Manila Standard - 2020 August 31 - Monday

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

manilastandard.net

Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net

Solons back DFA’s China plan Locsin however junks another bid to bring PCA ruling to UN GA

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 178• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

L

AWMAKERS on Sunday backed the proposal of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to terminate projects of Chinese firms involved in West Philippine Sea reclamation projects, following the lead of the United States.

In separate statements, Samar 1st District Rep. Edgar Sarmiento and Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate expressed support for Locsin's recommendation, which mirrors the US imposition of sanctions and restrictions last week on 24 state-owned Chinese companies for taking part in building artificial islands in the disputed waters.

This developed as two retired Supreme Court justices and a former Foreign Affairs secretary urged the government to ask the United Nations General Assembly to enforce the 2016 ruling of a UN tribunal that favors the Philippines in its territorial dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea. Retired Supreme Court associate justices Antonio Carpio and Conchita Carpio-Morales and Locsin's predecessor, former Ambassador Albert del Rosario, said this was the most opportune time for the Duterte administration to bring the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling on the South China Sea before the 75th regular session of the UN General Next page

SELFIE WITH HEROES. An individual does a selfie using as background the sketches of national heroes featured at the newly refurbished Lagusnila Underpass in Manila on Sunday, on the eve of the commemoration of National Heroes' Day. Norman Cruz

Drop Sabah? Don't even dream of it—DFA

By Rey E. Requejo

BOMBING BRAINS? Abu Sayyaf

FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Sunday said there have been “repeated offers” to abandon the Philippine claim to Sabah but told watchers of the territorial dispute with Malaysia "don't even dream of it."

On his Twitter account, Locsin claimed the offers "as a matter of history" came “from aspiring

presidential candidates since the late 1970s, usually opposition because they are most in need of campaign funds, but administration as well."

But the country's top diplomat said the Department of Foreign Affairs will not accept advice outside the department on the matter.

“When one is given an assignment one does not solicit nor accept advice from outside the department, no matter

who, especially we don't want the help of journalists. Spread the world. What we do in DFA is done in DFA and stays in DFA. It's a bit like Las Vegas. Got it?" he said in a tweet.

Malacañang remained silent on the issue on Sunday, even as Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin wholly rejected Manila's claim on the North Borneo state.

Next page

AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM AUGUST 30)

217,396 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

4,284 74,611 NEW

ACTIVE

3,520

102

DEATHS

NEW

157,403 22,319

militant Mundi Sawadjaan, accused of masterminding the twin blasts in Jolo that killed at least 15 people mostly soldiers, is believed to be holding out in Patikul, Sulu, according to the Western Mindanao Command chief Major Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr. Westmincom photo

RECOVERIES

NEW

Keep GCQ, mayor urges MM Council

‘Bomb-blasts brains stuck in Patikul’ PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said would visit victims of the twin blasts that rocked Jolo, Sulu, on Sunday as the military said the mastermind of the bomb attacks was pinned down in the town of Patikul.

On Saturday, members of the 3rd and 5th Scout Ranger Battalion traded fire with Abu Sayyaf gunmen, including the suspected mastermind of the bomb attacks, Mundi Sawadjaan.

Western Mindanao Command chief Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr. said two Abu Sayyaf members and one soldier died in the clash, while seven other soldiers from the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion were injured.

Next page

COVID-19 PH

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Willie Casas and Rio N. Araja

JUSTICE FOR RENZ. Members of the family, friends and colleagues of Renz Perez, the 23-year-old nurse who was fatally hit by a black pick-up truck while riding his bicycle, join a motorcade demanding justice for the health frontliner on Sunday.

Norman Cruz

FILIPINO TEEN WINS 'THE VOICE KIDS” UK 2020

ENTERTAINMENT / C3

SAN Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said Metro Manila should remain under a general community quarantine (GCQ) as this would enable the government to balance the economy and health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zamora said he made this recommendation to the Metro Manila Council, which groups mayors of 17 cities and one municipality in the National Capital Region.

“The businesses that have been allowed to open under a GCQ have been able to operate well,” Zamora said in Filipino. “We shouldn't rush the easing Next page of quarantine restrictions.”

Global cases top 25m, surge in India Speaker promises NEW DELHI―Global coronavirus infections soared past 25 million on Sunday, as countries around the world further tightened restrictions to try to stop the rampaging pandemic.

A million additional cases have been detected globally roughly every four days since mid-July, according to an AFP tally, with India on Sunday setting the record for the highest single-day rise in cases with 78,761.

The surge in India, home to 1.3 billion people, came as the government further

eased lockdown restrictions on the weekend to help ease pressure on the reeling economy.

Even nations such as New Zealand and South Korea, which had previously brought their outbreaks largely under control, are now battling new clusters of infections.

On the other side of the world, Latin America—the worst-hit region—was still struggling with its first wave, with Covid-19 deaths in Brazil crossing 120,000, second only to the United States. Next page

transparency in '21 budget hearings

By Rio N. Araja HOUSE Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said Sunday Congress will conduct transparent budget hearings and come up with a good national budget “in record time.”

“We will work together diligently with Next page

A2

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

No GCTA for drug convicts—SC T

In a decision written by Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda, the high court’s Third Division said the 2019 Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. 10592, which were issued by the Justice and Interior departments, remain valid unless

declared void by it.

“The rules and regulations issued by the administrative bodies to interpret the law that they are entrusted to enforce, such as the 2019 IRR issued by the DOJ and the DILG, have the force of law and

are entitled to great respect,” the high court said.

“Administrative issuance partake of the nature of a statute and have in their favor a presumption of legality. As such, courts cannot ignore administrative issuances especially when, as in this case, its validity was not put in issue. Unless an administrative order is declared invalid, courts have no option but to apply the same.”

With the ruling, the high court dismissed the petition filed on behalf of Raymundo Reyes and Vincent Evangelista, who were convicted for the illegal sale of 974.12 grams of shabu in 2001.

Their conviction was affirmed by the

Solons...

"Why would we act tough when we have no power? It's hard to do if we can't commit," she said in an online forum.

But opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros agreed with Locsin that the government should immediately drop project agreements with Chinese companies that are involved in the construction of China’s artificial islands and military installations in the West Philippine Sea. “It is disturbing that the government has engaged with Chinese companies involved in the destruction of our territories," she said.

In an interview Friday, Locsin reiterated his position, warning that the Philippines may lose the vote because China would be able to win to its side the many small countries in the Non-Aligned Movement, which is a large voting bloc in the United Nations.

Carpio, Morales and Del Rosario, however, disagreed with Locsin, saying “bringing the arbitral ruling to the UNGA is not re-litigating the case.”

“It is enforcing what we already won.

As international law does not have a world policeman, it is up to us to enforce the arbitral ruling by rallying other countries to our lawful position. If we do not help ourselves, how can we expect other countries to help us?” they said.

“Our Constitution has clearly tasked our President and military to secure our sovereignty and protect our lands and seas. This important mandate should prompt the government to bring the arbitral ruling to the UNGA,” they added.

When President Duterte decided to shelve the Arbitral Ruling, he also promised the Filipino people to raise the ruling at the proper time.

“This coming September is his penultimate chance to fulfill his promise to the Filipino people,” they said.

They said if the arbitral ruling is raised this year, the country can work multilaterally and bilaterally to bolster the country's chances in the next UN General Assembly in 2021.

They debunked Locsin’s view that China has the votes in the UN General Assembly, saying “on the contrary, “the odds are stacked against China in this dispute.”

They explained that since the arbitral ruling in favor of the Philippines was made under the auspices of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), they doubted that the 145 littoral states would vote against their national interests by going against UNCLOS, which grants them considerable maritime areas and resources they previously did not enjoy.

“How can naval powers like the United States, United Kingdom, France and others not support UNCLOS, which upholds their freedom of navigation and overflight around the world? This simple logic should not be lost on us,” they opined.

Besides, they said, majority of the Filipinos agreed that “raising the arbitral ruling at the UN General Assembly is the will of the Filipino people.”

“Surveys show that eight out of 10 Filipinos believe that the South China Sea issues should be brought to the UNGA. Our government must listen to its people. We therefore appeal to our country’s leadership to kindly be there for us,” they said.

“We should all unite to give to our people the Philippines they truly deserve under the rule of law. By winning the case against China, the Philippines has the strongest position among all nations to bring the South China Sea issue to the fore,” they added.

“There is no politics here—only our

will to do what is right, to protect what is ours and to defend ourselves against the persistent bullying and duplicity by China,” they added.

Hontiveros said the list of companies that contributed to dredging and construction of military islands in the West Philippine Sea — as released by the U.S. Department of Commerce — included China Communications Construction Co., Ltd. (CCCC), a company whose subsidiaries have entered into several projects with the Philippine government.

“Based on the information available to us, the government currently has five memorandum of understanding with this Chinese company. In Manila, Davao, Cebu, and Clark. These projects cannot be continued. If we continue with these deals, it may be equivalent to giving up our territories,” the senator said.

Hontiveros said that CCCC’s subsidiaries have MOUs for the Davao Coastline and Port Development Project, Manila Harbour Center Reclamation Project, Cebu International and Bulk Terminal Project, and the Manila-Clark railway.

The senator added that another Chinese company, China Harbor Engineering Co. (CHEC), also won a bid to build an access road to New Clark City.

“These predatory Chinese companies must be stopped. Let us not give up our sovereignty for infrastructure that can be led by many other companies that do not actively engage in encroaching on our territories," she said.

She urged the government not to surrender the country's territory for some projects with no assurance they can help Filipinos.

"When we celebrate Heroes Day, let us not forget the sacrifices of our heroes who fought for our freedom and sovereignty," she added.

Gen. Cirilito Sobejana on Sunday said he is withdrawing his recommendation as there might be better options.

The Army commander earlier said it would be best to place Sulu under martial law so that normalcy would return to the province and control the movement of terrorists behind the attack that killed 15 people and wounded 74 others.

But Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay said there are other options to contain the terrorists in Sulu.

This, he said, includes using Presidential Proclamation 55 where President Rodrigo R. Duterte placed Mindanao under a state of national emergency due to lawless violence after the bomb attack

in Davao City that killed 14 people and wounded over 60 others on Sept. 2, 2016 and the newly-enacted Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

The Department of Justice, meanwhile, said the Bureau of Immigration is checking the travel history of the two suspected Indonesian terrorists believed to members of the Abu Sayyaf Group and who were allegedly involved in the twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu on Aug. 24.

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said that as part of the standard operating procedure of the BI, they would check on the travel records of foreigners to find out the frequency of their travels into the country.

Also on Sunday, an official of the 11th

Infantry Division of the Philippine Army denied any lapses in the response to intelligence reports related to the twin explosions in Jolo, Sulu last week.

The spokesman for the 11th Infantry Division’s General Staff for Civil Military Operations spokesman Lt. Col. Ronald Mateo said security in Sulu is actually strict.

“A terrorist is difficult to predict, especially suicide bombers,” Mateo said.

Mateo made the statement when asked about the possible lapses in security considering that authorities already received intelligence reports on the threats in Jolo before the attack.

The bomb attacks on Aug. 24 left 15 people dead and 74 others wounded.

"Relevant information should only be shared to concerned public health authorities who are knowledgeable of their duty in maintaining data privacy," the DOH said as it warned that privacy violations or personal data breach would be penalized in accordance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

RA 10173 provides that persons who “knowingly or negligently dispose, discard or abandon the personal information of an individual in an area accessible to the public” will be penalized by up to three years imprisonment and a fine of not more than P1 million.

Also on Sunday, Senator Nancy Binay berated the DOH for saying there was not enough evidence that the new coronavirus did not come from Chinese tourists from Wuhan City, the first epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The senator reminded the DOH that in January, two Chinese tourists from Wuhan City were positively identified as the first carriers of the novel coronavirus in the Philippines.

"Saying that evidence was not enough to say that COVID came from the Chinese tourists is practically admitting that they are a failure in contact tracing-which explains why they failed to stem the spread of the virus--and continue to do so," Binay said.

She called on the DOH to stop twisting facts to appease other people or countries.

The senator said the DOH should get its act together and stop making remarks that are careless, irresponsible and prone to wholesale misinterpretation.

"When politics coopts public health, the facts are made to change, and the responses also change so the solutions to the problem do not always match, and the people are made to embrace a capital mistake," she said.

Global...

crushing economic cost.

But resistance has also come from the extreme right and left of the political spectrum, as well as conspiracy theorists and anti-vaccine campaigners.

In Berlin on Saturday, around 18,000 people gathered to march against coronavirus restrictions—but police later stopped the rally because many were not respecting social distancing measures.

Protesters waved German flags and shouted slogans against Chancellor Angela Merkel often used by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Many carried placards promoting widely debunked conspiracy theories about vaccines, face masks and 5G communications.

Similar protests were held in London and Zurich, where some carried signs supporting the far-right QAnon movement, which promotes bizarre theories about Satan-worshipping cabals and "deep state" plots—without any credible evidence.

'A big first step' The pandemic has upended economies and societies around the world, and halted most large gatherings—from sport and music to religion and politics. AFP

President Rodrigo Duterte flew to Jolo, Sulu—about a 40-minute airplane ride from Sabah—to condole with the families of soldiers and policemen who died in a terrorist bombing there last week, but had yet to issue any statement on the issue.

Speaking in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah's state capital, Muhyiddin said the federal government would not under any circumstances yield to any challenge to Sabah’s status and the country’s sovereignty.

“We will never concede to this claim.

Sabah will remain in Malaysia,” he said during his maiden visit to the state as prime minister.

“They are an integral part of Malaysia and we will fight to the very end to defend Sabah, there is no compromise,” the prime minister added.

He also said the federal government will continue to protect the state’s against any intrusions and undocumented migrants.

Duterte has kept his silence about Sabah, not even mentioning it to thenMalaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in their first meeting in July 2018, nor was it on the leaders' agenda.

As a campaign promise, Duterte had vowed to pursue the claim, but did not speak of it even when Malaysia was angered over a proposal to make Sabah the Philippines’ 13th federal state under a revised constitution.

In 1968, Republic Act 5446 or the law on Philippine baselines included "the territory of Sabah, situated in North Borneo, over which the Republic of the Philippines has acquired dominion and sovereignty."

It was amended in 2009, but a Supreme Court decision said Republic Act 9522 or Baselines Law still did not relinquish the Philippine claim to Sabah, which Malaysia has rejected.

Mahathir, asked in a television interview about his comments on the Philippines’ Sabah claim, boldly shot back, “There is no claim.”

Duterte's former spokesperson, Salvador Panelo, countered it has been “the bone of contention ever since.”

Analyst David Han of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore said there is little the Philippine side could do to change the status quo.

In an RSIS commentary in 2016, Han said Malaysia would strongly safeguard its claims, as the area has rich maritime oil reserves and was a factor in electoral success. Sabah’s entry into Malaysia in 1963 was also legally recognized by the United Nations.

Beyond the Sabah claim, the Philippines and Malaysia have worked together to prevent the spread of terrorism in the region. Malaysia also played a crucial role in mediating peace talks between the Philippine government and former Muslim rebels in Mindanao.

bangon Tayo Fund or Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2.

He says Congress has put in place safety nets to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the use of the funds.

"We want to assure the public that Bayanihan 2 has enhanced the reportorial requirements to be submitted by the Executive agencies to ensure full transparency and accountability," Cayetano said.

"The House of the People will continue

to exercise its oversight functions to ensure that the Filipinos receive the best quality of services in the fastest and most efficient way. There is only one thing that the President and Congress want, and that is to give the much-needed action for our countrymen.”

The House of Representatives is set to tackle the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021 this week.

The initial hearing is scheduled on Sept. 4.

By Rey E. Requejo

HE Supreme Court has rejected an appeal two release two convicted drug traffickers from the New Bilibid Prison, saying people convicted of heinous crimes are not entitled to the benefits of Republic Act 10592 or the Expanded Good Conduct Time Allowance Law.

From A1

Assembly, where leaders of 193 countries will gather on Sept. 15.

“We, Filipinos, must not waste this chance to be heard. Having lost so many opportunities by the shelving of the arbitral ruling since 2016, it is now in our highest national interest to bring this ruling on the South China Sea to the UNGA,” they said in a joint statement.

Locsin, however, rejected Del Rosario’s proposal to bring the PCA ruling to the UN, saying Manila had already won against Beijing by virtue of that decision.

But China has refused to recognize the arbitral court's jurisdiction or its decision in favor of the Philippines. Instead, it has gone on with the construction of artificial islands that house military facilities fortified with airfields and missile launchers in the disputed waters.

“We won it already, why would you want to re-litigate something that you won? It doesn’t make sense,” Locsin said two months ago, when the proposal was first broached.

Zarate and Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares said Locsin's proposal should also include the Chinese companies involved in onerous deals like the Kaliwa Dam and Chico Dam projects, which they said "will only bury the country to a debt quicksand."

President Rodrigo Duterte, however, assured the public that government would pay and relocate individuals who would be displaced by the Kaliwa Dam project in Quezon province.

Senator Imee Marcos has opposed penalizing Chinese firms, saying that even Duterte admitted he was "inutile" against aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

’Bomb-blasts...

From A1

“Yes, he's there,” Vinluan said in Filipino. But he could not say if Sawadjaan was wounded in the exchange of fire.

“He's still in Patikul and he can't leave because we have a lot of troops there,” he added.

Vinluan said the hunt for Sawadjaan and his group would be sustained until the alleged Jolo bombing mastermind is captured.

Days after suggesting that it would be prudent to place Sulu under martial law following the deadly twin blasts in Jolo on Aug. 24, Philippine Army commander Lt.

Keep...

From A1

Zamora's recommendation came as the Department of Health (DOH) reported 22,319 recoveries from COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the total number of patients who have recovered from the disease to 157,403.

But the DOH also reported 4,284 new cases, bringing total cases since the pandemic began to 217,396.

It also reported 102 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 3,520.

Sunday's tally was based on reports from 100 of the 110 operation testing laboratories.

These have tested 2,392,529 individuals for COVID-19 as of Aug. 29, 2020.

Researchers from the University of the Philippines said they would not recommend shifting Metro Manila to a less strict modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) as more study and observation are needed to ensure that the relaxation of restrictions would not result in a drastic rise in COVID-19 cases.

Meanwhile, the DOH said it has observed an improvement in the bed occupancy rate in hospitals in Metro Manila, with less congestion.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said hospitals in the Metro Manila were decongesting “gradually” after the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) was imposed from Aug. 4 to 18.

“As the days go by, as we do our analysis, we can see the effect of the MECQ,” Vergeire said in a mix of English and Filipino.

On Saturday, the DOH said it is the only entity authorized to access the list of COVID-19 patients following reports of leaked names on social media.

From A1

Brazil's curve "has stabilised now, but at a very dangerous level: nearly 1,000 deaths and 40,000 cases per day," said Christovam Barcellos, a researcher at public health institute Fiocruz.

"And Brazil still isn't past the peak."

Nearly 843,000 people have died of Covid-19 globally, and with no vaccine or effective treatment available yet, governments have been forced to resort to some form of social distancing and lockdowns to stop the spread of the virus.

Masks will become mandatory from Monday on public transport and flights in New Zealand, which went more than 100 days without local transmission before the current cluster emerged.

And tightened virus curbs kicked in on Sunday in South Korea, which is also battling fresh clusters—including in the greater Seoul region, home to half the country's population.

'Anti-corona' rallies in Europe Despite the grim numbers, there has been steady opposition to lockdowns and social distancing measures in many parts of the world, often because of their

Speaker...

From A1

the Senate, our counterparts, and with all the sectors,” Cayetano said.

“We invite media to scrutinize every part of the budget, and we will work with the Executive branch to come up with a very good budget in 2021.”

Cayetano also dismissed fears of corruption in the implementation of the Ba-

high court in a decision dated Sept. 27, 2007.

Lawyer Rubee Ruth Cagasca-Evagelista, wife of Vincent and counsel for both petitioners, said the abolition of the death penalty and the repeal of the death penalty law or RA 7659, the penalty for the illegal sale of drugs should be reverted to what was originally imposed under R.A. 6425, or the Dangerous Drugs Act, which imposes reclusion perpetua to six years and one day to 12 years.

According to the petitioner, both Reyes and Evangelista have already served 19 years and two months, or more than 18 years if the benefit of the GCTA under R.A. 10592 was to be considered.

Duterte will finish and live beyond his term, senator says

By Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte "will finish and live beyond his term” as he is in good health, his former aide said Sunday.

Senator Christopher Go said the Filipinos need not worry about the President as he dismissed speculation about Duterte’s health following his remarks on his Barrett’s esophagus.

“We have been together for more than 22 years. I have been hearing about that Barrett’s esophagus several times," Go said and added it was not that serious.

He said Duterte was physically fit and in good shape to continue leading the Philippines.

He criticized the purveyors of fake news who were spreading bad things about Duterte’s health.

"That's not true as the President is still capable of leading the country," Go said.

Earlier, Duterte said he was committed to leading the Filipinos and improving their lives.

Duterte is 75 years old, but Go said he had been doing everything to protect every Filipino.

He said Duterte’s remarks on the supposed advice to him by his doctors was a reminder to all Filipinos to be mindful of their own health, especially now that the country was suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

He asked the Filipino people to pray for the safety of the President as he was old and vulnerable to COVID-19.

Drop...

From A1

News

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A3

House to honor medical frontliners T

By Rio N. Araja

HE House of Representatives’ Defeat COVID-19 ad hoc committee co-chaired by House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez has endorsed the plenary adoption of a resolution expressing Congress’ highest appreciation and profound gratitude to all Filipino health-care workers and other frontliners in the fight against coronavirus disease-19 (COVID) pandemic.

BEAUTIFICATION. Workers of Manila City Hall Electrical Engineering Department painted and restored old street lights at the Baseco Park in Tondo, Manila as part of the continued beautification program of Manila led by Mayor Isko Moreno. Lino Santos

‘Duque involved in PhilHealth mess’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta ALTHOUGH some senators said there was no evidence yet linking Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to the alleged massive corruption at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Senator Imee Marcos said she believes otherwise.

Marcos said that while Senator Panfilo Lacson has bern saying that there is no evidence of Duque’s involvement, she insisted that there is evidence out there.

In a television interview, Marcos cited as possible evidence of Duque’s complicity in the controversy is that PhilHealth’s office in the Ilocos Region is allegedly being housed in a building owned by Duque’s family.

“Here in our place, I am from Ilocos, I’m here, we know the building which was the former hospital of the Duque family. That was the same building rented (by Philhealth),” she said.

She also said that the various companies owned by Duque are into the business of medical supply, medical equipment.

Meanwhile, Seantor Christopher ‘Bong Go’ said that despite the controversy hounding Philhealth, which forced its top officials to resign, the agency’s service to the public should not be hampered especially since the country is battling a deadly pandemic.

‘Julian’ intensifies into a typhoon—PAGASA

By Rio N. Araja TROPICAL cyclone “Julian” (international name: Maysak) intensified from a severe tropical storm into a typhoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said on Sunday.

In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, the weather bureau said Julian will gradually accelerate generally northward on Sunday and turn northwestward on Monday.

PAGASA said the tropical cyclone will

remain over the Philippine Sea and is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday evening or Tuesday early morning.

It added that the tropical yclone will remain far from the landmass.

“Julian is forecast to intensify rapidly and may reach its peak intensity by Monday,” it added.

At 4 a.m., the eye of the center was located at 740 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora or 775 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

Julian has maximum sustained winds

of 120 kms per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kms per hour and its movement is almost stationary.

The weather bureau said the raising of tropical cycling wind signal is unlikely through the forecast as Julian “is less likely to directly cause high impact weather over the country”.

It, however, said southwest monsoon is forecast to bring moderate to rough seas over the seaboard of Northern Luzon, the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon, and the northern and eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas. With PNA

Prices of canned meat may go up—PAMPI

IN BRIEF

Lawmaker pulls out bill on presidential succession QUEZON City Rep. Precious Hipolito-Castelo, a House assistant majority leader, on Sunday said she is withdrawing her bill she filed in 2019 that shall authorize President Rodrigo Duterte to name from his Cabinet a temporary successor in case his four constitutional successors could not assume the presidency.

In a letter to House Secretary General Jose Luis Montales, Hipolito-Castelo said “I write to respectfully request for the withdrawal and permanent archiving of House Bill No. 4062, which was filed on Aug. 20, 2019. Please take note that the said bill has not been acted upon by the Committee on Constitutional Amendments since the date of its filing.”

The bill modeled after the United States of America is “An Act giving the President the Power to Delegate or Designate a Successor in the Unlikely Event that the President, Vice President, Senate president and Speaker of the House of Representatives Die or Become Incapacitated to Fill in the Role of the President.” Rio N. Araja

Subway project to get additional P34.6 billion MAKATI City Rep. Luis Campos Jr., House appropriations committee vice chairperson, on Sunday said the Metro Manila subway project will get another P34.6 billion in new funding in 2021 as the national government increases its infrastructure spending for public railways.

The P34.6 billion is on top of the combined P11.3 billion earmarked this year and in 2019 for phase 1 of the country’s first underground commuter train system running from Quezon City’s Mindanao Avenue to Pasay City’s NAIATerminal 3, he said.

In the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021, he said, the Department of Transportation has a total capital outlay of P96.2 billion to advance Luzon’s railways, including the allocation for the 36-kilometer Metro Manila subway. Rio N. Araja

Along with Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, the Leyte lawmaker cited the courageous and unselfish services rendered by the medical workers and other frontliners, such as those from the sectors of the waste management and disposal, delivery services, banks, media, grocery and factory industry to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Under House Committee Report No. 412, Romualdez moved for the adoption of House Resolution No. 1132, a consolidation of House Resolution Nos. 878, 836, 843, 893, 894, 895 and 932.

“They have remained committed to their mandate. They are our heroes for spearheading the fight against the COVID-19,” he said.

“We need to act fast as time is not on our side. I enjoin our fellow House members to support all legislative measures aimed at empowering our people and our nation in the fight against COVID-19.

Now, more than ever, we need to be united in this war against an invisible yet vicious enemy. With arms linked, we will win as one,” he added.

Romualdez is both president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and Philippine Constitution Association.

“Doctors, nurses, medical technologists, barangay health workers, and allowed health professionals and workers serving in private and public hospitals and facilities, as well as in communities, within and outside of the Philippines, have placed their own lives in peril,” Romualdez’s two-page resolution read.

FLOODWATERS. People walk in the flooded streets caused by the high tide in Brgy. Nagbalon, Marilao, Bulacan, Sunday, August 30, 2020. According to the residents, floodwaters are almost part of their daily life after the roads from other barangays were raised.

PonD News Asia Photo

Watchdog’s decision sparked TMC turmoil, hospital execs say A DECISION by the Securities and Exchange Commission, now being used

by Dr. Alfredo Bengzon to justify his return to The Medical City, has provoked a revolt among the leading doctors in the hospital, TMC management said in a statement Sunday.

A message now circulating on social media shows that under Dr. Bengzon’s management, TMC suffered from “a long-delayed, costly IT project that could not deliver on its commitments, a heavily, one-sided onerous contract in Clark, and an investment in Guam that suffered tremen-

dous cost over-runs and could not be made profitable.”

In its August 13 decision, the SEC had nullified the shares given to investors who had infused millions of pesos to help The Medical City purchase new equipment and expandits network. Dr. Bengzon, who only has 0.1% of TMC shares, is using the SEC decision as a basis to take over the hospital and assume his previous post of CEO. The Board of The Medical City, however, issued a statement pointing out Dr. Bengzon’s lack of legal basis since ‘the SEC decision may not be enforceable.’

The Board also said that ‘the SEC has no jurisdiction to resolve the issues of validity of contracts and of the presence or absence of fraud in contracts, as these issues pertain to the originaland exclusive jurisdiction of the commercial courts.”

In their posts, doctors wrote that ‘it is not the time to risk losing the institution’s growth momentum.’ While they thanked Dr. Bengzon for his service, the doctors wrote that the ‘best interests of our hospital, our patients, and our country’ would be served by having the current management team stay in place.

THE Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. has warned that the continuous government ban on poultry products, including mechanically deboned meat from Brazil will lead to a shortage of raw materials and eventually higher prices of canned food products in the Philippines.

PAMPI spokesman Rex Agarrado said the tight supply of raw materials caused by the import ban would likely push up prices of canned meat products by 10 percent to 14 percent in the coming weeks.

Agarrado said this is because Brazil is the second largest supplier of MDM in the Philippines, accounting for 20 percent to 25 percent of the imported raw materials needed by meat processors to produce their products.

On August 14, 2020, the Department of Agriculture issued Memorandum Order No. 39 which imposed a temporary ban on the importation of poultry meat originating from Brazil, following reports that SARS-COV 2―the causative agent of Covid-19―was detected in a surface sampling conducted in chicken meat imported from Brazil to China.

PAMPI questioned the order, saying that Section 10 of Republic Act No. 10611, or the Food Safety Act of 2013, provides that, “in specific circumstances when the available information for use in risk assessment is insufficient to show that a certain type of food or food products does not pose a risk to consumer health, precautionary measures shall be adopted.”

PAMPI said while the DA based its decision on reports in China that SARS-COV 2 was found in Chicken wings imported from Brazil, China itself did not impose a ban on Brazil products, after finding out that the virus RNA or nucleic acid did not cause any infection on humans.

Road infra buildup a wise move, expert says WITH the Philippines entering a recessionary period due to the pandemic, economists have foreseen a reduction in private investments. This trend notwithstanding, the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation has opted to maintain its aggressive investments program by earmarking P120 billion for tollway construction.

MPTC’s response was close on the heels of the government’s declared intention to push through its “Build Build Build” infrastructure program as part of its economic recovery package.

“That was a wise move,” said Rene S. Santiago, one of a handful of Filipino experts in the field of transportation and infrastructure development, and who served as adviser to three Secretaries of the then Department of Transportation and Communications.

Santiago has specifically noted the “multiplier effects” of road construction on the Phil-

ippine economy, specifically on industries.

He said that beyond road construction that generates employment, completed roads generate greater impact on commerce and industry.

Santiago also noted that MPTC’s investment decision was timely. It came at a time when the National Economic Development Authority has primed its project evaluation managers to facilitate review and give the green light to feasible projects calculated to stimulate the national and local economies, and bring a lot of social benefits.

Earlier, in announcing his Tollways Group’s road construction investment amounting to P120 billion to construct new expressways, MPTC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, emphasized the “huge multiplier effect on the economy and on creating more jobs.”

On such multiplier effects, transport engineer Santiago noted the impact of MPTC’s

two tollway projects: the NLEX Harbor Link expansion and the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway.

The elevated NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 tollway (plus its extension) is the answer to the logistical and transport problems of the industry, he said.

Earlier in June, the opening of the 2.6-kilometer section of NLEX Harbor Link was led by MPTC President and CEO Rodrigo Franco and NLEX Corp. President J. Luigi Bautista, which expands the NLEX network to the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area.

The new section was envisioned to serve as alternative route for motorists and truckers, enabling cargo trucks to enjoy 24/7 access. There is no truck ban along the said expressway.

“That’s good news to truckers,” Santiago said, adding, “Truck bans limit their hours of operation, so more trucks are needed to carry

the freight loads.”

“It will no longer be necessary for haulers to double the number of their trucks due to truck bans implemented by government,” he pointed out.

So, in places when truck bans are lifted, truck owners can then cut the number of their trucks by 50%—and yet deliver the same loads. He eyed the prospects of truck bans being lifted when there are more tollways dedicated to cargo hunders.

On MPTC’s project in Cebu – the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) –Santiago noted that CCLEX has already encouraged reclamation proposals that “would more than double the size of Cordova.”

He added that “when completed, it would be the most beautiful bridge in the country, perhaps equal to, if not better than, the Halong Bay Bridge in Vietnam. Its construction is truly an engineering marvel.”

m w m ta

th g an o “C

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

A4

Navotas bags Kabalikat plum from TESDA

Local government units

monday, august 31, 2020

By Jun David

HONORING A HERO. Marcelo H. del Pilar, regarded as the “Father of Philippine Journalism” whose pen name Plaridel is synonymous with the propaganda reform movement during the Spanish colonial period, marked his 170th birth anniversary on August 30. The Association of Philippine Journalists (also known as Samahang Plaridel) observed the event with a wreathlaying at the hero’s monument in Ermita, Manila. Shown in photo are APJ officers (from right) Jullie Yap Daza, Jun Icban, Rollie Estabillo and Hector Villacorta.

Pampanga rents Clark site

By Jess Malabanan

C

APAS, Tarlac—The provincial government of Pampanga is renting the National Government Administrative Center at the New Clark City here as an additional isolation area following a spike in the number of coronavirus cases in the province, the Provincial Information Office said in a statement.

Governor Dennis Pineda said the community isolation facilities established by the local government units are not enough to address the recent surge of COVID-19 patients in the province.

“Due to the recent increase of COVID-19 positive cases sa province, our isolation facilities are no longer suffi-

cient,” Pineda said.

“Our LGUs are making the effort to set up their own community isolation facilities, but these are not enough. We are doing all possible means to keep the people healthy and safe from the threat of the virus.”

He said cubicles with 327 beds are on place to accomodate the people of

Pampanga who will be diagnosed with COVID-19.

Pineda said hospitals and other quarantine facilities in Pampanga has already reached full capacity. The provincial government found the NGAC at Clark as an ideal place for isolation, he said.

Pampanga has recorded 818 COVID-19 positive cases on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. Of these, 417 test results are pending for validation, as 373 have recovered and 28 have died.

“This is a joint project of the provincial government of Pampanga with BCDA (Bases Conversion Development Authority) and Alloy MTD. In our current situation natin, there’s a quick

increase in cases and this (NGAC) is the readily available facility,” the governor said.

Dr. Dax Tidula, incident commander of the facility, assured that the NGAC will be manned by doctors, nurses, and other personnel to assist and address the needs of the patients.

“The provincial government will be providing for the patients’ daily needs including three square meals, water, vitamins, and internet connection,” Tidula said.

The provincial government is also eyeing the evacuation center in Mexico, Pampanga as an alternative isolation area should the need arise.

SHELL SALUTE.

Pilipinas Shell salutes frontliners during National Heroes Day, as today, every time a medical frontliner gasses up in Shell stations, forecourt service champions will place their hands on their chest in a profound gesture of gratitude and encouragement. They will also receive specially designed face masks (inset).

Amid the coronavirus pandemic and its detrimental effects, Navoteños still have something to be thankful for.

The City Government of Navotas has been recognized for its accessible and quality technical-vocational education and skills training.

The Navotas Vocational Training and Assessment (NAVOTAAS) Institute received the Regional Kabalikat Award from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Only two local government units in the National Capital Region were given the distinction. Of the two, Navotas was chosen to represent the region in the national category.

“We are thankful and honored to have received this award. It validated our efforts to provide our citizens with opportunities for sustainable employment and livelihood,” Mayor Toby Tiangco said.

“We hope this will further inspire the employees, board members and other stakeholders of the NAVOTAAS Institute to continue their noble mission of helping uplift the lives of Navoteños,” he added.

Navotas was selected based on its progressive and sustainable initiatives that resulted in additional techvoc courses and increasing number of graduates every year.

TESDA noted that in between 2017 to 2019, the NAVOTAAS Institute was able to register 15 additional training and assessment qualification programs. It now has 32 tech-voc courses offered for free for all Navoteños.

In a span of three years, the Institute was able to produce around 2,100 graduates, all of whom were assessed and able to acquire their National Certificate for free.

TESDA also commended the Institute for further helping their trainees succeed in their field by conducting various employability skills training, job fairs, job referrals and entrepreneurship seminars.

Of those who graduated, around 1,050 or 50% were hired and given employment through their assistance.

In Brief

Laguna officials plant 11k seedlings CALAMBA – The Laguna Provincial Police Office has joined hands with the provincial government and other agencies to plant 11,175 seedlings of various tree types under the joint Project “Samahang Pulis Laguna, Kapanalig Mo at Makakalikasan (SPLaKaM).”

Joining the Laguna PPO and the Provincial Government of Laguna, were officials of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

The event also celebrated the 6th month of service of Police Colonel Serafin F. Petalio II as the Provincial Director of Laguna PPO. Prior to the tree planting, the project SPLaKaM was presented to the participants by Police Major Melisa M Malayo, Chief of the Provincial Community Affairs and Development Unit (PCADU), as the heads of agencies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). Roy Tomandao

Pilipinas Shell salutes frontliners on National Heroes Day

National Heroes Day, celebrated every August 31, honors the gallant men and women in Philippine history whose courageous acts propelled the country to grow as a nation.

Today, Filipino heroism takes a whole new meaning as frontliners who risk their health and lives every day to turn the tide against the coronavirus crisis are seen as the new breed of heroes.

They are examples of the bravery and selfsacrifice that all Filipinos can aspire to, as we work towards a more hope-filled future despite the seemingly overwhelming odds.

Energy leader Pilipinas Shell stands together with the country by saluting these modern-day heroes who play a vital role in this unprecedented time of uncertainty.

“The Filipino resilience and our bayanihan spirit have seen us through our toughest times as a people---and working together as one, we can win back our lives, bring healing to the most vulnerable among us, and restart our economy,” said Pilipinas Shell Vice President for Retail Randy Del Valle.

On August 31, every time a medical frontlin-

er gasses up in Shell stations, forecourt service champions will place their hands on their chest in a profound gesture of gratitude and encouragement. Customers in the stations will be encouraged to honk their car horns and make the traditional military salute.

Del Valle said, “Our doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals have shown us the way by their unwavering example in courage and selflessness. They are our modern-day heroes―and it is only just that we honor them during National Heroes Day.”

DOST-2 gives 5k face shields to Cagayan TUGUEGARAO – The Department of Science and Technology Region 2 under Director Sancho A. Mabborang provided more than 5,000 pieces of face shields to the Provincial Government of Cagayan on during the regular flag raising ceremony here.

Mabborang said the distribution of the face shields was in support to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) resolution citing the growing coronavirus threat, thus encouraging the populace to use face shields in all places.

These face shields were fabricated by the DOSTMetals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) to support medical and non-medical front liners nationwide. Jessica Bacud

Las Pinas starts building permit system via web

By Joel E. Zurbano The Las Pinas City government has launched an online system for building permit applications to limit physical interaction and further prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease.

The One Stop Shop Building Permit Application system, initiated by the city’s Office of the City Engineer, also aimed to provide a centralized database for files of the OCE and Building Official at city hall.

An applicant only needs to download the application forms using a default camera or third-party application, scan the QR Code or visit the link through web browser https://bit.ly/lpengineeringforms.

City chief engineer Rosabella Bantog said the new system has the full support of Mayor Imelda Aguilar and Vice Mayor April AguilarNeri, who both believed that the shift from manual to digital system would ease transition in the processes of application for a building permit based on guidelines set by the Anti-Red Tape Law.

TREE SEEDLING. PNP Laguna Provincial Director PCol. Serafin Petalio plants one of 11,000 tree seedlings all over Laguna under the project “Samahan Pulis Laguna,Kapanalig Mo at Makakalikasan (SPLAKAM) on Wednesday. Roy Tomandao

SUPPORT FEDERALISM. The Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC) conducted a Metro Manila, Luzon and Mindanao Muslim Sectoral Leaders General Consultation for Federalism last August 28 at Tiu Theater Makati Square Mall. Pictured (from left) are Abner Malabanan, National Deputy Spokesperson for Luzon; Datu Basher “Bong” B. Alonto, National Spokesperson for Muslim Affairs; Dr. Alim Sultan Abdul Malik, DPA National President Ulama & Imam of the Philippines; Reynaldo San Pedro, former mayor of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan and MRRD-NECC VP for Luzon; former congressman Omar Fajardo, MRRD VP for International Affairs; Charlie Gaddi, MRRD-NECC Executive Director; and Edwin Barbudo, MRRD-NECC MEDIA coordinator. Roy Tomandao

DONATION. Officials of DOST Region 2 pose with more than 5,000 pieces of face shields they are donating to the Provincial Government of Cagayan. Jessica Bacud

Opinion Please bring the arbitral ruling to the UN General Assembly A joint statement by Albert Del Rosario, Antonio Carpio and Conchita Carpio-Morales ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2020, the 75th regular session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will convene at the UN Headquarters in New York. This is when the leaders of 193 countries troop to the UN to promote their respective positions before the global community of nations.

This is when States, big and small, will have a full window to be heard.

We appeal to our country’s leadership to kindly be there for us.

We, Filipinos, must not waste this chance to be heard. Having lost so many opportunities by the shelving of the Arbitral Ruling since 2016, it is now in our highest national interest to bring this Ruling on the South China Sea to the UNGA. With due respect, we do not fully agree with the opinion of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. that “We won it already. Why would you want to re-litigate something that you won?”

Bringing the Arbitral Ruling to the UNGA is not re-litigating the case. It is enforcing what we already won. As international law does not have a world policeman, it is up to us to enforce the Arbitral Ruling by rallying other countries to our lawful position. If we do not help ourselves, how can we expect other countries to help us?

Our Constitution has clearly tasked our President and military to secure our sovereignty and protect our lands and seas.

This important mandate should prompt the Government to bring the Arbitral Ruling to the UNGA. When President Duterte decided to shelve the Arbitral Ruling, he also promised the Filipino people to raise the Ruling

at a “proper time.” This coming September is his penultimate chance to fulfill his promise to the Filipino people.

President Duterte must raise the Arbitral Ruling at the UNGA this September as he will have just one more opportunity to gain the support of more countries next year in the same forum. If the Arbitral Ruling is raised this year, we are enabled to work multilaterally and bilaterally in preparation for UNGA 2021 when our chances will have significantly been improved.

It is Secretary Locsin’s view that China has the votes in the UN. On the contrary, “the odds are stacked against China in this dispute” as ably explained by Ambassador Hermenegildo C. Cruz. How so?

Our Arbitral Ruling was made under the auspices of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In the long run, how can 145 littoral states of 193 UN member nations vote against their national interests by going against UNCLOS which grants them considerable maritime areas and resources they previously did not enjoy? How can naval powers like the US, UK, France and others not support UNCLOS which upholds their freedom of navigation and overflight around the world?

This simple logic should not be lost on us.

Raising the Arbitral Ruling at the UNGA is the will of the Filipino people. Surveys show that eight out of ten Filipinos believe that the South China Sea issues should be brought to the UNGA. Our Government must listen to its people.

We therefore appeal to our country’s leadership to kindly be there for us.

At this somewhat late stage in our lives, there are those of us who continue to work to protect our country’s rights for the benefit of our children and grandchildren. We see in the eyes of our young Filipinos the need for us to act. There is no politics here—only our will to do what is right, to protect what is ours and to defend ourselves against the persistent bullying and duplicity by China.

We should all unite to give to our people the Philippines they truly deserve under the Rule of Law. By winning the case against China, the Philippines has the strongest position among all nations to bring the South China Sea issue to the fore.

MORE OPINION ONLINE (www.manilastandard.net) TO THE POINT

CROSSROADS

J.A. DELA CRUZ

EMIL JURADO

Resolution, not RevGov

A brazen bribery attempt

NAKED THOUGHT CHARLIE V. MANALO

The wrong formula

The revolution we need THE FIFTH GOSPEL JUDE ACIDRE WE NEED a revolution.

Not a military coup d’état or an attempt to remove our country’s leadership. Not a means to revise our nation’s constitution or to replace our political system.

We need a revolution from the inside, a radical shift in paradigm in the way we think, act and do as Filipinos.

If there is one thing that this pandemic has proven right, it is the extent to which partisan politics has corrupted and weakened our ability to work together as one nation.

This revolution need not be fought by arms but with citizenship and education. Not by mere rhetoric but by concrete action. The end must be progress for all, not prosperity for a few. The vision must be rooted in our faith in the future, not regret or rancor

for the supposed past.

For us to succeed, every Filipino needs to fight in this revolution. We will have no need for fence sitters or naysayers. Political colors would be of no consequence and would have to give way to red, white and blue.

The revolution we need to fight for is within us, individually and collectively.

First, we need to believe and accordingly act that we are but one nation. That our differences in political belief, affiliation and opinion are but differing but parallel paths should lead to one common goal of building our nation. That our geographic divides should not separate us but serve as strong pillars on which we can integrate and build the foundations of a strong national economy.

These may sound like motherhood statements, but there is no better way to put it. The fact is, we have simply forgotten that we are all Filipinos.

Second, we need to affirm our shared national destiny—that win or lose, pass or fail, we are all in this together. No nation, without having a shared vision mov-

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020

B1

EDITORIAL

T

Heroes in masks keep our lives running, however much disrupted they have become. These are the workers who man the buildings and establishments, enable us to transact at the bank, bring us or our goods from one place to another, produce the food we eat, collect our trash and keep our streets and buildings clean. Among others.

ODAY’s commemoration of National Heroes’ Day is underscored by the big and small acts of heroism performed by many Filipinos during this difficult time.

Sometimes, heroism is trumped by ego and selfishness.

There is no need to use the prefix “super” to these heroes. They are not endowed with extraordinary powers that can solve problems or neutralize enemies.

What they do instead, are the very things they have been doing even before this pandemic struck—only before greater risk, and with even greater zeal.

We refer to the frontliners who keep showing up for their jobs despite their weariness, their frustration, and the constant danger they face.

They are the medical professionals who carry out their work, but they are also those whose jobs

These are difficult jobs that must be done so the rest of us can stay home in relative safety.

Unfortunately, these trying times have highlighted how heroism could be trumped by ego and selfishness.

Some officials find themselves in a predicament where their decisions mean life or death for others. While some shine naturally at this task, and some try by the day to cope with the challenge, there are those who have shown only that they are inept and unfit for the job.

Alas, they still act like they are heroes facing adversity, when they should have owned up to their inadequacy a long time ago.

A heroic move would be to acknowledge that their skills and inclinations lie somewhere else, and that for the sake of others, they should eat humble pie, quit their posts, and pave the way for a more competent person to do the job.

Other officials in other places have resigned for lesser breaches—breaking protocol, for instance. A momentary judgment lapse.

This week, the prime minister of Japan took the painful step of resigning for health reasons, acknowledging that he could no longer lead his nation effectively while also battling his own illness. But the ego should be nothing compared to the interest of the people who need effective leaders today more than ever.

We hope that our own leaders periodically ask themselves whose interests they are serving by clinging to their posts despite evidence of incompetence and even allegations of corruption.

While heroes do come in all shapes and sizes, we should be wary of impostors, especially those who mask their true selves.

To fight corruption, go digital IT’S National Heroes’ Day but unlike the traditional parades and patriotic celebrations during normal times, we will have to make do with a virtual observance of this holiday through whatever default device we use for catching our favorite public affairs programs. Perhaps, too, we can try to enjoy the holiday the best we can under our respective quarantine restrictions.

Boomers like me grew up with TV, radio, and print media as our main source of news and entertainment. These analog modes of mass media and communications have been overtaken by digital technologies that give direct and personalized access to all kinds of information and all kinds of services on demand to anyone with access to a smart device and broadband signal.

Fast and reliable broadband service is no longer just a value-added service reserved for corporate use and can-afford netizens. It is now a critical platform that has proven its value as a safe and reliable medium for all communications and business transactions, and of course entertainment. Sparked by the effects of the pandemic, society’s accelerated shift to cloud technology is an opportunity to overhaul the processes of all industries but most importantly, to digitally transform the inefficiencies and corrupt-prone bureaucracy of the whole government to a responsive and transparent ecosystem of public services.

The promise of stopping corruption, or at least minimizing it, has become a standard campaign promise of all politicians running in each election. These politicians include our President. The raging corruption scandal in PhilHealth and other allegations of corrupt practices are not helping the people’s confidence. After all, billions have been spent on Bayanihan 1 and even more billions have been allocated in Bayanihan 2’s COVID-19 interventions. A new promise was recently made by the President saying, “I will hold myself responsible for this sole and solemn duty of answering for and on behalf of the executive department of all the funds that were spent in the fight against COVID.” In the latest virtual round table discussion

ing forward, has ever achieved greatness and progress. No people, without realizing their common dignity, has ever attained equity and equality.

Let’s do it from the inside.

Many of us would want to point to history for stories of our country’s gloried past. When we were Asia’s financial center before the Second World War. As the post-war reconstruction progressed in our country, our neighbors in Southeast Asia looked up to us for development models. Our colleges and universities were all full of learners of foreign nationalities, all wanting to learn how to be as developed and progressive as Filipinos. Future Southeast Asian bureaucrats and professionals were trained in our schools, our engineering and agricultural technologies were being taught in neighboring countries. What remains in the present are but faint reflections of our once-progressive past.

But then again, we failed over and over again, and truth be told—few of today’s population, especially those in

OPEN THOUGHTS ORLANDO OXALES themed “Fighting the Pandemic of Corruption” hosted by Stratbase ADR Institute (ADRi), Transparency International Philippines and Democracy Watch Philippines, both anti-corruption experts, agreed that digitizing government processes and data would be an effective weapon to fight corruption.

Professor Dindo Manhit, President of Stratbase ADRi, said that COVID-19 has given

There are no more excuses in delaying the transformation of our national and local government systems. governments the opportunity to skip accountability measures and democratic procedures under the guise of emergency powers.

"Now that the value of technology as a productivity tool for communication, collaboration, and efficiency has been proven, our government must now harness digital technologies as a weapon against corruption. Fast development of our digital infrastructure now becomes a critical element of our recovery strategy," Manhit said.

Stratbase ADRi Trustee and Program Convenor and Senior Fellow of the De La Salle Institute of Governance pointed out that the lack of digital tools has been a real constraint for the government to really address the distribution of relief services. He agreed that there is a need to go digital and to invest in digital infrastructures for connectivity and, most importantly, for the government’s capacity for nationwide data

the margins of society, would have ever thought that the Philippines was once one of the top economies in Asia.

Not when traffic jams leave our nation’s capital in a standstill for hours.

Not when the gap in hospital bed capacity is double the global average or when tens of thousands of Filipinos have to leave their families behind to seek employment overseas. Never when our students have to share their classrooms with two other shifts of learners. In the face of all this, would it even be possible to believe that we Filipinos have the capacity for greatness?

This is the revolution that we need.

For us to believe that we are all Filipinos—and to care for each other and this country, as we should. To contribute to our own and others’ well-being, as our resources allow. To deal fairly and justly with others—businesses towards their employees and clients, and employees to their employers. To put our acts together as if the role that we have to play every day in our own vocations and professions, is indispensable to our nation’s present and future.

Our Constitution and political system are but circumstantial to purposeful action. We had good presidents before,

governance.

Correspondingly, Professor Heidi Mendoza of the Ateneo School of Government, and who is former commissioner of the Commission on Audit, pointed out that digital tools should not be complicated. She emphasized the importance of data-mining techniques as a correct way of analyzing the data to ensure the integrity of the data that would result in useful reports.

“Data governance simply means that bringing together all those available data within the reach of the government and having a meaningful connection among this data so that we can easily analyze, and we can mine the data.”

Mendoza said.

Fighting corruption with ICT is not new.

With the current advances in cloud-based solutions for e-governance, there are no more excuses in delaying the digital transformation of our national and local government systems.

According to a 2016 World Economic Forum report, “Aside from serving as prerequisites for democracy, access to information and transparency are key tools in the fight against corruption that lead to openness and a level playing field for both governments and markets. The emergence of these tools has the potential to push forward the anti-corruption agenda through revolutionizing methods of corruption detection, prevention, and analysis.”

But first, we need a nationwide digital infrastructure to deliver reliable connectivity to everybody.

The new joint memorandum circular led by the Department of Information and Communications together with the Anti-Red Tape Authority, the Department of Interior and Local Government and six agencies involved in the permitting of passive communications towers will hopefully solve the eight-to-12-month delays in securing permits to 16 days and make a dent in the 50,000-tower backlog that’s been choking broadband access and speeds for many administrations.

Let’s hope this works.

but their actions and decisions would mean nothing without our willingness to cooperate and take action. Even the corruption around us is but a product of our making—if not by our own participation, then by our tolerance and willingness to turn a blind eye.

This pandemic has shown us how corrupted and weakened the moral fiber of Filipino society has become.

As patients fight for their lives in the hospitals, and as health workers risk their own, some people think of this problem as a political question. In the same way, the government has failed to balance their public order approach.

While many found it possible to question the President’s decision to pick military men to manage our COVID-19 response, others find nothing wrong in playing politics with the presidential succession—of all time, during this pandemic. When some are taking leaps to manage limited resources, whether those of the government or within the household, the unscrupulous have found a way to steal from public coffers or even profiteer from this public health emergency.

Full version at www.manilastandard.net

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandard.net

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

Anita F. Grefal

Baldwin R. Felipe

Edgar M. Valmorida

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Head—Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor

Adelle Chua Opinion Editor

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Manila

Standard MONDAY, TODAY AUGUST 31, 2020 B2 CESAR BARRIQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Prosecutors seek tough sentences in Floyd case PROSECUTORS are seeking stiffer-thanusual sentences for four former US police officers charged over the killing of George Floyd, arguing that they showed “particular cruelty” to the handcuffed African American.

The 46-year-old resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota died in May after being pinned to the pavement under the knee of white officer Derek Chauvin as Floyd gasped that he could not breathe.

The case is proceeding amid renewed fury over police violence against African Americans, galvanized by the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin this week.

Court papers filed Friday in the Floyd case indicate that the Minnesota attorney general’s office will argue there were a number of aggravating factors.

These include evidence that Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes as bystanders, including multiple children, pleaded for his life and then watched him die.

“George Floyd, the victim, was particularly vulnerable because officers had already handcuffed him behind his back and then placed him chest down on the pavement, and Mr. Floyd clearly and repeatedly told the officers he could not breathe,” the court documents state.

Chauvin inflicted “particular cruelty,” as well as “gratuitous pain” as he abused his position of authority, prosecutors allege.

“Despite Mr. Floyd’s pleas that he could not breathe and was going to die, as well as the pleas of eyewitnesses to get off Mr. Floyd and help him, (the) defendant and his co-defendants continued to restrain Mr. Floyd,” the papers say.

Three or more suspects “actively participated” in the killing, prosecutors noted, saying this would justify longer sentences. AFP

Biden banks on ex-Republican staffers for help in major states

J

‘We’ve lost our moral compass’ But Trump appears to be benefiting from less partyswitching than Biden, who has worked to persuade voters disappointed, even disgusted, by Trump’s style and stewardship, notably of the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed more than 180,000 American lives.

“This is not an easy decision for Republicans to make,” wrote the former staffers for McCain, the late Republican senator and 2008 presidential candidate who had a mutually disdainful relationship with Trump.

“Given the incumbent president’s lack of competent leadership, his efforts to aggravate rather than bridge divisions among Americans, and his failure to uphold American values, we believe the election of former Vice President Biden is clearly in the national interest,” they wrote in an open letter.

The former Bush staff members sounded a similar tone.

“The onslaught of insults and vulgarity we have witnessed in recent years must stop,” they said. “We have lost our moral compass.”

Glenn Kessler, a Washington Post journalist, expressed surprise over that message. “I personally know a number of these people and how deeply conservative they are on many issues,” he wrote on Twitter. “I never imagined they would publicly endorse a Democrat for prez.” AFP

OE BIDEN, striving to win over still-undecided voters who could swing the election against Donald Trump, is sparing no effort to broadcast one of his most potent weapons: endorsements from many of his former Republican opponents.

From handing Republican stalwarts prime-time speeches at the Democratic National Convention to welcoming endorsements from hundreds of former staffers to George W Bush, John McCain and Mitt Romney, the presidential challenger is waving his bipartisan credentials high.

But will it work?

Kari Walker, a 50-year-old Wisconsin resident who has backed Republican candidates for two decades, plans to vote for Democrat Biden on November 3.

Walker, who two weeks ago told AFP she could not bring herself to vote for Trump—“a worse president than I could have imagined”—felt reaffirmed by the stance of the former Republican staffers.

“I found the support of GOP stalwarts to be persuasive,” said Walker, who with her husband owns a tavern in the small town of Reedsburg, in a county that backed Trump in 2016 after twice voting for Democrat Barack Obama.

“I would be voting for Biden regardless, but I ap-

preciate GOP influencers crossing over,” she said in an email Friday, referring to the Grand Old Party, a traditional nickname for Republicans.

Walker is exactly the type of voter that the former vice president’s campaign hopes to lure by welcoming those from across the aisle.

While Obama’s former number two continues to lead Trump in polling nationwide, the president has narrowed the gap in certain key states, those that regularly “swing” back and forth between Republicans and Democrats — and which can therefore decide a close election.

The billionaire Republican has been courting them openly, warning against the “anarchy” he says a Biden presidency would bring, which he says could lead to the “destruction” of the nation’s leafy—and mostly white —suburbs.

The Republican convention heard from some former Democrats, their presence designed to underscore Trump’s outreach to those crucial battleground states.

All migrants moved off rescue boat US President Donald Trump (left) and former vice president Joe Biden, rivals in the 2020 presidential election on November 3.

(MS-AUGUST 19/27/31, 2020)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 225, QUEZON CITY IN THE MATTER OF CORRECTION OF ENTRIES CORRESPONDING TO THE BIRTH RECORD OF CLINTON REY SARMIENTO SUPE AS TO THE SURNAME FROM CLINTON REY SARMIENTO TO CLINTON REY SARMIENTO SUPE, Petitioner, -versus-

SP PROC NO. R-QZN-20-03203

THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY Through the Administrator MS. LISA GRACE S. BERSALES, PHD.; CRISTINA FRIAS SUPE, TRISTAN FRIAS SUPE; RAYAN FRIAS SUPE AND ALL PERSONS WHO HAVE CLAIM ANY INTEREST WHICH WOULD BE AFFECTED THEREBY, Respondents. x-------------------------------------------------------x

ORDER A verified petition was filed on March 12, 2020 praying that a judgment be accordingly rendered allowing petitioner herein to use the surname of his father pursuant to the above-quoted pertinent provisions of Executive Order No. 209, which is otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines, as amended.

Finding the verified petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the Court gives due course thereto.

Considering that the National Capital Region (NCR) has been declared under General Community Quarantine, the verified petition is set for hearing on October 8, 2020 at 10:00 o’ clock to 10:30 o’clock in the morning.

WHEREFORE, let copy of this Order be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks at petitioner’s expense, upon coordination with the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regiona1 Trial Court, Quezon City. Hearing on the verified petition is hereby set on October 8, 2020 at 10:00 o’clock to 10:30 o’clock in the morning at Hall of Justice Annex Building, Quezon City, at which time and place, any person having interest in the petition may appear.

Let copies of this Order be posted by the Branch Sheriff/Process Server thirty (30) days before the hearing date at the following places at the expense of petitioner: 1. At the main entrance of the City Hall Building of Quezon City; 2. On the Bulettin Board of the Court, Hall of Justice Building, Quezon City; and 3 . At the Barangay Hall of the barangay where the property is located.

Petitioner through counsel is ordered to coordinate with the Branch Sheriff/ Process Server of this Court. as to the service of this Order and copy of his verified petition together with its annexes to the Office of the Solicitor General.

The Branch Sheriff/Process Server of this Court is directed to submit his Return showing’ proof of compliance and at least two (2) weeks before the hearing date.

Let copy of this Order be furnished the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City, and the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Counsel’s are directed to provide this Court with their electronic mail addresses and cellphone numbers. Orders and other court processes shall be sent through electronic mail rather than registered or private courier.

Europe still mired in division amid crisis SINCE taking in more than a million people fleeing war and poverty in 2015, Europe has stepped up border controls but still falls short on common migration and asylum policies.

At the time, the migrant crisis “laid bare Europe’s structural flaws and political divisions,” said Marie De Somer, a migration specialist at the European Policy Centre.

Until 2015, the Dublin regulation had called for the first EU country where asylum seekers arrived to deal with their applications.

But the system “completely exploded” under the pressure that year, De Somer said.

Early on, images of columns of migrants trekking across Europe and the body of three-year-old Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi washed up on a Greek beach sparked sympathy.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel set aside the rules in summer 2015 to allow 900,000 mostly Syrian asylum seekers in—soon followed by countries with less experience of mass arrivals like Austria and Sweden.

But a “quota” system to redistribute migrants among EU member countries, hastily cobbled together at Germany’s

request, never moved the 160,000 people originally agreed on.

Tightening the net Initial openness to the newcomers foundered on the opposition of central European countries led by Viktor Orban’s Hungary—as well as a surge in support for anti-immigration populist parties in western Europe.

For lack of agreement, the Schengen free-movement zone was “significantly weakened, with controls reinstated on several frontiers” between members, a senior French official familiar with migration policy said on condition of anonymity.

Some migrants fell through gaps in the legal system, wandering from one EU country to another filing new asylum claims as previous ones were rejected.

Meanwhile national governments tightened their own laws piecemeal, limiting refuge rights or raising the bar for granting asylum.

Paris “above all tried to speed up processing of requests to quickly reject the ones without merit,” the French official said.

But informal refugee camps in the

Berlin halts anti-virus rally as other cities protest masks

Should the parties opt that this case be heard via videoconferencing, a motion must be filed by their respective counsels through electronic mail stating the reason/s therein. Once the motion is granted, the parties will have to submit to this Court their documentary exhibit/s one (1) week prior to the scheduled hearing for prior disinfection of the documents.

Please take note of the safety protocol to be followed before an individual is allowed to enter the courtroom: Parties and their respective counsels including witnesses are directed to arrive on time for their court appearance, as each case shall be called one at a time and will be heard only within the period allotted. In the event that a witness would arrive after the period given for the case where he/she is set to testify, his or her testimony shall be considered waived.

Only the counsel, litigant and witness/s are allowed to enter the courtroom, individuals who have no business to be in court shall not be allowed to enter the courtroom nor loiter along the hallway.

Upon entering the Annex Hall of Justice Building, all parties including their counsels and witness/s are required to accomplish and submit their respective Declaration Forms to the guard on duty. Before entering the courtroom, each individual must subject their person to the thermal temperature scanner located at the entrance of the courtroom.

Every individual who shall enter the courtroom must properly wear the necessary protective gear i.e. face mask and/ or gloves and shall observe social distancing at all times. Anyone found to be not wearing the protective gear properly or observing social distancing shall be immediately sent out of the courtroom and sanctioned accordingly.

SO ORDERED. June 22, 2020, Quezon City, Metro Manila.

(Sgd.) MARIA LUISA LESLE G. GONZALES-BETIC Presiding Judge Copy furnished: Office of the City Prosecutor - Quezon City Office of the Solicitor General - Makati City Philippine Statistics Authority - 3/F Vibal Bldg., Times St., cor. DSA, West Triangle, Quezon City Office of the Local Civil Registrar .- Quezon City Civil Registrar General Ms. Lisa Grace Bersales, PHD --c/o Philippine Statistics Authority, PSA Complex, East Avenue, Diliman. Quezon City Atty. Cayetano Ramos - Alafriz Domingo Bartolome Lachica Agpaoa Calvan & Cantil (ADBLACC) Law Office - 4--1 Future Point Condominium III, 111 Panay Ave., Quezon City Clinton Rey Sarmiento Supe - South 17, Father Martinez St., Barangay Obrero, Quezon City Cristina F. Supe - 176 5th Street, Area 4, Veterans Village , Pasong Tamo, Quezon City Tristan F. Supe - 176 5th Street, Area 4, Veterans Village, Pasong Tamo, Quezon City Rayan F. Supe - South 17, Father Martinez St., Barangay Obrero, Quezon City (MStandard - Aug, 24, 31 & Sep. 7, 2020)

capital and northern port city Calais are now growing again—despite authorities doubling the number of places in state accommodation over five years.

“We have to stop this question from being a thorn in Europe’s side,” the official said.

“We’re no longer in crisis and we should be able to manage today’s arrivals.”

Last year 612,000 people made initial asylum requests in Europe, according to statistics authority Eurostat—around half the numbers seen in 2015-16.

Leverage over Europe But the decline in arrivals was bought with “agreements with non-EU countries at a significant cost for European values, and put the EU in a weak position,” said Matthieu Tardis at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI).

An EU-Turkey deal struck in 2016 calls for Ankara to accept the return of migrants arriving in Greece, in exchange especially for financial aid.

But it cemented “terrible health conditions” in migrant camps in Greece and “became a lever” for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to exert pressure on Europe, Tardis said. AFP

ALL of the migrants on board a rescue ship funded by British street artist Banksy have been transferred to other vessels, the team behind the mission said after their pinkand-white ship carrying more than 200 passengers sent an urgent call for help.

An Italian patrol vessel rushed to the stranded MV Louise Michel in the Mediterranean and took in 49 of the most vulnerable people on Saturday, the coastguard said.

The remaining migrants on board, around 150 people, were received by a vessel chartered by German NGO Sea Watch and medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF), according to tweets from both organisations and the Louise Michel’s crew.

“For those most recently embarked, medical assessment is ongoing, with the clinic full & #MSF medics treating people for fuel burns, dehydration, hypothermia & traumatic injuries,” the MSF Sea Twitter account said of the situation on board the Sea-Watch 4.

The German-flagged Louise Michel had said it needed aid after helping a boat carrying at least one dead migrant in the sea that divides Africa and Europe.

Its crew said the 31-metre (101-foot) ship had become overcrowded and unable to move, warning that some of the migrants had fuel burns and had been at sea for days.

“Given the danger of the situation, the coastguard sent a patrol boat to Lampedusa which took in 49 people deemed the most fragile, including 32 women, 13 children and four men,” said a coastguard statement.

The rescued migrants later said three people had died at sea before the arrival of the Louise Michel.

Banksy, who keeps his identity a secret, explained in an online video that he had bought the boat to help migrants “because EU authorities deliberately ignore distress calls from non-Europeans”.

‘Lack of reaction’ Sea-Watch 4, which has a clinic on board and is itself in search of a host port, said it was now carrying 350 people after sailing for four hours to help the Louise Michel.

Its crew decided to take action “in the face of the lack of reaction” from the authorities, a Sea Watch spokesman told AFP. The Louise Michel vessel’s crew of 10 had already rescued 89 people from a rubber boat in distress on Thursday. AFP

Turkey’s Erdogan flexed his muscles earlier this year by declaring his borders open, prompting tens of thousands of people to head for the Greek frontier.

PROTESTERS carried placards featuring German chancellor Angela Merkel as a prisoner.

German police Saturday halted a Berlin march by thousands opposed to coronavirus restrictions in the biggest of several European protests against anti-virus curbs and masks to halt the pandemic.

With new Covid-19 cases on the rise, European nations are starting to tighten controls while trying to avoid the major lockdowns imposed earlier this year to contain the outbreak that has killed more than 800,000 worldwide.

Across the globe, governments are struggling to revive economies already battered by the pandemic while managing public frustration over new restrictions and masks to curb infections.

In Germany, around 18,000 people had massed in Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate, before the rally was forced to stop due to a police injunction because many were not respecting social distancing measures.

The mass protest against pandemic restrictions had been allowed to go ahead

after a bitter legal battle.

“The minimum distancing is not being respected by most (of the demonstrators) despite repeated requests,” the police said. “There is no other option than to break up the gathering.”

Several thousands stayed on to protest after the announcement, chanting “resistance” and a small group clashed with police, tossing bottles and rocks. Two people were arrested, police said.

Protesters waved German flags and shouted “Merkel must go!”, a chant often used by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party against Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“I’m not an extreme right-wing sympathiser, I’m here to defend our fundamental freedoms,” said Stefan, a 43-year-old Berlin resident with a shaved head and a Tshirt with the words “Thinking helps” written in large print.

“We’re here to say: we have to be careful!

Coronavirus crisis or not, we must defend our freedoms,” Christina Holz, a 22-yearold student, told AFP. Anti-mask protesters also gathered in Zurich. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Business PSEi August 28, 2020 TOP GAINERS

T

RADING at the Philippine Stock Exchange is expected to remain sluggish during this shortened trading week due to lack of strong catalysts to boost investor sentiments.

Analysts expect the market to move between 5,700 points and 6,000 points over the near term period as investors remain concerned about the steady stream of COVID-19 cases in the country.

“Improvement in investors sentiment hinges on earnings and further reopening of the economy,” BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said.

Investors will be closely watching the release of the August inflation rate data as well Malacanang’s decision on whether to extend or further ease current

quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila and key provinces in the country.

Financial markets will be closed today as the nation celebrates National Hero’s Day. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index PSEi last week declined 2 percent to 5,884.18, while the broader All Shares Index fell 1.1 percent to 3,534.58.

Four of the six sectoral indices posted week-on-week declines, led by property which dropped 6 percent, holding firms which lost 2.4 percent and financials and industrial which slipped 0.1 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively.

The mining and oil index advanced 5.7percent while services climbed 2.2 percent.

Foreign investors were net sellers for the week by P4.8 billion, while the average daily value traded reached P9 billion from the previous week’s average of P5.3 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were Eagle Cement Corp., which jumped 17.4 percent to P12.30; PLDT Inc., which advanced 8.1 percent to P1,479; and Manila Water Co.

Inc., which rose 5.7 percent to P14.38.

Weekly top price losers were Ayala Land Inc., which fell 8.2 percent to P28.80; SM Prime Holdings Inc., which declined 5.8 percent to P29.20; and SM Investments Corp., which dropped 5.5 percent to P850.

Wall Street, meanwhile, flexed its muscles on Friday, with the Dow erasing its losses for the year and the S&P and Nasdaq again hitting records as investors shrugged off the ongoing coronavirus crisis, while markets elsewhere saw more moderate trading.

Much of the positive sentiment can be attributed to the Federal Reserve, which made clear that US interest rates will stay ultra-low as long as needed in a major policy shift announced Thursday.

That further buoyed stocks that had already climbed following their March Covid-19 downturn, after the Fed offered trillions of dollars in liquidity to keep markets functioning normally, with tech stocks doing particularly well as consumers spent more time at home. AFP

A man takes pictures on Tower Bridge from the near empty top of an open top tourist tour bus in central London on August 24, 2020. The World Travel & Tourism Council said this week that Britain’s economy will lose about £22 billion ($29 billion, 24 billion euros) this year because of the coronavirus outbreak. VisitBritain also forecast that the number of foreign tourists will plummet by 73 percent in 2020 to 11 million people.

The grounding of aircraft and travel restrictions have largely been blamed. Tolga Akmen/AFP

MOST ACTIVE

Virus forces London tourist guides to adapt to new rules curb the spread of the virus.

Numbers are currently limited but it’s the backLONDON, United Kingdom—“I don’t know if ground of the clients that has changed the most.

Where before Robinson and walking guides you’re aware, but we’re living through a pandemic right now,” says Joel Robinson with a smile as he like him played mainly to foreign tourists, now introduces his Jack the Ripper tour in London’s customers are mainly British.

Dwindling numbers of overseas clients are largeEast End. Robinson, a trained actor and history buff who ly down to quarantine measures imposed by the Britworks for the tourist company London With A ish government on foreign visitors.

“We have far more Britons than we had,” said Local, goes on to explain social distancing best Olivia Calvert, one of Robinson’s colleagues. practice to his nine clients.

Although he doesn’t wear them himself, he ad- “It’s a huge shift. They’re expecting something vises the tourists to wear masks and gloves before else, something different.”

Among the home-grown tourists traipsing they set off through the once-gloomy alleyways around the Ripper’s old haunts are Anne and of Victorian-era London.

Down darkened side streets and past shiny Nick Garner, a couple in their fifties from near new buildings, Robinson recounts the tale of the Manchester, in northwest England.

“We would have been abroad but we decided to still unidentified serial killer of five women who come to London,” said Anne Garner after her instalked the streets of Whitechapel in 1888.

London’s tourist guides are resuming their sight into the bloodthirsty past of the city’s East End. Getting creative work slowly as lockdown restrictions are eased, The 90-minute Jack the Ripper tour is one of and adapting to new health and safety rules to

By Benoit Pelegrin

KAILA-TRISH MASA

GREEN LIGHT

By Kaila-Trish Masa

ENTERING into our seventh month in quarantine, most of us have accepted the fact that the world will never be the same. It drastically shifted into something we barely recognize, and it continues to change at a pace that we could not keep up with.

And perhaps, this is the very reflection of how we came to be, after all these years.

As human beings settled and learned to harness abilities, the Earth became the subject of their incessant desire to achieve greater things.

Mother Nature has witnessed our constant thirst for something more. As a result, the world was never at a standstill. Day and night, people sought growth and development tirelessly, trying to find ways to make life easier, and somehow we succeed. Or so we thought. We cultivated routines and practices, seeking to establish a semblance of structure and order because we thought this would allow us to live better lives.

But somewhere along the way, the systems that we built—these systems with which we anchored our way of life, started to collapse. One thing that became so evident, especially nowadays, is that these systems needed to be reset.

Countries all over the world are facing an immense crisis that left not just the health sector gravely affected and vulnerable. This pandemic exposed many underlying economic, political, social, and environmental issues that further worsen the lives of millions of people and living beings in this world. Given that these circumstances require drastic shifts in the way governments and the people think and act, the World Economic Forum

London’s most popular, alongside the Harry Potter tour and another visiting the sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll hotspots of Soho.

“The British already know London’s famous monuments, so they expect something else,” said Calvert.

Antony Robbins is an independent guide affiliated to the Guild of Tourist Guides, the national professional association for Blue Badge Tourist Guides across the country.

Lack of demand has meant he has had to abandon his walks from Westminster to Buckingham Palace.

This week, he led his first “fooding” tour, taking a young woman and her mother to several restaurants and high-end patisseries in the British capital.

“We’re changing the way we work because we have to,” he said. “We need to be more creative.”

Although some guides have been able to go back to work, many tourism professionals—particularly freelancers not linked to major attractions—are finding it hard. AFP

The Great Reset recognized the need to make the call for change by unveiling an initiative referred to as “The Great Reset,” which will also be the theme of a unique twin summit they will be organizing in the early part of 2021. This initiative envisions to facilitate collaborative commitments of global leaders from various sectors around the world to foster systems that are more resilient, sustainable, and fair, while requiring a new social contract that puts greater emphasis on human dignity and social justice. This new contract would help ensure that financial and political developments are not given precedence over the progress of society and the environment as a whole.

I initially discovered The Great Reset after watching one of the videos for our Sustainability Management class. What struck me most was the context of the video and how it was able to depict the various struggles of the people and the environment. Ultimately, it embodied a serious call for us to make a change.

Our world has suffered and is continuously suffering a devastating loss that can never be easily healed. Months after and we are still struggling with the increasing number of COVID-19 cases.

Aside from this, there is unrest in our society, and the environment seems to worsen as time pass.

Most days, thinking about everything that is happening right now makes me feel hopeless and weak.

But I realized that if I start giving in to these negativities and simply wait for problems to subside, won’t it be just a waste of time and opportunity? I have been given a chance to learn and be educated. Utilizing my learnings to contribute to the betterment of society is a way to make something out of this privilege. I am not only a part of one organization but also of an extensive community that encompasses everyone in this world. If all of us just wait and hope

B3

extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market analysts anticipate sluggish trading this week

By Jennifer B. Austria

TOP LOSERS

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020 ||

for solutions to materialize, we are just going to be rooted in the same circumstances that would be detrimental in the long run. If we do not move and push forward, we will always be stuck in the repercussions of our actions, without really doing anything to correct them.

Future generations will bear the brunt of our mistakes, and they may not be able to enjoy the same benefits that we enjoy right now. None of us are getting any younger, and the circumstances are not getting any better. By simply opening our eyes and looking around us will make us see the need to act now. So, I take it upon myself to heed the call and pursue this journey for change, albeit it being difficult and uncomfortable, because this is how we grow and how we become. Growth cannot only be limited to the amount and degree of the results. It also lies in the process, in the practices, in the grueling and painful transitions of the hows.

The Great Reset is one of the many endeavors that spur people to act now and make a change. We need to recognize that our systems need a reset. And the most important thing is to realize that we all have a role to play. We cannot succeed with the actions of just a few. We are all members of one family, and we all deserve to have a place in this home, but this home also deserves the commitment of its people. It deserves to be protected and fought for, in the same way that the Earth has done for us for over six million years. So, this time around, it is on us.

The author is an MBA student of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University. This article is part of her blog, a requirement of the courses, Sustainable Business.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the position of De La Salle University, its faculty, and its administrators.

Spain struggles to put in place minimum basic income system MADRID, Spain—Three months after Spain rushed to launch a minimum basic income scheme to fight a spike in poverty due to the coronavirus pandemic, the program is at a dead-end because of an avalanche of applications.

The measure was a pledge made

by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s leftwing coalition government, which took office in January, bringing together his Socialist party with far-left Podemos as the junior partner.

The scheme—approved in late May—aims to guarantee an income of 462 euros ($546) per month for an adult living alone, while for families, there would be an additional 139 euros per person, whether adult or child, up to a monthly maximum of 1,015 euros per home. It is expected to cost state coffers three billion euros ($3.5 billion) a year.

The government decided to bring forward the launch of the program because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has hit Spain hard and devastated its economy, causing queues at food banks to swell.

Of the 750,000 applications which were filed since June 15 when the government started accepting requests, 143,000—or 19 percent— have been analyzed and 80,000 were approved, according to a social security statement issued on August 20.

‘Months of waiting’ But Spain main civil servant’s union, CSIF, paints a darker picture.

“Nearly 99 percent of requests have not been processed,” a union spokesman, Jose Manuel Molina, told AFP. The social security ministry has only really analyzed 6,000 applications while 74,000 households that already receive financial aid were awarded the basic income automatically, he added.

For hundreds of thousands of other households, the wait is stressful.

Marta Sanchez, a 42-year-old mother of two from the southern city of Seville, said she applied for the scheme on June 26 but has heard nothing since.

“That is two months of waiting already, when in theory this was a measure that was taken so no one ends up in the streets,” she added. AFP

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

B4

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020

IN BRIEF SEC okays Alsons’ bid to sell P1-b CP THE Securities and Exchange Commission approved the request of Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc. to sell P1 billion worth of commercial paper representing the second tranche of the P2.5-billion program registered with the commission in 2018.

Alsons said the proceeds would provide the firm, the publicly-listed company of the Alcantara Group, with interim funding for ongoing projects.

Alsons’ second tranche of the CP issuance received “PRS A plus (corp.) with a stable outlook” issuer credit rating from the Philippine Rating Services Corporation which means the company has an above average capacity to meet financial commitments relative to other Philippine corporates.

Among the factors cited by PhilRatings as basis for the rating were “the positive growth prospects for Mindanao which will bring about an increasing demand for power” and Alsons’ “ability to establish joint ventures with strong partners for particular projects.” Alena Mae S. Flores

Rockwell Land opts to refinance old debt ROCKWELL Land Inc., the real estate arm of the Lopez Group, said it will refinance old debts to take advantage of low interest rates.

Rockwell Land chief finance officer Ellen Almodiel said during the annual stockholders’ meeting the company already refinanced P4 billion worth of debts at lower interest rates.

Almodiel said the company in late 2019 also put in place facilities to finance capital spending requirements for the year.

He said because of the pandemic, the property firm deferred project launches this year and instead focused on construction of ongoing projects.

“We will continue to build beyond ordinary communities. The shift in market behavior because of the crisis has led to make changes in our plans to deliver more exciting developments. This includes a new 30-hectare self-contained inner city mixed-used development in Bacolod set to launch in 2021,” Rockwell Land chief revenue officer Valerie Soliven said. Jennifer B. Austria

Business CREATE bill to generate jobs, cut poverty—study

By Julito G. Rada

A

STUDY commissioned by the Department of Labor and Employment said the proposed Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act or CREATE bill will generate jobs and reduce poverty in the country.

The study, supported by the Department of Finance and the Asian Development Bank, said the proposed reforms in corporate taxation would level the playing field for businesses across the country, boost the flow of foreign direct investments and lead to a reduction in the prices of consumer goods.

A copy of the study titled “The Potential Economic Effects of Reducing Philippine Corporate Income Tax and Reforming Sectoral Incentives” was sent to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. “With these positive findings, the

DOLE is confident that CITIRA [now renamed CREATE] will facilitate the creation of more and better employment opportunities for our workers through a regionally competitive corporate tax rate and a level playing field for firms and industries across regions, especially for MSMEs and in lagging and underdeveloped regions,” Bello said in a letter to Dominguez.

The study focused on six key simulations in which the CIT is reduced in all exercises, but with different assumptions on how the reduction of the tax rate is balanced out, whether through higher borrowings or low-

er spending by the government.

Conducted by Dr. Caesar Cororaton of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University or Virginia Tech and Dr. Marites Tiongco of the De La Salle University School of Economics, the study was based on the original proposal called the Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act which seeks to gradually lower the CIT from 30 percent by 1 percentage point each year until the rate reaches 20 percent by 2029. This was a slower tax rate reduction than the one proposed under CREATE. The research was conducted before the outbreak of COVID-19. It said that in the simulation scenario, which considered the original CITIRA as envisioned by the government, with the deficit kept at 3.2 percent and the “Build, Build, Build” program in full swing, the services and agriculture sectors stand to benefit the most from the corporate tax reform in terms of employment, with the increase in jobs significantly larger in the skilled, than in the unskilled sector.

HEROES’ DAY CELEBRATION. Executives of Eastern Communications join the city of Manila in celebrating the National Heroes Day through the unveiling of murals in honor of national heroes in the newly refurbished Lagunislad underpass. Eastern Communications also rolled out initiatives to elevate the internet experience of Manila residents during the pandemic by installing 34 units of ‘MNLKonek’ digital kiosks along España Boulevard.

PH, Korea to resume free trade talks in September

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippines and South Korea will resume bilateral free trade negotiations in the second week of September in order to finalize an agreement before the end of the year.

Trade Undersectary Ceferino Rodolfo said the coronavirus pandemic delayed the meetings in the first half, leaving a number of issues to be addressed.

“Our target [is] to continue the discussions and arrive at an agreement before yearend. A number of practical delays due to the pandemic had affected the timeline, but we just have to move on,” he said.

Rodolfo, the Philippine government lead trade negotiator, was supposed to

go to South Korea in June but travel restrictions prevented the Philippine delegation from leaving the country.

He said adding to the delay was Korea’s appointment of a new chief negotiator for FTA matters after the previous negotiator, Park Young, was appointed as the President’s secretary on the Southeast Asia Policy.

Rodolfo said while travel restrictions were still in place, both parties were forced to meet online, with two meetings already conducted this year.

South Korea’s new chief negotiator and director-general for trade policy Yuk Sen Lee said in the last virtual meeting that there would be an opportunity for physical meetings before the FTA is finalized.

NGCP DONATION.

National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, the operator of the country’s power grid led by majority shareholders Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto Jr., turns over four brand-new ambulances to government hospitals around the country as part of its COVID-19 relief and response efforts. Rizal Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Ospital ng Sampaloc and Siargao District Hospital received one ambulance unit each from NGCP as part of the company’s P1-billion donation to the Filipino people.

Access to smoke-free products to curb smoking—expert EASIER access to better smoking alternatives will usher the decline of smoking prevalence, according to a British physician and tobacco control expert.

“Governments should make e-cigarettes easily available, introduce modest regulations to reduce the risk of irresponsible marketing and product safety approaches, and give a medical endorsement,” said Dr. John Britton, the director of the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies.

Britton said these are considered the key approaches for countries to adopt if they want to see smoking rates decline.

A member of the Royal College of Phy-

37.37 PTS. 5,884.18

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

3,728,783,061 105,798 8,263,716,907.47 87 102 56

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.6210

Japan

Yen

0.009388

0.4565

UK

Pound

1.321000

64.2283

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129031

6.2736

Switzerland

Franc

1.100110

53.4884

Canada

Dollar

0.762137

37.0559

Singapore

Dollar

0.731797

35.5807

Australia

Dollar

0.725800

35.2891

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652731

128.9780

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

12.9656

Brunei

Dollar

0.729129

35.4510

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000068

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.032031

1.5574

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.2381

Euro

Euro

1.182300

57.4846

Korea

Won

0.000842

0.0409

China

Yuan

0.145041

7.0520

India

Rupee

0.013533

0.6580

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.239808

11.6597

New Zealand

Dollar

0.664200

32.2941

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034074

1.6567 Source: BSP

DMCI Homes plans another housing project in Taguig City

By Jenniffer B. Austria DMCI Homes, the residential arm of the Consunji Group, plans to launch another residential development within Acacia Estates in Taguig City.

DMCI Homes president Alfredo Austria said the company was mulling over a new residential project called Alder Residences in the 150-hectare township to help the company weather the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Acacia Estates is always in our list because of the strong residential demand in the area. We’re also currently working on permits to utilize our land bank in Makati and Manila,” Austria said.

He said sales of residential projects remained strong despite the pandemic, giving the company confidence to launch two or three new properties before yearend DMCI Homes recently delivered the first building of the last project it launched at Acacia Estates―Mulberry Place. The four-building mid-rise development was sold-out just weeks after it was launched in 2017.

DMCI said since it was developed in 2007, Acacia Estates became a vibrant community of over 8,000 families living in various themed subdivisions and condominium developments.

Its strategic location in a thriving district in Taguig City makes it an ideal living destination for young families and young professionals doing business in McKinley Hill, Bonifacio Global City, Makati City and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

DMCI Homes introduced lifestyle establishments through Acacia Estates’ commercial quarter called Acacia Town Center in 2012.

Spanning about 22,000 square meters, Acacia Town Center houses restaurants, bills payment facility, currency exchange, salons, automated teller machines, coffee shops, commercial gym, supermarket and event venues like The Tent and the Casa Real heritage house.

DMCI worked with the local government of Taguig to open alternative routes going to and from the township development.

2 1600

PAL among world’s ten safest airlines PHILIPPINE Airlines was recognized as one of ten airlines with the highest safety credentials during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an independent subsidiary of travel industry advisory and consulting firm VIDEC. Safe Travel Barometer said PAL was one of more than 150 airlines audited on its COVID-19 safety credentials with 4.2 rating out of 5.0, the highest score.

“We are grateful for the unexpected recognition, and honored to be recognized for doing the right thing. PAL shall continue to maintain the highest standards of safety and the protection of the health of our colleagues and all the passengers in our care,” PAL president and chief operating officer Gilbert Santa Maria said.

Virendra Jain, co-founder and chief executive of Safe Travel said the fundamental premise of Safe Travel Score is to benchmark travel brands’ initiatives to reduce traveller anxiety.”

The flag carrier’s safe travel score tied with China Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, AirAsia Malaysia and UAE’s Emirates.

Lufthansa topped the list with 4.5, followed by Vistara, 4.4; Delta Airlines, 4.4; Allegiant Air, 4.4; China Airlines, 4.2; Hawaiian Airlines, 4.2; AirAsia ,4.2; Emirates, 4.2 and Alaska Airlines, 4.1.

Darwin G. Amojelar

PSE INDEX

Friday, August 28, 2020

sicians Tobacco Advisory Group and of the board of trustees of Action on Smoking and Health, Britton said, “clinical trials have demonstrated that vaping is probably the most effective way to quit smoking. The long-term harms of e-cigarette use are not known, but they will be substantially less than those of continued smoking or of attempting to quit unaided and then, as is usually the case, failing.”

“Electronic cigarettes are a game changer―there is no going back from that. The whole market in nicotine delivery has been revolutionized by these products and I just hope that there are

even more exciting products on the way,” he said.

“Smoking prevalence in the UK is falling fast, and faster than in the US and Australia where vaping is not endorsed by national authorities. Smoking decline in the UK will have generated savings to the National Health Service,” Britton said.

Public Health England and the RCP both concluded that e-cigarettes are around 95-percent less harmful than combustible cigarettes and can serve as a potential smoking cessation aid. ASH data suggest that there are currently 3.6 million vapers in the UK― about half the number of smokers.

The two parties’ failure to agree on tariff cuts on specific Philippine exports to Korea especially on agricultural products derailed the timeline of the agreement which should have been November 2019.

Manila specifically asked Seoul to reduce tariff on Korea-bound bananas and mangoes to 5 percent from 30 percent.

South Korea already waived tariffs on imported bananas from Latin America and other countries, except the Philippines.

South Korea asked the Philippines to scrap the 5-percent tariff on Korean cars to be at tariff parity with Japanese cars imported from Asean countries. Imported Japanese cars have 0 tariffs.

South Korea was also keen on having preferential duty treatment for South Korean car parts.

DOOH launches largest digital billboard on EDSA

THE lockdown could be the craziest thing that happened for many Filipinos―and definitely for the rest of the human race― for disrupting our normal activities. But there’s always a silver lining behind the crisis―people learn together to make do with what they have, live simply and love and look for the well-being of every member of the family.

“More than anything else, all we need now is healing and prayer for everyone, to lift up one another, to build up partnerships, and unite,” said Alvin Carranza, founder of Digital Out-Of-Home Philippines, one of the leading billboard companies in the country.

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought the best, and unfortunately, the worst―in some members of the human race. But for the amiable CEO, the current crisis is not the time to play the blaming game.

“What we can do is to wait for God to calm this storm we are all in. He alone can defeat the unseen enemy that is trying to devour us. The most we can do is to trust and pray to Him for the world’s healing, for protection of families and every frontliner we know, for provision and for calmness to all in facing this crisis,” said Carranza.

DOOH PH has been instrumental in

bringing in unity among the Filipinos and serving the much needed concrete information for all in recent years. Digital displays such as Pray for Wuhan, Bangon Batangas and Pray for Lebanon are from DOOH PH. With the digital billboards, it has become a usual sight to see updates on the country’s battle against the virus and other calamities in the form of messages, important numbers, contact persons and the like.

DOOH PH which has 3,700 platform sites in the metro is airing the public announcements for free. This is done during free airtime, according to Carranza.

That’s why even in the mid of the pandemic, the company lighted its EDSA Mandaluyong northbound digital billboard on Aug 19 without the usual fanfare that goes with event launching.

The biggest and tallest digital billboard screen on EDSA, a 34,200-square-foot tower, DOOH PH intends to help global and local brands sell their products and services. Further, the company intends to help the country’s sluggish economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic by helping SMEs reopen their businesses and sell local products. This is aside from providing free broadcast announcement by different government agencies.

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020

C1

Bucks advance after triggering NBA shutdown

Sports Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks against the Orlando Magic for Game five of the first round of the 2020 Playoffs as part of the NBA Restart 2020 on August 29, 2020 at AdventHealth Arena in Orlando, Florida. AFP

Rakic subdues Smith at UFC Fight Night

By Reuel Vidal ALEKSANDAR Rakic continued his climb up the UFC ladder with a dominant unanimous decision victory at Light Heavyweight over Anthony Smith in the main event of UFC Fight Night at the UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, August 30, 2020.

A fearsome striker Rakic demonstrated a well-rounded game when he took down Anthony and then mounted him several times in the three-round fight.

“Everybody underestimate my grappling and wrestling. But I’ve been working on my wrestling especially the past few months. I brought a new coach, a wrestler. I showed the world that I am not only a dangerous striker.

I can wrestle. I can dominate on the ground. These guys need to take me seriously. I am in the top 5 now,” said Rakic in the post-fight interview.

Both fighters traded chopping leg kicks early in the first round until Rakic used his right foot to unload a pair of vicious leg kicks on Smith’s lead left leg which dropped him to the floor.

Rakic then clamped down with an attempted guillotine which Smith escaped from. Rakic pushed Smith against the cage and then mounted him into full guard.

In the second round Smith connected with a pair of lead rights which appeared to briefly rock Rakic. Unfazed, Rakic again used his strength to bring Smith down into the canvas and mounted him, this time at the center of the Octagon.

The third round was a repetition of the first two round as Rakic continued to mount a strategic and composed fight, content to coast to victory.

The 28-year-old Austrian tallied his 13th victory in his last 14 fights where he suffered a controversial split decision loss to Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Fight Night 165 on December 21, 2019 at Sajik Arena, Busan, South Korea.

Meanwhile, Neil Magny won by unanimous decision over Robbie Lawler at Welterweight in the co-main event.

In other fights of the Main Card Alexa Grasso made a successful debut at Women’s Flyweight with a decision victory of Ji Yeon Kim; and Ricardo Lamas won by decision over Bill Algeo at Featherweight.

Saso rules Japan LPGA Nitori Ladies golf tilt

By Peter Atencio

Y

UKA Saso of the Philippines ruled the Japan LPGA Nitori Ladies golf tournament.

In doing so she became the first rookie champion when action ended at the Otaru Country Club in Hokkaido.

The 19-year-old Saso capped the fourth and final round with a oneunder 72, and an overall tally of 13 under par 275.

She stood her ground amidst challenges from Japanese Sakura Koiwai.

Koiwai, a 22-year-old pro from Hokkaido, ended the round with even par 72 for 11-under overall.

The Japanese bogeyed thrice and still managed to stay within reach of Saso with three birdies.

With the win, Saso went on to bag the top prize of P16.5 million, and earn the distinction as the first ladies pro rookie in Japan to win back-toback championships, and the third in Tour history to do so.

This earned her P27.5 million in her three tournaments.

This is her second win in three weeks after capturing the NEC Kuruizawa title two weeks ago in Nagano.

She recovered from two bogeys and a birdie on the back nine before making par on the final three holes.

The other day, Saso kept her tight grip of the lead with a 68 in the penultimate round, and get a one-stroke lead into the final round.

This was after she sustained a double bogey on the par-four second hole.

The rookie hauled in a four-under card after a 67 and a 69 in the first two rounds.

Barangay Ginebra guard LA Tenorio (with ball) is surrounded by three Meralco Bolts players, from right: Allein Maliksi, Chris Newsome and Nard Pinto. PBA Media

MIAMI, United States—The Milwaukee Bucks powered into the second round of the NBA playoffs on Saturday (Sunday Philippine time), three days after their refusal to take the court in the wake of a police shooting in Wisconsin brought the post-season to a halt.

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 28 points and grabbed 17 rebounds and the Bucks led by as many as 21 on the way to a 118-104 victory over the Orlando Magic.

Milwaukee won the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series 4-1 to line up a second-round clash with the Miami Heat, who swept the Indiana Pacers 4-0.

In the Western Conference, Anthony Davis scored 43 points and LeBron James kept his perfect first-round playoff record alive as the Los Angeles Lakers beat Portland 131-122 to clinch their series in five games.

James won all 14 playoff firstround series in which he has played.

“We knew this was a hot Portland team. We wanted to come in and get better and better as the series went on, and we did that,” said James.

Just days earlier there was a real chance that players would opt out of the remainder of the post-season in the NBA’s coronavirus quarantine bubble in Orlando, Florida.

The Bucks were prepared to forfeit game five against the Magic on Wednesday after the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. AFP

Tenorio wants to play 20 years in the PBA BARANGAY Ginebra guard LA Tenorio has won five PBA titles, a Best Player of the Conference award and is a threetime PBA Finals MVP. He is apparently not done yet as he seeks more challenges in his basketball career.

“I’m on my 15th year, going on 16th.

Gusto ko rin habulin yung 20 years,” Tenorio said in a recent interview referencing the 20-year career of NBA legend Kobe Bryant.

Tenorio joined the league with the San Miguel Beermen as the fourth overall pick of 2006. He was traded to the Alaska Aces in 2008 and then to Ginebra in 2012.

“May famous quote si Boss (Fred) Uytengsu (Alaska team owner), ‘Good enough never is.’ Kay Kobe, di ‘pwede good. Let’s try for greatness. Yung influence niya sa team niya, kung papaano siya mag-work, gusto niya yung team ganun din. Let’s try for greatness,” said Tenorio.

It’s not surprising that Uytengsu’s words still resonate with Tenorio. He joined the league in 2006 but won his first title with the Aces. He helped the squad win the 2010 Fiesta Cup crown. In the process he also won the PBA Finals MVP Award.

Tenorio earned another accolade March, 2019 when he established a new PBA record for most consecutive games played at 597 which eclipsed the previous mark of 596 set by Alvin Patrimonio.

Tenorio says it took discipline and hard work to stay in shape for that long.

He hopes to add more games to his tally as soon as the PBA resumes its calendar of activities.

Tenorio joined Ginebra in 2012 but the team did not win another PBA crown until Tim Cone took over the coaching reins in 2015.

Senator Pacquiao focused on his work, not ratings

Senator Manny Pacquiao says he is just focused on work and not surveys. Sonny Espiritu

A DAY after topping the country’s highest approval and trust ratings among his fellow senators, Sen. Manny Pacquiao has remained focused in staying in shape, while providing help to fellow Filipinos nationwide in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The 41-year-old Pacquiao (62-7-2 win-lossdraw record, with 39 knockouts) has been in General Santos City since July, doing his daily boxing training regimen to remain fit and be ready for his next fight once the pandemic is over.

But the eight-division world champion has also committed in helping his fellow Filipinos, particularly the poor, as he has continuously provided them with food, medicine and shelter, among others, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In May for instance, Sen. Pacquiao, in cooperation with billionaire philanthropist and Alibaba co-founder and executive chairman Jack

Ma, donated 50,000 more Covid-19 testing and extraction kits.

This is in addition to the first batch of 57,600 Covid-19 testing kits from Ma back in March.

The senator also donated 600,000 face masks.

Pacquiao’s special assistant Jayke Joson clarified that the fighting senator is not after the survey, but is instead focused on the welfare of his countrymen.

“Since Covid-19 started, the first priority of our Senator MP (Manny Pacquiao) is how to help his fellow Filipinos affected by this pandemic. He’s not doing this to seize the spotlight from anybody because we all know that he is already a popular person,” said Joson.

In a survey conducted by the Pahayag SONA

by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. from August 1 to 11, Pacquiao had the highest approval rating from among the senators with 70.80 percent.

He was followed in the poll by senators Mary

Grace Poe, 45.8 percent; Juan Miguel “Migs” Zubiri, 44.47 percent; Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, 42.20 percent; and Panfilo Lacson, 41.87.

Pacquiao was also no. 1 in the list of most trusted senators, with 62.73 percent.

Behind him are Go at 32.87 percent; Poe at 32.53 percent; Zubiri, 27.27 percent; and Lacson, 26.60 percent.

Pacquiao’s popularity, Joson said, is a given for the reigning World Boxing Association welterweight titleholder, explaining that this is due to “The will of God, making him as an instrument to help the Filipinos.”

“He (Pacquiao) is focusing on helping the people and the people are very aware of it. So if the people believe our senator, it is because of what they see and feel, and what he can provide everyday to them,” explained Joson. “Glory be to God, that’s what the senator always say.”

C2

Sports

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

POC accepts four new sports bodies FOUR new sports bodies will be part of the Philippine Olympic family.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said this at the end of Saturday’s virtual meeting of the POC General Assembly.

The new organizations that have been accepted include the Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation, the Philippine Underwater Hockey Confederation, the Philippine E-sports organization and Philippine National Federation of Polo players.

Tolentino said they will now be considered as associate members.

He added that the POC is now accepting the Philippine Pole and Aerial Sports Association as a recognized member.

The acceptance of the four sports organizations was finalized after the membership status of karatedo and dancesports were formally updated to regular.

This was done after a recent change in leadership in karatedo and the introduction of break dancing in the Tokyo Olympics.

Karatedo is represented by Karate Pilipinas, through its president Richard Lim. Dancesport is under the group of the Dancesport Council of the Philippines, which is led by Becky Garcia.

The PKF lost recognition from the POC after cases of malversation were filed against its leaders back in 2018.

A new body eventually took over in handling the situation concerning the national team, and its affair.

Break dancing will be one of the new events which will be played in the Tokyo Olympics. Peter Atencio

FEU Chessers 94’ defeat Edmonton Canada Chess Team FAR Eastern University Chessers 94’ tamed Edmonton Canada Chess Team anew at Lichess Team Battle last weekend.

FEU was bannered by Gilo Estrella – who was the leading scorer for the Tamarraws, US-based Rainier Labay, Ritchie Evangelista, Leo Penaredondo and Christopher Megino. They outplayed the Canadian woodpushers.

Team Captain Alvin “Babin Smith” Guevarra, also a former member of FEU Chess Team ’94, fielded a stronger line up this time led by 2020 Edmonton Champion Butch Villavieja, FM Belsar Valencia, Venezuelan Rafael Arruebarena and former Edmonton Kiddie champion Mark Ivanescu.

Other members of the Edmonton chess team are Dante Briones, Joseph Young and Mark Tuvera. It was a struggling opening salvo for both teams as they tried to outperform each other.

For a time the Canadian squad led by nine points, until Gilo Estrella, an employee of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), stepped up to carry the team to victory.

This event was organized by FEU Chess Team and Edmonton Filipino chess players to promote online chess tournament and camaraderie among players from different parts of the globe.

Meanwhile, International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia struck again in online chess.

Fresh from winning the 1st Red Cedar National Online Blitz chess championships last August 20 Garcia topped the just concluded Arena International Master Rey Urbiztondo Anniversary Arena online chess tournament last Wednesday at lichess.org.

Garcia, a program manager and head coach of Ateneo de Manila University chess team tallied 50 points to capture the title and the top prize of P5,000 in the event organized by Arena Grandmaster Henry Roger Lopez.

International Master Lucas Liascovich settled for runner up honor to bring home P4,000 while International Master Alexander Ulanov won P3,000 for third place.

Rounding up the top six are Grandmaster Mark Paragua (4th), Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. (5th) and World IPCA champion Fide Master Sander Severino (6th).

Finally, IM Angelo Young, founder of Till I Met You-TIMY group said the 2nd Red Cedar National Online Blitz chess championships gets underway on September 24.

The free registration online chess tournament is sponsored by Captain Elmer Cruz, CE Ben Piramide, 4/0 Richard Belarmino, Angel Nikko Nieves , US master Florentino Inumerable, AGM Anji Camer, Falco Family, Mr. Rajacatur, Mr.Johnny Teves, Dr. Fred Paez, Dr. Jenny Mayor and Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe.

Knott breaks Lydia’s 33-year mark

By Peter Atencio

K

RISTINA Marie Knott ran against two superstars, broke the Philippine national record and earned the silver medal in the women’s 100-meter run during the celebrity-laced Drake Blue Oval Showcase Presented by Mediacom at Drake Stadium in de Moines, Iowa last Sunday, Philippine time.

Filipina Denice ‘The Menace’ Zamboanga (right) feints with a right straight before lunging forward to take down Watsapinya ‘Dream Girl’ Kaewkhong into the canvas during their fight at ONE: A New Breed at the Impact Arena, Bangkok, Thailand. Zamboanga won by submission in the first round. ONE Championship

Zamboanga posts first submission win at ONE

By Reuel Vidal

THERE’S a first time for everything.

Unbeaten ONE Atomweight contender Denice Zambaoanga tallied her first victory by submission when she beat Thai national judo champion Watsapinya “Dream Girl” Kaewkhong in the first round at ONE: A New Breed at the Impact Arena, Bangkok, Thailand last Friday, August 28, 2020.

Denice dominated the standup exchanges but obviously wanted a quick finish. She took down Watsapinya for the second time in the first round and easily moved into side control.

While on top Zamboanga grabbed Watsapinya’s left hand with her own left and pinned it down to the mat. She then slipped her right arm from beneath Watsapinya’s body to under her left elbow.

Denice then lifted her right arm, twisting Watsapinya’s arm and forcing the submission by Americana.

“I’m very happy that I won tonight. It’s my first time to win by submission. If you saw my earlier fights it was all decision. It’s my first time to win by submission. And then I won by kimura. I didn’t even include kimura in my training.

I’m very grateful that to win alongside my brother,” said

Denice in a post-fight interview.

The young Filipina actually executed an Americana (because Watsapinya’s forearm was pointing upwards) and not a kimura, which is a submission with the forearm pointing downwards.

After beating Mei Yamaguchi last February 28 Zamboanga is already the Number 1 ranked contender behind ONE Women’s Atomweight Champion Angela Lee. She is already scheduled to fight Lee but chose to stay active to take on Watsapinya.

“Tune-up game ko para kay Angela Lee. Para sa akin, itong fight na ito, para maging active din ako habang sarado pa rin ang border. Nag take advantage na ako ng chance na nandito ako sa Thailand para makalaban ako. Iniisip ko rin na yung kalaban ko parang si Angela Lee na siya,” said Zamboanga in a separate interview.

“It’s very hard because there’s a pandemic going on around the world. Hopefully when everything goes back to normal I will get a title shot soon. And I’m very excited too.”

Zamboanga, unmarked and looking fresh during the postfight interview, hardly worked up a sweat after winning just a minute-and-a-half into the first round. She said she’d be happy to fight again before challenging for the ONE Atomweight crown.

Knott ran in a tough field which included 2016 Olympic gold medalist Tianna Bartoletta and world no. 7 ranked and United States indoor champion Kayla White.

But, this brought the best out of the 24-year-old Knott, who took the lead early before White bolted forward from Bartoletta’s right at the 30-meter mark to win the gold medal.

White came close to the Olympic qualifying time with her 11.18 second clocking. The 5’6” Knott cruised to second place at a national recordsmashing 11.27 seconds set with a tailwind of 1.5 meters per second blowing in her favor.

The Olympic qualifying time in the women’s 100 is set at 11.15 seconds.

Bartoletta, who is the reigning Olympic long jump champion and shares credit for the US gold medal win in the 4x100 meter relays, settled for third with a season’s best time of 11.44 seconds.

The Florida-based Knott shattered Philippine track legend Lydia de Vega-Mercado’s one of her two remaining national records.

The national mark of 11.28 seconds stood for 33 years set when de Vega-Mercado claimed the gold in the 1987 Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta.

The last time Knott set a national record was during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games when she reset Zion Corrales-Nelson’s time of 23.18 seconds with her 23.01 second feat in the women’s 200-meters.

So far, de Vega-Mercado still has one record left standing and that’s in the 4x400-meter relays of 3:40.9 set back in 1993.

Knott’s coach Rohsaan Griffin said White and Bartoletta provided huge challenges for her ward.

“The wind was 1.5 so basically perfect condition. The other athletes gave a strong challenge in the beginning although Kristina had a good start and decent 30-40 meters. Both Tianna and Kayla are sub 11 runners with Kayla running 11.19 today,” said Griffin in an interview with the Manila Standard.

James somber after losing Black Panther and Black Mamba in 2020

LeBron James (23) and Anthony Davis (3) of the Los Angeles Lakers slap hands at the sidelines during Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on August 29, 2020 at AdventHealth Arena in Orlando, Florida. AFP

Serena sets sights on 24th slam title

NEW YORK, United States—Serena Williams’ protracted pursuit of Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles resumes at a 2020 US Open that promises to be unlike any other.

The absence of fans because of coronavirus concerns means the buzz and hubbub that define the US Open will be missing.

Williams, whose 23 major victories are an Open-era record, will have nothing but her own skill and will to get her through the tough moments as she seeks a recordbreaking seventh title on the hard courts at Flushing Meadows.

“I don’t dislike it and that’s weird because I am a player that is so emotional and so, like, a crowd player,” Williams said upon returning to action after the WTA’s coronavirus shutdown. “Kind of reminds me of the junior days. There is something nostalgic about that.”

LOS ANGELES, United States – LeBron James described 2020 as the worst year of his life on Saturday (Sunday Philippine time), with the Los Angeles Lakers superstar losing two of his black heroes just seven months apart.

James honored actor Chadwick Boseman prior to the Lakers game five firstround playoff contest against Portland by folding his arms across his chest in the Wakanda salute from the Black Panther movie.

Boseman, star of the ground-breaking superhero blockbuster, died at the age of 43 this week after a battle with cancer. His death comes seven months after former Laker icon Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash.

“To lose the Black Panther and the Black Mamba in the same year, we can all agree that 2020 is the (expletive) year ... in my 35 years, there is no question,” said James.

James also talked about stepping up his leadership both on and off the court in the NBA’s pandemic bubble, using his platform to ignite social justice change in communities across the United States.

“It is great to be back on the floor. But more important it is good to have a (social justice) plan and execute it and put

into action right away,” said James, who scored 36 points as the Lakers reached the second round of the playoffs with a 131122 win in over the Trail Blazers.

James this week helped negotiate the NBA’s restart after the players decided to boycott three days of playoff games following the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Wisconsin.

He was part of an initiative Saturday to get Staples Center and other NBA arenas designated as polling stations for the US presidential election this year.

James, who is no fan of US President Donald Trump, has spoken out numerous times since the Black Lives Matter protests started that change can happen when Americans use their right to vote.

“Having NBA arenas for polling sites is unbelievable,” James said. “November is just around the corner and we all understand how important that is.”

James said the players did consider not playing any more games this season, but added he was confident throughout the talks that they could work out a deal with the owners.

“There was some doubt,” James said.

“It is great that we put together a plan. We are going to execute it. That is what we have been able to do the last few days.

Playing in a virtually empty Ashe stadium, which seats more than 23,000, could be another story.

“Playing in New York is going to be interesting, because the stadium is huge,” Williams said. “But I do practice in empty stadiums, so I have played in New York on Arthur Ashe Stadium when it was empty and it was great.

“I guess I have to kind of lean on that.”

It has been more than three years since Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open – when she was already pregnant with daughter Olympia.

She’s come close since, reaching four major finals only to come up empty handed.

“I’ve definitely been stuck,” said Williams, who seems to have grown weary of Serena Williams returns a shot to Maria Sakkari of Greece during the Western & the questions about Court’s record if not the Southern Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 25, 2020 chase itself. AFP in the Queens borough of New York City. AFP

Entertainment Filipino teen wins ‘The Voice Kids’ UK 2020 THE Voice Kids UK has finally come to an end after 13-year-old Justine Afante was declared winner of the 2020 series.

During the finals held Aug. 29 (Aug. 30 in Manila), Justine (Team Pixie) competed for the top spot against Danny Jones's 10-year-old singer George ­Elliott, Will.i.am's Victoria Alsina, 7, and Palo-

ma Faith's Dara McNicholl, 12.

"I'm in so much shock. I didn't... They were all so good and I didn't think I was going to be the one," the teen singer said after being named this year’s winner.

Justine sang a powerful rendition of Beyonce's “Listen” for the solo performance before taking to the stage with

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020

C3

Teen singer Justine Afante burst into tears when she was called grand winner on ‘The Voice Kids’ UK 2020 edition.

Pixie to perform "Don't you worry bout a thing."

The show was filmed without a studio audience, although, instead had a virtual audience, which voted for the contest's ultimate winner, as families at home watched live streams direct from filming. Nickie Wang

Game changers Wally Bayola (right) and Paolo Ballesteros

ARIAS

A

ALWYN IGNACIO

RE we ready for a change, especially with our primetime television viewing habits?

‘Newsmakers’ host Winnie Monsod

Winnie Monsod delves into PhilHealth corruption issues THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth is once again involved in allegations of corruption, this time involving P15-B worth of funds amid the pandemic. Some fear that the state-run agency could go bankrupt by 2022.

Today, economist and Newsmakers host Solita “Winnie” Monsod talks to one of the whistle-blowers, former Anti-Fraud Legal Officer Atty. Thorsson Montes Keith. Keith reveals how the cash advance payment scheme called the ‘Interim Reimbursement Mechanism’ (IRM) was used to unevenly advance payment to 771 hospitals since April.

Professor Monsod discusses how PhilHealth has addressed the corruption allegations with its Corporate Communication Department’s Sen-

ior Manager Rey Baleña. Also joining Monsod is former Commission on Audit Commissioner and Officer-inCharge Heidi Mendoza.

Meanwhile, in this week’s “Tita Reacts” segment, Tita Winnie goes against three GMA News and Public Affairs personalities—Ivan Mayrina, Mariz Umali, and Pia Arcangel—for the ‘Real or Unreal?’ food challenge.

Will they be able to accurately identify the real food from several hyperrealist photos and drawings?

Tita Winnie’s #plantita journey continues as she finally plants some seed into the ground. Will Tita Winnie’s daily talk with her plant babies help her succeed in the container gardening challenge?

Newsmakers airs Monday, 8:30 p.m. on GMA News TV.

The melodramatic twist in the evening program staples has found its newest rival in TV5’s glorious quest to changing the entertainment landscape on primetime.

“TV5’s rebranding is anchored in providing Filipinos with inspiring and entertaining shows especially in these trying times. With our recent merger with Cignal, we are beefing up its programming with the launch of exciting new programs,” says programming head Perci Intalan.

Two of its official game changers are Bawal na Game Show and Fill in the Bank featuring the power comic tandem of Wally Bayola and Paolo Ballesteros, and Jose Manalo and Pokwang, respectively.

“Wally and I act as twins Bebe Ghorl and Barby Ghoul, and we are the ones who present the challenges to the contestants. Kami rin ang main source of their distraction and yes, mas pasaway kami sa contestants kasi we are the ones who tease them to break the rules,” Ballesteros

Alfred Vargas initiates new project inspired by his late grandma OCCASIONAL actor and Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas recently launched PWeDe!, a program that focuses on supporting PWD (persons with disabilities) livelihood centers and providing wheelchairs and hearing aids to those with special needs.

Alfred Vargas recently launched PWeDe!, a program that focuses on giving differently abled people livelihood assistance.

Senior graduating students with disabilities can also be granted financial aid through Vargas’ “Pantawid Graduation” program, while skills development and leadership training for both young and old will be organized by the third-termer legislator.

“It’s time to empower PWDs who have long suffered from neglect. WithPWeDe!, we wanted to give our PWDs a chance to have their own source livelihood, finish school, and have better lives,” Vargas said during an online event.

Vargas’ life-long advocacy for PWDs was rooted in his early awareness of the difficulties they go through on a daily basis. His grandmother had her legs

amputated due to bone cancer when he was eight years old.

“Losing her leg changed my lola’s life. From being a vibrant and active person, she suddenly had limited mobility and was confined to a wheelchair until the last days of her life. Seeing my lola’s ordeal planted the seed of this advocacy of mine long ago,” Vargas recalled.

Inspired to make life better for PWDs like his grandmother, Vargas collected tabs of soda cans in school for donation to a non-profit group that makes wheelchairs. As an actor, he also looked out for the welfare of entertainment industry workers with disabilities.

On his first term as councilor in 2011, Vargas filed an ordinance establishing a Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) in Quezon City. The ordinance was swiftly passed with the support of the city council, making Quezon City one the first local government units in the country to have an office dedicated to PWDs. Vargas continues his advocacy for PWDs in the House of Representatives. Among the bills he has already filed are HB 1393(An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disabilities), HB 2017 (An Act Mandating the Provision of Exclusive Parking Space for Persons with Disability and Penalizing Unauthorized Use Thereof), HB 3489 (An Act Providing for Accessibility to Built Environment, to Transportation, Information and Communications Technology and to Other Facilities and Services Open or Provided to the Public for Persons with Disabilities), and HB 4021 (An Act to Provide Persons with Disabilities with Online Volunteerism Opportunities).

PWeDe! was launched on Aug. 22, which coincides with the birthday of Vargas’ mother, Atty. Susana D. Vargas, who succumbed to cancer in 2014.

shares.

Bayola reveals: “Yung winner na hilong-hilo siya ang kasali sa final round kung saan double ang chances of winning. P50,000 in each ang iuwi ng pinaka-pasaway.”

The show aims to bring its one-ofa-kind game experience to its audiences at home. They will not only enjoy watching the show from the comforts of their home, but Pokwang and Jose Manalo they also get the chance to participate as home partners of

the studio contestants.

“We want the show to become a breather. Yung wait time out muna from the all the things na bawal sa ngayon. Kami ni Wally, we want to bring entertainment to households all over the country. Feeling ko, perfect ang show namin in spreading hope and optimism sa lahat.”

Wally, in agreement, concludes,“We don’t want people to be sad. Grabe na ang burden at trouble na meron tayo ngayon because of the pandemic. This is our modest share to make everyone feel that they are not alone in this trying time.”

With its master Manalo and mistress Pokwang, Fill in the Bank, on the other hand gives contestants a chance of winning up to P150,000 in every episode. “ I t e x cites me to know who are guests are going to be. Yung may kakatok sa dressing room mo na someone you have worked before na na-miss mo talaga.

This show is so much fun,” says Pokwang.

Fill in the Bank airs Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:30 p.m., while Bawal na Game Show airs 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, and 7:00 p.m. every Saturday.

YouTube launches platform to provide free access to all-time local TV, movie, and sports favorites YOUTUBE, in collaboration with media partners, launches Super Stream in the Philippines to give free access to some of the country’s favorite video contents across a variety of genres for a limited time.

Every week until Sept. 26, YouTube fans can watch over 300 hours of bingeworthy content including local blockbuster movies, hit shows, romance flicks, historic sports matches, inspiring documentaries, and more from media partners such as ABS-CBN, GMA, TBA Studios, One Sports, One Championship and DAZN. “Every day, Filipinos go to YouTube

to learn, share their passions, or be entertained. As people limit going out to remain well, we want to make staying safe at home better by introducing Super Stream so everyone can access movies, TV shows, and more for free,” said Gabby Roxas, Marketing Head of Google Philippines.

“Whether it is a box office hit, classic TV show, sports event, or documentary, there is Super Stream content for entertainment needs on

top of the YouTube videos from favorite creators,” Roxas added.

Stay tuned to Google’s Facebook channel to know the latest lineup of Super Stream contents for the week.

With Super Stream, YouTube fans can watch over 300 hours of binge-worthy content from ABS-CBN, GMA, TBA Studios, One Sports, One Championship, and DAZN.