President to sign 2024 budget on Wednesday — Zubiri

December 17, 2023 | 8:44 pm

By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Reporter

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is set to sign his administration’s P5.768-trillion 2024 spending plan this Wednesday, Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri said on Sunday.

“The budget for 2024 is one of the most progressive budgets that will help uplift the livelihood of the people,” Mr. Zubiri told DZBB radio.

Last Monday, Congress ratified the bicameral conference report on the proposed P5.768-trillion national budget for next year.

Mr. Zubiri said that the ratified budget has been sent to Malacañang for Mr. Marcos’ signature, noting that funding for the Department of National Defense (DND) increased by about P8.4 billion, which included funds for defense equipment.

He also said that P2.8 billion was added under the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), which will include the construction of three vessels to be used for navigations in the South China Sea.

“There is an Australian company with a plant in Balamban, Cebu, [who are] also the manufacturers of ships for the Australian navy,” Mr. Zubiri said in Filipino. “They will create the three large boats here [in this plant,] with the hiring of 3,000 Filipino workers.”

Mr. Zubiri added that P2.4 billion was earmarked under the Health department’s Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients (MAIP) program.

The Senate President also assured that confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) have been removed from the budget as more agencies have been requesting for such.

Under the 2024 budget, the education sector has been allocated P924.7 billion, in which the Department of Education (DepEd) will receive P758.6 billion.

The budgets of the Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and state universities and colleges (SUCs) were increased by almost P30 billion,” Senate Majority Leader Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva said last week.

The budget for the Department of Trade and Industry increased by about P686 million to boost the country’s domestic production and make local products more globally competitive.

An additional P25 billion was granted to the Department of Agriculture, and P40 billion was set for irrigation projects under the National Irrigation Administration.

Lawmakers also added P1 billion for the development of the Philippine General Hospital, National Kidney Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and National Cancer Center.

APPROVED BILLS
The Senate passed a total of 31 measures this year, Mr. Zubiri said. “We passed a lot of bills of national importance.”

Some of the bills that the Senate passed include the Public-Private Partnership act, the Internet Transactions act, and a bill institutionalizing the magna carta for Filipino seafarers.

The Senate also approved the Tatak Pinoy bill, which seeks to link local products to global market chains, and the bill creates a self-reliant defense posture program.

In addition, senators passed on third reading a measure creating land use development infrastructure plan for state universities and colleges, as well as a bill allowing free college entrance examinations.

Jeepney drivers on strike even on Christmas

December 17, 2023 | 8:42 pm

Jeepney-driver-transport-strike — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

By Jomel R. Paguian

JEEPNEY drivers and operators protesting the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) will extend their strike until Dec. 29, protesting even on Christmas Day.

Transport group Manibela told BusinessWorld that it intends to stage a protest outside Malacañang on Christmas Day to condemn President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s stance on the modernization program.

“On Christmas, we plan to march in protest up to Malacañang,” said Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena in an interview.

Manibela announced on Friday its coordinated strike with the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) until the government heeds their call to junk the PUVMP and its year-end deadline for franchise consolidation.

“From Monday (Dec. 18) until Dec. 29, our strikes will continue,” said Mr. Valbuena in Filipino. “Even on Christmas Day, we will not stop.”

PISTON said in a Viber message that Manibela’s announcement is part of their initial plan, and they have yet to announce finalized schemes for the coordinated strikes of the two groups.

Last week, the President affirmed the year-end deadline for franchise consolidation. He cited that 70% of public utility vehicle (PUV) operators had committed to consolidate, stating that striking groups are a “minority.”

But PISTON has asserted that approximately 60,000 jeepney drivers and 25,000 jeepney operators nationwide face impending job loss if the PUVMP pushes through. “Is this the ‘minority’ Marcos Jr. is talking about?” the group said in a statement last week.

Under the PUVMP, operators are mandated to surrender individual franchises for consolidation under a cooperative or corporation serving a specific route to pave the way for the purchase of new public transport vehicles. Striking transport groups argued that the policy is flawed, anti-poor, and favors big businesses.

PISTON started a two-day strike last week, which they claimed to have paralyzed 90% of public transport along major roads in Metro Manila. The group also mounted a protest camp directly outside the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office in Quezon City.

PISTON said they were invited to a meeting by LTFRB Chairman Teofilo E. Guadiz III on Thursday, but that the Board only emphasized the decision to postpone the franchise consolidation deadline is no longer in its hands because Mr. Marcos has already made his declaration about the matter.

“It is clear that the government of Marcos Jr. shows no concern for the thousands of livelihoods it will potentially jeopardize come January 2024,” said the group in a statement in Filipino.

PISTON also contested the Department of Transportation’s (DoTr) assertion that the strike would not disrupt the transport system. The department argued that only a few PUV drivers and operators participated in the previous strikes, as the majority had already consented to consolidating their franchises.

“Based on our observations in the previous strikes in November, we do not expect that there would be such a large number participating in the transport strike because many transport groups and cooperatives expressed their support for the PUVMP.” DoTr Undersecretary Timothy John R. Batan said in Filipino in an interview with state-funded media PTV on Thursday.

Despite these criticisms, PISTON said that the transport strikes have bear favorable results, citing the increasing public clamor to junk the modernization program. “It is clear in the protests undertaken by PISTON that it garners extensive support and sympathy from the public, especially from drivers and operators who may lose their livelihoods,” PISTON said in Filipino in a Viber message.

Storm threatens Mindanao

December 17, 2023 | 8:41 pm

THE LOW-PRESSURE AREA (LPA) near Mindanao has intensified into tropical depression “Kabayan,” packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and threatening to make landfall in Surigao del Sur or Davao Oriental on Sunday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) already raised tropical wind Signal No. 1 along the southern portion of Samar and Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Bohol, and Camotes Islands in Visayas.

Signal No. 1 was also issued in Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, the northern portion of Davao Oriental, the northern portion of Davao de Oro, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, and the northern portion of Bukidnon.

“The possibility of reaching tropical storm category pre-landfall is not ruled out,” said Christopher F. Perez, PAGASA assistant weather services chief. He said landfall was expected either Sunday night or early Monday.

Kabayan, whose gusty winds reaches 70 kph, was last seen 440 kilometers east of Davao City and moving slowly in a north northwestward direction.

Areas placed under storm signals are expecting wind speeds of 36 kph to 61 kph along with intermittent rains in the next 36 hours.

“Kabayan is forecast to weaken over land and the possibility of being downgraded into a low-pressure area while over land or after emerging over the sea is not ruled out,” it added.

Additionally, the weather bureau said that heavy rainfall may occur along the eastern portion of Southern Luzon on Sunday and over Eastern Luzon on Dec. 18 due to the Shear Line coinciding with the storm’s passage.

PAGASA has also hoisted a gale warning along the seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao. It warned operators of small sea vessels to remain in port or seek safe harbor. — Adrian H. Halili

Group: Taiwan events affect PHL

December 17, 2023 | 8:41 pm

TAIPEI — FILIPINOS should follow the events on the escalating tensions between China and Taiwan as the conflict would likely trickle down to the Philippines, which is only about a thousand kilometers away, a representative of a pro-democracy group said over the weekend.

“Taiwan is our neighbor to the north and anything that happens to Taiwan will eventually trickle down towards the Philippines, especially if China launches a very brash offensive,” Girard Mariano L. Lopez, a Filipino student in Taiwan and representative of the Asian pro-democracy group Milk Tea Alliance, told BusinessWorld.

He noted that a lot of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) will be affected if a possible invasion of Taiwan occurs.

“There are more Filipinos that work in Taiwan than in mainland China itself,” said Mr. Lopez.

“Our kababayans’ loss of revenue or being able to fend for their family and their very lives [will be] endangered because bombs don’t discriminate when they land, as we see with the current Gaza crisis or with eastern Ukraine,” he added.

The Philippine government remains subscribed to the One China Policy, which recognizes Taiwan as part of China.

In April, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said that “those who play with fire on Taiwan will eventually get themselves burned.”

In the same month, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian asked the Philippines to oppose Taiwan’s independence if the country “cares genuinely” about the welfare of more than 150,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Students develop smart trash bin

December 17, 2023 | 8:41 pm

BAGUIO CITY — Three computer engineering students in Baguio City are seeking help to finally finish developing their local innovation: a smart trash bin that encourages people to properly dispose of their garbage.

The three students — Kyle Russell Lucero, Aryk John Mosquete, and Samuel Sta Cruz, soon to be computer engineers from the University of the Cordilleras (UC) — unveiled their “Smart Garbage Bin” in June and installed it at the Rose Garden of Burnham Park.

Equipped with built-in sensors, the trash bin’s lid automatically opens every time a person comes near it. It will not close until one’s trash is put into the bin.

The trash bin also transmits signals to the smart command center at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center when it is full and needs to be hauled, facilitating the timely collection of garbage.

The student innovators are asking the city government of Baguio, the Department of Science and Technology (DoST), and other agencies to help them produce more of these to help keep the city clean and environment friendly. — Artemio A. Dumlao

DTI-Davao cites exporters’ gains

December 17, 2023 | 8:40 pm

DAVAO CITY — The regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-Davao) reported that under the Exports and Investments, DTI-Davao has assisted 243 exporters regionwide, posting regional domestic sales amounting to P775.17 million for this year.

Citing data from the Preliminary Annual Physical Bottomlines from January to November 2023, DTI-Davao said the regional sales were attributed to market matching and facilitation, pasalubong center sales, trade fair sales, and firm-level monitoring among assisted micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Davao Region.

The DTI-Davao conducted and participated in 21 export investment promotion activities nationwide and these activities contributed to assisting the regional exporters as well as 190 other investors nationwide. — Maya M. Padillo

Road aids Nueva Vizcaya tourism

December 17, 2023 | 8:40 pm

BAGUIO CITY — The public works department has completed a local road project now serving as a gateway to tourist spots and speeds up the transport of goods in Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Nueva Vizcaya First District Engineer Marifel T. Andes said the P19.3-million Jacinto-Esquivel Road Project funded under the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA) is an 860-meter concrete paved road in Barangay Baresbes, Quezon town.

“With the road spanning from (Baresbes, Quezon) to market centers, the improved access will benefit local businesses,” said the DPWH official.

Also, local and international tourists can now easily access tourists spots in the area, particularly the Plaza Patring Falls, enhancing the overall tourism experience. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Crown back to Mendiola

December 17, 2023 | 8:11 pm

San Beda Red Lions — THE SAN BEDA RED LIONS completed their grand return to the pedestal with a sleek, emphatic 76-66 Game Three victory over the Mapua Cardinals. — PHILIPPINES STAR/JUN MENDOZA

SAN Beda University needed just five years to reclaim its old place on top of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

For Mapua University, it would have to wait another year to end its three-decade drought.

On Sunday, the Red Lions completed their grand return to the pedestal with a sleek, emphatic 76-66 Game Three victory over the Cardinals that sealed the former the Season 99 senior basketball crown before a mammoth Smart Araneta Coliseum crowd.

It was the Benedictine school’s first crown since reigning supreme in 2018 and a league record 23^rd overall that put it three championships ahead of closest pursuer Letran (20).

The glorious coronation was witnessed by 23,077 fans, which included the Red Lions’ top patron Manny V. Pangilinan.

It surpassed the season-high 22,465 that trooped to Game Two at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City.

Impressively, it wasn’t even King Lion Jacob Cortez who delivered the biggest of blows.

It was Yuki Andrada in the deciding Game Three with his 20 titanic points including nine in the decisive fourth quarter breakaway.

His five thunderous triples were like rays of sunshine on a gloomy day. If the Finals Most Valuable Player award would count impact as one factor and not purely on statistics, Mr. Andrada would have won it. It went to James Payosing, the unassuming forward from Surigao del Sur who was content to just work from behind the scenes doing most of the dirty work and heavy lifting.

He didn’t even expect the precious trophy would land in his grasp.

But it did.

It wasn’t as if Mr. Cortez, the 21-year-old son of former PBA and De La Salle University stalwarts, didn’t do anything big.

He did as he took the burden of carrying the brunt of drawing most of Mapua’s marauding defense and even had to sit out for a long stretch after succumbing to cramps.

Mr. Cortez would eventually return and wound up with eight points, eight assists and three rebounds.

Due to cramps, Mr. Cortez missed out on winning his first individual award but it was undeniable that, without his presence, the Red Lions wouldn’t have gotten this far.

Without Mr. Cortez’s 21-point effort in a series-knotting, Game Three-forcing 71-65 Game Two win last week at MOA, San Beda would have been already sulking and crying in their Mendiola dormitories because of opportunities lost.

Mr. Cortez just practically carried San Beda on his back.

“My players are good,” said San Beda coach Yuri Escueta. “When we were struggling in the second round, they’re the ones who wanted to go to the other round and they told me they want to go this way and this our round.”

While the Red Lions basked in glory, the Cardinals just couldn’t control their emotions and wept after coming one game away from claiming their first crown since winning it all 32 years ago.

It was so close, yet so far. — Joey Villar

The scores:

San Beda 76 — Andrada 20, Payosing 11, Gonzales 10, Cortez 8, Royo 6, Jopia 6, Tagle 4, Alfaro 4, Puno 3, Visser 2, Cuntapay 2

Mapua 66 — Recto 18, Escamis 13, Rosillo 10, Hernandez 6, Cuenco 5, Dalisay 5, Bonifacio 4, Soriano 3, Fornis 2, Bancale 0, Sabsalon 0

Quarterscores: 24-15; 36-35; 53-57; 76-66

Tots Carlos quick to share PVL Finals MVP trophy with all her teammates

December 17, 2023 | 8:10 pm

WHEN Tots Carlos received her Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy right after Creamline’s historic Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference title sweep before a mammoth Smart Araneta Coliseum crowd Saturday night, she was quick to share it with all her teammates.

It encapsulated how the Cool Smashers’ magical season went — winning via old-fashioned collective team effort.

Creamline had to dig deeper to its already loaded bench after losing two key cogs from its championship runs in the past in cerebral setter Jia de Guzman and lethal middle blocker Ced Domingo, who brought their talents abroad.

It started with Kyle Atienza, who admirably filled in for the gargantuan task of succeeding Ms. De Guzman.

There were also no shortages in plugging in the equally gaping hole left by Ms. Domingo up front as Pangs Panaga, Risa Sato and fresh Game Two hero Lorie Bernardo all admirably answered the call.

And Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez, the unchallenged leader of the band, was all praises of her squad.

“No words can express how proud I am with the effort on Saturday and every single game of this conference,” said Ms. Valdez, who was the catalyst in the mighty and proud franchise’s dynastic reign.

Ms. Valdez said their mantra of taking it a step at a time worked wonders.

“Our mantra this conference, one game at a time, one point at a time literally,” she said. “Everyone had their moment this conference, that’s one thing our coaches prepared us for.”

For Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses, he’s just happy they won and they are healthy. — Joey Villar

PHL battles Indonesia in MLBB esports world championship at RMC

December 17, 2023 | 8:09 pm

IT’S PHILIPPINES vs Indonesia for all the marbles of the M5 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) World Championship.

Home bet AP Bren dispatched a compatriot squad to earn a shot at Onic Esports Indonesia in the grand finals of the MLBB esports world tilt over the weekend before a sizeable crowd at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum (RMC) in Manila

AP Bren, the champion of the MLBB Pro League Philippines (MPL-PH), swept past local rival and former world champion Blacklist International in the lower bracket finals to advance to the grand finals against the Indonesian counterpart.

It was Onic Indonesia that relegated AP Bren, the M2 world champion, to the lower bracket after ruling the upper bracket finals with a similar 3-0 win for the first grand final ticket.

But the vengeful AP Bren, mentored by Francis “Duckey” Glindro, proved undeterred and vented its ire on fellow Philippine bet Blacklist to still stay in M5 world title contention.

Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo, with pet heroes Mathilda and Arlott, starred in the Hornets’ sweep of Blacklist by capturing two MVP honors in three matches.

Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano and Michael “KyleTzy” Sayson, then took over in the series-clinching Game 3 with solid coverage from David “Flaptzy” Canon and team captain Angelo “Pheww” Arcangel.

AP Bren also steered the Philippines to the gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games MLBB esports event in Cambodia with a 3-0 win over the Malaysian counterparts last summer.

That win capped a three-peat for the Filipinos since the introduction of esports as an official medal event in the SEA Games in 2019 here in Manila, where Bren also made up the team core led by captain Arcangel for the inaugural title.

Right after, AP Bren scored a 4-1 romp of Blacklist to reign supreme in the MPL-PH Season 12 finals and clinch a ticket in the M5 in a bid to win another world title after capturing the second edition of the world esports championships.

As the Philippines’ second placer, Blacklist was also rewarded with a world tilt slot only to fall short against AP Bren anew for its worst finish at third.

Blacklist won the M3 world championship before finishing runner-up in M4 to another local stalwart in Echo Philippines. — John Bryan Ulanday

Bachmann affirms Batang Pinoy’s crucial role in shaping future stars

December 17, 2023 | 8:09 pm

PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richard Bachmann reasserted his unwavering faith and dedication to the Batang Pinoy (BP), highlighting its crucial role in unearthing potential members of the country’s future elite athletes.

“I am hoping that many of our young athletes participating in Batang Pinoy will be identified and discovered by our National Sports Associations (NSAs). I am delighted to witness numerous young athletes playing in our facilities,” said Mr. Bachmann after attending the opening of Batang Pinoy lawn tennis event at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Court on Sunday morning.

“Our national government, through the PSC, is and will always be committed to fostering an environment where every aspiring athlete has the opportunity to flourish,” Mr. Bachmann said during his speech in the opening ceremonies at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Mr. Bachmann took the opportunity to inspect various venues within the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, including those for weightlifting, swimming, badminton, and 3×3 basketball, the latter to be hosted at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Batang Pinoy, initiated in 1999, serves as the flagship grassroots program of the PSC, providing a national sports platform for athletes aged 15 and below. Notable figures like Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz began their athletic journey in Batang Pinoy, with Ms. Diaz participating for the first time in 2002 in Puerto Princesa.

This year’s Batang Pinoy covers 25 sports and action in weightlifting gets going with nine gold medals contested in various weight and age categories, including the 12U Boys 32kg., 12U Boys 37kg., 12U Girls 30kg., 13-15 Boys 37kg., 12U Boys 43kg., 16-17 Men’s 43kg., 13-15 Boys 43kg., 12U Girls 35kg., at 13-15 Girls 35kg.

Elimination rounds in lawn tennis kicked off on Sunday with Lorenz De Jesus of Rizal Province picking up the first victory of the day at the expense of Kyle Andrei Saga of Bukidnon, 6-4,6-1 while Sabine Dasha Chan See of Pasig, defeated 6-3, 6-0, Maria Janine Cadiz of Caoayan, Isabela, 6-3, 6-0.

Lance Kim Lesaca of Zambales blanked Glo John Manito of Cebu City, 6-0, 6-0; Cyrus Nathaniel Ogaob of Zamboanga Del Sur thrashed Mark Lorence of Marikina, 6-0-6-1; Adam Dane Tiongson of Nueva Viscaya survived Daniel Jose Neri of Mandaue City after a tie break, 4-6, 7-6 (10-9); and Christine Mae Gula-Gula of Dapitan trumped Jasmine Jaran of La Carlota, 6-4, 6-3.

With a massive delegation of over 18,000 participants expected for both the Batang Pinoy and the Philippine National Games (PNG), Mr. Bachmann is ensuring their well-being and accommodation.

Over 14,700 sleeping mats have been distributed to different billeting areas across Manila, Makati City, San Juan City, Pasig City, Pasay City, Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Tagaytay City, and Indang, Cavite. An additional 1,200 mats were provided to early arrivals at Philsports billeting rooms in Pasig.

Shai-led Thunder

December 17, 2023 | 8:08 pm

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander most definitely wanted to redeem himself against the Nuggets yesterday. It wasn’t simply that they lost to the defending champions in the first week of the season. It was that they did so by a whopping 33 points, with his poor play more than causing the blowout; he had only seven points on two-of-six shooting from the field in 28 minutes on the court. Considering his atrocious outing, he rightly marked yesterday’s rematch on the Thunder’s calendar. To argue that he was looking for payback would be an understatement.

Fast forward to the final buzzer, and Gilgeous-Alexander could not have been happier with the outcome. The set-to went back and forth from opening tip, but his game-winning turnaround jumper in the paint with 1.1 seconds left on the game clock gave the Thunder the victory with the slimmest of margins. And this time around, he made sure to fill up the board; he finished with 25 points (including 11 in the playoff period, hitting nine of 20 shots overall), six rebounds, eight assists, and two steals — all reflecting a line closer to his 2023-24 campaign norms.

The triumph ensured that the Thunder would remain ahead of the Nuggets in the Northwest Division, behind only the league-leading Timberwolves. It’s likewise their fifth in the last seven contests, providing them with some measure of momentum heading into their encounter with the Grizzlies. The latter would otherwise be fodder, but may well find confidence in the return of Ja Morant from a lengthy suspension. They will then be locking horns with a series of tough opponents in the Clippers, Lakers, Timberwolves, Knicks, Nuggets, Nets, and Celtics.

In short, the Thunder will have their work cut out for them in the foreseeable future. And, needless to say, they will expect Gilgeous-Alexander to lead the charge. They go where he goes, and if his output yesterday is any indication, they’ll be doing just fine.

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.