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NAIA 2024 passenger throughput tops 50 million 

REUTERS

THE Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) posted passenger throughput of more than 50 million in 2024, up nearly 11%, powered by the increase in the overall number of flights and the boom in domestic travel.

The Manila International Airport Authority reported that the gateway booked passenger numbers of 50.26 million 2024, 10.9% higher than the 2023 level and 4.9% higher than the 47.90 million posted in the last full pre-pandemic year of 2019. 

Domestic passenger traffic was 26.89 million, up 8.1%. International passenger traffic rose 14.4% to 23.37 million.

Aircraft movements — the sum of takeoffs and landings — amounted to 293,427 last year, up 8.3%.

Last year, the San Miguel-led New NAIA Infra Corp., the new NAIA operator, said it expects to end 2024 with 50 million passengers.

The private operator took over operations at NAIA in September, and announced plans for the expansion of roads and curbside enhancements; terminal upgrades, and terminal reassignments.

It also said that it is planning to build a new terminal which can accommodate 22 million passengers annually. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Release of P30.41B for Q1 military pensions approved

PHILIPPINE STAR/WALTER BOLLOZOS

BUDGET Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman has approved the release of P30.41 billion to fund the pensions of military retirees in the first quarter. 

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the fund release has been charged to the Pension and Gratuity Fund of the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

“For many military and uniformed personnel (MUP) retirees and their families, pensions are a lifeline that ensure their daily needs are met, like buying their medicine and food,” Ms. Pangandaman said in a statement on Tuesday.

The DBM said P16.75 billion has been released to the Armed Forces of the Philippines – General Headquarters-Proper and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office under the Department of National Defense.

Agencies under the Department of Interior and Local Government received P13.297 billion. These include the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the National Police Commission.

Meanwhile, the DBM said 34 pensioners from the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources have been granted P8.530 million.

For the first three months of 2025, P350.680 million was released to fund the pension of the 2,836 retired uniformed personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard, an arm of the Department of Transportation.

“The releases are based on the actual pension payroll submitted by the above-mentioned MUP agencies as of Dec. 31, 2024,” the DBM said. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Philippine packaging industry sees growth lagging GDP due to rising costs

FREEPIK

THE packaging industry’s growth is expected to lag that of gross domestic product (GDP) this year due to high raw material costs, the Asia Packaging Federation said.

“It will be a bit slower … because of the rising costs of packaging materials as the materials are imported,” according to Joseph Ross S. Jocson, president of Asia Packaging Federation, on the sidelines of a ProPak Philippines 2025 briefing on Tuesday.

“We cannot sometimes compete with the volume of China or India, so we have to help the industry,” he added.

He said the Philippine packaging industry will need to scale up to be more competitive.

He said the industry is being challenged by the lack of government support, the need to comply with sustainability rules imposed by Philippine laws and overseas jurisdictions.

“If you go to Bangkok, their durian and pineapple packaging is very nice because their government fully supports their packaging industry, and we hope the same for the Philippines,” he said.

“Our packaging is way behind what South Korea and Thailand have,” he added.

Asked what kind of government support the industry needs, he cited the need to raise the funding of the departments of Science and Technology (DoST) and Trade and Industry (DTI).

“That is the only way that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) can avail of their services. The multinational corporations have the capacity, but the local, the small, or those in backyard industries need support, and that is where the DoST and the DTI can come in,” he added.

Meanwhile, he said the industry is concerned about the impending tax on single-use plastics and other similar measures.

“If the bills on single-use plastics or other kinds of bans are passed, there will be a radical change. Because there is nothing we can do if it becomes a law, then we have to comply,” he said.

“It could negatively affect the economy and positively affect the environment. But in any case, we have to be balanced, and technology can also help in that,” he added.

He said that the government’s implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is showing good results but noted the need for it to be expanded to other materials.

“As of now, the implementation of EPR is good. But maybe it is not [enough] because we are only tackling plastics right now with the EPR; we are not yet into paper and tin cans, and there are a lot of other materials,” he added.

Meanwhile, he said that complying with green policies, such as those being imposed by the European Union (EU), is a challenge for MSMEs.

“If you’re exporting now to the EU, you need to comply with their requirements. They need to make a certain percentage of their packaging is recycled; otherwise, they cannot export,” he said.

“The multinational companies are ready for it, but the smaller companies are not,” he added.

On Tuesday, Propak Philippines announced that the fifth edition of the annual international processing and packaging trade event will run from Feb. 12 -14 at the World Trade Center.

The 2025 edition of the trade show is expected to bring in over 250 exhibitors and brands from over 30 countries.

It is also projected to welcome 12,000 trade visitors, buyers, and other stakeholders. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

ERC defers ruling on NPC petitions

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has deferred ruling on National Power Corp. (NPC) petitions regarding the universal charge for missionary electrification (UCME), citing the need for further evaluation, saying that a resolution is expected within the first quarter.

“Given the pending issues that need to be resolved, the matter has been deferred for further deliberation,” the ERC said in a document posted on its website.

NPC has filed several applications with the ERC to tap the UCME to offset the shortfall in the missionary electrification subsidy. The applications cover various periods between 2015 and 2022.

As authorized by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act or EPIRA, the UCME is a monthly charge collected from on-grid electricity end-users to subsidize the cost of power in off-grid areas.

ERC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Monalisa C. Dimalanta said that the commission deferred a decision to address outstanding questions.

“We expect them to come back to us soon so we can resolve this within the first quarter,” Ms. Dimalanta said via Viber.

She said that among the items that need to be addressed is whether or not NPC is entitled to receive a 12% return on rate base (RORB) on top of its cost recovery for missionary electrification. The RORB is the recovery of reasonable costs to enable an entity to operate viably.

“The Commission had previously denied this claim, given that UCME is already a subsidy provided by end-users, but NPC asked for reconsideration,” she said.

“NPC’s position is that the EPIRA did not repeal the provision in their charter as regards RORB. So their claim is that as a rule they are still entitled to RORB every year,” she added. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Ban on Russian meat imports lifted following FMD-free declaration

REUTERS

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said that it lifted a ban on meat imports from Russia after veterinary officials declared that country free of foot and mouth disease (FMD).

In Memorandum Order No. 3, the DA said that it would now allow shipments animals susceptible to foot and mouth disease, their products and byproducts, from Russia.

“All import transactions of the above commodities shall be in accordance with existing rules and regulations of the (DA),” it added.

Citing reports from the Trade Representation of the Russian Federation in the Republic of the Philippines and the World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH), the DA said that Russia was FMD-free without vaccination.

According to the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code, a country may be considered FMD-free without vaccination when no other infection has been reported and there is proper surveillance from veterinary authorities.

The DA ban was first imposed in 2013 when the outbreak was first detected.

FMD is highly transmissible, causing lesions and lameness in cattle, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed animals. The disease does not affect humans.

The DA had earlier, banned imports of buffalo meat from India following an outbreak of FMD on the states of Bihar, Maharashtra, and Telangana.

The issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary clearances for buffalo meat was subsequently halted for products from the three states. — Adrian H. Halili

New IPOPHL director general appointed

THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) announced on Tuesday the appointment of Brigitte M. da Costa-Villaluz as its new director general.

“I am deeply honored by the opportunity to serve the country together with the men and women of IPOPHL,” Ms. Da Costa-Villaluz said in a statement.

“We will continue the close work with IP rights holders to elevate the use of the intellectual property system towards creativity, innovation, and inclusive prosperity,” she added.

Ms. Da Costa-Villaluz, founder of BDCV Law and a partner at Poblador Bautista & Reyes Law Offices, has worked on trademark, patent, copyright, and commercial law cases.

“Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her expertise in IP law, earning accolades such as being named a Trademark Star by Managing IP in 2021 and 2022, as well as being featured in Asia IP Informed Analysis IP Expert in 2023 and 2024,” IPOPHL said.

“She has also been commended by Legal 500 for her exceptional work in IP prosecution,” it added.

Admitted to the bar in 1997, Ms. Da Costa-Villaluz is a graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law and the University of the Philippines School of Economics.

Prior to her appointment, the Department of Trade and Industry had designated IPOPHL Deputy Director General for Policy, Legal, and External Relations Nathaniel S. Arevalo as the officer-in-charge for the IP body.

Former Director General Rowel S. Barba’s term expired on Dec. 31. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Zverev raises his game to beat Paul, reaches Melbourne semis

ALEXANDER ZVEREV — AUSOPEN.COM

Badosa defeats Gauff to reach first Grand Slam semis

MELBOURNE — Alexander Zverev played his best tennis when it mattered most to down Tommy Paul 7-6(1), 7-6(0), 2-6, 6-1 on Tuesday and reach his third Australian Open semifinal in five years, keeping alive his dream of finally landing a Grand Slam title.

The 27-year-old German was unable to find his peak level for much of a match played in the stifling afternoon heat on Rod Laver Arena but dominated his American opponent in tiebreaks to lock up the first two sets.

Paul bagged the third set but second seed Zverev upped his intensity to whip through the fourth and set up a meeting with the winner of the later blockbuster clash between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

Paul, also 27, had beaten Zverev in their two previous meetings and worked assiduously to gain the upper hand in the first two sets only for the German to raise his game to drag him back into a dog fight.

The 2023 semifinalist converted his fourth break point to take a 6-5 lead in the opening set but Zverev returned the favor in the next game before racing away with the tiebreak 7-1.

Paul broke again early in the second set with a backhand pass as Zverev charged the net and this time he was able to consolidate for a 3-0 lead.

Zverev had break points at 4-2 and blew up at umpire Nacho Forcadell, who had already handed him a code violation for an audible obscenity, after a let was called mid-rally on a deuce point when a feather drifted down onto the court.

Paul held but a riled-up Zverev broke him to love on his next service game to put the set back on serve at 5-4. The German then fended off another break point to hold for 5-5 before denying the 12th seed a single point in the tiebreak.

Zverev gave up his opening service game in the third stanza and Paul doubled his advantage when he crushed a forehand winner for a 5-2 lead before holding to love to clinch the set.

It was a false dawn for the American, though, and the final set was a one-sided affair with Paul not getting on the board until he was 5-0 down, and that only after four deuces.

BADOSA DOWNS GAUFF
Spain’s Paula Badosa stunned error-prone third seed Coco Gauff 7-5, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open on Tuesday to reach the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time at the third attempt.

It was a thoroughly deserved victory for Badosa on a sunbathed Rod Laver Arena as she set up a meeting with double defending champion Aryna Sabalenka or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

The 11th seed’s two previous Grand Slam quarterfinals had resulted in disappointing defeats and she sank to her knees in disbelief after sealing the victory with her 15th winner. “I’m a bit emotional, as you know, I’m a very emotional person,” said the 27-year-old after securing her first win over a top 10 seed at a major.

Gauff’s bid to reach her fifth Grand Slam semifinal, and second in a row at Melbourne Park, foundered on her fragile serve and no fewer than 28 unforced errors on her forehand.

Badosa showed her intentions early on in a tight first set by attacking the 20-year-old’s forehand to grab a couple of break points in the third game.

Gauff saved both but Badosa came back at her in the 11th game, earning a third break point with a backhand volley and converting it with a huge cross-court winner off the forehand.

The American fought hard to get back on serve but two wild shots helped Badosa to a set point and she converted it when the third seed went long with a forehand.

Badosa kept up the pressure in the 14-minute opening game of the second set as Gauff’s serve started to creak and the 27-year-old converted her fifth break point to edge ahead.

Former US Open champion Gauff had fought back from a set down to win her last two meetings with Badosa and upped her intensity to break back for 2-2.

A fifth double fault of the match let Badosa back into the next game for a third break of the contest, while another in game seven blew the Spaniard’s lead out to 5-2.

Badosa knew she was on the brink of moving into uncharted waters in her career and Gauff exploited her nerves to break back again but the Spanish number one made no mistake when serving for the match at the second attempt.

The victory was all the more special for Badosa given her long road back to fitness after suffering a stress fracture in her spine at the 2023 Italian Open. — Reuters

SGA draws four tough teams in Group A of Dubai basketball tilt

STRONG GROUP ATHLETICS

STRONG GROUP ATHLETICS (SGA) will start its redemption against four fancied squads in Group A in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship firing off on Friday at the Al Nasr Club.

Mentored by Charles Tiu, SGA faces a tall order right off the bat after being bracketed with the hosts UAE National Team (NT) and Al Nasr along with Amman United of Jordan and Beirut First of Lebanon.

Another Philippine representative in Zamboanga Valientes headlines Group B with Sagesse SC of Lebanon, Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya, Tunisia National Team and Sharjah SC of UAE.

Last year’s champion Al Riyadi of Lebanon, which bested SGA on a buzzer-beater in the finale, is not in the field this time around as per the official draw and schedule released by Dubai on Tuesday.

Led by former NBA All-Star Demarcus Cousins, SGA will open its campaign against the UAE NT on Friday at 10 p.m. (Manila time) before taking Al Nasr Club on Saturday in back-to-back games versus the hosts.

SGA then wraps up its elimination round schedule against Beirut First and Amman United on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

Joining Mr. Cousins are fellow American reinforcements Malachi Richardson and Terry Larrier as well as Gilas Pilipinas naturalized players Andray Blatche and Ange Kouame.

Leading SGA’s local crew are Filipino-American aces Mikey Williams, Jason Brickman and Chris Koon along with Rhenz Abando and Dave Ildefonso.

Completing the squad assembled by SGA President Jacob Lao are NCAA MVP Allen Liwag, Tony Ynot and Justine Sanchez, all Mr. Tiu’s players in College of St. Benilde in the NCAA.

As for the Valientes, who will debut against Sharjah FC on Saturday, former UAAP MVP Malick Diouf and 7-foot-6 sensation Sam Deguara will lead the way.

Former PBA pros Prince Caperal, Mike Tolomia, Rudy Lingganay and Kyt Jimenez are also in the fray alongside collegiate stars Forthsky Padrigao and Nic Cabañero of the University of Santo Tomas.

After Sharjah FC, Zamboanga will battle Al Ahli Tripoli, Sagesse SC and Tunisia NT to complete its group assignments. — John Bryan Ulanday

Gandler powers short-handed Cignal against Galeries Tower

VANIE GANDLER — PVL

Games on Thursday
(PhilSports Arena)
4 p.m. – Akari vs Nxled
6:30 p.m. – Choco Mucho vs PLDT

IT WILL BE a long, hard road to glory for Cignal minus its two former pillars Ces Molina and Riri Meneses.

But so far, the HD Spikers are finding ways to plug the massive holes left by the power pair.

And it was thanks to the amazing Vanie Gandler and a short-handed roster that is willing to pick up the pieces, who fueled Cignal in tearing down Galeries Tower, 25-17, 25-20, 25-19, on Tuesday to stay in the top three of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena.

Knowing she will carry a bigger responsibility, Ms. Gandler delivered as she unleashed a match-high 17 points in just three short sets that helped propel the HD Spikers to their fifth win in six outings.

Also stepping up were Jacqueline Acuña and cerebral rookie Ishie Lalongisip, who chipped in nine hits apiece, as well as Judith Abil — back as a spiker after suiting up as a libero last year — as she scattered seven points.

Libero Dawn Catindig, who took over the captainship from Ms. Molina just before the game, was also impressed by their collective effort.

The Highrisers dropped to 1-6. — Joey Villar

Celtics deal Warriors worst home loss in 40 years

JAYSON TATUM led six Boston players in double figures with a game-high 22 points on Monday as the Celtics steamrolled the Golden State Warriors 125-85 in San Francisco as part of the NBA’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day slate.

Kristaps Porzingis chipped in 18 points and Jaylen Brown scored 17 for Boston, which for the fourth straight season dropped the season-series opener to Golden State before getting even — and then some — in the rematch.

Golden State had not lost by 40 at home since Jan. 15, 1985.

The 40-point margin was similar to the 140-88 pounding the Celtics dealt the Warriors last March after Golden State had won 132-126 in overtime (OT) three months earlier. This time around, the Warriors surprised the defending champs on their home floor with a 118-112 win on Nov. 6.

Tatum also found time for a game-high nine rebounds to go along with seven assists and two steals. Payton Pritchard paired his game-high nine assists with 14 points.

Sam Hauser added 11 points and Jrue Holiday tallied 10 for the Celtics, who have alternated wins and losses in their last nine games. Derrick White had three of Boston’s nine blocks to complement eight points, five rebounds and five assists.

Boston dominated the rematch on both ends of the court.

Led by Brown, who was 8-for-14 from the floor, and Holiday, who made two of his three 3-point attempts, the Celtics shot 53.3% overall and 41.7% from beyond the arc, making 20 of 48.

The Warriors, meanwhile, were held to 34.8% shooting overall and 26.4% from deep, connecting on just 14 of 53 tries. Andrew Wiggins especially struggled for Golden State, missing all four of his 3-point tries and finishing just 1-of-11 from the floor in a four-point effort.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 18 points but was just 4-of-12 from 3-point range.

Moses Moody added 13 points for Golden State, which was missing Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and Kyle Anderson due to injury.

Moody also posted six rebounds and a team-high five assists, while Kevon Looney snatched a team-high seven rebounds for the Warriors.

The Celtics led 54-39 at halftime before taking control in the third quarter. Tatum scored 12 points in the third as Boston hit 16 of 24 shots, including eight threes, to open up a 34-point lead entering the fourth.

PELICANS SET FRANCHISE MARK WITH 25-POINT COMEBACK, BEAT JAZZ IN OT
CJ McCollum scored six of his 45 points in overtime and the host New Orleans Pelicans set a franchise record by overcoming a 25-point deficit in defeating the Utah Jazz 123-119 on Monday night.

Dejounte Murray had 26 points and 11 assists, Trey Murphy III scored 24 and Jordan Hawkins added 18 for the Pelicans, who had beaten the Jazz 136-123 on Friday night.

Keyonte George scored 23 points to lead Utah. Isaiah Collier added 20 points and 11 assists, Walker Kessler had 19 points and 13 rebounds, Svi Mykhailiuk also scored 19, Brice Sensabaugh scored 11, Kyle Filipowski had 10 points and 17 rebounds and Drew Eubanks scored 10.

McCollum made a layup to start the scoring in overtime and he scored four more points to help the Pelicans take a 118-113 lead. George made a layup and added two free throws to get Utah within one with 49 seconds left, but Murphy answered with a 3-pointer to put it on ice.

New Orleans scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter and Jose Alvarado’s 3-pointer gave the Pelicans their first lead of the game, 90-89. The Jazz responded with a 10-2 run to take a seven-point lead.

The lead changed hands three times before Kessler rebounded an air ball and made a tiebreaking layup for a 110-108 lead with 33 seconds left. Murray’s layup tied the score with 16 seconds left and sent the game to overtime.

Utah scored the first 14 points of the game, led 38-19 after one quarter, took its largest lead at 46-21 early in the second and led by 20 at halftime.

George made 4 of 4 free throws to start the third-quarter scoring and extend Utah’s lead to 73-49. Murray scored seven points to help New Orleans get within 81-65 but the Jazz scored the next five points to push the lead to 21 points.

Murray scored four points during a 12-0 run that trimmed the lead to 86-77. The Pelicans closed within five points before Collier’s layup left Utah with an 89-82 lead at the end of the third quarter. — Reuters

Inconsistent Lakers

Long faces greeted members of the media heading to the Lakers’ locker room the other day. The sight was to be expected. The purple and gold didn’t just lose to the Clippers; they did so in a rout. Outside of the first four minutes of the match, they stared at the backsides of the hosts and put up a feeble effort en route to yet another disappointing finish. They may have made a short run approaching the final canto, but even their fans knew the set-to was practically over at the half. It was their fourth setback in their last six outings, and whatever excuses they may have had for their poor play of late could not explain away a fundamental truth.

Indeed, the Lakers are simply not good enough to keep pace with their supposed peers, let alone notable contenders in the National Basketball Association. They’re 22-18 to date, and while they’re provisionally sixth in West standings, they’re just one and a half games away from being out of the play-in tournament altogether. In the highly competitive conference, a small slump can spell doom to hopefuls, and they look to be most susceptible to a handful for the rest of the season; not for nothing is their point differential worse than all but the hapless Blazers, Pelicans, and JazNeedless to say, the scribes hovered around the always-quotable LeBron James. All of 40 years old and near retirement, he remains the face of the league; anything he says generates reactions, one way or the other. And he knows it, too. To be fair, he did post a respectable 25-5-11-3-1 stat line in 35 minutes on the court. Still, he could not help but feel like he’s swimming against the current. He noted that the Lakers “have to play close-to-perfect basketball” as he took stock of their disappointing showing. “We don’t have a choice; that’s the way our team is constructed.”

Given James’ penchant for passive-aggressive behavior, he may or may not have been sending the front office a message with his words. All the same, they rang true. Bottom line, the Lakers have a roster that isn’t built well for the modern NBA, and a coaching staff still unable to maximize assets halfway through their 2024-25 campaign. They’re decidedly reliant on their starters, which isn’t bad in and of itself; unfortunately, they’re likewise hard-pressed to take advantage of defenses that naturally crowd the post and resort to drop coverages in the face of their top-heavy predilections.

If there’s any good news, it’s that the Lakers face the lowly Wizards at home on Wednesday. The bad news is that the Celtics come next. In other words, they’re bound to continue riding the roller coaster — squeaking past also-rans and then being treated to blowouts by the established elite. Which is just too bad, because James deserves better than to wallow in mediocrity as he exits stage left. Their fans deserve better as well. Unfortunately, they are where they are, with no reprieve in sight.

 

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.

Quezon City urges women to avail free cervical cancer screening

Quezon City urges female residents to avail themselves of free cervical cancer screening at the nearest health centers, with select Southstar Drug branches offering the service starting in February.

Resource Person: Karen Gemma A. See, Cancer Control Coordinator of Quezon City Health Department

Interview by Edg Adrian A. Eva
Video editing by Arjale Queral

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