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Heightened cybersecurity pushed ahead of 2025 poll

FLATART-FREEPIK

GLOBAL CYBERSECURITY company Kaspersky urged Filipinos to step up cybersecurity measures and digital privacy ahead of the 2025 midterm elections amid expected increase in cyberattacks.

“Elections are not only a concern for candidates and their campaign teams. Ordinary citizens are also at risk of falling victim to cyberattacks, as cybercriminals often exploit personal information to spread disinformation, influence public opinion, and propagate fake news,” Kaspersky Managing Director for Asia-Pacific Adrian Hia said in a media release on Monday.

According to Kaspersky, risks of cyberattacks such as phishing, misinformation campaigns, and hacking attempts usually increase during campaign periods, noting cyber attackers will attempt to send fraudulent e-mails or messages disguised as campaign materials to try and infiltrate devices, and install malware.

“Malicious actors can spread false information, including altered election results, fabricated candidate statements, or misleading narratives aimed at swaying voter decisions,” Kaspersky said.

Attackers are also seen taking advantage of social media platforms to collect personal data that can be later used and exploited for targeted breaches.

Kaspersky also recommended that individuals and organizations keep their softwares up to date to prevent attackers from exploiting vulnerabilities.

Kaspersky said that data must always be backed up regularly and access activities must always be monitored.

“While the risk of cyberattacks are happening all year round, we may also see a spike of these incidents during campaign period as candidates usually employ text blast machines, which cybercriminals can exploit,” Digital Pinoys National Campaigner Ronald B. Gustilo said in a Viber message.

National Telecommunications Commission Deputy Commissioner Jon Paulo V. Salvahan said the agency continuously monitors and enforces prohibition to ensure scammers will not exploit text scams and blasts during the campaign period.

“Social media platforms and the government should put up measures to ensure that the exploitation of digital technology to unfairly gain advantage or create a disadvantage against a political opponent will not be allowed,” Digital Pinoys’ Mr. Gustilo said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Congressman faces ethics complaint 

PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

A CONGRESSMAN on Monday was slapped with an ethics complaint by his fellow lawmakers after attempting to sidetrack the House of Representatives’ plenary discussion on the Health department’s proposed budget for next year.

Marikina Rep. Stella Luz A. Quimbo and Party-list Rep. Angelica Natasha Co filed a joint ethics complaint against Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee for alleged threats and unparliamentary behavior.

Mr. Lee said it was never his intention to “hurt or bully” anyone over what happened, adding he respects their right to file an ethics complaint against him, according to a statement sent to reporters via Viber.

“During the second deliberation of the DoH budget, at approximately 6:30 PM, while Senior Deputy Minority Floor Leader Paul Daza was conducting his interpellation, [Ms. Co] and I were subjected to acts of aggression by Rep. Wilbert Lee,” Ms. Quimbo said in a statement.

“His actions were a clear form of intimidation, and this behavior is unacceptable,” she added. “This is also about unparliamentary behavior.”

Mr. Lee, who is eyeing a Senate seat in 2025, attempted to prevent the chamber from ending debates on the Department of Health’s (DoH) proposed 2025 budget in September, resulting in a mic scuffle with another congressman. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Ambush kills MILF commander

COTABATO CITY — A commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), popular for his extensive support to the government’s anti-narcotics campaign, was killed in an ambush in a secluded stretch of a highway in east of this city on Sunday.

MILF official Norodin Alipulo Mama died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds sustained in the attack that left his companion, Esmael Zainodin Balabagan, also a member of the front, wounded.

The Cotabato City Police Office and the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region stated in separate reports on Monday that the two were riding a red multicab when they were attacked by gunmen.

They were on their way to the MILF’s main headquarters in Barangay Darapanan in nearby Sultan Kudarat, also in the same province, when they were attacked by ambushers who immediately escaped using getaway motorcycles.

Police investigators and intelligence agents of the 5th Marine Battalion and the Army’s 6th Infantry Division are cooperating in trying to identify the gunmen behind the atrocity. — John Felix M. Unson

More Cotabato City residents surrender combat weapons

COTABATO CITY — Residents surrendered two more assault rifles and a 60-millimeter mortar to the 5th Marine Battalion on Sunday, Oct. 13, in support of a military-led disarmament campaign in barangays here and in other central Mindanao cities and provinces.

Major Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, told reporters on Monday that the two 7.62 M14 assault rifles and 60-MM mortar were turned over by owners to Lt. Col. Mark C. Baky, commanding officer of the Navy’s 5th Marine Battalion.

Mr. Nafarrete said the owners are residents of Barangay Tamontaka 1 in Cotabato City.

More than 30 rifles, pistols, 40-millimeter grenade launchers, B40 rocket launchers and mortars had been turned over by Cotabato City residents to Baky and officials of 6th ID’s 6th Civil Military Operations Battalion in separate surrender rites in the past four weeks in compliance with the division’s Small Arms and Light Weapons Management Program. — John Felix M. Unson

IEMOP, PEMC propose 2025-2027 market fees

Commencement of the commercial operations of WESM in Mindanao at the IEMOP control room

THE Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) and the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) are seeking the approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for their proposed market fee for 2025 to 2027.

IEMOP is the operator while PEMC is the governing body of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), the electricity trading floor.

IEMOP and PEMC jointly filed the application to the ERC for provisional authority to impose a market fee of P0.0087 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to all generation companies registered with the WESM.

The WESM sells electricity to companies whose long-term contracted power supply is insufficient to meet customer needs.

Of the total proposed fixed market fee charge, P0.0049 per kWh will be allocated to IEMOP while P0.0038 per kWh is for PEMC.

“This is calculated based on (a) the projected generation metered quantities for CY (calendar years) 2025 to 2027 for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao generation companies and (b) the aggregate projected budgetary requirements of IEMOP and PEMC for CY 2025-2027, using the same formula for market transaction fee rate previously approved by the Honorable Commission,” according to the application.

In the application, IEMOP and PEMC projected a P3.4 billion budgetary requirement for the 2025- 2027 period. This covers personnel services, maintenance and other operating expenses, and capital expenditure.

The applicants said that the ERC authorized them to collect market transaction fees for 2023 of P615.76 million, or an indicative rate of P0.00564 per kWh for 2023, less than the P1.02 billion they sought.

“Given the substantial cuts and disallowances ordered in the recent issuances of the Honorable Commission in the preceding years’ market fees applications, applicants IEMOP and PEMC have both suffered and reported deficits as early as CY 2020,” they said.

The parties said that without sufficient funds, they “will not be able to sustain their effective and efficient operations of the WESM and faithfully fulfill their mandate.”

“At the current level of market fees, the applicants may not even sustain normal operations of the WESM,” IEMOP and PEMC said. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

PHL, Saudi Arabia sign RE, natural gas deal 

A Saudi flag flutters atop Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 20, 2018. — REUTERS

THE Department of Energy (DoE) is exploring a partnership with Saudi Arabia to collaborate in renewable energy (RE) and natural gas.

In a statement on Monday, the DoE said it has kicked off its energy mission in Saudi Arabia by forging a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salam Al Saud.

“The MoU will provide a framework for cooperation on key areas, such as renewable energy, natural gas, as well as relevant technologies and solutions related to climate change mitigation,” the DoE said.

The energy mission follows the participation of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in the first-ever Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Saudi Arabia in October 2023.

The DoE said Saudi state-owned companies expressed interest at that time in investing in the Philippine energy industry.

The MoU was first initiated by Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla during his first stint as Energy Secretary in 2005, the department said.

“After 19 years, I am pleased to see the successful conclusion of our negotiations,” Mr. Lotilla said.

Aside from addressing the current power needs, the DoE said that the Philippines and Saudi Arabia can cooperate in the development and deployment of low-carbon technologies.

“This could include joint research and development projects, policy exchange, and capacity building in areas such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), and hydrogen,” the DoE said.

Saudi Arabia controls around 17% of the world’s proven petroleum reserves, according to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

During the first half of 2023, the Philippines imported 3,476 million liters of crude oil, the DoE said, with 50.2% shipped from Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia’s other resources include natural gas, iron ore, gold, and copper, according to OPEC.

“This mission underscores the country’s energy diplomacy efforts in pursuit of achieving energy security,” the DoE said. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

DENR calls for ‘adaptive’ approach to disasters

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said disaster risk reduction need to be flexible in response to the rapidly shifting patterns of tropical cyclones.

“Responses need to be adaptive.  They need to be able to address shifting timelines. As we know, of course we now experience rapid intensification of tropical cyclones that we have not experienced previously,” Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said during a briefing for the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR).

“We can experience this cascading set of risks that cut across not just national systems, local systems, but also global systems in terms of their impacts,” Ms. Yulo-Loyzaga added.

She said that the DENR is looking at taking approaches that will allow it to integrate into the Philippine Development Plan the Philippines’ international commitments like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN Convention on Global Biodiversity, and the UN sustainable development goals.

“There are other international commitments that have to do with plastics, with urban development. We’re trying to see how all of these actually need to intersect in order for us to reach what we believe should be shared goals among countries but also within the (Philippines),” she said.

According to a World Bank report, the Philippines is among the top countries most prone to climate risk disasters.

The country is also located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area with active seismic activity. It also experiences about 20 tropical cyclones each year.

The Philippines is currently hosting the APMCDRR which is expected to draw in 2,500 delegates from over 60 countries. The conference will be held between Oct. 14 and 17.

“We hope to learn and continuously dialogue with the different countries that are here,” she said.

The conference seeks to assess progress in implementing the Sendai Framework, which hopes to reduce the impact of calamities on mortality, health, economies, and infrastructure.

“Now more than ever before in the Philippines as well as in the region, the work on disaster risk reduction is no longer seen as a niche subject, but it is a core development challenge of our times,” Kamal Kishore, special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction said.

“The money we put in for resilience is not expenditure, it is an investment,” Mr. Kishore added.

The Philippines has said that is seeking closer collaboration with regional partners to improve its access to disaster risk financing. — Adrian H. Halili

Japan AI tech to be deployed in PHL for disaster management

REUTERS

THE Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said it has partnered with Japanese company Spectee, Inc. to upgrade the Philippine disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) system using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

In a statement, JICA said this was a collaboration among JICA, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and Spectee, Inc.

“JICA, through its Public-Private Partnership Promotion Program, tapped the prominent technology of Spectee, a Japanese private company that developed an innovative yet affordable DRRM technology,” it said in a statement on Monday.

The cloud-based technology helps government agencies rapidly collect, process, and communicate critical information in times of disaster.

Spectee Pro is a real-time crisis management information system that uses AI image and language analysis to extract useful data points from social networking sites.

JICA said while this was widely used by the government, private companies, and media organizations in Japan, JICA, and Spectee intend to create a Philippine version with the assistance of the DICT.

JICA Senior Representative Oshima Jiro and DICT Assistant Secretary for Infostructure Management Philip A. Varilla signed the Minutes of the Meeting as the collaboration agreement document on Sept. 24, at the DICT Quezon City office.

On the same day, Spectee, Inc. Chief Operating Officer Negoro Satoshi, joined the signing virtually from Tokyo, JICA said.

“We strongly believe that our AI Disaster & Crisis Management Solution Spectee Pro can contribute to strengthening the resilience of the Philippines facing increasing natural disasters caused by climate change,” Mr. Negoro said.

The Philippines is the most at risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, and volcanic eruptions, according to the 2024 World Risk Report.

Spectee Pro will be provided free of charge for a time to an initial list of 80 government agencies and local government units. This includes Metro Manila, Legazpi City, Tagbilaran City, Tacloban City, Cebu City, and Davao City.

“Apart from training and simulations, there will be a constant feedback mechanism, taking into account actual conditions on the ground, to ensure that any improvements made to the system are relevant and useful to the end users,” JICA said. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Philippines signs ASEAN fifth investment protocol

In this photo illustration, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) emblem is seen on a smartphone screen in front of the ASEAN flag. — PAVLO GONCHAR / SOPA IMAGES/SIPA VIA REUTERS CONNECT

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the Philippines signed the Fifth Protocol of the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (CIA) last week, and reported significant progress on amendments to the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (FTA).

At an online briefing on Monday, Trade Secretary Cristina A. Roque said the ASEAN CIA “makes it easier for investors to identify sectors open for investment in the Philippines, signaling our readiness to be a leader in global economic and strategic manufacturing,” Ms. Roque said.

According to Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty, the protocol enables a more stable and predictable business environment that will help attract more investment.

“The submission of the Schedule of Reservations pursuant to the Fifth Protocol would provide greater certainty and transparency in determining which sectors are open for investments because those sectors with market access restrictions or limitations will be accordingly listed,” he said.

“This is aligned with the country’s policy to pursue an advanced, purposive, and forward-looking agreement,” he added.

ASEAN members commenced the signing process of the Fifth Protocol on Sept. 16 at Vientiane.

“It provides for the operationalization of the transition of the current single-annex ACIA reservation list to a two-annex negative list,” according to a post on ASEAN’s website.

These include the reservations against the obligation on Prohibition of Performance Requirements mandated under the Fourth Protocol, the expansion of the scope of the ACIA, and the application of the ratchet mechanism to some member states, it added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Gepty said that the ASEAN-China FTA 3.0 was also substantially concluded last week.

“It will be the third time that it is going to be upgraded,” he said.

In a joint statement, the ASEAN members said that the updated ASEAN-China FTA will “open up new opportunities as it remains responsive towards emerging challenges and takes into account modern trade practices.”

Aside from deepening commitments in existing areas, the upgraded agreement also seeks to introduce commitments in new areas such as digital economy, green economy, supply chain connectivity, competition and consumer protection, and micro, small and medium enterprises.

“These enhancements will foster an inclusive and sustainable regional economy, improve supply chain connectivity and resilience, and support the ASEAN and China digital transformation,” according to the joint statement. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

NFA Aug. palay procurement tops 3,209 MT

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE National Food Authority (NFA) said on Wednesday that it procured 3,209.9 metric tons (MT) of palay, or unmilled rice, in August, equivalent to 64,199 sacks of 50 kilograms each.

In its monthly report, the NFA said the procurement represents an accomplishment rate of 16.64%, against a target of 19,285 MT or 385,700 sacks for August.

On the other hand, August palay procurement exceeded the year-earlier total of 285.25 MT or about 5,705 sacks.

“This significant shortfall in procurement can be attributed to the onset of the lean months,” it added.

The lean season for rice is July to September, when harvest activity slows down.

The NFA buys palay for between P23 and P25 per kilogram for dry and clean grain.

The NFA is targeting a palay inventory of 435,000 MT before the end of the year. It is required to maintain a rice reserve equivalent to about nine days’ demand.

As of Aug. 31, the NFA’s inventory of milled rice was 151,210 MT or 3,024,206 sacks.

“It should be noted that NFA’s inventory is only part of the national rice inventory” and excludes reserves held elsewhere, the NFA said.

The NFA said it distributed 24,267 bags (1,213.35 MT) of milled rice to various government agencies and local government units. This was well below its 547,200 bags (27,360 MT) target for the month. — Adrian H. Halili

Crop insurance payouts expected for over 10,000 farmers following typhoon

PAGASA.DOST.GOV.PH

THE Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) said on Monday that it is due to compensate 10,781 farmers affected by Typhoon Julian (international name: Krathon).

In a statement, the PCIC said it will initially disburse indemnities of P93.8 million to farmers from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Region I, and Region II.

“We need to immediately indemnify our farmers to restore their financial health so they can quickly recover from this calamity,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said.

“Fast-tracking the release of their insurance claims will foster confidence in the PCIC among our farmers and encourage more investors in agriculture,” he added.

Agricultural damage due to Typhoon Julian was estimated at P607.38 million, with lost volume reckoned at 25,407 metric tons, according to a Department of Agriculture (DA) bulletin released on Oct. 7.

“We have also issued strict instructions to our staff to assist affected farmers and speed up the processing of their damage claims,” PCIC President Jovy C. Bernabe said.

The PCIC said insured farmers from Region I amounted to 6,585. There were 2,355 such farmers from CAR and 1,841 from Region II.

The Philippines experiences about 20 tropical cyclones each year which heighten the risk of wind damage and flooding.

The government weather service, known as PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), estimates a 71% chance of La Niña forming between September and November, likely persisting until the first quarter.

This is expected to bring an increased likelihood of typhoons, affecting crop production.

“I expect that we should perform much, much better next year. The DA must be ready to tackle whatever comes its way without excuses,” Mr. Laurel said. — Adrian H. Halili

AirAsia parent Capital A, Vietnam’s VinFast interested in expanding PHL presence — DTI

REUTERS

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Capital A Bhd., which trades as AirAsia, and Vietnam electric vehicle maker VinFast LLC have expressed interest in expanding their presence in the Philippines.

Trade Secretary Cristina A. Roque said she received indications of the two companies’ interest on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit and other related events last week.

She described their plans as being in the exploratory stages.

If their projects materialize, they could join Thailand’s SHERA Public Co. Ltd., which has made a P2.9-billion investment commitment in a building materials factory.

SHERA is currently building a green and artificial intelligence-driven fiber cement facility in Mabalacat, Pampanga. It is expected to start operations by the first quarter of 2025.

“There are other companies that are exploring, like Capital A. But I can’t really talk about the details because we’re still in the negotiation part,” she said in an online media briefing on Monday.

In a statement, Capital A on Monday announced that its shareholders approved the proposed disposal of the group’s aviation business to AirAsia X.

“With shareholder approval to divest the aviation business, we are unlocking a bright new future by delineating our pure-play aviation business from aviation support services,” said Tony Fernandes, chief executive officer of Capital A.

“This clarity will benefit both shareholders and customers, allowing us to redefine the future of travel in the region,” he added.

With the approval, the group can now separate its aviation and non-aviation businesses. This will allow the consolidation of its aviation businesses, which will synergize its short- and long-haul operations.

“Today’s approval from our shareholders also paves the way for Capital A to move to a clean balance sheet that will provide the clarity and flexibility to finalize our regularization plan and exit Practice Note 17 (PN17) status soon,” Mr. Fernandes said.

Issued by Malaysia’s stock exchange, PN17 status is a classification for listed companies that are in financial distress.

The company said it plans to seek a court order to distribute the consideration shares to shareholders through a planned reduction and repayment.

“These critical steps will enable Capital A to achieve a clean balance sheet and focus on submitting its regularization plan before the year end, with the aim of exiting PN17 status,” it added.

Meanwhile, Ms. Roque said that other companies also expressed interest in investing in the Philippines.

“There are also talks about renewable energy; there were also talks about electric vehicles (EV) also planning to come in from Vietnam, and then there’s also retail,” she said.

She identified the EV manufacturer from Vietnam as VinFast. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

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