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Peso drops slightly as global crude prices climb

BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO weakened slightly against the dollar on Thursday due to higher global oil prices.

The local unit closed at P58.61 per dollar on Thursday, inching down by 3.5 centavos from its P58.575 finish on Wednesday, Bankers Association of the Philippines data showed.

The peso opened Thursday’s session stronger at P58.45 against the dollar. Its intraday best was at P58.41, while its worst showing was its closing level of P58.61 versus the greenback.

Dollars traded inched up to $1.38 billion on Thursday from $1.37 billion on Wednesday.

The rise in global oil prices dragged down the peso, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

“The peso weakened, tracking the renewed spike in global crude oil prices after the fresh sanctions on Russian gas exports,” a trader likewise said in an e-mail.

Oil prices rose more than 2% on Wednesday, supported by a large draw in US crude stockpiles and potential supply disruptions caused by new US sanctions on Russia, while a Gaza ceasefire deal limited gains, Reuters reported.

Brent crude futures settled $2.11 or 2.64% higher at $82.03 a barrel, the highest since August 2024. US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) settled up $2.54 or 3.28% at $80.04 a barrel, the highest since July.

In post settlement trade, Brent rose to the highest since July and WTI gained more than $3 a barrel.

US crude oil inventories fell last week to their lowest since 2022, the US Energy Information Administration reported, as exports rose and imports fell.

The latest round of US sanctions on Russian oil could disrupt Russian oil supply and distribution significantly, the International Energy Agency said in its monthly oil market report.

For Friday, the trader said the peso could rise anew as softer-than-expected US core consumer inflation data fueled bets of further Federal Reserve rate cuts.

The trader sees the peso moving between P58.45 and P58.70 per dollar on Friday, while Mr. Ricafort expects it to range from P58.45 to P58.65.

Overnight, data showed the consumer price index (CPI) rose in line with expectations at an annual rate of 2.9% in December, from November’s 2.7%. But core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, rose by 3.2%, below forecasts for 3.3%.

Investors were particularly encouraged by the latest inflation reading since data released on Tuesday showed that US producer prices increased moderately in December.

The inflation report led traders to price close-to-even odds the Fed would cut interest rates twice by the end of this year. — Aaron Michael C. Sy with Reuters

PEZA seeking to raise share of electronics locators in ecozones

REUTERS

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said that it is hoping to increase electronics manufacturing services and semiconductor manufacturing services (EMS-SMS) investments in economic zones (ecozones).

In a statement on Thursday, PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said the investment promotion agency (IPA) plans to increase the share of EMS-SMS, information technology and business process management (IT-BPM), and American registered business enterprises (RBEs) within its ecozones.

“Undoubtedly, the Philippine economy and electronics industry are on the rise with sustained growth momentum. Even the global electronics industry is projecting 7.5% growth this year, indicating a rosier outlook from its sluggish performance for the past two years,” Mr. Panga said.

“PEZA endeavors to increase further the 32% share of EMS-SMS, the 12% share of IT-BPM, and the 317 American RBEs in total ecozone investments — banking especially on the stronger US-Philippine cooperation and economic ties under the Trump administration,” he added.

He cited the need to seize the opportunities presented by the new US government’s trade policy.

“I highly doubt that a reversal in US policy as regards the Philippines in terms of trade will occur under a Trump administration,” he said, citing the country’s performance, renewed ties between the US and the Philippines, and a looming US-China trade war.

He said improving ease of doing business and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act will make the Philippines a viable for US businesses.

“PEZA will continue to engage, promote, and entice US companies to invest in the country. And for US companies that have made PEZA their home in the Philippines, encourage their expansion in this part of the world,” he said.

“I believe that our long-standing alliance have mutual benefits for both countries, especially in business and trade in the long term,” he added.

In a mission to Las Vegas and San Francisco, PEZA met with IPC (International Association for Electronics Manufacturing), Applied Materials, ASML, Suba Technology, and their suppliers.

PEZA also briefed ON Semicon, Winstron NeWeb Corp., Quintel Technology, Enphase Energy, Inc., Logoline, Valmiz, and LJ1D Consulting on opportunities in the Philippines.

Mr. Panga highlighted the need to address the potential impact of the planned US tariff hikes on the EMS-SMS industry.

These include how the policy will affect Philippine EMS-SMS exports, how the Philippines will benefit from the increased import tariffs on EMS-SMS products from China, Mexico, and Vietnam, and whether US policy will erode the Philippines’ ability to attract more US investment.

“Alternatively, the government can counter the planned import tariff hikes by forging a bilateral free trade agreement with the US and reviving the Generalized System of Preferences Program to allow for greater market access for our commodity exports to the US,” he added.

PEZA hosts 482 EMS-SMS companies that provide critical back-end support to their principal clients in the US. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Last subway contracts targeted for award this year

THE Tunnel Boring Machine at the Camp Aguinaldo station of the Metro Manila Subway Project in Quezon City on Jan. 16, 2025. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) is hoping to award the remaining contract packages of the Metro Manila Subway Station project by the middle of this year.

“For the remaining contract packages (CPs) — that is, CP 105, 108, 109 — We hope to award those by the middle of this year,” Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Jeremy S. Regino told reporters on Thursday.

On Thursday, the Transportation department, together with Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd. officially launched the tunneling works for CP 103 of the Metro Manila Subway project with the installation of the tunnel boring machine at Camp Aguinaldo station.

The remaining contract packages of the Metro Manila Subway Station project are valued at between P10 billion and P15 billion.

CP 105 covers the construction of the station in Kalayaan Avenue and Bonifacio Global City; while CP 108 covers the Lawton and Senate-DepEd stations; and CP 109 the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 station.

“The DoTr commits to go full blast with our projects this year despite budget constraints. We are confident of the timely completion of transport infrastructures in the coming year,” Mr. Regino said.

The Metro Manila Subway Station project is now 50% complete, Mr. Regino said, adding that the DoTr is still confident of achieving partial operations in 2029, with full operations expected between 2030 and 2031.

The subway project will link Valenzuela City to Parañaque City, with a spur line connecting to Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The subway is 33 kilometers long with 17 stations. The goal is to cut travel time between Quezon City and NAIA to 35 minutes from over an hour currently. It is expected to accommodate up to 370,000 passengers daily. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Price hikes approved for 63 commodities

PHOTO BY BERNARD HERMANT

THE Department of Trade and Industry said it has approved price increase for 63 commodities, equivalent to 28% of the commodities covered by the suggested retail price bulletin.

Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque said prices for the remaining 72% of stock keeping units will remain steady.

“We had a meeting with the manufacturers and 72% will not have any price increase. If ever there’s a price increase it’s only for the remaining 28%,” she told reporters on Thursday. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

LGU share of National Gov’t revenue about 35% in 2026 after set-asides

QUEZON CITY MAYOR MA. JOSEFINA G. BELMONTE — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

FINANCE Secretary Ralph G. Recto said that the National Tax Allotment (NTA) for local government units (LGUs) will be the equivalent of 35% of National Government revenue in 2026 when allocations to special-purpose funds are taken into account.

“Today they’re getting roughly 32% as we calculated yesterday, and it will go up to about 35% by 2026. More or less,” Mr. Recto told reporters on Thursday.

The government is required by the Local Government Code to provide 40% of its tax revenue to LGUs, though it is allowed to deduct certain items, such as Special Purpose Funds, from the NTA calculation.

Among the exclusions from the 40% calculation are “special allotments like that for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM),” he said.

The Code originally called for the LGU share to be 40% of all “internal revenue,” which the Supreme Court struck down in its Mandanas ruling, effectively amending the law to read 40% of all taxes.

According to the 2025 budget, LGUs will get a P1.03-trillion NTA, which is based on the National Government’s revenue from three years prior.

Mr. Recto also added that LGUs are due to receive additional revenue once the impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law becomes more apparent.

“By 2026 there will be additional revenue for the local government units, particularly from TRAIN,” Mr. Recto said, referring to the tax reform measure that streamlined the collection process to improve compliance and boost revenue.

The DoF met the Mayors for Good Government (M4GG) representatives, Quezon City Mayor Ma. Josefina G. Belmonte and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong, on Wednesday.

Mr. Magalong, founder of M4GG claimed that LGUs were “shortchanged,” receiving only 31% of NG revenue in 2024 and 32% in 2023.

“I think what is important is no one is shortchanging the local government. And as promised, we are very transparent. We show them all the calculations,” Mr. Recto said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Belmonte, president of the League of Cities and a co-convenor of the M4GG said both parties are still open to talks on the matter.

“Siyempre hindi pa nagtatapos dyan… (Things don’t end there). We would like to see if there are other legal remedies other interpretations of the Constitution as well as the SC ruling,” she said.

Ms. Belmonte added that municipalities that rely on the NTA are disproportionately affected, unlike highly urbanized cities that have other sources of revenue. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Rice-for-All program to offer P38 rice

PHILIPPINE STAR/WALTER BOLLOZOS

THE Department of Agriculture said it lowered the price of 25% broken rice sold by the Rice-for-All program to P38 per kilogram from P40 per kilo.

“This price reduction will take effect on Friday (Jan. 17), just ahead of the implementation of the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) of P58 per kilo for 5% broken imported rice,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said in a statement on Thursday.

Rice-for-All is a component of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program. Rice sold in KADIWA centers and stores also include a 5% broken grain variety priced at P45 per kilo, and 100% broken rice at P36 per kilo.

KADIWA centers also sell rice to low-income individuals for P29 per kilo.

“These offerings are being expanded across public markets and KADIWA centers to better serve the consumer,” the DA added.

The DA is looking to expand its KADIWA network to 1,500 locations by 2028, with a 300-outlet target by the second quarter.

To tame rice prices and control profiteering, the DA is set to impose an MSRP on imported rice with 5% broken-grain content at P58 per kilo, starting in Metro Manila markets.

The measure will be reviewed monthly to reflect fluctuations in global market prices and tariff rates, with plans to extend the program to other key cities nationwide.

The agency added that should importers exceed the MSRP, the DA will switch to a stricter suggested retail price scheme with fines and other penalties for violators.  

Importers and retailers have agreed to a profit margin of P10 per kilo above the landed cost of imported rice. This deal excludes specialty rice varieties such as glutinous rice, Japanese, and black rice.

“If world rice prices remain stable, we anticipate a reduction in the MSRP after the February review,” Mr. Laurel added. — Adrian H. Halili

Finance department bats for single tax rate on vapor products

PIXABAY

THE DEPARTMENT of Finance (DoF) pushed for a single tax rate on Thursday on all types of nicotine and vapor products to ease the collection burden on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

“It is very hard for the Bureau of Internal Revenue to distinguish which is a freebase and a salt nicotine so there is actually an incentive for manufacturers to identity their products as freebase because it is taxed at a lower rate,” Finance Assistant Secretary Karlo S. Adriano Fermin told the Senate blue ribbon committee.

The government imposes a tax of P57 per milliliter (ml) on salt nicotine products, P6.3 per ml on freebase nicotine products, and P65 per 10 ml tax on classic nicotine products, according to the excise tax rates prescribed by the Bureau of Customs for 2024.

“Hence, we want to have a unitary rate for ease of tax administration because the BIR does not have that capacity to determine if this is salt nicotine or freebase,” Mr. Adriano said.

The BIR collected P130.91 billion in tobacco excise taxes in the first 11 months of 2024, well behind the pace needed to hit the year’s target of P185.34 billion.

In a separate statement, Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said his department is open to discussions on raising excise tax rates on tobacco products but warned that continuous tax increases could also make it more attractive and profitable to smuggle these products.

“We’re willing to listen because excise taxes on tobacco fell by roughly P50 billion. We want to increase our revenue there.”

“There is a relationship between high rates and illicit trade, smuggling.” Mr. Recto said. “That’s why we are looking for a sweet spot.”

The House ways and means committee is pushing for a moratorium on yearly excise rate increases on tobacco products.

According to an unnumbered substitute bill prepared by the committee obtained by BusinessWorld on Jan. 14, the pause in yearly hikes would start on Jan. 1 next year until Dec. 31, 2026, provided that a 5% increase will then be imposed starting Jan. 1 and every three years thereafter.

“The focus should be on enforcement because that’s what the experience has been,” Adolfo Jose A. Montesa, a program officer of the fiscal policy team at the Action for Economic Reforms, told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of the hearing.

“If you want to reduce illicit trade, you have to make it harder for people to access these products and you have to be able to go after the entire value chain.”

He cited the need for a track and trace system on tobacco products, requiring the DoF to bolster coordination with law enforcement bodies, and to impose stiffer penalties against smugglers.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has signed a law classifying agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and financing of these crimes as acts of economic sabotage, if the goods exceed a valuation threshold of P10 million. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

BDO sees growth topping 6% in 2025; BPI estimates 6.3%

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE economy’s 2025 expansion is expected to top 6% in 2025, Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. (BDO) said, with the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) giving a 6.3% estimate for gross domestic product.

At the 9th Joint Economic Briefing organized by European chambers, BDO Investor Relations Group Senior Vice-President Dante Tinga, Jr. said he expects tempered inflation and lower interest rates boosting investment and consumption, noting that the private sector has had four years of subdued capital expenditure (capex) activity.

“Investments and consumption are picking up. And we believe that corporates that have held back on capex the past four years will resume capex spending, and that should push up Philippine GDP (gross domestic product) to over 6% in 2025,” Mr. Tinga said.

In a note, BPI Lead Economist Emilio S. Neri, Jr. said: “Consumer spending is expected to show stronger growth this year with inflation now at manageable levels. This improvement will likely be most apparent in discretionary spending after a period of slower growth caused by high inflation, as consumers focused more on essentials.”

For the first nine months of 2024, growth averaged 5.8%. Preliminary fourth-quarter and full-year GDP data will be released on Jan. 30.

The government was counting on 6-6.5% GDP growth in 2024, and 6-8% growth this year.

BDO’s Mr. Tinga said household consumption has been picking up from 4.6% in the first quarter of 2024 to 5.1% in the third quarter.

“The pickup is driven by improvement in essential spending. Essential spending, or spending by less affluent consumers, has actually been relatively weak since the pandemic,” he said.

He said that because the “inflation show is already behind us,” less affluent consumers are gaining some purchasing power, which increased their spending on basic necessities.

“We’re also seeing an improvement in private consumption and durable equipment, mainly importation of machinery in the third quarter,” he said.

“That’s a positive sign, because the private sector, even though their balance sheets have been healthy, when we talk to them, they held back on investments given volatility in exchange rates and interest rates,” he added.

He said that as interest rates and exchange rates stabilized, private construction and investments in machinery will continue to pick up.

“We are confident that the pick-up in consumption and investments that we saw in the second half of last year can be sustained, mainly because the drivers of private sector demand remain very much intact,” he said.

These drivers are foreign worker deployment, employment levels, and aggregate corporate and household balance sheets.

“For 2024 we are projecting that overseas foreign worker deployment will be over 2.6 million, and then that will translate to stable remittances that help support consumption spending,” he said.

Mr. Neri sees inflation remaining within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 2-4% target in the coming months, but noted risks such as the possibility of La Niña and disruptions to global supply chains due to trade barriers.

“Inflation remains sensitive to adverse weather conditions, particularly for vegetable prices, which warrant close attention. On the other hand, stable commodity prices amid China’s economic slowdown, improving rice supply, and President Trump’s push to expand US oil production may offset these risks. Additionally, China’s surplus manufacturing capacity could lead to cheaper imports into the Philippines, further easing inflationary pressures. Average inflation may reach 3.5% in 2025,” he said.

Philippine headline inflation picked up to 2.9% in December from 2.5% in November, marking the third consecutive month of faster inflation.

Still, this was slower than the 3.9% reading in the same month a year prior.

December inflation brought the 2024 average to 3.2%, well below the 6% in 2023 and marking the first time since 2021 that the consumer price index settled within the central bank’s 2-4% annual target. This was also the weakest reading since the 2.4% average in 2020.

With a stable outlook for inflation, Mr. Neri sees the BSP cutting rates by 50 basis points (bps) in the first half, as the latter half could see the Federal Reserve turn hawkish due to US President-elect Donald J. Trump’s protectionist policies.

This would bring the BSP’s key rate to 5.25% by end-2025, which will also support household spending.

BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. has said that the central bank is open to delivering another cut in its first policy meeting for this year, which is scheduled for Feb. 20.

However, he said that while the BSP remains in an easing cycle, 100 bps worth of cuts this year may be “too much” due to inflation risks. He added that they will continue to bring down benchmark interest rates in “baby steps.” — Justine Irish D. Tabile and Aaron Michael C. Sy

NCR wholesale building materials price growth steady in December

A WORKER cuts metal in a construction area in Binondo, Manila, March 24, 2022. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ RUSSELL PALMA

WHOLESALE price growth of construction materials in Metro Manila was flat while retail price growth accelerated in December, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday.

Citing preliminary data, the PSA said the construction materials wholesale price index (CMWPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) remained at 0.2%, compared with the 1.3% posted a year earlier.

Year to date, the CMWPI averaged 0.6%, significantly lower than the 5.2% a year earlier.

The PSA noted that some sub-indices rose, such as hardware and lumber by 0.7% from 0.5% in the preceding month, and tileworks by 0.4%, compared to 0.3% in November.

“A slower annual decrease was recorded in the index of fuels and lubricants at 1.2% in December 2024 from 1.6% annual decline in the previous month,” the PSA said.

Electrical works price growth was 0.4%, decelerating from 0.5% in November, while structural steel prices declined 0.5%, compared to the 0.1% uptick in the previous month. A steeper decline was seen in plywood, where prices fell 0.5%, compared with the 0.3% decline in November.

Other wholesale indices for commodity groups remained steady.

Diwa C. Guinigundo, country analyst at GlobalSource Partners, said wholesale demand for construction materials in December was relatively steady compared to November as construction activity typically slows during the last quarter of the year.

“I just hope this is not symptomatic of weakening construction activity in general given the report of a potential glut in some high-end segments,” Mr. Guinigundo said via Viber.

The CMWPI is based on constant 2018 prices.

In a separate report, PSA said according to preliminary data, growth in the construction materials retail price index (CMRPI) in Metro Manila accelerated to 1.5% in December from 1.4% in the previous month and 1.4% a year earlier.

The CMRPI averaged 1.2% in 2024, significantly lower than the 2.5% posted a year earlier. This was the weakest reading in five years, or since the 0.7% growth in 2019.

The CMRPI is based on 2012 constant prices.

“The major contributor to the uptrend in the annual rate of CMRPI in NCR was the higher annual increase observed in the heavily-weighted tinsmithry materials index at 2.6% in December 2024 from 2% in the previous month,” the PSA said.

Additionally, electrical materials grew 1.9% in December from 1.8% in November, while masonry materials price growth accelerated to 0.3% from 0.2% a month earlier.

Mr. Guinigundo said the slight increase in retail prices suggests more activity in the smaller construction projects such as housing construction and repairs. — Kenneth H. Hernandez

Top Trump diplomat asks China to stop ‘messing around’ with PHL and Taiwan

PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD PHOTO

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter

US PRESIDENT-ELECT Donald J. Trump’s pick for top diplomat urged China to stop “messing around” with the Philippines and Taiwan, saying Washington would keep its focus on the Indo-Pacific region.

The US and China could avoid conflicts if the latter would not destabilize the Indo-Pacific region, Florida Senator and Secretary of State-designate Marco Antonio Rubio said at his confirmation hearing, based on a video streamed live on Meta.

China should “stop messing around with Taiwan and with the Philippines, because it’s forcing us to focus our attention in ways we prefer not to have to,” he said.

Washington intends to keep its defense commitment to the Philippines and Taiwan, warning China against any “irrational” acts against them.

“The actions that they are taking now are deeply destabilizing,” Mr. Rubio said. “They are forcing us to take actions because we have defense commitments to the Philippines and we have commitments to Taiwan that we intend to keep.”

“If they want to keep some path of stabilization in our relationship, even as we remain engaged in global competition, and in some cases more adversarial than others, they really need to stop messing around with the Philippines and Taiwan,” he added.

Mr. Rubio’s statement gives clarity to questions hounding the stability of US-Philippines relations under Mr. Trump, who is set to take office on Jan. 20.

Mr. Trump has been known for his America-first policy, raising questions for US allies in the region.

“These pronouncements from the secretary of State-designate Mr. Rubio are undoubtedly reflective of the stance of Trump vis-a-vis China even during his first tenure as America’s president,” Josue Raphael J. Cortez, a diplomacy instructor at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde’s School of Diplomacy and Governance, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“We can expect that the trail the US will be pursuing as it works to counterbalance Chinese influence and strategic actions towards both the Philippines and Taiwan will be very much alike with the strategies it employed during the first Trump regime,” he added.

Mr. Rubio accused of China seeking to establish preeminence in the region, which he said will have “historical ramifications” for small nations.

The 53-year-old Republican said China believes “all roads lead back to Beijing.” But countries like Australia, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam do not view themselves as “tributary states,” he pointed out.

Mr. Cortez said given China’s continuous militarization efforts against Manila and Taiwan, “there is also a possibility that aside from pursuing a similar path, the US may further bolster and expand its presence within the region.”

“These are all for the sake of helping out the two countries in ascertaining their territorial integrity and security,” he added.

‘GEOPOLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP’
Ensuring a proper geopolitical balance between the US and China should be a major strategy of Washington, Mr. Rubio, who has served in the Senate since 2011, told the nomination hearing at the Senate foreign relations committee that lasted about five hours.

Regarding Taiwan, he said Washington should make China understand that the cost of invading the self-ruled island would be higher than the benefit.

“I think that’s critical, not just to defending Taiwan (but) to preventing a cataclysmic military intervention in the Indo-Pacific.”

Mr. Rubio described China as the “most potent and dangerous adversary” the US has ever faced.

China claims the South China Sea almost in its entirety, including parts of the waterway that fall within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Manila on Tuesday accused China of intimidating Filipino fishermen near Scarborough Shoal and normalizing its “illegal presence” after Beijing sent its biggest coast guard ship into the Philippine EEZ.

The monster ship, first detected near the Zambales coast on Jan. 4, was last spotted 77 nautical miles west of Capones Island, the Philippine Coast Guard said on Tuesday.

“In line with the US’ ‘ironclad commitment’ to us — popularized by Trump during his first term — and our ever-closer ties with Washington under the Marcos regime, we can expect more agreements between the two leaders given that even Republicans themselves highly value the security commitments America forge with the rest of the world,” Mr. Cortez said.

“The Indo-Pacific is the West’s gateway to further expand its trade with Southeast and East Asia, therefore it is also part and parcel of their national interest that they get to have the dominant hand in its affairs,” he added.

Ateneo Policy Center Senior fellow Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco said the Marcos government should resist the temptation to use Mr. Rubio’s soundbite in its national security messaging.

“This is how the US projects power, but the Marcos government shouldn’t rely on this as a commitment set in stone,” he said via Messenger chat.

He urged the government to build a constituency behind its national security policy “by highlighting what we need to do to protect ourselves.” “We must be projecting internal fortitude and resolve to defend our sovereignty and way of life. We shouldn’t be acting like a former colony of the US,” he added.

“The US is an ally and their politicians can huff and puff against their adversaries all they want,” Mr. Yusingco said. “But we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be a pawn in their geopolitical gamesmanship.”

“The Marcos administration shouldn’t project itself as a mere US mouthpiece in Asia. So he shouldn’t conflate this soundbite with our national defense messaging,” he added.

Also on Thursday, Philippine and Chinese representatives met in Xiamen, Fujian in China — the hometown of majority of Chinese Filipinos — for their 10th bilateral consultation on the South China Sea, the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.

DFA Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong had “frank and constructive discussions” on the situation in the South China Sea and other bilateral issues.

“Our position is clear and consistent, but so is our willingness to engage in dialogue,” Ms. Lazaro said in her opening remarks. “We firmly believe that despite the unresolved challenges and differences, there is genuine space for diplomatic and pragmatic cooperation in dealing with our issues in the South China Sea.”

The two sides exchanged views on the Philippines’ rotation and reprovisioning missions to BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal and “agreed to continue its implementation to sustain the de-escalation of tensions without prejudice to respective national positions.”

The Philippines also expressed serious concern about the recent activities of China Coast Guard ships including its biggest one near Philippine maritime zones. These are inconsistent with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, it said.

“The meeting agreed to reinvigorate the platform for coast guard cooperation,” the DFA said. “The two sides also identified ocean meteorology as an area of focus for a workshop on marine scientific cooperation.”

The Philippines will host the next bilateral consultation mechanism at a later date, it said.

House won’t push Sara’s impeachment — lawmaker

VICE-PRESIDENT SARA DUTERTE-CARPIO — PHILIPINE STAR/ RYAN BALDEMOR

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

THE House of Representatives is no longer keen on pursuing impeachment complaints against Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio given President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s opposition to it, a congressman said on Thursday.

The House is also not sure whether it could get a conviction before the Senate, Manila Rep. Bienvenido M. Abante, Jr. told a virtual news briefing on Thursday.

Many of his colleagues also think they don’t have much time. Filipinos will choose a new set of congressmen for the House and 12 of the 24-member Senate on May 12, apart from other local government officials.

“The lawmakers I’ve talked to are more amenable to discuss impeachment in the next Congress,” he said in Filipino.

Ms. Duterte is at the center of a developing political crisis after the collapse of her alliance with Mr. Marcos, a union that propelled them to two of the country’s highest posts in 2022.

The estranged vice-president has since criticized the Marcos government and had threatened to have Mr. Marcos, his wife and the Speaker assassinated if she was killed.

She made these comments amid a House investigation of her alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential and intelligence funds in 2022 and 2023. She has denied any wrongdoing, calling the probe politically motivated.

The Office of the Vice-President did not immediately reply to an e-mail seeking comment.

The House should hear the impeachment complaints even if the President is against it, Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco, a constitutionalist and senior research fellow at the Ateneo Policy Center, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“It is unconstitutional for the President to interfere in the impeachment process, either to say that it should proceed or not,” he said. “Impeachment is a constitutional duty imposed on lawmakers who are expected to perform this duty with independence.”

At least three impeachment complaints against Ms. Duterte have been submitted to the House. While some congressmen from the majority have said they would toe the president’s line, civil groups and minority lawmakers remained bent on her removal.

She faced a slew of impeachment raps filed by civil society groups, activists and clergymen in December. They accused Ms. Duterte of corruption, bribery and betrayal of the public trust.

“Why waste time on it?” Mr. Marcos said in November. “None of this will help improve a single Filipino life. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a storm in a teacup.”

“That statement… is quite strong,” Mr. Abante said in mixed English and Filipino. “We must remember that the President still has influence over a lot of congressmen. I think some congressmen are cool (to the impeachment) because of the President’s pronouncement.”

Any Filipino can file an impeachment complaint at the House of Representatives, but at least a third of the chamber must approve it so an impeached official could be tried by the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.

“We are not actually sure if the Senate will proceed with the impeachment or approve it,” Mr. Abante said.

While the House is led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, the president’s cousin, the Dutertes maintain a few key allies in the Senate, including ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s former police general and chief presidential aide.

“The upcoming election is definitely a factor,” Mr. Abante said, remaining optimistic that administration bets would win Senate seats. “Because in midterm elections, it’s usually the administration candidates who win.”

Meanwhile, a minority lawmaker said the House should act on the impeachment complaints to hold Ms. Duterte accountable for her alleged crimes.

“Every day that Ms. Duterte remains in office, we are enabling her to undermine our laws and to continuously perpetuate her family’s legacy of not answering for their crimes,” Party-list Rep. Percival V. Cendana said in a statement.

Also on Thursday, representatives from three impeachment complainants said Ms. Duterte’s removal from office is a “moral obligation” for lawmakers. “To Congress: Honor your constitutional mandate with courage and integrity. History will judge your resolve or your silence,” they said in a joint statement.

MMDA eyes 7 a.m.-4 p.m. work for state employees

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) wants work in National Government agencies to start an hour earlier to ease the traffic congestion in the capital region as the main EDSA highway prepares for rehabilitation.

In a statement on Thursday, the agency said it would propose a 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. work schedule to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., citing its “positive effect” on the traffic flow after it was enforced in local government units.

“Adopting the schedule will bring faster travel time during peak hours in Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares, as well as a decrease in traffic delays,” it added.

The MMDA said about 176,000 National Government workers who use private cars would have to go to work earlier. It added that about 224,000 workers who use public transport could avoid joining the rush hour alongside private sector employees.

MMDA Chairman Romando S. Artes will recommend the plan to the President after getting a consensus from local governments in Metro Manila.

“We’ll get first the consensus of the mayors,” he told a news briefing after a Metro Manila Council meeting. “We’ll coordinate with them and ask them what their preference is so that the data we’ll be submitting to the President is complete and the recommendations will be in line with various experiences of each of the LGUs.”

The MMDA chief seeks to finish the recommendation before March, which is the target date for the start of the EDSA rehabilitation.

San Juan City Mayor and Metro Manila Council President Francis M. Zamora and Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano both expressed support for the new work schedule, the MMDA said.

Manila was the 14th most congested city in the world, with an average travel time of 32 minutes, according to the latest edition of the TomTom Traffic Index.

The index assessed cities and metropolitan areas across 62 countries by their congestion and travel times and how many hours commuters stuck in traffic have lost. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

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