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NFA to buy from local corn farmers

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. led the inauguration of the Rice Processing System II facility and the turnover of farm machinery in the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija on Monday, as part of efforts to modernize the farm sector. — PPA POOL/YUMMIE DINGDING

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Monday said the National Food Authority (NFA) will begin buying corn from local farmers, starting next year.

“The NFA will now be buying corn. We’re going back to the original role of the NFA, which is procuring rice and corn,” Mr. Marcos said in a livestreamed farmers forum in Nueva Ecija.

He added that this would allow more farmers to receive a decent livelihood from their harvest.

“So that farmers will have a decent livelihood, they can feed their families, and send their children to school,” he said.

In a text message to Palace reporter, NFA Administrator Larry R. Lacson said that the agency will pilot the corn buying program next year once it receives the necessary budget.

“There will be a pilot next year once we have a budget. Selected areas first since we haven’t had corn procurement activity for a long time,” Mr. Lacson added.

The NFA is mandated to procure rice and corn from the country’s farmers to ensure adequate supply, however, it has only been purchasing palay or unmilled rice amid surging rice prices.

Mr. Marcos also assured rice farmers that the NFA will not reduce its palay buying price despite the ongoing government effort to lower the retail price of the food staple.

“No matter what price we sell rice at in the market, the NFA’s buying price of rice will not change. We will not lower the buying price,” he added.

He said that the current buying price for unmilled rice stands at P19 to P23 per kilogram for dry palay and P18 per kilo for wet palay.

The President had also implemented the selling of a P20-per-kilo rice for the vulnerable sector, which includes low-income families, senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities. Rice for the program is sourced from NFA stocks.

The Philippines’ rice stocks rose 14.2% to 2.37 million metric tons, while corn inventory fell 5.6% to 671,100 tons, according to the local statistics agency as of May. — Adrian H. Halili

NBI case eyed over paid witness claim

SENATE.GOV.PH

A PHILIPPINE Senator on Monday said that she will file a complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regarding a video circulating in social media alleging that she had paid a witness to testify in a Senate hearing.

“I have consulted with my legal team and on Wednesday, we will file a complaint before the NBI and seek their assistance in investigating the people responsible for this video, and those systematically circulating it in their disinformation networks,” Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel said in a news briefing.

She added that her office will also file criminal complaints against those who have perpetrated the video.

“His video is not just fake news. It is clear witness tampering. In addition to the harassment of the victims and witnesses of this huge case, and of my staff,” she added.

The witness, who identified himself as Michael Maurilio, alias “Rene,” alleged in a video circulating social media that Ms. Hontiveros had paid him to testify against detained pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy.

Mr. Quiboloy is facing numerous charges linked to his alleged actions and those of his organization, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJC).

Ms. Hontiveros said that the witness had previously reached out to her office to testify in the Senate hearing. He had also asked for financial assistance from her office and claimed that he was kidnapped by the KoJC. — Adrian H. Halili

Marcos urges support for PCC

THE Office of the President has issued a memorandum circular, directing government agencies to support the Philippines Competition Commission (PCC) in the country’s hosting of the 25th International Competition Network (ICN) Annual Conference next year.

Issued last month, Memorandum Circular No. 85 directed agencies to collaborate closely with the PCC in preparing for the event.

“The success of hosting the 25th ICN Annual Conference requires the active participation of all concerned government agencies and instrumentalities, as well as support of local government units (LGUs) and the private sector,” the circular read.

“The hosting of this conference aims to reaffirm the Philippines’ commitment to a competitive business environment, promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and set the country at the forefront of global policy dialogue in competition enforcement,” it added.

The agencies involved in the circular include the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, Philippine National Police, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

Meanwhile, all local government units and the private sector were encouraged to provide full support for the event.

The ICN Annual Conference gathers competition regulators and experts from over 140 countries “to share enforcement and policy developments, engage in high-level discussions, and collaborate on innovative tools to strengthen competition frameworks worldwide.” — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Smart, PayJoy expand credit access

PANGILINAN-LED Smart Communications, Inc. has partnered with PayJoy to provide smartphone financing solutions to capture the projected smartphone demand in the country.

“This collaboration aims to provide Filipino consumers, particularly those with limited budgets and no access to traditional credit, the opportunity to purchase mid to high-end smartphones through innovative financing solutions that will enable them to upgrade their means of communication and easier access to information,” Jac N. Bocalan, vice-president and head of channel management at Smart, said in the statement on Monday.

PayJoy, a public benefit corporation focusing on providing financing solutions to underserved customers in emerging markets, currently serves 66 million low-income consumers in the Philippines.

Through this collaboration, customers can now acquire smartphones by providing a valid ID and phone number even without credit cards, Smart said, adding that payments can be made weekly over a period of four to nine months.

“Our mission is to unlock financial freedom for the next billion people worldwide. By partnering with Smart, we are enabling more Filipinos to access the technology they need to stay connected and improve their lives,” PayJoy Country Manager Rene Payan said.

Smart said the number of smartphone users in the Philippines is projected to grow in the next four years, hitting more than 80 million users.

At present, the company continues to expand 4G/5G connectivity in the country, covering up to 97% of the population.

“This expansion allows customers to enjoy faster internet speeds, seamless streaming, and improved mobile gaming experiences, further enhancing their digital lifestyle,” Smart said.

Smart is the wireless unit of PLDT Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

The Medical City expands Ortigas branch ER facility

THE Medical City (TMC) on Monday opened an expanded emergency facility at its Ortigas branch, featuring streamlined emergency care.

The expanded emergency care unit is designed to deliver ER care in four hours, with a patient being immediately assessed by an emergency doctor upon arrival.

“Depending on the evaluation, patients are directed to appropriate care areas while staying informed through a digital queuing system,” TMC President and Group Chief Executive Officer Stuart Bennett said.

This is the first time that the ER facility underwent such massive expansion since the TMC relocated to a 1.5-hectare lot in Ortigas, he said.

Mr. Bennett told BusinessWorld that the TMC has spent “close to P100 million” from a construction standpoint for the upgraded ER.

The upgraded ER, which banks on a collaborative work among emergency doctors and other healthcare workers, addresses inefficiencies in emergency care by having access to “streamlined processing” of laboratory tests, radiology tests, x-rays, and other necessary tests.

“It really requires you to have the beds available, to have the space available, and if all those things work together, then you can successfully achieve a four-hour waiting time,” he said.

“They literally have to all come together in one way, otherwise it’s very, very difficult.”

Lourdes D. Jimenez, director of the Emergency Department of TMC Ortigas, said one of the major features of the upgraded ER is being “consultant driven.”

“So, we have around six to seven consultants in all areas,” she said.

Around 40 doctors and over 100 nurses are manning the upgraded ER, she added.

Cases requiring prompt but non-critical attention, like moderate injuries or infections, are treated in an urgent care area, while patients with concerns that are not too time-sensitive are brought to a non-urgent area.

Those in life-threatening situations such as heart attacks, stroke, or sepsis are treated in an area that is “fully equipped for rapid intervention” by emergency teams.

The TMC features a heart attack care program, the first of its kind in the Philippines, in which doctors will open up a patient’s blocked artery within 60 minutes.

Stroke victims are quickly treated by a brain team, which determines if they need a mechanical thrombectomy, a minimally invasive procedure to remove blood clots.

The upgraded ER also has a mental health high dependency secure area, which caters to patients experiencing psychological distress, and a trauma room, where patients with serious physical injuries can receive specialized care. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Enhanced waste diversion facility launched in Biñan

PEPSICO Philippines, Evergreen Labs Philippines, and the City of Biñan launched the Enhanced Material Recovery Facility (MRF) at the Biñan Ecopark.

The facility forms part of the Loop Lokal project, a public-private partnership that seeks to transform the way communities collect, process, and reuse post-consumer plastic waste.

The enhanced MRF is aligned with the Extended Producer Responsibility Act, which requires companies to establish their own waste recovery schemes through partnerships with communities and local governments among others.

“This is what we mean when we talk about a market-based virtuous cycle,” Christopher A. Ilagan, Corporate Affairs Head for PepsiCo Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and North Asia said in a statement.

“When waste has value, more people are incentivized to recover it. And when systems are in place to reliably transform plastic into high-quality secondary products, the cycle sustains itself.”

Evergreen Labs, together with PepsiCo Philippines, said it plans to open another pre-processing facility in 2025. — CAT

Alex Eala to debut on Wimbledon Centre Court against Krejcíková

ALEX EALA — WTATENNIS.COM

FOR someone who had fantasized hitting strokes on the famous grass courts of the All England Club as a child, competing in Wimbledon is a dream come true for Alexandra “Alex” Eala.

So it’s no surprise that the Filipina breakout star is overflowing with excitement as she finally plunges into action in the prestigious grand slam for the first time on Tuesday.

And the 20-year-old Eala couldn’t have gotten a better backdrop for her red-letter Wimbledon debut — on Centre Court, against the reigning titlist herself, No. 16 Czech Barbara Krejcíková.

“I’m going up against the defending champion… excited to see how that turns out,” Ms. Eala, now ranked 56th in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, told the media in Wimbledon.

“It’s a privilege to play on Centre Court. That is the court to be on. Wimbledon is my favorite slam. When I had big dreams as a young girl, they were always on that court. So I’m living the dream.”

Ms. Eala arrived in Wimbledon on Sunday on the heels of her history-making run in the Lexus Eastbourne Open, where she reached the final but yielded a 4-6, 6-1, 6-7 (10) loss to Australian Maya Joint.

She’s quickly leaving that finals heartbreaker behind as she aims the upset axe on world No. 16 Krejcíková in the vein of her previous massive takedown of grand slam champs Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek in the Miami Open last March.

Ms. Krejcíková, the 2021 French Open queen and eight-time WTA Tour winner, was also at Eastbourne but withdrew in the quarterfinals due to a thigh injury.

The 29-year-old Czech insists she’s good to go.

“I’ve been feeling a little bit better every day. So I’m really happy with that,” said Ms. Krejcíková, who earlier missed the first five months of 2025 due to back issues.

“And I hope by Tuesday, everything’s going to be fine and I hope I’m going to have a nice match and a great tournament.”

Ms. Krejcíková is thrilled to face the young gun from the Philippines.

“To be honest, I don’t really know that much about her yet because she’s obviously a young and upcoming player. But I saw some rallies. I saw some matches. I know that she was doing quite well in the first half of the year so I’m looking forward,” she said.

“It’s going to be, I think, a great matchup and I’m looking forward to play against her and to see where the young generation is.” — Olmin Leyba

Creamline battles Cignal for Pool B solo leadership

CREAMLINE COOL SMASHERS — FACEBOOK.COM/PREMIERVOLLEYBALLLEAGUE

Games on Tuesday
(Filoil EcoOil Arena)
4 p.m. – PLDT vs Farm Fresh
6:30 p.m. – Cignal vs Creamline

CREAMLINE and Cignal will face off Tuesday in an early clash of the Pool B leaders of the Premier Volleyball League on Tour, which returns back to the big city at the Filoil EcoOil Arena after successful visits to Vigan, Ilocos Sur and Batangas City.

The Cool Smashers and the HD Spikers both swept their two outings with the Akari Chargers and Capital1 Solar Spikers in Vigan to jump into the early share of the Pool B lead.

The winner in their 6:30 p.m. gets to seize the solo hold of No. 1.

PLDT and Farm Fresh, for their part, will get to debut in the league’s pre-season showcase as they collide at 4 p.m. in a marquee Pool B showdown.

PVL Notes: Alas Pilipinas, composed of PVL stars, fell to host Vietnam, 25-20, 25-21, 25-21, in a Pool B action of the VTV Cup. The Filipinas were clashing with China’s Sichuan Wuliangchun at press time and Australia today needing nothing less than a sweep to advance to the next phase. — Joey Villar

Czech Barbora Krejcíková relishing return as Wimbledon champion despite injury scare

LONDON — Defending Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcíková will step into the All England Club this week carrying both the weight of expectation and a lingering injury concern, yet the Czech appears utterly unfazed by either.

Days after withdrawing from the Eastbourne Open with a thigh injury, Krejcíková seemed calmly assured for someone who defied the odds at Wimbledon last year when she stunned Grand Slam champions en route to the title as the 31st seed.

Krejcíková has had limited preparation after a back injury sidelined her for six months, playing six matches since her return in May.

“It’s definitely not difficult (returning as defending champion). It’s actually very, very nice to be here and very nice to play, even after all the time I was out,” Krejcíková told reporters on Sunday.

“So I’m enjoying it, I’m happy to be here. I find it tough, complicated, but I don’t find it difficult. I’m very much looking forward to play on Tuesday.

“It’s basically a new tournament, even though I won it last year and I have great memories for this one. I want to come here and do well again. The preparation is the same, I’ve been working really hard to come back and to enjoy this position.”

Krejcíková’s first-round opponent is Alexandra “Alex” Eala, the 20-year-old Filipino who announced herself by stunning Iga Swiatek to reach the semi-finals at the Miami Open in March before reaching the Eastbourne final.

“I don’t really know that much about her yet because she’s obviously a young player, an upcoming player and one of the players of the new generation,” Krejcíková said.

“But I saw some rallies, I saw some matches. I know that she was doing quite well in the first half of the year, so I’m looking forward. It’s going to be a great matchup. I’m looking forward to playing her to see where the young generation is.” — Reuters

Bachmann hands over PSC chairmanship to Gregorio

PATRICK GREGORIO — FACEBOOK.COM/PHILIPPINEROWINGASSOCIATION

RICHARD BACHMANN will officially hand over the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairmanship to his successor Patrick Gregorio on Tuesday in simple opening rites at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Mr. Bachmann said he would leave the PSC knowing that he served the country and the national athletes well in almost three years as head of the nation’s sports-funding agency.

“I leave the PSC with a deep sense of fulfillment,” said Mr. Bachmann in a statement on Monday. “I am excited to see the Philippines continue to achieve even greater milestones in the future.”

“I wish my successor, Mr. John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, all the best in continuing the mission we all deeply believe in,” he added.

Under Mr. Bachmann, the country won two gold medals in last year’s Paris Olympics courtesy of gymnast Carlos Yulo, captured a breakthrough Asian Winter Games gold medal from the men’s curling team this year, and posted its highest rankings in the last three decades in the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.

Mr. Bachmann was also known for his active pro-athlete stance as well as the country’s grassroots development programs.

He also said he submitted a courtesy resignation a month ago that he had done in good faith and with full respect for the President’s authority and prerogative.

He said it was a happy journey serving the PSC.

“The most fulfilling part of public service is witnessing the potential of Filipinos to reach historic achievements. I am deeply grateful to have been part of remarkable milestones in Philippine sports. Our collective efforts have brought joy, inspiration, and strength to the Filipino people,” he said.

He also thanked everyone who has contributed to uplifting Philippine sports during his watch.

“Together, we have implemented policies to strengthen our grassroots and elite athletes programs, delivered organizational optimization for all the sports stakeholders and empower individuals to achieve their dreams,” he said. — Joey Villar

Esteban wins silver medal in African fencing tilt

MAXINE ESTEBAN — UAAP FILE PHOTO

FILIPINO-born Ivorian Maxine Esteban returned from an eight-month injury hiatus by capturing the silver medal in the women’s individual foil category of the 23rd African Fencing Championships in Lagos, Nigeria recently.

“This medal means everything. It’s proof that patience and recovery pay off,” said the 24-year-old Olympian fencer.

Ms. Esteban was coming off a back injury that kept her from the sport for this long and this recent feat sets her back to possible bigger things to come.

She will be participating in the World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia next month before flying back to the Philippines for a much-deserved homecoming.

Here, she will hold an outreach program for kids seeking to become a world-class fencer like her someday.

Rebisco Extreme is one of her backers in that camp.

The podium finish marked the return of Ms. Esteban after her Paris Olympics stint.

She was ranked 21st there before taking a much-needed breather to recuperate from that nagging back issues.

In Lagos, Ms. Esteban manhandled Algerian Malek Tantast, 15-3, in the round-of-16, edged Egyptians Jana Ehab, 15-12, and Malak Hamza in the quarterfinals and semis, respectively, to barge into the gold medal round.

There, Ms. Esteban ran into yet another rival from Egypt and fellow Olympian in Sara Amr Hossny and stumbled to a 15-8 defeat in settling for the silver. — Joey Villar

Paris Saint-Germain cruises past Lionel Messi, Inter Miami

ATLANTA — Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) easily eliminated Inter Miami and old friend Lionel Messi from the FIFA Club World Cup, outclassing the Herons 4-0 in the Round of 16 on Sunday.

Joao Neves potted two goals before a Miami own goal and a strike by Achraf Hakimi bloated the margin to four by halftime. The European champions will face the winner between Bayern Munich and Flamengo in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

Oscar Ustari recorded six saves for Inter Miami, while PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma had to make just three after Miami was held without a shot attempt for the first 50 minutes. PSG finished with a 19-7 shots advantage and about two-thirds of the possession.

“I am of course very satisfied with my players’ game,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique. “I think we started the game in the best way, with the intensity we needed. I think the second (half) was a little different, because the score conditioned it. They are very high-quality players. In the end, we are in the quarterfinals and we are happy.”

Enrique said his team would watch the Bayern-Flamengo match happening later on Sunday.

“At this level of competition, it will be difficult regardless of the opponent,” Enrique said. “It’s time to think about resting, we have to prepare well for the game, but we have the necessary time.”

This was Messi’s first time facing PSG since leaving the club and coming to America two years ago. His match-winner against FC Porto in the group stage stood as his lone goal of the tournament.

Less than five minutes into Sunday’s match, Desire Doue won PSG a free kick just outside the penalty area. Vitinha took the kick and connected with Neves, who headed it on the run across Ustari’s body and into the net.

Miami defender Noah Allen took a tumble and subbed out due to injury in the 19th minute. His replacement, Tomas Aviles, immediately earned a yellow card by tripping Nuno Mendes.

PSG continued to control play until Neves doubled the advantage in the 39th minute. Fabian Ruiz dispossessed Sergio Busquets, and a quick passing sequence freed up Neves for an open shot from the center of the box.

Aviles’ unfortunate match continued when he accidentally chested a PSG cross over his own goal line in the 44th minute.

Moments later, PSG’s Bradley Barcola made a perfect run to receive a pass deep in the box, and he passed it back to Hakimi. His first shot ricocheted off Ustari’s head and the crossbar, but Hakimi scored his own rebound for a 4-0 advantage.

After a quiet first half, Messi was credited with Miami’s first shot attempt in the 51st minute when he had a left-footer deflected over the net.

Tadeo Allende and Luis Suarez joined Messi in leading Miami’s efforts throughout the second half, but they never broke through. Messi tried a header in the 80th minute that was parried by Donnarumma. His free kick in the 89th hit the wall in front of him.

Miami was the only Major League Soccer club to advance to the knockout stage after Los Angeles FC and the Seattle Sounders were eliminated from their respective groups.

“The most important thing is that we were working hard, we were playing well during this tournament,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said in a TV interview after the match. “We knew that today was going to be very, very difficult because they are probably the best team in the world.” — Reuters

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