Manila Standard - 2020 October 15 - Thursday

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Sara, discontent shift tide to Lord

By Maricel V. Cruz THE endorsement of the President’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, moved legislators to shift their support to newly elected Speaker Lord Allan Velasco from Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, one of Velasco’s allies said Wednesday.

At the same time, Oriental Mind-

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 223 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

oro Rep. Salvador Leachon stressed the need for executive and legislative branches “to be aligned” to realize government programs.

Another Velasco ally said discontent over the alleged inequitable distribution of the proposed 2021 national budget led to the ouster of Cayetano.

Speaking to ANC’s “Matters of Fact”, Next page

Shuffle unsettles House peace Still, solons push forward debates on budget, set its approval by Friday

By Maricel V. Cruz, Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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HE House of Representatives pushed through with a leadership shuffle on Wednesday as it installed allies of new Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco in key positions, while it moved forward with deliberations to pass the 2021 national budget by Friday as hoped for by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The erstwhile Speaker, TaguigPateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, on Wednesday reacted by reminding Velasco of his “palabra de honor” (word of honor) when he said they agreed there would be no changes in the House leadership and committee chairmanships.

“I am just asking Congressman Velasco, [who] will be our new Speaker, na sabi mo sa akin palabra de honor, then palabra de honor din sa side nyo.

Dahil malinaw na sinabi ng ating Pangulo na he doesn’t want disruption so walang palitan ng kahit sinong chairmanship at leadership sa Kongreso,” he said in a social media post.

Meanwhile, lawmakers ended plenary debates on the proposed budget next year for the Departments of Public Works and Highways and Agrarian Reform and started debates for the allocation of

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Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte

Oriental Mindoro Rep. Salvador Leachon

Quezon Rep. Angelina “Helen” Tan

Cavite Rep. Abraham Tolentino

1-PACMAN Rep. Michael Romero

Ilocos Sur Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan

Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro

Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte

I N

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COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM OCTOBER 14)

346,536

Cabinet pushes shorter curfew hours (12 am-4am) in Metro Manila

By Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas am as the country gradually opens the PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet has recommended shortening the curfew hours to four hours from the current 10 pm to 5 am to midnight to 4

economy, Malacanang said Wednesday.

“The Cabinet has decided to recommend local government units to shorten their curfew hours,” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

Also, recently the Cabinet approved “The decision of the Cabinet is to recthe recommendation that will gradually ommend to all local government units expand the age limitation of persons al- to shorten the curfew,” he said. lowed to go out and they also allowed However, Roque said the Local governthe implementation of one-seat-apart ment units would have to pass an ordinance. policy in public transport.

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Palace wants OCTA to halt public reports

1,910 46,227 NEW

ACTIVE

6,449

78

293,860

579

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

By Willie Casas

Everyone now feels pandemic fatigue—DOH THE Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said that “pandemic fatigue” is happening to everyone, and is counting on health protocols to control the COVID-19 spread in the Philippines.

“We are all experiencing this fatigue — this pandemic fatigue. We know that almost all of our citizens want to return to how it was before,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during a virtual briefing.

“But we always remind everyone that we will never go back to how it was before. That is why we now have the new normal,” she said.

The World Health Organization had Next page

SWORN IN. House Speaker Lord Alan Velasco (left) assisted by House Majority Leader and Lakas-CMD Party President Martin Romualdez (third from left) administers the oath taking of new Duterte Youth Party List Rep. Ducielle Marie S. Cardema (fourth from left) with husband Ronald Cardema beside her at the plenary hall Tuesday night. Ver Noveno

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte should decide on quarantine classifications without “pressure” from the public, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque reiterated his appeal to the OCTA Research team not to publicize their recommendations on quarantine levels, saying Duterte could make better decisions without influence from any person or group.

“Why is it important that these recommendations not be made public?

Because it will enable the President to Next page

Gov’t aid for 13th month pay eyed

By Vito Barcelo and Julito G. Rada said he might ask Finance Sec. Carlos THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is considering the plea of “distressed” employers to ask the Duterte administration to subsidize the 13th month pay of their workers.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III

Dominguez, along with Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, if government could subsidize the 13th month pay of companies that were heavily affected by the pandemic.

“Employers are ‘willing’ to give Next page

BRAND-NEW JETS. Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Gilbert Gapay pours champagne on one of six Super Tucano A-29B Close Air Support (CAS) Aircraft (inset) made by Brazil’s Embraer at Clark Airbase, Pampanga on Wednesday. Gapay presided over the turnover to the AFP with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Philippine Air Force Chief Lt. Gen. Allen Paredes.

UNDER TIGHT WATCH. Jailed activist Reina Mae Nasino -- handcuffed and wearing full personal protective equipment -- peers over the casket of her three-month-old baby River, who died while separated from her mother in prison, on Wednesday. The court earlier cut her furlough to mourn her child from three days to three hours each day for two days.

Mike Navallo/DZMM via Twitter

‘Ofel’ may still intensify into storm

weather forecasters said it was likely to intensify into a tropical storm.

As of 8 p.m., the center of “Ofel” was TROPICAL Depression “Ofel” continued to move westward Wednesday between the provinces of Marinqudue toward Oriental Mindoro, as state Next page

By Rio N. Araja

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News

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

One-seat-apart rule enforced

By Darwin G Amojelar, Willie Casas and Vito Barcelo

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HE Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday ordered all transportation sectors to implement the “one-seat apart” rule to increase public transport capacity to support the reopening of the economy.

overcrowding in public transport, even if you wear face mask and face shield, the risk of community transmission will still increase especially if there’s a superspreader. The risk and chances of infecting others will increase.”

He added: “We don’t favor reducing physical distancing although they said they have studies. I have not seen them so I can’t comment on their scientific basis.”

The group expressed concern over the proposal to allow people aged 18 to 65 to go out of their homes as those aged 55 to 64 have a case fatality rate of 7 percent, David said.

The current IATF policy bars those younger than 21 and older than 60 to go out.

“I would still caution them from going outside unnecessarily kasi mataas (because it’s high)... that means 7 out

of 100 ang mamamatay kapag na-infect sila (when they’re infected),” he said.

He added: “We understand this is to stimulate economic recovery but at the same time we still have a pandemic.

Even other countries say you cannot fully make the economy fully recover while the pandemic persists.”

The country’s daily COVID-19 cases could decline to 500 to 600 by the end of the month if quarantine measures remain, David added.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will be issuing a clarificatory memorandum circular explaining in detail the “one-seat apart” rule and the use of measures to increase capacity while ensuring safety of passengers, such as the use of plastic barriers to separate passengers, or UV lights, inside PUVs.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said it ordered the immediate adoption of the one-seat apart rule to increase the present capacity in public utility vehicles (PUVs), and gradually increase capacity, or allow sitting together— provided that plastic barriers are placed in between passengers, or that UV lights were used.

This, after President Rodrigo Duterte and his Cabinet decided to approve the recommendations proposed by the Economic Development Cluster (EDC) to

aid in economic recovery.

But the The OCTA Research Group – a team of professors analyzing COVID-19 data in the Philippines – does not favor any form of reduced physical distancing in public transport, a member said Wednesday.

Prof. Guido David said OCTA earlier rejected government’s plan to ease physical distancing in public vehicles from 1 meter to .75 meters.

David, in an interview with ABSCBN TeleRadyo, said: “If you have

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Anti-corruption measures ready for House okay

Valenzuela City 2nd District Rep. Eric Martinez said: “What really triggered the greater part of [Cayetano’s] downfall in this battle for Speakership is the discontent of majority of congressmen with how funds for local district[s] are being managed or being spread.”

Along with it, Martinez said, were “the inequalities that [go] with it wherein a small group of congressmen were favored, who get more funds for their district compared to a greater majority.”

Asked what role Cayetano will play after being removed from the chamber’s helm, he said the Taguig-Pateros lawmaker could become part of the minority.

“The reading that I see is most probably Speaker Cayetano would go to the minority. [He] would be part of a genuine opposition in Congress.

I think that would be healthy for us,” Martinez said.

Asked if Duterte-Carpio’s endorsement affected the decision of lawmakers, Leachon said: “Of course, we believe so. That’s been the history and tradition in the Philippines in all (political) transitions, even in the speakership race.”

“While we admit that under the Constitution, we have the independence of the three branches of the government, but then, to realize all the programs of government and the Executive (branch), the legislative department should be in line with that,” he added.

Leachon earlier said Duterte-Carpio and her political party Hugpong ng Pagbabago backed the enforcement of the speakership term-sharing deal that her father President Rodrigo Duterte brokered between Cayetano and Velasco.

Reports had said that the President’s daughter had begun calling congressmen Sunday to rally support for Velasco’s takeover, but Mayor Duterte-Carpio said “no comment” when asked about her purported move to support the Marinduque solon.

Leachon said the number of congressmen supporting Velasco ballooned to around 250 House members Tuesday, in time for the opening of the special session called by President Duterte to pass the 2021 national budget.

Martinez said the President’s statement prompted lawmakers to get their acts together.

“The President mentioned in a press conference the frustration. These are

Gov’t...

From A1 workers their 13th month pay but are operating at a loss due to the pandemic,” Bello said.

While the Labor chief noted that thousands of small Filipino businesses had shut down due to the COVID-19 health crisis, many of those which remained operational were barely surviving.

‘Ofel’...

From A1 and Romblon, after hitting land at Burias Island in Masbate at noon Wednesday.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h, it was moving westward at 15 km/h.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) maintained that “Ofel” may pass close or over Romblon and Mindoro provinces, and that Ofel may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday.

Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 was

Rody: Budget ready to buy virus vaccine

By Joyce Pangco Panares PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he already has the funds to procure COVID-19 vaccines once these become commercially available.

Without giving details as to how much money is readily available, Duterte said he is looking for additional funds to “ideally” vaccinate all 130 million Filipinos.

“I have already sourced money. I have money already for the vaccine.

But I need more to provide 130 million Filipinos vaccination,” he said in a televised address.

“Ideally all should have the vaccine, without exemption,” the President added during his weekly report to the nation.

He said indigents who are covered by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program will be the first to be vaccinated, along with members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

“Those in the Pantawid will get the vaccine first. The AFP and PNP will also be part of the first batch because I need our military and police to be healthy. They are really vital to the security of the state,” he said.

“Us civilians, we could be the last in line,” he added.

But the President quickly said he is willing to be the first to get the shot to prove to the public that the vaccines from either Russia or China, which he said may be commercially available

by April, are safe.

HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said President Rodrigo Duterte’s certification on the proposed law that would grant him anti-red tape powers to accelerate the country’s socioeconomic recovery is a welcome development.

Senators approved Senate Bill 1844 on third and final reading on Wednesday.

“House leaders under the leadership

of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco are in full agreement with the Chief Executive to fast-track the approval of all pending measures related to the anti-red tape and anti-corruption campaign of the government,” said Romualdez.

Romualdez added: “The President is tired of continued corruption. He wants a legacy that genuine reforms are im-

plemented under his term. He stressed that any delay in the release of business permits is tantamount to corruption.”

“We are readying a proposed law that would authorize the President to act expeditiously on the processing and issuance of national and local permits, licenses, and certifications,” Romualdez said. Maricel V. Cruz

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Angelina Helen Tan regained the chair of the the House Committee on Health vice Guimaras Rep. Ma. Lucille Nava, while solons also elected Ilocos Sur 2nd District Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Accounts.

Valenzuela Rep. Eric Martinez was also restored as chairman of the Youth and Sports Development committee.

He said House panel leaders should not fear removal from their positions if they share Velasco’s vision.

The Palace expects Congress to pass the 2021 national budget on time because it has a supermajority in the House, which resumed deliberations on the spending plan this week after resolving its leadership impasse.

“I don’t see any problems anymore and now that there are no more political maneuverings and bickering, I think the process can proceed,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in an interview on CNN Philippines.

While the reopening of the budget deliberations would result in more discussions, Roque said this was fine as long as they are concluded within the period set by the President for the special session.

“So, for as long as they are able to pass the budget, despite having reopened debates on it, then that would be still no problem. All that is needed is for the proposed law to be passed on third and final reading on the 16th, so that the

Senate can commence their plenary discussion,” Roque said.

He also expressed his confidence in newly elected Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, who replaced Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano in an acrimonious transfer of power.

Velasco and Cayetano had agreed to a term-sharing arrangement brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019, but the latter sought to delay the turnover of the speakership when his time was up.

A majority of House members, however, elected Velasco speaker on Monday, effectively ousting Cayetano.

Roque said the President could also call a special session in November if necessary to give Congress more time to finish the budget.

The budget must be signed by December and published in the Official Gazette and two newspapers of general circulation to be effective Jan. 1, 2021.

Two legislators on Wednesday pushed for a P1 billion budget increase for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) so the agency can effectively implement its programs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reps. Gabriel Bordado of Camarines Sur and Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan De Oro City made the proposal during the plenary deliberations on the proposed 2021 budget of the OVP, which chalked up having the highest audit rating from the Commission on Audit for two consecutive years.

make the correct decision even if it may be an unpopular decision,” Roque said in an interview over CNN Philippines’ The Source.

The OCTA Research group, however, said it would continue to publicize its data and recommendations, despite Roque’s appeal, a member of the team said Wednesday.

Prof. Ranjit Singh Rye, in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, said the group deliberated the matter after receiving a phone call from Roque.

“The group met yesterday wand we decided to continue with our reports,” Rye said in Filipino.

“While we really want to help the government in the fight against COVID-19, our accountability is to the nation,” he added.

In asking the OCTA researchers to submit their recommendations to the Palace instead of publicizing them, Roque said this would give the President some leeway in maintaining the balance between health and the economy.

“Health consideration is very important but as you know we’re now at the point where we’re not talking about the economy, we’re talking about people go-

ing hungry, people being malnourished because of the lack of income,” he said.

He acknowledged that the Palace could not stop the research team from publicizing recommendations, but explained that this move would immediately generate public opinion.

“Any recommendation publicly made tends to either influence the President because there would be public opinion generated by the recommendation and we want the President to make the right decision without pressure from the public,” he said.

Roque said the research team must allow the President to make decisions pursuant to the national interest.

“ These struggling companies,” Bello said, “have asked the government for help in paying their employees’ 13thmonth pay.”

“The workers want to get their 13thmonth pay because that is what’s written in PD 851. The employers are not refusing them,” he said.

“Someone used the phrase how can you wring blood from stone? They’re willing to pay but they can’t. Businesses have been operating at a loss,” he said.

He said Wednesday’s meeting did not end in a deadlock because workers wanted to be given their 13th month pay and employers were not denying it to them.

Federation of Free Workers president Sonny Matula noted that “no agreement” was reached among participants in the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council meeting.

“There was no agreement reached…

But for us, the 13th month pay of workers should be given to them. They need

it badly, especially during this time of pandemic,” he added.

The meeting was attended by Bello, Lopez, Employers Confederation of the Philippines president Sergio Ortiz-Luiz Jr. and trade union leaders, among others.

Meanwhile, Associated Labor UnionTrade Union Congress of the Philippines spokesman Alan Tanjusay said they registered their “strong opposition” to proposals to give exemption to the payment of 13th month pay.

THE Philippines will reach some 390,000 cases of COVID-19 by end of the month, Prof. Guido David, a member of the OCTA Research Team analyzing coronavirus data in the country, said Wednesday.

However, David said the pandemic is on a downward trend as daily new cases in the capital region decline, the analyst said in an interview on ANC’s Headstart.

“This is not supposed to be alarming because we’re still getting about 2,000 cases per day but we’re seeing the trend is decreasing,” he said.

Daily COVID-19 cases could decline to 500 to 600 by end of the month if quarantine measures remain, David said in a separate interview with ABSCBN’s Teleradyo. Willie Casas

Meanwhile, the Department of Health has recommended the implementation of localized lockdowns in areas where increased attack rate of COVID-19 has been observed, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

The DOH favored this instead of tighter quarantine protocols.

Citing a report from the DOH’s subtechnical working group on data analytics, Duque was responding to the findings of the OCTA research team which called on the government to consider tightening of quarantine protocols in Bauan in Batangas, Calbayog in Western Samar, and General Trias in Cavite since COVID-19 attack rates have increased there in the past week.

From October 4 to 11, the daily attack rate per 1,000 people in Bauan rose from 6.2 percent to 11.9 percent, in Calbayog from 5.1 percent to 8 percent, and in General Trias from 4.9 percent to 7.6 percent.

“The risk classification currently puts a premium on the safe opening of business establishments for socio-economic recovery. Hospital capacity or utilization rate is used as the main signal for escalation of community quarantine levels. Based on our October 12 data, these provinces still have enough hospital capacity to care for its patients, therefore escalation of their quarantine levels is not warranted,” Duque said in a statement sent to GMA News Online.

the Department of Transportation as of press time.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro, staunch allies of Cayetano, were replaced as Deputy Speakers by 1-PACMAN Party-list Rep. Michael Romero and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Doy Leachon.

Leachon was actually named Senior Deputy Speaker vice Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, who was stripped of his post under Cayetano but was appointed chairman of the powerful Committee on Accounts when Velasco assumed the speakership on Tuesday.

As he thanked Cayetano for giving him the opportunity to serve as one of his 22 deputy speakers, Villafuerte said: “If the intention of removing me was to intimidate all those who remain loyal to former Speaker Cayetano, then they have miscalculated badly.”

“Their vindictiveness merely shows that we were right all along, and exposes the kind of “leadership” we can expect,” he added, referring to Velasco’s allies.

Nevertheless, Villafuerte said, “the House needs to be united, and I am all for that.”

Meanwhile, Quezon 4th District Rep.

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in effect over Batangas, southern portion of Laguna, the central and southern portions of Quezon, Calamian Islands, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands.

Ofel and the southwest monsoon will also cause light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Central Luzon, the Visayas, Mindanao, Metro Manila, Palawan, Cagayan, Isabela, and the rest of the Bicol Region.

Flashfloods and rain-induced landslides may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall, especially in areas highly susceptible to these hazards, the weather bureau said.

Cabinet...

From A1 Most areas implement a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, he said.

The Palace official said a shorter and later curfew would allow workers to travel at ease.

He said malls and other establishments that provide essential goods and services should also extend their operating hours to complement the staggered shifts.

“Malls, stores, and groceries should be allowed to operate for a longer period so our workers can get what they need,” he said.

Everyone...

From A1 earlier said that Europe is facing a rise in “pandemic fatigue” months into the COVID-19 crisis.

The new normal would ensure that even though the COVID-19 virus exists, “we would still be protected if we are going to comply with these minimum health standards,” Vergeire said. Living in the new normal involves little sacrifices such as the wearing of face masks and face shields, physical distancing and frequent hand washing, she added.

1,910 new COVID-19 cases logged

THE Philippines logged on Wednesday 1,910 new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, bringing the total to 346,536, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

The DOH reported 579 recoveries, bringing to 293,860 the number of patients who have recovered from the disease.

The DOH also reported 78 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 6,449.

This left 46,227 active cases in the country, 84.5 percent of which are mild; 10.5 percent of which are asymptomatic; 1.6 percent of which are severe; and 1.3 percent of which are critical. -- Willie Casas

390,000 cases seen by endOctober

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Construction jobs should be for Filipinos’ FOLLOWING reports that many Chinese construction workers are being hired in critical government projects, Senator Francis Pangilinan on Wednesday urged the Department of Public Works and Highway to give priority to the hiring of local workers to help address the joblessness caused by pandemic lockdowns.

At the Senate hearing of its P667.32billion budget, the department admitted that in some government projects, Chinese workers accounted for 30 to 45 percent of the work force and committed to address the issue of foreign workers in Philippine infrastructure projects given that many Filipinos were out of work.

Pangilinan also urged the use of local products in government infrastructure projects to help provide jobs and revive the manufacturing sector badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re in the middle of the pandemic.

Adult unemployment rates are in the midto-high 30s. According to a recent SWS survey, our unemployment rate in September was 39.5 percent, comprising 23.7 million Filipinos,” he said.

Addressing Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Pangilinan said the big-ticket infrastructure projects included in the 2021 budget must produce significant and needed jobs for Filipinos.

On the projects funded by Official Development Assistance, Pangilinan said, the department must ensure that Filipino workers were given preferential treatment over foreign manpower amid the reported influx of Chinese workers in critical infrastructure projects, particularly the Kaliwa Dam and railway projects.

“Given the high level of unemployment rate we are facing due to COVID, is the employment of foreign workers a condition for the approval of these ODAs?” Pangilinan asked Villar.

Villar said the employment of foreign workers was not a condition for the approval of the ODAs, but sometimes foreign workers were hired for specialized functions. Macon Ramos-Araneta

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BLACK AND WHITE.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Supreme Court Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, and other officials inspect the Manila Bay dolomite white sand overlay in Manila on Wednesday.

Environment officials said geotubes had been placed to ensure retention of the white sand on the beach and lessen the impact of waves and currents, which appeared to turn the beach black amid recent rainstorms (inset). Norman Cruz

‘UP has no right to criticize Bay’

By Rio N. Araja and Rey E. Requejo

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HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Wednesday said experts from the University of the Philippines-Diliman have “no right” to criticize the use of synthetic white sand for a beautification project at the Manila Bay.

The UP Marine Science Institute earlier took the DENR to task for using synthetic white sand and instead said it was willing to help the DENR in a “sciencebased rehabilitation program for Manila Bay,” where mangroves may be planted.

DENR Undersecretary and spokes-

person Benny Antiporda, however, said the mangroves would “destroy the landscape.”

“Hindi ho magandang tingnan and at the same time, hindi ho mabubuhay salugar na ito iyong mangrove,” he said during the Laging Handa public briefing.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta on Wednesday expressed satisfaction with the implementation by concerned government agencies of various projects to rehabilitate the waters of Manila Bay. Peralta, who chairs the Manila Bay Advisory Committee, issued the statement after meeting with Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu and other agencies regarding their compliance of the continuing mandamus issued by the Supreme Court to implement measures to rehabilitate the body of water.

According to the Chief Justice, the meeting was part of the quarterly assess-

ment being undertaken by the MBAC with regard to the Manila Bay rehabilitation project, which is covered by a continuing mandamus issued by the high court in 2011.

“We came here to observe and determine how far they have gone with the observation, obedience to the continuing mandamus.” Peralta told reporters.

Antiporda also defended the project from yet another claim that the crushed dolomites used in the Manila Bay are being washed away by the rains.

Antiporda said the dolomites are not being washed out, but the black sands are being “washed in.”

Probe into Malampaya gas field eyed

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

TURNOVER CEREMONY. Incoming Manila Yacht Club Commodore Francisco P. Garcia (second from left) shakes hands with outgoing

Commodore Robert Lim Joseph Jr. after a simple turnover of leadership at the MYC in the presence of directors and past Commodores Juan Marcos C. Arellano Jr. (left) and Ildefonso G. Tronqued. Commodore Joseph served the club for two years that resulted in the cleanup of Manila Bay, especially the area near MYC.

Firm sues Bengzon, daughter in Medical City battle FORMER Health Secretary Dr. Alfredo R.A. Bengzon and his daughter were charged Wednesday before the Department of Justice-Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office with qualified theft and estafa in connection with the ongoing dispute among officials of the Professional Services Inc. (PSI), the operator of The Medical City (TMC).

The complaint was filed by Joseph Carballo, head of internal audit for PSI. Carballo claimed that he was authorized by PSI to file the complaint for quali-

fied theft under Article 310 in relation to Article 308 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) and/or estafa under Article 312 of the RPC against Bengzon and his daughter Margaret Bengzon.

A copy of the PSI’s Board resolution authorizing Carballo to file the complaint was submitted to the prosecutor’s office.

The Bengzons could not be reached for comment at press time.

The complaint stemmed from a discovery of checks issued by The Medical City, and signed and approved only by

FDA: Antigen test kits still viable ity standard of the WHO for THE Food and Drug Addiagnostic performance. ministration of the PhilipAccording to Vergeire, pines (FDA) has clarified SD Biosensor “only posted that it has not revoked the 71% sensitivity.” approval of Antigen Rapid The FDA chief sought Diagnostic Tests. to put these numbers in the “Antigen Rapid Diagright context. nostic Tests, such as the ones “The WHO would not provided by Abbott and SD approve SD Biosensor in Biosensor, have been extentheir EUL if the test did not sively researched, and are pass their strict standards and widely used and accepted guidelines. They approved it even by the WHO,” noted FDA Director General Dr. FDA Director General Dr. based on several validation tests done in different centers.

Eric Domingo.

Eric Domingo In the Philippines the 71.43% “In fact, SD Biosensor is the first Antigen Rapid Diagnostic sensitivity estimate of the RITM (with a Test approved by the World Health Or- 95% confidence interval of 55.42 - 84.28) ganization (WHO) for its Emergency is not significantly different from their 80% requirement,” Domingo explained.

Use Listing (EUL).”

“It is also important to note that the use Some private companies expressed concern after Health Undersecretary Ro- of antigen tests is recommended for setsario Vergeire mentioned a study conduct- tings where Reverse Transcription Polyed by the Research Institute of Tropical merase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) are unMedicine (RITM), wherein SD Biosensor available, or where prolonged turnaround allegedly did not meet the 80% sensitiv- time makes RT-PCR impractical.”

the complainants, for P2 million personally payable to Dr. Bengzon, and for P1.8 million payable to the law firm of Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De Los Angeles.

“Respondents committed qualified theft when they stole company funds in the forms of unauthorized money transfers via check which they issued to respondent Bengzon himself, as well as to their personal law firm, Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De Los Angeles,” the complaint read.

READY TO CHECK IN. Tourism

Secretary Bernadette Puyat undergoes a swab test before her check-in process for the reopening of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in BGC, Taguig City on Wednesday. Puyat led the inspection of the hotel, one of 10 allowed by the government to welcome guests for ‘staycations.’

DUE to its critical role in the country’s security, Senator Win Gatchalian on Wednesday sought a Senate probe on the depleting supply of the Malampaya gas field with the looming expiration of Service Contract 38, or the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-To-Power Project.

Gatchalian, along with Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Panfilo Lacson, filed Senate Resolution 533 citing the need for Congress to be apprised of the government’s plans for SC 38.

Given its declining output, Gatchalian said, one of the issues facing Malampaya included whether or not it should be extended or the government should opt to manage and operate it.

“This is not a plain and simple business

transaction. It affects all of us because of energy security issues. We want to be assured that we will not run out of fuel supply in the immediate future,” Gatchalian said.

Senator Christopher Go urged the energy sector to ensure the welfare of Filipinos is given priority over profits especially amid the pandemic.

Senator Risa Hontiveros secured the commitment of officials from the ERC that power distributors like MERALCO would extend their “no disconnection policy” for defaulting power consumers up to the end of the year.

Energy officials reported that power distributors like MERALCO were set to relax their deadlines for issuing notices of disconnection and cutting power supply for the families unable to fully pay their power bills.

DTI to explain PITC’s unused funds

By Othel V. Campos THE Department of Trade and Industry said Wednesday it is willing to help explain the alleged unused funds that the Philippine International Trading Corporation should spend for the construction of fire stations and the procurement of fire trucks.

Trade secretary Ramon Lopez says the PITC only buys or procures for the government any item, equipment or commodity on the order of the government offices and agencies.

“The transactions, or course, follow legitimate procedures. They undergo bidding and they always deliver on time, except on occasions when the fund is not yet

available,” he said.

“In fact, in their audit report, there was no adverse opinion that will put them in the spotlight.”

Lopez said he spoke with PITC President Dave Almarinez on Tuesday and was told the agency was preparing a report for each item that was questioned.

“They want to show the status of each item included in the contract. So we can already verify the information released earlier by Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto,” Lopez said.

Almarinez gave assurances that the procurement process for fire trucks was on track and the awards for the fire station project would be issued before the year ends.

‘Veto-proof’ P10k teachers’ stipend THE Senate-approved bill mandating a gradual tripling to P10,000 of the annual Teaching Supplies Allowance is “fiscallyresponsible, which makes it veto-proof by the President,” Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, its principal author, said Wednesday.

“Any contention that the government can’t afford it doesn’t fly in the face of facts,” Recto said.

The bipartisan bill increases what is popularly called the “chalk allowance” to P5,000 a year in school years 2021-22 and 2022-23; to P7,500 in school year 202324; and to P10,000 beginning school year 2024-25.

The annual TSA now is P3,500 per classroom teacher, “or about P16 a day, not enough for bond paper and internet ‘load’— which many teachers are forced to buy with their own money,” Recto said.

For next year, the total cost of a P5,000 TSA would be about P4.38 billion, based on 876,898 teachers handling classes, Recto said.

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Makati hires 56 nurses, hikes pay

By Joel E. Zurbano

M

AKATI City Mayor Abigail Binay on Wednesday said her administration is supporting the increase of salary of nurses in government service, noting that the city has hired 56 new nurses since the pandemic broke out in March.

Members of the city council recently approved the P55.17-million additional budget covering the adjustment of entry-level or Nurse 1 position from Salary Grade 11 to Salary Grade 15, which increased the basic monthly pay to P32,053 from P22,316 effective July 1, 2020.

Binay said the increase amounting to P9,737 per month was a well-deserved reward for the nurses who have been working practically non-stop as frontliners in the country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The salary increase is a welcome development for our nurses, and is a fitting recognition of their hard work and sacrifice that have been magnified by this crisis. The substantial salary differential they will receive will also bring immense financial relief, especially to struggling breadwinners of the family who can hardly make both ends meet,” she said.

The city chief execuive expressed hope that the salary increase will entice more nurses to serve with government units and agencies where they are needed the most.

“We hope that with a more competitive salary, board-certified nurses who have opted to pursue a non-related career or go abroad will be inspired to stay and serve their fellow Filipinos,” she said.

Since March, the city government has hired 56 additional nurses -- 38 for the Makati Health Department (MHD) and 18 for Ospital ng Makati (OsMak) since March, bringing the total number of city-employed nurses to 493.

To date, Osmak has 353 nurses; MHD, 114; Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, 5; Education Department, 14; University of Makati, six; and General Services Department, one.

2 dead, 3 hurt in Subic road project mishap

By Ansbert B. Joaquin SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE— Two scaffolders died while three others were injured in a bridge construction accident along the Subic Freeport Expressway on Wednesday.

A report from the Bataan police said the victims were pinned to death after temporary posts that support the Jadjad bridge being constructed in Barangay Tipo, Hermosa, Bataan collapsed.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority media team photos showed that a steel framework, which is part of the superstructure of the bridge under construction, fell of a column.

Police identified the fatalities as Vivincio Pamisa and Marvin Tajores, both scaffolders.

Injured were Joel Pitel, John Ray Salatan and Peter Pahilan, all workers of project contractor, Sta. Clara International Corporation.

The road project, which is being undertaken by the North Luzon Expressway Corp., is part of the P1.6-billion Subic Freeport Expressway Capacity Expansion Project meant to ease traffic in and out of Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The SFEX road widening project includes the construction of two bridges, a tunnel and additional lanes to convert the 8.8-kilometer road into a four-lane highway.

Baseco Linear Park unveiled

FOR PLANTITAS. SM City Marilao’s Event Center becomes an immersive experience for shoppers, as hundreds of ornamental blooms and decorative plants transform the 713 sqm space into an indoor holiday botanical garden. Growers, breeders and local plant retailers from Bulacan and other nearby town have turned out to participate in the mall’s Gardening Fair. Jun David

MANILA City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso led on Tuesday the launching of Linear Park along Baseco Baywalk, including its lighting and landscaping works.

Domagoso said that the launching of the Linear Park, as well as the installation of lamp posts and brick paving works done is a “simple offering” of the local government to the Baseco community.

While the city government gives dignity to the lower class through the said project, Domagoso said that maintaining the beauty of the rehabilated portion of Baseco needs the public’s cooperation.

“Ngayong gabi na ito ay ipinakita lamang sa inyo ng pamahalaang lungsod ang pagbabalik o pagbibigay ng dignidad na kahit tayo ay mahirap, kahit tayo ay iskwater, may dignidad sa pagiging mahirap. Hindi pwedeng passing lang kung sabihin,” the Mayor said.

“Ipapakita natin na may gobyerno, na may pamamahala, at ang pamamahala ay may pagmamalasakit pero may kaakibat na disiplina sa atin. Kapag tayo ay nililingon na ng pamahalaan, ang pakikipagtulungan natin sa pamahalaan ay pakikiisa sa pagsasaayos,” Domagoso added.

Domagoso said that despite being tagged as one of the most challenging communities in the nation’s capital, the Baseco community must prove that they have discipline within themselves.

Willie Casas

Antipolo nixes libel raps vs. PVB officials Task force lauds THE Office of the City Prosecutor of Antipolo has dismissed a libel complaint filed by popular food chain Cravings against officials of the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB), who earlier sued the former for non-payment of a P43-million loan.

Documents from the Antipolo Prosecutor’s Office showed that Cravings Food Services Inc (CFSI) filed the libel complaint on February 26, 2019, alleging that the civil case filed by PVB against it “blemished the honor of its business.”

Cravings claimed that the civil proceedings being pursued by the bank made CFSI appear that it participated in fraudulent acts and dishonorable conduct. It added that such negative connotation tarnished the name and good will of the company.

But in a resolution dated March 7, 2019, Antipolo City Prosecutor Mari El-

vira Herrera approved the dismissal of the libel complaint. CFSI filed a motion for reconsideration, but the Prosecutor’s Office stood by its decision and denied the appeal in a resolution dated October 23, 2019.

CFSI earlier availed from the PVB a total Revolving Promissory Note Line (RPNL) of P50 million, but the company defaulted in its obligation to pay the bank the amount as well as the corresponding interest and penalties.

On February 6, 2018, the PVB filed the case against CFSI for collection of sum of money and damages. The court also granted the bank a writ of preliminary attachment so PVB attached several properties registered in the names of CFSI, CNA Culinary Services, Inc., spouses Frederick Jonathan A. Trinidad and Marinela G. Trinidad, and Susan Guererro.

Bataan LGUs in fighting virus BALANGA CITY—Pandemic Task Force Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. lauded the local government units in Bataan for their swift response in addressing the coronavirus, citing strong leadership as a key in containing SARS CoV 19 in the province, specifically in Mariveles town.

“You really copied the strength of our strategy and was able to immediately address the cases. From the time that there was a spike in your cases, you were able to bring it down to a 48 percent negative growth in just a matter of two weeks,” said Galvez during his recent visit to the province.

“We have seen that you have a very good ratio of 1:10 to 1:15 in terms of contact tracing efforts, as compared to just 1:4 in other places. In addition, you were able to train more than 15% of your personnel in terms of contact tracing,” the National Task Force chief said.

He said one of the best practices of the province also is its aggressiveness in terms of testing and isolation.

“Testing is important because we have an unseen enemy. In order to see, we have to detect. Testing and contact tracing are our best weapons in this fight,” Galvez said. Jess Malabanan and Butch Gunio

NABBED. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents question two suspected illegal drug traffickers following their arrest at Barangay San Roque, Bamban, Tarlac on Tuesday. Jess Malabanan

Tarlac pushers yield P3.4m shabu

By Jess Malabanan BAMBAN, Tarlac—Government agents seized P3.4 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” and arrested two alleged illegal drug traffickers during a drug bust at Barangay San Roque here Tuesday evening.

The suspects were identified as Asnoden Hassan, alias Anthon, 23, of Baltazar Kaliwa, Bgy Sto. Tomas, and Renz Keizer Tarca Bermudez, alias Renz, 19 of E. Santos, Bgy Palatiw, both of Pasig City.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 3 (PDEA3) director Christian Frivaldo said the suspects are among major suppliers of shabu in Tarlac and other parts of Central Luzon. He said the duo was placed under discreet surveillance due to reports on their alleged involvement in the drug trade.

Frivaldo said the suspects met the PDEA poseur buyer along MacArthur Higway (Old Manila North Road) in this town on board Toyota Vios (ABQ 2767) with 500 grams of shabu intended for delivery.

SNAP hydro plants top WESM compliance ratings anew

By Jessica M. Bacud

FERTILIZER DONATION. Senatpr Cynthia A. Villar has donated 50 sacks of fertilizer and 24 packs of seeds to Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Marikina City to help establish farms and vegetable gardens. The assistance, provided through the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG), was turned over to the National TVET Trainers Academy of TESDA (NTTA-TESDA)Marikina City.

TUGUEGARAO CITY—SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) Group’s hydroelectric power plants bagged the highest citation as hydro generators compliant during the recent Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) Compliance Officer Summit.

Ambuklao hydro topped 12 participating hydro-power generators all over the country with a compliance rating of 95.55% for the

period 26 June 2019 to 25 June 2020.

Binga and Magat hydros also under SNAP placed second and fourth, respectively, with 92.60% and 83.45% compliance.

The award was acknowledged virtually by SNAP’s WESM Compliance Officer (WCO) Shara Camille Landicho.

SNAP’s WESM compliance work involves the WCO, the Trading group headed by Christian Mark Tarayao,

SNAP-Benguet operations led by Edmund Limpayos, and SNAP-Magat operations headed by Edgardo Bundalian.

This is SNAP’s third citation this year from the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC), as it also topped its compliance ratings in April for the cool-dry season covering the period 26 December 2019 to 25 February 2020 and in July for the hot-dry season covering the period 26 February to 25 May 2020.

Opinion What will Cayetano’s Strike 3 be?

THE word “strike” out of their ears. and the phrase Strike 2 for Alan “striking out” are has been his incredible part of the lanreneging on the July guage of the Unit2019 agreement that he ed States’ national entered into, with the game, baseball. An approval of President inning comes to an Duterte, for the sharend, and a changeing of the 18th Congress over takes place, when the person at bat Speakership with Marinduque Rep. Lord fails to hit three successive perfect throws Allan Velasco. Cayetano would be Speakfrom the pitcher. The batter is said to have er for the 18th Congress’ first 15 months struck out. and Velasco would have the Speakership If the Filipino people want a good ex- for the remaining 21 months. It was a simample of the striking-out concept, they ple sharing agreement; Cayetano was not need go no further than the career of the heard to attach any conditions to it. outgoing Speaker of the House of RepreThere were people who were uneasy sentatives, Alan Peter Cayetano. Mr. Cay- about the arrangement and doubted that the etano has had Strike 1 and Strike 2 called ambitious Alan Peter would honor it. They against him; another strike and he will be, were proven right. As turnover neared, Cayetano started to signal that he would not as in baseball, out.

Strike 1 was honor the term-sharcalled against ing agreement with Cayetano, not Rep. Velasco. MarinThis could be the by the Commisduque’s lawmakworst decision of his sion on Elections er was now being (Comelec) but by accused of plotting political career. the Filipino people, against the Speaker, during the 2019 of being lazy and inelections period. sufficiently involved Not content with in the work of the his brother Lino’s being the family’s home Lower House, and of lacking leadership city’s mayor, Alan and his wife launched qualities. To avert the agreed October 14 their candidacies for the two House of turnover of the Speakership, Cayetano sudRepresentatives seats of Taguig City. The denly suspended the Congressional session outgoing Speaker defended his and his to November 16, in the process placing in wife’s candidacies for both Taguig House jeopardy the timely national-budget compleseats with an argument that left the Filipi- tion that President Duterte desired. no people aghast and incredulous: Though In time, Alan Peter will probably come he and his wife were not estranged, they to realize that his decision to not honor his maintained different residences, with each term-sharing agreement with Rep. Velasco is of them residing in different parts of their the worst decision he has made in his politcity. Their argument sent law students ical career, whose high point was his being scurrying to the Family Code of the Phil- selected as a major political party’s candidate ippines and to the jurisprudence on the for this country’s second-highest position. meaning of the family home.

That decision clearly displeased President of To the great consternation and disgust President Duterte—the broker of the agreeof the Filipino people, Comelec accepted ment —who wanted nothing to stand in the the argument of Cayetano and approved way of timely approval by Congress of the his and his wife’s candidacy. Many cyni- General Appropriations Act for 2021. cal Filipinos believed that the Duterte-apMore than that, in deciding to renege pointed Comelec commissioners did not on his agreement with Rep. Velasco, Alan want to offend the man who three years Peter alienated all sensible, right-thinking earlier was the running mate of President Filipinos who now see him as power-hunRodrigo Duterte. gry, overly ambitious and who is anything With the successful campaigns of Alan, but trustworthy. his wife and his brother, Taguig City had Strike 1 and Strike 2 have been called effectively become Cayetano City. And let against now-former Speaker Alan Peter us not forget Alan’s sister, Pia, who suc- Cayetano. Strike 3 and he will be out. The cessfully returned to the Senate. The Fil- question is, what will The Honorable Genipino people now had Cayetanos coming tleman from Taguig City do for Strike 3?

Ensure support to education COVID-19 transmission remains the primary goal, but we cannot let the situation paralyze the education of our youth.

The enrollment of children lies within the discretion of parents and children.

However, let me emphasize that education still holds prime importance in the lives of children.

AS THE country continues to grapAs Congress continues to discuss the ple with the COVID-19 pandemic, our 2021 budget, I call on to the governeducational system strives to carry on ment to provide the necessary support providing education to students through to the alternative learning modalities various learning modalities. The Depart- implemented by the DepEd. While we ment of Education provided alternative await for the development of a cure and modes of education—the modular learn- vaccine to this COVID-19, we have to ing which involves the distribution of adapt to the new normal, and if we are printed copies of self-learning modules, to adapt to the new normal, we cannot and the blended/online learning where set aside the fact that students need to students will be able to attend classes continue learning. While the budget reexcept that classes are done via radio, mains open for amendments, I urge our television, or online legislators to take platforms. into consideration Since the beginthe needs of the edLet us remain ning of classes, we ucation sector, espehave seen students cially those teachers patient and and teachers alike and students belongconsiderate. sharing their plight ing in poor income in adapting to these families and those new learning moin far-flung areas. I dalities. I agree that urge the legislators pursuing education in the middle of the to funnel adequate funds to education pandemic is quite a challenging feat for to address existing and future problems both education providers and for stu- and make learning a sustainable activity dents alike. For one, internet services while in quarantine. provided by telecommunications comThe responsibility of supporting the panies in the country, for many years education of our children does not solenow, have not been at par with those of ly depend on the DepEd. As they say, it other countries. Hence, many bewail the takes a village to raise a child. Hence, intermittent connection or worse, the I also call on our telecommunications lack of reliable signal especially in far companies to immediately address exflung areas. isting internet problems and assertively Secondly, the remoteness of schools explore options that can lead to the necfrom communities makes it difficult for essary and drastic improvements in teleboth students and teachers to deliver the communications services in the country. necessary modules. This problem has I also call on the government to allow actually been existing for many years more infrastructure projects, particularnow. The lack of roads and educational ly the building of necessary roads and facilities in far-flung areas, especially in bridges in remote areas in the provinces, the provinces, makes it all the more dif- to facilitate the delivery of educational ficult for teachers to reach their students. materials, goods, and public services.

Apart from this, public reports circulate This pandemic inevitably makes an regarding the blatant errors in the learn- impact to the learning habits and learning modules received by students. ing curve of children. While problems We are in the midst of an understand- may still arise even a few months into ably difficult time. The prevention of the school year, let us remain patient and

ManilaStandard

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

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EDITORIAL

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Inhuman and unjust

HEN is it right to separate a mother from her infant?

The death of a three-month-old baby separated from her jailed mother despite pleas to keep the pair together shows that state authorities think doing so is perfectly all right.

Reina Mae Nasino, a human rights worker for Kadamay, says she didn’t know she was pregnant when she was arrested last year, attributing her missed period to the stress of a nighttime police raid in which she and two other activists were arrested.

But a medical exam in prison found she was in her first trimester.

On July 1, she gave birth to River, underweight at about 5.5 pounds.

The National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) pleaded with the court to either let the mother and her baby stay longer at Fabella Memorial Hospital, or let Reina Mae keep River inside the jail where they could be provided with natal care facilities.

These pleadings were rejected.

Lawyers also asked that Reina Mae be allowed to express breast milk and be given access to clean lactation facilities inside the Manila City Jail Female Dormitory.

Judge Marivic Balisi-Umali of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch

30 denied the plea and ordered that the baby be turned over to her relatives. On Aug. 13, the baby was given to Reina Mae’s mother.

“We were shocked that the court would deny such a plea. The judge only needed to consider the motions from her own perspective as a human.

But unfortunately compassion and mercy were not extended to mother and child,” said Reina Mae’s lawyer,

If the court and the authorities had an ounce of human decency and allowed the mother to breastfeed her baby, River might still be alive today.

her lawyer Josalee Deinla.

Reina Mae’s mother fought for the right of her daughter and granddaughter to remain together, sending photos and letters to the authorities nearly every week pleading for her daughter’s release, but to no avail.

The hospital where Reina Mae gave birth recommended the baby be kept with her mother, said Deinla.

“But the prison authorities said they lacked the resources. They came up with a lot of excuses, violating the child’s right to her mother’s breast milk,” she said.

Baby River’s health began to deteriorate the following month, and calls to reunite the mother and child grew more urgent when the baby was hospitalized on Sept. 24 and her condition worsened. Still, Reina Mae was not allowed to see her baby.

River died of pneumonia, just over three months old.

On Tuesday, a court granted Reina Mae a three-day furlough to attend the wake and funeral of her daughter—but later that same day, prison officials tried to reduce the length of her compassionate release.

What kind of justice system do we have that allows this to happen? If the court and the authorities had an ounce of human decency and allowed the mother to breastfeed her baby, River might still be alive today.

Yet just a month ago, a convicted US serviceman who had beat and strangled a Filipino transgender was allowed to walk free after serving only five years and 10 months of his 10-year sentence, his flight to freedom eased by a presidential pardon, no less.

If a convicted killer could be shown some compassion and human kindness, why were Reina Mae and her infant denied the same?

A gentlemen’s agreement IT IS true what they say that the kind of politics we have in this country necessarily reflects the character of our society. It is also equally true that the strengths and weaknesses of our politics are essentially the strengths and weaknesses of our society as well.

In the end, whether we like it or not, we deserve the kind of government that we have with the kind of politicians we vote into public office.

A very good example of this is what just happened in the Speakership row between Alan Peter Cayetano and Lord Allan Velasco. It should not have ended the way it did, if only the term-sharing agreement was honored without them having to fight it out. The squabbling between the two camps in the last couple of weeks was embarrassing to say the least. Certainly, it damaged the reputation of the House.

Considering that a congressman’s term is only three years, the term-sharing agreement in 2019 did not make much sense. Those involved in brokering the deal should have known that human nature, being what it is, splitting three years for two Speakers will end up not satisfying either of the two as shown in the political drama we just witnessed. What can one really do in 15 or 21 months? The agreement reminds me of the ritual during every election of candidates signing an agreement for fair and honest elections, only to violate it. Why? Because no candidate wants to end up being cheated.

If we try to go deeper, it is not really that simple because of what is at stake.

Ambition and control of funds are but two of the many reasons why it is not easy to let go of power once acquired.

A gentlemen’s agreement, as we all understand, means that two honorable and distinguished persons bind them-

considerate of the possible troubles experienced both by teachers and students.

Let us extend our support, instead of pulling down these efforts. At the end of the day, what is important is that we overcome this pandemic without posing detrimental and irreversible effects on the well-being of the people and society. As much as we can, we have to hold on to the thought of normalcy as we await the cure for this disease.

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

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

selves to abide by the conditions of what has been stipulated upon when the time comes for the agreement to be fulfilled.

In this case, it was even more elaborate, solemn and ceremonial because the President of the country was a witness to the agreement. A document was even signed. So, it was not only a handshake that sealed the deal which

The doctrine of the separation of powers is a myth in this country. should have been enough between two honorable people. There was a signed document.

When former Speaker Cayetano suspended the session for about a month last October 6 which in the light of what happened last Monday and Tuesday, could only be interpreted as a preemptive strike, the President took notice because the move had the potential of delaying the passage of the 2021 government budget. He told the House in no uncertain terms to get their act together or he will be forced to make his own move. With that, he showed who the real Boss is. He demonstrated that the so-called doctrine of separation of powers between the Executive, Judicial

and Legislative branches is all a myth.

There is no such thing in this democratic land of ours. Look at the way the two House leaders defer to the President.

Both of them admitted that they will follow his orders. This says a lot.

In a very unusual Congressional meeting in Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City last Monday, Lord Allan Velasco was elected House Speaker and was officially ratified last Tuesday at the Session Hall of the House of Representatives. This demonstrates, beyond any doubt, the legitimacy of Velasco’s election. Even Alan Peter Cayetano was forced to accept reality.

What happened in the camps of the two Alans also gave us an opportunity to compare the contrasting leadership styles of the two House leaders. Former Speaker Cayetano, as far as I can see, is the consummate political operator and a go-getter. These traits are necessary if one wants to go far and survive the rough political jungle in this country.

Lord Allan Velasco, on the other hand, is low key and prefers to operate quietly. He does not speak more than he has to. When he was being nominated last Monday, there was a lot of talk about bringing back the dignity and the lost glory of the House. Whether his quiet demeanor and new leadership style will serve him well in the remaining months before the 2022 elections, we will have to wait and see.

In his first speech as the House Speaker, he made some promises about change, service and unity. He has 21 months to fulfill these promises. Whether he can pull them off and change the pork barrel politics, which the House is known to live by, to something honorable, would be something that we all would like to see.

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Taliban militants attack Afghan city

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ens of thousands of people in southern Afghanistan have fled their homes following days of heavy fighting between the Taliban and security forces, officials said Wednesday, as violence continues to soar despite ongoing peace talks.

Taliban militants launched a series of attacks on the city of Lashkar Gah in restive Helmand province on Sunday night, prompting the US to call in air strikes to defend Afghan forces.

The fighting triggered an exodus by local residents who crammed onto motorcycles, taxis and buses.

“More than 5,100 families or 30,000 people... have fled the fighting so far,” Sayed Mohammad Ramin, director of the refugees department in Helmand, told AFP. “Some families are still living in the open in the streets in Lashkar Gah, we don’t have tents to give them.”

Local resident Hekmatullah said he was forced to flee after a mortar hit his neighbor’s house, killing two women.

“The fighting was so intense that I did not have time to take any extra clothes.

I only took my family,” said Attaullah Afghan, a farmer who fled with his family of 12.

Fighting was ongoing in at least four districts on Wednesday, Afghan officials said, adding that security forces have repelled repeated Taliban assaults in the area.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said thousands had fled and called on Taliban fighters and security forces “to take all feasible measures to protect civilians, inc. safe paths for those wishing to leave” the area.

A collision between two helicopters early on Wednesday in Helmand’s Nawa district also killed at least nine people, according to Omar Zhwak, a spokesperson for the provincial governor.

The defense ministry said they were investigating the incident.

Helmand--a Taliban stronghold--is where international forces fought some of the bloodiest campaigns of Afghanistan’s 19-year war.

Under a deal the Taliban signed with Washington in February, the insurgents are not supposed to hit urban areas and are meant to keep violence down.

The US committed to pulling all foreign troops from the country by next May in return for Taliban security pledges and an agreement to begin peace talks with the Afghan government in Qatar.

Talks began last month between the Taliban and Afghan government in Doha but appear to be stalled as the two sides have struggled to establish a basic framework for negotiations. AFP

Turkey research ship resumes gas exploration A TURKISH research ship at the center of an energy dispute with Greece has restarted activities in disputed areas of the Mediterranean, Turkey said on Wednesday, defying calls to withdraw.

The United States and Germany, both allies of Turkey, have labeled the gas exploration mission a “provocation” and urged Ankara to recall the ship.

But Turkish energy Minister Fatih Donmez said on Wednesday the Oruc Reis vessel had reached its destination and would begin work, with the mission scheduled to last until October 22.

“Tests began yesterday and today we will start the first seismic readings,” Donmez said, according to state news agency Anadolu.

Turkey previously sent the Oruc Reis to the eastern Mediterranean with warships in August, infuriating eU member states Greece and Cyprus and leading to calls by the bloc to immediately stop.

Both sides staged military drills before agreeing to restart exploratory talks on the issue that had stopped in 2016.

But Greece said it would not contemplate a diplomatic solution while the ship remains in an area south of its Kastellorizo island.

Greece claims rights in the waters around the island but Turkey says Kastellorizo is closer to its longer coastline.

The Greece-Turkey dispute will be on the agenda when eU leaders meet at a Brussels summit on Thursday and Friday.

AFP

Internally displaced people with their belongings flee from Nadali district to Lashkar Gah during the ongoing clashes between Taliban fighters and Afghan security forces, in Helmand province on October 14, 2020. Tens of thousands of people in southern Afghanistan have fled their homes following days of heavy fighting between the Taliban and security forces, officials said, as violence continues to soar despite ongoing peace talks. AFP

Search launched for missing rescuers in flood-hit Vietnam A SeARCH operation has been launched for a missing rescue team as severe flooding and landslides battered central Vietnam, authorities said on Wednesday, as the country braced for further heavy rain.

Close to a million people have been impacted by heavy downpours and rising waters since mid last week, with more than 200,000 homes flooded, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies.

Thirty-six people are now dead, Vietnam’s disaster management authority said, while rescue workers have launched a search for around 30 people missing at a hydropower plant in Thua Thien Hue province following landslides.

The missing include a team of soldiers and officials who had tried to find plant workers who disappeared days ago.

Images on state media showed helicopters and hundreds of soldiers struggling to access the site through thick mud and fallen trees. elsewhere across the central region, villages and rice fields were submerged, with relief workers resorting to makeshift boats and canoes to deliver food and bottled water to those stuck in flooded homes.

North central Vietnam was also hit by severe weather on Wednesday as Storm Nangka made landfall.

Forecasters said it could bring further rain in the coming days, while warning another storm was expected

to form and make impact this weekend.

The IFRC said it had “grave fears” that the deadly floods would worsen as more rain was dumped on hard hit communities.

“These floods are a double whammy making it even tougher for millions of people already grappling with the economic fall-out of COVID-19 that has destroyed incomes and livelihoods,” said IFRC’s Hung Ha Nguyen.

Vietnam is prone to natural disasters and is often affected by more than a dozen storms each year, regularly bringing flooding and landslides.

More then 130 people were reported dead or missing due to natural disasters in the country last year, the General Statistics Office said. AFP

Australia worries over arrest of writer in Beijing for ‘spying’ AUSTRALIA on Wednesday expressed deep concern at the prosecution of writer Yang Hengjun after Beijing officials confirmed an espionage case against him would go ahead.

Foreign Minister Marise payne said officials had been shown no evidence to support charges against the Chinese-Australian, despite repeatedly asking Beijing for details of the case.

“The government is disappointed and deeply concerned that Chinese authorities have decided to prosecute Australian citizen and academic Dr. Yang Hengjun,” payne said in a statement.

Relations between China and Australia have been peppered with spy scandals and trade rows in recent months, with both sides accusing the other of harassing citizens as diplomatic leverage.

Yang Hengjun, a pen name for the spy novelist and former diplomat Yang Jun, became an Australian citizen in 2002.

A prolific blogger on politics in China and described by fans as the “democracy peddler,” he was taken into custody in January 2019 during a rare visit to his homeland, prompting protests from the Australian government.

Authorities took over a year to announce the espionage charge against him.

Since then, Beijing has said little about Yang’s fate, while Australia’s foreign minister has accused Chinese authorities of refusing him access to his family or lawyers, and interrogating him while shackled.

On Monday Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian confirmed “espionage” charges had been filed against Yang and that the case had been accepted by a court.

“The relevant Chinese departments are strictly handling the case according to law, and are fully protecting all of Yang Jun’s legal rights,” he added.

His lawyer, Shang Baojun, told AFp that Yang’s case had entered the court of first instance, though in China’s opaque legal system that does not mean his trial has started.

The writer has denied the charges. AFP

Azerbaijan says it destroyed missile launch sites in Armenia AZeRBAIJAN said Wednesday it had destroyed missile launch sites in Armenia that were being used to target civilian areas during the fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia’s defense ministry confirmed that areas inside the country had been targeted, denied its forces were firing into Azerbaijan and said it now felt justified in targeting military positions inside Azerbaijan.

It appeared to be the first time Azerbaijan claimed to have hit targets inside Armenia itself since heavy fighting broke out last month between Azerbaijani forces and Armenia-backed separatists in the disputed nagornoKarabakh region.

The Azerbaijani defense ministry said in statements that it had destroyed a ballistic missile system and a rocket system in Armenia in separate attacks overnight on Wednesday.

The systems were deployed in areas of Armenia bordering the Kalbajar district of Azerbaijan that is under separatist control, it said.

The first launch site was aiming at the Azerbaijani cities of Ganja, Mingachevir and other populated areas, it said, adding that there had been no civilian infrastructure nearby.

Armenian defense ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanyan confirmed military sites in the area had been hit.

“The attack was carried out based on the mere assumption that the subject equipment was allegedly going to strike at Azerbaijan’s civilian settlements,” she said on Twitter.

“It goes without question that this allegation is devoid of any basis... not a single missile, shell or projectile has been fired in the direction of Azerbaijan.”

In response, Armenia’s military now “reserves the right to target any military installations and combat movements on the territory of Azerbaijan,” she said. AFP

In BrIef India frees Kashmir’s ex-foreign minister INDIA has freed a former chief minister of Kashmir who was detained 14 months ago along with thousands of others when New Delhi imposed direct rule on the disputed region with a huge security clampdown.

Mehbooba Mufti was released late Tuesday after remaining in custody since August 2019 when the Indian government imposed emergency laws, snapped all communications and sent thousands of extra troops into the Muslim-majority state.

Mufti, 61, was arrested along with three other former chief ministers and other top politicians under the Public safety Act that allows authorities to keep people in custody for up to two years without charge or a trial.

The other three former chief ministers have since been released but many of the roughly 8,000 other detainees, including some politicians, remain in custody.

Mufti’s detention order was revoked late Tuesday, without authorities providing any explanation, just a day before India’s Supreme Court was scheduled to hear a petition in her case. AFP

Space crew lands after record journey

The Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft carrying the International Space Station expedition 64 crew of NASA astronaut Kate Rubins and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov blasts off to the ISS from the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on October 14, 2020. AFP

A THRee-peRSON crew reached the International Space Station on Wednesday, the Russian space agency said, after a journey of just over three hours that was the fastest ever for a manned craft to the orbital lab.

Roscosmos confirmed the successful docking of the soyuz spacecraft in a tweet. The journey “took a record short three hours and three minutes,” Russian news wire RIA Novosti added.

“Three hours and three minutes,” tweeted Roscosmos chief Dmitriy Rogozin in celebration of the journey that concluded with docking four minutes ahead of schedule.

Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey KudSverchkov of Roscosmos and NASA’s Kathleen Rubins launched from the Russian-operated Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 0545 GMT on Wednesday.

Journeys to the ISS usually take around six hours -- a time that was a vast improvement on the two-day flights that prevailed prior to 2013.

Wednesday was the first time a manned journey was completed in such a short time, even beating the fastest time of missions carrying supplies to the station.

AFP

Business

B3

THURSday, OCTOBER 15, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market ends flat; NOW advances T he stock market virtually closed flat Wednesday on lack of catalyst that could push the benchmark index past the 6,000-point mark.

The Philippine Stock exchange Index just added 2.07 points, or 0.03 percent, to 5,925.30 on a value turnover of nearly P6 billion. Gainers beat losers, 101 to 80, with 60 issues unchanged.

NOW Corp. of the Velarde family, the fourth major telecommunications firm, advanced 10.6 percent to P5.21, while Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is into toll roads, water and electricity distribution, hospitals and infrastructure, climbed 5 percent to P3.95.

DITO CMe holdings Corp., the third major telecom company of businessman Dennis Uy, rose 4.2 percent to P6.21, but International Container Terminal

Services Inc., the biggest port operator owned by tycoon enrique Razon Jr., fell 2.3 percent to P116.90.

The rest of Asian markets mostly fell again Wednesday as virus concerns returned to the fore with several countries reimposing lockdown measures to fight a surge in new infections and the halting of two trials denting hopes for a vaccine or treatment being developed anytime soon.

All three main indexes on Wall Street fell and Asia followed suit.

Shanghai dropped 0.6 percent and hong Kong retreated 0.1 percent as investors in the city returned from a day off forced by a typhoon.

The was little movement after a speech by Xi Jinping in which he reaffirmed a commitment to open up the Chinese economy.

Sydney, Seoul and Taipei all turned negative. Singapore shed 0.7 percent after data showed the city-state’s economy contracted seven percent in the third

quarter.

Still, Tokyo, Wellington and Jakarta edged up.

Analysts said investors had also by now priced in any expectations for Democratic sweep of the White house and Congress in next month’s elections that many expect will see a ramped-up new stimulus for the beleaguered US economy.

Fears for the economic recovery have mounted in recent weeks because of a Covid-19 resurgence, particularly in europe where governments are resorting to new controls while trying to avoid the devastating nationwide lockdowns of March and April.

But the Netherlands is set to go into “partial lockdown” later Wednesday, with all bars, cafes and restaurants to close for at least two weeks, while France is expected to announce tighter restrictions and faster testing that some media speculated could see evening curfews in Paris.

PSEi October 14, 2020

And in Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whose country has the highest death toll in europe, on Monday ordered pubs in Liverpool to shut as part of a new strategy, while others face fresh containment measures.

The moves come as pharmaceuticals giant Johnson & Johnson said it had temporarily halted its vaccine trial after a participant fell sick, which was followed by news that eli Lilly had also paused testing of an antibody treatment out of safety concerns.

“Anxiety over second-wave resurgence of Covid-19, which is now apparent in many major economies, is... clouding the view where the question remains how activity curtailment measures feed through into economic and mobility activity,” said Axi strategist Stephen Innes.

“And on that front, risk has also deteriorated as participants mulled the implications of another vaccine trial setback.” With AFP

Singapore’s economy fell at slower pace of 7% in Q3 SINGAPORe—Singapore’s coronavirus-hit economy shrank at a slower pace in the third quarter as restrictions were eased, official data showed Wednesday, but the trade-reliant citystate still faces a long road to recovery.

The financial hub plunged into its first recession since the 2008 global financial crisis in the second quarter when the government closed businesses as part of drastic measures to contain infections.

One of the world’s most open economies, Singapore is seen as a bellwether for the health of global trade, and its economy’s dramatic deterioration rang alarm bells.

“The worst is over for Singapore, but the path to recovery is still a bit bumpy,” Song Seng Wun, a regional economist with CIMB Private Banking, told AFP. In July-September, gross domestic product shrank 7.0 percent year-onyear, according to preliminary data released by the trade ministry.

While a heavy fall, it was better than the record 13.3-percent drop registered in April-June, with many businesses having re-opened as Singapore’s outbreak slows.

Compared with the previous quarter, the economy grew 7.9 percent, rebounding from a 13.2-percent drop, the ministry said.

Manufacturing, which includes key semiconductor exports, was up 2.0 percent, a turnaround from negative growth in April-June.

The services sector also shrank at a slower pace, although it was still weighed down by the anemic performance of the key tourism sector as global air travel remains largely grounded.

Construction was down 44.7 percent, but that was better than the previous quarter’s near 60 percent plunge.

Singapore’s central bank also kept monetary policy unchanged Wednesday, saying an “accommodative policy stance” was appropriate as the economy recovers. AFP

TOP LOSERS

MOST ACTIVE

SeCond WAve. Pedestrians walk through central Liverpool, north west England on October 13, 2020, before fresh local lockdown are imposed to help stem a second wave of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday tightened virus control measures as the UK experiences a surge in cases. AFP

IMF warns of lasting damage, long climb

By Heather Scott WAShINGTON—The global economic crisis will not be quite as grim as feared this year, but GDP will still contract 4.4 percent and the damage inflicted by the pandemic will be felt for years, the IMF said Tuesday.

Massive injections of government aid kept economies from plunging further in 2020, but the continued presence of Covid-19 means the outlook is highly uncertain, the IMF said in its latest World economic Outlook.

The recession was less severe but still deep and “the ascent out of this calamity is likely to be long, uneven, and highly uncertain,” IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath said in the report released ahead of the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank.

The result “would have been much weaker if it weren’t for sizable, swift and unprecedented” response from governments and central banks, amounting to $12 trillion, she said, again warning of the dangers of removing support too quickly.

The IMF upgraded the global GDP forecast for this year by 0.8 percentage points, but trimmed the 2021 growth outlook to 5.2 percent.

The upgraded outlook compared to the dire forecast in June reflects the fact the downturn in the second quarter “was awful but it was the less awful than we expected,” Gopinath said in an interview with AFP.

In the United States, the growth estimate saw a major upgrade after $3 trillion in stimulus spending was deployed in the early weeks of the pandemic. The economy is now expected to decline 4.3 percent this year, and post growth of 3.9 percent in 2021.

China, where the virus originated, has recovered faster and will see growth of 1.9 percent this year, accelerating to 8.2 percent next year, according to the report. however, Gopinath said that if China is excluded, global growth next year would be negative.

While most countries will see their economies return to pre-pandemic levels by 2022, some, like those in Latin America, will not see a recovery until 2023, she told reporters.

Countries like India, Spain and Italy will suffer double digit economic declines in 2020, while Britain just misses that threshold with a 9.8 percent contraction, the IMF said.

Gopinath again hammered home the IMF’s message that governments must continue to provide support given the depth of the damage from the virus, which caused massive unemployment as well as more than a million deaths.

She told AFP that another US stimulus package on the order of the $2.2 trillion CAReS Act approved in March would increase growth in the world’s biggest economy by two percentage points next year, over the 3.1 percent GDP rise currently forecast. AFP

Siberia’s treasured and iconic wooden houses facing uncertain future

By Romain Colas TOMSK, Russia—The ornate wooden homes dotting the Siberian city of Tomsk are cherished landmarks, but that hasn’t prevented many from falling into disrepair following years of neglect, with some now facing demolition.

A scattering of the iconic buildings still boast brightly-colored and cared-for exteriors with intricate wood carvings adorning window frames and roofs.

A large number, however, look as if they have been abandoned.

The townhouses represent some of the finest examples of wooden architecture in the country.

Yet historians in the city say their future is uncertain, with government support too slow to respond to the urgent need to save them and commercial interests spying prime real estate.

Many of the homes have only survived this long because residents “were forced to live in what already existed,” historian Sergei Maltsev, 46, tells AFP. There are around 2,000 of the historic

TOP GAINERS

A woman crosses a street in Tatar neighborhood, a traditional wooden housing district in the Siberian city of Tomsk, on September 8, 2020. Tomsk is considered to be one of the oldest towns in Siberia founded in 1604. Wooden architecture is one of the symbols of the city of Tomsk, its distinctive feature. Today Tomsk is the only city in Siberia where the background wooden buildings have been preserved, reflecting the manor structure of the city streets. Unfortunately, many wooden houses are not in very good condition and require restoration. AFP

houses in the city of 575,000 people, Maltsev says, pointing out that fewer than 100 are preserved by the state as heritage sites.

Some fall prey to real-estate developers and can be leveled on orders from the mayor.

Some 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) east of Moscow, Tomsk is one of the oldest cities in Siberia, founded in 1604 on the banks of the river Tom. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was a major transport hub through which merchants would pass on their way to Asia.

Conservation efforts lack ‘political will’ Traders, craftsmen and blacksmiths built hundreds of the houses made of wood—affordable building material at the time—to demonstrate their success.

But the age of prosperity was short-lived.

In the 1910s, Tomsk was stripped of its status as the regional capital in favor of a village called Novonikolaeyvsk, located some 265 km southwest, which was to become a stop on the TransSiberian railway. AFP

Manila

Standard

TODAY

CONCEPCION INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION (formerly Concepcion Airconditioning Corporation)

NOTICE OF THE SPECIAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING TO:

ALL STOCKHOLDERS

In light of current conditions and in support of the efforts to contain the outbreak of COVID-19, the Special Stockholders’ Meeting (the “Meeting”) of Concepcion Industrial Corporation (the “Company”) will be conducted virtually via Zoom on 6 November 2020 at 1:00 p,m., to consider and act upon the following matters: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Call to Order; Certification of Existence of Quorum; Election of Independent Director; Other Matters; and Adjournment.

Stockholders of record as of 2 October 2020 shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at the said meeting.

Stockholders who wish to participate by remote communication or vote in absentia or by proxy should notify the Corporate Secretary by email to cic.secretary@romulo. com on or before 26 October 2020.

Successful registrants will receive an electronic invitation via email with a complete guide on how to join the meeting.

For any registration concerns, please get in touch with the Company through cic.secretary@romulo.com .

All stockholders who wish to vote through a proxy or in absentia shall submit the duly signed proxies or ballots, as the case may be, to the Office of the Corporate Secretary at the 21st Floor, Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City and/or by email to cic.secretary@romulo.com not later than 26 October 2020. The proxies and ballots submitted shall be validated on 27 October 2020 at 2:00 p.m. We are not soliciting proxies.

The Information Statement of the Company which contains more details regarding the rationale and explanation for each of such agenda items and procedures for attending the meeting via remote communication and for casting votes in absentia, Management Report, and financial statements may be viewed or downloaded at [https://cicSSM2020.cic. ph/] and through the PSE Edge portal [https://edge.pse. com.ph/].

Everyone is reminded that there will be audio and virtual recordings of the Meeting.

(Signed) JAYSON L. FERNANDEZ Corporate Secretary (OCT 14 & 15, 2020)

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

B4

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING

ICTSI IN ECUADOR. Contecon Guayaquil S.A.,

International Container Terminal Services Inc.’s subsidiary in Ecuador, signs an investment contract with the Ecuadorian state to further strengthen and develop the Port of Guayaquil.

CGSA is investing $18 million to boost the port’s capacity to handle neo-panamax vessels. Attending the investment contract signing are CGSA general manager José Antonio Contreras (left) with Guayas Governor Luis Chonillo (center) and Ecuador Transportation and Public Works Minister Gabriel Martínez.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020 2.07 PTS. 5,925.30

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

2,797,407,185 95,649 5,970,357,961.57 101 80 60

Foreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.5560

Japan

Yen

0.009481

0.4604

UK

Pound

1.294100

62.8363

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129032

6.2653

Switzerland

Franc

1.093613

53.1015

Canada

Dollar

0.761267

36.9641

Singapore

Dollar

0.735565

35.7161

Australia

Dollar

0.715900

34.7612

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652027

128.7718

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266603

12.9452

Brunei

Dollar

0.732869

35.5852

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000068

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.032103

1.5588

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.2204

Euro

Euro

1.174600

57.0339

Korea

Won

0.000871

0.0423

China

Yuan

0.148258

7.1988

India

Rupee

0.013624

0.6615

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241546

11.7285

New Zealand

Dollar

0.664900

32.2849

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034766

1.6881 Source: BSP

Clark airport taps American firm to create interior design

By Jess Malabanan CLARK FREEPORT—Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corp., the operator of Clark International Airport, said Wednesday it tapped US architectural and aviation designer Populous to do the interior designs of the new passenger terminal.

“Global design firm Populous is the lead interior designer of the New CRK Passenger Terminal Building,” LIPAD said in a statement.

Populous is an award-winning global design firm specializing in places of mass congregation, including sports and entertainment, arenas and airports. Its notable projects include the upgrading of Kansai Airport in Japan’s second-biggest metropolitan area, Zhuhai International Airport, Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium and the Philippine Arena.

“The vision of Populous for CRK is to create a new terminal that is international in its standards and operations, but local in terms of its materiality and sense of place. The region of Pampanga in which Clark is situated offers a variety of spectacular natural scenery from lava riverbeds to lush green mountains and teal blue volcanic lakes,” Populous said.

Populous said it drew inspiration to select a material palette that nods towards that vibrancy and avoids the neutral, beige palette which afflicts many airports around the world.

“Passenger experience is at the heart of the design and it will offer a fresh new experience each time someone visits,” the design firm said.

Populous is working with Casas+Architects, the local architect, on the project. As one of the top architectural design firms in the country, Casas+Architects is behind many of the iconic structures that dot the Manila skyline, including the tallest building in the country, the Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City.

The new CRK Passenger Terminal Building is expected to be operational by 2021, a year after turn-over of the building shell, which is being constructed by Megawide-GMR Construction Joint Venture and is 99-percent percent complete.

Asia Brewery transforms deal with Heineken into partnership

By Jenniffer B. Austria

A

SIA Brewery Inc., the beer unit of LT Group Inc., said Wednesday it agreed to convert its joint venture with Dutch beer-maker Heineken International BV into a partnership that will produce and distribute Heineken and Tiger brands in the Philippines.

Heineken under the new deal will have separate sales and marketing support for its brands in the Philippines, instead of having a joint venture company that manages them.

LT Group said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Wednesday the board of ABI approved the transition of relationship with Heineken International from a joint venture to a new partnership structure.

The two companies did not specify what would happen to the employees of AB Heineken Philippines Inc., a 50:50 joint venture company formed in 2016.

Under the partnership, Heineken will establish a sales and marketing office based in Manila and engage ABI to brew and distribute its beers in the country. The process is expected to

be completed by Dec. 31, 2020.

“The immediate priority for Asia Brewery and Heineken is to ensure a smooth transition for the employees of AB Heineken Philippines and continuity for its customers and suppliers,” LT Group said.

“The Philippines continues to present a good long-term business opportunity for Heineken and both Asia Brewery and Heineken remain committed to continue offering Heineken and Tiger beer to consumers in the country,” it said.

Heineken is the second largest beer producer with a global portfolio of 300 beer brands. It operates 165 breweries, malteries, cider plants and other production facilities in more than 70 countries.

ABI and Heineken International formed a joint venture called AB Heineken Philippines in 2016 to tap the country’s growing demand for premium beer.

ABI has breweries in Cabuyao, Laguna and El Salvador, Misamis Oriental that produces beer under the local brand Beer na Beer, Manila Beer and Max Premium Beer.

It was previously the local licensee brewer of Colt 45, Carlsberg, Budweiser, Lone Star and Coors before signing an agreement with Heineken.

ABI also produces non-alcoholic beverage such as Summit and Absolute bottled water, Pacific Sun iced tea, Cobra Energy Drink and 100Plus Isotonic Drink.

Bangko Sentral revises ‘20 and ‘21 economic targets

By Julito G. Rada

LANDBANK’S AWARD. State-run Land Bank of the Philippines receives a certificate of merit for ‘Best Innovation in Financial Services’ in this year’s Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance Awards held in Karlsruhe, Germany on Sept. 30, 2020. This is the 8th consecutive year that LandBank received the honor since 2013. Philippine Deputy Consul General Emil Fernandez (second from left) receives the award on behalf of LandBank from (from left) Jochen Ehlgoetz, chief executive officer of Technology Region of Karlsruhe, Tom Hoyem, member of the City Council of Karlsruhe, and Arshad Rab, CEO of the European Organization for Sustainable Development.

Consumer group backs ‘no-disconnection’ rules issued by ERC

By Alena Mae S. Flores CONSUMERS led by the Power for People Coalition on Wednesday expressed support to the declaration of the Energy Regulatory Commission extending the “no-disconnection” policy for non-paying customers until the end of the year.

“Once ERC delivers on its promise, it would give breathing space to all Filipinos who have to worry about their electric bills even as they battle the pandemic, online schooling for their children, and possible loss of their livelihoods,” P4P convenor Gerry Arances said in a statement.

P4P led a mass mobilization of Manila Electric Co. consumers in the previous week to push for the extension of the no-disconnection policy which was supposed to lapse by Oct. 31.

P4P is conducting an online petition campaign called #TigilBayad, which seeks a moratorium on payment for bills issued during the enhanced community quarantine, a more flexible payment scheme, a return of all pending refunds, reforms in Meralco billing practices and an independent audit of the distribution utility.

ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera told the Senate panel on Tuesday that the commission would soon ask electric cooperatives and distribution utilities to extend the “no-disconnection” notice until the end of the year to help consumers cope with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“That is what we put in the draft…We will also follow the spirit of the laws,” ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera said during the hearing, when asked by Senator Risa Hontiveros if consumers

could expect the disconnection deadline to be extended.

Hontiveros expressed concern over the plight consumers who were affected by the pandemic and who could not afford to lose electricity while staying at home for work and school.

“We have actually drafted the advisory that will require that we defer the disconnection due to non-payment,” Devanadera said in response to a separate query from Senator Imee Marcos.

“We also want to recognize that many distribution utilities on their own and not even waiting for Bayanihan 2 and not even waiting for instructions or advisories from ERC, have declared their ‘no disconnection’ up to a certain time.

We have actually advocated that the disconnection policies of the distribution utilities be relaxed,” Devanadera said.

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Wednesday it expects higher balance of payments surplus and gross international reserves for 2020 and 2021 on the expected recovery of the global economy from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said in a message to reporters Wednesday the Monetary Board approved the upward revision to the BOP surplus to $8.1 billion, representing 2.2 percent of the gross domestic product in 2020, from the previous estimate of $600 million (0.2 percent of GDP) surplus.

“The new set of forecasts takes into account the latest available BOP data for the first half of 2020 as well as recent global and domestic economic developments, including the macroeconomic impact of the pandemic,” Diokno said.

He said the global economy was showing signs of recovery but remaining susceptible to setbacks, while the domestic economy was slowly lifting its way out of containment measures.

The BSP revised the 2020 current account forecast to a surplus of $6 billion from the previous estimate of $1.9-billion deficit.

This was attributed to the expected narrower trade-in-goods deficit, on broad-based contraction in both goods exports (-16 percent) and imports (-20 percent), with the latter declining at a faster rate due to weaker domestic demand.

The current account surplus is also supported by the lower expected contraction in overseas Filipino remittances of 2 percent from the previous estimate of 5 percent, following the strong rebound in June and July as host economies started to reopen.

Export revenues from the business process outsourcing are seen to grow by 2 percent (unchanged from the previous forecast) as the sector managed to overcome logistical bottlenecks and operational adjustments.

Imported car dealers posted higher sales in 3rd quarter

By Othel V. Campos A GROUP of vehicle importers and distributors said Wednesday thirdquarter sales jumped 212 percent to 15,471 units from 4,955 units sold in the second quarter, or during the peak of the quarantine restrictions.

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors Inc. said the rapid digital transformation, best value promotions and stringent health and safety protocols in automotive facilities nationwide led to the recovery of consumer confidence in the third quarter.

The group did not provide year-onyear comparison.

“We had to restore consumer confidence quickly and decisively so the auto industry could get back on track and bounce back strong. We aim to sustain this momentum until the last quarter of the year as we continue to reinvent ourselves, innovate, and capture our customer’s imagination.

This will put us in a great position as we start afresh in 2021,” said AVID president Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.

The passenger car segment posted a 260-percent growth in quarter-onquarter sales with 5,622 units in the third quarter, up from 1,561 units in the second quarter.

AVID said demand for sedans picked up as consumers were looking for safe and affordable personal mobility. Hyundai, the top contributor of passenger cars, sold 6,244 units this year, followed by Suzuki with 4,069 units and Ford with 825 units sold.

It said the light commercial vehicle segment recorded a 192-percent growth in quarter-on-quarter sales with 9,763 units sold in the third quarter from 3,349 units in the second quarter.

Ford led the segment with 8,539 units sold while Suzuki placed second with 6,422 units and Hyundai was third with 5,879 units.

IN BRIEF

Gov’t may continue borrowing from BSP FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Wednesday the government may borrow more from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas next year to support the economic recovery.

Dominguez said in an interview over Bloomberg TV he was confident “our revenue flow can hold us a bit.”

“At the moment there is no need to do that...

We are keeping the balance of credit line with the BSP in reserve. Our first option is to go back to the commercial markets,” Dominguez said. “[But] if the economy does not perform well as we expected, we can go back to them,” he said.

The Bureau of the Treasury settled in full on Sept. 29, 2020 its previous repurchase agreement with the BSP after borrowing P300 billion at zero interest rate.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno announced on Oct. 1 that the Monetary Board approved the request of the national government for a fresh provisional advance of P540 billion to be used for deficit financing as a result of the pandemic. The P540 billion will be settled on or before Dec. 29, 2020 at zero interest.

Julito G. Rada

Globe exceeds goal in cell site construction GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Wednesday it surpassed its target in building and upgrade of cell sites in the first nine months of 2020.

The company said it exceeded its performance of cell site upgrades of 7,780 as of September, up by 26.4 percent from the number of cell sites last year.

The cell sites are now 4G LTE ready to give customers faster connectivity and better mobile experience, it said.

Globe also installed 593 new towers since January this year, more than what the company built in the same period in 2019.

It said that in terms of bringing connectivity to challenged areas, it installed more cell sites in parts of Davao Oriental, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Bukidnon, South Cotabato, Maguindanao, Davao Oriental, Isabela. Ilocos Sur, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Southern Leyte, Capiz, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Metro Manila and Rizal with no or weak signal. Darwin G. Amojelar

Ang gets top honor at Asia CEO Awards SAN Miguel Corp. president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang received the prestigious Lifetime Contributor Award for the private sector at the 2020 Asia CEO Awards for his visionary leadership, significant and long-term contributions to the country and unprecedented response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under Ang’s leadership, SMC, one of the country’s largest and most diversified conglomerates, emerged as the country’s top and most consistent private sector partner against the pandemic.

With its considerable resources and with the help of employees, volunteers and its partner non-profit organizations and charitable institutions, SMC initiated numerous projects to help disadvantaged sectors and communities, medical frontliners, local governments and even the national government better cope with the impact of COVID-19.

The conglomerate’s total COVID-19 response reached P13.187 billion, including the largest food donation drive in the country, massive donations of disinfectant alcohol from its reconfigured liquor plants, life-saving medical equipment and supplies such as RT-PCR machines and test kits which raised the Philippines’ overall testing capacity.

Sports

Kaspersky: 40% of parents think kids ‘more grumpy’after esports session WHEN a child plays video games, parents inevitably think about how harmful it can be. Will these games affect the child’s behavior? Will he/she start suffering from nightmares? Will there be ineradicable fears? What if the child is already addicted?

In the survey titled “More Connected Than Ever Before: How We Build Our Digital Comfort Zones,” about 760 respondents from the region reported that kids are now spending more time online than before the pandemic situation.

A total of 63% of parents surveyed by Kaspersky agreed with this observation while only 20% differed.

“Parents are raising kids who are digital natives, children who are born exposed to digital devices and the internet. This generation gap often leads to miscommunication as it is a common scenario when a child knows more trends and tricks online than the mom or the dad. The lockdown measures highlighted this with the increase of reliance on the internet and how parents now need to juggle work and parenting at the same time inside their homes,” says Stephan Neumeier, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky.

“While it is understandable for parents to have their worries about their kids’ habits online, parental fears associated with video games are sometimes quite objective and sometimes a little far-fetched.

There are undeniable harms with too much of it but several researches have also discovered how playing games online can benefit kids. After all, everything is good but moderation and guidance is definitely necessary,” he adds.

To help parents navigate their kids’ gaming habits, Kaspersky today shares each of the potential problems associated with video games and suggests solutions for mom and dad’s reference.

Fear: a child will be a black sheep if games are banned Parents who are especially afraid of video games are seriously thinking about complete gaming ban in the family. At the same time, such parents are often stopped by the fear that this will lead to the fact that the child will be a black sheep at school if everyone plays games, and he/ she does not have such an opportunity.

Should you be afraid?

A ban on computer games is not a good decision: a child, whose peers play videogames, will definitely feel like an outcast. In addition, games are a new kind of art, it will be not only interesting for a child to touch it, but it can also be very useful, especially if the parents can correctly direct him/her.

Solution As with many situations, banning is not an option. Parents should not prohibit the child’s activity in video Turn to C2

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

Alaska Aces guard Mike DiGregorio tries to dribble past Meralco Bolts defender Chris Newsome during the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup game at the Angeles University Foundation gym. PBA

Bolts recover in time to whack Aces, 93-81

By Reuel Vidal

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HE Meralco Bolts lost a big 17-point lead early, but recovered in time to carve out a 93-81 victory over the Alaska Aces in the 2020 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Arena powered by Smart 5G, yesterday, Wednesday, October 14.

Allein Maliksi came off the bench but teamed up with Baser Amer to provide the crucial points in the fourth to push the Bolts to victory.

Aaron Black drilled a triple early in the fourth to cap a blistering Meralco run which put the game away as the Bolts posted an unassailable 18-point, 76-58 advantage with nine minutes left to play.

The match was virtually decided in the pivotal third period. Jeron Teng drove the length of the court, converted the layup and the bonus free throw to cut the Meralco lead to seven points, 42-49.

Teng scored two more field goals, the second a triple, to push the Aces even

closer, 47-49, with 7:27 left in the third.

Mike DiGregorio penetrated inside to convert the floater and the bonus free throws as the Aces eventually tied the game, 52-all, late in the third. But Jeron Teng went out and the Aces lost their hold on the game eventually falling behind 58-65 after three quarters.

Teng came back early in the fourth but by then the Bolts already had a 13-point 71-58 advantage and control of the game.

Robbie Herndon and Rodney Brondial provided instant offense off the bench. Each drilled a three-pointer minutes after taking the floor to cut the Meralco advantage to one point, 13-14,

with 4:32 to go in the first.

Cliff Hodge converted a pair of free throws as the Bolts led by doubledigits for the first time 38-27 with 7 minutes to go in the second. The Bolts continued to shoot better from the floor. Chris Newsome converted a pull-up jumper as the Bolts hiked their lead to 13, 42-29, with five left to play in the half.

The Bolts eventually protected a 4935 advantage after the first half.

The scores: Meralco Bolts 93—Allein Maliksi 17, Baser Amer 15, Reynel Hugnatan 13, Cliff Hodge 11, Aaron Black 8, Raymar Jose 6, Chris Newsome 6, Raymond Almazan 5, Nard Pinto 5, Bong Quinto 5, Brian Faundo 2, Trevis Jackson 0.

Alaska Aces 81—Jeron Teng 25, Vic Manuel 18, Robbie Herndon 8, Rey Public 8, Abu Tratter 6, Mike DiGregorio 6, Rodney Brondial 5, Abel Galliguez 3, MJ Ayaay 2, Jvee Casio 0, Yutien Andrada 0, Barkley Ebona 0.

Quarter scores: 29-23; 49-35; 6558; 93-81.

Picson: ABAP gave Marcial all support possible THE Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines is shocked and perplexed at published statements attributed to boxer Eumir Felix Marcial putting ABAP in a bad light following his trip to the USA for a professional fight.

“I don’t understand what Eumir is complaining about.

Despite our pleas for him to start fighting as a professional after the Olympics, he decided to embark on a pro career at this stage. We wanted to help him in the transition, but he refused our offers to assist him in that process,”said ABAP president Ricky Vargas.

Vargas and ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson had originally tried to help in negotiations with promoters who offered Marcial juicy professional contracts with the end in view of synergizing the switch to professional boxing.

Picson said Eumir wanted to have a professional contract because he said he “wanted to help his family financially”.

“Mr. Vargas and I talked with him several times during the lockdown telling him we would propose to promoters that they sign him up and pay him his multi-milliion peso signing bonus but allow him to fight in the Olympics first, before engaging in his first pro fight”, Picson said.

“We reached out to one of the serious promotersAmerican & Hall of Fame awardee Shelly Finkel, and he readily agreed. Even Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who eventually signed him, issued statements saying he believed Marcial should focus on the Olympics,” he added.

But Marcial said he had another team negotiating his professional contract.

The ABAP sec-gen also said they gave Marcial all the support possible.

Picson said ABAP sent him training equipment he requested for after the lockdown was lifted. They also sent him a pocket wifi to help him attend the daily online training sessions, but he did not attend a single one.

With regards incentives for his performance in the Olympic qualifiers, it is true that neither Marcial nor the other Olympic qualifier, Irish Magno, have been given their ABAP incentives for qualifying to the Olympics.

Vargas said they always give incentives to their boxers, even for the smallest of tournaments, although it is not mandatory.

“Amateurs are supposed to compete for flag and country. Just ask athletes from other sports and other countries. But ABAP always gives. Then again, these are challenging times, so we are still sourcing funds for that.

I hope he will be patient. We will give him money. We even wrote PSC to upgrade his and Magno’s allowances after they qualified”, the ABAP president clarified.

As to his desire to have national coaches accompany him to his training in the US for a professional fight, Picson said it was Marcial himself who informed him the PSC had told him (Marcial) that they would allow the Eumir Felix Marcial coaches to go, but will not pay them allowances.

Ayo’s fate now lies in hands of UAAP board

By Peter Atencio QUESTIONS on whether the indefinite ban on coach Aldin Ayo will be lifted or not lies in the hands of the board of trustees of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines The status of Ayo will soon be known when the board tackles an appeal sent by the embattled coach, endorsed by school authorities from the University of Santo Tomas.

Last September 9, Ayo was handed an indefinite ban from participating in all UAAP events and UAAPsanctioned activities by the Board of Trustees.

This was after the school submitted an internal report on its investigation on the alleged training bubble in Capuy, Sorsogon that the team conducted last July.

The coach and the team were placed under inquiry by the Joint Administrative Order Group composed of the Philippine Sports Commission, the Department of Health, and the Games and Amusement Board for their alleged safety and health protocol violations.

“The association will tackle the appeal in due time,” said the board in a statement.

Ayo eventually was cleared of wrongdoing after Sorsogon governor Francis Escudero, in a memo issued on Sept. 23, said he is in agreement with the findings of Philippine National Police probers, who disclosed that members of the team learned how to raise pigs and do farming activities, done in a low-risk area, and not basketball training.

According to sources, UST officials are not acknowledging the investigation done by the Sorsogon City Police.

School authorities are instead standing by their own findings that Ayo still broke quarantine guidelines of the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases.

UST officials are asking the Board of Trustees for a limit to Ayo’s suspension to a fixed period of time.

Ronaldo, Johnson test positive for coronavirus

Dustin Johnson

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PARIS—Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and men’s golf world number one Dustin Johnson both tested positive for the coronavirus as a surge in cases cast a shadow over the return of professional sport.

Ronaldo, the 35-year-old five-time Ballon d’Or winner, is asymptomatic but has withdrawn from Portugal’s Nations League game against Sweden on Wednesday. He played in Sunday’s 0-0 draw against France.

“We have respected all the health measures... and yet it happened,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos told reporters. The rest of the Portugal squad, and France’s players, have all tested negative.

America’s Johnson, 36, was forced out of this week’s CJ Cup in Las Vegas as he became the highest-profile golfer to test posi-

tive for COVID-19. Johnson said he was “very disappointed”.

The positive tests by two of the world’s top athletes highlight a rash of cases coinciding with the return of many sports competitions in recent weeks, often in bio-secure “bubbles” and behind closed doors.

The cases, seen everywhere from football to cycling, rugby union, rugby league, American football and Formula One, also mirror a surge in Covid-19 across much of the world, including Europe and the United States.

Professional sport was brought to a halt worldwide as the pandemic advanced in March, threatening an industry estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars. But many competitions have now emerged from their shutdowns.

Ronaldo ‘sunbathing’ Ronaldo, one of the world’s best paid athletes, was “fine and sunbathing” after his positive test, according to Juventus team-mate Giorgio Chiellini.

However, the incident renews controversy over his departure from Turin, where health authorities said it was a breach of virus protocols, and underlines the difficulty of international competition.

Ronaldo and other Juventus stars left to join up with their national teams despite the Italian champions’ squad being in isolation after two staff members tested positive.

Elsewhere, Scotland and Ireland’s plans for crucial Euro 2020 playoff matches were also disrupted by coronavirus cases, while others were forced into self-isolation after team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo tested positive. AFP

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Sports

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

PSC to host financial literacy webinar

Akimoto targets smashing bebut KARATE World Champion Hiroki Akimoto plans to make a splash in his ONE Super Series Kickboxing bantamweight debut.

He’ll get that chance when he battles third-ranked contender “Muay Thai Boy” Zhang Chenglong this Friday, October 16, at ONE: REIGN OF DYNASTIES II, which was previously recorded in Singapore.

Impressive in the flyweight division, Akimoto looks to carry over the same success at a higher weight class, setting his eyes on cracking the division’s top five with a sensational performance against the Chinese athlete.

“I want to win, earn a spot in the rankings, and be a top-level contender to challenge for the World Title,” he told ONEFC.com.

Akimoto last competed against Kenny “The Pitbull” Tse in 2019, where he won but sustained an injury that prompted him to move up in weight.

Sidelined because of his damaged hand, Akimoto started building his body up, gradually adding weight to make his transition to bantamweight seamless.

“I broke my left fist in the bout [against Tse],” Akimoto said. “I felt like I couldn’t compete for about a year, so I was hoping that I could build my body and move up a weight class during that time.”

“I think I have prepared well. My coaches say my kicks and punches have become heavier.”

He expects a tough grind in his bantamweight debut though.

When he takes on Zhang, he knows that he will be up against someone who can take as much as he can dish out.

He noted his Chinese foe’s strong punches and it’s something that he is going to be looking out for in the contest.

“I thought he was a powerful athlete, so I was not sure how it was going to be. I had the impression that he was a tough athlete with strong punches. He has a strong chin and stamina,” Akimoto said.

At the end of the day, anything less than a win would be a disappointment because he hopes to scale the division and challenge for gold.

Kaspersky...

From C1

games, but effectively control it, using special software and device settings, as well as communicating with the child and explaining the rules.

Fear: harm to eyesight and posture Many parents worry that if the child spends a lot of time playing, his eyesight may be damaged. Others worry that prolonged sitting at a computer or leaning over a smartphone can have a negative effect on a child’s posture.

Should you be afraid?

Yes, especially if the child has a predisposition. Already existing vision problems are a reason to organize the gaming process more carefully. As for posture, it can also be threatened especially if the child does not play sports.

Solution ● Installing a good monitor can help alleviate the problem with eyesight. Manufacturers of modern screens are trying to find a solution that will minimize the harm caused by the monitor to the human eye. ● Remember about a comfortable position while playing and working on a computer. A good chair, a table of the right height, a comfortable posture and a good distance from the monitor will help your

THE BOTTOM LINE LITO CINCO SO even if the NBA wars have finally ended with the favored Los Angeles Lakers taking Game 6 over the Miami Heat in impressive fashion and the PBA just starting its own bubble war, another battle is looming in the local world of sports.

Though even if this is a sports war, it will certainly not be a physical one but I am sure words will be exchanged. I am referring to the coming Philippine Olympic Committee elections on November 27 for the 51 National Sports Associations plus the Athletes’ Commission and Mikee Jaworski as the International Olympic Committee representative.

The main protagonists are current

Work Bell claims the Juvenile Fillies and Colts Stakes Race win.

Wok Bell fastest horse in Juvenile Stakes Race T

HE BELL Racing Stable picked up from where it left off as its newest star horse Work Bell showed up the field with a masterful win in the 2020 PHILRACOM Juvenile Fillies & Colts Stakes Race Sunday at the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Santa Ana sa Naic, Cavite.

Ridden by former Philippine Sportswriters Association Jockey of the Year JB Hernandez, Work Bell measured up the opposition until the last turn where it seized control before blazing to a fourlength win in the short 1,300-meter race.

The two-year-old colt sired by Outwork out of Colony Crossing clocked 1:18.4 with quartertimes of 7, 22, 22 and 26 seconds.

“Bantay-bantay lang noong una, noong nagka-chance, kinuha ko na,” said Hernandez, who has ridden Work Bell for just the third time, but with amazing result.

Work Bell is a stablemate of last year’s PSA Horse of the Year Union Bell, which went six for six last season, including the Philracom Juvenile Championship. Union

Bell, however, failed to take part in the first leg of the 2020 Triple Crown Series last October 4 due to a toe injury.

The win was worth P600,000 for Bell Racing Stable owner Elmer de Leon.

Kiss Muna, owned by Cipriano Sison Jr. and Ridden by RG Fernandez, settled for the runner-up purse of P225,000, while Meteora (owner Peter Aguila, jockey RC Suson), received P125,000 at third spot.

Fourth-placer My Sweet Lord (Francis Lim, RA Base) got P50,000.

To help stop the spread of COVID-19, only the racing clubs’ employees, Philracom personnel, horse-owners, jockeys, trainers and special guests were allowed at the venue, ensuring that only 25 percent of the usual crowd was present. Jockeys

child’s vision and posture. ● Of course, the way to take care of the vision of a child playing is to limit the time of the game. At the same time, it is important that such restrictions are made both at the program level and at the level of agreements between you and the child.

Check with your doctor if your child is seen by an ophthalmologist, how much time to spend a day with the device, or if the child is not seen by an eye doctor, set a reasonable limit based on the child’s age. Software level restrictions can be set with the help of online safety programs, such as Kaspersky Safe Kids or of internal device settings, such as set-top boxes and iOS-based mobile devices.

• The latest version of Kaspersky Total Security, which includes a Safe Kids feature, is available in the Philippines for PC and Mac units. A single-user license, retails for P1,390 in Lazada and leading IT stores nationwide.

Fear: Viruses on Your Computer Some parents fear malware that their child might install with or instead of a favorite game.

Should you be afraid?

Of course, after all, the desire of a teenager to play this or that game may lead to attempts to download a pirated version.

Recent research by Kaspersky shows that the activity of hackers using the gaming theme as a lure has increased significantly

since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, criminals using the gaming theme in their attacks do not use sophisticated technical methods, they rely on the gullibility and ignorance of the users.

Solution ● First of all, it is necessary to explain to the child what malware is, where you can download it, and what harm can it do. ● It is also worth taking the time to talk with your child about the bad side of piracy. ● Use an antivirus. This is useful not only if a child accidentally installs malware, but also in many other situations.

Fear: Aggressive behavior caused by violent games Parents who are not versed in computer games, reading the postulates that “children become aggressive from computer games” give in to panic and forbid children to play video games.

Should you be afraid?

A child’s aggressive behavior is not driven by the video games they play, but by a much broader range of reasons. Do not show your child video games at all, but he/she will still compete for kung fu with friends, shoot invisible enemies with a bow, pistol, grenade launcher or blaster. Both boys and girls do this, although it is believed that playing war is the prerogative of boys.

At the same time, if you allow, say, a sixyear-old kid to play horror games like Doom

wore special face masks and eye gear, while trainers and other horse-racing personnel at the stables had hazmat suits and other protective equipment.

Off Track Betting Stations are still not allowed to operate. But bettors for the races at the San Lazaro Leisure Park (Manila Jockey Club) and at the Saddle and Parks (Philippine Racing Club) can use Telebet as a means to place their bets, while the Metro Turf in Malvar Batangas utilize Fastbet.

Its schedule pushed back to the latter part of the year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 racing calendar continues with its weekly stakes races, namely the Sampaguita Stakes/4YO and Above Open, the 2nd and 3rd legs of the Triple Crown/Hopeful/3YO Locally Bred Stakes Races, the Amb. Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. Memorial Cup, the 3YO Imported/Local Challenge and the Juvenile Championship/Lakambini Stakes Race.

AFTER claiming the 2019 Southeast Asian Games Championship, members of of Team Philippines must bridge the gap between their sports life and comfortable future by learning to take care of their hard-earned peso.

The Philippine Sports Commission will be conducting a two-day financial literacy online seminar and workshop exclusively for national athletes and coaches on October 29 and 30 with renowned Registered Financial Planner and journalist Salve Duplito.

“We believe this financial literacy webinar is very timely in this time of COVID-19 pandemic. We want to encourage all our national athletes, coaches and our employees to start their journey to financial wellness while they are young.” said PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, adding he has seen so many former athletes squander away winnings and end up in a sorry state in their old age. “It pains me to even imagine any of our athletes like that,” remarked the sports chief who remains a teacher and coach by heart.

Duplito is one of the prime movers of f inancial literacy in the countr y. She co-anchored the ANC “On the Money” show and now actively continues to teach different sectors of society in her Youtube channel, SalveSays.

In partnership with the PSC, she aims to impart her skills and expertise to provide the national team with a solid understanding of the basics of financial management and create an awareness of good stewardship of money.

“We teach them the values of discipline and dedication in sports. These are the same values they can apply on how they handle their finances. I really wish that they all exit from being athletes with a comfortable life,” said Ramirez.

In 2015, the PSC also conducted a free financial literacy seminar for Team Philippines, with Duplito also teaching both regular and para athletes.

A research conducted last May by global cybersecurity company Kaspersky showed that four-in-10 of parents from Southeast Asia (SEA) believe that their children are “more grumpy than usual” after a gaming session.

and the Alien series, then such scary, frightening, violent games can really adversely affect the psyche of a young child, cause nightmares and other sleep disturbances, and irrational fears. The same can be said about the effect of such games on older children who already have certain fears or tendencies.

It should be remembered that there are

different games for every age and every child.

Solution ● Use an age rating. Keep in mind that the age rating even suffers small deviations, if you do not enter the 16+ segment: if you are quite sure that a 12+ rated game is good, then why not install it for your tenyear-old son?

Another sports battle looms POC president Bambol Tolentino from cycling, going up against Clint Aranas from archery for the presidency.

Fed up with politicking in sports, Ricky Vargas vacated the presidency in August 2019 prior to the SEA Games, with Tolentino beating Philip Ella Juico from athletics in special elections thereafter.

For the record, here are the other candidates before I share my personal thoughts.

Triathlon’s Tom Carrasco is with Bambol, an old ally, for the chairmanship position against netball’s Steve Hontiveros; Al Panlilio from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas against Juico for 1st Vice President; Richard Gomez of heptathlon against Aranas’ adopted candidate Ada Milby of rugby for the 2nd VP position; Cynthia Carrion for treasurer opposite Julian Camacho of wushu; and newcomer Chito Loyzaga of baseball possibly against

weightlifting chief Monico Puentebella for the auditor position.

Those mentioned first are with Bambol.

Running for directors are Pearl Managuelod from muay thai, Dave Carter from judo, Jose Raul Canlas from surfing and Butch Pichay from chess, all under Bambol.

On the other hand, Joey Romasanta, Robert Mananquil and Jeff Tamayo are reportedly the candidates under Aranas.

However, if Puentebella will be followed, there may not even be an election until next year as he cited the pandemic as a reason that a lot of candidates will not be able to travel just to vote. But as far as Bambol is concerned, it will push through as scheduled either at the Conrad Hotel in Mall of Asia, or the East Ocean Palace in the same area, both places big enough to maintain social distancing. Swab testing will be required of

all before they can vote.

Going back to Vargas’ point that there is too much politics in Philippine sports, that remains to be true, now and maybe forever.

Each NSA is worth one vote and both sides will try their darndest best to court each NSA to go their way, and politics will be a given in this scenario.

Honestly, I am happy that former POC president Peping Cojuangco is not part of the election, either by choice or by rule I am not sure, but I am certain that he is the master politician and that he should consider retiring for good, considering his age alone, never mind what he has not accomplished in the past.

And talking about age, it was reported that there was a previous talk to exclude those 70 years old and above in this and other future elections in the POC. Unfortunately, this was tabled for the next administration to tackle, but it’s high time

that this provision be included in the POC bylaws to give a chance to younger people to have their opportunities to lead our local world of sports.

Looking at the candidates, there are those who should have not run anymore. I have been too long in sports not to have heard a lot of behind the scenes and purportedly tales of corruption that involve sports officials, or their non-performance and I believe them to be true.

Sepak takraw’s feisty president Karen Caballero should be among the candidates, but I am glad Loyzaga has thrown in his hat in the polls.

But in the end, it will all be left to the registered voters of each NSA as to how they will cast their votes, will it be for the interest of Philippine sports, or for some other reason?

Let us all wait for the outcome.

Entertainment FILIPINO Blinks are in for a treat as Netflix brings them Blackpink: Light Up the Sky, a documentary that serves up the never-before-seen moments the group’s global fandom has been craving for years.

Since their debut in August 2016, Blackpink has become the highest-charting female K-pop group of all time with their innovative music, eye-popping music videos, and internet-breaking fashion concepts.

As Blackpink continues reaching new heights in their career — from headlining sold-out world tours to becoming the first female Korean group to perform at Coachella — each member reflects on the ups and downs of fame and the long, often challenging journey that brought them to worldwide success.

Blackpink: Light Up the Sky, which premiered Oct. 14, reveals the relatable, unfiltered sides of the foursome, who continue to be a leading force in expanding K-pop’s popularity, proving that music knows no borders or language barriers.

Directed by Caroline Suh (Netflix’s Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat), the documentary goes deep with each of Blackpink’s four members: Jisoo, the whip-smart unnie (“big sister”) of the group with a quirky sense

Blackpink lights up the sky

Blackpink is featured in an all-access documentary’ that follows the quartet's recording process, everyday lives, and performance at 2019 Coachella.

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

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of humor; Jennie, the rapper whose fierce onstage persona contrasts with her soft-spoken nature; Rosé, the dulcet-voiced Australian coming into her own as a singer-songwriter; and Lisa, the dancing queen whose spark plug personality never fails to make her bandmates laugh.

To get you more hyped up, Globe Kmmunity PH is holding a special fan project for Filipino BLINKs to keep the hashtag #PHBLINKsLightUpTheSky and #GlobeKmmunityPH trending on Twitter for the longest time.

Globe Kmmunity PH will be posting a question per day and Blinks just have to answer it with the hashtags to keep the conversation and trend going.

With every milestone achieved, amazing prizes will be given away to lucky BLINKs including copies of The Album, official Blackpink lightsticks, and the chance to place your fanmade Blinks videos to be shown on the SM Mall of Asia Globe and on a huge LED billboard at a premiere spot along Edsa.

For more exclusive content on all things Korean, check out Globe Kmmunity PH on Facebook, Twitter, and VLive! #GlobeKmmunityPH.

Sultry SANYA LOPEZ is the ‘FIRST YAYA’ VERY WANG

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NICKIE WANG

HEN Marian Rivera opted out of the proposed lock-in taping for the drama First Yaya so she could continue taking care of her kids Zia and Ziggy, GMA Network executives immediately had a meeting and decided on who would replace the primetime star to take on the important role.

During the meeting, everyone had no other names in mind except for one actress who they believe suited to play the part. In this respect, Sanya Lopez was the first and only choice to tackle the role of Melody, the main character who is the love interest of Gabby Concepcion in the story.

The 24-year-old actress admitted that she was on cloud nine when the network made the official announcement.

“Of course it felt surreal. They pulled me out of Lolong. I was thinking I should feel sad about it but I wasn’t for some reason. Then after telling me that I won’t be in Lolong anymore, they surprised me with the news that they were giving me a different project,” Sanya told Manila Standard Entertainment in a virtual interview.

Sanya was slated to do the actionadventure series Lolong together with Ruru Madrid, as shown in the title card presented in the network's 2020 omnibus plug.

“We already have a taping schedule for the series. Sobrang saya na merong mga bagay na inaalis sa ‘yo pero meron talagang ipapalit na maganda,” she

RIPE FOR PICKING. Young

actress Sanya Lopez was handpicked to play the title role in ‘First Yaya,’ an upcoming romantic comedy following the story of a nanny who falls in love with the president of the Philippines.

continued.

Sanya first rose to stardom after bagging the role of Sang’gre Danaya in the 2016 hit

primetime series Encantadia. She further cemented her name in the entertainment industry after showcasing her acting skills in various programs including Haplos, Cain at Abel, and Dahil Sa Pagibig.

Sanya expressed her gratitude to the network and her fans for their unending support for this new milestone in her career.

“It’s my first time to have a primetime show playing the title role that’s why I'm very thankful to my network and to the fans for their support. Kabado rin po na excited kasi alam ko malaki ang ineexpect ninyo sa akin bilang inyong First Yaya,” the actress stated.

“I didn’t go through the audition process. So, yeah, I can say that I was handpicked. Simula pa lang ng Encantadia ay lagi na akong sinosorpresa ng GMA sa projects na binibigay po nila. Ang tiwala po ay laging karapat-dapat na suklian ng sipag, tiyaga at katapatan,” she carried on alluding to the network’s decision to give her the important role.

Sanya shared that she is still in the process of preparing for her character and draws on her past experience of babysitting for her younger cousins.

“With the help of our director and the whole production team ay nasa proseso pa po ako ng pagkilala kay Yaya Melody, para mabigyang buhay at hustisya ko po ang pagkatao niya.

‘Yung buhay ko po noon sa Pulilan, Bulacan ay mayamang source ng inspiration, lalo po at naranasan ko ring mag-alaga ng mga pinsan na mas bata sa akin,” shared Sanya.

First Yaya follows the story of a Vice President (Gabby), who will later become the President of the Philippines, and his first family. The endearing Yaya Melody (Sanya), serves as a nanny to his children. Soon romance blooms between the two but is challenged by the PSG (Presidential Security Group) Head, played by Pancho Magno.

The light, romantic-comedy series will showcase a heart-warming tale about love and how it binds every family together.

Also joining the cast are Cassy Legaspi, Joaquin “JD” Domagoso, and Ms. Pilar Pilapil. First Yaya is directed

by LA Madridejos.

World-class Filipino classical guitarist Adrik Cristobal (left) will showcase his skill to back singers Kyle Bejnerowicz (US) and Sophie Collin (France) for the online show "When Voices Meet The Guitar" scheduled this Sunday, (Oct. 18) 8:00 p.m. (Manila Time).

When voices meet the guitar serious form of music. The THEMATIC online classical guitar is actually shows have become the one of the least traditional norm, whether for a cause instruments in the sense or in style.

YUGEL that it is still in a lot of Filipino classical LOSORATA experimentation in terms guitarist Adrik of pieces composed.”

Cristobal, an active For the show with a member of the University of the Philippines Guitar Orchestra who minimum entrance fee of P250 (4.5 Euro last year won first prize at a competition in and 5 USD), Adrik has to adapt piano pieces Yogyakarta, Indonesia, gets to showcase his to back-up the singers as he will be the sole skill through a collaborative performance accompanist. With the ongoing pandemic, with a soprano from France, Sophie he puts his faith in online shows offered Collin, and a baritone from the US, Kyle at affordable prices and attracting even audiences who may have not heard of him.

Bejnerowicz.

“This pandemic is rough on many The Facebook live show dubbed When Voices Meet The Guitar is set this Sunday musicians because of the lack of public (Oct. 18, 8:00 p.m., Manila Time). It will be performances and traveling. It affected morning in the US and afternoon in France. both students and professionals one way or “This is a project I planned with my another,” he stressed.

Adrik also studied at the Conservatory good friends in order to play pieces from our respective countries and continents,” of Seville in Spain and Conservatorium shared Adrik. “We will be featuring a couple Maastricht in the Netherlands. He was also of Filipino classic songs, German pieces a recipient of the Zuyd Excellence Grant

by Franz Schubert, well-known songs during his studies in the Dutchland.

“Sophie has always been a good friend

by French composers Ravel and de Libes, American classics such as 'Old man River,' of mine and we played together before,” he and excerpts from Mozart’s 'Magic Flute noted.

Sophie holds a Bachelor degree in Opera.'"

Back in the old normal, I had the privilege musicology from the University of Nice of watching Adrik perform live at his show and performed last February at the Theater in Makati. There’s a visceral charm to the Rudolstadt in Germany.

Last year, opera performer Kyle took sound coming off his instrument as he loses himself into the performance the same way on various roles he showcased at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. an actor truly immersed in a role does.

“In the end,” Adrik pointed out, “We are Asked how he would encourage wannabes to take the road less traveled, he said, “I all affected by the pandemic. But it will not would encourage a Filipino guitarist who stop us from experimenting with music and wants to try classical to not look at it as a too how to reach audiences.”

Sky partners with gov’t for distance, blended learning

EXTRA INTERNATIONAL

Kiwi teen tops US chart after Jason Derulo, BTS remix viral TikTok tune A 17-YEAR-OLD New Zealander whose TikTok anthem "Savage Love" has been viewed more than a billion times said Wednesday "it blows his mind" to have now topped the US Billboard singles chart.

Jawsh 685—whose real name is Josh Nanai—saw his viral instrumental remixed by US RnB star Jason Derulo and Korean supergroup BTS to become an international megahit.

"It blows my mind to be US number 1. A kid from South Auckland y'know showing other kids you can do it, any street you're from, anywhere. You can do it, believe in yourself, you can do it.

Trust me," he said in a social media video post.

The young producer's dream run of success began after the tune —"Savage Love (Laxed—Siren

Beat)"—was picked up by TikTok users as the backing track for a hugely popular dance challenge.

The challenge—which saw users showcase their cultural heritage by dressing in traditional outfits and dancing to the song—was also embraced by stars like Jennifer Lopez and Jimmy Fallon.

As of Monday the hashtags #sirenbeat, #sirenbeatchallenge and #laxedsirenbeat have collectively been viewed over two billion times on the video-based social media platform.

The song initially caused some controversy after Derulo took the original beat, added some lyrics, and promoted it as his own. Columbia Records has since said Derulo and Nanai have "put aside their differences and come together." AFP

SKY partnership with Davao education officials.

A remix by Jason Derulo of the viral TikTok hit has propelled it to the top of the Billboard singles chart.

MORE students across the country will be able to attend classes via television and the internet as SKY partners with the government in strengthening the Department of Education’s distance education program amid the pandemic.

SKY signed memorandum of agreements (MOA) with key DepEd Divisions in regional areas, giving schools in Baguio, Laoag, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, General Santos, and Zamboanga access to DepEd TV shows on cable.

Under the agreement, SKY will give DepEd TV a dedicated channel, which will air lessons per week, covering the most essential learning competencies prescribed by the government.

Meanwhile, in a separate MOA with the DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones and the Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar, SKY has committed to providing 32 DepEd priority schools nationwide a SKY Fiber connection, giving them access to the DepEd classes online.

DepEd aims to present lecture classes, courtesy of carefully selected broadcaster-

teachers in the country. Teachers underwent a series of training on how to deliver interactive class episodes for students.

Helping DepEd in training the educators are a number of renowned broadcasters of major local networks including Karen Davila, Kim Atienza, Jaque Manabat, Abner Mercado, and Korina Sanchez.

"We are here in support of the vision set out by the secretary that education must continue," SKYcable president and COO Antonio Ventosa said during the signing ceremony.

Knowledge Channel responded to the call of the government to support distance learning amid the pandemic as it launched the “School at Home” Campaign.

On Aug. 24, Knowledge Channel started airing week 1 lessons in Filipino, Math, Science, English, and Araling Panlipunan for the First Quarter from Kinder to Grade 10 and the Alternative Learning System, giving children the opportunity to start learning ahead of the opening of classes. As the school year began last October 5, Knowledge Channel has been airing the same video lessons for week 1 of the First Quarter.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

C4

I

HOUSEHOLD

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

SABELLE Precious Lee decided that she wanted to be a journalist when she was young—too early for most to define a momentous life path— after she accompanied her mother to Laura Vicuña, a halfway house for sexually abused children.

She was confronted by two painful realities: that there are more damsels in distress than dainty princesses, and that their stories are made invisible in and by the real world.

Eighteen years after, the world is for her taking. She is one of the up-and-coming multimedia journalists and is poised to take the entire industry to higher grounds because of her comprehensive academic, professional, leadership, and advocacy experiences.

In 2015, she graduated cum laude and top 5 percent of her program at the Ateneo de Manila University, with a degree in Communication Arts. In May this year, she earned her double master’s degree in Journalism and International Affairs from the prestigious Columbia University in New York.

Storytelling rooted in empathy

Isabelle believes the world we live in is full of injustices and inequalities, and gender plays a critical role in this longstanding and continuous disempowerment to vulnerable sectors.

This deep understanding of empathy comes from her life advocacy. She devoted her college years in the Philippines working with communities of sexually abused individuals, mostly women and children. In fact, she was the President of Tugon (Aid), a thousand-member strong organization which provides direct care to children who are victims of sexual abuse.

She says that “gender-based inequalities are deeply pervasive in society, and women are punished repeatedly by virtue of the sex and gender lottery. It is the sector that has been disregarded economically, politically, socially, and culturally the most.”

“The only way to stop this erasure is to tell women’s stories as raw and truthful as possible, no matter how painful and uncomfortable they may be. Of course, it also goes without saying that we need more women to tell the stories of other women—the shared experiences that cannot be given justice without putting yourself in the struggle of the other.”

To her, journalism is about speaking

Isabelle (right) with aunt Leticia, mother Pilar, and TV journalist Chris Cuomo of Cuomo Prime Time on CNN

A Filipino journalist’s pursuit of social justice truth to power and amplifying the voice of the voiceless. It is her life goal that sexual abuse victims and marginalized communities find not only a semblance of justice but also a return of their dignity through the stories she writes.

tions in the country. Her professional experience boasts of working for two of the country’s news and media affairs giants and rivals, not only in front of the camera, but also in more exhausting aspects of journalism: research, documentation, Running twice as fast and far and production.

The journalism landscape in the counHer ability to cut through the nitty-grittry is competitive; the old guards still exty details of news involving government ist, but visionary young-bloods—those ministers, foreign VIPs, and top economwho are making waves in unprecedented ic decision-makers, all while expanding proportions—are making their way up her networks make her one of the morethe ladder. skilled practitioners in her craft.

Isabelle is a prime example, not She left her seemingly comfortable only of the empowered woman, and stable career path to study but of the cosmopolitan identity abroad and build for herof the Filipino. Her comprehenself a global name. While sive multimedia work experience dealing with new acais an indication that she has abdemic challenges, she sorbed skills in all spaces that committed to honing have allowed her to learn and her skills with multishine her brilliance, and has ple communications worked beyond expectations and media affairs to bring ripples of change internships from in the profession. Her goalprestigious workoriented personality is a places such as the return to one simple but United Nations, heartbreaking truth: the Daily Yonwomen have to run der, and CNN. twice as fast to get Currently, she half as far in most asis an intern at pects of life.

Bloomberg, and Immediately after has been pubearning her bachlished in multiple elors, she started SHATTERING GLASS CEILINGS. Young Filipino journalist Isabelle Lee uses international news working with repu- her skills as a storyteller to speak truth to power and amplify the voice of the voiceless, the sites and digital table media institu- marginalized, and the abused. platforms for in-

Marian Rivera on budgeting, cooking for the family Marian Rivera shops for their household’s needs using WalterMart Grocery Delivery app.

“HOW can you budget P2,000 for a meal good for 10 people?”

This was the challenge celebrity mom Marian Rivera took on recently, showing how to budget, shop, and cook a meal for the family.

During the P2000 Salu-Salo Challenge of WalterMart Supermarket, conducted live on Facebook, Rivera was able to make four of her family’s favorite food: spaghetti, menudo, barbecue, and lumpiang shanghai. She even had a few extra money to buy some snacks through WalterMart’s Grocery Delivery (GD) app Promo Tab. How did she do it?

Her first advice is to plan the budget well. Rivera identified the budget she would need for meals, drinks, and other things needed for a salu-salo. She then made a list.

“WalterMart helps you budget easily because they have suggested meal recipes that will help you forecast how much you will need for a certain meal,” she said The GD app has a list of meal suggestions where customers can click the designated recipe and all the ingredients needed will go directly to their cart. It also allows customers to choose the quantity (in kilograms) needed for all the fresh products.

For those shopping at the grocery in person, Rivera recommends going to the establishment early to avoid crowds during rush hours.

She, however, has been using WalterMart’s delivery service. “You order online and the ingredients will be delivered to your doorstep,” she said.

When shopping, Rivera emphasizes sticking to the bud-

get allotted. But should there be need to choose for alternatives—for instance, when the item on the list is sold out—her advice is to “look for alternatives that of the same quality but with better value.”

“You don’t need expensive ingredients just to cook your most well-loved recipes. We can explore other options.”

She also doesn’t believe in choosing quality over quantity.

“Why do you have to choose between the two?” she asked. The best is to have “quantity but of course without compromising quality.”

Her final advice when shopping for meals with a limited budget is to look for promos.

In fact, during her live Facebook challenge, she checked WalterMart’s daily promos that allowed her to use the extra money left for snacks and things for her kids.

“Hindi ka lang basta naka-save, masayang masaya ka pa kasi nga, you get more than what you budgeted for,” she enthused. “In the end, happy ang shopping mo!”

Marian Rivera is looking forward to WalterMart’s P99 Anniversaya Deals on October 15-18, during which several bundled packs are priced at P99, P199, and P299.

Shoppers can avail of these deals in store or via WalterMart Delivery service which is currently available in 15 communities: WalterMart North Edsa, Makati, Pasay, Sucat, Dasmariñas, Taytay, Tagaytay, Carmona, General Trias, Cabuyao, Tanauan, Sta. Maria, San Fernando, Gapan, and Bicutan.

The celebrity mom enjoys the convenience of having her groceries delivered to her doorstep.

depth stories dealing with various topics such as economics, international affairs, and women’s issues.

The future re-imagined

When asked where she gets the drive to keep on going, Isabelle says that the achievements are only incidental to the goal of breaking barriers of inequalities.

“Journalism is the pursuit of truth, and ultimately, justice. The milestones are only important when they can contribute to a consumable public good. I focus on the big picture, and I treat each learning experience as an opportunity to build on capacities. I want to be more, so I can do and give more to my fellow women, my community, country, and to the world,” she says.

Isabelle chose a field that was made for the restless—those who are brave and relentless enough to commit themselves to the pursuit of the truth. It is also the frontline of the battlefield to protect democracy and justice, especially during a time when these concepts are challenged.

For Isabelle, the fight is worth it. Her resolve was defined when she made the decision to be a storyteller almost two decades ago, and it has only been strengthened by confronting injustices upfront. She will continue to tell the stories of women and the rest of vulnerable sectors in society, until all that they can see in the shards from the glass ceilings upon glass ceilings that her storytelling will shatter are their reflections.

She will look injustice straight in the eyes and will not look away.

Jimbo Owen Gulle

DOMESTIC LIVING The new HygieneShield range of appliances has built-in disinfection programs and functions.

New appliance range eliminates viruses EUROPEAN appliances brand Beko launches a new product line that helps eliminate bacteria and viruses—including coronavirus.

The new HygieneShield portfolio consists of seven appliances with built-in disinfection programs and functions to disinfect packaged food and belongings.

According to the brand, the groundbreaking product line uses methods such as steam and heat.

The line is composed of UV cleaning cabinet (a portable device ideal for disinfecting keys, wallets, phones, etc.); combi refrigerator with disinfection drawer (eliminates 99 percent of bacteria and viruses in approximately 40 minutes); tumble dryer with UV light technology (disinfects laundry); HygieneShield washing machine and washer dryer (eliminates 99 percent of viruses and bacteria from 2kg clothes in 58 minutes using hygiene therapy); built-in oven with saturated steam and heat (disinfects surfaces of packaged food in 15 minutes under 70-degree Celsius and disinfects metal bowls and glass products in 20 minutes under 120-degree Celsius); and HygieneShield dishwasher (uses the Hygiene Intense function to disinfect

dishes).

“The products have been tailored to help consumers achieve professional levels of hygiene at home and protect them from infections and diseases,” said Arçelik’s chief executive officer Hakan Bulgurl.

Bulgurl added, “As of today, HygieneShield washing machines and refrigerators have been shown to provide more than 99 percent bacteria and virus reduction. The tests for the other categories are in progress and we expect to finalize the testing and certification processes by November.”

To learn more about product availability and pricing, go to http://www. beko.ph/

Beko HygieneShield tumble dryer disinfects laundry with UV light technology.