Manila Standard - 2021 August 18 - Wednesday

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Duterte flags COA: Stop it State auditors have been ‘flogging’ agencies with incomplete reports

By Vito Barcelo and Rio N. Araja

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte told the Commission on Audit (COA) to stop flagging government agencies, saying that publishing an incomplete report gives the impression that the agency is tainted with corruption.

“Stop that flagging, goddamnit. You make a report. Do not flag and do not publish it because it will condemn the agency or the person that you are flagging,” Duterte said in his weekly public address Monday night.

“The flagging is spelled f-l-a-g-g-e-d. what you did is f-l-o-g-g-i-n-g. Flogging, beat, and yet you know that when you flag, there is already a taint of corruption by perception. You cannot... You know, this COVID-19 will never be won by the way you are behaving.”

COA on Tuesday declined to comment on Duterte’s tirade, but said it published audit reports for the sake of transparency.

It also said it is willing to simplify some of its requirements from government agencies in the annual audit process, COA chairperson Michael Aguinaldo said on Tuesday during the commission’s briefing before the House committee on public accounts on the reported Department of Health discrepancies.

Aguinaldo denied to the House panel that

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III says DOH officials have been 'losing sleep' as COA's audit report 'brought down the agency's morale.'

• COA declines comment, willing to simplify requirements • COA independent constitutional body, solons remind Rody • DSWD flagged for P780m in unused COVID cash aid • DepEd flagged for P20b unspent budget in 2020 • Ports body flagged for infinity pool worth P10m DOH was not given a chance and clarified that the agency has 60 days to act on the COA's recommendations. He explained that the 2020 report covers transactions as of December 31, 2020, as submitted around February 2021.

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VOL. XXXV • NO. 183 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Duque stays; DOH workers’ morale suffers after report

By Willie Casas, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

Taliban declares amnesty to all, assures no harm to foreigners TALIBAN militants gave their first press conference late Tuesday, two days after completing their takeover of Afghanistan, and said they are "working seriously on forming the government. It will be announced after completion," spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

He said there's an amnesty

on all who have worked for foreign powers, and women will enjoy rights according to sharia or Islamic law. "No harm will be done," Mujahid added.

"We have pardoned everybody for the benefit of stability or peace in Afghanistan," he said. "Our fighters, our people, Next page

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte again came to the defense of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and said he would refuse to accept his resignation over an audit report that flagged his department's mishandling of P67.32 billion in COVID-19 response funds.

In a prerecorded public address, Duterte recalled how Duque had "attempted" to resign twice, so he was expecting him to do it again.

“I know you want to resign, but I will refuse you," he said.

Duterte insisted that Duque should not resign because he did “nothing wrong.”

“You did nothing wrong. Why will you resign?" he added.

Duque III on Tuesday called the Commission on Audit's report on the DOH as unfair and unjust, saying the issue damaged the dignity of the agency and its workers.

During a House of Representatives Next page

1,765,675

ESCAPING KABUL. The image (above left) courtesy of the US Air Force shows the inside of Reach 871,

a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III flown from Kabul to Qatar on August 15. The plane safely evacuated some 640 Afghans from Kabul late Sunday, according to US defense officials. To leave Kabul, Afghans mobbed cargo planes and were so desperate they clung to the outside of a US military plane as it prepared for take-off. At least 3 persons fell to their deaths as the planes hit midair. Meanwhile, 35 Filipinos evacuated by their companies from Afghanistan arrived safely at Manila's NAIA Terminal 1 on Tuesday (lower right). AFP, Twitter, DFA

Taliban restart Kabul; Biden defends exit, allies fret Frontliners get Manila willing to host refugees

By Vito Barcelo THE Philippines is willing to provide refuge to the people of Afghanistan who are fleeing their country following the collapse of its government, Malacanang said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement as thousands Next page

KABUL—The Taliban moved Tuesday to quickly restart the Afghan capital following their stunning takeover of Kabul and told government staff to return to work, though residents reacted cautiously, and few women took to the streets.

Tens of thousands of people have tried to flee Afghanistan to escape the hardline Islamist rule expected under the Taliban or fearing direct retribution for siding with the US-backed government that ruled for the past two decades.

The collapse came after President Joe Biden withdrew US troops, under the false belief that the Afghan army—with

billions of dollars in American funding and training -- was strong enough to withstand the Taliban.

In his first comments since the Taliban victory, Biden admitted the Taliban advance had unfolded more quickly than expected.

But he heaped criticism on Ghani's government, insisted he had no regrets and emphasized US troops could not defend a nation whose leaders "gave up and fled".

"We gave them every chance to determine their own future. We could not provide them with the will to fight for that future," Biden said in his address at Next page the White House.

COVID-19 won’t go away for years, Duterte says PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has warned Filipinos may have to practice safeguards against COVID-19 for a few more years, as the Philippines continued to battle one of Asia's worst coronavirus outbreaks.

Duterte pleads for more vax from US, says PH ready to buy

Duterte as an example cited the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, which infected some 500 million people, saying the disease "was there for a long time, in the air circling" and "changed the lifestyle Next page

Duterte to act on their pleas

By Willie Casas

PRESIDENT Rodrigo has Duterte ordered Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to prioritize the compensation and other benefits of healthcare workers battling the coronavirus since it stormed into the country in March last year.

"By the way, just put these front-liners first. If there's enough money, then pay them," Duterte said during his pre-recorded Talk to the People on Monday night.

Some groups of medical professionals Next page

2022 BUDGET HISTORIC AT P5-T NEWS / A2

10,035

105,787

30,462

96

1,629,426 10,858 (As of 4 PM, AUGUST 17)

Infections rise across young and old alike

By Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas COVID-19 cases are increasing across all age groups in the country, the Department of Health said Tuesday, as infections among those aged 9 and younger increased by 74 percent this August.

On Tuesday, the Philippines logged 10,035 new cases of the coronavirus disease, bringing the total to 1,765,675, as all laboratories were operational, and six laboratories were not able to submit their data on time, the department reported. Next page

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News

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

2022 Budget historic at P5.02 trillion

By Vito Barcelo

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the proposed budget, the highest ever in the country's history, is equivalent to 22.8 percent of the gross domestic product and is 11.5 percent higher than the 2021 budget.

In a press briefing, Roque said the 2022 spending plan was being finalized and printed and would be submitted to Con-

gress on Aug. 23.

The social services sector, which covers Health and Education, will get the biggest share of the funds with P1.922 trillion or 38.2 percent of the proposed budget.

The second highest share of P1.474 trillion would go to the economic service sector, to cover the administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.

The general public services sector will get P862.7 billion, the defense sector will get P224.4 billion, and the P541.3 billion will be set aside for debt servicing.

By department, the following agencies received the highest allocations: • The Department of Education, state universities and colleges and the Commission on Higher Education, P773.6 billion; • The Department of Public Works and Highways – P686.1 billion; • The Department of the Interior and Local Government – P250.4 billion; • The Department of Health – P242 billion; • The Department of National Defense

Duterte...

threatened COA. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte just "expressed frustration" at COA for flagging the DOH in its efforts to stop the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I don't think he made threats; he expressed frustration," Roque said.

“He is frustrated because the public viewed COA’s initial observations on DOH with condemnation.”

He said all investigations into the COA findings would continue despite the President’s remarks.

"The President has no power to prevent the House nor the Senate from investigating. The President cannot control the Ombudsman if it can investigate," he said in a press briefing.

The Constitution also protects the independence of COA "from appointment, to tenure, to fiscal autonomy," Roque added.

Roque said protocol dictates agencies should be given a chance to answer COA’s initial observations before a final report is issued. But by releasing its initial observations on the DOH, auditors "unnecessarily" alarmed the public.

Duterte’s rant was the latest in a series of tirades against COA. In 2019, Duterte spoke about kidnapping and torturing COA personnel and criticized the agency for its accountability rules on the spending of government funds.

In 2018, he urged local officials to defy the “stupid” COA circulars and even told Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos to push a COA employee down the stairs after being told that state auditors do not allow cash advances for building materials.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said the President was out of line in publicly castigating the COA for “performing its mandate and responsibility to the people and the Constitution." He said Duterte could not dictate to the audit agency, which is not under the Office of the President.

COA's findings are public records that are important for transparency so that ev-

eryone knows how public funds are spent, Lacson said.

“The COA should not be cowed by intimidating statements, even those coming from the Chief Executive," he said.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman added: "The right of the people to information cannot be negated and quashed by invoking that officials should be shielded from 'corruption by perception'."

The COA's documents and reports, Lagman said, were "thoroughly reviewed and documented" which is why Duterte should instead prosecute the officials it flagged.

He said COA had an obligation to disclose any negligence by government departments and agencies in how they spend their respective budgets.

The President’s attack did not stop the COA from also calling the attention of the Department of Education over P20.16 billion in unused funds in 2020, as well as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

In a letter to Education Secretary Leonor Briones, COA director IV Elinore Lavilla asked that the department report on actions taken on the audit recommendations from the date of receipt of the report.

COA said the department’s consolidated financial statements were “materially misstated” by P15.47 billion due to errors, omissions and improper accounting treatment of transactions that are considered as departures from the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).

State auditors also called the attention of department on the P8-billion deficiency in its Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) amid the COVID-19 pandemic, citing supposed lapses in budget utilization, flawed or delayed procurement and delivery of self-learning modules, and the non-compliance with the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The COA also called the attention of the DSWD for failure to use P780.71 million in financial assistance in 2020 for those affected by the enhanced community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a 2020 annual report, state auditors flagged the agency’s field offices in the Cordillera Autonomous Region, and Regions 2, 7, 8 and 11 for unused cash aid “due to the inclusion of unqualified beneficiaries in the master list, and consequentially, depriving at least 139,300 families who are qualified for the program.”

The commission said 14,200 families in CAR, 4,762 families in Region 2, 28,978 families in Region 7, 45,609 families in Region 8 and 45,751 families in Region 11 were deprived of the government financial assistance.

“Given the scarcity of government resources for COVID-19 expenses, there is a dire need to properly evaluate targeted beneficiaries through proper coordination and monitoring, and proper and efficient validation that could maximize the number of qualified beneficiaries who could benefit from the SAP,” the report read, referring to the social amelioration program.

The COA also flagged the PPA for the installation of a P10.83 million infinity pool in its North Luzon office in 2020.

In a 2020 audit report, the commission called the attention of PPA for the construction of the pool and additional room at the training center compound of the Ports Management Office-Northern Luzon in San Fernando City, La Union.

The state auditors said the construction of both structures was “unnecessary,” citing the need to dismantle a newly built canopy and perimeter fence that resulted in “improper and wasteful” use of public funds.

COA told the PPA management to hold the officials liable for the “unnecessary expenditures.”

The agency sent the audit report to PPA on July 22.

of us here and we cannot face the people because of several accusations. I haven't had enough sleep yet for days,” he said.

He said COA should consider the fact that the DOH is not operating under normal circumstances, but rather in a state of public health emergency.

Duterte said those who believed that Duque was corrupt should file charges before the Supreme Court, forgetting that graft cases are handled by the Sandiganbayan, not the high tribunal.

"In the end, if you find that there is something missing... then file a case before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court will be a fair arbiter of things," he said.

He said he would not allow any of his

Cabinet members to steal from public funds.

“I'm the President and I promised that I will protect you, it includes your money.

Do you think I will allow a Cabinet member to steal even P1,000? You really think that I would allow it?" he said.

Duterte said the deficiencies discovered by the COA could be attributed to incomplete paperwork, stressing that it does not automatically mean that money is being stolen.

Duterte has defended Duque in several speeches amid calls for him to resign over controversies in the government's COVID-19 response and irregularities involving the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) (see related story on A4 – Editors).

He had repeatedly said that he still has full trust in Duque.

Despite renewed calls for Duque to resign, the Health chief continues to enjoy Duterte’s “full trust and confidence,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Tuesday.

On Friday, the COA clarified its report, noting that "deficiencies" did not mention findings linked to corruption.

But a state auditor on Tuesday told Congress the Department of Health’s failure to use P67.32 billion in COVID-19 funds led to missed opportunities to improve the country’s health care system amid a national emergency. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

regional offices to make sure that the HR of the different institutions will give them at least a number of healthcare workers that (have) not been provided," Vega admitted.

Vega said of over 350,000 healthcare workers who received their allowance, 54,000 beneficiaries were from private hospitals.

Vega said that while he was not offering any excuses for such lapses, he asked for understanding from healthcare workers, noting that "it's very hard for us to validate in the central office or certify health care workers directly working in contact with COVID." In related developments, a group of health workers said some of the benefits under the Bayanihan 2 law for health workers were slashed by as much as 70 percent to fund the country’s vaccination drive.

Alliance of Health Workers National President Robert Mendoza said the meal, accommodation, and transportation allowance for health workers was taken back from them merely three days after the funds were given to some hospitals.

The Bayanihan 2 expired with billions in funds still unused on June 30.

Mendoza said he felt frustrated by the fact that they need to beg for the benefits already provided to them by the law.

Mendoza said he was shocked by the Commission on Audit report on the DOH’s alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 funds.

Mendoza added: “Our group is not encouraging mass resignation, because we have an obligation, we have sworn duties to fulfill. Although, the public will also suffer if health workers are not taken care of. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

COVID...

wear face shields if we will go out with them for medical reasons,” Vergeire said.

Experts have yet to recommend that children be inoculated against COVID-19 because this will affect the supply of jabs for other priority groups like the elderly, she said.

"Mortality and morbidity data across age groups do not support the urgency to prioritize vaccination of the pediatric population as of this time," said Vergeire.

She said children could be protected if adults in their household get vaccinated instead.

DOH said this month's uptick in COVID-19 cases was also "comparable" to last April's peak in coronavirus infections.

Average daily reported cases from Aug. 10 to 16 was at 12,824, which is about 45 percent higher than the average 8,930 cases per day reported from Aug. 3 to 9, said DOH spokesperson and Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

T

HE Duterte administration will submit to Congress a proposed P5.024 trillion national budget for 2022 on Aug. 23, Malacañang said Tuesday.

From A1

"We know it's pandemic... we know that some adjustments have to be made... we know that there's certain priorities we need to consider at this time, especially allowances and the like," he added.

Duterte said the “deficiencies” in the handling of COVID-19 funds by the DOH was not the issue.

"To the issue of whether money has been stolen, that is pure bulls**t. It's impossible for them to steal P67.3 billion.

The papers they are holding in their custody are really insufficient and deficient," he said.

“You know this is an emergency. It is a matter of life or death. So, you have to understand and give it a little elbow room to move, make emergency purchases, and borrow money,” he said.

Duterte dismissed the latest COA findings as "insufficient" and "deficient," which, he said, only point to incomplete paperwork, not corruption.

In defending the DoH as he has in the past, the President told the COA to stop publishing its annual audit reports, which he said tarnishes the image of public officials.

He also urged Cabinet members to ignore the audit agency, which continued to flag other agencies, including the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) for spending P10.83 million to build an infinity pool in its North Luzon office in 2020.

In its 2020 audit report on the DOH, the COA said the health department had not maximized the use of pandemic funds worth P66.28 billion.

It found irregularities in the procurement process, lack of documentation in various contracts entered into by the department, and lapses in implementation of several projects involving at least P3.97 billion.

The Palace on Tuesday dialed back on Duterte’s remarks, denying that he had

Duque...

From A1

hearing on the COA report, Duque said he and other health officials have been losing sleep as COA's 2020 audit report regarding the supposed deficiencies in managing the pandemic funds brought down the agency's morale.

He said the DOH was not even given the chance to submit a rejoinder to the audit report that was based on preliminary observations, even crying during one part of his testimony.

“You've damaged us. You've destroyed DOH's dignity. You've damaged every one

Frontliners...

From A1

particularly from private hospitals have been complaining about the non-release of their special risk allowance (SRA) and the removal of their other benefits.

Duterte earlier signed Administrative SRA of up to P5,000 per month to private and public health workers with direct contact with COVID-19 patients.

Duterte signed the AO “to recognize the heroic and invaluable contribution of our health workers throughout the country, who bravely and unselfishly risk their lives and health by being at the forefront of national efforts to respond to the pandemic.”

The government's Bayanihan 2 budget has allocated at least P15 billion for the health workers’ SRA and hazard pay.

Last year, Duterte also signed AO 36 granting health workers directly attending to Covid-19 patients with risk allowance, covering Sept. 15 to Dec. 19, 2020.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health admitted on Tuesday that not all healthcare workers received their special risk allowance due to inadvertent "miscalculations" among those attending to COVID-19 patients.

Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Source, Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said 359,501 healthcare workers already benefited from about ₱8 billion that they released for the SRA in the period of January to June 2021. However, they are still collating data on the remaining workers who were not yet given their due.

"There are inadvertently miscalculations in terms of the SRA that should be given to the healthcare workers. I think we have asked the different institutions through the

From A1

DOH spokesperson and Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the increase “has no big difference from the contribution of each age group to the total number of cases here in our country.”

Twenty to 59-year-olds still account for the biggest proportion of cases, she said.

"There are no large shifts in the proportion of all age groups because most of them remain the same as with the trends in the past months," Vergeire said.

To protect children two years old and older from COVID-19, kids can wear antivirus masks outside their home, she said.

Masks are not recommended for children aged below 2, those experiencing difficulty or have cognitive or respiratory impairments, and if there is a risk they could be choked or strangled, she added.

"The alternative is to have our children

Unvaxxed...

From A1

which infected some 500 million people, saying the disease "was there for a long time, in the air circling" and "changed the lifestyle of the people of Europe at that time."

COVID-19, he said in a taped speech in the small hours of Tuesday, also "changed the lifestyle of everybody on this planet.”

“That will be the life of Filipinos, I think, for the next how many years, that will not go away. That will be the style.

We won't be frolicking at night – with the country of 110 million people recording 1.7 million coronavirus infections and 30,000 deaths.

– P222 billion; • The Department of Social Welfare and Development – P191.4 billion; • The Department of Transportation – P151.3 billion; • The Department of Agriculture and the National Irrigation Administration – P103.5 billion; and • The Department of Labor and Employment – P44.9 billion.

The proposed budget will also include the procurement of COVID-19 testing kits, the hiring of medical frontliners, establishment of the Virology Institute of the Philippines, and the continuous implementation of health programs under the Universal Health Care law.

Meanwhile, Duterte urged the United States to allot more coronavirus vaccines to the Philippines, saying his government has funds to buy any surplus supply of the life-saving drugs.

While he acknowledged the US would prioritize Americans first, the President said: “I am just asking America to give us more kung mayroon lang sila (if they have it). We are not — I know that mauna kami — or kami muna, we first before you. We understand it and we accept it.”

“But if there is an excess of supply sa inyo, pakitulong naman dito sa bayan ko (please help my country). We have the money, we buy, we do not ask. We have saved money for this event,” he added.

Vito Barcelo, Joel E. Zurbano, Macon Ramos-Araneta, and Willie Casas (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Taliban declares...

From A1

we are all going to make sure that we can include all other sides and factions."

Meanwhile, the Taliban's co-founder returned to Afghanistan Tuesday following the group's stunning takeover of the country, hours after they told government staff to return to work­—though residents reacted cautiously and few women took to the streets.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar's arrival from Qatar­—where he has spent months leading talks with the United States and then Afghan peace negotiators­—crowns a stunning comeback for the Taliban after being ousted 20 years ago.

Spokesman Mujahid, who appeared in front of cameras for the first time, said: "After 20 years of struggle we have emancipated [the country] and expelled foreigners".

"This is a proud moment for the whole nation," he added.

Tens of thousands of people have tried to flee the country to escape the hardline Islamist rule expected under the Taliban, or fearing direct retribution for siding with the US-backed government that ruled for the past two decades.

Significantly, Baradar, now deputy leader of the group, chose to touch down in Afghanistan's second biggest city Kandahar—the Taliban's spiritual birthplace and capital during their first time in power. AFP

Taliban...

From A1

"American troops cannot and should not be fighting in a war and dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves."

The mood was somber Monday in the corridors of the Pentagon, where US military personnel watched helplessly as chaos erupted at Kabul airport and privately criticized the slow pace of Biden's administration in evacuating US-allied Afghans who fear Taliban retribution.

Some criticized the State Department, which has sole authority to grant visas to former interpreters and other US military support staff and their families, for waiting more than two months to begin the process for Afghans in fear of their lives.

Evacuations flights from Kabul's airport restarted on Tuesday after chaos the previous day in which huge crowds mobbed the tarmac, with some people so desperate they clung to the outside of a US military plane as it prepared for takeoff.

The Taliban led a pariah regime from 1996-2001, infamous for a brutal rule in which girls could not go to school and people were stoned to death.

US-led forces invading following the September 11 attacks, in response to the Taliban giving sanctuary to Al-Qaeda and toppled them.

Now the Taliban are back in power, they have sought to project an air of restraint and moderation, including by on Tuesday announcing a "general amnesty" for government workers.

"Those working in any part or department of the government should resume their duties with full satisfaction and continue their duties without any fear," a Taliban statement said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Manila...

From A1

of Afghans fled the South Asian country after the Taliban took control of the capital Kabul on Monday.

Meanwhile, 35 Filipinos who were evacuated by their respective companies from Afghanistan arrived Tuesday in Manila via Doha, Qatar.

They joined the plane the Department of Foreign Affairs chartered from Doha to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, the Philippine Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan reported.

“Since time immemorial, the Philippines has had jurisprudence even before the Convention on Refugees Welcoming Asylum Seekers,” Roque said in a press briefing.

DFA said it is exploring all possible ways to ensure the safe repatriation of the remaining Filipinos in Afghanistan out of an estimated 130 total, as the security situation there becomes volatile.

"The DFA is working non-stop to explore all options to ensure the safety and welfare of our people in Afghanistan in the face of challenging conditions.

We seek your patience as we try to accomplish this sensitive mission," DFA Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Eduardo Meñez told reporters on Tuesday.

The department raised alert level 4 on Sunday and ordered the mandatory repatriation for Filipinos in Afghanistan.

Citing the Supreme Court decision in the case of Kookooritchkin vs.

Commissioner of Immigration and Deportation, Roque said the Philippines will not hesitate to admit individuals fleeing their homelands because of fear of persecution. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

News

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021

A3

GenSan airport can now handle jumbo planes, Tugade says

By Darwin G Amojelar

MAKEOVER MASTERPIECE. Baysulangpu Artists Society continues to paint more bridges in Iloilo City with striking colors to dispel the gloom of pandemic. Street art helps keep

stress away and divert mental health concerns of citizens in fighting to overcome struggles brought on by the pandemic. Another bridge was transformed into colorful canvas at Brgy.

Calubihan, Jaro connecting service road and national highway. The city government partnered with Boysen Paints Philippines for masterpiece makeover along major thoroughfares of the metropolis. Arnold Almacen

Passport backlog reaches 3m

By Rey Requejo

A

N OFFICIAL of the Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday revealed that there is a backlog of three million applications for the issuance of new and renewed passports amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido “Dodo” Dulay stressed that the situation has prompted the DFA to open off-site centers and give more slots to passport applicants, but even this measure could hardly keep up with the demand.

“The backlog, meaning the estimate of the number of people who want to get a Philippine passport now, is at three

million. Ang dami talaga (there are really so many), if we base it on our historical records,” Dulay said in an interview over radio DzBB. “The biggest challenge is really the COVID-19 pandemic because we had to cut our operations by 50% to comply with minimum public health standards.

You cannot make all the people go pack the place because social distancing is

required,” he added.

According to Dulay, they are eyeing to open more sites which would be exclusively for overseas Filipino workers and those renewing their passports, to speed up the process.

“The three million backlog is what we are working on, and the challenge really is how can we catch up at a time of the pandemic,” he pointed out. `”We need more sites, and these will only be for OFWs and passport renewal because evaluating documentary requirements takes more time for new passport applicants,” the DFA official said.

Dulay did explain why there is such a surge of people wanting to get a pass-

NSA offers more proof to disqualify Gabriela NATIONAL Security Adviser and National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Vice Chairman Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said on Tuesday that he is confident that the Commission on Elections will disqualify Gabriela Party-list in next year’s polls for receiving money from foreign donors, a flagrant violation of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

At the NTF-ELCAC’s weekly virtual press conference, Esperon said he had finished testifying on the petition for the cancellation of registration of Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) and the General Assembly of Women and Reforms (GAWR) in the party-list system last Thursday (August 12, 2021) before the Comelec’s 2nd Division.

“My task is done in the Comelec. Other witnesses will be called,” Esperon said.

Officials from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) will also testify in the disqualification case “to prove that Gabriela is receiving money from abroad,” he added.

Esperon said he believes in the Comelec’s swift resolution to cancel Gabriela since there will be a registration of parties for the coming elections.

“We certainly pray, and I hope and I’m confident, that the Comelec will resolve this petition because, by my recollection from other reports, there are many applicants for party-lists numbering more than a hundred,” Esperon said.

The NTF-ELCAC petition contends that Gabriela violated Section 2, Paragraph 5, Article 9 (C) of the Philippine Constitution by receiving financial assistance from a foreign government and non-government organizations (NGOs). Willie Casas

SWABBED.

The local government of Dasmarinas continues the free swab tests on August 17, 2021 to determine who are positive for COVID-19 and prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease amid confirmed cases of the muchdreaded Delta variant in Cavite.

JR Josue

IN BRIEF MMDA suspends face-to-face deals THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Tuesday said it was suspending the face-to-face traffic violation payment transaction at the agency’s redemption center in Makati City to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease.

The MMDA encouraged the public to use the cashless and online payment channels to pay their fines.

Last month, the agency in partnership with the Landbank of the Philippines and Bayad Center, Inc. launched a cashless payment system to automate collection of fines and penalties for all kinds of violations of traffic rules and regulations.

Apart from Landbank and Bayad Center, clients may also pay their fines via Bayad Center partners such as GCash, Grabpay, and Paymaya. Other payment options include credit, debit and prepaid cards (Visa, Mastercard, and JCB).

MMDA chairman Banjamin Abalos Jr. said contactless payment means less exposure to the public and less possibility of acquiring the coronavirus disease.

On a daily basis, the MMDA receives an average of 2,000 traffic fine over-the-counter payments thru SM Payment Centers, Bayad Centers, and the MMDA Redemption Center.

Successful payment transactions will be posted the following day. A service processing fee of P12 for Bayad Center and P15 for Landbank shall also be paid on top of the penalties.

Clients who have overpaid their payment transaction, may write a refund request letter to MMDA with proof of payment or official receipt attached. The letter should be submitted to the Traffic Ticket Management Division for the preparation of the voucher. Joel E. Zurbano

DENR-Megaworld PanTREE project THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the National Capital Region and Megaworld Corp. have partnered to roll out a community PanTREE project.

DENR and the real estate developer recently signed a memorandum of understanding under the arrangement that Megaworld would host and set up community PanTREE booths within its malls and distribute free seedlings of fruit-bearing trees and vegetable crops for interested shoppers.

NCR executive director Jacqueline Caancan, and Mega-

world Corp. vice president and marketing and business development head Tefel Pesigan-Valentino forged the deal.

The community PanTREE project is DENR-NCR’s contribution to efforts to assist the resident of Metro Manila deal with quarantine fatigue and food security through urban gardening.

“We want to help people to be productive during these critical times, for them to have sustainable sources of food, and to minimize their pandemic-induced stress at the same time by encouraging them to plant and start nurturing nature,” Caancan said. Rio Araja

port, saying it was not in their place to discourage people from doing so.

“We appeal to the public that if it is not urgent, they should consider deferring it and let those OFWs, with medical concerns and for family reunification avail of the services first. But of course we cannot stop the public from wanting to get a passport since it also speaks of the integrity of our passport system,” he said.

Dulay then reminded the public that securing a passport appointment is free and warned against individuals offering to secure slots for passport appointments by staking out online and encoding the information of the passport applicants in exchange for a fee.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

THE Department of Transportation has completed the expansion and rehabilitation of the General Santos International Airport in a bid to boost tourism and trade in Mindanao.

Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade said the improved airport can how handle big aircraft such as Boeing 747 as well as Airbus A330, A340 and A350.

Its Passenger Terminal Building (PTB), Vehicular Parking Area, Powerhouse Building, Control Tower and the Administration Building have also been rehabilitated.

Once the newly rebuilt airport becomes fully operational, it is expected to create more than 1,200 jobs.

“We expect to inaugurate the General Santos International Airport by September,” Tugade said.

Meanwhile, the DOTr is also building the High Priority Bus System (HPBS) in Davao in order to make the movement of public utility vehicles more efficient, effective, and seamless.

“This project aims to provide the Davaoeñeos a modern and reliable high priority bus system, as well as deliver a much-improved public transport infrastructure and services,” Tugade said.

With the HPBS, interconnected bus services will be prioritized along the 626km road network. It encompasses the development of 5 depots, 3 terminals, a driving school, along with the installation of 1,075 bus stops and other pedestrian improvements.

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A4

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021

News

Tax on influencers eyed

By Julito Rada

T

HE Department of Finance is eyeing an undetermined amount of tax to be generated from so-called “social media influencers” who are making money through online content, Finance Undersecretary Antonette Tionko said Tuesday.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue defines social media influencers as those generating income for services as bloggers and video bloggers on social media sites such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Reddit, and Snapchat.

In an online briefing, Tionko backed the BIR’s

move of issuing a memorandum that reminded social media influencers of their tax obligations.

“That is one of the measures we are adopting because that is the sector that I don’t know if they pay tax. We can check now when we ask them to register with the BIR. They can do it online. We are trying to make

Manila

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC Standard

In line TODAY with the NTC guidelines, here’s the mechanics for the 25GB Online promo: 1) Promo period is from August 20– September 30, 2021. The promo package must be purchased within this period. SIM and promo must be activated within 30 days from delivery. Promo will not activate beyond the 30-day delivery period.

2) The Php 199 promo + Php 40 SIM bundle is priced at Php 239.00 and is inclusive of the following: a. SIM card b. 25GB Data for 30 days upon activation of the SIM card. c. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls for 30 days upon activation of the SIM Card. d. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO SMS for 30 days upon activation of the SIM Card e. 300 minutes of calls to other networks f. Unlimited texts to other networks 3) 3)

Prerequisites:

g. Only those with device compatible with the DITO SIM card and has passed the location validation may avail the promo. Device and location compatibility shall be assessed during the online ordering process.

The list of available devices shall be available at DITO’s website (https://www.dito.ph/). Network locked phones, aside from DITO’s, and phones blocked by government agencies shall be considered as noncompatible devices. DITO shall have the sole discretion on whether a particular device is compatible with DITO SIM cards. In case of dispute on device compatibility, the list, and records of DITO shall prevail. h. Promo is only valid for the subscriber’s DITO compatible mobile phone where the purchased DITO SIM and Promo are installed.

4) 4) How to buy the “25GB Data” package Via the DITO Website and DITO Facebook account: i.

Go to DITO’s Promo Page at (https://dito.ph/promo-page.html) or DITO’s Facebook page at (https://www.facebook.com/DITO.ph/).

Scan the promo QR code or access the promo link to access the DITO Online Store. In the DITO Online Store, check if your handset is compatible and location covered by the promo. Read, understand, and accept the terms and condition of the SIM card, Welcome Offer Promo, and privacy policy. j. Purchase the “25GB Data” package. Customers can pay using credit/ debit cards and various e-wallet as indicated in the online store.

Customers will be asked to input their name, email address, contact number and delivery address where the DITO packaged will be delivered, delivery is valid within the promo areas only. k. The promo package shall be delivered to the customer via third-party courier and may be subject to a delivery fee. Delivery schedule may be subject to change by the third-party couriers depending on its terms and conditions or force majeure. If you are unable to receive your order or received a damaged SIM card, you may reach out send an email to customerservice@dito.ph or send your concerns via DITO’s Facebook messenger or using the DITO App. 5) 5) Promo shall only be offered in the following new cities and municipalities in the following: LUZON: NCR: Manila, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Taguig, Pateros, Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, Las Pinas; Pangasinan: Basista,Binmaley,Dagupan, Manaoag, Mangatarem, San Manuel; Bulacan: Pandi, San Jose del Monte, Malolos, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Hagonoy, Bulacan, Plaridel, Baliuag, Guiguinto; Nueva Ecija: Llanera, Palayan City, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo Science City of Munoz, Talavera, Cabanatuan, Gapan City, San Leonardo, San Jose, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Zaragoza, General Tinio (Papaya), Licab; Pampanga: Angeles, Mabalacat, Mexico, Guagua, San Fernando, Magalang; Tarlac: Capas, Tarlac City, Concepcion, Gerona, Moncada, La Paz, Ramos, San Manuel; Zambales: Olongapo, Subic; Bataan: Balanga, Dinalupihan; Batangas: Alitagtag, Bauan, Cuenca, San Jose,Ibaan, Batangas City, Malvar, MataasnaKahoy, San Pascual, Santo Tomas, Lipa City, Talisay, Tanauan City, Taysan, Balete, Padre Garcia, San Juan, Balayan, Calaca, San Luis, Taal; Cavite: Kawit, Bacoor, Imus,Tagaytay City, Silang, Dasmarinas, Carmona, Amadeo, Rosario, Mendez, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, TreceMartirez, Tanza; Laguna: San Pedro, Sta Rosa, Binan, Cabuyao, Los Banos, Calamba City, Victoria, Calauan, Alaminos, San Pablo; Rizal: Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay VISAYAS: Cebu: Toledo City, Balamban, Barili, Carcar, Cebu City, Compostela, Consolacion,Cordova, Danao, Liloan, Mandaue, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, LapuLapu, Dumanjug, Talisay, Moalboal, Bogo City, San Remigio, Sogod, Alcantara, Santander, Ginatilan, Daanbantayan; Negros Occidental: Bacolod City, Kabankalan, Pulupandan, Silay City, Valladolid, Binalbagan; Iloilo: Iloilo City, Oton MINDANAO:Agusan del Sur: Rosario, San Francisco, Trento, Bayugan; Compostela Valley:Monkayo; Davao del Norte: Santo Tomas, Braulio E. Dujali, Panabo, Tagum, Carmen, Island City of Samal; Davao del Sur: Santa Cruz, Bansalan, Davao City, Digos, Hagonoy; Davao de Oro:Montevista, Compostela, Nabunturan, Maco; Cotabato: Kidapawan, Makilala; South Cotabato: General Santos City, Polomolok; Bukidnon: Malaybalay, City of Valencia, Quezon; Misamis Oriental:Balingasag, Cagayan de Oro, Claveria, Talisayan, Manticao, Sugbongcogon, Medina, Kinoguitan, Binuangan, Balingoan, Naawan, Villanueva, City of El Salvador, Jasaan, Opol, Tagoloan Plus New Areas: Bukidnon: Don Carlos, Manolo Fortich, Baungon, Libona, Impasug-ong, Maramag Misamis Oriental: City of Gingoog, Lugait Pampanga: San Simon Pangasinan: San Carlos City, Lingayen (Capital) Tarlac: Pura Batangas: Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy Cavite: Magallanes 6) Via Lazada Mall: a. b. c. d. e.

f.

Open Lazada and search for DITO in the Lazada Mall (DITO Telecommunity) account or DITO SIM. Click on DITO SIM product in DITO’s shop in Lazada Mall.

Go thru handset validation using the link displayed in the Product Description Section.

Select the SIM type compatible exactly to your handset and click Buy Now. The promo package shall be delivered to the customer via Lazada partner courier and may be subject to a delivery fee. Delivery is subject to the terms and conditions of Lazada and their partner couriers.

If you are unable to receive your order or received a damaged SIM card, you may reach out send an email to customerservice@dito.ph or send your concerns via DITO’s Facebook messenger or using the DITO App. You may also reach out to Lazada or its partner couriers pursuant to their terms and conditions.

Promo shall only be offered in the following new cities and municipalities in:

LUZON: NCR: Manila, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Taguig, Pateros, Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, Las Pinas; Pangasinan: Basista,Binmaley,Dagupan, Manaoag, Mangatarem, San Manuel; Bulacan: Pandi, San Jose del Monte, Malolos, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Hagonoy, Bulacan, Plaridel, Baliuag, Guiguinto; Nueva Ecija: Llanera, Palayan City, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo Science City of Munoz, Talavera, Cabanatuan, Gapan City, San Leonardo, San Jose, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Zaragoza, General Tinio (Papaya), Licab; Pampanga: Angeles, Mabalacat, Mexico, Guagua, San Fernando, Magalang; Tarlac: Capas, Tarlac City, Concepcion, Gerona, Moncada, La

it easy for the local online sellers and people with transactions online by making registrations online also,” Tionko said.

When asked how much taxes could be captured from the social media influencers, Tiokno said the BIR is still studying it.

“We will know once they register. The other way to do it is to look at their counterparties, to audit their counterparties, like the ones that advertise and all that. You can see the match, that is the way to do it. Hopefully when they register, we will get the number,” Tionko said.

On Monday, the BIR issued a memorandum reminding social media influencers of their tax obligations.

Paz, Ramos, San Manuel; Zambales: Olongapo, Subic; Bataan: Balanga, Dinalupihan; Batangas: Alitagtag, Bauan, Cuenca, San Jose,Ibaan, Batangas City, Malvar, MataasnaKahoy, San Pascual, Santo Tomas, Lipa City, Talisay, Tanauan City, Taysan, Balete, Padre Garcia, San Juan, Balayan, Calaca, San Luis, Taal; Cavite: Kawit, Bacoor, Imus,Tagaytay City, Silang, Dasmarinas, Carmona, Amadeo, Rosario, Mendez, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, TreceMartirez, Tanza; Laguna: San Pedro, Sta Rosa, Binan, Cabuyao, Los Banos, Calamba City, Victoria, Calauan, Alaminos, San Pablo; Rizal: Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay VISAYAS: Cebu: Toledo City, Balamban, Barili, Carcar, Cebu City, Compostela, Consolacion,Cordova, Danao, Liloan, Mandaue, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, LapuLapu, Dumanjug, Talisay, Moalboal, Bogo City, San Remigio, Sogod, Alcantara, Santander, Ginatilan, Daanbantayan; Negros Occidental: Bacolod City, Kabankalan, Pulupandan, Silay City, Valladolid, Binalbagan; Iloilo: Iloilo City, Oton MINDANAO:Agusan del Sur: Rosario, San Francisco, Trento, Bayugan; Compostela Valley:Monkayo; Davao del Norte: Santo Tomas, Braulio E. Dujali, Panabo, Tagum, Carmen, Island City of Samal; Davao del Sur: Santa Cruz, Bansalan, Davao City, Digos, Hagonoy; Davao de Oro:Montevista, Compostela, Nabunturan, Maco; Cotabato: Kidapawan, Makilala; South Cotabato: General Santos City, Polomolok; Bukidnon: Malaybalay, City of Valencia, Quezon; Misamis Oriental:Balingasag, Cagayan de Oro, Claveria, Talisayan, Manticao, Sugbongcogon, Medina, Kinoguitan, Binuangan, Balingoan, Naawan, Villanueva, City of El Salvador, Jasaan, Opol, Tagoloan Plus New Areas: Bukidnon: Don Carlos, Manolo Fortich, Baungon, Libona, Impasug-ong, Maramag Misamis Oriental: City of Gingoog, Lugait Pampanga: San Simon Pangasinan: San Carlos City, Lingayen (Capital) Tarlac: Pura Batangas: Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy Cavite: Magallanes Via Shopee: a. Open Shopee and search for DITO in the Shopee Mall (DITO Telecommunity) account or DITO SIM. b. Click on DITO SIM product in DITO’s shop in Shopee. c. Select the SIM type compatible exactly to your handset and click Buy Now. d. The promo package shall be delivered to the customer via Shopee partner courier and may be subject to a delivery fee. Delivery is subject to the terms and conditions of Shopee and their partner couriers.

If you are unable to receive your order or received a damaged SIM card, you may send an email to customerservice@dito.ph or send your concerns via DITO’s Facebook messenger or using the DITO App. You may also reach out to Shopee or its partner couriers pursuant to their terms and conditions. e. Promo shall only be offered in the following new cities and municipalities in: LUZON: NCR: Manila, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Taguig, Pateros, Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, Las Pinas; Pangasinan: Basista,Binmaley,Dagupan, Manaoag, Mangatarem, San Manuel; Bulacan: Pandi, San Jose del Monte, Malolos, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Hagonoy, Bulacan, Plaridel, Baliuag, Guiguinto; Nueva Ecija: Llanera, Palayan City, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo Science City of Munoz, Talavera, Cabanatuan, Gapan City, San Leonardo, San Jose, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Zaragoza, General Tinio (Papaya), Licab; Pampanga: Angeles, Mabalacat, Mexico, Guagua, San Fernando, Magalang; Tarlac: Capas, Tarlac City, Concepcion, Gerona, Moncada, La Paz, Ramos, San Manuel; Zambales: Olongapo, Subic; Bataan: Balanga, Dinalupihan; Batangas: Alitagtag, Bauan, Cuenca, San Jose,Ibaan, Batangas City, Malvar, MataasnaKahoy, San Pascual, Santo Tomas, Lipa City, Talisay, Tanauan City, Taysan, Balete, Padre Garcia, San Juan, Balayan, Calaca, San Luis, Taal; Cavite: Kawit, Bacoor, Imus,Tagaytay City, Silang, Dasmarinas, Carmona, Amadeo, Rosario, Mendez, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, TreceMartirez, Tanza; Laguna: San Pedro, Sta Rosa, Binan, Cabuyao, Los Banos, Calamba City, Victoria, Calauan, Alaminos, San Pablo; Rizal: Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay VISAYAS: Cebu: Toledo City, Balamban, Barili, Carcar, Cebu City, Compostela, Consolacion,Cordova, Danao, Liloan, Mandaue, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, LapuLapu, Dumanjug, Talisay, Moalboal, Bogo City, San Remigio, Sogod, Alcantara, Santander, Ginatilan, Daanbantayan; Negros Occidental: Bacolod City, Kabankalan, Pulupandan, Silay City, Valladolid, Binalbagan; Iloilo: Iloilo City, Oton MINDANAO:Agusan del Sur: Rosario, San Francisco, Trento, Bayugan; Compostela Valley:Monkayo; Davao del Norte: Santo Tomas, Braulio E. Dujali, Panabo, Tagum, Carmen, Island City of Samal; Davao del Sur: Santa Cruz, Bansalan, Davao City, Digos, Hagonoy; Davao de Oro:Montevista, Compostela, Nabunturan, Maco; Cotabato: Kidapawan, Makilala; South Cotabato: General Santos City, Polomolok; Bukidnon: Malaybalay, City of Valencia, Quezon; Misamis Oriental:Balingasag, Cagayan de Oro, Claveria, Talisayan, Manticao, Sugbongcogon, Medina, Kinoguitan, Binuangan, Balingoan, Naawan, Villanueva, City of El Salvador, Jasaan, Opol, Tagoloan Plus New Areas: Bukidnon: Don Carlos, Manolo Fortich, Baungon, Libona, Impasug-ong, Maramag Misamis Oriental: City of Gingoog, Lugait Pampanga: San Simon Pangasinan: San Carlos City, Lingayen (Capital) Tarlac: Pura Batangas: Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy Cavite: Magallanes 7) How to Activate the Promo f.

Insert the DITO SIM in the prescreened DITO compatible device or other DITO compatible devices. The 25GB high-speed data, onnet call, and on-net text promo shall be automatically enabled upon activation of the SIM Card. To activate the SIM card, subscribers may turn on their data, attempt a call or send an SMS. g. Subscribers will receive confirmation via SMS for the activation of the SIM card and the promo.

8) Once availed, the promo is non-refundable / non-replaceable / nonexchangeable. The promo must be availed and activated within 30 days from the date the DITO SIM was successfully delivered. The SIM card shall expire if not activated within “1” year from purchase.

9) The promo cannot be used in conjunction with any unlimited promo offers, discount available and other exclusive promo offers.

10) The promo cannot be converted to cash, credit, or other goods and services of DITO. 11) By availing of the promo, the subscriber confirms that he/she has read, understood, and agrees to the promo mechanics, its terms and conditions, the terms and conditions of the SIM card. Subscriber also agrees not to use the SIM card and/or promo for illicit or illegal means.

12) For any concerns and/or inquiries regarding the promo, information may be sent to customerservice@dito.ph. All matters and disputes will be subject to the final decision of DITO Telecommunity. All decisions made

by DITO Telecommunity pertaining to the promo will be deemed final and irrevocable, with the prior concurrence of DTI.

Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-122325 Series of 2021 (MS-AUG. 18, 2021)

SERVE THE PEOPLE. Vaccinator Rowena Quidilla, who survived a hit and run incident last week, administers a COVID-19 vaccine jab to a resident at the Sta. Ana Elementary school on Monday, August 16, 2021. Her injured right arm in a cast, Quidilla said she opted to report for work given the surge in COVID-19 cases and the need to inoculate as many residents as quickly as possible to achieve population protection. Danny Pata

Marcos: Allow all vaxxed persons to work in ECQ CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

FORMER senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has urged the government to allow all vaccinated persons to spend time outdoors during the Enhanced Community Quarantine period, either to earn a living or for health reasons.

“As long as these vaccinated unauthorized persons outside of residence (UPOR) adhere strictly to minimum public health standards, I believe, somehow, they’re of big help in weathering the crisis caused by the coronavirus,” he said.

“Not being allowed to work during lockdowns is disadvantageous to workers, especially those who are on a no work, no pay basis, those who were laid off from their jobs or those who are forced to render shorter periods of work due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, because they would not have the means to pay for their families’ daily expenses,” he added.

He said the duration of the ECQ coincided with the period that parents needed to cough up tuition and other fees for their children’s enrollment.

“They need to work to recover their expenses. And because we are under ECQ, their expenses at home also go up – higher water and power bills. How can they manage if they are not allowed to work outside their homes?” Marcos said.

The former lawmaker, however, underscored that even vaccinated individuals should still strictly practice minimum public health standards such as wearing face masks, frequent handwashing and social distancing.

Marcos also exhorted the government to come up with ways to pump-prime the economy.

IN BRIEF Ceasefire: Pacquiao camp appeals to Cusi-led PDP THE camp of Senator Manny Pacquiao yesterday appealed to the Cusi-led faction in the PDP-Laban to stop attacking the senator who has a boxing bout in the United States on Aug. 22 (Manila time).

Ron Munsayac, executive director of the Pacquiao-wing, expressed hope that Filipinos will unite in supporting the boxing icon in his world championship fight.

“I hope our expelled members – Cusi and [Melvin] Matibag – should stop hurling issues on the senator and politicking in the midst of this pandemic,” Munsayac said.

Cusi was chosen as party president by the PDP-Laban faction recognized by President Rodrigo Duterte as its party chairman, while Matibag was elected secretary-general.

“It is just sad that many government officials of this administration have been engaged in politics despite the increasing number of COVID-19 cases,” Munsayac said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

7-mo. delay in PhilHealth memo led to billions of unpaid claims A SEVEN-MONTH delay in the routing of a Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) circular on COVID-19 claims has resulted in billions of pesos that the agency owes hospitals, lawmakers learned Tuesday.

PhilHealth officials admitted during a congressional hearing the reported delay in the retroactivity of its circular on COVID-19 benefit packages.

“It is not acceptable that it took PhilHealth seven months to route the circular even though it was already approved by its board,” said House Committee on Health chairperson Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan. “The circular is effective retroactively to November 26, 2020 and yet you issued that circular only on June 17, 2021,” Tan said as she scolded PhilHealth officials. “For me your answer that it took time to route that circular, although already approved by the board already, is not acceptable.”

Tan was referring to PhilHealth Circular 2021-0008, issued on June 17, 2021, which declared that “only confirmed cases shall be covered by the benefit package which shall be applied to cases starting November 26, 2020 and providing for an intermediate package which shall cover those cases which have been managed as COVID-19 cases.” Maricel Cruz

House panel unanimously OKs substitute divorce bill A HOUSE committee on Tuesday unanimously approved a substitute divorce bill crafted by a technical working group.

“Today is a momentous occasion for countless wives, who are battered and deserted, to regain their humanity, self-respect, and freedom from irredeemably failed marriages and utterly dysfunctional unions,” said Albay Representative Edcel Lagman said after the Committee on Population and Family Relations unanimously approved the unnumbered substitute bill.

The measure seeks to reinstate absolute divorce and includes several amendments to existing bills, such as provisions on court-assisted petitioners, community-based women’s desks to provide assistance and support to victims of violence and abuse, and grounds for divorce, among others.

Lagman said House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has already expressed favor for the enactment of the measure.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

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B2

World

TODAY WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

US brass bitter as chaos reigns in Kabul W ASHINGTON—The mood was somber Monday in the corridors of the Pentagon, where US military personnel watched helplessly as chaos erupted at Kabul airport and privately criticized the slow pace of Joe Biden’s administration in evacuating US-allied Afghans who fear Taliban retribution.

take off, with some trying to desperately cling to its sides.

“We warned them for months, for months” that the situation was urgent, said one military official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“I am not angry, I am frustrated,” another officer remarked. “The process could have been handled so differently.”

Biden decided in mid-April that all US troops must be out of Afghanistan by September 11, though he later moved that date up to August 21.

The State Department however waited months to set up an ad hoc structure to get US allies to safety.

Another Pentagon official interviewed by AFP said that diplomats had tried to speed up the visa process -- but the process was too long and complicated under the circumstances.

The Biden administration assumed that the US embassy in Kabul would remain open and that the Afghan government would retain control of the country for months after the US withdrawal, he said. AFP

Some criticized the State Department, which has sole authority to grant visas to former interpreters and other US military support staff and their families, for waiting more than two months to begin the process for Afghans in fear of their lives.

Videos posted on social networks showed scenes of panic and fear in Kabul, including crowds running next to a US military transport plane as it taxies to

RING OF FIRE.

Iraqi Shiites take part in a religious procession during the month of Muharram leading up to the mourning day of Ashura, in the holy city of Najaf on August 16. The Shiite Muslim religious commemoration of Ashura, which includes a ten-day mourning period starting on the first day of Muharram, marks the seventhcentury slaying of Prophet Mohammed’s grandson Imam Hussein. AFP

Hong Kong leader tells legal body to stay out of politics iselco2_pbac@yahoo.com

INVITATION TO BID Bid No. 2021-04 The office of the General Manager through duly constituted Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), hereby invites all interested contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, and authorized dealers to submit bids for NEA subsidy 2020 Sitio Electrification Program (SEP) intended for Isabela II Electric Cooperative (ISELCO II).

LOT

PARTICULARS

Approved Budget Cost (ABC)

NONREFUNDABLE FEE (Bid Documents)

1

2020 SEP GAA - EXTENSION OF DISTRIBUTION LINES

PHP 14,416,802.25

PHP 25,000.00

2

2020 SEP GAA - INSTALLATION OF KWHR METERS, SERVICE DROP WIRES AND HOUSEWIRING MATERIALS

PHP 3,222,160.11

PHP 5,000.00

Bidding documents are available in electronic data format for purchase.

Interested bidders shall submit a letter of intent and comply with the following requirements: a.) Company Profile

e.) Latest Income Tax Return (ITR)

b.) DTI Business Name Registration or SEC Registration Certificate

f.) List of Clients for 3 years

c.) Business Permit (Valid and Current Mayor’s Permit)

g.) Latest Audited Annual Financial Statement

d.) BIR/VAT Certificate which consist the TIN

h.) Location Map of the Office

HONG KONG—Hong Kong’s leader on Tuesday warned one of the city’s top legal bodies against getting involved in politics, in the latest sign of the government telling professional bodies to toe Beijing’s line.

Chief executive Carrie Lam’s comments towards the Law Society come as China remolds Hong Kong in its own image and pursues civil society groups deemed to be politically disloyal or supportive of the city’s democracy movement.

“If the Law Society allows politics to hijack their legal profession, the government will... consider severing its relationship with it,” Lam told reporters, without spelling out what measures the government might take.

With over 12,000 members, the Law Society is the city’s largest association of solicitors and the only regulatory body of its type with statutory powers.

It can issue practicing certificates, investigate professional malpractice, and establish rules of conduct for the industry.

Next week it will elect five of its 20 council members and proestablishment figures are concerned more liberal, pro-democracy minded lawyers might win. AFP Manila

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. StandardORIENTAL MINDORO (O R M E C O, Inc.)

TODAY

✉Brgy. Sta. Isabel, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro ☎043.288.7801 / 288.7802 / 288.7803 Fax No. 043.288.7804 E-mail: ormeco_coop@yahoo.com Website: www.ormeco-inc.com

The foregoing amounts are non-refundable and must be paid to the cashier at ISELCO II, Main Office, Government Center, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel Nos. (078) 323-0013 and (078) 323-0715 official receipt of payments must be presented during the Pre-Bid Conference.

ACTIVITIES

SCHEDULE

Release of Invitation to Bid (Publication)

August 18, 2021

Selling and Issuance of Bid Documents

INVITATION TO BID 1.

ORIENTAL MINDORO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (ORMECO, INC.), through its BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (BAC), hereby intends to apply the sum of Eight Million Eight hundred Eighty-One Thousand Four Hundred Pesos Only ( ₱8,881,400.00) funded under Consumers Payment inclusive of all applicable taxes and fees, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), for the procurement, supply, and delivery of materials/supplies/equipment for the Technical Services Department;

2.

ORMECO, INC. now calls for the submission of Letter of Intent by interested bidders thru email at ormeco.bac.official@gmail.com. The list of the ORMECO, INC. Eligibility Requirements may be viewed at www.ormeco-inc.com, https://web.facebook.com/ OrmecoOGMOfficial, and may be requested through email ormeco_coop@yahoo. com, including the numbers listed above. An amount of two hundred fifty pesos (₱ 250.00) is required as Accreditation Fee;

3.

ORMECO, INC. now invites suppliers for the following:

August 19, 2021 – August 25, 2021

Pre-Bid Conference

August 26, 2021 (9:00 AM) VIA VIRTUAL MEETING

Deadline of Submission and Receipt of Bids/Bid Opening

September 8, 2021 (9:00 AM) VIA VIRTUAL MEETING

Bid Evaluation

September 9, 2021

Post Qualification ISELCO II hereby reserves the right to reject any bids, waive any formality therein, accepts proposal most advantageous to the Cooperative and assumes no obligation to compensate or indemnify any bidder for expenses or losses that may be incurred in the preparation of bid nor does it guarantee that an award will be made.

JOSEPH S. PALATTAO BAC Chairman

LOT

ITEM DESCRIPTION

ABC (INCLUSIVE OF VAT)

COST OF BID DOCUMENTS (NONREFUNDABLE)

I

Supply of Pole, Concrete 50’ Class 2 1800 kgs (Round, Hallow) - (32 pcs) Pole, Steel, 40’ 4.0 mm, 86 Microns, 1280 kgs Minimum Load Break - (50 pcs) Pole, Steel, 55’ 4.0 mm, 86 Microns, (Two section) 1200 kgs Minimum Load Break - (45 pcs) Crossarm, Steel, 3” x 4” x 8ft, 3mm Hot Dip galvanized - (50 pcs) Crossarm, Fiberglass, 3” x 4” x 10ft - (70 pcs)

₱ 7,886,000.00

₱ 10,000.00

Supply of Pole, Steel, 30’ 3.0 mm, 86 Microns, 500 kgs Minimum Load Break - (63 pcs)

₱ 995,400.00

DAVID SOLOMON M. SIQUIAN General Manager M. Standard – August 18, 2021

II 4.

INVITATION TO BID Bid No. 2021-05

1 2 3 4 5 6

Approved Budget Cost (ABC)

Pole, Steel, 65’, Bare-5.0 mm (Two Section), 86 Micron, 1200 kgs (Minimum Load Break) Conductor, Bare, ACSR #1/0, AWG 6/1 (Meters) Conductor, Insulated, ACSR #1/0, AWG 6/1 (Meters) Conductor, Bare, ACSR #4/0, AWG 6/1 (Meters) Conductor, Bare, ACSR #336.4, MCM 26/7 STD,(Meters) Assorted Hardwares Crossarm

NONREFUNDABLE FEE (Bid Documents)

PHP 2,760,000.00

PHP 5,000.00

PHP 3,720,000.00

PHP 5,000.00

PHP 6,970,000.00 PHP 15,000,000.00 PHP 7,308,600.00 PHP 3,250,000.00

PHP 10,000.00 PHP 25,000.00 PHP 10,000.00 PHP 5,000.00

₱ 1000.00

5.

Online Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the NEA Memorandum NO. 2017-019: Revised Procurement Guidelines and Simplified Bidding Procedures for Electric Cooperatives, IRR-RA 10531 (2017); All video conferences shall be recorded in CD/DVD for reference and other purposes.

6.

The schedule of bidding activities is as follows:

ACTIVITIES

For Lot 1-6: ISO Certified (ISO Certification to be submitted along with the proposal Bidding documents are available in electronic data format for purchase.

Interested bidders shall submit a letter of intent and comply with the following requirements:

18 August 2021 (Wednesday)

Submission of Letter of Intent thru email / Availability of Bidding Documents

19–25 August 2021 Office Hours, at ORMECO, INC. Office (ormeco.bac.official@gmail.com)

Online/Virtual Pre-Bid Conference

26 August 2021 (Thursday) at ORMECO, INC. Board Room

b.) DTI Business Name Registration or SEC Registration Certificate

`f.) List of Clients for 3 years

c.) Business Permit (Valid and Current Mayor’s Permit)

g.) Latest Audited Annual Financial Statement

Deadline of Bid Submission (ormeco.bac. official@gmail.com), Opening and Evaluation of Bids (Online/ Virtual)

9 September 2021 (Thursday) at ORMECO, INC. Board Room

d.) BIR/VAT Certificate which consist the TIN

h.) Location Map of the Office

Post-Qualification

13–14 September 2021

Approval through Board Resolution and Issuance of Notice of Award

Board Meeting for the Month of September 2021

Signing of Contract

After Issuance of Notice of Award

Delivery Schedule

To be announced during the Pre-Bid Conference

The foregoing amounts are non-refundable and must be paid to the cashier at ISELCO II, Main Office, Government Center, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel Nos. (078) 323-0013 and (078) 323-0715 official receipt of payments must be presented during the Pre-Bid Conference.

Release of Invitation to Bid (Publication) Selling and Issuance of Bid Documents

Pre-Bid Conference August 27, 2021 (9:00 AM) VIA VIRTUAL MEETING Deadline of Submission of Eligibility Requirements and September 9, 2021 (9:00 AM) VIA VIRTUAL MEETING Bid Offer (Technical and Financial Documents) Evaluation of Eligibility Requirements (Technical And September 10, 2021 Financial Documents) Post Qualification ISELCO II hereby reserves the right to reject any bids, waive any formality therein, accepts proposal most advantageous to the Cooperative and assumes no obligation to compensate or indemnify any bidder for expenses or losses that may be incurred in the preparation of bid nor does it guarantee that an award will be made.

DAVID SOLOMON M. SIQUIAN General Manager M. Standard – August 18, 2021

11:00 am for Lot II

Only those who have bought the Bidding Documents shall be allowed to attend or participate during the Online/Virtual Pre-Bidding Conference, where their presence is MANDATORY;

8.

All bids shall be opened and read in the presence of Bidders or their duly authorized representatives. All bids shall be accompanied by a scanned copy of validated bank deposit slip or screenshot of successful electronic fund transfer representing payment of bid bond equivalent to 2% of ABC.

9.

The winning bidder shall issue Performance Security in the form of Cash, Cashier’s Check, Manager’s Check, issued by a Universal or Commercial Bank, equivalent to five percent (5%) of the Contract Price; and

10.

ORMECO, INC. reserves the right to accept or reject any bids, declare failure of bidding and not to award the contract without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. ORMECO, INC. also has no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

Certified by:

JOSEPH S. PALATTAO BAC Chairman

9:00 am for Lot I

7.

August 19, 2021 August 20 – August 26, 2021

YANGON—Rohingya refugees expelled from Myanmar in a bloody crackdown are to testify in court for the first time Tuesday to urge a full judicial investigation into allegations of war crimes committed against them.

A military campaign in Myanmar in 2017 is believed to have killed thousands and forced some 750,000 members of the Muslim minority to flee to refugee camps in Bangladesh, bringing accounts of rape, murder, and arson.

The witnesses will testify remotely to a court in Argentina, which is considering invoking the principle of “universal jurisdiction” to bring a case against Myanmar’s leaders for genocide and crimes against humanity.

The legal premise holds that some acts— including war crimes and crimes against humanity—are so horrific they are not specific to one nation and can be tried anywhere.

Argentina’s courts have taken up other universal jurisdiction cases in the past, including in relation to ex-dictator Francisco Franco’s rule in Spain and the Falun Gong movement in China.

Proceedings against Myanmar and its leaders are already under way at the International Criminal Court and the UN’s International Court of Justice. AFP

9:00 am for Lot I & II

e.) Latest Income Tax Return (ITR)

SCHEDULE

Rohingya to testify in Myanmar probe

SCHEDULE

Release of Invitation to Bid

a.) Company Profile

ACTIVITIES

LE LUC, France—Thousands of people, including tourists in campsites, have been evacuated to escape a wildfire raging near the plush tourist resort of Saint-Tropez in southern France, the fire service said Tuesday.

Around 750 firefighters and water-dropping aircraft were battling the blaze in difficult conditions, with high temperatures and strong winds.

“Thousands of people have been evacuated as a precautionary measure, but there are no victims,” a fire service spokeswoman, Delphine Vienco, said, adding that the blaze was “still very fierce”.

Southern France is the latest area around the Mediterranean basin to be hit by wildfires this summer, a seasonal phenomenon which climate scientists warn will become increasingly common because of man-made global warming.

Large fires have already ravaged parts of Greece, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Algeria, and Morocco.

The blaze broke out Monday at a motorway stop about 100 kilometres (60 miles) northeast of the port city of Toulon. AFP

For Additional info please be guided in the following: (please refer to Online Bidding procedures) a.

Payment of bidding documents shall be deposited to BAC bank account (to be email by BAC secretariat). b.

Prospective bidders must submit to the BAC via email the scanned copy of validated bank deposit slip / screenshot of successful electronic fund transfer as proof of payment. c.

Scanned copy of Bidding Documents will be sent by the BAC secretariat upon validation that the payments are credited to the coop’s bank account. d.

ID number or link of the Online/Virtual conference will be provided by BAC secretariat

The office of the General Manager through duly constituted Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), hereby invites all interested manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, and authorized dealers to submit bids for 2021 OPERATION and MAINTENANCE intended for ISELCO II’s requirements for Poles to wit: PARTICULARS

Consumer’s Payment

Saint-Tropez wildfire forces evacuations

Due to COVID-19, in compliance with the Community Quarantine (CQ), Online/ Virtual Bidding Conferences will be conducted. Stable internet connection is required to all prospective bidders during the conferences. BAC shall not be liable in any unexpected disruption due to poor/unstable signal which may cause loss of connection and inability of Bidders to engross with the conferences.

iselco2_pbac@yahoo.com

LOT

FUNDING SOURCE

IN BRIEF

LINA C. YUMANG Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (BAC)

Noted by: ATTY. NORBERTO M. MENDOZA Head Of Procuring Entity (HOPE) (MS-AUGUST 18, 2021)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Business

B3

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks advance; Globe, Jollibee and URC climb

T

HE stock market rose Tuesday in another round of bargain hunting, after record gains on Wall Street overnight.

HOLLYWOOD COMEBACK. Tourists walk on Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame, August 16, 2021 in Hollywood, California.

Tourism on Hollywood Boulevards has increased as much as 153 percent between April and June after a severe drop off during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report published in the Los Angeles Times on August 16, 2021. Business owners say they’re seeing a larger proportion of visitors from the US over international tourists. AFP

Google, Facebook bare new Asia undersea internet cable WASHINGTON―Google and Facebook on Monday unveiled plans for a new undersea internet cable connecting Singapore, Japan, Guam, the Philippines, Taiwan and Indonesia.

The cable project dubbed Apricot would be some 12,000 kilometers (nearly 7,500 miles) and be operational in 2024 subject to regulatory approvals, the companies said in separate statements.

The project announced by the US firms and regional and global partners “will deliver much-needed internet capacity, redundancy, and reliability to expand connections in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Facebook engineering manager Nico Roehrich.

“The Apricot cable is part of our ongoing effort to expand global network infrastructure and better serve the more than 3.5 billion people around the world who use our services every month,” Roehrich added.

Earlier this year the companies announced another cable project dubbed Echo connecting the United States, Singapore, Guam and Indonesia.

“The Echo and Apricot cables are complementary submarine systems that will offer benefits with multiple paths in and out of Asia, including unique routes through southern Asia, ensuring a significantly higher degree of resilience for Google Cloud and digital services,” said Google Cloud vice president Bikash Koley.

“Together they’ll provide businesses and startups in Asia with lower latency, more bandwidth, and increased resilience in their connectivity between Southeast Asia, North Asia and the United States,” Koley added. AFP

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 47.73 points, or 0.7 percent, to 6,561.41 on a value turnover of P6.8 billion. Losers, however, edged gainers, 98 to 97, with 50 issues unchanged.

Globe Telecom Inc. of the Ayala Group, the second-biggest telecommunications company, advanced 3.6 percent to P2,082, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fastfood chain, climbed 3 percent to P193.

Universal Robina Corp. of the Gokong-

wei Group, the biggest snack food maker, increased 2.9 percent to P140.90, but AC Energy Corp. fell 2.3 percent to P9.01.

Asian markets were broadly down Tuesday as investors weighed record gains on Wall Street against fears the resurgent Delta coronavirus variant may put the brakes on the global economic recovery.

Major US indices rebounded overnight from a slow start as bargain hunters stepped up purchases—leaving both the Dow and S&P 500 finishing narrowly positive to extend a streak of record-high closes to a fifth straight day.

Buoyed by Wall Street, Tokyo opened up, before erasing early gains and closing down for a fourth consecutive session as fears over a surge in virus cases dampened hopes for

Manila

Standard NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

In lineTODAY with the NTC guidelines, here’s the mechanics for the DITO 99 Online Promo: Promo Mechanics: 1) Promo period is from August 10– September 30, 2021. The promo must be activated within the promo period. Promos activated after the promo period shall not take effect.

2) The Php 99 promo + Php 40 SIM bundle is priced at Php 139.00 and is inclusive of the following: a. SIM card with 1GB data valid for 7 days b. 10GB Data for 30 days upon activation of the SIM card. c. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls for 30 days upon activation of the SIM Card. d. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO SMS for 30 days upon activation of the SIM Card e. 300 minutes of calls to other networks f. Unlimited texts to other networks 3)

Prerequisites: g. Only those with device compatible with the DITO SIM card and has passed the location validation may avail the promo. Device and location compatibility shall be assessed during the online ordering process. The list of available devices shall be available at DITO’s website (https://www.dito.ph/). Network locked phones, aside from DITO’s, and phones blocked by government agencies shall be considered as non-compatible devices. DITO shall have the sole discretion on whether a particular device is compatible with DITO SIM cards. In case of dispute on device compatibility, the list, and records of DITO shall prevail. h. Promo is only valid for the subscriber’s DITO compatible mobile phone where the purchased DITO SIM and Promo are installed.

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j.

k.

Go to DITO’s Promo Page at (https://dito.ph/promo-page.html) or DITO’s Facebook page at (https://www.facebook.com/DITO.ph/) or Go to “Purchase your DITO SIM” in the DITO App login page. Scan the promo QR code or access the promo link to access the DITO Online Store. In the DITO Online Store or DITO App, check if your handset is compatible and location covered by the promo. Read, understand, and accept the terms and condition of the SIM card, Welcome Offer Promo, and privacy policy.

Purchase the “10GB Data” package. Customers can pay using credit/ debit cards and various e-wallet as indicated in the online store.

Customers will be asked to input their name, email address, contact number and delivery address where the DITO packaged will be delivered, delivery is valid within the promo areas only.

The promo package shall be delivered to the customer via third-party courier and may be subject to a delivery fee. Delivery schedule may be subject to change by the third-party couriers depending on its terms and conditions or force majeure. If you are unable to receive your order or received a damaged SIM card, you may reach out send an email to customerservice@dito.ph or send your concerns via DITO’s Facebook messenger or using the DITO App.

5) Promo shall only be offered in the following cities and municipalities in the following:

This picture shows two remaining beehives among burnt ones near the village of Voutas, Greece on August 11, 2021. AFP

Greek beekeepers rue tradition lost to fire

By Alexandros Kottis

VOUTAS, Greece—On the scorched earth, dozens of blackened rings mark all that remains of beehives that dotted the once verdant hillsides outside the village of Voutas on Greece’s Evia island.

Pine, walnut and fig trees were among the rich plant life sustaining the bees in a region that produces 40 percent of Greece’s honey. And those industrious workers were, in turn, a cornerstone of the local ecosystem, pollinating local farmers’ crops.

“It’s a whole way of life that we lost along with the forest,” says Babis, 53, whose main source of income was his hives.

“What are we going to find here next year? It’s over. We’ve gone from heaven to hell.”

Bee colonies that have been bred over decades, with skills passed down through generations, have been wiped out in a fury of wild fires billowed by the forces of climate change.

‘Too late for change’ Greece—along with Turkey, Italy, Spain and Algeria—has been hit by a savage fire season that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described as the “greatest ecological disaster in decades.”

“The climate crisis is a harsh reality and shows us that forests will become increasingly vulnerable and increasingly valuable for what they provide,”

says Dimitris Karavellas, managing director for WWF Greece.

“The climate crisis is not an excuse to fail but must be a wake-up call for change.”

But for the beekeepers of Evia, it’s too late for change.

“We lost our hives because we were running to save our villages,” says Adonis Vakos, his cap pulled down on his head as he surveys the ruins of the charred forest before him.

Vakos, 49, the last representative of a family of beekeepers, says only 50 hives remain of the 130 he had before the fires swept across the island for nine days.

“I have been in the culture of honey since I was 10. We will never have time to revive it, we will be dead before it grows back. It will take 50 years, if it ever comes back.”

Until now, northern Evia has been one of the most popular areas in Greece for beekeepers.

Its micro-climate, biodiversity and pine forests caressed by the etesian summer breeze offered ideal conditions for the production of exceptional honey.

“Forty percent of the country’s honey production takes place here,” said Stathis Albanis, president of the local beekeepers’ cooperative.

Throughout the summer and up until November, thousands of Greek beekeepers brought their hives to the north of Evia island, says Panagiotis Gianakaras, a local beekeeper. AFP

LUZON: NCR: Manila, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Taguig, Pateros, Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, Las Pinas; Pangasinan: Basista,Binmaley,Dagupan, Manaoag, Mangatarem, San Manuel; Bulacan: Pandi, San Jose del Monte, Malolos, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Hagonoy, Bulacan, Plaridel, Baliuag, Guiguinto; Nueva Ecija: Llanera, Palayan City, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo Science City of Munoz, Talavera, Cabanatuan, Gapan City, San Leonardo, San Jose, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Zaragoza, General Tinio (Papaya), Licab; Pampanga: Angeles, Mabalacat, Mexico, Guagua, San Fernando, Magalang; Tarlac: Capas, Tarlac City, Concepcion, Gerona, Moncada, La Paz, Ramos, San Manuel; Zambales: Olongapo, Subic; Bataan: Balanga, Dinalupihan; Batangas: Alitagtag, Bauan, Cuenca, San Jose,Ibaan, Batangas City, Malvar, MataasnaKahoy, San Pascual, Santo Tomas, Lipa City, Talisay, Tanauan City, Taysan, Balete, Padre Garcia, San Juan, Balayan, Calaca, San Luis, Taal; Cavite: Kawit, Bacoor, Imus,Tagaytay City, Silang, Dasmarinas, Carmona, Amadeo, Rosario, Mendez, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, TreceMartirez, Tanza; Laguna: San Pedro, Sta Rosa, Binan, Cabuyao, Los Banos, Calamba City, Victoria, Calauan, Alaminos, San Pablo; Rizal: Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay VISAYAS: Cebu: Toledo City, Balamban, Barili, Carcar, Cebu City, Compostela, Consolacion,Cordova, Danao, Liloan, Mandaue, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, LapuLapu, Dumanjug, Talisay, Moalboal, Bogo City, San Remigio, Sogod, Alcantara, Santander, Ginatilan, Daanbantayan; Negros Occidental: Bacolod City, Kabankalan, Pulupandan, Silay City, Valladolid, Binalbagan; Iloilo: Iloilo City, Oton MINDANAO:Agusan del Sur: Rosario, San Francisco, Trento, Bayugan; Compostela Valley:Monkayo; Davao del Norte: Santo Tomas, Braulio E. Dujali, Panabo, Tagum, Carmen, Island City of Samal; Davao del Sur: Santa Cruz, Bansalan, Davao City, Digos, Hagonoy; Davao de Oro:Montevista, Compostela, Nabunturan, Maco; Cotabato: Kidapawan, Makilala; South Cotabato: General Santos City, Polomolok; Bukidnon: Malaybalay, City of Valencia, Quezon; Misamis Oriental:Balingasag, Cagayan de Oro, Claveria, Talisayan, Manticao, Sugbongcogon, Medina, Kinoguitan, Binuangan, Balingoan, Naawan, Villanueva, City of El Salvador, Jasaan, Opol, Tagoloan Plus New Areas: Bukidnon: Don Carlos, Manolo Fortich, Baungon, Libona, Impasug-ong, Maramag Misamis Oriental: City of Gingoog, Lugait Pampanga: San Simon Pangasinan: San Carlos City, Lingayen (Capital) Tarlac: Pura Batangas: Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy Cavite: Magallanes 6) Via Lazada Mall: a. Open Lazada and search for DITO in the Lazada Mall (DITO Telecommunity) account or DITO SIM. b. Click on DITO SIM product in DITO’s shop in Lazada Mall. c. Go thru handset validation using the link displayed in the Product Description Section. d. Select the SIM type compatible exactly to your handset and click Buy Now. e. The promo package shall be delivered to the customer via Lazada partner courier and may be subject to a delivery fee. Delivery is subject to the terms and conditions of Lazada and their partner couriers.

f.

If you are unable to receive your order or received a damaged SIM card, you may reach out send an email to customerservice@dito.ph or send your concerns via DITO’s Facebook messenger or using the DITO App. You may also reach out to Lazada or its partner couriers pursuant to their terms and conditions.

Promo shall only be offered in the following cities and municipalities in:

LUZON: NCR: Manila, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Taguig, Pateros, Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, Las Pinas; Pangasinan: Basista,Binmaley,Dagupan, Manaoag, Mangatarem, San Manuel; Bulacan: Pandi, San Jose del Monte, Malolos, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Hagonoy, Bulacan, Plaridel, Baliuag, Guiguinto; Nueva

the recovery.

“As long as the number of new cases continues to rise to record highs, investors won’t feel encouraged,” Yoshihiro Ito, senior strategist at Okasan Online Securities, said in a note.

Markets in China also dragged as a regulatory crackdown on private business by Beijing continued to leave investors on edge, with Hong Kong closing at its lowest level in three weeks and Shanghai closing well down.

The outlook for the global recovery was hit by Chinese data this week showing retail sales and industrial production slowing in July, with a rapid recovery threatened by renewed localized virus lockdowns and extensive travel restrictions. With AFP

Ecija: Llanera, Palayan City, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo Science City of Munoz, Talavera, Cabanatuan, Gapan City, San Leonardo, San Jose, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Zaragoza, General Tinio (Papaya), Licab; Pampanga: Angeles, Mabalacat, Mexico, Guagua, San Fernando, Magalang; Tarlac: Capas, Tarlac City, Concepcion, Gerona, Moncada, La Paz, Ramos, San Manuel; Zambales: Olongapo, Subic; Bataan: Balanga, Dinalupihan; Batangas: Alitagtag, Bauan, Cuenca, San Jose,Ibaan, Batangas City, Malvar, MataasnaKahoy, San Pascual, Santo Tomas, Lipa City, Talisay, Tanauan City, Taysan, Balete, Padre Garcia, San Juan, Balayan, Calaca, San Luis, Taal; Cavite: Kawit, Bacoor, Imus,Tagaytay City, Silang, Dasmarinas, Carmona, Amadeo, Rosario, Mendez, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, TreceMartirez, Tanza; Laguna: San Pedro, Sta Rosa, Binan, Cabuyao, Los Banos, Calamba City, Victoria, Calauan, Alaminos, San Pablo; Rizal: Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay VISAYAS: Cebu: Toledo City, Balamban, Barili, Carcar, Cebu City, Compostela, Consolacion,Cordova, Danao, Liloan, Mandaue, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, LapuLapu, Dumanjug, Talisay, Moalboal, Bogo City, San Remigio, Sogod, Alcantara, Santander, Ginatilan, Daanbantayan; Negros Occidental: Bacolod City, Kabankalan, Pulupandan, Silay City, Valladolid, Binalbagan; Iloilo: Iloilo City, Oton MINDANAO:Agusan del Sur: Rosario, San Francisco, Trento, Bayugan; Compostela Valley:Monkayo; Davao del Norte: Santo Tomas, Braulio E. Dujali, Panabo, Tagum, Carmen, Island City of Samal; Davao del Sur: Santa Cruz, Bansalan, Davao City, Digos, Hagonoy; Davao de Oro:Montevista, Compostela, Nabunturan, Maco; Cotabato: Kidapawan, Makilala; South Cotabato: General Santos City, Polomolok; Bukidnon: Malaybalay, City of Valencia, Quezon; Misamis Oriental:Balingasag, Cagayan de Oro, Claveria, Talisayan, Manticao, Sugbongcogon, Medina, Kinoguitan, Binuangan, Balingoan, Naawan, Villanueva, City of El Salvador, Jasaan, Opol, Tagoloan Plus New Areas: Bukidnon: Don Carlos, Manolo Fortich, Baungon, Libona, Impasug-ong, Maramag Misamis Oriental: City of Gingoog, Lugait Pampanga: San Simon Pangasinan: San Carlos City, Lingayen (Capital) Tarlac: Pura Batangas: Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy Cavite: Magallanes Via Shopee: a. b. c. d.

e.

Open Shopee and search for DITO in the Shopee Mall (DITO Telecommunity) account or DITO SIM. Click on DITO SIM product in DITO’s shop in Shopee.

Select the SIM type compatible exactly to your handset and click Buy Now. The promo package shall be delivered to the customer via Shopee partner courier and may be subject to a delivery fee. Delivery is subject to the terms and conditions of Shopee and their partner couriers.

If you are unable to receive your order or received a damaged SIM card, you may send an email to customerservice@dito.ph or send your concerns via DITO’s Facebook messenger or using the DITO App. You may also reach out to Shopee or its partner couriers pursuant to their terms and conditions.

Promo shall only be offered in the following cities and municipalities in:

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g.

Insert the DITO SIM in the prescreened DITO compatible device or other DITO compatible devices. The 10GB high-speed data, onnet call, and on-net text promo shall be automatically enabled upon activation of the SIM Card. To activate the SIM card, subscribers may turn on their data, attempt a call or send an SMS. Subscribers will receive confirmation via SMS for the activation of the SIM card and the promo.

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12) For any concerns and/or inquiries regarding the promo, information may be sent to customerservice@dito.ph. All matters and disputes will be subject to the final decision of DITO Telecommunity. All decisions made

by DITO Telecommunity pertaining to the promo will be deemed final and irrevocable, with the prior concurrence of DTI. Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-124998 Series of 2021 (MS-AUG. 18, 2021)

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Tuesday, July 13, 2021

45.80 PTS. 6,809.72

TOTAL VOLUME 2,367,274,114 TOTAL TRADES 95,525 TOTAL VALUE 5,286,008,394.32 ADVANCES 110 DECLINES 93 UNCHANGED 49

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.6920

Japan

Yen

0.009154

0.4366

UK

Pound

1.418300

67.6416

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128879

6.1465

Switzerland

Franc

1.114330

53.1446

Canada

Dollar

0.828020

39.4899

Singapore

Dollar

0.756086

36.0593

Australia

Dollar

0.775400

36.9804

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655831

126.6619

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

12.7179

Brunei

Dollar

0.753239

35.9235

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.032072

1.5296

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

12.9852

Euro

Euro

1.219200

58.1461

Korea

Won

0.000901

0.0430

China

Yuan

0.156338

7.4561

India

Rupee

0.013740

0.6553

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.242365

11.5589

New Zealand

Dollar

0.722700

34.4670

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036128

1.7230 Source: BSP

NGCP owner Synergy Grid selling shares worth P28.9b

By Alena Mae S. Flores LISTED Synergy Grid & Development Philippines Inc. is offering P28.86 billion worth of shares to raise its public float to 20 percent and comply with the minimum public ownership requirement.

Synergy said in a preliminary prospectus it would sell to the public 1,053,500,000 common shares with an over-allotment option for another 101,000,000 common shares at price range of P15 to P25 apiece.

The public ownership of Synergy is at 0.26 percent, below the minimum 10 percent required the Philippine Stock Exchange on listed companies.

The company tapped Standard Chartered Bank, Philippine Commercial Capital Inc. and BDO Capital as joint financial advisors. BofA Securities J.P. Morgan and UBS are joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners while BDO Capital is the sole domestic coordinator of the offer.

Synergy is a holding company whose sole operating asset is National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, operator of the country’s transmission network.

Synergy exercises control over 60 percent of the outstanding capital stock of NGCP through subsidiaries OneTaipan Holdings Inc. and Pacifica21 Holdings Inc. OneTaipan indirectly holds an equity interest of 30 percent plus one share in NGCP through wholly-owned company Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp. ,while Pacifica21 indirectly owns 30 percent minus one share in NGCP throughwholly-owned company Calaca High Power Corp.

The effective equity interest of Synergy in NGCP, through OneTaipan and Pacifica21, is 40.2 percent.

Synergy’s board approved an amendment to its articles of incorporation on June 30 to increase its authorized capital stock from P5.050 billion divided into 5,050,000,000 common shares to P5.3 billion divided into 5,300,000,000 common shares.

The stockholders of Synergy approved on Aug. 10 the capital increase, and the amendments are pending for the approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Del Monte, Vinamilk to form dairy venture DEL Monte Philippines Inc. is venturing into the dairy industry through a 50:50 joint venture with Vietnam Dairy Products JSC. DMPI plans to import dairy products from Vinamilk and market and distribute them in the Philippines.

DMPI’s entry into the dairy sector is in line with its strategy of offering health and wellness products to consumers.

The Philippines has the second largest population in Southeast Asia and a relatively low per capita consumption of dairy products, according to DMPI. “The joint venture provides an opportunity for growth in the domestic dairy industry as Vinamilk expands into a new consumer market, and as Del Monte expands its footprint into a new category regularly consumed in Filipino households on a daily basis,” it said.

Vinamilk is among the 40 largest dairy companies globally, ranking 36th by revenue with $2.6-billion sales in 2020.

Jenniffer B. Austria

DOE assures enough power supply in 2022

ABOITIZ PROGRAM. Aboitiz Power Corp. president and chief executive Emmanuel Rubio (top, center) shares a light moment with vaccinated AP team members during the ‘We Got Your Vacc’ vaccination drive at Robinsons Galleria in Quezon City. In line with the government’s goal of achieving herd immunity by vaccinating at least 70 percent of Filipinos against COVID-19, Aboitiz Power is ramping up its vaccination program for employees, with more than 1,300 team members from Luzon and Visayas having received at least one dose as of Aug. 9.

DBCC to review economic goals after strong Q2 data

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE interagency Development Budget Coordinating Committee will meet Wednesday to revisit its macroeconomic assumptions after the economy expanded 11.8 percent in the second quarter, the fastest in over three decades, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Tuesday.

The DBCC is composed of the heads of the Department of Finance, Department of Budget and Management and the National Economic and Development Authority.

“We will have a DBCC meeting Aug. 18 to determine what the future seems to look like, given this lockdown episode we had,” Dominguez said in an online briefing.

Dominguez did not say whether he would recommend any adjustment on the gross domestic product growth target range of 6 percent to 7 percent this year, taking into account the secondquarter GDP expansion.

“DBCC is a collegial body,” he said,

adding he could not predict what would happen in the succeeding weeks. Economists earlier said the two-week lockdown in Metro Manila from Aug. 6 to 20 might be extended over rising cases of new infections triggered by the more virulent Delta variant of COVID-19.

Economists said any extension in the quarantine restrictions might result in a minimal GDP growth in the third quarter that could impact the full-year target range.

National Statistician Dennis Mapa earlier said the economy should grow by 8.2 percent in the second half to achieve the low end of the target, which is 6 percent.

Dominguez said the government was “doing all it can” to counter the pandemic. He said the vaccination of 70 million of the country’s population would be vital to counter the pandemic.

“Our first defense is the vaccinations.

And our vaccination program is proceeding as originally announced, we have received around 42.6 million doses of vaccines so far from March to Aug. 15 and we have already administered 27.8 million doses,” Dominguez said.

The government aims to complete the inoculation of 70 percent of the population by yearend.

The second-quarter GDP expansion of 11.8 percent ended five quarters of contraction and followed the the revised 3.9-percent decline in the first quarter. It was also better than the 17.0-percent contraction a year ago that officially brought the country into technical recession.

The main contributors to the growth, with their corresponding increase, were manufacturing, 22.3 percent; construction, 25.7 percent; and wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, 5.4 percent.

ENERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi said Tuesday the Department of Energy is in control of the power situation, including in the election period next year.

“The DOE is in control of the energy situation. We want to maintain our track record of working for a quick recovery against any calamity and will endeavor to do so in the years ahead,” Cusi said in a statement.

Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said there is sufficient supply of electricity for the election week. “The initial outlook shows sufficiency of supply, with no yellow alerts, and no power interruptions.

Our goal is to maintain this situation, or improve it, and this could be done through our continued coordination and joint monitoring activities,” Fuentebella said.

He said while there is an anticipated thinning of reserves in May next year, there would be no power shortages during the election period.

“We are coordinating closely and monitoring the situation. We have to make sure that we continue or maintain the current scenario through proper coordination and cooperation,” Fuentebella said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

D.M. Wenceslao posts P853-m profit PROPERTY developer D.M. Wenceslao and Associates Inc. said net income attributable to parent equity holders rose 18 percent to P853 million in the first half as a result of a tax credit related to Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprise Act. Consolidated revenues declined 20 percent year-on-year to P1.24 billion. Residential revenues dropped 51 percent to P267 million as only P110 million revenues were booked for Pixel Residences during the period, down from P517 million in the first half of 2020.

“We note that Pixel Residences is already near full completion and turnover, with little remaining unrecognized revenues.

Meanwhile, revenues from MidPark Towers reached P156 million from only P29 million in the first half of 2020,” it said.

“While we avidly await a full-blown recovery, we remain vigilant of risks arising from the still-ongoing COVID pandemic, including the more contagious Delta variant and the stricter lockdown measures implemented to curb a surge in cases,” said D.M. Wenceslao chief executive Delfin Angelo Wenceslao.

Filinvest registers earnings of P4.2b; GT Capital’s income surges by 143%

By Jenniffer B. Austria

NESTLE’S VACCINATION DRIVE. Pursuing the protection of health in and out of the workplace amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Nestlé Philippines launches its vaccination program called ‘You Call the Shots #WeGotYour Vax’ covering all employees, qualified dependents and business partners. The program, administered based on government priority guidelines, highlights personal responsibility in caring for one’s health while underscoring Nestlé Philippines’ commitment to support vaccination efforts across the country, in solidarity with the recovery program of the national government.

Study sees no evidence linking vaping and COVID A MAJOR study by Mayo Clinic in the United States that employed logistic regression models found no evidence linking vaping and COVID-19 diagnosis, based on the health records of nearly 70,000 patients.

“In contrast to the few prior studies that explored the association of e-cigarette use and COVID-19, we find no evidence that current or former e-cigarette users are more likely to be diagnosed,” according to researchers from Mayo Clinic who conducted the study, considered one of the largest of its kind to date.

Titled “Electronic Cigarette Use Is Not Associated with COVID-19 Diagnosis,” the study was conducted by researchers from Mayo Clinic, reviewed by The Institutional Review Board and published in prestigious medical journals on June 10, 2021.

IN BRIEF

Authored by Thulasee Jose, Ivana Croghan, J. Taylor Hays, Darrell Schroeder and David Warner of Mayo Clinic, the analysis tested the hypothesis that ecigarette use was associated with an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients seeking medical care.

It looked at 69,264 patients who were over the age of 12 years, smoked cigarettes or vaped and were given medical care at Mayo Clinic facilities between Sept. 15, 2019 and Nov. 30, 2020.

This followed mainstream media reports based on previous studies showing that vaping links to COVID risks were becoming clear. The Mayo Clinic study design differed substantially from those studies such as a cross sectional online survey which used a convenience sample cohort of adolescents and young adults in May 2020.

CONGLOMERATES GT Capital and Filinvest Development Corp. on Tuesday reported mixed first-half financial results.

GT Capital Holdings Inc. said in a disclosure to the stock exchange consolidated net income rose 143 percent in the first six months to P6.7 billion from P2.7 billion in the same period last year.

The company said despite the significant increase in profit, the first-half performance was still below the prepandemic level.

It said the positive first-half results were driven by Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., whose net income reached P11.7 billion and Toyota Motor Philippines Corp., which realized a profit of P3.5 billion.

Stronger real estate sales from property unit Federal Land Inc. and a higher net income contribution from associate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. also

contributed to GT Capital’s positive performance in the first half.

“GT Capital delivered strong results in the first half of 2021, which are approximately 80 percent of 2019 preCOVID levels. Amidst challenging conditions, the group’s first half performance demonstrates our inherent capacity to bounce back from the historic low levels of the past year, and in certain sectors, even optimize competitive strengths by gaining market share,” said GT Capital president Carmelo Maria Luza Bautista.

Meanwhile, FDC, the listed holding company of the Gotianun family, reported a net income of P4.2 billion in the first semester, down 41.6 percent from P7.2 billion a year ago. The lower net income was largely due the lower contribution from banking, property and power generation businesses.

FDC said banking accounted for more than half or 55 percent of FDC’s bottom line, delivering a net income contribution of P3.7 billion to the group.

GMA Network books 161% profit growth; ABS-CBN incurs net loss

By Darwin G. Amojelar GMA Network Inc. on Tuesday reported a 161-percent increase in profit in the first six months, while rival ABS-CBN Corp continued to incur a net loss.

GMA Network, led by Felipe Gozon, said net profit amounted to P3.7 billion from January to June, up from P1.40 billion in the same period last year. Consolidated revenues rose 57 percent in six months to P10.59 billion from P6.75 billion a year ago.

Consolidated advertising revenues climbed 61 percent to P9.88 billion, while sales of goods surged 236 percent,

owing to the successful launch of GMA Affordabox in the middle of last year and GMA Now towards end of 2020.

The network’s consolidated operating expenses also increased by 25 percent to P5.90 billion in the six-month period from P4.73 billion last year. Production costs went up by 22 percent to P2.23 billion as more in-house productions were mounted this year.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN of the Lopez group reported a net loss of P3.39 billion in the first six months, although this was lower than the P3.92-billion loss in incurred in the same period last year.

ABS-CBN said consolidated rev-

enues from advertising and consumer sales fell 38.7 percent to P8.2 billion from a year earlier. Advertising revenues dropped 57.1 percent to P2.23 billion in the first half in the absence of the company’s free-to-air advertising space.

Direct costs and expenses amounted to P11.5 billion, down 31.2 percent from a year ago.

ABS-CBN said it decided to align the number of programs based on the partnerships closed by the company with various free-to-air operators. The alignment resulted in a reduction in production cost amounting to P1.8 billion or 32.8 percent.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021

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PSC playbook good for 4 Olympic cycles

By Peter Atencio

Elreen Ando: Hidilyn Diaz’s heir apparent

4 female weightlifters may become Diaz’s successors A

FTER delivering the Philippines’ first gold medal in the Olympic Games courtesy of Hidilyn Diaz, the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas said on Tuesday that four young female lifters are being groomed to follow in her footsteps in the succeeding Olympiads, starting in Paris three years from now.

“So now in three years’ time, I am praying and predicting that we will already have a medal in Paris since we have four girls waiting in the wings,” Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella said during the virtual session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum, referring to Vanessa Sarno, Kristel Macrohon, Rosegie Ramos and Elreen Ann Ando, who made her Olympic debut in Tokyo.

Ando finished at seventh place among 12 entries in the women’s 64-kilogram division in Tokyo.

“Si Ando nakapasok na siya sa mata

Filipinas well represented at Historic ONE: EMPOWER FILIPINAS are out to represent the country once more when ONE Championship holds the historic ONE: EMPOWER on September 3 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Top-ranked atomweight contender Denice “Lycan Queen” Zamboanga banners team Philippines in the first ever all-women’s martial arts show as she plies her trade in the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix.

Zamboanga has a tough challenge ahead of her when she takes on #5-ranked Seo “Arale Chan” Hee Ham in the quarterfinals of the tournament, an early clash between two favorites in the Grand Prix.

Number two-ranked contender Meng Bo takes on Ritu “The Indian Tigress” Phogat, while #3-ranked Alyona Rassohyna and #4-ranked Stamp Fairtex tangle in the other pairing. Completing the Grand Prix is the battle between two young stars as Itsuki “Strong Heart Fighter” Hirata of Japan takes on Alyse “Lil’ Savage” Anderson of the U.S. Waiting for the winner of the Grand Prix is longtime ONE Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee. “This is such a big opportunity for women’s mixed martial arts,” Zamboanga said. “First up, we’re rounding up the best female fighters in the world in one event.

This shows just how big women’s mixed martial arts is already, not only in ONE but in the rest of the world.”

Filipina-American striker Jackie Buntan is also back in action as she takes on dangerous Daniela Lopez of Argentina in a three-round Muay Thai bout in the ONE Super Series women’s strawweight division.

Buntan puts her perpetual record on the line against Lopez after hurdling her first two matches in impressive fashion, beating Wondergirl Fairtex and Ekaterina “Barbie” Vanderyeva.

ng karayom. Gusto kong dumaan siya kagaya ng iyak noon ni Hidylin (sa 2012 London Olympics),” Puentevella said in the session supported by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

“Vanessa Sarno is now the Asian champion at 17 and is turning 18,” the former commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission said of the Boholana sensation, who stamped her class in the Asian weightlifting meet last April in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, bagging two golds and a silver in the 71-kilogram division.

“Nandiyan din si Kristel Macrohon.

Baka magbago ‘yung attitude niya (pagkatapos mag-medal si Hidilyn),” added Puentevella of the 2019 SEA Games gold medalist in the women’s 76-kg. category, who also bagged two bronze medals in the Asian meet.

Ramos, 16, is a Zamboanga City native and protégé of Diaz at her own gym near her home in Barangay Mampang, according to the weightlifting head in the forum also powered by Smart and Upstream Media as official webcast partner.

Puentevella said he has left the door open for an unprecedented fifth straight Olympic appearance by Diaz, who will be 33 by the time the Paris Olympics comes around.

“Kung talagang kaya ng katawan ni Hidy sa Paris, she will be 33 at that time, puwede siyang mag-medalya muli, pero mag-sasakripisyo siya,” he said. “But if she retires, she will be our national women’s coach for sure. No one can compare with her and she will teach the four young lifters that are coming up.”

He urged Ando, Sarno, Macrohon, and Ramos to follow the model set by the four-time Olympic veteran’s sacrifice, discipline, and dedication in capturing the gold medal, ending the country’s 97-year-old dry spell in the quadrennial sports festival.

“Dapat gayahin nila si Hidy who had no holidays, no Christmas, no New year, no birthday celebrations while she was Kuala Lumpur in training for the Tokyo Olympics,” Puentevella said.

With Chinese coach Gao Kaiwen set to return home to Beijing and unlikely to come back full-time, Puentevella said Diaz and her Guamanian fitness and conditioning coach Julius Naranjo plan to return in the third week of September to Malaysia to resume training.

“As the Olympic champion, Hidy wants to prepare hard for the world championships in Lima, Peru in November so she is going back with Julius to Malaysia in the third week of September to resume training” he said.

THE playbook being prepared by the Philippine Sports Commission on the future of the 19 Filipino athletes in the Tokyo Olympics can be used for the next two decades or four Olympiads.

“Ganu’n ang Olimpiada, it’s a long arduous road of excellence and sacrifices, not only for the athletes, but also for the government,” said PSC chairman William Ramirez.

Ramirez said the PSC is set to meet with officials of the Philippine Olympic Committee, the national sports associations and partners in the private sector on the master plan that they are developing in an effort to sustain the momentum gained during the Tokyo Olympics.

Initially, the government sports agency plans to map out the participation of the 19 athletes in competitions that will help them qualify for the Paris Olympics.

And it’s up to the next administration to carry out the contents of the playbook.

“Sa August, pahinga muna.

Sa September, we can plan out the competition and training schedules,” added Ramirez.

The playbook that the PSC has in mind is based on the experiences of the19 athletes, how they prepared and participated in their respective events in the quadrennial meet.

Many of the athletes were first timers in joining Olympic events and they found it difficult to make podium finishes.

But they need to be given numerous chances to be able to join future Olympic events.

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz led the Philippine campaign as she finally brought home the country’s first ever Olympic gold medal in 97 years.

Chooks comes to aid of sick Olympian Serantes CHOOKS-TO-GO continues to honor the sports heroes of the past by giving back to them.

Leopoldo Serantes, who bagged the bronze in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, will receive P100,000 per month for life for his service to the country.

It’s a much-needed help for the 59-year-old native of Bicol as he is currently suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and has been confined in Veterans Memorial Medical Center.

“Just like with Onyok Velasco, we cannot just forget the sports heroes that gave honor to our country in the past. We should continue to honor their legacy,” said Chooks-to-Go president Ronald Mascariñas.

“In the case of Leopoldo Serantes,

we decided to give him a monthly allowance of P100,000 for the rest of his life so that he can live with dignity befitting a living hero”.

Serantes, the sixth Filipino overall to win an Olympic medal and a gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games, is one of the childhood heroes of Velasco.

Velasco was the one who helped Mascariñas track the whereabouts of Serantes after a netizen in Jhay San Antonio raised it on his Facebook page.

“Si Leopoldo Serantes, isa yang alamat sa boxing. Nu’ng naguumpisa pa lang kami, nandiyan na siya. Siya na ‘yung tinitingala na namin,” said Velasco, a silver medalist in the 1996 Atlanta Games. “Nu’ng nag-Olympics siya, du’n na nagimpusa ‘yung

pagkaidolo namin sa kanya. Nakamedal siya tapos hindi rin siya ganu’n kalaking tao, maliit lang pero nakamedal at talagang malakas.”

“Naisipan ko na ilapit siya sa Chooks-to-Go kasi natulungan din ako. Si Serantes, nangangailangan din ng tulong. Nangangailangan talaga siya ng tulong.”

According to Leopoldo’s daughter Leodelia, her dad has been suffering from COPD for months. She further bared that their family had been struggling to cope with the expenses.

“Kailangan po niya ng suporta parang kailangan pa niya lumapit para tulungan siya ng iba,” said Leodelia. Grateful are Velasco and Leodelia for the gift Chooks-to-Go has given to them as it will all go to the medical bills of Leopoldo.

Leopoldo Serantes from his sick bed but still in high spirits

Thanksgiving mass for PH’s Olympic achievement

Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz (center) receives a lifetime membership from Tagaytay Highlands. Presenting Diaz the incentives are Tagaytay Highlands General Manager Claire Kramer and Tagaytay City Mayor Agnes Tolentino, DMD.

THE Philippines’ Olympic success surges on as gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz leads the three other medalists in Tokyo for a Thanksgiving Mass on Wednesday at the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Tagaytay City.

Diaz has long been home since winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal (women’s -55 kgs of weightlifting) in Tokyo last July 25—to spark what turned out to become the Philippines’ most successful Olympic campaign in close to a century.

Boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam each clinched silver medals in the women’s featherweight and men’s flyweight, and Eumir Felix Marcial contributed a bronze in men’s middleweight to account for a four-medal haul from a 19-athlete delegation.

“We wish to thank the Almighty for our success in the Tokyo Olympics. First and foremost, we look at the medals as gifts from God,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said.

Cavite Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista will officiate the Holy Mass starting at 11 a.m.

Only the medalists and their coaches and a handful POC and national sports association officials will be joining the ceremony because of travel restrictions under the ongoing enhanced community quarantine.

The boxers and coaches arrived a day after the Tokyo Olympics closing ceremony on August 8 and served compulsory quarantines at the Summit Ridge in Tagaytay and Hotel Sofitel in Pasay City.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

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Sports

TODAY WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021

Organizers bar spectators from Paralympics over virus

T

OKYO—Spectators will be barred from the Tokyo Paralympics over coronavirus fears, organizers said Monday, as Japan battles record infections despite emergency measures in several parts of the country.

The decision for the Paralympics, which open on August 24, had been widely expected and follows similar rules in place for the Olympics.

The Games come with Japan facing a new wave of virus cases and states of emergency in place in six regions.

“More stringent measures will be taken for competitions to be held in these prefectures, including no spectators,” organizers said in a joint statement with local and national governments and the International Paralympic Committee.

The statement said an exception would be made to allow some school children to attend under a special programme.

But organizers emphasised children would only participate with “safety measures” and “where local authorities or school administrations request this in response to the wishes

of parents and others”.

“We hope that we can give dreams and hopes to as many children as possible through the Games,” Tokyo 2020 chief Seiko Hashimoto told reporters.

Virus cases are surging across Japan, with over 20,000 new daily infections recorded in recent days, driven by the more contagious Delta variant.

Tokyo and five other areas are currently under a state of emergency that bans alcohol sales by bars and restaurants and limits their opening hours.

The measure also caps event attendance at 5,000 people, or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less.

The government is expected to expand emergency measures to seven more regions on Tuesday, and extend the curbs already in place until midSeptember, several weeks beyond their current timeframe.

Positive cases

Japan’s government has insisted the Paralympics will be held safely, and that it remains committed to hosting them, but it is under growing pressure over the virus.

Just 37 percent of Japan’s population is fully vaccinated, though the initially slow rollout has sped up.

But the Delta variant has moved faster and emergency measures increasingly appear insufficient.

Around 4,400 athletes are expected to take part in the Paralympics, and like their Olympic counterparts they will face daily testing and restrictions on their movement.

Despite the surge in virus cases in Japan during the Olympics, Games officials said there was no evidence of a link to the massive sporting event.

Cases had been rising before the Games began, and a state of emergency was already in place in Tokyo as the Olympics opened.

Olympic organizers have reported 540 positive cases among athletes, officials and media, most of them among Japan-based employees and contractors. AFP

Watch Pacquiao vs. Ugas on GMA Network this Sunday FILIPINO fans can still watch the fight of eight-division world boxing champion and Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao against his new opponent, Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugas, for the WBA welterweight title on Sunday (August 22) on free TV via GMA Network, in partnership with TAP Digital Media Ventures Corp.

Witness the boxing showdown, which is slated to happen in Las Vegas, Nevada, via satellite on GMA at 11 a.m., while the live blow-by-blow coverage airs exclusively on the Network’s flagship AM radio station Super Radyo DZBB 594 and in all Super Radyo stations nationwide at 9 a.m.

After Unified Welterweight Champion Errol Spence, Jr. was forced to withdraw

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC In line with the NTC guidelines, here’s the updated DITO 99 Offline Promo:

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC In line with the NTC guidelines, here’s the mechanics for the 25GB offline promo:

Promo Mechanics:

Promo Mechanics:

1)

1) Promo period is from August 20 – September 30, 2021. The promo must be activated within the promo period. Promos activated after the promo period shall not take effect.

Promo period isfrom July 15 – September 30, 2021. The promo must be activated within the promo period. Promos activated after the promo period shall not take effect.

2) The promo is priced at Php 99.00 and is inclusive of the following: a. b. c. d. e.

10GB Data for 30 days upon activation of the promo.

Unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls for 30 days upon activation of the promo.

Unlimited DITO-to-DITO SMS for 30 days upon activation of the promo.

300 minutes of calls to other mobile networks Unlimited texts to other mobile networks

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Must have an existing DITO load of at least Php 99.00. The list of outlets selling the DITO load can be found in DITO’s website (https://www.dito. ph).

Installed and working DITO App in device.

2) The promo is priced at Php 199.00 and is inclusive of the following: a. b. c. d. e.

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Must have a valid and working DITO prepaid SIM card installed in one DITO compatible phone. The list of outlets selling the SIM card can be found in DITO’s website (https://www.dito.ph).

Must have an existing DITO load of at least Php 199.00. The list of outlets selling the DITO load can be found in DITO’s website (https:// www.dito.ph).

Installed and working DITO App in device.

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Download and install the DITO App via the link included in the activation SMS. The activation SMS will be sent to the SUBSCRIBER after activation of the SIM card. (note – use of the DITO App will not use or require any data allocation from the subscriber, free WiFi access shall be available in the DITO’s partner stores for application downloading and promo activation purposes, subscribers may also use the 1 GB data allocation included with the SIM card to download and activate the promo)

(note – use of the DITO App will not use or require any data allocation from the subscriber, free WiFi access shall be available in the DITO’s partner stores for application downloading and promo activation purposes, subscribers may also use the 1 GB data allocation included with the SIM card to download and activate the promo) Create and Log-in on the DITO App – initial password will be given via SMS. 5) How to avail the promo: a. Log-in on the DITO App. b. Go to the App Home Page then select the 10GB Data Promo. c.

Subscriber must click on the confirmation button to proceed with the purchase of the offer. d. Subscriber will receive confirmation via APP and SMS.

25GB Data for 30 days upon activation of the promo.

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300 minutes of calls to other mobile networks Unlimited texts to other mobile networks

Create and Log-in on the DITO App – initial password will be given via SMS. 5) How to avail the promo: a.

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b.

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LUZON: NCR: Manila, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Taguig, Pateros, Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, Las Pinas; Pangasinan: Basista,Binmaley,Dagupan, Manaoag, Mangatarem, San Manuel; Bulacan: Pandi, San Jose del Monte, Malolos, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Hagonoy, Bulacan, Plaridel, Baliuag, Guiguinto; Nueva Ecija: Llanera, Palayan City, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo Science City of Munoz, Talavera, Cabanatuan, Gapan City, San Leonardo, San Jose, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Zaragoza, General Tinio (Papaya), Licab; Pampanga: Angeles, Mabalacat, Mexico, Guagua, San Fernando, Magalang; Tarlac: Capas, Tarlac City, Concepcion, Gerona, Moncada, La Paz, Ramos, San Manuel; Zambales: Olongapo, Subic; Bataan: Balanga, Dinalupihan; Batangas: Alitagtag, Bauan, Cuenca, San Jose,Ibaan, Batangas City, Malvar, MataasnaKahoy, San Pascual, Santo Tomas, Lipa City, Talisay, Tanauan City, Taysan, Balete, Padre Garcia, San Juan, Balayan, Calaca, San Luis, Taal; Cavite: Kawit, Bacoor, Imus,Tagaytay City, Silang, Dasmarinas, Carmona, Amadeo, Rosario, Mendez, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, TreceMartirez, Tanza; Laguna: San Pedro, Sta Rosa, Binan, Cabuyao, Los Banos, Calamba City, Victoria, Calauan, Alaminos, San Pablo; Rizal: Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay

LUZON: NCR: Manila, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Taguig, Pateros, Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, Las Pinas; Pangasinan: Basista,Binmaley,Dagupan, Manaoag, Mangatarem, San Manuel; Bulacan: Pandi, San Jose del Monte, Malolos, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Hagonoy, Bulacan, Plaridel, Baliuag, Guiguinto; Nueva Ecija: Llanera, Palayan City, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo Science City of Munoz, Talavera, Cabanatuan, Gapan City, San Leonardo, San Jose, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Zaragoza, General Tinio (Papaya), Licab; Pampanga: Angeles, Mabalacat, Mexico, Guagua, San Fernando, Magalang; Tarlac: Capas, Tarlac City, Concepcion, Gerona, Moncada, La Paz, Ramos, San Manuel; Zambales: Olongapo, Subic; Bataan: Balanga, Dinalupihan; Batangas: Alitagtag, Bauan, Cuenca, San Jose,Ibaan, Batangas City, Malvar, MataasnaKahoy, San Pascual, Santo Tomas, Lipa City, Talisay, Tanauan City, Taysan, Balete, Padre Garcia, San Juan, Balayan, Calaca, San Luis, Taal; Cavite: Kawit, Bacoor, Imus,Tagaytay City, Silang, Dasmarinas, Carmona, Amadeo, Rosario, Mendez, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, TreceMartirez, Tanza; Laguna: San Pedro, Sta Rosa, Binan, Cabuyao, Los Banos, Calamba City, Victoria, Calauan, Alaminos, San Pablo; Rizal: Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay VISAYAS: Cebu: Toledo City, Balamban, Barili, Carcar, Cebu City, Compostela, Consolacion,Cordova, Danao, Liloan, Mandaue, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, LapuLapu, Dumanjug, Talisay, Moalboal, Bogo City, San Remigio, Sogod, Alcantara, Santander, Ginatilan, Daanbantayan; Negros Occidental: Bacolod City, Kabankalan, Pulupandan, Silay City, Valladolid, Binalbagan; Iloilo: Iloilo City, Oton MINDANAO:Agusan del Sur: Rosario, San Francisco, Trento, Bayugan; Compostela Valley:Monkayo; Davao del Norte: Santo Tomas, Braulio E. Dujali, Panabo, Tagum, Carmen, Island City of Samal; Davao del Sur: Santa Cruz, Bansalan, Davao City, Digos, Hagonoy; Davao de Oro:Montevista, Compostela, Nabunturan, Maco; Cotabato: Kidapawan, Makilala; South Cotabato: General Santos City, Polomolok; Bukidnon: Malaybalay, City of Valencia, Quezon; Misamis Oriental:Balingasag,Cagayan de Oro, Claveria,Talisayan, Manticao, Sugbongcogon, Medina, Kinoguitan, Binuangan, Balingoan, Naawan, Villanueva, City of El Salvador, Jasaan, Opol, Tagoloan Plus New Areas:

Bukidnon: Don Carlos, Manolo Fortich, Baungon, Libona, Impasug-ong, Maramag Misamis Oriental: City of Gingoog, Lugait Pampanga: San Simon Pangasinan: San Carlos City, Lingayen (Capital) Tarlac: Pura Batangas: Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy Cavite: Magallanes

Bukidnon: Don Carlos, Manolo Fortich, Baungon, Libona, Impasug-ong, Maramag Misamis Oriental: City of Gingoog, Lugait Pampanga: San Simon Pangasinan: San Carlos City, Lingayen (Capital) Tarlac: Pura Batangas: Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy Cavite: Magallanes

7) Promo resubscription is allowed even if the current subscription is active. The remaining data and off-net minutes allocation from the previous subscription will be carried over to the latest subscription.

7) Promo resubscription is allowed even if the current subscription is active. The remaining data and off-net minutes allocation from the previous subscription will be carried over to the latest subscription.

9)

Promo cannot be used in conjunction with any unlimited promo offers, discount available and exclusive promo offers.

10) Promo cannot be converted to cash, credit, or other goods and services.

11) By availing of the promo, the subscriber confirms that he/she has read, understood, and agreed to the promo mechanics, its terms, and conditions.

Subscriber also agrees not to use the SIM and/or promo for illicit or illegal means.

12) For any concerns and/or inquiries regarding the promo, information may be sent to customerservice@dito.ph. All matters and disputes will be subject to the final decision of DITO Telecommunity. All decisions made by DITO Telecommunity pertaining to the promo will be deemed final and irrevocable, with the prior concurrence of DTI. Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-123441 Series of 2021

MS-AUG. 18, 2021)

CINCINNATI—Top seed Ashleigh Barty is working to get accustomed to hot, humid summer conditions at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters after shaking off her Tokyo Olympic disappointment.

The world number one skipped last week’s US Open tuneup event in Montreal but is back and eager to get stuck into the final big event prior to the start of the Grand Slam in a fortnight.

“I’m looking forward to now changing back to hard courts and trying to find some rhythm and some groove,” she said on Monday.

“It feels like a long time since I’ve played on hard courts. Miami (March) was my last hard court tournament, and the conditions there are vastly different to here.

“It’s going to take some time to adjust, without a doubt. But we’ll just keep chipping away and try and get the best chance in each and every match.”

Barty fell flat at the Games after training with her team in the Bahamas prior to travelling to Japan.

The reigning Wimbledon champion admitted it will take some work for her to feel at ease on court this week.

“This is a place where I’ve never quite felt 100 per cent comfortable,” the Australian said. “But we’ve got New York right around the corner.

“This period of the year is always an enjoyable one, I can’t wait to get started back into some matches again.” AFP

Subscriber must click on the confirmation button to proceed with the purchase of the offer.

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Plus New Areas:

Once availed, the promo is non-refundable / non-replaceable / nonexchangeable. Promo is only valid for the subscriber’s DITO compatible mobile phone where the purchased DITO SIM and Promo are installed.

Barty hopes to shake off Olympic disappointment

6) Promo shall only be offered in the following new areas:

VISAYAS: Cebu: Toledo City, Balamban, Barili, Carcar, Cebu City, Compostela, Consolacion,Cordova, Danao, Liloan, Mandaue, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, LapuLapu, Dumanjug, Talisay, Moalboal, Bogo City, San Remigio, Sogod, Alcantara, Santander, Ginatilan, Daanbantayan; Negros Occidental: Bacolod City, Kabankalan, Pulupandan, Silay City, Valladolid, Binalbagan; Iloilo: Iloilo City, Oton MINDANAO:Agusan del Sur: Rosario, San Francisco, Trento, Bayugan; Compostela Valley:Monkayo; Davao del Norte: Santo Tomas, Braulio E. Dujali, Panabo, Tagum, Carmen, Island City of Samal; Davao del Sur: Santa Cruz, Bansalan, Davao City, Digos, Hagonoy; Davao de Oro:Montevista, Compostela, Nabunturan, Maco; Cotabato: Kidapawan, Makilala; South Cotabato: General Santos City, Polomolok; Bukidnon: Malaybalay, City of Valencia, Quezon; Misamis Oriental:Balingasag, Cagayan de Oro, Claveria, Talisayan, Manticao, Sugbongcogon, Medina, Kinoguitan, Binuangan, Balingoan, Naawan, Villanueva, City of El Salvador, Jasaan, Opol, Tagoloan

8)

from the much anticipated fight due to an eye injury, Pacquiao was presented with a new opponent, Ugas, who will move up to replace Spence and defend his title.

Ugas, 35, was initially preparing to make his first title defense against Fabian Maidana in the co-feature of the Spence-Pacquiao card, therefore making his match against the boxing legend a career-defining fight.

Pacquiao, 42, last fought in 2019, winning the WBA super welterweight title against American boxer Keith Thurman.

A replay of ‘Pacquiao vs. Ugas: The Legend vs. The Olympian’ will be aired on the same day at 10:30 p.m. on GMA. For more stories about the Kapuso Network, visit www.GMAnetwork.com

8)

Once availed, the promo is non-refundable / non-replaceable / nonexchangeable. Promo is only valid for the subscriber’s DITO compatible mobile phone where the purchased DITO SIM and Promo are installed.

9)

Promo cannot be used in conjunction with any unlimited promo offers, discount available and exclusive promo offers.

10) Promo cannot be converted to cash, credit, or other goods and services.

11) By availing of the promo, the subscriber confirms that he/she has read, understood, and agreed to the promo mechanics, its terms, and conditions.

Subscriber also agrees not to use the SIM and/or promo for illicit or illegal means.

12) For any concerns and/or inquiries regarding the promo, information may be sent to customerservice@dito.ph. All matters and disputes will be subject to the final decision of DITO Telecommunity. All decisions made by DITO Telecommunity pertaining to the promo will be deemed final and irrevocable, with the prior concurrence of DTI. Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-118950 Series of 2021 MS-AUG. 18, 2021)

Ashleigh Barty

Search on for Argentines born in 1981, named after Maradona BUENOS AIRES—A major sports manufacturer launched a campaign on Monday to find 1,703 Argentines named after football icon Diego Armando Maradona, who died last year following a heart attack.

German brand Adidas wants to offer a free replica jersey of Maradona’s former team Boca Juniors to the people born and named “Diego Armando” in 1981, the same year the late great won the Argentine title with the Buenos Aires giants.

Last week, Boca and Adidas unveiled the club’s strip for the new season, which was inspired by the one worn by Maradona, who was 21 at the time, and his teammates forty years ago.

That was the year in which authorities registered the largest number of new born babies named Diego Armando, said Adidas in a statement.

Maradona was a fanatical Boca fan after his retirement and even owned a private box at the club’s Bombonera stadium.

He enjoyed two short stints with Boca at the beginning and end of his playing career.

His first spell at Boca was enough to earn him a move to Spanish giants Barcelona in 1982 and two years later he moved on to Italians Napoli where he enjoyed the best years of his career.

He inspired Argentina to World Cup gory in 1986 and then helped them reach the final again four years later, while Napoli won their only two Serie A titles while Maradona was their star.

He finished his career at Boca in 1997 and four years later returned to the Bombonera for his official retirement from football, uttering a memorable phrase about the substance addiction he suffered from.

“I made mistakes and I paid for them but the football was never stained,” he said.

Maradona died of a heart attack on November 25, 2020 aged 60 while recovering from an operation to remove a blood clot from his head. AFP CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Entertainment

LUCY

In her vlog, launched a month ago, Lucy Torres shares gentle ways to live through very hard times.

TORRES

celebrates life in own vlog

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021

C3

‘Kapuso Bigay Premyo’ welcomes home this year’s grand winner EVERYONE dreams of owning their own house. With the rising cost of daily expenses, this may not be an easy feat for the average Filipino. There is also a scarcity of affordable housing options accessible to the masses. These factors make joining promos like the Kapuso Bigay Premyo Panalo worthwhile as it gives one the chance to own a home just by sending entries with the required proofs of purchase.

Kapuso Bigay Premyo Panalo is this year’s installment of the GMA’s network promo for the first half of the year. It recently concluded its ten-week run with P8 million worth of prizes given away to 1,600 winners and sarisari store affiliates through its partner sponsors Aji-nomo-moto Umami Seasoning, Nescafe Original, Milo, and Bear Brand Fortified Powdered Milk Drink.

The promo fulfills its mission to help

and give hope to Kapusos nationwide by giving away prizes to daily and weekly winners, including 40 winners of P100,000 cash and one winner of a house and lot unit from Lumina Homes. Thirty-four-year old Grace Jean Buringgit from Cainta, Rizal gets the grand prize as her entry was the lucky one drawn among thousands to win an inner townhouse unit in one of Lumina’s neighborhoods.

You still have the chance to win cash and other prizes as GMA is all geared up to load its bag full of hope once again in time for the most joyous season of the year! Keep watching your favorite Kapuso shows and look out for the announcement of another Kapuso promo that can make your dreams come to life.

For more information, visit and follow www.facebook.com/ GMAPROMOS. Kapuso Bigay Premyo Panalo is this year’s installment of the GMA’s network promo for the first half of the year.

BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. Lucy Torres with husband Richard Gomez and daughter Juliana.

I

T’S been a month since VERY former TV personality and WANG current representative of NICKIE the 4th District of Leyte Lucy WANG Torres Gomez launched her YouTube channel where she shares an intimate look at her daily routine with netizens.

The 46-year-old Lucy described the vlog as her coping mechanism. It’s also her outlet to let people have a glimpse of her life in the province, what makes her feel relaxed and happy, and what she enjoys doing while not wearing her hat as a public servant.

“Some people lament the fact that they can no longer travel or they can no longer meet up at restaurants but what can we do really if we keep on complaining? The vlog, it’s a healing process for me. These are things that I did during the start of the pandemic, during the first lockdown,” Lucy told Manila Standard Entertainment during an intimate virtual junket yesterday.

“We cope in different ways. For other people, it’s cooking, for others during the lockdown, it’s exercise. I do the vlog more for myself and probably share gentle ways to live through very hard times,” she carried on.

Lucy’s vlog wanted to share a message that instead of complaining about how restricted our lives are now because of the lockdown, there are many things we can do at home.

“I always say that if an episode touches just even one person or makes one person feel better about the day, then the job has been done,” she enthused.

While she’s now known as a political figure, Lucy had her grand time in showbiz.

Before marrying Richard Gomez, she was a commercial model. Then after settling down, she and Goma starred in the sitcom Richard Loves Lucy. Then, she went on hosting a few shows including Shall We Dance and The Sweet Life.

“Politics and showbiz are very different.

Showbiz is Richard’s world for the longest time, the people in showbiz became my very first friends when I first moved to Manila. It felt like a family. I miss the carefree days because it was really just fun especially the shows that I was part of. It’s like playing and it’s a very warm environment. It’s a crazy world but it’s

also warm. But you can’t say the same for politics because it’s a very serious responsibility,” Lucy said of the things she miss most about her life in showbiz.

Being in public service has thought the “beautiful probinsyana” from Ormoc a lot of things. It has thought her to set her priorities and wisely choose her battles.

“I used to be a people pleaser, I used to be a ‘yes girl.’ Yung parang ubos na ubos ka na, yes ka lang ng yes. When I became a public servant I knew that it wouldn’t be sustainable that way because it’s a very stressful job. It’s never easy. When we make hard decisions, people don’t see the process, they only see the finished product.

They don’t see the process behind those decisions. Yet, people judge you because of the final output,” she said.

Asked if "choosing her battles" also includes gunning for a higher position in the government, Lucy answered succinctly: “I’ll definitely run in 2022. I’m on my last term as a representative. I will file a candidacy. But as for what position?

I’m still weighing my options. Nothing has been decided yet.”

Lucy admitted that there are times when she needed to step back and guard her emotional and mental health because “you cannot give something from an empty cup.” She believes that people must step back and unplug themselves sometimes.

“You must keep a certain balance because you cannot be everything for everyone,” she ended. ***

From then on, it's the soft locallymade fabric for her everyday get-up. And they are getting noticed, which is why Mayor Inday Sara addressed the netizens’ curiosity through a post on her Facebook page.

“Marami po ang nagtatanong saan ko nabili ang mga pants ko. Nagsimula po ako magsuot ng ganito dahil madami nagbibigay sa akin ng tela mula sa mga kaibigan ko sa ZamBaSulTa at ilang lugar sa BARMM,” she wrote.

ZamBaSulTa is the acronym for Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and TawiTawi while BARMM is short for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Indigenous tribes residing in these areas are the major producer of the handwoven fabrics that the lady mayor is now proudly wearing.

“Napakaganda ng habi natin, ayaw ko na bumalik sa mga boring na maong. Proudly made in Mindanao,” Inday Sara added.

The post has been trending and shared by netizens almost 700 times. It generated more than 32,000 likes and almost a thousand comments.

Netizen Nasr Maulana thanked the mayor for promoting Mindanao fabrics: “Salamat Mayora for being a voluntary endorser of our products. You are helping lots of weavers who basically belong to the lower income earners. Mabuhay po kayo.”

Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte in a pair of pants of Mindanao-made fabric.

‘Huwag Kang Mangamba’gets Best Drama Series nod at ContentAsia Awards ABS-CBN’s hit inspirational series Huwag Kang Mangamba has been nominated at the ContentAsia Awards 2021, competing against four other shows in the region for Best Drama Series/

From left: Andrea Brillantes, Francine Diaz, and Seth Fedelin in a scene from the inspirational drama ‘Huwag Kang Mangamba.'

THIS year, homegrown brand TM celebrates two decades of uplifting and connecting Filipinos for bigger and more meaningful celebrations. Kicking off its milestone year, TM partnered with the country’s biggest stars and top performers on the Doble Dekada ng Samahang Pina-easy music video, signaling just the start of what’s sure to be a jam-packed year of fun activities, special giveaways and more.

With now over two million views on Youtube, the Doble Dekada music video was the perfect embodiment of the TM brand, bringing together the best Filipino talent in a celebration for all.

From heartthrob Alden Richards, to Pinoy rapper Matthaios, to local bands SB19, The Juans, and Parokya ni Edgar, to the love team of Andrea Brillantes and Seth Fedelin, to singer Donnalyn Bartolome, and Riva Quenery, the music video embraces the community spirit Filipinos are so wellknown for, the same spirit that drives us not just to toast to the good times together, but also to help one another in times of need.

Darius Delgado, VP and Head for Broadband Business of Globe, says the video is TM's way of showcasing Filipinos' resilience and cheerful spirit with the help of the country's top artists.

“TM has always been proud of its Filipino heritage as a brand made for Pinoys by Pinoys. We are truly blessed to have such talented Pinoys as part of the TM family, as they embody our message that TM is lagi-lagi lang nandyan, kasa-kasama mo kahit saan, solid na solid ang kulitan at hinding-

KRIS WU

Mayor Inday Sara ditches maong for Mindanao-made fabric

Inday Sara Duterte has always been a maong (jeans) girl, but recently, the Davao City mayor had a change of heart when friends and supporters started to send her handwoven fabrics that are uniquely made in Mindanao as gifts.

And so, she asked her tailor to make some pants and even skirts just to get a feel of it. And she is pleased.

Alden Richards, SethDrea, SB19 lead local telco’s star-studded music video

Telefilm made for a Single Asian Market.

The winner, which will be announced on Aug. 27 in a virtual ceremony, will be based on “relevance and suitability for the one specific market for which the program was made,” according to ContentAsia Awards’ official website.

The ContentAsia Awards is organized by ContentAsia, a premier information resource that covers the entertainment media industry across the Asia-Pacific region.

Launched by ABS-CBN in March 2021, Huwag Kang Mangamba follows two sisters, Mira (Andrea Brillantes) and Joy (Francine Diaz), who fight all odds to fulfill their mission for “Bro” and to have their local church rebuilt. By showing their story, the series aims to show how God’s miraculous love is found in the simplest of things and to remind people that they are never alone in going through life’s trials.

Huwag Kang Mangamba airs weeknights on the Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, Kapamilya Online Live, iWantTFC, WeTV, and iflix.

faces arrest over alleged rape BEIJING authorities on Monday approved the arrest of Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu over allegations of rape, in a scandal that has drawn widespread condemnation on social media.

The saga has evoked China's #MeToo movement, which saw a wave of women come forward in 2018 voicing experiences of sexual harassment—sometimes involving powerful public figures.

Nineteen-year-old student Du Meizhu accused Wu last month of date-raping her when she was 17, resulting in a barrage of public criticism and luxury brands dropping deals with him.

On Monday, the People's Procuratorate of Beijing's Chaoyang district said in a statement that it has approved his arrest "on suspicion of rape.”

Wu originally shot to fame as a member of the K-pop boyband EXO, before leaving in 2014 to launch a successful solo career as a singer, actor, model, and variety show judge.

P-pop act and TM ambassador SB19

hindi malilimutan,” Delgado said.

Serving as the kickoff point for the continuous celebration of TM's twentieth anniversary, the music video also shows how the homegrown telco has fostered and strengthened our sense of community through its reliable network - and it will do more than that by giving fun and exciting activities for its subscribers.

Get more chances of winning by loading EZ50 and up and double up your entries by loading via the TM App. You can also participate in the weekly Doble Dekada Raffle for just P10 per entry, and get a chance to win 5G cell phones, tuition fee assistance, a FunKabuhayan Puregold package, and P1 million in cash. Also up for grabs is a P2 million cash prize on the grand draw on Oct. 5.

To register for the raffle, simply download the TM App in Google Play store or App store. For more information, text DOBLEDEKADA INFO to 8080 for free.

Kris Wu originally shot to fame as a member of the K-pop boyband EXO.

Since Du's accusations, more alleged victims have spoken out online, accusing Wu's staff of predatory behavior including inviting them to boozy karaoke parties.

In late July, Wu—who also holds Canadian citizenship—was detained by police.

The China Association of Performing Arts said in a statement on Monday that violating the law and having a negative influence on society as a top celebrity was "intolerable for the industry."

"After legal actions have concluded, the artist involved in this case, Wu Yifan, will also face continued employment boycotts and other punishments imposed by the industry," the group added, using Wu's Chinese name. AFP

Life

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

C4

FASHION AND BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021

From side hustle to brand leader

By Tet Defensor

T

HERESA Buenaflor-Carbonel started Ellana Mineral Cosmetics as a side hustle. “I just turned 20, I had a baby, I was still in school and I needed money to buy milk,” she related.

As soon as her baby falls asleep BuenaflorCarbonel would whip up formulations and prepare orders for next day delivery. In between breaks, she would rush to her suppliers in her school uniform to get more stocks to keep her side business moving.

“For me, it was always makeup from the beginning,” she said. “I am a makeup formulator. I started making lip balms, which I would sell to my classmates. On weekends I joined bazaars. Part of my earnings went to workshops and research, that’s how I started.”

Like most graduates, Buenaflor-Carbonel tried looking for a regular job. But considering the amount of time needed to develop her products and the money she made from bazaars and side selling, she realized that she could earn more if she pursued her passion, which she knew would also make her happy.

“My suppliers were ready to give a helping hand.

I got access to world-renowned cosmetic innovators. They sent me to different countries to train,” she shared.

“Ellana is now 14 years old, and most of them are still my suppliers.”

Buenaflor-Carbonel also worked as a freelance makeup artist to understand the consumer’s mindset. “I wanted to know how people use makeup and how they interact with our products.

I also want to know how I can inject my products into their lives.”

Ellana was founded because she wanted a makeup formulation for women with sensitive skin. “My

THE BRAIN AND BACKBONE. Theresa Buenaflor-Carbonel founded Ellana Minerals Cosmetics to provide

makeup users with sensitive skin a formulation that brings out the radiance without the harmful effects. Some of Ellana’s products include (clockwise) Flower Power Skin Care Set, BB Foundie and Cream to Powder Concealer, Stay Matte Poreless Powder, and Satin Stain Shine.

friend (and reseller) is morena, and she has sensi- to fit her needs. That’s how Ellana started, in Septive skin. Nagsimula ako sa mineral foundations tember 2007,” she recalled.

Alamat thrills in Filipino culture-inspired garb

By Thea Andrea C. Magueriano THERE was a splash of color and Philippine cultural elements in the comeback teaser photo series of P-pop group Alamat.

Taneo, Mo, Jao, Tomas, R-Ji, Valfer, Gami, and Alas of the eight-member boy group discovered in Viva Entertainment’s national competition “PWEDE!” in partnership of Ninuno Media, showcase Filipino festivals and martial arts in their costumes.

Alamat distinguishes itself from oth-

er boy groups by highlighting Filipino heritage in their music and using local languages in their lyrics.

To nail the aesthetics down, Kandama Collective founder Victor Baguilat, Jr. designed the boys’ clothes.

Jao stands firm in “Eskrima”, a modern take on the uniform used in Filipino martial arts Eskrima, also known as Arnis. Alas wears a lighter version of “Kurab-A-Kulang”, an armor made of plates of carabao horn.

Mo teases in “Luna Sharpshooter” blue uniform with leather straps.

Taneo in ‘Ycordillera’

VANITY CORNER

Gami wears “Sri Lumay”, a piece with sharp shapes, while Valfer’s costume is called “Sagayan”, designed after the eponymous Philippine war dance performed by Maguindanao and Maranao.

R-Ji’s “Datu Bulon” costume is marked with soft shades of yellow, red, and blue with touches of gold.

Tomas wears “Palu-Palo Festival”, a festival in Basco, Batanes that showcases the lives of the Ivatans, as Taneo appears in “Ycordillera”, a black, yellow, and red bomber jacket and pants with native patterns and matching bahag (loincloth).

Cetaphil Bright Healthy Radiance range

Gami in ‘Sri Lumay’

Alas in ‘Kurab-AKulang’

Mineral-based cosmetics are made with natural ingredients that protect the skin. Titanium dioxide acts as a sunscreen and zinc oxide soothes acne and other skin irritations. Ellana also contains illite, a clay mineral that clears impurities and controls oil. These ingredients are made into fine particles that serve as the base of Ellana’s products.

Today, Buenaflor-Carbonel’s brand continues to respond to the needs of makeup lovers. Apart from the mineral-based formulations, the brand is also known for its primers and setting sprays among consumers who look for products that promise all day radiance, without the harmful effects.

The vegan, cruelty-free, and eco-conscious brand also has hair and body products and skincare sets which include a toner, moisturizer, mist, and powder. The Stay Fresh set is for oily and combination skin, while the Flower Power set is for dry to delicate skin. All products are available on Ellana’s website.

Buenaflor-Carbonel admits that most of her retail outlets are affected by the quarantine. Currently, save for a few stores open, most purchases are done online. But she remains optimistic having hurdled all kinds of challenges in the past.

“If you think it will work, then go for it. If you have an idea for a business, hanggang idea lang yan unless you execute, kahit on the side muna.

When you decide to go for it, be open to feedback.

‘Pag hindi nagustuhan, ask why? In your own view, think of how it can improve,” she offered.

She also emphasized the importance of scaling up, especially if the sales look promising.

“Ang saya talaga ‘pag maraming orders. Pero ‘pag nahihimatay ka na sa kaka-process ng orders hindi na ‘yun masaya. You need to decide if it’s time to scale up. If you want consistency, you have to professionalize and invest in systems and technology.”

This is when the side hustle becomes an enterprise, something which can no longer be done alone.

“Find a partner who would share your values. The mission of an entrepreneur is to be able to create jobs so that you can share your passion with others.”

Jao in ‘Eskrima’

Tomas in ‘Palu-Palo Festival’

Radiant skin is in DERMATOLOGIST-prescribed skincare brand Cetaphil offers a range that gently brightens skin to bring out inner radiance and even skin tone.

The Cetaphil Bright Healthy Radiance is formulated with GentleBright Technology, a combination of sea daffodil and niacinamide, which, according to the brand, visibly corrects dark spots without irritation, boosts brightness, and evens skin tone in four weeks.

When used consistently, sea daffodil (a bulbous flower) is said to inhibit melanin transferase which causes dark spots. Niacinamide, meanwhile, minimizes redness and blotchiness, minimizes pore appearance over time, and protects against sun damage while helping rebuild healthy skin cells.

The range consists of non-drying Brightness Reveal Creamy Cleanser that helps remove dead skin cells (Cetaphil recommends cleansing face using lukewarm water to help effectively remove dirt); hydrating Brightness Refresh Toner; Brightening Day Protection Cream SPF15 (for daytime use on the face and neck); and Brightening Night Comfort Cream.

Also part of the range are the following made for use for the entire body: Brightness Reveal Bar, Brightness Reveal Body Wash, and Brightening Lotion.

The aforementioned products are available at Watsons, Mercury Drug stores, leading supermarkets, and at Cetaphil Philippines stores on Shopee and Lazada.

Brightening vitamin lotions R-Ji in ‘Datu Bulon’

Mo in ‘Luna Sharpshooter’

Valfer in ‘Sagayan’

Meanwhile, the Nivea C&A VitaFAVORITE lotion brand Nivea brings to the Philippines its vitamin lotions min Lotion’s formula is fortified with 100 times more potent from Thailand. vitamin A from Acerola The Nivea C&E Vicherry extract to help tamin Lotion is packed lighten stubborn dark with “50 percent more spots and areas on the vitamin C than lemon body. Grape seed exextract” from four sources (pure 95 pertract is added for softer, cent vitamin C, from smoother, and younger camu camu, from Acelooking skin. rola cherry, and ascorbic The C&A variant likeacid) to brighten skin wise promises radiant and keep it hydrated, and and even-toned skin in UV filters to shield skin seven days. from sun’s harmful rays.

Nivea’s vitamin loTo provide moisture, tions are available at Nivea C&A and the brand says it has a Watsons, Mercury Drug C&E Vitamin lotions concentrated amount of stores, and leading suvitamin E. The C&E varipermarkets, as well as ant promises more radiant and hydrated on Shopee, Lazada, and Watsons onskin in seven days of use. line store.