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The General Tax Amnesty bill: Opportunities for compliance and growth

IN BRIEF:

• The General Tax Amnesty Bill, formally known as Senate Bill No. 60, presents a significant opportunity for taxpayers to address their tax obligations while alleviating penalties and interest on unpaid taxes.

• This initiative aims to foster a culture of compliance among taxpayers, encouraging them to fulfill their obligations through transparent policies and processes.

• Understanding the provisions of the General Tax Amnesty can empower businesses to strategically manage their tax responsibilities and enhance their operational efficiency.

The introduction of the General Tax Amnesty Bill marks a pivotal moment for taxpayers. This bill seeks to provide relief to individuals and businesses by addressing the challenges posed by the previously vetoed 2018 Tax Amnesty Act. By offering a reprieve from penalties and interest on unpaid taxes, the General Tax Amnesty aims to promote compliance and encourage taxpayers to settle their obligations.

The General Tax Amnesty covers a wide range of taxes, including income tax, withholding tax, capital gains tax, donor’s tax, value-added tax (VAT), and excise tax. This coverage extends to the taxable year 2024 and prior years, regardless of whether assessments have been issued for unpaid taxes. 

However, it should be noted that estate tax and certain specified individuals or cases are excluded from this coverage. These cover withholding tax agents who withheld taxes but failed to remit the same, certain taxpayers with cases pending in appropriate courts (e.g., those involving tax evasion and other criminal cases), tax cases, delinquencies, and assessments that have become final and executory.

KEY PROVISIONS
The General Tax Amnesty encompasses various taxes collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC). This comprehensive coverage underscores the government’s commitment to facilitating compliance among taxpayers.

ENTITLEMENT UNDER THE GENERAL TAX AMNESTY
The amnesty is applicable to both natural and juridical persons, providing flexibility in how taxpayers can settle their obligations. Taxpayers have two options for paying the amnesty tax, the first being 2% of total assets as of Dec. 31, 2024, as declared in the Statement of Total Assets. The second option is based on total net worth as of Dec. 31, 2024, as declared in the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, with specific rates and minimum payments for various categories.

The rate for individuals (including trusts and estates) is 5% or P100,000, whichever is higher. For corporations, the rate depends on subscribed capital: 1) Over P50 million subscribed capital: 5% or P1,300,000, whichever is higher, 2) P20 million to P50 million subscribed capital: 5% or P650,000, whichever is higher, 3) P5 million to P20 million subscribed capital: 5% or P350,000, whichever is higher, 4) Below P5 million subscribed capital: 5% or P150,000, whichever is higher.

For other juridical entities (e.g., taxable cooperatives and foundations), the rate is 5% or P100,000, whichever is higher.

Taxpayers with negative net worth can still avail of the amnesty by paying the minimum tax, ensuring inclusivity.

PROCESS FOR AVAILING OF THE AMNESTY
To benefit from the General Tax Amnesty, taxpayers must file a sworn General Tax Amnesty Return accompanied by a notarized Statement of Total Assets or notarized Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, as the case may be, within one year from the effectivity of the Implementing Rules and Regulations. Payment of the amnesty tax is due at the time of filing, streamlining the process for compliance.

DISCOUNTS FOR EARLY PAYMENT
The bill incentivizes timely compliance by offering discounts for early payment: a 20% discount if paid within the first three months, a 15% discount if paid between the fourth and sixth months, and a 10% discount if paid between the seventh and ninth months.

These discounts not only encourage prompt action but also provide a financial incentive for taxpayers to settle their obligations swiftly.

IMMUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES
Those who avail of the General Tax Amnesty and have fully complied with all the conditions therein and upon payment of the amnesty tax are entitled to the following immunities and privileges:

Immunity from taxes: Taxpayers will be immune from the payment of taxes, additions thereto, and from all related civil, criminal, and administrative cases and penalties under the 1997 National Internal Revenue Code, as amended, for the taxable year 2024 and prior years. This immunity also extends to investigations or suits related to the assets, liabilities, net worth, and internal revenue taxes that are the subject of the tax amnesty.

Confidentiality of information: Any information or data contained in, derived from, or provided by a taxpayer in the Tax Amnesty Return, Statement of Total Assets, or Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth will be confidential in nature and not be used in any investigation or prosecution before any judicial, quasi-judicial, and administrative bodies. However, the taxpayer may use this information as a defense in cases brought against them.

Exemption from examination: The books of account and other records of the taxpayer for the years covered by the tax amnesty will not be examined by the BIR, except under specific conditions such as verifying the validity or correctness of a claim for any tax refund, tax credit (other than refund of taxes withheld on wages), tax incentives, and/or exemptions under existing laws.

These immunities and privileges do not apply if the taxpayer fails to file the necessary returns or if there is a significant understatement of assets or net worth, or in cases of fraud.

SAFEGUARDS AGAINST TAX EVASION
To enhance the integrity of the tax system and address concerns related to tax evasion, the General Tax Amnesty Bill incorporates several essential safeguards. Notably, it includes provisions for lifting bank secrecy, which grants the Commissioner of Internal Revenue access to financial information necessary for verifying taxpayer declarations during the one-year period of the General Tax Amnesty.

Additionally, the bill requires the automatic exchange of information among relevant government agencies, facilitating a more comprehensive oversight of taxpayer compliance. Furthermore, it imposes penalties for inaccurate net worth or total asset declarations, serving as a deterrent against fraudulent reporting and emphasizing the importance of transparency in tax compliance.

By implementing these safeguards, the General Tax Amnesty Bill seeks to cultivate a culture of accountability and trust between taxpayers and the government, ultimately contributing to a more equitable tax system.

COMPLIANCE AND POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH
The General Tax Amnesty Bill represents a significant opportunity for taxpayers to address their obligations while minimizing penalties. By understanding the provisions and processes outlined in the bill, businesses can strategically navigate their tax responsibilities and enhance their operational efficiency.

However, it is important to note that the General Tax Amnesty Bill needs to go through the legislative process before it can become a law, and stakeholders should remain aware of potential changes that may arise during this period.

For organizations looking to leverage the benefits of the General Tax Amnesty, it is advisable to engage in discussions with tax advisors about the potential advantages of the program. By fostering a culture of compliance and taking proactive steps to manage tax obligations, businesses can build a positive reputation and strengthen their relationships with stakeholders.

In the context of the Philippine business environment, the General Tax Amnesty serves as a reminder of the importance of compliance and the potential for growth that comes from fulfilling tax obligations. By embracing this opportunity, businesses can position themselves for long-term success.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Co.

 

Michael A. Madlangbayan is a global compliance & reporting (GCR) partner of SGV & Co.

Japan’s embattled Prime Minister resigns

JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER SHIGERU ISHIBA — REUTERS FILE PHOTO

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Sunday he had decided to resign, ushering in a potentially lengthy period of policy paralysis at a shaky moment for the world’s fourth-largest economy.

Mr. Ishiba, 68, instructed his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) — which has governed Japan for almost all of the post-war era — to hold an emergency leadership race, he told a press conference, adding he would continue his duties until his successor was elected.

Since coming to power less than a year ago, Mr. Ishiba has overseen his ruling coalition lose its majorities in elections for both houses of parliament amid voter anger over rising living costs.

Until Sunday, he had refused calls to step down following the latest of those losses in July’s upper house vote. He had focused instead on ironing out details of a trade deal with the United States on President Donald J. Trump’s tariffs, which have roiled Japan’s critical automotive industry and cast a shadow over weak growth.

“With Japan having signed the trade agreement and the President having signed the executive order, we have passed a key hurdle,” Mr. Ishiba said, his voice seeming to catch with emotion. “I would like to pass the baton to the next generation.”

Concern over political uncertainty led to a sell-off in Japan’s yen currency and its government bonds last week, with the yield on the 30-year bond hitting a record high on Wednesday.

Speculation over Mr. Ishiba’s fate was stoked by the LDP’s decision to schedule a vote for Monday on whether to hold an extraordinary leadership election.

KOIZUMI, TAKAICHI AMONG POSSIBLE SUCCESSORS
While a fresh leadership race could add pain for an economy hit by US tariffs, markets are focusing more on the chance of Mr. Ishiba being replaced by an advocate of looser fiscal and monetary policy, such as LDP veteran Sanae Takaichi, who has criticized the Bank of Japan’s interest rate hikes.

Mr. Ishiba narrowly defeated Mr. Takaichi in last year’s LDP leadership run-off. Shinjiro Koizumi, the telegenic political scion who has gained prominence as Mr. Ishiba’s farm minister tasked with trying to cap soaring prices, is another possible successor.

“Given the political pressure mounting on Ishiba after the LDP’s repeated election losses, his resignation was inevitable,” said Kazutaka Maeda, economist at Meiji Yasuda Research Institute.

“As for potential successors, Koizumi and Takaichi are seen as the most likely candidates. While Koizumi is not expected to bring major changes, Takaichi’s stance on expansionary fiscal policy and her cautious approach to interest rate hikes could draw scrutiny from financial markets,” Mr. Maeda said.

Since the party does not have a majority in either house, it is not guaranteed that the next LDP president will become prime minister.

Whoever becomes the next leader may choose to call a snap election to seek a mandate, analysts said. While Japan’s opposition remains fractured, the far-right, anti-immigration Sanseito party made big gains in July’s upper house election, bringing once-fringe ideas into the political mainstream.

Nearly 55% of respondents to a poll by Kyodo news agency published on Sunday said there was no need to hold an early election.

Mr. Ishiba’s last act as premier will have been to finalize the trade deal with the United States last week, under which Japan pledged $550 billion of investments in return for lower tariffs from President Trump. — Reuters

Thousands protest against President Trump’s National Guard deployment to Washington, DC

DEMONSTRATORS attend the “We Are All DC” march to protest against National Guard troops in Washington, DC, US, Sept. 6. — REUTERS/LEAH MILLIS

WASHINGTON — Several thousand protesters marched in Washington, DC, on Saturday to demand that US President Donald J. Trump end the deployment of National Guard troops patrolling the capital city’s streets.

With Mr. Trump vowing crackdowns in other Democratic-led cities as well, he appeared to threaten Chicago with migrant deportations in a social media post with an image that parodied the 1979 Vietnam war movie Apocalypse Now.

Protesters at the “We Are All DC” march, including undocumented immigrants and supporters of Palestinian statehood, chanted slogans denouncing Mr. Trump and carried posters, some of which read, “Trump must go now,” “Free DC” and “Resist Tyranny.”

“I’m here to protest the occupation of DC,” said Alex Laufer. “We’re opposing the authoritarian regime, and we need to get the federal police and the National Guard off our streets.”

Claiming that crime was blighting the city, Mr. Trump deployed the troops last month to “re-establish law, order, and public safety.”

Mr. Trump also placed the capital district’s Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control and sent federal law enforcement personnel, including members of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to police the city’s streets, moves critics have decried as federal overreach.

Justice department data showed violent crime in 2024 hit a 30-year low in Washington, a self-governing federal district under the jurisdiction of the US Congress.

The National Guard serves as a militia that answers to the governors of the 50 states except when called into federal service. The DC National Guard reports directly to the President.

Mr. Trump said on Tuesday that he would also deploy National Guard troops to fight crime in Chicago, an extraordinary effort to militarize the country’s third-largest city that was likely to trigger a legal battle with local officials.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said after Mr. Trump spoke that he had learned from reporters that the administration has “gathered ICE agents and military vehicles, and that there are more ICE agents that are on the way.”

“What they’re trying to do in DC is what they’re trying to do with other dictatorships,” said Casey, who declined to give his last name. “They’re testing DC, and if people tolerate it enough, they’re gonna do it to more and more areas. So we have to stop it while we still can.”

More than 2,000 troops, including from six Republican-led states, are patrolling the city. It is unclear when their mission will end, though the Army this week extended orders for the DC National Guard through Nov. 30.

WASHINGTON FILES SUIT
Washington, DC, Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit on Thursday seeking to block the troop deployment, arguing that it was unconstitutional and violated multiple federal laws.

But some residents have welcomed the National Guard and called for the troops to be deployed in the less-affluent parts of the city where crime is rampant. The National Guard has been mostly visible in downtown and tourist areas.

Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser has praised Mr. Trump’s surge of federal law enforcement personnel in the city, but has said that she hopes that the National Guard’s mission will end soon.

Ms. Bowser said there had been a sharp decline in crime, including carjackings, since the surge. The mayor signed an order this week requiring the city to coordinate with federal law enforcement.

Mr. Trump was playing golf at his course outside Washington and was not at the White House when protesters marched past on Saturday.

But he appeared to step up pressure on Chicago in a post on his Truth Social platform that said, “I love the smell of deportations in the morning,” parodying a line from the 1979 movie.

“Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR,” the President wrote, referring to his new order to rename the Department of Defense.

The post was accompanied by a seemingly artificial intelligence-generated picture of Mr. Trump dressed a military officer character in the film with helicopter gunships and explosions in the background. — Reuters

South Korea has finished talks with the US to release Korean workers

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Vitamin from Pixabay

SEOUL — South Korea has just wrapped up talks with the US for the release of detained Korean workers in Georgia, a presidential official said on Sunday.

A plane will be on its way to bring back the Koreans once administrative procedures are completed, Kang Hun-sik, Presidential Chief of Staff, said in televised remarks.

US federal agents carried out a raid at a Hyundai Motor manufacturing facility in Georgia this week in the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of the Department of Homeland Security’s investigative operations.

The majority of those hundreds detained were Korean nationals.

South Korea has recently reached a major trade deal with the US, which includes a $350-billion fund to help Korean companies enter the US market.

US President Donald J. Trump may visit South Korea in October for the gathering of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation event, CNN reported on Saturday, citing three Trump administration officials.

The South Korean official on Sunday said the government will seek ways to improve the visa system of Korean workers traveling to the US to “prevent a similar incident.” — Reuters

Popular Sydney beach deploys drones, helicopter after fatal shark attack

BONDI BEACH — CATHY ROSE A. GARCIA

SYDNEY — Australian authorities on Sunday deployed drones and a helicopter to monitor the waters around a popular Sydney beach after a surfer was killed by a great white shark on Saturday, officials said.

Two beaches in Australia’s most populous city remained closed on Sunday after the attack on Saturday morning that took place about 100 meters (328 feet) from shore while the man was surfing with friends at Long Reef Beach, in the north of the New South Wales state capital.

The experienced surfer was pulled from the water by other surfers, but had lost too much blood and died at the scene, police said. It was the first shark-attack death in Sydney since a swimmer was killed off a beach in February 2022, which the city’s first since 1963.

On Sunday, the state’s main water rescue organization, Surf Life Saving NSW, deployed drones and a helicopter to surveil the area for the shark, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) said.

More so-called SMART drumlines, which use satellite technology to notify authorities when a shark is hooked on a baited line, had also been installed, it said in a statement.

Government shark biologists, after assessing photos of the victim’s surfboard, “determined a White shark approximately 3.4-3.6 meters (11.15-11.81 feet) in length was likely responsible” for the mauling, DPIRD said.

White sharks are also commonly known as great white sharks or white pointers, according to the agency.

Saturday’s incident marked the fourth fatal shark attack in Australia in 2025, data from the state-run operator of Sydney’s Taronga Zoo shows. In March, a surfer was killed by a shark in shallow water on a remote beach in Western Australia.

Australia ranked behind only the United States in the number of unprovoked shark bites on humans in 2024, according to the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File. — Reuters

Alex Eala wins first WTA crown at Guadalajara Open in Mexico

ALEX EALA — FACEBOOK.COM/GDLOPEN

ALEXANDRA “ALEX” EALA, at last, claimed an elusive Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) crown for the first time ever — for her and for Philippine tennis.

The Filipina pride pulled off a 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 comeback win against Hungary’s Panna Udvardy to reign supreme in the WTA125 Guadalajara Open on Sunday at the Panamerican Tennis Center in Zapopan, Mexico.

Ms. Eala, seeded No. 2, bucked off a sluggish start after absorbing a near shutout to No. 134 and 26-year-old Udvardy in the first set before slowly but surely heating up for the historic win in two hours and 30 minutes.

Ranked higher at No. 75 in the WTA, Ms. Eala wasted a 5-3 set lead but broke Ms. Udvardy’s serve and held her own to escape in the second and force a deciding set, where she just stamped her class by owning the last three games from a close 4-3 cushion.

Ms. Eala brought home a cash prize of $115,000 or around P6.5 million, just a week after bagging a $154,000 or approximately P8.7-million purse with a second-round stint in the US Open in New York as the first Filipina ever to win in any Grand Slam main draw.

“First title,” posted Ms. Eala on social media with a photo of her wearing a Mexican hat as the ruler of Guadalajara. “To everyone who came here today, mga kababayan, maraming, maraming salamat.”

But there’s more to it than just money as Ms. Eala became the first Filipino to win a WTA singles crown at just 20 years old. And that feat was felt and heard around the world, from the Philippines to Spain.

She has won five pro titles in her budding career, including a junior singles Grand Slam crown in the 2022 US Open and a doubles title in the 2020 Australian Open, before finally soaring to new heights in the WTA Tour.

“History has been written by Alex Eala as she becomes the first Filipino to win a WTA singles title,” said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“Alex Eala is a WTA Champion! What a night in Guadalajara! She’s now the first Filipino — man or woman — to win a WTA singles. Goosebumps. Pure pride,” added the Rafael Nadal Academy, where she graduated as a scholar under the Spanish legend’s wing in 2023.

It’s a redemption of sorts for Ms. Eala, who absorbed a stinging 4-6, 6-2, 6-7 (10-12) loss in her first WTA final against Australia’s Maya Joint last June in the Eastbourne Open in England.

With her historic win, Ms. Eala climbed to No. 61 in the WTA live rankings from No. 75 with 1054 points for good momentum in her South American foray. Her career high was at No. 56.

Ms. Eala will play next in the Sao Paulo Open in Brazil next week as the No. 3 seed, eyeing her second title in laser-like focus in the WTA Tour after the completion of her Slam season with maiden stints in the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. — John Bryan Ulanday

Pasuit and Chavez, Jr. advance to last 16 of World Boxing Championships

THE Philippines’ Riza Pasuit and Ronald Chavez, Jr. pulled off contrasting results to launch their respective campaigns with a bang in the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, England on Saturday.

Ms. Pasuit overwhelmed Saudi Arabia’s Ragad Alnaimi via a second-round RSC (referee stopped contest) victory that catapulted the Southeast Asian Games silver medalist straight to the round-of-16 of the women’s 60-kilogram class.

There, she will battle Brazilian Rebeca Santos, who drew an opening round bye, on Tuesday.

For the 26-year-old Chavez, whose father Ronald, Sr. and uncle Arlo were Olympians, he had to draw strength from a strong start to overcome a late, furious challenge of Irishman Matthew McCole via a win on points, 3-2.

It propelled Mr. Chavez to the round-of-16 of the men’s 70kg class versus Frenchman Makan Traore, who smashed Chinese Taipei’s Kan Chia-Wei, 5-0.

But it wasn’t all rainbows as the country suffered its first casualty following Junmilardo Ogayre’s 5-0 defeat at the hands of Kazakhstan’s Biibars Zhexen in the men’s 60kg round-of-32.

Tokyo Olympics silver winner Carlo Paalam was trying to advance further as he was tackling Dominican Republic’s Junior Alcantara in the men’s 55kg on Sunday.

The two-time Olympian from Cagayan de Oro was coming off a dominant unanimous win over Taiwanese Hsu Chiao Chun on Friday.

Also fighting for dear life was Mark Ashley Fajardo, who was clashing with Ukrainian Elvin Aliiev in the men’s 65kg section. — Joey Villar

‘Tiger’ Sabalenka turns a corner in New York after Grand Slam final letdowns

NEW YORK — US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka may be nicknamed “The Tiger,” but her New York triumph on Saturday was less about raw aggression and more poise, as the world number one steadied herself and regrouped in key moments to claim a fourth Grand Slam title.

Determined to become the first woman since American great Serena Williams (2012–2014) to defend her crown at Flushing Meadows, the Belarusian carried the weight of recent major setbacks to claim a 6-3, 7-6(3) win over Amanda Anisimova in the final and retain her crown.

After final defeats at Melbourne and Paris, and a Wimbledon semifinal setback against Anisimova, Sabalenka turned all that disappointment into fuel, earning the right to show up to her press conference in party mode, goggles perched on her head and a bottle of champagne in hand.

“After the Australian Open I thought that the right way would be just to forget it and move on, but then the same thing happened at the French Open. So I figured that, okay, maybe it’s time for me to sit back and to look at those finals and to maybe learn something,” an ecstatic Sabalenka told reporters.

“Going into this final I decided for myself that I’m going to control my emotions. I’m not going to let them take control over me, and doesn’t matter what happens in the match.”

“My mindset was just going out there, fight for every point. Doesn’t matter of the situation. Just focus on myself and focus on things that I have to do to win the match.”

The occasion seemed ripe for Sabalenka to crumble under the roar of a partisan Arthur Ashe crowd cheering her American opponent, but the 27-year-old showed that she was equipped to prevail in the toughest moments.

Sabalenka was serving for the match when she gifted Anisimova a break with a flubbed smash in what seemed a pivotal momentum shift. Yet the top seed did not miss when it mattered the most, winning a record 19th straight tiebreak.

“There were moments where I was really close to losing control, but I told myself, ‘No, it’s not going to happen. It’s absolutely okay,’” Sabalenka said.

“I was really close to losing it, because you cannot make these kinds of mistakes on important points. Sometimes it can be crucial, from my experience.

“But then I turn around and I took a deep breath in, and I was, like, okay, it happens. It’s in the past. Let’s focus on the next one.”

Sabalenka added that her milestone 100th Grand Slam match win carried extra weight because of the road it took to get there. — Reuters

Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard among Hall of Fame inductees

FORMER NBA stars Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, along with former women’s star Sue Bird, highlighted a decorated group inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday night in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Women’s stars Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles, head coach Billy Donovan, Miami Heat owner Micky Arison, referee Danny Crawford and the 2008 US Olympic men’s team also were inducted.

Anthony and Howard were members of the 2008 US Olympic team.

The class was announced in April at the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio.

Anthony ranks 10th in NBA history with 28,289 career points and was a 10-time All-Star. He won three Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012, 2016), led Syracuse to the 2003 NCAA title and was named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary team in 2021. — Reuters

Djokovic not retiring

Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam ended not with a win but in a whimper, undone in the US Open semifinals by Carlos Alcaraz’s unrelenting pace and physicality. The latter seized the moment with a straight-sets win, leaving him visibly drained by the end. What began as another test of resilience quickly turned into a reminder that time exposes the mortality of even the most accomplished names. He conceded afterward that he “ran out of gas” after the decisive second set, a candid admission of limits to which he had hitherto seemed immune.

The progression of the match was, if nothing else, revealing. Alcaraz struck early, dictating exchanges and pressing Djokovic into uncomfortable positions from the baseline. A flicker of resistance came in the second set, when he broke serve and briefly ignited the crowd, but the energy did not hold. The Spaniard 17 years his junior reeled him back in, taking the tiebreak with relative ease. By the third set, his movement betrayed him; rallies he once closed with regularity slipped away. His point construction remained outstanding, but his finishing strokes lacked the requisite precision.

For Djokovic, the setback capped a season in which he failed to win a Grand Slam event for the first time since 2017, falling short in Rounds of Four and retiring at the Australian Open. The rise of Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner has turned consistency into a gauntlet, and he is constrained to admit that his biggest opponents are operating at a level “too good” to overcome without ample preparation. Clearly, it is no small shift. For two decades, the Big Three he formed with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal bent the sport to their will, forcing challengers to continually stare at their backsides. Now, the burden has flipped: he needs to summon everything left in his body and mind to keep pace with the best of a new generation that runs faster, hits harder, and recovers quicker.

For all the changes in the landscape however, Djokovic has, without surprise, refused to concede to Father Time. In the aftermath of his defeat, he dismissed retirement talk and instead vowed to keep pressing toward his quarter-century objective. The defiance is both familiar and admirable, but not without caveats. He hinted at uncertainty about playing a full Grand Slam season in 2026 and has yet to commit to Australia, where his resume shines the most. Adjustments in scheduling, preparation, and even ambition will be unavoidable. If winning once meant endurance across a full year, it now demands carefully chosen battles. The dream remains alive, but the path is narrower and more purposeful.

No longer is the future a question of whether Djokovic can still win; it is whether he can adapt quickly enough to seize the chances that remain. Alcaraz and Sinner have proven capable of crowding the summit of tennis, and each major will likely keep running through them. In the face of the daunting challenge, his enduring greatness will lie in reinvention. He has always been willing to bend his game to the demands of survival, and the instinct will be tested anew. The torch has not yet been passed, but it shakes in his hands. Whether he steadies it or yields it to decidedly superior rivals may define the final chapter of an already singular career.

 

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

PHL defense modernization should allow quick acquisitions — analysts

PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD PHOTO

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

PHILIPPINE LAWMAKERS should revise the country’s military modernization framework to allow faster acquisitions of defense assets, security analysts said at the weekend, as confrontations with China in the South China Sea continue to escalate.

They said a shift toward agile procurement would help the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) respond more effectively to real-time threats in contested waters, where flexibility and speed are critical.

“There are still significant adjustments to be made in the modernization program including abandoning the 15-year horizon framework for a flexible and agile model that allows assets to be acquired in real time as threats and technology continuously develop,” defense economist Rocio Salle Gatdula said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

She added that analysts are studying a “single horizon” approach that would allow the government to buy and upgrade equipment more quickly, rather than waiting for subsequent phases under the present system.

The Philippines is implementing a $35-billion (P2 trillion) modernization program that seeks to strengthen its defense posture in the next decade. The plan includes acquisitions of advanced warships, aircraft and missile systems, and is seen as a response to China’s growing military footprint in the South China Sea.

The maritime area has become a regional flashpoint, with Beijing asserting sovereignty over nearly the entire sea using its so-called nine-dash line map. A United Nations (UN)-backed tribunal in 2016 voided those sweeping claims, but China rejected the ruling and has maintained its presence around disputed features such as the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal.

Manila has repeatedly protested incidents in which Chinese vessels blocked or rammed Philippine ships and used water cannons against resupply missions to outposts in the waterway.

The Philippines first launched efforts to modernize its armed forces in 1995, though funding shortfalls left its largely outdated fleet dependent on donations and secondhand equipment. In 2012, the late President Benigno SC Aquino III revived the effort under a 15-year, horizons-based framework that sought to divide modernization into phases.

Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. in July asked Congress to amend the law to ensure the framework adapts to the changing nature of modern warfare.

Ms. Gatdula said slow government procurement is persistent obstacle. Contracts often face lengthy delays, leaving the military waiting years for equipment to arrive.

“Procurement processes must be simplified and expedited,” Victor Andres C. Manhit, president of the Stratbase-ADR Institute, said in a Facebook Messenger chat. “The Philippines is playing catch-up in terms of defense modernization, and bureaucratic red tape should not hinder progress.”

Funding mechanisms should also be reviewed to ensure the military could make timely acquisitions. “For there to be more fast-tracked acquisitions, there needs to be more creative financing solutions,” Ms. Gatdula said.

Mr. Manhit added that stronger coordination among the Defense department, Budget department and Congress is needed to maintain consistent funding.

“Close cooperation with diverse defense partners could provide complementary financing options, technology transfers and training support that could ease the burden on domestic resources,” he added.

He said such partnerships could help ensure acquisitions are both financially sustainable and strategically reinforced.

Political analysts also cited the need to focus investments on maritime deterrence. Ms. Gatdula pointed to warships, air surveillance systems and command infrastructure that support interoperability with allies.

“Strategy should drive the decision in the acquisition of new equipment,” Rommel Jude G. Ong, a former Philippine Navy officer and now a professor of praxis at the Ateneo de Manila University School of Government, said via Messenger chat. “The military should opt for asymmetric capabilities unique to our archipelagic circumstance, [ones that are] sustainable to ensure that our supply chain is not compromised.”

Mr. Manhit said cyberdefense should also be a top priority. “Threats in the cyber-domain evolve faster than those in conventional warfare, making it critical for the Philippines,” he said.

He called for investments in resilient systems to protect infrastructure, stronger capacity to detect and respond to cyberattacks and the cultivation of a skilled workforce to manage advanced technologies.

Marcos off to Cambodia for three-day state visit

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos leaves from the Maharlika Presidential Hangar at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City for a state visit to Cambodia. — PHILIPPINE STAR/NOEL B. PABALATE

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Sunday left for a three-day state visit to Cambodia, aiming to secure more investments and security support from Phnom Penh, a staunch China supporter, as Manila lobbies for a legally binding code of conduct in the South China Sea.

“During my visit, I will discuss ways to further diversify our cooperation and strengthen our intra-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) relationships and exchanges by capitalizing on our complementary strengths in the face of global economic headwinds,” he told his Cabinet members in Villamor Airbase, Pasay City before boarding his flight to the Cambodian capital.

“We will discuss expanding our commercial relations and building more resilient value chains,” he added, according to a transcript from his office.

His state visit comes as the Philippines prepares for the chairmanship of the ASEAN in 2026.

Manila is pushing a legally binding Code of conduct in the disputed South China Sea, where about a third of global trade passes through annually. The Filipino leader lobbied for the initiative during the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia earlier this year. The President’s visit comes as he tries to court more supporters to join Manila’s push to enforce a 2016 ruling by a United Nations-backed  tribunal that voided China’s expansive claims in the waterway.

The Philippines has also supported Cambodia in addressing traditional and nontraditional security challenges, such as transnational crimes, he pointed out.

“As the Philippines prepares to take the helm of ASEAN in 2026, my visit will reinforce the importance of ASEAN centrality and our commitment to build a progressive and inclusive region,” he added.

The Philippines and Cambodia have strengthened ties through South-South cooperation, including scholarships for Cambodian students in science and technology, Mr. Marcos said.

The President named Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III as government caretakers while he is away.

Mr. Marcos was accompanied by Cabinet members including Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu-Laurel, Jr., Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque and Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac. First Lady Liza-Araneta Marcos will also accompany him.

The trip marks the first state visit to Cambodia by a Philippine President since 2016, after an invitation from King Norodom Sihamoni. It also mirrors Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet’s official visit to Manila in February.

The President is also scheduled to meet with members of Cambodia’s Filipino community, which is about 7,500.

His official engagements include meetings with Senate President Hun Sen, representing the King, and with the Prime Minister, the Department of Foreign Affairs said last week.

Talks are expected to center on strengthening people-to-people ties, broadening trade and economic relations, enhancing cooperation against transnational crimes and getting Cambodia’s support for the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship in 2026.

Both sides are set to sign accords on crime prevention, higher education and expanded air services, the DFA added.

Mr. Marcos will also lead a roundtable with Filipino and Cambodian business leaders aimed at boosting trade and investment opportunities.

“The visit of President Marcos to Cambodia, aside from being economic in nature, may also be a political maneuvering to garner support for the binding CoC that we plan to pursue during our ASEAN chairmanship,” Josue Raphael J. Cortez, an ASEAN Studies lecturer at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde in Manila, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

With the country simultaneously campaigning for a nonpermanent UN Security Council seat, gaining consensus on the code of conduct is crucial, he said.

“Given the tight-knit ties of Cambodia and China, there is a big possibility that it will not be supporting the document,” he said. “However, how Cambodia will navigate the situation may be the litmus test of its credibility as a partner, not just bilaterally, but more importantly, as a member state of ASEAN.”

Manila and Phnom Penh established diplomatic relations in 1957 but paused during the Cold War. Relations resumed in 1995 when the Philippine Embassy reopened in the Cambodian capital.

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