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More than 400 Filipinos escape Sudan amid 72-hour ceasefire

SMOKE is seen rising from buildings during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum North, Sudan, April 22, 2023. — REUTERS

MORE than 400 Filipinos have been evacuated from Sudan amid a shaky 72-hour ceasefire between warring military forces, according to the presidential palace.

The Filipinos, most migrant workers and their family members, have reached “safe zones” in the Egyptian border, the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement on Thursday.

Many of those rescued by the Philippine government had traveled to Egypt via the Wadi Halfa Highway, it said.

More than 500 people have died in air raids and artillery attacks since fighting erupted in Sudan on April 15, according to Al Jazeera News. Thousands have been wounded and hospitals destroyed, with many residents — some on foot — trying to flee the war.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday night raised the alert in Sudan to Level 3, allowing voluntary repatriation or evacuation.

Filipinos fleeing Sudan without their passport or IDs would still get aid from the Philippine government, and their documents will be taken care of when they reach the border, the palace said. 

Defense officer-in-charge Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. is working with DFA so the defense attaché from the United Arab Emirates and Israel could help evacuate Filipinos to Egypt.

The United Nations (UN) International Organization on Migration would send a team of officials to help evacuate overseas Filipino workers caught in the armed conflict in Sudan, the Department of Migrant Workers said on Thursday.

The UN agency would help set up welfare centers in Cairo to help evacuated Filipinos, Migrant Workers Secretary Maria Susana V. Ople told ABS-CBN Teleradyo on Thursday.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose A. De Vega earlier cited the lack of law enforcement personnel from Manila and nearby territories in Sudan who could help evacuate or rescue Filipinos there.

“The Department of National Defense continues to closely coordinate with concerned agencies to address the immediate needs of Filipinos seeking repatriation,” the palace said.

Ms. Ople said there were still about 400 Filipinos seeking assistance and repatriation from war-torn areas in Sudan.

Ms. Ople was in Cairo to lead a team of officials in helping evacuated OFWs and to hand out financial aid. Each Filipino would get $200, she told a news briefing on Tuesday.

Sudan’s army has expressed willingness to extend a ceasefire for a further 72 hours amid continuing battles with the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on the outskirts of the capital Khartoum.

“It’s really bringing them to safety from Khartoum that’s difficult,” Ms. Ople earlier said. “We want to take advantage of the ceasefire to bring them to safety.”

Philippine Ambassador to Egypt Ezzedin Tago and Vice Consul Bojer Capati figured in a car accident while in a rush to get to the Sudan-Egypt border to help Filipino evacuees, the palace said. Both were safe.

More than 60% of healthcare facilities in Khartoum were closed because of the conflict, the World Health Organization said Wednesday. It added that it was assessing the threat posed to public health after fighters in Sudan occupied a national laboratory holding samples of deadly diseases.

Civilians were also suffering from a shortage in basic goods including food, medicines and fuel.

About 50,000 acutely malnourished children have had treatment disrupted due to the conflict and hospitals that were still functioning faced shortages in medical supplies, power and water, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

The ceasefire will expire at 10 p.m. GMT Thursday or 6 a.m. on Friday, Manila time.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat have discussed ways to work together to end the fighting in Sudan, the US State Department said in a statement on Wednesday.

The African Union leadership remained “essential in pressing the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to immediately cease military operations and allow unhindered humanitarian access,” it added.

Some of the heaviest battles on Wednesday were in Omdurman, a city on the northern edge of Khartoum where the army was fighting Rapid Support Forces reinforcements from other regions of Sudan, according to Reuters.

Warplanes flying over the northern suburbs of Khartoum were drawing heavy anti-aircraft fire from the paramilitaries, AFP reported. — Norman P. Aquino, John Victor D. Ordoñez and Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Manila eyes putting sea dispute with China in Grade 10 syllabus

AN AERIAL photo of Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, locally known as Pag-asa, in the contested Spratly Islands. — REUTERS

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter

THE PHILIPPINE Education department is considering teaching Grade 10 students about a United Nations-backed arbitral ruling that voided China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea.

A draft guide of the revised K-12 curriculum includes “Islands in the West Philippine Sea” under a lesson on territorial and border conflicts in the social studies subject for Grade 10 students.

Meanwhile, a lecture on the historic 2016 ruling that largely favored the Philippines in its sea dispute with China will be under a lesson on responding to economic challenges.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has called on the public to review the revised curriculum lessons for kindergarten to Grade 10 until May 3.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, Netherlands in July 2016 affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights in areas within its exclusive economic zone that are being claimed by China.

It also voided China’s claim to more than 80% of the sea based on a 1940s nine-dash line map.

Earlier this month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Wenbin called the arbitral ruling “illegal, null and void.”

“China’s position of not accepting or recognizing it is clear and firm,” he told a news briefing after Manila and Washington issued a joint statement highly critical of China’s aggression at sea.

Mr. Wang said “the so-called arbitral award on the South China Sea gravely violates international laws, including UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea).”

The Department of Education’s (DepEd) plan to include lessons on the country’s sea dispute with China and the Hague ruling would help “promote a unified narrative in our maritime and territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea,” said Chester B. Cabalza, founding president of Manila-based International Development and Security Cooperation, referring to parts of the sea within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

‘REFLECTION’
“Early appreciation for the UN arbitral award on Philippine maritime entitlements can teach us a lot ranging from strategic culture, geography, history, politics, economics, law and foreign relations,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

He said the move would help young Filipinos understand the Philippines’ “maritime and geopolitical ordeals” and how Filipinos confronted China using international legal instruments “that made it a landmark case in the world.”

“This legal victory paved the way for the Philippines to rise as a middle power in the region,” he said. “Putting it in the curriculum paves the way for discussions in the classroom and the story being written in our textbooks.”

DepEd should consult members of the Philippine contingent that helped litigate the case and drafted the Philippines’ legal position, Mr. Cabalza said.

Security analysts who did studies and wrote about the matter and journalists who chronicled the events before and after the arbitration award should also be consulted.

It’s important for the Education department to seek the help of experts in crafting the lessons, policy analyst Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco said in a Messenger chat.

“DepEd should not rush this,” he said. “This is a totally welcome decision of the administration, but they have to be utterly deliberate about designing the course.”

“The lessons shouldn’t be too pedantic. The facts should be complete and unadulterated,” Mr. Yusingco said, adding that events that led to the arbitration award should also be discussed.

“The course cannot be just about the case but also the entire story behind it. In this regard, DepEd must seek the help of historians and journalists who covered this issue.”

Mr. Yusingco said DepEd should also train teachers in teaching the lessons. “This matter can’t be subjected to regular classroom discussion. Teachers must be trained to not only present the facts, but they must also be able to facilitate reflection and discussion.”

Jerwin Baure, public information officer at scientist group AGHAM, said lessons should discuss calls for demilitarization of South China Sea areas claimed by the Philippines, and the consequences of military exercises done by both China and the United States in the area.

DepEd should also tackle alternative regional policies including proposals to make the South China Sea a marine peace park, he said in a Messenger chat.

OCTA: Metro Manila COVID infection rate up by 12%

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE CORONAVIRUS infection rate in Manila, the capital and nearby cities has increased, pandemic monitoring group OCTA Research Group said on Wednesday night, days after the Philippines detected its first case of a new Omicron subvariant that is spreading fast in more than 30 countries.

The seven-day positivity rate in the National Capital Region had increased to 12.3% from 8.1% a week ago, OCTA Research fellow Fredegusto P. David tweeted.

In an interview with ABS-CBN Teleradyo on Thursday, Mr. David said the increase was significant.

He cited the possible spread of Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, which the Department of Health (DoH) said could evade immunity and is found to be more transmissible. Also called Arcturus, the subvariant comes from XBB, a recombinant of two BA.2 descendent lineages.

“This is a highly contagious subvariant,” Mr. David said.

The World Health Organization has labeled XBB.1. 16 a variant of interest.

The Philippines’ first XBB.1.16 patient — a Filipino from Iloilo province in central Philippines — was asymptomatic and had since recovered, the Health department said on Wednesday.

“Based on the latest risk assessment by the World Health Organization (WHO) last April 17, no changes in severity have been reported in countries where XBB.1.16. are reported to be circulating,” it said.

“There may have been a slight increase in bed occupancy in India and Indonesia, but levels are still much lower compared with the effects of the previous variants,” it added.

“Overall, risk assessment is said to be low.”

The DoH reported the country’s first XBB.116 case in a report on Tuesday. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

AG&P poised to open Batangas terminal as it takes natural gas delivery

The ISH floating storage unit berths at the AG&P’s Philippines LNG terminal in Batangas. — COMPANY HANDOUT

AG&P International Pte. Ltd. (AG&P) announced on Thursday that its liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo has arrived in the Philippines.   

In a statement, the company said its chartered 137,500 cubic meters ISH floating storage unit (FSU) successfully berthed at its import terminal in Batangas Bay, called AG&P’s Philippines LNG (PHLNG). 

“With the docking of the ISH at PHLNG for the next decade or longer, AG&P is proudly set to open the first LNG terminal in the Philippines… one with both floating and, shortly, almost equal onshore tank storage, providing near 100% availability,” Joseph Sigelman, chairman and chief executive officer of AG&P, said.  

The LNG carrier was leased from ADNOC L&S.   

The natural gas will be used to power the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan plant of San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. 

“As the first cargo of fuel originated in Abu Dhabi and with the long-term presence of the ISH, ADNOC L&S is playing a pivotal role alongside AG&P and San Miguel, our anchor customer, in bringing clean energy to the Philippines,” Mr. Sigelmann said.  

“We are proud to see the relationship between the two great nations of UAE and the Philippines grow in this profound way, with PHLNG as a prime case study,” he said.   

LNG is being put forward as a solution to the Philippines’ energy needs as the country’s only indigenous commercial source of natural gas, the Malampaya gas field, is expected to start depleting by 2024.  

“AG&P’s PHLNG is a landmark development that will serve to kick-start Philippines’ LNG importation and regasification ability, delivering gas to secure the country’s current and future energy demand,” AG&P said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Davao Region posts highest agricultural growth in 2022

BW FILE PHOTO

AGRICULTURAL production in Davao Region had the fastest annual growth among all regions in 2022 at 3.4%, according to data released Thursday by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). 

Behind Davao Region was the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with 2.5%, Central Luzon with 2%, and Bicol Region with 1.8%.  

Some regions, on the other hand, posted a decline with Eastern Visayas having the biggest at 8%. This was followed by Central Visayas with 5.5%, and MIMAROPA (Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and Palawan) with 3.5%.  

The overall value of production stood at P1.77 trillion last year, with Central Luzon accounting for the highest share outside the National Capital Region at 13.2%.   

This was followed by Northern Mindanao and Western Visayas accounting for 10.3% and 10%, respectively.  

For crop output, total value was P1 trillion with Northern Mindanao having the biggest contribution at 11.7%, followed by Cagayan Valley at 10.4%, and Western Visayas at 9.8%.  

“The value of crop production in the Bicol Region increased 2.6%, which was the highest among the regions,” the PSA said.  

The overall value of livestock production was P250 billion, with Central Visayas having the biggest share at 12.4%.  

Central Luzon and Zamboanga Peninsula had the fastest annual growth in the livestock sector with 17.7% and 10.5%, respectively.  

Central Luzon led in poultry output with a 28.1% share in the P250 billion total value.   

For the fisheries sector with value of production amounting to P260 billion, Central Luzon registered the highest share with 17%.  

“For the annual growth, increases were the highest in Davao Region at 63.2%, and BARMM and Soccsksargen at 10.6% each,” PSA said.  

Davao’s economy expanded by 8.1% in 2022, the third fastest in the country.  

National Economic and Development Authority-Davao Region Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim, in her economic performance report on Thursday, said the growth rate was mainly driven by the accelerated expansion of the services sector, and agriculture, forestry, and fishing. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera 

CoA flags Philippine Sugar Corp. for failing to proceed with abolition 

STATE auditors flagged the Philippine Sugar Corp. (PHILSUCOR) for failing to make progress on its abolition after a directive from the Office of the President four years ago, racking up expenses worth P29.3 million.  

“The complete liquidation of the affairs of the PHILSUCOR and the closing of books of accounts have not been carried out yet, despite the lapse of four years from the approval by the Office of the President,” the Commission on Audit (CoA) said in its 2022 report dated April 25, 2023. 

PHILSUCOR was created under Presidential Decree No. 1890 in 1983 to finance the acquisition, rehabilitation, and/or expansion of sugar mills, refineries, and other related facilities.  

It was ordered for abolition on Oct. 25, 2018 because its functions overlap with the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).  

Memorandum Order No. 30 of the Office of the President also said that “much of the financing needs of sugar mills are already being provided by private banking and financing institutions in addition to the lending facilities offered by the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Land Bank (LANDBANK) of the Philippines.”  

CoA said the delay of the dissolution was because the technical working group (TWG) created under the memorandum order has not approved the fourth proposed plan of liquidation.   

State auditors reiterated last year’s recommendations of coordinating closely with the Governance Commission for Government-owned and Controlled Corporations, and to submit an updated plan.  

The TWG is composed of representatives from the Agriculture, Finance, and Budget departments, the SRA, and the Privatization and Management Office.  

PHILSUCOR had assets worth P456.64 million in 2022, and unsettled audit disallowances amounting to P1.5 million. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Senator seeks probe on responsiveness of agri insurance programs

BINGAWAN LGU

A SENATOR has filed a resolution seeking to conduct an inquiry on the state of the Philippine government’s agricultural insurance program to assess its responsiveness to natural calamities and extreme weather changes.   

“Crop insurance must be an integral part of the government’s preparedness and risk management plans in the event of droughts and floods due to El Niño and La Niña, and other natural extreme events,” Senate Majority Leader Joel J. Villanueva said in Senate Resolution No. 549. 

He said two of the major factors contributing to low agricultural productivity are climate change, regular weather disturbances, and disasters.  

Mr. Villanueva cited a 2019 study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies indicating that farmers lack awareness of the government’s crop insurance program, noting low availment for coverage from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC).  

The House of Representatives approved on March 21 a bill seeking to expand the services of the PCIC by encouraging private sector participation, including cooperatives and farmers’ organizations, to invest in agricultural insurance. 

The bill mandates that the PCIC will also cover livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, agroforestry projects, forest plantations and non-crop agricultural assets such as machinery, equipment, transport facilities, and infrastructure.  

A similar measure is pending at a Senate committee.  

National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said an El Niño occurrence, which will most likely hit the Philippines from July to September, is expected to lower agricultural production.  

“The government must ensure the accessibility, availment, and sufficiency of safety nets to protect the livelihood of Filipinos employed in the agricultural sector,” Mr. Villanueva said.  

The Philippine Statistics Authority said typhoons Karding (international name: Noru) and Paeng (Nalgae) in 2022 caused agricultural damage worth P3.12 billion and P6.4 billion, respectively. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz 

Napocor partners with CCC for rehabilitation of watershed in Laguna  

NAPOCOR.GOV.PH

THE NATIONAL Power Corp. (Napocor) has signed an agreement with the Climate Change Commission (CCC) for an eight-year program to rehabilitate the Caliraya-Lumot Watershed in Laguna.  

“This partnership will help us hasten the rehabilitation of the Caliraya-Lumot Watershed, a critical water resource for Caliraya and Kalayaan hydroelectric power plants,” Napocor President and Chief Executive Officer Fernando Martin Y. Roxas said in a statement on Thursday.    

“Restoring these open areas will also enhance water conservation, erosion control, and biodiversity conservation in the area,” he said.   

The partnership will cover an eight-year period and will include establishment of new plantations as well as nourishing of reforested areas.   

Napocor said the agreement will utilize a comprehensive and integrated approach in implementing its reforestation activities, which includes the capacity-building of people’s organizations and raising awareness in the communities.  

The rehabilitation of the 25-hectare upland forest within the watershed will help offset carbon footprint, according to CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje.   

Napocor’s partnership with CCC is part of its Energy Sector Carbon Sequestration Initiative (ESCSI), a program it launched together with the Energy department in 2021.   

“The program aims to enjoin the private sector in mitigating the effects of climate change through reforestation,” Napocor said.   

Aside from Napocor’s missionary electrification mandate, it is also tasked to manage 11 watershed areas with a combined land area of 485,199 hectares. These watershed reservations support hydro and geothermal power plants in the Philippines. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Gilas men’s, women’s 3×3 get first crack at Cambodia SEAG

FIBA.BASKETBALL

GILAS Pilipinas men’s and women’s 3×3 get first crack at redemption in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) among the Philippine hoops contingent as they hunt for their lost gold medals on May 6 to 7 in Cambodia.

Gilas men’s 3×3, which settled for a bronze medal in the last edition in Vietnam after ruling the inaugural three-a-side staging in Manila in 2019, hit the half-court of the Morodok Techo National Stadium Elephant Hall 2 a day after the Games’ May 5 opening to play three assignments in Pool A.

The Almond Vosotros-led crew plays Laos in the 10:20 a.m. curtain raiser then returns against 2021 silver medalist Vietnam at 1:40 p.m. before wrapping up its slate against Indonesia at 5 p.m.

The ladies’ climb back to the summit begins on the same day with the squad led by the returning Jack Animam competing in the preliminaries of tough Pool A.

Gilas women’s 3×3, the event’s inaugural champ who finished fourth in the Hanoi edition, battles 2021 runner-up Vietnam right away at 9:20 p.m. then takes on lightweight Laos at 12 noon before going to its grudge match against defending champion Thailand at 3:40 p.m.

Initial target for both squads is to top the group or at least rank second to advance to the medal rounds on May 7.

The Gilas men’s “Redeem Team,” which suffered a painful fall from the top in Hanoi, launches its bring-back-the-gold bid on May 9 in a Pool A opener against Malaysia.

The Pinoy cagers later face host Cambodia (May 11) and Singapore (May 13).

With this new format, the Philippines won’t be facing recent conqueror Indonesia and other big threats until the playoffs.  Indonesia, which topped the single round robin meet in Vietnam with a 6-0 card against Gilas’ 5-1, engages in a battle royale with bronze medalist Thailand, fourth placer Vietnam and Laos for the two semis tickets in Pool B.

Gilas women’s, which averted a shutout in the last SEAG, starts its “three-peat” bid on May 10 against the host Cambodians. It then plays daily matches until May 15 against Singapore, 2021 second-placer Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and bronze medalist Malaysia. Like in the Vietnam edition, the No. 1 women’s team in the standings takes home the gold. — Olmin Leyba

Carlos Yulo skips Cairo leg of Gymnastics World Cup series to heal sprained ankle

CARLOS YULO — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

WORLD champion gymnast Carlos Yulo has skipped the fourth and final leg of the 2023 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup series in Cairo to heal a left ankle he sprained just before his scheduled flight to Egypt.

“Unfortunately, Carlos (Yulo) is not here as he sprained his ankle and his doctor in Japan did not want him to come and I found out when I was here already,” said Gymnastics Association of the Philippines President Cynthia Carrion Norton, who was in Cairo.

Ms. Carrion Norton, however, assured Mr. Yulo should be ready in time for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games set May 5 to 17 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia where the latter have a chance to snare a maximum of four gold medals.

The pocket-sized wonder from Leveriza in Manila, who snared five gold and two silvers in last year’s Hanoi Games, is scheduled to see action in the individual all-around, team, parallel bars and horizontal bars.

Mr. Yulo is also participating in the Asian Championship in June in Singapore that serves as a doorway to the World Championships in September in Antwerp, Belgium.

Ms. Carrion Norton said fans in Cairo were disappointed Mr. Yulo was not able to see action but she said they don’t want to risk the latter’s injury from being aggravated.

“Carlos (Yulo) will be in the SEA Games and Asian Championships but he needed rest for the World Cup that is more stressful, everyone here agreed he should rest his ankle,” said Ms. Carrion Norton. — Joey Villar

All the lifters can deliver in Cambodia — Hidilyn Diaz

VANESSA SARNO — PHILIPPINE STAR/JUN MENDOZA

TOKYO Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz thinks the Philippine weightlifting team seeing action in next month’s Phnom Penh Southeast Asian Games can get the job done despite her absence.

“I can’t predict how many medals, but one thing I know, all Filipino lifters did their best in training and I know they can deliver and all can win a medal in the SEA Games,” said Ms. Diaz during the online presser hosted by Summit Natural Drinking Water.

Ms. Diaz has skipped the biennial meet slated May 5 to 17 in the Cambodian capital to focus on qualifying to next year’s Paris Games where she hopes to replicate her golden performance in the Tokyo Games.

This leaves Vanessa Sarno, tipped as Ms. Diaz’s heiress to the latter’s throne as the country’s queen of the sport to carry the fight for the country seeking glory in Phnom Penh.

The 19-year-old wonder teener from Tagbilaran in Bohol will try to strike gold again in the women’s 71-kilogram division where she reigned supreme in last year’s Hanoi Games.

There, she lifted 239 kg—104 kg in snatch and 135 kg in clean and jerk — to claim her first gold in the regional meet.

Ms. Sarno said she is inspired by no less than Ms. Diaz herself.

Mmess. Diaz and Sarno were two of the star athletes who graced the Summit briefer that was also attended by World Championship pole vault bronze winner EJ Obiena and football’s Kiara Fontanilla.

For Mr. Obiena, his focus is nothing less than the gold in Phnom Penh.

“I will do my best to make the country proud,” said Mr. Obiena, who is currently in Europe training.

For Ms, Fontanilla, the Filipinas are eyeing to eclipse its historic bronze finish in Hanoi.“We’re hoping to improve on our bronze last time,” she said. — Joey Villar

PSC backs early departures for Southeast Asian Games

KEEPING to his promise of support during the send-off ceremony for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games delegation last Monday, President Bongbong Marcos’ administration, through the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), is shouldering major expenses of early departures to the biennial event, like the members of the national chess and cricket teams who leaves for Cambodia eight days ahead of the official opening ceremony on May 5.

Asia’s first Chess Grandmaster (GM) Eugene Torre and Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Janelle Frayna will lead the 11-man Filipino woodpushers as they compete in ouk chaktrang event of the Cambodia games to be hosted by the city of Phnom Penh.

Ouk Chaktrang is a Cambodian chess variant introduced by the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee for the 32nd edition of the biennial meet. In the Hanoi SEA Games last year, the national chess team garnered two silver and three bronze medals.

Aside from chess, the Philippine Cricket Association, Inc. (PCA) led by their chief executive officer Faisal Khan leaves for Cambodia on Thursday, April 27. Six-a-side captain Jennifer Olmillo Alumbro, and T10 captain Simranjeet Figuerra Sirah will also be among the athletes to banner the squad. This will be just the second time cricket will be played in the SEAG since it was introduced in the 2017 edition of the biennial competition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Members of the National Sailing team composed of Josa Gonzales, Ronelio Castelio, Teogenes Villando, and Jeanson Lumapas and Philippine Windsurfers who left last April 18 were among the early departures.

The sailing team won three golds, one silver and one bronze in the 2019 edition, while the windsurfing team got tw golds and one silver.  Both events were not played during the 2022 edition in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Meanwhile, national teams of hockey, triathlon, and volleyball will leave along with a few PSC support staff this Saturday, April 29.

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