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DTI planning to cut down items on SRP list 

PHOTO BY BERNARD HERMANT

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Wednesday that it will reduce the number of items on the suggested retail price (SRP) bulletin.

In a statement, the DTI said that the proposal was presented to a special meeting of the National Price Coordinating Council last week.

“Our goal with this proposal is to improve the usability and relevance of the SRP Bulletin, making it a more effective tool for consumers to make informed purchasing decisions,” Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said in the statement.

“By aligning the SRP with essential daily and emergency items, we are taking a significant step towards better price stability and consumer protection,” he added.

The DTI is proposing to reduce the number of stock keeping units (SKUs) being monitored from the current 217 SKUs.

It proposed to delist condensed milk, evaporated milk, coffee refills, candles, salt, bottled water, condiments, and batteries, among others.

The proposed streamlined SRP will focus on sardines, powdered milk, bread, laundry soap, instant noodles, processed and canned pork, beef, poultry meat, and toilet soap.

The proposal follows consultations with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Also consulted were the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association, Inc., the Philippine Association of Stores and Carinderia Owners, and various retailers.

“Additionally, the DTI considered data from the Family Income and Expenditure Survey, consumer price index basket commodities, and top-selling items in sari-sari stores,” the DTI said.

The DTI is organizing a technical working group to finalize the list of SKUs within each category.

The DTI, under the Price Act, is empowered to issue SRPs for any or all Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities, to guide producers, manufacturers, traders, retailers, and consumers.

Undersecretary Jose Edgardo G. Sunico said that the streamlined SRP list is targeted for release within the month. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Prices of back-to-school items largely steady, Trade dep’t says

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Wednesday that 68% of the school supplies covered by its buyers’ guide were unchanged in price.

The DTI is set to release the “Gabay sa Pamimili ng School Supplies” (guidance on purchasing school supplies), which covers specific brands of notebook, pad paper, pencil, ballpoint pen, crayon, eraser, sharpener, and ruler.

According to the DTI’s Consumer Affairs and Legal Services group, the list will indicate the price changes and will be presented at the Plan Balik Eskwela (back to school) event of the Department of Education.

This year, 173 stock keeping units (SKUs) of school supplies were submitted, representing a 53 SKU increase from the previous year.

“Compared to last year’s set of SKUs, 68%, or 80 SKUs, of the 117 SKUs recorded no price movement, while 8%, or 9 SKUs, had decreased prices. In addition, only 24%, or 28 SKUs, showed an increase in prices,” the DTI said.

For this year, notebook prices range from P11.80 to P52, Grade 1-4 pad paper sold for P9.50 to P61, and intermediate pad paper prices fetched between P13.80 and P48.75.

Prices of pencils and ballpoint pens ranged from P11 to P33 and P3 to P33, respectively.

Sharpeners and rulers were priced at P15 to P69 and P16 to P29, respectively. Meanwhile, erasers fetched P4.50 to P20.

With classes resuming on July 29, the DTI urged consumers to check the labels of school supplies for the name and address of the manufacturer or importer and the number of leaves in notebooks and papers, among others.

“I urge consumers to buy school supplies from companies that comply with labeling requirements and use the price guide when shopping,” Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said.

The DTI will also be posting the “Gabay sa Pamimili ng School Supplies” on its website, it said. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Spot power prices decline in June

BW FILE PHOTO

ELECTRICITY spot prices declined in June due to the decreased demand, the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) said.

The IEMOP reported that the average power price at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) system-wide fell 25.2% to P6.15 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in June from P8.22 per kWh a month earlier.

Supply fell 0.1% to 19,638 megawatts (MW). Demand dropped 6.2% to 14,710 MW.

For Luzon, the spot price fell 27.9% to P5.97 per kWh.

Supply on the main island fell 1% to 13,860 MW, while demand dropped 6.2% to 10,664 MW.

Last month, the average spot price in the Visayas fell 2.9% to P8.56 per kWh.

Supply was 2,322 MW, down 3.6%, while demand hit 2,002 MW, down 7.6%.

For Mindanao, the average WESM price fell 36.6% to P4.61 per kWh.

Supply increased 6.8% to 3,457 MW. Demand fell 5% to 2,044 MW.

IEMOP operates the WESM, where energy companies can buy power when their long-term contracted power supply is insufficient for customer needs. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

New Clark City to get EV-capable service station

Image via Ivan Radic/CC BY 2.0

THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said it signed a deal with Double 11 Properties Corp. to establish a service station capable of recharging electric vehicles (EVs) on a one-hectare site in New Clark City.

“This partnership signals another milestone in the development of New Clark City as a smart and green metropolis, one that is ready for a future filled with electric vehicles and eco-friendly cars,” BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang said in a statement on Wednesday.

“This is also a step towards our ‘15-minute city’ vision for New Clark City, where basic amenities and facilities are easily accessible within walking or cycling distance,” he added.

Under the contract, Double 11 will be investing at least P100 million for the development of the facility, which will include charging terminals for EVs, a mixed-use commercial complex, and retailers.

“With this engagement, we expect economic benefits, such as additional revenue for the government, employment opportunities for local residents and communities, and most importantly, increased foot traffic in New Clark City,” BCDA Vice-President for Business Development Mark P. Torres said.

Double 11 also expressed interest in an additional P100-million investment for a phase 2 expansion on an additional hectare.

The service station is expected to house over 20 retailers and office tenants and is estimated to service 200,000 motorists annually. It is projected to create 500 direct jobs and generate P100 million in revenue for the government.

“With BCDA, we are bringing our international brand partners here to provide excellent service to motorists,” Ren Siccion, a Double 11 business development manager, said.

“Using our experience and expertise, we will not only be developing a super station but also a lifestyle development where people can park, dine, shop, and work,” he added.

Double 11’s other businesses are zoos and theme parks, and industrial parks.

Its projects include Northwalk Clark along M.A. Roxas Highway, Shell of Asia and Caltex Stations along the North Luzon Expressway, Northwalk 1 and 2 in San Fernando, Pampanga, and the PTT Station along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Korean education-technology firm to set up remote-work agency business in Philippines

Tella Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Yuha Jin — UNDP

SOUTH KOREA’s Tella, an English-language education technology company, said it is looking to set up a remote-work agency for workers in the Philippines.

“Although we’ve had made some success in the mission and the business side, we’re now looking into the next phase of diversifying our business portfolio,” Tella Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Yuha Jin told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of the Youth Co:Lab Summit by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Citi Foundation last week.

Founded in 2014, Tella initially sought to provide English online tutoring jobs to Filipinos and Ugandans. It currently serves 100,000 users in 60 countries.

The expansion involves farming out remote work to users in the two countries to better serve clients in various time zones, Ms. Jin said.

“If we’re just focused on one industry (English language tutoring), there’s a limit to how many jobs that we can directly create. Whereas, if we’re the agency or the platform to connect the talent to a variety of businesses, then there can be way more opportunities,” Ms. Jin said.

Tella’s target is to support up to a million jobseekers on its platform, Ms. Jin added.

It is also looking to establish a startup accelerator to help fund, mentor and link Filipino and Ugandan digital and IT (information technology) startups with foreign investors.

“Young people have even better skill sets these days,” she said. “But in terms of entrepreneurship, like having industry insight or having network or connections, it doesn’t come at a young age.”

The Philippines, with one of the youngest working populations in the East Asia-Pacific, has a 25-year window to utilize the benefits of having an agile workforce, the World Bank has said. This will require investing in health, skills and knowledge to maximize the potential economic benefits.

“Investors or government need to know where and who to invest in — the right people and right industries,” Ms. Jin said.

Gerd Trogemann, manager of the Regional Programme and Global Policy Network at the UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, cited the need to invest in youth-led startups.

“It is important to think about youth because it tells you where you need to make adjustments in terms of policy, regulations, and in creating opportunities for the next generation,” he told BusinessWorld separately. “Policy is not made in a vacuum; it needs to be applied in reality.” — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Trade diversification strategies filtering down to PHL SMEs

REUTERS

SMALL- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are beginning to embrace the strategy of diversifying their global vendor networks, US financial services company Payoneer Global, Inc. said.

In a study, Payoneer said 63% of 252 surveyed Philippine respondents consider it important to diversify their supply chains to mitigate disruption in the flow of goods.

The strategy also carries with it the side effect of possibly opening the door to overseas markets, Payoneer said.

“The opportunity for SMEs to unlock growth from accessing global demand is enormous,” Payoneer Chief Financial Officer Bea Ordonez said.

“Our research shows that SMEs continue to expand their businesses across borders, extending their reach into new markets and trade corridors,” she said.

“To do this, SMEs are embracing digitization and innovation and working with a range of technology-enabled vendors and partners who can empower and facilitate their global ambitions,” she added.

“This is part of a larger trade diversification trend, where ongoing trade tensions between China and North America have made doing business more complicated,” Payoneer said.

Some 86% of Philippine SMEs said they want to globalize but assign a high priority to employing local talent to support the Philippine economy.

Philippine SMEs said globalization provides them with a range of benefits, including innovation (62%), access to high-quality supply (57%), access to vendors (54%), financial performance (54%) and control over pricing (51%). 

However, Philippine businesses are facing hurdles such as low brand awareness and marketing challenges (38%).

Some 46% of respondents are finding the obstacles more manageable due to technology, while 84% said the pace of technological change is driving innovation for their company.

Many organizations are beginning to use technologies like AI to improve customer service, merchandising, trend forecasting, and supply chain optimization, Payoneer said.

Businesses also have an optimistic outlook on their growth prospects, with 93% saying they are confident their revenue will grow over the next 12 months, while 90% expect their economies to improve.

“This outlook… creates a positive feedback loop,” Payoneer said, with 79% of Philippine SMEs saying their business is the sole source of income for their families.

“When the local economy improves, SME performance benefits, which then further boosts the economy,” Payoneer added. — Aaron Michael C. Sy

Hybrid work: From ‘new’ to ‘now’ normal

After the public health emergency was lifted in May 2023, the ensuing digital transformation pushed many companies and professionals to seek out more opportunities for digitalization and innovation.

Companies have been investing more and more in digital technologies to operate more efficiently while professionals are placing an increased premium on skills growth to become more competitive. The emergence of technological developments has not only transformed business operations but also heightened the competition across industries.

In the Philippines, many organizations have adopted flexible work arrangements that allow their people to work either in a fully remote or hybrid setup. According to PwC’s 2024 Global Workforce Hopes & Fears Survey which was launched in the last week of June, 52% of the 1,000 respondents from the Philippines said that they are currently doing hybrid work, i.e., having a mix of in-person and remote working. This is in contrast to the 27% who do full-time remote work (having no in-person contact at all with colleagues, teammates, managers, suppliers or customers) while 21% work full-time and in-person. Clearly, hybrid work has become the popular choice.

FLEXIBILITY: THE CORE OF HYBRID WORK
Flexibility may come in various forms such as flexible working hours and schedules, and through output-based performance. Companies may also explore the feasibility of a four-day workweek to give employees more time to rest and recharge.

In her article, “Overcome the caveats of hybrid working,” PwC Netherlands Director Marlene de Koning highlighted some notable insights from a survey conducted by PwC among the employees of a multinational construction company. The survey aimed to identify the right balance and suitable hybrid arrangements for its diverse workforce. The survey results revealed that older workers tend to feel well and connected with their colleagues when they work apart, while engineers work best when they are close to each other. Those working from home showed better work-life balance, but long travel times to project sites led to higher absenteeism. In essence, this example shows that when opting for a hybrid setup, groups and individuals may require different forms of flexibility.

BENEFITS OF HYBRID WORK SETUP
Nowadays, employees prefer a hybrid work setup. It allows them to work partly in a physical workspace and partly at home or from anywhere else, and to only report to the office on specific days or when necessary. They get to save time, energy and money from their reduced daily commute and meal expenses. This arrangement can significantly reduce employee burnout as commuting, particularly in congested areas, can be challenging. In addition, differently abled individuals may find hybrid work more convenient. Hybrid work for employees could mean work-life balance or work-life integration, depending on how one views it.

According to a November 2023 Cisco survey, “From mandate to magnet: The race to reimagine workplaces and workspaces for a hybrid future,” employees in the Philippines perceive that working in a hybrid setup has a positive impact on their office productivity (73%), cost savings (73%) and well-being (74%). Employers shared similar perceptions, with 78% noting increased productivity, 77% acknowledging cost savings, and 75% seeing improved employee well-being.

Employers stand to gain from hybrid work, too. With fewer employees working on site, overhead costs such as office space, utilities and supplies can be reduced. The resulting savings can be reallocated to other business-development and people-engagement activities.

Hybrid work arrangements may also increase job satisfaction, work productivity, company loyalty and talent retention. In turn, a flexible workforce is more likely to stay with the company longer, lowering the costs associated with high turnover. Additionally, this setup is also advantageous for business continuity as it allows operations to resume outside the confines of a traditional office, reducing the impact of sudden disruptions such as natural disasters or public health crises.

HOW CAN BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF HYBRID WORK?
Businesses must fully embrace this “now” normal. Office facilities and technologies, such as virtual communication tools and equipment, should be readily available to support employees, whether working remotely or onsite. Office space, according to the employees’ expectations in a similar Cisco survey, should be used to promote teamwork and collaboration while individual tasks might be done at home or remotely.

Cybersecurity measures must be in place to prevent data breaches and cyberattacks. These include regular training for employees on data security and IT infrastructure that can secure the company’s sensitive data, wherever employees are accessing them from.

It’s also crucial to maintain company values and culture, and to keep employees engaged and included. Remote work can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation, so it’s important to find ways to keep the team connected. Regular virtual meetings and team-building and social activities can help build a strong sense of community.

A successfully managed hybrid workplace can foster diversity, equity and inclusivity, benefitting both employees and employers.

EMBRACING THE FUTURE OF WORK
Amid an ever-evolving business environment, hybrid work is here to stay. Companies must be ready for its challenges and opportunities. The future of work may still be unclear but one thing is for sure: Embracing this setup can lead to a more satisfied and productive workforce, while also enabling organizations to be more resilient and adaptable in the face of change.

The views or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Isla Lipana & Co. The content is for general information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for specific advice.

 

Ryan Ray Reyes is a Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers Business Services Philippines Co. Ltd., a Philippine member firm of the PwC network.

ryan.ray.reyes@pwc.com

First-world Philippines by 2050, possible – urban planner

Source: PALAFOX

by Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer

A renowned urban planner said that improved infrastructure, good governance and transparency are key to achieving a first-world Philippines. 

“We may have the best plans in the world, but if we don’t have good institutions to implement them, we’ll never make it,” PALAFOX founder Felino A. Palafox, Jr. said at the campaign launch last July 1. 

The ‘Philippines 2050: A First-World Country, A First-World Economy’ campaign of PALAFOX aims to create 100 sustainable cities and enjoin the government, private sector, environmental advocates, civil society, and every Filipino towards this first-world vision. 

The Philippines 2050 campaign recommends that the new cities should be built to be smart, sustainable, and resilient. Failure to do so may result in already existing cities becoming as problematic as Metro Manila. 

“We should dream big, plan long, [and go] beyond the electoral calendar of three years and six years,” Mr. Palafox said. 

The initiative stems from the Goldman Sachs’ projection of the Philippines being the top 16th economy in the world by 2050.  

The Philippines also has one of the largest gold reserves in the world, and is a marine biodiversity hotspot. 

Mr. Palafox, who promotes vertical cities to prevent urban sprawl to encroach into forests, said the country “uses the wrong model.”  

“After the war, we copied Los Angeles, which was designed for the automobile and not pedestrians,” he said. 

Mobility, accessibility, and connectivity are also key factors to consider in development, Mr. Palafox added. 

“Let’s develop the provinces, [and] let’s involve the private sector,” Mr. Palafox said. 

Manila told to temper expectations from new round of talks with Beijing

MEMBERS of a military detachment stationed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands, in the West Philippine Sea, March 29, 2014. — REUTERS

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter

THE PHILIPPINES should temper its expectations from negotiations with China on their sea dispute because Beijing is more interested in advancing its interests in the South China Sea, according to a United States security analyst.

“China’s first priority is not de-escalation but rather advancing its position,” Raymond M. Powell, a fellow at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, said in an X message on Wednesday.

The neighbors resumed talks this week to ease tensions in the South China Sea, days after a standoff at Second Thomas Shoal, where a handful of Filipino soldiers live on a dilapidated outpost.

Manila grounded the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era ship, there in 1999 to bolster its sea claim.

Manila is hosting the latest round of talks between the two countries under their bilateral consultation mechanism, a format to specifically address South China Sea disputes.

But Mr. Powell noted that the ninth meeting under the mechanism on Tuesday was accompanied by the deployment of a China Coast Guard ship off the coast of Palawan province and another coast guard ship known as the “The Monster” to Second Thomas Shoal.

“This is to ensure that Beijing comes into any negotiations from a position of relative strength in order to extract more concessions,” he said.

China’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday night urged the Philippines to stop its “maritime infringement” and provocation in the South China Sea, hours after the bilateral talks.

In a statement posted on its website, the ministry said the Philippines should “return to the right track of properly handling disputes” by pursuing dialogue and consultation to avoid worsening tensions.

Philippine Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ma. Teresita C. Daza did not immediately reply to a WhatsApp message seeking comment.

“The two sides believe that maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea serves the interests of both China and the Philippines and is also the common goal of countries in the region,” China’s Foreign Ministry said.

It added that both sides had committed to improve maritime communication and to explore cooperation in marine science and technology.

The bilateral meeting was held weeks after a June 17 standoff at Second Thomas Shoal in which Chinese forces with bladed weapons boarded Philippine rubber boats on a resupply mission and looted rifles.

Philippine Navy personnel fought with bare hands and one of them lost a thumb after the rubber he was in was rammed, according to the Philippine military.

The shoal is located 240 kilometers off the coast of Palawan province and is about 900 kilometers from Hainan, the nearest major Chinese landmass.

Mr. Powell, in a report that cited satellite imagery, said the 165-meter CCG 5901, the world’s largest coast guard ship, had “returned for another intrusive patrol in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ),” joining the 102-meter CCG 5203 at Second Thomas Shoal at 7:26 am.

Efforts to schedule a bilateral meeting between the neighbors to manage tensions at sea started as early as May, according to the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). There were working group meetings between the two sides weeks before the July 2 meeting.

Mr. Powell said the Philippines “should continue to look after its interests” as the two nations explore talks.

“What China says is far less important than what China does.”

He said China wants the Philippines to “de-escalate,” while China consolidates its gains, just as it did at Scarborough Shoal in 2012.

China seized the shoal, which is within the Philippine EEZ, in 2012 after maintaining constant coast guard presence there, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.

Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco, a fellow at the Ateneo de Manila University Policy Center, said the resumption of bilateral consultations between Manila and Beijing is a good development “but we should also take it for what it is.”

“It’s just a resumption of talks,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat. “A diplomatic settlement is still far from attainable. We must still make sure that the government does not concede an inch of our territory.”

“That means we must still demand the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he added.

Mr. Yusingco said the government should ensure that the talks endure at least at the ministerial levels.

“It would be strategic to just designate one official spokesperson to speak about West Philippine Sea matters,” he said. “They should set a stern directive for officials in the Marcos administration to desist from making any commentary regarding these matters.”

“As far as the Marcos administration is concerned, strategic transparency should be implemented properly, meaning, reporting just facts and nothing else.”

After the bilateral talks on Tuesday, the DFA said the parties “had frank and constructive discussions on the South China Sea situation.”

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro told her counterpart that the Philippines “will be relentless in protecting its interests and upholding its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea,” the agency said.

“Noting recent incidents in the South China Sea, both sides recognized that there is a need to restore trust, rebuild confidence and create conditions conducive to productive dialogue and interaction,” it added.

NO THREAT OF ATTACK
Mr. Yusingco said Philippine officials should continue to prioritize boosting Manila’s maritime defense capabilities.

“This is really the best way to ensure that no other country can disrespect our sovereignty and the integrity of our national territory.”

He earlier noted that every major South China Sea claimant has a robust and respectable naval force “except the Philippines.”

Also on Wednesday, National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director-General Jonathan E. Malaya said the government “sees no threat of any imminent attack” from China, after video remarks from Senator Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos that China was planning to use hypersonic missiles against military bases under the Philippines’ Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States.

“We will reach out to Senator Imee to get more information about her statement because we are not aware of any of the security threats she mentioned,” he told reporters in a group message.

He said the two countries “reaffirmed their commitment to de-escalating tensions” at their bilateral talks on Tuesday.

“There was also substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation in the West Philippine Sea, including improving maritime communications,” he added.

“The Philippines and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) maintain cordial relations and are committed to managing whatever differences there may be,” Mr. Malaya said. “We see no threat of any imminent attack from the PRC.” — with John Victor D. Ordoñez

DICT downplays data compromise

FREEPIK

By Ashley Erika O. Jose, Reporter

THE DEPARTMENT of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Wednesday downplayed the recent data breach involving its own system, but experts raised alarms about the state’s weak cyberdefense.

“The extent of this recent breach, it is not that big,” Information and Communications Technology Assistant Secretary Renato A. Paraiso told a virtual news briefing. “There is very little information that was integrated into that system.”

On Tuesday, DICT said its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division (DRRM) portal and systems had been compromised.

The hacked portal was not connected to the agency’s central system, and it has since regained control of the portal, Mr. Paraiso said, adding that it was designed and built with fewer firewalls for easier access.

Ronald B. Gustilo, national campaigner for Digital Pinoys, said the data breach affecting the agency is alarming and could invite more hacking attempts.

“The recent data breach affecting no less than the DICT is alarming, and no excuse from the DICT will be acceptable,” he said in a Viber message. “This is regardless of whether the system is connected to their main system.”

The DICT said the threat actor behind the breach is “ph1ns,” the same hacker who also claimed responsibility for the data breach of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and  Maritime Industry Authority websites.

“This message is another opportunity for DICT and the Philippine government to learn and take cybersecurity seriously,” ph1ns said. “You’re my buddy, DICT. I’ll be back.”

Sam Jacoba, founding president of the National Association of Data Protection Officers of the Philippines, said the Philippines might suffer the same fate as Indonesia, which is now experiencing a government system-wide ransomware attack.

The Indonesian government has ordered an audit of data centers after ransomware cyberattacks on more than 200 public agencies after it refused to pay $8 million, Reuters reported.

“If the government does not hasten the full implementation of the National Cybersecurity Plan,” Mr. Jacoba said. “The attack on the Indonesian government should be more than a wake-up call for the DICT to ask for full support from the President.”

The National Cybersecurity Plan is the country’s blueprint to ensure a safe cyberlandscape. It provides policy direction to ensure a safe cyberspace and digital infrastructure.

“The DICT may consider the attack on its DRRM Division as minor, but big things can start from small incidents,” Mr. Jacoba said. “If they need more cybersecurity personnel, the DICT can ask for assistance from private sector organizations to augment their teams.”

POGOs near EDCA sites being watched

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

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter

THE PHILIPPINES’ Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said it is looking into more offshore gaming operations across the country including those that are near key military facilities.

There are 17 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) in Sta. Ana, Cagayan province in northern Philippines, and all of these are close to two sites under the country’s Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States, PAOCC spokesman Winston John Romero Casio said by telephone.

He added that the POGO sites are under the jurisdiction of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) and not the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).

“Because they are outside the regulatory power of Pagcor, and it’s far from the PAOCC, we do not know what’s happening inside those sites,” he said.

Under an executive order issued by ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte in 2017, only Pagcor and three investment promotion agencies — CEZA, the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone Free Port Authority and Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan can give a license to online gambling operations.

Other provinces with EDCA sites such as Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Palawan also host POGO sites, which are all considered illegal because they are not under the watch of Pagcor or any investment promotion agency, Mr. Casio said.

“We’re looking at them because as far as our records show, there are no legal POGOs in Cebu,” he said. “We’re also taking a look at reports that there are offshore gaming operations in Palawan province as well as in Cagayan de Oro and Davao.”

“There should not be any in Davao or Cagayan de Oro,” he said, noting that the 42 legal POGOs under Pagcor’s watch are all in Metro Manila and in Kawit, Cavite.

Congress under Mr. Duterte passed a law taxing POGOs to legalize them, despite concerns about their social costs. Chinese President Xi Jinping had asked him to ban their operations.

Philippine authorities have raided POGOs allegedly linked to crimes including human trafficking.

Law enforcers raided a POGO in Bamban, Tarlac in March, rescuing hundreds of Filipino and foreign workers believed to have been trafficked. The raid later led to the suspension of the town mayor.

Authorities also raided another POGO complex on the border of Porac and Angeles City in Pampanga province that they dubbed as the “most notorious” for violence.

Mr. Casio told BusinessWorld that they recently recovered video materials showing workers being tortured inside the POGO complex, which had more than 40 buildings including villas and a golf course.

The videos showed a woman being tortured and a man being electrocuted for trying to escape, he said.

About 160 foreign nationals have been rescued from the POGO complex in Pampanga. Authorities have been looking for more victims and suspects inside the compound.

Mr. Casio said PAOCC has yet to come up with a recommendation to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. amid a push in the Senate for a ban on all POGOs.

The agency on Tuesday said Manila and Beijing have agreed to boost cooperation against transnational crimes including those linked to POGOs during a meeting between Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, who heads the PAOCC, and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian.

The parties had agreed to “effectively disrupt and dismantle criminal networks” through expertise exchanges, intelligence sharing and joint operations, the PAOCC said in a statement.

Cigarettes worth P2.6M seized

Cigarettes are seen during the manufacturing process in the British American Tobacco Cigarette Factory (BAT) in Bayreuth, southern Germany, April 30, 2014. Picture taken April 30, 2014. — REUTERS

COTABATO CITY — Law enforcement agents on Monday foiled an attempt by smugglers to deliver P2.6 million worth of cigarettes from Indonesia to contacts in the village of Awang in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation and local police intercepted a truck carrying 100 boxes of Indonesian-made cigarettes, Brigadier General Prexy D. Tanggawohn, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, told reporters.

Law enforces acted on a confidential tip.

The contraband would be turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition, Mr. Tanggawohn said. — John Felix M. Unson

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