EntertainmentNews (05/19/23)

May 19, 2023 | 12:01 am

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Bb. Pilipinas National Costume photo exhibit at Gateway

The national costumes of the 2023 candidates for Binibining Pilipina can now be viewed in a photo exhibit at the Gateway Mall Activity Area in Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City. The exhibit showcases the unique and creative national costumes of the 40 Binibining Pilipinas candidates in seven-foot-tall individual portraits. The photos were shot by Raymond Saldaña and Owen Reyes, with the candidates styled by Patrick Henry Mergano, Macky Combe, Janet Diamalon, and Ericson Buyson. The exhibit is on display until May 31.

Pianist Inna Montesclaros in fundraising solo recital

The LAMDAG Foundation for Women Projects, in cooperation with the Insular Life (In Life), presents pianist Inna Montesclaros in a solo piano recital on May 21, 4 p.m., at the Insular Life Auditorium in Filinvest Corporate City in Alabang. Ms. Montesclaros will play an all-Chopin repertoire in the first part of the program. The second part will feature Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major Op. 53, F. Buencamino’s Mayon Fantasia de Concierto, and Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 10 in E major. The concert proceeds are earmarked for the construction of the Dayao Center in Davao City that will house the foundation. It is dedicated to the total development of young professionals, female students and lady helpers in Davao and the nearby provinces. For tickets, call 0917-862-7100 and 0917-523-6646.

Side A holds repeat concert

OPM band Side A is returning to the Newport Performing Arts Theater stage for an encore concert following the sold-out success of the Redux 360 Experience last September. Then & Now: Side A (The Repeat) will once again shine the spotlight on both original and newer members on June 1, 8 p.m. Side A rose to fame in the 1990s with iconic tracks such as “Forevermore,” “Hold On,” and “By Your Side.” Founding brothers Rodel Gonzalez (lead vocals) and Naldy Gonzalez (keyboards and vocals) were later joined by Mar Dizon (drums), Pido Lalimarmo (guitars and vocals), Joey Benin (bass), and Kelly Badon (lead guitars). For nearly four decades, the band has captivated its audience with their pop, rock, and R&B songs with original lyrics that tug at the heartstrings. Now, original member Naldy Gonzalez together with a new generation of band members, Ned Esguerra (bass guitar), Yubs Esperat (lead vocals), and Lee Von Cailao (lead guitar), will take to the stage for the repeat concert.

More shows added for A1 concert tour in PHL

After tickets sold out for the Oct. 14 concert of 1990s boy band A1 in the NFT Theater, Concert Republic has announced that additional shows have been added in Davao and Cebu. The band will have performances at the at the SMX Convention Center – Davao on Oct. 12, and at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino on Oct. 13. Ticket details for both shows will be announced soon, the concert promoter said.

Samsung’s Epic After Hours convention on

Samsung’s Epic After Hours will be held from May 25 to 31 at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre, BGC, Taguig. The evening event will show off the new features of the Galaxy S23 via experiential content rooms and talks by top content creators. Visitors will have the chance to win the latest Galaxy devices. A Nightography booth will showcase the Nightography feature of the Galaxy S23 series’ cameras. It allows the camera to adjust to nearly any lighting condition while low-light images and videos are steadier thanks to a doubled optical image stabilizer. Visitors will have the chance to get their portraits taken by award winning photographer JL Javier during the event. They can also join the Zoom in to Win contest by taking photos of the stage from afar while testing out the zoom capabilities of the Galaxy S23 Ultra. There will also be various passion booths for self-expression, gaming and productivity on-site. There will be special performances throughout the week at after parties, beginning 7 p.m.

Manila stop included in Nicole World Tour

Jakarta-born, LA-based singer-songwriter, and producer Niki has announced that she will go on the Nicole World Tour this summer and fall. To coincide with this announcement, she also unveiled the music video for fan favorite track “Backburner” and released her new live album, Live at the Wiltern, which is out now via 88rising. Following her sold-out North American headlining tour last fall, Niki is bringing her live show to cities across the globe with her 2023 world tour with stops in North America, Asia, and Europe. The Manila concert will be on Sept. 13 at the Mall of Asia Arena. For the full list of dates, visit https://nikizefanya.com/.

Climate change, fashion drawing workshop for kids

Hot Couture, a free online drawing workshop for children ages six to 12, will be offered on May 20. The activity explores how visual communication, plus arts and fashion, increases the awareness and understanding of the youth on messages that discuss environmental issues. Participants will imagine what the planet would be like at the height of climate change, then they are encouraged to envision the styles of clothing that would be practical for everyday life on a planet that is constantly heating up. Hot Couture will be facilitated by Manila-born artist, designer, and writer Catherine Sarah Young, who creates interdisciplinary and experimental artworks on the environment. Organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Hot Couture is free and open to the public. It will be conducted online on May 20, 2 p.m. Interested participants may register through bit.ly/HotCoutureWorkshop. For more information, e-mail mcad@benilde.edu.ph

ENHYPEN become Airbnb hosts for Seoul Fashion Week

Following their appearances at Milan Fashion Week, K-Pop’s ENHYPEN are becoming Airbnb hosts and inviting two lucky guests to preview Seoul Fashion Week with an overnight stay at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). Designed by architect Zaha Hadid, DDP is a major landmark in South Korea’s capital city, and hub to a thriving design, art and fashion scene. The top floor loft space has been transformed in celebration of Fashion Week, with guests getting the chance to stay on the runway, and gain a first look the night before collections are revealed and Seoul Fashion Week begins. A backstage dressing room offers designer clothes for guests to try on from K-fashion’s most innovative up-and-coming designers. To top it off, guests will receive exclusive passes to Seoul Fashion Week (including front row seats). “We are honored to partner with Airbnb and DDP to bring guests behind the scenes of Seoul Fashion Week like never before,” said ENHYPEN’s leader Jungwon in a press statement. Two guests will have the opportunity to stay overnight on Sept. 4 for just $14 — a nod to 14 years ago when construction first broke ground. They will get exclusive passes to Seoul Fashion Week, including front row seats; access to a personal fashion runway; a personalized video welcome from ENHYPEN; a curated stay filled with snacks, drinks, and books all personally selected by ENHYPEN members; a giveaway of two special autographed Polaroids of ENHYPEN at DDP; their own capsule wardrobe and pieces to take home; and a stroll on DDP’s undulating rooftop with a guide. Fan can request to book this stay beginning Wednesday, May 24, at 8 a.m. KST (Tuesday, May 23 at 7 p.m. ET) at airbnb.com/ddp. Guests are responsible for their own travel to and from Seoul. This one-night stay is available for one participant and their fellow guest and is not a contest.

Giving employees a clean slate

May 19, 2023 | 12:01 am

I’m the human resource (HR) manager of a medium-sized company. Our employees are clamoring for a policy granting a clean slate on offenses after a certain period. This idea was discussed in our recent town hall meeting with the chief executive officer (CEO), who assigned HR to study its pros and cons. Is such a policy necessary? Why or why not? — Grieving Over.

My brief answer is — not necessarily. Let’s do this in a manner that would convince the CEO and the employees. Think about this. At some point in your management career, you may have issued a policy without too much thought or careful analysis, including an examination of the long-term implications. You’re not alone. I’ve seen many managers who would simply agree to certain propositions in the hope of avoiding conflict until real problems come up.

Take it from Peter Drucker who talked about “doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.”

Now, let’s agree on the prescription period for certain offenses to avoid having a perpetual black mark on the employees’ records. The underlying assumption is that everyone must be given the opportunity to change after being punished.

It is not necessary for the actual record to be literally removed from the employee’s 201 file.

Why would you create a clean-slate policy? I would say giving a new lease on life to violators depends on their actual behavior and work performance. In other words, no amnesty will help any employee if violations of company rules continue, or if they continue exhibiting poor work performance.

ACTION PLAN
Your action plan depends on the frequency of violations, which should be a critical factor in implementing any clean-slate policy. If you’re in HR and you’re not collecting and monitoring data on discipline, then that’s one issue that you should start addressing without further delay.

Without such records, you can’t take an intelligent position on the issue. Let’s do this step by step.

One, collect, monitor, and analyze all employee violations. To make HR’s job easy, assign all team leaders, supervisors and managers to compile a report covering the past year. All reports must contain the following — names of violators, nature of offense, and the type of sanctions meted against them.

Then, verify all information submitted by the line leaders. After that one-year report is submitted, start requiring them to inform HR about all subsequent violations. I’m assuming the ideal set-up of line managers personally handling employee discipline with active assistance from HR.

Two, benchmark with your industry counterparts. This includes understanding the best practices of your competitors, regardless of any difficulties in obtaining their cooperation. My experience tells me that competitors would be happy to cooperate depending on your trustworthiness and the level of interest that you have exhibited.

If your competitors are uncooperative, you can move forward by benchmarking with other companies of your size, number of employees, revenue and other factors. If you’re located in an export processing zone, it’s advisable to connect with other locators.

Three, rationalize your promotion policies and procedures. This includes a review of your performance standards, succession plan and inter-department transfers. Are there any rules that prevent employees with violations from getting a merit increase or be considered in the succession plan? If there are none, then that’s one point against any amnesty policy.

If there is no bearing on future merit increases and chances for promotion, why are employees pushing for it?

Four, determine the reason why employees are seeking a clean-slate policy. Now that you’re fully armed with all the information, discover why the employees are pushing for the policy. If there are no solid reasons, then your job becomes easy.

Just the same, it’s better to understand their logic. You might discover some arguments that are not aligned with the company’s vision, mission and values. Armed with your baseline data as discussed above, you can make a case for or against the employee request.

Last, compromise if you must by agreeing to write off minor offenses. If your CEO prefers to grant the request to maintain goodwill with the employees, try limiting the amnesty to minor offenses like the non-wearing of company uniform or identification card, or habitual unauthorized absences and tardiness. Aim for a standard based on the penalties involved — for instance, not to exceed one day’s suspension without pay.

In that case, declare a clean slate after one year from date of violation. If you have a union, it’s advisable to defer any decision by making it an issue subject to bargaining.

Join Rey Elbo’s “Kaizen Study Mission Japan” to be held July 23-29, 2023 in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. For details, chat with him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or send e-mail to elbonomics@gmail.com or via https://reyelbo.com

Ninja Van Philippines and TikTok Shop collaborate to develop local live sellers

May 19, 2023 | 12:01 am

LOGISTICS company Ninja Van Philippines collaborated with TikTok Shop to develop local live sellers amid the surge in electronic commerce.

Ninja Van said in a statement on Thursday that it recently conducted the “Going Viral on TikTok Shop: Secrets to Boost Sales and Achieve Success Your Way” event with TikTok Shop, which advised sellers to utilize social media platforms in improving their businesses.

Gregorio Gabriel, Jr., TikTok Shop seller acquisition manager, said that sellers should utilize the surge in shopping entertainment or shoppertainment.

“From its usual linear progression, shoppertainment has blurred and jumbled all the stages of the consumer journey. In TikTok Shop, a consumer can be discovering a brand while already participating in the product discussions or reviews via video comments or replies,” Mr. Gabriel said.

TikTok Shop also features an affiliate program, which has creator matching that could help improve live sellers.

“We will help find for any business or brand the right creator that can best help them grow,” he added.

Ninja Van Philippines Chief Commercial Officer Sabina Lopez-Vergara said that live sellers are also faced with the decision of choosing their courier partner.

She added that Ninja Van has 100% network coverage across the country and offers real-time parcel tracking to sellers and shoppers.

“Optimizing pages and content on TikTok Shop is just one part of the process, as sellers need to ensure that their customers get their purchases on time. Selecting the right courier partner is therefore another crucial business decision that sellers make,” Ms. Lopez-Vergara said.

“Whether it’s parcel pickup, returns, or cash-on-delivery remittance, a Ninja Van account manager is just a call or message away for you,” she added.

Jungie Gumiran, AdsLevelUp chief executive officer, said that optimizing the product pages of live sellers is important in converting ad and page views to sales.

“Your product page should tell everything a customer needs to know to help them make a decision to buy,” Mr. Gumiran said.

Ninja Van has a presence in six countries namely, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. The logistics company is aiming to expand its learning opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Life-course immunization key to protection vs future pandemics

May 19, 2023 | 12:00 am

IMMUNIZATION is the greatest success story of the twentieth century.

Vaccines eliminated most of the childhood diseases that used to cause millions of deaths, making possible a life without disabilities caused by certain communicable diseases like polio for the first time in human history.

In the twenty-first century, though, the fruits of modern medicine are not reaching some of the most vulnerable, making global health insecure against vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) once more.

Vaccines are critical to the prevention and control of many communicable diseases across all ages and therefore underpin global health security.

Yet, only a few countries have implemented a life-course approach to immunization (LCI) in line with recommendations in the Global Vaccine Action Plan 2011–2020 (GVAP) and the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030). While there has been some progress, GVAP goals remain unachieved, and the pandemic has further exposed weaknesses in global immunization policies and most notably, on reaching out to the adult population.

Some progress has been made over the last years, though: the IA2030 explicitly adopts an LCI frame: “A world where everyone, everywhere, at every age, fully benefits from vaccines for good health and wellbeing,” which is an important reorientation of immunization goals.

Additionally, the United Nations has designated 2021-2030 the “Decade of Healthy Ageing,” to improve the lives of older people and their families and communities.

Together, these initiatives offer an opportunity to highlight the importance and value of LCI, especially for adults and older adults.

But there is much to be done in seven years if we are to reach these goals.

There are significant operational gaps, as clearly documented in the GVAP 2020 evaluation. Few countries have inclusive national immunization programs (NIPs). Expanding coverage of adult vaccination will require major shifts in immunization programs to remove barriers to access and uptake.

With an aging population, the societal need to prolong healthy living in the face of waning immunity means that new methods will be necessary to deliver integrated, people-centered vaccination services, expand protection with existing vaccines, and incorporate new vaccines as they become available for older age groups.

Programs will also have to respond to significant global demographic shifts, which will have a major impact on the design and delivery of immunization services.

The COVID-19 pandemic made it amply clear that the sick, the old and the vulnerable need a life-course approach to protection from infectious diseases.

Viral disasters like the one we are witnessing also provide opportunities to strengthen infrastructures and recalibrate our approach to health insecurities. The transition to ‘vaccination programs for all ages and all groups’ is critical for future pandemic preparedness and health security, by providing additional protection against waning immunity and stemming the rise in mortality from VPDs during adulthood.

Strengthening immunization programs is not simply about protecting individuals but about developing the capacity to protect health systems during future pandemics, which are sure to come.

Meticulous education in illness among the vulnerable, including the aging population, is a sure way to protect health systems as they face steadily increasing routine demands. These systems require awareness, advocacy, funding, infrastructure, measurement and continued support from healthcare professionals.

The IA2030 foresaw it well before the pandemic and called for vaccination of people of all ages.

This emphasis on immunization of older people is also reflected in the focus on prevention of United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing, which will help achieve Sustainable Development Goals. The Decade’s plan says, “Older people require nondiscriminatory access to good-quality essential health services that include prevention…”

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently declared an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency, while stressing that this does not mean the disease is no longer a global threat.

It is important to remember that as the coronavirus swept the world, vaccines arrived at record speed and transformed both policy and lives. Over the next decade, as we deal with climate change, changes in population demography and disease epidemiology, the importance of vaccines cannot be overstated.

Teodoro B. Padilla is the executive director of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP). PHAP represents the biopharmaceutical medicines and vaccines industry in the country. Its members are in the forefront of research and development efforts for COVID-19 and other diseases that affect Filipinos.

Internet Poverty Index: Nearly 17% of Filipinos are ‘internet poor’

May 19, 2023 | 12:00 am

The Philippines ranked 59th out of 166 countries in terms of the “internet poor” as a share of the population, according to the 2023 Internet Poverty Index by Austria-based data enterprise World Data Lab. This translated to over 18 million Filipinos or 16.6% of the total population who cannot afford a 1-GB-per-month internet package, the third-highest in the region. The Philippines ranked 16th in the world with the largest number of internet poor.

How PSEi member stocks performed — May 18, 2023

May 19, 2023 | 12:00 am

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Thursday, May 18, 2023.

PSEi slips on profit taking, central bank decision

May 18, 2023 | 9:00 pm

THE MAIN INDEX closed lower on Thursday amid last-minute profit taking after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) kept rates untouched at its policy review, as expected by the market.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) slipped by 6.47 points or 0.09% to close at 6,628.64 on Thursday, while the broader all shares index inched up by 0.80 point or 0.02% to end at 3,534.64.

“After two consecutive days of market rally, the local bourse fell by 6.47 points to 6,628.64 due to last-minute profit taking, Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Analyst Claire T. Alviar said in a Viber message.

“Meanwhile, market sentiment did not get a boost from the decision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as investors had already factored in the pause in interest rate hikes,” Ms. Alviar added.

AB Capital Securities, Inc. Vice-President Jovis L. Vistan said in a Viber message likewise said stocks were stagnant during the day as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the BSP’s policy decision.

“Throughout the day, share prices experienced a modest rise,” Mr. Vistan added.

The BSP on Thursday kept benchmark interest rates unchanged in a “prudent pause” as it sees inflation returning within its target band by the fourth quarter, even as price pressures remain tilted to the upside.

The policy-setting Monetary Board kept the key rate or the interest rate on the BSP’s overnight reverse repurchase facility at 6.25%.

Rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were likewise untouched at 5.75% and 6.75%, respectively.

The central bank paused for the first time after hiking in nine straight meetings, raising borrowing costs by a total of 425 basis points from May 2022 to March 2023.

Headline inflation slowed to an eight-month low of 6.6% in April. For the first four months of the year, the consumer price index averaged 7.9%, still well above the BSP’s 2-4% target for 2023.

All sectoral indices went up on Wednesday, except for holding firms, which fell by 44.08 points or 0.66% to end at 6,562.66.

Meanwhile, mining and oil rose by 104.68 points or 1.03% to 10,247.05; industrials increased by 40.32 points or 0.42% to 9,508.96; property gained 5.94 points or 0.21% to end at 2,750.28; services added 1.27 points or 0.08% to close at 1,580.49; and financials went up by 0.82 point or 0.04% to 1,854.17.

Advancers outnumbered decliners, 90 versus 81, while 61 names closed unchanged.

Value turnover fell to P3.96 billion on Thursday with 729.91 million shares changing hands from the P4.34 billion with 1.07 billion issues traded on Wednesday.

Net foreign selling stood at P244.47 million on Thursday versus the P153.35 million in net buying seen on Wednesday. — A.H. Halili

Peso rises amid US debt limit talks

May 18, 2023 | 9:00 pm

THE PESO strengthened against the dollar on Thursday after US President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Republican House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that they would negotiate directly on a deal to raise the US debt ceiling.

The local currency closed at P55.87 versus the dollar on Thursday, rising by 33 centavos from Wednesday’s P56.20 finish, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines’ website showed.

The local unit opened Thursday’s session at P56.05 per dollar, which was also its worst showing for the day. Its intraday best was at P55.86 versus the greenback.

Dollars traded went down to $1.228 billion on Thursday from the $1.64 billion recorded on Wednesday.

The peso rose as global sentiment improved amid optimism surrounding the US debt ceiling negotiations, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

“The peso appreciated after US President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy reported an improvement in the US debt ceiling negotiations,” a trader likewise said.

Mr. Biden and top US congressional Republican Mr. McCarthy on Wednesday underscored their determination to reach a deal soon to raise the federal government’s $31.4-trillion debt ceiling and avoid an economically catastrophic default, Reuters reported.

After a months-long standoff, the Democratic president and the speaker of the House of Representatives on Tuesday agreed to negotiate directly on a deal. An agreement needs to be reached and passed by both chambers of Congress before the federal government runs out of money to pay its bills, as soon as June 1.

Sentiment also got a boost from the widely expected pause in interest rate hikes by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Mr. Ricafort added.

The BSP on Thursday kept benchmark interest rates unchanged as it sees inflation returning within its target band by the fourth quarter, even as price pressures remain tilted to the upside.

The Monetary Board kept the policy rate or the interest rate on the BSP’s overnight reverse repurchase facility steady at 6.25%. Rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were likewise left untouched at 5.75% and 6.75%, respectively.

The move was predicted by 13 out of 18 analysts in a BusinessWorld poll held last week.

The central bank paused for the first time after hiking in nine straight meetings, raising borrowing costs by a total of 425 basis points from May 2022 to March 2023.

For Friday, the trader sees the peso moving between P55.70 and P55.95 per dollar, while Mr. Ricafort expects it to trade from P55.80 to P56. — AMCS with Reuters

House panel to recommend charges vs ‘onion cartel’

May 18, 2023 | 8:57 pm

onions-Chinatown-PHILSTAR-WALTER-BOLLOZOS — PHILIPPINE STAR/WALTER BOLLOZOS

THE HOUSE Agriculture and Food Committee pointed to a group of companies involved in the whole onion value chain for the price manipulation of the commodity that hit up to P700 per kilo in retail markets last year, and will recommend the filing of charges against those linked to the operations.

“The documents are not lying,” Marikina Rep. Stella Luz A. Quimbo said in a briefing on Thursday about the panel’s findings.

She said the Philippine Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association (PhilVIEVA Corp.) is a “fully vertically integrated corporation,” an umbrella entity that covers “all operations in the onion industry from farming (Leah Cruz), trading, (Yom Trading, La Reina), cold storage (Tian Long), and trucking (Golden Shine).”

PhilVIEVA Corp. was established in 2013 and is registered under the Securities and Exchange Commission.

BusinessWorld could not reach the company for comment on Thursday.

Ms. Quimbo also said that Ms. Cruz has been using “dummy corporations,” namely Vegefru Producing Store and Rosal Fruit and Vegetable Trading.

“They’re not part of PhilVIEVA, but these are owned by Leah Cruz,” she said.

During the House hearing, Ms. Cruz denied her involvement in the alleged dummy corporations.

However, based on public documents submitted by the corporations, “the registered telephone numbers of these corporations are identical to the phone numbers of Ms. Leah Cruz’s office,” Ms. Quimbo said.

In 2014, the Justice department recommended the prosecution of several individuals, including Ms. Cruz, for their involvement in a garlic cartel. Ms. Cruz was also part of the 127 government officials and importers sued by the National Bureau of Investigation in 2015, as it alleged that Ms. Cruz paid P60,000 to the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant and Industry (DA-BPI) for every import permit.

She is currently facing these charges at the anti-graft court Sandigayanbayan and at a Regional Trial Court in Manila.

Committee Chairman and Quezon Rep. Wilfrido Mark M. Enverga said the panel will release its committee report in the next two weeks, which will name the individuals, including government officials, who will be recommended to face charges.

PRICE MANIPULATION
Ms. Quimbo added that Ms. Cruz, through PhilVIEVA, would manipulate prices by targeting local farmers. The corporation would ask farmers to sell their onions for as low as P12 per kilogram, justifying this through a supposed lack of cold storage facilities.

This is possible, the lawmaker said, because the “cartel” controls the cold storage facilities and can lie about availability.

Ms. Quimbo also noted there are a number of cold storage facilities that operate without proper accreditation.

The corporation also has control of imports through a “bargaining leverage” against local suppliers.

As an example, Ms. Quimbo said they would ask farmers to sell their onions at P12 per kilogram because the landed cost of imported onions is only P14 per kilogram. “Eventually, they would have most of the imported and local supply,” she said.

In 2022, the highest importers of onion were three companies under Ms. Cruz — Yom Trading, La Reina, and Vegefru Producing Store, which collectively brought in 5,445.66 metric tons (MT) of yellow onions or 68.74% of the total imported volume. Likewise, they imported up to, 7,648.81 MT of red onions or 41.02% of the total volume.

Ms. Quimbo added that through their trucks and retail outlets, PhilVIEVA could deliver their stocks at their desired date and markets, also dictating the prices.

Mr. Enervga said there is a need to amend Republic Act (RA) No. 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, particularly to include hoarding, profiteering and price manipulation of agricultural commodities “as economic sabotage.”

He added that penalties under RA 7581 or the Price Act should be increased.

In a hearing at the upper chamber, Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chair of the Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform Committee, called the anti-smuggling law a “failure” as no individuals have been convicted since its enactment in 2016.

Customs Assistant Commissioner and Spokesperson Vincent Philip C. Maronilla said the bureau has filed a total of 179 cases under the law. Broken down, 142 of these cases are large-scale smuggling, while 37 are not large-scale.

Rosendo O. So, chairman of the agricultural sector group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), said law enforcement agencies themselves could be accomplices of smugglers.

“Given the gravity of agricultural smuggling and its far-reaching consequences, it seems to me that we also need to punish government officials who allow these acts,” Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel said. She has filed a related measure amending the anti-smuggling law. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Implementing rules of law vs online sexual abuse of children inked

May 18, 2023 | 8:56 pm

THE IMPLEMENTING rules and regulations (IRR) of a law that protects children against online sexual abuse and exploitation was signed Thursday, the Social Welfare department announced.

“The DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), as one of the signatories of the IRR, will remain vigilant in making sure that the provisions will be strictly implemented and never abused,” Social Welfare Secretary Rexlon T. Gatchalian said in his speech during the signing ceremony.

The Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children Act lapsed into law on July 30 last year.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, also a signatory to the IRR, told the same event that the Philippines remains a primary destination for online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, citing poverty and widespread internet access as factors.

“It is the responsibility of all, from the government to everyday citizens, to protect the innocence and well-being of our future: The Filipino children,” he said.

The OSEAC law will also establish the National Coordination Center against Online Sexual Abuse Against Children, which will be overseen by the country’s council against trafficking, the DSWD said in the statement.

The IRR also elaborates on the duties and responsibilities of the private sector such as internet service providers in preventing exploitation of children.

An online sexual offenders registry for foreign nationals and Filipinos will also be created under the law.

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) lauded the legislation, saying it would help ensure children will safer in cyberspace.

“UNICEF with government and its partners will also be supporting the strengthening of the child protection system that prevents and addresses violence in all settings,” it said in a statement.

Citing a study it conducted last year, UNICEF said about 20% of children aged 12-17 were prone to online sexual abuse and exploitation, with 23% of children who are victims not telling anyone of the harm they experienced.

In a statement, the National Privacy Commission backed the finalized guidelines for the law, saying the measure encourages multi-sectoral collaborations.

“This collaborative approach facilitated invaluable dialogue and insights, undoubtedly contributing to the IRR’s comprehensiveness and effectiveness,” it said.

Mama Fatima Singhateh, United Nations special rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, said in December that the Philippines lacked trained officials at the village level to monitor reports of child sexual abuse.

Last month , the country’s council against human trafficking said it would enhance its cooperation with partner government agencies to apprehend more human traffickers.

Mr. Remulla has said he would ask telecommunication companies to enforce filters to block malicious websites and payments possibly linked to child abuse.

Data from the Interior and Local Government department showed authorities conducted 227 operations against online sexual exploitation and convicted 67 people behind illegal websites from 2017 to July 2022.

The National Bureau of Investigation said last year that the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center had rescued 134 sexually exploited children and arrested 15 offenders from 51 operations since 2021.

“Likewise, the DSWD will continue to craft relevant plans, policies, and programs to address the evolving need for better protection, recovery, and reintegration of victim-survivors,” Mr. Gatchalian said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Excise tax collection below target due to illegal tobacco — BIR

May 18, 2023 | 8:55 pm

By Revin Mikhael D. Ochave, Reporter

THE CONTINUED proliferation of illicit tobacco products is hampering efforts to meet the government’s excise tax collection target, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said on Thursday.

“That’s one of the main problems with excise tax, it’s the proliferation of illicit tobacco. (There is) around a 20% shortfall for excise tax (in the first four months). A large part of that shortfall is attributable to tobacco,” Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. said at the sidelines of the Economist Impact’s Global Anti-Illicit Trade Summit in Taguig City.

The BIR is aiming to collect P352.9 billion from excise taxes this year.

“That’s why we’re aggressive in our enforcement activities on tobacco products,” Mr. Lumagui said.

“We will also file criminal cases against them. We issued a revenue memorandum circular on floor prices. If the prices of retail cigarettes are below the floor price, excise taxes are not paid. You cannot sell below that amount,” he added.

The BIR last week adjusted the floor prices of cigarettes, heated tobacco, vaporized nicotine, and non-nicotine products based on its new memorandum circular. The new floor price for a pack of cigarettes is now at P114.60 while a ream is at P1,146.

The circular also specified that the floor price for a pack of heated tobacco product is now P120.40, while a pod of nicotine salt is P200 for 2 milliliters (ml) and P354.97 for 4 ml.

Mr. Lumagui said the BIR will talk to online platforms and merchants for stricter guidelines in relation to illicit cigarettes.

“We’re doing our best and I’m optimistic we can get that, we’re doing everything we can. We will continue to do our raids and filing of cases involving illicit trade,” Mr. Lumagui said.

“With the cooperation of other entities, like online platforms, because a lot of online platforms allow the selling of these illicit products. With their cooperation, I’m sure it will be very helpful for us,” he added.

CONFISCATED GOODS
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Acting Director Romeo M. Caramat, Jr. said that some P11.68 billion worth of smuggled and counterfeit goods have been confiscated from 2019 to end-April 2023.

The police conducted 1,190 operations, arrested 1,511 individuals, and filed 962 cases from 2019 to end-April this year relating to the anti-illicit trade, he said.

The confiscated smuggled items with the highest value was a combination of bags, motor vehicle parts, and others worth P10.04 billion, followed by tobacco products and cigarettes at P1.49 billion, onions at P137.61 million, sugar at P858,000, and rice at P500,750.

“Illicit trade increased due to online selling, since it is being done on a cyber-platform,” Mr. Caramat said.

“We expect that there is more illicit trade happening in the country since these figures are just those that were reported to us,” he added.

PHL Navy to test new surface-to-air missile, anti-submarine chopper

May 18, 2023 | 8:54 pm

BRP-AntonionLuna-PHILIPPINE-NAVY — PHILIPPINE NAVY

THE PHILIPPINE Navy will showcase on Friday its capability to deter potential maritime or aircraft attacks, testing a surface-to-air missile and antisubmarine helicopter near the South China Sea.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. would witness the live-fire demonstration, which will take place off the coast of San Antonio, Zambales, according to a Navy press release.

The Navy’s Mistral 3 surface-to-air missile is set to hit and destroy a drone serving as a mock target. A Bullfighter chaff decoy, which could protect naval vessels up to the size of frigates against anti-ship missiles, would also be deployed during the sequence.

The Navy will also showcase the capabilities of the AW159 anti-submarine warfare naval helicopter, which will utilize its compact-FLASH (folding light acoustic system for a helicopter) dipping sonar and BlueShark torpedo “to detect, locate, and neutralize stealthy submarine.”

Compact-FLASH dipping sonar has an effective detection range of up to 1,000 meters and a maximum operating depth of 300 meters.

Mistral 3 surface-to-air missiles, which are equipped with 90-millimeter high-explosive warheads, have a range of more than three nautical miles and speed of 2.7 Mach.

The weapons that will be used during Friday’s event “were acquired through the Navy’s Frigate Acquisition Project Lot 2B, with a budget of around P670 million,” the Navy said.

San Antonio, Zambales is about 140 miles from Scarborough Shoal, which China claims. In 2016, an international court ruled both Chinese and Filipino fishermen have the right to engage in traditional fishing there. China has ignored the ruling.

The highlight of this year’s Balikatan (shoulder–to-shoulder) exercises between the Philippines and United States armed forces conducted last month involved the sinking of a World War II-era Philippine Navy ship 12 nautical miles off the coastal waters of San Antonio.

The exercise featured US and Philippine weapon systems including the High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and Avenger air defense systems, which delivered coordinated fires on the target ship.

The exercises alarmed China, saying the US-Philippine defense ties should never interfere in South China Sea disputes. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza