PH commits to comply 27 int’l conventions, seeks continued EU-GSP+ status

by Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat, MB

The Philippines committed to comply with the 27 international core conventions on human rights, labor, environment, and good governance as it sought to maintain its duty-free privilege for the country’s exports under the EU-Generalized System of Preferences+ (EU-GSP+).

Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Allan B. Gepty, who represented the Department of Trade and Indusry during the One Country, One Voice virtual consultation on the EU-GSP+ on Wednesday, Oct. 19, made this commitment as the country is facing strong headwinds from the EU in its petition to maintain its status in the EU-GSP+ scheme. 

The EU, particularly members of the EU Parliament have been very vocal in their criticism against the Philippines, particularly on alleged human rights violations, extrajudicial killings, freedom of the press, freedom of association and labor rights, red tagging, and pending bills such as the death penalty. Compliance to these are major issues in the 27 international conventions is a major criteria for a beneficiary country’s continued status for duty-free benefits of its exports.

“The enjoyment of GSP+ is anchored on the country’s compliance with the 27 international core conventions on human rights, labor, environment and good governance, and the Philippines remains committed in making good its commitments under these international conventions. Our policy direction is clear on these areas, and the Philippines can well serve as a strategic and reliable partner of the EU in the region,” said emphasized.

He reiterated that the Philippines is open to work closely with the EU (EU Commission, EU Parliament, and EU Council) to ensure compliance with international core conventions.

Gepty noted that EU is one of the major trading and investment partners of the Philippines. Through the EU GSP+ scheme, Gepty said, local stakeholders as well as foreign investors get to enjoy preferential market access in the EU market for qualified products.

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“This arrangement gives our stakeholders comparative advantage and we want to maintain this,” Gepty stressed.

Gepty cited the benefits the EU-GSP has provided to the Philippine economy via its GSP+ program since December 2014. The Philippines’ current status in the EU-GSP Plus, which grants zero duty on 6,274 tariff lines, including the country’s top major exports such as tuna, processed fruits, and garments.

The EU Commission is currently evaluating the Philippines and is expected to come up with the report for the 4th Monitoring Cycle in the fourth quarter this year. The expected report will also be used as a springboard for the new assessment when the Philippines reapplies to the new GSP+ scheme in 2024.

Gepty further emphasized that he continuation of EU GSP+ is beneficial for the Philippines and the EU in driving inclusive growth and sustainable development.

As such, he said, “issues and concerns against the Philippines must be received with utmost circumspection, clarified, and contextualized.”

With EU as a big export market and as a key investment partner, the Philippines intends to continue availing EU GSP+ to boost inclusiveness for businesses, among others. Gepty also noted that the government and the business sector are calling for the resumption of the PH-EU FTA negotiations. 

In addition, Gepty said the Philippines can be the EU’s reliable and strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region.

Philippine exports to the EU has been improving since it started enjoying the GSP+ scheme. Total Philippine exports to EU in 2015 reached 6.68 billion euros reaching a high of 7.63 billion euros in 2019, but it declined to 6.2 billion euros in 2020 due to the pandemic. The country’s exports to EU registered a strong rebound in 2021 to 7.77 billion euros.

In terms of EU-GSP+, data from the Eurostat showed that the country’s duty-free exports under the program reached 1.60 billion euros in 2015 and steadily climbed to 1.95 billion euros in 2019 before declining to 1.6 billion euros in 2020. The country’s GSP+ exports recovered hitting an all-time high of 2.03 billion euros in 2021.

Data also showed that of the country’s high utilization of the program from 68.3 percent in 2015 to 76 percent in 2021, making the Philippines 6th largest export market globally.

The GSP+ has saved 150 million euros in duty annually for Philippine exports.

PAL passes US airport security protocols

by Ariel Fernandez, MB

The Philippine Airlines (PAL) has passed a quality control inspection conducted by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (US TSA).

In a statement, PAL said the inspection includes how it handles airport operations that cover passenger and baggage handling as well as catering procedures.

“Our airline remains compliant with all requirements for our flights between Manila and the United States, as with other routes. The men and women of our flag carrier shall continue to uphold the highest standards of safety and security to protect the flying public,” said PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Capt. Stanley K. Ng. 

The inspection was conducted by the US TSA from August 11 to 12 this year.

PAL operates regular flights from Manila to U.S. destinations like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, New York and Guam.

Ng said they continue to collaborate with the Office for Transportation Security (OTS), Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in order to enhance the security and safety posture of the Philippines’ main airport gateway.

“We continue to liaise with local and foreign regulators to invariably manage and prepare for risks arising from identified vulnerabilities and evolving and emerging threats,” he said.

Super American Circus to thrill fans during the holidays

by Manila Bulletin Entertainment

Shout out to all the circus fans out there!

Get ready for exciting and breathtaking performances from Super American Circus! The two-hour show will feature industries’ world-famous acts with death-defying aerial stunts that will surely entertain everyone.

During its media launch at the Golden Bay Restaurant last Oct. 18, Super American Circus video teaser was shown by the circus ringmaster and CEO of Global Entertainment Tuffy Nicholas. 

Different acts such as aerialists, acrobats, motorcycle madmen, live music, and talents from around the world will come together in this breathtaking and jaw-dropping show to give Filipino fans another once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Aside from Tuffy, Super American Circus official Artistic Director and Choreographer Elaine Alcorn and one of the performers, Mario Espana were present via zoom.

According to her, the show will have 20 main act performers that will include families and other group acts. Since the show will run during the holiday season, they will also include a Christmas special during the show.

Cerah Hernandex, co-hosting the Super American Circus media launch (Facebook)

“Because of the Christmas season, we are going to put little Christmas songs in our show for that period of time,” she mentioned during the interview.

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During the media launch, Mario also revealed why they chose the Philippines to bring their Super American Circus show.

“We were in the Philippines a few years back, and Tuffy, our producer, likes to travel and take the show as far as we can from our hometown, so we like to show our traditional American circus and talents for the rest of the world,” he said.

The Super American Circus show will run at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre in Newport World Resorts from Dec. 21 to Jan. 8, 2023. (Carissa Alcantara)

1B kids at extreme risk from climate change

By Agence France-Presse October 20, 2022 

SOME 1 billion children are at "extremely high risk" due to climate change harms, a rights group warned on Wednesday, adding that youths' living standards failed to improve in the last decade.

The KidsRights index, based on figures supplied by UN agencies, also said more than one-third of the world's children, some 820 million, were currently exposed to heat waves.

Water scarcity affected 920 million children worldwide, while diseases such as malaria and dengue affected some 600 million children, or 1 in every 4, Dutch NGO KidsRights said.

The KidsRights Index is the first and only ranking that measures how children's rights are respected annually, ranking Iceland, Sweden and Finland as the best for children's rights, and Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Chad as the worst, out of 185 countries.

Of the top three nations, only Sweden's ranking changed from the previous year, moving to second from fourth place.

Marc Dullaert, founder and chairman of KidsRights, described this year's report as "alarming for our current and future generations of children."

"A rapidly changing climate is now threatening their futures and their basic rights," he said.

"There has been no significant progress in the standards of children's lives over the past decade and on top of that their livelihoods have been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic," Dullaert added.

The Covid-19 pandemic had a severe impact on children, who were unable to get food or medicine due to disruptions and the closure of clinics, leading to some 286,000 under the age of 5 years dying as a result, KidsRights said.

For the first time in two decades, the number of child laborers has risen to 160 million, representing an increase of 8.4 million over the last four years, said the KidsRights Index, which is compiled together with Rotterdam's Erasmus University.

KidsRights highlighted Angola and Bangladesh, saying the two countries significantly improved their scores in regards to children's rights.

Angola has more than halved its under-5 child mortality, while Bangladesh has reduced the number of underweight children under 5 years by almost half.

But the report also slapped Montenegro for low vaccination numbers, ranked 49 on the index.

The survey uses UN data to measure how countries measure up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

THAT GIVES ME A GOOD IDEA!

Very often - sometimes too often! - the thought is back! If we wake up in the morning (or even many times in the middle of the night), the thought is back. Sometimes, the thought will not let us sleep. The "act of thinking". the "reflection", the "opinion" or the "serious consideration", no matter how we describe it - our memory and conscience is always with us as a permanent companion.

We brood over unsettled problems. Sometimes we bear unfair treatments, arrogance, ignorance, incompetent know-it-all-betters, and unbearable oddballs, who inexorable love to make our life a hell while living themselves a disorderly life.

We would not like to be distracted, but we're toying with some good ideas how we could throw overboard all that "human garbage". What will come next is a matter of conjecture.

Of course, I've got my ideas, but I'm not a mind reader. Too many trains of thought make us thoughtless and absent-minded especially in difficult and important daily life situations.

Does waiting and/or sleeping solve our problems? Or is it just again in time? Our life's central idea should not be that while waiting, time solves all our problems. Thoughts should intensify, condense and deepen plans followed by actions.

It's good and helpful to carry thoughts in us all the time. Incomprehensible, or better unfinished and un-matured thoughts, no matter whether positive or negative, should be slept on, before tiredness outstrips us with supersonic speed.

Sometimes we feel that our thoughts and ideas can't be fulfilled with life. Where the heart is willing, it will find a thousand ways; but where the heart is weak, it will find a thousand excuses. If doubts begin to take roots, we should rouse from pink-tinted idealism or wear down and annihilate nightmares and erase and wipe out such thoughts and ideas.

If our thoughts are good and have the chance to be fulfilled in action, especially if "the other side" is prepared and willing to step on to such a bridge of life, we might get support and words of encouragement.

And, if not? No action? Maybe it is God's will to keep and protect us from a careless, rash, disadvantageous and uneasy action. Every new day gives us new inexhaustible possibilities to survive, to bear trials and to start a new beginning. We overlook and fail to notice many chances to lie through our sluggishness and laziness while thinking and dreaming of unequaled and unfulfilled ideas.

BI starts deporting foreigners who worked for illegal POGOs on Oct. 19

by Jeffrey Damicog

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will start deporting on Wednesday, Oct. 19, foreigners who worked with the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) whose licenses have been cancelled by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla on Tuesday, Oct. 18, said during a press conference that BI Commissioner Norman G. Tansingco has informed him that “five or six of them will be deported,”

“There are 400 more in custody who are being scheduled. China is validating the identities of the persons to be deported if they are really their nationals,” Remulla said.

Meanwhile, Remulla said the Department of Justice (DOJ) is studying the recommendation made by the BI to implement an amnesty for illegal aliens in the country.

“This problem will have to be resolved for the country, hindi lang sa POGO (not only for POGO),” he explained.

“We have so many illegal aliens in this country who have to be recorded properly,” he pointed out.

Remulla lamented that illegal aliens in the country have become “milking cows of many people who should not be doing it.”

“So, these illegal aliens we have to deal with them. All of this mistreatment of foreigners in our country has to stop,” he stressed.

Tourist arrivals in Boracay increase in first half of October

by Tara Yap, MB

ILOILO CITY – Tourist arrivals in the world-famous Boracay Island resort in Malay town, Aklan increased in the first half of October, 2022, the Malay Tourism Office reported.

Based on the MTO data, a total of 65,427 tourists visited the country’s most popular beach destination from October 1-15, which is 7,640 more compared to the same period in September that saw 57,787 tourists’ arrivals.

The increase paled in comparison to the first half of August where 81,574 tourists visited the island resort.

Boracay Island during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Tara Yap/File/Manila Bulletin)

Most of those who visited Boracay, or about 55,658, were local tourists who came from different parts of the country. Last September 1-15, there were 50,697 domestic visitors.

The foreign arrivals also increased for the first half of October with a total of 8,725 tourists. In comparison, there were 5,613 foreign visitors for the first half of September.

Only tourist arrivals of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) dropped for the first half of October with 1,287. In comparison, there were 1,477 OFWs last September 1-15.

Super Lotto’s P170M, Ultra Lotto’s P139M jackpot not hit on Oct. 18 draw

by Luisa K. Cabato, MB

The jackpot prizes for Super Lotto 6/49 worth P170,399,131.20 and Ultra Lotto 6/58 worth P139,640,275.60 were not hit on its 9 p.m. draw on Tuesday, Oct. 18.

PCSO / MANILA BULLETIN

The winning combination for Super Lotto was 26-22-36-41-06-19 as per the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Forty players got the second prize worth P50,000.

Meanwhile, the lucky numbers for Ultra Lotto were 32-04-23-27-10-21 as per PCSO’s advisory.

Nineteen bettors were able to hit the game’s second prize worth P120,000.

The jackpot for Lotto 6/42 was also not hit on the same draw.

The lucky digits were 42-35-04-27-05-37 for a jackpot of P13,183,447.20.

PCSO reminded that prizes exceeding P10,000 are subject to 20 percent tax pursuant to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law.

Prizes not claimed within one year from the draw date shall be considered forfeited by Republic Act No. 1169, PCSO added.

Here is the summary of winners for the Oct. 18 evening draw as posted on PCSO’s official Facebook account.

ULTRALOTTO 6/58

32 -04 -23 -27 -10 -21

WINNERS SUMMARY

jackpot = 0 / 139,640,275.60

2nd =19 / 120,000.00

3rd =1,243 /2,000.00

4th =21,583 / 100.00

SUPERLOTTO 6/49

26 -22 -36 -41 -06 -19

WINNERS SUMMARY

jackpot = 0 / 170,399,131.20

2nd =40 / 50,000.00

3rd =1,988 / 1,200.00

4th =33,554 / 50.00

LOTTO 6/42

42 -35 -04 -27 -05 -37

WINNERS SUMMARY

jackpot = 0 / 13,183,447.20

2nd =20 / 24,000.00

3rd =988 /800.00

4th =16,046 / 20.00

6D LOTTO

6 – 8 – 9 – 6 – 4 – 9

WINNERS SUMMARY

1st = 0 / 503,118.68

2nd = 1 / 40,000.00

3rd =15 / 4,000.00

4th =303 / 400.00

5th =2,638 / 40.00

3D LOTTO

2 – 4 – 8

WINNERS SUMMARY

STD =878 /4500

RBL3 = 0 / 1,500.00

RBL6 =1,10 / 750.00

2D LOTTO

25 -19

WINNERS SUMMARY

STD =282 / 4,000.00

RBL =893 / 2,000.00

PSEi surges on remittance, US bank earnings news

The local stock market surged on the back of strong gains in the US bourses.

The main index jumped 158.31 points or 2.65 percent to close at 6,128.64 with the Property sector leading the rally. However, volume declined to 351 million shares worth P4.82 billion as gainers outpaced losers 109 to 73 with 52 unchanged.

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“Philippine shares rebounded above the 6,000 mark as investors turned bargain hunters and picked up badly beaten index names across the board,” said Regina Capital Development Corporation Managing Director Luis Limlingan.

He noted that, “In the US, last night’s moves were also grounded on solid earnings reports coming from the likes of Bank of America and Bank of New York Mellon.”

Philstocks Financial Assistant Research Manager Claire Alviar said “The local bourse jumped as investors cheered the increase in remittance last August. Also, positive cues from the US market overnight pushed the market upwards.”

“OF cash remittances in August grew by 4.29 percent year-on-year, bringing the year-to-date remittances to $20.99 billion. This boosted sentiment as higher remittance may help the peso from weakening against the US dollar,” she added.

48th PBC opens today: ‘PH is ready and open for business’

Published October 19, 2022, 12:05 AM

by Manila Bulletin

The 48TH Philippine Business Conference (PBC) happening today at the Manila Hotel will go down in history as one of the most anticipated if not one the most eventful business gathering in the country.
With the theme “The Philippines is Ready and Open for Business,” the two-day 48th PBC & Expo aptly describes the readiness of the business community to fully open up and do business after two years of intermittent hard lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 48th PBC will not only be historical as it is the first full face-to-face conference after the pandemic, but will also be the first PBC for President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., whose father Marcos, Sr. had made the annual PBC his staging ground for some of his economic and business pronouncements during his presidency.

This time, Marcos, Jr. will address the business community and respond to the PBC resolutions on a wide array of issues.

The 48th PBC Resolutions already submitted in advance to Malacañang cover a wide range of issues from achieving food security, transparent and affordable health care, employment generation, globally-competitive education and training standards, strengthened national security, reliable and competitive digitalization, climate change resilient and environmental-friendly policies, affordable power, safe and efficient transportation, and an outward and forward-looking trade policy.

Businessmen will be all ears.

Ferdinand “Perry” Ferrer, 48th PBC&E chairman, noted that this will be Marcos’ first PBC appearance following his overwhelming win in the May 2022 national elections.

The business community is excited to hear the President’s vision and programs to steer the country toward a higher growth trajectory. The private sector will be the government’s partner in achieving this vision.

The previous administration has laid down the groundwork to attract more foreign direct investment with the amendment of important legislation such as the Public Service Act, the Foreign Investment Act, and the Retail Trade Liberalization Act.

The country is set to benefit from the capital, technology, and greater competition these reforms will bring in the form of more jobs and better products and services.

Reform measures such as the Ease of Doing Business Act and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act likewise support the expansion of domestic enterprises and recovery from two years of lost opportunities.

The 48th PBC&E will be looking at how the new government will build on these reform measures to make a real difference to the economy going forward.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the host of the annual PBC, has also organized huge business delegations from countries like the USA, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Japan to attend the conference.

These foreign delegations are set to explore business opportunities and joint ventures in a business-to-business session with Filipino businessmen.

PCCI has also lined up an exciting series of plenary sessions.

As customary, the PBC will start with the opening keynote message from Vice President Sara Duterte.
Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno will make a keynote presentation to set the tone of the conference, followed by a fireside chat with Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the National Economic Development Authority and interesting discussions with some of the country’s top executives to highlight the business prospects and priorities of the new administration.

A session featuring United States Ambassador Marykay Carlson and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian will focus on building strategic alliances to create new markets and attract more investments.

For all the businessmen in the country, this year’s PBC is the best time to renew contacts, build networks, and make moves to surmount difficulties amid economic challenges.