Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 155

Cop, 4 others hurt in Cotabato clash

COTABATO CITY — Four civilians and a policeman were hurt in a shootout involving supporters of two rival political quarters in Barangay Rosary Heights 10 in this city on Sunday night.

Senior officials of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region told reporters on Monday morning that the incident left Corporal Deniel G. Gabucayan of the Cotabato City Police Mobile Force Company-Cotabato City Police Office and four individuals wounded.

The injured Mr. Gabucayan, Jomar K. Salik, Johaita S. Kanakan, Dennis D. Mamalangkay and Jomar M. Maton were all immediately brought to a hospital by policemen and government emergency responders for treatment.

Lt. Col. Roden R. Orbon, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, and Col. Jibin M. Bongcayao, Cotabato City police director, had separately told reporters that personnel of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-5 and policemen detained more than 30 male suspects reportedly involved in the gunfight.

Barangay officials and villagers had said that the two groups are identified with each of two regional political parties that pitted candidates for elective positions in Cotabato City. — John Felix M. Unson

Funding seen sufficient for expanded P20 rice rollout

PHILIPPINE STAR/WALTER BOLLOZOS

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said the P20-per-kilo rice program will be offered in more regions, with funding and rice inventories deemed sufficient to support such an expansion.

The DA announced the start of selling of P20-per-kilo rice in government-subsidized minimarkets, known as Kadiwa stores, on May 13. The launch had been pushed back from May 1 to comply with the ban on government spending during the elections.

“While the program initially focused on the Visayas, a review of the DA’s budget and NFA stocks has revealed that it can now be extended to other regions, including Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, through KADIWA centers and local government units involved in the national food crisis emergency initiative,” the DA said.

The program had been initially scheduled for a six-month pilot in the Visayas.

The DA said 12 Kadiwa markets in Metro Manila will begin offering P20 rice on Wednesday, followed by 32 more sites in Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Mindoro, and Rizal by May 15.

LGUs will share the P13-per-kilo subsidy for the rice with Food Terminal, Inc. Eligibility of beneficiaries will be determined by the LGUs.

Vulnerable groups — including solo parents, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and beneficiaries of the government’s 4Ps program — will have access to the P20 rice at KADIWA centers.

“With the expanded area covered by the pilot run, the DA has decided to adjust the monthly limit to 30 kilos per household — the same level set for the KADIWA P20 rice program,” the DA said.

The pilot test is expected to serve as many as two million households — or 10 million individuals — until December.

The DA said the program also seeks to clear out stock buildup in National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses to pave the way for more grain procurement from farmers. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Vietnam still enjoys cost advantage in furniture despite 17% Philippine tariff

BETIS GUAGUA PAMPANGA FURNITURES - MY FAV FURNITURES  FACEBOOK PAGE

THE 17% tariff the US is poised to charge Philippine goods, while favorable compared to rest of the region, is not enough to overcome Vietnam’s cost advantage in furniture, the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines (CFIP) said.

CFIP Director General Ajun L. Valenzuela told BusinessWorld that the Vietnam price advantage over equivalent Philippine goods is about 40%.

“Vietnam’s prices are much cheaper,” he said in a phone interview, adding: “our price difference with Vietnam is around 40%.”

Vietnam’s furniture exports totaled $16 billion in 2024, against Philippine exports of $200 million.

Vietnamese goods will be charged a 46% tariff starting July if it does not negotiate more favorable terms.

The tariff differential “is also good for us because it will make our prices at par with the Vietnam price, but it is not a solution,” he added.

The so-called reciprocal tariffs imposed on US trading partners announced in early April have been suspended for 90 days. In the interim, the US will charge most trading partners a 10% baseline rate.

According to Mr. Valenzuela, the Philippines still has an opportunity “to attract US buyers seeking alternatives to Vietnamese suppliers.”

“We can rely on our strengths: the unique craftsmanship, the indigenous materials, and the reputation or quality… especially in niche and premium segments,” he added.

The US is the largest export destination of Philippine furniture, accounting for $99 million, or 49.7% of the total. The other top markets include the Netherlands, Japan, Germany, and France.

He said it is possible that Singapore, which was assigned a 10% reciprocal tariff, “may act as a re-export hub for Vietnamese furniture.”

“We know for a fact that Singapore is not a furniture manufacturing country, so they sourced before from China, and now they will be sourcing from Vietnam. So, it potentially dilutes the Philippines competitive edge if rules of origin are not strictly enforced,” he added.

“There is also a risk that Vietnamese and Chinese furniture, now less competitive in the US, could be redirected to the Philippines,” he said.

“This could lead to import flooding, increased competition, and downward pressure on prices here,” he added.

The Philippine cost disadvantage lies mainly in labor, he said.

“The Philippine average monthly manufacturing wage is significantly higher than Vietnam’s. In the Philippines it is $420-$450, while Vietnam’s labor cost is only $300-$350,” he said.

“Labor cost makes it difficult for Philippine producers to compete on price, especially for large-scale commoditized orders,” he added.

He said the industry is also disadvantaged in terms of scale, with Filipino small and medium enterprises unable to expand.

He said high electricity costs are also a concern for the furniture sector, along with the sourcing of raw materials.

“Vietnam benefits from proximity to large plantations and easy access to imported timber through established supply chains, while we rely on imported wood,” he said.

He said that the exemption of wood and wood products under the new US tariff regime will allow Philippine manufacturers to import sustainable and certified solid wood from the US at a very competitive rate.

He said establishing Philippine brands in the US market will require sustained investment in marketing, compliance, and relationship-building. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

No approval yet for proposed air terminal enhancement fees

NINOY Aquino International Airport (NAIA) check-in counters. — BW FILE PHOTO

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said a proposal to collect airport terminal enhancement fee by the three air carriers remains under review.

“The proposal is still being reviewed by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). Pending thorough evaluation, no terminal enhancement fees have been approved or implemented,” a representative from the DoTr said via Viber.

The main Philippine carriers sought CAB approval to collect terminal enhancement fees to cover the rising cost of using Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The private operator, New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), has raised landing and takeoff fees, and started charging other fees starting last year.

The carriers have requested a P150 terminal enhancement fee for domestic roundtrip flights and about P300 each way for international flights.

The fee was proposed as a separate charge on top of the base fare. As proposed, it will be itemized on the passenger’s booking receipt separately from the base fare, similar to the treatment of the fuel surcharge and value-added tax.

NNIC took over the operations and maintenance of the main gateway in September 2024.

A higher passenger service charge, or terminal fee, is also scheduled to be implemented later this year in September.

NNIC has said that all fee increases are in accordance with the parameters and financial terms set by the DoTr, the Manila International Airport Authority, and its project transaction advisor, the Asian Development Bank during the NAIA privatization bidding. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Recto does not expect DSPs to pass VAT on to consumers

FINANCE SECRETARY RALPH G. RECTO — PCO

By Aubrey Rose A. Inosante, Reporter

FINANCE Secretary Ralph G. Recto said digital service providers (DSPs) are likely to absorb the new value-added tax (VAT) on digital services, instead of passing the cost on to consumers.

“Frankly, I don’t expect prices to increase but shouldered by providers,” Mr. Recto told BusinessWorld via Viber.

The government will start to enforce the 12% VAT on digital services consumed in the Philippines on June 1, after President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed the law in October.

The VAT was designed to level the playing field for all DSPs, because Philippine companies have to pay VAT, putting them at a disadvantage to foreign platforms such as Netflix, Spotify, Amazon, Lazada.

The Department of Finance has said that the government will generate P102.12 billion in revenue from the VAT between 2025 and 2028.

Digital platforms have started to announce price hikes before the VAT rules take effect.

Last week, Netflix notified consumers of price adjustments to its tiered subscription model, with its lowest-priced offering increasing 13.42% to P169.

Mr. Recto said DSPs stand to lose customers if they start raising prices.

The Philippine Statistics Authority estimates the value of the Philippine digital economy at P2.25 trillion in 2024, up from P2.09 trillion in the previous year.

It accounted for 8.6% of gross domestic product last year.

Analysts said digital platforms are expected to pass on the VAT to consumers, though overall consumption will remain robust.

Minimal Government Thinkers (Manila) President Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. said it rare for service providers to absorb added costs and accept reduced income and profit.

“Consumers will bite the bullet on higher prices… but they will continue consuming the service. They will just shift their priorities, say from more hours on Netflix to more hours on work-related streaming and online work,” he said. 

Meanwhile, freelancers which often use taxed digital services will learn to pass on the higher cost to their customers as well.

“I think the adverse impact will be negligible. Demand for digital services is inelastic or non-responsive to price changes,” he said, citing the example of food. “Whether the price goes up or stays the same, people will still consume food,” he added.

Ronald B. Gustilo, national campaigner for Digital Pinoys, expects the growth of the digital economy to slow, as most small businesses, freelancers, and individual consumers rely on affordable access to digital tools.

“While taxation is a necessary function of government, its timing and scope must be balanced with the realities of a developing digital ecosystem,” he said via Viber over the weekend.

He also expects digital platforms to follow Netflix’s lead in raising prices.

“This VAT measure could disproportionately impact small businesses, freelancers, content creators, and even students. Many depend on paid tools like design software, cloud storage, and marketing platforms to earn a living. Any added cost can be a barrier to productivity and income generation,” Mr. Gustilo said.

Visitor arrivals hit 2.1M in first four months

Tourists enjoy kayaking in El Nido, Palawan on April 8. — PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

THE PHILIPPINES registered 2.1 million visitor arrivals in the four months to April, falling 0.82% behind the pace from a year earlier following reduced traffic from South Korea, the Department of Tourism (DoT) reported.

The arrivals consist of 1.93 million foreign travelers and 170,815 overseas Filipinos.

In the first four months, South Korea remained the country’s top source of tourist arrivals with 468,337 travelers or a 22.25% market share. Korean traffic was down 18% from a year earlier.

“There were political and market uncertainties in South Korea since the martial law declaration in December,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said via Viber.

However, he said that arrivals from South Korea are likely to recover “if the country’s political and economic situation continues to stabilize or improve.”

“This could be offset by Trump’s tariffs that could slow down export-oriented economies such as South Korea,” he added.

Colliers Research Director Joey Roi H. Bondoc said that the weaker won was a factor in dampening Korean travel.

“This is definitely beyond the control of our tourism officials … (but) I think what the government needs to do is to actively explore other markets such as India and some Middle Eastern countries,” he said via Viber.

He said the DoT should work closely with airlines and hotels to “customize attractive packages for South Koreans, whether leisure or business travelers.”

“Golf tourism promotion focused on the South Korean market should also be ramped up,” he added.

He said that the continued drop in South Korean tourists is a concern for the accommodation industry, as some so-called integrated resorts (casinos) “have proactively tapped the market at the start of the year.”

The US was the second-largest visitor market during the period with 360,799 travelers, or 17.14%. US traffic was up 9% from a year earlier.

Japan had 156,532 arrivals or a 7.44% share, Japanese visitors were up 18.14% from a year earlier.

Completing the top five source markets were Australia and Canada, accounting for 111,113 and 99,152 visitors, respectively. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

New legislators urged to freeze farmland conversions, crop switching

DAR.GOV.PH

FARMER organizations urged would-be legislators to file measures that would halt the conversion of farmland, citing the need to ensure food security.

Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) proposed that the 20th Congress consider a ban on land conversion by property developers.

“The country is losing precious agricultural land that could otherwise grow food staples like rice and vegetables to real estate projects for subdivisions and golf courses, commercial districts and pseudo-industrial zones,” it said via Viber.

It also called for measures to disincentivize farmers from switching away from staples to “plantation crops” like cavendish banana, pineapple, and oil palm.

“We cannot become food self-sufficient if the state prioritizes global market demand over domestic needs,” it added.

Agrarian reform beneficiaries are often forced to sell their land to developers due to unfavorable farming conditions, farmer organizations have said.

UMA is lobbying for the refiling of a Genuine Agrarian Reform bill, which seeks the distribution of land at no cost to farmer beneficiaries and the creation of cooperatives as vehicles for productivity.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in 2023 signed the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which aims to condone all loans, including interests, penalties, and surcharges incurred by agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Farmer organizations have lobbied for the insertion of anti-land conversion provisions in a proposed Land Use Act, which was approved by the House of Representatives in 2023. The bill remains pending in the Senate.

UMA said legislators need to arrest the decline in the number of farm workers by improving their working conditions.

“The number of agricultural workers has long been on the decline — not because landless farmers are finally getting land, but because of rural wage discrimination against agri-workers,” it said.

UMA also pushed for the refiling of the proposed Rice Industry Development Act, which it views as an alternative to the Rice Tariffication Law of 2019.

The bill being backed by UMA seeks to increase rice industry productivity on a three-year timetable with funding of about P400 billion.

The allocations include a rice production socialized credit program (P25 billion), an accelerated irrigation development program (P45 billion), a post-harvest facilities development program (P30 billion), a research and development and extension services program (P15 billion, and a procurement program for the National Food Authority (P310 billion).

“The government needs to do more than bring food staples like rice directly to the market; it should also purchase directly from farmers, boxing out middlemen and, in particular, the rice cartel,” UMA said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

VAT liabilities of non-resident DSPs

Last year marked a significant chapter in tax reform, with new laws enacted to amend and update the National Internal Revenue Code (Tax Code). Among these is Republic Act (RA) No. 12023, which imposes a 12% VAT on all digital services consumed in the Philippines.

RA 12023 introduced Section 108-A to the Tax Code, outlining the liabilities of persons providing digital services. Whether individual or juridical, resident or non-resident, those who supply or deliver digital services in the Philippines are now responsible for assessing, collecting, and remitting the corresponding VAT on these services, subject to the rules of withholding VAT.

Prior to this law, only resident digital service providers were subject to VAT. With RA 12023, non-resident digital service providers (NRDSPs) are now also liable for VAT.

To implement and clarify certain aspects of the law, specifically on the liabilities of NRDSPs, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issued Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 3-2025 and RR No. 14-2025, as well as Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 47-2025.

VAT REMITTANCE LIABILITY
Under the law, “a non-resident digital service provider” refers to a digital service provider with no physical presence in the Philippines.

Generally, the liability for VAT remittance of NRDSPs depends on the type of transaction involved:

1. Business-to-Business (B2B) Transactions

In B2B transactions, persons engaged in business are liable for electronically filing the required remittance return and withholding and remitting the 12% VAT due on their purchase of digital services under the reverse charge mechanism. In this case, the NRDSP is not directly liable for remitting the VAT. However, they are still required to file tax returns with the BIR to report their B2B transactions.

2. Business to Consumer (B2C) Transactions

In B2C transactions, where the consumer is not engaged in business, the NRDSP is directly liable for electronically filing the VAT return and paying the VAT due through the simplified pay-only regime in the VAT on Digital Services (VDS) Portal.

Furthermore, if the NRDSP is classified as an e-marketplace, it shall also be liable for electronically filing the VAT return and paying the VAT due, provided that it controls the key aspects of the supply and either sets, directly or indirectly, any of the terms and conditions under which the supply of digital services is made or is involved in the ordering or delivery of services, whether directly or indirectly.

REGISTRATION OF NRDSPs
Section 5 in relation to Section 14 of RR No. 3-2025 and as amended by RR No. 14-2025 and clarified by RMC No. 47-2025, requires NRDSPs to register with the BIR within 120 days from the effectivity of RR No. 3-2025, or by June 1, 2025, either through the VDS Portal once it becomes available, or via the Online Registration and Update System (ORUS) prior to the VDS Portal roll-out. This requirement applies regardless of the nature of NRDSP’s transactions, whether B2B or B2C, or both.

In registering with the BIR, an NRDSP can either do it directly or through the appointment of a third-party service provider (such as a law firm, accounting firm, or consultancy firm). Appointing a third-party provider may also be done for purposes of receiving notices, record keeping, filing tax returns, and other reporting obligations. The BIR must be notified in writing of such an appointment within 30 calendar days from the date of appointment. For VAT purposes, the appointment of a third-party service provider does not classify the NRDSP as a nonresident foreign corporation doing business in the Philippines.

The BIR will issue a Certificate of Registration/BIR Form No. 2302, which contains the assigned TIN and other registration details. These details shall be used in the filing of VAT returns and remittance of VAT, if any, to the BIR.

An NRDSP which fails to register for VAT is liable for penalties, possible criminal, civil and administrative charges under the Tax Code, as amended, and suspension of business operations if warranted.

REQUIRED INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS FOR ORUS
At a minimum, the following information is required for registration via ORUS:

1. Name of the business entity, including trade name;

2. Name of the authorized representative, and Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) in case of a local authorized representative responsible for tax administration, if any;

3. Registered foreign address; and

4. Contact information of the NRDSP (e.g., contact number, e-mail address).

Additionally, the following documents are required:

1. Any apostilled official documentation issued by an authorized government body (e.g., government agency or municipality) that includes the name of the non-individual and the address of its principal office in the jurisdiction in which the non-individual was incorporated or organized (e.g., Articles of Incorporation, Certificate of Tax Residency); and

2. If transacting through a representative:

• Apostilled Board Resolution/Secretary’s Certificate (or equivalent) indicating the purpose and name of the authorized representative; and

• Any government-issued ID of one of the signatories and the authorized representative.

If ORUS experiences system downtime, the NRDSP with a local representative may opt to manually register with BIR Revenue District Office No. 39 – South Quezon City.

INVOICING REQUIREMENT FOR NRDSP
Under the law and its implementing rules and regulations, there is no prescribed form of an invoice for NRDSP as long as the date of transaction, transaction reference number, identification of consumer (including the TIN for B2B), brief description of the transaction and the total amount with the indication that such amount includes the VAT are present.

The invoice may be electronic and need not be registered with the BIR, provided that the contents are in the English language or include an English translation and all the required information is provided.

In case the NRDSP has mixed transactions, the invoice must clearly indicate the breakdown of the sale price by its taxable, VAT-exempt and VAT-zero-rated components. The calculation of the VAT on each portion of the sale shall be shown on the invoice.

In a B2B transaction, in which the Philippine business consumer/buyer is responsible for remitting the 12% VAT, a footnote/annotation on the invoice indicating that the Philippine business consumer/buyer is responsible for accounting and remitting the VAT due on the transaction to the BIR may be provided if the NRDSP is unable to include the VAT amount on the invoice.

TAKEAWAYS
With the upcoming June 1 deadline for the registration of NRDSPs, and the start of the imposition of VAT on digital services on June 2, 2025, the implementing rules and regulations (RR No. 3-2025 and RR 14-2025) and the latest BIR issuance, RMC No. 47-2025, serve as essential tools for navigating the complexities of RA No. 12023. These documents provide valuable guidance on the liabilities and compliance requirements for NRDSPs.

However, despite the clarity provided by these regulations, some critical unanswered questions remain relating to the requirement of registration and imposition of VAT. To note, RA No. 12023 provided that an NRDSP must register for VAT if its gross sales for the past 12 months have exceeded P3 million or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that its gross sales for the next 12 months will exceed P3 million. Some clarificatory questions on this rule include:

1. Are sales by NRDSP for digital services consumed outside the Philippines considered in determining the breaching of the P3 million VAT threshold?

2. Will registration still be required if the NRDSP does not meet the VAT threshold?

3. If the threshold is not met, will the NRDSP be subject to other percentage tax under Section 116 of the Tax Code, as amended?

As June 1 and June 2 are fast approaching, we are hoping that additional guidelines to address these outstanding questions will be provided.

Let’s Talk Tax, a weekly newspaper column of P&A Grant Thornton that aims to keep the public informed of various developments in taxation. This article is not intended to be a substitute for competent professional advice.

 

Tonee Rose M. Palomeno is a manager from the Tax Advisory & Compliance Practice Area of P&A Grant Thornton, the Philippine member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd.

business.development@ph.gt.com

US and China reach deal to slash tariffs, lifting dollar

U.S. and Chinese flags are seen in this illustration taken, April 24, 2024. — REUTERS

THE United States and China have agreed to temporarily slash reciprocal tariffs in a deal that surpassed expectations as the world’s two biggest economies seek to end a damaging trade war that has stoked fears of recession and roiled financial markets.

The US will cut extra tariffs it imposed on Chinese imports in April this year to 30% from 145% and Chinese duties on US imports will fall to 10% from 125%, the two countries said on Monday. The new measures are effective for 90 days.

The dollar rose against other major currencies and stock markets lifted following the news, which helped allay concerns about a downturn triggered last month by US President Donald  J. Trump’s escalation of tariff measures aimed at narrowing the US trade deficit.

“Both countries represented their national interest very well,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said after talks with Chinese officials in Geneva. “We both have an interest in balanced trade, the US will continue moving towards that.”

Mr. Bessent was speaking alongside US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer after the weekend talks in Switzerland in which both sides had hailed progress on narrowing differences.

“The consensus from both delegations this weekend is neither side wants a decoupling,” Mr. Bessent said. “And what had occurred with these very high tariffs… was the equivalent of an embargo, and neither side wants that. We do want trade.”

The Geneva meetings were the first face-to-face interactions between senior US and Chinese economic officials since Mr. Trump returned to power and launched a global tariff blitz, imposing particularly hefty duties on China.

Mr. Bessent said the deal did not include sector-specific tariffs and that the US would continue strategic rebalancing in areas including medicines, semiconductors and steel where it had identified supply chain vulnerabilities.

Since taking office in January, Mr. Trump had hiked the tariffs paid by US importers for goods from China to 145%, in addition to those he imposed on many Chinese goods during his first term and the duties levied by the Biden administration.

China hit back by putting export curbs on some rare earth elements, vital for US manufacturers of weapons and electronic consumer goods, and raising tariffs on US goods to 125%.

REPRIEVE
Shares in European companies hit hard by the escalating trade war rallied on Monday. Maersk was the biggest gainer in Europe, up more than 12% after the deal. It warned last week that container volumes between the world’s top two economies had plunged due to the trade war.

Shares in luxury firms LVMH and Gucci-owner Kering were up 7.4% and 6.7% respectively.

“This is better than I expected. I thought tariffs would be cut to somewhere around 50%,” said Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management in Hong Kong.

“Obviously, this is very positive news for economies in both countries and for the global economy, and makes investors much less concerned about the damage to global supply chains in the short term,” Mr. Zhang added.

The tariff dispute brought nearly $600 billion in two-way trade to a standstill, disrupting supply chains, sparking fears of stagflation and triggering some layoffs.

Wall Street stock futures climbed as the talks boosted hopes a global recession might be avoided.

Mr. Trump gave a positive reading of the talks before they had concluded, saying that the two sides had negotiated “a total reset… in a friendly, but constructive, manner.”

He levied the tariffs in part after declaring a national emergency over fentanyl entering the United States, and Mr. Greer said conversations over curbing the deadly opioid were “very constructive” though on a separate track. — Reuters

Ando wins three silvers in Asian weightlifting meet

ELREEN ANDO — FACEBOOK.COM/AWFSPORT

TWO-TIME Olympian Elreen Ando showed she’s the country’s best hope for another Olympic medal after she scooped up three silvers Sunday night in the Asian Weightlifting Championships at the Hunsan Sports Park in Zhejiang, China.

Ms. Ando, who competed in the 2021 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Games, lifted 102 kilograms in snatch and 130 kg in clean and jerk for a combined lift of 232 kg, which were good for three silvers in the women’s 64 kg division.

The Southeast Asian Games gold winner from Cebu valiantly battled a heavily favored Li Shuang of China but ended up falling short as the latter swept all three golds with a total lift of 239 kg from 105 kg in snatch and 134 kg in clean and jerk.

Korean Mun Minhee took the three bronzes with a 214 kg total, 94 kg snatch and 120 kg clean and jerk.

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas chief Monico Puentevella said medaling here could translate into a medal in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics since he expects Asians to dominate the quadrennial event.

“I think Asians will rule LA,” he said. “So if we get a silver here, we will have a strong chance in LA.”

That hiked the country’s total to seven silvers and the same number of bronzes.

Kristel Macrohon hopes to win the country’s first gold in the event as she competes in the women’s 69 kg today. — Joey Villar

NU’s Alinsug ready to lead as senior stars hand over reigns

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY LADY BULLDOGS — UAAP/NEO GARCIA

IT WILL take a capable, qualified and homegrown heir apparent to the reign of Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon in National University’s (NU) pecking order. And the Lady Bulldogs may just have found her in Vange Alinsug.

A star of the powerhouse NU-Nazareth School like her seniors, Ms. Alinsug stepped up to the plate to showcase her readiness for that leadership role following a big-time performance in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball finals.

Ms. Alinsug, a third-year player tasked to inherit NU’s torch from the graduating duo of Mses. Belen and Solomon, turned in a team-high 21 points on 21 hits in Game 1 as NU made short work of rival La Salle, 25-17, 25-21, 13-25, 25-17, to bolster its back-to-back bid.

And while others were surprised to see her erupt after serving as third fiddle in NU’s Big 3, Ms. Alinsug proved that no stage is too bright for the always game-ready spiker that she is.

“Hindi po naman po ito first time sa akin at sa amin,” she said, having been with Mses. Belen and Solomon all throughout her championship-studded career from high school to college.

“Ang mindset lang namin ay maglaro kung ano ‘yung nilalaro namin talaga at nag-start yun sa training. Happy ako na naipakita namin ‘yun sa Game 1.”

Her big sisters could not be prouder and more grateful, taking comfort in the prospect of passing on the Lady Bulldogs program to good hands after their inevitable departure.

“Sobrang proud ako kay Vange kasi nakikita ko ko every training talaga, pinagta-trabahuhan niya. Kasi lagi kong sinasabi na, training palang start na ng competition so ‘yun ang lalabas sa laro mo,” said Ms. Solomon, last season’s Finals MVP.

“Kilalang-kilala na namin kasi ‘yung kada isa. I’m very happy lang kasi may naiiwan kami sa mga bata. Marami pang susunod sa amin so ito sana may maiwan kaming maganda,” added two-time Season MVP Belen.

With Mses. Belen and Solomon at the helm, the Lady Bulldogs have made it to four straight finals with a potential to clinch a third title. Ms. Alinsug is up next and will seek to extend that championship run to cement

a looming NU dynasty.

Ms. Alinsug is more than ready to embrace the bigger role and the tougher challenge without her big sisters but for now, NU needs to care of business and clinch the title.

“Tuloy-tuloy lang kami. Ngayon may two days kami para makuha ulit ‘yung Game 2,” she said. — John Bryan Ulanday

Meralco faces tough PBA stretch in runup to Champions League Asia

MERALCO BOLTS — FACEBOOK.COM/PBAOFFICIAL

WHILE in the middle of its PBA Philippine Cup title-retention drive, Meralco is plotting its buildup for next month’s Basketball Champions League Asia.

“It’s exciting anytime you get to go out the country, play international basketball and represent the Philippines,” Meralco star Chris Newsome said of the Bolts’ stint against fellow Asian club champions in the June 9-15 competition.

“It’s an honor and for us to be able to have that chance to represent the PBA and the Philippines, it’s something that I would always suit up for, whether that’s in a Meralco jersey or a Gilas jersey,” he added.

Having accepted the responsibility of flying the flag, the Bolts will still need to navigate a killer domestic schedule.

The reigning All-Filipino kingpins (3-4) will play Magnolia, Blackwater, NLEX and Ginebra in the next 12 days before shifting focus to the BCL Asia, to be held in a yet-to-be-named venue in the Middle East.

The Bolts are currently recruiting three imports to join the crew led by Gilas mainstay Newsome.

The squad also received good news as Fil-foreign stalwarts Cliff Hodge and Chris Banchero have been cleared by FIBA to suit up as locals owing to their 10 years or more tenure in the PBA.

“We’re excited but we just have to pivot because that’s the middle of the (PBA) playoffs,” said coach Luigi Trillo, whose team will run straight into the PBA quarterfinals after wrapping up their campaign in the BCL Asia.

“It’s a great exposure for us and we want to do our best. We’re going to get good quality imports to complement our guys. All focus now will be on this (PBA Philippine Cup), but once June 1 hits, we will be focusing on Champions League,” he added.

Meralco will be up against the champions of China, Japan and South Korea, the champion and runner-up of the FIBA West Asia Super League and the top two teams from the BCL Asia-East Qualifiers. — Olmin Leyba

1...154155156...12,801Page 155 of 12,801
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube