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PHL lining up US support for climate, health, digitalization

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE Philippines discussed potential support from the US for its climate finance, health, and tax system digitalization efforts, the Department of Finance (DoF) said.

In a tweet following the Aug. 1 meeting, Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said he heard expressions of willingness from the US, represented by Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay L. Carlson, to increase its support in those areas.

“As of December 2021, the US was the Philippines’ largest source of grants reaching $628.20 million. The amount accounts for 33.23% of total grant assistance received by the country from all its bilateral and multilateral development partners,” the DoF said in a statement on Monday.

The US is the Philippines’ seventh-largest provider of official development assistance (ODA).

On climate change, Ms. Carlson said that the US is willing to increase climate financing support to the Philippines.

The Philippine position on climate change is that the industrialized countries must do their share in funding mitigation efforts. The Philippines accounts for only 0.3% of global emissions but is being counted on to reduce its emissions from dirty sources of energy that have been crucial in other countries’ industrial transitions.

“Though we are a minor contributor to climate change globally, we have the unfortunate distinction of being one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25.

“The use of renewable energy is at the top of our climate agenda. We will increase our use of renewable energy sources such as hydropower, geothermal power, solar, and wind,” he added.

Mr. Diokno told finance ministers and central bank governors at a Group of 20 (G20) event last month that climate financing will be sourced from bond issues, new taxes, and aid from the international community.

“We are supporting the passage of a bill that will either regulate or tax the use of single-use plastics to cut pollution and adopt more sustainable practices. We are also considering the imposition of a carbon tax,” he told the G20.

The mobilization of climate finance will be directed by the so-called Green Force, an interagency body led by the DoF along with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

In April, the government committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030 when then-President Rodrigo R. Duterte approved the Philippines’ first Nationally Determined Contribution.

On health security, both sides discussed efforts to increase coronavirus vaccination rates, as well as “the need for awareness of a possible next pandemic or any global issue that could affect economic and human development.”

On Sunday, the Department of Health reported 4,621 additional coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, bringing total active cases to 37,805.

“Nariyan pa rin ang banta ng COVID-19, lalo’t may mga nadidiskubreng bagong variants ng coronavirus. Pero hindi na natin kakayanin ang isa pang lockdown. Wala na tayong gagawing lockdown (The threat of COVID-19 is still with us, with new variants emerging. But we cannot afford another lockdown. We will no longer resort to lockdowns)” Mr. Marcos said during the SONA.

Mr. Diokno brought up previous US assistance in reforming the Philippine tax system.

“The USAID (US Agency for International Development) previously supported the DoF in crafting the comprehensive tax reform program through technical assistance, while the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) provided a grant worth $809,450 for the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) Information Communication Technology Modernization Strategy and Data Center,” the DoF said.

The grant, which helped finance the BIR’s full automation by 2030, was signed last year by then-Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III and by the US Embassy in Manila on behalf of the USTDA.

“The long lines during the tax payment period (are) gone. I think almost 99% paid electronically. That’s good,” Mr. Diokno said.

Ms. Carlson also said that the US government is “very reassured” by the appointment of Mr. Diokno and the other members of the economic team.

The composition of the economic team sends a positive signal to US companies who want stability, predictability, and transparency, she added. — Diego Gabriel C. Robles

Online shopping sites pressed to halt ads for skin whiteners containing mercury

TIRACHARDZ-FREEPIK

ONLINE shopping sites have been asked to stop carrying advertising for cosmetics products like skin whiteners containing mercury, as identified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Aileen A. Lucero, EcoWaste Coalition national coordinator, said the organization is tracking “unauthorized and unsafe cosmetics” offered by third-party sellers on e-commerce platforms Lazada and Shopee.

“In time for the 8.8 online shopping sale, our (group) carefully monitored these hugely popular online shopping sites from August 1 to 6.  Much to our disappointment, hundreds of FDA-banned or flagged skin care products, especially skin lightening facial creams, are being advertised and sold as if these products are legal and safe,” Ms. Lucero said in a statement on Monday.

“It’s high time for government regulators to crack the whip and stop the use of online shopping platforms to peddle mercury-added skin whiteners,” she added.

According to the group, it used the various advisories issued by the FDA as reference for listings of products that are banned or flagged, as well as public health warnings issued since 2010.

“Among those found widely sold online are Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene and Goree Day & Night Beauty Cream from Pakistan. To recall, the FDA through Advisory No. 2017-289 advised consumers not to purchase and use these products, which the agency tested and found to contain mercury in excess of one part per million (ppm),” EcoWaste Coalition said.

EcoWaste Coalition said the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive has identified mercury and its compounds among the substances that are not allowed in cosmetics.

According to the regional directive, the upper limit for mercury content is one part per million (ppm).

Cosmetic products with mercury content higher than one ppm, such as skin lightening creams and soaps, are among the products whose manufacture, import and export were phased out in 2020.

“The continued use of online shopping platforms for the unlawful trade of mercury-added skin lighteners is a brazen violation of the 2020 global phase-out deadline for such hazardous cosmetics,” Ms. Lucero said.

EcoWaste Coalition also urged the Environment and Trade departments to fast-track the completion of their pending joint administrative order that will restrict the online trade of regulated chemicals such as mercury.

Sought for comment, Lazada said in a statement that the sale of products containing hazardous substances is prohibited on the platform.

“Our team does a daily manual sweep of product listings which violate existing policies and are removed when identified. We will continue to take strong action against sellers found breaching our platform’s terms and conditions,” Lazada said.

BusinessWorld solicited a comment from Shopee, but it had not replied at deadline time. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

Status of regular BIR audits under the new administration

Last week, I received inquiries from several clients — “Has the suspension on tax audits been lifted?” The reason for their question is that these clients received assessment notices from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) such as the Notice of Discrepancy (NoD) and Preliminary Assessment Notice (PAN) that were personally served at their respective offices.

My clients were referring to Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 77-2022 issued by the previous BIR Commissioner on May 30, with respect to the suspension of tax audit investigations. Per the RMC, the Bureau suspended all field operations of the BIR covered by Letters of Authority (LoA) and/or Mission Orders (MO) relative to the examination of taxpayers’ books of account and accounting records until further notice.

The new BIR Commissioner issued RMC No. 115-2022 on July 28, which lifted the suspension of the Tax Compliance Verification Drive (TCVD) only. Note that the TCVD focuses on taxpayer compliance with BIR registration and other requirements such as the posting of the Certificate of Registration (BIR Form 2303) conspicuously on the premises of the business, payment of the annual registration fee (BIR Form 0605), the authority to print receipts or invoices, maintaining the registered books of account or the computerized accounting system, and registration of the cash register machine or point-of-sale machine, if applicable.

My clients’ confusion began because of the provisions of this new RMC. They asked whether the suspension of regular tax audits has been lifted by the new RMC. Are the NoD and PAN that they received after the new RMC was issued valid and enforceable?

If we look into the salient provisions of the earlier RMC, it was stated there that no written orders to audit and/or investigate taxpayers’ internal revenue tax liabilities are to be issued and/or served, except in the following cases:

• Investigation of cases prescribing on or before Oct. 31, 2022;

• Processing and verification of Estate Tax returns, Donor’s Tax returns, Capital Gains Tax returns, and Withholding Tax returns on the sale of real property or shares of stock, together with the Documentary Stamp Tax returns related thereto;

• Examination and/or verification of internal revenue tax liabilities of taxpayers retiring from business;

• Audit of National Government Agencies, Local Government Units, and Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations, including subsidiaries and affiliates; and

• Other matters/concerns where deadlines have been imposed or under the orders of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue.

The earlier RMC also stated that the service of Assessment Notices, Warrants, and Seizures Notices should still be effected.

Interpreting the above provisions, the BIR can continually serve assessment notices like NoD and PAN to taxpayers despite the suspension of field audits.

Thus, taxpayers have no other choice but to diligently respond once they receive an assessment notice. Note that the BIR assessment is a procedural process whose rules the BIR and taxpayers must strictly abide by. We have heard a lot of horror stories about taxpayers neglecting assessment notices which resulted in full-blown investigations and the assessments becoming final and executory. Such failure by default of the taxpayers had led to serious repercussions involving monetary penalties. Thus, taxpayers must be mindful of the number of days prescribed by the rules in submitting their written reply and supporting documents.

It is also advisable that taxpayers maintain an open line of communication and cooperate with the assigned BIR examiners. This way, any material tax findings and discrepancies could be reconciled and discussed by the taxpayer and be canceled as early as possible. The best way to close an assessment case is at the earliest stage and not to wait for the final assessment notice. Otherwise, taxpayers should be prepared to elevate the case to court as one of the remedies.

In the past, suspensions of field audits lasted for short periods because normally, the purpose of the suspension is for the BIR to conduct an inventory of all issued and outstanding or unresolved LoAs and MOs. With this activity, the BIR could properly monitor the status of assignments given to case officers and make plans to further expedite the tax investigation.

In a month or so, we should expect that the BIR to lift the suspension as the field audit is indispensable in the audit process to determine compliance. It is with fervent hope that once the BIR officially lifts the suspension, we will see improvements in the way the BIR conducts its field audit and investigation, producing reasonable tax findings supported by facts and with solid legal grounding — not the usual table audit that produces unreasonable and bloated assessments.

Let’s Talk Tax is a weekly newspaper column of P&A Grant Thornton that aims to keep the public informed of various developments in taxation. This article is not intended to be a substitute for competent professional advice.

 

Richard R. Ibarra is a director of Tax Advisory & Compliance division of P&A Grant Thornton, the Philippine member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd.

pagrantthornton@ph.gt.com

PHL can’t claim independent foreign policy with military ties to US — new research institute 

AMERICAN and Filipino troops attend the opening of the annual joint military exercises called Balikatan on March 28, 2022 at the Philippine military’s headquarters in Quezon City. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ WALTER BOLLOZOS

THE PHILIPPINE government’s aim of pursuing an independent foreign policy amid rising China-United States tensions would not be possible if it maintains bilateral treaties with the US, according to newly-formed think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos. Jr. has said his administration’s goal is to be a friend to all and an enemy of none. Under this policy, the main consideration will be the interests and welfare of the Filipino people. 

“What I wish to pursue is his statement that our ties with the Americans must evolve. But I wish to add — evolve into abrogation. All this talk about the Philippines having an independent foreign policy is a lot of horse pucky,” Asian Century Vice President for Internal Affairs Adolfo Q. Paglinawan said during the Pandesal Forum on Monday. 

“With the Mutual Defense Treaty, the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the 2016 Ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, our dice is loaded in favor of the United States and in the disfavor of our genuine national interests,” he added. 

“They are swords hanging over the head of our national security. They are magnets for China’s Dong Feng missiles.”

Mr. Marcos, Jr. has said that he sought for the “constant evolution” of the MDT, which requires both sides to help each other in case of any external aggression. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also reaffirmed their commitment to the treaty. 

“We can no longer isolate one part of our relationship from the other. We are too closely tied because of the special relationship between the United States and the Philippines and the history that we share,” Mr. Marcos said during the US official’s courtesy call at the Presidential Palace on Saturday.

“They can no longer be categorized as one thing or another because they cover such a large scope,” he added. 

Asian Century Vice President for External Affairs Anna Rosario Malindog-Uy, however, said keeping such a relationship puts Manila at risk of being used as a pawn in the chess match between Washington and Beijing. 

“Abrogating or revisiting or renegotiating the MDT, EDCA and the VFA is like a liberation for the Philippines from the indirect control and its subservience or the state of being submissive to the US, especially in military aspects,” she said. 

Amid the rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait, just north of the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs has said: “The Philippines adheres to the One-China policy.” 

“The Philippines urges restraint by all parties concerned,” it added. “Diplomacy and dialogue must prevail.” 

The One-China principle, recognized by 181 countries including the US, provides that there is only one sovereign state under the name China, with People’s Republic of China serving as its sole legitimate government, while naming Taiwan as a part of China. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan 

Contingency plan for Filipino workers in Taiwan pushed

PHILSTAR

A SENATOR on Monday called on authorities in the executive branch to prepare a contingency plan for the protection of some 200,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan amid rising global tensions.  

“The tension between China and Taiwan is not something to be taken lightly. The DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration), and POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office) should be making a contingency plan right now in the event that this problem worsens,” Senator Rafael T. Tulfo, who is set to lead the Senate Migrant Workers Committee, said in a statement.  

“This is the perfect time for government agencies to show their united strength by working together for the safety and security of our workers abroad,” he added. 

Mr. Tulfo cited that the Philippine government in the past two decades had been more reactive than proactive when dealing with crisis situations involving overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).  

“Only when troubles and issues are already present, where OFWs are stuck in other countries without money or food, do they act. It shouldn’t be like that!”  

“We should be ready to evacuate OFWs in the event that the current situation escalates into a war,” he said. 

United States House Speaker Nancy Patricia Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last week angered China, which conducted air and naval drills that involved test launches of ballistic missiles as it blockaded the island.  

The Taiwanese government reported that some Chinese fighter jets have passed through the median lines in the Taiwan Strait despite condemnation from the US, Japan and the European Union. 

“The situation for OFWs in Taiwan is fraught with too much risk and many Filipino workers are now worried about their future abroad. First, we need to ensure the safety of OFWs because the lives of each one of them are very important,” he said.  

“The national government should provide enough funding assistance to all Filipino workers to ensure that they can smoothly re-enter the country once they are evacuated,” he added.  

Political analysts on Sunday urged the government to craft an overall emergency strategy to help the Philippines withstand possible shocks from escalating tensions between the United States and China over Taiwan.  

Herman Joseph S. Kraft, who heads the University of the Philippines Political Science Department, said: “Given that Taiwan seems to be at the center of the current issue, the country should have contingencies activated that are not just about how we are going to get our overseas workers out of Taiwan.” — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan 

Teacher solon recommends incentives for parents to boost children’s vaccination 

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

ACT-Teachers Party-list Rep. France L. Castro called on the Health and Education departments to consider giving incentives to parents to boost the rate of pediatric vaccination against coronavirus, especially among school-age children. 

“Vaccination has been the most effective way to protect ourselves and our children from severe COVID-19 infection. Ramping up vaccine rollout for kids and minors in time for the government’s plan for 100% face-to-face classes will provide children extra protection from the virus,” Ms. Castro said in a statement on Monday. 

In a Viber message, she cited possible incentives such as food items or gadgets for parents along with an assurance that the health of their children will be regularly monitored in school. 

Ms. Castro also said that health authorities should ramp up campaign activities to encourage parents to have their children vaccinated.

“Vaccines are the best defense against the severe effects of COVID-19, we have to make sure that people who want and can be vaccinated have access to them so that the children can go back to school safely,” she said. — Matthew Carl L. Montecillo 

Senate bill on digitalizing government processes refiled 

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

A SENATOR has refiled a bill that seeks to digitalize government processes for an efficient delivery of services. 

Senate Bill 334 or the proposed E-Government Act of 2022 will allow Filipinos to apply for claims or loans, pay taxes, renew licenses and engage in related government transactions using digital technology.   

“Filipinos certainly deserve the convenience of accessing government services and information at their fingertips,” Senator Mary Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares said in a statement on Monday.  

“Amid the new normal, swift and reliable access to state and local institutions anytime, anywhere is more crucial than ever,” she added.  

The proposed measure mandates the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to establish and promote an e-government master plan that will serve as a framework for the rollout of online services by agencies. 

The master plan will deal with archives and records management system, online payment system, citizen frontline delivery services, and public finance management and procurement system. It will be reviewed and revised every three years.  

“Waiting in line for hours for cash aid, loans, benefits and the like should be a thing of the past,” Ms. Poe said. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan 

CHR urges gov’t to set up mechanisms to protect human rights workers 

THE COMMISSION on Human Rights (CHR) on Monday called on the government to carry out proactive measures to protect human rights workers following the recent shooting of a provincial director of the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission.  

“This latest brazen attempt on the life of a human rights defender reflects the continuing climate of hostility faced by many human rights workers,” CHR Executive Director Jacqueline Ann C. de Guia said in a statement.  

“We ardently request the new administration to take proactive measures to reverse the chilling effect on human rights work created by the numerous attacks and violations committed against human rights defenders.”   

She added that prioritizing the rights and welfare of human rights workers would show the government’s commitment to upholding its human rights obligations. 

The Bangsamoro human rights agency reported that an unidentified assailant shot at the vehicle of Maguindanao Provincial Director Ariff A. Lao in Cotabato City on Aug. 6 at around 7 p.m. 

The Philippine rights commission also called on the current Congress to prioritize a bill protecting human rights workers and advocates. 

Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman has refiled the Human Rights Defenders Protection Act as House Bill No. 77. 

A similar bill was approved by the House of Representatives in the previous Congress but its counterpart measure was not passed at the Senate. 

“Concrete legal protection and mechanisms for human rights workers are vital in reviving the human rights situation in the country towards upholding the rights of all, particularly the most vulnerable ones,” said Ms. De Guia. — John Victor D. Ordoñez 

Bill seeking to establish penal farms across regions filed at the Senate 

PHILIPPINE STAR/ JOVEN CAGANDE

A BILL seeking to establish penal farms in different regions across the Philippines to decongest jails and improve the reformation program for prisoners has been filed at the Senate.  

“Ultimately, this bill seeks to create additional regional penal institutions not only to address the severe congestion in the country’s jails and prisons, but to also ensure the welfare of persons serving final judgment as they await their reintegration to society,” neophyte Senator Robinhood Ferdinand “Robin” C. Padilla said in a statement on Monday.  

Senate Bill 235 proposes to set up penitentiary systems in at least 10 regions using a “standard and uniform design” for the prison complex, reformation and administrative facilities.  

Mr. Padilla cited that there are only seven penitentiary institutions nationwide, which are mostly crowded and also affect visitation privileges for family members of inmates.  

“Recognizing therefore the paramount role of the family in providing emotional, moral and psychosocial support to every person serving final judgment,” he said, “this measure is being proposed to widen the opportunities of families and other support groups to pay a visit to their loved ones inside the penitentiaries.”  

The bill mandates the Bureau of Corrections to create an infrastructure plan, coordinate the construction of the regional penitentiaries, and carry out the decentralization and transfer of prisoners to the regional penal farms.  

Funds necessary for the implementation of the proposed law will be included in the annual national budget.  

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla and Interior Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. have said their agencies are working together to address congestion in the country’s jails.  

Mr. Abalos plans to ask local governments to donate plots of land to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology where additional jail facilities can be built.  

Mr. Remulla said there are 17,000 inmates in the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City, which was designed to house 6,000 inmates. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan 

Women’s party-list files bill on security of tenure for daycare workers

DAYCARE workers in Bayambang town in Pangasinan. — BAYAMBANG.GOV.PH

GABRIELA Party-list Rep. Arlene D. Brosas has filed a bill that seeks to create 84,000 permanent positions for workers nationwide involved in early child care and development.   

House Bill No. 3266 aims to ensure effective early interventions for Filipino children up to 6 years old by providing security of tenure and other benefits to child development workers (CDWs), or teachers and personnel of daycare centers.   

“Upgrading the compensation and welfare of CDWs will certainly equate to upgrading the early childhood learning and development, which is crucial now, especially as the latest rankings show that the Philippines suffers from severe learning poverty,” Ms. Brosas, also assistant minority leader, said.   

The bill also seeks to protect child workers from arbitrary salaries and allowances dictated by elected officials.  

Under the proposed law, titled the Magna Carta of Child Development Workers, those ranked as CDW I and II will be receiving remuneration for salary grade 6 and 8 positions, respectively, under the government’s pay level system.   

“This measure seeks to end the political patronage practice which binds the fate of CDWs to winning politicians at the local level,” she said. “We have to give them job security, the opportunity to improve their teaching abilities.”   

Data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development show there are about 67,733 CDWs, both in tenured and non-tenured positions, who do not receive standard wages or benefits.   

“Around 9.3% or 6,306 of total child development workers are volunteers,” the bill said in its explanatory note. — Matthew Carl L. Montecillo

‘We’ll be back’ — Norman Black

“IT’S NOT over yet. It’s just three games; it’s a best-of-seven series, says coach Norman Black. — PBA MEDIA

Games Today
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
3 p.m. – San Miguel vs. Meralco*
6 p.m. – Magnolia vs. TnT*
*TnT, SMB lead series, 2-1

MERALCO coach Norman Black’s faith in the Bolts remains strong as they plot to climb out of their 2-1 deficit and get the job done against San Miguel Beer (SMB) in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup semifinal series.

“We didn’t have any injuries (after the third game) so we’ll be back,” a defiant Mr. Black said after Meralco’s 96-91 Game 3 loss last Sunday.

“It’s not over yet. It’s just three games; it’s a best-of-seven series so as long as we don’t have any injuries to key players, we’ll be ready to play Game 4,” he added.

The Beermen turned to the unstoppable June Mar Fajardo as well as Mo Tautuaa and Vic Manuel down low to gain the edge against the Bolts in the tie-breaking third game. Mr. Fajardo dropped 21 markers, including 10 in the fourth, plus 16 rebounds while Messrs. Manuel and Tautuaa combined for 19 points and 10 boards versus Meralco counterparts Raymond Almazan, Kyle Pascual and Raymar Jose.

Mr. Black tasked his bigs to “continue scrapping” even as he called on his perimeter gunners to “shoot well.”

“I really believe we can compete with anybody, including San Miguel,” he said.

“I thought they (SMB) got a lot of foul shots in the second half and that made a big difference in the game. Of course, that’s the observation of the referees so there’s nothing we can do about it. We just have to keep scrapping.”

He conceded that with six-time MVP Mr. Fajardo and post-threats Messrs. Manuel and Tautuaa, the Beermen will always have the edge size-wise.

“(But) I have enough big men that I can just throw out there to try to at least make things manageable. And then the guards have to shoot well, that’s very, very important,” said Mr. Black.

The Beermen scored 50 points inside the paint against the Bolts’ 44 in Game 3, though Mr. Black’s charges won the rebounding battle, 50-45.

Meralco Bolts’ snipers made only 36.4% of their shots from beyond the arc (eight-of-22) last Sunday, which paled in comparison to their 42.3% marksmanship (11-of-26) when they won Game 2, 99-88, two nights before. — Olmin Leyba

Hidilyn Diaz will make her ‘last lift’ in Paris Olympics

TOKYO Games gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz — REUTERS

FILIPINA weightlifting star Hidilyn F. Diaz-Naranjo has set aside her family goals for another shot at Olympic glory in the 2024 Paris Games where she has announced she will make her “last lift.”

“Today (Sunday), we are officially two years to go before I step onto the platform at the 2024 Paris Olympics,” said Ms. Diaz, who recently married trainer Julius Naranjo in Baguio City, on her social media page.

“We have set aside our honeymoon, we only have 730 days left. Even if its difficult, even though I don’t need to prove anything, I still want to do whatever I can for weightlifting and the Philippines,” she added.

Ms. Diaz’s statement came after Samahang Weightlifting Pilipinas President Monico Puentevella, one of her wedding godfathers, told her she could focus on her family and deserves to be happy.

After all, Mr. Puentevella said Ms. Diaz has nothing to prove anymore following her memorable feat in last year’s Tokyo Games where she delivered the country’s breakthrough Olympic gold.

The Zamboanga native and Air Force woman also had a silver to show in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

But Ms. Diaz isn’t fading quietly into the night, knowing she still have something more to give and would pursue for the final time an Olympic gold in Paris.

“I am manifesting this because this is what I want and weightlifting is what makes me happy. Please accompany me in my decision to go for my last lift. My team will be with me throughout the whole process, but I will need the support and prayers from all of you,” said Ms. Diaz.

“I am determined to do more for our country. I am claiming this, for the love of God and our country,” she added. — Joey Villar

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