MARCOS: PUBLIC-PRIVATE COLLAB TO CREATE JOBS

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed a proposal to create a Private Sector Jobs and Skills Corp. (PSJSC) to upgrade the skills of the Filipino workforce, address jobs and skills mismatch and generate more jobs.

Following the meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council-Job Sector Group (PSAC-JSG) on Thursday, the President underscored the need for cooperation between the government and the private sector to generate employment.

The PSJSC is a proposal of the PSAC-JSG that aims to serve as a private sector-led coordinating partnership between the government, industry and the academe to address the jobs and skills mismatch in the country.

“If it’s private sector-led, then the data gathering function will actually be almost automatic because it’s the private sector that will say ‘these are the things we need,’” the President said during the meeting with business leaders.

The President directed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to coordinate with the PSAC-JSG to set the system on how to increase collaboration to reduce the jobs and skills mismatch problem in the priority sectors.

AUSTRALIA TO PROVIDE DRONE TECHNOLOGY TO PH COAST GUARD TO BOOST MARITIME CAPABILITIES

MANILA — The Australian government will provide the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) with drone equipment and training to help boost its maritime capabilities amid heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea, an official said Thursday.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong made this announcement after a meeting with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, noting that Australia and the Philippines are “like-minded partners” seeking a safe, stable, and prosperous Southeast Asian region.

Wong said she also met with PCG officials on Wednesday.

“We want a region that is predictable, that operates by standards and laws in which sovereignty is respected. We want to work with the Philippines to support ASEAN’s vital contribution to regional peace and security, including maritime cooperation," Wong said.

"We discussed today the ways in which we would enhance our cooperation. This includes Australia providing drone equipment, training and other technology to strengthen your coast guard’s maritime domain awareness and protection capabilities,” the Australian foreign minister said.

Australia also expressed openness to participate in joint patrols with the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea, and to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight on the disputed waters.

Wong said that Australia is committed to continue its longstanding presence in the region, and that it considers the Philippines as an important security partner.

Planning, she noted, was underway to further the joint military training between the two countries.

"We want to work with ASEAN, respecting ASEAN centrality as the center of such a region, and obviously we will continue to work with our partner, the United States. What we are looking at is what are the ways in which we can do that,” she added.

For his part, Manalo said the Philippines was still considering prospects of trilateral cooperation with Australia, Japan, and the United States.

VIETNAM HITS BEIJING, MANILA OVER ‘ILLEGAL’ ACTIONS IN SOUTH CHINA SEA

Vietnam on Thursday criticized both China and the Philippines, accusing the two countries of infringing on its sovereign rights following recent actions in the South China Sea, which Hanoi calls the East Sea.

Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry deputy spokesperson Pham Thu Hang was asked by reporters over China’s actions at the Paracel archipelago, which Beijing calls Xisha Islands, as well the installation of navigational buoys by the Philippines in the Spratly Islands or the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea.

According to Voice of Vietnam, Hang said Hanoi has sufficient legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel archipelagos in accordance with international law.

She said relevant parties should respect Vietnam’s sovereignty, existing international laws, and the Declaration on Conduct of Parties, as well as create a favorable environment for the negotiation of a binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

On Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines and Vietnam have agreed to strengthen coordination in dealing with maritime issues, particularly in working on the COC.

Philippine diplomats traveled to Ha Long, Vietnam on Monday and Tuesday to hold talks with their Vietnamese counterparts during the 10th Philippines-Vietnam Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns.

AFP ‘REVOLVING DOOR’ POLICY FIXED AS PBBM SIGNS TOUR OF DUTY LAW

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law a bill that amends provisions of the tour of duty and appointment of top military officials.

Republic Act No. 11939, or An Act Further Strengthening Professionalism and Promoting the Continuity of Policies and Modernization Initiatives in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), amends RA No. 11709, signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in May last year.

Under the new law, the commanding generals of the Philippine Army and the Philippine Air Force, the flag officer in command of the Philippine Navy, and the superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy will have a maximum tour of duty of two consecutive years, which will begin on the date the appointment is signed, unless sooner terminated by the President.

These officials will not be eligible for any position in the AFP unless promoted to the position of chief of staff.

In the law signed by Duterte, chiefs of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force were given a fixed three-year term while the PMA superintendent was given a tour of duty of four years.

The AFP chief of staff will still have a maximum tour of duty of three consecutive years, which will begin on the date the appointment is signed, unless sooner terminated by the President.

METRO MANILA OFFICE VACANCY EXPECTED TO WORSEN BY END-2023

MANILA — Vacancies in offices in Metro Manila improved in the first quarter, but Colliers Philippines projected this would worsen by the end of 2023 as take-up remains anemic.

Data provided by the professional services and investment management firm showed that office vacancies in the National Capital Region could likely hit 21% this year, higher compared to their previous outlook of 20.2%.

Colliers attributed their projection to two key factors: slower take-up and completion of new office spaces in the country’s economic center.

That said, office vacancy in NCR inched down 18.7% in the first three months. This was a slightly better showing compared to the 18.8% recorded in the final quarter of 2022.

“Among the notable transactions in Q1 2023 included spaces leased by Telus in Quezon City, Work.Able in Ortigas CBD, Office of the Solicitor General in Makati central business district and IGT Solutions in Alabang,” the emailed commentary read.

Businesses and firms temporarily vacated office spaces in Metro Manila as the pandemic forced remote work arrangements in 2020. Despite marginal improvements in office space uptake in months that came, the national government was still keen on sending workers back to offices to revitalize an informal economy that benefits from foot traffic in urban centers.

The move did not go unnoticed since two years later, the national government relented its earlier decisions to strip tax incentives, among others, from the IT-BPM sector if they did not troop back to offices. Firms in the industry are registered under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, which awards these benefits in part.

Data from Colliers likewise showed that new office space built in the first quarter amounted to 48,000 square meters. The firm expected this figure to amount to 569,100 sqm by the end of 2023.

PH-KUWAIT TALKS DEADLOCKED; PROTECTION FOR OFWS UPHELD

Philippine officials defended measures to protect Filipino migrant workers in Kuwait that triggered a retaliatory response from the Kuwaiti government, which banned the entry of new OFWs.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said its senior officials and those from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) met with their Kuwait counterparts in talks held Tuesday and Wednesday.

“The delegation explained that all actions taken by the Philippine embassy and the Philippine government are solely to ensure the safety and welfare of our own nationals,” the DFA statement read.

“Providing protection to a country’s citizens abroad is a well-established duty of consular offices under international law and conventions,” it added.

“The Philippines remains open to constructive dialogue on how to address current concerns,” the government said, without disclosing details if the entry ban was indeed tackled during the talks.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said the suspension of visa issuance and the entry ban on Filipinos will stay as the Philippines tries to hash out “a long-term solution” to issues between the two nations involving overseas Filipinos working there.

De Vega said the Kuwaiti government wants to remove the shelters for runaway household workers because these are not allowed under its laws.

He added that the Kuwaiti government also does not want the Philippine government to contact the employers of OFWs who reported abuse and other concerns.

“They insist we are violating their law. So it’s still status quo. We will need more talks,” De Vega said Thursday.

De Vega underscored the need to implement the existing Philippine-Kuwait labor agreement.

“This kind of long-term solution will not be achieved in one round of discussions. The alternative would be for us to immediately agree to everything they insist on, or for them to agree to everything we insist on,” he said.

SARA DUTERTE RESIGNS FROM LAKAS-CMD

MANILA -- Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has irrevocably resigned from the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) Party, she announced Friday.

She ran for vice president under the said party in the 2022 elections, and replaced Senator Bong Revilla as its chairperson.

In a statement, Duterte thanked the party members for their support.

"I am grateful to all the party members for the support that also once demonstrated that unity is possible to advance our shared dreams for our fellow Filipinos and our beloved country," she said.

Duterte said her commitment to serve the country and its people remains "immutable."

"I am here today because of the trust of the Filipino people in me to lead and serve them and the country, and this cannot be poisoned by political toxicity or undermined by execrable political power play," she added.

She also called on "all leaders" to continue working for the betterment of the Philippines and "leave a legacy of a strong and stable homeland."

In a statement following Duterte's resignation, Revilla said Lakas-CMD remains united under its president, House Speaker Romualdez.

Duterte's resignation comes a day after former President and Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, another member of Lakas-CMD, was demoted from Senior Deputy Speaker to Deputy Speaker.

Arroyo was replaced by Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr.

ARROYO DENIES 'COUP' PLOT AGAINST ROMUALDEZ AFTER DEMOTION

MANILA — Former President and Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday denied she was planning to oust House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Arroyo made the statement after the House of Representatives demoted her from Senior Deputy Speaker to Deputy Speaker.

In her statement, she admitted that she wanted to be House Speaker after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. won the presidential elections last year.

"But it soon became apparent that he was most comfortable with then Congress Martin Romaldez as Speaker. I quickly realized the wisdom embedded in that sentiment," Arroyo said.

But she rejected allegations that she wanted to replace Romualdez as House Speaker.

"When I learned that there were reports that I was suspected of plotting a 'coup' against Speaker Romualdez, I decided I must speak out to clarify my political position. Indeed, some of my actions may have been misconstrued, such as my recent trip with a delegation of Congressmen to Korea for some official meetings," she said.

"To be clear, my political objectives are three: First, to represent the 2nd district of Pampanga. Second, to support the legislative agenda of Speaker Romualdez and President Marcos. Third, to use whatever experience I have as a former President to help out when I am called upon to do so.

"Outside of my role as Congresswoman, my public interest going forward is to help reduce tensions between the United States and China, given that I was strongly allied to both countries when I was President," Arroyo said.

She claimed that she no longer seeks to be the House Speaker again. Arroyo was Speaker of the House in the 17th Congress from 2018-2019 after congressmen voted her to replace then Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

"This has been my position ever since Speaker Romaldez was elected in the 19th Congress, and I continue to urge my Lakas-SMD. partymates to support our party President in that role," she said.

DUTERTE NOT BEHIND DE LIMA PROSECUTION – ROQUE

MANILA — Former president Rodrigo Duterte had nothing to do with the indictment and prosecution of former senator Leila de Lima on drug charges, according to his former spokesman Harry Roque.

In an interview with “The Chiefs” on One News on Wednesday night, Roque said Duterte had nothing to do with the drug charges filed against De Lima, who has been detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame since February 2017.

“From my personal experience, I am telling you, it was not former president Duterte,” Roque said. “A former politician who was a victim of a witch hunt of Leila de Lima was behind her prosecution.”

Dino de Leon, one of the lawyers for De Lima, believed otherwise.

He reiterated that Duterte had a hand in the former senator’s prosecution.

“It is hard to believe what Roque is saying, that Duterte did not have any involvement here,” De Leon said in the same interview.

De Lima is a known critic of Duterte.

Two of the three drug complaints filed against her have been dismissed by the courts.

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AFP RETIREMENT AGE RAISED TO 57

MANILA —  President Marcos has signed into law a measure raising the retirement age in the Armed Forces of the Philippines to 57 and amending the fixed terms of top AFP officials, modifying a policy that reportedly caused “grumblings” in the military.

Republic Act No. 11939, signed by Marcos on May 17, amended RA 11709, which had prescribed a fixed three-year term of duty for the AFP chief and other top military officials.

Signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte last year, RA 11709 was designed to promote continuity in the AFP’s programs by discarding the “revolving door” policy, which saw some military officials staying in their posts for only a few months.

The AFP, in a statement, welcomed the development, saying “the changes will further strengthen professionalism in the military and ensure the continuity of programs while maintaining the AFP’s dynamic and progressive promotion system.”

PERMIT OF SHIPPING FIRM REVOKED

The Maritime Industry Authority has revoked the permit of the shipping company that owns and operates M/T Princess Empress, the sunken tanker that caused a massive oil spill in Oriental Mindoro and other nearby areas.

According to the Department of Transportation, Marina-NCR cancelled the Certificate of Public Convenience of RDC Reield Marine Services, Inc. (RDC) in a resolution dated May 11, 2023.

DOTr was also looking into the possible culpability of personnel from the relevant maritime authorities in relation to the sinking of the tanker.

“Serious questions have been raised about the seaworthiness of the vessel. Also, despite not being authorized to operate, the vesel was able to sail for at least 17 times before it sank on 28 February 2023,” the agency said.

DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said: “We have had sinkings before but no one has been held to account. This time all parties, whether private or public, will be held accountable. There will be no exception.”

“Our policy is zero tolerance to shortcuts, official negligence, and disregard of rules. The rule of law, good governance and best practices must prevail throughout the department and its agencies,” Bautista added.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

DIEGO CASTRO MARRIES LONG-TIME PARTNER ANGELA LAGUNZAD

MANILA -- After 20 years of being together, former teen idol Diego Castro married his long-time partner Angela Lagunzad.

In his social media accounts, Castro uploaded photos taken from their intimate garden wedding held last week in Quezon City.

"Sa wakas! After 20 years I married my true love @angelalagunzad. We may different in many ways, but it’s the differences that makes us perfect. You are the calm to my chaos, the yin to my yang," Castro captioned his Instagram post.

Lagunzad also shared snaps from their special day.

The event was attended by their respective families, friends, and Castro's children from previous relationships.

According to a report published by PEP, Castro and Lagunzad first met in November 2003.

After 11 years of being a couple, Castro proposed to her in 2014.

Prior to being a TV anchor, Castro starred in hit ABS-CBN television shows including "Gimik," and "Esperanza."

He is the son of the late veteran news anchor Angelo Castro.

SPORTS

'BATA' REYES, MANNY PACQUIAO IN BILLIARDS MATCH: HERE'S THE RESULT

MANILA — Billiards maestro Efren “Bata” Reyes and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao went up against each other in an exhibition match of 10 ball in a private event in Makati City Thursday night.

Dubbed "The Legends: Manny Pacquiao and Efren Reyes Exhibition Game," the event showcased the extraordinary skills and sportsmanship of the eight-division world champion boxer and the world-renowned billiards champion.

Reyes had a commanding 5-2 lead after rack 7, but Pacquiao rallied to make it 5-4 after the 9th rack.

But after the 10th rack, Reyes put the game away by winning four straight racks for the final score of 9-4.

Reyes expressed his enthusiasm for the exhibition game, saying it was an honor to duke it out with the former senator. Reyes added that he’s hoping that the exhibition match will reignite the Filipinos' love for billiards.

Pacquiao was equally thrilled. "I'm grateful to be part of this exhibition game with Reyes, one of the greatest billiards players of all time. This is a unique opportunity to showcase the diversity and depth of Filipino talents," he said.

When asked if Reyes would fight in Pacquiao’s turf, he admitted that it would be a no-contest match.

“Palagay ko pag naglaro kami boksing, tulog kaagad ako!” Reyes quipped.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 55.87

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Don't worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you'll have to ram them down people's throats. - Howard Aiken, IBM engineer