Author: ASEAN Tribune

MANILA: Ayala Land’s upscale property developer Alveo Land said gross take-up for the first quarter of the year hit a record-high of PHP12.7 billion, as it expects growth to continue despite the high-interest rates.

In a briefing in Makati City on Tuesday, Alveo Land president Joseph Carmichael Jugo said growth in the January to March period was mainly driven by the company’s horizontal developments which include Sereneo Nuvali and Caleia Vermosa.

‘We are very pleased with the extremely strong first-quarter sales performance, affirming the confidence in the premium market. We are grateful to our clients for their trust in the Alveo brand as we aim to meet their needs in modern, urban, and suburban living,’ he said.

Sereneo, Alveo’s sixth project in Ayala Land’s Nuvali eco-estate in Laguna, posted almost PHP1.5 billion in year-to-date reservation sales.

Caleia Vermosa, Alveo’s second development in Vermosa, Cavite, meanwhile, generated almost PHP2 billion.

Residential condominium sales takeup in Bonifacio
Global City amounted to PHP2 billion, Makati (PHP1.5 billion), Quezon City (PHP1.4 billion), Alabang-Las Piñas (PHP900 million), Pasig (PHP800 million), and Visayas-Mindanao (PHP900 million).

Alveo’s office developments, such as Alveo Park Triangle Tower in BGC; commercial lots in Centrala, Ayala Land’s latest master planned central business district in Central Luzon; and Evo City South District in Kawit, Cavite also contributed to the strong take-up.

Jugo said they expect to sustain growth amid high interest rates.

“I think we’ve seen it in terms of the successive performances of the premium brands,” he said.

“Our strategy was really to focus on the premium segment. It’s a market that is very robust, and very resilient. One looks really for places to invest in for value,” he added.

Source: Philippines News Agency

CATARMAN: The local government of Mapanas, Northern Samar, has asked the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to increase its presence in their town for the surveillance of foreign ships after the recent spotting of a Chinese research vessel nearby.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mapanas Mayor Ronn Michael Tejano said the presence of PCG will help them get updates on the passage of any foreign vessel with suspicious activities.

‘We are also appealing to capacitate us to monitor our sea, especially with more foreign vessels passing near the Pacific towns of Northern Samar,’ Tejano said.

On the night of April 28, a Chinese-flagged research vessel was seen slowly moving approximately 78 nautical miles northeast off Mapanas town.

The mayor said fishermen don’t have actual sightings of any foreign vessels since the area is very far from our shorelines. Local fishermen can only reach up to 15 kilometers from the shore.

‘If there are incidents like this, we hope there’s a Coast Guard monitoring vessel for easy repor
ting,’ the mayor added.

PCG Northern Samar station deputy commander Ensign Bryhl Amay told reporters that the Chinese vessel was on a very slow speed.

‘We have no capability to get close to the site since we don’t have floating assets. We just conducted a security patrol and inquired from fishermen,’ Amay said.

The PCG in Eastern Visayas has only one ship — the BRP Capones that was acquired from Japan in 2017 — and is most often in Ormoc City, where its regional headquarters is situated.

Mapanas is a fifth-class town in Northern Samar with a population of 14,234 people, with about 3,000 families mainly dependent on fishing.

The fishing grounds of the Pacific towns in Northern Samar serve as breeding places for various species like Spanish mackerel, grouper, tuna, big-eyed scad, herring, anchovies, salmon, round scad, and siganids, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The cornerstones for the country’s solo hosting of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship (MWCH) 2025 were solidly nailed on Monday in a strategic meeting at the BGC graced by presidential son William Vincent ‘Vinny’ Araneta Marcos, who will co-chair the Local Organizing Committee (LOC).

With Marcos as co-chair of the LOC are Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco with Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) head Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara as president.

‘I’m really confident and I believe everybody knows what he or she’s doing,’ the 25-year-old Marcos said.

The LOC consists of 17 Functional Areas headed and manned by the same people who were responsible for the successful hosting of the Philippine 2019 Southeast Asian Games and co-hosting of the FIBA 2023 World Cup.

The members of the LOC Board include Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard Bachmann and MVP Group of Companies
head Manuel V. Pangilinan.

‘With Vince [Marcos] support complimenting the commitment of Senator Cayetano and Secretary Frasco, the Philippines is again guaranteed to be on the world sporting map this time in volleyball,’ Suzara told the strategic meeting also attended by representatives from the PSC.

Cayetano, also PNVF’s chairman emeritus, highlighted the value of having the young Marcos at the helm of the country’s FIVB 2025 hosting.

‘It’s your [the next generation] turn. We really like having younger people in this committee because it’s about passing [the baton of leadership],’ Cayetano told Marcos.

First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos earlier vowed her full support to the championship featuring the world’s top 32 volleyball countries-including the Philippines-at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and SM Mall of Asia Arena from Sept. 12 to 28.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said Tuesday that strip search on visitors of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) is being strictly implemented ‘without exception’ in all prison facilities amid the increasing number of visitors caught sneaking in contraband concealed in their private parts.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. issued the statement after the reported complaint filed by the wives of political prisoners who were subjected to a strip search during their recent visit to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

A strip search is the practice of searching a person for weapons or other contraband suspected of being hidden on their body or inside their clothing, by requiring the person to remove some or all clothing.

‘We have to be strict, without fear or favor in the implementation of strip search, otherwise we will negate in our responsibility of protecting our PDLs. And if we exempt an individual, we might be accused of giving VIP treatment,’ Catapang said.

He said
this is also why the agency is appealing to Congress for an additional budget to buy full-body scanner machines just like those being used in airports.

He said the machine costs between PHP20 million and PHP 25 million, and BuCor initially needs at least five ‘to ensure security in prison facilities.’

‘With this, it can detect objects even those inside a person’s body for security screening purposes, without physically removing the person’s clothes or making any physical contact,’ Catapang said.

The strip search policy was implemented following the report of acting NBP Superintendent Corrections Chief Insp. Roger Boncales that random and frisk searches have proven ineffective against the entry of contraband in prison facilities.

About 30 PDL visitors were caught from October 2023 to March 8 this year trying to sneak in suspected illegal drugs and tobacco hidden inside their private parts, or tucked or sewn in their underwear.

Under the BuCor Operating Manual on visitor control, all visitors shall be subj
ected to a thorough body search, and their belongings or packages screened for contraband before entering the security camp.

Women visitors shall be searched only by female corrections officers and it is done in a private area with the consent of the concerned visitor.

Meanwhile, Catapang said BuCor fully supports the passage on the third and final reading of House Bill (HB) 9153, or the “Contraband Detection and Control System Act,” which aims to prevent the proliferation of contraband in prison facilities.

The bill, principally authored by House of Representatives Committee on Dangerous Drugs chairperson, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, provides for the establishment and implementation of a contraband detection and control system through the use of modern technologies in correctional, custodial, or detention facilities nationwide.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Thirty-seven areas are forecast to experience danger level heat indices on Tuesday, with the highest at 45 degrees likely in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

A heat index of 45°C is forecast in Clark, Pampanga; Cuyo, Palawan; and Virac, Catanduanes.

Heat index or what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air, ranging from 42 to 44 degrees are likely in the following areas:

Bacnotan, La Union – 44°C

Aparri, Cagayan – 44°C

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan – 44°C

Baler, Aurora – 44°C

Casiguran, Aurora – 44°C

San Jose, Occidental Mindoro – 44°C

Puerto Princesa City, Palawan – 44°C

Roxas City, Capiz – 44°C

Iloilo City, Iloilo – 44°C

Catarman, Northern Samar – 44°C

NAIA – 43°C

Iba, Zambales – 43°C

Aborlan, Palawan – 43°C

Masbate City, Masbate – 43°C

CBSUA, Pili, Camarines Sur – 43°C

Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte – 43°C

Science Garden, Quezon City – 42°C

Sinait, Ilocos Sur – 42°C

Laoag, Ilocos Norte – 42°C

MMSU, Batac, Ilocos Norte – 42°C

ISU, Echagu
e, Isabela – 42°C

CLSU, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija – 42°C

Cubi Point, Subic Bay, Olongapo City – 42°C

Sangley Point, Cavite – 42°C

Alabat, Quezon – 42°C

Coron, Palawan, 42°C

Dumangas, Iloilo – 42°C

Catbalogan, Samar – 42°C

Tacloban City, Leyte – 42°C

Guiuan, Eastern Samar – 42°C

Davao City, Davao del Sur – 42°C

Cotabato City, Maguindanao – 42°C

Butuan City, Agusan del Norte – 42°C

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that under danger level or 41°C to 51°C heat indices, heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely.

Continued exposure to the sun could also cause heat stroke.

Meanwhile, the country will continue to experience fair weather, with isolated rain showers caused by the easterlies and localized thunderstorms.

PAGASA also forecasts light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas across the archipelago.

Source: Philippines News Agency

BACOLOD: Despite his physical limitation, 10-year-old Zach Lucas Obsioma of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, continues to literally make waves as a swimmer, earning a ticket to the Palarong Pambansa for the second time.

Afflicted with a rare birth defect called phocomelia, marked by shortened limbs, the Level 5 Special Education (SPED) learner ruled the pool anew to bag three gold medals in the para games of the 2024 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) meet hosted by Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, which ended on Tuesday.

His mother, Mavet, said she did not expect Lucas would become a swimming champion because he disliked being in water when he was younger.

‘Now, it is overwhelming for us to see him with his achievements. Lucas is such a blessing to us. He dives, he tumble turns even with no legs,’ she told the Philippine News Agency in a telephone interview.

In this year’s regional swimming competition held at St. John’s Institute in Talisay City, Lucas defended his titles in the 50-m
eter backstroke, 50-meter breaststroke, and 50-meter freestyle.

He will next compete in the annual Palaro to be hosted by Cebu City in July.

The boy, who uses a skateboard for mobility, started training in March last year before the provincial meet.

After making his mark in the 2023 WVRAA Meet in Aklan, he competed in the Palarong Pambansa Para Games in Marikina City, where he pocketed three gold medals in his favorite events.

As a member of the Cadiz Whales Swimming Team, he balances his academics at the city’s SPED Training Center with pool training under mentors Max Fermales and Lyn Rabuya.

On school days, he trains at Laura’s Beach Resort for two hours, either from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. or 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., or up to four hours a day when there is no school.

His mother shared that Lucas doesn’t have a strict diet. He loves to eat fried chicken, drinks milk and takes vitamin supplements.

A middle child, Lucas was raised by his parents as a regular child with his two siblings.

‘We did our best to raise hi
m like a normal child. He doesn’t have legs so people would notice him immediately. At first, it hurt us what people would say about his physical appearance or how others would look at him, but as time went by, we got used to it. He is a well-loved boy,’ Mavet said.

Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. commended the ‘sport icon’ of Cadiz City while Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson exhorted Lucas to ‘continue to swim for the gold.’

Source: Philippines News Agency