Jordan Brand partners with Ateneo de Manila University to help Blue Eagles fly higher

March 24, 2022 | 10:07 pm

JORDAN Brand continues to support the growth of basketball in the Philippines and the world by expanding its portfolio on the court with the sponsorship of Ateneo de Manila University’s Blue Eagles men’s, women’s and high school basketball teams.

With this agreement, Ateneo de Manila University becomes Southeast Asia’s first-ever university and the only one outside of the United States to don the Jordan Jumpman on its jerseys, shorts, tees and jackets. The athletic ap-parel, which includes jerseys with a fit and cut uniquely suited to female players, will become the official uniform of the Blue Eagles basketball team during the much-awaited UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) Season 84 season.

Rooted in the pursuit of excellence and to inspire the next generation of players, the partnership will unite the two basketball through shared DNA of achieving greatness on their own terms, creating opportunities for all and building a level playing field.

“It’s exciting to announce Jordan Brand’s only university partnership outside of North America, because there are few places in the world where basketball culture shows up like it does in Manila,” says Jordan Brand President, Craig Williams. “It is so crucial to invest in young people, and in partnership with Ateneo de Manila University, we can inspire young people through our shared love of the game.”

Commenting on the country’s tremendous talent potential, Ateneo de Manila University’s Head Athletic Director Emmanuel Fernandez says: “Investment in the country’s youth and building inclusivity can spearhead basketball culture and translate our passion into profession. As one of the most successful basketball programs, Ateneo Basketball has always strived for excellence. Being associated with a prestigious brand such as Jordan is an acknowl-edgement of this excellence, which will no doubt fuel the desires of many aspiring Pinoy and Pinay players in their own pursuit of greatness. We are all still inspired by MJ’s legacy and his undying love for the game.”

Local artists and Ateneo alumni Gica Tam and Mikki dela Rea were engaged to specifically develop designs for Custom 23, a customization service exclusively available at Jordan Manila. The unique designs by Gica and Mikki are inspired by their love for the game, Ateneo’s culture, energy, passion and everything that surrounds that through their lens.

Unjabbed Irving

March 24, 2022 | 10:04 pm

Don’t look now, but the Nets may yet be finishing the season with All-Star Kyrie Irving finally able to play in home games. As first reported by Politico and picked up by other major news organizations, New York mayor Eric Adams is set to provide athletes with exemptions to the private sector mandate barring unvaccinated employees from reporting for work in the city. Considering that the said protocol provides no other restrictions, the di-chotomy becomes apparent in sporting events; unjabbed players of host teams cannot suit up, but are allowed to be in the venue, anyway, along with spectators and visitors whose vaccination status does not need to be checked.

Significantly, Irving himself underscored the absurdity of the situation by sitting courtside in back-to-back matches at the Barclays Center, including one in which the Nets took on the Knicks, two weeks ago. To add injury to insult, the National Basketball Association then fined the franchise for affording him access to the locker room after the contest. As an aside, rumors have him also participating in practices on the sly, in contravention of the mandate held over from the previous dispensation.

In any case, Adams’ decision provides a compromise to the need for businesses, and vaccinated employees in those businesses, to feel safe, and to the reality that shades of gray envelop the implementation of COVID-19-related health measures. The interplay between collective safety and individual civil liberties is no more apparent than among government officials charged with ensuring both.

The easy answer would be for Irving and other sports personalities to get inoculated, a not inconsiderate development given the proven science behind the action. Unfortunately, these count with the holdouts who believe in — and, worse, help spread — the misinformation, which effectively gets perpetuated because of their status as public figures. From this vantage point, the problem, therefore, lies not in Adams, but in those who refuse the injection.

Interestingly, the exemption figures to be subject to monitoring, and because it’s slated to be in effect by administrative fiat, it can likewise be withdrawn the same way. The number of cases keeps fluctuating, in part precisely because of the elusiveness of total immunity. And, for that, the finger needs to be pointed at Irving and his ilk.

ANTHONY L. CUAYCONG has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Benefits, subsidies sought for BPO workers returning to office

March 24, 2022 | 9:59 pm

THE GOVERNMENT needs to support employees returning to perform onsite work in the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry, also known as the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, an Akbayan Party-List candidate said.

The party-list’s second nominee, Raymond John S. Naguit, said in a statement on Thursday that IT-BPM workers required to return to the office need subsidized commutes and free coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing, after the industry was recently denied permission to continue doing the bulk of its work remotely.  

Akbayan supports the industry’s position on continuing with work-from-home (WFH) arrangements for employees until September, saying that the government needs the time to prepare the work environment to make it safer, and also to shield workers from high fuel prices.

“If BPO workers are required to go back to onsite work, they should be given stronger benefits and subsidies. The government must ensure that COVID-19 testing for all BPO workers is free and that adequate public transportation be made available, coupled with a sufficient commuter subsidy for workers returning to onsite duty,” Mr. Naguit said.  

Incentives granted to economic zone locators, including IT-BPM companies, are tied to working within the economic zones because they are classified as separate customs territories under the law. Economic managers have argued that ecozone locators’ continued enjoyment of tax privileges despite WFH arrangements puts non-locators at a disadvantage.

During the pandemic, the industry was granted a WFH exemption in the interest of safety. The authorization to work from home expires on March 31.

Mr. Naguit also called on the industry to subsidize the personal electricity and internet bills of remote workers.  

“Under Republic Act No. 11165 or the Telecommuting Act, employees have the right to reimbursement (of) any expenses incurred while WFH,” Mr. Naguit said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

RCEP touted as possible counter to growing protectionism

March 24, 2022 | 9:57 pm

THE Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) could serve to counteract growing calls for protectionism in response to the resource scarcity resulting from the war in Ukraine, keeping trade and investment levels high, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

“Considering that in the midst of the pandemic and growing trend in protectionism, the fact that RCEP offers a stable and predictable business environment will surely attract investments in the region including the Philippines,” Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said during the virtual General Membership Meeting of the Management Association of the Philippines on Thursday.  

Mr. Lopez said the RCEP also offers an opportunity for the trading bloc’s economies to revive by enhancing trade across the Asia-Pacific region.  

“As the world struggles to recover from the negative impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as well as the current Russia-Ukraine crisis, the RCEP presents a unique opportunity for the country and the region to rebuild the economies of the RCEP parties. It is also expected to strengthen economic linkages and deepen trade and investment relations to facilitate post-pandemic growth and recovery,” Mr. Lopez said.

Mr. Lopez said the benefits of RCEP will extend to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), services, and agriculture.  

“Our MSMEs will have the opportunity to access cheaper raw materials for production and manufacturing and at the same time access to a big market for their products. Farmers can benefit from having access to cheaper farm inputs and farm implements that can be used to boost their production.” Mr. Lopez said.  

“Fishers will not only benefit from an enhanced market access for fish products but can also fish outside the RCEP region and process their catch in the country for export to 14 RCEP countries, still complying with the rules of origin. RCEP opens employment opportunities in RCEP countries for Filipinos on a comprehensive range of sectors, such as professional services, education services, and banking services,” he added.  

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said at the same meeting that the agriculture sector will also benefit from the Philippines’ participation in RCEP.  

“We do not want to be left behind. We have to make agriculture a priority, and align our national priorities towards improving local productivity before we can truly become an export-oriented sector,” Mr. Dar said.

“I have always said that agriculture is a sleeping giant and it’s time that we view this sector as such. It needs to conform to existing business realities. With RCEP, we are on our way towards transforming agriculture — making it prosperous and world class,” he added.

RCEP is a trade agreement that involves Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Philippines has yet to join RCEP as the Senate was unable to give its concurrence before sessions were adjourned on Feb. 3 for the election break. President Rodrigo R. Duterte has ratified the RCEP on Sept. 2 last year.   

Meanwhile, Trade Assistant Secretary Allan B. Gepty said in a separate virtual briefing on Thursday that the country’s exports will receive a boost once the discussions on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the Philippines and United Arab Emirates (UAE) are done.  

“On the aspect of goods, definitely there will be an enhancement in our exports, particularly Philippine products in this country primarily because UAE is one of the destinations of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). We have a high number of OFWs in UAE. And that means market for our businesses. There are a lot of Philippines companies and businesses located in the UAE,” Mr. Gepty said.  

“In terms of importation, it will further stabilize our trade relations with them, particularly in the importation of key products such as petroleum. On the aspect of services, we see that there will be a lot of opportunities that we can gain or derive from this CEPA. We will be negotiating all subsectors such as business services and financial services,” he added.  

Last month, the DTI announced that the Philippines and UAE have started official talks on the CEPA, while also finishing negotiations on the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement which covers the promotion, facilitation, and protection of investments. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Gov’t extends bid deadline for World Bank-funded Cebu BRT project

March 24, 2022 | 9:56 pm

THE GOVERNMENT has extended the deadline to submit bids for the World Bank-funded Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (Cebu BRT) to April 21 from March 28, citing the need to give prospective bidders more time to evaluate the bid documents.

In a bid bulletin, the Department of Budget and Management Procurement Service office said bids “must be delivered on or before April 21” for “Package-1: Works Cebu South Bus Terminal to Capital Urban Realm Enhancement (Link to the port).”

In its invitation for bid, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said it received financing from the World Bank to support the Cebu BRT project.

It intends to “apply part of the proceeds with a sum of P1.05 billion toward payments under the contract for Package 1,” the DoTr noted.

The contract covers the construction of the BRT infrastructure, including the trunk lines, sidewalks, stations, and other elements. 

The contractor is required to complete the project within 365 calendar days, it said.

On its website, the DoTr said the government expects the project to be fully operational by 2023.

The Cebu BRT is expected to field 250 buses with at least 21 stations upon full completion. “It will serve around 60,000 passengers a day,” the DoTr said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Gov’t urged to reconsider Pasig expressway due to environmental concerns

March 24, 2022 | 9:54 pm

A TRANSPORT advocacy has urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to reassess the proposed Pasig River Expressway (PAREX), citing its environmental impact.

The Move As One Coalition said that the expressway will deliver “little or no benefit while causing significant harm,” calling it the “wrong project for today and tomorrow.”

PAREX is San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) planned P95-billion, six-lane elevated highway, which will traverse Manila, Mandaluyong, Taguig, Makati, and Pasig along the river’s course.

Move As One urged the government to postpone the public hearing on PAREX scheduled for March 25.

“The PAREX scoping meeting on July 14 (2021) was not carried out correctly and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project contains two different expressway alignments, a serious error that will mislead and confuse stakeholders,” the coalition said in a statement.

On March 23, the coalition issued an 18-page statement and its own environmental impact assessment to the Environmental Management Bureau of the DENR.

“If the EIA is undertaken correctly and comprehensively, the EIA will show that the damage from PAREX significantly outweighs its questionable and likely small benefits. A project with negative impacts that exceed expected benefits should not be allowed to proceed, especially if the negative impacts are significant and not amenable to mitigation,” Move As One said.

“Unlike other major infrastructure projects, PAREX has never undergone the normal scrutiny and careful review by the government’s multi-agency Investment Coordination Committee. PAREX was never given any scrutiny by the Toll Regulatory Board, except for a cursory technical and financial evaluation with very little detail,” it added.

Move As One said that SMC was not required to submit a comprehensive project economic analysis incorporating all costs and benefits including losses from likely negative social, economic, and environmental impacts.

“For this reason, the EIA of PAREX needs to be a comprehensive and credible accounting of all impacts that the project will bring. It may be the only opportunity the Filipino people will have to put a stop to a harmful project. It is therefore important that the proponent should not be permitted to take any ‘shortcuts’ or to submit an incomplete or half-baked EIA,” it said.

“The draft EIA Report has missed out on several significant impacts of PAREX. Because of the considerable harm that PAREX could bring to millions of Filipinos, to priceless heritage assets and to the environment, these likely impacts deserve to be analyzed thoroughly by the proponent,” it added.

The coalition estimated that the economic cost of the urban blight to nearby communities at a minimum of P96.9 billion.

It also cited the health and economic impacts of PAREX, including the increase in ambient air temperature, and air and noise pollution.

“Neighborhoods in the vicinity of PAREX will become warmer. Increased temperature is expected from motor vehicles, from the reduction of the natural cooling effect of the Pasig River, and from the ‘urban heat island effect.’ Increased temperatures will result in illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke and more deaths from heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases,” Move As One said. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Palace confident of getting buy-in for recovery plan when new gov’t takes over

March 24, 2022 | 9:52 pm

Martin Andanar — Jose Ruperto Martin M. Andanar, Acting Presidentiall Spokesman | Philstar

THE next administration is legally bound to implement Executive Order (EO) 166, which contains elements of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s economic recovery plan, unless it is revoked, the Palace said in a statement.

The President’s acting spokesman, Jose Ruperto Martin M. Andanar, rejected claims that EO 166 represents the outgoing government’s closing move in effecting an economic recovery.

“We do not share the view that this is the current Administration’s exit plan, for this forms part of the country’s preparation to build resilience under the new normal,” he said.

“Unless Executive Order No. 166 is modified or revoked, it will remain effective and operational,” he added.

EO 166 is a 10-point economic recovery agenda that, among others, designated the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the National Task Force Against COVID- 19 as the bodies responsible for the agenda’s implementation and for aligning all government measures to ensure a coordinated response to the weakened economy. 

The agenda calls for legislation that will facilitate the efficient rollout of emergency measures and the development of a comprehensive pandemic response framework.

Mr. Andanar said Mr. Duterte’s office is confident that the next administration will adhere to the principles of EO 166.

In a joint statement, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Finance, and the Department of Trade and Industry said EO 166 will boost the economic recovery.

“Through the EO, we will be able to help more firms adapt and pursue the full and safe reopening of the economy,” Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez was quoted as saying.

Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said in the statement that the Philippines has made significant progress in implementing elements of the 10-point agenda, citing the move to more permissive quarantine settings after the Omicron wave of the coronavirus receded.

Under Alert Level 1, NEDA estimates that economic activity will be boosted by around P10.8 billion per week and reduce the number of unemployed by around 195,000 over the next quarter, compared to the economy’s performance under to Alert Level 2, the next and less permissive quarantine setting.

Mr. Chua, however, said the full benefit of Alert Level 1 cannot be maximized if many schools are still not conducting face-to-face learning. 

“NEDA estimates that the economy is… around P12 billion per week (below potential performance) since schools are largely closed. Further, one-fourth of parents have to stay at home to help their younger children study in modular or online learning,” according to the statement. “The result is drastic loss in productivity and foregone income opportunities.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Budget proposed in 2023 to bring NCR overhead cables underground

March 24, 2022 | 9:49 pm

THE Department of Public Works and  Highways (DPWH) is seeking funding in the 2023 budget to begin taking overhead cables underground in the National Capital Region (NCR), the regional director in charge of Metro Manila public works said.

“We requested some P200 million for this project in the 2023 National Expenditure Program,” DPWH-NCR Regional Director Nomer Abel P. Canlas told BusinessWorld by phone on Thursday.

He said the funding will support both the feasibility study and infrastructure that will house the buried cables. 

The DPWH is also hoping to “subsidize the transfer costs” for distribution companies that use overhead cable like Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and telecommunications companies. Water utilities may also be supported in moving their above-ground transmission assets.

“If we can’t (get) funding from utility companies…, the government [can] initially take charge of the finances,” he said. “We have to start somewhere.”

Mr. Canlas also noted that the project could be revenue-positive for the government by making utility companies pay to use the infrastructure that will house the buried lines. 

“If the utility companies use the infrastructure, I think it’s just proper, perhaps, to bill them in some way. That’s being considered,” he added.

The feasibility studies will be conducted along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and the Katipunan Avenue Extension. Mr. Canlas said the DPWH also wants to include the Radial Road 10 or R10.

Apart from the aesthetic advantages, underground cable minimizes accidents from electrocution as well as damage to utility poles during typhoons.

Among the benefits to utility companies is that they get to skip the step of acquiring road right-of-way for their posts, according to Mr. Canlas.

In a statement, the DPWH said that it recently studied Davao City’s implementation of an underground utility cable system.

“One of the suggestions raised is the imposition of ordinances requiring full participation of the concessionaires, and the creation of ‘Underground Utility Cabling Committee’ that will constantly coordinate and meet for developments and issues in the implementation,” it noted.

The government has been pressed to consider underground cable as part of its disaster resiliency strategy in order to minimize service outages during calamities.

Utility service providers have said they are willing to shift to an underground cable system if the government provides subsidies and if given adequate planning of the infrastructure.

DoF says Customs modernization behind enhanced collections

March 24, 2022 | 9:46 pm

COLLECTIONS by the Bureau of Customs have benefited from modernization, with targets exceeded during the two years of the pandemic, its parent agency, the Department of Finance (DoF) said.

The DoF said in a statement on Thursday that collections received a boost from automated processes, with 2020 collections amounting to P537.69 billion, 106.2% of the target. In 2021 collections were P643.56 billion, or 104.3% of the target.

Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero was quoted as saying that the Customs modernization program integrated data from the Ports of Manila, Cebu and Davao and the Manila International Container Port for monitoring by the Customs Operation Center (COC) in Manila.

The COC, launched in December 2020, is the bureau’s center for intelligence, monitoring and enforcement.

Mr. Guerrero also cited positive results from the Cargo Targeting System, developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO), which monitors advanced submission of aircraft and ship cargo manifests for profiling and risk assessment.  

He added that the BoC’s Information and Communications Technology-enabled projects have automated the submission, processing and approval of applications by importers and exporters. The application process is compliant with WCO standards. 

The Bureau plans to roll out a day and night payment system, to speed up the release of goods delayed by Customs operating hours.

The current payment system only runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mr. Guererro said. — Tobias Jared Tomas

Peso advances as central bank keeps key policy rates untouched

March 24, 2022 | 9:00 pm

THE PESO strengthened on Thursday after the central bank continued to keep borrowing costs steady to support economic recovery.

The local unit closed at P52.33 per dollar on Thursday, rising by six centavos from its P52.39 finish on Wednesday, based on data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.

The peso opened Thursday’s session at P52.41 per dollar. Its weakest showing was at P52.43, while its intraday best was at P52.15 against the greenback.

Dollars exchanged declined to $960.95 million on Thursday from $1.015 billion on Wednesday.

The peso appreciated after the central bank left benchmark rates at record lows, a trader said in a Viber message.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) kept rates steady at its meeting on Thursday but said it could hike soon amid rising inflation risks amid the war between Russia and Ukraine.

“The Monetary Board sees scope to maintain the BSP’s policy settings in order to safeguard the momentum of economic recovery amid increased uncertainty, even as it continues to develop its plans for the gradual normali-zation of its extraordinary liquidity measures,” BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said at a virtual briefing on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the peso appreciated following the BSP’s new inflation forecasts.

Citing the steep increase in prices of oil and other commodities, the central bank now expects inflation to reach 4.3% in 2022, which is already above its 2-4% target and the 3.7% estimate previously.

By 2023, inflation is expected to slow to 3.6%.

For Friday, both Mr. Ricafort and the trader gave a forecast range of P52.20 to P52.40 per dollar. — LWTN

Local stocks rise on recovery plan, BSP decision

March 24, 2022 | 9:00 pm

PSE-3-011021 — COURTESY OF PHILIPPINE STOCK EXCHANGE, INC.

SHARES rose on Thursday following the approval of an executive order outlining a 10-point agenda for the economy’s recovery and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) decision to keep benchmark interest rates steady.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) gained by 73.18 points or 1.04% to close at 7,082.61 on Thursday, while the broader all shares increased by 34.60 points or 0.92% to 3,759.35.

“The local bourse rose this Thursday amid hopes that the Philippine economy’s recovery would remain strong despite headwinds from offshore. Strong economic recovery hopes were backed by the newly approved Executive Order (EO) No. 166 which is seen to give emphasis on stronger pandemic countermeasures and further reopening of the economy,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Senior Research Analyst Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber mes-sage.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday signed EO No. 166, a 10-point policy agenda aimed at accelerating the economy’s recovery from the pandemic. The order places emphasis on strengthening the country’s healthcare capacity and accelerating the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination program.

“Investors turned into bargain hunters as [they] took bets ahead of the Monetary Board meeting later this afternoon. Recall that BSP chief Benjamin E. Diokno said that the regulatory body doesn’t see the need to follow the Fed’s pace in raising the policy rate, underscoring the notion that the benchmark rate will be left untouched, even as the war in Ukraine drags on,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message.

The BSP Monetary Board at its meeting on Thursday kept rates steady as expected to support the economy despite inflation risks caused by rising commodity prices due to the war between Russia and Ukraine.

“The market was up due to the rebound of telecommunications and consumer names. Consumer names were among the under-performers this year due to rising commodity prices; they will be among the most hurt. Telcos are [also] expected to be main beneficiaries of the amended Public Service Act,” COL Financial Group First Vice-President April Lynn C. Lee-Tan added in a Viber message.

Majority of sectoral indices ended in the green except for property, which fell by 17.83 points or 0.53% to 3,345.35 and financials, which dropped by 0.13 point to 1,654.26.

Meanwhile, mining and oil climbed by 608.02 points or 4.92% to 12,954.99; holding firms rose by 148.83 points or 2.25% to 6,757.31; services improved by 30.97 points or 1.65% to 1,908.13; and industrials went up by 87.49 points or 0.92% to 9,532.64.

Value turnover increased to P7.83 billion with 15.09 billion shares changing hands on Thursday from the P5.89 billion or 1.41 billion issues on Wednesday.

Advancers outnumbered decliners, 108 versus 64, while 58 names closed unchanged.

Net foreign selling grew to P797.92 million from the P734.65 million seen the previous trading day. — L.M.J.C. Jocson

Comelec: Marcos cases to be resolved by April

March 24, 2022 | 8:38 pm

By John Victor D. Ordoñez

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) will decide on the pending disqualification cases against the son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos by April, a commissioner of the poll body said on Thursday.

“Since I did not participate in the discussion on these cases, I was told by the chairman before the end of April, a decision by the en banc will be forthcoming on the consolidated cases and motion for reconsiderations,” Commissioner George M. Garcia said in a press briefing streamed live on the Comelec Facebook Page.

“The earliest would be the second week of April, the latest will be the third week of April,” he said.

Mr. Garcia, an election law expert who handled high-profile cases prior to his recent Comelec appointment, earlier said that he will inhibit from cases involving former clients, which include presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr.

Comelec Chairman Saidamen B. Pangarungan, who was also recently appointed, has said that the commission will fast-track pending cases.

The election body has yet to decide on several cases seeking to bar Mr. Marcos from the elections scheduled on May 9.

The Comelec First Division dismissed three consolidated disqualification petitions against Mr. Marcos, ruling that his failure to file tax returns in the 1980s did not involve wicked, deviant behavior. The case is on appeal with the en banc.

The Second Division rejected a similar petition in January, citing that Mr. Marcos did not mislead the public when he said in his certificate of candidacy that he was eligible to run for president. The case is also on ap-peal with the en banc.

Decisions by the Comelec en banc could be elevated before the Supreme Court.

The Akbayan party-list group, among those that filed a disqualification petition, asked the Comelec en banc on Monday to fast-track its decision.

RULING PARTY

Mr. Garcia also said that the Comelec chairman has instructed the designated writer of the decision for the dispute case involving the ruling PDP-LABAN party to expedite the resolution.

Mr. Garcia is also inhibiting from the case as he previously lawyered for the party prior to the internal rift between two factions.

Comelec earlier allowed candidates from both factions to use the party name on the printed ballots pending a decision on the dispute.

The resolution is expected to be released before the end of March.

Meanwhile, the Comelec held a random ballot testing on Thursday at the National Printing Office, which was previously requested by election lawyer Romulo B. Macalintal. The proceeding was also streamed live on the Comelec Facebook Page.

Mr. Macalintal earlier asked Comelec to examine randomly selected ballots in the presence of representatives of political parties and candidates so they can test the security of the printing process.

Representatives from different political parties and citizens’ arms were allowed to examine the randomly selected ballots.

“I would like to thank the Comelec. I would like to thank the Comelec for being transparent with this process,” Mr. Macalintal said at the event.

About 87.2% or 58.8 million of the 67.4 million total ballots have been printed as of Thursday, Mr. Garcia said.

LOCAL CANDIDATES

The first day of the campaign period for local positions — including House representatives, provincial governor, mayor, vice mayor, and councilors — starts Friday.

Last week, Comelec lifted the permit requirement to hold rallies and sorties for candidates and political parties as pandemic-related restrictions in most parts of the country have been eased.

Candidates earlier urged the election body to review what they deemed impractical campaign guidelines.

“We have been listening to requests to loosen restrictions, but in our loosening of restrictions, this doesn’t mean we can hold super-spreader events,” Mr. Garcia said in Filipino at the press briefing on Thursday.