Manila Standard - 2020 November 6 - Friday

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Biden edges closer to WH

Needs to win in any of 3 swing states; Trump bids to stop count Trump’s loss, T Manila’s gain —think tank Democratic presidential challenger Joe Biden on Thursday edged toward the magic number of 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House, but several battleground states were still in play, as incumbent President Donald Trump cried foul over the ongoing vote count. US media outlets have projected wins for the Republican incumbent in 23 states, including Arizona, putting him at 264 electoral votes or six votes shy from winning the race. Trump has 214 electoral votes as of press time.

AFP

HE knife-edge US presidential race tilted toward Democrat Joe Biden, with wins in Michigan and Wisconsin bringing him close to a majority, but President Donald Trump claimed he was being cheated and went to court to try and stop vote counting.

The presidential election could be settled Thursday (Friday Manila time) as a handful of battleground states complete their vote counts.

Biden has racked up 264 of the 270 electoral votes that he needs – if Arizona is included, which Trump’s team says could still swing in his direction.

Without Arizona, he has 253.

Republican President Trump only has 214 electoral votes.

Expected to report Thursday are Georgia (16 electoral votes), North Carolina (15), and Nevada (6).

However, mail ballots sent on or before election day in North Carolina can be counted until November 12.

Biden could reach the magic number to gain the White House with a win in any of the three, while Trump needs to capture all three to stay competitive.

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Nevada Nevada, where Biden is favored, could put him precisely at the number needed to win. Early Thursday he was leading Trump by less than 8,000 votes of the 1.17 million cast so far, with 14 percent of the vote left to tally.

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VOL. XXXIV • NO. 245 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

COVID-19 PH (AS OF 4 PM NOVEMBER 5)

389,725 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,594 32,773 ACTIVE

7,409

42

349,543

468

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

Pastillas cases unwrapped: 86 in corrupt raps

By Rio N. Araja, Willie Casas and Vito Barcelo

AT A GLANCE

NEW

A THINK Tank has suggested that if Democratic Party challenger Joseph Biden beats incumbent President Donald Trump in the race to the US White House, that will be good for the Philippines in its maritime dispute with China.

Stratbase ADR Institute president Dindo Manhit said a Biden administration would establish a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific Region as Beijing continues its aggressive moves in the disputed South China Sea. “What’s good with a Biden presidency, there will be a renewed confidence and respectability with regard to American leadership globally, not only in Asia Pacific, but also in Europe,” Manhit told ANC. “It gives more credibility for American power or soft power or influence

In Minneapolis (left), State Patrol arrest journalists and people protesting against racism and issues with the presidential election after they blocked interstate 94 in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 4, 2020. They were released later in the night. In South Korea (right), a currency dealer monitors exchange rates as a screen shows partial results of the US presidential elections in a trading room at KEB Hana Bank in Seoul on November 5, 2020. AFP

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed the second batch of graft and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against 86 officials and personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for their alleged involvement in the “pastillas” scheme.

The NBI-Special Action Unit, led by lawyer Emeterio Donggallo Jr., tagged eight high-ranking Immigration officials as part of the core of the “pastillas” group and Immigration Officer 2 Marc Red Mariñas, ex-port Next page

Duterte bares names of dismissed Customs execs

By Rey E. Requejo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Thursday recommended an initial list of 5 antiPRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte revealed corruption bills to boost President the names of officials of the Bureau of Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign to clean Customs who were dismissed from ser- up the government.

vice by the Ombudsman for neglect of duty and misconduct as he vowed to unmask those involved in corrupt activities every week during his scheduled address to the nation.

Duterte said he will focus on the DeNext page

Quality of life worsens, says SWS survey

By Vito Barcelo FOUR out of five adult Filipinos said their quality of life worsened in the past year, thus making it one of the worst trends in survey history according to the Social Weather Stations.

The survey, conducted from September 17 to 20, found that 82 percent of adult Filipinos said their quality-of-life got worse (Losers), versus 11 percent Next page

POWER TO THE PEOPLE. Residents of Legazpi, Albay flock to a gasoline station to purchase fuel for their generator sets. Efforts to restore normal supply of power in the province are ongoing, officials said. Norman Cruz

Tsunami threatens 14m people as Rolly’s toll worsens; 20 dead

By Alena Mae Flores, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Rey E. Requejo, Maricel V. Cruz and Joel E. Zurbano THE damage to agriculture and infrastructure caused by Super Typhoon “Rolly” climbed to more than P11 billion, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Thursday.

Of this total, P8.47 billion was damage done to infrastructure in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Next page

AID TO VIRAC.

Relief goods are unloaded from BRP Malapascua docked at the Legazpi Port to be transported to Virac, Catanduanes, one of the areas hardest-hit by typhoon “Rolly”. The goods include medicines, face masks, kitchen utensils and purified drinking water. #Coastguard PH

PASTILLAS UNWRAPPED. NBI Special Action Unit Chief Jun Dongallo prepares

documents recommending the filing of corruption cases against 86 Bureau of Immigration’s senior officials implicated in the pastillas bribery scam at the Office of the Ombudsman.

Marcos sees poll protest decided soon

By Rey E. Requejo THE camp of former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed optimism Thursday his electoral protest against Vice President Leni Robredo would be resolved very soon after it had been established that the Supreme Court, acting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, had the sole power to declare the annulment of elections in three MindNext page

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News

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Vaccines in May if plans hold’

By Willie Casas

B

Y MAY next year at the earliest this pandemic-hit country may start inoculating the public with COVID-19 vaccines if everything will go as planned, said Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., recently tapped to lead the importation and distribution program.

Inoculation is the act or process or an instance of introducing a pathogen or antigen into a living organism to stimulate the production of antibodies.

The government is looking to place an advance procurement of about 24 million vaccines within the first quarter of next year, said Galvez.

The initial batch of vaccines will be for front liners, indigents, and the vulnerable sectors, he said.

Should there be roadblocks on supply and demand, the latest that the program may begin is by the end of 2021, he said.

“Our vaccine roadmap spans 3 to 5 years. It’s also possible to look at the de-

Trump’s...

From A1 around the world. That would be good for the Philippines because a key ally in our own security challenges, in our own maritime dispute, has always been the United States,” he said.

Manhit’s statement coincides with the observation of former Ateneo School of Government dean Tony La Viña that if Biden won, that would be favorable for the Philippines and the rest of the world.

La Viña, in a phone interview with GMA News Online, said “It’s a very different US that will now be confronting the world. Then, the US of Trump was unilateral, America first, very self-centered, very erratic,” He said: “Under Biden, you will have a more predictable, more deliberate [US government], a better partner internationally in most things, more multilateral than Trump [administration].”

He added the Philippines could expect less “conflict” between Washington and Beijing if Biden won, saying “Overall, it would be better because we need the US to be supportive of the Philippines with respect to China but also not reckless. I think Trump is reckless and Biden, in a way, would be more predictable.”

Manhit added that if Biden eventually would be declared the winner, the US would strengthen its alliances with like-minded countries, shifting from Trump’s “America first” policies.

Manhit said: “His foreign policy, if you read through it and dig deep to it, it speaks of invigorating democracies.

That means building renewed alliances among like-minded democratic societies that share their values.”

“And that’s what we need in this world. A liberal democratic world that has created prosperity around the world and uplifted poverty.”

Asked if a Biden presidency would affect the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has pivoted to China as from the start of his presidency in 2016 and Russia, he said that would remain to be seen.

Manhit said Biden might focus on domestic challenges in his first year in office while Duterte had only less than 2 years left in his six-year term.

“There might not be too much noise on interfering in other countries’ internal affairs. But maybe, more on global issues especially in dealing with the pandemic, dealing with economic consequences of this long public health crisis…There might not be traction initially,” Manhit said.

Marcos...

From A1 anao provinces in 2016 as sought by the former lawmaker.

Marcos said he expected a faster action by the PET on his poll protest after the Commission on Elections and the Office of the Solicitor General asserted

Tsunami...

From A1 Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Metro Manila.

Damage to agriculture in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas, on the other hand, came to P2.94 billion, as the typhoon ripped through 44,712 hectares of farm land.

Rolly also destroyed 14,064 houses and damaged 29,969 others.

The death toll remained at 20, with 165 injured and three missing in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Bicol.

mand and supply of the vaccine. The World Bank presentation indicates that before the end of 2020, only 1.4 billion vaccines will be produced.

The demand from big countries is more than that, so far. We will really have a hard time, that’s why we’re appealing to the WHO to ensure equitable access,” Galvez said.

The country now ranks 22nd among nations with most coronavirus cases worldwide as it records around 1,000 daily average patients, said Prof. Guido David, member of the UP OCTA Research Team which analyzes COVID-19 data in the Philippines.

“We’re aware that as the holiday season approaches people have fatigue and want to go outside, it’s possible to face an uptick but the important thing is our response is fast so there would not be a surge,” David told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

“We must continue to do what we do right so our trajectory will not change, we need to follow health protocols strictly. We can’t neglect these.”

LOCAL ROUNDUP

Yuletide risk

The Philippines might see an increase in its COVID-19 cases as the holidays near, a researcher said on Thursday.

cases in the Philippines, raising the country’s total cases to 389,725.

The additional cases for the day do not include data from 10 accredited laboratories that failed to submit results on time, according to the DOH bulletin.

The City of Manila led areas in the country that recorded the highest daily additional cases with 253, followed by the province of Cavite with 126. Davao City and Rizal both recorded 78 new infections, followed by Quezon City with 73.

The country also recorded 42 new fatalities from the respiratory illness, taking the death toll to 7,409.

MGCQ transition

DOH hopes the entire Philippines would be able to transition to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), the lowest restriction level, COVID update by the first quarter of 2021 as the counThe Department of Health on Thurs- try’s daily coronavirus infections conday reported 1,594 new COVID-19 tinue to decline in the past weeks.

Red-tagged lawmakers told: Face Senate hearing

By Maricel V. Cruz and Willie Casas NATIONAL Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon on Thursday dared congressmen belonging to the Makabayan Bloc at the House of Representatives “to show courage and face us in another legislative hearing to show who is telling the truth about the red-tagging issue.”

He branded the Makabayan solons’ absence in the Senate hearing “suspicious.”

“Your absence at the Senate hearing caused me to suspect that you are willing to admit only a little of your identities. If you can not admit it, then it is okay with us,” he said.

Esperon, vice chairman of the National Task Force End Local Communist Armed

Biden...

From A1 North Carolina

In North Carolina, Trump had a comfortable 77,000-vote lead after 95 percent of the ballots, about 5.38 million, had been tabulated.

Conflict, said the hearing could have been “the best opportunity for both camps to clarify things about red-tagging.”

The Makabayan bloc, composed of party-list Reps. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat and Ferdinand Gaite of Bayan Muna; Arlene Brosas of Gabriela; France Castro of ACT Teachers and Sarah Jane Elago of Kabataan sent a letter to Sen. Panfilo Lacson explaining the reason for their absence in the hearing and accused Esperon’s group of using the avenue to continue linking them to the New People’s Army.

They were represented by lawyer Maneeka Asistol Sarza who said the militant lawmakers were busy with the relief operation for the victims of Typhoon Rolly.

During the Senate hearing, Esperon

clarified that the NTF-ELCAC never red-tagged the Makabayan legislators, adding that the term itself came from the communist organization.

“We are accused of ‘red-tagging’ front organizations by their very own mouthpieces. To them I pose these questions: Why have they not questioned Jose Maria Sison when he himself identified these organizations as part of the bigger organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines? Sison was specific when he named BAYAN, Gabriela, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, League of Filipino Students, and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas as well as the Kilusang Mayo Uno as part of his national democratic revolution,” he added.

votes, and Alaska, with three. Neither is Should Trump hold North Carolina expected to finalize its count before Fri- and Georgia but lose Arizona, he must day, though Pennsylvania was expected take Nevada as well as Biden’s home to announce more results on Thursday. state of Pennsylvania to win.

Simply winning Pennsylvania – Trump was expected to win Alaska. where Trump leads but faces a possible Arizona onslaught of pro-Biden mailed ballots One wild card that could upset these – will not be enough for the president. calculations: Arizona. Based on projecMuch to Trump’s chagrin, Pennsylvations, some US media declared Biden nia has decided to allow mailed ballots the winner of the southwest state’s 11 sent by Election Day but received up to electoral votes early Wednesday. But three days afterward to be counted due other media remain cautious as a sig- to coronavirus complications. Authorities nificant portion of the vote had not yet expect to complete the count by Friday. been counted. Late Wednesday Trump Another factor that could keep the remained some 68,000 votes behind battle alive: the Trump campaign has Biden with 88 percent of the vote, some sued to disqualify late-arriving mailed 2.87 million ballots, counted. ballots in Pennsylvania, has demanded Much of the delay has resulted from a recount in Wisconsin, and could file a flood of mailed-in ballots due to the lawsuits or recount demands in other coronavirus – and those votes have states including Nevada and Georgia. tended to favor Democrats.

The US Elections Project estimated If Biden’s lead in Arizona holds, and total 2020 turnout at a record 160 milhe wins Nevada or Georgia, he can lion including more than 101.1 million claim victory. early voters. AFP

WORLD ROUNDUP

Cull all the minks —Denmark PM DENMARK, the world’s biggest producer of mink fur, said it would cull all of the country’s minks after a mutated version of the new coronavirus was detected at mink farms and had spread to people.

The mutation “could pose a risk that future (coronavirus) vaccines won’t work the way they should,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told a press conference.

“It is necessary to cull all the minks.”

Denmark’s police chief Thorkild Fogde said they would start the culling as “soon as possible,” but conceded that with 15 million to 17 million minks spread over 1,080 farms it was “a very large undertaking.”

The World Health Organization said the novel coronavirus spreads primarily through human-to-human transmission, but that “there is evidence of transmission at the human-animal interface.”

Several animals – including dogs and cats – have tested positive for the virus and there have been reported cases at mink farms in the Netherlands and Spain, as well as in Denmark.

“In a few instances, the minks that were infected by humans have transmitted the virus to other people. These are the first reported cases of animalto-human transmission,” the WHO said in a statement sent to AFP. The novel coronavirus has been detected at 207 Danish mink farms, including some cases with a mutated version that has been confirmed to spread back to humans.

Second lockdown

England’s 56 million people joined much of western Europe in a second coronavirus lockdown Thursday, as the United States set a fresh daily record with close to 100,000 new infections.

European governments are struggling to contain a fresh wave of the pandemic, which has now infected more than 11 million across the continent. AFP

Pastillas...

From A1

that said it was the same (Unchanged), and six percent who said it got better (Gainers), compared to a year ago.

The September 2020 score joins SWS’s worst trends in survey history, having recorded -78 in May and -72 in July during the Covid-19 crisis. The only other time the score reached catastrophic level was in June 2008 (-50), during rice and oil price hikes.

Net Gainers is catastrophic in all areas: it is -80 in the Visayas, -76 in Metro Manila, -75 in Balance Luzon, and -74 in Mindanao.

Compared to July 2020 figures, all areas experienced a worsening in their Net Gainers scores: Mindanao experienced the biggest drop of 9 points; the Visayas, 5 points; Metro Manila, 4 points; and Balance Luzon, 1 point .

The score hardly differs between those with a job and the jobless. Net Gainers is significantly worse among those who did not graduate from college.

Among college graduates, the score is -64. Meanwhile, among those with less education, the score ranges from -72 to -83. The score is worst among those who only finished up to some junior high school education .

Historically, college graduates have

tallied better scores than those with less education .

Net Gainers is just as low among those with a job as it is among the jobless: it is -73 among those with a job, -77 among those who never had a job, and -79 among those who do not have a job at present but used to have one.

In September 2020, the SWS adult joblessness rate was at 39.5%.

Meanwhile, adults from families that were involuntarily hungry in the last three months had a higher Losers score than those that were not. As a result, the Net Gainers score was -84 among the hungry, compared to only -72 among the non-hungry.

the high tribunal could annul the votes in Lanao del Sur, Basilan and Maguindanao as guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution and even by PET’s own rules on electoral protests in the presidential and vice presidential elections.

There was no immediate comment from the side of Vice President Robredo.

Marcos’ lawyer, Vic Rodriguez, stressed there was “no more excuse for

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen to evade a clear judicial function provided for by the Constitution as a sole judge “to hear all cases involving the election, returns and qualifications of the President and the Vice President.”

Leonen is the current justice-incharge of the election protest filed by Marcos before the PET in June 2016.

In its comment, the Comelec said

“it is crystal clear that PET is empowered by the Constitution to declare annulment of elections without special election.”

Besides, agreeing with the Comelec position that PET can annul election, the OSG pointed out that the special election is not within PET’s authority and jurisdiction since it is under Comelec’s turf.

operations division chief, as the brains behind the scam.

Mariñas; Grifton San Pedro Medina, ex-operations division acting chief; Glennford Comia, Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TECU) head at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 1; Erwin Ortañez, Border Control Intelligence Unit chief, and Er German Robin, TCEU operations deputy head from 2017 to 2019 as well as the rest of the accused are facing a complaint for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and dismissal from the service.

The NBI urged Ombudsman Samuel Martires to remove Immigration Officer Dale Ignacio from the list of those who would be criminally charged, saying Ignacio could be a state witness.

All terminal heads of the TECU in NAIA 1, 2 and 3 and the over-all head of BI Border Control and Intelligence Unit were also included in the complaint.

Several accused supposedly received cash bribes, gifts and other benefits, including sexual favors from foreign women, who were victims of human trafficking.

Donggallo said he believed the graft and administrative complaint against the 86 immigration employees is airtight based on the revelations and evidence provided by Ignacio, a second whistle-blower.

The NBI said the statements of Ignacio validated the testimony of Allison Chiong, the first whistleblower.

Chiong earlier told a Senate investigation that 90 percent of the bureau personnel personnel were involved in the “pastillas” scheme that afforded special treatment to Chinese nationals entering the Philippines in exchange for cash.

In October, Martires placed 45 immigration officials on a six-month preventive suspension without pay in connection with the scheme.

book at you and even the kitchen sink.

This is not the time for condonation.

Other sins will be forgiven, but not corruption, not ghost projects,” he added.

Among those he named who were dismissed by the Ombudsman are NAIA Customs operations officer Lomontod Macabando, deputy collector Ramon Hernandez, Raymund Cabigon, Gil Senen Gamil, Zamboanga district collector Lyceo Martinez, Lt. Filomeno Salazar, and Vicente Torres.

Duterte also disclosed that PhilHeath senior vice president chief information officer Jovita Aragona was among those placed under preventive suspension over the anomalies hounding the

state insurer.

Meanwhile, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said Thursday that his department will ask its employees to explain their involvement in 10 allegedly anomalous deals.

“So far we’ve already reviewed all the cases and we’re gonna issue show-cause orders to all those involved,” Villar told ANC’s Headstart public affairs program.

Villar would not offer any specifics but said they were looking at “around 10 cases simultaneously.”

Villar said the DPWH would also hold contractors accountable for their projects, noting that 25 of them have already been blacklisted.

Georgia

In Georgia Thursday morning, Biden lagged Trump by 18,590 votes with about 99 percent (4.85 million) counted. But he could pull in the lion’s share of the final votes, making that race neck-and-neck.

Georgia, which has not voted for a Democrat for president since Bill Clinton in 1992, was expected to finish its count by noon Thursday (1700 GMT).

Pennsylvania

Two other states are also outstanding: Pennsylvania, with a prize of 20 electoral

Quality...

From A1

As this developed, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warned tsunamis could threaten about 14 million Filipinos nationwide, including those residing in Metro Manila.

“The total population exposed to tsunami would be close to 14 million but they will not be affected at the same time. It would depend on where the tsunami would occur,” Phivolcs director Renato Solidum Jr. said Thursday.

Citing Phivolcs’ hazard assessment and simulation, Solidum the vulnerable population in Metro Manila would be around 2.4 million.

DPWH...

From A1 partment of Public Works and Highways next week.

“I really intend to clean the government. If I cannot eradicate corruption, at least let me try to reduce it. Let it be a consolation for our people that we put these corrupt officials behind bars,” the President said Thursday evening.

“The DPWH will have the most number of officials to be dismissed because of corrupt activities, especially those involved in ghost projects. If I were you, I will resign now because I will throw the

News

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Duterte for gender equality, not same-sex marriage

IN BRIEF

Ejercito calls for funding for cancer control law FORMER Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito called for government funding of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act or Republic Act No. 11215 in a bike run recently held as part of the month-long activities for the breast cancer month.

The law which he sponsored as chairman of the Senate committee on health and signed by President Duterte last year aims to ramp up essential programs and increase investments to battle cancer.

The landmark health legislation seeks to provide access to more responsive and affordable health care services for cancer patients, support the recovery and reintegration to society of cancer survivors, and mandates the implementation of assistance programs for economically challenged cancer patients.

“We need to campaign for funding of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act. This is needed more than ever during the coronavirus pandemic as cancer patients are immunocompromised and are more vulnerable to COVID,” said Ejercito.

Cariño, top surgeon, Rotarian passes on DR. LORENZO Rommel Cariño, heart surgeon, outstanding physician and Rotarian, passed away on Nov. 4, 2020, according to his fellow member of the Rotary Club of Cubao West.

Doc Rommel, as he was fondly called by his friends and colleagues, was among the Outstanding Filipino Physicians awardees in 2012 along with Dr. Anthony Leachon, an award that was given by the JCI Senate Philippines.

Cariño was a classmate of Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III at the UST College of Medicine, said book author Melandrew Velasco, a JCI senator and also past president of Rotary Club CW. Among Cariño’s patients was former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo whom he saved in April 2007 after a 10-hour operation that earned for Doc Rommel the accolade as the country’s miracle heart surgeon, Velasco said.

A3

By Vito Barcelo

Residents of General Mariano Alvarez in Cavite avail of free swab testing extended by the local government.

JR Josue

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte supports gender equality but is not in favor of either church or civil marriage among same-sex couples, Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said.

“While the President Duterte supports the passage of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Equality bill, which seeks to protect members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community from discrimination, he will let lawmakers to iron out details of the bill,” Roque said.

The SOGIE bill is currently being tackled by a House panel.

“It is very clear, the stand of the President. He believes that and

has expressed his full support to the LGBTQ community,” he said.

However, Roque appealed to the public to let congress decide the final version of the SOGIE bill.

“Duterte supports the gender equality but but not in favor of same sex marriage be it church or civil,” he added.

Roque’s latest pronouncements, however, contradicted the statements he himself made before on the issue.

In December 2017, Duterte said in a speech that he was in favor of changing the law to allow same-sex marriage in the Philippines.

Roque explained then the President was only referring to samesex civil union.

Lopez’ election victory upheld

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE HOUSE of Representatives’ Electoral Tribunal has upheld the landslide victory of Manila 1st District Rep. Manuel Luis T. Lopez in the May 13, 2019 congressional elections after it dumped the election protest by his lone opponent in the polls.

“This re-election is not for me but for the thousands of Manileños who have given me the mandate to represent their voices in the halls of Congress. Finally, this protest filed on mere suspicion, devoid of factual basis, and aimed at harassment has been junked,” said Lopez who heads the House of Representatives’ Committee on

Metro Manila Development.

“Since the beginning, we were confident that the will of the people and the choice of my constituents will emerge victorious against this obvious political maneuver. We thank the HRET for settling this matter once and for all.

“Our landslide win was clear and ir-

refutable that even our opponent failed to present his supposed ‘witnesses’.”

The Tribunal dumped losing candidate Benjamin Asilo’s protest against Lopez who secured 86,993 votes or 13,687 votes more compared to Asilo’s 73,306. Asilo was a two-termer councilor and the representative of the First District of Manila for three consecutive terms until Lopez was first elected in 2016.

“While the protest did not hinder me from doing my mandate to serve our constituents, this decision has inspired me to do more and serve better. “The people elected me to serve them, and that has been and will continue to be my main focus,” Lopez said.

Said HRET: “The instant Election Pro-

test dated July 4, 2019, filed on July 8, 2019, is dismissed for being insufficient in form and substance, in accordance with Rule 23, paragraph 1 of the 2015 HRET Rules. Protestee’s Counter-Protest dated August 31, 2019, filed on September 2, 2019, is likewise dismissed as a consequence of the dismissal of the Election Protest,” the decision reads.

Lopez agreed with the Tribunal when it noted that the move of Asilo to do away with the testimonies of 112 witnesses supposedly as proof of the “traditional election irregularities, manipulations and anomalies” only shows that his causes of action are not lodged on factual basis but merely on “shocking discrepancy” between the number of voters.

Police stumped as to missing ex-Court of Appeals justice

By Jess Malabanan CLARK FREEPORT—The team of investigators sent to conduct an in-depth probe behind the mysterious disappearance of retired Court of Appeals Justice Normandie Pizarro is still facing a blank wall as to his whereabouts.

“The in-depth investigation continues. We have requested the recorded activities of the security camera on the day the ex-CA justice was reported missing,” said Police Col. Andres Simbajon Jr., acting director of the Pampanga Provincial Police Office.

Simbajon said Pizarro’s car had been spotted heading toward Sacobia, a sub-zone of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC),

the night after he left Midori Hotel in Casino last month with an unidentified lady companion.

“My theory is that Pizarro’s vehicle drove straight towards Clark backdoor via Sacobia Bridge then to MacArthur Highway and North Luzon Expressway and exited at San Simon toll gate,” Simbajon said.

Pizarro’s vehicle was recovered along Manabak road at barangay San Juan, San Simon in Pampanga by residents in the community.

The car has bloodstains inside when checked by police investigators.

Simbajon said the vehicle remained under the custody of the San Simon police station.

Overhauled LRT wagons started running on the main line on November 5, 2020.

Senate seeks more time to asses Visiting Forces pact

By Macon R. Araneta SENATE President Vicente Sotto III yesterday asked the executive branch to give Congress time to review, rethink and assess the country’s defense relationships amid reports that President Rodrigo Duterte may again suspend the PHUS Visiting Forces Agreement.

“It’s a good move while the Executive Department is reviewing the pros and cons of the agreement, especially our Defense relationship,” Sotto said.

He said amendments to the VFA may be necessary to ensure that provisions deemed lopsided in favor of the US are corrected.

On Wednesday, the Palace said Duterte is in “no immediate rush”

to abrogate the country’s VFA with the US as the termination’s suspension is expected to end next month.

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 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.

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor

A4

Malabon trains homemakers into ‘E-Nanays’

FRIDAY, NOVEMBEF 6, 2020 lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

‘E-NANAY’ TRAINING. Mothers or ‘nanays’ from Malabon are now undergoing digital

training at City of Malabon University, equipping them with skills to allow them to help with their children’s online learning. Malabon Mayor Lenlen Oreta (inset, seated, center) led the signing of the agreement for the E-Nanay Tutorial, with (from left) Marissa Cristobal, Principal of Ninoy Aquino Elementary School; and Engr. Sheila Ibay Villanueva, Vice President for Institutional Development External Affairs, and OIC-Dean, College of Engineering and Technology, City of Malabon University, and CMU Board Members.

Makati readies Christmas goodies T

By Joel E. Zurbano

HE Makati City government is distributing free face shields as part of its early Christmas gifts to residents this year amid the coronavirus disease pandemic.

Mayor Abigail Binay said the plastic face shields have been added to the Pamaskong Handog tickets being delivered by city personnel to the doorsteps of city residents since Nov. 2.

The city chief executive said aside from around 240,000 Christmas gift bags allocated for ProudMakatizens, her adminis-

tration is also giving a plastic face shield to each of the recipients. These include senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWD), solo parents, registered jeepney and tricycle operators and drivers, and city hall and barangay hall employees.

“After providing free face masks and shields to our employees so they can safe-

ly deliver services to our constituents, we are now providing these protective items to our residents. We want them to remain healthy and safe especially this Christmas season,” Binay said.

Meanwhile, recipients of tickets will receive a Christmas gift bag containing Makatizen shirts, three cans of tuna flakes in oil, three cans of tuna flakes caldereta, three cans of corned beef, one can of luncheon meat, two cans of Vienna sausage, one pack of spaghetti sauce, one pack of pasta, one can of fruit cocktail, one can of condensed milk, one pack of cheese, and one can of all-purpose cream.

Since the start of pandemic last March,

Foodpanda hires Pasay trike drivers THE Pasay City Government has signed an agreement with an online food delivery service firm to provide job opportunity to tricycle drivers and operators affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Under the agreement signed by Mayor Imelda Rubiano and Food Panda Philippines, Inc. (FPPI) managing director Daniel Marogy last Wednesday, 150 tricycle drivers in the city will be hired as food delivery riders for at least two months under the company’s project dubbed as “Panda-Toda.”

The beneficiary drivers will be trained and oriented by the food delivery company, and will receive the same benefits, incentives and other advantages accorded to independent FFPI contractor riders, the agreement states.

Applicants, to be initially screened by the city’s Public Service Employment Office (PESO), must be residents of Pasay, at least 21 years old, have a Tax Identification Number (TIN) and a professional driver’s license, and must own and/or operate a tricycle which can be used as a motorcycle, among other requirements.

“On behalf of the Pasay local government unit, I thank Food Panda Philippines, Inc., a prominent food delivery service with a very wide network of restaurants as its partners, for joining hands with the local government in this initiative to provide an alternative income opportunity to our tricycle drivers whose source of income was affected by the COVID-19 health emergency,” said Rubiano in a statement.

“This is part of our overall efforts to help our city residents withstand the impact of the pandemic and recover from its adverse effects the soonest time possible,” she added.

the local government has been implementing strategic policies and programs to keep its resident safe from the virus.

Through City Ordinance No. 2020-089, the city has made it mandatory for residents, workers, and visitors to wear protective gear such as face masks anywhere outside their homes to prevent the spread of the infection.

The city government also provided free flu and pneumonia vaccines to senior citizens and other residents who registered online to boost their immune system.

Aside from frontliners, suspect and probable COVID-19 cases have also been tested for free under the city’s targeted mass testing program.

AID FOR LUCENA.

A volunteer wraps a care package as Manila Water Foundation worked hand in hand with Ayala Foundation to deploy 4,000 packs of food, 1,370 gallons of drinking water and 1,500 face masks to Lucena City for distribution to families severely impacted by recent typhoons. Various Ayala business units, led

by Ayala Foundation, also turned over 3,500 food packs, bottled water and face masks to local government representatives across Quezon province.

Davao-Samal bridge to help solve island’s power woes

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE development of the bridge linking Davao City to the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) highlights the need to finally solve the island’s electricity supply problems with the expected increase of tourist arrivals.

“The bridge project from Davao to Samal Island is seen to increase tourist traffic given better travel access and shorter time to reach travel destinations. This development will certainly require stability of electricity in Samal Island given

the increase in tourist arrivals,” European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP)-Southern Mindanao Business Council chairman Antonio Peralta said.

Ever since the Philippines entered the Global Tourism Body’s safe travel list during the COVID-19 pandemic, several tourist spots have been preparing to welcome visitors.

Among the limited number of sites generally opened to the public is Igacos.

However, Samal reported experience sporadic outages for the last several years.

“With the bridge giving better travel

access and shorter time to reach destinations once it’s finished, tourism is expected to increase,” continued Peralta. “However, the island should look into other ways to stabilize its electricity, current sporadic, which could deter prospective tourists from visiting,” he added.

Samal Island currently receives power from a submarine cable connected to Davao City and a diesel powerplant.

Peralta said tourism establishments affected by unstable power supply are restaurants, convention and meeting facilities, and hotels.

Tilapia project for Laguna, Batangas

‘KAPIT-PINAS.’

In the wake of Typhoon‘Rolly,’over 100 youth organizations joined forces once again and organized an online and offline bayanihan effort called Kapit-Pinas, which aims to raise funds and in-kind donations for the typhoon victims. Convened by advocacy-based group Millennials PH and the Kapit-Mindanao network, the campaign will be running from November 1 to 30. People can course their cash donations online or drop off in-kind goods at designated points. The campaign will benefit 12 target areas that were severely affected by the typhoons -- Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Quezon, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Batangas, Cavite, and Laguna.

LOS BANOS, Laguna—An initiative of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) is making tilapia farming accessible to beneficiaries in Laguna and Batangas.

A total of 14 farmer cooperators culturing tilapia in 17 fishponds with area of 2,798 sq m located in Laguna and Batangas benefited from the project, “Tilapia para sa Pamayanan” of the agency, Rose Anne M. Aya of PCAARRD Media Services told newsmen.

The project provided free fingerlings, feeds, and technical support to the farmer cooperators.

Started in June of this year, the project has benefited the following barangays in Laguna: Malinao, Taytay, and Munting Kawayan in the municipality of Majayjay; Pupuy in Bay; Mabacan in Calauan; and Malinta in Los Baños. In Batangas, the following barangays are covered: Bucana, Cogonan, Mangahan Putat, Bautista, and Butucan in the municipality of Nasugbu.

“The project will provide our family supply of food and additional income as we can sell our tilapia harvest to our neighbors in our barangay,” said Fe Amor Barcelon, a farmer cooperator from Cogonan, Nasugbu, Batangas, in Filipino.

Butch Gunio

THE students of this school year are not only the ones adjusting to the “new normal” way of learning. Their parents are also adjusting, learning new skills just to make sure their kids are not left behind in the time of digital learning.

In Malabon City, moms are the ones mostly at home. During this pandemic, they have become “all-around” moms, becoming the cook, the nurse, the discipline officer, and most especially, the teacher. Moms ensure that their households are not only functional, but safe and free from the virus. Moms are doing all these tasks and are expected to guide their kids as they undergo remote learning, using electronic gadgets, mobile apps, and digital tools.

The reality, however, is not all moms are equipped to help their kids with online learning.

“Moms are also the heroes of this pandemic as they have multiple roles. So it is just appropriate and timely to give back to them by equipping them with the necessary skills to survive the digital shift in education,” says Malabon Mayor Lenlen Oreta during the recent launch of the “E-Nanay Tutorial” project.

The project – a first among local government units (LGUs) – is specifically focused on assisting non-tech-savvy moms. The City of Malabon University Research and Extension Services Office (CMURESO), together with the Ninoy Aquino Elementary School (NAES), is facilitating the program.

The first day of the class was held last October 12 and the excitement of the 50 nanay-participants – who mostly have kids enrolled in public schools from Grades 1 to 5 – was felt in the room.

They are training at the computer laboratories of the City of Malabon University (CMU).

Participants of this 10-day “E-Nanay Tutorial” will learn the basics of operating a computer or laptop, which is useful especially to those who do not have any background in using modern technologies.

They will also be taught on how to use various Microsoft programs such as Word and Excel, and how to help their children in online learning, such as the mechanics for a Zoom meeting, or how to record and basic edit videos. There is also an extensive training on the use of PowerPoint so that they could also help their children do presentations.

“We are so happy with the response of the nanays. It is truly heartwarming to see them learn new skills. When we taught them how to use PowerPoint, it was really an eye-opener for them. They now feel empowered and ready to help their children,” said Prof. Luisa Tongco, the Assistant Dean of the College of Teacher Education (CTE) of CMU.

IN BRIEF Caloocan sets RFID stickering on Nov. 10 THE Caloocan City Government and the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation will launch Drive Thru RFID Stickering on Tuesday, November 10, at the Caloocan City People’s Park.

The project will be implemented in support of the government’s goal of making expressways payments cashless and contactless.

“We will help the people so that they will not have any trouble queuing. Our Drive Thru RFID Stickering is easier because there is pre-registration and you will only go on your scheduled time so that you will not waste your time and get tired in the queue,” said Caloocan Mayor Oscar “Oca” Malapitan.

You can get a subscription form for registration at the Office of the Secretary to the Mayor, 8th Floor, Caloocan City Hall, or download it at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lQ_NZEniS7TCGTvnszJ4hh2ytCwMrdHk/view?usp=sharing.

Everyone was also reminded to make sure that the required documents are complete before heading to Caloocan City People’s Park. For Class 1 vehicles, bring P500 for the initial load while P1,000 is needed for Class 2 and 3 vehicles. Jun David

Batangas resumes ‘Rolly’ relief drive THE Batangas provincial government, under the leadership of Governor Hermilando ‘Dodo’ Mandanas, continued distributing aid to residents and families affected

by Typhoon “Rolly” on Thursday.

According to the Batangas Public Information Office, the provincial government again extended assistance to the residents of Tierra Verde Subdivision in Batangas City, one of the communities that was inundated by heavy rains caused

by Rolly.

It also distributed relief goods for the residents of Barangay Libjo, as Mandanas assured that assistance and donations to the province “will continue to flow, which is expected to be of great help to meet the needs of those affected by the previous typhoon.”

Ayala Foundation Inc. also donated 2,000 packs of rice (5 kilos each) and various food items such as canned sardines, instant noodles, coffee, milk, and bottled water. Benjamin Chavez

Opinion ‘I accuse you’

Empowering the people After the full-blown inquiries conducted separately by the Senate and the House, as well as the DOJ-led inter-agency Task Force, there should be no reason why a good number of crooks in PhilHealth will not lose their posts and won’t end up behind bars.

It’s about time to unmask and penalize those culprits who comprise the so-called Mafia, fleecing PhilHealth of billions of pesos in workers’ contributions.

The Office of the Ombudsman last week ordered the preventive suspension of eight ranking officials of PhilHealth in addition to 13 others sacked in August, involving anomalous transactions with a number of medical entities.

Manong Digong could not have picked a more credible leader than Secretary Guevarra who vowed not to turn a blind eye on anyone, including those in agencies attached to the DOJ. At least 44 personnel of the Bureau of Immigration, an attached agency of the DOJ, face multiple criminal and administrative charges in connection with the “pastillas” bribery scandal.

A recent Senate probe exposed that some corrupt Immigration officials and airport personnel have been raking in tens of billions of pesos in bribes paid by foreigners, mostly Chinese nationals, who were granted tourist visas on arrival.

Tens of thousands of Chinese have remained to work at casinos and online-gambling joints run by Chinese mafia in the

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EDITORIAL

excess of jurisdiction, absence of speedy and adequate relief available, constitutionality of a law or ordinance, usurpation of an office or franchise, or cases of illegal confinement or detention.

In these cases, the party filing the action shall be called the “Petitioner” and the opposing party the “Respondent” (Section 1, IT IS a phrase frequently used when some- Rule 46 and Section 2, Rule 56, Rules of one is charged or blamed for an offense. Civil Procedure). Examples of original acSome commit the mistake of using “ac- tions in the Court of Appeals and Supreme cused” to refer to anyone who has a case in Court are the Special Civil Actions for Cercourt, a quasi-judicial agency or an admin- tiorari, Prohibition, Mandamus, Quo Waristrative agency. Strictly speaking, a party ranto and the Special Proceeding of Habeas to a case is only referred to as the accused Corpus (Section 1, Rule 46 and Section 2, “when the State prosecutes a person for an Rule 56, Rules of Civil Procedure). act or omission punishable by law” (SecFor Special Proceedings, the rules on ortion 3(b), Rule 1, Rules of Civil Procedure). dinary actions shall apply as far as practiIn simple words, a criminal action is en- cable (Section 2, Rule 72, Rules of Court). titled People of the Philippines against an Since these are cases which establish a staidentified accused. For example, the crim- tus, a right, or a particular fact (Section 3(c), inal case title will be Rules of Civil ProcePeople of the Phildure), the party filing ippines v. Juan de la the action is called a A party to a case Cruz or People of the “Petitioner” while the Philippines v. Pepiis only referred to as adverse party is the to Santos aka (also “Respondent.”

Exthe accused when known as) Boy Tisoy. amples are: Escheat, If, for instance, when the State prosecutes Settlement of Estate, the name of the acGuardiana person for an act or Adoption, cused is not known, ship, and Change of he or she is referred omission punishable Name. to as John Doe or Jane In labor cases with by law.

Doe. The People of the National Labor the Philippines is the Relations Commis“prosecution” or the sion, the party initiplaintiff while the person prosecuted is the ating the action is the “Complainant” or “accused.”

“Petitioner,” and the opposing party is the The reference to parties charged in crimi- “Respondent”(Section 2, Rule III, 2011 nal actions apply to the trial courts, the San- NLRC Rules of Procedure as amended) for diganbayan or the Court of Tax Appeals. claims arising from employer-employee reThis is unlike in civil actions which may be lationships, unfair labor practices, and terinstituted or pursued against a natural or ju- mination disputes, among others (Section ridical person, or entities authorized by law. 2, Rule III, 2011 NLRC Rules of ProceThe term “Plaintiff” may refer to the claim- dure as amended). With the Department of ing party while the “Defendant” may refer Trade and Industry, the person who claims to the original defending party (Section 1, consumer protection is named the “ComRule 3, Rules of Civil Procedure). plainant” and the seller, manufacturer, disFor Petitions for Review in the Court of tributor, or retailer who violates the rights Appeals (Rules 42 and 43, Rules of Civ- of the consumer is called the “Respondent” il Procedure) or Petitions for Review on (Section 9 (2) (2.2), Joint DTI-DOH-DA Certiorari in the Supreme Court (Rule 45, Administrative Order No. 01, Series of Rules of Civil Procedure) in the nature of 2008). appeals, the appealing party is referred to as In the Department of Agrarian Reform “Petitioner” while the appellee is called the Adjudication Board (DARAB) the party “Respondent.” However, in another kind of bringing the action is referred to as the “Comappeal to the Court of Appeals, known as an plainant” or “Petitioner” and the other party “ordinary appeal,” the appealing party shall is called the “Defendant” or “Respondent” be referred to as it was in the original court (Section 1, Rule II, 2009 DARAB Rules of but further referred to as the “Appellant” Procedure). Some of the cases in DARAB and the non-appealing party the “Appellee” are those involving annulment or rescission (Section 1, Rule 44, Rules of Civil Proce- of lease contracts or deeds of sale of lands dure). under disposition of the Department of AgrarThe Court of Appeals and the Supreme ian Reform or Land Bank of the Philippines; Court also have “original cases.” However, ejectment and dispossession of tenants and/or unlike the trial courts whose original cases leaseholders; and sale, alienation, pre-empare primarily rooted on a “cause of action” tion, and redemption of agricultural lands – which is an act or omission that violates under the Comprehensive Land Reform Law (or breaches) the rights of another (Section (Section 1, Rule IV, 2009 DARAB Rules of 2, Rule 2, Rules of Civil Procedure) – these Procedure). cases are brought to them due to grave abuses of discretion amounting to lack or Full version at www.manilastandard.net

NOT one among those he succeeded in Malacanang has done as much as President Duterte has to combat rampant graft and corruption in the government.

The anemic number of convictions may be blamed on the deficient and corrupt justice system itself, including the graft court Sandiganbayan.

It is now the job of the Anti-Corruption Mega Task Force to build strong cases and press charges against those who otherwise would get away with their loot or wrongdoing.

The President said he expects the Mega Task Force to work through the holidays and cause many to lose their jobs and even go to jail by the year’s end.

Designated by Manong Digong as task force head, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra, said the super body targets “mega transactions” that raise red flags, starting with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

With a year and a half left of his term, Manong Digong is apparently resolved to leave a legacy of “clean government” in the wake of the mess at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

Adelle Chua, Editor

Economy shows signs of recovery

T

HE economy is showing some pockets of recovery after slumping in the second quarter at the height of a nationwide lockdown. Such early signs of recovery after the economy started to reopen in the third quarter are indeed encouraging and confirm many observations that the worst is over for the Philippines.

will make a sharp rebound in 2021 judging from the pick-up in activities after the government eased up on quarantine rules.

A key economic indicator and the performance of at least two conglomerates seem to back up Dominguez’s optimism.

Authorities should do more to open it.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III himself is upbeat on the Philippine recovery, especially if mobility restrictions are further eased in the fourth quarter to allow more people to safely return to work while complying with minimum health standards.

The finance chief measures recovery in job numbers. The unemployment rate spiked to 17.7 percent in April but improved to 10 percent in July when lockdowns were eased and more people were allowed to go back to work.

Mr. Dominguez believes the economy

Exports climbed 2.2 percent in September to $6.22 billion from $6.08 billion in the same month last year, the first time they rose since the government declared a community lockdown in March to contain the spread of COVID-19. Exports tumbled 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.

San Miguel Corp. registered a net

income of P15 billion in the third quarter, a turnaround from the P4-billion loss it incurred in the first two quarters, following the easing of restrictions in July. The conglomerate, though, is far from returning to its pre-pandemic levels. Its nine-month profit is down 73 percent to P10.75 billion from P39.7 billion in the same period last year as net sales declined 30 percent to P531.1 billion from P758.6 billion.

PLDT Inc., meanwhile, announced a 23-percent growth in net income in the first nine months to P19.7 billion from P15.99 billion a year ago. Its third-quarter profit jumped nearly 100 percent as work-from-home arrangements boosted the company’s data and broadband businesses.

The re-opening of the economy clearly has contributed to better corporate earnings and the pick-up in some business activities. Authorities, thus, should do more to re-open the Philippine economy to create jobs and give hope to thousands of small scale and medium enterprises that have suffered the brunt of the pandemic.

PhilHealth’s ills: corruption and more Conclusion GIVEN President Rodrigo Duterte’s most recent directive to rid government of corrupt officials and employees by the end of his term, we can expect the investigative and justice agencies to be working even harder to clean up the Augean stables that is the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth).

Days prior to the President’s announcement on Nov. 2, the National Bureau of Investigation filed graft complaints against eight PhilHealth officials and four private hospital officers in Cebu City for approving the allegedly fraudulent claim for a nonCOVID-19 patient, even as other benefit claims for COVID-19 cases in the region are also being scrutinized.

NBI acting director for Central Visayas Rennan Augustus Oliva said the probe is based “on the President’s order to the DOJ (Department of Justice) to create a task force to investigate PhilHealth irregularities and anomalies.”

The proper government agency – the Civil Service Commission? the Department of Budget and Management? – should also look into the way PhilHealth conducts busi-ness and delivers its services, and determine who is responsible for the mismanagement in the agency that resulted in the payment arrears to the Philippine Red Cross for its COVID-19 testing service.

From a gargantuan P1.1 billion, PhilHealth has whittled down its debt to the Red Cross to P477 million, but only after the humanitarian organization put its foot down and halted testing until some payment was made.

PhilHealth gave a partial payment of P500 million on Oct. 27, leading Red Cross chief Senator Richard Gordon to allow the resumption of testing that night. PhilHealth paid another P100 million a few days later, but incurred another P16 million in debt due to additional services rendered by the Red Cross. “[But] PhilHealth is prepared for that,” Gordon said. “They have the money. I know they have the money.” Asked about a deadline for payment, Gordon said there was none, but added, “It’s a deadline based on their conscience.”

Ponzi scheme?

What galls is that PhilHealth should not have failed to pay Red Cross on time, as it rakes in immense sums from the nation’s employees through forced contributions. country.

Manong Digong recently expressed disgust that the Philippine National Police has been a perennial source of problem and embarrassment.

PNP Chief General Pancratius Cascolan said the PNP is seriously purging its ranks of unfit and undesirables, causing the dismissal last year of 4,591 policemen from the service for involvement in various serious offenses including illegal drugs trade.

Some 15,768 errant cops have been penalized for various offenses since 2016 as part of PNP’s internal cleansing.

‘PET can annull VP votes’

One lawyer has likened this system to a “Ponzi scheme.”

Lawyer Saul Hofileña Jr., who taught insurance law and criminal law at San Beda College, explained: “PhilHealth administers our country’s health insurance program. It was primarily created to help the poor and the downtrodden, to provide them with medical care.

The law states that all Filipinos must contribute to Philhealth, even foreign nationals working in this country.

“Its method of collecting money, what is referred to as ‘contributions,’ which word strengthens the belief that money collected

We should also look into the way PhilHealth conducts business and delivers its services.

official who rose from the ranks, he can “find evidence to nail down those responsible for defrauding the agency without resorting to subpoena which oftentimes is resisted in court by those to whom it is directed.”

In this situation, a doctor or healthcare expert is not what is needed.

Hofilena added that a CPA makes a good investigator because “crimes of this character leave a paperwork trail that may appear fair and regular to the average person, but are really important pieces of documentary evidence to those whose eyes have been trained and honed by experience in tracking down white-collar criminals.”

Plunder?

In addition to the PhilHealth officials recently charged in the Visayas, other agency officials have had cases filed against them before the Ombudsman for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Revised Penal Code, and other charges.

“The investigative agencies should also look into the possibility of filing plunder charges, after a thorough examination of the documents on file with the Commission on Audit or the PhilHealth,” Hofileña said.

He explained, “Under the law on plunder, if it is found that a public official has amassed ill-gotten wealth through a combination or series of overt or criminal acts in the aggregate sum of P50 million, he may be charged under the law which is a non-bailable offense. Any person who participated in the commission of plunder, even if he is a private individual, will likewise be charged with the crime.

“The crime of plunder is easier to establish since it is not necessary to prove each and every criminal act done by the accused in furtherance of the scheme or conspiracy, or accumulate ill-gotten wealth, it being sufficient to prove beyond reasonable doubt a pattern of overt or criminal acts indicative of the overall scheme to steal money from the government,” Hofileña said.

“Conviction of the crime of plunder carries with it the applicable penalty of reclusion perpetua and the State is not barred by the lapse of time from recovering properties unlawfully acquired by the public officer convicted of plunder either from the public officer himself or from any of his nominees or transferees,” he added.

is a form of tribute and therefore non-refundable, is systematic. Premiums are automatically deducted by employers from the salaries of employees.

“When a person pays PhilHealth, although involuntarily, PhilHealth is obligated, since it has entered into a contract of insurance, to defray, either partially or entirely, the medical expenses of the insured individual at a time when he needs it most, i.e., when he is incapacitated by illness.

“Because PhilHealth benefits will only be paid, not on demand, but primarily when the person who made the contributions needs it, the fund becomes a tempting playground for Ponzi scammers, referring to a type of investment fraud wherein funds collected from new contributors are used to pay old ones, dissipating old funds to line the pockets of the unscrupulous.”

CPA as investigator Hofilena said Dante Gierran’s appointment as PhilHealth president is “apropos” Surface the missing Philhealth billions because as a CPA-lawyer and a former NBI now! FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

The anti-corruption drive holds accountable officials on all levels of government.

Recall that the Senate probe of the masmas sive irregularities in the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) led to the expose of the “ninja cops” that implicated former PNP Chief

Democracy wins

Who’s going to be the next top cop?

Gen. Oscar Albayalde.

Most of the narco-generals, narco-politicians, narco-judges, as well as narco-celebrities and narco-terrorists remain on the loose.

But as I’ve said, not one of the previous administrations in recent memory, has done as much as the Duterte leadership in going after the crooks in the government and inculcating accountability in public service.

Manong Digong’s tireless effort to deliver on this campaign promise has empowered the people against the impunity of corrupt and abusive officials on all levels of the government.

Nestor Tan

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Storm ‘Eta’ barrels toward Honduras TROPICAL Storm Eta pushed into Honduras on Wednesday after leaving behind a trail of destruction in Nicaragua, where it made landfall the day before as a Category Four hurricane.

At least four people -- two in Nicaragua and two in Honduras -- were killed as Eta dumped heavy rain that unleashed widespread flooding and landslides, officials said.

The US National Hurricane Center said Wednesday that Eta had weakened to a tropical depression, but continued to warn of “life-threatening flash flooding” over portions of Central America.

Honduras’ emergency response commission COPECO said 3,000 people had been evacuated from their homes in the path of the storm.

Landslides swept away roads and at least five bridges, and the highway linking the capital Tegucigalpa with second city San Pedro Sula was cut off by a mudslide, it said. AFP

Seated event for Sydney’s LGBTQ Mardi Gras SYDNEY’S Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras will go ahead next year as a seated event instead of its usual glittery street parade to protect revelers from the coronavirus pandemic, organisers announced Thursday.

The parade, which usually draws tens of thousands of partygoers, will move from its traditional route through the city’s gay hub to the Sydney Cricket Ground.

“The 2021 parade may look different to how it has been in the past, but we feel very lucky to be able to give this opportunity to our communities during these times,” Mardi Gras chief executive Albert Kruger said in a statement.

The event, slated for March 6, will move away from large floats to better suit the venue and allow a seated audience of up to 23,000, Kruger said.

“Not only is the SCG close to our spiritual home of Oxford Street, but it also provides the safest venue for us to hold the event,” he added.

The first march in 1978 ended when police violently cracked down on a small group of protesters but it has since grown to be one of the city’s biggest events.

Australia has largely suppressed Covid-19, allowing the rollback of social distancing restrictions around the country.

AFP

1st mixed-gender fashion show held in Sudan IN A move that would have been almost unthinkable under ousted Islamist president Omar al-Bashir, Sudanese designers have organized a series of mixed-gender fashion shows to present their new lines.

The shows in upmarket Khartoum hotels saw female and male models parading down the catwalk together for the first time since before Bashir seized power more than three decades ago.

“In the old days, it was very difficult to organize a show like this. One would not dream of getting approval for it from authorities,” Sudanese designer Khaled Onsa told AFP. “We used to face repression instead, but now we are ruled by a system that guarantees public freedoms.”

Bashir, a general who seized power in an Islamist-backed coup in 1989, ruled Sudan with an iron fist until his ouster in a palace coup in April last year following months of mass protests on the streets.

He imposed a harsh form of Islamic law, criminalizing everything from drinking alcohol to women wearing clothes deemed as “revealing”. AFP

COUNT THE VOTE. Reverend Bianca Davis-Lovelace of the Washington State Poor People’s Campaign speaks at a rally and march to “Count Every Vote, Protect Every Person” a day

after the US Presidential Election in Seattle, Washington on November 4, 2020. Democratic presidential challenger Joe Biden on November 4 neared the magic number of 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House with several battleground states still in play, as incumbent President Donald Trump challenged the vote count. AFP

Italy to impose nationwide lockdown

I

TALY prepared Wednesday to impose a nationwide curfew and new lockdowns in some of its regions to stem a surge in coronavirus cases, following European neighbours in introducing new restrictions.

From Friday, Italy’s 60 million residents will be required to stay home from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. (2100-0400 GMT) except for work or health reasons under the new decree signed by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

The government had originally said the new curbs would begin on Thursday, but later delayed them by a day to give businesses affected by the new clampdowns more time to prepare. They are set to run through December 3.

Under the new rules, the country’s re-

gions will be divided into zones -- high risk, medium high and moderate -- based on how quickly the virus is spreading and availability of hospital beds, among other factors.

“We don’t have alternatives,” Conte said during a televised press conference Wednesday night.

In the handful of high-risk “red zones”, retail stores not selling essential goods such as food and pharmaceuticals are to shut, people will be prohibited from circulating freely except for work,

health and emergency reasons, and from travelling outside their home town or city.

Travel between some regions is to be restricted as well.

Italy was the first European country hit by coronavirus and has so far reported 790,377 cases, including the 30,550 new infections reported in the past 24 hours.

Nearly 39,800 people have died from the virus in the country.

Conte had hoped to avoid a countrywide lockdown such as that imposed in March, which devastated the economy, and wanted to wait to see whether more moderate restrictions imposed last week had had an impact.

These included the closure of pubs and restaurants at 6:00 pm, a move that sparked some small but sometimes violent protests in cities such as Rome, Na-

HK unveils hotline for residents HONG Kong police unveiled a dedicated hotline on Thursday for residents to report national security threats, sparking criticism that the measure will deepen swirling distrust in the already polarised city.

China imposed a sweeping new national security law in June after last year’s huge and often violent pro-democracy protests in the financial hub.

Despite assurances that the law would only target a “tiny minority”, its wording has outlawed a host of peaceful political views and helped to stamp out mass dissent in the financial hub.

The hotline allows residents to send “national security intelligence” via text message, email and the Chinese messaging app WeChat.

Hong Kong residents can also use the line to send pictures, audio and video files, police said in a Thursday Facebook post.

Rights groups have voiced concerns that the hotline will deliver another blow to free speech at a time when Beijing is ramping up control over the city.

“Informants may use this hotline against people who they dislike or are in a different political camp,” Human Rights Watch senior researcher Maya Wang told AFP. Opponents have drawn parallels with the Cultural Revolution in mainland China, a turbulent period in the 1960s and 70s when millions were punished and purged by authorities—often after denunciation by family, friends and neighbours.

The police post on Facebook had more than 700 comments on Thursday afternoon, with some welcoming and others condemning the initiative.

“Great! Now the cockroaches have nowhere to run,” wrote one user, using a pejorative term for democracy supporters. AFP

Pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai (left), facing charges of inciting others to participate in an unauthorized assembly commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing earlier this June 4, looks on as activists demonstrate outside the West Kowloon court in Hong Kong on November 3, 2020.

AFP CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

France deploys new anti-jihadist unit in Mali Afghan violence

Manila

Standard

TODAY

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TARIFF COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF THE CONDUCT OF MONITORING OF THE PHILIPPINE CEMENT INDUSTRY PURSUANT TO REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8800 (SAFEGUARD MEASURES ACT) FOR:SAFEGUARD MEASURE (Republic Act No. 8800) Investigation No. SG-2020-MROC-Cement NOTICE ON THE COMMENCEMENT OF AND CONDUCT OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MONITORING OF THE PHILIPPINE CEMENT INDUSTRY Pursuant to Section 16 (Monitoring) of Republic Act No. 8800 (Safeguard Measures Act), notice is hereby given that the Tariff Commission (TC) will commence on 09 November 2020 its monitoring of the developments in the Philippine Cement Industry following the imposition of a definitive safeguard duty against importations of cement (AHTN 2017 Subheading Nos. 2523.29.90 and 2523.90.00) from various countries as provided in Department Administrative Order No. 19-13 issued by the Secretary of Trade and Industry.

INSIDE a military base in northern Mali, a concrete bollard emblazoned with French, Estonian and Swedish flags marks a zone reserved for a new anti-jihadist unit of elite European troops.

Dubbed Task Force Takuba, the new joint deployment marks a coup for France, which has sought partners in its long fight against Islamist militants in Africa’s vast Sahel region.

French troops first deployed

to Mali in 2013 after a jihadist insurgency broke out in the country the previous year.

But despite their presence, jihadist violence has spread to neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger.

Thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed in the conflict, and hundreds of thousands more have had to flee their homes.

Anger at the seemingly endless insurgency in Mali also fuelled protests against presi-

dent Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, culminating in his ouster in a military coup on August 18.

At the base in the city of Gao, about a dozen French and Estonian soldiers from Takuba sit under an awning, surrounded by storage containers and light military vehicles.

They discuss their first mission: A sweep operation conducted in the lawless MaliBurkina Faso border region last month, alongside local troops and French regulars. AFP

In connection with said monitoring, a Public Hearing via Videoconferencing (PHV) is scheduled on 18 December 2020, at 10:00 a.m., using Microsoft Teams.

The purpose of the public hearing is to determine the compliance of the Philippine Cement Industry with its adjustment plan/s, including its progress and specific efforts to make a positive adjustment to import competition. All interested parties are enjoined to attend, submit their comments/positions on the matter, and/or present evidence/s as necessary Details of the PHV, including registration link, will be posted on the Commission’s website https://tariffcommission.gov.ph/by 14 December 2020 at the latest.

For any inquiries, please contact Ms. Ma. Lourdes M. Saluta, Director II, Head of the TC Task force, at email addressTC.Assist@mail.tariffcommission. gov.ph.

Issued this 4th day of November 2020, at Quezon City, Metro Manila.

MARILOU P. MENDOZA Chairperson (MS-NOV. 6, 2020)

ples and Turin.

But the quick spread of the virus, which has begun to overwhelm the health system in some areas, is forcing Conte’s hand.

Milan in lockdown The new restrictions fall short of lockdowns imposed in other European nations such as Britain and France, and were agreed only after long discussion with regional leaders.

On the red-zone list is prosperous, industrial Lombardy in Italy’s north, neighbouring Piedmont, the southern region of Calabria and the Aosta Valley bordered by France and Switzerland.

Only Sicily and Puglia are considered “medium risk” zones, with slightly fewer restrictions than red-zone regions, and the rest of Italy’s 20 regions are “moderate.”

AFP

INAUGURATION. Tanzanian soldiers march during Zanzibar´s President inauguration ceremony at Amaani Stadium in Amaani, Zanzibar. AFP

surges despite gab VIOLENT attacks in Afghanistan surged by 50 percent over recent months even as the Kabul government and the Taliban launched unprecedented peace talks in September, a US watchdog warned Thursday.

Despite brief lulls during two temporary ceasefires over the summer, fighting has raged across the country as the Taliban launched devastating attacks on provincial capitals and security installations, with fears the violence may jeopardise negotiations.

Attacks against Afghan forces and civilians were 50 percent higher in the three months to the end of September when compared to the previous quarter, the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction said.

“Overall enemy-initiated attacks this quarter were also characterized as ‘above seasonal norms,” SIGAR’s quarterly report to the US Congress added.

The watchdog reported 2,561 civilian casualties this quarter including 876 deaths, up 43 percent from the April to June period.

The report’s publication comes as scattered calls to boycott the ongoing peace talks have been raised following back-to-back attacks on education centres in Kabul claimed by the Islamic State group, but which some government officials insist were carried out by the Taliban. AFP

CYANMAGENTA MAGENTAYELLOW YELLOWBLACK BLACK CYAN Manila Manila

Standard Standard TODAY

Business

TODAY

B3

FRIday, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Indonesia’s economy fell into recession in 3rd quarter JAKARTA—Indonesia’s virus-hit economy contracted in the third quarter, plunging it into its first recession since the archipelago was mired in the Asian financial crisis more than 20 years ago.

Activity in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy slumped 3.49 percent on-year in July-September, the statistics agency said Thursday, with tourism, construction and trade among the hardest-hit sectors.

The data marked the second consecutive quarter of contraction after a 5.3-percent decline in April-June.

Indonesia last suffered a recession in 1998 and 1999 during a regional currency crisis that helped force the resignation of its long-term dictator Suharto.

However, the depth of the current decline was easing, the agency said, adding it pointed to stronger figures in the last quarter of the year.

The economy “continues showing a contraction year-over-year but the quarter-on-quarter recovery was quite strong,” said Anwita Basu, head of Asia Country Risk at Fitch Solutions in Singapore, highlighting a gradual pickup in manufacturing.

“Some government efforts to continue with public works is reflected in that,” she added.

Indonesia’s economy was also in better shape than two decades ago, with once-troubled commercial banks now stronger and ample foreign currency reserves at the central bank, Basu said.

Governments around the world have been struggling to contain the coronavirus, which has forced the shutdown of vast parts of the global economy.

Indonesia’s central bank cut interest rates several times this year in a bid to boost the struggling economy, while the government has unveiled more than $48-billion in stimulus to help offset the impact of the virus, which forced a large-scale shutdown that hammered growth. AFP

PSEi November 5, 2020

TOP GAINERS 1 2

KEP GSMI

LAST PRICE 3.28 50.9

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

SGI AR MAB GTCAP APC JGS AEV BSC

1.11 0.0012 0.012 485 0.365 69.55 46.5 0.23

1 2

Stock market jumps again as index tops 6,600 points

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

S

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index surged 180.72 points, or 2.8 percent, to 6,644.77 on a value turnover of P10.2 billion. Gainers beat losers, 128 to 73, with 53 issues unchanged.

GT Capital Holdings Inc. of the Ty Group climbed 7.8 percent to P485, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fast-food chain, advanced 5 percent to P194.20.

JG Summit Holdings Inc of the Gokongwei Group rose 5.9 percent to P69.55, while Megaworld Corp., the biggest lessor of office spaces, rallied 4.5 percent to P3.25.

0.1 0.0001 0.001 35 0.025 3.85 2.5 0.012

9.90% 9.09% 9.09% 7.78% 7.35% 5.86% 5.68% 5.50%

TOP LOSERS

LAst orders. A reveler plays tuba in the street as police officers disperse people after the pubs closed in the soho area of central London on November 4, 2020, on the eve of a second novel coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown in an effort to combat soaring infections. English pubs call last orders at the bar for a month on Wednesday evening, as the country effectively shuts down from November 5, for the second time this year to try to cut coronavirus cases. Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted that the lockdown for England would end “automatically” in four weeks, as he tried to placate party critics over the spiraling economic fallout. AFP

ToCKS jumped Thursday for the second straight day, as Joe Biden inched towards becoming the next US president, with investors now hoping lawmakers will soon pass a much-needed new stimulus package.

% CHANGE CHANGE 0.36 12.33% 5.2 11.38%

PHR ALHI

LAST PRICE 2.18 7.52

% CHANGE CHANGE -1.09 -33.33% -0.63 -7.73%

MJIC DITO C PTC DWC TUGS APVI PRMX

1.85 5.89 4.94 96.05 1.71 1.33 12.52 1.13

-0.14 -0.42 -0.34 -5.25 -0.09 -0.06 -0.56 -0.05

-7.04% -6.66% -6.44% -5.18% -5.00% -4.32% -4.28% -4.24%

MOST ACTIVE

The rest Asian markets also rallied were to make a miraculous comeback, Thursday. Traders brushed off Donald that status quo would be unchanged. It Trump’s claims of fraud and calls to is, therefore, little surprise that US eqVOLUME VALUE (PHP) stop vote-counting by calling in law- uity markets powered higher and the US SM 755,780 777,056,895.00 yers, instead taking heart from the fail- Dollar quickly unwound all of its gains 1 2 DITO 119,228,100 712,003,828.00 ure of a Democratic sweep of Congress, yesterday.” which would have likely led to tax hikes However, Trump earlier claimed 3 PHR 254,434,000 581,578,110.00 and regulation. victory unilaterally and made clear he ALI 16,783,600 575,475,120.00 While crucial battleground states re- would not accept the reported results, 4 GTCAP 1,058,740 504,259,924.00 main close, the former vice president issuing unprecedented complaints—un- 5 said he was confident that “when the supported by any evidence—of fraud.

6 BDO 5,094,070 471,313,015.00 count is finished, we believe we will be “The damage has already been done 7 JFC 2,009,130 389,525,056.00 the winners.” to the integrity of our system, and to the All three main indexes on Wall Street Presidential Election itself,” he tweeted, 8 SMPH 9,977,800 349,983,605.00 surged, with the Nasdaq soaring almost alleging without proof or explanation 9 TEL 246,840 330,590,375.00 four percent as tech titans including Apple that “secretly dumped ballots” had been 10 MBT 7,450,300 320,917,845.00 and Facebook breathed a sigh of relief. added in Michigan. With AFP Manila Manila “For financial markets, Standard Standard TODAY though, the result is a boon,” TODAY said Jeffrey Halley at oANDA. “Gone will be a multi-trilBALANCESHEET SHEET BALANCE AsofofSEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER30, 30,2020 2020 As lion-dollar fiscal stimulus, BOARDOF OFDIRECTORS DIRECTORS BOARD ASSETS AMOUNT ASSETS AMOUNT in will come more monetary CURRENTQUARTER QUARTER PREVIOUSQUARTER QUARTER CURRENT PREVIOUS FR.ANTONIO ANTONIOCECILIO CECILIOT.T.PASCUAL PASCUAL Cashand andCash CashItems Items 1,674,053.29 12,089,041.36 FR. policy stimulus as the Federal Cash 1,674,053.29 12,089,041.36 Chairman Duefrom fromBangko BangkoSentral SentralNg NgPilipinas Pilipinas 65,082,426.08 65,099,076.08 Chairman 65,082,426.08 65,099,076.08 Reserve takes the burden on its Due Due from Other Banks 632,894,784.78 608,362,617.57 Due from Other Banks 632,894,784.78 608,362,617.57 FinancialAssets AssetsatatFair FairValue Valuethrough throughProfit ProfitofofLoss Loss 0.00 0.00 ATTY. ATTY.MICKEL MICKELM.M.BORIGAS BORIGAS Financial 0.00 0.00 shoulders,” he added.

Available-for-SaleFinancial FinancialAssets-Net Assets-Net 0.00 0.00 Vice-Chairman Available-for-Sale 0.00 0.00 Vice-Chairman Held-to-Maturity(HTM) (HTM)Financial FinancialAssets-Net Assets-Net 15,000,000.00 15,000,000.00 Held-to-Maturity 15,000,000.00 15,000,000.00 “Even if President Trump Unquoted CYAN0.00 MAGENTAYELLOW YELLOW BLACK CYAN MAGENTA BLACK UnquotedDebt DebtSecurities SecuritiesClassified ClassifiedasasLoans-Net Loans-Net 0.00 0.00 0.00

Manila Manila

Standard Standard TODAY TODAY

(As of September 30, 2020)

InvestmentsininNon-Marketable Non-MarketableEquity EquitySecurity-Net Security-Net Investments Loansand andReceivable Receivable- -Net Net Loans LoanstotoBangko BangkoSentral SentralngngPilipinas Pilipinas Loans InterbankLoans LoansReceivable Receivable Interbank Loansand andReceivablesReceivables-Others Others Loans Loans and Receivables Arisingfrom fromRA/CA/PR/SLB RA/CA/PR/SLB Loans and Receivables Arising GeneralLoan LoanLoss LossProvision Provision General Other Financial Assets Other Financial Assets EquityInvestment InvestmentininSubsidiaries,Associates Subsidiaries,Associatesand andJoint JointVentures-Net Ventures-Net Equity BankPremises, Premises,Furniture, Furniture,Fixtures Fixturesand andEquipment-Net Equipment-Net Bank Realand andOther OtherProperties PropertiesAcquired-Net Acquired-Net Real Non-CurrentAssets AssetsHeld HeldforforSale Sale Non-Current OtherAssets-Net Assets-Net Other Net Due from Head Office/Branches/Agencies, any(Philippine (Philippine Net Due from Head Office/Branches/Agencies, if ifany branchofofa aforeign foreignbank) bank) branch TOTALASSETS ASSETS TOTAL LIABILITIES LIABILITIES FinancialLiabilities LiabilitiesatatFair FairValue Valuethrough throughProfit ProfitororLoss Loss Financial DepositLiabilities Liabilities Deposit DuetotoOther OtherBanks Banks Due BillsPayable Payable Bills BSP(Rediscounting (Rediscountingand andOther OtherAdvances) Advances) a)a)BSP InterbankLoans LoansPayable Payable b)b)Interbank OtherDeposit DepositSubstitutes Substitutes c)c)Other Others d)d)Others BondsPayable-Net Payable-Net Bonds UnsecuredSoubordinated SoubordinatedDebt-Net Debt-Net Unsecured RedeemablePreferred PreferredShare Shares s Redeemable SpecialTime TimeDeposit Deposit Special DuetotoBangko BangkoSentral SentralngngPilipinas Pilipinas Due OtherFinancial FinancialLiabilities Liabilities Other OtherLiabilities Liabilities Other NetDue DuetotoHead HeadOffice/Branches/Agencies/(Philippine Office/Branches/Agencies/(Philippinebranch branch Net foreignbank) bank) ofofa aforeign TOTALLIABILITIES LIABILITIES TOTAL

0.00 0.00 2,376,786,442.80 2,376,786,442.80

0.00 0.00 2,531,829,830.64 2,531,829,830.64

2,409,564,684.33 2,409,564,684.33

2,563,608,072.17 ROMEO 2,563,608,072.17 ROMEOA.A.DE DEJESUS JESUS

32,778,241.53 32,778,241.53 132,050,369.81 132,050,369.81 0.00 0.00 24,024,247.38 24,024,247.38 3,128,400.34 3,128,400.34 214,528,606.25 214,528,606.25 15,474,242.85 15,474,242.85 0.00 0.00 3,480,643,573.58 3,480,643,573.58 0.00 0.00 1,992,880,356.81 1,992,880,356.81 0.00 0.00 645,000,000.00 645,000,000.00 645,000,000.00 645,000,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 26,804,056.81 26,804,056.81 45,734,895.51 45,734,895.51

DIRECTORS DIRECTORS PATRIAT.T.CHIONG CHIONG PATRIA

NORMAG.G.GUHITING GUHITING NORMA SEGUNDOR.R.LANUZA, LANUZA,JR. JR. SEGUNDO EDITA S. LAURON EDITA S. LAURON GARIBALDIO.O.LEONARDO LEONARDO GARIBALDI ROBERTOC.C.MASCARINA MASCARINA ROBERTO FR.SERAFIN SERAFINF.F.PERALTA PERALTA FR. DIVINA C. QUEMI DIVINA C. QUEMI PEDRO E. RIEZA, JR. PEDRO E. RIEZA, JR. 0.00 0.00 JUANITOP.P.ROSINI ROSINI JUANITO 3,625,362,792.71 NICOLAS H. VERONILLA 3,625,362,792.71 NICOLAS H. VERONILLA 31,778,241.53 31,778,241.53 137,424,084.79 137,424,084.79 0.00 0.00 24,266,115.58 24,266,115.58 3,119,724.74 3,119,724.74 214,528,606.25 214,528,606.25 13,643,695.70 13,643,695.70

EXECUTIVEOFFICER OFFICER 0.00 EXECUTIVE 0.00 IgnacioA.A.Manipula Manipula 1,713,885,101.23 Ignacio 1,713,885,101.23 0.00 President President&&Chief ChiefExecutive ExecutiveOfficer Officer 0.00 1,008,000,000.00 1,008,000,000.00 ATTY. Simeon T. Asia 1,008,000,000.00 ATTY. Simeon T. Asia 1,008,000,000.00 BoardSecretary Secretary 0.00 Board 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 20,473,878.64 20,473,878.64 47,054,298.16 47,054,298.16

2,710,419,309.13 2,710,419,309.13

2,789,413,278.03 2,789,413,278.03

CapitalStock Stock 683,839,898.06 Capital 683,839,898.06 OtherCapital CapitalAccounts Accounts 12,489,730.74 Other 12,489,730.74 RetainedEarnings Earnings 73,894,635.65 Retained 73,894,635.65 AssignedCapital Capital 0.00 Assigned 0.00 TOTALSTOCKHOLDERS’ STOCKHOLDERS’EQUITY EQUITY 770,224,264.45 TOTAL 770,224,264.45 TOTALLIABILITIES LIABILITIESAND ANDSTOCKHOLDERS’ STOCKHOLDERS’EQUITY EQUITY 3,480,643,573.58 TOTAL 3,480,643,573.58 CONTINGENTACCOUNTS ACCOUNTS CONTINGENT -GuaranteesIssued Issued 0.00 Guarantees 0.00 FinancialStandby StandbyLetters LettersofofCredit Credit 0.00 Financial 0.00 PerformanceStandby StandbyLetters LettersofofCredit Credit 0.00 Performance 0.00 CommercialLetters LettersofofCredit Credit 0.00 Commercial 0.00 TradeRelated RelatedGuarantees Guarantees 0.00 Trade 0.00 Commitments 0.00 Commitments 0.00 SpotForeign ForeignExchange ExchangeContracts Contracts 0.00 Spot 0.00 SecuriitesHeld HeldUnder UnderCustodianship CustodianshipbybyBank BankProper Proper 0.00 Securiites 0.00 TrustDepartment DepartmentAccounts Accounts 0.00 Trust 0.00 Trustand andOther OtherFiduciary FiduciaryAccounts Accounts 0.00 a)a)Trust 0.00 AgencyAccounts Accounts 0.00 b)b)Agency 0.00 Advisory/Consultancy 0.00 c)c)Advisory/Consultancy 0.00 Derivatives 0.00 Derivatives 0.00 Others 16,021,095.72 Others 16,021,095.72 TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS 16,021,095.72 TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS 16,021,095.72 ADDITIONALINFORMATION INFORMATION ADDITIONAL GrossTotal TotalLoan LoanPortfolio Portfolio(TLP) (TLP) 2,475,794,049.97 Gross 2,475,794,049.97 Specificallowance allowanceforforcredit creditlosses lossesononthe theTLP TLP 66,229,365.64 Specific 66,229,365.64 Non-PerformingLoans Loans(NPLs) (NPLs) Non-Performing a.

Gross NPLs 306,178,535.55 a. Gross NPLs 306,178,535.55 Ratioofofgross grossNPLs NPLstotogross grossTLP TLP(%) (%) 12.37% b.b.Ratio 12.37% NetNPLs NPLs 239,949,169.91 c.c.Net 239,949,169.91 RatioofofNet NetNPLs NPLstotogross grossTLP TLP(%) (%) 9.69% d.d.Ratio 9.69% Ratioofoftotal totalallowance allowanceforforcredit creditlosses lossestotogross grossNPLs NPLs(%) (%) 32.34% e.e.Ratio 32.34% Ratioofofspecific specificallowance allowanceforforcredit creditlosseson lossesonthe thegross grossTLP TLPtotogross grossNPLs NPLs(%) (%) 21.63% f. f.Ratio 21.63% ClassifiedLoans Loans&&Other OtherRisk RiskAssets, Assets, Classified grossallowance allowancefor forcredit creditlosses losses 45.00 gross 45.00 DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross allowancefor forcredit creditlosses losses 345,945,994.25 DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross allowance 345,945,994.25 RatioofofDOSRI DOSRIloans loansand andreceivables, receivables,gross grossofofallowance allowanceforforcredit creditlosses, losses,totogross grossTLP TLP(%) (%) 13.97% Ratio 13.97% Grossnon-performing non-performingDOSRI DOSRIloans loansand andreceivables receivables 0.00 Gross 0.00 Ratioofofgross grossnon-performing non-performingDOSRI DOSRIloans loansand andreceivables receivablesTLP TLP(%) (%) 0.00% 0.00% Ratio Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) 8%for forSmall SmallEnterprises Enterprises 14.62% a.a. 8% 14.62% 2%for forMedium MediumEnterprises Enterprises 44.48% b.b. 2% 44.48% Returnon onEquity Equity(ROE) (ROE)(%) (%) 2.00% Return 2.00% Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations TotalCAR CAR 21.42 a.a.Total 21.42 TierI ICAR CAR 20.48 b.b.Tier 20.48 CommonTier Tier11Ratio Ratio(%) (%) 0.00 c.c.Common 0.00 Deferred Charges not yet Written Down 0.00 Deferred Charges not yet Written Down 0.00 UnbookedAllowance Allowancefor forCredit CreditLosses Losseson on Unbooked Financial Instrument Received 0.00 Financial Instrument Received 0.00

683,837,898.06 683,837,898.06 8,116,816.78 8,116,816.78 143,994,799.84 143,994,799.84 0.00 0.00 835,949,514.68 835,949,514.68 3,625,362,792.71 3,625,362,792.71 -0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 12,900,217.56 12,900,217.56 12,900,217.56 12,900,217.56

STOCKHOLDERS’EQUITY EQUITY STOCKHOLDERS’

2,747,452,659.63 2,747,452,659.63 183,844,587.46 183,844,587.46 397,472,250.10 397,472,250.10 14.47% 14.47% 213,627,662.64 213,627,662.64 7.78% 7.78% 54.25% 54.25% 46.25% 46.25% 45.00 45.00 448,255,839.66 448,255,839.66 16.32% 16.32% 0.00 0.00 0.00% 0.00% 8.99% 8.99% 42.75% 42.75% 3.00% 3.00% 20.67 20.67 19.73 19.73 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Republicofofthe thePhilippines Philippines) ) Republic MakatiCity City s.s.

Makati ) ) s.s.

I/We,RODA RODAL.L.CRUZ CRUZand andIGNACIO IGNACIOA.A.MANIPULA MANIPULAofofthe theabove-mentioned above-mentionedbank bankdo dosolemnly solemnlyswear swearthat thatall allmatters mattersset setforth forthininthe the I/We, abovebalance balancesheet sheetare aretrue trueand andcorrect correcttotothe thebest bestofofmy/our my/ourknowledge knowledgeand andbelief. belief. above RODAL.L.CRUZ CRUZ IGNACIOA. A.MANIPULA MANIPULA RODA IGNACIO FinanceHead Head President&&CEO CEO Finance President th SUBSCRIBEDAND ANDSWORN SWORNtotobefore beforeme methis this15 15th day dayofofOctober October2020 2020atatMakati MakatiCity, City,affiant affiantaffiant affiantexhibiting exhibitinghis/her/their his/her/theirPassport PassportNo. No. SUBSCRIBED P1057056A , issued at DFA NCR EAST on December 01, 2016 and Passport No. P6986875A, issued at DFANCR NCRSouth Southon onApril April30, 30,2018.

2018.

P1057056A , issued at DFA NCR EAST on December 01, 2016 and Passport No. P6986875A, issued at DFA NOTARY PUBLIC NOTARY PUBLIC Doc.No. No.47 47 Doc. PageNo. No. 11 11 Page BookNo. No. 11 11 Book Series of 2020 Series of 2020

CYANMAGENTA MAGENTAYELLOW YELLOWBLACK BLACK CYAN

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

B4 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

San Miguel registered net profit of P15b in 3rd quarter

By Jenniffer B. Austria SAN Miguel Corp. said Thursday it posted a net income of P15 billion in the third quarter, a turnaround from the P4-billion loss it incurred in the first two quarters following the easing of restrictions in July.

“The country has proven its adaptability and resilience in these trying times, and we, in San Miguel Corp., will continue to deliver on our commitment to help the country build back better and stronger as we emerge from this pandemic,” SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said in a statement.

The figure brought San Miguel’s profit in the first nine months to P10.75 billion, down 73 percent from P39.7 billion in the same period last year as net sales declined 30 percent to P531.1 billion from P758.6 billion.

San Miguel Food and Beverage booked a net income of P14.35 billion in the first three quarters, down 37 from the same period last year as net sales weakened 14 percent to P194.5 billion.

Net income from the brewery businesses fell 44 percent from January to September to P11.08 billion after sales volumes decreased 38 percent to 138 million cases.

Net profit from food business dropped 13 percent to P1.55 billion because of the prevailing weakness of poultry prices, slowdown in food service and retail operations and the effects of the African swine fever on commercial feeds.

Net income of liquor unit Ginebra San Miguel Inc. jumped 67 percent to P2.2 billion.

SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. recorded a 27-percent increase in nine-month net income to P14.5 billion even as net sales dipped 16 percent to P87.8 billion.

Petron Corp. booked a net loss of P12.6 billion from January to September this year, a reversal from P3.6-billion net income recorded in the same period last year.

PAFMI backs DA’s plan to ban Dutch poultry shipments

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc. said Thursday it supports the Department of Agriculture’s plan to temporarily ban imports of Dutch poultry products following the recent outbreak of Avian influenza in the Netherlands as reported by RIjksoverheld, the national website of the Dutch government.

Dutch authorities, according to Politico, a foreign news source, “announced a cull of 35,700 broiler chickens after an outbreak of a highly contagious strain of bird flu at a poultry farm in the eastern village of Altforst.”

The report said animals were also being examined for Avian flu in nine other poultry farms within a three-kilometer radius of the affected estate and that a transport ban was imposed in a 10-kilometer zone. The embargo covers poultry, eggs, poultry manure and used bedding and other animals and animal products from poultry farms.

The Netherlands is the biggest supplier of poultry products to the Philippines, followed by Brazil, which also had its exports banned by DA because of the reported presence of COVID-19 particles in shipments exports to China and the US. “The feed milling industry believes that the health and safety of our citizens must never be compromised especially at this time that the country is coping with the challenges of the Covid19 pandemic and the economic difficulties resulting from the worldwide pandemic and the recent typhoons that have wreaked havoc on the country’s agriculture and industries,” said PAFMI executive director Ric Pinca.

The group also called on industry players and consumers to continue to cooperate with the DA in its efforts to prop up and spur agricultural production in the aftermath of the destruction brought about by Typhoon Rolly.

Business Inflation rate in October slightly increased to 2.5%

By Julito G. Rada

I

NFLATION rate in October rose slightly to 2.5 percent from 2.3 percent in September, led by faster increases in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Thursday.

The October print was also faster than the 0.8-percent inflation recorded in October 2019. Inflation rate in the first 10 months settled at 2.47 percent, below the midpoint of the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said the October inflation was within the bank’s forecast range of 1.9 percent to 2.7 percent for the month.

“The latest inflation outturn is consistent with the BSP’s prevailing assessment of favorable inflation dynamics over the policy horizon. The balance of risks continues to lean toward the downside due largely to the impact on domestic and global economic activity of possible deeper economic disruptions caused by the pandemic,” Diokno said in a statement.

He said the Monetary Board would consider the latest inflation outturn together with the upcoming release of the third-quarter GDP data in its assessment of the outlook for inflation and economic activity for the monetary policy meeting on Nov. 19.

“The BSP stands ready to deploy all available measures in its toolkit in fulfillment of its policy mandate as it continues to assess the impact of the global health crisis on the domestic economy,” he said.

The National Economic and Development Authority said there were upside risks from the adverse impact of inclem-

ent weather and the lingering presence of the African swine fever which affected the livestock sector.

“Aside from the ongoing pandemic, the country has been facing adverse weather conditions in the recent months.

Effects of typhoons and La Niña on the agriculture sector and food prices pose upside risks to inflation,” said acting Economic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua.

Latest projections from the Department of Agriculture showed that the supply of key food products would likely remain sufficient until the end of the year. However, agricultural damage may put food supply at risk, and thus put pressure on prices.

“A key strategy for food security and food price stability during uncertain times is to prolong the shelf life of agricultural goods. This may come by way of introducing proper technology and increasing investments in warehouses and cold storage facilities in strategic locations,” the NEDA chief said.

PSE INDEX

Thursday, November 5, 2020

180.72 PTS. 6,644.77

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

5,004,162,925 182,047 10,178,652,690.97 128 73 53

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.3920

Japan

Yen

0.009571

0.4632

UK

Pound

1.299000

62.8612

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128941

6.2397

Switzerland

Franc

1.096011

53.0382

Canada

Dollar

0.761093

36.8308

Singapore

Dollar

0.736648

35.6479

Australia

Dollar

0.717300

34.7116

Bahrain

Dinar

2.657525

128.6029

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266645

12.9035

Brunei

Dollar

0.733945

35.5171

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.032123

1.5545

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.1758

Euro

Euro

1.172600

56.7445

Korea

Won

0.000887

0.0429

China

Yuan

0.150263

7.2715

India

Rupee

0.013447

0.6507

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.240096

11.6187

New Zealand

Dollar

0.669400

32.3936

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035024

1.6949 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF SK Liguasan eyeing Cotabato Basin oil MINDANAO-BASED SK Liguasan Oil and Gas Exploration Corp. passed the documentation requirement to explore Area 9 in the Cotabato Basin, the Department of Energy said Thursday.

The DOE disqualified the application submitted by Banaba Oil and Gas Exploration Corp. for nominated Area 9 under the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program.

PCECP is a transparent petroleum service contract awarding mechanism that allows the government to develop and utilize indigenous petroleum resources under a service contract with qualified local and international exploration companies.

The DOE said following a check made by the PCECP Technical Working Group, the documents of Banaba Oil and Gas application were found incomplete. It said the application of SKLOGC was complete after evaluation by the PCECP TWG. SKLOGC plans to extract the oil and gas deposits in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and Liguasan March.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Republic Cement expects turnaround

PH RESORTS OFFERING . PH Resorts Group Holdings Inc. concludes its follow-on offering with a listing ceremony at the Philippine Stock Exchange. The gaming and hospitality company raised P756 million from the offering. Attending the ceremony are (front row, from left) PHR director Cherylyn Uy and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. president and chief operating officer Alfredo Lim; (second row, from left) PHR president and chief executive Raymundo Martin Escalona, PHR chairman Dennis Uy, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman and chief executive officer Andrea Domingo, PSE president and CEO Ramon Monzon and PSEchief operating officer Roel Refran.

PLDT withdraws SkyCable bid, bares 23% income growth

By Darwin G. Amojelar PLDT Inc. said Thursday it withdrew an offer to acquire the cable company of ABS-CBN Corp. over regulatory issues.

“We have withdrawn from the bidding process for SkyCable. The main reason that we did that [is] on review of Bayanihan Act 2. The PCC [Philippine Competition Commission] has the ability to review merger and acquisitions one year after the effectivity of the act and possibly reverse agreements,” PLDT chairman and president Manuel Pangilinan said in a virtual briefing.

Pangilinan said the PLDT Group was encouraged to acquire SkyCable when the Bayanihan Act 2 was passed into law.

“So, we put an offer to ABS-CBN, but on further review, we’re told that there’s risk of a possible divesting of

us on review starting the second year of the year. That’s the main reason.

There’s nothing beyond that. No other reason,” Pangilinan said.

Under the law, business merger or acquisition agreements may not be consummated without the approval of the PCC, which may reject transactions that prevent, restrict or lessen market competition.

PLDT Group operates direct-broadcast satellite TV provider Cignal TV Inc. which competes with SkyCable.

Cignal TV transmits 121 channels including free-to-air, SD and HD channels to household and commercial venues nationwide. It also offers a mix of 12 audio channels and on-demand service through pay-per-view channels.

SkyCable had nearly 300,000 broadband subscribers and more than 500,000 cable users as of September 2019.

The National Telecommunications Commission earlier ordered ABSCBN Corp. to stop operations following the expiration of its congressional franchise. Republic Act No. 7966, which granted ABS-CBN a 25-year franchise to operate TV and radio broadcasting stations, expired on May 4, 2020.

The Radio Control Law bars the operation of a radio broadcasting station without a franchise from Congress.

Meanwhile, PLDT on Thursday announced a 23-percent growth in net income in the first nine months, boosted by data and broadband businesses.

The country’s largest telco said net income reached P19.7 billion in the nine-month period, up from P15.99 billion in the same period last year.

Third-quarter net income jumped 96.57 percent to P7.47 billion from P3.80 billion a year ago.

REPUBLIC Cement & Buildings Materials Inc., a cement producer led by CHR Plc and the Aboitiz group, said Thursday it expects demand to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2021 as the government resumes infrastructure build-up.

Republic Cement president and chief executive Francis Nabil said while cement demand dropped 15 percent this year as the pandemic slowed down construction activities in the country, demand was expected to reach 35 million metric tons next year.

“Cement demand forecast for 2021 [is expected] to reach 35 million which is more or less the same level as 2019. We are bullish on infrastructure, although we see that there would be some lag in some segments of the construction like malls and office developments,” Nabil said.

Nabil said the company was on track to achieving its target of 9.7 million annual production capacity this year with the expansion of Bulacan and Iligan mills.

Nabil said the company purchased the needed equipment before the pandemic that would enable it to increase production by 2.3 million metric tons. Jenniffer B. Austria

Aboitiz Power allots P24b for 2021 capex ABOITIZ Power Corp. is allocating P24 billion for its 2021 capital expenditures, including investments in coal, battery storage and floating solar, a top executive said Thursday.

“We are looking at P24 billion for existing and new projects like GNPD [GNPower Dinginin], the energy storage projects of TMI [Therma Mobile Inc.], the 49-MW and SNAP’s [SN Aboitiz Power Corp.] 20 MW,” Aboitiz Power president Emmanuel Rubio said in response to questions during the company’s virtual briefing Wednesday night. “[We are] also allocating capex for the 67MW floating solar of SNAP in Magat,” Rubio said. SNAP is the joint venture of Aboitiz Power and SN Power of Norway.

Rubio said Aboitiz Power was committed to helping ensure the reliability, affordability and sustainability of the country’s energy system for the long term.

The company, which set a target of 4,000 MW of attributable capacity by 2020, surpassed this with the ownership of GNPower Dinginin, which will serve the country’s baseload demand. Unit 1 of GNPower Dinginin will synchronize by the end of 2020 and will start commercial operations by the second quarter of 2021. Alena Mae S. Flores

Pag-IBIG to assist victims of typhoon ‘Rolly’

URC’S AWARD. Universal Robina Corp.’s subsidiary in Thailand is named among the ‘Best Companies to Work for in Asia’ for a work culture that values employees as key resources. The award is given by HR Asia, regarded as an authoritative regional publisher on human resources. URC (Thailand) Co. Ltd. is among 38 companies to be recognized out of a field of 138 firms. Matthew Dy (left), human resources director of URC (Thailand) Co. Ltd., receives the award from Virote Sirichanthanont, vice president of government and international relations of the Personnel Management Association of Thailand.

TOP executives of Pag-IBIG Fund said Tuesday they are ready to help members affected by Typhoon Rolly.

“We are ready to help our members affected by Typhoon Rolly with our Calamity Loan Program. In fact, taken together with recent calamities, we have 226,170 affected members who are eligible to borrow a total of P4.4 billion in calamity loans,” said Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, who heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the 11member Pag-IBIG Fund board of trustees.

“We have also begun establishing service desks in areas affected by Typhoon Rolly to bring our services closer to our members to help them apply for a loan. This is in line with the directive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to provide Filipinos with responsive social benefits especially during trying times,” said del Rosario.

Under Pag-IBIG Fund’s Calamity Loan Program, eligible members may borrow up to 80 percent of their total Pag-IBIG Regular Savings, which consist of their monthly contributions, their employer’s contributions and accumulated dividends earned. Qualified borrowers may avail of the calamity loan within 90 days from the declaration of a state of calamity in their area.

Considering the plight of the members, Pag-IBIG Fund is offering the calamity loan at a rate of 5.95 percent per annum—the lowest rate in the market. The loan is payable over a period of 24 months, with the first payment deferred. Initial payment is due on the third month after the loan is released.

“This year, we have already released P3.84 billion in calamity loans to aid 301,391 members affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Taal Volcano eruption and other calamities,” del Rosario said.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

C1

Eala slips to number 3 after losing to Jimenez

By Peter Atencio FILIPINA netter Alex Eala slipped to no. 3 in the world junior rankings this week, after losing to former world no. 1 Victoria Jimenez of Andorra who reached the finals of two tournaments over the last two weeks.

The 15-year-old Eala’s slip came after she decided to play her first women’s tournament in Castellon, Spain and lost to Jimenez.

Jimenez rose to second after she won the junior grade 1 netfest in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and placed runner-up to reigning French Open junior champion Elsa Jacquemot in the Villena juniors.

Overall, Jacquemot leads with 2,517.5 points, with Kasintseva trailing with 2,343.75 points, and Eala in third with 2,148.75 points.

Diane Parry of France is in fourth (1,967.5), followed in fifth by Ukraine’s Dana Snigur (1,930).

Her latest competition comes a week after Eala reached the quarterfinals of the junior division grade 1 tournament in Villena, Spain.

In her first professional outing, Eala pulled off a 6-1, 7-6, victory over Alba Carrillo Marin on Tuesday.

This will be Eala’s second event since making it to the French Open’s Roland Garros Junior semifinals.

Eala is set to face Russia’s Oksana Selekhmeteva in the next round of a tournament that’s held on a clay surface.

The tourney offers prize money totalling $15,000.

This will be Eala’s fourth event in 2020.

Early this year, Eala played in the W15 Monastir tournament in Tunisia in March and then qualified for W15 Melilla main draw in Spain last September.

Barangay Ginebra guard Scottie Thompson (6) attempts a shot from just underneath the goal. Looking on, are from left: Alaska’s Abu Tratter, Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar and Alaska’s Maverick Ahanmi. PBA

Tiu retains Marinduque Online Chess championship SHERWIN Tiu won the 2nd Marinduque Online Chess Tournament last weekend at lichess.org.

The Manila-based Tiu put on a strong start and a stronger finish to take home the top prize P3,000.

“I didn’t look to defend my title, just to play my best,” said Tiu, who honed his chess skills at the famous Guadalupe Chess Club in Guadalupe Mall, Makati City.

Tiu, together with second place Ellan Asuela of Bacolod City and third place Vince Angelo Medina of Quezon City, tallied 9.5 points. However, Tiu took the title by virtue of higher tie break points.

Backed by Marcopper High School Batch 86 headed by Rico Paras of Michigan, USA and Engineer Macario Pelaez of Medina, Misamis, Oriental, the 2nd Marinduque Online Chess Tournament was organized

by Marinduque Chess Association in close cooperation with Philippine Executive Chess Association-PECA president Dr. Alfredo “Fred” Paez.

Meanwhile, former Rizal Technological University chess team mainstay Eduardo Campos Jr. of Caloocan City showed his class by besting his competition in the Jerickpogi Bullet online chess tournament under Knighthood Chess Club Romblon in cooperation with Espana Chess Club Manila and I Love Chess Philippines in an hour and 30 minutes of play on Monday, Nov. 2 at lichess.org.

Campos emerged victorious in the 2+1 time control tournament, 2000 & below category by coming out with a scored 42 points, 3 points ahead of the second placer Mark John Corral of Pasay City. This was his second crown after winning his 1st championship crown last October 14.

According to Dr. Paez, the 2nd Marinduque Online Chess Tournament aims to develop good thinkers through the understanding of chess strategies and tactics, improving the logical abilities and rational thinking and reasoning of the participants, and instilling a sense of self-confidence, self-worth and camaraderie.

Adjudged category winners were Jaymiel Piel (Top Kiddie), Chester Neil Reyes (Top Junior), Joselito Serna (Top Senior), Victor Anas (Top Executive), Jarel Lacambra (Top Lady), Joseph Ricafrente (Top Marinduqueňo) and Aizelle Ricafrente (Top Marinduqueňa).

Barangay Ginebra guard Scottie Thompson (6) attempts a shot from just underneath the goal.

Looking on, are from left: Alaska’s Abu Tratter, Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar and Alaska’s Maverick Ahanmi

Hotshots near berth in PBA Quarterfinals

By Reuel Vidal

B

ACK-TO-BACK games in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup didn’t bother Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok.

The Hotshots looked tired and lethargic early against the Terrafirma Dyip but gained their second wind late in the second period to go on to post a 103-89 rout, yesterday, Thursday, November 5 at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena & Cultural Center Powered by Smart 5G. The Hotshots posted the impressive victory over Terrafirma less than 24 hours after they brought down league-leading TNT Tropang Giga, 102-92, Wednesday.

In the second game Meralco Bolts improved their chance to reach the top 4 after the eliminations and gain a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals with a hard-

earned 85-78 decision over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Magnolia trailed the Dyip up until late in the second quarter when Aris Dionisio drained a three-pointer to push Magnolia ahead, 48-46, with 15 seconds left in the half. The Hotshots padded that lead in the third to go on to the decisive victory.

With the win over the Dyip the Hotshots (4 wins, 4 losses) strengthened their hold on eighth place behind TNT (6-2), Barangay Ginebra (6-2), San Miguel Beermen (5-2), Phoenix Super LPG (53), Meralco (5-3), Rain or Shine (4-3) and Alaska Aces (5 wins, 4 losses).

Outside the top 8 and looking in are NLEX Road Warriors (3-5), Blackwater Elite (2-5), NorthPort Batang Pier (1-6) and Terrafirma Dyip (0-7).

Mark Borboran drilled back-to-back triples which cut the Meralco lead to just 8 points, 82-74, with 1:04 left in the game.

Meralco’s Nard Pinto then turned the ball over off a bad pass and the Elasto Painters got possession with 58 seconds to go.

Norbert Torres made two free throws which cut the Meralco lead down to 6 points with 50 seconds left.

The Bolts had possession but could not run out the clock after the Rain or Shine pressure defense forced the Bolts to burn 2 timeouts with still 41 seconds to go.

Gabe Norwood however bailed the Bolts out of time trouble by committing a foul while going for a steal.

The Elasto Painters were then forced to foul Chris Newsome who drained both free throws to push the Bolts to safety with an 8-point, 84-76, lead with just 32 seconds left.

Free throws by Rain or Shine’s Norbert Torres and Newsome finalized the count at 85-78.

Meralco’s Baser Amer scored 14 points, dished 7 assists and grabbed 6 rebounds to win Player of the Game honors. He said the Bolts are determined to advance deep into the playoffs in the PBA Philippine Cup. “Talagang motivation naming makapasok sa playoffs. Sa last 5 years (of the Philippine Cup) hindi kami nakakapasok. Yun ang motivation namin. So itong game na ito napaka importante talaga dahil gusto naming makapasok sa playoffs,” said Amer.

Nadal claims 1,000th win of career in Paris Masters PARIS, France—Rafael Nadal said he was proud of a “great achievement” after securing the 1,000th Tour-level victory of his illustrious career on Wednesday (Thursday), becoming the fourth man to reach that mark with a comeback win over Feliciano Lopez in the Paris Masters second round.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion, back in the French capital less than a month after winning his 13th Roland Garros title, edged out his fellow Spaniard 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.

“I am proud about a lot of things, but I faced some challenges in my career in terms of body injuries,” said Nadal.

“But I always had the passion to keep going and the humility to keep going when things are going in a way you don’t expect.

“It’s a great achievement for me.”

Nadal, whose first match win on the ATP Tour came in April 2002 when he was just 15, is fourth on the all-time list, with Jimmy Connors leading the way on 1,274 victories, 32 more than secondplaced Roger Federer.

“One negative thing about getting to 1,000—is that you’re very old as it means you have to have had a very long career,” added Nadal.

“But I’m very happy.”

Ivan Lendl also passed the 1,000-win barrier.

Nadal was given a special presentation to celebrate his achievement after the match in a near-empty Bercy Arena, with the event being played behind closed doors after France entered its second coronavirus lockdown last week.

The 34-year-old Nadal, bidding for a first Paris Masters title, will face Jordan Thompson in the third round after the Australian beat Croatia’s Borna Coric 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Taking the trophy in Paris this week would see Nadal equal Novak Djokovic’s record of 36 Masters titles.

He struggled to find his rhythm for much of the match as 39-year-old Lopez served excellently, saving the first six break points he faced, but Nadal stepped it up in the second-set tie-break.

The top seed grabbed the crucial break

Rafael Nadal returns the ball against Feliciano Lopez en route to his one thousandth victory of the ATP on day 3 at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 - Paris Masters. AFP

in the first game of the decider and then eased to victory after saving two break points himself in the next game.

“It was a very tough match,” said Nadal. “I started in the worst way possible with a break. Against him, that’s difficult because you’re under pressure for the

whole match.”

The world number two is playing the tournament for the eighth time in his career, but he pulled out midway through his last two appearances due to injury.

His best run at Bercy was when he lost in the 2007 final to Argentinian David. AFP

Pringle, Barangay Ginebra shred NorthPort’s zone BARANGAY Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings proved to be a difficult team to zone.

This time, Stanley Pringle was not alone.

There were seven other players who joined him in providing the double-digit numbers needed by the Gin Kings to hurdle the NorthPort Batang Pier Wednesday evening.

Together, their efforts played a big role in the Gin Kings’ bid to ward off the Batang Pier at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena & Cultural Center.

“You know, Ginebra has a lot of weapons.

In and out, you have Japeth and Scottie to do the inner works. AJ and Jap, LA and Stanley, and other guys who can shoot from the outside,” said Cone after the Gin Kings beat NorthPort, 112-100.

This allowed the Gin Kings to join the

TNT Tropang Giga in the playoffs with a similar 6-2 win-loss record.

It was Ginebra’s first back-to-back win after their 87-81 beating of the Alaska Aces.

Pringle led the way with 17 points, and he got support from teammates Aljon Mariano, LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, Joe Devance, Scottie Thompson, Prince Caperal and Jeff Chan.

“You need contributions from everybody when you go against the zone,” said Cone.

With their zone defense working wonders the Batang Pier took a 10-point edge in the first quarter, 23-13, off Kevin Ferrer’s three consecutive triples.

In the second period, Ginebra rallied 3332, and moved in front off Aljon Mariano’s layup in the last 7:39.

“And when they are doing that, one person

can’t dominate, because you can’t isolate and go one-on-one in a zone,” Cone said.

In the fourth period, Ginebra went on to outscore their opponents, 18-10, for an 84-75 edge going into the fourth.

A showdown for the no. 1 seeding in the quarterfinals now looms when the Gin Kings meet Tropang Giga on Friday.

But Cone is not worried about this.

“We’re not really worried about top seed.

We’re worried about the top four. That’s what we’re trying to do,” said Cone.

With explosive guard Stanley Pringle leading the way with his 17 points, eight different Gin Kings scored in double-figures, which Cone explained was the result of them taking advantage of NorthPort’s zone defense. Peter Atencio

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

OF THE PHILIPPINES TODAYREPUBLIC FOURTH JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH 34 CALAMBA CITY, LAGUNA

Procedure for Insolvent Debtors of 2015 (A.M. No. 15-04-06-SC dated 21 April 2015) or the “FLSP Rules”: Exhibit

Description

A

Directors/Stockholders/Secretary Certificate dated 5 October 2020 which contains – (a) a certificate attesting to the holding of a meeting of the Board of Directors of the petitioner called for the purpose and the approval during the meeting of a resolution to file the petition, signed by the secretary of the meeting and by all the members of the Board; and (b) a certificate attesting to the holding of a meeting of the stockholders of the petitioner called for the purpose and the approval during the meeting of a resolution to file the petition by the stockholders holding one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding capital stock of the petitioner, signed by the chairman and the secretary of the meeting

B

Certification of Incorporation dated 19 March 2009, Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, and other attachments

C

Certificate of Filing of Amended Articles of Incorporation dated 3 August 2009, Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation, and other attachments

D

Certificate of Filing of Amended Articles of Incorporation dated 30 March 2011, Amended Articles of Incorporation

E

Certificate of Approval of Increase of Capital Stock dated 30 March 2011, Certificate of Increase of Capital Stock and Amended Articles of Incorporation, and other attachments

F

Certificate of Filing of Amended Articles of Incorporation dated 30 June 2014, Amended Articles of Incorporation, and other attachments

G

General Information Sheet (2020)

H

Schedule of Debts and Liabilities

I

Schedule of Potential Claims

2 Section 90. Voluntary Liquidation. - An insolvent debtor may apply for liquidation by filing a petition for liquidation with the court. The petition shall be verified, shall establish the insolvency of the debtor and shall contain, whether as an attachment

J

Schedule of Current Income and Expenditures

or as part of the body of the petition;

K

Statement of Financial Position as of September 30, 2020

SPECIAL COMMERCIAL COURT PETITION FOR VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION OF INSOLVENT JURIDICAL DEBTOR SEC CASE NO. 152-2020-C LE SOLEIL SHIPPING AGENCIES, INC., Petitioner. x--------------------------------------------------------------x

L IQU ID A T IO N O R D E R

Before the Court is a verified Petition for declaration of voluntary liquidation of petitioner Le Soleil Shipping Agencies, Inc. filed on October 15, 2020.

A perusal of the instant Petition would show that it complied with the requirements of Section 4, Rule 2(B) of the Financial Liquidation and Suspension of Payments Rule of Procedure of Insolvent Debtors (2015) issued 1 Supreme Court pursuant to Section 6, 1 Chapter I of Republic Act No. by the (RA) 10142, otherwise known as the “Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act (FRIA) of 2010.”

In support of its Petition, the petitioner submitted and appended the following documents required under Section 90, 2 Chapter V of RA 10142 or FRIA Law, to wit: 1. Directors/Stockholders/Secretary Certificate (Exhibit A) Section 6. Designation of Courts and Promulgation of Procedural Rules. - The Supreme Court shall designate the Court or Courts that will hear and resolve cases brought under this Act and shall promulgate the rules of pleading, practice and procedure to govern the proceedings brought under this Act. 1

(a)

a schedule of the debtor’s debts and liabilities including a list of creditors with their addresses, amounts of claims and collaterals, or securities, if any;

L

Inventory of Assets

(b)

an inventory of all its assets including receivables and claims against third parties; and

M

Properties Acquired

(c)

the names of at least three (3) nominees to the position of liquidator.

N

Schedule of Disposed Properties

2. Certificate of Incorporation dated March 19, 2009 and Articles of Incorporation (Exhibit B)

O

Schedule of Debtor’s Executory Contracts

P

Audited Financial Statements for 2019

3. Certificate of Filing of Amended Articles of Incorporation dated August 3, 2009 and Amended Articles of Incorporation (Exhibit C)

Q

Audited Financial Statements for 2018

R

Audited Financial Statements for 2017

4. Certificate of Filing of Amended Articles of Incorporation dated March 30, 2011 and Amended Articles of Incorporation (Exhibit D)

S

Income Tax Return for 2019

5. Certificate of Approval of Increase in Capital Stock dated March 30, 2011, Certificate of Increase of Capital Stock and Amended Articles of Incorporation (Exhibit E) 6. Certificate of Filing of Amended Articles of Incorporation dated June 30, 2014 and Amended Articles of Incorporation (Exhibit F)

8. Nominees for Liquidator. Petitioner hereby submits three (3) nominees for the position of liquidator, with their respective resumes attached as follows: Exhibit

8. Schedule of Debts and Liabilities (Exhibit H)

T

Resume of Mr. Jeson G. Marcial

U

Resume of Mr. Alfredo B. Javier

V

Resume of Mr. Fernando C. Castro

9. Schedule of Potential Claims (Exhibit I) 10. Schedule of Current Income and Expenditure (Exhibit J) 11. Statement of Financial Position as of September 30, 2020 (Exhibit K)

Description

9. Pursuant to Supreme Court A.M. No. 04-02-04-SC dated 5 October 2016, petitioner hereby declares that: (a) total assets amount to PHP23,399,369.52, but cash and cash equivalents are only PHP686,717.89 versus current liabilities of PHP2,189,522.29 (Exhibit L – Inventory of Assets);

12. Inventory of Assets (Exhibit L) 13. Properties Acquired (Exhibit M) 14. Schedule of Disposed Properties (Exhibit N) 15. Schedule of Debtor’s Executory Contracts (Exhibit O) 16. Audited Financial Statements for 2019 (Exhibit P)

(b) total monetary claims, consisting of total debts and liabilities as well as potential claims, amount to around PHP128,280,667.54, broken down as follows: (i)

total debts and liabilities of PHP2,189,522.29 (Exhibit H – Schedule of Debts and Liabilities);

(ii)

potential monetary claims of Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. against petitioner for disallowed disbursements, unpaid detention charges, and unbilled disbursement of around USD2,000,000.00 or PHP96,910,600.00, using the 7 October 2020 exchange rate of PHP48.4553 to USD 1.00 (Exhibit I – Schedule of Potential Claims);

17. Audited Financial Statements for 2018 (Exhibit Q) 18. Audited Financial Statements for 2017 (Exhibit R) 19. Income Tax Return for 2019 (Exhibit S) 20. Resume of Mr. Jeson G. Marcial (Exhibit T) 21. Resume of Mr. Alfredo B. Javier (Exhibit U) 22. Resume of Mr Fernando C. Castro (Exhibit V) The petitioner from its Petition has shown that it was organized under Philippine laws as a shipping agent for its sole principal, Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd., based in Hong Kong. However, due to the onset of the current health pandemic it incurred a loss in the amount of P2,812,119.92 as of September 30, 2020, and that it only has P686,717.89 in cash while facing current liabilities of P2, 189, 522.29. Exacerbating its situation is that its total debts and liabilities with potential claims amounts to a staggering P128,280,667. 54 vis-ả-vis its assets which are only worth a total value of P23,399,369.52 . Worse , this dire situation will deepen due to foreseeable negligible service revenue from its sole principal whose business is negatively impacted by the current coronavirus pandemic due to limited commerce and restricted movement of goods .

After a close review and perusal of the Petition and the documents submitted by the petitioner, the Court, in the exercise of its discretion, is convinced and hereby finds that petitioner is indeed insolvent Petitioner’s financial condition shows as it duly asserted that it cannot anymore service the payment of its current liabilities as they fall due in the ordinary course of business and that its liabilities are clearly much greater than its assets. Petitioner’s total current assets is only P23,399,369.52 3 while its total debts and liabilities with potential claims amount to P128.280,667 54 4 Clearly, the outstanding liabilities of petitioner far exceed its total assets. Therefore, as defined under section 4 (p)5, Chapter I of RA 10142, the petitioner is undoubtedly insolvent.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the instant Petition is hereby GRANTED. The Court hereby DECLARES petitioner LE SOLEIL SHIPPING AGENCIES, INC. to be INSOLVENT. Accordingly, the Court hereby Declares, Pronounces and Rules on the following, to wit: (a) The Court ORDERS the liquidation of the LE SOLEIL SHIPPING AGENCIES, INC. which is hereby DECLARED as DISSOLVED : (b) The Court’s Branch Sheriff, Reydan Custer D. Casama, is hereby ORDERED to take possession and control of all the properties of petitioner LE SOLEIL SHIPPING AGENCIES, INC., except those that may be exempt from execution; (c) The petitioner is ORDERED to PUBLISH within 15 days from receipt hereof the instant Liquidation Order with a copy of its verified Petition in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks; (d) All the creditors of LE SOLEIL SHIPPING AGENCIES, INC. are DIRECTED to make payments of any and all claims and conveyance of any property due the petitioner LE SOLEIL SHIPPING AGENCIES , INC. to the Liquidator---after the Liquidator shall have been appointed: (e) From the issuance of this Liquidation Order, petitioner LE SOLEIL SHIPPING AGENCIES, INC. is PROHIBITED from making any payments and transfer any of its properties; (f) All creditors are DIRECTED to FILE their respective claims with the Liquidator not later than five (5) days from the time the Liquidator takes his oath of office---after he or she shall have been appointed---and furnishing a copy thereof to the Court; (g) Petitioner LE SOLEIL SHIPPING AGENCIES, INC. is hereby AUTHORIZED to PAY the Administrative Expenses as they become due.

3

Inventory of Assets of the Company, Exhibit “L”.

4

Schedule of Debts and Liabilities. Exhibit “H.” and Schedule of Potential Claims, Exhibit “I”.

5

(p) Insolvent shall refer to the financial condition of a debtor that is generally unable to pay its or his liabilities as they

fall due in the ordinary course of business or has liabilities that are greater than its or his assets

(h) The creditors who are not petitioners of the instant Petition may submit the names of other nominees to the position of the Liquidator; and (i) The instant Petition shall be set for hearing for the election and appointment of the Liquidator thirty (30) days after the second and last publication of this Liquidation Order with the verified Petition.

SO ORDERED. Calamba City. Laguna, October 28, 2020.

MARIA FLORENCIA B. FORMES-BACULO

Presiding Judge

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES FOURTH JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT CALAMBA CITY, LAGUNA, BRANCH 34

PETITION FOR LIQUIDATION OF JURIDICAL DEBTOR

VOLUNTARY INSOLVENT SPECIAL PROCEEDING NO. SEC 152-2020-C

LE SOLEIL SHIPPING AGENCIES, INC., Petitioner. x----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x

PETITION Petitioner LE SOLEIL SHIPPING AGENCIES, INC., by counsel, respectfully states: 1. Petitioner.Petitioner is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines with Company Registration No. CS200904337 and Company TIN 007-267-292. It has an authorized capital stock of 500,000 common shares, with par value of P100 per share, with total amount of P50 million. It has a fully paid-up subscribed capital of 200,000 shares, with total amount of P20 million.

2. Venue. Petitioner has principal office at 888 B. Sabak St., Magsaysay Rd., San Antonio, San Pedro City, Laguna. However, considering that there is no Special Commercial Court in San Pedro City and pursuant to Supreme Court Resolution dated 21 June 2016, which amended A.M. No. 03-03-03-SC dated 17 June 2003, this petition is filed with the Special Commercial Court inCalamba City, which is the nearest Special Commercial Court to the petitioner within the Fourth Judicial Region.

3. Counsel of Record. The undersigned counsel enters its appearance for the petitioner and requests that it be furnished all papers and processes in this case at its address below.

4. Nature of Business. Petitioner is engaged in the general business of shipping agent, providing marine services as the exclusive agent of its sole principal, Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd., with business address at #2801, One Island East, 18 Westlands Road, Island East, Hong Kong.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

Sports

PH athletes’ allowances back to 100% T

HE monthly allowances of national athletes and coaches are expected to revert back to 100 percent—after they were slashed in half since July because of the Covid-19 pandemic—starting next week, according to Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

7. Exhibits B, C, D, E, F, G, P, Q, R, and S are all faithful reproductions of the originals. Exhibits A, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, and O are all originals and they contain complete and correct information.

7. General Information Sheet (2020) (Exhibit G)

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(iii) unclaimed customer deposits of PHP27,680,545.25 (Exhibit I – Schedule of Potential Claims); and (iv) claims of employees, whose employments end during insolvency proceedings, of around PHP1,500,000.00 (Exhibit I – Schedule of Potential Claims).

10. This petition is filed with utmost good faith and not in fraud of any creditor. Petitioner and its stockholders, directors, and officers have not, directly or indirectly, concealed or fraudulently sold or disposed of any properties or rights of action, and they have not compounded with any creditors or accepted any profit or advantage from them.

RELIEF 11. Petitioner prays that the Honorable Court find this petition to be sufficient in form and substance, and thereafter issue, within ten (10) working days from the date of filing of this petition, a Liquidation Order pursuant to Section 2, Rule 4 (A) of the FLSP Rules, which shall – (a) declare the petitioner insolvent; (b) declare the petitioner dissolved; (c) order the sheriff to take possession and control of all the property of the petitioner, except those that may be exempt from execution; (d) order the publication of the Liquidation Order, together with the petition, in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks; (e) direct payments of any claims and conveyance of any property due the petitioner to the liquidator; (f) prohibit payments and the transfer of any property by the petitioner; (g) direct all creditors to file their claims with the liquidator not later than five (5) days from the time the liquidator takes his oath of office, furnishing a copy thereof to the court; (h) authorize the payment of administrative expenses as they become due; (i) state that the petitioner may submit the names of other nominees to the position of liquidator, should the present nominees will not qualify for or accept the position; and (j) set the case for hearing for the election and appointment of the liquidator, which date shall not be less than thirty (30) days nor more than forty-five (45) days from the date of the last publication.

12. Petitioner prays that the Honorable Court conduct relevant proceedings and approve a fair and reasonable Liquidation Plan.

13. Petitioner prays that the Honorable Court issue (a) an order approving a Final Report of the liquidator and directing the removal of the name of the petitioner from the register of legal entities of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other government agencies, and (b) an order terminating these proceedings upon receipt of evidence showing that the petitioner has been removed from the SEC’s registry of legal entities.

14. Petitioner prays for other equitable relief.

Muntinlupa City for Calamba City, 7 October 2020.

ANCHETA Attorneys-at-Law Ancheta Jimenez Inocencio & Calleja Counsel for Petitioner 8th Floor, Page 1 Building 1215 Acacia Avenue, Madrigal Business Park Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City 1780 T: 8835-7412; M: 0995-4195490 ANCHETA.Attorneys@gmail.com www.ancheta.com.ph By: REMIGIO MICHAEL A. ANCHETA II PTR No. MCF 3734339; 01-02-20; Muntinlupa IBP Lifetime Roll No. 05578; Ilocos Norte Roll of Attorneys No. 45304 MCLE Compliance No. VI-0023508; valid until 04-14-22

AZANITH ANN B. PAYAD PTR No. MCF 3873898; 07-28-20; Muntinlupa IBP No. 126122; 07-28-20: Makati City Roll of Attorneys No. 75386 MCLE Exempted (MCLE Governing Board Order No. 1, S. 2008) VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION AGAINST FORUM SHOPPING I, EUGENIO SALVA YNION, JR., of legal age, Filipino, with address at 888 B. Sabak St., Magsaysay Road, San Antonio, San Pedro, Laguna, hereby state under oath that: 1. I am the authorized representative of the petitioner in this case (see Exhibit A) and it is in such capacity that I have caused the preparation of this petition for voluntary liquidation.

Tolentino said the passing of the Bayanihan Act 2 provides for the country’s sports program that was momentarily sacrificed as government channeled funds to the anti-pandemic campaign.

“This is good news for our athletes who have become anxious and even lost their focus during the pandemic. With their allowances back to normal, they can now concentrate on their training,” said Tolentino, who profusely helped push for the Bayanihan Act 2 in Congress.

Tolentino said the Bayanihan Act 2

provides P180 million for the national team members allowances.

“And that’s retroactive from July,” said Tolentino, adding the athletes and coaches will receive the 50 percent that was cut from their allowances when the Philippine Sports Commission’s budget for the year was channeled to the pandemic efforts.

Tolentino also said each of the athletes and coaches will receive a one-time P5,000 pandemic assistance.

“The funds are now with the PSC and we expect the allowances to be back to normal on the next pay day for the athletes and coaches,” Tolentino said.

The national team members under the PSC’s care include 996 athletes, 262 coaches, 280 para athletes and 82 para coaches. The total monthly payroll is P41 million.

“It pains me and the POC, and even the PSC, to see the athletes and coaches suffer.

After their historic and impressive performance in the 30th SEA Games where we emerged as overall champions, the athletes and coaches deserve nothing less,” Tolentio said.

POC president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

Honda achieves 800th FIM World Championship GP win HONDA Moto3 rider Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing NSF250RW) claimed victory in the Moto3 class, in Round 12 of the 2020 FIM World Championship Grand Prix held at MotorLand Aragón in Spain.

Beginning with its first world grand prix race in 1961, in the 125cc class of the Spanish Grand Prix, Honda has now achieved an unprecedented 800 grand prix wins.

In 1954, Honda’s founder Soichiro Honda declared entry into the premier motor sports event of the time, the Isle of Man TT, aiming to “realize the dream of becoming the world’s best.” After five years of developing a racing machine, Honda became the first Japanese motorcycle manufacturer to enter the Isle of Man TT race. The following year, in 1960, Honda began competing in the 125cc and 250cc classes of the FIM Road Racing World Championship, and in 1961, Tom Phillis won the season-opening Spanish Grand Prix, giving Honda its first victory. Since then, Honda forayed into the 50cc and 350cc classes in 1962, and the 500cc class in 1966, and won the championship in all five classes in 1966. By the end of the 1967 season, when Honda paused its factory racing activities, to be restarted 11 years later, it had accumulated 138 grand prix wins.

In 1979, Honda returned to FIM Road

Racing World Championship racing in the 500cc class. Three years later in 1982, American rider Freddie Spencer won Round 7 in Belgium on his Honda NS500, giving the company its first victory since returning to world grand prix racing. Honda then went on to win grand prix races in the 125cc and 250cc classes as well.

As a result, Honda achieved its 500th victory in 2001, when Italian rider Valentino Rossi won in the 500cc class at the seasonopening Japan Grand Prix. In 2015, Marc Márquez on his Honda RC213V gave Honda its 700th grand prix win when he took the checkered flag in the MotoGP class of Round 10 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana, USA. Takahiro Hachigo, President, CEO and Representative Director, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. “I am proud of Honda’s 800th FIM World Championship Grand Prix victory.

I am deeply grateful to the Honda fans worldwide for their contributions to, and unwavering support for Honda’s racing activities. I would also like to thank all of those before us for their passion and dedication to overcome the countless problems and lead us from 1959 to where we stand now.

Honda sees this moment as a waypoint, and will continue to fight for victory. We look forward to your continued support.”

2. I read this petition, the factual contents of which are true and correct based on my personal knowledge or based on authentic records at hand.

3. I have not heretofore commenced any action or filed any claim involving the same issues in this petition in any court, tribunal, or quasi-judicial agency, and to the best of my knowledge, no such other action or claim is pending therein.

4. If I should hereafter learn that the same or similar action or claim has been filed or is pending, I shall report such fact within five (5) days from knowledge thereof to the court.

Jaume Masia and his NSF250RW give Honda its 800th win.

EUGENIO SALVA YNION JR. SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this October 7, 2020, affiant exhibiting to me the following competent evidence of his identity: Philippine Passport P6350364A issued by DFA Manila on March 10, 2018 and valid until March 9, 2028.

5. Insolvent Condition. Petitioner can no longer pay its liabilities as they fall due in the ordinary course of business, including salaries of employees. For the nine months period ending 30 September 2020, total expenses have far exceeded total revenue, resulting in a net loss of PHP2,812,119.92(Exhibit J). Cash and cash equivalents are only PHP686,717.89 versus current liabilities of PHP2,189,522.29 (Exhibits H and K). Total monetary claims, consisting of total debts and liabilities as well as potential claims, amount to around PHP128,280,667.54 (Exhibit I). This situation will get worse given the negligible service revenue from its sole principal, Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.Both principal and its exclusive agent, herein petitioner, are negatively impacted by the limited commerce and restricted movement due to the coronavirus pandemic.

6. Documentary Requirements. Petitioner submits the following requirements in support of this petition,which are all made integral partshereof, pursuant to the Financial Liquidation and Suspension of Payments Rules of

(MS-NOV. 6 & 13, 2020)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Entertainment How Marian’s ‘Tadhana’ evolved into a bigger platform showcasing interesting stories of Filipinos VERY WANG

W

Reluctant host Marian Rivera shares how drama anthology ‘Tadhana’ has evolved into a bigger platform that showcases the struggles and victories of every Filipino.

NICKIE WANG

HEN Marian Rivera Dantes received the offer to host the drama anthology Tadhana, she immediately asked her management why she was being handpicked to do the project. She felt that she wasn’t fit for the job but was thankful for the opportunity.

“Looking back when the project was first offered to me, I asked the management, ‘why me?’ I don't know how to do hosting. Now, we are celebrating our third year, nakakataba ng puso na ganun ang pagtanggap ng tao sa programa,” Marian told Manila Standard Entertainment during a virtual presscon held this week.

The award-winning drama anthology program hosted by the screen star is celebrating its 3rd anniversary with month-long specials airing every Saturday afternoon beginning tomorrow.

And according to Marian, it’s just the start of more exciting things to come.

“I love my Tadhana family and despite the situation we are in, we can still tape at home. That’s a good thing because the show provides job. Maraming nagaganap sa likod ng Tadhana at masaya ako na nakakapagtrabaho sila na ligtas,” the 36-year-old screen star and mother-oftwo said.

Tadhana started off as a platform that showcases stories of overseas Filipino workers’ challenges and sacrifices working in a foreign land, all the while facing the struggles of being homesick across the world in the hope of the loved ones' better future.

This year, Tadhana not only offers viewers bigger luggage containing true stories of adventure, hope, dreams, and sometimes even the challenges being faced by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Exciting and a wider array of stories of struggles, trials, and triumphs of ordinary Filipinos that will inspire and give valuable life lessons also await

the public.

“Before, Tadhana featured OFW stories now, it has evolved, kwento na ito ng mga Pilipino. We wanted to share more stories that can inspire viewers,” Marian explained.

Kicking off the series of anniversary specials on Nov. 7 and 14 is “The One That Ran Away.” The two-part episode features the story of Hannah who is scheduled to get married to an architect named Carlo. However, as fate would have it, she crosses paths with Jared who is the substitute wedding photographer for their prenup pictorial. What important role did Jared play in a chapter of Hannah’s past that has remained unfinished and unclosed? The episode features guest celebrities Kim Molina, Paolo Contis,

Edgar Allan Guzman, Dave Bornea, and Didong.

On Nov. 21 and 28, Tadhana features "55 (Hindi pa Huli ang Umibig)." This two-part episode, on the other hand, tells the story of middle-aged, perennial widow Cordelia, and a mysterious young man, Ramil, who will try to make her fall in love again. Will a ‘May-December’ love affair bloom in the midst of the pandemic? Guest celebrities include Cherie Gil, Jon Lucas, Rochelle Pangilinan, Aira Bermudez, and Cecil Paz. Tadhana’s month-long 3rd anniversary special is directed by Rember Gelera. It airs every Saturday before Wish Ko Lang! on GMA Network.

PPO performs ‘Music for Healing’ THE Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra continues to render online performances through the Music for Healing: PPO in Quarantine Pocket Concert Series to uplift the minds and hearts of Filipinos in the midst of the quarantine period. One of the three pocket concerts, namely, PPO By Your Side, streams tonight at 8:00 through the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ website.

PPO By Your Side features the following pieces, among them, “Songs My Mother Taught Me (Als Die Alte Mutter)” by Antonín Dvorák to be played by Gerry Graham Gonzales (Cello), Rommel Camba (Piano); “The Swan (Le Cygne)”

by Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns to be interpreted by Herrick Ortiz (Cello); “The Girl with the Flaxen Hair (La fille aux cheveux de lin)” by Claude Debussy to be performed by Giuseppe Andre Diestro (Cello), Dr. Michelle Nicolasora (Piano); and “Cantabile in D Major Op. 17” by Niccolò Paganini to be rendered

by Giancarlo Gonzales (Cello).

The Music for Healing: PPO in

Quarantine Pocket Concert Series is an ongoing program of the PPO which can be viewed from the PPO FB page and the CCP YouTube as platforms. Initially intended as an online music offering to Filipinos who are recuperating in their beds either from hospitals or from their own homes as therapy to aid in their total healing, it also aims to accompany the whole family in coping with the pandemic situation and the frontliners who bravely provide their

services to fellow countrymen in need.

PPO in Quarantine Pocket Concert Series had its premiere on July 3 with 12 musical numbers in the playlist recorded by PPO musicians from their homes especially intended for the sick Filipinos under PPO by your Bedside program. The series offers two other programs, the PPO in Your Workplace pocket concert and the PPO in Your Living Room pocket concert.

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

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Fil-Am host lauded for giving equal space for both Trump and Biden supporters THESE days you have to mute people to hear yourself speak. And the presidential debates committee is taking a cue from a Fil-Am Media Pioneer who recognized the need to time and mute one side to hear the speakers’ thoughts.

Many webinars are of people of the same organization or belief talking to one another. It’s Attendees of #SoJannelle (clockwise, from left) Jannelle like preaching to the choir So, Marie Cunning, Lila Shahani, Rodel Rodis, and Rudy or selling to those who Asercion already bought in.

LA-based TV Host presidential administrations. Rudy Asercion Jannelle So recognized this early on and serves as Commissioner for the Veterans War worked to create a space where we can all Memorial Commission, and is an elected share insights, listen to one another, and maybe Delegate to the California Republican Party. even learn from each other last Saturday, Rodel Rodis is an activist and civil rights October 17th, through a live webinar on her lawyer who has been practicing since 1981, Facebook page @SoJannelle. and is the first Filipino American elected to In a time of contentious debate where public office (San Francisco Community even family and friends don’t see eye to College Board). eye, it’s important to remember to still listen Questions were flashed on slides to and give space to hear people’s voices, allow viewers to follow the discussion opinions, and preferences. easily. People who wanted to interact or ask One of the attendees, Gus Mercado of questions sent them to the production team Texas said, “It was a great debate, yes upon registration. contentious at times, but always civil and Another viewer, Ve Fenix, said, “The no personal insults exchanged — a credit to discussion nearing debate was truly all four panelists and the very professional enlightening! Questions were well and fair moderator Jannelle So (cable news structured! Trump and Biden’s debate moderators cannot hold a candle to Jannelle, should be more like what you did!

I mean it!). After all, the protagonists are Maraming salamat, Jannelle! Mabuhay @ good personal friends. Most of the panelists SoJannelle and AARP!” were very well informed of the issues and AARP California partnered with So spoke out of conviction not out of spite. Jannelle Productions for the non-partisan This “model” debate among FilAms will civic engagement event. Joe Garbanzos, be remembered for a long time.”

AARP California’s Executive Council With prepared questions about COVID-19, Member, reminded viewers that about 230 Transparency and National Security, Taxes million Americans will be eligible to vote and Economy, Racial Equity, and Pro-Life in what many say is the most important Issues, So asked two speakers from FilAm election in recent history. And that AARP supporters of Biden, Lila Shahani and Rodel is fighting to protect voters 50 plus and Rodis and two speakers from FilAms for make their voice heard on the issues Trump Rudy Asercion and Marie Cunning that matter most to them like, protecting to speak on why they’re supporting their Social Security and Medicare, lowering candidate and what they want viewers to prescription drug prices, and ensuring they remember about their choice. can vote safely from home or in-person.

Marie Cunning is the National President Dignitaries like Former US Ambassador of the Federation of Philippine American to the Philippines, Harry K. Thomas and Chambers of Commerce (FPACC), and Former US Ambassador John Maisto Vice Chair of Arizona Asian American were among the attendees along with Republican Coalition. Lila Shahani is the community leaders like Loida Lewis, former Secretary General of the Philippine Rocio Nuyda and Gloria Caoile joined Commission to UNESCO. Prior to her being among 200 Zoom registrants from across a doctoral candidate at Oxford University the States and around the world. The today, she worked for the Philippine Livestream has garnered over 1,300 views government for 13 years under three different as of this writing.

A renaissance man

Meet the specialist behind the smartphone-linked stethoscope used by doctors treating COVID-19 cases DR. JASTISSE “Jast” Arnaldo T. Tejada III, 31, a cardiologist, innovator, and researcher, is a renaissance man.

As part of the team who invented the life-changing Stemoscope (a smartphonelinked, ultra-modern stethoscope), one would think he has stayed in the confines of a laboratory most of his life.

But Dr. Tejada’s curious, imaginative side has always pushed him to explore his varied skills.

A graduate of the University of Perpetual Help Jonelta Foundation School of Medicine in Las Piñas City, he grew up having a doctor for a grandmother.

Dr. Tejada recalls, “Growing up in the province, I saw how my grandmother helped and changed the lives of the poor people through innovation. Since there are limited medical resources and equipment in the province, I saw my grandmother improvise things that can help her practice and can help her patients.

“That is my inspiration to become an innovator and a doctor for the poor.”

The propensity to live in service runs in his blood—but so is the propensity to create.

A well-rounded student, the young Dr. Tejada was very much captivated by the arts. His earliest memory of entertaining his aesthetic side was him being fascinated

Dr. Jastisse “Jast” Arnaldo T. Tejada III, (inset) an image of Stemoscope PRO

with Lego because, he says, “You can create anything with those blocks.”

In fact, his love for the arts continuously grew deeper, so much so, that he competed in regional and national art competitions several times.

And while he was in medical school, he took up a stint as a part-time art teacher. “I really think there is a relationship between being an artist and being an inventor/ designer because in both professions, you will come up with masterpieces.”

Stemoscope is available on Lazada and Shoppee while Stemoscope Pro was launched in the US on Nov. 5 via Indiegogo (https://igg.me/at/stemopro). For more information about the product please visit the Facebook page Stemoscope Ph, or the website www.stemoscope.com/ph. Read full story on manilastandard.net

Celebrating 20 years of music with MYX channel

Myx VJs Robi Domingo, Ai dela Cruz, Edward Barber, Ylona Garcia, Anton Fausto, Aya Fernandez, and Dani Mortel.

OPM artists and former VJs look back on their favorite MYX moments as the country’s number one music channel marks 20 years of bringing music and entertainment this November through a month-long celebration dubbed “MYX20.”

To mark the occasion, MYX will be streaming MYXclusive interviews with various local artists on Facebook and YouTube.

Apart from Daniel Padilla, Quest, Christian Bautista, Sponge Cola, Dicta License, and Moonstar88 who already

disclosed their favorite MYX stories early this week, Ben&Ben, Callalily, Ebe Dancel, Gary Valenciano, Gloc-9, Shanti Dope, Hale, James Reid, Nadine Lustre, Jay R, Kyla, KZ, Lea Salonga, Martin Nievera.

Mayonnaise, Moira dela Torre, Parokya ni Edgar, Rico Blanco, Sandwich, SB19, and 6cyclemind are slated to talk about their memorable experiences with the music channel.

Former VJs including Luis Manzano, Nikki Gil, Chino Lui Pio, Robi Domingo, Edward Barber, Donny Pangilinan, Sunny Kim, Sharlene San Pedro, and

Inigo Pascual are likewise reliving their MYX journey together with VJs Ai dela Cruz and Samm Alvero.

Also part of the “MYX20” anniversary celebration are throwback specials that will be aired on the MYX channel. Watch the all-star “MYX Mo!” concerts every night at 9:00 p.m. until November 14 and the four-part “MYX Homecoming: VJs Reunion” every Sunday at 4:00 p.m..

In addition, the music channel will revisit some of its most memorable events and moments on the “MYX20” special

that will be streamed on Nov. 20.

MYX, which began airing on Nov. 20, 2000, rose to prominence for its engaging VJs and endearing shows featuring mustwatch music videos, daily charts, exclusive interviews with local and international artists, and extraordinary musical events.

Currently airing on SKYcable, the channel has a strong following on social media, with 6.7 million followers on Twitter, 1.26 million subscribers on YouTube, 533K followers on Instagram, and 8.3 million followers on Facebook.

Life

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

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TRAVEL & LEISURE

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

The hotel’s executive chef David Patterson

O

NE of the many reasons why I like this hotel-by-thesea is its continuous stream of new offerings to the public.

I remember that, before this pandemic set in, I was always at Conrad Manila witnessing the launch or the opening of its many delightful social and food and beverage events. Now that quarantine restrictions have eased up, the hotel is at it again, with exciting new developments.

To me, this de luxe property has become synonymous with the joys of life!

The hotel recently introduced its incoming general manager, the affable Linda Pecoraro, who previously occupied the same position at the Hilton Kota Kinabalu. Being a part of the luxury chain’s drive to empower women in leadership, Pecoraro is determined to further elevate Conrad Manila’s standing in our country’s hospitality industry.

With her more than 20 years’ experience, I am sure there will soon be exciting innovations in the hotel’s operations. I had the privilege of breaking bread recently with this cheerful lady and, while listening to her discuss plans for the hotel, I couldn’t help but also get carried away by her excitement.

Although the hotel’s previous general managers, Harald Feurstein and Laurent Boistron, both did very well in building the stature that Conrad Manila has now, I am sure the much-heralded “lady’s touch” of a female boss will prove to further bolster the hotel’s lofty position.

The other “good news” from the hotel is the reopening of its main restaurant, the award-winning Brasserie on 3, which now offers “Feast of Flavors,” a wide selection of culinary favorites carefully chosen by the energetic and friendly Executive Chef Daniel Patterson. He has laid out a mouth-watering array of impressive flavorful delights in three sections—the Asian Favorites, The Grill, and the Pizza-Pasta, for dine-in customers to choose their main course from.

The Asian Favorites section includes Singaporean Laksa, Ox-tail Kare-Kare, and the restaurant’s signature Beef Bulalo. The Grill offers Wagyu Beef Burger, Organic Chicken, and Sirloin Steak, among others. Pizza-Pasta features Truffle Four Cheese, Chicken Pesto

What’s new at Conrad Manila

The imposing façade of Conrad Manila.

Conrad Manila’s incoming general manager Linda Pecoraro

Flatbread Pizza, Fettuccine Carbonara, and Spaghetti Bolognese.

To conform to the required health and safety protocols, the restaurant makes available to the guests a digital menu which can be viewed by scanning a QR code, for contactless ordering, as the usual buffet set-up in any restaurant is no longer allowed. The customers will have to give their choices to the wait staff, then Chef Patterson’s kitchen team will prepare them and have them delivered to the customers’ table. Other stringent measures in place, to ensure everybody’s well-being, include the physical distancing set-up on the tables and the use of acrylic table barriers.

Furthermore, it is very reassuring that Conrad Manila employs a Hygiene and Services Manager who ensures that each dish is prepared in compliance with the highest global and Hilton standards. The Food and Beverage staff is mandated to undergo daily health checks and observe stringent hygiene practices at all times.

Another very interesting new feature offered by the hotel is its “Meetings To Go” Package. This is a unique and pioneering initiative which caters to those attending virtual events, making it easy for them to go on with their business discussions while enjoying the perks of a de luxe hotel.

When the host of an online event avails of this package, each virtual attendee gets a box, delivered to where he/ she is. The box contains an eco-tumbler, handcrafted bamboo utensils, and the hotel’s signature takeaway Hot Box meal specially prepared by the very creative Executive Chef Patterson.

You will find this Hot Box very interesting and definitely one-of-a-kind. It contains a full-sized meal, i.e., a meat dish, salad, mashed potatoes, and dessert, and all these are placed in a specialized silver dish which has a string underneath. When you are ready to eat, you just have to pull the string and wait a few minutes, then you’ll notice steam coming out from under the dish, heating your meal. So, you get to enjoy the meal hot and could have it simultaneously with the rest of the online event attendees.

Very curious about the mechanism used in this unusual food and beverage innovation, I made sure I got the explanation on the process involved. But I’d rather keep it to myself, so the hotel can continue enjoying its monopoly of this technically advanced and unique device.

I’m glad Conrad Manila always has interesting offerings up its sleeve. In fact, I’m thinking that, when Eleanor Roosevelt said almost a century ago, “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts,” it probably was her way of predicting that a trendsetting hotel like Conrad Manila would eventually rise in our midst.

YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE ELEPHANT (laughing at the camel): Ha ha ha…looks like you have two breasts on your back!

CAMEL: With a face like yours, I’d just shut up!

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com.

FRONT DESK

The items in the hotel’s trendsetting ‘Meetings To Go’ package.

Some of the delectable items in Brasserie on 3’s ’Feast of Flavors.’

How to get more room bookings?

Sunny Boracay holiday in Station Zero

Disinfect daily

PLANNING to spend a sun-sand-sea holiday? With Boracay reopening to guests, resorts on the world-class island are offering special rates and deals.

In Station Zero, the island’s most exclusive location, Crimson Resort and Spa offers “Forever Summer Room Packages” where booking for two nights will get guests another free one-night stay.

Deluxe room is available at P25,000 net, suite at P29,000 net, suite seaview at P85,000 net, and villa at P55,000 net.

The 2+1 stay includes daily breakfast for two adults and two children (12 years old and below), 30-minute AUM Spa signature foot or back massage for two people, P2,000 dining credit for the entire stay, roundtrip land and boat transfers, 15 percent off on sports and leisure activities, 15 percent off on all AUM Spa services, 15 percent off on restaurants (except alcoholic drinks), and 50 percent off on all drinks from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at J’s Pool Bar.

The resort’s room promotion includes daily breakfast for two adults and two children, 12 years old and below.

Crimson Resort and Spa, located in Station Zero, offers 2+1 room packages for stays until December 25, 2021.

The hotel-by-the-sea offers new products and features that conform to the required health and safety protocols.

Villa guests will enjoy additional benefits such as special welcome amenities, daily complimentary early evening cocktails from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and one-time free mini bar.

Guests staying from Monday to Thursday between October 2020 to June 30, 2021 will enjoy extra P2,000 dining credit, complimentary room upgrade from deluxe room to suite with a minimum four nights’ stay, and late check-out at 4:00 p.m. for guests staying in premier rooms.

Exclusive rates are also available for local residents, expats, and workers in Boracay and anywhere in Western Visayas.

Booking period is until November 15, while stay period is until December 25, 2021. Go to www.crimsonhotel.com for more information.

CLEANLINESS, particularly daily disinfection of rooms and facilities, is a big deal for travelers when they check in in hotels and other accommodation providers.

According to a global survey by digital travel platform Agoda, “Daily Room Disinfection” followed by “Daily Disinfection’’ (of general areas) are the most important hygiene measures travelers expect to be implemented in the facilities they’re checking into.

Other measures in the top five include “Providing Hygiene Standard Listings,” “Providing Personal Hygiene Kit (masks, gloves, etc),” and “Hygiene Certification from the Government.”

The survey also found that “Hygiene Standard Listings” is a priority for Asian travelers, and is the most important hygiene measure for trav-

elers aged 18 to 24 years old globally.

To help travelers find a place that addresses their expectations, Agoda launches HygienePlus, a verification feature that shows the health and hygiene measures taken by accommodation providers on its travel platform.

The HygienePlus feature is composed of an extensive checklist based off international healthcare standards including staff training in safety protocols, contactless check-in/out, temperature checks for staff and guests, staff wearing face covers, protective screens in common areas, daily disinfection at property and room level, provision of face masks, sterilizing equipment and hand sanitizer for guests, safe dining set-up, and signs to ensure physical distancing.

A global survey reveals travelers expect their accommodation providers to disinfect rooms and general areas daily.