Births, deaths, marriages decline

May 2, 2024 | 8:36 pm

Cemetery — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE PHILIPPINES’ birth, death, and marriage rates declined by 22%, 16.5%, and 24.7%, respectively, in 2023 compared with the previous year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday.

Preliminary data from the Vital Statistics Report of the PSA showed that births in 2023 dropped to 1,135,639 from the 1,455,393 in 2022.

Deaths declined to 567,840 last year from the 679,766 the other year, while marriages also fell to 338,210 in 2023 from the 449,428 who tied the knot from January to December, 2022, according to the same report.

The figures reported by the PSA took into account registered births, deaths, and marriages as of the cut-off date of Feb. 29.

In a separate report, the Philippine Statistics Authority said ischemic heart disease remained the leading cause of death in the country in 2023 with 107,767 cases.

This is equivalent to 19% of the 567,840 total deaths listed last year.

Neoplasms diseases were the second-highest cause of death with 60,906 (10.7% share), followed by cerebrovascular diseases with 57,288 (10.1% share). — Abigail Marie P. Yraola

P48-M marijuana farm destroyed

May 2, 2024 | 8:36 pm

BAGUIO CITY — A marijuana plantation valued at P48 million was overran by police, military and anti-narcotics agents in a joint operation in the northern Luzon province of Kalinga on Wednesday.

The 8,000-square-meter plantation located in the village of Loccong in Tinglayan town yielded 240,000 fully grown marijuana plants, which were set on fire operating agents.

“This successful operation marks a significant milestone in the relentless efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat marijuana cultivation in the region… [and] underscores PRO Cordillera’s steadfast commitment to safeguarding communities and upholding the rule of law,” said Brig. Gen. David K. Peredo, Police Regional Office (PRO)-Cordillera director.

Meanwhile, two alleged drug traders trying to smuggle out over P3.7 million worth of dried marijuana leaves were cornered in a sting operation at an open parking lot at the Strawberry Farm in Barangay Betag, La Trinidad, Benguet at dawn on Thursday.

A total of 31 pieces of dried marijuana leaves with stalks and fruiting tops tape-rolled into cylinders were seized from two vegetable gardeners from Kibungan, Benguet, who sold the contraband to covert agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera. — Artemio A. Dumlao

EDSA-Kamuning rerouting set

May 2, 2024 | 8:35 pm

MMDA-trafficenforcer-PHILSTAR-RUSSEL-PALMA — PHILIPPINE STAR/ RUSSEL PALMA

TRAFFIC rerouting and other adjustments by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to aid some 47,000 vehicles affected by the closure of the southbound lanes of the EDSA-Kamuning flyover will be in place today.

To better manage the situation, MMDA Acting Chairman Romando S. Artes said motorcycles will be guided to alternate routes such as Scout Borromeo Street, Panay Avenue, Mother Igancia Avenue, and Scout Albano Street.

More traffic enforcers are being deployed in the area and personnel of the MMDA and the Quezon City government will continue clearing operations along Mabuhay Lanes for the use of four-wheeled vehicles, added Mr. Artes.

As the flyover undergoes retrofitting work until November, only the EDSA Carousel for exclusive use of commuter buses will be open.

The Traffic Engineering Center said 24,000 four-wheeled vehicles and 23,000 motorcycles will be affected by the closure. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

BIR sues firm using fake receipts

May 2, 2024 | 8:34 pm

THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed a criminal case against a trading firm that used over P200 million worth of fake receipts.

“The company used these fake receipts by claiming them as part of its cost of sales for the taxable year 2021. The accountant of the company supplied the receipts of fake businesses owned by her relatives,” it said in a statement on Thursday.

The agency said that the corporate officers and accountant of the trading company and the owners of the fake business that provided the fake receipts will face a set of criminal cases filed before the Department of Justice.

In February, the BIR filed 14 criminal complaints against six individuals associated with two companies found to be using fake receipts. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Crimes vs media undermine democratic system — CMFR

May 2, 2024 | 8:33 pm

POINTING out that crimes against the press undermine the democratic system, a media watchdog group said on Thursday that reporting them must be framed in the context of a human rights violation.

“We cover attacks against the press like criminal cases,” said Melinda Quintos-de Jesus, Center for Media Freedom (CMFR) executive director, who referred to these incidents as “a violation of human rights” and “a significant threat to Philippine democracy.”

Citing at least 135 attacks on media and the press since July 2022, the CMFR bewailed how three of these ended up in the deaths of media personalities, Renato Blanco, Percy Lapid (real name: Percival Mabasa), and Cresencio Bunduqin.

“I have always pointed out that the killings of journalists in the Philippines are due to the endemic culture of violence and how easy it is to get guns, how easy it is to use guns if you are in power and if you have the money to hire assassins,” said Ms. Quintos-de Jesus.

She stressed the need for public support to safeguard the media, advocating for citizen awareness of the press’ pivotal role in democracy. She also warned that politicians could face accountability for attacks on journalists if Filipinos recognize the media’s significance. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

PHL firms cited for giving Filipinos access to COVID-19 medicine

May 2, 2024 | 8:32 pm

TWO Philippine pharmaceutical companies under the AC Health group were recognized in Asia for easing Molnupiravir access in the country at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and fast tracking the delivery of drug imports to local healthcare facilities.

I.E. Medica, Inc., which was founded in 2006, received the Supply Chain Initiative of the Year at the Healthcare Asia Pharma Awards 2024 in Singapore, the company said in a statement on Thursday.

“I.E. Medica was awarded for its efforts in implementing solutions to its end-to-end supply chain operations to meet the nation’s healthcare product supply chain needs,” it said.

“The Philippine pharmaceutical industry is heavily dependent on importation; thus, we continuously look for ways to improve our supply chain operations,” Monaliza Balnig Salian, co-founder, president and CEO of the company said.

I.E. Medica, which has been implementing end-to-end supply chain operations, has vowed to continue complying with Philippine Customs Administration import guidelines.

In 2017, it obtained a Super Green Lane certificate for demonstrating its initial compliance with the cargo security risk management framework required for accreditation as an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Importer.

“The company is also on track to securing the Level 1 AEO Certification, affirming its observance of supply chain security standards and the benefits of improved accessibility to healthcare goods brought about by streamlined import-export systems across borders,” the company said.

Its sister company MedEthix, meanwhile, received the Hospital Partnership of the Year and the Most Differentiated Service of the Year awards for leveraging the synergy of strategic alliances to ease Molnupiravir access in the Philippines at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

MedEthix, which was founded in 2009, was the first importer of the Molnupiravir, initially securing the first four hospital partners from the Food and Drug Administration and the compassionate special permit (CSP) for the oral drug, which is indicated for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19.

It expanded the distribution of Molnupiravir from the first four CSP grantees to over 80 health institutions and over 500 doctors across the country as soon as it secured an emergency use permit from the regulatory authority.

“Healthway QualiMed, the hospital network of AC Health, played a valuable role in its success,” the company statement said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Court sentences Vhong Navarro’s 4 tormentors to 40 years in jail

May 2, 2024 | 8:31 pm

A COURT has sentenced businessman Cedric C. Lee, model Deniece M. Cornejo and two others to 40 years imprisonment for the crime of serious illegal detention filed against them by actor and host Ferdinand “Vhong” H. Navarro.

Judge Mariam G. Bien of the Taguig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 153 found the four — Zimmer Raz, and Ferdinand Guerrero — guilty of the crime and ordered them to pay P300,000 for civil indemnity, moral damages, and exemplary damages.

The Court also cancelled the bail bond or cash bond they posted. Ms. Cornejo and Mr. Raz were committed immediately as they were present at the promulgation.

“The acts of Deniece Cornejo, Cedric Lee, Zimmer Raz, and Ferdinand Guerrero, when taken together, reveal that they acted in concert with one another and that their acts emanated from the same purpose or common design showing unity in its execution,” the decision read.

The court issued warrants for the arrest of Mr. Lee and Mr. Guerrero.

BusinessWorld reached out to the lawyers of the convicted but they did not reply as of the writing of this story.

In January 2014, Mr. Navarro was beaten up by Messrs. Lee, Raz, and Guerrero inside Ms. Cornejo’s condominium unit on her claim that the actor had raped her.

Subsequently, Ms. Cornejo filed rape and acts of lasciviousness complaints against Mr. Navarro, while he filed counter-charges of serious illegal detention against her and her male companions.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) junked Ms. Cornejo’s complaints against Mr. Navarro in 2018 and 2020.

However, in July 2022, the Court of Appeals overturned the decision, sending Mr. Navarro to detention at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and then the Taguig City Jail until he was granted bail in January 2023 and released.

Two months later, the Supreme Court dismissed the charges against him, saying the CA erred in its decision. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Lawmaker urges DepEd to hire more than 5,000 support staff

May 2, 2024 | 8:31 pm

A MEMBER of the progressive bloc in the House of Representatives is pressing on the Department of Education (DepEd) to hire more support personnel in public schools, citing an insufficiency in handling administrative tasks.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Party-list Rep. France L. Castro stressed the need to increase education support personnel beyond the current target of 5,000, which she said “is not enough” to meet the actual workload.

“A study done by Alliance of Concerned Teachers showed we need a hundred thousand (education support staff),” she said in Filipino.

The specialized support staff Ms. Castro was referring to consisted of librarians, registrars, and property custodians who address the variety of administrative needs per school.

Oftentimes, these administrative tasks fall on the shoulders of teachers when they should be concentrated on improving the performance of students.

Calling for a more grounded approach, the lawmaker urged the DepEd to conduct school visits to assess specific support staff requirements rather than blindly adhering to the 5,000 personnel quota. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

878 applicants take the 2024 Shari’ah Bar Exams

May 2, 2024 | 8:30 pm

THE 2024 Shari’ah Bar Exams logged the biggest number of examinees since 1983 at 855 during the two testing dates on April 28 and May 2 at the University of the Philippines-Diliman in Quezon City and Ateneo de Davao University in Mindanao.

“Under the visionary leadership of Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, the Supreme Court has been paving the way for a more inclusive and accessible Judiciary,” Supreme Court Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh told a press conference at UP-Diliman on Thursday.

“This year’s Shari’ah Bar Examinations is a testament to that commitment,” she added.

The exams consisted of four subjects: Jurisprudence (Figh) and customary laws (Adat) / persons, family relations, property/succession, wills, adjudication, and settlement of estates / and procedures in the Shari’ah Courts, said Ms. Singh, who chaired this year’s Shari’ah Bar Exams. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

WESM suspension ‘too late’ — congresswoman

May 2, 2024 | 8:30 pm

THE ENERGY Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) suspension of trading in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WSEM) is “too late” and would result in consumers dealing with the brunt of increased electricity bills, a lawmaker said on Thursday.

“The WESM should have been suspended earlier when the red and yellow alerts were issued in its second and third days,” Party-list Rep. France L. Castro said in a statement in Filipino. “(The ERC) should not wait for (generation companies) to profit immensely from the lack of electricity supply, which is of their fault.”

The ERC suspended the WESM earlier this week after repeated issuances of yellow and red alerts in the past two weeks as the Luzon and Visayas grids faced thinning power supply.

It has the power to suspend the WESM — the trading floor for electricity — in times of “national and international security emergencies or natural calamities.”

But Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr., president of think-tank Minimal Government Thinkers, said the ERC should not have resorted to suspending the WESM.

“By suspending WESM trading… you are telling potential reserve suppliers that they will not make money while helping the country avoid a blackout,” he told BusinessWorld in a Viber message.

“Let the price spikes send a signal to potential investors of peaking plants to build their plants this year.”

Some experts are of the view that suspending the WESM would only lead to a short-term reduction in consumer electric prices.

“While the suspension serves as a reactive solution to mitigate immediate price increases, it is by no means a long-term strategy,” Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy Chief Advocate Officer Nic Satur, Jr. told BusinessWorld.

The ERC should “move beyond temporary fixes and develop comprehensive, long-term solutions,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

In the meantime, the ERC should seek to resolve all pending cases related to the issuance of power alerts and sanction erring parties immediately, Mr. Satur said.

“Go after the compliance for the required reserves,” Mr. Oplas said, referring to ERC’s need to investigate whether electric system operators contracted needed ancillary services to supply increased demand for electricity. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

El Niño farm damage hits P5.9 billion

May 2, 2024 | 8:22 pm

carabao-farmer — A farmer guides his carabao on dry and cracked farmland in San Juan town, Batangas, April 18, 2010. — REUTERS

AGRICULTURAL damage caused by El Niño has been estimated at P5.9 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In a bulletin, the DA said that volume losses of farmed commodities was 255,467 metric tons (MT), with rice the most affected crop, accounting for 53.2% of the total.

The dry conditions brought about by El Niño has impacted 113,585 farmers and fisherfolk. The farmland affected by the dry spells was 104,402 hectares.

Damage and loss to rice amounted to 123,350 MT, valued at P3.14 billion. The affected farmland spanned 58,226 hectares.

The DA said that 67.67%, or 39,402 hectares were partially damaged, while 32.33% or 18,824 hectares sustained total crop damage.

The hardest-hit province was Iloilo, where losses were valued at between P500 million and P600 million, followed by Palawan at P350 million to P500 million.

“Most of the damage and losses were to rice in the reproductive and maturity stages,” it added.

Palay production during the first quarter dropped 2% to 4.69 million MT, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The quarter’s result was slightly lower than the 4.82 million MT the PSA projected based on the standing crop as of March 1.

Damage to corn was estimated at 98,937 MT and valued at P1.76 billion. The affected area planted to corn was 39,407 hectares, or 29.8% of the total.

The DA added that the total volume loss for high value crops was 26,826 MT over 6,744 hectares of farmland. The value of the losses was estimated at P958.06 million, or 16.23% of the total.

Damage to fisheries was valued at P22.83 million, with 2,261 fisherfolk affected.

The DA said that it provided P2.18 billion worth of assistance to address the adverse effects of El Niño.

PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), the government weather service, said El Niño is currently weakening, with its effects projected to last until August.

PAGASA said that about 41 provinces were in drought as of the end of April, with 23 undergoing dry spells.

On Monday, Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. said that drought conditions will persist as El Niño into La Niña.

PAGASA said there is a 62% probability that La Niña will develop between June and August. — Adrian H. Halili

Yellow alert raised over Luzon grid

May 2, 2024 | 8:22 pm

THE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said it placed the Luzon power grid under yellow alert on Thursday afternoon, as power reserves fell below the grid’s safety margin.

In an advisory early Thursday, the NGCP said the Luzon grid was on yellow alert from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. as peak demand hit 13,818 megawatts (MW) against available capacity of 15,115 MW.

According to the NGCP, four plants have been on forced outage since 2023. Three have been out since January, February, or March, and 13 have been out since April. One plant is running on derated capacity for a total of 1,369.3 MW unavailable to the grid.

A yellow alert is issued when the operating margin is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement. A red alert is imposed when the supply-demand balance deteriorates further.

The NGCP lifted the yellow alert on the Luzon grid at 4:20 p.m.

Meanwhile, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Monalisa C. Dimalanta said that consumers could face higher electricity bills in May due to the current power supply-demand balance.

“We cannot give an estimate yet on the price increase because the prices of the 141 distribution utilities (DUs) are different,” she said at a briefing on Thursday.

Ms. Dimalanta urged distribution utilities to communicate with their suppliers about a staggered payment mechanism for the collection of generation charges, to provide relief to consumers.

“This would help so that we could avoid bill shock,” Ms. Dimalanta said.

“We are appealing to the DUs to do it on their own. Because if they don’t do it on their own, then again, the regulator will be constrained to step in. We let the DUs with initiative to do it. We’re also appealing to the generators to also be receptive to these requests given the situation,” she added.

The ERC recently ordered the suspension of trading on the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) during red alerts to avoid a surge in electricity prices.

The average spot prices per day rose 11% on Luzon and 53% in the Visayas after alert notices were issued as a result of the high heat index, according to the commission.

WESM is the trading floor for electricity. The ERC has the power to suspend its operations or declare a temporary WESM failure “in cases of national and international security emergencies or natural calamities” under Republic Act No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave