Manila Standard - 2020 October 16 - Friday

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Crackdown on ‘twin evils’

Corruption and criminality targets of Duterte’s renewed campaign

Right-of-way scams smear DPWH gains

‘Last 2 years to go hard’ vs. street crimes

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Vito Barcelo and Rio N. Araja VOL. XXXIV • NO. 224 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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ORRUPTION at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) remains widespread, President Rodrigo Duterte told lawmakers Wednesday night.

Duterte made the statement after Congress started its special session to deliberate on the P4.5 trillion national budget for 2021.

“If Congress would want really to know, there is corruption embedded in the projects of the DPWH. I just don’t know who is involved,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“There are so many officials lined up in the bureaucratic maze so I don’t know who they are,” he added.

Duterte said contractors were scheming with the DPWH to carry out corrupt practices.

“These contractors. The first whiff,

TWIN SCOURGES. President Rodrigo

Duterte vows to get tougher against the twin scourges of corruption and criminality including trafficking of illegal drugs after holding a meeting with the core members of the InterAgency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on October 14, 2020. Presidential Photo

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to “go hard” against illegal drugs and criminality within the remaining two years of his term.

“I really intend to go hard within the last two years of my term against these criminals. We have seen an upsurge of holdups, street crimes again. It’s because of the liberality being offered by the opening of the economy. And of course, people are now allowed to roam freely and to travel,” the President said.

“The most convenient way is the motorcycle. After they have killed, they will just ride their motorcycle and leave. I saw one footage. This is very hard to control. I understand the nightmare the police are facing on how to control the mobility of the criminal right after committing a crime because motorcycles zigzag in and out of traffic situations and they can really get away with it easily,” he said.

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COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM OCTOBER 15)

348,698 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

2,261 48,040 NEW

ACTIVE

6,497

50

DEATHS

294,161 RECOVERIES

NEW

385 NEW

P6-B UP IN SMOKE. Authorities show samples of illegal drugs valued at P6.25 billion before burning them in an incinerator in Trece Martirez City, Cavite in compliance with President Duterte’s directive to destroy confiscated substances. From left: PNP Crime Laboratory Director Steve Ludan, PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva, Lawyer Benedicto Malcontento, and Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Catalino S. Cuy. JR Josue

EXPRESS LINK. Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, whose department President Duterte targets in a renewed campaign against graft and corrupt practices, makes a ceremonial concreting of the main viaduct wall of the Skyway Stage 3 wall in Paco Manila on Thursday, October 15, 2020. The Skyway is an 18-km stretch of the Skyway Stage 3 project, linking the northern and southern portion of Metro Manila. It will connect every city in Metro Manila within 30 minutes and will decongest EDSA when it finally opens this year. Norman Cruz

Ousted speaker’s party signs up for Velasco

By Maricel V. Cruz

SPEAKER Lord Allan Velasco on Thursday increased the number of his allies in the House of Representatives as the Nacionalista Party expressed support for the new Speaker.

The political party financed by former Senate President Manuel Villar has

given its “unequivocal support” to Velasco, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said, adding all members of the NP have signed a manifesto of support to Velasco, including former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, who had to be ousted

by Velasco to enforce their term sharing “gentlemen’s agreement.”

Brabers said: “This proves (that there is

unequivocal support in the) leadership in the House of representatives.”

This developed as the 44-strong NP in the lower chamber reiterated their continued commitment to rally behind President Rodrigo Duterte’s legislative agenda, including his anticorruption campaign.

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Senators vow to resume session Red Cross shuns a week early to tackle ‘21 budget LOCAL ROUNDUP

P’Health-funded coronavirus tests

By Willie Casas, Joel Zurbano and Rey Requejo TEAM WORK. House Majority Leader and Lakas-CMD Party President Martin Romualdez

(right) thanks House Speaker Lord Alan Velasco after a successful meeting with Lakas-CMD Party members at the Majority office in the House of Representatives. Romualdez said that he and Velasco are in full support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s marching orders for Congress to go all out in helping curb red tape and corruption in all level of governance. Ver Noveno

House acts on ‘special powers’ bill

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon passed its version last Wednesday.

This came after Speaker Lord AlRamos-Araneta THE House of Representatives has committed to pass today a bill granting President Rodrigo Duterte the authority to expedite the issuance of government permits and licenses amid the COVID-19 pandemic after the Senate

lan Velasco and Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez led the filing Wednesday night of House Bill 7884, or the proposed “Act Authorizing the President to Expedite the Processing and Issuance of National and Local Next page

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and er Juan Miguel Zubiri.

“We have a plan to open the session Rio N. Araja and Maricel V. Cruz

early. We might open the session on THE Senate plans to resume session a Nov. 9 rather than on Nov. 16. We want week earlier than scheduled to tackle to start work early so we can finish the the P4.5-trillion national budget for budget bill sooner,” Zubiri said.

He also said it was unlikely that the next year and the corporate income tax reform bill, said Senate Majority LeadNext page

THE Philippine Red Cross, the top humanitarian organization in the country, said it had ceased conducting COVID-19 tests chargeable to PhilHealth effective October 14.

This followed its announcement that it reached a milestone in the fight against COVID-19 with one million tests on October 6, representing 26 percent of the national test output.

But in a statement Thursday, the PRC said: “However, as the PRC continues to face challenges with PhilHealth due to its inability to settle its ever-increasing outstanding balance to the PRC, we are constrained to cease conducting tests chargeable to PhilHealth effective today, 14 October 2020.”

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DOLE assures workers of 13th-month pay; Labor rejoices

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

“Deferring or giving exemption to the payout of the 13th month pay benefit is no longer on the table,” Labor THE Department of Labor and Em- Secretary Silvestre Bello III said, addployment (DOLE) has given assurances ing “the government will move forward all workers in the public sectors will get with handing out subsidies or loans to ‘distressed’ employers to enable them their 13th month pay this December.

to comply with the labor standard.”

Bello made the announcement after meeting with labor groups and employers where they discussed the issue on the deferment of the payment of the 13th month bonus as the COVID-19 Next page

PRE-PAGEANT. Some of the 24 candidates for the Miss Universe-Philippines crown

spend their downtime frolicking in a field of irisine herbstil or bloodleaf plants during a pre-pageant event held at Mt. Costa resort park in Baguio City, Benguet. Organizers have assured the public that all participants and organizers adhere to strict health and safety protocols against the spread of the coronavirus disease. Dave Leprozo

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020

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LTFRB vows subsidy for PUVs Delgra said the additional routes include Davao City and Mabalacat, Pampanga in Central Luzon.

“In terms of increasing capacity for provincial buses, we will be opening up additional routes this week and another set of inter-regional routes going into Metro Manila coming all the way from Davao City. Aside from that, Mabalacat, Pampanga has already opened up that route,” Delgra said.

The LTFRB said that agency is still in the process of coordinating with other local governments to allow their borders to be opened for provincial trips.

Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe questioned the government if the country’s current public transport system is capable of handling the sudden surge of commuters if quarantine restrictions

will be eased and the curfew hours shortened.

“Are there enough PUVs to ferry them from one place to another? Is our current public transport system capable of handling such surge of commuters?

Are there enough PUVs to ferry them from one place to another?” Poe asked.

Poe said that relaxing curfew hours and quarantine restrictions will naturally result in more people out of their homes and in public places.

She noted that without the complementary boost in number of jeepneys and other PUVs, commuters will suffer and face the risk of infection due to crowding in terminals and public vehicles.

She said more jeepneys should be allowed to return to the road while adhering to health protocols.

Villar is also optimistic that the agency’s proposed budget for 2021 would pass the tight scrutiny of lawmakers.

“We were at the (Senate) committee hearing yesterday (Wednesday) and we were able to answer the questions of Senator Panfilo Lacson,” he said.

Lacson flagged the agency’s allocation for local projects which increased to P229 billion from the original allocation of P176.15 billion.

“Sometimes, there are local projects that have a national purpose like roads going to tourism sites, roads going to airports. These maybe local projects but their significance is on a national scope,” he said.

Villar said local workers are prioritized in the hiring for infrastructure projects.

Foreign workers would be hired for their technical expertise, he added.

“Whenever there are new technologies coming from other countries, especially in foreign-funded projects, we need their (foreign workers) technical expertise. But eventually, we hope to transfer this technical expertise to our local workers. For now, we still need foreign workers,” he added.

Despite Duterte’s remarks about corruption at the DPWH, the Palace said Villar still enjoy’s the President’s confidence.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque lauded Villar for the completion of the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Expressway that connects the southern and northern part of Metro Manila.

On Wednesday, Villar announced that the 18-kilometer elevated expressway, which links the two major expressways in Luzon – the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and North Luzon

Expressway (NLEX) – was completed ahead of the Oct. 31 schedule.

With Skyway 3, travel from SLEX to NLEX will now only take 20 minutes, from about three hours previously.

The elevated expressway aims to decongest traffic in Metro Manila by providing a diversion road for Edsa and other major roads in Metro Manila.

Lacson on Thursday said it was timely for the President to raise corruption at the DPWH. “It has become an open secret that commissions or kickbacks have become the rule rather than the exception in the implementation of public works projects involving not only some corrupt officials of the department but some legislators as well,” Lacson said.

“Fact is, contractors openly talk behind the backs of these officials using descriptions too degrading to even mention,” he added.

Senator Christopher Go, meanwhile, urged the DPWH to ensure that priority infrastructure projects are completed before Duterte’s term ends.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, on the other hand, pressed the DPWH to hasten the construction of the proposed Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridge.

He expressed frustration over the slow pace of progress on the PGN bridge that will connect the three major islands in Western Visayas.

“This is very frustrating. We have been pushing for this project – all of us, the people of Panay, Guimaras and Negros. But it is just like a business-asusual for the DPWH,” Drilon said.

cially now that we are in the middle of the pandemic,” Villar said.

“The party nevertheless extends its collaborative hand to the new House leadership and vows to work closely with their team to ensure the success of the President’s legislative and economic agenda,” the lady House leader said.

In related developments, a member of the 25-man minority bloc in the House announced his intention to join the majority bloc.

Magsasaka party-list Rep. Argel Cabatbat said he was “seriously considering” joining the majority bloc.

“I’m looking for the best opportunity to forward our cause for the farmers.

Recently, I am seeing an opportunity

with the majority but the situation keeps changing every day,” he added.

Meanwhile, Minority Leader and Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. said former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano -- who has become a staunch critic of Velasco -- was welcome to join them in the minority.

“Of course, we welcome him on that and to me, if he is willing to get the minority leader position, I would be very glad to give that to him,” he said.

Villar said, with a robust leadership backed by a pro-active Cabinet, “we believe that the country is in a better position to rise from the challenges of this pandemic and ultimately, facilitate the delivery of the cure against COVID 19.”

days from October 2 to October 15, 2020.

The top regions with cases in the recent two weeks were NCR (456 or 24 percent), Region 4A (398 or 21 percent) This will remain until the overdue and Region 8 (176 or 9 percent).

Top provinces by newly-announced balance of P930,993,000.00 is paid cases are NCR, 566; Cavite, 174; Panby PhilHealth. gasinan, 145; Northern Samar, 104; and Quezon, 98.

COVID infections The Philippines on Thursday logged OFW infections 2,261 new COVID-19 cases in the counThe Department of Foreign Affairs try, bringing the total to 348,698, the on Thursday said the number of overDepartment of Health DOH reported.

The DOH announced 385 recoveries, seas Filipinos infected with coronavibringing the total number of recoveries rus disease reached 11,108 following reports of 26 new cases. to 294,161.

In its latest case bulletin, the DFA The DOH also reported 50 new fatalialso reported 34 new recoveries and 8 ties, bringing the death toll to 6,497.

Of the 2,261 reported cases, 1,921 (85 new fatalities from Asia and the Pacific, percent) occurred within the recent 14 Europe, and the Middle East, bringing

their respective totals to 7,170 and 810.

The DFA said, some 3,128 are considered active cases or infected individuals who are still undergoing treatment.

Based on DFA data, the Middle East still has the most number of COVIDinfected Filipinos, in terms of active, recoveries and death cases.

sion after their evaluation, FDA chief Eric Domingo said.

Domingo told reporters a November trial start was “possible.”

President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier expressed that he preferred that his country sourced its COVID-19 vaccines from either China or Russia.

from the President.

Romualdez, in a statement, stressed that “upon the directive of the President and the instruction of Speaker Velasco, the House of Representatives will work on the passage of the anti-red tape measure before we adjourn the special session.”

“Under the leadership of Speaker Velasco, we are in full support of the marching orders from President Duterte for Congress to go all out in helping curb red tape and corruption in all levels of governance.

We have to help the President in his campaign to put a stop to deep-rooted, systemic and systematic corruption in government,” Romualdez added.

Section 2 of the bill grants the President the authority to suspend the requirements for national and local permits, licenses

and certifications, as well as to streamline and expedite the process of issuance.

The bill also provides the chief executive the power to fix or shorten the periods for the processing and release of these documents.

It covers all agencies under the executive branch, including departments, bureaus, offices, commissions, boards, councils, government instrumentalities, and government owned and controlled corporations.

The bill -- in consultation with or upon recommendation of the affected government agencies, may prescribe the permanent streamlining of regulatory processes and procedures, as well as the suspension or waiver of the requirements in securing the documents.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

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HE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board will hand out cash subsidies to drivers and operators of public utility vehicles affected by the COVID-19 lockdown under the Bayanihan recovery plan in exchange for plying the routes for the government.

LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III said his agency will hire PUV drivers and operators under a service contracting program in exchange for cash subsidies.

The government has allocated P5.8 billion for the subsidies, P3 billion of which will be dedicated for drivers of public utility jeepneys. “‘Yung paglalaan ng pondo, patungkol dito sa service contracting. Ang serbisyo ng ating mga driver at operator would be

subsidized by the government,” Delgra said during a Palace briefing.

“But the subsidy is based on what we call performance-based. Meron pong mga indicators na kailangan po nating mailagay sa sistema, for which they will conform,” he added.

In the same briefing, Delgra said the LTFRB also plans to open additional provincial routes covering Metro Manila this week.

‘Last 2 years...

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Right-of-way...

Duterte said he saw a need to purchase new motorcycles for the Philippine National Police (PNP) to help prevent street crimes.

“We have to increase the mobile capacity of the police and we can buy motorcycles – the long ones – all that can negotiate any obstacle, the ordinary obstacles that you’d find in the streets,” he said.

Duterte, a motorcycle enthusiast, said it was not enough for cops to know how to ride a motorcycle, they should undergo training.

He asked Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to plan the purchase of motorcycles, suggesting that the 250cc motorcycles “would be a good one.”

Duterte also said police officers should be in plainclothes or cvilian clothes so that criminals would not be able to spot them.

At the same time, Duterte said he was pleased with the destruction of confiscated drugs worth P8.1 billion in Tanza, Cavite, to prevent these from being recycled.

Earlier, Duterte instructed the Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General to coordinate with courts to come up with protocols for destroying confiscated drugs.

“There should be a fiscal on duty just to take a few random samples and give it on the spot. He would give the sample taken and have it tested to certify that it’s shabu. After that, within about 24 hours, it should be immediately destroyed,” Duterte said.

Duterte said the random sample of confiscated illegal drugs must be tested thrice before its immediate burning to prevent storage and recycling of such substances.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, trial courts are required to conduct an ocular inspection of the illegal drugs and paraphernalia within 72 hours from the filing of the criminal information.

Then the seized items have to be destroyed, through the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, within 24 hours after the inspection. A representative sample of the seized drugs will be retained for use as evidence during the trial of the case.

you can already smell they’ll ask money from you… Here in the DPWH, it’s strong,” he said.

“The project engineers, road rightof-way, corruption there is massive.

There’s no construction that will start without transactions made,” he added.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon earlier questioned the DPWH about having P345 billion in lump-sum appropriations in its 2021 budget.

He also asked why over 50 percent of the agency’s total budget was lodged under the DPWH central office.

Last month, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar denied that there were lump sums in his agency’s budget.

The DPWH is slated to get P667 billion, a 52 percent increase from this year’s budget.

The Duterte administration is building roads, bridges, airports, railways among others under the ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure program.

On Thursday, Villar said close to 30 contractors have been blacklisted as part of the department’s anti-corruption efforts.

“We take the challenge of the President and we will continue to fight harder to stop corruption,” Villar said.

Villar said they have introduced reforms to weed out corruption.

“We have the monitoring systems. So far, all of our projects have geo-tagging so we would know the condition or status of the projects. We continue to remain strict in our campaign,” he added.

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Ousted...

From A1 Deputy Majority Leader and Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar, a stalwart of NP, cited the need for a united House of Representatives under the leadership of Velasco to effectively implement Duterte’s programs to restart the shuttered economy and fight coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19).

“Amid the recent development in the House of Representatives, the Nacionalista Party remains steadfast in supporting the legislative agenda of the President as his government endeavors to bring solution to the problems of the country, espe-

Local...

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House...

From A1 Permits, Licenses, and Certifications.”

The House leadership aims to pass the measure before it adjourns its special session.

HB 7884 proposes to fast-track the country’s socioeconomic recovery and ensure effective government response to the ongoing health crisis.

Duterte has certified the measure as urgent. The House was expected to receive the letter of certification from Malacañang Thursday.

The chamber can approve the bill on second and third reading on the same day given the certification of urgency

Sinovac trial

Sinovac Biotech may start its late-stage trials of the coronavirus vaccine in the Philippines as early as next month, after it hurdled the initial stage of the country’s screening process, the Food and Drugs Administration said Thursday.

The FDA expects to receive the Chinese drug maker’s formal application for phase three clinical trials within two weeks and regulators will make a deci-

Customs facility

The Bureau of Customs has built a medical facility to serve its employees, especially the frontline workers assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The facility, situated at the NAIA Customshouse building in Pasay City, will serve as the lead health response unit of the Port of NAIA to support and observe health protocols, and cater to the health needs of the Customs NAIA employees.

DOLE...

From A1 pandemic impacted businesses.

From the labor sector, Elmer Labog, chairperson of the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno said in Filipino “This is the victory of our united action and voice in the midst of earlier pronouncements officials would defer payment of the 13th month pay.”

In the Senate, Sen. Joel Villanueva on Thursday urged DOLE to closely monitor employers’ compliance in releasing the 13th month pay.

The 13th month pay, he noted, would be a huge help to our workers who have been suffering due to the pandemic.

WORLD ROUNDUP • 10m Chinese tested amid new outbreak • HK-SG bubble up ALMOST 10 million people in the Chinese city of Qingdao have now been screened for the coronavirus, officials said Thursday, as authorities rushed to quash an outbreak through an ambitious program of mass testing.

Deputy mayor Luan Xin said more than 9.9 million samples had been collected and 7.6 million results returned, adding that no new cases had been found.

The city has now confirmed 13 cases, Luan told a regular briefing Thursday, adding that health workers were on track to complete testing 9.4 million residents and another 1.5 million visitors by Friday – just five days after the program was launched.

The mass testing follows the discovery of a dozen cases linked to the Qingdao Municipal Chest Hospital, which was treating coronavirus patients arriving from abroad.

Fifth leading cause of death in EU

The World Health Organization’s European office said Thursday that the soaring number of COVID-19 cases in Europe has caused “great concern” but said the situation was still better than the peaks in April.

“The evolving epidemiological situation in Europe raises great concern.

Daily numbers of cases are up, hospital admissions are up,” the WHO’s Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge told a press conference.

“COVID is now the fifth leading cause of deaths and the bar of a 1,000 deaths per day has now been reached.”

HK-SG bubble

Hong Kong and Singapore on Thursday said they had agreed “in principle” to set up a bubble allowing residents to travel freely between the two financial hubs as long as they test negative for the coronavirus.

The two cities released joint statements announcing the deal, which they said would be implemented within weeks. AFP

Senators...

From A1 senators would be able to finish the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) bill

by Thursday—the last session day for senators.

“Fearless forecast, we cannot finish tonight so we need to go back to work earlier,” Zubiri said.

The CREATE bill, he pointed out, is a commitment of the Senate leadership to the Executive.

He said he hoped it would be finished by mid-November.

Zubiri said the budget hearings hearings of the Senate will continue during the congressional recess and that the bill could bebe sponsored in the plenary by Nov. 9.

The plan of the Senate is anchored on the expectation that the House of Representatives would deliver on its commitment to pass the budget on Friday.

Newly elected Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has promised to pass the budget on third and final reading Friday, so that it could be transmitted to the Senate.

In related developments: • The Department of Agrarian Reform on Thursday welcomed the approval of its proposed P8.8-billion budget for 2021 at the House of Representatives. The agency’s proposed 2021 budget is about 7 percent lower than its current budget for 2020 worth P9.135 billion. Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones justified the proposed budget, saying the bulk of the funds would be used for implementing individual land titling towards land tenure security.

“I am appealing to our government to help our distressed employers to be able to comply with the 13th month pay law,” said Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee.

Bello said the government would implement the law.

Under Presidential Decree No. 851, employers from the private sector are required to pay their rank-and-file employees a 13th Month Pay not later than December 24 every year. The 13th month pay is equivalent to one twelfth of an employee’s basic annual salary.

Bello said that DOLE acknowledged that many businesses, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), would be unable to comply with the 13th Month Pay law. With Ben Chavez

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Korean arrested in San Juan City

Group slams lack of facilities for mother-detainees

By Vito Barcelo

THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Thursday raised serious concern over the lack of facilities to secure the survival of children who have been born of mothers in detention for committing a crime or facing trial in courts.

IBP President Domingo Egon Cayosa raised questions about the country’s justice

IMMIGRATION authorities have arrested a South Korean fugitive wanted in his country for involvement in illegal online gambling.

Choi Sungsun, 33, was arrested at his residence in San Juan City by joint operatives of the bureau’s fugitive search unit and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said he issued the order for Choi’s arrest at the request of South Korean authorities.

According to Immigration’s FSU Chief Bobby Raquepo, Choi was the subject of an Interpol red notice issued on Aug. 11, two months after a district court in Busan issued a warrant for his arrest.

Choi was reportedly charged with fraud before the court for allegedly operating several illegal gambling sites on the Internet and soliciting customers from whom he received large sums of money.

South Korean authorities said Choi set up the unauthorized private online gambling sites in the Philippines in violation of his country’s national sports promotion act.

Choi is now under the temporary custody of the CIDG pending the result of his COVID-19 swab test.

By Rey E. Requejo

system following the death of a three-monthold child who was separated from her mother, a detained activist, weeks after birth.

“The tragic death of 3-month-old Baby River Nasino highlights the need to do more, better, faster in the justice sector,” Cayosa said in a statement.

“Why can’t our justice system safeguard the needs and rights of an innocent child to breastfeeding and a better chance to survive?”

River was the daughter of 23-year-old activist Reina Mae Nasino, who was arrested almost a year ago on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

River died of pneumonia on Oct. 9.

Nasino was given three hours on Wednesday to step out of the Manila City Jail Female Dormitory to attend her infant daughter’s wake, but her visit was marred with tension when her guards tried to pull

Court penalizes CA justice

Private sector acts on hunger AS THE government moves to address the hunger situation, the private sector is also taking steps to help solve this problem.

On Aug. 21, Jose Ma. Montelibano announced an initiative called the Walang Iwanan Alliance. He is the Special Projects Head of Gawad Kalinga and the chairman of the Ateneo de Manila University 616569 Foundation.

WIA and GK have been involved in feeding programs for the last 10 years. When Montelibano saw the Social Weather Stations finding that the 9 percent hunger rate last December had grown to 21 percent in July, he predicted an upward trajectory of more hunger.

On Sept. 27, SWS confirmed this with the hunger rate increasing to 31 percent, affecting seven and a half million Filipinos.

Montelibano identified four main factors that caused this: COVID-19, increased poverty, informal settlers in cramped spaces with nowhere to go, and limited government resources. Additional sources of help had to be found.

They had to come from new creative ways for the private sector to contribute. Otherwise, the discontent would increase, and possibly lead to unrest.

COMMAND VISIT. PNP Chief Camilo Pancratius Cascolan led several activities and imparted guidelines to the men and women of Police Regional Office 6 led by Regional Director and Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan during his Command Visit on October 15, 2020 at Camp Martin Teofilo Delgado in Fort San Pedro in Iloilo City.

P21 billion to be lent to farmers, fishermen

By Macon Ramos-Araneta MORE than P21 billion in loanable funds will be provided to farmers and fishermen yearly under the laws authored by Senator Cynthia Villar.

Money from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, and Sugarcane Industry Development Act, all managed by Land Bank, will provide the much-needed credit.

In acknowledging that access to cheap or subsidized credit is among the top requirements of Filipino farmers and fishermen to be more profitable and competitive, Villar gave priority to these matters

in her legislation.

“Ever since, I have been focused on removing the barriers that keep farmers and fishermen from being more profitable. Among which is access to affordable credit and I am glad that the laws I have authored and sponsored are serving their purposes,” Villar said.

The head of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food was satisfied the bills she authored were providing muchneed credit assistance on top of free inbred seeds, machineries/equipment, scholarships, livelihood assistance and training, among others, to farmers, fishermen and small cooperatives.

As of August 2020, the Land Bank

of the Philippines reported that the outstanding loans to the agriculture sector reached P224.66 billion. This amount includes P20.86 billion in loans provided to cooperatives and farmers’ associations under the ACEFmand the Expanded Rice Credit Assistance under the RCEF and the Socialized Credit Program under SIDA. RCEF also allocated P1 billion in credit to boost farmers’ productivity. ACEF earmarked P800 million or more depending on collections.

The SCP-SIDA is funded by 15 percent or about P300 million of the annual P2-billion fund allocated for the development of the sugar industry.

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her out before the furlough was up. She will also be allowed to attend River’s burial for another three hours on Friday.

The IBP official lamented the lack of facilities for children and women detainees in the country’s jails as required by law.

He also denounced what he described as “double standards” in the treatment of “bigger” detainees who are receiving greater privileges than the others.

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Supreme Court has imposed disciplinary action against a Court of Appeals magistrate and imposed a fine equivalent to one year of her salary for failing to decide 160 cases within the required period during her stint as a regional trial court judge.

In a decision dated June 23, 2020, the high court found CA Associate Justice Marilyn B. Lagura-Yap guilty of gross inefficiency when she, as then presiding judge of Mandaue City RTC Branch 28, failed to decide the cases within the reglementary period and to submit the required certification of caseload before the Judicial and Bar Council as required by the JBC when she applied for the CA post in 2011.

The 15-member bench held that the fine is payable within 30 days from receipt of notice.

The SC also admonished Yap to be more diligent in the performance of her sworn duty as a dispenser of justice, especially that she is now a CA associate justice.

The decision is immediately executory.

In imposing the fine equivalent to one year of her current salary, the SC considered the number of cases left undecided and the lack of any plausible explanation for such failure to decide within the reglementary period, and her failure to submit the certification of pending cases before the JBC. In a statement, the SC Public Information Office said the sanction against Yap was a testament that Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta is serious in purging the judiciary.

When he was appointed as the 26th Chief Justice in 2019, Peralta came out with his Ten-Point Program which has four core areas: efficiency, integrity, security, and service.

The high court stressed its policy on the prompt disposition or resolution of cases because “delay in the disposition of cases is a major culprit in the erosion of public faith and confidence in the judicial system, as judges have the sworn duty to administer justice without undue delay.”

Former writer charges her agents A FORMER sports writer has filed criminal charges before the prosecutor’s office against her former agents whom she accused of plotting to have her assassinated after she fired them from her construction firm.

Virginia Rodriguez, former sports writer of The Manila Bulletin, filed gravethreat charges before the Las Piñas City Prosecutors Office against Christine Adaniel Escalante Reuyan and Mark Eudell Guerrero, and slander charges against Jose Gayoba, alias Madam Lola and Myla Gumban.

Rodriguez claimed that the suspects started to plan for her assassination after she decided to fire them after discovering some irregularities.

She alleged that Reuyan hired the services of a gun-for-hire and gave a down payment of P100,000 to kill her.

She also learned that the suspects stole some documents from her company, and

started spreading rumors against her to ruin her reputation to steal her projects from her.

Rodriguez said she had enough evidence to prove her accusation on the alleged assassination plot against her.

“Si Reuyan, Guerrero, Gayoba at Gumban ay nagkita sa isang lugar upang planuhin ang pagpatay sa akin. Si Guerrero ang kumontak sa isang dating military gun man upang itumba ako sa halagang P1 million,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez even decided to temporarily leave her home after they spotted some unidentified cars roaming around her house and felt that someone was following her every move whenever she was out.

The complainant has already gone to the office of the National Bureau of Investigation and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to report the death threats.

ENTERTAINER. A flower seller entertains customers inside the Manila South Cemetery in Makati on Oct. 15. Manila South Cemetery officials said they will be closing on Oct. 28 and will be open on Nov. 04. Norman Cruz

Shell firms bag seven Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards OIL industry leader Shell Companies in the Philippines recently bagged seven Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards—most notably for its Shell Philippines Exploration B.V arm, which was named ‘Company of the Year’ under the Energy category at the International Business Awards.

While Shell is known for being a major player in the oil and gas industry, it has gone well beyond this realm—spearheading campaigns that contribute to nationbuilding while elevating significantly the quality of life in the country.

“At Shell, it’s not enough for us to be a global market leader in oil and gas. Our true legacy as a company is measured through the positive impact we make on

the communities we serve and operate in,” said SPEX Managing Director and General Manager Don Paulino.

“We’re happy that our work is being recognized, and we hope this will help set the standard for how industries go about their operations. Let’s all strive to make a meaningful difference for consumers, stakeholders, and society as a whole.”

SPEX’s Malampaya Deep-water gasto-power platform has been supplying up to 20 percent of the entire Philippines’ power requirements for almost two decades. By maximizing the indigenous natural gas from the West Philippine Sea, SPEX’s operations have generated over

$11 billion in revenue for the Philippine government.

A joint venture with the Department of Energy, Chevron Malampaya LLC and the Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation, Malampaya is considered to be one of the largest and most significant industrial endeavors in Philippine history.

This grand feat proves that SPEX is more than deserving of its ‘Company of the Year’ recognition from the IBAs. Also known as the “International Stevies,” the IBAs attract thousands of nominations from organizations—public and private, and for-profit and non-profit alike—across 63 nations.

E-SCOOTER. A man in personal protective equipment rides his electric scooter along Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City on Oct. 15. Aside from bicycles, electric scooters are among the alternative means of transportation of people outside their residence amid the coronavirus pandemic. Joey O. Razon

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020 lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

PAPER DONATION. Alsons Power recently donated reams of bond papers to various public schools in Saranggani

Province. See story below.

QC virus rate falls 4 weeks in row

By Rio N. Araja

Q

UEZON City has seen a drop in the average daily coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases for four straight weeks.

The University of the Philippines-OCTA Research said the city averaged just 178 cases per day from Oct. 4 to 10 based on data from the Department of Health.

This marked the fourth straight week that the city gained a drop in the average number of daily cases, from 321 on Sept.

13-19, 192 on Sept. 20-26, and 184 on Sept. 27-Oct. 3.

Based on the City Epidemiology and

Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) data on onset of illnesses or new cases within the two-week monitoring period, the average number of daily new cases from Sept. 301Oct. 6 is only 40.

OCTA Research also noted a significant decrease in the reproduction number, from .79 percent last Sept. 26-Oct. 2 to .71 from Oct. 3-9 data.

Quezon City’s reproduction number

is lower than Metro Manila’s .77 and the whole Philippines, which was pegged at .87.

“This continuous development for the past months shows us that our efforts are working well towards the goal of reducing and totally eradicating the virus,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

As far as the positivity rate is concerned, from 10 percent last Sept. 26-Oct. 2, Quezon City’s positivity rate is now at 9 percent.

It is now closer to the target of 5 percent set by the World Health Organization to indicate that the infection has been controlled.

To date, Quezon City ranked 13th out of 17 local government units with an attack rate of 5.8 % per 1,000 population.

Using the CESU data from Oct. 3-10, the research group noted the decrease in active cases to only 8 percent of the 20,538 total cases.

“All indicators for Quezon City have improved. We are moving closer to our targets and we are positive that we will soon solve this pandemic tin the city,” CESU head Dr. Rolly Cruz said.

After the inauguration of the Quezon City Molecular Laboratory, QC Task Force on COVID-19 head Joseph Juico also added that the city would continue its efforts of test, isolate and treat.

“The molecular laboratory completes our strategy. We are now self-sufficient when it comes to processing our tests,” he said.

Manila approves local shelter plan for poor, settlers

By Willie Casas THE Manila City Council has approved the city government’s local shelter plan created by the Urban Settlements Office for low-income families and informal settlers living in critical zones.

Last year, the Manila Bay Clean-Up Rehabilitation and Preservation Program’s Regional Inter-Agency Committee issued a “zero” grade against the local government after it found out that the previous administration did not have any local shelter plan.

Under the Local Shelter Plan, Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso said they would provide decent, affordable, disaster risk resilient and climate change-adaptive shelters for poor families in critical zones.

“WIth the Local Shelter Plan, our ultimate goal is clear—we will provide a livable resettlement area with low-cost housing and sufficient facilities for all residents. We will not stop until we have built a safe and decent community that every Manileño will be proud of,” Domagoso said.

“I, too, personally experienced being an informal settler in Tondo during my younger years. This has been my drive to provide a comfortable shelter to every Manileño,” the Mayor added.

Manila Urban Settlements Office (USO) chief Lawyer Cris Fernandez said the plan aims to acquire 191.05 hectares of land for development into “socialized housing projects” from 2020 to 2025.

It would provide “livable and socially responsible residential communities” for 14,785 households at in-city resettlement by 2025.

This includes residents living in households with “pending threats of demolition by 2020 to 2022,” she said.

The USO chief added that the plan would also create a task force to prevent construction of new illegal structures in “no-build zones and danger areas.”

“Providing adequate shelter facilities to the homeless and the underprivileged is the priority of Mayor Isko. This shelter plan is proof of the resolute and collective efforts of the housing and urban settlements’ stakeholders to confront the housing issues and augment the city’s current shelter situation. With a shelter plan in place, Manileños can be rest assured that their immediate and long term shelter needs will be properly addressed on the basis of technical planning and equitable resource allocation,” Fernandez said.

Taguig has lowest COVID-19 cases

By Joel E. Zurbano THE City of Taguig has the lowest number of active cases of coronavirus disease among the cities in Metro Manila, having only 19 active cases per 100,000 population.

Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano said his administration has managed to control the transmission of COVID-19 with less people contracting the virus. He added the city government’s focus is now on helping establishments open safely and responsibly.

“The city believes that the enforcement of health protocols in commercial areas and offices is now the key area we need to focus on,” said Cayetano.

Among the other cities in the National Capital Region with the lowest active cases per 100,000 population are Muntinlupa (33), Parañaque (33), Caloocan (36),

and Las Piñas (37).

On the other hand, the average active cases per 100,000 population in NCR is still at 68 based on official data released by each local government unit in Metro Manila.

This feat was possible through the local government’s PDITR strategy — Prevent, Detect, Isolate, Treat, and Reintegrate. This enabled the city to garner lower cases and increase in recoveries.

Alongside this strategy is the creation of infrastructures such as the newly launched Lakeshore Mega Complex which houses the Taguig Molecular Laboratory, Taguig National Testing Facility, and Lakeshore Hotel MegaQuarantine Facility. This allows for a faster and easier processing of specimens, conducting accessible PCR tests, and assisting COVID-19 patients in their recovery.

SHIELDS FOR NBI. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Deputy Director for Information and Communications Technology Service (ICTS) lawyer Jose Justo S. Yap (left) receives the 1,000 pieces of Face Shield from Cpt. Mel Hallar, (Res) PA-CSP, Security Consultant of the Pacman Legendary Security Agency Inc. and an officer of the 407th (ARALD) Transport Battalion-Armed Forces of the Philippines Affiliate Reserve Unit during the turnover of donation at NBI office, Taft Avenue, Manila. Head agent Dave Segunial, Chief of Staff (second from left) and Medico legal officer Dr. Wilfredo Tierra, (second from right) thanked Hallar for the support.

400 CL cops in PNP localization program

By Jess Malabanan

URBAN FARMING PUSH. Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi hands over seeds and gardening materials as the LGU partners with DOST, UP-IPB to train communities on hydroponics, provides free seeds and seedlings to promote urban farming.

Alsons unit gives paper for modules THE Alsons Power Group’s Sarangani Energy Corporation (SEC) has distributed 2,776 reams or around of 1.38 million pieces of bond paper to various public schools located in SEC’s host municipality of Maasim, Sarangani Province for the purpose of printing learning modules as these schools gear up for “new normal” classes.

The SEC donation will enable the schools to print around 400,000 learning modules for the pupils of five public schools in the municipality.

The Department of Education has tasked teachers to prepare printed learning modules for learners who have no access to computers and the internet.

School heads of Rogaya Bajunaid Integrated School, Datu Abdul Bali Integrated School, Mangelen Integrated School and Arcal Elementary School, and Malbang Elementary School expressed their gratitude for the company’s untiring support to education especially amidst the pandemic.

The school heads stated that the SEC bond paper donation has allowed them to reallocate resources originally allotted for bond paper, towards the acquisition of additional printers and printing accessories.

SEC operates a 210 mega-watt baseload thermal power plant in Maasim providing power to Sarangani Province, General Santos City and other areas of Mindanao.

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga—About 400 non-commissioned police officers have been transferred to their choice of assignments in their hometowns as part of the Philippine National Police ‘localization’ program, a move welcomed by the rank and file of the organization.

Most of those who applied for reassignments, according to the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) are residents of different provinces in Central Luzon and nearby Metro Manila. Their transfer is effective

Wednesday (Oct. 14).

“It initially covers inter-regional reassignment of personnel to their homelands to give them a strong sense of ownership of their locality, and will attain maximum efficiency and more effective law enforcement,” said Police BGen Valeriano De Leon, director of PRO3, in a statement.

Non-commissioned police officers are those with the rank of patrolman to senior executive master sergeant. The localization program is also applicable to commissioned police officers, it was gathered.

Earlier, Police Lt. General Guillermo Eleazar, PNP Director for Administration, conducted an audit of personnel in the regional police headquarters to ensure the smooth implementation of the ‘localization’ program.

“We have to check the total strength in terms of personnel of all police units to balance the manpower of every police office, “ said Eleazar during a phone interview, adding that guidelines and parameters have been set for those who wish to apply and avail of their transfer to their hometown.

Bataan solon pushes for Mango Development Council

By Butch Gunio BALANGA CITY, Bataan---The Office of Bataan 2nd District Cong. Joet Garcia is pushing for the creation of Mango Development Council in the province.

Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) Vice President for Research, Extension, and Training Services Dr. Hermogenes Paguia said the creation of the council was agreed in a zoom meeting yesterday aiming to boost mango production in the province.

He said the virtual meeting, aside from him, was attended by Cong. Garcia’s Chief of Staff Jett Nisay, Provincial Agriculturist Joanna Dizon, Provincial Cooperative and Enterprise Development Officer Zena Sugatain, and Federation of Mango Growers, Exporters and Processors of Bataan member Analiza Utulo.

Other attendees were Cong. Garcia’s staff Alanna Balbuena, BPSU research staff Maricel Javier, Provincial Agriculture Office personnel Rolando Almario

Jr., and PCEDO personlnel Raymond Macomis.

Paguia said a technical working group for the council will be formed, and added the Office of Cong. Garcia will provide legal advise and assistance.

It was agreed in the meeting that the council will work for stable policy of the mango development in the province as well as the fruit sure market.

BPSU will also continuously provide technical assistance and extension services to local mango growers.

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pire were not spared from pillagers. This is known as the sack of Rome, “when the fate of the Roman culture would depend on the barbarians’ readiness to preserve or transmit it” (History of the World, John Whitney Hall, pp 139 and 141). Centuries later, in the worldwide expansion of EuTHERE has been an unexpected union rope, the natives of South America were between the Philippine Navy and the killed by the thousands during the early Tagapagtaguyod ng Sining at Kultura ng stages of the European conquest. The Pilipinas (TSKP). The Philippine Navy English colonists who settled in North is the naval branch of the Armed Forces America originated the notion that the of the Philippines (AFP). The AFP is re- only good Indian was a dead Indian (Hissponsible for upholding the sovereignty tory of the World, John Whitney Hall, pp of our Republic, supporting the Consti- 414-415). tution and defending Philippine territory There was also the Anschluss, the Geragainst all enemies foreign and domestic. man annexation of Austria on 12 March TSKP on the other hand, is a nongov- 1938 unopposed by the Austrians because ernmental and nonpolitical organization of intense Nazi propaganda. In November which was organized to develop and pro- 1938, on a day aptly called Kristallnacht mote Philippine arts and culture, and to (“Night of the Broken Glass”), most of use arts and culture as a means to educate the synagogues in Vienna were destroyed Filipinos on Philippine history, traditions, and burned in full view of the fire departand foster distinct valments and the public. ues including nationJewish businesses hood and patriotism. were vandalized and The Philippine ransacked, and thouThere is an Navy, as a protector of sands of Jews were unlikely union the nation and TSKP arrested and deportas an advocate of ed to concentration between soldiers culture and arts, both camps(https://encyand the arts. aim to strengthen the clopedia.ushmm.org/ fabric of Philippine content/en/article/ society. Cynics will austria). find a disconnect in During World War their partnership, questioning the Navy’s II, the Director of the French Muśees relevance with regard to arts and culture. Nationaux, Jacques Jaujard, anticipated This is how we see it—the Philippine the fall of France and decided to orgaNavy protects the nation and preserves nize the evacuation of the Louvre art our society. This society must embrace collections into the countryside. By the arts and culture because it is that which time the Germans arrived in Paris on 16 creates a civilized society, lays history August 1940 the museum was almost and traditions, and gives a nation its iden- empty. For instance, the Mona Lisa was tity. moved from Chambord to several casTo some, arts and culture is only for tles and abbeys, to finish at the end of the privileged and those who can afford the war at the Muśee Ingres in Montauto appreciate it. It is only them who may ban (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ own a part of it or enjoy the pleasures of Evacuation_of_the_Louvre_museum_ a cultured life. I asked my son who is in art_collection_during_World_War_II). high school about how he sees culture The art collections in the Louvre, which and arts. He said that “it is nonessential; carried items from various cultures in arts are just drawings or paintings unless the world were saved for the next genyou have a personal interest in it.” He fur- erations to behold. ther expounded that “culture is discussed In recent memory is the looting of in Araling Panlipunan where we study in- the Baghdad Museum in Iraq in 2003 digenous communities and their cultures, during the armed conflict of Iraq with the and Philippine traditions and practices United States. It also resulted in damage like fiestas, serenading or harana, bayani- to the ancient city of Babylon (in preshan, among others.” ent day Iraq). The incessant civil unrest However, culture and arts is more than in Syria has exposed its heritage sites tradition and practices—it is an expres- to massive, inadvertent, and deliberate sion of the ideas, events and perspectives destruction(https://www.brandeis.edu/ of a people in a period in history. This is ethics/peacebuildingarts/pdfs/library-auwhy in times of war and occupation, the thors/2015_10_KristinParker_Heritageannexing powers take control not only andReconciliation_Final.pdf). Because of the government and military force but of these shifts in power and voyages of also of the way of life. The Spanish for conquest, cultures were destroyed alongmore than three hundred years introduced side their peoples. These may be realities their way of life, religion and culture to of war and armed conflict but arts, cul“Las Islas de Filipinas.” When Spain ced- ture, monuments, and heritage sites will ed the Philippines to the United States in have to be saved to preserve both the cul1898 through the Treaty of Paris, they, in ture and history of civilizations. turn, used education and religion as tools to influence the way we live.

Full version at www.manilastandard.

Old civilizations like the Roman Em- net

THE House of Representatives will have passed by today the 2021 General Appropriations bill as its new leadership of House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco promised President Duterte.

Further delay in the endorsement of the budget measure to the Senate would have made the government eventually resort to a reenacted national budget. This would have cost the country unconscionable loss of the needed funds for the healthcare program against COVID-19.

The President envisions each and every Filipino, now well over 120 million, to get vaccinated against coronavirus.

With the strong backing of the majority of lawmakers, Velasco guaranteed they will wrap up and pass on third and final reading the bill certified as urgent by the

Adelle Chua, Editor

President who called this week’s “special session.”

The special session paved the way for the transition in the House Speakership which former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s camp apparently tried to prevent by suspending the session.

But the callous maneuver did not quite sit well with Manong Digong, who brokered the term-sharing agreement between Cayetano and Velasco.

So, all is well that ends well. Thanks to Manong Digong, order has been restored in the House.

We can simply hope for a smooth-sailing passage of the all-important national budget, as Senate President Tito Sotto vowed a good working relationship with Velasco’s leadership.

“We will meet after Friday (October 16) when he promised to pass the budget on third reading as he told me,” Sotto quoted the new House Speaker as saying.

When Manong Digong said on Wednesday that he would find a way to get all Filipinos inoculated with anti-COVID-19 vaccine, it goes without

Pass the budget —and quarrel later

L

health of the population should begin on Day One of 2021.

The nation cannot afford another reenacted budget if lawmakers fail on their job. The late approval of the 2019 budget and the subsequent reenacted budget slowed down economic growth in that year. The Philippine economy would have expanded close to 7

AWMAKERS should drop everything and immediately debate over the proposed 2021 budget.

They should pass the new appropriations act swiftly with little time left, as if their lives depend on it.

President Rodrigo Duterte as early as last month stressed the importance of the 2021 spending plan and its early passage, calling it the country’s biggest stimulus package. The 2021 budget in a sense will be the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed the economy and rendered millions of Filipinos jobless.

Lawmakers should be reminded time and again that this is not the time for political bickering. Their petty squabbles can wait but the spending program to reinvigorate the economy and preserve the

The Philippines in these trying times should not operate on a reenacted budget. percent in 2019 had the budget been passed on time. The delayed approval of the P3.7-trillion 2019 budget resulted in an over full percentage point loss

in economic growth.

To recall, the government had to implement a catch-up spending program starting in the third quarter of 2019 to keep the economic growth on target.

The Philippines did grow by 5.9 percent that year but the economic performance was nowhere close to the target of at least 6.5 percent.

The Philippines in these trying times should not operate on a reenacted budget. The response to the pandemic requires huge funds in order to effectively procure the vaccine, restore the millions of jobs lost as a result of strict quarantine rules and fund an ambitious infrastructure program to modernize the economy.

The budget is a financial plan of expenses and revenues geared to boost the economy, improve the education and social welfare of the Filipinos and uplift the lives of the people through the creation of more jobs and poverty reduction. It is not about funding the egos of a few squabbling lawmakers.

Expectation versus reality LONG STORY SHORT ADELLE CHUA THERE will always be a gap between expectation and reality. The world is not perfect. People are not perfect. The expectations, however, remind us that we should not accept the current situation, and that we can always improve—if we want to.

What are these instances of expectation versus reality? We need not look further than what we saw at the House of Representatives these past few days.

Expectation 1: Independence. The government is composed of three branches of government that are independent, separate and co-equal. They check and balance each other, ensuring that no one branch commits abuse of power. The Executive does not meddle in the affairs of the Legislature, and the lawmakers act on their own, crafting and passing laws they believe would be good for the people. Their words and actions do not in any way court the favor of the Executive, and developments in Congress are determined only by lawmakers themselves – not lawmakers dancing to the tune of the Executive.

Expectation 2: Urgency. The House holds the purse strings of government.

The Constitution designates it as the only body that can initiate appropriation proceedings. With this solemn duty, lawmakers make sure that they give enough time for budget deliberations so each government agency spends taxpayers’ money in the most prudent way possible. At a time of a public health emergency, the consequences of even just a day of delay are magnified. Lawmakers, because they are public servants, act with urgency and are ashamed of every day of delay.

Expectation 3: Genuine service. Lawsaying that he wants every peso in the national budget intended for such purpose to be spent on vaccination and nothing else.

Let’s hope those in Congress have certainly come to their senses, and would now prioritize the people’s well-being rather than their political or personal interests.

The overarching concern is to pass the next year’s proposed national budget or fiscal year 2021 General Appropriations Bill, based on the government’s national expenditure program (NEP) with the theme “Reset, Rebound and Recover: In-

makers from the Lower House are elected by the people in their respective districts on the assumption that they would champion their best interests in Congress.

Expectation 4: Maturity. Birthdays are events celebrated in private and these have no bearing on the interests of the nation. After all, everybody has a birthday once a year.

We all know the realities that counter these expectations. Cringe-worthy. Facepalm-inducing. Hilarious, if only they weren’t happening on our dime. All these make us wonder where we are headed as a nation—and to think that the COVID numbers are still not going down.

But we need not be so defeatist. We

‘The sight and sound of competence and dedication.’ must perform our solemn right and duty to vote come 2022. In the lead-up to the polls, we should psych ourselves to be discerning of the things we read and hear —reject what is obviously propaganda, if not downright false statements, stick with the truth, and then form our own opinion.

What’s next?

The West Wing is a political drama series that started in 1999 and went on for seven seasons, concluding in 2006. It is about the people working in, well, the West Wing of the United States White House, under fictional Democrat president Josiah “Jed” Bartlett, played by Martin Sheen.

Main characters are the senior WH officials including the chief of staff (Leo), the deputy chief of staff (Josh), the communications director (Toby), deputy communications director (Sam), the press secretary (CJ), and some aides and assistants,

The House is now in order, thanks to Digong. vesting for Resiliency and Sustainability.”

It’s a mouthful, but it simply means starting over by picking up the pieces and being better prepared for future challenges.

In view of the “flattening of the curve”

helping the President make decisions on domestic and international issues.

I only had the pleasure of finishing the series recently; I did not have access to it when it originally aired. It’s a feelgood show where leaders were competent and decent, and where they realized the weight and importance of what they were doing. They were by no means perfect, and their personal lives showed that they were as human as any of us. But they took their jobs seriously, aware that nothing less was expected of them.

Alas, today’s real West Wing has descended to the low of being a hotspot for COVID-19, where prevarication, selfishness, ignorance and arrogance lie in one messy pile.

Fourteen years after its finale, The West Wing makes a one-time comeback this week on HBO, with a reading of one episode from its third season, supposedly in the light of current circumstances.

Original cast members as well as the original creator, Aaron Sorkin (who stayed on until Season 4) are staging A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote. It’s a bid to encourage Americans to go out and vote on November 3, especially now that there are far too many threats to democracy.

“What’s next?” is a favorite expression of President Bartlett. What is next, indeed? These days it is so comforting to re-watch shows like The West Wing, because it reminds us how things should be, and what we should really expect from the people who are supposed to lead us.

It would be, as Sorkin said in a TV interview, “the sight and sound of competence and dedication.” If we can’t have that from our real leaders, it would be a respite to experience it for a brief hour.

It’s a brief relief, but a relief nonetheless as we remind ourselves to do better in choosing our leaders next time around. adellechua@gmail.com on COVID-19 incidence, the government is carefully taking steps to reopen the economy by allowing Filipinos go back to work and business activities, even as we continue to observe health and safety measures.

We must by now have learned by heart the health protocols inculcated by seven months of community quarantine.

We must be individually and collectively responsible and accountable for what will come about five months from now, which will have been one year since the chaotic March 16 lockdown.

Renewed at 75

And now a bit of good news

The bottom line

Police internal cleansing

Piki Lopez: Management Man of the Year

By Dr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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Thai gov’t arrests protest leaders THAI authorities rounded up protest leaders under sweeping emergency powers announced Thursday as it launched a crackdown on escalating pro-democracy demonstrations that have also targeted the unassailable monarchy.

Three top activists were among nearly two dozen arrested under a decree that also banned gatherings of more than four people after months of student-led protests against the government.

It comes a day after protesters challenged a royal motorcade -- flashing the three-fingered salute adopted from “The Hunger Games” books and films -- in an unprecedented act of defiance against the monarchy.

After the emergency measures were announced early Thursday, riot police dispersed hundreds of protesters who camped overnight outside the prime minister’s office in Bangkok.

Army spokesman Lieutenant-General Santipong Thampiya played down the presence of military officers around some government buildings, writing on Facebook they were there “to assist the law enforcement”.

Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha was army chief when the military seized power in a 2014 coup before winning a disputed election in March last year as a civilian.

Student leader Parit Chiwarak was among those arrested, according to Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul -- another prominent activist, whose SALUTE TO DEMOCRACY. Pro-democracy protesters give the three-finger salute as they gather for a demonstration in Bangkok on October 15, 2020, after Thailand issued an own arrest was live-streamed on Facebook. emergency decree following an anti-government rally the previous day. AFP Anon Numpa, another senior figure of the protest movement, said he was forcibly taken by helicopter to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand “without my lawyer”. AFP

Kiwi PM to quit if she loses poll NEW Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Thursday she will step down as leader of the center-left Labour Party if opinion polls prove wrong and she loses Saturday’s general election.

The prospect appears remote, with Labour enjoying a 15 point lead in the polls, but Ardern responded with a firm “No” when asked during a televised debate whether she would remain as opposition leader if the vote does not go her way.

The 40-year-old, who has led New Zealand through a string of crises in the past three years culminating in the Covid-19 pandemic, said her commitment to the job had demanded sacrifice.

“I never take for granted that I’m here. I give my everything,” she said.

“No matter what crisis is thrown my way, you will always be assured I will give my everything to this job, even if that means a huge sacrifice.”

Ardern said even if she was not in parliament she would still be involved in politics in some capacity, saying she wanted to effect change and take debate beyond mudslinging insults.

“I want our nation not to be completely polarized, and actually, relative to other countries, we do a pretty good job on that,” she said.

A TVNZ poll released Thursday put Labour’s support at 46 percent, down one point on a month ago, but well ahead of the conservative National Party, which also slipped a point to 31 percent.

Under New Zealand’s proportional voting system, Ardern would still need minor party support to govern but current coalition partner the Greens would easily get her over the line, lifting its support two points to eight percent. AFP

HK cops raid media mogul’s office H ONG Kong police raided a private office of prodemocracy media mogul Jimmy Lai on Thursday, in a move he said had disregarded the rule of law.

Lai, 71, is among more than two dozen people who have been arrested under a draconian national security law imposed by Beijing at the end of June to quell massive, often violent pro-democracy protests over the past year.

“It seems that they are looking for every possible reason to charge me,”

Lai told reporters.

“The police didn’t even wait for the lawyer to come before they took things away, so that’s not rule of law,” he added.

In August, Lai was detained under the new law on suspicion of “collusion with foreign forces” and the offices of his newspaper Apple Daily were

raided.

He also faces prosecution over his alleged part in last year’s protests.

On Thursday, 14 police officers raided an office of a company owned

by Lai and left before lawyers arrived, senior aide Mark Simon told AFP. “(The) goal here is to cut money off to Apple Daily,” he said.

Simon, who is also a director of the raided office, said he spoke by phone with the officers and said they ignored requests to wait for company lawyers.

Hong Kong police did not respond to requests for comment.

30 killed due to heavy rains, flooding in Indian city AT least 30 people have been killed because of sudden torrential rains and flooding in southern India, officials said Thursday.

In Hyderabad city, home to top IT companies, nine people were killed when a wall collapsed on them and 10 others died from electrocution and drowning, a local official told AFP. Dramatic images showed cars being washed away by swirling waters, bridges submerged by swollen rivers

and trucks stranded on roads inundated by flooding Wednesday.

Eight members of a family, who were standing in their balcony to watch the rain, were also washed away due to sudden flooding in Hyderabad.

Two of them were found dead and the search is on for the remaining six, the Times of India reported.

Personnel from the army and the National Disaster Response Force have been deployed to evacuate stranded

residents.

Weather officials blamed the sudden deluge on a depression in the Bay of Bengal.

Telangana state is the hardest hit area but the flooding has also affected neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Flash floods kill hundreds of people across India every year, with experts blaming poor construction and warning systems for the fatalities. AFP

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 225, QUEZON CITY IN RE: CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF ANGELO RAMOS JABINAR ANGELO RAMOS JABINAR Petitioner, -versus-

Case No. R-QZN-20-06780-SP

LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY, JUANITA ANSELMO RAMOS, NERRY JABON JABINAR, AND ALL OTHER PERSONS WHO HAVE OR CLAIM ANY INTEREST IN THE INSTANT PETITION, Respondents. x-----------------------------------------------------x

ORDER

A verified petition was filed on July 9, 2020 by petitioner through counsel praying that after due notice, publication and hearing, judgment be rendered directing the respondent to make the corresponding correction in the entry in the Certificate of Live Birth of Angelo Ramos Jabinar to reflect the correct entry for petitioner’s Date of Birth from “22 June 2000” to “19 December 1993” for all legal intents and purposes.

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

WHEREFORE, let copy of this Order be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks at petitioner’s expense, upon coordination with the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Quezon City. Hearing on the verified petition is hereby set on November 5, 2020 at 9:00 o’clock to 9:30 o’clock in the morning at 7th Floor, Hall of Justice Annex Building, Quezon City, at which time and place, any person having interest in the petition may appear.

Let copies of this Order be posted by the Branch Sheriff, thirty (30) days before the hearing date at the following places at the expense of petitioner.

1. at the main entrance of the City Hall Building of Quezon City; 2. on the Bulletin Board of the Court, Hall of Justice, Quezon City, and 3. at the Barangay Hall of the barangay where the petitioner resided.

Let copy of the amended petition together with its annexes and a copy of this Order be furnished the Office of the Solicitor General and the Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City personally by the Branch Sheriff of this Court at the expense of the petitioner and thereafter to submit his report at least two (2) weeks before the hearing date.

SO ORDERED. September 11, 2020, Quezon City, Metro Manila.

(Sgd.) MARIA LUISA LESLE G. GONZALES-BETIC Presiding Judge (MStandard-Oct. 9, 16 & 23, 2020)

SHOW OF SUPPORT. Supporters of newly appointed Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov waves Kyrgyz flags during a rally in support

of Japarov in Bishkek on October 14, 2020. Kyrgyzstan’s parliament on October 14 gave its blessing to populist Sadyr Japarov as prime minister, with the Central Asian state seeking a path out of crisis following an annulled election. AFP

Taiwan firm closes when told to register as Chinese-owned ONLINE marketplace Taobao Taiwan said Thursday it will shut down its service at the end of the year after being told by the government to register as Chinese.

The move comes as relations between Taipei and Beijing have grown increasingly strained as the island looks to maintain its distance from the Asian superpower.

The company said it had decided to stop taking new orders around noon Thursday before officially going offline on December 31 after “prudent evaluations”.

Taobao Taiwan is registered as a foreign company through its operator—UK-registered Claddagh Venture Investment—but Taiwanese authorities deemed that it was in effect controlled

by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba.

The island’s Investment Commission in August fined Claddagh Tw$410,000 (US$13,700) for violating local law governing Chinese investments and gave it six months to “rectify” the situation or withdraw its investment.

The commission started the probe

after a former lawmaker claimed it was illegally operating on the island as it shared the same platform with Alibabaowned Taobao.

Under Taiwan’s regulations, a company is considered a Chinese investment if a Chinese entity owns more than 30 percent of its shares or has “effective control” over its operations.

The commission ruled that Claddagh is in effect controlled by Alibaba, even though it holds less than 30 percent of its shares. AFP

A few hours later, Lai appeared in court for a procedural hearing in the prosecution of some two dozen activists who took part in vigil earlier this year, marking Beijing’s deadly 1989 Tiananmen crackdown.

Apple Daily is Hong Kong’s most popular tabloid.

It is unapologetically pro-democracy and critical of both Beijing and Hong Kong’s appointed leaders.

In April, Lai said he had provided HK$550 million ($71 million) of his own money to keep the newspaper afloat. AFP

Kyrgyzstan leader Jeenbekov resigns KYRGYZSTAN’S President Sooronbay Jeenbekov resigned on Thursday, saying he wanted to bring an end to the crisis sparked by disputed parliamentary elections earlier this month.

Protests had erupted after the election on October 4 was won by parties loyal to Jeenbekov but opponents said was hit by vote-buying. The results were later annulled but this did not quell the tensions.

“I am not clinging to power. I do not want to go down in the history of Kyrgyzstan as a president who allowed bloodshed and shooting on its people. I have taken the decision to resign,” Jeenbekov said in a statement released by his office.

More than 1,200 people were injured and one killed during the clashes in the wake of the elections between protesters and police.

The move came as supporters of Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov -- who was serving jail time for hostage-taking only last week -- gathered once more Thursday to demand Jeenbekov’s immediate resignation.

“The current situation is close to a two-sided conflict. On the one hand, the protesters, on the other, the law enforcement agencies,” Jeenbekov said in the statement.

“Military personnel and law enforcement agencies are obliged to use weapons to protect the residence of head of state. In this case, blood will be shed. It is inevitable. I urge both sides not to succumb to provocations.”

‘Return to peaceful life’ The president had on Wednesday finally accepted the nomination of Japarov as prime minister, in a move seen as the first step towards calming the crisis.

But Japarov insisted that the president should step down.

Jeenbekov called on Japarov and other politicians “to withdraw their supporters from the capital of the country so the people of Bishkek (can) return to a peaceful life.”

Jeenbekov had previously pledged to resign after overseeing fresh parliamentary elections in the country. But Japarov and his supporters pressed for an immediate resignation.

Kyrgyzstan has been dogged by political volatility for much of its three decades of independence. AFP

Business

B3

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rises slightly; MerryMart, ICTSI climb T PSEi October 15, 2020

TOP GAINERS

HE stock market rose slightly Thursday in thin trading, with sentiments weighed down by rising virus cases and fresh lockdowns in Europe.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 13.03 points, or 0.2 percent, to 5,938.33 on a value turnover of just P3.4 billion. Gainers beat losers, 104 to 80, with 62 issues unchanged.

MerryMart Consumer Corp., the grocery chain owned by businessman Edgar Sia II, advanced 4.4 percent to P3.33, while NOW Corp., the fourth major mobile phone operator owned by the Velarde family, climbed 2.3 percent

to P5.33.

International Container Terminal Services Inc., the biggest port operator owned by tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., increased 2.5 percent to P119.80, but Puregold Price Club Inc. of retail tycoon Lucio Co fell 1.7 percent to P44.15.

Concerns about the reimposition of virus lockdowns, stalled vaccine trials and dimming hopes of new US stimulus any time soon, meanwhile, weighed on Asian and European markets Thursday.

Regional investors tracked another sell-off in New York, where all three main indexes turned negative after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin warned that while talks continued, Republicans and Democrats were still “far apart” on a rescue package.

Tokyo suffered steep losses, while Mumbai, Taipei and Wellington were also in the red. Singapore and Hong Kong were both well down, with little reaction from news that the two cities’ governments were pushing ahead with plans to open a travel bubble in a first for Asia.

Seoul lost 0.8 percent, though shares in Big Hit Entertainment—the management agency of K-pop sensation BTS— more than doubled on their debut after the initial public offering was more than 600 times oversubscribed.

The firm soared from its IPO price of 135,000 won ($118) to its daily limit of 351,000 won, giving it a market capitalization of $8.7 billion and putting it among South Korea’s top 40 most valuable companies.

While the broad view is that a new spending package will get passed eventually, the comments reinforced expectations that there will be nothing before next month’s presidential and congressional elections.

“This has been an ongoing drama,” Paul Nolte, at Kingsview Investment Management, said. “The latest twist I heard is nothing is going to get done until the election. That’s why I think you’re getting the market selling off a little bit.”

However, analysts said traders were taking comfort from the possibility that Joe Biden and the Democrats will win the White House and both houses of Congress, paving the way for a bigger stimulus than anything that could be agreed before the vote. With AFP

TOP LOSERS

World Bank, IMF marshal forces to help poor nations MOST ACTIVE

Workers print cinema posters at a printing house in Kolkata on October 12, 2020 ahead of cinemas reopening on October 15 at 50 percent seating capacity after closing due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. AFP

China’s inflation rate eases further as farms recover BEIJING, China—The rise in Chinese consumer prices slowed for a second successive month in September, official data showed Thursday, as pork supplies bounce back from the devastating African swine fever while farms recovered from flooding.

The consumer price index (CPI), a key gauge of retail inflation, rose 1.7 percent last month from a year ago, compared with a 2.4-percent reading in August, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The increase was also less than expected.

Food prices have begun to stabilize after months of huge rises fueled by the swine fever, which ravaged pig herds across the country and sent the cost of pork rocketing, in turn pushing up demand for other meat.

Floods also swept across China in late June, hitting vegetable crops and transportation.

“Looking through the volatility in food prices, the broader disinflationary impact from the Covid-19 downturn continued to ease,” said Julian EvansPritchard, senior China economist of Capital Economics.

He noted that core consumer price inflation, which strips out food and energy prices, rose 0.2 percent onmonth—“the fastest pace since the Covid-19 outbreak.”

The producer price index (PPI), which measures the cost of goods at the factory gate, fell 2.1 percent onyear—more than the 1.8 percent drop forecast in a Bloomberg poll of analysts.

“But like core CPI, factory gate prices continued to recover last month thanks to strengthening industrial demand, rising 0.1 percent month-onmonth,” Evans-Pritchard noted.

The International Monetary Fund this week forecast China will be the only major economy to grow this year as it rebounds from the devastation caused by the coronavirus.

“Industrial production has reached its potential level and we are waiting for the recovery of the service sector,” Zhaopeng Xing, China markets economist at ANZ Research, told AFP. “I think the progress is going well.”

AFP

India cinemas back, hoping to lure back movie-mad fans BANGALORE, India—Cinemas in movie-mad India tentatively re-opened on Thursday but with worries about coronavirus and only old films showing, early punters were few and far between.

The pandemic has clobbered theaters worldwide but in India, home to the planet’s most prolific movie industry, it has upended a culture that treats the stars of the silver screen almost like gods.

After the recent loss of several luminaries to coronavirus, cancer and even suicide—as well as a Bollywood drugs scandal—the industry is desperate for some good news.

But it may have to wait, with some states still keeping theaters closed—including Maharashtra and its movie mad capital Mumbai—and film studios offering no new releases.

At the Sharada Cinema in Bangalore on Thursday, there was only a small trickle of customers for the morning showing of action fantasy “Kaanadante Maayavadanu.”

One of those in line was businessman Chandrashekhar Naidu, who said he was “excited” to return to the cinema

after the almost seven-month-long coronavirus-imposed hiatus.

“I prefer watching movies on big screens, mobiles don’t give you that much pleasure,” the 55-year-old told AFP. The Indian Express daily quoted unnamed industry executives as saying that advance bookings were very low, and some cinemas scrapped previously scheduled morning screenings.

India’s largest operator PVR—which lost $30 million in the last quarter—on Thursday was only screening movies for employees, police and their families, before opening to the public on Friday at selected locations.

“Right now, what we are working on is getting the confidence of people back by letting them know that the cinemas are safe and secure,” said Lalit Ojha, a regional director for INOX, the country’s second-largest multiplex operator.

“We are hoping to have a blockbuster release at Diwali,” Ojha said, referring to next month’s Hindu festival that usually spells a bonanza for theaters and retail businesses.

A trip to the cinema remains an affordable pursuit in India, with as little as 75 rupees ($1) buying three hours of drama, dancing and song in air-conditioned luxury.

At high-end chains like INOX, before the pandemic patrons could get biryani or hot fudge sundaes delivered to their recliners.

But with temperature checks at the door, half the seats left empty for social distancing, and only a limited selection of food, the experience now is a far cry from what was previously on offer.

‘Vicious circle’ Nervous producers have so far refrained from lining up any big-ticket releases, with many pushing their films directly to streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime.

“It’s a vicious circle—people won’t come to cinemas unless there is fresh content. And producers won’t release a movie without some guarantee that it will do good business,” film trade analyst Komal Nahta told AFP. “Ultimately, someone will have to take a chance and release an exciting film,” he said. AFP

WASHINGTON—The world’s two dominant emergency lenders opened their annual meetings on Wednesday with a renewed call for the wealthy to help the poorest deal with the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic, within national borders and globally.

The leaders of the IMF and World Bank have been banging the drum about the need for governments to continue to spend amid the crisis to help support businesses and jobless workers, to keep the emergency from growing far worse.

But with national and corporate debt levels soaring amid record low interest rates, the crisis presents a puzzle for the Washington-based institutions that have always called for caution in spending.

So far the calls to spend have been heeded—but IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank President David Malpass are sounding the alarm against becoming too complacent with the early success and urging creditors, notably China and private lenders, to do more to ease the debt burden on the most vulnerable countries.

“Nine months into the pandemic, we are still struggling with the darkness of a crisis that has taken more than a million lives, and driven the economy into reverse, causing sharply higher unemployment, rising poverty, and the risk of ‘a lost generation’ in low-income countries,” Georgieva told reporters.

“I worry most about withdrawing support to workers and firms prematurely, because it could cause a wave of bankruptcies and massive increase in unemployment,” she warned.

The fund projects a 4.4-percent drop in global GDP this year, a smaller decline than forecast in June due to the stunning $12 trillion in resources that governments pumped into their economies worldwide.

But despite a 5.2-percent recovery forecast for 2021, the world economy is expected to lose $28 trillion in output in the next five years. AFP

Champagne houses pounded by Covid eyeing high-stakes holidays

By Isabel Malsang and Antoine Bouthier EPERNAY, France—Will a second wave of coronavirus infections burst the bubble of French champagne producers hoping to ring in 2021 with some good cheer after heavy Covid-related losses?

The pandemic has put a damper on fizz consumption this year, with retail sales in France falling 23 percent between January and July, as restaurants closed and millions of people went into lockdown.

For the full year, the global decline in sales is expected to reach up to 30 percent, “a colossal economic shock unseen since World War II,” according to the SGV champagne growers union.

Producers of the festive tipple in the champagne capital of Epernay, in northeast France, are hoping that the global mood will have lightened by New Year’s Eve and that people will be popping corks again.

But with the virus tipping the global economy into a slump and forcing revelers to call off large gatherings, including big weddings, there has been little cause for celebration.

In France, where bars in Paris and several other cities were closed last week, President Emmanuel Macron is widely expected to announce Wednesday new restrictions to tamp down record levels of daily infections.

Faced with the steady drip of bad news,

This file photo taken on December 13, 2019, shows a tourist taking a smartphone picture of champagne bottles on the “Champagne Avenue” in Epernay, northeastern France. The consumption of champagne is highly affected by the health crisis, but Champagne winegrowers still hope to save the year if the second wave of the epidemic does not prohibit gatherings for the end of the year celebrations. AFP

the champagne industry has been trying to recast the wine’s elite image and portray it as more than suitable for everyday drinking.

A recent ad showed a glass of bubbly being set down next to a slice of toast topped with sardines.

“There’s nothing to celebrate, just something to savor,” was the catchline.

No French buffer Champagne sales have traditionally

acted as a barometer of global confidence, tanking during wars, economic crises and health scares.

At the height of the first wave of coronavirus outbreaks last spring, sales in Europe plunged 65 percent.

Top brands, like Mumm and Veuve Clicquot, were particularly hurt by the slowdown in air travel, which all but dried up all-important duty-free sales.

The Union des Maisons de Champagne

(UMC) trade body has said it expects to sell 100 million fewer bottles this year, an unheard-of hit that will slash overall sales to 3.3 billion euros ($3.9 billion)—down 34 percent from last year.

The SGV union has expressed “strong concern” for exports to the US and Britain, the two biggest markets for champagne outside France.

Antoine Chiquet, head of the Gaston Chiquet champagne house in the village of Dizy, near Epernay, is confident the bubbles will flow again before 2020 is out.

But will it be a trickle or a flood?

“For the French, there’s no doubt: champagne is the drink of choice for year-end festivities,” he said.

“It’s the same for our British and Italian friends,” he said, “but the question is, in what quantities?”

Battle over yields There was some relief this summer for smaller champagne houses as Europeans began to travel across the continent again, giving wine tourism in the Champagne region a shot in the arm.

The Boizel champagne house in Epernay said it received “surprisingly large” numbers of Belgians, Scandinavians and British visitors.

But with governments around the world imposing new lockdowns to slow the spread of Covid-19, the market looks set to freeze over once more. AFP

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

B4 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020

Remittances fell 4.1% to $2.48b in August—BSP CASH remittances from Filipinos working overseas declined 4.1 percent in August to $2.48 billion from $2.589 billion a year ago, on lower inflows from both the land-based and sea-based workers amid the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Thursday.

The latest figure brought the remittance tally in the first eight months to $19.285 billion, down 2.6 percent from $19.808 billion registered in the same period last year.

“This was due to the decline in remittances from both land-based and sea-based workers, which fell by 1.9 percent [to $15.183 billion from $15.476 billion] and 5.3 percent [to $4.101 billion from $4.332 billion], respectively,” the BSP said in a statement.

By country source, the decline in remittances in August from the same month last year was observed from Saudi Arabia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. These were partly offset by the remittance growth from the United States, Singapore and Malaysia.

The BSP said receipts from the US registered the highest share at 40.2 percent in terms of cumulative share, followed by Singapore, the United Kingdom, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Qatar. The combined remittances from these countries accounted for 78.9 percent of total cash remittances.

Meanwhile, personal remittances, which include non-cash items, declined 4.2 percent in August to $2.756 from $2.875 billion in the same month last year.

This brought the cumulative remittances in the eight-month period to $21.414 billion, a decrease of 2.6 percent from $21.995 billion recorded in the comparable period in 2019.

Personal remittances from landbased workers with work contracts of one year or more went down by 4.6 percent to $2.118 billion from $2.221 billion recorded in August 2019.

Julito G. Rada

Business Foreign exchange reserves topped $100b in September

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE country’s gross international reserves exceeded the $100-billion mark for the first time on record, providing the economy sufficient buffers against external shocks amid the health crisis, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed Thursday.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the GIR increased by $1.54 billion on a monthly basis to hit an all-time high of $100.49 billion as of end-September from $98.95 billion in August.

“The month-on-month increase in the GIR level reflected inflows mainly from the BSP’s foreign exchange operations and national government’s foreign cur-

rency deposits with the BSP,” Diokno said.

“These inflows were partly offset, however, by the revaluation losses from the BSP’s gold holdings resulting from the decrease in the price of gold in the international market and foreign currency withdrawals made by the national government to pay its foreign currency debt obligations,” he said.

Diokno said the end-September 2020 GIR level represented more than adequate external liquidity buffer to cushion the domestic economy against external shocks.

The buffer is equivalent to 10 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income. It is also about 9.2 times the country’s shortterm external debt based on original maturity and 5.4 times based on residual maturity.

Data showed the GIR jumped by $14.91 billion, or 17.4 percent year-onyear, from $85.58 billion in September 2019.

The GIR consisted of $84.4 billion in foreign investments, $11.59 billion in gold holdings, $2.53 billion in foreign exchange, $1.2 billion in special drawing rights and $747.9 million in reserve position in the International Monetary Fund.

Meanwhile, the net international reserves, which refers to the difference between the BSP’s GIR and total shortterm liabilities, increased by $1.53 billion to $100.48 billion as of endSeptember 2020 from $98.95 billion in August.

Diokno said in a previous briefing that the GIR could settle at more than $100 billion by yearend. He said if the price of gold went up significantly, it would gradually increase the reserves. Gold holdings accounted for 12.8 percent of the country’s reserves.

He said the BSP would actively engage in gold trading to seize the opportunity presented by the increasing price of the precious metal in the global market.

THE Philippine Stock Exchange said Thursday it rejected the lifting of trading suspension on soft drinks maker Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. to facilitate its delisting.

It said it denied the request of Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co. Ltd. to remove the trading suspension of PCPPI’s shares to enable to it to sell on a block sale the shares tendered by minority investors.

The PSE said lifting PCPPI’s trading suspension would be in violation of Revenue Regulation No. 16-2012 of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which provides that trading of shares of a publicly-listed firm that is not compliant with the 10-percent minimum public ownership requirement would be subject to a final tax at either 5 percent or 10 percent on the net capital gains and documentary stamp tax.

The public float of PCPPI dropped to 2.11 percent, after Lotte Chilsung conducted a tender offer in June, prompting the PSE to implement a trading suspension of the company’s stock.

The board of PCPPI approved in September the voluntary delisting of the common shares of the company from the main board of the exchange.

PCPPI filed with the PSE a petition for voluntary delisting, including a tender offer plan to be conducted by Lotte Chilsung.

The tendered and accepted shares are supposed to be crossed via block sale through the facilities of the PSE on Oct. 26 unless the tender offer period was extended.

The PSE said the tender offer report prepared by Lotte Chilsung did not make any reference to the BIR’s RR No. 16-2012 regarding the tax treatment of sales, barters, exchanges or other dispositions of shares of stock of publicly-listed companies whose public ownership levels fall below the mandatory MP level.

13.03 PTS. 5,938.33

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

1,180,607,472 73,689 3,419,314,719.82 104 80 62

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.6230

Japan

Yen

0.009515

0.4626

UK

Pound

1.301800

63.2974

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129034

6.2740

Switzerland

Franc

1.095290

53.2563

Canada

Dollar

0.760919

36.9982

Singapore

Dollar

0.736920

35.8313

Australia

Dollar

0.716500

34.8384

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652309

128.9632

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266596

12.9627

Brunei

Dollar

0.734214

35.6997

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000068

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.032082

1.5599

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.2387

Euro

Euro

1.175100

57.1369

Korea

Won

0.000872

0.0424

China

Yuan

0.148951

7.2424

India

Rupee

0.013644

0.6634

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241080

11.7220

New Zealand

Dollar

0.666200

32.3926

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034819

1.6930 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF Filinvest denies links to Filinvest Trust Bank CONGLOMERATE Filinvest Development Corp. disassociated itself from Filinvest Trust Bank, which is allegedly claiming to be part of the Gotianun Group/ FDC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it received information that a website under the domain name “FilinvestTrust. com” for a purported company by the name of “Filinvest Trust Bank” was actively misusing the Filinvest name and claiming to be part of FDC. The group said the alleged bank was using the official business address of FDC’s real estate arm Filinvest Land Inc. in Mandaluyong City in offering banking and financial services internationally, including online and internet banking, insurance, asset-management and investment.

“FDC would like to clarify and advise the public that FDC, and its real estate arm, FLI, its concerned affiliates and subsidiaries are the exclusive owners and registrants of the trade name and mark Filinvest and have not authorized any other entity to use the Filinvest name/mark and/or the above-said registered business address on any website... ,” FDC said. Jenniffer B. Austria

Converge ICT’s IPO gets strong interest

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT. Metro Pacific Investments Corp., through its foundation, provides support to the student scouts of Conde Labac Integrated School in Batangas City by donating Smart pocket Wi-Fi units to prepare them for education in the new normal. Leading the turnover ceremony is Metro Pacific Investments Foundation president Melody del Rosario (right) as she hands over 50 Smart Pocket Wi-Fis to the student scouts.

PSE denies Pepsi request to withdraw PNOC signs deal with US company on LNG development trading suspension By Alena Mae S. Flores

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PSE INDEX

Thursday, October 15, 2020

STATE-OWNED Philippine National Oil Co. said Thursday it signed a memorandum of understanding with New Fortress Energy LLC to advance the development of liquefied natural gas infrastructure to supply reliable, costcompetitive power and natural gas in the Philippines.

Under the MOU, PNOC and NFE will work together to identify potential opportunities to accelerate the development of important LNG and power infrastructure in the country.

The future investments will build a new and durable LNG value chain in the Philippines capable of generating jobs, revenue and opportunity beyond the prospective terminal or power plant sites.

NFE is a NASDAQ-listed, US-based

global energy infrastructure company founded in 2014, specializes in the construction and operation of LNG import terminals and other related facilities on natural gas utilization.

It has five operational facilities across the Caribbean and United States, with numerous additional projects under development around the world.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, who is also the ex-officio chairman of PNOC board, welcomed the signing of the MOU, saying the venture would benefit the country and the Filipino people.

“We welcome this recent development in light of our intensified efforts to ensure the country’s energy security with the expected depletion of Malampaya, and as part of our initial steps towards attaining our vision of establishing the Philippines as a regional LNG

hub in Southeast Asia. We hope that this partnership would bear fruit that would redound to the advantage of our people,” Cusi said.

The MOU was signed on Oct. 14 in a virtual ceremony that featured PNOC president and chief executive Reuben Lista and New Fortress chairman and chief executive Wes Edens.

“The memorandum… will enable cleaner, more affordable and more reliable energy for the people of the Philippines. Increasing access to power across the islands at a rapid pace will create significant growth opportunities. We look forward to working closely with our partners at PNOC and the government to bring more reliable power and help accelerate the clean energy transition,” said Edens, a co-owner of NBA team Milwaukee Bucks.

THE initial public offering of Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is poised to become the country’s largest after oversubscription, BDO Capital and Investments Corp. president Eduardo Francisco said Thursday.

Francisco said demand from local and foreign investors was very strong during the offering period despite the pandemic. Francisco, one of the local underwriters handling the transaction, said Converge ICT’s maiden share offering would also be the largest Southeast Asia’s telecommunications IPO since 2017.

“Foreign demand is very strong and local demand is also strong despite COVID-19.

Overall local demand is already more than P4.5 billion so far, which is one of the largest domestic take ups,” he said.

He said it received a good mix of institutional investors, including pension funds and retail investors.

“We appreciate the support from the regulatory bodies for our bid to go public. This is truly an exciting time for Converge ICT as the fixed broadband market in the Philippines is currently at an inflection point and is expected to grow at an accelerated pace,” Converge ICT founder and chief executive Dennis Anthony Uy said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

NLEX to fully enforce RFID payments Nov. 2 NLEX Corp. said Thursday it is undertaking several physical and system improvements in its toll plazas to ensure that 100-percent RFID transactions will be smoothly implemented in North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway by Nov. 2.

These improvements include the installation of 303 new canopy signage and 66 units of plaza lighting. Of the 303 signage, 100 were completed in the first week of October and the rest would be finished by December.

It said the pavement markings at the toll plazas would be repainted to help direct traffic, while the lights would increase visibility at night.

“As we fully transition to 100-percent cashless transactions, motorists can expect more improvements, and we will continue to ensure safety while delivering unmatched public service,” NLEX Corp. president and general manager J. Luigi Bautista said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

PH set to lose $120m to video piracy in 2020

By Othel V. Campos

BEVERAGE PARTNER. Customers of Bicol food chain Bigg’s Diner and take-out chicken joint Haring Manok get a refreshing eating experience, as Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. acquires an exclusive partnership to be the beverage supplier of the food joints. Attending the signing of a three-year exclusivity agreement are (from left) Jacqueline Mae Lee, owner of Haring Manok, and PCPPI executives Erico Salting, Garry Bagacina, Jun Olivares and Emmalyne Goyena

THE industry association of video producers, distributors and aggregators may lose $120 million worth of potential revenues to piracy this year, studies show.

The Asia Video Industry Association said incidents of video piracy remained prevalent in the Philippines based on a report of Media Partners Asia.

“While legal SVOD [subscription video on demand] monetization is growing, piracy remains pervasive in the Philippines. Piracy is depriving SVOD of $120 million in revenue per annum, more than 90 percent of the current legal opportunity,” said AVIA Coalition Against Piracy general manager Neil Gane in a virtual roundtable discussion organized by Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute on Thursday.

Gane said legal SVOD was growing in the country, led by Netflix, Viu, HBO Go and Prime Video. Disney+ Hotstar

and homegrown Viva are set to launch their SVOD services in 2021, he added.

He said a YouGov September 2020 survey showed that among eight East and Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines ranked third among the percentage of consumers who admit having accessed piracy streaming sites.

About 49 percent of respondents in the Philippines admitted having accessed piracy streaming sites in September 2020, behind 53 percent in Thailand and 50 percent in Vietnam.

Hong Kong only had 48 percent of respondents admitting having accessed piracy streaming sites; Taiwan, 33 percent; Indonesia, 28 percent; Malaysia, 22 percent; and Singapore, 17 percent.

Gane said that in the same survey, 47 percent of consumers in the Philippines who accessed piracy sites admitted having cancelled their subscriptions to both local and international content services.

More sports included in SEAG calendar

Sports

By Peter Atencio THE sports disciplines of jiujitsu, esports, triathlon and bowling have been added to the calendar of the 2021 Southeast Asian Games.

Their inclusion was confirmed yesterday by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino following talks with organizers in Vietnam.

Tolentino believe that adding these four events will be beneficial to the country’s bid to remain as the biennial event’s overall champion.

Because of this, the number of events to be held in the biennial meet has reached 40.

And they will now be calendared for the Games when it’s held from November 21 to December 2 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City for the second time after 2003.

“This is good news for us because we dominated three of these four sports when we hosted the games in December 2019,” Tolentino said.

It will be recalled that Filipino athletes ruled jiujitsu with five gold medals and esports with three.

On the other hand, the Philippines swept all three events in triathlon.

Tolentino said he will keep on seeking the inclusion of baseball/softball, soft tennis, duathlon, windsurfing and wakeboarding/water skiing.

The country also ruled these events in 2019.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020

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Phoenix Super LPG guard Matthew Wright (with ball) tries to set up a play against NorthPort Batang Pier defenders Christian Standhardinger (34) and Paolo Taha during the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup game yesterday at the Angeles University Foundation Arena powered by Smart 5G. PBA Media

Phoenix Super LPG beats NorthPort Batang, 110-105

By Reuel Vidal

P

HOENIX Super LPG jumped out to an early lead which they lost briefly but regained in time to post a 110-105 victory over NorthPort Batang Pier as action in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup continued yesterday Thursday, October 15 at the Angeles University Foundation Arena powered by Smart 5G. Kevin Ferrer drilled a triple to cut the Phoenix lead to four, 98-94. But Justin Chua countered with his own triple followed by a fastbreak layup by Jason Perkins as the Super LPG extended their lead to nine, 103-94, with 3:08 to go in the match.

Ferrer drilled his third consecutive triple of the quarter to cut the gap, 103-97, with 2:45 left. This was followed by basket inside the paint by Christian Standhardinger to cut the gap even more, 103-99, for Phoenix.

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

RJ Jazul then stole the ball and zipped a pass to Matthew Wright who drilled a wide-open triple to virtually seal the outcome of the match, 106-99, for Phoenix with just 56 seconds left to play.

NorthPort cut the lead to just two points, 106-104, off a field goal by Sean Anthony and Ferrer’s fourth consecutive triple. Jason Perkins made two free throws, 108-104, for Phoenix.

Anthony added a free throw and Jazul finalized the count at 110-105 on two free throws.

Phoenix relied on its blazing threepoint attack converting 17 triples out of 43 attempts compared to just eight triples out of 31 attempts by NorthPort.

Standhardinger got a pass from Ferrer and relied on his size to score from underneath for NorthPort to cut the Phoenix lead to just two points, 85-83, with nine minutes in the game.

Garvo Lanete drilled a big triple as NorthPort finally grabbed the lead 86-85 with eight minutes to go. That proved to be NorthPort’s last time to hold the lead.

Phoenix went old school at the defensive end, putting up a 2-3 zone for large portions of the game to prevent incursions inside the paint. Though in a zone the Phoenix defenders were quick to challenge shooters from the perimeter.

Jorey Napoles drove strong to the hoop to convert a layup which pushed Phoenix to a slim, 23-22, advantage after the first period.

It was Sean Anthony’s turn in the second quarter to score on a driving layup for NorthPort to cut the Phoenix lead to just four points, 55-51, at halftime.

Kevin Ferrer pivoted past his defender then drove hard along the baseline to score on a drive to cut the Phoenix lead to just six points, 83-77, after three quarters.

The scores: Phoenix Super LPG 110—Jason Perkins 31, Matthew Wright 23, Justin Chua 17, RJ Jazul 10, Brian Heruela 9, Jensen Rios 8, JC Intal 5, Jorey Napoles 4, Dave Marcelo 3, RR Garcia 0, JayR Reyes 0.

NorthPort Batang Pier 105—Christian Standhardinger 28, Sean Anthony 23, Garvo Lanete 17, Kevin Ferrer 14, Paolo Taha 7, Kelly Nabon 6, Nico Elorde 4, Jervy Cruz 2, LA Revilla 2, Bradwyn Guinto 2.

Quarter scores: 23-23, 55-51, 83-77, 110-105.

Alaska Fortified holds IRONKIDS virtual runs Oct. 17, 18

Not even the global COVID-19 pandemic can stop these children from enjoying themselves and staying healthy by joining the Alaska Fortified Iron Kids Philippines Keep Fit At Home Virtual Runs.

ALASKA Fortified will again help children stay healthy through running during the Alaska Fortified Iron Kids Philippines Keep Fit At Home Virtual Runs this weekend Oct. 17 and 18.

And before that, meet some of the past IRONKIDS finishers and get to know them better at 6 p.m. today, Friday, October 16 during the final Facebook Live Episode.

Not even the global Covid-19 pandemic could stop children from staying fit and healthy through Alaska Fortified’s virtual runs. An all-digital running program has allowed IRONKIDS to adapt to the times amid the pandemic. Activities started August and concludes October.

Princess Galura, General Manager for Sunrise Events, Inc. a part of the IRONMAN Group said that it was time to bring Alaska IRONKIDS to new heights while adapting to the current situation at the same time.

“Having an all-digital run program means we are able to bring the race to more kids, ranging from 4 to 16 years old, either beginners or trained runners. This is a good opportunity for the kids to jump start their journey to a healthier lifestyle, even without going

outside. For the existing IRONKIDS, it’s a good program to continue their development in the sport,” said Galura.

Alaska Fortified IRONKIDS Virtual Run Program’s 10-weekend run concludes this October. It gave children a chance to start slow, train, build up, and beat their own records in the three-month period.

Alaska Fortified helped children deal with the lockdown and stay healthy at the same time.

Harvey Uong, Managing Director of Alaska Milk Corporation expressed his gratitude for being able to conduct a program that helped children specially during these most trying times.

“We are grateful to be pioneering this first all-digital run program of IRONKIDS, with Sunrise Events. It has always been the vision of Alaska to be able to provide nutrition to kids with the support of an active lifestyle platform like Ironkids,” he said.

Children between 6 to 14 joined the 1KM, 1.5KM, 2KM and 3KM runs clustered per age group. #keepfitathome #IRONKIDSVR #IRONKIDSat10 #AlaskaFortified

Hallasgo soon to see action again RECENTLY crowned Southeast Asian Games marathon champion Christine Hallasgo is getting ready to see action again.

After spending months in lockdown in her home province, Hallasgo will fly to Singapore in the first week of December to take part in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon.

Seeking to get past the Olympic qualification time of two hours, 29 minutes and 30 seconds will be her goal when she takes part on Dec. 6.

Philippine Athletic Track and Field Association chief Philip Ella Juico confirmed this yesterday in a huddle with scribes on Zoom during the weekly program of TOPS Usapang Sports.

“Inaantay na lang namin ang kanilang rules and regulations, and protocols that will be observed by the organizers,” said Juico.

Since August, Hallasgo has been adjusting to difficulties after she got back to training in her hometown in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

There is no track oval in her hometown, but Hallasgo she is still able to do daily running activities.

Hallasgo’s brother is joining her whenever she goes out to run along an isolated roadway in Malaybalay.

Juico said Hallasgo has a great chance among Philippine-based athletes to make podium finishes and make podium finishes in the SEA Games, and the Olympics.

Last December, Hallasgo clocked 2:56.56 in winning the women’s marathon event of the 2019 SEA Games.

Since they are not going into crowded areas, Hallasgo said she is able to run without a face mask.

Last June, Hallasgo returned home after spending two weeks in quarantine in Metro Manila.

Since then, she is being guided online by his coach Eduardo Buenavista on how restart her efforts on endurance activities.

Hallasgo went through an ordeal in going back home in Bukidnon.

She was supposed to return home on March 16, a day after the enhanced Luzon-wide lockdown was imposed.

That was when she got stranded after being unable to get a flight from the Clark International Airport in Pampanga. Peter Atencio

LeBron improves case as ‘Goat’ LOS ANGELES, United States—As the first player to lead three different teams to NBA titles, LeBron James has revived the question of whether he or Michael Jordan is the league’s greatest-ever superstar.

“I don’t know,” James said. “I’m going to let you guys talk about it.”

James captured his fourth NBA title in his 10th finals appearance when the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat 106-93 on Sunday to close out the series 4-2.

James was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player for the fourth time. The only player with more finals MVP awards is Jordan with six.

Jordan won six titles in six NBA Finals appearances for the Chicago Bulls during the 1990s, taking most of two seasons off between two three-peats to pursue a baseball career after his father’s death.

Jordan’s game evolved over time, the highleaping playmaker who could single-handedly

dominate foes giving way to a veteran who could get the most from every teammate and help carry the load during his second title trilogy.

Taking full advantage of the era of big money and free agency that Jordan largely created, James maximized his money and turned multiple teams into champions, his role evolving over the years as did his supporting cast.

Where James is clearly king is off the court.

His education initiatives and social activism are a far cry from Jordan’s infamous comment that “Republicans buy sneakers too,” when asked why he was not more politically active.

If mere titles alone decided the greatest NBA player, dominant 1960s Boston big man Bill Russell would own the tag with 11, more than Jordan and James combined, in 13 seasons.

However, it was Jordan who took the NBA global by leading the 1992 Olympic “Dream Team” to Barcelona gold, with James responding

to a sub-par bronze effort in 2004 by sparking US gold medal runs in 2008 and 2012.

James is only the fourth player in history to reach 10 career NBA Finals. Only Russell and teammate Sam Jones have played more, but James is only 4-6 in the finals.

Does the purity of Jordan’s 6-for-6 feat beat the longevity and diversity of James’s success? Does it even matter? Can’t each be king of his era?

“The best and most ‘complete’ player I have seen in my lifetime is @KingJames on and off the floor,” long-time Jordan nemesis Isiah Thomas tweeted Thursday. “He passed the eye test and the numbers confirm what my eyes have seen in every statistical category. #GOAT let it be known!”

Thomas is hardly a neutral observer, the bad blood between himself and Jordan clear to see in the Jordan documentary “The Last Dance” that became a global TV hit during the coronavirus shutdown this year. AFP

LeBron James (center) of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after receiving The Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award at the NBA Finals on October 11, 2020 at AdventHealth Arena in Orlando, Florida. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

Section 10. If the Notice of Conversion is filed with the Commission beyond sixty (60) days from the transfer of shares, the One Person Corporation may still be approved for conversion into an Ordinary Stock Corporation subject to prior payment of penalty if found liable for violation of Section 132, in relation to Section 1584 of the Revised Corporation Code.

TODAY

Section 11. Upon issuance by the SEC of the Certificate of Filing of Amended Articles of Incorporation and of Bylaws reflecting the conversion to an OSC, the Articles of Incorporation of the OPC shall be deemed superseded. The date of issuance of the Certificate of Filing of Amended Articles of Incorporation and of Bylaws shall be deemed as the date of approval of the conversion.

SEC Memorandum Circular No.27 Series of 2020 TO

:

All Concerned

SUBJECT

:

GUIDELINES FOR THE CONVERSION OF CORPORATIONS EITHER TO ONE PERSON CORPORATION OR TO ORDINARY STOCK CORPORATION

Section 12. The Certificate of Filing of Amended Articles of Incorporation and of Bylaws shall bear and retain the corporation’s original SEC Registration Number.

Further, the corporation shall not have the “OPC” suffix as part of its corporate name.

In order to operationalize Title XIII, Chapter III of Republic Act No. 11232, or the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines (RCC), which allows the conversion from an Ordinary Stock Corporation (OSC) to a One Person Corporation (OPC), as well as the conversion from an OPC to an OSC, the Commission resolved to issue the following guidelines:

Section 13. The Ordinary Stock Corporation converted from a One Person Corporation shall succeed the latter and be legally responsible for all the latter’s outstanding liabilities as of the date of conversion.

Section 1. If a natural person of legal age, a trust, or an estate (“single stockholder”) has acquired all of the outstanding capital stocks of an OSC, with the corresponding Certificate Authorizing Registration/ tax clearance having been issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the OSC may apply for its conversion into an OPC, by submitting the following documentary requirements, which shall be processed as an Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation: (1) Cover sheet; (2) Application for Conversion of an Ordinary Stock Corporation to a One Person Corporation, signed by the single stockholder who has acquired all of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of an ordinary stock corporation and countersigned by the corporation’s corporate secretary in the form prescribed by the Commission1; (3) Original or certified true copy of the document/s effecting the transfer/s of full title / ownership of shares {i.e.: deeds of assignment, or any legal document transferring the shares to the single stockholder) and, if applicable, a certified true copy of proof of authority to act on behalf of the trust/estate; (4) Certificate Authorizing Registration / tax clearance from the BIR; (5) Notarized Secretary’s Certificate of No Intra-Corporate Dispute; (6) Articles of Incorporation of an OPC, filed in accordance with the SEC Guidelines on the Establishment of a One Person Corporation or such other Guidelines that the Commission may hereafter issue, in the form prescribed by the Commission, which shall comply with and/or contain the following: a) Must be duly prepared, signed and acknowledged or authenticated by the single stockholder and by the corporation’s treasurer; b) Provision/article indicating the name/s and address/es of the original incorporator/s of the OSC; c) Provisions/articles on the number of directors, their names and addresses, as well as their subscription and payment details shall be modified to reflect the name, address, subscription, and payment details of the single stockholder in the form prescribed by the Commission; d) Provision/article on nominee and alternate nominee, their names, nationalities, residence addresses, and the extent, coverage, and limitations of their authorities, e) Other details particular to an OPC shall likewise be indicated in accordance with Memorandum Circular No. 07, Series of 2019 or the SEC Guidelines on the Establishment of a One Person Corporation, and/or such other guidelines that the Commission may hereafter issue.

The following shall likewise be added as a new Article in the Articles of Incorporation of the One Person Corporation -

Section 14. The amount of fees for (1) Amendment of Articles of Incorporation, (2) Registration of Bylaws, (3) Name Reservation, and (4) Legal Research, under the Consolidated Schedule of Fees and Charges shall be the applicable fees for an application filed in accordance with Part II (One Person Corporation to Ordinary Stock Corporation) of this guidelines.

PART III PROVISIONS COMMON TO BOTH KINDS OF CONVERSION Section 15. In the Articles of Incorporation of the converted corporation, the signatory/ies thereto must clearly state that they voluntarily agreed to convert the Ordinary Stock Corporation into a One Person Corporation, or the One Person Corporation into an Ordinary Stock Corporation, as the case may be, in the following or similar manner“KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: The undersigned stockholder/s, of legal age, voluntarily agreed to convert a stock corporation under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines and certify the following”.

Section 16. By reason of the nature of these corporations the conversion from an OSC to OPC shall be deemed as optional. On the other hand, the conversion from an OPC to OSC shall be deemed as mandatory, unless when winding-up and dissolution is appropriate.

Section 17. Processing of applications for conversion of corporations shall commence only upon receipt by the CRMD, or by any of the SEC Extension Offices nationwide, of the complete documentary requirements enumerated in this guidelines including the proof of payment of the applicable fees. This shall be done manually by the Commission until further notice.

Section 18. In case an opposition or dispute arises from the conversions discussed in these guidelines, the aggrieved party may file before the CRMD a verified Petition for Cancellation of the certificate thus issued, on the ground of fraud in the procurement thereof in accordance with the applicable laws and other rules or issuances by the Commission.

Section 19. This Memorandum Circular shall amend all issuances, orders, rules, and regulations of the Commission that may be inconsistent with it. Section 20.

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Done this 25th day of, August 2020 Pasay City. Philippines.

“Upon issuance by the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Certificate of Filing of Amended Articles of Incorporation, reflecting its conversion into a One Person Corporation, the attached Articles of Incorporation of the Ordinary Stock Corporation shall be deemed superseded.”

EMILIO B. AQUINO Chairperson

A copy of the latest Articles of Incorporation of the OSC shall be attached to the Articles of Incorporation of the OPC; (7) Letter of acceptance of appointment by Nominee and Alternate Nominee; (8) Self-appointed Treasurer’s Bond, if applicable; Name reservation; (9) Name reservation; (10) Monitoring clearance from other relevant department of the SEC or from the Compliance Monitoring Division (CMD) of the Company Registration and Monitoring Department (CRMD), whichever is applicable; (11) Endorsement clearance from appropriate government agencies, if applicable; (12) Undertaking to Change Corporate Name duly executed under oath by the single stockholder or the sole remaining director, if not yet included in the Articles of Incorporation, and; (13) Undertaking to Assume All Liabilities of the Ordinary Stock Corporation, duly executed under oath by the single stockholder of the OPC, if not yet included in the Articles of Incorporation.

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Sports FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020

McIlroy likes tuneups, tests swings L

OS ANGELES—Rory McIlroy is looking for two good weeks of Masters preparation starting Thursday at the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek even as he tries to emulate Bryson DeChambeau’s ball-blasting style.

The four-time major winner from Northern Ireland, who could complete a career Grand Slam by winning the green jacket next month at Augusta National, has not played since last month’s US Open was won by DeChambeau.

“I’m excited, after three weeks, to get back at it again,” McIlroy said. “With how good the greens are here and how slopey, how fast and how the course is set up, it’s actually not a bad place to prepare for Augusta.

“Same conditions you’re going to get there in terms of grass anyway. Climate’s going to be a bit different, but it’s not bad preparation.”

The Covid-19 pandemic forced the Masters to move from April to November and caused this week’s event in Las Vegas to move from South Korea and next week’s event at Sherwood in suburban Los Angeles to move from Japan.

“Two really good weeks to see where your game’s at,” McIlroy said. “And then go home and work on some stuff before Augusta.

“Feel like my game is at least heading in the right direction.”

McIlroy, whose final-round 80 in 2011 cost him a Masters crown, says he does not put much extra

pressure on himself at Augusta National even with a career Slam at stake since 2015.

“I don’t feel like I put a lot of pressure on myself that week,” McIlroy said. “Obviously having a really good chance to win back in 2011 and not being able to win the tournament since then and a lot of people say that the course is suited to my game and all that stuff, I think that’s just perceived expectation from the outside rather than what I put on myself.

“I know if I do play well I should have a decent chance. I don’t think having a daughter’s going to change how I play. It might change my outlook if I have a bad day and I know that I can go back and see my family and have a smile on my face, but I don’t think it’s going to make me play the tournament any differently.”

McIlroy plans on sneaking in a couple of trips to Augusta for practice rounds before the November 12-15 event.

“I’ve heard it can be beautiful in November,” McIlroy said. “I’ve heard it can be quite cold. I think it’s really luck of the draw what weather we get. It’s something we’re just going to have to adapt to.” AFP

Section 2. Upon issuance of the Certificate of Filing of Amended Articles of Incorporation by the SEC reflecting the conversion to OPC, the Articles of Incorporation and By-laws of the OSC shall be deemed superseded. The date of issuance of the Certificate of Filing of Amended Articles of Incorporation shall be deemed as the date of approval of the conversion.

Section 3. The Certificate of Filing of Amended Articles of Incorporation shall bear and retain the corporation’s original SEC Registration Number.

Meanwhile, the name of the corporation shall have an “OPC” suffix in order to reflect its nature as a One Person Corporation.

Section 4. The One Person Corporation converted from an Ordinary Stock Corporation shall succeed the latter and be legally responsible for all the latter’s outstanding liabilities as of the date of approval of the conversion.

Section 5. The provisions of Title XIII, Chapter III of the Revised Corporation Code shall apply primarily to One Person Corporations, while other provisions of the Code apply suppletorily.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits off the five tee during practice for the CJ Cup @ Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

Section 6. The amount of fees for (1) Amendment of Articles of Incorporation, (2) Name Reservation, and (3) Legal Research under the Consolidated Schedule of Fees and Charges2 shall be the applicable fees for an application filed in accordance with Part I (Ordinary Stock Corporation to One Person Corporation) of this guidelines.

177 players enlist for WNBL Draft

PART II ONE PERSON CORPORATION TO ORDINARY STOCK CORPORATION

GEMMA Miranda leads the 177 players who will take part in the firstever WNBL Draft slated in October.

Miranda was among the 702 women cagers who applied for the historic inaugural draft of the women’s professional basketball league.

The applicants from all over the country were evaluated by the screening committee that trimmed down the number of aspirants to 177.

Miranda suited up as a guest player in the PSI Lady Air Defenders in the first season of the WNBL as an amateur league last year with the national team standout winning the finals MVP. Other notable names who made it to the draft are 2019 UAAP finals MVP Monique Del Carmen, and former UAAP MVPs Marichu Bacaro, Camille Sambile, and Raiza Dy. Fille Claudine Cainglet, Camille Claro, Jocy Positos, Camille Ramos, Angeli Gloriani, Marites Gadian, Tina Deacon, and Snow Penaranda also made it to the list. The complete list of draftees can be seen on the NBL-Pilipinas Facebook page.

After the evaluation process, the draftees will be able to showcase their talents to the teams during the WNBL Draft Combine to be held at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga. The dates of which are still being finalized.

Each team that already saw action in the WNBL last year have the privilege to protect six players from their original roster. Players from the Armed Forces, meanwhile, must only submit their rosters to the league provided that they are enlisted for a minimum of one year.

Section 7. When the shares in an OPC ceases to be held solely by a single stockholder, the OPC may be converted into an OSC after due notice to the Commission of such fact/s and of such circumstance/s leading to the conversion, and after compliance with all the requirements for a stock corporation, as may be determined by the Commission, after an evaluation of the following documentary requirements: (1) Cover sheet; (2) Notice of Conversion of a One Person Corporation into an Ordinary Stock Corporation, signed by all holders of shares of the outstanding capital stock, countersigned by the corporate secretary in the form prescribed by the Commission3; (3) Original or certified true copy of the document/s effecting the transfers of full title / ownership of shares (i.e.: subscription contracts, deeds of assignment, or any legal document declaring the legal heirs of the single stockholder); (4) Certificate Authorizing Registration / tax clearance from the BIR; (5) Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of an OSC filed in accordance with the requirements provided under Section 14 of the RCC, which shall comply with and/or contain the following: a) Duly prepared, signed and acknowledged or authenticated by the stockholders who voted for their adoption, and by the corporation’s treasurer; b) Provision/article indicating the name and address of the original incorporator of the OPC; c) Provisions / articles reflecting the number of directors, their names and addresses, as well as their subscription and payment details, and; d) Other details particular to an OSC shall likewise be indicated in accordance with the provisions of the RCC and guidelines that the Commission has issued and/or may hereafter issue.

All eyes on Clark amenities as Philippine Cup resumes

The following shall likewise be added as a new Article in the Articles of Incorporation of the Ordinary Stock Corporation “Upon issuance by the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Certificate of Filing of Amended Articles of Incorporation and of Bylaws of this corporation, reflecting its conversion into an Ordinary Stock Corporation, the attached Articles of Incorporation of the One Person Corporation shall be deemed superseded.”

A copy of the latest Articles of Incorporation of the OPC shall be attached to the Articles of Incorporation of the OSC. (6) Name reservation; (7) Monitoring clearance from other relevant department of the SEC or from the CMD of the CRMD, whichever is applicable; (8) Endorsement clearance from appropriate government agencies, if applicable; (9) Undertaking to Change Corporate Name duly executed under oath by the authorized representative or director of the OSC, if not yet included in the Articles of Incorporation, and; (10) Undertaking to Assume All Liabilities of the One Person Corporation, duly executed under oath by all the stockholders of the OSC, if not yet included in the Articles of Incorporation.

Section 8. Following the transfer/s of shares in an OPC wherein there becomes at least two (2) stockholders in the OPC, a Notice of Conversion of One Person Corporation into an Ordinary Stock Corporation shall be filed with the Commission within sixty (60) days from such transfer/s of shares. The period for filing the Notice shall be observed even though the conversion will be applied for, or will take place, afterwards.

Section 9. For the purpose of submitting the notice required under the immediately preceding section, the date of transfer of shares shall be deemed to be the date that the corresponding Certificate Authorizing Registration/ tax clearance is issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

1

Copy of an Application for Conversion of an Ordinary Stock Corporation into a One Person Corporation is hereto attached as Annex “A”.

2

SEC Memorandum Circular No. 3, series of 2017.

3

Copy of a Notice of Conversion of a One Person Corporation into an Ordinary Stock Corporation is hereto attached as Annex “B”.

Section 158. Administrative Sanctions. - If, after due notice and hearing, the Commission finds that any provision of this Code, rules or regulations, or any of the Commission’s orders has been violated, the Commission may impose any or all of the following sanctions, taking into consideration the extent of participation, nature, effects, frequency and seriousness of the violation: (a) Imposition of a fine ranging from Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) to Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00), and not more than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) for each day of continuing violation but in no case to exceed Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00); (b) Issuance of a permanent cease and desist order; (c) Suspension or revocation of the certificate of incorporation; and (d) Dissolution of the corporation and forfeiture of its assets under the conditions in Title XIV of this Code.

4

(MS-OCT. 16, 2020)

CLARK FREEPORT—All eyes are on this Freeport with the resumption of the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup 2020, with Clark as the chosen venue for the PBA Bubble.

This Freeport, since the arrival of the teams for billeting at the Quest Hotel, has been getting a lot of attention due to its suitability to host the sporting event in terms of safety and security, protocol control and proximity.

This can be seen in footages from three TV networks—TV5, One News and PBA Rush—on top of live streaming via the web.

In fact, its first-class amenities including golf courses, fitness center, jogging lanes, swimming pool are being utilized by players and coaches during their free times.

Clark’s attractions and tourist spots like the well-kept Parade

Grounds and Mimosa, as well as the Freeport’s wide roads—where hardly any traffic can be seen—can also be viewed on live broadcasts on TV5, One News and PBA Rush.

Clark’s logo has also been visible during the games, strategically placed on the court at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center in Angeles City, where the games are being held.

Players, as seen on their YouTube channels, are also impressed with the scenic view and lush green spaces of this Freeport.

In his personal vlog, Ginebra San Miguel’s Joe De Vance described the hotel as “nice”, saying he was “having a good time” inside Clark.

“This is nice… this is beautiful, guys. I’m amazed,” De Vance said referring to the scenery and breathtaking view while on rooftop of Quest Hotel.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Entertainment THE COVID-19 crisis has made Filipinos dependent on social media to find out about information they need—from open stores and commuter updates, to discounts and deals.

Even the country’s celebrities are on the lookout for reliable information, with some of them already joining the community of netizens exchanging information with one another using the public service app Sharea.

Among them are ABS-CBN News personality Gretchen Ho, comedian Alex Calleja, and Magandang Buhay hosts Melai CantiverosFrancisco, Karla Estrada, and Jolina Magdangal-Escueta.

“It provides verified and hyperlocal community information on things that we need especially during this pandemic —health, safety, transportation, available jobs, volunteer work, deals and discounts, and ganaps,” Gretchen tweeted her experience.

In a video, “Momshie” Jolina also

More celebs in your ‘Sharea’

From left: Liza Soberano, Daniel Padilla, and Maymay Entrata are among the local celebrities who have shared their experience using the Sharea app.

encouraged Filipinos to participate in the online bayanihan using the app.

“Layunin nito na itaguyod ang pagtutulungan ng bawat isa. Pwede ka

A Filipino-made app, Sharea enables rin maka-konek sa mga users malapit sa ‘yo para naman buhay na buhay ang users to view reliable information on its bayanihan kahit pa may pandemya,” she Bulletin Board that are customized based on their chosen location or area, which is explained.

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020

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very useful considering that quarantine protocols highly encourage citizens to stay at home.

Users can also share and find out more about what’s happening in their barangays in the Community Wall. They can also share with each other information on job postings or side hustles, water or power interruptions, list of bayad centers, restaurants that are open, and more through the Messaging feature.

Other stars that have posted about the app or invited their followers to download the app and join the Sharea community include Angel Locsin, Daniel Padilla, Liza Soberano, Enrique Gil, Maymay Entrata, Robi Domingo, Jimuel Pacquiao, ABS-CBN entertainment reporter Ganiel Krishnan, and veteran journalist Karen Davila.

Download the Beta version of Sharea on the Google Playstore for free at http:// bit.ly/DownloadSharea82201013.

For more details, follow and like Sharea on Facebook (fb.com/Sharea.ph).

DINGDONG and JENNYLYN’s ‘Descendants of the Sun’ is coming to Netflix VERY WANG

EXTRA INTERNATIONAL British musician and actor Mick Fleetwood (left) recreates the viral Tiktok video of Nathan Apodaca, who pays tribute to Fleetwood Mac’s classic hit ‘Dream.’

NICKIE WANG AFTER bringing honor to the country when it was recognized as the first local TV program to receive the Most Popular Foreign Drama of the Year award in the 15th Seoul International Drama Awards, the local adaptation of Korean drama Descendants of the Sun headlined

by Dingdong Dantes (who was also awarded the prestigious Asian Star Prize in the same annual global festival) and Jennylyn Mercado, is going to available on the popular streaming platform Netflix starting Nov. 13.

“As we celebrate our 70th anniversary, we continue to strengthen our digital presence while staying true to our mission of creating world-class programs. Our biggest drama production this year, Descendants of the Sun Philippines, is the first GMA program to be streamed on Netflix Philippines,” GMA Network said in a statement sent to Manila Standard Entertainment.

The romantic action drama premiered on Feb. 10, but production was temporarily suspended due to the restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockin tapings with strict safety measures were held last month, which enabled the series to resume its run on Oct. 26, starting with a two-week recap on GMA Telebabad.

Joining Dingdong and Jennylyn in the cast are Rocco Nacino, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Renz Fernandez, Chariz Solomon, Andre Paras, Nicole Donesa, Reese Tuazon, Jenzel Angeles, and Bobby Andrews.

Also in the drama are Neil Ryan Sese, Pancho Magno, Antonio Aquitania, Ricardo Cepeda, Ian Ignacio, Rich Asuncion, Carlo Gonzalez, Hailey Mendes, Marina Benipayo, and Roi Vinzon.

Descendants of the Sun is directed by Dominic Zapata. ***

Whipping up new recipes in ‘Idol Sa Kusina’

Beginning Oct. 18, everyone’s favorite cooking show Idol sa Kusina airs fresh episodes again on GMA News TV. Chef Boy Logro and Chynna Ortaleza

TikTok video propels Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dream’ into top 100

‘Descendants of the Sun,’ GMA’s biggest television drama this year, is top-billed by Dingdong Dantes and Jennylyn Mercado and helmed by Dominic Zapata.

as they serve new recipes straight from their homes, as well as from the houses of various Kapuso stars and celebrity chefs in Idol sa Kusina: Lutong Bahay.

With the new normal in mind, Idol sa Kusina dishes out easy-to-do recipes using ingredients that are not difficult to source. At the same time, Chef Boy and Chynna give viewers tips on how to add twists on well-known recipes that families can enjoy.

Together with their featured Kapuso artists and celebrity chefs, Idol sa Kusina shares tips and tricks to help everyone become his own family’s “idol sa kusina.” Every Sunday night, catch the latest food trends making rounds on social media as well.

On October 18, Chef Boy brings in his “idol moves” with tips on how to properly blanch your veggies for an appetizing dish. Chynna puts these tips in practice as she prepares her Broccoli with Sesame Noodles recipe.

Meanwhile, Aiai delas Alas dishes out her Trending sa Sarap combo by serving her personal Cheese Bread recipe paired with a batch of Creamy Carbonara.

Celebrity Chef Jose Sarasola takes on Chef's Challenge and shares how to serve your next dish in style by showing viewers how to make some Cheesy Chicken ala King in Bread Bowl.

Idol sa Kusina: Lutong Bahay airs this Sunday, 7:50 p.m. on GMA News TV.

"TikTok has driven catalog hits back to various Billboard charts before... but never a song this old and a Hot 100 rebound this high. It shows that TikTok’s tried-and-true power to catapult songs to mainstream recognition is only getting stronger,” Billboard reporter Tatiana Cirisano wrote in a post on the magazine's website.

Phil Collins is another classic artist to have benefited from a TikTok bounce.

In August, a video in which two 22-year-olds shared their first reaction to his famous drum fill from "In the Air Tonight" sent the song into the number two spot on Apple’s iTunes chart.

The return of "Dreams" to the charts has also sparked a broader surge of interest in Fleetwood Mac’s back catalog, with Billboard reporting a bump in streams for the rockers' other work. AFP

Cignal TV boosts PH education

Celebrity Chef Jose Sarasola takes on Chef's Challenge in ‘Idol sa Kusina: Lutong Bahay’ this Sunday.

CCP, QEFF train spotlight on mental health through film screenings

‘Wish’ by Sheen Irerick Seekts is one of the films CCP and QEFF will be screening for free.

A VIRAL TikTok video featuring a laid-back skateboarder lip-synching to Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" has propelled the 1977 hit back into the Billboard Hot 100 after an absence of more than three decades.

TikTok user doggface208’s antics— as he cruised down the street, sipping a family-sized bottle of cranberry juice —quickly struck a chord, racking up 8.6 million likes.

And beyond propelling its creator—real name Nathan Apodaca—to viral fame, the video has reignited interest in the 70’s country-rock legends.

Stevie Nicks’ melancholic meditation on a failed relationship, re-entered the Billboard chart for the week of Oct. 17 at 21, just two weeks after Apodaca’s clip first went viral.

THE Cultural Center of the Philippines and the QuisumbingEscandor Film Festival for Health partner to bring awareness to mental health and health-related issues in the country through "Balik Tanaw," a free film online screening.

Running from Oct. 23 to 30, films on Autism Spectrum Disorder, Depression, and Dementia will be screened on the CCP Vimeo channel for free. The featured films—Oh, Aking Katoto by Kelvin Aguilar, Rekuwerdo by Kristoffer Brugada, and Wish by Sheen Irerick Seekts —were part of the 3rd Quisumbing-Escandor Film Festival.

There will also be a live talkback and Q&A with the film directors, to be moderated by Meryll Soriano, on Oct. 30. Catch it on the CCP Media Arts and CCP Facebook pages.

The one-week film screening celebrates the National Mental

Health Awareness Month, putting the spotlight on important health issues and hoping to spark dialogues on mental health topics.

The CCP also collaborates with the Mu Sigma Phi Fraternity and the Department of Health (Philippines) to organize the 4th QuisumbingEscandor Film Festival for Health, a nationwide film competition that focuses on Filipino people and their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the stories of those living with mental health issues.

The fourth installment of QEFF is now accepting film proposals and submissions. They are accepting films completed before Oct. 1, 2020.

Deadline for submissions is on Dec. 19. For complete mechanics and full details, https://forms. g l e / m i x Wu n S U 5 7 h v E V j v 9 .

For inquiries, contact qeff4. bilangnilalang@gmail.com.

WITH the public school classes channel is available to DTH subscribers commencing early this month, the even if they do not have load in their country’s elementary and high school accounts, ensuring every subscriber has students are in for a new digital experience access to the channel. DepEd TV will in contrast to the traditional face-to-face also be streamed for free on Cignal’s OTT instruction that generations of Filipinos streaming service called Cignal Play and is available for Android and iOS users have undergone before.

Responding to this national need for upon registry via cignalplay.com.

Cignal TV’s President and CEO an effective distance learning platform for the nearly 25 million enrollees this Robert P. Galang says, “The need to SY 2020-2021, Cignal TV, the leading support students and families through Pay TV provider in the Philippines with distance learning is an integral step in its nationwide coverage and availability helping both our students and their parents through these s e r v i n g challenging 2.6 million times.

We subscribers, has want television recently inked a to provide partnership with convenience the Department to students at of Education home, a chance (DepEd) to open for parents to up two channels be involved, dedicated to and educators DepEd TV’s to be eased. content across Partnering with both Cignal TV the Department and SatLite, it’s of Education mass-market is aligned with pay-TV brand.

Cignal TV’s According mission to to DepEd provide a broad Undersecretary and meaningful f o r Cignal TV is ensuring that it gives back to experience for Administration the community through its platforms and households; Alain Del B. nationwide reach. m e r g i n g Pascua, “Recent entertainment restrictions in face-to-face classes caused by the and education in order to empower COVID-19 pandemic compelled DepEd Filipinos”.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones to adopt alternative learning delivery modalities for School Year (SY) 2020- said TV and radio-based instruction is 2021. As cited in its Basic Education important in distance learning, especially Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP), for students who do not have access to the DepEd has identified four modalities for internet. "Napakahalaga ng TV at radio distance learning including television- sa buong bansa kasi 'di naman lahat may based instruction and radio-based access sa [internet] connectivity," she said during the signing of a memorandum of instruction.”

DepEd TV via Cignal TV CH.149 and agreement between the DepEd and its SatLite CH.189 launched simultaneously partner channels and radio stations.

DepEd TV broadcasts will be from with the start of classes. It is available to all prepaid and postpaid Cignal subscribers, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from Monday to as well as SatLite subscribers. The Saturday for the next two years.

Life

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

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TRAVEL & LEISURE

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020

Mega events venue, ready for the world World Trade Center Metro Manila president and chief executive Pamela D. Pascual

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HE country’s pioneer world-class exhibition venue is now ready to accept bookings for MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions) events once Metro Manila transitions to modified general community quarantine.

Thorough decontamination and disinfection of all WTCMM’s indoor and outdoor areas.

The mega events venue boasts expansive indoor exhibition space.

WTCMM served as a temporary quarantine facility.

REVIEW

The World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM) is a top-of-the-mind corporate assembly facility which has hosted countless global and local events through its 24 years of existence.

Operating as a temporary quarantine location for the national government these past six months, the WTCMM management has made sure the building is safe and fit for occupancy for its future customers. It has undergone thorough decontamination and disinfection of all its indoor and outdoor areas, including its air conditioning ducts and filters, its walls and surfaces.

The conducted safety measures also involved the siphoning of septic tanks and the hauling of infectious waste. Together with these, all installations have been pulled out and damages have been repaired to put this world-class mega events venue back to its original state.

As an integral part of WTCMM’s preparedness to handle new business, it has launched the BE (Business Events) Safe Program, ascribing to the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force and the Department of Tourism. This communicates the management’s requirements and

Mega events venue World Trade Center Metro Manila is ready to welcome guests once the government allows.

procedures on how the facility will operate as a safe business venue in the face of the continuing threat of COVID-19.

WTCMM president and chief executive Pamela D. Pascual said it was a great honor for the venue to have been given the opportunity to help augment the gap in our country’s healthcare services. At the same time, she declared her eagerness to resume business and help revive the country’s economy, serve the MICE industry’s stakeholders, and, consequently, tend to the welfare of those employed in her facility.

The WTCMM has had the honor of hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) twice—in 1996 and in 2016. It also served as the International Media Center for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, and the main venue for the National Women’s Summit which was attended by 15,000 delegates including then US First Lady Hillary Clinton.

The facility was also the locale for Le Rendezvous de France, a grand and colorful country show of France where replicas of the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum were built inside its humongous hall. Furthermore, prominent economic ministers of Asia converged in this world-class venue for the Philippine Economic Basin Dinner a few years back. As if to banner its size, the WTCMM hosted the National Priests’ Convention twice, each time counting approximately 5,000 attendees.

Large-scale exhibitions of high-powered industries such as manufacturing, heavy machinery, construction, food, livestock, and agriculture, among others, have found

their home at the WTCMM. This pioneer mega events venue is a proud Premier Certified Member of the World Trade Centers Association headquartered in New York, USA, which has 319 members in 88 countries.

The WTCMM is the first and only exhibition center in the country to be managed by an ISO-certified company, the Manila Exposition Complex, Inc., and is accredited by DOT and the Tourism Promotions Board.

With its unparalleled expertise in exhibitions, trade shows and events, there is no doubt the World Trade Center Metro Manila will continue to attract prestigious mega gatherings of visitors from all over the world, a scenario that we, in the tourism industry, which has been dormant the past seven months, have been hankering for. And, now is the best time to say, “Hello, world, we’re ready for you!”

YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE WIFE: Darling, do I please you in bed?

HUSBAND: Yes! I love that trick you do with your mouth.

WIFE: What trick?

HUSBAND: The one where you shut up and go to sleep.

A timely reminder on press freedom

By Vicki Villa DR. GEORGINA R. Encanto’s book The Community Press and Its Revolutionary Tradition (2019) comes at the right time, unfortunately when throughout the country there is widespread protest, deeply anxious, even anguished, over the shutting down of ABS-CBN. Apparently, we, as a people, have always valued the opportunity to express ourselves, and against great odds have found ways to do this.

We, as an audience, always knew there is a mainstream press usually owned by the political and economic elite—the establishment. These are, to borrow a word from Rene Saguisag, mainly the so-called tsutsuwa sector, who chant hallelujahs and are at great pains to play their role as apologists for the powers-that-be.

It makes me proud that there were intrepid publishers and journalists in the provinces who, against great financial and political odds and pressures, struggled to be heard.

This book carries accounts of how these contributed to create awareness at the local level of the abusive practices of our colonial masters and homegrown dictators. These small community newspapers offered a medium for reporting on local happenings and exposing the abuses, greed, and corruption of the friars and of local public officials.

These early newspapers were published in the local dialect or both in the dialect and in Spanish. These struggling local publications gave their communities the sort of information they needed to understand and make some sense of what was happening in their own immediate surroundings and understand how their grievances were also being experienced in other parts of the archipelago.

Among the early newspapers were El Eco de Vigan, put out in 1884 by Mayor Jose Giver of Vigan and became the first newspaper published outside

Manila; El Porvenir de Visayas, published in Iloilo in 1885; El Boletin de Cebu, published in 1886; El Eco de Panay, a weekly in Iloilo that focused on agriculture; and El Eco del Sur, published in Bicol in 1893.

These publications were subjected to heavy censorship but valiantly risked being penalized.

Though they were often short-lived, they performed an important function of providing historical, scientific, and religious information and literary fare. To historians, they afford useful glimpses of the state of printed media at that time.

Contrary to the claim of the Spanish press historian Wenceslao Retana that political journalism in the Philippines started in 1887 with the publication of La Opinion, which demanded the ouster of the Spanish friars, Encanto claims there were already several vernacular newspapers that exposed and expressed resistance to the abuses of the Spanish colonial rulers.

Encanto establishes the existence of what she calls a “revolutionary tradition in the provincial press,” dating back to the Diariong Tagalog edited

by Marcelo H. del Pilar in 1882.

Though short-lived, having survived only from June to October of that year, Diariong Tagalog managed to expose the abuses of Spanish friars which Del Pilar personally experienced as early as his years of schooling in grammar school and as a young lawyer and later a journalist. As a young Law student, he learned about the Cavite Revolt and the raging issues of Filipinization of the parishes, which the Spanish priests vehemently opposed, as well as polo or forced labor, the collection of taxes based on faulty civil registries, and other abuses which led to the Cavite Revolt of 1872.

Gifted with his mastery of Tagalog and poetic skills, Del Pilar satirized well-known prayers like “Ama Namin” and wrote other stinging articles under the pseudonym of Dolores Manapat and nationalistic poems which made Diariong Tagalog a

mouthpiece for peaceful reforms.

El Ilocano was an eight-page vernacular paper singlehandedly produced by Isabelo de los Reyes. First published in 1889, it should be credited for its measure of success for its impressive circulation figures. By 1893, he had steadily built up a circulation of 600 copies mostly covering northern Luzon, and by the third year, he was even able to acquire his own printing press whose machine and types were imported from Europe but assembled by Vigan artisans.

El Ilocano became De los Reyes’ mouthpiece for his vitriolic attacks on the friars whom he detested and whose abuses he had also personally experienced in the Vigan Seminary, his arrest and imprisonment in the Bilibid Prison for allegedly being a “filibustero” and the refusal of the military authorities to give him permission to visit his dying wife.

It also featured articles on the pre-colonial history of the Ilocanos as well as their crafts and culture, thereby affirming their identity, and, in effect, expressing resistance to the dominant ideology of the colonial masters.

These two newspapers were the trailblazers of a distinctive trend among community newspapers that expressed resistance, questioned, opposed, and challenged the ruling colonial masters and later, homegrown dictators particularly Ferdinand Marcos who imposed martial rule in the Philippines from 1972 to 1986.

La Solidaridad is familiar to all of us who had Philippine history in high school. Filipino expatriates in Spain waged an active propaganda campaign, denouncing oppression, corruption, abuses by the friars, and denial of freedom of the press in the Philippines. When this movement broke down in Spain, it was continued in the Philippines through the community newspapers.

The Filipino has always struggled to be heard.

During the American period, despite limited resources, there were newspapers that dared to challenge the use of English as a medium of instruction and the not-to-subtle efforts of the Americans to develop an English-speaking market in the region. During the Japanese occupation, there was a proliferation of guerilla newspapers, just as there was the mosquito press during Martial Law. Now, in our supposedly free country, we have lost ABS-CBN. It was, with its vast audience in the urban and rural parts of the country and among Filipinos abroad, a “community press.” I think Dr. Encanto’s meticulously researched and well written book reminds us that in difficult times, we have always strived for press freedom and should continue to do so.