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OSAPIEA calls bureaucracy in healthcare approval process deterrent to investment 

Illustration photo shows various medicine pills in their original packaging in Brussels, Belgium, Aug. 9, 2019. — REUTERS/YVES HERMAN/ILLUSTRATION

BUREAUCRACY in the approvals process for healthcare products is hindering the entry of investments, according to the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA).

In a keynote address on Monday delivered by OSAPIEA Undersecretary Jose Edwiniel C. Guilas on behalf of Secretary Frederick D. Go, OSAPIEA identified “pain points” most cited by the industry.

“Pain point number one: the bureaucratic nature of some of the existing processes of the regulatory agencies, as we all have experienced, is very structured with its complex rules and systems causing unnecessary delays,” Mr. Go was quoted as saying.

To address this, Mr. Go said that there is a need for a streamlined bureaucracy, which will require a review of the processes and requirements set by various agencies.

In particular, he said that companies, despite being compliant in countries with higher certified standards, still have to comply with Philippine standards.

“Industry stakeholders who have touched base with my office have often raised concerns about importing and most especially exporting drugs and food products,” he said.

This issue, Mr. Go said, can be addressed through streamlining the approval of export registration certificates for pharmaceutical products by exploring schemes of recognition and reliance.

“This way, applications that have already satisfactorily complied with the requirements of ASEAN and other markets, such as those already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, will no longer have to undergo local reassessment,” he added.

A further pain point for investors is the difficulty faced by big international pharmaceutical companies in operating in the Philippines.

To address this, he said that OSAPIEA, together with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and the Food and Drug Administration, has formed a technical working group to make it easier for pharmaceutical companies to set up operations in the economic zones.

“By having their companies here, we can create an ecosystem where research and development clinical trials in manufacturing are conducted in the country,” he said.

“Apart from technology transfer, there would be an uptick in production, which would lower the cost of medicine and medical devices due to increased supply,” he added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Japan medical device maker registers with PEZA

FPIP.COM

JAPANESE medical instrument manufacturer Kaneko Medix, Inc. has registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to operate at an economic zone in Batangas, PEZA said.

In a statement, the investment promotion agency (IPA) said it signed a registration agreement with the Kaneko group’s Philippine unit, which intends to manufacture microcatheters at the First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP) in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. 

“This agreement marks a significant step forward in the country’s industrial and economic growth, particularly in the medical instrument manufacturing industry,” it added.

The Kaneko project is one of the pledges secured by Director General Tereso O. Panga during the IPA’s investment mission to Tokyo in September 2023.

“The inclusion of Kaneko as one of the locator companies in FPIP emphasizes our commitment to attracting high-tech manufacturing investments and fostering a conducive environment for technological advancement,” PEZA said.

“The establishment of the manufacturing plant in FPIP is expected to significantly contribute to the global supply chain,” it added.

Japanese registered business enterprises (RBEs) overseen by PEZA account for 28% of all approved economic zone investments.

Last year, the IPA’s Japanese RBEs generated more than P500 billion in investments, $16 billion worth of exports, and 300,000 direct jobs. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

MUP pensions, ‘pork’ seen as top targets for reducing deficit

AFP.MIL.PH

By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Reporter

THE GOVERNMENT must rationalize spending to meet its deficit and growth targets in the coming years, with military and uniformed personnel (MUP) pensions and excess spending by politicians singled out for cuts, analysts said.

“(The government should) address the fiscal problem by pursuing the reform of the MUP system, stripping from politicians large budgets that will be used for electioneering, while increasing revenues,” Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III, coordinator of Action for Economic Reforms (AER), said via Viber.

They said the government should also inject a dose of reality in its deficit projections.

“I would’ve liked to see a more realistic assessment of this year’s deficit target; 5.3% of GDP (gross domestic product) would still be a stretch,” Pantheon Macroeconomics Chief Emerging Asia Economist Miguel Chanco said in an e-mail.

In a briefing last week, the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) raised the deficit ceiling for 2025 to P1.537 trillion from P1.490 trillion, pushing the deficit-to-GDP projection to 5.3% from 5.2% in April.

For this year, the DBCC maintained its deficit projection at P1.48 trillion, or 5.6% of GDP.

“Our current (deficit) forecast is unchanged at 6%, with the pace of fiscal consolidation having slowed materially in recent quarters,” Mr. Chanco added.

At the end of March, the deficit-to-GDP ratio stood at 4.46%, against 4.82% a year earlier and 6.2% at the end of 2023, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said.

The National Government’s budget deficit widened to 43.1% to P174.9 billion in May from P122.2 billion a year earlier. 

Government spending jumped 22% to P557 billion, offsetting the 14.59% revenue expansion, the BTr said last week.

Last week, the DBCC raised its revenue targets to P4.644 trillion (from P4.583 trillion previously) for 2025; to P5.063 trillion (from P4.956 trillion) for 2026; to P5.627 trillion (from P5.487 trillion) for 2027; and to P6.25 trillion (from P6.078 trillion) for 2028.

During the briefing, the Finance department said increased collections by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs (BoC) would offset its “no new taxes” agenda.

BIR revenue rose 2.79% to P219.2 billion in May, while BoC collections rose 4% to P81.753 billion.

However, Finance Undersecretary and Chief Economist Domini S. Velasquez said that pending tax measures in Congress are expected to generate P42 billion in revenues yearly.

These bills include the value-added tax on digital service providers, the excise tax on single-use plastics and pickup trucks, the new mining fiscal regime, the motor vehicle road user’s tax, and Package 4 of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.

To meet its deficit goals, the government must curb overspending and all forms of tax evasion, Mr. Chanco said.

“Collection could still be enhanced if the government cracks down hard on evasion, but this is a long-standing problem in the Philippines for a reason. Ultimately, it will have to come down to a difficult choice of rationalizing — i.e., cutting — government spending, which is obviously politically difficult.”

Meanwhile, the unchanged growth targets through 2028 were unrealistic, Mr. Chanco said, citing the weak financial health of individual consumers.

The overall consumer confidence index for the next quarter fell to -0.4% from 2.7% previously, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Consumer Expectations Survey.

The DBCC retained its GDP growth targets for this year at 6-7% amid external headwinds. It also kept its growth targets for 2025 at 6.5-7.5% and 6.5-8% until 2028.

“Inflation should start to slow materially in the second half of the year, but this will provide only minimal relief to growth, especially with the BSP likely to keep policy relatively tight, in real (inflation-adjusted) terms,” Mr. Chanco said.

In its policy meeting last week, the central bank lowered its risk-adjusted inflation forecast to 3.1% this year from 3.8% previously, citing the impact of lower import tariffs on rice under Executive Order No. 62.

To achieve the country’s growth prospects, AER’s Mr. Sta. Ana cited the need to balance imports to lower food prices while enhancing the productivity of farmers and producers through consolidation and adoption of new farming technologies.

PHL competitiveness to depend on pace of infra upgrades — think tank

THE Asian Institute of Management campus in Makati City. — JUN ACULLADOR/FLICKR/CC BY-ND 2.0

By Justine Irish D. Tabile, Reporter

THE Philippines’ ambitions for attracting investment will hinge on improvements to its digital and physical infrastructure, according to the Asian Institute of Management’s (AIM) competitiveness  policy center.

Jamil Paolo S. Francisco, executive director of the AIM Rizalino S. Navarro Policy Center for Competitiveness, told BusinessWorld that the Philippines will have to do better in indicators like annual global competitiveness rankings, parts of which measure infrastructure quality.

Asked for his recommendations, he said: “I guess the most basic one is really infrastructure. Not just physical infrastructure, but also digital and human infrastructure.”

“We are lagging there. So, we have to make it faster, and we have to do more,” he added.

Citing the 2024 World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) by Switzerland’s International Institute for Management Development, he said infrastructure can be classified into four parts: basic, human, scientific, and social.

The index placed the Philippines 52nd out of 67 economies, retaining its spot from last year. In terms of the components of the rankings, the country ranked the lowest in infrastructure at 61st, down from 58th last year.

“10 or 15 years ago, there was already a long list of things we had to check in the infrastructure pillar,” said Mr. Francisco. “Now, it not only involves hardware but also software.”

He said that previously, the Philippines had to deal with basic infrastructure like roads and bridges, but now the country has to also build the digital infrastructure needed to facilitate e-commerce, among others.

“So, the list that we have to fulfill just keeps getting longer. Unfortunately, we’re still lagging on that long list,” he added.

In the 2024 WCR, the Philippines ranked 62nd in basic infrastructure, 55th in technological infrastructure, and 60th in scientific infrastructure.

“If we fare low in these indicators, then we are not as competitive. Because increasingly, remember, it’s a perception game.”

He said that investors will also weigh these factors when choosing the countries they will be investing in.

Citing cybersecurity as an example, he said that it is a component of the technological infrastructure pillar, in which the Philippines ranked 58th.

“Unfortunately, maybe in the Philippines, we haven’t been able to prioritize cybersecurity, and we are just still trying to address it,” Mr. Franscisco said.

“In other countries, they are more advanced in terms of their awareness and their appreciation of the need to address it, and investors will expect that of countries where they invest, and so if we fare low there, then we are perceived as less competitive,” he added.

Besides improving infrastructure, he said that the Philippines will also have to work on the “right messaging.”

“We keep saying that competitiveness rankings are partly based on perception surveys, and that’s important because, as an investor, you make a decision based on data. But you also make a decision based on gut feel and your perception of a country,” he said.

“So, we need to do an even better job of communicating clearly why it makes sense to do this in the Philippines. Communicating our commitment to reform, to the promises that we’ve made, to investments in basic infrastructure, and whatnot,” he added.

World Bank appoints new country director overseeing Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei

REUTERS

THE World Bank said it has appointed Turkish economist Zafer Mustafaoglu as its new country director for the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam, with his term beginning July 1.

He replaced Ndiamé Diop, who served as the country director for the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Thailand for four years.

“I am deeply honored to assume the role of country director for the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei — countries that stand out as some of the most vibrant economies in the East Asia region, with significant achievements in economic transformation and poverty alleviation,” Mr. Mustafaoglu was quoted as saying in a statement.

“I look forward to meeting our partners across government, the private sector, civil society, and academic institutions to deepen my understanding of the unique development challenges these countries face and to explore how the World Bank can further contribute to their progress,” he added.

The bank has extended support in the form of loans and technical assistance in key sectors like infrastructure, agriculture, the environment, social protection, water resources, disaster risk management, and climate change.

Other forms of help include support for the government’s major economic policy and governance reforms, enhancement of private sector participation, and the promotion of peace in Mindanao.

The World Bank was the Philippines’ third biggest source of official development assistance in 2022, according to the National Economic and Development Authority. Around $6.86 billion worth of loans it provided were spent on 29 programs and projects.

Mr. Mustafaoglu joined the World Bank in 2005 and has contributed to the lender’s operations and research projects, ranging from macroeconomic to microeconomic policy issues. 

He previously served as the practice manager for Finance, Competitiveness, and Innovation in the East Asia and Pacific, overseeing operations in China, Mongolia, South Korea, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

He also occupied the same position in Latin America and the Caribbean, and was the lead economist and program leader for Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Before joining the bank, Mr. Mustafaoglu worked for the Turkish government’s State Planning Organization as the head of the Modeling and Economic Analysis.

The new country director earned his doctorate in International Economics from the Middle East Technical University in Turkey. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

SM Prime enlisted for MSME resiliency training

MTEFI FB PAGE

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it signed a partnership with SM Prime Holdings, Inc. to train 6,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in business continuity.

Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said that the memorandum of understanding with SM Prime will allow it to also partner with ARISE-Philippines, the network of the Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies.

“This partnership underscores our collective effort to empower MSMEs — the backbone of our economy. We are building a more robust, more resilient business landscape by equipping them with disaster preparedness knowledge and tools,” Mr. Pascual said.

“Aligned with one of our strategic priorities, we are elevating enterprises and entrepreneurs, particularly MSMEs, to ensure their inclusive, innovative, and sustainable development,” he added.

Citing the 2023 World Risk Index, Mr. Pascual said that the Philippines remains the most at-risk country in the world among 193 United Nations member countries.

“With this pressing reality, our partnership with ARISE-Philippines, through SM Prime Holdings, exemplifies the power of public and private partnerships to address our hazardous vulnerabilities,” he said.

“Hence, I commend SM Prime Holdings for its leadership and commitment to operationalizing a disaster risk reduction and resiliency program, engaging in multi-sectoral partnerships for this purpose,” he added.

Last year, around 376 participants joined a training session on business resilience for SMEs with SM Supermalls, which the department plans to replicate.

“Looking ahead, we aim to train 6,000 MSMEs nationwide on business continuity plans from 2024 to 2027. This broader target underscores our dedication to fostering cultural preparedness and resilience across the country,” he added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

PHL remittance growth seen at 3%, WB says

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

 

REMITTANCES from overseas Filipinos are expected to grow by about 3% in 2024 and 2025, the World Bank (WB) said.

In a report, the bank said remittances to the Philippines, which account for nearly half of the money sent to the East Asia and the Pacific excluding China, are projected at $40 billion in 2024 and $41 billion in 2025.

The growth is expected to be driven by overseas workers in Kuwait, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates, where fees are among the lowest of the major deployment countries, the bank added.

The Philippines was the third largest recipient of remittances in 2023 at $39 billion, behind Mexico ($66 billion) and China ($50 billion).

The World Bank described the Philippines’ 2.8% remittance growth as of April as “muted” compared to the 3.7% posted in 2022.

“Tourism recovered to pre-pandemic levels in the Philippines, giving Filipinos domestic employment opportunities as an alternative to emigration, which dampened remittance growth,” it said.

The World Bank said remittance flows to East Asia and the Pacific grew 1.8% in 2023, supported by the Philippines, the largest recipient in the region after China.

“The sustained growth in remittance flows to the Philippines was an outcome of a well-diversified set of host destinations across the world,” it said.

In the four months to April, cash remittances rose 2.8% to $10.782 billion, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said.

“Dissipating inflationary pressures and interest rates, and enduring strength in the labor markets of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries, are expected to sustain remittance flows to the East Asia and Pacific region,” the bank said.

“The positive outlook for oil prices will support remittance growth from the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries,” it added.

Downside risks to remittance flows to the region include uncertainty surrounding China’s property market, which could slow economic growth and demand for workers from other East Asian countries, the World Bank said.

Industrial and trade-restrictive policies across Asia and the Group of Twenty countries could weaken demand for manufactured exports, it also said. The attacks on Red Sea shipping may also increase the cost of East Asian exports to Europe.

“Any factor that disrupts global supply chains can dampen demand for East Asian migrant workers and impact remittances,” the World Bank said. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

ERC sees more consumers adopting net-metering systems

Tiarra Townhouse Units installed with Solar Net-Metering

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said more power consumers are adopting net-metering systems due to the easier registration process.

“We see this growing more especially as the cost of panels go down and as we make registration easier,” ERC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Monalisa C. Dimalanta said via Viber.

The ERC recorded 13,189 qualified end-users with a total capacity of 116,292.14 kilowatt-peak (kWp) as of May 31, up from 200 qualified end-users with a total capacity of 1,109.33 kWp in 2015.

The Luzon grid had the biggest such contingent of end-users representing 82,321.40 kWp or 70.79% of the total. This was followed by the Visayas grid with 27,935.33 kWp or 24.02% and the Mindanao grid with 6,035.41 kWp or 5.19%.

The ERC said the number of net-metering qualified end-users totaled 4,125 in 2023, up 121%.

Net metering allows power users that generate their own electricity via renewable energy to sell some of their excess power to the grid, with the proceeds credited against their power bills.

The ERC entered into partnerships through tripartite agreements with local government units, such as Pasig City and Manila Electric Co.; Iloilo City and MORE Electric and Power Corp.

The partnerships seek to establish one-stop shops for net-metering inquiries, consultations, and applications.

The commission also offers regulatory guidance and expedites the certificate of compliance application process, which is essential for the operation of generation facilities.

“Consumers do not need to travel to our offices to process their applications,” Ms. Dimalanta said. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Tax impacts from new property valuation law

On June 13, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12001, or the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act (RPVARA), into law. This new piece of legislation aims to upgrade tax collection efficiency in the realm of real property taxation. The new law also aims to reorganize the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) as the sole agency responsible for streamlining and establishing real property zonal values and their respective tax rates.

The salient features of the law are as follows:

1. Creating and updating a Schedule of Market Values

The main feature of the law will be the establishment of a single Schedule of Market Values (SMV) or a table of base unit market value for all kinds of real property (except machinery within a Local Government Unit or LGU). This schedule will correct the absence of a national standard of real property valuation and assessment, which led to years of court litigation over lands, right-of-way conflicts, and red tape. The provincial, municipal, and city assessors, among others, are to prepare the SMVs for various classes of real property situated within their respective LGUs.

All provincial, city, and municipal assessors are required to update their SMVs within two years of the law’s effectiveness. LGUs are in turn required to update their SMVs and conduct a general revision every three years thereafter.

The use of the SMVs can improve the efficiency of tax collection on the part of the LGUs levying real property taxes, but the frequent updating may lead to possible delays in collection or in lawsuits over the changing rates.

For the taxpayer, the frequent updating of SMVs every three years can be daunting, especially if there are possible significant changes in real property values and the corresponding real property tax. However, one benefit that can arise from the updating and implementation of a single SMV is the determination of the true value of real assets for property owners, which can guide them in properly setting the prices of their transactions, such as rents, mortgages, leases, and sales.

2. Development of valuation standards and valuation of real property

Uniform valuation standards will be developed, for use by all appraisers and assessors in the LGUs, and other persons, entities, or agencies that conduct valuation in the appraisal or valuation of lands, buildings, machinery, and other real properties for taxation and other purposes. The standards are reviewed every three years or as often as may be necessary to ensure that they are globally aligned with the accepted principles and definitions, with due consideration of the prevailing economic conditions.

For valuation purposes, all real properties, whether taxable or exempt, are to be valued or appraised based on prevailing market values where the property is situated, considering depreciation.

According to one of the law’s authors, “LGUs are the ones doing their respective SMVs, which lead to conflicting or outdated values that only erode the real property tax base of certain local governments.” Implementing a single SMV can address this issue with a more consistent and accurate valuation approach.

3. Use of Schedule of Market Values

a. Basis for the revision of assessment and property classification

First among the main uses of SMVs will be the revision of the fair market values and classification of real properties in each LGU. The local assessor’s offices are responsible for the adoption of SMVs in revising the schedules of real property taxes and implementing the appropriate tax rate per classification.

The SMVs shall be used by the LGUs for taxation purposes as the basis for the general revision of the assessment and property classification by the local assessor and in the adjustment of the tax assessment rates of LGUs by the Sanggunians.

When the SMVs are released by the LGUs, taxpayers can expect to pay either more or less real property taxes, depending on the new real property valuation rates reflected in the SMVs.

b. Basis for determining the market value of local real property-related taxes

The SMVs also have another use by the LGUs, and that is to determine market values for other local taxes involving real property. For example, SMVs can be used by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in determining the appropriate rate for a tax on the transfer of real property in a sale transaction. Other real property taxes that can benefit from proper assessment and use of the SMV could be the gravel and sand tax collected by provinces for businesses extracting materials from the earth.

c. Used by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue in computing internal revenue taxes

The Commissioner of Internal Revenue may rely on SMVs or the actual gross selling price in consideration, as stated in real property transaction documents, whichever is higher, to compute the rates for national taxes that involve the transfer of real property or the valuation of real property. Taxes involving the determination of market values are capital gains tax, estate tax, documentary stamp tax, and income tax. The Bureau of Internal Revenue can benefit from the use of SMVs in reviewing and updating its tax bases for real property transactions.

On another note, it is the mandate of LGUs to impose real property taxes under Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code (LGC). In any case, the new law may appear to implicitly amend the LGC insofar as the prescribed rates are concerned. For example, the rate of 10% for residential land valued between P175,000 and P300,000 under Sec. 218(b)(1) of the LGC may be overridden by the SMV should there be a new schedule of fair market values for residential land at different prices and different rates. This situation may deem the RPVARA the new law on real property taxes in lieu of the LGC.

If the LGC provisions on real property taxation are not repealed, the new law may govern simultaneously with the LGC, which may lead to legal conflicts and a possible miscalculation of taxes at the expense of the taxpayer.

Taxpayers may not be comfortable with the expected changes laid down by the RPVARA but can still settle any ongoing tax liabilities in a transition period from the time the RPVARA was passed into law. The transition period will cover at least three months from the signing of the law, when the Implementing Rules and Regulations are issued, and up to two years, the period of time when real property owners can avail of tax amnesty, covering penalties, surcharges, and interest for all unpaid real property taxes. This means that the government will aid real property owners and taxpayers in settling their due real property taxes and in determining the true value of their real assets for transactional and taxation purposes.

Let’s Talk Tax is 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.

 

Valentin Eduardo Miguel M. Prieto is an associate of the Tax Advisory & Compliance division of P&A Grant Thornton, the Philippine member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd.

pagrantthornton@ph.gt.com

Review POGO approval process, lawmakers urge gaming regulator

MORE THAN 160 Chinese nationals who worked for POGO Zun Yuan Techonology, Inc. were deported on May 14, 2024. — PRESIDENTIAL ANTI-ORGANIZED CRIME COMMISSION

THE PHILIPPINE Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) should review the approval process for offshore gaming operators in the country, congressmen said on Monday, amid allegations that a former Cabinet official had lobbied for the accreditation of some of them.

Corruption charges should be filed against the unidentified official and Pagcor should revoke the licenses of these Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace S. Barbers said in a Viber message.

“On the alleged role of the ex-official, a review of the requirements and qualifications of the companies that he had lobbied for is a must,” he told BusinessWorld. “If they are found to be wanting, then charges may be filed for corruption against the ex-official and the licenses of those companies revoked.”

“Additional charges may also be filed if there are violations and criminal activities committed [by POGOs],” he added.

Pagcor’s Gaming Licensing and Development Department and Offshore Gaming and Licensing Department did not immediately reply to separate e-mails seeking comment.

Pagcor earlier claimed the former Cabinet official had helped some of these POGOs including those recently raided by authorities get a license.

The state gaming operator and regulator did not name the official but promised to identify “controversial individuals behind these criminal POGO enterprises” at the proper forum.

“I call on Pagcor to reveal all government officials, past and present, who interceded for the granting of POGO franchises or protecting illegal POGOs,” Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez said in a separate Viber message.

He urged the House of Representatives committees on games and amusement and good government to conduct a joint inquiry into the matter.

The House committee on public accounts could also launch a separate investigation, Mr. Barbers said in Filipino.

He also called on Pagcor to disclose accredited and illegal POGOs in the country.

“POGOs, whether licensed, legitimate or illegal are nothing but fronts for criminal activities,” he said in a separate statement. “Ranging from money laundering, drug trafficking, human trafficking… and engaging in POGO politics, name it and surely it is all there.”

There are now only 43 accredited POGOs from 298 under ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte, Pagcor said in a statement at the weekend.

“The current administration has been doing its part to weed out illegal operators, resulting in a significant decrease in the number of licensees,” it added.

Also on Monday, Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian urged Pagcor to reveal all former high-ranking government officials who had a hand in legalizing some POGOs.

“The involvement of a former Cabinet official with illegal POGOs is deeply alarming and proves POGOs’ link to high government officials,” he said in a statement.

“Any conflicts of interest or breaches of legal and ethical standards must be fully addressed with the utmost severity,” he added.

The Senate committee on women, children and family relations last week summoned Bamban Mayor Alice L. Guo and her associates after they failed to attend a hearing investigating their alleged ties to illegal POGOs and Chinese espionage.

Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel, who heads the committee, said the National Bureau of Investigation had confirmed that the mayor’s fingerprints matched those of another Chinese national.

The Bureau of Immigration last week issued an immigration lookout bulletin against Ms. Guo over her alleged link to illegal POGOs in her town, which she has denied.

Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. has said criminal syndicates posing as POGOs, which are mostly Chinese gambling companies that operate online casinos from the Philippines, are national security threats and must be stopped.

“Pagcor must disclose all information and reveal other personalities involved to aid in the ongoing investigations,” Mr. Gatchalian said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio and John Victor D. Ordoñez

Heart disease main cause of death in Philippines — PSA

SHAYNE_CH13/FREEPIK

ISCHEMIC heart disease, tumor growth and cerebrovascular diseases including stroke remained the leading causes of death in the Philippines last year, according to the local statistics agency.

It said 118,936 died due to ischemic heart disease — heart weakening caused by reduced blood flow to the heart — equivalent to 18.9% of the 628,554 total deaths in 2023.

Neoplasms or tumors were the second-highest cause of death at 67,386 or 10.7% of the total, followed by cerebrovascular diseases at 63,401 or 10.1%.

Completing the top five causes of deaths were diabetes mellitus at 39,783 or 6.3% and pneumonia at 38,637 or 6.1%.

In a separate report, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the country’s birth, death, and marriage rates declined by 10%, 7.5%, and 17.1%, respectively, last year from 2022.

Philippine births in 2023 fell to 1.3 million from 1.46 million, while deaths went down to 628,554 from 679,766. Marriages fell to 372,485 from 449,428.

Data showed that by region, Calabarzon accounted for the most births at 212,857 or 16.2% of the total. It was followed by the National Capital Region (NCR) with 162,997 births for a 12.4% share and Central Luzon with 158,368 births or 12.1%.

Calabarzon also had the most deaths at 101,333 or 16.1% of the total, followed by Central Luzon with 81,320 or 12.9% and Western Visayas with 49,379 or 7.9%.

Calabarzon also had the most marriages at 58,983 or 15.8% of the total, followed by NCR with 51,054 or 13.7% and Central Luzon with 44,381 or 11.9%.

Meanwhile, the Health department flagged an increase in dengue cases in the country to 77,867 as of June 15, with 205 deaths.

Cases this year were 15% higher than a year earlier, it said in a statement.

Dengue cases climbed by about 10% to 6,082 from May 19 to June 1 from two weeks earlier, it added.

The Department of Health (DoH) noted that while there were only 4,689 cases from June 2 to 15, the number might still increase due to late reporting.

It said only five regions did not experience an increase from May 5 to June 1 — Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga.

“The DoH continues to monitor and assess the situation to implement necessary measures and interventions,” the agency said.

It cited “notable initiatives” in other countries like Singapore’s Project Wolbachia, which uses bacteria in mosquitoes to disrupt the dengue transmission process.

“However, the World Health Organization (WHO) Vector Advisory Group as referred to by Singapore’s National Environment Agency recommends that pilot tests for this technology should involve rigorous and independent monitoring and evaluation,” the DoH said.

“One solution to dengue, while basic in principle, needs collective and sustained action,” it said. “The rise in cases this year is still early and much can still be done.”

Dengue cases in Singapore hit over 5,000 in the first quarter from 2,360 cases a year earlier, with seven deaths, its environment agency said in March.

The DoH said strategies against dengue include destroying mosquito breeding grounds by eliminating stagnant water and their containers.

It called for fogging or spraying in local hotspots or outbreak areas. — Abigail Marie P. Yraola and Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Angara open to being DepEd chief

PHILIPPINE Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara on Monday said President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. had not offered him the Education secretary post, but said he would be up for the job if appointed.

“I am open to the job if ever I am entrusted with it,” he told reporters in Filipino on the sidelines of a Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day event in Baler, Quezon, based on a video posted on X by News 5.

“President Bongbong probably needs time, as he mentioned, to think about and carefully choose a suitable individual for the position,” he added.

In a letter to the President dated June 24 and made public on June 28, the Philippine Business for Education included the senator in their list of suitable replacements for Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio, who resigned without giving a reason.

The group recommended Social Welfare Secretary Rexlon T. Gatchlian, Negros Occidental Rep. Jose Francisco B. Benitez and education and community development advocate Milwida M. Guevarra as suitable replacements.

Mr. Marcos earlier said he would name Ms. Duterte-Carpio’s replacement by the end of last week.

“He (Mr. Angara) has advocated policies that have significantly impacted education, employment, entrepreneurship and the economy in general,” PBED said in its letter.

Last week, Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero backed the proposal for the President to appoint his colleague as Education secretary, saying he would be an “excellent choice.”

Mr. Angara was one of the five senators who filed a resolution calling for the creation of the Second Congressional Commission on Education and is co-chairman of its governance and finance standing committee.

He was also one of the authors of a 2017 law that gave free access to state university education.

“We are grateful for the vote of confidence, because I got to work with them (senators) and they know that we are serious on the job,” Mr. Angara said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

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