Day: June 5, 2023

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Powerlifter Pamati-an wins gold at 2023 ASEAN Para Games

The long wait is over. It took 11 years of hard work and dedication before powerlifter Marydol Pama-tian finally achieved success at the ASEAN Para Games. On Sunday, the 39-year-old athlete from Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte claimed the gold (total lift) and silver (best lift) medals in the women’s 41kg category at the National Paralympic Committee of Cambodia Hall. Pamati-an and Latsami Sepaseuth of Laos both finished with a total of 216kgs after three attempts but the Filipina was awarded the gold medal for being the first one to get the total. It was a different scenario in the best lift when Pamatian had to settle for the silver medal when was beaten by Eneng Paridah of Indonesia in the match-up after both submitted identical 75kgs in their third attempts. “At last, I won the gold and silver medals. All the hardships have paid off,” said Pamati-an after the awarding ceremony. She is a bronze medalist at the ASEAN Para Games in Myanmar (2014), Singapore (2015) and Indonesia (2022). “I’ve been training so hard and I am happy for what I have accomplished here in Cambodia. I am also very grateful to the people who are supporting me, especially Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta, who has inspired me all these years,” said Pamati-an, a single parent to a 15-year-old son. Paralympian Achelle Guion also contributed two silver medals coming from the women’s 45kg category, duplicating her performance in Surakarta last year. “I am happy for winning the silver medals,” said the 51-year-old Guion, who was born and raised in Sipalay, Negros Occidental province but is now residing in Cainta, Rizal. Guion lost to Ni Nengah Widiasih of Indonesia, who set a new Games record of 99kgs in the best lift to erase the 97kgs she set in 2022. Widiasih tallied 293kgs while the Filipina registered 224kgs. Meanwhile, rookie Rose Ann Lita placed fourth in the women’s 50kg category with a total lift of 279kgs. Dang Thi Linh Phuong of Vietnam ranked first with a total lift of 279kgs (91-93-95) followed by Kamolpan Kraratpet of Thailand with 175kgs (85-90-96x) and Nur ‘Aini Binte Mohamad Yasli of Singapore with 155kgs (75-80x-80). In the men’s division, Romeo Tayawa failed to repeat his two-bronze medal performance in 2022 and finished fourth in the men’s up to 54kg category. Nguyen Binh An of Vietnam tallied 429kgs (141-143-145) to win the gold medal while compatriot, Huyn Ngoc Phung got the silver medal with 392kgs (128-131-133). Thanakrit Makkin torn of Thailand grabbed the bronze medal with 236kgs (117-119-126x). Newcomer Jules Empizo was fifth in the men’s up to 49kg category with a total lift of 160kgs. (75-85-90x) behind Pia Laophakdee of Laos with 242kgs (116x-118-124). The gold medal went to Le Van Cong of Vietnam with 496kgs (162-166-168). A. Hadi of Indonesia tallied 489kgs (160-163-166) to secure the silver medal and compatriot Nur Irmansyah won the bronze medal with 362kgs (117-120-125).

Source: Philippines News Agency

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Foreign reserves down in May on strong dollar

South Korea’s foreign reserves fell in May as the dollar’s ascent cut the conversion value of holdings in other currencies, central bank data showed Monday.

The country’s foreign reserves came to US$420.98 billion as of end-May, down $5.7 billion from the previous month, according to the data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).

The dollar’s rise last month boosted the converted value of holdings denominated in other currencies, the BOK explained.

The dollar index that gauges the greenback’s value against major peers rose 2.6 percent last month, the central bank said.

Foreign reserves consist of securities and deposits denominated in overseas currencies, International Monetary Fund reserve positions, special drawing rights and gold bullion.

Foreign securities, such as U.S. Treasuries, had been valued at $378.96 billion as of end-May, up $4.62 billion from a month earlier. They accounted for 90 percent of foreign reserves, the data showed.

The value of deposits stood at $17.82 billion in May, down $10 billion from a month earlier.

South Korea ranked as the world’s ninth-largest holder of foreign reserves at the end of April, the BOK said.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

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DOF eyes sale of PHP2.5-B idle gov’t assets

The government plans to sell more than 130 properties this year with a total value of PHP2.5 billion, the Department of Finance (DOF) said. In a recent briefing, DOF Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the DOF’s Privatization Council is targeting to privatize 137 properties in 2023. Some of these include the Emmanuel Community Hospital Inc. in Tondo, Manila (PHP368.4 million); Central Bank Board of Liquidators in Antipolo City (PHP234.9 million), 21 lots of Technology Resource Center (PHP140.11 million), Elorde Sports and Tourism Development Corporation (PHP485 million), Technology Resource Center in Visayas (PHP100 million), NAFCO lots affected by the High Priority Bus System project (PHP117.2 million), and Wright Patterson Manufacturing Corporation (PHP107.1 million). The Privatization Council approved the sale of six properties with a total value of PHP152.8 million during its meeting last May 31. These include the Al-Amanah Islamic Bank of the Philippines in Tugbok District, Davao City (PHP25 million), two different lots of Al-Amanah Islamic Investments Bank of the Philippines along Bato Road, Bato, Toril District in Davao City (PHP25.3 million), Central Bank-Board of Liquidators in Pasay City (PHP1.9 million), and two Technology Resource Center in Visayas (PHP50.4 million and PHP50.2 million). Diokno said within the first six months of the Marcos administration, the Privatization Council approved the final sale of PHP800 million worth of assets. In contrast, the total sales collected from the previous administration from 2019 to 2021 amounted to PHP664 million. Broken down, the government sold PHP594.7 million worth of assets in 2019; PHP54.9 million in 2020; and PHP14.06 million in 2021. “This aggressive disposition of non-performing assets will not only clear the National Government’s books of stagnant assets but will also provide additional much-needed revenue to fund priority projects in the Philippines,” Diokno said.

Source: Philippines News Agency