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China’s coastal water temperatures hit record high in 2024

UNSPLASH

HONG KONG — The average temperature in China’s coastal waters rose for a second consecutive year in 2024 to a record 21.50 degrees Celsius (70.7 degrees Fahrenheit), authorities said, in a year that was the world’s hottest since records began.

China describes itself as one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, and is coming under increasing pressure to adapt to rapidly changing weather patterns and sea levels that are rising faster than the global average.

The country faced a slew of extreme weather events last year, from the violent passage of Super Typhoon Yagi across southern Hainan in September to the strongest storm to strike Shanghai since 1949.

The average annual sea surface temperature increased 0.15 Celsius over 2023 and 1.16 Celsius over what it called a normal year average from 1981 to 2010, China’s National Marine Environmental Forecasting center said on its official Wechat account on Jan. 10.

Ocean warming will lead to “frequent extreme weather and climate events”, the centre said, warning of the potential threat to livelihoods.

“Ocean warming contributes to one-third of global sea level rise, and coastal and low-lying areas face increasingly serious risks related to sea level rise, such as land erosion,” it said.

The center said it would “closely monitor” global sea temperatures in 2025.

Global temperatures in 2024 exceeded 1.5 C above the pre-industrial era for the first time, bringing the world closer to breaching the pledge governments made under the 2015 Paris climate agreement, scientists said on Friday. — Reuters

Thailand’s Thaksin bullish on legalizing online gambling, crypto

REUTERS

BANGKOK  — Thailand’s political heavyweight Thaksin Shinawatra believes Southeast Asia’s second largest economy should push to legalize online gambling, which he said could net the government as much as 100 billion baht ($2.89 billion) in annual revenues.

Although without a formal role in government, the former prime minister, 75, is one of the most influential figures in Thai politics and is widely seen as a power centre behind the premiership of his 38-year-old daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Speaking at an event in Bangkok late on Monday, just hours after the Thai cabinet approved a draft law to legalize casinos, Thaksin said the government was coming up with ways to control access to, and tax revenue from, online gambling.

“Online gambling has two to four million Thai users with savings of 300 billion baht and gains and losses of about 500 billion per year,” said Thaksin.

“If we can tax 20% … we would get more than 100 billion per year,” he said.

While most forms of gambling are illegal in Thailand, it is hugely popular and successive governments led or backed by Thaksin have pushed to legalize it to create jobs and boost tourism, arguing huge sums of money are being lost that can be turned into state revenue.

The government was working on an identification system to control access to online gaming that would prevent underage use and allow the monitoring of gambling addicts, Thaksin said.

“We would have like a passport to control who can play,” he said, without elaborating.

Thaksin also made a push for Thailand’s financial institutions to be more open to cryptocurrency, citing incoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s pro-crypto stance, including his appointment of crypto deregulation advocate Paul Atkins as the head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

He said the Thai’s SEC need to have more digital approach, like “allowing trade of stablecoin, or coin that are backed by assets”.

The Thai government is already looking to allow using crypto as a form of payment, with the resort island of Phuket a possible site for a pilot, he said.

“There will be no risk, it is just another currency in the world,” Thaksin said. — Reuters

US agencies warn of potential New Orleans copycat attack

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS walk on a street after people were killed by a man driving a truck in an attack during New Year’s celebrations in New Orleans, Louisiana, US, Jan. 2, 2025. — REUTERS

WASHINGTON — The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Monday warned of a potential public safety threat from violent extremists who might try to copy the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans that killed 14 people.

The warning comes a week before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration.

“The FBI and DHS are concerned about possible copycat or retaliatory attacks due to the persistent appeal of vehicle ramming as a tactic for aspiring violent extremist attackers,” the agencies said in a statement.

Early on New Year’s Day, more than a dozen people and a dozen others injured about when a man rammed a rented pickup truck into a crowd of revelers along Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

The man who carried out the attack was a U.S. Army veteran who had pledged allegiance to Islamic State and appeared to have made recordings condemning music, drugs and alcohol.

The agencies said such attacks, inspired by foreign “terrorist” organization, have been carried out in the U.S. and abroad using rented, stolen and personally own vehicles.

Attackers could also attempt to use improvised explosive devices to supplement a vehicle attack, they said.

The agencies said past targets have included pedestrians, law enforcement or military members, and crowded public venues that are accessible from roadways.

“We ask that the public remain vigilant regarding possible copycat or retaliatory attacks and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement,” they said. — Reuters

Indonesia plans minimum age for social media use

Social media logos are seen in this illustration taken on May 25, 2021. — REUTERS/DADO RUVIC/ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA – Indonesia plans to issue a regulation to set a minimum age for users of social media, a move aimed at protecting children, its communications minister has said.

The plans follows Australia’s decision to ban children under 16 from accessing social media, with fines for tech giants from Instagram and Facebook owner Meta to TikTok if they failed to prevent children accessing their platforms.

Minister Meutya Hafid did not say what the minimum age would be in Indonesia. Her remarks, made late on Monday, came after Meutya discussed the plan with President Prabowo Subianto.

“We discussed how to protect children in digital space,” she said in a video uploaded on the YouTube channel of the president’s office.

“The president said to carry on with this plan. He is very supportive on how this kind of child protection will be done in our digital space,” she said.

Internet penetration in Indonesia, a country of about 280 million people, reached 79.5% last year, according to a survey of 8,700 people by the Indonesia internet service providers’ association.

The survey showed 48% of children under 12 had access to the internet, with some respondents of that age group using Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The survey showed internet penetration was 87% among “Gen Z” users, or those age 12 to 27. —  Reuters

ABS-CBN Corporation to hold Special Stockholders’ Meeting on Feb. 11

 

 

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Los Angeles utility sued for Palisades Fire water shortage, court filing shows

A woman reacts as she evacuates following powerful winds fueling devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area, at the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, U.S. Jan. 8, 2025. — REUTERS

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was sued on Monday on claims that it failed to properly manage water supplies critical to fighting the deadly Palisades Fire, a court filing showed.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of residents and others affected by the historic blaze that destroyed the west Los Angeles community of Pacific Palisades, says LADWP should have maintained water in a nearby reservoir, which was dry at the time the fire first erupted last Tuesday.

That reservoir, the Santa Ynez, had capacity to hold 117 million gallons (443 million liters) of water but had been out of commission since February 2024, the lawsuit said. The LADWP sought bids for its repair in April 2024 costing up to $89,000, the complaint said, but entered into a contract in November to complete those repairs for roughly $130,000.

“The Palisades Fire has been a traumatic event for its victims, who through no fault of their own, went from homeowners to homeless in a matter of hours,” according to the complaint, filed by law firm Robertson & Associates in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The Palisades fire, which has already killed at least eight people and destroyed thousands of structures, was still a threat on Monday, having burned some 23,713 acres (96 square km).

Governor Gavin Newsom last week called for an investigation into the handling of water resources by LADWP, which is the largest U.S. municipal utility.

A spokesperson for the LADWP did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.

LADWP CEO Janisse Quinones last week said the demand to fight water at lower elevations was impeding the ability of the city to refill water tanks at higher elevations. LADWP said it had filled all available water tanks in the city ahead of the windstorm that perpetuated the rapid spread of the fires.

Three water storage tanks were exhausted within a day of the fires starting, Quinones said last week in a press briefing. – Reuters

China’s deployment of ‘monster ship’ alarming, says Philippine security official

CHINA COAST GUARD VESSEL 5901, nicknamed the “monster ship,” off the coast of Capones Island, Zambales on Jan. 4, 2025. — PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD

MANILA – The Philippines said China’s deployment of its largest coast guard vessel inside Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) was alarming and clearly meant to intimidate fishermen operating around a contested shoal in the South China Sea.

“We were surprised about the increasing aggression being showed by the People’s Republic of China in deploying the monster ship,” National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said in a press conference on Tuesday.

Manila has lodged a protest over the presence of the 165 m (541 ft) long vessel Chinese coast guard vessel 5901, which was spotted 77 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales province, and demanded its withdrawal from the EEZ, Mr. Malaya said.

“It is an escalation and provocative,” Mr. Malaya said, saying the presence the vessel was “illegal” and “unacceptable”.

The Philippine Coast Guard said it had deployed two of its largest vessels to drive away the Chinese vessel.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that its coast guard’s “patrol and law enforcement activities” were “reasonable, lawful and beyond reproach”.

Tensions between the Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally, and Beijing have escalated over the past two years due to overlapping claims in the South China Sea.

In 2016, an international tribunal ruled China’s claims to large swathes of the disputed waterway had no basis, a decision Beijing rejects.

China’s expansive claims overlap with the EEZs of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The disputed waterway is a strategic shipping route through which about $3 trillion of annual commerce moves. – Reuters

US lawmakers urge Biden to extend TikTok Jan. 19 ban deadline

REUTERS

WASHINGTON – Two Democratic lawmakers on Monday urged Congress and President Joe Biden to extend a Jan. 19 deadline for China-based ByteDance to sell the U.S. assets of TikTok or face a U.S. ban.

The Supreme Court held arguments Friday on Tiktok and ByteDance’s challenge to the law. A lawyer for the companies, Noel Francisco, said it would be impossible to complete a sale by next week’s deadline.

He said if banned, the the short video app used by 170 million Americans would quickly go dark and “essentially the platform shuts down.”

Mr. Biden could extend the deadline by 90 days if he certifies ByteDance is making substantial progress toward a divestiture but it is unlikely ByteDance could meet that standard.

Senator Edward Markey said he planned to introduce legislation to delay the deadline by which ByteDance must sell TikTok or face a ban by an additional 270 days.

“A ban would dismantle a one-of-a-kind informational and cultural ecosystem, silencing millions in the process,” Mr. Markey said Monday.

“A TikTok ban would impose serious consequences on millions of Americans who depend on the app for social connections and their economic livelihood. We cannot allow that to happen.”

President-elect Donald Trump has asked the court to delay implementation of the law, arguing he should have time after taking office on Jan. 20 to pursue a “political resolution” to the issue.

Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat, on Monday urged Biden and Trump “to put a pause on this ban so 170 million Americans don’t lose their free speech. Millions of Americans’ livelihood will be ended if this ban takes place.”

If the court does not block the law by Sunday, new downloads of TikTok on Apple or Google app stores would be banned but existing users could continue to access the app for some period. Services would degrade and eventually stop working as companies will be barred from providing support.

The White House did not immediately comment. – Reuters

Traffic falls in New York City after $9 congestion fee introduced

THE shadow of the Central Park Tower stretches over the west side of Manhattan as seen from the window of the building in New York, US, Sept. 17, 2019. — REUTERS/LUCAS JACKSON

WASHINGTON – Traffic in Manhattan’s central business district fell by 7.5% last week and 273,000 fewer cars entered the borough’s central business district after the first congestion pricing fee in the U.S. took effect on Jan. 5, New York City transit officials said on Monday.

The fee is designed to reduce traffic and raise billions for mass transit, with most of the revenue generated targeted to upgrade the city’s subway and bus systems.

“The early data backs up what New Yorkers have been telling us all week – traffic is down, the streets feel safer, and buses are moving faster,” said Janno Lieber, head of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Overall travel times are 30-40% faster on inbound river crossings into Manhattan, which has the most congested traffic in the United States.

Under the program, passenger vehicles are charged $9 during peak periods in Manhattan south of 60th Street. Trucks and buses pay up to $21.60. The fee is reduced by 75% at night.

The fee went into effect after neighboring New Jersey failed to convince a judge to halt it. The city rushed to implement the charge before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Trump, who has a Manhattan residence, opposes the fee and said he would seek to block it.

The MTA said less traffic means faster bus speeds, especially in the morning peak period.

Charged via electronic license plate readers, private cars pay once a day regardless of how many trips they make into the central business district. Taxis pay 75 cents per trip and ride-share vehicles reserved by apps like Uber and Lyft pay $1.50 per trip.

A few other cities around the world already have congestion pricing systems. London, which implemented its system in 2003, now charges 15 pounds ($18.33). Singapore and Sweden also have congestion pricing plans.

The MTA has said the program will eventually result in 80,000 fewer cars a day, about an 11% reduction. Before the fee, the MTA said more than 700,000 vehicles entered the Manhattan central business district daily, slowing traffic to around 7 mph (11 kph) on average, which is 23% slower than in 2010.

The city estimates the congestion charge will bring in $500 million in its first year. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the money would underpin $15 billion in debt financing for mass transit capital improvements, with 80% of the money to be spent on the subway and bus system, and the other 20% spent on the MTA’s two commuter rail systems. – Reuters

South Korea’s leadership crisis in hands of Constitutional Court

A PROTESTER was waving a national flag at an anti-Japan rally during the celebration of Independence Movement Day on March 1, 2004 in Seoul, South Korea. — BLOOMBERG

SEOUL – South Korea’s leadership crisis will play out in the Constitutional Court, which will decide the fates of President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, both impeached and suspended from power over a short-lived martial law.

Han, who was impeached last month, had taken over as acting president from Yoon, impeached on Dec. 14. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is currently acting president.

On Tuesday, the court is due to hear first arguments in a case to decide whether to reinstate Yoon or remove him permanently from power, although the session may adjourn early if Yoon does not attend.

WHAT NEXT?

After being impeached on Dec. 14, Yoon’s presidential powers have been suspended but he remains in office, retaining his immunity from most charges except insurrection or treason.

The Constitutional Court must decide within 180 days whether to remove him from office or reject the impeachment and restore his powers. If it removes Yoon or he resigns, a presidential election must be held within 60 days.

Opposition Democratic Party lawmaker Jung Chung-rae, the head of parliament’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, is leading the case for removing Yoon.

Yoon’s legal counsel include former Constitutional Court spokesperson Bae Bo-yoon and former prosecutor Yoon Kab-keun.

The court also began proceedings on Monday in the trial on whether to remove Han from office or restore him to his role.

HURDLES TO A COURT RULING?

South Korea’s constitution requires six justices to agree on the ouster of an impeached president. The nine-member court has one remaining vacancy, after Choi appointed two new justices last month.

Choi has said that he will fill the last remaining vacancy if the ruling and opposition parties can agree on the nomination. But with eight out of nine justices’ seats filled, the court is not expected to have any procedural hurdles in ruling on Yoon’s fate.

WHAT HAPPENS IN COURT?

In South Korea’s only previous presidential removal by impeachment, the court took three months to oust Park in 2017.

This time, the terms of two court justices expire in April, and legal experts predict it may seek to rule before that to minimise uncertainty.

Justice Cheong Hyung-sik of the Constitutional Court said last month it would move swiftly in the case, considering its gravity.

As part of the push to speed up proceedings, the court has already set times of some future sessions to twice a week, including one on Thursday.

In the past, academics say, the justices have not voted predictably by political leaning but have decided case by case, going by their interpretation of the constitution.

Attempts by conservatives to rally popular support for Yoon are not expected to affect the court’s ruling, as Park was removed from office despite continued rallies to keep her in power, warring with candlelight protests seeking her removal.

In the case of Park, who like Yoon was from a centre-right party, the court voted unanimously to remove her, including some justices viewed as conservative and two Park appointees.

Yoon also faces criminal investigations related to the martial law decision.

Seok Dong-hyeon, a lawyer advising Yoon, said on Monday that Yoon’s lawyers have asked investigating authorities to suspend the execution of an arrest warrant against Yoon so he can participate in trial proceedings at the Constitutional Court.

In 2004, then-President Roh Moo-hyun, from a centre-left party, was impeached for falling short of the political neutrality required of a high public official, but finished his five-year term after the court rejected the motion within two months. – Reuters

Meralco lowers power rates for Jan.

A lineman inspects electric meters in Tondo, Manila. Manila Electric Co. on Monday announced power rates will go down in January. — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

By Sheldeen Joy Talavera, Reporter

RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS in areas served by Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will see a reduction in their electricity bills this month, mainly due to lower generation charges for the period.

The overall rate will go down by P0.2189 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to P11.7428 per kWh in January from P11.9617 per kWh in December, the power distributor said in a statement on Monday.

This will translate to a downward adjustment of around P44 in the total electricity bill of residential customers consuming 200 kWh. Those consuming 300 kWh, 400 kWh, and 500 kWh will see a reduction of P66, P89, and P112, respectively, in this month’s bills.

Meralco said it slashed power rates after the generation charge declined by P0.1313 per kWh to P6.8358 per kWh primarily due to lower costs from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and independent power producers (IPPs). 

WESM charges decreased by P0.8840 per kWh due to the improved supply situation in the Luzon grid as both average peak demand and average capacity on outage went down.

Charges from IPPs declined by P0.1593 per kWh because of the peso appreciation, which affected 97% of the costs that were dollar denominated. The lower cost of fuel and higher dispatch of the First Gas-Sta. Rita plant also contributed to the decrease.

The peso closed at P57.845 on Dec. 27, appreciating by P0.775 from its P58.62 finish on Nov. 29.

“These reductions tempered the P0.5638 per kWh increase in charges from power supply agreements (PSAs) due to lower plant dispatch,” the company said.

WESM, IPPs, and PSAs accounted for 34%, 30%, and 36%, respectively, of Meralco’s total energy requirement for the period.

On other components, transmission and other charges dropped by P0.0876 per kWh.

Pass-through charges for generation and transmission are paid to the power suppliers and the grid operator, respectively. Taxes, universal charges, and Feed-in Tariff Allowance are all remitted to the government.

Meralco’s distribution charge has remained unchanged at P0.0360 per kWh since August 2022.

“While electricity rates decreased this month, we would like to remind our customers to continue practicing energy efficiency as a way of life especially with the dry season is fast approaching,” said Joe R. Zaldarriaga, Meralco’s vice-president and head of corporate communications.

Meanwhile, Meralco customers may expect a slight reduction in their power bills in February as the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) earlier directed distribution utilities to refund all collected and unutilized regulatory reset expert costs. All future collection of these costs was also stopped.

“For Meralco, this means a one-time refund of 22.6 centavos per kWh plus another refund that will be reflected as a separate line item in the bill of P0.0023 per kWh. So, this will be reflected in the February bills of customers,” Lawrence S. Fernandez, Meralco’s vice-president and head of utility economics, said at a briefing.

To recall, the ERC has also allowed the recovery of the remaining P3.277 billion for power generators that supplied the reserve market in February and March 2024.

The approved amount will be billed to the consumers in Luzon over a period of three months, adding P0.12 per kWh in the transmission charge starting February.

The reserve market allows the system operator to procure power reserves from the WESM to meet the reserve requirements of the energy system. Its full commercial operations commenced in January last year.

Meralco’s controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by PLDT Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.

Filipinos battle addiction amid online gambling boom

KEYBOARD, cards, chips, dice and “Online Gambling” words are seen in this illustration picture, June 5, 2020. — REUTERS ILLUSTRATION

By Aubrey Rose A. Inosante, Reporter

MARK (name has been changed), a 38-year-old finance executive, is counting losses in personal relationships and still paying off debts worth P5 million after going on an online casino spree in 2020.

What started as a casual pastime during the coronavirus pandemic quickly spiraled into a high-stakes habit, in which he wagered as much as half-a-million pesos on a single card game.

“I started playing at online casinos when the pandemic hit in 2020,” he told BusinessWorld. “Back then, local operators weren’t available yet, so I had to use online casinos from offshore operators in countries such as Cyprus, Malta and Curacao.”

With a convenient work-from-home setup, he could play all day.

His gambling problem started five years earlier, in 2015, when he dabbled with physical casinos, burning P5,000 every Friday after a taxing week at work. 

“My online casino bets started to get higher and higher as I got more addicted,” he said. “At the peak of my addiction, I would spend as much as P200,000 a day.”

He would wager as much as P500,000 when he was winning in card games, and P5,000 per spin on a slot machine.

Despite the exit of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) and a ban on online cockfighting, state revenue from online gambling continues to grow.

The sector has been posting “triple-digit growth almost every month,” the state-controlled Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) said in an e-mailed reply to questions.

In September alone, PAGCOR breached its P100-billion gross gaming revenue target for the e-gamer and e-bingo sector for 2024, it said.

“This remarkable achievement gives us confidence that we can easily meet our P150-billion gross gaming revenue target for electronic and online games by 2025,” the government-owned company said.

PAGCOR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H. Tengco earlier said the POGO ban would not affect the country’s gross gaming revenue, adding that he expects electronic gaming to make up for it.

Mr. Tengco expects the revenue to have exceeded P350 billion last year, while PAGCOR’s net income likely rose to around P12 billion-P15 billion in 2024 from P6.81 billion in 2023. 

There are 59 accredited service providers and registered domains and 12 approved online gaming platforms for licensed casinos as of Dec. 18, according to the PAGCOR website. 

“Societal costs extend far beyond pesos and centavos, encompassing negative spillovers into areas such as morality and crime,” George N. Manzano, who teaches trade at the University of Asia and the Pacific, said in a Viber message.

Gambling undermines social values, strain community well-being, and burdens the justice system, he pointed out. Mr. Manzano also cited the risk of a slippery slope from gambling to crimes.

“Ultimately, the decision hinges on political considerations. How much does society value the social ills associated with gambling compared with the revenue it generates?” he asked. 

Mark, mentioned at the outset, lost more than P20 million from his online gambling spree in 2021 after taking loans from credit cards, banks, loan sharks and even people he knew. His addiction spilled over to his marriage and family.

He tried counseling and was prescribed medications that only worked for a couple of months. He tried to take his own life twice before being admitted to a rehabilitation facility. 

“My wife eventually decided to give up on me, and while I was admitted at a rehabilitation facility, she decided to let go and move on without me in the picture,” he said. She later filed for annulment.

Mark stayed at the facility for 15 months and never looked back. He has been sober for three years, and his sister has been managing his finances.

Looking back, Mark said what made online gambling addictive was the convenience of playing online and making deposits. “Everything is at your fingertips. You practically play 24/7 while doing something else, plus easy cash in with e-wallets, credit cards, debit cards or through online banking.”

Reagan P. Praferosa, international recovery coach and founding chairman at Recovering Gamblers of the Philippines, said most of the calls to their support hotline are from online gamblers.

“Out of 10 callers, only one is a [physical] casino player,” he told BusinessWorld by telephone, adding that most of the gamblers who reach out to them use e-wallet platforms such as GCash and Maya and food and transportation platform Grab.

E-wallet platforms typically have links to several gaming platforms such as BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and PeryaGame.

Myla, 34, stumbled upon BingoPlus while exploring an e-wallet platform in July 2024. She bet P1,400 from her e-wallet and won P50,000. She kept betting until she lost all her winnings along with her savings.

“Unlike physical casinos that are far away, online gambling is available wherever you are. The temptation is always there,” she told BusinessWorld via Zoom.

NTC BAN
She recently decided to stop her online gambling addiction, finding solace in online support groups. She also requested to be banned from BingoPlus twice, but there was no action yet.

Mr. Praferosa urged PAGCOR to set up an office within the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) that would ban players from certain gambling websites when requested by either the gamblers or their families.

“They can implement massive bans,” he said. “The NTC can also ban the IP address of a gambler’s cellphone.”

This should be easy, he said, noting that the government under ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte banned several pornographic websites in 2017. The NTC was ordered to block the websites under the Anti-Child Pornography Law.

“The NTC is very powerful. All our cellphones have NTC stickers. NTC provides the phone, the serial number, IP address and every chip. They can block all gambling sites,” Mr. Praferosa said.

He added that blocking individual players is easier than banning an entire gambling website.

To address the negative effects of online gambling especially on the youth, PAGCOR said it’s enforcing a code of practice within its own gambling outfits and gambling entities it regulates.

“One of the key features of the code is the player exclusion program, which allows players or their families to voluntarily exclude themselves from gaming activities if they recognize signs of gambling addiction,” it said.

PAGCOR has also partnered with Bridges of Hope and Life Change Recovery Center, Inc., which both provide life coaching, counseling, psychological support, alternative wellness programs and treatment for gambling addicts and their families.

It’s “fully aware of the social costs associated with the growing online and electronic gaming sector,” it said. “However, gambling cannot be entirely eradicated, as it stems from a basic human impulse for entertainment and amusement.”

This year, PAGCOR plans to further cut remittance rates for online and on-site betting platforms to encourage more investments in the gambling sector and push illegal gaming operators to join the mainstream.

“This move should help operators reduce operational costs, improve profitability and encourage reinvestment in better technology and services, ultimately enhancing the gaming experience for players,” it said.

Dylan, a 29-year-old former e-sports bettor, said Filipinos, especially the poor, are being lured by ads on various online gambling platforms that promise huge returns.

“Many of us are seeking financial stability, so we’re easily tempted by promises of big returns,” he said in a Zoom interview. “But what people don’t realize is that you have to stake so much.”

Dylan, who started using sports betting apps like Rivalry, 1XBET and 747 in 2023, is still paying back his six-digit debt. He has tried stopping his gambling addiction and has had many relapses, he said.

Senator Robinhood Ferdinand “Robin” C. Padilla has filed a bill that seeks to prohibit the online publication and promotion of gambling-related content. The bill is currently pending in the committee.

Violators can get a jail term of six months to a year and a fine of P300,000 to P500,000.

“The maximum penalty of three years imprisonment and a fine of P500,000 shall likewise be imposed if the offender has linked the prohibited content to an online gambling site or has received any form of remuneration or commissions for publishing the prohibited content,” according to a copy of the Senate bill.

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