Manila Standard - 2021 October 30 - Saturday

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NCR Alert Level 3 extended

Up to Nov. 14 along with 10 others as IATF calibrates reopening By Vito Barcelo, Othel V. Campos and Willie Casas

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ETRO Manila and 10 other areas will remain under the Alert Level 3 classification for the first two weeks of November, despite the drop of COVID 19 cases, Malacanang said.

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By Darwin G. Amojelar and Vito Barcelo

Palace spokesman Harry Roque said that aside from the National Capital Region (NCR), other areas under Alert Level 3 are Baguio City (included as an area for special monitoring), Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Iloilo City, Siquijor, Lanao del Norte, Davao City and Davao del Norte. “We are gradually adjusting the alert level system so we won't have a surge in COVID-19 cases," Roque said Friday. “Although the data have shown a lower attack rate and hospital care utilization rate, of course there will be an increase in mobility with transportation capacity now at 70 percent,” he said. “So we expect that with the increased mobility, it’s also possible for cases of COVID to increase,” Roque said. Business leaders described the decision to extend Alert Level 3 as a "minor Next page setback."

2,779,943 4,043

50,630

42,621

44

2,686,692

3,224

PUV capacity hiked to 70%, MMDA mulls lifting curfew

ECOTOURISM. A group of youngsters enjoy the cold, foggy morning on the top of the mountains in Baclayan in Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro. The Puerto Galera Windmill Farm area offers a majestic and almost surreal view of the whole town of Puerto Galera and the adjacent turquoise sea in the Verde Island Passage. Danny Pata

THE government on Friday said it will gradually increase passenger capacities for public transportation in the National Capital Region (NCR) from 70 percent to full capacity starting Nov. 4 as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said it is considering lifting or shortening further the curfew and asking mall owners to open for a longer period. The move comes after the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved an increase of capacity for public transportation, for a one-month pilot implementation in the NCR. Transportation Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon Jr. said his department was ready to implement the increase in a gradual manner, beginning from 70 percent capacity for road- and rail-based public transportation. Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Steven Pastor said the increase in passenger capacity and the P1 billion in cash aid to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers would be a big help. “This is a welcome development considering the burden on our PUV drivers and operators of implementing the limited passenger capacity rule, which was aggravated by recent fuel price hikes,” Pastor said. The livelihood of public transport drivers and operators was severely affected with passenger capacity in public transport maintained at 50 percent due to pandemic restrictions. Increasing passenger capacity will mean higher revenue for the public transport sector, considering the increase in expenses brought by rising fuel prices. Next page

Nursing, med Duterte resets BARMM first parliamentary polls to 2025 studes tapped as vaccinators (As of 4 PM, OCTOBER 29)

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

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure postponing the first regular elections of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of

Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to 2025, May 2022 to May 2025, effectively the Palace said Friday. amending the Bangsamoro Organic The law will reset the holding of Law (BOL) of 2018. the first BARMM regular polls from Next page

Govt troops kill top terror leader, wife

JUSTICE FOR THE DEAD. Relatives of victims of extra-judicial killings attend a memorial mass ahead of All Soul's Day to remember their loved ones slain in the government's war on drugs at the Commission on Human Rights office on October 29, 2021. AFP

PH still ranked ‘7th deadliest place for journalists’ GLOBAL IMPUNITY INDEX Rank Country

THE Philippines remained the 7th deadliest country in the world for journalists in terms of unsolved killings, according to press freedom organization Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in its 2021 Global Impunity Index report. “Globally in 2020, at least 22 journalists were singled out for murder in retaliation for their work, more than double the total for 2019. For 2021, the number of murders is tracking closely

to last year’s, but political volatility in Afghanistan and other high-risk nations makes the final 2021 total difficult to predict,” CPJ said in a statement. The 2021 index showed littled change from last year's, with Somalia, Syria, Iraq and South Sudan occupying the worst five spots on the list “as conflict, political instability, and weak judicial mechanisms perpetuate a cycle of violence against journalists.” Next page

GOVERNMENT TROOPS have killed the leader of terrorist group Dawlah Islamiya Philippines during an early morning operation in Talayan, Maguindanao, the military said Friday. Major General Juvymax Uy, commander of Army's 6th Infantry Division, told a news conference Salahuddin Hassan was killed in Barangay Damablac Friday. “Salahuddin Hassan, also known as Orak, the overall emir of Dawlah Islamiya Philippines and most wanted Dawlah Islamiya terrorist, was neutralized by government forces,” he said. The military said Hassan's wife, Jehana Mimbida, allegedly the group's finance officer, was also killed in the Next page operation.

MEGA AND BRIGHT. SM

Megamall ushers in the holiday season with a 45foot tree adorned with thousands of Christmas lights, teal blue and gold ornaments, and oversized acrylic butterflies in yellow, teal blue, and pink neon gel flex lights.

THE Commission on Higher Education, now on the roll with its continuing inoculation drive, wants to reach up to 80 percent vaccination rate for college students nationwide by the end of November with the deployment of nursing and medicine students. "In a week or so, we will issue the new guidelines to allow students in Nursing and Medicine in their fourth year and new graduates to act as vaccinators," CHED chairman Prospero De Vera said. This came a day after the Department of Health announced its plan to hire more vaccinators, including dentists, as the country started to gear up to inoculate minors aged 12 to 17 against COVID-19. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they are also doing this in preparation for the administering of booster shots to health care workers and senior Next page

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Rody seeks Asean travel corridors At the same time, Duterte said Asean countries and India must work together to enhance cooperation in fighting terrorism, violent extremism and transnational crimes through exchanges of best practices and information. In his statement during the 14th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philip-

pines East Asean Growth Area (BIMPEAGA) Summit, Duterte said, “it is time that we open our borders safely to reinvigorate our trade and tourism sectors.” Duterte cited the rising vaccination rates given to its populace to stop the virus. “The creation of these travel corridors would allow people to enter certain ter-

ritories without the need to quarantine, subject to certain requirements such as full COVID-19 vaccination,” he said. He emphasized the need to revitalize economic exchanges within the region through deeper integration. During the summit, Duterte also stressed the need to re-establish air and sea linkages disrupted by the pandemic and pointed out the importance of investing in digital infrastructure to address development gaps. “Let us then work swiftly towards the early entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement,” he said. The RCEP is an Asean-led Free Trade Agreement which merges its existing re-

NCR...

ter of areas that will be placed under new alert levels from Nov. 1 to 14, Malacañang said. Originally, only 14 provinces and five cities joined Metro Manila in the pilot implementation of ALS from Oct. 20 to 31. Meanwhile, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion announced that various business sectors are pushing for the easing of mobility and business restrictions to Alert Level 2 from Alert Level 3 as COVID cases continue to drop. “Business establishments are looking forward to the possibility of declaring Alert Level 2 in Metro Manila as it would lead to additional capacity to accommodate more customers. This would translate to more income that could help them recoup their losses during the pandemic,” Concepcion said in a recent meeting attended by representatives from restaurants, salons, spas, cinemas, gyms, amusement parks, hotels, and airlines. Based on data released by OCTA Research, the number of COVID-19 cases continues to decline, not just in Metro Manila but also in other parts of the country. Metro Manila is currently under a low risk for COVID-19 as it tallied just 953 cases per day on a seven-day average from Oct. 20 to 26. The independent OCTA Research Group said the reproduction rate in NCR was 0.52 percent while its incidence rate was just 6.73 percent per 100,000. Metro Manila recorded a positivity rate of 6 percent while its health care utilization rate was down to 35 percent. "By the end of November, we are expecting fewer than 2,000 cases per day in the whole country, we hope we can sustain this trend and perhaps by December, it could be at less than 1,000 cases per day. There is no guarantee of course because these are just projections, but those are possibilities," said OCTA fellow Guido David.

Under Alert Level 3, indoor businesses such as restaurants and personal care services are allowed 30 percent capacity for fully vaccinated individuals and 50 percent outdoor regardless of vaccination status, provided that all employees are fully vaccinated. If Metro Manila is placed under Alert Level 2, indoor establishments will be allowed 50 percent indoor capacity, on top of the 20 percent additional capacity now that Metro Manila has a vaccination rate of more than 70 percent. In addition, Concepcion said an indoor business establishment is given an additional 10 percent if it carries a safety seal, bringing the total capacity to 80 percent. Outdoor venues would be allowed to operate at 70 percent capacity, regardless of vaccination status of customers. Meanwhile, the Philippine College of Physicians said it was amenable to proposals to lower the COVID-19 alert level in Metro Manila but warned the public to stay vigilant despite a decline in coronavirus infections. Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of the Philippine College of Physicians, said relaxing health measures might reverse earlier gains. “We are somewhat comfortable in downgrading NCR to Alert Level 2. But there's a caveat. The public and government must ensure that minimum public health standards are followed,” she told ABS-CBN in Filipino. The Philippines logged 4,043 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the total number of cases to 2,779,943. There were 44 new fatalities Friday, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 42,621. The DOH also reported 3,224 new recoveries, bringing the total recoveries to 2,686,692. There were 50,630 active cases, of which 74.1 percent were mild, 6.5 percent

were asymptomatic, 2.6 percent were critical, 6.1 percent were severe, and 10.71 percent were moderate. Nationwide, 50 percent of ICU beds, 37 percent of isolation beds, 34 percent of ward beds, and 34 percent of ventilators, were in use. In Metro Manila, 41 percent of ICU beds, 31 percent of isolation beds, 31 percent of ward beds, and 30 percent of ventilators, were in use. The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday reported some 3,349 more COVID-19 cases as backlog from recent days, as the agency continues sorting out issues being experienced by its data collating system. The backlog cases were supposedly uploaded from Sept. 29 to Oct. 18 to the COVID-19 Data Repository System but were only processed or "pushed" to the COVIDKaya on Oct. 27, DOH said. This raised the country's total infections to 2,775,930. Most of the newly-announced cases, or 3,415, turned out to be recoveries, while two are fatalities, said the DOH. Also on Friday, the OCTA Research Group said they believe the Delta variant has reached its endgame in the Philippines as COVID-19 infections continue to fall. “We're at the end-game of the Delta variant and are not seeing a resurgence. But we still need to be vigilant as there could still be spikes in cases, clustering and local outbreaks,” said Guido David, OCTA Research fellow. The Philippines has recorded a 7-day average of 4,700 COVID infections, lower than in the previous months of June and July after the Alpha and Beta surges. David said he believes that the country will no longer return to recording 10,000 or 20,000 cases per day. For now, David added, there is no threatening variant of concern in the country.

October 13. Also on Friday, the Palace said it has included China and 45 other countries and jurisdictions in its updated "green" list. The list of "red, yellow, and green" states and territories was revised during the meeting of the IATF on Thursday, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said. Apart from China, other countries and jurisdictions on the green list are Algeria, American Samoa, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Cook Islands, Eritrea, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), Kiribati, Madagascar, Mali, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Montserrat. Also placed on green list are Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, North Korea, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Poland, Saba (Special Municipality of the Kingdom of Netherlands), Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Sint Eustatius,

Solomon Islands, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tokelau, and Tonga. Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, and Yemen are also included in the green list. Roque said Latvia is the only country put on the red list. "All other countries/jurisdictions/territories not mentioned shall be under the yellow list," he said. Roque said the IATF-EID has also agreed to further ease the travel curbs by expanding to the yellow list the limited international transit hub operations. Initially, the government only allowed transit flights just for green countries and jurisdictions. The Bureau of Immigration, meanwhile, clarified its policies on departing Filipinos amid travel restrictions set during the pandemic, saying outbound tourism is allowed for Filipinos, subject to compliance with protocols set by the government. BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said

departing Filipinos are subjected to regular immigration inspection at the country’s international ports. In June last year, the IATF lifted the ban on non-essential travel of Filipinos. Morente added that the IATF ruling requiring outbound Filipino tourists to present a round -trip ticket and travel and health insurance for COVID-19 covering the duration of the traveler’s stay abroad remains in place. Additionally, departing Filipinos are also required to sign a declaration acknowledging the risks of their travel, to be provided by airline check-in counters. Morente clarified misinformation spreading online that only certain brands of travel insurance are accepted. “Such is not the case. Any brand of travel and health insurance, as long as it covers COVID-19 may be used by departing Filipino tourists. Unscrupulous individuals have been using the name of the BI to sell insurance, hence the need to issue this clarification,” he added.

students somehow experience a "sense of normalcy" as they return to school and mingle with classmates. The Philippines has so far fully vaccinated 25.7 million people against COVID-19, and aims to inoculate at least 77 million to achieve population protection against the respiratory illness as more transmissible variants emerge. The DOH said Thursday that dentists were now allowed to be vaccinators against COVID-19. Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said the DOH had coordinated with the Professional Regulation Commission and the Philippine Dental Association. Cabotaje said the dentists must coordinate with local government units. “They should be registered… and they must link with the LGU. The supervisor of the dentist is a medical doctor. The doctor, the head of the implementing unit, should know that he has an additional dentist,” she said. Cabotaje said the DOH had sent funds to various regions for the services of those who have been hired in the vaccination program. The vaccination of all minors 12 to 17 years old will start on Nov. 3 in the National Capital Region, while the nationwide implementation will be on Nov. 5, the DOH said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Duterte..

national elections,” the Palace said. The election was a key provision in a 2014 peace agreement aimed at ending a conflict estimated to have claimed 150,000 lives and was due to take place next May in the BARMM. But former rebels from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) group appointed to lead a transitional government have said they needed more time before elections to a local legislature can go ahead and the vote will instead be held in 2025. Former MILF rebels have warned that the failure of the peace process would likely draw disillusioned Muslim youths in the region towards the more hardline Islamists still waging an armed campaign in the southern Philippines. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

By Vito Barcelo

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has called for the gradual reopening of travel corridors of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to trade and tourism to restore the bloc's respective pandemic-hit economies.

From A1

"We believe the government is trying to balance economy and health, and not prioritize one over the other," said Philippine Chamber of Commerce and industry chairman emeritus Francis Chua. "But the government should assure us business owners that come December, we will be at Alert Level 1," he added. Socioeconomic Planning chief Karl Chua earlier said the country stands to gain P3.6 billion and generate 16,000 jobs per week if Metro Manila eases into the more relaxed Alert Level 2. Roque said the government’s pandemic task force also approved the recommendation to further expand the pilot implementation of the Alert Levels System (ALS). Covered in the ALS pilot expansion for the period of Nov. 1 to 14 are Regions 3, 6, and 10, and Baguio City as an area for special monitoring. Under Alert Level 3, several establishments — including restaurants, gyms, cinemas and movie houses — will be allowed to operate at 30 percent indoor venue capacity only for fully vaccinated individuals and 50 percent outdoor venue capacity, provided that all employees are fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, areas under Alert Level 2 are Angeles City, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Tarlac, Batangas, Quezon Province, Lucena City, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Cebu Province, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Iligan City, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental. At least 25 provinces and cities outside Metro Manila have been added to the ros-

PUV... From A1

The Department of Transportation proposal is also anchored on the argument that Metro Manila is currently under Alert Level 3, which resulted in greater demand for public transport as more people are going out and more businesses are now open. The department also pointed out that 81.4 percent of Metro Manila’s population is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos said he would seek the permission of mayors in Metro Manila to scrap or reduce curfew hours. He said asking mall owners to spread out their closing hours up to midnight would ease traffic and help the economy. Curfew in Metro Manila was shortened to midnight to 4 a.m. starting

Nursing,... From A1

citizens, and a third dose to immunocompromised persons. Vergeire said the pediatric vaccination and the booster shots would mean an additional 10 million people. “So we are looking at adding more vaccinators, expanding hours of vaccination, and expanding the vaccination sites,” Vergeire said. She said vaccine supplies for those entitled to receive them should not be a problem. During the vaccination of students at the Quezon City University, De Vera said to date 30 percent of students had been vaccinated nationwide, while inoculation for school personnel was at 70 percent. De Vera said schools would make an inventory of how many students could serve as vaccinators, and this would be discussed with the city health office, the municipal health office, or CHED's regional under the supervision of health professionals so they could schedule how many vaccinators could be asked to assist in what facility. De Vera explained school-based vaccination was preferred to mixing students with the general population vaccination for two reasons: schools have a master list of students, and

From A1

Duterte signed the law after holding a meeting with BARMM stakeholders in Malacanang, where they discussed the 2022 elections. The President may appoint the 80 new interim members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) or the region's parliament who shall serve up to June 30, 2025, or until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. The BTA lobbied to postpone the elections, citing disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Under the law, the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro region shall be held and synchronized with the 2025

PH... From A1

The Philippines, which retained its spot from last year, has 13 unsolved murders from Sept. 1, 2011 to Aug. 31, 2021. During the 10-year index period, a total of 278 journalists around the world were killed from Sept. 1, 2011 to Aug. 31, 2021. Of the total, 81 percent of the cases or 226 murders having no convictions for the crime. The Presidential Task Force on

gional FTAs with those agreed with Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand into a single economic partnership agreement. The agreement is an open and rulesbased trading system that can accelerate the region’s economic integration. Speaking at the virtual 18th Asean-India Summit, Duterte said the Philippines welcomed the adoption of the Asean-India Joint Statement on Cooperation on the Asean Outlook on the Indo- Pacific that aims to deepen the strategic partnership, particularly in public health, maritime security, digital economy, connectivity and science, technology and innovation as well as biodiversity conservation.

Media Security (PTFoMS) expressed optimism that the Philippines will soon be out of the impunity index. PTFoMS executive director Joel Sy Egco noted that “for the first time, the CPJ made no countryspecific report on the Philippines unlike in the past.” "This can be attributed to our engagement with international bodies such as the CPJ, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and UNESCO, to name a few. It is a sign that we are slowly getting out of the list.” he said.

Private hospitals threaten break with PhilHealth over non-payment By Willie Casas A GROUP of private hospitals warned Friday that some of its members might not renew their accreditation with Philippine Health Insurance Corporation over unpaid claims of COVID-19 cases from last year. Dr. Jose Rene De Grano, president of Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc., said some private hospitals, including in Metro Manila, would release in November a position paper on whether or not they were cutting ties with the state insurer if the issue remained unresolved. "Many of them may not renew with PhilHealth next year because of what they have experienced, which is there is no concrete solution from PhilHealth from the last 2 or 3 months,” he said in an interview on Teleradyo. Most COVID-19 claims from 2020 remain unpaid, he added. Last week, in a Laging Handa press briefing, De Grano said PhilHealth still owed at least P834 million to some private hospitals in General Santos, Iloilo and Northern Luzon. At a Senate hearing, the state insurer also admitted to delays in processing of claims for COVID-19 cases. “We are so swamped with an increase in claims. Can you just imagine, in 2020, we had an average of daily claims of 31,000, and the average number of claims now is 39,000. Which means that is a job increase of 26 percent," PhilHealth chief Dante Gierran had said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Dolomite visitors should monitor for COVID-19 symptoms—DOH A HEALTH official on Friday urged persons who visited the Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach last weekend to monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19. In a media briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire advised the visitors experiencing any of the COVID-19 symptoms to self-isolate immediately. She also reminded them to wear face masks inside their homes. “Always monitor if you experience sore throat, coughs, colds, no sense of taste, no sense of smell, let’s monitor all that,” Vergeire said. Last October 24, the Manila Baywalk Coordinating Office recorded "tens of thousands of people," including children accompanied by their parents who visited the beach. Consequently, the Palace appealed to the public to observe the minimum public health standards when visiting the beach which opened on October 19. “That’s just a little sacrifice, you might feel warm and uncomfortable to breathe but that will prevent infection in your family,” Vergeire said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Govt... From A1

Recovered from the two were war materials including a caliber 223-5.56 MOD R4, a bandoleer, two cellular phones, and six long magazines for R4 ammunition. In a statement, the 6ID said concerned residents reported the presence of suspicious armed individuals during the military’s manhunt operations. Col. Pedro Balisi, commander of the 1st Mechanized Brigade, said Hassan was killed after he allegedly tried to escape by engaging government troops in an armed encounter. Balisi said Hassan was seriously wounded and was left by his group along with his wife. "Our operating troops were able to recover the cadaver of Hassan and Minbida together with several firearms and war material,” he said. Hassan replaced Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan as the over-all Amir of Daulah Islamiyah after the latter's death in 2019. Hassan was the former leader and founder of the notorious Al-Khobar Group involved in the different terror attacks in Mindanao from 2007-2015. He was also a student of the late Basit Usman and Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Abdhir Marwan. Hassan is identified as the mastermind of the Yellowbus unit bombing early this year at Tulunan, Cotabato, and the burning of another Yellowbus unit at M’lang, Cotabato on June 3, 2021, which left four people dead. The military said Hassan’s group was also behind the extortion, liquidation, and bombing activities in Central Mindanao that targeted businessmen and companies, according to the military.

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Senators agree on drug tests for all poll bets

GIANT PIPE.

Workers prepare to realign a Maynilad pipeline to give way for the ongoing flood control project by the Department of Public Works and Highways along Cristobal Street in Sampaloc, Manila, on Friday. The realignment led to a water service interruption from 25 to 85 hours in parts of Las Piñas, Makati, Manila, Parañaque, and Pasay in Metro Manila, and in Bacoor, Cavite City, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario in Cavite province. Danny Pata

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATORS running for the country’s highest elective positions on Friday agreed on mandatory drug tests on all candidates in the 2022 national polls. Senator Panfilo Lacson, who is eyeing the presidency under Partido Reporma, said he has never been addicted to drugs. “So, I have no problem with that,” said Lacson, adding that all candidates should undergo random testing to make it more credible. “I understand drug toxins may dissipate after 72 hours,” said the former Philippine National Police chief. Lacson’s running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said: “I placed that in the law I authored, Republic Act 9165, the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.” However, he said the Supreme Court shot the measure down as unconstitutional. “I do it voluntarily instead every election,” Sotto said. Another former PNP chief, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, said drug testing should be done to all candidates. He said while a security guard watching over an establishment was required to undergo a drug test, there is more reason for a President who will watch over the country to be free from illegal drug use. “It’s unfair to exempt him (a candidate) from a drug test,” he stated. Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, the vice presidential bet of Dela Rosa. said he is willing to subject himself to a drug test “anytime, anywhere.” Although drug testing is not a requirement by law for candidates, Go is amenable to voluntarily undergo drug tests to show the voters that he is fit for public service. Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who’s eyeing the presidency under Promdi, said candidates should show they are clean of illegal drugs. “And before the start of the campaign, we should all have a drug test at the same time,” he added in Filipino.

Politicians’ police escorts recalled

T

HE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday announced that it has started the recall of police escorts assigned to politicians and private individuals who will run for next year’s elections back to their respective units. In a television interview, Police Security Protection Group (PSPG) spokesperson, Maj. Jackson Cases, said this is part of efforts to insulate police officers from partisan politics. “Now they will submit an application to the Comelec (Commission on Elections) just like when applying for a gun ban exemption, they will apply for their security exemption so that

the PSPG can provide them with the appropriate protective security personnel),” he said. Candidates whose applications were rejected by the poll body may still apply for security which will undergo a strict vetting process. “If the Comelec does not approve their application, they will not be given protective security, that is where the

PSPG mandate comes from,” he added. An individual is only allowed to have up to two police security escorts if they are proven to be under threat. He warned police escorts to politicians that their job is limited to providing security. “The policeman who detailed to a politician his concentration is only to provide protective security, he cannot be used as a driver, he cannot be used for campaigning, that is a violation of our circular, they cannot carry or drive distribute campaign materials they can be investigated and if proven they will have an administrative

BBM blueprint for post-COVID revival unveiled

Marcos-Go duo not an option anymore—Cusi SINCE the administration party has already firmed up the presidential and vice-presidential run of Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi on Friday stressed that a “Marcos-Go” tandem is no longer possible. Cusi, president of his faction in the ruling PDP-Laban, said they are no longer in touch with the camp of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos. In an interview with TeleRadyo, Cusi revealed that PDP-Laban was able to talk to Marcos after Dela Rosa filed his certificate of candidacy for president. However, he said nothing materialized from their discussion. To date, Marcos has remained without a running mate, although he has in mind personalities who can run with him for a Senate seat. Marcos is eyeing the presidency under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, which was founded by President Rodrigo Duterte. Earlier, Marcos said he wanted Duterte to be his running mate, but the Chief Executive dropped his initial plan to seek the vice presidency. He was replaced by Go, his longtime aide, on the PDP-Laban ticket. Macon Ramos-Araneta

case,” he explained. Earlier, PNP Chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, ordered all chiefs of police to identify police officers who have relatives running in next year’s elections, especially at the local level. Citing cases in the past years, Eleazar said there were complaints and reports about some policemen actively campaigning for their relatives and engaging in partisan politics. While some of the allegations are not true, Eleazar emphasized that these incidents only show that police officers may also be subjected to harassment and victims of false allegations.

By Rey E. Requejo

TEACHERS’ JABS. Tingog Party-list nominee Karla Estrada (not pictured) commends teachers in Tanauan, Leyte for their efforts to

pursue the education of students despite the limitations caused by the global health crisis during the free pneumococcal vaccination of 150 educators in three schools there.

Tingog helps teachers get pneumococcal vaccine By Maricel V. Cruz

TINGOG Party-list nominee and actress-singer Karla Estrada led her team in the free pneumococcal vaccination of 150 teachers in three schools in Tanauan, Leyte on Friday. Estrada said the vaccination will serve as an added protection to teachers who may participate in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) pilot run of limited face-to-face classes in the country

starting November 15. Estrada thanked the teachers for their efforts to pursue the education of students despite the limitations caused by the global health crisis. She said education “is the most powerful weapon to ensure a brighter future.” Estrada said teachers deserve the highest commendation for their sacrifice in this time of COVID-19, especially now that they have no choice but to participate in the limited face-to-face classes.

She said the “Tingog party-list group has been praying that God will keep the teachers blessed, healthy and safe in the performance of their passion and vocation to educate the future leaders of the country.” Tingog official Bunny Celebrado said the vaccination event was held Wednesday morning at the Tanauan II Central School here where teachers from the Tanauan National High School, Tanauan II Central School and Tanauan III Central School were chosen as beneficiaries.

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on Friday pushed his “Tawid COVID, Beyond COVID” program, which is a comprehensive blueprint for the country’s preparedness for the reopening of the global economy, which is now starting to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Marcos, the standard-bearer of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, stressed the decision of the Australian government to lift the anti-dumping measure on Philippine pineapple canned products shows that the global economy is starting to recover. “BBM” said this is a good development not only in the agriculture sector but also to the other sectors of the country as it proves that it can also make and strengthen its position in the global economy. “Now that the global economy starts to open up, well in this particular case, we should be able to keep up because we have a product to export to (Australia). Our positioning in the various sectors of the global economy should be the same. Once the other countries have started, we should be ready to trade, do business, partner, or supply them,” Marcos said. “We need to plan how to keep pace with the opening of other countries. When the economy of other countries recovers, we need to be ready to keep up with their opening and their rise. We need to plan where to place the recovery of the global economy,” he added.

Leni vows to pursue different tack in anti-drug war By Rio N. Araja SHOULD she win as president in the 2022 elections, Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday said the government’s anti-drug war will stay, but she will use a different approach. “The campaign would also be intensified

but in a different way. What we had was too heavy on the enforcement side,” she said. “We cannot go on enforcement alone because in the past five years, so many people have died. The question is, were drugs eradicated? No,” she added. Robredo also said that the Mandanas ruling, which gives a bigger Internal

Revenue Allotment (IRA) to local government units (LGUs), is a great opportunity for them to be more responsive to the needs of their constituents. The Vice President said controlling and mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is the number one priority in her platform of governance.

Aksyon urges Comelec to hold senatorial debates GOOD BASKETS. Presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso inspects the products of a basket shop in San Fernando, Pampanga on Thursday. With him were running mate Dr. Willie Ong and Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial aspirants Samira Gutoc, Jopet Sison, and Carl Balita. Norman Cruz

AKSYON Demokratiko chairman Ernest Ramel on Friday urged the Commission on Elections to hold more debates among national candidates, including the senatorial aspirants. “It’s high time for the Comelec to provide a venue for senatorial candidates to bare their legislative agenda in a formal

setting. It’s not enough and interesting if the debates would only be limited to presidential and vice presidential candidates for the 2022 elections,” Ramel said. Ramel recalled that the national debates administered in 2016 by Comelec, assisted by the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcasters sa Pilipinas (KBP), only

centered on three presidential candidates and only one debate for vice presidential candidates. Aksyon’s presidential candidate is Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, while cardiologist Dr. Willie Ong is the party’s vice presidential bet. Rey E. Requejo

Opinion Baguilat and Matula: The people’s champions THE names Teddy Baguilat and Sonny Matula may not ring a bell to many but these two names are worthy to be on everyone’s ballot come the 2022 elections. They are running for the Senate. Baguilat, is an Ifugao, and a former mayor, two-term governor of his province, and a three-term representative. Matula, on the other hand, ran and lost in the 2019 elections. He is a lawyer and the President of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), one of the country’s labor centers.

They are more than worthy to be our senators. Baguilat, while not new in politics, is a first-time candidate for Senator. I met him more than ten years ago in the course of our advocacy for the then reproductive health bill. Since then, we would always see each other in various meetings, rallies, and hearings in the House of Representatives (HOR). Baguilat was among our strong allies in different progressive advocacies including bills on women, LGBTQI+, and national land use, to name a few. He is an activist and a true-blue progressive. He will definitely be an asset in the Senate with fresh perspectives and out-ofthe-box solutions to problems. As a person, one may say that Baguilat is low-key. He is not one who tries to catch attention but nonetheless, he is always noticed. I remember that he was the “crush ng bayan” of RH advocates especially with his trademark long hair that gives him the “rock star look.” He is down-to-earth and easy to approach. These are good qualities that will help him become a good senator. Baguilat was always present in meetings of his various bills. I know because I get to be invited as a resource person in many of those meetings. I have been a witness to his being a hard worker. Surely, he will contribute much in the Senate. His familiarity with running local government units is an advantage. As a former mayor and governor, Baguilat is well aware of the situation, operations, and problems of local government units (LGUs). He will be able to use his experience in crafting or appreciating bills that will really benefit our LGUs. Baguilat hopes to be the first indigenous person to become a senator. As he has always done in the past, he will carry the voices of our indigenous peoples in the Senate. Having an IP as a senator is long overdue, and Baguilat will be a worthy representative of our IPs, no

one else is. My other bet, Atty. Sonny Matula, is a genuine “promdi.” He was born in Negros Occidental but their family moved to Cotabato, and then, Agusan del Sur. He hails from a poor family and Sonny, at one point, became a newspaperboy as he struggled to finish his secondary education. He was fortunate to land scholarships; he went to Mindanao State University (MSU) where he finished his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1987. He worked as a trade union organizer at FFW (of which he is now President) while taking up law. In 1988, he became a lawyer. Matula’s life story is truly inspiring. I have known Sonny since his younger years. We were both in one political party and I am a living witness to his impeccable character as a person. One would not take a second look at him if one does not know him. He has always been an unassuming, simple person. But really, he was remarkably hardworking, patient, resourceful, trustworthy, and smart. Matula and I were together in many Party activities and we were molded in the values of social democracy and democratic socialism. If I remember correctly, we both served as Central Committee members. These values that we learned and still adhere to will surely guide Sonny Matula in the senate. He will surely work for the people’s welfare, the country’s sovereignty, human rights, and real democracy. When he was still studying law, Matula lived at the staff quarters of the Party headquarters with a few others. This was almost adjacent to my office then. Because I often worked until late at night, I would hear Sonny study and read his lessons really loudly. There were times when I would request him to please turn his “volume” down a little bit. We were very happy when he passed the Bar because we knew he worked very hard for it. In FFW, Sonny moved up from being an organizer to handling cases of trade unions and eventually, as President. Since then, he has won thousands of cases for workers, something that only a few has achieved. if he becomes a senator, Matula will be the staunchest champion of workers’ rights. I am more than 100% sure of this. As someone who lived in poverty and worked his way up to become a workers’lawyer, he knows how best to help Filipinos by way of legislation. Sonny Matula, from newsboy to senator is the story to beat. Teddy Baguilat and Sonny Matula are more than worthy to become senators. They will be public servants in its truest sense. Both have the integrity, experience, capability, track record, and heart. They will push for the Filipinos’ and country’s interests in the senate. Teddy Baguilat and Sonny Matula will be our champions. @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

A proxy war EVEN before venturing into politics, the name Pineda has been lording it all over the province of Pampanga. Maybe because the patriarch, Bong Pineda, has been perpetually linked to gambling – legal or otherwise. In fact, it was the basis of this platform – anti-gambling — that suspended priest Among Ed Panilio ran and won the province’s gubernatorial seat in 2007, scoring a huge upset beating Bong’s wife, then Provincial Board Member Lilia, by a slim margin of just over

Things are getting interesting in Pampanga. a thousand votes. The Pinedas however rebounded in 2010, with Lilia beating Among Ed. Since then, the Pinedas have held the province’s top post, facing no serious challengers. Until now. Like all the other candidates for next year’s election, former Candaba Mayor Danilo Baylon filed his certificate of candidacy sans any fanfare as it was banned by the Commission on Elections citing the risks posed under this pandemic. In fact, only a few were aware he was running for governor, challenging incumbent Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda. His townmate, also a former mayor of his

town, Jerry Pelayo, then started organizing small consultations groups with their cabalens to discuss their grievances, problems affecting their towns and Baylon’s own perceptions and programs. According to Pelayo, Baylon decided to run for governor as he felt the Pinedas, governor for the past 11 years, have neglected their province. There have been no consultations with farmers, tourism is at a low point (this was aggravated by the cancellation of the annual Ibun-Ebon Festival), the rivers are heavily polluted, contributing to occasional flooding — and other issues. Even the anti-COVID vaccination rollout has been described as snail-paced. Pelayo said that the only thing active in Pampanga is the collection from quarrying which could have contributed to addressing the province’s pollution problem. Unfortunately, Pelayo said it seemed the current provincial governor might have forgotten that a part of the collection should go to the program for proper waste disposal. For his part, Baylon said that one thing which keeps Pampanga going these days is gambling. This after Bong’s e-sabong had been given the green light to operate legally. While Pelayo, who incidentally used to be a supporter of the Pinedas, might have been mincing strong criticisms against his candidate’s rival, Dennis, it was but expected. What is election in the Philippines without the traditional mudslinging, although voters now, with the advent of social media, have ready access to information, enabling them to decipher whether the attacks are fake or accurate. At any rate, Baylon’s quest for Pampanga’s top post, with the backing of Pelayo, remained

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EDITORIAL

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ODAY, Filipinos who are at least 18 years of age and who have not yet registered for the 2022 national elections are given the last chance to register and have their votes be counted. While the law does not require citizens to vote, voting is an essential part of any democracy, where the citizens, not otherwise disqualified, vote for leaders to represent them and their ideas, and the leaders support the citizens’ interests. The Constitutional provision on the exercise of suffrage is precise. Article V, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution states: “Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one year, and in the place wherein they propose to vote, for at least six months immediately preced-

Last call ing the election. No literacy, property, or other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage.”

Voting is the essence of democracy. This gives every citizen the right and the opportunity to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives, to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors; and to have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country. Given the electoral processes in our country, the nature of democracy is that elected officials are accountable to the people, and they must return to the voters at prescribed intervals to seek their

mandate to continue in office. These thoughts help us encourage, pretty much strongly, qualified Filipino voters who have not, for whatever reason, registered for the May 2022 elections to go out today to the nearest registration areas – these are open from 8 a.m. and will close at 5 p.m. – and have their names be included in the list of voters. The voter registration had been extended from October 11 to 30 after the original September 30 deadline lapsed, not helped any by restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic which forced hundreds of thousands to stay at home to avoid getting infected or infecting others. Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas had projected the number of registrants for the month of October from 350,000 to 500,000. This will bring the number of voters in next year’s polls to 64 million – which would include hundreds of thousands of overseas Filipino workers in the different continents.

Prosaic ideological battle lines Part I NEVER in the history of the Philippines has an election been intensely contested as it is today. The situation is somewhat preparatory before the country finally plunges into the unfathomable pit of civil strife. The tenor of the campaign by the opposition is mostly below the belt or meant to incite people to commit violence. The opposition today has become desperate that they have to rehash issues to purposely discredit the administration. Whatever they do to convince the people, they are at a loss on how to squarely confront them. First, they keep on repeating the past, but present half-truths. The people know that the promise of hallelujah will never happen because they are products of agitation. Second, if ever the opposition objects to the imposition of martial law, that chapter has long been affirmed by the Supreme Court as constitutional, notwithstanding that its imposition was purposely done to quell the communist insurgency movement. Third, Marcos cannot be and should not be raised as an issue in this election. It is the son, not the former President, who stands as a candidate in this coming election. FM’s role is already a part of our history. As the opposition focuses its attack on the administration in their usual style of luring voters, they simply admit they have nothing to offer to our people. Presenting themselves as pseudo fiscalizers only exposes them as systematically engaged in discrediting the government. The opposition brands the expenditures of the government as borrowed or funded by China, and that sooner the country will be chained in debt. The problem is that the one eyeing the presidency is silent on how her as it is. Another small-town (err, province) politics — until it hogged the national limelight when former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo entered the picture. Asked to comment on Pelayo’s open support for Baylon, the former being an erstwhile ally,Arroyo articulated her support of the Pinedas. “The decision of former Mayor Jerry Pelayo to support an opposition gubernatorial candidate in Pampanga is his own personal opinion,” Arroyo stated in a statement posted on Facebook. “My family supports Governor Dennis Pineda and Vice-Governor Lilia Pineda all the way,” she averred.
 Personally, I think the former president was ill-advised in issuing such a statement. I don’t mean to undermine Pelayo; he is a close friend. But from a common perspective, it is as if Arroyo, a former president, is stooping down to the level of Pelayo, a former mayor of an average town of Pampanga. What could be the repercussion of such a statement of support? Picture it like this. Imagine Baylon scoring an upset over Pineda. What then would the people, not only in Pampanga, but maybe in the whole country make of this? That Pelayo’s endorsement or support holds more credibility than Arroyo’s? A former average town mayor holding more clout than a

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

syndicated cabal cheated in the last election and now wants to wrest power together with the US using the Philippines as a watermark to contain China. The forces that amalgamate the opposition to retake the government remain anchored on their hatred of Marcos. It is their inability to move forward such that their alliances with the Left and other reactionary forces are confused why the US has unofficially classified their group as a terrorist organization.

The forces that amalgamate the opposition to retake the government remain anchored on their hatred of Marcos. Today, the political aggrupation is principally led by the Liberal Party. The LP has been tagged as the progenitor of US policies and since then affirmed its close alliance with that country. It is made up of veteran politicians that took the cudgels in agitating the removal of Marcos after he renegotiated the US military bases, opened diplomatic relations with China, and charted an independent foreign policy for the country, culminating in his ouster in 1986. There is much disagreement between the Church and the US for their unqualified support for the underground movement. Many political analysts could not find any justifiable reason why the church would even attempt to reach some kind of political understanding with this group. Basic to the dogma of the Church is its belief in the Creator in contrast to Marxism which is to reject our Creator. Today, the church owns vast tracts of land, mostly educational institutions, and are partners of big business establishments. Secular-minded citizens are not against the Church entering into an alliance per se but on how it now monopolized the country’s former president? And by openly endorsing the Pinedas (Lilia by the way is running for reelection as vice governor), Arroyo had transformed this oneon-one tiff as David vs. Goliath showdown, Baylon being the small warrior. Oh, how the Filipinos love an underdog. And, as Pelayo says it himself, Baylon is not hard to sell. Like him, Baylon is also serious in reviving the province’s tourism industry, and famed food industry. For peace, order, safety and security, Baylon is planning to install CCTV cameras on major thoroughfares. At the same time, Pelayo says Baylon seeks to strengthen the Provincial Development Council which he claims has been lagging in performance. All these, Pelayo says, have been neglected in the more than one decade of the Pinedas’ reign. Pelayo admits he feels Baylon’s sincerity to serve the people of Pampanga, and that he realizes Baylon’s desire to lead the province to have inclusive growth and bring more opportunities and benefits to every section of the society. I really hate to say this. But I think this has just become a proxy war between Mrs. Arroyo and Pelayo, both very close to me.

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educational institutions and dictated policies to reshape the thinking of our people on the country’s political affairs. Historically, their antagonism toward the Marcos administration began in his implementation of the constitutional provision taxing the Church. The secularist contends that while the Church enjoys the enormous advantage, the opposition should not have abrogated the decree limiting tuition fees. Often, they interfere in government policies including the prescription of textbooks, their interpretation of history and who should be regarded as heroes. Many have observed that clerics occupy not only the post of secretary of education but interfere in our educational policies and are often critical to the government. The alliance of the Church and the Left is centered on two issues- their hatred of the Marcos government for taxing them and for his imposition of martial law. Martial law has become their continuing issue on the basis of alleged human rights violation and staunchly supported today by the US. Using the communists to bear the brunt of the insurgency, that allowed to keep alive the business of the US military industrial complex. This new approach is telling that the US is losing. This modified approach is now applied to Latin America. Instead of supporting the El Caudillos or military juntas, they now support the so-called victims of human rights. This approach is most visible in Venezuela, Bolivia and Columbia. This now works in Cuba and Brazil in igniting the hatred of the people against their governments. Maybe the CPP and its various front organizations have their separate reasons to oppose the so-called Marcos dictatorship like his martial law declaration in 1972 and human rights violation. The Church and the oligarchy monopolists have their separate axe to grind against the Duterte administration for practically, he continued the policies of Marcos-like continuation of the country’s independent foreign policy. No matter how unpalatable it may seem, parties have to unite. The US wants all to be on board in its fierce fight for political supremacy in this part of the world against China. The uncanny thing about the ranting of the Left is that people could sense it is in fact siding with the US. This is apparent for they would appear illogical for the fact that China has no military bases here. Both the Left and the oligarchy cannot turn their ire on China for they would appear that racism has mixed into their ideological frame of mind. Full version on www.manilastandard.net rpkapunan@gmail.com

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OPERATION TARGETS CROSS-BORDER SMUGGLING TO CHINA

HK seizes record $154m luxury goods Pope to COP26: ‘Urgent,’ radical response needed to climate crisis POPE Francis on Friday said in a message released ahead of the COP26 summit that leaders must respond “urgently” to the climate crisis. “The political decision makers who will meet at COP26 in Glasgow, are urgently summoned to provide effective responses to the present ecological crisis,” the Pope said in a message played on BBC radio, translated from Italian. He added that this would “offer concrete hope to future generations.” He concluded by stressing that every individual can play a part in “changing our collective response to the unprecedented threat of climate change and the degradation of our common home.” The Pope earlier this month joined nearly 40 religious leaders in an appeal to government leaders at COP26 for “urgent, radical and responsible action” to drastically curb greenhouse gas. The 84-year-old Pope is not going to the crunch talks aimed at fighting the climate emergency. The Vatican is sending a delegation led by secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Francis is set to meet several world leaders as they attend a G20 summit in Rome before heading to COP26. The Pope will hold audiences with US President Joe Biden, who is a practising Catholic, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday. The next day he is due to meet Indian President Narendra Modi for the first time. AFP Manila

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N OTICE Notice is hereby given that PRIMA CASA LAND & HOUSES, INC. (Formerly: LUMINA HOMES, INC.) with office address at LGF Bldg., B. Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari, Almanza Dos, Las Piñas City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as an Expanding Developer of Economic and Low-Cost Housing Project (Lumina Tanza Phase 6 and 6B) with 1,271 house and lot units under R.A. 11534 (CREATE Act) and the Preferred List-Mass Housing of the 2020 IPP, with project site located at Brgy. Bagtas, Tanza, Cavite. Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication. (SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-OCT. 30, 2021)

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that PRIMA CASA LAND & HOUSES, INC. (Formerly: LUMINA HOMES, INC.) with office address at LGF Bldg., B. Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari, Almanza Dos, Las Piñas City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as an Expanding Developer of Economic and Low-Cost Housing Project (Lumina San Miguel Phase 1 and 2) with 679 house and lot units under R.A. 11534 (CREATE Act) and the Preferred List-Mass Housing of the 2020 IPP, with project site located at Brgy. San Jose, San Miguel, Bulacan. Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication. (SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-OCT. 30, 2021)

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that HOUSEHOLD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION with office address at LGF Bldg., B. Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari, Almanza Dos, Las Piñas City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as an Expanding Developer of Economic and Low-Cost Housing Project (Camella Monticello BP 220) with 334 house and lot units under R.A. 11534 (CREATE Act) and the Preferred List-Mass Housing of the 2020 IPP, with project site located at Brgy. Sapang Palay Proper, City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication. (SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-OCT. 30, 2021)

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ONG Kong customs announced a record seizure on Friday of luxury goods that were headed to mainland China on a river barge in the latest operation to target an explosion of cross-border smuggling. The haul included an array of highly sought-after items such as luxury watches, handbags, cosmetics and fins from endangered marine species. Officials said the goods were worth

about $154 million, by far the largest seizure made by the city’s customs agents. The operation took place on October 14 when customs discovered what they said was a suspicious vessel that claimed to be transporting plastic pellets. Instead officers discovered a veritable department store of luxury items. “The Chinese New Year is only around three months from now... so the mainland has a larger demand for these expensive foods like fish maw and sea cucumber than in normal days,” customs investigator Cheng Tai-hei told reporters.

A 39-year-old woman and a 56-yearold man have been arrested in connection with the case. Smuggling has been a mainstay of the triad organized crime gangs operating on both sides of the border for years but the phenomenon has surged during the coronavirus pandemic. Police embarked on a crackdown after a marine officer was killed last month when her vessel was rammed by smugglers during a high-speed chase. Customs investigators said syndicates have since turned to using other means, including river trade vessels, to smuggle goods to the mainland. Simple economics makes the trade

hugely lucrative. Semi-autonomous Hong Kong has no sales tax, making it one of the cheapest places in the world to buy luxury goods. But over in China, punitive taxes often mean luxury items cost up to double the price, providing a powerful smuggling incentive. Cheng said the most expensive product seized in the bust were watches worth HK$600,000 each. In China, once tax is added, the same watches would cost HK$800,000, he added. The raid also netted graphics cards that can be used for cryptocurrency mining, he said. AFP

Biden to meet ally Pope Francis ahead of G20 AS WORLD leaders flock to Rome for the G20 summit, President Joe Biden kicks off a trip aimed at reasserting US international credentials, starting at a meeting Friday with Catholic ally Pope Francis. The president left Washington with a spring in his step after unveiling a “historic” framework for a vast social spending plan—although it remains to be seen if it can win the support of lawmakers. After weeks of internal party feuding, and with his personal ratings slumping, Biden wants to use the twin summits in Europe this week -- the G20 and UN climate talks in Glasgow – to prove his political clout. He sees himself as the spokesman for democracy in the face of authoritarian regimes, notably China. But he opens the trip on a more intimate note, having landed early Friday in Rome, he will head first to the Vatican, for what is expected to RESTIVE. Indonesia’s most active volcano, Mount Merapi, emits volcanic ash as seen from a tourist destination in be a largely good-humoured sit-down Cangkringan in Sleman on October 28, 2021. AFP with Pope Francis. Only the second ever Catholic president, Biden is open about his faith and almost never misses Sunday mass. FORMER New York governor Andrew “From the moment my office received He has met the head of the world’s Cuomo was on Thursday charged with the referral to investigate allegations 1.3 billion Catholics three times ala misdemeanor sex crime for forcible that former governor Andrew Cuomo ready, but this will be their first since touching, a court spokesperson said. sexually harassed multiple women, we the 78-year old was elected president. The charge is the first to be filed proceeded without fear or favor,” James CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW Spokeswoman Jen BLACK Psaki said since the once-powerful politician was said in a statement. Wednesday the White House expects forced to resign this year following a “The criminal charges brought the talks to be “warm.” slew of sexual harassment allegations. today against Mr Cuomo for forcible Biden has spoken of the strength he “A misdemeanor complaint against touching further validate the findings drew from his faith faced with a series former governor Andrew Cuomo has in our report,” she added. of bereavements—after his first wife been filed in Albany City Court,” said Cuomo Cuomo has strenuously denied the and their daughter were killed in a car Albany city court issued a summons charges and claims he was the victim Lucian Chalfen, a spokesman for the accident, and his son Beau later died New York state courts, describing it as ordering Cuomo, 63, to appear in court of a political vendetta. of cancer. on November 17, 2021 at 2:30 pm, a “sex crime.” He gained nationwide adoration He and the pope share a range The complaint accuses Cuomo of according to a statement. last year for his straight-talking daily of concerns, from poverty to He resigned in August after state coronavirus briefings before his putting his hand down the victim’s climate change and the coronavirus blouse and grabbing her left breast in Attorney General Letitia James issued a spectacular fall from grace. pandemic. report, which was not criminal in nature, December 2020. Forcible touching is class A But there is potential for a falling out should either leader raise the redIt was filed by the Albany County sheriff’s concluding that he sexually harassed 11 misdemeanor that can carry a sentence women, including former staffers. button issue of abortion. AFP office on behalf of New York state. of up to one year in prison. AFP

Former New York governor charged with sex crime

Bali ‘suitcase killer’ released from jail AN AMERICAN woman convicted with her boyfriend of killing her mother and stuffing the body in a suitcase at a luxury Bali hotel was freed from prison on Friday. In the notorious case, then teenager Heather Mack was handed a 10-year jail term in 2015 while her boyfriend Tommy Schaefer got 18 years for the murder of Chicago socialite Sheila von Wiese Mack on the Indonesian holiday island. Schaefer beat the 62-year-old victim to death with a fruit bowl during a heated argument at the five-star St. Regis resort, before the couple abandoned the suitcase containing the battered body in a taxi and fled. Mack, who was pregnant at the time of the crime, was found guilty on a lesser charge of assisting in the murder. Now 25, she was freed from Bali’s Kerobokan prison on Friday, the head of the prison’s female section said, saying Mack had been granted early release for good behaviour. “Heather is completely free,” said prison head Lili, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. “When she was released, she was a bit shocked and emotional. She hesitated and was scared, but we cheered her up.” Wearing sunglasses and an orange prison vest, Mack, who was 19 at the time of her conviction, was handed to immigration officials to await deportation back to the United States. Bali’s immigration office declined to comment on her case or say when she would be flown back home. It was not immediately clear if Mack’s now six-year-old daughter, who was being raised in a Bali foster home, would also be deported at the same time. AFP

ELUSIVE JUSTICE.

A relative wipes her tears during a demonstration outside Sri Lanka’s attorney general’s office in Colombo on October 29, 2021, demanding action after authorities dropped charges against former navy chief Admiral Wasantha Karannagodaa for the abduction and murder of 11 young men between 2008 and 2009. AFP

Queen Elizabeth II is forced to slow down at age 95

Queen Elizabeth II

AFTER seven decades of relentless service, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has reached a “turning point” after a night in hospital forced her to take advice to slow down and cut back on engagements. The 95-year-old canceled her

appearance at the UN climate conference, which starts on Sunday in Scotland, a rare move for the workaholic monarch and all the more telling given her personal commitment to environmental issues. Buckingham Palace said she was “disappointed” to pull out, but that the decision was taken following medical advice “to rest.” It also came as a blow to organizers of the UN summit, with the queen’s star power sure to attract attention to any event. “But I think it is a very sensible decision,” Penny Junor, a royal family expert, told AFP. “It would have involved a long journey from Windsor to Glasgow, it was an evening reception and therefore espe-

cially tiring, but there is the additional risk of exposing her to COVID-19.” The queen took a step back from a busy month on October 20, the day after a reception at Windsor Castle where she chatted with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US businessman Bill Gates. She spent the following night in hospital, the first since 2013, where Buckingham Palace said she underwent “preliminary examinations.” The queen has since officially resumed “light duties,” receiving two ambassadors by video conference. Royal watcher Richard Fitzwilliams said the monarch would only have given up a COP appearance “reluctantly,” but added “clearly at 95, there are limits.” AFP

News

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Roque: Photos don’t prove link between Rody, DOH suppliers PRESIDENTIAL Spokesperson Harry Roque said photos could not be used as proof of President Duterte’s supposed links to Wang Min, chairperson of Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (XCMG), which is one of the Philippine government’s COVID-19 medical suppliers. Malacañang on Friday scoffed at Senator Risa Hontiveros for basing her claim about Duterte’s ties with the said medical supplier on mere photographs. “Let’s just say under the laws or rules of evidence, ‘yung picture pong iyan ay ebidensiya lamang (that picture is just an evidence) of the existence of the picture. It cannot prove relationship,” Roque said in a virtual presser. On Thursday, Hontiveros released photos from a Chinese website that showed that Duterte met with Wang at Malacañan Palace in Manila in 2017. Roque slammed Hontiveros for being “imaginative,” and said it was only normal for a Philippine official, most especially for Duterte, to have photos with foreign investors like Wang. He added that the photos were taken in 2017, or four years before the country was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. “Lahat po ng public officers, lahat ng public figures, hindi po nila nakocontrol talaga kung sinong makikipagpicture sa kanila. At dahil usung-uso po ngayon ang picture-picture lalung-lalo na madaming cellphone, wala naman pong dapat i-conclude kung meron lang larawan (All public officers and public figures could not control the people who want to take a photo with them. And since many of us have cellphones already, we can take photos if we want. We could not make a conclusion based on photos),” Roque said. XCMG, along with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. and other COVID-19 medical suppliers of the country, allegedly failed to pay taxes, Senate Minority Franklin Drilon revealed during the resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation on Thursday.

SC reinstates P2.08-b tax vs. Citysuper By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court (SC) has overturned a decision of the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) and instead granted the petition of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue on the validity of the P2.08 billion assessment notices for 2011 tax deficiencies issued against Citysuper, Inc. in 2015. In a decision penned by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the SC ruled that the CTA cannot acquire jurisdiction over the petition for review of taxpayer Citysuper, Inc. because it was filed prematurely because Citysuper failed to validly contest the assessment notices before the Commission of Internal Revenue (CIR). “Wherefore, the petition for certiorari is granted. The December 15, 2017, and March 20, 2018 Resolutions of the Court of Tax Appeals in CTA Case No. 9117 are reversed and set aside. The petition for review filed before the Court of Tax Appeals is dismissed,” the SC ordered. Based on its website, Citysuper “operates under the commercial name of Landmark Trinoma, and is engaged in selling of merchandise and products through groceries and department stores.” “When a taxpayer files a petition for review before the Court of Tax Appeals without validly contesting the assessment with the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, the petition is premature and the Court of Tax Appeals has no jurisdiction,” the high court said.

A7

US rolls out P2.4b climate, digital access projects in PH By Rey E. Requejo

‘NO’ TO INCREASE IN GAS PRICES. Members of various militant groups trooped to a gas station in Tomas Morato, Quezon City to protest the nine straight weeks of increase in gas prices. Gasoline and diesel prices have gone up to as high as P20 and P18.45 per liter respectively Manny Palmero

Farmers group urges Rody to suspend fuel excise taxes By Maricel V. Cruz

A

N UMBRELLA group of 36 agricultural organizations has appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to issue an executive order suspending the excise tax on petroleum products for one year as continuous spikes in oil prices have impacted rice, corn, and vegetable farmers, hog raisers, chicken growers, and fishermen. “Since Congress is suspended and given that the country remains under a state of emergency because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the President can issue an order similar to what he did last year when he signed two EOs that reduced import taxes on chilled and fresh pork meat and raised the minimum access volume for pork imports to address the supply shortage and soaring prices,” said Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) president and Abono Par-

ty-list chairman Rosendo So. So added that “this will be a win-win solution for agricultural producers, transport groups, and consumers.” So stressed that suspending excise taxes on fuel can bring down pump prices by around P6 to P10 per liter. Petroleum rates have gone up for the ninth consecutive week, for a total yearto-date adjustment of at least P19.65 per liter for gasoline, P18 per liter for diesel, and P15.49 per liter for kerosene.

So lamented that the oil price increases also jacked up the cost of corn feeds by P1 to P7 per kilo. “Corn feed prices have already increased from P14 to P15 per kilo to P21 per kilo because of the hefty increases in fuel prices,” So said. So noted that if the government was willing to forego an assured P138 billion in revenues when it decided not to buy the shares in the Malampaya gas-to-power project in favor of Udenna Corporation, it should be willing to bear P24.7 billion in foregone revenues if fuel excise taxes are suspended for one year. The Finance department earlier said the government would give up P24.7 billion in excise revenues and another P106.7 billion in incremental income, collected through the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, in 2022 if excise taxes on petroleum products are suspended.

Customs seizes drugs worth P8m in Pasay operations By Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Customs on Friday announced it has intercepted three smuggled shipments containing ecstasy and ketamine drugs worth more than P8 million in separate operations in Pasay City. Two shipments, which came from the Netherlands and Germany, and consigned to a certain Angeli Khang and one Patricia Reyes, respectively, were misdeclared as “Children’s Toys, Children’s School Bag, Hot Water Bottle, Children’s Shoes, Children’s Hat, Children’s Color, and Pencils”. But when Customs examiners placed the shipments under 100 percent physical examination, they discovered a total of 4,547 pieces of ecstasy, a dangerous party drug, worth P7,559,900. The authorities also found 178.5 grams of ketamine worth P892, 500 concealed inside a water filter from the third package shipped from Malaysia and consigned to a certain “Ferdie Santos.” Operatives of the Customs - Ninoy Aquino International Airport conducted the operations at the Federal Express warehouse and Central Mail Exchange Center, both in Pasay City.

The seizure was also made in close coordination with the help from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group. “Through the intensified security measures and the vigilance of Custom NAIA personnel, the shipments were subjected to 100 percent physical exam-

ination which yielded the discovery of dangerous drugs. The discoveries were immediately coordinated with PDEA and IADITG,” said Port of NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan. Talusan’s office turned over to PDEA the confiscated drugs for further profiling and case build-up against the consignees and other personalities.

TRAVELLING FOR ‘UNDAS.’ Passengers flock to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City to catch a flight and go home to their respective provinces to visit the tomb of departed loved ones during “Undas” and enjoy a long weekend vacation. Danny Pata

THE United States government has rolled out two big-ticket projects in the Philippines when it launched on Thursday its five-year, P1.65 billion ($33 million) “Better Access and Connectivity (BEACON) project” aimed at increasing digital connectivity, as well as the five-year, P750-million ($15 million) “Climate Resilient Cities project,” to build climate resilience in the country, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries. In a statement, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will bankroll the implementation of the BEACON project, which is intended to promote economic growth through better information and communications technology (ICT), helping bridge the digital divide in the Philippines. “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for expanded digital infrastructure and broadband connectivity,” said USAID Philippines Acting Mission Director Sean Callahan. “We are pleased to partner with the Philippine government, private sector, and other organizations to accelerate the country’s economic growth and regional competitiveness by supporting a stronger, more competitive digital ecosystem,” Callahan added. Through the BEACON project, USAID will help improve the country’s ICT and logistics infrastructure; strengthen the regulatory, business, and innovation environment; and bolster cybersecurity. “To help bridge the digital divide in the Philippines, BEACON will assist the government in automation and digitization efforts, and support community networks to expand low-cost internet access for underserved communities,” the embassy statement said.

Counterfeit cases more than doubled in first 9 months By Othel V. Campos THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) received 134 counterfeiting and piracy complaints from rights holders and reports from the public in the first nine months of the year, or a 56-percent increase from the 86 complaints in 2020. Counterfeiting accounted for 103 or 77 percent of total complaints and reports this year. Apparel topped the list with 81 counts or a 75.7 percent share to overall suspected counterfeiting, followed by perfume and beauty products at 7.5 percent; gadgets; cigarettes; food and pharmaceutical and medical products at 2.8 percent each; home items at 0.9 percent; and other items such as keychains and umbrellas at 4.7 percent. For piracy, TV shows/movies and educational books were the most shared or sold illegally online, with each category having nine counts and a share of 28.1 percent. These were followed by software at 25 percent; general e-books, 15.6 percent; and artwork, 3.1 percent. IPOPHL deputy director General Teodoro C. Pascua noted that concerned netizens accounted for 74 percent of all reporting activities, “a sign of the public’s growing awareness of piracy and its negative effects.”

Plea of Spanish national on minor’s sex abuse junked

NEW MRT-7 TRAINS. New set of trains arrived at the rail track near Tandang Sora in Quezon City. The MRT-7 project is 60.93 percent completed and seen to begin partial operations by April 2022. Full operations are slated to begin by the fourth quarter of 2022. Manny Palmero

A TAGUIG City Regional Trial Court will proceed with the trial of Spanish national Francisco Manuel Sanchez de Oria on charges of sexually abusing a Filipina minor and possession of pornographic materials after it junked the case dismissal plea of the accused on the ground that the victim “decided not to pursue the case” against him by executing an affidavit of desistance. The ruling came after the accused pleaded “not guilty” on Friday on criminal charges filed against him by the Department of Justice for violation of Republic Act 7610, otherwise known as “Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act” and RA 9775 or Anti-Child Pornography Act. Justice Undersecretary Emmeline

Aglipay-Villar said Presiding Judge Byron San Pedro of Taguig City RTC, Branch 15, denied the motion to dismiss filed by Sanchez for being “unmeritorious.” “The Court’s Order dated 27 October 2021 indicated that the “Motion to Dismiss on Affidavit of Desistance Executed by Private Complainant is unmeritorious, citing jurisprudence which provides that “as a general rule, courts view unfavorably affidavits of desistance or a recantation of a victim’s testimony, since they can be easily be obtained . . . and that such affidavit are viewed with suspicion and reservation,” Villar said, citing the ruling of the court. Villar also noted that the Presiding Judge stated that “the dismissal of a child

abuse case is prohibited if made solely based on an affidavit of desistance or recantation submitted by the child and/ or the child’s family, citing the Protocol for Case Management of Child Victims of Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation and DOJ Circular No. 2002-54.” “The Presiding Judge concluded that the affidavit of desistance did not exculpate the accused,” Villar said. According to Villar, the affidavit of desistance stated that the victim “decided not to pursue the case against Franco Sanchez anymore and that the misunderstanding and misapprehension of facts between them have already been patched up.” However, details were no longer narrated in the said affidavit of desistance, the DOJ official said. Rey E. Requejo

Sports

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

A8

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2021

COCOLIFE Tigers edge Manila 5 in FILBASKET THE Davao Occidental COCOLIFE Tigers overcame a sluggish start and clawed back into the game to dismantle AICC Manila, 90-87, in overtime in the main game of a tripleheader opening of the Filipino Basketball League (FILBASKET) Thursday at the Subic Bay Gymnasium, SBMA in Olongapo City. AICC Manila (formerly Basilan Warriors) displayed its offensive and defensive prowess in controlling the game for almost three quarters, silencing the big guns of the reigning MPBL Lakan Cup champion Tigers from Mindanao. Manila frontliners Chris Bitoon, Bobby Balucanag, Michael Juico, FilCanadian Jonathan Uyloan and big men Joy Collado and Melvin Taganas connived forces on both ends of the floor in erecting a huge 19-point lead halfway in the third canto. But veteran Tigers Bonbon Custodio, Billy Ray Robles, Jerwin Gaco, Marco Balagtas, Joseph Terso, newcomers prized shooter John Wilson, Alwin Alday and Allan Santos combined efforts to neutralize their opponents’ strength to trim their big deficit to 54-61, courtesy of Wilson’s trey entering the final quarter. While Collado, Balucanag and Juico maintained their composure to ease the pressure from a former arch rival, the Tigers, owned by Davao Occidental Gov.Claude Bautista, Rep. Claudine Bautista-Lim, manager Dinko Bautista and fully supported by COCOLIFE president Jose Martin Loon, SVP Joseph Ronquillo, VP Rowena Asnan and EVP Franz Joie Araque, began to show their might and waxed hot in taking the lead for the first time in the game, 72-70, on a Robles undergoal stab, with over two minutes left in regulation. Sensing a come-from-behind victory, Wilson buried a two treys in ensuing plays, but Collado and Uyloan, who missed four from beyond the arc ealier, exploded with their long treys when it counted most, sending the game to an extra period, 78-all.

TNT CROWNED CHAMP. Talk N Text’s

Troy Rosario slams one in, defying the defense of Magnolia’s Rafi Reavies in a 94-79 win that netted for the Tropang Giga the PBA Philippine Cup crown.

Pro boxers welcome to join PH team, but... By Randy Caluag

P

ROFESSIONAL boxers are welcome to join the national team, but the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines said they have to go through the regular selection process. ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson, however, made it clear that they have not invited any boxer outside of their national training pool, pointing out that the national boxers “who has been training with us for a long time” will remain the priority. Picson said they have yet to discuss and meet the national coaches when they start their national bubble training at the Philippine Sports Commission Training Center in Baguio City in November. “Wala pa kaming pinag-uusapang ganu’n (tryout for professional boxers).

And if ever, siguro ang priority would be the national boxers who have been training for years with ABAP,” said Picson. The ABAP official added that even if they have to open slots for pro boxers, he made it clear that no one will be accorded special treatment. “Unless talagang spectacular ‘yung pro. But he would still have to go through the process,” he said. Former national mainstay and Olympian Charly Suarez, who turned pro early in 2019, came back to the national

team and punched his way to the boxing’s lightweight gold medal in the 2019 Philippine Southeast Asian Games. There were reports that he is again in talks with ABAP for him to compete in the 2021 Asian Games in China. Some professional boxers have previously taken interest in trying out for the national team, including former World Boxing Organization Oriental Super Bantamweight champion Ali Laurel. Professional boxers have been allowed to compete in amateur tournaments in the advent of the open boxing policy that started in 2016. Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao came close to joining Team Philippines in the Rio Olympics in 2016, but for some reason, it did not materialize. Pacquiao was then a newly elected senator and his stringent schedule prevented him from training and donning the national jersey.

Stajcic makes sure Malditas ready for Asian Cup By Peter Atencio IT will be a challenging experience for the Philippines to qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. But knowing which teams The are in the Philippine Malditas celebrate their win at the Asian Cup qualifying tournament.

draw makes the job easier. Former Australia team head coach Alen Stajcic said this as he gets ready to meet and handle the Philippine women’s national football team, also known as the Malditas. “The good part of it is that we now know who we play, and we can now focus on getting the first match, and making sure that we are ready when we get to India,” said Stajcic in a shared video interview. The Philippines, which is seeking a spot in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, is in Group B of the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup that will be held in India this January. The Malditas are with former AFC Women’s Asian Cup champion Australia and Southeast Asian countries Thailand and Indonesia. During the draw, host India join China, Chinese Taipei, and Iran in Group A. On the other hand, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Myanmar are in Group C.

The national team will be preparing for the Asian meet when they hold a camp in Irvine, California beginning November 10. Coach Marlon Maro recently stepped down from his duties as head of the Malditas to give way to Stajcic. Meanwhile, the Philippine Azkals national under-23 team took a 0-1 blow from host Singapore in the 2022 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup Qualifiers, Thursday evening at the Jalan Basar Stadium. Glen Kweh shattered a scoreless spell in the 52nd minute as he sent in a goal off a pass from Danish Azman through goalie Quincy Kammeraad. With its second straight loss, the Philippines dropped down to last place in Group H. After also taking 0-3 setback from South Korea last Monday, the Philippines has been eliminated from and will no longer advance to the next stage. South Korea, which came away with 6-0 swamping of Timor Leste, has assured itself of a place in the Asian Cup. Singapore, which drew Timor Lester last Monday, 2-2, still has a chance to advance to the tournament proper next year if it places in the top four among the best second-placed teams.

Clarkson: Filipino Heritage Night is inspirational FILIPINO fans coming in huge numbers proved to be an inspirational experience for Fil-American cager Jordan Clarkson as their presence at the Filipino Heritage Night of the NBA at Toyota Center in Houston has fired him up. Clarkson scored 16 points and was one of seven Utah players to score in double-digits as the Jazz improved to 4-0 with a comfortable 122-91 defeat of the Rockets. “There’s a lot of Filipino supporters. All around the world, they love basketball,” said Clarkson, who played for the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team during the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games four years ago. The 29-year-old shooting guard was born in Tampa, Florida, to AfricanAmerican Mike Clarkson and Annette

Tullao Davis. Davis’s mother, Marcelina Tullao Kingsolver, was from Bacolor, Pampanga, Philippines Clarkson expressed his thoughts on Friday (Manila time) as the Houston Rockets hosted the Utah Jazz for the first Filipino Heritage Night of this year’s 75th NBA season games. “Just being here is super inspirational and also for Houston, every Filipino American, anybody with Filipino blood,” said Clarkson after the event. When the Utah Jazz faced the Houston Rockets on the road, the game featured for the first time two players with Filipino heritage— Clarkson facing off with Rockets’ rookie guard Jalen Green. Green’s grandfather is Filipino.

Jordan Clarkson (right) of the Utah Jazz and Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets—both with Filipino roots—are shown during their teams’ NBA game at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. AFP

For the 19-year-old Green, who was Heritage Night. the second overall pick in last sumGreen tallied 13 points while starting mer’s draft, it was his first to be part of for Houston. Peter Atencio

Ed Picson

ABAP officials, back then, admitted having serious talks with Pacquiao as the country was still going for its first gold medal. Lady weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who bagged a silver medal in Rio, eventually fulfilled the nation’s wish by winning the 56kg women’s weightlifting gold in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Boxing took three medals—two silvers courtesy of Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, and a bronze from Irish Magno. The boxing gold, however, remained elusive for the Philippines.

Rebisco backs PNVF Champions League REBISCO, a staunch supporter of Philippine volleyball from the grassroots, campus, professional and national levels, is going all out for the Philippine National Volleyball Federation’s volleyball tournament this November. The snacks and biscuits company is the Platinum Sponsor of the Champions League, the first national league ever organized in volleyball with men’s and women’s events. The men’s and women’s volleyball event will take place from November 20 to 25 for the women’s division and from November 29 to December 4 for the men’s division. Rebisco’s professional volleyball teams, the Creamline Cool Smashers and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, will not participate in the event. Rebisco team managers Alan Acero for Creamline and Rolando Delfino for Choco Mucho said the two teams were given time to rest and recharge, mentally and physically, and for them to reconnect with family after their very hectic training and playing schedule since April this year. “We commend the PNVF for this competition that brings together the country’s top caliber teams, not just from the PVL but from the regions as well. Metro Manila teams will be competing with provincial volleyball teams and is a big step in our common dream to grow the sport. Next year the PNVF intends to welcome more teams across the country as well. We at Rebisco are happy that our national volleyball program is moving in the right direction,” said Noric Ng, Business Unit Head of Rebisco.

Business

IN BRIEF Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2021

B1

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, October 29, 2021

-103.03 PTS. 7,054.70

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE

1,115,518,585 88,018 7,701,089,988.18

ADVANCES 84 DECLINES 107 UNCHANGED 45

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.7700

Japan

Yen

0.008807

0.4471

UK

Pound

1.380000

70.0626

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128576

6.5278

Switzerland

Franc

1.096972

55.6933

Canada

Dollar

0.810045

41.1260

Singapore

Dollar

0.743771

37.7613

Australia

Dollar

0.754100

38.2857

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652661

134.6756

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266610

13.5358

Brunei

Dollar

0.741015

37.6213

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.030066

1.5265

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.8232

Euro

Euro

1.168400

59.3197

Korea

Won

0.000855

0.0434

China

Yuan

0.156450

7.9430

India

Rupee

0.013371

0.6788

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241080

12.2396

New Zealand

Dollar

0.720000

36.5544

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036072

1.8314 Source: BSP

B

ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said there is a possibility the inflation rate in October breached the 5-percent level from 4.8 percent a month ago on higher prices of oil, electricity and some food items, and weaker peso.

Diokno said in a statement the October inflation likely settled within the 4.5 percent to 5.3 percent range. “The BSP projects October 2021 inflation to settle within the 4.5-5.3 percent

Megawide raises P4b after offering preferred shares By Jenniffer B. Austria MEGAWIDE Construction Corp. has successfully raised P4 billion from a preferred shares offering. Megawide said in disclosure to the stock exchange it listed Series 4 preferred shares on the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange through a virtual listing ceremony Friday. “We are very happy about the outcome of the offering, which was fully taken-up including the oversubscription option, despite the noise going around during the offer period,” said Edgar Saavedra, Megawide chairman and chief executive said. Megawide will use the proceeds from the offering to redeem the P4 billion Megawide preferred shares Series 1 (MWP) issued in 2014 to avoid huge step-up rate. The redepemtion of the Series 1 preferred shares will also translate into an estimated annual savings of P184 million. “The company also wants to take advantage of and maximize the prevailing window of low interest rates to generate interest cost savings. At the same time, this will allow us to further relax our maturity towers while maintaining flexibility and a comfortable debt-to-equity ratio,” said Ramon Diaz, Megawide Group chief finance officer. Megawide is implementing a comprehensive long-term financial management program to strengthen the balance sheet and develop a more efficient capital structure. Megawide’s airport venture GMR Megawide Cebu Airports Corp.(GMCAC) in May restructured P23.9billion worth of debt as the pandemic wreaked havoc on the travel industry. The debt restricting agreement, Megawide said, would temporarily free up around P3.6 billion in cash from 2021 to 2023 and reinforce GMCAC’s financial position to support operations while the ongoing pandemic limits air travels. GMCAC’s principal debt was suspended and rescheduled to 20272029, when the travel industry is expected to have fully recuperated from the ill effects of COVID-19.

THE IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) announced the appointment of Jack Madrid as new president and chief executive officer. Madrid will be at the helm of ensuringthe Philippines remains competitive and relevant as a prime investment destination for IT-BPM services. “With over 20 years of experience leading strategy, digital innovation, and transformation initiatives, we can all look forward to Jack lending his expertise to partners and stakeholders of the industry and leading the charge amid the evolving business landscape,” said IBPAP chairman Benedict Hernandez. “Moreover, his achievements in developing meaningful customer experience strategies will be an asset as we reimagine and fortify the Philippine IT-BPM sector for the future,” he added. Before joining IBPAP, Madrid held leadership roles across several organizations and industries, including managing the US Consumer Tech Support and Customer Care businesses of Dell International Services from 2006 until 2009. Othel V. Campos

The Keepers pegs share price at P1.50

INTERMODAL TERMINAL. A world class intermodal transportation terminal will soon rise inside Clark Freeport as Premiere Clark Complex Inc., a subsidiary of SM Prime Holdings Inc., and Clark Development Corp. break ground on the construction of the hub. Leading the ceremony are (from left) SM Supermalls senior vice president Bien Mateo, Clark Development Corp. vice president for engineering services group Dennis Legaspi, CDC chairman Edgardo Pamintuan, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr., Mabalacat City Vice Mayor Gerald Aquino, Clark Global City president Freddie Placino and Angeles City councilor JC Parker.

October inflation rate may exceed 5% By Julito G. Rada

IBPAP names Madrid as president and CEO

range. Inflation will be driven largely by the upward adjustments in domestic oil prices. Higher Meralco electricity rates, increased fish and fruits prices, and the peso depreciation will provide additional upward pressures,” he said, referring to Manila Electric Co. But he said these could be offset partially by the decline in rice and meat prices, reflecting the arrival of pork imports. “... BSP will continue to closely monitor emerging price developments to help ensure that its primary mandate of price stability conducive to balanced and sustainable economic growth is achieved,” he said. The last time inflation settled above the 5-percent level was in December 2018 at 5.1 percent. Inflation in September slightly eased

to 4.8 percent from 4.9 percent a month ago, on the back mainly of lower annual increases in transport and food prices. The September inflation was still a lot faster compared to the 2.3 percent a year ago but within the 4.8 to 5.6 percent estimate for the month of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The figure brought the average inflation from January to September at 4.5 percent, still over the target range of 2-4 percent this year. The Monetary Board in September maintained the record-low policy rate of 2 percent in a move to support economic recovery and with the expectation that inflation will remain manageable in the coming months. Diokno in his speech Friday during the closing ceremony of the 2021 National Statistics Month said inflation was kept low and stable at an average of 2.6

percent in 2020 because of the decisive and prompt monetary policy actions that kept financial markets functioning and the system liquid. “While the inflation path is seen to remain above the target range of 2–4 percent up to October 2021, it is expected to decelerate to within the inflation target range of before the end of the year as the non- monetary measures of the government will help moderate the impact of supply bottlenecks,” Diokno said. He said BSP will continue to support to the economy for as long as necessary to ensure the country’s strong and sustainable economic recovery. The BSP will also remain vigilant against any emerging risks to the outlook for inflation and growth and will adjust its policy settings as needed, he said.

READY-TO-EAT MEALS.

FIRST Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group announced Friday unit 2 of the 97-megawatt Avion Power Plant in Batangas City has resumed full commercial operations using Malampaya gas as fuel. First Gen disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange it was advised by its subsidiary, Prime Meridian Powergen Corp., that the recommissioning and testing activities of Unit 2 of the Avion power plant using Malampaya natural gas was completed and that the unit was now commercially available on both natural gas and liquid fuel. First Gen on October 20 said the recommissioning and testing activities of Unit 2 using liquid fuel was already completed and that testing for gas fuel operation was being conducted. The Malampaya gas project in northwest Palawan, which supplies natural gas to the Avion facility and other natural gas fired power plants, went on maintenance shutdown from October 2 to October 25. PMPC informed First Gen on August 31 that the compressor of one of two gas turbines that comprise the Avion power plant was damaged. Alena Mae S. Flores

By Alena Mae S. Flores

Converge ICT completes P6-b domestic submarine cable project CONVERGE ICT Solutions Inc. said Friday it completed a P6-billion domestic submarine cable project that connects the country’s major islands from Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao to its national fiber backbone. The company said the 1,800-kilometer subsea cable would make its final landing in Coron, Palawan on Oct. 31. “We’re pleased to announce the completion of our domestic network’s primary and secondary routes which span the entirety of the country. Not only does this ensure availability of the service nationwide, but with the network design, we’re assured to have a resil-

First Gen: Avion plant resumes operations

Semirara’s income jumped by 244% to P10.3b in 9 months

McDonald’s Kindness Kitchen and Jollibee Group Foundation, in partnership with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, distribute ready-to-eat meals to medical front-liners of six COVID-19 referral hospitals in Metro Manila. The two biggest fast-food chains for two weeks delivered 6,000 meals to healthcare workers of select hospitals to support and motivate them as they deal with the latest surge of cases and patients, leading to stress, anxiety, physical exhaustion and the additional risk of exposure to the virus.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Keepers Holdings Inc., the liquor holding company of retail tycoon Lucio Co, has set the final price of its planned share sale at P1.50 apiece. The final price is at the low range of P1.50 to P2.50 per share earlier set by the company. It is also nearly at a 50-percent discount from its last trading price of P2.95 each. The Keepers will offer 3 billion primary shares that will enable it raise P4.5 billion in fresh capital to fund strategic acquisition opportunities, expansion of product portfolio and distribution channels, investments in distribution and logistics network, working capital, and for general corporate purposes. The Keepers the offer period from November 4 to 10, with the shares to be listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange on November 19, 2021. The follow-on offering aims to increase the company’s public float to 20.94 percent, enabling it to comply with the 10-percent minimum public ownership requirement for listed companies. Jenniffer B. Austria

ient backbone that’s able to carry the tremendous data traffic driven by our million-plus customers,” said Converge chief executive Dennis Anthony Uy. The subsea cables that connect to the domestic backbone of Converge are laid out in a way that there is redundancy in the network, assuring service availability even in the case of fiber cuts, he said. “More than the interconnection of the major islands, we’ve achieved a high level of resiliency in the network by ‘closing’ the loops on our primary and secondary routes,” Uy said. Converge interconnected Visayas and Mindanao during phase 1 of the domestic subsea backbone rollout, first landing in Bogo, Cebu and Cagayan De Oro

City. In Phase 2, it re-entered Visayas through Roxas City, Capiz in Panay Island and then Mindanao through Buenavista, Agusan del Norte to close the loop. This is supported by 20 cable landing stations across the archipelago. The company said that in terms of capacity, it uses 48-fiber core optical cables running on 400G and 800G technology, essentially boosting the network’s capacity to push huge amounts of data throughout the length of the cable. “All these features on the network design and technology simply mean the connection on our network is more stable, more resilient and less prone to failure or outages, wherever you are in the country,” said Converge chief operations officer Jesus Romero.

SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp., the biggest coal producer, said Friday net income surged 244 percent in the first nine months to P10.3 billion from P3 billion in the same period last year and exceeded its pre-pandemic annual net income of P9.7 billion. SMPC attributed the triple-digit growth to the 38-percent rise in the average coal selling prices and 51-percent increase in sales volume. “We expect our coal segment to continue to do well for the rest of the year because of elevated coal prices and sustained strong demand from China,” said SMPC president and chief operating officer Maria Cristina Gotianun in a statement. The company netted P4 billion in the third quarter, or nearly six times the P750-million earnings it recorded in the same period last year. Average selling prices from July to September jumped 82 percent on the back of higher exports, which grew 108 percent year-on-year. SMPC said global coal prices are seeing a dramatic spike this year due to severe demand and supply imbalances owing to China’s ban on Australian coal, strong rebound in economic activities, low stockpiles in China, Europe and India, COVID-19 restrictions, heavy rainfall in major coal mines and logistical disruptions. The company said that in terms of net income contribution, coal accounted for 78 percent of its net income while subsidiaries Sem-Calaca Power Corp. and Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp. contributed 17 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

Arroyo expects Pampanga to emerge as the next megalopolis and economic corridor FORMER President Gloria MacapagalArroyo said she expects Pampanga province to become a megalopolis and the next economic corridor on the back of government’s infrastructure projects and private sector investments. “The private sector and the government cooperation will play a significant role in transforming Pampanga into the country’s next major economic corridor,” Arroyo said in a statement. Arroyo, who also served as a former speaker of the House of Representatives,

cited a development plan, designed by urban planner Felino Palafox Jr. upon her request, to transform 218,100 hectares across 19 municipalities and three cities in Pampanga into a megalopolis, or a cluster of metropolitan areas, that will unlock the vast economic potential of the province and decongest Metro Manila. The megalopolis will span various cities and towns led by the Pampanga Golden Triangle, which is composed of the cities of Angeles, San Fernando and Mabalacat, and the high-density and fast-

growing municipalities of Porac, Floridablanca, Lubao, Guagua, Santa Rita and Bacoor. From the Pampanga Golden Triangle, the development will spread to a larger part of the province, according to Arroyo. Arroyo, who was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as the presidential adviser for Clark flagship projects, said property and real estate companies started investing in major projects in Pampanga, after she started the footprint for the massive development of the province in 2016.

Arroyo, together with former Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, tapped the private space planners to undertake the study focusing on Pampanga province as the epicenter of progress and development in Central Luzon. In the study for the Pampanga Megalopolis 2017-2040, Arroyo said she personally believes that Pampanga would truly become the gateway of Asia to the Philippines and the business and financial center of Northern Luzon. Darwin G. Amojelar

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2021

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

Home/Design

Damosa Diamond Tower bags green plum

T

HE Damosa Diamond Tower is now recognized as an EDGE-Certified premium office building.

The tower, a project of Damosa Land Inc. (DLI), is the first in Mindanao to achieve the certification for its green features. According to Sintali, the global certifier of EDGE, the development offers 22 percent in energy savings, 27 percent in water savings, and 24 percent less embodied energy in materials. Damosa Diamond Tower’s architectural design and engineering works were curated by PDP Architects and Carwill Construction to incorporate

sustainability strategies throughout its structure, prioritizing its ability to conserve and manage energy resources. DLI had already won prizes in the past for the office tower’s design. The development bagged Best Office Architectural Design Award, Highly Commended Award for Best BPO Office Development, and the Highly Commended Best Office Development Award from the 2019 PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards.

SLATER YOUNG IS NEW FACE OF 8990.

Affordable housing

developer 8990 Holdings Inc. recently took in social media influencer and television personality, Slater Young, as their brand ambassador. Young’s family house “Sky Pod”, is popular among social media denizens, especially his DIY posts, from fixing water wall streaks, eliminating the sound of squeaky doors and other construction tips. Slater reflects the same attitude that 8990 espouses in terms of providing deserving Filipinos an abode of their own. The company has expanded its house offerings, not only targeting first time homeowners, but likewise converting the rental market with reasonably priced monthly payments and lowest equity requirement in the industry. 8990’s first housing project was launched in 2002 in Davao City. Over the past two decades, the company has launched key developments in major cities in the Philippines. It was recently recognized by Pag-IBIG Fund as the top developer in Visayas and Mindanao, number seven for North Luzon, and number eight for the National Capital Region.

Tokyo Olympic slugger gets house from Ovialand REAL estate developer Ovialand recently turned over a duplex house in Candelaria, Quezon to Olympic silver medalist, boxer Nesthy Petecio. The house, located at Ovialand’s Caliya development, was already fully furnished upon turnover, complete with portraits of the stout-hearted Petecio in the picturesque living room. “This is our gift to Nesthy in appreciation for her achievement as a Filipina boxer, and for the honor she brought to our country,” said Pammy OlivaresVital, president of Ovialand. “We hope she and her family will enjoy what Caliya has to offer.” Olivarez-Vital added that “hard work and love for family are the two values that Ovialand shares with Nesthy.”

SAY “MINE” TO YOUR DREAM CONDO. Real estate player SM

LIMA ESTATE PLAYS HOST TO FOOTBALL BUBBLE. The Philippine Football Federation and its member clubs, have found a safe haven at the Lima Estate, a 794-hectare industrial-anchored township located in Lipa-Malvar Batangas. Known for being the largest, privately owned industrial estate in the Philippines with its own Central Business District (CBD), Lima also boasts world class sporting facilities, complete with open spaces, recreation areas, and strict implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols. The Aboitiz Pitch is one of the largest artificial turfs in Luzon and can be utilized to play multiple sports including football. The sporting facility is integrated into The Outlets at Lipa, a lifestyle mall with 167 shops and restaurants, just a short walk from Lima Park Hotel, a 138room 4-star hotel. These unique features make the CBD an ideal location for teams to train ahead of local and international competition. Currently, a number of Philippine Football Federation member clubs have been training at Lima, as well as the U23 Men’s National Football team in preparation for the Asian Football Confederation Under-23 Cup 2022 Qualifiers in Singapore on October 25 – 31.

Development Corporation (SMDC), is currently giving its customers the chance to say “mine!” to their new home via fun virtual talk shows and digital selling events of its ready-for-occupancy (RFO) communities. Through its Facebook and Youtube channels, SMDC gives participants a private tour of its RFO projects. Kicking off the series is SMDC’s It’s a Shore Thing--a digital talk show and virtual tour of the Shore Residences complex, and a showcase of its waterfront resort-like amenities at the Mall of Asia Complex. Also on tap is “Say Mine to Your Dream Condo”, which is aired every weekend of October and November. Here, digital influencers such as Sarah Geronimo-Guidicelli, Matteo Guidicelli, Luis Manzano (shown in photo), and Alex Gonzaga, take potential buyers through tours of the different SMDC RFO properties, namely, the Trees Residences, Air Residences, South Residences, Grass Residences, and Fame Residences. For more information, check out https://smdc.com/mine/.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING IN DAVAO REAL estate developer Bria Homes has been pushing for sustainable lifestyles in its fifty-plus communities nationwide, and more recently in Davao, where it is building three communities: Bria Homes Tagum, Bria Homes Panabo, and Bria Homes Digos. “Given the current climate crisis, we encourage our homeowners to foster environmental awareness at all times, especially because, as the past has often demonstrated, the Philippines is particularly vulnerable to major catastrophes,” explained Bria Homes president Red Rosales. “We are integrating sustainability in the lives of Bria homeowners. We make it part of their lifestyles by building comfortable, well-built homes in good shape and preserve these for the next generation. We also urge them to optimize the developments’ vast open, walkable spaces for fitness and recreation.” IN THE CENTER OF THINGS Bria Homes Tagum, situated in the “Palm City of the South,” is just a few minutes’ ride from the city proper, close to Pioneer Avenue and Daang Maharlika Highway. Bria Homes Panabo, known as the “Banana Capital of the Philippines,” is nestled between

Davao City and Tagum, with agro-tourism sites found in nearby towns. Bria Homes Digos, located near the Davao del Sur Provincial Capitol, is close to Digos city center. Prospective Davao residents may choose from three house models in Bria Tagum and Bria Digos: rowhouse Elena (22 sq. m. floor area and 36 sq. m. lot area); two-storey townhouse Bettina (44 sq.m. floor area and 36 sq.m. lot area); and single firewall Alecza (36 sq.m. floor area and 81 sq.m. lot area). BRIA Panabo

offers Bettina and Alecza. KEEPING TRACK OF HOMEOWNERS’ WELFARE The developments are secured by 24hour CCTV coverage, guardhouses, and perimeter walls. Recreational facilities include basketball courts, jogging paths, and kiddie playgrounds. Solar-powered streetlights have been installed to reduce the development’s carbon footprint. According to Rosales, solar lights source their energy from the sun, allowing them to save on power and maintenance costs while lighting up the streets from dusk until dawn. “Because of these, residents feel safe to navigate our premises at night,” he pointed out. Another sustainable initiative in the developments is Sentro, the center of convergence for Bria homeowners. Sentro houses Bria’s amenities, which include a health center, day care center, senior citizen center, and barangay center. Interested homebuyers can check out the projects through Bria’s 360 virtual tours via the propprty developer’s website and facebook page.

Tech & Gadgets

Y

OUNG and young-at-hearts can fill the humdrum of every day with picture-perfect moments as vivo, a leading global smartphone brand, continues to bank on its consumers’ demand to provide quality and stylish phones at an affordable price.

B3

Robinsons Supermarket group offers free cash in for PayMaya

The vivo Y series, the brand’s best-selling product segment in the country, comes with the latest update with the upcoming release of the new vivo Y15 Series. This hip and stylish smartphone gives a bang for the buck with its vibrant colorways and compelling features. At a budget-friendly price range of P5,000.00 to P7,500.00, users can have a reliable device to attend to their day-to-day tasks — from social media activities, gaming, online video calls, and other creative pursuits.

The newest entrant to the Y series keeps your beauty in focus

Beauty always enlightened with vivo Y15 Series phone

Beauty enlightened

Dimly-lit selfies? We don’t know her. The vivo Y15 Series integrates an 8MP Night Selfie camera. This feature ensures that all images taken are focused on the subject to capture an enlightened beauty against a bokeh or haloing backdrop. Additionally, it also comes with a Selfie Soft Light Band that supports photos taken in dark environments. This one provides a real-time preview of fill light effects and automatic adaptation, so users can be assured that they get the best lighting every time.

movie streaming or 7 hours of intensive game playing. With this, people can pursue their gaming or film-buff hobbies anytime, anywhere. It also has the groundbreaking 5V1A Reverse Charging technology. This feature means that the smartphone can also be used to charge other devices—doubling as a device of its own as well as a backup power bank. With all these technologies fused in the new vivo Y15 Series, lovers of fun and creative pursuits can take advantage of a smartphone that enlightens beauty at a value-for-money price. Watch out for its upcoming release on vivo Philippines’ official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and www.vivoglobal.ph.

Beauty in power

Aside from its fashionable hardware design and modern camera features, the vivo Y15 Series also supports a user’s daily journey with its built-in powerful technology. A single full charge of the Y15 Series can provide up to 18 hours of HD

vivo is a leading, product-driven, global technology company, with its core business focusing on smart devices and intelligent services. vivo is committed to connecting users around the globe, through design of exciting and innovative smartphones and companion devices, as well as services which integrate technology and design thinking in unique and creative ways. Following the company core values, which include innovation, consumer orientation and benfen*, vivo has implemented a sustainable development strategy, with the vision of becoming a leading, long-lasting, world-class enterprise. With headquarters in China, sup-

ported by a network of 10 R&D centers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Xi’an, Taipei, Tokyo and San Diego, vivo is focusing on the development of stateof-the-art consumer technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, industrial design, photography and other up-and-coming technologies. vivo has also set-up five production hubs (including brand authorized manufacturing center), across China, South- and Southeast Asia, with an annual production capacity of nearly 200 million smartphones. As of now, vivo has branched out its sales network across more than 40 countries and regions, and is loved by more than 400 million users worldwide.

Galaxy A52s 5G: Midrange phone with flagship qualities By Rommel Bong R. Fuertes Jr. SEVERAL up-and-coming brands have been springing up recently to give consumers more choices when it comes to handheld devices and smartphones. How does one of the top-tier names in smartphones industry respond? They release a game changer. Samsung has a potential customer favorite in the Galaxy A52s 5G. Released in September of this year, the newest addition to the Galaxy line is capable of hanging with the big names in the market. The A52s is 5G ready, but that’s just one of the many features that elevates Samsung’s new ace. The rundown The new member of the Galaxy family uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G, a strong chipset that can accompany several tasks throughout the day, as well as gaming and audio video capabilities. As expected, this device has a hefty 6GB of RAM to fully optimize the

phone’s performance. With it being a recent release, it is also fitting that the device is Android 11 ready. However, it’s a known fact that good mobile phones are not only judged by their internal specs but also their exterior appearance. Fortunately, the A52s 5G is also a thing of beauty. The phone has a 6.5 inch body, equipped with Gorilla Glass 5 screen to give it that sleek and elegant feel. It is built for Super AMOLED display with a 1080 x 2400 pixel resolution. It is also IP67 water resistant, something that’s missing from newer phone releases. Like any other Samsung device, the A52s 5G is also capable of dual

NTC orders directors to be of assistance during UNDAS THE National Telecommunications Commission has directed all of its Regional Directors to coordinate with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Civic Action Groups (CAGs) and Amateur Radio Groups (ARGs) in the rendering of public assistance operations within their respective areas of jurisdiction during UNDAS 2021. The directors were also ordered to extend assistance to NDRRMC “as public service to our fellow kababayans in the observance of UNDAS 2021 and pursuant to the mandate of the Commission to regulate the use of radios,” as stipulated in a memo signed by NTC Commissioner Gamaliel A. Cordoba on Oct. 29, 2021. The NTC directive also tasked all Regional Directors to determine any assistance that the Commission may provide, such as issuance of temporary permits and licenses

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2021 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

necessary to lend assistance and “ensure the safety of our kababayans who will be travelling to various parts of the country.” The directors are also asked to enlist the assistance of radio, television and cable TV stations/operators for the proper and timely dissemination of related information and submit reports on name of the CAGs and ARGs; areas and/or routes to be covered; frequencies to be used; contact numbers and point persons during the operations; temporary location of radio base stations, if any; and duration of operation on or before Oct. 31. The Regional Offices are also directed to monitor the operations of the CAGs and ARGs in their areas of jurisdiction and submit an updated report to the commissioner. Lastly, all Regional Directors are also ordered to observe strict health protocols to avoid transmission of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

sim functionalities. One of the biggest pros of the A52s 5G is its camera quality from the front and the rear. While it is usual for rear camera to be high definition, what makes this phone standout is its front camera. The A52s 5G’s main camera includes four lenses, all dedicated to take high resolution images. It has a 64MP wide lens, a 12MP ultrawide, a 5MP macro lens and a 5MP depth lens. The front camera, however, is on a whole Samsung other level. It equips Galaxy a 32MP camera that’s A52s 5G not just built for pho-

EPOS, the premium audio brand and part of the Demant Group, recently made its debut in the Philippines. EPOS operates in more than 30 countries worldwide and its launch in the Philippines is aligned with the brand’s continued commitment to develop, innovate and offer pioneer premium audio solutions for the region’s new-age professionals. “We are thrilled to launch EPOS in the Philippines and look forward to supporting the country’s hybrid work professionals with superior audio and video solutions. Equipped with a deeply rooted passion for auditory experiences, EPOS strongly believe in providing the perfect balance between excellent audio and maximum comfort so that we can deliver state-of-art audio experiences to enable users to reach their goals and perform with greater agility,” said Seah Hong Kiat, Vice President, EPOS Enterprise Solutions, Asia Pacific. ADAPT, EXPAND AND IMPACT At the core of EPOS will be the ambition to take excellent sound experience for enterprises to the next level – with the clear purpose to help individuals as well as teams across the Philippines to achieve their full potential through the power of audio. As such, EPOS introduced their three key enterprise product lines to help enterprises navigate their way in the new working setup— ADAPT, EXPAND and IMPACT. The ADAPT line is a series of premium headsets for those who want to make flawless business calls from anywhere – from wireless functionality and active noise cancellation (ANC) – these headsets can match users’ needs and the way they like

tos, but also for video purposes. Imagine vlogging on your front camera with 4K results with 30 fps. That’s exactly what Samsung’s new device brings. Battery time would never be a problem with the Galaxy A52s 5G as it has a whopping 4,500mAH battery; something sufficient enough to last for a whole day or two. If in case you run out of juice, charging won’t be an issue either, as it comes with a Type C charger, capable of fast charging. The phone wars are truly evident now with new brands releasing new models, but Samsung’s new contender can hang with the flagship ones. The Galaxy A52s is priced at P22,900 and is available at any Samsung stores nationwide. It can also be purchased via Samsung’s official website. The A52s 5G is available in Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple and Awesome Mint colorways.

THERE are now more ways to cash in to your PayMaya account for FREE as PayMaya and Robinsons Retail team up to allow free cash in at your go-to grocery stores, convenience stores, and drug stores under the Robinsons Supermarket group. Going cashless is so much more convenient and hassle-free because you can easily cash in to your PayMaya account without additional charges at your go-to stores like Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Easymart, Shopwise, The Marketplace, No Brand, and Southstar Drug branches. These establishments are the latest addition to the over 90,000 touchpoints that allow users to cash in to their PayMaya accounts for FREE. These cash in channels include BPI and Unionbank online banking via linked account, Ministop, Smart Padala agents, TrueMoney and now, hundreds of Robinsons group supermarkets, convenience stores, and drug stores nationwide. You can also receive a P20 cashback covering your transfer fee when you cash in to PayMaya via Instapay. Cashing in at Robinsons Supermarket is easy—all you have to do is follow these simple steps: On your PayMaya app, select the "Cash In" icon on the home screen. Select the Robinsons Supermarket via Cashier icon Enter the desired amount then select "Continue" Go to a Robinsons Supermarket branch and inform the cashier that you want to cash in to your PayMaya. Present the generated barcode along with your payment to the cashier. Wait for an SMS confirmation before leaving the store. Once you already have funds in your PayMaya account, you can now enjoy safe and convenient contactless transactions for your everyday needs— including purchasing your essentials in these Robinsons establishments where payment via PayMaya QR is accepted. As an added treat, Robinsons Supermarket is also giving you an exclusive reward of P150 when you cash in at least P2,000 to your PayMaya account and #ScanToPay for your groceries worth at least P2,000 until December 31, 2021. You can enjoy this added perk once a month during the promo period to get up to P450, in total! Now, cashing in and shopping with your PayMaya is not only safe and convenient, it's also made even more rewarding with this added perk! “Our latest initiative with the Robinsons group is part of our continuing mission to make cashless payments even more accessible for Filipinos. With more free cash in channels available for our PayMaya users, we’re making it easier for people to use digital payments in their everyday transactions, especially for their daily needs,” said Pepe Torres, Chief Marketing Officer at PayMaya Philippines.

EPOS officially launches in PH, offers premium audio solutions for enterprises

The IMPACT MB Pro Series delivers natural audio experiences with EPOS Voice™ technology, and optimized speech with an ultra-noise-cancelling micro

to work. This product line is inspired by professionals who need to collaborate and work from several locations on different devices without ever compromising on style or crystal-clear audio, regardless of environment. The EXPAND line is a series of premium speaker phones made for collaboration. Thanks to enhanced voice pickup and superior sounds, everyone on the conference call can participate and en-

gage with the same confidence and clarity as if in person. Lastly, the IMPACT range is perfect for professionals who work in dynamic office spaces and spend long hours talking on the phone. The IMPACT line is created to improve efficiency and deliver excellent customer experience. Every mode is designed to be comfortable to wear, to work flawlessly, and to be fully compatible with other devices and systems.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2021

Motoring

MPTC intensifies operations as traffic volume expected to increase during Undas W ITH the easing of travel restrictions and in anticipation of increased traffic volume this ‘Undas’ holidays, the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) will step up its operations as it implements the “Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko” (SMSK) program along NLEX, SCTEX, CAVITEX, C5 LINK, and CALAX from October 29 to November 2, 2021. In its 12th year running, the SMSK is the motorist assistance program of the MPTC meant to enhance all services along its expressway network for a safer and more comfortable journey. Heightened alert has been ongoing as early as the 22nd of October with customer services and safety protocols boosted. With Filipinos expected to make advanced visits to their loved ones, a massive influx of motorists is projected before cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbaria close from October 29 to November 2 to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission. “We remain committed to provide our motorists with ease of travel,

personnel will be deployed to ensure safety and provide immediate assistance to motorists. Emergency medical services and incident response teams will also be fielded at strategic areas of the expressways. Due to the implementation of the Alert Level 3 in NCR, Cavite, and Laguna per the IATF’s latest resolution, average daily traffic in CAVITEX, C5 LINK, and CALAX is expected to increase around 11% to 15%. All Customer Service Centers in the said expressways will be operational 24/7 and ambulant tellers will be ready to assist motorists in cash lanes, and toll personnel will be augmented to assist motorists in RFID lanes. In addition, construction and lane closures along the mainline roads of all MPTC expressways will be suspended from October 27 until November 2 unless safety repairs are necessary. For those traveling with Class 1 or light vehicles with free 24-hour towing services to the nearest exit will be available from October 29, 6:00 a.m. to November 2, 6:00 a.m.

ensure their safety, and assist them immediately this season as we also continue to observe COVID-19 protocols for the protection of our customers and employees,” said MPTC President and CEO Rodrigo E. Franco. With traffic growth of 10% anticipated in NLEX-SCTEX, traffic management teams will adopt extended working hours to closely monitor and manage the expected high volume of vehicles in Balintawak, Mindanao, Karuhatan, Bocaue, San Simon, San Fernando, Tarlac and Tipo. Around 1,200 patrol crews, traffic marshals, security teams, and lane

New Range Rover world unveiled in London: Breathtaking modernity, peerless refinement and unmatched capability

WHITLEY, UK – Land Rover has revealed the New Range Rover at the Royal Opera House in London. The next generation defines modern luxury by design, providing more refinement, customer choice and scope for personalisation than ever before. Range Rover is the original luxury SUV and has led by example for 50 years, combining serene comfort and composure with all-conquering capability. The New Range Rover is the most desirable yet, effortlessly combining breath-taking modernity and aesthetic grace with technological sophistication and seamless connectivity – with space for up to seven adults. The fifth-generation luxury SUV takes Land Rover’s modernist design philosophy to the next level with a contemporary interpretation of its trademark profile to create an incredible design statement. The New Range Rover can trace its origins back through the generations; the falling roofline, strong waistline – with its horizontal emphasis – and lower rising sill. The characteristically short front overhang, formal front end, upright windscreen, and distinctive boat tail rear, which tapers in plain view, are key elements in defining Range Rover’s proportions and

conveying its peerless presence. Flush elements and tight tolerances are a hallmark of the New Range Rover and design-enabling technologies contribute to its sophisticated honed-from-solid appearance, including flush glazing, a hidden waist rail finisher and seamless laser-welded roof joints. The distinctive hidden-until-lit rear lights are also critical to the success of the design and will become a Range Rover signature. Also unveiled at the Royal Opera House, the New Range Rover SV will give customers even more scope to create a truly individual vehicle when it goes on sale in 2022. The SV model is an exquisite interpretation of Range Rover luxury and personalisation, epitomising exceptional craftsmanship. Materials for exclusive Range Rover SV design details include lustrous plated metals, smooth ceramics, intricate mosaic marquetry, as well as a choice of high-grade leathers or sustainable non-leather Ultrafabrics™. Additional design themes including SV Serenity and SV Intrepid introduce two-tone front-to-rear contrasting interior colourways, while the sumptuous four-seat SV Signature Suite features functional enhancements including an electrically deployable Club Table and refrigerator.

This hand-crafted model will be the first vehicle to carry the new ceramic SV roundel and naming strategy and will be known simply as Range Rover SV. The SV roundel represents Special Vehicle Operations’ design and engineering passion for modern luxury, performance, and capability. The SV roundel will identify all new Land Rover vehicles launched by Special Vehicle Operations in the future. The New Range Rover combines advanced technology with modern luxury to deliver peerless refinement for every occupant and is the first model to use Land Rover’s new flexible Modular Longitudinal Architecture. MLA-Flex can accommodate internal combustion, plug-in hybrid, and 100 percent electric powertrains. It represents the next step in Land Rover’s simplified architecture strategy as part of the move to deliver greater powertrain flexibility and set new quality benchmarks. It is available with a choice of efficient mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains and four, five or seven-seat interiors across Standard and Long Wheelbase body designs. A pure-electric Range Rover – the first allelectric Land Rover – will join the line-up in 2024.

GAC Motor PH celebrates 3rd year anniversary with Php 3.00 down payment METRO MANILA — GAC Motor Philippines celebrates its third-year anniversary byoffering a Php 3.00 down payment on the GS3, GS8, GN6, and the GN8 from October 11 to November 30, 2021.

The Php 3.00 down payment is applied to all vehicle models of GAC Motor Philippines, and it comeswith a five-year warranty or 150,000 kms whichever comes first, a one (1) year LTO Registration andChattel Mortgage, and a free one (1)

year Comprehensive Insurance with Acts of Nature throughselected bank partners. Customers who will avail of the promo are still subject to bank approval. “As we celebrate our third anniversary, GAC Motor Philippines wants to provide the local market withquality vehicles that they can use for their mobility needs. With the Php 3.00 down payment, owning aGAC Motor vehicle is now made possible,” said Wilbert Lim, president and CEO of GAC MotorPhilippines. During the inauguration of GAC Motor Philippines in 2018, the occasion also served as a perfect timeto introduce its five vehicle models in the country - the GA4, GS4, GN8, GS8, and the GA8. The brandalso launched the GS3 in 2019, the GN6 in February 2021; the GN8 Master’s Edition, and the 2022GS8 both in October 2021. To know more about this anniversary promo, visit a GAC Motor Philippines dealership near you or goto gacmotorph.com.

LTO issues 10-year driver's licenses law mandates motorists renewing licenses to take seminar and exam

MANILA – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has begun issuing driver’s licenses that are valid for ten (10) years in line with the provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 10930 which amended the Land Transportation and Traffic Code. In addition to the granting of a driver’s license that is valid for 10 years, Section 3 of RA 10930 also mandates the LTO to conduct an examination on both applicants of new driver’s licenses and on those who are renewing expired ones. “The law wants to make sure that only qualified motorists who possess both driving skills and knowledge of road safety and road courtesy, are given the privilege to drive motor vehicles,” said LTO chief Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante. Motorists who will be renewing their expired driver’s licenses will have to pass the Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) which is composed of a refresher seminar and an examination designed to make sure that only deserving applicants who have sufficient driving skills and are knowledgeable of road safety and proper road courtesy will have their licenses renewed. “The LTO shall promulgate prerequisites and guidelines before the grant of drivers’ licenses to ensure that these are issued only to deserving applicants with sufficient driving skills and knowledge on road safety and proper road courtesy. Toward this end, the conduct of theoretical and practical examinations, among others, must sufficiently measure the competency of drivers and must be designed to the type of license applied for its corresponding restrictions: Provided, that for professional drivers, the tests must be appropriated to the vehicle and type of service the applicant intends to operate,” Section 3 of Republic Act 10930 states. The rollout of the driver’s licenses that are valid for 10 years will start at the LTO’s Central Office- Licensing Section and the Quezon City Licensing Center (QCLC). At the moment, not all LTO offices will be able to issue driver’s licenses that are valid for 10 years. A week following the pilot run at the LTO Central Office-Licensing Section, and at the Quezon City Licensing Center (QCLC), driver’s licenses that are valid for 10 years will be issued by other LTO offices in Metro Manila. Motorists who will be renewing their

licenses in areas where the system of issuing 10-year valid licenses are not yet in place, can renew their driver’s licenses using the old system, the LTO said. Motorists renewing their licenses in LTO offices that are now ready to issue 10-year valid licenses, will be required to take the CDE seminar and its accompanying examination. The CDE seminar will be conducted for a maximum of five (5) hours and can be taken for free in driver’s education centers (DECs), and for a fee in LTO accredited driving schools. Motorists can also take the seminar online via the LTO’s LTMS portal. Motorists who will fail in the examination following the CDE seminar will be required to retake the test. Under Republic Act No. 10930 which amended the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, the new licenses that are valid for 10 years will be given to all driver’s license holders who do not have any traffic violations on file. Those with traffic violations recorded during the validity of their expired licenses, will be issued renewed licenses that are only valid for five (5) years. Meanwhile, the validity of expired driver’s licenses has been extended by two months from the date of expiration. The extension aims to ensure that motorists who are renewing their licenses are given ample time to comply with the CDE requirement. The CDE, consisting of video and written materials produced by the LTO, is being offered free at all LTO offices and via the LTO website (lto.gov.ph), and through the LTO Facebook page and YouTube. Motorists applying for the renewal of their expired driver’s licenses need only to register for free at the LTO Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) via portal.lto.gov.ph, or can be assisted through the process by LTO frontliners in all LTO offices. The LTMS allows all LTO clients to make transactions via the internet on a 24/7 basis, including bookings for DL applications. The portal has an extensive driver’s education library provided for free, including CDE materials. After studying the CDE materials, LTMS clients can take the required CDE exam online and upon passing it will be issued a CDE certificate to be used in the renewal of the expired driver’s license.