Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube
Home Blog Page 2968

Local government units told to follow suit after Bulacan prohibits POGOs

PRESIDENTIAL ANTI-ORGANIZED CRIME COMMISSION

By John Victor D. Ordoñez, Reporter and Chloe Mari A. Hufana

A PHILIPPINE senator on Sunday urged local government units (LGUs) to ban offshore gaming operations after Bulacan did so last week given their alleged links to crimes.

“LGUs should emulate the decisive action taken by the Bulacan provincial government and several other city governments to outlaw Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) in our communities,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said in a statement.

“Given the various criminal activities associated with POGO operations, our communities stand a better chance of achieving inclusive economic growth without POGOs,” he added.

The senator said the ban would ensure peace and order in local communities.

The Senate ways and means and dangerous drugs committees are set to tackle a bill that seeks to outlaw all forms of online gambling.

Under Senate Bill No. 1281, people who gamble on the internet face six months of jail time and a fine of as much as P500,000. The measure seeks to repeal all laws, executive orders and other rules that allow online gambling.

Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando last week issued an order banning offshore gaming operations in the province.

The provincial board had also passed an ordinance banning POGOs and other similar activities within the territorial jurisdiction” of Bulacan.

“There are social issues, human trafficking, torture, money laundering, kidnapping, prostitution, different crimes in POGOs,” Bulacan Vice Governor Aexis C. Castro told reporters last week after the board approved the ordinance. “We would not let these things happen in Bulacan as these are all crimes brought by POGOs.”

The Senate is in the middle of its probe looking into crimes linked to POGOs, which are mostly Chinese gambling firms that operate online casinos from the Philippines.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H. Tengco told a Senate hearing last week that his agency has banned POGO hubs and was working on guidelines on these gambling operations.

Pagcor earlier said the government could lose P20 billion in yearly revenues if POGOs are banned.

Congress under former President Rodrigo R. 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.

The benefits of a total POGO ban outweigh the risks of their continued operations, Calixto V. Chikiamco, Foundation for Economic Freedom president, told BusinessWorld in a Viber message.

“Economic managers are united in saying that the social and economic costs of hosting POGOs exceed the diminishing revenue we generate from them,” he said.

“Hosting POGOs represent a reputational risk for the Philippines and aggravates our relationship with China, which also doesn’t want these POGOs operating here and targeting customers in China,” he added.

EMPLOYMENT COSTS
Edwin S. Estrada, a faculty of the School of Diplomacy and Governance of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, said crimes threaten national security.

“Crime always affects national security and peace and order whether coming from locals or foreigners,” he said in a Viber message. “China doesn’t want us to accommodate POGOs precisely because of the illicit activities connected to them.”

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto earlier said a letter recommending a total POGO ban had been sent to Mr. Marcos.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said the Cabinet had yet to discuss the ban.

Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., told BusinessWorld in a Viber message that POGO operations in the country had diminished over the years.

Still, he said a total ban could affect local employment and demand for real estate.

“[The ban] may have adverse impacts in terms of reduced employment for locals in POGO operations, reduced demand for real estate rentals for residential, office and commercial properties and even purchases of residential condominiums,” he said.

Retailers and other commercial establishments could also face reduced demand.

“Supplies or any other businesses or industries in the supply chain of POGOs could be adversely affected such as rental/lease income, employment agencies and other related and allied products and services needed by POGOs from locals,” Mr. Ricafort said.

Transport and logistics serving POGOs could also lose their business, he added.

Pagcor, which regulates these gambling firms, said tighter regulation would be better.

“We prefer to simply tighten regulations and enhance law enforcement against illegal operators to protect legitimate operators and foreign investors in the sector which now include many nationalities aside from the Chinese,” Pagcor Assistant Vice-President for Corporate Communications Catalino B. Alano, Jr. said in a Viber message.

He said Chinese investors account for only 50% of licensed operators.

“We have no guarantee that once we ban the legitimate operators, they will simply close shop and return to their countries of origin where they are likely to face prosecution and jail, or worse,” Mr. Tengco said in a statement on July 11.

He said operators might go underground once they are banned. He added that the real problems are the criminal syndicates masquerading as POGOs.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission has raided POGO hubs believed to be linked to human trafficking and other crimes.

The Senate over the weekend issued an arrest warrant against the mayor after citing her in contempt for skipping Senate hearings.

Marcos urged to build expert pool in nuclear energy, ensure safety

BW FILE PHOTO

By John Victor D. Ordoñez, Reporter

THE GOVERNMENT of Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. should build a pool of experts in nuclear technology and ensure its safe implementation if it plans on pursuing it as a vital part of the country’s energy mix, according to economists.

“We need to ensure its safety,” Leonardo A. Lanzona, who teaches economics at the Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Facebook  Messenger chat. “It seems more crucial to develop training centers for people who will work in these nuclear plants and study and research centers that can create the necessary expertise to expand its utilization.”

Washington and Manila’s  Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, also known as the 123 Agreement, entered into force on July 2, the US State Department said in a statement on July 9. Both countries signed the deal in November.

The pact provides a legal framework for the export of nuclear materials, equipment and components from the US to the Philippines.

But Jose Enrique A. Africa, executive director of think tank Ibon Foundation, said nuclear energy could be more expensive than renewable energy and other reliable power sources.

“It’s also doubtful that there is any local expertise or technology that greatly limits our capacity to independently assess and monitor risky foreign nuclear power,” he said in a Viber message.

“The government may be better off pursuing renewable energy systems that are safer and cheaper and where we can still plausibly develop indigenous capacity.”

The 123 Agreement would pave the way for collaboration with US experts to assess the Philippines’ capacity to implement a nuclear energy program, Energy Director Michael O. Sinocruz told BusinessWorld in a Viber message.

In December, Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian filed Senate Bill No. 2506, which seeks to establish a Philippine Atomic Energy Regulation Commission to oversee the licensing, protection, safety and other operations related to the development of nuclear energy. The measure has yet to be tackled by a Senate committee.

The House of Representatives in November passed on final reading a bill that will establish a similar body called the Philippine Atomic Regulatory Authority, which will have “the sole and exclusive jurisdiction to exercise regulatory control for the peaceful, safe and secure uses of nuclear energy and radiation sources.”

The Energy department last week said an inter-agency committee on nuclear energy is working on a roadmap to implement nuclear energy in power generation.

Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevarra said the agency plans to hold two green energy auctions before the end of the year, consisting of geothermal, pump-storage hydro and impounding hydro sources.

The Philippines seeks to boost the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix from 22% to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.

“The US government’s haste to get a bigger share of the civilian nuclear energy export market should not come at the expense of the Philippines’ national interests,” Mr. Africa said. “Nuclear energy remains risky, and safety demands reliable regulatory and infrastructure frameworks that the country doesn’t have.”

Consumer representation at local power auctions pushed

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

CONGRESS should look at amending a law that liberalized the power industry to allow consumer representation during power auctions, ensuring transparency during the bidding process, an energy advocate said last week.

Consumers are only represented in energy affairs during public consultations, Nic Satur, Jr., chief advocate officer of Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy (PARE), said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“Consumers should be more actively involved in creating positive change in the energy sector beyond just attending public consultations,” he told BusinessWorld.

“By involving a consumer representative, the auctions will benefit from an additional layer of oversight, ensuring that the bidding is conducted with the utmost integrity and that the outcomes are truly in the best interests of the consumers,” he added.

Bills seeking to amend the 2001 Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) are pending in the energy committees of both Houses of Congress.

Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez this month said the House of Representatives seeks to pass the measure before the Christmas break.

He also said the House is looking at amending the 23-year-old power law to make electricity cheaper.

Philippine electricity rates are among the highest in Southeast Asia, according to a 2022 study by the Ateneo de Manila University.

“[It can] be attributed to poor oversight, monitoring and implementation by energy regulators and the government,” Mr. Satur said.

“High electricity rates are further aggravated by EPIRA’s pass-through provisions, taxes, and universal charges,” he added.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) should be strengthened so it could penalize erring power companies, Mr. Satur said. Penalties paid should be given to consumers instead of being sent to the Bureau of the Treasury, he added.

Congress should also look at prohibiting cross-ownership between power distribution and generation companies to avoid anti-competitive behavior, he said.

“Allowing cross-ownership within the energy sector could put consumers at a disadvantage, leading to higher prices, reduced choices and potentially lower quality of service,” Mr. Satur said.

“It could consolidate power within a few companies and players, diminishing the competitive drive essential for efficiency, reasonable price and innovation.”

The bill amending the law is among the priority bills set by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) for the 19th Congress.

House bills seeking to amend the EPIRA are pending in the House energy committee. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Marcos condemns Trump shooting

PPA-NOEL B. PABALATE

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos., Jr. on Sunday condemned the attack on Donald J. Trump in Pennsylvania at the weekend, in which the former US President was shot in the ear.

“Together with all democracy-loving peoples around the world, we condemn all forms of political violence,” he said in an X post. “The voice of the people must always remain supreme.”

The 78-year-old Mr. Trump, who is running under the Republican party and is leading in national polls, said on his Truth Social platform that the bullet had “pierced” the upper part of his right ear.

The shooter was found dead, a rally attendee was killed, while two other spectators were hurt, the US Secret Service said in a statement. Secret Service personnel immediately shielded the former President after gun shots went off, with guards clad in body armor taking to the stage to look for the shooter.

The Secret Service said it had started looking into the shooting and was briefing Democratic President Joseph R. Biden, who is Mr. Trump’s political rival.

Mr. Trump has been accused of mishandling classified government files, falsifying business documents to conceal a hush-money payment and conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results in the state of Georgia.

“It is with great relief that we receive the news that former President Donald Trump is fine and well after the attempt to assassinate him,” Mr. Marcos said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.” — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Central Mindanao towns flooded

COTABATO CITY — Floodwaters from heavy rains swept through 18 more towns in three Central Mindanao provinces on Saturday, forcing  about 40,000 residents to flee and destroying bridges and at least 23 houses.

Many of the flooded towns in Maguindanao del Sur and Cotabato provinces were close to swamps and rivers linked to the 220,000-hectare Ligawasan Delta, a catch basin for more than a dozen waterways from mountain ranges.

The Ligawasan Delta swells fast during rainy days, causing floods in nearby towns.

Rampaging floods destroyed two bridges in the Tambis and Kidayan stretches of the Kalamansig-Palimbang Highway that straddles through the seaside Kalamansig and Palimbang towns in Sultan Kudarat province.

Cotabato Governor Emmylou T. Mendoza has sent emergency responders to flooded villages in Kabacan and Pikit towns, which are both known as gateways to the Ligawasan Delta.

The Office of Civil Defense-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the Ministry of Social Services and Development-BARMM were trying to reach out to residents of flood-stricken areas in Montawal and Pagalungan towns in Maguindanao del Sur and in some of the 63 Bangsamoro villages in Cotabato. — John Felix M. Unson

NSWMC told to issue NEAP list

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE COURT of Appeals (CA) has ordered the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) and its attached agencies to issue a list of nonenvironmentally acceptable products (NEAP) within six months.

The court also ordered the government body to review and update the list year and inform the court about its enforcement progress, as it issued a so-called writ of kalikasan in favor of several environmental groups including Oceana Philippines International.

The writ compels the government to address the harmful effects of plastics and plastic pollution.

The appellate court said the commission failed to issue the list, which is required under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

“It baffles the court how, for more than 20 years, respondents refused to come up with a NEAP list when they admit that they have already identified several plastic items as nonenvironmentally acceptable products,” according to the 44-page decision written by Associate Justice Ruben Reynaldo G. Roxas.

It noted that the Environment department, whose chief was among those sued, had declared plastic softdrink straw and plastic coffee stirrers as nonenvironmentally acceptable as early as 2021.

The DENR did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.

“The violation caused by respondent NSWMC’s failure to formulate the nonenvironmentally acceptable product list involves or will lead to an environmental damage of such magnitude as to prejudice the life, health or property of inhabitants in two or more cities or provinces,” the court said.

Items on the list will be prohibited unless there are no alternatives available to consumers at no more than 10% greater cost.

The appellate court’s Former 10th Division Special Division of Five in the July 9 ruling said the NSWMC should not be allowed to continue to drag their feet in complying with their legal duties. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Pampanga’s cash advances flagged

PHILIPPINE STAR/MICHAEL VARCAS

THE COMMISSION on Audit (CoA) has flagged the provincial government of Pampanga for giving cash advances to fund officers who have failed to document their liquidiations.

The practice exposes state funds to misuse, state auditors said in a report.  CoA noted that it had flagged these “deficiencies” in the past, which continued last year.

The Pampanga provincial government of did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

CoA said Pampanga should regulate the practice by disallowing new ones until these are completely liquidated. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Suyamin wins gold in girls’ U16 rapid chess in Penang, Malaysia

BONJOURE FILLE SUYAMIN

BONJOURE FILLE SUYAMIN came through with the worthiest effort for the Philippines after she struck gold in the girls’ under-16  (U16) rapid event in Penang, Malaysia Saturday night.

Ms. Suyamin, 14, bounced back from a sixth and penultimate round defeat to Davaakhuu Unurzul of Mongolia by venting her ire on another Mongolian, Zoljargal Enkhkhaliun in the final round, to snatch the crown from the jaws of defeat.

In the end, Ms. Suyamin, who will return to Far Eastern University after taking a break, finished with six points and the crown and bested Ms. Unurzul, who took the silver with 5.5 points, and Quinsha Adinda Syahirah of Indonesia, who copped the bronze with five points.

It was the best performance for the lean but mean Philippine delegation after also scooping up four silvers and a bronze.

FIDE Master (FM) Christian Gian Karlo Arca was on his way to the gold after going into the last round tied for first with FIDE Master Poh Yu Tian of Malaysia. But Mr. Arca fell to Mr. Poh and settled for the bronze.

Mr. Arca also took the team silver with FM Ivan Travis Cu and John Dave Lavandero.

Also pocketing team silvers were Ashzley Aya Nicole Paquinol, Lila Alyssa Serina and Kena Areld Galleguez (girls U14), Davin Sean Romualdez, Jaymiel Piel and Ran Zeth Marco Magallanes (open U14) and Phil Martin Casiguran, Tyrhone Jamnes Tabernilla and Keith Adriane Ilar (open U16).

The nine-round standard event had started yesterday with blitz to be played right after it.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines chief executive officer Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales thanked NCFP’s Butch Pichay, Philippine Sports Commission Chair Richard Bachmann and Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino  as well as the players’ respective local government units for their support. — Joey Villar

Strong Group races to second win in routing Aussie team

STRONG GROUP-PILIPINAS — JONES CUP/SGA

STRONG Group-Pilipinas cruised to a 91-69 win over BSBL Guardians of Australia to stay perfect in the 43rd William Jones Cup on Sunday in Taipei.

Chris McCullough churned out 23 points and seven rebounds laced by a steal and a block in only 22 minutes of play as the Philippine representative climbed to 2-0 in the nine-team tourney.

It was also Mr. McCullough, the former PBA champion import from San Miguel Beer, who led Strong Group to a 104-79 win over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the opener with a complete line of 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals.

He drew a bevy of support once again spearheaded by Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Ange Kouame with 16 points and 10 rebounds after settling for nine points and three rebounds in their debut win.

American reinforcement Tajuan Agee added 14 while Jordan Heading, Dave Ildefonso and RJ Abarrientos chipped in nine, seven and six points, respectively.

Like its strong 32-18 start against UAE, Strong Group got off to the races with a 34-10 upperhand in the opening salvo on its way to another 22-point blowout win.

Jesse Ghee (19), Atem Bior (14), Angus Howey (12) and Dhieu Magier (12) had their numbers but the Australian ball club still folded to the potent Philippine squad under the guidance of coach Charles Tiu.

BSBL Guardians slid to 0-2 after also bowing to Future Sports USA, 69-65.

Strong Group will try to score its third straight win against Ukraine at 5 p.m. Monday before facing Malaysia, Future Sports USA, Japan U22, China White and China Blue, in the single-round eliminations that will have the No.1 team as the champion right away.

The Philippine quintet is eyeing to bring home the country’s seventh title since last winning the invitational tourney in 2019 courtesy of Mighty Sports also under the tutelage of Mr. Tiu. — John Bryan Ulanday

Fil-Am Hoey a stroke behind leader in Kentucky PGA Tour

FILIPINO-AMERICAN Rico Hoey is knocking at the doors of milestone triumph in the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour.

Spiked by an eagle-aided five-under 67 in the third round, Mr. Hoey goes into the final push for the ISCO Championship crown in Nicholasville, Kentucky merely one stroke behind leader Pierceson Coody.

Mr. Hoey, fresh off his sixth place finish the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detriot, has been playing the game of his life in the $4-million event, which is being held opposite the Scottish Open. The 28-year-old Pinoy got things started with sizzling cards of 64 and 66 and he even went bogey-free at the Keene Trace Club until a one-over 5 in the par-4 No. 18 in Saturday’s Round 3 stained his flawless performance.

“I just kind of rushed the swing on the first tee ball and pulled it left,” Mr. Hoey was quoted by the Associated Press, talking about his first bogey of the week. “It’s unfortunate that just one bad swing I made a bogey, but it’s golf so I can’t complain. I set myself up for tomorrow and we’ll see how it goes.”

Mr. Hoey, who previously represented the Philippines in the Putra Cup, is at 197 for the tournament and shares second with England’s Harry Hall, who shot a third-round 64.

Mr. Coody had a roller-coaster 68 but stayed ahead of Mr. Hoey and Mr. Hall at 196.

After firing  three birdies in the first 13 holes, chipping in an eagle at the 15th and burying a 21-foot birdie putt from off the green at No. 16, Mr. Hoey arrived at the 18th tied for the lead.

However, hit his tee shot left into hip-high rough and finished with a bogey to slide to second. — Olmin Leyba

Ellis grabs second gold in mixed team event of Asian Triathlon Junior Cup

THE PHILIPPINES’ Kira Ellis continued to impress as she claimed her second gold medal in the mixed team event of the Asian Triathlon Junior Cup in Kampar, Malaysia yesterday.

Ms. Ellis joined forces with Matthew Ellis, Samantha Corpuz and Dayshaun Ramos in anchoring the Filipinos to the gold by clocking an hour and 27 minutes and 53 seconds in the super sprint distances of 300-meter swim, 5km bike and 1.25km run format.

Hong Kong wound up second in 1:29.32 while South Korea third in 1:30.43 in the field of 14 nations.

It was Ms. Ellis’ second triumph after reigning supreme in the girls’ side the day before. Ms. Ellis, whose trip was being bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission, will continue to play in the junior program (16 to 19 years old) where she will receive a high-performance training regimen by year end.

She also came from a five-week camp in Desmor, Portugal under coach Sergio Santos and participated in the grueling European Junior Cup in Hungary a week back.

“She’s our future and a bright hope for the 2028 Olympics,” said Triathlon Philippines Chair Tom Carrasco. — Joey Villar

Second seed Novak Djokovic ready for revenge in Wimbledon final rematch with Carlos Alcaraz

LONDON — The Wimbledon men’s singles final between defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and second seed Novak Djokovic takes place at the All England Club on Sunday. The mixed doubles finals will also be contested.

Three-times Grand Slam champion Mr. Alcaraz landed in Wimbledon as the title favorite following his French Open triumph last month but few expected Mr. Djokovic to go far after his Roland Garros run was cut short by a knee injury.

The 37-year-old, who underwent surgery only five weeks ago, has defied the odds in his bid for a 25th Grand Slam, taking sole ownership of the all-time record he currently shares with Margaret Court.

Mr. Djokovic’s steady return to top form in an otherwise shaky season has left fans at the All England Club and the world over salivating at the prospect of another thriller like the one the duo dished out 12 months ago, when Mr. Alcaraz won in five sets.

Last year’s defeat by Mr. Alcaraz ended Mr. Djokovic’s quest for a fifth straight title that would have left him level with Roger Federer on eight Wimbledon trophies and the Serb will head to the clash on Sunday seeking revenge.

However, he will have his task cut out against an opponent who has never lost a Grand Slam final and is the youngest player in the professional era to win a major on all three surfaces.

Mr. Alcaraz has not been at his convincing best at Wimbledon this year but can still finish the tournament in elite company as a successful defense will make him only the second player in the professional era after Mr. Federer to win his first four major finals.

He can also become only the sixth man since 1968 to claim the Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles in the same year after Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Rafa Nadal, Mr. Federer and Mr. Djokovic. — Reuters

1...2,9672,9682,969...14,238Page 2,968 of 14,238
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube