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US polls on knife edge

Fil-Ams divided in White House race—PH envoy Constitutional crisis feared as Trump alleges ‘ballot dumps’ FILIPINO-Americans are “quite divided” in the White House race between US President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden, Manila’s envoy in Washington said Wednesday as polls closed. Some 2 million out of 4.3 million Filipino-Americans are registered to vote in the US, said Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez. “It’s really kind of divided. I must say that it’s quite divided unlike, I suppose, in 2016, we had more for Trump. Next page

ASHINGTON—US President Donald Trump alleged on Wednesday that there had been “surprise ballot dumps” in states where he had been leading Democrat Joe Biden in the race for the White House.

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 244 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

“Last night I was leading, often solidly, in many key States, in almost all instances Democrat run & controlled,” Trump tweeted. “Then, one by one, they started to magically disappear as surprise ballot dumps were counted.” Trump did not offer any evidence for his allegation of “ballot dumps” and there have been no reports of any irregularities. The leads in numerous states have shifted back-and-forth between the candidates as votes are counted. Biden vowed Wednesday that his campaign would not “rest until every vote is counted” in the US election after Trump sought Supreme Court intervention to halt the counting process. “We won’t rest until everyone’s vote is counted,” the Democrat and former Vice President to Barack Obama said on Twitter. Americans woke up on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) not knowing

US Senator Joe Biden and US President Donald Trump

TOO CLOSE TO CALL. Ballots are counted at the Los Angeles County Regional Offices in Downey, California, while

residents cast their votes at Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan (inset) on Tuesday as the polls closed for the 2020 US Elections. President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden are battling it out for the White House, with a long night of waiting for results in key battlegrounds on the cards (see graphic). AFP

Anti-insurgency funds okay for typhoon aid MALACANANG on Wednesday said the government can use the proposed budget of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) for relief and rehabilitation in communities devastated by super typhoon “Rolly.” “The objective of ELCAC is to promote development in areas with ongoing insurgencies because we know that poverty is still the root cause of insurgency,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in an interview Next page

TROPICAL storm “Siony” intensified as it headed toward the Luzon Strait, and will likely make landfall on Batanes province or the Babuyan Islands on Friday morning, the state weather bureau said. In its severe weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Siony (international name Atsani) may reach its peak intensity of 130 kilometers per hour as it moved slowly westward. Storm signal No. 1 was in effect over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan and the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands.

Whoever wins, Manila ties with DC unchanged By Vito Barcelo

HELP ON THE WAY. Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Red Cross load 500 pieces of corrugated galvanized iron sheets used in building roofs aboard BRP Gabriela Silang to aid the renovation of houses affected by Super Typhoon Rolly in the Bicol region. Elsewhere, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office II prepares Family Food Packs (FFPs) for families that would be affected by incoming Tropical Storm Siony in Northern Luzon; Agriculture Secretary William Dar visits a rice plantation in Polangui, Albay to check the damages caused by ‘Rolly’, and Public Works Secretary Mark Villar visits the Cagsawa Ruins in Daraga, which was hit by mud and lahar flows following the torrential rains. Norman Cruz, PCG and DSWD photos

MALACANANG said there will be no major changes in bilateral relations between the Philippines and the United States regardless of who wins the 2020 US presidential election. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said he was confident that bilateral ties would remain strong because the US State Department ensures continuity in terms of foreign policy. “Of course, there is an issue of Next page

Rody in no rush to scrap VFA, may even extend it PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is in “no immediate rush” to abrogate the country’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States as the termination’s suspension is expected to end next month. Malacanang said

PET can void election results By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, has the power to annul the results of elections subject of a pending poll protest before it, but it should comply with the “strictest standards and procedures of law” if it is convinced there is need to nullify the election, according to the Commission on Elections. In a 30-page comment, the Comelec asserted that the PET, as the sole judge of all contest relating to the election, returns, Next page

Rody orders price cap set on coronavirus test kits Story on A2

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM NOVEMBER 4)

388,137 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

987

31,679

7,367

349,091

140

NEW

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

ACTIVE

NEW

on Wednesday. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the President might have the option to extend the agreement for another six months or more. “That VFA termination has an option

of being further extended by another six months. So, my thinking is, perhaps the President will invoke the second six month time to finally abrogate the VFA,” he said in an interview over Next page

News

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

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Rody orders virus test price cap By Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte directed the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry to set a price ceiling on tests for COVID-19 to ensure the affordability of test kits. The government said it was concerned that private health establishments would take advantage of the current situation to earn money following reports of overpricing. Both the Tourism and Health departments have called for a price cap on swab tests, as COVID-19 cases continued to be reported while authorities sought to reopen the pandemic-battered economy, allowing travel to tourist spots with a requisite negative coronavirus test. Under Executive Order No. 118, the DOH and DTI should determine and formulate a price range for COVID-19 test kits which will be used in hospitals, health establishments, facilities, and laboratories.

Fil-Ams... From A1 They just wanted a change in administration rather than having a Democrat at that time. Now, I think it’s divided,” he told ANC’s Headstart. The 2020 Asian American Voter Survey (AAVS) interviewed 1,600 Asian Americans and said while the majority – no numbers were disclosed – of Fil-Am voters were leaning blue (a euphemism for voting Democrat, the red being Republican), 34 percent were still voting for Trump. The AAVS did not have any interviews published with some of what it called “majority” of Fil-Am voters leaning towards the Democratic Party. The group Raise the FilAm Voice, in endorsing Trump, referred to Filipino conservative values as among reasons for their support for Trump. “We cherish our family, our freedom to succeed, and our faith. We are traditionally conservative. This is who we are. Our conservative values are what defines our identity, our strength, and our hard-earned prosperity in the US,” the group said. It added: “We are disgusted by the hypocrisy of the Democrats who claim to be Catholics-Christians while justifying abortion and infanticide.” The Republican Party opposes abortion and same-sex marriage including tough immigration policies, which affect Filipinos as well. However, in an article for the South China Morning Post, writer Raissa Robles quoted Filipino-American civic leader Rodel Rodis, who said the choice is clear when the United States goes to the polls: “We should support Joe Biden because our lives depend on it.” Rodis, the co-founder of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), said in an October 17 Zoom forum on the upcoming election that he “chose life” by supporting the Democratic Party candidate, and did not back President Donald Trump’s plan of herd immunity to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit the US harder than any other country. Rodis is among the 1.96 million Filipino-Americans eligible to cast a ballot this year, the second-largest minority voting bloc behind the country’s 2.57 million Chinese-Americans, going by data from the Pew Research Centre, Robles added in her report.

Rody... From A1 CNN Philippines. “But, anyway, what I am saying is, there is no immediate rush for the President to decide because the notification we sent to the Americans gives them at least one year leeway before it’s abrogated,” Roque added.

Whoever... From A1 personal relations,” Roque said in an interview over CNN Philippines on Wednesday. “All the President needed really was a year or two and he was able to foster personal friendship with President (Donald) Trump.” Roque said that even if there is a new US President, Duterte can also develop close ties with Democrat Joe Biden. Duterte himself has repeatedly called Trump his friend. Manila’s ambassador to Washington said the Philippines would remain firm in its stand against interference in do-

Positivity rate declines

The COVID-19 positivity rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) is declining steadily as the country’s daily coronavirus cases also continue to decrease, a group of researchers said early Wednesday, as they presented a brighter outlook for the country. The UP OCTA Research Team said in a report that the ratio of people testing positive of COVID-19 in Metro Manila is trending in the right direction at 6 percent, and is close to the World Health Organization’s recommended target of 5 percent to effectively curb the virus spread. Even after the Philippine Red Cross

resumed its coronavirus testing services, daily infections continued to drop, the researchers said. The average number of new cases per day for the whole Philippines went down to around 1,800 while the new average in Metro Manila is at 490, a significant improvement from August when it was at 2,500, the OCTA team said.

LOCAL ROUNDUP

987 new COVID-19 cases logged

The Philippines’ coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) total rose to 388,137 on Wednesday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 987 new cases, the lowest since July. The DOH reported 49 new fatalities, bringing the death toll from COVID-19 to 7,367. The DOH also reported 140 new recoveries, bringing to 349,091 the total number of patients who have recovered from the disease.

This left 31,679 active cases. Of the active cases, 82.6 percent are mild; 10.1 percent are asymptomatic; 4.7 percent are critical; and 2.6 percent are severe. The DOH also reported that of the some 1,900 total ICU bed capacity, 55 percent is available. Of the 13,500 total isolation bed capacity, 59 percent is available, while 67 percent of the 5,900-ward-bed capacity is available.

No changes in vaccine plan

National Task Force on COVID-19 chief implementer and peace adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.’s appointment as COVID-19 vaccine czar will not cause any changes in the government’s vaccine plan, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday. This, the DOH said amid criticisms that the position should have been given to a medical expert. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said, in a virtual press briefing, that instead, Galvez will speed the procurement and rollout of coronavirus vaccines once it becomes available.

PH scores high in Global Law and Order report THE Philippines’ high score in the 2020 Global Law and Order report, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said shows the Duterte Administration’s commitment in fighting illegal drugs, corruption and criminality. As the country landed in the list of Top 50 nations with good peace and order, Go said that this is a testament of the positive outcome of the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, criminality and corruption. Washington-based analytics and advisory firm Gallup released its 2020

Global Law and Order report where the Philippines was included in the list of fifty countries with good peace and order with a score of 84/100. The country’s score is similar to that of Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and Serbia. If we continue our campaign, Go believes that the Philippines’ peace and order would further improve. Gallup’s report is based on the people’s sense of personal security and experiences with crime and law enforcement in the country. According to the news reports, those

who were surveyed provided positive responses on the law enforcement agencies in the Philippines. They also gave positive feedback that law enforcement authorities are doing their work. For Go, this is a resounding vote of confidence for the Duterte administration. With only a little less than two years left until President Rodrigo Duterte steps down in 2022, Go reiterated that the President continues to fulfill his promise to bring a “comfortable life” to all Filipinos. Macon Ramos-Araneta

US polls... From A1

in others -- the races could shift. The tight White House race and recriminations evoked memories of the 2000 election between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore. The Bush vs Gore race, which rested on a handful of votes in Florida, eventually ended up in the Supreme Court, which halted a recount while Bush was ahead. A deluge of mail-in ballots because of the coronavirus pandemic has slowed down the vote count in some states this year, several of which only began counting mail-in ballots on Tuesday. Michigan officials, for example, said they hoped to have all the votes counted by the end of the day while in Pennsylvania officials said it could be several more days. “If everything keeps up, we’ll have the total results in the next couple of days,” Al Schmidt, the City Commissioner of Philadelphia, the largest city in Pennsylvania, told CNN. “But Pennsylvania allows votes to be received and counted up until Friday and three days after the election. “So, we can’t count what we don’t yet have.”

the winner of the presidential race. Trump took the podium at the White House after 2:00 am and declared that he would go to the Supreme Court because “we want all voting to stop.” Voting had already ended by the time Trump began speaking and he appeared to be calling for the nation’s highest court to stop vote counting. Trump has railed for months against mail-in ballots, charging without evidence they could be fraudulent. Biden had earlier warned that vote counting would take a while as he greeted his own backers at a socially distanced rally in his home state of Delaware. “We believe we’re on track to win this election,” the 77-year-old former vice president and senator from Delaware said. “Keep the faith, guys, we’re going to win this.” Trump for the past four years has often been quick to say he is being treated unfairly but even a few of his fellow Republicans voiced unease at his dramatic intervention. “Stop. Full stop. The votes will be counted and you will either win or lose. And America will accept that. Patience is a virtue,” tweeted Adam Kinzinger, a Republican congressman who won reelection. “I disagree with what he did tonight,” said former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who helped Trump prepare for his first debate against Biden. “There’s just no basis to make that argument tonight,” Christie told ABC News. “There just isn’t.”

who the next US president would be as votes were still being counted in six key states that could swing the bitterly contested election to Republican incumbent Trump or Biden. Fueling fears of a constitutional crisis, Trump prematurely declared victory overnight and threatened to demand the intervention of the Supreme Court to stop votecounting, but it continued, nonetheless. “We did win this election,” the 74-yearold president told cheering supporters in the East Room of the White House before the final vote tallies were complete. “This is a fraud on the American public.” The Biden campaign slammed Trump’s victory claim as “outrageous, unprecedented, and incorrect” and a “naked effort to take away the democratic rights of American citizens.” “The counting will not stop. It will continue until every duly cast vote is counted,” it said. “If the president makes good on his threat to go to court to try to prevent the proper tabulation of votes, we have legal teams standing by ready to deploy to resist that effort.” The outcome appeared to hinge on the results from six states where a winner has not yet been declared -- Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. As of 9:00 am (1400 GMT), Biden had a slim lead in Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin while Trump was ahead in Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. But state election officials cautioned that with tens of thousands of ballots outstanding in some states -- millions In June this year, Duterte suspended his decision to abandon the pact because “he saw that the tensions in the South China Sea were getting in the way of a united response to the COVID-19 crisis,” Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. earlier said. The termination was initially made on Feb. 11, 2020. Under the VFA, which governs the conduct of American troops in the

mestic affairs if a Biden administration should bring up allegations of human rights violations in the country. Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said the government’s stand is that the alleged extrajudicial killings were not state-sanctioned and are “perpetrated by police officers who are involved in drugs.” “The bottomline message that we continue to give here, both to Democrats and Republicans is that we are a sovereign nation, we are a country that is democratic like the United States, we have a President that is duly elected just like they have an election here now. We have to respect each other,” Romualdez said on ANC’s Headstart.

Record turnout

The US Elections Project estimated total turnout at a record 160 million voters including more than 101.1 early voters, 65.2 million of whom voted by mail. In an election that took cast under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed more than 230,000 lives in the United States, Trump appeared to have avoided a Democratic wave predicted by some polls. But it remained unclear Wednesday morning which candidate would capture the 270 votes needed for victory in the Electoral College that determines country, the abrogation of the pact takes effect 180 days after the US government receives the notice. Duterte scrapped the VFA over its alleged inequities in its treaty provisions and the US’s alleged assault on the country’s sovereignty and disrespect for its judicial system. Duterte pulled out of the accord after Washington canceled the visa of his ally, Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, who head-

PET... From A1 and qualifications of the President or Vice President, also “has the attendant power to annul the election results in order to give full effect to its constitutional duty to determine the winning candidate in the contested position.” The comment was a compliance of the PET’s order on September 29, 2020 requiring the poll body to submit its position on issues relative to former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. protest against Vice President Leni Robredo, particularly the third cause of action that seeks for the annulment

Parlade warned to be cautious in red-tagging By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Willie Casas CONTROVERSIAL Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. General Antonio Parlade Jr. should be more cautious about his statements falsely accusing Liza Soberano and other celebrities for their civic-minded advocacies, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said on Thursday. At the hearing of the Senate Committee on National Defense on the alleged red-tagging activities of the military, Pangilinan said such erroneous accusations exposes the Armed Forces of the Philippines to unnecessary controversy. Pangilinan also thanked Secretary Delfin Lorenzana of the Department of National Defense for admonishing Parlade for the recent “red tagging” of the opposition. The senator said that the red-tagging of several House members and celebrities such as Soberano and actress Angel Locsin and former Miss Universe Catriona Gray has been severe enough for Lorenzana to reprimand Parlade. Pangilinan said Parlade’s words as spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict carry a lot of weight so restraint should always be observed at all times. The senator recalled that it was Parlade who accused the Liberal Party of conspiring with the Communist Party of the Philippines to topple the current administration in the so-called “Red October” plot in 2018. However, when the opposition raised this issue with the DND and the AFP during the 2018 budget hearing, the two agencies categorically denied the existence of the said plot and cleared LP of any involvement in the non-existent ouster plan.

Anti-insurgency... From A1

ed the government’s war on drugs when he served as national police chief. Some U.S. officials have expressed concern over the apparent disregard for human rights in the Philippines’ anti-narcotics campaign under the Duterte administration. The VFA, signed in 1998, is anchored on the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty of Manila and Washington. Vito Barcelo

over CNN Philippines. “So I don’t think there is any inconsistency with the proposal to actually spend funds in typhoon damaged areas because it is a fact that Bicol also is a hotbed for insurgency. So that would be within the mandate of ELCAC,” he said. Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros earlier proposed the realignment of a portion of the proposed P19 billion budget for the NTF-ELCAC for the rehabilitation and relief efforts in the wake of Rolly’s onslaught. Hontiveros said that the funds for the task force, which had been criticized for branding leftist lawmakers, activists, and administration critics as communists, would be better spent on victims of the recent destructive typhoon. But Senator Panfilo Lacson said that additional calamity funds should not necessarily come from the antiinsurgency funds. “We continue to identify possible sources of amendments,” he said. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, on the other hand, aired his support for the use of P19 billion of the NTF-ELCAC budget for relief and rehabilitation efforts. The latest reports said at least 20 people in the Bicol region were killed by the typhoon, considered as the world’s strongest storm this year, which also caused P6 billion in damage to agricultural crops and infrastructure. Roque also said there was no need to create a task force to oversee the rehabilitation of typhoon-hit areas since President Duterte is already on top of the situation. He was responding to a proposal from Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte to form such a task force. Vito Barcelo, Willie Casas, Macon RamosAraneta, Othel V. Campos, Alena Mae S. Flores and Maricel V. Cruz

of elections in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Basilan in the 2016 national elections on the ground of terrorism, intimidation, harassment of voters, and pre-shading of ballots. Citing the Supreme Court 2016 ruling in the case of Harlin C. Abayon vs. House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal and Raul A. Daza, which the high court affirmed the HRET’s power to annul election results “if in its determination, fraud, terrorism or other electoral irregularities existed to warrant the annulment.” “However, as to give highest importance to the thousands of votes cast in the elections, the strictest standards and

procedures of law must be set in place if the PET becomes strongly and positively convinced to annul the results of the elections,” the Comelec stressed. According to the Comelec, three requisites must be satisfied to justify such a drastic action of nullifying the election: illegality of the ballots must affect more than 50 percent of the votescast; the impossibility of differentiating the lawful and unlawful ballots; and clear, convincing, and strong evidence that the protestee is accountable for the illegal acts. The poll body insisted that annulling elections would only be to “determine who among the candidates garnered a majority of the legal votes cast.”

‘Constitutional crisis’?

Foreign countries also sounded the alarm, with German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer warning Trump could create a “constitutional crisis.” AFP

News

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Bill eyes boost to war material procurement By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ENATOR Ramon Revilla has filed a bill seeking to amend Republic Act 9184, or the “Government Procurement Act of 2003,” to speed up the procurement of war materials for the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization program.

He filed Senate Bill 1830 and said a specialized procurement process for defense assets was needed to pursue and sustain programs for the modernization of the AFP and to enhance the capability of military, police and other law enforcement units. He said this was necessary to address the internal security threats posed by local

LOADING UP. Philippine Air Force personnel load up their C-130 and NC212i aircraft under the 220th Airlift Wing to fly back and forth from Manila to Virac, Catanduanes to airlift family food packs, communication equipment and affected civilians in the wake of Typhoon ‘Rolly’. The PAF C295 aircraft is also busy hauling family food packs for the affected families in Albay. PAF Photo

IN BRIEF Only court order should evict squatters—solon A PARTY-LIST legislator has filed a bill providing that only “final and executory” orders from courts could be used in evicting squatters or demolishing squatter colonies. House Bill 151, filed by Rep. Rodante Marcoleta of the party-list group Sagip, is now pending in the House of Representatives’ Committee on Housing and Urban Development, which has created a technical working group to look into the various aspects of the bill and consolidate it with similar measures. The bill would amend Section 28(c) of RA 7279, or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992. That provision of RA 7279 enumerates the circumstances where eviction or demolitions may be allowed, a court order being the primary justification for such activity. However, HB 151 would provide that the court order referred to should be one that was already “final and executory.” That would make it impossible for landowners whose properties had been invaded by squatters to recover their land, since “final and executory” orders are usually issued in cases that go up to the Supreme Court. “Meaning to say, if it is only an order which is still appealable in courts, that is not the kind of order that is enforced to be contemplated under the law under RA 7279,” Marcoleta said in his sponsorship speech. “Normally, those who win in a land-dispute case are the owners of the land who have the wealth and influence most of the time. Maricel V. Cruz

Manila Water defers rate adjustments too EAST-ZONE server Manila Water Co. Inc. on Wednesday announced the deferment of its rate adjustments for 2021 to help its customers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The deferment covers the two-peso rate adjustment for 2021 and the charges for inflation. “With this decision, we continue to put our customers first as we heed the government’s call to help mitigate the impact of the disruption of economic activity on most Filipinos,” the water firm said in a statement. “We believe that, by working together as one nation, we will continue to rise above all the challenges we are confronting and may still be facing in the future.” Earlier, the west-zone server Maynilad Water Services Inc. also suspended its scheduled rate increase for 2021. “During these difficult times when no one is spared the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Maynilad is one with the government in finding ways to help our countrymen make the situation more manageable,” the company said in a statement. Rio N. Araja Manila

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Standard

TODAY COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENT President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (CA.) for its consent the nominations of the following Flag/General in the Armed Forces of the Philippines: To the rank or VICE ADMIRAL Erick A. Kagaoan, PN To the rank of MAJOR GENERAL Nestor Florante DC Rayos, PAF To the rank of BRlGADIER GENERAL Rogelio D. Ulanday, PA (GSC) The public may submit any information, written report, or sworn/notarized complaints or oppositions in thirty - two (32) copies on the above appointments to the CA Secretariat, 6th Floor, PNB Financial Center, D. Macapagal Blvd., Pasay City, Metro Manila. For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 8834-2713, 8831-1824, 8831-0527, 88329830, 8834-2706 and 8551-1989.. 4 November 2020. HECTOR A. VILLACORTA Secretary (MS-NOV. 5, 2020)

‘Prioritize Filipino contractors, workers in PH projects’ By Maricel V. Cruz LAWMAKERS on Wednesday pushed for legislation that would ensure Filipino contractors and workers would be given priority in private and government construction projects, especially during the economic slump due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At least three bills have been filed at the House of Representatives seeking to amend Republic Act 4566, or the Con-

tractors’ Licensing Law, in a bid to protect the interest and welfare of Filipino contractors and workers in the construction industry. Davao Oriental Rep. Mayo Almario, author of House Bill 7816, underscored the need for legislation that would impose stricter requirements on foreign participation in construction activities in the Philippines. HB 7816 provides that no foreign

contractor would be given a license to operate in the country unless the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board certifies that no local contractor could do the project applied for. “To fully protect the interests of the Philippines and her people, the Filipino contractor must be given priority in local construction activities to develop his own native land, and only if he cannot do it will a foreign contractor be allowed,” Almario said.

and transnational terrorists and criminal groups and the emerging security threats. “Prior to this, the AFP leadership had already asked Congress to introduce amendments to the stringent requirements of the Government Procurement Reform Act to address the unique needs and demands of purchasing defense equipment and services,” Revilla said. During the recent Commission on Appointments hearing on the promotion of senior military officials, Revilla questioned AFP Chief Gilbert Gapay on the 2019 Commission on Audit report citing the inefficiencies in the implementation of the AFP modernization program, specifically on the projects that should have been completed in 2018 and 2019. Gapay told him the AFP procurement process was also governed by Republic Act 9184 and the failure of bidding had caused a delay in the implementation of the AFP modernization program. Gapay then proposed that Congress legislate a separate defense procurement act to expedite the bidding process. Acting on Gapay’s appeal, Revilla filed Senate Bill 1830 “to provide the necessary authority, opportunity and flexibility for the Department of National Defense and the AFP leadership to fast-track its implementation of the long-delayed modernization program. While this measure would provide an expeditious and specialized procurement for the defense sector, Revilla said it was still anchored on the basic principles of quality and reliability of purchases and accountability and integrity.” Under the Revilla bill, the Defense secretary may prescribe rules and standards to govern the procurement of defense articles, services and infrastructures to enhance the national defense program. In his proposed amendment to Section 5 of RA 9184, infrastructure projects would include ship-building projects and the repair, restoration and maintenance of military ships, aircraft and other military equipment.

PhilHealth wants to extend dialysis cover for patients By Willie Casas PHILIPPINE Health Insurance Corp. is now crafting a policy on how it can extend beyond 90 sessions the coverage of dialysis patients amid claims that some dialysis centers reject the PhilHealth cards of patients who have exhausted their covered treatments. “PhilHealth’s new management transition team is urgently working on the appropriate policy that will afford the extension of coverage to patients availing of dialysis sessions beyond the 90-days limit per year,” PhilHealth said in a statement Wednesday. “It is also in consultation with various stakeholders on the matter.” The Dialysis PH Support Group Inc. last week lamented how some dialysis centers were rejecting the PhilHealth IP LITERACY. Young indigenous learners use Gnarè Blaan, the 10th app in Smart’s roster of award-winning mother tongue-based cards of patients who had availed themliteracy innovations. Elsewhere, Arakan women learn basic digital skills, and arts and crafts through PLDT webinars selves of more than 90 dialysis sessions. Dialysis Support Group president Reynaldo Abacan Jr. said under Bayanihan 2, the privilege to avail oneself of free dialysis sessions should last until December as there was still a public CEBU Pacific Air on Wednesday an- Candice Iyog, the airline’s vice president has appealed to airlines not to board foreign- health emergency. The regular coverage for dialysis panounced it will soon require all clients to for Marketing and Customer Experience. ers bound for the Philippines who do not tients is up to 90 days or 90 sessions per register with a contact-tracing application “We believe having a single contact- have appropriate visas to enter the country. to support the government’s aim to pre- tracing app for the industry will not only In a statement, Immigration Commis- calendar year. The coverage, however, was extended vent the spread of the coronavirus disease. make the track and trace process more sioner Jaime Morente said he made the Beginning Nov. 28, 2020, all passen- effective and efficient, it is also one of appeal following reports of foreigners who when President Rodrigo Duterte declared gers transiting through airports will be the critical steps in rebuilding trust and were turned back at the Ninoy Aquino In- a state of calamity due to the COVID-19 pandemic for six months in March. required to register on the Traze app, a confidence in travel’” ternational Airport for not having visas. Apart from the coverage of dialysis unified national QR code-based mobile This requirement will be included in He said similar reports of excluded application that will automate the con- the airline’s pre-flight reminder notifi- foreign passengers had also been re- patient-members beyond 90 days, regular tact-tracing of the aviation sector. cations for passengers, as well as on its ceived from the international airports in members’ 45 days of coverage per calenyear was YELLOW extended byBLACK the declaration “We commend the government for website and official social media pages. Mactan, Cebu and Clark. Joel E. ZurCYAN dar MAGENTA of a state of calamity. launching this contact- tracing app,” said Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration bano and Vito Barcelo

Cebu Pac passengers must use contract-tracing app

Group asks FDA to nix antigen test A MEDICAL group insists the certification of SD Biosensor antigen rapid diagnostic test should be revoked by the Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration after failing Department of Health and Research Institute of Tropical Medicine performance standards Some medical groups and private companies expressed concern after Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said a study conducted by the RITM showed that SD Biosensor had only posted 71-percent sensitivity, which is below the sensitivity standard of the World Health Organization for diagnostic performance. “We put the lives of each Filipino at risk if we continue to use this antigen test in our country. Its accuracy remains lacking and it can add up to the increas-

ing number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, and we do not want that to happen,” said Michael Martin Lagman, a physician who owns a diagnostic center that also conducts COVID-19 testing. “In this time of crisis, we believe that tests and treatments should be carefully assessed before routine use so as not to aggravate the dangers of the disease and the difficulties already faced by our healthcare system. We are deeply concerned about the high level of inaccuracies of the test, particularly the high prevalence of false positives.” SD Biosensor was the same antigen test that failed to meet the standards of the Health department during the pilot study in Baguio City in a bid to revive its tourism. The department said it wanted at least an 85- percent match.

FIREARMS OUT. A steamroller under the 549th Engineer Battalion prepares to flatten

242 captured, confiscated, surrendered, and recovered firearms as part of the 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division demilitarization works in Maguindanao at Camp Navarro in Calarian, Zamboanga City on Tuesday. It was held during the 33rd Founding Anniversary of the 6th ID stationed at Camp Siongco, Awang, Maguindanao.

LGUs

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

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Joy sets new guidelines for QC By Rio N. Araja

UEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte has issued the latest general community quarantine guidelines to reflect the expanded scope of allowable economic activity under the Department of Trade and Industry’s Memorandum Circular No. 20-57.

“With our active coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases now on a downward trend, we are now pushing various activities during the holidays that will open and jumpstart the economy and give livelihood to our citizens,” she said. “However, we encourage them to hold these activities in open-air spaces or naturally ventilated indoor areas to help prevent the virus from spreading. This way, we will be having a safe and meaningful Christmas celebration,” she added. Under the latest GCQ guidelines, mall sales, bazaars, tiangges and similar activities are now allowed subject to minimum health protocols to prevent the spread of the virus. The organizers are also required to log all attendees for contact tracing purposes and is strongly encouraged to use a digital contact tracing method, such as SafePass. Based on studies, open-air or well-ventilated indoor spaces decrease the chances

of being infected with COVID-19. The revised guidelines also state that malls have to enforce a capacity limitation that allows physical distancing of at least one meter among all customers. According to Belmonte, capacity limitation shall be subjected for review and modification by the Business Permits and Licensing Department, and Market Development and Administration Department. Malls must also set up queuing areas with thermal scanning of guests or customers and provide an adequate number of marshals who will enforce physical distancing. The city’s Law and Order Cluster, regulatory departments, 142 barangays and Quezon City Police District are tasked to ensure that the latest guidelines are strictly enforced. As of Nov. 4, the city government reported that 94 percent or 21,377 patients have recovered from COVID-19, further dropping its active cases to just 756.

SAN PEDRO STREETLIGHTS. Undersecretary Dave

Almarinez (inset, 4th from left) leads the switching on of 26 streetlights in Brgy. Rosario, San Pedro City, Laguna together actress Ara Mina (center), 1st District Board Member Abigael Alonte (3rd left), village and homeowners association officials. Almarinez said for the first time in so many years, this gateway to San Pedro City Laguna has been lit and brightened. The ‘truly essential’ project was delivered by the Liwanag Ni Dave Program. Roy Tomandao

OCTA: 9 LGUs still high-risk areas for coronavirus transmission By Willie Casas

NINE local government units (LGUs) in the country have been identified as COVID-19 high-risk areas due to high daily case load, attack rate, or high hospitalization occupancy, the OCTA Research Group said. The LGUs are Makati City and Malabon City in the National Capital Region;

IN BRIEF Free COVID-19 tests resume in Manila AFTER temporarily halting the various ways of free testing for COVID-19 being employed in the city of Manila, due to the recent typhoon that hit the country, it recently resumed with even greater intensity. Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said the city’s Mobile Serology Testing Clinic went to Barangay 190, Zone 17 and Barangay 368, Zone 37, among others, to conduct mass testing. Personnel from the Manila Health Department (MHD) headed by Dr. Arnold Pangan, and Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO), under chief Arnel Angeles, went around the said areas to thwart the possibility of any community transmission of the deadly coronavirus. Simultaneously, Domagoso said all the drive-thru and walk-in testing centers for COVID-19 also again began accepting those who want to be subjected to serology testing for various reasons like having symptoms, job requirement or mere peace of mind. Domagoso urged the public to avail of the free COVID-19 testing which yields confirmatory results unlike the rapid tests that sometimes result in false negative and false positive findings. Willie Casas

Calabarzon generally safe after TS ‘Rolly’ CAMP BGEN VICENTE P LIM, Laguna – The Police Regional Office 4A reported Wednesday that persons or vehicles were no stranded in the entire Calabarzon region following the onslaught of Typhoon “Rolly.” All roads are safe and passable except for the two roads in Batangas, as 336 infrastructures were minimally damaged including a quarantine facility in Quezon Police Provincial Office, PRO4A said. Meanwhile, Police Regional Director PBGEN Vicente D. Danao Jr. joined Senator Christopher “Bong” Go in distributing financial aid and relief goods to the affected families of the recent fire in Brgy. Sineguelasan and Brgy. Alima in Bacoor City, Cavite, displacing 388 families with 1,641 individuals. Team Calabarzon have rescued a total of 4,549 persons, as Search and Rescue personnel deployed 15 RSSF team composed of 127 RSSF personnel, while 1,066 SAR personnel are on standby. Roy Tomandao

Baguio City, Itogon and Tuba in Benguet, and Lucena in Quezon for Luzon; Iloilo City and Catarman, Northern Samar for Visayas, and Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur for Mindanao. These areas may experience “hospital burden” in the following weeks that may stress their health care systems and overwhelm their medical frontliners, said the group of experts monitoring

the COVID-19 situation in the country in its November 3 report. The research team advised the LGUs affected to further intensify testing, contact tracing, and isolation efforts to curb the spread of the COVID-19 in their communities. “Furthermore, in the identified highrisk LGUs, the implementation of more aggressive and effective localized lock-

downs with stricter border controls is urgently needed to suppress further viral transmissions,” OCTA said. The research group defines attack rate as the number of new cases per day relative to population. For example, a daily attack rate of 5% per 1000 means that there are 5 new cases per 100,000 of population per day. A higher attack rate means more people are getting infected.

Salceda appeals for aid to Albay second district ALBAY 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda has appealed for assistance for his district following the onslaught of Super Typhoon “Rolly,” which inflicted about P2.1 billion in damages to critical infrastructures in the area. Some 20,494 families composed of 66,328 persons are now housed in evacuation centers around the district, Salceda said. Camalig has 6,648 families or 22,296 persons, followed by Manito (1,647 families, 6,866 persons); Rapurapu (2,052 families, 7,714 persons); Legazpi City (6,439 families, 14,535 persons); and Daraga (3,708 families, 14,917 persons). Salceda said a total of 286 houses were totally destroyed in his district, with 450 others critically damaged, and 768 substantially damaged. Albay’s second district has a population of 613,940. “We are appealing to your generosity of spirit for assistance to sustain our constituents’ daily needs,” pleaded Salceda. For pledges, persons may contact lawyer Carol Sabio at 0917-2538813; Justin Jay Bolanos, 0917-5788215 or 0923-7293443; and Zaldy Santillan at 0925-8524174.

BDO MASBATE AID. BDO Foundation continues to fulfill its disaster response

advocacy despite a pandemic. In partnership with the St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Church and the local government unit, the foundation donated relief goods to earthquake-stricken residents of Cataingan in Masbate, which was hit with a 6.6 tectonic earthquake and a series of aftershocks, damaging homes, buildings and infrastructure. The corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank distributed relief packs containing food, noodles and rice to 650 families in 26 barangays.

Lady swindler falls in dragnet to C. Luzon NBI By Jess Malabanan ANGELES CITY—A lady swindler who allegedly gypped several couples— including retired and active police officers who have applied for annulment of marriage—was arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following an entrapment set at a mall coffee shop in this city Tuesday. Lawyer Rustico Vigilia, director of NBI-Central Luzon, identified the suspect as Rodelyn Palattao Quilang, of Barangay Kaypian, City of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan. He said the suspect did not resist arrest when pounced on by government agents. The suspect, according to NBI investigators, duped her victims by bragging of her connections with the family courts to fix their marriage annulment applications at an incredibly low cost. Quilang asked for P80,000 in exchange for marriage annulment applications. She asked for an initial P10,000 payment from each applicant, and the remaining balance once she handed over the documents issued by the court. Some of the victims were retired and active police officers with ranks of colonel and major, the Standard learned. They were apparently attracted to the low price of marriage annulment, said one of the NBI agents who declined to identify the police officers who fell victim to Quilang’s modus.

Bataan: No COVID case for 1st time in 8 months By Butch Gunio

BALANGA CITY, Bataan—For the first time in eight months, Bataan registered no new COVID-19 case. Provincial Information Officer Angel OL Lara said that based on the Pro-

vincial Health Office’s report last November 2, no one was positive among 119 people who were contact-traced and tested for the coronavirus. She said a consistent downward trend of new infections was observed since last week, averaging less than 20 cases

per day for the period October 25 to November 2. The development brings down the number of active cases in the province to 166, while the recovered cases increased to 2,606, according to PIO reporter Eunice Ordonio.

P7.1-m Grundfos grant to bring clean water to Baseco community

FOR BASECO. Officials of Grundfos

Foundation and Asia Society for Social Improvement & Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) pose with the replica grant check from the former. Through their P7.1 million community grant, Baseco will receive two water treatment systems to bring clean water along with sustainable programs on livelihood and information education campaigns for improved sanitation among the community in Manila.

WITH more than 60,000 inhabitants in a 53-hectare land area, the Baseco compound is one of the largest and densest slums in Manila. This congested community suffers from poor sanitation and access to safe and affordable drinking water. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to strike on businesses and other livelihood sources, families in Baseco need immediate help in alleviating their worsening condition. Through the Grundfos Foundation’s Community Grant of P7.1 million, the community in Baseco will receive two water treatment systems to bring clean water, sustain education on proper sanitation and livelihood opportunities to this community. Grundfos Philippines together with non-profit organization, Asia Society for Social Improvement & Sustainable

Transformation (ASSIST) will install these Grundfos systems, which are solar powered water-filtration units in Baseco. These two Grundfos systems can help provide up to 4,000 liters of clean water per hour and has a total production capacity of 96,000 liters per day; enabling more than 4,000 locals per day to receive safe water for drinking and hand washing. This initiative will also open opportunities for social enterprises through a community cooperative of water business and health-related livelihood such as soap-making led by the Kabalikat sa Pagunlad ng Baseco People’s Organization. Net proceeds from these activities will also sustain information campaigns such as regular WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) trainings and distribution of informative materials within the community.

Opinion A pair of bad economic decisions for obtaining financing for this country’s development projects. Recently, possibly as a result of further bilateral discussions on the matter, Malacañang has instructed the Department of Finance and the National Economic and Development Authority to reopen discussions with the EU on ODA-financed projDISCUSSIONS regarding the devel- ects. Better a late admission of a mistake opment of economics usually end with than stubborn non-admission. the asking of the question “What poliThe second bad economic policy decies should a country pursue in order to cision made by the present government, achieve economic development in the which is in process, relates to this counshortest possible time?” try’s contrived acceptance of trade preferThe better question to ask is “What ences under GSP+ (Generalized Scheme policies should a country refrain from of Preferences Plus) of the EU. Recently, pursuing in order to achieve economic for the third time, the first two declaradevelopment?” After all, of what good tions were made in 2017 and 2018 – the is doing good economic things with one Parliament of EU declared that it was hand if with the other hand a country is considering discontinuing GSP+ benefits doing bad ecoto the Philippines nomic things? if the Philippine Two economic government did policy decisions Both concern one of not immediately of the administraimprove its huthe country’s principal tion of President man rights acsources of economic Rodrigo Duterte cord. Incensed assistance—the of the last few by the EU Parliayears fall under European Union. ment’s threat, the the bad-economDuterte adminisic-decision cattration has apparegory. Both are ently decided to direct offshoots of what one of the coun- adopt a do-what-you-want-to-do attitude try’s principal sources of economic assis- toward the 27-nation bloc. tance – the European Union – refers to This attitude is a terrible mistake, arguas unacceptable Philippine government ably worse than the decision regarding policies on human rights. EU preferential financing. Under GSP+, The first of the two decisions, made in approximately 6,000 products of Phil2016, relates to the financial assistance ippine interest are able to enter EU on a from the 27-nation economic group. The tariff-free basis. Since its inception a few second, which relates to Philippine trade decades ago, GSP has enormously aided with EU, is in the process of being made. the development of numerous developShortly after he assumed office, a very ing countries; those that have extensively confident Rodrigo Duterte responded to availed themselves of the Scheme’s benthe EU’s threat to suspend preferential efits are among today’s fastest-growing financial assistance to the Philippines – countries. Taiwan was one of these counchiefly Official Development Assistance tries. – by instructing this country’s economic One of the Philippine industries that managers to immediately stop processing will be hard-hit by the Duterte adminproject loan proposals involving ODA istration’s GSP+ position is the tuna infrom the EU. ODA loans are among the dustry, which, ironically, is centered on most concessional financing sources to Duterte country, i.e., Southern Mindanao. be found on Planet Earth: Loans of up to Because of GSP+, the Philippine tuna in40 years’ maturity, with a 10-year grace dustry now supplies around 7 percent of period on interest payments, and bearing EU’s tuna requirements. annual interest rates of 0.4 percent. The decisions on ODA and GSP+ are No more ODA from those who infringe a pair of very bad economic policy deon the sovereignty of the Philippines, Mr. cisions. The Duterte administration has Duterte thundered. One can only imagine found the good sense and the courage to the reactions of the economic managers correct the ODA decision; it should now most closely affected by the presidential do everything it can to correct the GSP+ decision, to wit, the officials responsible decision.

A typhoon during a pandemic evacuation and provision of basic commodities in times of emergencies, as it is multi-dimensional. It requires evaluation of socioeconomic conditions such as access to basic services and information, healthcare facilities, transportation, safe drinking water, broadSUPER typhoon “Rolly” left thousands cast media, and telecommunications. of families without roofs. The province It also involves ensuring availability, of Quezon was not spared from its batter- accessibility, and adequacy of safe and ing rains and destructive winds. Howev- open spaces and calamity-proof infraer, we were able to structures in each mitigate its impact locality. It also covwith our pre-empers the training, caResilience must tive emergency repacity, and compecome from the sponse. Our local tence of each local government. officials, together government unit in with our police and responding timely provincial and local to emergency situdisaster officials, went house-to-house to ations. evacuate those living in low-lying and Our experience with “Rolly” shows flood-prone areas, and those near bod- how much we have improved over the ies of water. We were able to send food years, but it also reveals the areas where packs to municipalities before the ty- we need to have better foresight. While phoon made its landfall. The provincial Filipinos are known to be resilient, we and local government units were on red cannot entirely depend on the people’s alert, monitoring the situation in every resilience to respond and adapt to crisis municipality. situations. The government is still the While disaster preparedness and mit- principal entity accountable to ensure that igation strategies in the country have lives are protected and damages to propnot been exactly perfected, experience erty are prevented. continually teaches us what we can exIn this regard, I would like to call on pect and where to improve. With time, the national government to implement we have learned to estimate how much a more streamlined allocation and disdamage a typhoon may potentially tribution of resources and assistance to cause and what measures we need to the local government units. We are not undertake at different levels of prepa- underminingEducating the capability of the nationration. By this time, we know that di- al government agencies. However, local in a pandemic saster preparedness does not only entail governments have a wider and more ex-

ManilaStandard

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Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

EDITORIAL

Swift action needed

MBASSADOR to Brazil Marichu Mauro arrived in Manila this week to face an investigation into video footage showing her physically abusing her household helper in Brasilia. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. says a task force investigating the incident is expected to report its findings and recommendations in 15 days. Saying he was “not a summary execution guy,” Locsin said Mauro would be given all due process, and said the maid, too, would be asked to give her account. But Locsin has also vowed that action on the incident would be “severe to the fullest extent of the law” and described the video as “incontestable.” “It is what it is. It shows her maltreating the maid,” he said. On Oct, 25, the Brazilian news outlet GloboNews released closed-circuit television videos showing Mauro either striking her maid or grabbing her by the hair and ear. Dates on the CCTV footage showed that the incidents took place in March, August, and twice in October this year.

As the video circulated on social media, Mauro was roundly criticized in the media and on the internet, and ordered to return home for an investigation. Her maid was also returned to the country and is currently in quarantine, Locsin said, adding that the DFA has provided her with P200,000 to help tide her over as she remained jobless. Clouding the issue was a statement re-

Would it not be possible to give the ambassador her due process and ensure swift action?

leased by a group calling itself the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Career Officer Corps and the Retired Ambassadors Association that supported Mauro. “We, the DFA’s Career Officer Corps and the Retired Ambassadors Association, hereby express full support to Ambassador Marichu Mauro who is being pilloried in

the social and printed media over the unfortunate incident in Brasilia. That single incident should not define the character of Ambassador Mauro,” the groups said in a statement. The group also cited Mauro’s long career as a diplomat and her work in promoting the welfare of Filipino migrant workers, and noted that the maid had not even filed a complaint against her. The DFA has disavowed this view and rightly so. If indeed the ambassador beat her maid or otherwise abused her, she must pay the price for it. A long, distinguished career offers no immunity from prosecution for a crime—and we can cite at least two: violation of the Domestic Workers Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. That the maid has not filed a complaint is irrelevant as well, given that ordinary folk are often reluctant or afraid to act against people in power. Given that Secretary Locsin says that the video is “incontestable,” we wonder if 15 days might not even be too long. Would it not be possible to give the ambassador her due process and ensure swift action?

More has to be done THE government effort to clean up Boracay and Manila Bay started a trend which could have gained more traction if not for the pandemic. This is the realization not only by the public but also the local officialdom of the importance and need of environmental protection and a clean and livable community. Boracay is now up to par and the Manila Bay is much cleaner than it used to be. There are clean-up crews cleaning the Pasig River and the Bay every day. We know however, that this will not do the trick. What we need is a lasting and permanent solution. This should be the focus of people looking at the cleanup effort and not only on the so-called white beach -- because that is only a small portion of the overall project. What are needed are more investments, better technical know-how, hard work and the determination to prevent sewer and solid wastes from discharging into the Bay. Any effort will also be doubly harder unless we can prevent people from constructing their makeshift houses along creeks and river banks. Only then can we declare victory. We can learn from the way other metropolitan areas were able to clean their river systems. Cases in point are the River Thames along London, the Bosporus Strait in Istanbul, and Tokyo Bay. Our environmental officials may want to visit these places to find out how these metropolitan areas were able to clean their waterways and keep it clean. The Pasig River is the biggest river that discharges into Manila Bay. Unless we clean it up, the bay will never be clean. But its source, which is Laguna Lake, is also polluted already. So, unless Laguna Lake is cleaned, Pasig River will never be as clean as we would want it. A thorough survey and study of the whole Manila Bay area should be considered before a bigger government effort is undertaken. That is what we need if we want long-term success. *** In addition to the Manila Bay cleanup effort are the almost-daily clearing

their numbers, the government must have underestimated how many people are living this way. There must also be a more humane way of doing it than simply confiscating everything they possess and leaving them exactly where they are found. Perhaps, the clearing teams should include DSWD personnel so that data could be gathered by interviewing these people to come out with a more holistic approach to the problem. Knowing where they come from and how long they have been street dwellers can be useful information. The teams should also be better equipped with overall uniforms and gloves for increased efficiency. The Roxas Boulevard dwellers for instance are one of a kind. They can sleep and go about their lives unmindful of the noise of the thousands of vehicles passing by.

haustive view of the needs of their localities in times of calamities. I ask that the national government consider simplifying processes by allowing resources to be readily and directly available at the LGU level to ensure that LGUs can easily mobilize aid and resources whenever necessary. In this way, we can cut red tape and afford the victims of calamities prompt

assistance and intervention, especially in the far-flung areas. A resilient people makes challenges easier to overcome. However, resilience must start from the government. Building a resilient nation requires that the government should be at the forefront of the transformation. Who else better to empower than our local government units?

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

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

operations being undertaken by some metro-area local government units. It is painful to see some of our less fortunate fellow citizens sleeping on sidewalks, on center islands, under and beside bridges and on dilapidated sidecars of tricycles parked along the road. It highlights the stark contrast of life in the National Capital Region between the ultra-rich and those living in abject poverty. Yet, it has to be done if we want to be able to establish order on our streets and sidewalks. Judging from

Our environment problems are complex and there are no easy solutions.

Unfortunately, Manila Bay has also become their toilet. The immensity of the problem cannot therefore be overemphasized. This is the reason why prioritization of what to do is essential. Squatting for instance is not solely a Filipino phenomenon but is found in all countries in the developing world. Squatting is supposed to be a temporary condition. It is assumed that people can eventually improve their lives and graduate to proper homes. Many squatters in the Metro area however, can live in squalid conditions for decades sometimes lasting 40 years. There is even one family living beside a bridge with an air conditioning unit. It makes one wonder why if they can afford air conditioning, they like living that way instead of renting a more decent abode. All these show the complexity of the problem and demonstrates that there are really no easy and simple answers to the squatting phenomenon. What it is telling us is that in order for all of us to be able to live in an orderly, clean, and environmentally friendly community anywhere, the government will not only have to try much harder but must also convince people to believe in the effort and want it badly enough to participate in it. Otherwise, we will never be able to attain our goals.

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Desperately clinging to his post?

EVERYMAN The best interest of the child By Albertyo Muyot

Seeing red stars By Joey Salgado

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

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

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

TODAY

2024

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR CONFIRMATION AND APPROVAL OF FORCE MAJEURE EVENT CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROJECT, NAMELY: REPAIR, RESTORATION AND/ OR REHABILITATION OF DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, BUILDINGS, FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT DAMAGED BY TYPHOON TISOY, WITH APPLICATION FOR AUTHORITY TO SECURE LOAN FROM THE NATIONAL ELECTRIFICATION ADMINISTRATION (NEA)

211,665,178.80

Cash balance beginning, PhP, excess / (shortfall)

22,545,902.80

55,357,144.98

117,800,512.81 125,581,145.81 133,496,038.38 141,519,338.55

50% of income on leased properties

312,764.50

Total Cash Inflows, PhP

312,764.50

118,113,277.31 125,893,910.30 133,808,802.88 141,832,103.04

CASH OUTFLOWS CAPEX requirement

Promulgated:

September 23. 2020

old debt (old amortization)

10,255,412.00

7,771,412.00

3,191,471.00

new amortization (2018 CAPEX), PhP

17,515.032.72

17,515,032.72

17,515.032.72

17,515,032.72

new amortization (2019 CAPEX), PhP

9,230,522.39

new amortization (2020 CAPEX), PhP

29,556,074.90

new amortization (TYTisoy), PhP

13,852,460.21

13.852,460.21

13,852,460.21

Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (2018)

131,362.75

Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (2019)

69,228.92

Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (2020)

221,670.56

Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (TY Tisoy)

103,893.45

ERC Permit Fee, PhP

Notice is hereby given that on 06 July 2020, the Sorsogon II Electric Cooperative (SORECO II) filed an Application dated 01 June 2020, seeking the Commission’s confirmation and approval of its Force Majeure Event Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Project, namely, the repair, restoration and/or rehabilitation of its distribution system buildings, facilities and equipment damaged by Typhoon Tisoy, with application for authority to secure loan from the National Electrification Administration (NEA). The pertinent portions of the said Application are hereunder quoted as follows:

Total Cash Outflows, PhP Cash balance ending, PhP, excess/(shortfall)

THE APPLICANT 1.

SORECO II is an electric cooperative, duly organized and existing under Philippine laws, with principal office at Brgy. Buhatan, Sorsogon City;

It holds an exclusive franchise from the National Electrification Commission to operate an electric light and power distribution service in the City of Sorsogon and six (6) municipalities of the Province of Sorsogon, namely: Donsol, Pilar, Castilla, Gubat, Barcelona and Pieto Diaz.

Excess/ (shortfall) on RFSC, PhP/kWh

THE FORCE MAJEURE EVENT (Typhoon Tisoy) On December 02, 2019, the province of Sorsogon was hit by Signal No. 3 Typhoon Tisoy. The typhoon devastated the province with a maximum sustained wind 32 MPS and gustiness reaching 170 kph. It flooded Sorsogon with 298.8mm recorded rainfall, thus resulting to devastation, including SORECO II’s distribution system consisting of its CATV lines and equipment as well as buildings, offices, garages and equipment. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT This project involves replacement of damaged poles, line hardware, kWh meters, transformers and protection, service drop wires and restoration of the destroyed distribution system. It also includes the repair and reconstruction of damaged buildings, offices, garages, fence and equipment. ESTIMATED PROJECT COST

Repair and restoration works were immediately undertaken after the typhoon left the country.

SORECO II’s instant project ensures power restoration in its entire coverage area and in turn, a more reliable and efficient power supply to its member-consumers. The repair of the damaged offices and buildings will be beneficial and convenient for the day-today transactions and dealings with customers as well as for the security and safety of its equipment.

Total Cash Inflows, PhP

2020

2021

132,422,399.88

142,869,714.75

Cash balance beginning, PhP, excess / (shortfall)

16,556,982.27

(263,420,186.03) 66,795,859.66

2022

312,764.50

88,850,381.06

95,835,455.78

103,058,198.05 110,492,755.90

29,039,596.12

23,475,680.48

312,764.50

216,913,264.48 17,266,607.20

2,389,327.85

Total Cash Outflows, PhP

352,270,567.09

29,039,596.12

23,475,680.48

17,266,607.20

Cash balance ending, PhP, excess/(shortfall)

(263,420,186.03)

66,795,859.66

79,582,5l7.57

93,226,148.70

(2.96)

0.70

0.77

0.84

TABLE l: One Time Rate Impact (continuations_1) 2024

2025

TOTAL

Forecasted Energy Sales, kWh

176,189,818.75

187,827,020.35

957,773,543.86

Cash balance beginning, PhP, excess/ (shortfall)

93,226,148.70

107,857,865.31

100,599,187.47

117,800,512.81

125,581,145.81

640,367,391.42

312,764.50

1,876,586.97

118,113,277.31

125,893,910.30

642,243,978.39

CASH INFLOWS loan proceeds from financial institutions, PhP government subsidy (if any), PhP

CAPEX requirement

216,913,264.48 7,771,412.00

119,112,900.20

new amortization (TYTISOY), PhP

295,560,748.97

new amortization (TY Tisoy), PhP

101,663,782.36 -

2,389,327.85

10,255,412.00

7,771,412.00

440,079,274.89

107,857,865.31

118,122,498.30

202,164,703.50

0.91

0.94

0.31

2022

13,852,460.21

6,926,230.11

138,524,602.12

Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (2019)

69,228.92

Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (2020)

221,670.56

92,305,223.94

Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (2018)

1,050,901.96

Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (TY Tisoy)

692,289.18 110,835.28

2,216,705.62

103,893.45

51,946.73

1,038,934.52

Total Cash Outflows, PhP

70,548,883.15

53,033,850.43

21,867,049.56

1,036,013,748.46

Cash balance ending, PhP, excess/(shortfall)

79,389,075.65

105,066,667.74 144,426,879.58

Excess/(shortfall) on RFSC, PhP/kWh

0.53

0.66

573,116,806.45

0.87

0.36

APPLICATION FOR AUTHORITY TO SECURE LOAN FROM NEA 12. As stated above, funding for the restoration activities is being sourced through a calamity loan from NEA. In the event that the calamity loan is not converted into a subsidy, SORECOII likewise applies with the Honorable Commission for authority to secure said loan and to recover the cost thereof from its customers. 13. Finally, in support of the application, SORECO II is submitting herewith the following documents which are being made integral parts hereof, as follows: Annex A

Nature of Document Notice of Force Majeure Event

Executive Summary of the Force Majeure Event Capital Expenditure Project

Supporting documents for the application for authority to secure loan from NEA

D and series

Proof of furnishing of copies of the Application to the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Sorsogon City and Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Sorsogon

E and series

Proof of publication of the Application in a newspaper of general circulation within SORECO IIs franchise area or where it principally operates

132,422,399.88 142,869,714.75 153,672,500.09 164,792,090.04

Cash balance beginning, PhP, excess/ (shortfall)

16,556,982.27

8,784,939.05

(3,780,492.79)

current year collection @PhPo.6686/kWh

88,537,616.56

95,522,691.28

102,745,433.56 110,179,991.40

loan proceeds from financial institutions, PhP

216,913,264.48

8,902,271.68

CASH INFLOWS

government subsidy (if any), PhP 312,764.50

312,764.50

305,763,645.54

95,835,455.78

103,058,198.05 110,492,755.90

312,764.50

CASH OUTFLOWS CAPEX requirement

216,913,264.48

old debt (old amortization)

31,304,192.40

29,039,596.12

23,475,680.48

17,266,607.20

new amortization (2018 CAPEX), PhP

17,515,032.72

new amortization (2019 CAPEX), PhP

9,230,522.39

new amortization (2020 CAPEX), PhP

14,778,037.45

29,556,074.90

new amortization (TYTisoy), PhP

6,926,230.11

13,852,460.21

Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (2018)

131,362.75

Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (2019)

69,228.92

Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (2020)

110,835.28

221,670.56

Amortization ERC Permit Fee, PhP (TY Tisoy)

51,946.73

103,893.45

296,978,706.49

99,615,948.57

94,155,926.38

87,946,853.10

8,784,939.05

(3,780,492.79)

8,902,271.68

22,545,902.80

0.03

(0.04)

0.09

0.20

After due notice and hearing, the repair, replacement, restoration and/or rehabilitation works undertaken on SORECO II’s poles, line hardware, kWh meters, transformers and protection, service drop wires and the repair and reconstruction of damaged buildings, offices, garages, fence and equipment ravaged by Typhoon Tisoy on December 02, 2019, be confirmed and approved; and In the event that the funding for the project being sourced from the National Electrification Administration (NEA) is treated as a calamity loan, SORECO II be granted an authority to secure said loan, and that the cooperative be allowed to recover the cost thereof from its customers.

Other reliefs, just and equitable in the premises, are likewise prayed for. The Commission hereby sets the instant Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 26 November 2020 (Thursday) at nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.), through a virtual hearing using the Zoom Application as the online platform for the conduct thereof, pursuant to Resolution No. 07, Series of 20201 dated 23 July 2020. RELATIVE THERETO, the Commission hereby directs SORECO II to host the virtual hearing at SORECO II’s Main Office in Brgy. Buhatan, Sorsogon City, as the designated venue of the hearing, and ensure that the same is open to the public and that the community quarantine guidelines are observed at all times. Moreover, SORECO II shall guarantee that, during the conduct of the expository presentation, the participation of the public shall not be impaired. Any interested stakeholder may submit its comments and/or clarifications at least one (1) calendar day prior to the scheduled virtual hearing, via electronic mail (e-mail) at records@erc.gov.ph and records.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal.erc.gov.ph@gmail. com. The Commission shall give priority to the stakeholders who have duly submitted their respective comments and/or clarifications, to discuss the same and propound questions during the course of the expository presentation. Moreover, all persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission via e-mail at records@ere.gov.ph and records.erc.gov.ph@ gmail.com. copy furnish the Legal Service through legal.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com, a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) calendar days prior to the date of the initial virtual hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1)

The petitioner’s name, mailing address, and e-mail address;

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

A statement of the relief desired.

Likewise, all other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may likewise file through e-mail at records@erc.gov.ph and records. erc.gov.ph@gmail.com, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com. their Opposition or Comment thereon at least five (5) calendar days prior to the initial virtual hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1)

The name, mailing address, and e-mail address of such person;

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, through any of the available modes of service, upon their agreement, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours. In the alternative, those persons who wish to have an electronic copy of the Application may request the Commission for the e-mail addresses of the Applicant by sending an e-mail to records@erc.gov.ph and records.erc.gov.ph@ gmail.com, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com. Nonetheless, any person may also access the Application as posted by the Commission in its official website at www. erc.gov.ph. Finally, all interested persons may be allowed to join the scheduled initial virtual hearing by providing the Commission, thru legal.virtualhearings.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com. with their respective e-mail addresses and indicating therein the case number of the instant Application. The Commission will send the access link/s to the aforementioned hearing platform within five (5) working days prior to the scheduled hearing. (This space is intentionally left blank). WITNESS, the Honorable Commissioners ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, CATHERINE P. MACEDA, FLORESINDA G. BALDO-DIGAL and MARKO ROMEO L. FUENTES, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 7th day of September 2020 in Pasig City.

ERC Permit Fee, PhP

Total Cash Outflows, PhP Cash balance ending, PhP, excess/(shortfall) Excess/(shortfall) on RFSC, PhP/kWh

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

US leaves Paris accord as poll results hang in the balance

HE United States left the Paris accord on Wednesday, becoming the first country to ever withdraw from an international climate change pact as the fate of its presidential election hangs in the balance.

It may prove to be a temporary blip before Democrat Joe Biden’s administration rejoins the agreement. Otherwise, the global effort to rein in the Earth’s warming will have to proceed without the government of the world’s second biggest carbon emitter. Either way, it all depends on the outcome of a knife-edge vote where both candidates have predicted victory. Biden has proposed a $1.7 trillion-plan to take the US to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, while President Donald Trump has aggressively championed the fossil fuel industry, questioned the science of climate change and weakened other environmental protections. If Trump wins, it will be left to states, cities and businesses to take the lead. However, a report last month by the group America’s Pledge found that even without help from Washington, action from these groups would still make it possible for the US to cut emissions by 37 percent by 2030. “The easy part, relatively speaking, is to send a notification to the UN that the United States intends to rejoin the Paris Agreement,” Andrew Light, a climate advisor to former president Barack Obama, told AFP. The US will still be “outside the conversation” when Britain and the UN host a climate summit on December 12, the fifth anniversary of Paris, but poised to re-engage. According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in order to have a chance of keeping end-of-century warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), global emissions need to reach net zero around mid-century. AFP

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, SORECO II respectfully prays of this Honorable Commission that:

2023

Forecasted Energy Sales, kWh

Total Cash Inflows, PhP

157,635,294.47

ERC Permit Fee, PhP

TABLE 2: Long Term Loan 10 years @ 6.5% interest

50% of income on leased properties

130,075,783.20

14,778,037.45

CASH OUTFLOWS

2021

216,913,264.48

29,556,074.90

102,745,433.56 110,179,991.40

CASH OUTFLOWS

2020

3,440,409.45 1,609,130,554.91

29,556,074.90

79,582,517.57

312,764.50

Excess/(shortfall) on RFSC, PhP/kWh

312,764.50

new amortization (2020 CAPEX), PhP

government subsidy (if any), PhP

Cash balance ending, PhP, excess/(shortfall)

312,764.50

9,230,522.39

2023

95,522,691.28

ERC Permit Fee, PhP

312,764.50

149,937,958.80 158,100,518.17 166,293,929.15

9,230,522.39

loan proceeds from financial institutions, PhP

Total Cash Outflows, PhP

216,913,264.48

new amortization (2019 CAPEX), PhP

153,672,500.09 164,792,090.04

88,537,616.56

10,255,412.00

1,388,776,880.98

17,515,032.72

CASH INFLOWS

old debt (old amortization)

445,402,749.31

SUBMISSIONS

Forecasted Energy Sales, kWh

Total Cash Inflows, PhP

TOTAL 2,077,141,610.80

new amortization (2018 CAPEX), PhP

TABLE 1: One Time Rate Impact

50% of income on leased properties

105,066,667.74

old debt (old amortization)

11. In the event that the funding for the restoration and rehabilitation works which is presently being sourced through a calamity loan from NEA is not converted into a subsidy from the government, the loan shall have an indicative rate impact to SORECO II’s consumers, as follows:

current year collection @PhPo.6686/kWh

79,389,075.65

CAPEX requirement

INDICATIVE RATE IMPACT

Excess/(shortfall) on RFSC, PhP/kWh

2030

149,625,194.31 157,787,753.67 165,981,164.65

50% of income on leased properties

10. The total estimated cost of the project is presently being sourced through a calamity loan from the National Electrification Administration (NEA). It will be converted into a subsidy in the event the national government grants subsidy to SORECO II along with the other typhoon-ravaged electric cooperatives.

ERC Permit Fee, PhP

2029

government subsidy (if any), PhP

PROJECT FINANCING PLAN

31,304,192.40

0.48

loan proceeds from financial institutions, PhP

JUSTIFICATIONS OR BENEFITS TO BE DELIVERED

101,663,782.36

0.41

67,960,386.14

PROJECT SCHEDULE 8.

new amortization (TYTISOY), PhP

0.38

Cash balance beginning, PhP, excess/(shortfall)

The estimated total cost of the project is One Hundred One Million Six Hundred Sixty-Three Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty-Two Pesos and 36/100 (PhP101,663,782.36)

old debt (old amortization)

0.31

2028

CASH OUTFLOWS

CAPEX requirement

73,871,716.90 67,960,386.14

223,788,803.93 235,997,238.52 248,251,816.71

On the other hand, the accompanying application for authority to secure loan from the National Electrification Administration (NEA) is being filed pursuant to Section 20 (e) of Commonwealth Act No. 146 otherwise known as the Public Service Act, which requires every public service to secure the approval and authorization of the Commission for issuance of any bonds or other evidence of indebtedness payable in more than one year.

Total Cash Inflows, PhP

78,451,657.90 55,357,144.98

Forecasted Energy Sales, kWh

current year collection @PhPo.6686/kWh

50% of income on leased properties

78,451,657.90 47,442,252.40

TABLE 2: Long Term Loan 10 years @ 6.5% interest (continuation_2)

Pursuant to Section 3.3 of ERC Resolution 26, Series of 2009 which provides that if a Force Majeure or Fortuitous Event, as the case maybe, occurs, the regulated entity shall seek the ERC’s confirmation of the implementation of capital expenditure projects arising from such event, as well as other laws and rules, SORECO II seeks confirmation and approval from this Honorable Commission the implementation of the Force Majeure Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Projects subject of the instant application;

current year collection @PhP0.6686/kWh

80,935,657.90 37,177,619.41

CASH INFLOWS

LEGAL BASES FOR THE APPLICATION

47,442,252.40

government subsidy (if any), PhP

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

37,177,619.41

loan proceeds from financial institutions, PhP

NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING

2027

2026

176,189,818.75 187,827,020.35 199,665,028.99

current year collection @PhPo.6686/kWh

SORSOGON II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE (SORECO II), Applicant. x------------------------------------------------------------------------x

2025

Forecasted Energy Sales, kWh CASH INFLOWS

ERC CASE NO. 2020-017 RC

World

TABLE 2: Long Term Loan 10 years @ 6.5% interest (continuation_1)

AGNES VST DEVANADERA Chairperson and CEO

A Resolution for the Transitory Implementation of Legal e-Processes Pending the Adoption of the Interim Guidelines Governing Electronic Application, Filings, and Virtual Hearings Before the Energy Regulatory Commission.

M. Standard – Nov. 5 & 12, 2020

IN BRIEF ‘New lockdowns in Europe to affect economic recovery’ NEW lockdowns across Europe will seriously affect a nascent economic recovery, but not hurt as badly as during the first coronavirus wave last spring, top officials said on Tuesday. “The tightening of containment measures will evidently have an impact on economic activity,” the EU’s economic affairs commissioner Paolo Gentiloni told reporters. “But there are some reasons to believe that the impact could be smaller than in spring,” he added. However, Gentiloni cautioned that forecasts were very difficult to make given the unpredictable progression of the coronavirus that has infected over 10 million people in Europe. Klaus Regling, the head of the eurozone’s bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism, said the deterioration of the health situation “has substantially increased the risks of a double dip recession” in the 19 countries that use the euro single currency. “What we considered to be downside scenarios until recently, are now becoming our new baseline it seems,” he added, though he also was optimistic the situation would be an improvement from the economic crash seen in March. The officials spoke after a meeting of eurozone finance ministers who urged quick approval of a massive EU stimulus package that is blocked in negotiations between European Parliament and member states. AFP

Kyrgyzstan elects ally of Japarov as speaker KYRGYZSTAN’S parliament elected an ally of acting leader Sadyr Japarov as speaker Wednesday, in a move bolstering the populist politician’s position as he prepares for a January presidential election. Japarov, who was propelled to power less than two weeks after being freed from jail during political chaos that saw Sooronbay Jeenbekov resign as president, has said he will quit his official positions in order to compete in the January 10 presidential vote, as required under the constitution. In this case, Talant Mamytov, who was elected speaker by a majority of lawmakers on Wednesday, is constitutionally positioned to inherit his presidential powers during the electoral period. Parliament’s press-service said only one lawmaker voted against Mamytov, with 100 in favour. Under the constitution Japarov must also quit as prime minister, a position he gained along with that of acting president in the same week that Jeenbekov stepped down during chaos over a disputed vote. Jeenbekov was the third Kyrgyz leader to step down amid political unrest since the landlocked Central Asian country’s independence in 1991. Wracked by blowback from the coronavirus pandemic, the country is facing its worst economic crisis in over two decades, while key international partners including Russia have treated Japarov’s emergence with caution. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Manila

Standard

Business

TODAY

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks surge; Bloomberry, Jollibee advance

HE stock market jumped Wednesday as traders tracked results of the US presidential election, but investors were on edge over worries that the outcome might not be as clear-cut as hoped.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index soared 128.49 points, or 2 percent, to 6,464.05 on a value turnover of P7.2 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 135 to 73, with 46 issues unchanged. Bloomberry Resorts Corp. of port tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. advanced 7 percent to P7.90, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fast-food chain, climbed 6 percent to P185. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-biggest lender in

terms of assets, rose 5 percent to P42.75, while parent GT Capital Holdings Inc. of the Ty Group added 3.7 percent to P450. The rest of Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday. Shares have rallied this week as traders piled bets on Joe Biden winning the White House, with opinion polls showing him with a big national lead though with slim advantages in battleground states. Tokyo led gains, jumping

Local pre-need company moves to save trust funds THE pandemic has virtually crippled nearly every business operation in the Philippines. It has restricted the mobility of the people, shut down many establishments and took away the jobs of millions of Filipino workers. Some companies had to lay off a chunk of their employees to preserve their operation, while others closed down part of their functions to tide them over until the virus blows over. The financial sector is also not exempt from the damage wreaked by COVID-19 on the economy. Big banks had to set aside huge loan-loss provisions that ate into their profits, after many clients took a hit with the huge drop in consumer demand. Pre-need companies, meanwhile, are shell-shocked to this day as investments in several financial instruments failed to provide the anticipated revenue streams. PhilPlans First Inc. is one pre-need company that has taken some painful decisions to preserve operations and keep the trust of clients. Companies in this business usually invest in various instruments, such as stocks, bonds and real estate knowing their values appreciate over time. Proceeds of these investments would then go to plan holders in the form of their benefit claims. But as in any businesses, investments have their risks, depending on the vagaries of the markets. The COVID-19 pandemic is one huge risk that no one has prepared for. PhilPlans, like all companies, never saw it coming, although it is one of the country’s biggest pre-need companies and the only one that sells education, pension and memorial plans at the same time. It is among the leaders in each category. PhilPlans as of end-2018 had a capitalization of P700 million, more than five times the requirement of the Insurance Commission. It had a trust fund of P31.8 billion and paid over P35 billion (P4.3 billion in 2018) to over 500,000 plan holders since its establishment in 1989. COVID-19 quickly altered the company’s financial landscape. “The pandemic,” says PhilPlans executive vice president Jimmy Dizon, “is a once-in-a-generation event that no one could have foreseen or expected. Its scale and magnitude is something we have not seen in the past century. The effects were quick and devastating to the health of the people, the economy and the financial markets (both the equity and fixed income markets).” The Philippine Stock exchange Index, Dizon recalls, was down 13.15 percent year-to-date at the end of February, 19.15 percent on March 10, 2020 and 31.91 percent YTD on March 31, 2020. “Even the fixed income market was not spared. As of March 31, 2020, the fixed income market was down 0.5 percent YTD. [PhilPlans’] equity investments have lost values and so also have our investments in fixed instruments. Our real estate investment has also lost value and sales have slowed down. Our sales of products have also suffered,” says Dizon. PhilPlans had to adjust, bounce back and come up with a winwin solution, even if it entailed making painful decisions, such as branch closures. Saving the company’s Trust Fund was paramount because it directly concerned serving the needs of plan holders. “PhilPlans correctly anticipated that there will be a surge on the demand for alternative sources of funds to meet the basic needs of the family of the plan holders. The cost of healthcare, business closures, job layoffs, shortages of basic commodities, imposition of quarantines and the financial impact of the pandemic made us keenly aware of our responsibilities to provide resources for our plan holders. The answer: create Cash Programs and make them available to the plan holders as an alternative source of funds,” says Dizon. “Witnessing everything happening at a fast pace and concerned about further depression of values, we decided to take the extraordinary step of safeguarding the portfolio of the Trust Fund investments for the benefit of all plan holders by temporarily deferring the payments of maturities for this year,” explains Dizon. “This deferment, as provided for in the fortuitous event provision of the plan, will enable us to payout the maturities of all plan holders in a more orderly manner–to which the Insurance Commission had agreed to. Had we not taken action to protect the interest and welfare of ALL our plan holders, we would have had to sell down the assets of the trust fund at distressed/fire sale prices to the detriment of all the other plan holders. In this scenario, the portfolio of assets would have been depleted and our ability to service future maturities would have been compromised,” he said. PhilPlans has sensed that the public will prioritize the basic needs of their family than buy a new plan. Thus, it closed almost all branches nationwide and retrenched a big portion of manpower to save on operating expenses. The decision is aimed at bringing down costs and providing more financial resources to plan holders. PhilPlans has vowed to bounce back. It stressed that the government, specifically the IC, should provide assistance and offer some form of relief to all the industries under its jurisdiction, including the pre-need industry, similar to the move of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to freeze interest rates on bank loans during these tough times. The pre-need industry deserves the break—it contributes greatly to capital formation and market development. E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com

1.7 percent, while Hong Kong Shanghai, Seoul, Mumbai, Wellington and Bangkok were also up. Taipei gained one percent. However, Sydney and Jakarta fell. While the former vice

president was still favorite, trading floors grew nervous as it became apparent Donald Trump was performing much better than expected. With key states too close to call, the final outcome might not be known until later this week

and it also throws up the chances of a challenge to the result, which could spell fresh market turmoil and legal chaos. Speculation is that counting in Pennsylvania—which could be the decider—might not be called until possibly Friday.

Investors had been increasingly betting on a Democratic sweep of Congress and the White House, which would pave the way for a massive stimulus package for the stuttering economy but results suggest they will struggle to achieve that. With AFP

SEC Memorandum Circular No. 29 Series of 2020

SEC Memorandum Circular No. 30 Series of 2020

ALL SEC COVERED PERSONS

2020 GUIDELINES ON THE SUBMISSION AND MONITORING OF THE MONEY LAUNDERING AND TERRORIST FINANCING PREVENTION PROGRAM (MTPP)

SUBJECT :

Whereas, SEC Memorandum Circular No. 16, Series of 2018 or the 2018 Guidelines on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism for SEC Covered Institutions (hereinafter referred to as the “2018 AML/CFT Guidelines”] require all SEC Covered Institutions, as defined therein, to revise their Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Programs (hereinafter referred to as the “MTPP”); Whereas, under the 2018 AML/CFT Guidelines, the revised MTPPs are required to be submitted to the Commission through the Operating Departments having supervision over such Covered Institutions, copy furnished the Anti-Money Laundering Division of the Enforcement and Investor Protection Department (AMLDEIPD), within six (6) months from the effectivity of the said guidelines; Whereas, the 2018 AML/CFT Guidelines became effective on 23 November 2018, thus, the deadline for the submission of the revised MTPPs fell on 23 May 2019; Whereas, the revision of the MTPPs refers to the revision of the Anti-Money Laundering Operating Manual for SEC Covered Institutions and required under SEC Memorandum Circular No. 2, Series of 2010; Whereas, the 2018 AML/CFT Guidelines referred only to the submission of MTPPs by Covered Institutions registered with the Commission prior to its effectivity; Whereas, all Covered Institutions registered after the effectivity of the said 2018 AML/CFT Guidelines are also required to submit their respective MTPPs; Whereas, there is a need to clarify the provisions of the 2018 AML/CFT Guidelines regarding the submission and monitoring of MTPPs; Whereas, part of the documentary requirements for applications for secondary license of the covered persons is the Anti-Money Laundering Manual, which is being submitted to the appropriate Operating Department; WHEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in the Commission as Supervising Authority by the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA], as amended, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), the Securities Regulation Code (SRC) and the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines (RCCP), and as approved by the Commission En Banc, the following “2020 Guidelines on the Submission and Monitoring of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Program (MTPP)” hereinafter referred to as the “2020 MTPP Submission and Monitoring Guidelines” is hereby promulgated. SECTION 1. This Circular shall apply to all Covered Institutions (hereinafter referred to as “Covered Persons”) as defined in the 2018 AML/CFT Guidelines. SECTION 2. All Covered Persons registered after the effectivity of the 2018 AML/CFT Guidelines but before the effectivity of this Circular and who have not yet submitted their MTPPs/revised MTPPs shall do so within two (2) months from the effective date of this Circular by submitting hard and soft copies of their MTTPs duly approved by their Board of Directors or by the country/regional/area head or its equivalent for local branches of foreign covered persons to the AMLD-EIPD.

SECTION 4. The MTPP shall no longer be included among the documents required to be submitted to the Company Registration and Monitoring Department (CRMD) by Covered Persons applying for registration and issuance of a secondary license. In lieu thereof, an applicant Covered Person shall submit, together with its application, a sworn certification signed by the Compliance Officer, Corporate Secretary or Resident Agent that the applicant’s MTPP has been prepared, noted, and approved by its Board of Directors or by the country/regional/area head or its equivalent for local branches of foreign covered persons. The applicant shall furnish the AMLDEIPD a copy of said sworn certification which should be stamped received by the AMLD-EIPD before they can be accepted by the CRMD. The sworn certification shall include an undertaking that the applicant shall submit hard and soft copies of its MTPP to the AMLD-EIPD within ten (10) days from receipt of its Certificate of Registration and/or secondary license from the Commission. Attached herewith as Annex “A” is the Sworn Certification Form. SECTION 5. Financing Companies (FCs) and Lending Companies (LCs) whose minimum paid-up capital shall at any time reach Ten Million Pesos (Phpl0,000,000.00) or whose foreign equity shall reach more than forty percent (40%), must submit hard and soft copies of their MTPPs to the AMLD-EIPD within sixty (60) days from the fact that the foreign ownership threshold or the minimum paid-up capital has been reached. An FC or LC that has reached the minimum thresholds for capitalization or foreign equity that qualifies it as a Covered Person shall continue to be considered as such for purposes of compliance with the AMLA, as amended, the 2018 AML/ CFT Guidelines, and these Guidelines even if such capitalization or foreign equity is later on reduced to less than the minimum capitalization or applicable foreign equity unless otherwise declared by the Commission.

ALL SEC REGISTERED FOREIGN CORPORATIONS REVISION OF THE GENERAL INFORMATION SHEET (GIS) OF FOREIGN CORPORATIONS TO INCLUDE BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INFORMATION

By the authority vested in the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”, “Commission”) under Republic Act No. 11232 otherwise known as the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines (RCC) and pursuant to its mandate to ass ist in the impleme ntation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), as amended, and the Terrorist Financing Prevention and Suppression Act (TFPSA) and their respecrive Implementing Rules and Regulations, the SEC hereby issues this Memorandum Circular on the Revision of the General Information Sheet (GIS) of Foreign Corporations to Include Beneficial Ownership Information. SECTION 1. Coverage. - This Memorandum Circular shall apply to all SEC registered foreign corporations, both stock and non-stock, required to submit the GIS under existing laws, rules and regulations. The provisions of SEC Memorandum Circular No. 15, Series of 2019 Amendment of SEC Memorandum Circular No. 15, Series of 2019 on the Revision of the GIS to Include Beneficial Ownership Information (“2019 Revision of the GIS”) shall also apply to foreign corporations insofar as they are not inconsistent with these Guidelines. SECTION 2. Disclosure of Beneficial Ownership. - All SEC registered foreign corporations are required to disclose their beneficial owners in their GIS. For this purpose, the GIS to be submitted by such foreign corporations is hereby revised to include information on their beneficial owners as provided for and defined in SEC Memorandum Circular No. 15, Series of 2019. SECTION 4. Obligation to Disclose. -The resident agent, country or regional/area head of the foreign corporation shall exercise the due diligence required in obtaining, keeping, reporting, and updating information on its beneficial ownership. SECTION 5. Updating of Beneficial Ownership Information. -The SEC shall be timely apprised of all relevant changes in the submitted beneficial ownership information as they arise. Such change shall be indicated in the Notification Update Form and shall be submitted to the SEC within thirty (30) days after such change occurred or became effective. SECTION 6. Modification in the GIS and the Notification Update Form. - For purposes of incorporating the modifications as provided for and adopted in this Circular, the Beneficial Ownership Declaration Page of the GIS for foreign corporations and the Notification= Update Form, respectively, shall be in the form as appearing in Annex “A” (Beneficial Ownership Declaration Page) and Annex “B” (Notification Update Form) hereof. The GIS shall be filled out in accordance with the instructions in the Beneficial Ownership Declaration Page. SECTION 7. Penalties. i.

Failure to Disclose. If after due notice and hearing, the Commission finds that the reporting foreign corporation has committed a violation of this Circular by failing to disclose, without any lawful cause, its Beneficial Owner, it shall be penalized in accordance with Section 11 (i) of SEC Memorandum Circular No. 15, Series of 2019.

ii.

Liability of Resident Agents/Country Head/Area/Regional Head of the ForeignCorporation. If the Commission, after due notice and hearing, finds that the resident agent, country or regional head of the reporting corporation, without any lawful cause, failed to exercise the due diligence required in ensuring compliance with the requirement to disclose beneficial ownership information in accordance with Section 4 hereof resulting in no beneficial owner(s) being timely disclosed in the GIS or in the nonsubmission of the GIS containing such information within the prescribed period, they shall be penalized in accordance with Section 11 (ii) of SEC memorandum Circular No. 15, Series of 2019.

iii.

The foregoing penalties are without prejudice to the imposition of other applicable penalties as provided for under the RCC, SRC and other rules and regulations of the Commission.

A Covered Person registered or issued its secondary license on or after the effective date of this Circular shall submit hard and soft copies of its MTTP in accordance with its undertaking in its sworn certification as provided for in Section 4 hereof. SECTION 3. The MTPP supersedes the Anti-Money Laundering Operating Manual referred to in SEC Memorandum Circular No. 2, Series of 2010 which is required to be submitted to the appropriate Operating Department as part of the documentary requirements for registration of covered persons. The MTPP must conform to and embody the principles and policies enunciated in the 2018 AML/CFT Guidelines.

SECTION 8. Amendment/Repeal. All rules, regulations, orders, circulars and issuances of the Commission that are inconsistent with this Memorandum Circular are hereby amended and/or repealed accordingly. SECTION 9. Separability Clause. If any portion or provision of this Circular is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other portions or provisions hereof, which are not affected thereby shall continue in full force and effect. SECTION 10. Effectivity. This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately after its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation and its posting in the Commission’s website. Pasay City, Philippines 13 October 2020. FOR THE COMMISSION

EMILIO B. AQUINO Chairperson

SECTION 6. Failure to comply with these Guidelines in the revision and submission of the MTPP shall subject the Covered Person to the penalties provided for under the 2018 AML/CFT Guidelines. SECTION 7. The AMLD-EIPD in coordination with the other Operating Departments of the Commission shall monitor and ensure compliance with the requirement to submit the MTPP and impose the prescribed penalties for non-compliance thereto. SECTION 8. All rules, regulations, orders, circulars and issuances of the Commission that are inconsistent with this Memorandum Circular are hereby amended and/or repealed accordingly. SECTION 9. This Memorandum Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation and its posting in the Commission’s website. Pasay City, Philippines, 13 October 2020. FOR THE COMMISSION

EMILIO B. AQUINO Chairperson

(MS-NOV. 5, 2020)

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

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

Business

PERA WEBINAR. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, in coordination with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Hong Kong, conducts webinars on Personal Equity and Retirement Account for overseas Filipinos in Hong Kong and Macau. Leading the Hong Kong webinar are (from left) Atty. Roberto Mabalot Jr., vice-consul and commercial attaché; Suzette Bumanglag of BPI Asset Management and Trust Corp.; BSP Director Jose Recon Tano; Consul General Raly Tejada; Deanno Basas of ATRAM Trust Corp.; and Marissa Romero of BDO Trust and Investment Group.

September exports rose 2% to $6.22b By Julito G. Rada

XPORTS climbed 2.2 percent in September from a year ago, the first time since the government declared a community lockdown in March to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The Philippine Statistics Authority said merchandise exports reached $6.22 billion in September, up from $6.08 billion in the same month last year. The figure was also up from $5.5 billion registered in August. It marked the first time exports posted a year-on-year growth after tumbling 24.7 percent in March, 49.9 percent in April, 26.9 percent in May, 12.5 percent in June, 9.1 percent in July and 12.8 percent in August. “The export earnings in September

2020 marked a positive growth vis-à-vis the figure from March 2020 to August 2020 in which the value of export had negative growth,” the PSA said in a report. Data showed seven of the top 10 major commodity groups in terms of value recorded an annual increase, led by cathodes and sections of cathodes of refined copper (133.9 percent); other mineral products (73.3 percent); and metal components (32.9 percent). Despite showing signs of recovery in September, the cumulative export earnings from January to September declined 13.8 percent to $45.87 billion from $52.2 billion in the same period last year. Exports of electronic products continued to be the country’s top export with total earnings of $3.63 billion in September. The amount accounted for 58.3 percent of the total exports during the month. ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said exports to China helped the sector post an expansion with

outbound shipments up by 43.3 percent “as China’s economy opens up after getting control of the virus.” Meanwhile, imports fell 16.5 percent in September to $7.92 billion from $9.5 billion a year earlier. “The value of imports contracted for the 17th straight month in September 2020. In the previous month, the decline was higher at -21.3 percent, while in September 2019, imports decreased by -5.8 percent annually,” the PSA said. This brought total imports in the first nine months to $61.95 billion, down by 26 percent from $83.7 billion a year ago. Mapa said the imports’ steepest falls were recorded in fuel (51.4 percent), capital goods (17 percent) and consumer goods (13.8 percent), showing a broad-based downturn in economic activity as the Philippines remained mired in a recession. The freefall in imports coupled with the surprise gain in exports yielded a narrower trade deficit of $1.7 billion in September, representing an annual decline of 49.9 percent.

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Wednesday, November 4, 2020 128.49 PTS. 6,464.05

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

2,344,891,025 114,496 7,245,228,273.40 135 73 46

Foreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.3790

Japan

Yen

0.009573

0.4631

Pound

1.306200

63.1926

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128997

6.2407

Switzerland

Franc

1.096852

53.0646

Canada

Dollar

0.761615

36.8462

Singapore

Dollar

0.735456

35.5806

Australia

Dollar

0.716000

34.6394

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652379

128.3194

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266638

12.8997

Brunei

Dollar

0.732762

35.4503

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.032216

1.5586

UAE

Dirham

0.272279

13.1726

Euro

1.171800

56.6905

Korea

Won

0.000884

0.0428

China

Yuan

0.149768

7.2456

India

Rupee

0.013403

0.6484

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.240732

11.6464

New Zealand

Dollar

0.669800

32.4043

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034958

1.6912 Source: BSP

DA set to ban Dutch poultry after halting Brazilian shipments By Othel V. Campos

Labo Progressive Multi-Purpose Cooperative officers led by General Manager Mario Espeso (6th from left) with LANDBANK Officers and staff led by Senior Vice President Lucila E. Tesorero (5th from left). (Right) Workers processfreshly-picked pineapples into world-class products.

Vendor group transforms to become premier co-op with own line of pineapple-based products LABO, Camarines Norte—From its humble beginnings as a small group of public market vendors who started a paluwagan (an informal savings-and-lending group) back in 1987, the Labo Progressive Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LPMPC) has since grown to become one of the largest cooperatives in Camarines Norte and a leading force in pineapple farming and trading in the province. The co-op’s turning point happened in 1995 when a powerful typhoon devastated the province. It was also that year when its partnership with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) came into fruition. “When typhoon Rosing tore down LPMPC’s office that year, LANDBANK helped us out with a loan to purchase the 1.3-hectare piece of land where our new office now proudly stands,” recalled General Manager Mario Espeso. Today, LPMPC’s main headquarters now features a training center and several other buildings for its financing and agribusiness projects such as organic fertilizer, virgin coconut oil, and handmade paper production. LPMPC is a recognized pioneer in integrated pineapple production and processing. Knowing fully well the importance of value chain, the group purchases pineapples produced by farmer-members which are then processed into various pineapple products under the brand name “Queench”. The Queench line includes pineapple juice drinks, jams, dried pineapple, and jellies. Trained LPMPC craftsmen also produce pineapple fiber from the leaves that are then made into handmade paper and handwoven cloth marketed as Formosa Manos. Even at the height of the government-imposed lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 health crisis, LPMPC continued to safely buy the produce of farmer-

members or match them with buyers. This provided its members a steady source of income, the pandemic notwithstanding. LPMPC also provides job opportunities for locals, hiring employees for their credit and savings operations, and workers for the various agri-enterprises, including weavers and hand scrapers of pineapple leaves. Inmates of three (3) nearby district jails serve as fiber knotters and are given an extra source of income while serving time. The co-op has expanded to include four branches and one satellite office across the province catering to its more than 7,000 members. It also took over the management of the Agri-Pinoy Trading Center, the Provincial Agricultural Trading Center in Camarines Norte. Over the last 25 years, LANDBANK serves as one of LPMPC’s major partners in growth. Aside from financing the co-op’s working capital requirements, LANDBANK—through its subsidiary, the LANDBANK Countryside Development Foundation, Inc. (LCDFI)—conducts free capacity-building seminars and offers skills training and cooperative management scholarships for members. LANDBANK recognizes the importance of co-ops in local development, particularly in the agriculture sector.As of August 2020, the Bank’s outstanding agricultural loans reached P224.66 billion, of which P20.86 billion was extended to 1,081 cooperatives and farmers’ associations. For more information about the LANDBANK’s Lending Programs, contact the nearest open LANDBANK Lending Center or Branch nationwide, or call LANDBANK’s customer service hotline at (02) 8-405-7000 or at PLDT Domestic Toll Free 1-800-10405-7000.

THE Department of Agriculture is set to impose a temporary ban on poultry products from the Netherlands after reports of avian flu outbreak reached the Philippines. The DA in a draft memorandum order plans to temporarily prohibit the importation of Dutch poultry based on an online report from Rijksoverheid, the national government website of the Netherlands. The site reported the outbreak of H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza in Altfrost, West Maas en Maal, the Netherlands. The website reported an alleged outbreak affecting broilers and parent poultry. Based on the draft memo, Agriculture Secretary William Dar gave orders to temporarily halt the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products, day-old chicks, semen and eggs from the Netherlands. The DA will also suspend processing and evaluation of applications and issuance of SPS import clearances for Dutch poultry. All incoming poultry meat shipments with sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance will be allowed entry provided that frozen poultry meat were processed 21 days prior to the HPAI outbreak, which should have been shipped on or before Oct. 8, 2020. Poultry shipments sent after Oct. 8, 2020 will be subject to seizure and subsequent disposal. All incoming shipments will be subject to veterinary quarantine rules and regulations, according to the draft order. An industry source said the DA would issue the import ban as soon as the Office Internationale des Epizooties confirmed the outbreak as legitimate. The agency earlier imposed a ban on poultry products from Brazil following reports that a shipment bound for China was infected with coronavirus. The Netherlands and Brazil are the two major suppliers of poultry products to the Philippines.

SM Investments recorded lower profit of P15.2b in nine months By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE SM Investments Corp. said Wednesday nine-month net income declined 54 percent to P15.2 billion from P33.1 billion in the same period last year as the group’s mall and banking businesses continued to reel from the effect of the pandemic. SMIC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange revenues in the first nine months reached P286.7 billion, down 18 percent from P350.7 billion a year earlier. The company, however, said it began see some pockets of recovery in the third quarter when revenues climbed 36 percent to P101.1 billion from P74.4 billion in the second quarter. Banking accounted for 50 percent of the conglomerate’s reported net earnings from core businesses, followed by property at 41 percent and retail at 9 percent. “We are encouraged by marked improvements in our results quarteron-quarter as we saw renewed consumer activity. We remain watchful of underlying demand as we continue to face headwinds in the economy in areas such as employment and remittances,” SMIC president Frederic DyBuncio said. “In aid of reviving economic activity, SM has undertaken many programs for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises across the group such as through marketing campaign support and by waiving fees to help our MSMEs sustain their operations as well as credit support and improved cash access to our many banking clients across the country,” he said. The group’s retail business under SM Retail registered a 73-percent decline in net income to P2.2 billion as revenues went down by 15 percent to P216.3 billion.

IN BRIEF ICTSI posted 1% drop in nine-month income PORT operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. said Wednesday net income fell 1 percent in the first nine months to $182.6 million from $184.9 million in the same period last year on higher interest on concession rights payable and COVID-19-related expenses. ICTSI said third-quarter income climbed 23 percent to $69.2 million from $56.4 million a year ago. “Our performance for the third quarter benefited from the cost preservation measures we took to mitigate the adverse effects of the pandemic,” ICTSI chairman and president Enrique Razon Jr. said. “Our actions, together with improvements in global trade, a diversified portfolio, and high levels of customer service have helped to deliver an improved performance compared to the same period in the previous year,” he said. “However, ICTSI is well positioned to benefit further should global trade continue to show signs of recovery, underpinned by our stringent cost management, ability to swiftly respond to changing situations and our diverse geographical presence,” he said. Darwin G. Amojelar

PXP told to resume oil drilling in WPS ENERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi on Tuesday asked PXP Energy Corp. to proceed with its service contract commitments despite the still unresolved territorial dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea. Cusi announced last month the lifting of the oil and gas exploration moratorium over the West Philippine Sea and issued the notice for the resumption of work in the service contracts. “The lifting of the moratorium was unilateral. We did it based on what we need, and that is the country’s territory. We gave them instruction to resume work. They have submitted their work plan. We are going to make them accountable to it. If they fail to do it, we will take the necessary action,” Cusi said. The energy chief said the service contractors including PXP Energy should resume work based on the work programs they submitted to the DOE. PXP Energy received its “resume-to-work” notice from the DOE in relation to SC 72 (Recto Bank) while PXP’s subsidiary, Forum Energy Ltd. also received its notice for its operating interest in SC 75 in northwest Palawan. Alena Mae S. Flores

MPIC expects core earnings to top P10b INFRASTRUCTURE conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. said Wednesday it expects 2020 core net income to reach over P10 billion, lower by 35.9 percent than the P15.6billion core net income it reported in the same period last year. Metro Pacific president Jose Ma. Lim said in a virtual press briefing that core net income in the first nine months reached P7.7 billion, down by 38 percent from P12.5 billion in the same period last year because of the impact of the pandemic on hospital, toll road, water and power businesses. The group posted P2.4 billion in core net income in the third quarter, or 26.3 percent higher than the core net income it booked in the second quarter when quarantine measures were at their most stringent. Lim said the improvement in third-quarter core earnings was largely due to the recovery in traffic volume in its toll road business. The growth in volume from power and water businesses, however, remained weak because of decreased commercial and industrial demand. Jenniffer B. Austria

Sports

MPBL eyes IATF nod to resume playoffs THE Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League hopes to get the approval of the IATF-EID (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases) for the resumption of its suspended Lakan Season within the year. MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes has sent a letter to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Bendigo Nograles, co-chair of the IETF-EID, formally requesting that the semiprofessional league be allowed to finish the deciding game of its division finals as well as its National Finals. “With several games (maximum of 6) left to conclude our year, we ask permission from you to allow us to continue the remaining 6 games in our season,” wrote Duremdes. “We have been observing the PBA bubble and we are confident that we can comply with the necessary health protocols in order to ensure that exposure to the COVID-19 by the players and league personnel is minimized if not totally eliminated.” The Chooks-to-Go 3x3 President’s Cup, with the majority of the players coming from the MPBL ranks, was also held successfully under the bubble setup in Calamba, Laguna. The MPBL is holding its division finals when the Luzon-wide lockdown was imposed on March 16 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Both the North division finals, pitting the San Juan Knights against the Makati Super Crunch, and the South division finals, pitting the Davao Occidental Tigers against the Basilan Steel, were tied at 1-1 when Duremdes, with the approval of MPBL founder and Chief Executive Officer Sen. Manny Pacquiao, called off the knockout games. The North and South division champions will clash in the best-offive Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Cup National Finals. Duremdes reiterated the MPBL is committed to finish the season, even in a bubble setup, but is giving utmost consideration to the health and safety of everybody involved. “Once we get the go-signal from the government, we will continue with the playoffs,” said Duremdes. Cong. Claudine Diana Bautista, the team owner of the Davao Occidental Tigers, has volunteered to endorse the letter to the IATF-EID for evaluation. “We are ready to meet and discuss with you (IATF-EID) should you have clarifications,” concluded Duremdes.

Ginebra’s Stanley Pringe (left) drives to the basket

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

NLEX Road Warriors guard Kiefer Ravena (24) splits the defense of Rain or Shine as he drives past defenders Gabe Norwood (5) and Vince Tolentino. PBA

Warriors keep quarterfinal hopes alive; Bolts rebound By Reuel Vidal

LEX Road Warriors kept alive their flickering hopes of advancing to the Quarterfinals of the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup with a surprising rout of Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Better conditioned NLEX started strong then finished stronger to post a wire-to-wire 94-74 victory over the Elasto Painters yesterday, Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena & Cultural Center Powered by Smart 5G. “We’re just getting in better shape. Nung umpisa, we were not in good shape and our defense was lousy. But the last few games, yung fitness namin translated sa extra energy sa defense,” said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao. With the victory Road Warriors (3 wins, 5 losses) climbed into 8th place in the standings. The top 8 teams after the

Eliminations advance to the Quarterfinals while the other 4 teams are eliminated. In the second game Meralco Bolts hung on the coattails of veteran Reynel Hugnatan, who turned 42 two days ago, to bounce back from a loss and survive the challenge of Blackwater with an 8985 win. The Bolts inched into 6th place with the victory. Hugnatan finished with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal to win Player of the Game honors. Leading the standings are TNT Tropang Giga (5-1), Rain or Shine (4-2), San Miguel Beermen (5-2), Barangay Ginebra (5-2), Phoenix Super LPG (5-3). Meralco

(4-3), Alaska Aces (5-4) and NLEX (3-5). The other teams include Blackwater (25), Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok (2-4), NorthPort Batang Pier (1-4) and Terrafirma Dyip (0-6). Key to NLEX victory was pressure, or the lack thereof. Guiao said he wanted a more relaxed team and took pressure off his players. “Sabi ko ang gusto lang natin gawin is parang nasa training camp tayo. Magpakundisyon. Learn every day. If we’re doing it right, we’ll win. If we’re doing it wrong, we’ll just go back to practice and correct them. So ayun, parang na-relax na sila,” said Guiao. The Road Warriors posted their first set of back-to-back victories to wheel back into playoff contention after a poor 0-4 start which had most experts writing them off early. In the second game Blackwater’s Don Trollano drove into the paint to score on a layup to cut the Meralco lead to just 3 points, 75-78, with still 3 minutes left to play. But Chris Newsome countered with

back-to-back field goals to extend the Meralco lead to 7 markers, 75-82, with 2 minutes left to play. Newsome later added a free throw, 75-83, Meralco. Blackwater’s Mike Tolomia drilled a triple to cut the gap to just five, 78-83. Raymond Almazan then scored from underneath virtually settling the outcome, 7885 for Meralco. Game 1 Scores: NLEX Road Warriors 94 – Kevin Alas 18, Jericho Cruz 17, JR Quiñahan 13, Raul Soyud 9, Mike Miranda 8, Kiefer Ravena 7, Anthony Semerad 7, Philip Paniamogan 5, Paul Varilla 5, Paul Galanza 5, Will McAloney 2, Mike Ayonayon 0. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 74 – Rey Nambatac 15, Jewel Ponferada 10, Beau Belga 7, Gabe Norwood 7, Kris Rosales 7, Norbert Torres 7, Prince Rivero 7, Javee Mocon 5, Mark Borboran 5, Adrian Wong 3, Sydney Onwubere 1, James Yap 0, Clint Doliguez 0, Ryan Araña 0, Vince Tolentino 0. Quarter Scores: 24-18, 42-39, 64-57, 94-75.

Cone: Pringle not a spoiled superstar By Peter Atencio STANLEY Pringle took credit not for his big contributions when he led the Baratngay Ginebra Gin Kings with 31 points on Tuesday evening at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Angeles City, Pampanga. Pringle’s attitude and lack of a superstar mindset during their game against the Alaska Aces drew praises from coach Tim Cone. “It’s such a luxury to have a guy like Stanley on the team. He can do so many things,” said Cone in the Gin Kings’ 8781 victory over the Alaska Aces in the resumption of the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup The Gin Kings tried something different in the first half, and in doing so, struggled as

Alaska led by as many as 13 in the first half, 29-16, with Rodney Brondial’s three pointer giving the Aces a 13-point spread. When Ginebra began playing its usual game, it was able to close in 31-28, with Pringle showing the way with 20 points. Aljon Mariano then hit seven of his 14-point tally in the third period alone, helping the Gin Kings move ahead, 61-56, at the start of the final quarter. “The great thing about Stanley is he’s not a spoiled superstar. He’s over himself and not thinking about himself at any moment,” added Cone. With their win, the Gin Kings stopped their two-game slide to pick up their fifth win in seven games. “The game we played in the first half was terrible, that was totally on me,” added Cone.

Eustaquio wants to face winner of Wakamatsu-Kim fight FORMER ONE Flyweight World Champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio of the Philippines will be back inside the ONE Circle soon. But before he takes the stage once more, the 31-year-old mixed martial arts veteran from Baguio City’s famed Team Lakay has a close eye on one particular bout coming this Friday night. ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX II, a previously-recorded event from Singapore is scheduled for air on Friday, 6 November. An interesting flyweight showdown between fourth-ranked flyweight contender Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu of Japan and South Korea’s Kim Kyu Sung is featured on the card. Eustaquio, who has faced both men in the Circle, is eyeing a rematch with the winner of this highly-anticipated contest. “This will be a very exciting fight. But having faced both of the guys, I sort of have an idea of how each will perform,” said Eustaquio.

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

“Experience will play a big role in this fight. I think Yuya has much more experience than Kim Kyu Sung, and that will show in this matchup. But of course, this is mixed martial arts. Anything can happen in the Circle, and everybody has a chance to win.” Eustaquio fought Kim in May of 2019, winning by unanimous decision after three rounds. Just a few months later, Eustaquio stepped into the Circle against Wakamatsu, but suffered a debilitating knockout loss at the hands of the Japanese warrior. Being familiar with each man’s unique style, Eustaquio is confident Wakamatsu has enough to beat his South Korean foe. “The real winner of this fight will be the fans. This is a crowd-pleasing matchup. That being said, it’s a tough pick, but I have Yuya Wakamatsu winning this one by unanimous decision,” said Eustaquio. “I think there’s going to be a lot of

head hunting for both. These guys are both very aggressive, and will be looking to knock each other out. I think the one who can play the better distance game can take home a decision win. Aside from that, it’s hard to predict the winner because both guys can end the fight quickly with a single punch.” ONE Championship returns with ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX II, a previously-recorded event at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore scheduled for air this Friday night, 6 November. In the main event, reigning ONE Welterweight World Champion Kiamrian Abbasov of Kyrgyzstan makes the first defense of his world title against undefeated top contender James Nakashima of the United States. The Wakamatsu-Kim flyweight showdown is but one of many intriguing matchups on offer. Eustaquio will have his hands full in

a few week’s time. But after taking care of business, “Gravity” will be looking to make another run at the ONE World Title he last held nearly two years ago. The 31-year-old veteran is confident he can manifest his dreams once again, and is quick to remind fans that he’s still very much a legitimate threat to the flyweight throne. “I have no problem facing the winner, although I’m more interested in a rematch with Yuya to be honest. I know I’m a lot better in rematches, so I like my chances. But I’m also willing to do a rematch with Kim, that will be a good show. We have both improved since our last fight. It’s up to ONE Championship,” said Eustaquio. “I am confident I am still in the flyweight title picture. There are only three kings in this division, and I am one of them. They can’t take me out of there unless I’m done with my career, and that’s far from the reality.”

Joe Devance

Devance lauds CDC CLARK FREEPORT—Ginebra San Miguel’s Joe Devance expressed his gratitude to Clark Development Corporation (CDC) for reminding him to wear his face mask, as mentioned in one of his vlogs from his official YouTube channel recently. “I got my friends at the CDC, they called me up on my cellphone and they were like, Joe, we love your channel. We’ve been watching and supporting your YouTube channel but please remind everybody in the Philippines to wear their mask,” the “Big Man” of Ginebra said. Devance also expressed his appreciation to the CDC for their concern on the recent “close encounter” he had with Ginebra fans outside the Angeles University Foundation (AUF) Cultural and Sports Center in Angeles City. “CDC, thank you guys for hitting me up, calling me on my cellphone. I really appreciate you guys, what you’re doing – helping the country out,” he said. The occurrence happened when Devance, who was about to ride their team’s bus heading back to Clark, briefly removed his face mask to greet Ginebra fans outside of the AUF Gym after one of their games recently. He, however, followed strict social distancing protocols as he was a few meters away from the die-hard fans cheering for the Barangay Ginebra team.

Sports

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

NFL enforces stricter mask rules, expands sideline area

Spain tightens rules for betting MADRID—Spain’s government on Tuesday approved a law significantly restricting betting and gambling adverts both online and on TV and radio over the “sense of alarm” it has raised within society. The legislation, which will take effect when it is published in the official state bulletin, imposes a total ban on betting and gaming adverts online and on social media, and also bans it from airing on radio and television except between 1:00 am and 5:00 am. “The aim is to protect public health while also protecting the most vulnerable part of society, namely minors, young people and those suffering from certain behavioural disorders” that trigger compulsive gambling, Consumer Affairs Minister Alberto Garzon told a news conference. It also bans well-known figures, mainly sports stars, from appearing in any such adverts and prohibits betting and gaming firms from sponsoring sporting events or teams, where formerly they played “a very important role,” Garzon said. Fines for disregarding the new law could be as high as a million euros “because these are very serious offences,” he said. The decree is aimed at putting an end to the “law of the jungle” which has been the norm until now, with betting adverts “skyrocketing in an extraordinary way in recent years” to the point they “inundated normal life,” he said. This had triggered a “justifiable sense of alarm within society” over the disastrous consequences of betting which has “destroyed whole families,” Garzon said. Advertising contracts already in place will be subject to “a moratorium” until the end of the sporting season in August 2021 to give them time “to adapt their business relationships and financing to ensure their economic viability”. The regulation of gambling and gaming adverts was part of the programme set out in January by the leftwing government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez which comprises his Socialist party and its hard-left junior partner Podemos. AFP

NEW YORK—Face masks will be required for post-game interactions and in locker rooms for all NFL players and staff, the league announced Tuesday in a tightening of its Covid-19 safety protocols. The NFL and its players union also expanded the designated sideline area to space between the 20-yard lines in a bid to stretch the room for benches and promote social distancing. Players must now wear face coverings in locker rooms before games, during half-time breaks and following every contest. They must also wear masks for any post-game interaction with teammates or opponents, with a memo from the NFL discouraging such interactions altogether. The move follows positive game-day tests with several high-risk close contacts after weekend NFL games. The NFL strongly recommended all players and personnel to wear masks when not actively involved in the game, including players on sidelines. Seven high-risk close contacts were noted within a single club that could have been prevented if players had worn face masks during interactions. Such players must isolate for five days, jeopardizing their ability to play the following week. “What we are trying to say is masks can prevent you from becoming a highrisk contact,” NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills said Tuesday. Home teams must provide at least 250 disposable surgical masks on the sidelines for the home and visiting teams. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens, already rocked by cornerback Marlon Humphrey’s positive Covid-19 test, placed seven other defensive players on the Covid-19 reserve list Tuesday. Humphrey announced his positive test on Monday, a day after the Ravens were beaten 28-24 by the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers, and contact tracing led to seven of his teammates joining him on the deactivated list. Linebackers Matt Judon, Tyus Bowser, Patrick Queen, L.J. Fort and Malik Harrison plus defensive backs Terrell Bonds and DeShon Elliott were all identified as having close contact with Humphrey. The seven players must all isolate for five days and pass Covid-19 tests to have any chance at becoming eligible in time for the Ravens’ game Sunday at Indianapolis in a matchup of 5-2 clubs. AFP

Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas returns the ball to France’s Ugo Humbert during their men’s singles second round tennis match on day 2 at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 - Paris Masters (Paris Bercy)—indoor tennis tournament at The AccorHotels Arena in Paris. AFP

Disappointed Tsitsipas knocked out of Paris tilt P ARIS—Second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas was dumped out of the Paris Masters on Tuesday after losing to in-form Frenchman Ugo Humbert in a marathon second-round tie. Humbert, who is on a seven-match winning streak after winning the Antwerp title last month, missed four match points but battled to a 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/3) victory. He was visibly struggling in the finalset tie-break after over three hours on court, but Tsitsipas said he was also not at full fitness. “I’m just disappointed with the way I played,” said the world number six, who lost to world number one Novak Djokovic in an epic French Open semi-final last month. “During the second set my Roland Garros injury came back, and it wasn’t as bad as at the French Open, but it kind of had me on the edge of things, and I wasn’t sure if that’s good for me to be out there. “But that’s not an excuse, for sure. I still fought and gave my best out there, despite this thing that I had on court.” The 22-year-old Humbert will face former US Open champion Marin Cilic for a place in the quarter-finals. Tsitsipas will next defend his ATP Tour

Finals title in London at the season-ending tournament which gets underway on November 15. Humbert appeared poised to secure the win in the second-set breaker, but saw three match points come and go before Tsitsipas forced a decider. The Greek star battled back from a break down as the third set also went the distance, but Humbert held his nerve, taking his fifth match point with a forehand winner after seeing Tsitsipas overturn a line call on the previous point. It was a second straight narrow defeat for Tsitsipas after his loss to Grigor Dimitrov in Vienna last week. - Wawrinka ready for ‘last push’ Earlier on Tuesday, Stan Wawrinka said he is hoping to produce a “last push” in his career to challenge for tennis’ biggest titles again after beating Britain’s Dan Evans to reach the second round. The 35-year-old won the last of his three Grand Slam titles at the 2016 US Open but was then hit by multiple injuries

and is now ranked 20th in the world. But the Swiss thinks he can still rediscover past glories in his final years on the ATP Tour. “I’m close to the end of my career,” he said after beating Evans 6-3, 7-6 (7/3). “But I also believe I have one last push that I really want to, again, one more time push myself to the limit, make the sacrifice that you need to make to be at my top, and I’m trying to do that. “I’m going to try to even push it more during the off-season and see what next year brings.” Wawrinka, whose only Masters title came in 2014 at Monte Carlo, has not won an ATP event for more than three years. “I think in general my form has been going okay. It’s been going well. I’m playing well,” he added. “I still need to work on many, many aspects.” Wawrinka will face the United States’ Tommy Paul next. Belgian eighth seed David Goffin fell at his first hurdle, losing 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) to Slovakian world number 105 Norbert Gombos. Matteo Berrettini’s hopes of a second straight Tour Finals appearance ended, with the seventh-seeded Italian losing 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (0/7), 7-5 to American Marcos Giron in a match which finished at almost 01:00 local time. AFP

Maradona undergoes brain surgery BUENOS AIRES—Argentine football great Diego Maradona underwent successful brain surgery for a blood clot in a specialist private clinic in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, his doctor said. “We managed to successfully remove the clot. Diego coped well with the surgery,” Leopoldo Luque said at the icon’s private clinic in the capital Buenos Aires. “It’s under control, there’s a little drainage (of blood). He’ll remain under observation.” World Cup winner Maradona had been taken to hospital in La Plata— where he is the coach of top flight side Gimnasia y Esgrima±on Monday for a series of tests after feeling unwell. A scan revealed the blood clot, and on Tuesday he was transfered to the specialist clinic in a northern neighborhood of the capital. Maradona, who turned 60 on Friday, has suffered ill health before. He has survived two heart attacks, and

also contracted hepatitis and undergone gastric bypass surgery. Groups of fans congregated outside the clinic with banners showing Maradona’s face and the words “Come on, Diego!” “I came with my wife to support the greatest player of all time,” fan Oscar Medina told AFP. “Once more his health has played a trick on him but he has antibodies to recover with the help of the people,” added Medina. “I feel very sad and impotent but we’re going to stay by his side until the last day,” said another fan, Matias Di Sciosio. Earlier on Tuesday, Luque insisted it was “a routine operation” and that Maradona was “lucid” and “calm.” Argentine media speculated the clot was the result of a blow to the head. Luque said the clot was “imperceptible” and that those suffering from one rarely remembered receiving a

knock to the head. “The operation consists of a small incision to drain the blood. In 24 or 48 hours the patient can leave the hospital,” neurosurgeon Raul Matera told TyC Sports channel. Anemic Maradona was transferred from the hospital in La Plata, 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Buenos Aires, to the capital at 6:00 pm (2100 GMT) accompanied by one of his daughters, Giannina. Dozens of Gimnasia fans outside the La Plata hospital chanted his name as he left. Earlier in the day, Luque claimed Maradona was feeling “much better and eager to leave” hospital but insisted that the Gimnasia Y Esgrima coach was suffering from anemia—a lack of iron in his system—and dehydration. Luque said it has left him feeling “very weak, very tired.” After further tests, he was diagnosed with the blood clot. AFP

Unity in Philippine volleyball THE coronavirus is still very much alive here and all over the world and as a result, sports is struggling to stay alive. I will take volleyball as an example. Prior to the pandemic, everything was set for a good volleyball year here, with the rival groups Philippine Superliga and the Premier Volleyball League lining up their year-round programs. In fact, the season had already started while both the major collegiate leagues, the UAAP and the NCAA, reaping the benefits of the sport’s popularity, were seeing big crowds in previous seasons. Unfortunately, though, men’s volley-

ball has yet to catch up with its female counterpart in terms of popularity and lags behind in gate attendance. Just before the onset of COVID-19, too, the ruling International Volleyball Federation had initiated talks with both the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas and the Philippine Volleyball Federation, previously the uncontested National Sports Association for volleyball locally succeeding the Philippine Amateur Volleyball Association, for the purpose of unifying Philippine volleyball. An FIVB delegation was supposed to come to the Philippines late first quarter of the year after an exchange of letters between the parties concerned, but as it was, the pandemic stopped sports on its tracks, and so far nothing has been heard of the matter.

For the forthcoming Philippine Olympic Committee election on Nov. 27, PVF’s Boy Cantada again made a pitch for his association to be the one to represent volleyball instead of the POC-recognized Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, but I would not hold my breath waiting for Boy’s plea to be resolved in time for the election. After all, this issue has long been festering for years and in fact, when Ricky Vargas assumed the POC presidency, I expressed the wish in a column piece that settling existing disputes between contending groups as the rightful NSA for several sports be a priority of Ricky. Unfortunately, he has already stepped down from his position and these disputes remain unsettled to now. Now why am I dwelling on this matter

for today? I was supposed to write about the 2020 Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup set late this month by the PSL, which, for all intents and purposes, the last volleyball tournament the public would see this year. I have to give credit to the PSL for taking the initiative and come up with this event, a needed boost for volleyball and sports here as well. And it was a pleasant surprise to read that PVL teams Petro Gazz and Motolite had signed up to play in a PSL-organized tournament together with other PSL squads and teams from outside both leagues. So it was not a pleasant surprise in turn to read recently that the Subic beach volleyball event has been moved to next year, partly due to the coming of strong

typhoons recently into the country, plus health concerns. My point, since the PSL and the PVL have allowed their teams to play together, why not go further, just like what the FIVB is trying to do with the PVF and the LVPI, and unite once and for all for the sake of Philippine volleyball. It goes without saying that the POC has to play its part in settling the issue not just between the PVF and the LVPI, and hopefully, it cascades down to the PSL and PVL. I will be the first to admit, too, that in both cases, it is easier said than done as a lot of issues need to be addressed, a lot of egos to be massaged. Personal interests must give way to a common interest, again for the sport if this wish of mine for unity in Philippine volleyball is to become a reality.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

EXTRA INTERNATIONAL

Hitmaker Vehnee Saturno

YUGEL LOSORATA

OR an e-concert dubbed OPM Live, it was fitting that it trained the spotlight on the classic compositions of prolific hitmaker Vehnee Saturno who is marking his 40th year in the industry.

The new normal concert staged by The Wishfuls last Oct. 25 naturally made a big impression on the songwriting stalwart who had to contend with the effects of pandemic in celebrating his career milestone. "Thankful ako sa ginawa niyo sa akin to showcase the hit songs I wrote," expressed the former Metropop grand prize winner who went on to become a record producer and now owns a recording studio/music label bearing his trademark name. The Saturno tribute featured the girl group singing his known songs as well as guest stars performing their respective hits which he composed. Concert King Martin Nievera sang "Be My Lady" and Jessa Zaragoza interpreted "Bakit Pa?" On air, Nievera told Vehnee, "I am so blessed to have you as a friend during the time when I was a nobody. You trusted me with your song and I'm thankful for that." Other seasoned guests included Jaya, JayR, Dingdong Avanzado, and Sheryn Regis who joined The Wishfuls in the Saturno playlist finale. The show became the second trending Twitter topic of the night as 18,000 viewers joined the online happening. Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International (BMPI), Inc., which handles The Wishfuls, partnered with communication app QONEQ to deliver the spectacle that saw its talent appear in a classily-designed concert stage set-up at La Verdad College Auditorium in Caloocan. "OPM is resilient in these hard times so The Wishfuls warmly paid homage to the hits we grew up with and continue to love and cherish," said BMPI Talent Center specialist Adjes Carreon. The Wishfuls are composed of belters from Wish 107.5’s online singing competition Wishcovery. Members include Princess Sevillena, Kimberly

Paying homage to a hitmaker The Wishfuls with Crystal Voice of Asia Sheryn Regis (center) during their trending e-concert last Oct. 25 as they sang Vehnee Saturno classics.

Baluzo, Louie Anne Culala, Carmela Ariola, Ace Bartolome, and Rhea Basco. Their popularity among music fans have made them a huge draw during prepandemic shows at the Araneta Coliseum and in Dubai, UAE. They also performed with even bigger stars in Wish Music Awards, the Songs for Heroes in MOA Arena, and the 90’s Upload, also in Dubai. Their triumphant series of performances resulted in them participating in the local reality talent competition Your Moment aired over then free TV giant ABS-CBN. The Wishfuls also scored a platinum

record award after the release of their album Wishful 5 Journey distributed by Star Music. Last year, the group was applauded at a show of BMPI talents titled This Is The Time. BMPI is making a strong head start in helping revive the live show scene through online concerts. Its recent concert featuring the trio Bradz drew 15,000 livestream viewers. Carreon added, “BMPI, Inc. is now set to stage more virtual events in the coming months for other signed Filipino artists." Indeed, OPM is alive.

‘Descendants of the Sun’ picks up the threads after airing catch-up episodes

The cast of ‘Descendants of the Sun’ (from left) Dingdong Dantes, Jennylyn Mercado, Rocco Nacino, and Jasmine Curtis-Smith.

DESPITE being taped under strict safety protocols during the quarantine, Descendants of the Sun: The Philippine Adaptation director Dominic Zapata, promises viewers that they can expect the same quality from the previously aired episodes After an eight-day recap, GMA Network’s internationally-acclaimed series is airing brand new episodes beginning tonight. “Viewers should expect the same quality from DOTS Ph because that’s what they deserve,” Zapata said. “If anything, there will be even bigger, more mind-blowing revelations as our protagonists’ world become smaller and more complicated. The show won big in the Seoul International Drama Awards and it promises to live up to that,” the director added. The series follows the love story of Alpha Team Leader Capt. Lucas Manalo, portrayed by Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes, and cardio-thoracic surgeon Dr. Maxine Dela Cruz, brought to

life by Ultimate Star Jennylyn Mercado. “We’re very excited to show our loyal viewers the continuation of Descendants of the Sun. It took a while but we’re very grateful that they stuck with us and continued to support us. Ito na ‘yun, we’re back and it only gets better from here on,” Dingdong shared. Likewise for Jennlyn, “We dedicate this series to all our frontliners, they are our inspiration in completing the series. We also thank all the viewers who continuously support Descendants of the Sun. Para sa inyo po ito at excited na po kami na mapanood n’yo ang pagpapatuloy ng kuwento.” Reporting for duty with them are Rocco Nacino as Technical Sergeant Diego Ramos and Jasmine Curtis-Smith as Captain Moira Defensor, who are also eager to show viewers more of the story’s romance and action-packed scenes. “We can’t wait for them to finally see our hard work. It was definitely challenging to shoot but we’re very proud of how it turned out. There are a lot more

exciting scenes we have in store for them, so be sure to catch the new episodes of Descendants of the Sun,” Rocco shared. For Jasmine, “We may have had to relearn our characters and the story itself, but it was such a breeze because everyone was so professional. Everything fell into place and of course we’re excited to finally let viewers watch the unfolding of the story.” Also back on the series as hard-working doctors and nurses are Renz Fernandez, Chariz Solomon, Andre Paras, Nicole Donesa, Reese Tuazon, Jenzel Angeles, and Bobby Andrews. Meanwhile, the brave military team is composed of Paul Salas, Jon Lucas, Lucho Ayala, and Prince Clemente. Completing the cast 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: The Philippine Adaptation airs weeknights after Encantadia on GMA Telebabad.

Tiktok users get access to songs of Twice, Beyonce, other Sony artists VIDEO-SNIPPET sharing sensation at banning TikTok, throwing up a legal TikTok on Monday announced a deal to give roadblock ahead of a Nov. 12 deadline. The order would have knocked the users access to Sony Music Entertainment's massive archive of hit tunes including songs Chinese-owned video-sharing app offline from Sony artists like Michael Jackson and by cutting it off from US businesses Frank Sinatra, Beyonce, John Legend, providing website hosting, data storage, and other fundamentals needed to operate. Twice, and Pitbull. The Trump administration has insisted The companies did not disclose financial terms of the agreement, which on a need to ban TikTok, which has 100 will let clips of music owned by Sony be million users in the US, due to national security concerns. used in TikTok posts. Social media platforms have wrangled TikTok has repeatedly defended itself with music companies over royalties that against allegations of data transfers to the should be paid to artists when their work Chinese government. AFP is shared in posts. "We are thrilled to enter in to this agreement with Sony Music so that we can continue to work together to connect the incredible roster of Sony artists in the US and across the globe to new audiences and harness the power of TikTok," said TikTok global head of music Ole Obermann. "Especially during this time when the artist community is challenged to find new ways to reach fans with their music, we are committed to working together to do just that." TikTok and Sony will also work together to promote artists and help them engage audiences on the platform, as the pandemic has put the brakes on live concerts. The move comes with TikTok battling the US administration's effort to ban the popular app due to its Chinese connections or engineer a sale to American investors. A US federal judge last week TikTok signed a deal to allow users of the issued an injunction temporarily video app to access songs from Sony Music blocking an executive order by Entertainment including the music of Michael President Donald Trump aimed Jackson and K-Pop group Twice (pictured).

Pageant for married women crowns its new queens MMG Queen of Hearts MRS. Queen of Hearts Philippines Foundation, Philippines 2020, Inc., and directed by a national pageant Bench Bello in a live exclusive for married ETON presentation but observed women, has crowned CONCEPCION social distancing and a new set of winners at other required protocols the grand finals held at for the limited number of Dusit D2 Residences in guests inside the venue. Bonifacio Global City recently. Present to relinquish their crowns were Named top six winners were: Annette Mendoza, Mrs. Worldwide Philippines Mrs. Asia Pacific Global 2019 Avon 2020; Louise Suzanne Alba Lopez, Mrs. Morales, Mrs. Worldwide 2019 2nd runnerAsia Pacific Global 2020; Darling Topacio up Llena Tan, Mrs. Asia-Pacific All Nations Edralin, Mrs. Asia Pacific All Nations Limpayen Sibug Las, Mrs. Asia-Pacific 2020; Joana Krisanta La Madrid, Mrs. Intercontinental Phil. Glynes Olbes, Mrs. Asia Pacific Tourism 2020; Ma. Glovel Asia-Pacific Cosmopolitan Phil. Mary Tasico, Mrs. Asia Pacific Intercontinental Chris Abacahin, Mrs. Philppines Asia Philippines; and Sarima Paglas, Mrs. Asia Pacific Tourism 2019 Marjorie Orito, and Pacific Cosmopolitan Philippines 2020. Mrs. Global Universe Philippines Rosenda Other winners were Catherine Jordan Casaje. Also gracing the event were MMG Flores as Mrs. Queen of Hearts 2020, and Queen of Hearts Philippines Founder and Ivy Dianna Manzon Bo, Mrs. Queen of Hearts Tourism 2020. "I want to be remembered for as a friend, sister, daughter, mother and a civil servant who gives healthcare to fellow Filipinos, especially, the Kapampangans," Mendoza’s answer when asked, "How would you like to be remembered for?" Mrs. Queen of Hearts Philippines 2020 winners during the final Q&A CEO Mitzie Go-Gil and h;usband retired of the competition. When asked “What physical appearance General Virtus V. Gil, and other VIPs. The Queen of Hearts Philippines would you want to change to be beautiful?,” Alba Lopez replied, “All of us have flaws Foundation, Inc., which advocates women and weaknesses and I believe, I don't have empowerment and compassion through to change any part of my body just to be its charity works, has been involved in beautiful because God uses those flaws and humanitarian programs during these most weaknesses for us to inspire women and trying times of the pandemic, distributing other people. I’m proud of my body stretch relief goods to families in dire need, providing marks, for instance, because those are signs support to the frontliners and conducting that I’m a mother, who is confident to serve feeding programs in poor communities with as inspiration and a voice to the world,” the support of its beauty queens. The top winners are set to compete in Alba Lopez replied. Hosted by Francis Bonnevie Dionisio their respective international pageants next and 2019 Mrs. Worldwide 2nd Runner-up, year under international director Quek Siew Llena Tan, the coronation was produced by Bee Justina.

PAGEANT CONCEPT

Britain-born Pinay releases Air Supply-inspired single DEDICATED to Air Supply, British-born Filipina singer-songwriter Chlara has released her first single “Goodbye” culled from her album titled #acousticNOW. Covering classic oldies is challenging but Chlara managed to give this wellknown Air Supply old classic a soulstirring twist with a healing vocal from a female perspective. Her warm vocal delivers a soft and sentimental touch on “Goodbye.” She immersed herself in the song and depicted how a girl lets go of her lover with bitterness and mercy in her singing. This song is a viral pick for a relaxing afternoon and surely it will bring

back a lot of memories. Born Chlara Isobel Magtultol, the rising artist was labeled as Philippines acoustic songbird. She spent the early years of her life living in England before moving to the Philippines at the age of nine. Her father Cesar who passed away when she was only two years old was a music lover and left with her his love of music. From the age of three, Chlara was already singing and was very much influenced by the music that was constantly played at home, listening to Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Air Supply, The Carpenters,

Christina Aguilera, Whitney Houston, and Celine Dion. After moving back to the Philippines, her mum Gina enrolled her in a few singing schools, While regularly joining the school singing programs and plays Chlara also began playing the guitar at the age of 11, learning from her brother and on her own, she would watch & learn from videos on YouTube. Before starting college, Chlara had already started writing her songs. Growing up, all she ever wanted to do was sing and have the world hear her songs and now is fully focused on achieving her dreams

having signed a long-term management and recording agreement with Evolution. She was featured in evosound's album Voices of Love together with the finest female vocals featuring Susan Wong, Olivia Ong, Julienne Taylor, Emi Fujita, Stacey Kent, Katie Melua, Chantal Chamberl, and with her version of Lionel Richie's “Stuck on You.” Since signing to Evolution, Chlara has released four #acousticNOW EPs, two evo sessions EPs, multiple originals as well as covers. Her tribute to Avicii’s “The Nights” has garnered over 22 million streams with over 700,000 listeners per month.

Chlara’s new single was released on Oct. 30 via evosound.

Life

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

HOUSEHOLD

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

By Bernadette Lunas

ODY wash, hand wash, lotion, and pink surgical masks. Those were some of the items Kris Aquino recently bought online, according to her. With the pandemic restricting movements, especially of those whose immune systems are compromised like Aquino’s who has auto-immune condition (Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria), the actress and TV host has become a regular customer of e-commerce platforms like Shopee. “We really order so much from Shopee. Before, inuutos ko bumili. Initially COD (cash on delivery) kami but then I opened my ShopeePay account because I was told you get more discounts,” Aquino related during a virtual press event held via Zoom for the launch of Shopee 11.11-12.12 Big Christmas Sale, for which the “Queen of All Media” was tapped as ambassador. Aquino, grateful for the new endorsement, shared the project came “at a low point” of her life. “There was a project I was supposed to do that did not push through.” In September, she announced on Instagram that her show “Love Life with Kris” that was supposed to air on TV5 had been cancelled. “But I believe God finds a way to make you go where He wants you to go, a direction you’re not supposed to go,” she enthused, adding that when she received the call from Shopee, she had to ask them if they were serious. “This was bigger than what was not given to me,” declared Aquino. Martin Yu, associate director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Having Kris Aquino join our Shopee family demonstrates our continuous efforts to reach our long-term vision of making e-commerce for everyone. We want to connect with our Filipino users on a deeper level and help them enjoy the benefits of e-commerce this Christmas season.” As Shopee’s ambassador, Aquino will be appearing on GMA for a special “Wowowin” episode on November 11, her TV comeback four years after her show on ABS-CBN ended. “Let’s keep our fingers crossed because I myself won’t believe it until I’m there. Until I’m holding that microphone and I see those lines, until I see the camera with the red light on, and until I see the monitor and see myself in it, then I will believe it, she said. Aquino also stars in Shopee commercialthatpartlypayshomagetoherhorrorfilm “Feng Shui.” TikTok videos and themed

Kris Aquino is grateful for her new endorsement, saying it came ‘at a low point’ of her life when another project did not push through.

Shopping like Kris Aquino

THE QUEEN OF SHOPPING. Kris Aquino is the new face of Shopee, launched in time for the e-commerce platform’s final sale event this year, the 11.11-12.12 Big Christmas Sale.

5 kitchen tips

Behind the scenes during Kris Aquino’s media launch as Shopee’s latest brand ambassador.

stickers on Instagram also feature the actress. Additionally, Aquino teams up with Shopee as the face of Shopee Bayanihan: Pamaskong Pambata that aims to raise funds to support Filipino youth’s health, education, and welfare. Partner organizations include PGH Medical Foundation, GMA Kapuso Foundation, FundLife, World Vision Philippines, Ronald McDonald House

Charities, Mano Amiga, Young Focus Philippines, Save the Children, Project Pearls, Project SMILE, and Kythe Foundation. Exciting games, prizes, and deals and discounts are happening on Shopee today until December 12. And because she loves shopping, Aquino shared she only gets a fixed amount in her ShopeePay account to prevent herself from overspending.

SM scholar alumni on support, opportunities they got FROM tuition fees to allowances, enrichment activities to exclusive job offers, SM Foundation sees to it that its scholars are well supported and taken care of. SM scholar alumni Nino Lopez and Analiza Paltad attested to this during a recent kumustahan session with some SMFI officers. Both Lopez and Paltad shared how the program helped them finish their tertiary education and honed them to become more skilled, passionate, and knowledgeable individuals through the various enrichment activities provided to them by SM Foundation. After graduation, Paltad took advantage of the exclusive job offer she received from the job fair organized by the SM Group. Lopez, on the other hand, got a work opportunity from a job fair organized by his alma matter Asia Pacific College, an affiliate of SM. Lopez obtained BS Computer Science and Information Technology from Asia Pacific College in 2008. While Paltad finished BS in Elementary Education at the Philippine Normal University in 2005. While in college, Lopez—the youngest of five children of two retired OFW parents—was active academically and was vice president of the SM scholars’ organization. Twelve years in his professional life, his diligence and hard work paid off when he was hired in 2019 as senior business analyst for an enterprise project of Banco de Oro Unibank. Today, he continues to be the leader both in his profession and in his spiritual calling. He is currently leading the Men’s ministry and his own Men’s discipleship group at CCF Muntinlupa, and now a proud husband to Candz

Analiza Paltad, an SM scholar alumna, thanks the foundation for her comfortable life today.

SM scholar alumnus Nino Lopez with his former OFW parents.

and doting father to Aki. “Talent will help you stay longer, but faith in God will make you stronger. Trust God’s process in our lives. We are being molded, through the help of SM Foundation, for greater things ahead of us,” he shared On the other hand, Paltad—whose dad is a company driver and mom is a housewife taking care of five children—went overseas to the Kingdom of Bahrain after her stint in the SM Group. “What I am and what my family is having now—a comfortable life—is all because of the support that SM Foundation gave while I was studying,” she declared. Offering advice to aspiring SM scholars, she said, “Nobody is spared from the trials of life, but everyone can always find something positive even in the worst of times. Amidst this pandemic, we should not lose hope nor run out of positivity in life, especially in reaching our dreams and goals in life.” “My parents always taught me that education is the only precious treasure that they can give to us which nobody can take away. So strive hard, with the opportunity being offered by SM Foundation, to pursue your education; seize this chance,” she concluded. SM Foundation, through its scholarship program, has been providing deserving and qualified students access to college education and technical-vocational studies since 1993. To date, SMFI has supported almost 5,500 scholars nationwide. The online scholarship application for school year 2021-2022 will open on January 1 until February 28, 2021. Go to www.sm-foundation.org for more information.

for homeschooling parents IN ADDITION to other responsibilities, most parents now need to take on their kids’ schooling and ensure that they really understand their online lessons. To help moms and dads overwhelmed by their jobs, household chores, and teaching duties, a leading LPG brand shares the following tips: Get the kids involved in simple tasks in the kitchen Set a schedule to teach them responsibility and discipline. Make sure you have a daily schedule that includes the time you will allot for cooking, uninterrupted work, your kid’s school hours, as well as your break time and meal times. Stick to it so you can manage your time better. Plan meals in advance By doing this, you get to save some time by getting all the ingredients you need at the grocery in one trip. Just make sure to plan a variety of dishes that are easy to prepare, flavorful, and nutritious. Get the kids involved If your kids aren’t too busy, you can ask them Parents today need to ensure their children to help with some simple understand their online lessons. tasks in the kitchen like rinsing the vegetables or mixing ingredients. This can also be an opportunity to teach them about kitchen safety when it comes to things like peeling and chopping vegetables to avoid accidents. Ask your kids to help by setting up the table. After eating, they can also help clear the table and put the dirty dishes in the sink. Not only will this help you, but this will also teach your kids responsibility and discipline—win-win! Do the chores immediately Small stressors like unfinished kitchen chores only add up and affect your overall well-being. If tasks are left undone, you may feel more stressed, especially while working or tutoring your kids. After eating, you can wash your kitchen tools and tableware, wipe the counters, and throw out the trash immediately. Invest in the right kitchen equipment Invest in kitchen tools that can help you save time and cook faster, such as convection ovens, food processors, and instant pots. Also consider kitchen appliances that don’t need too much attention while in use, like slow cookers. This will give you more time to focus on your work and kids’ lessons. In addition, opt for an LPG brand like Solane that is made for Planning meals ahead of time helps parents schedule fast and safe cooking. their days better.