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Military choppers, mountaineers deployed to Cessna crash site in Mt. Mayon 

CAMALIG MAYOR CIG BALDO, JR. 

TWO military helicopters were deployed on Tuesday for the search and rescue operations for four people on board a Cessna aircraft that went missing early Saturday morning in Albay, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).  

The possible crash site, based on photos of a plane wreckage, has been identified along the slope of Mt. Mayon, an active volcano.  

CAAP, in a media advisory on Tuesday, said a Philippine Air Force Black Hawk chopper was sent out twice in the morning, initially for a reconnaissance flight then supposedly to drop off the search and rescue team.   

The search on foot was canceled “as they were unable to find a safe landing spot at the designated drop off point due to intensified winds in the area,” CAAP said.   

A Philippine Navy AW109 aircraft with infrared camera for heat detection was later deployed to reach the possible crash site, but also had to turn back due to bad weather condition.    

“As of 01:15 PM, the SAR (search and rescue) team has once again departed for the mission, taking off at 01:09 PM. As the mission is ongoing, updates will be provided once available,” CAAP said.  

Camalig Mayor Carlos Irwin G. Baldo, Jr. said the team included experienced climbers from the Federation of Bicol Mountaineers and Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines.  

The rescue team also will attempt to utilize all-terrain vehicles to reach the possible crash site by land once the weather permits, it added.   

CAAP noted that the missing Cessna aircraft is compliant with an airworthiness certification.  

The four people on board included a pilot and one crew member, both Filipinos, and two Australian passengers. — MSJ

LPU Lady Pirates rally to edge Mapua Lady Cardinals in 5 sets

LYCEUM of the Philippines University (LPU) edged Mapua University (MU), 25-20, 16-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-5 in five sets yesterday that launched its campaign in NCAA Season 98 Women’s Volleyball. — NCAA/SYNERGY-GMA

Games Wednesday
(San Andres Complex)
9 a.m. — AU vs San Beda (M/W)
2 p.m. — CSB vs EAC (W/M)

LYCEUM of the Philippines University (LPU) went to Johna Denise Dolorito and Jewel Therese Maligmat in the deciding fifth set as it edged Mapua University (MU), 25-20, 16-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-5, on Tuesday that launched its campaign in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 98 Volleyball at the San Andres Complex.

Ms. Dolorito unloaded a team-best 16 points including a crisp kill that hammered in the final nail in the coffin while Ms. Maligmat uncorked 14 hits she laced with a pair of booming ace in the final set that helped seal the Lady Pirates their first win.

It was a result that should set in motion LPU’s bid of making the Final Four after it came a few games close of barging into the round a season ago before winding up sixth.

Now this could be the year they are waiting for.

With their backs against the wall after falling a set to two and trailing in the fourth set, LPU coach Cromwell Garcia’s charges showed incredible grit and fought back to snatch the set that arranged the decider.

It was all LPU needed to turn the tide in its favor as it dominated the last set with Mmess. Dolorito and Maligmat spearheading the charge.

Also contributing for the Lady Pirates were Janeth Tulang, Zonxi Jane Dahab and Joan Daguna, who had 14, 13 and 11 hits, respectively.

Roxie dela Cruz paced all hitters with 20 points but she and the Lady Cardinals were overwhelmed by the Lady Pirates’ fifth-set deluge.

In men’s action, Mapua rode on John Benedict San Andres’ 15-point explosion as it routed LPU, 25-12, 25-13, 25-19. — Joey Villar

74th PAL Interclub gets going with favorites mum on starting crews

From left: Club Filipino de Cebu Engineer Edgar A. Aliño, PAL Senior Assistant Vice President for International Sales Genaro ‘Bong’ Velasquez, Corporate Secretary of Club Filipino de Cebu Atty. Ellie Espinoza, Councilor Danny Roble, Danao City Mayor Thomas Mark ‘Mix’ Durano, and PAL Visayas Area Head Victor Suarez

CEBU — The big guns are keeping their cards close to their chests with defending champion Canlubang shooting “just to keep it close” after the first day of skirmishes Wednesday in the 74th Philippine Airlines Interclub Seniors championship here.

The opening round will be at well-manicured Alta Vista and Cangolf mainstay Tommy Manotoc refused to bare their opening four even as Luisita is having its practice round late Tuesday with non-playing skipper Jeric Hechanova deciding hours after.

“We just want to keep it close after the first round,” Mr. Manotoc said when asked of the type of lineup that will get Cangolf’s title defense under way. “What I can tell you is that we can’t afford to fall behind big early, because Luisita is very, very strong.”

Mr. Hechanova, meanwhile, said that players who play well in the team’s practice round under heavy rain on the eve of the event will get the call as he emphasized his belief that there won’t be one course that will decide this year’s edition.

“We have to play well all four days,” Mr. Hechanova explained. “Our players know that we can’t wait for the other teams to play bad. If they (opponents) play well, we need to play great.”

Manila Southwoods and Del Monte are the other teams in the Championship division, although Manotoc believes that Cebu Country Club, even if it is playing in the lower Founders class, is a contender for the overall title.

Club Filipino will host the next two rounds, and Mr. Manotoc sees this one as the tiring version of the two mountain layouts.

“Anything can happen there,” Mr. Manotoc said. “Anyone with local knowledge of that course definitely has an advantage.”

The annual event, considered the country’s unofficial national team championship, was shelved for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the 74th staging of the event is supported by platinum sponsors ABS-CBN Global, Asian Journal, Airbus, and NUSTAR Resort and Casino.

Gold sponsors include Radio Mindanao Network, Mastercard, Primax, University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network, PLDT/Smart, and Konsulta MD.

Joining the event as silver sponsors are Philippine National Bank (PNB), Biocostech, and VISA.

Minor sponsors are Bollore Logistics, Manila Standard, Tanduay Brands International, and Asia Brewery while donors are Department of Tourism, Ogawa, Newport World Resorts, Rolls Royce, and Boeing.

PSC taps Province of Ifugao to host Laro ng Lahi in May

THE PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC), through the Women in Sports (WIS) program tapped the Provincial government of Ifugao to host the WIS Laro ng Lahi slated on May 26-29, this year.

The PSC, as represented by the Office of Commissioner Olivia “Bong” Coo, conducted an ocular inspection and coordination meeting with the Office of Provincial Governor Jerry Dalipog, C.E represented by Executive Assistant IV Agustin Calya-en last Feb. 17 held in Ifugao Provincial Capitol in Lagawe.

“Ifugao would like to strengthen their five regular sports, and we would like to help them,” expressed PSC Women in Sports Program Oversight Commissioner Coo.

“We are happy na pumunta ang PSC with regards to the program of Commissioner Bong Coo. The Province of Ifugao is really preparing for big events this year, with the PSC’s help and assistance especially the sports equipment for our sports program.” said Mr. Calya-en after the coordination meeting.

The PSC-WIS is preparing to include muay, weightlifting, boxing, taekwondo and wrestling as proposed by the province. This is to help the LGU further develop their grassroots sports program. Also, part of the Laro ng Lahi sportsfest are the 10 indigenous games of Ifugao like guyyudan, kadang-kadang sa bao, dopap dimanuk, munbayu, uggub, and among others.

“Majority of the games will be played by women and girls as we want to increase the number of female athletes and discover new talents to be part of our national training pool,” disclosed Ms. Coo, the PSC’s lone lady commissioner and a Philippine bowling icon.

In April, the PSC will have an alignment meeting with the Ifugao workforce such as the local secretariat, medical, security, and officiating teams, to ensure a smooth hosting of WIS Laro ng Lahi in Lagawe starting May 26 until May 29.

Liverpool owner Henry rules out sale of the club

LIVERPOOL’S American owner John Henry has said there are no plans to sell the Premier League club after the Merseyside outfit’s owners said in November they were exploring a sale.

Fenway Sports Group (FSG), which completed a £300 million ($358 million) takeover of the club in 2010, said three months ago that they would explore the option of bringing in investors if it was in Liverpool’s “best interest”.

After FSG’s initial statement, Liverpool chairman Tom Werner said there was no urgency to complete any potential deal.

Mr. Henry was quoted by the Boston Sports Journal in an interview published on Sunday as saying: “I know there has been a lot of conversation and quotes about Liverpool, but I keep to the facts: we merely formalized an ongoing process.

“Will we be in England forever? No. Are we selling Liverpool? No. Are talking with investors about Liverpool? Yes. Will something happen there? I believe so, but it won’t be a sale. Have we sold anything in the past 20 plus years?”

Liverpool’s rivals Manchester United, owned by the American Glazer family, are also exploring a sale, with confirmed bids from British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS and Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, a son of Qatar’s former prime minister. — Reuters

Boycotted world championships must be Paris Game qualifiers: IBA

THE INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee’s (IOC) qualifying process for boxing at next year’s Paris Games is unacceptable and must recognize world championships that some countries are boycotting, the governing IBA said on Monday.

The Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA) has been sidelined by the IOC from the Paris process due to governance and other issues after being stripped of involvement in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Boxing is not on the initial program for Los Angeles 2028, pending reforms demanded by the IOC who warned in December that it might also have to consider canceling the Paris program.

Eight nations including major power the United States have so far said they will boycott this year’s women’s and men’s world championships in New Delhi and Tashkent, Uzbekistan, respectively.

The move comes after IBA decided last November to allow boxers from Russia and Belarus to compete with national flags and anthems, despite the war in Ukraine and against IOC guidance.

The IBA announced on Monday what it called it’s own Olympic qualification system.

“To exclude world champions from the upcoming women’s and men’s world boxing championships… from qualifying for Paris 2024 is not acceptable and against the principles of sport and boxing,” it said.

The IBA said it would accept no qualification process for Paris 2024 other than the world championships and “a final last chance to qualify open event taking place in May 2024”.

A qualifying system approved by the IOC last September established direct qualification through regional multi-sport competitions — the Pan-American Games, European Games, Pacific Games, Asian Games and an African event to be confirmed.

Two world qualification tournaments are also planned for 2024.

The IBA has said athletes from boycotting nations can register directly for its championships and has offered to help fund them. — Reuters

Still a force at 38

For the first time since the National Basketball Association revised All-Star Game rules in 2018 to include the concept of drafting, a LeBron James-led squad did not wind up on the right side of the score after the buzzer. The newly minted career scoring leader in pro hoops annals had been flawless the previous five times he captained his side, with the outcome a question in only two of those contests. Whether due to sheer luck or because of his outstanding skills in crafting a team is subject to speculation. That said, there can be no arguing with the results. The other day, however, he failed to translate his draft choices to on-court magic.

Perhaps James was due for a loss. After all, the setup is aimed precisely at ensuring unpredictability in the final tally. It likewise bears noting that he could not burn rubber in the second half of the spectacle, what with an injury caused by his finger hitting the rim compelling him to be sidelined for good. Those used to the All-Star Game being a defenseless match may well say it serves him right; he tried, and failed, to block a shot in dramatic fashion, and all he got for the effort was a contusion. Never mind that he was probably enjoined by a successful chasedown denial he earlier made.

In any case, Lakers fans were only too glad to know James was not affected enough to miss set-tos for the foreseeable future. And his nagging ankle ailment notwithstanding, he has pledged to be available for the remainder of the regular season. As well he should; the purple and gold are in 13th place, a couple of games out of a provisional play-in spot, with 23 encounters left before the playoffs, and he says he will endeavor to ensure that he doesn’t get to have an early vacation for the second straight year. Losing, he contended, “is not in my DNA.”

That James is still the most popular player in the NBA cannot be denied. He knows that he is also the most polarizing, but he couldn’t care less. It’s why he has managed to rack up achievement after achievement despite the pressure. He uses all the negative energy of naysayers to fuel him. Which is why he’s still a force at 38, and why he will continue to be for some time to come.

 

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.

Philippine strategic environment for corporate planning

CHRISTOPHER BURNS-UNSPLASH

(Part 2)

The Philippine Development Plan (2023 to 2028) does not stay exclusively in the realm of macroeconomics. It also has a microeconomic focus that descends to the level of individuals and families. There are statements about developing and protecting the capabilities of individuals and families. Chapter 2 of the plan lists concrete measures to promote human and social development such as improving education and lifelong learning, boosting health and establishing livable communities.

Chapter 3 talks about reducing vulnerabilities and protecting the purchasing power of people and households by ensuring food security and proper nutrition, as well as strengthening social protection.  As the Philippines transitions from a low-middle income to a high-middle income economy in the next two to three years, Chapter 4 lays down concrete plans to increase employability, expand job opportunities and achieve shared labor market governance.

At the agriculture-industry-service level, the goal is to transform the production sectors to generate more quality jobs and competitive products. Chapter 5 is devoted to measures that will modernize agriculture and agribusiness. Chapter 6 is about revitalizing industries. Philippine manufacturing has been expanding noticeably as the economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. The S&P Global Philippines Manufacturing PMI has been showing significant gains mostly on the back of a strong domestic market. Chapter 7 touches on the largest sector of the economy, suggesting ways of reinvigorating services. Chapter 8 dwells on advancing Research and Development (R&D), technology and innovation.

It must be emphasized that the Philippines need not reinvent the wheel. For example, in improving the productivity of the entire agribusiness sector, much can be gained by partnering with investors from countries that have been most successful in this vital sector, such as Israel, Taiwan and Thailand. Much can be learned from Malaysia in large-scale corporate farming based on the nucleus estate model, which is very applicable to the coconut industry of the Philippines. We can swallow our pride and ask Vietnam how it became the second-largest coffee producer in the world after Brazil in less than a generation.

Chapter 10 addresses the key question about the role of the government in promoting competition and improving regulatory efficiency, especially in regard to the Philippine Competition Commission. The next chapter talks about how to ensure macroeconomic stability and expand inclusive and innovative finance. In this field, the private sector can have the greatest confidence in our economic managers who have been chosen from among the best and brightest, following a tradition in the past 30 years during which very competent people in various agencies had met the challenge of building stronger macroeconomic institutions and espoused more enlightened policies that are now the foundation of our resilience during periods of global crises. These macroeconomic institutions and policies will guarantee minimum economic growth of 6% for the duration of the Marcos administration. 

Chapter 12 has to do with expanding and upgrading infrastructure. Let me point out here that infrastructure building should go beyond farm-to-market roads, bridges, toll roads, dams and similar elementary facilities. They should increasingly encompass world-class international airports, seaports, telecommunication facilities, data centers, railways including bullet trains especially on the island of Mindanao, subways, and similar infrastructure characteristic of a First World country like Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.

There is no way we can advance to these levels of infrastructure building without the entry of billions of dollars of foreign direct investments.  Every effort must be exerted, including the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund, to attract these FDIs to supplement our very scarce supply of domestic long-term capital. I estimate that with close collaboration between the government and private sector, we can attract $15 billion to $20 billion annually in the next five years.  These are the amounts that Vietnam has been getting in the past 10 years.

Chapters 13 and 14 have to do with so-called soft infrastructure, such as ensuring peace and security and enhancing administrative justice, good governance and improving bureaucratic efficiency. Higher agricultural productivity and FDI flows can spur growth of 8-10% from 6-7%, allowing us to bringing down the poverty incidence to 9% by 2028. Finally, Chapter 15 cites the importance if sustainability by accelerating climate action and strengthening disaster resilience.

In the promotion of trade and investments in goods and services, the Philippine Development Plan outlines very concrete strategic guidelines to restore, sustain and strengthen the export sector:

• Resolve key constraints to export growth and competitiveness

• Monitor and implement preventive measures and interventions for distressed companies

• Implement targeted, more granular strategies to increase exports on three fronts — the global value chain export clusters (industrial, manufacturing and transportation; technology, media and telecommunications; and health and life sciences; food and agri-marine; and labor-intensive manufacturing.   

There is need to reexamine the serious restriction on foreign direct investment in media in the 1987 Constitution. It would have been a game changer if the amendment of the Public Service Act included allowing foreign investors to own 100% of media enterprises. In this era of Industrial Revolution 4.0, there is a convergence of the telecommunication, IT and media sectors. The inability of foreign investors to invest in media seriously constrains the growth of the sector, which has the greatest potential for growth among services and in which Filipino talents have a competitive advantage in the Indo-Pacific region, together with India.

Significantly diversify exports by fortifying backward and forward linkages.

Consolidating small farm units to achieve economies of scale in agriculture and diversifying into higher value products can help the Philippines replicate its success story in being a major exporter of bananas and pineapples by significantly increasing the production and export of mangoes, cacao, coffee, avocado, durian, a host of high-value coconut products such as coco sugar, water, milk, etc. and a variety of other high-value vegetables and fruits being exported in large volumes by neighboring ASEAN countries like Thailand and Vietnam.

• Advance purposive, assertive and forward-looking regional trade agreements strategies. It is imperative that the Philippine government ratify our membership in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to boost our trade and investment relationships with 14 other economies in the Asia-Pacific region. We would literally be like an economic leper in this region if we remain outside the RCEP.

• Position the Philippines as the foremost supplier of tradable intermediate services. Our young, growing and English-speaking population will give us a competitive advantage for a long time to come in what we have called the servicification of the global economy in which services are increasingly overshadowing manufacturing.

• Ensure integrated, whole-of-government commitment to deliver broad access to national quality infrastructure.

(To be continued.)

 

Bernardo M. Villegas has a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard, is professor emeritus at the University of Asia and the Pacific, and a visiting professor at the IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. He was a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission.

bernardo.villegas@uap.asia

EV incentives should cover motorcycles

ATHER ENERGY-UNSPLASH

We are certain that Malacañang had good intentions when it issued Executive Order (EO) 12 last month. The order details the tax breaks that will be enjoyed by imported electric vehicles (EV) for five full years beginning this year. It is congruent to the administration’s role in leading the people to adopt environment-friendly lifestyles.

Most of the electric vehicles covered by the order, with seeks to drive consumers away from transportation powered by fossil fuels toward cleaner alternatives, are four-wheel ones.

Thus, the order gives rise to questions about equity and inclusion. Who are the people who will benefit from the tax incentives? Aren’t they the more affluent Filipinos who can afford to buy new electric cars?

To be sure, early adopters of these four-wheel electric vehicles deserve the tax breaks. It is a commendable decision to let go of our old air polluting ways and opt to use cleaner alternatives with zero greenhouse gas emissions.

But they are not the only ones making the shift, or who want to make the shift.

Two-stroke motorcycles, for instance, are swarming the country’s urban and rural roadways. In the National Capital Region alone, where about 2.9 million vehicles are registered, almost half of this number — 1.4 million — are motorcycles. But motorcycles, just like all petroleum-burning vehicles, contribute significantly to air pollution because these are the preferred rides of the masses. Imagine the drastic drop in air pollution if millions of these two-wheel owners were to shift to electric motorcycles.

We can also look at the issue from a socioeconomic point of view. Two- and three-wheel vehicles are the modes of transportation used by Filipinos from the lower-income brackets. They can’t afford to buy four-wheel cars, and the cost and inconvenience posed by our problematic public transport system have driven them to choose what their limited buying power can afford. These modes of transportation are the most viable for them, and they use them to go to work and school, do personal errands and for livelihood such as the more than 20,000 transport network vehicle service riders serving the growing commuter and delivery demand. These motorcycles are work enablers for riding bread winners and their millions of dependents.

The zero import taxes of EO 12, though limited to five years, is a significant cost saving of 30%. This and the prospect of not having to pay for another liter of expensive imported fuel at the gas station are strong reasons to shift to electric vehicles, which are more cost-effective, efficient and converts the owner into an active planet saver. This is the kind of positive action we need from the government to push everybody to do their part in reducing carbon emissions.

EO 12 in its current form creates an impression that it is discriminatory, and that it favors the richer segments of society who can afford four-wheel cars, while disregarding the mobility needs of the working class.

We are certain this was simply a palace oversight and shouldn’t be hard, or even take long to rectify. A few clarificatory amendments are all that’s needed.

Foremost, all Filipinos — regardless of income bracket — are called to become responsible stewards of the environment. While we pursue growth and development, we must contemplate sustainability and how the world will be like for future generations. All of our actions, big and small alike, do matter.

We are all working hard to recover from the doldrums of the pandemic crisis — to again feel the excitement of a vibrant economy where wealth creation is an opportunity, not just for the privileged, but for anyone willing to work for their dreams of a prosperous life set in a clean and healthy environment.

When it comes to policy making, the Devil is always in the details. There is really no logic to exclude the most ubiquitous mode of transportation of the people that is a major source of air pollution.

The objectives of EO 12 are clear — “to reduce reliance on imported fuel,” “provide an enabling environment that permits the development of electric vehicles, including options for micro-mobility as an attractive and feasible mode of transportation” and “help boost the electric vehicle market in the country, support the transition to emerging technologies and encourage consumers to consider electric vehicles as a cleaner and greener transportation option.”

All these are laudable but with a careful reading, the succeeding provisions on four-wheel vehicles clearly indicate zero import tariff for five years, but when it comes to electric powered motorcycles it is blank and followed by “XXX” which according to Section 1 means that current tax rates “shall remain in full force and effect.”

Several groups are already calling for the president to amend his executive order that will only take a few tweaks to perfect. Sure, the Bureau of Customs can come up with a memorandum circular or Congress can legislate an amendment, but we all know how much time, energy and taxpayers’ money will have to be consumed for that route.

On this issue, expeditious action by the president would be best.

 

Victor Andres “Dindo” C. Manhit is the president of the Stratbase ADR Institute.

Splitting up social media may be its only hope

SARA KURFESS-UNSPLASH

BY NOW it should be evident that Twitter, Inc. is a shadow of its former self. What’s not clear is which alternatives might replace it, or how the market will look a few years from now. This chaos offers an opportunity to rethink the entire structure of the social media landscape.

There’s a lot of problems to solve. Disinformation, offensive content, harassment, and doxxing are among issues that platform operators, regulators, and users have struggled with. Each existed before MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram were born, but digitally connecting friends and strangers has exacerbated them to the point that even the largest companies and most-powerful governments can’t rein it in.

The answer is simple: Break them up.

Not the social-media companies themselves, as has been suggested for the likes of Facebook owner Meta Platforms, Inc., but the networks they run. As any parent knows, the easiest way to stop two children fighting is to separate them. This is what needs to happen to limit the virality of disinformation and ensure that, say, neo-Nazis don’t clash with Socialists.

Since this would eat into their revenue, companies won’t make it happen. And even if governments could split Meta into its component parts — Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp — that’s unlikely to limit the flow of problematic content. Recent attempts to stamp out misinformation internally or in conjunction with external organizations has had only limited effect.

“One of the things that’s not been particularly effective is fact-checking our way out of these messes,” Robert W. Gehl, Ontario Research Chair in Digital Governance for Social Justice at York University in Toronto, told me recently. “Because you throw facts out there all day long, but the conspiracies spread really fast. Misinformation spreads fast.”

Elon Musk’s tumultuous time at Twitter (earlier this month the company moved to tweak Twitter’s algorithm to ensure his posts got more views) highlights the precarious future of the social network, with every new revelation driving fresh interest in substitutes. Mastodon, Post, Koo and Reddit have all gained ground as a result. This is ironic because, except for Post, these other platforms have been around for years and Twitter — with 200 million users — is a minnow compared to giants like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, with more than 1 billion subscribers each.

That the slow disintegration of a relatively small platform has spurred millions to look elsewhere indicates a nascent need for something different, and presents an opportunity for these lesser-known social networks to gain momentum. Their biggest challenge, though, is facing off against a well-established incumbent and breaking into the network effect that favors large players over the smaller ones.

Post and Koo seem to be replicating the Twitter model — a centralized system viewable and accessible to all. At present, the only thing stopping them from facing the same problems of misinformation and the dissemination of toxic content is their size. Reddit follows an old-school topic-based content distribution model — you’re unlikely to stumble across neo-Nazi posts if you’re only looking for cat videos.

Mastodon is entirely different, and may end up being the model that survives long into the future. Users join a group specific to their interests — called a server — which is moderated by the server owner. Anyone can create one, and set their own rules. If infractions happen, that administrator can boot the offender. Each server can then connect to others through a Fediverse, so users and their content aren’t entirely siloed. But if that server becomes the source of toxic posts, it can be cut off from the rest.

That’s exactly what happened a few years ago, notes Gehl, who was one of the first academics to research Mastodon and later co-authored the book Social Engineering, which charts the history of manipulative communication.

Far-right microblogging site Gab set up a server in 2019, which caused uproar among the rest of the community. Mastodon founder Eugen Rochko argued at the time that the network’s decentralized nature meant he couldn’t acquiesce to demands to shut down Gab. But individual servers could disconnect from the hate group, and that’s what they did. Gab still existed, but in its own little universe separated from the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, this approach doesn’t solve one of the biggest problems: Malicious, false or toxic content. Neo-Nazis can still publish racist posts and make threats against groups or individuals. What the disaggregated structure means, though, is that disinformation cannot go far. That alone, argues Gehl, is enough to mitigate social media’s most toxic feature: virality. He sees parallels with attempts by terrorist groups to move to the dark web — a subset of the world wide web that’s harder to access — but then failing to gain traction.

“There was a lot of panic about five or six years ago about ISIS being on the dark web, and that’s how they’re going to recruit people and spread their message,” Gehl said. “ISIS didn’t do that because nobody was on the dark web. The dark web is really small, and a bad organization like ISIS is going to go where people are.”

There’s an unfortunate flipside, though. Keeping internet users within their own siloes of interest means the creation of echo chambers, where conspiracy theories fester and alternative views are never entertained. That means fewer moments of serendipitous discovery. But maybe that’s the price we need to pay to keep social media alive and functional. After all, if the kids can’t play nice together then it may be best they don’t play together all.

BLOOMBERG OPINION

Going after trademark infringement online

BIRGITH ROOSIPUU-UNSPLASH

On Dec. 22, 2022, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in the case of Christian Louboutin vs. Amazon. Mr. Louboutin is a designer of luxury goods known for his trademark over the color red (Pantone 18-1663TP) applied to the sole of high-heeled shoes, which has been registered since 2005 under the Benelux Convention and in the European Union since May 10, 2016. 

Mr. Louboutin sued for infringement against popular e-commerce platform Amazon before the District Court of Luxembourg, which later referred the case to the Court of Justice for preliminary ruling. The complaint is based on the premise that Amazon sold goods on its website, both directly and through third-party sellers, and had also been advertising such goods. The goods involved in the case were shoes that infringed on Mr. Louboutin’s trademark, with a claim that Amazon had played an active role in the infringement by allowing its online sellers to use another’s trademarks through advertisements on its website.  

The EU court ruled that since Amazon allows the use of another’s trademark in advertisements on its website, it established a link between its services and Mr. Louboutin’s trademark in the eyes of a well-informed and reasonably observant user of the website. It said Article 9(2) of Regulation 2017/1001 should be interpreted to mean that an online marketplace such as Amazon, which allows third-party sellers to use signs and goods identical to the trademark of another without their consent, may be regarded as doing the same act, and possibly liable. 

Although the Philippines does not have any jurisprudence on the issue raised in Louboutin vs. Amazon, it gives us a peek into the potential liability of online marketplaces and the remedies of trademark owners against infringement. 

It is noteworthy that a number of e-commerce platforms in the Philippines have signed a memorandum of understanding with a number of trademark and copyright owners (right owners), establishing a code of practice, such as notice and takedown procedures for accessibility and ease on the right owners to report the sale of counterfeit and pirated goods to e-commerce platforms. More importantly, e-commerce platforms have committed to employ measures to prevent counterfeit and pirated goods from being sold through their website, and ensure the identity of the seller and their contact information, in addition to enforcing the rights of its owners in the contract between the e-commerce platform and seller. 

Right owners under the memo take an active role in the prevention of infringement by monitoring advertisements or posts on the e-commerce platforms, and helping these platforms by giving information on goods that are susceptible to infringement and a list of words commonly used to sell counterfeit goods. In addition, and in cooperation with the e-commerce platform, the right owners also commit to assess and give feedback on the platform’s policies on repeated violators. 

Consumers also play a pivotal role under the memo in the fight against intellectual property violation online as e-commerce platforms now commit allow consumers to report counterfeit or pirated goods. 

Although the memo is not binding, it is a positive step in the right direction for both e-commerce platforms and right owners in preventing infringement and enforcing intellectual property rights online. It is hoped that in future, even right owners who are not signatories to the memo can enforce their rights on these platforms. 

This article is for general information and educational purposes only and not offered as a legal advice or opinion.

 

Phoebe Mae U. Reyes is an associate of the Intellectual Property Department of the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices. She may be reached through pureyes@accralaw.com.

China cautions West over fueling war

REUTERS

BEIJING — China is “deeply worried” that the Ukraine conflict could spiral out of control, foreign minister Qin Gang said on Tuesday, and called on certain countries to stop “fueling the fire” in an apparent dig at the United States.

Beijing, which last year struck a “no limits” partnership with Moscow, has refrained from condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The United States has warned of consequences if China provides military support to Russia, which Beijing says it is not doing.

“China is deeply worried that the Ukraine conflict will continue to escalate or even spiral out of control” Mr. Qin said in a speech at a forum held at the foreign ministry.

“We urge certain countries to immediately stop fueling the fire,” he said in comments that appeared to be directed at the United States, adding that they must “stop hyping up ‘today Ukraine, tomorrow Taiwan’”.

“We stand firmly against any form of hegemony, against any foreign interference in China’s affairs.”

Mr. Qin’s comments came as Russia’s news agency TASS said China’s top diplomat Wang Yi was due to arrive in Moscow on Tuesday and ahead of a “peace speech” President Xi Jinping is expected to deliver on Friday, the anniversary of the Ukraine invasion.

Also on Tuesday, China released a paper on the Global Security Initiative (GSI), Xi’s flagship security proposal which aims to uphold the principle of “indivisible security,” a concept endorsed by Moscow.

Russia has insisted that Western governments respect a 1999 agreement based on the principle of “indivisible security” that no country can strengthen its own security at the expense of others.

On Monday, Mr. Wang called for a negotiated settlement to the Ukraine war during a stopover in Hungary.

The same day, US President Joseph R. Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv in a show of solidarity, promising $500 million worth of military aid to Ukraine and additional sanctions against Russian elites to be unveiled in full this week.

Beijing has refrained from condemning Moscow’s operation against Ukraine or calling it an “invasion” in line with the Kremlin, which describes the war as a “special military operation” designed to protect Russia’s own security.

Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine has triggered one of the deadliest European conflicts since World War II and the biggest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

‘LETHAL WEAPONS’
The United States casts China and Russia as the two biggest nation-state threats to its security. Mr. Xi has stood by Russian President Vladimir Putin, resisting Western pressure to isolate Moscow.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Saturday that the United States was very concerned China is considering providing “lethal assistance” to Russia, which he told Mr. Wang “would have serious consequences in our relationship.”

“There are various kinds of lethal assistance that they are at least contemplating providing, to include weapons,” Mr. Blinken said in an interview with NBC News, adding that Washington would soon release more details.

The European Union’s top foreign affairs official Josep Borrell on Monday warned against China sending arms to Russia, saying it would be a “red line,” echoing statements from other European foreign ministers attending a meeting in Brussels.

Any Chinese weapons supplies to Russia would risk a potential escalation of the Ukraine war into a confrontation between Russia and China on the one side and Ukraine and the US-led NATO military alliance on the other.

Beijing has repeatedly accused Washington of escalating the conflict by supplying weapons to Ukraine. On Sunday during a meeting with Mr. Blinken on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Mr. Wang said the US “should promote a political solution to the crisis, instead of adding fuel to the fire”. — Reuters

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