DUTERTE APPROVES INCLUSION OF NUCLEAR POWER IN PHILIPPINE ENERGY MIX

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order to include nuclear power in the country's energy mix, as authorities prepare for the phasing out of coal-fired power plants and after earlier efforts failed due to safety concerns.

The order, signed on Feb. 28 and made public on Thursday, could be a major milestone for the country's energy sector which suffers regular power outages and high prices but will concern opponents of the move.

Signed just 3 months before Duterte ends his single 6-year term, the order also directs an inter-agency panel the president created in 2020 to look into the viability of reopening the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

"The national government commits to the introduction of nuclear power energy into the state's energy mix for power generation," the order stated.

Despite public concerns over safety, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has passionately advocated for nuclear power, which he said could be the answer to the twin problems of precarious supply and high electricity prices.

Taking into consideration the experience of developed economies, Duterte said nuclear power would be tapped as a viable alternative baseload power source as the Philippines seeks to retire coal plants in line with its commitment to help limit climate change.

21 PINOY SEAFARERS EVACUATED FROM UKRAINE REACH MOLDOVA

MANILA — The 21 Filipino seafarers of  bulk carrier MV S-Breeze who were evacuated from Chornomosk, Ukraine, arrived in Moldova, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed yesterday.

The DFA said the 21 Filipino sailors make up the all-Filipino crew of MV S-Breeze. They arrived in Moldova in two batches, on Feb. 27 and March 1.

The bulk carrier has been in drydock for repairs at the Ilyichevsk shipyard in the Port of Odessa, Ukraine since Jan. 27. The crew had been staying in the vessel’s accommodations with enough provisions but requested repatriation due to the worsening conflict.

According to the DFA, there are now 27 Filipinos who have been evacuated from Ukraine to Moldova.

Both the Philippine embassy in Budapest and the Philippine Consulate in Chisinau gave assurance that they will arrange the repatriation of the seafarers to Manila at the soonest possible time.

13 Pinoys arrive from Ukraine

Meanwhile, another 13 out of 17 Filipinos including a three-year-old girl living in Ukraine arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 late Tuesday night via Dubai on board Emirates Air flight EK 334.

The four remaining Filipinos did not make it because they arrived late at the airport.

Arriola said about 141 more Filipinos are still in Ukraine, of whom 45 refused to leave. Nine of the overseas Filipino workers are now in Austria, four in Romania and some 55 have fled to Hungary. She said the Philippine government gave them $200 dollars assistance.

ELECTION WATCHDOG FLAGS DOMINATION OF RICH, POWERFUL IN PARTY-LIST RACE

MANILA — An election watchdog said around 70% of party-list groups running in the May polls are being used by political clans, big businesses and state interests as a “backdoor to further entrench their political and economic interests.”

An analysis by Kontra Daya revealed that at least 120 of 177 party-list groups are identified with political clans and big businesses, have incumbent local officials, connections with the government and military, unknown or unclear advocacies and representations, and pending court cases and criminal charges.

The group said that at least 44 party-lists groups are controlled by political clans, at least 21 have connections with big businesses, at least 34 have unknown or unclear advocacies and representations, at least 32 have links to the government or the military, at least 26 have incumbent local officials running as nominees, and at least 19 have pending court cases or criminal charges.

In 2001, three years after the first party-list elections were held, the Supreme Court ruled that only parties and their nominees who are part of the marginalized and underrepresented sectors could sit in Congress.

But in 2013, it reversed itself, saying that groups of political parties only need to push for common beliefs or ideologies “regardless of their economic status as citizens.”

“The ruling allowed the participation of national and regional representation as well as the sectoral arms of political parties. It became an opportunity for powerful political clans and vested interests in the national and local levels to use the party-list system to extend their clout,” the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism said in a report.

But the system is “not beyond repair,” said political science professor Carl Marc Ramota in the PCIJ report.

“It’s not beyond repair. I’d like to believe, [because] this is a legislation, that it can be remedied through reforms,” Ramota was quoted as saying.

COMELEC DEBATES WILL BE FAIR, FOCUS ON CANDIDATES' PLATFORMS, SAYS SPOKESMAN

MANILA—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said it will ensure that its presidential and vice presidential debates will be fair and will be able to help voters know their candidates more.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the poll body was finalizing the format of the debate.

"As far as we're concerned, our goal is to present the format to the candidates, and to show them that it will be a fair debate," he told ANC.

"Our primary goal is that when we present the format to the candidates, the candidates understand what is expected of them, what they can and cannot do within the framework of the debate, and the assurance from Comelec that the debate will treat them fairly."

He also said the questions will focus mainly on their platforms.

"I think our focus will be more on platform questions. What are the plans that you're going to do, and we're going to interrogate those plans. We're going to make sure na naiintindihan talaga ng publiko kung ano 'yung pinag-uusapan, kung ano 'yung balak gawin (that the public understands what's being talked about, what they plan to do)," Jimenez said.

Jimenez said the Comelec has a journalist in mind to moderate the debate.

"Para buhay 'yung discussion (So that the discussion will be lively) and we believe a journalist is best suited for that."

According to Jimenez, the candidates can be rest assured the moderator will treat them fairly.

The Comelec last week announced that its first presidential debate for Halalan 2022 is scheduled on March 19.

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ‘DEMANDS’ RUSSIA WITHDRAW FROM UKRAINE

UNITED NATIONS—The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted to reprimand Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and demanded that Moscow stop fighting and withdraw its military forces, an action that aims to diplomatically isolate Russia at the world body.

The resolution was supported by 141 of the assembly's 193 members —including the Philippines — ending a rare emergency session called by the UN Security Council and as Ukrainian forces battled on in the port of Kherson in the face of airstrikes and a devastating bombardment that forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee.

The text of the resolution "deplores" Russia's "aggression against Ukraine." The last time Security Council convened an emergency session of the General Assembly was in 1982, according to the U.N. website.

Thirty-five members including China abstained and five countries including Russia, Syria and Belarus voted against the resolution. While General Assembly resolutions are non-binding, they carry political weight.

"This is an extraordinary moment," Thomas-Greenfield said. "Now, at more than any other point in recent history, the United Nations is being challenged," she said and made a plea: "Vote yes if you believe UN member states – including your own – have a right to sovereignty and territorial integrity. Vote yes if you believe Russia should be held to account for its actions."

After nearly a week, Russia has yet to achieve its aim of overthrowing Ukraine's government, but has faced an unprecedented backlash from the West, whose sanctions have knocked Russia's financial system while giant multinational countries have pulled investments out of Russia.

PETITIONERS FILE APPEAL VS ANTI-TERROR LAW BEFORE SC

MANILA — Twenty-five of the 37 petitioners against the Anti-Terrorism Act yesterday filed their motion for reconsideration before the Supreme Court and reiterated their appeal to declare the law as unconstitutional.

The petitioners filed a 71-page joint motion for partial reconsideration and prayed that the SC declare as unconstitutional Republic Act 1479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

In their appeal, the petitioners asked the high court to reconsider its decision in the third paragraph of Section 10, stating that it is unconstitutional for being vague, overbroad and for failing to meet the strict scrutiny test.

In Section 10, which covers recruitment to and membership in a terrorist organization, the court declared that the phrase “organized for the purpose of engaging in terrorism” is not constitutional.

The petitioners said the third instance in Section 10 should be read in “pari materia,” which translates to “on the same subject matter,” with Section 4 (terrorism), believing only with such reading would the standards and guidelines may be made apparent.

“The petitioners submit that much of this controlling view on Section 10 as found in the Opinion is inconsistent with the ruling as enunciated in the Decision,” they added.

As for Section 25 (designation of terrorist Individuals, groups of persons, organizations or associations), the petitioners focused on the third mode of designation.

“This ruling is a marked departure from the premises of the prevailing ruling, where the 35 petitions were given due course as ‘permissible facial challenges’ in relation to the provisions of the ATA, which involve and raise chilling effects on freedom of expression and its cognate rights in the context of actual and not mere hypothetical facts,” they said.

“Concrete facts and abundant experience show that the practice of red-tagging has in many instances preceded the extrajudicial killings of activists and human rights defenders,” they added.

VAX NOT REQUIRED IN FACE TO FACE CLASSES

MANILA — Vaccination will not be required for learners as the Department of Education (DepEd) moves forward with the progressive expansion of face-to-face classes in the country.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that children are encouraged to be vaccinated, but that decision rests on their parents.

“Are we requiring children to have vaccinations before they participate (in face-to-face classes)? Not necessarily. It’s not required. It is voluntary because the parents will make that decision. But of course, we would encourage (it),” she said in a Laging Handa press briefing.

Briones said that the Department of Health (DOH) has already noted that kids have a higher resistance against COVID-19.

She added that as an added protection, all DepEd personnel who will participate in F2F classes are required to be vaccinated.

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MAUTE GROUP REMNANTS TARGET OF AIRSTRIKE IN LANAO DEL SUR, SAYS ARMY’S BRAWNER

MANILA—The Philippine Army chief confirmed that the remnants of the extremist Maute group that laid siege to Marawi City in 2017 were the target of government troops’ operation in Lanao del Sur on Tuesday, March 1.

Troops from the 103rd Brigade, in coordination with the Philippine National Police, launched an airstrike against members of the Islamic State-inspired Daulah Islamiyah in Maguing town.

“’Yung na-encounter ng Philippine Army yesterday is the same group that we were running after when we were in Marawi,” Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner, Jr. told reporters at the Army Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Wednesday.

“These are the remnants of the Maute-ISIS. Unti-unti silang naubos at nanghina, but recently, they have been trying to recruit more members, more fighters."

Three suspected terrorists were killed in the operation, according to Brawner. On the government side, one soldier was killed while another two were injured.

“From the information we got from our informants and civilians—sila po ang nagbigay sa atin ng mga impormasyon about the location of this group, their capabilities. We were able to pinpoint their exact location and thus, we were able to encounter them,” Brawner noted.

Military fighter jets dropped a dozen bombs on the lair of the ISIS-inspired extremists in Barangay Ilaglag.

Brawner said the military had to conduct airstrikes since the extremists established defensive positions while placing landmines, making it more dangerous for ground troops to advance.

The Army chief asked residents not to panic, saying the conflict is limited to one specific area in Maguing.

“Isang barangay lang and it is not actually very close to the population. Hindi malapit so hindi na kailangan mag-panic ng ating mga kababayan, especially those residing in Marawi City,” Brawner assured.

“We are not going to see another Marawi siege.”

The Marawi siege, which was masterminded by the brothers Abdullah and Omar Maute, and then Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, resulted in the deaths of at least 160 soldiers, more than 970 extremists and more than 80 civilians.

DATA HUNGRY APPS BOOST PHILIPPINES' DATA CENTER DEMAND: STAKEHOLDER

MANILA - Building more data centers in the Philippines makes sense due to the foreseen increase in demand despite the relatively high cost of electricity in the country, a stakeholder said Thursday.

The country’s growing population, huge social media user base, the business process outsourcing industry, remote work set up and growing demand for cloud computing is driving the data center demand in the country, data center solutions provider Vertiv Asia Vice President for Southeast Asia Paul Churchill told ANC.

“There is a demand there. The demand will be local as well as regional…We’ve seen applications that are data hungry so the demand for data just keeps increasing exponentially,” Churchill said.

Globe earlier said it would form a joint venture with Singapore’s ST Telemedia Global Data Center and Ayala Corp with the goal of reaching 100 MW capacity in the medium to long term.

Its rival PLDT Inc meanwhile said it would build a 100 MW data center in Laguna.

Alibaba Cloud has also earlier opened a data center in the Philippines.

EX-SAF CHIEF TAKES OVER NCRPO POST

MANILA — The leadership of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) was officially turned over yesterday to Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad.

Natividad, a former Special Action Force chief, said he would be focusing on internal cleansing in the NCRPO.

Natividad replaced Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., who was promoted as chief of the directorial staff of the Philippine National Police, making him the fourth highest ranking PNP official.

Natividad vowed to continue Danao’s programs in the NCRPO.

QUEZON CITY TRAINING STRAY DOGS AS SERVICE ANIMALS

MANILA — The Quezon City government has started training rescued stray dogs as service animals to become salutary members of the community.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said the dogs are sheltered and listed as candidates for rehabilitation and adoption to become pets of families, emotional support dogs or even bomb detection canines.

Before training the dogs, Belmonte said veterinarians make sure that the rescued animals undergo comprehensive assessment, health check and temperament test.

“This is to determine if a dog is suitable as a pet or a community service canine,” she said in a statement.

The local government’s veterinary department said up to 57 dogs are being rescued daily in Quezon City, including those who were surrendered by their owners.

Each dog will undergo a three-day observation and a safety assessment for evaluating rehoming test that identifies the dog’s comfort level with restraint and touch, reaction to new experiences including movement and sound stimuli, bite inhibition, behavior around food and toys as well as arousal level toward other animals.

The dogs will also be screened for common diseases such as parvovirus, distemper, transmissible venereal tumor and mange and parasitism.

Belmonte said only healthy dogs would be qualified for rehabilitation and adoption program.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

CAMERAS START ROLLING FOR ‘MISIS PIGGY’ WITH SYLVIA SANCHEZ, RIA ATAYDE

MANILA — Cameras have started rolling for the upcoming iWantTFC series “Misis Piggy,” starring real-life mother and daughter Sylvia Sanchez and Ria Atayde.

On Wednesday, co-producer Epicmedia released a photo from the ongoing production showing a scene including the two lead actresses.

“Misis Piggy” is based on the original story of Lilit Reyes, and is written and directed by Carlo Enciso Catu.

Billed as a Mother’s Day offering, the series centers on a “self-made woman who has devoted her life to providing for her family that she practically missed out on her kids growing up.”

“Now, she has to tie up the pieces to make them whole again,” according to the project’s synopsis.

Co-produced by ABS-CBN’s Dreamscape Entertainment, “Misis Piggy” was one of seven original titles of iWantTFC unveiled in December 2021.

It is slated for release in the first half of 2022.

SPORTS

NBA SCORES MAR 1

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

Pistons15-47     24        40        21        28        113

Wizards28-33    27        36        24        29        116

CAPITAL ONE ARENA, WASHINGTON, DC

SCORING LEADERS

            J. Grant DET

26 PTS 3 REB 4 AST

            K. Kuzma WAS

21 PTS 9 REB 6 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

Hawks29-32      28        37        13        20        98

Celtics37-27      19        32        31        25        107

TD GARDEN , BOSTON, MA

SCORING LEADERS

            T. Young ATL

31 PTS 2 REB 6 AST

            J. Tatum BOS

33 PTS 8 REB 7 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

Nets32-31         25        34        30        19        108

Raptors34-27    32        23        26        28        109

SCOTIABANK ARENA, TORONTO, ON

SCORING LEADERS

J. Johnson BKN

19 PTS 2 REB 3 AST

G. Trent Jr. TOR

24 PTS 2 REB 7 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

Warriors43-19   27        29        31        27        114

Timberwolves34-29       34        34        28        33        129

TARGET CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS, MN

SCORING LEADERS

            S. Curry GS

34 PTS 5 REB 4 AST

            K. Towns MIN

39 PTS 9 REB 1 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

Clippers33-31    29        20        40        24        113

Rockets15-46    27        23        25        25        100

TOYOTA CENTER, HOUSTON, TX

SCORING LEADERS

            I. Zubac LAC

22 PTS 12 REB 2 AST

            J. Green HOU

20 PTS 4 REB 1 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

Mavericks37-25 30        41        14        24        109

Lakers27-34      25        31        31        17        104

CRYPTO.COM ARENA, LOS ANGELES, CA

SCORING LEADERS

L. Doncic DAL

25 PTS 8 REB 5 AST

L. James LAL

26 PTS 12 REB 5 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 51.42

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Life is like a blanket too short. You pull it up and your toes rebel, you yank it down and shivers meander about your shoulder; but cheerful folks manage to draw their knees up and pass a very comfortable night. - Anonymous