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55 HEIRS OF VICTIMS OF SUNKEN FERRY SHIP TO GET P199.1M By Rio N. Araja MORE than 13 years after M/V Princess of the Stars capsized, the Cebu Regional Trial Court has ordered indemnification amounting to P199.1 million to 55 heirs of the victims of the sea tragedy, according to the Public Attorney’s Office. A passenger ferry owned by Sulpicio Lines, M/V Princess of the Stars sank on June 21, 2008 off the coast of San Fernando, Romblon due to rough seas at the height of typhoon “Frank” that passed directly over the island province. According to the last official figures made, 814 persons were declared dead and missing with only Next page

STAR-CROSSED. In this US Navy file photo, Philippine Coast Guard officers, US

Navy rescuers and volunteers search the capsized M/V Princess of the Stars on June 25, 2008 to search for survivors and bodies after the Sulpicio Lines-owned ship sank off the coast of Romblon amid Typhoon Frank. About 814 passengers and crew were declared dead after weeks of searching.

VOL. XXXV • NO. 246 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 •TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

13 more hospitals to vax kids

Such inoculation facilities now 31 as gov’t ramps up pediatric shots By Willie Casas

Duterte signs law regulating prices of LPG

KIDS’ JABS. The coronavirus vaccination of

children aged 12 to 17 begins at the Philippine General Hospital on Monday. Vaccines from Pfizer bioNTech and Moderna are used for the COVID-19 inoculation. PGH Photo

HE government will expand the pilot vaccination of minors in Metro Manila this week.

“On Friday, we will begin phase two of our pediatric vaccination pilot here in the National Capital Region, with the addition of 13 more local hospitals,” Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in Filipino. The pilot began Friday with six government hospitals and gave priority to minors with comorbidities. The run aims to vaccinate some 144,000 children aged 15 to 17 until the end of the month, Malaya said. Parents or guardians who want to have their children vaccinated need to coordinate with their local government and present valid IDs, the child’s medical certificate, and clearance for vaccination, he said.

Meanwhile, a minimal number of COVID-19 infections were reported among college students and teachers participating in the limited face-to-face classes in the country, the Commission on Higher Education on Monday said. Interviewed on ANC, CHED execu executive director Cinderella Jaro said most of the cases had mild symptoms or were asymptomatic, without giving exact figures. “The infection of the students attending the limited face-to-face classes has been really minimal, including even infections among faculty... Based on the reports of our regional offices, most of them or

Bello probes ‘no vax, no pay’ by employers; Senators slam scheme

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law regulating the liquefied petroleum gas industry and giving the Department of Energy “exclusive authority” to issue licenses to operate in the LPG industry. Republic Act 11593 or the LPG Industry Regulation Act, signed on Oct. 14, also tasked the DOE with developing liquefied petroleum gas refilling plants and a centralized piping system, among others. It also outlined the responsibilities of industry participants, bulk suppliers, haulers, refillers, dealers, and retail outlets. Next page

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the government would sue employers imposing a “no vaccine, no salary” policy, saying this practice is illegal. Bello offered this assurance Monday after the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) reported that several employers refuse to pay their workers because they are not yet vaccinated. “Please come to us. If you don’t want to be identified, just tell us who these employers are, and we will be willing to conduct an inspection. We assure you that we will take immediate legal action,” Bello in a press briefing. TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay earlier called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to investigate some employers who Next page

REST AT WORK. A lady maintenance personnel takes a break by reading a newspaper beside a plastic crocodile display at the ground of the Cultural Center of the Philippines on Monday. The Department of Labor does not agree with the ‘no vaccine, no work’ policy in some private companies and vows to punish those doing it. Danny Pata

Rappler ‘sorry’ for its prez poll; Marcos forgiving By Rey E. Requejo

PRESIDENTIAL contender Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who is offering a unifying brand of governance once elected to office, on Monday said the public should give Rappler a chance to explain itself after the online news site pulled a Facebook graphic on the cur-

rent race for the Palace in 2022. “Let us give Rappler another chance,” Partido Federal standard-bearer Marcos Jr. said, in asking his restive supporters as he tried to pacify them from pursuing a hate campaign against the controversial media entity. “Those behind the manipulation of a simple exercise to get the voters’ pulse

on the 2022 presidential race might have been overwhelmed by their desire to accomplish whatever mission assigned to them… so let’s give them another chance to find honesty in their heart,” Marcos said. His move was seen by political analysts as possibly earning an additional

68,832

40,761

2,617,693 19,687 (As of 4 PM, October 18)

By Willie Casas

ID-19 complications. He was 84. The retired four-star general and former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who served four presidents made his reputation as a man of honor distant from the political fray -- an

6,943

Vince Dizon quits BCDA top post, but remains COVID testing czar

Colin Powell, US war giant, dies of COVID-19 COLIN Powell, the son of Jamaican immiimmi grants who became a US war hero and the first Black secretary of state but saw his legacy tarnished when he made the case for war in Iraq in 2003, died on Monday of COVCOV

2,727,286

BCDA chairman Vince Dizon

SECRETARY Vince Dizon has resigned as president of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority but will continue as the Philippines’ COVID-19 testing czar and deputy chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19. At a Senate hearing Monday, BCDA Executive Vice President Aileen Zosa said Dizon’s resignation, which was formally conveyed to President Rodrigo Duterte, was to take effect last Friday, Next page

News

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021

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4 Chinese slain in P262-m shabu bust By Jess Malabanan and Rio N. Araja

NGELES CITY – Four Chinese, believed to be members of an international drugs syndicate, were killed in a shootout with anti-narcotics operatives following a buy-bust operation at Barangay Pulung Cacutud here at dawn Monday.

Zhang Zhou; and Wuyua Shen, also of ZhangZhou. Guillermo said the suspects negotiated a drug deal with PDEA undercover agents where both groups agreed to meet at certain place in the village. He said the suspects arrived at the meeting place onboard a sports utility vehicle with the items. Sensing they were surrounded by government agents, Guillermo said the suspects pulled handguns and fired at the lawmen, prompting the latter to fire

back and shoot them down. Aside from shabu, PDEA operatives seized four pieces of caliber .45 pistols, cellphones, a weighing scale and a cellphone charger. The seized items and shabu were brought to PDEA headquarters for confirmatory test. Since the Duterte administration’s war on drugs was implemented in 2016, authorities said this was the first major drug sting where Chinese drug personalities were slain.

said Monday. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, during a radio interview, said the pilot vaccination was “very successful.” “This is good proof that our parents and our minors are confident in the vaccines,” she said. Vergeire said they have received reports that some of the minors experienced side effects but said the DOH has yet to complete its assessment of these cases. Vergeire said the government will determine if the vaccination can be rolled out to more minors and other areas in two to three weeks. “We have activities lined up at hospitals. We will be rolling out into our local government vaccination centers,” she said.

The DOH estimates there are around 1.2 million children with comorbidities aged 12 to 17 years old nationwide. Vergeire previously said children seeking vaccination must get a clearance from their doctors as well as give their consent and assent. Last month, President Rodrigo Duterte approved CHED’s request to allow face-to-face classes for five other degree programs — Engineering and Technology programs, Hospitality/Hotel and Restaurant Management, Tourism/Travel Management, Marine Engineering, and Marine. Last week, CHED chairman Prospero De Vera III said they are studying the possibility of allowing limited face-toface classes in all degree programs in areas that have low cases of COVID-19 and high vaccination rates.

“The employers, instead of using force, should work with the government in inoculating their workers and provide education regarding the effects and benefits of the vaccine,” Hontiveros said. Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, a former Labor secretary, said that refusal to pay wages or salaries for work or service that has been rendered is illegal. “A vaccination card is not a daily time record that is a primary document to prove that work has been rendered. Once work or service is rendered, a company has an obligation under the law to pay the employee,” Drilon said. Drilon also said that a vaccine card is also not a requirement for employment. He said Section 12 of Republic Act 11525 or the COVID-19 Vaccination Program clearly emphasized that “vaccine cards shall not be considered as an additional mandatory requirement for educational, employment, and other similar government transactions processes.” In a media briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reiterated that being vaccinated against COVID-19 is not a requirement for workers to receive their salaries. She said the government only aims to encourage the public to get vaccinated by giving them incentives.

to 2,617,693. There were 68,832 active cases. This is the lowest active case count since the 66,895 on Aug. 5. Of the active cases, 79.7 percent were mild, 5.5 percent were asymptomatic, 1.9 percent were critical, 4.5 percent were severe, and 8.42 percent were moderate. The positivity rate was at 13.3 percent, based on samples of 54,150 people tested on Oct. 16, Saturday. Nationwide, 62 percent of ICU beds, 46 percent of isolation beds, 46 percent of ward beds, and 45 percent of ventilators, were in use. In Metro Manila, 59 percent of ICU beds, 38 percent of isolation beds, 43 percent of ward beds, and 45 percent of ventilators, were in use. The independent OCTA Research Group, meanwhile, said the reproduction number—or the number of people that one case can infect—fell to 0.57 in the NCR, from the 0.58 earlier recorded. A reproduction number that is below 1 indicates that the transmission of the virus is slowing down.

56 known survivors, making a total of 870 people on board. Sulpicio Lines had announced there had been 755 manifested passengers and 111 crew members, making a total of 866. PAO chief Persida Acosta said she received the copies of the decision of Branch 16 Judge Dante Corminal just on Monday, saying: “Of the 59 cases, 55 were granted damages, while four were dismissed for their failure to present evidence.” “Of the four cases dismissed, the PAO will file the appropriate motion(s) for reconsideration,” she said. At the time of the incident, Sulpicio Lines offered to pay the bereaved families P200,000 each, by way of compensation. The ruling of the Cebu court yesterday would give each of the 55 heirs P3.62 million if the award were divided equally among them. At least 71 cases were filed in Manila and 63 others in Cebu. The 71 cases were consolidated before the Regional Trial Court of Manila Branch 51, while 59 of the 63 cases in Cebu were consolidated before the Regional Trial Court of Cebu Branch 16. “In Manila, the cases were decided in favor of the plaintiffs by the Hon. Daniel Villanueva, Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 51 and ordered the award of damages to the said plaintiffs. However, the said decision is now the subject of appeal before the Court of Appeals,” PAO said in a statement. “We thank the judiciary, Judge Villanueva and Judge Corminal... Even if our clients were poor, you gave weight to the evidence. We hope such a tragedy would not happen again,” Acosta told the media.

United Nations Security Council about the alleged existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq -- the evidence he presented was later proven to be false. asset in the corridors of power. “It’s a blot... and will always be a part “General Powell is an American of my record. It was painful. It’s painful hero, an American example, and a great now,” Powell said in a 2005 interview American story,” George W. Bush said with ABC News. as he announced Powell’s nomination as From Harlem to Vietnam secretary of state in 2000. Born April 5, 1937 in Harlem, Pow“In directness of speech, his towering integrity, his deep respect for our de- ell’s “American Journey” -- the title mocracy, and his soldier’s sense of duty of his autobiography -- started in New and honor, Colin Powell demonstrates ... York, where he grew up and earned a qualities that will make him a great repre- degree in geology. He also participated in the Reserve sentative of all the people of this country.” But he found it hard to live down his Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) in infamous February 2003 speech to the college, and upon his graduation in

June 1958, he received a commission as a second lieutenant in the US Army and was posted in what was then West Germany. Powell completed two tours of duty in Vietnam -- in 1962-63 as one of John F Kennedy’s thousands of military advisors, and again in 1968-69 to investigate the My Lai massacre. He earned a Purple Heart, but also faced questions about the tone of his report into the hundreds of deaths at My Lai, which to some seemed to dismiss any claims of wrongdoing. “I was in a unit that was responsible for My Lai. I got there after My Lai happened,” he told interviewer Larry King in 2004. AFP

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 3 Information Officer Glenn Guillermo said 38 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) with an estimated street value of P262.2 million were

found from the slain suspects. Guillermo identified the suspects as Cai Ya Bing, of Yuncheng City, Shianxi; Erbo Ke, 34, of Quanzhou City, Fujian; Huang Guidong, of

Rappler... From A1

13 more... From A1

virtue etched to his name as “a pacifying leader.” Rappler apologized to netizens in a statement but said they took down their post because it did not fit their goals for their online campaign. “As a way to engage with our online community, we posted on Thursday, October 7, a graphic on our social media accounts showing some of the presidential aspirants. In hindsight, and as pointed out by many of our readers, it was not the best way to engage meaningfully. We’re sorry, and thank you for helping us do better,” the statement said. Last May, when Rappler announced its #PHVote battlecry, #WeDecide: Atin ang Pilipinas, it said it would desist “from a horse-race type of election coverage.” “When we proclaimed that ‘the main character in the 2022 elections is going to be the voter,’ we promised to give more importance to issue-based election coverage,” the statement added. “After posting the said graphic, we realized it was not aligned with our objective, so we have decided to take it down. We thank our loyal readers and supporters who rightfully called us out and who continue to help us do better,” Rappler said. Nonetheless, Marcos thanked and congratulated his millions of supporters for checking the survey facts of Rappler, the Facebook fact-checker in the Philippines, which initiated its online pulsing for presidential preference in the 2022 elections. He also exhorted them to remain steadfast and vigilant amid reports that some poll trending for the 2022 presidential race is being manipulated to favor certain candidates, particularly those with low survey numbers. Along with angry vloggers, multitudes of “BBM” supporters early last week unleashed their wrath against Rappler after its online survey caught fire in various platforms of the social media.

all of them are mild to asymptomatic cases,” she said. Jaro said the implementation of protocols have been effective in curbing the spread of the virus among learners and faculty. The government initially allowed limited face-to-face classes for allied health sciences and medicine only. The Philippines has approved two vaccine brands—Pfizer and Moderna—for minors. Some 1,509 minors with comorbidities aged 15 to 17 were vaccinated against COVID-19 during the first week of the rollout of pediatric vaccination, the Department of Health (DOH)

have been withholding the salary of their employees until they can prove that they were already fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The labor group said compelling workers to get vaccinated by withholding a worker’s wage and denying full compensation for work performed or rendered is not only a violation of the Labor Code but obviously also a human rights violation. The labor organization added that they would provide DOLE with the names of establishments implementing such a policy. “The non-vaccination of employees is not a legal basis to withhold their salary, so the ‘no vaccine, no pay’ policy is prohibited,” Bello said, adding “you cannot force someone to get vaccinated unless there is a law requiring it.” However, Bello still encouraged all workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19, saying that vaccines would protect them from the deadly disease. DOLE released an advisory in August against the “no vaccine, no work” policy, calling the practice “discriminatory.” In a statement, TUCP denounced

what it called “an act of reprehensible discrimination and harassment imposed on helpless workers.” “We warn employers that such a scheme to compel workers to get vaccinated is contrary and unlawful pursuant to Article 116 of the Labor Code and is punishable by a fine or imprisonment,” said TUCP president and TUCP Partylist Rep. Raymond Mendoza. Senators also denounced the “no vaccine, no salary” scheme as illegal. “There should be no harassment or shortcut on the part of employers in encouraging their workers to get vaccinated,” said Senator Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate labor committee. He said the scheme was “patently illegal and inhumane, plain and simple.” “We urge DOLE to incentivize employers to encourage vaccination in the workplace. We also call for DOLE’s immediate action to ensure our workers are paid their wages, regardless of their vaccination status and to impose penalties on those who would be found violating the Labor Code provisions on the nonpayment of wages,” he added. Senator Risa Hontiveros said the discriminatory practice was illegal and that the DOLE should prosecute employers committing such acts.

Vince... From A1

Monday, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said these include 29 areas under the Quezon City Police District; 25 under the Manila Police District; 17 under the Eastern Police District; 10 under the Southern Police District; and two under the Northern Police District. These areas are in 53 villages across the region. The NCRPO has deployed a total of 238 police officers to secure these areas. Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar has ordered all unit commanders in Metro Manila to coordinate with local government units (LGUs) to determine whether there is a need to deploy more police officers in public places and leisure areas. “We still need to ensure the safety of our people because complacency might cause another surge in COVID-19 cases in NCR,” Eleazar said. This came as the PNP recorded a total of 19,014 violators of minimum public health standards and curfew hours during the first weekend of the implemen-

tation of Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila. Among popular destinations which saw an influx of visitors include churches, malls, the Manila Bay dolomite beach, and Rizal Park. Under Alert Level 3, several establishments can operate at 30 percent indoor venue capacity only for fully vaccinated individuals and 50 percent outdoor venue capacity, provided that all employees are fully vaccinated. Religious gatherings, dine-in, and personal care services are allowed at 30 percent indoor capacity for fully vaccinated persons only and 50 percent outdoor capacity for all persons, regardless of vaccination status. The government has also allowed cinemas to reopen under this alert level. The Philippines logged 6,943 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total number of infections to 2,727,286. There were 86 new fatalities Monday, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 40,761. The DOH also reported 19,687 new recoveries, bringing the total recoveries

Within six months of the effectivity of the law’s implementing rules and regulations, government agencies, industry participants, government, consumer groups and other stakeholders shall come up with an LPG Cylinder Exchange and Swapping Program. This shall include among others the procedure and timeline for swapping and buyback of LPG cylinders, the computation of their depreciation, and establishment of swapping centers. This “will ensure that unsafe cylinders will immediately be taken out of circulation and replaced with new cylinders that meet strict quality requirements,” Gatchalian said earlier.

Colin... From A1

Oct. 15. “I think it was an irrevocable resignation, but he will stay in the Cabinet... for the anti-COVID efforts of the government,” Zosa told Sen. Sonny Angara, who asked about Dizon. As COVID-19 testing czar, Dizon is one of four government officials assigned as point persons for key areas of the government’s pandemic response efforts dubbed as T3 (Test, Track, Treat). Reports indicated that the former Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects is joining the team behind Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso’s 2022 presidential bid. Dizon has yet to confirm or deny the reports. Meanwhile, some 83 areas in Metro Manila remain under granular lockdown despite the region’s shift to the more relaxed Alert Level 3 over the weekend. Based on the latest data released on

Duterte... From A1 LPG refers to commercial propane gas, butane gas, or a mixture of the two. Sen. Win Gatchalian, sponsor of the law, said LPG accounted for 12 percent of the country’s demand for petroleum products in 2019. More than 8 million Filipino households or approximately 40 percent use LPG for cooking, he said, quoting the Philippine Statistics Authority. The LPG Industry Regulation Act seeks to ensure efficacious safety and competition standards for LPG, Gatchalian said.

Bello... From A1

Foreign tourists still barred; PAL lauds openings By Vito Barcelo and Joel E. Zurbano FOREIGN tourists are not yet allowed to enter the Philippines despite coming from “green list” countries, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) clarified Monday. In a statement, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente reiterated that only Filipinos, balikbayans, and those with valid and existing long-term visas from green and yellow-list countries are allowed to enter. He said the reiteration came as the Bureau received numerous queries from foreign tourists who wish to fly to the Philippines already. Meanwhile, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Monday welcomed the decision of several cities and provinces to ease domestic travel restrictions and is hoping for other local government units in the country to follow suit. As of Oct. 13, at least 18 local destinations have relaxed their travel requirements and provided special considerations for fully vaccinated travelers, PAL said in a statement. In Cagayan de Oro, Catarman and Pagadian City, local officials are not requiring COVID-19 test for all travelers. In Cebu Province, travelers may present a Medical Certificate secured 24 hours before flight while in Cebu City, fully vaccinated travelers may take a Saliva Test (within 48 hours of departure). Morente added that Filipinos coming from red list countries may return via repatriation flights and bayanihan flights organized by government or non-government agencies. Earlier, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) released an updated list of Red, Green and Yellow List countries.

55 heirs... From A1

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ongpin indicted for cocaine possession By Rey E. Requejo

HE Department of Justice has indicted Julian Roberto Ongpin, son ofcbillionaire and former trade minister Roberto Ongpin, for possessioncof illegal drugs (cocaine).

A panel of prosecutors created by the DOJ recommended the ﬁling of accriminal complaint against Ongpin for violation of Section 11 ofcRepublic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022cbefore the Regional Trial Court in San Fernando, La Union. The DOJ said the criminal offense is non-bailable and that acprecautionary

hold departure order (PHDO) has earlier been issued bycthe executive judge of the RTC last October 8. “The panel of prosecutors assigned to conduct the preliminarycinvestigation of the complaint entitled ‘Philippine National Policec(PNP) San Juan La Union vs. Julian Roberto S. Ongpin issued resolution dated 18 October 2021

and resolved to indict respondent Julian RobertocOngpin y Stone for possession of dangerous drugs (i.e. cocaine) undercSection 11 of Republic Act no. 9165 or the Comprehensive DangerouscDrugs Act of 2002,” the DOJ said, in a statement. The panel of prosecutors conducted two preliminary investigationchearings, which were both attended by Ongpin, before issuing its ruling. The case arose from the recovery of 12.6 grams of cocaine in the room that Ongpin shared with his girlfriend 30-year-old Jonson at Flotsam and Jetsam Resort in La Union. The cocaine were discovered after authorities responded to a report of at-

tempted suicide at the resort and found Jonson unconscious in a room. Jonson was brought to the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Ongpin asserted that Jonson committed suicide as he found her hanging inside the bathroom, prompting him to seek assistance in bringing the latter to the hospital. Both Ongpin and Jonson reportedly tested positive for illegal drug use. The National Bureau of Investigation is still conducting an investigation to determine Jonson’s cause of death and Ongpin’s possible liability over the incident.

Oil firms hike pump prices due to tight global supply By Alena Mae S. Flores OIL companies have increased oil prices to reflect movement of prices in the world market. Petron raised the price of gasoline by P1.80 per liter, diesel by P1.50 per liter, and kerosene by P1.30 per liter effective Tuesday. This will be the eight weekly consecutive oil price increase as global economies slowly recover, reflecting an increase in demand. Aside from Petron, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, PTT Philippines, PetroGazz, Caltex, Cleanfuel, Total Philippines , and Seaoil Philippines also raised prices while other oil companies are expected to follow. Unioil Petroleum Philippines sounded off the impending oil price hike of P1.40 to P1.50 per liter for diesel and P1.80 to P1.90 per liter for gasoline over the weekend. Gasoline has gone up P5.40 per liter while diesel went up by P7.15 per liter for the past seven weeks. On Oct. 12, the oil companies implemented a price increase in domestic oil products, specifically P1.30 per liter for gasoline, P1.40-P1.50 per liter for diesel and P1.45 per liter for kerosene. These resulted in the year-to-date adjustments to stand at a total net increase of P17.85 per liter for gasoline, P16.50 per liter for diesel and P14.19 per liter for kerosene. The Department of Energy (DOE) has warned the current tightness in global oil supply will likely last until the end of the year. The DOE’s monitoring showed crude oil prices have been going up due to tight supply amid improving demand and high liquefied natural gas and coal prices. The DOE said the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC) stuck to its scheduled increase of 400,000 barrels per day for oil production quotas amid the tightness in oil supply.

MASS WEDDING. Around 250 couples from District 3 in Quezon City get married during a mass wedding held at the Quezon Memorial Circle by Quezon City Mayor Maria Josefina Belmonte Alimurong. Manny Palmero

2.9m Maynilad customers to lose water for 3-4 days By Othel V. Campos SOME 2.9 million customers stand to lose water connection for at least 3 to 4 days as Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) starts a pipe realigning project along the stretch of Sobriedad Street corner Cristobal Street in Sampaloc, Manila from Oct. 25 to Oct. 28, 2021. The project, which will cost Maynilad P197 million, aims to assist the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to partly address the perennial ﬂooding problem in the City of Manila. Households and institutional customers who will be affected comprise about 28 percent of Maynilad’s total clientele base involving 421,000 water connections in the areas of Las Piñas, Makati, Manila,

Parañaque, Pasay, Bacoor, Cavite City, Imus, and the municipalities of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario in Cavite province. Of this, 60,000 connections are in the City of Manila. While the service interruption due to this pipe realignment is in place, Maynilad will also take the opportunity to conduct other smaller, parallel activities—including leak repairs in other areas and maintenance works in several pumping stations—which would otherwise require the implementation of separate service disruptions. “Since this project is a big activity for Maynilad, we deemed it proper to also undertake some preventive maintenance, repairs and installations of pipes and valves in areas that will be affected by this project,”

said Maynilad vice president and head of operations Ronald Padua. To mitigate the impact of the pipe realignment activity, Maynilad is installing 14 stationary water tanks and deploying 60 mobile water tankers to serve areas that will experience three straight days of interrupted supply. It will also tap the assistance of local government units and local ﬁre bureaus to expand the available ﬂeet of water tankers that can help deliver water to affected communities. Padua assured customers of continued supply of water during the duration of the project for areas that will be cut from the system while there will be advisories for areas that can be serviced and allowed water connection every other day.

Villar fetes OFWs with financial literacy summit

COMMAND TURNOVER.

BGen. Eliseo DC. Cruz hands over the symbolic flag to incoming provincial commander PCol. Rogartha B. Campo (right) at Camp Hen. Paciano Rizal in Brgy. Bagumbayan in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Roy Tomadao

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Cynthia Villar said the 10th OFW and Family Summit will be held on Nov. 19, which will be done virtually for the first time due to the pandemic. “This is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), our modern-day heroes. An OFW was the first customer of my husband, former Senator Manny Villar, when he first started his housing business,” related Villar. She said the event is an annual offering of the Villar family together with the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG), where the senator serves as its director, to OFWs who have been sacrificing their lives to give their families a decent and comfortable life. “Through the dollar remittances they sent back home, our OFWs also help keep the country’s economy afloat amid the pandemic,” Villar said. Unlike before when thousands of OFWs and their families trooped to the World Trade Center in Pasay City to join the summit, Villar noted that the November event will be done virtually. “We are doing this to keep everybody safe and protected since the coronavirus is still around us although our health officials and health experts have been reporting a downtrend trend of cases of COVID-19,” Villar said.

Agri damage from ‘Maring’ reaches over P2.1 billion By Priam Nepomuceno THE damage to agriculture due to tropical storm “Maring” has climbed to around P2.1 billion, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Monday. In an update, the agency said agricultural damage was recorded in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Caraga Region, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). Meanwhile, infrastructure damage was placed at around P1.7 billion in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Caraga Region, and CAR. Some 7,589 houses were damaged in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Caraga Region, and CAR – 7,268 of which are classified as partially damaged while 321 are totally damaged. The number of affected families is placed at 158,510 which is equivalent to 626,177 persons. Of this number, 4,069 families or 14,028 persons are classified as displaced and are sheltering in 86 evacuation centers. At least 23 people are confirmed dead due to the storm, along with two injured and 16 missing. Meanwhile, other cases are still being verified including an additional 17 deaths, three injured, and 18 missing. These casualties, both confirmed and undergoing validation, are from the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Palawan, Benguet, and Zambales.

PNP exec says ‘decisive victory’ vs. NPA at hand By Willie Casas THE head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Operations, Major Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, on Monday assured Filipinos that “decisive victory against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) is already at hand.” At the weekly virtual press briefing of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), Sermonia said that the PNP, along with all the government agencies implementing the whole-of-nation approach, can end the more than five-decade insurgency of the CPP NPA-NDF by the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term onJune 30, 2022. “After five decades, this is the only administration that is able to provide a holistic solution to insurgency problem. In recent years, we have seen the manifestation of victories, like yung passage ng anti-terror bill and the designation of CPP NPA as terrorist organization, and the enactment of Executive Order 70 that created NTF-ELCAC at marami pa pong ibang mga programa para finally we can end this local communist armed conflict,” Sermonia said. Sermonia pointed out that victory over the CPP-NPA-NDF will not be possible without the President’s wisdom in providing insightful solution to the Communist Terrorist Group problem. He added that the creation of NTF-ELCAC, one of the most important legacies of President Duterte, made it easier for the police to join hands with the Filipino people in “weakening and crippling the lines” of the CPP-NPA-NDF in the far-flung areas through “massive police-community relations.”

LTFRB tells bus groups to explain few Edsa trips By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Land Transportation and Regulatory Board (LTFB) on Monday issued a show cause order against the two concessionaires of EDSA busway for low deployment of buses the caused long lines at busway stops. “We have to call the attention and direct the two consortiums to explain why there is a low deployment of these units,” LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra said in a virtual briefing, referring to EES Consortium and MMC Consortium. Delgra said the agency may cancel or suspend their permits if found violating their contractual obligations with the government. “Nakita namin na nag-average lang sila ng less than 150 buses for the two consortiums (We saw that they only averaged less than 150 buses for the

two consortiums.),” he said. Delgra also said that LTFRB is looking at the non-payment of salaries of the drivers by their respective operators. As of Oct. 15, the remaining payables of the government to ES Consortium amounted to P29.20 million from P137.38 million total obligations. For MMC Consortium, the remaining payable of the government amounted to P21.42 million from P107.72 million. Delgra said the agency disbursed nearly P4 billion as of Oct. 15 for its Service Contracting Program under the Bayanihan Act 2. “LTFRB aims to completely disburse all accounts payable by Oct. 31,” he said. Under the General Appropriations Act (GAA), the government disbursed P343.48 million out of the P1.40 billion payables based on trips already served by operators.

PACT. Officials of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor and the party-list Ang Bumbero ng Pilipinas sign a pact for the training on fire disaster prevention and calamity response for urban poor communities. Norman Cruz

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SOON TO RISE. Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso leads the groundbreaking ceremony for three-storey, 50-bed capacity President Corazon C. Aquino General Hospital soon to rise in Baseco, Tondo on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. (Inset) In Batangas, supporters of Domagoso’s presidential bid open the first Yes Isko and Ikaw Muna headquarters outside of Metro Manila in Lipa City led by (from left) Chris Bracamonte, Edgar Mercado, Elmer Argaño, Caloy Bololia and Alli Garangan. Norman Cruz

Rody to PDP: Keep focus on uplifting Filipinos’ lives By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has encouraged the officials and members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) to remain focused on uplifting the lives of Filipinos instead of using the party for personal interests. “Let us not be blinded by our own ambitions and let us not allow this party to be used to advance personal interests,” Duterte said in a speech during the National Assembly of the PDP-Laban in Clark, Pampanga. “Considering the magnitude of the responsibility that awaits the next batch of the elected officials in the 2022 elections, we must remain focused on how to continue the reforms that we have instituted in the last five years.” He encouraged his party mates not to lose sight of the founding principles upon which PDP-Laban was built on, and not to forget the party’s end goal of improving welfare of the Filipino people. Everyone must always keep in mind that it is only through a united front that PDPLaban can achieve its objectives and lead the nation towards lasting progress, he said. The President also expressed his gratitude to his party mates for answering the call to convene the party’s National Assembly. Duterte said their presence sends a clear and resounding message to everyone that the party is as strong as ever and the members are united in further consolidating their ranks until the end of his term and beyond. “Despite all the challenges that we are facing, your unwavering support for this administration’s priorities—especially our campaign against illegal drugs, terrorism, corruption, and poverty—is truly reassuring,” he said.

Plunder, graft charges filed vs. Belmonte By Rio N. Araja A CRIMINAL complaint for plunder and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act has been filed against Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte in connection with the local government’s procurement of P287 million worth of food packs, an accusation that the city mayor’s office immediately dismissed as black propaganda. City legal officer Orlando Casimiro said the complainant made a major mistake in following the 2010 election playbook of Belmonte’s political enemies, whom he did not identify. “We knew that it was only a matter of time before some obscure group with no involvement at all in Quezon City would file plunder charges for dramatic effect,” Casimiro said. “Eleven years ago, this political camp did exactly the same thing against thenMayor Herbert Bautista: first, they presented alleged evidence of wrongdoing to the media, then they created noise to prolong the story, and finally they ended with a plunder charge. Indeed, a snake can shed its skin, but its pattern remains the same. This time, however, they have made some serious miscalculations,” he added. Task Force Kasanag, which identifies itself as an anti-corruption civil society group, filed the case against Belmonte before the Office of the Ombudsman, The group, led by its president John Chiong, accused the city mayor of questionable procurement of food packs that were allegedly overpriced by P108 million.

Comelec: Refurbishing of VCMs 80% complete T HE Commission on Elections said the refurbishing of the vote-counting machines that will be used in next year’s synchronized national and local polls was already 80 percent complete. “The final delivery will be on November 15 based on their records. They are already 80 percent finished. These refurbished machines are enough for the 1,000 voter cluster precincts so that is why we need to have an additional 10,000 to lower it to 800 voter cluster precincts,” Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo said on Monday during the Senate deliberation on the proposed P26.728 billion budget of the poll body.

“We have no problems with the refurbishment,” he added as Senator Risa Hontiveros asked for an update of the P637.4million deal with Smartmatic to refurbish the VCMs. Smartmatic has been the country’s poll technology provider since 2010 when it shifted to electronic voting. Earlier, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management for the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) allowed the

simulation voting in San Juan City on October 23. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the IATF-EID approved Comelec’s request on the one-day voting simulation exercise amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 19, the Comelec also conducted a voting simulation in Pasay City. The Comelec earlier said the simulation was vital to “determine the policy and process on how the election shall be conducted” amid the pandemic. The simulation exercise, the poll body said, also aims to ensure strict health protocols for Filipino voters who will participate in the 2022 national and local elections.

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Mayor Francis Zamora inspects the entrance of the San Juan City Cemetery as the online booking for Undas 2021 began yesterday, October 18, 2021. The local government relaunched its online booking system for appointments at the cemetery with only two persons allowed per booking from October 18 to 28 and November 3 to 7. Manny Palmero

Tulfo: Pacquiao camp asked me to be his running mate BROADCASTER and senatorial aspirant Raffy Tulfo on Monday said he was asked to be the running mate of Senator Manny Pacquiao for the 2022 synchronized national and local elections. “It was the camp of Sen. Manny Pacquiao and I courteously turned it down,” he said in a television interview. “I said that seems too fast. The jump to the vice presidency was too sudden. I also said I cannot run against President Rodrigo Duterte because he’s my friend. Another

thing, there’s Sen. Tito Sotto whom I cannot battle against,” Tulfo added. Duterte did not file for any position in next year’s polls while Sotto is running for vice president in tandem with Senator Panfilo Lacson. Tulfo, who is running for senator as an independent candidate, has been adopted as guest candidate of Pacquiao’s slate and that of Lacson. He topped a recent survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations with 57 percent

of adult Filipino respondents picking the broadcast journalist as their top senatorial candidate. Tulfo was followed by comebacking senators Francis Escudero and Loren Legarda in second and third place, respectively. Of the eight administration bets, only former Public Works secretary Mark Villar was included in the preferred senatorial candidate for the 2022 polls, while five incumbent senators made it into the “Magic 12.”

Ex-Solgen quits Isko’s party, backs Leni instead

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

BELIEVING that Vice President Leni Robredo is a much better presidential candidate in the upcoming May 2022 elections, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay quit the Aksyon Demokratiko of Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. “I respect the decision of my party to choose Mayor Isko Moreno as candidate for president, but also believe VP Leni is a much better candidate in this most crucial of elections,” said Hilbay in a statement shared on his social media accounts. Hilbay clarified he was leaving Aksyon Demokratiko “not to join another party but out of ethical considerations.” He said he quit Domagoso’s political party since he is endorsing the presidential bid of Robredo in the 2022 polls. “Because I intend, as an ordinary citizen, to publicly support her campaign, I must resign from the only political party I have ever joined,” he said. Robredo is running as an independent candidate although she remains the national chairman of the Liberal Party. The former solicitor general said Robredo would be “a president who will confront problems not with publicity stunts to manipulate Filipinos but with honest-to-goodness attempts at solutions.” “We do not need more of the same, or even less of the same,” he said. He stressed the country cannot afford another narcissistic, gaslighting troll for a president. “A candidate who wakes up only during campaigns is no leader, and we can’t have another absentee president,” he said. In 2019, Hilbay ran for senator under the banner of Aksyon Demokratiko while being part of the opposition coalition at the time, a slate that Robredo supported and Domagoso recently criticized.

Isko: Pres. Cory hospital to rise within Baseco MANILA City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Monday led the groundbreaking ceremony for a P110-million hospital within the Baseco Compound at Manila’s Port Area. The three-storey hospital will be named “President Corazon C. Aquino General Hospital.” It will replace the President Corazon Aquino Health Clinic built during the administration of the late Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim. “People rely on the government. Some of us have paid the ultimate price. But we have to do what we have to do. We have to do it. We have to take care of our people,” Moreno said in an impromptu speech. Once completed, the President Corazon Aquino General Hospital building will have a 24/7 fully operational emergency room, digital x-ray equipment, and centralized oxygen supply line. The health care facility will also have a community-inclusive outpatient department, radiology department, laboratory and central diagnostics department, dietary department, 24/7 maternity department, and surgery and internal medicine department. Male and female wards, isolation wards, and a pediatric ward will also be available in the new 50-bed facility. “We always try to be ahead of the situation or possible uncertainty because we are always certain in the City of Manila,” Moreno said. The 46-year-old presidential candidate was joined by Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, Manila 3rd District Rep. John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto, and officials from the Manila city government. The President Corazon Aquino General Hospital is the seventh hospital to be built in the City of Manila where every congressional district has its own hospital.

Elections won’t derail BARMM programs By Nash Maulana COTABATO CITY—The election fever notwithstanding, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will continue to engage the community by carrying out varied programs and projects the people need. BARMM Interior and Local Government Minister Project Naguib Sinarimbo renewed this assurance of the regional leadership’s commitment to deliver socioeconomic development to its constituents. Sinarimbo also reiterated he was not running for any elective position, and that he would remain a member of the BARMM Cabinet. Over the weekend, Sinarimbo said he had inspected a water impound-

ment rehabilitation project which will benefit farming communities in four of the 63 barangays of Cotabato Province that have joined the region, and which now constitute the BARMM Special Geographic Area (SGA). He said despite security risks brought about by the pre-election season, the BARMM government’s community services should continue unhampered. Also on weekend, Sinarimbo visited two on-going construction sites of new barangay halls in Lower Baguer and in Datu Binasing, also of the 63-barangay SGA. His team also inspected road construction to and from these two barangays for a shorter route from Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao to Pigcawayan in neighboring Cotabato Province.

REMOTE LEARNING. Elementary pupils Rinamay, 5, and Nicamay, 8, work on their academic modules on top of a tomb at the Pasay public cemetery on Monday, October 18, 2021. Danny Pata

Opinion THE Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases should concur with Presidential Adviser Joey Concepcion to include the United States, Canada and European countries in the “Green List.” It means fully-vaccinated travelers from those countries would be exempted from the mandatory facility-based quarantine upon arrival in the country.

The sector was hit hard by the lockdowns. Currently, there are only 49 countries on the Green List -- with zero or minimal number of COVID-19 cases The United States, Canada and European countries are on the “Yellow List” or low-risk list. At the moment, only Romania is in the “Red List” or high-risk list. Apparently, Concepcion figured out that exempting fully-vaccinated travelers from the US, Canada and European countries from facility-based quarantine would be a big boost to the Philippine tourism industry. The Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship noted that our ASEAN neighbors, tourism heavyweights Thailand and Singapore, have begun reopening their borders to visitors. The tourism sector, one of the country’s vital economic drivers, was among those hardest-hit by the travel ban and border restrictions throughout the country. One year and nine months since the pandemic began, the country’s tourism industry is prepared to reopen for business — gradually, of course, as the situation improves with the rollout of the government vaccination program. In fact, the tourism industry heaved a sigh of relief when the IATF dropped altogether the facility-based quarantine requirement for returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and who are fully inoculated in the Green countries. It’s a good thing the IATF honchos fi-

My last word on Ressa I STILL can’t get over that undeserved Nobel Peace Prize given to Filipino American journalist Maria Ressa for her alleged fight for press freedom. Thousands of stupid Filipinos cheered this. I say this because the award was not at all deserved. Those who cheer do not realize its implications. The first question that comes to mind is, was press freedom in the Philippines ever threatened under the Duterte regime? What heroic deed or sacrifice did Ressa do for her to win the coveted award? Yes, Ressa was convicted of cyberlibel for saying that somebody had his car used by then Chief Justice Renato Corona. Yes, the Securities and Exchange Commission found her violating the Foreign Depositary Receipts rule by accepting more than what is allowed by law.

Yes, I am biased. But I will call it as I see it. Were those incidents enough to call Ressa a Philippine heroine? In the first place, was press freedom ever violated by Duterte? It was censored and suppressed during the Martial Law regime of the late strongman President Ferdinand Marcos. But were there journalists ever jailed during the Duterte regime like there were in the time of Marcos? Yes, some journalists were killed, not because of Duterte, but because of some minor politicians. I am saying this not because I have been paid to do so, as some people may think of me. I don’t even know Duterte from Adam. And I am on record for having criticized him, specifically on his failed wars on illegal drugs and on graft and corruption. I maintain that these wars are failed wars. ** I have been a journalist for over 70 years, and I can say frankly and honestly that press freedom in the Philippines is alive. We have

assent and dissent. Without these, there can only be tyranny. That Nobel Peace Prize given to Ressa is an insult to Filipino journalists who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of press freedom. This is why I cannot understand why groups of Filipino journalists, like the National Press Club, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, the Manila Overseas Press Club, (the oldest association of journalists in the Philippines), and the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, have not taken a stand. Yes, it was a slap on the face of Duterte, but also a clear insult to us Filipino journalists. Whether or not Ressa is being used to further American interests is beside the point. Whether or not American interests are funding her is also beside the point. ••• The bid of former Senator Bongbong Marcos for the presidency will certainly raise the issue of Martial Law, and with it, human rights and hidden wealth. But I doubt it if these issues would have any impact on Bongbong’s bid for Malacanang. Recall that they were the very same issues brought out when Bongbong ran in 2016 for VP, were it not for the fact that the Liberal Party cheated against him in favor of Vice President Leni Robredo (even as the Supreme Court later ruled otherwise). Now that the Yellows are no longer in power, I doubt whether the issue of Martial Law would have an effect at all. Yes, I am biased. But I will call it as I see it. Mark my words: Bongbong is the candidate to watch. Why is Bongbong Marcos leading? While Isko Moreno is more conciliatory, Manny Pacquiao is firm that the Marcoses should return their alleged plundered money. This difference of opinion between Pacquiao and Isko reflects the mentality of each, with Pacquiao’s narrow-mindedness, and Isko’s open-mindedness. That, to me, shows who is educated and who is not. What makes people like Bongbong? Is it charisma, good looks or something else? I believe it is something more basic - it’s the memory of the late strongman President Ferdinand E. Marcos and his legacy. It’s a legacy unsurpassed by other presidents. It was Marcos that started the Build, Build, Build program that Duterte claims to be his. Go over the existing laws we still

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Reopen tourism to boost economy nally realized such would allow vacationing OFWs more time with their families instead of isolating at a costly hotel designated as quarantine facilities for five to 10 days, as it was required, before they could join their loved ones. But not too many OFWs nor balikbayans come from the Green countries. I myself believe that doing away with the facility-based requirement for arriving travelers from the US, Canada and Europe will encourage more Filipinos to return home under the balikbayan program. The US is, of course, home to two million Filipino immigrants for which the Balikbayan Law was enacted in 1989. In anticipation of the Christmas season, it would be great if balikbayans from the US, Canada and Europe would be similarly exempted from hotel quarantine as long as they are fully vaccinated. Under the balikbayan program, former Filipino citizens who have resided in other countries for over one year may be admitted without visitor visa, along with members of his/her immediate family including his/her spouse and children. Balikbayans and their immediate family members may stay in the country for one year. According to the IATF guidelines, fully vaccinated travelers from Yellow counties need to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day. After this, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until their 10th day. Travelers who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or whose vaccination status cannot be independently verified by the authorities as valid shall undergo a facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the seventh day. After which, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until their 14th day. Inbound international travel of all persons, regardless of vaccination status, coming from or who have been to the Red List countries within the last 14 days prior to arrival to the Philippines shall not be allowed. Only Filipinos returning to the country via government-initiated repatriation, non-government-initiated repatriation, and bayanihan flights may be allowed entry, subject to testing and quarantine protocols.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

Injustice for all

HEN the President’s men argued earlier this year that the International Criminal Court had no jurisdiction to investigate human rights abuses in the Philippines because we have a functioning system of justice, we could not help wincing at that overly generous assessment. While it is true that we have the trappings of a working judicial system, we have all seen how lawyers, prosecutors and judges have been co-opted and corrupted by the powerful. We have seen how the justice system moved at a glacial pace to bring partial justice in a grisly double murder case committed 35 years ago. We have seen how the scions of powerful families get away with murder, and we have watched in disbelief as people in power came to the defense of cronies and associates who stole public money. All this has come to roost, with the release last week of a report on the 2021 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, which showed that the Philippines was among three countries with the weakest rule of law in East Asia and the Pacific, keeping company with the likes of Myanmar and Cambodia. Globally, the Philippines fell three positions and placed 102nd out of 139 countries with an overall score of 0.46, down from 0.47 in 2020. The score is based on a scale of 0 to 1, where 1 indicates strongest adherence to the rule of law. The country’s overall score in the index has also steadily declined from 0.53 in 2015, 0.51 in 2016, and 0.47 from 2017 to 2020.

This dire decline in our rule of law standing in the world requires leaders that can deliver true reform. In 2015, before President Duterte came to power, the country’s rule of law index was at .53, placing it 51st out of 102 countries. Over the years encompassing the Duterte administration, the index has steadily declined to 0.51 in 2016, and 0.47 from 2017 to 2020, while the country’s global ranking has plunged 51 places. A closer look at the factors behind the index is telling because the Philippines did poorly on all but one measure. In 2020, the country did poorly on constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement and civil justice, and did only

marginally better in criminal justice. Three of these factors bear further examination. Factor 1, constraints on government powers measures the extent to which those who govern are bound by law. It comprises the means, both constitutional and institutional, by which the powers of the government and its officials and agents are limited and held accountable under the law. It also includes non-governmental checks on the government’s power, such as a free and independent press. Factor 2, absence of corruption, measures the absence of corruption in government. The factor considers three forms of corruption: Bribery, improper influence by public or private interests, and misappropriation of public funds or other resources. These three forms of corruption are examined with respect to government officers in the executive branch, the judiciary, the military, police, and the legislature. Factor 5, order and security, measures how well a society ensures the security of persons and property. It is no surprise that the Duterte administration did poorly on Factor 4, fundamental rights, but order and security was the one area it should have done well, given the President’s many promises to rid us of crime. Not all of this can be laid solely at the doorstep of the President, but leadership matters. Clearly, this dire decline in our rule of law standing in the world requires leaders that can deliver true reform, and not those who merely promise it, or worse, those who vow to give us more of the same because we’ve never had it so good.

The killings started in Davao ordered, and sometimes directly perpetrated” killings outside official police operations. Independent researchers estimate the drug war’s death toll, including those extrajudicial killings, could be as high as 12,000 to 30,000. Needless to say, the exact number of fatalities is difficult to ascertain and may never be known because the government has been most secretive on the matter and has failed to disclose official documents about the “drug war.” Worse, it has issued contradictory statistics and,

IN THIS seventh of my series on the potential ICC case against President Duterte and other officials, I focus exclusively on the Chamber’s discussion on the aggregate number and geographic distribution of killings, including the statistics on the number of fatalities/ victims in Davao City where President Rodrigo Duterte served as mayor for several terms. Preliminarily, the Chamber, in its decision, articulates the limitations of its assessment, stating that the proceedings is still at a very preliminary stage, that the material available is of limited quality and that only a more detailed investigation will shed light on the number of persons killed within the so-called war on drugs campaign and the specific circumstances. As articulated, available materials and information are inadequate to arrive at a more complete picture of the situation on the ground because: (i) the estimates of the number of killed persons vary depending on the source, ranging from 12,000 to 30,000; (ii) the Philippine authorities themselves reported that at least 5,281 persons were killed during police-anti drug operations alone between July 2016 and March 2019; At this juncture, let me point out that to date, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has granted the Department of Justice access to the records of 61 investigations against policemen out of the total of 7,884 deaths in official operations since 2016 in the official records. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency previously reported more than 6,100 drug crime suspects have been killed in police operations since Duterte took office as president. But this may be grossly underestimated because as ICC Prosecutor Fatua Bensouda mentioned in her Request for Investigation, “Police and other government officials planned,

have today, and see that Marcos did not only have a clear vision but knew the sentiments of the people. My gulay, how can people forget the Heart Center, the Lung Center, the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Philippine International Convention Center and other developments? These are the things people remember when they see Bongbong. Need I say more? ••• With the plurality of senatorial candidates, a voter will find it very difficult to vote for the best, with no less that 176, I repeat, 176, candidates. No wonder a

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

DDS used to mean something else — not Diehard Duterte Supporters. in the case of these “homicides under investigation,” stopped releasing the figures altogether. In the Davao area from 2011-2016 in particular, the Chamber, extensively citing the Prosecutor’s findings and observations, “accepts that the supporting material sufficiently indicates, at the present stage of the proceedings, the local police officers and vigilantes committed numerous killings of predominantly young men suspected of involvement in small-scale drug dealing or minor crimes such as petty theft and drug use. The Chamber also notes in particular the information to the effect that a so-called ‘Davao death squad’ operated, and that local law enforcement units were heavily involved in its operation. There is information that in 2011-2015 there were around 385 victims of extrajudicial killings in Davao.” It must be remembered that Edgar Matobato earlier in the term of Duterte testified before the Philippines Senate that he was part of a hit squad that operated on Duterte’s orders. Matobato was a self-confessed assassin who testified in September of 2016 on his experiences and even revealed names of policemen

broadcaster named Raffy Tulfo is leading the Senate, my gulay, even way ahead of returning senators Chiz Escudero and Loren Legarda. The very fact that several presidential and vice presidential candidates almost have the same lineup on their Senate slate proves that there is a lack of good men and women for the Upper Chamber. Santa Banana, even bitter foes in the past have been aligned in the same ticket! This shows that “best and the brightest” is no longer the criteria of getting in the Senate. It is a popularity contest. I bet if Coco Martin ran, he would top the list. Only in the Philippines, indeed.

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he worked with in the past. Another witness presented before the Senate hearing, retired police officer Arturo Lascańas also admitted to have killed 300 people, about 200 as a member of a hit squad that terrorized Davao City at the behest of then Mayor Duterte. Despite the damning testimonies of the two witnesses, the Senate concluded after its inquiries that no proof existed that the “Davao death squad” existed. In view of the above considerations, the Chamber likewise finds that “it has been sufficiently established, for the purpose of an authorisation to investigate, that the specific legal element of the crime against humanity of murder under Article 7(1)(a) of the Statute has been met with respect to the killings committed throughout the Philippines between 1 July 2016 and 16 March 2019 in the context of the so-called ‘war on drugs’ campaign, as well as with respect to the killings in the Davao area between 1 November 2011 and 30 June 2016.” With respect to the Prosecutor submissions that ‘several of the incidents […] appear to have included severe beatings or other mistreatment of victims prior to the killings, as well as instances in which victims’ family members were forced to witness the killings’, and that these facts ‘may constitute additional Crimes Against Humanity of Torture or Other Inhumane Acts under articles 7(1) (f) and (k) of the Statute’143, the Chamber is of the view that, “unlike for the crime against humanity of murder, the Chamber notes in agreement with the Prosecutor, that the latter “does not affirmatively allege that these crimes are established to the standard requisite at this stage.” As such, according to the Chamber, the issue is one of scope of the authorised investigation. Website: tonylavina.com Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

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Myanmar to free more than 5k jailed

ANGON ― Myanmar will release more than 5,000 people jailed for protesting against a February coup which ousted the civilian government, the country’s junta chief said Monday.

A total of 5,636 prisoners will be freed to mark the Thadingyut festival later in October, Min Aung Hlaing said, days after he was excluded from a regional summit over his government’s commitment to defusing the bloody crisis. Myanmar has been mired in chaos since the coup, with more than 1,100 Manila civilians killed in a bloody crackdown Standard TODAY

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cusing ASEAN of breaching its policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of member states. Myanmar, mostly ruled by the military since a 1962 coup, has been a thorn in ASEAN’s side since it joined in 1997. Min Aung Hlaing’s administration has justified its power grab citing alleged vote rigging in last year’s elecSINGAPORE—Fully vaccinated tions, which Suu Kyi’s National League travellers from eight countries will be for Democracy (NLD) party won conable to enter Singapore without quarvincingly. antine from Tuesday, as the business The coup snuffed out Myanmar’s hub eases restrictions and gears up to short-lived dalliance with democracy live with the coronavirus. and the 76-year-old Suu Kyi now faces a The city-state initially fought the raft of charges in a junta court that could pandemic by shutting borders, locksee her jailed for decades. downs of varying intensity and agLast week her chief lawyer said he had gressive contact tracing but with been banned by the junta from speaking more than 80 percent of the populaCYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK to journalists, diplomats or international tion fully vaccinated, authorities in organisations. AFP the global aviation hub are keen to revive the economy. They opened travel lanes for vaccinated passengers from Brunei and Germany in September, and will expand the scheme from Tuesday to another eight countries -- Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United States. The lane with South Korea will start November 15. Under the policy, passengers will not have to quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated and tested negative for the coronavirus before they depart and on arrival. “Singapore cannot stay locked down and closed off indefinitely,” Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said October 9, when he announced a raft of measures under the “Living with Covid-19” strategy. Lee pointed to the Delta coronavirus variant as a factor. “The Delta variant is highly infectious, and has spread all over the FIVE POWER SHOW. Aircraft from the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) memberworld. Even with the whole populanations—Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom—take part in a flypast during a combined formation display to mark the pact’s 50th anniversary in Singapore on October 18. tion vaccinated, we still will not be AFP able to stamp it out,” he said. AFP

on dissent and more than 8,000 arrested according to a local monitoring group. More than 7,300 are currently behind bars across the country, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. The junta chief gave no details on who would be included in the list and prison authorities did not respond to AFP requests for comment. Myanmar authorities released more than 2,000 anti-coup protesters from prisons across the country in July, including journalists critical of the military government. Those still in custody include the American journalist Danny Fenster, who has been held since being arrested on May 24. The announcement of the amnesty comes after the Association of South-

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east Asian Nations on Friday decided to exclude Min Aung Hlaing from an upcoming summit over the military government’s handling of the crisis. Foreign ministers of the bloc agreed that a “non-political representative” for Myanmar would be invited to the October 26-28 summit instead. The bloc, widely criticised as a toothless organisation, took a strong stand after the junta rebuffed requests that a special envoy meet with “all stakeholders” in Myanmar -- a phrase seen to include ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The statement noted “insufficient progress” in the implementation of a five-point plan agreed by ASEAN leaders in April to end turmoil following the coup. The junta slammed the decision, ac-

No-quarantine Singapore tack for vaccinated

Alleged Maduro money launderer defiant after US extradition CARACAS—A fugitive businessman accused of acting as a money launderer for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s regime said Sunday he would not collaborate with the United States, a day after he was extradited to the country from Cape Verde. Maduro said Sunday evening in a televised address that Alex Saab’s extradition on Saturday was “one of the most ignoble and vulgar injustices that has been committed in recent decades.” Authorities had held a rally in Saab’s support earlier Sunday in Caracas, during which his wife, Camilla Fabri, read aloud a letter from him. “I will face my trial with total dignity,”

Saab said in the letter. “I want to be clear: I do not have to collaborate with the United States. I have committed no crime. “I declare that I am in full possession of my means and I am not suicidal, in case I am murdered and then (they) say that I committed suicide.” Saab, a Colombian national, and his business partner Alvaro Pulido are charged in the United States with running a network that exploited food aid destined for Venezuela, an oil-rich nation mired in an acute economic crisis. They are alleged to have moved $350 million out of Venezuela into accounts they controlled in the United States and other coun-

tries. They risk up to 20 years in prison. The US Justice Department said in a statement that Saab was due to appear in court in Florida on Monday and expressed “admiration” to authorities in Cape Verde for their help in the case. Venezuela reacted furiously, suspending talks with the US-backed opposition on ending the country’s political and economic crisis. Saab, who also has Venezuelan nationality and a Venezuelan diplomatic passport, was indicted in July 2019 in Miami for money laundering, and was arrested during a plane stopover in Cape Verde off the coast of West Africa in June 2020. AFP

US defense chief in Georgia for military talks TBILISI―US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin landed in Georgia Monday on the first leg of a visit to three allies on the Black Sea, aiming to deliver a message of support against threats from Russia. The first Pentagon chief to visit since 2014, Austin will seek to renew a military training program and demonstrate America’s commitment to Tbilisi, which has sought for years to become a full member of NATO. “We are reassuring and reinforcing the sovereignty of countries that are on the front lines of Russian aggression,” a senior US defence official told reporters ahead of the trip. Russian troops are stationed in two Georgian breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and Moscow opposes any move to elevate the country’s NATO status from partnerstate level to full member. The United States has had training programs with the Georgian military for years, focused on developing interoperability capability with NATO as well as territorial defence, and the current program expires in December. In meetings with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Minister of Defence Juansher Burchuladze, Austin will also express appreciation for Georgia’s contribution to the two-decade war in Afghanistan, US officials said. More than 20,000 Georgian troops took part in the US-led coalition force between 2004 and 2021, and 32 lost their lives in the conflict. The Biden administration needs to pay more attention to Georgia to head off a potential tilt toward Russia as well as China, said political scientist David Kramer at Florida International University, who is a former senior US diplomat. AFP

PAPAL MEETING. French Prime Minister Jean Castex (left) arrives at the Vatican on October 18 prior to a meeting with Pope Francis. AFP

1 dead as US college has 2 shootings in a week WASHINGTON―One person was killed and another seven injured at a US university shooting early Sunday, police said, just days after another firearm incident at the same school left one dead. A student was among those wounded in the attack at around 1:30am (local) at Grambling State University, Louisiana State Police said, with one person in critical condition at hospital. The school tweeted the student was “treated for non-life-threatening injuries”, and the person killed was not enrolled at the university. It is the second shooting in less than a week —although the incidents are not believed to be connected—at the historically Black college in the southern US state. Homecoming activities—an annual football game accompanied by parties—were canceled as were Monday and Tuesday classes, the school said.

There was an overnight curfew imposed until further notice, the statement added. “GramFam, now the is the time to be Unapologetically Unified as we rally to comfort one another after this morning’s incident,” the school tweeted earlier Sunday. A later tweet implored students to avoid spreading misinformation about the investigation. “LSP is requesting assistance in locating a suspect or suspects in this shooting,” Louisiana State Police said in a statement posted to Facebook. “Any information, even the smallest detail, could be of value in this investigation.” Officers also released the name and picture of a suspect in a shooting on the same campus. The October 13 shooting left one 19-yearold dead and one 16-year-old injured, police said. AFP

Business PSEi October 18, 2021

TOP GAINERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

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FJP OPMB

2.8 0.012

0.41 0.001

17.15% 9.09%

RLC

17.4

1.36

8.48%

MACAY

0.5

7.69%

5 6

PRMX ABG

2.13 5.6

0.14 0.34

7.04% 6.46%

DMW

6.75

0.4

6.30%

8 9

SHLPH BSC

23.95 0.6

1.4 0.03

6.21% 5.26%

LODE

0.66

0.03

4.76%

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market ends flat; Converge declines

HARE prices closed nearly flat Monday, with investors taking profits in select issues that have surged in recent days.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 6.35 points, or 0.1 percent, to 7,219.81 on a value turnover of P11.2 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 131 to 67, with 42 issues unchanged. Converge ICT Solutions Inc., a fiber broadband service provider, sank 12 percent to P28, while noodles maker Monde Nissin Corp. slumped 7.2 percent to P15.20. AC Energy Corp., a unit of the Ayala Group, fell 4.6 percent to P10.80, but

property developer Robinsons Land Corp. of the Gokongwei Group rose 8.5 percent to P17.40. The rest of Asian equity markets were mixed Monday as inflation concerns returned to the fore, while a further slowdown in China’s economic growth reinforced concerns about its stuttering recovery. Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, Wellington and Taipei fell but there were gains in Hong Kong, Sydney, Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta. Singapore was flat. The tepid performance followed a healthy run-up last week across the world fueled by a strong start to the earnings season, which helped distract from surging prices. However, a further rise in the oil

market—WTI is at a seven-year high and Brent is at a three-year peak—has refocused attention on the threat of inflation. Data last week showed Chinese factory-gate costs at their highest in a quarter of a century in September, while US wholesale inflation hit a record. And on Monday, New Zealand said prices rose at their quickest rate in a decade. That has increased pressure on central banks around the world to tighten the easy money policies put in place at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which have been key to a strong economic and equity market recovery. Some banks—including in South Korea and New Zealand—have already hiked borrowing costs while the Bank

Facebook eyes 10,000 jobs to build ‘metaverse’

TOP LOSERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

CNVRG ALLHC

28 5.06

-3.8 -0.62

-11.95% -10.92%

MONDE

15.2

-1.18

-7.20%

PRIM

1.5

-0.1

-6.25%

5 6 7

OM FFI KPPI

0.33 6.6 3.8

-0.02 -0.4 -0.23

-5.71% -5.71% -5.71%

8 9 10

ABSP GMA7 MAH

13.32 14.48 1.55

-0.8 -0.86 -0.09

-5.67% -5.61% -5.49%

MOST ACTIVE 1

MONDE

VOLUME 88,249,700

VALUE (PHP) 1,352,277,012

2 3

CNVRG ACEN

41,741,200 58,119,600

1,204,517,905 633,539,212

4 5

BDO ALI

4,053,920 12,726,300

541,231,131 482,605,965

6 7

SMPH BPI

13,055,600 5,311,210

474,605,160 454,102,675

8 9 10

SM AC RLC

335,180 371,110 17,540,200

325,275,640 319,552,370 299,255,144

NO TO GREEN PASS. People protest against the so-called Green Pass in Milan on October 16, 2021 as all workers must show since October 15 a so-called Green Pass, offering proof of vaccination, recent recovery from COVID-19 or a negative test, or face being declared absent without pay. The banner reads “workers against the green pass and compulsory vaccination, now and always resistance.” AFP

China’s economic growth slowed further to 4.9% in Q3 BEIJING—China’s economic growth slowed more than expected in the third quarter, official data showed Monday, as a crackdown on the property sector and a looming energy crisis began to bite. After a swift coronavirus bounceback, recovery in the world’s secondbiggest economy is losing steam, with gross domestic product expanding 4.9 percent on-year, said the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), citing an “unstable and uneven” domestic rebound. The reading was just short of the 5.0 percent tipped by analysts polled by AFP–and a sharp three percentage points off the April-June performance. NBS spokesman Fu Linghui told reporters Monday that “current inter-

national environment uncertainties are mounting and the domestic economic recovery is still unstable and uneven.” The economy grew only 0.2 percent from the previous three months, the weakest since a historic contraction in the first quarter last year. “Growth was dragged down by a slowdown in real estate, amplified recently by spillover from Evergrande’s travails,” said Oxford Economics’ head of Asia economics Louis Kuijs. The struggles of property giant China Evergrande—which is drowning in more than $300 billion of debt—has battered sentiment among prospective buyers. A government regulatory clampdown

The world’s first plantable toothbrush FOR my Aim2Flourish project, I interviewed the business leader of my chosen company, Bambuhay. This multi-awarded social enterprise focuses on innovating eco-friendly products from bamboo to heal the planet from plastic pollution, deforestation and climate change. Bambuhay’s mission is to build a community where empowered young leaders, farmers and citizens feel connected to nature and each other with access to a healthy and environmentfriendly community. In 2015, founder Mark Sultan Gersava got a chance to visit Patikul, Sulu, one of the poorest communities in the Philippines. He discovered a lot of plastic dumped into the ocean while many resources, specifically bamboo, in the community were not yet utilized. After conducting thorough research, he introduced innovative bamboo products such as straws, mugs, tumblers, sanitary casing, toothbrushes and more. Being a Food Technologist by profession, environmentalist, peace advocate, and social entrepreneur by passion, he combined these into one concept and became Bambuhay Social Enterprise. Mark envisioned a better future for his marginalized compatriots with an ardent desire for a sustainable and beautiful future for the world. He gathered young leaders and farmers with diverse backgrounds and abilities to give them opportunities to contribute purposefully to society by caring for the environment and provide people with a sustainable lifestyle. Bambuhay’s flagship product is its Bamboo Toothbrush. This product is the world’s first plantable toothbrush made from sustainably grown bamboo. Traditionally, we throw away our toothbrush after using it for three months. Plastic toothbrushes create 252 million kilograms of wastes, equivalent

of England has indicated it is close. Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve is expected to begin paring its bondbuying program before the end of the year, and some observers are suggesting it could lift interest rates possibly before 2023. The prospect of higher rates and less cheap cash has weighed on sentiment for several months and reassurances that inflation would only be temporary have been overtaken by the surging energy costs caused by reopenings around the world and a recovery in demand. The lifting of travel restrictions into the United States from next month will likely add further upward pressure to prices. With AFP

CHRISTIAN TIMOTEO

Green LiGht to 1.5 billion kilograms of carbon dioxide per year. But with this bamboo toothbrush, we need not add to the half a billion plastic toothbrushes that are just thrown away every year in the Philippines. The bristles are made from PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate), a biodegradable material infused with natural carbons. The handles are processed with a 100-percent natural heat finish to minimize water absorption and avoid microbe growth without using any chemicals. The packaging is made from recycled paper and unglued, making it 100-percent plastic-free. Three seedlings are embedded in the packaging that the toothbrush users can plant together with the toothbrush. As the toothbrush decomposes, it serves as the fertilizer for the growing seedlings. Instead of using coloring chemicals to the toothbrushes for identification purposes of the consumers, Bambuhay engraved its handles with pictures of endangered species also to promote awareness. Three years after Bambuhay was founded, the founders have made tremendous progress towards their goal of providing natural, organic, affordable and eco-friendly products while addressing poverty. Bambuhay impacted 13,910 farmers, equivalent to 2,782 families, providing them with sustainable livelihood, employment, opportunities and relief assistance. They also provided farmers access to social benefits and insurance. For the environmental impact, Bambuhay eliminated around 1,100 tons of plastic wastes equivalent to 6,600 tons of carbon dioxide from the environment

and planted almost 40,000 trees and bamboos. These significant numbers are the results of Bambuhay’s efforts to address the social challenges that the world is facing right now. At the end of our interview, I asked for Mark’s message to the world, and he said, “In our current society, we urgently need to change our behavior and how we consume our remaining resources.” He ended his statement with the reminder, “Our planet is imperiled. We have only have one planet, and it takes one person to take care of it, and it starts with you.” Doing the Aim2Flourish assignment made me realize that all human beings are responsible for taking care of our planet. I also realized that it is possible to do business while causing no/less harm to the environment. Having a sustainable business is crucial because we only live once. I know that this statement is simple, but if you think about it, it is true that we only live once, and we must live well. No one will protect our environment and our natural resources but ourselves. Everyone of us must do our part to save the future. Business owners are significant stakeholders that can do so much in driving social and environmental change. They can focus on sustainability initiatives that can contribute to their organization’s overall success and the community’s protection. Hand in hand, our small deeds and actions can go a long way for the community, the economy, the environment and the next generation. The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, DLSU. He can be reached at christian_timoteo@dlsu.edu.ph. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

on the real estate sector—particularly the tightening of lending rules—has dealt a severe blow to a crucial driver of economic growth, with a knock-on effect for other parts industries including construction. Investors are now keeping a worried eye on developments in the Evergrande saga on concerns it could have an impact on the wider economy. However, China’s central People’s Bank of China at the weekend reassured that any financial sector fallout would be controllable, while governor Yi Gang told a seminar Sunday that authorities were watching for problems like default risks “due to mismanagement and breakneck expansion” at some firms. AFP

PARIS, France—Facebook on Monday announced plans to hire 10,000 people in the European Union to build the “metaverse,” a virtual reality version of the internet that the tech giant sees as the future. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been a leading voice in Silicon Valley hype around the idea of the metaverse, which would blur the lines between the physical world and the digital one. The technology might, for example, allow someone to don virtual reality glasses that make it feel as if they’re face-to-face with a friend— when in fact they are thousands of miles apart and connected via the internet. “The metaverse has the potential to help unlock access to new creative, social, and economic opportunities. And Europeans will be shaping it right from the start,” Facebook said in a blog post. “Today, we are announcing a plan to create 10,000 new high skilled jobs within the European Union (EU) over the next five years.” The European hires will include “highly specialized engineers,” but the company otherwise gave few details of its plans for the new metaverse team. “The EU has a number of advantages that make it a great place for tech companies to invest—a large consumer market, first class universities and, crucially, top quality talent,” the blog post said. AFP

Asia-Pacific is ‘running out of time’ as it struggles to kick coal addiction

Photo taken on September 21, 2021 shows village houses as smoke rises from the chimneys at the Suralaya coal power plant in Cilegon. AFP

By Sam Reeves and Haeril Halim CILEGON, Indonesia—Smokestacks belch noxious fumes into the air from a massive coal-fired power plant on the Indonesian coast, a stark illustration of Asia’s addiction to the fossil fuel which is threatening climate targets. Asia-Pacific accounts for about threequarters of global coal consumption— even as the region struggles with the environmental and public health impacts of global warming, from deadly levels of air pollution in India to extreme heatwaves and wildfires in Australia. Hopes for a cleaner future have been fired by pledges from top coal consumer China and other countries to go carbon neutral but much of the region is making a painfully slow transition to renewable sources. “We are moving much slower than the impact of climate change. We are running out of time,” warned Tata Mustasya, a Greenpeace energy campaigner in Indonesia. Change is hard in one of the last bastions of the dirtiest fossil fuel, however—five Asian countries are responsible for 80 percent of new coal power stations planned worldwide, according to a report from Carbon Tracker. Commitments that have been made are

too weak, analysts say, with promises to halt construction of plants and tighten overseas funding from key financing countries often not covering projects already planned. And critics say that rich nations are not providing enough help, in terms of financing or technical know-how, to help poorer countries make the transition. The challenge is illustrated by the enormous Suralaya coal plant on Indonesia’s Java island, one of the biggest in Southeast Asia, which can power about 14 million homes a year. Indonesia has committed to be carbon neutral by 2060, and to stop building new coal-fired plants from 2023, but despite this—the facility is undergoing a $3.5-billion expansion that will boost its capacity. Breathing difficulties Burning coal is responsible for a massive chunk of carbon dioxide emissions, making it a major threat to limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, as agreed in the 2015 Paris climate deal. But beyond its contribution to global warming, it also exacts a heavy toll on local communities. At a village of red-roofed houses in the shadow of the Suralaya plant, coal dust often builds up on rooftops and residents complain of poor health. AFP

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

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

Business

Basic Energy acquiring 60% of Filoil Energy By Alena Mae S. Flores

ISTED Basic Energy Corp. said Tuesday its board of directors approved the acquisition of up to 60 percent of Filoil Energy Company Inc.

“The members of the board of directors resolved to approve the proposed equity investment in Filoil Energy Company Inc. and acquire interest therein of up to 60 percent,” Basic Energy said in a disclosure to the stock exchange. Both Basic Energy and Filoil Energy are now affiliated with Map 2000 Development Corp. of the Villavicencio group. Basic Energy said the approval came after a review and discussion by the risk committee and approval and endorse-

MPTC to put up electric vehicle charging outlets By Darwin G. Amojelar MPT Mobility Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., said Monday it plans to install electric vehicle charging stations in all of its expressways next year. “This technology is still fresh. In fact, not a lot investors are already doing electric charging in the Philippines. That is why there are no motorists buying electric cars, but we will pave the way in installing all of these electric charging stations, with at least one in each of our expressways,” said Mark Richmund De Leon, MPT Mobility vice president for business development. “We will have at least one in NLEX [North Luzon Expressway], one in Cavitex [Manila-Cavite Expressway] and in Calax [Cavite-Laguna Expressway]. So, that’s the plan of MPT Mobility,” he said. De Leon said the company would also put up EV charging stations at parking lots managed by subsidiary Dibz. DIbz is a smart parking services group that offers pre-booked parking, valet services, parking management and Dibz Shop. “It’s an opportunity wherein office workers can charge while they are parking to DIBz-managed parking lots,” he said. Government data showed that there were 12,965 registered EVs last year, up by 8.5 percent ffrom 11,950 in 2019. The Department of Trade and Industry earlier estimated that EVs would grow to 300,000 by 2030. MPTC earlier consolidated non-toll related businesses into a new company to generate new revenue streams and serve customers better. The country’s largest toll operator created MPT Mobility Inc. to house seven new business units offering digitally-driven solutions. “MPT Mobility is the primary organization that we set up to pursue new revenue streams outside of our heritage expressway business while improving customer experience. So, those are the twin objectives that we want to meet,” said Rodrigo Franco, president and chief executive of MTPC. “MPT Mobility will play a key role in transforming some of our digital ideas into actual products and services,” he said.

ment to the related party transaction committee for further deliberation and review. Both committees unanimously approved the planned acquisition and recommended the matter for board’s approval. Basic Energy did not provide other details about the acquisition, including cost and timetable, but the transaction completes the backdoor listing of Filoil Energy through Basic Energy. M2DC, the parent company of Filoil

THE Board of Investments approved a P548.7-million project of Irradiation Solutions Inc., a new operator of essential services under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act and the 2020 Investment Priorities Plan. The project is considered a qualified activity relating to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic under the IPP. It will utilize state-of-the-art electronbeam technology, technically known as Corad UELR-1015S-10 MeV Linear Accelerator. The project will be located in Tanay, Rizal and is expected to start operations by June 2023 with an initial 43 workers. The facility targets to engage local importers, exporters and traders to use its technology. Users of the facility will be charged irradiation treatment fee using dry weight on kilogray units. Irradiation is a recognized processing and preservation technique where food and non-food products are exposed to ionizing radiation such as gamma rays, x-rays or accelerated electrons from electron beam machines. Due to its low energies, products being irradiated do not become radioactive.

properties and acquiring shares of stocks of viable corporations and holds a majority stake in Filoil Gas and Energy. Filoil Gas’s primary purpose is to engage or otherwise acquire, store, hold, transport, use, experiment with, refine, process, manufacture, blend, market, distribute, exchange, sell and otherwise dispose of, import, export, and handle, trade and generally deal in, by wholesale basis or retail through gasoline outlets, any and all kinds of petroleum products. Basic Energy earlier said the investment by M2DC would result in a fresh capital infusion into the company, allowing it to grow and expand its current portfolio of energy-focused projects, including interests in other renewables such as solar, wind, biomass, petroleum and other types of energy projects.

CHEVENING SCHOLARS.

UK Minister for Asia Amanda Milling (center) meets with Filipino Chevening scholars, some of the best and the brightest in the country, to look back at their time in prestigious UK universities and how the Chevening experience contributes to the work they do today. With Milling are (front row, from left) Chevening Alumni Foundation of the Philippines Inc. chairman and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. director for government relations and public affairs Atty. Mike Toledo, British AmbassadorDesignate Laure Beaufils, CAFPI president Rep. Ron Salo, Chevening officer Cara San Pedro, (second row) Nipa Brew chief executive Stephen Co, CAFPI chairman emeritus and University of the Philippines president Danny Concepcion, ( third row) UN Women and UNDP consultant Jean Palma and Department of Foreign Affairs acting director for international economic relations Ira Valdez, and CAFPI vice president and Land Bank of the Philippines senior vice president Elcid Pangilinan.

By Julito G. Rada THE Commission on Audit invalidated P3 billion worth of tax credits granted to several textile companies from 2008 to 2014, according to the Department of Finance. A report by the COA Special Audits Office to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said it disallowed another set of tax credit certificates worth P412.77 million, on top of the previous batches of TCCs it invalidated amounting to P2.6 billion. This brought the total value of illegal TCCs issued by the One-StopShop Inter-Agency Tax Credit and Duty Drawback Center to these textile firms to P3 billion as of Sept. 21, the date on the report sent to Dominguez by COA-

The technology is responsible for the reduction of microbes or decontamination, quarantine treatment, elimination of pathogens, sprout inhibition and sterilization. Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said project would increase the food irradiation capability of the Philippines. The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute operates the sole e-beam facility with a maximum annual capacity of only around 440 metric tons. ISI’s e-beam annual irradiation capacity of 25,000 MT will bring the national ebeam irradiation capacity to 25,440 MT a year. “The project is aligned with the government’s COVID-19 response in building food resilience through the adoption of innovative technologies to reduce post-harvest losses and increase shelf-life of agri-fisheries products and food commodities. It will also promote much needed additional economic activity throughout the agriculture value chain through increased quality of production as well as enabling local products to be of export quality and thus be able to access wider international markets,” Rodolfo said.

Monday, October 18, 2021 6.35 PTS. 7,219.81

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

1,099,609,387 170,741

TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES

11,247,162,873.03 67 131

UNCHANGED

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.6860

Japan

Yen

0.008752

0.4436

Pound

1.375800

69.7338

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128593

6.5179

Switzerland

Franc

1.082954

54.8906

Canada

Dollar

0.808081

40.9584

Singapore

Dollar

0.742005

37.6093

Australia

Dollar

0.741100

37.5634

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653153

134.4777

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266617

13.5137

Brunei

Dollar

0.739262

37.4702

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.030048

1.5230

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

13.8000

Euro

1.160400

58.8160

Korea

Won

0.000846

0.0429

China

Yuan

0.155376

7.8754

India

Rupee

0.013328

0.6755

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.240616

12.1959

New Zealand

Dollar

0.708600

35.9161

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035777

1.8134 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF Interest-free loans for MSMEs pushed

THE Employers Confederation of the Philippines pushed for the granting of loans with zero or minimal interest rates to micro, small and medium enterprises to help them extend 13th month pay to their employees. ECOP president Sergio Ortiz-Luis said more than 400,000 MSMEs might not meet the mandatory 13th month pay this year as 2 million MSMEs were still struggling to recover from the pandemic. “We don’t know how much the interest will be or if there will any interest at all. We’re working that out with Secretary [Silvestre] Bello. But if the government is willing and able to extend that loan, then there’s no need for instalment or should I say no need to give mandatory bonus in tranches,” he said Monday. He said MSMEs comprise 90 percent of the businesses in the Philippines and half of them have either temporarily or permanently closed their businesses. Some establishments were thinking of giving their workers’ 13th month payment on instalment basis. ECOP said that with the further easing of mobility and restrictions under Alert System 3, it would translate into reopening of more business sectors. Othel V. Campos

AllDay Marts eyes in-house brands

COA invalidates P3-b tax credits granted to textile firms

BOI approves P548-m Irradiation investment By Othel V. Campos

Energy, earlier acquired 67 percent of the outstanding capital stock of Basic Energy for P2.8 billion. M2DC, which is controlled by businessman Rafael Villavicencio, holds 55 percent of Filoil Energy. Basic Energy, established by businessman Oscar de Venecia, has a 20-percent participation interest in the Iriga Geothermal Project which is being operated by DESCO Inc. It also has a 15-percent equity in Vintage EPC Company and VTE International Construction Company which are the primary engineering, procurement and construction contractors of a 220-megawatt solar power project in Minbu, Myanmar. Meanwhile, M2DC is engaged in real estate acquisition, development and management and in investing in real

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Special Audits Office director Gloria Silverio. It identified the textile firms with invalidated TCCs as Silvertex Weaving Corp., Knitech Manufacturing Inc., Capital-Roll Knit Corp., Uni-Glory’s Knitting Corp., Primeknit Manufacturing Corp., Tai-Cheng Integrated Resource Inc., Miskhu Industrial Corp. and Universal Pacific Knitting Mills Inc. Silvertex remained on top of the list with the largest amount of illegal TCCs at P906.80 million, followed by CRC with P664.92 million. The COA said it found a new set of TCCs that were illegally issued to Miskhu Industrial worth P315 million, on top of the P136.98 million in tax credits granted to the firm that were also invalidated by the audit body. This

brought the total value of MIC’s illegal TCCs to P451.98 million. Illegal TCCs issued to Primeknit worth P97.77 million were also uncovered by the COA, aside from the P214.31 million granted to the firm that were invalidated. Primeknit’s invalidated tax credits now total P312.08 million. Several past officials and employees of the Department of Finance, Board of Investments, Bureau of Customs and One-Stop-Shop Inter-Agency Tax Credit and Duty Drawback Center who were responsible for processing and approving the illegal tax credit certificates issued between 2008 and 2014, as well as the recipients and claimants from the six companies, were held liable by COA.

ALLDAY Marts Inc., the grocery chain of the Villar family that is going public, plans to launch in-house brands and offer more imported items to boost sales. AllDay said during the retail investors briefing it plans to launch its own private brands over the next 12 months. It said the initial set of in-house brands would include non-perishable and non-brand sensitive items like tissue paper and alcohol. It said that as part of its strategy to target the middle to upper middle-income groups, it would also introduce more imported brands in its stores. AllDay said the gross profit margin for imported items would be 30 percent higher compared to local brands while the gross profit margin for private label brands would be 30 percent higher relative to other brands. Sales of in-house brands could potentially account for 10 percent of total sales, it said. AllDay said sales contribution from ecommerce platform also increased from 4.68 percent in the second quarter to 5.03 percent in the third quarter. Jenniffer B. Austria

CAB rules out higher fuel surcharge this year

THE Civil Aeronautics Board said Monday there would be no upward adjustment in fuel surcharge until December despite the slight increase in jet fuel prices. It said the passenger fuel surcharge for domestic and international flights from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 would remain at Level 2. Under Level 2, airlines are allowed to impose an increase of P45 to P171 for domestic flights and P218 to P2,076 for international flights. “For August to September 2021, the price of jet fuel averaged $80.22 per barrel, with US dollar exchange rate of P50.19 for the same period. This equivalent to P25.32 per liter, which corresponds to Level 2 of the passenger fuel surcharge matrix,” the regulator said. “Airlines wishing to impose or collect fuel surcharge for the same period must file its application with this office on or before the effectivity period, with fuel surcharge rates not exceeding the above-stated level,” it said. Darwin G. Amojelar

CTB CONVENTION. The Chamber of Thrift Banks convenes a virtual three-day annual convention, with the theme ‘Thrift Banks: Moving Forward to the Next Normal’ as it pursues its commitment to make members’ organizational strategies updated in the face of evolving technologies and accelerated customer demand for digital solutions. The CTB helped its member-banks weather the coronavirus pandemic by assuming a stabilizing role and facilitating the sustainable transformation of the thrift banking industry. Joining the virtual even are (clockwise from top left) CTB president Cecilio San Pedro, keynote speaker Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno, convention chair Lorenzo Ocampo and CTB trustees Jose Vicente Alde and Alberto Emilio Ramos.

Farmers ask DFA to ensure representation in FCTC meeting THE Department of Foreign Affairs, and not the Department of Health, should select the country’s delegation to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Conference of Parties 9 that will be held online on Nov. 8 to 13 to represent national interest, including the welfare of Filipino farmers, according to two agriculture groups. The Philippine Tobacco Growers Association and the Federation of Free Farmers said the DFA under the law is the country’s lead agency in global

treaty meetings, such as the FCTC COP 9 conference. “The COP 9 is an important event that has a great impact on the welfare and livelihood of farmers and our families. We are hoping that the government delegation will carry our interests and protect our rights during the conference,” said former Agriculture Secretary and FFF board chairman Leonardo Montemayor. Farmers expressed concern over reports that the DOH through the Food and Drug Administration was marshaling the

COP 9 delegation and sent out invitations to different government agencies to nominate their representatives, which is supposed to be the function of the DFA as the lead agency. The DFA is mandated by Executive Order 292 and 459 as the “lead agency that shall advise and assist the President in planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and evaluating the national efforts in the field of foreign relations” and “negotiate treaties and other agreements pursuant to the instruction of the President.”

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

Team Spirit rules T110, whopping top prize of $18M RUSSIAN Team Spirit was the underdog from the beginning. But the team fought its way out of two shutout losses at the hands of two squads that it would eventually meet and clash with for the Aegis of Champions title Sunday evening in the last stages of Dota 2’s rich The International 10 at the National Arena in Bucharest, Romania. Team Spirit emerged victorious after the fifth and final game of its bestof-five championship series with PSG. LGD, 3-2 (18-5, 24-8, 17-43, 2-23, 2912), to pocket the whopping cash prize of $18,208,300 from the $40 million total pot. The fate of Team Spirit rested in the hands of Illya Mulyarchuk, an 18-year-old Ukrainian known by his user ID Yatorro. Yattoro proved devastating in using the 24th level Terrorblade, the Demon Marauder, as his melee agility hero character, which develops into a deadly carry in the latter stages of a game. With Terrorblade, Yattoro led with nine kills and died only once in their clash with PSG.LGD, which played with Chinese gamers Wang Chunyu and Cheng Jin Xiang and Zhang Ruida. Zhang, known as faith_bian, led PSG.LGD, only managed to get five

SUPER ROOKIE. TNT's

super rookie Mikey Williams, shown here battling San Miguel Beer's Mo Tautuaa, averaged 15.7 points, spiked by an impressive 45-percent clip from downtown (10-of22) on top of 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds to be named the final Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week this conference. The Fil-Am ace rifled 20 points and had 8 rebounds and 6 assists in the Tropang Giga’s deciding Game 7 97-79 victory to advance to the finals.

kills with his level 21 Lycan in their final battle of the tournament. “WHAT A STORY, WHAT A RUN, WHAT A DREAM!” said Team Spirit in their message on Twitter. Team Spirit was the second Russian team to win the tournament in nine years. PSG.LGD, which earned $522,400 as runners-up, made it to the finals with its 2-0 win over Virtus.pro. They started their campaign with a 2-0 rout of Team Spirit in Day 1 of the Group Stage. Team Secret, which also gave the Team Spirit two of its four shutout losses in the opening stages of the competition, took a 1-2 loss to TS in the lower bracket finals to claim third place with $3,601,600. This time, Team Spirit grabbed the early lead, by taking Game 1 and selecting its go-to heroes to get better control of the contest. LGD became more aggressive in the early stage of Game 2, but members of Team Spirit took a laid-back approach to stay on top. TS capitalized on Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov’s character Magnus for his leadership, and from there, Yattoro came away with 13 kills off his character, level 26 Luna the Moon Rider. Peter Atencio

Hanoi SEA Games to push thru in mid-May next year P

HILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino on Monday confirmed that the Hanoi 31st Southeast Asian Games will open in mid-May next year.

The POC chief made the announcement following Monday’s online SEA Games Federation meeting among the games’ 11 member countries. The Vietnamese organizers, according to Tolentino, were amenable to any date for the opening ceremony in mid-May. The Cambodians, he said, took some convincing. “Cambodia will host the 32nd edition in 2023 and they want to have at least a year’s window for them to prepare,” Tolentino said. “Initially, they wanted the opening ceremony to be on May 5 or earlier.” Cambodia will host its first SEA

Games and has set its opening ceremony on May 5, 2023. “As the debate went on, I suggested for a May 12 opening ceremony, a Monday, stressing ‘what difference can one week make?” he said. “And they [Cambodians] agreed.” The Hanoi SEA Games were originally scheduled from November 21 to December 2 this year, but Vietnam’s government postponed them because of the Covid-19 pandemic. “The Vietnamese organizers will confirm the specific dates soon,” Tolentino said. There will be 40 sports but consisting

of 520 events in Hanoi. There were 54 sports with 530 events in the 30th SEA Games which the country hosted and dominated in 2019. The Hanoi SEA Games opening ceremony comes three days after the general elections and Tolentino said the Philippine delegation will fly to Vietnam in batches depending upon the events schedules. The POC submitted a 626-athlete entry by numbers for the Hanoi Games. They will compete in 39 sports. Among the SEA Games Federation members who attended the online meeting were Major General Charouck Arirachakaran, Dr. Varin Tansuphasiri, Professor Charoen Wattanasin, Dato Seri Chaiyapak Siriwat and Thana Chaiprasit of Thailand, Dato Norza Zakaria and Dato Nazifudin of Malaysia, Ferry Kono of Indonesia, Chris Chan of Singapore and Tran Van Manh of Vietnam.

7 imports join Chooks-to-Go PH 3x3 meet POC president Rep. Abraham Tolentino

Hotshots hope to end PH Cup heartache By Peter Atencio

Chito Victolero

AFTER making it to the Philippine Cup finals for the third time in four years, Magnolia Hotshots coach Chito Victolero hopes that the crown will be theirs this time around. Magnolia is seeking its 15th PBA title in franchise history and seventh AllFilipino crown. The team, however, has been emptyhanded in the Philippine Cup for the past four years, even though they have made the finals three times. Victolero expressed his hopes for a first-ever title in the Philippine Basketball Association since handling the team in the 2017 to 2018 season. “We are praying for this. That’s our goal,” said Victolero.

The Hotshots are set to meet the TNT Tropang Giga in a best-of-seven showdown on Wednesday. The Tropang Giga eased the San Miguel Beermen out of the championship picture, 97-79, last Sunday in Game 7 at the DHVSU Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga. Victolero said that in the four years that he has been with the team, they made it to the finals thrice, the last time was back in 2019, when they played against the Beermen. Their experience of being in the championship during those seasons has given the Hotshots the maturity that they now possess as they seek the crown once more. “I think, we matured a lot from that,” said Victolero. While Paul Lee and Ian Sangalang lead the teams statistics in terms of number, it’s Calvin

Abueva, who leads the overall MVP race. Abueva, who just joined the team following a trade with the Phoenix Fuel Masters, firmed up his place in the race for the Davco-PBA Best Player of the Conference plum. The 6’2” Abueva has an average of 34.2 statistical points since the start of the Philippine Cup. Also known as “The Beast”, Abueva averaged a double-double of 15.2 points and 10.0 rebounds, while adding 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.1 block shots in the 19 games that he played. Lee is the team’s no. 1 offensive player with his averages of 17 points, while the 29-year-old Sangalang, the Hotshots’ no. 3 player with an average of 16.91, sits at no. 2 with 33.7 SPs.

Obiena, Valdez named Allianz PNB Life Brand Ambassador ELITE pole vaulter, world number five, Olympian, and current Asian record holder EJ Obiena is the newest face of Allianz PNB Life. He joins volleyball star Alyssa Valdez, who officially became part of Allianz PNB Life‘s lineup of brand ambassadors last June. After reaching the pole vault final in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, Obiena continued to compete in more events in Europe. This included his latest historic bid in Austria, where he broke his personal record—as well as the Asian mark—when he cleared 5.93m. Before Austria, Obiena was already able to tally a new personal and national record after clearing the 5.91m mark in a pole vault competion in Paris last August 29, 2021.

In his most recent appearance in a webinar presented by Allianz PNB Life last July, the star pole vaulter shared, “I just put myself into the work that I’ve been doing, the tasks that I have accepted, and [what] I should be doing.” But even as he’s high on an international record-breaking streak, Obiena remains grounded. “If you’re open to learning, if you’re open to growing, and you can see the small improvements, I think that’s a win,” he said. Obiena, however, wasn’t immune to the toll of the pandemic either. While being successful from a young age, living away from his family and training in isolation is still difficult for him. With some help from his coach, Obiena was soon enough able

to get back on track to Tokyo 2020 and later competitions. Likewise, Allianz PNB Life joins Obiena’s team in backing the athlete to make more confident leaps and bounds into the future. For Obiena, this is especially important as he prepares himself for future competitions. “Supporting passionate athletes like E.J. Obiena is part of our mission to be the global insurer of sport and sustainability,” said Alexander Grenz, CEO and President of Allianz PNB Life. Last January, Allianz officially began its eight-year Worldwide Partner for Olympic and Paralympic Movements until 2028. Allianz has supported the International Paralympic Committee since 2006, most recently as an International Partner.

Filipino Olympian EJ Obiena is the newest Allianz PNB Life ambassador

SEVEN imports will play for six teams that will compete in the special one-day Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 Invitational powered by TM on Wednesday at the Laus Events Center in San Fernando, Pampanga. Headlining the foreign players is HeiHei Manila’s two-time NCAA All-Defensive team member Mike Nzeusseu. The 6’6” Cameroonian will join Chico Lanete, Zach Huang, and Mac Tallo. Returning to the league is 6’7” Cameroonian Chibueze Ikeh. Ikeh, who previously played for Inoza Bulacan in the 2019 Patriot’s Cup, will reinforce Essen Immunoboost Sarangani -- a team that has Ronjay Buenafe, Paul Sanga, and Donald Gumaru. Another returnee to the league is 6’7” Cameroonian Frederick Elombi, who played for Max4-Birada Cebu back in 2019 as well. Elombi will be joined by fellow Cameroonian Landry Sanjo, Monbert Arong, and Ralph Dinolan in ARQ Builders-Cebu. The other imports are Cameroonian Hamadou Laminou (BRT Sumisip-Basilan), Nigerian Henry Iloka (RBR Cabiao Nueva Ecija), and Eugene Toba (Pasig Kingpins). “We opened up the one-day Invitational tournament that we have to imports for the sole reason that these former student-athletes have not played for such a long time and have been stranded in our country since the pandemic,” said Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 league owner Ronald Mascariñas. “This will also help our local players in adjusting to the global FIBA 3x3 game as there are a lot of skilled 6’6” and above players in those competitions,” he added. Basilan will also have Junjie Hallare, Shaq Alanes, and Darwin Lunor; Nueva Ecija has Ian Dela Torre, Ichie Altamirano, and King Importante; while Pasig features Ryan and Nikki Monteclaro along with Jaypee Belencion. The other teams in this tournament that will see the champion take home P100,000 while the second and third place finishers will bank P50,000 and P20,000, respectively, are Pacquiao Coffee Bacolod, Homegrown Grains Bocaue, AMACOR Mandaluyong, Adam Esli Pasay, MNL Kingpin Quezon City, and Zamboanga Valientes MLV.

Sports

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

Wang’s jumpstarts collegiate basketball By Lito Cinco COLLEGIATE basketball might just have a jumpstart with basketball patron Alex Wang planning to hold a Chairman’s Cup invitational tournament as soon as allowed by the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases “My plan is to revive the Millennium Basketball League through a collegiate tournament with maybe eight teams in the field. We need to revitalize basketball right after this pandemic,” said Wang, who owns Wang’s Ballclub which is celebrating its 25th year. Wang has been involved in sports for a long time, with his ballclub winning its share of commercial league championships. “I had the Letran varsity team play in the PBA’s D League under Wang’s Ballclub to hasten its development. Under Bonnie Tan, the team won the last NCAA seniors’ crown. I am also thinking of initiating talks with the PBA regarding the collegiate tournament I am planning,” said Wang.

Bucks chase another crown as NBA opens W ASHINGTON —Giannis Antetokounmpo chases another title, the Brooklyn Nets move on without Kyrie Irving and LeBron James unveils his new supporting cast when the 2021-22 NBA season begins Tuesday.

The NBA’s 75th anniversary campaign tips off with the Brooklyn Nets at Milwaukee as NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Antetokounmpo and the rest of the Bucks raise the club’s first

championship banner since 1971. The Greek superstar, a two-time NBA MVP, averaged 30.2 points, 12.8 rebounds, 5.1 as-

sists, 1.2 blocked shots and 1.0 steals a game last year in the playoffs as the Bucks ended a half-century title drought. Milwaukee will try to become the first NBA champion from the Eastern Conference to repeat since James led Miami to titles in 2012 and 2013 as the league aims for its first full 82-game per club campaign since 2018-19 after consecutive seasons shortened due to COVID-19. The Nets have been part of the NBA off-season’s biggest drama with the loss of Irving for refusing to

Para Dance Sport Team at PSA Forum THE Philippine Para Dance Sport Team recounts its journey in the recent Polish Open World Qualifying Round moving forward as they serve as special guest in the Tuesday online session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum. Appearing in the 11 a.m. public sports program are coach Genice Bong Marquez and the two-time world champion pair of Julius Obero and Rhea Marquez. The Philippine team brought home seven golds, four silvers, and eight bronzes during the qualifier in Lomianki, Poland last week to earn berths in the World Para Dance Sport Championships in Ulsan, South Korea from Nov. 26 to 28. The session is presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, Daily Tribune, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

Weather Lang steals show in Philracom Sprint race

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks high fives his teammate during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. AFP

Celebrating Rise Up Shape Up anniversary: Pushing women to be physically, mentally fit FILIPINO women take a big and challenging role in the pandemic. With lockdowns which have practically kept the family inside the home to help flatten the curb of COVID-19 cases, the women inside every home have suddenly become caretakers of sick family members, while ensuring that the rest maintain an active lifestyle in order for them to be productive. The Philippine Sports Commission’s Rise Up Shape Up was mounted in October last year as a challenge to keep women and girls properly informed, educated and made aware on how to maintain an active lifestyle. The PSC Women in Sports believes that there is no stopping to keeping the mind and body fit especially at pandemic times. Seizing the powerful capacity of the social media and digital platforms at the onset of lockdowns last year, the web series was installed on You Tube and Facebook account. The goal is to mount an ambitious weekly campaign to keep an active lifestyle at home through a series of lectures, demonstrations, inspirational talks, sports

FREE THROW SHOOTER NATHANIEL DELA CRUZ

Driven

AFTER all the preseason drama has come and gone – opting out, signing to a different team, recruiting players you want to be teammates with, demanding to be traded, pre-season scrimmages – the sentiment of many (if not all) players remain the same. Do Better. Win. Become a champion. Many players appear committed to changing their fortunes. But how many are committed to real change, to pay such a hefty price just to end up in better circumstances? I don’t question the work ethic. I question the mindset. It is not enough to merely improve. But the improve-

and women’s testimonials, and many real stories of the potent role of sports and physical activities in building and re-building lives. Rise Up Shape Up on its 41st episode on Oct. 23 will showcase the Filipino women whose top-level expertise in the rules of sports have seen themselves officiating in the ultimate competition platform, the Olympic Games. In this episode, five Filipino women International Technical Officials will share their experiences at the Tokyo Olympics, as well as their journey to a developing a career path in sports officiating. A psychologist and human resource expert, Dr. Marie Pax Angeles of Tarlac State University is invited to shed

ment should be a result of change. You could be improving, but not changing. It is difficult to imagine, even counterintuitive, but it is real and it could happen; it always happens, and this is why many players remain mired in obscurity, doomed by their own doing. You could be improving your shooting but if you do not change your tendency to take bad shots, if you do not change your level of confidence with your teammates and the system you are running as a team, you will still end up in the same pitiful circumstances filled with failure, frustration, and mediocrity. The start of the NBA feels like drivers returning to the road to restart this yearly, almost year-long journey in search of a championship, so why not a driving analogy? Think about driving a car on the road. Improving means driving faster, thinking it will take you to your destination faster before the gas runs out or before it gets dark. But it is useless to move faster and arrive earlier than expected to a place you don’t intend to be.

have a Covid-19 vaccination. City regulations in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco forbid attending large indoor public gatherings without being vaccinated, meaning Irving could not play in Nets home games and would miss most of Brooklyn’s regular-season contests. “I chose to be unvaccinated and that was my choice and I ask y’all just to respect that choice,” Irving said. “I’m going to stay in shape, be ready to play, be ready to rock out with my teammates and just be part of this whole thing.” As a result, the Nets decided the star guard will not be part of the team at all rather than be available on a part-time basis. Brooklyn still offers formidable talent with two-time NBA champion and 2014 NBA MVP Kevin Durant up front and 2018 MVP and three-time scoring champion James Harden in the Nets backcourt. Patty Mills, an NBA champion with San Antonio in 2014, signed with the Nets in August after sparking the Australia Boomers to a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The 33-year-old guard from Canberra could see more minutes with Irving absent. “When you lose a talent as great as Kyrie, we have to be tighter, we have to be more connected, we have to have guys play bigger roles and be more responsible with the details,” Nets coach Steve Nash said. “No one is going to come in and imitate Kyrie. So how can we make up for his loss as best as possible? Through all the collective work we do... coming together and really building a team.” ‘Going to take a minute’ The NBA season’s opening night also features James and the revamped Los Angeles Lakers playing host to the Golden State Warriors. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and the rest of the Warriors hope to welcome back guard Klay Thompson from an Achilles tendon injury in December or January. The Lakers have surrounded James and Anthony Davis with a new collection of talent, including Russell Westbrook, Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo, Trevor Ariza, Malik Monk, Kendrick Nunn and Carmelo Anthony. AFP

light on developing career paths and how people can successfully go through the various stages which includes exploring a career and establishing this, while learning to address declines and challenges when they happen. In observance of the United Nations International Day of the Girl in October, the upcoming 42nd episode of Rise Up Shape Up is an exciting feature of several girl champions in various sporting events. A sports science expert from the Benguet State University will discuss the physical development of a girlathlete, while a psychology professor will talk about managing pressures among very young children. Succeeding episodes include a caving and hiking experience to appreciate nature and keeping mind-body wellness at pandemic with Pangasinan women together with Governor Amado Espino III. And, because October celebrates the United Nations International Day of Rural Women, the show features rural women and girls from a fishing and beach community as they joyfully play obstacle race, a sport recognized by the Olympic Movement.

It is useless to drive faster if you are on the wrong road. Changing means stopping on the side of the road and checking the map to plot a new course, and taking it. You don’t have to drive faster if no one is racing against you; like I said, the NBA championship is a quest, not a race. You just have to drive smarter, and follow the road that will lead you to a place of better fortune. That is improvement as a result of change. After watching the NBA preseason games, it is obvious how a lot of players remain set on their ways. The question is how long in the regular season are they going to keep this up before they plan a detour and accept that they are going the wrong way. That’s the thing with ego and driving. You won’t immediately and readily accept you are wrong. Being wrong feels like a major inconvenience you do not want to deal with. You want to hope that you’ll still end up where you want to go even with the knowledge that you are on the wrong road. There

is a level of pride that comes with being on the wheel, a sense of pride that responds to the dominant qualities of the driver, amplifying it; a pride that comes with an air of dismissiveness and recklessness if the driver is impatient, ill-tempered, and arrogant. Such hubris has led many to drive themselves towards oblivion, and despite a pit filled with cars that fell to their tragic end, warnings to such danger remain unheeded. All but a few have forgotten their names. They may have been good drivers, but God knows why they were on that road and why they refused to take a different route. Listen to George Bernard Shaw’s advice: “Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” Calvin Abueva and how (I think) he’s changed is a lesson on improving and changing. Sure, he could’ve chosen to improve his ability to get on opposing players’ nerves by learning how to better tread the fine line between playing mind games and getting slapped with a technical. Instead, he chose to change.

FIVE equine speedsters took to the track last Sunday at the San Lazaro Business and Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite to battle it out for the P1.5-million 2021 Philracom Sprint ran over the distance of 1000-meters. As the smoke cleared, it was lightlyfavored Weather Lang (Brigand out of Sky Is The Limit) bringing home the title and the P900,000 top prize for the Running Rich Racing Stable. Only sent off as the fourth choice, the Ruben Tupaz-trained and Jigger Paano-mounted galloper bided his time at the back of the five-horse field in the early goings as outsider Asiong dictated the pace with Smokin Saturday, Son Also Rises and Runway in tow. The Melaine Habla-bred five-yearold chestnut made his move with 500 meters to go and positioned himself in third, within striking distance of pacesetter Asiong. As they turned for home, Weather Lang was driving for the win with Asiong trying his best to stave off the charge. But Weather Lang was not to be denied the victory, clocking 58.4 seconds (12-21’-25) for the journey. Second place and P337,500 went to the connections of Asiong, followed by Son Also Rises (P187,500) and Smokin Saturday coming in fourth for P75,000.

And looking at his player efficiency rating with Magnolia, it appears that he chose to embrace the notion that playing smart defense is the best way to get into your opponent’s head without the ills that come with notoriety. This is how a clown earns the crown of the king. If his goal is (another) championship and redemption, he could’ve not picked a better road to take. Not too long ago in his career, he faced a fork on the road; continue playing and careen with the attitude he has, or change - change your driving and change the direction you are heading. I am sure many Filipino basketball fans are happy with the decision Abueva made. He may not win the championship against TNT in this upcoming series, but I’m sure he’s already won his redemption. It’s going to be a long drive, but if the journey feels right, that’s when you know you are improving and changing. You don’t have to be at your journey’s end. You start with finding yourself at the right place.

Entertainment Carmina and Zoren’s ‘baby’ abloom in new endorsement BEAUTÉDERM RM Corporation opens the final quarter of 2021 with the freshest and most exciting young star to join its evergrowing family as it formally welcomes TV personality, Cassy Legaspi, as the brand’s newest ambassador. Since it was established back in 2009, Beautéderm has become a leader in the beauty and wellness industry as a respected distributor whose brands are trusted by consumers not only in the Philippines but the world over as well, while having an effective business model that provides longterm, sustainable jobs to thousands of resellers and franchisees. Cassy, who is also endorsing the brand’s Caress Hand Sanitizer Spray, Etré Clair

Mouth Spray, Glowtion Instant Tan Lotion, and Au Revoir Relax and Revive Lotion, is the ideal brand ambassador of Beautéderm’s Facial Care Line because of her wholesome image and her very strong reach to the younger segment of the market as evident on her millions of followers on social media. Aside from being a major social media personality, Cassy also gained further mainstream recognition when she appeared on GMA-7’s top-rater First Yaya where she played the role of Nina Acosta while cohosting Sarap ‘Di Ba Bahay Edition opposite mother Carmina Villaroel and brother Mavy Legaspi from 2018 to 2021. “Cassy is a very welcome addition to

the Beautéderm and we are thrilled to have her on board,” says Beautéderm President and CEO Rhea Anicoche-Tan who recently spearheaded the Royale Beauté 12th anniversary celebration of the company. “Cassy embodies the vibrancy of youthfulness and this best represents our line of products which are designed and formulated for all ages.” Cassy on the other hand is equally elated now that she is officially a Beautéderm Brand Ambassador. “I am happy to partner with Beautéderm and I am so in love with their products. I love using their all-natural skin set Beauté L’ Elixir as it is now part of my daily skin

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

Actress and TV personality Cassy Legaspi is the newest addition to a growing number of Beautederm’s celebrity ambassadors.

regimen. Aside from being very mild, it smells so great and it is effective in nourishing and cleansing my skin. I could really feel and see the glow of my skin from the moment I started using it.” For more information on Beautéderm

and Cassy Legaspi, follow @beautédermcorporation on Instagram, @beautedermcorp on Twitter, and @beautedermcoporation on TikTok; like Beautéderm on Facebook; and subscribe to Beautéderm TV on YouTube.

From local TV, ‘Di Na Muli’ goes worldwide

‘Di Na Muli’ is the first teamup series of Julia Barretto and Marco Gumabao, with Marco Gallo. Screen star Judy Ann Santos opens up with Sen. Joel Villanueva in the latest episode of ‘AksyonTime.’

What Sen. Joel Villanueva discovered about Judy Ann Santos JUDY Ann Santos’ meteoric rise from being a child star to becoming one of the country’s top dramatic actresses has all the plot elements that would fit into a heartwarming and inspiring movie. Her dreams were pure and simple - enjoy work as much as she could, and save up money for school. Yet it seemed like the road to stardom had already been paved for her – thanks to the support of her family and the folks she met on the set. Missing her father whom she rarely had time to spend time with, and her mother, who was in Canada, Judy Ann found good company in the co-stars she worked with and the supportive staff and crew who made her feel at home all the time. “I was never close with my dad. I never had the chance to see him growing up. So, I look forward to the day na may taping kasi yung mga cameramen, crew lahat ng staff and engineers, sobrang close ako. Sa kanila ako nakakakuha ng kalinga at saka may mga bata rin akong kasama sa set,” said Judy Ann during an interview with Senator Joel Villanueva of AksyonTime, which aired on A2Z Channel 11 over the weekend. While Judy Ann totally enjoyed being a young performer, she never really imagined doing acting for more than three decades. “Kung bata ka kasi, hinahanap mo lang naman kung ano yung nakapapagpasaya sa iyo at that time. Yung ang feeling ko, masaya ako sa ginagawa ko. Kumikita ako kahit paano. And gusto ko yung ginagawa ko that’s why medyo magagawa ko ito (acting) ng medyo mas mahaba-haba pa,” shared Judy Ann known to fans as “Juday”. With her innate talent and commitment to her craft, Juday was blessed with more projects. Then a teen star she had to decide whether to continue school or pursue acting as a profession. “I have to decide kung ipu-pursue ko ba ang pagka-college ko, or tatapusin ko lang yung pagiging high school ko and move forward to acting. ‘Cause at that time wala rin kaming pera for enrolment and marami namang projects na pumapasok so I asked my mom, nasa Canada sya nun, kung pwedeng mag-college na lang ako kapag alam ko na yung kurso kong kukunin,” said Judy Ann a skilled chef who took and passed the exam for TESDA National Certification in 2009. Read full story on manilastandard.net

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

IEWERS from different territories will finally see the first teamup series of Julia Barretto and Marco Gumabao, with Marco Gallo. Starting Oct. 22, the series Di Na Muli, which initially premiered on TV5, will be made available on Vivamax.

The Viva Entertainment streaming platform has a global footprint and is available in the Middle East, Europe, and across the Asian region. In December, it enters the following territories: USA, Northern Mari-

anas Island-Saipan, Guam, Hawaii, and Canada. This brings Vivamax’s global reach to 71 territories since going live. The 14-episode series is a story about opening up to love and dealing with regret, Julia Barretto plays Yanna, an intelligent and loving young woman who suddenly becomes recluse and distant when she discovers her ability to see people’s remaining lifetime by touching their hand. She pretends to be a germaphobe to avoid hand contact. Yanna’s dream of building a successful business is supported by her longtime friend and suitor, CJ, played by Marco Gallo. CJ feels that Yanna is holding back, but he continues to love her and help her build the hostel they’ve planned together. It is because of CJ that Yanna learns to appreciate

and value the time she spends with the significant people in her life. When her path crosses with Mico, a good-looking but cynical guy played by Marco Gumabao, Yanna doubts that they’ll become friends. But fate has a way of bringing them closer together. Still, Yanna is careful not to touch Mico’s hand. But for how long can she avoid it? And how will she take Mico’s dark past? Di Na Muli is also a special treat for the fans of the love team of Bobby Andrews and Angelu de Leon. The series also stars Baron Geisler, Liz Alindogan, Lander Vera Perez, Katya Santos, and Andre Yllana. The theme song is performed by Janine Teñoso and the series is directed by Andoy Ranay.

Saab Magalona, Candy Gamos share secret to stronger sisterhood ISN’T it wonderful how sisterhood can be more than just a they understand how self-care also helps strengthen their biological bond? Last Sept. 25, songstresses Saab Maga- bond. “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” Saab mentions. lona and Candy Gamos shared how they found a sister in Candy agrees, sharing that she usually spends stress-free each other on the first episode of Physiogel’s SIS Sessions on FB Live. Saab and Candy revealed that they met through their exes. Those relationships obviously did not work out, but the silver lining? Their friendship did. More than a decade later, here they are, cheerleaders and support system to each other. This amazing friendship even inspires the upbeat, energetic music they make with their band, Cheats. Though already strong, these women agree that there’s a special kind of magic that makes them even stronger when they lean onto each other. In between those hang outs and late-night chikas, showing their vulnerable side during tough times allowed them to become each other’s safe space, making their connection Saab Magalona and Candy Gamos shared how they found even more powerful. a sister in each other on the first episode of Physiogel’s ‘SIS While it is important for sisters to look after each other, Sessions’.

nights with her go-to skincare, Physiogel Daily Moisture Therapy Range. Its gentle, hydrating formula powered by Biomimic Technology helps keep her skin strong, like their sisterhood. On days when her skin is extra sensitive, Saab makes sure to use Physiogel Calming Relief Range to help combat irritations intensively. These rituals allow them to be their best selves, “capable of being somebody else’s support during difficult times.” After all, sisters must stick together, right? Saab and Candy’s story just proves that having a shared DNA is not the only way to define sisterhood. It’s when we come together to share moments, whether of highs or lows and being the source of strength to the sister you choose. More stories of sisterhood are coming up on the next SIS Session. Stay tuned on Physiogel’s Facebook Page for more details soon. Physiogel is available at Mercury Drug, Watsons, South Star Drug, Rose Pharmacy, My Pharma, and BeautyMNL.

How Max Collins meticulously prepares for a role IN THE recent virtual media conference for GMA’s latest primetime offering To Have and to Hold, Max Collins revealed that she is meticulously prepared for her role. “That’s true!” she said. “I can say that I’ve kind of over-prepared for the character of Dominique. It’s the first time that I did that. I embraced every part of her, both the good and the bad.” The award-winning actress is excited about the fact that the role is something new for her. “She’s very different from me! Dominique is a successful interior designer who is smart, has a high sense of worth, and doesn’t like

being taken for granted. Her story is very far from mine in real life. But that’s the beauty of being an actress. Basically, you get to play different types of people.” Interestingly, what are the good traits that she got from Dominique? “Well, for one, the confidence, the way she dresses. I love that! She’s very different, yes. She’s lovable in some ways and you won’t also like her in some ways---just like me. I’m not a perfect individual. “Dominique is brave and confident. But she has flaws, too, and is trying to find herself. I can relate to her in those aspects. I guess, those are the commonalities and differences between me and Dominique.”

In this soap, Max is in the company of equally good and seasoned performers like Carla Abellana, Rocco Nacino, Ina Feleo, Roi Vinzon, Gilleth Sandico, Bing Pimentel, and Valeen Montenegro. Can she say that it really challenged her as an actress? “I believe so! As I’ve mentioned earlier, this is the first project that I really worked so hard on. It’s because I want to prove myself further in my craft. Especially that I’m already a mother. “I see things from a different perspective now. In the future, I want my son to be proud of my body of work (Max has a child with husband Pancho Magno named Skye who

just turned one year old)! I guess that gives me more of a drive---to prove myself and do better.” The lovely Kapuso hopes that her efforts will be noticed. “I really dug deep emotionally to portray Dominique. It’s definitely one role I’m proud of. I wish the viewers will like my performance here,” ended Max. Max Collins as Dominique Ramirez in the daily drama ‘To Have and to Hold.’

Bernadette Lunas, Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

Life

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

To protect your business, protect your employees first By Theriz Lizel R. Silvano

“W

HEN employees get sick, businesses suffer.” Responsible business owners know that before anything else, they need to take care of their people first – such is the case in a perfect world.

PEACE OF MIND. Medical insurance provider Maxicare offers

affordable yet quality healthcare plans designed for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.

The natural way to oral care

However, for startups, small, and medium-sized enterprises that have taken a hit and are struggling to stay afloat amid a pandemic, doing the right thing for their employees while providing goods and services for their customers can be expensive, if impractical. Marvin Agustin, a restaurateur, revealed his utmost concern during the pandemic is the safety of his staff, recognizing that his business will not survive if his employees are sick. “The threat of COVID is serious. Isa sa mga unang unang dapat alagaan and pay attention to [is] the safety of everyone. We won’t be able to operate if people, your employees and your staff, would get sick, and also [it is] not safe for the customers,” he said. Like many entrepreneurs, Agustin was also wary about the expenses in ensuring his employees’ safety, not until he was made aware of the SME healthcare plans of Maxicare, for which he is the brand ambassador. “I’ll be honest, before this partnership with Maxicare, even for myself natatakot ako kasi parang ,” he related. “But you know, hearextra gastos,” ing and learning about Maxicare’s SME plans, they just made it convenient and af affordable at hindi ka na magdadalawang isip na kumuha nito.” “They made it within reach para magkaroon ka nito para sa sarili mo, para sa kumpanya mo, at para sa mga emp-leyado mo. You don’t need to worry about kung magkano gagastusin mo, o kung meron ka mang protection kapag nagkasakit ka,” he added.

Actor and entrepreneur Marvin Agustin

Medical insurance provider Maxicare offers SME healthcare plans for entrepreneurs looking for affordable and quality healthcare they can provide to their employees. Milky Gallegos, assistant vice president of consumer marketing at Maxicare, reassures small entrepreneurs that investing in HMOs for their employees is the smarter choice. “Recently, we conducted a study among hundreds of employees across the country, and it turns out that SMEs – those who don’t invest in HMO – spend an average of P21,600 per employee per year on healthcare expenses. This is on top of payroll and expenses such as cash advance or pautang whenever an employee or an employee’s family member gets sick. It’s a significant amount!” Gallegos continued, “Investing in Maxicare SME healthcare plans not only gives your employees access to quality healthcare, but also protects your business from unplanned expenses. It really is an investment for the emem ployees and the business itself.” Maxicare SME healthcare plans start as low as P4,600 to P6,000 per employee per year, depending on the size of the business. The healthcare plans include: Maxicare Plus (for small businesses with 10-99 employ employees), Maxicare Starter Plan (for micro busi businesses with 3-9 employees), Maxicare BusiBusi ness Essential (most affordable with outpatient options), and Care Program or an Outpatient Care + Confinement Care HMO program (for companies with 3-99 employees). The healthcare plans, according to Gallegos, also cover panpan demic-related diseases. Go to maxicare.com.ph or email customercare @maxicare.com.ph for more information. Restaurateur Marvin Agustin employs a few staff members that help him run his several food brands, including Tito Marvs, By Secret Kitchen, Mr. VinMunchies, and more.

Robi Domingo’s 4 priorities in the ‘new normal’ Russian oral care brand Splat offers 100 percent vegan products — such as Professional Biocalcium Toothpaste and Professional Medical Herbs Bio-active Toothpaste — made with natural ingredients, essential oils, and medicinal plant extracts.

A RUSSIAN company offering ethically and scientifically developed natural oral care products is now present in the Philippines. All products from Splat, a pioneer in natural oral care in European and Asian countries, are 100 percent vegan and contain natural ingredients, essential oils, and medicinal plant extract in therapeutic dosages. Ingredients are from leading global manufacturers The brand says its products do not contain substances that can potentially harm humans, animals, and the planet, such as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), triclosan, chlorhexidine, aluminum lactate, peroxide, petroleum-derived products, synthetic antiseptic agents, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and saccharinate. The amount of foam-forming agents in certain products is also very minimal, it adds. “Splat doesn’t use these ingredients because they can affect the oral cavity mucosa and microflora, and make the cell membrane thin.” The brand’s products include Splat Kids Natural Toothpaste, a hypoallergenic toothpaste in strawberry-cherry and fruit ice cream flavors, made with Luctatol to protect against cavities and dental plaque; calcium hydroxyapatite (HAP) to strengthen teeth enamel; and aloe vera gel, l-arginine, and red grape seed extract to promote healthy gums. Splat Professional Sensitive White Toothpaste, on the other hand, has tannase enzyme to actively brighten the enamel; calcium and sodium pyrophosphates to clean plaque from teeth; fig extract to provide antioxidant and antibacterial properties; mint and grapefruit essential oils and zinc gluconate to protect enamel from plaque formation; natural lysozyme protein to protect against bacteria; and bifidobacteria extract for immunity. Other oral care products from Splat include Professional Maximum Bio-active Toothpaste, Professional Medical Herbs Bioactive Toothpaste, Professional White Plus Bio-active Toothpaste, Professional Biocalcium Enamel Restoration and Safe Whitening, Professional Green Tea Toothpaste, and Professional Lavendersept Toothpaste. Splat is exclusively distributed by ABGPH Corp. and is now available Splat Kids Natural Toothpaste in exclusively in select Watsons stores fruit ice cream flavor and at watsons.com.ph.

HOST and youth advocate Robi Domingo has had his fair share of challenges this past year. The stress of the pandemic took a significant toll on him and his family. “It came to a point that I asked myself if I made the right decision not to pursue medicine. When everyone needed a frontliner, why didn’t I become a doctor?” shares Domingo, a son of both doctors, who initially planned to pursue medicine before it was shelved to make way for his showbiz career. The situation has taught him certain things. As he lives with and amid a pandemic, the 32-year-old actor and host has learned to prioritize four things. Staying physically healthy and fit Because his parents are frontliners, Domingo admits they were scared of

the virus coming to their home. To ensure everyone’s health, they are medicine-ready, focused on staying fit, and have set up automated alcohol dispensers in various rooms. At home, the Domingos use Shield+ Alcohol that helps disinfect and kill germs, while moisturizing the skin with vitamin E and collagen. Being mindful of his mental health Domingo emphasizes the importance of mental health, especially since many remain cooped up at home and experience different levels of stress. He started making a daily schedule to have more control over his life in these uncertain times. Having parents who remind him to de-stress, he shares, “Let people know you’re there for them, to listen to them, and be proactive in asking how they are doing.” Taking up new hobbies While many Filipinos – his dad for instance – have become plant parents to stay productive at home, The PBB alumus went back to playing the piano to relax. His mom usually asks him to learn and play songs from K-drama shows like “Goblin” and “Crash Landing On You”. He says it is important to find hobbies to recharge and refresh the mind especially during stressful times.

Robi with his frontliner mom, Mary Ann.

Making a positive impact As a public personality, Domingo uses his platform to spread awareness and encourage the youth to make good choices, especially with the upcoming elections. “Beyond protecting ourselves, registering to vote resonates with the youth now. I want them to realize that the power is really in our hands,” he says. He is also passionate about supporting Filipino farmers. As the brand ambassador for Shield+ Alcohol, a Filipino-made alcohol featuring sustainable sugarcane, he believes that using product such as this can help protect customers and at the same time support the local sugarcane industry. “Robi’s values are very much aligned with URC’s. We believe in the capabilities of Filipinos and we aspire to have a sustainable future,” said Vincent Go, managing director of Universal Robina Corporation Agro-Industrial Group, the maker of Shield+ Alcohol. Robi Domingo uses his platform to encourage the youth to make good choices, empower Filipino farmers, and promote sustainability.