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PALACE SEES ‘MERRIER XMAS;’ ALERT LEVEL 4 SET FOR EXTENSION

By Vito Barcelo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Willie Casas

FILIPINOS will have a merrier Christmas this year as the government expects to vaccinate at least 70 percent to 80 percent of the population in Metro Manila, the Palace said Thursday.

The optimistic projection came as an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the pilot implementation of the new alert level system with granular

lockdowns in Metro Manila may be extended beyond September.

At a press briefing Thursday, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said he was hopeful that the government would hit its goal of inoculating 70 percent to 80 percent of its target population in Metro Manila and that people would “somehow return” to their normal lives.

The Palace official also said Metro Manila, the center of economy, might be downgraded to Alert Level 3 from Alert Level 4.

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We’re still in trouble—NTF • Hospitals overburdened • Frontliners getting sick • Cases still high

End of holiday: Du30 signs law 2,434,753 taxing POGOs 17,411

By Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure taxing Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), the Palace said Thursday.

“This [Republic Act No. 11590] is part of our strict regulation of all kinds of gambling and the prohibition of illegal gambling,” presidential

37,405

165,790 177

LOCKDOWN. Two barangay tanod put up a warning sign declaring that GG Cruz St. in Pasay City has been placed under granular lockdown due to 13 COVID-19 cases in the area as of Thursday, September 23, 2021. Danny Pata

By Willie Casas

T

HE country isn’t out of the woods yet, given the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant and the lack of health care workers that has put a strain on hospitals, National Task Force deputy chief administrator Secretary Vince Dizon said Wednesday night.

“We will be visiting hospitals be- some report that many of our hospitals, cause we have received a very worri- including the private hospitals that are

among the biggest and the best, are closing down COVID wards because of the lack of health care workers,” Dizon told President Rodrigo Duterte during a pre-recorded Talk to the People that aired late Wednesday evening.

“This is I think is our biggest challenge now, Mr. President. We have to understand as the numbers show, we Next page

2,231,558 14,090 (As of 4 PM, September 23)

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Duterte’s June approval rate: 62% PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte, whose six-year term ends on June 30, 2022, got a 62 percent net satisfaction at the start of his last 12 months in office, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said Thursday.

This is roughly the same rating the 76-year-old Duterte got when he started

his presidency in 2016.

Some 75 percent of respondents in a June 2021 poll said they were satisfied with Duterte’s performance while 13 percent were not. About 12 percent said they were undecided, according Next page

Gov’t eyes inoculation of minors, general public by mid-October

By Joel E. Zurbano, Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

DUTERTE MAKES VP BID OFFICIAL NEWS / A4

THE government may start inoculating minors (persons aged 12-17 years old) and the general population by mid-October, with the expected arrival of additional 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines next month.

National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez made the statement, saying the government had 23.75 million doses of vaccines in stock, in addition to the 20 million doses expected to arrive by the first week of October.

“We are proposing to open the vaccination for children by mid-October, Next page

Rody rips Dick anew, raps him for ‘public funds misuse’ as SBMA exec

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Gordon for purportedly misusing public funds while he was chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on (SBMA), a post he held more than 20 Wednesday night threatened to file years ago.

In his late night public address, Dugraft charges against Senator Richard

terte said the Commission on Audit had issued a notice of disallowance for P140 million to the SBMA while Gordon headed the agency, but did not say when this report was issued.

Duterte said he would ask the Om-

budsman if there was a case filed against the senator because the money was not returned.

He also slammed the senator for using the Red Cross ambulances for Next page

A child receives a dose of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine at El Salvador’s main vaccination center. The Philippines is planning to start inoculating minors by mid-October. AFP

Comelec may extend voter’s listing by 1 wk

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta A COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) official said it was considering to extend the voter registration by at least one week, instead of one month as proposed by lawmakers.

Comelec commissioner Marlon Casquejo said the planned one week extension could be done af-

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

US approves COVID booster shots T

HE United States on Wednesday authorized the use of boosters of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for people aged over 65, as well as adults at high risk of severe disease and those in high-exposure jobs.

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which may recommend further specifics about recipients.

For example, if obesity is considered as putting a person “at high risk of severe COVID,” that definition would cover more than 42 percent of the US population aged over 20.

The CDC may also have to define which workplaces and other settings might lead to “frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2.”

For its part, the FDA indicated this would cover “health care workers, teachers and day care staff, grocery workers and those in homeless shelters or prisons, among others.”

The FDA’s emergency use authorization (EUA) applies to those aged 18 and up for the high risk of severe disease and high-exposure categories. It also

only applies to Pfizer’s vaccine.

Recipients of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, the other US-authorized vaccines, will now await news for when they, too, might become eligible for another shot.

A number of studies have shown two doses of Pfizer or Moderna, or a single shot of J&J, continue to confer high protection against severe outcomes – but this is slightly reduced for the elderly.

The World Health Organization has called for a moratorium on wealthy countries giving out boosters, while many countries – especially those in Africa – have barely begun their immunization campaigns.

The United States argues, however, it is possible to both help middle- and lower-income nations while also protecting its own vulnerable people. AFP

the People.

Duterte made the appeal to the medical corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), as he said COVID-19 is taking a toll on health workers’ health.

Duterte said it is more difficult now for public and private hospitals to deal with the pandemic, considering the current high number of COVID-19 cases.

He hoped that medical personnel of AFP and PNP would help hospitals attend to the needs of coronavirus-stricken patients.

“We have a dearth of supply of the human resource,” Duterte said. “Our health care workers are getting sick.

Our hospitals are being filled to the brim, and more of our people are getting sick and dying from COVID-19.”

Duterte said he is asking for the help of the police and military because he can “easily count on them.”

“I have to use a little of my influence on them to convince them to help in the fight against COVID-19,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino. “I do not want to order them to do so because that’s not good.

I am just asking for help.”

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government is also hiring additional medical front-liners who will help in the country’s fight against COVID-19.

Roque said the recruitment of new health workers is underway to address the manpower shortage in hospitals.

Meanwhile, the Filipino Nurses United (FNU) on Wednesday demanded that the government allot a bigger COVID-19 response budget for 2022 to ramp up free health services, particularly free

mass testing to curb the spread of the virus in the country.

The FNU, in a statement, sounded the alarm over the “unabated” rise in the number of COVID-19 cases among health workers recently.

The FNU said the proposed Department of Health 2022 budget for the COVID-19 response is less than 1 percent of the proposed P5.024 trillion national budget next year.

“Unless the government seriously fulfills its primary obligation to undertake basic public infection control measures, the COVID-19 will continue to wreak havoc on people’s lives including and most especially on nurses and other health care workers in the forefront of the pandemic response,” it said.

The group also reiterated its call for mass hiring of nurses to boost the health system.

“In the present scenario where hospitals are already full to the brim, patients waiting for days at the ER for admission and many more just dying in their homes or even in their vehicles while queuing in hospitals – there indeed is gross inefficiency and weak management in the government’s COVID response,” FNU said.

“Undoubtedly, with the increasing COVID-19 cases of infection and deaths among nurses, doctors and co-health workers are victims themselves of a government COVID-19 response that is generally inefficient and mismanaged,” it added.

The FNU also called for “a caring, efficient and effective leadership” and sought an end to “an insensitive and inefficient management that has defined the last 18 months of the pandemic.” file criminal cases against the personalities involved in the alleged anomaly and allow the Senate Blue Ribbon committee to do its job “unhampered and free from any threat.”

On Sept. 20, the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Classes of 1957, 1961 and 1965 also issued a strong statement to express their full support for Gordon for fearlessly calling for public officials to live up to decency in governance.

“It is time to draw the line and demand from our elected officials to put first the interest of Filipinos, especially the medical front-liners, the marginalized and the millions now forced out-of-work by the pandemic, and hardworking small Filipino businessmen now struggling to survive and to keep their workers from starving,” they said.

Former President Fidel Ramos started with +66 and left the office with +49 in June 1997.

The late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino had +30 in June 2015 from +60.

Former presidents Gloria MacapagalArroyo and Joseph Estrada were considered “outliers,” Tigno said.

Estrada failed to finish his term after being ousted in 2001.

“This is possible because many people are willing to be vaccinated while more vaccines are coming,” he said.

However, Roque said the decision on the alert levels lies with the Department of Health (DOH) in consultation with local government units (LGUs).

As of Sept. 22, a total of 6,760,863 individuals in NCR have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This is 69.16 percent of its target coverage.

On the other hand, 19,376,832 people nationwide have been fully vaccinated.

Roque said, however, that the public should not be complacent as the threat of the virus was still here.

Meanwhile, in a radio interview, DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing said the pilot implementation of the alert level system with granular lockdowns could be extended to October.

Densing also said officials were considering revising some of the guidelines for the alert level system.

On Thursday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections may be on a downward trend, adding that “this is a testament of good care by our health care workers.”

Citing a drop in new cases, Duque said there were indications that coronavirus infections nationwide are starting to decline.

His assessment came as the independent OCTA Research Group said the COVID-19 reproduction number continues to improve in Metro Manila.

OCTA fellow Guido David said the National Capital Region’s reproduction number decreased to 0.99 from 1.03 in OCTA’s previous report.

He said the last time there was a reproduction number below 1 was in July before the surge.

The reproduction number refers to the number of people that each case can infect. A reproduction number greater than one means infections are spreading.

David said based on projections, the hospital situation in Metro Manila is likely to improve by the middle of October.

David also said the Philippines could possibly be in the last stages of its battle against the Delta coronavirus variant, especially in Metro Manila, given the decrease in the reproduction number.

David said the recent number of cases in Metro Manila and nearby regions has started to decline, indicating that actual cases are falling in line with the downtrend predicted this month.

The Philippines logged 17,411 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of infections to 2,434,753.

The DOH also reported 177 new fatalities, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 37,405.

The DOH also reported 14,090 persons who recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 2,231,558.

The positivity rate was 24.6 percent, based on test results of 71,010 individuals screened for the disease on Tuesday. The rate is the lowest in over a month or since Aug. 17.

There were 165,790 active cases, of which 92.1 percent were mild, 3.1 percent were asymptomatic, 0.7 percent were critical, 1.5 percent were severe, and 2.73 percent were moderate.

Nationwide, 79 percent of ICU beds, 66 percent of isolation beds, 72 percent of ward beds, and 56 percent of ventilators, were in use.

The ICU occupancy rate nationwide is the highest since data became available.

In Metro Manila, 80 percent of ICU beds, 60 percent of isolation beds, 72 percent of ward beds, and 62 percent of ventilators, were in use.

On Wednesday, President Duterte said he approved the recommendation of advisers that the use of face shields can be lifted in areas that do not fall under the 3C category: crowded, closed and close contact.

Densing said they would amend the memorandum circular on the description of crowded areas to be more specific.

of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Foreigners employed by offshore gaming licensees and service providers will be subjected to a 25-percent withholding tax. The new law provides a minimum final withholding tax due of P12,500 for any taxable month.

Duterte certified the measure as urgent in May, citing the need to generate revenues. The government expects over P120 billion in revenue over the next four years with the new law.

From 2016 to 2019, the revenues collected by Pagcor from POGOs reached over P18 billion.

Last year, the government collected P6.4 billion more following its campaign to run after tax-deficient Pogos.

The Department of Finance estimated the government would be able to collect up to P20 billion a year in corporate and personal income taxes from POGOs. Meanwhile, the principal author of the newly signed law thanked Duterte, saying the measure would help stabilize the POGO industry which “was wracked by the uncertainty due to the Supreme Court temporary restraining order on their tax treatment.”

House Ways and Means Chair and Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda said: “President Duterte was very clear: He will only allow gaming if they pay the right taxes. This will make sure they do.”

The announcement means a significant part of the population – amounting to tens of millions of Americans – are now eligible for a third shot six months after their second.

“Today’s action demonstrates that science and the currently available data continue to guide the FDA’s decisionmaking for COVID-19 vaccines during this pandemic,” said Janet Woodcock, acting head of the Food and Drug Administration, in a statement.

The decision was expected and came after an independent expert panel convened by the regulatory agency last week

voted in favor of recommending the move.

The panel, however, rejected an initial plan by the White House to fully approve Pfizer boosters to everyone aged 16 and over, in what amounted to a rare rebuke of President Joe Biden’s administration.

The group of vaccinologists, infectious disease specialists and epidemiologists concluded that the benefit-risk balance differed for younger people, especially young males who are more susceptible to myocarditis.

Pfizer COVID-19 boosters are currently being debated by a separate body of experts convened by the Centers for

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because we will be having an additional 20 million plus the 23 million (in stock), we can handle vaccinating 12 million people aged 12 to 17,” Galvez said.

Galvez also recommended that children with comorbidities and children of healthcare workers should be inoculated first.

On Wednesday, more than one million doses of Pfizer vaccines arrived in the country, the biggest single delivery of procured Pfizer vaccines delivered so far.

Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, NTF special adviser, said the latest Pfizer shipment will be deployed to local government units that have the capacity to store the vaccines using ultra-low storage freezers.

“It (Pfizer vaccines) will still go mostly outside Metro Manila, that means Region 4, Region 4-A, Region 7, and Region 11 in Davao,” Herbosa said.

He said that almost 70 percent of residents in Metro Manila are now fully vaccinated, while 98 percent have already received their first dose.

“Most of the newest doses are going to regions where the vaccination rates are lower, about 10 percent or less in some areas. We’re distributing the vaccines to those areas,” Herbosa said.

The country expects another batch of procured Pfizer vaccines consisting of 728,920 doses to arrive Thursday.

A total 65,882,680 doses of COVID-19 vaccines from various manufacturers have been delivered to the country since February.

In other developments: * Interior Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño suggested requiring the wearing of vaccination cards outdoors. At the Laging Handa public briefing on Wednesday, Diño said he would propose the measure to the IAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. * The Bureau of Immigration is pushing for the vaccination of all its frontline personnel to protect both the BI personnel and the public. Commissioner Jaime Morente said 1,875 employees had been inoculated by both the agency’s vaccination drive, as well as through local government units.

“This is a good sign that we have gone beyond the 50 percent mark in vaccinations. We are endeavoring to inoculate all our personnel, especially those assigned in the frontlines, as our way of protecting the transacting public from this virus,” said Morente.

are not out of the woods because of the Delta variant. Even if there seems to be a decline–a slight decline in cases– these cases are still very high. And our hospitals are still overburdened.”

“The most worrisome problem is the health care workers getting sick, Mr. President, and we really need to augment and help them and really assist our hospitals as much as we can,” Dizon added.

Some 104 health care workers have succumbed to COVID-19, data from the Department of Health as of Sept.

13 showed.

A total 24,284 health care workers have tested positive for the disease, of which more than 300 are still undergoing treatment.

The pandemic has also exacerbated a pre-existing lack of nurses, said Maristela Abenojar, president of Filipino Nurses United – a situation she described as ironic in one of the world’s biggest exporters of health care workers.

About 40 percent of private hospital nurses have resigned since the start of the pandemic, according to the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines.

Duterte on Wednesday called on the medical personnel of the police and the military to help hospitals that are struggling with the influx of COVID-19 patients.

“I am ordering the medical corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, if you are listening to me now, please place your human resources ready, on deck,” Duterte said in his prerecorded Talk to

“cheap political gimmicks,” claiming that Gordon’s face is displayed on the Red Cross ambulances.

The President called on Gordon to settle his obligation with the SBMA. “Kindly settle or [else] I will personally see to it that a case will be filed against you. It’s malversation, the crime is malversation.”

Duterte also urged Gordon to choose between being a senator or chairman of the Philippine Red Cross.

“You are a dual personality which is banned or prohibited by law. It’s illegal actually...That is not allowed. Let go of it because I will insist that you give up one because you cannot be both,” the President said.

Gordon is the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee that has been investigating the Duterte administration’s purchase of overpriced medical supplies for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amid Duterte’s continued attacks, more groups expressed support for Gordon.

Several alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP) Dilliman recently launched an online petition denouncing what they call the “unjust persecution” of Gordon and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) by Duterte and his allies.

“We stand by and support Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon in his bold and courageous crusade to unmask the perverse and rapacious theft of the nation’s coffers, and to hold accountable those responsible for the same,” they said in the petition.

They also challenged the President to

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“Looking at comparable data points across all the presidents beginning with Corazon Aquino, the noticeable difference for Duterte is that his net satisfaction rating at the beginning of his final year in June of ’21 is roughly the same as his very first satisfaction rating in September 2016,” Tigno said.

Duterte’s first satisfaction rating was +64 upon assuming the presidency, he noted.

“If you look at the beginning of the final year of past presidents, we see lower net satisfaction ratings, compared to the ratings when they first separately assumed office,” said Tigno, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

The late President Corazon Aquino ended with +24 in April 1991 from +53 in her first year.

to a webinar presentation by SWS fellow Jorge Tigno.

Duterte’s net rating, or the difference between those satisfied and dissatisfied with his performance, was at 62 percent, Tigno said.

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The proposed one-week voter registration was discussed by Comelec officials in an en banc meeting Wednesday.

The Comelec said extended registration could not be simultaneously done during the filing of the COCs because of lack of personnel.

Casquejo said extending the registration by a month would affect their other deadlines, including the preparation of precincts.

The deadline for registration is on September 30.

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Several bills are pending in the Senate and in the House of Representatives seeking a one-month extension for the voter registration period.

Members of Congress raised the possible disenfranchisement of eligible voters since many were struggling to register despite the pandemic.

Sen. Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate electoral reforms committee, said: “Previously, the registration deadlines were set in October. Why did you make the period of registration shorter in this time of COVID when there are a lot of lockdowns imposed?”

Comelec said the number of registered voters as of September 18 has reached 62,470,000.

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The law amends the National Internal Revenue Code to better collect taxes from POGOs and imposes more taxes aside from the franchise tax levied on their operations.

Under the new law, 60 percent of the total revenue collected from POGOs will be allocated for the implementation of the Universal Healthcare Act. Twenty percent will be allocated to the Department of Health’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program while another 20 percent for the attainment

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

300 COVID app developers join NPC data privacy forum

Power service disconnection resumes in NCR

By Alena Mae Flores THE Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) announced Thursday disconnection activities will resume in the National Capital Region, which has been placed under the new general community quarantine Alert Level 4.

Meralco, the country’s biggest power distributor with over seven million customers, gave consumers a reprieve from disconnection from August 6.

However, disconnection activities in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Lucena City in Quezon remain suspended until September 30 as these areas have been placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) until the end of the month.

Meralco assured customers that disconnection activities will remain suspended in areas that will be placed under granular lockdown by local government units.

Disconnection activities in NCR will resume with the delivery of disconnection notices for services with unpaid overdue bills next week.

The disconnection notices will give customers enough time to settle their bills or to reach out for assistance.

“We encourage customers with billing concerns to reach out, so we can assist them and even come up with payment terms if needed. We will continue to be very considerate of the challenges our customers are facing amid these difficult times,” said Ferdinand Geluz, Meralco FVP and Chief Commercial Officer.

Firm defends P70 fee for vax certificate AN OFFICIAL of financial technology company Pisopay said they are ready to cooperate in any inquiry on the allegedly excessive fees collected by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) for the release of the International Certificate of Vaccination that seafarers and overseas Filipino workers need.

In a statement, Ariel Surca, president of Pisopay, denied the BOQ got the short end of its deal with the fintech provider.

The BOQ is charging P370 for the ICV, of which P70 goes to Pisopay as “convenience fee.”

“Pisopay’s services include the development and maintenance of the entire BOQ Online Booking System, including the booking system, payment system, application processing system, digital ICV generation, ICV verification and ICV printing,” Surca said.

Surca said the bulk of the convenience fee goes to the various payment partners of Pisopay, and only a small portion of said amount ends up with the fintech company that acts as a payment gateway that aggregates various payment channels.

Compared to other payment gateway providers that charge P50 for the payment collection alone, excluding system development, Surca said Pisopay’s service is the best choice for the project.

SURVIVAL MODE. These two siblings work together in collecting parts of defective scrap computers and laptops which they would sell at a junk shop in General Trias, Cavite on September 23, 2021. Their parents lost their jobs due the pandemic, forcing the kids to help augment their family’s income. JR Josue

NBI begins probe on Jonson’s death

By Willie Casas and Rey Requejo

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HE National Bureau of Investigation is now conducting a parallel investigation on the death of artist Bree Jonson at a resort in La Union on Sept. 18.

NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin said they conducted an autopsy on Jonson’s remains early Thursday morning upon the request of her family.

NBI agents and a forensic team were also deployed to La Union “to conduct crime scene investigation,” he added.

Jonson’s body was found in the room she occupied with Julian Ongpin, son of billionaire businessman Roberto Ongpin, last Saturday after police responded to a report of an alleged suicide at the resort.

Ongpin faces a complaint for possession of dangerous drugs after police

found cocaine inside the room.

A separate autopsy facilitated by the police indicated that the cause of Jonson’s death was asphyxia.

Jonson’s mother, Sally, claimed her daughter did not commit suicide. She believes that her daughter fought for her life after seeing that Ongpin had scratches and wounds on his arm.

Ongpin said he got the wounds while attempting to break through a small window into the bathroom, where he saw Jonson unconscious.

Authorities inspected the window and

said it matched Ongpin’s testimony.

“I’m not declaring that there is no foul play or that it was suicide or not. But the results of the investigation are leaning into a lack of foul play and that Breanna may have committed suicide,” Police Regional Office 1 chief Emmanuel Peralta said Wednesday.

However, the legal team of Jonson’s family said the initial medicolegal report of the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center “showed signs of struggle.”

“There were bruises found in some other parts of Breanna’s body other than her neck,” the Sunga Salandanan and Ampuan Law Offices said in a statement.

“As of now, Breana’s family has yet to receive a final and conclusive autopsy report of Breana’s body as well as a medicolegal report for Julian’s alleged injuries.”

THE National Privacy Commission (NPC) has invited COVID-19 contacttracing application developers to a data privacy summit for the technology sector scheduled for September 27.

More than 300 software developers are expected to attend the event, dubbed “DPO 24: The Data Protection Officers’ Assembly for the Technology Sector,” via MS Live Events.

The event is open to information technology offices and departments of local government units, individual software developers and those from private institutions.

The NPC has reached out to the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the League of Cities of the Philippines to invite their internal or partner software developers for their contact-tracing apps or websites.

Through the virtual summit, the commission will deliver insights into and learnings on how to adapt to the evolving environment brought by the pandemic and how government regulators, private entities, and key stakeholders can prepare for future data protection and privacy challenges.

The insights of world-renowned personal information controllers will also guide the commission in its future data privacy policy regulations.

“Holding the summit for the technology sector is crucial to the National Privacy Commission, as technology has become the primary means to conduct business, especially during the pandemic,’’ Privacy Commissioner Raymund Enriquez Liboro said.

“Data privacy does not just require secure technology and tools to collect and process personal data. It also requires well-informed data protection officers and developers and implementers of these tools,” Liboro added.

DOLE recalls QC officer in ayuda mess

By Vito Barcelo

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. Manila Mayor

Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso officiates the oathtaking of 23 local officials from various provinces as the newest members of Aksyon Demokratiko on September 23, 2021 at the Manila city hall. Danny Pata

THE Department of Labor and Employment has recalled its field officer in Quezon City for allegedly committing irregularities in the implementation of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) in his area of jurisdiction.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III identified the field officer as Joel Petaca of the DOLE-National Capital Region Office.

Bello ordered the recall of Petaca to his mother unit so he can shed light on the controversy.

“I want to know why he allowed such problems to happen in the delivery of TUPAD in Quezon City. He was supposed to monitor the program of our department.

Was he negligent?” Bello said.

Earlier, Quezon City residents claiming to be beneficiaries of TUPAD complained payouts of the program were not given in full. Reports of ‘ghost beneficiaries’ were also brought to the attention of authorities.

‘Rare form’ of biggest flower blooms in Antique THE world’s biggest flower Rafflesia Speciosa is in bloom in the municipality of Sibalom, Antique but in rare form.

Jonathan de Gracia, general manager of the Sibalom Water District and an environmental enthusiast, received a picture of two intertwined blooming flowers of the Rafflesia speciosa in the upland area of Barangay Bad-as, which is about 22 kilometers from the Sibalom town proper.

“The two Rafflesia flowers are quite rare because they bloomed at the same

time and are intertwining with each other,” he said in an interview.

He said the Rafflesia, which blooms only after nine months, can rarely be found only in one spot that is why the local folks in Barangay Bad-as were surprised by the latest discovery.

The reddish-orange color Rafflesia speciosa could expand up to 56 centimeters in diameter when in full bloom, making it the world’s biggest flower.

It was first discovered by a group of conservationists, the Antique Outdoors

(Aos), at the Sibalom Natural Park in Mt. Poras in 2000.

Dr. Julie Barcelona, a botanist, studied the exotic flower species that thrived only in Sibalom and named it as Rafflesia speciosa.

“Dr. Barcelona named the flower speciosa because it is special,” De Gracia said.

He said that since the flower was first discovered growing in Sibalom, the municipality also adopted it as its municipal flower.

Solon seeks additional P800m for cancer care

By Maricel V. Cruz A CONGRESSIONAL leader on Thursday sought an increase of P800 million in the cancer care and treatment budget of the Department of Health for 2022.

Assistant Majority Leader and Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas said his recommendation would raise the proposed budget for the Cancer, Supportive Care and Palliative Care Medicines Access Program (CSPMAP) of the DOH from P786 million to P1.586 billion.

Vargas is the principal author of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act

(NICCA) or Republic Act No. 11215, and Chair of the House Committee on Social Services.

In pressing for a budget increase, Vargas said cancer remains a leading cause of death and disability in the Philippines, with 157,000 new cases reported yearly.

He said the P756 million proposed budget for 2022 would only benefit some 26,000 cancer patients “partially or fully assisted for their expenses in medicines.”

“With an additional P800 million budget for the 2022 CSPMAP, we can increase our target beneficiaries to about 60,000 patients or at least one-third of the

cancer patients in the country,” he said.

Vargas said several cancer care advocates and families of cancer victims have sought his help in increasing the 2022 budget for cancer care.

“While they appreciate that cancer care and treatment has been given a budget this year, their concern is that it would not be enough considering the current economic situation caused by the pandemic,” he said.

“As things stand, they are already experiencing difficulties making ends meet, and the assistance provided by government through this program is all they can depend on,” he added.

photo 3 LIE-IN PROTEST. Fisherfolks joined by progressive groups from Pamalakaya,

Anakpawis and the People’s Coalition for Food Sovereignty stage a lie-in protest in front of the headquarters of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to denounce the agency’s order to dismantle mussels farms and fisheries structures in Manila Bay. Manny Palmero

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News

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

MORE ‘LAKAS’. Lakas-CMD Party President and House Majority Leader Rep. Martin Romualdez (3rd from left) administers the oath of new party members Quezon City 1st District Councilor Nikki Crisologo (4th right) and Quezon City 3rd District Councilor John Defensor (4th left) on Thursday. Assisting are Lakas VP for Luzon Rep. Hector Sanchez (left), Executive Vice President Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo (2nd left), VP for Manila Development Rep. Anthony Onyx Crisologo (3rd right), Spokesperson Rep. Christopher De Venecia (2nd right), and Deputy Secretary General Rep. Wilter Sharky Palma (right). Ver Noveno

PRESIDENT SIGNS PDP-LABAN ‘CONA’

Duterte makes VP bid official

P

RESIDENT Duterte signed Wednesday night his Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) as official vice-presidential candidate of a faction of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, which remains confident Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go would soon agree to run as its bet for President in the 2022 polls.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered the group of Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Manny Pacquiao to answer the petition filed by the rival faction of PDP-Laban led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

In a two-page order, the Commission en banc directed the camp of the senators to comment on the petition, which sought

IN BRIEF Planters face blank wall as VMC stays mum THE VICMICO Planters’ Association, Inc. continues to face a blank wall as the management of Victorias Milling Company remains mum on three key issues raised by one of the major planters’ groups in Negros Occidental since July this year.

Aurelio Valderrama, Jr., president of the 1,500-strong VICMICO PAI, reiterated, September 21, that the mill management, as of this writing, has yet to respond to the issue on the 0.50 percent it owed the association representing its share on sugar and molasses for week ending September 9 to December 2, 2018 that was computed at P2,073,068.

UK boosts BARMM’s COVID-19 response THE United Kingdom government has been helping boost the COVID-19 response efforts in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The UK government in partnership with UNICEF Philippines continues to support COVID-19 prevention efforts in the Bangsamoro region through a project on “Improving COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Overcoming COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Refusal in the BARMM).

This aims to build stronger capacities of BARMM Government institutions in risk communication.

Under that project, around 5 million people were reached in BARMM with COVID-19 messages; 20 municipalities restarted essential services for children; 34,000 children were vaccinated with BCG, pentavalent 1,2, and 3 and measlescontaining vaccine 1&2.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Navotas gains more skilled workers NAVOTAS has once again gained a new batch of skilled workers following the virtual graduation of 138 Navoteños from the Navotas Training and Assessment (NAVOTAAS) Institute on Thursday.

In NAVOTAAS Institute Annex 1, 46 completed the Japanese Language and Culture while 11 finished the Basic Korean Language and Culture.

There were also five graduates in Beauty Care NC II; four, Hairdressing NC II; 10, Dressmaking NC II; seven, Tailoring NC II; and 12, Bread and Pastry Production NC II. Jun David

to declare their group as illegitimate.

In a virtual press conference, Cusi wing PDP Laban Secretary General Melvin Matibag announced that Duterte signed his CONA during a meeting with party leaders, new members, and other candidates in Davao.

“We’re still waiting for Sen. Bong Go to accept (his nomination as the presidential

candidate of PDP Laban). We hope the action of the President would help Sen. Go to decide on his nomination soon,” Matibag said.

He stressed that PDP Laban is not considering any other presidential candidate as a possible substitute for Go. “We’re not looking at it right now. It won’t be fair to Sen. Go to say that we are waiting for his decision and yet consider a possible substitute for him at the same time. We will wait for his decision until the last minute because we really feel there is a good chance he would accept,” Matibag said.

With President Duterte now officially

their candidate for Vice President, Matibag said members of the ruling party are “excited” and now preparing for the campaign in 2022.

“We are happy that the President heeded the clamor of the grassroots— the real grassroots—of our party,” Matibag said.

At the same time, Matibag said PDP Laban is busy issuing CONAs to the party’s official candidates for local posts and readying the same document for its senatorial ticket.

The lawyer said the party will likely announce additional members of its senatorial lineup in the coming weeks.

BEST ‘PRO’.

Police Regional Office 3 Chief PBGen. Valeriano T. De Leon (right) receives the trophy from PNP Chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar for being named the Best Police Regional Office for 2020, for the first time in over 20 years, during the 120th Police Service Anniversary on Thursday at Camp Crame, Quezon City. The Central Luzon top cop was elated with the achievement.

Jun David

‘Bongbong camp just needs heart, common sense’ FORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will win in next year’s presidential race without the necessity of brilliant political strategists and tacticians, a top official of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas said on Thursday.

“Our bet for the 2022 presidential race is a thinker who’s intellectually alert and holds a deep understanding and experi-

ence of the country’s entire electoral processes,” said PFP secretary general Tom Lantion in a statement.

“Aside from being a man of decency, he’s also a man of action with few words that needs no coaching about the art of winning a political race,” Lantion added.

Lantion, a distinguished retired police general, responded to persistent queries

regarding the apparent absence of wellknown political operators working for Bongbong’s presidential run.

The PFP secretary general was referring to presidential contenders who’ve reportedly hired prominent figures this early as political handlers that would map out and operate their campaign strategies. Rey E. Requejo

Trillanes presses Leni on running for president

By Macon Ramos-Araneta FORMER Senator Sonny Trillanes yesterday pressed Vice President Leni Robredo to announce if she will join the presidential race to represent the “real opposition” in the upcoming 2022 elections.

Trillanes, chairman of the Magdalo Group, said talks of a unified opposition has fallen through after Senators Panfilo Lacson, Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso officially declared they are vying for the presidency.

Domagoso announced he is seeking the presidency in next year’s election on Wednesday, a few days after the Vice President met him and Pacquiao, who declared his run last Sunday.

The meeting was part of Robredo’s plans to create a slate to oppose bets backed by the Duterte administration.

According to Trillanes, the recent declarations show they were eyeing the presidency regardless of the decision of Robredo.

Prior to their announcements, Domagoso was being eyed as running mate of Robredo or Pacquiao. His name was also mentioned as among the possible presidential contenders.

According to Trillanes, even from the start, Lacson, Pacquiao and Domagoso were really determined to run for President.

“Besides, they are not the real opposition no matter how we figure it out.

That’s why the Magdalo group is appealing for the Vice President’s immediate decision regarding the coming 2022 elections,” Trillanes said in a statement.

The former Navy officer recalled that in recent months, the entire opposition has allowed Robredo to go through her thorough decision-making process, something that he “respects and understands because we know how serious this decision is.”

Dr. Ong thanks Romualdez for supporting bid

By Maricel V. Cruz DOCTOR Willie Ong on Thursday expressed gratitude to House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin G. Romualdez and the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) for providing him political backbone when he ran for the Senate during the 2019 midterm poll.

“Though politics may bring us different paths, please know that I continue to hold you (Romualdez) in high esteem and my family will always treasure your friendship,” Ong told Romualdez, Lakas-CMD president, in his letter of resignation dated Sept. 22.

Ong, the former Lakas-CMD vice president for health services, formally sent his letter of resignation to Romualdez as member of the party after joining the team of declared presidential candidate Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno as the latter’s running mate.

“With all due respect, and after having accepted the offer of Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso to be his vice-presidential running mate in the forthcoming elections, I hereby tender my resignation as a member of the Lakas-CMD,” Ong said.

“I take this opportunity to thank the party, and you (Romualdez) in particular, for having graciously accepted me into the part in the 2019 election and gave me a Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) at that time,” Ong said.

On Wednesday, Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules, wished Ong good luck in his quest to win the vice-presidential race, stressing Moreno made an excellent choice to pick the doctor as his running mate.

Binay nixes granular tack outside NCR

By Joel E. Zurbano FORMER Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday urged the national government to carefully study the plan to enforce a nationwide granular lockdown, saying not all local government units have sufficient resources.

“The national government should thoroughly study its plan to implement granular lockdowns nationwide. It is easy to do in Metro Manila, but this will be an additional problem for local governments that lack resources,” said Binay.

Binay said LGUs in the National Capital Region have the resources to enforce granular lockdowns. He added NCR areas can do contact tracing and testing of all residents in the affected areas and they have resources to provide food and other basic needs of af-

fected residents.

“But outside Metro Manila, and with few exceptions, local governments do not have enough resources to enforce granular lockdowns,” he said.

Binay said whatever resources the local governments may have had prior to the pandemic, especially fourth and fifth class municipalities, have either been stretched thinly or depleted because of re-channeling funds to meet the medical needs of constituents and extending aid to the needy since last year.

“And they don’t get any help from the national government,” he said.

Binay explained in granular lockdown, both the local and national government will share provide food and other essential needs of residents.

“Will the same thing happen outside Metro Manila? What if the LGU lacked funds for assistance?”

WATER FLOWS. PrimeWater Bacolod, led by Assistant Branch Manager Farah

Jenny Monteclaro (right) and joint-venture partner Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) represented by Acting General Manager Engr. Michael Soliva, inaugurate the LuisVille Pumping Station at Brgy. Estafania, Bacolod City. Also present (not pictured) were Negros Rotadrill Owner Jesus Garcia and PrimeWater Bacolod Technical Head Engr. Allan Paul Genovata.

Opinion Psychological incapacity revisited

THE concept of psychological incapacity was introduced for the first time in 1987, in Executive Order (E.O.) No. 209 and as amended by E.O. 227, otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines. While the Family Code was published on August 4, 1987, it took effect only on August 3, 1988, or one year after its publication (Article 257, Family Code).

I was a first-year law student when the Family Code was published. We were required to study both the law on Persons and Family Relations and the Family Code since the former was still in effect and the latter was the law that we would have to study for the bar examinations.

While norms and public perception are important, people cannot be tied to marriages that make them extremely unhappy.

Interestingly, the concept of psychological incapacity was taken from Canon 1095, paragraph 3 of the 1983 Canon Law, which enumerates those who are incapable or unfit to contract marriage. It referred specifically to “those who are not able to assume the essential obligations of marriage for causes of a psychic nature” (Canon 1095, paragraph 3).

The Civil Code Revision Committee adopted the third paragraph as grounds for nullity of marriage for the following reasons: (a) as a substitute to divorce; (b) as a solution to the problem of Churchannulled marriages; and (c) as a remedy for those “who are imprisoned by a marriage that exists in name only as they have long separated” (Sempio Dy, Handbook on the Family Code).

The reasons given by the Committee mirrored the changing times. In the 80s, women started to be more vocal about how they feel about their relationships and their desire not to be confined to marriages that were in truth nonexistent. They also realized that while norms and public perception are important, they cannot be tied to marriages that make them extremely unhappy.

Psychological incapacity, if present in either or both of the spouses and proven in court, leads to nullity of marriage. It was a readily available legal option to Filipino spouses in the late 80s and 90s who do not desire or cannot afford to change their Filipino citizenship and thereafter apply for a decree of divorce in a foreign land.

The concept of psychological incapacity

was also intended to give a legal window to married couples who may have previously obtained a church-decreed annulment but needed a civil law basis to sever the marriage.

From the time of the effectivity of the Family Code until the promulgation of the case of Republic v. Molina (Molina), the courts have been inundated with petitions to declare marriages void on the grounds of psychological incapacity. In the said case, the Solicitor General labelled Article 36 (psychological incapacity) as the “most liberal divorce procedure in the world” (G.R. No. 108763, February 13, 1997).

A careful observation of the development of psychological incapacity in nullity cases from 1988 to 1997 will reveal that some parties and lawyers have abused it. Married couples, wanting to get out of the marriage, have colluded; one accepts the blame and intentionally does not oppose the Petition.

In other instances, the non-answering spouse or defendant was declared in default.

The Molina case is just the first step in stopping the abuses of and collusion by the parties. The case declared that the root cause of the psychological incapacity must be: (a) medically or clinically identified; (b) alleged in the complaint; (c) sufficiently proven by experts; and (d) clearly explained in the decision (G.R. No. 108763, February 13, 1997).

Furthermore, the evidence must convince the court that the parties, or at least one of them, was mentally or physically ill to such an extent that the person could not have known his or her marital obligations.

The psychological incapacity must also be proven to be existing at “the time of the celebration” of the marriage, and that such an incapacity is incurable (G.R. No. 108763, February 13, 1997).

The Molina case required the trial court to order the prosecuting attorney or fiscal and the Solicitor General to appear as counsel for the state. No decision shall be handed down unless the Solicitor General issues a certification – which will be quoted in the decision – briefly stating therein his reasons for his agreement or opposition to the petition (G.R. No. 108763, February 13, 1997).

This case changed the manner by which nullity cases on the grounds of psychological incapacity were to be handled. The lawyer and the party had to see to it that the Petition included the supporting medical or clinical findings of an expert. Lawyers will not dare file a Petition unless the expert findings of a psychiatrist or psychologist are appended to it.

Lawyers will also not file a Petition if he or she cannot prove that the psychological incapacity was existing at the time of the celebration of the marriage, it being grave and incurable (G.R. No. 108763, February 13, 1997). In preparing the Petition, lawyers were mindful of the duty of the Solicitor General as similar to a defensor vinculi or the “defender of the bond.” This means that he will uphold the validity of the disputed marriage until sufficient evidence is given to nullify it (Catholic Dictionary, Catholic Culture).

Full version on www.manilastandard.net

The flags are scarlet (2)

KENNETH Abante, Jahleel-AN Burao, and John Michael Lava are volunteers of the Citizens’ Budget Tracker. A few weeks ago, they released their analysis of the financial statements of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation – that well-connected company established in 2019 with so little capitalization that cornered billions of pesos in pandemic-related government contracts.

They detailed five high-risk findings and one moderate-risk finding after looking at the Pharmally numbers obtained through the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Earlier on, their group of volunteers looked at 581 government contracts, using procurement data available at the Government Procurement Policy Board website, amounting to P20 billion. The contracts were awarded between March and early August last year – the early days of the pandemic.

Their shocking but not surprising conclusion: Pharmally is not the only lucky one.

A post on the Facebook page of the Right to Know Right Now Coalition, the group who helped CBT publish its analysis, shows a list of 19 other companies who cornered some of the juiciest deals during this difficult time (https://www.facebook.com/ R2KRN/photos/pcb.373999967586820/373 997224253761.

“It is important to situate Pharmally as just one of many contractors. It may be at the top, but what we are seeing now is part of a larger pattern. It’s not just Pharmally that had these types of prices. And all of that information is publicly available, online,” Abante says.

Lava says the problem has its roots in the weak control environment among procuring entities. Now, even more so. “During a pandemic, when there is disruption

to processes, organizations are more susceptible to internal control deficiencies, fraud or error. There is a higher chance that some people would circumvent key controls that were designed to mitigate the risk.”

Burao adds: “It’s true, you are in an emergency. But there is some window where you could still do a reasonable amount of due diligence. It does not take a lot of time to make sure that the companies we are transacting with, using people’s money, are capable of delivering to the public. In other words, pwedeng maging mabilis pero hindi kailangan magmadali.”

Ultimately, the solution to this ill lies on the leaders who are accountable to the people.

“We should look at appointments to key agencies that have such a huge decision making power over billions of pesos,” Burao says, saying that it is the appointing authority who bears that burden. “There are political appointees, not career civil servants, who are in charge of so much money but no one is really cross checking their capability to assume that position – they only do that for secretaries, not undersecretaries. There should be more scrutiny.”

It’s also a fairness and competence issue, she adds. Career servants give so many years of their lives to understand the system.

When you replace them with political appointees, you slow down the bureaucracy.

“It will result in chaos because they don’t have a deeper appreciation of the agencies and processes and how they work.”

Abante, who has been working with government data for more than a year, has been able to see the gaps in the procurement system that makes it easy for dishonest officials to cheat people out of the taxes they pay. Sure, some procurements are uploaded to the site, but their descriptions could be so general and so vague that it is difficult to compare one item with another.

But people do not need to wait a full year to find out that items had been bought for obscene prices. “As soon as a new contract is uploaded in GPPB, citizens can look at each line item, compare it with a continuously updating database, and look at the risks.

The task is technical and meticulous, but it can be learned, can be done, and can be distributed among volunteers,” he says.

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EDITORIAL

Vaccine rollout and recovery

A

FASTER vaccine rollout evidently is the ticket to economic recovery.

The Philippines-based Asian Development Bank has warned of “lasting scars” from the pandemic after lowering its 2021 growth forecast for developing Asian nations due to rising infections, debilitating lockdowns and slow vaccination rates. Most Asian countries, because of their poor finances, have been less fortunate than richer countries like the US and most of Europe. Only a third of Asia’s population is protected against COVID-19 because of scarce vaccine supply compared with over 50 percent in the US and close to 60 percent in Europe.

The limited and uneven vaccine coverage in most of Asia explains the widespread lockdowns resorted in the region and its laggard economic recovery. And Asia is far from being out of the woods. Delayed vaccine rollouts and the likely advent of new

The slow inoculation rate in most parts of Asia will compound the social problems besetting the region. variants after the Delta strain could prevent the region from immediately joining the rest of the world in the recovery process. The ADB conceded that growth tended to be “stronger in economies that had progressed the most in controlling the pandemic.”

The slow inoculation rate in most parts of Asia will compound the social problems besetting the region.

Income losses caused by the pandemic in particular, according to the

ADB, threaten to leave lasting scars and have a multidimensional effect on regional economies.

Asia’s battle to reduce poverty has likewise been compromised. With lockdowns imposed over many cities and regions and rising unemployment as a direct result of business closures, Asia’s poverty level has risen.

The ADB made no exception of the Philippines. Manila faces the same risks as other developing nations in Asia. The progress in the COVID vaccination program is critical to the economy’s safe reopening. A crawling vaccination rate can be outpaced by the spread of newer, contagious COVID-19 variants that, in turn, may result in the return of stricter lockdown measures and again shut down economic activities.

The Philippine economy remarkably bounced back in the second quarter of 2021. It will squander that opportunity if the vaccine rollout is not accelerated from the current pace.

Obsolete, irrelevant hypocrites

FOR today’s column, I originally planned to write a follow-up essay on Ombudsman Samuel Martires and his utter contempt for the public’s right to access the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of government officials on file in his office.

That essay will have to be shelved for the meantime because of pressing issues I need to discuss regarding the recent online interview of ex-Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. by famous vlogger and media personality Toni Gonzaga about a week ago.

As far as I am concerned, that interview, which went viral, is a tell-tale interview.

The first thing I noticed was the way Marcos Jr. behaved during the interview. He did not say anything bad or derogatory against anybody, not even against those who have been saying bad things about him and the rest of the Marcos family. The ex-senator also praised the Filipino people, despite the February 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution that toppled his father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., from power.

Another thing I noticed was his understandable admiration for his father who, notwithstanding his accomplishments as president, remains the most controversial of all Philippine leaders.

What I found interesting was Marcos Jr.’s answers to Gonzaga’s questions about alleged wrongdoings attributed to his father by antiMarcos groups.

“Lies,” Marcos Jr. said, stressing that the historical record has proved that those accusations have not been proved. As a politician, Marcos Jr. said that his father had his share of enemies and detractors, and it is impossible for any president to please everybody.

Using various social media platforms, antiMarcos netizens, allies of the late Presidents Corazon Aquino and Noynoy Aquino, and supporters of the infamous, pro-Aquino Liberal Party, commonly referred to as the the so-called “yellow army” (dilawan in the vernacular), denounced Marcos and Gonzaga.

Their common complaint is that Gonzaga

The numbers say our leaders have a lot of explaining to do. Numbers do not lie — and cannot be disputed by trolls.

“We can do it in a scientific way; we have the technicals down pat. We developed that process in an open community.”

Abante goes on about the possibilities.

“Imagine a procurement-watching civil society space that watches receipts as much as election integrity movements watch the sanctity of the ballot. It’s hard but meaningful work. Imagine the power of having better-specified contracts and having a system of appeals. Citizens would know if this was what we really paid for. With the current database, we cannot know that, but it could be a very powerful movement if it is coordinated better.”

Burao says they tried to present findings

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

should not have interviewed Marcos Jr. in view of the supposed abuses of the martial law regime of his father. They also slammed Gonzaga and said she should have interviewed somebody else.

A number of them insisted that Marcos Jr. has no basis for calling the accusations against his father “lies.”

Others insinuated that Gonzaga is “biased” for interviewing Marcos Jr., inasmuch as the latter is Gonzaga’s wedding sponsor.

All those who bashed Marcos Jr. and Gonzaga were in for an unpleasant surprise.

These are BBM’s bashers.

Scores of other netizens, as well as numerous political and media personalities, went out of their way to defend Marcos Jr. and Gonzaga.

Broadcast journalist Erwin Tulfo said the yellow army has no business telling Gonzaga whom she can and cannot interview in her online program.

One particular netizen called the yellow army’s meddling ironic. She pointed out that although the dilawan gang claims to support freedom of speech, they are unable to tolerate any statement or program which puts anyone in the Marcos family in good light, or which reveals the positive side of the Marcos martial law regime.

All in all, it was obvious to many netizens that the yellow army is filled with hypocrites who believe that freedom of speech belongs only to those who are anti-Marcos.

The yellow army pushed its weight around when Noynoy Aquino was president. Now, it is out of power, and yet it wants to restrict freedom of speech in the country. It’s dreadful to imagine what abuses the yellow army will commit again once their surrogate Liberal Party ever seizes power again.

From the perspective of the nation’s sovereignty, whether or not Marcos Jr. is correct when he said that the accusations against his late father are “lies” is beside the point.

The Constitution states that sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them. Sovereignty, in an objective and factual way. “Our tone is curious, not accusatory or speculative. We want to understand. Here is what we see and we are concerned.” They also want to give the public object data to react to. “Emotions are running high, and at the very least we can use our skills as professionals. We can provide people with something true. If they want to express strong feelings, these would be based on fact and not on misinformation, disinformation and crazy speculation.”

“There are red flags [in Pharmally’s financial statements]. The numbers say so – our leaders really have some explaining to do,” Burao adds.

Lava says that by sticking to pure numbers, they make themselves difficult to troll. The objective reports cannot be attacked by the usual suspects, who mostly employ loud and incendiary verbal tirades with practically no basis. “Accountants are not usually noisy, we just let the numbers tell the story. This is our opportunity to carry out our role.”

There has been one controversy after another during this very difficult time. I wonder: If these red flags -- and the subsequent gaslighting responses to legitimate questions -- are not enough to make us indignant, what would?

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COVID-19 and hospital waste

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in turn, is exercised by the people through the ballot.

Through the ballot, the Filipino electorate has been electing members of the Marcos family to high national office for the past decade.

In 2019, the Filipino people elected Imee Marcos, President Marcos’ daughter, to the Senate. Also in 2019, the Filipino electorate soundly rejected the re-electionist Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, a first cousin of Noynoy Aquino, whose only legislative accomplishment was to imitate how his late uncle, ex-Senator Ninoy Aquino, looked in the 1970s. In fact, all eight senatorial candidates supported by the yellow army’s Liberal Party lost miserably in that election. The LP was so unpopular, it couldn’t even field a full slate of 12 candidates.

Earlier in 2010, the electorate voted Marcos Jr. to the Senate. Marcos Jr. almost won the vice presidential election in 2016. He was short of just 200,000 votes from the purported winner, Leni Robredo.

From the foregoing indications, the sovereign Filipino people of present times are sympathetic with the Marcoses. That also means the yellow army is obsolete and politically irrelevant.

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UK PM: Glasgow climate talks ‘turning point for humanity’

WINDY FIRE.

Flame and smoke rise as the fire burns at the base of trees during the Windy Fire in the Sequoia National Forest near Johnsondale, California on September 22. AFP

Macron, Biden talk to defuse submarine row PARIS—US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron had a “friendly” phone call Wednesday to defuse a deep row over submarine sales to Australia, promising to meet in person to repair the transatlantic relationship.

The call, which the White House said lasted about 30 minutes, was the first between Biden and Macron since France recalled its ambassador over the surprise US announcement of a deal to build nuclear submarines for Australia -scuppering a previous French deal to sell conventional submarines.

Paris called the US-Australian plan, which was launched as part of a new Indo-Pacific security group along with Britain, a stab in the back and also pulled its ambassador from Australia.

In a joint statement after the call, the two leaders vowed to launch “in-depth consultations... for ensuring confidence” and to meet in Europe at the end of October. The statement also said Macron would order France’s ambassador back to Washington next week.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters the talk “was friendly” and Biden was “hopeful this was a step in returning to normal.”

The statement said the US recognized the need for stronger European defense to complement the NATO military alliance, a key idea repeatedly floated by the French leader.

In what amounted to an acknowledgement of French anger, the Englishlanguage version of the statement issued by the White House said that the management of the dueling submarine deals “would have benefited from open consultations among allies.” AFP

Suu Kyi Aussie adviser appears in junta court YANGON—An Australian adviser to Myanmar’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in a junta court to face immigration and official secrets charges, a lawyer involved in the case said Thursday.

Macquarie University professor Sean Turnell was the first foreign national arrested following the February 1 coup that ousted Suu Kyi’s government and sparked huge protests.

Turnell has been held at Insein Prison in Yangon since his arrest and appeared “frail and tired” in court in the capital Naypyidaw, said lawyer Khin Maung Zaw, who is working on the case.

Turnell was wearing a “full Covid-19 protective outfit”, the lawyer added, without giving precise details.

In July his wife pleaded for his release, citing worries about his health as the country endured a surge of Covid-19 cases.

Pictures of Turnell allegedly receiving a vaccine in Insein Prison later appeared in state-run media.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military putsch, which sparked a mass uprising and a brutal crackdown on dissent.

Suu Kyi is on trial for a raft of offences, including illegally importing walkie-talkies, flouting coronavirus rules and incitement.

She faces decades in prison if found guilty.

Her National League for Democracy government was deposed by the military for alleged voter fraud during 2020 polls, in which it trounced a political party aligned with the generals.

Security forces have killed more than 1,100 civilians since the coup, according to a local monitoring group.

The military says the toll is much lower.

AFP

UNITED NATIONS—British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday cast UN climate talks in Glasgow in November as a last chance for humanity as he made a passionate appeal for the world to slash carbon emissions.

In a characteristically colorful speech before the United Nations as he seeks success in Glasgow, Johnson urged humanity not to treat the planet as an “indestructible toy” and warned of irreversible damage from climate change.

“We will have made this beautiful planet effectively uninhabitable—not just for us but for many other species,” he told the General Assembly.

“And that is why the Glasgow COP26 summit is the turning point for humanity,” he said, using the official name for the meeting of the UN climate body’s Conference of Parties.

Johnson backed a goal of the developed world phasing out coal, one of the dirtiest forms of energy, by 2030 and the devel-

oping world doing so a decade later.

Pointing to Britain’s own track record at reducing emissions while preserving growth, the Conservative leader rejected conspiracy theories often voiced on the political right about the intentions behind climate plans.

“I am not one of those environmentalists who takes a moral pleasure in excoriating humanity for its excess,” Johnson said.

“I don’t see the green movement as a pretext for a wholesale assault on capitalism.”

Johnson hailed a pledge made a day earlier by Chinese President Xi Jinping to end coal financing overseas and urged the world’s largest emitter also to end its own growing use of coal.

The 2015 Paris accord set a goal of reducing global warming by two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels with an aspiration to go further and limit the rise to 1.5 Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit). AFP

UN wants ‘inclusive’ Afghan gov’t

U

NITED NATIONS—The five permanent UN Security Council members found common ground Wednesday on Afghanistan with officials saying all the powers would press the Taliban to be more inclusive after their military takeover.

China and Russia have described last month’s Taliban victory as a defeat for the United States and moved to work with the insurgents, but no country has moved to recognize a government that includes international pariahs.

The Security Council powers all want “a peaceful and stable Afghanistan where humanitarian aid can be dis-

tributed without problems and without discrimination,” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters after the meeting during the annual General Assembly.

They seek “an Afghanistan where the rights of women and girl are respected, an Afghanistan that is not a sanctuary for terrorism, an Afghanistan with an inclusive government representing all sections of the population,” he said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Russia met in person while their Chinese counterpart Wang Yi joined them virtually for the talks of just over an hour.

A US official described the meeting called by British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss as “constructive” and with “a lot of convergence,” including hopes that the Taliban respect the rights of women and girls.

“I don’t think anybody is satisfied with the composition of this interim government, including the

Chinese,” the official said.

Speaking to AFP before the meeting, China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, agreed that the five powers all wanted an inclusive government.

“Unity is everywhere,” he said.

China has previously criticized the United States for freezing billions of dollars in Afghan assets.

But Beijing is also keen for the neighboring nation not to be a base for outside extremist groups.

Afghanistan was also the subject of virtual talks by the Group of 20 major economies that included the participation of several other nations including Qatar, the hub for Taliban diplomacy.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, addressing the G20, renewed concern about the Islamists’ caretaker government which includes no non-Taliban and no women but has ministers blacklisted by the United Nations on terrorism allegations. AFP

YOUTH VOTE. In this

file photo taken on September 17, students mark their ballots at a mock polling station at a secondary school in Berlin, during an “Under 18” nationwide mock election, ahead of parliamentary elections on September 26. In Germany, a whole generation has grown up with Angela Merkel during her 16-year reign. Sunday’s elections will mark the end of Merkel’s era. AFP

Germany readies for election that will end Merkel era FRANKFURT—Germany goes to the polls on Sunday in an election that will see Angela Merkel step down after 16 years in power, sparking a knife-edge race to lead Europe’s biggest economy.

The first chancellor not to seek reelection since 1949, Merkel’s decision to bow out sets the country synonymous with stability on course for change no matter who wins when the final count is in.

Western allies are watching nervously, wary of an uncertain outcome and coalition negotiations that would blunt for weeks, if not months partici-

pation on the international scene by Europe’s biggest power of 83 million people.

For Merkel’s centre-right CDUCSU bloc, the stakes could hardly be higher.

Their pick for chancellor, the affable but gaffe-prone Armin Laschet, 60, has seen his popularity dwindle since he was caught chuckling during a tribute to victims of floods in July, the deadliest in Germany for decades.

The conservatives now face the prospect of not just losing the chancellery, but of being booted out of government altogether—unless Laschet

US, EU pledge $600m in Yemen aid, but UN warns millions face hunger UNITED NATIONS—Donors led by the United States and European Union on Wednesday pledged another $600 million for Yemen, but the United Nations said that a financial shortfall meant that millions could go hungry.

The United States promised an additional $290 million but said the ultimate solution was to end the war that has led to what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian situation.

“Humanitarian assistance makes a critical difference in people’s lives, but it alone cannot resolve this crisis,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement to a pledging event at the United Nations.

He called on Saudi Arabia, which has led a devastating air campaign in Yemen, as well as Huthi rebels and the

government to help ensure the flow of fuel into the country, one factor that has destabilized the economy and kept staples out of reach for many Yemenis.

The European Union promised 119 million euros. Oxfam said around $600 million was pledged in total, although the UN plea for $3.9 billion to help Yemen was still underfunded by around $1 billion.

David Beasley, executive director of the World Food Programme, welcomed the new pledges but said that the UN agency still did not have enough to support the 12.9 million people dependent on aid, which is nearly half the country.

The World Food Programme expects it will need to cut rations for 3.2 million people in October and more in December, he said. AFP

can pull off one of his trademark lastminute comebacks.

His main rival is Finance Minister and Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz, 63, from the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), junior partners in three out of four Merkel-led governments.

Often described as capable but boring, Scholz has cast himself as a safe pair of hands and the natural Merkel heir.

The latest opinion polls put Scholz’s SPD in the lead with around 25 percent support, but the gap with the conservatives has narrowed in recent days to just three percent. AFP

BORDER TICKET.

A Haitian man shows the ticket with the number he was given by authorities on the US side of the border in Parque Ecologico Braulio Fernandez in Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila state, Mexico on September 22. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador appealed to the US to take urgent action to tackle the migrant crisis reverberating across the Americas. AFP

Algeria closes airspace to all Morocco planes ALGIERS—Algeria said Wednesday it has closed its airspace to all Moroccan planes due to “provocations and hostile practices” by its neighbor, in the latest dispute between the countries at odds mainly over Western Sahara.

The move comes after Algeria broke off diplomatic ties with Morocco on August 24, accusing it of “hostile actions” following months of heightened tensions between the two North African countries.

Morocco called the severing of ties “completely unjustified” and said the decision was based on “false, even absurd pretexts”.

Relations between the neighbors have been tense for decades due to Algeria’s support for the Polisario Front, which demands a self-determination referendum in Western Sahara, while Morocco, which controls around 80 percent of the desert territory, has offered only autonomy.

The Algerian presidency said in a statement on Wednesday the decision had been made “to shut its airspace immediately to all civilian and military aircraft as well as to those registered in Morocco.”

The decision was announced after a meeting of the High Security Council chaired by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

The presidency said the meeting examined the situation on Algeria’s border with Morocco and took into account “the continuation of provocations and hostile practices by Morocco”, without providing details. AFP

Business

B3

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Fed preparing to end stimulus ‘soon’ despite weak recovery WASHINGTON—Rising COVID-19 cases have slowed the US economy’s recovery, but the Federal Reserve on Wednesday said it may nonetheless “soon” be time to begin removing the stimulus it provided during the pandemic.

The closely-watched announcement left policy unchanged for now, but new forecasts from central bankers show they expect the first interest rate increase next year.

That would take the benchmark lending rate above zero in the world’s dominant economy for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

Market watchers, as well as inflation hawks at the Fed, are concerned the stimulus is fueling price increases, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged that inflation could remain higher than expected as supply and employment constraints continue after last year’s widespread business closures.

When the pandemic hit in March 2020, the Fed slashed its benchmark interest rate and began buying bonds and other securities to ease lending conditions and ensure the financial system would not seize up.

Powell said the purchases served as a “critical tool” to support the economy and keep markets functioning, but their effectiveness has waned.

Now, the economy has healed to the point that the central bank could slow the pace of purchases “if progress continues broadly as expected,” the policy setting the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) said in a statement after concluding its two-day meeting.

The Fed is juggling competing forces as rising prices fuel inflation concerns while the economy remains about five million jobs short of where it was before the pandemic struck, forcing widespread business closures.

Though Powell again stressed that the Fed will not increase the key borrowing rate until later, rising inflation makes it more likely the central bank will have to move sooner than expected. AFP

Taiwan files bid to enlist in Pacific trade agreement TAIPEI, Taiwan—Taiwan has applied to join a major trans-Pacific trade deal, officials confirmed Thursday, days after China said it also wanted to become a member of the agreement.

The announcement was welcomed

by Japan but could rile Beijing which tries to keep Taiwan isolated on the world stage.

Signed by 11 Asia-Pacific countries in 2018, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TransPacific Partnership (CPTPP) is the region’s biggest free-trade pact and accounts for around 13.5 percent of the global economy.

“Taiwan can’t be left out in the world and has to integrate into the regional economy,” cabinet spokesman Lo Ping-cheng told reporters.

Tokyo responded favorably to the announcement.

“Japan welcomes Taiwan’s application to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters in New York.

Negotiations for the sweeping trade deal were initially led by the United States as a way to increase its influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

It was also designed to keep China, which has its own regional trade deal, locked out.

But former US president Donald Trump, who disdained multilateral agreements, pulled out of the deal in 2017.

The CPTPP is the successor to those negotiations and includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam.

Taiwan had been lobbying to join the pact for years but Thursday’s application made it official.

The island’s announcement came less than a week after China said it had also formally applied to join.

Those hoping to join, such as Britain, must have the unanimous support of all the pact’s member countries.

China’s application comes at a time when Beijing is feuding with a host of western nations. AFP

PSEi September 23, 2021

TOP GAINERS

Stock market advances; Jollibee, AC Energy rise T HE stock market rose slightly Thursday in step with the rest of Asia as concerns about a collapse of troubled property giant Evergrande receded for now.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 24.55 points, or 0.4 percent, to 6,915.28 on a value turnover of P6.5 billion. Gainers beat losers, 105 to 79, with 58 issues unchanged.

Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fast-food chain, advanced 3.8 percent to P203.40, while construction supply retailer Wilcon Depoat Inc. climbed 5.1 percent to P30.

AC Energy Corp. of the Ayala Group gained 3.1 percent to P11.18, while sister and major property developer Ayala Land Inc. rose 2.4 percent to P33.65.

The rest of Asian markets rose Thursday as investors cheered a Federal Reserve plan to begin scaling back its ultra-loose monetary policy soon.

Hong Kong was among the lead advancers as it reopened after a midweek break to catch up with news that Evergrande had agreed a plan to repay interest to its domestic bondholders, soothing worries of a default that have raised talk of a hammer blow to the Chinese economy.

And while Wednesday’s statement was vaguely worded—not detailing how much and when it would pay—it was grasped as a much-needed positive sign. Attention is now on what it plans to do about repayments to offshore bondholders, which are due Thursday.

Observers pointed out that even if it fails to meet its obligations, the firm still has 30 days to come up with the cash. However, they will be keeping an eye on how it deals with those dollar-

denominated notes.

“International investors will watch closely for new developments and for any state reaction, and assess how contagious it can be for the rest of the economy,” Bernard Shaw, an Asia bond syndicate banker at Daiwa Capital Markets Singapore, said.

Hong Kong rose more than one percent, with Evergrande surging about 30 percent briefly before easing back slightly—though its shares are still down more than 80 percent this year.

There were also gains for other property developers as well as banks that have exposure to the firm. Shanghai was also in positive territory, helped by an infusion of $17 billion into financial markets by the People’s Bank of China.

Sydney also added one percent, while Mumbai and Singapore were up even more. Wellington, Taipei, Bangkok and Jakarta were also higher. Tokyo was closed for a holiday. With AFP

% CHANGE CHANGE

1

ABS

13.1

1.2

10.08%

2

APL

0.101

0.008

8.60%

3 4

ABSP FEU

12.2 593

0.96 42.5

8.54% 7.72%

5

APC

0.305

0.02

7.02%

6

EEI

7.4

0.45

6.47%

7

VUL

1.2

0.07

6.19%

8

ALLHC

5.45

0.31

6.03%

9

CEU

7

0.38

5.74%

10

WLCON

30

1.45

5.08%

TOP LOSERS

GOOGLE IN NY. An exterior view of the St. John’s Terminal building is seen in New York on September 22,2021. Google

announced on September 21, 2021 plans to buy a New York City office building for $2.1 billion, confirming its push into America’s largest city despite the pandemic teleworking trend. Google already rents the premises in Manhattan, which are located on the site of a former railroad terminal in the Hudson Square neighborhood. AFP

LAST PRICE

LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1

SGI

1.17

-0.06

-4.88%

2

I

1.21

-0.06

-4.72%

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

TUGS DD GLO COAL AUB APVI PNX BKR

1.02 11.4 2990 0.28 44 16.86 12.1 0.97

-0.05 -0.46 -108 -0.01 -1.5 -0.54 -0.38 -0.03

-4.67% -3.88% -3.49% -3.45% -3.30% -3.10% -3.04% -3.00%

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

TEL MONDE ACEN JFC AC SMPH ALI ICT CNVRG GLO

VOLUME 396,755 27,402,100 35,584,900 1,837,950 344,380 7,302,700 6,915,700 1,100,260 5,198,400 57,305

VALUE (PHP) 677,129,375 541,089,048 393,116,814 374,864,692 277,893,365 240,177,860 232,727,965 213,183,586 181,711,450 173,203,160

Down on the farm, United Kingdom energy crisis looms large

By JOE JACKSON MALDON, United Kingdom—The tranquil landscape of flat farmland and small villages in the Essex countryside in southeast England seems a world away from Britain’s escalating energy crisis.

But fertilizer and carbon dioxide shortages are beginning to bite at places like Wicks Manor Farm, which rears pigs for pork and grows crops.

“We’ve got some real concerns (and) quite frightening consequences to farming, as an industry throughout the UK, certainly to our farming business here,” owner Fergus Howie told AFP, barely audible over his pigs’ squeals.

“There’s a lot of issues and they’re all kind of coming together,” he added, saying the situation had prompted “real concerns” about the “immediate food supply chain.”

Howie’s farm and butchery, in the idyllic Essex countryside some 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of London, sells pork to leading supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, and for export.

Wheat and barley grown over 4,400 acres (nearly 11,000 hectares) are used to feed the animals and sold wholesale.

Fertilizer is needed for the crops, and CO2 for the humane slaughter of livestock,

Pigs stand in their enclosure at Wicks Manor Farm in Maldon, south east England on September 22, 2021. Britain warned Wednesday that a deal to restart captured carbon dioxide production, which is vital for the food industry but was paused owing to surging gas prices, could cost tens of millions of pounds. CO2 is used in abattoirs to stun animals before they are killed for their meat. AFP

as well as in the production and packaging of sausages, burgers, bacon and ham.

If the shortages continue, there are

fears farms like Wicks Manor could be left unable to cull animals and low yield harvests will be economically unviable.

Evergrande founder calls for sales to resume BEIJING, China—The head of teetering Chinese developer Evergrande has urged staff to resume construction and sales to deliver properties, state media reported Thursday, as it battles to avoid a collapse many fear could send shockwaves through the world’s number two economy.

Furious homebuyers and investors around the country have gathered to demand repayment as the developer drowns in a sea of debt worth more than $300 billion, and struggles to meet its obligations.

The comments come as the company is due to pay interest to foreign bondholders Thursday, with expectations it will miss the deadline, starting the clock on a countdown to what could be a default in 30 days.

Xu Jiayin, the billionaire who founded the company in 1996, called more than 4,000 Evergrande managers to a meeting shortly before midnight on Wednesday, where he called on them to “devote all their energy to resuming work and production and ensuring that properties are delivered,” the state-owned China Securities Journal reported.

He also stressed that the group must “make every effort to fulfill” payment plans the company had previously announced, the Journal

reported.

The privately owned conglomerate had previously offered to repay some debts in kind, promising creditors including suppliers, contractors and investors in its wealth products, parking spaces and commercial units instead of cash.

Xu on Wednesday night promised to maintain a “highly responsible attitude toward investors.”

“Only by fully resuming work and production, resuming sales and resuming operations can the rights and interests of home buyers be protected and smooth payment of investment product buyers ensured,” he said, according to the report.

The crisis sent shivers through world markets on Monday as traders feared a collapse at one of China’s biggest property firms would spill over into the economy and have painful knock-on effects globally, just as countries battled to overcome the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, those concerns were eased slightly Wednesday when Evergrande said it had reached a deal with domestic bondholders to repay interest on their notes Thursday. AFP

‘Crazy’ Britain is not alone in being hit by surging gas prices, caused by a global supply shortage, causing a spike in wholesale costs that threaten to hike bills for consumers.

But the sharp increase led two UK fertilizer production sites, which rely on natural gas to halt operations last week, with a knock-on effect on livestock farming and the supply chain.

Carbon dioxide is a by-product of fertilizer production and the two plants account for up to 60 percent of Britain’s CO2 supply.

Farmers like Howie now worry there will not be enough to go round.

The UK government announced Tuesday a financial support deal with CF Fertilisers, the US firm that runs the biggest of the two facilities, to restart production at one site.

But the agreement, which ministers concede could end up costing British taxpayers tens of millions of pounds, will only last for three weeks—and produce a fraction of the CO2 needed.

“Three weeks isn’t exactly going to cut the mustard,” said Howie, whose grandfather began farming in Essex nearly a century ago. AFP

Manila

Republic of the Philippines Standard Department of Transportation

TODAY TOLL REGULATORY BOARD

5th Floor The Columbia Tower Ortigas Avenue, Barangay Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong City 1555, Philippines

NOTICE OF TOLL RATE ADJUSTMENT IMPLEMENTATION (VAT lnclusive) (R-1 Expressway) Conformably with the Consolidated Resolution dated 19 August 2021 issued by the Toll Regulatory Board ("TRB") covering the 2011 and 2014 Petitions for Approval of Toll Rate With Application for Provisional Relief for R-1 Expressway of the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway Project (MCTEP) filed by Philippine Reclamation Authority and UEMMARA Philippines Corporation (UMPC, now Cavitex lnfrastructure Corporation, CIC), the following toll rate adjustments for the use of the R-1 Expressway of the MCTEP are approved and allowed to be implemented immediately, inclusive of Value Added Tax: Vehicle Class Class 1 Class 2 Class 3

R-1 Expressway (Seaside to Zapote), 6.475 kms.

Php 31.00 Php 62.00 Php 93.00

SO ORDERED

By Authority of the Board: (Sgd.) ATTY. ALVIN A. CARULLO Executive Director/Hearing Officer Date of First Publication: SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 Date of Second Publication: SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 Date of Third Publication: SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

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

B4

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

Bangko Sentral keeps policy rate at 2% in support of PH recovery THE Monetary Board, the policymaking body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, on Thursday kept the benchmark policy rate at a record-low of 2 percent to support the economy that is gradually recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BSP Governor and board chairman Benjamin Diokno said in an online briefing the interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also kept at 1.5 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively.

“On balance, the Monetary Board is of the view that prevailing monetary policy settings remain appropriate given the manageable inflation environment and uncertain growth outlook,” Diokno said.

“The Monetary Board reiterates that, together with appropriate fiscal and health interventions, keeping a steady hand on the BSP’s policy levers will allow the momentum of economic recovery to gain more traction by helping boost domestic demand and market confidence,” he said.

He said latest baseline forecasts indicated a higher inflation path over the policy horizon. The average inflation was seen to settle slightly above the upper end of the target band of 2 percent to 4 percent in 2021.

“This reflects the impact of recent supply disruptions on food prices, which contributed in part to the higher-than-expected inflation outturn in August. Nevertheless, inflation is projected to settle close to the midpoint of the target range in 2022 and 2023. Moreover, inflation expectations remain firmly aligned with the baseline projection path,” he said.

Diokno said the risks to the inflation outlook tilted towards the upside for the remaining months of 2021 but remained broadly balanced for 2022 and 2023.

He said upside risks might emanate from pressures on international commodity prices amid improving global demand and lingering supply-chain bottlenecks. The potential effects of weather disturbances and a possible prolonged recovery from the African Swine Fever outbreak could also continue to lend upside pressures on prices. Julito G. Rada

Cebu Pacific sees ‘green shoots’ as air traffic picks up

By Darwin G. Amojelar CEBU Pacific said Thursday it is seeing “green shoots” as travel demand gradually picks up following the easing of quarantine restrictions.

“We’re definitely seeing green shoots, but we are cautiously optimistic. In the fourth quarter we will see ramping up of operations and hopefully simplifications of these travel requirements,” said Candice Iyog, vice president for marketing and customer experience at Cebu Pacific in a virtual briefing.

“Passenger loads have been improving gradually... The good news why we are seeing green shoots is we’ve started to see load factor improve in the past week or since the announcement of GCQ and granular lockdown, wherein the loads is mid 50 percent but [still below] the 85 percent prepandemic level,” she said.

Iyog said there would be no reduction on its fleet as the airline has the “right size,” for current operations.

The company has 73 aircraft.

Iyog said despite the growing optimism, it is “still tough” for the airline industry because of the pandemic.

“We are not yet out of the woods .

We need to continue to do these things to make sure that we have a longer runway for ourselves,” she said.

Cebu Pacific said it would ramp up local and international operations staring next month.

“We’re excited and looking forward to flying more and supporting the domestic tourism because we all know, domestic tourism will be leading the recovery process for us, and we’re doing everything we can to support this,” Iyog said.

The airline in October will expand flights to Siargao from five times to six times weekly; raise frequencies to Boracay from four to five times daily; and bump up flights to Bohol from nine to 10 times weekly.

Business Budget deficit hit P958b as August spending rose T

By Julito G. Rada

HE government incurred a budget deficit of P120.9 billion in August, up 201 percent from the P40.1billion shortfall a year ago, as the 34-percent acceleration in public spending outperformed the 6.6-percent growth in revenue collection, the Bureau of the Treasury said Thursday.

The August gap brought the cumulative budget deficit in the first eight months to P958.2 billion, or 29.4 percent higher than a year ago. It represented 52 percent of the P1.856-trillion revised deficit program for the year.

Revenue collections rose 6.6 percent

year-on-year in August to P259.3 billion and 3.9 percent to P2.005 trillion in the first eight months, accounting for 70 percent of the P2.881-trillion revised collection goal for 2021.

Data showed 90 percent of the total collections, or P1.813 trillion, was generated through taxes while non-tax collections comprised the remaining 10 percent or P191.8 billion.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s net collection in August amounted to P186.1 billion, down 1 percent or P1.9 billion from the previous year’s P187.9 billion. BIR’s P1.388 trillion year-todate collection as of end-August increased 6.6 percent from the 2020 comparable figure.

“Going forward, BIR must collect P173.1 billion per month to meet its adjusted 2021 target of P2.081 trillion,” the Treasury said.

Collections by the Bureau of Customs stood at P53.4 billion in August, after deducting P133.0 million for tax refunds, and sustained a double-digit growth of 20.23 percent with a P9-bil-

lion increase from a year ago.

Cumulative revenue collection by BOC as of end-August hit P412.3 billion or 67 percent of its revised full-year target of P616.7 billion and was 18.71 percent higher than P347.3 billion a year earlier.

“To achieve its updated program for the year, BOC needs to raise a monthly average collection of P51.1 billion from September to December 2021,” the Treasury said.

Income collected and generated by the Bureau of the Treasury amounting to P4.7 billion in August, or more than double the previous year’s level of P2.1 billion, driven by higher remittance of national government share from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.’s income, dividend remittances and earnings from investments.

The Treasury’s aggregate revenue in the eight-month period contracted by 48.21 percent year-on-year to P99.9 billion on high base effects from the implementation of Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan I last year.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Thursday, September 23, 2021 24.55 PTS. 6,915.28

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

1,585,684,427 88,036 6,483,049,474.21 105 79 58

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.1820

Japan

Yen

0.009109

0.4571

UK

Pound

1.362500

68.3730

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128434

6.4451

Switzerland

Franc

1.080147

54.2039

Canada

Dollar

0.783085

39.2968

Singapore

Dollar

0.738934

37.0812

Australia

Dollar

0.723700

36.3167

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653435

133.1547

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266617

13.3794

Brunei

Dollar

0.736214

36.9447

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.029904

1.5006

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.6632

Euro

Euro

1.169400

58.6828

Korea

Won

0.000846

0.0425

China

Yuan

0.154717

7.7640

India

Rupee

0.013550

0.6800

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.238607

11.9738

New Zealand

Dollar

0.699500

35.1023

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036088

1.8110 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

Emperador bullish on foreign business

EMPERADOR Inc., the world biggest brandy maker, said Thursday it expects its international business to account for 50 percent of the company’s total revenues and profits by 2025.

Emperador said it plans double its revenues from branded single malt whisky by 2026 to achieve the target.

Whisky accounted for 35 percent of Emperador total revenues with sales reached P8.9 billion in the first half. Whyte and Mackay is the main source of Emperador’s international revenues.

Since Emperador acquired Whyte and Mackay in 2014, the company has rapidly grown the business by expanding from a United Kingdom-centric strategy to distribute more internationally and develop a truly globally recognized portfolio of brands.

Emperador’s single malt Scotch whisky business grew rapidly in Asia Pacific due to strong sales to China in the last five years.

Jenniffer B. Austria

DOE endorses e-vehicle project

THE Department of Energy endorsed the electric vehicle project of Century Peak Energy Corp. to the Board of Investments for tax incentives.

Century Peak is putting up an integrated EV and EV charging station with fleet management project nationwide.

“I am pleased to inform you all that as part of continued efforts to help strengthen our EV sector, the DOE has also recently endorsed a project to the BOI, which will see the deployment of 20,000 imported EVs and up to 5,000 EV charging stations in the next 5 years,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said a speech at the 9th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit.

The P2.5-billion project is expected to commence upon BOI approval, according DOE director Patrick Aquino.

“When completed, the project is expected to help contribute to the reduction of as much as 145.02 million liters of fuel. This is equivalent to at most a P7.99 billion reduction from fuel cost. The DOE looks forward to more similar projects to accelerate the country’s shift to EV,” Cusi said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

TOYOTA ADOPTED SCHOOL. Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation, the social and humanitarian arm of Toyota Motor

Philippines Corp., continues its commitment and assistance to its adopted school, Pulong Sta. Cruz Elementary School in Sta. Rosa, Laguna during the pandemic. To keep track of the overall health status of PSCES, TMPF sponsored an annual physical examination.

Laboratory tests were also made available for members of PSCES faculty and staff.

ERC asks power distributors to return P20b to customers

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday ordered distribution utilities, both privately-owned and electric cooperatives, to return some P20 billion in overcharges to their respective customers in the past two years.

“Upon evaluation and verification of the reportorial requirements submitted, the commission approved and directed the concerned distribution utilities to refund a total amount of P20,145,890,691.21 to their respective customers. The big chunk of the amount represents the DUs’ over-collection in their pass-through and distribution charges,” ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera said in a statement.

Customers of distribution utilities ex-

perienced the following rate reductions last year: Luzon at P0.0025 to P0.9118 per kilowatt-hour; Visayas from P0.0028 to P1.3182 per kWh; and Mindanao from P0.0151 to P0.9118 per kWh. ERC said the rate reduction this year is about P0.0014 to P1.5064 per kWh in Luzon ; P0.0088 to P0.5719 per kWh for Visayas; and P0.0070 to P0.4348 per kWh for Mindanao.

It said that for the franchise area of Manila Electric Co. and Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co., the refund rates are P0.1528 per kWh and P0.0268 percent kWh, respectively which represents over-recoveries in the distribution charges.

Meralco said that for the market transaction fee, the rate reduction is around P0.0029 per kWh to P0.0039 per kWh.

“The P20 billion refund that the commission approved is aimed to provide some rate relief, especially to those electricity consumers that were economically disadvantaged due to the limited operation or closure of some businesses. As the COVID-19 continues to persist, we urge the DUs to exercise empathy by allowing a more flexible form of payment of their customers’ electricity bill, such as through staggered payment without penalties or interests.” Devanadera said.

“The ERC is finding ways to reduce the charges being billed by the DUs to their customers, such as the temporary suspension of some charges like the bill deposit adjustment, universal charge and FIT-Allowance, when appropriate, to alleviate the poverty caused by this pandemic,” she said.

BDO Pay announces five key functions

BDO Unibank said its digital payment app BDO Pay has five key functions that enable clients to do banking transactions and easily manage their finances online.

These features—Send Money, Pay Bills, Scan to Pay, Split Bill, and Request Money—are readily accessible upon downloading the BDO Pay app from Google Play, App Store, or Huawei AppGallery. Using BDO Pay, clients can directly link their BDO account and credit card.

For Send Money, BDO Pay users can send an amount to other BDO Pay users free of charge just by using their phone contacts or by typing in the mobile number of the recipient.

Pay Bills, meanwhile, allows BDO Pay users to pay their bills to credit cards, telecoms/internet, electric and water utilities, TV/cable, loans, investment, government, and transportation, among others, without the need to enroll them.

Scan to Pay enables BDO Pay users to pay various merchants just by scanning their QR code with the users’ mobile phone camera. Payments are reflected in real-time.

With the Split Bill feature, BDO Pay clients can divide group bills with up to five other people and request money in one tap.

BDO Pay users can also Request Money from other users of the digital wallet of up to P50,000 per person.

Jollibee pegs dividend rates on P12-b offering

By Jenniffer B. Austria RESTAURANT chain operator Jollibee Foods Corp. set the dividend rates for its maiden P12-billion preferred shares offering.

The company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Thursday Series A preferred shares would have a dividend rate of 3.2821 percent per annum, while Series B preferred shares will have 4.2405 percent a year.

Jollibee will issue up to 12 million in cumulative, non-voting, non-participating, non-convertible, redeemable, peso-denominated perpetual preferred shares, at an offering price of P1,000 per share.

The offering will run from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, 2021. The preferred shares will be listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange on Oct. 14, 2021.

The bond offering was approved by the PSE and the Securities and Ex-

change Commission.

Net proceeds from the offering will be used for the partial redemption of the company’s $250-million senior perpetual securities and capital expenditures for its commissary and store expansion.

BPI Capital Corp., BDO Capital and Investments Corp., China Bank Capital and SB Capital and Investments Corp. are the joint lead underwriters and book runners for the offering.

Jollibee said in a statement it continues to expand its footprint in North America with the opening of new mobile kitchen in Hamilton, Ontario and a new store in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Jollibee said it teamed up with DoorDash, an online food ordering platform, to launch the mobile kitchen in Ontario.

The fast-food giant said the mobile kitchen would enable it to expand its presence in existing and new markets, without the traditional overhead costs of opening a brick-and-mortar store.

ICTSI IS BEST COMPANY. International Container Terminal Services Inc. is recognized as the best transport company in the Philippines by financial magazine Asiamoney. ICTSI, the largest port operator in the country, emerged as the most outstanding company under the transport sector category of the Asia’s Outstanding Companies Poll 2021 by the magazine. The citation was based on the company’s financial performance, management team excellence, investor relations and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Malditas shoot for seat in Asian tilt THE Philippine women’s football team shoots for a second straight win and a sweep of its Group F qualifying round assignments that will put the Malditas in the tournament proper of the 2022 Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup. The opportunity to make outright qualification can happen if the Malditas can hurdle Hong Kong at 6 p.m. today at the JAR Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

“If you believe, you dream, you do it,” said Malditas’ skipper Inna Palacios in a PinoyFutbol Facebook Live session before they went into practice yesterday afternoon.

The Marlo Maro-coached Malditas’ bid improved after Nepal’s own efforts to reach the main draw in over 20 years ended in disappointment last Tuesday.

Nepal played a goalless qualifying draw against Hong Kong, putting an end to its campaign.

Because of this, the match between Hong Kong and Philippines will determine the group winner instead, and which team will reach next year’s finals in India.

“We really need to get the full six points home, so we can go to the next game. To win this match, we need to execute plays well and score the goal. We’re gonna make the best out of this, and go all the way,” said one of the team’s veterans in Camille Rodriguez.

On the other hand, a victory against the Malditas will end Hong Kong’s 19-year absence in one of Asia’s premier women’s football’s competitions.

Hong Kong will be a challenging encounter, since the team has been a regular fixture in the early editions of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Hong Kong has appeared in 14 consecutive tournaments from 1975 to 2003, but it has been absent in the finals since the qualifiers were introduced ahead of the 2006 edition.

Peter Atencio

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

Balanced attack keys Bolts’ win T

By Peter Atencio

HE Meralco Bolts relied on fresh legs to fashion out a 79-66 stopping of the reigning champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings Thursday at the DHVSU Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Mac Belo, Anjo Caram and Alvin Pasaol took turns in providing the needed energy on the floor as they kept the Bolts, who formally entered the quarterfinals of the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. Belo and Pasaol banged in 15 points each for the Bolts, who

finished their elimination-round campaign with four straight wins and a 9-2 win-loss record in second place.

“So far, it has been about balance. I guess a lot of the guys stepped up, Mac, Caram.

So it’s just (about) t h e next man as far a s we’re concerned,”

said Bolts’ coach Norman Black.

The 6’4” Belo, picking up from the role that Allein Maiksi played when he led scoring the other day, knocked in a trey with 6:10 left, to put the Bolts safely ahead by 10, 68-58.

Pasaol’s layup found its mark in the last 6:04 of the third period, allowing the Bolts to move ahead, 52-45.

Caram drilled in only four points, but his followup of Maliksi’s miss kept the Bolts in front, 57-51 with 11:07 to go in the last period.

Caram’s steal off Stanley Pringle and basket in the remaining 8:12, protected the Bolts’ advantage, 63-53.

The setback was the Gin Kings’

NorthPort’s Robert Bolick scores against Alaska’s Rodney Brondial in a PBA Philippine Cup game won by the Batang Pier, 122-94.

Hakimi heroics maintain Messi-less PSG’s 100% start PARIS—Achraf Hakimi’s dramatic injury-time winner rescued Paris SaintGermain a 2-1 victory at bottom club Metz on Wednesday as the capital giants maintained their 100 percent start to the Ligue 1 season despite the absence of the injured Lionel Messi.

Moroccan full-back Hakimi, a 60-million-euro signing from Inter Milan this year, gave PSG a fifth-minute lead before Kiki Kouyate’s equalizer.

But a chaotic climax to the match saw Metz reduced to 10 men and have their coach Frederic Antonetti sent to the stands before Hakimi’s 94th-minute strike.

“The team fight to the end and never admit defeat, they have this ability to surpass themselves, with character, and the reward came at the end,” said PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino.

PSG went into the new season as redhot favourites to regain their French title after a raft of close-season signings, including six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi.

The former Barcelona icon was absent

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with a knee injury and Pochettino’s men struggled against winless Metz.

But PSG extended their early advantage at the top of the table to seven points over rivals Marseille—who drew 0-0 at thirdplaced Angers—after a seventh victory from as many league games.

Hakimi pounced early on but PSG were far from their best and Kouyate headed home from a corner six minutes before the break.

Visiting goalkeeper Keylor Navas had to make a good save to deny Lamine Gueye a goal on the stroke of half-time, while Metz appeals for a penalty for handball against Hakimi early in the second period were turned down.

The real drama came after the clock had ticked past the 90 minutes, though, as Metz defender Dylan Bronn was shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.

Coach Antonetti was then promptly dismissed.

PSG made the most of their brief man advantage as Hakimi latched onto Ney-

mar’s excellent pass, cut inside and fired into the bottom corner left-footed.

Paris, champions in seven of the last nine seasons, celebrated wildly, with Neymar booked in the aftermath.

Shaqiri off the mark Xherdan Shaqiri scored his first Lyon goal since joining from Liverpool as his new side saw off Troyes 3-1.

X a v i e r Chavalerin gave Troyes a half-time lead, but Shaqiri’s brilliant shot into the top corner dragged Lyon level.

His fellow close-season arrival Emerson Palmieri completed the turnaround before Lucas Paqueta added a third.

After a poor start to the campaign, Lyon have won three of their last four matches to climb to sixth in the table.

Nice are a place below them after Amine Gouiri missed a penalty for the second straight match in a 1-0

loss at Lorient.

It was the first Ligue 1 defeat of the season for the club financed by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos.

Thomas Monconduit scored the only goal midway through the first half for Lorient before Gouiri, who also failed from the spot late on in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Monaco, missed again in the 55th minute. AFP Former Barcelona icon Lionel Messi was absent with a knee injury.

seventh in 11 matches and it brought the defending champions close to getting eliminated, as they shared similar 4-7 slates with the Phoenix Fuel Masters and the Terrafirma Dyip.

Pringle had 19 points, while Christian Standhardinger added 17 for the Gin Kings, who trailed by as much as 19 points before they fought back in the third period.

Ginebra will now count on a victory by NorthPort in its game with the Alaska Aces in order to have a knockout match for the eighth seed against the Phoenix Fuel Masters.

US mandates vaccines for 2022 Winter Olympic team LOS ANGELES—US athletes taking part in the Beijing Winter Olympics next year must be vaccinated against Covid-19, according to guidelines released by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee on Wednesday.

The USOPC rules state that as of November 1, all employees, athletes, contractors and others accessing USOPC facilities must be vaccinated against the coronavirus.

By December 1, the mandate will be extended to include all Team USA delegations members or hopefuls for future games.

“The health and well-being of our Olympic and Paralympic community continues to be a top priority,” the guidelines said.

“This step will increase our ability to create a safe and productive environment for Team USA athletes and staff, and allow us to restore consistency in planning, preparation and optimal service to athletes.”

At the Tokyo Olympics earlier this year, the USOPC stopped short of mandating Covid-19 vaccines for its members.

Around 100 of the 613-athlete US team travelled to Japan without being vaccinated.

They included US swimmer Michael Andrew, who was criticized during the Games after failing to wear a facemask during interactions with the media.

Former US Olympic swimmer Maya DiRado accused Andrew of endangering teammates by refusing to get vaccinated.

The International Olympic Committee has also not issued a vaccine mandate for athletes taking part in its events.

The USOPC said it would consider exemptions to the mandate on a case-by-case basis.

Unvaccinated individuals who receive an exemption will be required to undergo daily Covid-19 testing, which will be paid for by the USOPC. AFP

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Sports

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

PSC holds Indigenous Peoples’ 4-part forum

Murray into 1st ATP quarterfinal in 2 years METZ, France—Former world number one Andy Murray reached his first ATP quarter-final in two years on Wednesday with a straight sets win over Canada’s Vasek Pospisil at the Moselle Open.

Murray, now ranked at 113, swept to a convincing 6-3, 6-3 victory and will face either top seeded Hubert Hurkacz of Poland or French player Lucas Pouille for a place in the semi-finals.

It will be his first appearance in the last-eight since winning his 46th career title at Antwerp in October 2019.

The 34-year-old Murray, who has undergone two hip surgeries in the last three years, broke the 66th-ranked Pospisil four times in his one-hour, 24-minute triumph to claim a fifth win in six meetings against the Canadian.

On Tuesday, Murray had defeated France’s 26th-ranked Ugo Humbert 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round.

“This period has been the most tournaments I’ve played recently and my body feels good and I’m starting to gain just a little bit of confidence with each match,” three-time Grand Slam title winner Murray told atptour.com.

“There have been times in the past year where I’ve been a little bit confused and not seeing how the points are developing which for me was always a strong part of my game and it made me feel quite uncomfortable on the court when I was feeling that way.

“I’m starting to get that back and the results are coming and my tennis is getting better.”

Meanwhile, Pouille defeated another Canadian, Brayden Schnur 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Germany’s Peter Gojowczyk, who made the fourth round of the US Open as a qualifier, beat French lucky loser Antoine Hoang 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 Second seed Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain enjoyed a 7-5, 6-2 win against Sweden’s Mikael Ymer.

He will next face highly-regarded 18-year-old Danish qualifier Holger Rune who downed fifth seeded Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-4.

Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton (left) and Red Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen collide during the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale circuit in Monza. AFP

Lewis hopes to end frustrating pursuit of 100th win in Russia

S

OCHI—Lewis Hamilton will be seeking to exploit every advantage he can find this weekend as he bids for an unprecedented and thus far elusive 100th Formula One win to regain the lead in the world championship at the Russian Grand Prix.

Since grabbing victory in controversial circumstances at the British Grand Prix in July, the seven-time champion has been unable to add to his total of 99 victories and has struggled to reach his century.

But after surviving another spectacular crash with title rival Max Verstappen of Red Bull at Monza, to follow their high-speed first lap tangle at Silverstone, Hamilton has an inviting opportunity to make history for Mercedes at the Sochi Autodrom, on the shores of the Black Sea on Sunday.

Not only is he seeking a record fifth triumph in the former Olympic Park but Mercedes are unbeaten in all seven races held there.

Verstappen, meanwhile, goes into the event with a three-place grid penalty for his part in their collision in Italy where his car ended up on top of Hamilton, who escaped injury or worse thanks to the ‘halo’ cockpit safety device.

That all suggests that the 36-year-old Briton has a sumptuous chance to overhaul the Dutchman’s five-point advantage in the championship.

Verstappen, at best, can only start fourth if he is fastest in qualifying, but insists he was not to blame for their latest crash.

The 23-year-old is also bullish about his bid to take Hamilton’s crown.

“Of course, the penalty is not ideal, but nothing is lost—that’s how I look at it,” he said.

“In the championship, there are a lot of races ahead and the margin is tiny. We will make the most of it and do our best.

“You can reflect all you want, but it’s more important to look forward and keep pushing. I still believe it was a racing incident.”

Verstappen finished second behind Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas last year and believes he can be highly competitive in what is likely to be

a wet racing weekend.

“It’s completely different to Monza and I’m looking forward to it to see if we can improve on last year.”

Hamilton ‘laser-focused’ Hamilton is expected to have fully recovered from the headaches and neck pain he suffered in Italy and, according to Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff, is in determined mood.

“Lewis is in the tenth championship battle of his F1 career and he is laser-focused on what he needs to deliver in the next eight races,” he said, adding that Bottas, who leaves to join Alfa Romeo next year, is driving “better than ever”.

“There’s a calm determination about the team right now and the business end of a season, fighting for championships, is exactly what we enjoy the most.”

Mercedes lead Red Bull by 18 points in the constructors’ title race with Sochi offering them a chance to extend that advantage while McLaren, who won in Italy thanks to a rousing drive from Daniel Ricciardo, may offer a threat.

“I want to build on my Monza performance and will push to score important points,” said the Australian. “But Sochi can be a tricky circuit to make a move.”

AFP

THE Philippine Sports Commission is set to conduct the 2021 Indigenous Sports and Games Webinar Series: Preserving and Promoting the Rich Cultural Heritage of our Ancestors in conjunction with the celebration of Indigenous Peoples Month.

The webinar series is scheduled on October 7, 21, 28, and November 5 at 1 p.m. through the Zoom video conferencing platform.

The four sessions will serve as a continuation of the Webinar launching held last June 24.

Over 1,000 participants have registered for the four-part webinar series which aims to promote and preserve the traditions and culture of the Indigenous Peoples.

“Four distinguished resource speakers, representing different government agencies, and associations, were invited to give talks on various topics concerning the rich culture of the Indigenous Peoples,” said PSC Oversight Commissioner for Indigenous Peoples Games IPG program Charles Raymond A. Maxey.

The activity is organized in partnership with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples. It is also sponsored by Pocari Sweat.

Meanwhile, 15 young girls and women are taking the spotlight upon winning Gold Medals in the 7th Women’s Martial Arts Festival Pencak Silat Competition in this week’s Rise Up, Shape Up web series.

Success stories of Danyella Reiyn Coching (Tunggal pre-teen 9-11 years old category), Szavein Emerald Cordovez, Jazzy dela Cruz and Antoinette Isabelle Sta. Romana (Beregu pre-teen 9-11 years old category) and Zyche Mae Jizmundo, Ann Gilrose Sanchez, and Hanna Kimberlay Cezar (Beregu Pre-junior 12-13 years old category) will be showcased in the September 25 episode.

The series will also feature the other golden medalist rising stars of the Indonesian martial arts who won their competition in the 14-16 years old category and the 17-35 years old category. Pencak Silat 2019 Southeast Asian Games Silver Medalist Francine Padios will also be joining the web series episode.

Women in Sports Commissioner incharge Celia H. Kiram, in her regular segment “K-Isport: Kwentong Isport,” will briefly tackle the history of Pencak Silat in the country.

Sixers’ coach Rivers wants Simmons to stay LOS ANGELES—Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers confirmed Wednesday that unsettled guard Ben Simmons had requested a move from the club— but insisted the Sixers want the Australian star to remain with the franchise.

Reports on Tuesday said Simmons had informed the Sixers that he planned to effectively go on strike by refusing to turn up for pre-season training unless he was granted a move.

Sixers coach Rivers confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday that Simmons had requested a trade during a meeting in August.

“It was a good conversation,” Rivers said. “He gave his reasons which we obviously didn’t agree with.”

However Rivers maintains the Sixers

want to persuade the 25-year-old former No.1 draft pick that he remained part of the team’s plans.

“In sports there’s been so many times this has happened that hasn’t been reported, and the guy comes back,” Rivers said.

“We’re going to always do what’s best for the team, but I can tell you up front we would love to get Ben back.

And if we can, we’re going to try to do that. You know, Ben has a long contract. So it’s in our hands and we want him back.”

Simmons’ future in Philadelphia has been the subject of speculation since the team lost a decisive Game 7 to Atlanta in last season’s playoffs, with Simmons’s offensive output shrivelling in the crucial

final quarter.

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

Rivers suggested on Wednesday however that the questions over Simmons’ offensive output in pressure situations were over-stated.

“We’re not going to give up on Ben,” Rivers said. “I miss him, I’ve always defended him. I just love how he plays and a lot of things that he does for the team.

“Unfortunately we’ve focused so much on his offense and we don’t focus on a lot of other things he does. We were one game away from the Eastern finals last year. No-one picked us to be where we were at.”

Ben Simmons (left) with Joel Embiid

US tries to win back Ryder Cup as Europe seeks upset KOHLER—An American squad featuring nine of the world’s 11 top-ranked golfers tries to reclaim top-ran the Ryder Cup from Europe this weekend, aid aided by 40,000 loud supporters and a home course edge.

The European side, however, has won nine of the past 12 editions of the biennial team matches, including three of the past six on US soil, and brings an experienced lineup to face a US team with six rookies on its 12man roster.

“Everything is stacked against us,” said European talisman Ian Poulter, who has never lost a Ryder Cup singles match. “When you have that, when you can go in as underdogs, when you can turn the tide and actually come out victorious, it means a little bit more.

“If we can come out on top Sunday night, it’ll be a pretty special one.”

Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy of Europe says a win “would be massive” and rival Europe’s

rally from 10-6 down on Sunday to win the 2012 “Miracle at Medinah.”

“I’d certainly love to have that feeling again,” McIlroy said. “It would be a huge achievement.”

Brisk winds at Whistling Straits along the Lake Michigan shoreline promise to make the layout, tucked among cliffs and hillsides, formidable for everyone when play starts Friday.

“We like a bit of wind, but we’re not asking for everybody to be blown off the golf course,” Europe captain Padraig Harrington said.

“You’ve got to hit wind shots. You’ve got to keep the ball down at times.

You’ve got to aim off into trouble and trust the wind is going to take it back.

“Nobody wants it too windy. That’s not conducive to a good, fair battle, but a bit of wind is a true test of golf.”

Flag-stiffening winds will switch to southerly on Friday, unlike anything seen on practice days.

“Wind has proved to be a challenge,” US captain Steve Stricker

said. “We’re going to see something totally different come Friday.”

US players “had a good time with the wind,” Stricker said. “They thought it was fun. They embraced it.”

It doesn’t hurt that the hosts have 2020 Masters winner Dustin Johnson, Tokyo Olympic champion Xander Schauffele, British Open champion Collin Morikawa and US PGA Tour playoff winner Patrick Cantlay all ranked in the top five, even if the last three are Ryder Cup newcomers.

“We come with a lot of enthusiasm and energy, young guys willing and ready to learn,” Stricker said. “We’re not coming with bad experiences. I see that as a positive. Our guys are super fired up and ready to go.”

Friday and Saturday feature morning foursomes and afternoon fourball matches ahead of Sunday’s 12 final singles matches.

About 40,000 spectators are expected each day, mostly US supporters due to Covid-19 travel restrictions

after the event was delayed from 2020 by the pandemic.

“These fans have been pent up for a long time and they’re going to come out and get behind their team,” said Stricker. “It’s going to be loud.

“We need that backing. It’s our home turf. But we’re also hoping they don’t cross the line, which we’ve seen at some other Ryder Cups throughout the years.”

“I got called a turd at Hazeltine in 2016,” England’s Lee Westwood recalled. “That’s the first time I’ve been called a turd since I was about 12 years of age in a playground.”

‘10 times more electric’ Europeans did their bit to win over US fans Wednesday, wearing cheeseheads to the first tee, the foam cheese wedge-shaped hats worn by supporters of the nearby NFL Green Bay Packers.

“It’s light-hearted. You want it that way in practice,” Harrington said. “Obviously business starts Friday.” AFP

Entertainment Miss Siargao Island Michele Angela Navarro Okol excels in academics while vying for Miss Universe Philippines crown.

THE pressure among candidates and fans of the Miss Universe Philippines 2021 pageant is starting to build up as the coronation night draws near.

Each of the candidates’ camp is never amiss in updating the public, supporters, and fans of the latest “pasabog” (a famous Filipino term for something magnanimous/ explosive) to better present why their candidates deserve the crown.

While others release everything ‘pageantry,” here’s an alternative update about this year’s Miss Siargao Island bet.

The mother of Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Siargao Island candidate Michele Angela Navarro

Okol shared “one positive side” during this pandemic about her daughter’s consistent strength and determination, not just in the MUPh activities but also in her studies.

Maria Helena Navarro Okol posted on her Facebook account last week how her daughter not only becomes more responsible but also maintains her First Honor Category, with a 9697 general average as she majors in Political Science at De La Salle University (DLSU) Manila.

“What more can a parent ask for?” muses Okol as she shares how Angela (how she calls her and people close to her) maintains her promise to not leave school and continue as long as she can, even with the challenges and

requirements of the MUPh pageant.

Angela, indeed, kept her promise to her parents to maintain that high grades in her aspiration to become a lawyer someday and help out.

This young commercial model cum student achiever who initially fit the “girl-next-door” type has now transformed into a complete phenomenal woman ready to conquer the universe. The intent to help has been there when one completely shy girl, entered “public life” as a commercial model “in an attempt to help out and generate more income,” Okol further shared.

She continues by saying that Angela also sewed clothes and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

F

of the underprivileged and less fortunate people.

Hernandez will undergo training under the Kagandahang Flores Camp of Rodgil Flores in preparation for the Miss Teen International pageant. She is thankful to Rikki Molina, National Director of the Miss Teen Philippines franchise and her fellow Calambeños led by Calamba Mayor Justin Chipeco for their valuable support to her forthcoming international competition.

•••

Aspiring actress is Manila’s bet in Mrs. Universe Philippines 2021

Manila City’s representative in the ongoing Mrs. Universe Philippines 2021 pageant is Christine Chrizzie Escalante, a 33-year-old mother of three, who has the full support of Mayor Isko Moreno.

Escalante has partnered with the mayor in undertaking several charitable socio-civic projects for the city’s constituents and in promoting Manila as a first-rate tourist destination.

Escalante, an advocate of human development, has partnered with the City Mayor to support various undertakings in line with his many socio-civic concerns and passions, among others, the home-for-thehomeless projects and re-energizing Manila’s rich historical, cultural and patrimonial heritage to return Manila to its old glory. Read full story on manilastandard.net

to earn more income from 20202021 and even approached a popular beauty queen who was so kind to buy from her 1 or 2 PPE jackets even if she does not know who Angela was.

“For that I would like to thank Ms Ruffa (Gutierrez) who (is) an added inspiration for her to join in this journey,” adds Okol.

A respectful daughter, a good friend, a trust-worthy confidante. For this, she tells her daughter to “carry on my child. God is with you.”

Fans and supporters of this pageant-newbie candidate are supporting Angela for that inherent “it” (a complete package: beauty, brains, and a passion to make a difference to this world).

Screen star Zanjoe Marudo marks his 15 years in showbiz with a special documentary streaming on Star Magic YouTube channel.

or screen star Zanjoe Marudo, time flies so fast when you’re enjoying what you are doing, and happiness and fulfillment become the byproducts of your efforts when your main focus is entertaining the people who support your career.

“Hayni’ Hernandez is a student and a teen model.

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Zanjoe Marudo celebrates 15 years in showbiz

Mrs. Universe Manila 2021 Christine Chrizzie Escalante.

PRINT ad model vies for Miss Teen International crown in Vietnam Sixteen-year-old Jihaynne Jirah Shamah “Hayni’ Hernandez, a native of Calamba, Laguna, will be representing the Philippines in the Miss Teen International 2021 pageant to be held in Ho Chi Mihn City, Viet Nam, on Oct. 30.

The 5-foot-5 teen model is a Senior High (Grade 11) student, under the Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM) strand at San Beda Alabang. She is a recipient of her school’s St. Maur Award for outstanding student.

Hernandez, who loves playing the piano, violin, and ukulele, has her own ‘Hayni Studio.’ An aspiring print ad model, she started modeling at the age of 9. She had graced the covers of teen fashion magazines including Fashion Flair, United Kingdom (April, May, and June 2021), and Mystic Sphere (August 2021).

Hernandez has also acted on the small screen having starred in ABS-CBN’s docudrama SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operative) 14th Anniversary Special.

Hernandez said that having experienced bullying and discrimination at a young age because of her skin, she instead took this as her motivation to succeed and achieve her dream to become a beauty queen.

“Being a beauty queen is a blessing and also a responsibility to make a difference in other people’s lives,” Hernandez said. She advocates reaching out to the most neglected and most disadvantaged communities in her province and helping to uplift the lives

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

Siargao Island’s Michele Okol strives to maintain ‘First Honor’ status despite busy MUPh schedule

Print ad model vies for Miss Teen International crown in Vietnam

By Eton Concepcion

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

The 39-year-old actor turns a new leaf in his artistry as he embraces 15 years in show business. As a dependable actor and a fine leading man who has a stellar body of work, Zanjoe is not one to shy away from roles that challenge his experience and reveal his depth as an actor and as a person.

As he celebrates his 15th year in the business, Zanjoe pushes the envelope further as the reliable leading man of his time. After debuting into the local Tinseltown as the 4th Big Placer in the 2006 Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition, the hunky Zanjoe immediately showcased his promising acting skills through some appearances before finally landing his first leading man soap in Dyosa in 2008.

One of his landmark projects in local TV was his title soap Dream Dad in 2014, which had him tugging on the heartstrings of many while revealing his softer side.

Gone were the days when he’s equated to just another good-looking actor in a network swimming with loads of those as Zanjoe managed to tick off feats after feats silently, year in, year out. But one of his most important recognitions happened in 2017 when he was nominated under the Best Performance by Actor category in the 45th IEMMY’s (International Emmy) Awards for his performance in “Maalaala Mo Kaya: Anino.”

To celebrate all his achievements and to look back at his vivid years in the business comes an especially crafted documentary titled Hanep, Kinse na pala! Zanjoe’s 15 years in showbiz.

Not only will he be fondly remembering his journey, Zanjoe would also be celebrated by his dear family, seasoned co-actors, longtime friends, and esteemed mentors in the business such as Piolo Pascual, Angelica Panganiban, Jodi Sta. Maria, Angel Locsin, Bela Padilla, Toni Gonzaga and directors Ruel Bayani, Cathay Garcia-Molina, FM Reyes, Connie Macatuno, and Lauren Dyogi, among others.

Get to know more about Zanjoe on and off cam by catching the three-part documentary on Star Magic’s Official YouTube Channel on the following dates: Sept. 25 (episode 1), Oct. 2 (episode 2),

and Oct. 9 (episode 3).

Meanwhile, this year alone has been and is bound to be an exhilarating one for Zanjoe as he adds more leaves to his flourishing laurel. His recent Best Actor nomination at the 2021 Gawad Urian for his stellar performance in the 2020 iWant Original Film Malaya is something distinctly special for him as it his first time to earn the nod of the country’s most prestigious award-giving body.

While he has long excelled in dramatic and comedic acting in the big and small screen, Zanjoe also let his guard down recently by showing another side of himself--one that taps on his interest in nature, laidback living, big bikes and good times with his dear friends. Hence, the birth of his vlog D’ LaZY Road Trip together with comedian Hyubs Azarcon

and basketball player LA Tenorio some six months ago.

Proving that he is unstoppable, those who want to see more of his acting skills can expect to see him also delving into the big screen this year as he stars in 366, the directorial debut of Bela Padilla.

The upcoming premiere of the muchawaited, local adaptation of the American psychological drama Doctor Foster will showcase the peak of Zanjoe’s artistry.

Set to be one of the highlights of his 2021, The Broken Marriage Vow by Connie Macatuno would have Zanjoe breathing life to the character of David Ilustre, an infidel husband to Jodi Sta. Maria’s character Dr. Jill. His weakness would eventually lead him to be lured by the mistress Lexy Lucero to be played by Sue Ramirez.

Gabbi Garcia, Khalil Ramos bring ‘kilig’ via Regal Studio Presents new episode REAL-LIFE couple Gabbi Garcia and Khalil Ramos promise to charm viewers as they headline the next episode of Regal Studio Presents: One Million Comments, Magjo-jowa na Ako tomorrow, Sept. 25.

Pranks are becoming a popular thing on social media.

Ana Marie (Gabbi Garcia), an online tutor, will be in for a surprise as she is excitedly informed by her cousin that her April Fool’s online post has gained an unexpected response.

The post, which was supposedly just a prank called “One million comments, magjojowa na ako,’’ generated a lot of buzz when a certain netizen under the name of Alden Retzardz actively responded to it.

Ana Marie then gets to meet Prince Matt (Khalil Ramos), a guy who will fix the Wifi issues at her home. As the two become close, Miggy (Manolo Pedrosa) is introduced to Ana Marie as the one posting as Alden Retzardz.

Torn between two charming men, will Ana Marie get to follow her heart in the end?

Catch Regal Studio Presents: One Million Comments, Magjo-jowa na Ako this Saturday, 8:30 p.m. only on GMA-7.

Real-life couple Gabbi Garcia and Khalil Ramos star in ‘Regal Studio Presents: One Million Comments, Magjo-jowa na Ako.’

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

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

Life TRAVEL AND LEISURE

OUR HOTEL INDUSTRY’S SOS

T

HIS Hotel Sales and Marketing Association’s (HSMA) “SOS” is the best “plea for help” I have ever known. Not only does it help revive our tourism industry, more importantly, it helps those of us who are itching to travel again and rediscover local destinations…at a bargain!

HSMA is bringing back last year’s very successful travel sale, the SOS or September Online Sale where participating hotels and resorts all over the country offer generous discounts, as much as 70 percent. This online sale also includes ancillary services of these properties – packages involving food and beverage, banquet, spa, gym and pool, and other facilities. These may be availed of independently from the discounted accommodations.

This is the association’s way of extending a helping hand to some of the 4.8 million workers in the travel sector who have either lost their jobs or had a pay cut as the pandemic continues to ravage our industry, leading to the temporary partial or full closure of many hotels and resorts. This much appreciated project of HSMA becomes very significant when we realize that our industry contributes 12.7 percent to our country’s coffers.

The discounted rates may be accessed through the HSMA website (hsma.org.ph/sos) and purchases must be made now until October 15. These are sold in the form of e-vouchers that may be used within one year from the date of purchase. Considering the uncertainty of conditions sparked by this pandemic, these evouchers’ validity may be extended upon request.

A total of 80 hotels and resorts all over the country are participating in this year’s SOS, as HSMA officers expect to surpass last year’s record of more than 2,000 e-vouchers sold. These properties are grouped according to their geographical locations.

Those in the Manila, Pasay, and Parañaque areas are Conrad Manila, Okada Manila, Diamond Hotel, Manila Marriott Hotel,

Soaking in sun, sea, and sand at Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort in Mactan.

The Quest Clark team ready to serve guests.

The beautiful atrium of The Bayleaf Cavite.

YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE When you’re dead, you don’t know you’re dead. All of the pain is felt by others. The same thing happens when you’re stupid.

Have a front-row seat to Manila Bay’s breathtaking sunset at C Lounge in Conrad Manila.

Sheraton Manila Bay, The Bayleaf Intramuros, Microtel Wyndham Mall of Asia, Bayview Park Hotel, Kingsford Hotel, Jen Manila by Shangri-La, Winford Manila Resort and Casino, and Hotel Lucky Chinatown.

Makati, BGC, and Alabang hotels include The Peninsula Manila, Discovery Primea, Grand Hyatt Manila, Shangri-La The Fort, New World Makati Hotel, Dusit Thani Manila, The Bellevue, Crimson Hotel Filinvest, Seda BGC, Acacia Hotel, Seda Residences Makati, Oxford Suites, and Holiday Inn and Suites.

Inside one of Richmonde Hotel Iloilo’s rooms.

Vaccinated guests get discounted stays AN ONLINE travel agency launches a discount campaign for vaccinated Filipinos in a bid to boost the country’s immunization drive and the tourism industry’s recovery.

Trip.com’s Vaccinated Discount Campaign features hotel booking deals from more than 100 accommodation partners, including, among others, Aloha Boracay Hotel, Boracay Beach Club, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan, and Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort.

Fully vaccinated Filipinos booking in participating hotels via Trip.com can get discounts up to 30 percent off today until Dec. 31. Guests are required to present proof of vaccination before or upon arrival at the accommodation.

“It is critical for us to play our part in bolstering the effort towards immunization in the country as we continue the fight against COVID-19,” Jerome Dela Cruz, general manager of

Trip.com’s efforts to encourage citizens to get inoculated and at the same time help the hard hit hospitality sector bounce back. “A higher rate of vaccination across the Philippines will boost the recovery of our travel and tourism industry,” she said.

The promotion can be accessed on Trip. com’s website and mobile app.

The District Boracay

Trip.com (Philippines), said in a statement.

He added, “We are also working towards recovery of the travel sector, and this campaign seeks to be an example of the actions we can take to initiate timely opportunities for safe travel resumption.”

Margie Munsayac, vice president of sales and marketing at Bluewater Resorts, lauded

Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan’s private pool villa

Those in the Ortigas, Pasig, and Quezon City areas are Joy Nostalg Hotel and Suites, Edsa Shangri-La, Ace Hotel and Suites, Astoria Plaza, B Hotel, The Linden Suites, Discovery Suites, Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, Park Inn by Radisson North Edsa, and Richmonde Hotel Ortigas.

Clark, Baguio, Bataan, and Ilocos areas include Clark Marriott Hotel, Quest Plus Conference Center Clark, Grand Sierra Pines Baguio, Rancho Bernardo Luxury Villas, Vitalis Villas, and Banaue Hotel.

Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Tagaytay hotels are Seda Nuvali, The Bayleaf Cavite, Twin Lakes Hotel, Acuatico Beach Resort, Acuaverde Beach Resort, Summit Ridge, and Quest Hotel Tagaytay.

Participating hotels in Palawan and Davao are Astoria Palawan, Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao, Club Paradise Palawan, Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort, Dusit D2 Davao, Miniloc Island Resort, and Bacau Bay Resort Coron.

Boracay and Iloilo count the following: Shangri-La Resort and Spa, Movenpick Resort and Spa, Belmont Hotel, Crimson Resort and Spa, Discovery Shores, Le Soleil de Boracay, Paradise Garden Resort and Convention Center, Alta Vista Resort, Felize Hotel, Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, Hue Hotels and Resorts, Patio Pacific, and Astoria Current.

Participating hotels in Cebu and Bohol are Shangri-La Mactan, Marco Polo Plaza, Waterfront Cebu Hotel and Casino, Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino, Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort, Crimson Beach Resort and Spa Mactan, Best Western Plus The Ivywall Resort Panglao, Quest Hotel and Conference Center, Mithi Resort and Spa, Be Resort, Savoy Hotel Mactan, and The Bellevue Resort.

I doff my hat to my friends in the HSMA Board of Directors: Maribago Bluewater’s Margie Munsayac is chairperson, Bayleaf’s Benjie Martinez is president, Astoria’s Desiree Rose de Guzman is treasurer, Bellevue’s Amie Villena is secretary, Chroma Hospitality’s Carmela Bocanegra is for PR, Linden’s Ma. Celeste Romualdo is for membership, Conrad’s Mike Albana is for programs, Marriott’s Cristina Carreon is for ways and means, and Hilton’s Joanne Galang is for education.

We owe them big time for putting together this most generous project, generous to the hotel industry workers who have been unemployed or underemployed because of the pandemic, and generous to us “staycationers” who are raring to enjoy once again the finer things in life with these bargain rates. So, c’mon friends, let’s SOS – Start Our Staycation!

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

Drive-in cinema screens Indonesian film about dyslexia GUESTS from the InThe story revolves around the mother and son’s quest donesian Embassy in to finding the cure to Aqil’s difficulties in school and Manila, Department in life because of his learning disorder. of Foreign Affairs, Through the film, the embassy aims to raise awareand Film Development ness of the issues and challenges in responding to the Council of the Philipneeds of special children. pines (FDCP) graced In addition to Indonesian Embassy officials led by the screening of an InCharge d’Affairs Widya Rahmanto, members of the dipdonesian film about lomatic corps, and representatives from DFA and a single-parent with a Diana Alvaro and Cars FDCP, guests from the dyslexic son.

Carandang from FDCP National Commission for The drive-in cinema Culture and the Arts and at Mall of Asia in Pasay the Philippine Dyslexia featured Wonderful Life by Indonesian filmmaker Foundation also attendAgus Makkie. The film is a heartwarming family ed the exclusive movie drama about the journey of single parent Amalia in screening. raising her son Aqil who is diagnosed with dyslexia. DFA’s Ma. Odessa Cruz with husband Benson

Indonesian Embassy in Manila Chargé d’affaires Widya Rahmanto (left) and Minister Counsellor of Social and Culture Section Teguh Wiweko (right) with Reina Pante of the Philippine Dyslexia Foundation and Julienne Marie Calugcug of the Film Development Council of the Philippines at the film screening of ‘Wonderful Life’ at the SM MOA Drive-in Cinema.