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Argentina stands ready to provide critical expertise and technology to ensure the Philippines safely launches its first operational nuclear power plant, according to its embassy.

In a statement to The STAR, the Argentine embassy reaffirmed Buenos Aires’ commitment to supporting Manila’s nuclear energy program, including the potential revival of the long-dormant Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

‘By working together, our countries can lay the groundwork for a Philippine nuclear program that is not only technically sound but also socially beneficial, economically inclusive and aligned with the highest international safety standards,’ it said.

Argentina, one of the leading nuclear players in Latin America, is set to take center stage – alongside eight other countries – at the second Philippine International Nuclear Supply Chain Forum (PINSCF) this week.

Through this participation, the embassy said, Argentina is expected to offer over five decades of nuclear expertise, providing a practical roadmap to help the Philippines advance its nuclear energy goals.

Currently, Argentina has three operating nuclear plants: the 340-megawatt Atucha 1, the 693-MW Atucha 2 and the 608-MW Embalse facility, latest data from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) showed.

According to the Argentine embassy, the completion of the Atucha 2 facility, whose construction was halted for over 12 years, presents a compelling parallel to the issues the Philippines faces in the possible BNPP rehabilitation.

‘The Philippine case with Bataan is comparable: it involves the challenge of assessing a long-stalled nuclear project, updating it to current international safety standards and rebuilding confidence in its viability,’ it said.

Last year, Argentina’s engineering and technology development firm INVAP was said to have presented a number of initiatives to the Department of Energy to support the Philippines’ nuclear push.

This included support in reviewing proposals for the BNPP revival, technical cooperation for required licensing activities and assistance in establishing a dedicated nuclear regulatory body.

‘Looking ahead, Argentina’s participation in the PINSCF signals a new chapter in bilateral nuclear dialogue, one rooted in trust, mutual learning and shared vision,’ the embassy said.

‘Ultimately, this partnership demonstrates the power of international collaboration in shaping emerging nuclear energy landscapes and ensuring that nuclear power contributes to development in the 21st century,’ it said.

Apart from Argentina, nuclear experts from China, Finland, France, Hungary, Japan, Russia, United Arab Emirates and United States are also set to participate in this year’s PINSCF.

Recently, the Philippines’ nuclear ambitions gained further momentum after President Marcos signed a landmark measure establishing the country’s first independent nuclear regulatory body.

This bodes well for the country’s target of unlocking at least 1,200 MW of nuclear power into the energy mix by 2032 and scaling this up to 4,800 MW by 2040.

The Philippines has also returned to the 35-member Board of Governors, one of the IAEA’s two policy-making bodies, after being elected for the term 2025 to 2027. Its previous stint was from 2015 to 2017.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has taken custody of a suspected underwater drone found by fishermen in the waters off Linapacan town in Palawan on Sunday.

The fishermen brought the drone to the shore and informed local authorities of their find.

The device was transported to the PCG Station Linapacan for verification, technical examination and investigation.

Preliminary inspection showed the drone was equipped with a conductivity-temperature-depth sensor, which is typically used for oceanographic profiling.

The PCG said the sensor bore Chinese characters and the serial number CTD-20090334.

The drone also bore corrosion marks indicating prolonged exposure to saltwater. Its metal frame resembled components commonly found in autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV).

The recovery is the latest in a series of similar incidents that have occurred since 2022, with devices recovered in the waters off Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Masbate, Misamis Oriental and Zambales.

Forensic analysis of earlier recoveries linked some units to Chinese defense contractors and state-owned firms, citing components such as China telecom SIM cards, iridium transceivers and battery packs from the China Electronics Technology Group Corp.

Experts noted that such AUVs are capable of conducting advanced seafloor mapping, oceanographic monitoring and underwater surveillance, collecting data on salinity, temperature, depth and acoustic propagation for strategic maritime applications.

PCG chief Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan commended the fishermen for reporting the find.

Four coaches face their baptism of fire when hostilities in the PBA’s 50th season get going Sunday.

Pampanga Vice Gov. Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda serves as the new shots-caller for Converge as he joins fellow debutants LA Tenorio (Magnolia), Willy Wilson (Phoenix) and Ronald Tubid (Terrafirma) in pitting coaching skills against the likes of TNT’s Chot Reyes and Barangay Ginebra’s Tim Cone in the league’s golden season.

‘Malaking challenge po,’ said Pineda, who previously led the Pampanga Giant Lanterns to back-to-back MPBL titles en route to winning a pair of Coach of the Year awards.

‘Masaya, siyempre ito ‘yung best league sa atin dito sa Pilipinas, isa sa pinakamalaking liga sa buong Asya. Talagang mixed emotion po. Medyo mabigat na challenge po sa mga babanggain naming mga teams plus ‘yung mga coaches na makakabangga namin talagang nakaka-nerbyos pa rin po,’ he added.

Tenorio, Wilson and Tubid rose from the players’ ranks before taking their head coaching jobs.

‘It’s still something that I’m growing into, I’m adjusting to. As far as how long before I become comfortable (with the position), I really don’t know. I’m not really looking down the road. I’m just looking at the next step right in front of me and trying to be the best at taking that step,’ said Wilson.

The prospect of battling his coaches during his playing years is ‘quite overwhelming’ for Wilson.

‘The daunting task of coaching across the court from those guys (veteran mentors), it’s very, very humbling and at times, I start asking myself kung para sa akin ba ito. So it’s a mixture of that, but obviously thankful and anxious to go out and take this challenge,’ he said.

Tenorio, who may assume the dual role of player-coach during the campaign, said it’s been a pleasant learning experience.

‘As much as the team is learning now the new system, the new culture, mas natututo ako sa kanila. I have a lot of learning every day,’ said the former Ginebra stalwart.

‘I’m just enjoying my time right now. I don’t want to think about what’s going to happen next, what’s going to happen this coming opening or this season. I just like what I’m seeing sa team namin, how they work hard every day, both vets and young players,’ he added.

From team manager, Tubid takes over the helm for the Dyip.

‘We’re building the team right now. Can’t promise (anything) but we need to compete. Sabi ko sa kanila, basta makapag-compete kami, more chances of winning,’ he said.

Notes: The TNT Tropang 5G dropped a 74-93 loss to reigning UAE titlist Al Sharjah at the start of the Abu Dhabi International Basketball Championship early yesterday (Manila time). The imports-laden Emirati club unleashed a 26-18 closing barrage to take the opening win against all-Filipino TNT. Rey Nambatac led the Tropang 5G with 12 points, five rebounds and three assists. The reigning PBA Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup kingpins seek a bounceback against another home club, Al Dhafra, at 1 a.m. Wednesday (Manila time).

For many Filipinos, the dream of earning a global education often comes at a cost-literally and figuratively.

It’s a dream that often feels out of reach. The idea of studying abroad entails high tuition fees, long distance and being far from home and loved ones. But what if you could earn an international degree without ever leaving the country?

The collaboration between Mapúa University’s E.T. Yuchengco School of Business, School of Medicine, School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing, and Arizona State University® (ASU) is making the dream of earning a global degree at home possible. Students in the Philippines can now access innovative, world-class, and internationally recognized education without the hefty price tag or the need to move overseas.

‘Through the collaboration, we are able to strengthen our efforts to providing future-ready and globally competitive learning that responds to changing demands of the evolving market. We are preparing our students to be global citizens and this collaboration allows them to work with international peers, adopt global perspectives, and understand how to thrive in diverse environments,’ said Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, president and CEO of Mapúa University.

The modern path to global learning

The collaboration delivers transnational education, a modern approach to learning that involves cross-border ties between two educational institutions. It allows students to take programs and degrees from another university without relocating. By bridging higher education institutions across different countries, transnational education makes global education more accessible to students worldwide. It brings the world’s top universities and their expertise into local campuses and translates their learnings into the context of a student’s home country.

In the Philippines, global education is gaining traction with the government passing the Transnational Higher Education Law in 2019 to expand ‘access to educational services.’ It aims to ‘modernize the Philippine higher education sector and bring international quality standards and expertise into the country.’ This is now redefining what it means to earn a global degree in the Philippines.

The collaboration between Mapúa University E.T. Yuchengco School of Business, School of Medicine, School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing, and ASU® provides students with access to ASU®’s world-class programs and curriculum in the country. Also, the faculty has access to ASU®’s content repository to enhance their teaching materials and practices. This has eliminated economic, geographic and cultural constraints, making global learning accessible to students in the Philippines.

For students aspiring to study abroad, this model presents a compelling alternative: the prestige and intellectual challenge of an international degree, at a fraction of the price. It helps Filipino families achieve global ambitions without uprooting their lives. Beyond cost savings, it also promotes cross-border engagement, improves cultural competence, and prepares students for work in multicultural environments.

Innovation-driven learning

In addition to the integration of global curricula, what makes the collaboration stand out and innovative is the cultural and knowledge exchange between two recognized educational institutions. Mapúa University, and its subsidiaries Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna and Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao, were all equipped and designed with respective Global Classrooms, enabling students to attend cross-boundary classes in real-time virtually.

Through the Global Classroom, Mapúa students engage with faculty from ASU® and the ASU®-Cintana Alliance network and peers, helping broaden their international perspective and culturally immerse themselves in an international learning environment. This prepares them to tackle real-world challenges while developing cross-border skills that are highly sought by multinational and international employers.

The collaboration also uses cutting-edge technology to enrich learning experiences. Mapúa’s virtual learning environment, augmented by ASU®’s new and relevant practices, allows for highly interactive and immersive learning.

As technology evolves, with remote working and global mobility changing the face of industries across the board, innovative transnational education becomes necessary for graduates to thrive in the workplace of tomorrow. The collaboration positions students at the forefront, imparting the technical and adaptive skills they need.

A global future that starts at home

Students today increasingly seek advanced programs that offer flexibility, local and international relevance, and global competence. Mapúa University addresses this head-on, inviting Filipino students and their families to invest in a future with endless global opportunities.

As Mapúa University’s transnational education continues to evolve, it sets the benchmark for how other universities around the region, and beyond, would deliver global learning. Technology is continuing to blur national borders, and transnational education is now becoming a way forward into accessible, innovative, and future-ready global education for Filipinos.

Corruption in the Philippines has been a never-ending problem. Scandal after scandal, government officials always find ways to appease the people’s anger, but nothing really changes – they live to rob the nation another day. Corruption festers because the very laws and systems meant to prevent them are riddled with loopholes. These loopholes are left there by design.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has the golden opportunity to drastically minimize corruption for good, but only if it takes deliberate steps on three fronts: (1) by preventing flight by persons of interest and holding them to account, (2) by preventing them from hiding assets and restitution to the state and (3) by pushing for reforms to plug the legal loopholes.

What the ICI does in the next few months will determine whether this moment serves as a genuine turning point for the country or just another chapter in our endless cycle of exposés, denials, arrests and pardons.

Preventing escape

It has become routine for accused Filipino officials to hide abroad to evade accountability. Apart from being an act of cowardice, this caper gravely undermines the rule of law. For government to allow the guilty to slip away sends the dangerous signal that justice can be avoided. Such impunity weakens law enforcement and corrodes public trust in our institutions. Government must decisively close this escape route, otherwise, Philippine law risks becoming a hollow abstraction, powerless against those it was meant to restrain.

Thus, the ICI must immediately coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration and the judiciary to ensure that no person of interest slips through the cracks. The ICI should immediately request the DOJ to issue hold departure orders (HDOs) for key suspects. The Department of Foreign Affairs should track passport renewals, replacements or foreign citizenship applications of those under investigation. If escape has occurred, the ICI must request blue/red notices from the Interpol and pursue extradition.

By showing vigilance against flight, government affirms that it is serious in its pursuit of justice and that no one escapes the hand of the law.

Prevention of asset hiding

Corruption thrives in the Philippines because plunderers have gone unpunished and are allowed to keep their loot.

Some of the more common strategies of wealth concealment include: bogus divestments and the use of proxies to register companies, land, treasury accounts and other assets; the use of layered corporate ownerships in offshore shell companies; conversion of cash to valuable assets like jewelry, art, antiques or cryptocurrency, all under proxy entities; stashing cash in bank secrecy havens abroad, among others.

To counter these tactics, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) must immediately freeze suspicious accounts. Too, local governments must cross-check land titles with declared income.

Globally, the ICI should use cross-border cooperation under the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) to track and recover stolen wealth.

Justice only becomes real and lessons are learned when ill-gotten assets are frozen, sequestered and visibly returned to the state.

Legal and institutional reforms

Investigations are useless unless they lead to systemic reform. The ICI must use its findings to push for reforms across two fronts: Supreme Court jurisprudence and political reforms.

As repeatedly requested by former undersecretary Cielo Magno and former COA commissioner Heidi Mendoza the Supreme Court must rule decisively on constitutional questions relating to corruption. In particular, the constitutionality of confidential and intelligence funds, the constitutionality of transferring surplus funds from GOCCs to the national government and the question about political dynasties (although the Constitution prohibits political dynasties, Congress has failed to define it for self-serving purposes; an SC ruling that affirms the illegality of dynasties would be historic).

Political reforms include: for the SALNs of public officials to be made public again; for automatic lifestyle audits to be conducted every two years, with public disclosure; for politicians with unresolved Notices of Disallowance from the COA to be barred from running for office until they reimburse the national treasury and of course, the enact the Freedom of Information Law.

Moving forward, civil society must play a formal role in infrastructure projects with the legal standing to file graft cases. As Mendoza and Magno pointed out, DPWH infrastructure projects currently rest in the hands of only four officials – the bids and awards head, the certifier of work, the inspector and the approving officer – thus, creating a monopoly ripe for abuse. To break this, civil groups should participate. Members of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants must certify project costs, while members of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers must certify design specifications and lead the inspections of projects before final payments are released. Citizen oversight is the strongest deterrent against collusion and corruption.

We must also strengthen corruption watchdog oversight. Currently, the ombudsman, Sandiganbayan and COA are weakened because their leaders are appointed by politicians and their budgets are controlled by Congress. This undermines independence.

To address this, structural reforms must be enacted. An independent appointments council composed of retired justices, bar associations and civil society must be formed to select watchdog leaders. These watchdogs must have fiscal autonomy with automatic appropriations constitutionally protected. One non-renewable term for watchdog leaders, preventing them from currying favor for reappointment.

Other broader reforms include: the establishment of a blockchain-based platform which publishes contracts, bids and payments in real time; the ban on political donations by government contractors; the creation of a public registry that rates contractors, banning those with a record of fraud or substandard work; that all campaign donations go through a clearinghouse with public disclosure; that gross negligence that enables corruption be criminalized.

Many say that PBBM is sincere about instituting anti-corruption reforms this time. I hope they are right. I pray PBBM listens to his heart and carries out these enduring reforms.

Producer prices posted growth in August, reversing a contraction in the previous month, driven by a slower decline in prices of computer and electronic products, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Preliminary data released by the PSA yesterday showed that the Producer Price Index (PPI) for manufacturing returned to positive territory, registering a 0.6 percent growth in August after the 0.1 percent drop in July.

It was also an improvement from the 1.3 percent dip posted in August last year.

The PPI measures the average change in factory gate prices relative to a base period.

Average PPI growth from January to August stood at 0.4 percent.

‘The upturn in the annual growth rate of the PPI for the manufacturing section in August 2025 was primarily due to the slower decrement in the annual growth rate of the PPI for manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products industry division,’ the PSA said.

In particular, the computer, electronics and optical products industry division posted a 0.1 percent decline in August from a one percent drop in July.

Also driving the upturn in PPI growth was the faster increase in basic metals at two percent in August from 0.4 percent in the previous month.

The PSA said the slower decline in the growth of transport equipment at 0.2 percent in August from the previous month’s 1.3 percent also contributed to the PPI growth performance.

Of the remaining 19 industry divisions, 11 exhibited annual increases, while eight industry divisions registered annual decreases in August.

Those which posted increases in August are coke and refined petroleum products; food products; beverages; chemical and chemical products; tobacco products; rubber and plastic products; furniture; leather and related products including footwear; wearing apparel; textiles; and printing and reproduction of recorded media.

On the other hand, those which registered declines are other non-metallic mineral products; electrical equipment; machinery and equipment except electrical; fabricated metal products except machinery and equipment; basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations; wood, bamboo, cane, rattan articles and related products; other manufacturing and repair and installation of machinery and equipment; and paper and paper products.

Embassies in Manila have expressed condolences and pledged support to the Philippines after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Cebu on Tuesday night, September 30.

Latest information shows the quake has killed as many as 60 people, with numbers still expected to rise.

At least seven embassies have expressed sympathy for those affected by the earthquake as of Wednesday noon (October 1).

The United States and Canada said they were ready to assist the Philippine government’s response to the earthquake.

“We stand ready to support the government’s response as #FriendsPartnersAllies,” US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson posted on social media, adding that the embassy was monitoring updates from PHIVOLCS.

The Canadian Embassy conveyed sympathy to affected communities, saying it ‘mourns the loss of lives’ and is prepared to work with Philippine agencies, humanitarian partners, and the international community ‘to help meet urgent needs.’

The European Union, Germany, India, Slovenia, and Australia issued similar statements. EU Ambassador Massimo Santoro said the bloc ‘stands in solidarity’ with the Philippines, while German Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the tragedy.

India’s mission in Manila, the Embassy of Slovenia, and Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown likewise extended their condolences to the victims and their families.

The embassy messages came as authorities continued search and rescue efforts in Cebu, where the death toll has climbed past 60, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Wednesday at a press conference.

The numbers are still expected to rise as the OCD said it is still “receiving additional numbers of reported casualties.”

The quake’s epicenter was 19 kilometers northeast of the city of Bogo, which has an estimated population of 90,000.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered agencies to swiftly provide aid to affected residents.

More than 300 aftershocks were recorded after the quake.

Team North flexed its muscle across multiple divisions, seizing control of the competition with eight wins out of 12 matches in the opening Four-ball format of the ICTSI North vs South Elite Junior Championship at The Country Club here on Wednesday.

What began as a tightly contested showdown between Luzon’s finest junior golfers and the top talents from the Visayas-Mindanao region quickly evolved into a dominant performance by the North squad, which handled the pressure and pace of the day with poise despite the punishing heat.

As the dust settled at high noon, Team North established a commanding 8-4 lead – an emphatic opening statement in the season-ending showdown of a year-long junior golf tour that featured seven tournaments in each region. Played at some of the country’s premier championship courses, the tour culminates in this Ryder Cup-style North-versus-South battle.

Team North captain Francis Talion attributed their strong Day 1 performance to careful planning, preparation and a deep understanding of both their own players and the opposing team’s potential lineup.

‘Basically, we started by making critical projections on how the other team might compose their roster for Day 1 – that’s what we based our own lineup on,’ said Talion, who also took the time to study each of their players’ personalities and how well their playing styles would complement one another.

‘Of course, we didn’t just consider their skills, but also their personalities, to ensure strong on-court chemistry and effective partnerships,’ he added.

The girls’ 7-10 pairings struck first blood for Team North. Athena Serapio and Ronee Dungca delivered a strong 3 and 2 win over Soleil Molde and Claren Quiño, while Mavis Espedido and Tyra Garingalao overwhelmed Denise Mendoza and Francesca Geroy with a 4 and 3 victory. These early wins set the tone for the North’s momentum.

While the Four-ball format – where each player plays their own ball and the best score per hole counts – often introduces a layer of unpredictability, it was Team North that adapted best. The format rewards aggressive shot-making and strong chemistry between partners, creating opportunities for dramatic swings in momentum. But it was North’s consistency and composure under pressure that stood out, limiting the South squad’s chances to rally.

With Team North holding a commanding lead after Day 1, Talion hinted at minimal changes for Day 2, when action shifts to Foursomes, emphasizing the importance of team familiarity.

‘It’s all about chemistry. One of the key factors for Day 2 will be the lessons from today – what worked, what didn’t, and how the team handled different moments,’ said Talion.

‘We do have a few players who aren’t feeling 100%, so there will be some minor adjustments. But overall, we’ll aim to stay consistent based on their strong performance,’ he said.

Even in divisions where South showed flashes of resistance, North’s pairings remained in control. Zach Guico and Halo Pangilinan cruised to a 5 and 4 romp in the boys’ 7-10 division, toppling Lucas Revilleza and James Rolida.

South’s Ethan Lago and Kvan Alburo, however, foiled Zoji Edoc and Asher Abad, 3 and 2, in the other match.

In the boys’ 11-14 category, Zianbeau Edoc and Jacob Casuga outplayed South’s top gun Ralph Batican and Marcus Dueñas, 5 and 4, while Vito Sarines and Ryuji Suzuki smothered South’s Jared Saban and Ken Guillermo, 3 and 2.

The Sarines twins – Mona and Lisa – extended their winning streaks with impressive victories alongside different partners. Mona teamed up with Kendra Garingalao to edge out Brittany Tamayo and Kimberly Baroquillo, 2 and 1, while Lisa, paired with Alexie Gabi, matched the feat with a 2 and 1 win over Rafella Batican and Zuri Bagaloyos. Their performances secured yet another sweep for the North in the girls’ 11-14 category.

Team South staged a stunning comeback in the final match of the day, as Eric Jeon drained a clutch pitch-in birdie on the challenging No. 18. The dramatic finish lifted his pairing with Mhark Fernando III to a thrilling 1-up victory over North’s Zach Villaroman and Jakob Taruc.

Trailing by two with just five holes to play, Jeon and Fernando mounted a spirited rally in the closing holes to square the match after 17 holes before Jeon’s brilliant birdie sealed the deal on the final green, earning loud cheers from South supporters.

‘I hit a good drive, but my approach came up a bit short. Still, I read the line perfectly from 23 yards and pitched it in for birdie,’ said Jeon. His clutch finish and the dramatic turnaround could prove pivotal, giving South a surge of confidence and much-needed momentum heading into Day 2, especially after trailing by as many as six matches earlier in the day.

Patrick Tambalque and Kristoffer Nadales delivered the eighth win for North with an emphatic 5 and 3 romp over Alexis Nailga and Armand Copok in the other boys’ 15-18 match.

Meanwhile, the South’s girls’ 15-18 squad lived up to their promise of dominance, delivering a commanding shutout against the North. Crista Miñoza and Precious Zaragosa led the charge with a 6 and 4 rout of Rafa Anciano and Chloe Rada. Their momentum was mirrored by Tashanah Balangayan and Mikela Guillermo, who also posted a decisive 6 and 4 win over Levonne Talion and Tiffany Bernardino – completing the South’s emphatic sweep in the premier division.

Despite trailing by four points, Team South skipper Alfred Gaccion remained optimistic, expressing confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back in tomorrow’s alternate shot format.

‘We’ll be reviewing today’s pairings and likely making a few adjustments – minor changes that we believe will better suit our strategy for tomorrow,’ said Gaccion. ‘It’s definitely going to be a different setup with the alternate shot format.’

Although Team South was outshone in several areas, Gaccion acknowledged both the challenges and bright spots from the day’s performance.

‘We expected our 15-to-18 teams to step up, and they did – we’re pleased with how they performed,’ he said. ‘Unfortunately, a few of our key players just didn’t have their best day, and that certainly impacted our overall standing. But with some fine-tuning, we’re hopeful for a better outcome tomorrow.’

Despite the deficit, Gaccion emphasized that the team is far from finished.

‘We’re still in contention. We’ll try to bounce back tomorrow and hopefully do good,’ added Gaccion.

The Philippines has maintained its Tier 1 status in the US State Department’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) for the 10th consecutive year, according to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).

A country is granted Tier 1 status if it fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking based on the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2002.

The report cited the Philippines’ efforts to prosecute and convict traffickers, enact new legislation to regulate fishing recruitment agencies and protect fishers and the ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

The Philippines is one of only 33 countries to have achieved and maintained the top ranking out of the 188 countries assessed globally.

The Department of Justice has reaffirmed its commitment to combat trafficking, which it said is not just a legal mandate but a shared moral obligation to protect the most vulnerable from abuse and exploitation.

‘There is no place for complacency in our justice system. This Tier 1 ranking is a beacon of light, an impetus for our sustained efforts,’ Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who also chairs the IACAT, said.

‘This fight is not only for our fellow Filipino nationals whose vulnerabilities have been taken advantage of, abused and exploited, this fight is for all of humanity,’ he added.

However, despite the Tier 1 ranking, the report flagged some alleged lapses by the Philippine government.

‘Although the government meets the minimum standards, it did not identify the vast majority of potential trafficking victims among individuals exploited in online scam operations despite widespread reporting indicating these individuals faced conditions indicative of trafficking,’ it said.

It also noted that the government did not report any foreign victims. Furthermore, the report said the government did not adequately and consistently screen potential trafficking victims of online scam operations.

‘Due to insufficient screening for trafficking, especially among individuals exploited in online scam operations, authorities did not take effective measures to prevent the inappropriate penalization of potential victims solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked,’ it said.

‘The government identified fewer victims, and some officials did not use trauma-informed practices in victim identification,’ it said.

‘Corruption and official complicity in trafficking remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action during the year,’ it added.

The report cited the case of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo, who is being prosecuted for violation of anti-trafficking law, particularly her alleged complicity in human trafficking through an online scam operation in her jurisdiction. Guo also faces money laundering charges.

The report said authorities arrested thousands of Filipino and foreign nationals involved in online scam operations under the guise of POGOs.

Authorities also initiated an administrative investigation of a mayor, vice mayor and seven municipal council members for alleged complicity in human trafficking within an online scam operation in Porac, Pampanga.

‘The mayor reportedly received an administrative sanction and the government did not report updates on any of the other cases,’ the report said.

Many decades ago, the Central Bank (before BSP) launched a campaign to ‘Respect the centavo.’ The centavo was a coin that people chose to ignore.

The coin was often simply thrown away. Some prefer the hard candies supermarket cashiers give. I remember paying a jeepney driver 10 one-centavo coins for my 10-centavo fare and the driver just threw the coins away.

As a kid just learning about money, I was confused by the driver’s reaction to my coins. Apparently, the Central Bank was also perplexed by this lack of respect. It is costing them more than one centavo to mint the coin.

So, they launched a campaign to urge the public to ‘respect the centavo.’ But they soon gave up and stopped circulating the one-centavo coin. It was beyond respect.

These days, we need a serious campaign to urge our officials to respect the peso. our tax peso. It really hurts deeply to learn that they are calling the hard-earned pesos we pay in taxes as basura.

In any case, those pesos won’t stay pesos for long. Those ill-gotten pesos are quickly exchanged for dollars. They don’t trust the peso to store value. Since they have private jets and high government positions, transporting oodles of cash to Hong Kong shouldn’t be a problem.

The lower-level crooks at the district engineer level also have no desire to keep those bundles of peso bills too long. They quickly gamble away hundreds of millions worth of our tax pesos at casinos. Or splurge on high-end cars from their friendly neighborhood smuggler.

Congressmen are the most disrespectful of our tax pesos. When they have private meetings, wines costing a thousand US dollars and up are said to flow freely.

Catered food must be costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of pesos every day.

The senators, on the other hand, are also quite disrespectful. They sought to tickle their bloated egos with a new building whose costs cannot be justified by a government already saddled with heavy borrowings.

From an initial cost of P8.9 billion, the cost has ballooned to P24 billion or about a billion per senator. But it couldn’t be completed at that cost.

Based on the latest report of the DPWH, the estimated building cost has reached P31.6 billion, excluding the payment for the parcel of land and furniture. This is equivalent to more than P240,000 per square meter.

GMA News noted that if based on the Construction Cost Handbook Philippines 2024 of Arcadis Philippines, the per-square-meter cost of a quality high-rise office could reach P183,000.

What happens if a Constitutional revision abolishes the Senate? Public sentiment today favors such an abolition. The Senate has been a heavy expense that contributes more to corruption than the national good.

Then there is the BSP which under then governor Ben Diokno signed contracts to construct a new building at Clark. There is no reliable estimate for total project cost but Diokno is saying it will be less than P50 billion. Given past experiences with government projects, it will probably exceed that.

Does the BSP need a billion-dollar facility at Clark? And the Governor and Monetary Board members won’t even move there although they will likely be given offices there. As if they need two offices!

So, the Clark office will not contribute to decongesting Metro Manila as Diokno claimed. Is it a legacy monument to remind everyone he was once BSP governor?

Diokno said the new building would not be funded by the National Budget but by BSP reserves set aside from BSP’s net income from past years.

A former NEDA chief who was once a Monetary Board member was unimpressed. He said the project is still a wasteful and extravagant use of funds.

‘Better declare them as dividends to NG for building new classrooms and school feeding. It is a socially irresponsible project.’

The former official has a point. DepEd estimates a current backlog of 165,000 classrooms. But Sen. Bam Aquino thinks this number is understated given a good number of classrooms are dilapidated and unusable.

Is a new luxurious BSP building a national priority compared to these classrooms and yes, hospital buildings to provide badly needed health care to our people?

The money for the BSP building may not be coming from the national budget but it betrays the distorted sense of priorities our high officials have in the light of our third world country’s basic needs. Total lack of respect for the peso in government hands that should be spent properly.

Speaking of the BSP, it was shocking to learn that the scale of corruption and the sheer volume of cash involved in the DPWH ghost projects shocked monetary regulators.

That’s because the country’s most highly paid government employees are content being stuck in their plush offices rather than being curious enough to find out what is going on in the real world.

BSP officials were oblivious to the fact that the banks they are regulating are complicit in this mess. Worse, it is the LandBank that seems the guiltiest of rolling out the red carpet to facilitate the huge cash transfers behind ghost DPWH projects.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), which the BSP governor chairs, also only started acting after the mess hit the headlines. Natutulog sila sa pansitan!

The AMLC most likely acted too late in freezing over 700 accounts linked to the DPWH mess. Given the ease of transferring money to overseas banks, the legislators and contractors involved most probably moved their stash before the sleepy AMLC folks took notice.

All these shows lack of respect for the peso by our officials tasked with running our government. Elected, appointed, highly paid or not, they all seem to be the same. Sad for all of us paying our hard-earned pesos in taxes to sustain them.