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Canva Philippines launches retro templates for Pride month 

To celebrate diversity and inclusion, graphic design and visual communications company Canva released a collection of colorful Pride templates that can be used in social media posts, covers, and stories across platforms. 

Following a Filipino retro style, the collection allows Filipinos to “design with pride” this Pride month. 

Canva senior brand designer and university lecturer Joan Eunice “Yuni” Y. Lao shared that in addition to bringing ideas to life through design applications, she advocates for human rights and equality for different gender expressions and identities. 

“I try to impart to my students that the space I make for them is something they can have even outside the classroom,” said Ms. Lao, who is herself bisexual. 

She said that talking about her sexuality and encouraging students to propose topics they care about helps her class in Ateneo de Manila University feel more comfortable. 

Canva Philippines, which has a workforce over 700 strong, requires “listening, understanding, and constantly evolving a company’s processes to ensure that every employee feels included.”

“Gender rights, specifically LGBTQIA+, rights, is something I feel extremely passionate about. Growing up as a closeted gay kid, I’ve experienced being teased and bullied about my self-expression,” said Geryl V. Minguillo, a designer in Canva University, the company’s learning and development unit, 

Through diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) sessions, he educates fellow Canva employees on respectful and nondiscriminatory language, including the use of preferred pronouns. 

This doesn’t just benefit LGBTQ+ themselves, but everyone’s ability to do their best work, added Yani Hornilla-Donato, Canva Philippines’ country manager.  

“Whether they’re advocating for an organization or want to educate others about gender equality, we aim to provide them with an environment where they feel welcomed and appreciated,” she said. 

Canva has also invested in Textio, a tool that assesses the use of inclusive languages for job ads.  

The graphic design company is one of many in the tech space that aims to lead in setting inclusive policies. — Brontë H. Lacsamana

A collective response to Russia’s war on global food security

TUAN ANH TRAN-UNSPLASH

The global food crisis is hitting the Philippines, and it is hitting hard. Supply chains are being affected and retail prices are skyrocketing whether you buy rice, vegetable oil, or fertilizers. The decision of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to assume the post of Agriculture Secretary is an extremely strong and welcome signal. Even before 2022, 64% of the population had already been chronically food insecure, according to the World Food Program.

The worsening situation is the direct consequence of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and it is a deliberate strategy. Food security has been and is clearly being weaponized in order to obtain a leverage for the lifting of sanctions that were taken against Russia since the war started on February 24th. The lives of hundreds of millions of people are thus put into jeopardy as just another merely expendable kind of cannon fodder.

This is not the first time that food shortages are being created among civilian populations in order to obtain a strategic advantage. Three years ago in Syria, Russia helped in the burning of tens of thousands of acres of crops in areas held by its designated enemies, indiscriminately affecting men, women, and children. But this time, the world as a whole is the target, with the most vulnerable populations at risk, including Filipinos. Over 20 million tons of grains and oil seeds are currently being prevented from accessing the global markets due to the blockade of Ukrainian ports, causing a 90% reduction in Ukrainian export capacities. This volume could rise to 75 million tons by next October, according to the assessment made by President Zelensky. This is why two weeks ago, during a trip to Kyiv, President Macron reiterated his call on Russia to lift the blockade of Ukrainian ports. This simple decision could immediately ease tensions in world markets.

Let’s get a fact straight: food export restrictions in Ukraine are the sole consequence of the Russian blockade of Ukrainian export capacities. This was clearly stated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on April 8: the Philippines, as a member of the Council of the FAO, voted along with France and other like-minded countries to condemn Russia. Contrary to the narrative that Russia is trying to promote, the ongoing food crisis is not related to the sanctions as they do not target food and agricultural products. They do not have an impact on global food security. Vessels flying a Russian flag are allowed by the European Union to export seeds, grains, or fertilizers. We must not buy into the pandemic of fake news.

In the face of these serious shortages, France has taken action with its European partners to provide support to the most vulnerable countries and populations. On March 24, under its Presidency of the Council of the EU, France introduced the FARM initiative — Food and Agriculture Resilience Mission — a global coalition which includes private stakeholders and institutional partners such as the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the G7, and the European Commission, to name a few. It is based on three pillars:

First, a trade pillar to ease tensions in the agricultural markets. It comprises an emergency plan to release stocks in the event of a crisis, to avoid shortages and contain price rises, or the transparent monitoring of obstacles to trade and agricultural products. Relevant commitments were endorsed at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference on June 16.

Second, a solidarity pillar which anticipates the possible sustained decrease in exports from Ukraine, including a mechanism providing food supplies under market prices for the most fragile countries, ensuring a steady flow of emergency food aid.

And lastly, a pillar fostering production in the most-affected countries through increased investments in sustainable and resilient food production systems, reinforced integration to local and regional markets, and combatting food loss and waste.

Meanwhile, France and its European partners are actively seeking solutions to export the 20 million tons of grain currently blocked in Ukraine. Alternative land exporting routes are being discussed with stakeholders in the logistics and production sectors, particularly via Romania and the river Danube. Support is already building up to respond to the immediate needs of Ukrainian farmers, in order to mitigate the expected 28% output decrease during the next wheat harvest. France donated $2 million to an FAO project aimed at supporting the Ukrainian agricultural sector.

Last Sunday, we commemorated the 75th anniversary of the bilateral relationship between France and the Philippines, a moment of joyful celebration and shared desire to pursue new endeavors together. As a nation of the Indo-Pacific, France will continue supporting the Philippines in its efforts to strengthen its resilience in the area of food security, a top national priority.

 

Michèle Boccoz is the ambassador of France to the Philippines and to Micronesia.

FDA and vaping

RAINIER RIDAO-UNSPLASH

A global public health issue recently made its way to a US court. Vaping, which has gained popularity in recent years as an alternative to tobacco and cigarette smoking, is now under legal review after one major manufacturer was banned last week by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from selling its e-cigarettes in the United States.

The issue appears procedural, however, and may not necessarily go into the pros and cons of vaping and its link to public health. Moreover, the US FDA last year approved the sale of e-cigarettes in the US, particularly those made by British American Tobacco and NJOY. But, in a surprising move, it also opted to ban Juul Labs’ products last week.

Surprising for the fact that Juul Labs is the industry’s 800-pound gorilla. CNBC reports that “Juul had been the market leader in e-cigarettes since 2018, according to Euromonitor International. As of 2020, the company held 54.7% share of the $9.38 billion US e-vapor market.” In the same report, CNBC quoted Juul as saying that “no other rival had their application denied for similar reasons.”

Juul Labs, a global producer of vaping products, thus asked a Washington DC appeals court to keep its temporary restraining order on the US FDA ban. It claimed the FDA ban was premature since the agency has yet to fully evaluate all of the company’s regulatory submissions for the approval of its e-cigarettes to be sold in the US. For now, Juul can continue to sell its products in the US. That is, unless the appeals court reverses itself on its stay order on the FDA ban.

The US FDA had claimed Juul failed to submit enough evidence on the “toxicological profile” of its e-cigarettes. Thus, the products’ ban. But Juul alleged that FDA “overlooked more than 6,000 pages of data that it provided about the aerosols generated by heating the liquid in its pods and that users ultimately inhale,” CNBC reported.

The crux of the matter is the “potential risks of using” Juul Labs products, and “whether potentially harmful chemicals could leak from Juul pods” or e-cigarettes while in use. The legal issue is whether FDA actually gave Juul a fair chance to prove the safety of its products by thoroughly reviewing its regulatory submissions.

In seeking remedy from the US District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Juul claimed that “had FDA done a more thorough review (like it did for other applicants), it would have seen data showing that those [potential harmful] chemicals are not observable in the aerosol that JUUL users inhale,” CNBC reported. Juul also claimed that “taking its products off store shelves, even temporarily, would permanently damage its brand and that its customers would either use competitors’ products or return to traditional cigarettes.”

While the issue is not novel, if memory serves me, this is the first time that an e-cigarette company has gone to court to question the ban on its products. And considering that the legal suit involves the US market leader, the court decision on the matter will surely have implications not only on US sales but also on other Juul markets like the Philippines.

Assuming, for the sake of discussion, that the appeals court reverses itself and allows the Juul ban. Then this will practically validate the FDA claim that Juul has failed to prove the safety of its products. In short, allowing their sale will be detrimental to public health. What then will be the consequence and implication of this on Juul sales in the Philippines? Will local regulators follow suit?

At this point, I am already anticipating the vaping issue to also go to court here in the Philippines. The Supreme Court previously decided an 11-year-old case and upheld the authority of the Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate cigarettes and tobacco products, noting it has the “technical authority over matters of public health.”

The Philippine Tobacco Institute, Inc., representing tobacco firms, argued that the industry should be regulated by the Inter-Agency Committee on Tobacco (IAC-Tobacco) as provided for by the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003. But the Court ruled that this was “contrary to law and our international obligations,” noting that cigarette firms were part of IAC-Tobacco.

With the legality of FDA regulation of cigarettes now a settled issue, then the focus moves to vaping. Senate Bill No. 2239 and House Bill No. 9007, ratified in December 2021, transferred the regulation of vaping products from the FDA to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). While the bills have been passed, they have not been signed into law.

With the Supreme Court ruling on FDA’s authority over cigarettes, I am certain the vaping will also go to court. Other than taking the FDA out of the picture, the bills also lower the access restriction on vaping products from 21 to 18 years old; allow the sale of youth-appealing flavors other than plain tobacco and menthol; and, allow online sales of e-cigarettes.

As I have written previously, I don’t see any reason for vaping to be given more leeway than cigarettes. After all, given the Juul case in the US, it remains obvious that there are no guarantees that vaping is actually a “healthier” alternative to cigarette smoking. In this line, if the Senate bill on vaping is enacted, it should really be questioned in court.

The incoming administration and incoming legislators should also take note of international trends and developments in the tobacco industry as well as on global tobacco consumption and the sales growth of tobacco alternatives. This way, it can make better informed decisions on how to best regulate the production and sale of cigarettes and their alternatives.

The Philip Morris decision to end Marlboro sales in the UK in 10 years’ time is already indicative of the industry’s shift. Policies and regulations on tobacco and its alternatives like electronic cigarettes should recognize this shift and adjust to the times. To ensure a healthier, smoke-free future, we need to reassess present rules on taxation, advertising or marketing, and healthcare financing for smoking-related or vaping-related illnesses and diseases.

 

MARVIN TORT is a former managing editor of BusinessWorld, and a former chairman of the Philippine Press Council
matort@yahoo.com

The Philippine National Railways in the supply chain equation

CRECENCIO I. CRUZ

A press report stated that Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. would take over the Department of Agriculture (DA) upon his assumption of the Presidency today. The major reason cited for this extraordinary step is the food crisis and the need to unclog the supply chain that starts with food and crops being produced at the farms and ends with consumption. That description of the supply chain would be in its simplest terms. The chain is, however, as strong as its weakest link. Production, an integral part of the supply chain, has its own sub-supply chain if one were to consider the planting materials or seeds that have to be transported to or grown within the farm, the fertilizer and pesticide to be used to maintain and protect the crop, the water to be pumped into the field from irrigation systems, the farm implements and machinery, the credit used for working capital and so on and on until the product is ready for harvest, for processing, and eventually to become part of another supply chain.

Though simplistic, the above sequence clearly reveals a lot of logistical issues and the physical movement of labor, raw materials, and other factors of production. And movement means transportation, often motorized, for efficiency, cost effectiveness, and speed. Transportation, as an integral part of the supply chain, is therefore essential to any economy. Marcos Jr. wants to focus on making the supply chain more efficient as he tries to grapple with the food crisis created by both domestic and global factors and events.

Studies have shown the tremendous impact of an inefficient and pollutive transport system.

Metro Manila contributes about 35% to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP); and Mega Manila — Metro Manila plus Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), and Mimaropa (Mindoro Island, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) — accounts for 55% of GDP. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) states that an inefficient transport system costs these regional economic groupings about P3.5 billion a day due to traffic congestion. The cost of air pollution directly attributable to traffic jams and gridlock is about P7.5 billion a day according to the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities.

While traffic management is a key priority, keeping the roads safe and traffic moving and providing for commuters’ needs without overburdening the transport network, is a different issue from transportation as pointed out by Department of Transportation (DoTr) planners. They emphasize that transportation is the mandate of the DoTr in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) while traffic management is the mandate of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Local Government Units (LGUs) outside of the MMDA jurisdiction.

Both DoTr and DPWH are, however, crucial to influencing the supply chain and food production and distribution. Food security and sufficiency are problems that the Agriculture department cannot solve by its lonesome. Just like all major impactful issues, a coordinated and synchronized multi-disciplinary/inter departmental approach is required. How can farmers produce at optimal cost if the transport costs of inputs are prohibitive because there are no transport systems plying their farm areas due, in turn, to the absence of farm-to-market roads and major highway or rail systems as outlets? How can they be provided with production credit if the rural banking system in one’s area is almost non-existent?

One can go on and belabor the point about the importance of the transportation sector in the daily lives of both urban dwellers and our huge farming and agriculture sector. As various solutions are being proposed, those knowledgeable with the important details of the preparatory planning work point out the fact that the transport sector may have minimized the importance and significance of transportation planning that is inter operative and multi-modal as advocated by Senator Grace Poe, among others, as early as 2016.

The insufficient attention given to planning and project development surfaces in several ways, most notably in the railway system represented basically by the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

Memories are still fresh about the PNR during our Boy Scout days at De La Salle Grade School in 1957. We belonged to Troop 224 and we looked forward to camping trips headed by our Scoutmaster or Troop Leader in Grade 4, Mr. Jacinto. My parents would bring me to Tutuban railroad station at almost midnight to join about 30 other scouts to camp at the then Christian Brothers house in Baguio for two nights. The PNR train would arrive at Damortis, La Union at around six in the morning and we would then proceed to Baguio on board a Bangeute Auto Line (BAL) bus via Naguilian road.

Sixty-five years ago, the PNR could go as far north as La Union. Now, PNR’s only operating line destination from Tutuban is Calamba, Laguna. That’s a mere 100 kilometers which pales in comparison to the distance between Tutuban and Damortis. The PNR simply became moribund in the early 1980s, supposedly the golden years of Martial Law. Reviving it should be one of the priorities of Secretary-designate Jaime Bautista.

Why did a key transportation mode — the railroad train — fall into disuse and even disrepute? It had by then suffered from an image problem: that it was dirty, unreliable, dangerous.

One suspects again that there was a failure to really develop projects, prepare feasibility studies, and a lack of overall project management. It was not uncommon to hear of the lack of project roll out even after a successful bidding. We understand that about P3 trillion has been made available to extend the PNR north up to Clark via Malolos and south up to Calamba and Legazpi, Albay.

What is even more frustrating is that the lands for these routes are all owned by PNR and are therefore not bogged down by Rights of Way (ROW) issues. In short, these are low lying fruit waiting to be picked. And these are but two or three of many projects.

The PNR already has a lot on its portfolio, but between 2022 to 2028, there is a need to level up by including in its portfolio all the needed studies and designs with which railway experts are familiar.

We have heard of plans for a North-South Mindanao Rail Line (Butuan, Agusan del Norte to Davao Seaport and Airport) which is a commuter and cargo rail line. Well and good, let the experts do the plans and execute it.

Any extension of any transport mode is akin to opening up virgin territory without the corresponding massive land development at the outset. Any extension will enhance the all-important supply chain channel between several points. In this case, it will facilitate the travel channel between Northern and Southern Mindanao and also create new tourist destination points in other parts of the country which are tourist-commuter friendly.

The challenge is there to revive the railway system and make the supply chain more efficient and cost-effective. Let’s go back up to Damortis again, and even farther. Jimmy Bautista has his work cut out for him even as he attends to land, air, and sea transport.

 

Philip Ella Juico’s areas of interest include the protection and promotion of democracy, free markets, sustainable development, social responsibility and sports as a tool for social development. He obtained his doctorate in business at De La Salle University. Dr. Juico served as secretary of Agrarian Reform during the Corazon C. Aquino administration.

Raising the bar

Promises of candidates usually compete with one another in a political campaign. After the oath-taking, it’s all about delivering on these. Unfortunately, it’s only the winner that must deliver on the bar he raised.

The key to being rated well on surveys does not entail working longer hours or having pictures on the front pages. It’s all about exceeding expectations. This can entail pushing the starting line forward or moving the finish line closer. The race belongs to the one with a shorter track to run. And the track is set by the expectations raised.

Golfers win games against more skillful competitors by simply having bigger handicaps to put them ahead of the game. It’s like having additional points even before the game starts.

The expectations raised in the campaign (say, the price of rice and gasoline) or the hiring interview for corporate recruits (revenue targets and share of market) need to be lowered to attainable levels. The process starts on Day One. It entails a number of options.

Lower the goals. Anyone rated against budget targets understands that the higher the numbers, the lower the chances of a performance bonus. Instead of striving to be a great CEO, declare you merely want to be a good one. If low hanging fruits are easier to pluck, why not plant a smaller tree?

Emphasize problems but call them “challenges.” Still, having too long a list of obstacles can make the board wonder if you’re the right person for the job when all you see are negatives. Just a few challenges will do. (Throw in regulatory risk which is out of your control.) A situation that presents no hurdles to clear may lead to the conclusion that nothing is broken, so why bring in a fixer? Problems should not be laid at the doorstep of the predecessor. The new leader needs his help too.

Appeal for team support. This request need not be couched as powerlessness — I need a lifeguard at the beach. Give credit for victory to the staff (without mentioning specific names) — it’s a team effort. This puts some burden on a broader base of people and converts many from passive critics to active defenders. Never mind that you appointed most of them.

Avoid hard deadlines. To promise to solve the price of gas in 60 days is a guarantee for failure. Afterwards, the pump price will be there to haunt the chief. It’s better to promise setting up a process like a summit to put an action program in place within 60 days.

Lowering expectations elicits little cheering. Mentioning problems and obstacles tends to disappoint followers. People are looking for miracle workers and visionaries whose rhetoric lifts their spirits. It is these orators that garner applause on day one. Much of the loathing for traditional politicians (trapos) has to do with their penchant to over-promise and under-deliver. They are doomed by speech writers who go for memorable turns of phrase. Quotations from Churchill or Thucydides (One’s sense of honor is the only thing that does not grow old) are sprinkled all over.

In the climb to power, however, whether in politics or the corporation, humility is the first casualty. The Darwinian struggle up the hierarchy dictates that only the fittest, or those who claim to be, get to the top. How can those with modest goals even make it to the screening committee? Anyone who opts for lowering expectations is tagged a loser.

Even newcomers to power make their presence felt, bawling out those who dare to apply regular rules to them, like showing one’s ID at the reception. (Don’t you know who I am?) Rather than assuming a low profile, the take-charge leader raises expectations.

A truly shrewd executive or politician prefers to be underestimated so that his adversaries do not hinder his success.

The top vote getter in the Senate has no problems with lowered expectations. A complete sentence with subject, predicate, and direct object delivered with a straight face is sure to wow the gallery. Not being expected to do a good job provides an advantage. Then, even the most modest of accomplishments can invite a perception of excellence. (I didn’t think he was ready.)

Still, in the real world, overpromising is necessary to get the top job. Can disappointment be far behind?

 

TONY SAMSON is chairman and CEO of TOUCH xda
ar.samson@yahoo.com

Eden Cheese has something for everyone

More and more people are snacking these days. According to a survey on snacking trends, more than half of people surveyed said that they eat more small meals throughout the day as opposed to the traditional three large meals. In fact, majority of people say that snacks play different roles in their lives. Understanding the changing needs of consumers for snacks, Eden Cheese is strengthening its presence in Filipino’s lives with varied snack offerings to fulfill their different needs. For comfort, enjoyment and deliciousness.

From the same survey, majority of people say their definition of a snack has evolved over the last three years to include more or different types of foods and occasions for eating. This survey is called the State of Snacking and is conducted by snacking company Mondelēz International — the maker of Eden Cheese, in conjunction with The Harris Poll, and Next Atlas.

Eden Cheese: #1 Cheese Brand, with its Creamy, Delicious Goodness that makes Snacks Savor-Worthy

For many years, Eden Cheese has been the undisputed leader in cheese in the Philippines. It’s been consumers’ constant companion throughout birthdays, gatherings and Christmas, and evokes warm memories of times shared together. Pinoy’s favorite spaghetti tastes the best with creamy Eden Cheese melted on top. It’s also packed with milk and cheese, and contains calcium, that makes it a great choice for the family.

Eden understands that as consumers’ lives evolve, they crave choices in the food they consume. Consumers look for a variety of choices among snack products they buy; more than in personal care, clothing, or other needs. To address this demand for different snacks, Eden Cheese has strengthened its portfolio of products to make sure consumers get the same creamy, milky and delicious taste, whatever snack they choose. Below are the different ways Eden’s comforting and familiar taste can be enjoyed together with your family and friends:

The Classic: Eden Cheese with Pan de Sal

There is nothing quite like a warm, toasted pan de sal with creamy, milky, and delicious Eden Cheese between it. Many breakfasts, morning snacks, and afternoon snacks have been made more complete when having this absolute classic pairing. It’s like Darna and Ding, and Romeo and Juliet. Simple but memorable and comforting. Nothing compares!

The Creamier and Meltier Merienda: Eden Meltsarap Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Picture crunchy toasted bread with gooey and melty cheese in between. That’s the goodness that Eden Meltsarap can give. Imagine grating melty cheese on bread, cooking in the pan for more crunch, slicing in half to see the gooey goodness inside, and biting it. It’s certainly not your ordinary snack.

The Easy Cheese Fix: Ham with Eden Cheese Slices

On days consumers need a little something extra to their snacks but have little time, they can slide in a milky and delicious Eden Cheese Singles slice on a sandwich to make it more mouthwatering and enjoyable. It’s so convenient! Just peel, place on top of a ham sandwich, and enjoy. What a quick way to add feel-good cheese to snacks.

The Leveled-up Snack: Eden Cream Cheese with Bagel

Make your leveled-up snacks with the new Eden Cream Cheese made from farm fresh milk. Eden Cream Cheese is the newest offering from the Eden brand! It comes in two formats, a spreadable variant in a tub, to make those fancy snacks that can be seen online. Spread on smooth and creamy Eden Cream Cheese generously on a bagel and add some smoked salmon, or avocado and egg on top for that adult-level snack time. It also comes in a block format for baking recipes, like Blueberry or Basque Burnt Cheesecake.

Consumers’ snack choices should reflect their different tastes and preferences. Eden Cheese has been a constant in Filipino’s lives for many decades, and it’s about to play an even bigger role in more snacking occasions. All Eden variants are available in stores today. For more delicious ways to enjoy your favorite Eden Cheese, visit our website www.cheeseanything.com to checkout recipes!

 

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Trump wanted to join Capitol riot, tried to grab limo steering wheel -aide

U.S. President Donald Trump — REUTERS/LEAH MILLIS/FILE PHOTO

WASHINGTON – Donald Trump tried to grab the steering wheel of his presidential limousine on Jan. 6, 2021, when his security detail declined to take him to the U.S. Capitol where his supporters were rioting, a former aide testified on Tuesday.

The then-president dismissed concerns that some supporters gathered for his fiery speech outside the White House that day carried AR-15-style rifles, instead asking security to stop screening attendees with metal-detecting magnetometers so the crowd would look larger, the aide testified.

“Take the effing mags away; they’re not here to hurt me,” Cassidy Hutchinson, who was a top aide to Mr. Trump‘s then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, quoted Trump as saying that morning.

Ms. Hutchinson, in testimony on the sixth day of House of Representatives hearings into the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol assault by Mr. Trump‘s followers, said the conversation was relayed to her by Tony Ornato, a senior Secret Service official who was Trump‘s deputy chief of staff for operations.

The New York Times and NBC, citing sources in the Secret Service, said the head of Mr. Trump‘s security detail, Robert Engel, and the limousine driver were prepared to testify under oath that Mr. Trump never lunged for the steering wheel. Mr. Engel was in the room when Mr. Ornato relayed the story, Hutchinson said.

The New York Times and CNN, citing unnamed sources, said Mr. Ornato also denied the story and was willing to testify.

Citing her conversation with Mr. Ornato, Ms. Hutchinson testified that Mr. Trump struggled with Secret Service agents who insisted he return to the White House rather than join supporters storming the Capitol where Congress was meeting to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s victory over him in the presidential election.

Mr. Trump‘s supporters were roused by his false claims that his 2020 election defeat was the result of fraud

“‘I’m the effing president. Take me up to the Capitol now,'” Ms. Hutchinson quoted an enraged Mr. Trump as saying. She said Mr. Trump tried from the back seat to grab the steering wheel of the heavily armored presidential vehicle and lunged in anger at a Secret Service official.

Mr. Trump, a Republican, denied her account of his actions.

“Her Fake story that I tried to grab the steering wheel of the White House Limousine in order to steer it to the Capitol Building is ‘sick’ and fraudulent,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media app.

In a statement, the Secret Service said it was cooperating fully with the committee and would continue to do so.

“We learned of the new information shared at today’s hearing and plan on responding formally and on the record as soon as they can accommodate us,” it added.

Ms. Hutchinson’s lawyer Jody Hunt wrote on Twitter that she had “testified, under oath, and recounted what she was told. Those with knowledge of the episode also should testify under oath.”

Dozens of courts, election officials and reviews by Mr. Trump‘s own administration rejected his fraud claims, including outlandish stories about an Italian security firm and the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s tampering with U.S. ballots.

Four people died the day of the attack, one fatally shot by police and the others of natural causes. More than 100 police officers were injured, and one died the next day. Four officers later died by suicide.

 

WITNESS TAMPERING?

At the end of about two hours of testimony, Representative Liz Cheney, one of two Republicans on the nine-member House panel, presented possible evidence of witness tampering and obstruction of justice.

Ms. Cheney showed messages to unidentified witnesses advising them that an unidentified person would be watching their testimony closely and expecting loyalty.

Republican Mick Mulvaney, who served as Mr. Trump‘s chief of staff before Mr. Meadows, tweeted: “There is an old maxim: it’s never the crime, it’s always the cover-up. Things went very badly for the former President today. My guess is that it will get worse from here.”

Ms. Hutchinson told the committee that Mr. Meadows and Mr. Trump‘s former attorney Rudy Giuliani had sought pardons from Mr. Trump.

Mr. Giuliani told WSYR radio in Syracuse, New York, on Tuesday that he had not sought a pardon.

Tuesday’s hastily called hearing marked the first time this month, in six hearings, that a former White House official appeared for live testimony.

Speaking in soft but assured tones, Ms. Hutchinson, 26, painted a picture of panicked White House officials bristling at the possibility of Mr. Trump‘s joining what was to become a violent mob pushing its way into the Capitol, hunting for his vice president, Mike Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other lawmakers who were certifying the victory of Mr. Biden over Mr. Trump.

 

‘EVERY CRIME IMAGINABLE’

The White House officials’ worries focused on the potential criminal charges Mr. Trump and others could face.

“We’re going to get charged with every crime imaginable,” Ms. Hutchinson said White House counselor Pat Cipollone told her if Trump were to go to the Capitol on Jan. 6.

“‘We need to make sure that this doesn’t happen, this would be a really terrible idea for us. We have serious legal concerns if we go up to the Capitol that day,'” Mr. Cipollone said, Ms. Hutchinson testified.

Ms. Hutchinson, who sat doors away from Mr. Trump‘s Oval Office, testified that days before the attack on the U.S. Capitol, Mr. Meadows knew of the looming violence that could unfold.

“‘Things might get real, real bad on Jan. 6,'” she quoted him as saying inside the White House on Jan. 2 with her boss.

She testified that Mr. Giuliani had said of Jan. 6: “‘We’re going to the Capitol, it’s going to be great. The president’s going to be there; he’s going to look powerful.'”

At that point, she told the committee of seven Democrats and two Republicans: “It was the first moment that I remembered feeling scared and nervous of what could happen on Jan. 6.”

This month’s hearings featured videotaped testimony from figures including Mr. Trump‘s oldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, and his former attorney general Bill Barr. They and other witnesses testified that they did not believe Mr. Trump‘s false claims of widespread fraud and tried to dissuade him of them.

Before resigning, Mr. Barr told the Associated Press in an interview there was no evidence of fraud. That angered Trump so much that he threw his lunch at a White House wall, breaking a porcelain dish and leaving ketchup dripping down the wall, according to video testimony to the committee from Kayleigh McEnany, Trump‘s White House press secretary at the time.

Ms. Hutchinson told the committee it was not unusual for Trump to throw food when he was angry: “There were several times throughout my tenure with the chief of staff that I was aware of him either throwing dishes or flipping the tablecloth to let all the contents of the table go onto the floor and likely break or go everywhere.” – Reuters

EU countries reach deal on climate laws after late-night talks

PIKISUPERSTAR-FREEPIK

LUXEMBOURG – EU countries clinched deals on proposed laws to combat climate change early Wednesday, backing a 2035 phase-out of new fossil fuel car sales and a multibillion-euro fund to shield poorer citizens from CO2 costs.

After more than 16 hours of negotiations, environment ministers from the European Union’s 27 member states agreed their joint positions on five laws, part of a broader package of measures to slash planet-warming emissions this decade.

“The climate crisis and its consequences are clear, and so policy is unavoidable,” EU climate policy chief Frans Timmermans said, adding that he thought the invasion of Ukraine by top gas supplier Russia was spurring countries to quit fossil fuels faster.

Ministers supported core parts of the package that the European Commission first proposed last summer, including a law requiring new cars sold in the EU to emit zero CO2 from 2035. That would make it impossible to sell internal-combustion engine cars.

The deal makes it likely that the proposal will become EU law. The ministers’ agreements will form their position in upcoming negotiations with the EU Parliament on the final laws. Parliament has already backed the 2035 car target.

Italy, Slovakia and other states had wanted the phase-out delayed to 2040. Countries eventually backed a compromise proposed by Germany, the EU‘s biggest car market, which kept the 2035 target and asked Brussels to assess in 2026 whether hybrid vehicles or CO2-neutral fuels could comply with the goal.

Timmermans said that the commission would keep an “open mind” but that today, hybrids did not deliver sufficient emissions cuts and alternative fuels were prohibitively expensive.

The climate proposals aim to ensure the 27-country EU – the world’s third-biggest greenhouse gas emitter – reaches its 2030 target of reducing net emissions by 55% from 1990 levels.

Doing so will require governments and industries to invest heavily in cleaner manufacturing, renewable energy and electric vehicles.

Ministers backed a new EU carbon market to impose CO2 costs on polluting fuels used in transport and buildings, though they said it should launch in 2027, a year later than initially planned.

After fraught negotiations, they agreed to form a 59-billion-euro EU fund to shield low-income citizens from the policy’s costs over 2027-2032.

Lithuania was the only country to oppose the final agreements, having unsuccessfully sought a bigger fund alongside Poland, Latvia and others concerned the new CO2 market could increase citizens’ energy bills.

Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands – wealthier countries who would pay more into the fund than they would get back – had wanted it to be smaller.

Ministers also rallied behind reforms to the EU‘s current carbon market, which forces industry and power plants to pay when they pollute.

Countries accepted core elements of the Commission’s proposal to reinforce the market to cut emissions 61% by 2030, and extend it to cover shipping. They agreed on rules to make it easier for the EU to intervene in response to CO2 price spikes.

Ministers backed two other laws to strengthen the national emissions-cutting targets Brussels sets countries for some sectors, and increase natural carbon sinks like forests. – Reuters

S.Korean office workers hit convenience stores as ‘lunch-flation’ bites

STOCK PHOTO | Image by rhys jung from Pixabay

SEOUL – Office worker Park Mi-won had never bought her lunch from a convenience store, until her favorite lunch buffet recently raised prices by more than 10% to 9,000 won ($7) as South Korean inflation soared to a 14-year high.

“After the price rise, I went to convenience stores instead, where I thought the prices were reasonable while food also tasted good,” the 62-year-old said. “So now I go there two to three times a week.”

Global food prices surged 23% last month from a year before, according to an agricultural arm of the United Nations. The war in Ukraine has impacted supplies of grains from there and Russia, and caused energy and fertilizer prices to soar.

Offering cheap instant noodles, sandwiches and “gimbap” (rice rolls) for under $5, convenience stores are gaining in popularity as salaried workers like Park seek ways to cut costs.

South Korean convenience shop chain GS25 posted more than 30% increases in sales of instant meals in January-May versus a year ago.

Seeing increasing demand, GS25 has also launched a new meal subscription service for office workers, which comes with price discounts and deliveries directly to offices.

Peers including CU and 7-Eleven have seen similar surges in demand, while Emart24 saw a 50% jump in lunch-box sales in areas with a large number of office blocks.

Those gains came as the prices of restaurant dishes in South Korea rose 7.4% last month compared with a year earlier, the fastest pace in 24 years.

Dubbed “lunch-flation”, the price of beloved dishes such as “galbitang” (beef stew with rice) jumped 12.2% and “nengmyun” (cold noodles) rose 8.1%, according to government statistics.

While convenience store lunches have not been immune from rising costs, their much lower overall prices have helped them gain in popularity.

Around the capital Seoul, average nengmyun prices recently broke above 10,000 won, according to Korea Consumer Agency data, whereas instant ramen noodles are still available at slightly above 1,000 won at convenience stores.

The Bank of Korea estimates each 1% price rise in imported agricultural products will push up processed food prices by 0.36% in the next year and restaurant prices by 0.14% in next three years.

Some operators say diners should expect bigger price hikes.

“As a matter of fact, I need to raise the price even higher,” said Lee Sang-jae, who runs a galbitang restaurant in Seoul’s central district and has already raised prices twice this year, to 12,000 won from 10,000.

“Instead, I am giving up some of my profit margin, as I also have to consider office workers‘ light wallets these days.”

In a survey by a human resources firm Incruit last month, 96% of 1,004 office workers said they now found lunch prices burdensome. Among those, almost half were looking for ways to cut lunch spending.

But in South Korea, lunchtime has been regarded sacred among office workers, who often mingle with friends and colleagues for longer than the allotted hour at busy diners.

“It is much cheaper than going to a restaurant, but the downside is we cannot have lunch altogether here,” said Ku Dong-hyun, 28, chomping on gimbap and ramen noodle from a GS25 for his Friday lunch.

While many small restaurants are still benefiting from a bounce-back in evening dining after months of COVID-induced social distancing rules, economists warn prolonged pressure on consumer prices will weigh on consumption.

“Real purchasing power is shrinking amid fierce inflation pressures, but people don’t want to cut down evening gatherings they just started, while on lunches they can,” said Lee Seung-hoon, chief economist at Meritz Securities.

“As high-marching consumer prices last longer and longer, it will start to weigh on private consumption, and when it does, together with worsening external conditions for exports, it will raise questions about the central bank’s aggressive monetary tightening that we are seeing now.” – Reuters

UK defence spending projected to reach 2.3% of GDP this year

Britain’s defense spending is projected to reach 2.3% of its GDP this year due to increased military support for Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion of that country, the government said in a statement late on Tuesday.

The estimate came after UK defense minister Ben Wallace called for more funding, saying Britain must bolster its defense investment to tackle threats not only from Russia but from China and other countries. Read full story

Wallace has urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to increase the defense budget to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2028, according to a Talk TV report.

Britain’s new projection would be above NATO’s estimate that it would spend 2.12% of GDP on defense this year, and higher than an estimated 2.26% in 2021.

The Atlantic alliance asks members to keep its defense spending above the 2% threshold but Johnson was expected to challenge that argument.

At the NATO’s Madrid summit on Wednesday, Johnson will also announce new military commitments to NATO, and will urge allies to discuss a new target for defense investment from 2024, the government added in its statement.

“Over the next ten years the threats around us are only going to grow. We need allies – all allies – to dig deep to restore deterrence and ensure defense in the decade ahead,” the statement said, quoting from Johnson’s prepared speech.

“The 2% was always meant to be a floor, not a ceiling and allies must continue to step up in this time of crisis.”

Britain said it would also ensure rapid reinforcements for Estonia if required, and would deploy artillery, air defense and helicopters in the country. Estonia was annexed by the former Soviet Union in 1940 and gained independence in 1991.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have been calling for their region to receive the biggest build-up of combat-ready NATO forces in Europe since the end of the Cold War, fearing they could be next. Read full story – Reuters

Desktop-as-a-service to ease remote work security fears

UNSPLASH

Technology leaders are urging organizations to use desktop-as-a-service (DaaS), citing security, manageability, cost efficiency, and speed to market as its advantages.

DaaS, a cloud computing service that offers virtual desktops via the Internet, allows end users to access their data regardless of the device they use or the location they log in from. Data stored securely in the cloud when they log off the system.

“Most of our outsourcers have their own equipment wherever they are in the world. They connect to DaaS, where … everything they do is recorded, so if an incident happens, we are able to see exactly what’s happening,” said Pierre Passin, deputy chief information officer of Asian Development Bank, in a June 21 event organized by Economist Impact and sponsored by Citrix, a cloud computing and visualization technology company out of Florida.

The rise of flexible work arrangements has increased the demand for DaaS. In a survey conducted by Citrix between February and March, 57% of the information technology (IT) leaders said they would consider DaaS as a solution for the facilitation of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, and also for the simplification of IT administration tasks. More than half (55%) also said it was useful for providing system access to contractors or seasonal workers. 

Maintenance overheads are reduced with DaaS, according to Connor Hughes, chief technology officer of Artesian (Alternative Investments), an alternative investment management firm in New South Wales. 

“The cost associated with provisioning PCs [personal computers] for geographically disparate teams is quite big,” he said at the same event. “Security overhead is [also] reduced by having a managed capability which can be patched, tended to, and updated without any user involvement — and all can be done remotely.” 

Over the pandemic, Takeda, a pharmaceutical company in Tokyo, had to purchase laptops and ship the devices to remote places. “With our service now, the outsourced already has laptops we can manage securely … Anything we can manage centrally and have a level of control of is much better from a security and risk perspective,” said Danielle Bateman, head of commercial and digital IT, growth, and emerging markets at Takeda.

The global DaaS market is expected to reach a revenue of $10.7 billion in 2023. — Patricia B. Mirasol

A good start for Philippine real estate this year

By Adrian Paul B. Conoza, Special Features Assistant Editor

In spite of several challenges impacting both global and local economies, the Philippine real estate sector had a good start this 2022. In its most recent reports, professional services and investment management company Colliers Philippines observed optimism across property segments.

Within the residential segment, Colliers recorded demand having increased by 640 units in the first quarter (Q1) of the year. Demand is projected to reach 9,610 units for the whole year. While only 560 units were recorded for the same quarter, which is down 86% year-on-year (YOY), supply is expected to pick up by 20% with the delivery of 10,500 units by the end of 2022.

Colliers also found that rents declined by 0.2% quarter-on-quarter (QOQ), but it forecast rents and prices to increase by 1.5% and 2.7%, respectively, for the entire 2022. Vacancy, meanwhile, reached 17.8%, and is expected to further recede to 17.2% by the end of 2022.

Overall, the residential market is marked with optimism as economic sectors are opening up and returning to on-site work is being encouraged, Joey Roi Bondoc, Colliers Philippines’ associate director for research, observed.

“This, coupled with the return of more foreign employees should have a positive impact on residential leasing. Hence, we are projecting a gradual recovery in rents and prices which should extend beyond 2022,” Mr. Bondoc wrote in a report published last April. “Business and consumer confidence should spillover to the pre selling market. Hence, we project a recovery which should start by the second half of 2022.”

Optimism is likewise seen within the mass housing market, even amid the coronavirus pandemic, as Pammy Olivares-Vital, president of real estate developer Ovialand, noted.

“The home-buying market realized early on during the pandemic that a house and lot investment is more convenient, comfortable and long-term, that’s why it has been a very busy time for us since 2020,” Ms. Vital told BusinessWorld in an e-mail.

She shared that Ovialand’s revenues grew 91% in 2021, attributing such growth to the developer’s edge in swiftly building and turning over homes to its clients. It projects to grow by 35% to 40% this year.

“Even as we see signs of returning to pre-pandemic mobility, we still see a strong demand for our housing product as many Filipinos are choosing the option of living outside Metro Manila,” Ms. Vital continued.

Ovialand’s developments, which cater to the premium affordable category, are currently centralized in the Southern Luzon region, particularly in San Pablo, Laguna; Sto. Tomas, Batangas; and Candelaria, Quezon.

For Ms. Vital, the location of their developments matches very well with the increasing infrastructure and transport options in the said area. This, in turn, allows more Filipino homebuyers to explore their options outside Metro Manila.

The Ovialand president thus hopes that the incoming administration will continue ongoing infrastructure and transportation plans, “as the connectivity of towns and cities allow developers to find new areas of development rather than be limited to progressive areas already where land prices are no longer feasible for affordable house and lot.”

“We are looking forward to the rehabilitation of the PNR Train Systems as well, allowing the Makati CBD to be only a train ride away from our areas of development,” she added.

Building costs

One of the challenges the real estate sector has been dealing with recently is the increase in prices of building materials.

Reported earlier in June, preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that retail prices of construction materials in the National Capital Region last February grew to its fastest pace in more than five years. Metro Manila’s construction materials retail price index increased from 3% in January to 3.3% in February, up by 1.1% YOY.

Feeling the impact of these increased prices, Ovialand responded by securing bulk supply with suppliers and committing to its fast building of houses.

“Our speed and efficiency is one way for us to combat the rising prices. By selling houses closer to the date of procurement of materials, we are able to price our house and lot products accordingly,” Ms. Vital said.

Office segment

A positive picture was also seen in the office segment, with Colliers having tallied a positive net take-up in Q1 2022 after seven consecutive quarters of negative absorption. About 146,100 square meters (sq. m.) of office deals were recorded in Q1 2022, more than the 134,100 sq. m. in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2021. 306,100 sq. m. of new office space was added to the market’s supply, more than double the 114,300 sq. m. from Q4 2021.

“Traditional and outsourcing companies continue to dominate demand as they take advantage of the rental correction and availability of new office buildings in major business districts,” Colliers’ report explained. “Companies’ return to office mandates should also support office absorption over the next 12 months.”

Office rents declined by an average of 3.1% QOQ in Q1, and it is projected to drop by about 5% this year before a recovery starts next year. Office vacancy, meanwhile, increased to 17.3% in Q1 from 15.7% in Q4 2021. With the projected completion of about 821,900 sq. m. of new supply, Colliers revised its year-end forecast to about 18.2% from 18.9%.

Retail market

The retail market is also seeing a good start this year as consumer confidence improves and malls get more foot traffic recently.

Demand for retail space, which Colliers tallied at an increase of 74,000 sq. m., is expected to be led by food & beverage retailers for the remainder of this year, although clothing segments are also seen to be picking up demand. Also, from Q4 2021 to Q1 2022, 130,000 sq. m. of new retail space was completed, and a total of 409,000 sq. m. is expected to be completed in 2022.

Retail rents, meanwhile, have dropped by 15% compared to levels before the pandemic, but a slow recovery is forecast as the rise in household spending and consumer traffic influences rents starting in the second half of 2022.

Retail vacancy, on the other hand, continued to rise in Metro Manila at 15.2% in Q1 2022 from 14.8% in the third quarter of 2021. It is seen to reach 16% by the end of 2022.

“Aside from revenge shopping and dining which we project to kick in starting Q2 (second quarter) 2022, we see more opportunities in the market given mall operators’ and retailers’ propensities to innovate amid a liberalized playing field. Consumer confidence abounds and this should have a positive impact on mall space absorption and rents in 2022,” Colliers explained in a separate report.

Cause for discernment

While positive performances and outlooks have largely characterized property segments in the country for the first three months, global challenges such as the war between Russia and Ukraine and the inflation in the United States bring a cause for discernment among investors.

“These global challenges will definitely have direct impacts on us locally — and while I believe this will not slow down the real estate industry — it will make the market more discerning and astute when it comes to their investments,” Ms. Vital of Ovialand said.

“Developers and business owners alike must be in tune with their market to understand the changing needs of the people,” she added.

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