Manila Standard - 2020 November 9 - Monday

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’A new day for America’ Biden, in victory speech, delivers a message of hope and healing, vowing to unify

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EMOCRAT Joe Biden urged unity Saturday and promised "a new day for America" in his first national address since he won the tense US election and ended the historically turbulent and divisive era of Donald Trump.

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 248 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

After jogging onto the outdoor stage to the sounds of Bruce Springsteen in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, Biden delivered a message of hope and healing to a crowd of cheering supporters and tens of millions more on television.

The victory speech followed a desperately bitter election conducted in the midst of a raging coronavirus pandemic. But instead of sounding triumphant, Biden's accent was more on changing hearts in a country split down the middle between Democrats and Republicans.

Promising "not to divide but unify," Biden reached out directly to Trump supporters, declaring "they're not our enemies, they're Americans."

"Let's give each other a chance," he said, urging the country to "lower the temNext page perature."

PLEASANT SURPRISE. US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President -elect Kamala Harris (2nd Left) react as confetti falls with Jill Biden (r) and Douglas Emhoff after delivering remarks in Wilmington, Delaware on Nov.7, 2020. AFP

Harris makes Duterte congratulates Biden US history as first woman vice president

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja

'Tonyo' intensifies as it exits PAR Rio N. Araja, Alena Mae S. Flores and Macon RamosAraneta TROPICAL depression “Tonyo” has maintained its strength while moving over the West Philippine Sea. It is forecast to move westward toward the western boundary of the Philippine area of responsibility and may

leave PAR Tuesday morning. It is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm within the next 24 hours.

As of 5 p.m., the center of the tropical depression was estimated 185 kilometers west of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

It was moving southwestward at 25 km/h and packing maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

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TACLOBAN HELPS TYPHOON VICTIMS House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and his wife Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Romualdez organized the Yolanda Commemorative Ride, a fund-raising event to generate donations to victims of typhoon Rolly.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte congratulated Joe Biden for winning the presidency in the United States, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Sunday.

KAMALA Harris shattered barriers to be"On behalf of the Filipino nation, come the first woman vice president and, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte wishes in a symbolism-heavy victory speech, told to extend his warm congratulations Next page girls she would not be the last.

Introducing President-elect Joe Biden in an optimism-fueled outdoor rally, Harris – also the first Black woman and Indian-American as vice president – sported a white suit in recognition of the suffragist movement that fought to give US women the vote a century ago.

"While I may be the first woman in this office, I won't be the last," she said to cheers and honks from the crowd gathered in socially distanced cars.

"Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities."

Harris vowed to fight to "root out systematic racism" but, like Biden, made a broad appeal to unity, saying that Americans "have elected a president who represents the best in us."

The California senator's speech was in itself a sign of the prominent role that she has been given by Biden, with newlyelected presidents historically keeping the BELENISMO. Army Major Gen. Robert C. Dauz (left) of the Armored Division and Dr. Isa Next page

Marcos wants SC magistrate to inhibit self Rey E. Requejo FORMER senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Sunday he will move for the immediate inhibition of Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen from his case due to the latter's alleged “brazen display of gross ignorance of the law.”

He claims Leonen jeopardizes his election protest that seeks to nullify the proclamation of Leni Robredo as the elected vice president in the 2016 polls.

Warning of an imminent threat of a Next page

Cojuangco Suntay cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the 13th Belenismo sa Tarlac 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Belenismo Festival, held at the Army division's headquarters in San Miguel, Tarlac City, is an annual showcase of the ingenuity and artistry of Tarlacueños in the art of making belen (Nativity scene), boosting the reputation of Tarlac as the" Belen Capital of the Philippines."

'Pinoys won't let virus spoil X'mas' THE Philippines boasts one of the world's longest Christmas seasons, kicking off in September with fairy lights and artificial trees decorating malls, festive tunes on the radio and party-packed calendars.

But the coronavirus pandemic looks set to be the grinch that spoils the fourmonth-long celebration this year.

Gatherings are banned, night-time curfews are in force, church attendance is limited, and many are broke after measures to contain the virus devastated the economy and left millions jobless.

Philippine crooner Jose Mari Chan, whose song

Canine crew for Team Biden

NEWS / A3

to former Vice President Joseph 'Joe' Biden on his election as the new President of the United States of America," Roque said.

"The Philippines and the United States have long-standing bilateral relations and we are committed to further enhancing the relations with the United States under the Biden administration," he added.

"We look forward to working closely

JOE Biden promises to bring many things back to America now that he's in and President Donald Trump's out. Unity, accountability, compassion—and a dog in the White House.

Not just one, but two German shepherds, Next page one a rescue.

"Christmas In Our Hearts" heralds the start of the festivities when it hits the airwaves on September 1, summed it up: "Sadness surrounds us."

Family get-togethers, karaoke parties and lavish spending on gifts, which usually mark the countdown to Christmas, have been upended.

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COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM NOV. 8)

396,395 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

2,442 27,218 NEW

ACTIVE

7,539

54

DEATHS

NEW

361,638 11,430 RECOVERIES

NEW

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

PhilHealth pays P700-m to PRC T

PhilHealth spokesman Rey Baleña also told Dobol B sa News TV that the agency would be releasing P100 million every week to settle its debt on the COVID-19 tests conducted by the PRC. “We have already paid a total of P700 million to the Red Cross. We still have a balance of P377 million," Baleña said.

Earlier, the PRC stopped providing COVID-19 swab tests to returning Fili-

pinos as well as in mega swabbing facilities and local government units due to PhilHealth's over P930-million debt.

Caroling ban backed Joint Task Force COVID Shield Commander Guillermo Eleazar said Sunday he supports a proposal to ban caroling this Christmas to prevent further transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eleazar said caroling has always

been part of the Filipino tradition, but the country is now facing a different situation due to the pandemic.

“We are facing a serious threat of coronavirus disease and we in the JTF COVID Shield believe that it is in the health interest of everybody if we could just stay home and enjoy the yuletide season with our family,” he said.

Videoke discouraged The Department of Health on Sunday warned the public against videoke singing during Christmas as there is a high risk of transmitting COVID-19 through it Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told the state-run Laging Handa public briefing that a recent study had found that singing released the highest

‘A new...

he arrived to play golf at a course he owns in Virginia, his first trip outside the White House since Election Day. Tuesday's polling went off without any reported serious incidents or even technical glitches, despite the shadow of a still out-of-control COVID-19 pandemic and volcanic political tensions.

With vote-counting nearly complete around the huge country, Biden built up an irreversible lead. New tallies from the state of Pennsylvania early Saturday put him over the top, ending four days of tense waiting and allowing the TV networks' specialized data analysts to call the overall result, as they do every election.

Spontaneous celebrations In Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Washington and other majority-Democratic cities, people poured into the streets to celebrate and car horns honked.

An excited crowd of several thousand gathered on Black Lives Matter Plaza next to the White House, giving a hostile reception to Trump as his motorcade passed nearby on return from the golf course.

"It's been so many years waiting for this day to happen," said Jack Nugent, a 24-year-old software engineer.

There were similar scenes in New York, Trump's birthplace.

"I'm happy that Trump has gone from our lives, hopefully forever," said Catherine Griffin, 47, through tears of happiness.

However, in Arizona, where the race was close, a group of almost 1,000 Trump supporters gathered in Phoenix to protest what they said was a stolen election.

"There's a lot of fraud here. It needs to be either redone totally or recounted," Donna McCollum, 77, said.

Action on COVID-19 Biden vowed Saturday immediate action to contain the United States' coronavirus crisis, signaling science would dominate the national response once Trump leaves the White House.

Biden's pledge followed three days of record infections in the United States and came as the nation's death toll surpassed 237,000 The United States has long been the worst-hit nation.

Critics of Trump have blamed this on his chaotic response, which has seen him discredit the top US infectious disease expert, discourage face masks and speak at crowded campaign rallies.

At Biden's victory event, which took into account social-distancing guidelines, the president-elect announced top scientists would be appointed to his coronavirus task force on Monday.

"On Monday I will name a group of leading scientists and experts as transition

advisors to help take the Biden-Harris plan and convert it into an actual blueprint that will start on January 20, 2021," Biden told supporters.

Earlier in the day, he had emphasized the urgency he placed on beating the pandemic.

"I want everyone, everyone, to know on day one we're going to put our plan to control this virus into action," Biden said before he had been declared the winner.

Unlike Biden, Trump held massive campaign rallies ahead of the Nov. 3 vote, insisting the US was "rounding the turn" despite the virus surges.

Trump campaigned after contracting the virus himself.

Senior members of his administration have also contracted the virus recently.

Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, was the latest to test positive, the media said late Friday.

World welcomes Biden win World leaders rushed to congratulate US president-elect Biden, with many expressing hopes of unity and cooperation following four years of explosive Donald Trump diplomacy.

While Trump refused to accept the results of the election, many world leaders made it clear they backed the announcement that Biden had won with running mate Kamala Harris.

"Congratulations!" said Chancellor Angela Merkel. "I wish luck and success from the bottom of my heart.

"Our transatlantic friendship is irreplaceable if we want to overcome the great challenges of our times," she said in a tweet issued by a government spokesman.

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted: "The Americans have chosen their President. Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris! We have a lot to do to overcome today's challenges.

Let's work together!"

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson congratulated Biden "on his election as President of the United States and Kamala Harris on her historic achievement.

"The US is our most important ally and I look forward to working closely together on our shared priorities, from climate change to trade and security.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close Trump ally, called Biden a "great friend of Israel," congratulating him and Harris on their victory.

He tweeted: "I look forward to working with both of you to further strengthen the special alliance between the US and Israel."

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: "I look forward to working with President-elect Biden, Vice President-elect Harris, their administra-

tion, and the United States Congress as we tackle the world's greatest challenges together."

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison wished Biden and Harris "every success."

"The Australia-US Alliance is deep and enduring, and built on shared values.

I look forward to working with you closely as we face the world's many challenges together," he said on Twitter.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, a popular leader who had verbally jousted with Trump, congratulated Biden and Harris in a tweet focused on cooperation.

"With so many issues facing the international community, your message of unity is one we share. New Zealand looks forward to working with you both!"

Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressed his "warmest congratulations" to Biden and Harris. He said: "The huge turnout is a reflection of the hope placed on democracy."

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga focused his congratulatory message on security issues.

"Warm congratulations to @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the Japan-US Alliance and ensure peace, freedom, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond," Suga wrote on Twitter.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Biden's win as "spectacular" while highlighting Harris's Indian heritage.

"Your success is pathbreaking, and a matter of immense pride not just for your chittis, but also for all Indian-Americans," Modi said in a tweet to Harris.

"Chitti" is a Tamil term of endearment for the younger sisters of one's mother, which Harris used in her acceptance of the Democratic nomination for vice president.

However, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said it was too soon to congratulate Biden and he would wait for "all legal issues" in the US election to be resolved.

"We don't want to be imprudent. We don't want to act lightly and we want to respect people's self-determination and rights," Lopez Obrador, who has had good relations with Trump, told reporters.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg described Biden as a "strong supporter” of the alliance.

Stoltenberg, who often had to adapt to Trump making unexpected announcements about US troop drawdowns from NATO deployments, said in a tweet he looked forward to working with Biden.

"A strong NATO is good for both North America and Europe," he said. AFP

on which the long friendship between our two nations stand: democracy, civil rights, faith, and inclusivity. I pray for your success!” she said in a tweet.

Senators also congratulated Biden and Harris.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Biden's victory was a signal that “it's time to stop fighting and stop hating,” a likely reference to the divisive politics of US President Donald Trump.

Pointing to Biden's Catholic faith, Zubiri said it was “time for healing and unity for our brothers and sisters in the US.” v Senator Francis Pangilinan said it is the will of the people who in their vast numbers animate democracy and chart the course of their future.

’Tonyo’...

But I also directed one of my Undersecretaries and the MGB Director to go to Albay,” Cimatu said.

The probe will examine the quarrying operations within the perimeter of the volcano to focus on the 12 quarrying sites that had earlier been identified.

Cimatu made his statement even as the Lopez-led geothermal leader Energy Development Corp. started providing 20 megawatts to 40 MW of temporary power and food assistance to Albay and Sorsogon over the weekend as part of its aid to the Bicol region that was devastated by super typhoon “Rolly.”

With full support from transmission operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, EDC’s 140-MW Bacon-Manito geothermal facility worked with Sorsogon I Electric Cooperative Inc., Sorsogon II Electric Cooperative Inc., Albay Electric Cooperative Inc. and some of the larger commercial establishments in the two provinces to serve their power needs even if it had no power supply agreements with them.

One is Champ, who has been with the Bidens since 2008. The other is Major, who the Bidens fostered and then adopted in 2018.

Canines sniffing around the lawns of the presidential mansion are a longstanding staple in America.

Barack Obama muzzled playfully with one Bo, a black Portuguese water dog. George W. Bush had a Scottish terrier, Barney. Bill Clinton? A chocolate Labrador retriever called Buddy.

Enter Trump, a famously finicky germophobe, and the first president in over a century to not have a dog.

"How would I look walking a dog on the White House lawn," Trump asked, with a grimace, in a video included in a Biden campaign ad.

Now, make way for team Biden's canine crew.

Biden officials say Major will become the first rescue dog to live in the White House.

"Choose your humans wisely," says the Biden ad about presidential pooches.

AFP

But Moore said she needed something colourful to dispel the gloom hanging over her family.

"Even though times are hard, we still buy lanterns to make us happy," the 32-year-old said.

It is not clear why Filipinos start celebrating Christmas in September – months before most other countries – but sociologist Yellowbelle Duaqui said it could be cultural: they love to party.

"Filipino hospitality is known to be the best in the world... we love to entertain," she said.

Jeffrey Lopez, who makes festive lights in San Fernando near Manila, said he has been flat out since reopening in August after a two-month shutdown.

Sales reach P40,000 a day and more than twice that on weekends – similar to pre-pandemic levels.

"It feels as though COVID has not hit us," Lopez told AFP at his workshop, where colourful lights in the shape of reindeer, Santa Claus and his sleigh, and even the Eiffel Tower are lined up outside.

"Nothing, not even the pandemic, can stop the coming of Christmas."

'Generosity and kindness' But many retailers are suffering this season.

Normally packed shopping malls – the center of community life – are quieter than usual as people stay home for fear of catching a virus that has infected nearly 400,000 in the country. AFP

HE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation has paid about P700 million of its debt to the Philippine Red Cross, shrinking the balance to P377 million, an official said Sunday.

From A1

"Let this grim era of demonization in America begin to end, here and now."

Casting his eye further, Biden said he would "make America respected around the world again" – a reference to Trump's tearing up of traditional diplomatic ties.

"Tonight, the whole world is watching America and I believe that at our best America is a beacon for the globe," he said.

Addressing the coronavirus, which has killed more than 237,000 Americans under Trump's erratic leadership, Biden said he would form a task force of "leading scientists" this Monday.

While attendance was limited for social distancing purposes to about 360 cars at the drive-in style event, crowds numbering thousands of people, many of them dancing and waving American flags, lined the highway leading to the facility.

This was Biden's first public appearance since US television networks declared earlier Saturday that he'd taken an insurmountable lead in the nearly complete count from Tuesday's election, giving him victory against Trump, who will now become a rare one-term president.

The celebratory event, which featured a confetti canon, fireworks and a soundtrack including Springsteen and Tina Turner, also gave Americans a closer look at Biden's running mate Kamala Harris, who will make history as the country's first female and first Black vice president.

In her speech, cheered every few seconds by the ecstatic crowd, Harris lauded the record turnout of some 160 million people in the election and said that after so much division, "Joe is a healer."

"When our very democracy was on the ballot in this election, with the very soul of America at stake, and the world watching, you ushered in a new day for America," she said.

Biden, who is 77 and turns 78 later this month, will be the oldest person to become president when he takes office on January 20.

No Trump concession Crowds took to the streets in major cities across the US in celebration of Trump's defeat, while key Western allies such as Germany, which had a tempestuous relationship with the Republican, quickly congratulated Biden.

But Trump—becoming the first oneterm president since George H. W. Bush —refused to concede and continued to claim without any evidence that he was a victim of fraud.

Biden was "rushing to falsely pose" as the winner, Trump said in a statement as

Duterte...

From A1

with the new administration of Presidentelect Biden anchored on mutual respect, mutual benefit, and shared commitment to democracy, freedom and the rule of law," Roque said.

"Congratulations and we wish him all the best," he added.

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday congratulated Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris for their victory in the US elections.

“My warmest congratulations to President-elect @JoeBiden and VPelect @KamalaHarris! Your victory is an affirmation of the shared ideals

Marcos...

From A1

miscarriage of justice, Marcos decided to file a motion seeking Leonen’s inhibition from further handling his poll protest, claiming he was extremely biased against him, a source said.

Marcos’ decision came after the Office of the Solicitor General and the Commission on Elections asserted before the Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, that it was “empowered to declare the annulment of elections without special elections”.

This also came after Leonen tossed the case back to the OSG and the Comelec to inquire on the issue of the tribunal’s jurisdiction after hearing Marcos’ case for almost five years.

Marcos earlier said the decision of Leonen, the justice-in-charge of his election protest, would only further delay the resolution of his case that, he said, was in danger of becoming moot and academic due to the very limited time left in the term of office of the contested position.

The source from the Marcos camp also said the former senator was convinced that, for as long as a “yellow man” was in charge of his case, he would not get a fair and impartial treatment considering the open expression of Leonen’s alleged extreme bias against him and his family.

Marcos is said to be poised to lead by more or less 45,000 votes if the results for the three provinces in Mindanao were annulled by the PET due to alleged various election-related frauds, such as massive substituted voting.

From A1

Meanwhile, a low-pressure area was estimated 920 km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. “This disturbance may develop into tropical Depression 'Ulysses' within 24 to 36 hours and is likely to further intensify,” the weather bureau said.

As this developed, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu has formed a composite team to verify claims that the quarrying operations around Mayon Volcano in Albay must be blamed for the lahar flow that buried 300 houses and killed six residents in Guinobatan during the onslaught of typhoon “Rolly.”

The team is composed of representatives from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Environmental Management Bureau and the local government.

“The task force that we sent there is already working on the investigation.

’Pinoys...

From A1

But despite the bleak conditions, fiesta-loving Filipinos say they are determined to stop the virus from stealing all their Christmas cheer.

"With or without COVID, we have to celebrate Christmas whatever it takes, this is a Filipino tradition," said Cecilia Moore, wearing a mandatory mask as she paid P2,500 pesos for festive lights to decorate her home.

Her husband temporarily lost his job on an oil tanker when the country went into lockdown in March, hurting the family's finances.

load of viral transmission compared to talking and breathing.

But the party-favorite activity could be allowed if done among family members.

The department earlier encouraged virtual parties during the Christmas season to make celebrations safer and reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

New COVID total The Philippines on Sunday logged 2,442 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 396,395, the DOH reported even as 13 labs failed to submit reports.

“A total of 13 labs were not able to submit their data to the COVID-19 Data Repository System on Nov. 7, 2020,” the department said.

DFA chief orders envoy to vote for China bet in ICJ

By Rey E. Requejo FOREIGN Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has ordered the Philippine Mission to the United Nations to vote for China's candidate to the International Court of Justice, one of the UN's judicial organs mandated to settle legal disputes between states.

"You are instructed to cast the Philippine vote for the Chinese candidate to the international court of justice. That is your only clear instruction," Locsin said, in his Twitter post.

Besides resolution of disputes between states, including territorial and maritime issues, the ICJ also issues advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by UN organs and specialized agencies, in accordance with international laws.

Incumbent ICJ jurist and current Vice President Xue Hanqin, 65, was elected to the UN Court on June 29, 2010. She is one of three female judges serving in the ICJ and one of only four women elected as members of the court to date.

The United States has supported China's re-election bid.

Both China and the US are members of the powerful UN Security Council, where five permanent member-states, including the United Kingdom, France and Russia, hold the power of veto.

As a diplomatic tradition, the permanent UN Security Council members conominate their members to ensure their presence on the ICJ. With multiple vacancies, the Philippines is entitled to vote for more than one country.

Harris...

From A1

spotlight on themselves rather than sharing the podium with their number twos.

A beaming Harris raised her hands in celebration as she entered to the energetic beats of Mary J. Blige's song "Work That," an ode to Black women's self-confidence.

She opened immediately by hailing John Lewis, the civil rights icon turned congressman who died in July—and whose state of Georgia startled pundits with its sharp swing in Tuesday's election toward their Democratic Party.

Harris also paid tribute to her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who emigrated from India when she was 19 and died in 2009.

"Maybe she didn't quite imagine this moment," Harris said.

"But she believed so deeply in an America where a moment like this is possible.

"So I'm thinking about her and about the generations of women—Black Women, Asian, White, Latina, and Native American women throughout our nation's history who have paved the way for this moment tonight." AFP

Canine...

From A1

News

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A3

PhilHealth extends confinement for dialysis

By Willie Casas and Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation has extended members’ coverage for the confinement and dialysis session beyond their annual limit, the agency spokesperson said on Sunday.

REMEMBRANCE. In behalf of Tacloban City residents, Fr. Willy Vallar offer a mass in remembrance of the victims of Supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013.

Public can now witness online bidding of DPWH—Villar PUBLIC Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar announced that the public will be able to witness bidding activities via online streaming of DPWH procurement processes.

Secretary Villar ordered to broadcast DPWH procurement process on livestream via social media platform or thru official website in order to avoid irregularities, whenever the relevant committee is required to convene or meet.

“In the past, we are concentrated on

the duly authorized observers and engagement of accredited civil society organizations as monitors of the procurement proceedings, this livestreaming efforts create the feeling for any interested people of being there”, Villar said.

Born of the necessity for transparency and accountability in the public service pursuant to Administrative Order No. 34 issued by President Rodrigo R. Dutert, the tool allows anyone to watch on screens and examine procurement process under

Republic Act No. 9184 or Government Procurement Reform Act and its revised implementing rules and regulations, added Villar.

Under Department Order 105 issued by the Secretary, all implementing offices shall ensure transparency in the procurement of infrastructure projects by posting on official website and/or social media platforms the following information: a) project name; b) approved budget for the contract; c) contract period; d) name of

winning bidder and its official business address; e) amount of contract awarded; f) date of award and acceptance; and g) implementing office/unit/division/bureau.

The Public Works Department’s recent move was in direct response to a statement issued by Senator Panfilo Lacson, who said last Friday that he would uncover some “skeleton projects” that are no better than ghost projects when he questions government officials about the proposed 2021 national budget.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, PhilHealth spokesperson Rey Baleña said the agency will release a policy and clarification on the matter this week.

“Mananatili po na sasagutin ng PhilHeatlh ‘yung pong pagpapa-confine ng mga miyembro kahit ito ay lagpas na sa 45-day limit sa bawat taon,” Baleña said.

“At pagdating naman po sa dialysis, ay nililinaw po natin na ‘yung mga lagpas doon sa 90-session limit kada taon, yan po ay sagot pa rin po ng PhilHealth,” he added.

Baleña noted PhilHealth still covers dialysis treatment until December 19.

Baleña said the extension was based on the Bayanihan 2 and the declaration of state of calamity in the country.

Earlier, the Dialysis Philippines Support Group Inc. lamented that some dialysis centers were rejecting PhilHealth cards of patients who have availed of over 90 dialysis sessions.

The group’s President Reynaldo Abacan Jr. said that under the Bayanihan 2, the privilege to avail of free dialysis sessions should last until December as there was still a public health emergency.

Philhealth likewise issued the policy statement in response to an appeal by Assistant Majority Leader and Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas, who had said that the decision to temporarily halt the program hurts the poor and members who have been affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.

The Dialysis PH Support Group Inc., meanwhile, had said that over 100 accredited dialysis centers rejected the PhilHealth cards of patients who have availed of more than the 90 dialysis sessions provided by the program. This has allegedly affected some 30 to 70 patients per center.

Tacloban City sends aid to Bicol

By Rio N. Araja SEVEN years after hitting rock bottom in 2013, Tacloban City is now repaying an act of kindness and gratitude with P15 million worth of cash and in-kind donations for the families affected by super typhoon Rolly in Bicol.

More than 2,000 cyclists pedaled for the Yolanda Commemorative Ride on Sunday morning and successfully generated the assistance to be turned over this week to the affected residents of the storm-battered Bicol, House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said.

Romualdez, his wife Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez organized the fund-raising event in partnership with government agencies led by the Office of Civil Defense, Tacloban SK Federation, Region 8 Bicycle Advocacy Community, various individuals, groups, private organizations, and advocacy groups The Romualdez couple thanked the participants and donors for making the

fund-raising event a success during yesterday’s commemoration of Yolanda’s seventh anniversary.

“Waraynons find joy in helping others and today is another celebration of kindness, gratitude and the resiliency of Filipinos.

We want to share our blessings and to pay it forward to our fellow Filipinos. We know exactly what the evacuees in Bicol are going through now,” the majority leader said.

“Despite the numerous challenges we face in our everyday lives, we always remain resilient to stay in the game. We do not allow difficulties to break us, that is the key behind our recovery,” he said.

“We have faced and survived one of the strongest typhoons ever recorded in history.

We have risen from this devastating experience and we have shown to the rest of the world what we are capable of recovering because of our resiliency. Let us continue in our journey toward building back a better and more resilient community. Let’s continue to bring hope as we face this pandemic because this day reminds us that better days will come, as they have before,” he added.

AFP ON THE JOB. Armed Forces of the Philippines officials provided logistical support to NEDA and started the distribution of National Identification System registration kits to 32 provincial offices of the Philippine Statistics Authority on November 6, 2020.

Suspend 12% VAT DOJ to end probe on Wirecard scam on housing, DOF told By Rey E. Requejo

By Rio N. Araja

PH needs ‘logical answer’ to disaster

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE country’s vulnerability to disasters requires “a logistical answer” beyond the mere creation of the Department of Disaster Resiliency, said Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto.

“There are many gaps in our calamity response and disaster resiliency.

But the greatest gap is not the absence of some central agency, but in deployable logistics to respond to calamities,” Recto said.

Recto said many initiatives which can be done now are not contingent on the establishment of a new department.

“Cutting the red tape that slows down the release of calamity fund is one.”

He said the Quick Response Fund or QRF should be quickly released.

“You don’t need a new department to set up regional hubs and stockpiles of food, medicine, PPEs and construction materials,” Recto said.

“Pre-positioning and forward-deploying these will spare us from transporting relief goods all the way from Manila.”

He proposed to study the creation of “ready-to-deploy disaster response brigades,’ with one each stationed in Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,” he added.

BAGONG Henerasyon party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera on Sunday urged the Department of Finance to consider the suspension of the looming imposition of 12-percent value-added tax on low-cost housing while the country is still reeling from economic toll brought about by the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic.

She backed the plea of the Chamber of Real Estate & Builders’ Associations Inc. to suspend the VAT on low-cost housing that shall take effect on Jan. 1, 2021 under Republic Act 10963 or Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

“We are hoping that the DOF, led by Secretary Carlos Domiguez III, will find a way to help low-cost housing developers and buyers by directing the Bureau of Internal Revenue to suspend the VAT on the sector until this public health crisis is over,” she said.

The suspension will also provide the country’s real estate and housing industry the much-needed economic stimulus to fully and immediately recover from the effects of the pandemic,” she added.

The low-cost housing has been given a three-year reprieve from VAT payment under theTRAIN law until Dec. 31.

Based on the 2011 consumer price index, the TRAIN law exempted a buyer of a residential lot worth up to P1.9 million and house-and-lot unit

JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday said he expects the National Bureau of Investigation to submit full report on its investigation into the $2.1-billion alleged accounting irregularities of German payments firm Wirecard AG by yearend.

Guevarra said that the NBI had already submitted an initial report on the Wirecard controversy, but he is hoping that the bureau would be able to complete its probe on the alleged accounting irregularities of the German firm and Wirecard’s former chief operating officer Jan Marsalek activities by December.

“The NBI has submitted three partial reports on Marsalek and/or Wirecard. We hope to finish the investigation before the year ends,” Guevarra said in a text message.

According to Guevarra, the NBI is working together with the Anti-Money Laundering Council in “looking into the financial transactions of a law office and a tour operator linked with the local operations of Wirecard in the Philippines.”

The Philippines was linked to the Wirecard controversy after the German firm initially claimed that the US$2.1 billion that went missing was allegedly kept in escrow accounts in two local banks. But the two banks denied the existence of such accounts.

Triple salaries of forest rangers—Atienza

By Rio N. Araja IN THE midst of the observance of the Environmental Awareness Month, Buhay party-list Rep. Joselito Atienza wants Congress to triple the starting wage of forest rangers and grant them new benefits, including extra wages for working under dangerous conditions.

He filed House Bill No. 2597 or the Magna Carta for Forest Rangers to increase the minimum base pay of a forest ranger from Salary Grade 4 (P13,807 per month) to Salary Grade 18 (P42,159 per month).

Among the benefits are the subsistence

allowance for three meals per day while in the field, travel time being counted as time in the field, overtime pay of 10 percent and night-shift differential pay of 10 percent, hazard pay consistent with prevailing practices, longevity pay equal to 5 percent of the monthly basic pay for every five years of continuous service, transportation allowance and full compensation for work injuries.

“Our forest rangers have endured hard work and low pay. Many of them have even sacrificed lives in the line of duty.

They deserve these long-overdue benefits,” Atienza said.

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News

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DPWH’s EDSA decongestion program

President Rodrigo Duterte listens to the briefing on the Davao City Coastal Road project of DPWH Secretary Mark Villar on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Davao River Bridge widening project at Carlos P. Garcia Highway in Davao City.

By P. Y. Deligero

Estrella Street at Makati side to Barangka Drive at Mandaluyong side.

DPWH also has other finished projects and other works that are still waiting on the acquisition of contracts for an area, the detailed engineering design, or the procurement of civil works.

O

NE of the most common problems in Metro Manila that almost every Filipino is familiar with is traffic. It has troubled people from all walks of life as they struggle to get from one point to another.

According to the Traffic Index 2019 by TomTom, which ranks the congestion in cities around the world, Manila has a traffic congestion of 71 percent, tying it with the city of Bengaluru in India.

The study also disclosed that Manila has a 73 percent level of congestion in highways and 70 percent in non-highways. It also stated that Filipinos lost 10 days and 17 hours driving during rush hour in the course of the year.

Furthermore, 29 minutes are added per 30-minute trip in the morning rush, and an additional 38 minutes per 30-minute trip in the evening.

In order to address this, President Rodrigo Duterte through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) headed by Sec. Mark A. Villar, carried out the EDSA Decongestion Program, which aims to build bridges to connect different parts of Metro Manila to each other, making it easier for drivers and travelers to go from one point to another without having to worry about getting stuck in traffic.

BUILDING BRIDGES Part of this program is the establishment of 11 bridges measuring a total of 9,348 meters. With a budget of P42

BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road Project

Laguna Lake Highway

billion, the bridges are anticipated to lessen the amount of traffic in Metro Manila, particularly in EDSA, as it will provide motorists and drivers an alternative route to their destinations.

Some of these projects include the BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road, the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge, the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge, the Pasig-Marikina River and Manggahan Floodway Bridges, and the Metro Manila priority seismic improvement project.

The BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road project comprises two

components: the Sta. MonicaLawton Bridge, a four-lane bridge that’s 440.029 meters long, and the Lawton Ave.-Global City Viaduct which has four lanes and measures 565.317 meters.

It is expected to be finished by August 2021 and will shorten the travel time between Bonifacio Global City and the Ortigas Central Business District by 12 minutes.

Another project of the DPWH is the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge, which is a 680 lineal meter Basket-Handle Tied Steel arch bridge connecting the historical

areas of Intramuros and Binondo with a viaduct over Estero de Binondo.

Other than creating new bridges, the EDSA Decongestion program has also targeted the replacement of existing bridges with sturdier ones. An example of this is the Estrella Pantaleon Bridge.

The current structure will be replaced with a pre-stressed concrete rigid frame bridge (V-shape piers) with corrugated steel webs with 4-lane concrete deck slab of approximately 506.46 lineal meters to connect

LINKING ROADS AND CREATING EXPRESSWAYS In addition to the DPWH’s EDSA Decongestion Project, the government agency has also been working on the establishment of road links and expressways to make the life of motorists easier by lessening the time they usually spend in traffic.

This project is allotted P180.6 billion for its budget in creating or bettering new roads and expressways that all-in-all have a total of 121,850 meters in length.

One example of a project in this category is the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Link Segment 10 which is a 5.58km expressway connecting McArthur Highway and C-3 to shorten the travel time from Valenzuela City to C-3 in Caloocan City from more than one hour to five minutes. It will also benefit about 20,000 motorists a day.

A similar project is the NLEX Harbor Link C-3 to R-10 section —a 2.6-kilometer, six-lane divided, all elevated portion of the NLEX Harbor Link from Caloocan Interchange in C3 Road to the Radial Road 10 in Navotas City. It will shorten travel time from port area to NLEX (and vice versa) from 60 minutes to only 10 minutes and is said to benefit 30,000 motorists per day.

Furthermore, R10 has also been a project of the DPWH. Aside from widening a 4.75-kilometer section of the Radial Road 10, the agency has included a drainage system

News in the works. As a result, it cuts the travel time between Manila and Navotas from one hour to 30 minutes.

Such work was replicated in Samar Street in Quezon City. The project involved the widening of a 1.086-kilometer road connecting Mother Ignacia

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2020

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Street and Timog Avenue. This serves as an alternative route to ease the traffic flow in EDSA, going to Cubao and Makati.

Motorists were not the only people that the DPWH wanted to keep stress-free from the city’s traffic.

Traffic is one of the most

Alabang-Sucat Skyway Connection And Ramp Extension

Eastbank-Westbank Bridge 2

notorious things that travellers worry about when going to and from the airport. To avoid missing their flights, people would leave hours earlier than the expected departure time.

In an effort to alleviate this concern, the DPWH developed the NAIA Expressway phase two. This is a 14.85-kilometer, four-lane elevated expressway from the end point of NAIA Expressway Phase I to PAGCOR

Entertainment City. Since its completion in April 2017, it has provided access to NAIA Terminals 1, 2, and 3, as well as an interface with the Skyway and Cavitex. The travel time between Skyway and Terminal 1 was reduced from 24 minutes to eight minutes.

Other road projects by the DPWH that are awaiting completion or are yet to get started include the NLEX Harbor

Link Segment 8.2, the NLEXSLEX Connector Road, the third stage of the Metro Manila Skyway, and the Alabang-Sucat Skyway Connection and Ramp Extension to name a few.

With some of these projects already completed and with more expected to be done, DPWH hopes to improve the congestion situation in Mega Manila and make travelling smoother for drivers and commuters alike.

Binondo-Intramuros Bridge

Manila Cavite Toll Expressway Project, C-5 South Link Expressway

Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge

Southeast Metro Manila Expressway, C-6 (Phase I)

NLEX Harbor Link C3-R10 Section

Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3

NAIAX, Phase Ii

NLEX-SLEX Connector Road

Fort Bonifacio-Nichols Field Road (Lawton Avenue)

Mindanao Avenue Extension (Segment 2C)

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Opinion

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2020 Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A mandate to heal HAVING been in isolation for 15 nights here in Taipei, mandatory for all coming from countries which are considered “high risk” due to the pandemic, there was little for me to do except watch the continuing coverage of the US elections, from the final days of the campaign, to the tedious canvass of votes.

And on my first day of “liberation,” it was clear that despite all the insane tweets of the incumbent president, it was only a matter of time before the Biden-Harris tandem would get the threshold number of electoral votes. The decency in Joe Biden was evident throughout the canvass, where despite irreversible statistical trends evident two days after the voting, he refused to claim victory, even as Trump was threatening to go to every court and all the way to the Supreme Court to contest the outcome.

Donald Trump has debased the American presidency to its lowest point.

I woke up at five Sunday morning and immediately tuned in to CNN, where I learned about the threshold being reached, with the victors supposed to go on live television from Delaware to address their nation at 8 p.m. Saturday, US eastern time—9 a.m. here and in the Philippines.

For the US of A and the observing world, it was a historic moment. America had elected not only its first woman vice-president, but also one of Asian and African descent in the person of Kamala Harris of California, breaking the barriers of race and gender.

“I will strive to be a vice-president like Joe Biden was—loyal, honest and prepared, waking up every day thinking of you and your family, for now is when the hard work begins”, she declared, finally uttering the refrain that their team kept defining as their mission: “to heal the soul of the nation.”

Indeed, America needs healing. America needs to unite.

That 70 million still voted for a man who personified what was “ugly” in America, a man for whom lying came as first nature and whose decision point was always a matter of transaction, who was always full of himself, who had neither character nor compassion, and whose incompetence was laid bare by the raging pandemic he foolishly ignored, and even propagates by word and reckless action, says something about the deep divisions of the fractured nation.

Worse, Donald Trump, who has debased the American presidency to its lowest point, still refusing to concede and still ignoring reality (up to the time of this writing), keeps his nation and people hostage to the threats of violence coming from his extremely fanatical loyalists.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Republican Party have mostly maintained the “silence of the

EDITORIAL

lambs” even as deep wounds continue to be inflicted not only upon their party but upon the nation itself by this egotistic creature. It is to the credit of some card-carrying Republicans, ashamed of the kind of person their party has championed, that they came up with the “Lincoln Project,” inspired by the history of the Grand Old Party once led by one of America’s greatest men, Abraham Lincoln, to campaign against the Donald.

But all that is past, or should be, unless Trump wants himself hauled bodily out of the White House by the Secret Service, screaming like a madman come the 20th of January next year.

Joseph Biden, a native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, of working-class descent, whose family moved to neighboring Delaware, seemed to have a bright political future ahead of him when he was elected at 29 as the youngest senator his state chose to send to Washington D.C. He would become of constitutional age after he took his seat, one he was about to give up because his wife and daughter were killed in a car accident the day he was to go to the federal Capitol. Another personal tragedy happened when his eldest son, Joseph “Beau” Biden died of brain cancer in 2015, an event that led him to not seek the nomination of the Democratic Party for the presidency, even as he had been twice the vice-president of the popular Barack Obama, the first African-American to lead the United States.

That paved the way, ironically, for the ascendance of Donald Trump, who defeated Hillary Clinton by electoral vote majority, despite the latter winning the popular vote. It was a bruising, dirty campaign where social media was used by Trump and his cohorts to demonize Sen. Clinton. He appealed to the basest instincts of the preponderant white majority who felt that their nation was being stolen from them by immigrants and African-Americans. To this day, many of these remain his fanatics.

And that is where the danger lies. That too is why Joseph Biden, who will turn 78 come November 20, whose personal tragedies steeled his character, now has his mandate cut out for him—to heal his nation and unify his people.

Which is where the 50 states of the American Union, forged in the crucible of a deadly Civil War at the time when Abraham Lincoln was president, the Great Emancipator, is looked upon by the rest of humanity. It is in unity despite diversity—of religion, gender, ethnicity and the color of one’s skin, which makes it such a great nation.

“E pluribus unum,” the motto that appears on the Great Seal of the USA, immortalizes this diversity that despite great odds in its history, has forged their Union.

Biden’s victory message encapsulated his role. It is the reason why God and his people had chosen him despite his old age, to become America’s 46th president, at a time of great peril, with a pandemic killing more than 230,000 and rising, and an economy shrunk by the impact of a viral contagion that has shut down businesses and thrown millions jobless.

He should be both a “medicine man,” a healer leading his people to safety through the effective use of science rather than the rants of insanity, and a unifier that would heal, in his own chosen words, the “soul of the nation.”

It is going to be tough.

Stories of Yolanda

THE third chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible poetically captures the often indiscernible rhythm of life and nature.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2) On that fateful morning of November 8, 2013, super typhoon Yolanda (international name, Haiyan) came and caused an unprecedented devastation, with thousands of lives lost in an instant. The annual commemoration of one of the deadliest natural calamities in recorded human history are uncharacteristically subdued this year, given the restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But it does not mean we have forgotten. It does not mean that the grief and pain are any less than they were on that tragic morning.

The official count puts the death toll at 6,000 but with thousands still missing, months and years after the storm. But we may never know exactly how many lost their lives that day.

Each and every one from Eastern Visayas has a Yolanda story. For most of us, it is a story of grief and pain. For some of us, it is a tale of an irreparable loss—a means of livelihood that could have assured a family a secure future and the comforts of a home and a roof over their heads—and for many still, the lives of people they come to know and those dear to them.

When November 8 comes every year, we

bring back to mind these stories—of the sadness and sorrow—especially over lives that were lost and that we now commend to God’s mercy.

But there were also stories of survival.

Typhoon Yolanda brought destruction never before seen in the country. The deadly tidal surge and high winds washed away entire communities, leaving a trail of death and devastation in their wake.

Once the storm had dissipated, what was left was the shattered infrastructure of a once-thriving regional center. People were left hopeless and desperate—not knowing how they can ever rise again. Businesses looted by hungry victims as security forces—the few among who were left— stood by and watched helplessly.

Our wounds will heal one day, but the scars will remain.

There were stories of ineptitude and corruption. What was harder for many was to see the loss and hunger of our people yet learn about allegations of incompetent and disorganized efforts to help them. The leadership of the country at that time was found ill-prepared and unable to provide the timely relief needed by the affected communities.

These stories, mostly now untold all throughout the year, are often repeated many times every November 8—as if to remind ourselves to never forget.

Seven years have passed, and now we have more than just cleared away the rubble. New buildings have risen where there used to be piles of damaged infrastructure. New businesses have emerged to

Why we care

F

ORMER United States Vice President Joseph Biden has won the elections, with the incumbent president Donald Trump unlikely to concede, insisting he was the victim of fraud. family and relatives here in the Philippines.

Their status, their security, and their health and career prospects do not only concern them and their immediate circles.

It’s a dramatic conclusion to a monthslong, vitriolic campaign period that began four years ago when the businessman and former reality-show star assumed office and conducted himself in ways never imagined for the leader of the free world.

The COVID-19 pandemic only raised the stakes for the American people.

As the rest of the world awoke Sunday, the President-elect and his running mate, Kamala Harris, addressed the nation, emphasizing that they would work with everybody, not only those who supported them in the elections. Their message was one of reconciliation and healing – also principled leadership, empathy, and an adherence to the truth. Meanwhile, the losing camp held a press conference, not at a posh hotel as implied but at the Four Seasons Total Landscaping, outside an office near an adult bookstore and a cremation center. They announced their filing of lawsuits to challenge what they claimed to be fraudulent elections.

Why has the US elections captivated many of us, too, here at home?

Foremost, there are millions of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in the US. While many of them have settled there, they have

Americans will have to beat the virus, rebuild their economy, heal their divisions, and work to be taken seriously again.

Second, America is still perceived to be a global leader. Despite different countries’ problems in their respective home fronts, the international community still looks at the US for its actions on various world concerns.

It remains, after all, to have the biggest economy. It has a major role in geopolitics. Its bilateral relations with other countries play a decisive role in that country’s policy, and often affect markets heavily.

Perhaps, too, we are so interested in American politics because of the interesting characters that populate it. Mr. Trump’s

remarks, in front of the cameras or from his Twitter account, are never boring even if they are untruthful or downright false.

At the very least we are entertained, or relieved that what we witness in our own backyard is not quite the worst.

More importantly, however, we are interested in what goes on in the US because the qualities becoming of a leader are not unique to any one country. In fact, the attributes of an ideal leader are universal. They have a healthy respect for science, and the truth.

They are not petty. They do not make everything about themselves. They do not play the victim when things do not go their way. They are guided by objectivity and clarity of mind and speech. They try to work not just with those who applaud them, and find value in criticism instead of cracking down on them.

Genuine leaders acknowledge that nobody is as big as the institution of government and the concept of democracy. They know that there is a system—imperfect as it is, but still working anyway—of choosing leaders that must never be undermined just to satisfy a personal quest.

Americans have a lot of work ahead of them. They have to end an era of incompetence, hubris, narcissism and prevarication. They will have to beat the virus, rebuild their economy, heal their divisions, and work to be taken seriously again.

The world will look at them as they try to be an example—if not how to do things, then how not to do them.

Digitalization builds economic momentum to digital payments significantly lowers the cost of payment, and accelerates payment processes for merchants and expand the transaction scale of digital payments which will bring in more digital payments through a network effect. Digital payments also promote fi nancial inclusion, especially for the unbanked population. Mobile money schemes, for example, allow individuals who own a phone but do not have a bank account to save money and carry out transactions.”

DIGITAL technology has become the big savior in this global pandemic. Almost instantly, Filipinos have learned to shift from a mostly analog and paper-based mode of living to a dominantly tech-enabled pandemic lifestyle. The threat of infection has created an invisible force that is moving our lives online with our mobile devices as the default interface for interaction in this physically distanced new normal.

Most palpable is the booming e-commerce ecosystem that is becoming the fastest-growing economic engine that Filipino consumers have logged on to and is changing the retail landscape of the country. Online shopping is no longer a novelty but is now the preferred mode of purchasing. Virtually anything you need can be order and delivered directly to your doorstep through online marketplace platforms. To fulfill each transaction, these platforms needs the support of a robust logistics system which in itself has become an essential industry in the supply chain.

Directly integrated to the online market are digital payments systems that have enabled people to pay bills, send or receive financial support, and purchase goods without leaving the safety of their homes.

According to the World Bank’s Philippine Digital Economy Report 2020, “In addition to keeping people safe when carrying out payment transactions, the use of digital payment services is key to increasing efficiency, promoting financial inclusion, and enabling the digital economy as the country transitions to the ‘new normal’. Digital payment services increase efficiency by removing frictions in payment processes and reducing the cost of doing business. The transition from the use of cash and checks replace what has been lost. With the relief aid that came from different parts of the country and the world, we have established partnerships that have helped our communities to build back better.

More stories are being retold, including stories of gratitude for surviving the super typhoon and for being alive, despite losing everything. What the people had to go through after the typhoon was not easy. It took hard work to ensure that our families recovered from the death of a family member or a friend, from the loss of their properties and means of livelihood. In all of these, there were stories of hope, brought by people who came from across the world not only to bring us relief aid but to assure us that in this difficult moment, we are not alone. Finally, there were stories of faith – in God, in humanity and in our own frail selves – that life was good and worth living and that soon enough, the darkness of the night would have to give way to the dawn of a new day.

This day, as we do every year, we remember our own Yolanda stories. Let us remember the kindness and selflessness that inspired many of our foreign and local friends to help us with the immense effort of rebuilding our homes and lives. May these stories of survival and hope remind us constantly that

A nationwide expansion and upgrade of our digital infrastructure should be the top priority.

Clear evidence of the e-commerce boom is shown in the recent report of the Department of Trade and Industry of over 75,000 online businesses that registered from January to August of this year of which, 73,276 registered since the lockdowns began.

Business data platform Statista noted in its overview of Philippine e-commerce that the popularity of online shopping has caused many small and medium businesses to shift to online retail.

“Social media platforms are used, like Facebook and Instagram, among smallscale entrepreneurs. Unsurprisingly, because of the recent COVID-19 pandemic in the country, turning to small-scale retail sellers have become popular because of the benefits it provides to both sellers and consumers,” Statista’s report said.

With the easing of community quarantine restrictions to reboot economic activity, the country’s broadband networks will become more congested as millions of users compete for bandwidth to do their online activities. To meet the exponential rise in demand for wireless even amid disaster and suffering, our God is always at work, making all things new, giving us the strength and wisdom to make things better.

Our wounds will heal one day, but the scars will remain. But instead of the tragedy and loss, these scars will remind us of the hard work that it took to be whole again and that in our time of greatest need, we found the courage that we never thought we had in us.

Our Yolanda stories don’t have to end with the grief and loss. While we can never take away the pain, let us never lose sight of the optimism and resilience that have given us the strength to move on and get back on our feet. In the last seven years, we have surprised ourselves and the world with the strength and hard work that have inspired our fellow Filipinos and the rest of the world.

Indeed, the natural rhythm of things may have come to a full circle. The time to survive is done and the time to thrive has come. The time to move on from helplessness and the time to build on our newfound strength.

The lessons left by typhoon Yolanda, may we never forget; our newly found strength and solidarity, may we always remember!

broadband services, a nationwide expansion and upgrade of our digital infrastructure should be a top priority in the government’s economic recovery strategy.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) says we have a backlog of some 50,000 new cell towers, a problem that has stymied the telecommunications industry for several administrations because of a gauntlet of permitting barriers and permits from the local and national bureaucracy. To stop these delays a joint memorandum order that cut permitting timelines to 16 days from what used to take an average of 8 months to hurdle over 30 permits. The recently signed Bayanihan to Recover as One law provides for the streamlining of the permitting process for telecom towers. Plans have been announced to step up construction of 2,500 cell towers as part of DICT’s common tower initiative.

Independently, SMART and Globe Telecom will be rolling out their respective telecom towers next year to aggressively expand their mobile networks. The telco giants recently announced securing over 660 and 630 permits respectively.

PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said, “As we complete the build-out of our 4G network so that our coverage will be as close as possible to 100 percent, we are building out our 5G network as well.”

Globe Telecoms president and CEO Ernest Cu in a statement said, “Altogether, access to the internet for Filipinos has never been more affordable and pervasive as it is now as we continue increasing investments to expand and improve our fiber network infrastructure to serve the people’s work from home and online-education activities.”

These developments clearly illustrate how responsive policies can build the momentum of our digital economy. In this case, the public sector working with the two telcos to build more telecom towers is getting results after just two months, more than threats and tirades.

MORE OPINION ONLINE NAKED THOUGHT

CHARLIE V. MANALO

(www.manilastandard.net) TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Nothing much will change

America: A nation divided

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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World What next for Trump?

Golf, Twitter, another run?

WHEN networks projected he had lost his bid for reelection to Joe Biden, President Donald Trump was playing golf.

He’ll soon have plenty more time to enjoy the links if he so desires.

But if there’s one constant for Trump, it is his love of the limelight and few expect this most unusual of presidents to pursue a traditional post-White House life of public reticence, reflective memoir-writing and occasional charitable events.

He will lose the keys to the White House but not his login on Twitter, where Trump and his itchy fingers could still wield powerful control over his Republican Party.

Some allies have already spoken of Trump planning a rematch in 2024.

Only one other president, Grover Cleveland, has served non-consecutive terms, winning in 1892 after narrowly losing reelection four years earlier.

Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said with understatement that Trump -- who has refused to concede and made unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud -- “doesn’t like losing.”

“I would absolutely expect the president to stay involved in politics and would absolutely put him on the shortlist of people who are likely to run in 2024,” he told an Irish think tank.

“He’s a very high-energy 74-year-old.”

Trump’s children have made clear that they are still demanding loyalty from Republicans.

“The total lack of action from virtually all of the ‘2024 GOP hopefuls’ is pretty amazing,” Donald Trump Jr. tweeted on Thursday.

He called out by name Senator Lindsey Graham, a former Trump critic turned supporter who coasted to reelection. Hours afterward, Graham was on Trump’s favorite Fox News show pledging money for the president’s legal defense and repeating unsubstantiated accusations of election irregularities. AFP

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

World media react to Biden win W

ITH headlines such as “God Bless America”, powerful media outlets around the world welcomed the defeat of Donald Trump but warned presidentelect Joe Biden faced enormous challenges in healing the United States.

US President-elect Joe Biden; (Inset) Donald Trump, seen speaking at the White House on November 5, 2020, is widely expected to stay in the limelight once he leaves office. AFP

Trump: Legal votes decide, not the news media MINUTES after US media declared Democrat Joe Biden victor in the tight race for the US presidency on Saturday, President Donald Trump rejected that conclusion, saying he will prove in court that he was the winner.

“The simple fact is this election is far from over,” Trump said in a statement.

“Legal votes decide who is president, not the news media.”

But experts say Trump has little chance of reversing Biden’s win, without having provided the evidence of widespread vote fraud needed to overturn results in several states.

“Trump’s litigation strategy is going nowhere. It is not going to make a difference to the election outcome,” said Richard Hasen, an election law expert at the University of California, Irvine.

Trump said his campaign will take to

the courts on Monday to “ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated.”

He pointed to expected recounts in states where Biden is only a few thousand votes ahead.

And he referred to Pennsylvania, where Republicans allege fraud and say thousands of late-arriving mail-in ballots were illegally counted.

“Networks don’t get to decide elections.

Courts do. Courts set aside elections when they are illegal,” Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani declared Saturday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s largest city.

Echoes of Florida?

Trump is right: the election is not truly over until each state formally certifies its vote, which will take place over the coming weeks.

But with nearly all the 150 million-

plus ballots counted, he simply does not have enough votes in the Electoral College that formally chooses the president, US media collectively concluded Saturday.

There is a precedent for a turn to the courts. In 2000, with the election battle between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore hinging on the outcome in Florida -- where Bush led with just over 500 votes -- the two sides fought to the Supreme Court over a state-wide recount.

The high court narrowly rejected a recount, handing the election to Bush.

In Trump’s case, he not only has to overcome a deficit of nearly 40,000 votes in Pennsylvania, but he is also down by many thousands of votes each in Nevada, Georgia, Arizona and Wisconsin. AFP

Biden victory, loss for Brazil’s ‘Tropical Trump’

Wearing facemasks and waving flags from car rooftops, hundreds of Democrats cheered every sentence of Joe Biden’s first speech as president-elect at his victory party for the coronavirus era. AFP

Fireworks, flags, masks: Celebration at drive-in rally WEARING facemasks and waving flags from car rooftops, hundreds of Democrats cheered every sentence of Joe Biden’s first speech as president-elect at his victory party for the coronavirus era.

They sounded car horns and danced in the backs of jeeps as Biden told the drive-in rally at his election headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware that he would unify America as its 46th president.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” said 26-yearold financial analyst Juliana Panzera, speaking through her car window in the parking lot of the Chase Center.

“It almost feels too good to be true. But thank God it isn’t,” she added.

Children standing through sunroofs

waved blue glow-sticks as older revellers wearing masks with “Biden-Harris” emblazoned on them enjoyed drinks with fellow supporters beside their vehicles, happy to break the six-feet rule.

“We’re elated,” said 32-year-old content creator Alexis Reyes who drove from neighboring New Jersey.

“We have been praying and wishing for Biden to get this win. I feel like everyone just feels a sense of like, ‘Dad is gonna take over and protect everybody,’” she added.

For 59-year-old Pat Heffernan, the celebrations were third time lucky after he and his wife Debra drove to the venue twice earlier this week in anticipation of a vic-

tory party that never happened as the vote count dragged on.

“We’re having some drinks. We feel a sense of relief,” said Heffernan, dressed as Uncle Sam in red and white striped trousers with shoulder straps and a flashing top hat.

His wife wore a Statue of Liberty costume.

“It’s appropriate because we’re going to start letting immigrants into our country again,” she said.

Some 360 cars attended the drive-in, according to organizers, which saw someone parade through the crowd wearing a Donald Trump inflatable baby costume.

AFP

Virus-hit minks keep scientists on their guard CORONAVIRUS transmission from minks to humans does not necessarily mean the disease will become more dangerous, but scientists are on their guard in the wake of an astounding announcement from Denmark.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Wednesday that the country will kill more than 15 million minks and that a variant of the SARS-Cov-2 virus that had been transmitted from the animals to 12 people could impact a vaccine’s effec-

A7

tiveness.

Global media reacted with shock, especially given the high level of fear already caused by the Covid-19 epidemic that has claimed more than 1.2 million lives in less than a year.

Specialists are not convinced however that the danger is much greater and are waiting for more evidence.

“I really wish that the trend of science by press release would stop,” commented Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Colum-

bia University in New York.

“There’s no reason why the genomic data couldn’t be shared, which would allow the scientific community to evaluate these claims,” she added on Twitter.

Viruses such as the one that emerged in China late last year mutate constantly and new variants are not necessarily worse than the previous ones.

So far, no study has shown newer SARSCov-2 variants to be more contagious or dangerous than their predecessors. AFP

US PRESIDENT-ELECT Joe Biden’s victory is a loss for the man known as the “Tropical Trump,” Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, whose fervent endorsement of the Republican incumbent leaves him isolated abroad and vulnerable at home, analysts say.

As congratulations from world leaders for Biden poured in Saturday, Bolsonaro’s silence spoke volumes.

Elected in 2018 and up for reelection himself in 2022, Bolsonaro modeled his political rise on Trump’s, and openly admires him.

Known for their shared knack for social media rants and riling up their conservative bases, he and Trump are two of the most visible faces of the new brand of rightwing populist politics that surged onto the world scene four years ago.

Bolsonaro, a 65-year-old former army captain, has actively promoted the comparison.

He has sought to cultivate a close relationship with Trump, to the point of breaking with Brazilian diplomatic tradition and openly endorsing the Republican billionaire’s reelection bid.

True to the confrontational style he and Trump share, Bolsonaro also clashed with Biden during the presidential race.

When Biden said during his first debate with Trump that the United States needed to push Brazil to better protect the Amazon rainforest, Bolsonaro called the statement “disastrous.”

“What a shame, Mr John Biden!” he said, mistaking the former vice president’s first name in the English version of his tweet.

All that could make for an awkward relationship with the Biden administration.

Biden is particularly concerned with the fight against global warming, a touchy subject for Bolsonaro, a climate change skeptic who has presided over a surge in deforestation and wildfires in the Amazon.

Trump’s loss also leaves Bolsonaro -- now arguably the most visible face of the new right worldwide -- more exposed to international criticism and pressure. AFP

The international press also focused on the feat of Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate who will become the United States’ first female black vice president.

“A new dawn for America”, read the headline of The Independent in Britain, showing a photo of Biden standing next to Harris and noting her historic achievement.

The Sunday Times went with a picture of a black woman draped in the US flag and the headline: “Sleepy Joe wakes up America”, taunting Trump by using the derogatory nickname he had used for Biden.

The Sunday People tabloid blared in capital letters: “GOD BLESS AMERICA”.

Germany’s mass-market Bild newspaper carried a photo of Trump with a headline: “Exit without dignity”.

“What a liberation, what a relief”, reported Germany’s left-leaning Suddeutsche Zeitung broadsheet.

But it noted that Biden “inherits a heavy burden” like nothing faced by his predecessors, and warned that Trump accepting defeat was “unthinkable”.

In Australia, the Daily Telegraph tabloid owned by Rupert Murdoch’s media empire also focused on Trump’s expected defiance and described him as a “hotball of fury”. “(Trump) will simply not accept the humiliation of seemingly being beaten by a foe he perceived to be feeble and barely worth turning up to fight,” it said.

‘Masked enemy arrived’ Iran’s ultraconservative papers unsurprisingly celebrated the downfall of Trump, a leader who had applied a “maximum pressure” policy and punishing sanctions since his 2018 withdrawal from a landmark nuclear agreement.

Still, they reserved little warmth for Biden.

“The maskless enemy left, the masked enemy arrived,” warned conservative publication Resalat.

Another theme were the false claims of voter fraud with the ultraconservative outlet Vatan-e Emrooz, seemingly before the Biden win was announced, headlined on “The graveyard of democracy”, and focused on false allegations.

Similarly, Egypt’s government daily alAkhbar used a long editorial to zero in on the—unfounded—“violations” of fraudulent voting, and said that “it is time for the United States to stop giving us lessons in democracy”.

Warnings for populism Brazil’s leading media outlets reported Trump’s defeat in the context of its own populist leader, Jair Bolsonaro, who has similarly sought to diminish democratic institutions and reject science-based facts. AFP Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Branch 216, Quezon City IN RE: PETITION TO CORRECT CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE BETWEEN CHRISTIAN VIC M. BARASI AND MYLENE ABALOS ASUNCION WITH REGISTRY NO. 2020-00432 REGISTERED IN QUEZON CITY CHRISTIAN VIC M. BARASI, Petitioner, versus

R-QZN-20-05175-SP

THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF CITY OF QUEZON CITY and ALL PERSONS WHO HAVE ANY CLAIM OR INTEREST. Respondents. x------------------------------------------------------x

ORDER The petitioner filed a verified petition for correction of (a) Entry No. 3, Place of Birth, from “Dupay Del Sur” to “Dupax Del Norte”, (b) Entry No. 4b, Citizenship, from “Filipino” to “American”, (c) Entry No. 8, Name of Father, from “Ritchie Nicanor G. Barasi” to “Ritche Nicanor G. Barasi”, and (d) Entry No. 15, Place of Marriage, from “Quwzon City” to “Quezon City”, in his Certificate of Marriage with Registry No. 2000-0043 of Local Civil Registry of Quezon City.

The Court hereby sets the Petition for hearing on December 9, 2020, at 8:30 in the morning before this Court sitting at the Sixth Floor, Rm. 603, Hall of Justice Bldg., Annex, Quezon City at which date, time and place, all interested persons are hereby cited to appear and show cause, if any, why said petition should not be granted.

Let this Order be published at the expense of the petition in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, to be selected by raffle pursuant to PD 1079. The Office of the Clerk of Court is directed to report to the Court the result of the raffle, with notice to petitioner, within ten (10) days from receipt hereof.

The Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City, the Philippine Statistics Administration, the Office of the Solicitor General, and any persons who has any opposition hereto may file the same, within fifteen (15) days from notice of the petition, or from the last date of publication of such notice.

Furnish a copy of this Order and petition to the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City, the Philippine Statistics Administration and the Office of the Solicitor General.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, October 5, 2020.

(Sgd.) ALFONSO C. RUIZ II Presiding Judge Copy furnished: Office of the Solicitor General 134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village Makati City Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City Quezon City Hall, Diliman, Quezon City Atty. Harry Truman B. Temperante Counsel for Petitioner Unit R PSCOR Bldg., T.M. Kalaw St., BF Homes Subdivision, Parañaque City Philippine Statistics Administration – East Avenue, Quezon City Christian Vic M. Barasi Petitioner Purok 4, Barangay Ineangan, Dupax Del Norte Nueva Vizcaya Office of the Clerk of Court, RTC, Quezon City (MStandard - Oct. 26, Nov. 2 & 9, 2020)

Sports

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

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2020

Saso takes second place at 2020 Toto Japan Classic

Meralco Bolts guard Chris Newsome glides to hoop against Terrafirma Dyip defenders Aldrech Ramos (17) and CJ Perez (7).

Looking on are Meralco Bolts foarward Cliff Hodge (left) and Terrafirma’s Keith Agovida (partly hidden). PBA

By Peter Atencio FILIPINO-Japanese golfer Yuka Saso birdied the last three holes and almost bagged her third championship.

Saso finished with a 9-under 63 in the final round of the LPGA Tour of Japan’s 2020 Toto Japan Classic to finish in second, Sunday at the Taiheiyo Club Minori Course in Ibaragi.

South Korean Jiyai Shin came up with a strong finish, hitting an eagle in the 17th hole and a birdie in the final, to duplicate her opening-round score of 6-under 66, and walk home with the crown.

This allowed Saso to move back into the lead in the Mercedes Rankings with 928.85 points. Saso is now ahead by 37.39 points of Japanese Sakura Koiwai.

The 19-year-old Saso hiked her winnings to a total of Y82,753,170 or P53,208,599.49.

Saso, who is a two-time tour champion, submitted a 2-under 70 in the opening round.

She improved with a 5-under 67 in the second, to tie for 12th place going into the day’s final go-around.

Saso slowly crept up into the leaderboard from there. She wound up with four birdies in the front nine, with backto-back birdies coming on the sixth and seventh holes.

Two more birdies in the 11th and 12th holes gave the Filipino-Japanese opportunities to win.

Tropang Giga recovers touch in time to win THIS time around, the TNT Tropang Giga shot better after suffering back-toback losses.

The Tropang Gigas came up with 44 percent shooting clip when they bounced back with an 85-79 beating of the Meralco Bolts on Saturday evening.

“We needed to play relaxed. They were tense from their back to back losses,” said Tropang Giga coach Bong Ravena.

This gave Tropang Giga their seventh triumph in 10 matchers which put them back on track in their campaign in the 2020 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena.

The Tropang Gigas, who wore black jerseys marked with words “All Black Giga Mamba” on the front of their jerseys as tribute to the late Kobe Bryant, remained in second spot.

“It’s a relief that we won this game. It’s a really very important game for us,” said Ravena after the Tropang Giga rebounded from setbacks to the Magnolia Hotshots and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

The Bolts missed posting their third win in a row.

Tropang Giga, getting a game-high 27 points from RR Pogoy, were averaging 42 attempts from the three-point range, but they only shot 22 against the Bolts.

“But we’re focusing really on our defense – how to stop our man, how to make stops. Meralco, when they play against us, it’s a must-win game every game. We have to keep playing,” said Ravena.

Meralco’s offense drew strength from Chris Newsome’s 17 points and the pair of Cliff Hodge and Raymond Almazan, who made 14 points.

It was a great evening for Pogoy, who improved after a 4-for-15 performance in his previous game.

Pogoy was 12-for-24 on his field goal shooting. Peter Atencio

Newsome powers Meralco to victory over Terrafirma

By Reuel Vidal

D

OWN-the-wire.

Chris Newsome drained a fadeaway jumpshot over the blocking hand of CJ Perez at the buzzer to power the Meralco Bolts to a nail-biting 95-93 victory over Terrafirma Dyip in the PBA Philippine Cup yesterday, Sunday, November 8 at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena & Cultural Center Powered by Smart 5G. Perez almost lifted the Dyip to victory before Newsome’s decisive field goal.

Perez converted two-of-two free throws to cut the Meralco lead to 5, 93-87, with 2 minutes left to play. Perez then cut the gap to just 3, 93-90, after converting a three-pointer with 1:41 left in the game.

Perez then penetrated into the paint to drop a pass inside to Eric Camson. With Meralco defenders converging on him Camson zipped a pass outside to an open Juami Tiongson who drilled the sideline trey to tie the count at 93-all.

In the final play of the game Newsome received the ball from Baser Amer. He made his move against Perez and drove

strong to the hoop before pulling up for the fadeaway dagger which beat the Dyip.

In the first game of the day Rain or Shine Elasto Painters snapped a threegame losing streak to beat the skidding Blackwater Elite, 82-71.

With the twin results the Elite (2 wins, 7 losses), NorthPort Batang Pier (1-7) and Terrafirma (1-8) were formally eliminated from the chase to the Quarterfinals.

Leading the standings are Barangay Ginebra (7-2), TNT Tropang Giga (7-3) and Phoenix Super LPG (6-3).

The other teams include the Alaska Aces (6-4), Meralco Bolts (6-4), Rain or Shine (5-4), San Miguel Beermen (5-4),

Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok (5-4) and NLEX Road Warriors (4-5).

The Elasto Painters seemed in danger of suffering their fourth consecutive loss when they suddenly woke up in the third quarter. They exploded a 15-0 run to grab the initiative for good.

It may have been a Pyrrhic victory however with their best scorers Rey Nambatac and James Yap suffering game-ending injuries.

The Scores: Rain or Shine 82 – Javee Mocon 19, Beau Belga 14, Clint Doliguez 8, Ryan Araña 8, Gabe Norwood 7, Mark Borboran 7, Rey Nambatac 5, Sydney Onwubere 5, Adrian Wong 5, Norbert Torres 4, Kris Rosales 0, Prince Rivero 0, Vince Tolentino 0, Jewel Ponferada 0, James Yap 0.

Blackwater Elite 71 – Mac Bello 15, Niño Canaleta 11, Roi Sumang 11, Richard Escoto 10, Mike Tolomia 4, Jonjon Gabriel 4, Matt Salem 3, Ron Dennison 3, Diego Dario 3, Ed Daquioag 2, Frank Golla 2, Marion Magat 2, Don Trollano 1, Maurice Shaw 0.

Quarter Scores: 16-20, 38-34, 63-45, 82-71.

Marcial regains confidence during US training EUMIR Felix Marcial admits he lost a lot of his confidence the entire time he was idle while dealing with COVID-19 restrictions in the Philippines.

This Marcial realized soon after he had his first sparring session at the famed Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California.

The 25-year-old Marcial sparred with veteran middleweight Gabriel Rosado Wednesday afternoon (Thursday morning, Manila time) in a session, which lasted for three rounds. Rosado is preparing for a fight opposite former world middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs on November 27 in California.

“Bumalik talaga ‘yung kumpiyansa ko pagtapos ng sparring kasi matagal na ako walang training and laban habang nasa Pilipinas kaya ngayon masasabi ko na tama talaga desisyon ko na pumunta dito sa US,” said Marcial.

Marcial last fought March of this year when he won the gold and an outright Olympic slot during the Asian Olympic Qualifiers held in Amman, Jordan.

Soon after signing a promotional deal with Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions last July, Marcial requested the senator, through the outfit’s president Sean Gibbons, to help him jumpstart his training for the Tokyo Olympics next year.

Gibbons immediately arranged a training camp for Marcial in Los Angeles, paving the way for the Filipino to travel to the United States middle of October.

“Pasalamat ako kay Senator kasi hindi naman talaga niya obligasyon na gastusan itong training camp kasi nga, promoter siya, hindi manager. ‘Yung paghanap lang ng laban ko ang obligasyon talaga ng MP Promotions,” said Marcial.

Marcial is set to submit a proposal to the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines and the Philippine Sports Commission to request appropriate funding for his training program.

The program will officially tap famed trainer Freddie Roach as his lead trainer, Justin Fortune as his conditioning coach and Roach’s Filipino deputy Marvin Somodio as assistant trainer.

Marcial is also hoping to get head coach Ronald Chavez and one

Olympic hopeful Eumir Felix Marcial says he’s regained his confidence after he resumed his boxing training in the US.

Filipino Sports Masseur Trainer to join him in his training camp as well as former national team member and former regional champion Anthony Marcial to be his main companion both in training and his daily routine.

“Nagsabi naman ang ABAP at PSC na tutulong sila kaya sana masuportahan nila itong program dito kasi komportable na ako kay coach Freddie although maganda din kung makakasama ko pa si coach Ronald,” disclosed Marcial.

Next week, Marcial will resume his sparring session in an effort to be in fighting shape come December as Gibbons, a noted matchmaker who has been giving several Filipinos world title opportunities, is working on getting a mid-December fight for the Zamboangeno boxer.

PGT/LPGT will restart November 17 at Riviera THE Philippine Golf Tour resumes after a long eight-month hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic with a twotournament “bubble” for the men’s and ladies’ circuits on Nov. 17-20 and Dec. 8-11 at Riviera’s Couples and Langers courses, respectively, in Silang, Cavite.

The resumption is aimed not only at providing opportunities for the pros again but also at underscoring that golf can live up to its reputation as one of the safer sports allowed to re-start in new normal times.

“The management of Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. has studied the possibility of scheduling two tournaments to end the year and presented our COVID-19 protocols and new guidelines to the Games and Amusements Board and InterAgency Task Force (IATF) for their approval,” said PGTI general manager Colo Ventosa.

Two events were actually held before the pandemic – the ICTSI Pradera Classic, a spillover tournament capping the third season of PGT Asia last January, and The Country Club Invitational, the flagship event of each PGT season, last March.

But very little about the last tournament would be like the opening round of the re-start of the circuit as the pros will return to a new set of rules and safety protocols, including restricting the players’ movements inside the bubble.

A memo was sent to all the players over the weekend, outlining and detailing the various procedures to be implemented during the twotournament run.

This includes mandatory RT-PCR swab tests and Standard Q COVID-19 Ag (Antigen) test with the PGTI to cover only one test per tournament. Daily temperature check will be conducted. Players will also be required to fill out a health questionnaire that would include the RT PCR results and Standard Q COVID-19 Ag (Antigen), which will be submitted to the GAB. Registration is ongoing with the PGTI expecting around 78 players in men’s and ladies’ sides to participate. Deadline for listup is on Nov. 10.

The health and safety guidelines, including during the tournament proper, are all detailed in the PGTI Standard and Procedures at www.pgt.ph.

Teixeira submits Santos at UFC Fight Night

Glover Teixeira (right) connects with his right hand against Anthony Smith in this file photo of their Light Heavyweight bout during UFC Fight Night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on May 13, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. AFP

AGE is just a number.

Forty one-year-old Glover Teixeira proved that once again after he submitted Thiago Santos at 1:49 of the third round during UFC Fight Night yesterday morning at UFC Apex in Nevada.

Santos connected with a sledge hammer left hand which sent Texeira down on the canvas early in the third round. Santos mounted Texeira and administered vicious ground-and-pound.

Santos seemed on the way to a knockout victory.

Texeira managed to wrap his left arm around Santos’ neck and his right over Santos’ torso to weather the vicious attack.

Texeira then somehow scrambled to his feet and grabbed Santos from behind. The two stag-

gered back into the side of the cage with Texeira now on top and administering groundand-pound on Santos.

A fatigued Santos, trying to avoid strikes on his face, turned around and gave Texeira his back. The veteran slipped his right arm under Santos’ chin and tightened a rear-naked choke around the neck which forced Santos to tap out.

It was the fifth consecutive victory for the UFC veteran who then called for a shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight crown held by Jan Blachowicz.

“I want that belt, man. It’s a dream. I live a simple life. I don’t fight for the money. I fight for the belt. I want that belt. That’s why I’m here.

That’s why I’m so disciplined. I work so hard

and that’s my dream,” said Teixeira.

“I know it’s not an easy task. It’s still a big fight ahead of me but I want that chance, you know. I think I deserve it. I think I work hard for it and I think I deserve that chance for the belt.”

Both Santos and Teixeira carried knockout power in either hand. But Texeira somehow weathered Santos’ two-fisted attacks to eke out the hard-earned submission victory.

In the most electrifying bout of the day Jamey Simmons tried to fix his hair in the middle of the fight against Giga Chikadze and paid dearly for his vanity. As the two circled in the middle of the cage Simmons used his hands to push his coifed hair back in place. Reuel Vidal

Stock market poised to climb higher B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2020

B1

IN BRIEF Aboitiz Power keen on expansion abroad

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

B4

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2020

PSE INDEX

Friday, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

40.92 PTS. 6,685.69

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

4,075,051,225 173,289 10,078,566,794.83 109 92 57

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.3500

Japan

Yen

0.009665

0.4673

UK

Pound

1.314800

63.5706

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128991

6.2367

Switzerland

Franc

1.106195

53.4845

Canada

Dollar

0.766460

37.0583

Singapore

Dollar

0.740960

35.8254

Australia

Dollar

0.728200

35.2085

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652238

128.2357

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266638

12.8919

Brunei

Dollar

0.738225

35.6932

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.032425

1.5677

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.1644

Euro

Euro

1.182500

57.1739

Korea

Won

0.000891

0.0431

China

Yuan

0.151286

7.3147

India

Rupee

0.013530

0.6542

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241371

11.6703

New Zealand

Dollar

0.676300

32.6991

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035075

1.6959 Source: BSP

Business MAYNILAD SANITATION TRUCKS. West zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. spends more than P179 million to acquire 19 new vacuum truck units to boost septic tank cleaning services for residential and semi-business customers in unsewered areas. Attending the presentation of the newly-acquired trucks are (from left) Maynilad chief operating officer Randolph Estrellado, Maynilad president and chief executive Ramoncito Fernandez, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System administrator Emmanuel Salamat, Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso, Environment Assistant Secretary Daniel Nicer and Maynilad wastewater management head Apollo Tiglao.

Villar Group ventures into transport services

By Jenniffer B. Austria

It aims to serve the market’s need for ing the vehicle type needed based on the on-demand delivery, ranging from small items to be delivered―motorcycle, MPV items such as food and documents, to big- 300, MPV 600 or light truck. As soon as HE Villar Group ger items such as parcels and appliances. a rider is matched to the order, customers The mobile application can be down- will be able to monitor the status of the of Companies said loaded on Android Play Store and Apple delivery through the app. over the weekend it App Store and is now available in Metro Meanwhile, other services offered by Manila, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Cavite, Get All are purchase service, Rider for a ventured into the transport Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Day and shuttle service. service business with the Cebuofand de Oro. Rider Branch-Lite for a Day asallows for multiple NEW LANDBANK BRANCH. Land Bank theCagayan Philippines inaugurates the Bataan Capitol it continues to An initial feature ofdespite the mobile app is pandemic. drop-offs and rides,ofwith exclulaunch of online delivery expand its branch network to provide banking services to the public the COVID-19 Withmultiple the opening LandBank parcel delivery, where customers can ar- and siveextension use of the designated rider for eight Bataan Capitol Branch-Lite in Balanga City, the state-run bank now operates 411 branches offices across the country’s service mobile application delivery of items from small sizesfromhours, as long as total distance of deliver81 provinces. Leading the opening ceremony range are (Bataan Governor Albert Garcia (third left) and LandBank Central Luzon documents, food, clothes, supplies ies is not more than 50 kilometers.

Get All. branches group head first vice president Sylviasuch Limas (fourth from left).

This service aims to maximize deliverGet All transport services include on- to bigger and bulkier items like appliances ies per trip, making it possible to serve demand delivery, vehicle rentals, shuttle and raw materials.

Get All will also service the online de- multiple customers in a day without havand shopper services to key cities inside livery requirements of all brands under the ing to book a rider each time. and outside Metro Manila.

It also aims to support micro, small and “Get All is the company’s solution to Villar Group including AllHome, AllDay medium enterprises with an affordable rate the high demand for transport services that and Coffee Project.

Customers will be able to book a vehicle of P1,000 for motorcycle vehicle. Rider for arose because of the limited movement brought about by quarantine restrictions,” by selecting parcel delivery icon, putting a Day is also available for sedans, vans and in the pick-up and delivery details, select- light truck vehicles, the group said. the group said in a statement.

T

Robinsons Land Gov’t expects Peso strengthens to four-year to infuse several ‘20 rice output buildings tooffice reach record high of 48.22 versus US dollar in20.17m plannedtons REIT DA decides to impose temporary but limited ban on Dutch poultry

ROBINSONS Land Corp., the real estate arm of conglomerate JG Summit

By OthelInc., V. Campos Holdings said over the weekend it plans to conduct a real estate investment trust offeringof that will include THE Department Agriculture said some its office buildings next Fridayofrice harvest may still hityear. a reRLC said in a disclosure to the stock cord production of 20.17 million metexchange it was considering infusingthe “a ric tons in crop year 2020, despite significant number of its existing office damage caused by recent typhoons. buildings into the new REIT company” a with 2-percent loss in palay to “With be listed the Philippine Stock harvest, we could still realize a reExchange. cord output 20 million metRLC is oneofofabout the country’s leading ric tons, which is seven percent more office landlords with 25 office buildthan offering our 2019 yieldnet ofleasable 18.81 MMT,” ings a total area of over squareSecretary meters. William said 600,000 Agriculture A REIT is a corporation that primariDar. ly Third-quarter invests in income-generating real espalay production is tate such as office spaces, malls, service expected to reach 3.54 million MT, apartments, and even hotels, hospitals, up by 16 percent from the same pewarehouses and the likes. riod last year, according to the PhilipIts office building division posted pine Statistics Authority. revenues of P4.34 billion in the first The DA said based on from harvest nine months, up 20 percent the figures in the first three quarters, same period last year. theThe rice sectordid might achieve the company not say how much it would raise production from the planned four-quarter target,REIT inlisting, butthe saidstaple it would “create further creasing adequacy level growth to 91.5opportunities.” percent based on rice per RLC would become the comcapita consumption of second 118.6 kilopany to Last conduct an REIT in grams. year’s rice offering adequacy the country, following the successful level settled at 87 percent. listing of Ayala Land Inc.’s AREIT Inc. DA said the early harvest done in The August. byAside farmers before the DoubleDragon typhoons hit from RLC, palay-producing regions was a plans cruProperties Corp. also announced cialconduct move an to REIT securing futurethisinvento offering year. tory.

Its plan, however, could be delayed to next It year. said farmers were able save at The1.6 REIT was enacted years or ago, least million MT of11palay 7 but it was now that depercent of only the DA’s totalproperty target provelopers offering afduction considered volume ofREIT 20.34 million ter the government eased the stringent MT before the onset of the strong tax and public ownership requirements typhoons that hit Luzon and the Vifor REIT listing. Jenniffer B. Austria

By Julito G. Rada

By Othel V. Campos

T

HE peso on Friday

THE Department of Agriculture strengthened to itsdecided to impose a temporary and limited ban on highest against inpoultry imports fromlevel the Netherlands stead of a blanket prohibition, industry the US dollar in moreanthan source said over the weekend. four onthe the The years source said DAback agreedof to limit the scope of the import restriction over the more stable global financial serious implications to the local meat promarkets as economies cessing industry.

A total ban will curtail the operations gradually reopen. of some the biggest local meat procesThe local currency gained nine censors, as the Netherlands is the biggest tavos to close at 48.22 per US dollar poultry supplier to the Philippines, the on Friday, source said. up from 48.31 per dollar Thursday. wasresult its strongest finish in It could It also in tight supply of more thanmeat fourproducts years, orinsince it settled processed the market and a possible price increase, the source at 48.19 on Oct. 24, 2016.

Foreignsaid. exThe DA was supposed issuemillion, a memchange volume reachedto$779

up from $661.87 million on Thursday.

Astro del Castillo, managing director of First Grade Finance Inc., a fi-

FISHERMEN’S DOCK. San Miguel Corp.,

ABOITIZ Power Corp. expects to move ahead with international expansion plan by 2022, a top executive said over the weekend.

“We have deferred our move in Vietnam during the pandemic. We see ourselves back by 2022 into the countries that we have chosen, pre-pandemic,” Aboitiz Power president Emmanuel Rubio said during the company’s virtual briefing.

Aboitiz Power announced in April that it terminated its planned acquisition of a 100-percent ownership interest in Mekong POWER Manila Co.stake has Wind Pte. retailer Ltd. which holdsElectric a majority asked the Energy Regulatory Commission in a 39.4-megawatt onshore wind power fato approve a capital of cility in Ninh Thuanexpenditure province inbudget southern P20.697 billion in 2021 to ensure the reliVietnam. able operation of its distribution network.

Aboitiz Power said Aboitiz Power Inter“Primarily, these capex projects are necnational Pte. Ltd.’s planned acquisition of essary to avert foreseen emergency situMekong Wind the from Armstrong Southeast ationsClean and ensure theFund reliable its Asia Energy Pte.operation Ltd. “wasofnot distributiondue network and connection tobeing meet completed to a condition precedent the growing needs of tis about 6.9 million unmet by the agreed longstop date.” customers,” Meralco saidInternational in a filing with It said Aboitiz Power wasthe in ERC. discussions with Armstrong to revisit the acMeralco said its regulatory 2021 quisition in the future.

Alena Maeyear S. Flores capex program would cover projects for implementation on July 1, 2020 to June 31, 2021 that were geared towards providing reliable service to customers by maintaining an Corp. adequate, and itviable NLEX said safe, over efficient the weekend bordistribution network the rowed P20 billion fromwhile seven providing financial instineeded capacity to address the forecasted tutions to refinance maturing debt and partly load growth within its franchise area. finance capital expenditures.

The operator companyofsaid distribution netThe NorththeLuzon Expressway work should be sufficient to meet its current and Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway said it and immediate requirements.

It expects cussigned a P20-billion corporate notes faciltomer base to expand to around 7.3 million ity agreement with China Banking Corp., and peak demand 7,801 megawatts Development Banktoofreach the Philippines, KEB next year.

S. Flores Hana BankAlena ManilaMae Branch, Land Bank of the

IN BRIEF

Meralco eyes capex of P20.69b in 2021

NLEX Corp. raises P20b from 7 banks

Philippines, Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc., The Insular Life Assurance Company Ltd. and United Coconut Planters Bank in their capacity as note holders.

THE Department of the Transportation “The proceeds of loan will be said used the by implementation the contactless toll payNLEX Corp. to of refinance its maturing loan ment scheme push through next obligations andwill to partially finance themonth.

NLEX It said the primary purpose of Department Connector Road Project and other capital exOrder No.of2020-012 requiring cashless penditures NLEX,” the company said. or contactless transaction for in all2021, vehicles Targeted for completion the travP23eling on expressways toaims prevent CObillion NLEX Connectorwas Road to reduce VID-19 transmission. travel time from NLEX to South Luzon Ex“Interoperability willto about merely20 minutes provide pressway from two hours added convenience motorists for who no and provide improvedtoaccessibility cargo longer bound need to two RFID Thus, trucks forinstall the Manila Ports tags.

(North and implementation cashless airports. program South Harbor) andofthethe international should not wait for interoperability of the Darwin G. Amojelar toll systems,” it said.

“Any delay in its implementation amid the COVID-19 pandemic will only make motorists, as well as the personnel manning the toll plazas, vulnerable toAirport unwanted and CLARK FREEPORT—The Council unnecessary physical contact, and hence, exInternational recognized the health protocols posure to the deadly coronavirus,” the DOTr and safety measures initiated by Clark Intersaid. national Airport in handling travelers amid said that with the issue of announced interopertheItglobal pandemic, authorities ability aside, the extension of the deadline Sunday. to CRK Dec. 1iswould provide using acthe the first airportmotorists in the country expressways ample time to have their vehicredited

by ACI. cles equipped with needed “Your airport hasthe shown thatRFID it is stickers providfroma the operators. ing safetoll airport experience for all travelers G. Amojelar which is in line with theDarwin recommended health

DOTr keeps schedule on RFID toll collection

ACI accredits Clark international airport

nance and investment company based in it closed at 48.92 per dollar. It has stayed Makati City, told Manila Standard that within that range since then. orandum order enforcing a full ban on zilian poultry exports to China and the US. as global financial markets gained, inBank of the Philippine Islands lead Dutch poultry imports, including poultry, The government said it was willing to measures established in the ACI Aviation flows were directed into the country. economist Jun Neri said Thursday the eggs, poultry manure and used bedding review the temporary ban on poultry imBusiness Restartamong and Recovery guidelines SMIC best “These cause investments come local would depreciate and other animal products fromto poultry ports currency from Brazil afterlikely the latter threatand ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task managed firms in PH into country,” he said, adding the near 49bring per the greenback in the coming farms,theafter Dutch authorities announced ened to issue to the World Trade Force Recommendations, along with indusCONGLOMERATE SMsaid Investments gradual reopening the economy taking into account the expectthe culling of 35,700ofbroiler chickensalso fol- months, Organization. try best practices,” ACI in a letterCorp. sent was citedInternational among the best managed compalowing anthe outbreak of aofhighly National Meat Inspecto Luzon Premier Development buoyed strength the contagious local cur- edOfficials recoveryofofthe imports as the economy nies inthe theoperator Philippines

by Alpha Southeast strain of bird flu at a poultry farm in the continues tion Service a recent Zoom meetCorp., of CRK. rency. to said relaxinborder restrictions.

Asia based on itsAccreditation 10th annual ProcorThemagazine ACI Airport Health eastern of Altforst. with domestic stakeholders that Brazil “The village US elections also have positive ing“With the economy slowly reopening, porate-institutional for Airports 2020. Council gram is an initiativepoll of the Dutch authorities also said that strict would be allowed to resume trade with the impact to global financial markets rather we expect imports to recover further in SMIC topped Bestworldwide Senior Management International, the first association monitoring was being enforced in all areas Philippines pending the submission of two than negative,” del Castillo said. the coming months in line with the exInvestor Support forto the sixth of airport Relations operators established represent affected by Avian influenza in nine other documents that would prove that Brazilian Local equities rose in line with repected improvement in local demand. consecutive year.

SMIC was also ranked their common interests and foster cooperapoultry farms within a three-kilometer ra- poultry are safe to consume and are free first with in the Best throughout Strategic the Corporate Sogional overfarm the week, dollar demand may pick up and tion partners air transport dius of markets the affected while afollowing transport Hence, from contaminants and viruses. cial Responsibility category for the sixth industry. the US elections.

The Philippine Stock the exchange rate may move closer to ban was imposed within a 10-kilometer The DA, in search for other sources of straight year.to recognize airports for their ACI aims Exchange index, closed at an eight- the P49 is level,” said in a report. zone. poultry, set toNeri launch a trade mission to Other awards included Organized efforts in prioritizing healthMost and safety meamonth high of 6,685.69 Nov. poultry 6, rep- Poland Imports in September for The Philippines earlieron banned to check if foreign contracted meat establishInvestor Relationstoforairports the ninth year in a row sures introduced worldwide beimports from Brazil, theclimb second largest ments from the European country resenting a 44-percent from this the 17th straight month with -16.5would perand Most Consistent Dividend Policy for the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. suppliers, because of the reported prespass the stringent sanitarywas and year’s bottom of 4,623.42 registered on cent to Philippines’ $7.92 billion.

The decline fourth straight year. SMIC Jess was also the only Malabanan ence of 19 COVID-19 particles some Bra- higher phytosanitary Philippine company to receive Best Annual March at the start of theoncommunity at -21.3requirements. percent in August.

Report for the second time. lockdown.

He said a risk to this outlook would be “We thank Alpha Southeast Asia for this The peso pierced through the 49-a- government underspending, especially recognition and the investor community for OFofANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING dollar boundary on Aug. 11, 2020 whenNOTICE in the area infrastructure. its confidence. This gives us much encour-

in cooperation with the local government of Sariaya and the Diocese of Lucena, inaugurates the Sariaya Fishermen’s Dock—a first-of-its-kind multipurpose facility that includes a fisherman’s hall in Sariaya, Quezon. It will help increase the resiliency of fishermen, particularly those residing at the San Miguel-Christian Gayeta Homes in Barangay Castanas. The inauguration PLASTIC RECYCLING. coincided with the graduation Mondelez Philippines, maker of Eden Cheese and Cheez Whiz, launches a movement to reduce its packaging footprint of the first batch of 50 students and recycling activities. whosupport took livelihood and skills The company teams up with The Plastic Flamingo to collectfunded and recycle training programs by plastic packaging to help reduce marine litter.

The Plastic Flamingo is a social enterprise which aims to tackle marine SMC in cooperation with the plastic pollution by collecting Technical Education Skills and and recycling ocean-bound plastic waste in emerging countries with maximum social impact.

Development Authority.

agement OF FRUITAS HOLDINGS, INC.

as we endeavor to uphold good governance and sustainability across our Please take notice that the 2020 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting (“ASM”) of Fruitas Holdings, Inc. (the businesses,” SMIC president Frederic Dy “Company”) will be held on 01 December 2020 (Tuesday) at 2:00 pm via remote communication.

The Buncio said.

virtual ASM is necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic situation during which physical gatherings are highly discouraged.

The Agenda for the ASM shall be as follows: 1. Call to order 2. Certification of service of notice and presence of quorum 3. Reading and approval of the minutes of the last Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on (August 24, 2019) 4. Ratification of all acts and resolutions of the Board of Directors and Management from the date of the last annual stockholders’ meeting until the date of this meeting 5. Presentation of the President’s Report 6. Management Report and Approval of Audited Financial Statements for the year 2019 7. Election of the members of the Board of Directors, including the Independent Directors, for the year 2020 8. Appointment of External Auditors MALACAÑANG Palace ordered En9. Other Matters 10. Adjournment vironment Secretary Roy Cimatu to reThe Minutes of the 2019 ASM is available for examination on the website of the to Company at www.Fruitasholdings.com spond a serious concern raised by a The record date shall be on October 26, 2020 for the purpose of determining the list of stockholders of the Corporation non-government organization over alwho are entitled to vote in the 2020 ASM. leged illegal operations The Company will allow attendance by stockholders only by remote communication and gold voting inmining absentia, subject to bytheaCompany. wholly-owned British corporation validation procedures, though the directors will be in the principal office of Stockholders who will participate in the ASM by remote communication should an e-mail Magat indicatingWatershed their intent in within thesend protected to participate to IPO.Compliance@fruitasholdings.com. They will then benorthern sent a link toLuzon. a registration form requiring certain information and documentation. Upon their successful accomplishment of the registration form, they will receive an e-mail The Presidential Complaint Center, invitation with a complete guide on how to join the ASM and how to cast votes in absentia.

Registration and voting must be in contact a memorandum dated Oct. 2, 2020, sayas. accomplished by November 26, 2020. For any registration concerns, please IPO.Compliance@fruitasholdings.com. directed Cimatu to reply directly and to the Please refer to the Definitive Information Statement (“DIS”) on the guidelines on attendance by remote communication Combined palay production loss voting in absentia. The DIS is posted on the website of the Company at www.Fruitasholdings.com. stockholders who the complaining partiesOnlyand furnish from the typhoons reached roughly have successfully registered within the prescribed period, together withagency the stockholders voted in absentia and by with a who copy of his rejoinder. proxy, will be included in the determination of quorum.

165,000 metric tons, representing “Expeditious action is requested Proxies, in the form provided by the Company, must be scanned and emailed to the Company’s Corporate Secretaryin at acjust 2 percent of the projected fourthcordance with the provisions of Republic IPO.Compliance@fruitasholdings.com not later than November 23, 2020.

The proxies shall be validated by November 26, the home and fiber-to-the-home on our sights. So, it’s not By Darwin G. Amojelar quarter harvest of 8.4 million MT, it 2020. TheThird-quarter Corporate Secretary’s decision shall be _nal and binding shareholders, and those not settled during Act 11032, otherwise known as thetheEase of our sales reached P22.5 bil- on the

By Jenniffer B. Austria quite an open field in termsperformance on that segment that company. used to We’ve proxy validation shall be deemed waived and may no longer beup raised. WE ARE NOT, HOWEVER, SOLICITING PROXIES. Govof Doing Business and Efficient said. seen, however, improvement in malion, an indication of demand picking THE country’s two largest telecom companies expect stiff be. There would be an intense completion in that segment Stockholders may send their questions about the ASM and the Company to IPO.Compliance@fruitasholdings.com.

Service Delivery Act as implePROPERTY developers Ayala Land “We hope and pray that players in the reamid theNotice uncertain environment, it said. mayernment [home broadband],” Cu said.jority of our business lines in the third Pursuant to SEC dated April 20, 2020, the Stockholders examine the Definitive Information Statement, competition next year as new mented and enforced by the Anti-Red Inc. and Robinsons Land Corp. posted ManagementMeanwhile, Report, and SEC Form 17A at the Company’s website and through the PSE Edge Portal. asmuch pandemic-related Robinsons Land booked maining eightexpand weekstheir of the year, we “I think it’s a race of who quarter can deploy better, deploy restricaggressively networks.

Tape Authority,” the and one-page memo There will be an audio and video recording ofof theP717 ASM. Allmilvotes cast shall be validated by the Stock Transfer Agent, lower third-quarter profits as their malls tions gradually eased,” Ayala Land a third-quarter net income much quicker and also provide the right service to the pubwill be Telecom spared from typhoons, Globe Inc. strong president and chief executive Ernest BDO Unibank, Inc. stated.

Bottom line, [it would a] very intense competition for Bernard residential businesses continued to bepresident and chief executive lion, down 78.3 percent Cu over weekend competition home broad- lic. andsaid thus ourthe full-year production es-in theand Quezon City, Philippines, 13 October 2020.from P3.3 bilPCC director Jaime LLaguno Mabithepandemic. home in 2021,” he said. Vincent Dy said. affectednot by the band market would further intensify next yearbe “because the same quarter last year. This For thelion Boardin of Directors, timate would be realized,” Dar said.

Palace tells DENR to address alleged illicit Magat mining

Globe, Smart see intenseAyala competition in telecom Land sectorbooked in 2021 sharp drop in Q3 profits Land, Robinsons

Solutions as a “threat” in the developonlyThe Globe hasharvest actuallyadvisory been rolling out or has rolled in saidCu Ayalaout Land in aconsidered disclosureICT to the “WeInc.anticipate favorable early enabled broadband space. “Any competitor’s a threat and Iasthink terms of fiber [network].” stock exchange Friday third-quarter net ments moving forward the reopening farmers to save as much as P26.2 bilConverge, as what billion they’ve done, I think has to be admired,” “Previously the two telco incumbents were focused on profit fell 77 percent to P1.85 of the economy gains traction and have lion worth of on palay, corn but andI think high-both of us have put he said. our competition wireless, from P8.05 billion recorded in the same started to introduce new product inven-

value crops from Typhoons Quinta and Rolly.

The DA said it was expecting to achieve a comfortable level of rice

pushed nine-month net income to P4.4 billion, lower by 39.7 percent from P7.3 billion in 2019.

The group’s development portfoperiod last year. tory in our estates,” Dy said. lio, which accounted for 49 percent of Third-quarter revenues also declined Ayala Land said that as residential consolidated revenues, went up by 33 42.4 percent to P22.1 billion from P38.4 demand started to improve, it launched percent to P8.84 billion. However, rev-

lin said “failure to timely respond to the public’s concern shall be a ground for administrative sanctions MARVIN C. YU under existing Corporate Secretary laws and regulations.”

Lawyer Arnel Victor Valeña earlier lauded President Rodrigo Duterte’s swift action on the environmental and social concerns raised by the Action for Consumerism and Transparency in Nation-

B2

Business

MONday, NOVEMBER 9, 2020 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market poised to climb higher

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARE prices are expected to continue to trade on positive territory this week with investors now focusing on the recovery story of the domestic economy and on former vice president Joe Biden’s ascendancy to the US presidency.

Analysts said investors were looking at the improving economic numbers as the number of COVID-19 cases in the country continue to decline, which could lead to further easing of quarantine restrictions.

Listed companies have started report-

ing positive third-quarter results against the second quarter of the year. The thirdquarter profits, however, are still below a year ago levels.

The pronouncements from newlyappointed vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. that COVID-19 vaccine rollout could start sometime by May next year are also positive development for the country.

BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said the market may trade between the 6,300-6,700-point levels in the nearterm. He pegged the market’s next resistance at 6,900.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week jumped 5.7 percent to 6,685.69. The market traded on the positive territory for the entire week amid the expected victory of Biden in the US presidential election.

AP Securities stockbroker Jaycob Yedra said in a recent press briefing the do-

mestic market rallied on on expectations that a Joe Biden victory will be positive for developing countries like the Philippines.

“Prevailing view is that a Biden victory would be good for most developing countries/emerging markets and will offer opportunities that have not yet been priced in,” Yedra said.

“This is because emerging markets is a proxy for global trade growth and the outlook is that Biden winning means less US protectionist stance and therefore will be good for global growth.

(The) Philippines along with the other emerging markets are expected to rally,” he added.

All sectors posted week-on-week gains led by holding firms (+7.1 percent), services (+5.05 percent), and mining and oil (+4.97 percent).

The average daily value slipped to P8.5 billion, while foreign investors

turned net sellers for the week at an average of P120 million compared with the average net buying of P390 million in the previous week.

World markets, meanwhile, lost momentum Friday after four straight days of gains on Wall Street, as vote counting across US battleground states showed Democrat Joe Biden poised for victory.

US stocks from Monday to Thursday posted the best four-day streak since April, and Friday featured positive economic data for traders to peruse as unemployment dropped a full point to 6.9 percent in October, a bigger-thanexpected fall.

The US economy regained 638,000 jobs last month, far more than analysts had been expecting, the Labor Department data showed, despite rising coronavirus cases and Congress’s failure to pass another spending package to aid the economy’s recovery. With AFP

Biden tackles stimulus,taxes to fix stricken US economy WASHINGTON—When Joe Biden walks in to the White House as president in January, he will have the opportunity to reshape the world’s largest economy, but first he will have to get it back on its feet.

The United States is starting to recover from a historic contraction in growth and tens of millions of job losses caused by the world’s largest Covid-19 outbreak, which spoiled the previously healthy economy and contributed to voters’ decision to oust President Donald Trump in this week’s election.

On the campaign trail, the 77-year-old former vice president promised a slew of policy departures from Trump, such as raising the minimum wage, rewriting the tax code, investing massively in infrastructure and lowering the country’s carbon emissions.

But in order to achieve those, he will first have to subdue the coronavirus pandemic, while navigating a Congress that could be split, with Biden’s Democrats holding a narrow majority in the House and control of the Senate still undecided.

“He has an ambitious policy agenda, it’s hard to argue with that. You can certainly argue it’s not ambitious enough,” said Shai Akabas, economic policy director at the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Like former president Barack Obama, under whose tenure he served as vice president, Biden takes office with an economy that is reeling.

The $2.2-trillion CARES Act stimulus package passed in March helped temper some of the damage caused by business shutdowns to stop Covid-19 from spreading, but key parts of that law expired and the economy is far from healed. AFP

Libya oil firm’s daily output tops 1 million barrels TRIPOLI—Libya’s National Oil Corporation said Saturday production had punched above one million barrels per day, nearly two weeks after it lifted the war-torn country’s last remaining force majeure.

But the firm also warned financial difficulties could yet trigger a renewed slide in output.

The NOC said in a statement it had “managed to raise production rates to 1,036,035 barrels a day,” after lifting force majeure at the Al-Feel oilfield on October 26.

Force majeure refers to external unforeseen elements that prevent a party from fulfilling a contract.

It had been invoked on multiple facilities by NOC, due to a months longblockade of oilfields and ports by forces loyal to eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar, imposed to correct what his camp called an unfair distribution of oil revenues.

The country, which sits atop Africa’s largest proven crude oil reserves, has been torn between forces loyal to Haftar and a UN-recognized Government of National Accord in Tripoli.

But the two sides signed a UN-brokered “permanent ceasefire” on October 23, and NOC announced the same day the reopening of two key export terminals, Ras Lanuf and Al-Sidra, before likewise lifting force majeure at Al-Feel three days later.

However, in its statement on Saturday, NOC also said it faced “very big financial difficulties and a huge shortage of its budgets.” AFP

Stocks ex PSEi November 6, 2020

TOP GAINERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

PA ALHI NOW HVN IS FAF RLT JAS LOTO PLC

LAST PRICE 3.95 8.29 4.42 388 0.102 0.64 0.265 1.7 1.99 0.375

CHANGE 0.48 0.77 0.34 28 0.007 0.04 0.016 0.1 0.11 0.02

% CHANGE 13.83% 10.24% 8.33% 7.78% 7.37% 6.67% 6.43% 6.25% 5.85% 5.63%

TOP LOSERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

WPI MAHB MHC SGI BSC PRIM DAVIN GSMI FPI CROWN

LAST PRICE 0.6 1.89 0.52 1.06 0.22 0.8 4.3 49.1 0.22 1.97

CHANGE -0.04 -0.11 -0.03 -0.05 -0.01 -0.03 -0.16 -1.8 -0.008 -0.07

% CHANGE -6.25% -5.50% -5.45% -4.50% -4.35% -3.61% -3.59% -3.54% -3.51% -3.43%

T

on s indic is sl a de seco

The added 6,685 billion with 5 The in Oc 2.3 p ports to $6 the sa they i clared to con Inte Servic owned vance CME mobil to P6.

MOST ACTIVE

Quiet roAds. People ride bicycles in the cycle lane as they cross Westminster Bridge into Parliament square in London on November 7, 2020. the roads in central London are quiet since England went into fresh lockdown measures on thursday to cut spiraling infection rates, shutting pubs, bars, restaurants and non-essential shops, and restricting social mixing. AFP

Career progression in the real estate profession IT WAS an honor to be invited as a resource speaker in the 2020 national conference of my esteemed professional organization, the Real Estate Brokers Association of the Philippines (REBAP). About 300 real estate professionals attended this online event. Being a faculty member in the academic community of higher learning, I was asked to share my thoughts on what is the career progression in the real estate profession. And so, I answered the following questions.

Is there guarantee to success if we pursue and acquire a master’s degree?

No. A high school graduate can become successful in business.

There are very smart individuals like dropout Bill Gates who is an exception to the rule. Dropping out of school did not make him successful. But he managed to learn things by himself.

In many fields like the arts, entertainment, and even in real estate, it is experience, industry knowledge and skills, collectively with hard work that aid individuals to advance in their chosen careers.

Unless, of course, this becomes a requirement to our real estate professional license, I think, pursuing a master’s degree should not be because of a prescription of law. More important is selfdetermination and self-motivation to one’s intellectual development that cultivates all-inclusive competencies needed for professional competitiveness. There is value to what we learn in a master’s program.

Even the world’s largest charitable organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, places importance on education. They target students who are enrolled in the master’s program and offer limited paid summer internships. Bill Gates said that students learn the valuable skills of seeing through to the end and they gain confidence which is linked to their success.

In 2018, Harvard Business Review featured the world’s 100 bestperforming CEOs in different fields. Highlighted were 32 CEOs with MBA degrees. Placed 17th is American Hamid Moghadam, who has been in the industry since 1997. He is CEO of Prologis, the world’s largest logistic real estate and REIT company. He took his MBA from Stanford University. At the 37th slot is David Simon, an American billionaire. Simon Property Group is the United States’ biggest shopping mall operator and largest retail REIT company.

Ranked 46th is Indian-American, Satya Nadella of Microsoft, the company co-founded by Bill Gates. He took his master’s at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

The Financial Times wrote that 92 percent of surveyed companies intended to hire MBA graduates in 2021. The expected MBA salary is US$115,000, however, due to the pandemic, the rate could be lower.

Master’s degree holders have higher salaries because organizations will not survive without the ability to get things done; and top business schools will teach you a progression of methods and issues that help evaluate the most cogent solutions and ways to implement, whatever the problem is.

How does the bachelor’s, master’s and the doctoral degrees, and the CPD differ in terms of their benefits to a real estate professional?

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) ensure maintaining professional standards in our field and qualification. It helps us update our skills and knowledge through seminars which are commercial programs given to attendees on a specific topic conducted in a classroom lecture-content area type of learning. Therefore, CPDs in real estate revolve on updated topics like on taxes and the law.

An undergraduate course in finance would teach you the “what” and “how” while a master’s in finance or an MBA will teach strategic decisions and the “where” and “why.”

A bachelor’s degree is just the bare minimum for entry into the qualified workforce. My niece who lives in the US once said, “Here,

a college degree is equivalent to a high school degree!”

People with an MBA are searched for because of their ability to critically think.

Critical thinking is a process of analyzing things that requires students to evaluate business dilemmas/problems and create the best plan of action. It represents a way of thinking, not just a set of accounting skills or knowledge about the law or taxes which we get from CPDs. Critical thinking is not a course, but it is intertwined into the master’s program. The MBA, for instance, relies heavily on the case-study approach, thus, are mostly case intensive studies and application of deep-rooted theories that helps student cognize why things happen in certain ways in the business world.

The master’s degree program fosters students’ analytical ability to deal with ambiguity and solve complex problems. They learn how to frame the problems, ask questions and collect data. What we also learn can bring innovative ideas and value-added improvements to the business.

How do we measure the impact of the master’s and doctoral education on the career success of brokers?

The focus of a master’s degree and a doctoral degree is different.

A master’s degree will deepen a broker’s knowledge in real estate career and skills. A real estate broker who has a doctorate degree can do critical and analytical written research-based studies that would uncover more understanding and knowledge about the gaps in the real estate industry.

To manage one’s success, you need to measure your success. We can ask ourselves, “Am I out-competing my competition?” “What are my financial, social, intellectual, and emotional stats before and after I gained my master’s degree or my doctoral degree?”

What would you advise your colleagues on professional development?

My father, a successful businessman, once told me that I am lucky that I am going to school because I will encounter less mistakes. He did a lot of trial and error and it was costly. In school we can make mistakes.

I also have students who own their businesses who said that if they only knew the theory, they could predict what may happen and probably, they would have done it in another way that would have saved their businesses.

The recipe of having a master’s degree, CPD, and years of work experience, gives a breadth and depth of knowledge useful to our career.

If companies in the global competitive environment can see the value of hiring employees with master’s degree, wouldn’t real estate professionals, who are engaged in a competitive environment, benefit also from acquiring a master’s degree? You may not employ all that you learn, but I think there are useful concepts to gain.

And while it might not be for everyone as it entails dedication to complete it, there is value in gaining higher learning.

Career progression is not only moving up the ladder but the discovery of challenges and new opportunities. As we grow in our careers, it gives us a sense of purpose. We learn important knowledge and skills that will make us professionally competitive.

aNa Liza asis-CastRO, dBa

Green LiGht

The author is a part-time faculty at the Management and Organization Department of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University where she teaches in the MBA program. She welcomes comments at ana.liza.asiscastro@gmail.com.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the position of De La Salle University, its faculty, and its administrators.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

DITO BDO GTCAP TEL AC SM SMPH JFC ALI BPI

VOLUME 256,993,700 6,873,880 1,029,810 368,215 533,260 416,640 11,120,600 1,756,460 9,633,800 3,366,710

VALUE (PHP) 1,399,018,164.00 630,140,264.50 511,252,510.00 505,575,875.00 427,245,525.00 421,212,462.50 388,533,795.00 341,265,290.00 332,637,630.00 264,842,306.00

CHIN

Shang

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development costs, interest and financing costs during construction, value added tax, allowance for contingency, and initial working capital.

Standard

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

TODAY

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION WITH MOTION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF CEASE AND DESIST ORDER, BISCOM, INC., Petitioner -versus-

ERC CASE NO. 2020-004 DR

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP), Respondent. x -------------------------------------------------- x

NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 07 September 2020, Biscom Inc. (BISCOM) filed a Petition for Dispute Resolution with Motion for the Issuance of a Cease and Desist Order dated 01 July 2020 (Petition) against the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

The pertinent portions of the said Petition are hereunder quoted as follows: 1. Petitioner BISCOM is a power generation company duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at Unit 604, Legaspi Towers 200 Condominium, 107 Paseo de Roxas, Legaspi Village, Brgy. San Lorenzo, Makati City 1226.1 It may be served orders and other legal process through its undersigned counsel 2. Respondent NGCP is a private corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at the NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City, where it may be served with pleadings, papers, notices and other processes of this Honorable Commission.

Statement of Facts 3. BISCOM is a registered renewable energy (“RE”) developer engaged in the exploration, development and utilization of biomass energy resource pursuant to Biomass Renewable Energy Operating Contract No. 2016-09-069 dated December 1, 2016 through its biomass plant with a capacity of approximately 48.5MW, located in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental (the “Biomass Plant”).

4. For purposes of conducting testing and commissioning, the Biomass Plant is an embedded generator which will connect to the Visayas Grid via tap connection on the KabankalanBinalbagan 69kV sub-transmission line owned by Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (“NOCECO”).

5. The NGCP issued a Provisional Certificate of Approval to Connect in favor of BISCOM for the testing and commissioning of the Biomass Plant from November 25, 2019 to December 3, 20192, and extended the period to December 5, 2019.3 6. On January 7, 2020, BISCOM received Billing Statement No. 800000035746 dated January 3, 2020 from the NGCP for the Billing Month of December 2019 (“December NGCP Billing Statement”),4 for the following amounts: System Operator Charge

58,515.93

Metering Charge

3,255.00

MSP Common Charge

3,618.00

Franchise Tax

1.961.67

Ancillary Service Charges

488.727.83 TOTAL

556,078.43

7. The fees demanded for by the NGCP is too exorbitant for the operations of BISCOM. There is no basis for the System Operator Charges and Ancillary Service Charges claimed for by the NGCP, compelling BISCOM to seek appropriate relief from this Honorable Commission.

ISSUES I WHETHER NGCP MAY CHARGE AND COLLECT THE SYSTEM OPERATOR CHARGE AND ANCILLARY SERVICE CHARGES WHICH ARE NOT CONTEMPLATED BY THE APPROVED FIT RATES. II WHETHER THERE IS BASIS FOR NGCP TO COLLECT ANCILLARY SERVICE CHARGES FROM EMBEDDED GENERATORS. DISCUSSION NGCP MAY NOT CHARGE AND COLLECT THE SYSTEM OPERATOR CHARGE AND ANCILLARY SERVICE CHARGES WHICH ARE NOT CONTEMPLATED BY THE APPROVED FIT RATES

JUNE 18 & 25, 2018)

8. Republic Act No. 9513, otherwise known as “The Renewable Energy Act of 2008” (the “RE Act”) provides for the State’s policy to accelerate the exploration and development of renewable energy resources through the adoption of sustainable energy development strategies.

9. To accelerate the development of emerging renewable energy resources, a feed-in-tariff system (“FIT System”) for electricity produced from wind, solar, ocean, run-of-river, hydropower and biomass was mandated under the RE Act. The FIT System is “a scheme that involves the obligation on the part of electric power industry participants to source electricity from RE generation at a guaranteed fixed price applicable for a given period of time, which shall in no case be less than twelve (12) years, to be determined by the ERC.” 10. Pursuant to Section 7 of the RE Act and Section 5, Rule 2 of the RE Act Implementing Rules and Regulations (“RE Act IRR”), the Honorable Commission issued Resolution No. 16, series of 2010 adopting the Feed-in-Tariff Rules (the “FIT Rules”).

10.1. The FIT Rules aim to establish the FIT System and regulate the method of establishing and approving the FIT and the Feed-in-Tariff Allowance (the “FIT-AII”).

10.2 The FIT Rules provide that the Honorable Commission approve technology-specific feed-intariffs (“FIT Rates”) based on such FIT Rates to be recommended by the National Renewable Energy Board (“NREB”).

11. Pursuant to and in compliance with the RE Act, RE Act IRR and the FIT Rules, the NREB filed on 16 May 2011 a Petitioon to Initiate Rule-Making For the Adoption of Feed-in-Tariff dated 12 May 2011 docketed as ERC Case No. 2011-006 RM. 12. After due proceedings, in a Decision dated 27 July 2012, and Resolution No. 10, Series of 2012, the Honorable Commission adopted the following FIT Rates: Renewable Energy Resource

Proposed FIT (Php/kWh)

Biomass

6.63

Runo-of-River Hydro

5.9

Solar

9.68

Wind

8.53

13. In Resolution No. 01, series of 2017, the ERC approved a new biomass FIT rate of 6.59 per kWh. 14. In determining the FIT Rates for each renewable energy resource, the following common parameters were considered by the NREB and confirmed by the ERC; 14.1 Gross Installed Capacity. The capacity expressed in megawatts measured at the generator output terminals of the power plant, also known as nameplate capacity.

14.2 Net Capacity Factor. The ratio of the net electricity generated, for the time considered, to the energy that could have been generated at continuous full Gross Installed Capacity operation during the same period 14.3 All-in Project Cost per installed kW. Expressed in USD per kW, this represents all costs incurred during the development, construction periods up to Commercial Operations Date of the project divided

by Gross Installed Capacity of the power plant project. Such costs include, among others, EPC costs, plant switchyard and interconnection costs,

basis by the NGCP for the above–stated distinction between regular Generation Customers and Embedded Generators.

ERC stated as follows:

14.4 Operations and Maintenance (0&M) per year. Costs necessary to operate and maintain the power plant in accordance with industry standards including among others, technical services, consultancy, insurance, labor cost of operating personnel.

“The Commission believes that the “Causers Pay” Principle may be immaterial inasmuch as the Generator Customers can always impute the (Ancillary Service) Charges as part oftheir operation and maintenance costs which will eventually be charged to their Load Customers.

Hence, allocating 100% of the cost of the (Ancillary Service) to Load Customers would be reasonable considering that it will lessen the layers of transaction among the stakeholders and also reduces the cost of operation of TransCo as well as the Generation Customers..”(Emphasis supplied)

14.5 General and administrative costs (G&A) per year.

These are costs related to the administration of the project, which includes, among others, salary of office personnel, office rentals, supplies, professional fees.

14.6 Rate and Terms of Financing (i.e. interest, commitment fee, and repayment period). Pertains to generally accepted terms in project finance that includes, among others (i) interest rate on the loan obtained for a project, (ii) commitment fee payable on the balance of undrawn loan facility during construction period, and (iii) the repayment period over which the loan obtained is to be amortized or repaid.

28. In its dispositive portion, the ERC Decision approved the proposal of then applicant TransCo with modifications, as follows: “The following changes should be incorporated on the proposed AS-CR of the ASPP: (a) The cost of procuring the Ancillary Services (AS) under the ASPP shall be recovered 100% from the load customers but only until such time that such AS is already traded in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.”

14.7 Corporate Income Tax Rate. As provided under the RE Act, it is ten percent (10%) on the net taxable income of the RE Developer after seven (7) years of Income Tax Holiday.

29. Clearly, under the approved AS-CRM, the Ancillary Service Charges that Generation Customers are supposed to be liable for shall be recovered completely from Load Customers.

14.8 Income Tax Holiday Incentive. Pertains to an incentive under the RE Act which exempts a duly registered RE Developer from income taxes for seven (7) years of commercial operations.

30. The OATS Rules should, therefore, be read together with the ERC Decision. Accordingly, Embedded Generators like Generation Customers should not be held liable to pay Ancillary Charges. This is necessary to prevent the situation of NGCP effectively collecting Ancillary Service Charges twice-from the Embedded Generators and from their Load Customers. There is no logical reason to treat a regular Generation Customer differently from an Embedded Generator.

14.9 Duration of Construction and Operating Periods.

Construction Period pertains to length of time from Financial Closing up to Commercial Operations Date while Operating Period is the period from Commercial Operations Date up to the end of the economic life of the project.

31. An Embedded Generator that does not inject power to the Grid should also not pay Ancillary Service Charges.

14.10 Debt to Equity Ratio. The proportion of equity and debt used to finance project development and construction costs.

32. Ancillary Service refers to “Support services such as Primary Reserve, Secondary Reserve, Tertiary Reserve, Reactive Power support, and Black Start Capability which are necessary to support the transmission capacity and Energy that are essential in maintaining Power Quality and the Reliability of the Grid.”14

14.11 Local and Foreign Capital Ratio. The ratio of Philippine Peso (PhP) and US Dollar (USD) denominated capital cost items comprising all development and construction costs excluding financing costs.

33. Accordingly, an Embedded Generator that neither draws nor injects power to the Grid does not necessitate and benefit from Ancillary Service. There is, therefore, no basis to require such Embedded Generator to pay Ancillary Service Charges.

14.12 Local and Foreign Inflation Rate. The assumed annual percentage increase in the price of local (Philippine inflation) and foreign (US inflation) goods and services which are used on estimating or projecting future Operating and Maintenance costs, General and Administrative costs and the FIT Rate, as applicable.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, BISCOM most respectfully prays that this Honorable Commission:

15. Clearly, the foregoing components of FIT rates did not include System Operator Charge and Ancillary Service Charges.

1. After due hearings on the merits, DECLARE that NGCP’s collection of System Operator Charge and Ancillary Service Charges against BISCOM is without legal basis; and

16. Since the computation of the FIT rates did not contemplate the System Operator Charge and Ancillary Service Charges, these will be shouldered by RE Developers like BISCOM, which is applying for eligibility for FIT. BISCOM did not include System Operator Charge and Ancillary Service Charges in its financial projections when it submitted its application for Declaration of Commerciality to the DOE. The DOE necessarily did not consider such charges when it issued the Confirmation of Commerciality for the Biomass Plant.

17. Thus, BISCOM will be left in a situation where it will derive its income exclusively from the existing FIT Rates, but will be liable to pay additional charges like System Operator Charge and Ancillary Service Charges, which were not contemplated by the present FIT Rates. This will unreasonably deprive BISCOM of a reasonable return on its investment and will adversely affect the viability of its commercial operations.

18. This is contrary to how the State should treat private investors.

While referring to public utilities, the Supreme Court explained in Republic of the Philippines vs. Manila Electric Company5 that the State should allow investors a fair return on their investment: “In regulating rates charged by public utilities, the State protects the public against arbitrary and excessive rates while maintaining the efficiency and quality of services rendered. However, the power to regulate rates does not give the State the right to prescribe rates which are so low as to deprive the public utility of a reasonable return on investment. Thus, the rates prescribed by the State must be one that yields a fair return on the public utility upon the value of the property performing the service and one that is reasonable to the public for the services rendered. The fixing of just and reasonable rates involves a balancing of the investor and the consumer interests.”

2. Order NGCP to adjust the Billing Statements already issued to BISCOM. Other reliefs as may be appropriate under the circumstances are likewise prayed for.

The Commission hereby sets the instant Petition for the determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 19 November 2020 (Thursday) at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.), through a virtual hearing using the MS Teams Application, as the online platform for the conduct thereof pursuant to Resolution No. 07, Series of 202015 dated 23 July 2020.

Any interested stakeholder may submit its comments and/or clarifications at least one (1) calendar day prior to the scheduled virtual hearing, via electronic mail (e-mail) at docket@erc.ph, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com.The Commission shall give priority to the stakeholders who have duly submitted their respective comments and/or clarifications, to discuss the same and propound questions during the course of the expository presentation.

Moreover, all persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission, via electronic mail (e-mail) at docket@erc.ph, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled virtual hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Commission, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1) The petitioner’s name and address;

19. The imposition of prohibitive fees, like System Operator Charge and Ancillary Service Charges, also goes against the policy behind the RE Act, which is to encourage development and utilization of renewable energy resources. The imposition of the same will discourage the entry of more participants in the renewable energy sector.

NGCP’S COLLECTION OF ANCILLARY SERVICE CHARGES FROM EMBEDDED GENERATORS THAT NEITHER DRAWS POWER FROM NOR INJECTS POWER TO THE GRID HAS NO LEGAL BASIS. 20. Under the current regulatory framework in the Philippines, specifically, the OATS Rules, there are two types of Connected Transmission Customers: (1) Generation Customers, and (2) Load Customers. As defined in the OATS Rules, a Generation Customer is “any Transmission Customer injecting electricity into the Grid.”6 A Load Customer is “any Transmission Customer taking off electricity from the Transmission Provider’s Facilities which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes but is not restricted to, Generators only while taking power from the Grid, Distribution Utility and Direct Connect Customers.”7 21. Under the Philippine Grid Code (the “Grid Code”), Embedded Generators refers to “a person or entity that generates electricity using an Embedded Generating Plant.”8 An Embedded Generating Plant is defined as “a Generating Plant that is connected to a Distribution System or the System of any User and has no direct connection to the Grid.”9 22. In general, the NGCP provides Regulated Transmission Services10 and Excluded Services11 to its Transmission Customers. Charges for Regulated Transmission Service includes 1) Power Delivery Service Charge (“PDS Charge”), System Operator Charge, and Metering Service Provider Charges for Excluded Services include 1) Connection Charge, 2) Residual Sub-transmission Charge, 3) Technical Service Charge, and 4) Ancillary Service Charges.12 As stated in the OATS Rules, different charges apply depending on the Transmission Customer’s circumstances, such that for periods of time wherein the Generation Customers and Embedded Generators revert to Load Customer status, the charges relevant to that customer type shall apply.

23. Under the OATS Rules, Generation and Load Customers are liable to pay all Regulated Transmission Services and Excluded and Other Services, which includes Ancillary Service Charges.13

2) The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and 3) A statement of the relief desired.

Likewise, all other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may likewise file through e-mail at docket@erc.ph, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com, their Opposition or Comment thereon at least five (5) calendar days prior to the initial virtual hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1) The name, mailing address and e-mail address of such person; 2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3) The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Petition may request from BISCOM that they be furnished with the same prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Petition and its attachments, through any of the available modes of service, upon their agreement, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Petition and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours. In the alternative, those persons who wish to have an electronic copy of the Petition may request the Commission for the e-mail addresses of the Applicant by sending an e-mail to docket@erc.ph, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com Nonetheless, any person may also access the Petition as posted by the Commission in its official website at www.erc.gov.ph.

Finally, all interested persons may be allowed to join the scheduled initial virtual hearing by providing the Commission, thru legal.virtualhearings.erc. gov.ph@gmail.com, with their respective e mail addresses and indicating therein the case number of the instant Petition. The Commission will send the access link/s to the aforementioned hearing platform within five (5) working days prior to the scheduled hearing.

WITNESS, the Honorable Commissioners ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, CATHERINE P. MACEDA, FLORESINDA G.BALDO-DIGAL and MARKO ROMEO L. FUENTES, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 12th day of October 2020 in Pasig City.

24. An Embedded Generator is liable to pay only the System Operator Charges and the Ancillary Service Charges. Module F, Section F1.3A and F1.3B of the OATS Rules provides: F1.3A

F1.3B

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION

Embedded Generator. Embedded Generators shall pay the following charges for Regulated Transmission Services: (a) The System Operator Charge as determined by the method set out in Annex II to this Module F. Embedded Generator. Embedded Generators shall pay the following charges for Excluded Services and other services: (a) Any charges for technical services such as System Impact Studies, as determined by the methods set out in Annex V to this Module F. (b) Ancillary Services Charges as determined by the methods set out in Annex VI to this Module F.

25. It is understood that both Generation Customers and Embedded Generators, when drawing power from the Grid, are acting as Load Customers and should pay Ancillary Service Charges.

26. An Embedded Generator that injects power to the Grid, like a Generation Customer, should not be required to pay Ancillary Service Charges.

27. In its Decision on ERC Case No. 2006-049, In the Matter of the Application for The Approval of Ancillary Services - Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) of the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan filed by National Transmission Corporation (TransCo, NGCP’s predecessor) issued on 03 October 2007 (ERC Decision”), the ERC approved the Ancillary Service Cost Recovery Mechanism (“AS-CRM”) proposed by then applicant TransCo, which mechanism is understood to be the present

AGNES VST DEVANADERA Chairperson and CEO

1

Copies of BISCOM’s Certificate of Incorporation, Amended Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws are attached as Annexes “A, “A-1 and “A-2 and made integral parts hereof;

2

A copy of the NGCP Provisional Certificate of Approval to Connect dated 22 November 2019 is attached as Annex “B” and is made an integral part hereof;

3

A copy of the NGCP Provisional Certificate of Approval to Connect dated 3 December 2019 is attached hereto as Annex “C” and is made an integral part hereof;

4

A copy of the Power Bill No. 800000035746 dated 3 January 2020 is attached hereto as Annex “D” and made an integral part hereof

5

G.R. No. 141314, November 15, 2002

6

Module A, Section Ai of the OATS Rules

7

Module A, Section A1 of the OATS Rules

8

Section 1.6 of the Philippine Grid Code;

9

Section 1.6 of the Philippine Grid Code;

10

The ERC Rules for Setting Transmission Wheeling Rates (“Transmission Wheeling Rate Guidelines” or “TWRG”) issued 16 September 2009 defines Regulated Transmission Services as: (a) the conveyance of electricity through the Grid and the control and monitoring of electricity as it is conveyed through the Grid (including any services that support such conveyance, control or monitoring or the safe operation of the Grid); (b) the planning, maintenance, augmentation and operation of the GTid; (c) the provision, installation, commissionin8, testing, repair, maintenance and reading both of meters that are used to measure the delivery of electricity to Customers and ofother meters that are used (for the purposes of the WESM) to measure the flow of electricity into or through the Grid; (d) until the commencement of the Second Regulatory Period, Transmission Connection Services; (e) the provision of Ancillary Services that are provided using assets which form part of the Gridı (excluding any such Ancillary Services to the extent they are provided to the System Operator under contract or through a spot market established under the WESM Rules); () billing, collection and customer service for Customers purchasing (or seeking to purchase) any of the services referred to in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (e) and for persons purchasing (or seeking to purchase) any Transmission Connection Services; and (g) those services provided by the System Operator under the Grid Code, the Distribution Code or the WESM Rules in its capacity as such, but do not include such of these services as are determined by the ERC to be contestable;

11

The TWRG defines Excluded Services as service that is provided in the ordinary course of an electricity transmission business that is neither a Regulated Transmission Service nor a service that is contestable (for these purposes, whether or not a service is contestable is a matter that, if disputed, will be determined by the ERC);

12

Module F, Section Fi of the OATS Rules;

13

Module F, Section F1.1 and Fi.2 of the OATS Rules;

14

Section 1.6 of the Philippine Grid Code

15

A Resolution for the Transitory Implementation of Legal e-Processes Pending the Adoption of the Interim Guidelines Governing Electronie Application, Filings, and Virtual Hearings Before the Energy Regulatory Commission (MS-NOV. 9, 2020)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

B4

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2020

Entertainment KZ and TJ Monterde share marriage vow in new song ‘Simula’

AFTER surprising fans with their wedding revelations with the song “Can’t Wait To Say I Do”, singer-songwriter TJ Monterde and Asia’s Soul Supreme KZ Tandingan celebrate the new chapter of their lives as a married couple with the release of their new song “Simula.”

Calling the song as a vow, TJ reveals that the song tackles the reality of marriage and how couples must be reminded why they decided to be one.

“It’s our vow para sa isatisa, kasi we know na after ikasal ang isang couple, it’s not always (about) fairytale after that… (na) if ever at some point ay makita naming ang dulo, pipikit na lang kami at babalik sa simula.”

According to TJ, the emotional ballad has been one of his most personal pieces he has written because he co-wrote it with KZ and speaks so much of their promise to one another and the commitment they took before the eyes of God. “Marriage is not just your commitment to the other person but a commitment to God. Kaya namin siya sinulat is to remind ourselves (na) when difficult times come, we will remember our vow and why we even started and yun yung ang magbaba-

WEDDING SONG. ‘Simula,’ a wedding song composed by newlyweds KZ Tandingan and TJ Monterde, is a ballad that celebrates love and the reality most couples face.

lik sa amin sa simula,” KZ shared.

Celebrating love during a difficult time and recording the new song has also been a challenging stage for both but collaborating with their friends in the industry made the experience a lot easier and more personal to them. The song was arranged

by Jem Florendo; the guitar track was recorded by TJ’s best friend Macoy Portado; and vocal arrangement was done by one of their ‘ninangs’, Yosha Honasan.

On Oct. 29, TJ shared the music video of “Simula” on his YouTube channel and featured the touching moments during

their unforgettable day as directed by Jason Magbanua.

TJ and KZ revealed their wedding details to the public via a live chat organized for their supporters which coincided with the release of the music video for “Can’t Wait to Say I Do” under Star Music. They tied the knot in an intimate celebration in Batangas on Aug. 28 and was witnessed by family and closest friends.

“Simula” and “Can’t Wait To Say I Do” are part of the newly released EP titled Simula, which is now available on all digital music streaming platforms.

Two more songs from TJ and KZ are set to be released by the end of 2020 as confirmed by TJ’s music label, PolyEast Records. All proceeds from the songs will go to Inspire Church Metro, which provides assistance to those who have been affected by the pandemic.

You may also get updates by following: Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok: @PolyEastRecords and PolyEast’s official Facebook page (facebook.com/PolyEastRecords).

Watch our exclusive interview with the couple on VERY WANG streaming on Manila Standard PH Facebook page tonight at 8:00

Dingdong Dantes’ new role

A

CTOR and TV personality Dingdong Dantes has proven himself as one of the reliable names in show business. Be it acting, hosting, or product endorsement, his exponential presence on multimedia platforms makes him a strong match to any cause or brand that he promotes.

The 40-year-old Descendants of the Sun has once again been launched as the brand ambassador of pain reliever brand Medicol. In a statement sent to Manila Standard Entertainment, brand manager Lisa Angeli K. De Leon happily welcomes Dingdong back.

“The campaign was launched in July and we are exploring projects we can collaborate on to inspire Filipinos to rise above the challenges that are experienced now, especially with the difficulties brought about by the pandemic. We are happy to be working with Dingdong again,” De Leon says.

It was in 2008 when Dingdong first signed up as an endorser of Medicol and the actor is grateful for the brand’s trust.

“I am happy and honored with my new role. The fact that Medicol considered me to be its endorser, while the whole world is in the middle of this pandemic and everything is uncertain; makes me grateful,” opens Dingdong.

“It is a great privilege to be one of Unilab’s brand ambassadors. I am one with them in working towards a healthier Philippines, one quality medicine at a time. I am also of the strong belief that quality health care must be within reach for Filipinos,” he adds.

Apart from being a brand ambassador for Medicol, Dingdong is also busy with other things despite the pandemic.

He just finished a 14-day lock-in taping for the local adaptation of Descendants of the Sun. He also tapes every Sunday for Amazing Earth. And, Dingdong sits on the director’s chair for his wife Marian Rivera’s show and other endorsement shoots.

The screen star is also active in the YesPinoy advocacy where he is the foundDingdong on the set for his latest TVC for the brand.

Dingdong Dantes returns to advocate one of the brands that first trusted him as a product endorser.

ing chairman, as well as DingDongPH, an online marketplace and delivery app that he just recently launched.

“This is possible because of my supportive family and community, who appreciate my craft and my contributions to the industries that I belong to,” he says.

Recently, Dingdong celebrated his 40th birthday, albeit quietly with family. What else could people expect from the multi-hyphenated personality?

Dingdong remarks, “I would like to think that I am still a work in progress and the best is yet to come. I have so many dreams for my family; for the entertainment industry that has nurtured me to become the best version of myself; and for the communities and sectors where I can extend inspiration and help.

“The pandemic has been testing my faith and patience. It is challenging me to find ways to better ensure the safety

and health of my children, my wife, myself and the people that surround me. But I know that in His perfect time, this too, shall pass.”

Meanwhile, according to De Leon, Medicol has gone through many reinventions since it was introduced to the public in 1979.

From being paracetamol tablet, it became an ibuprofen caplet in the early 2000s to provide faster and stronger pain relief. In 2010, Medicol Advance 200mg was launched, the first ibuprofen softgel in the country that delivers even faster relief because of its Ibufluid technology.

In 2013, Medicol expanded its offerings and launched the first 400mg ibuprofen softgel in the country which competitors still have not been able to copy.

“From being known as just a headache brand, it is now clinically proven to relieve different types of pain like migraine, toothache, dysmenorrhea, body pain and even post-operative pains like tooth extraction,” De Leon tells.

“This is why Dingdong is the perfect ambassador for Medicol. A lot has changed in Medicol and the same can be said about D i n g dong. Both have developed over the years. He embodies the brand with his mult i-faceted character and a ch ieve me nt s.

Dingdong is the perfect person to represent the brand’s promise of helping anyone to ‘be your best self,” she ends.

For more information, log on to Medicol Advance’s Facebook page ( htt ps://w w w.facebook.com/MedicolAdvance) and website (https:// www.unilab. com.ph/medicoladvance-400/ thebestmedicol).

ENSEMBLE CAST. Following its half-year hiatus, well-loved and top-rating drama ‘Prima Donnas’ finally airs its much-awaited fresh episodes beginning today.

Gina Alajar lauds professionalism of ‘Prima Donnas’ cast A TELEVISION director has “We had a series of meetings to disthe daunting task of channeling the cuss the measures that we should folcreative energies of dozens of individ- low to take care of ourselves. We also uals on the set. The person at the helm talked with the actors and everyone can only concerned in maximize the show of the potential what’s going of the acto happen tors if they kaya when t h e m s e l ve s the protocols are willing a n d to cooperate g uidelines and allow came out, we the director were kind of the propready na,” erly guide the director them in noted. the direc- A scene from the series featuring (from left) Will Ashley, Prior to the tion their Jillian Ward, Althea Ablan, and Vince Crisostomo. suspension of characters tapings due are supto the COVposed to traverse.

ID-19 pandemic, viewers were on the For Prima Donnas director edge of their seats with the riveting Gina Alajar Alajar, the cast mem- and shocking plot twists in the family bers of the drama series drama. are instrumental to Kendra’s (Aiko Melendez) dirty their success, and antics to earn Jaime (Wendell Rashe wishes that it mos) and Lady Prima’s (Chanda would continue Romero) trust continue to put the as they resume life of Lilian (Katrina Halili) in their journey on great danger. Out of desperation and television this without Jaime’s permission, Donna week.

Marie (Jillian Ward), Donna Belle “I would have (Althea Ablan), and Donna Lyn (Soto commend fia Pablo) sneak out to visit Lilian the entire cast. who has an important revelation to Walang prima the three Donnas. donna, everyWith the continuation of the body is profes- original series, the cast members sional, from the including Benjie Paras, James young members Blanco, Elijah Alejo, Vince to the senior Crisostomo, and Will Ashley, cast. They make all expressed what they feel about my work com- their highly-anticipated brand-new pletely man- episodes, experiences during their ageable consid- 21-day lock-in taping, and what’s ering the new in store for the Kapuso viewers as set up that we the story continues. follow because Katrina is elated for viewers to witof the strict pro- ness the continuation of the story and tocols,” Alajar the fruits of their hard work, while told Manila Elijah teases viewers on Kendra and Standard En- Brianna’s wicked schemes against the tertainment in Claverias. a virtual “ They should watch out for Brianna interview on 2.0 dahil sigurado po akong kaiinisan Friday. po nila ulit ako,” Elijah said in jest.

Following its “Masaya na may nerbyos at half-year hiatus, kaba but we are confident that the GMA Network’s well- viewers will love our new episodes. loved and top-rating drama Everybody worked hard just to give series is finally airing its them a great story...mula sa crew, staff, much-awaited fresh episodes artists at directors,” Aiko assured. beginning today on the After AfterPrima Donnas airs weekdays at noon Prime block.

3:25 p.m. on GMA Network.