Manila Standard - 2021 November 3 - Wednesday

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ON YOUR GUARD. Members of the Manila Police District

(MPD) remind shoppers to continue observing health protocols in the shopping district of Ilaya Street in Divisoria, Manila on Nov. 2. The National Capital Region and 10 other areas will remain under Alert Level 3 from November 1 to 14. Norman Cruz

Biz group, doctors bat for relaxing NCR curbs

By Willie Casas and Othel V. Campos A KEY medical association and an influential business group on Tuesday said they supported easing COVID-19 restrictions in Metro Manila to Alert Level 2, but the Palace said this would only happen if the decline in new cases and the health utilization rate can be sustained.

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VOL. XXXV • NO. 261 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Palace to PhilHealth: Pay debts Roque claims it has money for that, says private hospitals vital partner

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Willie Casas

T

HE government has the funds to settle unpaid claims with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth), the Palace said Tuesday, even as more private hospitals considered cutting ties with the state medical insurer.

This developed as senators renewed settle the unpaid claims of many private their call to PhilHealth to immediately hospitals amounting to at least P20 bil-

lion, due since August this year.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque noted PhilHealth sources funds from premiums, taxes, the Budget department's appropriation, and the revenues of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR).

“I am telling you, government funds for this are not lacking," Roque said in a press briefing.

“I am calling on PhilHealth President

Dante Gierran. I will repeat the request of President (Rodrigo) Duterte to president Gierran, ‘Keep paying that,’” the spokesman added.

The healthcare system will suffer a capacity shortage without private hospitals, which account for about 70 percent of medical services, Roque said.

The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) said last week some of its 700-plus members

40,786

43,404

128

2,708,466

4,677

(As of 4 PM, NOV. 2)

Fire destroys 150k doses of vaccines

By Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas

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2,303

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Gov't may drop face shield use amid low cases FILIPINOS may no longer be required to wear face shields as cases of COVID-19 continue to decline, Malacanang said Tuesday.

This emerged as a fellow of the independent monitoring OCTA Research Group said the group would support the suggestion to remove the requirement of wearing face shields inside cinemas.

OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David, in an interview with ANC's Headstart, said the pitch was discussed in a business forum, and this "makes sense" because watching

2,792,656

By Vito Barcelo and Rey E. Requejo

GAS PRICES RISING. A gasoline station attendant arranges the displayed price of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) at a station along Road 10 in Tondo, Manila, on Nov. 2, while another attendant pumps gasoline into a motorbike (inset). LPG prices rose for the fifth straight month and gasoline prices for the 10th week in a row on Tuesday.

Norman Cruz

Climate hazards cost PH $10b FOR THE SOULS.

A young lady lights candles at the footsteps of their house on Blumentritt Road in Manila, while a boy looks at the lighted candles during All Saints Day in Barangay Salitran 3, Dasmarinas City, Cavite on Monday. Filipinos remembered their departed loved ones on All Souls Day on Tuesday.

Danny Pata and Gil Calinga

By Julito G. Rada and Maricel V. Cruz THE Philippines has incurred losses and damage estimated to reach P506.1 billion (approximately $10 billion) from climaterelated hazards over a decade, underscoring its extreme vulnerability to the climate crisis despite contributing only 0.3 percent of the planet’s total greenhouse gas emissions, data gathered by the Department of Finance show.

In a statement Tuesday, DoF said this amount made up 98.2 percent of the country’s total estimated losses and damages from 2010 to 2020 of P515.51 bil-

lion (around $10.6 billion).

This staggering amount is equivalent to an annual average of P48.9 billion, which is about 0.33 percent of the annual average gross domestic product of the Philippines.

Located in the typhoon belt and the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines constantly experiences unavoidable losses and damage amounting to 0.5 percent of its annual GDP primarily from an increasingly unpredictable climate, the DoF said.

Meanwhile, a legislator from Camarines Sur called on the world's major economies to make good on their commitment to provide financing for climate Next page

CLOSE to 150,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were destroyed in a fire that engulfed the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Health Office in Pagadian City, the Palace said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said this was a ballpark figure and that the final number would be announced by vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. He said, however, that the doses would quickly be replaced.

The National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF) said that based on the initial report, the fire damaged 9,176 doses of AstraZeneca, 14,400 doses of Moderna, 88,938 dose of Pfizer-BioNTech, and 36,164 doses of Sinovac vaccines.

It said the AstraZeneca vaccines were allocated as second doses, which were scheduled for deployment on Nov. 3, while the Moderna vaccines were intended for the pediatric vaccination rollout also on Nov. 3.

The NTF said some of the Pfizer vaccines were allocated for Pagadian City.

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Malacañang backs cut of 9-dash line Netflix episodes

By Vito Barcelo and Rey E. Requejo

tralian drama series "Pine Gap" on its platform for "violating Philippine sovereignty" and featuring a map of the nine-dash line, an invisible demarcation used by China to MALACAÑANG supports the decision of refer to its claim in the South China Sea. the government to remove parts of the AusPresidential spokesperson Harry

Roque said the Palace supported the order of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to Netflix to cut out episodes of “Pine Gap” for “violating Philippine sovereignty.”

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News

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

35% of vax targets hit in 8 months M ORE than 27 million people across the country have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the government said on Tuesday, eight months since the inoculation program against the coronavirus disease kicked off in the country.

The number represents around 35 percent of the government's target of up to 77.1 million people for complete vaccination to be able to achieve herd immunity against the disease.

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said at least 27,360,873 million people have completed their vaccination.

Authorities have so far administered some 59.3 million COVID-19 shots, including around 31.9 million first jabs, all over the country, Cabotaje said in a televised public briefing.

In Metro Manila, the epicenter of the outbreak, at least 8.5 million people or 87.78 percent of the target population

have completed their COVID-19 vaccination, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in a separate press briefing.

"Hopefully, by November or December, we will achieve a very high output, almost 100 percent of the target here in NCR," said Cabotaje, who chairs the National Vaccination Operations Center.

Metro Manila is home to nearly 13.5 million people and accounts for about a third of the country's gross domestic product.

"For the rest of the country, we are looking at the first quarter of next year to fully vaccinate the rest of the population all over the Philippines," Cabotaje said.

She previously said that at least 50

Palace...

are saying nothing seems to be happening with their discussions with PhilHealth,” De Grano said.

De Grano also noted PhilHealth beneficiaries would also be affected, as some hospitals have yet to receive payment for some COVID-19 claims in 2020.

“That is what will actually happen to our beneficiaries or PhilHealth members.

They will be provided with the service but then the PhilHealth members need to provide advance payment, they will be given a statement of account and then they will be the one to bring it to and communicate with PhilHealth for whatever benefits they should get,” he said.

In October, De Grano said, an estimated 5 percent to 10 percent of nurses in private hospitals in the country left their jobs.

He said they are currently urging nurses and health care workers to stay in the country.

Last month, 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, PhilHealth admitted to delays in processing of claims for COVID-19 cases.

“We are so swarmed with an increase of claims. Can you just imagine, in 2020, we have the average of daily claims of 31,000, and the average number of claims now is 39,000. Which means that is job increase of 26 percent," Gierran said.

PhilHealth also faced a manpower shortage, he added.

Senator Imee Marcos said Philhealth should pay billions of pesos in debts to private hospitals and file charges against those involved in fraud if it has

the evidence.

She added that the Universal Health Care Act and PhilHealth would be useless if hospitals would boycott the state insurer and no longer see accreditation in the coming years.

“Now that people have no job and money, who will pay their medical expenses if hospitals are not registered with PhilHealth?” Marcos asked There are about 95 million direct and indirect contributors of PhilHealth who could lose their benefits.

Senator Grace Poe said PhilHealth must pick up the slack in settling its mounting obligations to hospitals, saying the situation compromises the health care system.

She branded as "unjust" that frontline institutions must wait for years and not know when they can be reimbursed.

"We expect the state health insurer to come up with an aggressive catch-up plan for the due reimbursement of claims," she said.

The delay in payment, she said, could force hospitals to downsize or worse, halt operations, to the detriment of their workers who willlose jobs, and the people who cannot anymore take a heavy beating from the pandemic.

"As this unfortunate situation persists, our health system becomes more vulnerable to being overwhelmed, especially in a pandemic,” Poe said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros also appealed to private hospitals to remain committed to ensuring access to affordable health care.

"The government, given its limited capacity to provide hospital care, should ex-

plore options to provide crucial financial aid to hospitals at risk," she said.

She said the pandemic isn’t over yet and the health system must be able to serve the needy, and not just those who are able to pay.

Meanwhile, Senator Joel Villanueva said PhilHealth delays in reimbursing private hospitals for treating members of the state health insurer will make it harder for hospitals to retain critical manpower.

“This is also a jobs issue. When reimbursement is slow the flight of talent accelerates,” Villanueva, chairman of the Senate labor committee, said.

PhilHealth, he added, should be the reason for retaining private hospitals' staff, not the cause of their departure, “especially at a time when the pull of foreign recruiters is strong.”

When private hospitals suffer from workforce reduction, it is the public that suffers, he added.

“You can have hospital beds but without medical staff, those beds are reduced to pieces of furniture,” he said.

“During an epidemic, when the call is ‘all hands on deck,’ the role of a state corporation is to ensure that frontline units operate at optimum capacity,” he said.

“PhilHealth reimbursement is a critical part of the supply chain.

That’s what the government needs to understand,” Villanueva added.

Villanueva said PhilHealth should aim for a “zero backlog” in settling reimbursement claims by the end of the year.

By failing to solve the long festering problem of slow reimbursement, PhilHealth is unwittingly aiding headhunters in recruiting nurses to work abroad, he said.

gyms, and movie houses will be allowed to operate at 30 percent indoor venue capacity only for fully vaccinated customers and 50 percent outdoor venue capacity, provided that all employees are fully vaccinated.

Under Alert Level 3, the operational capacity of public transport has been raised to 70 percent.

The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) on Tuesday supported a shift to Alert Level 2, citing the decline in COVID-19 cases.

But PCP president Dr. Maricar Limpin, interviewed on radio dzBB, also reminded the public to keep observing minimum public health standards even if the alert level is lowered.

“Based on the number of cases now, we can really lower it to Alert Level 2,” she said.

Also on Tuesday, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said it supports shifting Metro Manila to Alert Level 2.

“The easing of restriction to Alert level 2, which will allow most businesses

to operate, and restaurants to increase the capacity of allowed diners is a good move, especially now as we enter the Christmas season and there is a surge in consumer spending," said PCCI president Benedicto Yujuico.

"Increasing the capacity of public transport will also support the revitalization of business and the economy," he added.

Limpin said compliance with the health protocols is the most important and most effective strategy to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Under Alert Level 2, establishments will be allowed to operate indoors at 50 percent capacity with additional 10 percent capacity if they have a safety seal.

They will be allowed to operate at 70 percent capacity outdoors.

Limpin said the number of non-COVID-19 patients is increasing in hospitals, amid the decreasing number of infected patients.

More patients who were previously scared of being infected with COVID-19 are now more comfortable with going to

hospitals, she said.

But Limpin also expressed hesitancy over the move to allow 70 percent capacity in public transportation, which she said would compromise social distancing.

With heavier traffic, she said, passengers would stay inside the vehicles longer, increasing the risk of infection.

On the other hand, Limpin agreed with the government move to get rid of plastic barriers inside PUVs, saying they were unnecessary.

Yujuico pointed out that businesses have lost so much money and opportunity for the past two years that it is critical that the economy be fully opened soonest to allow businesses to recover and recoup their losses. Health and safety protocols, he said, will continue to be practiced.

While the infection rate has declined, the biggest group of Philippine businesses urged the acceleration of vaccination throughout the country to help micro, small and medium-scale enterprises in the regions, many of which are in the services industries. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

the recommendation of the Technical Advisory Group to limit the use of face shields to the so-called “3Cs,” which refers to “closed and crowded” spaces, and activities that “promote close contact.”

“I was informed of the recommendation from the Technical Advisory Group and medical groups that the use of face shields, on top of face masks, may be limited to high-risk activities under the three Cs –closed, crowded (and) close contact,” Duterte said.

The public and several groups have continued to call for the stoppage of wearing face shields, citing the convenience it is causing and its alleged ineffectiveness in stopping the spread of the coronavirus.

Last month, the country's pandemic task force allowed cinemas to reopen at 30 percent capacity for fully vaccinated individuals in areas under Alert Level 3, such as Metro Manila.

Health protocols are still to be observed inside the theater, with moviegoers sitting one seat apart and still wearing their masks as mandated by the national task force and the respective local governments.

Climate... change mitigation projects in poor countries.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte raised the call following President Rodrigo Duterte's appeal to G20 countries to deliver on their over-adecade-old commitment to mobilize $100 billion in annual financing and support.

This would help climate-vulnerable countries like the Philippines implement adaptation and mitigation measures to reverse the devastating effects of the climate crisis, he said.

The Philippines is struck by around 20 tropical cyclones every year and an almost daily occurrence of seismic shocks.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the Philippines, being a climatevulnerable country, had much at stake in reversing thedevastating effects of global warming.

“As I have said on many occasions, I am determined to set the Philippines as an example for all nations in setting the standards for mitigating the impact of climate

change. I want us to be a world leader in this area through our climate ambition,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez, who is chairman-designate of the Climate Change Commission, heads the Philippine delegation to the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

The Philippines has committed to a projected greenhouse gas emission reduction and avoidance of 75 percent from 2020 to 2030 for the sectors of agriculture, wastes, industry, transport, and energy, as its National Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement.

According to the DoF, the latest Fiscal Risk Statement released this year by the Bureau of the Treasury "cites the country’s exposure to natural disasters as a major source of downside risks for the national government's fiscal position.”

The FRS is drawn up annually to identify the fiscal risks to which the Philippines is exposed to, and at the same time, outlines the key programs and measures put up by the government to manage these risks. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

In a joint statement, the NTF and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government said the government will replenish the 148,678 does of COVID-19 vaccines destroyed in the fire.

All concerned agencies are on standby to provide immediate support to the Regional and Local Vaccination Operations Centers in the Zamboanga Peninsula, it added.

"May this unfortunate incident be a reminder to all local government units to ensure the safety and security of these life-saving vaccines," it said.

Responders are retrieving vaccines that may still be useful and other items like refrigerators, vaccine carriers, and transport boxes.

The administration of jabs at the provincial and municipal levels has been rescheduled.

"We would like to assure the residents of Zamboanga del Sur that the NTF and NVOC will replenish all the damaged vaccines, especially those meant for citizens who are scheduled to get their second dose soon.

The vaccine doses will be shipped immediately as soon as the new cold storage is ready for use," the statement said.

NVOC chair and Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said they will also investigate why the vaccines were still unused, a probable violation of a DILG order that all local government units (LGUs) must deploy and administer the jabs three days after receiving the supplies from the national government. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

said.

The DFA lodged a complaint before the MTRCB, which handed down its decision dated Sept. 28, 2021 to pull out the said episodes "for showing a map of China’s nine-dash line and violating Philippine sovereignty."

The DFA said the Board had ruled that certain episodes of “Pine Gap” were “un-

fit for public exhibition.”

In its decision, the MTRCB noted that “under a whole-of-nation approach, every instrumentality of the government, whenever presented with the opportunity, had the responsibility to counter China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea to assert thePhilippines’ territorial integrity."

It stressed the portrayal of "the illegal nine-dash line in Pine Gap is no accident as it was consciously designed and calculated to specifically convey a message that China’s nine-dash line legitimately exists."

It added such portrayal was a "crafty attempt to perpetuate and memorialize in the consciousness of the present gen-

eration of viewers and the generations to come the illegal nine-dash line."

"Using the medium of a motion picture is but China’s unconventional approach to gain an upper hand in the territorial conflict in the South China Sea/ West Philippine Sea,” the MTRCB said.

(See full story online at manilastandard.net)

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might not renew their accreditation with PhilHealth because most claims for the treatment of COVID-19 patients last year remain unpaid.

Out of the 1,071 licensed private hospitals at the Department of Health, 50% are recognized members of the association “who actively participate and support all PHAPI activities since its inception,” the group’s website said.

PhilHealth and PHAPI, in a meeting with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Tuesday, "committed to work together" over the issue, said Duterte's longtime aide Sen. Christopher Go. Some private hospitals, including in Metro Manila, will release in November a position paper on whether they would cut ties with PhilHealth, said PHAPI president Dr. Jose Rene De Grano.

"Many of them may not renew with PhilHealth next year because of what they have experienced. There is no concrete solution from PhilHealth for the last 2 or 3 months,” he told TeleRadyo.

“When we talk about renewal, it means January 2022, but there are hospital administrators who think no concrete solution has been offered to address their situation.

They are considering announcing in a week or two that they will not be renewing with PhilHealth,” the PHAPI leader added in an interview over radio dzBB. “Some hospitals in General Santos City, Iloilo City, Cagayan Valley, and then now the hospitals in Laguna, Quezon, and Cavite and also a big hospital in NCR,

Biz...

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"We also know that gatherings happen during Christmas which could cause a spike in COVID-19 cases,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“While cases are down and data shows we can ease the alert level in Metro Manila, we cannot let our guard down. We cannot think that this pandemic is over,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Philippines logged 2,303 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 2,792,656. This was the lowest daily number of infections reported since the 2,067 tally on March 2.

The positivity rate was at 6.8 percent, based on test results of samples from 29,679 people on Oct.31, Sunday. It was the lowest rate since Feb. 24.

Metro Manila is under Alert Level 3 from Nov. 1 to 14.

Under Alert Level 3, restaurants,

Gov’t...

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movies in the theater "would not be an enjoyable experience if you are wearing a face shield."

"We would support it because I think the move is to allow only vaccinated people to enter theaters," said David, when asked if OCTA would support this.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases was studying the possibility of finally ending the face shield policy.

“Because the number is decreasing, many are already telling the IATF that we should stop wearing face shields but there is no decision yet.

We are still going to wear a face shield,” Roque said.

The Palace official said there was no final word yet on when the task force would decide to lift the face shield, but the technical working group was studying the possibility.

President Rodrigo Duterte approved

Malacañang...

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The Palace supports it because MTRCB is under the Office of the President and the Department of Foreign Affairs itself was the one that asked MTRCB to have it taken down in the country, he

From A1

percent of the country's 110 million people may be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of the year, which is the lower threshold of the government's target.

The high-end target of 70 percent of the population may be achieved only in the first quarter of next year, she said.

Cabotaje said almost 100 percent of health workers, the top priority group, have been immunized.

However, only 57 percent of senior citizens, the second priority group, have completed their vaccination, she said.

"We need to push our A2 to get vaccinated," Cabotaje said, echoing the call of the World Health Organization.

37k kids with comorbidities vaccinated too A TOTAL of 37,964 minors with comorbidities aged 12 to 17 have already been inoculated against COVID-19, the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) said on Tuesday.

“We started the rollout of the [vaccination] of 12 to 18 years old with comorbidities in other areas on October 29,” NVOC chairperson Myrna Cabotaje said during the Laging Handa briefing.

Cabotaje said as of October 31, 59.3 million doses have been administered nationwide. Around 31.9 million individuals have received at least one dose while 27.3 million have been fully vaccinated against the illness.

She said 1.6 million or 99.75 percent of health workers have received at least one dose while 1.5 million or 95.35 percent have received two doses.

At the same time, at least 2.7 million COVID-19 vaccine doses ofSputnik V will arrive in the country today, boosting the government’s immunization drive particularly in the far-flung areas, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Willie Casas (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Petron welcomes LPG Bill passage, higher standards

By Alena Mae S. Flores PETRON Corp., the country's biggest oil company, has welcomed the passage of the LPG Bill that is seen to elevate the standards of the liquefied petroleum gas industry and provide penalties to violators.

“The passage of the LPG bill will significantly change and elevate the standards by which businesses operate in the LPG industry. This will benefit both legitimate players and the consumers through addressing regulatory gaps, strengthening consumer protection, and increasing public safety by making sure that all LPG cylinders have undergone the proper safety and quality checks," the company said.

Petron said its customers can rest assured that its Petron Gasul and Fiesta Gas will continue to uphold the highest quality standards.

The LPG Bill was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte as Republic Act 11592 or the LPG Industry Regulation Act last October 14. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Fire...

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News

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SC junks writ of Kalikasan vs. Meralco

By Rey E. Requejo

T PRESENT ARMS. Philippine National Police Chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar joins Police Regional Office 4A (PRO)

CALABARZON Director PBGen. Eliseo DC Cruz in presenting guns seized in raids and other accomplishments under the PNP’s Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO). The PNP Chief graced the 120th Police Service celebration at Camp Brigadier General Vicente P. Lim, Calamba City on Nov. 2. Roy Tomandao

Leonardia asks for lower alert level status for Bacolod POINTING out that the COVID-19 attack rate in Bacolod City is declining the last two weeks of October, Mayor Evelio Leonardia has requested Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to downgrade the city’s status to Alert Level 3 from Nov. 1-14.

Leonardia made the appeal Oct. 29 to Duque, chair of the National Inter-Agency Task Force, immediately after Bacolod City was placed under Alert Level 4 by the NIATF. Under the new COVID-19 Alert Level System, Alert Level 4 refers to areas, where case counts are high and/or increasing with hospital bed utilization and intensive care unit utilization rates are high.

Based on the Oct. 28 COVID Situational Report of the Department of Health in Region 6, however, Leonardia cited the

DOH data showing that the growth in cases has been decreasing for the past two consecutive weeks.

The mayor added that a minus-39 percentage change in growth rate was noted with the average daily attack rate also down from 21.62 percent in the previous three to four weeks of October to just 13.24 percent in the recent two weeks of the same month.

Leonardia also informed Duque that the current health care capacity utilization in all tertiary private and DOH regional hospitals here is only 69 percent, half of which is from Bacolod City, while the rest are COVID patients from other local government units in the Province of Negros Occidental.

“It is no surprise, therefore, that since

cases are also high in the province, patients are being brought to Bacolod hospitals for treatment,” he said.

ICU utilization rate, he continued, is 55.56 percent, and this includes patients from other LGUs too.

Leonardia further pointed out that isolation facility accommodation in Bacolod City also posted a significant decrease by as much as 19.66 percent.

Bacolod City has 23,361 accumulated COVID cases and 21,660 or, 92.72’percent, have since recovered. Real-time data showed that there are only 954 active cases left.

The figures clearly correlate to good management and treatment of COVID-19 cases. COVID-related deaths also dropped by 55 percent from last month, he said.

he Supreme Court has denied the petition for writ of Kalikasan filed by residents of posh Magallanes Village in Makati City and an adjacent barangay in Villamor Air Base in Pasay City seeking to prohibit the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) from mounting electric poles and transmission lines near their houses.

The petitioners cited health and safety risks in opposing the move.

In an en banc decision written by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the SC sustained the decision issued by the Court of Appeals on January 20, 2011, which also denied the petition for writ of Kalikasan (environment).

The court ruled that the petitioners failed to satisfy the second and third requisites for the issuance of a writ of Kalikasan, which mandates them to prove any unlawful act on the part of the respondents and to demonstrate that the magnitude of the actual or threatened environmental damage would prejudice the life, health, or property of inhabitants in two or more cities or provinces.

“To prohibit the installation works in Barangay 183 is to disrupt air travel to and from Manila. Stopping the installation works would be a regulatory policy too costly to implement, considering that ‘the operation of international airport

terminals is an undertaking imbued with public interest,” the high court said.

“This, adding, the lack of proof on the magnitude of the environmental damage that might be caused by the installation works in Barangay 183, renders this Court unable to grant any of the remedies under the writ,” the SC said.

The petition was filed by residents of Barangay 183 in Villamor, Pasay City and Magallanes Village in Makati City led by Gemma dela Cruz. It is considered the first-ever case seeking the issuance of a writ of Kalikasan, which also named Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) as Meralco’s co-respondent.

The petitioners argued the erection of electricity poles carrying 115-kilovolt transmission lines near their residences was cleared by their barangay officials without consulting them, as mandated under Section 27 of the Local Government Code and without studying the possible adverse effects of the lines to their health.

Pursue digital readiness over mobile number portability, consumer group tells gov’t THE lack of public interest in the Mobile Number Portability Act makes the new law akin to a prescription for the wrong ailment and should tell government to focus on more fundamental improvements in the country’s digital infrastructure and broadband services, an independent consumer advocacy group said.

“People may not be interested in switching telecom providers because they now have many other options to communicate,” said Professor Louie Montemar, convenor of Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente (BK3).

“The government should instead focus on improving the country’s digital

infrastructure so that the quality of internet connection will be seamless and uniform across the country.”

Just over 1,000 out of more than 100 million subscribers—or 0.001% of the total—have ported to their new networks during the first month of the MNP, according to Melanie Manuel, head of Telecommunications

Connectivity, Inc., a joint-venture company composed of all telcos created for the purpose of operationalizing the law.

Montemar said the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the public’s need for the internet to perform their day-to-day transactions, from remote working or studying, to online banking

and shopping, to health consultations, to connecting with friends and family.

“Internet connection has become a right, given the volume of essential activities we now do online. Meanwhile, if we cannot call or text somebody using our mobile numbers, we can always send them an email or message them on social media.”

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News

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Workaholic Rody may not retire yet from politics—Bato PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte may still run for an elective position for the 2022 elections, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Tuesday.

Dela Rosa, the standard bearer of a faction of the ruling party PDP-Laban, said Duterte, being the workaholic that he is, will likely not leave politics yet despite announcing his retirement earlier.

“That’s what I think of him because President Duterte seems like a workaholic, he’d rather continue working until he dies because he does not want any idle moments. He wants to dedicate his remaining life to serving the country,” he told CNN Philippines in an interview.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi earlier said he is convincing Duterte to run for senator to strengthen their slate.

“Sometimes he wants to retire, sometimes he wants to run. Let’s leave him to his own choice,” Dela Rosa said.

Cusi earlier wanted Senator Christopher Go to run for president in tandem with Duterte, but the latter announced he will retire from politics next year.

Go instead ran for vice president as Dela Rosa’s running mate.

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa said he is not threatened by the pronouncement of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte that she will help former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in his presidential bid in 2022.

“What Mayor Inday said is she will find ways and means to support the candidacy of Senator Bongbong. It is normal to find ways to help a friend who is running for an elective post.

But she did not say, ‘I will support you 100 percent, Senator Bongbong, and I will dump 100 percent Senator Bato.’

She did not say anything like that. So, I am not insecure,” Dela Rosa said.

LIFE-SAVING JAB. The vaccination of minors aged 12 to 17 years old started Tuesday, November 2, at Jaro in Iloilo City. In Taguig City, teenagers received their Pfizer vaccine shot against COVID-19 as part of the inoculation drive for the pediatric population. Danny Pata

Comelec: Enough VCM safeguards

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

T

HE Commission on Elections on Tuesday said it has put in place several safeguards to ensure the vote-counting machines are not tampered amid concerns raised over the logistics firm that bagged the contract to transport the VCMs.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, in a series of tweets, gave the assurance as poll watchdogs and lawmakers have flagged the P535.99-million contract with F2 Logistics, a firm linked to businessman Dennis Uy, for the distribution of vote-counting machines, ballots and other

election paraphernalia for next year’s synchronized polls.

Uy, a major contributor to President Rodrigo Duterte’s 2016 presidential campaign, is the chairman of F2 logistics.

“At no point is the logistics provider able to tamper with the election out-

come, either because of process safeguards (like the zero-report) or the fact that the VCMs have practically nothing to do with the results once the results have been reported out,” Jimenez said.

He said after the VCMs are delivered, the machines will undergo final testing and sealing up to three days before May 9 to check if they are working properly.

After the VCMs transmit the election returns, the main memory card will be hand-carried by the electoral board to the municipal canvassing system.

The machines will then be packed and returned to the deployment hubs,

Marcos: Ensure safety of students, teachers during in-person classes

Isko gets support of largest Pacman volunteer group

By Rey E. Requejo

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE grassroots support of presidential candidate Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso swelled exponentially after MP NATION, the biggest and most organized group of volunteer organizations originally pushing for the presidential candidacy of Sen. Manny Pacquiao, has switched its loyalty to the standard-bearer of the Aksyon Demokratiko.

MP Nation lead convenor Col. Dani Enriquez said it was a collegial decision of its executive committee members to abandon Pacquiao and shift their support behind Domagoso.

“MP Nation is now IM4P or Isko Moreno For President Movement,” Enriquez said.

“We will always love and thank Senator Pacquiao for what he has done for the country, and would have wanted the two of them (Moreno and Pacquiao) to be in one ticket. But we must admit that the infighting of PDP-Laban has caused much damage and backlog to Senator Manny’s campaign,” he added.

MP Nation is composed of an army of coordinators in 78 provinces, 120 cities, 1,109 municipalities and more than 35,000 barangays.

Enriquez said more than 70 percent of their volunteer groups signified their commitment to go where MP Nation is going.

Jimenez said.

But for Senator Risa Hontiveros, the contract between Comelec and F2 Logistics must be scrutinized.

“Consider how Uy has snagged two national ‘crown jewels’ – the third telco franchise and Malampaya. Isn’t it a conflict of interest for a Dennis Uy company to handle the logistics for the crucial 2022 elections?”

“How do we assure different sectors that the contract will not result in possible undue influence vis a vis the conduct of the vote? At the very least, this contract has to be scrutinized,” Hontiveros said.

AMMUNITION AGAINST COVID. Some 2.7 million doses of Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine arrived on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 – the biggest delivery so far by Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute. Joey Razon

Lacson-Sotto tandem vow to rid PNP of ‘ninja cops’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta PARTIDO Reporma standard-bearer and Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday vowed to put an end to the proliferation of “ninja cops” who continue to taint the image of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Lacson, during an interview with DZRJ, said he and his running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, will prioritize the issue should they win the 2022 elections.

“The approach of the government in pur-

suing its war on drugs was mostly focused on law enforcement, the reason why the scalawags have escalated,” he said.

Lacson underscored the need to recalibrate the strategy of the government’s anti-drug war by putting more weight on prevention and rehabilitation.

“We have to re-adjust our strategy.

Our focus, just like what the Senate President (Sotto) has been saying all along, our focus should be more on prevention and rehabilitation. Our approach should be holistic,” said the for-

mer PNP chief.

Meanwhile, the Lacson-Sotto tandem has continued to gain ground in Mindanao as hundreds of local leaders from Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon vow to support their campaign.

The new allies from Cagayan de Oro City and Bukidnon aired their support through a mass oath taking rite at the Apple Tree Resort in Opol, Misamis Oriental with Partido Reporma president and re-electionist Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez last week.

THE local governments and concerned national agencies should ensure that implementation of health protocols is strictly being followed for the pilot run of face-to-face (F2F) classes, presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday.

Marcos, standard-bearer of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, said as an advocate for better treatment for the education sector, he wants to ensure that teachers and students can safely go back to schools.

“The safety of children and of teachers must be ensured. Strengthen the coordination and cooperation of the local government, Department of Health, and Department of Education, for the proper implementation of the program,” Marcos said.

Aside from observing health protocols, Marcos told DepEd to only deploy vaccinated teachers to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

He also urged DepEed to continue encouraging teachers and school personnel to get vaccinated to make sure that students are safe while the DOH has started its inoculation of minors aged 12 to 17 years old.

“I’m happy that at least we are trying to start face-to-face classes. It is actually good news because that is a very good sign that, somehow, we are slowly going back to normalcy. [But in] other countries, they have experienced that there were risks involved in having non-vaccinated teachers and staff when they went back to face-to-face classes,” he said.

Robredo to roll out COVID-19 recovery masterplan

By Rio N. Araja

VICE President Leni Robredo is coming out with her own COVID-19 recovery plan today.

“We will be releasing a video on our COVID-19 recovery plan. This is based on our discussions with the experts, including the epidemiologists, pub-

lic health consultants, economists and many others,” she said on Tuesday.

“More than anything else, we came up with the solutions based on the actual experiences of our nurses, doctors, employees and the ordinary Filipinos who have bearing the brunt (of COVID-19), sacrificing and grieving,” she added.

She called on her supporters to help the needy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“To those who have been with us in our COVID-19 response initiatives, tell your stories. Our plan is not all about promises. It has already been tested and proven that we can do it the right way,” she said.

Romblon governor hails Malasakit Center initiative

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

LIFELESS BODY. A resident was killed when a mound of gravel and sand collapsed Monday evening at Sitio Cotcot in Kabayan, Benguet. Dave Leprozo

ROMBLON Governor Jose Riano has expressed his gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go for the Malasakit Center initiative as it continues to

serve Filipinos through its 146 locations nationwide, including in his home province.

“Since the Malasakit Center started at the Romblon Provincial Hospital last July 2020 and at the Romblon District Hospital last September 2021,

it provided help to 7,447 residents which cost about P35.6 million,” Riano said.

He underscored the importance of Malasakit centers in assisting Filipinos in need of medical help, particularly during the pandemic.

Opinion 20 questions

SO WE’VE reached a point where we now have six “serious” presidential candidates: Sen. Ping Lacson, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Vice President Leni Robredo, Sen. Ronald de la Rosa, and former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “Serious” because they come from major political parties and are presumed to have the political base as well as adequate financial resources to mount a nationwide campaign.

But that list of “serious” candidates could still change by November 15, when the substitution clause in the Omnibus Election Code kicks in and we could well see one or more of the six withdrawing from the race and being replaced by someone from their own party. Or even outside of it, through some deft legal maneuver.

If I had my way, I would ask each of the presidential bets for their answers to each.

In fact there were 97 people who filed their certificates of candidacy for president in the first week of October. The 91 will in all likelihood be declared as nuisance candidates by Nov.15 because they are not capable of launching a nationwide campaign, perhaps even convincing their own families or immediate neighbors to vote for them. After all, as Andy Warhol once reminded us, everyone is entitled to 15 minutes of fame. Except that, many of those nuisance candidates gave television audiences outlandish or bizarre reasons for running and may now safely go back to oblivion where they rightfully belong.

Or maybe not, because they might be back with a vengeance in the run-up to 2028.

What concerns us now, however, is how the presidential bets will convince voters that they deserve the presidency, through debates on key issues organized by the Comelec, media or interest groups.

We are well aware that some, if not many, Filipino voters choose candidates not on the basis of issues, but whether they come from the same province or region, are good in song-and-dance routines in campaign sorties, or expect to be paid in good, hard cash on election day.

But we would really like the six candidates to explain to us their stand on key issues in the political, economic and social spheres because we should know where they’re taking us in the next six years: to peace and prosperity, or hell and high water.

If we had our way, we would ask the candidates the following questions.

(1) What political reforms do you consider as your first priority? If it’s corruption, how do you intend to go about it? Will you go after the corrupt even if they happen to be your relatives, friends or campaign contributors?

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Pandemic-hit Mexican town awaits reunion with dead

By Alexander Martinez

candles and decorative skulls.

SANDRA Jimenez lost two sisters to the coronavirus, which devastated her small Mexican town. On Monday she awaited the return of their souls for the Day of the Dead.

Many events linked to what is considered Mexico’s most important festival were canceled last year as the Latin American country battled to contain the virus.

But with a third wave of infections now subsiding, this year has seen the return of cemetery visits and other public celebrations, including a parade through the capital.

In Santa Cruz Atizapan, in the central State of Mexico, church bells rang out for months at the height of the pandemic in a show of respect for the many victims.

The residents found it so traumatizing that they asked for the tolling to stop, Jimenez said as she tidied the graves of relatives in the town’s cemetery.

“It was horrible, distressing!” the 64-yearold said.

The Day of the Dead, which is rooted in indigenous culture, centers around the belief that the souls of the dead return on the night of November 1-2.

Families put out altars with pictures of relatives and their favorite foods, along with

‘Calmer now’ Atizapan is the Mexican municipality with the highest mortality rate due to COVID-19 relative to its population size, according to data from the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

The Day of the Dead, which is rooted in indigenous culture, centers around the belief that the souls of the dead return on the night of November 1-2.

The town of 12,894 people has registered 303 deaths from coronavirus, with a peak seen at the beginning of this year.

“Two or three people died every day. We were burying them up until the night,” said Freddy Gonzalez, who manages the town’s cemetery.

Before the crisis, annual deaths were around 60, so the graveyard had to expand

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(2) How do you intend to solve the longstanding communist insurgency? Will you go for an all-out military solution, or would you rather try to reach a negotiated settlement with the rebels? Or perhaps a combination of the two?

(3) Can you categorically say that you will protect and uphold the Bill of Rights in the Constitution, including freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people to peaceably assemble for redress of grievances?

(4) How will you deal with criminality, including possession and trafficking in illegal drugs? Will you continue the Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs, or deal with it differently?

(5) What will be your policy with regard to China, particularly on the ruling of the Permanent Arbitral Tribunal validating our maritime claims in the West Philippines Sea that’s part of our Exclusive Economic Zone?

(6) How different from previous ones will be your program to fight poverty? Will you, for instance, continue the Conditional Cash Transfer Program for poor families started by previous administrations?

(7) How do you propose to revive the Philippine economy after the loss of many jobs and the economic slowdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?

(8) How do you intend to modernize the country’s infrastructure in the next six years? What will be your priorities?

(9) Do you agree that we should amend the economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution that prohibit full foreign ownership of certain industries so we can attract more foreign investments?

(10) What will be your policy toward agriculture? Should the Rice Tariffication Law be amended? How do you intend to achieve long-term food security?

(11) What is your stand on contractualization? Should it be abolished as a matter of policy?

(12) What will be your administration’s program on energy security and policy on renewable energy development?

(13) Will your administration give priority to stable and affordable Internet connectivity throughout the country?

(14) How do you propose to improve the country’s healthcare services given our experience with COVID-19?

(15) Will you expand free universal education so that children of poor families can avail of learning opportunities even if they live in far-flung areas?

(16) How do you intend to solve the housing shortage in the country? Would you be willing to provide affordable housing to the homeless?

(17) What do you plan to do to protect the rights and welfare of various social sectors, including the youth, women and children, indigenous peoples?

(18) What program do you envision to make the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM work to achieve peace and development?

(19) Will you give all-out support to sports development and to Filipino athletes so they can bring honor and prestige to the country? And, (20) What support would your administration give to culture and the arts?

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Manufacturing concern

JUNE 2021 survey conducted by Pulse Asia revealed the most important traits or characteristics that Filipinos are looking for in their national candidates.

The top choices that emerged nationwide, from a list of traits provided the respondents, were “has concern for the poor, propoor” (48 percent), “not corrupt” (47 percent), and “trustworthy and honest”(37 percent).

Other top traits were “has a good platform and can give solutions to the problems of the country” (32 percent), “fights anomalies in government” (25 percent), “untarnished name and reputation” (22 percent), “has good leadership skills” (22 percent) and “fulfills promises” (21 percent).

Meanwhile, unaided answers include “godly”, “has a good educational background”, “has word of honor”, and “does not curse.”

These answers alone will tell candidates where they have an edge and where they need help. They need to dig up, for instance, their track

record and highlight the ways they are pro-poor, or not corrupt, and are trustworthy and honest.

Actual possession of these traits is different from the perception of having them.

Unfortunately, elections in this part of the world are not as much about what the candidates have done and can offer, but how they package themselves most attractively to the bulk of voters.

Hence, campaign teams can work simply on the perception that the candidates exhibit these qualities — even though nothing in their past actually supports the claim. Spin doctors can easily think of clever words to show

that Candidate A is a champion of the poor, or that Candidate B has unassailable integrity, or that Candidate C has impressive educational credentials even when the facts say otherwise.

And because we live in a world driven by social media likes, shares, and coordinated inauthentic behavior, it could be easy to shape the narrative in the favor of a certain candidate even without basis in truth — so long as there are funds to oil the machinery.

Voters, then, must be discerning enough that not everybody who claims to be tough on corruption actually is. Not everybody who can afford to hand out wads of cash actually has the best longterm interests of the poor in mind.

It is heartening to note that the numbers of new and reactivated registrants exceeded the Commission on Elections’ targets, even in the midst of the pandemic.

Now let’s hope that those new numbers are composed of critically thinking voters who are able to tell facts from mere posturing.

The polluters

ONGOING in Glasgow, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12, is what is called COP26. COP stands for Conference of Parties—nations engaged in talks to reduce carbon emissions to prevent warming of the earth and its catastrophic consequences. These countries are having their 26th meeting in one of Scotland’s cultural capitals. So COP26.

Any decisions, or lack of decision, by the leaders of countries in the CP26 will most likely affect how we lead our lives from here on. Don’t worry.

My view is that nothing dramatic nor significant will be decided in Glasgow.

I say this for two reasons.

One, the world is reeling from a pandemic which has killed more than five million people and sickened 247 million.

The Philippines has had 2.8 million cases and some 43,270 deaths. The pandemic has made nations insular and in no mood to talk about helping other peoples in other nations and talking about reducing gas emissions. Rich countries are hoarding vital vaccines that could contain the pandemic, at double, triple, quadruple their population size, even as some countries in Africa have vaccinated less than three percent of their population.

It seems more people are being killed and badly affected by COVID-19 in much shorter time than all the catastrophes blamed on global warming combined –like rising seas, droughts, melting ice mountains, and more violent and frequent typhoons-- could inflict on us.

Two, the rich countries, notably the so-called Group of 20 which account for 80 percent of the world’s pollution, have reneged on their promise to provide at least $100 billion annually in assistance to the poor countries to meet their commitments to cut emissions dramatically, by 2°C (1.5°C preferably). This is under the Paris Agreement of 195 countries during COP 21

its capacity and schedule to keep up, he said.

“But it’s calmer now. There are two or three deaths every month,” the 29-year-old said.

With the pandemic easing, relatives were allowed to enter the cemetery to tidy and decorate the graves before the Day of the Dead.

The country of 126 million has an official COVID-19 death toll of more than 288,000 — one of the highest in the world.

Jimenez’s sister Estela died in June 2020.

In December, the coronavirus claimed the life of another sister.

Maria Luisa, who was 74, had continued to travel by public transport to her job as a domestic worker in Mexico City, putting her at risk of infection.

Estela, 76, died when the oxygen in her tank ran out on the way to a clinic.

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

in 2015, to help them shift away from fossil fuels and protect them from the impact of climate change.

Such annual assistance should be $175 billion, not $100 billion, recent estimates show. If the rich cannot part away with their $100 billion, how much more with their $175 billion, each year?

Here’s what the Philippines is telling the rest of the world.

Global warming above 2°C, it is believed, will sink many cities of the world, including perhaps, Manila, Shanghai, and Alexandra in Egypt. In May 2021, carbon dioxide measurement hit 420 parts per million, the highest in three million years, leading the world irreversibly into a warmer future.

The 420 ppm CO2 level is 50 percent higher than the pre-industrial level of 280 ppm. To get back to the 280-ppm level, the world must stop emitting carbon immediately today—an impossibility, in less than 100 years.

The Philippines has in Glasgow a highlevel delegation headed by the two most important cabinet ministers in the land— Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and Foreign Secretary Teddyboy Locsin, in lieu of our own President Duterte who believes that the best way to improve the environment is eliminate drug lords and drug addicts, with extreme prejudice.

At the G-20 summit in Rome on Oct. 30, 2021, the curtain raiser to the Climate Summit (COP26) in Glasgow, the leaders of the world’s richest countries renewed commitment to the Paris Agreement goal to hold the global average temperature increase well below 2°C and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and acknowledged that “keeping 1.5°C within reach will require meaningful and effective actions and commitment by all countries.”

The Philippines has submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change a paper detailing its commitments to comply with the Paris Agreement.

“I gave her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation,” but it was not enough, Jimenez said.

‘Crying not enough’ Atizapan only has one hospital providing basic care and many patients faced a onehour journey for treatment, according to a paramedic working in the area.

At critical moments in the pandemic the hospitals were overwhelmed, said the man, who attended hundreds of emergencies in the town.

“Crying was not enough to release the emotion. We wanted to throw in the towel, but we had to continue,” said the 27-year-old, who did not want to be named.

To honor those who died and try to ease the pain, the residents of Atizapan prepared colorful altars for the visiting souls.

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“Not even the pandemic dampened our enthusiasm,” said Antonio Briseno, 35, who lost his mother-in-law during the pandemic.

“We wait for our loved ones with much affection and respect,” said Briseno, who put out photos of his mother, grandmother and mother-in-law along with fruit, beans, rice, chicken, chocolate, brandy and cigars.

Like his neighbors, he scattered marigold petals on the floor to guide the spirits to the altar.

Gonzalez, the cemetery manager, placed an offering in the chapel for the people whose bodies lie unidentified.

The paramedic dedicated his altar to those he saw pass away during the pandemic.

“Many died with empty stomachs,” he said. AFP

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As polluters, Filipinos emit 1.98 metric tons of carbon dioxide per person—half the world’s average pollution per capita of four metric tons.

The Philippines commits to reduce its carbon emissions by 75 percent by 2030.

Of that, 2.71 percent is unconditional and 72.29 percent is conditional. This reduction assumes a business-as-usual total emissions of 3,340.3 million metric tons of carbon over the next ten years. The 3,340 million tons is only 0.24 percent of total CO2 pollution of 1.5 trillion tons produced by the world. About 80 percent of that pollution is produced by the G20 countries.

Unconditional policies and measures are those undertaken by the Philippines on its own. Conditional policies and measures are those for which we need help from other countries, specifically, the rich nations who are the world’s biggest polluters — China, the US, and Europe.

It costs more money to stop pollution than to use the benefits that cause such pollution.

You will have to ban diesel, which fuels most of our vehicles. You will have to ban coal, the source of 60 percent of our electricity.

You will have to install solar panels and windmills which are very expensive to run.

You may need to blend ethanol from corn to make gasoline emission free. But corn is a basic feeds for animals. Diverting it for other uses will trigger a food shortage, hunger, malnutrition. How did Tesla succeed? By getting billions of US tax money as a subsidy.

The Philippines’ 75-percent reduction target assumes a business-as-usual total emissions of 3,340.3 million metric tons of carbon over the next ten years.

The Economist sneers at the Philippine offer: “The Philippines takes the logic to its furthest extreme, saying that it will cut emissions by 75 percent by 2030 if it is showered with cash. If it pays its own way the cut will be just three percent.”

In effect, the Philippine government is telling the world: “we cannot cut our emissions because: one, we need to take care of the lives and livelihood of our people; two, we cannot afford it; and three, we are not causing the world’s pollution.”

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

ON FIRST DAY OF COP26 SUMMIT

Queen Elizabeth supports climate call Mediation begins to end Sudan crisis; Ousted PM says gov’t ‘must return’ UNITED NATIONS—Mediation efforts in Sudan and abroad are underway to find a possible solution for the country a week after the civilian government was ousted in a military coup, the UN envoy to Khartoum said Monday.

“Many of the interlocutors we are speaking with in Khartoum, but also internationally and regionally, are expressing a strong desire that we move forward quickly to get out of the crisis and return to the steps of normalcy,” Volker Perthes told reporters at the United Nations headquarters in New York, during a video conference from the Sudanese capital.

The UN envoy to Sudan met Sunday with ousted Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who is under house arrest.

Perthes said on Twitter they “discussed options for mediation and the way forward for Sudan.”

Perthes on Monday urged Sudan to return “to the steps of political transition, as we viewed it before 25 October,” the date of the coup.

On Monday, Hamdok said the reinstatement of his government could pave the way to a solution in the country, according to a statement from the information ministry.

Hamdok, according to the statement, demanded that the situation in Sudan return to what it was before the coup, refusing to negotiate with the military rulers.

On October 25, Sudan’s top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan dissolved the cabinet as well as the ruling joint military-civilian Sovereign Council which had been heading Sudan’s transition towards full civilian rule following the 2019 overthrow of autocrat Omar alBashir.

In a move widely condemned internationally, Burhan declared a state of emergency and detained Sudan’s civilian leadership, including Hamdok and members of his government.

Hamdok, an international economist, was later released and placed effectively under house arrest. AFP

Chinese hostages escape captors, rescued in Mali BAMAKO—Three Chinese nationals kidnapped in Mali in July escaped their captors at the weekend and were rescued by security forces on Monday, the Sahel state’s army said.

On July 17, armed men attacked a construction site in the southwest of the conflict-ridden country, making off with pickup trucks and five hostages: three Chinese men and two Mauritanian nationals.

The Mauritanians were freed 10 days later.

But the remaining Chinese captives managed to stage a successful escape on Sunday, according to a Malian army statement.

Ground and air forces then located the men the following day, in a joint operation whose success was aided by “anonymous people of good will”.

The escaped hostages are in reasonable health, according to the army, which hailed their “bravery and pugnacity”.

The operation comes only weeks after Colombian nun Sister Gloria Cecilia Narvaez, who was kidnapped by jihadists in 2017, was freed in Mali on October 9.

Abductions have been frequent in the country’s brutal jihadist conflict, which first broke out in 2012 but has since spread to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.

French journalist Olivier Dubois was abducted in northern Mali on April 8. Dubois said in a hostage video that the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM), the largest jihadist alliance in the Sahel, had kidnapped him. AFP We Manila are seeking to hire a seasoned Project Manager to join our team. If you're a passionate self-starter, Alyale Philippines Inc. is a great company for you. Don't hesitate to apply.

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LASGOW—Queen Elizabeth II on Monday called on world leaders to act together to tackle climate change at the end of the first day of the COP26 summit in Glasgow.

In a video message sent to the conference, she added her voice to a succession of world leaders stressing the urgency of the crisis.

But as the summit got under way, several observers said that so far, there had been more talk than action.

“If the world pollution situation is not critical at the moment, it is as certain as anything can be that the situation will become increasingly intolerable within a very short time...,” said the queen.

“If we fail to cope with this challenge, all the other problems will pale into insignificance.”

The 95-year-old monarch, who last month briefly visited a private hospital in London, skipped the event on doctor’s advice.

But more than 120 heads of state and government gathered in Glasgow for the two-day event at the start of the UN’s COP26 conference, which organisers say is crucial for charting humani-

ty’s path away from catastrophic global warming.

“It’s one minute to midnight... and we need to act now,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at the start of an occasionally chaotic opening day.

- ‘Digging our own graves’ Monday’s most anticipated address, from India’s Narendra Modi, tempered the hype somewhat: the third largest emitter will only achieve net-zero by 2070.

COP26 is being billed as vital for the continued viability of the Paris Agreement, which countries signed in 2015 by promising to limit global temperature rises to “well below” two degrees Celsius,

and to work for a safer 1.5C cap.

With a little over 1C of warming since the Industrial Revolution, Earth is being battered by ever more extreme heatwaves, flooding and tropical storms supercharged by rising seas.

US President Joe Biden, addressing delegates, described the current age of climate disaster as “an inflection point in world history”.

Governments are under pressure to redouble their emissions-cutting commitments to bring them in line with the Paris goals, and to hand over longpromised cash to help developing nations green their grids and protect themselves against future disasters. AFP

Lagos high-rise collapses; 4 dead, more trapped

CRUMBLED. People walk to rescue workers from the rubble of a 21-storey building under construction that collapsed at Ikoyi district of Lagos, on November 1, 2021. Several people have been trapped while unspecified number of people mostly construction workers were feared dead as a 21-storey building collapsed in the Ikoyi district of Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital. AFP

Biden presses US leadership, home agenda on the line WASHINGTON—As Joe Biden sought to project US leadership on the world stage at a climate summit in Scotland on Monday, he was banking his legacy at home on a crucial show of support for his domestic agenda and a state election seen as an early referendum on his presidency.

Biden met global leaders in Glasgow for the UN’s COP26 on the eve of the ballot for Virginia governor and possible votes in Congress in the coming days on the twin spending bills at the center of his $3 trillion blueprint to transform the economy.

Tuesday’s election, the first genuinely competitive state-wide contest since Biden took office in January, is expected to be a bellwether of Democrats’ chances of hanging on to Congress in 2022 as well as a test of

Biden’s waning popularity.

Terry McAuliffe, a Democratic former Virginia governor looking to return to Richmond, has seen his lead against Republican Glenn Youngkin evaporate, with the polls showing a dead heat in the whirlwind final week of campaigning.

A loss for McAuliffe would likely prompt a reckoning among moderates on Capitol Hill, worried that Biden’s proposed expansion of government is a step too far for some voters.

Democratic leadership was seeking to rush through a House vote on the president’s $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and a $1.75 trillion social spending package before the results start emerging from Virginia.

Those plans were dealt a blow Monday by conservative West Virginia

Democrat Joe Manchin, who told reporters he wasn’t ready to back the larger bill and needed more time to mull its potential economic impact.

- ‘This is a movement’ The White House shot back immediately with a statement saying his concerns on inflation and fiscal responsibility had been met.

Biden’s spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the social package known as Build Back Better was “fully paid for, will reduce the deficit and brings down costs for health care, childcare, elder care and housing.”

Biden won Virginia by 10 points and Democrats, who have also bagged four of the last five governor’s races, will be hoping the Old Dominion, as the state is nicknamed, has permanently realigned to the left. AFP

LAGOS—A high-rise building under construction collapsed in Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos on Monday, killing at least four people with dozens more feared trapped inside the rubble.

A yellow excavator pushed away concrete slabs to search through the wreckage of the 21-floor building in Lagos’s wealthy Ikoyi residential and business district, AFP correspondents at the scene said.

Rescue officials said many workers were caught inside the building when it crumbled, though they could not confirm the number of people trapped inside.

Ibrahim Farinloye of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said four people had been rescued so far and four bodies recovered from the site.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu called for calm late on Monday, as rescue efforts continued after dark.

Emergency services are “on the site, battling to save the lives of those under the rubble,” Gbenga Omotoso, a spokesperson for the governor said in a statement.

Wisdom John, 28, a bricklayer, said he escaped with just a few cuts because he had been on the ground floor when the building collapsed into a pile of concrete, its floors sandwiched together.

“There was more than 50 working today and the manager too,” he said, sitting in an ambulance getting treated. “We just ran out.”

The Ikoyi area is one of the wealthier residential and business districts in Lagos, Nigeria’s densely populated major commercial city.

Building collapses are common in Lagos and other parts of Africa’s most populous country because of sub-standard materials, negligence, and the flouting of construction regulations. AFP

Pentagon watches possible Russian troop buildup near Ukraine region

SEEKING ASYLUM. Migrants heading in a caravan to the US walk towards

Mexico City to request asylum and refugee status in Mapastepec, Chiapas State, on November 1. Around 1,000 migrants seeking refugee status are marching towards the Mexican capital, as the government faced a call by the United Nations to process the requests quickly. AFP

Judge junks raps vs. Maduro ally Saab MIAMI—A US judge on Monday dismissed seven of eight moneylaundering charges against Alex Saab, a businessman close to the regime of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, a court filing showed.

On trial in Miami, Florida following his extradition from Cape Verde earlier this month, the Colombian businessman still faces one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which could carry a 20-year jail term.

Judge Robert Scola of the Southern District of Florida signed the order at the request of the prosecution.

On September 7, 2020, during the extradition process, the United States

“sent an assurance” to Cape Verde that it would not “prosecute or punish defendant Alex Nain Saab for more than a single count of the indictment,” the prosecution said in its request to Scola.

The decision was made “in order to comply with Cabo Verdean law regarding the maximum term of imprisonment,” the request said.

Saab, a Colombian national, and his business partner Alvaro Pulido are charged in the United States with running a network that exploited food aid destined for Venezuela, an oil-rich nation mired in an acute economic crisis AFP

WASHINGTON—The Pentagon is monitoring the Ukraine region closely amid reports of a new buildup of Russian troops on the country’s border, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday.

According to The Washington Post, US officials are concerned over unexplained movements of Russian military units in the area.

Videos posted on social media show military trains and truck convoys moving tanks and missiles in Russia’s southwest near Ukraine.

A US official, speaking on the basis of anonymity, confirmed that there had been some movement, though not as large as the surge in Moscow’s forces early this year.

“We’re aware of public reports of

unusual Russian military activity near Ukraine,” Kirby told reporters.

“We’re going to continue to consult with allies and partners on this issue...

As we’ve said before, any escalatory or aggressive actions would be of great concern to the United States.”

The buildup comes just after US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin toured the Black Sea region, stopping in NATO partner states Ukraine and Georgia and alliance full member Romania, to express solidarity and build more support for confronting Russia in the area.

Russia-aligned separatists in eastern Ukraine have been battling Ukrainian government forces since 2014.

Also in 2014, Russian troops seized the Crimea region of Ukraine, sparking stiff Western sanctions on the country. AFP

HALLOWEEN ATTACKER.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOWKyota BLACK Hattori,

suspect in a Halloween stabbing and fire attack on a train that left 18 people hospitalized, is escorted to the prosecutor’s office from the Chofu police station in Tokyo on November 2.

AFP

News

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021

CHR offers own findings on drug war EJKs

P500-m devt projects for implementation in Mimaropa

By Rio N. Araja THE Commission on Human Rights said it wants to help ferret out the truth and culpability into drug-related extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration.

“The CHR welcomes the information table released by the Department of Justice on the 52 cases currently under investigation. We hope that government uses this opportunity to finally bring cases to courts. With thousands of cases left to be scrutinized, we urge the government to do more in investigating deaths being linked to the socalled drug war. There is a clamor for justice waiting to be answered,” Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana said.

“In aid of seeking truth and accountability behind deaths allegedly linked to the government’s anti-drug campaign, CHR offers its findings based on an earlier analysis of incidents of killings and violence documented since the said campaign started in 2016 until February 2020,” she noted.

The report covers 579 incidents found in Metro Manila, Region III and Region IV-A. “While killings span across administrative regions, these areas have registered the highest numbers of killings allegedly linked to the government’s anti-drug campaign,” CHR said in a statement.

“At the same time, the status and content of the investigation records and reports available to CHR, as well as the recurring obstacles in accessing police records pertaining to cases in question, impacted the extent of the study,” it added.

Iraq alert level lowered; OFW deployment ban lifted—DFA THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday has downgraded the crisis alert level in Iraq to 3 or voluntary repatriation, more than a year after it called for the mandatory evacuation of Filipinos due to security threats in the country.

The lowering of the alert level was due to “some improvements in the security situation in the country” and as requested by the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there.

“Filipinos in Iraq are enjoined to continue to exercise caution, restrict movements only to those which are necessary, and keep their communication lines open with the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad,” the DFA said.

The DFA noted that returning OFWs to Iraq are now exempted from the deployment ban, subject to specific conditions listed in the recently issued Governing Board Resolution (GBR) No. 9, series of 2021, of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

Under the said resolution, the OFW must be an active worker in Iraq with proof of recent stay there and that he/she is returning to the same employer.

The returning OFW’s worksite must also be outside the no-go zones, namely, the provinces of Anbar, Nineveh, Kirkuk, and Mosul; Sard City in Baghdad; and Amedi and Mahkmour in Erbil.

Among others, the POEA requires that the employer sign an undertaking guaranteeing the OFW’s “secured work premises” in Iraq, financial sponsorship as well as facilitation of repatriation covering both the airfares and visa penalties.

A7

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

MARIJUANA ERADICATION OPERATIONS. A total of P3.46 million worth of marijuana plants were discovered by Benguet cops during a two-day marijuana eradication operation conducted in the mountains of Brgy. Kayapa, Bakun, Benguet on Oct. 26 to Oct. 27.

Dave Leprozo

EU, CHR condemn killing of Davao Sur journalist

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

T

HE European Union Delegation in Manila on Tuesday condemned the killing of Davao del Sur journalist Orlando “Dondon” Dinoy, who was gunned down last Saturday inside his apartment.

In a statement, the delegation also commended the government for its prompt action to ensure that justice will be served to those responsible for the reporter’s death.

“Free media is at the heart of democracy.

We condemn the killing of journalist Orlando Dinoy and commend (the) government’s prompt action to bring justice. EU stands by & protects journalists,” it said.

Aside from the EU, the Commission on Human Rights also condemned the killing.

Spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said “the commission stands with the media community in denouncing this recent killing. It is especially disap-

pointing that such incident occurs as we commemorate today, Nov. 2, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.”

De Guia said “killings perpetrated against the media fosters a chilling effect and helps breed a climate of impunity. A silenced media hampers the free flow of information and deprives the Filipino citizenry of muchneeded information critical for discernment in national affairs,” She said there is impunity when there is no accountability for crimes committed.

According to De Guia, the CHR in the past six months has also taken cognizance and in-

vestigated other media killings, including as those involving lawyer Gilda MahinaySipay, her husband Muhaimen Mohammed Sapie and Renante Cortes.

“We are hopeful that with the quick assembly of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, those responsible for this crime will be held to account. CHR for its part will continue to work with local authorities in investigating all potential leads,” she stressed.

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) on Sunday said the police is currently investigating the incident.

Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, PTFoMS executive director, said the task force has mobilized its agents, through lawyer Perry Solis and investigation head Col. Rechie Duldulao, as soon as the case was reported to them.

“Regardless of the motive, we will work doubly hard to get the killer of Dondon Dinoy, a member of the Mindanao Independent Press Council that’s an active partner of PTFoMS,” he said.

AROUND P500 million worth of Barangay Development Program (BDP) projects are now in the implementation stage in the Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) Region which is scheduled to be visited by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Nov. 3.

“Of the 822 barangay recipients for 2021, 25 are found in Mimaropa wherein a total of 109 BDP projects worth P500 million are in the implementation stage,” said National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) vice chair Hermogenes Esperon Jr. in a statement Tuesday.

Esperon said the cleared barangays will be receiving a package of development programs worth P20 million per village through BDP alone.

These consist of five BDP core projects which include farm-to-market roads, school buildings, water and sanitation systems, livelihood programs, and health stations, he added.

“Other national government agencies shall be providing additional programs to augment the BDP as necessary,” said Esperon, who is also National Security Adviser.

He added that these projects will ensure that communities are fully equipped “with the essentials required for a respectable standard of living.”

He added that the NTF-ELCAC gives value to the intrinsic role of the local communities in nation-building.

“As such, the NTF-ELCAC continuously seeks innovative ways to ensure that all of our communities partner with us in our shared goals towards the advancement of the Philippines. The BDP remains our strongest tool and our deepest commitment to all Filipinos, especially to those affected by the atrocities of the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front) that they are the government’s foremost priority in the pursuit for peace and development,” Esperon said.

Manila gets P1b software donations from Microsoft

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey E. Requejo

COMMUNITY WORK. Kerusso Bible Community member John Issacchar Arevalo during a Bible story-telling activity together with other members at Brgy.106, Sto. Niño, Tacloban City. (Inset photo) PMAJ Marjorie L.Manuta, Asst. Force Commander TCMFC and Cocaine Young-Go, Social Events Ministry head, Kerusso Bible Community distribute school supplies and food packs to the children of the community.

Winners named in Villar poverty reduction competition

By Macon Ramos-Araneta FORMER Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and Sen. Cynthia Villar led the awarding ceremonies of the winners of the 4th Villar SIPAG Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge Deputy Speaker Camille Villar and Paolo Villar, president and CEO of Vista Land were also present.

“We know it is more challenging this year because of the situation we are all in, but you all rose to the occasion despite the challenges.

We hope you will continue your winning ways in helping our fellow Filipinos beat poverty,” Sen. Villar told the winners.

Rep. Villar recognized the selfless act of the youth in helping their communities and chosen beneficiaries to get them out of their hardships at this time when self-preservation is the most important thing in this health and economic crisis.

“This is youth empowerment. You have proven that despite your young age, you can maximize your poten-

tial to bring the much-need hope and joy to your communities,” she said.

For his part, the former Public Works chief told winners “let this awarding remind you that we believe in you and in the causes of your social enterprises. “ He said the program intends not merely to encourage the youth to engage in business for profit or livelihood. He also said it goes beyond just lifting you and your family from the cycle of an impoverished life.

“This is also about change,” he said.

Drivers’ education requirement ‘illegal’

By Maricel V. Cruz

CLEAN-UP EFFORTS. Members of the Quezon City Task Force on Solid Waste Management conducted clean-up operations in some rivers and creeks in the city to prevent clogging. Quezon City citizens were also reminded to be responsible in disposing of waste to maintain cleanliness and order in the environment. Manny Palmero

A CONGRESSIONAL leader on Tuesday urged the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to scrap the requirement for those renewing their driver’s license to go through a comprehensive driver’s education (CDE).

In filing House Resolution 2325, Deputy speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said the CDE “will be an additional expense for the Filipino people during this pandemic.”

He said the requirement “is unnecessary and has no legal basis.”

He said while the LTO is invoking Republic Act No. 10930, “there is no provision in the law which explicitly states

that a certification for a CDE is required for renewing a driver’s license.”

“The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that the spring cannot rise higher than its source and implementing rules must conform to the language of the law,” he stressed.

To avoid any confusion on the law, Rodriguez also filed on Friday Bill No. 10430 repealing relevant sections of RA 10930 which the LTO is invoking as the legal basis for the CDE requirement.

Quoting the LTO, he said the CDE is free of charge if it is done through the LTO website.

“However, it could also be obtained from LTO-accredited driving schools for P1,000 to P3,000,” he said.

TECHNOLOGY company Microsoft has donated more than P1 billion worth of support to the Manila City government that will benefit thousands of students, teachers, and residents.

Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso thanked Microsoft for the support which consisted of 290,000 licenses for Microsoft 365, among others.

Domagoso and Microsoft signed a memorandum of understanding for the software licenses which is worth about P3,500 each, with renewal every year.

“All students will get Microsoft global education program access while residents will get the opportunity to learn new digital jobs,” Domagoso said.

For its part, Microsoft representatives said the company is committed to provide training for those who work from home and eventually help provide residents better work with the right or proper digital skills.

Microsoft said those with digital skills as certified by Microsoft have a better chance of landing jobs.

The City of Manila meanwhile won three awards for digital governance Domagoso has already laid down the foundation for immediate the attainment of “Smart City” status for the country’s capital city as it won three awards during the Digital Governance Awards 2021 on “LGUs Best Practices in Information and Communication Technology” held last Oct. 29.

The awards include the Covid 19-Testing Center Web-Lab-IS – Best in LGU Empowerment Award (City Level) - 1st place; City of Manila Connection for Inclusion Award – Best in Customer Empowerment Award (City Level) 1st place; and the Business Permit Licensing Service (BPLS) – Best in Business Empowerment Award (City Level) 2nd Place.

Sports

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021

Brownlee leads new batch of PBA imports in Gov Cup

By Argie Paul Candare

Justin Brownlee heads the current batch of imports for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel following a stint with the Al Sharjah team from the United Arab Emirates in the National Basketball League.

PH team keeping Malditas moniker MEMBERS of the Philippine national women’s football team are still keen on keeping the name Malditas.

Holding on to a unique identity will make their experiences in the international stage more meaningful.

Team skipper and goalie Ina Palacios said this as they get ready to leave for the United States within the week.

“Kailangan naming maging authentic. The team needs to be distinct and meaningful with its name,” said Palacios in a recent radio interview.

Outgoing coach Marlon Maro, who was replaced by former Australian team head coach Alen Stajcic, initially expressed a desire to change the team’s name.

But team members felt they should not change the squad’s name, now that they are facing challenges in the Philippines’ bid to qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Seeking a spot in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Philippines 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.

Host India will 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. Peter Atencio

AIMAG to be held in November 2023

By Randy Caluag

T

HE Olympic Council of Asia has approved the proposal of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand to hold the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Games on Nov. 17 to 26, 2023.

In an official communication, OCA acting president Raja Randhir Singh acknowledged the Thailand NOC’s request to postpone the 6th AIMAG, which was originally set for March 10 to 19 next year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The OCA fully understands and respects the decision of the NOC Thailand, TAIMAGOC, and the Royal Thai Government,” said Singh in his letter to Gen. Prawi Wongsuwon, president of Thailand NOC. In the same document, Singh also confirmed the new dates for the 6th AIMAG, which will now be held two years beyond its original schedule.

“Please be informed of our support and cooperation in organizing a very successful 6th AIMAG in Bangkok and Chonburry in November 2023,” Singh added.

The AIMAG is held every four years and is one of the most highly anticipated multi-event sports competitions in Asia. The last time it was held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, the Philippines came home with a medal haul of two golds, 14 silvers, and 14 bronze medals.

That finish overshadowed the onegold, two-bronze performance of Filipino athletes in the previous AIMAG held in 2013 Incheon, South Korea.

Major competitions have been either postponed or scrapped when the COVID-19 virus began its onslaught in 2020.

The 2019 Philippine ASEAN Para Games was canceled in early 2020.

The next Para Games is again in danger of being scrapped as Vietnam is reportedly not keen on hosting the sports competition for the differently-abled athletes.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics was reset to July 23 to August 8 of this year.

The 2021 Southeast Asian Games, to be hosted by Vietnam, has been rescheduled from December 2021 to May 2022.

AFTER the recent 2021 PBA Philippine Cup, teams have now centered their attention on reinforcement choices for the approaching Governors’ Cup set to open in November.

The second conference will feature imports with a height limit of 6-foot-6, as well as full-vaccination imposed by the league.

Justin Brownlee heads the class for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. The four-time champion will play in his eighth conference after a stint with the Al Sharjah team from the United Arab Emirates in the National Basketball League.

Other notable returning imports include Phoenix Fuel Masters’ Paul Harris, NLEX’s KJ McDaniels, Magnolia’s Mark Harris, Rain Or Shine’s Henry Walker, Alaska’s Olu Ashaolu and San Miguel’s Brandon Brown.

The remaining four teams will parade “fresh faces” in their rosters — Shabazz Muhammad, an NBA veteran will suit up for Meralco; while Mckenzie Moore will reinforce All-Filipino Champion TNT. Blackwater will parade Jaylen Bond, while Terrafirma Dyip have Antonio Hester.

Previously, the 2019 PBA Governor’s Cup saw Allen Durham win Best Import honors, but the championship was captured by Brownlee and Barangay Ginebra against Meralco Bolts in five games.

Magnolia’s Harris used to play for Alaska in the 2017-18 Governors Cup, while Phoenix’s own Harris suited for TNT in the 2011, 2012, 2014 Governors’ Cup and Barangay Ginebra in the 2016 Governors’ Cup. Rain Or Shine’s Walker reinforced Alaska in the 2014 Governors’ Cup; NLEX in the 2016 Governors’ Cup and Blackwater in the 2017 Governors’ Cup and 2018 Commissioner’s Cup, while San Miguel Beer’s Brown led Phoenix in the 2017 Governors’ Cup. NLEX’s McDaniels played for TNT in the 2019 Governors’ Cup, while Alaska’s Ashaolu spearheaded NLEX in the 201718 Commissioner’s Cup and 2019 Governors’ Cup.

Tiger MVP leaves UST, joins Euro league

By Peter Atencio

Soulemane Chabi-Yo

THE University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers lost another key player in Most Valuable Player Soulemane ChabiYo. The 6’6” standout from Benin has decided to discontinue plans to play for the school on his final year with the UST Growling Tigers.

Instead Chabi-Yo will join a semi-professional league in Europe.

School officials confirmed the departure of Chabi-Yo through the university’s official website, varsitarian.net.

Chabi-yo informed the team’s new coach, Jinino Manansala, of his decision through a letter.

“For the past three years, I have been turning off (sic) so many offers in Europe. My plan was to finish my playing years in UST, but since COVID came,

it destroyed everyone’s plan,” he wrote Manansala.

In leaving the team, Chabi-Yo became the ninth player to leave the Tigers’ camp In September last year, 6’5” former Batang Gilas standout Bismarck Lina was the eighth cager to depart.

The 6’5” Lina originally committed to the Growling Tigers last February, but changed his mind and decided to accept an earlier invitation to suit for the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.

Lina, has joined former teammate CJ Cansino in the Maroons’ roster. Both will go through a yearlong residency period before they can suit up for the team in Season 84 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

Since controversy began with the

Growling Tigers last August, nine players have left the team.

It began when Cansino moved over to the UP camp.

After that, Rhenz Abando, Ira Battaler and Brent Paraiso jumped over to Letran.

Then, Mark Nonoy and Deo Cuajao went to La Salle, while Jun Asuncion joined the Mapua Cardinals.

The exodus of players from the team started following a controversial training camp in Sorsogon at the height of the lockdowns imposed by the government during the pandemic.

Back then, coach Aldin Ayo gave up his post, with assistant coaches McJour Luib and Manansala also quitting.

Later, Manansala was installed as the team’s new head coach.

Fierce battle looms as ICTSI Aoki Classic begins A BIT rusty but fully energized, the ladies of the Philippine Golf Tour set out for what is seen to be a wide open battle for top honors in the ICTSI Aoki Classic at Eagle Ridge, which gets under way Wednesday in Gen. Trias, Cavite.

Though Harmie Constantino enjoys some kind of a psychological edge, having marked her pro debut with a victory over Princess Superal no less at the Isao Aoki-designed layout last March, the title chase is tipped to go down-to-the-wire in the third restart of the country’s premier ladies circuit with the multi-titled Superal out to resume her own campaign in Japan.

Hunger, for one, will be more than enough motivation for the rest of the field with the likes of Chanelle Avaricio, Daniella Uy, Sunshine Baraquiel, Lovelyn Guioguio, Apple Fudolin and Marvi Monsalve all itching to nail the elusive win in the event marking the LPGT resumption following its second postponement due to the spike of coronavirus cases in NCR Plus last July.

But it will also be a question of shotmaking and putting with former leg winners Chihiro Ikeda and Sarah Ababa also hopeful to get into the podium again on Friday while Shery Villasencio, Pamela

Mariano, Eva Miñoza, Florence Bisera and Majorie Pulumbarit spice up the cast in the P750,000 event put up by ICTSI. Eagle Ace Superal, Mafy Singson and Korean Jane Jeong provide an interesting sidelight to the 54-hole event as they vie for low amateur honors although focus will be on Laurea Duque and Burberry Zhang, who are out to shoot for a follow-up to their feats at Eagle Ridge-Aoki and Sherwood Hills, respectively.

As in the past successful “bubble” tournaments, the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. is imposing strict safety measures to

guarantee the health and safety of all those involved as per the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) guidelines and protocols.

Constantino gets an early test for her back-to-back title bid at Aoki as she drew LPGA of Taiwan Tour veteran Uy and Baraquiel at 8:06 a.m. behind the group of Avaricio, Ikeda and Zhang with Monsalve clashing with Villasensio and Mariano at 8:18 a.m.

Avaricio is also due for a big finish after being foiled twice by absentee Superal at Sherwood Hills and Eagle Ridge-Norman last July, while the long break is expected to have helped Ikeda heal a hand inju-

ry that has hampered her past performances.

Meanwhile, the Highlands course in Tagaytay will host the next LPGT stop – the ICTSI Tagaytay Highlands Challenge – on Nov. 9-11 with Gretchen Villacencio joining the fray after skipping the Eagle Ridge sortie for medical reasons.

Meantime, two more tournaments are being eyed for the touring ladies at the Riviera Golf and Country Club in SIlang, Cavite on Nov. 23-26 and Nov. 30Dec. 3.

Daniella Uy

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Tuesday, November 2, 2021 51.31 PTS.

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

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021

B1

GCash operator becomes first PH unicorn after raising $300m Financial sector sustains strength amid challenges

By Julito G. Rada THE country’s financial system sustained its strength and resilience in the first half amid the risks and challenges posed by the global health crisis, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Tuesday.

The finding is based on the report on the Philippine financial system for the first semester, which assessed the strengths and sources of vulnerabilities of the banking system. It said that a set of financial soundness indicators suggested that the banking system remained sound and stable even during the pandemic.

“In the first semester of 2021, the banking system displayed continued growth in assets and deposits and posted sufficient capital and liquidity buffers. This enabled the banking system to support the country’s financing needs,” BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said.

“The acceleration of digital transformation reinforced banks’ continued delivery of financial products and services during the pandemic,” Diokno said.

Total assets of the banking system rose to P19.811 trillion as of end-June and represented 107.2 percent of the country’s annualized nominal gross domestic product.

The asset expansion was primarily channeled to lending and investment activities while funding was mainly sourced from deposits, followed by capital and bonds. The year-on-year growth rate in bank assets of 6.4 percent was slower than the 8.0 percent growth rate in June but higher than the 6.1-percent growth rate in December 2020.

Across banking groups, universal and commercial banks made up the bulk of the banking system’s total assets at P18.328 trillion (92.5 percent share), while thrift banks and rural and cooperative banks’ share stood at P1.186 trillion (6.0 percent share) and P296.5 billion (1.5 percent share), respectively.

Loans remained the largest portion of the banking system’s asset mix at 52.4 percent. This was followed by financial assets other than loans and cash and due from banks with 26.2 percent share and 17.8 percent share, respectively.

The report highlighted the satisfactory performance of the foreign currency deposit system, trust entities, quasi-banks and other non-bank financial institutions during the period under review.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

M

YNT, the operator of GCash payments platform, became the country’s first unicorn or privatelyheld startup company with a value of over $1 billion, after it raised more than $300 million in its latest funding round from new and existing investors to fund aggressive expansion.

The investment round, which brought Mynt’s value to over $2 billion, was led by global investment giant Warburg Pincus, New York-based global private equity and venture capital firm Insight Partners and Bow Wave Capital, one of Mynt’s current investors.

The round also included the participation of Itai Tsiddon and Amplo Ventures and capital from Globe Telecom and Ayala Corp.

The transaction solidified Mynt’s status as the Philippines’ only unicorn, and as one of the leading fintech companies in Southeast Asia.

“This is further proof that our growth and achievements have not gone unnoticed. We have been able to continuously expand by introducing game-changing innovations while improving our profitability profile,” said Martha Sazon, president and chief executive of Mynt.

“We are excited about our new partnership with Warburg, Insight, Itai Tsiddon and Amplo, as they each bring strategic value to our team in the pursuit of our vision towards finance for all,” she said.

Mynt said that with the addition of highly-experienced global investors in Warburg Pincus and Insight Partners, it is well-positioned to further expand its digital financial services offerings and support the Philippines’ financial inclusion agenda.

“We welcome Warburg Pincus, Insight Partners and the other investors into Mynt. Their investment in Mynt and GCash further validates the strides the company has made in providing access to innovative financial services to more Filipinos and highlighting the Philippines to the global investor audience,” said Ernest Cu, chairman of the board of Mynt and president and chief executive of Globe Telecom.

RENT-FREE MARKET.

San Miguel Corp. opens its Circolo community weekend market on an unused company property in Cabuyao, Laguna to help farmers and small businesses reach more consumers, boost their income and broaden access to fresh and affordable products. The community market is rent-free for six months.

Solar PH Nueva Ecija plans P1.3-b initial public offering

By Alena Mae S. Flores SOLAR Philippines said Tuesday it is preparing for the initial public offering of wholly-owned subsidiary Solar Philippines Nueva Ecija Corp., the developer of the 500-megawatt solar project in Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija, to raise some P1.3 billion to fund construction.

“We’ve decided to make Solar Philippines Nueva Ecija Corp. our group’s first venture into the public markets because this is the asset that we are proudest to showcase—a site where will rise the largest solar project in the Philippines, with potential for further expansion given its proximity to Manila,” said Solar Philippines founder Leandro Leviste in a statement.

The IPO proceeds will serve as the equity for the construction of the project’s

BDO BRAND AWARDS. BDO Unibank Inc. receives platinum trusted brand awards in the bank and credit card issuing bank categories and gold trusted brand awards in the personal/consumer loan and investment fund company categories for the second straight year during Reader’s Digest Philippines Trusted Brands Awards 2021. Receiving the awards during a virtual ceremony is Rafael Ayuste Jr., BDO senior vice president and head of trust and investments group.

Platinum trusted brand awards are given to topperforming brands that achieve the highest score in their categories, while gold trusted brand awards are presented to those that score substantially higher than their closest competitor.

first 225 MW, which would be larger than any solar project operating in the Philippines today. The first 225 MW has a cost of about P5 billion, while the entire 500-MW project is estimated to require financing of P11 billion.

“We aim to raise P1.3 billion to fund the equity for the construction of the project’s first 225 MW, with the possibility of raising more to advance the expansion of the project,” Leviste said.

SPNEC is 99.99-percent owned by Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. while the remaining 0.01 percent is owned by the directors, officers and affiliates.

The company is expecting public ownership to be at a minimum 20 percent post-IPO, according to the SPNEC website.

Solar Philippines would look for

other financing to complete the 500 MW, which would be larger than any solar project operating in Southeast Asia today. It has roughly 488 hectares, more than the requirement for the 500-MW project.

The company aims to expand the project beyond this capacity amid the country’s growing demand for renewable energy.

The company aims to list under the supplemental listing and disclosure requirements for renewable energy companies approved by the Philippine Stock Exchange in 2011.

Solar Philippines said this would allow development-stage project companies to list, subject to certain requirements including having a valid and subsisting service contract awarded by the Department of Energy.

Aboitiz Equity booked 135% increase in nine-month net earnings to P19.5b ABOITIZ Equity Ventures Inc. said Tuesday net income jumped 135 percent in the first nine months to P19.5 billion from P8.3 billion in the same period last year, led by its power business.

Core net income reached P19.5 billion, up 133-percent year-on-year.

Power accounted for 58 percent of the total income contributions from AEV’s strategic business units in the nine-month period, while financial services shared 26 percent. Income contributions from food, infrastructure and real estate SBUs represented 7 percent, 6 percent and 3 percent, respectively.

“As we approach the end of 2021, we see the light at the end of the tunnel growing brighter in terms of the pandemic, and the Aboitiz Group’s performance trajectory continues to substantially improve throughout the

7,106.01

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

current health crisis, posting figures that are again much higher than last year’s,” said Aboitiz Group president and chief executive Sabin Aboitiz in a statement.

“Our financial and cultural investments in innovative and agile thinking have paid off handsomely as we powered through the pandemic with strong performance indicators. This gives us every reason to believe that next year will be even better as COVID cases decrease, vaccinations increase and our new strategic partnership with Jera kicks into gear,” Aboitiz said.

He said AEV was looking forward to working closely with next year’s new administration “in defeating the virus by learning to function with it to help our country along the path to economic recovery.” Alena Mae S. Flores

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

930,472,847 100,664 7,489,388,932.93 81 104 46

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.5520

Japan

Yen

0.008773

0.4435

UK

Pound

1.366800

69.0945

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128488

6.4953

Switzerland

Franc

1.099868

55.6005

Canada

Dollar

0.808277

40.8600

Singapore

Dollar

0.741620

37.4904

Australia

Dollar

0.752100

38.0202

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652450

134.0867

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266603

13.4773

Brunei

Dollar

0.738880

37.3519

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.029976

1.5153

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.7647

Euro

Euro

1.160800

58.6808

Korea

Won

0.000849

0.0429

China

Yuan

0.156294

7.9010

India

Rupee

0.013364

0.6756

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.240964

12.1812

New Zealand

Dollar

0.718900

36.3418

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035970

1.8184 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF Udenna defends Malampaya deal

UDENNA Corp. said Tuesday its acquisition of the interest of Chevron Malampaya LLC and Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. in the Malampaya natural gas project is above board.

Udenna spokesperon Raymond Zorrilla said there is no law requiring the approval of transfer of shares of companies that have interest in Malampaya. “Therefore, no party has the legal ability to rescind the Chevron and Shell transactions,” Zorrilla said.

He said Udenna, as a key investor in UC Malampaya Philippines Pte. Ltd., would stand by the legal position.

Several groups have called for a government takeover of the Malampaya gas project amid questions regarding the technical, financial and legal capability of the group of businessman Dennis Uy, founder of Udenna Corp.

“The transfers of Chevron and Shell shares underwent strict bidding processes and due diligence by both multinational oil & gas players,” Zorrilla said.

He said the share sales were above board and legal and passed thorough scrutiny by regulators, international lenders and the private multinationals involved. Alena Mae S. Flores

SM Prime prices retail bond offering

PROPERTY developer SM Prime Holdings Inc. on Tuesday set the interest for its P10-billion 7-year retail bond offering at 5.0994 percent a year.

SM Prime said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it would issue P5 billion in retail bonds with an oversubscription option for another P5 billion under Series O retail bonds. The offering period is set from Nov. 2 to 8, 2021.

The bonds will be listed in the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. on Nov. 15, 2021.

“The proceeds of this latest retail bond will be used to pursue expansion opportunities across our business segments, which will help sustain the company’s growth,” SM Prime chief finance officer John Nai Peng Ong said.

The latest bond offering will be the third tranche to be issued from SM Prime’s P100-billion debt securities program approved and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2020.

Jenniffer B. Austria

PPA requires trucks to secure permits

TRUCKERS are no longer allowed to transact at port terminals nationwide without securing a permit, according to the Philippine Ports Authority.

The state-run port authority said it implemented on Nov. 1 the “no permit, no service” policy for all truckers in ports nationwide, while issuing a stern warning against colorum operators.

It said the policy was in line with PPA Memorandum Circular 19-2021, stating that truckers should obtain a certificate of accreditation and permit to operate, or they would not be allowed to transact at port terminals.

The PPA implements the policy as some truckers still refuse to secure the CA and PTO. The agency said truckers were long advised of the policy. The agency imposed the first deadline to secure CA and PTO on Oct. 15, 2021 and it was extended on Oct. 31, 2021, requiring the truckers to merely file an accomplished application form and submit all pertinent documents by Dec. 31, 2021. A trucker applying for a threeyear PTO would be given a 50-percent discount on the permit fees.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Jollibee expands size of Titan Dining private equity fund to S$250m for expansion of Tim Ho Wan

By Jenniffer B. Austria RESTAURANT chain operator Jollibee Foods Corp. said Tuesday it is increasing the fund size of Titan Dining LP to S$250 million (P9.36 billion) from S$200 million (P7.48 billion) to fund the expansion of Tim Ho Wan brand.

Titan, the private equity fund that ultimately owns the Tim Ho Wan brand and

company-owned Tim Ho Wan stores, is 100-percent owned by Jollibee’s whollyowned unit Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. Jollibee said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it would use the bigger fund size to finance the working capital requirements of Tim Ho Wan and facilitate the completion of other projects.

The increase in fund size will also facilitate the entry of additional investors who

will be taking up a 10-percent participating interest.

JWPL’s total commitment to the fund would reached S$225 million (P8.4 billion), comprising 90 percent of the higher fund size and total commitments.

Jollibee said it would aggressively expand Tim Ho Wan in China, with a target of reaching 100 outlets within the next four years.

Tim Ho Wan operates 53 stores in Asia, mostly franchised outlets with the largest concentration in Singapore, Taiwan, the Philippines and Hong Kong.

“JFC aims to build as an important part of its portfolio a significant business serving Chinese cuisine in different parts of the world,” it said.

JFC has five brands serving Chinese cuisines, including Chowking, Yonghe

King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Panda Express and Tim Ho Wan. Jollibee initially invested S$45 million in Titan in 2018, with the acquisition of a 45-percent stake in the company. The deal came with an option for the Jollibee to eventually acquire a substantial ownership of Tim Ho Wan’s master franchise in the Asia Pacific region through a purchase mechanism provided for in the investment agreement.

B2 || WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Business

Stocks rise; Globe Telecom advances

T year.

HE stock market rose Monday on select buying and declining COVID-19 cases in the country that could give the economy a lift in the last two months of the

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 51.31 points, or 0.7 percent, to 7,106.01 on a value turnover of P7.5 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 104 to 81, with 46 issues unchanged.

Globe Telecom Inc. of the Ayala Group, the second-biggest telecommunications firm, advanced 4.6 percent to P3,134, while SM Investments Corp. of the Sy Group climbed 4.2 percent to P1,005.

Semirara Mining and Power Corp. of the Consunji Group, the largest coal

producer, however, sank 7.7 percent to P24 on profit taking, while parent DMCI Holdings Inc. dropped 4.4 percent to P7.60.

The rest of Asian stock markets mostly fell Tuesday as traders held back ahead of this week’s key central bank meetings that are expected to see officials begin withdrawing their vast pandemic-era financial support, while keeping a wary eye on inflation and supply chain snarls.

Another record close on Wall Street provided a fruitful lead thanks to a strong earnings season that has seen the vast majority of companies beat expectations despite concerns about the impact of surging input costs and spiking COVID infections in the third quarter.

However, a promising start in early trade gave way to selling as traders remain on edge about the outlook with Hong Kong and Shanghai weighed by the latest outbreak in China that has led authorities to reimpose strict containment measures.

Similar moves in the country earlier this year led to a sharp drop in economic activity and dragged growth down.

Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, To-

kyo, Wellington, Mumbai and Jakarta all fell while Taipei was marginally down. Singapore, Seoul and Bangkok edged up.

Still, analysts for now remain buoyant about the outlook for markets.

“We are now in the midst of an early ‘January effect’ and I expect that this will continue through Thanksgiving,” said markets strategist Louis Navellier.

“However, December is also a seasonally strong month and January is typically stronger, so we have three months of seasonal strength to look forward to.

“In the meantime, we are still in the midst of wave after wave of better-thanexpected third-quarter earnings announcements, so enjoy the ride.” With AFP

Indian mogul, Google launch affordable 4G smartphone MUMBAI, India—Online giant Google and Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani opened advance orders in India on Monday for an entry-level smartphone billed as the world’s most affordable, joining the race to tap into the booming budget market.

Ambani’s conglomerate Reliance Industries announced in July last year that it would partner with Google to launch the 4G smartphone, competing with Chinese and South Korean manufacturers that already have a strong foothold in the South Asian nation.

The JioPhone Next will offer content in 10 Indian languages and has a price tag of 6,400 rupees ($87), with customers able to put down an initial 1,999 rupees ($27) and the rest payable in installments.

Ambani said in a statement that the handset was a “breakthrough device” that would “empower common Indians... and take their digital journeys to the next level.”

But Emkay Global Financial Services analysts Naval Seth and Sonali Shah said in a note that the price tag was currently not yet “lucrative enough for (the) masses.”

They said Reliance’s telecoms arm Jio had cut prices of previous phones multiple times “which accelerated acceptance.”

“We believe that there is a possibility of it doing the same through various promotional schemes, if the sales are not up to expectations,” they added.

Jio is India’s biggest mobile network operator with 398.3 million subscribers, having upended the market with free calls and ultra-cheap data when it launched in 2016. AFP

TOP GAINERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

SPM TBGI

2.49 0.415

0.48 0.05

23.88% 13.70%

3

ABG

6

0.5

9.09%

4 5

BSC BLOOM

0.72 7.4

0.06 0.6

9.09% 8.82%

6 7

MACAY GSMI

6.8 106.4

0.45 5.4

7.09% 5.35%

8 9

GLO GEO

3134 0.225

138 0.009

4.61% 4.17%

10

SHLPH

22.5

0.9

4.17%

TOP LOSERS

WEB SUMMIT. Web summit attendees take a selfie picture on the opening day of the Web Summit in Lisbon on November 1,

immediately expect busloads of tourists to start spending across the region.

“We are far from the (complete) opening of the skies,” Jerusalem deputy mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum told reporters, saying it will become clearer in coming weeks how many tourists will visit under current rules.

As of Monday, foreigners can enter Israel with a negative COVID test from the previous 72 hours and if their last vaccine dose was administered less than six months ago. Unvaccinated children remain subject to quarantine rules.

“It’s not going to happen in one day or two,” Razouk said, lamenting a long period with almost no sales. “It

will take time.”

Before Israel imposed the first of several coronavirus closures in March 2020, tourism was growing at a galloping pace in a region home to countless religious sites sacred to Muslims, Christians and Jews.

A record 4.6 million people visited in 2019, an 11-percent increase on 2018, generating revenue of 23 billion shekels ($7.3 billion), or 1.5 percent of Israel’s GDP, the ministry said.

“The tourism industry had been driving 200 kilometers an hour, and we stopped suddenly because of COVID,” Tourism Ministry Director General Amir Halevi told AFP Monday. AFP

By Glenda Kwek

This photo taken on October 6, 2021 shows solar panels at the site of solar energy projects developer Saurya Urja Company of Rajasthan Limited, at the Bhadla Solar Park in Bhadla, in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. AFP

to tackle toxic air quality in its big cities.

“India is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world for climate change and that is why it has this big push on renewables to decarbonize the power sector, but also reduce air pollution,” Arunabha Ghosh, climate policy expert from the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, told AFP. But experts say the country—the world’s third-biggest carbon emitter—is some way from reaching its green targets, with coal set to remain a key part of the energy mix in the coming years.

‘Huge transformation’ Although India’s green energy has increased five-fold in just over a decade to 100GW this year, the sector now needs to grow by the same proportion again to meet its 2030 goals.

“I believe this is more of an aspirational target... to show to the world that we are mov-

ing in the right direction,” Vinay Rustagi from renewable energy consultancy Bridge to India, told AFP. “But it would be a big stretch and seems highly unrealistic, in view of various demand and supply challenges,” Rustagi said.

Proponents point to Bhadla Solar Park, one of the largest in the world, as an example of how innovation, technology, and public and private finance can drive swift change.

“We’ve huge chunks of land where there’s not a blade of grass. Now you don’t see the ground anymore. You just see solar panels. It’s such a huge transformation,” Subodh Agarwal, Rajasthan’s additional chief secretary for energy, told AFP. Authorities are incentivizing renewables firms to set up in the region, known as the “desert state.” Agarwal says demand has “accelerated” since 2019. AFP

% CHANGE CHANGE

MBC PRIM

9.5 1.56

-1.4 -0.16

-12.84% -9.30%

3 4 5 6 7

EVER SCC PRMX ARA WIN

0.345 24 1.71 1.02 0.255

-0.03 -2 -0.13 -0.07 -0.015

-8.00% -7.69% -7.07% -6.42% -5.56%

8 9

ATN VUL

0.475 1.15

-0.025 -0.06

-5.00% -4.96%

10

DIZ

5.23

-0.27

-4.91%

MOST ACTIVE

Israel opens up to vaccinated tourists after 20 months JERUSALEM—Israel opened up to vaccinated visitors Monday after 20 months of closure, with Jews and Palestinians reliant on tourism voicing cautious hope the pandemic’s economic devastation will gradually ease.

Rami Razouk, a Palestinian souvenir shop owner in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem’s Old City, said he was “very happy” at the prospect of increased revenue, but conceded his store was not quite ready for an influx.

“Everything is dusty,” the 35-year-old told AFP. “We have a lot of work to do.”

Razouk and top Israeli officials said that Monday marked a partial re-opening, and that it would be premature to

LAST PRICE

1 2

2021. Europe’s largest tech event Web Summit is held at Parque das Nacoes in Lisbon from November 1 to November 4. AFP

Green deserts: India powers renewable goals with solar push BHADLA, India—As camels munch on the fringes of Thar desert, an oasis of blue solar panels stretches further than the eye can see at Bhadla Park— a cornerstone of India’s bid to become a clean energy powerhouse.

Currently, coal powers 70 percent of the nation’s electricity generation, but Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged that by 2030, India will produce more energy through solar and other renewables than its entire grid now.

“First, India will increase its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 gigawatts...

Second, by 2030, 50 percent of our energy requirements will come from renewable resources,” Modi told the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.

The arid state of Rajasthan, where Bhadla Park takes up an area almost the size of San Marino, sees 325 sunny days each year, making it perfectly placed for the solar power revolution, officials say.

Once an expanse of desert, authorities have capitalized on the sparsely populated area, claiming minimal displacement of local communities.

Today robots clean dust and sand off an estimated 10 million solar panels, while a few hundred humans monitor.

This pursuit of a greener future is fueled by necessity.

India, home to 1.3 billion people and poised to overtake China as the most populous country, has a growing and voracious appetite for energy— but it is also on the frontline of climate change.

In the next two decades, it has to add a power system the size of Europe’s to meet demand for its swelling population, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), but it also has

PSEi NOVEMBER 2, 2021

1 2 3 4 5

TEL AC ICT BDO SCC

VOLUME 237,240 413,440 1,863,690 2,587,190 13,335,000

6 7 8 9 10

GLO SM JFC LTG CNVRG

101,545 312,910 1,321,560 28,270,600 8,987,800

VALUE (PHP) 392,311,365 355,736,435 334,869,229 326,351,591 317,840,475 315,957,840 311,347,655 305,845,370 284,031,892 279,951,995

Bank of England likely to hike rate for the 1st time since 2018 LONDON—The Bank of England could this week raise its main interest rate for the first time in more than three years to rein in surging inflation as economies reopen from pandemic lockdowns, analysts say.

Economists are predicting that the BoE led by governor Andrew Bailey could hike borrowing costs from a record low of 0.1 percent to 0.25 percent at a regular policy meeting on Thursday.

Other central banks across the globe have recently tightened policy to cool soaring prices and still more are considering following suit.

Monetary policymakers must also decide whether to taper huge emergency cash stimulus support that has kept economies afloat during the pandemic.

The US Federal Reserve is expected on Wednesday to announce plans to begin tapering its stimulus as the world’s biggest economy recovers.

The European Central Bank and Bank of Japan are holding fire for now on rates and stimulus, but central banks in countries such as Brazil, Singapore, South Korea and New Zealand have all increased borrowing costs recently.

The Bank of Canada has ended its vast bond-buying stimulus program, and has flagged an interest rate hike earlier in 2022 than envisaged.

In the UK, the Bank of England may raise its interest rate on Thursday as it “appears more worried about the upside risks to inflation from rising underlying

wage growth and higher inflation expectations than... a month ago,” said Paul Dales, economist at Capital Economics.

The BoE’s new chief economist Huw Pill told the Financial Times in late October that the UK annual inflation rate risks shooting above 5.0 percent in the coming months from 3.1 percent currently.

For its part, the British government is forecasting an annual average rate of 4.0 percent over the next year after energy costs soared and reopening economies suffer from supply shortages.

Economists are not unanimous, however, in thinking the BoE will raise its interest rate as early as Thursday, even as the financial markets price in such a move.

“We can’t rule out a rate hike at this meeting—indeed, markets see it as a near certainty,” said Samuel Tombs, economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.

Britain’s growth “recovery is faltering,” he said.

While the UK economy was on course to rebound 6.5 percent this year, it is forecast to cool slightly in 2022, the government said last week.

As the pandemic erupted in March 2020, the BoE slashed its key interest rate from 0.75 percent and also began pumping massive sums of new cash into the economy.

It has created £450 billion under its quantitative easing (QE) program since March last year, when Britain imposed its first coronavirus lockdown. AFP

Entertainment O

LYMPIC Gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz was a picture of a happy and content woman when she faced the media in a recent virtual junket for her new brand endorsement. The 30-year-old weightlifter was formally welcomed

by BDO Unibank to its family of celebrity brand endorsers.

Among those who greeted Diaz during the virtual event were the financial institution’s top executives in the country and from around the globe and actor Piolo Pascual.

“I’ve been with them for 15 years and now that you’re also part of the family, we hope that this will be the start of a long and fruitful relationship. Let’s educate our countrymen about the importance of managing personal finances,” Pascual said sending the Philippine sports pride to giggle like a fangirl.

The virtual junket also saw the athlete’s fun and quirky side when she showed off her custom-made engagement ring featuring a barbell with a diamond on top.

No doubt, she’s enjoying this new chapter in her life after being confronted by struggles before making history three months ago when she ended the country’s nearly 100-year quest for Gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Though unexpected, Diaz is thankful for having received a string of incentives and gifts for her historic feat. With this in mind, she sees the golden value of handling these incentives

B3

Weightlifting superstar and Olympic Gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz finds a new partner.

NICKIE WANG

responsibly, which BDO has been espousing through its financial education advocacy.

Now, the Zamboanga City native joins forces with the BDO to champion financial education, not only for her fellow athletes but also for the unserved and underserved markets including overseas Filipinos.

During the event, Diaz reminded her fellow athletes, especially those who have achieved their own feats of how they should prepare for the financial future.

“We’re not going be athletes forever? We still have a long life ahead of us once we retired, kaya kung anuman ang naibigay sa atin ngayon, dapat ipunin natin ‘yun para tayo’y makapaghanda, para rin sa ating mga minamahal sa buhay,” Diaz affirmed.

BDO said it is thankful to have found a financial education advocate and champion in Hidilyn and for placing her trust in the bank and its wide array of financial products and services to cater to her needs and those like her.

“Before becoming a champion for the nation, Hidilyn first was a champion of her own dreams.

Along with keeping in mind her hard work and determination, she valued the proper handling of finances, and we are with her in that journey,” BDO senior vice president and remittance head Genie T. Gloria said of Diaz.

South Korean actor Yoo Ah In in a scene from Yeon Sang-ho’s Netflix series ‘Hellbound.’

Jung Jinsu claims that the supernatural phenomenon is God’s warning to sinners and that the accompanying fear will set people free of their sins. However, in the run-up to the live streaming of Park Jungja’s execution, the world spirals into an apocalypse. People become suspicious and hateful of each other, turning the world into a living hell.

Jung Jin-su’s words, “I’d like to welcome you all to the new world,” hint at the unforeseen stories to unfold in the anarchistic society.

Netflix series Hellbound, providing utmost suspense with hellbound prophecies which are just beyond anyone’s imagination, is based on a webtoon of the same title.

Hellbound will premiere globally on Netflix on Nov. 19.

HIDILYN DIAZ flexes new life chapter

MORE kids nationwide can enjoy watching and learning from their favorite animated and kiddie shows as YeY returns to TV on National Children's Month starting Nov. 6 on Jeepney TV and Kapamilya Channel.

Children of all ages can enjoy YeY shows all week on Jeepney TV's "YeY Weekend" and "YeY Weekdays" blocks.

Every Saturday, viewers can join Kongsuni and her magical owl Seyo in their daily adventures filled with meaningful lessons in Kongsuni and Friends at 8:00 a.m., followed by fun and educational activities of all sorts with Team YeY at 9:00 a.m., and hilarious skits from the country's iconic kiddie gag show Goin' Bulilit at 9:30 a.m.

Sunday mornings will also be brighter with the most entertaining child-friendly blockbusters on KidSine Presents from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.

The fun never stops on Jeepney TV as kids can continue to enjoy watching their favorite animated shows from Monday to Friday on its "YeY Weekdays," featuring back-to-back episodes of science-fantasy cartoon series Johnny Test at 8:00 a.m., followed by the action-packed adventures of Max Steel at 9:00 a.m.

YeY, first launched in 2011, has been bringing joy to Filipino children online during this pandemic after it went off-air on digital TV in 2020. It currently streams

where Kapuso celebrities and personalities share tips and how-to’s about fashion and beauty, travel and food, family and relationships, and other hobbies and interests.

Go on different kinds of adventure with Biyahe ni Drew, Pinas Sarap, Taste Buddies, Farm To Table, Pera Paraan, and new show Dapat Alam Mo. Watch GTV via free-to-air or on digital broadcast using GMA Affordabox and GMA Now or on other digital TV receivers. Netizens may also follow GTV’s official social media accounts @GTVPhilippines on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok.

GTV’s news magazine show ‘Dapat Alam Mo’ is hosted by Emil Sumangil, Kim Atienza, and Patricia Tumulak.

Kids, YeY is back on TV

‘Goin' Bulilit’ returns to TV via Yey this Children's Month.

Team Yey Live on the Kumu app with fresh live episodes of the well-loved children’s show every Saturday, 11:00 am.

YeY currently has over 1 million subscribers on its official YouTube channel and over 970,000 followers on Facebook, where it regularly uploads its array of

Kapamilya kiddie content for children of all ages. It is currently the number 1 Philippine kids page on Facebook based on video content according to the website Tubular.

With its return to TV, YeY hopes to bring more fun, laughter, and lessons to children in the country.

Adele reveals tracklist for comeback record

GTV keeps it good online via gtv.ph GMA Network’s second free-to-air channel GTV likewise keeps it good online as it unveils www.gtv.ph – the viewers’ go-to source for the hottest updates on everything GTV. Airing a variety of programs produced

by GMA News and Public Affairs, Entertainment Group, Regional TV and Synergy, as well as foreign dramas, GTV surely caters to the young and young at heart.

And through its own website, netizens can access all the latest news about their favorite GTV shows, videos, program schedules, as well as online exclusives.

Viewers can also watch or rewatch the latest episodes of My Fantastic Pag-ibig, La Doña, Playful Kiss, and When Duty Calls on the website anytime and even on the go. Catch program highlights or bite-sized clips of GTV lifestyle shows

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021

VERY WANG

‘Train to Busan’ director drags human to hell in new Netflix series THE anticipation just continues to build up as Netflix series Hellbound slowly unveils itself. Director Yeon Sang-ho’s next-level imagination and penetrating message are packed in the newly-released main trailer.

Director Yeon, who has acutely penetrated the uncertainties and injustice in current society through his works like The King of Pigs, The Fake, Train to Busan, Peninsula, and The Cursed: Dead Man’s Prey, once again consolidates his worldview by creating the story for the webtoon and directing and co-writing the script for the live-action adaptation.

Netflix series Hellbound explores a world swept by a supernatural phenomenon where executors from Hell suddenly start to condemn people to Hell, and a new religious group called the New Truth emerges amidst this chaos, while others try to uncover the truth behind the series of events.

The main trailer starts off on an appalling note, laying bare what a hellbound decree actually is. While joyfully celebrating her birthday with her beloved kids, Park Jungja (played by Kim Shin-rok) out of the blue receives a hellbound decree from an angel.

The sudden encounter with an angel leaves not only Park Jungja but also the viewers aghast. The composed voice of Jung Jinsu (played by Yoo Ah-in) then plays over the scene of the world that turned into utter chaos, further heightening tensions.

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

Fans are in for an emotional ride as Adele releases the tracklist for her upcoming album “30.”

BRITISH soul superstar Adele has revealed the tracklist for her much-anticipated comeback album, which includes songs titled "I Drink Wine" and "Cry Your Heart Out." The album 30, her first in six years, will be released on Nov. 19. The 12-song tracklist the singer revealed online opens with "Strangers

By Nature" and closes with "Love is a Game". Other tracks include "Woman Like Me", "Hold On", and "To Be Loved".

Adele has previously said the recording of 30 began three years ago at a time when her life was "a maze of absolute mess and inner

turmoil."

In the six years since her last album, the 33-year-old megastar said she suffered a "year of anxiety" in which her marriage fell apart. The first single from her forthcoming album, "Easy On Me," topped the British charts after it was released two weeks ago.

The Oscar- and Grammy-winning singer broke a five-year silence with an interview for Vogue, published last month, that spoke of living like a recluse as she battled anxiety.

"I've learned a lot of blistering home truths about myself along the way. I've shed many layers but also wrapped myself in new ones," she wrote on Twitter. "I've finally found my feeling again. I'd go as far as to say that I've never felt more peaceful in my life." AFP

The good news from Carl Balita

Balita is a nurse-midwife and “I DON’T believe that only bad news a licensed teacher and holds sells, and I refuse that my family name doctoral degrees in Humanities will be associated with ‘bad’,” says and in Education.

Carl Balita, a senatorial candidate “I produced these films with under Aksyon Demokratiko along my intention to improve the with former actor and Manila Mayor public appreciation of these Isko Moreno, who is running for professions, which most of the President. time are ignored,” says Balita.

Carl Balita is a household name, The film Nars was a response especially among listeners of to the leakage scandal in the DzMM and viewers of Teleradyo, nurses licensure examination in where he hosted the multi-awarded 2006. program Radyo Negosyo for “I felt duty-bound to help two decades. He is also a multinursing recover from that awarded host of the Catholic Mass blunder to our history,” he Media Awards, KBP Golden narrates. I invested in bring the Dove Awards, and UP Gandingan best cast including Jennylyn Awards. His business talk show Mercado, Jodi Sta Maria, has featured success stories of Agot Isidro, Coco Martin, Jon micro and small businesses, and has Avila, Jay Manalo, Jacklyn become witness to how they have Jose, Alan Paule, among others. grown as major brands.

Maestra featured the journey Balita is a businessman himself. of an Aeta teacher (Angeli He is behind the ISO-certified Bayani) and an impoverished review center, which had bridged Film producer and licensed educator Carl Balita is a Senatorial young teacher (Anna Luna) to the professional licensure of aspirant under Aksyon Demokratiko. becoming professional teachers almost a million nurses, teachers, and meeting an iconic teacher (Gloria Sevilla). It won various criminologists, doctors, among others.

In show business, he has produced two films, Nars by Adolf Alix awards and nominations in Gawad Urian, Star Awards for Movies, (2007) and Maestra by Lem Lorca (2017), both being his advocacy Sydney World Film Festival, and 5-Continent International Film Festival. Read full story on manilastandard.net films for his professions.

Life

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

B4

FASHION AND BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021

Rozz rocks US-based Filipina analyst pursues passion for singing on Kumu

bait-bait niya at todo ang support niya sa mga Filipino artists dito sa US,” she shared. Rozz is part of BahayNiOILIPINO business analyst Rozz Daniels always wanted to neArtists Group and NICKLentertainbe a singer. At 52, she is ready to give it a try. ment, the management company of director Cathy Molina and Violan.

Growing up in Dumaguete, Rozz As she hosts “The Rocks and Rozz further hone her skills. made the rounds of amateur singing Show” on Kumu, Rozz is training with “Dati pinapanood ko lang si Ms. Ivy. contests in the region. “Kahit third multi-awarded performer Ivy Violan to Ngayon kino-coach niya na ako. Ang prize lang, pambili namin ng bigas,” she related. “Nanginigisda yung father ko, kaya laging may isda, yung bigas kailangan bilhin.”

When the family moved to Manila, Rozz helped her parents by selling balut, banana cue, kamote cue, turon, and palitaw. She met her American husband through her cousin, who at the time was religiously sending letters to several pen pals.

Rozz’s now husband, David Daniels, was her first and only pen pal. After a year of faithfully writing to each other, 18-year-old Rosalyn Torregosa got married and moved to Hawaii. Her nickname “Rozz” was coined by her husband, “mahaba raw ang Rosalyn, kaya Rozz na lang.”

Her luck in winning singing contests continued abroad. While working in Walmart, she won first prize at a company-organized sing-a-long contest.

Several years later when they moved to Wisconsin, Rozz bagged the grand prize at an inter-company singing contest in Milwaukee.

“It was in 2010. ‘Pag lunch hour, aalis ako to go downtown sa Milwaukee.

Every week ang contest. There were 32 contestants, at ako rin nananalo sa Amateur singing huli,” she recalled. contest veteran While running the household and Rozz started her raising four children, Rozz found time Kumu show as a fun to go back to school to take up Applied hobby to keep her Science and major in eCommerce/Web preoccupied during the quarantine.

Administration. She went to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Business Ad-

By Tet Defensor

F

Trunc turns 1 MULTI-brand e-commerce site Trunc.ph marks its first anniversary this November with treats, new collections, and new brand additions to its lineup of luxury labels.

Launched on Nov. 6, 2020, the site brings together many of the SSI Group’s brands across four categories: Trunc for lifestyle brands; Trunc Show for sought-after luxury brands; PowderRoom for exclusive beauty collections; and Trunc at Home for the finest furnishings, accessories, wine, and food.

“We envisioned Trunc.ph as an avenue for customers to access their most trusted brands wherever they are, whatever the circumstances might be. Our launch happened in the middle of the pandemic, yet even so, the market continued to thrive and even projected an optimistic future for the Philippine economy,” shares Anton Huang, president of SSI Group, Inc. As part of its first anniversary, Trunc is spotlighting collections featuring new brand collaborations Marc Jacobs x Peanuts and BOSS x Russell Athletic. Moreover, Jennie of BLACKPINK is highlighted in the collection with Heron Preston for Calvin Klein Season 2. Trunc’s newest brand additions also include DKNY and Longchamp.

New beauty brands at the PowderRoom include Fenty Beauty, Hourglass, Biotherm, Philosophy, SKII, and Nest.

There are more soon-to-come favorites, including Juice Beauty, Huda Beauty, Kerastase, and Payot.

The digital stand-alone boutique is onboarding more European fashion brands in the coming months. It currently carries more than 165 brands and approximately 70,000 products for local distribution.

Trunc at Home, launched in August, features the world’s top home and living brands, as well as consumable items from M&S Food and TWG Tea. Premium Wine Exchange will also be added to the curated roster, while other new home brands include Beka, Conair, and Oneida.

Birthday treats are pouring from Nov. 3 to Nov. 7, including a P500 voucher (can be redeemed from Dec. 1 to 31) for a minimum spend of P1,500, 10 percent off purchases using the TRUNCBDAY promo code, flash sales from select brands, and free shipping on Nov. 6.

Trunc carries more than 70,000 products from over a hundred brands including (from left) Cortefiel, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Hilfiger.

BEAUTY, BRAINS, AND VOICE. Rozz Daniels always wanted to be a singer. After raising four kids and getting her degree, she’s finally following her heart, singing and hosting a regular show on a Filipino streaming service.

ministration. She currently works as a business analyst for a top US banking and finance corporation.

Her Kumu show started as a fun hobby, something to keep her preoccupied during the quarantine. Little did she know that it would pave the way for another interesting chapter in her life.

“Nung nag-quarantine kanta lang ako nang kanta,” related Rozz. May nag-suggest na mag-Kumu raw ako.

Nag-umpisa kami ng friend ko, si Blessie Cirera, kaming dalawa lang, five hours na kantahan, masaya naman, ang daming nagpapadala ng virtual gift.”

She added, “Si Blessie ang nagpakilala sa akin kay Ms. Ivy,” she shared.

Rozz still cannot believe that popular Filipino artists like Joey Albert and Richard Reynoso had performed on her Kumu show. Even concert king Martin Nievera dropped in to greet her one evening.

“Parang hindi totoo ang nangyayari sa akin. Parang panaginip lahat,” she enthused. Artists Rannie Raymundo, Leah Navarro, and Ivy Violan are set to guest on her Kumu show in the coming weeks.

According to Charles Hernando of the Kumu marketing team, the app has

around 10 million downloads across the world. “We have about 1,000 full-time content creators on the app, and it’s still growing,” he said.

Aside from the opportunity to watch and live chat with your favorite artists, Kumu allows followers to send virtual gifts that are converted into cash. Rozz would use the gifts from her show to support other artists on Kumu.

Before embarking on this new chapter in her life, Rozz sought the blessing of her family. A lot of promoters have approached her in the past, but she preferred to focus on her family. “Bata pa mga anak ko noon [kaya] hindi pa pwede. Ngayon nagpaalam pa rin ako, sabi ng anak ko, ‘Mommy it’s your time’.”

Rozz has four children – Jenny (30 years old), Rachel (28), Charlene (26), and Jacob (24). She also has a 7-year-old grandson named Wolfgang.

She is preparing to record her first single “Bakit”, composed by Ivy Violan and arranged by Rannie Raymundo. The song will be released by Viva Records.

Kumu followers in Manila can catch her show “The Rocks and Rozz Show” at 10:00 a.m., while those in the US can watch every Friday at 9:00 p.m.

Bags from Marc Jacobs x Peanuts

Charlie Dizon’s love of skincare blossomed when she was training in South Korea.

The secret to Charlie Dizon’s glow Fenty Beauty

RISING star Charlie Dizon admits to my skin,” she enthuses.

Dizon regularly applies Hello Glow being a huge skincare fan. Her love of beauty products blossomed when she 3-in-1 Lightweight Sun Care Gel on was training in South Korea for almost her skin to protect it while keeping a year while pursuing her dream to be- it smooth and nourished. Hello Glow Whitening Cream, a light skin-recome a K-pop star. pairing moisturizer Today, the Fan Girl star completes her nightshares her love time routine, a step of skincare as the that helps her skin new and first-ever rejuvenate overcelebrity endorser night after long of Hello Glow, a hours of taping. skincare brand of “We are very delocal beauty comlighted to have Charpany Ever Bilena. lie as the newest and With Hello first-ever celebrity Glow’s Korean-style endorser of Hello packaging, gentle Glow.

Together formulations, and with Charlie and cruelty-free commitour Hello Glow ment, it’s easy for Korea-trained Dizon Hello Glow squad, we hope to 3-in-1 Lightweight Sun Care Gel empower everyone to feel connected by helping them with the brand. feel more beautiful “I’m honored to have been chosen as one of the ambas- and confident with their skin,” says Densadors for Hello Glow. I’m a big fan of ice Sy-Munez, Ever Bilena chief sales skincare products myself. Apart from and marketing officer.

Hello Glow products are available at its Korean ‘feels’, Hello Glow’s gentle and natural formulation makes me leading department stores and supermore confident in using it to care for markets nationwide.