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Imports unlikely to cut rice prices

REUTERS

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s promise to lower rice prices through imports is unlikely to materialize, with private traders controlling retail prices, according to a former congressman.

“Private importers have control over the retail price, so even if they bought imported rice at a lower price, they will sell imported rice at a higher price,” former Party-list Rep. Argel Joseph T. Cabatbat, who represented the farm sector when he was still a congressman, told BusinessWorld in a text message.

“Due to the absence of government control over the prices of imported rice, we need to beg for mercy from importers,” he said. “Add to that, Vietnam and other countries have already raised the prices of rice in the world market after hearing about Executive Order No. 62,” he added.

Mr. Marcos has issued an order cutting rice tariffs to 15% from 35% amid spiraling prices.

Last week, Mr. Cabatbat and other farmer’s groups asked the Supreme Court to stop the executive order, which they said would bleed local farmers.

IBON Foundation Executive Director Jose Enrique “Sonny” A. Africa said the extended rice tariff cuts remove the protection enjoyed by farmers.

“Removing the protection will make market conditions more difficult for marginal rice producers,” he said in a Viber message. “If they opt out, then domestic palay output will be compromised.” — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Comelec contract probe sought

THE COMELEC office in Intramuros, Manila — PATRICK ROQUE

A CONGRESSMAN on Tuesday asked the House of Representatives to investigate the award by the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) of its automated election contract to a South Korean technology provider despite what he said was its shaky history.

Party-list Rep. Rodante D. Marcoleta also claimed an election official whom he did not name had received bribes in exchange for the contract to automate the 2025 midterm elections.

“Is there any proof that the hybrid system [by the election tech provider] has been used in any jurisdiction, here or abroad?” he asked. “They will not be able to show any certainty that this hybrid machine will function.”

The bribery allegation is part of a demolition job against Comelec, election chairman George Erwin M. Garcia told reporters. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

PhilHealth fund use questioned

A FORMER adviser of the Department of Health (DoH) on Tuesday urged legislators to investigate the state-owned health insurer for allegedly failing to use excess funds to boost the benefits of its members and reduce their annual contributions.

The Finance department has issued a circular allowing the unused funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) worth P89.9 billion to be classified as unprogrammed appropriations.

Antonio C. Leachon, a former Health special adviser, in a statement noted that under the Universal Health Care law, excess PhilHealth reserves should be used to increase benefits and cut contributions.

PhilHealth Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Eli Dino D. Santos did not immediately reply to a text message seeking comment.

Mr. Leachon said the excess PhilHealth funds that should be classified as unprogrammed funds include taxes on tobacco, vapes, alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages that have been earmarked for health programs. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

PHL eyes more Indian tourists

SHRESHTH GUPTA-UNSPLASH

THE PHILIPPINES expects more Indian tourists after President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. ordered easier e-Visa transactions for Indian nationals,

“It’s a market opportunity for us,” Sharlene Zabala-Batin, Tourism regional director for the National Capital Region, told a news briefing on Tuesday. “We hope to see this number significantly increase in the next few years.”

Ms. Batin also said they expect tourism in the Philippine capital and nearby cities to be boosted by meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibition events, medical and education tourism.

More than 45,000 Indian tourists visited the Philippines last year, according to Tourism data. “If it breaches 50,000 that will be an exponential increase,” Ms. Batin said. — Adrian H. Halili

Bangsamoro gets ambulances

@BANGSAMOROGOVT

COTABATO CITY — Health services in the Bangsamoro region got a boost with the purchase of P217.3 million worth of ambulances, mobile clinics and other vital provisions for hospitals and medical dispensaries in six provinces. 

The equipment, channeled through the office of regional Health Minister Kadil Monera Sinolinding, Jr., were bought by members of the 80-seat Parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao using their transitional development impact fund for 2022, 2023 and 2024.

They also allotted funds for medicines and the allowances of village health workers in Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces.

Mr. Sinolinding and BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim led Monday’s ceremonies where 48 land ambulances, two sea ambulances, two van-type mobile clinics and eight special patient transport vehicles were given to local governments, hospitals and health centers. — John Felix M. Unson

Arca beats top seed Amartuvshin to share Eastern Asia Juniors lead

CHRISTIAN GIAN KARLO ARCA — BW FILE PHOTO

CHRISTIAN GIAN KARLO ARCA continued to hang with the big boys of the premier Open section of the Eastern Asia Juniors and Girls Chess Championships where he currently shares the lead with two others after six rounds in Karawaci-Tangerang, Indonesia.

The 15-year-old, Panabo, Davao del Norte-born Mr. Arca caught the biggest fish of them all in top seed Mongolian International Master (IM) Ganzorig Amartuvshin that sent the former zooming to the top alongside Mongolian International Master Munkhdalai Amilal of Mongolia and Indonesian FM Nayaka Budhidharma with five points apiece.

Mr. Arca was tackling Mr. Amilal in the seventh round at press time hoping to sustain his impressive charge and claim that IM title and Grandmaster (GM) norm he was dreaming to realize.

And it wasn’t a shock that Mr. Arca is keeping his torrid pace as he had also topped the blitz division of the World Youth Championship in Italy in November last year and a GM tournament in Vietnam last May.

In the girls’ section, Filipina Franchesca Largo smashed Shafira Devi Herfesa to jump to joint third with Mongolian Woman FM Nanjid Tsogzolmaa with 4.5 points apiece.

Ms. Largo was tangling with top seed and solo leader WIM Laysa Latifah of Indonesia with 5.5 points hoping to keep staying in the hunt.

Indonesian WFM Cecilia Natalie Liuviann was solo No. 2 with five points. — Joey Villar

SSL kicks off Wednesday; NU, CSB lead field

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY LADY BULLDOGS — UAAP MEDIA TEAM /JULIUS DOMONDON & JOAQUI FLORES

UAAP champion National University (NU) and NCAA titlist College of St. Benilde (CSB) headline the cast when the 2024 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals kick off Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

A total of 12 teams from the UAAP, NCAA, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao comprise the field divided into four pools in a single-round eliminations with the top two teams advancing to the knockout playoffs.

NU, the UAAP Season 86 champion and winner of the first two SSL pre-season championships, banners Pool A with Enderun Colleges and Xavier University-Northern Mindanao Selection.

College of St. Benilde, the three-peat NCAA queens with 40 straight wins and counting, leads Pool D with runner-up Colegio de San Juan de Letran and University of San Carlos (USC) while Pool B has UAAP runner-up University of Santo Tomas, University of Batangas and Team SOCCSKSARGEN.

Completing the fray are UAAP semifinalist Far Eastern University (FEU), NCAA semifinalist Lyceum of the Philippines University and CESAFI champion University of the Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) in Pool C. De La Salle University, the reigning SSL National Invitationals Champion, begged from the tourney due to injuries.

A simple opening ceremony is set at 11 a.m. after the curtain-raiser between USC and Letran as NU, led by UAAP MVP Bella Belen, tests the mettle of Enderun at 12 p.m. followed by the matches of UB-UST at 2 p.m. and USPF-FEU at 4 p.m.

But there’s more to the SSL than just a tournament assembling the best collegiate teams across the archipelago as the league in partnership with the Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc., (ACES) reiterated its support for the growth of Philippine volleyball anew.

“I’m glad to be back and it’s my honor and privilege to be here seated with the stakeholders of the Philippine volleyball and SSL. I’d like to thank all of you and let’s look forward to this genuinely exciting and competitive league,” said ACES Chairman Dr. Philip Ella Juico.

“We always believe that we can play a part in developing women’s volleyball so we always look forward to the SSL. It provides opportunities for all players to compete with the more popular universities,” added Shakeys Pizza Asia Ventures, Inc. (SPAVI) CEO Vic Gregorio, joined by COO Jorge Concepcion, 12 Beyond Media’s Patricia Bermudez-Hizon and Smart Communications’ Bajjie del Rosario.

All Games will be available via livestream on Smart Livestream and Puso Pilipinas as well as on TV through Solar Sports. — John Bryan Ulanday

Fajardo leading race for PBA Season 48 MVP

JUNE MAR FAJARDO — FIBA

AFTER setting a new all-time high in most Best Player of the Conference (BPC) awards won, is an unprecedented eighth PBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) plum next for San Miguel Beer’s (SMB) June Mar Fajardo?

Mr. Fajardo, who claimed his 10th BPC in the Philippines Cup, stormed ahead of the race for the top individual plum of the two-conference Season 48 with 42.1 average statistical points.

“The Kraken” logged 17.8 points and a league-best 13.4 rebounds to go with 2.8 assists ad 1.7 blocks in SMB’s one-championship, one-runnerup showing en route to the front seat against Ginebra’s Christian Standhardinger (37.8 SPs) and fellow Beermen CJ Perez (37.4 SPs).

Mr. Standhardinger, the only other local aside from Mr. Fajardo with double-double averages (19.8 markers and 10.2 boards), and Mr. Perez (18.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists), the BPC of the season-opening Commissioner’s Cup that the Beermen ruled, are expected to crowd Mr. Fajardo in the shortlist of candidates for the prestigious plum.

NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino (21.78 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists) and TNT’s Calvin Oftana (21.81 points, 8 rebounds, 2.6 assists) sit at Nos. 4 and 5 with 35.9 and 35.4 SPs, respectively.

Top rookie pick Stephen Holt of Terrafirma runs sixth in the MVP chase with 34.1 SPs ahead of Chris Newsome (31.7 SPs), who helped Meralco to the All-Filipino crown at the expense of SMB.

Season 46 MVP Scottie Thompson of Ginebra (30.3), Terrafirma’s Juami Tiongson (29.2) and Phoenix’ Jason Perkins (28.8) round out the Top 10.

Mr. Holt, who produced 17.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.9 steals to key the Dyip’s first quarterfinal stint in eight seasons, paces the contenders for the Rookie of the Year honors.

NorthPort’s Cade Flores (23.3 SPs), Rain or Shine’s Adrian Nocum (21.8 SPs), Phoenix’ Ken Tuffin (21.5 SPs) and Blackwater’s No 2 selection Christian David (17.8 SPs) trail the Fil-Am guard.

The winners of the awards will be determined based on stats and votes from media, players and the Commissioner’s Office. — Olmin Leyba

Djokovic lets rip after majestic performance; game over for Zverev

LONDON — Emotions ran high for Novak Djokovic on Monday as he angrily lashed out at Wimbledon fans following his three-set demolition job over young Dane Holger Rune in the fourth round, while it was game over for a previously indestructible Alexander Zverev.

After tentative performances in his two previous outings, seven-time champion Mr. Djokovic had appeared to be back to his best against Rune as he dished out a 6-3 6-4 6-2 masterclass to set up a quarter-final date with Australian Alex De Minaur.

But for the thousands of fans who had stuck around late into the night to watch the match under a closed Centre Court roof, it is unlikely their abiding memory from day eight of the championships will have anything to do with the dazzling backhands or forehands that were on show.

Instead, what they will remember is the astonishing words that flowed out of Mr. Djokovic’s mouth during a bizarre post-match interview, in which he accused the crowd of disrespecting him.

Irritated by the fans who greeted Mr. Rune’s occasional moments of brilliance with chants of “Ruuune!,” he ranted: “To all those people that have chosen to disrespect the player, in this case me, have a goooooood night! Goooooood night! Goooooood night!”

When the interviewer suggested the fans had merely been chanting his rival’s name, Djokovic disagreed.

“I don’t accept that, no, no, no. I know there they were cheering for Rune but that’s an excuse to also boo. Listen, I’ve been on the tour for more than 20 years. So trust me, I know all the tricks. I know how it works. It’s fine. It’s fine,” he added pointing to the stands.

It was a strange way to end proceedings on Centre Court which had earlier witnessed world number four Mr. Zverev becoming the highest men’s seed to fall by the wayside. The German came unstuck against Taylor Fritz in a five-set thriller despite being only two games away from securing a place in the last eight for the first time.

ONE LEG
Like Mr. Djokovic, who had knee surgery last month, Mr. Zverev turned up on court wearing a protective support around his leg after falling awkwardly during his previous match.

That did not stop the German trading brutal blows with Mr. Fritz for 3-1/2 hours before he fell to a 4-6 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3) 6-3 defeat after he was finally broken for the first time at this year’s championships having chalked up 56 successive holds of serve.

Mr. Zverev regularly bombarded his American opponent with 130 mph missiles, fired down 19 thunderbolt aces, produced 55 winners and even won the longest rally in the contest which dragged on for 21 shots — and at the end of it all, the German declared he had been playing “on one leg.”

“It was fairly obvious that I wasn’t 100% today, right?” Mr. Zverev asked reporters before elaborating that an MRI scan had shown that he had a tear in his knee capsule as well as bone bruising.

The Fritz-Zverev marathon was the 35th match to go five sets at the All England Club this year, tying the record for the most at any slam since tennis turned professional in 1968.

Eastbourne champion Mr. Fritz’s victory also raised a glimmer of hope that the 21-year slam drought for American men might soon end after he joined Queen’s Club champion Tommy Paul in the last eight. For the first time since 2000, more than one American man will feature in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

It was not a good day for Frenchmen, however, as Mr. De Minaur beat Arthur Fils 6-2 6-4 4-6 6-3, while Italian Lorenzo Musetti set up a showdown with Fritz after gatecrashing Mpetshi Perricard’s 21st birthday celebrations with a 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-2 win.

Elena Rybakina, the only women’s Wimbledon champion left in the draw, got an easy ride after Anna Kalinskaya retired hurt while trailing 6-3 3-0. The Kazakh will face Elina Svitolina, who demolished Xinyu Wang 6-2 6-1.

The other quarterfinal in the top half of the women’s draw will feature two players who have both triumphed at the French Open. Barbora Krejcikova beat Danielle Collins 7-5 6-3, while Jelena Ostapenko was a 6-2 6-3 winner over Yulia Putintseva. — Reuters

Keegan Bradley named US captain for 2025 Ryder Cup

KEEGAN BRADLEY has been named US captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York, the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of America announced on Monday after a search process during which they also talked to Tiger Woods about taking the job.

Mr. Bradley succeeds twice major champion Zach Johnson as US captain after the latter faced plenty of criticism following the last edition of the biennial event where his squad failed to get the job done against Europe.

Mr. Woods, who won the 2002 US Open at Bethpage Black, had been the overwhelming favorite to take over as captain but has been busy off the golf course and previously said he was unsure if he could devote the necessary time the position demands. For Mr. Bradley, who counts the 2011 PGA Championship among his six wins on the PGA Tour, his appointment as captain comes after he was left off the 2023 US Ryder Cup squad in a year in which his six top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour included two wins.

When asked about the captain’s job in May ahead of the PGA Championship, Mr. Woods said the two sides were still talking about what that would look like and whether he had the time to do it.

The 15-times major champion was an obvious candidate for the captaincy having made eight appearances as a player in the Ryder Cup between 1997 and 2018 during which he compiled an overall record of 13-21-3. — Reuters

US first among equals

Naturally, all eyes are on Team USA as it prepares to defend its title at the Paris Olympics late this month. The roster is a veritable Who’s Who of National Basketball Association All-Stars, certainly even more stacked than that which claimed the Gold in Tokyo three years ago. Back from the pandemic-hit squad are Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bam Adebayo, Jrue Holiday, and Jayson Tatum. Backstopping them are LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Edwards, and Tyrese Haliburton.

Considering the pedigree of the players, the US has rightly been tabbed the overwhelming favorite to emerge first among equals. It isn’t projected to suffer a defeat — not in tuneups, not in group matches, and not in knockout affairs. Which, to be sure, doesn’t mean the competitors will be sharing the court with it already primed for defeat. To the contrary, they’re likely to exert even more effort to take the measure of the supposed juggernaut. After all, it’s one thing to be the fashionable pick of oddsmakers, and quite another to prove worthy of the prognosis.

For would-be contenders, the onus is on the US to definitively demonstrate its ascendancy. After all, it prepped for the 2021 Games with the same expectations, only to lose twice in four exhibition set-tos and again in group play. And when all the marbles were at stake, it had to overcome a scare from France to prevail by an underwhelming two possessions. Bottom line, the pressure is on it to fend off challengers confident of their capacity to exceed themselves.

Indeed, the path to success will not be easy for the US. That said, it’s bent on showing that while the gap between it and the rest of the world is no longer yawning, there remains one. And because it’s keen on making a statement, it has been going full bore even in scrimmages. The City of Light beckons, and it’s determined to shine brightly.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Australian agency says China-backed hackers behind cybercrimes

REUTERS

SYDNEY — Australia’s government cybersecurity agency on Tuesday accused a China-backed hacker group of stealing passwords and usernames from two unnamed Australian networks in 2022, adding that the group remained a threat.

A joint report led by the Australian Cyber Security Centre said the hackers, named APT40, had conducted malicious cyber operations for China’s Ministry of State Security, the main agency overlooking foreign intelligence.  “The activity and techniques overlap with the groups tracked as Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) 40,” said the report, which included inputs from lead cybersecurity agencies for the United States, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Germany.

China’s embassy in Australia did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

US and British officials in March had accused Beijing of a sweeping cyberespionage campaign that allegedly hit millions of people including lawmakers, academics and journalists, and companies including defense contractors. They said China-backed “APT31” was responsible for the network intrusion.

China at the time said the hacking allegations by US and Britain were “political maneuvering.”

APTs are a general term for cyber actors or groups, often state-backed, that engage in malicious cyber activities. New Zealand in March said APT40 targeted its parliamentary services and parliamentary counsel office in 2021 and had gained access to important information.

“(The Australian government) is committed to defending Australian organizations and individuals in the cyber domain, which is why for the first time we are leading this type of cyber attribution,” Defense Minister Richard Marles said in a statement released to the media.

The report comes as both Australia and China are rebuilding ties after a period of strained relations. Ties hit a low in 2020 after Canberra called for an independent investigation into the origin of COVID-19. Beijing responded by imposing tariffs on several Australian commodities, most of which have been lifted. — Reuters