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The Water Resources Management Office yesterday directed all barangay officials to lead the water conservation drive in Metro Manila and nearby provinces as the water level of Angat Dam reached critical level.

President Marcos will meet with hog and poultry raisers’ groups today as flooding of imported and smuggled pork and chicken products has been plaguing the local industry.

National Irrigation Administration Administrator Eduardo Guillen over the weekend called on the public to stop wasting rice amid the possible shortage in supply as the El Niño phenomenon threatens the country’s palay production.

The Philippine Coast Guard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will intensify patrols in Iroquois Reef after 48 Chinese militia vessels were sighted near the area in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Screening for breast and cervical cancer among Filipino women could be the lowest in the world with just one percent of eligible women getting themselves screened, the first step to cancer prevention.

July 09, 2023 11:00 PM

The vote will determine whether Mr Pita will become Thailand's next prime minister.

Polite communication has returned to US-China relations - but progress could easily be knocked back.

July 09, 2023 10:38 PM

BEIJING – When you have a high-profile relationship that is as consequential yet tense as the one between the United States and China, people often read too much into everything.

A Philippine media delegation recently concluded a tour of China to witness and experience the country's ancient civilization, the history of the Communist Party of China, and Chinese-style modernization. 

The group of 15 officials and journalists was led by Gerald Baria, the undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Office of the Philippines. The tour, at the invitation of the Chinese Ministry of F

July 09, 2023 9:30 PM

Due to heavy rain, 14 deaths have been reported across north India.

July 09, 2023 8:10 PM

Her leg was sucked into the gear’s end of the walkway after a plate secured by worn-out bolts collapsed.

MANILA, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The number of cybercrime incidents in Metro Manila rose by 152 percent during the first half of the year compared to the same period last year, according to the Philippine National Police data.

The police recorded 6,250 cybercrimes in Metro Manila from January to June this year, up from 2,477 in the same period in 2022.

Police attributed the "exponential rise" to the carelessnes

AFTER performing quite strongly in May, Philippine manufacturers reported only a slight rise in output in June 2023 amid a softer expansion in new orders, according to S&P Global Philippines.

The headline S&P Global Philippines Manufacturing PMI reading for June 2023 registered 50.9, still above the no-change 50.0 mark for 17 successive months now. However, this is down from 52.2 in May, signaling the weakest improvement in the health of the sector since July 2022.

The PMI or Purchasing Managers’ Index is an index of the prevailing direction of economic trends in the manufacturing and service sectors. It consists of a diffusion index that summarizes whether market conditions, as viewed by purchasing managers, are expanding, staying the same, or contracting.

S&P Global in a new report said overall manufacturing growth in June was supported by continued expansion in production and factory orders. However, the rates of increase for both orders eased from May amid reports of weaker underlying demand trends.

The report observed that manufacturing output growth in June was only fractional and marked the weakest pace in upturn since the current uninterrupted run of expansion began in September 2022.

In addition, new orders received by goods producers across the Philippines also rose at a softer pace in June, the expansion driven by additional demand and new clients.

Foreign demand

Similarly, foreign demand for Filipino manufacturers goods also expanded last month. The continued expansion in order book volumes encouraged manufacturing firms to raise their buying activity for the 10th successive month in June.

Moreover, the rate at which input purchasing grew was the quickest seen in four months.

However, manufacturers registered a fresh fall in employment in reaction to a slower rise in output following a period of job creation in May.

“According to surveyed businesses, the renewed reduction in manufacturing employment was in part due to the non-replacement of voluntary leavers as well as some firms actively reducing their payroll numbers,” the report said.

Meantime, June data indicated a renewed lengthening of delivery times for inputs, although the deterioration in supplier performance was fractional overall. The slowdown comes after vendor performance improved last May, the first time it had done so since July 2019.

Price pressures dwindled in the latest survey period, as the rate of input price inflation slowed notably to the weakest recorded since October 2020. In turn, firms raised their average selling prices at the softest pace in just over two-and-a-half years.

Finally, manufacturing companies across the Philippines remained upbeat that production would rise over the coming months on the back of greater new sales. But despite rising to a five-month high, the level of positive sentiment was weaker than the series trend, noted the report.

“Going forward, the sector remains optimistic of growth in the coming 12 months. However, global headwinds could dampen the outlook for manufacturers in the Philippines,” it added. (PHILEXPORT)

Despite leaving the Sinulog Foundation and the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC), Ricky Ballesteros never stopped working for Sinulog and Cebu sports.

For most, Ricky was the face of the Sinulog, transforming the annual celebration into the world-class event it is now with his myriad of ideas, but for me, Ricky was that rare sportsman who strengthened the bond of the local sports community.

He was just starting at the CCSC, when I started writing for SunStar Cebu over two decades ago, and I’d regularly stop by his office. He’d never fail to give me tips and story ideas and later, when we got to know each other well, he’d give me tips on what the other writers were doing.

One time, while we were talking in his office, I noticed a document on his desk. It was upside down from my perspective, but I knew it was the financial report of the CCSC’s monthly earnings and I immediately knew the news value of such.

So I grabbed it and told him, “This will make a good story.”

It did and there was no attempt from him to hide it nor did he ask that I omit certain portions as some would. When the story broke out the next day, to the chagrin of the other reporters who got scooped, I sent him a message to thank him.

Most Palarong Pambansa venues are mothballed after the event but not the CCSC and I think it is no coincidence that it became the hub for the local sports community in Cebu. I’m not talking about the CCSC hosting tournaments for various events, I’m talking about it becoming the go-to venue for those who want to jog, practice martial arts, dance or what-have-you.

“Nananghid na ming Ricky,” is the usual reply whenever a new group props up at the CCSC.

There was a time when Ricky earned the ire of the football community when he banned the regular 4 p.m. matches at the “D” of the oval because some runners complained about getting hit.

He stood his ground and eventually, the Abellana boys grudgingly accepted his decision, which, looking back, was the financially sound one. The guys playing football enter the CCSC for free, while the joggers pay their way.

Ricky also changed the way events like the Milo Marathon and Little Olympics were done that I think other hosts began looking at Cebu for ideas. I think it is because of Ricky that Milo decided to hold a national version of their regional Olympics, making Cebu the first host.

During one opening ceremony that evoked scenes of the Summer Olympics, yes that Olympics, I overheard the next host saying, “Dili namo na kaya.”

I was looking forward to the resumption of the Milo Olympics to see Ricky’s innovations post-pandemic. But I guess, it wasn’t meant to be.

Late Saturday afternoon, I was shocked to read a tribute of him written by his niece. That couldn’t be true as I just read something from his account hours earlier. But later, multiple sources confirmed the news. Ricky collapsed in a mall and died in the hospital.

He was 57. So young, he still would have had decades of helping both the Sinulog and Cebu sports — his twin passions. I guess, it’s up to those who support both to continue his legacy by doing what Ricky did best.

Boosting Cebu culture and Cebu sports.

Rest well, Ricky Ballesteros.

KAI Sotto did not play a single second in Orlando Magic’s first game in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Summer League on Sunday, July 9, 2023, much to the dismay of Filipino basketball fans.

The 7-foot-3 Filipino was listed as Did Not Play-Coach’s Decision in the Magic’s 89-79 loss to the Detroit Pistons at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Orlando only used 10 players, including Anthony Black and Jett Howard, the Nos. 6 and 11 picks in this year’s NBA Draft.

Detroit’s twin towers Jalen Duren and James Wiseman led the Pistons with 17 and 16 points, respectively.

Wiseman, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, also collected a game-high 11 rebounds.

Kevon Harris had 21 points from 8-of-13 shooting, while Black finished with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Magic. (RSC)

FORMER ALA Boy Jess Rhey Waminal is in for another tough fight as he challenges undefeated Thai Thattana Luangphon for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Asia super bantamweight belt on July 29, 2023 at the Suamlum Night Bazaar in Ratchadaphisek, Thailand.

After a five-fight losing slump, the 28-year-old Waminal is back in form with two straight victories this year. He opened up 2023 with a majority-decision win over promising prospect Jhunrille Castino in Bohol. Waminal followed up that win with a sixth-round technical knockout of experienced Crison Omayao in Surigao del Norte.

Waminal is in for a very tough test against Luangphon.

The 26-year-old Luangphon is notorious for beating Filipino fighters. He has fought and beaten a total of nine Pinoy pugs -- Brian Lobetania, Jhon Gimeno, Jopher Marayan, Kevin Aseniero, Ken Jordan, Jelbirt Gomera, Jomar Fajardo, Alvin Medura and Matthew Arcillas. His last six fights were against Filipinos.

Luangphon is coming off a third-round stoppage of Waminal’s former teammate at the ALA Gym, Lobetania.

Luangphon is currently ranked No. 5 by the WBC in the super bantamweight division.

Waminal, a former amateur standout, is 16-8-1 with nine knockouts, while Luangphon is 21-0-1 with 15 knockouts. (EKA)

July 09, 2023 6:05 PM

Indian trade minister Piyush Goyal will meet his European counterparts from July 10 to 11.

July 09, 2023 5:53 PM

Paraguay is Taipei’s last diplomatic ally in South America.

July 09, 2023 5:43 PM

The tiny Pacific nation is playing an outsized role as the US and China jostle for influence in the Asia-Pacific.

How is your ride?

The answers to this question color the daily struggles of the estimated 3.5 million commuters streaming in and out of Metro Cebu.

In the commuting lives of residents in Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu cities, jeepneys, or their modern alternatives, the bus-jeepneys (Beeps), hog the roads of their daily journeys.

Other vehicles for hire cater to specialized requirements. Taxis are for passengers who prefer their own company or have bulky parcels to transport. The fares are higher and considered only a necessity in an emergency by many wage-earners.

While the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is being installed, jeepneys still cling as kings of the roads in Metro Cebu.

The increasing ubiquity of Beeps remains a welcome sight, especially during the peak hours of commuting for school or work or when caught in a downpour and desperate to avoid flash floods and traffic jam.

These modernized versions of the colorful but often dilapidated or ill-maintained traditional jeepneys have been promoted as green alternatives, safer and kinder to the environment and to people.

With the capacity to accommodate more passengers without drastically raising the fare traditional jeepneys charge for the same distance covered, Beeps were welcomed as lifelines of modernization alleviating Cebu’s traffic woes when these first plied the routes in Cebu in 2019.

With traffic back to pre-pandemic normal, commuters tick off the benefits of Beeps as alternatives to inhaling traffic fumes or being sprayed by rain in open traditional jeepneys; squeezing past the forest of knees and legs of passengers seated near the entrance of traditional jeepneys; and paying the pricey fare of metered and smartphone-booked taxis, whose rates spike in the hours of a commuter’s greatest need.

Yet, the Beeps have also been transformed by ground realities in Metro Cebu, which has 3.5 million commuters competing for public transport that accounts only for 10 percent of road traffic, according to the Cebu City Transport Office in September 2022.

In the logic of the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program, traditional jeepneys will be replaced because these “vintage” vehicles contribute to almost half of airborne particulate matter, based on the 2018 study in Metro Manila conducted by the University of the Philippines National Center for Transportation Studies in Diliman.

Maintaining the performance and condition of the Beeps will be a challenge since it is observed frequently these days that passengers stand and crowd in the aisles. These occurrences take place even outside peak commuting hours.

Commuters may prefer to take a ride rather than wait for the next Beep. Beep drivers and conductors may take in extra passengers even though the PUV Modernization Program was projected to do away with the traditional jeepneys’ “boundary” system, which increased a driver’s take-home earnings by increasing trips and maximizing passengers.

Overcrowding in Beeps ironically reminds commuters of the illegal practice in the 1980s for traditional jeepney drivers or dispatchers to put wooden stools in the already limited aisles to fit two or more passengers, increasing people’s discomfort and risks of accidents.

Carrying more than the capacity of seated passengers may take its toll on the working conditions of Beeps. Often, Beep conductors pick up passengers along the route instead of only at designated bus stops. Due to this practice of picking up passengers like traditional jeepneys, the doors of the Beeps are kept open, overworking the air-conditioning unit.

Passengers in a standing-room Beep that is only minimally cooled by the air-conditioning unit can only fan themselves and think of the old days when a breeze freely wafted in and out of open traditional jeepneys.

Public transport in Cebu has yet to come up with a better commuters’ rating for the age-old question: “How is your ride?”