Manila Standard - 2021 October 9 - Saturday

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FILIPINO, RUSSIAN JOURNALISTS WIN NOBEL PEACE PRIZE JOURNALISTS Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for fighting for freedom of expression at a time when democracy is increasingly under threat.

Ressa, who is also a US citizen, is cofounder of Rappler, a digital media company for investigative journalism. Muratov is a co-founder of Russia's leading independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta.

The pair were honoured "for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace," said the chairwoman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Berit Reiss-

Andersen.

"They are representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions," she said.

Ressa, 58, said the prize shows that "nothing is possible without facts," referring to the links between democracy and freedom of expression.

"A world without facts means a world without truth and trust," Ressa told a livestreamed interview with Rappler.

She told Norwegian TV2 the honor would give her and her colleagues "tremendous energy to continue the fight."

Muratov dedicated his half of the prize to his newspaper's six journalists and contributors killed since 2000, who include the prominent investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya.

"I can't take credit for this. This is Novaya Gazeta's," he was cited by Russian news agency TASS as saying.

The newspaper on Thursday commemorated 15 years since Politkovskaya's killing.

The Kremlin congratulated Muratov, with President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling reporters: "He is talented. He is courageous."

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Govt eases travel restrictions Okays shorter isolation for inbound pax, interzonal trip for minors, seniors

By Vito Barcelo, Othel Campos and Willie Casas

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HE government has eased further travel restrictions, shortening the quarantine period for incoming passengers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 starting yesterday and allowing minors aged 12 to 17 and seniors over 65 years old to travel in areas under the general community and modified community quarantine by Oct. 15.

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Presidential spokesman Harry Roque countries need only to undergo facilitysaid that starting Oct. 8, fully vaccinated based quarantine until the release of their Next page travelers from “green” or “yellow” list

50% of health ‘Bato’ joins prexy race, but says ‘better’ if it is Sara workers buck booster shots

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Willie Casas, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Joel E. Zurbano SOME 50 percent of healthcare workers are not willing to get booster shots without experts' recommendation, the Department of Health said Friday.

This emerged as KLKOVID chairman Dr. Anthony Leachon urged the DOH to “clairfy with urgency” its stand on the need for anti-COVID booster shots.

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2,643,494 10,670

118,203

39,232

191

2,486,059

7,691

SENATOR Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa filed his certificate of candidacy to run for president next year, but admitted “it would be better” if the President’s daughter, Davao Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio, would replace him as the standard bearer for one faction of the ruling PDPLaban party.

He said he was not aware, however, if there are ongoing talks to convince Mayor Duterte to seek the presidency.

“This is a party decision. This is not my personal decision," Dela Rosa said.

But he also said the Davao mayor cannot be a substitute for him because she is not a PDP-Laban member and she filed her certificate of candidacy for mayor under her regional Hugpong ng Pagbabago party.

Wearing a PDP-Laban jacket and a Hugpong T-shirt, Dela Rosa showed up at the Comelec shortly before its closing time on the last day of the filing of COCs. Dela Rosa, as the standard bearer of the Next page

(As of 4 PM, OCTOBER 8)

Leni gives up on ‘unity talk,’ Isko twits her

SARA STANDS FIRM ON REELECTION BID NEWS / A4

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta VICE President Leni Robredo said there will be no more unity talks with other presidential bets as Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko’ Moreno chided her for failing to unify her own Liberal Party first.

Robredo said she has exerted too much Next page

Senator Ronald dela Rosa files his certificate of candidacy for the presidency in next year's elections wearing a green Hugpong ng Pagbabago shirt. HNP is the regional political party chaired by Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who has repeatedly rejected calls for her to run for president.

Palace vows to issue drug war report

By Vito Barcelo and Rey E. Requejo MALACAÑANG assured Filipinos it would make public the Department of Justice findings on the government’s war against illegal drugs once the investigation had been finished and cases filed.

In a press briefing, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the DOJ would not hide anything because when the investigation had been completed and cases filed, the documents would be made public because all files submitted to the judicial system are public documents.

The DOJ will lead an inter-agency panel to review the alleged summary killings of suspected drug pushers and users in the government campaign against illegal drugs.

In the same press briefing, Roque said it would be difficult for the International Criminal Court to “uncover the truth” in the war drug because the Philippine government would not cooperate with the ICC on its probe.

Roque issued the statement after ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said that a probe into Duterte's drug war would uncover the truth and hold accountability for those alleged human rights violators.

Khan said the ICC would focus its efforts on ensuring "a successful, independent and impartial investigation."

“Without the cooperation of the State, it will be difficult for them to uncover the truth. For me, if they have complaints about the drug war, they must file it here in the Philippines so that justice will be Next page served,” Roque said.

Tingog nominee Yedda Romualdez seeks reelection

By Maricel V. Cruz

Tingog party-list third nominee Karla Estrada files the certificate of nomination and acceptance together with second nominee Jude Acide at the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent. The group's first nominee is House committee of the welfare of children chairperson Yedda Marie Romualdez.

THE Tingog party-list group led by Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez on Friday night filed its CONA (Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance) to seek reelection following a productive first term in the House of Representatives.

Actress-singer Karla Estrada, the “momshie” of actor and recording artist Daniel Padilla, joined the group as its third nominee.

Estrada and Tingog second nominee Next page

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2021

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negative COVID-19 swab test results, which will be taken on their fifth day.

“They shall then be required to undergo home quarantine until their 10th day, with the day of arrival as their first day,” he said.

On the other hand, unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or individuals whose vaccination status cannot be independently verified or confirmed as valid or authentic by the authorities coming from “green” or “yellow” list will be required to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their RTPCR testing taken on the seventh day.

They will then be required to undergo home quarantine until their 14th day, with the day of arrival as their first day.

In the case of foreign nationals, they will be required to secure their own pre-booked accommodation of at least six days for the fully vaccinated; and at least eight days for the unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or individuals whose vaccination status cannot be independently confirmed as valid or authentic by our authorities coming from “green” or “yellow” list.

According to previous guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), inbound travelers from countries classified under the “green list” qualify for seven-day facility-based quarantine instead of 10 days.

Meanwhile, Roque said the IATF expanded the number of people who can travel in areas under the GQC and MGCQ to include minors and senior citizens starting Oct. 15.

However, he said the travel should be subjected to the guidelines and strict

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Ressa and Rappler, which she cofounded in 2012 and still heads, have faced multiple criminal charges and investigations after publishing stories critical of Duterte's policies, including his bloody drug war.

The former CNN correspondent is on bail pending an appeal against a conviction last year in a cyber libel case, for which she faces up to six years in prison.

The chairwoman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee said Rappler has "focused critical attention on the Duterte regime's controversial, murderous anti-drug campaign.

"The number of deaths is so high that the campaign resembles a war waged against the country's own population," Reiss-Andersen added.

Ressa and Rappler have also documented how social media is being used to spread fake news, harass opponents and manipulate public discourse.

Time magazine named her a Person of the Year in 2018.

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pro-Duterte faction of PDP-Laban, will run with the party’s vice presidential bet, Senator Christopher Go. Dela Rosa was accompanied by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Melvin Matibag, the president and secretary general, respectively, of the Cusi faction in PDP-Laban, when he

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effort talking with the other candidates that she did not name, but none of them agreed on a common slate.

"Our lines remain open but the focus now is not [the time for] uniting principals but the people's support. We realized that there is a united support for us," Robredo said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“I was really exerting a lot of effort but it has to end somewhere. We cannot unite for unity’s sake. We should have shared aspirations, agree on basic, important points and how are we going to steer the country towards meaningful change we aspire for," she added.

Domagoso, for his part, said he would not side with a candidate whose unifying skills

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Jude Acidre personally filed the CONA on behalf of other nominees before at the Commission on Elections' filing center at the Harbor Garden Tent of Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.

They were accompanied by Luningning Lariosa, Tingog secretary general.

Romualdez, chairperson of the House Committee on the Welfare of Children and a registered nurse, is Tingog’s first nominee.

In running for its second term, Tingog aims to share its vision of transformational politics, shared governance, and development of the

health protocols as may be prescribed by the Department of Tourism and regulations of the LGU of destination.

Those allowed to travel under the new IATF rules include minors below 18 years old, fully vaccinated individuals over 65 years old, fully vaccinated individuals with comorbidities or other health risks, and fully vaccinated pregnant women.

Roque also said that on the interzonal trip, persons, including senior citizens, are required to present proof of their complete COVID-19 vaccination instead of COVID-19 test results.

Interzonal travel refers to the movement between provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities under different community quarantine classifications.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Friday said a repeat RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test for workers who completed their 14-day quarantine is no longer needed as long as they have a certificate of completion.

In a virtual briefing, Vergeire said this also applies to employees afflicted with COVID-19 who recovered and finished their isolation.

"As long as they already have their clearance from government or private physicians that they have completed their quarantine period or isolation period, we should accept them," she said.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals exposed to a coronaviruspositive person are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine.

The quarantine period, meanwhile, for fully vaccinated persons who do not exhibit COVID-19 symptoms has been shortened to seven days.

The Philippines logged 10,670 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the total number of infections to 2,643,494.

The Department of Health reported 191

new fatalities, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 39,232.

The DOH also reported 7,691 new recoveries, bringing the total recoveries to 2,486,059.

There were 118,203 active cases, of which 77.7 percent were mild, 13.4 percent were asymptomatic, 1.1 percent were critical, 2.7 percent were severe, and 5.15 percent were moderate.

Nationwide, 72 percent of ICU beds, 56 percent of isolation beds, 58 percent of ward beds, and 52 percent of ventilators, were in use.

In Metro Manila, 71 percent of ICU beds, 46 percent of isolation beds, 54 percent of ward beds, and 55 percent of ventilators, were in use.

Data from the Philippine National Police (PNP), meanwhile, showed that the number of areas under a granular lockdown dropped to 151 as of Thursday, down from 186.

The PNP said areas under granular lockdown were reported in 108 barangays in Metro Manila.

These areas included 108 houses, 13 residential buildings, 13 streets, 13 subdivisions or villages, three residential building floors, and a settlement.

COVID-19 cases, however, are on the rise in three regions, the DOH said.

Vergeire identified the regions as Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula and MIMAROPA. Data from the DOH showed Bicol Region has reported a total of 43,712 confirmed cases as of Oct. 6. Of the figure, 3,311 are active cases while 680 have died.

The Zamboanga Peninsula reported 43,298 cases. Of these, 2,786 are active while 831 have succumbed to the illness.

In MIMAROPA, a total of 29,960 cases have been reported, of which 2,003 are active cases while 688 have died.

Vergeire said the Cordillera

Administrative Region (CAR), the Ilocos Region, and the Cagayan Valley remain under high-risk classification due to the number of COVID-19 cases.

CAR has recorded a total of 77,557 confirmed cases, of which 6,794 are active and 1,129 have succumbed to the illness.

Data also showed that the Ilocos Region has 92,819 cases -- 8,175 active and 1,550 deaths.

A total of 115,695 cases have been recorded in the Cagayan Valley.

Of these, 8,480 are active cases while 1,902 have died due to the illness.

Vergeire previously said cases have been decreasing in the National Capital Region (NCR).

“While we are seeing a negative growth in the National Capital Region, we would like to reiterate that this is the time that we should continue hammering on our COVID-19 response so that the number of infections will continue to go down,” she said.

She also urged the public to follow minimum health standards.

Also on Friday, Vergeire said the DOH cannot form a partnership with companies for the distribution of the antiviral pill molnupiravir from Merck without an emergency use authority (EUA).

Some hospitals, however, may use the drug using a compassionate use permit, she said.

Food and Drug Administration director-general Eric Domingo earlier said four hospitals have been granted compassionate special permits to use molnupiravir.

Domingo did not disclose the names of the hospitals.

The drug maker Merck says its pill to treat COVID-19 was shown in a key clinical trial to halve the risk of hospitalization or death when given to high-risk people early in their infections.

Muratov, 59, has defended freedom of speech in Russia for decades, under increasingly challenging conditions.

In 1993, he was a founder of Novaya Gazeta, which has a "fundamentally critical attitude towards power," the committee said. He has been its editor-in-chief since 1995.

Novaya Gazeta's opponents have responded with harassment, threats, violence and murder.

"Despite the killings and threats, editor-in-chief Muratov has refused to abandon the newspaper's independent policy," Reiss-Andersen said.

"He has consistently defended the right of journalists to write anything they want about whatever they want, as long as they comply with the professional and ethical standards of journalism."

Free, independent and fact-based journalism helps protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda, ReissAndersen said.

According to the latest rankings by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the situation for press freedom is "difficult or very serious" in 73 percent of the 180 countries it evaluated, and "good or satisfactory" in only 27 percent. AFP

Palace...

In related developments, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the government would make public the results of the review done by the DOJ on cases involving deaths in illegal drugs operations.

"The government has no intention of keeping its review and investigation of the anti-illegal drugs campaign secret, as this matter is openly reported to the people as the process goes along,” Guevarra said, in a text message to reporters.

Malacañang has repeatedly insisted that the ICC had no jurisdiction over the Philippines.

Despite the Philippines ' withdrawal from ICC, Khan said his office “retains jurisdiction” with respect to alleged crimes that happened in the Philippines while it was a state party from Nov. 1, 2011 to March 16, 2019.

The probe will cover the conduct of the drug war in the Philippines under Duterte’s watch, as well as the supposed killings in Davao City between 2011 and 2016 when he was still the mayor.

Khan, for his part, said earlier his of-

fice would depend on the cooperation of states, civil societies and their other partners in the probe.

Khan's predecessor Fatou Bensouda had requested the ICC to conduct a probe into the crimes committed in the Philippines from Nov. 1, 2011 in the context of the anti-drug campaign under the Duterte administration.

Guevarra made the statement after the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet encouraged the Philippine government to publish “panel’s findings so its work can be evaluated.”

The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers through its president Edre Olalia has backed up Bachelet’s call, saying “we subscribe to the need to publish the findings of the rather belated ‘investigations’ by the Philippine government on the paltry cases related to the ‘drug war’ so it can be ‘evaluated’ and to ensure transparency."

The DOJ had finished its review of the records of the initial 52 cases turned over by the Philippine National Police and had submitted the results to President Duterte.

One of the 52 cases was not on illegal drugs.

went to the Sofitel Hotel grounds for the COC filing.

“Ba-Go 2022,” Matibag told reporters in a Viber group, confirming that Dela Rosa will run for president in 2022 under the political party.

Dela Rosa said it has long been the party’s plan to have him run, but they just kept silent about it.

He got testy when he was asked if his running only to be replaced was a mockery of the election process.

"Why? Do I look like a mockery to you? I won as senator. I was No. 5 in the last elections. I was No. 5 senator. Is that a mockery?"

"Is it a mockery to the 19 million Filipinos who voted for me as senator of this republic? That question is really insulting, isn’t it? Okay, thank you, thank you,” Dela Rosa said.

A staunch ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, he served as PNP and Bureau of Corrections chief under his

administration before running for the Senate.

He was also Davao City police chief when President Duterte was mayor.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, chairman of the Pacquiao wing in PDPLaban, said nothing was followed in their national convention.

"All their nomination processes were useless. Somebody who runs for president on a spur of the moment decision is not a serious candidate," he said.

were questionable as pro-Robredo groups appealed to other presidential aspirants to withdraw their certificates of candidacy and give way to the Vice President.

In a statement on Friday, Domagoso also questioned Robredo’s real intent for seeking the country’s highest post.

“Is that the only reason why she is running?” Domagoso said, referring to Robredo’s repeated pronouncements before she declared her candidacy that she will run for president to prevent Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. from winning.

“How about us Filipinos? We don’t have work. Many Filipinos do not have enough food to eat and are facing a bleak future. Marcos again?

Domagoso said the lives of Filipinos should not revolve around the dispute between the Marcoses and the Aquinos, nor on the misunderstanding between

the Marcos and Aquino children and supporters, whom he called “yellowtards.”

Robredo, however, has ditched Aquino yellow for pink as her campaign color.

Domagoso added it is his right to run for president and democracy is not exclusive to anyone, but “practiced by over 100 million Filipinos.”

He also chided Robredo, who ran as an independent despite being the titular leader of the Liberal Party. He said she could hardly talk of unity when she failed to unify her own party.

“Oh my God, how can you drop your party?” Domagoso said. “If you can drop your party, how much more 110 million Filipinos?”

The #withdrawisko hashtag became popular online after Robredo filed her certificate of candidacy on Thursday.

On Friday, Aksyon Demokratiko

chairman Ernest Ramel said Domagoso will not withdraw from the presidential race.

Robredo was endorsed by the 1Sambayan coalition, which pushed for a united opposition running against President Duterte’s hand-picked successor.

But in her talks with other opposition candidates, she said she encountered basic differences and principles, especially on how to run the country.

This compelled her to seek out groups with the same aspirations, she said.

Robredo brushed aside the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte that he would be her worst nightmare should she decide to run for president.

“It's not my problem. What is important to me right now is to focus on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, it's the most important thing we all should do right now,” she said.

In doing so, he said the DOH would alleviate the plight and fears of those who have been vaccinated as early as March 2021. Many of those who were first administered the vaccines were health workers.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, during a media forum, said the DOH conducted a survey on 10,525 respondents from September 15 to September 21.

“When we asked if they are willing to get booster shots without sufficient evidence and recommendation from experts, the answers decreased to 50 percent,” Vergeire said.

“So if you look at it, our healthcare workers really believe in science and evidence,” she said.

When asked if they are willing to get booster shots with sufficient evidence and recommendation from experts, Vergeire said more than 90 percent answered in the affirmative.

Vergeire previously said there was no evidence yet proving that booster shots might provide complete protection against COVID-19.

She said the DOH had explained this to healthcare workers and that she believed they reached an understanding.

Vergeire also asked for understanding from healthcare workers and urged them to refrain from resigning. She said the DOH was moving for the release of the budget for their benefits.

“I ask our healthcare workers for more patience. We are doing everything with these benefits that are accorded and needed by you,” she said.

“The Secretary of Health has requested for the release of, I think, P2 billionplus for your meals, accommodation, and transportation,” she said.

She said they have allocated funds for the benefits of healthcare workers under the agency’s budget for 2022.

“For next year's budget, we ensured that the benefits for the healthcare workers are included until the end of the year,” Vergeire said.

Leachon, former adviser of the government’s adviser of National Task Force on COVID-19, said global resources and experiences from neighboring countries suggest administering booster shots six months after the preliminary vaccine series.

He noted the US-FDA had amended the Emergency Use Authorization of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to allow a booster dose six months after the initial inoculation for persons who are 65 years old and above and those 18 to 64 years old but at high risk of severe COVID and high risk due to exposure at work.

Leachon hoped the government would immediately decide and act on the booster shots as “we seek protection and better COVID management in the new normal.”

Meanwhile, more than 2.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines made from the United States and United Kingdom arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Friday.

The shipment – consisting of 661,100 doses of AstraZeneca and 2,132,140 Moderna -- landed at the NAIA Terminal 1 around 9:35 a.m. on board China Airlines flight CI701.

Government officials led by Health secretary Francisco Duque III, National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. welcomed the shipment's arrival.

Galvez said the government had updated the proposed guidelines for the inoculation of the adolescent population which will begin Oct. 15.

He said the initial rollout of the vaccination for individuals within the 12 to 17 age group would now be launched in eight hospitals in Metro Manila instead of the six facilities that were initially identified.

These hospitals include the National Children’s Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Pasig City Children’s Hospital, Fe Del Mundo Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital, Makati Medical Center, St. Luke’s Medical Center and Philippine Children’s Medical Center.

peripheries it established for and from its home in Eastern Visayas and spread it to other underserved areas of the country as a model for sustainable, inclusive, unified, and overall societal change in the Philippines.

Tingog hopes that it lives up to its name — the Visayan word for ‘voice’ — and continues to serve as the voice for the marginalized and underserved.

The group's second nominee, Acidre, is the chief of staff of Romualdez and the 2021 JCI Philippines president. He is a former youth leader, community volunteer and political affairs consultant.

He hails from Barugo, Leyte.

Estrada, Carla Ford in real life, is an award-winning talk show host who advocates for education and volunteerism and has lent support for relief operations

during calamities and other emergencies.

She is from Tacloban City, Leyte.

Jaime Go, Tingog's fourth nominee, is an entrepreneur and civic leader from Tacloban City, while Alexis V. Yu, a pharmacist, entrepreneur and community leader from Basey, Samar, is the fifth nominee.

Tingog party-list group (formerly Tingog Sinirangan party-list group) is an advocacy group driven by pagbag-o, paglaum, and pag-uswag — the Waray words for change, hope and progress, respectively — by empowering and improving quality of life and outcomes for many Filipino families and communities in the margins of society, starting with its home region of Eastern Visayas (Region VIII).

The party hopes to bring about

change from the ground up with an empowered electorate supported by higher family incomes and increased social services, especially for the most vulnerable, who are politically active and engaged in improving governance in their communities and, eventually, on a national scale.

TINGOG has been working closely with various government agencies to provide assistance and support programs to many in need, especially those who have been hard hit by the economic effects of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Tingog offers the following programs: • Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients program, medicines, vaccinations and wheelchair donations, and three Mobile Dental Vans through

its partnership with the Department of Health; • Assistance in Crisis Situations, Sustainable Livelihood Program and Family Food Packs through its partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development; • Tulong Dunong Scholarship Program through its partnership with the Commission on Higher Education; • Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program, Government Internship Program and Nego-Karts program through its partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment; and • Training for Work Scholarship Program through its partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

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Philippine Red Cross funds from Gordon‘fully liquidated, audited’

NEW TRAIN. The first trainset for the PNR Clark Phase 1 (Tutuban-Malolos) will now undertake a series of factory testing. The trainset is scheduled to depart from Yokohama Port in October and will arrive at Malanday Depot on the first week of December.

More vaccines now available in Northern Luzon MORE vaccines are now available in Northern Luzon, thanks to ongoing government efforts to combat COVID-19.

Presidential Adviser for Northern Luzon Secretary Raul Lambino expressed his thanks to President Duterte as well as Sen. Bong Go and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Against COVID-19 for providing Northern Luzon provinces with more COViD-19 vaccine doses.

“The tremendous increase in vaccine doses now being rolled out and administered in Northern Luzon shows the President’s concern for the welfare, safety, and health of the Ilocanos, Pangasinenses, Cagayanons, Igorots and all the people in the Ilocos, Cagayan and Cordillera regions,” said Lambino.

He also cited the roles of Sec. Carlito Galvez as vaccine czar and Sec. Francisco Duque as head of the Department of Health for their “splendid efforts in boosting the country’s vaccination program.”

Thousands of lives are being saved and protected through more supplies of vaccines that are being administered in the nationwide rollout, Lambino said.

He said the numerous “Malasakit” health coordinating centers established nationwide by Sen. Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and is a close ally of the President, has provided the all-important financial support to the people, especially rural folk hit hard by the pandemic.

The vaccination rollout is now being brought to the barangays closer to the people by local government officials through their respective health units, he added.

“The government’s vaccination program is efficient, considering the continued decline in the number of Covid-19 cases this past few weeks.

A PORTION of Senator Richard Gordon’s Priority Development Assistance Fund that was used for Philippine Red Cross (PRC) programs were fully liquidated and audited, the PRC on Friday said.

The PRC said, “Gordon allocated his PDAF to the Department of Social Welfare and Development to fund programs as well as for the purchase of ambulance units, motorcycle units, medical supplies, and disaster preparedness equipment supplies from 2004 to 2010.”

“It was also used for livelihood training, blood service and disaster facility, fruits of hope, medical and funeral assistance, scholarship program, soup kitchen, and microfinancing,” the PRC, in a statement posted on its social media page, said.

The PRC also said “such allocation was allowed under PDAF guidelines” and that the PRC also submitted all its fund utilization reports to the DSWD Internal Audit Services for liquidation.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday threatened to file graft charges

DOJ terminates preliminary probe on drug raps vs. Ongpin Rey E. Requejo

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HE Department of Justice has terminated its preliminary investigation of the illegal drugs complaint filed against Julian Ongpin, who is also a person of interest in the Sept. 18 death of visual artist Breanna “Bree” Jonson in San Juan, La Union.

“Upon joint motion of the parties and considering that no new matters/issues were raised by both parties, the case was submitted for resolution,” Assistant State Prosecutor Honey Rose E. Delgado, spokesperson of the DOJ’s Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG), said.

Ongpin was charged with illegal possession of 12.6 grams of cocaine, a dangerous drug, which was reportedly recovered on Ongpin’s bed in a hostel in San Juan town where he and Jonson checked in last Sept. 17.

Under Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, illegal possession of more than 10 grams of dangerous drugs, cocaine included, is punishable with life imprisonment and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million.

The DOJ panel conducted on Thursday the last preliminary investigation hearing of the complaint filed against Ongpin.

Ongpin, along with his lawyers, appeared during the continuation of the investigation.

Ongpin also submitted a supplemental

CELEBRITY CANDIDATES. More than 30 celebrities and prominent personalities will vie for the various local and national posts in the 2022 polls. Dave Almarinez will run for congressman San Pedro City, Laguna, accompanied by his wife Hazel ‘Ara Mina’ Reyes Almarinez. Robbie Pangilinan

counter-affidavit.

Complainants from the Philippine National Police (PNP) were also present and received a copy of Ongpin’s pleading, Delgado said.

Last Oct. 6, Ongpin – son of the former trade and industry minister and prominent businessman Roberto V. Ongpin– appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and submitted his statement on the death of Jonson.

His affidavit was not released by the NBI. Neither did Ongpin released it on his own.

Jonson was found “motionless” inside the hostel room he shared with Ongpin.

She was pronounced dead in a hospital.

Both Jonson and Ongpin tested positive for cocaine use, the police reported.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra had directed the NBI to probe Jonson’s death.

Actor Arjo Atayde has officially filed his certificate of candidacy in Intramuros, Manila for a congressional seat in District 1, Quezon City on Friday. He is accompanied by Mayor Joy Belmonte, along with his parents, actress Sylvia Sanchez and Arturo Atayde.

Cops arrest suspect, seize P34m shabu in Parañaque buy-bust Joel E. Zurbano POLICE busted a suspected drug dealer and seized P34 million worth of shabu in a buy-bust operation Thursday night in Paranaque City.

Metro Manila police director Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. identified the suspect as Keneth Vito Cruz, 32, a resident of Sucat, Paranaque City.

A composite team from the National Capital Region Police Office, Southern Police District, and Paranaque City Police Station conducted the entrapment operation with the help of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

One of the police operatives disguised as a buyer and was able to negotiate with Vito Cruz at Fountain

Breeze along Lombos Avenue in Barangay San Isidro around 8:45 p.m.

Seized from the suspect were five kilograms of shabu, a mobile phone, and the money used in the entrapment operation.

Danao said the NCRPO turned over Vito Cruz and the recovered pieces of evidence to PDEA for proper disposition and documentation while

UK to remove the PH in travel ‘red list’ starting Oct. 11 THE Philippines will be removed from the United Kingdom’s “travel red list” starting October 11, the UK Embassy in Manila announced Friday. “(The) Philippines is on the red list for entering England. From 4 a.m. on Monday, October 11, the Philippines will no longer be on the red list for entering England,” the UK government said in its latest advisory.

London included the Philippines on the red list in April at the height of spikes in global cases due to emerging SARSCoV-2 variants.

From 54, the number of red list coun-

tries will be cut to seven – Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela – starting October 11.

Fully vaccinated passengers and eligible minors returning from the 47 countries and territories that will be removed from the list “will no longer be required to enter hotel quarantine.”

“Eligible fully vaccinated passengers and eligible under 18s returning from countries and territories not on the red list can do so with just a Day 2 test,” the UK government said. “Other passengers who

are not fully vaccinated with an authorized vaccine returning from a non-red destination must still take a pre-departure test, a Day 2 and Day 8 test and complete 10 days self-isolation (with the option of Test to Release on Day 5).”

Like the UK, the Philippines is also easing its entry protocols for individuals in countries with a low number of infections.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) is reducing the quarantine period for travelers from both green and yellow list countries starting Friday.

criminal charges will be filed against the suspect for violating Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act).

The NCRPO chief commended his men and the PDEA team for the latest accomplishment, saying their successful operation is part of the government’s crackdown on drug dealing in Metro Manila.

against Gordon for purportedly misusing public funds while he was chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), a post he held more than 20 years ago.

Duterte 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 Ombudsman 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 “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.

Comparing ambulances bought by DOH, LGUs ‘misleading’ Willie Casas

THE Department of Health (DOH) on Friday claimed that it is misleading to compare the ambulances procured by the agency with those procured by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and local government units (LGUs).

DOH spokesperson and Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the ambulances bought by the DOH are Type 1 ambulances while those bought by the PCSO and LGUs are patient transport vehicles only.

“It is misleading to compare the ambulance of the local governments and the PSCO, which are patient transport vehicles only. Patient transport vehicles are fitted with 10 to 12 equipment for basic requirements of a patient,” Vergeire said during a press briefing.

In September, Senator Panfilo Lacson said the DOH allegedly procured ambulances that were overpriced by P1 million per unit, adding that these were distributed in Calabarzon.

Lacson cited DOH documents showing that the health department spent P2.5 million per unit. The senator said the ambulances should have cost around P1.5 million to P1.6 million.

Vergeire, meanwhile, said their approved budget for the Type 1 ambulances was P2.5 million and they were able to procure the ambulances for P2.2 million per unit.

“Further, the approved budget for the contract of the Type 1 ambulances at 2.5 million per unit, we were able to procure it at P2.2 million per unit through competitive bidding,” she said.

Vergeire earlier said that the Type 1 ambulances contain medical equipment and instruments such as an automated external defibrillator, a portable suction machine, and an oxygen cylinder.

She said the procurement cost also covered training for ambulance drivers and healthcare workers.

Press club appeals to Senate to act on media THE National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) over the weekend has asked the Senate to act on the pending proposed law granting security of tenure and other benefits due to members of the press.

In a statement, NPC president Paul M. Gutierrez said the House of Representatives’ version of the Media Workers’ Welfare Act (MWWA) has been in the Senate for months now after it was forwarded for “action.”

“Members of the press have made their sentiment of dismay coursed thru the NPC be known that up to now, the pro-

posal remains languishing at the Senate Committee on Labor headed by Sen. Joel Villanueva,” Gutierrez said.

“Indeed, we are disappointed that while the Senate can allocate as much time as it wants to investigate perceived corruption in the executive branch actively participated by most of our senators, the single bill addressing the decadesold problems afflicting the media sector like security of tenure and granting of benefits provided for by law continues to gather cobwebs in the chamber,” Gutierrez added.

A4

News

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2021

SENATORS AND SENATE HOPEFULS. Senator Francis Pangilinan gestures after filing his candidacy for Vice President in the 2022 elections, after former Vice President and Senator Noli de Castro files his. Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte raises the hands of the administration’s bets (from left) Robin Padilla, Mark Villar, Sen. Christopher ‘Bong’ Go, Gringo Honasan, Rodante Marcoleta, and Salvador Panelo, who also mingled with the crowd outside the venue.

Norman Cruz

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

T

HREE incumbent senators will now slug it out for the country’s second highest elective position as Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Friday to be the running mate of Vice President Leni Robredo. ent candidate.

The opposition senator will square off with Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, the longtime aide of President

Rodrigo Duterte.

Sotto, president of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), is running with Sen. Panfilo Lacson of Partido Reporma.

Go, whose term ends in 2025, replaced Duterte as the vice presidential bet of the ruling PDP-Laban. He can return to the Senate if he loses the VP race.

The other vice presidential bets are Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza and Doc Willie Ong, running mates

of Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Sen. Manny Pacquiao, respectively.

According to Duterte, he decided to retire from politics despite earlier accepting the endorsement of PDP-Laban to run for vice president.

Pangilinan was supposed to be on the LP senatorial slate for the upcoming elections but was chosen to run in tandem with Robredo after the latter’s “unity talks” with Pacquiao and Domagoso failed.

Sara insists she’s sticking with Davao

DAVAO City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio maintained Friday she is seeking reelection in the May 2022 elections, despite persistent calls from her supporters to seek the presidency.

On the final day of filing of certificates of candidacy, Duterte-Carpio’s supporters trooped to the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City to urge the mayor to run for president and succeed her father.

But in her latest statement, “Inday Sara” insisted she will seek a third term in Davao City.

“I am presenting myself to the Dabawenyos as mayor for the third and last time in my life as a politician. I call on everyone to work together for an honest, orderly, and credible elections in May 2022,” she said in a Facebook post.

The mayor again thanked her supporters, noting that many of them do not know her apart from being the daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, yet they carry her over their shoulders.

“I have been honored with the gift of trust and respect of many of our fellow Filipinos. A gift that is one in a million. Thank you to everyone who has expressed their support,” she said.

THREE reelectionists, a former senator and two former Vice Presidents are among the senatorial wannabes who filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the 2022 elections.

Seeking fresh six-year terms in the Upper Chamber are Senators Sherwin

TWO more House leaders are seeking reelection for their respective congressional posts.

Manila 1st District Rep. Manuel Luis Lopez, running under PDPLaban, on Friday filed his certificate of candidacy to seek a third and final term as congressman of his bailiwick in Tondo.

Instead of running for mayor of Manila, as earlier reported, Lopez said he decided to finish his term to complete his projects and legislative agenda and serve his constituents in his home district.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Rep. Eddie Villanueva also filed his candidacy under the Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) party-list.

Deputy Speaker Marlyn Alonte also filed Friday her certificate of candidacy for reelection as representative of the Lone District of Biñan City in Laguna. Maricel V. Cruz

CAMARINES Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte on Friday filed his certificate of candidacy for congressman representing the second district of Bicol’s economic powerhouse.

The former deputy speaker, who was three-term governor of the province before his election to the House of Representatives, is seeking his third term as legislator.

He has authored or co-authored 1,216 measures, of which 125 become laws in his first two terms that have been signed into law.

They include the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Bayanihan 1) and Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) that have enabled the Duterte administration to beef up its COVID-19 response and assist Filipino families, workers, businesses and other sectors hardest hit by the lingering pandemic.

Maricel V. Cruz

Hataman seeks new term as Basilan rep DEPUTY Speaker Rep. Mujiv Hataman is seeking reelection as House representative for the lone district of Basilan.

Accompanied by his wife, Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia TurabinHataman and children Amin and Umara, the former governor of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao filed his certificate at the local Commission on Elections office.

Before being elected to the 18th Congress, Hataman was governor of ARMM for eight years or since 2011, before he stepped down in 2019 when it became the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

As representative of Basilan, Hataman authored several local measures that aim to uplift the standards of living in the province. Maricel V. Cruz

Mayor Lino Cayetano gives way to sis-in-law

ALL FOR MAYOR. Among the politicians filing their certificates for candidacy as mayor on Friday (clockwise from top left) are San Juan’s Francis Zamora, Marikina’s Marcy Teodoro, Santa Rosa City’s Arlene Arcillas, General Trias City’s Jonjon Ferrer, Tabaco City’s Kristel Lagman, and retired police general Elmer Jamias, who is running in the City of Manila. Norman Cruz, Manny Palmero and JR Josue

3 reelectionists, 2 ex-VPs, Trillanes all competing for Senate seats

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

2 Deputy Speakers, Lopez seek reelection

Villafuerte clan files bids for CamSur posts

‘Kiko’ throws hat into VP race Pangilinan is seeking to be the new VP under the banner of the Liberal Party, where he is the president, although Robredo – the party’s chairperson -- opted to run as an independ-

POLL ROUNDUP

Gatchalian, who is running under the banner of the Nationalist People’s Coalition; detained Sen. Leila De Lima, running under the Liberal Party; and Sen. Richard Gordon as an independent.

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is eyeing a comeback under the opposition slate of Vice President Leni Ro-

bredo who filed her COC for president last Thursday.

Former VPs Noli de Castro and Jejomar Binay have also joined the senatorial race.

In filing his COC at Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City, Gatchalian said: “After much thought, I decided to seek reelection in the May 9, 2022 elections. I

Pro-Du30 Bisaya Gyud vies for party-list RUNNING under the political platform of continuity of the development programs instituted by President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bong Go in Visayas and Mindanao, Bisaya Gyud Partylist on Thursday filed its certificate of candidacy (COC) and certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) for the May 2022 elections.

Victorino Garay, president of the Bisaya Gyud Party-list, and members of the party-list arrived at the Harbor Garden of Sofitel Manila in Pasay City yesterday.

Bisaya Gyud, a neophyte partylist group, seeks to uphold the rights and welfare of the Bisaya and continue the development programs established by President Duterte and Senator Bong Go in the regions of Visayas and Mindanao.

They plan to achieve this through a platform that focuses on responding to three major areas of concern, namely:

food, shelter, and education.

“In line with the initiatives launched by President Duterte and Senator Bong Go in the regions, we will bring our Visayan compatriots closer to the government’s economic services that address the issue of food, housing, and education,” Garay said.

Garay stressed the lack of local opportunity in the islands of Visayas and Mindanao has compelled the Bisaya people to run the risk of either migrating to highly-urbanized regions like Metro Manila or try their luck abroad as an Overseas Filipino Worker.

“We have witnessed the reality that our Visayan compatriots are trying their luck to look for economic opportunities either in Manila or in going abroad due to the lack of livelihood opportunities, education, and labor development in the countryside,” Garay lamented.

deem it best to continue my work in the Senate.”

Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, has been responsible for the enactment of landmark laws such as the Free Higher Education Act, as he pushed for providing free tuition and other fees in state universities and colleges in the country.

TAGUIG City Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano is not seeking reelection next year, instead giving way to his sister-in-law, incumbent Taguig City Rep. Laarni Cayetano, who is now running for city chief executive.

“I will give way and I fully accept it because I believe in the leadership of Ate Lani,” said Mayor Cayetano.

On Friday, the last day of filing of certificates of candidacy, Laarni officially launched her bid for the city’s mayoral seat, a position she held previously for three terms.

Her running mate under the Nacionalista Party will be Arvin Alit, an incumbent councilor in the city’s second district.

Laarni is the wife of incumbent Taguig-Pateros Rep. and former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, who is seeking to return to the Senate next year. Joel E. Zurbano

BISAYA BET.

Victorino Garay, president of the Bisaya Gyud Party-list and its first nominee, files his certificate of candidacy (COC) and the group’s certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) for the May 2022 elections before the Commission on Elections at the Harbor Garden of Sofitel Manila in Pasay City.

Opinion Pink revolution for #PresidentLeni2022 administration, and the handicap of very little financial resources, was able to do a lot in addressing the various needs of people especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The VP was correct in saying, “imagine what we can do with more resources” because surely, her office would be able to do a lot more if she has more resources. WHEN she becomes president, then we will see a lot more programs for the Filipino people.

That 15-minute speech was perhaps the most beautiful political speech in our recent history.

People erupted in celebration upon knowing that we now can hope for better chances of recovery from this pandemic should we succeed in putting Leni in Malacañang. Surely, it will not be an easy fight but as the VP herself said, she is a veteran of difficult fights. Let us not forget that she came from the bottom when she ran as VP -- and she won.

As the VP said, “lalaban TAYO!” The people will fight with her. We need to invest in her candidacy because we know that our bet does not have the financial resources of other candidates especially those allied with Duterte, and the Marcos money. Online, people have been asking how they can contribute to Leni’s campaign kitty. This is important not only for the campaign but also to ensure that her votes are guarded and no shenanigans will happen.

Hopefully, her group will soon come up with information on how people can give their share.

There is also a lot of interest in volunteering for her campaign. Some friends have already done so, and a form is being circulated online for those who wish to give time, expertise, and effort. It will not be surprising if Leni’s will truly become an organic people’s campaign despite the pandemic.

This “pink revolution” will surely continue as evidenced by the excitement surrounding it. It’s funny how people turned to their wardrobes in search of pink clothing. Friends have started ordering pink shirts, blouses, and other pieces to use during the campaign. Online, you will find people asking where to purchase reasonably-priced pink shirts for the #PresidentLeni2022 campaign. This is something similar to the “yellow revolution” that propelled Cory Aquino to the presidency.

As repeatedly said, the next six years will be very hard. Recovering from this pandemic will not be a walk in the park especially with the recent ratings showing the Philippines as the last country in the world to recover from COVID-19.

The people have succeeded in the huge ask for VP Leni to run. The people now need to invest in her campaign with money, time, and effort. As she said, “Gisingin ang mga tulog pa.” The pink revolution should be able to bring her to Malacanang.

Beyond this, the people must work with her to ensure that the country is able to get up, recover, and eventually move forward.

It will be a tough ride but the “pink revolution” should continue beyond the elections.

A PINK revolution is happening. Since Wednesday, the color pink has taken social media by storm. By Thursday, social media had turned into a sea of pink profile pictures, memes, and all kinds of posts in pink. This was because of posts asking people to use pink in anticipation of Vice-President Leni Robredo’s upcoming important announcement.

For many months, people have been clamoring for the VP to run for president in 2022 believing that the VP is the best candidate to go against the Dutertes, Marcoses, and other candidates perceived by people as their allies. The level of anticipation was very high especially because the period for filing Certificates of Candidacy had been ongoing and so far, those who have filed theirs were nowhere near the VP’s caliber.

That 15-minute statement was perhaps the most beautiful political speech in our recent history.

Thus, virtually everyone was all ears to every word that VP Leni was saying when she was making her announcement. Her speech lasted for only 15 minutes, but it was loaded with what people needed to get inspired and hope again. Not a few, myself included, shed tears as she was speaking. I jumped and shouted with joy when she said, “Lalaban ako, lalaban tayo, inihahain ko ang sarili ko bilang kandidato sa pagka-presidente.” It was everything a lot of Filipinos were waiting for.

Her 15-minute talk to the nation was what people have been longing to hear from the PRESIDENT. It was succinct and direct but full of love of country and our people. VP Leni’s now famous line, “ang minamahal ay ipinaglalaban,” struck our very core. It has been a long time since we last felt secure in the words of someone in the administration. In fact, for the longest time, people have been asking if we even have a government since not a few have been feeling forsaken.

In 15 short minutes, VP Leni answered questions on why she was involved in talks with other possible presidential candidates then. She clearly said that she was ready to give way and support another but the agreement must be based on principles, not transactions for positions.

She was also even able to detail what her office, despite being marginalized by the Duterte

@bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

The case of the ‘overpriced’ ayuda

THE other day, lawyer and KBL senatorial bet Larry Gadon, invoking his right to information, personally went to the Quezon City Hall to submit his letter requesting copies of the documents pertaining to the alleged overpriced food packs and grocery items the Quezon City government procured as part of its COVID-19 response.

This was to follow up on the revelation made

by Anakalusugan Rep. Michael Defensor some weeks ago when he presented to the media copies of purchase orders supposedly signed

by Mayor Joy Belmonte for the procurement of a total of 600,000 food packs. These were intended for poor city residents reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, which the lawmaker said, were grossly overpriced.

One PO, dated Nov. 23, 2020, was issued to LXS Trading, with address at 1210 Suntrust Capital Plaza, Matalino St., Central, Quezon City for the supply of 250,000 food packages at P1,149.98 each, for a total price of P287,475,000.

The other PO, which does not indicate a date, was issued to Thyme General Merchandise of 32 Batay St., Cubao, for 350,000 packs also at P1,149.98 each, for a total of P402.5 million.

But based on a price canvass made by his staff, Defensor said he found out that each

food bag cost only P636, or an excess of P513.98. He estimated that the total overprice for the two procurements amounted to P308 million.

He said the priciest item in the package in the two separate procurements was rice, consisting of five kilos worth P200.

He said the other items included small cans of meat products, spaghetti noodles and sauce, cheese, and milk.

The current administration better clarify these allegations.

According to Gadon, there seems to be some irregularity in the manner of the procurement as the PO, as presented by Defensor, indicated a “lump sum price” for every food pack instead of clearly stating the value of each grocery item, effectively diminishing transparency and accountability.

“Even a cursory review of the included grocery items, however, would expose the truth that the same would not amount to the perunit cost paid by the Quezon City government even if the same will be bought from the most expensive supermarkets in high end malls,” Gadon stated in his letter as he noted since those were bought in bulk and not retail, they should have been acquired at much cheaper prices.

If the allegations are proven accurate, this could be at par with the alleged irregular

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2021

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EDITORIAL

W

Despite the decline

E NOTE that the average number of new coronavirus or COVID-19 infections reported each day in the Philippines has fallen by more than 8,400 during the last three weeks, which translates to roughly 40 percent of its previous peak reported on September 15.

ment of the situation, we should not be complacent. We should continue to observe basic health protocols which would protect us and members of our families.

COVID’s barbarity is not over.

We also urge those who have reservations about getting vaccinated to get themselves inoculated to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others.

COVID’s barbarity is not over, despite the reported decline in cases.

Get vaccinated as soon as you can and wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.

From the time the health emergency was declared in the country in midMarch last year, there have been 2.6 million infections and more than 38,900 coronavirus-related deaths, with the country administering thus far at least 48,390,819 doses of COVID vaccines.

Despite the reported improve-

We should as well listen to alarm bells even if we have been fully vaccinated.

And this is particularly addressed to people who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken their immune system and may not be fully protected even if they are fully vaccinated.

We should also continue to avoid crowds and poorly ventilated places, avoid close contact with people who are sick, and, outside your homes, maintain sick feet physical distance from others, remembering that some people without symptoms may be spreading the virus.

At the same time, we should continue monitoring our health daily.

We should be alert for symptoms like fever, cough, shortness of breath or other COVID-19 symptoms.

Easy. That’s for our protection and for those around us. For a healthy Philippines.

Senate Committee cannot detain a witness THERE is a saying that when a right is violated, the best one could do is to bring it on. The one exercising that right must be vigorously defended with a sense of fortitude. Thus, when one invokes his right to be protected, one has the right to a redress of one’s grievance.

In this particular period in our acrimonious politics, the charges labelled by the opposition against the administration are not only off-key. They are charging a presidential candidate for crimes allegedly committed by his father. Yet, in not a single instance have they managed to prove their allegations. BBM is being made to answer, such that the issue against him has become tiresome. The opposition sounds monotonous in their attacks for they have been repeating an issue that has been there for more than three decades. They are equally accusing President Duterte of corruption, but for everything that they have been saying, Duterte is not a candidate.

As usual, the opposition is accusing the President of graft and corruption. They went through the rigmarole of holding an investigation using the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee as their podium to malign him. They hope to gather supporters out of hatred, racism and ideological discrimination, something that fits them to be called religious malcontent. They hypocritically denounce the President for alleged human rights violation, yet shouting to high heavens to surrender him to an international kangaroo court presided by a country that decimated ten percent of our people in the name of freedom and democracy.

Following the opposition’s political vice, transaction the government conducted with Pharmally. While the cost of the deal may pale in comparison with Pharmally, the act and the intention are so much the same – taking advantage of the pandemic to fatten someone else’s pockets – just like kicking an already suffering people. This, Gadon says, is a grossly inappropriate and anomalous act at this point in time. This is taking advantage of the situation, short of robbing the sick and the hungry.

“This is the reason the undersigned now need to examine relevant documents to ensure that this did not happen in Quezon City while people are sick and dying because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gadon stressed.

Belmonte better clear this up, otherwise this issue may spell doom for her reelection bid. She may have noble intentions in helping her constituents but somewhere along the way, someone betrayed someone. And unless she begins clarifying this matter, she cannot escape owning up to the responsibility.

Anyway, the showdown between her and Defensor is now officially on.

The other day, Defensor filed his certificate of candidacy with his vice-mayoralty running mate, incumbent Councilor and former Quezon City Rep. Winnie Castelo.

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

Anita F. Grefal

Baldwin R. Felipe

Edgar M. Valmorida

they resort to the usual grandstanding, holding an investigation by intimidating witnesses to answer questions they want to hear, and to proclaim to the world that the President and his henchmen are corrupt.

To make their nasty brand of democracy palatable, they insist that the investigation is integral to our democratic process.

The opposition inherited the rowdy American brand of people power. They take it as part of their freedom to maliciously slander our officials. To them, there is nothing wrong in exposing venalities in the government even if the consequence could ruin the government. This explains why we have an amputated version of democracy.

What a way for the senators to act.

Many of those in the opposition could not even understand that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is merely doing the work in aid of legislation. Its role is clarificatory.

It has no business interrogating a witness for the fact that he is not an accused in a case. On the other hand, our legislators are there to clarify with the law they legislated and to fill that portion of the law to make the system of check and balance in our government operate. The Senate committee cannot usurp the powers of the executive department.

If there are grounds to suspect that venalities were committed, the committee members should promptly file criminal or administrative charges against the wrongdoer. Alas, none of them are willing to take that role because they have a totally different objective in mind, which is to embarrass the President to the satisfaction of their foreign brokers. Fortunately, the Duterte administration continues to exhibit A day after, Belmonte filed her own, together with her running mate, Vice Mayor Gian Sotto.

In throwing his hat to the Quezon city mayoralty race, Defensor vowed to transform the Quezon City General Hospital, a referral facility for COVID-19 cases, into “a true center of excellence in delivering the best and most efficient healthcare services.”

He also said he intends to grant new local tax incentives to help businesses recover from the COVID-19 crisis so that they can start hiring workers again, build up Quezon City’s life-saving emergency rescue capabilities (considering that the city has the highest number of road crashes in Metro Manila), put up a new public drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation center in Quezon City with two dormitories – one for female patients and the other for males, establish a new Quezon City Sports Academy and to embark on new community-based sports programs to fully develop our children, and make Quezon City “the most bicycle-friendly city” in Metro Manila, and to put up more open spaces where people can freely recreate, jog, and walk their dogs.

Sounds doable. Just wondering why the current city administration failed to see the wisdom in all these.

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

his political magnanimity to friends and foes alike, and yet they still call him a dictator.

Remember, it was Gordon who first threatened the President by insinuating his alleged crony was involved in the purchase of COVID-19 medical kits. This put the President on the defensive, and had to defend his integrity and honor against these baseless attacks. The President then began to enumerate those acts of corruption allegedly committed by Senator Gordon.

What irritated the President most is Gordon’s insinuation of swindling the government when his committee has not even filed criminal charges against the witnesses, and detaining her for not answering questions that would implicate the President.

Gordon was so nasty that he interrupted the Senate investigation, often interrupting the witness with nonsensical questions to put the administration in bad light. When his mouth began to recklessly insinuate anomaly in the procurement of funds for COVID-19 medical kits, the President said that he would demand that the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), wherein he is the Chairman, be audited.

Gordon was startled on what to say.

He cannot invoke exemption from audit.

Fortunately, the President was quickwitted to make a repartee that PNRC is a recipient of government funds from the PCSO and PAGCOR, and that qualifies COA to audit the PNRC to determine how much government funds were donated and received by it. Gordon overlooked that for as long as PNRC receives funds from the government irrespective of its status, it will be subject to government audit.

President Duterte was blunt in accusing Senator Gordon of pocketing the P86 million, and demanded the return of amount allocated to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

The report says, the P86 million was part of the P149 million notice disallowed to SBMA during the time of Gordon.

The demand letter by COA serves as evidence for Gordon to either return or liquidate the unauthorized amount. Failure on the part of Gordon could subject him to court litigation. The findings of COA and the demand for him to return the amount now partake as prima facie evidence against him.

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Green light from the ICC

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B2

World

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Polexit? Poland eyes stay in EU, PM says despite challenges

LIKE AN INFERNO. The

Cumbre Vieja volcano, pictured at night from La Punta de Tijarafe, spews lava, ash and smoke in the Canary Island of La Palma on October 7, 2021. Clouds of thick ash from the erupting volcano on La Palma forced the island’s airport to close for the second time since the September 19 eruption. AFP

PRIME Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Friday said that Poland wanted to stay in the European Union, a day after a landmark court ruling that experts said could instead lead to “Polexit.”

The ruling from Poland’s Constitutional Court challenged the primacy of EU law over Polish law, declaring several articles in the EU treaties “incompatible” with the country’s constitution.

It also warned EU institutions not to “act beyond the scope of their competences” by interfering with reforms of Poland’s judiciary – a major bone of contention with Brussels.

“The entry of Poland and Central European countries into the European Union is one of the highlights of the last decades. Both for us but also for the EU itself,” Morawiecki said, of the bloc’s 2004 eastward enlargement.

“Poland’s place is and will be in the European family of nations,” he said in

a Facebook post after former EU chief and now opposition leader Donald Tusk called a rally in Warsaw for Sunday “to defend a European Poland”.

Brussels responded sternly on Thursday, with EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders warning that the EU would use “all the tools” at its disposal to ensure the primacy of EU law.

Before the ruling, the EU had warned that the case could have “consequences” for Poland’s EU pandemic recovery funds, which have still not received approval from Brussels.

France’s Europe Minister Clement Beaune on Friday called the ruling an “attack against the EU.” “It is very serious... there is a risk of a de-facto exit of Poland from the EU,” he told BFM-TV. Polish freedom icon Lech Walesa called for new elections in the country to “save the honor of Poland.” AFP

AMID NATIONWIDE ENERGY CRUNCH

China: Hike coal output by 100m tons C HINESE authorities have ordered dozens of coal mines to expand production amid a nationwide energy crunch, state media reported Friday.

capacity by more than 98 million tonnes in an official notice not released to the public, the state-run Securities Times reported.

Nearly 60 percent of China’s energyhungry economy is fuelled by coal, and the country has struggled to wean itself from the fuel despite its pledge to beDozens of mines in China’s Inner come carbon neutral by 2060.

Mongolia, a major coal producing reChina has been hit by widespread gion, were instructed to increase their power cuts that have forced factories to

delay production as businesses are ordered to minimize energy usage.

Record coal prices, state electricity price controls and tough emissions targets have combined to squeeze the power supply, pushing over a dozen provinces and regions to announce curbs on energy usage in recent months.

The 72 mines in Inner Mongolia were asked to “accelerate the release” of production capacity, the official

THE United States and Mexico are set to discuss an overhaul of their joint fight against drug cartels during a visit

by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said Mexico no longer wants helicopter gunships and other weapons to combat drug traffickers, urging the United States to invest in regional economic development instead.

Ahead of Blinken’s visit, his first to Mexico as the top US diplomat, Washington indicated that it was ready to revamp a 13-year-old program called the Merida Initiative that provided US military firepower, technical support and security training.

“We believe we are due for an updated look at our bilateral security coop-

MS-OCT. 9/16/23, 2021)

eration,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.

He said Washington wanted to see the “significant gains” made by the Merida Initiative “preserved, that that cooperation is deepened and that we have an updated approach that accounts for the threats of today.”

The Mexican government has gone further, calling for an end to the Merida Initiative.

“We don’t want it to be like it was before when they brought us a helicopter gunship and a photo was taken of the US ambassador with the president,” Lopez Obrador said in June.

He argues that investing in development projects in the region would help counter not only drug trafficking but also migrant flows—another major challenge facing the two countries. AFP

‘US special forces training Taiwanese’

AERIAL SHOW. Indian Air Force paratroopers from the ‘Akashganga’ skydiving team glide during the 89th Air Force Day parade at Hindon Air Force station in Ghaziabad on October 8, 2021. AFP

Squid Game: Sokor’s latest cultural phenomenon A DYSTOPIAN vision of a polarized society, Netflix smash hit “Squid Game” blends a tight plot, social allegory and uncompromising violence to create the latest South Korean cultural phenomenon to go global.

It features South Korea’s most marginalized, including the deeply in debt, a migrant worker and a North Korean defector, competing in traditional children’s games for the chance to win $38 million in mysManila OF LOSS AFFIDAVIT terious circumStandard stances.

Name of theTODAY Issuer: JOLLIBEE FOODS CORPORATION And losName of the Stockholder: LOURDES ing players are MEDALLA ABELA killed.

Stock Certificate No.: C000056925 No. of Shares : 1,625 The juxtaStock Certificate No.: C000078558 position of inNo. of Shares : 406 nocent childAs per Doc. No. 226; Page No. 52; Book No. 114; hood pastimes Series of 2021 before Notary Public and terminal ATTY. RUBEN T.M. RAMIREZ consequences

the first half of the year exceeded prepandemic levels, according to the National Energy Administration, as demand for factory goods picked up with the rest of the world emerging from Covid lockdowns.

Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng had recently warned fuel companies to make sure there is enough fuel to keep the country running, according to Bloomberg News. AFP

America, Mexico seek revamp of joint fight against drug cartels

Google to stop posting ads next to climate change false information GOOGLE said it will no longer post ads next to misinformation about climate change on its search engine or on global video-sharing platform YouTube.

The new policy for Google advertisers, publishers and YouTube creators will prohibit the platforms from helping people make money from content that “contradicts well-established scientific consensus around the existence and causes of climate change.”

That includes online content referring to climate change as a hoax or a scam, or denying the world’s temperature is rising and that human activity is contributing to the problem, Google said in a post.

“Advertisers simply don’t want their ads to appear next to this content,” Google said.

“And publishers and creators don’t want ads promoting these claims to appear on their pages or videos.”

The internet giant added that the policy change aligns with efforts by the company to promote sustainable practices and confront climate change.

“Google’s important decision to demonetize climate misinformation could turn the tide on the climate denial economy,” said NGO Avaaz campaign director Fadi Quran.

“For years, climate misinformers have confused public opinion and obstructed urgent political action on climate change, and YouTube has been one of their weapons of choice.” AFP

Securities Times said, citing the current supply crunch as a likely factor behind the order.

China’s coal supply has been disrupted by the pandemic, under pressure from tough emissions targets and squeezed by a drop in coal imports exacerbated by a trade tiff with Australia.

Earlier this month, coal prices hit a record high.

Meanwhile China’s power needs in

– coupled with high production values and sumptuous set design – has proved wildly popular around the world.

Within days of its release last month, Netflix’s top executive said there was “a very good chance it’s going to be our biggest show ever.”

It is the latest manifestation of the ever-growing influence of South Korea’s popular culture, epitomised by K-pop sensation BTS and the subtitled Oscarwinning movie “Parasite.”

Critics say that regardless of its Korean setting, the show’s themes and its critique of the ills of capitalism are relevant everywhere – doubly so with the coronavirus pandemic exacerbating global inequalities – and are key to its ubiquitous appeal.

“The growing tendency to prioritise profit over the wellbeing of the individual” is a “phenomenon that we witness in capitalist societies all over the

world,” Sharon Yoon, a Korean studies professor at the University of Notre Dame in the United States, told AFP. Netflix in February announced plans to spend $500 million this year alone on series and films produced in South Korea.

“Over the last two years, we’ve seen the world falling in love with incredible Korean content, made in Korea and watched by the world on Netflix,” its co-CEO Ted Sarandos said at the time.

“Our commitment towards Korea is strong. We will continue to invest and collaborate with Korean storytellers across a wealth of genres and formats,” he added.

South Korea’s history is chequered by war, poverty and authoritarian governments, which artists have responded to by exploring power, violence and social issues. AFP

US SPECIAL operations forces have been quietly training Taiwanese troops for months, risking the ire of China, a Pentagon official said Thursday.

A contingent of around 20 special operations and conventional forces has been conducting the training for less than a year, the official, who declined to be identified, told AFP, adding that some of the trainers rotate in and out.

The official largely confirmed a Wall Street Journal report which said the training has been going on for at least a year, amid China’s rising verbal threats against the island ally of the United States.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry declined to comment on the report, but Pentagon spokesman John Supple said that generally speaking, US support for Taiwan’s military is gauged on its defense needs.

“Our support for and defense relationship with Taiwan remains aligned against the current threat posed by the People’s Republic of China,” Supple said in a statement.

“We urge Beijing to honor its com-

mitment to the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait differences.”

Taiwan’s Premier Su Tseng-chang said “a just cause always attracts much support” when asked to comment on the Wall Street Journal report on Friday.

“We are making every effort to defend our national sovereignty and our people as well as maintaining regional peace. We are doing all we can and we appreciate like-minded countries working together,” he said.

Taiwan media reported last November, citing Taiwan’s Naval Command, that US troops had arrived there to train Taiwan marines and special forces in small-boat and amphibious operations.

But those reports were subsequently denied by US and Taiwanese officials, who emphasized the two sides are only involved in bilateral military exchanges and cooperation.

The United States supplies weapons to Taiwan, including missiles for defense and fighter jets, amid Beijing’s threat to forcibly retake control of the island and reintegrate it with China. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BIRD SONG AND FLIGHT. An artwork by Sara Wolman marks World Migratory Bird Day 2021 today (Saturday), a global campaign that aims to raise awareness on migratory birds and the need for international cooperation to conserve them. This year’s theme ‘Sing, Fly, Soar—Like A Bird!’ focuses on the phenomena of ‘bird song’ and ‘bird flight’ as a way to inspire and connect people of all ages around the globe in their shared desire to protect and celebrate migratory birds. AFP

Business

B3

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

India ready to reopen for tourists from October 15

PSEi October 8, 2021

TOP GAINERS

LAST %

PRICE CHANGE CHANGE 1 BSC 0.6 0.09 17.65% 2 OPM 0.012 0.001 9.09% 3 BKR 0.97 0.07 7.78% 4 PHES 0.51 0.04 7.37% 5 PRMX 1.77 0.12 7.27% 6 LFM 29.75 1.95 7.01% 7 CIC 22.9 1.5 7.01% 8 FGEN 29 1.4 5.07% 9 ANI 4.99 0.24 5.05% 10 ROX 1.34 0.06 4.69%

TOP LOSERS

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PRICE CHANGE CHANGE 1 CNVRG 33.6 -3.9 -10.40% 2 EVER 0.325 -0.035 -9.72% 3 MACAY 6.34 -0.66 -9.43% 4 NRCP 0.64 -0.06 -8.57% 5 ABG 5.3 -0.4 -7.02% 6 AB 6.64 -0.41 -5.82% 7 UPM 0.0066 -0.0004 -5.71% 8 ATN 0.5 -0.03 -5.66% 9 PRIM 1.5 -0.08 -5.06% 10 PHR 1.16 -0.06 -4.92%

MOST ACTIVE

1 WLCON 2 CNVRG 3 FGEN 4 BDO 5 MONDE 6 GLO 7 ICT 8 ACEN 9 SMPH 10 TEL

VOLUME VALUE (PHP) 82,110,700 2,774,716,840 67,990,300 2,349,189,960 36,746,100 1,064,404,795 6,124,840 740,674,271 34,130,200 625,317,668 165,185 514,133,320 2,566,090 475,681,238 33,300,500 422,209,022 12,486,000 421,715,105 241,925 407,625,300

TAX HOLDOUT. People take a lunch break in the business and financial sector of Dublin City center with the Google offices in the background on October 7, 2021. The government of Ireland, one of the few countries to have resisted a global minimum tax on multinational firms, will meet on Thursday to decide whether to join the international reform. Cabinet ministers are due to meet in Dublin in the late afternoon with a decision on accepting the 15 percent rate set to be announced in the early evening, a government spokesman told AFP. AFP

Stock market down again; First Gen, Manila Water up

T

HE stock market slipped Friday on continued profit taking, but select issues bucked the trend and sustained their climb on prospects of a strong economic recovery.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 44.4 points, or 0.6 percent, to 6,906.86 on a value turnover of P25 billion. Gainers, however, beat losers, 105 to 83, with 46 issues unchanged.

Fiber broadband services provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. sank 10.4 percent to P33.60, while Globe Telecom Inc., the second-biggest telecommunications firm, dropped 4.7 percent to P3,088.

First Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group, however, advanced 5.1 percent to P29,

while BDO Unibank Inc., the largest lender in terms of assets, rose 4.3 percent to P121. Manila Water Co. Inc. of the Ayala Group climbed 3.5 percent to P23.80.

Meanwhile, Asian markets mostly rose Friday after a global rally as US lawmakers voted to avert a catastrophic debt default, while attention now turns to the release of key jobs data later in the day that could determine the Federal Reserve’s plans for tapering monetary policy.

An advance in mainland Chinese stocks also provided some solace as the country reopened after a weeklong break, with investors keenly following developments in the crisis at troubled developer Evergrande.

News that Republicans had agreed to lift the US borrowing limit provided some much-needed relief to markets, which had been growing increasingly worried that the government would

run out of cash in a few days and fail to meet its debt obligations.

Experts had warned such a scenario would have led to a historic default, plunging the world’s biggest economy into recession and causing a global financial crisis.

While the deal means there will only be enough cash to last until December—leaving open the possibility of another standoff within months—investors are happy to buy up some bargains after a recent run of hefty losses across global equities.

Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney, Singapore, Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta all rallied. But Seoul, Wellington and Taipei dipped.

Shanghai also put on a positive showing in the first day of trade since last Thursday, with investors keeping a close eye on moves in the Evergrande saga as it struggles under liabilities worth more than $300 billion. With AFP

Extreme dining: Thai customers whet their appetites at flood cafe BANGKOK, Thailand—A Thai restaurant has taken dining with a water view to the next level—its customers perch precariously on wooden stools as murky brown floodwater laps at their tables.

Tropical storm Dianmu and heavy monsoon rains have caused flooding in 33 Thai provinces, inundating more than 300,000 households and claiming nine lives.

Riverside areas of Bangkok are bracing for flooding in the coming days and more storms are expected to hit the kingdom next week.

But the crisis has been a boon for the Chaopraya Antique Cafe in Nonthaburi, part of the vast sprawl of Bangkok upriver from the city center.

In the afternoons and evenings the restaurant is full of diners munching miang kham, a fiery leaf-wrapped appetizer, giggling and jumping on their seats as boats and rice barges cruise past the Chao Phraya River, sending waves of caramel-colored water towards them.

When flooding began owner Titiporn Jutimanon intended to close the restaurant but soon realized customers did not actually mind being surrounded by water.

“The concept has spread by customers’ word of mouth,” he told AFP, adding footage of the quirky eatery quickly started trending on social media.

Photo taken on October 7, 2021, shows people standing up while enjoying dinner at the Chaopraya Antique Cafe, as flood water from the Chao Phraya River surges into the restaurant, in Nonthaburi province north of Bangkok. AFP

Restaurants in Bangkok and other hotspots yoyoed in and out of restrictions on in-house dining this year as a deadly third wave of coronavirus infections took hold.

Thai authorities allowed in-house dining to resume in September, as part of an easing of restrictions as new cases fell to around 10,000 a day, down from a peak of 23,000 in August.

An estimated 50,000 restaurants have shut down permanently according to the Thai Restaurant Association,

and Titiporn is grateful he can keep his doors open.

“If I have to close down the restaurant again, it wouldn’t survive for sure,” he said.

Operating a flooded restaurant is a lot of hard work, Titiporn noted.

“You have to navigate your way through floodwaters while holding the customers’ food,” he said, adding staff also have to mop up mud at the end of the day.

The experience has proved popular with young people and families.

“The economy is pretty bad these days... I think it’s a very good idea.

The owner has turned the crisis into an opportunity,” customer Neung, 49, said.

Health authorities in many countries advise people not to expose themselves to or swim in flood water.

Fecal matter from overflowing sewage, chemicals and industrial waste can cause illness and skin infections can occur from contact with open wounds. AFP

Tesla moving headquarters to Texas from Silicon Valley—Elon Musk SAN FRANCISCO—Tesla chief Elon Musk told investors on Thursday that the leading electric vehicle maker is moving its headquarters from Silicon Valley to Texas, where it is building a plant.

“I’m excited to announce that we’re moving our headquarters to Austin, Texas,” Musk said at an annual shareholders meeting.

“Just to be clear, though, we will be continuing to expand our activities in California.”

Musk said Tesla sales are growing strongly, and the company is ramping up deliveries despite shortages of computer chips and other components.

Tesla aims to increase production at its plant in Fremont, California, by some 50 percent, Musk said.

But that plant is hitting its limits on how much more it can handle, he said.

“When we first went in there it was it like a kid

in his parents’ shoes; tiny us and this giant factory,” Musk said of its inaugural plant in Silicon Valley.

“Now, it’s like a spam can. We are hitting the sides of the bowl.”

He noted that the cost of living in Silicon Valley is high for workers, with home prices putting them out of reach for workers, who often wind up with long commutes.

Musk has clashed with regulators in California, and is among high-profile tech figures who personally left the state for places with lower income taxes and less regulation.

“This was a smart strategic move for Tesla,” said Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives.

“We believe this was the first step towards Tesla making Austin its domestic and global foundational location over the coming decade with its recent frustration with California officials likely accelerating

this move.”

A stockholder-submitted proposal to have Tesla disclose more about diversity and inclusion efforts at the company won approval, despite opposition from the board of directors, according to preliminary results.

It calls for comprehensive breakdowns of Tesla’s workforce by race and gender, along with insights into how well efforts to improve diversity are doing, to be routinely disclosed to investors.

“The business case for diversity is clear,” said Calvert Research and Management vice president Kimberly Stokes, who spoke on behalf of the proposal.

“As shareholders we are concerned that Tesla’s lack of focus on equity, diversity and inclusion could hinder the company’s ability to innovate in the future.” AFP

NEW DELHI, India—India will re-open for tourists from October 15 after being closed for more than a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the government said Thursday.

The country famous for the Taj Mahal, desert palaces, tiger reserves, elephants and beaches had barred all foreign tourists in March 2020 in a strict lockdown when the pandemic took off.

But after a horrendous spike in COVID-19 cases earlier this year, the number of cases has since fallen sharply and the government, under pressure from an industry that is an important pillar of the economy, on Thursday announced a loosening.

Tourist visas will be granted for foreigners arriving on charter flights from October 15, and on other flights from November 15, the home ministry said in a statement.

It stressed that all COVID-19 protocols “should be adhered to by the foreign tourists, carriers bringing them into India and all other stakeholders at landing stations.”

India initially banned all foreigner arrivals. The restrictions were gradually eased for business people, diplomats and others but borders remained shut for holiday-makers.

In April and May this year the country of 1.3 billion people was hit by a severe wave of coronavirus infections with about 400,000 cases and 4,000 deaths every day.

Hospitals were overwhelmed as more than 200,000 people died in a period of around 10 weeks, according to official numbers that are widely seen as an underestimate.

The spike was blamed on new virus variants and the government having lifted restrictions too soon and allowing sporting events and major celebrations for religious festivals to take place.

But cases have since slowed sharply to around 20,000 new daily infections and 200 to 300 deaths in recent weeks.

More than 250 million people have been double-vaccinated, although this equates to only around 20 percent of the population, and experts warn that India could suffer another wave. AFP

Chinese central bank vows further fintech crackdown BEIJING, China—China will strengthen supervision of the online payments industry and continue its anti-monopoly crackdown, the governor of the central bank said, indicating Beijing will press ahead with a regulatory crackdown on the country’s technology giants.

Authorities have for about a year targeted a range of homegrown tech behemoths, including e-commerce titan Alibaba and food delivery giant Meituan, for alleged monopolistic practices and aggressive harvesting of consumer data.

The drive is part of a wider policy by the government to tighten its grip on the world’s number two economy, including targeting private education, property and casinos.

“We will continue to cooperate with anti-monopoly authorities to curb monopolies and actively deal with algorithm discrimination and other new forms of anticompetition behaviors,” People’s Bank of China governor Yi Gang said Thursday in a keynote speech at a Bank for International Settlements conference on regulating the sector.

He added that the central bank will strengthen supervision of the payments industry and ask all financial services companies to be licensed.

“Top platform companies in China have acquired massive data from users,” said Yi, adding that their “winner-takes-all nature ... could lead to market monopoly and compromise innovation efficiency.”

Chinese regulators in September ordered sweeping changes to the country’s biggest payment app Alipay, as the ruling Communist Party attempts to rein in the “unruly growth” of tech giants.

Alipay—with more than one billion users in China and other Asian nations—was told to spin off its profitable micro loan business, the Financial Times reported.

A record-breaking $37-billion IPO by its parent company, Ant Financial, was scrapped at the last minute by regulators in November, after founder Jack Ma criticized officials for stifling innovation. Ant Financial is the fintech arm of Alibaba.

Ma’s business empire has been targeted in a wider crackdown on tech firms aimed at breaking monopolies and strengthening data security, which has wiped billions off companies’ valuations. AFP

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

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2021

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, October 8, 2021

-44.44 PTS. 6,906.86

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE

1,895,838,749 138,710 25,001,782,604.02

ADVANCES 105 DECLINES 83 UNCHANGED 46

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.7330

Japan

Yen

0.008960

0.4546

UK

Pound

1.361700

69.0831

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128459

6.5171

Switzerland

Franc

1.077354

54.6574

Canada

Dollar

0.796749

40.4215

Singapore

Dollar

0.736377

37.3586

Australia

Dollar

0.731200

37.0960

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652801

134.5846

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

13.5281

Brunei

Dollar

0.733676

37.2216

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.029603

1.5018

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.8132

Euro

Euro

1.155900

58.6423

Korea

Won

0.000839

0.0426

China

Yuan

0.155087

7.8680

India

Rupee

0.013365

0.6780

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.239120

12.1313

New Zealand

Dollar

0.692900

35.1529

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035754

1.8139 Source: BSP

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday gold purchases jumped by more than 1,000 percent in 2020 from a year ago, after the Bureau of Internal Revenue exempted the transactions from taxes.

BSP mint and refinery operations department director Joseph Norbert David said in an online media lecture BSP’s gold-buying activities in 2020 surged 1,034 percent to 115,800.995 troy ounces from 10,207.645 troy ounces in 2019.

“The lifting [of the tax imposition] had positive impact on our gold buy-

SAFETY SEAL. Proving its compliance with standard safety protocols, Farmers Market at Araneta City Cubao is given a safety seal certification by the local government of Quezon City. The safety seal is among the certificates posted at entrances of the Araneta City premises after they passed the rigorous inspection of Quezon City’s safety seal certification committee. Attending the ceremony are (from left) Col. Popoy Lipana, head of Quezon City market development and administration department; Margie Santos, head of Quezon City business permit and licensing department; Belle De Leon, Farmers Market property manager; and Morriel Abogado, vice president for operations and zone manager of Araneta City.

ing,” David said. He said the bulk of the gold usually bought by the BSP came from Baguio and Davao regions.

David said the BSP was aware of reports that some small-scale miners were still selling gold directly to the black market. He said BSP’s buying prices were at par with international gold prices.

He said to discourage the practice of small-scale miners selling gold to the black market, the BSP made its offer rates attractive and tried to fast-track the turnaround time of payment.

“If they transact with the BSP, we can be sure that the gold assaying is accurate,” he said. Gold assaying is a process used to measure purity of items containing gold. The process of gold assaying is a way to ensure that gold coins or gold bullion bars produced by a gold mint

meet the correct purity standards and content.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue in 2020 exempted from income and excise taxes the sale of gold to the Bangko Sentral to strengthen the country’s gross international reserves.

BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay issued Revenue Regulations No. 4-2020 to encourage gold traders to sell the commodity again to the BSP and discourage the sale to the black market.

Under the revised guidelines, the sale of gold by accredited traders and registered small-scale miners is exempt from both income and excise taxes. If excise tax was paid prior to the sale of the gold to the BSP, the taxpayer may file a refund claim with the BIR. To get the tax-free privilege, a trader

Meralco says October rates slightly higher

should secure a tax identification number that will serve as the basis for the income and excise tax exemption the sale.

The regulations define accredited traders as a person or entity engaged in the business of buying and selling gold that complied with the BSP’s gold trader accreditation.

Government think tank Philippine Institute of Development Studies said last year the government was losing billions as the bulk of the country’s mineral production from small-scale mining – mainly gold – were being sold straight to the black market.

PIDS said in a study there was no way for the government to measure the contribution of small-scale mining to the economy because most of its output was leaked through the black market.

NEW WALTERMART STORES. WalterMart,

By Darwin G. Amojelar POWER rates are expected to increase slightly in October on higher transmission charges, retailer Manila Electric Co. said Friday.

Meralco said the overall rate for a typical household rose by P0.0283 per kilowatt-hour in October to P9.1374 per kWh from P9.1091 in September.

This is equivalent to an increase of P6 in the monthly bill of a residential customer consuming 200 kWh, according to Meralco.

Meralco attributed the increase in electricity rates to the higher transmission charges, which rose P0.0282 per kWh to P0.7085 per kWh from P0.6803 per kWh for residential customers in October, on higher ancillary service rates. These accounted for about 33 percent of the total transmission costs of National Grid Corporation of the Philippine.

The increase in overall rates was partly tempered by Meralco’s implementation of the distribution rate true-up refund that began in March 2021. The refund rate for residential customers is P0.2761 per kWh and appears in customer bills as a line item called “Dist True-Up.” The Energy Regulatory Commission provisionally approved Meralco’s proposal to refund around P13.9 billion over a period of 24 months or until the amount is fully refunded.

The amount represented the difference between the actual weighted average tariff and the ERC-approved interim average rate for distributionrelated charges for the period July 2015 to November 2020.

Generation charges registered a slight reduction of P0.0004 per kWh to P5.0435 per kWh in October from P5.0439 per kWh in the previous month.

The lower average capacity on outage and average demand in the Luzon grid in the September supply month pulled down charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market

by P1.2061 per kWh. The share of WESM to Meralco’s total requirement was higher at 13.4 percent during the month.

Virgilio Villar man behind Medilines WHEN news broke about the planned first pure-play healthcare initial public offering in the Philippines, the investing public wanted to learn more about Medilines Distributors Inc. and its builder Virgilio Villar.

Although commonly referred to as the younger brother of real estate tycoon Manny Villar, Virgilio is a successful businessman in his own right who began his career in the medical devices industry more than 30 years ago.

While his brother ventured in entrepreneurship from the get-go, Virgilio is a corporate-bred executive who rose from the ranks and built his own business after an early retirement, based on the skills and network he formed through years of experience.

Virgilio recalls how he started his career in various multinational companies as sales and marketing executive after he graduated from the University of the Philippines with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and a degree in Master of Business Administration. He also took Advanced Management Studies in Cologne, Germany.

His introduction to the field of medical devices began when he was hired as the general manager of B. Braun, a German multinational medical device company, in the Philippines in 1987. It was during this time when Villar started to deal with the top management of hospitals and doctors, where he has earned a good reputation through the years.

PAL expands flights for ‘winter’ season

BSP’s gold purchases jump 10 times

By Julito G. Rada

IN BRIEF

SM Retail Inc.’s Luzonbased supermarket chain, brings convenience closer to neighborhoods with its brand of service ‘with a heart’ as it opens two new stores in CALABARZON. The company recently opened its 41st store in Antipolo, Rizal and will soon open another in Bacoor, Cavite by the end of October.

Manila Water consortium bags second Saudi water contract

By Jenniffer B. Austria WATER utility firm Manila Water Co. Inc. and joint venture partners Saur Group of France and Saudi’s Miahona Company bagged another seven-year water contract in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Manila Water said in a disclosure to the stock exchange National Water Company, Saudi Arabia’s state-run water agency, awarded the management, operations and maintenance contract to the consortium to undertake the operation of the water and environmental treatment services in the eastern cluster of Saudi Arabia.

Manila Water president and chief executive Jose Victor Emmanuel de Dios said winning the second water contract in Saudi Arabia put Manila Water and its partners in a strong competitive position when the same management contracts are converted into long-term concessions.

“We are extremely elated with this new international expansion as Manila Water gears up its vision of becoming a global Filipino water company whose operation and management expertise is now being recognized in the industry worldwide,” de Dios said.

“Manila Water will bring in 24 years of experience and knowhow in the water space to provide innovative solutions to

the water and wastewater requirements in a region whose population and demand are almost comparable to our existing concession area in eastern Metro Manila and Rizal Province,” he said.

Manila Water won in December the bid for its first project in Saudi Arabia which involves a seven-year agreement to manage and implement improvement initiatives for the water and wastewater systems of the northwest cluster.

This cluster is one of six regional clusters created under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and National Water Strategy which restructures the water distribution services and engages private sector participation.

PHILIPPINE Airlines said Friday it added more long-haul flights for the upcoming ‘winter’ schedule that begins in late October amid rising demand during the holiday season.

“We are heeding the call for more flights to and from the US Mainland, Canada and the UK to serve many of our fellow Filipinos who want to rejoin their families in time for the Christmas holidays,” said PAL senior vice president and chief strategy and planning officer Dexter Lee. “As travel restrictions ease in coming months, our nonstop global links can help the Philippines stage a comeback in tourism,” he said.

The flights include Manila to Los Angeles and vise versa (10 to 12 weekly flights), Manila to San Francisco-Manila (daily flights), Manila-New York-Manila (two to three weekly flights) and Manila– London–Manila (twice monthly special flights). Darwin G. Amojelar

BSP affirms CDO vs. Digital Spring THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday it denied the request of Digital Spring Marketing and Advertising Inc. to be registered as an operator of payment system of the Lyka/Things I Like Company Ltd. Payment System.

It said in a statement It upheld the ceaseand-desist order issued against Digital Spring on July 23, 2021, reiterating that Lyka/TIL and not Digital Spring should register as OPS with the BSP. “The BSP transmitted a letter to Digital Spring on its denial of the firm’s requests for reconsideration today. In view of this, the CDOs against Lyka/TIL and Digital Spring dated 23 July 2021 are affirmed and shall remain effective until Lyka/TIL properly registers as an OPS in accordance with law and regulations,” the BSP said.

“Think of an OPS as a pilot who must personally obtain a flying license to prove that they possess the necessary skills and training to safely operate a passenger aircraft,” BSP Deputy Governor Mert Tangonan said.

Julito G. Rada

Retail dollar bond offering to deepen PH capital markets FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Friday the successful first onshore issuance of retail dollar bonds will help deepen the domestic capital markets and broaden financial inclusion.

The RDB issuance and other earlier retail bond offerings, made possible through the use of digital platforms, also help improve financial literacy among Filipinos, Dominguez said in a statement.

Retail bond offerings such as the RDBs offer small investors not only the opportunity to avail of secure investments, but also to support the financing needs of the country, especially at this time of the pandemic, Dominguez said.

“This is far more worthy than gaining interest in their savings that they can otherwise earn from other investment sources. It is because of bond offerings such as this one that we have been able to raise funds for our economic investments and COVID-19 response measures,” he said during the settlement and listing of the RDBs in the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. at the Bureau of the Treasury’s main office at the Ayuntamiento de Manila.

Dominguez said the RDB listing marked “a critical milestone” and “a moment of pride” for the country, as “the issuance supports the development of our capital markets and helps fulfill President Duterte’s goal of financial inclusion among Filipinos.”

Julito G. Rada

SEC okays P40-b worth of share sales by Synergy Grid, Megawide and The Keepers

THE Securities and Exchange Commission approved Friday the share sale of Synergy Grid & Development Philippines Inc., The Keepers Holdings Inc. and Megawide Construction Corp.

The three deals worth a combined P40.3 billion are expected to boost market activities in the fourth quarter.

The SEC also approved the P50-billion bond offering of property developer Ayala Land Inc. The SEC said Synergy Grid would offer to the public up to 1.053 billion pri-

mary shares priced at P15 to P25 each. An overallotment option for another 101 million secondary shares will also be offered by selling shareholders Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto Jr. Synergy Grid will use proceeds from the offering worth up to P28.8 billion to subscribe to non-voting preferred shares to be issued by National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, which it will use to finance capital expenditures and related costs and expenses.

The follow-on offering is scheduled

to run from Oct. 26 to Nov. 2, with the shares to be listed on the PSE on Nov. 10, based on the latest timetable submitted to the SEC. The Keepers Holdings, formerly Da Vinci Capital Holdings Inc. of businessman Lucio Co, plans to raise up to P7.5 billion from the offering of 3 billion common shares at P2 to P2.50 apiece.

Net proceeds from the share sale will be used for strategic acquisition opportunities, expansion of product portfolio and distribution channels, investments in dis-

tribution and logistics network, working capital and general corporate purposes.

The offer period will run from Nov. 8 to 12, with the shares to be listed on the PSE on Nov. 22, based on the latest timetable submitted to the SEC. Meanwhile, Megawide plans for raise up to P4 billion from the issuance of preferred shares. Under the plan, Megawide will offer 30 million preferred shares with an oversubscription option for another 10 million preferred shares.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Sports

UAAP gets ready for physical activities MEMBER schools of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines are getting ready to hold physical training activities in a bubble-type of environment in the last week of October or early days of November.

The league has been continuously refining this setup over the last 10 months as organizers pursue plans to stage competitions in Season 84 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines in the first half of 2022.

School authorities are now waiting for the approval of the Commission on Higher Education and Interagency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases before they can finally execute their plans.

Executive director Atty. Rene “Rebo” Saguisag Jr. said they are looking at a two-month interval before they can hold actual games in the league.

Saguisag said this is the direction that the league is headed as they commit to staging a limited number events when the UAAP is finally allowed to restart.

“Ang target talaga is next year, because we have to give time. We don’t want to risk the safety of everyone,” said Saguisag on the league’s regular vlog, “UAAP Talks.”

League officials feel that there should be a two-month gap involving training before actual competitions get going.

The league also considered the logistical requirement and the current shortage of venues that it has faced in past months.

The limitations were due to the numerous restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

For now, the league is thinking of holding only four events, namely men’s basketball, men’s and women’s volleyball and cheerdancing events.

The league is still finalizing ideas on its bubble setup on whether it will utilize one venue or more.

Recently, the CHED has summoned Saguisag to a consultation meeting on Republic Act No. 11180, an act requiring higher education institutions to report participation and program support expenditures in all college athletic programs. Peter Atencio

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

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2021

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Magnolia’s Calvin Abueva fights for the rebound with Meralco’s Cliff Hodge and Chris Newsome in a PBA Philippine Cup semifinal game won by the Bolts, 91-86.

Undermanned Meralco bounces back in Game 3

By Peter Atencio

U

NDERMANNED Meralco dug deep into its reserves and found the right men for a challenging job in Game 3 of their best-of-seven semifinals series with the San Miguel Beermen in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup.

Nards Pinto and Nonoy Baclao ably backed Chris Newsome as the trio did not disappoint coach Norman Black and the Bolts, who went on to pull off a 91-86 triumph over the Beermen on Friday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Pinto hit five of 16 points, while Baclao unloaded six of 10 points during a six-minute stretch in the third period, touching off a big scoring run that gave them a comfortable cushion in the fourth period.

“We played like there was no tomorrow for us. It was a must-win for

us,” said Bolts’ coach Norman Black as Meralco bounced back from two straight losses to the Beermen.

The joint effort of Pinto and Baclao sent the Bolts away from a 52-48 edge into a 15-point advantage in the last two minutes of the third period, 67-52.

Newsome finished with six rebounds and 17 points for the Bolts, including a jumper with six ticks left handing the Bolts a five-point edge as the clock winded down.

“We looked at the game as a do-ordie one because there was only one team that has managed to come back from a 0-3 deficit in the past,” added Black.

Ian Sangalang struck with 15 points,

Jaworski stamp launched on Oct. 16

By Randy Caluag BASKETBALL fans could not wait to get their hands on a highly collectible Philippine stamp featuring basketball living legend Robert Jaworski.

Ryan Jaworski, one of the sons of the former Toyota stalwart and Ginebra playing mentor, expressed his excitement in a social media post with a digital copy of the limited edition stamp.

“My dad and my idol forever. I love you dad,” said the younger Jaworski, who used the hashtags #LAWINGJAWO, #LIVINGLEGEND, #NSD, and “BIGJ. The Philippine Postal Corp. is coming out with a series of limited edition stamps, featuring legends in different fields, beginning with the launch on Oct. 16 of the Jaworski stamp in celebration of the 75th year of the Philippines’ first stamp.

For true-blue stamp collectors, the most collectible stamp is what they call the Official First Day Cover (OFDC). Several stamps are stuck in an envelope with the OFDC marking.

“Iyan talaga ang inaabangan talaga ng mga collectors ‘yung FDC. ‘Yan kasi ang may presyo sa trading,” said stamp enthusiast Freddie Sy. With the release of the Jaworski stamp, expect the fans of the basketball legend to join the rush to buy the first batches.

Jaworski die-hard follower Danilo Coma is planning to buy seven sets in honor of jersey No. 7 of the basketball icon.

“Wow, congrats Idol Big J. Iba ka talaga. Gusto ko magkaroon niyan. Gusto ko 7 pieces,” said Coma, a Jaworski fan, who committed to writing the name Jaworski a million times.

He has so far written more than 600 thousand “Jaworskis” on various materials, from papers to shirts or whatever available blank sheets.

A close friend of Jaworski, architect Rey Punongbayan, said the honor definitely belongs to Jaworski, whose image depicts the Philippine Basketball Association logo.

Another Jaworski fan, Archie Inlong, recounted his brief encounter with Jaworski ni Tagaytay City, where he got the chance to approach the basketball idol.

“I managed to say ‘thank you’ for the many years of great basketball games he gifted us with. I was tearyeyed and felt very privileged to have said that to him personally,” said Inlong.

The Jaworski stamp is coming out just more than two weeks after the release of the stamps featuring Tokyo Olympics’ boxing medalists Eumir Marcial (bronze), Nesthy Petecio (silver) and Carlo Paalam (silver), and the first Filipino Olympic gold medalist weightlifter in Hidilyn Diaz.

with his two charities in the last two minutes fuelling the Hotshots’ rally in the final period.

He had help from Paul Lee, who scattered 18 points for the Hotshots, including a split freebie in the final 1:01 moving the Hotshots to within five, 8489, before Newsome hit his key basket.

The Bolts found a way to survive without two key men in Raymond Almazan and Cliff Hodge around.

Almazan is out due to an ankle sprain, while Hodge was suspended for a game after he was ejected from Game Two for a Flagrant Foul Penalty One. Hodge was slapped with technical foul earlier in that match.

The Bolts also missed Aaron Black due to an injury in his right hand.

Sangiao counts ways Pacquiao influenced Team Lakay

Robert Jaworski stamp

Rebisco-PHI gives powerhouse Iranians fits before losing REBISCO-PHILIPPINES gave Iran’s Sirjan Foulad fits in the second set before getting a reality check in the third set to yield, 15-25, 22-25, 5-25, in the Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship on Friday at the Terminal 21 competition hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

Back-to-back kills by Jao Umandal allowed the Filipinos to move to within 22-23 in the second set, before the Iranians averted disaster with more composed plays.

The reigning Iranian Super League champions then held their foes to a single attack in the third set with the Filipinos getting their points through their opponents’ errors.

Unlike Sirjan Foulad, where it played 33 matches during its successful 2020-21 domestic club run, Rebisco, made up of the core of the squad that clinched a historic silver medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, is playing for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Still, national coach Dante Alinsunurin was grateful for the opportunity to go up against a

powerhouse team and learn from their system.

“It’s a really great opportunity for us to finally get back to competing internationally after almost two years,” Alinsunurin said. “It’s a tremendous experience for us, as well, that we got to face a high-level Asian team like Iran.”

Umandal and Mark Alfafara had seven points each, while Nico Almendras, who provided the Filipinos’ lone attack point in the third set, contributed six points.

Rebisco seeks a better performance on Saturday when it faces Uzbekistan’s AGMK at the resumption of Pool B action at 11 a.m.

(Manila time).

Umandal was also high-praises for the Iranian squad that parades a lineup of Olympic athletes and veteran stars.

“We really struggled but I am still glad of how we fought and tried to bring the best out of each other,” Umandal said. “The Iranian team’s on a different level, but I am confident with my team and all the preparations we did to get here.”

NO question, Manny Pacquiao truly is a one-of-a-kind athlete.

The pint-sized pugilist from Sarangani fought the gods of the sport and proudly hoisted the Philippine flag inside the ring to etch his name among the greats for the better part of the past two decades on his way to become an eightdivision boxing world champion.

More than anything, he served as a shining light, not just for Filipino athletes but all Asians who aspired to make an impact in their respective fields.

And Team Lakay is no different.

Coach Mark Sangiao could only feel pride knowing that once in his life, he’s had a chance to brush up with a legend like Pacquiao.

“I have met him several times in different occasions like in sports conventions and events as well as in public hearings,” he reminisced.

Though Pacquiao has gone on to the field of public service at the latter part of his boxing career, what stood out for Sangiao was the senator’s humility, noting, “He’s very amiable. At his current life and career status, you can still feel that raw humbleness in him.”

That really should be expected from ‘Pac-man’ whose life story has been re-told numerous times and has been a source of inspiration for many athletes who are also hoping to get out of poverty.

Knowing that background only makes Pacquiao that more endearing for the likes of Sangiao and the rest of Team Lakay, who themselves are looking to make the country proud every time they step inside the Circle for ONE Championship.

“What endears me the most from him Turn to C2

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Sports

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2021

Sangiao...

18 ex-NBA players charged in $4m health fraud scheme

From C1

was his rags-to-riches story, that you can be someone who came from nothing if you really want to and still, keep that attitude amidst all the success that you have accomplished,” he said.

Truth be told, Pacquiao’s success was also a fuel for Team Lakay in their formative years of competing abroad, with Sangiao using him as a motivation for his fighters to do well whenever they fight.

“In the early days of our international fights, Pacquiao was one of the few figures that drove us to also bring honor back to our country,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong, when we fight abroad we are more driven to give our best to serve as an inspiration to our young athletes and people to dream as well and achieve. But having Manny as our inspiration is really big for us because we want to emulate the glory he brings to our country.”

Safe to say, the Team Lakay fighters have answered well to Sangiao’s calls.

The decorated mentor even attributed Pacquiao’s resilience as a big lesson which his fighters have absorbed over the years.

“We have picked up that shatter-proof mentality from him, that we should have the heart and we are stubborn enough in our mission to make our names known internationally. It was really a big inspiration for us seeing his desire to bring prestige to the Philippines in the field of boxing,” he said.

“Manny bears the Philippines’ colors proudly in all of his fights, and his achievement is every Filipinos’ achievement. So for us, we emulated that, that every fight of Pacquiao and of our Team Lakay athletes in the ring and in the cage further cements the fact that we Filipinos should be taken seriously in the arena of combat sports,” he said.

As much as Pacquiao has etched his name among boxing’s legends, Team Lakay has also done its part in the world of mixed martial arts, and at one point had four champions under its stable led by two-time ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang.

Other Baguio-based fighters have followed suit, from former ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon, ex-ONE Flyweight World Champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio, to the reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio.

The curtain, however, has closed in on Pacquiao’s boxing career as he announced his decision to retire last week.

For Sangiao, he deeply respects this decision, noting, “He knows his self best and when he says it’s time to pull the curtain down, then that’s it.”

It was a great run for Pacquiao’s boxing career nonetheless, and Sangiao chooses to look back on Pac-man’s legacy as proving to everyone that with enough drive and effort, your dreams can become a reality.

“That’s what Pacquiao’s legacy is to me: that attaining greatness is a product of your hard work.”

British boxer Tyson Fury (left) and challenger US boxer Deontay Wilder attend a press conference for their WBC heavyweight championship fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada ahead of their October 9 fight. AFP

Fury, Wilder ready for trilogy

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AS VEGAS—Tyson Fury defends his WBC heavyweight boxing crown on Saturday when he faces Deontay Wilder for the third— and probably final—installment of an acrimonious three-year ring rivalry.

A tortuous build-up marked by bitter legal wrangling, a COVID-19 outbreak and profanity-laced accusations of cheating comes to a head when Fury and Wilder clamber through the ropes at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

If Wednesday’s ill-tempered final press conference is any guide, the stage is set for another explosive contest between the undefeated Fury, the self-styled “Gypsy King” from Britain, and Wilder, the hard-hitting “Bronze Bomber” from Alabama.

The two heavyweights fought to a bruising draw in their first fight in Los Angeles in 2018, when Fury somehow survived a crushing 12th round knockdown after outboxing Wilder for much of the contest.

Fury (30-0-1, 21 knockouts) then dethroned Wilder in February last year, dishing out a one-sided beating en route to a seventh-round knockout that emphatically ended Wilder’s five-year reign as WBC champion.

Neither man has fought since that fight 20 months ago, and Fury was forced to scrap plans for a money-spinning bout with former WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua after an independent arbitrator in May ruled that Wilder was entitled to a rematch for a third fight.

An outbreak of Covid-19 in Fury’s camp, which affected the British champion and several members of his entourage, forced the fight to be delayed further from July to October.

Wilder, meanwhile, insists his defeat to Fury last time was an aberration, offering a series of outlandish and unproven explanations for the loss, ranging from glove-tampering to having his water spiked by his former trainer.

‘He knows he’s lying’ Fury pounced on those comments by Wilder (42-1-1, 41 knockouts) when the two men shared a stage at a press conference on Wednesday.

“He knows what he’s saying is lies,” Fury said of Wilder’s cheating claims. “And deep down in his soul, he knows that he lost. He lost the first time, he lost the second time and he’s going to lose the third time.”

Wilder has replaced his trainer since last year’s loss to Fury, sacking Mark Breland —who he had accused of throwing in the towel too soon—and replacing him with Malik Scott, a 40-year-old former heavyweight who suffered a first round knockout to Wilder during his own career.

Scott says he has worked on expanding Wilder’s attacking arsenal, adding weapons to a thunderous right hand that is regarded as the most fearsome in heavyweight boxing.

“Deontay has good fundamentals, it’s just a lot of times he didn’t use them,” Scott said.

Wilder meanwhile says he has been “reinvented.”

“I’ve dedicated myself and I’ve devoted my time and my body,” Wilder said. “I’m ready to reintroduce myself to the world.”

Whether the reinvented version of Wilder is good enough to outfox Fury, whose superior size, movement and counterpunching skills proved too much for the American in their previous meetings, remains to be seen.

Fury has been unimpressed by talk of a new and improved version of Wilder.

“I don’t make much of it because a lot of people speak a lot of words,” Fury said. “I hope he brings a better fight -- because last time was disappointing, to say the least. I trained for a war and it was one-sided beatdown.” AFP

NEW YORK —Eighteen former NBA players have been charged with allegedly defrauding the league’s health insurance scheme of almost $4 million, New York prosecutors said Thursday.

The prosecutors accuse Terrence Williams, who played for the New Jersey Nets and Houston Rockets, of orchestrating the fraud, in which they say he received kickbacks totaling $230,000.

Glen “Big Baby” Davis, who was part of the Boston Celtics side that won the 2008 NBA Championship, and Tony Allen -- a sixtime NBA All-Defensive Team member -- were also charged in the scheme that allegedly ran from at least 2017 to last year.

According to the indictment, the accused defrauded the NBA player’s health and welfare benefit plan by submitting false reimbursement claims for medical and dental services that had not been carried out.

Prosecutors with the Southern District of New York (SDNY) say Williams recruited other players to the scheme by offering to give them fake invoices to support their fraudulent claims.

He “was the scheme’s linchpin,” lead prosecutor Audrey Strauss told reporters, adding that he tried to intimidate a player who didn’t pay him a kickback by impersonating an employee from the insurance plan.

The indictment alleges that the accused submitted false claims totaling $3.9 million and that the players received about $2.5 million in fraudulent payouts.

Strauss said that in some instances the co-conspirators had submitted false claims for the same root canal treatment on the same teeth on the same day.

The players were all charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. Williams was also charged with aggravated identity theft.

Other players charged include former Los Angeles Lakers guard Shannon Brown, Sebastian Telfair, who played for several NBA teams including the Cleveland Cavaliers, and ex-Los Angeles Clippers pick Darius Miles. AFP

4 entries rule 3rd leg of Super Circuit Derby

Representatives of the 3rd leg winners are shown with the championship trophy.

FOUR entries were declared cochampions in the 3rd leg of the 7 Cock/Stag Open Series Super Circuit Derby, in Talisay, Negros Occidental recently.

Sharing the top prize of P1.3 million equally among themselves from the P3.3 million total at stake in the leg were PosBros, owned by Marlon Posecion, Inigo’s Café of CFO/Vice Nene/K. Pedratas, Zelian GF of Apol Alsosa and Baby Face Assasin, owned

by Abel Galenero.

The four scored six wins in

seven matches during the stagfest held from the derby period of Sept.

23 to 30.

T he Super Ci rcuit Derby fest ival offers a tot al g uaranteed pr ize of P28 m illion for the enti re 6 -leg ser ies.

Runners-up of the 3rd leg with 5.5 points each were Mt. Malinao of Booby Urvista & Andrew Montelibano; DRB Cano of Cano Belbes and CTB Himakas of Carlos Beato The entr y with the highest point after the 6-leg series conducted

Herbalife Nutrition Star Program encourages kids to practice good eating habits, active lifestyle GLOBAL premier nutrition company Herbalife Nutrition recently launched its Nutrition for Zero Hunger Star Program in the Philippines, which aims to educate children about how to build good eating habits and a healthy, active lifestyle.

The program is part of the company’s Nutrition for Zero Hunger initiative, which aims to help combat global challenges such as hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity. One of its key commitments is nutrition education, and it develops and provides tools to empower people to make healthy choices.

“Many children, especially those from the vulnerable community are either not eating the right food or not enough of it to get the required nutrition for optimum growth and health. Through working with our partner nonprofit organizations such as the Tuloy Foundation and SOS Chil-

dren’s Villages Philippines, we can help make a difference by providing children in need with nutrition resources and knowledge to empower them to adopt healthy eating habits and daily activity at an early age,” said Senior Director, Sub-Regional General Manager of Herbalife Nutrition Philippines Sridhar Rajagopalan.

More than 140 kids from Tuloy Foundation and SOS Children’s Villages Philippines received the Nutrition for Zero Hunger Star Program booklet, which serves as their guide to building good eating habits and a healthy, active lifestyle. It contains 12 weeks’ worth of daily and weekly activities that encourage the daily intake of fruits and vegetables, individual and group exercises, and drinking enough water every day.

For every task accomplished, they get a stamp each. Once they have completed

all the tasks in the booklet, they will get a special reward.

“The booklet guided the kids in determining if the meal served to them is healthy or not. They have become more aware of what they should eat to stay healthy and fit,” said Tuloy Foundation Child Services head Kristine Pilingan.

She shared that the kids were excited to read about the tasks, and looked forward to the individual and group exercises.

“They would ask for a photo while doing the activity. They did not forget to write in their booklet and would ask the social workers to keep it for them so it would not become dirty or torn,” Pilingan said.

As for Mama Adel, an SOS Mother, “the Star Program also gave us a chance to bond with our youths, and helped us to have unity and bond in every meal.”

Christine, one of the youth participants in SOS Children’s Villages Philippines, also remarked that “the program is wonderful because it didn’t just help me become healthy physically, it also helped me mentally.

As a student, I have a lot of classes to take and sometimes I end up procrastinating. This program helped me improve my focus and finish my requirements on time.”

Rajagopalan added that it is important to practice good eating habits and an active lifestyle at an early age.

by Sabong Inter national in cooperation with Metro Third Breeders Association and NTC Group will receive a whopping top prize of P 5,000,000 with the r unner-up taking P 1 million.

Also, the entry with the most championships in the series pockets P3 million, while the highest pointer’s handler and gaffer get P700,000 and P300,000, respectively.

The rest of the series will be held until December, with the 4th leg slated from Oct. 22 to 29.

Senior Director, Sub-Regional General Manager of Herbalife Nutrition Philippines Sridhar Rajagopalan.

Home/Design

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2021 || Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor E-mail: jdlacsamana@gmail.com

A designer with a flair for evolution

A home named Hidylin

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ENTURY Properties Group (CPG) recently presented to Olympic gold medalist Hidlyn Diaz the PHirst Park Homes house and lot prize in the community she personally handpicked, PHirst Park Homes Batulao in Nasugbu, Batangas.

Diaz was given the option to choose from all PHirst Park Homes locations in north and south Luzon, which includes Tanza, Cavite; Lipa and Nasugbu, Batangas; San Pablo and Calamba, Laguna; Pandi, Bulacan; Magalang, Pampanga; and more recently, General Trias, Cavite; Baliwag, Bulacan and Tayabas, Quezon.

Welcoming her into the PHirst Park Homes community were CPG and PHirst Park Homes executive chairman Jose E.B. Antonio, CPG president and CEO Marco R. Antonio, and PHirst Park Homes president Ricky M. Celis

(Shown in photo).

Adding a special moment to the ceremony was the presentation of a tribute to the Olympian, in which the Unna – a two-storey single-attached home with 54sqm of floor area and 88 sqm of lot area – was renamed the Hidilyn home. “As a tribute to the honor

that you have given every Filipino, we are officially naming our UNNA unit into HIDILYN… the name that has brought pride to the Philippines and the Filipino people,” Celis said. Diaz received a commemorative plaque (Inset) from PHirst Park Homes during the handover.

TOP DEVELOPER IN VIS-MIN REGION. Mass housing developer, 8990 Holdings Inc., was recently named by the Pag-ibig Fund as #1 among the top 10 developers for both the Visayas and Mindanao regions. Atty. Anthony Vincent Sotto, president & CEO of 8990 (shown in photo), declared that the two top awards from the Home Development Mutual Fund — more popularly known as the Pag-ibig Fund, recognizes 8990’s mission to continue serving the strong demand for low-cost housing in these regions. He praised the Fund for continuing to release home loans to qualified employees and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) for the past 18 months. Among the projects in the Visayas that contributed to the company’s outstanding performance were Deca Homes Pavia Resort Residences 1 and 2 in Pavia, Iloilo, and Deca Homes Sta. Barbara Resort Residences also in Iloilo..

BIKE-FRIENDLY KAPITOLYO.

Ortigas Land recently teamed up with the local government of Pasig City to introduce a pedestrian-friendly intersection located along Shaw Boulevard, between Capitol Commons and Barangay Kapitolyo. The infrastructure introduces features that promote a safe environment for pedestrians and cyclists including improved walkways, a pedestrian safety island, and improved bike features. Pasig City and Ortigas Land also introduced bike boxes, extensions of bike lanes which are designated priority areas for cyclists at intersections which will allow them to get ahead of traffic, and provide a safe way to make their left turns. The completion of all upgrades will make this intersection the country’s first LGU-led protected bike lane. A new traffic signalization system was likewise set up to ensure smooth traffic flow from the Camino Verde Road of Capitol Commons, Shaw Boulevard and West Capitol Drive.

This allows proper phasing of crossing of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists which would reduce traffic congestion while ensuring everyone’s safety.

INTERIOR designer Chat Fores always aspired to be part of a huge firm and learn how to work with groups of people handling large projects.

Six years after starting out, she is now making a name for herself in the industry.

Fores is the principal designer of Chat Fores and Design Studio and member of the College of Architecture and Design advisory board at Enderun Colleges.

BIG WINNER She recently won big at the prestigious 2021 International Property Awards under the Asia Pacific Region. The recognitions include Best Residential Interior Show Home Philippines for The Galleon Residences Showroom, Best Residential Interior Apartment Philippines for JOYA Residential Unit, and Best Leisure Interior Philippines for Azure Paris Beach Club.

“I was asked to submit a project that our team designed.

At that time, I felt that we were ready and submitted three options,” she said. “They chose all three which we prepared submittals for. To my surprise, we won awards for all three.”

MAKING HER MARK Fores began her career just after a month-long vacation in Europe with friends to celebrate their college graduation. “When I got back, I applied to an architectural firm and an interior design firm.

I got accepted in both but since I wanted architectural experience, Best Residential Interior Apartment Philippines I started working for Leandro V. for JOYA Residential Unit Locsin Partners,” she said.

A few years after joining the company, Fores began receiving offers to design model units for a developer. As a result of her efforts, the company she worked for was quite pleased with the outcome. There were 17 projects within a range of two to three years. It was her mark to start a career under her name.

“Design has to work for both client and designer, it has to be practical, beautiful and functional,” she explained. “I try to add a little accent or drama in any interior either in mixed prints or texture, a dash of some bold color, a statement piece, a nice piece of artwork or a funky piece of furniture. I try to add some of my touches and pretend that the interiors I am doing are for my own home as well.”

GRAMERCY RESIDENCES Fores’ first big tower project, the Gramercy Residences in Century City Makati, would be her most memorable. It was Fores who conceived of the condominium’s lobby and its four stories of amenities. “We were given a lot of spaces to work on with a great concept,” she said.

Fores advises that in keeping with the evolution of structure, interior design must adapt as well, especially at present where almost everybody is spending almost all their time at home. “With these considerations in mind, it is necessary to evolve, alter, and make our spaces more functional without jeopardizing our home’s purpose,” she noted ESTABLISH YOUR OWN STYLE Time is also a key factor when earning a degree in interior design. She recommends students to devote more time to research, reading more books, magazines, and researching other design ideas because these will aid them in comprehending finishing, styling, decor, and the various materials required.

“Use this time to practice drawing, sketching, and establishing your own personal style,” she advised.

Best Leisure Interior Philippines for Azure Paris Beach Club

Smart City in Dumaguete A 174-HECTARE, P23-billion township will soon transform Dumaguete City into an economic and tourism hub in central Philippines.

Dubbed “Smart City,” the project is an unsolicited publicprivate partnership proposal by EM Cuerpo Inc. (EMCI). Composed of two man-made islands 30

meters offshore, the project will be reclaimed on the flanks of the touristic bayside road to avoid obstructing the view the city is known for.

“This project will turn Dumaguete into a highly-urbanized city with a mixed-use central business district equipped with earth-friendly building systems,

green energy sources, and modern information technologies,” said city mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo.

He promised that the fiveyear project will adopt a “avoid, integrate, replace” framework to minimize its impact on the marine ecosystem, and use new modern earth-friendly technologies to ensure its long-term sustainability.

Tech & Gadgets

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

C4

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2021

Get ready for new vivo X70, now available for pre-order C

APTURE life’s colourful adventures with crisp images on the vivo X70 powered by Zeiss technology and master exceptional mobile photography with the upgraded features of the vivo X70, now available through pre-order at your nearest vivo concept store or kiosk nationwide from October 9 to 15.

With its Ultra-Sensing Gimbal Camera that uses the superior technology of Zeiss optics, the newest entry to the X series is designed to produce high quality images even through the toughest conditions such as low light and constant movement.

The Zeiss Superb Night Camera and AI Algorithm, meanwhile, allows you to enhance your night shots by previewing and manually adjusting exposure intensity and brightness.

Special moments can happen so fast that you also need a camera that can keep up with movement. The vivo X70 presents cinematic-level video features such as the Gimbal Reset Technology that offers stabilization angles and reduces the frame crop to prevent shaky videos. It also supports standard HDR10+ video, editing and broadcasting, and full-path support with its software algorithms. When it is time to share your video masterpiece, it stays true to its colors and your artistic vision. The Zeiss Pro Cinematic Mode lets you express your creative side with video log mode, zoom supporting SAT, focus distance, adjustable audio level, and immersive surveillance video interface.

The vivo X70 features Fluorite AG craftsmanship in Cosmic Black and Aurora Dawn with a sleek and slim 3D look and a flexible screen. With its high-ranking 6nm flagship-level chip vivo 5G platform, flash charge and super-long battery life at a 120Hz Refresh

Rate, you can keep sharing your stories with vivid detail.

Pre-order details and pricing The vivo X70 is priced at P34,999 and those who want to be the first to get their hands on The Next Imagery Master alongside a premium freebie of one garment steamer starting October 9.

Customers must make sure to place their orders via vivo concept stores or kiosks nationwide and pay a P500 down payment in exchange for a voucher that ensures that an X70 is theirs to claim starting October 16, 2021.

The down payment is non-refundable for cash and card transactions while down payment is refundable for rejected customers from Financial Partners Transactions.

Customers may claim the vivo X70 including the pre-order freebie in the store where they placed the pre-order after paying the balance amount less the P500 down payment in cash or credit and present the original pre-order voucher, the official receipt of the down payment amount, and a valid, government-issued ID that matches the details on the receipt and voucher.

An authorized representative may claim the pre-ordered unit and freebie by presenting the following: valid, government-issued IDs of the original customers and their representative, a signed authorization letter, original pre-order voucher, and the official receipt of the

Be one of the first to get your hands on best-in-class mobile photography technology of the vivo X70 co-engineered with Zeiss

down payment amount.

Experience The Next Imagery Master and own Xceptional living, captured in excellent quality with unparalleled camera technology and indulge in your own world with the new TWS 2e (P2,999) wireless earphones that al-

lows you to listen to great sounds that resonate with you.

For more information about the powerful features of the vivo X70, visit https://www.vivoglobal.ph/phone/vivoX70/, and vivo Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Dynamic learning, cybersecurity topbill PLDT, Smart innovations for school year PLDT and wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. are boosting e-learning in the new school year with two new courses on the Innovations Academy for Disaster Awareness, Preparedness, and Training (iADAPT) platform.

Powered by the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, iADAPT houses interactive courses developed by industry leaders on risk reduction and management, business continuity, and climate change adaptation.

This school year, two new e-learning courses, the CyberSmart and the Central Visayan Institute FoundationDynamic Learning Program (CVIF-DLP) will be made available to Smart partner schools and the Department of Education (DepEd) divisions on the iADAPT platform.

The first 300 registrants on the site will be able to access the courses for free.

“The new school year presents new challenges for students and teachers as they continue education through blended learning. Smart offers innovative programs that ensure no learner is left behind and protect Filipinos against online threats as they rely on the internet for school and work,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, Smart Assistant Vice President and Head of

Community Relations.

Learn Smart and Work Smart at home Centered around the CyberSmart Investigation Agency, the cybersecurity course includes topics on online child safety, data privacy and security, gadget protection, spotting and combating fake news, and responsible use of social media, as well as digital wellbeing and mental health.

CyberSmart is a collaboration between various business units across PLDT and Smart. It is supported by the DepEd, the National Privacy Commission, UNICEF, International Justice Mission, and Internet Watch Foundation..

Pandemic-resilient education program Accredited by the DepEd as a supplementary resource, the CVIF-DLP works well with blended learning whether students are at home or in a limited face-to-face setting. The program develops them into independent learners through the self-directed CVIFDLP Learning Activity Sheets (CVIF-DLP LAS).

PLDT, Smart, and the PLDT-Smart Foundation have backed the crisis-resilient teaching method developed by renowned Filipino Theoretical Physi-

consistency score Globe maintained its upward streak as it continued to improve its mobile consistency score for three straight quarters this year amid its relentless campaign to deliver first-world connectivity to Filipinos.

Based on the third quarter analysis by Ookla of Speedtest Intelligence data in the Philippines, Globe received a nationwide consistency score of 76.64 compared to 75.98 in the second quarter and 70.43 in the first three months of 2021. Even in the fourth quarter of last year, Globe’s score increased to 60.82 from 56.83 in the previous quarter.

Mobile consistency score is determined by the number of tests taken that are above a certain speed threshold. The higher the figures, the more likely for consumers to enjoy acceptable internet performance and quality.

“Our network improvements and use of higher technologies like 5G will continue so we can deliver a better service experience for our customers. More than this, we are spearheading several initiatives to uplift the lives of our fellow Filipinos through digital technologies,” said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO. This year, Globe hiked its capital expenditures to an unprecedented P76 billion to deliver a #1stWorldNetwork. The bulk of the budget is allocated for data network expansion nationwide, particularly of its 5G network. It has raised its 5G outdoor coverage in the National Capital Region to 95 percent and is already present in over 1,800 locations in the country.

Globe has also installed one million fiber-to-the-home lines as of end-September, constructed 641 new cell towers, and upgraded 8,175 sites to 4G LTE as of end-June.

Globe strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9, which highlights the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. Globe is committed to upholding the UN Global Compact principles and contributes to 10 UN SDGs. To know more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.

Beko’s SteamCure Hygiene+ ensures better washing, cleaning

Photo shows (from upper left to right) Bayad President and CEO Lawrence Y. Ferrer; MPioneer President and CEO, Gerardo P. Castañeda; (from lower left to right) Bayad Chief Product Officer, Edward Joseph Inza-Cruz and Assistant to the President and CEO, Atty.

Maria Olivia C. Valera

M Pioneer, Bayad join hands Bayad, the biggest & widest multi-channel payment platform in the Philippines, and M Pioneer Insurance Inc., a non-life, health and travel insurance provider, have recently entered into a partnership to bring insurance protection closer to every Filipino in this time of global health crisis.

Since 2019, M Pioneer has been part of Bayad’s extensive biller network, empowering policy holders with wider payment options and convenience. Furthering this service, M Pioneer products can now be easily availed through Bayad Centers and soon through Bayad’s digital channels.

M Pioneer has an extensive line-up of insurance products designed to safeguard individuals, families and businesses against unforeseen risks. Its product range includes protection for Property, Motor, General Accident Line, Marine, Surety, Homeowner’s

cists and Ramon Magsaysay Awardees for Education Dr. Christopher Bernido and Dr. Ma. Victoria Carpio-Bernido since 2010.

So far, Smart has trained over 13,800 teachers in 753 public and private schools and five alternative learning system divisions and helped produce 2,235 CVIF-DLP LAS free to download at the DepEd Commons.

Globe continues to improve mobile data

and packaged insurance products in addition to health and travel insurance.

Formerly known as Republic Surety & Insurance Company, Inc. (Republic), M Pioneer is a joint venture between Pioneer Insurance & Surety Corporation (Pioneer) and Manila Electric Company (MERALCO).

Putting customers at the heart of what they do, M Pioneer continuously reach out to their customers and provide a better service.

Its partnership with Bayad will enable them to fully respond to the various needs of their target market.

“We develop relevant products and look for the right partners who share our goal to bring insurance to Filipinos from all walks of life. We are glad to move closer to this goal with Bayad as its network and reach allow us to offer affordable insurance to more customers across the country,” said M Pioneer President and CEO, Gerardo P. Castañeda.

BEKO Pilipinas Corporation continues to rally behind the Filipino family in this pandemic by providing them with home appliance options that make their lives easier, healthier and safer.

Beko- European Appliance Brand, recently hosted a virtual event to reiterate its commitment to hygiene and sanitation and present products Filipino consumers could use during the pandemic and beyond that.

Having clean clothes, bed linens and towels that are free from viruses, bacteria, allergens and odor is very important these days and while doing the laundry is a laborious and time-consuming household chore, Beko’s washing machine with SteamCure Hygiene+ technology ensures better washing and cleaning performance.

SteamCure Hygiene+ removes stains on clothing by releasing steam from the bottom of the washing machine’s drum, right before it even starts washing. This acts as a pre-treatment, which helps loosen stubborn stains, dirt and other gunk stuck in your garments.

As added protection for you and your family, SteamCure Hygiene+ technology also uses steam to get rid of -, bacteria and allergens so your garments are clean and safe to wear.

SteamCure Hygiene+ releases another

batch of steam after the end of a wash cycle to help smooth out your clothes so there are no unsightly wrinkles and folds.

This helps for easy ironing.

During the launch, celebrities like Dianne Medina, Kimpoy Feliciano and power couple Megan Young and Mikael Daez talked about how using Beko appliances such as the washing machine with SteamCure Hygiene+ technology and the Beko Heat Pump dryer are helping them

in this pandemic.

“The reason why we dread washing our clothes is because admit it, washing clothes takes up so much time. So to help us out, we got the Beko washing machine,” TV personalities and celebrity couple Megan Young and Mikael Daez said.

“What I really like about this washing machine is that it has 15 wash programs so you can wash your shirts, downwear, outdoor clothes, and a lot more,” social media content creator Kimpoy Feliciano said.

“Beko continues to be a partner of the Filipino family in staying healthy as we provide them with the tools to clean their homes and keep and cook their good. We are proud that in the short time we have been present in the Philippine market, Filipino consumers trust us for their appliance needs because Beko’s products are efficient and affordable,” said Gurhan Gunal, Country Manager of Beko Pilipinas Corporation during the online press conference.

The brand is currently available in select All Home, Anson’s, Savers,—Gidi Distribution, and Asian Home Appliance Center in Cebu, and in e-commerce partners: Lazada, Household Appliances Trading hat.com.ph.