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PHL wholesale price growth picks up

PRICE GROWTH in wholesale goods accelerated to a 15-month high in March, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a report.

Citing preliminary data, the PSA said the general wholesale price index (GWPI) rose 3.6% year on year, against 2.5% a year earlier and 2.9% in February.

The March reading was the strongest in 15 months, or since the 4.3% registered in December 2023.

In the first quarter, the GWPI averaged 3.1%, against the year-earlier 3%.

The PSA said the uptrend was driven by the index of chemicals, including animal and vegetable oils and fats, which accelerated to 12.4% in March from 10.1% in February.

Also accelerating were sub-indices for crude materials, inedible except fuels (77.9% from 60.6%), beverages and tobacco (3.4% from 2.9%), food (2.9% from 2.3%), and manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials (1.3% from 0.9%).

Miscellaneous manufactured material prices did not change year on year in March.

Meanwhile, the PSA noted slower growth in prices of machinery transport and equipment at 1.3% from 1.6% in February, and mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials, which declined 1.9% after a 0.3% dip in the previous month.

GWPI growth was mixed by major island group.

Luzon’s wholesale price growth accelerated to 3.9% from the 3.2% logged in February. The national average was 3.6%, the strongest reading in 15 months since the 4.2% posted in December 2023.

Wholesale price growth in the Visayas slowed to 0.8% from 1% a month earlier, the weakest reading since the 0.4% growth rate in September 2021.

Meanwhile, Mindanao GWPI picked up by 0.8%, against the 0.7% in February, the strongest reading since the 1.1% posted in December. 

For the rest of the year, Reinielle Matt M. Erece, economist at Oikonomia Advisory and Research, expects the GWPI to continue on this track as “rate cuts are expected, which may increase demand for goods and even business expansion.”

The low inflation rates seen in the first quarter, which averaged 2.2%, were well below the 3.2% forecast by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for the period. — Matthew Miguel L. Castillo

Trump tariff impact on PHL seen mainly in weakening of investor confidence

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, April 2, 2025. — REUTERS

THE TRUMP tariffs will impact the Philippines mainly via the weakening of investor confidence as potential investors weigh a retreat behind US tariff walls, S&P Global Ratings said.

“(The Philippines) has one of the lower initial reciprocal tariff rates of 17%, and does not have a very large bilateral trade surplus with the US, as a substantial portion of its exports is in services. Nevertheless, growth is still likely to be affected, and we have penciled in a decline of 0.3 percentage points compared to the pre-tariff forecast for this year,” S&P Global Ratings Asia Sovereign & International Public Finance Ratings Director Rain Yin said at a webinar on Tuesday.

“We see weaker confidence, weaker investment, and the weaker environment in the region affecting the economy more broadly,” S&P Global Ratings Asia-Pacific Senior Economist Vishrut Rana added.

S&P Global expects the Philippine economy to expand 6% this year, at the lower end of the government’s 6-8% target and accelerating from the revised 5.7% forecast for 2024.

However, Ms. Yin said the outlook remains positive driven because of the Philippines’ “strong growth trajectory, narrowing current account deficits and fiscal consolidation,” adding that its credit ratings could be raised within the next two years.

“However, if downside risks are very significant and derail our expectations on those constructive trends, then the outlook can possibly go unstable,” she noted.

“Therefore, the key question for us is really about when domestic consumption and investments recover. This will likely determine how much fiscal support the government will roll out and for how long they decide to roll out this fiscal support. If we expect the domestic recovery to be slow, then the need for stimulative fiscal policies in the next few years will increasingly weigh on the sovereign ratings.”

The Philippines is one of three countries in the region with a positive outlook as this group is deemed least affected by the tariffs, the others being Mongolia and India.

“Nevertheless, the situation does carry a lot of downside risk. And the conditions that make it conducive for us to take a positive outlook might not materialize if downside risks intensify. So if we do not believe that the rating upgrade is likely within the next one or two years, then we’ll be looking very carefully whether the positive outlooks continue to make sense,” Ms. Yin said. — Aaron Michael C. Sy

US chip firms being pitched on expanding PHL footprint

REUTERS

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it is in talks with US semiconductor multinationals to expand their presence in the Philippines.

“We spoke with Texas Instruments on how they can really grow their business in the Philippines,” Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque told reporters on the sidelines of an event on Tuesday.

Ms. Roque said she also met with executives from the US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) to pitch them on operating in the Philippines.

“Semiconductors are the number one export of the Philippines to the US. Every time we talk to them, it is about expansion… what they need, and what to focus on to keep them in the country,” she said. 

The DTI also discussed trade issues and other industry concerns with SIA, Ms. Roque said, adding that her department continues to pursue plans to play a role in the chip value chain.

Last week, Ms. Roque visited the US for tariff negotiations, and took part in a business forum organized by the US Chamber of Commerce, the US-ASEAN Business Council and SIA. 

Electronics were the top commodity export of the Philippines last year, accounting for 53.4% of total exports.

In 2024, the Philippines exported $39.1 billion worth of electronic products, down 6.7%. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

NU, UST dispute the last finals ticket in UAAP men’s volleyball

UST GOLDEN SPIKERS — UAAP/NEO GARCIA

Game on Wednesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. — UST vs NU
(men’s Final Four knockout)

IT’S win or go home for four-peat National University (NU) and University of Santo Tomas (UST) as they dispute the last finals ticket in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball knockout on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Game time is at 2 p.m. with the UST Golden Spikers looking to complete an improbable feat of eliminating the NU Bulldogs after a stunning Game 1 win to neutralize a twice-to-win disadvantage.

A win by Santo Tomas would deny NU a five-peat with an early semifinals exit and arrange a best-of-three finale showdown against No. 1 seed Far Eastern University, which drubbed de La Salle University in one attempt, 24-26, 25-23, 25-19, 25-20.

“We just lived to fight another day,” said coach Odjie Mamon, looking to seal the deal amid an expected strong retaliation from the four-peat champion.

Momentum it is for the UST Golden Spikers, led by reigning MVP Josh Ybañez and Gboy de Vega, after scoring a 26-24, 27-25, 19-25, 25-18 win in the series opener to force a winner-take-all Game 2.

That proved as a stark contrast in their last four meetings all won by the NU Bulldogs, including a sweep in the Season 86 finals to clinch their fourth straight title.

Expect the NU Bulldogs, under the tutelage of Dante Alinsurin, to fight back with all their might to protect their dynasty with Leo Aringo, Leo Ordiales, Peng Taguibolos and Jade Disquitado leading the way. — John Bryan Ulanday

Road Warriors brace for tough Gin Kings clash

Games on Wednesday
(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
5 p.m. — Blackwater vs Rain or Shine
7:30 p.m. — Ginebra vs NLEX

CAN streaking NLEX continue its smooth ride in the PBA Philippine Cup?

That’s certainly the objective of the NLEX Road Warriors — winner of their last three games after dropping their conference debut against San Miguel — especially with a trio of heavyweights up on their plate in the next nine days.

First up is Barangay Ginebra (2-1), which puts them to a tough test tonight at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The 7:30 p.m. duel with the back-to-back-seeking Gin Kings ushers in a tough stretch that will see coach Jong Uichico’s troops waging battles with unbeaten leader Magnolia (5-0) on May 11 and defending champion Meralco (2-3) on May 16.

For Robert Bolick, a key part of NLEX’ success so far are the improved ball movement and player activity off the ball in a new approach they’re all fully buying in.

The Gin Kings are still trying to get their footing coming off a draining seven-game series against TNT in the Commissioner’s Cup finals.

“It’s been a tough conference for us so far, just having less preparation time (between conferences),” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

“We wanted to give the guys a mental and physical break when they came back from the finals and extend that as much as we could without walking in and playing. So we did everything to try to get ready. It was kind of like in a ‘hurry-up motion’ and so it’s a struggle for us mentally. But we snapped out of it a little bit in our last game (131-106 rout over NorthPort last Wednesday).”

Meanwhile, Rain or Shine (2-2) expects to have back on board Beau Belga (vertigo) and Caelan Tiongson (back spasms) as it shoots for a bounceback at 5 p.m. against Blackwater (1-3).

The Elasto Painters badly missed the two frontliners in their 97-107 defeat to Converge with the FiberXers totally dominating the boards, 62-40, and inside scoring, 56-38, behind Twin Towers Justin Arana (18-17) and Justine Baltazar (13-22).

Notes: The PBA named reigning Philippine Cup kingpin Meralco as the country’s representative to the Basketball Champions League Asia set June 9 to 15. Accordingly, commissioner Willie Marcial said the league will adjust the Bolts’ schedule in the ongoing Philippine Cup to accommodate this international campaign. The All-Filipino eliminations will run until June 15 with the playoffs eyed for a June 18 start. — Olmin Leyba

Farm Fresh revamps coaching staff; Cignal acquires Guino-o, Arce

FARM FRESH is revamping its coaching staff with hopes of changing its fortunes in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League seasons.

After quietly bringing in veteran internationalist Fabio Menta as consultant early this year, the Foxies have recently tapped two more Italians like the former in Alessandro Lodi as coach and Carlo Buzzichelli as in charge of strength and conditioning not just at Farm Fresh but also at sister team ZUS Coffee.

Mr. Lodi replaced Benson Bocboc, who coached the franchise to a 10th-place finish last All-Filipino Conference.

“The arrival of coach Alessandro Lodi as Farm Fresh’s new head coach and coach Carlo Buzzichelli as Strong Group’s new strength and conditioning head marks a new chapter for our teams,” said Farm Fresh manager Kiara Cruz. “With coach Fabio Menta already on board as our volleyball consultant, we’ve seen improvements across all SGA teams — from the pros to the collegiate level.”

“Now, with the additions of coach Alessandro (Lodi) and coach Carlo (Buzzichelli), we’re not just maintaining momentum — we’re becoming stronger,” she added.

Meanwhile, Cignal continued its own revamp as it acquired outside spiker Heather Guino-o and middle blocker Ethan Arce, which came a few days after tapping veteran Tine Tiamzon.

“Team Awesome is thrilled to welcome Heather Guino-o, a reliable scorer and steady presence on the wing, as she’s ready to make a significant impact with the Cignal HD Spikers in the next conference,” said the squad in a statement posted in social media.

“From one red squad to another, Ethan Arce brings strength, grit, and passion to the Cignal HD Spikers as we set our sights even higher for the next conference,” it added. — Joey Villar

Lady Knights beat Lady Stags in straight sets, lead NCAA volleyball

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

FOR Colegio de San Juan de Letran to legitimately challenge for the NCAA Season 100 women’s volleyball title, it would need to play with nerves of steel on a consistent basis.

The Letran Lady Knights showed some flashes of it against the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Lady Stags on Tuesday, but it was enough to pull off a 25-21, 25-22, 25-23 victory that kept the former unflappable at the helm at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Vanessa Sarie, a rookie prize find from Bicol, was at the heart of it all as she came through with a match-best 17 points as the Letran Lady Knights snared their sixth win in a row and 12th overall against two defeats.

It was also a triumph that kept Letran at No. 1 and on course of making a return trip to the Final Four where they hope to continue to advance to the finals where they get a shot at a first women’s crown since winning it all 27 years ago.

After seizing the second frame to go 2-0 set up, the Letran Lady Knights took a 19-12 edge and looked headed to cruising to another win. — Joey Villar

Primed Fever

Fourteen thousand nine hundred ninety-eight warm bodies kept their backsides in seats even though the match was all but over not even halfway through the first quarter. They were at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena on a pleasant Sunday afternoon to see their beloved Fever, particularly homegrown superstar Caitlin Clark, play. It didn’t matter that the Brazil National Team members were decidedly out of the league of their favorites, as evidenced by the 108-44 final score.

As far as the fans were concerned, the preseason set-to offered them enough of the Fever to tide them over until the start of the 2025 WNBA season on May 16. That they stayed from opening tip to final buzzer — cheering on each of the 14 players newly installed head coach Stephanie White called to action — spoke volumes of their excitement of what is to come. Not that they can be blamed. The red, blue, and gold are stacked; the fortified brain trust and key recruits that include six-time All-Star DeWanna Bonner and former Defensive Player of the Year awardee Natasha Howard feed into their title projections.

To be sure, the Fever will go only as far as Clark, the league’s assists leader as a rookie and a popular bet in sports books for the Most Valuable Player award, can take them. With a year under her belt and now far more knowledgeable about competition in the W, she see a grand opportunity to turn prognosis into practice alongside returning stalwarts Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, and Lexie Hull. And if there’s anything she showed in the way she carved up the hapless competition the other day, it’s that she’s more than ready for the task at hand.

There can be no doubting the impact Clark has made to the sport. She certainly has a flair for the dramatic; The other day, for instance, she launched — and made — a trademark three-point shot a good two feet behind the marker the Hawkeyes placed on the floor to celebrate her breaking the all-time scoring record in the NCAA. That said, she did so to claim a two-for-one break near the end of the third quarter. Which is why she fills stadiums; even her eye-popping exploits have underlying reasons.

Whether the Fever can meet their ultimate objective remains to be seen. What’s clear, though, is that they’re primed, and if they fail, they know they need only look in the mirror to see who to blame.

 

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.

Social media, fake news buffet cardinals ahead of conclave

A CHIMNEY is set up on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, ahead of the conclave, at the Vatican, May 2, 2025. — REUTERS

VATICAN CITY — Throughout history, there has been no shortage of outside attempts to influence the outcome of a conclave to elect a new pope, either by European monarchs, Italy’s noble families or even Romans who rioted in the streets to stand by their man.

Today’s influencers use social media, television and newspaper interviews, news conferences, open letters, and even puffs of pink smoke.

The campaigns to sway the outcome of a highly uncertain conclave started in earnest minutes after the announcement of Pope Francis’ death on Easter Monday and must end by Wednesday afternoon when the cardinal electors will be cut off from the outside world until they choose a successor.

Two episodes, in particular, have stood out as deliberate attempts to sabotage leading contenders for the papacy using underhand tactics.

Last Thursday, reports circulated on right-wing US Catholic social media and on the site of a conservative Italian newspaper that Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who is on most shortlists to become pope, had suffered a health scare and needed an hour of medical treatment.

The Vatican spokesman said the reports were totally false. Italian media said it was an attempt to “poison” the 70-year-old cardinal’s chances by implying that his body was not up to the job. “This was a clear attempt to penalize Parolin,” Italian Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio told an Italian newspaper.

A few days after Francis’ death, a six-year-old video of Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle singing parts of John Lennon’s “Imagine” in 2019 emerged on social media.

American and Italian conservative Catholic social media accused him of heresy, with one Italian traditionalist site asking: “Is this who we want as pope?” Tagle’s supporters countered that he had sung an abbreviated version that excluded the lyrics about no heaven and no religion.

“From the right and from the left, fake news about possible popes is going wild,” wrote Paolo Rodari, a Vatican commentator for RSI Swiss radio and television.

PUSHING CONSERVATIVES
Two well-known conservative journalists, Edward Pentin, a Briton, and Diane Montagna, an American, have prepared a 200-page, large format book in English and Italian called The College of Cardinals Report.

It includes profiles of 30 cardinals and their stand on key doctrinal and social issues.

Ms. Montagna has been handing it to cardinals entering and leaving the pre-conclave meetings.

Mr. Pentin told Reuters the book was “a service to the Church” and the inclusion of profiles of several ultra-conservative cardinals generally seen as having no chance of being elected was to give space to the possibility of “divine intervention” during the conclave.

On the other side of the spectrum, young, progressive Catholics from northern Europe have penned an open letter, urging the cardinals to pick a man who will continue with Francis’ reforms, saying he “opened doors, broke taboos.”

Tapping into long-running anger over the Church’s sexual abuse scandals, a number of groups have held news conferences in Rome to point out that the crisis is not over and rating the actions — or inactions — of some cardinal electors.

After each round of voting in the conclave, white smoke will emerge from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel if a pope has been elected and black smoke if he has not.

Perhaps the most colorful signal to the cardinals will come from the Women’s Ordination Conference, which promotes a female priesthood. The group plans to release pink smoke from a hill near the Vatican hours before the conclave starts.

“The exclusion of women from the conclave, and from ordained ministry, is a sin and a scandal,” executive director Kate McElwee said in a statement. “A group of ordained men meeting behind closed doors to make a consequential decision about the future of the church is textbook ‘old boy’s club’.” — Reuters

 

Filipino viewers can watch ABC News’ special coverage of the papal conclave and installation of the new pope  on Disney+. The coverage started streaming live on May 7. ABC’s World News Tonight anchor David Muir will lead the coverage, joined by anchors, correspondents, and reporters from ABC’s various news programs, plus contributors Father Jim Martin, Father John Wauck, and Helen Alvaré. The coverage will feature all voting session smoke releases until a new pope is announced. The replay of the papal conclave coverage will be available on Disney+ after the live streaming. 

All 133 cardinals who will take part in papal conclave arrive in Rome

Cardinals visit the tomb of late Pope Francis inside St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome, Sunday, April 27, 2025. — ANDREW MEDICHINI/POOL VIA REUTERS

VATICAN CITY — All of the 133 cardinals expected to take part in the secret conclave to elect a new pope have arrived in Rome, the Vatican said on Monday, with the race to succeed Pope Francis seen as wide open.

The conclave will start behind the closed, wooden doors of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday afternoon, with all cardinals aged under 80 entitled to take part to choose a successor to Francis, who died last month.

Some cardinals are looking for a new pope who will continue with Francis’ push for a more transparent, welcoming Church, while others are seeking retrenchment to more traditional roots that put a premium on doctrine.

Conclaves are often spread out over several days, with multiple votes held before a contender wins the necessary three-quarters majority to become pope.

The world’s Catholic cardinals have been meeting on a near daily basis since the day after Francis’ death on April 21 to discuss the state of the 1.4-billion-member Church, with the numbers of participating clerics gradually swelling.

The Vatican said 180 cardinals, including 132 electors, took part in a meeting on Monday morning. The 133rd elector is also in Rome, but did not take part in the discussions.

Two cardinals, one from Spain and one from Kenya, will not be joining the conclave for health reasons, the Vatican said.

Among the questions addressed on Monday were “strong concern” about divisions within the Church, said the Vatican spokesman — a possible reference to splits over Francis’ decision to allow blessings for same-sex partners and to open discussion about the role of women in the Church.

Cardinals also talked about the profile of a future pope — “a figure who must be present, close, capable of being a bridge and a guide… a shepherd close to the real life of the people,” the spokesman said.

CHANGING LISTS
While there are a few cardinals seen as potential front-runners to succeed Francis    two often mentioned are Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle    many of the voting clerics have not made up their minds.

“My list is changing, and I think it will continue to change over the next few days,” British Cardinal Vincent Nichols, participating in his first conclave, told Reuters. “It’s a process which for me is far from concluded, far from concluded.”

The cardinals will hold a second session of talks on Monday afternoon, with a final round expected on Tuesday. Two Vatican guest houses will house the cardinals during the conclave, when they will be barred from contact with the outside world.

German Cardinal Walter Kasper, who is 92 and cannot take part in the vote, said he was sure the electors would choose someone to pursue Francis’ progressive agenda.

“I believe that there is a very clear expectation. People want a pope to follow Francis. A pastor who knows the language of the heart, who does not close himself in palaces,” Kasper told La Stampa newspaper.

“Of course, there are also cardinals who hope for a change of direction with respect to Francis. But my impression… is that the majority of cardinals are in favor of continuity.” — Reuters

 

Filipino viewers can watch ABC News’ special coverage of the papal conclave and installation of the new pope  on Disney+. The coverage started streaming live on May 7. ABC’s World News Tonight anchor David Muir will lead the coverage, joined by anchors, correspondents, and reporters from ABC’s various news programs, plus contributors Father Jim Martin, Father John Wauck, and Helen Alvaré. The coverage will feature all voting session smoke releases until a new pope is announced. The replay of the papal conclave coverage will be available on Disney+ after the live streaming. 

Europe pledges half a billion euros to lure scientists as Trump battles universities

REUTERS

PARIS — The European Union (EU) and France on Monday announced half a billion euros worth of incentives to lure scientists to the continent, seeking to profit from US President Donald J. Trump’s federal funding cuts and clashes with top US universities.

“We call on researchers worldwide to unite and join us … If you love freedom, come and help us stay free,” French President Emmanuel Macron said at Paris’ Sorbonne University alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The money would fund research projects and help universities cover the cost of bringing foreign scientists over to help run them, officials said.

Ms. Von der Leyen announced the €500-million ($566.6-million) incentive package and said she also wanted EU member states to invest 3% of gross domestic product in research and development by 2030.

Mr. Macron pledged 100 million from France, though it was not immediately clear if this came on top of the EU pledge.

Mr. Trump has targeted US universities since taking office in January by freezing federal funding, launching investigations, revoking international students’ visas and making other demands.

Mr. Trump, a Republican, has said higher education has been gripped by what he calls antisemitic, anti-American, Marxist and radical left ideologies.

Last week, he said his administration will revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, a move that Harvard said would be an unlawful misuse of the US tax code.

‘REVERSE BRAIN DRAIN’
Robert N. Proctor, a historian at Stanford University, told Reuters that Mr. Trump was leading “a libertarian right-wing assault on the scientific enterprise” that had been years in the making.

“We could well see a reverse brain drain,” he said. “It’s not just to Europe, but scholars are moving to Canada and Asia as well.”

Meredith Whittaker, the president of encrypted messaging app Signal, declined to comment on geopolitical disputes. But she told Reuters it was inevitable top talent would gravitate to welcoming jurisdictions.

“I think researchers, people whose lives, whose inquiry, whose obsessions are motivated by particular questions, particular fields, who exist in a community of intellectual practice, will always be attracted to places where the ground is fertile for that work, where they’re not threatened, and where their research isn’t hampered or perverted,” she said.

The threat to academics’ livelihoods at US universities including Yale, Columbia and Johns Hopkins has given Europe’s political leaders hope they could reap an intellectual windfall.

But with European universities far less wealthy than their US peers, it remains to be seen if they can bridge the funding gap that is needed to attract top US researchers.

Last month, Mr. Macron and Ms. Von der Leyen said they would be looking to invite scientists and researchers from the world to Europe.

In April, France also launched the “Choose France for Science” platform, operated by the French National Research Agency, which enables universities, schools, and research organizations to apply for co-funding from the government to host researchers. — Reuters

Trump’s Alcatraz prison restoration plan gets cold reception from tourists

A US flag from a passenger ferry blows in the wind as Alcatraz Island appears in background in San Francisco, California, May 11, 2025. — REUTERS

SAN FRANCISCO — US President Donald J. Trump’s plan to turn Alcatraz back into a federal prison was summarily rejected on Monday by some visitors to the tourist site in San Francisco Bay.

Trump revealed a plan over the weekend to rebuild and expand the notorious island prison, a historic landmark known as “The Rock” and operated by the US government’s National Park Service. It’s “just an idea I’ve had,” he said.

“We need law and order in this country. So we’re going to look at it,” he added on Monday.

Once nearly impossible to leave, the island can be difficult to get to because of competition for tickets. Alcatraz prison held fewer than 300 inmates at a time before it was closed in 1963 and draws roughly 1.2 million tourists a year.

US Bureau of Prisons Director William Marshall said on Monday he would vigorously pursue the president’s agenda and was looking at next steps.

“It’s a waste of money,” said visitor Ben Stripe from Santa Ana, California. “After walking around and seeing this place and the condition it’s in, it is just way too expensive to refurbish.” he said.

“It’s not feasible to have somebody still live here,” agreed Cindy Lacomb from Phoenix, Arizona, who imagined replacing all the metal in the cells and rebuilding the crumbling concrete.

The sprawling site is in disrepair, with peeling paint and rusting locks and cell bars. Signs reading “Area closed for your safety” block off access to many parts of the grounds. Chemical toilets sit next to permanent restrooms closed off for repair.

The former home of Al Capone and other notable inmates was known for tough treatment, including pitch-black isolation cells. It was billed as America’s most secure prison given the island location, frigid waters and strong currents.

It was closed because of high operating costs. The island also was claimed by Native American activists in 1969, an act of civil disobedience acknowledged by the National Park Service.

Mike Forbes, visiting from Pittsburgh, said it should remain a part of history. “I’m a former prison guard and rehabilitation is real. Punishment is best left in the past,” Mr. Forbes said.

No successful escapes were ever officially recorded from Alcatraz, though five prisoners were listed as “missing and presumed drowned.”

Today a “Supermax” facility located in Florence, Colorado, about 115 miles (185 km) south of Denver, is nicknamed the “Alcatraz of the Rockies.” No one has ever escaped from that 375-inmate facility since it opened in 1994.

Congress in fiscal year 2024 cut the Bureau of Prisons infrastructure budget by 38% and prison officials have previously reported a $3-billion maintenance backlog. The Bureau of Prisons last year said it would close aging prisons, as it struggled with funding cuts. — Reuters