Manila Standard - 2021 September 3 - Friday

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CHINA TELLS FOREIGN SHIPS TO REGISTER; US SEES THREAT

By Rey E. Requejo

BEIJING has announced that foreign vessels entering Chinese territorial waters would have to report their ship and cargo information to China’s maritime authorities.

The new regulation is supposed to be applicable to the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and the various islands and reefs dotted across the water that Beijing claims as its inalienable territory, including its nine-dash-line claims in the South China Sea. China’s state-run Global Times report-

ed that operators of submersibles, nuclear vessels, ships carrying radioactive materials and ships carrying bulk oil, chemicals, liquefied gas and other toxic and harmful substances are required to report their detailed information upon their visits to Chinese territorial waters.

The United States appeared to ignore the demand of China for all foreign ships entering the South China Sea to register with Chinese maritime authorities for access, describing it as a “serious threat” to freedom of navigation and trade.

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MARITIME DRILL.

This handout photo dated September 1, 2021 shows the US Coast Guard Cutter Munro (WMSL-755) in the foreground, with PCG ships including the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301, at centre during a joint maritime exercise in the waters off Subic Bay. The holding the joint drills came as China has announced that foreign vessels entering Chinese territorial waters would have to report their ship and cargo information to its maritime authorities. AFP

DBM cuts Health budget Next page

Only a fraction left for frontline workers’ benefits, Duque says

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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LTHOUGH the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to be contained, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has slashed his department’s budget for the allowances and benefits of health workers, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Thursday.

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Face mask, shields, PPE not overpriced—Rody

By Jimbo Gulle PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday face masks, face shields and personal protective equipment recently bought by the government to combat COVID-19 were not overpriced, contrary to allegations by opposition senators.

In his televised Talk to the Nation, the President said the Procurement Service

Face shield use still mandatory for protection

By Vito Barcelo

of the Department of Budget and Management, which is under fire from lawmakers for making the purchases, actually bought the items and PPEs below the prevailing suggested retail prices.

“No they are not. It is not accurate to compare prices at the height of COVID-19 and during the period when prices began to stabilize,” Duterte said.

“If you compare the prices of the masks and the PPEs now to then, then say we should pay at one price only, we have nothing so we had to look for others.

Agawan (a struggle),” he added.

The government was merely following the economic principle of supply and demand, Duterte said, adding: “That is the same principle that applies to all commercial transactions.”

Malacañang on Wednesday denied that the administration purchased overpriced PPEs during the pandemic, saying it was

Speaking at the House of Representatives’ budget deliberations, Duque said the DBM allocated only P19.68 billion for its COVID-19 initiatives or health system resilience projects in 2022 although the DOH’s original proposal was P73.99 billion.

Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo said the DBM-ap-

proved amount “seems small for the government’s COVID-19 response.”

“We originally proposed P73.99 billion, P50.41 billion of which will be for the meals, accommodation and transportation and Next page

UNHEALTHY ISSUES. Health

Secretary Francisco Duque III testifies before the House committee hearing on Thursday, seeking to clarify issues buffeting his department such as the unpaid SRA and benefits due to medical front line workers.

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WEARING of face shields will remain mandatory for a longer time as an “added protection” for Filipinos until the virus is no longer a threat, Malacanang said Thursday.

“As of now, there are no plans yet from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to remove the face shields,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said during a virtual press briefing.

The IATF position was reiterated despite the growing questions regarding its usefulness, as well as corruption allegations pertaining to its procurement.

The government explained that the Delta variant has a transmission rate that is 60 percent faster than the Alpha strain.

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Ambulances overpaid by P1 million per unit—Lacson

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz AMBULANCES bought by the Department of Health (DOH) were overpriced

by P1 million per unit, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.

Under the DOH Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP), he said ambulances with equipment were procured at P2.5 million per unit.

146,510

33,680

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Lacson said he was “personally upset” by the overpriced purchases, since he was the one who realigned the 2021 national budget to provide additional funding for HFEP. Next page

‘HERD IMMUNITY LIKELY IN EARLY 2022’

FIELD WORK. A medical staff assists a patient confined at the Manila COVID Field Hospital at the Quirino Grandstand on Thursday. The facility has reached 83 percent capacity, with 285 out of 344 beds occupied. Norman Cruz

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Most NCR hospitals at critical stage

By Willie Casas ALMOST a third or 42 out of 159 hospitals in the National Capital Region are at critical level or almost out of vacant beds, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.

The DOH said some hospitals in the provinces are already at full capacity, and not just in Metro Manila.

2,020,484 16,621

But local government units (LGUs) that bought the same model of ambulance paid only P1.5 million.

Lacson said if the national government had purchased five rather than three ambulances if there was no overpricing.

The country is also facing supply shortage of tocilizumab, a drug used offlabel to treat COVID-19.

Melissa Guerrero, program manager of the DOH pharmaceutical division, said the drug is expected to remain limited until December.

“The manufacturer has already notified us that there will really be some seNext page

1,840,294 10,965 (As of 4 PM, SEPT. 2)

Price freeze sought on hams, other Xmas goods

By Othel V. Campos THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will try to convince Noche Buena manufacturers to delay any impending increase on the prices of foods traditionally served during Christmas, especially that of Christmas hams.

Trade Undersecretary for Consumer Protection Ruth Castelo said the Department had yet to hear from manufacturers of their plans for the upcoming holiday.

“By practice, we release the suggested retail price for Noche Buena towards the end of October to early November so we can monitor the price and give guidance

to consumers,” she said Thursday.

She admitted the DTI had no idea yet of the number of products that would need incremental pricing.

“The Noche Buena products that were prepared last year were of the 2019 price range since the DTI succeeded in conNext page

LOSS OF LIVELIHOOD. Fishermen in Paranaque City display placards on their

fishing boats opposing a plan that threatens their livelihood during a fluvial protest rally held at the Bulungan Fish Market in Paranaque City on September 2, 2021. At least 200 families within the Manila Bay vicinity will lose their livelihood as a result of a planned demolition of mussels farms and fish pens on September 7 by the Manila Bay Inter-Agency Task Force and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Norman Cruz

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‘Herd immunity likely in early 2022’

By Maricel V. Cruz, Joel E. Zurbano and Rio N. Araja

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EALTH Secretary Francisco Duque told legislators Thursday that herd immunity was possible by the first quarter of 2022 – with at least 500,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses being administered daily.

“Supply permitting and assuming there will be about 500,000 to 600,000 doses jabbed per day, the conservative estimate is, we might be able to achieve herd immunity sometime... second month of the first quarter of 2022,” Duque said during the deliberations for the DOH’s proposed P242.22-billion allocation.

In fact, the Health chief said, the Department of Finance had reported to President Duterte that 195 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were expected

to arrive by the end of 2021.

“Having said that, it will exceed our herd immunity target of 77 million Filipinos, about 70 percent of the population, so we are confident that excess doses will be sufficient to cover those not belonging to the herd immunity population as identified,” he said.

This also includes the inoculation of children.

“The VEP and the all experts group are working on this double time and hopefully next week they will be able

China...

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“The United States remains firm that any coastal state law or regulation must not infringe upon navigation and overflight rights enjoyed by all nations under international law,” Pentagon spokesman John Supple said, reacting to a question about China’s decree this week.

“Unlawful and sweeping maritime claims, including in the South China Sea, pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas, including the freedoms of navigation and overflight, free trade and unimpeded lawful commerce, and the rights and interests of South China Sea and other littoral nations,” Supple added.

In addition to the above-mentioned types of vessels, ships that may endanger the maritime traffic safety of China prescribed by laws, administrative regulations or provisions of the State Council -- China’s cabinet -- should also follow the new regulation which took effect on September 1, the Maritime Safety Administration announced in the notice.

Those vessels should report to authorities the name, call sign, current position and next port of call and estimated time of arrival.

The name of shipborne dangerous goods and cargo deadweight are also required in the report.

After entering the Chinese territorial sea, a follow-up report is not required if the vessel’s automatic identification system is in good condition. But if the automatic identification system does not work properly, the vessel should report every two hours until it leaves the territorial sea, read the Maritime Safety Administration announcement.

Beijing insisted territorial claims over the resource-rich waterways, the busiest sea lanes in the world.

They have become a source of growing tension between Beijing, neighboring Southeast Asian nations – Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan and Washington for years.

In July 2016, the United Nationsbacked Permanent Court of Arbitration rendered a judgment invalidating Beijing’s sweeping claims of almost the entire South China Sea and upheld Manila’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. To challenge China’s claims, the United States regularly conducts “freedom of navigation” exercises in the region, intended to assert the waterways’ status as international sea routes.

In July, China’s military said it drove away an American warship that had passed near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea -- known in China as the Xisha Islands and in Vietnam as the Hoang Sa Islands.

The US Navy later said that China’s statement about driving away the US ship was false.

“The United States remains committed to upholding the rules-based international order and a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” said Supple, the Pentagon spokesman.

life insurance of frontliners,” Duque said.

Duque agreed with Quimbo that the agency’s budget reduction explains why no funds were allotted for the allowances and benefits of health care workers in the proposed DOH budget.

Duque earlier said the funds for the benefits of medical frontliners are covered by the proposed Bayanihan 3 bill, which is still pending at the Senate, as there were no funds for the special risk allowance (SRA) of health workers in the 2022 budget.

DOH director Larry Cruz, meanwhile, said that of the P311 million released by the Department of Budget and Management last week, P308 billion was already disbursed to various health facilities.

In a separate statement, Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said 99 percent of the budget has been disbursed.

“The P311 million is for the first batch of eligible healthcare workers who did not receive their SRA. We have already requested an additional budget for SRA that will cover another batch of eligible healthcare workers. We are looking forward to a favorable action by the Department of Budget and Management,” Vega said.

Under the guidelines, public and pri-

Price freeze...

From A1 vincing manufacturers to refrain from any price adjustments,” Castelo said.

“This year we will still try to convince manufacturers if they can still manage to hold off price increases for their products. But we will make sure that Christmas hams and all Noche Buena products will be available at affordable prices,” she added.

The DTI has rolled out the new SRP Bulletin for basic necessities and prime commodities published August 29, 2021 and effective immediately.

Of the 216 products included in the SRP list, only 76 products effected upward price movements of between P0.20 and P2.85.

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Lacson issued the statement a day after presidential spokesperson Harry Roque denied that the Duterte administration bought overpriced PPEs, claiming the Aquino administration bought PPEs at a much higher price.

“Price matters. This applies to all items procured by the government, using the money of Filipino taxpayers, regardless of administration,” Lacson said.

He pointed out that price matters even more if there is “gross overpricing” of medical goods involving billions of pesos in public funds while Filipinos face unemployment due to the pandemic.

“If we cannot see what is wrong with that — or worse, try to divert public attention from the issue — then certainly we are a ruined nation,” Lacson said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, meanwhile, said if there was a government-

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Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque asked opposition Senator Franklin Drilon to explain the purchase of his allies in the

These are mostly everyday consumables like powdered milk, instant coffee, noodles and non-food items like detergent and toilet essentials, among others.

While most products increased by P0.20 to P1.00 per unit, it was only the price of corned beef, among canned goods that went up by almost P3.00 per unit.

“Secretary (Ramon) Lopez explained earlier that the request of manufacturers has been pending for 2 years and he thought it was about time to allow manufacturers a small percentage of profitability, otherwise these companies will fold up,” Castelo explained.

She noted that the price of tin cans in the global supply chain increased, which would put manufacturers at a loss if retail prices would not be adjusted accordingly.

Face-to-face dry run up for testing in 120 sites—DepEd

to give us the technical report that will [determine] a policy amendment which means we can start inoculating children,” he said.

But Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin said discussing herd immunity at this time was premature; but instead discussions on having a third dose of vaccine should be the concern of Duque.

“Let’s do away with the discussion of herd immunity as of the moment but let’s discuss the importance of a third dose,” Garin, former Health secretary, said.

“Herd immunity means you can no longer infect others and many of those vaccinated would not be infected, This is science,” she added.

As of Aug. 29, around 33,099,392 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered nationwide, based on the

presentation made by NTF Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. Around 13,784,681 people have been fully vaccinated, while some 19,317,711 people have already received the first dose.

The government’s 76.3 million target to achieve herd immunity.

In related developments, the government said Pfizer-BioNTech continued to keep its commitment of providing a steady supply of vaccines to the Philippines with its delivery of 703,170 doses on Wednesday.

This latest delivery is the fifth shipment from the US-based pharmaceutical firm and is part of the five million doses that the government expects to receive this month from the company.

Of the 703,170 doses, 51,480 shots

vate health workers directly catering to COVID-19 patients are entitled to an SRA not exceeding P5,000 a month from December 20, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

The SRA will be on a prorated basis, depending on the number of days that the healthcare worker was on duty in a month.

But Quimbo said only 20,000 workers would get their allowances, as opposed to 148,000 who must be paid.

She also said the Bayanihan 2 allocated P13.5 billion for allowances, which means the P311 million released by the DBM was not enough.

Quimbo said health care workers should have received an average of P34,000 in special risk allowances each.

That means there was a funding shortfall of P5 billion.

She also said future SRA payments were in jeopardy, because there is no assurance that Bayanihan 3 will become a law.

Also on Wednesday, Senator Nancy Binay assailed the Department of Health (DOH) for removing the cancer fund and voted to restore it by filing an amendment in the budget for next year.

Binay said it was a “step back” after Congress “had gone through a lot of hoops to fully empower the national cancer control program.”

“The DOH should have taken our cue when we allocated P620 million last year

for cancer. That’s the law and a long-term priority. Instead of moving forward, this is a step back that we should correct.

When survival matters, you don’t make lifelines invisible,” Binay said.

The P620-million cancer fund for 2021 was only included during the bicameral conference for the national budget. It consists of the P500 million Cancer Control Program fund and the P120 million Cancer Assistance fund.

Earlier, the Cancer Coalition of the Philippines earlier sounded alarm over the removal of the cancer fund line item in next year’s budget.

Quimbo on Thursday suggested the unobligated allotment of P51.18 billion as of June be used to fund the SRA of health care workers.

“Why is there still a huge amount of unused funds? We all know that we need to use every amount for the COVID-19 pandemic response,” she said.

She said the P160.9 billion came from the Bayanihan laws and the 2021 national budget.

“We are looking for funds for the SRAs. We don’t know where we will get that. Can we not use this P51.18 billion?” she asked.

In response, Duque said he has not seen the reports. But explained: “The [remaining] P51.2 billion as stated will continue to be utilized for the remainder of the year... this is part of the 2021 budget...”

to-government transaction, without a middle man, the Philippines would have saved P284 million, which was paid as commissions to Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., a tiny company that bagged a P8.6 billion contract to supply the government with face masks and face shields that turned out to be overpriced.

“It is alleged that the government would have had to look for suppliers because of the tightness of the supply,” said Drilon in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel.

“They even had the Chinese ambassador assist them. If that is so, why do you have to go to a middle man, why not do a government-to-government transaction?”

Drilon said.

He said Pharmally earned P284.9 million in 2020 “from zero income in 2019” after winning the government contract.

The Senate blue ribbon committee is investigating the Department of Health’s transfer of P42 billion funds to the Procurement Service- Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) for the purchase of face masks and face shields at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The DBM-PS and its former chief, resigned Budget undersecretary Christopher

Lloyd Lao, are currently in hot water due to purchase of PPEs that was also flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA).

Senators are also looking into the possible links between Pharmally and Chinese businessman Michael Yang, President Rodrigo Duterte’s former economic adviser.

Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Blue Ribbon committee, is seeking information on the involvement of Yang, and the President, on the issue.

Senator Risa Hontieveros, meanwhile, said President Dutrete must have lost his sense of smell because he had once said he would not tolerate even the whiff of corruption, and the Pharmally deal “stinks really badly.”

“The facts are simple. The Pharmally contract awards have numerous red flags planted on them,” said Hontiveros.

“So, if there is any bit of callous indifference, it is about ignoring the warning signs: buying supplies from shady companies with fugitives at the helm during the worst pandemic in history,” she added.

Hontiveros noted that the PPEs, which were purchased without public bidding, were bought even if there were cheaper alternatives on the market.

It has also been proven that its transmission in outdoor settings could rise by as much as 40 percent.

“But I understand that even the WHO will render an expert opinion on whether or not the use of face shields is justified. So let’s just wait for the opinion of WHO,” he said.

Earlier, the World Health Organization said it was reviewing the Philippines’ experience in using face shields as an additional layer of protection against COVID-19.

The Philippines is “one of the few countries advocating the use of face shields in addition to a mask” as protection against the virus, said WHO country representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe.

He said there was no sufficient evidence yet to show that the use of face shields has helped the country delay the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant.

He said: “It’s interesting that we have been able to sort of delay the speed by which the Delta variant is spreading, but we don’t know if the face shields are a contributory factor. While we are understanding all of these issues, it’s best to look for evidence and make our decisions based on that.”

“The face shields are being used to reduce the likelihood of infection through the eyes and so that’s not actually an additional layer although it boosts the protection from poor wearing of mask practices,” Abeyasinghe said.

Face shields were among the medical supplies purchased by the Department of Health for alleged overpricing.

President Rodrigo Duterte repeatedly denied there was corruption in the purchase of medical supplies.

Abeyasinghe said a single face mask could protect people from contracting the virus provided that it is worn “properly and consistently.”

previous administration of PPEs worth at least P3,000 each.

The Duterte administration bought PPEs worth P1,700 each during the pandemic, Roque said.

Drilon, however, dismissed Roque’s allegations, saying they were aimed at diverting public attention away from the Duterte administration of P8.6 billion worth of overpriced face masks, face shields and PPEs

from a small company, Pharmally, which is under scrutiny at the Senate.

In defending the alleged overpriced PPEs, Roque said the Aquino administration bought PPEs worth above P3,000 each in 2015 and 2016, higher by almost P1,300 each bought by the Duterte administration.

“Senator Drilon, why don’t you ask your allies,” the Palace official said.

But the senator said Roque should point

to the backer of former undersecretary Christopher Lao, who was the head of the PS-DBM when the overpriced face shields and face masks were procured.

Drilon also said Roque should identify the backer of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., a small firm which only had a paidup capital of around P625,000 but secured over P8 billion worth of government contracts for the procurement of PPEs.

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Moreover, the COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU),was still fully occupied.

The Philippines logged 16,621 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of infections to 2,020,484.

There were 148 new fatalities, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 33,680—or 1.67 percent of all cases.

The DOH also reported 10,965 persons who recently recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 1,840,294 or 91.1 percent of the total.

There were 146,510 active cases, or 7.3 percent of the total, of which 96.2 percent were mild, 1.1 percent were asymptomatic, 0.6 percent were critical, 1.1 percent were severe, and 0.99 percent were moderate.

The positivity rate was at 26.9 percent, based on the results of 60,973 individuals who were tested on Monday.

Nationwide, 74 percent of the ICU

beds, 66 percent of the isolation beds, 71 percent of the ward beds, and 55 percent of the ventilators, were in use.

In Metro Manila, 73 percent of the ICU beds, 67 percent of the isolation beds, 73 percent of the ward beds, and 60 percent of the ventilators, were in use.

The independent OCTA Research Group, meanwhile, said the reproduction number in Metro Manila had decreed to 1.39 as of Sept. 2, down from 1.43 on Aug. 31.

“Based on current trends, it is possible that the reproduction number in the NCR may decrease below 1 by the third week of September,” it said.

“Until then, we expect new cases to continue to increase, albeit at a slower growth rate,” it added.

Reproduction number refers to the average number of secondary infections by each infected individual.

vere stockouts until December,” she said.

The DOH has written to the Philippine embassies in Switzerland and the United States to seek help in obtaining even just a portion of their reserve allocations.

For his part, treatment czar Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said some patients are calling the One COVID-19 Referral Hospital to ask for a hospital in the National Capital Region that can still accommodate them.

The Pasay City General Hospital emergency room reopened after it temporarily closed due to full capacity of patients.

As of 6:30 a.m. Thursday, there were two available COVID beds for adults at the hospital.

THE Department of Education is proposing to hold a dry run of limited face-to-face classes in 120 schools, Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said.

Malaluan said once President Rodrigo Duterte allows a pilot test, the dry-run will cover 100 public schools and 20 private schools.

“The Department of Health is agreeable to the addition of 20 private schools,” Malaluan said.

He said the private schools will be identified after the joint DepEd-DOH guidelines are approved.

The dry run is part of the DepEd’s plan to gradually resume in-person classes despite the pandemic.

In June, Duterte rejected a proposal to allow limited face-to-face classes in 300 public schools nationwide.

“It is difficult. I cannot gamble on the health of the children,” the President said then.

Schools across the country have remained closed since March last year when the pandemic broke out, with learners at the basic education level remaining at their homes.

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Military plane ‘stalled’ midair and crashed in July—AFP A PHILIPPINE aircraft carrying soldiers crashed in July after an “unrecoverable stall”, killing more than 50 people in one of the country’s worst military air disasters, the armed forces said Thursday.

The C-130 Hercules transport plane was loaded with nearly a hundred people, most of them fresh army graduates, when it overshot the runway while trying to land on the southern island of Jolo in Sulu province.

Most of the dead were soldiers being deployed to the island—a haven for Islamist militants—as part of a counterinsurgency effort. Dozens were injured.

“Based on the investigating team’s report, no single factor can be attributed to have exclusively caused the accident,” the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said in a statement.

“The aircraft component, the environmental condition and aircrew response led to (an) unrecoverable stall in a critical phase of the aircraft operation,” it said without providing details.

Armed forces spokesman Colonel Ramon Zagala told AFP a component “failure” triggered a light that “caused the pilots to concentrate on that instead of recovering the stall or doing the turnaround”.

The plane stalled after losing “thrust and lift” at low altitude.

“Usually you can recover a stall... if you have altitude, if you’re way up, but in this case it doesn’t have altitude,” said Zagala, without specifying which part of the aircraft failed.

National Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told a congressional committee hearing he had been informed the crash was caused by a “confluence of many events”.

They included “defective instruments or systems, plus of course the reaction of the pilot was not also appropriate for the emergency,” he said Wednesday.

The military said previously the C-130 was in “very good condition” when it crashed in sunny weather.

The full results of the investigation have not been made public. It is not clear if the findings were also based on information recovered from the flight data recorders, which were sent to the United States for analysis. AFP

BACK IN BUSINESS. Workers make book covers at a publishing house

in Quezon City on Thursday (Sept. 2, 2021. Some businesses have been allowed to operate while the National Capital Regionremains under modified enhanced community quarantine to curb the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant. Rico H. Borja

SOLON QUIZZES DBM

‘Zero budget for DND hospitals’ A

By Maricel V. Cruz

PARTY-LIST legislator has questioned the proposed P221 billion budget of the Department of National Defense which got zero allocation for the purchase of medical equipment for its hospitals and for the hospitalization of its personnel and veterans.

In last Wednesday’s budget briefing before the House Committee on Appropriations for the 2022 DND budget, Rep. Jericho Nograles asked why the Department of Budget and Management presented a zero allocation for the hospital expenses of DND personnel, compared to a budget of P1.786 billion last year.

Pointing out that the DBM may have overlooked the situation that resulted in

these budget cuts, Nograles requested Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to submit to Congress a revised budget which would include allocations needed by its hospitals and the medical expenses of its personnel.

He said Congress could look for funds to cover the budget gap for the medical needs of the AFP personnel through possible budget realignments.

Nograles also said that he hoped that whatever Congressional budgetary support will not be vetoed or, worse, subjected to “for later release” by the DBM. Nograles also observed that the VMMC has requested the acquisition of a linear accelerator machine worth P300 Million to replace its decrepit cobalt-60 teletherapy machine and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine worth P90 million. It has also asked P36 million for the construction of endoscopy center with equipage; P29 million for the renovation of the Department of Radiology and Radiotherapy and P35 million for the renovation and upgrade of its pulmonary intensive care unit (PICU).

The DBM also scrapped the VMMC request and instead provided a footnote that it should be covered by profits earned from its golf course which, according to

PNP stripped of Zambales lot ownership

Scammer alert: Entry visas fake —Immigration THE Bureau of Immigration yesterday warned the public against scammers offering fake entry permits to foreigners on Facebook, reiterating that the entry of tourists to the country remains restricted.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the warning was issued after the agency received a complaint against a netizen who offered entry permits to the country to several foreign victims.

According to Morente, one of the victims was later asked by the netizen to contact an alleged immigration officer who would supposedly ensure the smooth entry of foreigners in exchange for grease money.

The BI records, however, showed that the supposed immigration officer is not an employee of the agency.

Morente expressed his dismay towards the modus, adding “there is no such service, we believe that these scammers prey on the people they see on Facebook.”

“It is disconcerting to know that there are still those who can take advantage of the vulnerable even during a pandemic,” he added.

At present, only Filipinos, foreign spouses and children of Filipinos, foreign parents of Filipino minors, and foreigners holding immigrant and nonimmigrant visas are allowed entry in the Philippines. Vito Barcelo

its director Dr. Dominador Chiong, only amounts to a fraction of P2 million a year.

He noted that the members of the Armed Forces, both those in the active and the reserve service, and even the Constitutionally protected veterans are among the most vulnerable to the lingering threat of the COVID-19 so it does not make any sense that the DBM gave them zero budget for hospitalization and medical equipment acquisition.

“I could not understand why there is zero budget for Hospitalization Expenses and new equipment for any of the hospitals for soldiers and veterans. Sa daming pera, sana naman huwag kalimutan ang dumedepensa sa atin. They are not bulletproof, they are not covid-proof, and we are bound by the Constitution to help and honor them,” Nograles said.

By Rey Requejo

METAL SCRAPS. Workers load scrap metals and other recyclable materials onto a truck in Antipolo City on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. Some people earn a living amid the pandemic by selling recyclable items to junk shops. Joey O. Razon

Villar supports Senate bill on Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers

By Macon Ramos Araneta SENATOR Cynthia A. Villar has expressed full support to Senate Bill No. 2369 under Committee Report No. 289--the “Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers” while acknowledging the seafarers significant contributions to the world amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“The trade of food, necessary m e d i c i n e s ,

medical supplies and equipment, and other essentials are facilitated with the continuous toil and sacrifice of our seafarers on board various cargo vessels,” said Villar.

“And their contributions and work as seafarers are highlighted, especially now while we are at a pandemic,” she said.

In fact, she related the seafarers aboard cruise ships were among the first

to be affected by the COVID virus, and yet they continue to venture with their work hazards.

Because of this, Villar underscored the need to give our seafarers all the protection they need.

The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, Villar said, will guarantee the protection of their rights, and the standards to be followed on their employment terms and conditions.

CHR lauds Marawi Compensation bill

By Rio N. Araja

CARELESS WHISPER. At a fish port terminal in Cavite, the bulungan tradition of buying and selling fish reverberates even in this time of the pandemic. Wanting to eke out a living, reckless people seem to no longer care about the COVID-19 and just throw cautions to the wind, ignoring basic health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of the much-dreaded disease. JR Josue

THE Commission on Human Rights on Thursday welcomed the approval of House Bill No. 9925 or the proposed Marawi Compensation Act on second reading to benefit the displaced and affected individuals during the Marawi siege in Lanao del Sur in 2017.

“CHR has consistently advocated for the urgent passage of this bill that will help rebuild Marawi (City) and provide monetary compensation to those who lost their homes and other properties to the armed conflict.

CHR lauds this recent development that seeks to address the issue of internal displacement,” spokesperson

Jacqueline Ann de Guia said.

She said CHR also backed the institutionalization of Task Force Bangon Marawi to commence the rollout of the Marawi recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction program, and the establishment of a compensation subcommittee to receive and resolve all claims of affected communities.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, several residents have been living in harsh conditions in temporary shelters and do not have access to basic social services.

De Guia lamented that the sad reality remains that, even after four years since the siege, the people continue to bear the lingering effects of armed conflict.

THE Philippine National Police has lost its ownership rights over a land property in Zambales after the Supreme Court has ruled that the disputed parcel of land remains inalienable having been reserved for military purposes.

In a 13-page decision, the SC’s Third Division through Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando granted the petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General seeking the reversal of the Court of Appeals decision issued on August 16, 2011, which affirmed the order issued by the Regional Trial Court of Iba, Zambales which granted the PNP’s application for land registration of lots nos. 713-A to 713-F of Iba, Cadastre.

The high court sided with the OSG’s arguments that the subject lots are incapable of registration pursuant to the report of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and that the PNP’s possession of the subject lots for more than 30 years is irrelevant because said lots are inalienable having been reserved for military purposes.

“In the instant case, the PNP did not submit a DENR Certification to the effect that the subject lots are alienable and disposable lands of the public domain, which was the prevailing requirement when its application for land registration was pending with the RTC. The PNP merely submitted a subdivision planof Lot No. 713, Cad 191, Iba Cadastre, which indicated that the subject lots are alienable and disposable,” the SC said.

“Therefore, respondent’s reliance on the subject lots’ subdivision plan, without the corresponding DENR certification stating that they are entirely within the alienable and disposable zone, which was the prevailing rule during the pendency of its application with the RTC, proved fatal to its case. In short, respondent failed to substantially prove that the subject lots are alienable and disposable lands of the public domain,” the high court ruled.

In asserting its ownership rights over the parcel of land, the PNP through its Provincial Director Jaime Calungsod claimed that it has been in possession of the said lots for more than 30 years.

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News

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

GRATEFUL. National Task Force Against COVID-19

chief Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. (left) chats with US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law shortly after the arrival of over 700,000 doses of Pfizer coronavirus vaccines at the NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Wednesday night. Galvez thanked Law for assisting the Philippines in procuring the life-saving shots. Robert Oswald P. Alfiler

House leader urges passage of science bill

By Maricel V. Cruz HOUSE Majority Leader Martin G. Romualdez has assured the swift passage of the proposed Science for Change Program (S4CP) Act of 2021 to achieve a higher standard of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in the country, including the mandatory use of publicly funded technologies by national government offices.

Romualdez, representative of Leyte’s first district and chairman of the House committee on rules, made the assurance in response to the appeal of Science Secretary Fortunato de la Peña to pass the bill during the latter’s courtesy call Wednesday at the Majority Leader’s Office at the Batasan in Quezon City.

“We are committed to prioritize the passage of Science for Change Program bill with dispatch because research and development will help accelerate social progress,” said Romualdez, president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), adding that prioritizing the development of STI will foster patriotism and development.

“The House of Representatives led by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco recognized that science and technology are essential for national government and progress,” said the lawmaker, a lawyer from the University of the Philippines (UP) and president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa).

De la Peña defended the Department of Science and Technology’s P24.338-billion proposed budget under the P5.024-trillion national budget next year, which is three percent lower than its 2021 budget of P25.188 billion.

Robredo nixes return to school amid COVID-19

By Rio N. Araja AMID the threat of the highly transmissible and deadly Delta variant of COVID-19, Vice President Leni Robredo is not yet convinced students should be allowed to go back to school and attend face-to-face classes.

“At this point in time, I agree that classes are (to remain) closed. But for me, the past one-and-a-half years have been a missed opportunity. When there was still no Delta variant yet, there are many local government units all over the Philippines still without cases,” she said.

“In the past one-and-a-half years, if only we allowed them to go to school, many could have studied,” Robredo noted.

She raised fears that the existing educational system could lead to an intergenerational problem, especially among the poor who did not have the access to online school.

The Vice President said many students, particularly those from low-income families, could not attend online classes and learn.

“If we can’t educate, especially the poor, those without access (to the internet), those from far-flung (areas), they will not learn (anything), even their children’s children will get affected,” she said.

Go: Rody can run for VP without prexy partner

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Vito Barcelo

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte may decide to run for VIce President even without a running mate, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said Thursday, as the lawmaker maintained his hardline stance on not seeking the presidency in 2022.

“Yan sa ngayon, sa pagkakaalam ko po, wala. Pwede po siyang tumakbo bilang isang Bise Presidente na walang ulo (For now, as far as I know, nothing yet. He can run as a Vice President without a lead candidate),” said Go in a statement.

He said this would mean it’s a “free for all” for those running for President.

“So, it’s the decision of our President Duterte as of today, he will run for Vice President,” Go said, while guaranteeing he would support his longtime boss ever since their days in Davao City.

Meanwhile, the country’s biggest coalition of trade unions said it would not sup-

port Duterte’s candidacy for vice president in the coming national elections, citing his administration’s corruption, human rights abuses, and negligence in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Alliance of Labor Union Leaders said it will also reject supporting the possible candidacy of the President’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio, who pundits see replacing him in 2022.

“Filipino workers continue to bear the brunt of the pandemic and the negligence and incompetence of the Duterte administration,” the group said in a statement.

The workers’ coalition also branded Duterte’s COVID-19 response as “one of the worst in the world” due to the record spike of cases of coronavirus infection, which breached two million this week.

“Health workers who are putting their lives at risk every day to be able to attend to COVID-19 patients are being deprived of their measly allowance, as the Department of Health has yet to release funds for the Special Risk Allowances (SRA) for some 100,000 health workers,” the group said.

Go stressed he would support a presidential candidate who can continue the progress the current administration has begun.

He has stood pat on his decision not to run for the country’s highest elective post in the May elections, despite appeals from his partymates to do so.

AYUDA FOR RESIDENTS.

San Juan City Mayor Francis M. Zamora gives food packs to residents of Brgy. Corazon De Jesus in San Juan City, during the the 17th wave of foodpacks ‘Ayuda Distribution’ to its residents during this pandemic. A total of 45,000 food packs are to be distributed, donated by private individuals, organizations, and corporations and repacked by city hall volunteers.

Manny Palmero

Quezon gov Suarez: What missing COVID funds?

QUEZON Gov. Danilo Suarez on Thursday said the Commission on Audit may have been looking for non-existent anti-COVID-19 funds in its 2019 report on the province.

A COA 2019 report said COVID response funds of the province of Quezon were “missing.”

“To be clear and factual, the cited report is based on a COA report for yearend 2019. COVID is a 2020 phenomenon for Quezon and the Philippines. In 2019, no COVID response funds were released by the province, as there were

no recorded cases at that time,” Suarez said.

He said the P102,131,89.29 that was cited in the report were for ongoing projects that have yet to be completed, and thus final liquidation cannot be done yet.

Suarez said these refer “to ongoing projects in local government units and the province, funded by various national government agencies, that are awaiting completion. This is a matter of course, as on-going projects have to await completion prior to final liquidation.”

In addition, Suarez said the slow vaccination rate in the province also mentioned in the COA report was due to the provincial government’s lack of funds.

“Mention has also been made regarding the slow vaccine rate in the province. Much as we’d like to hire more vaccinators, because of the budget that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan reenacted despite the dire needs of the times, we are limited and cannot hire new employees,” the governor said.

Maricel V. Cruz

Sara: Senators, Gibo offered to be my veep

By Macon Ramos-Araneta TWO senators want to be the running mate of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio should she decide to run for president, she disclosed Thursday, but Senator Imee Marcos was not among them, contrary to what President Rodrigo Duterte said recently.

Duterte-Carpio said Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Sherwin Gatchalian both offered to be her running mate, which Go confirmed in a separate statement.

The President’s only daughter also said other groups want either Senator Sonny Angara or House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez to be her running mate but added that she cannot confirm if these are true.

The Davao mayor also confirmed that common friends relayed the offer of former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro to be her vice president.

As for former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, he has said he will run only for president or senator, the reason for his going around the country.

The presidential daughter also denied the allegation of her father that Senator Imee, Bongbong’s sister, wants to be her vice president.

“This is not true. She visited me in Davao last May 29 to personally relay her birthday wishes. So far this is the only visit she has made to me in Davao,” she further stated.

Go admitted he expressed his willingness to be considered in the list of choices of the presidential daughter.

“I enlisted like the others, knowing my devotion to the Dutertes.

Whatever my love is for the father is the same for his children,” he related.

“I hope that my experience in the past two national elections and in serving her father for more than two decades can help her reach her goals for our country, regardless of what role I will take (whether as VP candidate or campaigner),” Go added.

Health workers need booster shots—Marcos

By Rey E. Requejo FORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday urged the government to administer booster shots to health workers to strengthen their protection against new COVID-19 variants.

“We need to seriously consider administering booster shots to our healthcare manpower to prevent them from getting infected with coronavirus. Health policies should address the realities on the ground,” Marcos said in a statement.

“From what we can gather, it is becoming more critical for our health workers. We should do everything that we can to prevent our medical staff from being overwhelmed,” the former lawmaker added.

Marcos made the appeal after a local infectious disease expert raised the alarm over breakthrough infections among vaccinated frontline healthcare workers.

He was referring to the observation made by Dr. Rontgene Solante of the San Lazaro Hospital that current data consistently shows vaccine efficacy tapering off six months after a person is inoculated.

“I think we need to revisit [government’s policy on boosters] ... because if you are a health care worker and you have mild symptoms, you will undergo isolation and can affect the performance and the way we deliver health care in our hospitals,” Dr. Solante said.

The Department of Health is still not recommending booster shots for any of the priority groups, saying the country’s vaccine supply is still “unstable.”

Bill filed to extend poll listup to Oct. 31 A COMMITTEE in the House of Representatives on Thursday urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to extend voter registration to October 31 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms, during a hearing, adopted House Resolutions 2128 and 2139, extending the deadline to October 31 from the previous September 30 “to deter massive voter disenfranchisement amid COVID-19 pandemic.”

“The September 30 deadline was set before the COVID-19 pandemic and it now falls upon the Comelec’s prerogative to adjust the deadline due to the ramifications of the pandemic,” the measure read.

Meanwhile, the leader of the House minority bloc asked the Comelec to lay

down its contingency plan soonest in preparation for the next year’s election.

House Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano acknowledged the need for a multi-day voting in the 2022 polls should the public health crisis escalate or at least maintain its current threatening level.

“Where’s the plan? We need to see how they will conduct the elections next year for us to understand the necessity of additional or higher budget for the commission,” the Abang Lingkod solon explained.

“The problem with the Comelec is its failure to present the election plan as to the conduct of next year’s polls during previous House hearings,” he added.

Maricel V. Cruz

MOVING UP. Wearing protective masks, graduates of the Manila Police District

Command alternative learning system listen to a speech from MPOD District Director Police Brig. Gen. Leo M. Francisco during the moving up exercise on Thursday. The five graduates will be moving up for senior high and are expected to take up criminology courses in college. Norman Cruz

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Taliban close to forming new government TODAY

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

World SC refuses to block Texas law banning most abortions

THE Taliban said Thursday they were close to forming a new government, as dozens of women held a rare protest for the right to work under a new regime that faces enormous economic hurdles and deep public mistrust.

The Islamist militants, who have pledged a softer brand of rule than during their brutal reign of 1996-2001, must now transform from insurgent group to governing power.

The announcement of a cabinet, which two Taliban sources told AFP may take place on Friday following afternoon prayers, would come just days after the chaotic pullout of US forces from Afghanistan, ending America’s longest war with an astounding military victory for the Islamist group.

In one of the most symbolic moments since the takeover of Kabul on August 15, the militants paraded Wednesday some of the military hardware they had captured during their offensive, even flying a Black Hawk helicopter over Kandahar, their movement’s spiritual heartland.

Now, all eyes are on whether the Taliban can deliver a cabinet capable of managing a war-wracked economy and honour the movement’s pledges of a more “inclusive” government.

Speculation is rife about the make-up of a new government, although a senior official said Wednesday that women were unlikely to be included. AFP

THE US Supreme Court handed a major victory to abortion opponents late Wednesday, denying an emergency request to block a new law effectively banning most abortions in the southern state of Texas.

The court, which had received the emergency request from abortion rights advocates on Monday, did not rule on the constitutionality of the law, which went into effect 24 hours earlier, but cited “complex and novel antecedent procedural questions” for leaving it in place while the court battle continues.

The decision was reached with a narrow majority of five justices in favor, three of whom were appointed by former president Donald Trump, who MASKLESS. Policewomen remind a beachgoer to wear a mask as she enjoys the unusually warm spring weather at St Kilda cemented a conservative-leaning 6-3 Beach in Melbourne on September 2, 2021. The city remains in lockdown as it battles the Delta variant. AFP majority on the nine-member panel during his time in office.

Chief Justice John Roberts, a moderate conservative, like the three liberal justices, indicated that he would have blocked the “unprecedented” law, pending a substantive review.

More bluntly, liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor called the court’s order “stunning,” saying her colleagues had “opted to bury their head in the sand” over a “flagrantly unconstitutional law engineered to prohibit women from exercising their constitutional rights.”

“We’re enduring an historic weather event tonight Weather Service (NWS) said in a tweet.

Senate Bill 8, or SB8, signed in May t least seven people died in with record-breaking rain across the city, brutal floodThe NWS recorded 3.15 inches (80 millimeters) of

by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a New York City on Wednesday ing and dangerous conditions on our roads,” De Blasio rain in Central Park in just an hour – the area’s wettest Republican, bans abortion once a fesaid in a tweet as he declared a state of emergency in hour on record. night as flash flooding and tal heartbeat can be detected, which is city.

The city earlier issued a rare flash flood emergency usually in the sixth week of pregnancy record-breaking rainfall swept through theHundreds of flights have been canceled at nearby La- warning urging residents to move to higher ground.

– before many women even know they the area, police sources told AFP. Guardia and JFK airports, as well as at Newark, where “Significant and life-threatening flash flooding is are pregnant – and makes no excepvideo showed a terminal inundated by rainwater. likely from the Mid-Atlantic into southern New Engtions for rape or incest.

New York state governor Kathy Hochul and city Flooding has closed major roads across multiple bor- land,” the NWS said in a bulletin, adding that three to The only exemption is if there is a mayor Bill de Blasio have declared a state of emer- oughs including Manhattan, The Bronx and Queens. eight inches of rain could drench the region through danger to the woman’s health. gency as the remnants of Storm Ida caused massive Streets were transformed into rivers while the city’s Thursday.

While similar laws have passed in flooding in America’s financial and cultural capital. subway stations were also flooded, and the MetropoliState governor Phil Murphy declared a state of a dozen Republican-led conservative Ida slammed into the southern state of Louisiana tan Transportation Authority reported services were ef- emergency in neighboring New Jersey, where CNN states, all had been stymied in the over the weekend, bringing severe flooding and torna- fectively shut down. reported at least one person was killed by the flooding courts. does as it blazed a trail of destruction north.

As footage showed cars submerged on streets across in the city of Passaic, bringing the death toll from Ida The Supreme Court declined to rule The remnants of the storm caused massive flooding the city, authorities urged residents not drive on flood- to eight. on the request from rights groups and in New York, America’s financial and cultural capital, ed roads.

In Annapolis, 30 miles (50 kilometers) from theCYAN US MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK abortion providers to block the law by leaving the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens badly “You do not know how deep the water is and it is capital, a tornado ripped up trees and toppled electricManila midnight September 1. AFP hit. too dangerous,” the New York branch of the National ity poles. AFP Standard TODAY

At least 7 dead in New York after flash floods, record rains A NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION

Notice is hereby given that during the duly constituted meeting held electronically through a zoom conference on May 11, 2021, the Board of Directors of DyZUM DISTILLERY INC. (the “CORPORATION”) approved the dissolution of the Corporation in accordance with Section 136 of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines. For this purpose, a special meeting of the Stockholders was likewise held on even date and took action on the above resolution.

JOSEPHINE G. BAUTISTA Corporate Secretary (MS-SEPT. 3,10 & 17, 2021)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 223, QUEZONCITY IN RE: PETITION TO USE THE SURNAME OF THE FATHER OF RENAN SAMARITA RENAN SAMARITA (minor) a.k.a.

RENAN SAMARITA NALING. Represented by: NELIA SAMARITA NALING (mother) and RAMONITO N. NALING(father).

Petitioner, -versusSpecial Proc. Case No. 19-04518-SP For: USE OF FATHER’S SURNAME THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OFQUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA,THE ADMINISTRATOR AND CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS OFFICE (PSA) Formerly National Statistics Office (NSO) and ALL OTHER PERSONS WHO HAVE INTEREST OR CLAIM TO THIS INSTANT PETITION. Respondents. x---------------------------------------------------------------------x

ORDER

This is a verified Amended Petition to Use the Surname of the Father of Renan Samarita dated October 16, 2020, file by petitioners Nelia Samarita Naling and Ramonito Naling, which was received by the Court on October 22, 2020.

The petitioner alleges that, he was born on 25 July 2002, to Ramonito Naling and Nelia Samarita Naling; that his parents were admittedly not married at the time or Renan’s birth; that it was only on 13 July 2009 that his parents got married: that although admittedly, when he was born, his mother Nelia Samarita Naling was still married to his first husband, Zosimo Furto Sadicon, the latter passed away on 08 August 2006; that while Ramonito Naling was not married when he was born; that at the time he was born, his father Ramonito Naling duly acknowledge his paternal filiation as it appears on the second page of his birth certificate: that his parents, Ramonito Naling and Nelia Samarita Naling duly subscribed the Affidavit of Acknowledgment/Admission of Paternity as reflected in his Live Birth from the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City, Metro Manila; that moreover, he had been using the surname Naling, with the acknowledge and consent of his father Ramonito Naling, since he was young; that thus, he used the name Renan Naling in all his transactions and dealings, as it appeared in his school records, baptismal certificate and other documents; that the following are some of the documents where the Petitioner’s name is reflected. Certificate of Baptism issued on 17 July 2018, Form 137-A, and School Identification Cards; and that the petitioner’s seek the indulgence of this Honorable Court to grant the Petition and correspondingly issue an Order allowing Petitioner Renan to use the surname of his father and correction of entry as to his middle name.

Petitioners prayed to this Honorable Court to issue an Order granting this amended petition and to issue an Order allowing him to use the surname of his father, to the end that he be allowed to use the name of Renan Samarita Naling.

WHEREFORE, finding the verified amended petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the same is re-set for hearing on September 20, 2021 at 2:00 in the afternoon. Session Hall of Branch 223 of this Court, at which date and time, petitioner and counsel are directed to appear to substantiate the allegations of the amended petition and for any interested persons may appear and show cause why the amended petition should not be granted.

Let a copy of this Order be published at the expense of the petitioners in a newspaper of daily circulation to be selected by raffle pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1079, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks prior to the date of hearing.

Let a copy of this Order be furnished the Office of the Solicitor General, Office of the City Prosecutor, the Civil Registrar of Quezon City, and the Registrar General, Philippine Statistics Authority (formerly National Statistics Office), who are directed to file their opposition to the amended petition within fifteen (15) days from the last date of the publication of this Order.

The petitioners are hereby directed to furnish the said government offices with a copy of the petition and its annexes within five (5) days from the receipt of this Order and manifest to this Court his compliance herewith.

Parties and counsels are likewise directed to submit within five (5) days from receipt of this Order, their official e-mail addresses and contact numbers where the Court can send notices, Orders and other Court processes, and manifest their willingness to present evidence in chief through video conferencing using the Microsoft Teams application.

SO ORDERED. Given in Chambers.

Quezon City, Philippines, November 27, 2020.

(Sgd.) HON. CARIDAD M. WALSE-LUTERO Copy furnished: Presiding Judge The City Prosecutor’s Office DOJ Building, Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma Hall Quezon City Hall Complex, Diliman, Quezon City Office of Solicitor General 134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City The Local Civil Registrar Quezon City The Registrar General Philippine Statistics Office (formerly National Statistics Office) East Ave., Quezon City Renan Samarita, Nelia Samarita Naling and Ramonito N. Naling Petitioners Blk. 12, Lot 10, Kaunlaran St., Brgy. Commonwealth Quezon City Atty. Nicu Dela Merced 6th Floor, DOJ Building Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma Hall Quezon City Hall Complex, Diliman, Quezon City (MStandard-Aug. 27. Sep. 3 & 10, 2021)

65 dead in fresh Yemen fighting for city of Marib SIXTY-FIVE Huthi rebels and pro-government forces have been killed in renewed fighting for the strategic Yemeni city of Marib, a military official told AFP on Thursday.

The clashes erupted when the Iran-backed rebels attacked pro-government positions south of the city, making progress despite losing dozens of fighters in coalition air strikes.

“Twenty-two pro-government (forces) were killed and 50 others were wounded, while 43 Huthi rebels were also killed in the last 48 hours,” a government military official said, in figures that were confirmed by other military and medical sources.

The fighting comes after strikes on Yemen’s largest airbase, in the country’s south, killed at least 30 progovernment fighters on Sunday in the deadliest incident since December.

Yemen’s internationally recognised government —backed by a Saudi-led military coalition—and the Huthis have been locked in war since 2014, when the insurgents seized the capital Sanaa.

In February, the Huthis escalated their efforts to seize Marib, the government’s last northern stronghold in fighting that has killed hundreds on both sides.

Control of the oil-rich region would strengthen the Huthis’ bargaining position in peace talks. AFP

STAY PUT. Indian

paramilitary troopers patrol along a street in Srinagar on September 2, 2021 after authorities imposed a lockdown across the disputed Himalayan region following the death last night of Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani at the age of 92.

AFP

Japan princess Mako to tie the knot, rejects lump sum amid controversy THE course of true love never did run smooth, but after public controversy and a wedding delay, Japan’s Princess Mako is reportedly set to tie the knot and move to America.

The daughter of Japan’s crown prince and niece of Emperor Naruhito has endured years of sniping and stalling over her plans to marry sweetheart Kei Komuro.

The pair have now decided to wed without some traditional ceremonies and reject a payout that usually goes to female royals marrying out of the royal family.

Japan’s imperial succession rules mean that 29-year-old Mako will lose her title after marriage to a commoner.

But Komuro has still been heavily scrutinized over allegations that his mother borrowed money from a former fiance and failed to repay it.

After tabloid reporting on the claims, a furore erupted around the young couple in a country where the royal family is held to an exacting standard.

The pair postponed their wedding, and Komuro moved to the US for law school in a move that was widely seen as a bid to defuse the negative attention.

Crown Prince Akishino last year said that he supported his daughter’s marriage, but that she needed to win the public’s “understanding.”

But she has apparently decided to get around the issue by marrying without the usual ritual ceremonies that accompany a royal wedding, and declining a lump sum payment given to female royals who marry commoners.

The size of the payment is unknown, though reports put it at $1.2 million or more. AFP

Kei Komuro

Japan’s Princess Mako

China cracks whip on reality talent shows CHINA banned reality talent programmes Thursday and ordered broadcasters to promote more masculine representations of men, in a wide-ranging crackdown on “immoral” pop culture Beijing believes is leading young people astray.

Talent shows that put hundreds of aspiring young performers through rigorous boot camps and subject them to public votes have become massively popular in China, sparking criticism over obsessive fans and poor role models.

“Broadcast and TV institutions must not screen idol development programmes or variety shows and reality shows,” China’s broadcast regulator, the National Radio and Television Administration said, in a raft of new regulations.

The regulator ordered broadcasters to resist “abnormal aesthetics” such as “sissy” men, “vulgar influencers,” stars’ inflated pay and performers with “lapsed morals.”

Faced with falling birth rates, Chinese authorities have tried to instil traditional masculine values in the country’s youth by ramping up gym classes and criticising male entertainers who model the effeminate looks of Korean pop idols.

Instead, broadcasters were urged to “strongly promote outstanding traditional Chinese culture... and advanced socialist culture.”

Popular Chinese blogger Feng Xiaoyi had his account suspended

by Douyin – China’s version of TikTok – last week for “promoting unhealthy values,” after some users complained about his “sissy” videos.

Video streaming site iQiyi last week said it would cancel all future idol talent shows that are in development.

Authorities began a wide-ranging crackdown on dodgy financial practices and “immoral” conduct in the entertainment sector after numerous scandals implicated some of the nation’s biggest entertainers in recent months.

Chinese actress Zheng Shuang was fined the equivalent of $46 million for tax evasion last week, while Chinese-Canadian pop star and former idol Kris Wu has been detained on rape allegations. AFP

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Major oil producers keep small output hike LONDON—The world’s leading oil producers on Wednesday upheld a deal reached just over a month ago to boost output gradually despite US pressure to go further.

After weeks of wrangling, members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries along with allies such as Russia—known collectively as OPEC+—agreed in July to raise output by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) from August.

The move is aimed at supporting a global economic recovery, which has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic—a crisis that sent oil demand plummeting last year.

The videoconference on Wednesday of the 23 members of OPEC+ lasted less than an hour to “reaffirm the decision” taken in July, according to a statement by the group.

“While the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to cast some uncertainty, market fundamentals have strengthened,” it said, adding the next meeting would be held on October 4.

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said last month that the production boost agreed in July was “simply not enough” to fuel a global recovery.

But analysts had widely predicted a meeting with no surprises.

Before the meeting, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the OPEC+ deal had succeeded to eliminate the excess supply, which “had accumulated during the period of falling demand.”

“It is now important to maintain this balance and to coordinate production and demand as the market recovers,” he was quoted by the TASS news agency as saying.

Kpler analysts said the latest decision “makes sense.”

“Given that policy is unchanged, we continue to expect that the gradual return of OPEC+ oil supply in the coming year will put downward pressure on prices,” Caroline Bain of Capital Economics said. AFP

PSEi September 2, 2021

TOP GAINERS

GREEK PROTEST. Pensioners, unionists and doctors protest in front of the Greek parliament in Athens on September 1, 2021 against the proposed social security bill, currently discussed in the parliament. AFP

Stock market rises; PLDT, AC Energy lead advances

T

HE stock market rose Thursday on select buying as investors pinned their hopes on looser restrictions and localized lockdowns instead of wider containment to curb the COVID-19 spread.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 48.72 points, or 0.7 percent, at 6,834.66 on a value turnover of P6.9 billion. Gainers beat losers, 110 to 86, with 58 issues unchanged.

PLDT Inc. the biggest telecommunications firm, advanced 3.6 percent to P1,532, while Aboitiz Power Corp. of the Aboitiz Group climbed 3.2 percent to P29.30.

Puregold Price Club Inc. of retail tycoon Lucio Co increased 3.1 percent to P42.95, while AC Energy Corp. of the Ayala Group added 1.3 percent to P9.99.

The rest of Asian markets were mixed Thursday, with fresh fears about China’s crackdown on tech firms offsetting optimism about the global recovery outlook

and easing COVID fears.

While Wall Street provided a tepid lead, the day got off to a good start with equities extending a recent rally as investors prepared themselves for the release of key US jobs data later in the day.

But sentiment was given a jolt after news emerged that Chinese regulators had summoned ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing and 10 other car platforms to give them a dressing down in the latest move against tech firms it sees as gaining too much power.

Officials demanded the firms, which also included the ride-hailing arm of major services app Meituan, cease “disorderly expansion” and “vicious competition” tactics.

They were told in a meeting Wednesday that the industry suffered from poor behavior including recruiting unqualified drivers and “shifting the risks of operations onto drivers,” the transport ministry said in a statement.

The firms were ordered to investigate internal problems and “immediately rectify” poor behavior, while ride-hailing platforms were also told to reduce

the cut they take from transactions and protect passengers’ personal data.

The move follows a series of measures against Chinese tech firms as well as other sectors including private tuition, property and video games.

The news rattled investors.

Hong Kong fluctuated, closing up after briefly falling into negative territory from a rise of more than one percent earlier in the day. Meituan remained in the green.

The Hang Seng Index as well as Shanghai’s composite index had been supported by the People’s Bank of China’s decision to provide tens of billions of dollars in low-cost funding to lenders to help them offer more support to small and medium-sized companies.

Tokyo, Shanghai, Wellington, Mumbai and Bangkok were also up but Sydney, Singapore, Seoul, Taipei and Jakarta fell.

There is still general confidence on trading floors, helped by Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell last week indicating that while the bank intends to start tapering its ultra-loose monetary policy, it would do so cautiously. With AFP

Uphill battle: Spain’s wine growers adapt to climate change

LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1

OV

0.011

0.001

10.00%

2

FERRO

3.1

0.22

7.64%

3 4

LR FNI

1.85 2.2

0.13 0.15

7.56% 7.32%

5

KPH

5.9

0.4

7.27%

6

PA

3.26

0.22

7.24%

7

DIZ

6.34

0.34

5.67%

8

ZHI

0.205

0.01

5.13%

9

BSC

0.62

0.03

5.08%

10

PSE

231

11

5.00%

TOP LOSERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1

MACAY

6.54

-1.36

-17.22%

2

PTC

96

-14

-12.73%

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

ALCPC MB BCOR SPM GREEN FFI ABG ANI

100.1 0.4 6.09 2.03 2.69 7 6.05 5.38

-9.9 -0.03 -0.4 -0.1 -0.13 -0.32 -0.26 -0.22

-9.00% -6.98% -6.16% -4.69% -4.61% -4.37% -4.12% -3.93%

MOST ACTIVE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

ACEN TEL CNVRG GLO AC AP MONDE EMP ALI MBT

VOLUME 85,833,700 246,040 10,843,100 120,995 418,300 9,563,800 15,930,900 13,624,500 6,292,000 4,205,900

VALUE (PHP) 858,487,869 370,857,495 347,472,070 335,632,040 332,909,200 275,799,205 262,399,902 222,437,782 209,855,625 190,103,020

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Daraga-Legazpi Diversion Road, Bogtong, Legazpi City Contact No. 09753729932/09257800974 www.acemclegazpi.net

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING DEAR STOCKHOLDERS: Please be informed that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of Allied Care Experts (ACE) Medical Center- Legazpi, Inc. (“ACE-LEGAZPI”) will be held on September 30, 2021 (Thursday) at 8:00 o’clock in the morning, via Zoom Webinar, in light of the COVID pandemic.

For the conduct of the Webinar, please register on or before September 1, 2021, through the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ MPO8mBCCRQe2fxjY1DiAnA Once you have successfully registered, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about the webinar meeting.

In this file photo taken on July 27, 2021, grapevines grow at the Torres vineyard at a 950-metre altitude in Tremp near Lleida in the Catalan Pyrenees.

Wine producers in Spain, which has the largest vineyard area in the world, are trying to adapt to a warmer climate that is bringing forward the harvest season and forcing them to use more heat-tolerant grape varieties. AFP

By Rosa Sulleiro SAN PERE DE RIBES, Spain—For over a century, Joaquin Gay de Montella Estany’s family produced wine in Spain’s Mediterranean region of Catalonia but the effects of climate change have pushed them to seek higher ground.

Now their Torre del Veguer winery also has vineyards at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains—at an altitude of nearly 1,200 meters (3,900 feet)—where temperatures are cooler.

It’s one of the ways in which Spain’s wine producers are trying to adapt, as a warmer climate advances the harvest season and makes the need for more heat-tolerant grape varieties greater.

In searing August heat, farm workers pick the white grapes by hand at a vineyard with sea views in Penedes, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the city of Barcelona.

Higher temperatures have brought the grape harvest forward by 10 to 15 days over the past decade, said Gay de Montella Estany, who owns the ecological winery.

“We have to harvest at the start of August when the heat is the most intense,” he told AFP. So in 2008, the company moved part of its production to Bolvir, a village in the Pyrenees near the French border.

Speedy ripening With a total of 961,000 hectares (2.4 million acres) of vines, Spain has the largest area of vineyards in the world, the International Organisation of Vine and Wine says.

It is the third biggest wine producer behind Italy and France.

Over the past 60 years, average temperatures in Spain have risen by 1.3 degrees Celsius, according to the national weather office, Aemet.

And wine producers have seen an impact, as

the timing of the harvest is crucial. grown before at higher altitudes in this region Higher average temperatures speed up the in the foothills of the Pyrenees. ripening of the grapes, which leads to lower “Farmers in the area thought it was absurd. acidity and increased sugars in the fruit.

They thought grapes would not mature,” said This yields higher alcohol levels in the wine Xavier Admella, who is in charge of the farm and also alters other compounds in grapes that located at an altitude of 950 meters. AFP affect aroma and flavor.

Manila Grapes must be Standard picked quickly to TODAY avoid an excessive alcohol content.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING “Essentially these grapes have not fully Notice is hereby given that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of Philippine Telegraph ripened in the right and Telephone Corporation (“Company”) will be held on 24 September 2021 at 11:00 A.M. The Presiding Officer will be presiding the meeting at Spirit of way,” said Fernando (Friday) Communications Center, 106 C. Palanca Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City 1229.

Zamora, a professor in the oenology depart- The order of business will be as follows: ment at Rovira I Vir- 1. Call to Order Certification of the existence of quorum and sending of notices gili University in Tar- 2.

3. Approval of the minutes of the last Stockholders’ Meeting held on 25 September 2020 ragona.

4. Report of the President 5. Election of the members of the Board of Directors ‘Absurd’ Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation The Familia Torres 6.

7. Grant of authority to the Board of Directors to establish and determine the terms and conditions of an Employee Stock Option and Incentive Plan winery, one of Spain’s of actions taken by the Board of Directors and officers since 25 September largest producers, 8. Ratification 2020 embraced higher el- 9. Appointment of Alas Oplas & Co. CPAs Approval of the Audited Financial Statements for the period ending 31 December 2020 evation more than 20 10.

11. Adjournment years ago, despite facing skepticism at the For purposes of the meeting, the close of business on 12 August 2021 has been fixed as the Record Date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice time. and to vote during the meeting. There will be no physical meeting. Stockholders may The company, attend or participate in the meeting by remote communication. Stockholders may vote subject to validation procedures. The procedures for participating in the which has grown from electronically meeting through remote communication and for casting of votes are set forth in the a small family busi- Information Statement. ness in the late 19th We are not soliciting your proxy. However, if you cannot personally participate in the century, began plant- meeting and you wish to be represented, you may coordinate by email to investors@ ing grapes in Tremp, ptt.com.ph so that we can assist you in the submission of proxy forms. The proxy together with voting instructions and other documents required for stockholders 160 kilometers north- forms submitting a proxy must be received by the Office of the Corporate Secretary by email east of its Vilafranca to investors@ptt.com.ph on or before 05:00 P.M. of 17 September 2021 (Friday). de Penedes base, in 1998.

(SGD.) ATTY. KENNETH JOEY H. MACEREN Grapes for making Corporate Secretary (MS-SEPT. 2 & 3, 2021) wine had never been

The link will provide you the process for the registration. You will receive a confirmation email once you have successfully registered in the platform, including the details and procedures in the conduct of the meeting. Voting will be done via the online tool which you can access once you have logged in to the Webinar; voting in the election of directors may also be done in absentia through the above link.

The meeting shall be recorded (visual and audio) for future reference.

The Agenda: I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. XI. X. XI. XII. XIII.

Call to Order Invocation Determination of Quorum Welcome Message from the Chairman of the Board Reading and Approval of the Minutes of the Y2020 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting Audited Financial Report 2020 President’s Report Ratification of the Acts and Proceedings of the Board of Directors, Officers, and Management of the Corporation Amendments of the By-Laws 1. Section 1, Article II of the Corporation’s By-Laws Election of the Board of Directors 2021-2022 Appointment of External Auditor for the year 2021 Other Matters Adjournment

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on September 10, 2021, Friday, shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.

If you cannot personally attend the meeting, you may opt to send your proxy to attend in your behalf. Kindly submit your duly executed proxy form with the undersigned, via email, at acemclegazpi@gmail.com not later than 5:00 p.m. on September 20, 2021 to enable your proxy to register in the Zoom Webinar. A sample proxy form is available at the Corporation’s website for your reference [NOTE: Management is not soliciting proxies.]

The Information Statement and Management Report and SEC Form 17-A are available at the Corporation’s website at www.acemclegazpi.net You may contact the undersigned via email acemclegazpi@gmail.com at mobile number: 09753729932/09257800974 if you have inquiries/ concerns regarding the meeting.

Very truly yours,

RICO D. MADLANGBAYAN Corporate Secretary (MS-SEPT. 2 & 3, 2021)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

B4

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Business

AC Energy’s $400-m green bond offering gets strong demand

DOF questions PNCC’s lease of Pasay property

By Alena Mae S. Flores

By Julito G. Rada

AC ENERGY Corp., a unit of Ayala Corp., is raising $400 million from the issuance of green bonds to refinance renewable energy expansion.

AC Energy said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Thursday whollyowned subsidiary ACEN Finance Ltd. successfully set the terms of the US dollar-denominated senior guaranteed undated fixed-for-life green bond at an aggregate principal amount of $400 million, with a fixed coupon of 4 percent for life with no step-up and no reset, priced at par.

“We are delighted by the overwhelming support for ACEN’s green bond offering. This helps accelerate our aggressive renewables expansion and enables the green-led recovery,” said AC Energy president and chief executive Eric Francia in a statement.

The bonds will be issued by ACEN Finance under its $1.5-billion medium-term note program and will be guaranteed by AC Energy. The bonds will be listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading platform.

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Aug. 25 confirmed the bonds complied with the requirements under the ASEAN Green Bonds Circular and qualified as ASEAN Green Bond Issuance.

AC Energy said the pricing for the bonds at 4 percent was 45 basis points tighter than the initial price guidance.

It said the final order book volume exceeded $2 billion, or more than fivetimes oversubscribed, attracting a wide range of high-quality investors.

“This is another landmark deal that demonstrates strong investor confidence in the company’s strategic thrust to be a forerunner in the renewable energy sector and sustainable investing,” said ACEN chief finance officer Cora Dizon.

Upon issuance, the net proceeds from the bonds will be used to finance or refinance, in whole or in part, new or existing eligible green projects, in accordance with AC Energy’s Green Bond Framework, which sets out well-defined guidelines for the use of proceeds for renewable energy projects, with comprehensive monitoring and reporting commitments.

Medilines seeks clearance of SEC to conduct P2-b IPO in November

By Jenniffer B. Austria MEDILINES Distributors Inc., a leading distributor of medical equipment to public and private healthcare facilities, seeks to raise P2 billion from an initial public offering in November.

MDI said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission it would sell up to 825 million common shares at an offer price of P2.45 each.

Net proceeds from the maiden share offering will be used to fund product portfolio expansion and debt repayment plans, the company’s filing showed.

Under the plan, MDI will spend P541.5 million as initial working capital to expand product portfolio to include medical consumables which are low-cost, yet high-margin products that are regularly used by customers to operate the high-value equipment that it sells.

It also plans to allot P743.1 million to retire debt which were used primarily to fund working capital.

“We believe that pursuing this strategy will increase the overall shareholder value of the company as this will decrease our financing cost,” MDI said.

Offer period was tentatively set on Nov. 11 to 17, while listing was scheduled on Nov. 25.

The company hired PNB Capital and Investment Corp. as the sole issue manger, lead underwriter and sole book runner for the fund raising activity.

“We are excited to work with Medilines in drawing out another opportunity to bring to the capital market an essential and pandemic-resilient business,” said PNB Capital president Gerry Valenciano.

“We envision this to be the first pure-play healthcare IPO in the Philippines,” he said.

T

HE Privatization and Management Office, an attached agency of the Department of Finance, is reviewing the legal standing of staterun Philippine National Construction Corp. to manage and develop the government’s 9.9-hectare property in Pasay City.

PMO raised concern over PNCC’s plan to lease the prime real estate at prices way below the lot’s fair market value, which PMO said “may be considered disadvantageous to the government.”

It said in a statement the review was necessary not only because of PNCC’s plan to lease the real estate property in the financial center area along Macapa-

gal Ave. at below-fair market prices, but also because the plan was “without apparent consideration towards the repayment of its existing obligations to the national government and various other government entities already amounting to billions of pesos.”

PNCC president and chief executive Miguel Umali in a letter dated July 21, 2021 asked PMO to comment on its proposal to lease out the FCA property for P300 per square meter, inclusive of value-added tax. PNCC’s proposal was for a term of 25 years which may be renewed for another 25 years, with an escalation rate of 3 percent every two years.

The proposal was also referred by the Office of the President, whose approval is necessary for such plans to move forward, to the DOF and PMO for comment.

Chief privatization officer Gerard Chan said in a letter dated July 26 PNCC has existing and unpaid obligations to the national government and government financial institutions such as the Development Bank of the Philip-

pines, Philippine Guarantee Corp. and National Development Corp. amounting to at least P66 billion. It also owes the Toll Regulatory Board about P8.345 billion.

Chan said the settlement of PNCC’s outstanding obligations to various national government agencies was not reflected in the proposed lease of the FCA property.

The Commission on Audit, in its 2020 PNCC annual report, observed that PNCC left the FCA property idle for three years, which deprived the government of P1.5 billion in possible income.

Chan, during a recent DOF executive committee meeting, reported on PMO’s position on PNCC’s lease proposal to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. “The PMO is unable to give its concurrence [to the PNCC proposal] because, number one, that asset is a government asset and they [PNCC] haven’t taken any steps regarding the settlement of their obligations to the national government; and, number two, their proposed rent is below market value,” Chan said.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Thursday, September 2, 2021 48.72 PTS. 6,834.66

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

1,522,346,120 99,223 6,916,487,147.07 110 86 58

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.9280

Japan

Yen

0.009090

0.4538

UK

Pound

1.377200

68.7608

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128581

6.4198

Switzerland

Franc

1.092538

54.5482

Canada

Dollar

0.792519

39.5689

Singapore

Dollar

0.743826

37.1377

Australia

Dollar

0.736600

36.7770

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653153

132.4666

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266638

13.3127

Brunei

Dollar

0.741070

37.0001

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.030927

1.5441

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.5940

Euro

Euro

1.184100

59.1197

Korea

Won

0.000865

0.0432

China

Yuan

0.154787

7.7282

India

Rupee

0.013701

0.6841

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.240819

12.0236

New Zealand

Dollar

0.706500

35.2741

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036139

1.8043 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

Megaworld leases out 415,000 sqm of space

PROPERTY developer Megaworld Corp. said Thursday it leased out 415,000 square meters of office space since the onset of the pandemic, signaling the strength and resiliency of the domestic office market.

Megaworld said in a disclosure to the stock exchange 60 percent of office space it leased out were renewals while 40 percent were new leases, mostly from the information technology and business process outsourcing sectors.

Megaworld said it booked new leases and renewals in various properties in Metro Manila, Laguna, Cebu and Davao in the first half.

“Around 80 percent of these leases in the first half of the year were renewals.

This means, BPO companies opted to stay and held on to their spaces. This also clearly indicates the strength and resilience of the office market within our pioneering townships,” said Megaworld chief strategy officer Kevin Tan. Megaworld fully leased its Southwoods Office Towers inside the 561-hectare Southwoods City after an American renewable energy company and a BPO company specializing in customer care solutions took the remaining spaces. Jenniffer B. Austria

8 power firms face penalties, says ERC

HYPERSCALERS HUB. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (top, center) leads the launch of ‘Philippines: The Next Strategic Hyperscalers Hub in APAC’, a campaign to make the country the next hyperscalers hub in the Asia Pacific region. Hyperscalers are global technology companies providing cloud and internet-based services that require huge amounts of space, power and connectivity because of their massive customer base and user demand surges.

Local economy shows tentative signs of recovery—BSP

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Thursday the economy showed tentative signs of recovery, although the outlook remains uncertain with the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Diokno, in an online briefing, cited the movement of people and the rising purchasing manager’s index in manufacturing as among the signs of rebound.

“Recent indicators of activity suggest that the economy has turned a corner,” he said, adding the “rising trend of the mobility and purchasing manager’s indices suggests that economic activity continues to gradually rise closer to pre-pandemic levels after the steep decline in 2020.”

“The path to recovery, however, remains uncertain amid the spread of the more transmissible variants of COVID-19. The Monetary Board has

observed that the re-imposition of lockdown measures in March-April and now in August could ultimately dampen overall growth in 2021,” he said.

Diokno said the BSP continued to have ample monetary policy space and the current accommodative policy settings represented appropriate stimulus to demand.

He said the accommodative policy settings should be allowed to continue to work their way through the economy to bolster private consumption and investment.

“The BSP’s monetary policy remains oriented towards supporting ongoing economic recovery amid supply-side pressures and the presence of economic slack as well as the downside risks to domestic demand from the impact of the protracted COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

He said heightened risk aversion amid risks to corporate and household balance sheets continued to dampen lending activity.

Diokno said while business and consumer sentiment gradually improved, domestic demand continued to be tempered by the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, especially amid the emergence of the Delta variant and the progress of the vaccination rollout in the country.

He said fiscal support remained critical to sustaining economic momentum and preventing long-term scarring.

“Continued implementation of targeted fiscal initiatives coupled with efforts to ramp up the vaccination program should help boost market confidence and drive the economic rebound, especially after the restrictions are lifted,” he said. Julito G. Rada

THE Energy Regulatory Commission said eight generation companies will be meted out with penalties for alleged breach of the maximum allowable unplanned outage days per year.

ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera said during the House committee on energy hearing that eight were among the 17 companies that were issued show cause orders. The regulator said it would come out with the final decision in the next two weeks.

ERC earlier sent out letters to the 17 gencos covering 35 units for non-compliance on the maximum annual allowable planned outage from Jan. 3 to April 25.

Devanadera said the ERC went through the process of requiring the gencos to explain and submit their explanation. She said most explanations submitted dealt on the pandemic related issues like inability of technical people to come in and delay in spare parts delivery during the lockdown.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Cebu Pacific resumes flights to Siargao, Bohol CEBU Pacific resumed passenger flights from Manila to Siargao and Bohol, after the local governments of the two areas lifted travel restrictions.

CEB flew its first Manila-Siargao flight on Sept. 1, and intends to increase flights from thrice weekly to five times weekly beginning Sept. 8 (every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday). Its Manila to Bohol flight took off Sept. 2, and will operate on a daily basis this month.

“The situation is still very fluid, yet we know there is a need for flights to cater to essential travel. We continue to prioritize everyjuan’s health and safety as we gradually rebuild our network and we look forward to adding more flights as demand increases,” said Xander Lao, chief commercial officer of Cebu Pacific.

Passengers bound for Bohol should present a negative RT-PCR test result conducted within 72 hours before departure, along with an approved travel coordination permit from S-Pass. All arriving passengers are required to undergo quarantine for five days in a public or private facility that is accredited by the local government. On the fifth day, passengers will again take the RTPCR test.

Discovery taps Globe as PH streaming partner

By Darwin G. Amojelar DISCOVERY Inc. said Thursday it teamed up with Globe Telecom Inc. for its streaming service in the Philippines starting October.

“The launch of discovery+ in the Philippines represents another step forward in the platform’s global expansion and further strengthens our direct-to-consumer proposition across Asia Pacific,” said Simon Robinson, president of Discovery Inc. in Asia Pacific.

“All Filipinos will soon be able to enjoy direct access to a world-class selection of real life entertainment anytime, anywhere, and we couldn’t be more excited to partner with Globe at launch to give their customers early access and exclusive offers to this premium content,” he said.

Discovery+ offers an inspiring pipeline of premium real life storytelling across key passion genres—from relationships, food, true crime and home, to paranormal, nature, Korean reality and lifestyle, with iconic personalities, among others.

“In the past year and a half, we’ve seen

tremendous change in how people consume content and keep themselves entertained. Many are hungry for new things to watch and to create shared experiences with their family and friends,” said Ernest Cu, president and chief executive of Globe Telecom.

“As Globe continues to help uplift the everyday lives of Filipinos and elevate their experiences at home, we are thrilled with this partnership as it provides our customers a chance to enjoy a wide range of exciting and popular content,” he said.

For a limited time, Globe Postpaid and Platinum GPlan customers will be able to exclusively purchase and enjoy a 1-year subscription to discovery+ for P99.

Globe At Home customers who purchase a Globe Streamwatch 2-in-1 Entertainment Box will be eligible for a year of access to discovery+ at no additional cost.

Globe at Home Prepaid WiFi customers who load HomeSURF999 or HomeSURF1499 exclusively via the Globe At Home app will also be eligible for this 1-year of access, which can be claimed once per user.

BSP DONATION. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno signs and executes a deed of donation and memorandum of agreement with the Bureau of Customs for 13 multi-currency bill counters with printers that will be used at major ports of entry for examination and validation of currencies.

Sports

Ravena-less Warriors rout Aces, 84-74, for 3rd victory NO Kiefer Ravena, no problem.

NLEX showed that there is still life without its star player as four Road Warriors stepped up in the fourth period and led Yeng Guiao’s wards past the Alaska Aces, 84-74, on Thursday in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Coach Guiao said they still have room in their roster for their primary 6-foot guard, who went to Japan last August 25 to take care of his contract that would pave the way for him to see action for the Shiga Lakestars in the Japan B.League.

Last June 2, the Lakestars signed in Ravena as their Asian import.

“We are hoping that Kiefer will catch up with us. Para makalaro si Kiefer, kailangang makalaro kami sa semifinals,” said Guiao.

JR Quinahan showed the way with 18 points, eight rebounds and a steal for the Road Warriors, who picked up their third win five games.

The 6’6” Quinahan, along with Kevin Alas, Jericho Cruz and Kenneth Ighalo, sank timely baskets in the final period as the Road Warriors pulled themselves out of a 64-all deadlock.

Quinahan’s defensive rebound and layup in the last 1:20 capped an 18-8 run, which handed the Road Warriors an 8274 cushion in the closing minute.

Alas tallied 17 points, with a couple of driving layups in the last 5:24, allowing the Road Warriors to gain some distance, 73-68.

Ighalo and Cruz each had 15 points for the Road Warriors, who slowly moved ahead, 67-66, following the former’s triple.

A couple of penetrations from Cruz in the last 3:28 gave the Road Warriors an 80-71 spread. Peter Atencio

Bejino bows out of men’s 400-meter freestyle-S6 TOKYO –Slowly getting used to the spotlight, Gary Bejino was unhappy with his form after bowing out of the men’s 400-meter freestyle-S6 heats of the Tokyo Paralympic Games swimming championships at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre here on Thursday.

Coming off a two-day break, Bejino checked in with a time of five minutes and 52.28seconds in finishing 13th and last overall in the two heats, which left him dissatisfied, according to swimming coach Tony Ong. The Pinoy Paralympian finished 46 seconds behind Rio Paralympic bronze medalist Alison Glock, who led the top eight qualifiers in a time of 5:06.28 in the finals later in the afternoon.

“Gary did not make it to the finals, although nag-improve naman po time niya compared to his time of 6:10 in Berlin,” said Ong, referring to the athlete’s clocking in the Internationale Deutsche MeisterschaftenBerlin 2021 World Para Swimming Series in Germany last June.

“He (Bejino) was not happy with his performance and will go hard and try to improve in the 100-meter backstroke tomorrow,” the coach said of the swimmer’s fourth and final event where he bagged bronze medals in the 2017 ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Bejino will plunge into action in the second heat in lane No. 2 at 9:23 a.m. (8:23 a.m. in Manila) on Friday, with the top eight swimmers entering the finals in the afternoon.

Also competing the same day is wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan, who competes in the men’s 100-meterT52 race finals at 11:07 am. (10:07 a.m.), rounding out the Philippine Paralympic campaign in Tokyo fully supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

“Just give me a good start,” said coach para athletic Joel Deriada of the message he sent his athlete from Manila.

“Kapag maganda ‘yung start all the way na ‘yun. Kaya ‘yun ang naging focus ng training namin the last few days.”

Deriada acknowledged that it will be a huge challenge for Mangliwan, whose personal best in the event is 18.98 seconds, in the run where 2012 London Paralympic triple gold medalist Raymond Martin of the US looms as the top favorite with a personal best of 16.41 seconds. AFP

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

C1

NLEX’s Don Trollano loses the ball to the pesky defense of Alaska’s Gab Banal in a PBA Philippine Cup game won by the Road Warriors, 84-74.

Foreign training, tourneys await Gilas Pilipinas quintet

By Peter Atencio

S

ENDING the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball to numerous tournaments abroad is in the works.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio said this after the Philippines was bracketed in Group A of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers last Tuesday.

“It’s still in the planning stages,” said Panlilio as the SBP prepares to give Gilas a much-needed exposure to help it grow and develop into a better team.

Head coach Tab Baldwin plans

to bring the nationals to the United States and Europe to join tournaments, with less than two years to go before the FIBA World Cup gets going, with the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia as hosts.

Last month, Gilas went to Amman, Jordan for the 10th King Abdullah Cup and finished fourth after bowing in the semifinals.

While there, Gilas played against more experienced teams like Jordan, Tunisia and Egypt.

Their stint served as Gilas’ preparation for the 2021 Asia Cup, before Jakarta reset its hosting of the FIBA Asia Cup to next year because of the rising cases of COVID-19 in the country.

Baldwin is set to get Gilas back into training mode by October, with the Qualifiers’ first window taking place

by November.

Gilas will also get ready for the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, and the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.

Team Pilipinas was drawn in the

same World Cup bracket with Korea, which is one of its toughest opponents in several international meets. Joining them are New Zealand and India.

Gilas, along with 79 participating countries, will play in six windows for the next 15 months.

The windows of competition are in the four FIBA continental zones of Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania and Europe.

From November 2021 to February 2023, there will be a total of 420 games that will be contested in a home and away format.

Thirty-two teams will then qualify for the quadrennial event

3rd Paralympian infected with COVID-19 A THIRD Filipino athlete won’t be taking part in the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics.

Taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin, a right arm amputee, tested positive for COVID-19 and therefore could not leave for Tokyo to join the Philippine Paralympic team.

Philippine Paralympics Committee president Mike Barredo said this after he confirmed Ganapin’s situation.

“Allain is upset for missing the opportunity, but prays that the challenge will strengthen his resolve in later competitions,” said Barredo in a statement.

There are now a total of three athletes and two coaches who have tested positive for COVID-19 over the last two weeks, cutting in half the Philippines’ six-athlete delegation to the Paralympics.

Para-powerlifter Achele ``Jinky’’ Guion also tested positive for COVID-19 together with her coach, Antonio ``Tony’’ Taguibao.

Like Ganapin, Guion and Taguibao were not allowed to leave for Tokyo.

On the other hand, visually impaired discus thrower Jeannette Aceveda and her coach Bernard Buen were already in Japan when they tested positive for the virus. They are now recovering in an outdoor isolation facility in Tokyo.

On Wednesday, organizers confirmed that a foreign Paralympian has been hospitalized after contracting COVID-19.

The cumulative total of those infected since Aug. 12 is now at 275.

The 13-day Paralympics will wrap up this Sunday.

The Tokyo Games are being held mostly without spectators, following another wave of COVID-19 infections, at a time when Tokyo and many other areas of the country remain under a state of emergency.

Peter Atencio

Duplantis, Obiena, Nilsen meet again OLYMPIC champion Armand Duplantis is once again expected to put up a show in the Memorial Van Damme athletics meet, which is the Brussels’ leg of the Wanda Diamond League this Friday in Belgium.

But top Filipino bet Ernest John “EJ” Obiena will also be there, now that he is finding the confidence to go higher.

This time, the 25-year-old Obiena will find out if he is making great strides with the adjustments that he has been doing in his third reunion of sorts with those he com-

peted with in the Tokyo Olympics.

“Pareho lang number of strides na ginamit niya. Small gradual adjustments lang hanggang makuha niya ang efficient take off,” said EJ’s dad Emerson, on how the young Obiena is adjusting to heights of more than 5.9 meters.

Last Sunday in the Paris leg of the Diamond League, Obiena almost went toe-to-toe with world record holder Duplantis, who eventually took the gold medal.

Obiena snared the silver medal when he sailed past the bar at 5.91 meters right on his first attempt.

His effort eclipsed the previous national record of 5.87 meters, which Obiena established in July.

Duplantis won the gold at 6.01 meters, six centimeters short of the course record he set last year.

Duplantis and Obiena will be joined in Brussels

by Tokyo Olympics silver medallist and Lausanne leg winner Chris Nilsen, who settled for third place in the Paris leg at 5.81 meters. Peter Atencio

Ernest John Obiena

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Sports

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Taekwondo kicks its way into Tokyo Paralympics TOKYO—With legs whirling and feet flying, taekwondo made its Paralympic debut at the Tokyo Games on Thursday —and some claim it offers more thrills and spills than its Olympic counterpart.

The Paralympic version of the Korean martial art—in which fighters attempt to land blows on each other on an octagonal mat—bans kicks to the head and offers no points for punches.

But Brazilian fighter Nathan Cesar Sodario Torquato believes that makes the para version all the more exciting, describing the action as “frenetic”.

“You’re not allowed to kick in the head, so you don’t need to be afraid to be very aggressive,” said Sodario Torquato, who booked his place in the men’s K44 -61kg semi-finals in the morning.

“It’s a very beautiful style to watch.”

In taekwondo—the first full-contact sport in Paralympic history—points are awarded for landing kicks on an opponent’s padded upper body.

A simple kick to the trunk scores two points, while a turning kick is worth three and a more spectacular spinning kick four.

Kicks to the head are strictly forbidden, and result in disqualification.

The first bout of the day pitted Afghanistan’s Zakia Khudadadi, who arrived in Tokyo following a dramatic evacuation from Kabul, against Uzbekistan’s Ziyodakhon Isakova.

Khudadadi looked stoic as she emerged from behind a curtain, AC/ DC’s “Thunderstruck” blaring out of speakers around the arena.

She won the first round 6-5, but fell behind in the second round and eventually lost the match 17-12.

‘Love each other’ World Taekwondo president Choue Chung-won told AFP that Khudadadi’s appearance in Tokyo proved how much the sport had grown.

“We started to organise the world para taekwondo championships in 2009—the first one had not many athletes participating, less than 12 countries,” he said.

“This time, we have 37 countries and 73 athletes. We’re excited to see the diversity of para taekwondo in many countries.” AFP

Ronaldo saves Portugal as France held to 1-1 draw

Tsitsipas credits toilet break to US Open win

PARIS—Cristiano Ronaldo became the all-time top scorer in men’s international football with two late goals as Portugal beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1, while holders France drew 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2022 World Cup qualifying on Wednesday.

A day after completing his return to Manchester United, Ronaldo had an early penalty saved by teenage goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu in Faro before Ireland took the lead on the stroke of half-time.

John Egan’s glancing header put Stephen Kenny’s side on course for a famous win, but Ronaldo broke Irish hearts with an 89th-minute equaliser —a goal that took him past the Iranian Ali Daei’s record of 109.

The 36-year-old Ronaldo then snatched all three points for Portugal in the sixth minute of injury time, rising highest to power in a header from Joao Mario’s rightwing cross.

“This record is mine and it is unique. I’m extremely happy and it’s another one for my career,” Ronaldo told RTP public television.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also equalled Sergio Ramos’s European mark of 180 caps. “(The motivation comes from) the desire I have to continue playing football, also from this last contract I signed (at Manchester United), in which I was happy to return home,” said Ronaldo.

“Scoring goals, putting on a show and winning titles, that’s what I like the most.”

Portugal sit top of Group A with 10 points from four matches, although Serbia are only three points behind with a game in hand.

The group winners qualify automatically for next year’s finals in Qatar, with the runners-up heading into the play-offs.

France, playing for the first time since losing to Switzerland in the last 16 at Euro 2020, fell behind in Strasbourg when Edin Dzeko rifled in a low drive from 20 yards. AFP

Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas hits a return to France’s Adrian Mannarino during their 2021 US Open Tennis tournament men’s singles second round match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. AFP

N

EW YORK—Stefanos Tsitsipas took another trademark long bathroom break then credited it for advancing to the third round of the US Open on Wednesday as a storm lashing New York forced the suspension of an indoor match.

The 23-year-old Greek third seed was booed after taking more than eight minutes between the third and fourth sets but dominated after his extended toilet trip to flush Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-0 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I think taking a break and going to change—I was completely wet—I was refreshed,” Tsitsipas said when asked about the key to sweeping the final set in 30 minutes.

“I was much more able to deliver good tennis in the fourth set. I was able to stay resilient on each and every point.”

Tsitsipas, who matched his deepest US Open run, has been ridiculed by Andy Murray and Alexander Zverev for extended bathroom breaks seen as gamesmanship.

French Open runner-up Tsitsipas, who says he’s only following ATP rules that have no time limit on toilet breaks, fired a career-high 27 aces, five more than his previous best, in winning his ATP-best 50th match of the year.

“I just felt very loose on my serve,” Ts-

itsipas said. “My ball toss was very consistent. That helped me find a spot and have points off my serve.”

High winds and water drenched the grounds and wind-blown rain entered through upper corner openings under the closed roof of Louis Armstrong Stadium to suspend a second-round match between South African Kevin Anderson and Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman.

Remnants of deadly Hurricane Ida would shut down the covered court after twice interrupting the match, with the National Weather Service issuing a tornado and flash flood warnings for the area.

Anderson and Schwartzman resumed in Ashe after Tsitsipas’s victory, with the South American winning 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-4.

Walkover for Osaka Defending champion Naomi Osaka advanced by walkover while Russian second seed Daniil Medvedev breezed into the third round over Germany’s Dominik Koepfer 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.

Osaka reached the third round when 20-year-old Serbian qualifier Olga Danilovic withdrew due to illness.

“I have been feeling unwell these past few days dealing with a non-covid related viral ilness,” Danilovic posted on social media.

Osaka, seeking her fifth Grand Slam title and third US Open crown in four years, next faces Canada’s 73rd-ranked Leylah Fernandez.

The 23-year-old Japanese third seed could could become the first repeat US Open winner since Serena Williams, absent with a torn hamstring, captured her third in a row in 2014.

Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open winner who could meet Osaka in the fourth round, beat 21st seed Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2 in an all-American showdown.

“I’m really pleased with how I played,” Stephens said.

Medvedev, a winner last month in Toronto, also beat Koepfer on his way to the 2019 US Open final, which he lost to Rafael Nadal.

“Great level from me,” Medvedev said.

“There were a few tight moments in the match and I managed to play them well. I’m happy to be through in less than two hours.”

Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev beat Spain’s Pedro Martinez 7-6 (7/2), 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-1. He next faces 50th-ranked American Frances Tiafoe, who warns, “I’m coming after him.” AFP

Embiid slams Simmons rift reports

Ben Simmons (left) and Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers talk during the NBA game at Phoenix Suns Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.

Embiid denied reports of a rift with Simmons amid reports that the Australian star is seeking to leave the franchise. AFP

LOS ANGELES—Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid on Wednesday denied reports of a rift with team-mate Ben Simmons amid reports that the Australian star is seeking to leave the franchise.

USA Today reported that an increasingly unsettled Simmons wants to leave Philadelphia and had informed president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and coach Doc Rivers he planned not to report for training camp.

The report cited an “escalating” rift with Embiid as one of the reasons Simmons was looking for a trade following a 2020-2021 season that ended with yet another playoff disappointment.

Embiid however denied any r upture in his relationship with

Simmons in a series of tweets in response to the USA Today report.

“Stop using my name to push people’s agendas,” Embiid wrote.

“I love and hate drama. I love playing with Ben. Stats don’t lie.

He’s an amazing player and we all didn’t get the job done. It’s on me personally. I hope everyone is back cuz we know we’re good enough to win.

“From my own experience, y’all have no idea how much this media makes up stuff for followers and shame on you for believing them.”

Simmons’ future in Philadelphia has been the subject of speculation since the team lost a decisive Game 7 to Atlanta in last season’s

playoffs, with Simmons’s offensive output shrivelling in the crucial final quarter.

That led to Sixers coach Rivers questioning whether Simmons could be a championship-winning point guard.

Embiid compared Simmons’ current situation in 2019-2020, when he shushed fans for booing him during a poor run of form.

“I haven’t forgotten but 2 years ago, I got booed, people in Philly wanted me to be traded,” Embiid said.

“I even shushed them. Only the real ones didn’t but I just put the work in that offseason to be better cuz I knew I wasn’t playing up to my potential. Philly fans, y’all also gotta be better.” AFP

Verstappen’s home race could create heat ZANDVOORT, Netherlands—Formula One hopes a return to “a proper old-school track” in the Netherlands this weekend can wipe away memories of last Sunday’s farcical washout in Belgium.

The first Dutch Grand Prix since 1985 is the second leg of a triple header of three races in three weeks.

The opener was a damp squib that is still causing bickering in Formula One. It ended in a controversial ‘race’ of two completed laps behind a safety car in a downpour at Spa-Francorchamps.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen simply led unchallenged from pole position until the race was red-flagged and abandoned and received half points for his hollow triumph.

It was enough for him to trim Lewis Hamilton’s advantage to three points.

The Dutch driver could take the lead before his enthusiastic fans as Formula One returns to Zandvoort, a fast circuit set in coastal sand dunes at the beach resort near Amsterdam where the last winner was Niki Lauda

for McLaren in 1985.

The undulating track, which features banked corners and sea views, has retained its unique, challenging and quirky character, including the famous Tarzan corner.

Even with a reduced attendance it should create a carnival atmosphere.

The circuit has a capacity of 105,000 and the race was sold out, but the attendance for a long-awaited chance to see Verstappen in action on home soil will be restricted by Covid to around 70,000 fans per day.

Even so, many of the ‘orange army’ will be there in some welcome warm dry weather after being soaked at Spa. Verstappen will be trying to become the first Dutchman to win his home event, while seven-time world champion Hamilton will be bidding to become the first man to win 100 Grands Prix.

“It wasn’t a satisfying feeling to leave Belgium with just a handful of laps behind the safety car, but it is what it is,” said frustrated Mercedes team chief

Toto Wolff. “We need to close that chapter and quickly move on and focus on the next one.

“Zandvoort is an exciting track for the drivers because it’s fast and flowing.

It feels like a proper old-school track so I am sure they are looking forward to taking on that challenge.

‘Unacceptable result’ “And as a team, we are relishing the challenge of tackling a new track and that means fresh opportunities to find advantage. We aim (to) hit the ground running on Friday and take the fight to our competitors.”

Despite calls, led by Hamilton, to consider giving the spectators in Belgium a refund, Wolff stressed it was best to “move on”, but he faced some opposition with McLaren team boss Zak Brown calling for action.

“I think there’s a tremendous amount of learning to come out of that weekend, in how to handle the wet, how to handle the rules and the points, how you handle the fans,” said Brown.

Red Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen competes in the qualifying session of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Spa. AFP

“I’m very happy that the leader of our sport Stefano (Domenicali) shares those same views that that was an unacceptable result and has called all the team bosses together in Holland to address it, learn from it and fix it.”

As the arguments over reimbursing the Belgian crowd rumble on, the noisy Dutch fans are likely to give Hamilton a difficult reception as he resumes his title scrap with Verstappen. AFP

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

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‘On the Job’ premieres at Venice Film Fest

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O SET the first Philippine Film Industry Month in motion this September, On The Job: The Missing 8 by Erik Matti, the only Asian film selected to compete, will represent the country in the 78th Venice International Film Festival, which runs until Sept. 11.

The crime thriller sequel to Matti’s film On The Job, the film will have its world premiere competing for the Golden Lion, the highest award in the Venezia 78 Competition, against 20 other entries. Academy Award Best Director Bong Joon-ho of multi-awarded South Korean film Parasite will preside over the competition jury.

The competing film centers around a corrupt media man, played by John Arcilla, who seeks justice for the disappearance of his colleagues, crosses paths with an inmate-hitman, played by Dennis Trillo. The film also stars Dante Rivero, Christopher De Leon, Lotlot De Leon, Leo Martinez, Joey Marquez, Eric Fructuoso, Vandolph Quizon, Agot Isidro, Sol Cruz, Wendell Ramos, Lao Rodriguez, Andrea Brillantes,

Scenes from ‘On The Job’ featuring Dennis Trillo, and John Arcilla and Christopher de Leon (inset).

Isabelle De Leon, Megan Young, Levi Ignacio, and Carlitos Sigueon-Reyna.

On The Job: The Missing 8 will be screened on Sept. 9, 7:30 p.m. at Sala Giardino and will have a red carpet gala premiere at Sala Grande at 2:30 p.m.

On Sept. 12, the first three episodes from the six-part HBO Asia Original series On The Job will premiere exclusively on HBO GO, with new episodes every Sunday.

"The participation of Matti’s On the Job: The Missing 8 in Venice commences

the very first celebration of the Philippine Film Industry Month. We are proud and honored to be a part of this triumph which will inspire our hopeful Filipino filmmakers and significantly elevate the industry, further promoting the advocacy of the agency," said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

On Sept. 9, the FDCP will hold events in Venice: On The Job Cocktails, Philippines Production Table and Spot on Screens at the Venice Production

Bridge, and the Panel Discussion "From the Philippines to the World: The On The Job Franchise and Exploring New Ways of Global Content Distribution" moderated by Venice Film Festival Programmer Paolo Bertolin with On The Job director Matti and producer Dondon Monteverde as panelists.

Founded in 1932, Venice is the oldest film festival in the world. Along with the Cannes Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival, it is recognized as one of

the three most prestigious film festivals in the world.

The festival is part of the Venice Biennale, a major cultural festival held every two years that features international art exhibitions, architecture, visual arts, cinema, dance, music, and theatre.

For more information on Venice Film Festival 2021 and the participating films and projects, visit their official website at www.labiennale.org/en/ cinema/2021.

Finalists of 2nd Aliwan Fiesta Digital Queen named TWELVE outstanding beauties coming from pandemic. different regions of the country were named From 47 original aspirants to the 23 semifinalists in the second edition of Aliwan Fiesta finalists, making the final cut were Krishia Mae Digital Queen 2021 during a virtual press Abad of Tarlac City, Coleen Beatrix Alcarde presentation held on Monday. of Iloilo City, Shealtiel Kyze Cahilig of Malay, ETON The winner of Aliwan Queen must be a CONCEPCION Aklan, Sharmaine dela Cruz of Zamboanga symbol of Filipino beauty and culture in the City, Shanyl Kayle Hofer of Minglanilla, Cebu, modern world and an epitome of the Filipino's Jayvee Lyn Lorejo of Mawal, Davao De Oro, resiliency and fighting spirit in the war against the COVID-19 Vjie Matias of San Manuel, Isabela, Jeramie Mingo of Iligan City, Cherry May Regalado of Kalibo, Aklan, Chynna Kaye Verosil of Pangasinan, Krysti Ann Villarias of Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, and Keith Arboleda of Echague, Isabela, who moved on to the semi-finals as the next in rank after Dean Dianne Balogal of Baguio City withdrew.

The twelve finalists will compete in a series of preliminary events starting with the Launch & Pride of Place on Sept. 11, Talent & Skills Competition (Sept. 18), Queens for a Cause (Sept. 25) and Evening Gown Competition & Q&A (Oct. 2).

The virtual Awarding and Coronation Night is set on Oct. 9, with the reigning queen Jannarie Zarzoso of Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte crowning the new winner.

The Aliwan Fiesta Digital Queen was launched in 2020 by the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC), headed by its president Ruperto Nicdao, Jr., as an off-shoot of the Reyna ng Aliwan contest and for the purpose of keeping alive the pandemicpostponed Aliwan Fiesta, dubbed as the Philippines’ grandest fiesta, a highly anticipated annual grand event that gathers the Twelve outstanding beauties are vying for Aliwan Fiesta Digital country’s different top cultural festivals to compete in dance Queen crown. parade and float competitions.

PAGEANT CONCEPT

Proceeds from the sales of T-shirt capsule collection and profits from the sales of the Pride edition tote will be donated to organizations Galang and Love Yourself PH.

Artist celebrates pride with capsule collection COS celebrates the spirit of living and loving authentically together with artist Coco Capitán.

Discover the T-shirt capsule collection

by Coco, featuring unique designs in her signature handwriting style to share messages of love, freedom, and inclusivity.

“Always love because love is always love” is a shout-out to love in all its forms, available at COS Manila SM Aura Premier.

A special edition of the COS repurposed cotton tote will also be available, featuring the colors of the Progress flag. Funds raised from the sales of these products will be donated to Philippines-based LGBT+ organizations Galang and Love Yourself.

Galang is a female-led non-profit organization working with and for economically disadvantaged LGBTQI and seeks to support, educate, and promote the fair treatment of all persons equally regardless of class, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. (http://www.galangphilippines.org/ ) Love Yourself, meanwhile, is a nonprofit LGBT organization that provides safe spaces and services for the sexual, mental, and transgender community in the Philippines, working towards a just and progressive society that treats all persons equally regardless of class, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. (https://loveyourself.ph/ )

GMA exec takes part at ContentAsia Summit and ContentAsia TV Awards FIRST Vice President for Program Management Department Jose Mari R. Abacan shared his expertise as one of the esteemed speakers and judges at this year’s ContentAsia Summit and ContentAsia TV Awards, which were held live online last Aug. 25 to 27.

For over 27 years, Abacan has been involved in the television and film industries.

Among other

achievements, he was instrumental in introducing Koreanovelas to the local audiences. It is also through his efforts that we have Thai series (Lakorn), Turkish, and Indian dramas in the country. He also leads and oversees all program acquisition initiatives of the network, dealing with both local and foreign suppliers and producers.

Abacan was tasked to discuss "A Lakorn Love Story," which showed how Thai drama makes its way around the region and the world, its challenges, advantages, and how they want to move forward, along with his fellow industry experts across Asia. This recorded session can be found at ContentAsia’s website until Sept. 27.

Moreover, he was also among the judges for the categories ‘Best Director of a Scripted TV Programme’ and ‘Best Asian Feature Film or Telemovie’ for the ContentAsia TV Awards.

The ContentAsia Summit was launched in 2009 as a one-day focus on all the issues impacting Asia’s content industry. It’s organized by ContentAsia, an Asia-based information resource that covers content creation, funding, financing, licensing, distribution, design and branding, and technology across the Asia region.

GMA Network First Vice President for Program Management Department Jose Mari R. Abacan

Lovi Poe, Zanjoe Marudo

up for top acting plums in Gawad Urian IWANTTFC’S original movie Malaya, which features the first on-screen pairing of Lovi Poe and Zanjoe Marudo, earned four nominations at the prestigious 44th Gawad Urian Awards, including two for its lead stars in the major acting categories.

Lovi and Zanjoe will be competing for the Best Actress and Best Actor trophies, respectively. In the film, they play Malaya and Iago, second-generation overseas Filipinos who strike a special connection while trying to make a living in Puglia, Italy.

Malaya also earned a Best Cinematography nod for McCoy Tarnate and a Best Production Design nomination

Lovi Poe and Zanjoe Marudo starrer ‘Malaya’ earned four nominations at the prestigious 44th Gawad Urian Awards.

for Jay Custodio.

Directed by Connie Macatuno, Malaya puts the real-life experiences of overseas Filipinos at the forefront with characters who are extremely devoted to their families, ambitions, and priorities.

Co-produced by ABS-CBN’s Dreamscape Entertainment and Sisu,

Malaya can be streamed for free on the iWantTFC app and website (iwanttfc. com) in the Philippines and is available to premium subscribers outside the Philippines.

Organized by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, the 44th Gawad Urian Awards is scheduled on Oct. 6.

iQiyi announces original K-Drama starring Lee Sung-kyoung, Kim Young-dae GLOBAL Streaming leader of Asian entertainment, iQiyi, announces the cast and production schedule of Shooting Stars, an original Korean drama produced in collaboration with Studio Dragon.

The romantic drama series stars Lee Sung-kyoung (Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo, Dr. Romantic 2), and Kim Young-dae (The Penthouse: War in Life), and begins production this month.

An iQiyi original co-produced with Studio Dragon, the announcement of Shooting Stars follows the recent successful partnership of two of the industry’s heavyweights for the streamer’s first Korean Original, My Roommate is a Gumiho, which was also a romance series.

"Differentiated romantic themes continue to be deeply loved by international audiences. The global success of iQiyi’s first self-produced Korean original, My Roommate is a Gumiho, is a testament to that. We believe Shooting Stars will receive the same level of attention from Korean fans worldwide,” said Young Ming, Senior Vice President of iQiyi.

Set against the backdrop of the Korean entertainment industry with true-to-life portrayals of celebrities, agents, and tabloid

Lee Sung-kyoung (left) and Kim Young-dae fall in love in ‘Shooting Star.’

reporters, Shooting Stars tells the story where a top star (Kim Young-dae) falls in love with the Head of Publicity of his talent agency (Lee Sung-kyoung). With Lee Sung-kyoung and Kim Young-dae’s chemistry, this new on-screen couple is worth looking forward to.

Shooting Stars will be launched on the streaming service in 2022. The series will be available exclusively in 191 countries and regions all over the world on www.iQ.com, or via the iQiyi International mobile app.

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

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Life TRAVEL AND LEISURE

By Jimbo Gulle

A

MID the global coronavirus lockdowns, it seems counterintuitive to go from one indoor venue (your home) to another (a room in a hotel or resort) and spend precious time and cash while doing it. But we all yearn for a change of scenery and just a little more space every so often – and Anya Resort Tagaytay provides these in spades.

For one night in June, when the socalled NCR Plus dropped to general community quarantine and government allowed tourism businesses to open their doors just a crack, my wife and I accepted an invitation from Anya management through a good old friend of ours (emphasis on “old”, but bless his heart) to size up the resort for ourselves.

It seemed a bit intimidating at first, what with Anya Resort’s billing as one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World and not having the pleasure of staying there beforehand. But what’s the worst that could happen in 24 hours in Tagaytay, in expectedly plush surroundings and nothing to lose except gas money to drive ourselves south?

As Mikel Arriet, general manager of Anya Resort, says in his welcome letter to guests, they had redefined their customer experience through “Your Safe Sanctuary” protocols. This ensured that their operations dovetailed with the Staycation Certificate granted them by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to accept guests between 18 and 65 years of age for leisure purposes.

Reopening as a safe staycation sanctuary guaranteed the safety of both guests and the resort’s associates amid COVID-19, as Arriet said they reviewed Anya’s operations and “structured lines of action to respond to the needs of the guests in the new social reality

ANYA RESORT TAGAYTAY:

A staycation sanctuary Anya Resort Tagaytay’s heated infinity pool and kiddie pool beside the Anila Restaurant.

prompted by the pandemic”.

In practice, this means that once a guest arrives at the 7.2-hectare estate at Buenavista Hills just off the main Tagaytay-Calamba Road, a staff member on a golf cart will escort you from the parking lot straight to your villa of choice, luggage and all. No need to wait in a packed lobby – and risk being infected by an unassuming fellow guest – while checking in; in my case, it was just a handful of staff led by Arriet waving us their welcome, lined around the rotunda in front of their main building as we scooted past.

The digital Anya Experience Assistant underpins the rest of your stay even before you arrive at the resort. Through any web browser, guests can make their preferences and requests known prior to arrival up to the time they leave. The same guest officer that checks you in at your villa will confirm your choices and ensure they are followed to the letter.

Despite the health and safety protocols throughout the 78 rooms and two restaurants, heightened sanitation and disinfection, and a contactless communication service called “Ask Anya”, guests are pretty much free to do as they please during

their stay – with prior booking for the facilities to ensure physical distancing.

In our experience, it was incredibly difficult to leave our villa, indeed being lavished with all the comforts of a luxury hotel. From the huge welcome platter of hors d’oeuvres (paired with a complimentary bottle of wine) and fresh fruits (that you can have sliced or turned into fruit shakes just by asking), to the sink-into sofas and king-sized bed and the loooong bathroom with a big tub at the end, the introvert in us had all the reasons to cocoon and shun the greenery outside.

But it was also impossible to resist the three swimming pools outside (two adult, one kid’s pool), the Niyama Spa, the spacious gym, and even the well-appointed library – not a typical feature of any resort I’ve been to. The wifey and I made sure to try all these amenities out, with Niyama and the library leaving us most impressed.

Let’s not get started on the food options at Anya, which are sure to sate even the biggest appetites (like mine) with a selection of meals prepared with the freshest ingredients from in and around Tagaytay.

After we put our bags away, we strode to the Anila Poolside Restaurant for what turned out to be a heavenly lunch of

The rejuvenating experience begins as guests enter the 7.2-hectare estate at Buenavista Hills surrounded with lush greenery.

their signature brick oven-baked pizza, salads, and pastas – downed with the same avocado shakes blended from our villa’s welcome fruit gifts.

To shake off the incoming food coma, we decided to walk back to our villa, where we stumbled upon outdoor game setups sure to appeal to children and active adults alike. Our pick was the archery range, with my S.O. hitting the mark (and thankfully not me as I was filming her) quite well with the dulysanitized bow and arrow sets laid out on a table for guests to use.

The author and his wife enjoying Anya’s plush villa and delectable food and beverage offerings.

About three hours and a good nap later, it was time to sample the dinner courses at the Samira Restaurant, which boasts a menu of Mediterranean choices and fine wines. We could do no wrong with any dish they offered, and the chefs and waiters came around to greet us and make sure our palates were truly satisfied.

While the dinnertime ambience at Samira is nothing to sneeze at, the restaurant really opens your eyes to Anya’s beauty in the morning, as the breakfast area at the balcony overlooks the pool and allows you to gaze at the emerald hillsides in the distance. The resort may not have a direct view of the Taal Lake and volcano, but with the sumptuous brekky items before you and the whole experience Anya has to offer, you won’t feel like you’re missing out on Tagaytay’s best at all.

That’s probably why, pandemic be damned, we simply can’t wait to return to Anya Resort Tagaytay – hopefully when this current quarantine spell is lifted soon. It’s a beautiful, peaceful place where you can just open your villa balcony and sit on a wicker chair, as you take in the good life and, as GM Arriet says in his welcome letter, “relax, reconnect, and rejuvenate.” It’s a precious moment we all deserve.

PATA’s tourism recovery plan cessfully restarted their tourism sectors. Another session featured COVAX/ UNICEF with a briefing on vaccine equity, deployment measures and community acceptance strategies. Other interesting discussions have been lined up for the coming weeks.

Workshop-style webinars have also been put up to deliver practical information to industry stakeholders. UpWE, THE officers and members of the coming topics are Digital Marketing, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) COVID-19 Safe Best Practices, LeaderPhilippines Chapter were elated when ship and Resiliency Skills, Destination we learned that Liz Ortiguera was electDevelopment, etc. PATA members were ed as the new chief executive officer of also urged to suggest topics that would PATA International. Not only because best support their own recovery acof her Filipino roots, her 25 years of tivities. On the PATA website, a Travel global experience and expertise in genInnovation Hub has been included to eral management, marketing, and busicrowdsource ideas from tourism practiness development make her a perfect fit tioners from around the globe.

Liz Ortiguera, of Filipino descent, is the new for the position.

With multiple elements influencing chief executive officer of PATA International.

An alumna of Stanford University tourism recovery, PATA sees the need Graduate Business School, Columbia ing, health and case studies, helping busi- for frequent and diverse expert-advised University Business School, New York ness owners develop strategies to ensure trends and forecast reporting. For this University, and The Cooper Union in rapid, robust, and responsible resurgence purpose, its vast network of industry New York, she has advocated poverty of the travel and tourism industry in the experts will regularly deliver experteradication and education initiatives. sourced intelligence reporting for memAsia Pacific region.

At a recent virtual forum bers worldwide. attended by tourism proPATA lends its support to fessionals, she laid out her COVAX/UNICEF in the form YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE eight-point Tourism Indusof advocacy, industry educaSleeping comes to me naturally. I can even do it with my try Recovery Plan to support tion, fundraising, and logistics eyes closed! both the immediate and strasourcing. It is very important tegic needs of our stakeholdthat everybody in our industry ers who have been severely realizes the need for vaccine affected by this 18-month pandemic.

She has also started a series of round- equity and global vaccination.

PATA launched in May of this year a table fora, sharing insights and ideas Since the pandemic has forced the Crisis Resource Center which is available on how to reignite travel amid the chal- world to pivot, from face-to-face events to to all travel sector members and provides lenges brought about by the pandemic. online gatherings, PATA now leverages a recovery playbook for all travel-related Presented on the virtual stage were se- new, engaging technology platforms and industries, from aviation to hospitality. It lect destinations – Hawaii, Maldives, content to deliver interesting in-destinahas toolkits on communications, market- and Thailand, which have already suc- tion hybrid events. These bring the global

PATA’s Crisis Resource Center provides a recovery playbook for all travel-related industries, from aviation to hospitality. (Photos from pata.org

members together, transcending whatever physical limitations there may be.

Collaborating with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and GIZ (a German development agency), PATA now engages colleagues from World Travel and Tourism Council, International Air Transport Association, Airports Council International, World Economic Forum, and International Civil Aviation Organization to support its vaccine equity initiative as the foundation to the industry’s recovery.

PATA now manages a team of experts who provide a tourism destination resilience framework which will soon be launched in four member destinations, with online resources available across the industry. This project, supported by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Develop-

ment, addresses the environment, economy, community, visitors, and health and safety of the destination.

The aforementioned eight-point strategy is in addition to regular global events hosted by the association, either virtually or in hybrid format.

Before the pandemic, the Asia Pacific region was seen registering the biggest growth annually in tourism numbers, which is the reason why PATA and tourism stakeholders in the region are leaving no stone unturned in regaining our pedestal in the global tourism show window. A laudable move, indeed!

And, the fact that this eight-item agendum was crafted by a Filipino mind makes it even more commendable!

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