Manila Standard - 2021 September 4 - Saturday

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OCTA warns of sharp spike as high as 43k

By Willie Casas THE Department of Health has warned that daily COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila could reach up to 43,000 by September 30 unless the national and local governments boosted virus containment measures.

“Based on a set of assumptions, daily cases in the National Capital Region for September 30 may range from 16,000 to 43,000.

The assumptions used included mobility, public health and healthcare capacities and system,

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XMAS COLORS. As the "ber" months set in, Manila City Hall switches

on the colorful dancing fountain nightly from 6:30 until 7 in the evening to bring joy to the people of Manila. But because of the quarantine controls such as curfew and ban on kids outside their homes, only a few can watch the kaleidoscopic colors of fountain water and listen to the soothing music in front of the Kartilya ng Katipunan Shrine. Danny Pata

DBM: P888m more for SRA T

Over 100,000 health workers stand to benefit; total funds reach P1.2b

HE Department of Budget and Management has released an additional P888.12 million to fund the Special Risk Allowance (SRA) of over 100,000 eligible public and private healthcare workers who are directly catering to or are in contact with COVID-19 patients from December 20, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

In a statement released Friday evening, tions under the 2021 budget. the DBM said the amount was charged “With this, the total additional from the Miscellaneous Personnel Bene- funds released by the DBM for the SRA fits Fund and Unprogrammed AppropriaNext page

VOL. XXXV • NO. 201 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Gordon turns Red Cross into milking cow—Duterte Richard Gordon of using the Philippine National Red Cross as a “milking cow” for his election campaigns and urged the Commission on Audit (COA) to investigate the agency, even though this PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on would be beyond its jurisdiction.

Duterte has been increasingly shrill Thursday night accused Senator

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

in his attacks on Gordon, who leads the Senate Blue Ribbon committee that is investigating overpriced purchases by the administration of face masks and face shields on the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a tirade earlier this week, the

President mocked Gordon as being overweight and as a “talkathon champion.”

Gordon, who has led the PRNC since 2004 as chairman and chief executive officer, has said he may run for president or vice president next year. Next page

SENATOR RICHARD GORDON

Lawmakers gang up on PhilHealth

1,040,568 20,310

158,994

33,873

193

1,847,701

By Maricel V. Cruz

7,710

YELLOW CARD. A worker scheduled to leave for abroad displays his Bureau of Quarantine International Certification of Vaccination at the bureau's main office in Port Area, Manila. He is one of those who have queued up for the all-important yellow card, one of the documents that will be required of OFWS entering other countries. A digitized version of the yellow card is in the works and may be ready by next month according to the government. Danny Pata

(As of 4 PM, SEPTEMBER 3)

16M STUDENTS FOR SY 21-22 NEWS / A4

BOOSTER SHOTS UP FOR RULING NEWS / A2

Moderna vax for ages 12-17 OKd

Duterte chides senators: Probes derail projects

By Joel E. Zurbano and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte appealed to lawmakers to stop investigating the government's ongoing projects, saying these probes will only delay the implementation of the programs.

The President issued the appeal

as the Senate pressed forward with its investigation of the government’s handling of billions of pesos in COVID-19 response funds.

“All of you in the Senate—do not investigate programs which are ongoing,” the President said during his public address on the pandemic response.

“You will derail it, you will delay it by your incessant penchant for investigating

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House ends OP budget hearing 'in a jiffy'

By Willie Casas, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it amended Friday the emergency use authorization of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, clearing it for 12 to 17-year-olds, as the highly infectious coronavirus Delta variant hit some children.

Moderna's wider EUA was approved "after a thorough evaluation of our

government offices. You want to poke your nose into everything,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The President argued that although lawmakers have an oversight function, the legislative branch does not have the monopoly of running the government through its inquiries.

He then questioned the Senate’s

SEVERAL lawmakers on Friday accused the Philippine Health Corp. of delaying or denying hospital claims due to "mechanical" reasons.

At the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability's hearing on alleged anomalies at PhilHealth, Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo questioned if the reasons given by PhilHealth officials could be deemed as fraudulent acts.

At the same hearing, a PhilHealth official said the state insurer had only six years to go at the rate it was operating.

"The estimated actuarial life for now is until 2027," PhilHealth's acting Senior Vice President Nerissa Santiago told congressmen.

"That means the reserves and the expected collections as against benefit payouts, are only enough until 2027," Next page Santiago said.

By Maricel V. Cruz

BUDGET BRIEFING. House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin

Romualdez (right) discusses with Committee on Appropriation Vice-Chairman Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe the 2022 proposed budget of the Office of the President during the Committee on Appropriation Budget Briefing at the Nograles Hall in the House of Representatives. Romualdez supports the proposed budget of the Office of the President. Ver Noveno

THE House of Representatives' Committee on Appropriations on Friday ended the deliberations on the Office of the President's proposed P8.2 billion 2022 budget -apparently as a favor to the executive branch of government currently under fire in probes in the Senate -- a few minutes after it started.

Pangasinan Rep. Tyrone Agabas, saying he “wanted to show parliamentary courtesy to a coequal branch of the government,” moved to terminate the budget deliberations.

Agabas's motion was seconded by Reps. Bernadette Herrera-Dy and Allan Benedict Reyes, who are both allied with the administration.

Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago, however, objected, prompting Zamboanga City Rep. Mannix Dalipe, the panel's vice chairman, to suspend the hearing.

Included in the proposed budget are confidential and intelligence funds amounting to P4.5 billion, more than one half of the total proposed outlay for the President’s office.

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News

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Booster shots up for expert ruling "By next week, we will maybe have a decision about that. Our discussion about that is ongoing but we are considering many things such as the breakthrough infections to our health-care workers,” Dr. Nina Gloriani said.

Thailand is planning to give AstraZen-

eca or mRNA-type booster shots to an estimated 3.4 million people who were administered the Sinovac brand.

Booster doses have been given to medical and frontline workers who received the Chinese vaccine in Thailand.

Gloriani said they were looking for the

"best possible solution" to protect healthcare workers amid the scarcity of vaccine supplies.

Should booster shots be made available, she said medical frontliners would be prioritized as they are the most exposed to the risk of COVID-19.

To date, only 14.1 million people in the country are fully vaccinated. This is 19.91 percent of the government's target of 70 million adult Filipinos.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. had said he was open to the idea of giving booster shots to healthcare workers already fully vaccinated with Sinovac.

Galvez’s statement came more than

DBM:...

National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. had said.

But Limpin urged the government to keep its promise.

“We are not demanding a big amount.

In fact, they're the ones who promised to give that amount. When they say something, they should fulfill it,” she said.

The government had said health workers would be entitled to meal, accommodation and transportation allowance, SRA and active duty hazard pay.

Public and private healthcare workers who are in direct contact with COVID-19 patients are eligible to receive SRA while only medical personnel in the public sector are qualified to receive hazard pay.

While the Alliance of Health Workers also welcomed the construction of a memorial wall, its president said the funding could be used for the payment of their unpaid benefits.

“They should pay attention to the health and safety and protection and welfare of health workers while they are alive,” AHW president Robert Mendoza said in Filipino on Teleradyo.

The Philippines logged more than 2 million in coronavirus cases on Wednesday, a fifth of those recorded in the past month alone.

Medical staff are overwhelmed and 103 have died during the pandemic, among some 33,500 coronavirus fatalities overall.

The Filipino Nurses United (FNU) called on the government to prioritize the people’s health and health workers’ welfare in the 2022 national budget deliberation especially since this pandemic may still extend to two years as projected

by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III himself during the recent budget hearing.

The proposed COVID Response bud-

get of P19 billion for next year is way below the previous year’s budget, which proved grossly inadequate and has cost lives to be sacrificed because of poor COVID-response and an extremely burdened health system near collapse with health workers’ lives and safety put at great risk.

The FNU expressed frustration because the proposed health budget does not include program funds for SRA and other benefits for nurses and other health workers as well as allocation for purchase of vaccines for the anticipated “booster shots” next year.

The proposed COVID response budget for 2022 is a glaring confirmation that the DOH, far from being the steward of health, in fact has no deep regard nor respect for nurses’ and other health workers’ rights; neither cognizant of the extreme hardships and sacrifices of the frontline health workers in the COVID-19 fight, the FNU said.

“Again, we decry the proposed P19 billion COVID response budget for 2022 as too small for the gargantuan task to respond to the people’s health needs and to respectably compensate our health workers who continue to risk their lives and safety in this time of public health emergency,” the FNU said.

On the other hand, the proposed government plan to spend P2 million to P5 million to put up a memorial wall for health workers who died of COVID-19 smacks of a cheap ploy to cover its failed COVID response and shows insensitivity to the actual needs of the living health heroes clamoring for their long overdue unpaid benefits, the group said.

Duque told the House Thursday that while 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.

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-approved 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 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 health care 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. Willie Casas

a net loss of some P57 billion in 202].

Quimbo said it was unacceptable that PhilHealth could only last until 2027.

"That’s not an acceptable idea and from January to June you earned much.

In fact if you continue to collect as much of what you collected last year, which is P149 billion, that means you will collect, say P50 billion in the next six months," Quimbo said.

On the denial and delay in the payment of claims, Quimbo said even claims that were not believed to be fraudulent were being denied or the payments were being delayed.

In the same briefing, PhilHealth

officials said the most common reasons for claims ageing beyond 60 days were: • No value has been set for patient priority subgroup; • No value has been set up for services covered in COVID testing claim; • Without attached valid itemized billing; • No value has been set for the flag indicating whether test kits have been donated or not; • Without attached valid case investigation form; • Without attached valid SARS-COV-2 claim summary form; • Required document is unavailable/ incomplete/inconsistent/unreadable;

• Filed beyond 120 days statutory period; • No applicable entry found in the benefits library; and • Double filing/same day confinement Given all these, Quimbo said she saw no reason "why the claims should age beyond two months."

She pressed PhilHealth if there was an indication of fraud.

"If you deny a claim, one reason is that they didn't meet the statutory requirements and number two, it should be suspected of being fraudulent," she said.

PhilHealth's Jonathan Ele said that double filing or same day confinement could be considered fraud.

By Willie Casas and Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Philippine vaccine expert panel (VEP) will decide next week if COVID-19 booster shots are needed to curb the ongoing transmission of the disease, its chair said Friday.

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pursuant to Administrative Order No. 42 as of date have reached P1.2 billion. An additional amount of P407.08 million will be charged against the FY 2021 Contingent Fund to complete the SRAs for an estimated 117,926 HCWs not to exceed P5,000 per month for the covered period and shall be on top of existing compensations as prescribed under the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers and the DOH-DBM Joint Circular No. 1, series of 2016,” the department said.

“Rest assured that the DBM will facilitate the prompt release of the funds for the SRA to ensure that all eligible healthcare workers will receive their rightful benefits.”

Healthcare workers on Friday called on the government to prioritize payments of delayed benefits before building a memorial wall depicting them as modern-day heroes.

“The best gesture is to give the appropriate benefits to our health care workers because that will truly show we are being valued.,” Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of Philippine College of Physicians, said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

Several medical frontliners staged protests and threatened to file mass resignations as many have yet to receive pandemic benefits promised by the government.

The government will spend P2 million to P5 million to construct the memorial wall at the Libingan ng mga Bayani to honor health workers who have died while working on the front lines.

“That's a small amount. But that memorial will always symbolize their heroism... the expense for it is priceless,”

Lawmakers...

From A1

Santiago however added, “this is only based on projections, noting that assumptions could be different from what will really transpire in the future.

It will depend on the subsidy from the government with respect to the premium contribution for the indirect distributors."

"It will also depend on the rollout of benefit enhancement in the future. actuarial life depends on many factors," she added.

Santiago said the state insurer expected

Duterte...

From A1

inquiry of the Department of Health’s (DOH) pandemic response despite having no clear indication of the funds being misspent.

“If the money is there, it is unspent, nobody is stealing it, it is there, and the department has so many programs,” he said.

At the same time, the President expressed concern that the legislators may widen their investigation to include other departments such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the task force headed by vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. “You are poking into the business of Secretary Galvez. You’re trying to muddle up everything by questioning every time how or why he spent the money,” he said.

“The guy is simply trying to even explain to you at every opportunity whether it be a program of government or whether it is really a forum sponsored by government such as this.”

Dismayed by the ongoing inquiry, Duterte said he hopes that someday members of Congress face similar questioning regarding their conduct.

Some lawmakers also committed misdeeds, he said, adding “you are the one making a noise, a noise that is just really a noise for no purpose at all but to create a noise.”

But senators on Friday slammed Galvez for blaming senators for making the government lose focus on the "pandemic response urgency" due to Senate investigations over disbursement of funds flagged by Commission on Audit (COA).

Conceding that COA is duty bound to come out with that kind of audit report, Galvez said that from what's happening in the Senate hearings now, he believes most of the agencies including DOH and even the OCD have been scared of the so-

called adverse reporting.

"They are afraid of being dragged in the Senate hearings," said Galvez, chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19.

But Senator Francis Pangilinan said they should not put the blame on the Senate investigations.

"No investigations yet, but they have already been snail-paced in the vaccination and other actions to curb the alarming increase of coronavirus cases,” he said.

He also assailed Galvez and other concerned agencies for their everchanging policies in their COVID-19: response.

Pangilinan said the mounting complaints from medical frontliners triggered the Senate probe which unearthed other anomalies in the DOH. Senator Juan Edgardo Angara told Galvez not to blame the Senate because "we are acting as the people's representatives and not for our own benefit."

"Many of us there want to help them so we gave them everything they asked for. You see Bayanihan laws," he said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said that being in a "state of emergency” doesn't mean that the Senate should be lax in watching over the nation's coffers.

Since there are many emergency purchases during this pandemic, she said "we need more and better, not fewer and weaker mechanisms for accountability."

She said government employees need not bother if they remain honest especially since COA is giving them all the chance to fix discrepancies in their audit findings.

"Nothing to fear if all transactions are above the board," she said.

"Speed should not do away with built in protection mechanisms. Those are not mutually exclusive," she said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Friday said the Senate is composed of 24 republics.

(See full story online at manilastandard. net)

a month after a study showed that antibodies triggered by Sinovac's vaccine declined around 6 months after a second dose for most recipients, although a third shot had a strong booster effect.

For its part, the World Health Organization (Who) had urged countries to "hold back" on providing booster shots as experts have yet to see "any evidence" that an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine could prevent breakthrough infections.

In related developments, the government is preparing to buy more vaccine doses as booster shots to give the people additional protection against the coronavirus disease.

House...

Moderna...

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From A1

It is more than OP’s personnel services budget of P1.17 billion and capital outlay of P574 million.

When the hearing resumed, Dalipe explained Elago's objection could not be counted “because she is not a member of the House Committee on Appropriations.”

Elago's opposition allies, ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, made separate manifestations expressing their objection and displeasure over the halt of the interpellation for the OP's budget.

Zarate said the Palace, as well as other government departments, should be open to deliberations in the spirit of transparency and accountability.

"It is emblematic of the lack of transparency under the Duterte administration," Zarate said.

"It is very important for the Office of the President's proposed budget to be open to interpellation and scrutiny because it is through this that Congress and the people may know if the funds they entrusted to the office had been disbursed based on their published intent," he added.

Castro asked if the Office of the President could not even justify its proposed budget, including the huge allocation for its intelligence funds.

"What is there that the Office of the President does not want to reveal? Can they not justify the line items? What they put hee is an excessive amount for the intelligence fund?" he said.

“It is our obligation as representatives to voice the sentiments of and demands of our constituents,” Elago said in Filipino.

Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite also condemned the move, saying the "tradition" of supposedly railroading the proposed presidential budget should not be maintained.

vaccine experts and our regulatory experts," said FDA chief Eric Domingo.

He said doctors had to watch out for "very rare" cases of myocarditis that those who received Moderna and another mRNA vaccine, Pfizer-BioNTech, might develop.

Myocarditis is a type of inflammation of the heart muscle.

There have been no US deaths reported for young adults who developed myocarditis after being given the mRNA vaccines, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last week.

It also said that a total of 2,574 US cases of myocarditis or pericarditis had been reported.

At least 330 million doses of the Pfizer/ BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been administered in the United States.

"Definitely, with the Delta variant affecting a lot of children, nakita po ng ating mga expert (our experts saw) that the benefit of using the vaccine outweighs the risk," Domingo said.

The FDA in August also approved the emergency use of the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 12 and up.

Domingo said the prioritization of age groups in the inoculation drive remained up to the health department.

"If they decide that the vaccination drive will cover those below 18 years old, the 12 to 17, that is when we will vaccinate children,” he said.

In the Senate, Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri said it was terrifying to see newer strains of the virus striking more and more children as he appealed to the IATF to allow children ages 12 to 17 to get vaccinated.

"We now have Moderna and Pfizer vaccines that we could tap when we start opening up our vaccination program with this age group," said Zubiri.

Gordon...

From A1

In Duterte’s latest attack, he said PNRC was planning to sell COVID-19 vaccines for P3,500 each, when Moderna vaccines cost $51 or roughly P2,500.

“What is the extra P1,000 for and for whom?” Duterte asked.

"Is the Red Cross saving money so that it would eventually pass a resolution to set aside a big amount to fund your election plans, just like the funds you used in the 2010 and 2016 campaign?" he added.

Duterte said there was a conflict of interest in Gordon being a senator and the head of the Red Cross.

“Is it not fair to say now, you should resign and give others a chance so that we can put a stop to the nonsense you are doing?” Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English.

Gordon said earlier President Duterte turned the COVID-19 funding mess involving his former appointees into “a personal fight.”

He criticized the way Duterte responded to the irregularities surrounding the Health department’s pandemic response funds, which are being questioned by the Senate.

During the Senate hearing, the committee presented a 2017 footage showing Duterte and Senator Christopher Go welcoming former economic adviser and Chinese businessman Michael Yang and the officials of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., a small company that eventually bagged more than P8 billion in government contracts for overpriced face masks and face shields.

Responding to the latest attacks on him, Gordon urged the President not to pick a fight with him as they might lose sight of their task to catch those who stole millions of pesos from the COVID-19 response funds.

"You said you hate corruption," Gordon said.

In response to the accusation that he was using the PNRC to raise funds for his campaign, Gordon said he might not even run next year.

He said he believed this was another attempt by the President to distract the people again.

Echoing Senator Panfilo Lacson’s remark after Duterte mocked the way he combed his hair, Gordon said the President was panicking.

But Gordon said it is an honor to be attacked by the President for doing his job, both at the Senate and at the Red Cross.

"What did you do with the money because we are wondering, the people are wondering why are you giving billions when the country is in dire need of funds for our people. I really flared up when I saw them lying. So to my mind, I'm sorry Mr. President if I don't please you. I'm not here to please you, but I'm here to protect the Filipino people," Gordon said.

Gordon said he wanted to surpass the achievements of his mother, who served the Red Cross for 63 years.

"I'm trying to break her record. I've nothing to be ashamed of," he said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

OCTA...

From A1

and the public’s adherence to the minimum public health standards,” the DOH said in a statement.

The DOH said the projection was “not cast in stone,” adding the figures were used to guide the government to be better prepared in its pandemic response, especially with the presence of the highly contagious Delta variant.

“With these high daily case projections, the Department calls on the national government and LGUs to lower the interval between case detection to isolation, strictly monitor the public’s adherence to the MPHS, and further ramp up vaccination coverage to lower our daily cases in NCR,” it said.

“The DOH also reminds the public to use face masks correctly and consistently, practice physical distancing, and get vaccinated when they become eligible,” it said.

Independent expert group OCTA Research earlier said it expected new cases in the NCR to continue to increase, “albeit at a slower growth rate.”

It said the reproduction number, which refers to the number of people that each COVID-19 case, could hit below 1 by the third week of September.

Metro Manila reported 41,449 active cases as of Thursday, based on DOH data.

The region has so far posted 618,724 recoveries and 9,004 deaths.

At least 45 percent of the target population in the NCR are now fully vaccinated, the government said.

Meanwhile, the Philippines logged on Friday 20,310 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 2,040,568, the DOH reported.

This is the second highest daily infections reported since the pandemic started. On Monday, the country reported an all-time high of 22,366 cases.

The DOH also reported 193 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 33,873.

News Housing agency seals pact with Baler LGU

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

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VIRTUAL SERMON. Tarpaulins are displayed around Quiapo

Chuch in Manila on Friday Sept. 3, 2021, announcing that the church only holds Mass online to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Total cases have breached the 2-million mark, with infections hitting record highs on several days late last month. Norman Cruz

By Rio N. Araja THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development has finalized another key agreement with Baler, Aurora local government on mass housing projects mostly intended for informal settler families.

Secretary Eduardo del Rosario signed a memorandum of agreement with Baler Mayor Rhett Ronan Angara to give way to the construction of two housing projects in the municipality.

“These housing projects are part of our balanced housing compliance wherein we provide direct support to the LGUs in the provision of site development of identified residential sites. Since Baler is needing assistance on this aspect, and when the mayor went to my office, I immediately informed him that the Department will support him and provide the necessary assistance,” he said.

“So this is the completion of direct engagement and coordination between the municipality of Baler and DHSUD. We are very happy to assist LGUs, especially third, fourth, fifth and sixth-class municipalities, which are the ones that truly need assistance,” he added.

The Baler housing project would be established in Barangay Reserva in more than one-hectare property, while the Barangay Obligacion resettlement and socialized housing project would be erected on a one-hectare land area.

Del Rosario vowed to continue providing assistance to LGUs in compliance with prescribed requirements and regulations.

Customs takes P20-b worth of illegal goods THE Bureau of Customs seized P19.95-billion worth of goods from January 1 to August 23 this year.

In his report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III during a recent DOF executive committee meeting, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said the conficated goods were mostly illegal shipments of narcotics, counterfeit goods, cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Preliminary data reported by the BOC showed that counterfeit products accounted for P15 billion, followed by illegal drugs worth P1.88 billion.

Guerrero said their tightened watch on cigarette shipments led to the seizure of P1.23 billion-worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes and other tobacco products.

He said the BOC has also apprehended P887.61 million-worth of general merchandise, P267.27 millionworth of agricultural products, and used clothing valued at P56.63 million, during the same period.

Guerrero also said parts and products worth P23.55 million, firearms valued at P40.12 million; cosmetics, personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other medical supplies worth P182.49 million, vehicles and accessories valued at P77.54 million, wildlife and natural resources worth P3.81 million, and alcoholic beverages worth P3.91 million were also seized by the BOC. The BOC operations also yielded P290 million-worth of currency, jewelry, fuel, chemicals, steel products and other items.

Over the Jan. 1-Aug. 23 period, Guerrero said the BOC filed 67 criminal cases with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against 217 respondents suspected of involvement in smuggling activities, and another 48 administrative cases against erring customs brokers before the Professional Regulation Commission. Macon Ramos Araneta

Mindanao senators press for Metro Davao creation

By Macon Ramos Araneta

T

WO Mindanaoan senators have been pushing for the creation of the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority as a means to address the growing needs of Davao City and nearby areas through the services it will provide.

Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Ronald dela Rosa said the creation of MDDA will help spur growth in the region.

The MDDA, Go said, will has such tasks as development planning, transport management, solid waste disposal and management, urban zoning, land use planning, shelter services, health and sanitation, as well as public safety.

“Considering the rapid urbanization of Davao City and increasing population of the cities of Panabo, Tagum,

and the Island Garden City of Samal, in Davao del Norte; there’s so much traffic now,” Go said.

The former presidential aide said it is imperative that “we create an agency which can centralize and oversee” the development efforts and initiatives that deal with the challenges faced by Davao.

Since Davao region is one of the centers of development in Mindanao, Go said that the MDDA can serve as a gateway to extend the development to

other regions in Mindanao.

Prior to the pandemic, the Davao Region’s gross regional domestic product grew by 7% in 2019, according to the data from the Philippines Statistics Authority. The region also accounts for 4.7% of the country’s entire GDP. Dela Rosa for his part emphasized “the importance of having a properly coordinated, if not unified, plans for infrastructure, security and disaster resiliency, waste disposal, traffic,” among LGUs while still enjoying independent local autonomy.

The former top cop from Davao said that the alignment of policies, projects, and programs under the MDDA will ensure unhampered growth of the entire region, and not only the region’s major city.

BIKE PATROL. Quezon City’s Green Transport Office has deployed bike patrollers along the city’s Bike Lane Network to ensure that cyclists and motorists are out of harm’s way. Manny Palmero

Suspect guilty of illegal sale of gun, drugs —High Court

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of a Pangasinan resident for illegal sale of firearms and ammunition and possession of illegal drugs in 2017.

In a decision, the SC denied the petition filed by Benjie Dela Cruz Rodriguez who was arrested in a police buy-bust operation on June 5, 2017 in Barangay Tampac, Aguilar, Pangasinan, for selling a caliber .38 revolver (paltik) without a serial number and loaded with ammunition.

While the purpose of the buy-bust operation was only for the firearm and ammunition since Rodriquez had been reported to be a gunrunner, the police authorities also recovered in his possession two plastic sachets of shabu weighing 0.105 grams.

“After a judicious study of the case, the Court resolves to deny the instant petition and affirm the decision dated Oct. 26, 2020 and the Resolution dated March 22, 2021 of the CA [Court of Appeals]… for failure of petitioner Rodriguez to sufficiently show that the CA committed any reversible error in finding him guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crimes of Illegal Sale of Firearms and Ammunitions and Illegal Possession of Dangerous Drugs, respectively defined and penalized under Section 32, Article V of Republic Act No. (RA) 105914 and Section 5, Article II of RA 9165,” the SC ruled.

The high court stressed that the prosecution clearly established that during a legitimate buy-bust operation conducted by law enforcement operatives, Rodriguez was caught in the act of selling a caliber .38 revolver or paltik without a serial number and loaded with ammunition, making him guilty of Illegal Sale of Firearms and Ammunitions.

10 senators had perfect attendance from July 2020 to June 2021 SENATE President Vicente Sotto lll and nine other senators posted perfect attendance and were always on time during plenary sessions In the regular session of the 18th Congress, from July 27, 2020 to June 3, 2021.

Reacting to his perfect attendance, Sotto stressed he is

accountable to those who trusted him with his position.

“Therefore, it’s incumbent upon me to work diligently come hell or high water,” said Sotto who has been known for his perfect attendance since becoming a senator.

Apart from Sotto, the other senators who never skipped the 69 plenary sessions are Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, senators Panfilo Lacson,

MRT-7 WALLS. Workers fit a concrete slab into a vacant portion of the protective barrier walls of the Metro Rail Transit-7 at Regalado Avenue corner Quirino Highway, Novaliches-Fairview in Quezon City.

The MRT-7 project is 54.8 percent complete. Oliver Marquez

Joel Villanueva, Bong Go, Lito Lapid, Manny Pacquiao, Francis Tolentino, Nancy Binay, and Cynthia Villar. All of them responded to the Senate roll call.

Senator Leila de Lima was absent for all 69 sessions as she has been jailed at Camp Crame in Quezon City over drug charges since 2017 While nine other senators attended all 69 sessions, there were instances when they

were not able to respond to the roll call.

Senate records showed Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon responded to the 68 roll calls. He was on an official mission once but later attended the session after the roll call.

Senator Imee Marcos also responded to the roll call 68 times and appeared online after the roll call once.

Macon Ramos Araneta

Labor program on hold in QC THE Department of Labor and Employment has ordered the suspension of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) in the second district of Quezon City amid complaints of irregularities in the implementation of the program.

In a virtual briefing Friday, DOLE Information and Publication Service director Rolly Francia said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has ordered an investigation on the matter.

“Secretary Bello ordered the suspension of the implementation of TUPAD in the second district of Quezon City and at the same time to conduct an indepth investigation on the complaints

by supposed beneficiaries of TUPAD there. He also directed the National Capital Region regional office under the leadership of regional director Sarah Buena Mirasol to thoroughly investigate this matter,” Francia added.

Initial reports showed that beneficiaries of the program have complained of not receiving the full P7,500 plus salary they were supposed to get from working for 14 days. Instead, they only received P2,000 while the remaining P5,000 plus was given to other people.

Francia, meanwhile, urged complainants to coordinate with them or the regional office so that they can file a case against those who are behind this scheme.

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Halt price hike on basic goods, Marcos asks DTI

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

By Rey E. Requejo FORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on Friday urged the government to implement a moratorium on price increases in basic goods amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its latest Suggested Retail Price (SRP) list as of August 29, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) permitted price increases in several basic commodities.

“I am appealing to the DTI to suspend the price increases in these basic goods since we are still in a pandemic. Many have lost their jobs, and some have even found it difficult to earn a living due to lockdowns,” Marcos said.

The SRP list showed increases as high as P2.25 in some goods. Pinoy favorites such as sardines increased

by P0.50 to P0.75, canned meat was up by P0.75 to P2, and instant noodles increased by P0.25.

“Maybe for others it won’t have much effect, but for a person or family who is in poverty now, it will bring a big adjustment to their budget. They will be able to buy even less. I don’t think companies will go bankrupt if we suspend price increases on basic goods,” Marcos stressed.

Breakfast staples such as threein-one coffee went up by P0.50, condensed milk by P0.50 to P1.25, while powdered milk by P0.50 to P1.35.

Condiments such as iodized salt went up by P1.40 to P2.25 and vinegar was up by P0.50. Detergent soap’s SRP went up by P1 as well.

SRPs for bread, bottled water, candies, toilet soap, and batteries remained unchanged.

TRAIN MISHAP. A Philippine National Railways train slammed into a blue car that tried to cross the railroad at the corner of Piy Margal and Algeciras Streets in Manila on Thursday night, despite early warning given by PNR personnel in the area. Police secured the wrecked car while the driver, a 68-year-old woman, was safe and sustained no serious injuries. Norman Cruz

Zobel de Ayala matriarch gains PH citizenship

By Maricel V. Cruz A COMMITTEE at the House of Representatives on Friday voted to award Filipino citizenship to a Spaniard who is married to the scion of a prominent local family.

The Committee on Justice approved the grant of citizenship to Elizabeth Eder Zobel de Ayala, wife of Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, who heads the family’s business empire.

The Ayala matron has spent 34 years in the Philippines and had been engaged in worthwhile programs that seek to uplift the living conditions of Filipino women and children, the committee noted.

The panel chaired by Leyte Rep. Vicente “Ching” Veloso approved House Bill 9376, principally introduced by House Majority Leader Martin G. Romualdez, to declare Elizabeth a Filipino citizen through legislative action.

Quezon City Rep. Jesus Suntay moved to approve Romualdez’s bill, which Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores seconded.

In his sponsorship speech, Romualdez, chairman of the House Committee on Rules, sought to grant Mrs. Zobel de Ayala all the rights and privileges as well as the duties and obligations under the Constitution and existing laws.

“Elizabeth, fondly called Lizzie by friends and those close to her, is known throughout the land as the better half of Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, a well-distinguished Filipino gentleman who now chairs the Ayala Corporation,” he said.

“She is a loving mother to four children and a doting grandma to two grandchildren, who are all Filipino citizens,” the president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) said.

16m students enroll for new school year

M

ORE than 16 million of the students recorded in academic year 2020-2021 have enrolled so far for 2021-2022 as of Friday, the Department of Education said.

This means 16,038,442 or 61.2 percent of the students in the previous academic year are all ready to begin the academic year on Sept. 13.

But it was not clear if all the registered enrollees would be physically present in their respective classes or would be getting lessons online.

Based on its latest data, the DepEd said 10,794,716 students registered in public schools, 671,660 in private schools, and 14,739 in state universities and colleges as well as in local universities and colleges.

At least 4,557,327 students signed

up during the early registration for the coming school year.

The region with the most enrollees is Calabarzon with 2,481,554, followed by Central Luzon with 1,591,509 and National Capital Region with 1,577,155.

For the Alternative Learning System, the DepEd said a total 130,418 or 21.76 percent of last year’s students have enrolled so far.

Last school year, when the classes started on October 5, the total number of enrollees was recorded at 24.7 million. This was only 89 percent of the total enrollment during the School Year 2019-2020, according to DepEd.

Likewise, last school year around 398,000 students from private schools transferred to public schools amid the pandemic, the department said.

DepEd earlier proposed to hold a dry run of limited face-to-face classes in 120 schools.

Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said once President Rodrigo Duterte allowed a pilot test, the dry-run would cover 100 public schools and 20 private schools.

“The Department of Health is agreeable to the addition of 20 private schools,” Malaluan said, adding the private schools would be identified after the joint DepEd-DOH guidelines were approved.

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

Castelo, QC dads push 1-mo. salary gift for city staff THREE Quezon City councilors led

by Winnie Castelo of District 2 have proposed an ordinance to grant a productivity incentive equivalent to one month’s salary to city employees.

Covered by Ordinance No. 466 are all city personnel, whether holding plantilla or permanent positions, or on job order or contract of service arrangement. Thousands of city workers will benefit from the proposal, Castelo noted.

Castelo’s co-authors are Councilors Karl Edgar Castelo of District 5 and Melencio Castelo Jr. of District 6.

They suggested that the amount needed for the incentive be taken from “any available funds of the city.”

Castelo said the extra one-month salary grant “would be additional financial assistance to our employees, who have been suffering from economic hardship caused by the almost two-year COVID-19 pandemic.”

It would be on top of whatever amount of aid they have received from the city and the national government, the councilor said.

Castelo said city employees have shown their dedication and commitment to public service from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID RESPONSE. Quezon City 4th District Councilor Hero Bautista (left) gives out hot meals to children of his constituents, while his office workers gear up in full personal protective equipment as they go around villages to distribute face masks, face shields, and hygiene and sanitation kitsm and install automatic alcohol dispensers in every barangay in District 4 to encourage frequent sanitation. Robbie Pangilinan

PRO3 cops nab Chinese, 2 more Villar lauds Magsaysay Award winner’s mangrove planting work on wanted list

By Jun David OPERATIVES of the Police Regional Office (PRO 3) arrested a Chinese national and two other Most Wanted Persons in separate manhunt operations in Pampanga and Nueva Ecija.

PRO 3 Regional Director Police Brig.

Gen. Valeriano de Leon identified the suspects as Yanlong Xu, 36 years old and a resident of Mexico, Pampanga; Elmer Jacinto, 43, a resident of Cabanatuan City Nueva Ecija; and Ronnie Bolisay, 50, a resident of Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

Based on police records, the three belong to the Most Wanted List in Central Luzon.

It was learned that Xu was a contractor of the Nanzhu Construction Company and is facing four charges of acts of lasciviousness. Police records show that Xu’s victim was his 33-yearold former coworker.

Xu was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court, with bail amounting to P36,000 per case.

Meanwhile, in separate operations in Nueva Ecija, Jacinto and Bolisay was arrested.

Jacinto is facing a rape charge with no bail recommendation, while Bolisay has a robbery case with bail amounting to P24,000.

It was also learned that Bolisay went into hiding for eight years before he was arrested.

SENATOR Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, has lauded Ramon Magsaysay awardee Roberto “Ka Dodoy” Ballon, a fisherman from Zamboanga Sibugay province.

Ballon was recognized for “his inspiring determination in leading his fellow fisher-

folk to revive a dying fishing industry.”

In 1986, Ballon and 30 other smallscale fishermen started Kapunungan sa Gamay nga Mangingisda sa Concepcion. The association restored mangrove forests in Kabalasan town, where fishpond conversion and abandonment

of fishponds were rampant, causing the destruction of mangrove forests.

With government backing, Ballon and his fellow fisherfolk transformed abandoned fishponds into 500 hectares of healthy mangrove forests.

“Ka Dodoy serves as an inspiration and

Making workers’ dreams a reality (First of two parts)

By Jimbo Gulle PAULO Gisala Martinez wanted to be an engineer, but because of circumstances, he opted to put aside his dreams and chose to provide for his family.

“My ultimate dream was to become an engineer. I had that opportunity when I passed a test and got awarded with a scholarship.

However, I had to choose between my family and my career. During that time, I also had to consider the needs of my five younger brothers,” shared Paulo in a YouTube interview.

Little did he know that his sacrifices for his family were rewarded when he decided to enroll in Dualtech Training Center. “I decided to look for a school that could immediately get me a job employment,” he said.

Now, Paulo is a Product and Engineering Manager at Transcendt Technologies, Inc., in Binan City, Laguna after graduating from Dualtech in 1997.

He had his in-plant training in the engineering group in an industrial firm in Batangas, where he learned electrical installation, repairs, and metal fabrication, among other

skills. Before graduation, the company wanted to absorb him as an employee.

Through industry exposure and training, he was able to move up the ranks, and was even sent to Germany for two months training and production benchmarking. He was promoted to Project Engineer of New Product Industrialization, which involves feasibility study up to production qualification.

After 11 years in a semiconductor company, he moved to another business firm in Singapore. Through his acquired knowledge, skills, and passion, he became successful in breaking the five-year highest sales mark in the company for three consecutive years.

He was also able to travel across Asia several times. After getting the trust and confidence of the Singapore headquarters, the firm expanded their business operations in the Philippines.

The Dualtech Training System (DTS) is one of the preferred training modalities for enterprise-based training in the Philippines, which combines theoretical and practical training.

The training happens in two venues: the school or training center and the company or workshop. Both venues provide trainees with well-coordinated learning experiences and opportunities to ensure they are ful-

role model to fisherfolks and all Filipinos that genuine concern for other’s welfare and for the environment combined with a determination to do something is not only personally rewarding but will be rewarded and recognized as well, “ said Villar.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

PRACTICAL TRAINING.

A student of the Dualtech Training Center operates a machine at a partner business establishment.

ly equipped with employable skills, work knowledge, and proper attitude.

The trainees also learn basic trade theory, work values, good citizenship, safety, and related theory subjects in mathematics, drawing, and social sciences. They also learn job skills through practical exercises using state of the art technology.

The trainees also learn good work habits and how to get along well with others. Their access to industry experts and resources guarantees their quality and relevant training.

“In almost 40 years, Dualtech has produced more than 13,000 graduates, translat-

ing to the same number of inspiring stories.

We’ve always wanted to instill technical education coupled with professionalism and right set of human values for our students,” says Jerry Webb E. Muhi, the Executive Director of Dualtech Training Center.

“As the institution moves into the future, we will cover more provinces of our country and introduce DTS. This way, Dualtech will be able to link with more companies pursuing industrial revolution 4.0, accompanying them and serving their need for technical resources,” he added.

(To be continued)

Opinion #ChooseLeni

Gearing for a revitalized tourism business. Thankfully, it was a resounding success, so we are very much excited to pick up where we left off but with a clearer perspective this time around because we are no longer adjusting. We are about moving forward and making significant decisions that will create a WITH the country’s vaccination rollout better normal for the industry,” TPB nearing the 15-million mark for the ful- Chief Operating Officer Maria Antholy inoculated, the Tourism Board of the nette Velasco-Allones said.

In 2020, Phitex was held as a hybrid Philippines, marketing and promotions arms of the Department of Tourism, is event for the first time in Panglao, Bohol pushing all-in to revitalize the coun- being one of the first tourism destinations to reopen during the pandemic. Apart from try’s tourism industry.

Recently, the TPB announced the open- the virtual B2B sessions, the event featured ing of registration for the 20th edition of online games, quizzes, and a curated virtual the Philippine Travel Exchange or Phitex, tour of the City of Manila.

The event also established 3,946 conknown as the biggest government orgatacts, generated 1,205 leads, and secured 76 nized travel trade event in the country. on-site bookings with For the second projected revenue of year in a row, Phitex The TPB continues aover PHP 42 million. will be held as a hyThis year, Phitex is to fulfill its mandate brid event in light of targeting more than a the pandemic with to promote the hundred buyers and Subic Bay as the new sellers. For Philippine Philippines. venue for the online sellers, those who are business-to-business interested to join must or B2B sessions and networking scheduled to take place on Sep- be DOT-accredited or a TPB member. For foreign buyers, qualification includes comtember 19-23.

This year’s theme will highlight safe, panies that are already selling the Philipsmart, and sustainable tourism as part of pines but would want to enhance their tour the TPB’s strategic marketing plan for the programs or those not selling the Philippines but would want to include the country new normal.

“Last year’s Phitex was about pivot- in their respective programs.

Here’s wishing for Phitex’s success. ing as we had to face the challenges of *** going hybrid and leveraging on techAnd of course, with the Delta variant nology more than ever to conduct our

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandard.net

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

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EDITORIAL

very ably and continuously embarked on various projects that benefit those who are largely ignored by the government.

She has been doing this even if Duterte himself keeps on putting her aside, and worse, vilifying her. Despite being the target of disinformation by this administration’s troll army, VP Robredo has proven VICE-PRESIDENT Leni Robredo is my her mettle as a strong person, able to withpresidential candidate for the 2022 elec- stand and ward off all negativity and malice tions. I join the many groups that are hop- thrown her way while doing good work for ing for VP Leni to finally decide to run and the people. go against the allies of Duterte, and those We need a candidate who is patriotic, positioning as “independent” but for the democratic and progressive. VP Leni is all last five years have been silent about all these. She is the complete opposite of Dutethe problems that the Duterte administra- rte who rules with an iron fist, who surrention has been inflicting on the country and ders the country’s sovereignty and territorial our people. The latter are in fact, Duterte integrity to China, and a habitual violator of enablers. human rights. Robredo has always defendOutright, I will say that whoever be- ed the country against China’s occupation comes the next president has his/her of the West Philippine Sea territories and work cut out for him/her. Coming from harvesting of our aquatic resources. She the situation we are now, whoever wins has consistently stood in defense of human next will experience leading during a rights and repeatedly criticized Duterte most difficult period for the thousands of in the country’s life. deaths due to his “war We need a Picking up the pieces on drugs,” red tagging, after Duterte’s mess, his misogynist words candidate who is including how the and actions, and his patriotic, democratic pandemic has been/ berating human rights is being mismanaged defenders. and progressive. will be anything but VP Robredo as a easy. lawyer and before The country needs someone who can becoming a politician, was working with unify the opposition. We need someone non-government organizations that defend tested, strong, consistent, patriotic, dem- the rights of workers, farmers, women, and ocratic, progressive, and someone who other marginalized groups. This experience enjoys the international community’s trust has obviously grounded her in terms of huand goodwill. man rights, and the situation and needs of Only Leni Robredo and not any of those ordinary Filipinos. She uses this groundpositioning themselves as presidential ing in the performance of her work as candidates, can inspire unity among the Vice-President and it shows. various opposition groups. These include The presidential candidate we need is politicians from different non-administra- someone who enjoys and will continue tion political parties; progressive party-list to enjoy the goodwill of the international groups, ideological formations and the so- community. As COVID-19 continues to called political blocks; NGOs, people’s or- wreak havoc worldwide, countries are exganizations, and sectoral organizations, and periencing major challenges and the Philipbusiness and church groups. pines is among those in the worst situation.

Those who hope for a Leni candidacy In fact, our debt has skyrocketed because of go way beyond those in 1Sambayan, the this administration. coalition that unfortunately, until now has Because the country’s economy is at its yet to truly catch fire especially among the lowest and the pandemic is still ravaging ordinary Filipinos who hold the key to the us, the next president’s term will be very Presidency. Several independent initiatives difficult. We will need the help of the inof private citizens are ongoing to push the ternational community to be able to fight VP to make the crucial decision and also the pandemic better, pick up the pieces, to make more people in poor communities and start to recover from this devastation. aware of what the VP has been doing for We need to renegotiate our foreign debt and the country despite being marginalized by good will is necessary for this. We cannot Duterte, and despite her office’s meager navigate the future alone. budget.

As of this time, among the possible presiOther supposedly “independent” presi- dential candidates, it is VP Robredo who endential wannabes namely, Trillanes, Lac- joys the best standing in the community of son, Pacquiao, and Gordon, will not be able nations. She is in a position similar to what to unify the various groups I mentioned for Cory Aquino had when she assumed the different reasons. Trillanes and Lacson are presidency. At this time, the world needs to perceived to be “too rightist,” Pacquiao is recover with each other and the Philippines widely considered as “underqualified” es- will need to be actively involved. pecially in terms of track record, and GorThese are some of the reasons why VP don, well, he is simply not in the radar of Leni Robredo is the best choice for the prespeople. idency. She can unify the opposition, has Only Robredo can unify the fragmented been tested and has proven to be capable, opposition similar to former President Cory consistent, strong, patriotic, democratic, Aquino when she ran against the dictator and progressive. She enjoys the goodwill of Marcos. the international community.

The country needs a candidate who is Leni Robredo is the president we need so tested, strong, and consistent. VP Robredo we should all #ChooseLeni. has proven her competence, efficiency, and consistency. From the start of her being the @bethangsioco on Twitter; Elizabeth second-highest official of the land, she has Angsioco on Facebook

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Register and be counted

T

HE Commission on Elections claims to have surpassed its target number of registered voters—with 61.06 million voters registered after the body validated the papers of 4.3 million first-time voters.

being able to vote—under the Constitution any citizen who is at least 18 years of age—is a major part of citizenship and allows Filipinos to have their say about what is important and what they think their lives should be like.

The stakes are just too high.

The projected voting population for the 2022 elections is 73.3 million, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

We strongly appeal to all qualified voters to register now so they can participate in the political exercise in May next year.

We need not over-emphasize that

The May 9, 2022 national elections, for posts in the executive and legislative branches of the government, is a formal group decision-making process by which the population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office.

The stakes are high.

At the top of the ballot will be the election for president and vice president, 12 members of the Senate, 243 district and 61 party-list representatives of the House of Representatives, 81 provincial governors, 145 city mayors and 1,489 town mayors.

To be elected also will be provincial vice governors and members of the provincial legislative council as well as vice mayors and members of the city and town councils.

We need not overplay this political exercise suggests the kind of responsibility Filipinos have for the now 110 million population and the younger generations.

It is a win-win choice for the administration place for him while getting rid of his father’s man Friday to allow her to freely decide the day-to-day business of running the government.

There is no hatchet to draw between the Marcoses and the Dutertes. Both political titans have been observing the same ideological orbit that was initiated by Ferdinand Marcos except that the President is more decisive, more blatant and excessively harsh in bulls***ting his political enemies including the US. Digong has fulfilled the last wish of the deceased president by burying him in the Libingan ng mga Bayani and in speeding up of the vindictive cases that have long been pending in court.

THE decision by President Duterte to run for vice president is to test how the people will react. He is merely sounding out his chances. But unknown to him, he is trapped in selecting his most trusted subaltern to run for president believing he will not be handed over to the International Criminal Court and between his daughter Sara who is determined to dismantle the condone sanitaire on the President. In that, Duterte is now having a dilemma to ensure his liberty beyond 2022.

The choice to run for vice president is mandated by an overtly hypocritical constitution. The provision impliedly expresses the grudge of Mrs. Aquino against her predecessor. The razor of political vengeance is deeply embedded in the DNA of the opposition. The opposition does not care about the purpose of the election or the changes that transpired.

Election today has a totally different purpose. Those in power are obligated to protect their position while the opposition gnash their teeth to make good on their revenge.

Election has been reduced to gambling where those who can afford must bet for their place in our society.

Duterte’s decision to run for vice president may not be a wise choice. The game plan is much closer than politics. This explains why Sara has to try her luck; she cannot stand seeing the man Friday of her father becoming president and her boss.

Taking a shot at the presidency is wise and a win-win proposition. It will be a fight between her, Leni Robredo whose political fortune came after the accidental death of her husband, and Senators Bong Go and Panfilo Lacson. Suddenly, Leni finds herself up against the wrong person.

The prospect of Sara running against the subaltern of her father is acceptable.

There is no legal or moral impediment that will prevent her except that underneath the struggle is beyond the definition of politics, which is to prevent the extension of power to one who has been exercising a cordon sanitaire on the President.

If that happens, Sara will be compelled to nominate BBM as her running mate to avoid the odd situation of her directly clashing against her father. This also solves the nagging problem of the President. He is assured that both BBM and his subaltern will not hand him over to the ICC. Her daughter will provide a safe of the COVID-19, striking hard, the key to revitalizing the country’s tourism industry should be anchored on safety and health among domestic tourists In this regard, the TPB has produced and distributed 15,000 sets of materials to promote safe travel domestically. A total of 8,800 DOT-accredited accommodation establishments and tourism enterprises were provided the health and safety protocol stickers and posters to prepare them for re-accreditation in line with the DOTled “Safe Trip, Pinas” domestic tourism campaign.

The initiative is part of the DOT-TPB efforts to support tourism stakeholders hardhit by the pandemic in their ability to comply with new safety protocols and standards to ensure confidence among local tourists as destinations gradually reopened in September 2020.

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

The issue is much deeper than political dynasty.

Most political analysts say the President is the continuation of the Marcos policy of asserting our sovereignty and self-reliance, in re-aligning our relations with our Asian neighbors and accelerating economic development.

The opposition may take these internal differences in the family as an opportunity to divide the administration. The opposition, being thirsty for blood, will focus on accusing Senator Bong Go of steering the country’s policy toward China. But it is unlikely Filipinos will buy this; never before has Philippine politics descended to one of racial antagonism.

Historically, it was only the clerics and the insulares—mestizos that cultivated the anti-Chinese sentiment when they created the Parian and later expelled the Chinese to Pampanga.

On the other hand, many see Bong Go as a wily politician biding his time. He has antagonized many senior politicians who are members of the Cabinet and Congress. The President often consults Go before referring the matter to the concerned Cabinet member. Anybody who criticizes him is sternly rebuked by the President as if to tell the person he does not know who Bong Go is.

The paradigm shift in the strategy of the administration has confused Leni and the opposition.

She could sense her ambition is facing a formidable task such that she is now toying with the idea of running in Camarines Sur. Robredo knows that most of her supporters were merely propped up by the Church and by the US-supported political agitators.

“Got our DOT accreditation certificate, thanks to the TPB for the social distancing stickers”, Ms. Emy Poonmark of EMSEA Travel Hub noted as she expressed how the materials helped them prepare their establishment to welcome back clients.

Ms. Ria Eguia, another TPB member, gratefully acknowledged this initiative, saying the kit was really helpful.

TPB noted that while the distribution of these materials was adversely affected by border closures and mobility restrictions within the country last year, all of these materials have been distributed as to date.

Despite global border restrictions halting leisure travel, the TPB continues to fulfill its mandate to promote the Philippines, with a renewed focus to position the country’s tourism sites as safe and fun destinations.

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

She doubts whether she can still carry on the feat of repeating the massive electoral fraud that made her win through the US-operated cheating machine.

Even then, there is no incumbent politician willing to give her a slot for the local position. Such a decision could result in political fiasco as there is greater probability that she will not make it. She must bear in mind that her local bailiwick is different from the voters in a national election, and the result might just expose her altogether as a political demagogue.

The political game plan of Robredo has been exposed -- she is a creation of political brokers principally led by the ignorant but fanatical followers of the Church and by the US lobby dreaming of keeping their dying empire. Besides, the discredited chairman of the Comelec is now a hunted criminal loitering in the US, and there is doubt whether Smartmatic can deliver the same magic of swindling the Filipino electorate.

Some believe Duterte will not allow the hypocrites to participate in the counting or tabulating of the votes that resulted instead in the rigging of the result. Duterte must bear in mind he is the principal target in this electoral exercise.

Moreover, many failed to read the political moves of Sara. Before she expresses her sentiment, every move she takes is noticeably calculated. Her running for mayor of Davao and in forming the Hugpong ng Pagbabago is telling she has a much deeper political motivation. Though she has not said anything, her move is telling of her wanting to check the family from being isolated by senator Bong Go. Many could sense the President is willing to settle for a second slot but that could revise the political ambition of Robredo.

Should Digong choose to run for vice president, Robredo will have an arduous task to tackle. It is doubtful whether she has the nerve to do it like what they did in 2016.

Yes, she won against BBM but that costs her much tenderloin to keep that cheated post. Many consider Sarah as the fighting lady of Davao to give Leni a reminder not to mess with her.

Thus, the sudden rearrangement in the political line-up simply means that Sara herself is asserting her say about the future of the political foundation erected by her father. She now tries to carve her own political destiny by challenging the wouldbe successor to her father’s post. The issue is much deeper than political dynasty but one that revolves on the possibility of her father being manipulated by somebody alien to the family. rpkapunan@gmail.com

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IS-inspired attacker shot dead after NZ stabbing rampage

FEARLESS. Nightlife guests crowd in front of the Rumors Nightclub on Norregade street in Copenhagen during the night between September 2 and 3, 2021, as Denmark lifted restrictions amid the pandemic. Denmark will lift all of its COVID-19 restrictions

by September 10, health officials announced, saying the virus no longer posed ‘a threat to society’ due to the country’s broad vaccination coverage. AFP

AN ISLAMIC State-inspired attacker injured six people in a New Zealand supermarket knife rampage Friday, before being shot dead by undercover police officers who had him under round-theclock surveillance.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she was “gutted” the man, a Sri Lankan national, had managed to carry out his “hateful” assault even though he was on a terror watchlist.

She said the man, who arrived in New Zealand in 2011, entered a shopping mall in suburban Auckland and seized a knife from a display before going on a stabbing spree.

Six people were wounded, three critically, in the 60 seconds before surveillance officers opened fire.

Terrified shoppers fled for the exits and video footage shot by bystanders showed men running toward the incident before a barrage of shots rang out.

The attack has stirred painful memories of the Christchurch mosques shootings in March 2019, New Zealand’s worst terror atrocity, when a white supremacist gunman murdered 51 Muslim worshippers and severely wounded another 40.

“What happened today was despicable, it was hateful, it was wrong,” Ardern said after the latest attack.

“It was carried out by an individual, not a faith, not a culture, not an ethnicity. He alone carries the responsibility for these acts.”

Asked about the man’s motivations, she said “it was a violent ideology and ISIS-inspired,” using an acronym for the Islamic State jihadist group.

Ardern said she was limited in what she could publicly reveal about the attacker because he had been before the courts previously and was the subject of court suppression orders. AFP

EU, AstraZeneca settle vax dispute

T

he European Union and UK-based drugs giant AstraZeneca settled their dispute over a shortfall in coronavirus vaccine supplies on Friday, agreeing to an extended delivery schedule.

The European Commission went to court after the firm failed to deliver all of a promised 300 million doses by June 2021, but AstraZeneca will now have until the end of March next year to make up the number.

The agreement ends the legal battle and AstraZeneca will not face any fines or penalty payments – unless it falls

short of its new target dates.

“I’m very pleased that we have been able to reach a common understanding which allows us to move forward and work in collaboration with the European Commission to help overcome the pandemic,” said AstraZeneca’s Ruud Dobber.

Brussels was furious when the BritishSwedish pharmaceutical outfit fell far short

of its promises, undermining the early stages of the EU’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Officials accused AstraZeneca of prioritising UK vaccine deliveries over the EU order and European Commission lawyers went to court to demand deliveries or see huge daily fines imposed for any ongoing shortfall.

But the firm argued that its contract with the bloc only obliged it to make “best efforts” to meet its delivery target, and that production bottlenecks in its European plants had been unavoidable.

In an interim ruling pending the final settlement of the case, the Brussels court

Taliban close to forming new government THE Taliban were on Friday close to forming a government, with the hardliners under intense international scrutiny over their vow to rule Afghanistan with greater tolerance, especially on women’s rights.

The announcement of a new administration, earlier expected to be made after Friday afternoon prayers, would now not happen until Saturday at the earliest, a Taliban spokesman told AFP. The Islamists face the enormous challenge of shifting gears from insurgent group to governing power, days after the United States fully withdrew its troops and ended two decades of war.

While the West has adopted a waitand-see approach to the Taliban, there were some signs of engagement with the new leaders gathering pace.

A Taliban spokesman tweeted early Friday that China’s foreign ministry had promised to keep its embassy in Afghanistan open and to “beef up” relations and humanitarian assistance.

The United Nations said it had restarted humanitarian flights to parts of the country, linking the Pakistani capital Islamabad with Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan and Kandahar in the south. AFP

At least 44 dead as flash floods hit US northeast states FLASH flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida killed at least 44 people in four northeastern US states overnight into Thursday, including several who perished in basements during the “historic” weather event officials blamed on climate change.

Record rainfall, which prompted an unprecedented flash flood emergency warning for New York City, turned streets into rivers and shut down subway services as water cascaded down platforms onto tracks.

“I’m 50 years old and I’ve never seen that much rain ever,” said Metodija Mihajlov whose basement of his Manhattan restaurant was flooded with three inches of water.

“It was like living in the jungle, like tropical rain. Unbelievable. Everything is so strange this year,” he told AFP. Hundreds of flights were canceled at LaGuardia and JFK airports, as well as at Newark, where video showed a terminal inundated by rainwater.

President Joe Biden declared emergencies in the states of New York and New Jersey on Thursday, ordering federal disaster management agencies to coordinate relief efforts and provide emergency support. AFP

imposed a new delivery schedule on AstraZeneca.

“Today’s settlement agreement guarantees the delivery of the remaining 200 million COVID-19 vaccine doses by AstraZeneca to the EU,” European health commissioner Stella Kyriakides said in a statement.

“While this week we reached the important milestone of 70 percent full vaccination of the EU’s adult population, there are significant differences in vaccination rates between our member states, and the continued availability of vaccines, including AstraZeneca’s, remain crucial.” AFP

FAITH AND SCIENCE.

Muslim people conduct Friday prayers with physical distancing at the Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta on September 3, 2021. AFP

Extinction threat: Meeting to show species in peril THE perilous state of the planet’s wildlife will be laid bare when the largest organisation for the protection of nature meets on Friday hoping to help galvanise action as the world faces intertwined biodiversity and climate crises.

Relentless habitat destruction, unsustainable agriculture, mining and a warming planet will dominate discussion at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) conference, hosted by France in the city of Marseille.

The meeting, delayed from 2020 by the pandemic, comes ahead of crucial United Nations summits on climate, food systems and biodiversity that could shape the planet’s foreseeable future.

“Our common goal is to put nature at the top of international priorities – because our destinies are intrinsically linked, planet, climate, nature and human communities,” said French President Emmanuel Macron in a statement ahead of the IUCN meeting.

He said the conference should lay the “initial foundations” for a global biodiversity strategy that will be the focus of UN deliberations in China in April next year.

The international community is grappling with a near set of goals to “live in harmony with nature” by 2050, with interim goals to be set for this decade.

Nutritious food, breathable air,

clean water, nature-based medicines – humans are dependent on the health of the ecosystems they are destroying.

Previous IUCN congresses have paved the way for global treaties on biodiversity and the international trade in endangered species.

But efforts to halt extensive declines in numbers and diversity of animals and plants have so far failed to slow the destruction.

In 2019 the UN’s biodiversity experts warned that a million species are on the brink of extinction – raising the specter that the planet is on the verge of its sixth mass extinction event in half a billion years. AFP

Japan’s Suga to step down, will not seek re-election JAPAN’S Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Friday he will not run for his ruling party’s leadership, effectively ending his tenure and throwing wide open the race for the next premier.

The shock decision after just a year in office comes with Suga’s approval ratings at an all-time low over his government’s handling of the response to the pandemic.

And it suggests a possible return to political instability for Japan, which cycled through prime ministers regularly before the lengthy tenure of Suga’s predecessor Shinzo Abe. “In one year since I became prime minister, I have poured all of my strength into dealing with the various problems facing the country, with anti-coronavirus measures at the forefront,” Suga told reporters.

He said he realized that running for election and handling the virus response would require “enormous energy.”

“I came to the realization that I cannot do both. I had to choose one of them,” he added.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secretary general Toshihiro Nikai said he was “surprised” by Suga’s decision not to stand in the September 29 leadership race.

“It’s truly regrettable. He did his best,” Nikai said.

It was a decision that had not been foreshadowed, with Suga dropping no hints of his plans to leave office after just a single year in power and before contesting his first general election.

He came to office last year, stepping into the post left empty when Abe resigned for health reasons.

Suga had been widely expected to seek re-election as LDP leader, with most speculation surrounding only how soon after that he would call a general election.

The election must be called by late October and held by the following month, with the LDP expected to remain in power but possibly lose seats as a result of Suga’s unpopularity.AFP

Four Indonesian soldiers killed in Papua guerilla attack—military AT least four Indonesian soldiers were killed and two others wounded in an ambush by guerillas in the breakaway region of Papua, authorities said Friday.

More than 30 rebels ambushed a military outpost in Maybrat, attacking the soldiers with machetes before escaping into the jungle.

“It was still dark when the attack happened and the perpetrators escaped right away,” West Papua military chief I Nyoman Cantiasa said in a video statement made available to AFP on Friday.

Security forces arrested two members of the rebel group responsible for the ambush after hours of searching the jungle, the army said.

The military has ordered a manhunt and vowed to “destroy” the rebels in re-

sponse to Thursday’s killings.

The bodies of the dead soldiers have been flown home for burial, according to the Papua army, while the two wounded security forces are currently being treated at a hospital.

Papua rebels have claimed responsibility for the killing, which took place just a week after the group killed two construction workers in Yahukimo district in the region’s highlands.

Tensions in the conflict-wracked region have soared this year, punctuated by deadly clashes after rebels killed Indonesia’s top intelligence chief in Papua in April.

Jakarta responded by formally designating the Papuan separatists “terrorists” – a move that sparked fears of more violence and rights abuses. AFP

THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES. Afghan women take part in a protest march for their rights under the Taliban rule in the downtown area of Kabul on September 3, 2021. AFP

Business

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2 Chile unions agree to end strike at world’s largest copper producer

AGRI INNOVATION. Witi co-founders Yonatan Elimelech De-Wolff (left) and Ran Nakash (right) stand at their booth with their device, which gives farmers ‘the ability to have instant lab analysis from the field’ and ‘detect grape-vine diseases and grape quality,’ during the Margalit Startup City Galil street food tech event in the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona on September 2, 2021.

An innovation center aimed at fostering ‘revolutions’ in sustainable food opened in northern Israel on September 2 by one of the country’s leading entrepreneurs, spurred by a ‘meteoric’ investment surge in the sector. AFP

SANTIAGO, Chile—Two of the three unions at Chile’s state mining company Codelco, the largest producer of copper in the world, have ended strike action, the company said on Thursday.

Unions representing 1,300 of the 1,437 workers at Codelco’s Andina division began industrial action in midAugust.

The Industrial Union of Labor Integration (SIIL) and the Unified Union of Workers (SUT) were the first to go on strike before the Suplant union, which is maintaining its action, joined them a week later.

Codelco and the two unions “have reached an agreement to end the legal strike action that these organizations began on August 12,” the company said.

Suplant, the smallest of the three unions, joined the strikers on August 17.

The agreement was approved after 53 percent of the SIIL and SUT members voted in favor of it, Codelco said.

Strike action began after the unions rejected a labor agreement proposal that removed health benefits for new

employees, as well as compensation related to years of service.

They have now signed a collective agreement that will last for three years, although no details of the accord were given.

While much of Chile was put under lockdown at times during the coronavirus pandemic, the vital mining industry was kept operational.

The unions had complained that the original proposed labor agreement did not take into account the “mental burden and overwork” they were exposed to during the pandemic.

The Andina division, situated more than 3,000-meters above sea level in the center of the country, comprises the underground Rio Blanco mine and the open air Sur Sur mine, which together produced more than 184,000 metric tons of copper in 2020.

Codelco produces eight percent of the world’s copper.

Chile is the world’s largest copper producer with 5.6 million tons a year that makes up 28 percent of global output, much of which is sold to China, the world’s biggest consumer. AFP

Market rises again; SM Investments climb S TOP GAINERS tocks advanced Friday following another record close on Wall Street ahead of US jobs data and amid government plans to drop widespread quarantine restrictions in favor of localized lockdowns.

as concerns about the fast-spreading Delta variant, which weighed on confidence for much of August, gave way to optimism over the recovery outlook.

Data showing fewer people than expected applied for jobless benefits in the United States last week—the lowest since March 2020—provided a positive lead ahead of the non-farm payrolls, which could have a huge bearing on the Federal Reserve’s plans for taperThe Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 62.47 ing its ultra-loose monetary policy.

Fed boss Jerome Powell last week indicated that the points, or 0.9 percent, to 6,897.13 on a value turnover of P6.4 billion. Gainers edged losers, 104 to 102, with bank would take it easy in winding down the financial support—and would be even more careful in lifting 39 issues unchanged.

SM Investments Corp. of the Sy Group gained 4 interest rates—but offered no timetable for doing so. percent at P1,020, while Emperador Inc., the biggest Observers say a strong jobs reading would likely mean the Fed would move sooner than later. liquor maker, surged 5 percent to P17.06.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq on Wall Street finished at LT Group Inc. of airline and tobacco tycoon Lucio Tan climbed 3.7 percent to P8.90, while Manila Elec- fresh records after the figures, and the buying filtered tric Co., the largest retailer of electricity, added 2.8 through to Asia.

Tokyo jumped more than two percent after Yoshipercent to P289.80.

Most markets rose in Asia on Friday while Tokyo hide Suga said he will not run for his ruling party’s led gains on hopes for fresh stimulus after Japan’s leadership, effectively ending his tenure as premier and throwing wide open the race to succeed him. prime minister said he would step down.

Analysts said the gains were fueled by hopes the The broad advance came at the end of a strong week

next leader will push for a huge spending package to support the virus-hit economy. Suga’s rival in the race for the post last year, Fumio Kishida, on Thursday called for tens of trillions of yen in spending to battle the coronavirus pandemic.

Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Taipei, Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta also rose.

But Hong Kong and Shanghai fell, with tech firms hurt by Alibaba’s donation of more than $15 billion to charitable causes after Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the rich to do more to tackle inequality.

Alibaba, which has been a key target of Beijing’s drive against high-flying tech firms, said it would put the money to “common prosperity” schemes.

But the firm’s share price sank more than three percent in Hong Kong on Friday owing to worries about its bottom line.

And Castor Pang at Core Pacific Yamaichi International HK warned: “The donation doesn’t guarantee that there will not be more regulations to target at Alibaba.

“It’s more or less affecting the whole tech sector sentiment today.” With AFP

Guam stops ‘Air V&V’ tours as COVID-19 cases surge HAGATNA, United States—The US Pacific territory of Guam has suspended a program allowing international visitors to receive a COVID-19 vaccination while enjoying a tropical holiday due to a surge in virus cases.

The Guam Visitors Bureau this week halted the “Air V&V”—vacation and vaccination—scheme, launched in July in a bid to restart the island’s pandemic-devastated tourism industry.

Infection numbers that once made Guam an attractive destination have exploded with an outbreak of the highly transmissible Delta variant, with 910 confirmed cases in the past week.

Health experts have ruled out a link between the vaccination scheme and the Delta outbreak, noting it was carried out with strict testing and safety protocols.

“There is no evidence that Air V&V contributed to the surge,” Hoa Nguyen, former chief medical advisor to the governor, told AFP. “Tourists are more scared of us than we are of them.”

Guam Visitors Bureau president Carl Gutierrez said all arrivals linked to the program had originated from Taiwan, but the last were on August 22.

“Since Taiwan is the only organized Air V&V, there are no more announced Taiwan flights,” he told AFP. “Both Lion Travel and Eva Airlines initiated longer term charter flights.

We were supposed to finalize these discussions, then we hit rock bottom.”

Guam ramped up COVID-19 containment restrictions last week, shutting down schools and imposing restrictions on public gatherings.

Businesses are still permitted to operate at full occupancy, but only the vaccinated are allowed entry into bars, restaurants and other public facilities.

The island of 170,000 has recorded more than 10,000 COVID-19 cases and 150 related deaths since the start of the pandemic. AFP

A photo taken on August 30, 2021, shows a floating dairy farm in the port of Rotterdam, a possible future solution to rising waters and climate change.

AFP

Floating Dutch cow farm aims to hold back climate impact

By Charlotte Van Ouwerkerk ROTTERDAM, Netherlands—Among the cranes and containers of the port of Rotterdam is a surreal sight: a herd of cows peacefully feeding on board what calls itself the world’s first floating farm.

In the low-lying Netherlands where land is scarce and climate change is a daily threat, the three-story glass and steel platform aims to show the “future of breeding.”

The buoyant bovines live on the top floor, while their milk is turned into cheese, yoghurt and butter on the middle level, and the cheese is matured at the bottom.

“The world is under pressure,” says Minke van Wingerden, 60, who runs the farm with her husband Peter.

“We want the farm to be as durable and self-sufficient as possible.”

The cows are a sharp contrast to the huge ships and the smoke from the refineries of Europe’s biggest seaport, which accounts

for 13.5 percent of the country’s emissions.

With their floating farm, which opened in 2019, Peter and Minke say they wanted to “bring the countryside into the town,” boost consumer awareness and create agricultural space.

The Dutch are no strangers to advanced farming methods, using a network of huge greenhouses in particular to become the world’s second biggest agricultural exporter after the United States.

But that has come at a cost.

‘Moves with the tide’ The Netherlands is one of Europe’s largest per capita emitters of climate change gases and faces a major problem with agricultural emissions, particularly in the dairy sector which produces large amounts of methane from cows.

Those emissions in turn fuel the rising waters that threaten to swamp the country, a third of which lies below sea-level, and further reduce the land in one of the most densely populated nations on Earth.

The floating farm therefore aims to keep its cows’ feet dry in both the long-term, by being sustainable, and the short-term, by, well, floating.

“We are on the water, so the farm moves with the tide—we rise and fall up to two meters. So in case of flooding, we can continue to produce,” says Minke van Wingerden.

In terms of sustainability, the farm’s cows are fed on a mixture of food including grapes from a foodbank, grain from a local brewery, and grass from local golf courses and from Rotterdam’s famed Feyenoord football club—saving on waste as well as the emissions that would be required to create commercial feed for the animals.

Their manure is turned into garden pellets—a process that helps further cut emissions by reducing methane—and their urine is purified and recycled into drinking water for the cows, whose stable is lined with dozens of solar panels that produce enough electricity for the farm’s needs. AFP

PSEi September 3, 2021

LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

GERI TECHW MAHB OPM LFM HOME PHA AB

1.33 1.59 1.99 0.012 30 9 1.17 6.68

0.42 0.16 0.19 0.001 2 0.51 0.06 0.33

46.15% 11.19% 10.56% 9.09% 7.14% 6.01% 5.41% 5.20%

9 10

EMP TUGS

17.06 1.08

0.82 0.05

5.05% 4.85%

TOP LOSERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

OV CPM LRW SFIP KEP EVER LODE GSMI

0.01 2.55 0.57 1.6 3.26 0.405 0.65 105.4

-0.001 -0.25 -0.04 -0.11 -0.2 -0.02 -0.03 -4.6

-9.09% -8.93% -6.56% -6.43% -5.78% -4.71% -4.41% -4.18%

9 10

TEL PA

1475 3.15

-57 -0.11

-3.72% -3.37%

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

ACEN SM TEL EMP BDO CNVRG LTG MBT ALI AC

VOLUME 32,790,800 309,510 193,595 16,845,900 2,241,910 7,853,800 27,069,700 5,334,000 7,053,500 288,830

VALUE (PHP) 327,744,577 312,729,690 287,817,240 286,729,072 258,824,666 250,438,830 241,722,804 238,921,520 233,615,340 227,973,660

Brexit hits Britain’s food and drink exports to European Union—industry data LONDON, United Kingdom—British food and drink exports in the first six months of 2021 were down by nearly 20 percent from pre-pandemic levels, due to a slump in shipments to the European Union, industry data showed on Thursday.

In the period from January to June, Britain exported a total £9.2 billion (10.7 billion euros, $12.7 billion) worth of food and drink globally, the Food and Drink Federation calculated in a statement.

That compared with £9.6 billion in the first half of 2020 and £11.1 billion

in the first six months of 2019, representing a cumulative drop of nearly £2.0 billion or 17 percent, FDF said.

The shortfall was largely attributable to a slump in exports to the EU, which could not be offset by higher food and exports to non-EU countries, particularly Asia and South America, the federation said.

Britain left the EU single market and customs union on January 1, creating new bureaucratic barriers for its exporters already grappling with pandemicrelated issues.

Food and exports to the 27-nation bloc

amounted to £4.9 billion in the period from January to June this year, down from £5.9 billion from the first half of 2020 and £6.7 billion in the first six months of 2019, the FDF data showed.

By contrast, exports to non-EU countries were up 13 percent year-on-year in the first six months of this year.

The development “clearly demonstrates the serious difficulties manufacturers in our industry continue to face and the urgent need for additional specialist support,” said the federation’s head of international trade, Dominic Goudie.

Pointing to recent labor shortages

seen across the UK’s food and drink supply chain that have left shelves in some supermarkets empty, Goudie said that “unless steps are taken to address these issues, the ability of businesses to fulfill vital export orders will be impacted.”

Data from the Office for National Statistics published in mid-August showed that exports of overall goods to the EU, excluding precious metals, were higher in May and June than their pre-Brexit level, suggesting businesses are adapting to the new post-Brexit trading regimes, observers said. AFP

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

B4

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

Business

NESTLE’S 110TH YEAR IN PH.

Nestlé Philippines, one of the country’s top corporations, marks its 110th year by committing to intensify programs as a Kasambuhay for Good—a trusted companion in life— for society and the planet as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Joining the virtual celebration are (top row, from left: Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Nestlé Philippines chairman and chief executive Kais Marzouki, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez; (bottom row) Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, Nestlé Philippines senior vice president Arlene Tan-Bantoto and Makati City Mayor Mar-Len Abigail Binay.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, September 3, 2021 6,897.13

PSALM seeks bidders for Casecnan project STATE-RUN Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. said it will seek an operation and maintenance service contract for the 150 megawatt- Casecnan Multi-Purpose Project.

PSALM said in a statement the move would ensure the operations of the CMPP’s irrigation component and the power plant feature once the ownership of the CMPP is turned over to the government in December.

“PSALM intends to begin the procurement of the OMSC by the second week of September through a competitive public bidding process,” PSALM president and chief executive Irene Besido-Garcia said.

The agency said the National Irrigation Administration agreed to allow PSALM to be the one to procure the OMSC. PSALM, with the concurrence of the Department of Finance and the Department of Energy, will undertake the procurement of the OMSC pursuant to Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act. PSALM will then work on the terms of the privatization of the CMPP through public bidding. Alena Mae S. Flores

Asian Eye Institute doctor wins award

BPO sector expects to sustain growth 62.47 PTS.

IN BRIEF

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE

1,581,723,470 98,045 6,454,144,969.30

ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

104 102 39

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.0120

Japan

Yen

0.009097

0.4550

UK

Pound

1.383700

69.2016

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128679

6.4355

Switzerland

Franc

1.093613

54.6938

Canada

Dollar

0.796559

39.8375

Singapore

Dollar

0.744990

37.2584

Australia

Dollar

0.740100

37.0139

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653364

132.7000

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

13.3362

Brunei

Dollar

0.742225

37.1202

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.030837

1.5422

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.6169

Euro

Euro

1.187500

59.3893

Korea

Won

0.000863

0.0432

China

Yuan

0.154892

7.7465

India

Rupee

0.013700

0.6852

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.240616

12.0337

New Zealand

Dollar

0.710800

35.5485

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036220

1.8114 Source: BSP

By Othel V. Campos

T

HE call center and business process outsourcing industry expects an average annual growth of 2.7 percent to 3.2 percent until 2022, based on a study by global research firm Everest Group.

Some members of the Contact Center Association of the Philippines anticipate a higher growth, defying the impact of the shifting community quarantine protocols on businesses.

“While staying afloat was the focus for many businesses like the contact center sector in 2020, the attention has now shifted to growth and helping jumpstart the economy through hybrid work setup and intensified vaccination efforts,” said CCAP president Jojo Uligan.

“These will ensure that our employees are safe, healthy and can contribute to maintaining the country’s position as a top BPO destination,” Uligan said.

The Philippines was recognized as the call center capital of the world for over a decade. Several independent advisory reports like Kearney Global Services Location Index and Tholons Global Innovation Index continue to identify the Philippines as among the top countries for BPO and customer experience services.

It ranked No. 5 in the Tholons Global Innovation Index based on innovation and digital, super cities, population, and diversity and inclusion in 2020.

The 2021 Kearney Global Services Location Index ranked the Philippines at the 10th spot based on financial attractiveness, people skills and availability, business environment and digital resonance.

The Kearney report pointed out the country should rank higher in several key areas to improve its digital resonance score and “remain competitive in a digital-first world.”

Its observation was consistent with the recalibrated forecast of Everest Group, which highlighted that the continued growth of the Philippine industry would depend on accelerated

digital transformation, robust ecosystem, skilled workforce and strong government support.

The study identified challenges like perception of higher business environment risk due to regulatory uncertainty and relatively lower availability of digitally-skilled talent compared to other locations. Addressing these effectively “will be the key to the growth going forward,” it said.

“With our industry at the forefront of digital acceleration, it’s only essential that we bring in fresh ideas and expert opinions from around the world to help address these issues. Contact Islands aims to be that gathering of minds where new business models will be tackled and constant development will be pursued,” Uligan said.

The industry is preparing to revolve around new operating models to help companies navigate the new business environment while keeping employees healthy and safe. It will be discussed in the 2021 Contact Islands, CCAP’s annual world-class conference, a virtual event that will run from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1, 2021.

BSP asks financial companies to boost digital transactions

Alfamart bullish, bares expansion SUPER minimart chain Alfamart continues to reach out to more communities amid the pandemic, with many stores to be added this year.

Alfamart Philippines chief operating officer Harvey Ong said the company was on track to expanding its retail footprint to over 1,200 stores this year with the opening of at least 200 stores across Luzon in 2021.

“We continue to be guided by our company purpose of uplifting the lives of residents in underserved communities. We bring this to life by opening stores close to where our customers live and offering them a wide assortment of essential merchandise to address their daily and weekly needs,” Ong said.

Alfamart seeks to play a bigger role in community development by supporting local entrepreneurs, living up to its tagline, “Always here for You”.

“We want every Alfamart store to benefit its local community by generating employment, providing rental income to its lessors and creating opportunities for local suppliers. We also enable local businesses–such as carinderias and sari-sari stores–who turn to us when they need supplies,” Ong said.

D&L to increase bond offer to P5b on strong interest

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno on Friday asked financial technology companies to take advantage of the rising digital transactions and issuance of supportive e-payment policies.

“Strike while the iron is hot. Tap into your innovation DNA to create worthwhile solutions. The conditions are ripe and the time to act is now,” Diokno said during the Fintech Alliance Philippines’ general membership meeting.

Fintechs are companies that offer breakthrough platforms, services and digital systems to automate, expand and facilitate access to financial services.

Diokno cited the significant spike in digital transactions amid the pandemic as more people choose not to make face-to-face transactions to avoid COVID-19 infection.

Data showed that as of end-July 2021, InstaPay transaction volume and value jumped by 64 percent and 103 percent, respectively relative to the same period in 2020.

PESONet transaction volume and value also surged by 190 percent and 50 percent, respectively, as of end-July 2021.

The BSP issued policies on digital banking to encourage better delivery of financial services of digital banks without the constraints of brick-andmortar operations, and on open finance to promote greater interoperability and collaboration among financial institutions and fintechs.

The BSP is undertaking policy initiatives to amend its e-money and technology outsourcing circulars and formalize the BSP’s test-and-learn approach or regulatory sandbox.

It is also transitioning to a new supervisory rating framework, which hinges on stronger offsite supervision.

Diokno said all these initiatives aimed to support the digital transformation initiatives of BSP-supervised financial institutions, including fintech players, while promoting sound risk technology and cyber risk management.

ASIAN Eye Institute refractive surgery director Dr. Robert Ang received the Best Paper of Session Award at the recently concluded Annual Meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Held in Las Vegas, Nevada from July 23 to 27, 2021, the annual meeting served as a venue for ophthalmologists from different parts of the world to come together and share their knowledge on the latest surgical techniques and devices. Ophthalmologists submitted abstracts of their research projects for a chance to be selected and to present their work during the annual meeting.

Entitled Implantation of Small Aperture Intraocular Lens in Post-Refractive Surgery Eyes, Dr. Ang’s winning research paper showed that patients who previously had LASIK or PRK surgery enjoy clear vision after being implanted with an IC-8 intraocular lens during their cataract surgery. The IC-8 is a small aperture IOL produced by the American company Acufocus.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

FILINVEST VACCINATION. Filinvest Development Corp. kicks off the Visayas Leg of its conglomerate-wide vaccination program FILVAX at the ARC Hospital, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by (from left) Filinvest Land senior assistant vice president and Visayas-Mindanao regional product head Archie Igot, Quest Hotel and Conference Center Cebu general manager Mia Singson, ARC Hospital vaccine coordinator Alexis Olis, EastWest Bank relationship officer Kim Lex Regudon and store manager Edsel Palmares.

Converge ICT secures P3-b Land Bank loan for fiber network

By Darwin G. Amojelar CONVERGE ICT Solutions Inc. said Friday it signed a P3-billion loan with state-run Land Bank of the Philippines to fund the completion of its terrestrial and subsea domestic fiber backbone network and support the working capital requirements of the internet service provider.

“This loan financing brings us one step closer to our goal of connecting the unserved and underserved areas in the country. The available funds will help us reach into untapped markets, and really ‘Go Deep’ into existing ones,” Converge chief executive Dennis Anthony

Uy said in a statement.

“Our network investments are at the core of our service to Filipinos. There is still huge pent-up demand for highspeed broadband connectivity in the country. And the need for quality internet services became even more critical when the pandemic happened. Suddenly, the home became the office, the school, entertainment center, and marketplace in one,” he said.

The loan package from LandBank will include an additional short term loan line and a facility for its trade transactions amounting to P2 billion.

“This loan package will provide Converge with financial flexibility as we

continue to connect Filipino households to our pure fiber network nationwide,” Converge president Maria Grace Uy said.

“We expect this financing facility to strengthen our balance sheet and help us reach our goal of covering 55 percent of Filipino households by 2025.” she said.

Converge programmed P20 billion for 2021 capital expenditures, with the bulk going into its nationwide expansion where it connected Visayas and Mindanao to its national fiber backbone.

It recently commercially rolled out services in Cebu province and did a soft launch in Davao City.

FOOD ingredients and plastics maker D&L Industries Inc. said Friday its maiden bond sale received strong interest from investors, as the offering was almost five-times oversubscribed.

D&L said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the order book reached P13.8 billion, equivalent to 4.6 times the base offer size of P3 billion.

Given the strong demand, the company would likely exercise of the oversubscription option for another P2 billion. Upon full exercise of the option, the issue size will increase to P5 billion, composed of P3-billion bond with a tenor of 3 years and P2 billion with a tenor of 5 years.

“We are overwhelmed with the strong support the fixed income community has shown us in our debut bond issuance. This has allowed us to price our bonds at among the lowest rates in Philippine corporate bond history,” D&L president and chief executive Alvin Lao said.

“This maiden offering will be a useful financial exercise for the company and will allow us to fully fund our Batangas expansion, which will be the next leg of growth for the company,” he said.

Interest rates were set at the tight end of the marketing range, given the favorable response from investors.

The three-year bonds will carry a coupon rate of 2.7885 percent per annum, while the five-year bonds will carry a coupon rate of 3.5962 percent.

Five transport groups support mandatory motor vehicle inspection by private centers FIVE transportation groups expressed support to the Department of Transportation’s mandatory motor vehicle inspection by private centers to ensure the safety of commuters and motorists.

The transport groups said the DOTR should continue the Motor Vehicle Inspection System program for the safety of motorists and commuters.

“We believe this is a good program to ensure the safety of the drivers, operators, especially the commuting public,”

the transport groups said.

Among these groups are the Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas Inc., Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Pasang Masda and Alliance and Concern Transport Operators Inc. The groups said it is time to replace the old system involving private emission testing centers.

The DOTR earlier ordered the Land Transportation Office to temporary stop the mandatory implementation of MVIS amid issues raised by Sen. Grace Poe on complaints from motorists.

The Vehicle Inspection Center Operators Association of the Philippines said it appreciated the support expressed by the management of JoyRide PH to the mandatory implementation of the PMVIC Program.

“We are encouraged by the motor-

cycle taxi service provider’s trust and confidence in the comprehensive motor vehicle inspection service being conducted by our Centers,” VICOAP said.

“As a full-pledged participant to the Motorcycle Taxi Pilot Study, we commend JoyRide PH’s commitment to instill and ensure road safety as a crucial factor in its daily operations, to protect not only its riders, but more importantly, its clients and the public,” it said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Sports Djokovic 5 matches shy of Slam

Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns against Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands during his Men’s Singles second round match on Day Four of the 2021 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City. AFP

Tiongson’s fiery shooting fuels Dyip past Gin Kings

By Peter Atencio

T

ERRAFIRMA Dyip capped a fiery performance with two big charities from Juami Tiangson, whose second career-high output lifted his team to a 95-90 triumph over the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings.

The Dyip, with Tiongson leading with 31 points and a career-high nine triples, claimed their second win in six games on Friday in the the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Tiongson’s two freebies off Japeth Aguilar’s foul found their mark in the last seconds, right after the Gin Kings rallied from 13 points down in the last canto but still fell short.

The Dyip’s outside shooting worked wonders for them in third period as they broke loose from a twopoint, 51-49 edge.

Two of three triples in the last 4:05 came from Tiongson

Former PBL exec Ong dies TOMMY Ong, the amiable former deputy commissioner of the defunct Philippine Basketball League, passed away Friday (Sept. 3). He was 65.

Veteran broadcaster Chino Trinidad and Hapee Toothpaste sports coordinator Bernard Yang confirmed the sad news to friends and former associates of the man who brought to the country the famous Chinese player Ma Jian in the 1990s.

Ma Jian went on to play for Hapee, sparking terrific attention from various FilChinese associations in the country.

“He was the best ‘league fiscalizer’ any basketball administrator could ask for,” said Trinidad who served as PBL commissioner for years with Ong as his able assistant.

Among the PBL stars he was able to touch and help through his kind and soothing words were James Yap, Mark Pingris, brothers Yancy and Ranidel de Ocampo, LA Tenorio, Larry Fonacier, Peter June Simon, and Asi Taulava.

Ong was also the TV production head of the UCBL (Universities and Colleges Basketball League) before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic cut short his stint with the collegiate league.

Ong also played a key role in the growth of some FilChinese school and commercial leagues.

His remains lie in state at Sanctuarium on Araneta Avenue, Quezon City. Interment will be announced later.

as the Dyip gained a 17-point spread, 72-55.

“Our players worked hard. They played as a team.

Wala ako masabi,” said Dyip coach John Cardel.

Christian Standhardinger knocked in 17 points for Ginebra, which fell to a 2-3 slate.

Meanwhile, two teammates with fresh legs took

Terrafirma’s Juami Tiongson passes the ball after finding himself double-teamed by the pesky Ginebra defense.

charge for the Magnolia Hotshots, who fended off the winless Blackwater Elite, 94-78, in an earlier game.

Andy Barroca and Ian Sangalang made their presence felt during a crucial phase of the third period, allowing the Hotshots to bounce back from an earlier loss to the Meralco Bolts.

Their big games allowed Paul Lee and Calvin Abueva to get some relief following their exhausting performance during their 94-95 setback to the Bolts two days ago.

Barroca knocked in 16 points, including one of four big triples in the last 10:30, which allowed the Hotshots to move away from a one-point lead.

His trey came as the Hotshots took control on a couple of three-point plays from Abueva and Lee, forcing the Elite to four turnovers and four treys and handing the Hotshots a 19-point advantage, 70-51, with 4:20 left.

The Hotshots picked up their fifth win in six games for a share of the lead with the Bolts.

“It’s very important (the win) because in the last five days, we have three games. I need to manage the minutes of my players so that they can be fresh in every game,” said Hotshots’ coach Chito Victolero.

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

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NEW YORK—World number one Novak Djokovic moved five matches from completing the first men’s singles calendar-year Grand Slam in 52 years by advancing to the third round of the US Open on Friday.

The 34-year-old Serbian cruised past 121st-ranked Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium to book a third-round date with 2014 US Open runner-up Kei Nishikori of Japan.

“I’m as motivated as ever to do well,” Djokovic said. “I’m not the only player that wants to go deep in the tournament and put his hands on the trophy. I’m trying to be my best every day and let’s see what happens.”

Djokovic, chasing the first men’s singles calendar Slam since Rod Laver in 1969, said the mental challenge was tougher than the physical one at this stage.

“Probably it’s more mental and emotional, really,” Djokovic said. “I don’t mind being on the court a long time. I feel I have more chances in a best-of-five.

“It’s more about handling everything that’s happening off the court, all the expectations.”

A fourth US Open crown would bring Djokovic his 21st career Grand Slam crown, giving him the men’s all-time record, one more than the mark he now shares with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, both absent with injuries.

Djokovic said he was holding off enjoying New York’s nightlife.

“We’ll party and celebrate hopefully in a few weeks’ time,” Djokovic said.

Griekspoor broke in the seventh game of the second set to pull within 4-3 when Djokovic sent a backhand long, but the number one broke back and held, taking the set on his 10th ace on his way to a 99-minute victory.

“I came out on the court with the right energy, right focus,” Djokovic said.

Nishikori made himself an obstacle in Djokovic’s path to history by outlasting American Mackenzie McDonald 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 2-6, 6-3, avenging a loss in last month’s Washington semi-finals.

Djokovic has a 17-2 career record against Nishikori, who last beat the Serbian star in the 2014 US Open semi-finals. Since then, Djokovic has won 16 in a row, most recently in the Tokyo Olympic quarter-finals.

“Even though I had a bad record, I always try to be positive,” Nishikori said. “I’m sure it’s going to be tough one, but I do my best.” AFP

PH caps Paralympics’ campaign on a whimper TOKYO—Swimmer Gary Bejino and wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan bowed out of their respective events on a whimper Friday, capping the Philippine team’s campaign at the Tokyo Paralympic Games here.

Bejino finished seventh in the second heat with a time of one minute and 28.87 seconds in the men’s 100-meter backstroke-S6 race in his fourth and final event at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre to wrap up his Paralympic debut supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

The 25-year-old Albay native placed last overall among the field of 20 entries, 14.72 seconds behind Chinese two-time Paralympic Games silver medalist Jia Hongguang, who led the top eight qualifiers in the afternoon finals with a time of 1:14.15.

“He (Bejino) was about .30 seconds away from his personal best. Nagkamali siya going for the turn at the halfway mark so had an open turn (touching the wall). But we are still happy with his time,” said swimming para coach Tony Ong in the light of the challenges they faced here.

Over at Japan National Stadium under drizzling conditions, Mangliwan had another problematic start and finished dead last among eight runners in the men’s 100-meter-T52 finals, clocking 20.08 seconds in the event handily won by American Raymond Martin in 16.99 seconds.

“I was talking to Jerrold before the start of the race and he seemed to be having problems with his rim-pusher on the racer, putting tape on it to have a firm grip. Yung 20 seconds talagang mabagal yun para sa

kanya,” said athletics para coach Joel Deriada. “May naging problema talaga.”

Deriada pointed out that the athlete’s time was off his personal best of 18.88 seconds and a season-best clocking of 18.98 seconds recorded last May in the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Notwil, Switzerland.

With the lessons learned from the stint of the Pinoy standard-bearers here, Ong and Deriada shared their thoughts on how the athletes could prepare for succeeding international competitions, especially with the Vietnam ASEAN Para Games and Asian Para Games in China looming in 2022.

Both coaches recommended that their wards should have ready access to training facilities while the country copes with the

COVID-19 pandemic.

“I recommend that the para-swimming team have full and uninterrupted access to a 50-meter pool. It is crucial to take our workouts seriously for us to prepare and present the country in the future Games very well,” Ong stressed.

“Mahalaga po talaga ‘yung training area ng mga atleta na permanente. Mahirap mag-train kung laging disrupted katulad ng nangyari sa amin sa pandemic,” said Deriada, adding that in the future Mangliwan could possibly train with other wheelchair racers of the national team.

“Madalas kasi may mga kasamang training partners si Jerrold who could push him harder. This time, he had to train solo,” the coach said.

Cantlay leads Rahm by 2 at PGA Tour Championship WASHINGTON—Patrick Cantlay’s three-under-par 67 kept him two strokes clear of hard-charging world number one Jon Rahm Thursday in the first round of the US PGA Tour Championship.

Cantlay was staked to a two-stroke lead at 10-under par under the staggered-start system for the season finale after topping the tour’s playoff standings thanks to his playoff win over Bryson DeChambeau in the BMW Championship on Sunday.

His four birdies on the day included a chip-in at the third and a two-putt birdie from 54 feet on the fringe at the par-five 18th at East Lake in Atlanta, Georgia.

At 13-under, he was two clear of Spain’s Rahm, who holed out from the fairway for birdie at the first on the way to a five-under-par 65 that put him at 11-under.

Rahm rolled in a 22-footer at the fourth and a two-footer at the sixth.

He bounced back nicely from bogeys at the seventh and eighth with birdies at 12 and 13 before capping his round with birdies at 17 and 18.

“Played really good 14 holes, and then I think there was a bit of a slump on seven through 10, but I was able to manage really well those.

“The up-and-down for bogey on eight, the up-and-down for par on nine, and the up-and-down for par on 10 were key three in a row to limit the mistakes or the damage and from then I played amazing golf.”

Rahm said the chip-in at the first got him going, but the tough long putt at the second was an even bigger confidence-builder.

“It was a great round except a couple of errors, but that’s why we practice short game.”

Rahm, who started the round four shots back based on his spot in the playoff standings, said he didn’t think too much about the format.

“It’s very easy to get caught up on how far back you start,” he said. “I don’t think I really once thought about it out there. I was just trying to post a score.

“My job is to hit the best shot I can each time and that’s all can I control -- 72 holes, it’s a lot of holes and four shots is not that much (to make up).”

Cantlay also said he tried not to focus on the fact that he was handed a lead before hitting a shot, putting him in pole position to claim the win and the $15 million playoff champion’s bonus.

“What goal I really have for this week is being process-oriented and being very present,” he said. “I think being in the spot that I’m in, it would be easy to get ahead of yourself and easy to maybe stray from your game plan because you feel like you’re ahead, and that’s just not helpful.

“So I’m not going to do that.”

English ace Americans Harris English and DeChambeau were tied for third on eight-under, DeChambeau carding a one-under 69 and English a four-under 66 that included a hole in one at the par-three 15th that he followed with birdies at 16 and 17. AFP Patrick Cantlay of the United States plays his shot from the 16th tee during the first round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. AFP

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor E-mail: jdlacsamana@gmail.com

Home/Design

IDC’s Miramonti gets EDGE nod

By Alena Mae Flores

I

TALPINAS Development Corporation (IDC) recently received the EDGE preliminary certification for Miramonti Green Residences Phase 1 from the Philippine Green Building Initiative, Inc. (PGBI).

It was signed by Engr. Leandro A. Conti, PGBI Chairman and President; and Engr. Ramon D. Aguilos, EDGE Program Director.

“We at IDC are, of course, delighted about this achievement and grateful to PGBI and EDGE for granting Miramonti Phase 1 this very important certification,” said Romolo V. Nati, chairman and CEO of IDC. “While there are a few green building certification bodies available for local developments, IDC chose EDGE because it is designed for the particular environment that we are developing in the Philippines,” he added. “EDGE takes into consideration these specific aspects and contextualizes its processes and systems accordingly.”

Meeting global standards After an initial third-party audit, EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) found Miramonti Green Residences Phase 1 in Sto. Tomas, Batangas truly green and sustainable. This means that Miramonti meets the global standards for green building certification, in the same way that IDC is aligned with the UN sustainable development goals of (a) building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation (#9); and (b) making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable (#11).

According to EDGE, Miramonti Phase 1’s resource-efficient design will result in the reduction of 39% in energy, 52% in water, and 41% in embodied energy in materials, compared to a local base case.

Angelo Tan, the International Finance Corporation’s Climate Business Country Lead for the Philippines, said “Italpinas is one of the pioneers of EDGE certification in the Philippines, playing an instrumental role in the growth of EDGE-certified buildings that we are now seeing across the country.

As an EDGE Champion, and with the successful preliminary certification of Miramonti, Italpinas continues to fulfill their commitment to sustainable development through their consistent approach to greening their real estate portfolio.”

Emphasis on passive green features As a green building certification body, EDGE is an innovation of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. EDGE gives importance to passive green features, something that aligns with IDC’s basic philosophy of using passive green design strategies in all its developments.

All of IDC’s projects have so far received awards for best mixed-use building in the Philippines by the South East Asia Property Awards for several years. This is relevant not only for the prestige or recognition but because sustainability in green buildings has become greatly relevant for a lot of people in this pandemic.

“We’re very happy with this development,” said IDC’s director and president Atty. Jojo Leviste. “External accreditation from internationally recognized bodies is important to us, for confirming objectively that IDC’s design philosophy walks the talk.”

Resort-style living in Las Piñas City TO DESCRIBE a place of residence as something that is “walking distance to a mall” is synonymous to convenience, or more time for self-care as there are nearby spas, salons, barber shops, fitness centers, and the like.

This is the lifestyle Sonora Garden

Residences aims to offer in Las Piñas City. A joint venture of DMCI Homes and Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), the three-building condominium boasts of the resort-type of living with easy access to the Robinsons Place Las Piñas Mall.

Plus, 70 percent of the 1.45-hectare land area will be devoted to open spaces, which gives you a feel of nature—with natural light and fresh air—in the middle of a bustling city. To learn more about the project, call DMCI Homes at (632) 5324-8888/0917 880 8800.

guesswork in buying a home as everything is laid out for anyone to see.

Potential homeowners can inspect the units if the location, space, construction,

fixtures, color, and materials suit their liking and fit their lifestyle. To know more, email invest@federalland.ph or call 7506-6473 to schedule a private viewing.

Ditching the guesswork in home-buying FEDERAL Land is building exclusive residential properties like Tropicana Garden City and Marquinton Residences, that offer a mixed-use community living experience in the heart of Marikina City.

Tropicana Garden City is a nine-tower garden community inspired by the elegance of Mediterranean Castilian architecture.

Marquinton Residences is a medium-rise planned residential community offering a range of amenities like a swimming pool, basketball court, fitness gym, daycare center, and children’s playground among others. Both developments offer pre-selling units, but for those who want to move in fast, a Ready for Occupancy (RFO) property is a good option. RFOs remove the

Prime investment in Taguig

MEGAWIDE BAGS DOLE SAFETY SEAL. Megawide’s industrial complex recently received a Safety Seal certification from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region IV. The Safety Seal is a certification that an establishment is compliant with the government’s minimum public health standards to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and uses or integrates its contact tracing with StaySafe.ph. “This is part of our commitment to provide a safe and healthy workplace, not only for our staff, but to all people who will go inside our facilities,” said Edgar Saavedra, Megawide chairman and CEO. At the certification ceremony were (from left) Megawide vice president for Formworks Neil Sharpe; human resources head Jose Voltaire dela Rosa; safety manager Christopher Tamayo; and head of facilities management Ruel Alma.

Also present were DOLE regional director Exequiel Ronie Guzman; asst. regional director , Atty. Nepomuceno A. Leano II; and Rizal provincial director Marivic Martinez.

PROPERTY firm Novel Residential Concepts Inc. is offering up to 12 percent annual return at zero risk via its Ridgewood Premier Hotel project along C-5 Road in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

The 168-room project offers units ranging from standard suite (24.8 sq. m. at P3.54 million including hotel furnishings), to a twobedroom suite (55.7 sq. m. at P6.92 million).

Investors can choose between two payment schemes spread over 24 months. “By investing in a hotel unit

LION CITY OF THE SOUTH. Greenfield City, the brainchild of Greenfield Development Corporation, is located at the heart of the “Lion City of the South”, Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Greenfield City is a 400-hectare self-sustaining network of residential, commercial, industrial and recreational communities. Patterned after a park-living concept, Greenfield City puts a premium on open spaces and nature and offers a refuge for those looking for a refreshing shift in lifestyle outside of Metro Manila. Zadia and Trava are just two of Greenfield’s developments that look toward the future. Zadia (Shown in photo) was created with the spirit of fusing modern living with a nature-inspired lifestyle. Trava, a 33-hectare residential development, dedicates 45% of the property to expansive green meadows, playgrounds, and tree-lined wide roads.

Greenfield City is located just a few kilometers away from the South Luzon Expressway via the Greenfield City-Unilab interchange and the Cavite-Laguna Expressway.

at Ridgewood Premier Hotel, we will make your money work for you,” said Roberto Alvarez Jr., president of Novel Residential Concepts Inc. “We will be managing your hotel unit, including its maintenance and even settle property taxes on your behalf.”

Ridgewood Premier Hotel is targeted to start full operations by the early part of 2023.

Tech & Gadgets Pi Network: Mine on your phone

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

vivo named top 5G smartphone brand in Asia Pacific for 2021 2Q L

EADING smartphone brand vivo has been named the top 5G smartphone vendor in Asia Pacific for the second quarter of 2021 according to global market solutions company Strategy Analytics Inc.

By Lyka Jazmin Dela Cruz PI NETWORK, which aims to provide an accessible crypto mining for digital currencies, joins the bandwagon of earning websites and applications as users continue to prove the legitimacy of the website and how easy it can be used.

Over the past few months, earning websites and applications gained popularity among users as it provides easier access to earn money amid pandemic.

Usually, applications involving games are the ones where you can earn money, and this is where Pi Network differs from these websites and applications, because in Pi Network, no activity will be made in order to continue the mining of digital currencies.

How does Pi Network work?

Pi Network, just like any other application, needs to be installed on your smart phone in order to use it. Unlike other applications, though, you no longer need to play games or listen to music or read articles to continue mining your digital currencies.

In Pi Network, you can continue mining by just simply opening the application and clicking the button with an energy sign. Once you click the sign, you can see how many pi you can earn per hour.

Currently, Pi Network Coins’ value is $0.009, but the more you mine, the more you can cash out. You can easily transfer your pi network coins to online banks with a proof of transaction which will make you feel secure once a transaction is done.

However, although some users find this application legit since no money will be spent once you sign up, other users also testify that mining of digital currencies in this application seems to be longer than other applications. Some say despite years of using this application, they still can’t mine higher than the regular rates.

“vivo is the leading [5G] smartphone vendor in Asia Pacific, with annual shipment growth of 215 percent,” says Yiwen Wu, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics.

In a report published last month, Ms. Wu noted that vivo has grown past other smartphone providers by capitalizing on the combination of leading technology and affordable prices. Asia Pacific’s 5G smartphone shipments have more than doubled over the last year (up 110 percent annually). vivo currently hold 18.2% market share in the Philippines making one of the top smartphone brands in the country, with growth attributable to the brand’s focus on introducing affordable devices including the Y12s and top-of-the-line smartphones like V21 and X60.

The Philippine smartphone market has continued its upward trajectory for the fourth consecutive quarter after posting 22.6 percent year-on-year growth on the second quarter of 2021 according to the International Data Corporation’s (IDC) Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker report released last month.

Meanwhile, 5G capable phones have accounted for more than 10 percent of total shipments in the second quarter of the year, growing by 56.1% from the previous quarter. This, according to IDC, reflects the willingness of Filipinos to spend more for better functionality.

For more information and new product updates visit www.vivoglobal.ph, and vivo’s official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. Get first dibs on the newest vivo devices on its Lazada and Shopee official stores and its physical stores and kiosks nationwide. vivo is a technology company that creates great products based on a design-driven value, with smart devices and intelligent services as its core. The company aims to build a bridge between humans and the digital world. Through

vivo’s growth attributed to providing leading smartphone technology alongside affordable prices

unique creativity, vivo provides users with an increasingly convenient mobile and digital life. Following the company’s core values, which include Benfen, design-driven and user orientation, vivo has implemented a sustainable development strategy, with the vision of becoming a healthier, longer-lasting world-class corporation.

While recruiting and developing the best local talents, vivo is supported by a network of 10 R&D centers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Xi’an, Taipei, Tokyo and San Diego, focusing on the development of state-of-the-art consumer

technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, industrial design, photography and other up-and-coming technologies. vivo has also set-up five production hubs (including brand authorized manufacturing center), across China, South- and Southeast Asia, with an annual production capacity of nearly 200 million smartphones.

As of now, vivo has branched out its sales network across more than 50 countries and regions, and is loved by more than 400 million users worldwide.

Please stay informed of vivo's news at https://www. vivo.com/en/about-vivo/news

Digitizing, transforming logistics thru XLOG Shiptek CEO Jose Emmanuel Ynion

DESPITE the increasing interest in digital commerce and products, the emergence of digitalization in the logistics and supply chain sectors continues to receive little attention, particularly from organizational theorists.

In response, XLOG, the Filipino developed fully integrated blockchain-based endto-end shipping and logistics platform owned

by Shiptek Solutions Corp., taking an institutionalist view, believing the emergence and adoption of digitalization is a socially constructed phenomenon.

"The current or traditional way of doing logistics, especially in the mid-mile, is inefficient and disorderly, riddled with a lot of manual processes which are prone to mistakes and delays," said Eric John Vitug, sales and marketing head at Shiptek.

According to Vitug, the logistics industry needs to take advantage of technological advancements to speed up their processes and reduce mistakes by minimizing the manual steps required for each transaction. "This is where XLOG comes in!" he added.

XLOG is a blockchain-enabled innovative approach to logistics that enables the industry to manage and monitor their transactions online and leverage the provenance of data that improves the process-

Digital solutions urged to fill gaps in pandemic-driven learning crisis THE stronger adoption of digital solutions is key to closing gaps in online learning, and the private sector is stepping up and taking on this crucial role, consumer advocacy group CitizenWatch Philippines said in a statement.

“The pandemic caused an abrupt shift to online learning for which our educators and learners were not prepared,” said lawyer Tim Abejo, CitizenWatch Philippines co-convenor.

“A year and a half later, the online mode has exposed many flaws in our education system and has resulted in a learning crisis.”

He cited the closing of schools, the unprecedented dropout rate and the low level of student engagement as some of the manifestations of this crisis, stemming from an uneven access to stable internet connectivity across the country.

Abejo believes that the private sector should lead the push for these digital solutions to benefit as many learners as possible.

“There are many examples of such initiatives which should be encouraged and even incentivized to boost continuous learning through extensive integration of the K12 curriculum to reliable online learning platforms,” he said.

“These learning platforms supplement the modules already given by teachers to their students such that they can spend their free time while still enriching their minds,” Abejo said.

Meanwhile, key public officials expressed their support for the GoLearn program of the DepED in partnership with Globe Telecom.

Senator Joel “Tesdaman” Villanueva,

chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development, and of the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education said, “GoLearn is a digital solution to widen the access to training. With it, learning is at students’ fingertips; it is very convenient.”

In a recent statement on the DepED budget, he stressed the government’s failure to invest in digital infrastructure that would have aided the DepEd’s blended learning program amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tonisito C. Umali, Undersecretary of Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships and Project Management Service of the Department of Education said the GoLearn platform will help provide connectivity, learning platforms and learning management systems. “All of these supplement what we are already doing in the department in closing the learning gap.”

Ayala Corporation chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala emphasized his group’s commitment to help the education sector through digital solutions and specifically through GoLearn.

He said the GoLearn program provides enabling solutions that propel the education sector to progressive digital learning.

“Pandemic or not, quality education is a right and must be made available to all,” said Abejo.

“The private sector must provide support to the government in ensuring that every Filipino gets a fighting chance and that no learner is left behind.”

ing of transactions between operations and finance. It directly connects shipping companies and truck owners to shippers, customs brokers, and freight forwarders.

It offers solutions, not just for shipping lines, but all companies engaged in the supply chain that will allow their businesses to go digital immediately while boosting their cash flow through embedded financial services offered within the platform without making a significant financial investment.

Embedded financial services are when banks can incorporate financial services seamlessly into the activities and the experiences that truly matter to individuals and businesses.

An example of this application is the partnership between Union Bank of the Philippines and XLOG to provide "anchor financing" powered by blockchain to offer a seamless trading solution in the logistics space while eliminating the risk of bogus transactions.

XLOG has recently started the Cebu-based shipping company Gothong Southern Shipping Lines Incorporated’s (GSS) onboarding process, led by the company’s Chief Operating Officer Rex V. Yuvienco. The onboarding process involves training both the shipping company and their customers on using XLOG's platform to familiarize themselves with the system and maxi-

mize its full potential.

Digitalization is key to GSS’s foray into expanding its portfolio and ensuring excellence in operational efficiency. XLOG will be a major catalyst in this endeavor. Freight forwarding (which includes Full Container/Less Container Load, Breakbulk, Rolling Cargoes) and Trucking are the primary services of the company and their presence in XLOG will ensure customers will have valuable options.

XLOG makes it possible for new GSS customers to experience seamless transactions through its Booking Portal—a more efficient way of capturing shipping requirements digitally while providing instant schedule availability and rate quotation. Also, customers will have the ability to Track and Trace their cargo as they can monitor GSS vessels’ location at sea.

"XLOGPAY—generate invoices digitally and boost cash flow through embedded financial services that offer early payment collection; online payment and finance management - monitor and settle transactions online with XLOG's e-invoice generation, finance management, and online payment options integrated with banks or payment partners; and APE / EDI integration - integrate with existing systems for a more seamless digital experience."

SAP Fioneer starts operations SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) announced the global launch of partners and colleagues. SAP Fioneer will have operations in SAP Fioneer, a joint venture for the financial services in- more than 10 countries in Europe, North and Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region by end of 2021. SAP will condustry between SAP and Dediq GmbH. The launch follows the announcement to establish the tinue to sell and support SAP® solutions for enterprise incompany made in April of this year by SAP and Dediq, formation management and line-of-business solutions to FSI an entrepreneurial investor focused on information tech- companies and SAP customers will remain SAP customers.

“Our customers can expect the same high-quality ennology and digital businesses. SAP Fioneer expands the financial service software offered by SAP. It also develops gagement they are used to, but now also benefit from new new solutions to serve its customers in the rapidly chang- capabilities. Solutions of SAP Fioneer will be based on integrated data and allow customers to move FSI processes to ing banking and insurance industries.

Today’s go-live of SAP Fioneer marks another important SAP Business Technology Platform in the cloud,” said Dirk milestone in SAP’s long history of success in the FSI market. Kruse, CEO, SAP Fioneer. “We are excited to accelerate the More than 800 of the world’s top 1,000 banks and insurance business transformations of our customers with innovative companies are SAP customers. SAP Fioneer focuses fully on solutions that will be built as part of SAP’s industry cloud accelerated innovation in the area of core banking, core insur- solutions, all based on SAP technologies and applications.”

Visit the SAP News Center. Follow SAP on Twitter at ance and FSI-specific finance solutions and is mandated to extend the SAP for Banking and SAP for Insurance solution @SAPNews. portfolios to cover banking and insurance processes holistically.

“As in any other industry, companies in financial services need to transform their business to stay ahead of the competition,” said Christian Klein, CEO and Member of the Executive Board, SAP SE. “SAP Fioneer will help them to meet their needs for speed, scalability and cost-efficiency through digital business innovation, cloud technology and solutions that cover banking and insurance processes end to end. SAP has a long and successful track record in the financial services industry, and I am convinced that SAP Fioneer will become a leading global provider of financial services software solutions and platforms.”

SAP Fioneer enables customers to innovate and transform their business by combinSAP Fioneer focuses fully on accelerated innovation in the area of core ing premier technology with development banking, core insurance and FSI-specific finance solutions. expertise and a global network of customers,

Motoring

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

C4

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

Nissan upgrades Terra N

ISSAN Philippines strengthens its local line- up with the launch of the Nissan Terra 2021 version, which has gone on sale starting this week. Tougher, more versatile, and more sophisticated, Nissan's seven-seater family SUV is upgraded with many premium and advanced features, empowering shared experiences and adventures with loved ones.

Built on 70 years of Nissan's SUV expertise and heritage, the new Terra has upgraded features in its design, performance, and technology.

The exterior carries Nissan's "unbreakable design language", giving the Nissan midsize SUV a look that is tough, modern, techy, and elegant. The front fascia features the new V-motion grille with the redesigned front bumper, the unique C-shaped LED signature, and the quad LED projector headlamps. The rear emphasizes the vehicle's strength and width with the new tail lamps, the wide LED signatures, the redesigned rear bumper, the characteristic chrome center finisher, as well as the updated spoiler design and sharkfin antenna.

It also has a new 18-inch two-tone alloy wheel design to go along with the updated exterior upgrades, improved maneuverability with the Quick Steering Gear Ratio, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, as well as the Rear Differential Lock for the VL 4x4 variant.

The new Nissan Terra's improved two-tone interiors include a redesigned dashboard and instrument panel, a new D-shaped steering wheel design, new center console design with integrated Wireless Charging and e-Parking Brake, and a new high contrast 7" Advanced Drive Assist Display. Designed for the whole family to enjoy, the new Nissan Terra's entertainment elements were also enhanced, which now features a Nissan 9" Advanced Touchscreen Display Audio with Android Auto and Wireless Apple Carplay, 11" Flipdown Rear Monitor, and an 8- speaker BOSE Premium Sound System for the VL 4x4 variant.

The new Nissan Terra is packed with more Nissan Intelligent Mobility features than the previous model, enhancing overall driving safety and confidence for drivers and their loved ones. The new Nissan Terra now comes with Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, while carrying over the Lane

Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning, and Intelligent Rear View Mirror features from the previous model. The Intelligent Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection now comes with an Offroad Monitor for the VL 4x4 variant. The new Terra also comes with the segmentfirst Intelligent Driver Alertness that senses cues from the driver and gives alerts to the driver if a break from the wheel is needed.

The suite of these NIM features combine

into the 360 Safety Shield, a 360-degree safety system which helps protect both the driver and passengers from potential risks approaching the vehicle.

The Nissan Terra also comes with a vehicle warranty of five years or 150,000 kilometers, whichever comes first. Similar to the Nissan Navara, the warranty of the Nissan Terra is the first in its segment, offering customers a hassle-free ownership experience.

"The new Nissan Terra is a smart and reliable family SUV that gives you and your loved ones confidence, comfort, control, safety, and peace of mind. We took the well-known all-terrain toughness and capabilities from Nissan's 70 years of SUV heritage, and added the latest technologies, to turn the new Terra into the perfect partner for sharing experiences with your family and loved ones," says Nissan Philippines President and Managing Director Atsushi Najima.

Cleanfuel expands network in Los Baños

Raikkonen: No complaints ahead of F1 retirement KIMI Raikkonen said on Thursday he has "no complaints" about his time in Formula One after announcing he will retire from the sport at the end of the season.

This weekend's Dutch Grand Prix will be the 345th race entry of the Finn's career, the highlight of which was winning the 2007 world championship for Ferrari.

"I had a good run, I'm happy with what I achieved," said Raikkonen.

"Obviously you want to win and it's not easy to win. I wanted to win a championship, I got close quite a few times and managed to win it with Ferrari, so happy that it happened, especially with them...

"I had fun and I did it my way, and I wouldn't change a single thing even if I could, because otherwise then maybe we wouldn't be sitting here today if you changed one thing along the way. No complaints—I cannot really complain."

The 41-year-old, who has won 21 races since his 2001 debut, has scored only two points this season for the struggling Alfa Romeo team.

His last victory came at the 2018 United States Grand Prix in the final year of his second stint at Ferrari.

Raikkonen, who previously raced in NASCAR and the world rally championship during a two-year hiatus from F1 in 2010-11, said he was yet to decide what his next move would be.

"No plans. I don't want to have some schedule put on, because obviously the last 18, 19 years in F1, since I started —I did rally in those two years—there was always a schedule, always what is coming next and what is this date and that date," he added. "So I don't want that."

Raikkonen, nicknamed 'The Iceman', insisted he does not think he will regret his decision to leave the sport.

"Will I miss the racing? I don't know.

I've done it so long that I doubt that I'll start to miss it that much."

Media reports have linked his compatriot Valtteri Bottas with a move to replace him at Alfa Romeo, which would free up a seat alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for promising Williams driver George Russell. AFP

LEADING independent oil player Cleanfuel once again widens its reach in the Southern Luzon region, particularly in Laguna, after establishing a new presence in the popular tourist place Los Baños known for its hot spring resorts.

Situated along the National Highway in Barangay Maahas, Los Baños, the inauguration of the latest station under the brand—famous for offering “Quality Fuel for Less” to motorists— is the fifth station in the province of Laguna.

According to Cleanfuel President and CEO Jesus "Bong" Suntay, the Southern Luzon area has a strong potential for building loyal Cleanfuel patrons. "The continuous growth of our brand is the result of the positive response of our loyal patrons. We are happy to see the growing number of our customers in the South area. We are happy to see the growing number of our customers in the South area," Suntay said.

“Soon, we will be opening two more stations in the Laguna Area to be located in Pila and Calauan-San Pablo in order to serve our growing number of customers in the province ,” he added.

The other Laguna Cleanfuel stations

are located in Biñan, Sta. Rosa, San Pablo and Calamba.

The chief executive officer of Cleanfuel vows its support and commitment to providing customers not only professional service and world class facilities but also

quality fuel for less.

“We hope that with the opening of the Cleanfuel Los Baños, we can provide top quality fuel at affordable price to the city’s motorists,” Suntay said.

The city of Los Baños, composed of 14 barangays and otherwise known as the Science and Nature City of the Philippines, is home to the majestic Mount Makiling and the numerous private resorts and hot springs that welcome both local and foreign tourists.

Meanwhile, motorists driving in and out the area can fuel their vehicles with

first-class Cleanfuel products such as Clean 91, Premium 95, and high-grade diesel.

With the products priced affordably, Suntay noted that the newly-opened station will also provide motorists more miles for their money.

Cleanfuel Los Baños station also provides customers top-rate amenities such as clean and spacious airconditioned restrooms, air and water services, as well as other quality products that local motorists can experience and enjoy.

Also available is Cleanfuel’s rewards program and cashless payments that accommodate multiple payment solutions.

Motorists are urged to sign up for Cleanfuel VIP reward cards that are given to motorists for FREE. This membership-based program is designed to provide numerous giveaways and discounts at partner establishments.

Moreover, Cleanfuel Los Baños boasts a safe and risk-free environment as its workforce continuously upholds safety health precautions such as wearing face masks and face shields, thermal scanning of personnel, social distancing, disinfection of workstations, and hand-washing.

Caltex brings back Biyaheng Bakunado AS THE country continues its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Caltex, marketed by Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI) is once again offering fuel discounts to Filipino motorists already vaccinated from the virus with the second run of its “Caltex Biyaheng Bakunado” promo from September 1 to 21, 2021 at participating Caltex stations.

As in its first run, Caltex Biyaheng Bakunado makes vaccinated motorists eligible for a fuel discount of Php 3.00 per liter for Platinum and Silver with Techron and Php 2.00 per liter for Diesel with Techron D. Customers just need to log in details, present a COVID-19 vaccination card with at least 1 vaccine dose record and one valid ID. Customers vaccinated on or before the promo duration are qualified for the discount.

Motorists who have been inoculated with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can avail fuel discounts at participating Caltex stations.

“We continue to encourage more Filipinos to get vaccinated when they have the opportunity to do so in order to protect themselves and their loved ones from the disease,” said CPI Country Chairman Billy Liu. “We also remain committed to promoting health and safety among our employees and customers. This is why we are bringing back Biyaheng Bakunado fuel discount promo for our motorists.”

Caltex Biyaheng Bakunado applies to fuel loaded to the customer’s vehicle fuel tank only. A maximum of 60 liters and 2 transactions will only be allowed per day. The promo cannot be availed in conjunction with any of Caltex’s ongoing discount promos. Caltex previously rolled out the Biyaheng Bakunado promo from June 28 to July 18, 2021.

Honda embarks on donation drive HONDA’S automobile business unit in the Philippines, recently conducted its donation drive to hospitals around Laguna. This is part of the company’s continuing support to medical frontliners in their battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honda donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and food packs to three hospitals, namely The Medical City South Luzon and New Sinai MDI Hospital in Santa Rosa, Laguna; and Global Care Medical Center in Canlubang, Laguna. Along with that, Honda, during ECQ, also temporarily provided vehicles to these hospitals, along with four (4) other hospitals namely: Unihealth-Southwoods Hospital and Medical Center and Perpetual Help Medical Center in Biñan, Laguna; Global Care Medical Center in Cabuyao, Laguna; and Carmona Hospital and Medical Center

in Carmona, Cavite.

“We are truly grateful to our medical frontliners who continuously provide the utmost care and service to numerous patients during this pandemic. We hope that through this activity, we are able to assist the hardworking and brave hospital personnel as they continue to face the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.” said Delfin De Guzman, Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. General Manager for Customer Service.

The proceeds of the recently sold Honda Team Mugen SF13 race car allowed HCPI to continue their support for the nation’s frontliners. To recap, the Team Mugen SF13 was brought to Philippines in 2014 following its championship winning year. The titlewinning Super Formula race car was showcased in select dealerships and events, including the 2014 Philippine International Motor Show.