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Budget 2020: The National Pork?

“Pork barrel” today refers to selective government allocation and spending driven by electoral or political incentives. The term dates back to a time in the West when preserving meat was actually done in wooden barrels for future consumption. The term has since seeped into popular usage as a metaphor for the allocation of political largesse or favors.

According to a study done by De La Salle University political science professor Ronald Holmes, there are three types of pork with two variants each that can be seen in post-Marcos Philippines, namely: 1. Congressional pork (Slush Funds and Earmarks); 2. Presidential projects-based pork (Appropriated and Off-budget); and, 3. Quasi-pork (Impoundment/Augmentation and Blank Check). These are premised on the significant budgetary powers of the President that very actively promotes particular vested interests. These interests signify four “motivations”: 1. Passage of legislation; 2. Election incentive; 3. Political survival; and, 4. Personal enrichment.

Mr. Holmes’ study was designed and conducted prior to the start of the Duterte Administration, hence, it does not include the current regime among its cases. Given the many issues that have now been raised by politicians and observers outside government, we should look more closely at the 2020 National Budget, including the way it was passed from being the National Expenditure Program (NEP), to becoming the General Appropriations Bill adopted by the House of Representatives and the Philippine Senate, to being the General Appropriations Act (GAA) with the signature of the Philippine President.

The P4.1 trillion national budget is seen as being loaded with pork barrel inclusions, what with, among others, its accommodation of huge intelligence funds and increased Special Purpose Funds (SPF) allocation, while slashing other funds after it was passed at the House of Representatives. Intelligence funds are unaudited sums of money while SPF are appropriations provided to cover expenditures for specific purposes which the recipient departments/agencies have not yet identified during budget preparation.

To illustrate, under the Office of the President alone, the allocated confidential and intelligence expenses totals P4.5 billion. This does not even include what is tucked into the huge national defense chest.

Then there is this: there was P633.44 billion in SPF in 2019, while this year, the SPF is at P684.20 billion. This means a P50.73-billion hike for specific purposes that “have not yet been identified during budget preparation.” This amount is 62% of the total budget for all departments and their agencies. This practice simply eschews transparency, accountability, and the national interest. It is government waste and a prime manifestation of divesting taxpayers’ money. And we seem to have a parallel bureaucracy in our midst.

On Sept. 20, 2019, with President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to expedite things, Malacañang’s budget proposal flew through the House of Representatives with 457 votes to six in favor of passing House Bill 4228 or the general appropriations bill (GAB) for 2020. There were no abstentions.

There are also observations that the budget was not distributed well, particularly in areas that needed it the most. The Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department of the House of Representatives itself shows in one of its published papers that “the budget share of Mindanao has been declining from 15.3% in 2017 to 12.5% in 2019, before inching back to 13% in 2020 (as proposed). Similarly, the shares of Luzon and Visayas steadily decreased during the period 2017-2020. As proposed for 2020, Luzon captures 21.4% of the total NG (national government) budget while Visayas gets 9.3%.”

The National Capital Region (NCR) is getting much more, proportionally, compared to these broader areas. If one were to consider the names of Senators and Representatives who pushed and promoted certain items during the actual budget, one may not be so surprised to note that, among others, there are particular cities that are getting more allocations compared to other areas that are even more needy and thus require more national government support.

It is very possible that even though the budget for education, health, and infrastructure under President Duterte’s administration are prioritized, the real use of such funds will go to favored but not necessarily more needy areas, groups, and constituents. How such favored cities seem to be unduly favored in the national budget allocations despite the fact that there are more needy areas out there could be just the tip of the pork iceberg, as it were.

Such irrational use of our limited resources for particular politicians’ political survival, electoral viability, or personal enrichment, certainly has an impact on our economic state. Aside from mere perceptions of corruption, the continuing practice of pork could be a major factor in the slowing down of our economic growth in the last couple of years.

 

Louie C. Montemar is an Education Fellow at the Stratbase ADR Institute, and a Professor of Sociology and Political Science.

VFA headed for the scrap yard?

Will the VFA be scrapped? What would its far-reaching consequences be to national security and nation-building?

As a result of America’s continued criticism and political interference in the country’s internal affairs, the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is now in trouble. President Rodrigo Duterte’s cup has runneth over, so to speak, with the consortium of regime changers that he’s now making America choose between its selfish political interests and its national security interests in the Indo-Pacific theater.

The trigger was the cancelation of Senator Ronaldo de la Rosa’s US visa on account of his involvement in the anti-drug war as then PNP Chief, most likely due to the Global Magnitsky Act that imposes sanctions on human rights violators. It was seen as another American insult to the president.

The VFA consists of two separate documents. The first is commonly referred to as “the VFA” or “VFA-1” while the second is called the “VFA-2” or “the Counterpart Agreement.” It’s a variant of a Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA, that applies to troops temporarily in a foreign country, which was hotly debated during the PH-US Bases Talks in the early 1990s. The agreements came into force on May 27, 1999, upon ratification by the Philippine Senate. The US, however, regards these documents to be executive agreements not requiring its Senate’s approval.

VFA-1 essentially allows the US government to retain jurisdiction over its military personnel accused of committing crimes in the Philippines, unless the crimes are “of particular importance to the Philippines.” For crimes without this significance, the US can refuse to detain or arrest accused personnel, or may instead prosecute them under US jurisdiction. Our local courts have one year to complete any legal proceedings. It also exempts US military personnel from visa and passport regulations in the Philippines.

It contains various procedural safeguards such as the right to due process and proscribing double jeopardy. It prevents US military personnel from being tried in Filipino religious or military courts; requires both governments to waive any claims concerning loss of materials (though it does require that the US honor contractual arrangements and comply with US law regarding payment of just and reasonable compensation in settlement of meritorious claims for damage, loss, personal injury or death, caused by acts or omissions of United States personnel); exempts material exported and imported by the military from duties or taxes; and allows unrestricted movement of US vessels and aircraft in the Philippines.

VFA-2, on the other hand, requires the US government to notify Philippine authorities when it becomes aware of the apprehension, arrest or detention of any Philippine personnel visiting the US and, when so requested by the Philippine government, to ask the appropriate authorities to waive jurisdiction in favor of the Philippines, except in cases of special interest to the US Departments of State or Defense. Waiving of jurisdiction in the US is complicated because the United States is a federation of US states and therefore a federation of jurisdictions.

It also contains various procedural safeguards to protect rights of Philippine personnel to due process and proscribes double jeopardy; exemption from visa formalities and guarantees expedited entry and exit processing; acceptance of Philippine drivers licenses; allows carrying of arms at US military installations while on duty; personal tax exemptions and import/export duty exclusions; requires the US to provide health care; and exempts Philippine vehicles, vessels, and aircraft from landing or ports fees, navigation or overflight charges, road tolls or any other charges for the use of US military installations.

President Duterte threatened to abrogate the VFA if the visa cancelation of Philippine personalities involved in the anti-drug campaign and allegations of human rights offenses are not rectified within 30 days. Immediately, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) began the process of termination of the VFA in coordination with the Department of Justice’s (DoJ) review of the procedures required as well as the impact on the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

His threat was premised on two important points: one, the Philippines is an independent sovereign state with functioning institutions that should be respected by other states; two, the Philippines is no longer a colony or sub-state of the US. More importantly, he wants to review and correct all onerous contracts that are disadvantageous to the Philippines. That’s part of his job, his duty and responsibility as Head of State.

The US gave him the opening to subject the VFA to such a review conducted by the DFA, DoJ, and the Department of National Defense (DND) which will study the potential impacts to the MDT and EDCA. The MDT itself is outmoded in that no longer provides relevant mutual security in the 21st century. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has expressed the view that it should be reviewed the soonest possible.

EDCA, on the other hand, provides for increased US military presence in the Philippines. It was an “adjustment in detail” for the implementation of the MDT and VFA. In 2016, the Supreme Court voted 10-4-1 to declare EDCA constitutional, affirming that an executive agreement doesn’t need the Senate’s concurrence. Both the VFA and EDCA are appendages to the MDT, but if one party does not consider them integral to the MDT, its review for appropriate action is the right thing to do.

Clearly Philippine-USA relations are at a crossroads. We want a broad, reciprocal and mature relationship with the US. But does it, really? While our relationship has undoubtedly evolved since 1991, there are lingering issues such as interference, inequality, and lack of reciprocity. Either way, it’s still incumbent on the Philippine government to reach out to the world to strengthen its bilateral and multilateral relations for its long term security, growth and development in a community of free and mutually respecting nation-states.

In the famous words of President Donald Trump, “Let’s see what happens.” My response would be, “Mr. President, make it happen.”

 

Rafael M. Alunan III is a former Secretary of Interior and Local Government and chairs the Philippine Council for Foreign Relations.

rmalunan@gmail.com

map@map.org.ph

http://map.org.ph

Parochial foreign policy

Newly minted senator and former police chief Bato de la Rosa must be smiling with glee at the President’s declaration that he will revoke the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the USA if they do not issue a US visa to his good friend and fellow Davaeño Bato de la Rosa. OMG, a huge foreign policy switch on behalf of his friend who wants to make a personal, not official, visit to the USA.

For the sake of Bato, who says he just wants to visit his relatives in the USA, we now get more and more vulnerable to China, which has been violating our sovereignty (despite its being affirmed by the UN Arbitral Court) over our West Philippine Sea. The VFA (which is a more honorable agreement with the USA than the military bases which we used to house for them in our territories), it seems to me, is crucial as a deterrent to other alien powers which may have designs over our territories, which even now has been manifested by the growing power that is China.

Because this small and weak government has chosen to deal with the great power that is China on a bilateral rather than multilateral basis, China can ignore the ramming of small fishing boats by their fishing (militia?) vessels. The fishers were merely out to make a living and to provide protein for our people! China, as far as I know, has not apologized for the abandonment of our victimized fishers who could have drowned in our own waters, were they not rescued by the dauntless Vietnamese. (The Vietnamese people, after all, once defeated their colonists, France and the mighty armed forces of the United States of America. And they have also managed to fend off attempts by China to dominate them, even fearlessly sending their armed Coast Guard to confront the Chinese vessels encroaching into their own territories. The Chinese, according to the news, retreated!)

As usual, the presidential spokesperson explains as an afterthought that President Duterte had many reasons for the decision to abrogate the VFA. That it was not just in exchange for a US visitor’s visa for his friend. The President, it was alleged, had merely reached the end of his patience with the US following a series of offenses against his prerogatives as the chief executive of our country. These include some US senators’ resolutions against politicians for the unjust detention of Senator Leila de Lima.

The President cannot seem to get out of his Davao Mayor mindset, even when it comes to foreign policy. No matter what his spokesman says, Duterte himself, no less, had announced his decision to abrogate the VFA unless the USA issues a visa for his fellow Davaoeño (who is the mastermind behind Oplan Tokhang in which law enforcers knock on a suspected drug trafficker or drug addict’s home to persuade them to surrender and stop their illegal activities, which is alleged to have led to killing sprees against suspected barangay-level drug users and pushers, most of whom were young and poor).

We are a small and poor nation with, however, a strategic location that powerful nations are attracted to. If we are using our heads and trying not to get overrun by any of these great military and economic powers, we have to be cunning and sly. It seems to me, accepting China’s preference for bilateral negotiations is the dumb thing to do. Multilateralism is a way of avoiding wars, and therefore of promoting peace. It is also a weapon that the weak can resort to to avoid being bullied by more powerful nations. There is, after all, power in numbers. And the United States happens to be the most powerful county, militarily and economically, in the world. Why can’t we maintain a vestige of support from them? After all, we do have a Mutual Defense Treaty, which is the basis for the VFA. We don’t have to kowtow to either the US or China. We just need to balance their influence against each other, for our own sakes.

We have won our case in the UN Arbitral Court; but this government has preferred to ignore our victory. Indonesia has chosen to assert our victory as a beneficiary of the nullification of China’s claim of a nine-dash line entitlement. A mere cabinet member actually sent a bomb to some Chinese vessels and caused them to retreat from Indonesia’s own territorial waters. Shame on us!

As once-upon-a-time chair of the ASEAN, we threw away our opportunity to mobilize support for our sovereignty over our marine territories. After all, it was the Philippines that filed for and won the sovereignty case at UN Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague. Instead, we seem to have become China’s spokesman in the ASEAN, practically replacing impoverished Cambodia which has become a de facto colony of China. How far will our own obsequiousness go?

I am disappointed in Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s seeming support for Duterte’s declared intention to abrogate the VFA. It seems to me that he should know better.

Where, oh where are the statesmen in our country? We used to have them in plentiful stock: Tanada, Pepe Diokno, et al. Let us hope that at least the advocacies of Retired Justice Antonio Carpio, Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, and UP Associate Dean Jay Batungbacal will bear fruit, at least among the youth, someday.

 

Teresa S. Abesamis is a former professor at the Asian Institute of Management and Fellow of the Development Academy of the Philippines.

tsabesamis0114@yahoo.com

Bato-bato sa langit

President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States of America unless the US reinstates the non-immigrant visa of Senator Roland “Bato” de la Rosa. De la Rosa had a 10-year visa that allowed him to visit the US for brief periods, presumably as a tourist. If he were to go to the US on official business as a member of the Philippine Senate, he would probably not need the tourist visa.

At any rate, it appears that De la Rosa’s visa was canceled as a result of the resolution filed by US Senators Patrick Leahy and Dick Durbin that would prevent the entry into the US of Philippine official involved in the “wrongful incarceration” of Senator Leila de Lima. The resolution was a rider in the 2020 US national budget which President Donald Trump signed into law.

De Lima, a relentless critic of Duterte’s war on drugs, which had resulted in thousands of killings, some of them allegedly extra-judicial, had been accused of criminal involvement with drug lords. While this had all the elements of a frame-up, De Lima was nonetheless arrested and jailed.

This created an international uproar among human rights activists, particularly in the US. Thus the resolution filed by Leahy and Durbin.

De Lima has listed several members of the Duterte administration (including Duterte himself) who were responsible for her arrest and incarceration. It can be assumed that De la Rosa’s high visibility in the drug war, as its principal enforcer, was why his visa was among those canceled (there is no indication which official in De Lima’s “hit list” has also had a visa cancelation).

One can’t help quoting the Tagalog saying about individuals being randomly victimized by bad luck or a bad joke, “Bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan ay huwag magagalit!” (Throwing stones up in the sky, whoever gets hit should not get mad).

Granting a visitor’s visa to the US is obviously not among the vast powers of the Philippine presidency, but terminating an international agreement with a foreign country is. According to Senator Koko Pimentel, the President can terminate an agreement with another country “for any reason.”

Pimentel could well have added that the reason does not have to be reasonable. This, on the other, is what Senator Ping Lacson cannot appreciate. So the US has canceled a Philippine official’s visitor’s visa and thus Duterte wants to cancel a military agreement that concerns the security of the Philippines.

Lacson’s question is: “What’s the connection?”

In other words, why are the security interests of the country being jeopardized in order to protect the personal interests of an individual? Lacson must be assuming that Duterte is aware that the VFA that he is threatening to terminate is linked to the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the US, which commits both countries to come to each other’s aid in case of an attack by another country.

Perhaps Lacson is tempted to ask Duterte if he has a Mutual Defense Agreement with De la Rosa and if that includes a Visiting Tourist Agreement (VTA) that covers visits to the US.

Lacson could furthermore remind Duterte that the US is more than just a tourist destination for moneyed public officials, or a big brother to whom the Philippines can run if bullied by another country. America is one of the biggest investors in the Philippines and is thus a pillar of the economy.

Duterte has reportedly given the US one month to reinstate Bato’s visa or else he will summarily terminate the VFA. In other words, restore Bato’s visa or suffer the consequences of a canceled VFA and that, Duterte seems to be saying, is only the beginning.

Duterte has also threatened to cancel the privilege of US citizens to visit the Philippines without a visa. In fact, he has already ordered the banning of Senators Leahy and Durbin from the Philippines.

Duterte may have other anti-US moves up his sleeve. He could also terminate the Mutual Defense Treaty with the US and other mutual assistance agreements. And then, if the visas of other officials are also canceled and not reinstated, Duterte could break relations with the US and send its diplomats back to Washington, DC. Duterte could nationalize and take over American business holdings in the Philippines and freeze all US assets.

One can imagine what other means of “getting even” with America Duterte imagines he is capable of. Remember, this is the heroic presidential candidate who vowed to board a jet ski and dare the Chinese to a fight to the death over the South China Sea.

In fact, he even warned President Xi Jinping of China to rein in his squatters on Philippine territory in the South China Sea otherwise he would send the Philippine military on a suicide mission against the Chinese.

Senator Bato de la Rosa must feel very good about the support “to the death” that the President of the Philippines is giving him.

One can almost hear Duterte promise the good Senator. “’Tang inang mga Kano na iyan — dito mo masusubukan ang suporta ko sa iyo. Mas mahal kita kaysa sa mahigit isang daang milyong Pilipino. Pag hindi nila ibinalik ang VTA mo, kanselado ang VFA nila!” (Damn those Americans — now you will see how much I support you. I love you more than the over one hundred million Filipinos. If they don’t reinstate your VTA, their VFA will be canceled.)

You can almost hear De la Rosa respond with tears in his eyes, “Tenkyu sir. Magpapakamatay din ako para sa iyo!” (Thank you sir, I will also die for you.)

How do you think the folks in Washington, DC are taking all these threats?

Duterte threatening the US reminds me of the film Ang Leon at ang Daga (The Lion and the Mouse) that starred Niño Muhlach and Fernando Poe, Jr. You can guess who the mouse is.

You can almost hear them discussing this at the Pentagon, A war hawk will ask permission to dispatch drones to take out the mouse in the Philippines. The special envoy for Southeast Asia just flashes a grin.

“Aw, com’n, don’t take that blusterer seriously. If Fidel Castro and Kruschev could not get us out of Guantanamo, does Duterte actually believe he can kick us out of the Philippines?”

 

Greg B. Macabenta is an advertising and communications man shuttling between San Francisco and Manila and providing unique insights on issues from both perspectives.

gregmacabenta@hotmail.com

Work suspension during calamities

On Jan. 12 — nearly half a century after its last eruption — Taal Volcano had a phreatic eruption, causing ash to fall on numerous cities and necessitating the evacuation of families living near the volcano. With the sudden turn of events, immediate evacuation and disaster preparations were necessary for the affected areas, and schools and offices were constrained to suspend their operations to make way for the same.

We hear it quite often: “Paano naman kami?” exclaims the working class. The suspension of work has always been an issue of concern, especially in cases where neither the employer nor the employee is at fault. Indeed, while the employer has a right to the continued operations of his or her business, an employee’s welfare likewise constitutes a pressing concern.

As if on cue, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) issued the timely Labor Advisory No. 1, Series of 2020 (L.A. No. 1-2020), entitled “Suspension of Work in the Private Sector by Reason of Natural or Man-Made Calamity,” pursuant to Article 5 of the Labor Code and Republic Act No. 11058.

Section 1 of L.A. No. 1-2020 is clear in its mandate: “Except as provided for by law or appropriate proclamation, employers in the private sector shall, in the exercise of management prerogative and in coordination with the safety and health committee, or safety officer, or any other responsible company officer, suspend work to ensure the safety and health of their employees during natural or man-made calamity.”

In the event that employers in the private sector suspend work for the safety and health of their employees during natural or man-made calamities, they are not required to pay their employees’ salaries in accordance with the principle of “no work, no pay.” Indeed, it would be inequitable to require an employer to pay the salary of an employee, even when the employee did not work on such day. L.A. No. 1-2020, however, provides that, in cases where an employee has accrued leave credits, then he may be allowed to utilize such leaves in order to receive compensation for the unworked days. Furthermore, if an employee works for the employer on such a day, then the employee must receive his or her regular salary — without any additional or premium pay.

Notably, these rules apply only in the absence of a more favorable company policy, practice, or stipulation in a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Any existing company policy, practice, or stipulation in a CBA, which is more favorable to the employee, shall prevail over L.A. No. 1-2020. To illustrate, a company policy may provide that a premium be paid, on top of the daily wage, in case an employee works during a calamity. It is also possible that an employer has been unilaterally and unconditionally granting, for a long period of time, the payment of wages to employees even if work is suspended due to natural and/or man-made calamities. Thus, in these or other similar cases, there exists a policy or practice which is more favorable to the employee. Therefore, an employer may not invoke L.A. No. 1-2020 to justify non-payment of salaries during these work suspensions. Otherwise, the employer runs the risk of violating the rule on “non-diminution of benefits” in relation to Article 100 of the Labor Code.

With the above discussion, however, a question remains: in the absence of a declaration of suspension from employers in the private sector, are employees absolutely mandated to report for work during the existence of natural or man-made calamities? The DoLE answers in the negative.

Section 3 of the Labor Advisory provides that employees who either fail or refuse to report for work “by reason of imminent danger resulting from natural or man-made calamity” shall not be subjected to any administrative sanction. The DoLE aims to strike a balance in this case: while employers cannot arbitrarily sanction its employees who fail to report for work in such cases, employees, on the other hand, are only excused from reporting for work “by reason of imminent danger resulting from natural or man-made calamity.” The meaning of this phrase, however, is not clear in the advisory. Furthermore, even if they report for work, they will not be entitled to any premium pay.

A couple of weeks had passed since the Taal Volcano’s initial eruption. While the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has downgraded Taal Volcano’s status to Level 3, however, it has been quick to clarify that a hazardous eruption is still possible. With this looming threat, it is fortunate that the DoLE has issued L.A. No. 1-2020 to at least serve as a guide for employers and employees alike during these times.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. This article is for general informational and educational purposes, and not offered as, and does not constitute, legal advice or legal opinion.

 

Karenina Isabel A. Lampa is an Associate of the Labor and Employment Department of the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW).

kalampa@accralaw.com

(632) 8830-8000.

Climate change is real, and really expensive

By James Nixon

IN THE CHILLY and rarefied air of Davos, recent days saw yet another surge in the temperature of the world’s debate on climate change. While Greta Thunberg led pleas to political leaders at the World Economic Forum for urgent action to avert climate catastrophe, Donald Trump used the same platform to denounce “prophets of doom.” The virtual confrontation between Trump and Thunberg came just weeks after a UN climate change summit in Madrid ended in a stalemate.

The near-apocalyptic spectacle of still-smoldering Australian bushfires, and another year of record temperatures and extreme weather, might seem like enough to jolt the world out of its paralysis. Yet a worldwide consensus for more radical action on climate change remains elusive. Why?

One plausible reason is that policymakers don’t have economic incentives to act. Putting hard numbers on the cost of climate change is challenging, and until recently economists lacked the right tools to do the job. As a result, global warming is too rarely included in the standard economic forecasts that shape policy making. That encourages leaders to act as if climate change is cost-free.

BRGFX/FREEPIK

But now we know better. In recent years, economists have developed new methods of forecasting the effects of climate change that take into account extreme temperatures, heavier rainfall, drought, flooding, storms, rising sea levels, and ocean acidification. And as their estimates have grown more precise, they’ve also grown more pessimistic. Damage estimates from 1998 to 2008 were in the range of a few percent of world GDP; recent credible estimates are an order of magnitude higher. Unconstrained emissions would strip 30% off the world economy by 2100, according to largest plausible economic estimates.

More immediately, in a recent Oxford Economics analysis I found that the 2° Celsius of warming expected by 2050 in a high-emissions scenario would imply costs of between 2.5% and 7.5% of global GDP. This pain will be spread unevenly across countries and economies, too, with India, Africa, and Central America being hit hardest.

The perception that the risks are smaller than they really are hinders urgent efforts to address climate change. Just as dangerous is the belief common in some government, policy, and business circles that rising investment aimed at adapting to climate change in the short to medium term will offset its economic fallout. This investment is essentially unproductive, since it goes to replace existing capital stock. So, on top of the direct damages caused by climate change, economic growth will be further cut as investments in adaptation efforts reduce potential growth rates.

The toll looks graver still if one factors in the potential economic value of items normally excluded from market-based estimates of GDP such as natural capital that faces depletion from environmental degradation and the costs in terms of human mortality.

The difficulty of putting hard numbers on the increasingly hard reality of climate change looks to have stood in the way of a serious policy response to the threat. But, as with climate science, the economic case for action now looks incontestable. And it’s turning up the heat on policy makers who can no longer afford a cool detachment over the costs about to be felt.

 

BLOOMBERG OPINION

Eduard Folayang amazed at how martial arts career panned out

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

GROWING up Eduard Folayang never thought that he would build a successful career doing martial arts, and to this day he is just amazed at how things have turned out for him in the path he has chosen.

Doing wushu and mixed martial arts for most of his life, Mr. Folayang, 35, has won a lot in competitions both here and abroad, changing his life for the better.

“I didn’t imagine this happening. It seems like almost everything worked well and fell in the right places. There were failures sure but there were achievements as well and I’m just grateful,” said Mr. Folayang in an interview.

The Baguio native started doing wushu first and represented the country in the early 2000s, winning medals in the Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games, and international wushu tournaments.

In 2007, he started in MMA, quickly establishing himself as a force to reckon with in the sport, eventually becoming a champion in different organizations, including ONE Championship, where he is a two-time world lightweight champion.

Recently, Mr. Folayang added another feather in his cap as he was named to the list of greatest Filipino athletes in the recently released Philippines Yearbook 2020: The 50 Greatest Filipino Athletes.

The authors of the book said the Filipino fighter is being recognized not only for his achievements in the sport of MMA but also for the kind of impact he has had in helping grow the sport and for MMA be better appreciated in the country.

Mr. Folayang said it is a recognition that he is taking with much honor and pride not only for himself but for the entire MMA community in the country for it is an affirmation as well of how the sport has carved a niche for itself in the overall scheme of things.

“This is just unbelievable. Never did I think I will be included in this list of the 50 greatest Filipino athletes. When I started doing MMA I just wanted to take on a new challenge and improve myself. I just worked hard and I’m happy to be in the list. Hopefully others will be inspired by my story, to do their best each time in whatever they do,” Mr. Folayang said.

“I’m happy to represent the sport of MMA in the country. Our journey has not been perfect but we have achieved things throughout the years and for it to be recognized in such a way is a wonderful feeling,” he added.

In the list of the greatest Filipino athletes, Mr. Folayang joins the list of legends in Philippine basketball, boxing, bowling, swimming, and football, among others.

While he has done and won practically everything in MMA, Mr. Folayang said he is not done with the sport, underscoring that there are still narratives to be told and goals to achieve.

He is set to make his ONE return later this week at “ONE: Fire & Fury” at the Mall of Asia Arena, taking on Pieter Buist of the Netherlands in a lightweight clash.

It is a fight that he is viewing with much significance, looking to use as a jump-off point to make another push at a title shot in the division.

“This is an important match and I want to give a good performance. My motivation is to be champion once again. The division is deeper now but it will be a wonderful narrative and huge accomplishment if I become champion again,” Mr. Folayang said.

ONE: Fire & Fury is set for Jan. 31.

Kenin downs Jabeur, faces Barty in semifinal

MELBOURNE — Sofia Kenin kept her game neat and tidy to see off big-hitting Tunisian Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-4 at the Australian Open on Tuesday and reach her first Grand Slam semifinal.

The 21-year-old American arrived in Melbourne after a breakthrough 2019 season when she won all three of her WTA singles titles and came in to Tuesday’s clash at Rod Laver Arena with a 3-1 record against Jabeur.

Perhaps aware she did not have the power to match her opponent, Kenin instead focused on keeping her error count to a minimum.

Jabeur, the first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal, produced 20 more winners than her opponent but Kenin made up for that by maintaining the same gap in unforced errors.

“I’m super excited, it was a tough match,” said Kenin, whose previous best show at a Grand Slam was the fourth round at Roland Garros last year.

Kenin capitalized on Jabeur’s faulty groundstrokes to break early in the opening set but the Tunisian got back on serve at 3-3.

Unforced errors kept hurting Jabeur as Kenin got a second break in the next game but the Tunisian showed plenty of stomach for the fight, saving five set points over two games to keep the 14th seed waiting.

The 78th-ranked Jabeur, who said she received a call from her country’s president before the match, had her opportunities in the second set but wasted three breakpoint chances in the sixth game with unforced errors.

She threw her racket away in disgust during the game which lasted close to 10 minutes.

“It was a tough moment,” Kenin said. “She was playing well, I didn’t know it was 10 minutes but I felt the game was pretty long. I feel like after that I got my momentum and started playing better.”

Kenin was 40-0 up in Jabeur’s next service game but once again the Tunisian fought back to take it to deuce before two errors on her forehand gave the American the crucial break and a 4-3 lead.

After both players held serve Kenin converted her first match point when Jabeur, 25, found the net on a service return.

Kenin will meet either world number one Ash Barty of Australia for a place in Saturday’s final.

BARTY WINS QUARTERFINAL REMATCH AGAINST KVITOVA
Ash Barty stormed into her maiden Australian Open semifinals on Tuesday with an emphatic 7-6(6) 6-2 win over Petra Kvitova that avenged her defeat to the hard-hitting Czech in last year’s quarterfinal at Melbourne Park.

Thrashed 6-1, 6-4 by Kvitova last year, top seed Barty rode a wave of crowd support as she defused the twice Wimbledon champion’s power game before running away with the contest on a glorious afternoon at Rod Laver Arena.

French Open champion Barty saved two break points serving for the match, then sealed the win with an ace to become the first Australian woman to reach the semifinals at Melbourne Park since Wendy Turnbull in 1984. — Reuters

Ceres’ ACL run ends with 2-0 loss to FC Tokyo

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE run of Ceres-Negros FC at the AFC Champions League ended on Tuesday night after losing to FC Tokyo, 2-0, in their qualification playoff match in Japan.

Goals from Sei Muroya and Adailton Da Silva in the second half did it for the host team, ending in the process the Bacolod-based club’s spirited run in the tournament.

The win pushed Tokyo to the main draw of the AFC Champions League, whose group play begins next month.

Played under heavy rain at the Tokyo Stadium, the two teams struggled to get their attack going in the first half, fighting to a nil-nil count at the break.

In the second half, Tokyo broke through early, with Mr. Muroya connecting from 15 yards to hand the 1-0 lead to his team.

Tokyo kept the pressure on Ceres’ defense after but the latter stood its ground.

The hosts got their second goal just before the match hit the 90th minute care of Mr. Adailton, which all but secured the win for them.

Ceres, which played sans captain Stephan Schrock after getting two yellow cards in the previous rounds of the preliminaries, will now play in the AFC Cup where it will open its bid in Group F on Feb. 11.

MPBL pays tribute to late NBA legend Kobe Bryant

ANTIPOLO CITY — Late great Kobe Bryant has definitely influenced a generation of Filipino basketball players.

When he passed away, the players and staff of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) made sure to pay tribute to him.

In the first game day of the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go Lakan Season since Mr. Bryant’s passing that featured a triple-header at the Ynares Center here, everyone was asked to stand up and hold a moment of silence for the fallen global icon.

The teams from the first two games, Pasig-Sta. Lucia versus Navotas-Unipak and Iloilo United versus Biñan-Luxxe White, also agreed to hold the ball and concede a 24-second violation in their first possessions as a tribute to Laker no. 24.

Then in the final game, Basilan, who won the jumpball, allowed itself to be penalized with a shotclock violation before home team Rizal-Xentro Mall gave up an eight-second backcourt violation — a homage to the jersey number used by Bryant in his first 10 years in the NBA.

MPBL founder Senator Manny Pacquiao was devastated Monday after learning of the passing of his good friend.

“Alam mo nagulat ako nu’ng lumabas ’yung balita kaninang umaga at halos hindi ako makapaniwala na nawala ’yung kaibigan ko,” Pacquiao told Senate reporters on Monday.

‘NAMATAY ’YUNG KAIBIGAN KO’
For their part, some of the players wrote messages of condolences on their shoes for Kobe and his daughter Gigi, including Caloocan’s JM Gonzales, Carlo Escalambre, Radge Tongco, and Damian Lasco; and Muntinlupa’s GJ Ylagan and Dave Moralde.

Basilan’s Allyn Bulanadi, on the other hand, wore a customized Kobe Bryant shirt courtesy of Phenom Sportswear that had “Mamba Forever” printed on it.

Mighty Sports wins third straight game in Dubai

MIGHTY Sports Philippines stayed unscathed at the 31st Dubai International Basketball Tournament after racing to their third straight win with an 84-66 rout of Es Rades Tunisia early Tuesday morning (Manila time).

Getting a boost from collegiate stars Juan Gomez De Liano and Thirdy Ravena, Mighty Sports turned a close match in the early goings to a dominant show of force on its part as the game progressed en route to the victory.

University of the Philippines stalwart De Liano fired 12 points, all from beyond the arc, in helping Mighty Sports pull away from Es Rades after a close 19-18 count at the end of the opening quarter.

Mr. Ravena tallied eight points, on top of playing solid defense, in the win.

The duo of Andray Blatche and Renaldo Balkman, meanwhile, paced the side from the Philippines with 18 points apiece.

Mighty Sports made its move to pull away in the second half where it outscored the Tunisian team, 43-32.

Anton Grady led Es Rades with 17 points and eight boards.

Next for Mighty Sports is Beirut Sports Club set for early today.

The match is to be broadcast over One Sports on Cignal TV. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Weather conditions scrutinized by investigators as Kobe Bryant’s fatal helicopter crash probe opens

CALABASAS, CALIF. — Overcast skies and fog reported at the scene of the helicopter wreck that killed Los Angeles basketball great Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others figured prominently on Monday in the first full day of federal aviation experts’ crash investigation.

An 18-member National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) team, assisted by FBI forensic specialists, began mapping the wreckage site with drones and examining debris scattered across the hillside where the helicopter went down on Sunday.

Los Angeles County coroner’s investigators, working alongside aviation NTSB inspectors, said they had recovered the first three bodies from the crash site and were searching for more remains.

In a sign that clouds, fog and limited visibility were of particular interest to investigators, NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy appealed to the public to come forward with any photographs that might help document local weather conditions at the time of the crash.

Homendy told reporters that weather was just one factor.

‘DEVASTATING ACCIDENT SCENE’
“We take a broad look at everything in an investigation — man, machine and the environment. And weather is just a small portion of that,” she said at a late-afternoon news conference in Calabasas, California, about mile from the crash site.

She described how bits of the aircraft — a section of the fuselage, a piece of the tail, a rotor and other debris — were strewn around an impact crater where the helicopter slammed into a tall grassy slope.

“It was a pretty devastating accident scene,” she said.

The twin-engine Sikorsky S-76B took off from John Wayne Airport in the Orange County city of Santa Ana on a flight destined for a regional airport about 80 miles to the northwest in the coastal town of Camarillo, the NTSB said. It crashed in the Santa Monica foothills on the outskirts of Calabasas, about 40 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

The pilot and all eight passengers, including Bryant, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, perished in the fiery wreck. They were on their way to a girl’s basketball tournament at a sports academy where Bryant was to have coached his daughter’s team that day.

Bryant, an 18-time National Basketball Association all-star won five NBA championships during his 20 years with the Los Angeles Lakers, was known since his playing days to travel frequently by helicopter to avoid the Los Angeles area’s infamous traffic.

But questions immediately surfaced about the role that weather conditions played in Sunday’s tragedy.

Forecasters reported low clouds and limited visibility at the time of the crash, and eyewitnesses recounted thick fog over the foothills where the helicopter went down.

‘LOWER AND LOWER’
Fog and clouds were so bad that both the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department grounded their helicopter fleets, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing officials.

Public recordings of radio calls between Bryant’s helicopter and air traffic control during the flight indicate the pilot tried to remain below clouds so he could see the ground and avoid having to fly on instruments, said Gary C. Robb, an aviation lawyer and author of the book “Helicopter Crash Litigation.”

“The dialogue between the pilot and air traffic control leads me to believe … he kept wanting to go lower and lower, beneath the fog and ceiling, as we call it, and that could have led him to fly so low that he flew into the mountain,” Robb told Reuters.

The pilot, in his transmissions, “was calm and controlled the whole time,” Robb added, calling the communications “extremely normal and routine.”

A possible mechanical failure cannot be ruled out, especially in light of “ear-witness” accounts that the helicopter sounded like it was “sputtering” moments before the crash, Robb said.

He described the Sikorsky S-76, however, as a “reliable” and “generally safe” aircraft.

Both Robb and another prominent aviation disaster attorney, Bob Clifford, both noted that the pilot had requested “flight following,” or constant tracking from controllers to help keep the Sikorsky clear of other aircraft in limited visibility, but was informed he was flying too low to be picked up by air traffic radar. It is unclear whether the pilot heard that admonition as it came near the end of the doomed flight.

NTSB’s Homendy said the pilot was an experienced, commercially licensed aviator and certified flight instructor with at last 8,200 hours of flight time.

LAKERS GAME CANCELED
The crash devastated three other families linked to the Mamba Sports Academy in Calabasas — a husband and wife with their 13-year-old daughter; a mother and her 13-year-old daughter; and a basketball coach who was also a mother.

In honor of Bryant, the NBA announced it had canceled a game scheduled for Tuesday between the Lakers and their cross-town rivals, the Clippers.

After Lakers fans spontaneously built a shrine to Bryant near the Staples Center, his teams’ home arena, fans also left flowers and Bryant jerseys at Lower Merion High School outside Philadelphia, where Bryant played before joining the NBA.

In Hollywood, movie celebrities, including Robert De Niro and Brad Pitt, took part in a moment of silence to honor Bryant at the start of the annual Academy Award nominees luncheon. Bryant, an Oscar-winner for the animated short film he wrote and produced, Dear Basketball, attended the lunch two years ago.

In New York, morning commuters emerging from Penn Station stopped for a silent moment before an enormous electronic billboard lit up with Bryant’s image outside Madison Square Garden. — Reuters

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