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BARMM, Cotabato airports set for upgrades

MLANG.GOV.PH

By John Felix M. Unson and Maya M. Padillo, Correspondents

COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro region is gearing up for a new era of modern, efficient, and reliable air transport facilities with significant developments in two key airports in the region, along with the Central Mindanao Airport (CMA) in M’lang, Cotabato province.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MoTC) is constructing plush passenger lounges at the Sanga-Sanga and Awang airports in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, and Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, respectively.

This initiative, complementing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (BARMM) focuses on essential infrastructure projects, aims to boost investment prospects in this part of the Southern Philippines.

Funded through grants from the Transitional Development Impact Fund, allocated by regional lawmakers Baintan A. Ampatuan, Amilbahar S. Mawallil, and Jose I. Lorena, each passenger lounge building costs at least P5 million.

MoTC Minister Paisalin P. Tago said the completion of the lounges is expected in less than three months from the launching of the twin projects last Dec. 18 and Ronald Halid D. Torres, chairman of the Bangsamoro Business Council, told BusinessWorld on Thursday that his group welcomes the development.

Tawi-Tawi Governor Esmael Sali expressed gratitude to the regional parliament and the MoTC, citing the projects’ positive impact on his province’s status as a new investment hub in the BARMM.

Meanwhile, Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza announced that the Central Mindanao Airport in Barangay Tawan-Tawan, M’lang is among the 22 airports funded by the national government in 2024, receiving around P300 million.

The funds will be used for the construction of the administrative building, powerhouse, control tower, water supply system, and rehabilitation of the fire station.

Cotabato Rep. Ma. Alana Samantha T. Santos and Deputy Speaker Raymond D. Mendoza teamed up to secure additional funding for the CMA, which was acknowledged by Ms. Taliño-Mendoza. 

NEA loaned P1B to co-ops in 2023

THE NATIONAL Electrification Administration (NEA) said on Thursday that it has extended about P1 billion in loans to 28 electric cooperatives (ECs) as of yearend 2023.

The year’s total loans were lower than the NEA recorded for 2022 which was about P1.2 billion, extended to 35 ECs.

Of the latest total loans, 19 ECs had access to capital expenditure loans at P474.69 million, the NEA said in a statement.

These include ECs in Basilan, Bohol, Bukidnon, Camotes Islands, Davao del Sur, Iloilo, Laguna, Leyte, Misamis Oriental, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, Quezon Province, Siargao, Siasi, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Surigao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, and Zamboanga del Norte.

Loans used for working capital stood at P465 million which was used by 11 ECs operating in Antique, Aurora, Batanes, Bohol, Camiguin, Central Pangasinan, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Negros Oriental, and Zamboanga del Sur.

The NEA said that its Accounts Management and Guarantee Department (AMGD) processed an additional P27 million worth of loans in December, mostly to fund the working capital of ECs.

In AMGD’s report, about P12.85 million was lent to the Misamis Oriental I Rural Electric Service Cooperative, Inc. for its modular generator and to Lanao del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. for a P50-million short-term credit facility.

“The NEA processed the aforementioned loans using the funds earmarked for its Enhanced Lending Program,” the agency said.

The AMGD said that the total loans released exceeded its 2023 target of P700 million.

The government is targeting to achieve full electrification by 2028.

Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 tasks the NEA with overseeing missionary electrification and providing financial, institutional and technical assistance to electric cooperatives.

The Department of Energy (DoE) has identified 285 unserved areas and 122 underserved areas in off-grid locations that will be prioritized for tender to private sector investments through a competitive selection process (CSP).

In the first CSP for micro grid service provider conducted in December 2023, only the Maharlika Consortium, a group of three companies, submitted complete bid proposals out of nine pre-qualified bidders.

The consortium includes Clean Power Holdings, Inc., Singapore-based CleanGrid Partners, and Singapore-based renewable energy company WEnergy Global.

The CSP covered 98 unserved and underserved areas clustered into 49 lots.

Republic Act No. 11646 or the Microgrid Systems Act mandates the DoE to conduct a CSP for potential concessionaires seeking to serve off-grid areas. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

AMLC freezes ‘terrorist’ assets

UNSPLASH

THE ANTI-MONEY Laundering Council (AMLC) has ordered covered financial institutions and government agencies to carry out freeze orders on the accounts and assets of one individual, who was recently designated as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC).

Through AMLC Resolution No. TF-52, Series of 2023 and posted on its website, the “dirty money” watchdog said the orders should be implemented immediately against the woman tagged as a terrorist by virtue of ATC Resolution No. 52 dated Oct. 25, 2023.

Under the AMLC resolution, financial institutions will freeze the property or funds owned or controlled by the individual. This is not limited to those assets that can be tied to a particular terrorist act, plot, or threat.

Assets that are wholly or jointly owned by the designated person and those generated from their funds are also expected to be frozen.

Relevant government agencies such as the Land Transportation Office, Land Registration Authority, Maritime Industry Authority, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines were alerted of the freeze order.

Covered institutions and government agencies were directed to submit a written return for freezing the funds and assets of the designated individual to the AMLC.

This is consistent with the Philippines’ international obligations to comply with terrorism-related resolutions, including the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution No. 1373 pursuant to Article 41 of the UN Charter.

Property or funds of persons and entities that are acting with the direction of designated individual are likewise covered by the freeze order.

“All covered institutions are mandated to submit as Suspicious Transaction Report all previous transactions of the designated person within five days from effectivity of the Sanctions Freeze Order,” the AMLC said.

It added that persons, organizations, associations or groups of the person whose assets have been frozen may avail of the remedies under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which provided for the creation of the ATC, is meant to strengthen the country’s measures against terrorist financing and dirty money. — Keisha B. Ta-asan

 

DepEd to boost teacher training

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

FOLLOWING its poor showing in a 2022 global learning assessment, the Philippines said on Thursday that it seeks to boost teacher training and address bullying in schools.

The Department of Education (DepEd) will focus on improving teaching quality in the coming months, agency spokesman Michael T. Poa said at a news briefing after a meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., which was also attended by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio.

“He wants teachers to have expertise,” Mr. Poa said. “He emphasized the necessity of proper training programs for our teachers — of course, [this is] hand in hand with teachers’ welfare.”

The President wants teachers to be better equipped with technology so they could do better, he added.

Filipino students were still among the world’s weakest in math, reading, and science, according to the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA).

The PISA ranked the Philippines at No. 77 out of 81 countries for performing worse than the global average in all categories.

“The President regards them (teachers) as the most important, and we agree, teaching quality will really improve,” Mr. Poa said. “He believes around 60% improvement will be achieved if we can improve the teaching quality.”

The agency will conduct a scoping review to determine the number of teachers who have gadgets.

“We will really train all of our teachers because there have been so many changes in technology, even in a span of a year,” he said, adding that the DepEd may also train teachers on how to use artificial intelligence.

“So that’s something we are looking at,” he said. “We will use, of course, the training facility of DepEd to do that.”

DepEd Undersecretary Gina Gonong cited the need for the DepEd to partner with universities to train education students in using technology in teaching.

Meanwhile, Mr. Poa said the agency would also focus on improving students’ nutrition and address bullying in schools to address the country’s learning challenges.

He said the government’s school-based feeding program can now be sustained for the whole year due to increased allocation from Congress under the 2024 national budget.

“For the school-based feeding program, we had a P5.6-billion budget for 2023. The budget has been increased [for] this year to P11.7 billion,” he said. “What does that mean? It means that because of the increased funding, we can cover the whole year.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Gov’t told: Pay hike, not ‘Cha-cha’

PHILIPPINE STAR/ANDY ZAPATA JR.

THE MARCOS administration must focus on increasing wages rather than introducing changes to the 1987 Constitution if it truly wishes to help people to escape poverty, a former lawmaker said on Thursday.

“Amidst escalating prices and the diminishing real value of our salaries, the solution is clear: we need a change and an increase in our wages, not a change in Constitution,” Emerenciana de Jesus, chairperson of Gabriela Party-list, said in a statement.

“If the government is really keen on uplifting the lives of the Filipino people, then it must prioritize bills which will increase the workers’ salaries,” she added.

Several proposals calling for a legislated wage increase of P750 and P150 are pending in Congress.

Ms. De Jesus, a former party-list representative in Congress, raised concerns that Charter change (“Cha-cha”) proposals are allegedly target term extensions and softening limits of foreign ownership in the country.

She called “Cha-cha” a “trojan horse” for increased liberalization and opening the country to foreign domination.

She also sounded the alarm over a television commercial blaming the current state of the Constitution for the country’s economic woes.

“Is it really just a coincidence that after the government released a statement “studying” “Cha-cha,” a certain group sponsored a TV ad campaigning to revise the Constitution?” said Ms. De Jesus, a former representative of Gabriela in Congress.

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez revisited proposals to amend the Constitution to ease economic restrictions.

However, Senate Majority Leader Joel J. Villanueva maintained his firm stance against “Cha-cha,” saying it is not the solution to immediate issues like hunger, lack of jobs, and the El Niño phenomenon. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Fire razes San Fernando market

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Alexa from Pixabay

BAGUIO CITY — A fire that razed through the entire wet section of the public market in San Fernando City, La Union in the wee hours of Thursday morning is now being investigated by arson probers.

Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) investigators said the fire started past 1 a.m. and was only declared “fire-out” by 6:52 a.m. As of late afternoon, there were no reported injuries or estimate of the cost of damage by the BFP.

The San Fernando City government said stall owners displaced by the fire were being relocated at the covered courts of Barangay Ilocanos Sur and Norte, while the market office now temporarily operates from the Barangay Hall of Ilocanos Sur.

The city government is working with the City Council to declare a “state of calamity” in order to tap funds necessary to get the market back in operation. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Marcos to visit Germany in March

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said on Thursday that he will be visiting Germany in March.

Mr. Marcos told German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock of his plan to visit Berlin on March 12 during their meeting at the presidential palace.

He said his office has been “in contact” with the German Embassy in Manila over the past few months to arrange the visit ahead of the 70th anniversary of the Philippines’ diplomatic relationship with Germany in October.

“And I think we have finally managed, with your embassy’s staff, we’ve been driving them a little crazy. We keep moving things because things have been coming up. But I think we have come down on the March 12th date,” Mr. Marcos told Ms. Baerbock. “So I can commit to that now,” he added.

Ms. Baerbock’s visit in Manila is the first by a German federal foreign minister in over a decade.

The last Philippine president to hold an official visit to Germany was the late Benigno “Noynoy” S. Aquino III in 2014. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

SMB shoots for quarters incentive vs Blackwater

SAN Miguel Beermen — PBA MEDIA

Games Friday
Smart Araneta Coliseum
4 p.m. — San Miguel vs Blackwater
8 p.m. — Meralco vs Terrafirma

THINGS are looking good for San Miguel Beer (SMB) as it zeroes in on a coveted incentive in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals today in its elims windup against also-ran Blackwater.

By now, replacement import Bennie Boatwright should be right at home with the locals, with whom he has collaborated for half of the current four-game streak of third-running SMB (7-3).

Boatwright, who debuted last Christmas, delivered a 51-point scorcher in their 132-110 thrashing of Terrafirma last Sunday and is tipped to carry the big guns in their bid for a Top 4 seeding and win-once bonus against the skidding Bossing (1-9) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“This team has had high accolades over the past years and I’m excited to be a part of it and make a run at the playoffs,” said the former USC Trojans standout.

He won’t be alone, of course as SMB boasts a topnotch local crew led by CJ Perez, Don Trollano, Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter and Mo Tautuaa that can shoot the lights out themselves.

And then there’s more. Pending medical clearance, seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo may make his comeback in the 4 p.m. duel with Blackwater. Mr. Fajardo missed the last six games due to a fractured hand.

“June Mar’s doing very well, he’s recovering well and if the doctor gives him a go-signal, he could play our game against Blackwater,” said coach Jorge Gallent.

A win by Mr. Gallent’s troops puts them at 8-3 with a guaranteed twice-to-beat advantage in the quarters alongside No. 1 Magnolia (9-2) and Top 4-assured Phoenix (8-2). A loss will complicate things with Ginebra (7-3) and Meralco (7-3) threatening to take their eighth victories against separate foes.

The Bolts gun for No. 8 in the second game against another eliminated squad in Dyip (2-8).

Even if successful, however, the charges of Luigi Trillo will need either SMB or Ginebra to drop their last elims assignments against Blackwater and NLEX, respectively, and get stuck at seven wins to salvage a Top 4 position. This is due to Meralco’s inferior quotient versus the Beermen and the Gin Kings if it comes to a tiebreaker for the remaining prime slots.

“We beat Terrafirma and we wait and see. It’s still out there. We still have a chance if Ginebra or San Miguel loses,” said Mr. Trillo.

The situation could have been a lot different for Meralco had it not bungled its shot at the incentive in an 83-93 loss to Phoenix last Wednesday.

“At this point, we can’t cry over spilled milk. Move on with the Bolts versus Terrafirma,” said Mr. Trillo. — Olmin Leyba

King Lion Jacob Cortez leaves NCAA and jumps to UAAP

IT WAS an open secret that, even before San Beda’s remarkable Season 99 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) title run last year, King Lion Jacob Cortez was making a jump to De La Salle University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

Mr. Cortez himself confirmed it yesterday. “With great difficulty, I have decided that my time as a Red Lion is closing, and would like to officially announce that I will not be playing for San Beda University in their upcoming season,” said Mr. Cortez on Facebook. “Challenging, improving, and growing is always my goal, and so I have decided that to achieve this, I need to get out of my comfort zone.”

“With that, I plan to compete in the UAAP,” he added.

While he did not mention De La Salle specifically, his path had always pointed towards reigning UAAP titlist De La Salle where his father, Mike Cortez, was one of its biggest stars more than two decades back.

He has jumped from a champion team to another champion squad.

Mr. Cortez was grateful San Beda gave him a chance. “I have had the best time at San Beda. From playing as a rookie fresh out of high school in an isolating yet invigorating bubble season to helping bring back the crown where it belongs after many have counted San Beda out,” said Mr. Cortez. “Still, the most unforgettable part of the past couple of years has been all of you. Along the journey, I’ve truly met people who I can call family now.” — Joey Villar

Slumbers to step down as R&A CEO

MARTIN SLUMBERS is to step down as chief executive officer (CEO) of the R&A by the end of 2024 after nine years in the role, the 63-year-old said on Wednesday.

Mr. Slumbers is also Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, and has been CEO since taking over from Peter Dawson in 2015. Mr. Slumbers will oversee the running of this year’s Open Championship at Royal Troon, the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews and the Curtis Cup match at Sunningdale, before he steps down.

In his time as CEO, he led a merger with the Ladies’ Golf Union which came into effect in 2017, oversaw the modernization of the Rules of Golf in 2019 and the roll-out of the World Handicap System in 2020.

Mr. Slumbers was also involved in developing the new rules to limit the distance balls struck by the game’s elite players can travel, which will be introduced in 2028. — Reuters

Dwight Howard wants to play in PBA, despite height eligibility

DWIGHT HOWARD — NBA.COM

DWIGHT HOWARD reiterated his height eligibility for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), where he hopes to make it as an import someday after his stint with Strong Group Athletics (SGA) in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championships.

“I’m eligible for the PBA,” expressed Mr. Howard, clarifying that he’s 6-foot-9 without shoes, in the thick of SGA’s preparations for the Middle Eastern tourney on Jan. 19 to 28.

Mr. Howard is listed at 6-foot-10 according to the NBA website. In FIBA, he’s billed as 6-foot-11.

The PBA has a height limit of 6-foot-9 for imports in the Commissioner’s Cup and 6-foot-6 in the Governors’ Cup, making Mr. Howard eligible if his claim of a 6-foot-9 height is true depending on PBA’s measurement.

In case that he’s not, the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and one-time champion with the Los Angeles Lakers is appealing for changes from Asia’s oldest professional league.

“I think they gotta change the height requirements because I’m 6’9” without shoes. And with shoes, it has a little. I hope they do that so guys like Dray (Andray Blatche) can come back here and play as well,” Mr. Howard added.

CHANGE HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS
“We want to play in the PBA. If they change the height requirements, maybe we’ll see twin towers in the Philippines.”

The PBA Commissioner’s Cup for the 48th Season is already underway nearing the playoffs and should the stars align for the 38-year-old slotman, he has to wait until next season.

For now, Mr. Howard is shifting all his focus and attention to the preparations of SGA in a bid to avenge a quarterfinal finish in Dubai last year with his big help.

“I believe we can do anything if we put our minds to it. We gotta have faith. Our focus is going to Dubai and play against whatever team is out there, represent the Philippines and win,” vowed Mr. Howard, who’s on his third visit to the country but first time playing here. — John Bryan Ulanday

Williams did not honor his commitment to play for Strong Group

MIKEY WILLIAMS — PBA IMAGES

MIKEY Williams did not honor his word to play for Strong Group Athletics (SGA) in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championships, the team said after its first full practice without the ace guard.

According to team manager Jacob Lao, the Fil-American stalwart committed his services for SGA but was a no-show in training camp that featured NBA veterans like Dwight Howard, Andray Blatche and Andre Robinson.

The development led to the team’s decision to move on from him with only a week to go before the Dubai tourney on Jan. 19 to 28.

“This is the first time we have had a player who doesn’t honor his word,” said Mr. Lao, son of team owner (Mr.) Frank (Lao).

“Now, I understand the management of the team he played for before.”

Mr. Williams, whose PBA contract was terminated by his mother club Talk ‘N Text last year after their negotiations fell through, was supposed to be the starting point guard of the SGA according to head coach Charles Tiu.

But to no avail.

“We really don’t know what happened. Everything was in place and we agreed to almost everything he wanted,” cleared Mr. Lao, noting their terms on the worth of Mr. Williams’ contract and his preferred arrival.

“At first, he agreed to the price. Then he asked for a specific time frame for his arrival. However, he just didn’t show up at our practice when everybody was expecting him to, including former NBA stars and starters.”

Aside from the reinforcements led by Mr. Howard, all local players of SGA bannered by UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao and MPBL MVP Justine Baltazar are already at the height of training camp in Makati. — John Bryan Ulanday

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