Manila Standard - 2021 December 30 - Thursday

93% OF PINOYS HOPEFUL FOR 2022—SWS SURVEY

NEWS / A2

DUTERTE TO SIGN P5.02T ‘RECOVERY’ BUDGET TODAY

COURT CLEARS ESPINOSA OF DRUG CHARGES

NEWS / A3

NEWS / A3 VOL. XXXV • NO. 318 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Uptick in cases ‘worrisome’ Imminent surge feared due to Omicron, may trigger higher alert level

By Willie Casas

T

HE daily positivity rate in Metro Manila rose to more than 5 percent on Monday, raising concerns about an imminent upsurge in COVID-19 cases beyond a holiday uptick.

As the number of new cases doubled to 889 on Wednesday, up from 421 on Tuesday, the Palace, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), doctors and pandemic researchers said the increase in cases could be due to the highly contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

The independent OCTA Research Group said it expects new COVID-19 cases to hit 1,200 to 2,000 cases nationwide on December 30. OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said in Metro Manila, the positivity rate has increased to 8.4 percent.

THROWBACK TO AUGUST’S ECQ. File photo shows medical frontliners treating COVID-19 patients inside the Quezon City General Hospital chapel that converted into an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in August when several hospitals reached their full capacity due to a surge in infections. Experts fear a similar uptick in cases may happen driven by the Omicron variant. AFP

WHO warns new variant still poses ‘very high risk’ as global cases hit record THE world hit a record number of COVID infections in a seven-day period, with more than 935,000 cases detected on average each day between December 22 to 28 with the World Health Organization warning that Omicron still poses

“very high” risk and could overwhelm healthcare systems as the highly transmissible coronavirus variant fueled outbreaks in many countries.

The figures, the highest since the virus first emerged at the end of 2019, are

P4.8b released for Odette victims, LGUs have a year to disburse funds lion that will be distributed to local

By Maricel V. Cruz, Rey E. Requejo, Othel Campos government units in areas devastated

by Typhoon Odette. and Joel E. Zurbano

“Affected persons and families are expected to receive assistance equivaTHE Department of Budget and Management yesterday released P4.85 bil- lent to P1,000 per individual and a Next page

Govt buys 15m Pfizer vax for 2,839,790 kids 5-11 years

By Willie Casas and Joel E. Zurbano THE national government has procured 15 million doses of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine to inoculate children aged 5 to 11 years old against COVID-19, National Task Force adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa said.

“We procured 15 million doses of Next page

MARTYRDOM.

Workers from the Department of Public Works and Highways install scaffolding for the media who will cover the 125th Rizal day at the Rizal monument in Luneta where President Rodrigo Duterte will lead a flag-raising ceremony today (Thursday).

Inset shows the commemorative stamps for Rizal’s martyrdom.

Danny Pata

889

10,418

51,241

28

2,778,131

214

(As of 4 PM, DECEMBER 29)

based on tolls given daily by health auWith 6,550,000 cases recorded bethorities in each country. tween December 22 and 28 – or an A large share of the less serious or average of 935,863 a day – the virus is asymptomatic cases remain undetect- spreading at unprecedented speed. ed despite ramped up testing in many The figures are sharply higher than countries since the pandemic began.

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“We are worried. The IATF is worried, the President is worried.

Malacañang is worried and all Filipinos should be, as well. We all have a responsibility,” said acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles.

But amid the rising concern, the Department of Health said the rise in the daily positivity rate was “expected” due to people’s increased mobility during the holiday season.

“That is natural because we’re still in a pandemic. People also gathered Next page

Hospitals reset ‘holiday’ action vs. PhilHealth

By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Private Hospitals Association Philippines (PHAPI) announced on Wednesday that the plan for a “PhilHealth holiday” has been suspended.

PHAPI president Dr. Jose de Grano said the plan to protest the non-payment of claims by the state-owned Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth) was put on hold after patient groups sought advice on what they could do during such a holiday.

PHAPI had earlier encouraged its members to not accept PhilHealth deductions for their services from Jan. 1 to 5, 2022.

PhilHealth said on Tuesday it was still checking the unpaid claims of seven Iloilo hospitals that will no longer renew their accreditation with the state insurer come January.

“Actually, we are reconciling the Next page

LIKE A XMAS TREE, BUT DARKER. Residents dry their clothes at the shore as their

houses were torn apart by the strong winds of typhoon Odette. The President has ordered the immediate eviction of residents living on coastal easements within 40 meters of the shoreline to prevent loss of lives and damage to property during natural calamities such as Odette. Jilsun Tiu/Greenpeace

Inventory of idle gov’t lands begins, distribution plan starts Q1 next year

By Rio N. Araja

land for distribution to victims of typhoon “Odette.”

Secretary Bernie Cruz issued the orTHE Department of Agrarian Reform der in response to the instructions from (DAR) has ordered its field officials to submit a consolidated list of all un- President Rodrigo Duterte directing Next page used government-owned agricultural

Nation marks Rizal’s 125th death anniversary, hero on new stamps

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Philippine Postal Corporation will be issuing new stamps marking the 125th death anniversary of national hero Jose Rizal starting today, Dec. 30.

With the theme “Rizal: Para sa Agham, Katotohanan at Buhay,” the block of four postage stamps depicts the

national icon’s life, works and heroism, according to the national post office.

It added that 40,000 copies were printed and will be sold at P12 each.

“The stamps feature Rizal’s inherent love and compassion for the Filipino people and the country. He is also admired for possessing intellectual brilNext page

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News

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

93% of Pinoys hopeful for 2022 A

T LEAST 93 percent of Filipinos hold hope while expecting the arrival Saturday of 2022, the pandemic making threats with expected crowding for the holiday celebration, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.

in Metro Manila at 95 percent, followed

by Balance Luzon and Mindanao at 93 percent and Visayas at 90 percent.

Hope increased in Metro Manila (from 90 percent in 2020 to 95 percent in 2021), Balance Luzon (from 92 percent to 93 percent) and Visayas (from 88 percent to 90 percent), but it stayed at 93 percent in Mindanao.

Hope across all educational groups also increased, with hope among elementary graduates at 90 percent in 2021 from 89 percent in 2020, among junior high school graduates at 94 per-

cent from 92 percent, and among college graduates at 98 percent from 94 percent%.

The December 2021 SWS non-commissioned poll was conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,440 individuals aged 18 years old and above nationwide, broken down to 360 individuals each in Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The sampling error margins are ±2.6 percent for national percentages, and ±5.2 percent for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

“New cases in the country are projected to hit 1,200 by Dec. 29, 2021, with at least 400 in the NCR,” OCTA Research fellow Guido David said on Twitter.

“There is now concern that this is not just a holiday uptick. Please be advised that the situation is changing in the NCR and we must now be very mindful of minimum public health standards,” David said. “It is a serious increase in cases.”

He said it was possible that the increase was already being driven by the Omicron variant.

“This rapid increase in reproduction number could only mean one thing. Let us continue to be extra vigilant and not be complacent in following minimum public health protocols,” he added.

The Philippines logged on 889 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases to 2,839,790.

The nationwide positivity rate went up from 2.6 percent to 4.5 percent, based on test results of samples from 27,615 people on Dec. 27.

The top regions with cases in the recent two weeks were NCR (564 or 65 percent), Region 4-A or Calabarzon (86 or 10 percent) and Region 3 or Central Luzon (53 or 6 percent).

There were 28 new fatalities reported Wednesday, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 51,241.

The DOH also reported 214 new recoveries, bringing the total recoveries to 2,778,131.

There were 10,418 active cases, of which 536 were asymptomatic; 4,384 mild; 3,346 moderate; 1,778 severe; and

374 critical.

Nationwide, 20 percent of ICU beds, 23 percent of isolation beds, 11 percent of ward beds, and 12 percent of ventilators, were in use.

In Metro Manila, 23 percent of ICU beds, 21 percent of isolation beds, 17 percent of ward beds, and 14 percent of ventilators, were in use.

Private hospitals saw a slight increase in COVID-19 cases in their facilities, Private Hospitals Associations of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) president Dr. Jose de Grano said on Wednesday.

De Grano, in an interview with GMA News’ Unang Balita, said that it was evident that most people now are going out despite the threat of the pandemic.

In a separate interview, Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP), said the increase is felt mostly in emergency rooms.

“There is really an increase in the percentage of those testing positive for COVID-19 in RT-PCR tests,” she said in Filipino.

Because of this, Limpin said the need to prepare for another surge is becoming a reality.

“Actually, even though the current number is just over 400, we are a little worried. And that’s because we’ve also seen, we’ve also felt it in the hospitals, especially in the emergency rooms, that our COVID-19 cases are really increasing,” Limpin said.

On Wednesday, the DOH said it has found 22 close contacts of the fourth Omicron case from the PR127 flight, including the husband of the case, who tested positive.

million COVID-19 vaccines by year-end.

Galvez made the statement following the arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport of 2,005,300 doses of Astrazeneca vaccines Tuesday.

“We would like to congratulate the Department of Finance negotiating team and also our partners – the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and other partners who donated the vaccines,” Galvez said.

He also thanked the COVAX facility for donating 62.8 million doses and bilateral donors for sending more than 11 million doses.

“We thank all the partners, the World Health Organization, the GAVI, the US, China, Netherlands, European Union, France, Germany, Austria, and other partners and allies,” Galvez said.

sponse funds (QRFs) are also expected to supplement funds needed to construct or repair severely damaged houses.

In a prerecorded Talk to the People on Monday, Duterte ordered Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista to procure tarpaulin sheets and lumber from uprooted coconut trees so that families would have materials to build temporary shelters.

Typhoon Odette caused more than P28 million worth of damage in 506,404 houses; more than P16 billion worth of damage to infrastructure, and more than P5 billion worth of damage to agriculture, according to data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The result of the SWS poll, conducted from December 12 to 16, is slightly higher than the 91 percent for the same period last year.

But the 2020 and 2021 poll results are slightly lower than 96 percent recorded in pre-COVID-19 year of 2019.

The 2021 survey also showed that 7

percent of Filipinos will enter the New Year with fear, a figure unchanged from 2020.

The question posed by SWS went in Filipino – the original language used: “Is it with hopes or with fears that you enter the coming year?”

The highest hope rating was recorded

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figures, because they gave us a figure which is more than our actual in-process claims,” said PhilHealth spokesperson Dr. Shirley Domingo, in an interview with ANC’s “Rundown.”

“They have included figures or amounts that were, of claims that were returned to hospitals and denied. And, on our side, we cannot pay for claims that are returned to the hospital unless they refile it with us,” Domingo said.

“So we’re still hoping that this reconciliation of figures will be recognized and will push through,” Domingo said.

Earlier, Metro Iloilo Hospital & Medical Center Inc., Iloilo Doctors’ Hospital, Iloilo Mission Hospital, Medicus Medical Center, Qualimed Hospital Iloilo, St. Paul’s Hospital of Iloilo and The Medical City of Iloilo said they are severing ties with PhilHealth over unpaid claims amounting to P895 million.

Metro Iloilo Hospital & Medical Center president Dr. Danny Encarnacion said they had a meeting with the state health insurer on Dec. 20 but nothing came of it.

Domingo said PhilHealth’s ability to disburse claims has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Philhealth has been affected by this pandemic in terms of human resources. We followed IATF guidelines of 30 percent in office, and then 50 percent in office,” she said.

However, Encarnacion told ANC’s “Headstart” that the unpaid claims of several hospitals date back to 2010.

“This bill has amounted to -- this situation goes back to 2010,” Encarnacion said.

PhilHealth, meanwhile, announced that it will extend the validity of all currently accredited health facilities (HFs) until Jan. 31, 2022.

PhilHealth president and CEO Dante A. Gierran said the extension would be made as long as the hospitals have submitted their complete applications for accreditation to the concerned PhilHealth regional office on or before Jan.31, 2022.

The PhilHealth chief also reminded hospitals that applications received for continuous or renewal of accreditation beyond Jan. 31, 2022 may result in a gap in a facility’s accreditation.

together and there has been a little complacency. We have also seen and observed a low observance of the minimum public health protocols,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in Filipino.

Nograles said the government could raise the COVID-19 alert level if the conditions warrant it.

Nograles called on the public to continue observing the strict health protocols, especially physical distancing and reminded local government units to impose granular lockdowns when there are spikes of COVID-19 cases in their localities.

He said many people appear to have already forgotten to observe physical distancing as crowds can be seen in some areas.

“We will make an announcement soon, if not within the day, perhaps tomorrow, for the alert level for Jan. 1 to 15. But I would like to remind the public that while it is for Jan. 1 to 15, we are not barred from increasing the alert level in provinces, highly urbanized cities, as needed without even completing 15 days,” Nograles said.

“If the IATF sees a spike, the alert level can be accelerated immediately if it is what is needed,” he added.

The independent OCTA Research Group, meanwhile, said Wednesday was the first time the positivity rate in Metro Manila has risen above 5 percent since Oct. 24.

Pfizer for children which will arrive in January and February,” said Herbosa at the sidelines of the arrival Tuesday of 367,380 Pfizer vaccine doses in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“So hopefully, we will be able to start vaccinating the 5 to 11 years old,” Herbosa said.

Last December 23, the Philippine Food and Drug Administration approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the age group.

The formulation for children ages five to 11 comes in a vial with an orange cap and a label with an orange border.

They will receive two doses of 10 micrograms each, compared to 30 micrograms per dose for adults.

The FDA previously said the government is eyeing to start vaccinating children in this age group early next year.

The Philippines’ COVID-19 vaccination program started in March, but the vaccination of minors only started in November, beginning with children aged 12 to 17.

Government data indicates that more than 47 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 while more than 1.4 million Filipinos have received booster doses./Willie Casas Meanwhile, National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the Philippines expects to receive a total of 210

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calamities such as Typhoon Odette.

“It will be a summary eviction,” the President said in a recent command conference with military and police officials in Cebu.

“Don’t wait for the court to issue an order.

They [residents] will usually seek court intervention through a writ of injunction. Let us just tell the judge: ‘You know, Judge, this is what the government wants [to do] to protect its citizens,” Duterte said.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año reported to Duterte that some residents living along coastal easements have resisted efforts to have them relocated despite an existing law that there should be no housing structures within 40 meters of the shoreline.

Malacañang said Wednesday the direc-

tive of President Rodrigo Duterte to procure tarpaulin sheets and lumber from uprooted coconut trees would be the fastest way to make temporary shelters while waiting for the construction materials to arrive in areas ravaged by Typhoon Odette.

But acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said that construction materials that will be used to build sturdier shelters “will come later” in the first quarter next year.

Nograles said the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and a sub-committee on shelter, will be making the plans necessary for additional funds for next year.

The 2022 national budget and quick re-

In related developments, the United States will extend an additional P950million aid to the Philippines for the government-led relief operations to areas devastated by the onslaught of Typhoon Odette.

The US Embassy in Manila disclosed the additional donation, which brings to more than P1 billion the foreign country’s support to the Philippines in its post-Odette relief efforts.

At the same time, the South Korean government on Wednesday turned over P2.5 million worth of rice and hygiene kits as immediate relief to the communities affected by Typhoon Odette.

The donation, delivered to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, includes 1,500 sacks of rice and 740 hygiene kits, all of which were sourced locally.

“The Republic of Korea, we know that four million people in 38 provinces and 11 regions are not just there as big numbers, they are people who are in desperate need of speedy and continuous assistance and relief, and I know every little bit counts,” Korean Ambassador to Manila Kim Inchul said.

The envoy noted that this initial aid was on top of its upcoming $2 million (approximately P100 million) humanitarian assistance to further help the typhoon victims recover.

The US assistance through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will be used for basic necessities such as food; water, sanitation, and hygiene programs will be provided, including shelter assistance to meet emergency needs and help affected communities start rebuilding their homes.

DAR and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to expedite the distribution of unused agricultural land to typhoon victims.

He directed agency officials to prioritize and speed up the acquisition and distribution of unused government lands, which would be distributed in the first quarter of 2022.

Earlier, the President had ordered the immediate eviction of residents living on coastal easements within 40 meters of the shoreline to prevent loss of lives and damage to property during natural

P4.8b...

From A1 maximum of P5,000 per household,” the DBM said.

The funds will be distributed as follows: P198.21 million for Region IV-B; P1.63 billion for Region VI, P1.04 billion for Region VII, P964.10 million for Region VIII; P156.02 million for Region X, and P864.08 million for Region XIII. The DBM said the funds must be fully disbursed by December 31, 2022.

The mode of distribution would be subject to close supervision and monitoring of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

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From A1 liance being a doctor, scientist and linguist,” the agency said.

“Through his writings, he awakened Filipinos’ sense of nationalism, while his death sparked a revolution to overthrow colonial repression,” it added.

Postmaster General Norman Fulgencio said Rizal’s determination to fulfill his goals should inspire all Filipinos, especially the youth.

“The Post Office is now recognizing the talent and industry of the Filipinos here and abroad in pursuit of excellence and distinction in their work or profession by issuing stamps to honor artists, sports personalities, musicians and scientists as well as other national

CDC: Remain vigilant against Omicron strain THE Clark Development Corporation (CDC) has appealed to its workers, locators, and visitors to remain vigilant and continue taking necessary precautions against COVID-19, with four Omicron cases already detected in the country.

In a statement, CDC President and CEO Manuel Gaerlan reiterated the importance of following health protocols as the threat of the Omicron variant loomed in the country.

He also urged locators of this Freeport to heighten their safety measures while the Freeport recuperates from the economic impact of the pandemic.

“Let us be more cautious and alert to prevent possible surge of the COVID -19 Omicron variant. Let us also protect our gains in reviving the tourism and economy of Clark,” he said.

Meanwhile, the CDC’s Health and Sanitation Division has renewed its call for people to adhere to minimum health standards such as wearing of face masks, practicing proper hand washing, observing physical distancing, ensuring proper ventilation, and avoiding crowded places among others.

Awareness on health protocols is also encouraged especially this holiday season. CDC likewise enjoined those unvaccinated to avail vaccination and receive additional protection against the COVID-19 virus.

WHO...

From A1 the previous record between April 23 to 29 when 817,000 cases were recorded on average each day.

The detected infections, which have been rising globally since mid-October, increased by 37 percent over the preceding seven days.

“The rapid growth rate is likely to be a combination of both immune evasion and intrinsic increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant,” the WHO said.

“The overall risk related to the new variant of concern Omicron remains very high,” the UN health agency added.

For now, the explosion in detected case numbers has not led to a worldwide increase in deaths, which have been on the decline for the last three weeks.

Around 6,450 new deaths a day have been recorded on average in the last seven days, the lowest since the end of October 2020.

At the height of the pandemic, 14,800 daily deaths were recorded between January 20 to 26, 2021.

Most of the new infections are currently occurring in Europe, where more than 3.5 million cases have been recorded in the last seven days, or more than 510,000 on average each day.

The level is also unprecedented, as the continent never recorded more than 300,000 cases per day in previous waves.

The Netherlands and Switzerland said Omicron had become the dominant strain in their countries, and while some studies suggested it causes milder COVID-19, the WHO urged caution.

“Consistent evidence shows that the Omicron variant has a growth advantage over the Delta variant with a doubling time of two to three days.”

The US Centers for Disease Control has halved the isolation period for asymptomatic cases to try and limit disruptions and mass labor shortages.

President Joe Biden said the United States was generally well prepared, though some hospitals could be “overrun.” AFP

and international figures, both living and posthumously,” he added.

Meanwhile, authorities will close the north and southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard from Katigbak Drive to TM. Kalaw Avenue in Manila to vehicular traffic today to give way to activities related to Rizal’s death anniversary.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said it will enforce a traffic rerouting scheme in connection with the event.

All light vehicles coming from Bonifacio Drive going to the southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard are advised to turn left at P. Burgos Avenue, right to Ma. Orosa Street, right to TM. Kalaw Avenue, left to MH. Del Pilar Street., right to United Nations Avenue to the point of destination.

News

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Court clears Espinosa on drug raps

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Makati City regional trial court has ordered the dismissal of charges filed against alleged drug lord Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa and three co-accused.

In an order dated last December 17, Judge Gina Bibat Palamos granted the demurrer to evidence filed by Espinosa, Wu Tuan Huan alias Peter Co, Lovely A. Impal, and Marcelo L. Adorco.

A demurrer to evidence is filed by an accused in a criminal case to dismiss the charges on the allegation that the evidence presented by the prosecution is insufficient or weak and would not result in a conviction.

If granted by the court, the charges are dismissed and the dismissal is tantamount to an acquittal. If denied, the trial would resume for the presentation of the evidence by the accused.

“Accordingly, for the failure of the prosecution to adduce evidence to overturn the presumption of innocence enjoyed by the herein accused, the Information in the above-entitled case is hereby dismissed,” the trial

court judge ruled.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra expressed sadness over the development, saying he has directed Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento “to exhaust all legal remedies, foremost of which is to file a motion for reconsideration with the trial court.”

Guevarra stressed that Espinosa “is not off-hook yet.”

“I understand that he is still facing an unfinished case before RTC-Manila and another drug case in Albuera, Leyte,” Guevarra stressed.

“Likewise, law enforcement agents are still on the lookout for drug lord Peter Lim. Sooner or later the long

Rody to sign 2022 budget today, says spox Nograles

arm of the law will catch up with these people and they will answer for their crimes,” the Justice Secretary said. Lim has been indicted, but he has been on the run.

Espinosa, Co, Adorco, and Impal were charged with violations of Section 26(b), under Section 5, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Penalized under Section 26(b) and Section 5, Article II of RA 9165 are the “sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of dangerous drugs and/ or controlled precursors and essential chemicals.”

By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is set to sign the national budget for 2022 today, acting Presidential Spokesperson, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a Palace press briefing on Wednesday.

Nograles also said the Duterte administration will fastrack all government programs in the remaining term of the President.

“Tomorrow, naka-schedule po ang pagpirma ni Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte ng 2022 general appropriations law (President Duterte is scheduled to sign the 2022 general appropriations law),” acting.

The proposed P5.024 trillion national budget for next year was scheduled to be signed into law on December 28. The signing was postponed because it is still under review process, Nograles said.

The signing of the second pandemic-era budget will guarantee that the government will not operate on a reenacted budget, he said.

Nograles assured the public that the Duterte administration would hasten the rollout of projects under the 2022 budget.

“With the signing of the 2022 budget, we will implement and fast track all the programs, projects, and activities in the 2022 national budget within the remaining six months of President Duterte, ‘’ he said.

Nograles said these programs and projects need to be carried out before the forthcoming 45-day ban on new projects ahead of the May 2022 national elections.

“We need to do this because there is an election ban so we have to already implement these before elections so that our fellowmen could benefit from them,” he said.

IN BRIEF QC to grant triple tax relief for local firms THE Quezon City council has passed ordinances to provide triple tax relief in 2022 to enable businesses to recover from the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

City Ordinance SP-3067 of 2021 extends the deadline for the payment of business taxes, fees, and charges without surcharges or interest from Jan. 20, 2022 (first quarter) and March 20, 2022 (second quarter) to July 20, 2022.

“As the economy gradually opens, some businesses that are heavily affected by the pandemic are still struggling on their way to recovery and we, in the city government, want to help them in as many ways as we can, and passing this tax relief ordinance is just one of them,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

The measure aims to provide tax relief to business owners affected by a series of lockdowns implemented during the community quarantine.

The councilors also passed City Ordinance SP-3068 of 2021 that seeks to waive penalties, surcharges, and interest for unpaid business taxes for 2021 and prior years. Rio N. Araja

BI deported over 3K illegal aliens in 2021 The Bureau of Immigration (BI) deported more than 3,000 illegal aliens this year.

Data obtained from the BI’s Deportation and Implementation Unit (DIU) showed that a total of 3,142 were deported from January to November 2021.

Of the number, the majority or 2,875 were Chinese, 90 were Koreans, 81 were Vietnamese, 27 were Japanese, and 19 were Americans.

According to BI-DIU head Atty. Victor Andrew Siriban, in 2020, the BI deported 3,219 aliens, many of which have been arrested for being fugitives from justice, undesirable, or overstaying.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said that despite the pandemic, they will continue deporting aliens who have violated the Philippine Immigration Act. “The pandemic will not be a hindrance in cleansing our country “Foreigners who blatantly violate our laws will be deported and blacklisted,” he warned. Vito Barcelo

Cops arrest 4 suspects in Laguna operations MEMBERS of the Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested four suspects accused of various crimes in separate operations in Laguna.

Laguna Police Acting Provincial Director PCol Rogarth Campo identified the suspects as Jose Pimentel, male, 37-years-old, married, jobless, resident of Brgy. Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna; Robin Volfango, male, 51-yearsold, married, seaman, resident of Brgy.

Lamesa, Calamba City, Laguna (Rank No 7 City Level); Tychicus Nambio, 45 years old, male, single, resident of Brgy. Pacita Complex 1, San Pedro City, Laguna; and Jofer Fernandez 38-years-old, married, company coordinator, resident of Brgy.Pooc, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, Calamba City Police Station arrested Pimentel, who is a “most wanted person” for the crime of qualified rape on December 28, 2021, at Brgy. Baclaran, Cabuyao City, Laguna. Roy Tomandao

DRUG BUST.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operatives presented to the media two suspects and 77.5 kilos of seized illegal drugs (shabu) with an estimated worth of P534,750 seized during a buy-bust operation in Mandaluyong City last Monday night.

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ISKO LEADS GROUNDBREAKING. Manila Mayor Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso led the groundbreaking ceremony of the fourstorey Boy Scouts of the Philippines - Manila Council Headquarters at A. Mabini Elementary School in Quiapo, Manila. Norman Cruz

Private hospitals on ‘red alert’ for firecracker-related injuries

By Willie Casas HOSPITALS are now on “red alert” because of possible firecracker-related injuries on the New Year celebration, an official of the Private Hospitals Associations of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) said Wednesday.

PHAPI president Dr. Jose de Grano, in an interview with GMA News’ Unang Balita, said their members are prepared for any eventualities during the New Year revelry.

“Halos lahat naman talaga ng hospital, kumbaga mati-term natin na naka-red alert at handa po sila sa kung ano man ang mangyayari (Almost all hospitals

we can say are on red alert and prepared for any eventualities),” he said.

Expecting strict enforcement of ordinances against illegal firecrackers, De Grano said they are hoping that there would be only a few cases of injuries this year.

As of Tuesday, the Department of Health (DOH) has reported 23 firecracker-related injuries involving “boga,” 5 star, piccolo, triangle, whistle bomb, baby rocket, and other unlabeled or imported firecrackers.

These patients were injured on the hands, head, eyes, neck, chest, thigh, and feet.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año ear-

lier appealed to the public to do away with the use of firecrackers.

“I just want to remind the public that the use of firecrackers is not allowed.

So here in Executive Order 28, we show that the public must comply and our local governments, because we will implement law enforcement through Executive Order 28 aimed at regulating, controlling the sale and use of fireworks or firecrackers. And our PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection and LGUs expect us to strictly enforce this regulation,” Año told President Rodrigo Duterte during his pre-recorded Talk to the People on Monday night.

EO 28, signed by Duterte in 2017,

provides for the regulation and control of the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices, the use of regulated firecrackers shall henceforth be confined to community fireworks displays.

The DILG chief said it was the responsibility of the PNP and the LGUs to enforce national and local policies regulating the manufacture and use of firecrackers through inspections, and confiscation and destruction of prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.

Violations include a fine of P20,000 to P30,000, imprisonment of six months to one year, cancellation of license and business permit and confiscation of inventory stocks.

Rules set after lifting of mining ban The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Wednesday that it has put in place policies that would help protect the environment following DENR’s lifting of the open-pit mining ban.

In a briefing, DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones said that one of their measures to reduce open-pit mining’s adverse impacts on the environment is the progressive rehabilitation of mined out areas, which they are now implementing.

“Hindi natin sila papayagan na magexpand ng kanilang operation kung hindi nila ire-rehabilitate ‘yung na-disturb na area nila,” he said.

(We will not allow the mining companies to expand their operations if they fail to rehabilitate the areas they disturbed.)

Leones added that through the DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 202140, which lifts the four-year-old ban on

open-pit mining, they have established a Technical Working Group that would assist all the DENR agencies to regularly monitor the compliance of the mining companies to the policy.

“So ang gagawin natin diyan, ‘pag nahuli natin sila na they are not complying strictly with our policies in environmental laws, at sa mga bago nating polisiya sa mining, so talagang hindi tayo mamimili na ipasarado natin ‘yan,” he warned.

(If we catch them not strictly complying with our policies in environmental laws, as well as our new mining policies, we will not hesitate to shut them down.)

By signing the DAO 2021-40, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu overturned his late predecessor, former Environment Secretary Gina Lopez’ DAO No. 201710, which banned the mining method for the extraction of copper, gold, silver, and/ or complex ores in the country.

BDO ASSISTANCE. As part of a Christmas gift-giving program dubbed “Handog Sayo ng BDO Foundation,” the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank provided food assistance for economically disadvantaged communities all over the country. The foundation partnered with Caritas Philippines, the social arm of the Philippine Catholic Church, for the distribution of packs containing canned goods, cup noodles, rice, and drinking water to 20,000 underserved families in 23 provinces in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Villar vows continued assistance to ‘Odette’ victims

By Macon Ramos-Araneta FORMER Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said Villar SIPAG has continuously been assisting victims of typhoon Odette.

Villar has ordered the continuous distribution of relief packs consisting of sacks of rice, noodles, and blankets.

He cited the collaborative efforts of those coming from the private and public sectors, including public servants, to help alleviate the “bad situation” that befell Filipinos in these parts of the country.

He also appealed to the international

community to provide humanitarian help to areas hardest hit by Odette.

“Let us all set aside politics and put our efforts and resources together to help,” he stressed.

“We are helping them in their struggles in the aftermath of the super typhoon. While they are yet to recover from the hard impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, they are now faced with the ill effects of Odette,” he further stated.

Villar, who is running for senator in the upcoming elections, said the devastation was “heartbreaking” as many lives were lost and properties like houses and buildings were destroyed.

In giving aid to the typhoon vic-

tims, he said, we are also helping our government.

The former secretary of DPWH has also been providing blankets to the typhoon victims to keep them warm as the typhoon occurred during the Christmas season.

Among the beneficiaries of the relief packs are the following: Bacolod City, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Negros Oriental,Tacloban City, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Zamboanga City, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Davao del Norte,Davao del Sur, Butuan City, Siargao, and Surigao del Norte.

IN BRIEF

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021 E-mail: mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Pacquiao approves POC censure of Juico PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao has thanked the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) for its swift and judicious action over the raging controversy involving the national athletics federation and national pole vaulter EJ Obiena.

Pacquiao said the decision of the POC under its Chairman Cavite Rep. Abraham Tolentino to disavow Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Philip Ella Juico and declare him persona non grata “is a great morale booster for athletes like Obiena, who worked really hard to bring pride and honor for the country.”

“This decision of POC is a vindication from this useless and senseless politicking among our sporting officials. Thank you POC President Abraham Tolentino for taking immediate action on behalf of our athletes,” he said.

The world’s only eight-division boxing champion said the POC’s action has reassured Obiena and all other Filipino athletes that they have the support of the Filipino people.

He added that the decision should also free Obiena from the mental torture that he had been going through and can now focus on his training to become the world’s top pole vaulter.

Pacquiao said this “clear censure” by the POC on Juico should remind sporting officials to act solely to uplift our athletes and not to torment them. Macon Ramos-Araneta

DDR passage tops Salceda wishlist THE resident economist of the House of Representatives on Wednesday reiterated his call on his fellow legislators to pass the measure that creates the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) as a full-time, cabinet-level agency.

Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda of Albay, chairman of the House committee on ways and means, said the measure is atop his list of immediate legislative priorities for 2022.

Salceda said he hopes the Senate will pass the bill creating the Department of Disaster Resilience before the 18th Congress adjourns in June 2022.

“Odette bared the weaknesses of very local planning and mitigation. You really need a national agency permanently manning disaster response. It’s something of an insurance policy. We pool the risks among different regions, who are able to draw from national resources when some of them get struck by a calamity that is beyond their own means to address,” Salceda said.

“The presumption is, when a locality gets hit by something devastatingly large, even their own resources will probably have been affected. So, we need an agency that consistently facilitates the exchange of resources among localities and between the local and national levels,” he added.

“You need a National Emergency Management Agency, and the DDR will be this agency. As with the Department of OFWs, which I also principally authored and helped write as TWG chair, and which PRRD is set to finally sign into law just after Christmas, I am confident that we can make one last push for this measure,” Salceda said. “It’s atop my New Year’s wishes.”

Salceda, being the principal author of the measure creating a DDR, said “disaster risk reduction is both a human dignity and a socioeconomic development issue.”

Maricel V. Cruz

One satellite phone for each LGU—solon

News Lacson: Sans politics, aid for ‘Odette’ areas to arrive sooner

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

DRY RUN. In preparation for the May 2022 national elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday conduct a mock election process at an elementary school in Western Bicutan, Taguig City. Norman Cruz

Comelec sets prelim gab on 3 Marcos DQ charges T HE parties to the three disqualification cases filed against presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will be summoned to attend the preliminary conference on the cases scheduled on Jan. 7, 2022, an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Wednesday.

Comelec 1st Division presiding Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said the lawyers for three petitioners, Bonifacio Ilagan, Abubakar Mangelen, and Akbayan, as well as the lawyer of the respondent Marcos, will have to be present during the meeting.

“Summons will be sent to lawyers and parties to personally appear on January 7. Be there at 8:45 a.m. Doors will be closed at 8:55 a.m. @COMELEC,” she said on her Twitter account, @rowena_guanzon.

She also reminded the attendees about the health protocols to be implemented during the conference.

“Preliminary conference of Marcos DQ cases will be in @COMELEC session hall. All lawyers must be inside before 8:55 a.m. Parties must personally appear. Vax cards, face masks,” she added.

Guanzon will preside over the meeting to be held at the poll body’s session hall located on the eighth floor of the Palacio del Gobernador Building in In-

EACH local government unit (LGU) in the country must be equipped with a satellite phone, Leyte 4th District Rep. Lucy TorresGomez said Wednesday, as the aftermath of Typhoon Odette uncovered many gaps in the country’s disaster preparedness.

“Yes, satellite phones for every LGU are needed, but this is not the only thing, and perhaps not even the top priority,” she said in a statement.

“We have seen that Odette has disrupted three cornerstones of local economies; namely: local roads, power and communications. Ten days after Odette, we find that the most difficult to restore is power, and this is what is going to leave long-lasting economic damage,” the lawmaker added.

In terms of communications, TorresGomez said that internet service providers like Globe and Smart must be mandated to develop a disaster preparedness and disaster resilience plan.

“For example, they must have alternate cell sites or back up power supply for cell sites. We have seen how the lack of internet service disrupts not only cellphone communications but more critically, it disables the use of non-cash payment transactions like Gcash, debit/credit card and even ATMs,” she said.

tramuros, Manila.

“I will preside over the preliminary conference of Akbayan et. al. vs. Marcos Jr. on Jan 7 at 9:00 a.m. Lawyers, prepare! I have low tolerance for incompetence,” she said.

Guanzon added that members of the media would be allowed to cover the event but for a limited time only.

“To the mainstream media: In the interest of the public and transparency, we will admit the media for five minutes or until the joining of issues is finished and before their exhibits are marked,” she said.

The disqualification cases were separately filed by petitioners, urging the poll body not to allow the former senator to run in the May 2022 polls.

The 1st Division is also composed of commissioners Marlon Casquejo and Aimee Ferolino.

HUMANITARIAN MISSION. Former

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, assisted by House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, in partnership with Tingog Party-List Rep Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, hand over P1 million in financial assistance and 1,000 sacks of rice to Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers and P500,000 plus 2,000 sacks of rice to Gen. Luna, Siargao Mayor Cecilia Rusillon during a turnover at Siargao airport on Wednesday.

Ver Noveno

Kiko to fiberglass makers: Replace boats wrecked by super typhoon SENATOR Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Wednesday sought the help of fiberglass manufacturers in the country to help thousands of fisherfolk whose boats have been destroyed by Typhoon Odette.

“I am appealing to the leaders of fiberglass manufacturing industry in our country to help our fishermen recover from their losses due to Typhoon Odette,” Pangilinan said.

According to Pangilinan, these fishermen need bancas that were either submerged or destroyed by Typhoon Odette.

“It is a huge help to fishermen if they can get new bancas immediately,” he said.

He noted that millions of pesos worth of motorized bancas, pump boats, and fishing gear had been wiped out in the fury of Odette.

“We need to replace soonest the fishing boats of affected fisherfolk in order to

restore their sources livelihood,” Pangilinan said.

“Fiberglass is a great replacement to wooden bancas. Trees must be cut to make new wooden boats. Cutting trees will further deplete our forest cover. And this is not environmental-friendly,” Pangilinan said.

“Cutting thousands of trees to make wooden bancas would lead to soil erosion, which would in turn cause flooding

and a host of environmental challenges” Pangilinan said.

On Dec. 29, Pangilinan flew to Bohol to distribute relief package to displace residents and to assess the extent of damage to the province.

Pangilinan went to Leyte and Surigao for relief missions on Dec. 21. He was joined by his wife Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan in Cebu to distribute relief packs on Dec. 23. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Isko debuts blockbuster ‘Nais Ko’ music video

LENI RETURNS. Vice President Leni Robredo returns to Dinagat Islands on Tuesday to bring more relief assistance to residents and assure them and local officials of continued help as they start rebuilding their lives after super typhoon “Odette.” OVP Photo

THE camp of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Wednesday declared that his presidential machinery has shifted into high gear following Tuesday’s release of a “blockbuster” music video highlighting his rise from poverty to being one of the most influential local chief executives in the country.

The music video already garnered a total of 26,000 views on YouTube in the first hour since it was launched at noon of December 28, Moreno’s camp said. The views jumped to 55,000 in three hours, overtaking the 37,000 views of the video “Pag-ibig ang Kulay ng Pasko,” four days after it was posted in YouTube.

By 9 p.m. or 9 hours after its launch, “Nais Ko” had overtaken the 431,000 views of “Sama-Sama Ngayong Pasko” by more than 4,000 views. This is phenomenal considering the SSNP video was posted two

days ago or 48 hours earlier than “Nais Ko,” Domagoso added.

Meanwhile, the wife of Mayor Domagoso spearheaded the city government’s relief operations in the province of Antique, whose residents were also severely affected

by Typhoon “Odette.”

Diana Lynn Domagoso, along with other volunteers from the relief operations team of the city, handed over relief goods consisting of foods packs and bottled water to affected residents as part of “Operation Tabang” of Team Isko Moreno.

In collaboration with popular Pinoy rappers Smugglaz and Bassilyo, the 4 minutes and 27 seconds long music video titled “Nais Ko” shows the 47-year-old Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer back in Tondo, Manila, where he was born in 1974. Rey E. Requejo

IF RELIEF operations had been more organized and insulated from politics, Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Wednesday said storm victims in dire need of help from both the public and private sectors in the wake of Typhoon “Odette” could have received aid a lot sooner.

Lacson lamented that some politicians prioritized helping disasterstricken citizens in vote-rich provinces over other equally devastated areas.

“You know, once politicians intervene during relief operations, they will not go to severely or hardest-hit areas right away,” he said.

“What they will prioritize are those in vote-rich areas, that’s why most of them went to the bigger provinces and smaller communities were overlooked,” he added.

Meanwhile, health, economy, and accountability issues will top the list of priorities of Lacson should he be elected President in 2022.

While ensuring the recovery of the country’s health and economy from the pandemic is imperative, Lacson said he will also make sure that those who stole from public coffers are made to answer.

“There is no tradeoff between health and the economy. You cannot solve the problems affecting the economy if you do not address the health problems caused by the pandemic,” he said.

On Odette, Lacson specifically cited the cases of residents in the Limasawa Island and Maasin City in Southern Leyte, who were left appealing for government aid and private donations days after the typhoon struck.

Lacson said this could have been avoided if relief missions were done in an orderly manner.

“Of course, we are not ignoring the needs of the victims in other places, but if the distribution of aid was more organized, more systematic, and more focused—much better,” he said.

“Because what happened was to each his own. There was no organized distribution of relief assistance, so some people were left in dire straits, that’s how I see it,” he added.

UniTeam returns to VisMin areas ripped by storm

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rey E. Requejo THE BBM-Sara UniTeam on Wednesday assured that its humanitarian and relief mission will deliver aid to local leaders regardless of their political affiliations with the hope of uniting them in the rehabilitation of areas badly hit by Super Typhoon Odette.

More than raising funds for the victims, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats President Martin G. Romualdez said the UniTeam has been exerting all efforts to raise hope in communities ravaged by the typhoon.

“We aim to unite all political leaders, regardless of their affiliation, to work together for the common task of rebuilding lives and communities,” Romualdez, House Majority Leader and Leyte’s 1st District representative, said.

“We have learned from the lessons of Yolanda. Surnames and political colors must take a backseat for the sake of our people. Hindi po importante kung ano ang apelyido mo o kung ano ang kulay mo. Ang mahalaga, ano ang maitutulong mo sa pagbangon,” he said.

“Hopefully, this message of unity and hope by the UniTeam resonates not only in calamity areas, but also in other areas of the country where political divide hinders economic growth and prosperity for our people,” Romualdez added.

The UniTeam Alliance of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has intensified its Humanitarian and Relief Mission to provinces badly hit by Super Typhoon Odette weeks ago.

Opinion Lessons to Remember

Like our resilient spirit, public programs and services should be pandemic- and disasterready.

While we slowly return to prepandemic normal, we must not forget the identified gaps and lapses in our current health programs. With this, I urge the national government to systematically address the issues that hamper delivery of health care services in various parts of the country and increase support to our health care workers. We need long-term strategies and sustainable programs from the national down to the grassroots level in order to control, manage, and prevent disease outbreaks. The devolution of more programs to the local government units requires continuous guidance and support from the national government in order to effectively achieve national objectives.

Like our resilient spirit, public programs and services should be pandemic- and disaster-ready. It is high time that we improve our crisis preparedness in order to reduce not only economic losses but also the loss of lives. This entails a cohesive and coordinated national and local governments.

The coming year will be another crucial year in terms of national recovery. It is also an election year. Hence, I urge the public to be more circumspect in choosing and electing our next leaders. As I have said before, the next leaders should be capable of uniting the government and the entire country. As we end the year, I am hopeful that 2022 will not be “2020 too.” Together, we will recover.

Top Business Stories of 2021 THE list of the top business stories of 2021 is dominated by three items: the arrival and spread of COVID-19 and Delta variant, the two ECQ (Enhanced Community Quarantine) lockdowns imposed on the economy – in March to April and August to September, and the Philippine economy’s modest recovery towards the end of the year.

After almost one year of lockdown – said to be the world’s longest – the economy appeared, at the start of the 2021, to be gradually moving out of the COVID-19 crisis. Then the unexpected happened. A virulent variant of COVID-19, christened the Delta variant, appeared on the world scene and made its way to this country.

Faced with evidence of the variant’s deadly impact on other countries, the IATF (InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) had no choice but to recommend the placement of this country’s most productive regions under ECQ, the most restrictive of the quarantine levels. The March to April ECQ produced the desired results – reductions in infection, hospitalization and mortality rates – but when a second Delta wave occurred in August, an ECQ was once more imposed on the NCR (National Capital Region) and adjacent regions.

With their severe impact on personal contact and mobility, the lockdowns caused a slowdown in the Philippine economy’s march back to growth. Even with the lowness of 2020 base figures, the GDP (gross domestic product) grew by only 4.1 percent and 7.1 percent in this year’s second quarter and third quarter, respectively.

Those numbers brought the January-toSeptember average growth to 4.9 percent, an enormous improvement on 2020’s disastrous 9.6 percent GDP contraction.

The fiscal sector appearing to have been exhausted by the cost of the two pieces of ayuda legislation – the Bayanihan and Bayanihan 2 Acts – the BSP (Bangko

B1

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

year 2021 also marked the lowest increase in our population in the past 75 years, with only a 0.3 percent projected natural increase. If at all, this demonstrates the inclination of Filipinos to delay having children due to the various uncertainties posed by the pandemic.

2021 is another pandemic year. This year, however, we are lucky to have finally received the much-awaited vaccines against COVID-19. But we all know that this is not our end-all be-all. Still, the vaccines made a huge difference in how we live amidst the pandemic.

Vaccines helped lower fatality and infection rates worldwide. Locally, we have seen how the number of new cases decreased after the successful national vaccination drive of the government.

Hence, as we welcome the new year, our vaccination efforts should be strengthened.

Booster shots have already become available. As the year ends, I am hopeful that many people will get inoculated in order to achieve our much-needed herd immunity.

This is not the first and will not be the last time that a pandemic may happen.

We have heard of the Spanish flu in 1918 which, according to the US CDC, infected 500 million people in the world. The Spanish flu pandemic lasted until 1919, with a few subsequent outbreaks here and there. People either died or developed immunity from the disease. It was only years later when scientists and doctors were able to study and develop vaccines against influenza.

Now, we are lucky that scientists and pharmaceutical companies were able to develop vaccines in less than a year’s time.

From our experience, however, we have seen how a viral illness may affect the entire world regardless of how advanced science and technology is.

We should learn our lesson here. As we enjoy innovations in technology, we should also push for the corresponding advancement of our health care system, particularly in epidemiological surveillance, disease prevention, and pandemic preparedness and response. The

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

Sentral ng Pilipinas) facing the brunt of providing government support for the Philippine economy’s stabilization and recovery. In what has clearly been one of 2021’s most important stories, the Monetary Board maintained the BSP’s key interest rates at historically low levels: the overnight reverse repurchase facility at 2 percent and the overnight deposit at 2 percent and the overnight deposit and lending rates at 1.5 percent and 25 percent, respectively. There doubtless has been reluctance to borrow and lend in a depressed economy, but low-interest funds have been available for borrowing and lending.

After almost one year of lockdown – said to be the world’s longest – the economy appeared, at the start of the 2021, to be gradually moving out of the COVID-19 crisis.

Another major economic feature of 2021 has been the steady rise in world petroleumproducts prices in the wake of the renewed aggressiveness of the OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries). The aggressiveness has been the result of the growth in demand for oil occasional by the recovery. A supply-caused increase in pork prices joined the petroleum-products price increases in stoking the fire of inflation, causing the CPI (consumer price index) to rise to a November rate of 4.2 per cent.

2021 was the year that saw the end of the pretensions of PhilHealth (Philippine Health Clearance Corporation) to be a wellmanaged, efficient government corporation.

The findings of COA (Commission on Audit), brought into the open in a Senate investigation, showed Philhealth to be grossly mismanaged, riddled with corruption and undeserving of the right to administer this country’s universal health care system.

Another headline-hugging event in 2021 was the investigation, likewise conducted by the Senate, of the highly anomalous grant

Sending the wrong signal

T

HE decision of the Department of Health to stop providing case bulletins and daily situation reports on the COVID-19 pandemic by Jan. 1, 2022 sends all the wrong signals at a time when more information, not less, is critical.

In an advisory issued Monday, the DOH said daily case updates could still be obtained through the COVID-19 tracker on its website, which is updated daily at 4 p.m.

“This public tracker, which has been operational since the start of the pandemic, contains all information being provided in the case bulletin and daily situation report. Hence, to streamline public communication, the case bulletin and the daily situation report will no longer be issued separately as [a] social media card and as [a] PDF file, respectively,” the advisory says.

Oddly, the announcement comes just as the country is bracing for the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Already, four imported cases have been detected, and it seems only a matter of time before it spreads to the local community.

Now, then, in the middle of a pandemic that is far from over, is not the time to reduce the channels of communication through which vital information can be disseminated.

Now, then, in the middle of a pandemic that is far from over, is not the time to reduce the channels of communication through which vital information can be disseminated.

Also, while the baseline data might be available somewhere on the DOH website, some of it is buried or difficult to find. For example, it is difficult to see on the web-based tracker how many new cases are reported on a given day, and how this number compares with the days previous.

There are also instances when, for any variety of reasons, that the website may be unavailable. In such instances, having a social media alternative or a PDF report would be helpful in filling the information gap.

Finally, having these alternative channels for information gives health officials the opportunity to highlight what they see as the most salient points in a sea of data.

Reacting to the DOH announcement, Senator Joel Villanueva says the daily COVID bulletins are a reminder to the public that the problem is not yet over and that they must continue to be careful and practice safety protocols.

Senator Francis Pangilinan added: “Accurate information on the spread of the disease is crucial in knowing whether or not the spread of the virus is being effectively addressed or not.

Daily bulletins are necessary means of providing accurate, timely information to the public at large.”

The Palace has tried to defend the decision to stop posting daily COVID-19 bulletins on social media, saying that with vaccinations rising in the country, daily case reports may not be as relevant anymore.

This is a mistake and sends the wrong signal that we are already in the clear. As COVID-19 cases surge elsewhere in the world, is it really safe to assume we are somehow blessed, and that we will be immune from a resurgence of infections?

We have not learned our lessons ONCE again, our civil defense authorities came up short of expectations in their response to the devastation caused by super typhoon Odette. Thirteen days after the destruction, many victims are still waiting for help.

Typhoon Odette was the second super typhoon to devastate the country in less than ten years. The first was “Yolanda” in 2013.

Mercifully, Odette killed a lot less but this is no consolation at all given the extent of property, agricultural and infrastructure damage. The affected area is also very much wider.

Although the estimated property damage is not yet complete, the initial estimates coming in are already running in the tens of billions of pesos. This means that reconstruction will be more costly and longer.

It used to be that typhoons of this magnitude are few and far between, but because of climate change, they are becoming more frequent and more destructive. It is therefore safe to say that we will be seeing more Odettes and Yolandas in the not-too-distant future.

Typhoons in the past would normally pass a given area once but in the case of Odette, it did not only linger but also returned to the areas that were already destroyed, causing a lot more misery.

We would have thought that our government has already polished its responses to this kind of emergency situation efficiently and effectively but as we have seen in the past several days, this is not of P11 billion worth of pandemic-related government, procurements to a highly undercapitalized, suspicion-ridden company – Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation – with ties to individuals friendly with Malacañang. The discoveries made by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee were ugly enough; but the ugliest part of the entire Senate episode was President Duterte’s appearing to be against the investigators and for the investigated.

On the business front, a noteworthy feature of the 2021 Philippine business’ scene was the establishment of the REIT (real estate investment trusts) as a full-fledged part of the Philippine capital market. By the end of the year almost all of the real estate sector biggies – including Ayala Land, Filinvest and Megaworld – had made an IPO (initial public offering) of their REIT’s shares.

the case. There are many reasons given by the government for the late response.

One is the late assessment report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of the extent of damage. It took five days before a state of calamity can be declared, authorizing the release of funds. This may be true but it could not totally absolve the government for not responding immediately. After all, it was an emergency situation.

All these point to lack of preparation.

We seem to have learned nothing from all our previous experiences in responding to frequent natural calamities.

Another reason given is because of depleted funds or where to source the funding to support relief operations. All these point to lack of preparation.

There may also be other reasons that the government is not saying. One is the pandemic where the focus of government is currently concentrated. It could also be because everyone was already in a celebratory mode because of Christmas.

Still another reason could be because of the magnitude of the destruction that caused relevant government agencies to lose their bearing as to where and how to start the rescue and relief operations.

What makes me wonder is why the government keeps on pointing to lack of funds as a reason for the poor response. This is an old refrain that we often hear from the government. By all indications however, the real reason is simply unpreparedness and President Duterte realizes this because he is calling for reforms. He wants an amendment The year-end meeting, held in Glasgow, of COP (Conference of the Parties) 26, was filled as possibly the last chance for the members of the international community to prevent the planet from careering towards a climatic disaster. COP 26’s mother organization, the UN International Climate Change Commission, has been less than ecstatic about the outcome of the Conference.

Two other stories that defined 2021 were the initial phase of the 2022 electoral season – the selection and qualification of candidates – and super-typhoon Odette, which cut a wide swath of destruction across Northern Mindanao and Central Visayas.

The economic impact of Odette has now been felt. The impact of next year’s electoral exercise will be felt by the Philippine economy long after May 9, 2022.

to the calamity law but it should not only be limited to that. We must also look at how our civil defense agencies are performing in order to reform their weaknesses.

This is one time when there should be a congressional investigation to find out the reasons for the inadequate response and pass the necessary laws to improve the system. For one, a Council may not be the best way to respond to emergency situations.

A line agency may be better like a National Emergency Management Agency instead of a Council type system. This is because, time and again, the NDRRMC has not been up to par in the performance of its duties. It has built in limitations like having to rely on other agencies for inputs before acting. This may be the reason why the local government units in all the affected areas were initially left to fend for themselves.

Government help is now rapidly improving but more needs to be done by way by getting help to the most remote areas that were affected. Based on my experiences in dealing with extreme natural calamities, having an efficient and functioning standard operating procedure is of great help. We do not have to have a 50-year emergency response plan as suggested by Senator Manny Pacquiao. All that is needed are SOPs that the government can use for every emergency situation. One each for Typhoons, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, heavy flooding and others. These SOPs must be continuously updated, rehearsed and subjected to table exercises. This way, civil defense agencies can immediately respond when the situation demands.

Practice as they say makes perfect. A similar old adage also tells us that “the more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war.” In this case, that war refers to natural disasters.

A better New Year to one and all.

MORE OPINION ONLINE (www.manilastandard.net)

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

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

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

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor

Emil P. Jurado

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

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

B2

World

TODAY THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CHINA CRITICIZED OVER HEAVY-HANDED APPROACH

Backlash over COVID rule-breaker shaming

B

EIJING—Armed riot police in southern China have paraded four alleged violators of Covid rules through the streets, state media reported Wednesday, leading to criticism of the government’s heavy-handed approach.

China banned such public shaming of criminal suspects in 2010 after decades of campaigning by human rights activists, but the practice has resurfaced as local governments struggle to enforce the national zero-Covid policy.

Four masked suspects in hazmat

suits -- carrying placards displaying their photos and names -- were paraded Tuesday in front of a large crowd in Guangxi region’s Jingxi city, state-run Guangxi News said.

Photos of the event showed each suspect held by two police officers

-- wearing face shields, masks and hazmat suits -- and surrounded by a circle of police in riot gear, some holding guns.

The four were accused of transporting illegal migrants while China’s borders remain largely closed due to the pandemic, the newspaper said.

Jingxi is near the Chinese border with Vietnam.

The public shaming was part of disciplinary measures announced by the local government in August to punish those breaking health rules.

Guangxi News said the parade

provided a “real-life warning” to the public, and “deterred border-related crimes”.

But it also led to a backlash, with official outlets and social media users criticising the heavyhanded approach.

Although Jingxi is “under tremendous pressure” to prevent imported coronavirus cases, “the measure seriously violates the spirit of the rule of law and cannot be allowed to happen again,” Chinese Communist Partyaffiliated Beijing News said Wednesday.

Other suspects accused of illicit smuggling and human trafficking have

also been paraded in recent months, according to reports on the Jingxi government website.

Videos of a similar parade in November showed a crowd of people watching two prisoners being held while a local official read out their crimes on a microphone.

They were then seen marching through the streets in their hazmat suits, flanked by police in riot gear.

And in August, dozens of armed police were seen marching a suspect through the streets to a children’s playground. AFP

HK cops raid newsroom, arrest 6 staff for ‘seditious publication’ HONG KONG—Hong Kong police raided the office of a local media outlet and arrested six current and former staff on Wednesday, deepening fears for press freedom in a territory where media rights have been massively curtailed in recent years.

Suppression of Hong Kong’s local press has increased in the wake of 2019’s huge and often violent democracy protests and Beijing’s subsequent imposition of a sweeping national security law.

More than 200 officers were deployed to search the Stand News newsroom with court authorization to seize journalistic materials, police said, confirming six arrests.

The Committee to Protect Journalists described the raid as “an open assault on Hong Kong’s already tattered press freedom” and called for charges to be dropped.

An AFP reporter saw Stand News acting editor-in-chief Patrick Lam being led handcuffed into the office.

Police also arrested former editor-inchief Chung Pui-kuen, as well as four board members who resigned in June, according to local media.

Around Wednesday lunchtime, national security police could be seen hauling boxes from Stand News’ office.

‘Professional news reporting’ Shortly before dawn, Stand News had broadcast live on Facebook that national security police were outside

the door of deputy assignment editor Ronson Chan.

In the brief video, officers were seen telling Chan they had a warrant to investigate charges of “conspiracy to publish seditious publication”—an offence under a British colonial-era law.

Chan said police confiscated some of his electronic devices after a home search, but he was not arrested.

“Stand News has always conducted professional news reporting, this is beyond doubt,” Chan told reporters.

“Criminal charges won’t change this fact.”

At least four other Stand News staff members were visited by police and had their homes searched, a source told AFP. The former Stand News board members arrested Wednesday are Hong Kong pop star Denise Ho, barrister Margaret Ng, Christine Fang and Chow Tat-chi, according to local media reports.

Founded as a non-profit online news outlet in 2014, Stand News was nominated for Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Prize in November.

During the 2019 democracy protests, police clashed with several of the outlet’s reporters and one journalist— known for her Facebook live broadcasts —captured footage of a mob attack at a train station, continuing the feed even as the assailants turned on her. AFP

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation

CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD IN RE: PETITION FOR ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY TO OPERATE DOMESTIC NONSCHEDULED (AIR TAXI) AIR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

CAB Case No. EP-21-3852-HED112021-299-0

KUDOS AIR SHUTTLE & SERVICES CORP., Petitioner. x------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE & ORDER FOR HEARING Pursuant to the provisions of RA776, as amended, and the on-going General Community Quarantine vis-a vis Alternative Work Arrangement of the CAB to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and in view of the Interim Guidelines on the Rules of Procedure governing the Conduct of Virtual Hearings before the Civil Aeronautics Board, amended and adopted on 13 January 2021, during the Effectivity of Resolution No. 11 “Recommendations for the Management of the Coronavirus Disease Situation, Notice is hereby given that a virtual hearing is scheduled on February 3, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. via Google Meet, wherein the Applicant shall present relevant evidence. Link will be sent via email thirty (30) minutes before the scheduled hearing.

Considering the nature of your operation, the applicant is hereby required to have this Notice of Hearing published at least once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a broadsheet newspaper of national circulation. The Notice of Hearing and the Application shall be served, by this Office, to all concerned parties/airlines, either by facsimile or electronic mail, in compliance with CAB Board Resolution No. 97 (2003).

Parties opposed to the said application shall file its manifestation not later than February 3, 2022 and its written opposition on or before the date of hearing, furnishing a copy of the same to the applicant or appear at the hearing with such evidence as may be proper under the premises. Failure on the part of any interested party to file their opposition on time or appear at the hearing shall be construed as a waiver of their right to be heard and the Civil Aeronautics Board shall proceed to hear and decide the application on its merits, ex parte.

ORDER is hereby given requiring Petitioner to submit within three (3) working days from receipt hereof, the following documents, alphabetically pre-marked, in the order hereunder listed, to wit; • • • • • • • • • • •

Verified CAB Application Form, as Exhibit “A”; Official Receipt of Filing Fee paid, as Exhibit “B”; Secretary Certificate regarding the present stockholdings of the company, as Exhibit “C”; General Information Sheet, as Exhibit “D”; Certificate of Registration of its Aircraft, as Exhibit “E” series; Certificate of Airworthiness of its Aircraft, as Exhibit “F”; Aircraft Insurance coverages, as Exhibit “G” series; Copy of Pilot’s Licenses with their corresponding ratings, as Exhibit “H” series; Latest Audited Financial Statements, as Exhibit “I”; Business Plan with 3 years Projection and 90-days Operational Cost, as Exhibit “J “; Judicial Affidavit of witness/es, as Exhibit “K”.

Let a copy of the petition and this Notice be posted at the CAB Bulletin Board beginning today.

Pasay City, Philippines this 12TH day of December 2021.

Copy furnished:

MARIA ELBEN SL. MORO Hearing Officer

MR. HECTOR L. CATAN Quality Manager KUDOS AIR SHUTTLE & SERVICES CORP. 15 Old Airport Road, Brgy. Sasa Davao City Hectorcatan407@gmail.com

Congressional Democrats to urge Republican lawmakers to take action on unfinished issues at the East Front steps of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. The Democrat from Nevada who rose from humble beginnings to lead the upper chamber during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama has died at the age of 82, officials said Tuesday. AFP

Russia to consider shutting down Memorial group’s rights center MOSCOW—A Moscow court on Wednesday hears a case against the rights center of Memorial group, which chronicled Soviet-era purges, a day after the Supreme Court outlawed the main organization in a watershed moment in Russia’s history.

The ruling against Memorial International on Tuesday sparked an international outcry, with the United States, France and the Council of Europe condemning its closure.

Founded in 1989 by Soviet dissidents including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Andrei Sakharov, Memorial is Russia’s most prominent rights organization. It has chronicled Stalinera purges and also campaigned for the rights of political prisoners and other marginalized groups.

On Tuesday, Russia’s Supreme Court ordered the closure of Memorial International, which maintains the network’s extensive archives in Moscow and coordinates the work of regional offices.

The shutdown came after prosecutors accused Memorial of failing to mark all of its publications with a label of “foreign agent”, the

Notice is hereby given that Rockwell Land Corporation (owner/developer) has filed with this office a sworn registration statement for the sale of commercial subdivision lots at Rockwell Center Bacolod-North Block located along Carlos Hilado Highway (Circumferential Road), Brgy.

Mandalagan, Bacolod City and more particularly described as Lot 1 of consolidation plan (LRA) Pcs-E2020000759 containing an area of 72,745 sq.m. and covered by TCT No. 092-2021002706.

Absent of any legal impediment and after submission of complete required documents, the above-cited project is deemed registered and a certificate, in evidence thereof, shall forthwith be issued after five (5) days from the last day of publication.

ATTY. MICHAEL JOURDAN J. NAVARRO Counsel for Airphil Express Legal Department Air Philippines Corporation APC Gate 1. Andrews Avenue Pasay City MS. MARIA INEZ F. JOSE Network and Regulatory Affairs PHILIPPINES AIRASIA. INC. (dba AirAsia) Building 4, Unit 1, Salem Complex Domestic Road. Pasay City

Iloilo City, Metro Manila, Dec. 14, 2021.

(MS-DEC. 30, 2021, JAN. 6 & 13, 2022)

tag for organizations that receive funds from overseas. The prosecution also said Memorial “creates a false image of the USSR as a terrorist state and denigrates the memory of World War II”.

In a separate case, prosecutors have also asked to dissolve Memorial’s Human Rights Centre for the failure to use the “foreign agent” label on its publications and for allegedly justifying terrorism and extremism.

Wednesday sees the Moscow City Court hold a new hearing in that case.

The trials signal the end of an era in Russia’s post-Soviet democratization process, which began 30 years ago this month.

‘Awful mirror’ A Memorial lawyer, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, said they did not doubt that the court would on Wednesday rule to shut down Memorial’s Human Rights Centre as well.

“It’s obvious,” the lawyer told AFP. Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth Roth said he also feared that the center would be shut down. AFP

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Department of Human Settelements and Urban Development Kagawaran ng Pamahalaang Pantao at Pagpapaunlad ng Kalunsuran National Capital Region

All papers relative thereto shall, upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business Ilours by any person having legal interest thereon.

ATTY. ROQUE ALDRICH B. ALVAERA Manager (Legislative), Corporate Affairs CEBU AIR. INC. (CEBU PACIFIC AIR) Airline Operat ions Centre Manila Domestic Airport, Pasay City

ATTY. LEILANI N. DE LEON Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer CEBGO, Inc. (dba CEBGO) 3rd Floor, Cebu Pacific Building 8006 Domestic Road Pasay City

REID, 82. In this file photo taken on September 8, 2016, US Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid arrives for an event with

ATTY. MELCHOR M. CALOPIZ OIC, Regional Director

STICKY SITUATION. A health worker performs COVID-19 coronavirus screening of passengers at a railway station in New Delhi on December 29.

AFP

Police: 5 dead, 2 wounded in shooting spree in Colorado WASHINGTON—The death toll from a shooting spree across multiple locations in Colorado, which ended when the gunman was himself shot dead, has risen to five, police said Tuesday.

The trail of shooting began around 5:00 pm on Monday and unfolded across at least four different locations in the cities of Denver and Lakewood, said police, who had initially put the death toll at four.

Two women were killed and a man was wounded in the first location in Denver, police said, with another man shot dead outside his residence.

The gunman then traveled to neighboring Lakewood, where he fatally shot another man in the Lucky 13 tattoo parlor and wounded another individual.

Working off information gathered from the previous assaults, Lakewood officers were able to identify the shooter as he moved locations.

The shooter entered a shopping center where he fatally shot a female employee, police said.

He then encountered a police officer in the shopping center who ordered him to drop his weapon. In the subsequent exchange of fire, the officer was wounded but shot dead the suspect.

The gunman was “pronounced dead on the scene” said Lakewood police spokesman John Romero. He added the police officer was “doing well” but that she would need further surgery.

The shooter’s motivations were unknown, but police said that “based on what we know, it does appear that the offender was targeting specific people.”

Two weapons were recovered by police.

Gun violence is a huge problem in the United States and gun control advocates say the issue is fueled by the prevalence of firearms as well as by relatively lax gun laws. AFP

(MS-DEC. 23 & 30, 2021)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Business Euro can’t shake image as driver of high prices PARIS, France—Europeans have been living with euro banknotes and coins for 20 years now, but many still point the finger at the single currency for covertly driving up consumer prices—despite plenty of evidence to the contrary.

“The euro is a catastrophe, it’s catastrophic,” says Maria Napolitano, a 65-year-old Italian living in Frankfurt.

“With 100 deutschmarks, you could fill up your shopping trolley. Now, 100 euros aren’t enough to fill two bags.”

It’s an impression that is shared by many across the eurozone, from Paris to Rome, Madrid to Athens.

Victor Irun, a 53-year-old teacher in Madrid, said that for Spaniards the switch to the euro was “like entering a club for rich people while not wearing the right clothes.

“You had the impression we weren’t yet ready,” he told AFP. “It was as if we were living in Spain, but paying with French or Dutch money.”

Some Germans even coined a new nickname for the single currency— “teuro”—pun on the German word for expensive, “teuer.”

In a 2006 study, university professor Hans Wolfgang Brachinger compiled an index of “perceived” inflation among Germans, which measured a “felt” increase in consumer prices of seven percent between 2001 and 2002, compared with around two percent normally.

In reality, however, official statistics showed no pick-up in inflation in Europe’s biggest economy.

“There was a very strong feeling in several countries that prices had gone up, and yet we had official stats telling us otherwise,” said Giovanni Mastrobuoni, an economics professor at the University of Turin.

In a detailed study on the issue, he tracked the prices of different everyday goods in the eurozone—from fruit, vegetables and bread, to beverages and restaurant meals—and found that the prices of some inexpensive products really did increase as a result of the switch to the euro.

And as retailers tended to round up rather than down when converting the price into the single currency, it was hardly surprising that people noticed—and felt cheated. AFP

B3

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market climbs; Metrobank and SM Prime lead gainers

S

TOCKS climbed Wednesday in a continuation of a miniSanta Claus rally, with the mining index leading the surge after the government lifted a four-year ban on new open-pit mines in a bid to revitalize the country’s coronavirus-battered economy.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 48.06 points, or 0.7 percent, to 7,334.56 on a value turnover of P5.2 billion. Gainers beat losers, 114 to 79, with 62 issues unchanged.

The lifting of the mining ban sees the Philippine government reverse a move imposed in 2017, when the then-environment minister blamed the sector for

widespread ecological damage.

The Philippines is one of the world’s biggest suppliers of nickel ore and is also rich in copper and gold, but the government estimates 95 percent of its mineral resources remain untapped.

Mining revenues contributed less than one percent of gross domestic product to the economy last year, according to government data.

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the third-biggest lender in terms of assets, advanced 3.6 percent to P57, while SM Prime Holdings Inc. of the Sy Group, rose 2.6 percent to P35.50.

Megaworld Corp. of tycoon Andrew Tan, the largest lessor of office spaces, went up 2.5 percent to P3.33, while sister unit Emperador Inc., the biggest liquor maker, climbed 2 percent to P20.90.

The rest of Asian stocks were mostly down in Wednesday trade as a Santa Claus rally showed signs of fatigue and continued fears over the Omicron variant—as

TOP GAINERS

well as uncertainty about economic prospects for 2022—weighed on markets.

COVID-19 cases have surged across the world, prompting governments to impose new measures to limit contagion while the travel industry faced thousands of flight cancellations.

Warnings from the World Health Organization that the risk from the variant remains “very high” have compounded the sense that the pandemic is far from over, though data showing a reduced risk of hospitalization has lifted spirits.

Reflecting the uncertainty, Tokyo closed down in thin holiday trade on Wednesday, with the market weighed down by US futures losses.

Seoul was also down, while Sydney and Wellington rose.

In China, markets fell, in a slide analysts partly attributed to losses in shares of major liquor brands—including Kweichow Moutai, one of the world’s biggest drinks companies. With AFP

1 2 3 4 5 6

GPH ATNB OPMB ABG LCB TUGS

LAST PRICE 13.94 0.52 0.012 6.05 0.142 0.9

7 8 9 10

SOC ALHI CEU MEDIC

0.66 5.51 6.98 1.29

CHANGE 3.56 0.11 0.002 0.63 0.012 0.07

% CHANGE 34.30% 26.83% 20.00% 11.62% 9.23% 8.43%

0.05 0.41 0.49 0.09

8.20% 8.04% 7.55% 7.50%

TOP LOSERS 1 2 3 4 5 6

CA MVC IPO TFHI SPNEC PA

LAST PRICE 41.25 3.8 6.99 122.1 1.25 3.1

7 8 9 10

EURO LAND FERRO PIZZA

1.4 0.85 3.21 10.06

CHANGE -5.75 -0.51 -0.56 -6.3 -0.06 -0.13

% CHANGE -12.23% -11.83% -7.42% -4.91% -4.58% -4.02%

-0.05 -0.03 -0.11 -0.34

-3.45% -3.41% -3.31% -3.27%

MOST ACTIVE

TRAVEL RUSH. Travelers make their way through Miami International Airport on December 28, 2021 in Miami, Florida. Over the holiday weekend, COVID-19 cases in the US reached their highest level in nearly a year. More than 2,000 flights were canceled over Manila Standard the weekend as airlines dealt with a surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. AFP TODAY

BERLIN, Germany—With the arrival of winter in Europe and energy prices soaring, tensions are running high over the provision of gas from Russia—especially through the Yamal-Europe pipeline that runs through Poland and Belarus.

But the Yamal pipeline is just one part of a complex gas infrastructure network shaped not only by energy needs but also wider economic interests and politics, including strife between Russia and Ukraine.

The pipeline, opened in 1994, runs over 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) to Germany from the city of Torjok in central Russia, transiting through Belarus and Poland.

It delivers 30 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe each year, making it one of the most

important vehicles for the provision of Russian gas to the continent.

Russia sells Germany gas at a cheaper rate than it does to Poland, in part to make up for the higher transit fees through the longer delivery distance.

But this means that it is more cost efficient for Poland to buy Russian gas from Germany.

Some of the gas sold by German traders to Poland flows directly into Polish territory, or if that is not sufficient, the pipeline can also operate in reverse to send more to Germany’s eastern neighbor.

Since December 21, the pipeline has been operating in reverse, with gas flowing east back into Poland from the German border, according

to data from management company Gascade seen by AFP. This means that over the last days, Germany itself has not been receiving gas via Yamal.

Meanwhile, Russian gas continues to flow to Europe through other major pipelines such as Nord Stream I and TurkStream.

It is not unusual for the Yamal pipeline to operate in reverse for short periods, but this latest about-turn comes against a backdrop of political tension over fears that Russia may invade Ukraine.

In Germany, the government has said that in the event of any “escalation,” it will put the brakes on another gas pipeline, Nord Stream 2, which is still awaiting the green light from the authorities. AFP

In waiting room, Bulgarians are divided about joining the eurozone

By Vessela Sergueva and Diana Simeonova with Alex Pigman

1

MBT

VOLUME 11,127,280

VALUE (PHP) 623,267,058

2 3 4

SPNEC MEG GTCAP

259,743,000 89,185,000 420,830

336,620,870 297,161,160 234,062,480

5 6 7

TEL BDO SMPH

119,070 1,651,280 4,312,200

220,690,130 207,950,454 151,959,520

8 9 10

BPI EMP ICT

1,511,260 6,915,100 702,440

144,096,177 143,991,580 142,651,475

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Department of Finance SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Secretariat Building, PICC Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay, 1307

Gas supplies from Russia to Europe under scrutiny

SOFIA, Bulgaria—Bulgaria could join the eurozone in 2024, but the EU’s poorest nation is divided over the prospect of ditching its national currency and joining the single European currency club.

Krasimir Atanasov, a 37-year-old tennis instructor waiting in line at a currency exchange office in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, is keen on the change.

Like millions of his compatriots, he has emigrated abroad—in his case to Finland—and wants Bulgaria to “be like other European countries” and use the euro.

However, 58-year-old Valeria Petrova, who describes herself as a “nationalist,” says she wants to “keep the lev,” Bulgaria’s national currency.

She worries the country could one day find itself in the shoes of Greece, which had to implement painful structural reforms in return for aid during a debt crisis that threatened its eurozone membership.

Another man next to her in the queue says he fears the euro would mean higher prices—a worry many Europeans had when 12 countries began to use the currency on January 1, 2002.

Even one of the country’s associations of tour operators, the ABTTA, says that while the single currency

PSEi DECEMBER 29, 2021

MARKETS AND SECURITIES REGULATION DEPARTMENT IN THE MATTER OF

: : : : : : REGISTRATION OF SECURTIES : Initial Public Offering : x----------------------------------------------------------------x ASIA-PACIFIC MEDICAL CENTER BACOLOD, INC. (Registrant)

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that on 24 November 2021, a sworn Registration Statement (“RS”) has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on behalf of ASIA PACIFIC MEDICAL CENTER (APMC) – BACOLOD INC. (formerly, Allied Care Experts Medical Center – Bacolod Inc.) (the “Company”) for the registration of Two Hundred Forty Thousand (240,000) shares with par value of one thousand (₱1,000.00) per share broken down as follows: Primary Offering (To be offered and sold by way of Initial Public Offering)

36,000 common shares

Issued and Outstanding Founder’s Shares (Not included in the Offer)

600

With par value of ₱1,000.00 per share

Issued and Outstanding Common Shares (Not included in the Offer)

203,400

With par value of ₱1,000.00 per share

Total

Equivalent to 3,600 blocks or 10 shares per block at an offer price ranging from ₱250,000 up to ₱400,000 per block

240,000 common shares

The securities will be traded Over-the-Counter through the Hospital’s employees who have been designated to act as salesman.

The Company expects to raise gross proceeds of approximately One Billion Pesos (₱1,000,000,000.00).

According to the documents presented, the following persons are the directors and executive officers of the Company: NAME

This photograph taken on December 17, 2021, shows a queue in front of an exchange office in Sofia.

Bulgaria, the EU’s poorest nation, is divided over the prospect of ditching its national currency and joining the single European currency club. AFP

would ease doing business for the sector, it worries about a possible “reduction in purchasing power” by Bulgarians.

Straitjacket Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007.

Last year, the country joined the European banking union and an exchange rate mechanism in which a candidate country has to spend a minimum of two years before being admitted to the eurozone.

The planned exchange rate for accession is 1.95583 lev to the euro—the same value the currency has had since the eurozone was set up in 1999.

The new government sworn in earlier this

month after a year of political gridlock has promised to take “all the steps necessary to join the eurozone.”

Finance Minister Assen Vassilev has called for “broad public debate” in order to convince the skeptics.

Asked whether the target date of 2024 for entry was realistic, Vassilev told AFP in a November interview: “It’s going to take some work, but I think it’s doable.”

With the exception of the Socialist party, “there is a relative consensus” across the political spectrum in support of eurozone entry, said economist Ruslan Stefanov from the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD). AFP

POSITION

Ferjenel G. Biron

Chairman/CEO

Bel Manuel G. Magallanes

Vice Chairman/COO

Danilo C. Regozo

Director/Executive VP

Ma. Ivy V. Malata

Director/Corporate Secretary

Meride Daulo-Lavilla

Director/ Asst. Corporate Secretary

Ma. Leila M. Magbanua

Director/Treasurer

Rhona T. Balinas

Director/ Asst. Treasurer

Sherwin Lowe B. Rodrigo

Director

Olga H. Pabicon

Director

Jimmy B. Pacete

Director

May Claire R. Tad-Y

Director

David G. Pedroza

Director

Joseline C. Encarnacion

Independent Director

John Clifton U. Martyr

Independent Director

Alben Teodoro T. Abad

Independent Director

To implement necessary health protocols consistent with the directives and guidelines of the Department of Health for the protection of its employees and the investing public, the Commission hereby suspends the physical inspection of the RS and other papers/documents attached thereto (collectively referred to as “Documents”) as well as providing physical copies thereof to interested parties, until further Notice.

In lieu thereof, the Commission has adopted an alternative mode of viewing and/ or downloading the said Documents and any subsequent amendments thereto by enabling interested parties to access the same through the MSRD corner of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website (ww.sec.gov.ph) or the Company’s website: www.apmcbacolod.com Signed VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELIZMENIO, JR. Director (MS-DEC. 30, 2021 & JAN. 6, 2022)

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

B4

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

Business

FORD’S DONATION.

Food items are packed in Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.’s operations center in Cebu to help families and communities affected by Typhoon Odette. Ford Philippines donated $25,000 or P1.25 million to provide relief assistance to communities and families affected

by Typhoon Odette, especially in the Central Visayas region. Ford, through Ford Motor Company Fund, teams up with American Chamber Foundation Philippines to make the donation to RAFI, a non-stock, non-profit organization with over 55 years of experience in social and community development. Ford is at the forefront in providing humanitarian assistance to disasteraffected communities.

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Wednesday, December 29, 2021 48.06 PTS. 7,334.56

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

1,749,982,946 71,990 5,228,812,342.20 114 79 62

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.2690

Japan

Yen

0.008710

0.4378

UK

Pound

1.343800

67.5515

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128233

6.4461

Switzerland

Franc

1.090037

54.7951

Canada

Dollar

0.779910

39.2053

Singapore

Dollar

0.738880

37.1428

Australia

Dollar

0.722800

36.3344

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652801

133.3537

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266269

13.3851

Brunei

Dollar

0.736160

37.0060

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.029842

1.5001

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.6876

Euro

Euro

1.131300

56.8693

Korea

Won

0.000842

0.0423

China

Yuan

0.157011

7.8928

India

Rupee

0.013387

0.6730

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.239320

12.0304

New Zealand

Dollar

0.681100

34.2382

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036193

1.8194 Source: BSP

Inflation likely to settle at 3.5% in December THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Wednesday inflation rate in December likely settled within a range of 3.5 percent to 4.3 percent, compared to the actual 4.2 percent in November.

“Higher electricity rates along with the uptick in food prices due to weather disturbances are the primary sources of inflationary pressures during the month,” the BSP said.

“These could be offset in part by rollbacks in domestic petroleum prices and the appreciation of the peso,” it said.

The BSP said it would continue to monitor emerging price developments to help achieve its primary mandate of price stability that is conducive to balanced and sustainable economic growth of the economy.

Robert Dan Roces, assistant vice president and chief economist at Security Bank Corp., said inflation likely slowed to 4 percent year-on-year in December from 4.2 percent in November.

“Our forecast range is 3.8 percent to 4.2 percent and the estimated month-onmonth change is +0.7 percent,” he said.

Roces said the food basket may have contributed around 1.3 percent to the month’s inflation reading, growing by around 1.2 percent month-on-month on the back of holiday price movements.

Meanwhile, the utilities basket is estimated to have contributed around 1.1 percent to the December inflation, led by higher electricity bills as deferred costs from the Malampaya shutdown are collected.

“Finally, the restaurants and services basket may have gone up with demandpull on the back of looser curbs, food costs pass-thru and holiday activities,” Roces said.

“For the months ahead, primary upside risks include inflationary pressures from food on the back of agricultural output in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette, as well as global crude and other commodity prices’ upward movement,” he said.

Roces said the downside pressures would come from the threat of the Omicron variant.

“Favorable base effects may help offset upside risks and should give the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas some further leeway to remain accommodative for the first half of 2022,” he said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Razon firm takes over Apex, launches P2.9-b tender offer

By Jenniffer B. Austria

P

RIME Strategic Holdings Inc., a company led by businessman Enrique Razon Jr., launched a P2.87-billion tender offer to acquire public shares in Apex Mining Co. Inc.

Apex Mining said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Prime Strategic of offered to purchase 2.213 billion shares in the mining held by the public at P1.30 apiece.

The price represents a 15.5-percent discount over the six-month volume weighted average price and a 8.2-percent discount over the three-month VWAP of Apex’s common shares as of Dec. 27.

The mandatory tender offer was triggered after Prime Strategic subscribed additional shares in two minority shareholders of Apex Mining, increasing its ownership to 54.75 percent from 40.23 percent.

Monte Oro Resources & Energy Inc., another company controlled by Razon, also owns an 8.91-percent interest in Apex.

Under the Securities Regulation Code, a mandatory tender offer is triggered when a company acquires over 50 percent of the total outstanding equity securities of a publicly-listed firm.

“The tender offer gives existing shareholders of Apex the opportunity to sell their common shares and realize their investment if they wish to divest following the acquisition of controlling shares in Apex by the bidder,” Prime Strategic said in the tender offer report filed with the corporate regulators.

Prime Strategic said that while it planned to keep Apex Mining listed,

there was a high acceptance rate of the tender offer which might reduce the public ownership of Apex below the minimum level of 10 percent, which could trigger involuntary delisting.

The offer period will be from Feb. 14, 2022 to March 14, 2022. Settlement date was set on March 24, 2022.

Prime Strategic said it would obtain loans from BDO Unibank Inc. to fund the tender offer.

Apex Mining, led by businessmen Walter Brown, Ramon Sy and Luis Sarmiento, operates the Maco mines in Maco, Davao de Oro, which is formerly known as Compostela Valley province.

The mine produces bullions containing gold and silver which are smelted and refined by Heraeus Ltd. in Hong Kong. Wholly-owned subsidiary ItogonSuyoc Resources Inc. owns the mill and production facilities of the Sangilo and Suyoc mines in Itogon, Benguet.

AC Energy infuses P14b in solar, wind power subsidiaries

By Alena Mae S. Flores

PETRON AWARDS. In recognition of their top-notch customer service, three Petron service stations—Equity Petron Service Station along Taft Ave. in Malate Manila, L.A Petron Service Center along Quezon Ave., Roxas District, Quezon City, and Local Boiler Fuel Services Inc. along Kamagong corner Metropolitan Ave. in Makati City—are among the 10 stations awarded by the Department of Energy and motorcycle ridehailing app, Angkas. The partnership between the DOE and Angkas provides real-time monitoring of pump prices and recognizes exemplary retail outlets. All Petron stations in Metro Manila are assigned with a QR code for Angkas riders to scan, allowing them to report the latest fuel prices to consumers.

Century Properties plans to issue P6-b bonds PROPERTY developer Century Properties Group Inc. said Wednesday it has established a P6-billion debt securities program.

CPG said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission it would initially issue P2-billion worth of fixed-rate retail bonds, with an oversubscription option for another P1 billion.

It said it would use the net proceeds to partially refinance debt, fund capital expenditures for horizontal affordable housing developments and finance general corporate requirements.

CPG said it would repay P1-billion worth of debt maturing in April next year. It also set aside P1 billion to fund future horizontal affordable housing development projects in Cavite and Bataan provinces.

The offer period was tentatively set on Feb. 14 to 18, 2022 while the issue date would be on Feb. 24.

The five-year bonds will be listed on the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

CPG tapped China Bank Capital Corp. as the sole issue manager, sole lead underwriter and sole bookrunner for the offer.

CPGI and Mitsubishi Corp. announced plans in November to broaden its partnership through joint venture company PHirst Park Homes Inc. as they seek to build more residential and non-residential projects across the country.

PPHI’s has residential projects in Tanza, Cavite; Lipa, Batangas; San Pablo, Laguna; Pandi, Bulacan; Calamba, Laguna; Nasugbu, Batangas; Magalang, Pampanga; General Trias, Cavite; Tayabas, Quezon; and Baliwag, Bulacan.

The share price of CPG closed unchanged at P0.395 Wednesday.

Jenniffer B. Austria

AC ENERGY Corp. of the Ayala Group said Wednesday it invested P14 billion to acquire majority stakes in subsidiaries developing a 283-megawatt solar and 160-MW wind projects.

AC Energy said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it would acquire 70 million shares in unit Bayog Wind Power Corp., equivalent to a 99.96-percent stake, at P100 per share for a total of P7 billion.

The full payment of subscription price is subject to the regulatory approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission of an increase in the authorized capital stock of BWPC. “The subscription will be used by BWPC to fund continuing works for the construction of the 160-MW Pagudpud Wind Project in Barangays Balaoi and Caunayan, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte,” it said.

The project will be wholly-owned by the AC Energy following board approval of the acquisition of the ownership interest of UPC Philippines Wind Investment Co. BV and Stella Marie L. Sutton in BWPC. AC Energy will acquire 699,963,159 shares of SCSEI equivalent to 99.99 percent stake at P10 per share for a total subscription price of P6.99 billion.

The subscription will be used by SCSEI to fund the construction of the 283-MW San Marcelino Solar Power project in San Marcelino, Zambales.

The transaction is also subject to the necessary regulatory approval by the SEC on the increase in authorized capital stock of SCSEI. AC Energy is the listed energy platform of the Ayala Group. It aspires to be the largest listed renewables platform in Southeast Asia, with a goal of reaching 5,000 MW of renewables capacity by 2025.

BSP: Real estate prices recovered in third quarter

By Darwin G. Amojelar REAL estate prices recovered in the third quarter after two consecutive quarters of decline, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Wednesday.

The BSP’s Residential Real Estate Price Index showed the nationwide house prices increased 6.3 percent yearon-year in the third quarter, following the 9.4-percent drop in the second quarter. This was partly due to the stronger consumer demand for residential property, particularly townhouses and condominium units, it said.

Nationwide property prices also rose 0.7 percent on a quarterly basis.

The BSP said the year-on-year increase was driven by the 11.4-percent growth in prices in the National Capital Region.”The considerable uptick in the NCR residential property prices was brought about by the rise in the prices of townhouse and condominium units, which outweighed the decline in the prices of single detached/ attached houses in the NCR,” it said.

It said that in the case of duplex housing units in the NCR, no bank loans were granted and reported to the BSP in the third quarter.

Property prices in areas outside NCR also moved up by 4.9 percent year-on-year, as the growth in the prices of townhouses, duplex housing units and condominium units more than offset the drop in the prices of single detached/attached houses.

The BSP said that on a quarteron-quarter basis, residential property prices grew 3.7 percent in the NCR, following the national trend, but fell by 0.4 percent in areas outside NCR. Data showed that in the third quarter, the number of residential real estate loans granted for all types of new housing units in the Philippines jumped 51.1 percent year-on-year and 32.3 percent quarter-on-quarter.

IN BRIEF Lifting of open pit ban to boost mining

THE government said it expects to revitalize not only the mining sector but also the entire economy, with the lifting of the ban on open pit mining.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu signed a memorandum order on Dec. 23 that effectively reinstates the use of open pit mining method by mining firms. The memo was issued to revitalize the mining industry and create significant economic benefits by providing raw materials for construction and development of other industries; and establish the parameters and criteria on the types of surface mining methods under the Declaration of Mining Project Feasibility.

The parameters are expected to address the environmental and safety issues of surface mining methods, particularly with open pit mining.

The DENR said the continued restriction on open pit ban might result in grave economic loss for the country. Through the memo, all mining tenement holders will be required to conduct baseline information gathering and evaluation and incorporate them in the mining project feasibility study, for final assessment by the DENR. Othel V. Campos

Gov’t debt reached P11.93t in November

THE national government’s outstanding debt settled at P11.93 trillion as of endNovember 2021, slightly lower than in the previous month because of the strong peso.

The Bureau of the Treasury said the debt slightly declined P39.70 billion or 0.3 percent from October because of the net redemption of domestic securities and favorable foreign exchange rates. Of the total debt stock, 29.3 percent was secured externally, while 70.7 percent represented domestic borrowings.

Domestic debt amounted to P8.44 trillion, P26.91 billion or 0.3 percent lower than the end-October level as a result of the net redemption of government securities. This led to a year-to-date incremental increase of P1.75 trillion in domestic debt.

External debt of P3.49 trillion was P12.80 billion or 0.4 percent lower than in the previous month. This was attributed to the peso appreciation against the US dollar and other foreign currency adjustments amounting to P11.64 billion and P4.05 billion respectively.

MB stops InstaPay, PesoNet fee hikes

THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, issued a moratorium on increases in InstaPay and PESONet fees for person-to-person fund transfers.

Banks and e-money issuers participating in InstaPay and PESONet, however, may waive or reduce their current fees, it said.

It said participating banks and EMIs whose transfer fees are currently waived may charge these fees again at the level prior to such waiver of fees.

Under the MB-approved issuance, the fees could not be increased until pricing standards or guidelines were issued by the BSP or once the volume of digital payments reached 40 percent, whichever is earlier.

The MB noted that at the height of the pandemic last year, several InstaPay and PESONet participants, banks and EMIs waived transfer fees. Some participants continued such waiver, but the full-scale imposition of these fees is expected to resume next year.

According to BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno, maintaining transfer fees at this time is expected to boost the country’s postpandemic recovery.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

Baser Amer

Jeron Teng

Gabe Norwood

Kevin Ferrer

Juami Tiongson

Roger Pogoy

Scottie Thompson

Paul Lee

Matthew Wright

Kevin Alas

Chris Newsome

SMB’s JuneMar Fajardo will spearhead the PBA team in the East Asia Super League.

Fajardo, Pogoy, 10 others named PBA ambassadors to Super League J UNEMAR Fajardo of San Miguel Beer and Roger Pogoy of Talk N Text lead a 12-player list the Philippine Basketball Association named as league ambassadors to the coming East Asia Super League.

The 12 represent each PBA member team, to act as faces of the league in the soon-to-be launched meet that has a home-and-away format.

Joining Fajardo and Thompson in the list are Paul Lee of Magnolia, Jeron Teng of Alaska, Scottie Thompson of Barangay Ginebra and Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine, chosen as ambassa-

NFL great Madden dies LOS ANGELES—Former NFL coach John Madden, who guided the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl victory before embarking on a successful broadcasting career and pioneering a blockbuster video game franchise, has died. He was 85.

With his distinctive voice and folksy, everyman persona, Madden became a fixture of NFL broadcasts during a 30-year commentary career that began in 1979 and concluded with Super Bowl 43 in February 2009.

It was a testament to Madden’s status as a beloved broadcaster, and later involvement as the voice of the smash hit “Madden NFL” video game series, that his remarkable achievements as a coach have often been overlooked.

“Nobody loved football more than Coach,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “He was football.”

The league said Madden died “unexpectedly” on Tuesday morning, but did not give a cause of death.

“There will never be another John Madden, and we will forever be indebted to him for all he did to make football and the NFL what it is today,” Goodell said.

Born on April 10, 1936, Madden grew up in California and looked destined for a career in football after starring for his high school.

But his hopes of a professional career ended without playing a game when he suffered a second serious knee injury during his first professional training camp after being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1958.

The injury was to prove instrumental in launching Madden’s coaching career. During his rehab, he spent hours in the film room breaking down plays in the company of Eagles quarterback Norm Van Brocklin.

“That’s where I learned pro football,” Madden would say years later.

After several years coaching in college football, Madden was hired as linebackers coach by Oakland owner Al Davis in 1967.

Two years later, he would become the youngest head coach in NFL history at that time, at the age of 32 years Turn to C2

dors to carry the name of their respective ballclubs.

Completing the list are Matthew Wright of Phoenix, Chris Newsome of Meralco, Terrafirma’s Juami Tiongson, Kevin Ferrer of NorthPort, Baser Amer of Blackwater, and NLEX’s Kevin Alas.

Jared Dillinger of Ginebra was a spe-

cial addition to the list of ambassadors as his viral videos documenting the life inside the first ever PBA bubble in Clark, Pampanga last year was promoted by EASL. “There is something about international competitions. Bragging rights are on the line going up against Asia’s best clubs,” said Dillinger.

“The extra cherry on top is representing your country. It brings out your competitive nature and the pride of proving you’re better. EASL will bring people together. Fans from different countries will be under one roof and I’m excited for the PBA and EASL joining forces.”

Of the PBA ambassadors, Fajardo, Pogoy, and Alas already experienced the kind of competition in the EASL, which features top ballclubs from the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association), PBA, Japan B. League, KBL (Korean Basketball League), and the P. League+.

Pogoy and Fajardo were in the Terrific 12 tournament during the 2019 edition of the EASL along with their respective teams, TNT and San Miguel, although the 6’10” Fajardo didn’t play owing to an injury.

Alas on the other hand, suited up for NLEX during the EASL Super Eight Tournament in 2017.

Kyrgios: No Big 3 disaster for Aussie Open MELBOURNE—Nick Kyrgios has urged Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to play at the Australian Open, saying Wednesday it would be a “disaster” if the ‘Big Three’ were missing.

Swiss ace Roger Federer has already pulled out as he recovers from a knee injury and Nadal’s plans are unclear after contracting Covid-19.

Djokovic is on the entry list for the first Grand Slam of the year, which begins in less than three weeks, but has refused to confirm if he has been vaccinated, casting doubt on whether he will turn up.

The dominant ‘Big Three’ have won 20 Grand Slam titles each and Kyrgios said tennis still needs them, starting in Melbourne next month.

“I honestly don’t know Novak’s current situation with anything Covidrelated or what he needs to play,” the colourful Kyrgios told the Melbourne Age newspaper.

“I hope he’s had a good Christmas and I hope he’s able to play in the sport for as long as possible because I’ve voiced before I think Federer, Nadal and Djokovic need to be (playing).

“If all three aren’t there, it’s a di-

Rafael Nadal

saster. It’s an absolute disaster for the fans and the people that enjoy tennis.

“Yes, it’s obviously a good opportunity for some of the younger guys to come through and make an impact, but as a whole, we do need them to be part of the sport.”

Adding to the Australian Open woes, Dominic Thiem, who lost to

Djokovic in a five-set classic in the 2020 final, said late Tuesday he would miss the event with a wrist injury.

Meanwhile, Russian world number five Andrey Rublev and Canada’s Wimbledon semi-finallist Denis Shapovalov are also recovering from coronavirus, casting a shadow over their preparations.

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LeBron, Westbrook carry Lakers past Rockets LOS ANGELES—LeBron James notched a 32-point triple-double on Tuesday to help the Los Angeles Lakers snap a five-game NBA skid with a 132-123 victory over the Houston Rockets.

The four-time NBA champion was listed as the starting center for the first time in his 19-year career, as a Lakers team without injured star Anthony Davis grappled with coronavirus-related absences that included Rajon Rondo, Trevor Ariza and head coach Frank Vogel.

“I’m just trying to do whatever it takes for this team,” said James, who added 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his third triple-double of the season.

“Tonight I was starting at center for the first time in my career and, you know, we were able to get off that five-game losing streak,” he added.

James became the third NBA player to reach 36,000 career points after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) and Karl Malone (36,928).

Russell Westbrook also played a key role with a triple-double of his own of 24 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists—his seventh of the season.

Meanwhile, Malik Monk added 25 points and Carmelo Anthony scored 24 off the bench—his threepointer with 2:25 remaining giving the Lakers a four-point cushion.

James followed with a pair of free-throws and a one-handed slam that made it 124-116 and the Rockets wouldn’t get the deficit below five points from there.

“Coming off the tough loss in the Christmas Day game we got some big contributions,” he said. “Melo was spectacular off the bench once again. Everybody gave us great minutes.”

Nuggets hold off Warriors The league-leading Golden State Warriors shook off a dismal start in Denver, erasing a 24-point halftime deficit but coming up just short in an 89-86 loss to the Nuggets.

The Warriors, who lost Draymond Green to Covid-19 concerns on Monday, looked lost as the Nuggets raced to a 10-0 lead to start the game.

Denver, led by 22 points from reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, led 60-36 at halftime and held on in the face of a furious late rally from the Warriors that included 15 fourth-quarter points from star Stephen Curry.

Curry, who was held to two points in a first half in which he missed all five of his three-point attempts, finished with 23 points.

With five three-pointers on the night he became the first NBA player to make 3,000 shots from beyond the arc, but with just 1.2 seconds left the ball was in teammate’s Andre Iguodala hands with Golden State needing a three-pointer to force overtime.

He missed, and the Nuggets held on for the win.

Jokic added 18 rebounds, five assists and a big block of Warriors rookie Jonathan Kuminga’s potential game-tying layup with 3.7 seconds remaining. Will Barton added 21 points for Denver. AFP

Black Jack takes honors at last in Sydney to Hobart race SYDNEY—Supermaxi Black Jack won the prestigious Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Tuesday ending years of frustrating near misses.

Owned by Australian Peter Harburg and skippered by Mark Bradford, Black Jack took line honours after a tight tussle with LawConnect on the River Derwent after two days 12 hours 37min and 17sec of racing.

For Harburg it was his first win in the race after several times falling short and comes in a boat named after Australian Formula One legend and three-time world champion Jack Brabham, who was also a friend of his.

Harburg’s decision to stay on shore for the first time and not be on the boat—which he bought ahead of the 2017 race—paid off handsomely.

Indeed Harburg had been on board when it finished second (2018), third (2017) and fifth (2019)—the latter occasion it led before being overtaken by four other boats.

“Mark said he was confident from the start. I was confident when that [finish] cannon went off,” said Harburg.

race having triumphed in 2009 under the name of Alfa Romeo when powned by Neville Crichton— Harburg subsequently bought it and changed the name.

The crew celebrated with hugs and pats on the backs before undergoing Covid-19 tests and then finally set foot on dry land.

Bradford said the win was rich consolation after so many years of trying and missing out.

“We’ve had five, six years in a row now and we’ve finished first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh,” he said.

It was one of the slowest Sydney to Hobart races ever with harsh conditions forcing withdrawals due to damage or minor crew injuries.

On Tuesday morning, Black Jack had regained a Yacht Black Jack claims Line Honours victory at the 2021 six nautical mile lead on LawConnect.

Sydney to Hobart yacht race. AFP Weather is critical in the 628-nautical-mile (1,200-km) race down Australia’s east coast to Hobart, “We will both be in tears anytime … It’s the grand one of the world’s most challenging ocean events. prize of yachting in Australia. It’s the first time I’ve Six men died, five boats sank, and 55 sailors were been involved in the winning team.” rescued during the 1998 event when a deep depresIt is the second time the boat itself has won the sion exploded over the fleet in the Bass Strait. AFP

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Sports

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

Diego Maradona’s brother Hugo dies in Naples aged 52 ROME—Diego Maradona’s younger brother Hugo has died in Naples at the age of 52 just a year after the Argentine football legend passed away, Italian football club Napoli confirmed on Tuesday.

“Hugo Maradona has died,” Napoli said in a brief statement on their website, confirming reports in the Italian press the former footballer had suffered a heart attack.

The club said Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis and the team “come together around Maradona’s family and unite with them in the pain of Hugo’s death”.

A former Argentine youth international midfielder, Hugo Maradona played in Italy, Austria, Spain, Argentina and Japan, before returning to Italy to settle there permanently and had a brief coaching career with amateur clubs in Naples.

Maradona, who had three children, recently ran on a right-wing list in municipal elections, which the left ultimately won.

Hugo Maradona was signed by Napoli in 1987—joining Diego— before being loaned to Ascoli.

On September 20 of the same year, the two brothers played against each other with Diego’s Napoli coming out on top 2-1.

Diego Maradona widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, passed away in November 2020, aged 60. AFP

Hugo Maradona

NFL...

From C1

and 10 months.

Yet while Madden built a succession of strong Raiders teams, his first seven seasons as head coach were a story studded with near-misses.

The Raiders lost five AFC Championship games during that period, saddling Madden’s team with the unwanted tag of serial nearly men.

Lifting the curse The curse was lifted in spectacular fashion in 1976, however, when after a 13-1 regular season, a Raiders team led by quarterback Ken “Snake” Stabler romped to a 32-14 Super Bowl win over the Minnesota Vikings.

With that monkey finally off his back, and Madden still only 40, it seemed certain to be the first of many championships.

But two years later, citing fatigue and ill health caused by a stomach ulcer, Madden walked away from the sport.

“I gave it everything I have and just don’t have anything left,” a tearful Madden explained in an announcement that shocked the NFL. “I’m retiring from football coaching, and I’m never going to coach again in my life. I’m an Oakland Raider, and I always will be an Oakland Raider.”

It was not long, though, before Madden found a new calling.

Hired by CBS as a color commentator, Madden proved to be a star in the commentary booth.

He would eventually work for all four major networks—CBS, Fox, ABC and NBC—at one stage commanding a salary that was higher than any NFL player.

His mix of sharp analysis with the occasional breathless truism—“If this team doesn’t put points on the board, I don’t see how they can win”—were to become his calling cards.

Madden’s distinctive style made him the logical choice as the figurehead of the only officially sanctioned NFL video game, “John Madden Football”, launched in 1988. AFP

POC president Rep. Abraham Tolentino (4th from left) is shown with (from left) Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Hidilyn Diaz and Carlo Paalam during their courtesy call at the House of Representatives.

POC chief: ‘21 is Golden Year of Philippine sports T

HE passing year is no doubt, the Golden Year of Philippine sports.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said 2021 is the year when a strongwoman from faraway Barangay Mampang in Zamboanga City lifted her way to victory and claim for the country its first Olympic gold medal in 22 appearances in the quadrennial Summer Games.

“This is a year of congratulations for all of us—for breaking several milestones in our sports,” Tolentino said.

“The perfect description for this year is The Golden Year of Philippine Sports.”

Tolentino was one of the most ecstatic Filipinos inside the Tokyo International Forum that fateful July 26 evening when Hidilyn Diaz, appearing in her fourth straight Olympics, won a contest of brute strength—and tactics—by lifting Games records of 127 kgs in the clean and jerk and 224 kgs in total lift that went with her 97 kgs in snatch en route to the women’s -55kgs gold medal of weightlifting.

“The year 2021 saw us attain multiple medals highlighted by that elusive gold in the Tokyo Olympics,” Tolentino said.

“The Covid-19 pandemic may have slowed us down, but the ever resilient Filipinos have again proven that we rise against the odds.”

With three medals coming from boxing—silvers from men’s flyweight

Carlo Paalam and women’s featherweight Nesthy Petecio and bronze from men’s middleweight Eumir Felix Marcial—the delayed Tokyo Olympics emerged as the best ever for the Philippines since it first attended the Games in 1924 in Paris.

Diaz led a 19-strong Team Philippines in Tokyo with all the athletes, although some missing the podium, provided a peek of how medal potential they would become come the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

“Although the rest on Team Philippines didn’t win a medal in Tokyo, their determination and their youth make them strong candidates when we return to the Olympic stage in Paris,” Tolentino said. “Remember, Hidilyn was a young, unassuming and innocent 18-year-old when she competed in her first Olympics in 2008 in Beijing.”

Tokyo, Tolentino said, was the springboard to future successes in the Olympics.

A not-so-good 2021 for me

A HAPPIER New Year to all.

But with two days to go till 2022, this is the time that people look back the past 12 months to see how good or how bad the year has turned out for them.

And in all honesty, if 2021 was a bad year for sports because of the pandemic, it was the same for me.

It certainly was a not-so-good year, particularly when talking about personal health.

If you remember, I underwent a surprise quadruple by-pass operation early March as 5 major arteries were found blocked. It was real expensive one and I would not have been able to afford the bill had it not been for a lot of help from relatives and friends, particularly from the world of sports.

Four months later, I got hit by COVID-19, though up to now, I still doubt if I really had one. Nonetheless, I underwent a month-long quarantine in

our house, just when I was starting to resume my new normal life.

Then a case of pinched nerves I believe, that I could not walk without pain in my legs. Presently, I am undergoing treatment for a bacterial infection, and I still wonder what did I do to deserve all these?.

But of course, I described the year as being not so good, meaning there was still something to be happy about beside the fact that I am alive and my family is complete.

For one, we had our Ayuda Sa Atleta campaign that we did for national athletes, regular and para athletes, as around 600 athletes from different National Sports Associations benefited from this and received gift packs.

This was a joint effort with other sports people, Tom Carrasco, Nino Sinco, Karen Caballero, and Alex Wang, and of course kind-hearted donors, led by Jean Henri Lhuillier, PHILRACOM, Foton, Alaska, F2 Logistics, Gatorade, Milo, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce, and Tom and Alex themselves.

As I informed Reli de Leon, the excess funds, around P42,000, will be reallocated to other charity works that I am involved with, like in Dolores in Mt. Ba-

“Yes, the Filipino athlete can win in the Olympics. Yes, we have the capability and we will build on that success,” he said.

The success in Tokyo hiked the Philippines’ overall Olympic haul to one gold, five silver and eight bronze medals, a blessing Tolentino said was well longed for and appreciated.

“This year is marked by a spirit of happiness for the blessings we have received,” he said. “We share these blessings to all athletes and coaches, to all the NSAs [national sports associations] that have contributed and supported their athletes to the best of their abilities and resources.”

Tolentino, also the president of the cycling association, said the successful campaign was a team effort—from the athletes themselves and their coaches and to their NSAs and sponsors.

“This year, golden as it was, we’re also in the spirit of gratitude to all the sponsors, the media and stakeholders who have been in support of our athletes,” he said.

The honor roll included the Philippine Sports Commission, MVP Sports Foundation, San Miguel Corp., AirAsia, Philippine Airlines, Milo, Max’s, Asics, St. Luke’s Medical Center, among others.

“My heartfelt gratitude extends to you and your family, a Blessed 2022 to us all in the sports community,” Tolentino said.

nahaw area for indigent kids and families done December 10, and street kids in Manila set early January, only because of my ongoing treatment. Otherwise, we would have been done with it already, and now with typhoon Odette victims.

My thanks to Ravi Daryanani for donating brand new babies' wear for street kids and families.

But what really made my year brighter is that I finally finished a mini book project for sportsman-businessman Alex Wang to chronicle the past 25 years of his Wang's Ballclub.

I will devote one time a piece on "The Making of a Book" to share with you the one thousand and one things that go with writing a book, even a mini book at that.

Partners in the book project were colleagues Fred Nasiad and Danny Simon, plus Alex himself and his wife and kids, but as I said, the details will be shared with separately.

Anyway, last December 28, we had the official but simple book launching of Basketball, Beyond Passion at the PuNta Resto bar in Mandaluyong with some of Alex's friends joining us, including bar owners Paolo Bediones and Lara, ex-PBA players Ato Tolentino, Fritz Gaston and Buboy Rodriguez, plus some media people.

Now for the best part, Alex agreed

Nets’ Durant, Kyrie, Aldridge cleared for NBA return NEW YORK—Brooklyn Nets stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving along with teammate LaMarcus Aldridge have been cleared to return after being sidelined by Covid, the NBA team said Tuesday.

Eastern Conference leaders Brooklyn swept the Lakers and Clippers in Los Angeles without any of the trio, James Harden returning from Covid protocols to lead the Nets.

“Confidence is through the roof,” Harden said after scoring 39 points in Monday’s win over the Clippers. “Now just you add KD, and Ky, and LaMarcus and Joe Harris, and that’s four of our best players, four of our top players that are out.”

Durant could be on the floor when the Nets host the Philadelphia 76ers in their next game on Thursday.

Irving won’t be available since he is unvaccinated and therefore unable to play in home games at the Barclays Center because of New York City’s vaccine mandate. AFP

to sell the book for P250 each. Mind you, there was no intention whatsoever to do this before. However, in the light of recent typhoon Odette that affected thousands of people in Mindanao and the Visayas, the decision was made to sell the book with all the proceeds to go to the typhoon victims.

And Alex will match the total sales with his personal contribution. Net effect is people donate P250 and they get a free book, the beneficiaries then get P500 per copy sold.

Fritz and I started it rolling, buying four copies each, and committing to sell to other personal friends and right after I posted it, I got a few orders already, including two high school batchmates abroad and MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos, ex-Crispa amateur player Vito Orcullo, former national archer Nino Sinco and Michael Yulo, just to name a few.

We should be able to sell at least a hundred copies and will course the donations through the Ayala Corporation youth leaders groups with chapters in different affected areas, and sepak takraw national athlete Elly Nituda in Butuan City.

As I said in my Christmas column, it is the season of giving and sharing, and people are responding positively.

Goodbye 2021, hello 2022.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com THURSDAY, DECEMBR 30, 2021

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Tarsier Records caps off year with ‘TY 2021’ TARSIER Records’ Class of 2021 signed off with a gift to music fans worldwide, showcasing live performances as they spread gratitude and say thank you to the year that has passed.

TY 2021—which references the label’s Class of 2021 execution earlier this year (Tarsier Yearbook 2021) as well as simply being a way of saying “Thank You 2021”—

In ‘TY 2021,’ fans can also look out for a special treat from Iñigo Pascual.

streamed live on Dec. 29 on the YouTube channels of Tarsier Records, ABS-CBN Star Music, and One Music PH. The line-up was top billed by legends such as KZ Tandingan, Bugoy Drilon, and Sam Concepcion and completed with fresh performances from this year’s new signees: TikTok sensation Zion Aguirre; Spotify RADAR Philippines artist allen&elle;

a new girl group New Flame; and former The X Factor UK contestant and member of United Vibe, Jon Guelas, to name a few. Fans can also look out for a special treat from Monarch star and Tarsier artist, Iñigo Pascual.

The live online concert ran for a full hour and featured never-beforeheard live versions of Tarsier’s original releases. Viewers can join the

celebrations for free in the comfort of their own homes.

Tarsier Records was established in 2017 as the international arm of ABS-CBN Music with a roster of eight artists and a goal of connecting the local scene with the global market. Four years later and as the curtains close on 2021, that number has grown to over 25 artists with nearly 200 songs in their catalog.

Mariane Osabel claims sweet victory

L

OSING in a television talent competition will not spell the end of someone’s career. In fact, some people win at life after failing to clinch a title and even attempt to join a different search and eventually become victorious.

Case in point, Mariane Osabel did not falter when she lost in a popular contest for aspiring singers. She just used the experience to be better so she could bounce back.

On Dec. 19, during The Final Clash, the Iligan native proved that she deserved the title. With her incredible vocal prowess, she rose above the intense battles and was eventually named The Clash 2021 Grand Champion.

In a virtual conference held a few days after her winning, Mariane met with the entertainment press to celebrate her sweet victory.

“I’m still on cloud nine,” she told Manila Standard Entertainment. “People said I’m very confident during that night.

I had nothing left to do but to be confident because I could feel the support of the people close to me and the fans who believed in my talent.”

In the morning of the competition, her brother Arn, whom she saw joining different singing

Mariane grew up listening to the songs of Beyoncé and Whitney Houston.

From Left: PRC Secretary - General Elizabeth Zavalla, Binibining Pilipinas International 2021 Hannah Arnold, PRC Chairman Senator Richard Gordon, Miss Intercontinental 2021 Cinderella Obenita, and PRC Board of Governors Ernesto Isla.

Binibining Pilipinas, Araneta City assist PH Red Cross in Typhoon Odette relief efforts competitions before, told her that she was going to win.

“My brother told me that I’m going to be the grand champion. And he was serious. I did not entertain the thought but I was determined to give my all while enjoying the finals.

My brother is 17 years older than me, he’s already a veteran in this field so he must have seen something in me for him to say that,” she recalled.

Mariane still felt surreal days after winning the title.

“I’ve never been this proud of myself.

Totoo ba ‘to? I’m loving this new chapter of my life. Thank you, Panginoon! Thank you for listening. Thank you for all those experiences in the past. Thank you for giving me this wonderful talent. Thank you for anointing me,” she shared.

Her winning song during The Final Clash was Harish Joya’s “Bakit Mahal Iligan native Pa Rin Kita,” besting Pampanga’s Vilmark Mariane Viray who performed Christian Paul Osabel Rosa’s “Umuwi Ka Na” - both original walked compositions are from The Clash home with prizes songwriting challenge. worth over “The judges’ words of encouragement P4 million. were also helpful. They made me feel confident that night,” Mariane, who grew up listening to the songs of Beyoncé and Whitney Houston, added.

The Clash Panel, is composed of Lani Misalucha, Christian Bautista, and AiAi delas Alas.

As Grand Champion, Mariane will receive prizes worth over P4 million, which includes P1 million in cash, a house and lot, and an exclusive management contract with GMA-7.

The Clash is hosted by Rayver Cruz and Julie Anne San Jose with Journey Hosts Rita Daniela and Ken Chan.

THE Araneta Group partners with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) in helping families affected by Typhoon Odette in Visayas and Mindanao.

The Binibining Pilipinas Charities Incorporated (BPCI) gave on Dec. 27 a cash donation worth P500,000 at the PRC main headquarters in Mandaluyong City.

Miss Intercontinental 2021 Cinderella Obenita and Binibining Pilipinas 2021 Hannah Arnold personally handed the donation to PRC Chairman Richard Gordon and other officials.

“I am very thankful to Binibining Pilipinas not only for their generous contribution but also for using their platform to encourage more people to help the Red Cross save more lives,” Gordon said.

PRC has been receiving donations from Binibining Pilipinas in the past through the Red Cross - Quezon City Chapter. The most prestigious pageant in the country sponsored the Million Volunteer Run 5 in 2019, and provided cash assistance in 2020.

In a statement, BPCI chairperson Stella Marquez Araneta said that along with the donation, BPCI continues to “wish for the safety and recovery of the typhoon victims, and look out for each other in

these trying times.”

Meanwhile, Araneta City has started accepting donations for the typhoon victims through its Operation R.E.A.C.H. (Relief Efforts of Araneta City-zens to Help) program. The public may leave donations such as bottled water, canned goods, rice, mats and blankets, face masks, alcohol, and other hygiene needs in drop boxes located at the Gateway Mall, Ali Mall, Farmers Plaza, and Gateway Tower.

Donations will be accepted until January 2022, and will be forwarded to PRC to assist in their Humanitarian Caravan in areas devastated by the strong typhoon.

“The Araneta Group is grateful to work with the Philippine Red Cross in responding to the pressing needs of our countrymen. It is our honor to work with them in delivering the necessary support and public service, in whatever ways we can, in crisis that we face,” said Antonio Mardo, Senior Vice President for Operations of the Araneta Group.

Earlier this year, Araneta City has partnered with PRC in providing accessible COVID-19 test sites to the public via the drive-through saliva test at the Araneta City Bus Station.

Ben&Ben Zack Tabudlo

SB19

SB19 headlines ‘BYE2021’ with Zack Tabudlo, Ben&Ben WE ENTERED 2021 not knowing what the year had in store for us yet here we are, still optimistic for the future and hopeful as ever. Indeed, 2021 was tough but we made it through and that in itself is worth celebrating.

As we wave goodbye to the year that was and welcome 2022, UMUSIC Philippines presents BYE2021, an online music fest bringing you good music and good vibes to culminate all of this year’s challenges and growth.

It also pays homage to the year’s

highlights and celebrating our victories, both big and small.

Headlining the event, happening tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m., are Ben&Ben, Zack Tabudlo, SB19, James Reid, Nadine Lustre, Juan Karlos, and Arthur Nery. With special participation of Paul Klein and Jake Goss of LANY, international singer of the viral and trending track “Ever After”, Bonnie Bailey, Thai superstar, Billkin, TikTok viral artist, Lyn Lapid, Maximillian, VALLEY, and more.

There will also be special appearances

from this year’s most content creators Maris Racal, Albert Nicolas, Jim and Saab, and TikTok sensation Ceejay Laqui.

To upgrade viewers’ experience, they can avail of the BYE2021 Fan Pack that includes limited edition event merchandise and a ZoomPit ticket which gives you exclusive access to the meet-and-greet with your favorite artists and also a chance to be featured in the BYE2021 FanCam. For more information, visit https:// shop.umusic.ph

Nadine Lustre

James Reid

Life

Being flexible can help you achieve better career and personal life.

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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WELLNESS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

S

OME say there is no such thing as “work-life balance.” I’d say it depends on how you look at the relationship between the two.

It’s difficult to achieve such if we’re to look at “the time spent for work versus the time you give to your personal life.” However, if we are to look closely, and focus more on the quality of time spent on any task, we can achieve the so-called work and life balance.

I spoke to Dr. Nicco Jake Francis Alegro, an Anesthesiologist/General Practitioner whose advocacy is to help people especially the working professionals in attaining, and maintaining a healthy balance between work as well as personal life through online consultations and counseling.

Here are some of his tips combined with mine on how we can be more productive and flexible at work and thereby, enjoy a better life.

Embrace change as it comes. And accept what you cannot change. We’ve heard it many times: “the only constant thing in this world is change.” And so, even if it is difficult at times, try to accept these changes that somein your career, especially if you times can pleasantly surprise us or are aiming for a job promoknock us down. I understand that tion. Of course, this must many of us want to control our come hand in hand with circumstances, and it is right the right attitude not and admirable to fight for our just towards work, but dreams and aspirations. At also towards the peotimes though, there comes ple you work with, an unforeseen circumstance which is also a skill that’s beyond our control, one can hone or learn and all we can do is surrenalong the way. Deder to it. It does not mean veloping your skills we are quitters; no we are and making an effort to not. Sometimes, it means that learn new ones can help a particular road is not for us or you deal with challenges that there is a better route after the at work and in life in general. roadblock. As for me, I often pray for Keep an eye out for relevant grace for “whatever gods may be,” the podcasts, short courses, or online grace to accept what I cannot change. Dr. Nicco Jake Francis Alegro webinars, where your career heroes It’s okay to adapt to any change; to stop speak. Stay curious and keep up-tois an Anesthesiologist/ and begin again. Similarly, embracing General Practitioner who date with industry trends, be hungry change also means stepping out of your advocates for healthy work- for new knowledge especially about life balance. comfort zone. And by doing so, we your industry. Who knows someday, grow as a person. your time to share these nuggets will Hone your skillset and learn new ones. As come and you get to help a lot of people in that way. with anything, if you focus on your job and what Be willing to compromise. Being able to listen it asks of you, you develop skills that are helpful and understand different perspectives is a gift. More

Achieving a better work-life relationship so, being able to compromise without giving up your core values is something we must always bear in mind and adhere to. Being collaborative or being a good team player makes work easier. Simply put, a better working relationship with colleagues makes work easier. Also, it’s a leadership trait that’s good to develop.

Have a strong support network. “No man is an island” is a phrase we’ve heard countless times. Indeed, having a strong and stable support system is essential. A lifehack, if you may. Because, really, absolutely nobody has ever made it to the top on their own. One’s success is a product of a collective effort, support, and all other ingredients that are needed to get to where one aspires to be. So choose to always protect your tribe, your support system—whether they’re your friends, family, colleagues at work, or a combination of all these. Having one will come handy in time.

Plan ahead. While we enjoy and take in life day by day, planning ahead is just as important. I have been fortunate to be introduced to the importance of getting life insurance when I was in my 20s. There are a number of trusted names in the industry. One such is AXA Philippines, one of the country’s lead-

ing insurance providers that offers a flexible insurance product range like the AXA MyLifeChoice, which can be tailored based on one’s budget, protection coverage, and preferred payment term. More information about this can be found at https://www.axa. com.ph/mylifechoice.

Make time for what matters most to you. This means quality time with and for what matters most in your life. To me, this means God, my loved-ones such as family, friends, hobbies, and advocacies. To some, this could be their better-half/partner, children, or anything/anyone that grounds them. While we give most of our time and do our best at work, it is essential to always make time for what matters most in our lives. In fact, this must be a priority.

“If there’s one thing that’s constant about life and careers, it’s that everything changes. If you want to reach your full potential while enjoying your work along the way, one of the best things you can do is to learn to adapt to changes and better yourself to become more flexible at work and in life, no matter the circumstance,” Dr. Alegro said to me as our conversation comes to an end. (You may reach the author at joba.botana@gmail.com.)

Holiday Binge?

Detoxify with functional food

By Teddy S. Manansala, RND, PhD THE best way to start the new year is to detoxify with food that aids in the transport, barrier, detoxification, and immune system integrity in our bodies.

These are called functional food, which promotes gut health and prevents lifestyle-related illnesses like cancer, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. A healthy gut means sufficient population of good bacteria and efficient nutrient absorption.

Why not adopt a diet which contains these healthy yet delicious food?

Here are five categories to consider: Cruciferous vegetables. Broccoli, cauliflower, daikon radish, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, and bell peppers. Antioxidative and chemo-preventive, lutein in green vegetables reduces muscle degeneration and improves visual problems. Their dietary fiber that cleans out toxins contains selenium and synthesizes seleno-compounds for additional health benefits.

Herbal teas. Peppermint, ginger, green and black teas.

Catechins may prevent diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity. Tea contains digestive benefits and provides relief from constipation, ulcers indigestions.

Berries and red wine. Blueberries, strawberries, cabernet, merlot. High in polyphenols, these antioxidants activate the immune system, promote growth of good bacteria and support good digestion. It likewise improves blood circulation and reduces chronic

inflammation asas sociated with heart disease. Most of all, it contains anti-aging properties.

Whole grains. Oatmeal, cereals, millet, quinoa, brown rice, whole rye, wheat, bulgur, wild rice, barley, and sorghum.

These foods are high in nutrients, antioxidants such as phytic acid, lignans, ferulic acid, and sulfur compounds. Tannins in cereal grains help in urinary tract health.

Being fiber-rich, whole grains promote healthy digestion helps lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

Fermented products. Yogurt, cottage cheese, kefir, aged cheese, tempeh, miso, pickles in brine, natto, kombucha, kimchi and sauerkraut. These are excellent sources of probiotics. They aid digestion, help nutrient absorption, improve behavior and mood to prevent anxiety and depression. Fermented food even supports heart health.

About the Author Dr. Teddy S. Manansala, a registered nutritionist-dietitian, is a resident full-time and associate professor of the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Manila. He is also an adjunct faculty of Benilde School of Professional and Continuing Education for Nutrition and Dietetics program.

Dr. Teddy S. Manansala

While the holiday season is ‘the most wonderful time of the year,’ it’s the most accident-prone time as well. For more information, contact MakatiMed On-Call at +632.88888 999, email mmc@makatimed.net.ph, or visit www.makatimed.net.ph.

Don’t make a trip to the ER part of your holiday plans IF THE holidays are described as “the most wonderful time of the year,” they could very well be the most accident-prone time as well. Think about it. With so much going on—from opening presents, lighting up the tree, and serving Noche Buena, to setting off fireworks and toasting to a bright new year—there’s bound to be a mishap or two in the process.

“Christmas and New Year, while happy occasions, are also stressful ones because of the various elements involved,” says Amado Flores III, MD, Chairman of the Emergency Department of top hospital in the Philippines, Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed).

“We are cooking more dishes than we’re used to, dealing with our hyperactive kids, hanging Christmas lights that may overheat, and dealing with relatives who may consume more alcohol than they are used to—making our homes more prone to accidents.”

Still, it doesn’t have to be, especially now that we’re still facing a pandemic and practicing minimum health protocols, and Dr. Flores offers tips on how to keep the coming festivities fun and ER-free: Food poisoning. “Food poisoning happens when people eat food that has been contaminated with infectious organisms like bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The improper preparation and handling of dishes can also lead to food poisoning,” says Dr. Flores.

“This results in nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, or diarrhea. Most cases are mild but some require a trip to the ER.” To avoid food contamination, “make sure you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling and preparing food,” he points out. Ensure that utensils, cooking tools, cutting boards, and other food surfaces are washed and clean as well. Also, cook food at a safe temperature, store perishable foods promptly

in the fridge or freezer, and separate raw food from ready-to-eat foods to prevent cross-contamination. “And when it doubt, throw it out,” adds Dr. Flores.

Burns. Grease and boiling water burns from cooking, sparkler burns from welcoming the New Year: the potential for burn injuries happening in the holidays is high.

“Kitchen burns can be avoided by protecting your hands with mitts and your arms with long sleeves,” says Donna De Padua, MD, MakatiMed Emergency Department Physician. “Also, stand back when removing the lid of a hot pan or from boiling oil or liquids. And keep your oven and stovetops clean as grease and debris buildup can suddenly ignite.”

As for the best way to prevent firecracker burns? “Don’t use firecrackers at home in the first place,” he/she says. “According to the Department of Health, 75 percent of firecracker-related injuries in New Year 2020 occurred at home.”

Choking. And not just on food. Toddlers have made the headlines recently for getting their hands on things and popping them in their mouths—like a button battery from a new toy or a coin from an Aguinaldo.

“For as long as a foreign object doesn’t get caught in the throat, it will go to the digestive tract and pass naturally,” says Dr. Padua. “But if the object gets stuck in the esophagus or bowel area, possible symptoms include gagging, drooling, chest or throat pain, vomiting, refusal to eat, and even abdominal pain and fever. Alert your doctor immediately when you know your child swallowed an object, and even if you believe they can pass it.”

Keeping an eye on your kids and removing any small objects from their reach are the best ways to avoid this holiday nightmare.

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