Philippines News

THE Commission on Audit (COA) has discovered “several deficiencies” in Lapu-Lapu City Government’s procurement of services for the disposal of its residual waste amounting to P86.9 million from a joint venture initiative with two contractors whose primary business purpose “appeared to be freight forwarding services and furniture manufacturing.”

In its 2022 Audit Report, COA identified ALS and HMME Inc. as the two contractors involved in the procurement, and said various documents and permits to determine the technical eligibility of these contractors were also not submitted or attached to the disbursement voucher.

The state auditors also questioned the computed number of tons of waste done through a manual preparation of the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) Weighing Scale Trip Ticket as well as the lack of the weigh bridge calibration certificate of the manufacturer and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) validation certificate.

The City Government entered into a contract with ALS and HMME Inc., on September 3, 2021 to November 30, 2022 for its solid waste disposal and management system worth P86,985,133.08.

The agreement covered 64,462 tons of the city’s residual waste with a unit price of P1,348 per ton, COA reported.

Primary business

However, COA found out that the primary line of business of ALS was freight forwarding while that of HMME Inc. was the manufacture and repair of furniture and fixtures of metal based on their Certificate of Registration certified by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

The audit team also questioned the non-submission or -attachment of seven documents to the disbursement voucher: the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Lapu-Lapu City Government and the joint venture contractor, ALS’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Certificate of Registration, a copy of the Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC) or Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), and clearance or permits from the other local government units (LGUs) that may be affected in the transport of solid waste to the sanitary landfill.

Also missing were environment-related permits such as the Permit to Operate pursuant to the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, Discharge Permit pursuant to the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, Hazardous Waste Generator ID pursuant to the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990; and Solid Waste Management pursuant to the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

COA also flagged the absence of the proof of ownership or purchase of five to 10 dump trucks and proof of ownership or rent of one backhoe with ready standby unit.

With the non-attachment of these permits and documents, COA said it could not validate the qualifications of the awarded bidder.

Manual preparation

The state auditors flagged the absence of machine-generated receipts that determine the actual weight of the garbage or hauling equipment, as the Trip Summary Report was manually prepared by the City’s MRF personnel.

Without these machine-generated receipts, COA said the information and resulting billed amount in the reports was “uncertain.”

The tonnage was computed through the deduction of gross weight (before loading) of the garbage truck from its Tare weight or the weight when it was empty.

“Since the payment is based on the number of tonnages, the credibility of the cargo weights figure -- in terms of sources and calculation should be based on the most reliable and evidenced-based information; otherwise, the resulting sum shall be highly questionable,” COA reported.

The audit team recommended to the City Government the submission through the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the lacking documentation and also to explain why the project was awarded to the joint venture of ALS and HMME Inc. despite the absence of the required documents “that would have entailed disqualification of the contractors to the project.”

Reply

In its reply to COA, the Lapu-Lapu City Government assured that the mentioned contractors were eligible and they they abide by the guidelines of the procurement law.

It added that it had already submitted the documentary requirements such as the MOA, Department of Trade and Industry Certificate of Registration of ALS, the Disposal Waste Agreement between ALS-hauler and AEC-owner and operator of a sanitary landfill, the ECC of AEC, and other permits.

The City Government was also not capable of generating machine-generated receipts for the weigh bridge, hence only trip tickets were issued as proof and used as bases for payment.

It vowed to submit the weigh bridge calibration certification from the manufacturer and the DOST validation certificate.

Rejoinder

COA reminded the Lapu-Lapu LGU that under Government Procurement Policy Board Non-Policy Matter Opinion 126-2016, it is the BAC’s duty to determine the eligibility of the supplier or bidder in government projects, particularly by scrutinizing the supplier’s Mayor’s Permit and BIR Certificate of Registration to see if these authorize it to engage in the business required by the procurement “such that a finding to the contrary would amount to non-compliance by the bidder and will result to its disqualification.”

“Ideally, it is the BAC that plays a crucial role in determining whether a certain supplier can participate in the procurement through the eligibility check. However, in this aspect, the BAC failed to undertake this responsibility,” COA said.

COA will subject the submitted documents to further verification, it added. (EHP)

NIAMEY -- Niger's presidential guard imposed a blockade on the presidency since 10 p.m., local time, Tuesday, a presidency staff told Xinhua Wednesday.

"Since yesterday, no one has left; no one has returned to the presidency. At the moment, nobody knows where President Mohamed Bazoum is," said the same source, who was not identified. (Niger-Blockade)

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KABUL -- Rainstorms and flash floods hav

Malacañang hopes the funding sources for the proposed reforms in military and uniformed personnel pension may be resolved “within the coming months.”

Sen. Grace Poe on Wednesday urged law enforcers to pursue and file charges against mobile phone scammers after the SIM card registration deadline on July 25.

The Department of Agriculture is expecting retail prices of vegetables to rise due to the impact of Typhoon Egay.

Investments by the government helped in improving the country’s tourism industry in the past year, with more expected soon, reported the Department of Tourism.

While he may be in favor of bringing back the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps for senior high school or college students, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro believes that not all of the country’s youth can be trained and taken in as reservist soldiers.

The Commission on Higher Education on July 26 released the list of 52 Philippine higher education institutions that President Marcos referred to in his State of the Nation Address as belonging to “world universities rankings.”

Super Typhoon Egay roared across Northern Luzon and other parts of the country yesterday, leaving at least two dead and several injured as well as displacing up to 180,400 people or 44,356 families now mostly staying in evacuation centers.

President Marcos lauded members of the Philippine Women’s National Football Team for their historic victory over co-host New Zealand during the FIFA Women’s World Cup on Tuesday.

The Commission on Elections yesterday disputed the allegations of former information and technology secretary Eliseo Rio that the results of the May 2022 presidential elections were rigged and illegally came from just one private IP address.

Impersonator and satirist Willie Nepomuceno has passed away at the age of 75, his family announced yesterday in a Facebook post.

New Delhi [India], July 26 (ANI): Banks in India have recovered non-performing assets worth Rs 10.16 lakh crore on an aggregate basis in the past nine years, Minister of State (MoS) Finance Bhagwat Karad informed Parliament. In the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, the government was asked to respond about the effective measures to recover the bad loans and NPA amount from corporate companies. The minister responding

A VEHICULAR accident on the national highway in Barangay Guiboangan, Barili town, southwest Cebu, claimed the lives of two persons.

The incident occurred past 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

The two fatalities were identified as Valencia City, Bukidnon native Lilibeth Givera Deveras, 58, and local resident Irish Omagac, 14, who was struck by the vehicle as she was about to buy cooking oil from a store nearby.

According to Police Staff Sergeant Gilbert Encabo of Barili Police Station, the Toyota Hi-Ace van driven by Francis Cortez Pagatpat, 25, of Rijett Car Rental Services based in Barangay Sabang, Danao City, northern Cebu, had seven passengers on board, including three doctors, who were on their way to Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Bacolod City, where they will be assigned.

Encabo said that Pagatpat was overtaking another vehicle when he lost control of the steering wheel and crashed into Omagac and a tree.

At least six passengers suffered injuries.

They are Dr. Antonio Edson Natividad Enriquez, 26, Dr. Princess Dawn Sombreo Espina, 27, Dr. Kathlyn Genevere Mangasi, 28, from Valencia City, her brother Kurt Josh Gevenere Mangasi, 28, and Kurtly Herera Mangasi, 30., and Nevelle Deveras, 66, from Valencia City.

They were brought to a hospital in Cebu City for treatment.(BBT, TPT)

RMER regional champion Albert Pagara makes his ring return next month against undefeated Russia Alexey Masur in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) Asia-Pacific lightweight bout on Aug. 30, 2023 in Turkestan, Kazakhstan.

“I think I can beat him,” Pagara told SunStar Cebu. “I’ve seen his fights. I’m now working with coach Jing Jing Tepora.”

Pagara hasn’t fought for over eight months and will be fighting his first international bout since losing to Cesar Juarez in 2016 in the United States.

The 29-year-old Pagara last fought on Nov. 5, 2022, wherein he stopped prospect Allan Villanueva in four rounds in Talisay City.

Pagara, a former ALA Boy, campaigned in the super bantamweight division most of his career. After a year away from the ring, Pagara returned as a super featherweight against Virgil Puton in 2020. He totally dominated Puton and beat him by unanimous decision in Mandaue City. He fought at light welterweight against Villanueva.

Pagara was once highly ranked in the world and is a former IBF Inter-Continental and World Boxing Organization Inter-Continental super bantamweight champion.

On the other hand, the 32-year-old Masur is a experienced former amateur that has fought close to a hundred fights in the amateur ranks.

Masur, who turned pro in 2018, transitioned well in the paid ranks, winning all eight of his fights. On April 26, Masur won the biggest fight of his career with a convincing unanimous-decision victory over former world title challenger Frank Manzanilla in Russia.

Pagara is 34-1 with 24 knockouts, while Mazur is 8-0 with five knockouts. (EKA)

THE Kurashiki Ablaze try to secure the last ticket to the finals of the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference, as they battle the PLDT High Speed Hitters on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Gametime is at 4 p.m. with PLDT coming off back-to-back victories over F2 Logistics and Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh of Vietnam for a 2-2 card.

“Like F2 Logistics, PLDT is a tall team. But we will do our best, particularly in receiving,” said Kurashiki coach Hideo Suzuki, after leading the team past the Cargo Movers, 25-20, 25-22, 25-20, last Tuesday for a 3-0 slate.

Creamline snatched the first finals seat with a hard-fought 25-23, 25-23, 25-17 win over Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh, which remained winless in three games.

Having witnessed how the High Speed Hitters play, Akane Hiraoka, who took the game’s top honors with a nine-point effort against F2 Logistics, had this to say about their upcoming foes: “PLDT has tall players, we have to focus on defense and receive and we shouldn’t be discouraged.”

PLDT coach Rald Ricafort and the High Speed Hitters, on the other hand, said they aren’t actually after the result but the chance to play an efficient team like Kurashiki.

“We’re happy to have built momentum (after beating Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh). We prepared against the Japanese and I think we’re in the right place in terms of performing at our peak,” said Ricafort.

“But it’s more of a challenge to play a Japanese team. We don’t have control over what happens in the finals, so we’ll focus on the opportunity to play a strong, quick team like Kurashiki and gain experience. We’ll give it our best shot and we’ll see where we’ll go from there,” he added. (JNP)

THE Farm Fresh-Letran handed the Sherilin Unisol-City of Naga their second straight loss with a 101-71 rout in the 2023 Manila Bankers Life-Pilipinas Super League 18-Under Battle of the Champions on Monday, July 24, 2023, at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in Pampanga.

Letran welcomed back their star guard Andy Gemao in style as they followed up their 93-67 thrashing of the Max Ballers Davao with another dominant showing against the team from Cebu and keep them winless so far in this stage of the competition.

The top two teams by the end of the elimination round will move on to the best-of-three finals which begins on Friday, July 28, also at the same venue.

Gemao made his much-awaited return to Farm Fresh-Letran after being with University of the Philippines for its Serbia camp. The NCAA Season 98 Juniors Basketball Finals MVP showed no signs of rust, scoring 15 points.

Arwin Alforque and Juhniel Dela Rama chipped in 12 and 10 markers, respectively, as every player fielded by Allen Ricardo scored in the contest.

Sherilin-Unisol, who fell to 0-2 in the five-team meet, was paced by Jerome Arboiz with 13 points and seven rebounds. (JNP)

THE Puresteel Manufacturing Corp.-2011 won over Crossfit-Subtero-2006, 64-52, in Division B action in the 26th Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association (Shaabaa) last Sunday, July 23, 2023, at the Magis Eagles Arena in Mandaue City.

Batch 2006 was actually ahead at halftime, 30-28, but Batch 2011 — last season’s runner-up in Division B — turned the tables around with a 24-9 blast in the third that put them in front for good.

Bernard Chioson exploded for 31 points along with seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. Big man Franz Pacheco had 11 points and 10 boards, while Bradley Bacaltos filled the stat sheet up with 10 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, three steals and a blocked shot.

After a rousing win against the defending champions Batch 2003, Batch 2006 could not sustain their momentum and dropped to 1-1. Luis Yu led the way with 15 points.

In other Division B games, ‘04 The Win-2004 defeated Insular Square-2005, 60-53. Franco Te had 12 points and eight rebounds, Christopher Consunji had 10, while Ervin Lopena did it all with eight points, nine boards, seven assists, three steals and a block.

Last, the Efficascent Boost-BRC-2010 clobbered the Gateway Motors-2007, 63-36. Jasper Diaz sizzled for 22 points and nine rebounds, while speedy guard Gabe Branzuela added 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists and six steals. (JNP)

Karen Peters, UNODC. 

A new narcotics law in Thailand has meant that people who use drugs are more able to access care for treatment of conditions like HIV, but the virus remains a 'critical health concern', according to the UN. 

The Thai authorities are working alongside UN agencies to not just improve the availabilit

“Success is not necessarily about connections, or cutting corners, or chamba -- the three Cs of bad business. Call it trite but believe me, success can be achieved through hard work, frugality, integrity, responsiveness to change, and most of all, boldness to dream.”

— John Gokongwei Jr., JG Summit founder

A Founder’s Adversity Quotient (FAQ) refers to the resilience, adaptability, and ability to thrive in the face of mounting challenges and uncertainties that business founders typically possess. It is a measure of their capacity to overcome setbacks, take calculated risks, and persevere in pursuit of their entrepreneurial vision.

Founders often start their businesses from scratch, facing enormous financial risks, limited resources, and market uncertainties. Armed with nothing but grit, they experience firsthand the struggles and setbacks that come with creating something from nothing. This process builds their AQ as they learn to cope with failure after failure, pivot their strategies, and find innovative solutions to navigate the complexities of keeping the business afloat. The emotional attachment founders develop to their businesses further contributes to their high AQ. Having founded their businesses, they are driven by more than just financial success. Their businesses become a reflection of their identity. To quote psychologist Harry Levinson, “An entrepreneur’s business is simultaneously his ‘baby’ and his ‘mistress.’ For the founder, the business is essentially an extension of himself, a medium for his personal gratification and achievement above all.” This deep emotional investment fuels their determination to overcome challenges and turn setbacks into opportunities for growth.

As founders build their businesses, they acquire diverse skill sets, ranging from leadership and creative problem-solving to risk management and adaptability. The entrepreneurial journey exposes them to a wide range of experiences, honing their decision-making abilities and fostering a growth mindset. That is why founders have a higher AQ compared to their offspring.

Founder starting from scratch

The phrase “starting from scratch” captures the essence of a founder’s journey in establishing a business from the ground up. They are entrepreneurs who have the vision, determination, and passion to turn an idea into a thriving venture. In the early stages, they embark on a challenging and unpredictable path, encountering numerous obstacles and uncertainties that test their resolve. At the inception of a business, founders face financial constraints and limited resources. They often invest their personal savings, seek funding from family and friends, or take out loans to fund the venture. These financial risks can be daunting, as the outcome is far from certain. Moreover, they also encounter skepticism and doubt from others, adding to the pressure of proving the concept’s viability.

As the business takes shape, founders navigate a highly competitive market, requiring constant adaptation to changing industry landscapes. They deal with early failures and setbacks, learning from mistakes and using them as stepping stones for improvement. This resilience in the face of adversity is a hallmark of successful founders. The journey is a transformative process that shapes their character and leadership style. It also fosters humility as they learn to seek advice, collaborate with others, and acknowledge that they cannot do it all alone. Overall, the FAQ builds tenacity as founders persistently pursue their vision, even in the face of skepticism or rejection.

Now that the founder is nearing the twilight of his life, does the next generation members have the same level of adversity quotient?

Find out on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria as fellow family business expert Dr. Josh Baron, a best-selling author and Harvard Business School senior lecturer, along with myself and next-generation leaders Alliance Global chief executive officer (CEO) Kevin Tan and JG Summit president and CEO Lance Gokongwei come together on the stage of “Family Business Continuity: Ensuring a Fail-Proof Succession Plan” to come face to face with business owners from diverse industries to dissect the dos and don’ts of ensuring business continuity while preserving the family’s legacy.

This Saturday event promises to be an engaging and enlightening session that will delve into the challenges and strategies for maintaining a successful business across generations. For additional information, please contact Marivi Estrada of ICON Executive Asia at 0977-835-5533.