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A 17-year-old boy reportedly carves the name "Julian" on an 8th Century temple in Nara, Japan.

MANILA -- The Philippines' Department of Finance (DOF) and the World Bank (WB) have signed a loan agreement of 600 million U.S. dollars to fund a rural development project that will modernize agriculture and improve infrastructure, the finance department said on Monday.

The DOF said the loan agreement was signed on July 7 for the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Scale-up, which is geared towards trans

West zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. has scheduled nighttime water service interruptions starting tomorrow to preserve water supply amid Angat Dam’s declining water level.

The Water Resources Management Office will present this week its recommendations to mitigate the impact of El Niño in the Philippines.

The Department of Health has cautioned the public against contracting vector-borne diseases such as dengue after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration declared the onset of the El Niño phenomenon in the country.

Oil companies are implementing a round of mixed adjustments in pump prices today, with gasoline on its second week of decline.

Congress is keen on increasing the 2024 budget of the Department of National Defense in response to continued Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said on July 10.

President Marcos should prioritize long-term measures to tackle pressing issues, including a recurring water shortage and the looming threat of El Niño in the upcoming State of the Nation Address, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said on July 10.

The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP)’s plan to remove the Lapu-Lapu monument in Rizal Park is “disturbing,” according to former senator Richard Gordon.

The Philippine National Police has filed 69 cases against persons involved in the 990-kilogram shabu haul last year.

Filipinos in Sudan are advised to leave that country immediately to ensure their safety as the United Nations warned that the country is on the brink of a “full-scale civil war,” potentially destabilizing the entire region.

Two weeks after the raid on a Philippine offshore gaming operator hub where 2,714 Filipinos and foreign workers were rescued, Sen. Raffy Tulfo questioned the Philippine National Police-Anti Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) for conducting the raid without coordination among other government and law enforcement authorities.

At least 1 person died and 8 were injured after a massive metal girder on the Lat Krabang Tollway construction project crumpled to the ground late on Monday afternoon.

RENOVATIONS of the sports facilities at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

CCSC manager Jovito Taborada said in an interview on Monday, July 10, 2023, that more than 25 workers are working to finish the adjustments being made at the sports complex.

However, the construction timeline may be delayed depending on weather condition, he added.

As of Monday, two major sports installations, a 15-meter and a 25-meter swimming pool, were still under construction.

Taborada said they are working first on the smaller pool. After completing it, they will proceed to work on the bigger or the lap swimming pool, which is the standard size for sporting events such as the Palarong Pambansa.

Pools’ new features

New features of the swimming pools will include a new footer in the center and a pool marking that will be one meter away from the wall to prevent swimmers from getting injured.

Taborada added that once both pools are completed, the oval located in the middle and other additional sports facilities at CCSC will be refurbished next.

The CCSC has been closed since May 18, to give way for renovation and repair works in preparation for Cebu City’s bid to host the Palarong Pambansa in 2024. (CNU INTERN DENISE MAE CODIS)

SM GROUP’S 2GO Travel is bent on helping the country’s domestic tourism recover faster by offering an enhanced and unique onboard experience—cruising on domestic seas.

“Whatever the airline is experiencing (in terms of passenger count), it is the same with shipping. We are also experiencing revenge travel,” said Blessie Cruz, assistant vice president and group head for 2GO’s Marketing, in an interview during the group’s Cebu roadshow on July 6, 2023.

Cruz said while airlines now bombard travelers with a lot of promos to fly, there is still a big market left for sea travel.

“At the end of the day, sea travel is still the most affordable, especially if you are from Manila and you want to go to Mindanao,” she said.

Citing one of their studies, Cruz said there are still a lot of Filipinos who opt for sea travel because aside from affordability, slow travel has become their idea of “me time.”

“Me time is their main agenda. They don’t want to rush,” said Cruz, adding that sea travel is also ideal and economical for big groups. “Sea travel is also for a leisure traveler who is open to ideas and unique experiences.”

Since the resumption of leisure travel, Cruz said 2GO Travel has been enjoying some 20 to 30 percent growth month-on-month, even if April-May school breaks were moved to June-July.

To provide a cruise-like experience on domestic seas, 2GO has put on board SM brands to offer guests a unique shopping experience.

“All of the SM brands are now onboard. We are also showcasing the capability of the vessel to hold various activities on board,” said Cruz.

2GO recently held an invitation-only festival at sea dubbed sail-elebration where content creators traveled for free and enjoyed three days of workshops, masterclasses and a concert onboard while experiencing stunning sea views and onboard amenities such as hotel-like accommodations, sundeck, salon and spa, and a variety of dining options onboard mv 2GO Masagana, one of 2GO’s most modern vessels.

“This is our way for young travelers to experience the best of the Philippine sea,” she said.

2GO Group Inc. is the largest end-to-end transportation, logistics and distribution provider in the country. At its core are six business units, namely 2GO Sea Solutions, 2GO Special Containers and Value-Added Services, 2GO Express, 2GO Forwarding, 2GO Logistics and ScanAsia Overseas.

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. expressed alarm on Monday, July 10, 2023, over the involvement of fugitives in raids conducted in Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) firms.

During a press conference in Camp Crame, Acorda said there is a possibility that these fugitives were using Pogo hubs to avoid arrest.

The PNP is coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to address the entry of foreign fugitives into the country, according to Acorda.

The PNP is also strengthening its intelligence operations against these individuals, Acorda said.

Last May, seven foreign fugitives were arrested during a raid in a Pogo hub in Clark, Pampanga.

On June 27, seven fugitives, including four Chinese nationals and three Taiwanese, were apprehended during the execution of a search warrant in Xinchuang Network Technology Inc., a Pogo hub in Las Piñas City.

During the Las Piñas raid, over 1,200 foreigners were rescued.

The fugitives will be deported back to their countries where they are facing charges for committing fraud and engaging in the illegal drug trade, among other charges.

PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) Director Sidney Hernia said they are not discounting the possibility of more foreign fugitives hiding in Pogo hubs. His unit has requested the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to include them in regular inspections of Pogo hubs. Pagcor is also developing a policy to address the matter based on the ACG’s recommendations, he said.

Sen. Win Gatchalian said in a statement that the arrest of fugitives in Xinchuang, an accredited Pogo firm, is further evidence that the Pogo industry is “deeply entrenched in criminal activities” and disregards the rule of law.

“It is clear that even legitimate Pogos are involved in crime... This proves that Pogo industry players are merely using their licenses as a front while perpetrating various crimes in the country,” he said in a mix of Tagalog and English.

He reiterated his call to ban Pogo operations in the country, emphasizing the negative impact they have on the nation’s security and well-being.

“We have already discussed this with the President [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.]. He is very concerned about the crimes happening in Pogos. The economic managers also agree that no matter what advantages or promotions we have in the Philippines, if there are crimes like this, we will be ruined immediately, and our efforts for the country will be wasted,” he added. (TPM)

THE Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) is urging retail players across the Philippines to join the cause in pushing growth and resiliency in retail by encouraging more women to get into business.

This is one of the things that the group hopes to achieve as it holds this year’s national convention, highlighting for one, the power of women.

To inspire more women to get into business and break barriers, PRA president Rosemarie Bosch Ong announced the group picked Ayala Land’s director, Mariana Zobel de Ayala as the headliner of the 29th National Retail Conference Expo (NRCE).

According to Ong, with Ayala’s impressive business acumen and leadership skills, “Ayala will share insights on how women’s representation and voices can bring innovation to the table, enrich the decision-making process, and achieve more inclusive and equitable outcomes in retail.”

She will also discuss the pleasures and pressures of being in the fourth generation of a Philippine business family and the importance of staying relevant.

The NRCE is slated from Aug. 10 to 11, 2023 at the SMX Convention Center in Manila. This year’s expo is anchored on the theme: “Retail Breakthrough.”

Ong said Ayala is the perfect fit for this year’s groundbreaking event, “as she is a true trailblazer in her own right.”

“We believe that she’s an embodiment of a retail breakthrough as she’s an example of a strong woman leader who is not afraid to make a giant leap, embracing new advancements and discoveries to use it and make the necessary steps to achieve success,” Ong said in a statement.

NRCE 2023 overall chairman and Rustan Commercial Corp. president Donnie Tantoco hopes to inspire and motivate attendees through Mariana’s keynote session on “The Power of Women at the Forefront of Progress” to break down barriers and shatter stereotypes, paving the way for future generations.

Stores run by women

One sector that records the most number of women involved and leading the way is the sari-sari store sector.

A study conducted by Packworks’ intelligence tool, in partnership with Fourth Wall, showed that 75 percent of the thousands of sari-sari stores analyzed are owned by women.

The report also identified that only 20 percent are male-dominated and five percent are unknown. Sari-sari stores are small retail shops commonly found in residential areas across the Philippines, selling a wide range of consumer goods, from food and beverages to household items.

“The high percentage of sari-sari store ownership by women shows that Filipinas virtually control much of the local economy,” said Andres Montiel, Packworks’ head of Data in a statement.

Since about 70 percent of manufactured goods are transacted in sari-sari stores, women’s domination of sari-sari store ownership puts them in a position to make a difference in the country’s economic life, the study said.

Economic sectors, therefore, must open their doors to women, as women’s labor participation in some industries is still low. Institutions must also empower women by boosting skills training initiatives to ensure they can participate fully in the country’s economic growth, the study noted.

For the past 28 years, the NRCE has been the biggest and longest-running retail industry event in the country where top retailers and suppliers converge in one venue.

It provides retailers with fresh insights, new perspectives, as well as actionable strategies from industry leaders to help accelerate the growth of businesses in the country.

FILINVEST REIT Corp. (FILRT) of the Filinvest Group is expanding its leasing portfolio despite headwinds as it looks to add over 12,000 square meters (sq.m) in new leases as well as new co-working spaces designed to meet present customer needs.

Co-working facility operators and new business process management (BPM) tenants—fueled by growth prospects brought about by locating in FILRT’s dependable and sustainable locations—are looking to add about 7,000 sq.m in new leases.

FILRT is also in advanced talks with two major BPM firms looking to expand their current leases with FILRT.

An American professional services firm headquartered in New York with about 100,000 employees globally is about to sign for an additional two floors in one of FILRT’s 16 buildings in Northgate Cyberzone in Alabang.

Another existing tenant, a BPM company headquartered in Europe with over 50,000 employees globally, is expected to follow suit for an additional 2,300 square meters of office space.

This brings FILRT’s expected new leases to 12,400 sq.m. This is on top of the almost 10,300 sq.m. of new leases signed earlier this year. (PR)

THE Commission on Elections in Central Visayas (Comelec 7) has delisted over 20,000 voter registrations in the province of Cebu ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30, 2023.

The data provided by Comelec 7 to SunStar Cebu show that as of July 10, 2023, there were 20,633 delisted voters in Cebu.

In a statement last week, the Comelec’s central office said that as of July 7, some 381,906 voter registration records nationwide have been deleted or abated.

A large majority of records delisted are those with identities of two or more voters’ fingerprints based on the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (Afis)—244,775.

Coming in second are voters who have already transferred to another city or municipality— 131,574.

Other reasons for deletion include voters found to have double/multiple records at the city/municipal level (3,306); voters who are deceased as reported/confirmed by the local civil registrars (2,075); and voters who failed to vote twice in two succeeding regular elections (176).

Final list

The Comelec aims to release the certified and final computerized voters’ lists for the BSKE by Aug. 1.

In Cebu, majority of the removed registrations were voters who transferred to another city or municipality—9,172 voters.

A total of 6,215 voters with two or more fingerprints detected by the Afis were removed from the list.

A total of 5,231 confirmed deceased voters and 15 voters with multiple or double records in the city or municipality were also delisted.

With these changes, the number of voters for BSKE 2023 in Cebu province reached 3,384,185.

However, the Comelec 7 said these figures may be subject to change due to the ongoing evaluation process. (UP CEBU INTERN CHRYS CHELSEA BERNALES, HDT / SUNSTAR PHILIPPINES)

THE Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) has joined hands with the BDO Capital & Investment Corp. (BDO Capital) in arranging a P5 billion syndicated corporate notes facility with other domestic banks, to support ASA Philippines Foundation Inc.’s (ASA) credit expansion for underserved women.

The state-run bank said the proceeds will be used for ASA’s working capital to reach and empower more women in the country through the provision of accessible financing.

ASA’s five-year corporate notes issuance was classified as the first-ever Gender Bonds in the country, as certified by social bond second-party opinion provider DNV and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The issuance of the first-of-its-kind bonds was launched on July 5, 2023 in Pasig City. Landbank Investment Banking Group and BDO Capital jointly arranged the syndicated transaction, with RCBC Trust and Investment Group serving as the security trustee and notes facility agent.

Other lenders to the transaction include BDO Unibank Inc., Philippine National Bank, Bank of the Philippines Islands and Security Bank. (PR)