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Scientists call out senators for cracking jokes during discussion on alarming reclamation projects

PHILIPPINE STAR/ WALTER BOLLOZOS

THE ADVOCATES of Science and Technology for the People (AGHAM), a group of Filipino scientists, has admonished senators for making jokes during a discussion on reclamation projects, which it said pose very serious threats to the country’s marine ecosystems.   

“Reclamation is one of the biggest threats to our seas,” AGHAM Public Information Officer and Resident Marine Scientist Jerwin G. Baure said in a statement on Thursday. “Currently, there are at least 187 reclamation projects at different stages of development nationwide.” 

Several senators, during the deliberations on the proposed 2023 budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Wednesday, made light of possible impacts of reclamation such as adding even more islands to the country’s more than 7,000 and blocking the Manila sunset view.    

“These projects threaten the integrity of important coastal ecosystems such as coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove forests,” Mr. Baure said.   

He called it “frustrating” that the government has not taken serious steps against reclamation despite urgent calls from environmentalists, fisherfolk and coastal residents.  

“Climate crisis is happening now, and we can’t wait for years before the government takes action,” he said, adding that the AGHAM would like lawmakers to investigate all reclamation projects in the country. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Bill seeks stiffer penalties for hospitals rejecting emergency cases 

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

A LAWMAKER on Thursday pushed for a measure that seeks to further increase penalties for hospitals and medical practitioners who refuse to treat emergency cases.   

House Bill 3046 proposes to amend Republic Act 10932, which strengthened the anti-hospital deposit law in 2017.   

Under the measure, any medical practitioner who violates the provisions of the law could face fines of up to P1 million and at least four years of imprisonment, up from the current P100,000 to P300,000.     

It also states that if the violation is part of the established policy of the medical institution, the director or officer could face up to 12 years in prison and fines of no less than P2 million.   

The bill also calls for the establishment of a 24/7 hotline where violations can be reported.  

“The bill seeks to strengthen the measures corresponding the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law through an increase in the penal sanctions,” Davao Rep. Paolo Z. Duterte, one of the bill’s authors, said in the explanatory note. — Matthew Carl L. Montecillo 

Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand weighing more PHL investments

CPF-PHIL.COM

THAILAND’s Charoen Pokphand Group Co. Ltd. (CP Group) has expressed interest in investing in Philippine aquaculture and hog production, the Office of the President said in a statement.

The approach was made in a meeting in Bangkok between President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and the company, which is already a major investor in Philippine agriculture.

The Thai firm also expressed interest in projects developing the Philippine value chain to better link food production to consumers, the Palace added.

Mr. Marcos met with officials of CP Group officials on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit late Wednesday.

CP Group is Thailand’s largest private company with $2 billion worth of investment in the Philippines.

“The largest and the most significant Thai investment in Philippine Agriculture is Charoen Pokphand Foods Philippines Corp. (CPFPC), a subsidiary of Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Co. Ltd. (CPF),” the Palace said. 

CPFPC started operations in the Philippines in 2010 with a rented feed mill in Guiguinto, Bulacan.

Aside from shrimp and fish hatcheries, CPFPC has built one of the most modern aquaculture feed mills in the country, the Palace said. The feed mill produces feed for tilapia, catfish, milkfish, and shrimp.

The company made additional investments in 2012, it added.

Mr. Marcos pledged to improve the aquaculture industry, which he deems critical for achieving food security, according to the Palace statement.

Separately, Mr. Marcos touted his push for more public-private partnerships (PPPs) in meeting with Thai business executives, the Palace said.

“The centerpiece (program) is our private and public partnerships… this is something we feel we will need to encourage for the simple reason that it cannot be done just by the government,” Mr. Marcos was quoted as saying. “It’s something that we need to encourage to gain that synergy that we are all looking for as we find our way in the new economy.”

As of August, the government tallies 74 PPP projects in the pipeline, worth a combined P2.25 trillion. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

PEZA sees Japanese interest in renewables, electric vehicle projects

KURABE.CO.JP/EN
KURABE.CO.JP/EN

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said Japanese manufacturers are considering investing in Philippine renewable energy and electric vehicle (EV) projects.

“We have seen serious and heightened interest in the areas of renewable energy, EVs, as well as the agro-industrial sector,” PEZA Officer-in-Charge Tereso O. Panga said in a Laging Handa briefing on Thursday.

“We continue to attract more Japanese investment because they committed to invest more in the Philippines and in economic zones under PEZA,” he added.

Mr. Panga and other government and private-sector officials are currently in Tokyo for meetings with potential investors.

“Japanese investors lead the country in terms of investment in economic zones (ecozones) under PEZA. We have 898 Japanese companies with P740 billion worth of investment that employ 352,000 employees directly,” Mr. Panga said.  

PEZA added in a Facebook post on Thursday that it has signed investment partnerships with two Japanese companies.

PEZA signed a memorandum of understanding with IT firm Junca Global Partner, Inc. The agreement is intended to kickstart investment attraction efforts by Japanese manufacturers and startups.

“Junca Global Partner is into stem cell biotech, financial technology and blockchain technology,” PEZA said.

PEZA also signed a registration agreement with Kurabe Industrial Philippines, Inc., which is seeking classification as an ecozone export enterprise. 

According to PEZA, Kurabe will manufacture and assemble car seat heaters and wiring and steering wheel heaters and wiring at the Lima Technology Center – Special Economic Zone in Lipa, Batangas.

“Kurabe will operate in a five-hectare lot in Lima Technology Center-Special Ecozone,” the PEZA said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

National strategy for logistics industry due in December

PHOTO COURTESY OF ICTSI

THE government is drafting a national strategy for the logistics sector for launch next month, with the goal of attracting more investment into the industry, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

Assistant Secretary Mary Jean T. Pacheco said on Thursday on the sidelines of the Procurement and Supply Institute of Asia (PASIA) World Global Annual Educational Conference 2022 in Pasay City that the national logistics strategy is expected to be launched on Dec. 19.

“We are currently drafting a national logistics strategy that will identify and set the roadmap for the short term, medium term, and long term. It is akin to a roadmap but this is more like laying out the strategies,” Ms. Pacheco said.  

“It involves everything in logistics such as adopting technology, modernization, reducing costs, addressing issues, private and public investment, and workforce development,” she added.

According to Ms. Pacheco, government agencies involved in developing the national logistics strategy include the DTI, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“We need a long-term plan that will address logistics in the country. We are an archipelago. We need to make sure that the country is connected especially now in the era of e-commerce,” Ms. Pacheco said.

“We need to have unimpeded movement and North to South connection,” she added.

PASIA Chairman Jesus Carlos P. Villaseñor said the Philippines needs to become a member of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade agreement.

“We need to be a part of the RCEP. We need to get it signed because economies are trying to position (around) regional blocs and we cannot just depend on big economies for output. We need to be self-reliant as well. The time to move is really now because the time is working against us,” Mr. Villaseñor said.

RCEP, touted as the world’s largest free trade agreement, started taking effect in the various member countries on Jan. 1. It involves Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Philippine participation in the RCEP has yet to be decided following concerns regarding the lack of safeguards for the agriculture sector. The Philippines and Myanmar are the only remaining countries yet to ratify RCEP. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Gov’t gauging level of private interest in EDSA busway, north rail PPPs

Commuters line up at the Main Avenue station of the EDSA bus carousel in Quezon City, July 18, 2022. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE government is consulting the private sector on how to make two key transportation projects more attractive to potential public-private partnership (PPP) investors, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said.

The transportation projects up for PPP include the busway system project along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and the North Long Haul Inter-Regional Railway (NCR-Ilocos, Cagayan), the department said in a statement.

On its website, the PPP Center said it is supporting the DoTr in developing transport projects through PPPs.

“These projects are identified as priority PPP projects to contribute to the improvement of transportation infrastructure and establishment of livable and sustainable communities,” the PPP Center said.

“As part of the initial stage of project development, the PPP Center and the DoTr are conducting the preliminary market-sounding activity to solicit insights and feedback on the project terms from interested private sector partners,” it added.

The activity also aims to ascertain the level of interest of the private sector in undertaking the projects and identify potential issues that will deter investment.

The activity will run until Nov. 23 with responses taken via e-mail correspondence and questionnaires.

Following the two projects, the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake Ferry System will also be put through a market-sounding exercise by the PPP Center, according to the DoTr. 

The department said the PPP Center manages the Project Development and Monitoring Facility or PDMF, which supports feasibility studies for PPP projects.

“The DoTr has applied to utilize these funds for its upcoming transportation PPP projects,” it noted.

“The preliminary market sounding activity is part of the process of PPPC’s approval process of DoTr’s application for funding. The cost estimate for the PPP projects will be (validated in) the feasibility study.”

UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS
On Wednesday, the Department of Public Works and Highways said the government is studying ways to improve the unsolicited proposal system.

“We will improve the unsolicited proposal system (to) allow more unsolicited proposals for priority projects,” Undersecretary for Planning and Public-Private Partnership Maria Catalina E. Cabral said at a transport forum in Pasay City.

There are moves to amend the process of challenging the original project proponent, Ms. Cabral noted. “We are looking at revising the right-to-match process.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

Energy dep’t estimates offshore wind to require $157.5 billion in capital

ELECNOR

THE Department of Energy (DoE) said it expects investment in offshore wind (OSW) projects to require $157.5 billion, based on a rule-of-thumb cost estimate of about $5 million per megawatt.

“While floating offshore wind is still being developed all over the world the rule of thumb is about $5 million per megawatt, but this is only for floating wind turbine. It will be a little cheaper for the ones that are not floating,” Undersecretary Alessandro O. Sales said in a briefing on Thursday.

Offshore wind entails a significant cost premium over land-based wind projects because of the additional engineering required to generate power from water-based facilities. The capital cost of onshore wind power in Europe has been estimated at €1.23 million per megawatt by the Wind Energy advocacy organization.

Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla said the department is currently reviewing its offshore wind policies in preparation for issuing future service contracts.

“The refinements to the existing policies, framework and guidelines governing the administration of wind energy service contracts cover the technical, financial, operational, and administrative risks and challenges of OSW development,” Mr. Lotilla said.

To date, the DoE has awarded 42 OSW service contracts with 31,500 MW of installed capacity which will be located in Northern Luzon, the Verde Island Passage, Northern Mindoro, and Southern Mindoro.

Mr. Lotilla said that the department has been receiving “considerable” investment interest, including from potential foreign investors, in OSW.

“A robust OSW requires a long-term vision, support infrastructure development, investment, and sound policy. Therefore, it is deemed critical to have a well-thought-out regulatory framework to enable successful growth of this newer technology,” Mr. Lotilla said.

The DoE has said it is drafting an executive order to streamline the process for applying to develop OSW.

On Tuesday, Mr. Lotilla signed a circular which amended the implementing rules and regulations of the Renewable Energy (RE) Act of 2008 to allow full foreign ownership in the RE sector. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Overspending on 2022 budget offset by strong gov’t revenue, economists say

BW FILE PHOTO

THE fiscal consolidation program remains on track with government revenue stronger than expected, economists said, ruling out the need for belt-tightening after the government exceeded its 2022 budget.

“I’m not particularly concerned about this level of over-spend — for now — partly because the fiscal consolidation plan is broadly on track for a deficit of around 7.5% of GDP this year, and this owes in large part to revenue rising faster than the government projected for the 2022 budget,” Pantheon Chief Emerging Asia Economist Miguel Chanco said in an e-mail.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) last week reported that budget releases as of the end of October hit P5.08 trillion, well over the P5.024-trillion budget for 2022.

Government overspending remains “acceptable,” he said.

“It’s impossible to know how much more the government will spend in the final months of the year, but what’s clear to me is that there isn’t much pressure on them to tighten their belts, thanks to relatively healthy public coffers,” he added.

Leonardo A. Lanzona, who teaches economics at Ateneo de Manila University, said that any overspending should be transparent.

“While these may seem improper, from an efficiency point of view, these can be acceptable. However, since it is the public who will pay for these loans, the government needs to make all of these negotiations and subsequent allocations known to the public,” he said in an e-mail.

“Accountability and transparency should be required from the public officials as these additional funds can easily attract corruption.  Government would need to set up the rules and guidelines regarding these excess funds,” he added.

Meanwhile, the government announced its cash utilization rate was at 94% at the end of October, according to the DBM.

The National Government, local governments and state-owned firms used P3.36 trillion of the P3.56 trillion in Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) issued to them in the 10-month period.

The usage rate was ahead of the year-earlier pace of at 91%.

The DBM tallied P202.91 billion in unused NCAs.

The DBM distributes NCAs on a quarterly basis, authorizing agencies to withdraw funds from the Bureau of the Treasury.

According to the DBM, line departments used 92% or P2.27 trillion of their NCAs as of the end of October, leaving P201.42 billion unused.

Only the Commission on Human Rights recorded a budget usage rate at 100%.

On the other hand, the Department of Information and Communications Technology posted the lowest rate of 67%.

Budgetary support to government-owned companies as well as allotments to local government units were 100% used in the 10-month period, out of P176.78 billion NCAs issued. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

World Cup betting projected to hit record $1.8 billion in US

THE UPCOMING World Cup is expected to spur $1.8 billion in bets in the United States, a figure that would set a record for the most bet-upon soccer event in the country.

The American Gaming Association (AGA) released a report saying it expects 20.5 million American adults to place a bet on the World Cup, which kicks off Sunday in Qatar.

“With more than half of all American adults having access to legal betting options in their home market, legal sports betting will deepen American fan engagement in the most-watched sporting event in the world,” AGA senior vice president Casey Clark said.

An AGA survey conducted earlier this month found, among other things, that most Americans would put $50 on the US to win the World Cup. The USMNT came in at 24 percent of those surveyed, followed by Brazil (19 percent), Argentina (17) and Germany (10).

ONLINE DISCRIMINATION
FIFA is launching a new service to crack down on hate speech and discrimination online during the World Cup, world soccer’s governing body said on Wednesday.

The Social Media Protection Service will stop players seeing abusive messages when they log on to their phones in dressing rooms minutes after matches.

FIFA will monitor social media accounts of all participants at the World Cup by scanning for public-facing abusive, discriminatory and threatening comments and then reporting them to social networks and law authorities.

“FIFA is committed to provide the best possible conditions for players to perform to the best of their abilities,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said.

“At the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 we are happy to launch a service that will help to protect players from the damaging effects that social media posts can cause to their mental health and wellbeing.”

Teams, players and other individual participants will also be able to opt-in to a moderation service that will instantly hide abusive and offensive comments on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, preventing them from being seen by the recipient and their followers.

A report published by FIFA this year revealed that more than half of players at last year’s European Championship and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) were subjected to discriminatory abuse online.

Brazil international Willian, who is not in his country’s World Cup squad, is backing the campaign having experienced online discrimination himself.

“I am supporting this campaign because I was in Brazil a year ago, and I was suffering a lot, and my family were suffering a lot because people started attacking us on social media, attacking my family,” Willian said.

“That’s why I’m standing now with FIFA to see if you can stop these kind of things that make me feel, sometimes, sad.” — Reuters

DLSU Green Archers stay alive for its Final Four drive

DE LA SALLE Green Archers escaped past Adamson University on CJ Austria’s buzzer-beating triple. — UAAP MEDIA

Games On Sunday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
11 a.m. — ADMU VS FEU
1 p.m. — NU vs UST
3 p.m. — AdU vs UE
6:30 p.m. — UP VS DLSU

NATIONAL University (NU) firmed up its grip on second spot and secured at least a playoff for one of the Final Four slots while De La Salle stayed in the thick of the heated race with separate big wins in the return of the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Bulldogs fended off a gritty resistance from University of the East (UE), 70-61, as the Green Archers escaped past Adamson University on CJ Austria’s buzzer-beating triple for an 81-78 win.

PJ Palacielo provided spark in the end game, pouring eight of his 10 markers in the last four minutes to keep UE at bay and propel NU to an 8-3 card, one win away from officially sealing a Final Four ticket.

The rookie big man also added three rebounds and two assists in only eight minutes of play with John Lloyd Clemente (10), John Figueroa (9) and John Galinato (9) firing in needed help for the Bulldogs, who continued to be the surprising major force this season.

The win of NU, which led by as many as 13 points before weathering UE’s uprising to within 55-57, also put a dent in the latter’s own playoff hopes as it slid down to 4-7.

In contrast, De La Salle stayed alive and injected hopes to its Final Four drive by snapping a four-game losing skid to climb to 4-6 – thanks to Austria’s heroics.

Sans injured ace guard and MVP frontrunner Schonny Winston, Mr. Austria stepped up to the plate and finished with a team-high 16 points, two rebounds and two steals including the game-winner.

Siblings Benjamin and Michael Phillips chipped in 14 apiece to backstop Mr. Austria in De La Salle’s big win that catapulted it back to the airtight semifinal contest with Adamson at joint fourth spot.

“It’s a shot from Heaven. It was a shot given to us, finally, coming off a break after losing four straight games. It’s big lift. It’s an important game for us and we needed everything with that shot of CJ,” said De La Salle mentor Derrick Pumaren. — John Bryan Ulanday

The Scores:

First Game

De La SALLE 81 — Austria 16, M. Phillips 14, B. Phillips 14, Nonoy 8, Quiambao 8, Abadam 6, Nwankwo 6, Nelle 5, Estacio 4, Macalalag 0, Cortez 0, Manuel 0.

ADAMSON University 78 — Yerro 18, Flowers 15, Hanapi 10, Jaymalin 10, Douanga 10, Manzano 6, Sabandal 3, Colonia 2, Barasi 2, Fuentebella 2, Torres 0, Barcelona 0, W. Magbuhos 0.

Quarterscores: 23-23, 40-42, 57-62, 81-78.

Second Game

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY 70 — Palacielo 10, Clemente 10, Figeuroa 9, Galinato 9, John 8, Malonzo 7, Enriquez 6, Manansala 5, Baclaan 2, Yu 2, Mahinay 2, Minerva 0, Padrones 0

UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST 61 — Stevens 14, Villegas 13, Payawal 12, Pagsanjan 7, K. Paranada 6, N. Paranada 5, Sawat 4, Tulabut 0, Remogat 0, Antiporda 0, Gilbuena 0

Quarterscores – 16-13, 35-24, 48-39, 70-61

Blazers, Pirates battle for No. 2 spot and twice-to-beat edge

ENOCH VALDEZ was at the epicenter of the Pirates’ resurgence. — NCAA/SYNERGY-GMA

Games Friday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
12 p.m. — UPHSD vs SSC-R
3 p.m. — CSB vs LPU

COLLEGE of St. Benilde (CSB) and Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) clash for the important No. 2 spot and the twice-to-beat edge that goes with it in the Final Four today in NCAA Season 98 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

The Blazers are currently at second with an 11-4 record while the Pirates are at No. 3 with a 12-5 mark and the winner in their 3 p.m. showdown would snatch the No. 2 spot where they would have a better chance of snagging one of the two important semis incentives.

Barely leading everyone were the Letran Knights, who own a 12-4 slate.

Both CSB and LPU were coming off morale-boosting triumphs with the former edging San Sebastian, 83-78, Tuesday and the latter routing Jose Rizal University, 79-62, Wednesday.

“We have to play harder because we need to get the win if we want to have a chance at No. 2,” said LPU coach Gilbert Malabanan.

The Pirates have also lost to the Blazers, 86-69, in their first-round meeting last Sept. 11.

But LPU was a different team back then and has picked up the pieces to string together a mighty upheaval that saw them storm into the top four and strong contention of claiming its breakthrough title since joining the league in 2011.

And Enoch Valdez was at the epicenter of the Pirates’ resurgence and has dished out big games after big games including a 21-point masterpiece in their most recent victory.

“He’s our workhorse and one of my leaders on the court,” said Mr. Malabanan of his energetic swingman.

For CSB mentor Charles Tiu, they hope to get to No. 2 to help push them closer to the absolute goal of claiming the school’s second championship since its last victory 22 years ago.

“It’s great, we’re happy and it’s one of our small goals,” said Mr. Tiu moments after steering his team to its first Final Four appearance in two decades. “Hopefully we can go past the Final Four and really make a run for the championship.

“Hopefully we mature and continue to grow as a team,” he added.

In a non-bearing duel at 12 p.m., University of Perpetual Help (UPHSD) (7-10) collides with San Sebastian (SSC-R) (6-9). — Joey Villar

Gin Kings out to claim 4th victim by skidding Bossing

Games Friday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
3 p.m. — NLEX vs Terrafirma
5:45 p.m. — Ginebra vs Blackwater

BARANGAY Ginebra looks to stay on its winning path and make skidding Blackwater its fourth victim in a row as it resumes its PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Gin Kings came off an epic 97-96 fightback win over San Miguel Beer (SMB) last Nov. 6, which coach Tim Cone hopes his charges use as inspiration to work harder, not a reason to get complacent when they go up against the hungry Bossing.

“It’s going to be a hard one not to be too high from because you know, it’s the comeback, the NSD, the whole shebang and we have to be careful with that,” said Mr. Cone after the crowd darlings bravely wiped out a 19-point deficit and stole the victory from the Beermen on Scottie Thompson’s booming triple.

But as long as they come in with the proper mindset, Mr. Cone said the fourth-running Gin Kings (5-2) should be fine in the 5:45 p.m. tussle with the playoffs-chasing Bossing (3-7).

“As long as we stay locked in, as long as the guys come to practice and work, they can keep the momentum going. It’s when you get kampante and you relax, that’s when you lose your momentum,” he said.

Ginebra is playing its first game after a 12-day break brought about by the Gilas Pilipinas stints of Mr. Cone and stalwarts Mr. Thompson, Japeth Aguilar and Jamie Malonzo in the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Cone is confident deputy Richard del Rosario and the rest of the team put in great practices and preparation while they were away.

On a four-game slide, the Bossing are raring to pounce on this opportunity to regain traction in the heated chase for post-elims berths.

Carrying the same objective as Blackwater is NLEX (3-6), which guns for its fourth W versus Terrafirma (0-9) at 3 p.m.

The 11th-running Road Warriors seek to end their four-match losing spell and go within striking distance of the teams in the lower rungs of the Magic 8 — No. 7 Meralco (4-5) and No. 8 TNT (4-5) — and draw level with No. 9 Rain or Shine (4-6) ahead of No. 10 SMB (3-5).

Though already out of contention for the quarters, the Dyip are fueled by a burning desire to snap a dubious 25-game skid dating back to February. The Dyip came close to ending this futility in their last game against NorthPort, where they led by 15 and held a three-point upperhand with five minutes to go only to fade to a 91-85 heartbreaker. — Olmin Leyba

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