PHL has 5M new voters

August 7, 2024 | 8:37 pm

crowd-election-voters — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) had processed more than five million voter applications as of Aug. 3.

Of the total 2.59 were females and 2.42 million were males, according to data released by Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia to reporters on Tuesday night.

Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon) had the highest number of new voters at 833,812, followed by the National Capital Region with 669,372 voters.

This brought the total registered Filipino voters to almost 66 million.

Meanwhile, Comelec said 5.27 million voters had been deactivated, mostly due to failure to vote in two succeeding elections. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Marikina Innovation Center on track

August 7, 2024 | 8:37 pm

THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Wednesday said it had tapped Alpha & Omega General Contractor and Development Corp. and Eight J’s Construction to develop the P400-million Marikina City Innovation Center.

In a statement, the agency said it had completed the three phases of the facility, which seeks to promote entrepreneurship in Marikina.

The construction of the multi-purpose building started in 2022. DPWH said phases four to seven are now under the design stage.

The five-story innovation center, also called the National Cottage Industries Development Authority Incubator Facility, has a floor area of 6,500 square meters.

The project is expected to be completed next year. Once finished, the building will have designated spaces for one-stop shop areas, showrooms, restaurants, conference and laboratory rooms, it said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Duterte faces new complaint

August 7, 2024 | 8:36 pm

A FORMER senator filed another corruption complaint before the Department of Justice on Wednesday against ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte and 11 others over the Philippine Navy’s P16-billion frigate acquisition project.

In a 50-page complaint, ex-Senator Antonio F. Trillanes said the Duterte government allowed changes to the contract that allegedly favored the private contractor.

Also sued was Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go. Mr. Duterte’s chief of staff.
He told reporters after filing the complaint that the contract to buy two frigates was signed under the late President Benigno S.C. Aquino III.
“Once the bidding was won, the contractor suddenly changed the items agreed upon,” he said in Filipino. “They forced the Philippine Navy to accept and favor the private contractor. When the Philippine Navy didn’t comply, they faced pressure.”

Mr. Trillanes said the state-of-the-art warships were downgraded to ordinary naval ships under Mr. Duterte’s watch.

Mr. Go in a statement called the allegations “rehashed” and “recycled.” “This is a clear case of destructive politics and a sure sign of desperation out to malign me and the former President.”

Former presidential spokesman Herminio “Harry” L. Roque, Mr. Duterte’s legal counsel, told BusinessWorld in a WhatsApp message he had not seen the complaint. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

P1B eyed for Pampanga irrigation

August 7, 2024 | 8:36 pm

Rice-field-irrigation — DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HANDOUT

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Wednesday said his government would spend about P1 billion next year for the third tranche of the National Irrigation Administration’s fleeting program.

He made the announcement at the inauguration of a P7.57-billion flood control project in Pampanga province.

The project in Masantol, Pampanga seeks to increase and improve the capacity of the Third River, Eastern Branch River, Caduang Tete River and Sapang Maragul River which are all connected to the Pampanga River.

The project is funded by the Export-Import Bank of Korea-Economic Development Cooperation Fund. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

P579M out for climate projects

August 7, 2024 | 8:35 pm

THE BUDGET department has released P579.31 million for climate-related projects, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman approved the release of a notice of cash allocation to the Department of Finance-Bureau of the Treasury to help implement projects under the People’s Survival Fund.

“We are giving all the necessary aid for our local government units to undertake projects crucial for enhancing resilience and sustainable development,” she said in the statement.

The funding will go to six development grants, five full-scale projects and two ongoing projects in Northern and Eastern Samar, Mountain Province, Bukidnon, Isabela, Quezon, Sarangani and Agusan del Norte, it said. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Senators push learning camps

August 7, 2024 | 8:35 pm

PHILIPPINE senators on Wednesday pushed mandatory learning camps to help Filipino students keep up with basic subjects.

“We need to stop the bleeding now in the next 10 months and that should be addressed by focusing all of our energies and look for those who need intervention,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian told a Senate basic education hearing.

Only 52% of students in grades 1 to 3 have “grade-ready” reading abilities, he said, citing data from the Department of Education.

“We need to make it mandatory because we are already in a crisis situation and can’t be too lenient,” said Mr. Gatchalian, who heads the basic education committee.

“This has to be incorporated in the school year because I don’t think one camp will cure their problems,” Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay-Angeles told the same hearing in mixed English and Filipino. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

It’s a bronze for neophyte Olympian boxer Villegas

August 7, 2024 | 7:33 pm

PARIS, France — Aira Villegas’ journey in the 2024 Olympics ended in a semifinal windup.

No gold, no silver, but she had played her part in Team Philippines’ memorable, historic ride — her bronze feat to be celebrated and looked upon by the next generations of Filipino Olympic medal hopefuls.

Ms. Villegas’ Cinderella run as a neophyte Olympian came to an end at the hands of bemedaled Turkish fighter Buse Naz Cakiroglu, a former world champion and the Tokyo Games silver winner who dazzled her way to a unanimous 5-0 victory before a packed crowd at Court Philippe Chatrier inside Roland Garros.

“She is real good, more technical,” said Ms. Villegas of her opponent, also her conqueror in a quarterfinals bout in the 2022 World Championship.

Overwhelmed and beaten, Ms. Villegas settled for the bronze but vowed her journey as a boxer isn’t stopping in her semis finish in the Paris Games.

Boxing is Ms. Villegas’ bread and butter, her monthly allowance and incentives helping the family in their daily lives. It had helped them recover from the devastation of Yolanda in their province in 2013.

“I’m not in Tacloban then, it wreck our home,” said Ms. Villegas, then already training in the ABAP (Alliance of Boxing Association of the Philippines) camp after being discovered in the Philippine National Games.

She’s one of five from six Villegas siblings who took boxing, taking the cue from eldest Ruel and the second eldest Rominic, who’s still in the sport as a referee.

And she’s been doing the same since becoming a national boxer — long way she’s gone from being a peanut vendor, daughter of a balut vendor.

At 29, Ms. Villegas said she’s still chasing an Olympic gold as she pursues her criminology course at the University of Baguio.

She’s good for bronze at the moment as she ran smack into Ms. Cakiroglu who’s now heading to the gold-medal bout versus China’s Wu Yu, a 4-1 point winner over Kazakh Nazym Kyzaibay.

Ms. Villegas lost to a better fighter but the Philippine camp believed the Filipina fighter could have gotten a chance if Ms. Cakiroglu’s fall in the second round wasn’t ruled a slip.

It was Ms. Villegas who’s given a standing eight count in the opening round.

In the end, everybody agreed though that Ms. Cakiroglu deserved the win.

Ms. Villegas, meanwhile, deserved adulation in punching her way to a podium finish in her very first Olympics.

She’s the latest from boxing to medal in the Olympics, joining Jose Villanueva (1932), Anthony Villanueva (1964), Leopoldo Serantes (1988), Roel Velasco (1992), Onyok Velasco (1996), Nesthy Petecio (2020), Carlo Paalam (2020) and Eumir Marcial (2020). — Nelson Beltran

Rianne Malixi advances to match play stage of US Women’s Amateur

August 7, 2024 | 7:32 pm

RIANNE MALIXI advanced to the match play stage of the US Women’s Amateur despite slowing down with a three-over 74 in the second day of stroke play Tuesday at the oven-baked Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The leader after the first 18 holes with a hot 67, Ms. Malixi mixed two birdies with two bogeys in the first nine holes of a backside start then tumbled with a bogey on No. 2 and a double bogey on No. 5 to settle for a 38-36 scorecard.

With her 36-hole aggregate of one-under 141, the Pinay ace fell short in her bid for low medal honors as she finished the elims in a share of fourth behind Colombian medalist Maria Jose Marin (138 after a 69) and Americans Melanie Green (139 after a 69) and Zoe Antoinette Campos (140 after a 68).

The 17-year-old Ms. Malixi, who is seeking a followup to her US Girls’ Junior Championship last month, will enter the Last-64 stage as the sixth seed.

Her opponent will be determined after Wednesday’s Playoff featuring a record 20 players disputing 10 spots to the knockout rounds. — Olmin Leyba

Creamline, PLDT and Chery Tiggo try to boost PVL quarterfinal bids

August 7, 2024 | 7:32 pm

Games Thursday
(PhilSports Arena)
1 p.m. — Farm Fresh vs PLDT
3 p.m. — Creamline vs Nxled
5 p.m. — Galeries Tower vs Chery Tiggo

CREAMLINE, PLDT and Chery Tiggo try to bolster their quarterfinal bids as they tackle Nxled, Farm Fresh and Galeries Tower, respectively, Thursday in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference at the PhilSports Arena.

All totting 3-1 records in Pool A, the Cool Smashers square off with the Chameleons (1-3) at 3 p.m., the High Speed Hitters clash with the Foxies (2-2) at 1 p.m. and the Crossovers tangle with the Highrisers (0-4) at 5 p.m.

Mostly likely though, Creamline, PLDT and Chery Tiggo will finish atop Pool A and will play three more games against the lowest three clubs in Pool B — Petro Gazz (2-3), Choco Mucho (1-4) and ZUS Coffee (0-5)—in the second round of the prelims.

Farm Fresh, Nxled and Galeries Tower, meanwhile, will most likely face off with the top three of Pool B in Akari (5-0), Cignal (4-1) and Capital1 Solar (3-2).

Following the elimination round, the top eight will advance to the one-game knockout quarterfinals with Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 colliding with Nos. 8, 7, 6 and 5, respectively.

Like the quarters, the semis and the finals will implement sudden death games also. — Joey Villar

Gilas women sweep Pinoyliga Cup

August 7, 2024 | 7:32 pm

GILAS Pilipinas women primed up for a big stint abroad by completing a championship sweep in the inaugural women’s tournament of the Pinoyliga Cup at the Enderun Colleges gym.

Afril Bernardino was hailed as the Tournament Most Valuable Player following her steady performance capped by a complete line of 11 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks in their 88-79 win against Army Altama in the final match.

Kate Bobadilla and Janine Pontejos showed the way with 19 and 18 points while long-time anchor Jack Animam had 11 rebounds plus six points, three assists and three steals.

Gilas women, under the watch of program director and head coach Pat Aquino, previously bested Enderun and Far Eastern University. The Lady Tamaraws took home the bronze medal after an 83-53 win over the Lady Titans.

Camille Sambile tallied 24 points and 11 rebounds for Army, in the historic tourney led by owner Benny Benitez with blessings from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas headlined by executive director Erika Dy.

Gilas is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Women’s Jones Cup last month and is slated to test its mettle next in the 2024 FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament this month in Rwanda.

Ranked No. 40 in the world, Gilas is bracketed with Senegal, Hungary and Brazil in Group C. — John Bryan Ulanday

Zamboanga nips Naic Aces, 79-78, in Asian tourney

August 7, 2024 | 7:31 pm

REINFORCED by ex-NBA star Demarcus Cousins, host Zamboanga zoomed to a 2-0 slate after a narrow 79-78 win over the Naic Aces in The Asian Tournament grand final late Tuesday night at the Zamboanga City Coliseum.

Rickey Brice led the way with 29 points and 21 rebounds laced by two blocks as the Valientes bolstered their semifinal bid entering their last preliminary assignment against the Vanta Black Dragons.

Zamboanga previously beat the Macau Black Bears, 93-81, to welcome Mr. Cousins, a four-time NBA All-Star, in his Philippine team debut with a bang.

Former UAAP MVP Malick Diouf headlined that victory with 32 points, 29 rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block as Mr. Cousins added three points, four rebounds and an assist in seven minutes of action as starter.

Owned by Junnie Navarro, the Valientes are determined to win the ultimate prize in the grand finals after falling short in the first four legs

Former PBA standouts Rudy Lingganay, Mac Belo and Franky Johnson are also on Zamboanga’s roster to beef up their chances. — John Bryan Ulanday

Ando braces for talent-laden cast of weightlifting

August 7, 2024 | 7:31 pm

PARIS, France — Elreen Ann Ando could well be the future of Philippine weightlifting, being the very lifter who denied Hidilyn Diaz another Olympic return.

The question is whether her time is now.

Ms. Ando, 25, competes in her second Olympics but in a new weight category with a talent-laden, star-studded cast led by Tokyo gold medal winners Kuo Hsing-chun of Chinese Taipei and Luo Shifang of China.

World No. 2 Kim Il-Gyong of North Korea will not be seeing action, but world No. 3 Maude Charron and No. 5 Kamila Konotop of Ukraine are in the start list of the competition set at 3 p.m. Thursday (9 p.m. in Manila) at the South Paris Arena.

Ms. Kuo won the 59kg event in Tokyo in 2021 where Ms. Luo was also champ in the 49kg. Meanwhile, Ms. Ando was there competing in the 64kg.

They had their showdown in the 59kg in the IWF World Cup in Thailand where Ms. Luo emerged champ with a total lift of 248 followed by Ms. Kim with 240 then Ms. Charron, another Chinese in Pei Xinyi, Kuo and Konotop all at 130.

Ms. Ando was good for only eighth at 228, topping Ms. Diaz who did a 122. Ms. Diaz moved up to 59kg with the cancelation of 54kg for the 2024 Olympics.

In the run-up to the Paris Games, Ms. Ando and the rest of the Philippine weightlifting team spent time training at Metz and in Germany.

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas President Monico Puentevella said, needless to say, they’re facing a tough competition and they have to beat themselves to have a chance at a podium finish.

Looking to continue what Ms. Diaz started, Ms. Ando, from Cebu, will also be facing Mexico’s Janeth Gomez Valdivia, Nigeria’s Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, Italian Lucresia Magistris, Marshall Islands’ Mathlynn Sasser, Venezuela’s Anyelin Venegas Valera, Colombia’s Yenny Alvarez and home bet Dora Tchakounte. — Nelson Beltran