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P4.5M to benefit Blaan areas 

KORONADAL CITY — The municipality of Kiblawan in Davao del Sur got an additional P4.5-million grant from a mining firm for community-empowerment projects in Blaan tribal domains. 

Kiblawan Mayor Joel D.G. Calma told reporters Thursday that out of the amount received from Sagittarius Mines Inc., P3 million will go to activities that would boost the economic productivity of local residents. 

Mr. Calma said the remaining P1.5 million will be for projects of the Kitab, a marketing cooperative comprised of Blaan farmers and entrepreneurs in Kiblawan’s hinterland villages of Kimlawis, Tacub, Abnate, and Bulol-salo. — John Felix M. Unson

PDL allowance hike pushed 

PERSONS deprived of liberty (PDLs) are struggling to survive on P70 a day for their food and a measly P15 for their medical needs, party-list Rep. France L. Castro told the House appropriations committee on Wednesday as she backed the request to raise the inmates’ allowance to P100 a day.

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BMJP) Director Ruel S. Rivera confirmed that P85 is the budget allocation for each inmate under the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP). Last week, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla told the same committee that the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has the same budget per inmate for next year.

“We have a request [to the Department of Budget and Management] of P100 per PDL and it considers the inflation as well as the increase in cost of commodities,” Mr. Rivera told the House panel. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz 

 

 

PCO job vs fake news wanting 

STOCK PHOTO | Image by memyselfaneye from Pixabay

THE EDUCATION sector will do a better job at combating fake news, according to a lawmaker who wants the Presidential Communications Office’s (PCO) P19-million budget for the purpose transferred to the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education.

In a Viber chat to BusinessWorld on Wednesday, party-list Rep. Raoul Danniel A. Manuel said the budget for the PCO’s anti-fake news campaign should be redirected to the DepEd and CHED to boost their critical media and information literacy programs. “I have reservations that the PCO is the best agency to lead such efforts,” he said.

During Tuesday’s PCO budget hearing, Undersecretary Emerald Anne R. Ridao told the House committee on appropriations that the PCO is not a “fact-checking body,” and as such, has left the task of rectifying wrongful information on the media platforms that published it.

“If we were to tackle every piece of information [about the President,] it would be an endless task considering how easy it is to create new information,” Ms. Ridao said. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz 

4 solar power plants rise in 3 provinces 

MICHAEL WILSON-UNSPLASH

FOUR COMPLETED rural network solar power plants worth a total of P280 million have been turned over to four electric cooperatives (ECs) in the provinces of Samar in Eastern Visayas and South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat in Central Mindanao.

The National Power Corp. (Napocor) said on Thursday that the solar projects were a joint undertaking with the Department of Energy (DoE) and the European Union (EU) and administered by the World Bank.

Funding was sourced from the EU’s €66-million (P3.8-billion) Access to Sustainable Energy Program, from which €4.6 million (P280 million) was the grant extended to the Philippines to finance the four 1-megawatt peak (MWp) greenfield solar PV power plants.

Two of the plants are now linked with the distribution networks of the South Cotabato III Electric Cooperative and Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative and were turned on during a recent turnover ceremony.

The other two solar plants have also been connected to the distribution networks of Samar I and II Electric Cooperatives and are set to be switched on by the end of September. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera 

Studies show plain packaging can reduce tobacco reach  

PLAIN AND standardized cigarette packaging could help reduce the tobacco industry’s marketing influence among Filipinos, recent public health studies revealed.

A study conducted by the Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health on perceptions on cigarette pack designs showed that tobacco companies can make cigarette packs more appealing to young adults by appealing to their lifestyles and attitudinal aspirations.
Low- and middle-income countries such as the Philippines and Mexico are particularly vulnerable to this trend, the IGTC said.

Participants from the two countries easily identified and were attracted to cigarette packs with “vibrant colors” and offering different flavors, “with the majority interpreting themselves to be the youthful, primary audience for flavored products.”

Participants from the Philippines found that imagery of a flavor capsule indicated a “really cool” interactive feature and described colors on the packs as “attractive,” looking “like candy,” and imbued with “rainbow-ish appeal.”

The study classifies the Philippines as among the low- and middle-income countries with the biggest number of adults who smoke at 14.4 million. Smokers among adults stood at 33%. “Among youth, 11% reportedly smoke tobacco and 14% use e-cigarettes,” the IGTC said. 

A separate study conducted by the Philippines’ Ateneo School of Government (ASOG), which involved 2,000 Filipino adults aged 18 to 65, showed that plain packaging will make graphic health warnings on tobacco products more effective.

It could also reduce the attractiveness of tobacco products and limit the use of tobacco brand variants as a promotional tool, said Jennifer Brown, an assistant scientist and co-author of the study.

“Smoking declines when policies on plain packaging, combined with large graphic health warnings, are implemented,” she said in the press release.

Without imposing a plain packaging policy on tobacco companies, packaging will remain a key marketing tool for the tobacco industry to attract potential consumers, encourage brand identification, and normalize the use of a lethal but legal product, said Gianna Gayle Amul, a research fellow from ASOG and principal author of the research. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

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Everybody down the line are impressive — Jordan Clarkson

JORDAN CLARKSON — PHILIPPINE STAR/JUN MENDOZA

WHILE it’s primarily the Jordan Clarkson Show, the Fil-Am NBA star’s Gilas Pilipinas brothers led by Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu and June Mar Fajardo are seizing their moments, too.

Mr. Clarkson, as expected, showed the way for hosts in the first round of the 2023 FIBA World Cup (WC) on Philippine soil, posting averages of 24 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.0 steal and an efficiency of 18.3 per game.

The multi-talented Mr. Ramos emerged as Gilas’ second-best scorer with 11.7 markers and steals leader with 1.7. “Saint Dwight” ranked third in assists with 2.0 behind Mr. Clarkson and Scottie Thompson (2.3) and in efficiency with 11.7.

Mr. Edu, another WC debutant, has also been solid for Chot Reyes’ squad. The former Gilas youth standout, who earned raves for his defense on the Dominican Republic’s NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, asserted himself as Gilas’ premier rebounder (6.3) and shot blocker (1.3) while accounting for a third-best 8.0 points and a second-best 14 efficiency.

Mr. Fajardo, one of the most senior members of the team with three WC appearances, played true to form with his 8-point, 6-rebound and 11.3 efficiency averages.

“Everybody down the line (was impressive),” said Mr. Clarkson of his teammates. “Everybody’s been coming out here competing.” — Olmin Leyba

South Sudan preaches peace and love through basketball

FIBA

FOR some, the FIBA Basketball World Cup is a ‘Colosseum’ for hoops attrition and animosity. For others, it’s a grand stage to seize pride and honor for their respective countries. It’s a playground for the display of world-class skills, too.

But for South Sudan, it’s safe haven. It’s home.

Basking in its first-ever World Cup experience, the African country preaches peace and love through basketball to serve as inspiration back home where it’s needed the most.

“I think for us as a country, the reason why this is so important and means a lot is because we have so much division, a lot of trouble, a lot of conflict going on in our country,” said South Sudan team captain Kuany Ngor Kuany.

“Whenever the basketball team plays, it’s literally the one time when everybody comes together. There are no more tribes and everyone is wearing the same flag and that is South Sudan.”

South Sudan, established as an independent country only in 2011 but nursed internal conflicts, has surely made the most out of its breakthrough World Cup stint by pairing it with a maiden victory against China, 89-69, in Group B play.

The African bet wasn’t able to catch a bus to the next round with a 1-2 record after losses to Puerto Rico in overtime, 101-96, and to powerhouse Serbia, 115-83, but still in contention for the lone Olympic ticket from its continent.

As no African team made it to the second round, South Sudan is very much in that race to be the top African country depending on the results of its classification matches (17th to 32nd place) against no less than home team Philippines and rival Angola in the new Group M.

But for Mr. Kuany and his coach Royal Ivey who’s a former player himself, playing in the World Cup and for an Olympic spot is bigger than basketball.

“That is what our basketball team stands for. It stands for unity, peace and development in the country. It’s way to change the narrative. That’s why it’s so much bigger than basketball and we’re going to continue to do our best and use that as a tool to promote the image of our country,” Mr. Kuany added.

“Through basketball, we use that vessel for peace and changing the narrative in the country. Everybody is watching us so they come together, they unite. And through basketball, we share the vision of camaraderie, friendship, love, sportsmanship and togetherness. That’s what my players emulate everyday when they step out on the court,” said Mr. Ivey, who’s also assistant coach to the Houston Rockets in the NBA.

For a team nicknamed the “Bright Stars” that only started participating in basketball six years ago, the future is indeed bright and even beyond the hardcourt. — John Bryan Ulanday

Philippine Army’s Ursabia and Musa dominate kickboxing in ROTC Games

ARMY STUDENT-CADET ANGELIE MUSA of Sibugay Technical Institute likewise won by TKO in the first round over Patricia Virtudazo of Surigao del Norte State University in the 56-kgs. category.
ARMY STUDENT-CADET ANGELIE MUSA of Sibugay Technical Institute likewise won by TKO in the first round over Patricia Virtudazo of Surigao del Norte State University in the 56-kgs. category.

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Mark Christian Ursabia of University of Mindanao-Davao needed only less than three minutes to stop local bet Renz Pejana of Zamboanga del Sur Provincial College in the finals of Philippine Army kickboxing event yesterday of the 2023 ROTC Games Mindanao Leg at the Western Mindanao State University gym here.

The 21-year-old second year BS Criminology student Mr. Ursabia displayed a strong kick to win the gold in just one round of their 60-kgs. category and advance into the national finals tentatively set in October  in Manila and Pasig City.

“I am very overwhelmed by this win. I never thought of it this way. This is my first gold, I hope I can maintain my energy in the national finals,” said the five-foot 10 Mr. Ursabia.

But not to be outdone, Army student-cadet Angelie Musa of Sibugay Technical Institute likewise won by TKO in the first round over Patricia Virtudazo of Surigao del Norte State University in the 56-kgs. category.

The other Army division bouts, saw Prince Alfred Remolado winning by referee stop contest in the second round over Muamar Laduka of Southern Mindanao College in the 57-kgs. bout.

After the 21-year-old Mr. Remolado, a marine biology student, hit Mr. Laduka in the nose hard, the referee stepped in immediately  to stop the oozing of the blood.

Shariff Cammah Alkhamar of Aurelio Mendoza Memorial College survived a scary   close 2-1 score over Ernesto Delfin, Jr. in the Army’s 63.5-kgs. category.

Grace Shiela Toledo of Surigao del Norte State University main campus likewise scored a close 2-1 victory over Jonabelle Mondejan of Zamboanga del Sur Provincial College in the Army’s women’s 60-kgs. bout.

In the Air Force competition, Michael John Etac of Nuevo Zamboanga College scored the only knockout victory after flooring Kent Datumanong of Ramon Magsaysay Memorial College in the first round of their 57-kgs. bout.

Local favorite Camille Joy Sanchez of Western Mindanao State University escaped a close 2-1 triumph over Muzaina Mataul of Mindanao State University in the PAF 52-kgs. Class.

The exciting boxing bouts of the Philippine Army have Jade Cabaya of Agusan del Sur College of Agriculture and Technology winning the gold that relegated John Carlo Ombalino of Jose Rizal State University to the silver medal in the 48-51-kgs. category.

Bryl Bayogos of 12 RCDG won over Rey Lalangan of Jose Rizal Memorial State University in the Army’s +54-57-kgs. bout. Alwin Owang of Agusan del Sur College of Agriculture and Technology brought home the bronze medal.

Mark Paul Fernandez of ST-Cast-Santo Tomas, Davao proved too much for Robin Tinambing of Aurelio Mendoza Memorial College to win the gold. Mendoza settled for the silver in the Army’s +51-54-kgs. of the Army bouts while John Kyle Gotong of Agusan del Sur College of Agriculture and Technology and Alexander James Celeste of Philippine Christian School finished with the bronze medals apiece.

Home hopes Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul and Coco Gauff race to US Open third round

COCO GAUFF — WIKIMEDIA.ORG

NEW YORK — Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul and Coco Gauff all advanced to the third round of the US Open on Wednesday to keep home hopes alive that an American player will be crowned champion at Flushing Meadows.

Mr. Tiafoe, who reached the semifinals last year, breezed past Sebastian Ofner 6-3 6-1 6-4 under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 10th seed meeting little resistance from the 58th ranked Austrian in their first career meeting.

Mr. Tiafoe did not drop serve in the match and sealed victory when he broke Mr. Ofner for a fifth time after the Austrian’s forehand went wide.

Next up for Tiafoe is Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, who beat Fabian Marozsan 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-1 earlier in the day.

“It’s going to be tough… but I’m ready for him,” Mr. Tiafoe said.

No American man has hoisted the trophy at Flushing Meadows since Andy Roddick two decades ago, while Sloane Stephens was the last US woman to win the title in 2017.

“Me and Taylor (Fritz) are in the top 10, Tommy is knocking on the door. We all grew up together and know each other so well so I think American tennis is in a great place,” Mr. Tiafoe said. “Hopefully we all keep going and stop that streak of Andy Roddick in ‘03.”

Mr. Paul showed great heart to roar back from two sets down for the first time in his career to defeat Roman Safiullin 3-6 2-6 6-2 6-4 6-3.

When the match was over, the 14th seed from New Jersey raced over to hug and give a shirt to a young fan who had cheered him on throughout the more than three-hour contest.

Mr. Paul will have his hands full on Friday when he faces Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The Spaniard has been sharp during the summer hardcourt swing and won his first two matches in straight sets.

On the women’s side, sixth seed Ms. Gauff delivered a convincing 6-3 6-2 win over Russia’s Mirra Andreeva in a battle of teenage talents.

Ms. Gauff, whose lead-up to the year’s final Grand Slam included hard court titles in Washington and Cincinnati, converted four of her five break-point opportunities and surrendered her serve just once during the 76-minute match in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Ms. Gauff, 19, said she took a more aggressive approach into her second meeting with Ms. Andreeva after having to rally back to beat the Russian in three sets at this year’s French Open. “She’s the type of player if you give her something she’s going to take advantage and today I think I did well making her play off her back foot,” Ms. Gauff said of the 16-year-old.

“But Mirra, I think she has a great future ahead of her, I’ve been in her position before … she’s going to be back on this stage many more times in the future.”

For home favorite Gauff, it was a much more routine day at the office considering she had to dig deep to secure a comeback win in an opening match that left her frustrated with the amount of time her opponent, Laura Siegemund, took between points.

Up next is Belgian 32nd seed Elise Mertens, who was a 3-6 7-6(7) 6-1 winner over American Danielle Collins in a match that lasted nearly three hours.

Another US player heading for the exit was Wimbledon quarterfinalist Chris Eubanks, the 28th seed falling 7-6(6) 2-6 6-2 7-6(7) to wildcard Benjamin Bonzi of France. — Reuters

Wild-card Wozniacki

Caroline Wozniacki headed into the United States Open with an air of confidence that belied her status as a player making a comeback from a long hiatus. She was going to just her third tournament, and first major event, since announcing her return to competitive tennis two months ago. And, for those keen on handicapping title prospects, her first trek to the court in three and a half years — an invitational doubles stint in Wimbledon — could not even be counted. Which meant that all she had going for her was a second-round exit at the Canadian Open earlier this month. Still, she believed in herself, and in her capacity to make an impact in Flushing Meadows.

For all the illogic involved in Wozniacki’s disposition, however, there can be no discounting the result of her latest foray at Arthur Asha Stadium. Considering how she, a wild-card entrant ranked 623rd in the world, managed to upend 11th-seed Petra Kvitova yesterday, there is, in fact, reason to believe her when she says she is “hitting as well as I ever have.” Never mind that comparisons to her peak as World Number One and major champion naturally arise as a result. Forget that she’s a proud mother of two and a mere year removed from picking up a racket in earnest.

In any case, Wozniacki no doubt drew from her experience in forging her latest triumph. She had previously won six of 14 matches against Kvitova, including the last, a three-setter at the WTA Finals in Singapore. It may have been half a decade ago, but it nonetheless appeared to be significant in fueling her self-assurance. As she noted in her post-mortem yesterday, “we knew each other’s game very well. I’m just so happy that I was the one who came out on top today.” Indeed, although for a while there, she seemed to let nerves get the better of her. Leading five to four in the second set, she wasted two match points and allowed her opponent to force a tiebreak. She righted the ship on time, though, taking care of business to advance to the third round in style.

Up next for Wozniacki is 433rd-ranked Jennifer Brady, and another victory looks to be in the cards. Although the latter is likewise in a resurgence after a three-set upset of Magda Linette, she’s heavily favored to advance to the Round of 16 and set a possible meeting with crowd favorite Coco Gauff. Make no mistake. She knows she’s in “a dream come true. If you had asked me three years ago, I would have said I’ll never be back here.” All the same, she’s bent on showing nothing but her best from here on. There are no limits to excellence, and she’s living proof of the tenet.

 

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.

Asiamoney affirms RCBC’s digital dominance with 4-Peat win

For a fourth consecutive year, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) was named once again the Philippines’ Best Bank for Digital Solutions by Asiamoney for 2023, solidifying its position as the undisputed digital banking trailblazer in the country.

RCBC is recognized for its roster of Innovations with Empathy, an array of digital solutions which champions massive digital transformation and supports the financial inclusion efforts of the government, all whilst cultivating a culture of customer service excellence.

“RCBC isn’t just building sustainable, impactful, and inclusive digital finance solutions, it is also working hard to expand digital access for every Filipino by positioning itself as a strong ally of government efforts to increase financial inclusion; catalyzing digital payment transformations; bringing financial services to unbanked and underserved communities; and reinvigorating innovation,” Asiamoney said in a statement.

“Anytime RCBC reports earnings these days, analysts immediately turn to its digital transaction growth. Indeed, its digital focus is a key reason why RCBC is one of the fastest-growing banks in the Philippines,” Asiamoney added.

Asiamoney hailed RCBC as The Best Bank for Digital Solutions in the Philippines for delivering digital financial services based on a contextual banking strategy that aims to understand the Philippine landscape. Through this, RCBC has effectively implemented pioneering, high-impact, human-centric and demand driven digital financial innovations through RCBC Digital, RCBC DiskarTech, RCBC ATMGo and RCBC Moneybela Barangayan Banking, successfully marked with speed and scale.

“We are delighted with the recognition, and it further inspires us to serve more of our countrymen with our innovative digital solutions. And with our intensified use of data science and artificial intelligence, we continue to be committed to make a difference in the lives of our customers,” RCBC President and CEO Eugene S. Acevedo said.

RCBC’s series of wins come from the success of RCBC Moneybela Barangayan Banking, the country’s first physical-digital or phygital blended banking service. Fusing the warmth of physical banking with the ease of digital, RCBC’s banking experience support agents delivered vital financial services to thousands of rural barangays nationwide. Through MoneyBela, RCBC was able to introduce RCBC DiskarTech to low-income, geographically-disadvantaged communities. This was regarded as the world’s first multi-lingual financial inclusion super app in the vernacular catering to the mass market. The Philippines’ mass market is comprised of approximately 98 percent of the socio-economic class in the country. Financial services such as savings, fund transfers, mobile loads, telemedicine, insurance, and loans are made accessible and convenient to the Filipino mass market.

RCBC also launched ATMGo, the country’s first grassroots-based, bank agnostic, and last mile automated teller machine. ATMGo utilizes mobile point-of-sale devices to dispense financial services in remote and disadvantaged communities at village hotspots like the public markets, sari-sari stores, and public transportation hubs.  RCBC is the only private universal bank to have the most extensive reach covering all provinces in the Philippines even covering the entire Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, boasting over 1,400 terminals deployed at the end of 2022 and poised to grow to 10,000 units or a projected year-on-year growth of 614%.

ATM Go has been the Philippine government’s trusted digital payment disbursement partner even before and at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues until present for the withdrawals of social welfare benefits for Conditional Cash Transfer household recipients under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the national government. Close to 70% of its transactions are cash withdrawals of Pantawid CCT household beneficiaries done in rural areas. Even conflict-prone communities such as Lake Sebu in South Cotabato are able to enjoy convenient and real-time banking within the comforts of their community.

Through RCBC’s phygital services, it was able to boost bank onboarding in underserved areas by 210%. ATMGo has reached a total of 13,116 barangays or approximately 31% of the 42,000 total barangays nationwide, only six months since the program was launched last November 2022.

“We are incredibly grateful to be recognized once again by Asiamoney for our dedication towards scaling inclusive digital finance, and our determination to make digital banking more accessible and convenient for every Filipino, especially empowering our micro, small and medium enterprises,” said Lito Villanueva, RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer.

“Prestigious awards such as this validate our constant hard work and efforts in bringing banking to the people. This solidifies our unwavering commitment to providing innovative, socially-sensitive, and tailor-fit digital products and services that are not only cutting-edge, but most importantly, created with our clients’ needs in mind,” Villanueva added.

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic impacts of the global health crisis, RCBC emerged as one of the fastest growing banks in the Philippines after it leaped from its 8th position in 2018 to 5th position in 2022 in the list of the country’s biggest banks in terms of assets.

 

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Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia reject China’s latest South China Sea map

PEXELS-LARA JAMESON

The Philippines, Malaysia and Taiwan have rejected as baseless a map released by China that denotes its claims to sovereignty including in the South China Sea, which Beijing on Thursday said should be viewed rationally and objectively. 

China released the map on Monday of its famous U-shaped line covering about 90% of the South China Sea, a source of many of the disputes in one of the world’s most contested waterways, where more than $3 trillion of trade passes each year. 

The Philippines on Thursday called on China “to act responsibly and abide by its obligations” under international law and a 2016 arbitral ruling that had declared the line had no legal grounds. 

Malaysia said it had filed a diplomatic protest over the map. 

China says the line is based on its historic maps. It was not immediately clear whether the latest map denotes any new claim to territory. 

China’s U-shaped line loops as far as 1,500 km (932 miles) south of its Hainan island and cuts into the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. 

“This latest attempt to legitimize China’s purported sovereignty and jurisdiction over Philippine features and maritime zones has no basis under international law,” the Philippine foreign ministry said.

Its Malaysian counterpart in a statement said the new map holds no binding authority over Malaysia, which “also views the South China Sea as a complex and sensitive matter.”

The map was different to a narrower version submitted by China to the United Nations in 2009 of the South China Sea that included its so-called “nine-dash line.”

The latest map was of a broader geographical area and had a line with 10 dashes that included democratically governed Taiwan, similar to a 1948 map of China. China also published a map with a 10th dash in 2013. 

Asked about the latest map, Taiwan foreign ministry spokesperson Jeff Liu said Taiwan was “absolutely not a part of the People’s Republic of China.”

“No matter how the Chinese government twists its position on Taiwan’s sovereignty, it cannot change the objective fact of our country’s existence,” he told a press briefing. 

China is currently having a “national map awareness publicity week,” state broadcaster China Central Television reported on Tuesday. 

Asked why China had released the latest map with 10 dashes compared to one with nine dashes, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Beijing had been unambiguous about its territory.

“China’s position on the South China Sea issue has always been clear. The competent authorities of China regularly update and release various types of standard maps every year,” he told a regular briefing.

“We hope that relevant parties can view this in an objective and rational manner.”

India on Tuesday said it had lodged a strong protest with China over a new map that lays claim to India’s territory, the latest irritant in testy ties between the Asian giants. — Reuters

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