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Senate OKs PHL-South Korea FTA

SENATE.GOV.PH

THE PHILIPPINE Senate on Wednesday approved on second reading a resolution calling for concurrence in the free trade agreement (FTA) between the Philippines and South Korea.

In Senate Resolution No. 1188, Senator Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos said the free trade deal, which was signed on Sept. 7 last year in Indonesia, would encourage more foreign direct investments and more concessions than those under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

The pact will remove tariffs on about 94.8% of Philippine products and 96.5% of South Korean goods.

Under the Constitution, international agreements and treaties require the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senate’s members for ratification.

The Philippines plans to export more bananas and processed pineapples to South Korea once the FTA is finalized. 

Earlier this month, the Pilipino Banana Growers & Exporters Association, Inc. lobbied for the Senate’s concurrence in the free trade pact to boost banana exports and to compensate for losses caused by the Panama disease.

“The FTA is also expected to stimulate more Korean investments into the country,” Ms. Marcos said in her sponsorship speech earlier this month.

South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa earlier told reporters he was hoping for the pact to be a “game-changer” for trade and investment between Manila and Seoul.

The Philippines is expected generate as much as P200 billion worth of foreign direct investments from the electric vehicle industry and agricultural processing sector within three years, Ms. Marcos said, citing estimates by the Trade department. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

DoJ files new case vs Guo

PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) filed new human trafficking charges against ex-Mayor Alice L. Guo, who has alleged links with illegal gaming operators in her town, an official confirmed on Wednesday.

DoJ Spokesman Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV said in a chance interview the department has filed the case against Ms. Guo before the regional trial court (RTC) of Pasig City. The case was filed on Tuesday, Sept. 17, he noted.

Apart from Ms. Guo, among the respondents were Dennis Cunanan, former deputy director general of Technology and Livelihood Resource Center and representative of the Zun Yuan Technology, as well as 12 executives and founders of the three companies and Ms. Guo’s alleged business partners.

Ms. Guo is also the subject of two arrest warrants from the Senate and a Capas RTC. Mr. Clavano said the DoJ expects the Pasig RTC to issue an arrest warrant after probable cause is determined.

Her legal counsel, Stephen L. David, and Mr. Cunanan’s lawyer, Iryl B. Boco, did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment.

She is facing mounting legal battles after authorities last March raided an illegal gaming operator compound in her town in the northern Philippines, while her real identity is also being questioned. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

P94-M car products seized

NEARLY P94 million worth of automotive-related products were seized from a warehouse in Quezon City through a joint operation of the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Task Force Kalasag and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

In a statement on Wednesday, the DTI said that the operation on Sept. 9 led to the closure of CSS Autoparts’ warehouse in Quezon City after 20,809 units of uncertified lead-acid storage batteries and tires were seized.

“We refuse to wait for accidents, injuries, or even deaths to happen before taking action. This operation sends a clear message: We will not tolerate the sale of hazardous and substandard products that put the lives of Filipinos at risk,” said DTI Acting Secretary Cristina A. Roque.

The latest operation brought the total confiscated automotive-related products of Task Force Kalasag to 31,000 units, which have a cumulative worth of P114.7 million. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

DAR begins SPLIT project

THE DEPARTMENT of Agrarian Reform (DAR) will begin the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project, which will divide collective farm lots in September despite it being launched four years ago due to loan delays from the World Bank, a congressman said on Wednesday.

The World Bank kept on changing the terms of reference for the project, Aklan Rep. Teodorico T. Haresco, Jr. said as he sponsored the Agrarian Reform department’s budget before the House of Representatives.

The World Bank did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

“The program was in hiatus for three years because of the changing terms of reference of the World Bank [on the project],” he said during plenary debates on the proposed P6.352-trillion national budget for next year.

The SPLIT project is an initiative by the Agrarian Reform department in 2020 meant to fast-track the splitting of collective farmland titles, a move seen as improving the land ownership of farmers.

The project is estimated to cost P24.62 billion, according to a story published on DAR’s website. Of the amount, P19.24 billion will be funded by the World Bank with P5.4 billion being shouldered by the government. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Cacao farm monitoring deal signed

DA-11/SJABASTILLAS

HUNGARIAN company SpaceCrop Technologies and the Davao Region Cacao Industry Development Council have signed a partnership to implement advanced satellite monitoring of 10 cacao farms in Davao Region.

The partnership, formalized during the Hungary-Philippine Business Meeting on Sept. 2 in Budapest, was co-signed and witnessed by Hungarian Consul Mary Anne Montemayor and trade attachés from both countries.

According to SpaceCrop, this collaboration aims to address critical challenges in cacao production, focusing on key outcomes such as improved soil management and enhanced productivity.

SpaceCrop also said that one of the core objectives of the partnership is to leverage satellite-based soil monitoring to provide precise data on soil moisture levels, nutrient content, and overall soil health.

It said that through this technology, cacao farmers will gain predictive insights into soil conditions, allowing them to implement targeted fertilization and soil conservation practices.

“The goal is to minimize water waste, optimize nutrient application, and improve soil fertility, ensuring sustainable cacao cultivation for the long term,” it said.

The project also sought to identify early indicators of plant stress, illness, or insect infestations by tracking crop health using satellite images and data analytics.

“This proactive approach will enable cacao farmers to intervene early, preventing crop loss and improving yields. The data-driven insights will also guide decisions on optimal planting and harvesting times, leading to a more efficient production cycle and increased cacao output,” it said.

SpaceCrop also stated that the collaboration is dedicated to improving the resilience of cacao farms in response to climate change. Satellite data can be used to monitor weather patterns and anticipate possible environmental threats like droughts or floods, allowing farmers to get ready and adjust as needed.

This will also decrease susceptibility to severe weather occurrences and encourage enduring farm sustainability.

SpaceCrop added that its technology will empower farmers with detailed reports on their farm’s performance, helping them adopt best practices in crop rotation, pest management, and land use.

In addition to technological solutions, the partnership includes training support for local cacao farmers on the application of satellite-based technology.

SpaceCrop will work closely with the Davao Region Cacao Industry Development Council and the Office of Hungarian Consul to Davao to build farmers’ capacity in using satellite technology and interpreting data.

Meanwhile, Ms. Montemayor described the partnership as trailblazing that will benefit the cacao farmers in the region to enhance the resilience of their farms and make them more prolific.

“As the cacao capital of the Philippines, this partnership and assistance from SpaceCrop is a much-welcomed development. Such an undertaking will likewise serve as a model for other industries to emulate and spark new collaborations. I pray and hope that many more partnerships will follow suit,” Ms. Montemayor told BusinessWorld. — Maya M. Padillo

PDEA shuts down drug den

COTABATO CITY — Anti-narcotics operatives clamped down three drug den operators in an entrapment operation in Lamitan City on Monday evening.

Gil Cesario P. Castro, director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM), announced on Wednesday that the three suspects are now locked in a detention facility, awaiting prosecution.

They were immediately arrested after selling P34,000 worth of crystal meth (shabu) to agents of PDEA-BARMM and policemen in a tradeoff in the premises of their drug den in Purok Fidel in Barangay Malinis in Lamitan City late Monday.

Mr. Castro said the operation that led to the arrest of the drug den operators was laid with the help of the office of Lamitan City Mayor Roderick H. Furigay, officials of the Lamitan City Police Station and the Basilan Provincial Police Office.

The drug den has been padlocked by community watchmen and barangay officials, who reported to PDEA-BARMM their shabu peddling activities, enabling the agency to initiate the sting that led to their arrest. — John Felix M. Unson

Iloilo municipal official wins award after turning pond into eco-park

A MUNICIPAL department head from the central Philippine city of Iloilo on Wednesday received an outstanding government worker award for transforming a 15-hectare condoned fishpond into an eco-park.

The hard work of Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Wilson A. Batislaon of the Municipal Government of Leganes, Iloilo “inspired more than 217 volunteer groups or a thousand volunteers to contribute to planting 150,000 mangroves,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said in a speech at the award rites for 2024 Outstanding Government Workers.   

“Through this initiative, it improved the economy and it engaged to protect the forest, elevated the quality of coastal waters, lessened the damage caused by storm surges and typhoons,” he added.

The Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) Honor Awards Program recognizes civil servants for their “outstanding performance” and “extraordinary acts or services.”

Aside from Mr. Batislaon, the presidential award was also given to Undersecretary Glenn Mathew Guillermo Baggao of the Department of Health in the City of Manila, Medical Specialist III Rachelle C. Dela Cruz of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City, Social Welfare Office IV Ann Rapunzel O. Ganzon of the Provincial Government of Iloilo, Career Scientist II Marcela M. Navasero of the University of the Philippines Los Baños in Laguna, and Professor III Santiago T. Peña, Jr. of the Visayas State University in Baybay City, Leyte.

Presidential awardees also included Health Beyond Bard Programs of the Bataan Peninsula State University in Balanga City, Bataan; the Cacao Development Center of the Isabela State University in Echague, Isabela; and champions of the Philippine Good Agricultural Practices from the Visayas State University in Baybay City, Leyte.

In his speech, Mr. Marcos called on government workers to be transparent and accountable to the people.

Mr. Marcos has been under fire in recent days after his office confirmed that he had attended a concert gig by 1980s band Duran Duran organized by his “old friends” in a hotel in Pasay City for his 67th birthday celebration.

Lawyers have said the President may have violated the country’s Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials, Section 7 of which provides that public officials and employees “shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

PHL men’s team faces all-GM Croatia in Olympiad 7th round

THE WHOLE TEAM, including national women’s coach GM Jayson Gonzales, was treated to a refreshing city tour by delegation head Atty. Ruel Canobas.

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Julio Catalino Sadorra will try to carry the Philippines on his shoulders anew as they face off with dangerous Croatia in the seventh round of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad at the BOK Sports Hall here.

The 38-year-old University of Texas in Dallas coach is expected to man the top board for the Filipinos, who will be fielding Daniel Quizon, Paulo Bersamina and John Paul Gomez, against the Croatians, an all-GM side that was formerly part of chess power Yugoslavia.

The Filipinos, whose participation was being financed by the PSC through Chair Richard Bachmann and Commissioner Ed Hayco and backed by NCFP chief Butch Pichay, will try to barge back into the top 10 after sputtering to a share of 21st following a stinging 2.5-1.5 setback to the rock-solid Armenians, a former champion here.

Mr. Sadorra came into the round brandishing an impressive record of 3.5 points in four games, which included shocking wins over super GMs Vladimir Fedoseev in a mammoth 2.5-1.5 win over the Slovenians in the fifth round Sunday and Armenian Haik Martirosyan the next day.

This put Mr. Sadorra in the running for an individual medal on top board as he is currently ranked fifth with a tournament performance rating of 2879, behind and elite cast of Indian Dommaraju Gukesh (2998), American Fabiano Caruana (2987), Uzbek Nodirbek Abdusattorov (2948), and Vietnamese Le Quang Liem (2881).

Mr. Sadorra is hoping to become the first Filipino to win a medal in the biennial event since GM Eugene Torre, now the national men’s coach and non-playing captain, snatched a bronze in the 2016 Baku edition where he scored a scintillating 10 out of 11.

Mr. Sadorra, however, is more focused on helping the team win.

“I just want to help the team in any way I can, may it be leading by example, teaching, advising and just being a friend to them,” he said.

Shania Mae Mendoza, Janelle Mae Frayna, Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Ruelle Canino will plunge back into action as the Filipinas, currently bunched in a big group at No. 22 with eight points each, battle the 26th ranked Argentines.

Meanwhile, the whole team, including national women’s coach GM Jayson Gonzales, was treated to a refreshing city tour by delegation head Atty. Ruel Canobas. — Joey Villar

CSB Blazers clinically beat UPH Altas, 78-51

CSB BLAZERS

Games on Friday
(Filoil EcoOil Arena)
12 p.m. – AU vs LPU
2:30 p.m. – Letran vs Mapua

ONE BY ONE, College of St. Benilde (CSB) is dismantling everything and everyone in its path.

Showing none to little mercy, the CSB Blazers slaughtered the University of Perpetual Help (UPH) Altas, 78-51, Wednesday to remain unscathed and immovable at No. 1 in NCAA Season 100 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

It was another clinical display of bench depth, relentless running game and nearly impenetrable defense for the Las Piñas-based school, which included in its long line of victims contenders San Beda University, the defending champion, Lyceum of the Philippines University and Emilio Aguinaldo College.

The beating was so terrifying that the CSB Blazers finished off the Altas as early as the first half when the former lead, 50-29.

It was worse in the third canto when CSB made it a 69-40 lead, its biggest of the game, with a whole quarter to go.

It was made more impressive when the Blazers’ most lethal weapon, big man Allen Liwag, fresh from being adjudged the season’s player of the week by the collegiate press corps, was confused after ending up with his season worst four points and nine rebounds.

It didn’t affect CSB a bit as the troika of Justin Sanchez, Tony Ynot and Gab Cometa presided over the carnage by unloading 13, 12 and 10 points, respectively.

“I want the type of team where even if you struggle, you can contribute in other ways,” said cerebral CSB coach Charles Tiu.

The Altas stumbled to their second straight defeat after starting the season with two wins in a row. — Joey Villar

The scores:

First Game

CSB 78 – Sanchez 13, Ynot 12, Cometa 10, Ancheta 9, Torres 8, Eusebio 8, Serrano 7, Liwag 4, Morales 3, Sangco 2, Ondoa 2, Jarque 0, Turco 0, Oli 0, Carillo 0

UPHSD 51 – Gojo Cruz 11, Orgo 10, Boral 9, Abis 4, Pizarro 4, J. Manuel 4, Pagaran 4, Nuñez 3, Montemayor 2, Gelsano 0, Cauguiran 0, Sevilla 0, Javier 0, Movida 0, B. Manuel 9

Quarter scores: 18-10; 50-29; 69-40; 78-51

Aces handle Storm, secure home court in WNBA Round 1

A’JA WILSON and Kelsey Plum scored 21 points each to lead a balanced scoring effort and the visiting Las Vegas Aces clinched home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs with an 85-72 victory against the short-handed Seattle Storm on Tuesday night.

Jackie Young added 16 points, Chelsea Gray scored 13 and Tiffany Hayes had 10 for the Aces (26-13), who clinched no worse than fourth place by winning for the eighth time in nine games.

Las Vegas will finish the regular season at home against Dallas on Thursday night and could claim third place with a victory and a Connecticut loss to Chicago.

Nneka Ogwumike scored 19, Skylar Diggins-Smith had 17 points and nine assists and Gabby Williams scored 14 to lead the Storm (24-15), who played without leading scorer Jewell Loyd (knee) and leading rebounder Ezi Magbegor (concussion).

Seattle, whose four-game winning streak ended, will begin the playoffs on the road as the fifth seed. The Storm conclude the regular season at Phoenix on Thursday.

Ogwumike made two field goals and Diggins-Smith had one as the Storm started the third quarter with a 6-0 run to pull within 48-46.

Plum’s 3-pointer ended the Aces’ 4½-minute scoring drought and increased the lead to six points.

Seattle got as close as one point before Young’s three-point play helped Las Vegas take a 63-61 lead at the end of the quarter.

Diggins-Smith’s basket tied the score and, moments later, she made another to give Seattle its only lead, 65-64. Wilson made two free throws to start an 8-0 run that gave Las Vegas a 72-65 lead.

The Aces maintained control as the Storm scored just 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Wilson scored 10 points as the Aces took a 25-12 lead. They led by 13 points on two more occasions before Diggins-Smith made two free throws to trim the deficit to 29-18 at the end of the first quarter.

A field goal by the Storm’s Mercedes Russell started the second-quarter scoring, but Young scored seven points as Las Vegas expanded the lead to 44-26.

Ogwumike scored seven points during a 14-4 run that pulled Seattle within 48-40 at halftime. — Reuters

Slot shines, Fonseca falters as Liverpool outclasses AC Milan in Champions League

MILAN — On a night that saw Liverpool’s Arne Slot and AC Milan’s Paulo Fonseca each take the managerial reins in a Champions League game with their new teams for the first time, their experiences could not have been more different.

Slot guided Liverpool to a resounding 3-1 victory over Fonseca’s Milan at San Siro, as his team remained calm after a shaky start, storming back after conceding a goal in the opening three minutes.

“To come back so strong and dominant, it was a deserved victory,” said Slot, who replaced retired manager Juergen Klopp at the Merseyside club. “This is an evening I will remember in the future. Hopefully many more times like this will come as Liverpool manager.”

Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai scored for Liverpool after Christian Pulisic capitalised on some disorganised defending by the Reds for Milan’s lone goal.

A day after Fonseca said his men would have to be “defensively perfect” against Liverpool, they were porous and far from perfect. And it could have been significantly worse with Liverpool enjoying 11 shots on target to the home side’s two.

“We played against Liverpool, a great team,” Fonseca, who replaced Stefano Pioli at Milan, told Sky. “We started the match well offensively and defensively, then we conceded two goals from set pieces which changed the game.

“When details are missing we can have problems doing what we prepare in training, Liverpool are more of a team than us, we have to work to play without problems for 70/80 minutes.”

Asked about conceding almost identical goals from two centre backs — Konate and Van Dijk — Fonseca said: “For the first goal we had a man on Van Dijk, we had prepared this. He was free, it’s true, but the central defenders had to be taken with individual marking.”

The two managers have had wildly different starts to their respective leagues this season as well, with Slot’s men winning their first three games before a shock 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday to sit fourth in the Premier League.

AC Milan sit 10th in the Serie A table with one win in four games. — Reuters

Liberty seals top seed, drops Mystics under playoff line

BREANNA STEWART collected team highs with 15 points and 10 rebounds as the New York Liberty clinched the league’s best record and top seed in the WNBA playoffs with an 87-71 victory over the host Washington Mystics on Tuesday night.

The Liberty (32-7), with one regular-season game remaining, secured the top mark for the first time since 2015. They have three consecutive conference titles, including last season, but are still seeking their first WNBA crown. The Minnesota Lynx (30-9), who defeated the Connecticut Sun 78-75 on Tuesday night, will finish in second in the regular-season league standings.

The Mystics began Tuesday in a three-way tie with Atlanta and Chicago for the final playoff spot. After Washington (13-26) lost and the Dream (14-25) earned an 86-70 win over the Sky (13-26) on Tuesday, Atlanta holds a one-game edge with one regular-season game remaining for all three teams. — Reuters

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