forecasts for 0.3%.

With the Federal Reserve already signaling no rush to cut rates further, investors scaled back expectations of more policy easing this year to just 28 basis points (bps), equivalent to just one cut.

“In addition to that, the BSP shocked the market as they expected a cut but they opted to hold key rates in their meeting, which is why the peso reached its high of P58.02,” the trader said.

The Monetary Board on Thursday kept its target reverse repurchase rate unchanged at 5.75%, contrary to market expectations of a 25-bp cut.

The pause came following three consecutive 25-bp reductions since the BSP began its easing cycle in August 2024.

“The Monetary Board noted that domestic growth prospects continue to be firm. However, uncertainty over global economic policies and their impact on the domestic economy has increased significantly,” BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. said.

For Friday, the trader expects the peso to move between P57.90 and P58.30 per dollar, while Mr. Ricafort sees it ranging from P57.95 to P58.15. — A.M.C. Sy with Reuters

Stocks climb further before BSP policy decision

REUTERS

PHILIPPINE STOCKS climbed further on Thursday on continued bargain hunting and as the market positioned before the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) policy announcement at the trading session’s close.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) jumped by 1.14% or 69.06 points to close at 6,113.19, while the broader all shares index rose by 0.78% or 28.54 points to end at 3,647.73.

“The local market extended its rise this Thursday as investors continued with their bargain hunting,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Senior Research Analyst Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber message. “Investors also took positions while hoping for positive catalysts from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ policy meeting.”

“Philippine shares were bought above the 6,100 mark with many investors keeping an eye out for the latest decision of the BSP, which came out right after trading,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan likewise said in a Viber message.

The BSP’s policy-setting Monetary Board on Thursday kept the target reverse repurchase rate unchanged at 5.75%, contrary to market expectations of another cut.

The pause came following three consecutive 25-basis-point (bp) reductions since the BSP began its easing cycle in August 2024.

A BusinessWorld poll had 19 out of 20 analysts penciling in a fourth 25-bp cut at this week’s meeting amid steady inflation and weak economic growth.

“The Monetary Board noted that domestic growth prospects continue to be firm. However, uncertainty over global economic policies and their impact on the domestic economy has increased significantly,” BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. said.

“On balance, uncertainty about the outlook for inflation and growth warrant keeping monetary policy settings steady. Before deciding on the timing and magnitude of further reductions in the policy interest rate, the Monetary Board deems it prudent to await further assessments of the impact of global policy uncertainty and the potential effects of the actual policies,” he said.

All sectoral indices ended higher on Thursday. Mining and oil surged by 2.69% or 200.41 points to 7,630.64; services increased by 2.6% or 50.79 points to 1,998.23; industrials went up by 1.81% or 154.49 points to 8,688.81; holding firms climbed by 1.09% or 55.88 points to 5,171.65; property rose by 0.13% or 3.03 points to 2,255.87; and financials inched up by 0.07% or 1.79 points to 2,256.11.

“Jollibee Food Corp. led the index, rallying 10.72% to P262.40. Bloomberry Resorts Corp. was at the tail end, falling 2.70% to P3.60,” Mr. Tantiangco said.

Value turnover increased to P6.08 billion on Thursday with 824.96 million shares changing hands from the P5.85 billion with 533.86 million issues traded on Wednesday.

Advancers outnumbered decliners, 116 versus 86, while 44 names ended unchanged.

Net foreign selling declined to P369.44 million on Thursday from P455.51 million on Wednesday. — R.M.D. Ochave

Sex education policy review backed

CEAP.ORG.PH

THE Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) backed a government-led review of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) policies, stressing the need for a balanced and inclusive approach that considers the autonomy of faith-based schools.

In a statement on Thursday, CEAP said it welcomed the initiative led by Education Secretary Juan Edgardo M. Angara to consult stakeholders on the policy’s implementation, emphasizing the importance of clear and well-grounded guidelines.

While acknowledging efforts to curb teenage pregnancies, CEAP raised concerns about potential overlaps with existing laws, including the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act (Republic Act [RA] No. 10354) and the Magna Carta of Women (RA No. 9710).

The group cautioned against a standardized framework that could challenge the academic freedom and identity of Catholic schools.

“A one-size-fits-all curriculum may not fully reflect the cultural, religious, and institutional contexts of all schools,” it said. “Any reproductive health education program should allow flexibility, ensuring that schools can integrate faith-based perspectives while addressing students’ needs.” 

The group also underscored the role of parents as primary educators in their children’s moral and sexual development, urging policymakers to respect parental authority in any school-based sexuality education program.

In February 2024, Save the Children reported there was a 35% increase in teenage (girls aged 15 and below) pregnancies between 2021 and 2022. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Pueblo De Oro to provide skills training in Cagayan de Oro 

REAL ESTATE developer Pueblo de Oro Development Corp. (PDO) recently teamed up with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to help provide skills training for workers in the Metro Cagayan De Oro.

PDO’s corporate social responsibility arm, the ICCP Group Foundation, Inc. (IGFI), signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with TESDA enhancing the region’s workforce capabilities. This would also support PDOs existing projects, such as the Masterson Mile North, a luxury condominium complex, and a planned World Trade Center.

“The partnership focuses on meeting the needs of the construction sector and other industries while contributing to the development of Metro Cagayan de Oro,” PDO said in an e-mail statement.

The agreement also seeks to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities and support the region’s economic growth.

IGFI has previously worked with TESDA to provide manufacturing workforce development initiatives across Luzon.

The programs align with Industry 4.0, which seeks to leverage digital transformation and automation in the manufacturing and business processes.

These efforts are also expected to position Cagayan de Oro as a center for innovation and commerce, according to the property firm.

Pueblo de Oro is the residential development arm of Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines Group, which has business interests in financial services and property management. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

PDEA-9 destroys P331.2-M worth of seized drugs

COTABATO CITY — Government officials burned P331.2 million worth of crystal meth (shabu) in a power-generating plant in Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur on Wednesday.

The symbolic destruction of the 48.6 kilos of shabu and expired barbiturates and tranquilizers from different drug stores using an incinerator was led by Maharani Gadaoni-Tosoc, regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-9 (PDEA-9).

The drugs torched by authorities were seized in separate anti-narcotics operations in different cities and provinces in Region 9 in recent months.

In a message during the activity, Ms. Gadaoni-Tosoc expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the police and local officials with their anti-narcotics campaign in Region 9.

Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Divina Grace D. Yu and local officials in her province participated in the disposal of the shabu and expired state-regulated medicines that were turned over to PDEA-9 by legitimate suppliers in Region 9. — John Felix M. Unson

Trike driver, 2 kids dead in Dipolog City highway mishap

COTABATO CITY — Three individuals, two of them school children, died instantly in a highway mishap involving a tricycle and a truck in Dipolog City on Wednesday morning.

Officials of the Dipolog City Police Station and the Police Regional Office-9 told reporters on Thursday that a 32-year-old tricycle driver, Ronnie Acoymo Merafuentes, his son and nephew, both Grade 3 pupils, were declared dead on arrival in a hospital where they were brought by emergency responders for treatment.

The accident also left the 14-year-old nephew of Mr. Merafuentes badly injured, now in a hospital.

The victims were in a tricycle that a truck hit head-on at a secluded stretch of the highway in Barangay Cogon.

Col. Edwin Duneceho Verzon, Dipolog City Police chief, said Mr. Merafuentes was driving his son and nephews to school.

Mr. Verzon said the truck that figured in the accident is owned by a motorcycle supplier in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu, loaded with motorcycles that its driver, Rolly John Madaiton Balalilhe, was going to deliver to local suppliers.

Mr. Balalilhe voluntarily surrendered to policemen and barangay officials who responded to the incident, according to Mr. Verzon. — John Felix M. Unson

GOCC reforms have improved performance since 2011 — ADB

GOVERNMENT-OWNED and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) performed better following reforms that centralized governance and enhanced transparency, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.

“The effect of the centralization of GOCC ownership and the associated performance management, transparency, and accountability reforms have been significant,” the ADB said in its state-owned enterprise (SOEs) reform handbook issued on Feb. 12.

The bank said 50 GOCCs were abolished, merged, or deactivated as of 2022.

At the same time, GOCCs posted improved income and dividends.

The Bureau of the Treasury reported that P136.29 billion in dividends were remitted by 52 GOCCs as of Dec. 9.

This exceeded the P100 billion target for 2024 and were up 35% year on year.

The ADB also said that during the pandemic, GOCC revenue grew to $27.25 billion in 2021 from $11.3 billion in 2011.

“There were also increases in performance on nonfinancial measures. Stakeholder satisfaction surveys showed an improvement in GOCC performance among key stakeholders, presumably because of the performance scorecard system,” it said.

It was referring to the corporate governance scorecards issued to 84 SOEs by the Institute for Corporate Directors.

It said the performance of GOCCs was “on par or even better than private sector equivalents.”

In addition, the state-run firms also became more effective implementors of government programs by drawing on private sector expertise and capital through public-private partnerships (PPPs), the ADB said.

These projects included health, water, airport, and electricity works.

Additionally, PPP projects are planned to include GOCC port, urban development, and renewable energy initiatives.

“GOCCs have had a history of poor performance, being directed by multiple ministries and subject to political and noncommercial directives, creating inefficiencies and substantial debt burdens for the economy,” it said.

The ADB said that the state-run firms were “compelled to refrain from increasing prices for their services such as public transportation fares — and to be lenient in collecting unpaid fees — like agricultural water usage charges — to avoid public backlash.”

These were later addressed through the GOCC Governance Reform Act or Republic Act No. 101049 in 2011.

It led to the creation of the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG), which oversees and sets policy and management guidance for the state-run firms.

The current issue involving GOCC governance involves how the government accesses the corporations’ funds over and above the dividends, it said.

The Supreme Court issued a restraining order against the transfer of P89.9 billion from the reserves of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to the Treasury, after the P60 billion had been remitted.

The High Court will hear oral arguments on the transfers until Feb. 25. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Palay farmgate prices fall 17% in Jan.

A farmer threshes newly harvested palay grains at a ricefield in Mogpog, Marinduque in central Philippines, March 22, 2016. — REUTERS

THE FARMGATE PRICE of unmilled rice (palay) fell 17% year on year in January to an average of P20.69 per kilogram, after rice imports hit record levels last year.

Month on month, the palay farmgate price fell 0.05% to an average of P20.70, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a report.

The PSA said all regions except the Eastern Visayas reported falling prices on average in the 12 months to January 2025.

Month on month, only seven of the 16 regions posted growth in average farmgate prices — Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Soccsksargen, and Caraga.

The highest palay prices in January were posted by the Eastern Visayas, where palay prices rose 28.4% year on year and 7.0% month on month to P24.79 per kilo.

The lowest farmgate price was recorded in Calabarzon at P17.41 per kilo from P23.55 per kilo, down 26.1% year on year.

The biggest decline was logged by Cagayan Valley at 26.8%, with its average farmgate price falling to P20.37 from P27.84 per kilo.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has said that it can “purchase more from farmers as palay prices this year averaged P21 to P23 per kilo compared with P27 per kilo in 2024.

The DA lowered the price of National Food Authority (NFA) rice to P35 per kilo, days after declaring a food security emergency due to an “extraordinary” spike in the price of the grain, despite lower tariffs for imports.

“That is expected given the huge inflow of imports in 2024 coupled with the reduction in tariffs and the softening of international prices,” Raul Q. Montemayor, national manager of the Federation of Free Farmers Cooperatives, Inc., said via Viber.

“We hope that the DA will be as concerned about this as they are with rice retail prices.”

The DA last month said it was expecting the palay harvest to exceed 20 million MT this year.

In 2024, rice imports hit a record 4.68 million metric tons (MMT), against 3.6 MMT a year earlier.

Mr. Montemayor said palay production in 2024 declined by 972,427 MT, equivalent to 612,628 MT of rice.

“But the country imported about 1.2 million MT more than what it bought abroad in 2023.

So, the decline in local production was more than offset by imports by around 600,000 tons.”

The national rice inventory rose to 2.16 MMT in January, up 6.4% year-on-year.

Month on month, the rice inventory declined 15.7% from 2.56 MMT in December.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. last year issued an executive order lowering the tariff on imported rice to 15% from 35%.

“One of our arguments in rejecting the order is its direct impact of reduced palay prices as traders and millers will have to contend with rice imports flooding the market,”  Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura  executive director Jayson H. Cainglet said via Viber.

“We hope that under the food security emergency declaration, the DA through the NFA can procure more than the 15-day mandate to about 30 days buffer stock at the guaranteed price of P23 per kilo,” he said.

“A 30-day buffer stock would also be equivalent to 7-8% of rice consumption, and enhanced ability on the government’s part to intervene in the market to reduce rice prices,” he added.

The DA said Tuesday that economic managers owill soon review the tariff order to “assess whether it needs to be adjusted.”

It said Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. is “only inclined to recommend a revision of the current tariff level if retail prices of imported rice ease to the P42-P45 per kilo range.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

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