Tulfo demands LoA accountability

November 28, 2023 | 8:22 pm

SENATOR Rafael “Raffy” T. Tulfo has called for congressional oversight of letters of authority (LoA) issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) as they are allegedly being used for corruption by unscrupulous government officials.

LoAs are issued by the BIR to authorize revenue officers to start an audit of a taxpayer’s tax liabilities.

“I want a list of LoAs in the last three years, and then we should have an assigned group of people to do a thorough follow up on what happened to the LoAs,” Mr. Tulfo said at a Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing.

“How much did the government earn out of those LoAs? If there are none, there should be a case filed,” he added, citing reports of firms being able to import free of duties and taxes due to officers conniving with companies to bypass these obligations.

He said it was about time Congress had an oversight committee to monitor the LoAs issued not only by the BIR but also Bureau of Customs (BoC).

“Indeed, part of our powers in oversight is to request for the LoA from the BIR,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, the committee chairman, said at the same hearing. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Another transport strike looms

November 28, 2023 | 8:21 pm

MANIBELA-transport-group-jeep-strike-protest — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

TRANSPORT group Manibela revealed on Tuesday that they are in discussions with other groups for the mounting of a simultaneous nationwide transport strike before the end of the year.

In an interview with BusinessWorld, Manibela chairman Mar S. Valbuena said there are ongoing talks various transport groups, including the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON), to set the days for their coordinated mass action.

Citing the separate three-day strikes waged by Manibela and PISTON last week, Mr. Valbuena said an estimated 30,000 jeepney drivers in Metro Manila halted their operations.

He said their next planned strike is expected to paralyze public transportation. “There has been a transport crisis because many are not returning to work,” he said, adding that some drivers have still refused to ply their routes for two weeks now.

In a press briefing, Mr. Valbuena said the transport crisis may persist due to jeepney drivers and operators losing hope of retaining their franchises. He said in Filipino, “We can clearly see the frustration and sadness because we are not getting any concrete answers, only pressure and continued oppression within the transport sector.”

Both transport groups called authorities to repeal the PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP) which effectively phases out traditional jeepneys in favor of new generation transport vehicles by yearend. The PUVMP also requires drivers and operators to form corporations and cooperatives until Dec. 31 to get new transport franchises, which the group insisted will start the phaseout of jeepneys. — Jomel R. Paguian

Post Office restoration deal inked

November 28, 2023 | 8:21 pm

Philpost — A GROUP of architects and heritage experts hold the signed Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) to voluntarily provide architectural conservation, archeological, documentation and research assistance in the restoration of the old Manila Central Post Office. — HANDOUT/PHILPOST

THE PHILIPPINE Postal Corp. (PHLPost) has inked a deal with architects and heritage experts from the private sector to help rebuild the Manila Central Post Office, a historic national landmark razed by fire last May.

PHLPost signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) with the Philippine Institute of Architects (PIA) and Pacific Paint (Boysen) Philippines, Inc. for them to voluntarily provide architectural conservation, archeological, documentation and research assistance in the restoration of the building.

“We welcome your talents and expertise in the rehabilitation and conservation of the building which was heavily damaged by the recent fire. Your wholehearted support will help us rise from the ashes,” PHLPost assistant postmaster general for administration and finance, Lori Ann D. Atal, said at the signing of the memorandum.

The Manila Post Office caught fire on May 21 due to the explosion of a car battery in a storage room that also contained paint cans, thinners, and office supplies.

The fire caused more than P300 million worth of damage, said Manila Mayor Maria Sheilah Lacuna-Pangan.

The National Museum in 2018 declared the post office as an important cultural property. The label is given only to properties with “exceptional cultural, artistic, and/or historical significance” to the country.

The Manila Post Office, the oldest in the country, was rebuilt in 1946 after it was severely damaged during World War II.

“It’s like bringing pieces of architectural history back to life,” Postmaster General Luis D. Carlos said on the memorandum signing. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

House body OK’s Paluwagan bill

November 28, 2023 | 8:20 pm

A HOUSE of Representatives committee approved on Tuesday the measure seeking to regulate the paluwagan or microfinancing system to include tax exemptions on its income and loan transactions.

Under the bill, paluwagan activities may enjoy tax exemptions on any income received, including interest on its deposits with any financial institution, and loan transactions with its members.

“While our nation has made strides in promoting financial inclusion, many individuals especially those in low-income sectors still face barriers when accessing formal financial services,” said Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing, House Ways and Means Committee senior vice chairperson, as she quoted the bill’s sponsor, Party-list Rep. Rodante D. Marcoleta.

It is a substitute bill to HBs 7356 and 7757, which provides for the regulation of the organization and operation of community groups also known as paluwagan.

The central bank defines paluwagan as a microfinancing system that pools members’ money through daily, weekly, and monthly collections to be collected by a leader or manager.

“Participants contribute pre-determined amounts to a communal fund which is then disbursed to a designated member at an agreed upon date,” Ms. Suansing told the committee.

She noted that the informality of the paluwagan system makes it prone to fraudulent activities.

“By regulating the system, we aim to safeguard the interests of its participants and provide a safety net in times of uncertainty,” Ms. Suansing said, quoting Mr. Marcoleta.

About 35.4% Filipino households have considered placing their savings in paluwagan and credit or loan associations, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) Consumer Expectations Survey for the third quarter of 2023.

The measure will be reverted back to its mother committee, the House micro, small and medium enterprises panel, for its committee approval before undergoing plenary debates. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

ILO C190 ratification pushed

November 28, 2023 | 8:20 pm

risa-hontiveros — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO/ SENATE PRIB/JOSEPH VIDAL

SENATE concurrence to ratify a 2019 International Labor Organization convention to eliminate workplace violence and harassment (ILO C190) was pushed by Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel on Tuesday in a bid to boost worker productivity and ensure decent working conditions in the Philippines.

“The concurrence in ILO C190 will pave the way for key government agencies, employers and different institutions and stakeholders to work together for an environment of a gender-violence and harassment-free space for all workers — whether in the public or private sector, or in the formal or informal economy,” she said at the Senate Foreign Relations hearing.

At the same hearing, officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) agreed that the Philippines should ratify the ILO convention.

In filing the resolution seeking the Senate’s concurrence, Ms. Hontiveros-Baraquel said that failing to ensure the safety and protection of both informal and formal sector workers would have social and economic consequences.

Senator Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, ordered the creation of a technical working group comprising senators, officials from DoLE, the DMW, the DFA to study the provisions of the convention and its implications on the government’s labor policies.

“We hope that this would not only be ratified but also be implemented as soon as possible,” she said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., the senator’s brother, earlier asked the Senate to ratify the ILO convention as he emphasized the need for zero tolerance for violence and harassment against members of the Philippine workforce.

ILO C190 was adopted during the general conference in Geneva, Switzerland in June 2019.

“In this regard, the country’s commitments relative to the ILO C190 contribute to the performance of key targets under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly with respect to Goal 5 on Gender Equality and Goal 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth,” Mr. Marcos said in his letter to the Senate. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Security officials mulling TikTok ban

November 28, 2023 | 8:20 pm

STOCK PHOTO | Image by antonbe from Pixabay

THE PHILIPPINE government has formed a task force to assess whether public officials should be banned from using short-form video platform TikTok amid espionage concerns, the National Security Council (NSC) said on Tuesday.

“The proposal to ban TikTok is simply for the security sector because many, many countries in the world have already banned TikTok in government devices,” NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan E. Malaya told reporters at the sidelines of a security forum.

The task force will be composed of several agencies, including the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).

“We are just waiting for the results of the threat assessment which we will then submit to the National Security Adviser,” Mr. Malaya said.

The NSC official first bared the possibility in September, saying “there are information operations and psychological warfare and other stuff being done.”

Tiktok, which was developed by Chinese company ByteDance Ltd., was introduced to the Philippines in May 2017. In April last year, the video platform launched its online market named Tiktok Shop in the Philippines.

The Palace recently told BusinessWorld that TikTok and the Department of Trade and Industry — and “possibly” the Department of Agriculture — will conduct e-commerce training for small-scale businesses.

TikTok Shop’s gross merchandise value in Southeast Asia hit $4.4 billion in 2022. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Bill on Philippine maritime zones reaches Senate plenary

November 28, 2023 | 8:19 pm

Spratly Islands-South China Sea — REUTERS

A SENATE bill that seeks to set Philippine maritime zones and territories extending to disputed areas in the South China Sea has been sponsored to the plenary.

At Tuesday’s plenary session, Senator Francis N. Tolentino sponsored Senate Bill No. 2492, the proposed Maritime Zones Act, which aims to establish the country’s maritime territories to assert its sovereign rights in the South China Sea, among other areas.

“The Philippine Constitution has bestowed upon this august body the gargantuan task to safeguard national interest by ensuring that the necessary laws and policies are in place for the State to protect the nation’s marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and exclusive economic zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens,” said the senator, who heads the Special Committee on Maritime Zones and Admiralty.

The measure also seeks to impose penalties against erring foreign actors in these maritime zones with fines of at least $600,000 (P33.30 million) payable to the Philippine Government.

It would also include the Benham Rise in the West Pacific among the Philippines’ maritime territories and define the country’s contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.

Mr. Tolentino said adopting the measure was crucial to ensure the country’s national interests in protecting its resources within its waters.

The Senate should fast-track the measure amid tensions with China in the disputed waterway, he earlier said.

“The Philippine Maritime Zones Act of 2023 will be inscribed as a pivotal moment in our maritime history,” Mr. Tolentino said. “With the passage of this Maritime Zones Act, Mr. President, we are taking a firm stand.” — John Victor D. Ordoñez

UP, La Salle brace for showdown for UAAP basketball supremacy

November 28, 2023 | 6:53 pm

Games Wednesday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
12 p.m. — NU vs UST
(women’s finals)
6 p.m — UP vs DLSU
(men’s finals)

WORLDS collide as University of the Philippines (UP) and De La Salle University (DLSU) lock horns in their first-ever title showdown for the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball supremacy.

The Fighting Maroons and the Green Archers, who lived up to lofty billings as the top-seeds, march into the battlefield with hopes of dealing the pivotal first blow as the UAAP Season 86 best-of-three finale unfurls at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Game time is at 6 p.m. after the opening salvo of seven-peat champion National University and challenger University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the women’s basketball finals at 12 p.m.

UP and De La Salle, which finished 1-2 in the two-round eliminations for twice-to-beat incentives in the Final Four, forged a historic battle after making short work of dethroned titlist Ateneo de Manila University and NU, respectively.

The hoopers from Diliman snapped the Blue Eagles’ six straight finals appearance, 57-46, as the red-hot Taft-based dribblers smothered the Bulldogs, 97-73, for their ninth straight win.

The Fighting Maroons in the process advanced to their third straight finals appearance — all under coach Goldwin Monteverde — with the Green Archers gifting new coach Topex Robinson a finals stint in his debut season while ending a six-year drought.

Overall, it’s the 17^th straight finals appearance of the Green Archers in the Final Four era for the most in UAAP but they’ve never met the Maroons since they transferred from the NCAA to the UAAP in 1986.

Until now.

That’s also the year when UP won the UAAP before embarking on a 36-year drought that it finally snapped in Season 84 — turning this finale to a date for the ages.

Both teams vow to embrace the challenge, as well as the pressure that comes with it. “It’s something that’s really special — my first time here coaching DLSU in the finals and playing against UP. I know it’s gonna be an exciting ball game,” said Mr. Robinson, who had stints in the NCAA and PBA before finding himself as the chief tactician in Taft.

“Whether I like it or not, there’s gonna be pressure. It could either stop you or really motivate you. I’m gonna choose the latter,” added Mr. Robinson, whose wards just had an added fire lit within them after gracing the ring ceremony of previous De La Salle champion teams.

UP echoes the same mentality with hopes of coming away with its second crown in the last three seasons after this rare encounter with De La Salle that also features well-balanced protagonists led by reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Malick Diouf and runaway MVP race leader Kevin Quiambao. — John Bryan Ulanday

Tropang Giga rally past tough Bolts, 21-20, to PBA 3×3 six-peat

November 28, 2023 | 6:53 pm

THEIR dynasty under heavy threat, Almond Vosotros and the TNT Triple Giga responded with force and took down their toughest challengers for a PBA 3×3 six-peat.

Mr. Vosotros drilled in a booming two-ball in overtime to lift the Triple Giga’s epic fightback past tough Meralco Bolts, 21-20, in a pulsating duel for the Season 3 Second Conference championship Monday night at Ayala Malls Glorietta.

The multi-titled PLDT franchise went through the wringer before copping their sixth straight crown since the Third Conference of Season 1.

The Bolts led for the most part of the 10-minute regulation, 11-7, 14-12 and 19-18 before Mr. Vosotros’ split knotted the count and forced extra time.

Reymar Caduyac later put Meralco on the hill with a layup but a pair of missed potential clinchers by Jeff Manday gave TNT a small opening to steal it. Playing true to his billing, Mr. Vosotros uncorked a long bomb over the outstretched arms of Alfred Batino that went through to the delight of supporters.

Mr. Vosotros topscored with nine and was supported by Gryann Mendoza’s six, Chester Saldua’s four and Ping Exciminiano’s two in the clincher.

This put the finishing touches to a dominant show by TNT, which won all but one of the six legs prior to taking the ultimate prize and P750,000.

Meralco’s Mr. Manday (seven points), Mr. Caduyac (six), Joseph Sedurifa (five) and Mr. Batino (four) went home with P250,000 after their first finals appearance.

Pioneer Elastoseal, the last team to capture a conference title before TNT started its hot streak, took third place honors worth P100,000 after a 16-15 edging of Cavitex. — Olmin Leyba

Southwoods catches up with Luisita at Fil-Am Golf tourney

November 28, 2023 | 6:51 pm

BAGUIO CITY — With Jun Plana leading the way, defending champion Manila Southwoods finished with 136 points on Monday to catch Luisita at the helm with identical 266 after two rounds in the centerpiece Fil-Championship of the 73^rd Januarius Fil-Am Golf Invitational held at the Camp John Hay (CJH) Golf Club.

Mr. Plana, who joined Southwoods’ senior team last year, turned back the hands of time with a splendid performance of a bogey-free, five-under 64 for 41 points. Bong Brobio contributed 35 and Theody Pascural added 32. The 28 of either Raul Miñoza or Manfred Guangko counted as the fourth score.

“I felt good when I birdied the first hole at No. 10. My plan is to hit the green to have an opportunity to make a birdie. It worked,” said Mr. Plana, who hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation at the par-69 CJH layout.

Luisita, whose last championship crown was in 2018, was paced by former Canlubang member Abe Rosal with 39 points. Benjie Sumulong, golf director of Alabang Country Club, had 33 and Dan Cruz accounted for 30. Rodel Mangulabnan tallied a 29 for the Tarlac-based team’s 131 output.

“As I predicted, the championship will be decided in the last two days at Baguio Country Club,” (BCC) noted Luisita skipper Jeric Hechanova as the competition heads to the shorter but tougher BCC’s par-61 course.

Greenwater Seniors was not too far behind with 259. Ferdie Barbosa was top man with 38 points and was backed up by the 30s of Wan Soo Kim and Roland Punzalan and 29 of Tommy Manotoc. Forest Hills (241) and Mamala Bay (213) completed the top five.

In the Am-Championship played at BCC, Southwoods’ Team 2 slowed down with a 91 but was still in command with 187, 14 points up on second running Riviera (92-173). Srixon-IMG, last year’s runner up, occupied third spot with 93-166 followed by Leeward 69-149 and former winner Megafiber 74-146. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Gilas brace for European heavyweights in Olympic qualifying tournament

November 28, 2023 | 6:51 pm

IT’S A ROUGH road to the Paris Olympics for Gilas Pilipinas with world No. 8 Latvia and a couple more Top 20 countries standing in its way.

The Filipinos found themselves bunched with the host Latvians and another Euro heavyweight in No. 23 Georgia in the Group A preliminaries of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) set July 2 to 7 in Riga after yesterday’s draw.

Should Gilas finish in the Top 2 of this group, they will proceed to the crossover semifinals against the first and second-ranked teams from Group B composed of No. 12 Brazil, No. 17 Montenegro and No. 67 Cameroon.

Only the winner of the Riga OQT will earn a trip to the 2024 Olympiad alongside the rulers of the other legs in Valencia, Spain; Piraeus, Greece and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Movement in the Gilas camp is expected soon with its opponents and pathway to Paris known, including who would call the shots.

Tim Cone, who steered the Philippine quintet to a well-celebrated gold in the Hangzhou Asian Games in an interim capacity, is a sentimental favorite to take the helm and expressed openness “if the forces are right.”

The Pinoy cagers made it to the last stretch of the Paris Qualifiers with their 24^th place finish in the FIBA World Cup at home.

But to say Gilas has its work cut out is an understatement.

The Latvians loom as the heavy favorite coming off a strong showing in the Manila World Cup (WC), where they took fifth place despite playing without top cager Kristaps Porzingis of Boston.

The Georgians, a former Soviet team, made their WC debut last August in Okinawa, where they reached the second round and carded 2-3 to wind up 16^th overall.

Favored in the other group are the 1959 and 1963 WC champ Brazilians and the Montenegrins, which placed 13^th and 11^th, respectively, in the 2023 global meet. — Olmin Leyba

Rain or Shine gets new import in Demetrius Treadwell

November 28, 2023 | 6:49 pm

Games Wednesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4 p.m. — Terrafirma vs Phoenix
8 p.m. — San Miguel Beer vs Rain or Shine

RAIN OR SHINE (ROS) looks to paint life into its dull PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup campaign with a new import in Demetrius Treadwell.

The 6-foot-7 Mr. Treadwell, a veteran of the Israel league, takes over from DaJuan Summers, who failed to power the Elasto Painters to a single victory in four starts.

The University of Ohio product gets his baptism of fire tonight against San Miguel Beer or SMB (2-1) in the main game of a double-header at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The hope is for Mr. Treadwell to provide the offensive and rebounding threat lacking in ROS’ first four games with Summers.

“We have seven games left and we need to win five of the seven just to be in a playoff for the playoffs,” coach Yeng Guiao said.

Mr. Guiao’s youth-laden crew led by Andrei Caracut and Santi Santillan and his debuting reinforcement are ranged against the SMB’s Ivan Aska, June Mar Fajardo and CJay Perez who have won their last two games after dropping their season opener.

Game time is 8 p.m. after the 4 p.m. curtain-raiser between Phoenix (3-1) and Terrafirma (2-2).

The hot-starting Fuel Masters are hunting for their third consecutive win, which will get them solo second behind idle frontrunner Magnolia (4-0). “We’re happy right now that we’re 3-1 but you can’t go to the playoffs with three wins. So the work to get better still continues,” said Phoenix tactician Jamike Jarin.

The Fuel Masters lean on import Jonathan Williams, veterans Jason Perkins, Jayjay Alejandro and Javee Mocon and young guns Tyler Tio and Ricci Rivero versus a Terrafirma side bringing back three key players from sick bay.

Dyip coach John Cardel said they reactivated reinforcement Thomas de Thaey (groin), ace scorer Juami Tiongson (flu) and promising freshman Kemark Cariño (flu) after missing them in their 93-133 beatdown at the hands of TNT a week ago. — Olmin Leyba