Senate bill to revive 2007 law on ‘holiday economics’

January 17, 2023 | 7:22 pm

Boracay beach-tourist — PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

A SENATOR has filed a bill that seeks to boost local tourism by setting national holidays that fall on a weekend to the following Monday.

“The increase in the number of long weekends can help reduce stress, prevent burnout and promote work-life balance for both employees and students by allowing them to decompress and spend time with their family and friends,” Senator Rafael “Raffy” T. Tulfo said in the explanatory note of Senate Bill 1651.

The measure will amend Republic Act 9492 or the Holiday Economics Law, which was enacted in 2007 under then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to boost tourism by moving regular and special holidays to the nearest Monday. Her successor, the late President Benigno “Noynoy” S.C. Aquino III changed this under Proclamation 84.

Under the bill, the president will issue a proclamation on the first Monday of December setting the holidays for the following year.

“The Philippines celebrates 18 national holidays yearly, four of which are considered special nonworking holidays,” Mr. Tulfo said. “Holidays are integral in order to honor and commemorate special events or traditions with cultural or religious significance.”

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. earlier declared more long weekends for 2023 to ensure the recovery of the tourism industry.

Holiday economics “will help encourage domestic travel and increase tourism expenditures in the country,” he said in Proclamation 90, which declared Jan. 2 a special nonworking holiday in lieu of New Year’s Day, which fell on a Sunday.

The Department of Tourism (DoT) is confident that more long weekends in 2023 will boost local tourism and benefit micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), especially in tourism hotspots.

The Tourism department in November said more holidays and long weekends would benefit entrepreneurs because the longer Filipino tourists stay in a particular destination, the more they would spend on local products.

Long weekends would help spur economic activities, sustain tourism-related employment opportunities and aid communities that depend on tourism, it said. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Local onion farmers can meet demand with adequate gov’t support

January 17, 2023 | 7:22 pm

Onion-farm-OccMindoro-NIA.GOV.PH — AN ONION farm in Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro. — REGION4B.NIA.GOV.PH

THE SENATE minority leader slammed government “decision makers” for pursuing policies in the agriculture industry that choke onion farmers, who can readily meet the country’s demand given ample support.

“Our onion farmers have never been tested because they have never been fully supported in maximizing their output potential,” Senate Minority Floor Leader Aquilino Martin “Koko” D. Pimentel III said in a statement on Tuesday.

“We have to trust them and place our bets on them,” he added.

Ramon Silverio, chair of the provincial cooperative development council of Occidental Mindoro, said during an agriculture hearing on Monday that their province alone can supply the nationwide demand if they receive proper support from the government.

Region 4-B or Mimaropa, where Occidental Mindoro belongs, was the second biggest onion producing region in the country, based on a 2021 onion sector investment guide published by the Department of Agriculture (DA). The top producer was Ilocos.

However, in the current situation, Mr. Pimentel said “the decisions that our decision makers have been making are all to the detriment of the Filipino onion farmer.”

“Local onion farmers are complaining that in each step of their trading process, imported or traders’ onions are prioritized, including in the allocation of cold storage space,” he said.

“Who can make such anti-Filipino decisions, all the time? Only a foreigner can do that to the Philippine farmer,” he added. “Unfortunately, those decisions were made by fellow Filipinos but prioritizing the interests of traders, importers and ultimately foreign farmers and their business representatives.”

The DA recently authorized imports of 21,060 metric tons (MT) of onions — including 17,100 MT of the red variety and 3,960 MT of the yellow — to stabilize onion prices.

The retail price of onions, observed in markets at up to P750 per kilo, has far exceeded the suggested retail price of P250.

The opposition senator said that he did not trust the supply and demand data presented by the DA, consolidated just a day before the recent Senate hearing.

Original figures posted by the DA did not align with those from the Bureau of Plant Industry.

“As usual, we have figures on agriculture products, but I personally do not or cannot automatically believe them,” he said. “Hence, we have difficulty determining root causes because our research or data keeping is so unreliable.”

Senators on Monday found that the high price of onions is disproportionate to the small shortfall in domestic production, noting that this could have easily been addressed by well-timed imports. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

CoA orders Bacolod City government to pay cargo company for patrol boat delivery

January 17, 2023 | 7:22 pm

BacolodCity-hall-BACOLOD-CITY-PIO — BACOLOD CITY PIO

STATE AUDITORS have ordered the Bacolod City government to pay a cargo service firm for the shipment of a donated patrol boat that was delivered almost eight years ago.

“The city cannot evade payment and unjustly enrich itself, especially when it admitted that it is already in possession of the patrol boat through the freight services of Air-Waves Cargo Services (AWCS),” the Commission on Audit (CoA) said in a decision dated May 30, 2022, but only made public recently.

CoA ordered the Bacolod city government to settle AWCS’ total claim of P430,200, which covers the shipping service and the cost of the steel trailer that supports the boat.

The 28-footer boat was donated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to the city government for patrolling activities under the government’s Bantay Dagat program, which is intended to monitor and implement the country’s laws on fishing.

Under the donation agreement, the city will cover the expenses of the vessel’s shipment from Manila to Bacolod city.

The city government refused to pay AWCS, citing that there was no contract between the two parties.

AWCS filed a civil case before the Regional Trial Court of Bacolod, which ruled that CoA had primary jurisdiction on the case.

CoA, in its decision, confirmed that there was no contract between the two parties but said the city government must still pay the shipping company on the basis of quantum meruit or paying for services rendered even if amount due isn’t specified in a contract.

During an ocular inspection, the audit team leader noted that the boat was in “rotten and unserviceable condition, proof that the equipment had been in the possession of the city for quite some time.” — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Probe on abduction of activists in Cebu includes alleged cops’ involvement — PNP

January 17, 2023 | 7:22 pm

AN INVESTIGATION is underway on the recent abduction of two activists in broad daylight at a Cebu port, including the possible involvement of cops in the crime, the Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson said on Tuesday.

“The Cebu City police office is currently coordinating with the families of the missing activists,” PNP Spokesperson Jean S. Fajardo told a televised briefing in Filipino.

The two, Dyan Gumanao and Armand Dayoha, were reported missing on Jan. 10 and their families announced on Monday that they have returned home.

Authorities are also looking into the possibility of cops being involved in the incident, Ms. Fajardo noted.

“However, it remains difficult to gather evidence on the incident since the two individuals did not talk to many witnesses during the time of their abduction,” Ms. Fajardo said.

On Monday, a video of the alleged abduction incident at the port taken from an overhead view was shared on social media, and rights groups had raised concerns about the safety of the two activists.

Family members of the two activists said in a news briefing that the captors introduced themselves as policemen.

“Why did this happen to them? They don’t deserve this,” Danilo Gumanao, Ms. Gumanao’s father said. “If my daughter and Armand violated some laws, then why not arrest them and file charges against them.”

Dennis Abarrientos, spokesperson of human rights group Karapatan, told the same briefing that the activists were blindfolded after being forcibly taken and possibly tortured.

“The abduction of Gumanao and Dahoya is an emblematic case that is testament to the gross violations that union organizers experience in the country,” Cristina E. Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan, said in a tweet on Monday.

She said the International Labor Organization should look into the abduction as a team of its official are set to visit the country this month.

The government should not stay silent on the cases of violence against activists as it adds to the culture of impunity in the Philippines, Renato M. Reyes, Jr., secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), an alliance of left-wing organizations, said in a tweet.

He also called on the Cebu Port Authority and the Philippine Coast Guard to look into the incident.

“We call on our countrymen to continue providing local police with information on these criminal activities and we hope to continue our campaign against criminality to ensure the safety of the country,” Ms. Fajardo said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

DTI seizes almost P.5-M worth of uncertified consumer items in QC

January 17, 2023 | 7:22 pm

uncertified-goods-QC-DTI-PHOTO — QC-DTI PHOTO

THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) seized almost P500,000 worth of uncertified consumer products during a recent enforcement operations in Quezon City.

The DTI, through its Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau, inspected 19 retail firms in Balintawak on Jan. 12, wherein 2,152 units of assorted consumer goods worth P482,121.15 were confiscated.

Among the confiscated products were sanitary wares, electric kettles, electric grills, electric fans, washing machines, self-ballasted LED lamps, incandescent lamps, and ceramic tiles.

The DTI issued notices of violation for seven non-compliant firms, directing them to explain within 48 hours from the receipt of the notice.

“The uncertified household appliances, lighting devices, and ceramic products that we sealed today surely translate to risks and hazards the moment they reach the homes of Filipino families,” Trade Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo said in a statement on Tuesday.

Ms. Castelo stressed that the DTI operations are not geared against businesses and sellers but are intended to uphold consumer safety and welfare.

On Jan. 6, the DTI also conducted enforcement operations in Banawe Street, Quezon City, where P1.29 million worth of uncertified tires for automotive vehicles were seized.

“The nationwide campaign of DTI against uncertified items in the market underscores the enforcement of DTI technical regulations mandating compliance with Philippine Standard Certification Mark Schemes, particularly Department Administrative Order No. 02, Series of 2007,” the DTI said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Another bill filed on scholarship for law students

January 17, 2023 | 7:21 pm

ANOTHER BILL providing scholarships for aspiring lawyers has been filed at the Senate, seeking to increase the legal manpower in government offices.

“There is definitely a need for more public defenders in the country as we only have 2,500 Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) lawyers and each lawyer handles 5,300 cases per year,” Senate Majority Leader Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva said in a statement on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 1639 seeks to amend Republic Act 7662 or the Legal Education Reform Act of 1993 by including provisions for the establishment of a legal scholarship and return service program (LSRS).

The program will include free tuition and other school fees; annual medical insurance; free bar review and application; and allowance for books, uniforms, accommodation, and transportation.

The bill requires passing scholars to render at least a year of return service through the PAO or other government offices, with appropriate civil service rank, salary and benefits.

A similar measure, Senate Bill 1610 or the Free Legal Education Act of 2023, was filed by Senator Rafael “Raffy” T. Tulfo in Dec. 14, but requires scholars to render return service for at least two years. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Spikers’ Turf men’s volleyball kicks off at Paco Arena on Sunday

January 17, 2023 | 6:56 pm

WHERE passion meets power.

That will be the battlecry of the country’s best and brightest men’s volleyball players as they clash for pride and glory in the Spiker’s Turf unfurling this Sunday at the Paco Arena.

“Our new Spikers’ Turf tagline is very apt. Men’s volleyball may not be at par with the popularity of women’s volleyball, but our men’s players are passionate people as well,” said tournament director Mozzy Ravena during yesterday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Philippine Sports Commission conference room in Manila.

Imus, mentored by multi-titled coach Sammy Acaylar, and Sta. Rosa opens up hostilities as the two collide at 4 p.m. with an Army-Navy showdown following suit at 6 p.m.

Other teams seeing action is defending champion National University-Archipelago Builders, Cignal, AMC Volleyball, PGJC-Navy, Army, Vanguard Volleyball, Air Force and newcomer D’Navigators Iloilo.

“We started with a few teams, now we’re up to 11 teams, which is a good sign that shows everybody is interested not just in women’s volleyball but also men’s games,” said organizing Sports Vision Chief Ricky Palou.

Alyssa Valdez, the face of Philippine volleyball who is also Spikers’ Turf president, said she is expecting more intense and exciting action now that the league has started to grow.

“They’re all competitive and the players want to show their talent to everyone so we hope you watch the games and support our league,” said the star from Premier Volleyball League dynasty Creamline.

Gracing the PSA Forum were Cignal head coach Dexter Clamor, Imus head coach Sammy Acaylar, Santa Rosa assistant coach Carlos Cantor, D’ Navigators coordinator Francis Babon, Navy head coach Cecille Cruzada, Air Force head coach Jhim Merza, Army player Ken Baloaloa, Vanguard head coach Edjet Mabbayad, VNS head coach Ralph Ocampo, and NU’s Dela Cruz. AMC did not have any representative.

Gamedays are on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays featuring two matches at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The top four teams after a single round robin elims will advance to the semifinals, another single round robin phase with the top two clashing for the championship, a best-of-three affair.

Games will be shown live on ONE Sports ph, ONE ph, Cignal Play and Spikers’ Turf’s Facebook page.

Meanwhile, the PVL, in cooperation and under the guidance of the PNVF (Philippine National Volleyball Federation), will be conducting the PNVF Referees Refresher Course on Jan. 19 and 20 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

“After rolling out the video challenge system last year, we’re kickstarting the new season with this Referees Refresher Course, which will now be a regular fare preparatory to the PVL having its own group of referees culled from the PNVF Licensed Referees,” said Mr. Palou.

No less than Songsak Chareonpong, chairman of the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Committee, will grace the two-day event, which aims to improve and update the knowledge and competence of the participants as per international standards and at the same time encourage the development of refereeing skills not just in the league but also in the Spikers’ Turf. — Joey Villar

Bay Area will be full power in East Asia Super League

January 17, 2023 | 6:56 pm

nicholson_pbaimages — Andrew Nicholson — PBA MEDIA

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INJURED Bay Area import Andrew Nicholson vows to be ready with a promise of spewing hotter flames when the Dragons take their act to the East Asia Super League (EASL) in March after a tough campaign that went the full route in the just-concluded PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

The 6-foot-10 American said he’s nearing full recovery from a left ankle injury he suffered in the finals against champion Barangay Ginebra and should be able to suit up when the Dragons resume training later this month. Still here in the Philippines.

“It’s getting better. I’ve been walking already. Another week and I’m good to go,” said Mr. Nicholson after his bad fall in Game 3 of the championship series that reached a pinnacle Game 7 before a record crowd of 54,589 fans at the Philippine Arena this weekend.

Mr. Nicholson served as the alternating import of Bay Area, along with guard Myles Powell, in the elimination round before owning the role as the latter suffered a foot injury of his own entering the playoffs.

A 19^th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, Mr. Nicholson averaged 38.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in the games he played prior to his injury for the Dragons, who eventually gambled on Mr. Powell for the last two games of the finals.

Mr. Nicholson said the entire PBA journey has only molded him and the entire Dragons to a whole different creature moving forward, especially after his all-out battles against the Filipino giants like June Mar Fajardo, Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar.

“I think we got better. We came here and that was our goal. That’s our main goal. It’s a good preparation for us and we’re looking forward to what we’re gonna have in the EASL,” added Mr. Nicholson as Bay Area revs up for the regional tilt slated on March 1 to 5 in Japan.

“We’re blessed to be a part of it. We’re grateful.”

Messrs. Nicholson and Powell never played together in the PBA as only one could suit up at once, explaining his confidence in what caliber they could potentially unleash in the EASL, where Philippine Cup champion San Miguel and runner-up TNT are also in as PBA bets.

“It will be interesting to see how other teams respond to having our full team play. We’re looking forward to that. It’s gonna be fun. The only times me and Myles have played together is in practice. It’ll be exciting what we can do together on the court at the same time and showcase what Bay Area Dragons are at 100 percent,” he concluded. — John Bryan Ulanday

Rublev tames Thiem, Sabalenka and Garcia stroll in Melbourne heat

January 17, 2023 | 6:54 pm

MELBOURNE — Fifth seed Andrey Rublev brought an end to the Australian Open campaign of former Grand Slam champion Dominic Thiem in the opening round on Tuesday when he overpowered the Austrian 6-3 6-4 6-2 on a sweltering John Cain Arena.

Mr. Thiem, a finalist at Melbourne Park and US Open champion in 2020, is on the comeback trail after a wrist injury and was able to compete only to a certain extent against the power of the rangy Russian.

In a match studded with high quality rallies between the two baseliners, Mr. Rublev broke for a 5-3 lead in the opening set, for 5-4 in the second and, after a huge roar, for 2-1 in the third.

Mr. Thiem was simply unable to get a foothold in the contest and the 25-year-old Mr. Rublev, a quarter-finalist at the Australian Open in 2021, served out for the match after little more than two hours on court.

Mr. Rublev, like all Russian and Belarusian players, is competing at the tournament without national affiliation as a result of last year’s invasion of Ukraine.

Tennis Australia on Tuesday morning banned fans from bringing flags of either nation into the Melbourne Park precinct after a Russian tricolor was hung on a bush next to a court where Ukrainian Kateryna Baindl was playing on Monday.

EXTREME HEAT
The heat was the other main topic of conversation on the second day of the championships as temperatures soared towards a forecast high of 36 degrees Celsius (96.8°F).

Play was suspended on the outside courts shortly after 2 p.m. (0300 GMT) local time as the tournament’s Extreme Heat Policy came into play.

Top women’s seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Caroline Garcia spent as little time as possible on Rod Laver Arena in their opening matches at the year’s first Grand Slam.

Fifth seed Ms. Sabalenka, who opened the year by winning the Adelaide International 1 title without losing a set, kept up her fine form with an emphatic 6-1 6-4 victory over Tereza Martincova.

Fourth seed Ms. Garcia, who won the WTA Finals last season, was equally convincing with a 6-3 6-0 win over Canadian qualifier Katherine Sebov in just over an hour.

Ms. Garcia will next face another Canadian in 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, who came from an early break down to beat Alize Cornet 7-5 6-2.

Italian Martina Trevisan was the first seed to fall on Tuesday. The 21^st seed went down 6-3 6-2 to Slovakian qualifier Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

Novak Djokovic will begin his bid for a record-extending 10^th title at Melbourne Park against Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena in the final match of the day on Rod Laver Arena. — Reuters

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brett Maher’s 4 straight missed PATs make history

January 17, 2023 | 6:54 pm

NOT everyone on the Dallas sideline was enjoying the Cowboys’ dominant start to the playoffs Monday night.

After the Cowboys and the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded punts in each of the first four drives to start their NFC wild-card game, the Cowboys scored touchdowns on each of their next four possessions.

But each drive ended the same way — a missed extra point by Brett Maher.

That futility put the Cowboys kicker into the record books, on a page he doesn’t want. Mr. Maher is the first player to miss four extra points in a single playoff game, according to the NFL. He also is the first player to miss four extra points in a game (regular season or postseason) since at least 1932.

Mr. Maher’s first two misses were to the right and his third and final one of the first half was pulled to the left. His fourth attempt, with 10:04 left in the third quarter, tipped the top of the right upright before going wide.

What’s more, he missed his final PAT attempt of the regular season, giving him five straight missed extra points.

Mr. Maher finally made an extra point with 10:13 left in the fourth quarter.

Four other kickers have missed two in a postseason game, including Tyler Bass of the Buffalo Bills in last season’s playoffs. Bass missed two against the New England Patriots on Jan. 15, 2022.

The others to miss two in a postseason game are Roy Gerela of the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Bills on Dec. 22, 1974; Errol Mann of the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XI vs. the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 9, 1977; and the Bills’ Steve Christie against the Raiders on Jan. 15, 1994.

Only Mr. Gerela has missed more extra points in his postseason career than Mr. Maher. Mr. Gerela missed six in 15 playoff games, while Mr. Maher has missed four (all on Monday) in three postseason games. Patriots star Stephen Gostkowski (29 playoff games) and the San Francisco 49ers’ Mike Cofer (12 playoff games) are tied for second with Mr. Maher, each with four career missed PATs in the postseason.

Luckily for Mr. Maher and the Cowboys, the Buccaneers’ offense was equally inept, with five punts and an interception thrown in the end zone in their first six possessions (other than their drive that finished at midfield to end the half). — Reuters

J. Clarkson leads Jazz past Timberwolves

January 17, 2023 | 6:53 pm

JORDAN Clarkson hit a game-winning free throw with four seconds remaining and scored 21 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 126-125 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday afternoon in Minneapolis.

Rookies Walker Kessler and Ochai Agbaji each played pivotal roles in helping the Jazz win their third game in four outings, and seven Utah players reached double figures in scoring to make up for the absence of leading scorer Lauri Markkanen. Mr. Kessler finished with 20 points and a career-high 21 rebounds with four assists. — Reuters

Liberty upgrades

January 17, 2023 | 6:53 pm

Don’t look now, but the Liberty have just made themselves bona fide contenders for the 2023 Women’s National Basketball Association title. Their acquisition of 2021 Most Valuable Player awardee Jonquel Jones provides them with an extremely solid frontcourt presence on both ends of the court and, at the same time, sets them up for more in the offseason. Needless to say, in their sights is top free agent Breanna Stewart, whose roots close to Gotham and family situation seem to put them in front of the line of suitors for her services.

True, the Liberty received a hefty bill in the process. They bid goodbye to starting center Natasha Howard, longtime rotation regular Rebecca Allen, and its first-round draft pick this year. Then again, it’s a small price to pay for the opportunity to win big. Franchise owner Joe Tsai isn’t just averse to making high-risk-high-reward moves; he’s doing so while moving chess pieces against competition seemingly playing checkers. Even if nothing else were to happen, the arrival of Jones bolsters the competitiveness of the green and black, especially in the face of the marked improvement of 2020 top pick Sabrina Ionescu.

That said, Stewart remains the prime target, and the Liberty’s astute actuations place them in position to meet their objectives. They now have enough salary cap space to ink her to a supermax deal and, at the same time, venture further in the market for another vital cog. To argue that things are looking up would be understating the obvious; in any case, they won’t be satisfied with getting the seventh seed merely to set up a one-and-done appearance, as they did last year. Imagine if she decides to headline their cause this year.

The key, of course, is Stewart’s predilection. Will she opt to follow in the footsteps of living legend Sue Bird and stay with the Storm? Or will she bolt for the lure and allure of New York? Even as the odds point to the latter, only time can truly tell where her sentiments lie. In the meantime, the Liberty can count their bountiful blessings and look forward to a productive season.

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.