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Singapore startup GetPaid seeks more partnerships in PHL

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

GETPAID, a Singapore-based financial well-being startup, said it is hoping to partner with more local manpower agencies and business process outsourcing (BPO) firms.

“Manpower and BPOs are among the core industries that we want to serve, but they’re not the only ones,” GetPaid Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Mitchell Goh told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of an event on Tuesday.

GetPaid provides earned wage access (EWA), enabling employees to access their wages before the traditional payday. This helps alleviate the financial strain of petsa de peligro for workers.

Also on Tuesday, GetPaid announced its partnership with D’Vinci Manpower Services Corp. to help its minimum-wage earners access their accumulated daily wages.

D’Vinci Manpower Services has a nationwide presence, covering mainly two- and three-wheeled riders and warehouse personnel.

Kristina Marie San Mateo, head of business development at GetPaid, said not all employers can accommodate cash advance requests as these are “admin-intensive.”

“I think GetPaid will be able to meet the needs of their employees, such as in cases of emergency, or when they need fast cash, or they’re facing stopgap situations or petsa de peligro, allowing them to access their hard-earned money through the app.”

It is also more convenient than availing of a loan, which comes with an interest rate and would require more documentation, she added.

Through the GetPaid app, employees can withdraw up to 50% of their salary with no minimum amount and zero interest rates. With a P49 fee per transaction, a worker can receive their salary within 12 hours.

The partnership is expected to boost workers’ morale and improve employee retention, D’Vinci Manpower Services President Miriam P. Gonzaga said. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

LGUs’ share in foreign investments

KAMANGA AGRO-INDUSTRIAL ECOZONE (KAIEZ) — FACEBOOK.COM-PEZAPH

The Constitution requires Government to promote the preferential use and adopt measures to enhance the competitiveness of Filipino labor, domestic materials, and locally produced goods. In pursuit of this policy, special economic zones in suitable and strategic locations have been created and spread across the Philippines to attract legitimate and productive foreign investments.

Philippine history shows that the very first economic zone was the Bataan Export Processing Zone, which was created in 1972 through Presidential Decree No. 66. Since then, ecozones have been created across various local government units (LGUs), initially starting in Clark and Subic Bay, covering different sectors of business. Economic zones were later created in Camp John Hay, Poro Point, Cagayan, Zamboanga, Aurora, and within major cities such as Makati, Taguig, and Cebu. The Special Economic Zone Act (RA 7916), provides that economic zones are meant to be developed into self-reliant and self-sustaining centers, and shall generate employment opportunities for their own inhabitants and those of nearby towns and cities.

Under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act or CREATE, an economic zone is defined as a selected area which is to be operated and managed as a separate customs territory that is highly developed or has the potential to be developed into an agro-industrial, industrial, information technology, or tourist/recreational area, whose metes and bounds are fixed or delimited by presidential proclamations and is within a specific geographical area which includes industrial estates, export processing zones, ICT parks and centers, and free trade zones. CREATE likewise recognizes vertical economic zones, such as, but not limited to, buildings, selected floors within buildings, and selected areas on a floor. As of this time, there are more than 400 economic zones operating in the Philippines.

With the successful proliferation and growth of economic zones, questions have been raised seeking clarification on the revenue allocated for LGUs where these ecozones operate. Under Article X of the 1987 Constitution, LGUs have the power to create their own revenue sources, levy taxes, and share in national tax collections, subject to limitations set by Congress. This highlighted the need to balance the concept of “separate customs territory” and consider the revenue-raising powers of LGUs.

For instance, Section 24 of RA 7916 states that in lieu of all national and local taxes, registered business enterprises (RBEs) enjoying the 5% special corporate income tax (SCIT) with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) are only required to remit a portion of their gross income — 2% — directly to the local government. Another example is Section 12 of the Subic Special Economic Zone where Section 12 of RA 7227 provides that of the 5% SCIT, 2% goes to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority for distribution to the LGUs affected by the declaration of and contiguous to the zone, such as the City of Olongapo and the municipalities of Subic, San Antonio, San Marcelino, and Castillejos of the Province of Zambales; and the municipalities of Morong, Hermosa, and Dinalupihan of the Province of Bataan, on the basis of population (50%), land area (25%), and equal sharing (25%).

However, it is said that CREATE Act did not clarify whether RBEs enjoying an Income Tax Holiday (ITH) or those that transitioned to the Enhanced Deduction Regime (EDR) are subject to local taxes. In response to this issue, the Secretary of Finance issued Department Order No. 33-2023, creating guidelines that RBEs that previously enjoyed local tax exemptions would continue to benefit from these under the CREATE Act. However, it left open whether new RBEs registered under CREATE also enjoyed the same exemption.

CREATE MORE (the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy Act) introduced updates, addressing ambiguities in the local taxation of RBEs, and aligning the concept of economic zones with local autonomy. One of the key provisions introduced is the concept of Registered Business Enterprise Local Tax (RBELT), which grants LGUs to impose local taxes to RBEs enjoying ITH or EDR within ecozones. RBELT may be imposed by LGUs by way of an ordinance at a rate not exceeding 2% of the gross income of registered projects or activities.

CREATE MORE is set to create a framework on the revenue-share of LGUs from foreign investments. In cases where an RBEs’ activities span multiple jurisdictions, 50% of the revenue will be divided equally among the involved LGUs, while the remaining 50% will be shared based on their population. Moreover, cities retain their whole share while municipalities remit 50% of their share to the province where they belong.

CREATE MORE also updates provisions on One-Stop Action Centers. To recall, in BCDA v. Baguio, the Court held that IPAs (investment promotion agencies) could not impose business permit fees through One-Stop Action Centers as this power pertains to the LGU. CREATE MORE now provides that LGUs may delegate the functions of processing and granting business permits to IPAs.

Lastly, Section 29 of CREATE MORE clarifies that businesses that avail of the 5% tax on gross income prior to the CREATE Act will retain their exemptions from local taxes, fees, and charges until Dec. 31, 2034. This provision provides stability and certainty for investors who are still in the process of completing their investments.

With CREATE MORE, the power of LGUs to impose taxes and fees on RBEs has been clarified. By establishing the RBELT, the law promotes better coordination between IPAs, LGUs, and RBEs — paving the road to encourage more foreign investment, and clearly delineates the revenue share of local government units.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. This article is for general information and educational purposes, and is not offered as, and does not constitute, legal advice or legal opinion.

 

Aaron Arwin C. Cheng is an associate of the Tax department of the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala Cruz Law Offices.

(02) 8830-8000

accheng@accralaw.com

David Hockney retrospective fills Paris Fondation Louis Vuitton

One of the paintings on view in the exhibit David Hockney 25 at the Fondation Louis Vuitton museum. — FONDATIONLOUISVUITTON.FR

PARIS — The largest exhibition yet of works by British artist David Hockney has opened in Paris, filling the entire multi-storey Fondation Louis Vuitton museum with more than 400 works spanning seven decades.

Drawn from museums and private collections worldwide, the David Hockney 25 exhibition focuses on the last quarter century of Mr. Hockney’s work, including many of the digital paintings on iPad he has pioneered.

Co-curated by Mr. Hockney’s friend Norman Rosenthal, it also features some of Mr. Hockney’s best-known works, including the 1972 Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures), which in 2018 sold for $90 million, at the time the highest price for a work by a living artist.

“I’ve learned to compare David Hockney with Picasso. Not because he’s the same, but because of the scale of his work, and the imagination, and the total achievement is not dissimilar,” Rosenthal said.

Many of the works are set in London and in Yorkshire and Normandy, respectively northern England and northern France, where the artist has spent most of his time this century.

“The show means an enormous amount to me because it is the largest I ever had… in the Fondation Louis Vuitton’s great Parisian building, designed by my LA friend Frank Gehry,” said Mr. Hockney in the exhibition brochure, referring to the winged building in Paris’ Bois de Boulogne park.

The exhibition includes the monumental 12 meter-wide Bigger Trees Near Warter, painted in 2007, paintings from his California period in the 1970s, as well as dozens of still lifes, landscapes, portraits, and self-portraits.

One of the most influential artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, Mr. Hockney, 87, was a major figure of the Pop Art movement of the 1960s and has remained at the forefront of modern art, reinventing his familiar themes in new media and technologies, the exhibition’s brochure said.

“(Hockney) shows us the way, while recognizing that the path that he himself has followed is continually evolving,” Fondation Louis Vuitton President Bernard Arnault wrote in an introduction to the exhibition.

It runs until Aug. 31. — Reuters

ASEAN Foundation, TikTok Shop launch digital training for MSMEs

People buy food items at a market in Quezon City, Nov. 22, 2024. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE ASEAN Foundation, in partnership with TikTok Shop, has launched a regional program to empower Southeast Asia’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in digital commerce.

In a statement, TikTok Director of Southeast Asia Public Policy Chanida Klyphun said the ASEAN SOAR (Support Our Artisans and Retailers) Together program would train 50 MSMEs across Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member-countries, with special consideration for women, youth and minority-led businesses.

“The program will equip MSMEs with the necessary skills to succeed on TikTok Shop, including in live selling, shop management and promotional strategies,” she said.

MSMEs will also be equipped with entrepreneurial and digital literacy skills, paving the way for new opportunities for economic advancement in the region, she added.

In a separate statement, the ASEAN Foundation said the program seeks to address key challenges faced by MSMEs, which make up more than 99% of businesses in the region.

These challenges include limited access to digital tools, low market visibility and the absence of structured business strategies.

“By combining hands-on training and networking opportunities, the program equips ASEAN MSMEs with the tools necessary to thrive in an increasingly digital world and helping them strengthen their market positioning to achieve sustainable growth,” it said.

Businesses registered and operating in any ASEAN member-country can register for the ASEAN SOAR Together program until April 30 through https://tinyurl.com/mt77f4vw.

“Philippine MSMEs are encouraged to apply to benefit from the tailored support in digital business that will enable them to thrive and stand out in the global economy,” Ms. Klyphun said.

Eighty MSMEs will be shortlisted for further evaluation, from which the final 50 will be selected to participate in the program.

Selected MSMEs will undergo an intensive virtual training program conducted entirely in English, featuring sessions led by TikTok Shop experts and external specialists on tailored business skills.

Around October or November, top-performing MSMEs may showcase their businesses at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit or other regional platforms, providing them with further exposure. — Edg Adrian A. Eva

CIBI inks data-sharing agreement with SEC

CIBI Information, Inc. has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to give the credit bureau’s clients access to regulatory data.

Under the data-sharing partnership, CIBI will get access to the SEC’s eSEARCH platform to let the credit bureau integrate regulatory data into its services.

“This collaboration between the SEC and CIBI is a powerful step toward bridging the information gap and strengthening the financial ecosystem in our country. With this partnership, we are opening new doors to opportunities for businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), helping them evaluate partners, assess risks, and build trust in their transactions,” CIBI President and Chief Executive Officer Pia L. Arellano said in a statement on Tuesday.

“It has been one of our foremost goals to keep the agency abreast with evolving technology to make sure that our stakeholders get the services they need in the best way possible… We hope that this MoA will help both the SEC and CIBI in accelerating our shared commitment to improving the business environment in our country,” SEC Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino said.

CIBI said the partnership aims to address the gap in regulatory data needed for due diligence, the verification of company legitimacy, and risk assessment.

“For CIBI’s clients, direct access to SEC-verified data enhances the quality, accuracy, and reliability of their existing data systems. With a more comprehensive and credible information base, businesses can make faster, better-informed decisions. Individual clients also benefit from increased trust, knowing they are relying on verified, credible data,” it said.

“The partnership benefits more than just CIBI and its clients — it also supports the regulatory framework by promoting transparency, data integrity, and efficient information sharing. Improved access to accurate data enables financial institutions to extend credit with greater confidence, helping drive financial inclusion and nationwide economic resilience,” the credit bureau added. — Aaron Michael C. Sy

How much did each region contribute to the Philippine economy in 2024?

THE NATIONAL Capital Region’s (NCR) economic output expanded by 5.6% in 2024, the fastest pace in two years, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Tuesday. Read the full story.

How much did each region contribute to the Philippine economy in 2024?

How PSEi member stocks performed — April 22, 2025

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

Stocks inch up in cautious trade on Trump jitters

REUTERS

PHILIPPINE STOCKS managed to close higher on Tuesday even as the market mostly moved sideways due to lingering jitters caused by the Trump administration’s trade policies.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose by 0.12% or 7.59 points to end at 6,145.59, while the broader all shares index inched up by 0.18% or 6.83 points to close at 3,652.14.

“The gains are attributed to appreciation of corporate fundamentals,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Senior Research Analyst Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber message. “The local market moved sideways for the trading day, however, reflecting investors cautiousness amid lingering uncertainties connected to the US’ trade policies and its impact on the global economy.”

“Philippine shares managed to eke out minor gains once again as the market brushed off President Donald J. Trump’s renewed attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell… The Philippine market posted modest gains as investors resumed bargain hunting, supported by optimism around strong corporate fundamentals and confidence in the local economy’s ability to weather external risks, including US tariff pressures,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan added in a Viber message.

Asian stocks battled to hold ground on Tuesday after a furious flight from US assets undermined Wall Street and the dollar, while concerns about the independence of the Federal Reserve piled fresh pressure on Treasuries, Reuters reported.

Relatively limited losses in Asia did spark talk that funds could be reallocating money to equities in the area, though the impact of tariffs on economic growth remained a major drag.

Mr. Trump’s increasingly vocal attacks on Mr. Powell for not cutting interest rates saw Wall Street indexes shed around 2.4% on Monday and the dollar hit three-year lows. The fallout from Wall Street still only saw Japan’s Nikkei ease a slim 0.2%, while MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan held steady.

Back home, almost all sectoral indices closed higher on Tuesday. Mining and oil went up by 1.81% or 180.66 points to 10,125.58; property increased by 0.84% or 18.47 points to 2,211.55; holding firms climbed by 0.36% or 18.28 points to 5,081.63; industrials inched up by 0.01% or 1.53 points to 8,708.17; and services edged up by 0.01 point to 1,917.05.

Meanwhile, financials declined by 0.21% or 5.13 points to 2,420.97.

“Universal Robina Corp. was the top index gainer, climbing 2.82% to P71. Jollibee Foods Corp. was the worst index performer, dropping 3.17% to P226.40,” Mr. Tantiangco said.

Value turnover rose to P4.84 billion on Tuesday with 593.06 million shares traded from the P4.56 billion with 1.05 billion issues exchanged on Monday.

Advancers bested decliners, 95 versus 83, while 52 names were unchanged.

Net foreign selling declined to P38.76 million on Tuesday from P46.86 million on Monday. —  R.M.D. Ochave with Reuters

Peso weakens as yuan fix hits Asia currencies

BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO weakened anew on Tuesday, joining the Chinese yuan and other Asian currencies that weakened against the dollar.

The local unit closed at P56.68 per dollar on Tuesday, dropping by seven centavos from its P56.61 finish on Monday, Bankers Association of the Philippines data showed.

The peso opened the session weaker at P56.65 against the dollar. Its worst showing was at P56.77, while its intraday best was at P56.60 versus the greenback.

Dollars exchanged inched up to $1.459 billion on Tuesday from $1.458 billion on Monday.

The peso dropped after The People’s Bank of China fixed the rate for the yuan higher, which helped the dollar’s recovery, a trader said in a phone interview.

“However, the upside [for the dollar] remains limited due to trade tensions and a cautious market mood,” the trader said.

The peso fell due to the broad market volatility caused by US Donald J. Trump’s continued threats to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell, threatening the independence of the US central bank, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort added in a Viber message.

For Wednesday, the trader expects the peso to move between P56.50 and P56.80 per dollar, while Mr. Ricafort sees it ranging from P56.60 to P56.80.

The onshore Chinese yuan weakened to near 7.31 per dollar early on Tuesday, Reuters reported. The People’s Bank of China set the official midpoint at 7.2075 compared with 7.2055 on Monday, despite the dollar index’s slump to a three-year low.

The dollar continued its slide against major peers, pressured by Mr. Trump’s criticism of Mr. Powell and confrontational trade policies.

Investor confidence in US assets has wavered amid concerns over the Fed’s independence and the toll Mr. Trump’s tariffs could exact on the US economy.

The unease was visible across asset classes on Monday. US equities tumbled, while Treasuries declined.

The dollar index is down a substantial 5.7% this month, on track for its sharpest monthly drop in at least a decade. — A.M.C. Sy with Reuters

China says Philippine-US drills threaten regional stability, economic prospects

PHILIPPINESTAR/WALTER BOLLOZOS

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

THE Chinese government on Monday said ongoing joint military drills between Philippine and US forces threaten regional stability, opposing the use the “Taiwan question” to justify military preparations.

“With the world being hit by unilateralism, protectionism and bullying, countries in this region have been calling for greater solidarity, coordination, and joint efforts to keep the region stable and respond to challenges,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news briefing in Beijing, based on a transcript posted on the agency’s website.

“Against this backdrop, the Philippines chose to conduct the large-scale military drills with this country outside the region and brought in strategic and tactical weapons to the detriment of regional strategic stability and regional economic prospects,” he added, alluding to the US.

“This act has been detested and opposed by regional countries.”

Philippine and US forces on Monday started their three-week, annual combat drills set to be staged near key locations facing regional flashpoints like the South China Sea and Taiwan. This year’s exercise will involve about 14,000 troops, with participation from nations such as Australia, Canada and France.

Started in 1991, the Balikatan exercise has evolved into Southeast Asia’s premier combat rehearsal as the Philippines and US seek to strengthen security cooperation and enhance force interoperability in response to China’s growing assertiveness in the region.

The US military has brought a variety of advanced weaponry for the drills to enhance military preparedness, including mobile anti-ship missile systems, portable artillery rocket systems and short-range air defense platforms, while making use of a mid-range capability missile battery that remained in the Philippines after last year’s exercises.

The South China Sea has become a regional flashpoint as Beijing continues to assert sovereignty over almost the entire sea, seen as a vital global trade route that is believed to be also rich in undersea gas and oil deposits.

Philippine and Chinese forces have repeatedly sparred over competing claims in the sea, with tensions flaring around disputed maritime features such as the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal.

Washington has pledged to work with the Philippines to help ramp up deterrence against China’s aggression in the South China Sea, with US Defense Secretary Peter Brian Hegseth vowing in late March to support Manila with funding to boost its military modernization efforts.

The Philippine military is seeking to counter China’s military might in the region by undertaking a modernization program called Horizons and has earmarked at least $35 billion (P2 trillion) for its military build-up in the next decade.

Mr. Guo said the “Taiwan question” is China’s internal affair and is at the core of its national interest.

“China firmly opposes any country using the Taiwan question as an excuse to strengthen military deployment in the region, heighten tensions and confrontation, and disturb regional peace and stability,” he said.

“We urge relevant sides not to make provocation on the Taiwan question. Those who play with fire will perish by it,” he added.

Beijing lays claim over Taiwan and it has not ruled out the use of force to annex the self-governed island. The Chinese military has routinely staged air and naval military drills near the island.

Philippine and US military generals on Monday said the Balikatan exercises are not aimed at countering an invasion of Taiwan by China. These are meant to address broader “regional security challenges,” according to US Lieutenant General James F. Glynn, exercise director for the US side.

But an invasion of Taiwan is not “conducive to a free and open” South China Sea, he told reporters after the drill’s opening ceremonies at the Philippine military headquarters near Manila on Monday.

“If ever there is a conflict in Taiwan, the Philippines will not participate,” Philippine Major General Francisco F. Lorenzo, exercise director on the Philippine side, told reporters at the same event.

Marcos-backed Senate bets lead Luzon, Visayas in WR Numero April poll 

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. attended a party convention in Pasay City where the administration’s senatorial bets for the 2025 elections were announced. The alliance comprises the country’s five major political parties — Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Nacionalista Party and National Unity Party. — PPA POOL/ RYAN BALDEMOR

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

SENATORIAL candidates endorsed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. dominated voter preferences across all regions except Mindanao, where Duterte-aligned bets led, according to the latest poll by WR Numero Research.

Eight senatorial aspirants from the Marcos-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas (Alliance for a New Philippines) were within the 12 winning slots in Metro Manila, including nine in Luzon and seven in the Visayas, but only one in Mindanao, WR Numero said in a statement, citing the results of its April survey.

Nine senatorial bets from Partido Demokratiko Pilipino, which is chaired by ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte, were supported by voters in Mindanao, but only two in Metro Manila and three in Luzon and the Visayas, it added.

“The regional divide in Senate preferences reflects long-standing patterns in Philippine politics, where regional identity, patronage networks and local political machinery play key roles in shaping electoral outcomes,” Cleve V. Arguelles, chief executive officer and president at WR Numero, said in a Viber message.

The political rift between the Marcos and Duterte clans have deepened in recent months after Marcos allies at the House of Representatives stripped Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio hundreds of billions of pesos of intelligence and confidential funds.

It culminated in her impeachment in February and the arrest and surrender of the Duterte patriarch to the International Criminal Court in The Hague last month where he will be tried for crimes against humanity in connection with his deadly drug war.

In Metro Manila, 47% of Filipino voters said they would vote for Party-list Rep. Erwin T. Tulfo, followed by ex-Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III (32%) and reelectionist Senator Pilar Juliana “Pia” S. Cayetano (31%), all part of the administration’s Senate ticket, according to WR Numero.

It added that 31% of Filipinos support former Senator Panfilo M. Lacson and Makati City Mayor Mar-Len Abigail “Abby” S. Binay, both Marcos-backed candidates, alongside ex-Senator and independent candidate Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino. Reelectionist Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go, a Duterte ally, followed with 29%.

WR Numero said 28% of voters backed Senator and Alyansa candidate Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid, with 27% saying they would vote for former Senator Francis Pancratius “Kiko” N. Pangilinan. They were followed by ex-Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. (27%), a member of the administration’s slate, and radio personality and independent candidate Bienvenido T. Tulfo (26%). 

Reelectionist Senator Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios “Imee” R. Marcos, also a Duterte ally, completed the list, with 24% saying they would vote for her.

Political analysts said the stark regional divide was due to the strongholds of each senatorial ticket’s backers, which heavily influenced voter preferences.

Political elites from Luzon and the Visayas tend to support Mr. Marcos because it aligns with their business interests, Hansley A. Juliano, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“Mindanao remains a bulwark for the Dutertes because their brand of iron-fisted rule resonates more in the Mindanao region,” Anthony Lawrence A. Borja, an associate political science professor at De La Salle University, said via Messenger chat.

WR Numero interviewed 1,814 voters nationwide on April 1 to 7 for the noncommissioned survey, which had an error margin of ±2 points.

In Luzon, Mr. Tulfo, Mr. Lacson and Mr. Lapid led the polls, with 47%, 41% and 38% of Filipinos saying they would vote for them. Following them were Ms. Cayetano (38%), Mr. Go (37%) and Ms. Binay (37%).

WR Numero said 36% of Filipinos would vote for Mr. Tulfo, the broadcaster, while 35% would go for Mr. Sotto. Reelectionist Senator and Alyansa candidate Ramon “Bong” B. Revilla, Jr. trailed at 34%.

Las Piñas Rep. Camille A. Villar, endorsed by both the Marcos and Duterte camps, got 29% support, tying with former Senator Emmanuel D. Pacquiao, Sr.

Senator Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa, a Duterte ally, completed the Luzon poll, securing the support of 28% of voters in the region.

In the Visayas, Alyansa’s Erwin Tulfo and his brother Bienvenido topped the list with 53% and 41%, respectively. They were followed by Mr. Lapid (40%), Ms. Cayetano and Ms. Villar, who both got 39%.

Mr. Go and Mr. Dela Rosa followed with 34% each, and Ms. Binay and Mr. Pangilinan with 33% each. Completing the list for the Visayas were Mr. Aquino (32%), Mr. Pacquiao (31%) and Mr. Sotto (31%).

“In Mindanao, however, Duterte-aligned candidates lead,” WR Numero Research said.

It said 76% said they would back Mr. Dela Rosa, while 67% were voting for Mr. Go. They were followed by Duterte-endorsed candidates James Patrick R. Bondoc (45%) and Phillip R. Salvador (42%).

Party-list Rep. Rodante D. Marcoleta and televangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy, also backed by the Dutertes, both got 40%.

Also among the Duterte candidates on the list were Victor D. Rodriguez with 34%, Raul L. Lambino wit 26% and Jesus V. Hinlo, Jr. with 23%.

WR Numero said 22% of Filipinos would vote for Party-list Rep. and independent candidate Bonifacio L. Bosita, while 21% backed Ms. Cayetano. Independent candidate Ariel O. Querubin completed the Mindanao list with 19%.

WIN FOR MARCOS
Also on Tuesday, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez ordered his political party to rally behind Marcos-backed senatorial candidates, aiming for what he described as a “sweeping victory” for its candidates.

A win for the administration-backed alliance would secure Mr. Marcos’ legislative agenda, the Speaker, who is president of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, said in a statement.

“Please, just please, straight Alyansa,” he told an assembly of governors, mayors and lawmakers from his political party during a meeting at the presidential palace. “Let’s push for all of them, no one gets left behind. This is what our beloved President wants.”

“These are the right candidates,” he said. “We are choosing leaders who build, not break, leaders who legislate, not obstruct.”

Most candidates from the administration slate were present at the assembly held at Malacañang except Ms. Villar, according to the statement.

Mr. Romualdez is campaigning for the Marcos-backed Senate candidates to secure President Marcos’ political influence during the latter half of his term, Mr. Juliano said. “They would do this now to ensure they are not a lame duck, and also to ensure that the Senate will be closer to them.”

Bill eyes energy, tourism development of Philippine Rise

NAMRIA.GOV.PH

A PHILIPPINE senator has filed a bill that seeks to create a multi-agency body that would secure and oversee the sustainable development of the Philippine Rise for energy and tourism projects.

“This maritime territory promises transformative opportunities, from renewable energy sources and marine biodiversity conservation to ecotourism development,” Senator Francis N. Tolentino said in Senate Bill No. 2996’s explanatory note.

The Philippine Rise or Benham Rise, an underwater plateau and continental shelf extension off the eastern coast of the Philippines, has abundant marine species and untapped mineral resources and gas deposits.

Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte issued an executive order in 2017 that renamed Benham Rise to Philippine Rise.

In March, government representatives submitted a chart of the Philippine Rise to the International Seabed Authority of the United Nations.

The agency regulates and controls deep-sea mining activities beyond national jurisdictions, as mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Republic Act No. 10264 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Law, which was authored by Mr. Tolentino, incorporated the Benham Rise within the Philippine territory.

Mr. Tolentino said unlocking the potential of the Philippine Rise requires “overcoming systemic barriers such as fragmented governance, uncoordinated research and the absence of a unified strategy for sustainable development.”

He added that his bill seeks to create a central body that would unify efforts and coordinate research to unlock the potential of the Philippine Rise, while also ensuring the area’s protection.

Mr. Tolentino said the creation of a Talampas ng Pilipinas Development Authority (TPDA) would “catalyze inclusive economic growth, generate employment and uplift communities nationwide.”

In 2009, the Philippines filed a partial claim for the area with the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf for Philippine Rise, which was approved three years after.

Among the proposed agency’s tasks are to promote public-private partnerships in renewable energy, ecotourism and blue economy initiatives.

It will also coordinate with government agencies, local government units, private enterprises and civil society to optimize resource management and investments.

It will create a science-based framework aligned with national priorities and implement strict environmental protocols and marine biodiversity protection.

“As the central governing body, the TPDA will spearhead integrated planning, policy formulation and multisectoral collaboration to ensure the region’s resources are harnessed responsibly,” Mr. Tolentino said.

The proposed agency will be steered by a board of directors headed by the secretary of the Department of Economy Planning and Development (DEPDev).

The Department of Energy and Department of Science and Technology will provide technical assistance, funding and program support for TPDA-led projects, including shared personnel and laboratories.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tolentino also filed a separate bill that seeks to create a corporate body that will focus on tapping potential oil or natural gas resources at the Philippine Rise.

He said the Talampas ng Pilipinas Oil Corp. will focus on the exploration, development and use of all potential oil, petroleum and gas operations in the area.

It will also build, install or maintain duty-free ports, airports, telecommunication centers and ship-to-shore communication facilities, and provide utilities such as power and water.

Under the bill, the corporation will be governed by a seven-member board of directors, including the administrator of the TPDA, who will be appointed by the President. — Adrian H. Halili

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