Cebu Sun.Star

THE Carcar City Government is now preoccupied with the preparations for the upcoming Pasigarbo sa Sugbo or the Festivals of Festivals, which will be held in the city for the first time.

It is said that the city government is 80 percent prepared for the event, which is scheduled on August 27.

Carcar City Mayor Patrick Barcenas told SunStar Cebu that they are putting up tents for guests, installing shelters, checking the water supply, and arranging sleeping accommodations for the contingents.

In addition to this, the city has changed its traffic strategy since the mayor believes that the activities may result in a traffic jam.

"We have a diversion route so that there is no traffic. Gov helped us by paving the road for approximately three kilometers, and we are continuing for about half a kilometer," Barcenas said on Wednesday, July 5.

The mayor claimed that the first 23 schools that would house the contingents from the different local government units (LGUs) throughout the province are already being prepared.

They will also conduct additional inspection rounds of the covered courts where athletes sought refuge during the recent Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association (CVIRAA) Meet.

Barcenas is planning to add more police personnel in the area for the safety of the participants.

"Ready na pod sa atong security. Nakig-meeting nako sa police kay ang atong gihimo sa CVIRAA mao sad atong himoon karon sa Pasigarbo. Nagpadugang sad ko para sa security," the mayor said.

(Our security is ready. I had a meeting with the police because what we did in CVIRAA will also be done in Pasigarbo. I also requested more security).

Recently, Barcenas welcomed the new city police chief, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Gifter Sucalit.

The festival, which will highlight the distinctive cultures, products, and delicacies of the contingents from the around 50 LGUs, is anticipated to draw spectators and tourists. (ANV, TPT)

THE local government unit (LGU) of Minglanilla in southern Cebu has allocated P1 million for its health and nutrition programs for the whole year.

As the town celebrates Nutrition Month with the theme “Healthy diet, gawing affordable for all,” residents are encouraged to do backyard gardening as an alternative way to achieve healthy lifestyle at a lower cost.

Dr. Mae Mañacap Vicente, municipal health officer, said in an interview with SunStar Cebu on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, that the town’s primary goal is to encourage everyone to eat healthy food and practice a healthy diet.

“It is not necessary to spend so much just to achieve a healthy lifestyle,” Vicente said.

According to Vicente, the month-long celebration of nutrition is an interdepartmental collaboration.

Aside from the Municipal Health Office, other departments like the Municipal Agriculture Office, Municipal Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education are also participating to have a comprehensive approach in implementing their goals.(AML, TPT)

LEADING digital solutions platform Globe is looking for ways to unlock the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to significantly improve customer experience by automating routine tasks.

Globe Group president and chief executive officer (CEO), Ernest Cu, said in a recent interview with Bloomberg Television that the company is looking at AI to bring down costs and improve efficiency.

“Given the fact that we're driving automation towards cost and operational efficiency, I think this is going to be a big contributor to our exercise,” he said.

AI is the ability of a computer or a computer-controlled robot to do tasks that require human intelligence and discernment. While AI may not be capable of executing the broad spectrum of tasks people can do, it can still rival human performance in some aspects.

Given the scenario, Globe is exploring the potential of utilizing AI to enhance customer service. Currently, the company’s main focus is on operations, where AI has shown promising use cases. This is especially evident in outbound calling, customer care, and collection.

Cu shared that one of the most promising applications of AI he has observed from the Globe team is the successful completion of customer interactions entirely in Tagalog. He expressed awe and admiration for the human-like quality of these conversations and his belief in their potential effectiveness.

“I was truly amazed and impressed at how human the conversation was and how effective it will be given the fact that we are driving towards automation, towards cost-cutting and efficiency,” he said.

Internally, Globe has been harnessing technology to enhance its employee care initiatives. For more efficient program delivery during the global health pandemic, it introduced the Digital Usher for Disasters and Emergencies or DUDE, which served as an official health monitor.

It also has a recognition chatbot named Wanda so employees can send e-cards to each other. Additionally, the AI-powered chatbot EVA, or Employee Virtual Assistant, can answer employees’ HR-related questions

The use of chatbots and other technologies helped the company adopt a multi-faceted approach to active employee engagement, thereby boosting the daily experience of employees.

To learn more about Globe, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/. (SPONSORED CONTENT)

A WAREHOUSE in Barangay Opao, Mandaue City was destroyed by the fire at dawn Wednesday, July 5, 2023.

The damage was about P14 million.

The Mandaue City Fire Station got the fire alarm at 3:53 a.m., according to Senior Fire Officer 2 Antonio Montajes.

At 4 a.m., the fire was upgraded to the first alarm and then to second alarm at 4:33 a.m.

The fire was put out with the aid of firefighters from the cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu.

According to an investigation by the Mandaue City Police Office, Xanda Traders leased the warehouse that was owned by James Tan of Hesreal Corporation.

Fire Chief Inspector Arniel Abella, fire marshal of Mandaue City Fire Office (MCFO), said they used aqueous film-forming foam to extinguish the fire because it could not be contained immediately with water alone.

Construction materials were kept inside the warehouse.

At 5:33 a.m., the fire was put under control and declared fire out after a minute.

According to reports, the fire was started when a transformer nearby exploded during a downpour.

The MCFO is now finding out the real cause of the fire. (BBT/TPT)

NEARLY 50,000 families in Cebu benefited from emergency and recovery assistance amounting to P1 billion from the humanitarian organization, Philippine Red Cross (PRC).

This was announced by PRC’s chairman and chief executive officer, former senator Richard Gordon, during a press conference on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the Fili Hotel in Nustar Resort and Casino in Cebu City.

Gordon highlighted the PRC’s achievements and completed projects in the past decade, particularly during the crises caused by typhoons Yolanda and Odette, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

PRC data showed that the close to 50,000 families received the P1-billion aid in the form of shelter repair, livelihood, cash grant and food items.

The PRC has spent P12 million for shelter repairs, P89 million for livelihood, P43 million for cash assistance and P2 million for food items.

A total of 8,741 houses were also built for the families who were affected by natural disasters which cost around P452 million.

In 2013, the PRC helped families displaced by typhoon Yolanda by building 8,671 houses in Bantayan Island, Daanbantayan, San Remigio and Bogo City.

This was part of the over P627-million relief and recovery aid the organization provided in the province.

The PRC also assisted 6,738 families in Cebu who were affected by typhoon Odette in 2021. PRC volunteers delivered bottled water and distributed cash assistance to the affected families. They also provided emergency shelter assistance to some residents of Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City.

Gordon said the PRC does not only provide emergency response and relief but also helps communities recover and rebuild after disasters.

He said it is important to ensure the continuity of the projects to enable the affected families to overcome the damage caused by disasters. (AML)

THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and Habitat for Humanity have identified Mandaue City as their pilot local government unit (LGU) for the countrywide implementation of the inclusive green housing microfinance program for low-income families.

This program gives low-income families access to credit to buy climate-resilient homes.

Rowena Dineros, OIC director for Public Housing and Settlements Service of the DHSUD, said they picked Mandaue City as the pilot LGU because of the City’s already strong adoption of green initiatives in its area.

In March this year, the Mandaue City Council approved an ordinance giving tax incentives to those who construct buildings that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and help minimize the impact of buildings on health and the environment.

Ordinance 163-2023, an amendment to City Ordinance 13-2015-1047 known as the “green building ordinance” enacted in 2015, was approved on its third and final reading on March 31.

The City also has a 500-unit socialized housing development project in Barangay Tipolo pegged as a green project.

“Mandaue is the ‘greenspot’ in the industry because they have been one of the early adopters. It’s a great foundation to start with,” Jessan Catre, Philippine country director of Habitat for Humanity-Terwilliger Center, said in an interview during the “Building a ‘Greenclusive’ Construction Industry” forum on June 24.

“With the mayor’s intent that green is inclusive, we look at Mandaue as a perfect area where national policies would be tested,” added Catre.

Catre believes having a local chief executive who is a believer in inclusive and green initiatives is critical in the fast adoption and roll-out of inclusive green microfinance programs, especially among low-income families.

Mandaue City currently suffers a 14,000 housing backlog.

“We will map out the areas where the green microfinance will be tested. We don’t want to go wide immediately. We will work with the Mandaue LGU and the concerned government agencies,” Catre said, adding that Habitat for Humanity also has a lot of partner microfinance institutions.

(Housing backlogs)

Nationwide, the country logs 6.4 million housing backlogs, of which 3.7 million come from the country’s lowest-income segment.

Green and inclusive finance focuses on all instruments, products and services that address climate change: mitigation and adaptation; solutions for waste, water and sanitation management; land management and ecosystem conservation; organic farming; access to clean and reliable energy; and energy efficiency.

It also applies housing microfinance practices with housing microfinance innovations.

Affordability remains a major block for many Filipinos to own houses, especially those considered climate-resilient ones.

This is the reason, DHSUD, according to Dineros, advocates for a public-private-partnership program for green and inclusive home microfinancing that targets informal settlers.

“Going green is not expensive... We can adopt ways and strategies to bring down the cost within their means. We can devise ways such as updating the housing microfinance product manual that sets the process and requirements for every household (on how) to avail themselves of this green technology under the microfinance program,” she said.

Dineros said green development involve projects that reduce the use of carbon footprints and make use of resources that promote sustainability and energy efficiency.

“These green technologies, I believe, should be available to all households in the country,” she added.

“Design should be for all,” Catre added.

“(This is) because right now professional architectural, interior design and engineering are usually for high and middle-income homeowners. Design is very important to be resilient and green. Services like these should also be made available to low-income homeowners,” Catre explained.

The forum was organized by key stakeholders in the region’s construction industry including the Cebu Contractors Association, Habitat for Humanity’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, DHSUD, Philippine Institute of Interior Designers-Cebu Chapter and the United Architects of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter. (KOC)

THE origins of nepotism are as old as time. According to Wikipedia, the term originated with the assignment of nephews to important positions by Catholic popes and bishops and came from the Italian word “nepotismo,” which is based on Latin root “nepos” that means nephew. Since the Middle Ages and until the late 17th century, some Catholic popes and bishops – who had taken vows of chastity and, therefore, usually had no legitimate offspring of their own – gave their nephews such positions of preference as were often accorded by fathers to sons. Several popes elevated nephews and other relatives to the cardinalate. Often, such appointments were a means of continuing a papal “dynasty.”

In many family-owned businesses, nepotism is viewed in positive terms, often because it is a cheap source of labor and reflects a dominant culture that embraces “succession.” Sadly, it is a mistaken notion. For family enterprises to thrive, competence must be the main criteria for employment, followed by years of exemplary leadership and consistent high level performance.

Saving family business from the dangers of nepotism

To mitigate these negative impacts and make family-run businesses be mindful of the dangers of hiring family members, we assert that family businesses should strive to establish clear policies and procedures that prioritize meritocracy, transparency and accountability. By actively promoting fairness, providing equal opportunities, and valuing competence and performance, a family business can foster a healthy work environment, attract and retain talented non-family employees, and improve its overall competitiveness and sustainability.

I am sharing several family business covenants that promote professionalism over nepotism. I encourage owners and leaders to use this pledge as a guide to remind family members to lead and make decisions for the greater good.

I. As a family-run organization, we must be mindful that when we employ people who are related to us either by blood or marriage, it should always be based on the following non-negotiable metrics: Outside experience, credentials, exceptional work in the past and merit. We must reiterate that the family member’s last name is not a birthright and employment is never guaranteed.

II. As a family-run business, our very existence depends on the quality and integrity of our employees. As working family members, we must set the bar when it comes to hard work and professionalism. As leaders, we must be exceptional role models and lead by example in all facets of our personal and professional lives.

III. As a family enterprise, we must demonstrate our proactive attitude in discouraging nepotism. We believe that the only way to eliminate the old practices is to prepare and enforce key performance indicators (KPIs) that will apply to all family and non-family employees.

IV. Upon the acceptance of a family member, he or she must be required to sign a service agreement indicating the scope of work, title, position and compensation highlighting KPIs. Failure to sign the agreement within 30 days will be grounds to recall the employment.

V. Compensation must never be equal. It must be commensurate with the family member’s qualifications and contribution to the company’s productivity. Employee benefits and privileges must apply to all active family members commensurate to their position in the organization.

VI. We must always be mindful in treating family members joining the business like we would treat non-family employees. We consistently live to the same standards of work and performance of non-family employees. Absences and leaves must be duly recorded; no work, no pay instituted; and, for non-selling functions, time in and time out fully documented.

VII. It is against our policy to prohibit or decline a qualified job candidate on grounds of their relation to the owners and shareholders. However, we do recognize that encouraging employment of our relatives can have a negative impact on workplace productivity and fuel accusations of nepotism and favoritism. Therefore as working family members, we should always be role models and must expect to be treated less well than non-family employees.

VIII. As family members, we are committed to instill the following values that will transform them to decent, responsible, productive and competent professional employees -- honesty, integrity, dependability, respect for others, being industrious and doing one’s best in every endeavor.

THE Municipality of Cordova in Mactan Island has announced that it will now allow swimming in Bantayan Bay in Barangay Poblacion starting Sunday, July 16, 2023. The activity was banned 10 months ago after high levels of fecal coliform were discovered in coastal waters.

The announcement was made by Cordova Mayor Cesar “Didoy” Suan during the flag ceremony last Monday, July 3.

Suan said he hopes Bantayan Bay will be ready for bathing and swimming not only for the Cordovahanons but also for other visitors from other places.

On Aug. 15, 2022, Suan announced that swimming in the area was no longer safe after the Environmental Management Bureau 7 discovered the contamination.

In contrast to the allowed threshold of only 100 mpn (most probable numbers) per 100 milliliters (ml), the Cordova local government previously reported that the fecal coliform level in the area had reached 2,400 mpn per 100 ml.

Suan said the level of fecal coliform in Bantayan Bay has now dropped to 0.8 mpn per 100 ml.

“So, we will open it to the public by July 16,” Suan remarked.

To make sure that the area’s cleanliness is maintained, Suan has tasked the municipal tourism officer and other town officials to hold seminars for all stakeholders who are currently operating in Bantayan Bay, including boat operators and other individuals who offer swimming-related activities.

The local government clarified that no cottages will be allowed to operate in Bantayan Bay.

To avoid polluting the seawater, the local government will also install public comfort rooms at the Marine Watch Office.

“Kabaw ko, modagsa na ang bisita coming from different munisipyo or cities, kay nindot gyud baya ni atong lugar. So para magpabilin siya nga nindot ug limpyo, mag-seminar sa ta og two weeks para gikan sa basura, gikan sa pagpangihi, gikan sa unsa pa, nga atoang mapadayon nga limpyo atong lugar (I know that visitors coming from other municipalities or cities will flock here because our place is really beautiful. To maintain its beauty and cleanliness, we will hold a seminar for two weeks, from garbage to urinating and other things. We will continue to keep our place clean),” the mayor said.

Aside from beautiful beaches, the municipality has a sandbar and a mangrove forest that tourists can visit. (ANV / TPT)

A GROUP of officials in Cebu has strongly condemned the attacks directed at Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco over the country’s controversial new tourism slogan and campaign video that turned out to have included images from other countries.

In a manifesto posted on Monday, July 3, 2023, 11 House representatives, and 54 mayors and members of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Cebu Chapter expressed their support for the secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Daanbantayan Mayor and LMP-Cebu President Sun Shimura approved the manifesto that was noted by LMP-Cebu Secretary Pablo John Garcia IV.

The manifesto said the attack was a product of “patent mudslinging and dirty politicking” targeting the reputation of Frasco.

Economic recovery

On the same day, the Cebu Provincial Board approved a resolution supporting the DOT’s newest slogan “Love the Philippines,” that aims to further promote the country as a top tourist destination.

“The entire Province of Cebu finds it imperative to fully support this initiative, as it also resonates with the province’s efforts to fully utilize the benefits of tourism for economic recovery, economic growth and countryside development,” the resolution reads.

The manifesto described the fiasco as “a coordinated demolition job” against Frasco’s leadership of the country’s tourism sector.

“We maintain that this barrage of criticisms in social and mainstream media is aimed at destroying neither the DOT nor the concerned private advertisement agency, but Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco herself,” the local officials said in the manifesto.

“We strongly believe this demolition job to be perpetrated by individuals with their own questionable agenda, perhaps to sway the trust and confidence of President (Ferdinand) Marcos (Jr.) in a Cebuana,” it added.

However, the manifesto did not specify who was behind the alleged demolition job.

The manifesto added that Frasco was a valuable asset among President Marcos’s Cabinet members for conducting herself in a “most commendable manner” for both domestic and international audiences.

Frasco ranked second to Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. among the top-performing Cabinet officials in a recent survey, according to the manifesto, which also cited Frasco’s election as vice president of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly and chairperson of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific during the recent 55th meeting of the world tourism body.

In fact, it was the Philippines, represented by Frasco, that was elected vice president and chair, according to the DOT’s press statement on the June election.

The DOT’s newest tourism slogan, “Love the Philippines” received mixed reactions from the public for allegedly not being original, while the new video campaign material received criticism for containing stock video footage that was not even shot in the Philippines.

The local officials said the DOT had not paid for the production of the new promotional audio-visual presentation (AVP) which is believed to have been commissioned for around P50 million.

The new AVP was produced by DDB Philippines, the contracted ad agency.

On July 3, DOT terminated its contract with DDB Philippines for its failure to comply with one of the Tourism department’s requirements, “originality.”

The ad agency has apologized to the DOT and to the general public over the use of stock footage in the new campaign material.

The AVP has already been taken down both from Youtube and the DOT’s official Facebook page. (EHP, CTL)

NEARLY one third of the water produced by the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) daily is lost due to wastage, depriving the distribution utility of an average of P2.4 million in daily revenue and the opportunity to address the large unmet demand for water in its franchise area.

Minerva Gerodias, spokesperson of MCWD, said the P2.4 million is equivalent to an average of 86,000 cubic meters of water, which represents a loss of 31.8 percent of the firm’s daily water production.

“That is how big it is. It can go up or it can go down, but that is around somewhere there,” she told SunStar Cebu on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.

MCWD produces 270,000 cubic meters of water from all its water sources each day.

This is less than half of the daily water demand of 560,000 cubic meters in its franchise area that covers Talisay City, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City; and the towns of Cordova, Consolacion, Liloan and Compostela.

Water wastage, also known as non-revenue water, is the produced water that is “lost” before it reaches the customers.

In his June 15, 2023 investigation report recommending the removal of Chairman Jose Daluz III and members Miguelito Pato and Jodelyn May Seno from the MCWD board of directors, Cebu City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo cited the Sept. 21, 2022 petition for their removal filed by the MCWD Employees Union and its Executive Board before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas that pointed to the spiking of the non-revenue water to 30 percent, which is higher than the 20 percent industry standard, as among the reasons for their petition.

As early as 2002, or more than two decades ago, however, under a different board chairman, MCWD was already losing 32 percent of the water it produced daily to leaks, pilferage and for firefighting, with most of the non-revenue water caused by leaks blamed then on old pipelines still belonging to the Osmeña Waterworks system, the forerunner of MCWD, according to a SunStar Cebu report that year.

Non-revenue water

Gerodias said non-revenue water can occur through physical losses from leaking and broken pipes, as well as from free water made available by MCWD for firefighting.

She, however, did not specify what places are greatly hit when a leaking occurs, explaining that “there are no specific places that we look after because these could happen in random places.”

Gerodias also disclosed that there are leaks that are brought on by mistakes made by other parties, such as when some telecommunications companies unintentionally break up the installed water pipes of MCWD when burying fiber optic cable underground.

“There are also times when they install their lines underground and they commit such error and they do not report to us—we do not have any idea that it is leaking,” she said.

Gerodias added that similar incidents also happen when digging is done to build drainage systems.

She divulged that when these mishaps occur, the involved and accountable companies are charged for the entire amount of water lost as a result of the leakage.

Gerodias acknowledged that non-revenue water has an impact on how consistently MCWD delivers water to homes, particularly when accidents involving pipe leaks happen near residential areas.

“It has affected the stability of supply to our consumers, especially those areas affected by the leaks,” Gerodias said.

According to the MCWD’s Planning Department, an ordinary household in the franchise area that is supplied by the water firm consumes around 21 to 23 cubic meters of water per month.

This means the non-revenue water of around 86,000 cubic meters a day would have supplied around 3,909 ordinary households for an entire month.

Measures

She noted that while it is inevitable and therefore hard to entirely eradicate, the problem of non-revenue water from leaky and broken pipes is being addressed and they have hired more staff specifically to work on it.

According to Gerodias, the number of workers whose main responsibility is detecting and repairing leaks has increased. She did not, however, say how many people are in the team.

“This is to have a swifter reaction time when to report that there is a damaged pipe because if we will only employ a few people, there are instances that many pipes will leak at once,” she said.

She said they monitor the pipes within their franchise area every day.

Deep wells

Gerodias also reminded the public not to dig wells and illegally extract groundwater as severe water extraction from groundwater can lead to seawater intrusion.

She said those who wish to construct deep wells must get a permit from the National Water Resources Board.

She added that it is not within the bounds of their powers to apprehend those who illicitly dig deep wells, but they discourage the public to do so.

Presidential Decree 1067, or the Water Code of the Philippines, forbids the unauthorized building of deep wells and prescribes penalties for violators.

According to Article 94 of the law, unless the person is specifically exempted from obtaining a permit by the provisions of the Code, any person who commits appropriation of water without a water permit shall be subject to a fine of not more than P3,000 or imprisonment for not more than three years, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. (with CTL)

YOUNG shuttlers will get a shot at developing their skills further with the revival of the Philippine Badminton Association (PBAD) grassroots program, which is set to be implemented in 10 provinces across the Philippines.

The revival of this endeavor means players from different age groups can expect local tournaments that will help them elevate their skills and competitiveness further.

“We are delighted to revive our grassroots program and provide aspiring young athletes with the necessary training and support to excel in badminton,” said PBAD head of development Melvin Nubla.

“Through this initiative, we aim to discover and develop the next generation of Filipino badminton champions who will proudly carry our nation’s flag on the international stage.”

The PBAD will implement a juniors ranking system that is aligned with international standards and is patterned after successful badminton programs from the likes of the sport’s powerhouses Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The program will commence this August in Pampanga, a province renowned for its vibrant sports community and passion for badminton.

“PBAD extends its gratitude to the local government of Pampanga for their invaluable support and partnership in hosting the inaugural phase of the program,” said PBAD secretary-general Christopher Quimpo.

“Recognizing the significance of identifying and developing talent from an early age, PBAD aims to cultivate future champions who will proudly represent the Philippines on the international stage with this program,” said MVP Sports Foundation executive director Jude Turcuato.

PBAD will be sending delegates as well to the upcoming Badminton Asia Juniors Championship in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from July 7 to 16, 2023.

A CLOTHING and apparel industry player is pushing for the immediate implementation of strategies under the new export blueprint to bring down the cost of doing business in the country and boost competitiveness, as plans of reshoring or onshoring of manufacturing pose a risk of extinction of the local industry.

Robert Young, a trustee for the textile, yarn and fabric sector of the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., said global events such as the recent pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine, the dependence on Asia, and the orientation for imports and apparel production are now transforming the sector.

“(These) have resulted in a plan of reshoring or onshoring the manufacturing sites, which means bringing back business operations and processes to a neighboring site or right on the location of the importing country,” said Young, also president of the Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines.

He said plans of reshoring or onshoring of manufacturing can result in the imminent closure of the present apparel manufacturing for the export market and its related industries in the Philippines, as well as the massive displacement of apparel workers.

“Thus, it may cause the extinction of such (an) industry,” he added. “This is a big red flag for the Philippine apparel and clothing industry.”

To deter the transfer of the manufacturing firms, Young particularly cited the need to address the basic root causes of the uncompetitiveness of Philippine apparel in international markets, such as restrictive cost of power, labor and logistics.

“The biggest challenge is the concern of a much higher labor rate component in importing economies,” he said.

Under the Philippine Export Development Plan 2023-2028, export stakeholders aim for adequate support for export firms’ infrastructure requirements, such as in power, transport and logistics, and telecommunications connectivity.

“The new digital and robotics manufacturing that will play a significant role in the reduction of labor cost is also part of the plan,” Young said.

“The government and the private sector must realize the negative impact of these reshoring scheme plans and should join hands in seriously implementing solutions urgently as per the PEDP report for the survival and competitive advantage of the Philippine clothing and apparel manufacturing, thus saving it from extinction,” he added. / PHILEXPORT NEWS AND FEATURES

FORMER Gilas guard RJ Abarrientos is moving on to play in Japan’s B.League, signing with the Shinshu Brave Warriors.

The former ace guard of the Far Eastern University Tamaraws and the Gilas Pilipinas was released from his contract with the Korean squad, Ulsan Hyundai Mobis. It didn’t take long for the crafty guard to find a new home in Japan where he will team up with another Filipino, Matthew Aquino, who plays as a local.

“I am very excited for this new journey with the Shinshu Brave Warriors and will do my best to win as many games as we can this season. I can’t wait to play in front of our fans and see you soon!” said Abarrientos.

Abarrientos had a phenomenal first season in Korea, averaging 13.29 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.77 assists and 1.34 steals in 56 games played. He was eventually named the Rookie of the Year.

SPORTS and other outdoor activities like “scouting” are effective ways to keep young people away from illegal activities, said a grandmother who witnessed her grandson joining the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP).

Rebecca Nardo was among the guests who attended the ceremony where 30 young football athletes, aged eight to 15, received their neckerchiefs and wooden carabao heads as symbols of BSP on Sunday, June 25, 2023 at Camp Zubu in Golden Heights, Sitio Ylaya, Talamban, Cebu City.

Nardo said parents should support their children in playing sports instead of allowing them to wander around without guidance from them. She believes that allowing children to engage in sports would really change their bad habits, that is, through self-discipline.

“Sports is the important thing now. If they would not avail themselves of that, most likely they would just play computer or worse, do drugs,” Nardo explained.

Nardo would like to invite all parents and grandparents to allow their children to play sports and be engaged in other outdoor activities.

“I would like to challenge all parents and grandparents not to allow their children to wander outside without their guidance. If their children would express that they like this sport, support them,” said Nardo.

Learnings

One of the new scouts, Martine Daep, a member of Junquera Football Scouts, expressed his happiness to be part of BSP in an interview with SunStar Cebu on Sunday, June 25.

Daep shared that scouting taught him the values of respect and discipline, and that he could apply these values when playing football.

James Clarck Glariada, a fellow of Junquera Football Scouts, said that just like Daep, he also acquired the values of respect and discipline from scouting.

Glariada added that he could practice these values at home by being self-disciplined and respectful to his elders.

Another member of Junquera Football Scouts, Bruce Vincent Jimenez, explained to SunStar Cebu how he would balance his studies and extracurricular activities. He said he would use time management by making a list of tasks to do.

Background

Junquera Football Club Scouts started way back in 2016 under the name Kamagayan Football Club. The club was composed of talents from Barangay Kamagayan and won several games during its humble beginnings. However, the Covid-19 pandemic forced the team to stop playing.

In 2022, the club rose from its long rest, this time bringing a brand-new name, the Junquera Football Club, when the club welcomed new members from other barangays within Junquera Street.

In 2023, the name Junquera Football Club was changed to Junquera Football Scouts, which speaks of their being members of BSP who play football.

Johann Sebastian Sandil Caparas, Boy Scouts of the Philippines-Cebu Council member and recipient of two prestigious awards, Eagle Scout and Ave Maria, was the brains behind the admission of the 30 young football athletes.

Purpose

Caparas shared that he was motivated to do scouting activities for these children because he knew what scouting could do for them, especially as someone who has gone through it personally.

He said he would not reach what he has achieved now without the values that he acquired from scouting.

“To others, scouting might seem a hobby with outdoor activities such as camping, but once you really get to be a part of it, a part of the brotherhood that it is, you will learn so much more and it will help you discover so much more about yourself. That’s how it was for me, and that’s what I want for the kids here also,” Caparas explained.

“I want them to push for even greater, greater purpose, greater sense of belongingness, greater sense for things that they may do for others,” he added.

Caparas shared that he sees great potential for the growth of these children and believes that they are the future nation-builders in the community. Therefore, it is crucial to properly guide them. Caparas wanted these children to be able to merge their lives as football players and as scouts, eventually as citizens of this country that could do better.

“I also want them to realize that they would always have a sort of home, a brotherhood, and a family to come back to, which they may build through scouting,” Caparas added.

We join labor groups in expressing their dissatisfaction over the meager wage increase. We believe the measly P40 wage increase in Metro Manila falls very short of the “recovery wage” and is very far from the living wage sought by labor groups. Even as a hard-fought wage increase should help alleviate workers and their families’ conditions, the amount should at least approximate serious losses in real incomes as a result of inflation. This is the recovery wage labor groups have been calling for.

The regional wage board in the National Capital Region (NCR) has approved a P40 increase in the minimum wage, bringing it to P610 per day for non-agricultural workers. The stingy increase is way below the P170 increase urgently needed by workers to recover the real value of wages. Ibon databank analysts estimate that the family living wage is P1,160. However, minimum wages since wage regionalization in 1989 don’t just fall far short of the ever-rising living wage—they haven’t even kept up with inflation. A family of five in the NCR should receive a wage of P25,226 a month to live decently.

A hallmark of the modern Roman Catholic approach to economic justice has been its advocacy for the workers’ right to a family living wage. We support the call of the Church as amplified in its various social teachings the workers’ right for a wage that would sufficiently cover the needs of a family and would ensure a decent standard of living. This includes water, housing, education, health care, transportation, clothing and other essential needs, including recreation and provision from unexpected events.

We support House Bill 7568 that proposes a P750 across-the-board hike in the daily wages of private sector (for both agricultural and non-agricultural) employees. We believe that when enacted into law, this wage increase could sufficiently help workers and their families cope with the high prices of commodities and could cover the eroded value of the peso due to inflation.

Lastly, we reiterate our stand that a living wage is necessary and just and is fundamental to Catholic Social Teaching because it is closely linked to human dignity.

The disbarment of a profane, enigmatic lawyer in the person of Larry Gadon by the Supreme Court (SC) is noteworthy. More noteworthy still is that it came at no better time, when the man has just been newly appointed by President Bongbong Marcos as Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation, oddly.

“The privilege to practice law is bestowed only upon individuals who are competent intellectually, academically and, equally important, morally. There is no room in this noble profession for misogyny and sexism. The Court will never tolerate abuse, in whatever form, especially when perpetrated by an officer of the court,” the High Court ruled. Wow!

“I have no regrets” was Gadon’s immediate reaction. But the fact that he has no regrets and is unrepentant, notwithstanding the resounding unanimous SC decision to rebuke him aside from the public condemnation he has been receiving for his misdemeanors, it makes the man all the more unfit and unworthy to hold a public office.

Gadon asserts that he would continue with his “adviser” work because the SC decision has “no bearing” on his position since the Malacañang post doesn’t require a lawyer. Such a sensible reasoning -- as if every government position requires a lawyer and as though a public office is not a public trust and requires proper conduct and right thinking.

The private life of a public servant (morally) is by far more telling as to how he will perform and behave than all the other qualifications he has in his resume, whatever position in government he occupies. Gadon’s guilt goes far beyond his offensive words. It mirrors him as a person. Matthew 12:34-40.

The Court’s judgment on Gadon shows that the justices of our present SC are not beholden to any political power (past and present) as they ought to be, since they must be beholden to no one -- but to the Filipino people and to the sacredness of their sworn duty - to render justice.

More decisions like that in the future, dear SC justices, and your names may earn the worth of being etched on marble stones to be forever remembered and esteemed by the present and coming generations. Unprecedented.

Dear Mr. President, it is proper that all Filipinos (including those who didn’t vote for BBM like yours truly) should support you all the way as the chief occupant of Malacañang -- in recognition of and submission to the biblical admonishment for people to submit to governing authorities (not evil authorities).

However, with due respect, your honor, it is not proper that you simply hand out positions in government like you personally own them -- out of political gratitude. The vicious habit and cycle must end.

Wow! Supreme Court.

P.S.

What about disbarring lawyers that concoct stories just to win a court case?

A glittering affair marked the launch of the NUSTAR Convention Center, the biggest event venue in the Visayas and Mindanao. The place is massive with its high ceiling, spacious lobby and expansive pre-function hallway and foyer which is ideal for cocktails and the like. It can accommodate a total of 2,000 guests.

The pillarless ballroom was ablaze with lights and beautifully bedecked with flowers that star-studded night of the gala. With a modern Filipiniana theme, the party turned out colorful and festive. On the frontline was Frederick Go, chief executive officer and president of Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc. (owner of NUSTAR Resort and Casino) and NuSTAR chief operating officer Alan Teo. In perfect attendance were the sales and marketing team and the rest of the NUSTAR family. Guests came from different sectors of Cebu society and others flew in from Manila.

The sit-down dinner began with the waiters dramatically marching in with gleaming food trays in hand and then pausing for formation at the center of the hall. In keeping with the party theme, the evening’s menu featured native classics but tastefully tweaked for that modern touch. Think Busay greens with Guadalupe mango vinaigrette and crispy Taboan dilis; Malunggay and kalabasa chowder with green-lipped mussels; Braised “bistek” with caramelized onions, calamansi citrus jus, butterflied prawns and mashed potatoes. Of course, Lechon was served, too. For dessert there was Purple Yam (ube) layered Joconde, cream cheese mousse purée.

It was a lovely musical evening headlined by songbird Lani Misalucha who came all the way from her home base in Las Vegas. Her front act, John Willace Tubalde, became an instant crowd favorite with his mellow singing voice dishing out all-time favorites. Dance numbers added flair to the festivities.

Music and magic filled the air that red-letter night at the NUSTAR Convention Center!

PUBLICLY LISTED Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, filed for a voluntary suspension of trading of its shares as it moves ahead with its plan to go private.

MPIC said its board including all four independent directors “unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the filing of an application for voluntary delisting with the Philippine Stock Exchange.”

The PSE approved the request of the MPIC for a voluntary trading suspension of its shares from July 4, 2023, at 9 a.m. to July 5 at 9 a.m.

The voluntary trading suspension is requested to allow the disclosure to be disseminated to the investing public (including shareholders in different time zones) who may learn about the disclosures at a later time, and to give the trading participants and the investing public time to study the company’s recent disclosures before transacting the common shares of the company.

MPIC received an updated tender offer from a consortium consisting of Metro Pacific Holdings Inc., GT Capital Holdings Inc., Mit-Pacific Infrastructure Holdings Inc. and MIG Holdings Incorp., at a “best and final” price of P5.20 per share, up 12 percent from the earlier offer of P4.63 per share on April 26, 2023.

MPIC last traded at P4.63 per share on July 3.

The improved price, according to GT Capital, one of the members of the consortium, represents a premium of 37 percent over the one-year volume-weighted average price of P3.80 per share and a premium of 57 centavos over the earlier offer price. If successful, the tender would result in MPIC’s delisting.

“We regard this new offer as the best and final price the bidders are able to deliver to MPIC’s minority shareholders,” said Christopher Young, executive director of First Pacific Company Limited. “Due to the transaction timetable, approvals and regulatory requirements of the entire process across multiple jurisdictions, there will be no further opportunity to adjust the price.”

GT said under the tender offer, the bidders would spend up to approximately P54.8 billion or US$986 million for the remaining shares held by the minority shareholders of MPIC. The tender offer values MPIC at P149.2 billion or $2.7 billion in equity value.

MPIC also said the board “unanimously approved to schedule the holding of a Special Stockholders’ Meeting (SSM) on Aug. 8, 2023, with a record date of July 18, 2023.”

Should the shareholders approve the resolution to delist MPIC from the PSE during the SSM, the bidders will launch the tender offer immediately thereafter.

MPIC is an infrastructure investment company with holdings in Manila Electric Co., Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Metro Pacific Health Corp., among others.

I’m no fan of Maria Ressa, but she definitely does not, and for that matter nobody does, deserve the virulent attack made on her person by Larry Gadon. The Supreme Court has rightly disbarred him for crude and unprofessional, to say the least, behavior.

Yet, the virulence is not what got my goat. Steamed up as I was by Gadon’s vile behavior, President Bong-Bong Marcos (PBBM) heated me up some more when he stood pat on Gadon’s appointment to a Cabinet position, alleging insensitively that the position does not need the one holding it to be a lawyer. But doesn’t a Cabinet position need to be held by a decent and not a muck-raking professional?

But what really got my goat was the public’s deafening silence on the PBBM’s continued trust of a person with such despicable behavior. Besides being a vile and rabid defender of the Marcos family, what other qualifications does Gadon have that could make us accept the President’s claim that he will do a good job of the anti-poverty program?

PBBM showed a lack of moral sensitivity when he stood pat on Gadon’s Cabinet appointment in spite of the latter’s disbarment. But the Filipino public demonstrated the same moral numbness when it allowed the President to big-foot Gadon’s appointment to a Cabinet position. If this were to happen in morally sensitive countries, like France or Germany, there would already be mass protests, riots even.

It is bad enough that our officials do not have sound moral values. It is worse that we let them get away with it. This is a classic instance of our elitist political and inequitable economic systems being shielded from becoming democratic, equitable, and moral by our colonial culture of submission to and acceptance of whatever those in authority want for us... in our mistaken belief that they are representatives of God.

Thus, we submit to incompetent officials with a distorted sense of values who promote only their self-interests. We allow them to run (ruin?) our lives. We accept their unjust and corrupt ways without even a hint of a whimper. We not only let them get away with all kinds of vile actions we also, for our own selfish interest, vote them back into office to ruin the lives of many others.

The public’s failure to be horrified by PBBM standing pat on Gadon’s appointment to the Cabinet in spite of being disbarred by the Supreme Court tells me this society is losing its sense of decency. Without a moral social compass, we drift aimlessly in the stormy sea of political and economic ambiguity.

Meanwhile, the guardian of morality, the Church, just looks on, copping out with the lame excuse it should not get involved in politics. It would rather settle the issue of how to pray the Our Father than emphatically remind authorities that their subjects are equals they must serve justly and morally.

Finally, we ask the world to “Love the Philippines” when we really don’t love it, and love only ourselves.

Within the art of bonsai lies a miniature marvel that mirrors nature’s grandeur. As bonsai artists meticulously shape and nurture these living sculptures, they unlock a world where time shrinks and beauty flourishes in scaled-down form. Still, many people have yet to appreciate the enchantment of holding a whole tree in the palm of their hand.

On July 7 to 10, 2023, a dedicated group of bonsai artists called the Cebu Bonsai Society (CBS) will be mounting the First Visayas Bonsai Competition and Exhibit at the Mountain Wing of SM Seaside City Cebu.

The event will offer a rare opportunity for the general public to immerse themselves in the world of bonsai for free. In a city where public bonsai gardens are few and far between, this exhibition opens the doors to accessibility, inviting everyone to experience the serenity of these living masterpieces.

“The Cebu Bonsai Society has been conducting biannual competitions held in malls in Metro Cebu for over 20 years. We should have had an exhibit in 2021 but had to forego it because of Covid. This First Visayas Bonsai Competition is a milestone because it will be the first time that there will be a competition among clubs in the Visayas. Prior to this, our competitions were just within the club,” said Jess Cuenco, president of CBS.

The four-day event will bring together clubs from Bohol, Dumaguete, Bacolod and two bonsai clubs in Cebu. One can anticipate a visual feast of over 100 exquisite bonsai trees showcased by the participating clubs in the Visayas. Adding to the prestige, three esteemed judges from Luzon and Mindanao, sent over by the national association, the Philippine Bonsai Society Inc. (PBSI), will grace the event with their expertise.

“Around 40 members from the participating clubs will showcase their trees. Basic criteria for the entries: First, the tree should not be over 105 centimeters high measured from the base of the trunk to the highest live portion. Second, pots should not exceed 100 centimeters in length,” explained Jess.

Jess said the trees will be judged by their age, intricacy of design and presentation during the show proper. But more than the competition, CBS is promoting not only the spirit of competitiveness but also camaraderie among the bonsai community in the Visayas.

Since its establishment in 1977, the CBS has passionately fostered the art of bonsai, attracting a flourishing community of members from the region. As a non-profit organization, its dedicated efforts aim to nurture and promote the timeless craft of bonsai. Moreover, being affiliated with the esteemed PBSI, they enjoy recognition on the international stage, further solidifying their commitment to this revered art form.

“The show will hopefully encourage more people to learn the fascinating art of bonsai. Bonsai requires diligence, time, and resources. It is a hobby that combines nature with artistry. A bonsai tree requires years of cultivation and care and can be handed down for generations,” said Jess.

After all, the beauty of growing a bonsai tree cannot be rushed, as its essence flourishes through the passage of time. It is through the intricate process of careful pruning, shaping, and manipulating nature’s raw materials that this exceptional art form unfolds.

“In China and Japan, it is not unusual to come across bonsai which are over 100 years old. Our bonsai culture is still very young compared to theirs, but we hope to foster that same kind of appreciation for this art form and hobby for generations to come,” added Jess.

Through devoted commitment and the unfurling of time, bonsai trees unveil movements of life within its fragile branches. The intricate process of pruning, shaping and sculpting these living artworks may seem as complex as rocket science, yet the enduring allure lies in the ability to lose and release oneself in the art.