Manila Standard - 2020 September 19 - Saturday

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EU vows to scrap PH trade perks over slays

Palace hits back: Go ahead, make Filipinos suffer amid pandemic

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HE European Union, a political and economic union of 27 member states, has threatened to revoke the exports tariff exemption of the Philippines, which it claimed had a “deteriorating” human rights record.

The threat instantly drew a strong taunt from Malacanang, the seat of political power in the Philippines, which said the world would be looking at the EU “as an entity that added to the suffering of an entire country at this time of the pandemic.”

The Philippines, a member of the 10-nation largely economic alliance Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has some of its exports enjoying tariff breaks under the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) – a mechanism that gives developing countries the privilege of exporting zero-duty merchandise to EU-member states.

Apparently rubbed up the wrong way, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told a news conference: “If they want to add to the suffering of the Filipino people at this time of a pandemic, so be it...Let’s end the discussions already. They should do what they want to do. At this time, if they want to implement it, (let them) go ahead.”

LOCAL ROUNDUP • State of calamity extended by a year • Cemeteries closed

By Julito Rada, Othel Campos, and Willie Casas PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has extended the state of calamity due to the COVID-19 pandemic until September 2021.

“The extension, will, among others, effectively afford the national government as well as local government units ample latitude to continue utilizing appropriate funds, including the Quick Response Fund, in their disaster preparedness and response efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, monitor and control prices of basic necessities and prime commodities, and provide basic services to the affected populations,” read Proclamation No. 1021 released by the Palace late Friday afternoon.

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VOL. XXXIV • NO. 197 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM SEPTEMBER 18)

279,526 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

3,275 65,906 NEW

ACTIVE

4,830

47

208,790

733

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

VIRTUAL AND LIVE. Emmy statues are seen before the 70th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California in this file photo taken on Sept.17, 2018. No red carpet, no star-studded audience and no ‘Game of Thrones’—this year’s Emmys honoring the best in television promise to be radically different as producers scramble to create Hollywood’s first major pandemic-era award show. The show unfolds Sunday. AFP

3 super powers assert PH arbitral award against China’s vast claims

FRANCE, Germany, and the United Kingdom submitted a note verbale to the United Nations, asserting the 2016 arbitral award that rejected China’s vast “historical claims” in the resource-rich

South China Sea. The Philippines on Friday thanked the three European nations for calling out China’s excessive claims in the South China Sea but said it was not re-

ANTI-CRIME DRIVE. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte tries her hand at a sniper rifle during a turnover ceremony.

QC police district’s SWAT takes delivery of a robotic vehicle, sub machine guns and snifer rifles in a bid to boost the city’s campaign against criminality.

alistic to raise the issue before the UN cannot be erased,” presidential spokesGeneral Assembly. man Harry Roque said from Baguio City.

“We thank these countries because our Roque said the decision of the Pervictory in the arbitral tribunal that said manent Court of Arbitration is binding that China has no legal basis for its claims Next page

Budget hearing takes nasty turn, fuels speakership row

By Maricel V. Cruz

QUESTIONS over the allocation of the public works budget next year -- specifically over Taguig and Camarines Sur getting the lion’s share -- have turned into a speakership issue as allies of

SM kicks off X’mas countdown THIS year may have been imperfect, but that is all the more reason to level up your Christmas celebrations as you reconnect with your loved ones.

As we usher in the holidays, SM Supermalls will continue to be a part of every family’s holiday celebrations as the country bounces back and enjoys the season’s merriments. No

need to worry because health and social distancing measures are in place at SM to help ensure your and your loved ones’ safety.

Here are some things to look forward to as SM Supermalls kicks off the 100-day countdown to Christmas and launches its Christmas 2020 campaign: Next page

WORLD ROUNDUP • ‘Superspreader’ leaves seven dead • Fresh curbs in EU A WEDDING in rural Maine became a coronavirus “superspreader” event that left seven people dead and 177 infected, renewing fear of the disease in the northeastern US state that had hoped the worst of the pandemic was behind it.

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Speaker Alan Cayetano accused critics of trying to derail the passage of the General Appropriations Act. Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. in an earlier budget hearing confronted officials of the Department of Next page

SWEAT SHOP. Seamstresses sew scrap textile into rags at a factory in Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Friday September 18, 2020. Many women have turned breadwinner for their families since the virus pandemic has displaced most of the males. PonD News Asia

Recto zaps measly Health budget

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, describing it as “a kind of budgMaricel V. Cruz

et prioritization that turns a blind eye HEALTH share of the P1 trillion infra- to the health facility shortages the panstructure pie under the proposed 2021 demic has laid bare.” budget is a measly “1 percent,” said Next page

PhilHealth ‘inaction’ on fraud draws solon’s ire

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Willie Casas

day, saying he would sue the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) over its inaction on fraudulent reimHOUSE Deputy Speaker Jesus Crispin bursements to hospitals.

“I’m not satisfied with the answers.

Remulla stormed out of a hearing Fri-

I’ll just see them in court,” Remulla said, cutting off Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who was saying that in some far-flung areas, patients had Next page

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News

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SC: Rody health data under wraps

By Rey E. Requejo

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HE Supreme Court has upheld with finality its decision dismissing a lawyer’s petition seeking to compel Malacañang to disclose President Rodrigo Duterte’s health records

The high court denied the appeal filed by Dino de Leon for his failure to present a “substantial argument to support a case for mandamus.”

The magistrates, meeting as a group, said De Leon raised no new arguments that would convince them to reverse their ruling to dismiss his petition.

The high court said De Leon failed to show that disclosing the President’s health records was a “ministerial duty” of Malacañang, and that he had a “clear legal right” to demand its performance.

“The Resolution dated May 8, 2020, dismissing the Extremely Urgent Petition for Mandamus is deemed final. No further pleadings or motions shall be entertained in this case,” the high court said in a resolution dated Sept. 8, 2020.

In April, De Leon petitioned the Court to compel the Office of the President to release to the public Duterte’s health records,

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EU vows...

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on the Philippines and China, despite Beijing’s refusal to recognize it.

“China does not recognize the decision but because it is a party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, it gave its consent to settle all disputes through the settlement procedure stated in that law,” Roque said in Filipino.

But Roque was lukewarm to calls to bring the sea row before the UNGA saying the arbitral decision was already a victory in itself.

“What many do not understand is that the decision itself is a victory, having that decision is the act of being assertive,” he said.

“If we do something else, such as bring it up before the UNGA, that will already be black propaganda. We can do that, but let us be realistic. We cannot sway the 197 members of the UN if our opponent is China because we have limited resources,” Roque said.

The diplomatic notes, dated Sept.

16, came following the numerous communications issued by China in response to Malaysia’s submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

The three European powers collectively said the “claims with regard to the exercise of historic rights over the South China Sea waters do not comply with international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provisions” and none less than the 2016 landmark decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration “confirms this point.”

In their note verbale, the three nations also called on all claimants to resolve disputes “peacefully” and in accordance with the principles and rules of UNCLOS. The South China Sea where the Spratly Islands are located, is contested by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, and China, which claims almost 80 percent of the waters under its so-called “nine-dash line.”

The arbitration case initiated and won by the Philippines in 2016 ruled that these sweeping claims by the Asian power are illegal, a ruling Beijing continues to reject until now.

The tribunal further ruled that UNCLOS “superseded any historic rights, or other sovereign rights or jurisdiction, in excess of the limits imposed therein.”

In a prior diplomatic note dated March 6, 2020, Manila refuted China’s claims on the Spratly Islands or the Kalayaan Island Group as “inconsistent with international law, including UNCLOS.”

As of Friday, there have been close to 280,000 infections and 4,830 deaths since the country came under lockdown on March 17.

An apparently annoyed Roque said: “Europe, go ahead. At the time of the pandemic, the whole world will pay tribute to you...They will be the biggest contributor to the violation of the right to life in the Philippines. Let’s leave it at that.”

Roque said that the Philippines would not be browbeaten by EU lawmakers’ push to revoke the tariff perks for Filipino goods. “I’m sorry I’m being very undiplomatic with my answer (but) what else can I say? At the time of the pandemic, they’re threatening us? My goodness. What else do we lose?”

“They cannot scare us anymore especially with the pandemic...they cannot scare us because we have hit rock bottom.”

Member-states of the European Union have a combined area of 4,233,255.3 square kms and an estimated population of about 447 million, as against the Philippines’ 112 million population in 300,000 square kms.

In a September 17 resolution, the European Union’s legislative assembly, “given the seriousness of the human rights violations in the (Philippines), calls on the European Commission, in the absence of any substantial improve-

PhilHealth...

From A1 made a collective appeal that erring hospitals be fined instead of being suspended.

Duque was responding to Remulla’s question about whether PhilHealth was letting hospitals get away with fraud.

Recto...

From A1 “This is pandemic denialism,” Recto said, who pushed for a larger share for public health in the P1 trillion capital outlay component of next year’s proposed P4.506 trillion national budget.

“It’s like after World War II. Manila was in total wreck, but you won’t allot not even a single cent for its reconstruction,” Recto said.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday asked the House of Representatives to increase the health department’s allocation for its Health Facilities Enhancement Program, which was launched for the implementation of the Universal Health Care Law. The Department of Health was allotted P127 billion in the Malacanangproposed General Appropriations Act

Local...

From A1 Duterte initially declared a 6-month state of calamity last March 16 then placed the main island of Luzon under total lockdown the next day to check the spread of the coronavirus.

60-day grace period

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has ordered its supervised financial institutions to implement a mandatory one-time 60-day grace period for all loans of individuals and entities following the passage into law of the Bayanihan 2 Act. The move is expected to help individuals and business entities recover from the impact of the pandemic that battered the economy since early this year.

BSP-supervised financial institutions have been directed not to charge or apply interest on interest, penalties, fees or other charges during the grace period.

claiming he appeared unwell in his public addresses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also cited the illnesses that Duterte had admitted to having: Buerger’s disease, Barrett’s esophagus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, spinal issues, daily migraines and myasthenia gravis.

But the high court dismissed his petition in May without requiring the government to comment, saying his claims of the President’s serious illness were “unsubstantiated.”

De Leon later returned to press the justices to act after Duterte said his doctor had advised him to stop drinking because his Barret’s esophagus was “nearing” stage one cancer.

The 75-year-old Duterte made the

statement in August as he assured the people that he and the other members of the Cabinet were old enough to know better than to dip their hands into the government’s COVID-19 response fund.

Duterte had earlier denied being brought to Singapore for emergency treatment. His former aide, Senator Christopher Go, slammed the speculations that Duterte was unwell by sharing a photo of the President eating with his family.

“Stop this nonsense of me going to Singapore, if at all. It is none of your business if I want to go,” Duterte said.

“I am under no obligation to travel in secret and not tell the republic at all.

I am a citizen of the republic and my right to travel is guaranteed.”

ment and willingness to cooperate on the part of the Philippine authorities, to immediately initiate the procedure which could lead to the temporary withdrawal of GSP+ preferences.”

In the case of the Philippines, the GSP+ covers 6,274 locally-made products.

In a statement, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez himself said the government was “able to explain objectively the Philippines side on issues that are raised and we don’t see any reason why our GSP+ privilege will be withdrawn.”

“The Philippines has always been working closely and fully cooperating with the EU Commission –the main EU institution in-charge of implementing the GSP+ scheme,” Lopez said.

He added: “We have an Inter-agency working group in place that attends to the regular monitoring visits and responds accordingly to various issues if and when they are officially raised by the EU Commission.”

At the same time, Lopez said the EU Commission had a mechanism in place and process to follow to verify issues before sanctions were imposed.

The EU grants special incentives to developing countries that ratify 27 core international conventions on human and labor rights, environmental protection and good governance as well as from the effective implementation thereof.

In 2019, at least €2 billion or about P113 billion worth of Philippine goods

entered the EU under the zero-tariff GSP+ mechanism.

Based on official records, the EU is the Philippines’ fourth largest trading partner, accounting for almost 9 percent of the country’s total trade.

Also, trade in goods between the two partners equaled € 14.9 billion in 2019.

EU Parliament’s resolution coincided with events while the Philippines is standing up to the repercussions from the COVID-19 pandemic that plunged the economy into a deep recession in the second quarter of 2020, contracting by 16.5 percent —the worst on record in nearly 30 years.

In its resolution, the EU Parliament cited the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ findings that as of June 30, 2020 at least 8,663 people had been killed in relation to the Duterte administration anti-drug campaign.

At the same time, the EU parliament sounded the alarm over the “deteriorating level of press freedom in the Philippines,” citing the cyberlibel conviction of Maria Ressa and a former Rappler researcher-writer as well as the shutdown of ABS-CBN. It also urged “impartial, transparent, independent and meaningful investigations into all extrajudicial killings, including the deaths of Jory Porquia, Randall ‘Randy’ Echanis and Zara Alvarez.”

Porquia, Echanis, and Alvarez were all activists killed this year by unidentified assailants.

of COVID-19 during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, Malacañang announced on Friday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases made the decision.

He says the public could visit these places before or after the scheduled closure of the cemeteries with a maximum venue capacity of 30 percent. People will be allowed to enter the parks and cemeteries from Sept. 17 to Oct. 28, and from Nov. 5 to Nov. 15.

to humans through food, food ingredients or packaging materials.

No food-to-human transfer

The Food and Drug Administration says there is no evidence that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the strain responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, can be passed on from food to humans.

FDA Director-General Rolando Enrique Domingo made the clarification in a letter dated Sept. 11, 2020, to the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. Cemeteries ordered closed The group had earlier sought guidAll public and private cemeteries and memorial parks will be closed from ance from the agency on whether the Oct. 29 to Nov. 4 to prevent the spread COVID-19 virus could be transmitted Meanwhile, Senator Leila de Lima said alleged irregularities in the multimillion-peso agreement between PhilHealth and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), headed by Senator Richard Gordon, should be investigated.

“We should investigate whether the questionable provisions in this MOA are repeated in other agreements entered into by PhilHealth. Even as many for 2021 that is now being deliberated upon in the House.

During the hearing of the House’s appropriations committee Friday, Duque said: “We sent a letter to the Honorable Speaker [Alan Cayetano] with regard to our request of augmenting the approved budget on HFEP with an additional P10 billion.”

“We are requesting this to address the concerns of several members of Congress on additional support for improving the infrastructure of our hospitals, rural health units, local government hospitals, health care facilities, as well as military hospitals, especially that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the functionality of our infrastructure and implementation of UHC Law.” Recto said the government’s BuildBuild-Build blueprint should “accommodate changes” the pandemic has made urgent and inevitable.

Tourism frontliners assured

The state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. on Friday assured tourism frontliners that their COVID-19 tests would be covered by it.

“The frontliners in the tourist zone are also at risk, so they are entitled to our free testing,” PhilHealth spokesman Rey Baleña said.

He made the assurance as Baguio City is set to open its doors to the tourists from Region 1 on Sept. 22, a few weeks after Tagaytay started to allow visitors.

Shorter social distancing backed

Former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral on Friday supported the easing of physical distancing rules meant to curb coronavirus infections in the mass transport system.

“We think there’s not much difference between one meter and 0.75 meter. Just looking over your shoulder or moving a little when you are seated in a jeep is enough to reach that 0.75-meter distance,” Cabral told ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo.

Sunken ship’s survivors flown home today TWO survivors of the “M/V Gulf Livestock 1” that capsized off Japan will be home today, Saturday, the Labor department said Friday.

Chief Officer Eduardo Sareno and A/B Jay-nel Rosales would be flying home via Philippine Airlines from the Narita Airport and arriving in Manila at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Labor Attache Elizabeth Marie Estrada of the Philippine Labor Office in Osaka told Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. The “M/V Gulf Livestock 1” was a Panamanian-flagged vessel owned by Gulf Navigation Holding based in the United Arab Emirates. It sank early this month after its engines quit following a typhoon in Southern Japan.

The cargo vessel had a 43-man crew: 39 Filipinos, two Australians and two New Zealanders.

The vessel was loaded with 5,867 heads of cattle when it left New Zealand on Aug. 14 for the Port of Jingtan in Tangshan, China. It was expected to reach Jingtan on Sept. 3.

The last communication received from the vessel was a distress call in the early morning of Sept. 2 to the Japan Coast Guard at the Amami Ooshima Island in Kagoshima prefecture.

World...

From A1 The nuptials in early August were attended by 65 people, breaking the official limit of 50 allowed at a gathering.

Ten days later, two dozen people associated with the wedding had tested positive for COVID-19 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Maine opened an investigation.

None of the seven people who died had actually attended the wedding.

Contact-tracers linked the wedding to several virus hotspots across the state – including more than 80 cases in a prison 370 kilometers away, where one of the guards had attended the ceremony.

Another 10 probable cases were found in a Baptist church in the same area, while 39 infections – and six of the deaths – were at a nursing home 100 miles from Millinocket.

Moderna, Pfizer release vaccine study blueprints

US biotech firm Moderna, one of nine companies in the late stages of clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine, became the first to publish the complete blueprints of its study following calls for greater transparency.

Pfizer, the other American company currently carrying out Phase 3 trials in the US, followed suit a short time later and there is now added pressure for the remainder to do the same.

Moderna’s CEO Stephane Bancel said his company would know whether their vaccine works by November. October is possible but unlikely, he told CNBC.

EU imposes fresh curbs as cases top 30m worldwide

investigation on the precise nature of the transaction between PRC and PhilHealth.

“Gordon should answer the allegations of impropriety against him in his capacity as Philippine Red Cross (PRC) chair, as senator and chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee,” she added.

Some irregularities were undeniable, De Lima said.

Large parts of Europe on Friday geared up for broad new restrictions to stop the coronavirus, after infections worldwide topped 30 million and the World Health Organization warned of “alarming rates of transmission.”

Britain is limiting gatherings and France is set to roll out new curbs for major cities as governments across the continent battle fresh spikes of the disease.

WHO regional director for Europe Hans Kluge said a surge seen this month “should serve as a wakeup call” after the continent recorded 54,000 infections in a single day last week – a new record. AFP

works budget for next year because it houses Fort Bonifacio, the Army’s headquarters, where several big projects will be implemented.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, for his part, turned his guns on Teves, calling the latter a “rumormonger” for raising concerns based on “hearsay.”

“In the first place, it does not befit an honorable gentleman like Congressman Teves to act like a blabber or gossipmonger in spreading what he himself had admitted to be plain hearsay...

Why peddle something malicious that he himself knew wasn’t factual?” said Villafuerte.

Villafuerte then linked Teves’s accusation to an alleged plot concerning the speakership.

“It is clear as day that Congressman Teves launched this chicanery on the basis of mere hearsay as part of the sinister ploy hatched by the (Marinduque Rep. Lord Alan) Velasco camp, in cahoots with former Negros Occidental representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, to wreck Speaker Cayetano’s com-

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hospitals feel the pinch of having to wait for PhilHealth reimbursements for their COVID-19-related expenses, we see some institutions favored by not just prompt but advanced payments agreed to in spite of clear statutory prohibitions,” De Lima said.

She noted that the allegations against Gordon, the PRC chairman, are serious enough to warrant a separate full-blown

Budget...

From A1 Public Works and Highways (DPWH) about rumors that Taguig and Camarines Sur were getting the largest slices of the public works budget for next year.

But ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said Taguig City, whose two congressional districts are represented by Cayetano and his wife Lanie, was given P11 billion in public

SM kicks off...

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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CHR supports passage of ‘Media Welfare Act’ measure THE Commission on Human Rights said Friday that security of tenure for media practitioners should be guaranteed and their labor rights must be ensured in the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

In a statement, CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said the Commission welcomes the proposed Senate Bill No. 1820 or “Media Workers’ Welfare Act” filed by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto.

De Guia explained that the legislative measure is aimed at creating a basic compensation scheme to include adequate compensation for hazardous media coverages and guarantees the security of tenure for all media workers.

The proposed Media Workers’ Welfare Act also mandates the Department of Labor and Employment to establish a News Media Tripartite Council which will cater to the concerns of media stakeholders.

The measure would also ensure that the labor rights of media workers are being protected, she added.

“The current health pandemic emphasizes the importance of a free media in ensuring the dessimination of timely and factual information to help educate the Filipino citizenry on the health impacts of the Covid-19 and the ways to prevent its transmission,” she said.

De Guia said the adverse economic effects brought about by the pandemic have resulted in the retrenchment policies implemented by various media entities and franchise holders and left numerous media professionals with no income and support system to deal with the negative economic effects of the prevailing health crisis.

“This problem is compounded by a massive layoff of media workers by media entities that practice unfair labor practices that mislabel longtime employees as contractual employees—denying them employee-employer relationship and benefits despite multiple years of successive contract renewals indicating the desirability and necessity of the practitioner’s work,” she said.

DOJ BUDGET. House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep Martin Romualdez (left) confers with Department of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (right) during a short meeting at the

House of Representatives after the Budget Briefing of the 2021 Budget of the Department of Justice, together with Secretary Martin Andanar (2nd left) of the Presidential Communications Operations Office. Ver Noveno

‘Fish kill not linked to Bay rehab’ T

By Rio N. Araja

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Friday denied allegations that the fishkill near Baseco compound was caused by the crushed dolomite used in the Manila Ba beach ‘nourishment’ project.

Antiporda issued the statement after several groups posted a video of floating dead fish in the Baseco area which they claimed was connected to the dolomite used in Manila Bay. “Very erroneous yung allegation na yun kasi if you will look at the distance talagang napakalayo and at the same time

yung direction ng hangin which is habagat ay hindi nagpo-point sa lugar na yun (that allegation is very erroneous because if you look at the distance, the two areas are very far from each other and at the same time, we have the southwest monsoon which means that the direction of the wind does not point to the area where the alleged

dead fish floated).”

Showing a map, Antiporda said the Manila Bay beach nourishment project is about five kilometers away from the Baseco area where the alleged fish kill happened.

Aside from the distance and the wind direction, Antiporda added that there is a breakwater between the two areas.

He added that the DENR immediately instructed its Biodiversity Management Bureau to conduct an investigation and look at the possible cause of the reported fish kill.

Instead, DENR Undersecretary and spokesperson Benny Antiporda said the fishkill was probably caused by illegal fishing.

“We are not discounting illegal fishing

IN BRIEF DOJ rejects

Villar gives away free face shields to L. Piñas residents SENATOR Cynthia Villar initiated the distribution of face shields to Las Pinas residents and workers to boost their protection against the new coronavirus disease.

Villar sourced out more than 6,000 face shields and with the help of barangay leaders and community volunteers, distributed the personal protective equipment to all 20 barangays of Las Pinas City and nearby barangays of Cavite.

Employees, farm workers, biomen, street sweepers, waste collectors, traffic aides, barangay tanod and policemen also received face shields from the senator.

“As we ease quarantine restrictions, we should always remind the people to wear face masks and face shields as well as to practice physical distancing and hand hygiene. These PPEs, which are now available and affordable, will protect our people as they move around the community and earn a living for their families.” Macon Ramos-Araneta

Smuggled luxury items intercepted at NAIA GOVERNMENT agents assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Friday intercepted a smuggled shipment of signature bags, shoes, sandals, shirts and other luxury items worth P6.5 million from France.

Customs - NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan said based on the import document, the shipment was misdeclared as personal effects, shampoo and assorted clothes from Maisons-Alfort, and consigned to a certain Reynaldo Tan Sr. The seized items at the NAIA Paircargo warehouse include handbags of Prada, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Christian Dior, and Valentino, and shoes, sandals and shirts in commercial quantities.

Talusan said the misdeclaration is an apparent attempt of the owner to evade the payment of correct duties and taxes through the use of falsified/spurious documents and circumvent the duty and tax free privileges afforded to balikbayan boxes. oel E. Zurbano

’12 billion kids worldwide poorer due to pandemic’ NEW YORK/LONDON—The number of children living in multidimensional poverty has soared to approximately 1.2 billion due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new UNICEF and Save the Children analysis published today.

This is a 15 per cent increase in the number of children living in deprivation in low- and middle-income countries, or an additional 150 million children since the pandemic hit earlier this year.

The multidimensional poverty analysis uses data on access to education, healthcare, housing, nutrition, sanitation and water from more than 70 countries. It highlights that around 45 per cent of children were severely deprived of at least one of these critical needs in the countries analyzed before the pandemic. AFP

Polio immunization starts Oct. 26—DOH

accusation of ‘red-tagging’policy

By Willie Casas

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rey E. Requejo DEPARTMENT of Justice officials on Friday told legislators that the agency is confident on its mechanism on the investigation of political violence and does not need to have a “policy of red-tagging.”

DOJ officials made the statement after the Makabayan Bloc claimed the department has tagged three party-list organizations as fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines; its military arm, the New People’s Army and its negotiating organ, the National Democratic Front.

At the budget hearing of the DOJ, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate, member of the bloc, raised before the justice officials the government’s May 2020 human-rights situationer that was posted on the department’s website.

The Department of Foreign Affairsprepared report was based on input from different government agencies and includes a section on the National Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC), a body created by President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 70. Zarate quoted from the report: “In Congress, three resolutions were filed by known CPP-created party-lists, namely, Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) calling for the abolition of EO 70.”

Zarate said that ‘Bayan Muna’ was not created by the Communist Party of the Philippines. “We are a legally registered party. Nagkaroon kami ng kongreso (We held a congress) in 2000/1999 and we were duly elected by our constituencies.”

using cyanide in the area,” Antiporda said.

The DENR official said that during early October last year, a similar incident occurred at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) where about two tons of dead fish were found floating.

Antiporda said that on Oct. 10, 2019, a fish kill also happened along Manila Bay’s Parañaque City area when the oxygen level went down to as low as .02 milligram per liter.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said the water quality testing in Baseco showed that dissolved oxygen in the area was only at 0.11 mg/L, much lower than the acceptable level of 5 mg/L for aquatic life. With PNA

LUXURY. P6.5-million worth of misdeclared luxury bags and shoes were seized by Customs operatives at the NAIA.

THE Department of Health supported by World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund will conduct the nationwide measles and polio supplemental immunization campaign starting October 26 this year.

In the Philippines, an estimated 2.4 million children under the age of five are susceptible to measles.

Measles or “tigdas” is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. Among those who are not immune, up to 9 out of 10 people exposed to the measles virus will contract the disease.

The nationwide Measles Rubella-Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization campaign will be rolled out in two phases.

Phase 1 will be conducted from October 26 to November 25. 2020 in the Mindanao Regions, CAR, I, II, IV-B and V. Phase 2 will be conducted in February 2021 in Visayas Regions, NCR, III and IV-A. DOH is conducting the campaign for children under five years old— around 9.4M children for the measles-rubella vaccine and 6.9M children for the oral polio vaccine.

“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, a high-quality immunization campaign is urgently needed to stop measles transmission and possible outbreaks. We encourage parents and caregivers to have their children immunized. The measles vaccine is safe, effective and free. To protect against COVID-19 infections, all health care workers have been trained and provided with Personal Protective Equipment,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque said.

In 2020, pockets of measles outbreaks are being reported in the Philippines. As of August 2020, there are around 3,500 reported measles cases with 36 deaths. Most of the cases are among children under five years old.

PAF has enough helicopters for rescue flights—spokesman THE Philippine Air Force said Friday it has enough helicopters for rescue missions despite the grounding of its Sikorsky S-76A rescue helicopters following Wednesday’s crash in Basilan that killed four of its personnel.

“We still have sufficient helicopters for rescue missions. We can use our existing (Bell) UH-1, Huey II, and the (PZL) W-3 ‘Sokol’,” PAF spokesperson, Lt. Col. Aristides Galang.

Galang added that all helicopters in the PAF, except those configured purely for ground attack missions like the Mcdonnell Douglas MG-520 and AgustaWestland (now Leonardo) AW-109, can be reconfigured for search-and-rescue missions if needed.

Following the crash in Lantawan, Basilan, the PAF has ordered the immediate grounding of all its S-76A helicopters for “prompt maintenance inspection” as part of the investigations to determine the cause of the mishap.

Galang earlier said a team will be sent to the area to conduct further investigation on the accident.

He added that they will also look into environmental, material, and human factors in determining the cause of the mishap.

He added that the S-76A helicopter with tail number 202 belong to their 505th Search-and-Rescue Group and was deployed for a medical evacuation mission in Jolo and took off around 12:33 p.m.

BLESSING. National Capital Region Police Office Chief Gen. Debold Sinas leads the

successful blessing of the Emergency Treatment Facility inside Camp Bagong Diwa Bicutan, Taguig City, on September 18, 2020. As the world continues to grapple with the current health crisis, the NCRPO did not stop in its commitment to prioritize the health and welfare of its personnel who are playing remarkable roles in this battle.

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

A4

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020

‘Kush’ packed in coffee bags worth P1.1m seized in Clark

By Jess Malabanan CLARK FREEPORT—Some P1.1 million worth of high-grade and processed marijuana leaves commonly known as “Kush” was intercepted by personnel of the Bureau of Customs Port of Clark and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency while in transit to the Clark International Airport, authorities said Friday.

Port of Clark District Collector lawyer Ruby Alameda said the parcel was declared as clothing and coffee and was consigned to a certain Rowena Diaz David of KKK Gasoline, located at sitio Urguico, Barangay Matatalahib, Tarlac City.

Alameda said Customs examiners on the field found the parcel suspicious when they smelled the aroma of coffee that prompted them to profile the parcel and check its content.

“It is very surprising that you can smell the aroma of coffee when it is vacuum sealed. When we checked the parcel, we found a pair of men’s clothing, three packs of coffee beans, and a used bag. The cannabis was stuffed in the coffee packs, Alameda told reporters during the turnover of the drugs to PDEA representatives.

PDEA Pampanga provincial director Joseph Samson said the Kush weighed about 990 grams, valued at P1.1 million under the Dangerous Drugs Board’s estimates, and was shipped from United States.

Controlled delivery was launched against the consignee, but agents failed to find the address or the addressee.

Meanwhile, PDEA Pampanga agents confiscated 5 kilos of dried marijuana leaves following a drug bust at Barangay Malhacan, Meycauayan City on Thursday. Five suspects were arrested.

PDEA3 Regional Director Christian O. Frivaldo identified the suspects as Christian San Diego, 34, of Brgy. Duhat, Bocaue, Bulacan; Nikki John Tablante, 32, of 16 Saint Anthony St. Sto. Niño, Meycauayan City; Lhordan Cabat, 31, of Bgy. Sto. Rosario, Malolos City; John Maurice Clemente, 23, of Bgy. San Vicente, Paombong, Bulacan; and Adler Labiano, 32, of 76 Exodus St., Phase 3D, Brgy. Perez, Meycauayan City.

‘O-HI DOC’ teledentistry in Calabarzon

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

KUSH, NOT COFFEE. Customs officials reveal three plastic bags of Kush marijuana weighing more than 990 grams and valued at P1.1 million, concealed in coffee bean packs and intercepted by authorities at the Clark International Airport. They were turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Friday. Jess Malabanan

Binay to traders: Enlist in city’s MASB program

By Joel E. Zurbano

M

AKATI City Mayor Abigail Binay on Friday invited suppliers of goods and services in the city to register with the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) for them to qualify as beneficiaries of incentives being rolled out by the local government to boost and promote businesses.

The city chief executive said those interested may register online via www. proudmakatizen.com and become legitimate “MASB Merchants” qualified to enjoy the benefits offered by the city government, including those under the Makati Assistance and Support for Businesses (MASB) Program.

“We urge suppliers of goods and services in Makati to register online now and take part in our efforts to reboot the local economy. Once accredited, you will gain access to our new programs and incentives aimed to help local businesses recover from the pandemic and grow,” said Binay.

“We have put up an online accredita-

tion system that makes it safer and more convenient to register. We hope to get an enthusiastic response from merchants in the city so that they can automatically participate in our comprehensive business recovery and resiliency plan,” she added.

Accredited MASB Merchants will be included in businesses that the city government will promote and link with potential customers. They will also be eligible as recipients of payments for goods and services supplied to clients that receive financial assistance through grants of up to P100,000 under the MASB Program.

Through the Maka-Tindahan e-commerce portal, they will also enjoy special

rates and discounts. Since they will be on the database of accredited merchants, they will automatically join all business-stimulating programs and initiatives of the city government.

To register, go to www.proudmakatizen.com and click the icon for “Register as MASB Merchant”, and fill out the registration form with all the needed information.

Applicants must be the President, Treasurer, Managing Partner or authorized representative of the business.

If a sole proprietorship, the applicant must be the owner.

Earlier, Mayor Binay announced the implementation of a P2.5-billion economic relief program aimed to pump-prime the local economy during the pandemic.

The city has offered grants ranging from P10,000 to P100,000 to registered businesses in the city, which will pay for the salaries of their employees and also for payments to their BPLO-accredited suppliers.

MARINERS’ CENTER.

Marino Party-list Rep. Macnell Lusotan (left) does an elbow-bump with Philippine Navy Vice Admiral Rene Medina during the blessing of the Marino Action Center in Ermita, Manila (inset) on Friday.

Norman Cruz

By Willie Casas THE Department of Health-Calabarzon began conducting online oral health consultations and referral services through the “O-HI DOC” Project, an online dental consultation and scheduling of dental visits in Rural Health Units (RHU) with the use of the telemedicine platform.

“O-HI-DOC” stands for Oral Health Initiative for Dental Online Consultation. Every RHU in municipalities across Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces will have an O-HI DOC unit that will be connected to the regional online referral system.

“This is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic for us to reach our clients and provide the necessary oral health services to the communities in the provinces, especially those in the geographically isolated and disadvantage areas and indigenous communities,” Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo said during the launching at the regional office.

“Ngayong halos lahat ay online na, this is our way of reaching out and providing health service to the community. Responsibilidad natin na bantayan ang lanilang kalusugan lalo na ngayong mayroon tayong pandemya. Hindi sila dapat pabayaan at hindi dapat mahinto ang pagbibigay ng serbisyong pangkalusugan sa kanila,” Janairo emphasized.

The DOH-Calabarzon Oral Health Unit will conduct the teledentistry session and provide oral health consultation to residents of the region, especially those living in far-flung communities.

According to Regional Oral Health Outcome Manager Dr. Edwina J. Go, all patients seeking consultation must register and follow the simple steps provided to avail of the service.

Taguig streets placed under tight lockdown TWO more areas in Barangay Sta. Ana, Taguig City were placed under a stricter quarantine status, the city’s public information office said on Friday.

The local government made the decision to place Faculty Street and Romantic Street under the expanded Localized Community Quarantine from Sept. 18 to 30 upon the recommendation of the members of the City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CEDSU) and Quarantine and Containment Management Team (QCMT).

The authorities earlier placed Pulong Kendi 2 and Samasipat in Barangay Sta. Ana where testing continues to find general community transmission in the cluster of COVID-19 cases there.

To further isolate and contain the virus, CEDSU and QCMT officials recommended the following: • Restrict the movement of all residents in the areas, • Move all confirmed cases to quarantine facilities, and • Conduct further testing and active case finding at the identified localized area, making sure to send all individuals tested to quarantine facilities while awaiting results.

Last Thursday, the local government recorded 103 new cases of COVID-19 and 99 recoveries.

The city has a total of 6,413 confirmed cases, and of the number, 5,922 patients have already recovered from the deadly disease as of September 17.

Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano recently presented its facility in Barangay Lower Bicutan where the so-called “Robonurses” or nurses made of robots are taking care of people infected with coronavirus disease.

Dubbed as the Lakeshore Hotel Mega Quarantine Facility, the area is a 500-bed capacity structure equipped with individual sleeping quarters with partitions, bathing area, comfort room, living room, and a robotic medical staff to assist patients in their recovery process.

Cayetano said the Robonurses developed by the Taguig Robotics Team (TRT) will be integrated to minimize hazards for the city’s hard-working health workers. Joel E. Zurbano

Malabon pilots contact tracing app via QR code for LGU employees

By Jun David THE Malabon City Government has launched its contact tracing app with the use of a quick response (QR) code system, as it intensifies local efforts to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the City.

The contact tracing app via QR code technology is integrated to

the current City Health Monitoring System, providing real-time updates of data and information to the City Health Department.

The City Government will be piloting the new app for its employees and within City Government enclosed properties like the City Hall Building, Ospital ng Malabon, Pagamutang Bayan ng Malabon, Barangay Health Centers, and others,

where QR scanners will be placed in entry and exit points.

After the pilot-testing phase, the contact tracing app will be implemented in the whole city.

The next phase of implementation will be supported by an ordinance that will require all Malabonians and nonMalabonians to download a QR Code that will be used before entering en-

closed establishments within the City.

Once in place, the City will eliminate the use of contact tracing forms and papers, thus minimizing direct contacts and possible spread of the virus.

The contact tracing app is part of the City Government’s “Prevent, Detect/Test, Trace, Quarantine/Isolate, Treat” strategy to combat the spread of COVID-19.

PLM readies modules for students THE Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) recently conducted its first dry run for the simulation of their virtual classrooms, which will be used in carrying out the Academic Year 2020-2021.

Classes in PLM will officially start on October 5, and three weeks before they open final preparations are now in full blast.

PLM President Emmanuel Leyco was quite pleased with how their simulation went last Monday, September 14. He said the simulation gave them the confidence that they can pull off blended learning modes.

“We hope that this experience will also help students to adjust to our ‘new normal’ in education and are better prepared once the formal classes start,” Leyco said.

During the simulation, PLM was able to address different incidents. Some students had slow internet connectivity, while some students and teachers temporarily lost their connection. Other concerns were about the students having a hard time entering into Microsoft Teams, the chosen platform of PLM. The Information and Communications Technology Office of PLM is also completing the sending of Outlook emails and class schedules for their new and returning students three weeks prior to the opening of classes.

Since internet connectivity is a huge issue for virtual classes, PLM has prepared printed modules for their students who indicated they did not have access to internet or computer gadgets. Willie Casas

DONATION TURNOVER. The Police Security and Protection Group Advisory Council Foundation, headed by Dr. Reghis Romero, turns over to the PNP Medical Reserve Force and dependents of PSPG the donations solicited during the recent ‘We Heal as One’ online concert. Norman Cruz

Opinion Opinion Opinion

The PhilHealth mess: PhilHealth mess: IsThe Duque accountable?

PhilHealth mess: The PhilHealth mess: IsThe Duque accountable?

IsIs Duque accountable?

Duque accountable?

ELIZABETH POWER POINT POWER POINT ANGSIOCO POWER POWER ELIZABETH Part IPOINT POINT

ANGSIOCO

SHOULD Health ELIZABETH Secretary Francisco ELIZABETH Duque go scot-freePart amid the I major corrupANGSIOCO ANGSIOCO tion scandals PhilHealth is in? In his most SHOULD Secretary Francisco recent public Health appearance, President Rod(Conclusion) Part IIthe Duque go scot-free amid major rigo Duterte againPart said that he stillcorrupfully tion scandals PhilHealth is in?

In his most trusts the Secretary and asked him to not SHOULD Health Secretary Francisco LAST week,Health my pieceSecretary discussed the various SHOULD Francisco recentbygo public appearance, President RodDuque scot-free amid the major corrupways which PhilHealth officials may have Duque go scot-free amid the major corruprigoscandals Duterte again saidpractices that he still fully been involved in corrupt involving tion PhilHealth isis in?

In his most tion scandals PhilHealth in?

In his most The secretary said trusts the Secretary and asked him to not huge amounts of members’ contributions recent public appearance, President Rodrecent public appearance, President Rodand public funds.

Included were the Interrigo Duterte again said that he still fully he Duterte would doMechanism some rigo again said that he(IRM), still fully im Reimbursement the trusts the Secretary and asked him to trusts the Secretary and asked him to not not soul-searching. case-rate system of paying health care instituThe secretary said tions (HCIs), the anomalous practices of the he would do some and the information and technology sector, The secretary said The secretary said violation of PhilHealth mandate as regards soul-searching. resign despite public clamor for Duque to he would do some providing services to our overseas Filipino he would some do so. For his part, do Duque said he was hurt workers (OFWs). soul-searching.

bysoul-searching. accusations that he is also to blame for resign public clamor Duque to the messdespite the Philippine Healthfor Insurance do so. For his part, Duque hesaid was hurt There is no way can Corporation is embroiled in.said Hehe that bywould accusations thatname. he is also toDuque blame for he clear his Earlier, Duque resign despite public clamor for distance himself from theto resign despite public clamor for Duque to the mess the Philippine Health Insurance also said that he would go soul-searching do so.

For his part, Duque said he was hurt do so.

For his part, Duque said he was hurt agency’s problems.

Corporation isthat embroiled Heresignasaid for that amid the mounting calls forin.his by accusations he isisalso to by that also toblame blame for he accusations wouldthe clear hishe name.

Earlier, Duque tion because of his failure to effectively the mess Philippine Health Insurance the mess the Philippine Health Insurance also said wouldpandemic goin.soul-searching address thethat COVID-19 and that the Corporation isishe embroiled He said Corporation embroiled in. said that6 As mentioned, undercalls Article IV, amid the mounting forHe hisSection resignaissues in PhilHealth. he would clear his name.

Earlier, Duque he would clear his name.

Earlier, Duque of RA 7875 as amended by RA 10606, one tionsaid because ofofwould his failure to effectively Houses Congress have also that he go ofBoth PhilHealth’s functions is, soul-searching “u) To looked establish also said that he would go soul-searching address the COVID-19 pandemic and the into thethe alleged corrupt practices Philamid mounting for resignaan office, or where it iscalls not feasible, designate amid the mounting calls for his his of resignaissues in PhilHealth.

Health officials and employees.

Addition because of his failure to effectively ation focal person in every Philippine Consular because of of hisCongress failure tohave effectively Both Houses looked tionally, of Justice (DOJ) address COVID-19 pandemic the Office inthe allDepartment countries where there and are Filiaddress the COVID-19 pandemic and the into the alleged corrupt practices ofperson Philisissues doing its own investigation on the matpino citizens.

The office or the focal in PhilHealth. issues in PhilHealth.

Health officials and employees.

Addishall, among others, process, review and pay ter.

The Senate has already released its Both Houses of Congress have Both Houses ofoverseas Congress have looked looked tionally, the Department of Justice (DOJ) the claims of therecommended Filipino workers report and has the filing into the alleged corrupt practices of Philinto the alleged corrupt practices of Phil(OFWs).” is beingonoutrightly ismalversation doing itsThis ownmandate investigation the matof and graft charges against Health officials and employees.

AddiHealth officials and employees.

Addicircumvented by PhilHealth by implementing ter. The Senate has already released its Duque and other officials over the alleged tionally, the Department of Justice (DOJ) tionally, the Department of Justice (DOJ) another scheme using Accredited Collecting report and has recommended the filing illegal release of Interim Reimbursement isis doing its own investigation on the matits own investigation on the matAgents (ACAs). ofdoing malversation and graft Duque charges against Mechanism (IRM) funds. called ter.

The Senate has already released its ter.

The Senate has already released its In the COA letter to the agency dated July Duque and otherrecommended officials over the alleged the Senate findings baseless. report and has the filing 31, 2019, thehas auditrecommended report comments forfiling 2017 report and the illegal release Interim Reimbursement The House ofofand Representatives (HOR) of malversation charges against and 2018 included thegraft following: of malversation and graft charges against Mechanism (IRM) funds.

Duque called has also finished its hearings and will Duque and other officials over the alleged The and completeness and over accuracy of the Duque other officials the alleged the Senate findings baseless. soon release its report. illegal release of Interim Reimbursement collections remitted by ACAs to PhilHealth illegal release of Interim Reimbursement of Representatives (HOR) AsThe oneHouse who closely followed the hearamounting to(IRM) P53.736 billion were doubtful.

Mechanism funds.

Duque called Mechanism (IRM) funds.

Duque called has also finished its hearings and will There was a discrepancy ofofficial P1.667 ings on PhilHealth and studied the Senate findings baseless. the Senate findings baseless. soon release its report. billion between the recorded collections documents that reached me, I believe The House of Representatives (HOR) House ofclosely Representatives (HOR) byThe ACAs totaling P53.796 billion, and As one who the hearthere is nofinished question that afollowed “mafia” of corhas also its hearings and will has also finished its hearings and will the Report of the Treasury Department ings on PhilHealth and studied official rupt officials and employees has made soon release report. soon releasetoits its report. amounting P55.463 billion. documents that reached me, the I believe the health insurance corporation their As one who closely followed hearAs one who closely followed theof hearPhilHealth failed to do monitoring and thereonis cow. no question thatmodus astudied “mafia” cormilking Several operandi ings PhilHealth and official ings on PhilHealth and studied official accounting of used (PhilHealth Agents Rerupt officials and employees has made have uncovered.

Besides IRM,in documents that reached IIACAs believe ceipt)been PARs distributed to me, 7,468 documents that reached me, the believe the ishealth insurance corporation their there also the misuse of the “case rate” there is no question that a “mafia” of corthe country and abroad.

This cast doubt on there is nocow. question that amodus “mafia”operandi of cormilking Several system where health care institutions rupt officials and employees has made the Premium Contributions account formade 2018 rupt officials and employees has havehealth been uncovered.

Besides the their IRM, (HCIs) are billion) paid the case rate the insurance corporation (P132.463 andmaximum related accounts. the health insurance corporation their there is also the misuse of the “case rate” even when what was actually spent for 112,957 sets of PARs for 2018 were remilking cow.

Several modus operandi milking cow.

Several modus operandi system where health care institutions ported by PhilHealth and ACAs as damaged, treating a patient is way less than the have been uncovered.

Besides the IRM, have been uncovered.

Besides the IRM, (HCIs) are paidmisuse the case rate cancelled or lost. maximum amount set.maximum there isisalso the of the “case rate” there also the misuse of the “case rate” Thewhen face value of actually thesewere PARs was even what was spent for Several corrupt practices found system where health care institutions system where health careless institutions P27,109,680,000.00 (P27.109 billion). treating a paid patient ismaximum way than the out involving the Information and Tech(HCIs) are the case rate (HCIs) are paid theset. maximum casecould rate This is(IT) the Sector. amount that potentially maximum amount nology Based on thespent Internal even when what was actually for even when what was actually spent for have been lost IF those receipts were not Several corrupt practices were found Audit Report of former PhilHealth oftreating a patient is way less than the treating a patient is way less than the really lost but were fraudulently used or out involving the set.

InformationThorrsson and Techficial-turned-whistle-blower maximum faked. It is amount unthinkable that this huge nummaximum amount set. nology (IT) Sector.

Based on the Internal Montes Keith, therepractices were discrepSeveral corrupt were found ber of PARs could not bemajor accounted for.

Several corrupt practices were found Audit Report ofthis former PhilHealth ofancies and questionable budget items in out involving the Information and TechAt the very least, proves that the Philout involving the Information and Techficial-turned-whistle-blower Thorrsson the sector’s representations. nology (IT) Sector.

Based on the Internal Health process for OFWs was not nology (IT) Sector.

Based on theworking.

Internal Montes Keith, there werePhilHealth major discrepItPhilHealth’s turns out that all IT-related procureAudit Report of former ofcollections from OFWs Audit Report of former PhilHealth ofancies2014 and questionable budget itemsof in ments are limited by the Department from to 2017 continuously dropped ficial-turned-whistle-blower Thorrsson ficial-turned-whistle-blower Thorrsson the sector’s representations. in significant amounts.

From PhP1.774 Information and Communication TechMontes Keith, there were major discrepMontes Keith, thereall were majorbillion discrepbillion in 2014, PhP1.283 in It turns out that IT-related procurenology’s (DICT)-approved Information ancies and questionable budget items in ancies and questionable budget items in 2015, PhP823.462 million in 2016, and ments are limited by(ISSP). the Department of System Strategic Plan PhilHealth the sector’s representations. the sector’s representations. million inIT-related 2017.

Information and Communication TechisPhP465.177 not allowed to procure items and serItIt turns out that all procureturns out that all IT-related procureThe COA on “lost” PARS nology’s (DICT)-approved Information vices outside ofcomment theby ISSP. ments are limited the Department of ments are limited by the Department of was for the year 2018 which means that System Strategic Plan PhilHealth However, there were(ISSP). itemsbeen in the IT Information and Communication TechInformation and Communication Techthe lost receipts could have in use is not allowed to procure items and sernology’s (DICT)-approved during preceding years whenInformation collections nology’s (DICT)-approved Information vices outside of the ISSP. System Strategic Plan (ISSP).

PhilHealth System Strategic Plan (ISSP).

However, there were itemsPhilHealth in the IT isis not not allowed allowed to to procure procure items items and and serservices outside of the ISSP. vices outside of the ISSP. However, However, there there were were items items in in the the IT IT

sector’s budget that were not included in the ISSP amounting to P173,859,500.00.

There were items that were overpriced sector’s budget that were not included compared with DICT’s approved costs.in the sector ISSP amounting P173,859,500.00.

The requested toP154 million for Therea big were items that that wereincluded overpriced took dive. products and services cost sector’s budget that were in sector’s budget that were not not only included in compared with DICT’s costs.

The COA comment onapproved lost PARs is P65.468 million per DICT. Unscruputhe ISSP amounting to P173,859,500.00. the ISSP amounting to P173,859,500.00. most important especially in the light of the TheITsector requested P154 million for lous officials overpriced their request There were items that were overpriced There wereand items that were overpriced Joint Complaint Affidavit filed Mr. Ken products services that by only cost by PhP88.532 million.

Moreover, there compared with DICT’s approved costs. compared with DICT’s approved costs.

Sarmiento with the Office of the OmbudsP65.468 million per DICT. Unscrupuwere other anomalous budget requests The sector requested P154 million for The requested P154 million man.

Mr.officials Sarmiento was the head of for the lous sector IT overpriced their request listed only as laptops andthat three unspecproducts and services only cost products and services that only cost PhilHealth’s POEA-OFP Operations Office.

by PhP88.532 Moreover, there ified projects thatmillion. cost P65.468 million per DICT. Between 16 September 2015 to Unscrupu19million.

SeptemP65.468 million per P217.713 DICT. Unscrupuwere other anomalous budget requests PhilHealth also procured IT items lous IT officials overpriced their request ber ofIT2018, his office discovered fake lous officials overpriced their224 request listed only as that laptops three unspecfrom a supplier it hasand blacklisted at by a by PhP88.532 million.

Moreover, there PhilHealth Official Receipts (POR) issued by PhP88.532 million.

Moreover, there ified projects that cost P217.713 million. time when the said supplier was still suswere other anomalous budget requests Liaisonother Officers of severalbudget land-based hiring were anomalous requests PhilHealth also procured IT pended.

This islaptops a clear violation of items theof listed only and three unspecagencies.

Anas additional 868 photocopies listed only as laptops and three unspecfromprojects a supplier that it P217.713 has blacklisted at a Government Procurement Reform Act. questionable PORs were found to carry false ified that cost million. ified projects that cost P217.713 million. time when the said supplier was still susand fictitious transaction details.

The Commission on Audit (COA), in PhilHealth also procured IT PhilHealth also procured IT items items These discoveries the failure oratthe repended.

This a clear violation of its Audit Queryisthat Memorandum (AQM from aasupplier ititand has blacklisted aa from supplier that has blacklisted atto fusal of responsible PhilHealth officials Government Procurement Reform Act. No. 2020-003 HO) dated January 31, time when the said supplier was still sustime the said supplier was still susactThe onwhen Mr. Sarmiento’s reports and affidaCommission on Audit (COA), in 2020 also flagged two questionable pended.

This isis aa clear violation of the pended.

This clear violation of the vits in the last five years raise questions on its Audit Query Memorandum (AQM procurement transactions of PhilHealth Government Procurement Reform Act. Government Procurement Act. the connection of the dated fakeReform receipts with No. 2020-003 HO) January 31, totaling P29.618 million.

Theand COA obThe Commission on Audit (COA), in The Commission on Audit (COA), in those receipts used by ACAs were re2020 also flagged two questionable served that the technical specifications of its Audit Query Memorandum (AQM ported “lost”

by PhilHealth. its Audit Query Memorandum (AQM procurement transactions of PhilHealth the delivered items were non-compliant No. 2020-003 HO) dated January 31, Were the faked receipts and those with No. 2020-003 HO) dated January 31, totaling P29.618 million.

The COA obwith what was required by the agency.

2020 also flagged two questionable fraudulent entries discovered by Mr. Sarmien2020 also flagged two questionable served thatamong the technical specifications of This happened because PhilHealth only procurement transactions of PhilHealth to’s office those reported as lost, procurement transactions of PhilHealth the vague delivered items were non-compliant gave requirements. damaged, or cancelled?

Were the amounts totaling P29.618 million.

The COA obtotaling P29.618 million. by Thethe COA obwith what was required agency. of collected OFW premiums really COA also noted that seven unitsdipping? of the served that the technical specifications of served that the technical specifications of This happened because PhilHealth only Or, was the recorded significant decrease in 20 units purchased transreceivers were the delivered items were non-compliant the delivered items were non-compliant the collection caused byinspection. faking receipts?

Was gave vague requirements. missing at the time of Several with what was required by the agency. with what was required byofficials the agency. thisCOA the reason why PhilHealth failed also noted seven units the other observations onthat negligence andof inThis happened because PhilHealth only This happened because PhilHealth only to take action on Mr. Sarmiento’s reports?

20 units purchased transreceivers were efficiency on the part of PhilHealth were gave vague requirements. gave vague requirements.

If this scheme indeed happened, itSeveral could missing at the of inspection. also included intime thisthat AQM. COA also noted seven units of the COA also noted that seven units of the not be done by ACAs without help from scruother observations on negligence and The HOR hearings also touched onin20 units purchased transreceivers were pulous PhilHealth insiders.

Then it is possible 20 units purchased transreceivers were efficiency on themafia part of PhilHealth were the concerning remittances and missing at of inspection.

Several thatissues the so-called involved in graft and missing atthe thetime time ofAQM. inspection.

Several also included in this claims of Overseas Filipino Workers. other observations on negligence and incorruption is real. other observations on negligence and inTheArticle HOR hearings also touched on Under IV, Section 6 of RA 7875 efficiency on the part of PhilHealth were Earlier this week, the Inter-Agency Task efficiency on the part of PhilHealth were the issues concerning remittances and as amended by RA 10606, one of PhilForce (IATF) on COVID-19 came out with also included in this AQM. also included in this AQM. claims of Overseas Workers. its recommendations the PhilHealth Health’s functions is,regarding “u)Filipino To establish an The HOR hearings also touched on The HOR hearings also on Under Article IV, Section 6 touched of RA 7875 mess.

The IATF wants tonot fileremittances administrative and office, or where it is feasible, desigthe issues concerning and the issues concerning remittances and criminal charges some the agency’s as amended byagainst RAin10606, of Philnate a focal person everyofone Philippine claims of Overseas Filipino Workers. claims offunctions Overseas Filipino Workers. top officials forIV, graft, malversation ofwhere public Health’s is, “u) Toofestablish an Consular Office in all countries Under Article Section 6 RA 7875 Under Article IV, Section 6 of RA 7875 funds, dishonesty, and grave misconduct. office, orFilipino where it citizens. is10606, not feasible, desigthere are The office as amended by RA one of Philas amended RA 10606, onePhilippine ofisPhilAmong theby possible fornate afocal focal person inrespondents every or the person shall, among others, Health’s functions is, “u) To establish an Health’s functions is, “u) To establish an mer President and Chief Executive Officer Consular Office in allthe countries where process, review and pay claims of the office, or where it is not feasible, desig(CEO) retired General Ricardo Morales. office, or where it is not feasible, desigthere are Filipino citizens.

The office overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).” nate in Whataaisfocal quiteperson noticeable is thePhilippine exclusion nate focal person in every every Philippine or the focal person shall, among others, This provision of the law is for PhilConsular Office in all countries where of Health Secretary Duquewhere from Consular Officeand inFrancisco all countries process, review pay the claims ofin the Health to be ablewants to citizens. serve our OFWs there are Filipino The office those that IATF to be held accountthere are Filipino citizens.

The office overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).” an efficient and timely manner.

Clearable. isperson expected since Duqueothers, is the or the focal shall, among or theThis focal person shall, among others, This provision ofpay thethe law ishave for PhilCHAIR of the is IATF. ly, PhilHealth mandated to the process, review and claims of the process, review and pay the claims of the Health to be able toemphasize servein our OFWs in It istoimportant to that Duque means serve our OFWs the country overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).” overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).” isanThis theefficient ex-officio Chairman ofmanner. the PhilHealth and timely Clearwhere they are located. provision of the law is for PhilThis provision of thewas lawPresident is for PhilBoard of Directors.

He and ly, PhilHealth is to mandated to have the When asked how the agency is servHealth to be able serve our OFWs in Health to be able to serve our OFWs in CEO from 2001-2005.

As DOH Secretary, he means toOFWs, serve our OFWs in the country ing our resource persons for an efficient and timely manner.

Clearan efficient and timely manner.

Clearwas ex-officio Chair of the Board from June where theysaid areisthat located.

PhilHealth they have Accredly, PhilHealth mandated to the ly, PhilHealth ishow mandated to have have the 2005 to January 2010.

He was Chair of servCivil When askedour the(ACAs) agency is ited Collecting Agents mostly means to serve OFWs in the country Service to Commission from 2010 to 2015 and means serve our OFWs in the country ing OFWs, resource persons for in the our country and some that are where they located. from 2013, the CSC Chairabroad also became an where they are are located.

PhilHealth said that they have Accredauthorized to receive payment of premiWhen asked how the agency is servex-officio PhilHealth Board member is perservR.A. When asked how the agency itedof Collecting Agents (ACAs) mostly ums OFWs. are then remitted to ing our resource persons for 10606.

HeOFWs, wasThese back as ex-officio Chair of ing our OFWs, resource persons for in PhilHealth the country and some abroad that are the office.

When OFWs have PhilHealth said that they have Accredthe Board from October 2017 to the present.

PhilHealth said that they haveofAccredauthorized to payment premiSec. Duque been in PhilHealth for about claims, thesehas arereceive processed and paid here ited Collecting Agents (ACAs) mostly ited Collecting Agents (ACAs) mostly ums ofcountry OFWs. These areabroad then remitted to 16 long years, and assome Chair or President and in the Philippines. in the and that are in the country and some abroad thathave are CEO for almost 13 years. the PhilHealth office.

When OFWs This scheme clearly defeats the purauthorized to receive payment of premiauthorized to are receive payment ofpaid premiFor the length ofassistance timeare thatthen theand has claims, these processed here pose of providing tosecretary OFWs at ums OFWs. These remitted to ums of OFWs. These are then remitted to been with the PhilHealth Board, it is almost in the Philippines. athe time when they need it and in the counPhilHealth office.

When OFWs have the PhilHealth office.

When OFWs have unbelievable that he remained completely Thisthese scheme clearly defeats thehere purtry where theyare are.

Because PhilHealth claims, processed paid claims, processed and here unaware of theare shenanigans inand the agency.

If pose ofthese providing assistance topaid OFWs at isin notorious for being extremely late the Philippines. in Philippines. thisthe is the case, then he has been remiss in in the a time when they need it and in the counpaying claims, OFWs need to wait for a This scheme clearly defeats the purperformance of hisclearly responsibilities. scheme defeatsPhilHealth the purtryThis where they are.

Because long time before they are helped. pose of providing assistance to OFWs at PhilHealth is an attached agency of the pose of providing assistance to OFWs at istime notorious for being late in Most importantly, PhilHealth is in viaaDepartment when they need ititextremely and in the counof Health (DOH).

Duque has time when they need and in the counpaying claims, OFWs need to wait for a olation of its mandate under the law as try where they are.

Because PhilHealth been in PhilHealth as the so-called mafia try where they are.

Because PhilHealth long time before they are helped. quoted above.

This particular violation was bleeding the agency dry.

Even just in isis notorious for being extremely late in notorious for beingPhilHealth extremelyislate in Most importantly, in viterms command responsibility, there was notofclaims, expounded on need during the HOR paying OFWs to wait for aisa paying claims, OFWs need to wait for no way that Sec. Duque can distance himolation ofbefore its mandate under the law as hearings. long time they are helped. long timeabove. before they problems. are helped.violation self from the agency’s quoted This particular More next week.

Most importantly, PhilHealth is in viMost importantly, PhilHealth is in viLike the others, Duque is accountable was notof expounded on during the HOR olation its mandate under the law as olation of its mandate under the law as for the PhilHealth mess. hearings. @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth quoted above.

This particular violation quoted above.

This particular violation More nextFacebook week. on during the HOR Angsioco on was not was not expounded expounded during the HOR @bethangsioco ononTwitter Elizabeth hearings.

Angsioco on Facebook hearings. @bethangsioco More week.on Twitter Elizabeth More next next Angsioco on week.

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Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

B1

mst.daydesk@gmail.com SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

Adelle AdelleChua, Chua,Editor Editor

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL EDITORIAL

mst.daydesk@gmail.com mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 SATURDAY, 19,2020 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 12, 12, 2020

B1 B1 B1

Honoring the Filipino teacher Honoring the Filipino teacher FHonoringSuspended the Filipino teacher F F W

in partnership with UNICEF, the InternaROM September 5 to tional Labor Organization and Education October 5, we join the International, gives us the opportunity to world acknowledging mark the progress and reflect on to in partnership with UNICEF, theways InternaROMinSeptember 5 to counter the remaining challenges for the the efforts of teachers in what has tional Labor Organization and Education October 5, we join the promotion of thegives teaching profession.

International, us the opportunity to been known since 1994 as5 the in partnership with the InternaROM September to world in acknowledging in partnership with UNICEF, UNICEF, the InternaE ARE relieved, ROM September 5 to mark the progress and reflect on ways to Labor Organization and World Teachers Day. We tional Labor Organization and Education Education October 5, we join the counter the remaining challenges for the the efforts of teachers inhonor what has tional like other millions October 5, we join the The reduction International, gives us the opportunity to teachers and recognize their International, gives us the opportunity to promotion ofblended the teaching profession. world in acknowledging The been known since 1994 as the of Filipinos, that mark the progress and world in education acknowledging of the one-meter mark the progress and reflect reflect on on ways ways to to contributions to and counter the challenges for the efforts of teachers in what has World Teachers Day. We honor reduced one-meter physical learning set-up is also counter the remaining remaining challenges for the the the efforts of teachers in what has physical distance was development. promotion of the profession. been known 1994 the promotion ofthem, theteaching teaching profession. teachers andsince recognize their distancing—0.75-meter distance been known since 1994 as as the new to even The blended a terrible idea.

For the first time since then, the celeWorld Teachers Day. We honor contributions to education and introduced on September 14— Worldwill Teachers Day. honor they have beenis also bration be virtual, givenWe the protocols iflearning set-up teachers and recognize their development. rule in public transportation has teachers andcaused recognize The blended and restrictions by the their coronavirus The blended teaching for decades. new tobethem, even contributions to and “further optimized to also 0.5 meters pandemic has, since lockdown been For suspended. thewhich first time since the then, the cele- be contributions to education education and learning set-up is learning set-up ismeters alsoafter indevelopment. this country on March 17, infected and if they have been bration will be virtual, given the protocols after two weeks and to 0.3 development. to are them, While we in this,even we honor the killed frontliners whoto new Wethousands, fully agreeincluding with a former adviser

and restrictions caused by then, the coronavirus another two new toweeks.” them, even teaching for decades.

For the first time since the 900,000 Department of Education For the up first time since then, the celecele- nearly have stood against this deadly virus. the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging pandemic which has, since the lockdown The law classmate of President Rodif they have been bration will be virtual, given the protocols if they have been public school teachers and the perhaps as bration willDiseases bethe virtual, given the protocols This year, World Teachers Day in this country on March 17, infected and Infectious that we must not, as rigo Duterte had argued that current and restrictions caused by the coronavirus teaching for decades. many private school teachers whohonor continand restrictions caused by the coronavirus theme—Teachers: Leading in Crisis, ReWhile we are in this, we the killed thousands, including frontliners who teaching for decades. the Department of Transportation has sughealth measures, like theoilmandatory use pandemic which has, since the lockdown to burn the midnight toofteach the pandemic which has,boldly, since the lockdown imagining the well-timed, connearly 900,000 Department Education have stood upFuture—is against this deadly virus. gested pretty much gradually cut ueof in this country on March 17, infected and face masks and face shields, meant the Filipinos to become worthy hold-as in this country on March 17,Teachers infected and young sidering the present health although public school teachers andwe thehonor perhaps This year, the Worldcrisis, Day While we are in this, the back from the will WHO-prescribed one-meter killed thousands, including frontliners who one-meter physical distancing measure While we are inand this, weconduct. honor the ers of good manners right killed thousands, including frontliners who the celebration beLeading online. many private school teachers who contintheme—Teachers: in Crisis, Renearly 900,000 Department of Education have stood up against this deadly virus. distance down to one foot. could be relaxed. nearly 900,000 Department of Education This is the time to take stock of have stood up against this deadly virus.

But that does not stop us from saluting ue to burn the midnight oil to teach the imagining the Future—is well-timed, conpublic teachers and the perhaps as This year, the World Day That suggestion, at this when Theschool chief implementer of the governpublic school teachers and the perhaps as and attention to holdthe This year, the World Teachers Day achievements the teachers continue toTeachers betime thealthough moldyoung Filipinos todraw become worthy sidering thewho present health crisis, many private school teachers who contintheme—Teachers: Leading in Crisis, Rehealth authorities have not insucceeded in voices many private school who continof teachers whoteachers areright at the heart of theme—Teachers: Leading Crisis, Rement’s plan against COVID-19, Secreers ofcelebration young minds, young generations ers of good manners and conduct. the will be online. ue to burn the midnight oil to the imagining the Future—is well-timed, conue toCarlito burn midnight oil to teach teach the cutting down the coronavirus that has in- efforts to achieve globalsaid target imagining the Future—is well-timed, conwho willthat someday bestop effective followers taryThis Galvez, “optimizing” is the the time toeducation take stock of But does not us from saluting young Filipinos to become worthy holdsidering the present health crisis, although young Filipinos to become worthy holdof leaving no one behind—with or withsidering the present health crisis, although and leaders of their communities or, on the fected and killed thousands of Filipinos, achievements and draw attention to the the teachers who continue to be the moldphysical distance among passengers ers of manners and right conduct. the celebration will be ers ofgood good manners andare right conduct. out pandemic. the celebration will beonline. online. main, this country. voices of teachers who at the heart of invites scorn. ers of young minds, young generations would help ease transportation woes This is the time to take stock of But that does not stop us from saluting This is the time to take stock of Verily, the COVID-19 pandemic has But that does not stop us from saluting The World Teachers Day, co-convened efforts to achieve global education target who will someday be effective followers Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade among commuters. achievements and draw the the teachers who continue to the moldachievements draw attention attentionorto towiththe the who to be bewas the moldof“With leaving no and onetransportation, behind—with andteachers leaders of their communities or,“recepon the voices said previously hiscontinue department public there is of teachers who are at the heart of ers of young minds, young generations voices of teachers who are at the heart of ers of young minds, young generations out pandemic. main, this country. tive to an initial optimization of the physiefforts to achieve global education target who will someday be effective followers faster recovery of lives and livelihoods as to achieve global education target who will someday be effective followers efforts Verily, theone COVID-19 pandemic has World Teachers Day, co-convened no behind—with or calThe distancing measure in public transport and leaders communities or, on weleaving push forward the new normal,” of leaving no oneunder behind—with or withwithand leaders of of their their communities or, on the the of pandemic. main, this vehicles 0.75 meters among commuters out Galvez said. out pandemic. main, thistocountry. country.

Verily, COVID-19 has The Teachers Day, co-convened beginning Sept.

14” which said would But thethe andpandemic deaths conVerily, theinfections COVID-19 pandemic has The World World Teachers Day,he co-convened

consequentially added to the challenges faced by already over-extended education systems throughout the world.

More than ever,added we must with consequentially to thework challenges teachers protectover-extended the right to education faced bytoalready education and guide throughout it into the unfolding landscape systems thetoworld. consequentially added the consequentially added to the challenges challenges brought about by the pandemic which tinue to rise in Metro Manila and put surMore than ever, we must work with faced by over-extended education faced byalready already over-extended education this world atprovinces. the crossroads. teachers to protect the right to education rounding systems throughout the world. systems throughout the world.

We agree with education authorities the and it into the unfolding landscape Weguide agree with Dr. Anthony Leachon More than ever, we must work with More than ever, we must work with issue of teacher leadership in relation to brought about by the pandemic which put who saidtothe one-meter physical distance teachers protect the right to teachers to at protect the right to education education crisis responses is not just timely, but critthis world the crossroads. between individuals in public transportaand ititof into unfolding landscape and guide into the unfolding landscape ical inguide terms thethe contributions teachers agree education authorities the brought about by the pandemic which put tionWe was thetowith bedrock ofremote preventing virus brought about by the pandemic which put have made provide learning, issue of teacher leadership in relation to this world at crossroads. transmission, thatjustwearing a face this world atthe theand crossroads. support vulnerable populations, re-open crisis responses is not timely, but critWe agree with education authorities the mask orterms facewith shield was aggregate to Weinagree education authorities the schools, and ensure that an learning gaps ical of the contributions teachers issue of teacher leadership in to this basic precautionary measure. issue of teacher leadership in relation relation to have been mitigated. have made to provide remote learning, crisis responses isisnot just timely, critcrisis responses not just timely, but critAs inch closer to the opening of Towe thevulnerable point, hepopulations, said the but DOTR support re-open ical in terms of the contributions teachers ical in terms ofworking the contributions teachers classes intoand the Philippines on October seemed be at cross-purposes schools, ensure that learning gaps to remote learning, have made to provide provide learning, 5,have themade discussions surrounding World have been mitigated. from the Department ofremote Health, which support vulnerable populations, re-open support vulnerable populations, re-open Teachers Day will also address the role ofof As we inch closer to the opening mandatesand theensure one-meter distance based schools, that learning gaps schools, and ensure that learning gaps teachers inin building resilience andOctober shapclasses the Philippines on on the WHO standard. have been mitigated. have been mitigated. ing the future of education and the teach5,As the discussions World “This [policy] willsurrounding be the risky, reckless, we inch closer to opening of As we inchwill closer to the opening of ing profession.

Teachers Day also address the role of classes in the Philippines on October counter-intuitive and will derail the flatclasses the Philippines on and October Despiteinin the constraints raised by shapthe teachers building resilience 5, the discussions surrounding World tening the curve insurrounding the National Capi5, discussions World pandemic, we raise straight away our apingthe theoffuture of education andthe the teachTeachers Day will also address of tal Region, will... therole entire Teachers Day will also address the role of preciation forwhich the efforts ofaffect teachers from ing profession. teachers in building resilience and shapPhilippines.

We have flattened the curve, teachers in building resilience and shapTawi Tawi to as far north as Batanes who Despite the constraints raised by the ing the future of education and the teaching the future ofraise education and the teachbring into their best efforts despite but that isplay not completely irreversible. pandemic, we straight away our aping profession. ing profession. the pandemic and think about how toif We will cause [a] resurgence of cases preciation for the efforts of teachers from Despite the constraints raisedforby the Despite the by the upgrade their modules their Tawi tolearning asconstraints far north asraised Batanes who we areTawi reckless,” hestraight warned. pandemic, we raise away our appandemic, we raise straight away our apstudents. bring into play their best efforts despite What would truly give us comfort is if preciation for the efforts of from preciation for theand efforts of teachers teachers from the begin pandemic think about to we seeing the numbers gohow down.

Tawi Tawi to as far north as Batanes who Tawi Tawitheir to aslearning far northmodules as Batanes who upgrade their Right now, however, leastefforts we arefor assured bring into despite bring into play play their theiratbest best efforts despite students. the pandemic and think about how to that our leaders decision makers are the pandemic and think about how reto upgrade their learning modules for their fraining from doing something that would upgrade their learning modules for their students. likely have the opposite effect. students.

Robredo should be kicked out Robredo should be kicked out kicked out US Robredo derailingshould ASEANbe Code of Conduct Part I

BACKBENCHER

evidence of electoral fraud. The justices are openly making a mockery out of our judicial system. Their malicious delay is creating political instability coupled by the evidence of electoral fraud.

Theunfounded justices are rumor thatmaking the President is sick. openly a mockery out of our judicial People clearly see the agenda of this demasystem.

Their malicious delay is justices creating poevidence of electoral fraud.

The nectivity inby areas suchare as evidence ofcooperation electoral fraud.

The justices are gogue which is to overthrow the government litical instability coupled the unfounded openly making aa mockery out of judicial openly making mockery out of our ourharbors, judicial by taking advantage of port the constitutional railways, highways, and rumor that the President is sick. system.

Their malicious delay isistitle creating posystem.

Their malicious delay creating poprocess earned bysee herthe cheated and to airports, power and communications for People clearly agenda of this demalitical instability coupled by the unfounded litical instability coupled byand theinvestment unfounded persistently discredit the legitimately elected gogue which is to overthrow the government building better business rumor that the President is sick. rumor that the President ismembers sick.

President. byPeople taking advantage of the of constitutional environments.”

All theagenda ofdemaASEclearly see this Peopleearned clearly seethe the agenda oftitle this Without the President knowing it, demahadto process by her cheated and AN have bilaterally signedtheChina’s BRI. gogue which is to overthrow government gogue which is to overthrow government Bong Bong Marcos notthe filed athe petition for a persistently discredit legitimately elected This isthe anadvantage impliedenemies endorsement of Chiby taking of by taking advantage of the theofconstitutional constitutional recount, political Duterte led President. process earned cheated title and to na’s version ofby theher CoC. process earned by her cheated title and to by the US imperialist, the Church, the Without discredit the President knowing oligarit, had persistently the legitimately elected This paradoxical interpretation ofa persistently discredit the filed legitimately elected chy andBong the new accomplice ofa the CIA led Bong Marcos not petition for President. the reflects each ofof the power President. by the CoC terroristic left, they could have started recount, thethe political enemies Duterte led Without President knowing it, had blocs’ motivation and interest.

Without the by President knowing it,Interhad rocking the boat accusing him of the commitby the US imperialist, the Church, oligarBong Bong Marcos not filed a petition for aa Bong Bong Marcos notwhat filedthey aofpetition forby ting fraud like did to oust estingly, laid down chyelectoral and thethe newproposal accomplice the CIA led recount, the political enemies of Duterte led recount, themany political enemies Duterte led Marcos and leaders they for China appears to have theoftargeted unanimous bythe theUS terroristic left, theyChurch, could have started by imperialist, the the oligarby the change.

US imperialist, the Church, thecommitoligarregime rocking the boat by accusing him of support of the ASEAN. The commonchy and the new accomplice of the CIA led chy and new accomplice of thedid CIA led The petition filed by between Bong Bong against ting electoral fraud like what they to oust ality oftheinterests ASEAN by the terroristic left, they could have started by the terroristic left, they could have started the phony vice president pre-empted them Marcos and many leaders they targeted for and China is apparent. rocking the boat by commitrocking thethat boatalibi by accusing accusing him of commitfrom using against him the of President. regime change.

First, any policy that would jeopardize ting electoral fraud like what they did to oust tingThe electoral fraud like did to oust The opposition was placed onthey the defensive petition filed bywhat Bong Bong against Marcos and many leaders they targeted for andtheimpede navigation the SCS will Marcos andjustices many leaders they targeted for and two namelyin Marvic Leonen the phony vice president pre-empted them regime change. directly affect them, they being littoral regime change. and Diosdado Peralta are now desperately from using that alibi against the President.

The petition by Bong against and adjacent tofiled the SCS. The petition filed

by Bong Bong against serving as her legal muggers.

The opposition was placed on Bong the defensive the phony vice president pre-empted them Second, both China and ASEAN the phony vice president pre-empted them This demagogue would always make itwill a and the two justices namely Marvic Leonen from using that alibi against the President. from using that alibi the President. point to slant andin distort every issue to asbear the brunt the against event peace and staand Diosdado Peralta are now desperately The opposition was placed on the defensive The opposition was placedthat on the thePresident defensive sure her American handlers bility are serving as threatened. her legal muggers. and the two justices namely Marvic Leonen andThird, the two justices namely Marvic Leonen would only bequeath hatred as legacy tothose the This demagogue would always make it a it is to the interest of and Diosdado Peralta are now desperately and Diosdado Peralta are now desperately Filipino people.

The latest of her antics is toaspoint to slant and distort every issue to countries with conflicting claims in the serving as her legal muggers. serving as her legalto muggers. discredit the project beautify Manila Bay. to sure her American handlers that the President SCS todemagogue amicably settle their dispute This would always make itit aa This demagogue would always make This phony vice president should betorewould only bequeath hatred as legacy the bring about progress and prosperity to point to slant and distort every issue to point tothat slant andThe distort every issue toisasasminded after Cory, nothing has been Filipino people. latest of her antics to sure her American handlers that the President their people. sure her American handlers that the President done to clean Manila Bay of filth.

Today, the discredit the project to beautify Manila Bay. would only isbequeath hatred as legacy to the Fourth, ASEAN is not amenable would bequeath hatred asthe legacy to the government notvice onlypresident cleaning bay but isreThisonly phony should be Filipino people.

The latest of her antics isis to to joining any Cold War type alliance Filipino people.

The latest of her antics to carrying out an unprecedented rehabilitation. minded that after Cory, nothing has been discredit the beautify Manila Bay. when they organized theofASEAN as an discredit theproject project to beautify Manila Bay. The government tookto the initiative byToday, putting done to clean Manila Bay filth. the This phony vice president should be reThis phony vice president should bebut re-is white sand (dolomite) on the whole stretch economic bloc inonly 1967. government isafter not cleaning thehas bay minded that Cory, nothing been that after Cory, nothing has been ofminded Roxas Boulevard to countries encourage people to Fifth, while all including carrying out an unprecedented rehabilitation. done to Manila of Today, the done to clean clean Manila Bay of filth. filth.

Today, the promenade and also forBay them to take a dip if The government took the initiative by putting China are working for freedom of navigovernment is not only cleaning the bay but isis government is not only cleaning the bay but they wish. white sand (dolomite) on the whole stretch gation to assure the free flow of trade carrying out an unprecedented rehabilitation. carrying out an unprecedented rehabilitation. of Roxas Boulevard to encourage to and commerce, that does notbypeople include The government took the initiative The government took thethem initiative byputting putting version promenade andFull also for to take a dip if the militarization of the waterway. white sand (dolomite) on the whole stretch white sand (dolomite) on the whole stretch at www.manilastandard.net they wish. of of Roxas Roxas Boulevard Boulevard to to encourage encourage people people to to promenade and also for them to take aa dip full version www.manilastandard.net promenade and at also for them to take dip ifif Full version they theywish. wish. at www.manilastandard.net

LENI Robredo’s route to national politics is by windfall after the death of her husband.

Part I cabinet member What happened to Noynoy’s BACKROD P. Jesse Robredo on August 2012 was an un- is LENI Robredo’s route 19, to national politics BENCHER KAPUNAN wanted accident which the wast-of by windfall after the of herCode husband.

Part IIopposition OBJECTIVELY, thedeath ASEAN Part BACKBACKedConduct no time to exploit.

Jesse Robredo’s death What happened to Noynoy’s cabinet member was first broached to the memROD P. LENI Robredo’s route to national politics isis BENCHER LENI Robredo’s route to national politics With Christian Filipinos having an utterly instantly became the most coveted price that Jesse Robredo on August 19, 2012 was an unBENCHER bers in theafter 1992themeeting inherSingapore. by windfall death of husband.

KAPUNAN by windfall the of herto husband. mangled moral fiber, it is easy for a demacould paveaccident theafter waywhich for death thethe widow capture wanted opposition The issue wasto mediate China member andwastVi- gogue to castigate the Duterte What happened cabinet ROD P. What happened totoNoynoy’s Noynoy’s cabinet member administration political power. ed no time to exploit.

Jesse Robredo’s death ROD P. Jesse Robredo on 19, 2012 was an unetnam in a dispute over oil exploration.

Jesse Robredo onAugust August 19,coveted 2012 was an unwithout sheKAPUNAN oncehaving served an as utterly conIn the tradition of cashing in on the grief Withrecollection Christian Filipinos instantly became the most price that wanted accident which the opposition wastKAPUNAN ASEAN urged theforparties “to to exercise wanted accident which thehustlers opposition wastwhom oneitcan rightly for the pave bereaved, political have to gresswoman mangled moral fiber, is easy forclassify a demacould the way widow capture ed no to exploit.

Jesse Robredo’s death restraint,” and fortothe first time sought ed no time time to exploit.

Jesse Robredo’s death a political loafer whose visionadministration is honed to convert thepower. occasion politically advance in asgogue to castigate the Duterte political With Filipinos having an instantly became the most coveted price that With Christian Christian Filipinos having an utterly to In apply the principles contained in the disparage instantly became the most coveted price that her political enemies. what isthe termed as “stiff game of power comamicably and peacefully settle allutterly conwithout recollection she once served as contradition of cashing in on the grief mangled moral fiber, it is easy for a demacould pave the way for the widow to capture mangled moral fiber,one it iscan easy for a classify demacould pave the waythis for thethe widow capture petition.”

Perhaps, is onlytocountry Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in gresswoman whom rightly for the bereaved, political hustlers have to flicting and overlapping claims which gogue to castigate the Duterte administration political power. to castigate Duterte administration political power. where thethe remains dead are made intoin gogue as a political loaferthe whose vision is honed to convert occasion tothe politically advance Southeast Asia of asthe basis for estabpose great danger to derailing progress. without recollection she once served as In the tradition of cashing in on the grief without recollection she once served as conconIn the tradition of cashing in on the grief political capital, not for his idealism or patridisparage her political enemies. what is termed as “stiff game of power comlishing a code of international conduct gresswoman whom one can rightly classify for the bereaved, political hustlers have to It’s succession by for the bereaved, political hustlers have to gresswoman whom one can rightly classify otism, but to bequeath theSea.” grotesque practice petition.”

Perhaps, this is the only country over the South China aa political vision convert the occasion to politically advance in asaccidental political loafer loafer whose whose vision isis honed honed to to convert thesuccession. occasionof tothe politically advance in as of political death. where the remains dead are made into That historic meeting saw ASEAN disparage her political enemies. what isis termed as “stiff game of power comdisparage her political enemies. what termed as “stiff game of power comLeni’s ascent to power was a macabre way political capital, not for his idealism or patriAmericans are by becoming pro-active in the of petition.”

Perhaps, this isispublic the only country It’s succession petition.”

Perhaps, thisthe the settlement only country of exploiting misplaced adulation. otism, butremains to bequeath grotesque practice where the of the dead are made into disputes among its members.

It was a forwhere the remains of the dead are made into The yellow horde truly capitalized Immediately, the widow was fielded as the taking advantage oforgy of political succession. accidental death. the political capital, not for idealism or ward-looking approach without the bloc political capital, not for his his idealism or patripatrigeneratedIt’s by the fanfare of mortuary service Liberal Party’s candidate inwas the 2013 election Leni’s ascent to power a macabre way succession by the succession bycircumotism, but to bequeath the practice altering basic concept of regionalism otism, butthe todistrict bequeath the grotesque grotesque practice it It’s tosituation. a political circus. That for theexploiting third of Camarines Suradulation. which to turn of misplaced public of political succession. accidental death. to strengthen peace andher stability.

ASEAN of political succession. landed herhorde as phony vice president. includes Naga city where husband served accidental death.

The yellow truly capitalized the orgy Immediately, the widow was fielded asway the stance Leni’s ascent to power was aamacabre Leni’s ascent to power was macabre way The election of Duterte poasopted mayor. toParty’s invitecandidate China, hoping to bring the generated by the fanfare threatened of mortuarytheservice Liberal in the 2013 election of exploiting misplaced adulation. of exploiting misplaced public adulation. ideology firmed up by US imperialism.

Mar Roxas chose her as public running mate to litical toThe turn it to a political circus.

That circumfor the third district of Camarines Sur which parties to the negotiating table.

Admittedly thetruly US,capitalized China and the yellow horde the orgy Immediately, the votes. widowIt was fielded as the The yellow horde truly capitalized the orgy Immediately, fielded as the The decision field was not based capture not her qualistance landed her asRobredo phony vice president. includes Nagathe citywidow whereinwas her served Theadditional ASEAN decision tohusband invite China countries oftothe ASEAN have their interpregenerated by fanfare of mortuary service Liberal Party’s candidate the 2013 election generated by theoffanfare ofthreatened Liberal Party’s in election her but as amortuary stopgap service solufication why shetocandidate was in the but a plain gim- on Thequalification Duterte the poas the mayor. was pivotal thetaken future of 2013 the regional tation on thea political proposed Code of Conduct to turn itelection circus.

That circumfor district of Camarines Sur which to turn it to toa acrumbling political circus.

That circumfor Mar the third district ofher Camarines Surmate which tion to save empire and its local mick to third people whom the opposition treats litical ideology firmed up by US imperialism.

Roxas chose as running to bloc. It Naga seemscity the founding members an- stance with interest regard to the use and/or navigation landed as vice president. includes her husband served stance landedher her asphony vice president. includes Nagadumb. city where where her husband class.

Itphony is for thiswas reason why as politically Besides, shenotstands to vested The decision tooffield Robredo not based capture additional votes. was herserved qualiticipated there would beItan economic and The election Duterte threatened the poas mayor. in the SCS, and on how countries should The election of Duterte threatened thesolupoas mayor. the Filipino people now demand that she be galvanize the political brokers who see her as on her qualification but as a stopgap fication why she was taken in but a plain gimlitical ideology firmed up by US imperialism.

Mar Roxas chose her as running mate to political reconfiguration in the region afsettle their contentious claim over some litical ideology firmed imperialism.

Mar chose herthe as running mate to kicked out of office.

Sheup is by notUS entitled to imone whotoRoxas talks more of the heavenly platitudes tion to save a crumbling empire and its local mick people whom opposition treats The decision to field Robredo was not capture additional was not her qualiter thethe defeat ofvotes. the Besides, US in Vietnam with of the islands.

Each these players has The decision toclass. field Robredo was not based based capture additional votes. was not her qualibecause that belongs to one duly than hard dumb. realities ofItItlife. vested interest Itof isasfor this reason why as of politically she stands to peachment on her qualification but a stopgap solufication why she was taken in but a plain gimagalvanize prospect for economic growth on her buthas as violated a for stopgap solutheir respective objective theany CoC, fication she was taken in but a plain gimelected byqualification thepeople people or ofbe Inbright that why capacity, Robredo was elected conthe Filipino now demand that she the political brokers who see her as tion to aa crumbling empire and local mick to whom the opposition treats tion to save crumbling empire and its its local with the opening China in distinctive 1978.

But the mick to people people whom theheavenly opposition treats specific impeachable gresswoman with noof visible and not tosave mention theSheoffenses. underlying interest kicked out of office. is not entitled to imone who talks more of the platitudes interest class.

ItIt isis for this why as politically dumb.

Besides, she stands to vested interest class. for this reason reason why as politically dumb.

Besides, she stands to Alas, she with can no longer invoke the constiachievement except being widow of the unlike the hard European Union, ASEAN is vested peachment because that belongs to one duly than of the realities ofthe life. that goes their proposal. the Filipino people now demand that she be galvanize the political brokers who see her as the Filipino people now that she be galvanize the political brokers who seesituather as tutional provision because is clear thatby those mayor.

It was expected that was by 2016, she elected byofthe people orisitdemand has violated any of that capacity, Robredo elected conan In association of of countries mostly Essentially the CoC proposed the kicked out office.

She not entitled to imone who talks more the heavenly platitudes kicked out of office.

She is not entitled to imone who talks more of the heavenly platitudes justices are making a travesty of our Constiwould be chosen as the running mate by a the specific impeachable offenses. gresswoman with no visible and distinctive ed inofthe rim of the South China Sea but peachment US and China are that diametrically opposed. because belongs to one duly than the hard realities of life. peachment because that belongs tothe one duly than ofdifferent the hard realities of life.

Others even they are unwitcandidate bruited to lose in that presidential she can nosuspect longer invoke constiachievement except being the widow of the tution. with colonial backgrounds.

The TheAlas, US proposal takes the negative apelected by the or violated any of In capacity, Robredo was elected conelected by theaspeople people or has has violated any In that thatLike capacity, Robredo wasslain elected contingly serving herbecause counsel, not to release itof election. the expected widow of that the oppositutional provision it is clear that those mayor.

It was by 2016, she most contentious issue that hounds the the proach, while China takes the positive specific impeachable offenses. gresswoman with no visible and distinctive the specific impeachable offenses. gresswoman with no visible and distinctive until such time that their decision shall have tion they catapulted as redeemer of our freejustices are making a travesty of our Constiwould be chosen the running mate by a members isexcept the overlapping claims Alas, she can no longer invoke the constiachievement being the widow of the approach aineven win-win solution.

Chinese Alas,stale sheof can no longer invoke the constiachievement except widow ofover the become or Latin, has become functus dom and democracy, Robredo was picked, tution.

Others suspect are unwitcandidate bruited tobeing lose inthethat presidential tutional provision because ititisisthey clear that those mayor.

ItIt was expected that by 2016, she some of the islands in the SCS. Premier Li Keqiang already spelled outit tutional provision because clear that those mayor. was expected that by 2016, she officio. knowing that politics in this country is more tingly serving as her counsel, not to release election.

Like the widow of the slain opposijustices are making a travesty of our Constiwould be chosen as the running mate by a The proposed Code of Conduct esChina’s November 2019, areproposal making alast travesty of our Constibe catapulted chosen theredeemer running mate by a justices The such refusal of those justices appointed by ofwould a big joke than a as serious business.

Succesuntil time that their decision shall have tion they as of our freetution.

Others even suspect they unwitcandidate bruited to in presidential sentially refers to the use ofthan the SCS to that tution.

Others even suspect are unwitwhich isstale “toor actively support the develcandidate bruited to lose lose in that that presidential abominable predecessor theare President sion by and accidental death is more enough become in Latin, hasofthey become functus dom democracy, Robredo was picked, tingly serving as her counsel, not to release itit election.

Like the widow of the slain opposiher counsel, not to releaseto promote peace, stability security in totingly the widow of and the slain opposicomeserving out a as decision has of now ripened toelection. enthroneLike her to power. opment and financing ASEAN inofficio. knowing that politics in this country is more until such time that their decision shall have tion they catapulted as redeemer of our freeuntil such time that their decision shall have tion they catapulted as redeemer of our freethe Most the goal is to frastructure The refusal of those justices appointed by of aregion. big joke than aimportant, serious business.

Succesprojects and become promote conbecome stale Latin, functus dom and democracy, Robredo was picked, become stale or or in inpredecessor Latin, has has become functus dom andaccidental democracy, Robredo was that abominable of the President sion by death is more thanispicked, enough officio. knowing that politics in this country more officio. knowing that politics in there this country is more diction Pimentel maintains is nothover theaofgrant of the now franchise. toThe come out decision has ripenedbyto Branch 29’s decision revoking More toaenthrone her toapower. refusal those justices appointed of than SuccesFull version The ofleading those appointed by reason to believe ofwrong a big big joke joke than a serious serious business.

Succeswe willwill be among those Exchange Commission, isbusiness. a power con- iary of China’s vaccine producer @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth ing with doing business in the But in refusal the event the justices SC rules against Full version Power’s at franchise, who then serve that abominable predecessor of the @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth sumer sion by accidental death is more than enough www.manilastandard.net that Power, abominable predecessor ofPECO the President President sion bygroup accidental death is more than enough More in the priority list to be supplied the vaccine in Iloilo City.

It isare a coalition China National Pharmaceutical Group.

Angsioco on Facebook at www.manilastandard.net country especially if there other Pimentel says canto out decision has now ripened to enthrone to Iloilo’s distribution utility both Angsioco on Facebook to come come out athe aSinovac decision hasthe now ripened to asonce to enthroneher her topower. power. it becomes available.

Andgiven maybe, our of different groups, including of One is from while theto Pimentel maintains theremembers is nothdiction over grantBiotech, of franchise.

A self-serving threat Unmasked A self-serving threat A self-serving threat

Branch 29’s decision More companies who cannot provide relia- not consider it a victory because they More will Administration be revoking without franown and FoodPECO and Drug will the wrong Church, with transport groups and teachers’ other isin from CanSino Biological. ing doing business in the But the event the SC rules against Power’s franchise, who will then serve Pimentel said Congress did not reble and world-class services needed by still cannot operate.

PECO numerous times. chise? have to do without its own trial before giving and parents’ associations.

The company has also launched Phase NAKED country especially if councilor there other More Pimentel says PECO can- the Pimentel maintains is over the of the as Iloilo’s distribution utility givenMore both newAquino PECO's service thePower powerService dis- consumers.

He added he are was al- diction am Power, inclined to in support the solon’s also createdasthe 29’s decision revoking vaccine a go-signal Filipinos have Aquino ran for city that Iloilo 3I clinical research some other coun- Branch Pimentel maintains there isofnothnothdiction over the grant grant of the franchise. franchise.

Branch 29’s decisionsince revoking More companies who cannot provide relianot consider it a victory because they Power’s ing wrong with doing business in the But in the event the SC rules against THOUGHT Cooperative later to on favor and attempted to get ways More and PECO will be without frantributor of Iloilo a new compresent during the this as the of Reprealready taken part in the trial period. thrice.

He lost every time.hearings franchise, who will then serve tries Bahrain, Argentina, Peru ing wrong with doing business of in the the position Butincluding inonthe event theHouse SC rules against Power’s franchise, who will then serve Pimentel said Congress not re- renewal ble and world-class services needed stillMorocco, cannot operate. a contract with Power but it was country are More Power, Pimentel says canAt least,distribution we now have something to hope * *ifif * there and involving more than 50,000 chise? pany, so there isMore no truth todid a hostile their franchise.

Thus, hasby sentatives already denied thePECO franchise Iloilo’s countryofespecially especially there areheother other More Power, Pimentel says PECO can- as as Iloilo’s distribution utility utility given given both both NAKEDV. CHARLIE not It can be the Facenewapproved.

PECO's service asseen theinpower dis- acompanies consumers.

He added that he was alI am inclined to support the solon’s for this Christmas.

Hope. volunteers from 115 countries with leading who cannot provide relianot consider it a victory because they takeover.

PECO was removed because thorough knowledge of “PECO’s theiritrequest for reconsideraand PECO will be without francompanies who cannot provide poor relia- including not consider a victory because they More More and PECO will be without franbook page of PSC that the description of MANALO THOUGHT Last week, Chinese Ambassador Huang progress in all aspects. tributor offinally IloiloCongress to favor new comways present during theviolations hearings of by the tion position onoperate. this the House ReprePimentel said reble and world-class services needed cannot consumers stood up adid and rejectand several with so even if theasHigh court of rules in chise?

Pimentel Congress did not not re- performance ble andbared world-class services needed by still stillAmbassador cannot operate. chise? the group is said a service cooperative whose NAKED Xilian thatadded some 1,500 Filipinos have Huang added that hundreds pany, so there is no truth to a hostile renewal of their franchise.

Thus, he has sentatives already denied the franchise new PECO's service as the power disNAKED consumers.

He that he was alI am inclined to support the solon’s ed them due to poor service. the Energy Regulatory Commission.”

PECO’s favor, they still cannot operate PECO's service the power Hetheadded that he al- ofIthousands am inclined to support the solon’s founding members are as former PECO disem- consumers.

CHARLIE V. of new participated in Phase of 3 trial of awas vaccine of people havefor received vacciTURNS out member the oneTHOUGHT who’s been misreptakeover.

PECO was removed because a thorough knowledge “PECO’s poor including their request reconsideraAITRANKING of the House tributor of Iloilo to aa new compresent during the of the this as House Pimentel the opinion of PECO they doofon not have franchise THOUGHT ployees including ofclaims IloiloAquino. to favor favor new com- ways ways present duringbeing the hearings hearings ofby thea ifposition position on this asathe the House .of of RepreRepreagainst COVID-19 developed nations Sinopharm’s vaccine since ChiMANALO resenting a legitimate consumers’ group in tributor consumers finally stood up and rejectperformance and several violations with tion so even if the High court rules in Representatives branded as self-servpany, so there is no truth to a hostile renewal of their franchise.

Thus, he has sentatives already denied the franchise is self-serving because they still want The FB page of PSC also show the phoAfter its franchise was revoked, Chinese pharmaceutical company. na launched emergency use of Covid-19 furthering his attacksCHARLIE against MoreV. Electric pany, so there is no truth to a hostile renewal of their franchise. Thus, he has sentatives already denied the franchise ed them due to poor service.“when CHARLIE V. em- totakeover.

Energyknowledge Regulatory Commission.” PECO PECO’s favor, they stillfor cannot operate ing former Iloilo utility PECO was removed tos of PSC’s product to More thorough of their request reconsideraoperate the electric utility the aathe vaccines on July 22.from There have been no sought relief the Mandaluyand Power Corp. wasdistribution actually a former takeover.

PECO waspresentation removed because because thorough knowledge of “PECO’s “PECO’s poor poor including including their request for reconsideraWould a decision MANALO A RANKING member of the House of consumers Pimentel claims the opinion of PECO Power last September 17, 2019. if they do not have a franchise .

Panay Electric Co.’s pronouncement MANALO finally stood up and rejectperformance and several violations with tion so even if the High court rules in cases of severe adverse effects or infection. of the matter isstood that up it isand therejectcon- performance and several violations with ong ployee of Iloilo City’s former distribution truth City Regional Trial Court Branch 29 consumers finally tion so even if the High court rules in Representatives branded as favoring self-servfavoring More Power More Power did not accept is “Because self-serving because they still want Relevant tests of SinoPharm’s vaccine After its franchise was revoked, that a Supreme decision ed them due to poor service. utility who wasCourt rejected by the city’s new sumers the Energy Regulatory Commission.”

PECO’s favor, they still cannot operate who have been clamoring for the Energy Regulatory Commission.” where it received a favorable decision. ed them due to poor service.

PECO’s favor, they still cannot operate his proposal, Mr. Aquino conspired with ing former Iloilo distribution utility A RANKING member of the of majorhave COVID-19 virus toPimentel operate the electric utility “when the really power distributor.

PECO sought relief the Mandaluynew distribution utility More Electric claims the of ififagainst they aa from franchise .. strains, setperson a bad A RANKING member of the House House of another utility company because for This has Mandaluyong RTC Branch 29 Judge Would a decision (www.manilastandard.net) Pimentel claims theopinion opinion ofPECO PECO they do do not not have franchise PECO to confuse and deceive the power including those from Beijing Xinfadi as Panay Electric Co.’s pronouncement Koalisyon Bantay Kuryente president Representatives branded as self-servtruth of the matter is that is thepoor conong City Ignacio Regional Trial Court Branch 29 and Power Corp. will set a “bad prece- several isis self-serving because they still want After its franchise was revoked, Representatives branded as self-servdecades PECO has aitclaims. very Monique declared unconstituself-serving because they still want precedent?

After its franchise was revoked, consumers of Iloilo,” Alcalde been misrepresenting favoring More Power well as other regions of Russia, the United Halley Alcalde (not Alcarde as previousthatformer afor Supreme Court favoring ing Iloilo distribution utility sumers who have been clamoring for whereSec. it received afrom favorable decision. dent” businesses in decision the country. to the utility “when the PECO sought the Mandaluying former Iloilo distribution utility service and they have several pending tional 10 relief of Section 7theof Republic Officials ofelectric KBK earlier and Would aabad decision to operate operate the electric utilityreacted “when the PECO sought relief from MandaluyKingdom, the United States, Austria, etc., EAGLE EYES ly written in this column) has questioned Would decision new distribution utility More Electric (www.manilastandard.net) himself.

But he has Panay Electric Co.’s pronouncement really set a another utility company because for Mandaluyong RTC Branch 29 Judge According to Deputy Speaker and (www.manilastandard.net) truth of the matter is that it is the conong City Regional Trial Court Branch 29 Panay Electric Co.’s pronouncement rallied against Aquino for using the group cases because of complaints from the Act 11212, signed by President Rodrigo showed promising results in both safety truth of the matter is that it is the conong City Regional Trial Court Branch 29 the real intention and motives of Jose favoring More Power andaPower Corp. will set a “bad prece- sumers TONY that Supreme Court decision favoring severalthe decades PECO has a very poor Monique Ignacio unconstituSurigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, favoring Moredeserves Power during conference of He insists who have been for where itit received aadeclared favorable decision. been precedent? that Court decision favoring and efficacy. theouted.

Ilonggos a better Duterte which granted the franchise and Allena Supreme Aquino who presented himself as customers.” sumers whorecent have virtual been clamoring clamoring for where received favorable decision.

LA VIÑA dent” for businesses in the country. new distribution utility More Electric PECO. During this meeting, Aquino said service and they have several pending really set a bad tional Sec. 10 of Section 7 of Republic there is no legal basis for the allegation Asked when the vaccines will be ready another utility company because for Mandaluyong Branch 29 (www.manilastandard.net) new distribution a member of theirutility groupMore and Electric attacked another Pimentelutility avers Congress rejectEAGLE EYES utility company PECO who can re- eminent domainRTC to More Power. really setthan a bad company because for Mandaluyong RTC Branch 29 Judge Judge (www.manilastandard.net) According to will Deputy and several he would file aof manifestation withpoor the and Power Corp. aaSpeaker “bad precefor mass commercial use, Ambassador cases because complaints from the allyprecedent?

Act 11212, signed declared by President Rodrigo of PECO lead counsel lawyer More Power. decades has aa very Monique Ignacio unconstituand Power Corp. will set set “badEstella prece- ed PECO due toPECO the numerous comserve the needs of the people.

The SC, however, stopped the impleseveral decades PECO has very poor Monique Ignacio declared unconstituTONY Energy Regulatory Commission to ask Heprecedent?

Surigao del Rep.inElectric Johnny Pimentel, Huang was optimistic andthe revealed that acdent” for country.

The economic Recall thatSur Company customers.” insists the Ilonggos deserves a better Duterte which granted and Elamparo that aPanay judicial ruling in favor plaints service and have several pending tional Sec. 10 Section 77franchise of Republic dent” for businesses businesses in the the country. from consumers which ranged Nonetheless, Pimentel says he is mentation of theof Mandaluyong deLA VIÑA EAGLE EYES service and they they have several pending tional Sec. 10 of Section ofRTC Republic forPimentel a refund due to the alleged excess Ambassador Huang said that since the cording to Sinopharm, the vaccine is likely EAGLE EYES there is no legal basis for the allegation came out with what turned out to be a fake According to Deputy Speaker and avers Congress rejectutility company thanCourt PECOwill whorespect can re- cision eminent domain toTemporary More Power. of More Powertowill legitimize hostile cases because of complaints from the Act 11212, signed by President Rodrigo consequences According Deputy Speaker and from over-billing, poor service, among hopeful the Supreme and issued a Restraincases because of complaints from the systems loss charges of More Power.

Act 11212, signed by President Rodrigo outbreak of COVID-19, China has been to be on the market by the end of DecemTONY news item against the new distribution utilof PECO lead counsel lawyer Estella Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, edAnPECO due to the com- and ally servethe the the needs ofdeserves the of people.

The SC, stopped the impleTONY takeovers of companies and franchises customers.”

He insists aa better Duterte granted the franchise and Surigao del Sur Rep. Pimentel, many others, which werenumerous used as recognize decision Congress in however, favor of More Power. official statement signed bybasis KBK actively in vaccine research and ing Never-to-beber.Order Thewhich company has built high-level LA He insistsengaging the Ilonggos Ilonggos deserves better Duterte which granted thetwo franchise and ofThe dictatorship ity using Aquino, who Johnny is aruling former PECO economic Elamparo that aparties judicial in favor customers.”

LAVIÑA VIÑA there isis no legal basis for the allegation plaints from consumers which ranged Nonetheless, Pimentel says he is mentation of the Mandaluyong RTC defrom interested without showPimentel avers Congress rejectutility company than PECO who can reeminent domain to More Power. president Harley Alcalde said the group is there no legal basis for the allegation why its legislative franchise was not to give the legislative franchise to a deSo the question is, if the Supreme development.

As of now, the WHO has rebiosafety production facilities both in Beiemployee and who identified himself as Pimentel avers Congress reject- utility company than PECO who can re- eminent domain to More Power. forgotten Ateneans of PECO Moretechnical Power will legitimize hostile of lead counsel lawyer Estella consequences from over-billing, poor service, among hopeful the Supreme Court will respect cision and issued a Temporary Restraining their capacity. preparing bethe filed against Aquino for serving ed PECO due comally serve needs of the people.

The SC, however, stopped corded 34the candidate vaccines which are in Court jing and Wuhan, with an annual the production of lead counsel lawyer company since it has the jurisupholds Mandaluyong RTC the PECO convenor of consumer group ofEstella KBK. renewed. ed PECOcases duetoto to the numerous numerous comally serve the needs of the people.

The SC, however, stopped the impleimpleThe economic of companies and Elamparo aa judicial favor using consumer group. manythe others, which wereThey usedalso as wrote basis and recognize the decision of Congress ing Order in favor of More Power. clinical evaluation around the globe. capacity of 300 million doses.

The economic from consumers which ranged Nonetheless, Pimentel says he is mentation of the Mandaluyong RTC Ittakeovers was laterthat learned that heruling is notfranchises ain member Elamparo that judicial ruling in favor plaints of dictatorship plaints from consumers whichsaid ranged Nonetheless, Pimentel says he is mentation of the Mandaluyong RTC dedefrom interested parties withouthostile show- from the ERC tolegislative clarify that what Aquino does of More Power will legitimize There are now eight candidate vaccines With the expansion of production capacity, why its franchise was not to give the legislative franchise to a deSo the question is, if the Supreme consequences of the group. over-billing, poor service, among Supreme Court will respect cision and issued aa Temporary Restrainof More Power will legitimize hostile from over-billing, poor service, among hopeful consequences Court will respect cision andoutput issuedwill Temporary RestrainRolando not reflect the sentiment of their thousands of hopeful ing their technical capacity. in recognize Phasethe 3 Supreme trials.

This isit the final phase ing the annual reach 800 million to 1 G. Estabillo takeovers of and franchises AnPublisher appeal to UNESCO According to Alcalde, Aquino was a many renewed. serving company since has theLegal jurisCourt upholds Mandaluyong RTC others, which were used as basis and the decision of Congress Order in favor of More Power. takeovers of companies companies and franchises of dictatorship Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Adviser many others, which were used as basis and recognize the decision of Congress ing Order in favor of More Power. members.can They said Aquino is not connected before commercial use. Among the eight, billion ManilaStandard doses in the future. dictatorship formerinterested employee parties of PECO who resigned be accessed at: Honorof Blanco Cabie Night Editor Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor from without showwhy its legislative franchise was not to give the legislative franchise to a deSo the question is, if the Supreme from interested parties without show-ONLINE manilastandard.net to or aits member of their franchise group. legislative was not tofour Anita F. Grefal Treasuryvaccine Managerdevelopers, give legislative franchise to a deSo the question is, if participants the Supreme arethe from Chinese And with Filipinos being in because he did not like theManila way the compa- why Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors ing their technical capacity.

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Standard renewed. company since ititSolutions has jurisupholds Mandaluyong RTC ing their technical capacity.

KBK, registered with the Securities and serving Rolando Publisher including two from Sinopharm, a subsidthe Phase 3 Pangco trial ofPañares the vaccine, have renewed. serving since has the the juris- Court Court upholds Mandaluyong RTC G. Estabillo Baldwin R.company Felipe Head—Ad ny was He has106 even denouncedMEMBER Publishing Inc.managed. at 6/F Universal Re Building, Paseo de Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer Joyce Newswe Editor 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. Monday to Sunday

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Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Edgar M. Valmorida Anita F. Grefal Baldwin S. R. Felipe Former Chief Justice Reynato Former Chief Justice Reynato S.Puno Puno EdgarAnita M. Valmorida F. Anita F.Grefal Grefal Baldwin BaldwinR. R.Felipe Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida Edgar M. Valmorida

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World

China bio-lab leak infects thousands

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HOUSANDS of people in northwest China have tested positive for a bacterial disease after a leak from a state-owned bio-pharmaceutical plant making animal vaccines last year.

Health officials in Lanzhou city said 3,245 people had contracted brucellosis, a disease often caused by close contact with infected animals or animal products that can bring about fevers, joint pain and

headaches.

Another 1,401 people tested as an early positive for the disease, and health authorities said there was no evidence of person-to-person transmission so far.

Chinese authorities found a biopharmaceutical plant had used expired disinfectant in its production of Brucella vaccines for animals between July and August last year – meaning the bacteria was not eradicated in its factory exhaust.

Contaminated gas from the China Animal Husbandry Lanzhou Biopharmaceutical Factory in Lanzhou formed aerosols containing the bacteria, and this was then carried by wind to the Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, infecting nearly 200

people there as of December last year.

More than 20 students and faculty members of Lanzhou University, some of whom had been to the institute, subsequently tested positive as well, according to Xinhua news agency.

Lanzhou’s health commission said Friday that sheep, cattle and pigs were most commonly involved in the spread of the bacteria.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, person-to-

person transmission of brucellosis is “extremely rare” but some symptoms may reoccur or never go away.

These include recurrent fevers, chronic fatigue, swelling of the heart or arthritis.

The factory – which apologized earlier this year – has had its brucellosis vaccine production licence revoked, Lanzhou authorities said.

Compensation for patients would start in batches from October, according to local authorities. AFP

Beijing holds military exercises near Taiwan amid US diplomat visit

SILHOUETTE. US President Donald Trump is seen behind US flags as he speaks to supporters at a ‘Great American Comeback’ event at Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee, Wisconsin, on Sept. 17, 2020. Trump accused his opponent, former vice president Joe Biden, of mass outsourcing American jobs. AFP

Access denied: HK gay couples score victory vs. inheritance law Virus complicates journalists’ work WHILE institutions, governments, elected officials, companies and sports federations are all having to adapt to new constraints under the coronavirus pandemic, experts say they are often using the health crisis as an excuse to restrict journalists’ access.

Fewer physical press conferences, questions that must be submitted in advance or sometimes no questions at all, queries that go unanswered – information does not circulate well in the age of COVID-19.

“We’re seeing all sorts of situations where people are using COVID to hide information,” said David Cuillier, professor of journalism at the University of Arizona.

Cover-up attempts often involve information about the pandemic itself, which may shed unfavorable light on the management of the virus by government or local officials.

This week, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly turned down a request from the Kansas Reflector news site for contact information for businesses in the state connected to outbreaks of COVID-19.

So as not to reveal the number of cases in a retirement home or university, for example, some authorities hide behind arguments about personal data even if that data is anonymous and the laws don’t apply, Cuillier said. AFP

HONG Kong’s high court on Friday ruled that same-sex couples should receive equal treatment under inheritance law, in a step forward for LGBT rights in the finance hub.

But the victory came on the same day as a separate legal bid for full recognition of foreign same-sex marriages was struck down, underscoring what campaigners say is a lack of progress on equality issues.

Hong Kong’s law does not allow samesex marriage and does not recognize foreign unions, though limited recognition

has been granted in recent years in several landmark rulings.

Edgar Ng, a gay Hong Konger, last year launched a legal challenge against the city’s inheritance and intestacy laws, alleging discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

In 2018 he bought a government-subsidised flat, a year after marrying his partner in London, according to court documents.

Under Hong Kong’s housing policy, his husband cannot be recognized as the joint homeowner, and Ng was concerned

that should he die without a will, his property would not be passed to his partner.

In the judgement handed down Friday, Judge Anderson Chow said the exclusion of spouses in same-sex marriages from their legal entitlements “constitutes unlawful discrimination.”

The judge said “differential treatment is not justified.”

LGBT rights activists with campaign group Hong Kong Marriage Equality described the ruling as an “important victory.” AFP

CHINA said Friday it was conducting military exercises near the Taiwan Strait, as a top US diplomat visits the self-ruled island in a move that has angered Beijing.

Relations between the United States and China are at their lowest point in decades, with the two sides clashing over a range of trade, military and security issues as well as the coronavirus pandemic.

China’s Communist leadership balks at any recognition of Taiwan – which has been ruled separately from China since the end of a civil war in 1949 – and has mounted a decades-long policy of marginalizing the democratic island.

Keith Krach, US undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, landed in Taipei on Thursday for a three-day visit, the highest-ranking State Department official to visit in 40 years.

At a press conference on Friday morning a Chinese defence ministry spokesman said Beijing was “holding actual combat exercises near the Taiwan Strait” when asked how Beijing would respond to Krach’s visit.

“This is a legitimate and necessary action taken to safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in response to the current situation in the Taiwan Strait,” Ren Guoqiang told reporters.

Ren also warned that the Chinese army had “sufficient ability” to counter any external threat or challenge from Taiwan separatists.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, to be absorbed into the Chinese mainland – by force if necessary.

Ren accused the United States of “frequently causing trouble” over Taiwan, which he said “is purely China’s internal affairs, and we won’t tolerate any external interference.” AFP

Japan top court sides with tattoo artist JAPAN’S top court has sided with a tattoo artist who was fined for practicing without a medical licence, in a case that revived debate about the country’s uneasy relationship with body ink.

Though tattoos have a long history in Japan and the nation has long boasted leading artists, body ink is still often associated with “anti-social” elements, particularly members of criminal groups known as the yakuza.

People with tattoos are often prevented from using public facilities like swimming pools or baths, and in 2015, Osaka tattooist Taiki Masuda was arrested for allegedly violating the Medical Practioners’ Act by tattooing people without a doctor’s licence.

Masuda was fined 150,000 yen ($1,400) by an Osaka district court, but the ruling was overturned on appeal in 2018.

Prosecutors decided to take it to the Supreme Court, which this week rejected their appeal, a court spokeswoman told AFP on Friday.

The Supreme Court backed the earlier ruling that tattooing should not require a doctor’s licence because it carries little risk of injury or health problems.

“Tattooing is not considered medical treatment nor an act linked to health care,” the verdict upheld by the Supreme Court said.

The upheld ruling noted tattooing is “a practice seen since ancient times as part of regional customs” in Japan. AFP

Nokor man resists US extradition bid

CALCULATED RISK. An employee (top) wearing a mask, face shield and gloves gives

a customer (bottom) a massage at a bathhouse in Hong Kong. Hong Kong on Sept. 18, 2020 reopened bars, swimming pools, amusement parks, clubs and karaoke venues with restrictions after closures due to the third wave of COVID-19 coronavirus. Bathhouses must enforce measures including maintaining 1.5 metres between patrons at all times except when having a bath. AFP

A NORTH Korean man launched a legal challenge Friday against a US bid to extradite him from Malaysia over allegations he supplied goods to his country in breach of sanctions.

Mun Chol Myong, who has lived in the Southeast Asian country with his family for a decade, was arrested last year following an extradition request from Washington.

He denies FBI claims that he led a criminal group that violated sanctions by supplying luxury goods to North Korea and laundered funds through front companies.

A Malaysian court in December approved his extradition to the United States, but Mun on Friday appealed against the decision at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.

His lawyer Gooi Soon Seng argued Mun was innocent and the allegations against him were of a “political character.”

The court will rule on the appeal on October 8. AFP

BABY BUMP! A very pregnant Coco Rocha walks the runway for the Christian Siriano Collection spring-summer runway show at his home in Westport, Connecticut. Dressed in a red gown, mask and hat that Siriano designed, the 32-year-old strikes a pose as she closes the show. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Business

Standard

TODAY

PSEi September 18, 2020

TOP GAINERS

Stocks decline; Meralco, Globe Telecom advance

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HE stock market fell for a third day Friday as investors struggle to reignite the rally that has characterized much of the past six months.

TOP LOSERS

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The Philippine Stock Exchange Index declined 34.62 points, or 0.6 percent, to 5,908.90 on a value turnover of P7.6 billion. Gainers and losers were even at 94 each, with 46 issues unchanged.

SM Investments Corp. of the Sy Group dropped 3.6 percent to P872, while Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, shed 2.2 percent to P134.

Manila Electric Co., the largest retailer of electricity, however, rose 2.5 percent to P278.60, while Globe Telecom Inc., the second-largest telecommunications firm, 2.4 percent to P2,140.

The rest of Asian were mixed Friday

amid a stuttering economic recovery and US lawmakers’ failure to agree on a new stimulus.

With the coronavirus pandemic showing no sign of easing as fresh spikes around the world see the reimposition of containment measures including lockdowns, traders are growing increasingly worried about how long it will take to get back on track.

Shanghai led gains, rising more than two percent, while Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul and Mumbai also advanced. Taipei, Bangkok and Jakarta were also slightly higher, though Sydney, Singapore, and Wellington were in the red.

Trillions of dollars in government and central bank cash have provided muchneeded support to economies—particularly equity markets—and none more so than in the United States.

And with the first massive rescue package having run its course and Federal Reserve monetary policies such as

record-low interest rates having limited effect, pressure is growing on Congress to come up with more help, with the head of the central bank leading the calls.

But there is little hope Republicans and Democrats are anywhere close to reaching a compromise after weeks of bickering.

With nearly 30 million Americans receiving government help, observers said there was growing concern about the impact on the crucial consumer sector that drives the world’s top economy.

House speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday again pledged to press ahead with talks on a new deal, but said Republicans are unwilling to compromise on the size.

“We have a massive problem in our country,” she told reporters, while White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said he was “not optimistic” Pelosi would want to have a “meaningful” conversation if dialogue resumed. With AFP

HK BARS, CLUBS BACK.

MOST ACTIVE

A customer watches television as she relaxes in a spa at a bathhouse in Hong Kong on September 18, 2020. Hong Kong on September 18 reopened bars, swimming pools, amusement parks, clubs and karaoke venues with restrictions after closures due to the third wave of COVID-19 coronavirus— bathhouses must enforce measures including maintaining 1.5 meters between patrons at all times except when having a bath. AFP

CaixaBank, Bankia approve merger, create Spain’s biggest lender MADRID, Spain—Directors from CaixaBank and Bankia Thursday approved their merger into Spain’s biggest lender in a move which will transform the landscape of Spanish banking.

A source close to the deal said the board of directors of both banks approved the merger, details of which will be made public on Friday.

The negotiations involved Bankia’s biggest shareholder, the Spanish government.

The merger creates the country’s largest bank with combined assets of around

(MS-SEPT. 18 & 19, 2020)

664 billion euros ($787 billion) in Spain, Renta 4 Banco analysts say, putting the new entity ahead of Santander or BBVA, both of which have a more international presence.

Under terms of the deal, shareholders in CaixaBank, Spain’s largest domestic bank, would hold 75 percent of the new entity, while Bankia shareholders would take the remaining 25 percent.

The Spanish state, which currently holds just under 62 percent of Bankia, will hold a 14-percent share in the new group,

(MS-SEPT. 18 & 19, 2020)

press reports said.

In 2012, the Spanish government stepped in to save Bankia from collapse, spending 22 billion euros ($26 billion at current exchange rates) to bail out a bank that was seen as a symbol of financial excess at a time when the Spanish economy was mired in crisis.

The huge merger comes in a very difficult economic context for Spain which has been particularly badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with gross domestic product collapsing by 18.5 percent in the sec-

ond quarter.

The deal should enable the two banks to reduce costs and offers them “a way of trying to improve profitability,” said Xavier Vives of the IESE Business School.

Job cuts loom Another advantage of the merger is the geographical footprint of each bank, with Bankia more present in Madrid and in the center of the country, while CaixaBank is well-established in the northeastern Catalonia region, said Robert Tornabell, a banking specialist at ESADE business school. AFP

England’s central bank eyes negative interest rates LONDON—The Bank of England on Thursday gave its strongest hint yet that negative interest rates could be on the way as the UK economy battles against coronavirus and Brexit headwinds.

Following a regular policy meeting, the BoE led by governor Andrew Bailey left its key interest rate at a record low of 0.1 percent amid low inflation and rising unemployment caused by Covid-19 fallout.

The central bank also maintained its cash stimulus, or quantitative easing supporting the economy, at £745 billion ($947 billion, 802 billion euros), the minutes of its latest meeting showed.

Markets expect the QE amount to increase before the end of the year.

“The outlook for the economy remains unusually uncertain,” the BoE minutes stated, triggering fresh falls in the pound.

Sterling dropped 0.7 percent against the dollar “after the Bank of England delivered a dovish statement which included overt references to introducing negative rates,” said Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com.

The pound, which later recovered most of the losses, had already come under heavy selling pressure this month from the possibility that Britain and the European Union would fail to strike a post-Brexit trade deal.

As well as the pandemic, Britain’s future trading position with the EU is firmly in the BoE’s sights.

‘Exploring negative rate’ “The path of growth and inflation will depend on the evolution of the pandemic and measures taken to protect public health, as well as the nature of, and transition to, the new trading arrangements between the European Union and the United Kingdom,” the minutes stated.

“It will also depend on the responses of households, businesses and financial markets to these developments.”

The BoE said it was exploring “how a negative Bank Rate could be implemented effectively, should the outlook for inflation and output warrant it.”

The central bank said it would begin “structured engagement on the operational considerations” in the fourth quarter.

A negative interest rate would likely see retail banks further cutting their own borrowing costs, adding more pain to savers while boosting borrowers.

Jobs, inflation fears The BoE update came after the Federal Reserve on Wednesday pledged to keep boosting the US economy with low rates to help recover millions of American jobs lost in the pandemic.

European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde is meanwhile urging governments to support central bank efforts with fiscal spending.

Although the world economy is bouncing back from the lockdowns that devastated economic activity earlier this year, several nations are grappling with a renewed rise in coronavirus infections, slowing the financial recovery. AFP

(MS-SEPT. 18 & 19, 2020)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020

Business

Foreign debt jumps $6.2b to $87.5b IN BRIEF

Romero leads House in wealth, productivity HOUSE Deputy Speaker and 1Pacman partylist Rep. Mikee Romero has again taken the spotlight after making it to Forbes magazine’s list of 50 richest Filipinos.

The congressional leader placed 46th in the list with a net worth of $135 million or P6.5 billion. This is the third consecutive year that Romero was recognized as the richest congressman in the country with his assets coming from his success as an entrepreneur before becoming a legislator.

Romero recently captured the headlines after logging over 700 bills in the House of Representatives since he became a legislator in 2016.

Records from the Bill and Index section of the lower chamber showed that 47 of Romero’s bills have already been enacted into laws by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Among these were the law extending the validity of driver’s license to five years, the Free Irrigation Act, the Philippine Sports Training Act, the Philhealth coverage for all persons with disabilities and the recent Bayanihan 1 and 2 laws that helped Filipinos cope with the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I have no words, but simply to thank God Almighty for blessing me with a clear mind and health to become His instrument in helping the needy. I also thank the president for approving my proposed laws,” Romero said.

By Julito G. Rada

HE country’s foreign debt climbed $6.2 billion, or 7.6 percent, to a record $87.5 billion as of end-June from $81.3 billion a year ago as the government issued global bonds and tapped more official development assistance loans this year to finance its COVID-19 response programs.

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Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed the outstanding external debt rose $6 billion, or 7.4 percent, on a quarterly basis from $81.4 billion as of end-March.

“The rise in the debt stock during the second quarter was due to net availments of $2.9 billion, largely attributed to the national government as it raised $2.4 billion from the issuance of global bonds and $3.1 billion from multilateral and bilateral creditors to fund its general financing requirements and COVID-19 pandemic response programs/

projects,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said in a statement Friday.

Diokno said the increase in the debt level was due to prior periods’ adjustments of $2.1 billion; increase in nonresidents’ investment in Philippine debt papers issued offshore of $839 million; and positive foreign exchange revaluation of $227 million as the US dollar weakened against other currencies, including the Philippine peso.

External debt refers to all types of borrowings by Philippine residents from

CARGILL’S RELIEF EFFORTS.

SB Corp. eyes loans to MSMEs in tourism SB Corp., the lending arm of the Department of Trade and Industry, will prioritize tourismaccredited micro, small and medium enterprises to expedite the reopening of the tourism sector.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette RomuloPuyat said the loans would be collateral-free, interest-free and payable in three years with a one-year grace period for a total loan term of four years.

Loan applications may be submitted online and once approved, a minimal service charge for loan administration will be required by SB Corp.

“The agreement is to focus on MSMEs, which is also the emphasis in the Tourism Response and Recovery Plan. Our priority now is to sustain our tourism workforce.

By providing the working capital needed through these loans, the tourism businesses that have lost much because of the pandemic will be provided with a lifeline,” said Puyat.

A P6-billion credit facility may also be made available to non-accredited businesses provided that they are licensed by local government units. The credit facility is part of the P10.1 billion package for the tourism industry under Bayanihan 2. Othel V. Campos

Globe, Puregold boost payment app GLOBE Telecom Inc. and Puregold Price Club Inc. announced a new feature of their mobile app that will allow customers to purchase load credits.

“With the current situation, we want to help our customers to stay safe in their homes. By adding an in-app loading service with multiple payment options in the Puregold app, they can buy load credits anytime 24/7 anywhere they are,” said Puregold president Vincent Co. The service is available anywhere in the country as the load will be sent from the app directly to prepaid device.

Puregold Mobile App powered by Globe enables shoppers to safely buy groceries online and use features such as item barcode scanning or catalog selection, store pickup and delivery.

Customers may buy Globe products, Globe or TM prepaid SIMs, call cards and Home prepaid WIFI in the app. They can pay via credit card, debit card, GCash or via P-Wallet, Puregold’s own in-app wallet.

Cargill Philippines, the local subsidiary of global food and agriculture corporation Cargill, invests almost P20 million ($400,000) in Covid-19 relief efforts, with majority of the fund allocated to food security intervention.

PH posted current account surplus of $4.4b in second quarter THE Philippines posted a current account surplus of $4.4 billion in the second quarter at the height of the lockdown period, a reversal of the $931-million deficit registered a year ago, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday.

BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila said the current account surplus stemmed mainly from the lower trade in goods deficit of $5.4 billion in the second quarter, which was lower than the $12.1-billion trade deficit in the same quarter last year.

“This more than offset the decline in net receipts of trade in services to $2.7 billion [from $3.3 billion], primary income to $1 billion [from $1.2 billion] and secondary income to $6.1 billion [from $6.7 billion],” Dakila said during a virtual briefing on the second-quarter balance of payments report.

The overall BOP position also re-

D&L Industries’ board clears regular 50% dividend payout to stockholders D&L Industries Inc. kept its dividend policy of 50 percent payout ratio based on the previous year’s net income despite the challenging business environment amid the pandemic.

D&L president Alvin Lao said during the annual stockholders’ meeting Friday its board of directors approved a regular cash dividend of P0.183 per share to shareholders of record as of Oct. 2, 2020. The payment will be made on Oct. 28.

Lao said while the current environment remained challenging, the management was confident the company’s operations would continue to be profitable even in a protracted economic recovery scenario given the firm’s robust balance sheet and operational resilience.

This year’s dividend translates into a dividend yield of 3.3 percent based on the closing price of P5.59 on Sept.

17.

The company would pay P1.3 billion in dividends to shareholders, or equivalent to 50 percent of last year’s net income P2.6-billion net recurring

non-residents, following the residency criterion for international statistics.

Diokno said that despite the increase in the external debt level, key external debt indicators remained at prudent levels. The gross international reserves reached $93.5 billion as of end-June and represented 8.7 times cover for shortterm debt under the original maturity concept.

Public sector external debt increased to $51.0 billion in the second quarter from $45.1 billion in the first quarter. About $44.4 billion of public sector obligations were national government borrowings while the remaining $6.6 billion pertained to borrowings of government-owned and -controlled corporations, government financial institutions and the BSP. Private sector debt slightly increased from $36.3 billion as of end-March to $36.5 billion as of end-June, with share to total decreasing from 44.6 percent to 41.7 percent.

income.

D&L Industries’ recurring net income reached P2.6 billion in 2019, down 18 percent from the previous year. The decline in earnings was caused by several factors including inflation scare that started in 2018 that persisted until the first half of 2019, delayed passage of the 2019 national budget and escalation of the various trade wars, including the one between the US and China.

These factors resulted in slowdown in demand in industries that the company catered to.

The company said that while it saw an improvement in its businesses in the first two months of 2020, the early gains were erased as things quickly took a turn for the worse, after the government imposed lockdown which restricted the movement of people and goods to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Net income fell 43 percent in the first half to P802 million from the same period last year.

The share price of D&L dropped 1.6 percent to close at P5.50 Friday.

corded a higher surplus of $4.2 billion in the second quarter, compared to the $991-million surplus a year earlier.

Dakila said the sluggish performance of both imports and exports of goods reflected the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the disruptions in the global demand and supply chains.

He said net receipts in the capital account decreased to $8 million in the second quarter from $22 million a year ago.

This was on account of the combined effect of net payments on gross acquisition of non-produced nonfinancial assets of $8 million (from $1 million net receipts on gross disposal of nonproduced nonfinancial assets) and lower receipts of other capital transfers to the national government amounting to $16 million from $20 million.

The financial account registered net

outflows of $152 million in the second quarter, a turnaround from the $278-million net inflows in the same period last year. This was mainly on account of the reversal of portfolio investments to net outflows of $731 million from net inflows of $1.9 billion.

This reversal was tempered by the decline in net outflows of other investments to $548 million (from $2.4 billion) and the increase in net inflows of direct investments to $1.1 billion (from $727 million).

“The favorable outturn in second quarter BOP position brought the cumulative surplus for the first half of 2020 to $4.1 billion, although lower than the $4.8-billion surplus registered in the same period last year. This decline in the surplus was due to the reversal of the financial account to net outflows,” Dakila said. Julito G. Rada

PSE INDEX

Friday, September 18, 2020

-34.62 PTS. 5,908.90

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

767,339,981 70,291 7,639,501,781.83 94 94 46

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.4540

Japan

Yen

0.009547

0.4626

UK

Pound

1.297800

62.8836

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129034

6.2522

Switzerland

Franc

1.101079

53.3517

Canada

Dollar

0.759936

36.8219

Singapore

Dollar

0.736865

35.7041

Australia

Dollar

0.730800

35.4102

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652238

128.5115

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266617

12.9187

Brunei

Dollar

0.734160

35.5730

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000067

0.0032

Thailand

Baht

0.032062

1.5535

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.1927

Euro

Euro

1.184500

57.3938

Korea

Won

0.000855

0.0414

China

Yuan

0.147837

7.1633

India

Rupee

0.013587

0.6583

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241721

11.7123

New Zealand

Dollar

0.674600

32.6871

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034336

1.6637 Source: BSP

SMIC pegs interest rate of P10-b bonds at 3.3613% a year

By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE SM Investments Corp. said Friday it set the interest rate for its 3.5-year P10-billion fixedrate bond offering at 3.3613 percent per annum.

SMIC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday the P10-billion bond offering represented the first tranche of the recently-approved P30-billion bond shelf registration program.

The company did not disclose the timetable of the offering.

The first tranche consists of 3.5year Series H bonds due in 2024 to be issued in minimum denominations of P20,000 and in multiples of P10,000.

The bonds will be listed on Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

The first tranche bonds will be offered to the public through BDO Capital & Investment Corp., China Bank Capital, BPI Capital Corp., First Metro Investment Corp. and SB Capital as joint lead underwriters.

It said the net proceeds would be used to refinance existing debt.

The Series H bonds were assigned PRS Aaa rating with a stable outlook by the Philippine Ratings Services Corp.

Obligations rated PRS Aaa are of the highest quality with minimal credit risk. This means that the issuer’s capacity to meet its financial commitment is extremely strong.

PRS Aaa is the highest credit rating assigned by PhilRatings.

The conglomerate reported consolidated net income of P7.1 billion in the first half, down 69 percent from P23 billion in the same period last year.

Consolidated revenues decreased 21 percent to P185.5 billion in the six-month period from P233.7 billion a year ago.

The property and banking businesses accounted for 61 percent and 34 percent of net income, while retail contributed 5 percent.

SMIC, which has investments in banking, real estate and retail, plans to spend between P94 billion and P98 billion in capital expenditures this year.

The group earlier allocated P80 billion to fund the shopping mall and residential projects of real estate subsidiary SM Prime Holdings Inc.

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DISINFECTION SYSTEM. JP Marzan Project

Ventures Inc., one of the leading logistics providers in the Philippines, launches a new disinfection system to help organizations in the country ensure the cleanliness of their offices and other facilities without worrying about chemicals that could harm not just their health but also the environment. The cuttingedge disinfection system uses Marella Water, an electrolyzed hypochlorous acid, which is composed of pure salt and water. The solution is applied using two primary devices such as the Micro-Mist System and the Nano-Mist System.

Phoenix unit starts pilot run of LPG-fired generator sets in Balesin

By Alena Mae S. Flores PHOENIX Pilipinas Gas and Power Inc. and U.S.-based Mesa Natural Gas Solutions LLC started the pilot run of LPG-fired generation sets to provide base load power to Balesin Island Club in Polillo, Quezon.

Three US-manufactured gensets arrived in the country in June and transported to Balesin, each with a maximum capacity of 350 kilowatts.

PPGPI, controlled by Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, said in a statement the gensets are powered using propane-rich liquefied petroleum gas provided by Phoenix as part of its energy diversification campaign.

“With Balesin’s gradual return to full operations from the current community quarantine measures, the pilot run will effectively provide cleaner power to the entire island resort. The aim is to ultimately replicate such so-

lutions later on in industries that are generating and using their own power in the fields of manufacturing, hospitality & leisure, construction, telecommunications, and mining,” said Phoenix president Henry Bong Fadullon.

“The gensets can run on LPG—not only a cleaner source, but also a viable component in the energy mix of the country, which we aim to help diversify,” Fadullon said.

4th Tech and Gadgets’ Anniversary Part 2 Banking on TECHNOLOGY in the NEW NORMAL

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020

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Expanding businesses during pandemic thru online shopping

By Peter Paul Duran

O

VER the past few years, online shopping has become a preferred way to shop for consumers around the globe, much so now when the world is hostaged by the coronavirus pandemic that has forced many folks to stay in the comfort of their homes.

Rather than spend time going to malls to look for the materials they need, people now turn to their phones to check new products, save time, compare brands and get discounts right in the comfort of their homes.

As the consumer's buying behavior continues to change, especially now that we are experiencing a pandemic, how do businesses like malls, retailers and entrepreneurs can manage

to adapt to these changes?

Embrace new sales channels Now that people do not prefer going out, it’s time for you to boost your online-marketing efforts and e-commerce sales.

You should start developing your online presence especially where more consumers may be able to view your product.

Update product pages Consumers always want to know the latest trends and up-

grades of a product, that’s why it’s important to always provide as much information as you can. With this, they’ll be able to know what to expect and view you as trustworthy when you meet their expectations.

Give special offers Everyone likes special discounts, so it’s something that you should offer from time to time depending on the opportunities you may have. You may also start strategizing how to use your social media to promote your products through gimmicks and giveaways as a way of drawing attention for wider reach.

Create loyalty program

of your

Through a loyalty program, your consumers will be encouraged to continuously shop from your store and be active in your social media pages. You should remember that a happy and a satisfied customer is a very useful way of creating a positive image

business.

There will always be a challenge and crisis that may happen to every business. That’s why making adjustments to adapt in any situation is an important key to keep your sales going. Continuing to plan, strategize and use creativity will keep your business on track towards success.

PLDT, Smart bolster resiliency initiatives, sustainability PLDT Inc. and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. reaffirmed their commitment to shaping a more crisis-resilient future with the recent kickoff of the Sustainability Reporting Program for 2020.

The PLDT Group seeks not only to comply with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals but also to make sustainability and the reporting of environmental, social, and governance practices part of its DNA and culture.

“For us at the PLDT Group, the COVID-19 pandemic has driven home even more emphatically the learning that sustainability is a vital part of our business. Our ability to reliably continue business under difficult conditions is essential to ensuring resilience for

every community in times of crisis,” PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan says.

“We are committed to boosting efforts to conduct business in ways that protect future generations,” says Chaye A. CabalRevilla, PLDT Group Chief Sustainability Officer, PLDT SVP & Group Controller, and Smart Chief Financial Officer.

PLDT began ESG reporting in 2015, predating the SEC requirement that all Philippine-listed companies publish their sustainability reports for yearend 2019 in 2020.

Long-term sustainability management Among those supporting PLDT-Smart’s sustainability reporting practices are leading global organizations that uphold strin-

gent standards in monitoring companies’ ESG practices.

One of them is the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Alliance, an exclusive membership program that supports the need for more decision-useful, cost-effective sustainability disclosures that meet the expectations of investors.

PLDT is the first telco in the world and only company in the Philippines to be a member of SASB. “We thank PLDT for its leadership in sustainability. It is important not only because of your contribution to society, protecting the environment, and building trust with all of your stakeholders, but also because effectively managing sustainability issues

PLDT Group Chief Sustainability Officer Chaye A. Cabal-Revilla

Facebook plans Ray-Ban smart glasses as it eyes AR SAN FRANCISCO —Facebook on Wednesday announced it would launch its own smart glasses next year which connect to smartphones as part of an alliance with eyewear titan EssilorLuxottica.

The Ray-Ban branded eyewear, a move by Facebook into wearable tech, is an early step in a project to create futuristic eyewear that augments real-world views with data or graphics from the internet, according to chief executive Mark Zuckerberg.

"They are going to be the next step on the road to augmented reality glasses, and they look pretty good too," Zuckerberg said in a streamed presentation opening a developers conference devoted to its virtual reality platform Oculus.

Technical specifications of the smart glasses to be produced by the Franco-Italian firm were not disclosed.

Zuckerberg explained that engineers in a Project Aria team are experimenting with the eyewear.

The partnership will blend Facebook apps and technologies with

Luxottica brands and Essilor lens technology in smart glasses that tap into the internet to help people stay connected with friends and family.

"Combining a brand that is loved and worn by millions of consumers around the globe with technology that has brought the world closer together, we can reset expectations around wearables" said Luxottica chief wearables officer Rocco Basilico in a release.

"We are paving the way for a new generation of products destined to change the way we look at the world."

Zuckerberg cautioned that there is still much work to be done to perfect stylish glasses infused with sophisticated augmented reality capabilities.

Challenges include developing sensors, camera capabilities and software for "mapping" what wearers see around them in real time so scenes can be augmented with virtual imagery.

"Imagine a pair of glasses that

add a 3D layer of useful, contextually relevant and meaningful information on top of the physical world," Facebook said in a post about the project.

"Such a device could help us perform everyday tasks better— like finding your keys, navigating a new city, or capturing a moment; but it could also open up an entirely new way of moving through the world."

Privacy designs Facebook stressed privacy and data protection are priorities in the project, particularly when it comes to cameras built into eyewear.

The technology firm was evidently trying to avoid the kind of backlash that vexed a Google Glass smart eyewear project after it launched seven years ago.

Cameras built into Glass gear sold to developers sparked enough outrage to have them banned in some businesses.

Google backed off plans for a consumer version of Glass and focused on business uses. AFP

over the long term is likely to improve business performance in the form of reduced operating costs, enhanced reputation, greater resilience to risk, and the potential for competitive advantage," SASB External Communications Head Sten White explains.

Business continuity for swift COVID-19 recovery PLDT and Smart are also registered as a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact Network (UNGCN). A notch higher than Signatories limited to local engagement, Participants are committed on an international level to integrate the renowned organization’s Ten Principles on human rights, labor, environment and anticorruption.

LG goes online OVER the past few months, more and more people have been staying at home due to the pandemic. It is the best way to stay smart, protect yourself and your family, and prevent infection. Social distancing is the responsible thing to do.

There are times however, that essential items at home break down and require upgrading to a new one. The best solution for this is buying online. Ecommerce has boomed at a record-breaking rate since the pandemic started, since shopping remotely is incredibly convenient.

Good news is that LG Products are available online with partner retailers and now, the electronics brand also opened a new channel to cater to the needs of the customers. No need to go out and you are sure to receive your LG items in no time!

In a bid to make consumers #StaySmartStayHome, LG Philippines launched their very own LG Official Flagship Store in Lazada. The launch, announced via Facebook Live, detailed how during the new normal, ecommerce has seen an upsurge with consumers wanting directto-door delivery for convenience and safety reasons. The LazMall page of LG and its online partners carries most of the technology brand’s product lines— home appliances, home entertainment, air-conditioners, and monitors. All items are guaranteed authentic and enjoy the reliable warranty services that loyal LG customers have come to know and rely on. One big benefit from ordering in LG’s Lazada page is free storewide shipping.

Another exciting thing scheduled to be announced along with the Lazada launch is LG’s newest addition to their product line – LG’s XBoom Go PL5 and PL7. These are portable Bluetooth speakers that give any room, big or small, an immersive surround sound experience. To bring their XBOOM speakers to the next level, LG has collaborated with Meridian, the British pioneers and one of the pillars of HighResolution audio. They are trailblazers in

Catch all of your favorite products in LG’s official flagship store in Lazada. LG’s full product lineup of home electronics, home appliances, and home entertainment systems are all available online.

digital audio and their technology is actually used in premium British car brands such as McLaren, Jaguar, and Land Rover.

With Meridian’s unrivalled sound quality and pioneering approach to audio, and LG’s reputation for producing awardwinning, innovative consumer electronics, this partnership promises to deliver premium products with quality sound for everyone.

LG also unveiled a short series of livestreamed videos aired on LG’s official Facebook and Instagram, and Lazada page that talked about the brand’s current product lineup and more.

Follow LG’s social media channels for more details on the upcoming live streams which will feature different LG products that will surely grab your attention.

With LG, #LifesGoodWhenYouShopNow. Visit their website now at lg.com/ph to know more about their product line up and where to buy! You may also visit and follow LG’s Lazada page here: lazada. com.ph/shop/lg-official-store/

4th Tech and Gadgets’ Anniversary Part 2 C2

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020

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Banking on TECHNOLOGY in the NEW NORMAL

TikTok continues to celebrate creators, culture trends T HE celebration continues for TikTok with stories featuring creators, trends, and meaningful campaigns that all began on the world’s leading short-form video platform. Since the local launch of the campaign #itstartsonTikTok last September 11, 2020, it was followed by an online event on September 17, 2020 titled Creators’ Talk: TikTok’s Impact on Filipino Culture and the Creative Economy with TikTok content creators Zendee, Lyqa Maravilla and Yanyan de Jesus sharing their experiences about how they started on TikTok. A trending TikTok content creator himself, Mark Averilla, aka Macoy Dubs and Auntie Julie, hosted the online event.

TikTok Phillipines’ User Content Content and Operations Manager John Castro officially opened the event with a message that truly explained the essence of the campaign.

“With ‘it starts on TikTok,’ we want to celebrate the community. We want to make sure that we thank our community for making TikTok an integral part of our lives and providing an endless amount of entertainment, joy, and positive vibes. The impact of the trends that TikTok and the community made, now just transcends content—it goes from art to beauty and everything else in between,” said Castro.

John attributed TikTok’s impact on culture to the creators, users, and fans who are continuously inspired to create more content and explore their individuality. TikTok enables people from all walks of life to express themselves one way or another. From a Gen Z dominant app in its early years, the platform now appeals towards the professionals and senior citizens which has helped create a solid diverse culture. With tons of local content within the platform, every user can have a lot of different perspectives.

TikTok as an empowering platform for creation Prior to Zendee’s popularity, she already participated in numerous singing competitions and was once featured in the Ellen De Generes show. But for her, success became sweeter when she found the empowering culture and community that is on TikTok. "I initially created comedy on TikTok. Users are already familiar with my chipmunk’s voice delivering “patama’ lines. At that time, I was worried that my followers would only want me to

create comedy. Posting a cover, I was shocked with the community’s supportive reactions. Requests started to come in from the comments and that’s how my following grew,” shared Zendee.

This talented creator was able to gain 5.7 million followers in just 7 months.

One video that she attributed to her TikTok success is her parody of then viral Sarah Geronimo’s Tala, titled Gala. It was a funny yet hopeful song about how Filipinos look forward to being able to travel again once the community quarantine is over.

During her portion, Zendee enumerated her favorite trends which include the musical challenge #popcornduet.

She also liked how #BinibiningMarikit delivers an empowering theme for Filipinas to feel confidently beautiful about themselves.

Before ending the interview, Zendee imparted an message to her fellow content creators: “TikTok is a big family who’ll support your craft. You can showcase your talent on TikTok. Collaborate with different creators so that we grow together.

Let’s support each other, especially to the starting content creators!”

TikTok as an enabler for learning “It made me a better educator outside of TikTok,” shared educational content creator Lyqa Maravilla looking back through her 4 months of experience in the platform. Aiming to democratize education in the Philippines, Lyqa started mid-May of 2020 when discussion of virtual learning for students started.

“My concern at that time was student’s fear and anxiety from learning online. Joining TikTok was me being compelled to convince the young ones that learning is possible even from short-form content. I am so happy that the learning audience took to it. This time we get to convince them that: yes, kaya nilang matuto, sa loob ng isang minuto,” shared Coach Lyqa. Her account @teamlyqa actually grew to a million subscribers in six weeks since she started—a testament that the Filipino youth really love to learn. For a fact, the education-focused local campaign #TikTokU became a top content with 1.8 billion views as of writing.

Taiwan’s AI solutions, cyber security products flourish amid global trends “TAIWAN Excellence,” the international promotional campaign run by the Bureau of Foreign Trade and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council held recently a livestream press conference that showcased Taiwan’s breakthrough solutions in Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security.

“Taiwan has a very solid foundation in ICT and semiconductor industries.

AIoT and cybersecurity are two of the Six Core Strategic Industries which are important parts of Taiwan’s industrial technology policy. We believe our rapid responsive solutions such as the eMask App are evidence that Taiwan has the capability and potential to provide the best software and hardware products for AI and cybersecurity.” explains BOFT Director General Cynthia Kiang.

Presented during the virtual conference were several Taiwanese ICT companies, three of which are winners of the Taiwan Excellence Awards, which generated a lot of excitement and buzz with the unveiling of their new products. “iEi’s Mustang AI Accelerators have a variety of features to help AI develop-

Shown here are (from left) Chevy Lin, Vice President, BankPro; Lisa Tu, Marketing Manager, BankPro; May Kang, CEO, LaFresh; Vis Lai, Product Manager, TSTI; Brian Shen, Chairman, CISA; Cynthia Kiang , Director General, BOFT; Don Yu, Director, iEi; Davis Chen, Executive Director, The Syscom Group; Caroline Kuan, Product Line Manager, Zyxel; and Chun-Tse Wu, Strategic Marketing Department Director, TAITRA

ment such as supporting cross platform, powered by Intel OpenVINO toolkit and compact size and with power efficiency, ideal for edge AI applications.” said iEi Director Don Yu. iEi’s latest FLEX AIoT Dev Kit is

designed with rich I/O and strong expansion capability and supports up to four accelerator cards to provide rocksolid computing performance. iEi also developed a palm-size AI embedded system, the ITG-100AI, pre-installed

with two Intel® Myriad X VPUs for AI deep learning, while consuming a minimal 7.5W of power. By adopting AI accelerator modules, it can run 20 times faster than Celeron® CPUs and accelerate computer vision and deep learning inference on the edge.

TSTi (Tatung System Technologies Inc.) The TSTI group created its newgeneration Contact Center Cloud Solution called “ticc Contact Center on Cloud™” by fusing decades of experience establishing enterprise-level call-centers with their Cloud technology capabilities. Product Manager Vis Lai noted that ticc Contact Center on Cloud™ can collate text messages from an enterprise’s official website, their public service email, and LINE official account. All are then consolidated into only one webpage to help accelerate the response speed and accuracy of agents' daily tasks. Another great benefit of cloud technology is that business owners can operate the ticc contact center on cloud™ anytime and anywhere without further client system installation.

Online learning as a disaster resilience response ITS geographic location makes the Philippines highly prone to natural calamities, which often forces schools to cancel classes or temporarily shut down. Add to that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that magnified the need to make education disaster-proof.

Thanks to technology, this is now possible. This tech-assisted shift will significantly change the game, making online learning a solution for schools to keep the academic year uninterrupted in the face of any calamity.

Global tech innovator Lenovo has proven itself an ally of the education sector, offering assistance in the pivotal shift to online learning through its new EdVision program. Implemented in partnership with Microsoft, EdVision was designed to prepare the academe for the future of education through accelerated digital transformation while simultaneously reinforcing the resilience of the sector with its smarter education tech offerings that support remote learning.

While the local education sector has already begun digitally transforming a few years back, the health crisis has hastened the shift in a way that may have exposed vulnerabilities that are yet to be addressed. As preparation for the upcoming virtual academic year—and a blended learning system in the general sense, the EdVision program enables partner schools to head their digital transformation journeys with innovative end-to-end education solutions which include literacy training, device seeding, curriculum build up, and soft skills workshop facilitated by industry experts to help boost e-learning literacy.

“Amid the schools’ adoption of a new learning environment,we found that many are still grappling with finding the right learning management system and which devices to use in administering learning through the online platform. With EdVision, Lenovo aims to be the trusted partner of schools in the Philippines in their digital transformation journey to be able to equip them with the right infrastructure. With foolproof blended learning systems in place, learning doesn’t have to stop at any time or for any reason schools have to be shut down,” said Anna Abola, Lenovo Philippines Commercial Marketing Manager.

Galaxy Z Fold2 sold out less than a week after pre-order starts SM joins launch of nationwide contact tracing app. SM Supermalls has joined the government and corporations from various industries for the launch of StaySafe.PH, a nationwide community-driven contact tracing, health condition reporting, and social distancing system. Held at SM City Manila, the launch was attended by top officers and executives from both public and private sectors who gathered together to launch the newest digital platform for fighting the pandemic. With StaySafe.PH, people can receive updated reminders on communities with active COVID-19 cases. The app also allows users to report health conditions of family members confidentially and get tips on what to do if a person starts experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. The StaySafe.PH app can be downloaded via the Google Play and App Store and can also be accessed on https://manila.staysafe.ph/. Photo shows (L-R) National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer and testing czar Sec. Vince Dizon, Baguio City Mayor and contact tracing czar Benjamin Magalong, Multisys (StaySafe.ph developer) CEO David Almirol, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Department of Health Undersecretary Roger Tong-An, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan, McDonald’s Philippines president and CEO Kenneth Yang, and director general of Anti-Red Tape Authority Atty. Jeremiah Belgica.

SAMSUNG has sold out Galaxy Z Fold2 in its official Online Store and retail channels.

“We are grateful for the support of our customers. They will be among the exclusive few who will bear witness to how we are changing the shape of the future through the Galaxy Z Fold2’s groundbreaking features,” says Jerry Mañus, Business Unit Head of IT and Mobile, Samsung Philippines.

Customers can still pre-order through telco partners Globe and Smart until September 24, 2020. They can also standby for new pre-order slots to be reopened through the preorder portal for retail stores in this

link: samsung.com/ph/zfold2/preor- one year of purchasing date. der For more information on the newest Galaxy Z Fold2 is priced at in-foldable device, P109,990 and comes with a previsit samsung. mium pre-order bundle worth com /ph /smar tup to P52,100, which includes phones/galaxya 55” Crystal UHD Smart z-fold2/.

TV, a P2,000 e-voucher that can be used for a Samsung Leather Cover, and free 12 months Samsung Care+ worth P14,199 that provides device protection against a c c id e nt a l Galaxy Z Fold2: Flying off damage shelves within

Sports

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Obiena soars to season’s best leap

Heat burn Celtics again for 2-0 NBA series lead

By Peter Atencio

E

MIAMI—The Miami Heat turned it up in the second half, rallying again for a 106-101 victory over the Boston Celtics and a 2-0 lead in the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

Trailing by 17 in the second quarter and down 60-47 at halftime, Miami thrashed the Celtics 37-17 in the third quarter and held on for the victory.

Bam Adebayo scored 15 of his 21 points in the Heat’s blistering third quarter.

The Celtics, who let a big lead slip in a 117-114 game one overtime defeat on Tuesday, regained the lead in the fourth quarter and were up 94-89 with 4:25 left to play.

But the Heat chipped away with a hook shot from Adebayo and a steal and dunk by Jimmy Butler.

Goran Dragic followed up two free throws with a three-pointer over Boston big man Daniel Theis that put the Heat ahead 100-95 with 1:42 remaining and Miami powered to the finish line.

“We came here to these playoffs trying to win a championship,” Adebayo said.

“We keep stacking these wins and hopefully we get to that point.

“Right now, 2-0, we’ve got to keep stacking those ‘W’s.”

Dragic finished with 25 points, and Duncan Robinson added 18, all on three-pointers.

Adebayo added 10 rebounds and four assists, Jimmy Butler had 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and four steals.

“We like to make it hard for ourselves,” Butler said of the Miami “comeback kids.”

In fact, the Heat got off to a brisk start making five of their first six three-point attempts.

After a close first quarter the Celtics surged ahead in the second period, only for the Heat to make the needed adjustments at halftime.

“You get to the conference finals, it’s not all about you,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Boston had a lot to say about how that first half was going. That was them putting us on our heels.”

Kemba Walker broke out of his scoring slump with 23 points for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum scored 21 apiece.

But Brown missed a three-pointer that would have tied it with 15 seconds to play and 20 Celtics turnovers led to 26 Miami points.

“They out-played us,” Walker said of the Heat’s third-quarter surge. “It’s really unacceptable on our behalf.

We didn’t continue to do the things that we did to get us that lead. I think we got kind of comfortable and those guys took advantage of it. AFP

RNEST “EJ” Obiena felt he could have done better on the day Armand “Mondo” Duplantis set a new pole vault world record.

But clearing 5.80 meters was still good enough for the Tokyo Olympics-bound Obiena in the starstudded Rome leg of the Diamond League 2020 yesterday at the Olympic Stadium in Italy.

The 24-year-old Obiena, who tried to set a new Philippine record, still came up with his best attempt for the season at 5.80 meters to clinch the bronze medal.

Grabbing the gold was Duplantis, who made heads turn when he broke Sergey Bubka’s world outdoor record at 6.15 meters on his second attempt.

Duplantis cleared 5.45m, 5.70m, 5.80m in his first attempts, before needing two tries at 5.85m.

He already shattered Bubka’s meet record by clearing 6.00 meters before he made it at 6.15.

Duplantis was awarded the Memo-

rial Primo Nebiolo award for the best technical performance of the meeting from World Athletics’ President Sebastian Coe. Belgian Ben Broeders tied Obiena at the same height and settled for the silver after acing it on his second attempt.

Former world record holder Renaud Lavillenie finished fourth with 5.70m.

On the other hand, Obiena pumped his right fist in the air after he took three attempts to make a clearance at the height, just a few minutes after his body hit the bar on his second try.

Then, he tried for what would have been a new Philippine record of 5.85 meters, but his foot glanced at the bar on his third effort.

“Natural iyun na i-expect niya iyung higher heights. Pero nasagi at nakanto iyung bar,” said EJ’s dad

Emerson after watching his son in action through a livestreamed footage of the event.

Obiena’s feat was close to his national record 5.81 meters, which he recorded in Chiara, Italy in September 2019 in a performance that qualified him to the Olympics.

“I’m almost there,” EJ told his father.

Since he started competing in the latter part of the year, Obiena has earned a total of one gold, two silvers, and three bronzes.

With Rome completed, Obiena is making bid to join the Doha leg of the Diamond League on Sept. 24.

Philippine Athletic Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico said he is impressed at how things went with Obiena, considering that he is competing against the world’s best already.

“Clearly, EJ continues to more than just hold his own against the world’s best. The field in the Diamond League in Rome included Swedish-American Armand Duplantis, world record holder; Belgian Ben Broefers, European champion and Renaud Levillanie from

EJ Obiena pumps his fist after clearing 5.8 meters.

France. The field can’t get any much tougher than that,” said Juico.

The 20-year-old star Duplantis set the fifth world record in the pole vault in the history of the Golden Gala, in Rome. Earlier record-breakers were Thierry Vigneron in 1983 (5.83m) and twice in 1984 (5.91m); Bubka (5.94m) and woman pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva (5.03m) in 2008.

FIDE Trainers’ Online Seminar set Sept. 25 - 27

Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat shoots the ball against the Boston Celtics during Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. AFP

THE Philippines is eyeing to produce world-class chess trainers and coaches as it hosts the FIDE Trainers’ Online Seminar slated from September 25 to 27 via Zoom platform.

World-renowned trainers Grandmasters Dejan Bojkov of Bulgaria and Melikset Khachiyan of Armenia, International Masters Jesper Hall of Sweden and Vishal Sarin of India along with top local mentors GMs Jayson Gonzales will conduct the three-day webinar.

About 40 participants from Australia, Fiji, Guam, Japan, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Taipei, Vietnam and the Philippines have already registered.

The Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence is organizing the event sanctioned and backed by the Asian Chess Federation, FIDE Trainers Commission and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those aspiring to be world class coaches and trainers,” said Gonzales.

Gracing the opening of the event are NCFP president Butch Pichay, Oceania Chess Confederation’s Paul Spiller, ASEAN Chess Academy’s Ignatius Leong, FTC’s Peter Long, ACF’s Hisham Al-Tahir and Sami Khader.

Seminar fee is pegged at Euro $200 with the first 15 Filipino registrants getting a 25-percent discount.

For inquiries, interested parties may call Michelle Yaon at 0966-8108378 or send message to Philchesstournaments’ Facebook page.

Robinson stays with Lyceum as consultant TOPEX Robinson, the newly appointed head coach of the Phoenix Super LPG Fuelmasters, will stay on and continue helping Lyceum of the Philippines University’s basketball program.

Robinson confirmed this following talks with school officials, headed by university president Roberto P. Laurel.

“In any capacity. It’s all good,” said Robinson in an interview with the Manila Standard.

The status of Robinson’s position with the LPU program was discussed after he took on the head coaching job of the Fuelmasters last week.

While assistant coach Jeff Perlas would most likely be the interim coach of the Pirates, Robinson will remain as consultant and head of the basketball program for the time being.

Robi nson is focused on the campaig n of the Fuel masters this October at the rest ar t of the Philippi ne Basketball Association Philippi ne Cup on Oct. 9 i n Clark Cit y, i n A ngeles, Pampanga.

Robinson will return as head coach of the Pi-

Topex Robinson

rates once his stint with the Fuelmasters is over.

League rules in the PBA prohibit head coaches from moonlighting as a coach for any other team out of the organization.

Perlas, who has been Robinson’s deputy since joining the Pirates five years ago, will help run the basketball program.

The other deputies in the Pirates’ squad include Rommel Adducul, Gilbert Malabanan, Ricky Reyes and Kevin Lacap.

Last week, Robinson took over the post held by Louie Alas, who was suspended from his job at the Phoenix Super LPG Fuelmasters. Robinson was initially named to take over in an interim capacity, but was eventually named head coach.

Alas was penalized by the team management when he violated health protocols implemented by the PBA for team practices.

When Robinson was head coach of the Pirates, they claimed back-to-back Finals’ appearances in Season 93 and 94, and reached the Final Four last year. Peter Atencio

So ahead WORLD no. 8 Filipino grandmaster Wesley So emerged as the only player to finish the rapid section with an unblemished record in the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz online tournament on Thursday.

And this allowed So to take the solo lead after extracting back-to-back victories over Levon Aronian and Pentala Harikrishna in rounds 8 and 9 in the blitz competition, according to results shown on the official website.

Former leader Magnus Carlsen moved back to sole second place after ending the day with a loss to Alexander Grischuk.

Using his solid style and talent in playing technical positions, So grabbed two wins and hone draw to move on top with 13 points. Peter Atencio

Sangiao: ONE Super Series for Filipinos, too TEAM Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao remains hopeful that a Filipino will break into ONE Super Series.

While the country still holds the greatest number of World Champions in mixed martial arts in ONE Championship with six, the Philippines has not been well represented on the promotion’s striking stage.

Sangiao expects that to change as soon as someone from the Philippines dedicates their time to honing only their striking skills.

“I think Filipinos are good at striking and we can actually excel in it. It’s all a matter of someone focusing on it and working hard for it,” Sangiao said.

“I like the chances of Eduard [Folayang]. I think he could have excelled in Super Series. Most of our top-level athletes, I think could also excel if they push for it.”

The 41-year-old believes that having a wushu background could help in the elite all-striking component of

The Home Of Martial Arts.

Sangiao should know. He was named one of the coaches for the Philippine contingent in kickboxing in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Together with his wushu and mixed martial arts students Gina “Conviction” Iniong and Jerry “The Bokodian Warrior” Olsim, they brought home gold medals in the biennial regional meet—and while it was an amateur event, Sangiao believes the success can be replicated in ONE Super Series.

“I think wushu is also a good background for our athletes who want to try Super Series. I think it’s a solid striking base,” Sangiao said.

“There are some differences here and there, like in Wushu there are actual takedowns. In Muay Thai there are elbows and knees, so it’s all a matter of incorporating those rules depending on where you’re competing. I think we’re pretty

much the same as kickboxing.”

Striking hopes aside, the soft-spoken mentor is making sure his mixed martial arts athletes are prepared when ONE matchmakers reach out.

“Since events are starting to ease in once more, we make sure that our professionals continue to train and stay in shape, just so we’re prepared when ONE Championship comes calling,” Sangiao said.

“I think we’re close to seeing some of our ONE Championship athletes return. It all depends on the organization on who they want to see compete.

“Right now, we’re all okay. No one’s contracted the virus from our end, and I hope that no one gets it in the future.”

Catch all the ONE Championship action by downloading the ONE Super App for free.

Mark Sangiao

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020

Motoring Geely launches anniversary drive campaign EXCITING days ahead as Geely Philippines offers great deals to its customers in celebration of its first anniversary in the Philippine automotive market. Under the anniversary drive promo which will run from this month to October 31, 2020, additional savings and free fuel card from Shell await Geely customers. In addition, Coolray and Azakarra buyers will get a chance to win the cars they purchased. Yes, 1 Coolray buyer and 1 Az-

W

ITH the onset of the “Ber” months during which conspicous consumption usually perks up, auto importers are gearing up for a final quarter rebound in car sales.

August came as bearish month with sales sliding by 7% from 5, 100 to 4,753 units, a eversal from two straight months of a strong recovery which saw sales rising by 200% in June versus May and another 40% in July, the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors said.

AVID said the slight decrease was a result of the stricter lockdowns from August 4 to 18 in Metro Manila and outlying provinces. The 21-member group representing 26 global brands said despite the minor setback, it expects to sustain its recovery in the “BER” months.

“There are encouraging indicators of a sustained recovery for auto with the gradual reopening of businesses. Still, we remain vigilant since a key aspect of the industry’s revival is the restoration of consumer confidence through strict health and safety guidelines and rapid digital transformation. These ensure the well-being of our stakeholders, continuity of operations, and preservation of livelihood,” AVID President Ma. Fe Perez-

karra buyer might end up getting the car they purchased for free.

Sojitz G Auto Philippines President & CEO Mikihisa Takayama said: “It’s been a year since we were warmly welcomed by the Filipino car buyers with our launch of the Coolray. Time goes by so fast and our vehicles particularly Coolray have come a long way, becoming one of the favorite subcompact SUVs in the market. We would like

‘Ber’ months

spark auto industry hopes Agudo said.

Demand for Passenger Cars (PC) continued to recover as customers are looking for affordable and safe means of personal mobility. PC sales increased by 6% to 1,865 sold in August versus July. Hyundai remained a top contributor in this segment followed by Suzuki and Ford.

In the Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) segment, AVID recorded a 14% drop in August equivalent to 2,851 units sold compared to the previous month. Ford, Hyundai, and Suzuki were the top three sellers in this segment.

Like PC, another bright spot is Commercial Vehicle (CV) segment where sales grew by 95% month-on-month. CV sales are expected to rebound sooner rather than later with the continuation of the BUILD BUILD BUILD program and Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

For the first eight months of the year, total

sales reached 29,360 units or a 48% drop amid the pandemic.

“AVID is one with the auto industry in calling for government support so we can recover from the impact of this pandemic. We welcome government initiatives that further open opportunities for investment, create jobs for our workers, provide reliable and affordable mobility for Filipinos,” Agudo said.

“However, we are particularly concerned about the proposal to impose ‘safeguard’ taxes on imported vehicles. Prior to the lockdowns, we have conveyed our position that penalizing imports will not trigger investments nor address pressing issues faced by the local manufacturing sector. Rather, it is a disruptive measure which will further inhibit the growth of the automotive industry and reduce our competitiveness in the region,” Agudo stressed.

Rugged handsome: 2020 Toyota Hilux rolls out FINALLY, the refreshed work horse in the Toyota stable has been unleashed, ‘galloping’ from its virtual showroom to nationwide dealerships.

The Toyota Hilux 2020 upgrade and its Conquest variant sport a more rugged look suited to a horse at work or simply at play.

In 2019, the Hilux captured a commanding 30.5% segment share, a lead that TMP would like to maintain through the introduction of the world-renowned pickup badge’s latest version.

“The new Toyota Hilux and Conquest arrive with an impressive new look, more rugged and exciting than ever,” said TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto during the online launch of the new vehicle. “The new Hilux is designed to meet the tough demands of Filipino drivers and the country’s varying roads. I am confident that the Hilux would once again prove why it is the Philippines’ pick-up of choice.”

The 2020 Hilux comes available in 4x4 Conquest and 4x2 Conquest variants. Combining the improvements and competitive pricing, Hilux customers get more value for money on their vehicle with the E variant starting at P1.1M.

Ford Awards marks 20th year: Go Further Changemaker Award

to thank our customers for trusting the Geely brand.”

“The Coolray, having been the top-seller among 5-seater sub-compact SUVs for 2 consecutive months is one good proof that after a year of being in the Philippine market and amid a crisis, we still manage to be on the right track in serving our customers and bringing them quality life with every Geely vehicle purchase”, Takayama added.

Made tougher, more rugged, and even more exciting, TMP introduced the New Hilux in Emotional Red, a color exclusive to Conquest variants. Also exclusive to Conquest variants are the bi-beam LED headlamps and LED rear combination lamps with line guide, and sports bar with LED lamps. The tailgate gets the signature Hilux branding, with an over fender garnish and Conquest decals on both sides of the cargo bed. The deck space offers plenty of cargo room with tail gate assist and bedliner for Conquest variants.

Ingress is smooth and easy with keyless entry available for Conquest, G, and E grades, with Conquest variants getting Smart Entry and Push Start System. All three grades also have power adjust with auto fold for side mirrors and speed-sensing door locks.

The Hilux 4x4 variants are powered by 2.8L 1GD-FTV engine which gives 201 HP (204 Ps) max output, 500 Nm max torque for the AT variant, and 420 Nm max torque for the MT variant with Intelligent Manual Transmission. Meanwhile, the 4x2 Conquest, G, and E variants gets the 2.4L 2GD-FTV engine with 148 HP max output, and 400 Nm max torque.

Toyota puts utmost priority in safety to guarantee the driver’s and passengers’ peace of mind. All three grades come with SRS airbags (7 for the 4x4 Conquest A/T variant), 3-pt. ELR seatbelts, Anti-Lock Brake System with Brake Assist and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Vehicle Stability Control, and Hill-Start Assist Control. Conquest 4x4 variants also have Downhill Assist Control and Active Traction Control.

THE Henry Ford Awards, the country’s lone awards program that recognizes excellence in automotive journalism, is now on its 20th year and is officially accepting entries and nominations for its milestone year.

The HFA has become an institution in the automotive industry and has honored over 150 motoring journalists over the last two decades.

HFA will honor 20 motoring journalists and editorial teams who have demonstrated excellence, utmost professionalism, and social responsibility in their field of work.

Eleven regular industry categories include Automotive Print Feature, Automotive Online Feature, Automotive Video Feature, Automotive Column, Automotive Photograph, Automotive Green Feature, Automotive Technology Feature, Automotive Road Safety Feature, Automotive Industry Feature, Automotive

Online Lifestyle Feature, and Automotive Print Lifestyle Feature.

Two special Ford categories include Ford Automotive Feature and Ford Automotive Video Feature, recognizing content that showcase Ford vehicles, reviews, launches, industry topics and developments as well as test drives Two (2) special industry categories include Best Automotive Section for Broadsheet and Best Automotive Online Publication, recognizing media outlets and editorial teams.

Five (5) recipients of the newly-introduced Go Further Changemaker Award which will honor journalists who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help his or her fellow countrymen during the Covid-19 pandemic through acts of goodness, programs and initiatives that benefitted frontliners, patients, and the

FE AGUDO

Chat app boosts Toyota link with buyers TOYOTA Motor Philippines customers now have more ways to connect with the brand online with the launch of two new chat channels - its official Viber Community and its enhanced Facebook Messenger chat.

Anticipating the need of more people to use online touchpoints to access information and send inquiries, TMP continues to explore more ways to provide customers efficient, convenient, and safer ways to engage and transact with Toyota and its network of dealers across the country.

With social distancing requirements and quarantine guidelines in place, Toyota is giving customers easy options to get up updates or send inquiries, without leaving the safety of their homes.

Toyota PH, the official Viber Community for all Filipino Toyota owners, future customers, and aficionados can be accessed by searching for the verified Toyota PH community on Viber or by vis visiting https://bit.ly/toyotaviber via mobile public at large.

Journalists can submit their nominations and entries in the regular, special Ford, and Go Further Changemaker categories.

“The 20th installment of the Henry Ford Awards will be more meaningful not only because it’s a milestone year but also because now more than ever, we want to recognize and pay tribute to our esteemed group of motoring journalists for keeping the industry alive and thriving despite the pandemic,” said EJ Francisco, AVP for Communications, Ford Philippines.

“On our 20th year, we will be honoring 20 journalists, media outlets and editorial teams who have shown excellence, dedication, and passion to their craft to keep the motoring public informed and engaged amid the very challenging times,” added Francisco.

or desktop internet browsers.

Upon joining the Toyota PH community, members will start receiving the latest news and updates straight from TMP, car care tips, special deals and promos, exclusive content, and more. Soon, members will also get to use the 2020 edition of the official Toyota PH Viber sticker set for free.

Meanwhile, Facebook users can start using TMP’s enhanced Facebook Messenger chat to send inquiries and be connected with the official Facebook Messenger chat of their preferred Toyota dealer. To start, user can go to http://m.me/toyotamotorphilippines or search the verified Toyota Motor Philippines account (with the blue check mark) on Facebook (www. facebook.com/ToyotaMotorPhilippines) and tap on the Messenger icon or link.

This year’s entries will undergo a twophase judging process, with each phase having its own set of judges composed of respected professionals from the academe and automotive-related industries, as well as practitioners in photography, video production, creatives and design, digital publishing, and corporate social responsibility.

Winners will be announced and recognized during the awards ceremony in early 2021.

Nominations for entries may be done by journalists, contributors, editors, publishers, and producers. Participants can submit entries online using this link: https://ford.to/2EEXCNI. All entries must be published/posted/ aired from November 1, 2019 to October 31, 2020. Deadline for submission of entries is on November 4, 2020.