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Agriculture industry group seeks restoration of 35% rice import tariff

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

AN AGRICULTURE industry association asked the Tariff Commission to restore rice import tariffs to 35% for Southeast Asian grain, while imposing a 50% rate for all other countries of origin.

Executive Order No. 62, which reduced the tariffs to 15%, has failed to reduce rice prices, as it had been designed to do, Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) Chairman Rosendo O. So said in a petition filed with the Commission.

SINAG said between July and December the tariff reduction resulted in P15 billion worth of foregone government revenue.

The Rice Tariffication Law liberalized rice imports while requiring shippers to pay tariffs, which the government then used to fund rice industry modernization.

SINAG said allocating the P15 billion to 1.5 million hectares of rice land could reduce cost of palay production by P2.9 per kilo, which is equivalent of a reduction of P5 per kilo of domestically grown rice.

It estimated revenue foregone due to EO No. 62 at P27 billion this year.

Global rice prices have fallen by $146 to $422 per metric ton, according to the group.

“This translates to a decrease of P8.54 per kilo in the global rice market, which exceeds our target reduction of P6-7/kilo through EO 62.”

SINAG spokesman Jayson H. Cainglet said via Viber that the Tariff Commission has yet to set a hearing on the petition.

Mr. Cainglet has said that the farmgate price of palay remains low at P15-16 per kilo for freshly harvested grain, which could be subject to minimal changes during the peak of the harvest.

He said traders are only willing to pay between P16 to P18 per kilo given the competition from imported rice, whose landed cost is now about P35 per kilo.

Inflation eased to 2.1% in February from 2.9% in January as rice inflation dropped to 4.9%, the sharpest decline since April 2020.

To bring down rice prices, the government has lowered tariffs and declared a food security emergency to facilitate the release of government rice stocks.

Rice imports hit a record of nearly 4.7 million MT in 2024 due to a shortfall in domestic supply.

In mid-January, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said the government does not plan to resort to imports to bring down rice prices, which he said are also caused by profiteering. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Digital transformation and upskilling in banking

IN BRIEF:

• The banking industry faces a growing skills gap as demand for expertise in data science, cybersecurity, and software development surges to support digital transformation efforts.

• While automation and AI are seen as productivity drivers, banks are still grappling with how to effectively integrate these technologies and scale their operations.

• The most competitive banks will adopt a strategic approach to workforce transformation, prioritizing upskilling and reskilling employees to ensure the integration of new technologies and improved customer experiences.

The banking industry has long been at the forefront of technological innovation, with an increasing need for a highly skilled, tech-savvy workforce as the shift to digital continues. Digital transformation in banking goes beyond just updating legacy systems and adopting new technologies. It involves rethinking entire processes and the way banks interact with customers. One of the most significant challenges banks now face is closing the skills gap.

According to the EY Work Reimagined Survey,57% of Chief Risk Officers (CROs) globally consider talent to be one of the most significant long-term risks facing the banking industry. Additionally, 52% of respondents reported challenges in attracting the right talent to meet the demands of digital transformation. Digital transformation in banking is about closing the skills gap, using AI and automation, upskilling employees, and balancing workforce needs with cost discipline to help employees focus more on customer-centered roles.

This is the second article in a series that explores the salient concerns of the banking and financial industry.

CLOSING THE SKILLS GAP
Traditional banking roles are rapidly evolving, and new skills are required to design and implement solutions that offer a consistent and connected customer experience.

However, banks are struggling to close the skills gap. This is especially prominent in areas such as data science, cybersecurity, and software development — roles that banks historically didn’t need. Though banks increasingly become technology-enabled and data- driven, they also remain highly reliant on human talent. To maintain their competitive position, banks must prioritize both technology and talent, not one or the other. Even if banks can develop and secure the talent, it is important to note that the half-life of skills is shortening. Aside from foundational and technical skills, banks are also prioritizing digital acumen, adaptability in a changing environment, and deep specialization in at least one domain, according to the EY Institute of International Finance global bank risk management survey.

Moreover, banks today are competing with other industries for the brightest minds in these fields, making technology recruitment, training, and retention a critical focus. It would be instructive to note whether transformation and modernization initiatives will allow the banking sector to acquire a certain level of magnetism in connecting with employees and attracting new ones, something that the technology and startup sectors enjoyed for a time. Without the right talent, the digital transformation that banks hope to achieve may face significant roadblocks.

EMBRACING AI AND AUTOMATION
Technology modernization and adoption will continue to significantly drive transformation for Philippine banks within the next five years, underpinned mainly by cloud, data and AI.

Embracing AI and automation presents a significant opportunity for banks to increase efficiency and enhance customer service. The most competitive banks will view this new wave of technology as a chance to streamline operations, with machines expected to handle up to 10-25% of tasks across various bank functions. Automation will not displace workers but rather free them up to focus on higher-value, customer-centric roles.

However, to fully capitalize on this potential, banks need to take a strategic and deliberate approach to design and implementation. While many have launched AI and automation pilots, the lack of a systematic approach has led to scalability challenges and underwhelming results, highlighting that the full benefits of these technologies are yet to be realized.

There is a process that banks can adopt to maximize value creation, where use cases and initiatives are evaluated, ranked and developed based on strategic alignment, impact, and feasibility, allowing informed decision-making for resource allocation and implementation. This process will also benefit from embedded agility, particularly as innovation curves and technology developments move. For instance, some banks are looking at exploring concurrently generative and agentic AI — a union of creation and action — that will require not only broad and deep skills but also ethical considerations and accountability.

UPSKILLING AND RESKILLING EMPLOYEES
Studies show that businesses that prioritize human capital during digital transformation are more successful. According to EY, organizations that focus on upskilling and reskilling employees are 2.6 times more likely to succeed in their digital transformation efforts. For banks, this means prioritizing workforce development to ensure that employees can add value in a digital-first environment.

To successfully navigate this digital revolution, banks need to adopt a strategic approach to workforce transformation. This means not only recruiting new talent but also retraining and reskilling current employees. The introduction of AI and automation will require banks to redesign workflows, with a focus on optimizing processes for machines rather than humans. Banks will also need to merge specialized domain expertise with in-house capabilities to create a seamless, automated workforce.

Skills development is only one part. Banks looking to channel the talent flow their way also need to respond to employee needs in culture and total rewards.

WORKFORCE TRANSFORMATION AND COST DISCIPLINE
Amid the growing demand for specialized talent, banks must balance workforce transformation with cost discipline. To remain competitive, many banks are reducing headcounts while investing in technology to drive efficiency. This includes attracting talent in fields like AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, which often demand higher compensation.

Balancing these investments with cost discipline is crucial. Banks must ensure that they are not only investing in technology but also managing costs effectively to maintain profitability. This requires a strategic approach to workforce planning, where banks identify the skills needed for the future and invest in training and development programs to build these capabilities internally.

THE ROLE OF LEADERSHIP IN DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Leadership plays a critical role in the success of digital transformation initiatives. Bank leaders must foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning, encouraging employees to embrace new technologies and adapt to changing roles. This involves clear communication about the benefits of digital transformation and the opportunities it presents for career growth and development.

Leaders must also be proactive in addressing the challenges associated with digital transformation, including managing risks such as cybersecurity threats and data privacy concerns. By taking a proactive approach to risk management, leaders can ensure that digital transformation initiatives are implemented safely and securely.

THE FUTURE OF BANKING IN A DIGITAL WORLD
As digital technologies continue to transform the banking industry, embracing AI and automation, upskilling and reskilling employees, and balancing workforce transformation with cost discipline will be critical to success. The most competitive banks will be those that view digital transformation not as a threat to their workforce, but as an opportunity to enhance their people’s potential.

By investing in talent, embracing new technology, and fostering a culture of continuous learning, banks can position themselves to thrive in the digital age. The future of banking lies in the ability to adapt to technological advancements and leverage them to improve customer experiences, streamline operations, and drive growth.

CHARTING THE PATH FORWARD
Digital transformation is reshaping the banking sector, and it is only an interim stage towards a combination of a project, platform and network economy. Banks must close the skills gap, embrace AI and automation, and prioritize upskilling and reskilling employees to stay competitive.

By fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning and balancing workforce transformation with cost discipline, banks can enhance their workforce’s potential and position themselves for long-term success in the digital age.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Co.

 

Christian G. Lauron is the financial services organization (FSO) leader of SGV & Co.

Opposition Senate bets face arduous battle vs candidates from ruling party

PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. — PHILIPPINE STAR/NOEL PABALATE

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

OPPOSITION and independent senatorial candidates face an uphill battle in this year’s midterm elections as administration bets continue to dominate election polls, thanks to their political machinery and the fact that they are more popular, analysts said.

They would also find it more difficult to win Senate seats as the worsening Marcos-Duterte feud fuels partisanship among Filipino voters, they added.

“In Philippine politics, Senate elections are usually won by candidates with a high level of voter awareness,” Arjan P. Aguirre, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat. “Opposition candidates have super low voter awareness levels at this point, with less than 90 days before election day.”

“It would be really impossible for them to catch up and be known more by the people, unless they have a ‘celebrity status’ or a deep ‘war chest,’” he added.

February election polls showed that at least eight senatorial candidates endorsed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. are within the winning margin of the 12-seat Senate race.

“That’s consistent with the trend during midterm elections,” Cleve V. Arguelles, chief executive officer and president of think-tank WR Numero Research, told BusinessWorld in Filipino. “If you look back at previous midterm elections, the administration typically wins seven to nine candidates.”

Nine senatorial bets from the tickets of former Presidents Rodrigo R. Duterte and Benigno S.C. Aquino III won.

“We can attribute their good performance in the recent surveys to the political machinery and the enormous resources available to the administration coalition,” Dennis C. Coronacion, who heads the University of Sto. Tomas Political Science Department, said via Messenger chat.

“These give them an advantage over the opposition, who mostly rely on their personal resources in mounting a national campaign,” he added.

The administration’s Senate bets have been faring well in election polls due to their “individual strengths,” with many of them coming from political dynasties.

“Given that the [administration] candidates have reputations that grew independently from President Marcos, then we can deem their performance more as an approval of the Marcos administration’s return to normalcy than a translation of support for himself,” Anthony Lawrence A. Borja, an associate political science professor at De La Salle University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“It is a return to politics that is not framed by the haphazard and off-the-cuff rantings of the chief executive, hence, less vulnerable to arbitrary power,” he added, referring to ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who was swept to power in 2016 as a maverick, crime-busting mayor. As President, he upended Philippine foreign policy and launched a drug war that killed thousands.

Opposition senatorial candidates should start highlighting key issues affecting Philippine society, such as the education crisis and spiraling prices to steer the political conversation ahead of the May 12 elections, Mr. Aguirre said.

“This way, they can at least contribute to a more serious discussion about things that matter — topics that candidates should be talking about,” he said. “These are the things that I think opposition candidates can do to make themselves heard and noticeable.”

Up for grabs in the May 12 elections are more than 300 congressional seats and thousands of local posts. But the biggest battle will be for 12 spots in the 24-seat Senate, a chamber packed with political heavyweights and wielding outsized influence.

Philippines told to boost defense relations with UK

UK SECRETARY of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs David Lammy paid Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. a courteay call at the palace on March 8, 2025. — MARK BALMORES/PPA POOL

By Adrian H. Halili, Reporter

THE PHILIPPINES and the United Kingdom (UK) should improve defense and security cooperation, political analysts said on Sunday after the visit of a high-ranking British envoy at the weekend.

“London and Manila can focus on police and military educational exchanges,” Chester B. Cabalza, founding president of Manila-based International Development and Security Cooperation, said in a Facebook Messenger chat. “The UK has a lot to offer when it comes to intelligence system, military modernization and people-to-people engagement.”

Mr. Cabalza added that the UK and the Philippines could improve their defense partnership through a visiting forces agreement as part of “their efforts to cement their presence in the Indo-Pacific region.”

“The two countries may opt to focus on bolstering their existing strategic partnerships on key issues, which include defense, maritime affairs and climate action,” Josue Raphael J. Cortez, who teaches diplomacy at De La Salle College of St. Benilde, said in via Messenger chat.

“These facets are among those that our country needs support amid our maritime tensions with China and the fact that the negative repercussions of climate change today have been more pronounced,” he added.

The Philippines has sought defense pacts with like-minded nations like the US, Japan and Canada amid more serious encounters with China in the South China Sea, where they have competing claims.

Manila and Beijing have repeatedly clashed in the in the South China, with both sides accusing each other of raising tensions.

China claims more than 80% of the disputed waterway, that a United Nations-backed tribunal based in The Hague rejected in 2016 for being illegal.

The sea is a vital waterway for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, putting it at odds with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Hansley A. Juliano a political science professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, said the Philippines and the UK should expand their “cultural or educational exchange and trade reorientation.”

He added that continuing military exercises and partnerships with the Philippines would be mutually beneficial.

“The UK could also bolster the engagement of fellow Commonwealth nations like Australia, especially since Australia is closer to us geographically,” Mr. Juliano said.

UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs David Lammy during his visit to Manila at the weekend signed the Philippines-UK joint framework alongside Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo.

The agreement seeks to enhance both countries’ partnerships in defense and security, human rights, maritime and economic resilience.

The pact is “envisioned to chart the depth and direction of our Enhanced Partnership across various areas in the years ahead,” Mr. Manalo said at a signing ceremony on Saturday.

In 2021, the Philippines and the UK signed their Enhanced Partnership, which has so far achieved £2.9 billion (P214.4 billion) in bilateral trade.

“We are working on a number of proposed agreements such as an implementing arrangement under our 2024 memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation, and an MOU on information-sharing concerning improving our maritime domain awareness,” he added.

Last year, the Philippines and the UK agreed craft a framework for defense and security cooperation. The agreement includes training and capacity-building, peacekeeping operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, weapons, as well as research and technology.

He added that Manila and London had also agreed to continue joint military exercises and maritime patrols, including port calls by British ships.

“We’re charting a new course for our relationship amidst a lot of global volatility, and we must strengthen ties with like-minded partners like the Philippines,” Mr. Lammy said at the same event.

He also met with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr.

Congressman seeks probe of land leases to Chinese

PHILIPPINE STAR/ EDD GUMBAN

THE PRESIDENTIAL palace should probe the grant of land leases to more than 80 Chinese-owned companies by some local governments along coastal provinces in the Philippines, a congressman said on Sunday, citing national security concerns.

In a statement, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace S. Barbers said these companies have barred Filipino fishermen in Bataan, Pangasinan and Zambales provinces from fishing near their shorelines.

“According to one of my fisherman-sources, almost all the fishermen in the shorelines leased to Chinese nationals are losing their livelihoods because they are being driven away and not allowed to pass through the leased shorelines,” he said.

“If indeed these more than 80 Chinese firms were allowed to lease, operate and exploit properties in those coastal towns, which government agencies, aside from the local government units, have allowed them to operate, and what type of businesses are they engaged in?” he asked.

Mr. Barbers said some Chinese nationals have used “illegal business patterns” such as bribing Philippine authorities to provide them with a shroud of legality and allow their spying to go unhindered.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment. It earlier said in a statement that it “firmly opposes any baseless accusations and speculations aimed at smearing China and Chinese citizens.”

Philippine authorities earlier this year arrested a number of Chinese nationals accused of spying on joint Philippine-US military sites, the palace and the headquarters of the country’s military and police.

The Philippines has increased counterintelligence efforts amid increasing tensions with China.

The Southeast Asian nation does not have any specific foreign interference law, but lawmakers are drafting one.

The Philippines’ National Security Council pressed Congress in January to fast-track the approval of amendments to anti-espionage laws to make the country’s legal framework responsive to “evolving security threats.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Gov’t told to invest in productive, sustainable industries instead of local online gambling

REUTERS

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

LABOR EXPERTS urged Philippine policymakers to prioritize investments in productive and sustainable industries, instead of industries with uncertain social and economic impacts, such as the Philippine inland gaming operators (PIGOs).

“Instead of expanding gambling-related industries, the government should focus on productive and sustainable economic activities, such as modernizing agriculture and harnessing artificial intelligence and modern technology to improve farming and productivity,” Federation of Free Workers President Jose Sonny G. Matula told BusinessWorld in a Viber chat over the weekend.

“Strengthening these sectors would provide long-term economic benefits and job opportunities for Filipinos, rather than relying on industries with uncertain social and economic impacts,” he added.

This followed Senate President Francis G. Escudero’s call for a review of PIGOs, also known as local e-gambling businesses, saying that these are also as harmful as Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. ordered a ban on all POGOs, citing their links to illegal activities such as money laundering and financial scams.

The Palace earlier said it is still studying if there is a need to ban PIGOs, noting it has not caused or contributed to crimes in the country.

Around 90% of PIGO employees are also Filipinos, unlike POGOs which employed mostly foreigners. “POGO advertisements result in money flowing out of the country, while PIGO spends its marketing and advertising budget within the Philippines, keeping the funds within the country,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire B. Castro said last week.

University of the Philippines School of Labor and Industrial Relations Assistant Professor Benjamin B. Velasco, however, said that while PIGOs are not linked to criminal activities like POGOs, a better public policy is to promote agriculture and technology.

“A just transition for PIGO workers can be planned and prepared. PIGO workers can be shifted to other more ethical work in the services sector, like hospitality and tourism,” he told BusinessWorld in a Facebook Messenger chat.

Mr. Velasco noted a ban could have an impact on employment, assuming PIGOs employ thousands of Filipinos. He added its impact on state revenue may not be significant.

“I do know that incentives like reduced corporate taxes and tax exemptions were provided to PIGOs as incentives. So foregone revenues may not be that significant,” he said.

Some analysts have earlier argued that a ban may hurt National Government revenues as well as stocks of listed gaming-related companies, with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. ranking as the third-biggest revenue source last year.

Volunteers sought amid SCS row

CIVILIAN VESSELS on a symbolic mission to assert the Philippines’ claim to Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) in the South China Sea were blocked by a Chinese Coast Guard ship while a Philippine Coast Guard vessel kept watch on May 16, 2024. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

FILIPINOS should sign up and volunteer with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to help defend Philippine sovereignty amid rows with Beijing in the South China Sea (SCS), House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said on Sunday.

“Serving the country is not just for the men in uniform. We all have a role to play,” he said in a statement in Filipino.

“By joining the PCGA (PCG Auxiliary), we have more guards, and our defense becomes stronger,” he added.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, parts of which are also claimed by Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, deploying an armada of coast guard vessels to protect what it considers its territory hundreds of kilometers off its mainland. A United Nations-backed court based in The Hague in 2016 voided Beijing’s claims for being illegal.

Manila has been at the forefront of regional efforts to counter Chinese expansionism at the waterbody where trillions worth of shipborne trade passes through annually by conducting maritime exercises with its allies.

Mr. Romualdez also alleged that China is launching a two-pronged attack against the Philippines, using “digital propaganda” and naval aggression in the South China Sea to stake its claim further.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a Viber message seeking comment. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

BI rearrests two Korean fugitives

BUREAU of Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado presented Korean fugitives wanted for estafa and fraud after they were arrested in a follow-up operation in Angeles, Pampanga on Sunday morning. — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Sunday said it has re-arrested two Korean fugitives wanted for estafa and fraud in South Korea after their escape on March 4, assisted by three immigration staff.

In a Zoom briefing, Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado said they nabbed the two men in Angeles City, Pampanga, at 5:30 a.m. on March 9.

“As evidenced by the CCTV footage we have gathered, the two contractual employees have been terminated right after the escape. We received an update from the Department of Justice (DoJ) that on Friday, Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla released the termination of the third employee involved in this incident,” he said.

The first fugitive, a 28-year-old Korean man, was charged with estafa by a Filipina and nabbed in 2023. During his hearing on March 4, he escaped by leaving the Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City with BI personnel and boarded a BI vehicle. 

This prompted the bureau to do an internal “cleansing” to determine any related illicit activities within the bureau personnel.

Both fugitives have been transferred to the BI detention facility in Taguig City under heightened security measures, as they are now classified as high-risk detainees. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

DMW probes missing seafarer case

EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) launched an investigation to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of a Filipino seafarer, it said on Sunday.

Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said in a statement that under the implementing rules and regulations of the Magna Carta for Seafarers, the DMW must investigate cases of missing, abandoned, or deceased seafarers and inform their next of kin.

The seaman, Ralph Anthony Bobiles, was reported missing on Dec. 5, 2024. He allegedly jumped overboard around three to four days after their Panamanian-flagged ship sailed from Vera Cruz, Mexico, en route to Baltimore, US.

“We received the captain’s report, and we are not satisfied with the report. It was belatedly submitted and basically tells the story of no foul play without adequate proof,” Mr. Cacdac said.

The DMW chief also questioned the ship captain’s failure to conduct a search and rescue operation following Mr. Bobiles’ disappearance. As of now, the seafarer’s body remains missing.

He also ensured the department’s continuous support for Mr. Bobiles’ family in the Philippines.

To shed light on the incident, the DMW has already interviewed 11 out of the 19 crew members aboard the vessel and plans to speak with the remaining eight.

The department is also awaiting a report from Panamanian authorities and has coordinated with diplomatic posts in the US, as well as the ship’s owners. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

House asks for workspace in Senate

SENATE.GOV.PH

THE House of Representatives has asked Senate President Francis G. Escudero for an office in the Senate building for its congressmen-prosecutors and their support team during the impeachment trial of Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio.

In a letter dated March 5, House Secretary-General Reginald S. Velasco asked Mr. Escudero for an inspection of the assigned room at the Senate on March 11, Tuesday.

The House impeached Ms. Duterte before it went on a four-month break on Feb. 5, alleging misuse of secret funds, unexplained wealth, acts of destabilization and plotting the assassination of the President, the First Lady and the Speaker.

The Impeachment complaint was filed and signed by more than 200 congressmen, more than the one-third legal requirement before it could be sent to the Senate, which will try her as an impeachment court. Under the 1987 Constitution, several congressmen will be serving as impeachment prosecutors.

Congress will reconvene for a two-week session on June 2. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Senator calls for better childhood care, dev’t programs

PHILIPPINE STAR/NOEL B. PABALATE

A PHILIPPINE Senator called on local government units to provide better Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) programs to combat malnutrition.

“We need to mobilize our local government units in the delivery of ECCD programs and services, including nutrition and healthcare programs. We also hope to achieve this once the ratified ECCD bill is signed into law,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said in a statement over the weekend.

Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. urged local government officials to increase investments to tackle the county’s malnutrition problem.

He has also ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government to include healthcare and nutrition as priority indicators in the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).

“This aligns with our proposal, which was adopted in the ratified Early Childhood Care and Development System Act, ECCD indicators shall be incorporated in the Relevant Assessment Criteria under the SGLG,” Mr. Gatchalian added.

Lawmakers, on Feb. 3, approved the consolidated version of the ECCD Act, co-authored by Mr. Gatchalian. — Adrian H. Halili

NBI rescues 10 human trafficking victims in La Union

NBI FACEBOOK PAGE

BAGUIO CITY — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Region 1 rescued on Wednesday last week 10 young women, being trafficked in San Fernando City in La Union.

NBI-1 Acting Assistant Director for Legal Services and Chief of Staff Joel M. Tovera said at least two victims admitted they were being offered P3,000 each for sexual services by their handler, Danica Aliocod, known as “Tolits.”

Together with social workers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and non-government organization Project Rescue Children Philippines In., NBI-1 agents led by lawyer Rhoderick John R. Panay, agent-on-case, arranged a meet-up with “Tolits” and her “ward” at a lodging house in Barangay San Vicente, San Fernando City.

When “Tolits,” who arrived 30 minutes earlier at the lodge for the meet up, received the payment from the “poseur-customer” who turned out to be NBI agents, 10 young girls showed up giving the signal for government operatives with social workers of the DSWD-1 and Project Rescue Phils., Inc. to close in and announce the Tolit’s arrest.

All 10 young girls, believed to be at least 18 years old, were taken by social welfare officers for appropriate intervention. DSWD has a comprehensive package of services for the recovery and reintegration of trafficked persons.

Mr. Tovera vowed to continue its campaign against human trafficking aligned with NBI Director Jaime D. Santiago’s directive of a heightened drive versus human trafficking. — Artemio A. Dumlao

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