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Arrival window for imported sugar extended to Oct. 31

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THE Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said the arrival period for sugar ordered overseas to supplement domestic supply has been extended to the end of October due to shipping delays.

Sugar Order (SO) No. 3 series of 2022-2023 issued by the SRA on Oct. 19 extended the arrival deadline for the 200,000 metric tons (MT) of foreign sugar authorized for import to Oct. 31.

“The deadline for application for SRA Clearance for release of imported sugar has been extended to Sept. 30, 2022 and the arrival date of any imported sugar for this program is also extended to Oct. 31, 2022,” according to the order.  

“The SRA received request(s) to change the arrival date of any imported sugar for the above-said importation program due to vessel delays and lack of availability of container vans being experienced not just regionally but also globally,” it added.

In February, the SRA issued SO No. 3 series of 2021-2022 allowing imports of 200,000 MT of sugar for crop year 2021-2022. Industrial users will also be allowed to transfer and sell part or all of their imported sugar allocation to other industrial users or assignees.

According to the SRA, import allocations for 9,194 MT of refined sugar have yet to apply for SRA clearance.

The industrial users inquiring about transferring their supply told the SRA that their shipments have arrived but are not immediately needed.

Meanwhile, “there are industrial users who… are still in urgent need to augment their sugar supply,” it added.

Asked to comment, United Sugar Producers Federation President Manuel R. Lamata said in a Viber message that the new order will benefit consumers and the industry.

The transfers “will bring down the very high retail prices. The industrials have agreed to this scheme to help the government and consumers. (SO No. 3) will not affect us farmers,” Mr. Lamata said.  

The Department of Agriculture (DA) estimates the price of refined sugar as of Oct. 20 at P100 per kilogram (/kg).

The DA has said it will sell refined sugar at P70/kg in Kadiwa outlets and SRA offices in Quezon City and Bacolod City. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

Bus carousel, ports first in line for PPP

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Works and Highways said the EDSA bus carousel and seaports will be among the first projects to be offered up for public-private partnerships (PPPs).

“We plan to invite as much private sector participation in our infrastructure projects (as possible), such as for the EDSA Carousel, the operation of our seaports, the privatization of 10 provincial airports, the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit project and many more,” Transport Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said.

According to Mr. Bautista, the PPP scheme has been proven an effective route for injecting the private sector’s technical expertise and resources into government projects.

“By harnessing the expertise and capabilities of (private companies), we can confidently bring to completion these ambitious undertakings,” Mr. Bautista said in his address to a convention organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“PPP remains one of the major platforms of this administration (for leveraging) the assets of the private sector, not only in terms of the funds but also in technology and innovation,” Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina E. Cabral said.

Ms. Cabral pointed however for the need to pass a new Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law, even after revisions were made to the current law’s implementing rules and regulations.

“I think we should move towards enacting a new BOT Law,” Ms. Cabral said. “We are now actively pursuing the enactment of the new law that will (have under its umbrella) all other modes of private participation.”

He said joint venture arrangements are not adequately covered by the BOT Law.

She added that the government will push for a new law in a manner that will not disrupt the project and investment pipeline. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Air21 calls for end-to-end digitization of supply chain

LOGISTICS company Air21 Holdings, Inc. said the government must cut down on the sources of friction hindering supply chains by digitizing the shipping process from end to end, and called for investment in the infrastructure that will enable such a transformation, such as data centers.

Air21 Holdings Chairman and President Alberto D. Lina said the government’s role in transforming the industry is to accelerate digitization, overhaul regulation, and build capacity in the workforce.

The goal is “unhampered movement of goods and to prepare such touch points along the supply chain,” Mr. Lina said at the 48th Philippine Business Conference and Expo, organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“We need to push for the entire supply chain — from end to end — to be fully digitized and to have real time intelligence on the state of our industry,” Mr. Lina added.

Mr. Lina said the data industry must be built up to ensure that the data gathered in digitizing the logistics process is legally gathered, safely stored and processed, and properly disposed of.

Mr. Lina added that regulations should be harmonized for companies like this that have to deal with various jurisdictions such as ports and local governments.

He said truck bans and traffic number coding need to be implemented in a manner that does not hamper the flow of goods.

“We welcome the recent initiative of the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) and PTTC (Philippine Trade Training Center) in tapping the logistics industry in drafting the Philippine skill framework for logistics,” Mr. Lina said. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Recession by late 2023 tops list of PHL economic worries

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

MORE than two-thirds of Filipinos surveyed are expecting a recession by the end of 2023, according to a study conducted by TransUnion, a consumer credit reporting agency.

“Consumers were anticipating a potential recession in the near future. 76% of respondents agreed the economy is either already in a recession or will enter a recession at some point by the end of 2023,” according to the study, which surveyed 1,013 adults between Aug. 19 and Sept. 1.

During the survey period, 44% said inflation was their top concern, up from 35% a quarter earlier.

In September, headline inflation hit 6.9%, the highest level in 13 years, driven by rising food, transport, and energy costs.  

“This elevated inflation rate may serve as a trigger for the central bank to hike rates even further, pushing up borrowing costs for businesses and consumers. In addition, amid uncertainty about inflation, consumers started cutting back on discretionary spending and increasing savings,” the report read.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will likely raise interest rates in its next policy-setting meeting in November to contain inflation. For the year so far, the Monetary Board has raised benchmark interest rates by a combined 225 basis points.

“As a precaution, consumers (have taken) action in response to a potential recession; 66% of respondents built up savings, while 69% of respondents reduced spending and 33% paid down debt,” the study found.

More than half of respondents chose to tap into their savings to pay down debt.

More consumers also expressed the intention to cut household spending, with around 54% focusing on areas of potential saving like dining out, travel, and entertainment in the last three months.

Some 79% of consumers said their income was stagnant, while respondents declaring confidence in their financial situation over the next 12 months fell to 81% from 83% a quarter earlier.

During the survey period, 27% of consumers said they turned to moneylenders in the past 12 months, up from 22% in the previous period, while 18% availed of payday loans, up from 14%.

Some 54% of respondents said they are planning to apply for personal loans while 41% were thinking of applying for a credit card. 

“The need for transport is back as the country is on track to return to full normalcy, evidenced by an increase in respondents who planned to apply for an auto loan,” the study found.

“There appeared to be a rush to refinance mortgages and home loans before the anticipated interest rate hike, as the percentage of respondents who planned to do so jumped by 5% from the second quarter,” it added. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

NGCP launches operations at Calamba substation

THE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said it has started operating its 230-kiloVolt (kV) substation in Calamba to address the growing demand for power south of the capital region.

The project consists of the Calamba 230-kV Substation; the Calamba-Bay 230-kV Transmission Line 2; and the Calamba-Biñan 230-kV Transmission Line 2.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved capital spending of P1.07 billion for the project.

The NGCP said that the substation is strategically located near industrial parks to accommodate demand in Laguna, Batangas and adjacent provinces.

It added that industrial customers, factories, and manufacturing plants are expected to benefit with the substation.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) tallies 10 manufacturing economic zones in Batangas and 14 in Laguna.

The NGCP transmission development plan calls for the Calamba substation to step in for contingencies like overloading in drawdown substations in Sta. Rosa and Calauan and on the Calauan–Los Baños 115-kV distribution line.

“With many industrial and residential developments south of Metro Manila, NGCP’s new Calamba 230-kV Substation is a critical facility for South Luzon. The substation and its associated transmission lines will also serve as another highway to prevent overloading and other reliability issues,” the NGCP said in a statement. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Cotabato Light connects 1,500 households in sitio electrification drive

COTABATO LIGHT and Power Co. said on Thursday that it has connected to electricity service more than 1,500 households within its franchise as part of a Sitio Electrification Program (SEP) to bring power to remote areas.  

Cotabato Light, a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corp. said in a statement that the program covers Cotabato City, parts of Sultan Kudarat, and Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. 

Valentin S. Saludes III, president and chief operating officer of Cotabato Light, said the company has invested around P37 million in its SEP operations, SEP is a national strategy for achieving full electrification, focusing on remote communities.

“We have identified several measures in order to meet our assigned area of completion and full energization target by November 2022,” Mr. Saludes said.

The company said it has erected more than 1,000 poles to ensure delivery of service. The company’s SEP target is more than 1,600 households in its franchise area. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Carnival Cruise Line signs training deal with STI, merchant marine school

REUTERS

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE said it has entered into a training agreement with the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) and STI Educational Services Group, Inc. (STI-ESG). 

“Carnival wants to go beyond providing traditional roles. We want to make it across all functions — captains, chief engineers, hotel directors, chefs. Every position where we could really find the best qualified team members,” Bettina Deynes, senior vice-president and chief human resources officer for Carnival, said in a statement.

PMMA will prepare students for shipboard operations and help Carnival selecting candidates for cadetships, internships, and other employment arrangements.

STI-ESG or STI Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Institute will offer slots at its school in Manila for culinary and housekeeping courses.  

“With our partnership with Carnival, our students can be confident that they will get the best training and they have somewhere to go once they graduate,” STI Holdings President and Chief Executive Officer Monico V. Jacob said.

Carnival said its recruitment agency, United Philippine Line, has worked to also develop and provide opportunities for maritime students in other parts of the Philippines. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Marcos names new justices of appellate, tax appeals courts

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has appointed new members of the Court of Appeals (CA) and Court of Tax Appeals (CTA), according to the presidential palace

Selma Palacio-Alaras and Wilhelmina Jorge-Wagan had been named associate justices of the appellate court, acting Press Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil said in a statement on Thursday.

The two replaced former Associate Justices Gabriel T. Ingles and Edgardo A. Camello, who retired on Feb. 27 and May 19.

Ms. Alaras and Ms. Wagan served at the Makati City Regional Trial Court’s (RTC) Branch 62 and Pasay City RTC’s Branch 111, respectively, as presiding judges before their appointment.

Ms. Alaras had sentenced Horacio Herrer, a Mexican believed to be linked to the Sinaloa drug cartel, to life imprisonment in 2019.

Ms. Wagan, meanwhile, found Manuel P. Mejorada guilty of libel charges filed against him by former Senator Franklin M. Drilon.

Ms. Garafil said Corazon G. Ferrer-Flores had also been appointed associate justice of the Court of Tax Appeals, replacing Juanito C. Castañeda, Jr.

Ms. Flores served as the Supreme Court’s deputy clerk of court and chief of fiscal management and budget office.

“Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo has administered the oath of office to the newly appointed justices,” the acting press secretary said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Lawmaker insists Congress can defer village elections

PHILIPPINE STAR/ WALTER BOLLOZOS

A LAWMAKER on Thursday defended Congress’ power to postpone village elections set for December.

“The law is constitutional and is a valid and legal legislative act of Congress,” Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez, a member of the committee on suffrage, said in a statement.

“There is no specific or categorical provision in the 1987 Constitution that prohibits the deferment of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan  elections,” he added. He also said the term limit imposed by the Charter on local officials does not cover village officials.

Mr. Rodriguez said this clearly gives Congress the jurisdiction to pass and enact laws relating to village elections.

Mr. Rodriguez made the remarks after election lawyer Romulo B. Macalintal asked the Supreme Court to stop the deferment of the elections to October 2023. The plaintiff argued only the Commission on Elections (Comelec) can defer village elections.

“It is not completely correct to say that only the Comelec has the authority or power to cancel or postpone the barangay and SK elections because there is nothing in the Omnibus Election Code that exclusively supports such concept,” he added.

Mr. Rodriguez noted that under the law, village elections can be postponed in serious cases, but it does not exclusively give Comelec the power to cancel or postpone these.

Alberto C. Agra, a lawyer and election law professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Viber message the exclusion of village officials in constitutional term limits and congressional power to fix their term are arguments for the election deferment.

On the other hand, the postponement violates the right to vote since voters are deprived to choose their officials.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed the law on Oct. 10 that moved the elections from December to October next year. The elections will be held on the last Monday of October 2023 and every three years thereafter, according to the law.

Mr. Macalintal said the law violates voters’ right to due process since they would be forced to accept village leaders whose terms would be extended.

The high tribunal has set hearings on the case for Oct. 21. — Kyanna Angela Bulan

Marcos highlights tourism push in San Juanico Bridge switch-on event 

OFFICE OF THE PRESS SECRETARY

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. underscored his tourism push after he led the lighting of a 2.16-kilometer bridge, built in the early ‘70s, connecting the central Philippine provinces of Samar and Leyte.  

The P80-million San Juanico Bridge Aesthetic Lighting and Sound Project will significantly boost the tourism industry in Eastern Visayas, Mr. Marcos said in a speech at the event, based on a transcript sent by his office.  

“I look forward to the economic opportunities that will be stimulated by this, as well as other Spark Samar initiatives, in the near future,” he said. “I eagerly anticipate the assistance it will bring for the complete recovery of the tourism industry in the Eastern Visayas and nearby areas.”  

Eastern Visayas was among the country’s top five poorest regions out of 17, based on 2021 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).   

Samar posted a poverty rate of 33.9% in 2021, higher than the 29.2% in 2018. Leyte, the home province of Mr. Marcos’ mother, posted a 29.2% poverty rate, lower than the 31.1% in 2018. 

Mr. Marcos, speaking at a tourism industry event on Monday, said his administration recognizes the sector “one of the high potential drivers for the transformation of the economy” and assured full support to its development.   

Tourism arrivals in the Philippines hit 1.7 million as of Oct. 17, exceeding the target for the entire year, Tourism Secretary Maria Esperanza Christina Frasco said at the event.  

As the country faces global headwinds, the Marcos administration prioritizes the growth of the tourism sector along with manufacturing, agriculture, IT-BPO, and creative industries, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio S. Balisacan told a news briefing Tuesday. 

The tourism sector accounted for 12.8% of the Philippines’ economic output in 2019, or about P2.48 trillion.  

Tourism’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product fell to 5.2% last year due to international border restrictions prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.  

Domestic tourism expenditures, however, increased by a record 38.7% year on year to P782.51 billion in 2021, based on preliminary data released by the PSA. However, this was still significantly lower than the P3.14 trillion seen in 2019.  

On the other hand, tourism expenditures by non-residents declined by 79.2% to P27.62 billion from P132.59 billion in 2020.  

The share of inbound tourism expenditure to total exports dipped to a record low of 0.6% in 2021 versus the 2.9% share in 2020.  

Mr. Balisacan said possible recessions in developed economies and the Philippines’ economic partners would mean “weaker” tourism demand.  

Mr. Marcos, 65, said in his first address to Congress in July that he would boost tourism by improving roads and ports to give people easier access to tourism spots.  

Earlier this month, his office said the Transport department was tasked to develop Philippine ports to boost the country’s cruise tourism. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza 

Flights to northern areas canceled as typhoon Obet brings rain, winds 

SANTA PRAXEDES MDRRMO

FLIGHTS from the capital Manila to three airports in northern provinces were canceled on Thursday due to tropical depression Obet, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).   

PAL Express’ flight to and from Batanes, which was placed under tropical wind signal #1, was called off.   

Flights from Manila to Tuguegarao City in Cagayan and to Cauayan City in Isabela were also canceled, CAAP said.  

“CAAP airport managers remain on high alert and are closely supervising their respective airports; while situation reports are also continuously monitored and consolidated by the CAAP Operations Center,” the agency said.   

The center of tropical depression Obet was located 650 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes as of Thursday afternoon, based on state weather agency PAGASA’s 5 p.m. bulletin.   

“Obet is forecast to gradually intensify and may reach tropical storm category by tomorrow evening or on Saturday early morning” as it crosses extreme northern Luzon, PAGASA said.  

Apart from Batanes, tropical wind signal #1 was also up over Babuyan Islands and the northeastern part of Cagayan.   

PAGASA warned of moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Apayao, and the northern portions of Ilocos Norte and mainland Cagayan from Friday to Saturday morning.  

Cagayan’s provincial information office on Thursday reported flooding in several towns, including those that were also inundated during the two successive typhoons last week.   

Landslides in several areas have also been reported.   

PAGASA said prior to the onset of tropical cyclone winds, “prevailing northeasterly surface windflow will continue to bring strong to gale-force winds over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northern portions of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte in the next 24 hours.”   

The tropical depression is forecast to move west-southwestward until Friday morning while accelerating, then turn westward towards Luzon Strait. — MSJ

Senate minority leader backs policy on face-to-face classes

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

PHYSICAL classes should continue despite the detection of new coronavirus variants in the country, the Senate minority leader said on Thursday, noting that authorities should focus on risk mitigation measures instead of compromising the merits of in-person learning for school children.

“If we do not allow our children to be educated today and learn, we worry for their future when they become adults, (and) it is their time to run our society,” Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Martin D. Pimentel III told reporters in a Viber message on Thursday. 

“Because for sure, there will also be pandemics and other health emergencies during their time,” he said. “Would they then have been equipped with the needed skills and training and critical scientific thinking to be able to deal with their own societal problems and challenges?”

The Department of Education on Wednesday said there are no changes on the order for a full return to physical classes by November in public schools, except those exempted by local officials. 

Private schools have the option to continue blended learning.

The Department of Health on Tuesday said it had detected 81 cases of the new Omicron XBB subvariant and 193 cases of the XBC variant, which is said to be a recombinant of the Delta and BA.2 variants. 

Rontgene M. Solante, a member of the Health department’s technical advisory group, has said that infections are expected to increase in the coming weeks. 

“That’s already a sign that if you have a low booster uptake, there is a higher risk that cases may increase, and mutated strains may appear,” he said. 

On the other hand, Mr. Pimentel argued that “there are more than 3,000 viruses out there. We cannot live to be afraid of all of them.” 

“We have to live with them, especially coronaviruses since these have been with humans, mammals and other animals since time immemorial,” he added. 

The senator said health risks in schools could be reduced through “practical solutions” such as ensuring proper ventilation and air circulation in classrooms and avoid creating situations that will draw big crowds. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

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