Manila Standard - 2021 October 27 - Wednesday

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

manilastandard.net

Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net

Brands for booster shot named For 3rd dose, mixed brands eyed; 7m doses for both vax drives

By Willie Casas and Vito Barcelo

T

HE Department of Health (DOH) has approved the recommendation of an experts' panel for COVID-19 booster shots for senior citizens, immunocompromised individuals and health care workers.

VOL. XXXV • NO. 254 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Those who have been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine should get a Pfizer booster shot, while those jabbed with the Janssen vaccine should get a Janssen booster shot.

But for those who received vaccines from AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Moderna, the preferred booster shot is Pfizer, although the same brand may also be given as a booster.

“The bottomline is that the booster shot should be the same platform or homologous, as much as possible,” said Dr. Consorcia Lim Quizon of the Department of Health’s National Immunization Technical Advisory Group. “So if you got Pfizer, Sinovac, whatever, it’s the same booster that you’re supposed to get.”

She added, however, that the government may allow the mixing of vaccine jabs and booster shots from different brands because research has already been done on this, and a particular brand may not be available.

Next page

Duterte orders LGUs to ramp up search for the unvaxxed

By Vito Barcelo and Joel E. Zurbano

Children enjoy playing at an outdoor playground at the Quezon City Memorial Park on October 26, 2021, more than a year after being restricted to their homes due to the COVID-19 lockdowns. The government aims to finish inoculating the target population for minors with comorbidities aged 12 to 17 nationwide. Manny Palmero

Gov’t targets to complete inoculating 1.2m minors by Dec. THE government aims to complete the vaccination of minors by December this year to protect them from severe COVID-19 infection, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Monday night during President Rodrigo Duterte's “Talk to the People” briefing.

The Department of Health reported there were around 1.2 million children with comorbidities aged 12 to 17 years old nationwide who would be inoculated during the period.

Local government units in the National Capital Region have started vaccination

of minors with comorbidities last week.

Galvez said this would help recover the lost time of children after almost two years being restricted at home.

Quoting psychologists, Galvez said around 300 percent to 400 percent of children were suffering from depression,

53,642

42,077

135

2,669,953

8,470

By Vito Barcelo THE National Anti-Poverty Commission–Formal Labor and Migrant Workers Sectoral Council (NAPC-FLMW) has rejected the latest protocols issued by InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF)

By Darwin G. Amojelar

More Pinoys feel life harder in last 12 mos. IATF urged to sue

MEMENTO MORI. A visitor lights candles at the tomb of his departed loved

ones at the Manila North Cemetery in Manila on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. All cemeteries in the National Capital Region will be closed from October 29 to November 2 to avoid overcrowding and a possible surge of COVID-19 cases. Danny Pata

MORE than half of adult Filipinos claimed their life got worse in the past 12 months, according to the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The SWS found that 57 percent of adult Filipinos believed their quality of life worsened a year ago while 13 percent said it got better and 29 percent said it stayed the same.The resulting Net Gainers score is -44, classified by SWS as extremely low (-49 to -40).

The September 2021 Net Gainer score is 13 points down from the very low -31 in June 2021, arresting the recovery from the catastrophic -76 in September 2020 to extremely low -48 in November 2020 and very low -38 in May 2021. Next page

on “no jab, no work” and “no jab, no pay.”

The Council said it was questioning the legality of the IATF resolution which allows only vaccinated workers to serve in restaurants, spas and other similar establishments in areas under Alert Level 3.

Earlier on, Labor Secretary Silvestre Next page

DOTR pushes full capacity in PUVs

(As of 4 PM, OCTOBER 26)

By Vito Barcelo

Next page

Anti-poverty body slams Bello for ‘no jab, no work/pay’ policy

2,765,672 4,393

pointing out that the government is seeking to inoculate 90 percent of teachers, students and personnel in schools before the end of November.

Local government units must also ramp up their first dosage to 70 percent by the end of November, he said. Next page

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte warned mayors not to be remiss in convincing their constituents to get vaccinated against COVID 19 to achieve herd immunity before the year ends or they will answer to the Department of Interior and Local Government.

He also urged local government units (LGUs) to devise a more “systematic and efficient way” to determine who among their constituents have not been vaccinated yet.

“Please do everything to convince them to get vaccinated,” Duterte said.

“We need to ramp up the vaccination rate in various LGUs in order to reach our target of inoculating 50 million individuals by the end of the year. We cannot reach this target if we plateau at 400,000 or 500,000 daily jabs,” he said.

“It now depends on your approach, with the people, because there are barangay captains who belong to an opposing

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) is proposing to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATFEID) to increase the passenger capacity

DENR over crowd at Dolomite beach

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta MANILA City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Tuesday urged the Inter-Agency Task Force Against COVID-19 to file cases against officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for opening the dolomite beach in Manila Bay to the public without informing the city government.

Next page

A member of the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 5 helps maintain crowd control, particularly in preventing the entry of minors 12 years old and below at the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach. Norman Cruz

in public transportation to 100 percent in Metro Manila.

The agency said it was ready to defend its recommendation to increase the passenger capacity in public transportation with pilot implementation Next page

A2

News

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Gov’t..

From A1

The vaccine czar, meanwhile, said they were expecting to achieve 100 million doses of vaccines this October as 3 million more doses were expected to be delivered this week.

Based on his data, the Philippines received over 97,678,340 of various vaccines since its inoculation program began in March.

More...

From A1

STRONGER TOGETHER. President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his remarks at the virtual 38th and 39th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and Related Summits hosted by Brunei Darussalam at the Malacañang Palace on October 26, 2021. Presidential photo

Brands...

From A1

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. confirmed in a Palace briefing that the government is considering “heterologous vaccination” or mixing different vaccine brands for booster shots for fully vaccinated people.

He said, however, that the emergency use authorization (EUA) issued to different vaccine brands must also be amended before giving them as booster shots.

Galvez said the government will allot about 7 million doses for third and booster shots for priority groups.

Of these, 2 million will be set aside for healthcare workers and 5 million will be allotted to immunocompromised individuals and senior citizens.

Apart from the booster shots, Galvez said the government also wants to vaccinate

Duterte...

From A1

party, and others whobelong to your party. So there is a natural tendency of those of the opposite side to resist — even in matters like these,” Duterte said.

“Either you follow us or you have to answer to Secretary (Eduardo) Año of the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government),” he added.

The President said local executives can be dismissed from office if they are slapped even with administrative charges.

"You know you have to impose your authority, not impose your will,” he said.

The President reiterated his appeal to mayors and the barangay captains to set aside half a day and to tell them who are not yet vaccinated and convince them to get the jab.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said he has already spoken with the League of Governors and the League of Cities to ramp up vaccination to 70 percent by the end of December or January.

As of Oct. 24, the Philippines has received more than 97.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, and at least 55,715,693 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have so far been administered nationwide.

Of this number, 25,711,980 are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 30,003,713 have received only their first dose.

Malacañang on Tuesday expressed confidence the country will soon return to normalcy, as more Filipinos are now heeding the government’s appeal to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

In an online press briefing, presiden-

IATF...

From A1

The Palace, for its part, said it is up to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) if cases would be filed against Environment officials responsible for the crowding of the beach.

Moreno said the decision to reopen the dolomite beach was made without proper coordination with the Manila city government.

"They opened it, but we were not informed,” Moreno said in an interview on ANC’s Headstart.

Crowds flocking to the beach Sunday could have been a “super spreader” event, he said.

“They are the ones who enforce, but they are also the ones who violate [the rules],” Moreno said, even as he lamented the lack of physical distancing and the presence of children below 12 years old in the area.

"If they cannot implement it within

90 percent of the country’s student population and teaching personnel to gradually bring the country back to normalcy.

Galvez also said the government is focused on pediatric vaccination, given the psychological and emotional toll of the pandemic on the youth as a result of the nearly two years of lockdowns and restrictions.

Once the children are vaccinated against the coronavirus, the government could start easing the restrictions, allowing young people to go out, socialize, and play, he said.

With the help of the local government units (LGUs), Galvez said he is optimistic that pediatric vaccination will be completed by December this year.

The booster shots for senior citizens, immunocompromised individuals and health care workers, on the other hand, may spill over into 2022, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

The DOH has given the go signal for booster and additional shots of COVID-19 vaccines for health care workers and the elderly within the year, and eligible priority groups by 2022.

Vergeire said the agency has submitted its letter of intent for the application of the EUA to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and that it is working on completing the required documents.

Vergeire said the EUA of the vaccines must be amended as it specifically states the number of doses that must be administered.

Vergeire said the booster shots are given when immunity is starting to wane several months after the last jab was administered.

On the other hand, additional doses, or the third doses, are given to individuals whose bodies cannot mount the appropriate immunity against the sickness.

The Philippines logged 4,393 new

COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the number of cases to 2,765,672 The relatively low number of cases was due to lower laboratory output on Sunday, Oct. 24, the DOH said.

There were 135 new fatalities, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 42,077.

The DOH also reported 8,470 new recoveries, bringing the total recoveries to 2,669,953.

There were 53,642 active cases, of which 74.8 percent were mild, 6.7 percent were asymptomatic, 2.4 percent were critical, 5.8 percent were severe, and 10.37 percent were moderate.

Nationwide, 53 percent of ICU beds, 40 percent of isolation beds, 37 percent of ward beds, and 35 of ventilators, were in use.

In Metro Manila, 47 percent of ICU beds, 34 percent of isolation beds, 32 percent of ward beds, and 32 of ventilators, were in use.

tial spokesman Harry Roque said the COVID-19 vaccination is key to the country’s full recovery from the pandemic.

“The vaccines are working. If a vaccinated person gets infected, they will only exhibit mild symptoms like ordinary flu. So it’s important that we get vaccinated, wear masks, wash hands, and observe social distancing,” Roque said.

Roque, who is in the United States, said the situation in Washington is now going back to normal for vaccinated individuals.

“You can see that if the vaccination rate is high, you can return to a normal life,” Roque, who is already fully vaccinated, said.

Also on Tuesday, the National Capital Region Police Office on Tuesday reiterated its call on the public to be wary of fake news and other misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, and warned that such acts are punishable by law.

"Unfortunately, fake and unfounded news about the vaccine circulated causing doubt and confusion about the efficiency of the COVID-19 vaccine. Among this is the misconception that the vaccine’s protection will be outweighed by alleged side effects that have no medical basis whatsoever," said NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. in a statement.

Danao reminded the public that spreading fake news is a crime prohibited under Republic Act 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act).

The law penalizes individuals or groups creating or spreading false information regarding the COVID-19 crisis on social media and other platforms with two months of imprisonment and up to P1 million in fines.

Anti-poverty...

Bello III came under heav criticism for saying that quarantine guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 formed a legal basis for employers to dismiss or withhold the salary of workers who refuse to get vaccinated.

Backpedalling on his claim that employers could withhold payment to unvaccinated workers, Bello said Friday that companies may apply a “no work, no pay” policy if the employees do not report to work.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and the Partido Manggagawa slammed Bello III for justifying a “no jab, no work” and a “no jab, no pay” policy, saying it is the Department of Labor and Employment that is supposed to protect workers and save jobs.

“While refusing unvaccinated workers to work in facilities prohibited by alert levels is a practical health measure that employers may impose, terminating them from work is a cure worse than the disease.

We demand that Secretary Bello withdraw this statement,” said Rene Magtubo, PM chairman.

In a statement Tuesday, it said this contravened Republic Act 11525 that “vaccine cards shall not be considered as an additional mandatory requirement for educational, employment, and other similar government transaction purposes.”

The Council added the Labor Code of the Philippines sets the conditions in withholding the worker’s salary and refusal or failure to vaccinate was not among such conditions.

Also, the Code provides the circumstances for the employers to terminate their workers, it said.

"Absence in the provision that refusal or failure to vaccinate is one of the just or authorized causes to fire their employers.

Thus, the latest IATF policy is outright illegal and has no basis at all," the Council said in its statement.

It added “Instead of denying the workers’ right to work and earn income, the government should instead devote its time and resources to address the lack of vaccine supply in order to attain herd immunity as soon as possible.”

The Council agrees with the recommendation of the Commission on Human Rights that persons who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19 must not be penalized under the law.

“While refusing unvaccinated workers to work in facilities prohibited by alert levels is a practical health measure that employers may impose, terminating them from work is a cure worse than the disease.

We demand that Secretary Bello withdraw this statement,” said Rene Magtubo, PM chairman.

The TUCP criticized Bello for giving more weight to “a mere IATF resolution” than to the Labor Code, which prohibits the nonpayment of wages for work done.

TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay also pointed out that the Vaccination Act of 2021 specifically provides that a vaccination card was not a condition for employment.

"We remind Secretary Bello that the IATF resolution does not say that unvaccinated workers, under Alert Level 3, can be fired by employers or have their salaries withheld, for not being able to submit a complete vaccination card. In short, the position of Secretary Bello is absolutely without legal basis and will now promote a rampant disregard for worker's rights at a time when, the secretary is aware, these workers and their rights are most vulnerable to violation,” the TUCP said.

their offices, then there is no point implementing it to the public,” he added.

Moreno pointed out that the DENR is in control of the area because of its continuous efforts to develop the beachfront.

“In fact, they have a gate so you can enter the dolomite beach area.

But due diligence must be observed especially in this situation wherein it can be a super spreader,” Moreno said.

Since the Manila Bay Coordinating Office, an agency under the administrative supervision of the Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, reopened the dolomite beach on Oct. 17, thousands of people have flocked to the area, with an estimated 8,000 crowding the beach on reopening day, to about 65,000 on Sunday—including young children.

The DENR later on banned children below 12 years of age from entering the dolomite beach, saying it was "overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and interest of the public" in the ersatz white sand beach.

Moreno said that if the national gov-

ernment, particularly the IATF of which the DENR is a member, is serious in implementing COVID-19 protocols, then it must abide by the same rules it has set.

On Monday, the Department of Health raised alarm over the failure of visitors, which include children, to observe the existing health protocols amid the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.

The overcrowding also prompted the DENR to prohibit children aged 12 and below from visiting the dolomite beach.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque also advised parents or guardians to avoid bringing children to crowded places.

“As a general rule, unvaccinated children must stay home. But there’s an exception. They can go out to exercise and visit open areas because that’s good for their mental health. Perhaps, we have to emphasize that they have to avoid sites like this [dolomite beach]),” he said.

Roque, nevertheless, said the reopening of Manila Bay dolomite beach

was meant to promote positive mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an online briefing, Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones admitted that there was a failure on their part to control the crowd when thousands of people flocked to the dolomite beach on Sunday.

Undersecretary Benny Antiporda, however, said they were quick enough to order visitors to enter by batches to decongest the area.

Leones declined to comment on Domagoso's remarks calling for cases to be filed against the DENR officials.

Meanwhile, Senator Nancy Binay suggested closing down the beach until the DENR can come out with regulations for the area.

While frontline workers were doing all they could to stop the spread of COVID-19, there were those who organized events or offered “unnecessary attractions.”

The DENR, she said, failed to manage the crowds which can result in rapid community transmission of COVID-19.

From A1

Compared to June 2021, Net Gainers worsened by two grades from very low to catastrophic in Metro Manila, down by 21 points from -30 to-51.

It worsened from very low to extremely low in Mindanao, down by 16 points from -31 to -47.

It also worsened from very low to extremely low in Balance Luzon, down by 14 points from -27 to -41.

It worsened but stayed extremely low in the Visayas, down by 6 points from -40 to -46.

Meanwhile, the net gainers score was low for college graduates, with -26.

The quality of life survey was conducted from September 12 to September 16 but used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 Filipinos aged 18 years old and above all over the country including 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

"The sampling error margins are ±3 percent for national percentages and ±6 percent for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao," SWS added.

DOTR...

From A1

in Metro Manila before the IATFEID on October 28, 2021.

Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Steve Pastor said the recommendation was to increase passenger capacity in public transport to help drivers and operators amid the pandemic and the continued increase of fuel prices.

Pilot implementation will be in Metro Manila, now under Alert Level 3, which allows for more businesses to open, and more people going out, which resulted in greater demand for public transport.

"Studies have shown that reliance on complete face mask use and partial hand sanitizer use were proven enough to contain three very modest COVID-19 waves while preserving normal bus services," the agency said.

"Other studies have also revealed that passengers in the high-risk zones (seats in the same row with an infected passenger and within 3 rows) had moderate but not significantly higher risk, and that 'rigid' safe distancing rules are an oversimplification based on outdated science and experiences of past viruses," it added.

The DOTr also said the livelihood of public transport drivers and operators was severely affected with passenger capacity in public transport maintained at 50 percent.

"Increasing passenger capacity will mean a higher revenue for the public transport sector. This will be a welcome development considering the increase in expenses brought by increasing fuel prices," it added.

DOTr added that Metro Manila was the ideal place to test the proposal considering that 81.4 percent of its population was now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In addition, public utility jeepneys and buses operating in Metro Manila are well-ventilated.

The DOTr said it had also conducted a rapid analysis of available data on COVID-19 cases (7-day average cases per one million population) and public transport capacity, which covered 10 countries (Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, China, Australia, Vietnam, and Malaysia).

"It was found out that public transport capacity has no significant correlation with the number of COVID-19 cases," DOTr said.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. himself said their recent vehicular traffic analysis along the capital's main EDSA highway suggested 59 percent for cars and 1 percent only for buses – while doing studies on the suspension of the number coding for vehicles along the road.

News

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Maynilad: Store enough water ahead of 3-day interruption

Guevarra wants PNP-NBI deal to investigate ‘tokhang’ cases

By Othel Campos and Rio Araja WEST Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) has reminded customers to store enough water ahead of the 3-day supply interruption following the commencement of the pipe realignment project on October 29 to November 1, 2021.

The service interruption will be triggered by the flood control project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Sampaloc, Manila.

The DPWH project will cause water service interruptions—ranging from 25 hours to 85 hours—in parts of Las Piñas, Makati, Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, and Cavite, between 11 a.m. of October 29, 2021 and 11:59 p.m. of November 1, 2021.

To ensure that its affected customers have enough safe water during the scheduled interruption, Maynilad is providing tips on how to store water safely.

The water company reminded customers to store water in containers that have covers. Water stored in open containers should be used within one or two days. Boil the water if intended for drinking or cooking, multiple containers, large and even small.

Drinking water should be stored in clean and disinfected containers that can be firmly closed, and since light and warmth promote algae and bacteria growth, Maynilad told customers to store containers in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

Maynilad warned customers that water stored in plastic containers should be kept away from gasoline, kerosene, pesticides or similar substances because vapors from these products can penetrate plastic.

Also, the water company said to never store water in containers that were previously used to store toxic substances and encouraged customers to freeze water for additional supply since ice melted can be used for cooking or drinking.

A3

By Rey Requejo

Residents of Sampaloc, Manila were shocked by the sudden loss of water in their area on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. They lined up buckets in front of their house to wait for the water supply from the firefighters. Norman Cruz

Probe on DOH ‘lapses’ out Nov.–Ombudsman

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta HE Office of the Ombudsman will release the results of its parallel investigation into the alleged lapses of the Department of Health in its COVID-19 responses.

T

“We will release it within a month,” Ombudsman Samuel Martires told CNN Philippines.

The probe covered the DOH’s procurement of 100,000 test kits; the alleged delayed purchase of personal protective equipment and other medical gear for healthcare workers; other lapses and irregularities that may have led to the deaths of medical workers; inaction in the release processing of benefits and financial assistance of fallen and infected medical frontliners, and confusing and delayed reporting of COVID-19-related deaths and confirmed cases.

“We are almost finished in our probe on the aspect of delayed payment of benefits to fallen health workers and delayed procurement of PPE. These PPEs should have been purchased earlier in January when

there are already COVID-19 cases happening in China,” he said.

The Ombudsman is also looking into the DOH’s transfer of the P42 billion pandemic response funds to the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service.

“Yes, while the Senate and House [of Representatives] are investigating, we are also investigating,” Martires said.

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed the decision of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to question before the Supreme Court the legality of his order barring Cabinet officials from attending hearings into the alleged misuse of multibillionpeso COVID-19 response funds, saying he is ready to defend his memorandum.

“We welcome this move of bringing the legality of the memorandum to the Supreme

Court. We would like to congratulate the Senate for realizing, albeit late, that it is the Court which should eventually decide on the constitutionality of the order and we will defend it,” he said.

Two lawyer’s groups – the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Philippine Bar Associate – and four former Health secretaries – Carmencita Reodica, Manuel Dayrit, Enrique Ona Jr. and Esperanza Cabral – have rallied behind medical g oups in calling on Duterte to lift the ban and not to “obstruct” Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigations into the alleged overpriced purchase of personal protective equipment through Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp.

But Duterte insisted it was not a matter of having the best position,but upholding what is legal under existing laws.

“We are not saying that we are the best minds here. It’s an issue of law. Either way: You win or you lose, but the beauty of this is that the Supreme Court will be the final arbiter now,” he said.

JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday expressed hope that the agreement between the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation on the probe of so-called “nanlaban” cases or drug war cases that resulted in the deaths of suspects would be signed before PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar retires next month.

“We hope that the NBI and the PNP will be able to sign their memorandum of agreement (MOA) before PNP Chief Eleazar’s retirement,” Guevarra said.

Eleazar will reach his mandatory retirement age of 56 on November 13.

Guevarra expressed confidence that even if there would be a change in leadership in the PNP, it would continue to cooperate in finalizing the MOA on the investigation of “nanlaban” cases and would be committed in the drug war review since these are directives given by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The President has a standing order to the DOJ [Department of Justice] and the PNP to review the conduct of the drug war and to impose sanctions upon those who went beyond the bounds of the law. I expect that the next PNP Chief, whoever he may be, will strictly comply with the President’s directive,” he said.

The DOJ has finished the draft MOA and forwarded it to the NBI and PNP for their review and inputs.

The draft memorandum would serve as the PNP and NBI’s guidelines in the conduct of a probe of future operations against illegal drugs where there would be allegations that the suspect/s who died fought back or “nanlaban.”

The PNP and NBI are expected to submit their comments within the week.

The DOJ also led the panel that reviewed the 52 police drug war operations, involving 154 policemen, that resulted in deaths.

A4 || WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

News

E-mail: mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Health, economy, herd immunity top priorities of Lacson-Sotto duo Skip wearing pink, feed poor T instead, Leni

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

asks supporters

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta VICE President Leni Robredo on Tuesday called on her supporters to help each other and feed the poor on Wednesdays, more than wearing pink, the color of her presidential campaign.

“Tomorrow, it’s Wednesday again.

We all know this. This is more important than to wear pink. We should help one another,” she said.

“Some would provide rice porridge and fish balls, or even organize huge initiatives. These are okay. But we do not really need to spend so much,” Robredo added.

The Vice President said people buying extra bread for strangers or tutors who voluntarily teach children could already spell a difference.

“We are facing a huge challenge.

That is why we are trying to work on changing the system and social structure by doing our own part,” she said.

Robredo recognized that there is no contribution that is too small.

Her supporters wear pink every Wednesday to express their support for her 2022 presidential bid. They also organize charity activities in the midweek.

Meanwhile, as oil price hikes increase food production cost, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan—Robredo’s running mate—urged the government to give cash aid to farmers and fisherfolk and fuel subsidies to keep food prices down.

Citing the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag), he said a bag of urea fertilizer, which cost P850 in October 2020, has more than doubled its price to P1,800 per bag in October 2021.

In its calculations, Sinag said palay production cost increased by P2.5 per kilo due to the urea price increase.

What used to be P15.5 per kilo production cost is now at P18 per kilo.

All these while traders are buying palay at only P11.5 per kilo in Rosales, Pangasinan.

In a letter dated October 20, Agriculture Secretary William Dar requested the Department of Energy to implement a petrol discount scheme for operators of food delivery trucks and vehicles, and small fishermen operating bancas.

HE tandem of Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III will address health and the economy, the country’s biggest problems due to the COVID-19 pandemic, if they win next year’s national elections.

A two-pronged strategy focused on health and the economy, Lacson said Tuesday, will highlight the response of their tandem to the pandemic and its lingering effects.

Lacson, who is running for President under the banner of Partido Reporma,

said this as he stressed vaccination will be the first step to all these.

However, he admitted that efforts to reopen the economy cannot take place without achieving herd immunity first.

The senator acknowledged that vaccination is the Number 1 solution “since we saw the countries with high vaccination rates had opened up their economies. So that is what we need to focus on,” he said in an interview on DZRH radio.

“Our authorities may have taken many missteps at first, but hopefully there is still time to correct the situation,” he added.

Despite being a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Lacson will not appoint retired police and military generals in his Cabinet if he wins the presidency, he added.

Lacson stressed that his number one

basis for appointing individuals for particular positions is their competence, integrity, and courage.

These are also the very same qualities that he expects of himself and his running mate Sotto, who is running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition where he sits as President.

Presently, Lacson said he and Sotto are consulting health experts to find alternatives to lockdowns that have crippled the economy but failed to stop or even slow down the spread of COVID. They are also studying ways to reopen the economy, including improving the country’s competitiveness and offering incentives to attract foreign investors.

He said they have to factor in the high cost of power and labor here while implementing the digitalization of the economy and the interoperability of agencies in the bureaucracy.

XMAS DECORS. Shoppers check out

Christmas decorations on sale at a stall along Dangwa in Manila on Tuesday. Filipinos are hopeful the Christmas season will be better than last year as more vaccines are coming in to help end the COVID-19 pandemic. Rico H. Borja

Pacquiao pushes face-to-face ‘22 presidential debates SENATOR Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday pushed for in-person presidential debates for the 2022 national elections.

“Personal. Face-to-face. Why online?

Are they afraid? I am ready. I will not make a decision [to run for president] if I am not aware of what I am doing,” Pacquiao said in an interview during his visit in Baguio City.

The lawmaker and boxing legend also said he is not preparing for a head-to-head debate with a specific candidate.

“I have nothing to hide. I am sincere

and I don’t need to prepare for questions that will question my integrity. I have nothing to hide,” he said in Filipino.

Pacquiao reiterated the following agenda that he will highlight during the presidential debates: the anti-corruption drive, economic growth and development, employment, livelihood, healthcare, and housing.

Moreover, the senator backed proposals removing withdrawal as one of the grounds for electoral candidate substitution.

“I want to amend the rule on substitution because that has been abused. Maybe

we can change it and specify in the law that substitution can only be applied to candidates who died, who became mentally ill, or those who have terminal illnesses,” the lawmaker said.

“We should scrap the substitution for withdrawn candidacies because that has been abused. They are fooling the public,” he added.

On Monday, at least five senators filed a bill seeking to amend the Omnibus Election Code by removing withdrawal as a basis of a candidate’s substitution.

Tingog gives pneumonia, flu vaccines to 200 residents of Makati Southside

By Maricel V. Cruz

TINGOG-MAKATI JABS. Makati City Councilor Mabel Frias-Vitales, the

chairperson of Brgy. Southside and president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Makati City, thanks Tingog Party-list for administering free 100 pneumococcal polyvalent vaccines 23 (PPV-23) and 100 flu shots to her 200 constituents. Also in the photo are Tingog nominee Jude Avorque Acidre (left) and Brgy. Kagawad Gerlyn Pabilona (left). Not in the photo is Brgy. Treasurer Lily Nacionales.

THE Tingog party-list group led by Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, chairperson of the House Committee on the Welfare of Children, on Tuesday administered for free 100 pneumonia vaccines and 100 flu shots to 200 residents of Brgy. Southside in Makati City.

Jude Acidre, Tingog nominee and chief of staff of Rep. Romualdez, attended the event that coincided with the celebration of the 47th Founding Anniversary of Brgy. Southside.

Actress-singer Karla Estrada is also a nominee of Tingog party-list group.

Makati City Councilor Mabel Frias-Vitales, the chairperson of Brgy. Southside and president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Makati City, and her team initiated

the event and thanked the Tingog partylist group for its commitment and assistance to keep her constituents healthy.

Acidre, the national president of Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines, explained that the vaccination drive in partnership with the Department of Health (DoH) is part of Tingog’s continuing wellness program to fight pneumococcal infection and influenza virus, including the dreaded pneumonia during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Let’s work together in reminding of vaccinations’ importance to control and prevent pneumococcal infection like pneumonia and the contagious respiratory illness,” Acidre said, lamenting that pneumonia prevails especially to the elders despite being preventable by vaccination.

Bong Go pleads with bets: Focus on jabs first SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go has exhorted his fellow candidates in the 2022 elections to focus first on vaccines and “bayanihan” for the country to easily recover from its economic slump.

He called for greater unity as the Philippines tries to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic as a more resilient nation.

Despite his vice-presidential bid, Go said he remains focused on his duties as a senator and public servant, especially in assisting the government and the general public in combating the adverse effects of coronavirus.

He also committed that he will not waste any opportunity to serve fellow Filipinos in need and that he will be a “working vice president” if elected by the Filipino people.

“I will not just be sitting there and criticizing the President. I will be a

working VP. No time, not even a minute will be wasted,” he added in an interview after the launch of the Malasakit Center at the Marinduque Provincial Hospital in Boac, Marinduque.

Go said he is willing to work with anyone who the people choose to lead the country and has vowed to impart the lessons he has learned from working with President Rodrigo Duterte over the years.

Go also committed to continue advocating for youth-oriented initiatives, asserting that education will help families overcome poverty.

In the Senate, Go has been pushing for the passage of Senate Bill 396 that would expand the application of the Special Education Fund, giving local government units the flexibility to boost their support to local public schools and facilitate the transition to “blended learning” amid the pandemic. Macon Ramos-Araneta

JAIL VOTE. Commission on Elections officials from the City of Trece Martirez conduct voter registration among the inmates of the Cavite Provincial Jail (CPJ) compound, giving them the opportunity to take part in the upcoming 2022 national and local elections. JR Josue

Bongbong eyes modern ports, gateways to spur progress

By Vito Barcelo and Rey Requejo MODERNIZING the country’s existing airports, seaports and railways will increase accessibility to other gateways that will offer an unprecedented opportunity for Filipino businesses to export and import more goods and services and create quality jobs, according to presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Marcos said investing in this key area will raise the country’s import and export capacity, thus providing opportunities for local industries to recover.

If elected, Marcos wants the Philippines to become the next logistics powerhouse in Asia to accelerate the country’s economic recovery in a post-pandemic world.

“Our strategic location in the Pacific is an advantage that no other country has. It’s time for us to leverage this and aspire to become a major logistics hub in the region.

To achieve this, we will need to modernize our existing seaports, airports, and railways or build new ones where necessary,” Marcos said.

The former senator also believes the increased trade generated by modernizing our seaports, airports, and railways will create a steady revenue stream for the government and sustain programs geared towards helping the poor affected by the pandemic.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said there is an uneven rate of recovery in global trade among nations. Small economies and poor countries are falling behind their peers who are posting double-digit growth rates and surpassing their pre-pandemic levels.

UNCTAD explains that one reason for the trend is that countries with small economies are more fragile than larger economies, making the impact of the pandemic even worse.

It also forecasts the value of global trade for 2021 to be 20% to 28% higher than 2019 and 2020 respectively.

“Global trade will recover soon, and we as a nation should make sure that we are in a better position to benefit from it. It will be crucial in our recovery since it can help generate revenues that we can use to continue programs to help the poor severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Marcos added.

Isko vows return to normalcy, cuts in gov’t revenues MANILA City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Tuesday vowed to work for the return to normalcy of the lives of Filipino people by the end of next year if he is elected president in the 2022 elections.

“I want you [our people] to go back to normal by December 31 of 2022.

You can come out already, you can eat outside because you have all been vaccinated with the booster already. Because everybody is protected. I want you to go back to normal.”

“I want your kids to go back to school. I want everyone to go out there. I want us to live before the pandemic hit us,” he said in an interview with ANC’s Headstart.

Domagoso, who is the standardbearer of the Aksyon Demokratiko, also said he is willing to temporarily reduce government revenues through oil tax cuts to provide immediate relief for the public.

He said the response of the Department of Finance to his proposal to cut excise taxes on oil by 50 percent just proved his point.

“Actually, it’s not massive. It’s just a fraction. If we have a five trillionpeso budget, eight hundred billion more or less is for debt servicing or debt amortization. So, we still have about 4.2 trillion. And if reduced, if I’m not mistaken, the numbers made by the DOF is we’re going to lose P130 billion with that approach,” the mayor explained.

Besides oil tax cuts on petroleum products, Domagoso said he will push through the reduction of excise tax on electricity by 50 percent to further bring down electricity rates and attract foreign investors.

“We have the most expensive electricity cost in the region. Competitive electricity rates will bring in foreign investors, meaning more jobs. That’s my dream, more jobs for Filipinos,” he said.Rey E. Requejo

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

Foreign investors going everywhere but here

IF WHAT foreign businessmen read about in the media is Rodrigo Duterte constantly repeating his “kill, kill, kill!” order to the police to rid the country of drug traffickers and users, or cases of corruption involving billions ending up in private pockets instead of going to vital social services, would they be willing to take big risks to set up new businesses here?

Of course they would think twice before doing so, or even entertain the idea of setting foot in this country.

That the Philippines is second to last among 14 Asia-Pacific economies in terms of attractiveness to foreign direct investments (FDIs) is therefore not surprising.

Constitutional amendments alone will not address this problem.

That’s the result of the latest survey on FDIs conducted by the UK-based think tank Oxford Economics.

The survey showed that the Philippines was ahead only of Taiwan, with China in first place, followed by Vietnam. The thinktank cited the country’s weak infrastructure and business environment for the country’s failure to attract more FDIs. In the latest Global Competitiveness Report, the Philippines ranked 92nd out of 140 countries in infrastructure quality.

The Philippines, along with Indonesia, also fared badly in terms of ease of doing business.

The World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report 2020 ranked both countries 70 or above out of 190 countries.

Our own Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) validates the survey results. The Philippines obtained $7.93 billion in FDIs in 2016. This increased to $10 billion in 2017, then fell to $9.8 billion in 2018. This declined again in 2019 to $8.67 billion and, with the economic recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, FDI inflows to the Philippines shrank to $6.54 billion in 2020, the lowest since 2015. But for the first half of 2021, FDIs grew by 40.7 percent to $4.3 billion.

The numbers tell us that we really need to step up efforts to attract FDIs. Last April, Malacañang certified as urgent several measures that allow full foreign ownership of public services and less restrictions on foreign investments. These are Senate Bill No 2094, which seeks to amend the Public Service Act; Senate Bill No 1156, which seeks to amend the Foreign Investments Act of 1991; and Senate Bill No 1840, which

EDITORIAL

seeks to amend the Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000 by lowering the required paid-up capital for foreign retail enterprises Then there’s the House of Representatives that passed in March 2020 its version of the amendment to the Public Service Act allowing 100-percent foreign ownership of public utilities.

The Senate version of the bill allows 100-percent foreign ownership of public services like telecommunications, power, and transportation by distinguishing between “public services” and “public utilities.” The distinction is important because the 1987 Constitution only requires 60 percent Filipino ownership of a firm if it operates a “public utility.”

Earlier this year, the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments opened deliberations on the Resolution of Both Houses Proposing Amendments to Certain Economic Provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

Three prominent economists have urged the lifting of restrictions on foreign ownership of business enterprises. For Raul Fabella, “the lifting of the constitutional limit on foreign ownership will make the Philippines more foreign investment-friendly.” He favors the lifting of restrictions on foreign ownership of land, asserting that land should be owned by whoever can make it more productive, regardless of citizenship.

Ernesto Pernia, former Economic Planning Secretary and also former director general of the National Economic and Development Authority, also wants to change the economic provisions of the Charter: “Although the economy has really been clobbered by the pandemic, the economy is recovering slowly––it is getting out of the hole little by little––and we need to accelerate that getting out of the hole...We really need to push that, including allowing FDI (foreign direct investments) in the country, so recovery will accelerate.” Gerardo Sicat, founder of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), considers the current economic provisions of the Constitution “the original sin” responsible for making it “really difficult for our country to progress in the attraction of foreign director investments.” He cited several benefits from amending the economic provisions of the Constitution: sustained and higher level of per capita GDP growth; higher level of employment for Filipino workers; improved capacity for the state, through an upgrade of its finances, to undertake programs to ameliorate the conditions of those in poverty; and a rising standard of living for all Filipinos.

As we have said before, constitutional amendments alone cannot be expected to bring foreign investors in droves to the country.

Along with this, the government should curb corruption, red tape and regulatory capture; address inadequate infrastructure; bring down high power costs; and maintain law and order.

Otherwise, even extensive amendment of the 1987 Constitution and a raft of new laws would simply drive foreign investors elsewhere.

Email: ernhil@yahoo.com

‘Nowhere is safe’: Philippine typhoon victims live in fear

By Allison Jackson A YEAR after a powerful storm sent an avalanche of volcanic rock and sand crashing down, burying her house, Philippine food vendor Florivic Baldoza still lives in an evacuation center.

As global warming brings increasingly extreme weather, she now fears “nowhere is safe.”

Hundreds of families from poor villages around Mayon volcano in Albay province on the country’s most populous island of Luzon are waiting for new homes after Typhoon Goni pounded the region last November.

“That’s the strongest I’ve ever experienced,” Baldoza, 40, told AFP, standing on a mound of dark sand that now covers the house she once shared with her husband and two teenage daughters.

Several hundred thousand people fled as Goni barrelled towards the archipelago nation — ranked as one of the world’s most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

But some residents in San Francisco village — including Baldoza’s family — ignored warnings to shelter in a school, confident a river dike built several years ago would protect them from flooding.

As the most powerful typhoon to hit the country last year dumped heavy rain on an area still sodden from another cyclone a week earlier, Baldoza realized her family was in peril when water began cascading over the several meters high cement wall.

They bolted to her mother’s house across the road as a devastating mix of water, volcanic sand and boulders smashed the dike further upstream and tore through the village.

“We were trapped inside the house,” Baldoza told AFP. “We were crying, my husband was separated from us — we thought he was dead.”

Lucky to be alive, but trapped in deep mud, Baldoza and eight relatives, including children, twisted their bodies from side to side to escape, then climbed out a window and up onto the roof.

Her husband, Alexander, survived by scrambling up a mango tree.

Holding on to a powerline to avoid being blown away by fierce winds, the family clambered over the top of several houses before reaching a taller building.

“Our house was being hit by boulders, but we couldn’t do anything,” said Baldoza, who watched helplessly as the torrent swept away the family’s motorized tricycle and motorbike.

“If we hadn’t left our house, we would have died.”

‘Wherever we go, we get flooded.’

‘Disaster capital’ It is not the first time excessive rain has forced Baldoza to relocate.

About 23 years ago, before Baldoza got married, her mother sold their house in a floodprone area of the same village and moved the family to higher ground.

“We didn’t expect that we would experience the same thing,” Baldoza said.

“I don’t think there’s a safe place anymore.

Wherever we go, we get flooded.”

Baldoza visits the site of her house most days as she sells home-cooked meals and soft drinks to workers repairing the damaged dike.

“I feel like crying because I raised my children here, this is where they were baptized, my husband and I were married here,” she said.

Baldoza’s family now lives in a classroom in the nearby Marcial O. Ranola Memorial School,

ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Worse off

F

IFTY-SEVEN percent of adult Filipinos say their quality of life is worse this year than it was 12 months before, according to a Social Weather Stations survey held between Sept. 12 and 16 this year.

Some 13 percent of the 1,200 respondents said their lives got better while 29 percent said it was just about the same.

This brought the level of net gainers (those who said their lives improved, less those who said their lives got worse) to -44 percent, which falls under the bracket “extremely low” as classified by the SWS. The latest survey also revealed that the quality of life is perceived most negatively by those in the National Capital Region (-51 percent), but felt relatively less acutely by college graduates (-26 percent) across the country. Those who had “some high school” education felt hardship the most, with -50 percent in net gainers.

The net score across the country has in fact gotten worse: It was -31% (very low) in June 2021 and -38% (very low) in May.

There are tangible indicators that measure if life indeed got better or worse.

It is easy to attribute people’s perception of their quality of life to the pandemic. After all, net gainers were at +18 percent in December 2019, the last survey taken prior to the onset of COVID-19 here.

In May 2020, however, two months after the imposition of lockdowns, net gainers were at -78 percent (catastrophic). Succeeding quality-oflife surveys in July 2020 and September 2020 remained ugly: -72 percent and -76 percent, respectively.

It is also notable that these net gainers scores during the Duterte regime were at their lowest across all administrations

since the surveys were first taken in April 1983 — certainly the negative high seventies experienced last year were unprecedented.

The numbers scream desperation and dissatisfaction during this health and economic crisis. These numbers will also play an important role in how Filipinos choose their leaders in the next elections.

Candidates will always claim that they are the answer to people’s hardships and that they can improve people’s quality of life. The campaign period becomes a contest of who speaks most dramatically, makes promises most beguilingly, and portrays themselves as saviors most convincingly.

Quality of life, however, ultimately transcends feelings and perception.

There are tangible indicators that measure if life indeed got better or worse.

Pandemic or not, Filipinos need to hold their candidates to a higher standard, and vote only those who, because of track record and experience, can actually deliver a better quality of life — instead of the just the promise of it.

Julian Ongpin and dad

JULIAN Roberto S. Ongpin, 29, the son of a good friend of mine, Bobby Ongpin, is in the crosshairs of the law because of an unfortunate incident and a love affair.

On Sept. 18, 2021, Julian and his girlfriend, local artist Breanna “Bree” Jonson Agunod, had a date. They checked into Flotsam & Jetsam Hostel in La Union. Unfortunately, apparently high on drugs, the girl hanged herself inside their hotel room’s bathroom.

Julian tried to revive her but to no avail.

The police came, inspected the room where Julian and Bree stayed, and apparently found no reason to charge Ongpin with homicide. The room had two beds. On the second bed, the police found two pouches containing cocaine.

The Department of Justice conducted a preliminary investigation. It concluded that Ongpin was in possession of the illegal drugs although these were, it admitted, “not in his actual possession.” Ongpin has denied owning or using the drugs. The drugs apparently belonged to the deceased Bree who carried a certification she was allowed to use drugs because of her medical condition. The matter is now up to the court to decide.

I have known Bobby Ongpin since 1971 when I began covering the Ayala, Makati business beat. He was the young, brash, Harvard-trained management whiz kid of SGV, then the largest accounting and professional services firm west of the Mississippi.

Later, Bobby quit SGV and became Ferdinand Marcos’s longest-serving trade and industry minister.

Though he has a few faults, I consider Bobby a good man and a great tycoon. He saved the Philippines from financial ruin while managing the country’s precious foreign reserves in the economic crisis that engulfed the nation in 1983-85 following the Aquino assassination.

Bobby’s younger brother, Jaime V. Ongpin, was President Corazon Aquino’s first finance minister. Jimmy tried to restore order in Cory’s chaotic government which was riven by discord between the left and the right. Frustrated, he which has been converted into an emergency evacuation center.

Face-to-face classes have been banned in the Philippines since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Families in Albay province, dubbed the nation’s “disaster capital,” are used to spending a few days every rainy season in shelters.

About a quarter of the roughly 20 storms and typhoons to hit the Philippines every year affect the impoverished region, wiping out crops, homes and infrastructure.

A year after the mudflow upended their lives, a hundred families are still at the school, sleeping in classrooms and cooking in makeshift kitchens.

Despite the hardships, Baldoza tries to keep life as normal as possible for her family. Their pet dogs and cats roam around the classroom which is divided by curtains into sleeping and living areas.

Her youngest daughter recently turned 18 and they all dressed up for a traditional coming-of-age party.

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

killed himself after 21 months in the cabinet.

I have known Julian Ongpin for the past six years. He is what I call a good boy. Genial and gentle of manners, he, however, sometimes could be easily beguiled and thus could get into trouble.

Young Julian Ongpin dabbles in paintings.

He has held a number of art exhibits at Ongpin’s Alphaland Tower in bustling Makati to promote young but creative artists. The effort has not been, well, as profitable as he wished, but then something ennobling for the soul often has no price.

The matter is now up to the court to decide.

The Ongpins are bearers of a proud heritage.

They have made their mark in the arts – painting, movies, literature, including writing encyclopedias, in Spanish.

Aside from love of the arts and their business savvy, the Ongpins come from generations of worthy public servants The original Ongpin was Roman T. Ongpin, after whom the street in Binondo, in Manila was named, in 1915.

Roman became rich, a prominent citizen, a civic leader, and was appointed Teniente General de Mestizos. He led other associations in Binondo, charitable ones, including one for disabled war veterans and another for indigent children. He helped fund the Philippine revolution against Spain.

Roman was the great grandfather of Bobby Ongpin. He is Julian’s great, great grandfather.

In the late 19th century, candlemaker Roman T. Ongpin, opened what is possibly Manila’s first art supplies store—El 82. Roman (18471912) hobnobbed with the century’s and today’s great Filipino painters.

Julian’s great grandfather, Alfonso, a son of Roman, was an avid art collector, art historian, and art gallery (the first) owner, “Arte”. Alfonso was the father of Roberto Ongpin’s dad, Luis.

The last time I interviewed Julian Ongpin, last January 2021, he talked with passion about his new love—entrepreneurship.

He had put up an angel investors’ fund with a whopping P1 billion funding to incubate, accelerate, and finance startups.

But Baldoza worries about the future of her children.

“The storms are getting stronger,” she said.

“How will they survive if we’re gone?”

‘You can’t stop typhoons’ Many houses in San Francisco are still partially buried in the volcanic sand and rocks that swamped the village, elevating the ground level and reducing the height of coconut trees.

Residents have dug trenches around the perimeter of their homes so they can get inside.

Some are still shovelling out debris.

Albay climate change activist Bill Bontigao said Goni was a “wake-up call” and urgent action was needed to prepare the region for stronger cyclones.

“I’m worried that the next generations, my nephews and nieces, won’t have a good future,” Bontigao, 21, told AFP. Around 170,000 people were exposed to mudflows from the slopes of Mayon, the country’s most active volcano, said Eugene Escobar, head of the research division of

biznewsasia@gmail.com the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office.

More mudflows were likely as climate change warmed the planet and increased the “frequency and intensity of typhoons and rain,” Escobar told AFP. The “cheapest solution” was to relocate vulnerable residents to safer areas and provide them with social and economic support, he said.

“You can’t stop typhoons... we have to accept the fact that we are in a disaster-prone area.”

But Baldoza fears “nowhere is safe” in Guinobatan municipality — including the new village where her family has been given a 25-square-metre house.

It is about a half hour drive from San Francisco where her husband still works as an electrician, but they have no money to rent or buy somewhere closer.

“Once we move in I’ll have it blessed so we’ll be lucky here,” Baldoza said, standing at the front door of the tiny house, cheerfully painted white, aqua, pink and blue.

“We hope it’s safer.” AFP

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher

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

Julian Ongpin’s Angel Investors Corp. has tied up with StartUp Village, “an incubator/ accelerator that enables startups to bring their unique ideas and business concepts to reality.

The goal is to help startups build disruptive technology that displaces an established technology and shakes up the industry or introduces a groundbreaking product that creates a completely new industry.”

Julian and dad Bobby handle the money side for the startups. The youngest head and longest serving head of Asia’s largest professional services firm SGV, Bobby can also provide fantastic advice and an awesome rolodex of contacts and network.

StartUp Village provides the technical expertise to screen qualified startups for funding and investment.

Venture capitalism, while tricky, can often yield big money. The idea is to look for an excellent product or service, a great management team, a good market, and a disruptive technology that people would die for.

Fifteen brilliant and capable startups had been seeking funding from Julian Ongpin’s group.

If you ask Bobby Ongpin himself what to focus on, he will probably cite his favorites: High-end real estate, mining, and energy.

Bobby built Tagaytay Highlands, now the vacation and pleasure destination of the ultra rich and famous. His Alphaland Corp. is, of course, the developer of the 494-hectare Balesin Island Club resort, described as “a private paradise for members” and “a destination of unmatched beauty” with 7.3-km of white beach.

It is so exclusive, on a busy day, you will find yourself, alone by the beach, shooting rainbows and surfing its pristine waters.

Up north, Ongpin has his Alphaland Baguio Mountain Lodges, the way the City of Pines used to be—aloft in the mountains, serene, rustic, the fragrance of pine trees wafting in the air, and breathtaking with vistas of unspoiled greenery.

Bobby is building another resort 1.5x the size of Balesin and just 25 minutes away, Patnanungan, an island and a town in Quezon province in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Called Balesin Gateway, Patnanungan will feature the best of Hong Kong, Macau and Boracay, complete with resorts, hotels, golf courses, casinos, a 24/7 international runway, and greatly expand the potential of Balesin.

Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

A6

World

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

UN REPORT WARNS CLIMATE IMPACT WILL TAKE TOLL ON REGION’S GROWTH

2020: Hottest year on record for Asia

A

sia suffered its hottest year on record in 2020, the United Nations said Tuesday ahead of the COP26 summit, with extreme weather taking a heavy toll on the continent’s development.

In its annual “State of the Climate in Asia” report, the UN’s World Meteorological Organization said every part of the re-

gion had been affected.

“Extreme weather and climate change impacts across Asia in 2020 caused the loss

Manila

Standard

CIRCULAR

Formulate a uniform set of guidelines on the disposal of unserviceable working dogs that will save the agencies millions of pesos of expenses for food, shelter, medicine and medical expenses and other expenses, and to give unserviceable working dogs a modicum of decency in the remaining years of their lives; and

c)

Send the retired working dog to the Agency Veterinary Officer for complete check-up prior to any transfer of dogs that were chosen by the prospective donee, and bear the sole responsibility and cost for the check-up.

a)

Adequate publicity and notification to attract the greatest number of interested parties (Section 79 of Presidential Decree No. 1445);

b)

Sufficient time frame between publication and date of auction; Opportunity afforded to interested parties to inspect the dog/s to be disposed of; Confidentiality of sealed proposals; and Fair evaluation of tenders and proper notification of award.

Working Dogs/K-9 – refers to dogs trained for employment in support of the agency’s operations.

7.5

7.6

-

Person who donated the working dog.

th

5 Priority

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

f)

g)

All interested agency personnel and persons shall secure a Military Working Dog Adoption Application Form and Adoption Agreement Form from the K-9 unit of the agency. Attached as Annexes A and B; Prospective adopters shall submit the filled-out application and agreement forms.

They shall be interviewed by the Chief of K-9 unit or his/her duly authorized representatives; The K-9 unit shall submit the names of prospective adopters who passed the initial screening to the Kennel Management Committee for final evaluation. Prospective adopters who passed in the Qualifications for Eligible Prospective Adopters shall be recommended by the Kennel Management Committee to the Head of the Agency for approval; Upon approval, eligible adopters shall be notified by the K-9 unit of the schedule to visit the available adoptees for “matching”. Successfully matched adoptees shall be released on a date to be determined by the agency’s K-9 unit; The Veterinary Officer of the K-9 unit shall be responsible in ensuring that medications, vaccinations, and deworming of the working dogs to be adopted are updated; and On the day of release, the following shall be provided to the adopter: 1)

Information/record on the medical condition, vaccinations, deworming, diet, and other relevant instructions concerning the health of the working dog;

2)

Briefing on the behavior, critical commands to control the adoptee’s behavior, and potential risks of owning a working dog; and

3)

Overview of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, as amended.

Accumulated Depreciation-Work/Zoo and/or Other Animals

10699011

xxx

Accumulated Impairment LossesWork/Zoo and/or Other Animals

10699012

xxx

Work/Zoo and/or Other Animals

10699010

xxx

Gain on Sale of Unserviceable Property

40501130

xxx

Account Title

Account Code

Debit

Work, Zoo and/or Other Animals Gain on Sale of Unserviceable Property

Credit

10699010

xxx

40501170

xxx

For LGUs Account Title

Account Code

Debit xxx

When the dog has behavioral issues and made them unmanageable that could pose hazard to human safety.

Accumulated Impairment Losses-Work/ Zoo Animals

10799012

xxx

a)

Intravenous Injection - the process shall be done by injecting barbiturates into the blood stream or veins of the dog;

b)

Intraperitoneal Injection - the process shall be done by injecting barbiturates into the body cavity of the dog such as the abdomen; and

c)

Intracardiac Injection - the process shall be done by injecting barbiturates directly into the heart muscles to the chambers of the heart of the dog.

Work/Zoo Animals

10799010

xxx

Gain on Sale of Property, Plant and Equipment

40501050

xxx

10.3 Disposal Through Euthanasia For NGAs and GCs Account Title Impairment Equipment

and

50503090

Accumulated Impairment LossesWork/Zoo and/or Other Animals (or Accumulated Impairment Losses-Work, Zoo and/or Other Animals)

10699012

9.4 Conduct ocular inspection of the unserviceable working dogs for disposal; and

Plant

Debit

Credit

xxx xxx

Account Title

Account Code

Accumulated Depreciation-Work/Zoo and/or Other Animals (or Accumulated Depreciation-Work, Zoo and/or Other Animals)

10699011

xxx

Accumulated Impairment LossesWork/Zoo and/or Other Animals (or Accumulated Impairment Losses-Work, Zoo and/or Other Animals)

10699012

xxx

Work/Zoo and/or Other Animals (or Work, Zoo and/or Other Animals)

10699010

Debit

Credit

xxx

To recognize the disposal of unserviceable working dog/s through euthanasia.

For LGUs

9.1 Verify the correctness of the information in the IIRUP regarding the unserviceable working dogs to be disposed;

9.3 Evaluate and submit his/her comments/recommendations to the concerned Supervising Auditor/ATL as guide in the post-audit of transactions;

Loss-Property,

Account Code

To recognize as impairment the remaining carrying amount of the unserviceable working dog/s disposed through euthanasia.

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITY

9.2 Review the agency’s adopted procedures on the disposal of the unserviceable working dogs to determine its propriety and conformity with existing laws and regulations;

Credit

To recognize the disposal of unserviceable working dog/s through public auction/negotiated sale at a gain.

AGENCY’S RESPONSIBILITY

Upon receipt of documents enumerated in Item 8.0 of this Circular, the Audit Team Leader (ATL)/Member shall perform the following functions:

Account Title Impairment Equipment

Loss-Property,

Account Code Plant

and

50503080

Accumulated Impairment LossesWork/Zoo Animals

10799012

Debit

Credit

xxx xxx

To recognize as impairment the remaining carrying amount of the unserviceable working dog/s disposed through euthanasia.

9.5 Act as witness in the disposal of unserviceable working dogs.

10.0

Credit

xxx

xxx

8.6 Certification from the Chief Accountant of the book value of the unserviceable working dogs to be disposed.

The agency’s K-9 unit shall publish in the newspaper the list of unserviceable working dogs for adoption. The list shall be based on the recommendation of the Kennel Management Committee on the disposal of unserviceable working dogs and approved by the Head of the Agency;

Debit

10101010

10799011

8.5 Disposal procedure adopted by the Kennel Management Committee; and

Procedures:

Account Code

Cash-Collecting Officers

10101010

8.4 Kennel Management Committee Resolution recommending to the Head of the Agency the disposal of unserviceable working dogs duly approved by the latter;

9.0

xxx

10799010

Depreciation-Work/Zoo

The agency concerned shall furnish the auditor the following documents at least 20 days prior to disposal:

Current handler of the working dog or other working dog handlers of the unit if the primary handler refused the adoption;

-

4th Priority

xxx

Cash-Local Treasury

Remains of the euthanized working dogs shall be handled in decent manner and buried in designated cemetery or at the agency’s K-9 unit compound.

Unserviceable working dogs may be turned over to interested individuals who attest their agreement to the provisions covered in Adoption Agreement Form. Awardees will be based according to the order of priority as follows:

Interested persons or entity that has the capacity to take good care of the working dog; and

50504040

Accumulated Animals

8.3 Evaluation Report of the K-9 Technical Evaluation Team;

Personnel of the agency that has the capacity to take good care of the working dog;

Loss on Sale of Property, Plant and Equipment

When the dog has incurable disease that is infectious and/or contagious which could pose hazard to human as well as to the whole kennel; and

7.1

-

xxx

b)

8.2 Inventory Report showing the itemized list and complete description of the unserviceable working dogs for disposal using the Inventory and Inspection Report of Unserviceable Property (IIRUP);

3rd Priority

10799012

When the killing is deemed necessary to put an end to the misery (especially painful conditions) suffered by the dog;

The unserviceable working dogs may be disposed of through the following modes upon the recommendation of the Kennel Management Committee and approval of the Head of the Agency, in the presence of the auditor concerned.

Officers and/or personnel of the agency’s K- 9 unit that has the capacity to take good care of the working dog;

Accumulated Impairment LossesWork/Zoo Animals

a)

8.1 Program for disposal with time schedules;

-

xxx

To recognize the disposal of unserviceable working dog/s through public auction/ negotiated sale at a gain.

MODE OF DISPOSAL

2nd Priority

xxx

10799011

Euthanasia

A Special Order shall be prepared by the designated officers for the retirement of unserviceable dogs.

-

10101010

Depreciation-Work/

xxx

6.4

1st Priority

Cash-Local Treasury Accumulated Zoo Animals

10699012

The following are the modes of conducting euthanasia:

Adoption

Credit

Accumulated Impairment Losses-Work, Zoo and/or Other Animals

The following are considered unserviceable working dogs:

7.0

Debit

Where the dogs are no longer serviceable or needed by the department, agency, corporation, or LGU concerned, they may be transferred to other government entities/agencies without cost or at an appraised value upon the recommendation of the Kennel Management Committee and approved by the Head of the Agency, under a properly accomplished Property Transfer Report.

The Kennel Management Committee shall review, recommend, and facilitate the selection process and disposition of the unserviceable working dog to be approved by the Head of the Agency; and

Working dogs that sustained an injury or developed a disease, which made them incapacitated even with medical intervention.

Account Code

xxx

6.3

8.0

xxx

10699011

The Agency Veterinary Officer shall be the sole authority to perform methods of euthanasia based on the approved procedure under the Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 13, series of 2010, dated May 18, 2010, on the revised rules and regulations on euthanasia of animals.

d.

10699010

Zoo

The K-9 Technical Evaluation Team shall evaluate and determine the effectiveness/ ineffectiveness of the working dog, and shall prepare a report on the results of evaluation addressed to the Kennel Management Committee;

Working dogs below eight years old that garnered successive low performance ratings during evaluation conducted by the K-9 Technical Evaluation Team; and

Work/Zoo and/or Other Animals (or Work, Zoo and/ or Other Animals)

Accumulated Depreciation-Work, and/or Other Animals

6.2

c.

xxx

Cash-Collecting Officers

Transfer to Other Government Agencies

c)

Culled working dogs;

50504250

xxx

The K-9 Handler shall make an initial assessment of the effectiveness/ ineffectiveness of the working dog, and the Veterinary Officer on the incurable and zoonotic disease;

b.

Loss on Sale of Unserviceable Property

10101010

6.1

Retired working dogs;

xxx

For GCs

This method is declared unlawful under Section 6 of Republic Act (RA) No. 8485, as amended by RA No. 10631, otherwise known as The Animal Welfare Act of 1998, which prohibits the killing of any animals except under the following conditions or circumstances determined and certified by a duly licensed Veterinary Officer:

PROCEDURES PRIOR TO DISPOSAL

a.

10699012

To recognize the disposal of unserviceable working dog/s through public auction/ negotiated sale at a gain.

It is understood that the price agreed upon at the negotiation shall not be lower than the floor price as fixed by the agency or the highest offer submitted at the failed public auction, whichever is higher.

K-9 Handler – refers to personnel graduate of K-9 Handler’s course, and is incharge of taking care of the administration and management of his/her dog.

5.8

Accumulated Impairment LossesWork/Zoo and/or Other Animals (or Accumulated Impairment LossesWork, Zoo and/or Other Animals)

Account Title

Euthanasia – refers to the ethical process of inducing humane and painless death of animals suffering from chronic and communicable diseases whose life or performance is greatly diminished.

Retired Working Dogs – refers to dogs that reach the maximum utilization age of eight years.

xxx

Work/Zoo Animals

Sale Through Negotiation

To avert possible confabulation among unscrupulous parties, a record of the proceedings of the negotiation must be maintained.

5.7

xxx

10699011

For NGAs

Culled Working Dogs – refers to dogs that are evaluated and declared as no potential, disabled, with incurable and zoonotic disease, and failed the K-9 training standards after completing the selection, training, and evaluation process.

K-9 Technical Evaluation Team – a group tasked to evaluate and determine the effectiveness/ineffectiveness of working dogs on their present working capability, age, and health status. The Agency Veterinary Officer shall be part of the evaluation team.

10101010

Accumulated Depreciation-Work/ Zoo and/or Other Animals (or Accumulated Depreciation-Work, Zoo and/or Other Animals)

10.3.2 At a gain

The negotiation may be conducted singly, i.e., on a one-on-one basis, or in group, provided that due communication between the offerors and the agency is established with a view to ensure that the agency gets the best price.

Green Dog – refers to a dog (acquired and not yet trained) which has the potential to be a working dog.

Credit

For LGUs

In case of failure of public auction, such as when there is only one offeror, or when all offers/tenders are non-complying or unacceptable, disposal through negotiated sale of green dogs classified as having no potential after the selection and training process of K-9 trainers, and working dogs below eight years old that garnered successive low performance ratings during evaluation by the K-9 Technical Evaluation Team and conferred by the Kennel Management Committee, may be resorted to and undertaken by the agency concerned.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

5.6

Cash-Collecting Officers

It is understood that the agency reserves the right to reject any or all the tenders.

7.4

Debit

To recognize the disposal of unserviceable working dog/s through public auction/ negotiated sale at a loss.

d) e)

5.5

Account Code

To recognize the disposal of unserviceable working dog/s through public auction/ negotiated sale at a loss.

Such mode of disposal shall observe and adhere to established mechanics and procedures in public auction, viz.:

c)

Kennel Management Committee – a group tasked to manage, review, recommend, and facilitate the selection process and disposition of retired and culled working dogs of the agency. The Supply Accountable Officer/Property Officer shall be part of the committee.

Account Title

Public Auction

AUTHORITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DISPOSAL OF UNSERVICEABLE WORKING DOGS

5.4

xxx

10799010

For NGAs and GCs

Green dogs classified as having no potential after the selection and training process of K-9 trainers, and working dogs below eight years old that garnered successive low performance ratings during evaluation conducted by the K-9 Technical Evaluation Team and conferred by the Kennel Management Committee, shall be disposed through public auction.

The following terms when used in this Circular shall mean as follows:

6.0

Assist representatives of the prospective donee in assessing and profiling each of the retired working dogs that are to be chosen for transfer; and

This Circular sets out the guidelines for all military, police, and all NGAs, LGUs, and GCs that maintain working dogs/canine/K-9.

5.3

xxx

Account Title

7.3

COVERAGE

5.2

10799012

10.2.1 At a loss

After the donation, the K-9 unit of the agency shall not be liable for any personal injury or damage to property arising from actions or omissions committed by the unserviceable working dogs, nor shall they be liable for any veterinary expenses associated with the unserviceable working dogs.

Institutionalize the guidelines on the disposal of unserviceable working dogs to ensure that funds and properties of the government are used with utmost transparency, economy, and efficiency.

5.1

Accumulated Impairment LossesWork/Zoo Animals

Donated working dogs shall be taken out immediately from the agency’s premises as soon as they were approved for release to avoid further use of agency’s resources.

PURPOSE

Pursuant to existing laws, the full and sole authority and responsibility for the divestment or disposal of property and other assets owned by NGAs, LGUs, and GCs shall be lodged in the heads of the departments, bureaus, and offices of the national government, the LGUs, and the governing bodies or managing heads of GCs and their subsidiaries conformably to their respective corporate charters or articles of incorporation, which shall constitute the appropriate committee or body to undertake the same.

5.0

b)

Unserviceable working dogs for disposal through donation shall be covered with a Donation Agreement. Attached as Annex C.

2.3

4.0

Provide the prospective donee with a list of working dogs to be retired prior to any transfer;

The absence of applicable mode of disposal for unserviceable working dogs has caused burden to various government agencies in terms of maintenance in continuously keeping them in custody. The disposal of unserviceable working dogs is necessary to maintain the quality of working dogs in providing effective and efficient K-9 services, and to avoid continuous accumulations of unserviceable working dogs which may entail loss of resources.

This Circular is issued to:

3.0

a)

The donee shall have sole discretion to decide whether or not to accept a retired working dog, based on the dog’s current state or condition prior to the time of transfer giving due consideration to his/her capabilities and resources in adopting these retired working dogs.

2.2

xxx

10.2 Disposal Through Public Auction/Negotiated Sale

The Audit Guidelines on the Divestment or Disposal of Property and Other Assets of NGAs and Instrumentalities, LGUs, and GCs and their Subsidiaries per COA Circular No. 89-296 dated January 27, 1989 does not include the guidelines on the disposal of unserviceable working dogs.

Maintain the quality of working dogs in order to provide effective and efficient K-9 services, and to avoid continuous accumulation of unserviceable government assets which may entail loss of resources;

xxx

10799011

Work/Zoo Animals

Donation

RATIONALE

2.1

50299080

The donor-agency shall:

This Circular is issued pursuant to Section 2(2), Article IX-D of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which vests authority in this Commission to promulgate accounting and auditing rules and regulations, including those for the prevention and disallowance of irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant, or unconscionable expenditures, or uses of government funds and properties.

2.0

Credit

To recognize the disposal of unserviceable working dog/s through adoption/donation/ transfer to other government agencies.

Unserviceable working dogs may be donated to non-stock, non-profit corporations or foundations that operate a rehabilitation and treatment center, which prepares retired working dogs for adoption.

Guidelines on the Disposal of Unserviceable Working Dogs of all National Government Agencies (NGAs) and Instrumentalities, LGUs, and GCs and their Subsidiaries

SUBJECT :

1.0

7.2

Debit

Depreciation-Work/

Accumulated Zoo Animals

The adopters who fail to report or neglect to provide proper and adequate food, housing, and veterinary care will no longer be given a chance to adopt a working dog in the agency’s K-9 unit. They shall be penalized pursuant to Sections 7 and 9 of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, as amended.

Date : October 15,2021

Account Code

Donations

The adopter shall not bring back the adopted dog/s in the agency’s premises for shelter and/or safekeeping, unless uncontrollable circumstances occur, but not limited to the death/ illness of the adopter.

No. : 2021-011

All Heads of Departments, Bureaus, Offices, Agencies, and Instrumentalities of the National Government; Heads of Local Government Units (LGUs); Managing Heads of Government Corporations (GCs) and their Subsidiaries; Commission on Audit (COA) Assistant Commissioners, Directors and Auditors; and All Others Concerned

Account Title

The K-9 unit of the agency shall ensure that adopted dog is taken out immediately from the premises of the agency as soon as they were approved for release. They shall monitor them on a yearly basis to check their condition.

Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines

:

UN Climate Change Conference being held considered, the average annual losses are in Glasgow from Sunday to November 12. expected to be as high as 7.9 percent of The report also laid bare the total annual gross domestic product for Tajikistan, 5.9 average losses due to climate-related haz- percent for Cambodia and 5.8 percent for ards.

Laos.

China suffered an estimated $238 billion, Increased heat and humidity are forecast followed by India at $87 billion, Japan with to lead to an effective loss of outdoor work$83 billion and South Korea at $24 billion. ing hours across the continent, with a potenBut when the size of the economy is tial cost of many billions ofBLACK dollars. AFP CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

Monitoring of Adoption

TODAY Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON AUDIT

TO

of life of thousands of people, displaced millions of others and cost hundreds of billions of dollars, while wreaking a heavy toll on infrastructure and ecosystems,” the WMO said.

“Sustainable development is threatened, with food and water insecurity, health risks and environmental degradation on the rise.”

The report comes days before COP26, the

ILLUSTRATIVE ACCOUNTING ENTRIES

Account Title

The illustrative accounting entries to record the disposal of unserviceable working dogs are as follows: 10.1 Disposal Through Adoption/Donation/Transfer to Other Government Agencies For NGAs and GCs (based on COA Circular No. 2020-001 dated January 8, 2020 and COA Circular No. 2020-002 dated January 28, 2020, respectively)

Accumulated Animals

Account Code

Debit

Depreciation-Work/Zoo

10799011

xxx

Accumulated Impairment Losses-Work/Zoo Animals

10799012

xxx

Work/Zoo Animals

10799010

Credit

xxx

To recognize the disposal of unserviceable working dog/s through euthanasia.

Account Title

Account Code

Debit

Donations

50299080

xxx

Accumulated Depreciation-Work/Zoo and/or Other Animals (or Accumulated DepreciationWork, Zoo and/or Other Animals)

10699011

xxx

Accumulated Impairment Losses-Work/ Zoo and/or Other Animals (or Accumulated Impairment Losses-Work, Zoo and/or Other Animals)

10699012

xxx

Work/Zoo and/or Other Animals (or Work, Zoo and/or Other Animals)

10699010

Credit

EFFECTIVITY This Circular shall take effect immediately.

MICHAEL G. AGUINALDO Chairperson xxx

To recognize the disposal of unserviceable working dog/s through adoption/donation/ transfer to other government agencies.

For LGUs (based on COA Circular No. 2020-004 dated January 31, 2020

11.0

ROLAND C. PONDOC Commissioner Note: Annexes A to C of the Circular may be accessed in the COA website @ www.coa.gov.ph (MS-OCT. 27, 2021)

News MMDA personnel deployed in cemeteries as Nov. 1 nears

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has deployed traffic personnel to assist local government enforcers in ensuring the smooth flow of traffic in the vicinity of major cemeteries in the National Capital Region.

“We deployed additional manpower, in joint coordination with the local government units and the police, to assist in the cemeteries and to man the traffic within its vicinity,” said MMDA chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. On Tuesday, MMDA officials led by Abalos inspected cemeteries in Metro Manila three days before its closure for this year’s observance of Undas.

The authorities visited the North Cemetery in Manila, and Garden of Life Park in Mandaluyong to check their compliance to the Inter-agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) guidelines on the closure of cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbaria to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

“All of the cemeteries in the NCR are well-prepared and the influx of people has spread out as they visit their departed loved ones this early,” Abalos said during the inspection.

The authorities have installed Police Assistance Desks and deployed roving teams around cemeteries to ensure that the 30 percent limited capacity is being observed.

Abalos expressed his gratitude to the Metro Manila mayors for their initiatives to help keep the cemeteries within their jurisdiction compliant to the guidelines of the IATF. “We encourage the public to schedule their visits to their departed loved ones before the closure to avoid crowding and ensure the health and safety of everyone,” Abalos said.

“While it is important to abide by the guidelines set by the IATF and to observe minimum health protocols, it is likewise significant to practice selfdiscipline to ensure that we will have an Undas that is safe from the COVID-19 virus,” he added.

Poe hits LTO over ‘confusing’ PMVIC orders

By Macon Ramos-Araneta DURING a Senate finance subcommittee meeting on the Department of Transportation (DOTR) budget, Sen. Grace Poe chided the Land Transportation Office (LTO) over the confusing order by LTO chief Asec. Edgar Galvante.

The LTO said it will issue a memorandum to clarify to the public that the mandatory vehicle inspection centers (PMVICs) remain suspended.

“With PMVIC, there’s a problem due to the releases of Asec. Galvante, it would appear that PMVICs are still being required now,” said Poe. A dismayed Poe called out the indecorum of the LTO for failing to issue a formal memorandum that PMVICs remains optional and not mandatory, resulting in confusion and chaos among motorists in the different regions.

She questioned the priority of LTO, asking if the agency is really bent on ensuring the roadworthiness of vehicles or it’s just in fact disregarding due process because of financial gains.

The senator referred to the questionable bidding of the PMVICs that didn’t go through due process normally required of a public-private partnership.

Poe described the PMVICs as “a big mall” compared to private emission testing centers (PETCs) that are like “sarisari” stores which are less modernized but meet minimum standards.

A7

DOE: Gatchalian probe ‘misguided’

By Alena Mae S. Flores

S

ENATOR Win Gatchalian’s statements regarding the sale of Shell Philippines Exploration BV (SPEX) shares of stocks to the Udenna Group are “misguided,” the Department of Energy (DOE) said.

“This revelation of Sen. Gatchalian is unprecedented, as the matter is still being heard by the Senate Committee on Energy. The senator’s statements are misguided, lacking in factual and legal basis,” the DOE said.

The DOE also said the inquiries of Gatchalian is causing undue delay to the timeline of consortium corporations, and this may eventually take its toll and put the country’s energy security at risk.

The DOE said approval of the sale

shares of stocks of Chevron Malampaya LLC, one of the three corporations in the Malampaya Gas Field Project consortium, has been dubbed by Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, as “lutong macau.”

“This revelation of Sen. Gatchalian is unprecedented, as the matter is still being heard by the Senate Committee on Energy. The senator’s statements are misguided, lacking in factual and legal basis,” the DOE said.

The sale of Shell Philippines Exploration BV (SPEX) shares of stocks to the Udenna Group led by businessman Dennis Uy is now pending for review by the DOE. “In any case, the department would like to note that when the sales were made, both Chevron Philippines, which owns Chevron Malampaya and Shell Petroleum NV, the owner of SPEX, followed rigorous global standards,” the agency said.

The DOE said while there is no law or any rules or regulations that squarely directs the agency to review the sale of shares of stocks between the corporations, it conducted the review because the Malampaya Gas Field is a backbone of the country’s power generation mix.

“Revisiting the sale has become imperative to ensure that national interest is protected and energy security is not put at risk,” it said.

Consistent with the standards of due diligence, the DOE decided to apply, as a benchmark, Department Circular 2007004-0003 (DC), entitled “Prescribing the Guidelines and Procedures for the Transfer of Rights and Obligations in Petroleum Service Contracts under PD 87”.

This DC is, by analogy, akin to a sale of shares of stocks.

“While the DOE applied the DC in its evaluation, the Department was confronted by the question - which corporation’s financial soundness and capability should be evaluated? UC Malampaya’s, the buyer of shares, or Chevron Malampaya LLC? Since Chevron Malampaya LLC, even if its shares of stocks are now owned by another corporation, will remain as implementor/operator of Service Contract (SC) 38, the DOE took the liberty to evaluate it,” it said.

BI operatives nab Israeli fugitive involved in P370-m scam

By Vito Barcelo

PIT MINING PROTEST. Environmental advocates on Tuesday hold a protest rally in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources office in Quezon City, in a bid to stop the agency from issuing a reported draft ban on open pit mining.

Manny Palmero

Basilan congressional district ‘split’ sought

By Maricel V. Cruz A VETERAN member of the House of Representatives on Tuesday sought the split of Basilan into two congressional districts, citing the province’s drastic increase in population brought about by “our tireless effort to bring peace and prosperity to the province.”

Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman said more and more people want to relocate to Basilan and few of the locals want to leave due to their newly-fond confidence in the sustained peace and security in the province.

Hataman, who represents Basilan in the House, filed a bill that seeks reapportion of the lone congressional district of Basilan into two legislative districts.

Because of the increase in the number of Basileño, the needs of the province and its people have likewise increased, prompting

the need for a second legislative district in the province, he added.

House Bill 10407 quoted Article VI, Section 5, Paragraphs 3 and 4 of the 1987 Constitution that mandates: “(3) Each legislative district shall comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous, compact and adjacent territory. Each city with a population of at least two hundred fifty thousand, or each province, shall have at least one representative.

(4) Within three years following the return of every census, the Congress shall make a reapportionment of legislative districts based on the standards provided in this section.”

“The province of Basilan is an island province situated within BARMM. It is the fourth largest in terms of land area in the region, and is currently politically subdivided

into two component cities and eleven municipalities,” Hataman said in the bill.

“As of May 1, 2020, the total population of Basilan is 556,586 including Isabela City.

The same Census indicates that the population of Basilan grew the fastest in the last five years. In terms of annual growth rate, Sulu recorded the highest rate at 4.14 percent, followed by Basilan (including Isabela City) at 4.12 percent. Excluding Isabela City, Basilan registered a record high of 4.45 percent growth rate,” he added.

HB 10407, or An Act Reapportioning the Lone District of the Province of Basilan Thereby Creating the First (1st) and Second (2nd) Legislative Districts of Basilan, proposes the following reapportionment: First legislative district – Isabela City and the municipalities of Lantawan, Maluso, Hadji Muhtamad, and Tabuan-Lasa.

BUREAU of Immigration (BI) operatives arrested an Israeli fugitive wanted for more than 200 fraud cases through a multi-million-euro investment scam, earning him a whopping 6.3 million euros or equivalent to P370.73 million.

Nabbed was Kfir Levy, 43, who is now in the BI’s custody following his arrest along Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City by operatives from the bureau’s fugitive search unit (FSU).

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente issued a mission order for Levy’s arrest at the request of German authorities which informed the BI about the fugitive’s crimes.

“Two weeks ago, we received information from German authorities about the charges against him. Now that we have him in custody, we will proceed with the deportation proceedings so he may be deported and blacklisted from the country for being an undesirable alien,” the BI chief added.

Morente described the Israeli as a high-profile fugitive who is a subject of two arrest warrants issued by German courts in February last year due to his involvement in the activities of a fraud syndicate that preyed on hundreds of unsuspecting victims between 2016 and 2019.

The first warrant was issued on Feb. 13, 2020, by the Bamberg district court in Bavaria while the second one, which is a European arrest warrant, was issued four days later by a local court, also in Bamberg.

BI-FSU acting chief Rendel Ryan Sy disclosed that Levy is already an overstaying alien as he has not left the country since he arrived as a tourist on Jan. 30 last year.

Lawyers’ notarial commissions extended

By Rey E. Requejo

SINOVAC IN JAIL. Individuals under police custody receive the first dose of Sinovac at the Quezon City Police District Station 10 in Kamuning Quezon City. About 102 persons have been inoculated. Manny Palmero

Sulu Sultanate revokes PH historical claims over Sabah COTABATO CITY—The Sultanate of Sulu is revoking a 62-year old document transferring to the Philippine government its claim rights of historic possession of Sabah, according to a resolution passed by the incumbent sultan’s top policymaking body.

The Sulu Sultanate’s Ruma Bichara, the top legislative policymaking body-cum executive council passed the 14-paragraph resolution on August 19, 2021—seeking to “recall, refute, revoke, cancel, abrogate” the “deed of cession,” executed in 1962 by Sultan Mohammad Esmael Kiram II “transferring the sultanate’s sovereign rights over North Borneo” to the Philippine Government, then represented by President Diosdado Macapagal, Incumbent Sulu Sultan Muedzul Lail

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Tan Kiram said under such latest document on the sultanate’s claim of historic possession rights also sought to “recall, refute, revoke, cancel, abrogate” the lease agreement executed by his forebear Sultan Jamalul A’lam in favor of Dent and Overbeck in 1878.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has “ever since” distanced itself from the issue and has sustained its preference for cordiality with regards to its relations with Malaysia, BARMM officials assured.

It can be recalled that Malaysia has hosted the bilateral rounds of prior peace talk that led to the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and its annexes. The CAB and the

subsequent enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (RA 11054) have become the bases of the continuing peace process in the Southern Philippines.

Incidentally, the incumbent Sulu Sultan is the nephew of Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan, one of the staunchest opposition leaders to Congress’ extension of the tenure of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA). But their kindred camps said the Tans respect each other’s political positions on issues.

The current Sultan Kiram said the Philippine government through the Department of Foreign Affairs had yet to reply to the communiqué sent by the Sulu Ruma Bichara which ratifies every policy declaration made by the sultanate based on popular consultation. Nash B. Maulana

THE Supreme Court (SC) has extended until June 30, 2022, the validity of notarial commission issued to lawyers who act as notary public and whose job, among other legal work, is to witness the signing of documents and verify their authenticity.

In a resolution, the SC grounded its decision to the “continuing difficulties imposed by the ongoing health crisis” in the extension of the notarial commissions. This was the third time it was extended since the government declared public health emergency arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Accordingly, all notarial commissions granted in 2019 and whose validity had been previously extended until Dec. 31, 2021 pursuant to the Court’s Dec. 1, 2020, and June 22, 2021 Resolutions are deemed

further extended, and shall thus remain valid for an additional period of six months beginning Jan. 1, 2022 until June 30, 2022,” the SC said, in a resolution signed by En Banc Clerk of Court Marife M. LomibaoCuevas.

The resolution also stated that during the said six-month period, “the notaries public whose terms are deemed extended pursuant to the latest Resolution shall continue performing notarial acts using their existing seals.”

The first extension was until June 30, 2021, while the second would last until Dec. 31, 2021. The latest extension was sought in a letter-request of lawyer Rameses Victorius G.Villagonzalo who sought to extend the validity of his notarial commission issued in 2020, which will expire on Dec.31, 2021.

E-COMMERCE FIRM. Atty. Sherry

Bernabe, head of Flash Express Philippines legal compliance and spokesperson; and Atty. Niquee Louise Yap-Espritu, Flash Express Philippines legal head for Express Operations; Tony Luo, Flash Express Philippines shareholder representative, and Engr. John de Guzman Tarampi, Flash Express general manager pose for a photo during a press conference on Tuesday to officially launch the e-commerce company.

Norman Cruz

Sports

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

BUCKS WRAP UP ROAD TRIP WITH WIN. Giannis Antetokounmpo looks to pass the ball against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. He finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and the Bucks led by as much as 18 points en route to a 119-109 win over the mistake-prone Indiana Pacers. The victory wrapped up a three-game road trip for the reigning NBA champion Bucks. AFP

PSC backs plan to add more Olympic events in SEAG THE Philippine Sports Commission supports the ASEAN Sports Ministers’ initiative to add more Asian and Olympic events in the future editions of the Southeast Asian Games, which is part of the agenda of the 6th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports on Thursday.

“It’s a clear pathway. I see this as an efficient way to take as we prepare our national athletes for the Olympics, while we are preparing them for the SEAG and the Asian Games,” said PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez who, along with PSC’s Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy, Jr., represents the country in the said virtual gathering of ASEAN sports ministers and senior officials.

“From the time of AMMS-5 until now, the strong bond has become more evident in achieving One ASEAN through Sports. This event posits another opportunity for the Philippines to adopt innovative ideas from our neighboring countries,” added the sports agency chief.

The sports agency chief, who chaired the AMMS-5 in 2019, will be joining the virtual meetings along with sports ministers, senior officials, and other delegates from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore - the current host nation for the AMMS-6.

One of the anticipated projects to be taken up is the engagement of ASEAN Member states and relevant stakeholders in initiatives on sports law, women in sports, capacitybuilding and anti-doping.

“There are five priority areas identified and a number of noteworthy recommendations for supporting activities. I am positive that sports is moving forward as it gets better recognized as an important pillar in nation building and growing a better and stronger ASEAN,” said Ramirez.

Yulo’s brother is PH’s next gymnastics’ star

By Peter Atencio

C

ARLOS “Caloy” Yulo, the country’s gymnastics’ gem, is still lording it over in the world stage but this early, the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines has already identified the next Filipino superstar in the sport.

And GAP president Cynthia Carrion doesn’t have to look far.

Without batting an eyelash, Carrion pointed to Yulo’s younger brother, Karl Eldrew Yulo, as the one who can follow in the footsteps of the world champion.

“It’s Karl Yulo and we are ready to provide the same support that we have given to Caloy when he was just starting in gymnastics,” said Carrion.

T h e 13-year-old Eldrew, a mu lt i-me d alist in the Palarong Pambansa and

Gymnastics president Cynthia Carrion with PSA moderators Randy Caluag and Judith Caringal

Batang Pinoy competitions, is one of the several boys, who have been training at GAP Training Center inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

But the COVID-19 pandemic in the early part of 2019 forced the training of the national junior athletes to a halt.

Carrion was happy to announce though that a new GAP Training Center is being built in Intramuros, Manila at a cost of P10 million with the help of private sponsors and the Philippine Sports Commission.

It will be finished by the December and Yulo will be back home to lead the formal opening of the facility.

“By that time, the kids can restart training as we also built rooms for them to stay in there,” added Carrion.

Eldrew, according to Carrion, will be sent to Japan to train under Caloy’s Japanese coach Munehiro Kugiyama.

“Yes, when he (Eldrew) is old enough, he will train in Japan,” Carrion said.

In his past interviews, Eldrew said that he will train harder and even vowed to become better than his older brother.

Caloy is coming off a masterful performance in the 50th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan last Sunday when he dominated the vault event for the gold medal while also

Ex-Aussie team coach: From Matildas to Malditas COACH Marlon Maro has stepped down from his duties as head of the Philippine Malditas national women’s team.

Replacing him is former Australian national coach Alen Stajcic, who will now take over in preparing the Malditas as they seek to earn a historic spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The coaching change comes less than three months before the Malditas plunge into action in the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup India 2022.

The tournament, which begins on January 20 in India, will serve as the final stage of the Asian qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Last month, Maro guided the Malditas to a second straight AFC Asian Cup berth.

Wins posted over Nepal and Hong Kong in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers in Tashkent, Uzbekistan gave them a seat to the tournament in India.

The 47-year-old Stajcic joins the Malditas following a five-year stint from 2014 to 2019 with the Australian women’s national squad, also known as the Matildas While Stajcic was still with the Matildas, the Aussie team qualified to the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Later, Stajcic coached the Matildas in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, where the Australian side reached the quarterfinals.

Joining Stajcic in this new job is deputy coach Nahuel Arrarte, the assistant coach of the Matildas from 2017 until 2019, and is now with A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers.

Philippine Football Federation officials, led by president Mariano Araneta, Jr. expressed confidence that Stajcic’s presence will improve the squad.

“We are thrilled that Alen Stajcic has accepted the position to be the head coach of the Philippine Women’s National Team.

His appointment shows the commitment and determination of the PFF to give our women’s national team the best possible chance to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup,” said Araneta.

Araneta thanked Maro for his contributions to the team and has appointed him as head of the PFF coaching education program.

“We see how Coach Maro is a vital stakeholder on the growth of the beautiful game in the country and his appointment as PFF Coaching Education head is testament to his already significant contributions and what he still can contribute to the country’s football development,” said Araneta.

PFF secretary general Ed Gastanes said they are upbeat about Stajcic’s new role with the Malditas.

“Coach Alen Stajcic has the capabilities to elevate the Philippine Women’s team on the Asian stage and beyond.

We look forward to what he can bring to the team which has qualified to the final competition of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022,” said Gastanes.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Azkals National Men’s Under-23 National Team tried to hold off South Korea, but still took a 0-3 loss setback in their opening game in the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers, Monday evening at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore. Peter Atencio

Hotshots shoot for series equalizer

By Peter Atencio

Chito Victolero

THE Magnolia Hotshots have tried everything to stop super rookie Mikey Williams of the Talk N Text Tropang Giga from scoring.

But since they won Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup best-ofseven championship series, they won’t alter their plans drastically.

Magnolia coach Chito Victolero said they will just have to focus on playing a defensive game again in Game 4 of the

series at 6 p.m. today at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

“I think he’s (Williams) very good.

He’s an NBA-caliber player. He played in the D-League. Basta kahit sino ilagay namin sa harap niya, he scores. He loves to score,” said Victolero, whose Hotshots trimmed their deficit in the series to 1-2 following a 106-98 victory last Sunday.

Beaten badly in the first two games, the Hotshots tried to

deal with a prolific Williams, who still came away with his career-best game that evening.

The TNT rookie erupted with 39 points after going 10-of-18 from the behind the arc, the most by any player in PBA Finals.

“We will just try to focus and maintain our defensive schemes. Naging effective naman iyun because we won the game,” added Victolero.

Victolero said they will have to do their best limiting Williams from scoring.

Romualdez: Yulo win confidence booster for Paris Olympics HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez on Tuesday said the historic victory of Carlos Yulo at the 2021 50th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships at Kitakyushu City Gymnasium in Japan will serve as a huge confidence booster for the country’s quest to win gold medals in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Romualdez congratulated Yulo for bringing another pride and glory for the Philippines after winning a gold medal in the vault finals and a silver medal in

the parallel bars finals of the 50th FIG Artistic Gymnastics Championships on Sunday.

The 21-year-old Filipino artistic gymnast Carlos Yulo was recognized as the first Filipino to capture multiple medals at the world championships.

“Your victory will boost the country’s campaign to win gold medals in the 2024 Paris Olympics,” Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules, said.

“Congratulations to Carlos Yulo for winning gold and silver medals at the

2021 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships,” Romualdez, president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, said.

“Your achievements inspired many Filipinos to soar to greater heights and achieve great success in life. Salamat sa iyong mga sakripisyo at pagbibigay ng karangalan sa bansa,” Romualdez, a lawyer from the University of the Philippines and president of the Philippine Constitution Association or one of the most prestigious organizations of legal luminaries in the country.

The Philippines’ Carlos Edriel Yulo is shown after competing in the parallel bars event at the men’s apparatus finals during the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships at the Kitakyushu City Gymnasium in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka prefecture. AFP

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Tuesday, October 26, 2021 40.56 PTS.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor

7,252.10

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

B1

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

834,551,514 87,506 6,432,060,128.74 89 110 52

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.7670

Japan

Yen

0.008795

0.4465

UK

Pound

1.377100

69.9112

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128632

6.5303

Switzerland

Franc

1.087784

55.2235

Canada

Dollar

0.807754

41.0072

Singapore

Dollar

0.742446

37.6918

Australia

Dollar

0.749000

38.0245

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652661

134.6676

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266617

13.5353

Brunei

Dollar

0.739700

37.5523

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.030211

1.5337

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.8232

Euro

Euro

1.161300

58.9557

Korea

Won

0.000856

0.0435

China

Yuan

0.156602

7.9502

India

Rupee

0.013318

0.6761

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.240993

12.2345

New Zealand

Dollar

0.716300

36.3644

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035967

1.8259 Source: BSP

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (right) and Korean Trade Minister Han-Koo Yeo sign the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement. Both parties announced the conclusion of the negotiations and acknowledged that the FTA will help contribute to the economic recovery efforts of the Philippines and Korea. The final negotiations focused on market access for Philippine banana exports and for Korean automotive units and parts.

PH and South Korea conclude bilateral free trade agreement PEZA approves local investment T in facility for oral

By Othel V. Campos

COVID vaccines

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority approved the proposal of local company Savepoint Biotek Inc. to invest in a facility in Pampanga province that will manufacture oral COVID-19 vaccines using Israeli technology.

PEZA deputy director-general Tereso Panga said Savepoint is planning to initially invest P80 million, but the total project cost could reach up to P1.5 billion upon expansion.

“Right now the project has 100-percent Filipino representation.

The project was approved by the board and the equity share from Filipino and Israeli partners is yet to be finalized,” Panga said.

Savepoint teamed up with Israeli company MIGAL Galilee Research Institute for the project. The oral vaccine developed by MIGAL is undergoing clinical trials, Panga said.

The project will rise at the Pampanga Economic Zone in angeles City, employ 425 employees and generate export sales of about $180 million upon full operations.

About 70 percent of the project’s output will go to Asia Pacific and African markets and the rest will be for domestic sales.

A recent post of Panga on social media platform showed that PEZA generated investments amounting to P21.8 billion from companies that are into medical equipment and medical products.

These investments created and maintained close to 20,000 direct jobs. The top three economic zone investors in the medical space are all Japanese, led by Terumo with P7.8 billion in investments; JMS Healthcare, P1.6 billion; and Arkray Industry, P727.8 million.

About 26 medical equipment/products companies are registered with PEZA and are exporting from the country’s major economic zones.

The Philippines is the third largest pharmaceutical market in the ASEAN region, behind Indonesia and Thailand. According to the ASEAN Pharma Report: Opportunities and Threats 2020 and Beyond, the Philippine pharmaceutical market is forecasted to gain a steady annual growth of 4.5 percent in the coming years.

Othel V. Campos

RADE Secretary Ramon Lopez and Korean Trade Minister Han-Koo Yeo on Tuesday announced the conclusion of the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement that aims to contribute to economic recovery of both countries.

The two ministers signed and issued a joint statement prior to the ASEANKorea Summit. The Department of Trade and Industry said the Philippine government would continue to engage Korea to refine the provisions on tariffs on Philippine banana and pineapple and the commitment of Korea to modernize and invest in the Philippine automotive sector.

VITO’S BBQ BRANCH. Vito’s BBQ, a local food concept, opens its first franchise branch in Makati City. Leading the ribboncutting ceremony at Greensun Building in Chino Roces Ave. is Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry chair Ma. Alegria Sibal Limjoco (left), who is also the vice chair of Philippine Franchise Association and vice chair of Francorp Philippines. With her are Vito’s BBQ owner and franchisor Mike Pelayo (second from left), and officers of franchisee 2 Diamonds Food Corp. Now open for franchising, Vito’s BBQ has three operating stores and plans to open four more outlets this month.

NGCP sees power demand rising 6.6% from 2025 to 2040

By Jenniffer B. Austria NATIONAL Grid Corporation of the Philippines, which operates the country’s electricity transmission assets, expects power demand to grow 6.6 percent annually from 2025 to 2040.

NGCP chief finance officer Nanette Bugnosen said during an investors’ briefing for Synergy Grid & Development Corp. the increase in electricity demand and capital expansion would support the growth of the company.

Synergy Grid indirectly owns a majority stake in NGCP. “The gap in electricity usage between the Philippines and its peers implies room for significant potential improvement,” Bugnosen said.

NGCP earlier allotted P160 billion

ERC fines 2 more companies for unplanned outage

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Regulatory Commission slapped penalties against two more companies for exceeding the unplanned outage allowance this year that contributed to the tight supply situation.

It imposed the fines on Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp. and Team Sual Corp. for violating the “Rules for the Interim Reliability Performance Indices and Equivalent Outage Days Per Year of Generating Units.”

The regulator slapped a fine of P135,400 on SLPGC for the outages of its coal-fired power plant unit 2 beyond the maximum allowable days per year.

It said SLPGC incurred total excess of 0.54 day in unplanned outage days covering the period Jan. 3 to April 25. SLPGC attrib-

“We expect that this agreement will provide significant opportunities for business, investment and jobs both in the Philippines and Korea. This FTA, together with the soon to be ratified RCEP [Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership] agreement, represent milestones on our path towards a more robust and resilient economic partnership,” Lopez said

in a statement.

Philippine bananas and canned pineapples, according to discussions, may enter the Korean market at zero tariff in the fifth and seventh year, respectively, after the agreement came into force.

Lopez said both parties agreed to achieve a mutually beneficial and high level of liberalization on trade in goods. This will stimulate trade and allow for more investments from Korea, providing avenues for Korean companies and industries to diversify and expand their economic interests in ASEAN countries, in line with the promotion of Korea’s New Southern Policy.

“We hope that, through our joint promotion of Korea’s New Southern Policy, our countries may open more platforms for partnerships anchored on mutual benefit and cooperation,” Lopez said.

uted the emergency shutdown of the plant to the boiler tube leaks, caused by the abrasion of the ash content in coal which are inherent in coal plants.

The ERC said there were pre-emptive procedures that should be done to prevent or minimize the occurrence of boiler tube leaks.

It also imposed P4.795 million in penalties on TSC for having incurred 10.68 days and 96.2 days of unplanned outages for unit 1 and unit 2, respectively in excess of the 16.8 days of allowable unplanned outages for pulverized coal-fired power plants.

TSC unit 1 and 2 encountered closing failure of high pressure governing valve in December. Upon dismantling, it was found that HPGV 1 and 2’s valve seats moved outward and the seat associated holding pins and steam chests were eroded.

in capital expenditures from 2021 to 2025. It also committed to spend P440 billion worth of projects from 2021 to 2033. The funding will come from internally generated funds and bank loans.

Synergy Grid chairman Henry Sy Jr. said the share sale of Synergy Grid would allow investors to participate in one of the country’s strongest companies.

“As the country recovers from the pandemic, the need for stable and reliable power becomes even more critical. SGP through NGCP recognizes this and continues to introduce innovation in the country’s power transmission network,” Sy said.

“Priced at a very attractive level of P12 per share your participation in

our follow-on offering will allow us to pursue our projects and ensure reliability and security in the years ahead,” Sy said.

Synergy Grid is selling up to 1.15 billion common shares including overallotment option.

The proceeds will be used for subscription to the non-voting preferred shares to be issued by the NGCP, which the latter will use to finance capital expenditures and related costs and expenses.

The follow-on offering is scheduled on Oct. 26 to Nov. 2, with the shares to be listed on the PSE on Nov. 10.

Synergy Grid tapped BofA Securities and UBS AG Singapore Branch as joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners for the transaction.

IN BRIEF BOP posted $412-m deficit in September

THE country’s balance of payments position posted a deficit of $412 million in September, a reversal of the $2.1-billion surplus a year ago, as the government settled maturing foreign debt, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Tuesday.

This resulted in a $665-million BOP deficit in the first nine months, also a reversal of the $6.88-billion surplus recorded in the same period last year.

“Based on preliminary data, this cumulative BOP deficit was partly attributed to a wider merchandise trade deficit and lower net foreign borrowings by the national government compared to the same period last year,” the BSP said in a statement.

The BOP position reflects a decrease in the final gross international reserves level to $106.6 billion as of end-September from $107.96 billion in August. The latest GIR level represents a more than adequate external liquidity buffer equivalent to 10.7 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income. Julito G. Rada

DFNN generates P6b in mobile gaming

INFORMATION technology solutions provider DFNN Inc. said Tuesday mobile gaming platform InPlay.ph generated P6 billion in revenues in the first three quarters.

DFNN said in a disclosure to the stock exchange InPlay.ph managed to capture a respectable share of online gaming market since its launching in November 2020 as consumers turned to internet for various entertainment activities.

The company said that in the third quarter, gross bets increased 64.56 percent to P1.43 billion from the second-quarter gross bets of P869 million.

Third-quarter gross gaming revenue posted an increase of 60.84 percent to P64.3 million from the previous quarter’s GGR of P40 million. Consolidated GGR in the three quarters reached P269.3 million.

“InPlay.ph’s revenue has consistently shown an upward trajectory since its launch. It is projected that InPlay.ph’s performance will surpass that of the traditional gaming outlets which has suffered due to the lockdowns imposed because of the pandemic,” DFNN said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Converge ICT sees 80% growth in Bicol

CONVERGE ICT Solutions Inc. said Tuesday it expects subscriber base to grow by nearly 80 percent in Bicol Region as it continues to expand its pure fiber optic network this year.

“We are the only player in this southern Luzon region with a pure, end-to-end fiber network, and we are aggressively expanding as we continue laying down our domestic fiber backbone interconnecting the Philippine islands and fortifying our entire network,” said Converge chief executive Dennis Anthony Uy. “The solid increase in our customer base in Region V is hinged on our entry into Masbate, and our deeper presence in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Sorsogon,” he said.

Converge landed its pure fiber domestic subsea backbone in three points in Bicol—Pasacao in Camarines Sur, Masbate City and Milagros in Masbate.

These are key landing points in Southern Luzon, which completes the redundancy loop that starts in San Juan, Batangas and passes through Roxas-Mindoro, Boracay, Roxas- Iloilo and ends in Milagros, Masbate. Darwin G. Amojelar

Globe to become digital solutions platform in five years

By Darwin G. Amoelar GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Tuesday it is accelerating its shift to become a digital solutions platform over the next five to 10 years as it slowly pivots away from core telecommunications business spurred by rapid consumer digital adoption.

Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu said in a virtual forum organized by the Makati Business Club the company continues its transformation into a digital solutions group by exploring adjacent business space. It offers several diverse high-growth enterprises in health tech, fintech, adtech and e-commerce, among others.

“I think Globe, four or five years or maybe even ten years from now, will be a digital platform. This is very similar to what Google has done, where they used their search as a basis to create new businesses. Or what companies like Grab has done where they used their ride-hailing app to create new businesses. We use telco as the platform to create new businesses,” Cu said.

One of Globe’s businesses created to leverage the firm’s assets and expertise is GCash, the undisputed e-wallet market leader in the Philippines. It boasts of over 48 million registered users, three million digital touchpoints, 69,000 cash-in and cash-out agents and 700

billers. GCash remains on track to triple its gross transactions handled to P3 trillion this year from about P1 trillion last year. It is the first mover and only mobile wallet with a full suite of accessible financial services.

“Our objective is to create this flywheel that keeps spinning faster and faster, creating new businesses. And the vision is if you can create a large GCash business, which is the only Philippine dollar unicorn out of the telco business. Imagine the third business that we create with the help of both Globe and GCash. Globe has over 81 million mobile subscribers and GCash has 48 million,” Cu said.

Business

B2 || WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks rise; AC Energy, ICTSI advance

T

HE stock market bounced back Tuesday after fresh records on Wall Street overnight and easing COVID-19 restrictions in the Philippines.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 40.56 points, or 0.6 percent, to 7,252.10 on a value turnover of P6.4 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers 110 to 89, with 52 issues unchanged.

AC Energy Corp. of the Ayala Group climbed 5.5 percent to P11.98, while sister unit Globe Telecom Inc. advanced

4.2 percent to P3,148.

Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fastfood chain, rose 3.6 percent to P235.20, while International Container Terminal Services Inc. of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., the largest port operator, gained 3 percent to P189.

Asian markets mostly rose on Tuesday, with healthy corporate earnings overshadowing ongoing concerns about inflation, while progress in Washington on Joe Biden’s big-spending economic plans also provided support.

However, a fresh virus outbreak in China, where more than four million have now been put into lockdown, revived concerns about the world’s number two economy and authorities’ zero-

COVID policies.

The S&P 500 and Dow both ended at new peaks, with tech firms lifted by a surge in electric car maker Tesla to the trillion-dollar mark ahead of the release of profit reports this week from business titans including Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Twitter.

Facebook became the latest firm to unveil bumper earnings, posting a $9-billion profit in the third quarter and reinforcing optimism on trading floors following a string of reports that have seen upbeat commentary on consumer demand.

Tokyo led gains, piling on 1.8 percent, helped by reports that Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party will likely

win a majority in the upcoming general election.

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

Hong Kong and Shanghai dropped following news that developer Modern Land had missed a bond payment in the latest sign of stress in China’s property sector, with focus on an upcoming deadline for China Evergrande.

Reports that Evergrande had met obligations on a note at the end of last week, just before a Saturday cut-off, boosted sentiment but with several more to go before the year’s end, there is a feeling the inevitable default is merely being delayed. With AFP

Hong Kong set to tighten COVID travel curbs further HONG KONG—Hong Kong will tighten coronavirus travel restrictions to bring it more into line with the Chinese mainland, its leader said Tuesday, as the city extended its streak of more than two months without a major local outbreak.

The announcement came despite concerns from the international hub’s business community that the city remains indefinitely cut off from the rest of the world, with one of the strictest mandatory quarantine regimes of any jurisdiction.

Most arrivals have to undergo 14 to 21 days of hotel quarantine.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said Hong Kong will now go even further as she tries to persuade China’s leaders to restore travel with the mainland.

“Soon we will... announce that most of the quarantine exemptions granted to specific groups of visitors coming from overseas and mainland will be cancelled,” Lam said, adding only essential workers such as cross-border truck drivers would be allowed to make quarantine-free trips.

At present, Hong Kong allows certain groups of people to skip quarantine or isolate at home. They include diplomats and business leaders as well as some mainlanders with Hong Kong resident cards.

Lam did not detail which categories would now be denied exemptions.

Last month, Hollywood star Nicole Kidman was allowed to skip quarantine to shoot a television show, a decision that sparked much public anger.

Lam has previously described reopening to the mainland as “more important” than restoring Hong Kong’s international travel links. AFP

PSEi OCTOBER 26, 2021

TOP GAINERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

HOUSE MACAY

9.78 6.7

0.58 0.37

6.30% 5.85%

3

LBC

20.6

1.1

5.64%

4 5

ACEN EVER

11.98 0.4

0.62 0.02

5.46% 5.26%

6 7

BCB ANS

6.3 7.3

0.3 0.34

5.00% 4.89%

8 9

TBGI WLCON

0.33 29.8

0.015 1.3

4.76% 4.56%

10

GREEN

2.45

0.1

4.26%

TOP LOSERS

CONVICTED AND FINED. Lee Jae-yong (center), Samsung Electronics vice chairman and de facto leader of Samsung Group, arrives for his verdict on charges of illegally using the anesthetic propofol, at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on October 26, 2021. Lee, the world’s 238th richest person, was convicted Tuesday and fined 70 million won ($60,000) by the Seoul Central District Court. The sum is around 0.0006 percent of his estimated $10.2-billion fortune. AFP

Relations between Beijing and Washington nosedived under former president Donald Trump, who imposed tariffs on Chinese products worth billions of dollars in 2018, citing trade practices he deemed as “unfair.”

After Joe Biden took power in January, he launched a review of the US trade strategy and tariffs initiated by Trump.

But his administration also says that China’s massive state subsidies for national companies, intellectual property theft and other factors create a heavily uneven playing field in trade.

According to a readout of the call from the US Treasury, Yellen “frankly raised issues of concern” in the meeting and the two sides recognized that “developments in our two economies have important implications for the global economy.”

Earlier this month, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai spoke to Liu for a second time to discuss Chinese commercial practices.

Last week China promised the World Trade Organization it would further open its vast market, with a swift counter from Washington that it believed Beijing showed “no inclination to change.” AFP

Fate of world’s oldest bank, Italy’s BMPS, unclear as talks fail In this file photo taken on March 08, 2019 The statue of Italian 18th Century archdeacon, economist, and politician, Sallustio Bandini is pictured by the 14th Century Gothic style urban palace Palazzo Salimbeni, headquarters of the Italian bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena, one of the world’s oldest bank, on March 8, 2019 in Siena, Tuscany. AFP

By Ella Ide ROME—The fate of the world’s oldest bank, Italy’s Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS), was hanging in the balance on Monday after the collapse of talks for its sale to UniCredit.

Negotiations between UniCredit and the Italian economy ministry, which has controlled BMPS since it was bailed out by the state in 2017, collapsed on Sunday.

They reportedly fell out over the amount of public money that UniCredit wanted to take on the burden of Monte dei Paschi, with the Corriere della Sera newspaper mentioning a 8.5-billion-euro ($9.9 billion) bill for the ministry.

The government, which is obliged under EU rules to find a private buyer for BMPS by the end of 2021, will now likely be forced “to seek an extension” from Brussels, Morgan Stanley researchers said in a note.

The failed deal is a headache for Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s government, which was eager to turn the page on one of the most intractable banking crises in recent Italian history.

“The fate of MPS does not seem to be very different from that of (national airline) Alitalia,” the Stampa newspaper commented on Monday.

“No one other than the state seems willing to take on its inefficiencies,” it added.

Founded in Siena, Tuscany in 1472, BMPS has suffered years of trouble beginning with a disastrous 2007 purchase of the Antonveneta bank at twice its estimated value.

BMPS then drifted into scandal when its management team was accused of accounting fraud and misuse of funds.

Further weakened during the eurozone debt crisis by an onslaught of bad loans on its books, BMPS was rescued in 2017 with a bailout that cost Italian taxpayers some 5.4 billion euros.

UniCredit, Italy’s second-biggest bank, has long been considered by Rome as the ideal buyer. The door to negotiations opened under UniCredit’s new CEO, Andrea Orcel, who took over in April.

Back at the table ‘soon’?

Lorenzo Codogno, an economist and former top Italian economy ministry official, told AFP he was surprised the talks had fallen apart, be-

cause BMPS would have been a near-perfect fit for Orcel’s stated intention to expand UniCredit.

He predicted that the bank and the ministry would be back at the negotiating table “pretty soon.”

“The government will ask for a three or six month extension, and I think Europe would accept that.

“But it would be hugely difficult for it to obtain a change in attitude—such as a nationalization or a public intervention—that goes beyond what is expected right now,” he said.

Codogno said he thought it unlikely the government would be open to an offer from a foreign bank—should one emerge—because of the time involved in performing the necessary due diligence.

For its part, UniCredit could look elsewhere for takeover opportunities, but “would face major difficulties” if it tried to expand into Europe, because the European banking union is “still far off being rea.l” “So effectively both (the government and UniCredit) will eventually have to sit back down and find a solution,” he said. AFP

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

TFC LODE

43.1 0.63

-3.9 -0.05

-8.30% -7.35%

3 4 5 6 7

SEVN RCI ROCK LR ACE

90.3 0.74 1.51 1.53 1.49

-6.7 -0.04 -0.07 -0.07 -0.06

-6.91% -5.13% -4.43% -4.38% -3.87%

8 9

WPI PHES

0.5 0.51

-0.02 -0.02

-3.85% -3.77%

10

ATI

14.8

-0.58

-3.77%

MOST ACTIVE

China’s Liu, US Treasury’s Yellen hold ‘candid’ call on trade BEIJING, China—China’s Vice Premier Liu He held a call with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen Tuesday to discuss trade issues, with both sides highlighting points of concern in their relationship as they try to tread a new path after the upheaval of the Donald Trump era.

In a video call, the two held “pragmatic, candid and constructive exchanges on the macroeconomic situation and cooperation in multilateral and bilateral fields,” said China’s commerce ministry in a statement.

Liu expressed concern about US tariffs and sanctions, and its treatment of Chinese companies, the statement said.

LAST PRICE

1 2 3 4 5

ALI TEL ACEN AC BDO

VOLUME 14,978,500 261,315 34,697,600 441,960 2,786,300

6 7 8 9 10

SMPH URC JFC CNVRG ICT

9,677,700 2,348,180 1,199,780 6,802,300 1,128,930

VALUE (PHP) 538,516,780 426,053,710 410,102,794 382,157,860 362,136,395 340,295,170 317,612,332 278,797,796 215,983,710 210,296,908

Tesla exceeds $1t in market value after latest Hertz order NEW YORK―Tesla became the latest US tech giant to hit $1 trillion in market value Monday as investors cheered a large order from Hertz and shrugged off criticism from a US auto safety official.

Shares of Elon Musk’s company finished at $1,024.86, up 12.7 percent and topping $1 trillion for the first time.

“Wild $T1mes!” Musk said on Twitter.

The surge followed an announcement from rental car giant Hertz of an order to buy 100,000 autos from Tesla by the end of 2022 in the latest embrace of electric car technology by a mainstream auto player.

The Hertz announcement came on the heels of strong Tesla earnings last week that illustrated the company’s resilience in spite of a semiconductor shortage that has weighed more heavily on other automakers.

Leading analysts at Morgan Stanley upped their target on Tesla to $1,200 from $894, pointing to the company’s “extraordinary” revenue in the last quarter despite supply chain problems.

The Morgan Stanley note predicted Tesla over the next 12 to 18 months will “demonstrate the capabilities of the Trillion dollar Tesla,” as it ramps up production and expands its capacity, model offerings and service offerings.

Monday’s rally overlooked a letter from the National Transportation Safety Board castigating Musk for not implementing key recommendations to safeguard the automaker’s driver assistance programs.

In a September 2017 report on a fatal incident a year earlier in Florida, the NTSB concluded that Tesla’s driver assistance system was prone to being employed on roads for which it was not designed. Tesla’s program also failed to detect signs the driver was disengaged.

The agency urged Tesla to incorporate safeguards to limit the system to areas for which it was intended and to alert the driver when he or she became disengaged.

The other five automakers that received the NTSB’s recommendations responded and outlined the steps they were taking.

“Tesla is the only manufacturer that did not officially respond to us about the recommendations,” wrote NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy.

Homendy described a second fatal crash in California in 2018 that also took place in a roadway not meant for the driver assistance system and with an operator who was disengaged.

“Our crash investigations involving your company’s vehicles have clearly shown the potential for misuse requires a system design change to ensure safety,” Homendy said. AFP

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

B3

PH’s biggest online creators, influencers gather in hybrid event

The music of seasoned rapper and songwriter Curtismith is one of the highlights of Paradise Rising’s new EP ‘semilucent 2.’

Paradise Rising breaks new ground with latest compilation album WITH the goal of establishing a presence for Filipino artists in the West and globally through music distribution, music rights management, and artist development, Paradise Rising has more than lived up to expectations since it was launched in July 2020.

Paradise Rising took the Philippine music industry by storm right with its well-received debut release semilucent, a compilation album that transcended genres and showcased an impressive array of emerging Philippine artists.

Now, Paradise Rising returns with a new ensemble of artists on its upcoming EP and second installment to its compilation album, semilucent.

The latest compilation, semilucent 2 – which features fresh, new artists both homegrown and diasporic — is a 5-track EP that provides genre-blending acoustics, memorable melodies and high-energy 808s.

In contrast to the dreamy and airy radiance of the songs from the debut project, semilucent 2 draws inspiration from the darker mood that comes with the ending of summer, and a longing for memories past.

Highlights include exciting new recordings by the Vancouver Canada-based duo Manila Grey; Philippine-native singer and instrumentalist Steven Peregrina; up-and-coming female R&B artist daze based out of Amsterdam; hip-hop powerhouse from New York CA Christian Alexander; seasoned rapper and songwriter Curtismith; and Filipino-American electronic producer standout Manila Killa with multi-talented global vocal artist Yuna.

For Steven Peregrina, his track “All Night” is “all about good vibes, good times, and partying.”

He adds, “I’m super excited and ecstatic to be a part of the semilucent 2 EP. I consider this song to be my “TakeOff” and y’all should be ready for me! So, Asia, here I come.”

For Manila Grey, “Island Baby (Maarte)” brings a new vibe to the compilation project.

“In this song, we show love to all the beautiful women in our lives, women who represent the vibrancy and class of our culture, both in our home city Vancouver.

Maarte is slang for high maintenance in Filipino, but it actually means artsy. We just wanted to flip that narrative into something fun, while showcasing the art and the grace. All the strong women in our lives have high standards, sometimes you need that energy you know?

Like go ahead, it’s all good, feel yourself,” the group noted. Read full story on manilastandard.net

ON OCTOBER 30 and 31, creators from around the Philippines will once come together for the country’s biggest influencer event, BaiCon InFest.

This year, the digital fest is doing a major throwback to the era that started the boom of content creation - the 2000s.

Now in its fourth year, BaiCon InFest, powered by mobile leader Smart Communications, is an event that was created to provide a platform for fans and aspiring influencers to see their favorite creators perform, educate, and even get awarded.

The event that gathered 72 creators in 2019 when it had its physical event in Cebu and 108 creators in 2020 through a virtual version of the event is set to become bigger in 2021 as it will be a hybrid event.

“The event will still be accessed through BaiCon InFest’s Facebook, TikTok, and Kumu pages, but this year, we will be holding a physical stage in Cebu where the hosts and even some performers can perform live and engage with their audience real-time,” shared Bea Alfar Evar-

done, Production Head and Creative Lead of the event.

Apart from the fun and entertainment that the event brings its audience, especially when this year’s theme aims to take a trip down memory lane by bringing back the Y2k and ‘00s vibe, BaiCon is also an avenue to promote digital media literacy and the responsible use of the internet.

“We believe in the power of the internet - it has many benefits but it can also be an avenue for negativity.

From the spread of fake news, the practice of the cancel culture to online exploitation, many netizens can Over a hundred digital personalities including celebrities are set to add zest to the fall prey to this internet negativity. hybrid event of BaiCon Infest happening later this month.

But if there’s one thing more powerful than the internet, it’s influence. event, all while having one grand, 1,000 students who go to school in This is why BaiCon InFest fuels entertaining time with your favorite mountain barangays across the councreators and influencers to be the influencers and creators. try with digital media literacy workchampions against internet negativTo further amplify the message on books. Donations can be done via ity,” Evardone added. the responsible use of the internet, our website at www.baicon.ph.

That said, the event is set to include the event also serves as a fundraiser.

The event is expected to bring in sessions where creators and influenc- While the event may be accessed for more than 100 creators from all over ers educate the audience about using free, audiences are encouraged to the Philippines and some parts of the the internet responsibly. Educational make donations to the #CreatorsU- world. Read full story on manilasskits and talks will fill up the whole nitedPH, a cause that aims to provide tandard.net

Ending the world in funny, cliché way Y OUNG director Miko Livelo dede cided to end the world by bring bringing out the undead in the new horror-comedy Sa Haba ng Gabi.

The movie, which stars the “laugh out loud trio” from Ang Babaeng Walang Pakiramdam Candy Pangilinan, Jerald Napoles, and Kim Molina, streams exclusively on Vivamax and will be available in more than 70 countries starting Oct. 29.

In the horror-comedy, Pangilinan is Neneng, a housemaid in an old and lavish mansion owned by a senator. She invites her cousin JhemerIN CHARACTER. Will lyn (Molina) to work with her. Needing a job, Candy Pangilinan, Jerald Napoles, and Kim Molina survive the night in Jhemerlyn instantly accepts her cousin’s offer Miko Livelo’s newest horror-comedy and soon discovers that the mansion is where the senator brings his mistresses. flick?

All is well for Neneng and Jhemerlyn in the mansion, except for the senator who came home one day looking very ill.

Eventually, they found out on the news that a virus is spreading throughout the province which turns humans into zombies. During the apocalypse, the senator’s driver Noel (Napoles), also seeks refuge in the mansion. The three of them start to spend the longest night of their lives inside the mansion watching TV, flirting, and trying to survive the zombie apocalypse.

“The movie is the perfect setup for the pandemic. And since it’s a Halloween movie, expect na maraming eksena ng gulatan at katatakutan, but with comic touches so it’s like a roller coaster ride,” Livelo said during the film’s virtual press conference.

“The story happens in one night. I know, there have been many films having the same theme, but this one is more about how three people trapped in one house are able to survive in one night and how it changed their lives and their relationships,” the director added.

Livelo started his career as a motion graphics artist and directed his first film Blue Bustamante in 2013, which gained international recognition when it premiered at the Osaka Asian Film Festival in 2014. In 2019 he directed the friendship-comedy film ‘Tol, and the fantasy-comedy adventure film, Unlilife.

For his new horror-comedy, Livelo teams up with awardwinning filmmaker Erik Matti as producer.

Talking about the cast, Livelo had nothing but praises for the trio describing them as very collaborative.

“Working with them is so enjoyable as they’re all very talented. They all shared some inputs on how the movie would go and even about the characters, kunsaan nila gustong dalhin the roles they play,” he said.

“You can see in their bonding that they’re enjoying working together and that’s made our work much easier considering we’re only shooting at night from 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.,” the director ended.

Iza Calzado joins other ‘Sheroes’ in championing financial literacy for women SCREEN star Iza Calzado recently joined other InLife Sheroes in encouraging Filipino women to be financially empowered. Set to reprise the role of the mature Darna in the latest adaptation of the comic heroine on television, Calzado shared how women can take control of their finances.

Actress Iza Calzado joins other personalities (inset) in a digital event that encourages Filipino women to be financially empowered.

“It’s important to empower women and everyone on financial literacy.

I’ve made a lot of mistakes in the way I handled my money through the years, and I’m still learning. That’s why I think Pinays should talk about money without that shame,” she said during the recent InLife Sheroes #InAko event that was broadcast live via InLife’s Facebook page.

The actress added that it is essential to have discussions about money that don’t come from a place of arrogance or judgment.

Calzado, along with entrepreneur and blogger Shari Poquiz, health advocate Dr. Gia Sison, actress and songwriter Abby Asistio talked about their experiences of becoming financially independent during the online event presented by Insular Life and hosted by DJ Chacha.

InLife Financial Advisor Julianne Benitez shared tips on financial preparedness as she talked about the different financial challenges that women face with the InLife Sheroes.

Financial Knowledge Leads to Financial Empowerment The InLife Sheroes #InAko campaign challenges Filipino women to take a deeper understanding of their immense capacity to succeed no matter their personal circumstance, occupation, or station in life.

“When we launched InLife Sheroes in 2019, our initial ambition was to touch the lives of one million Filipino women within three years,” said InLife Executive Chairperson Nina D. Aguas.

She noted that through various activities and engagements with women from all walks of life, InLife achieved and exceeded the goal in just a little over a year.

“Now that we have successfully touched their lives, it is time to go deeper, to fully explore this engagement so that their financial knowledge will lead to actual financial empowerment,” she added.

Through the InLife Sheroes #InAko campaign, Insular Life will continue to champion financial empowerment by tapping and enlisting advocates and providing Filipinas equal opportunities for growth towards achieving financial empowerment for herself, her family, and communities, and ultimately for a financially inclusive nation. Read full story on manilastandard.net

GMA expands reach in Mindanao with new regional station in Zamboanga

GMA Zamboanga is GMA Network’s fourth regional TV station in Mindanao and its 10th regional TV station in the country.

MEDIA giant GMA Network further strengthens its presence all over the Philippines as it launches its latest addition to its growing number of regional TV stations, GMA Zamboanga—becoming its fourth regional TV station in Mindanao and the 10th regional TV station in the country.

With GMA Zamboanga, the network’s local and national programs can be accessed by viewers in Western Mindanao via GMA Channel 9 Zamboanga and GMA Channel 12 Jolo (Sulu).

Strategically located in Zamboanga City, GMA Zamboanga is also regarded as GMA Regional TV’s (RTV) Western Mindanao hub. It boasts of state-of-the art studio and services viewers in the Zamboanga Peninsula, specifically Zamboanga City and the key provinces of Zamboanga del

Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Zamboanga del Norte. It is likewise available to viewers from the nearby provinces of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Sulu.

“GMA Network, thru GMA Regional TV, remains steadfast in our commitment to deliver local news that matters and stories that inspire through multiple languages and dialects in various communities across the Philippines. As we open GMA Zamboanga Station as our Western Mindanao hub, we are grateful to our viewers and partners for your continued support,” said GMA Regional TV and Synergy First Vice President and Head Oliver Victor Amoroso.

Providing Zamboangueños local news and features that matter to every Mindanaoan is the award-winning, top-rating, and

pioneering unified local Mindanao newscast GMA Regional TV One Mindanao. Anchored by veteran print and broadcast journalist Sarah Hilomen-Velasco, GMA Regional TV One Mindanao delivers relevant local news and features to viewers in North, South Central, Western, and Southern Mindanao and airs weekdays at 5 p.m.

Joining Velasco are her co-anchors Jandi Esteban from GMA Davao on Mondays, Cyril Chaves from GMA Cagayan de Oro on Tuesdays, Argie Ramos from GMA Zamboanga on Wednesdays, Sheillah Vergara-Rubio and Rgil Relator from GMA Davao on Thursday and Fridays, respectively.

Moreover, the opening of GMA Zamboanga ushers in new mornings for viewers in the peninsula

as GMA RTV expands its first and only unified morning program in Mindanao At Home with GMA Regional TV which airs weekdays at 8:00 a.m.

Hosted by Atty. Resci Rizada and Cyril Chavez, with co-host Argie Ramos, viewers are treated to the right mix of information and entertainment to help them start the day right.

GMA Zamboanga joins the growing number of the Network’s regional TV stations in Northern and Central Luzon (GMA Dagupan and GMA Ilocos), in the Bicol Region (GMA Bicol), in Central and Eastern Visayas (GMA Cebu), in Western Visayas (GMA Iloilo and GMA Bacolod), in Northern Mindanao (GMA Cagayan de Oro), and South Central and Southern Mindanao (GMA Davao and GMA General Santos).

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

B4

FASHION AND BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

A tribute to Filipina and her traditional dress

E

DGAR San Diego crossed over from fashion design to visual arts during the start of the lockdown last year.

With nothing much to do at home after turning 60 two days before Metro Manila was placed under community quarantine, the fashion and costume designer decided to pick up his brushes and called his canvas supplier, who was happy to oblige to his requests.

He asked his daughter Abby to pose for his desired angle and lighting, and from there he based his first obra maestra titled “Portrait of an Old Soul 1”.

Hand-painted Maria Clara top over a green de cola skirt by Edgar San Diego

Consequently, he created one to two paintings

SM senior vice president for marketing communications Millie Dizon, fashion designer and artist Edgar San Diego, and Abby San Diego pose with ‘Portrait of an Old Soul 1’ (left), San Diego’s acrylic on canvas featuring his daughter Abby as model.

Modern bridesmaid’s gowns accented by pañuelo and tapis displayed in between Art Nouveau Panels in mixed media.

Filipino designer tackles toxic waste in collection presented in Japan WHAT would the future look like if we do not address our environmental issues?

Experimental fashion designer Kelvin Morales showcased future environmental dystopia in his debut collection in Tokyo, Japan.

Inspired by the genetical deformations caused by toxic chemical exposure, Morales, known for his fascination with peculiar concepts and exploratory design processes, translated the threats of the current environmental issues into futuristic tailoring and semi-rugged ensembles.

Dubbed as Hazard Blue, the 45-piece series features modern barong Tagalog, denim jackets, handdyed jeans, and pleated water-repellent top and pants with handmade patchworks, prints, and his signature embroideries to symbolize and depict the mush waters and floating plastic bags and crushed bottles.

“My collections are always connected with human and evolution,” he shared, “and I want to remind the people that our future is going to be a dystopia if we continue being careless in our actions.”

Morales, who formally honed his skills under the Fashion Design and Merchandising Program of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, utilized the endless possibilities of fabric manipulation and took advantage of old and new technologies such as tie-dye and digital printing.

“I focused on developing a textile design that will bring awareness and translate the urgency of the current crisis,” he said. “I just want to bring light to the toxic waste and pollution, and I want us to be more conscious of our choices and really think about our future five, 10, 50 years from now.”

Hazard Blue is Morales’ culminating collection as one of the eight Filipino labels in the #PHxTokyo showroom incubation program of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM).

Together with other participating designers, he underwent group and one-on-one mentorship sessions with fashion consultant Tetta Ortiz-Matera and Japan-based showroom H3O Fashion Bureau’s Jason Lee Coates and Hirohito Suzuki to assist him in curating and introducing his brand in the fashion capital of Asia.

“The program shows how Filipino artistry and creativity can Experimental fashion designer be brought internationally,” he beamed. “The lockdowns made it Kelvin Morales really hard to produce a collection, from sourcing to production process, but we are lucky enough that we were chosen to showcase our brands and our works in Tokyo because the Japanese market is hard to penetrate.”

Embroidered plastic bottles barong and water-repellent pleated pants

Denim jacket with embroidered patchworks

weekly, all of which he shared on Facebook and by his daughter on Instagram, and later showcased at his first solo exhibit, dubbed Baro’t Saya Tuwa at Ligaya, at the Mega Fashion Hall of SM Megamall.

Anchored on the theme “Tribute of joy to the Filipina and her traditional dress amidst the pandemic”, San Diego’s art show highlighted his love for the beautiful Filipina, traditions, costumes, and production design, keeping in mind that the colors are bright and the subjects are happy to create positive vibes.

These characters, “in idyllic repose and against backdrops of elegant ancestral mansions or scenic landscapes, bring to life the traditions of the past and leisurely pace of life that live on in old photographs and in the stories of those who lived during those tranquil times.”

San Diego says his works are his personal statements on nationalism.

“My paintings are unchanging in their presentation of Filipiniana themes, evident in the costumes, the furniture, the settings, and the scenarios that find their way into my canvas,” he says. “These are the expressions of my love for country and its history.”

Hopefully, he adds, “through my visual creations, I could encourage and inspire others, especially the younger generations of Filipinos, to develop an interest in our country’s fascinating

A dress with modern kimona sleeves, serpentina sleeves, and chiffon train displayed next to ‘Kwentuhan sa Hardin’.

history and our rich cultural heritage”.

The exhibit, which ran from Oct. 9 to 15, also highlighted the designer’s exquisite hand-painted Filipiniana gowns including a Maria Clara top over a green de cola skirt; a blush pink Maria Clara gown with black accent on the baro, pañuelo, and tapis; and a modern Maria Clara wedding ensemble, among others.

San Diego graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in Fine Arts major in Advertising. He worked as a hand painter on formal wear for a number of Filipino designers. He also worked as a window display artist. He was invited and became the youngest pioneer of the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines where he eventually served as president for eight years. In 1989, he represented the Philippines to the ASEAN Fashion Connections in Singapore.

His awards and citations include Haute Couture Designer of the Year in the Manila Fashion Designers Awards in 1989; Grand Prix Best Costume Award in Carnival in Rio in Manila; Outstanding Alumni of UST College of Fine Arts and Don Bosco Technical Institute; and five-time winner in the Annual Flores de Mayo at The Manila Hotel.

As a costume designer, San Diego’s credits include Repertory Philippines’ “The Wizard of Oz”, “The Man of La Mancha”, “M Butterfly”, “Aladdin”, “The Sound of Music”, and more; Trumpets’ “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”, and “Little Mermaid”; and Newport Theater’s “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”.

He also made costumes for Star Cinema’s “Sarah ang Munting Princesa” and “Ceddie”.

‘Rosa’, in between a modern terno with a printed skirt and a modern checkered trapeze opera coat and black serpentina gown underneath.

San Diego’s ’Portrait of an Old Soul 2’ displayed next to his modern Maria Clara wedding gown.

Greenbelt 3 reopens with new flagship stores

Greenbelt 3 reopens after months of renovations.

AFTER months of closing its doors for renovations, Greenbelt 3 reopens with several major flagship stores and first-in-thePhilippines retail concepts.

Opening its boutiques before the end of 2021 are Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Dior, Off White, Univers and Thom Browne, Bvlgari, Kenzo, Max Mara, Rimowa, Patek Philippe, and L’Officine Universelle Buly.

Meanwhile, 2022 will welcome the launch of Celine, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tod’s, Ermenegildo Zegna, Roger Vivier, Loewe, and Jimmy Choo.

The new Greenbelt 3 carries over 18 soon-tolaunch brands plus an expansion of Hermes’ boutique. It flows seamlessly with the high-end stores in Greenbelt 4. Store openings at the renovated wing have gradually started this October.

Louis Vuitton unveiled its newly renovated, almost 1,000-square meter boutique that incorporates Filipino culture through its collaborations with local artists and interior design firm Philux. Stephanie and Jessica Kienle picked the furnishings for the store that will also house Bea Valdes’ “Hibla 02”, Inigo Elizalde’s Filipino-inspired rug designs, Olivia d’Aboville’s “Fields of Color”, and Monica Delgado’s “Bliss”.

Bvlgari’s Greenbelt boutique is inspired by Mediterranean origins and Roman traditions, while Dior’s outlet in the Makati-based mall will exclusively carry its seasonal women’s ready-to-

wear for the first time.

Marking G e r m a n luggage label R i m o w a ’ s The Philux-designed Louis Vuitton debut in the boutique in Greenbelt 3. (Photo from Stephanie Kienle/Instagram) new wing is the launch of Rimowa Personal in limited-edition Bamboo shade, inspired by the exotic produce found in Thailand’s floating markets.

Italian brand Max Mara is planting its reigns in the mall to further its legacy of offering contemporary collections of ready-to-wear and accessories to today’s powerful women, so as French luxury label Kenzo, which is opening its first inline space on the ground floor of the refreshed wing.

Arriving for the first time in the country are Roger Vivier, known for its artistic footwear, Rimowa bag, and accessories worn by royalties and Personal in Bamboo celebrities; and L’Officine Universelle Buly, a Parisian perfume and cosmetics brand with a rich origin dating back to the 19th century.

To ensure guests and staff members’ safety, Greenbelt partnered with the Department of Health and the local government unit to immunize all mall employees. The mall is also a recipient of the Safety Seal.