Manila Standard - 2022 January 13 - Thursday

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‘NO VAX, NO RIDE’ ON METRO PUBLIC TRANSPORT STARTS MONDAY

By Darwin G. Amojelar and Rio N. Araja

VOL. XXXV • NO. 332 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 •THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

THE government will enforce a “no vaccination, no ride” policy on public transport starting Monday, Dec. 17 in Metro Manila, to limit the spread of COVID-19.

At the same time, barangays have been ordered to submit to the government a list of unvaccinated people in their localities, These moves follow President Rodri-

go Duterte’s order to limit the mobility of the unvaccinated amid a new surge in COVID-19 cases, possibly driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

An order from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said operators of public transportation will allow access or issue tickets only to fully vaccinated persons, who must show a physical or digital copy of a valid vaccination card and a government-issued Next page

MOBILITY CURBS. An officer of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) inspects the vaccination cards of passengers of a public utility bus along Marcos Highway in Antipolo City on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. The Transportation department ordered the enforcement of a ‘no vaccination, no ride/no entry’ policy in all public transport in Metro Manila starting Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to restrict the movement of unvaccinated persons. In Pasay City, a ‘no vaccination ID, no entry’ sign is seen at the main entrance of Barangay 183. Norman Cruz

NCR surge still ‘manageable’

WHO notes PH health system up to task amid record spikes in cases

By Willie Casas

T

HE Philippines on Wednesday logged 208,164 active cases— its highest since the pandemic began, but the World Health Organization (WHO) said there was no need as yet to raise the alert level in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Wednesday’s count of active cases from 63,903 people on Jan. 10. was the highest since the previous reThe top regions with cases in the recent cord of 203,710 on April 17, 2021. two weeks were National Capital Region Of the 208,164 (Metro Manila) active cases with 17,902 or 56 Wednesday, 6,435 percent, Region were asymptomat4-A (Calabarzon) ic; 197,091 werenwith 6,838 or 22 mild; 2,872 were percent, and Remoderate; 1,468 gion 3 (Central Luwere severe; and zon) with 3,268 or 298 were critical.

10 percent.

The Department There were 144 of Health (DOH) new fatalities, reported 32,246 bringing the COVnew COVID-19 ID-19 death toll to cases, bringing the 52,654. total number of cases to 3,058,634.

The DOH also reported 5,063 new The positivity rate was at 45.7 per- recoveries, bringing the total recoveries Next page cent, based on test results of samples

• 28 more cities, provinces under Alert Level 3—IATF

• 97 areas in NCR under granular lockdown—DILG • DOH: Surge yet to peak

SOARING CASES. A sign announcing full capacity for COVID-19 cases is displayed outside the emergency room of the FEU-NRMF

hospital at Regalado Avenue, West Fairview in Quezon City as infections continue to rise. The country logged Wednesday its highest daily tally of active cases at 208,164. Manny Palmero

Govt adopts shortened isolation for vaxxed, mild cases

By Willie Casas

OCTA: New infections slow down DOH: Acceleration phase persists

By Willie Casas THE COVID-19 reproduction rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) decreased to 4.69, OCTA Research Group fellow Dr. Guido David said Wednesday.

David said a decreasing reproduction rate indicated that the upward trend in fresh infections was slowing down.

He said this could mean that the number of cases were still increasing but at

THE Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday adopted a shortened quarantine period for people who will test positive for COVID-19 or are close contacts of COVID-positive patients but are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic.

DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario

Vergeire said the isolation for fully vaccinated individuals with mild COVID who are symptomatic or asymptomatic “has been reduced to seven days from the onset of symptoms” from the previous 10-day isolation period.

“Ten days isolation is retained for those who are partially or unvaccinated, Next page

a “slower pace.”

“Reproduction number in the NCR decreased to 4.69. The reproduction number was at 6.16 on Jan. 2. This is a good sign. Until then, let us stay safe everyone and follow best health practices,” David said in a tweet.

However, David said he was not certain if the COVID-19 cases are already at its peak.

‘Delta, not Omicron, dominant strain’

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By Willie Casas DELTA is still the dominant COVID-19 variant in the Philippines, the Department of Health has clarified, as the coronavirus cases in the country attributed to the more infectious Omicron contin-

ued to surge.

During President Rodrigo Duterte’s public address late Tuesday evening, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the Omicron variant was the dominant one.

3,058,634 32,246

208,164

52,654

144

2,797,816

5,063

(As of 4 PM, January 12)

By Willie Casas, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Vito Barcelo

Comelec exec denies hacking report as ‘fake’

THE World Health Organization said Wednesday RT-PCR (real time polymerase chain reaction) tests should be for symptomatic people, especially the elderly – 60 years and above – and the immunocompromised, or those with impaired immune system.

“It would be more prudent to reserve testing for symptomatic people, especially symptomatic elderly and vulnerable people,” said WHO representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe.

“Targeted testing is a better use of the resources on RT-PCR test and the hypothesis that if you have a confirmed case in a household and other people are asymptomatic there is no need to confirm testing, you just need to assume that it’s Omicron, be-

COMELEC Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, who is retiring next month after a seven-year term, denied Wednesday the poll body’s systems were hacked which allegedly compromised sensitive data as claimed by an English language broadsheet report Monday.

“FAKE NEWS: Comelec server was hacked, not true. Manila Bulletin editor must verify,” Guanzon said in a tweet.

On Monday, MB reported its Technews Team had verified information from an unnamed source about the supposed hacking that took place Saturday.

Targeted testing pushed for symptomatic, elderly

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SMOKE ON THE WATER. Firefighters paddle their way along the waters of Estero De Magdalena to get through the gutted shanties in Manila. Danny Pata

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News

THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DOH seeks P50b SRA funding

By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

T

HE Department of Health will meet with the Departments of Finance as well as the Department of Budget and Management to discuss the funding of the special risk allowance of healthcare workers for the year 2022, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said Wednesday.

Duque also admitted that some of the SRAs and benefits of healthcare workers in the previous year were not yet completely given to them.

“There’s still a balance in the meals, accommodation, and transportation and when we identify savings, we put them together and continue to provide them but we really lacked funds so I have to admit, some were not yet given,” Duque said.

Meanwhile, Senator Joel Villanueva said the government should immediately “release and disperse” the P7.92 billion fund in the 2022 national budget for the government’s COVID-19 Laboratory Network so the current surge in the demand for testing could be met.

Villanueva said the amount should be “downloaded without delay” to pub-

lic health facilities so they could cope with the spike in testing requests amid the explosion of omicron cases.

To be able to do this, public hospitals and clinics need to buy and stock up on testing kits and laboratory commodities, Villanueva explained.

The testing fund should be treated like vaccines, he said. “It’s like vaccines, which should be distributed immediately. “ “It should be wrapped with ‘Do not delay’ markings,” said Villanueva, chairman of the Senate labor committee Villanueva warned that delaying the release of the P7.92-billion fund lodged with the Department of Health “would be a case of underspending that leads to undertesting, which then leads to undercounting of cases.”

The lower count, he added, was due to low testing output over the weekend, and that the country could still be in the acceleration phase of the surge.

Duque also confirmed a spike in COVID-19 infections in regions outside Metro Manila.

Duque urged local officials to intensify the vaccination process in their respective areas, adding that the health and safety protocols must always be followed.

Infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante of San Lazaro Hospital, meanwhile, said the rise or fall of the number of cases is always dependent on the number of the vulnerable population.

In the case of the National Capital Region (NCR) where the bulk of infections were reported, he said that the vaccination rate is high.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Benhur Abalos said Monday that as of Jan. 8, 10,534,251 or 107.49 percent of people in NCR have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Meanwhile, 11,185,801 or 114.14 percent received their first dose and 924,593 received the booster shots.

Considering also that those who have Omicron develop “less severe” symptoms with some manifesting only within five days, Solante said that this surge of new COVID-19 cases might then take less time.

Solante said his analysis was based on the situation in South Africa, where the Omicron variant was first detected in November.

On Dec. 30, 2021, South Africa said that its latest coronavirus wave had likely passed its peak without a significant increase in deaths and thus its restrictions would already be eased.

Solante noted that most of the data showed that the Omicron variant typically presents mild symptoms especially if one is fully vaccinated, more so if one received a booster shot.

However, unvaccinated individuals are still susceptible to severe symptoms which may require hospitalization or death, he added.

“If most of the cases are only mild, then you only have a shorter duration of the symptoms. Chances are there will be a faster decrease in the number of cases also,” Solante said.

OCTA:...

From A1 “In past surges, a peak is always preceded by a decreasing reproduction number. Are we close to the peak in NCR? Hopefully. Because the trends being observed are based on limited data, there is still uncertainty when the peak might happen,” David said.

On Tuesday, OCTA said Metro Manila was experiencing a “severe outbreak” with its average daily attack rate (ADAR) increasing to 89.42 percent, up from only 12.71 percent from Dec. 28, 2021 to Jan. 3, 2022. It then increased more than seven times in the Jan. 4 to 10 period.

ADAR pertains to the average number of new cases in a period per 100,000 people.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the COVID-19 case surge in the Philippines was still in its acceleration phase, as the number of infections in other regions are observed to be increasing.

Meanwhile, amid the community transmission in NCR, DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said the policy tended to shift and the DOH was focused on community interventions “Right now, number one, contact tracing is not that much prioritized anymore because we know that in each household, the possibility or the likelihood that there is one positive individual is very high,” she said.

At the same time, she said the agency would be prioritizing the testing of the A1, A2, and A3 groups.

“Our testing before, what we are doing before to detect who is positive so that we can immediately isolate and quarantine, becomes of second nature right now because we would like to prioritize our A1, A2, and A3,” she said.

“Now for community interventions, the most important right now would be isolation,” Vergeire added.

Duque admitted there was only a small source of funds for the SRAs of medical frontliners in 2021.

He said that for 2022, the DOH was asking for at least P50 billion to fund the SRAs of healthcare workers.

“We’re looking at better revenue generation and more efficient collection and hopefully, what we have fought for on behalf of our healthcare workers is a P50 billion allowances for this year

but since I have mentioned, about P7.8 or P7.9 billion was in the programmed funds in the GAA for 2022 that will only last no more than two months worth of allowances...” Duque said at a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

“That’s why we are meeting with DOF and DBM [today, Thursday] to source the remaining balance of about P43 billion so that we can give our entire healthcare workers,” he said.

‘Delta,...

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NCR...

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But Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire clarified Wednesday Duque was only referring to the latest genome sequencing which yielded 29 new Omicron cases and 18 new Delta cases.

World Health Organization country representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, for his part, said the Omicron variant might soon replace Delta as the dominant variant in the Philippines, noting it would be difficult to determine soon which variant was predominant because of “very few” sequencing results from other regions.

“We believe that in the near future, Omicron will displace Delta variant as the predominant variant as it has done in several other countries,” Abeyasinghe said in a televised public briefing.

“The last batch of samples were largely from NCR (National Capital Region) and from returning overseas Filipinos who tested positive and so it’s not surprising that among the ROFs and also in NCR we are now seeing the Delta variant being displaced by the Omicron variant,” Abeyasinghe added.

Earlier, Philippine Genome Center chief, Dr. Cynthia Saloma said many Delta variant cases were still detected in the sequencing run last December.

“As of now, Delta is still the variant with the highest lineage in our country,” Vergeire said.

Vergeire said 43 percent of the detections in the country were Delta, followed by the Beta variant at 18 percent, and Alpha at 15 percent.

The Omicron variant was at 0.21 percent with a total of 43 cases.

“While the epidemic curve is indicative of the Omicron variant, the Delta variant is still circulating based on our genome sequencing,” Vergeire said.

She said the agency was expecting cases to further increase due to Omicron.

In related developments, the DOH maintained there were no cases of the Deltacron or IHU variants detected in the Philippines.

to 2,797,816.

Nationwide, 43 percent of ICU beds, 45 percent of isolation beds, 43 percent of ward beds, and 18 percent of ventilators, were in use.

In Metro Manila, 56 percent of ICU beds, 55 percent of isolation beds, 67 percent of ward beds, and 24 percent of ventilators, were in use.

Meanwhile, the country representative of the World Health Organization, Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, said the current Alert Level 3 imposed by the government in the NCR may be adequate as the country’s health care system would be able to manage the surge of infections.

With the surge in cases especially in the NCR, the government is expected to decide within the week whether to retain the current Alert Level 3 or tighten it to Alert Level 4 from Jan. 16 to 31.

In an online briefing, Abeyasinghe explained that having overwhelmed health care systems is one of the factors considered by authorities in the implementation of stringent restrictions over any region in the country.

“Right now, we don’t see that. Projections are that the Philippines may be able to avert that even if current trends continue until about the end of this month,” he said. “The red line analysis that we have done projects that we can manage the health systems to about the 27 [or] 28 of January.”

The WHO official echoed an earlier Palace argument that the utilization of the health care system has yet to breach the moderate risk level of 71 percent, thus the absence of the need to escalate the alert level in Metro Manila, which is the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Also on Wednesday, the Palace announced that 28 more cities and provinces will be elevated to a higher Alert Level 3 from Jan. 14 to 31.

Acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) decided to raise these cities and provinces to Alert

Level 3 amid the rise of COVID-19 cases in the country.

In Luzon, the cities and provinces under Alert Level 3 are: Benguet, Kalinga and Abra in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); La Union, Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan in Region 1 (Ilocos); Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela and Quirino in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley); Nueva Ecija and Tarlac in Region 3 (Central Luzon); Quezon Province in Region 4-A (Calabarzon); Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro in Region 4-B (Mimaropa); and Camarines Sur and Albay in Region 5 (Bicol) Cities and provinces under Alert Level 3 in Visayas are: Bacolod City, Aklan, Capiz and Antique in Region 6 (Western Visayas); Cebu City and Mandaue City in Region 7 (Central Visayas); and Tacloban City in Region 8 (Eastern Visayas).

In Mindanao, cities and provinces under Alert Level 3 are: Cagayan de Oro City in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao); Davao City in Region 11 (Davao); Butuan City and Agusan del Sur in Caraga; and Cotabato City in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

All other provinces and cities not mentioned shall remain under their current alert level classification.

On Jan. 6, the IATF also raised the following cities and provinces to Alert Level 3: Baguio City (CAR), Dagupan City (Ilocos Region); City of Santiago and Cagayan (Cagayan Valley); Angeles City, Bataan, Olongapo City, Pampanga, and Zambales (Central Luzon); Batangas and Lucena City (Calabarzon); Naga City (Bicol); Iloilo City in (Western Visayas); and Lapu-lapu City (Central Visayas).

The National Capital Region (NCR) Plus, composed of Metro Manila and the nearby provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, is also under Alert Level 3.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said 97 areas in Metro Manila are under a granular lockdown, affecting some 102 families or about 463 people.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said a slight decline in new cases Tuesday did not mean the ongoing surge has peaked.

‘No vax,...

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Violations of the policy are considered violations of applicable general safety and health provisions under any concession or service agreements, authority or permits to operate public transportation, the department said.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) questioned the policy, however.

Lawyer Jacqueline Ann de Guia, CHR spokesperson, said that while there is no direct prohibition on the right to travel, the policy effectively restricts the exercise and enjoyment of fundamental rights.

She said CHR notes that the present restrictions for the unvaccinated should be constantly reviewed to ensure that they are legal measures, necessary for the protection of public health, consistent with other recognized rights and

proportional to their aim of protecting public health. Restrictions imposed by the government must, at a minimum, be carried out in accordance with law.

“The reality is that ordinary Filipinos continue to rely on public transportation in attaining basic needs, such as for food, work, and accessing health services. With the DOTr‘s no-vaccine no-ride policy even those exempted under this policy may be restricted in accessing essential goods and services for having no or limited access to private vehicles,” she said.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddess Libiran, however, dismissed accusations that the policy was anti-poor.

“It’s more anti-poor and anti-life if our fellow citizens get infected because they are not vaccinated,” she said in Fil-

ipino. She added that severe COVID-19 infections of the unvaccinated put an unnecessary burden on the country’s health care system.

Some presidential aspirants -- Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Manny Pacquiao and Panfilo Lacson and labor leader Leody de Guzman -- disapproved of the government’s move to curtail the mobility of unvaccinated people.

A spokesman for former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on the other hand, said the move was “certainly founded on sufficient valuable data.”

Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said all barangays have been ordered to submit a list of unvaccinated persons in their localities. (Full story on manilastandard.net)

cause it’s milder its more prudent to just isolate or quarantine as the case may be,” he added.

Abeyasinghe said it would not be necessary to test and confirm every infection unless the patient belongs to vulnerable groups or the elderly.

“It’s also not very useful in testing other asymptomatic people in a household once you have a confirmed omicron case in a household because of the higher transmissibility they are very likely to get infected or would have got already infected.”

Other countries are also practicing prioritization of confirmatory swab tests or RT-PCR tests, infectious disease specialist Dr. Edsel Salvaña earlier said, citing Israel and the Canadian province of Ontario where those below 60 years old were given antigen tests.

“If you overload RT-PCR tests, the turnaround time becomes longer. Medicine should be given within 5 days of onset of symptoms,” Salvaña added.

Meanwhile, two manufacturers of self-administered COVID-19 test kits are seeking certificates of product registration from the Food and Drug Authority, the Department of Health said.

The FDA is “expediting” the review process so that Filipinos can access these home test kits, said DOH spokesperson and Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

“These are not yet available in the Philippines because the manufacturers have just submitted their application to register their product and not because they have failed the regulatory clearance we process,” Vergeire said in a virtual press conference.

The availability of the product in the market is expected to address the rising demand for COVID-19 test kits in the Philippines as the country experiences a new surge in fresh cases. (Full story on manilastandard.net)

Govt...

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iant, the department wants to shorten the isolation of those who have completed their primary vaccine doses and tested positive for COVID-19 but do not experience any symptoms.

He said this would “harmonize the isolation and quarantine protocols” for health workers and the general public.

However, the head of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) has urged the government to think twice about its plan to shorten the quarantine period of people who test positive for COVID-19 but who are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic.

Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of PCP, said cutting the quarantine period of health workers was understandable due to the surge in cases, but the gov-

ernment should slow down on doing the same thing for the public.

Last week, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved a shortened isolation and quarantine period for fully vaccinated health workers infected with or exposed to COVID-19 from 10 days to only.

This was decided after hospitals raised concerns about being short staffed amid a surge in cases.

An infectious disease expert, Dr. Rontgene Solante of the San Lazaro Hospital, said shortening the quarantine period was not recommended, particularly for older people and those with comorbidities.

(Full story on manilastandard.net)

ID with a photo and address.

A person is considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receiving a second dose in a twodose vaccination series, or two weeks after getting a single-dose vaccine.

Persons with medical conditions that prevent their full COVID-19 vaccination as shown by a duly-signed medical certificate with the name and contact details of their doctor, are exempted from the policy.

People buying essential goods and services are also exempted, but must show a barangay health pass as proof to justify travel.

Comelec...

From A1 “[T]he hackers’ group managed to breach the system of the Comelec last Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, and download files that included, among others, usernames and PINS of votecounting machines (VCM),” the article read.

The article claimed hackers also took network diagrams, IP addresses, list of all privileged users, domain admin credentials, list of all passwords and domain policies, access to the ballot handling dashboard, and QR code captures of the bureau of canvassers

with login and password.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez himself questioned the veracity of the report because it did not elaborate on the “verification” process it supposedly carried out to confirm the alleged hacking.

“We invite the authors to shed light on their allegations, particularly with regard to the ‘verification’ they claim to have carried out,” Jimenez said.

On Wednesday, the National Privacy Commission issued separate orders to the Comelec, MB tech editor Art Samaniego and Manila Bulletin to appear for a “clarificatory” meeting via teleconference on Jan. 25 regarding the supposed data breach.

and those with moderate symptoms regardless of vaccination status,” she said in an online forum.

The 21-day isolation period has been retained for those with severe and critical COVID, as well as for those who are immunocompromised.

Fully-vaccinated close contacts of a COVID-19 positive individual will likewise be reduced from seven days to only five days, Vergeire said.

On Tuesday, DOH Undersecretary and treatment czar Leopoldo Vega said that amid the threat of the Omicron var-

Targeted...

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News

THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DepEd may not impose ‘academic break’

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HE Department of Education (DepEd) will not be able to declare a nationwide academic break for schools due to different COVID-19 situations across the country.

DepEd Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said the school principals and superintendents will have to take the lead and take the necessary actions depending on the situation. But schools can implement policies, such as adjust deadlines in the submission of school requirements, the official said.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers and Teachers’ Dignity Coalition earlier called for “health breaks” in public schools due to the surge in COVID-19.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said she supports the call of teachers for a two-week health break.

“Teachers are humans, too. They are also exposed to the same health risks and are experiencing the same difficulties like everybody else,” she said.

“They might not be the only one who will get sick, but also their family,” she added. A two-week break, she noted, is the amount of time for full quarantine and to let them rest, recover or attend to their family’s needs.

The Commission on Higher Education should also reconsider its announcement regarding the implementation of limited face-to-face classes.

The health and safety of both students

and teachers should be the priority.

An opposition lawmaker has voiced concern over reports that a number of teachers have experienced symptoms or have family members currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

Assistant Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro cited a recent survey conducted by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers-NCR Union which revealed that more than 55.3 percent of the teacher respondents are experiencing flu-like symptoms.

The survey also asked the respondents if they are still working despite having symptoms, 84.7 percent answered yes.

And when asked if they received any support or aid from their divisions or schools, 76.2 percent answered that they did not receive any aid or support.

“These are very alarming numbers.

What is the Department of Education doing to support our teachers during this time when many of their employees are sick?” Castro asked. “Do they even know the extent of the COVID-19 positive cases among DepEd employees?”

“Teachers, especially in areas under alert level 3 are calling for a health break from the Department of Education so that they can focus on their health and the health of their families as we experience the worst surge of COVID-19. With this demand, teachers are also cautioning the DepEd not to give them webinars to attend during this health break so that they can really focus on taking care of themselves and their families,” Castro added. With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel Cruz

IN BRIEF MMDA to close southbound lane along Roxas Blvd The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday announced that the southbound portion of Roxas Boulevard will be closed for two months to vehicular traffic starting at 6 a.m.

Saturday (Jan. 15) to give way to the repair of the damaged box culvert in front of Libertad Pumping Station in Pasay City.

MMDA chairman Banjamin Abalos Jr. said the rehabilitation must be done immediately by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on the southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard, fronting HK Sun Plaza in Pasay City going to the flyover of EDSA-Roxas Boulevard.

“According to DPWH, because of the structural integrity of their project, the structure might weaken,” Abalos said.

“The agency has laid down alternate routes for affected motorists. Likewise, directional traffic signs will also be placed at strategic locations to better guide the public,” he added.

Engr. Neomie Recio, director of MMDA Traffic Engineering Center, assured that the agency will deploy enforcers for traffic management in the area. Joel E. Zurbano

Atayde offers free antigen test for District 1 residents Actor Arjo Atayde, a District 1 congressional bet has activated a free barangay antigen testing program in select areas in District 1.

Atayde said the testings are part of his quick response efforts to the surging cases of CO- Atayde, VID-19 in the city.

The free barangay antigen testing will be conducted from Jan. 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on San Jose Street baske ball court; Barangay San Antonio; Barangay Bahay Toro basketball court on Jan. 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Mendoza Street basketball court in Barangay Paltok on Jan. 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The congressional bet said that testing is a key factor to flatten the curve.

“A lot of people in District 1 has no free access to antigen testing and it is very vital for each of them to know their status to stop the spread of the virus,” he said.

AID FOR BOHOL. Aid for the victims of typhoon Odette was delivered to the town of Mabini, Bohol, under the supervision of the tactical Operations Wing Central aboard three UH-1H helicopters. The assistance came from the Air Logistics Command, PAF which were loaded in the vessel BRP TARLAC LD601 of the Philippine Navy. Photos: 2Lt Edibert V Baguio Paf, Cmo/Pao, Towcen

QC breaches 200,000-mark in COVID-19 cases QUEZON City has become the first city or province in the country to breach the 200,000-mark in terms of cumulative COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in March 2020.

“We are alarmed over the fresh surge of new infections in the city, and the local government’s apparent weak and slow response to the public health emergency,” Congressman Mike Defensor, who is running for Quezon City mayor, said.

According to the Department of Health’s COVID-19 Tracker, Quezon City’s cumulative cases soared by 22,214 cases from 180,400 to 202,614 in just a week, from Jan. 5 to 11.

“There’s no question the Quezon City government, which has a lot of financial

resources at its disposal, can do more to suppress new infections,” Defensor said.

“It could, for instance, improve public access free and fast real-time RT-PCR testing, so that those who test positive can be identified and isolated right away,” Defensor said.

“The city government could also train and hire additional contact tracers, which is a win-win solution since it will also help provide temporary gainful employment to those who lost their jobs,” Defensor said.

“We should not underestimate this Omicron variant surge, which, based on the World Health Organization’s warning, has the potential to quickly infect a large portion of our population within the next

two months,” Defensor said.

“The local government’s excuse that infections are naturally high because of Quezon City’s huge population of 2.94 million simply does not hold water,” Defensor said.

“If a large population is the only cause for the very high COVID-19 cases, then the provinces of Cavite and Laguna, which have 3.68 million and 3.04 million residents, respectively, should have more cases than Quezon City,” Defensor said.

“However, as of Jan. 11, Cavite’s cumulative caseload stood at only 176,330, while Laguna had only 132,095, both of which are considerably less than Quezon City’s,” Defensor, the Anakalusugan party-list representative in Congress, said.

PDEA releases report on buy-busts THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Wednesday released its list of top 10 anti-Illegal drug operations for 2021 comprising of high-impact operations (HIOs) that led to the arrest of high-value targets (HVTs) and the seizure of illegal drugs worth billions of pesos.

Its operations involved the participation of law enforcement, intelligence, and military counterparts in line with PDEA’s strategy of adopting an inter-agency approach to anti-drug operations.

The operations included PDEA and the Philippine National Police’s buy-bust operation on Jan. 15 last year in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales.

At least four police officers and their cohorts were arrested, and P2.64 million worth of shabu was confiscated.

The PDEA, PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency also conducted a buy-bust operation on June 13, 2021, in Imus City,

Cavite that resulted in the arrest of a Chinese national and confiscation of 116.85 kilograms of shabu worth P794.59 million concealed in packaging labeled as Chinese tea.

Two search warrants on June 21, 2021, in Malate, Manila resulted in the confiscation of 37.53 kilos of shabu worth P255.21 million. A buy-bust operation on Aug.1, 2021, in Novaliches, Quezon City resulted in the arrest of three Chinese nationals and confiscation of 127 kilos of shabu worth P863.60 million.

A buy-bust operation was conducted on Aug. 1, 2021, in Balagtas, Bulacan that led to the neutralization of a Chinese national and confiscation of 74.8 kilos of shabu worth P509.23 million. Another buy-bust operation was conducted on Sept. 7, 2021, in Candelaria, Zambales that caused the neutralization of four Chinese nationals and confiscation of 502.16 kilos of shabu worth P3.41 billion. Rio N. Araja

INTRAMUROS FIRE. Children peek through in the aftermath of a fire that hit shanties in Intramuros Manila. About 70 families were affected by the fire.

Norman Cruz

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Govt seeks synchronized aid on shelters for typhoon victims

By Rio N. Araja DEPARTMENT of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Eduardo del Rosario has convened the National Shelter Cluster for the government’s continuing response to typhoon “Odette” to synchronize all shelter assistance for the victims.

“What is important now is for us to provide immediate and continuous assistance to those whose houses were totally destroyed,” the housing czar said.

Latest reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council showed that a total of 1,360,447 houses were either partially (991,971) or totally (368,476) damaged by “Odette” that wreaked havoc in Regions 4B, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Caraga, and BARMM. Del Rosario stressed the need for the cluster member agencies to finalize their budgetary requirements and seek approval from the Office of the President so that funds could be tapped soonest.

The DHSUD through the NHA has already distributed P487.5 million to 97,500 affected families with each receiving P5,000 from Regions 4B, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 13 under its special emergency housing assistance program.

Re-electionist Senator Richard J. Gordon today called on Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to send more trainers who can volunteer for works in rebuilding damaged houses and buildings in areas hit by the typhoon.

Gordon, who chairs the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), said Odette-hit communities are in dire need of technical assistance, especially in the areas of electrical installation, masonry, carpentry, among others.

As part of the PRC’s initiative, it gave out two tarpaulins and a shelter toolkit to 315 families in Ubay, Bohol, where hundreds of homes were completely wiped out by the typhoon.

The PRC also provided galvanized iron sheets and other building materials to help affected residents whose houses were damaged or destroyed to live under a decent roof. Macon Ramos-Araneta and Alena S. Flores

CHR to probe deadly jail riot in Caloocan City THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is conducting a motu propio investigation on the Caloocan jail riot that occurred last Monday with at least six persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) have died and more than 30 injured in an altercation between two rival groups.

“We recall that just this month, CHR investigated another incident that occurred in Bilibid leading to the deaths of three PDLs (https://bit.ly/3G9ROWR). In both incidents, improvised weapons were used to injure and possibly kill,” spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said.

“The CHR is concerned with this trend of jail riots, it’s a common occurrence, and use of contraband weapons. We reiterate our call for detention officials to increase efforts on clearing operations to ensure that no PDL has access to deadly weapons. As the Caloocan city jail is under the supervision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and it has already announced the start of its investigation, we hope that their probe would yield concrete solutions to help prevent the re-occurrence of such incidences,” she added.

According to De Guia, the commission as the lead agency in the Interim National Preventive Mechanism consistently recommends measures to combat all forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment inside prisons.

“We urge jail wardens and officials to take cognizance of this incident and investigate whether security lapses were committed in previous contraband clearing operations to ensure that this incident will no longer be repeated,” she appealed. Rio N. Araja

‘Provide equal opportunities in motorcycle taxi pilot’

By Maricel V. Cruz

FIELD HOSPITAL FOR COVID-19. Frontliners for COVID-19 arrive at the Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital in Luneta on Wednesday Jan 12. The place has been tapped as the new quarantine facility amid the threat of the Omicron coronavirus variant. Norman Cruz

SAMAR Rep. Edgar Sarmiento said regulators must provide equal opportunities to all motorcycle taxi providers to avoid creating a monopoly or duopoly that will only bring harm to the riding public.

“We need public transportation especially during these times… I hope that all applications by all motorcycle taxis we use now will be considered,” said Sarmiento, chair of the House committee on transportation, said.

Sarmiento made the statement in response to a decision by a technical working group created by the Department of Transportation permanently revoking a

partnership between motorcycle taxi firm Move It and ride-hailing giant Grab.

The partnership allows users of Grab’s app to tap Move It’s services. To jumpstart the tandem’s service, Grab offered its riders 1,000 free rides per day for one week.

The TWG shut down the partnership last September after only one week’s operation despite the benefit to the public.

The working group’s action left just JoyRide and Angkas as the only two ride-hailing firms allowed to join the government’s motorcycle taxi pilot study.

Move It is an insignificant player in the pilot, hence its decision to partner with Grab.

Sarmiento said the TWG decision was

not in line with conclusions reached by the House transport committee’s own technical working group.

“We studied this proposed law on motorcycle taxis, and it is clear that the goal is fair competition. No one should be favored. The platform that will be used online won’t just be the platform of a chosen one,” he said.

He added: “We are applying the equality clause of the Constitution.”

Move It, in public statement, slammed the TWG decision, saying the partnership went through several rounds of discussions with the transportation department’s technical working group and addressed all concerns.

Ping to accept fate after polls, says win or lose it’s a ‘blessing’

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2022 E-mail: mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

By Macon Ramos-Araneta PARTIDO Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he is ready to accept whatever fate bestows upon him in the upcoming 2022 polls and would have no regrets devoting his entire professional life in public service.

Lacson has maintained his pragmatic yet optimistic attitude in life, saying he would consider it a “blessing” whether he wins the elections or not.

“My attitude has always been that if I win, I am ready. I am prepared to serve and apply the values I learned from the PMA (Philippine Military Academy)—courage, integrity and loyalty,” he said.

“And if I lose, I can enjoy living in peace with my family, spend quality time with my friends, especially with my supporters who—as I mentioned earlier—through thick and thin have always been there for me,” he said.

If he becomes President, Lacson also said no more undeserving and unqualified government officials will be allowed under his term.

The standard bearer of Partido Reporma committed to remove these officials from their posts, especially political appointees who don”t perform the duties of their office.

He sees this as a form of thievery not only of the nation”s coffers, but also of opportunities that could go to more deserving Filipinos.

Lacson initially wanted to retire from politics after serving his third term in the Senate but decided to postpone it to take his final shot at the presidency on the advice of his supporters and trusted allies, particularly his running mate and long-time colleague Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. Since announcing their decision to run as a tandem in early September last year, Lacson had always been clear and consistent with his intentions about his second presidential bid. He wanted to offer his wisdom, knowledge, leadership skills and experience to help solve the problems plaguing our nation.

Let unvaxxed move freely —Pacquiao PROMDI presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday appealed to the government units not to curtail the mobility of unvaccinated Filipinos, so long as they observe the mandatory health and safety protocols against COVID-19 In calling out the Department of Interior on Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of Transportation (DoTr), and all local government units, Pacquiao said unvaccinated Filipinos should not also be forced to get their vaccine jabs.

He said authorities should just persuade them by properly explaining the benefits of having anti-COVID vaccines.

Pacquiao’s statement came after the DoTr issued a travel ban on all unvaccinated Filipinos.

Earlier, President Duterte also issued an order for barangay officials to stop unvaccinated residents from going out of their homes.

Pacquiao said having a vaccine should continue to be a personal choice, and the government should not impose restrictions against those who believe that this is contrary to their personal and religious beliefs.

Unless there is a law that mandates people to be vaccinated, those who chose not to be inoculated must be left alone, the champion boxer added. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Defer college tuition hike, BBM, Sara urge CHED

By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz

CROWD CONTROL. Marketgoers show their vaccination card to members of the Task Force Malasakit of Manila City Hall along

Ylaya Street in Binondo on Wednesday, as the city intensifies the order of President Rodrigo Duterte not to allow unvaccinated people outside their homes. Danny Pata

POLL BODY EYES BALLOT PRINTING NEXT WEEK

Comelec nixes PDP bid to reopen COC period T

By Vito Barcelo

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has denied the petition of the administration party PDP-Laban to reopen the filing of the certificates of candidacy (COC) in the May 2022 polls.

The Comelec also junked the bid of the Malasakit Movement of former Metro Manila Development Authority spokesperson Celine Pialago to be accredited as a party-list group for lack of merit.

In a statement, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the poll body unanimously denied the petition to reopen the filing of certificates of candidacy for the

national elections filed by the PDP-Laban faction of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

It denied as well as the petition to suspend the elections until 2025, which some administration critics saw as an attempt to keep President Rodrigo Duterte in power for three more years.

“Both of them resoundingly denied,” Jimenez said.

Also, the Comelec is looking to start printing the official ballots for the May 2022 polls early next week.

“Our estimate is that our final ballot faces will be completed by January 15.

The final ballot face means that is the final list of candidates. So January 15 and we hope to be able to start printing

by January 17,” Jimenez said in a virtual press briefing.

Jimenez said the poll body is now preparing for a walkthrough at the National Printing Office (NPO) in Quezon City on Saturday.

“So right now, we are preparing to hold

a walkthrough of NPO on January 15. We are finalizing preparations for that this afternoon. Hopefully, the walkthrough will be in person,” Jimenez added.

He said the ballot faces will be uploaded on their website.

Jimenez said the petition of the PDPLaban Cusi wing to re-open the COC filing was denied as the grounds it cited were not meritorious.

The Comelec en banc refuted the PDPLaban’s allegations that “there is no reason” for the poll body “to set the deadline so early.”

“One of the justifications forwarded by the commission in response to the allegation is that, obviously, the allegation does not take into consideration all of the other preparatory activities that are being conducted by the Comelec.

That in fact the setting of the date of the filing of COCs is not arbitrary in any way. That’s why we denied their request,” he said.

JABS FOR KIDS. Health

workers weigh a 4-month-old baby during a regular pediatric check-up at a health center in Barangay 201, Pasay City, Wednesday.

Children four and younger could be eligible for COVID vaccines

by April, the country’s immunization czar said Wednesday.

Danny Pata

Isko opens drive-thru vax site for 4-wheel vehicle drivers PRESIDENTIAL candidate Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has opened a drive-thru booster vaccination site for drivers of four-wheeled vehicles in the capital city.

The drive-thru will cater to Manilans and non-Manilans the whole day today (January 13).

The vaccination site at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta will be personally supervised principally by Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and Manila Health Department Chief Dr. Arnold “Poks” Pangan.

Meanwhile, the booster vaccination for two-wheeled vehicle drivers remain in operation at the Bonifacio Shrine’s Kartilya ng Katipunan, after the demand for it went up following its launch days ago,

while ambulances were sent to construction sites of city government projects to vaccinate laborers too.

“Due to the request of our constituents and the people, we will innovate this vaccination drive-thru here in Luneta.

Instead of just the first dose and second dose, we will now use it as a drive-thru booster vaccination site for 4-wheel vehicles,” Moreno said, after inspecting the preparations being made at the facility.

Moreno said the drive-thru booster shot site has a target of 1,500 individuals per day. The facility will accommodate 300 vehicles, with a maximum of 5 passengers, on a first come, first served basis.

Those who cannot be accommodated for the day will be given numbers that will be used on the following day.

“Jeeps, taxis, private cars, even Grab, bring your family, and businessmen, bring your employees. You can come here to Luneta,” Moreno said.

Mayor Isko said the only requirement is for individuals to present their vaccination cards, either digital or physical, that were issued by the City of Manila or by their respective local government units where they come from.

“We will recognize the vaccination cards of those from Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Ilocos, Bicol… all around NCR. No matter where you are from, we will accept your vaccination card. And you will be vaccinated with a booster shot,” he said.

Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey E. Requejo

Gonzales vows to rally activists vs. Marcos

NO PLACE TO SELL. Vegetable vendors cover the bike lane as they sell their merchandise along the northbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Manny Palmero

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Norberto Gonzales has vowed to rally activists who fought for Filipino rights during Martial Law to prevent the return of another Marcos to Malacanang.

In a virtual press conference, Gonzales, the candidate of the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas, said Filipinos should not wait for the return of the former dictator’s family, through former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to the Palace.

“This makes the elections more important now,” said the former national security adviser and defense secretary, who was jailed, then exiled by the elder Marcos during the 1970s.

“The activists who are still alive, let’s move now. Explain to the youth, let them

be critical. Explain what really our history is, what really happened. We will go straight to the people, like before when the people judged them,” Gonzales said, referring to the EDSA Revolution in 1986.

However, the former defense chief under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was saddened with what happened with the country after 1986, as it seems more Filipinos want the Marcos family back in power.

“I thought after 1986 we already judged the Marcoses. I thought that was over. That’s why we are going back to the people and explain why in 1986 people judged the Marcos family. What they are doing now is disturbing because they are changing history,” Gonzales said.

THE BBM-Sara UniTeam on Wednesday urged the Commission on Higher Education to defer the tuition fee increase it recently approved for 56 Higher Education Institutions for the academic year 2021-2022 amid the ongoing Covid19 pandemic.

Presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, appealed for the suspension of the impending increase as this would negatively impact the financial situation of many Filipino families.

Meanwhile, vice-presidential aspirant Duterte has said senatorial candidates running under the UniTeam will have her unequivocal support once she is elected to office.

“As Vice President, I commit to help you, senators, in passing laws and in supporting our future President Bongbong Marcos in implementing them in the future,” Duterte said in a statement.

The BBM-Sara senatorial lineup is so far composed of former Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr., former senator Jinggoy Estrada, former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, and Antique Rep. Loren Legarda.

“We are appealing to CHED to consider suspending the scheduled increase. There are still a lot of families struggling even at this juncture of the pandemic. Allowing the hike in tuition and miscellaneous fees will be an added burden on families whose finances have not yet fully recovered.

This may even lead them to stop sending their kids to school altogether,” the UniTeam said.

The team was reacting to a CHED memorandum dated December 6, 2021, stating among others that 56 private HEIs were given the go-ahead to increase their tuition and other school fees.

CHED has already released the said memo to its officials, regional offices, and presidents of private universities and colleges all over the country.

CHED Chairperson J. Prospero De Vera III said the approval for the increase was in line with CHED’s guidelines on the recalibration of Miscellaneous and Other School Fees (MOSF).

The current list was also based on the report of fifteen CHED Regional Offices (CHEDROs) and a Commission en Banc Resolution dated November 9, 2021.

Leni vows to tap experts, managers for Cabinet posts

By Rio N. Araja IF she wins the presidency this year, Vice President Leni Robredo will tap experts and good managers in their own fields and discipline to be her Cabinet members.

“For me, it is very important to choose the Cabinet members. It is very important to choose the heads of offices,” she said in a statement.

Robredo said her Cabinet members must be experts in their fields, respected by many, and be great managers.

“No. 1, we need experts in their field. No. 2, we need respected… respected in the sector where they lead. No. 3, they are not just good enough in their field but great as managers,” she added.

“And then no. four, for me, the driving force of governance is always empowerment and inclusivity.

So, for me, I must choose those who would listen, give voice to the stakeholders because that is what I think is the most important,” she cited.

Meanwhile, Robredo announced her intention to use research and education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to help address the country’s major issues in key sectors.

She bared her plan in the online Engineers for Leni Town Hall Meeting held on Tuesday, attended by over 200 participants in Zoom and another 300 in its Facebook Live broadcast.

The Vice President modeled her plan on more progressive members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which focus on higher research and development (R&D) funding and integration of STEM into the curriculum of schools.

Opinion Renewed responsibility

LIKE a breath of fresh air, Maynilad and Manila Water have been granted new franchises effective this month until 2037. Under their new franchises, the two water concessionaires, their successors or assignees, shall “conform to the ethics of honest enterprise” and shall provide water supply and sewerage services “in a prudent, efficient, and satisfactory manner.” Moreover, they are also mandated to comply with environmental and sustainability standards and to work hand-in-hand with local government units to ensure safe and inclusive development.

We welcome this news in light of the threat of water shortage in the metro and the sustained high demand for clean and potable water during this pandemic. Thus, we continue to seek reliable and stable services from these two companies.

As such, it is inevitable and necessary for these water concessionaires to coordinate with local government units to ensure continuous supply of safe drinking water.

Local government units play a significant role in the preservation of our natural resources and other protected areas. LGUs are also mandated by the Local Government Code to maintain waterways and water supply systems. It is at the LGU level where various water projects are implemented.

There is an indisputable and reasonable expectation that water concessionaires should extend support to LGUs. Maintenance of water sources and waterways, albeit a public service, is no easy feat, especially in typhoon-prone areas. It is crucial that water infrastructures be kept in good condition to ensure reliable supply. Apart from this, communities near water sources also need support against degrading ecosystems affecting their living conditions, decreased protection during typhoons, and risks of heavy flooding in downstream areas.

With the full devolution of functions

to LGUs, there are many fundamental changes as well as serious challenges in resource mobilization and revenue allocation. Hence, I deem that it is high time for water concessionaires to render necessary support to LGUs. Apart from fulfilling corporate social responsibilities, water concessionaires are also called to abide by local ordinances, rules, and regulations relating to utilization, development, and management of water resources.

I am hopeful that the two companies will faithfully fulfill their duties.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Quezon has long enacted an ordinance approving the 2016 Revenue Code of the Province of Quezon which imposes an environmental enhancement fee for bulk water extraction from the watershed and river basin in the province. I, therefore, call for the compliance of water companies on the payment of fees along with its usage of the province’s waterways. The fee will go to environmental programs of the province that aim to protect and support the affected communities where water is sourced. The Provincial Government of Quezon has proposed a water system and welfare protection program that will promote inclusive economic development in municipalities of Real, Infanta, and General Nakar where water sources are located.

Water concessionaires are committed to ensure environmental sustainability as it keeps water fully accessible and available at any given day. LGUs are likewise mandated to preserve these water sources and infrastructures. The cooperation and coordination of both entities are important to expand capability to develop water structures, maintain cleanliness of water sources, and protect affected communities and ecosystems. With the renewed franchises, I am hopeful that the two companies will faithfully fulfill their responsibilities.

THE images are still vivid in my mind.

On that fateful night of February 25, 1986, when the Oligarch-led Yellows finally succeeded in vilifying and deposing former President Ferdinand Marcos. Of course, they couldn’t have done that without the help from the Left, whose leaders they have in collaboration ever since, but had just committed a strategic blunder when they were at the end game, deciding to boycott the snap polls.

Thus, while the Yellows were partying on the streets, the Left were on the sidelines, crying their hearts out. But nevertheless, they have succeeded in ousting the Marcoses, having pictured them as nothing but evil.

Fast forward to 2022 or 36 years later. Majority of the Filipinos (if we are to believe all the survey results) are again in a party mood. However, this time, the theme has been reversed. If the 1986 street party was an Oligarchled Yellows celebration for ousting a Marcos, this time it’s for putting his only son, Bongbong, to the seat of power. As has been indicated in all survey results, BBM is on the verge of becoming a majority president in the Post-EDSA era.

And there could be no stopping him from claiming victory on May 9 this year.

Except for one thing – if the Commission on Elections decides to douse cold water on would-be-party goers by disqualifying the frontrunner for this year’s presidential race.

Early this week, Commissioner Rowena Guanzon of the Comelec’s First Division said she will be releasing their decision on the petition for the cancellation of BBM’s certificate of candidacy anytime from today until January 17.

For the record, there are still six petitions pending before the Comelec

How will the people decide?

BBM was only imposed a ‘fine’ (Section 252 of NIRC), and not ‘perpetual disqualification’ (Section 254 of NIRC).

BBM’s camp has already presented proof he has already paid the fine as ordered by the CA. Actually, this is not the first time the Comelec had decided a disqualification case for a presidential candidate based on political doctrine and not on the basis of legal technicalities. It had done so in 2016 and it involved President Rodrigo Duterte.

That time, there were petitions asking the poll body to cancel Duterte’s CoC for president, saying Martin Diño as standard bearer of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan for whom he was substituting, filed a CoC as mayoral candidate for Pasay City and not for president.

So, how could Duterte then run for president if there was no CoC to substitute for?

However, the Comelec decided to ignore that saying Diño’s intent to run for president was clear despite his error.

Clearly then, the Comelec gave more weight to the political issue as Duterte was then leading in the political surveys, and not on the legal matters.

Incidentally, Guanzon was also a

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

S

Irresponsible

INCE the early days of the pandemic, Filipinos have had two main sources of local information about COVID-19—the government and an independent group of researchers that called themselves the OCTA Research Group.

While the government—through the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) and the Department of Health (DOH)— provided basic data such as the daily case count, the number of recoveries and the death toll, OCTA focused its attention initially on projections.

There were no epidemiologists speaking for the group, which at first identified itself as UP-OCTA—until the University of the Philippines disavowed any connection with it. Often speaking for OCTA was its president, Ranjit Rye, an assistant professor of political science at UP, and Guido David, a professor of mathematics, also at UP. They were later joined by Nicanor Austriaco, a molecular biologist, who is a professor of biology and theology at Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island.

This disconnect between their fields of specialty and their work on the pandemic did not seem to bother anyone at first, and the media gleefully reported OCTA’s every projection—the more dire they were, the better the headlines.

But then OCTA began making recommendations based on its projections, egging the government toward hard lockdowns as a way of containing the spread of the virus and expressing their views on quarantine policies.

Eventually, some members of the House—unhappy with what they saw

as the group’s alarmist bent—questioned the group’s methods and its credentials. At a hearing in September 2021, Rye told lawmakers who were concerned about the accuracy of OCTA’s projections and the panic that their analyses could spark, that they would “seriously consider recalibrating” their communications.

Omicron as a blessing? Seriously?

By October, it appeared that they had.

David, optimistic about the end of the surge at the time, said Filipinos could have a good Christmas in 2021, and said in places where people were vaccinated, they could “probably have a big Christmas party because the risk right now seems low.”

In the light of the new surge in COVID-19 cases now, David’s remark was overly optimistic at best, and irresponsible at worst.

Then, as new cases began doubling every two days possibly because of the more contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19, OCTA’s Austriaco declared that this was “the beginning of the end” of the pandemic. Those who survive infection, he said, would have antibodies that will protect them from other variants of COVID-19.

“We have to realize that Omicron is

the beginning of the end of the pandemic because Omicron is going to provide the kind of population immunity that should stabilize our societies and should allow us to reopen,” Austriaco said.

He said after a hard month, Omicron would be “a blessing because it should provide the population protection that we need everywhere.”

His optimism, however, was not shared by other members of the medical community.

“Omicron is the most contagious variant yet of the SARS-COV2 virus,” a physician, Leonard Pascual, said.

“Don’t let anyone win you over with the narrative that is a cure-all, end-all, ‘vaccine.’ It’s still COVID.” A data scientist, Cherry Ronao, tweeted: “Why are we amplifying people talking about ‘natural vaccine’?

The more people who get infected, the more the virus mutates, the more chances another variant of concern will emerge! What these people are proposing is a moving target!”

She also shared a tweet of an American virologist, Dr. Angela Rasmussen, who said that the key to stopping a virus from mutating is to prevent it from replicating.

Austriaco, a Catholic priest who believes that Adam and Eve can still be reconciled with science, also neglects to mention that not everyone will react in the same way to the Omicron variant, and some may suffer organ damage or even die, especially if they are not vaccinated. To suggest as Austriaco does that the Omicron variant is a gift from above is not only pie in the sky, it is downright irresponsible.

Demographic transition

Will Comelec spoil the people’s party? either questioning BBM’s eligibility to run for president, or outrightly seeking his disqualification, all zeroing in on his supposed conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude for his failure to file his income tax returns from 1982 to 1985.

But not only his lawyers, but even legal experts supposedly allied with his critics have all declared the petitions have no basis since BBM’s conviction by a Regional Trial Court which carried a penalty of imprisonment has been overturned by the Court of Appeals, which only ordered a payment of fines, which has already been settled.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2022

go through several phases. This will then reach a point wherein we will be seeing a more stable population where the birth rate will somehow approximate the death rate.

Will this trend persist after the pandemic?

AMIDST this depressing situation of surging infections, there is a piece of encouraging news coming from the Population Commission. According to POPCOM, the population increase last year was the lowest for the country in 75 years at 0.3 percent. This is way below the normal increase that we have been having in the past which is about 1.7 percent. The same is true in 2020. The increase for that year was 0.79 percent.

With the increase of births way below projections, our population which is now estimated to be 109,991,095 is two million fewer than expected.

The effect of this on the country is huge.

If this trend continues and our economy grows as projected, the human development index of the country will increase at a much faster rate. President Duterte should be very happy with these figures. Just a few weeks ago, he was saying that there are too many Filipinos and was suggesting three children per family.

It is not yet quite clear why Filipino families of child bearing age decided to have fewer children for the past two years. POPCOM theorized, however, that for the year 2020, there were about 8 million people who availed themselves of the government family planning program which was 500,000 more than 2019.

Maybe the pandemic also had something to do with it.

Whatever the reasons, there were fewer babies born in the last two years.

Perhaps, they are starting to realize that more children are not necessarily better.

This has prompted the POPCOM to say that the country is now in the process of demographic transition. If the agency is right, and on this I am not altogether sure, this process will take time and will have to

The consequence of this is that we will begin to see the average Filipino age go up and our graying population will increase further. As we often hear from people who study economics and populations, there is a direct correlation between population growth and economic development. The developed countries which have very high development indexes have slower population growth and the developing countries with very much lower human development indexes have faster population growth.

For comparison, a little over a generation ago, our economy and that of Thailand were at the same level. Our populations were so comparatively the same. This is the reason why both countries were sometimes referred to as twins when it came to both their economic development and population growth. Today however, our population is almost 110 million while Thailand has only about 71 million people.

The Thai GDP is also much larger than ours at this stage. Beginning in the 1990s, Thailand experienced a phenomenal economic growth while its birth rate started to fall. We now have about 40 million more people than Thailand.

If we are indeed starting to transition as stated by the PopCom, we will not be reaching our previous projected 2050 population by a huge margin. Will this be good for us? My best answer to this is that by and large, it will be most likely good but it will also depend on how our government demographers and economic leaders manage the situation.

There will always be dangers to a precipitous decline in population like what

member of the Comelec’s First Division which ruled in favor of Duterte then.

So, will the Comelec assume the role of a party spoiler? I highly doubt

it. Just like what they did in the Duterte disqualification case in 2016, they will let the people decide on this matter come May 9.

we are seeing now in many developed countries like Japan, Italy, Germany and others. These countries are experiencing acute labor shortages. In Italy as well as Japan, municipalities are enticing people to live in many abandoned towns offering a lot of incentives. In Japan, the government is at a crossroad whether to open the country to immigration because of their fast-aging population. The past couple of years saw Japan with more deaths than births.

The trick, of course, is to be able to manage the transition well to avoid these problems. But we are a very long way from that.

Unlike the POPCOM, however, I am not thoroughly convinced that we are now on a demographic transition. It is more likely a glitch due to the pandemic and the economic hardship it has inflicted on the people. A few more years is needed to see whether we have really started to transition demographically. If this lower birth rate continues after we get over this pandemic, then we can safely say that we are indeed transitioning.

I do not think however, that our very conservative Catholic Church will take this sitting down without saying anything particularly on the morality of dwindling number of family members. The difference this time is that it is the people of childbearing age themselves who have apparently decided to start having fewer babies.

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(www.manilastandard.net)

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2022 TODAY mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Wreck of Taiwan’s advanced fighter jet located after crash TAIWANESE rescuers on Wednesday located the wreckage of a F-16V jet that crashed into the sea a day before, less than two months after the island launched the first squadron of its most advanced fighters.

The jet disappeared from radar screens around half an hour after taking off for a routine training mission from its base in southwestern Taiwan on Tuesday.

The air force said the jet plunged into the sea with no sign of the 28-year-old pilot ejecting in time.

The national rescue center said wreckage of the fuselage had been found but there were no signs of the pilot following an all-night search involving multiple helicopters, coastguard vessels and over 60 officials.

The incident dealt a blow to the new squadron of US-made F-16Vs that was commissioned in November as Taiwan upgraded its aging fleet amid rising ten-

sions with China.

The air force has temporarily grounded its entire F16 fleet.

Beijing claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day, by force if necessary.

Under President Xi Jinping, China has ramped up economic, diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan.

Taiwan’s air force has suffered a string of fatal accidents in recent years as it is kept under constant pressure by China, which has ramped up incursions into its air defense zone since 2020.

Last year, Taiwan recorded 969 incursions by Chinese warplanes into its air defense zone, according to a database compiled by AFP, more than double the roughly 380 carried out in 2020.

Last March, Taiwan grounded all military aircraft after a pilot was killed and another went missing when their fighters collided mid-air in the third fatal crash in less than six months. AFP

CUTENESS OVERLOAD. This handout photograph taken and provided by Tokyo Zoological Park Society on January 12, 2022 shows twin giant pandas Xiao Xiao (upper) and his sister Lei Lei at Ueno Zoological Gardens in Tokyo. AFP

‘ONLINE PLATFORM A MAJOR DISINFORMATION CONDUIT’

Fact-checking groups urge YouTube: Fight false info

Manila

Standard

M TODAY

ORE than 80 fact-checking organizations Wednesday urged online video platform YouTube to better combat disinformation, offering to help debunk false statements.

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late CECILIA RAMIREZ BAUTISTA has been extra judicially settled among her heirs consisting of: • Bank maintained with Guiguinto, Bulacan Branch of Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company(METROBANK) ONE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY USD DOLLARS($1,101.54) • Social Security Pension Proceeds of ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY TWO PESOS (Php 182.00) at the time of her death As per Doc. No. 219; Page No. 45; Book Number IV; Series of 2021 before Notary Public ATTY. CLAUDETTE C. TOLENTINO

(MS-JAN. 6/13/20, 2022)

“Every day, we see that YouTube is one of the major conduits of online disinformation and misinformation worldwide,” said the groups spanning the globe, from Politifact and the Washington Post in the United States to the Kenya-based Africa Check.

Videos containing false information had gone “under the radar of YouTube’s policies, especially in non-English speaking countries,” they said in an open letter to YouTube chief Susan Wojcicki.

“We urge you to take effective action against disinformation and misinformation...

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 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. 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 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

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

HK to create more ‘national security’ crimes

HONG Kong will outlaw a host of new national security crimes, the city’s leader said Wednesday, as she presided the first session CYAN MAGENTA YELLOWover BLACK of a new “patriots only” legislature scrubbed of political opposition. and to do so with the world’s independent, non- defended the platform, saying that fact checkThe law will add to an already partisan fact-checking organizations,” they ing was a “crucial tool,” but just “one piece of sweeping national security law added. a much larger puzzle to address the spread of imposed directly on Hong Kong “Our experience as fact-checkers together misinformation.” with academic evidence tells us that surfac“Over the years, we’ve invested heavily in by Beijing that has transformed the international finance hub and ing fact-checked information is more effective policies and products in all countries... to conthan deleting content.” nect people to authoritative content, reduce the empowered authorities to carry It also urged the platform to make sure its spread of borderline misinformation, and re- out a widespread crackdown on recommendation algorithm did not actively move violative videos,” she added. dissent. promote disinformation to its users.

She said YouTube had seen “important progThe current national security YouTube spokesperson Elena Hernandez ress.” AFP law outlaws four crimes: secession, subversion, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces.

But on Wednesday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam confirmed that her government will create new “local legislation” that meets Article 23 of Hong Kong’s miniconstitution, which calls for the city to pass its own national security laws.

Lam did not outline what the new crimes would be.

But the specific crimes Article 23 lists are treason, secession, sedition, subversion and theft of state secrets.

It also includes prohibiting any foreign political organizations from conducting political activities in Hong Kong or local political organizations establishing ties with overseas political bodies.

MASS TESTING. A health worker collects a swab sample from a woman to test for COVID-19 AFP at a community hall in Hyderabad on January 12, 2022. AFP

Chinese man jailed for setting ‘slow’ internet cables on fire A MAN in China has been sentenced to seven years in jail for setting internet equipment ablaze after becoming enraged over a slow connection, authorities have said.

The man, surnamed Lan, was at an internet cafe in southern Guangxi province last June when his frustration with the connection speed spilled over.

He responded by destroying a public REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Department of Human Settelements and Urban Development Kagawaran ng Pamahalaang Pantao at Pagpapaunlad ng Kalunsuran National Capital Region

box containing optical fiber network cables, a local court said in a statement on Monday.

The court said the man “used a lighter to set a napkin he had on him on fire, then burned down a telecommunications box at a traffic intersection.”

The fire caused nearly 4,000 households and offices, including a public hospital, to lose internet access for 28 to 50 hours.

“After the incident, public security officials seized Lan’s instrument of crime —a lighter,” according to the court in Cenxi, a small mountain city.

Lan was later hit with a seven-year jail term for “destroying public telecommunications facilities.”

The story prompted widespread ridicule on the Chinese internet, with one Weibo user calling the man a “big baby.”

AFP

‘Kim Jong Un oversaw hypersonic missile test’ Notice is hereby given that Rockwell Land Corporation (owner/developer) has filed NORTH Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un with this office a sworn personally oversaw the successful test registration statement for the of missile, state media sale aof hypersonic commercial subdivision lots at Rockwell Center the second such reported Wednesday, Bacolod-North Block located launch by the nuclear-armed nation in along Carlos Hilado Highway less than a week.

(Circumferential Road), Brgy.

Mandalagan, Bacolod City and The missile carrying a “hypersonic more particularly described as gliding vehicle” hit “the set target in Lot 1 of consolidation plan waters 1,000 km” away, the official (LRA) Pcs-E2020000759 containingCentral an area ofNews 72,745 Agency (KCNA) Korea sq.m. and covered by TCT No. said.

092-2021002706.

Photographs posted on the website All papers relative thereto shall, of Rodong upon request andSinmun, payment of the official newsprocessingoffee,the be available paper ruling Workers’ Party, for inspectionKim duringJong businessUn wearing a long showed Ilours by any person having black leather legal interest thereon. coat and using binoculars to watch the test from his mobile Absent of any legal impediment viewing and after platform. submission of complete documents, “Therequired superior maneuverability of the above-cited project is the hypersonic deemed registered glide and a vehicle was more strikingly verified certificate, in evidence thereof, through the final shall forthwith the be issued after report said. test-fire,” KCNA five (5) days from the last day Other images in Rodong Sinmun of publication. showed the missile blasting off from Iloilo City, Metro Dec. 14, land at Manila, dawn in2021.a blaze of fire and smoke, and Kim discussing charts ATTY. MELCHOR M. CALOPIZ officials. with uniformed OIC, Regional Director This is the third reported North (MS-DEC. 23 & 30, 2021)

Korean test of a hypersonic gliding missile.

The first, which took place four months ago, was followed by one last week, as the country looks to add the sophisticated weapons to its arsenal.

South Korea’s military said the missile launched on Tuesday had reached hypersonic speeds and showed clear signs of “progress” from last week’s test.

The missile flew 700 kilometers (435 miles) at an altitude of about 60 kilometers (37 miles) at Mach 10 speed, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds of Mach 5 and higher and can maneuver mid-flight, making them harder to track and intercept.

The KCNA report said the hypersonic glide vehicle performed “corkscrew maneuvering” during a portion of the journey.

Russia, the United States and China have reported successfully testing hypersonic glide vehicles. AFP

SNAPSHOT. A child walks past boards depicting

Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games mascots Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon along a business street in Beijing on January 12, 2022. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks rally; DITO, BDO lead gainers

T

HE stock market rallied Wednesday along with the rest of Asia, tracking a strong performance on Wall Street as Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell said he was determined to rein in runaway inflation but pledged to maintain the healthy recovery in the world’s top economy.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index jumped 129.44 points, or 1.8 percent, to 7,215.13 on a value turnover of P5.9 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 133 to 49, with 50 issues unchanged.

DITO CME Holdings Corp., the thirdbiggest mobile phone player, surged 9.2 percent to P5.37, while Solar Philippines Nueva

Ecija Corp., which is building what is touted to be the biggest solar farm in Southeast Asia, climbed 6.8 percent to P1.42.

BDO Unibank Inc., the largest lender in terms of assets, rose 3.5 percent to P126.80, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-biggest bank, advanced 3.4 percent to P57.70.

The rest of Asian and European equities also rose Wednesday.

Global markets have endured a torrid start to the year after minutes from the bank’s December meeting revealed a hawkish tilt by officials spooked by months of stubbornly high price rises that many fear could hit consumers and ruin the growth rebound.

They showed policymakers wanted to speed up their cycle of monetary tightening, including multiple interest rate hikesÅ\some commentators saying four this yearÅ\and the shrinking of the bond holdings on its balance sheet, which help keep lending rates down.

Traders have been worried by the

prospect of an end to the ultra-loose policies, which have helped power a two-year market rally and support the pandemic-hit economy.

But Powell managed to soothe some of those fears Tuesday during his Senate reconfirmation hearing.

He said the economy was on a strong footing, and with inflation rising and employment recovering, “the economy no longer needs or wants the very highly accommodative policy.”

Wall Street cheered, with Nasdaq climbing more than one percent, having taken a severe hit recently as tech firms are more susceptible to higher borrowing rates. With AFP

China inflation rate dropped in December BEIJING, China—Inflation in China eased in December thanks to falling food and commodity costs, with analysts saying Wednesday’s figures give policymakers room to unveil measures to kickstart the stuttering economy including interest rate cuts.

Like most other countries, China has seen prices surge for much of the past year owing to pick-up in the cost of energy, putting pressure on an economy also being battered by a crisis in the key, growth-driving property sector.

Factory price inflation has been particularly affected, hitting a 26year high in October and raising concerns that those rises will filter through to the global economy owing to China’s crucial role as an exporter.

But on Wednesday, figures showed producer prices rose a less-thanexpected 10.3 percent on-year last month, extending a slowdown seen in November. The consumer price index (CPI), a key gauge of retail inflation, came in at 1.5 percent—down from 2.3 percent in November and also short of forecasts.

“The probability of a rate cut in the first quarter is high, and the closest window is this month,” Bruce Pang, at China Renaissance Securities Hong Kong, said. CPI “will not be a concern in 2022” and the core measure, which strips out volatile food and energy costs, will stay muted below 1.5 percent, he added.

And Sheana Yue of Capital Economics said the current trends suggest inflation concerns are not likely to hold back the central bank from “further loosening measures including policy rate cuts.”

Some commentators say the People’s Bank of China could cut borrowing costs as soon as next week, marking the first since April 2020. AFP

Sri Lanka rules out IMF bailout, seeks new China funding COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—Sri Lanka ruled out an IMF bailout on Wednesday and said it plans to seek another loan from China to address an economic crisis that has led to food and fuel shortages.

The island’s tourism-dependent economy has been battered by the pandemic, with supermarkets rationing goods and rolling blackouts imposed by power utilities unable to fund oil imports.

International rating agencies have warned of a looming sovereign default on Sri Lanka’s $35-billion foreign debt as the treasury battles a crunch on foreign exchange reserves and a gaping budget deficit.

But central bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal rejected mounting calls from local and international economists to seek an International Monetary Fund bailout and debt restructure.

“The IMF is not a magic wand,” he told a news conference in Colombo.

“At this point, the other alternatives are better than going to the IMF.” Cabraal added that talks with China over a new loan were at an “advanced stage,” and a fresh agreement would service existing debt to Beijing.

“They would assist us in making the repayments... the new loan coming from China is in order to cushion our debt repayments to China itself,” he said.

Beijing is already the island’s biggest bilateral lender, accounting for at least 10 percent of Sri Lanka’s external debt.

Cabraal’s remarks come days after a visit from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who discussed a debt payment restructure with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. AFP

PSEi January 12, 2022

TOP GAINERS

1 LCB 0.14 0.013 10.24% 2 NRCP 0.66 0.06 10.00% 3 COAL 0.29 0.025 9.43% 4 DITO 5.37 0.45 9.15% 5 KEEPR 1.36 0.11 8.80% 6 IPO 7.54 0.56 8.02% 7 SPNEC 1.42 0.09 6.77% 8 NOW 1.28 0.08 6.67% 9 PERC 4.25 0.25 6.25% 10 GSMI 118.9 6.9 6.16%

A vendor waits for customers at a market in Shenyang in China’s northeastern Liaoning province on January 12, 2022. Inflation in China eased in December thanks to falling food and commodity costs, with analysts saying Wednesday’s figures give policymakers room to unveil measures to kickstart the stuttering economy including interest rate cuts. AFP

Fed’s Powell pledges to fight inflation in second term WASHINGTON, United States—The pressures pushing prices to multi-decade highs are likely to last through the middle of the year, and the US central bank is ready to respond to this risk, but policymakers are committed to extending the economic expansion to promote employment, Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell said Tuesday.

The world’s largest economy is on a strong footing, and with inflation rising and employment recovering, “The economy no longer needs or wants the very highly accommodative policy” provided by the Fed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Powell told lawmakers, underlining the likelihood interest rate increases are coming.

Surging prices for cars, housing and food have become a political liability for Democratic President Joe Biden,

who in November tapped Powell, a Republican, to continue in his role as Fed chief for another four years, and also named Fed governor Lael Brainard, a fellow Democrat, to serve as Powell’s vice chair.

In the nomination hearing before the Senate Banking Committee, Powell again vowed that the Fed will do all it can to ensure high inflation does not become entrenched.

Economists are projecting that government data due out Wednesday will show annual consumer price inflation hitting seven percent in December, its highest level in 40 years, and the issue dominated the questions from senators.

Inflation is “very near the top of the list” of risks to the economic outlook, Powell said, acknowledging the current rate is now “very far above target.”

But the Fed chief attributed most of the price surge to a “mismatch” between supply and demand caused by global logistics snarls, although policymakers also are watching wage growth carefully.

The central bank expects a “return to normal supply conditions” in the coming months, but “if we see inflation persisting at high levels longer than expected... we will use our tools to get inflation back.”

The Fed is in the process of winding down its bond buying stimulus program, which will end in March, and is expected to raise the benchmark lending rate off zero soon after.

While Powell stressed that policymakers have not decided on the timing or any rate increases, some economists and even some Fed officials say that first move could come in March. AFP

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE

TOP LOSERS

1 SFIP 2 TUGS 3 UPM 4 NI 5 SLI 6 SEVN 7 PRIM 8 MAB 9 RRHI

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE 1.4 -0.1 -6.67% 0.83 -0.05 -5.68% 0.0069 -0.0004 -5.48% 1 -0.05 -4.76% 2.71 -0.13 -4.58% 86.5 -4 -4.42% 1.19 -0.05 -4.03% 0.0097 -0 -3.00% 56.9 -1.75 -2.98%

10 VITA 0.7 -0.02 -2.78%

MOST ACTIVE

1 ACEN 2 MBT 3 SPNEC 4 ALI 5 BDO

VOLUME VALUE (PHP) 55,162,800 500,297,583 5,718,050 327,888,989 227,963,000 310,757,500 8,549,500 299,349,420 2,290,080 288,832,872

6 ICT 1,473,360 288,227,662 7 SM 254,360 239,775,425 8 SMPH 6,348,400 220,588,580 9 DITO 10 AC

37,307,000 196,924,670 183,030 156,484,460

UK finance reigns in Europe despite fallout from Brexit

By Olivier Devos LONDON, United Kingdom—One year after Britain’s formal exit from the European Union, London’s powerful City financial sector still reigns on the continent despite losing key business and bankers to rival hubs.

“London has spent hundreds of years as a global financial center.

Brexit will not change that, certainly not anytime soon,” said Lee Wild, head of equity strategy at Interactive Investor.

The City, whose skyscraper offices are largely deserted by COVID restrictions, has yet to strike a post-Brexit deal with Brussels on equivalence, which would allow London-based firms to fully operate in Europe.

London has over the past year lost out to rivals on equity trading, struggling to recover ground after a hammering triggered immediately after Britain’s EU exit.

Trading on London’s stock market slumped by about 40 percent at the start of 2021, with London prevented from offering EU-listed shares to clients outside the United Kingdom.

Amsterdam has benefitted the most, overtaking London to become Europe’s biggest hub in terms of equity trading volumes for much of the past year, according to Cboe Global Markets.

London remains the world’s second biggest financial center behind New York when various factors are taken into account including infrastructure, reputation and business environment,

A person waits for a DLR (Docklands Light Railway) train. London remains one of the world’s top financial centers despite Brexit. AFP

according to the Global Financial Centers Index 2021.

The City also remains a dominant financial center on a global scale in several markets, including foreign exchange and derivatives.

“Leaving the EU brings challenges and there are threats from Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt and Amsterdam,” Wild told AFP. “But the likelihood that European rivals will wrest the crown of Europe’s primary finance hub from the UK is slim.”

The City is able to maintain a strong standing in the world of finance also thanks to a large network of support services.

“London still has a huge amount in its favor,” said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.

He said the City offered “an

ecosystem of banks, advisers, lawyers, fund managers and hedge funds... (providing) appropriately-priced capital to companies who need it so they can invest, innovate, grow and create jobs.”

No staff exodus Nevertheless in the wake of Brexit, about 44 percent of UK-based financial services firms have moved or plan to move operations or staff to the European Union, according to financial group EY. Asset transfers totaled £1.3 billion ($1.8 billion, 1.6 billion euros) at the end of last year, it added.

Dublin and Luxembourg are home to the biggest amount of office moves, while Paris has won the most staff switches.

French President Emmanuel Macron in June inaugurated the Paris premises for several hundred JP Morgan Chase

traders switching from London.

The British capital has so far lost only about 7,400 financial roles, according to EY. That is seen as a drop in the ocean, with the UK financial sector employing more than one million people, 400,000 of which are based in London.

Recruitment consultants said that while the pandemic had contributed to limiting the movement, a future exodus of staff from London to the European Union remained unlikely.

“London continues to be an attractive destination for business investment and finance professionals alike,” said Hakan Enver, managing director at Morgan McKinley.

“To date we are yet to see an exodus due to Brexit, and it’s now unlikely that will ever happen,” he told AFP. London’s financial attractiveness was last year highlighted by a record number of companies making their stock market debut.

There were 122 initial public offerings—the highest amount since 2007—for a total market capitalization of £16.8 billion.

There was, however, in 2021 also a record IPO showing by the Euronext, whose exchanges include the Paris and Amsterdam stock markets and others across Europe.

“The real risk (for London) is not a ‘big bang’ but a slow deflation as activity moves to other centers, most probably in the US or Asia, and this only if the UK fails to respond to competitive pressures from other global financial centers,” said Jack Neill-Hall of financial sector lobby group TheCityUK. AFP

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

B4

THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2022

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Wednesday, January 12, 2022 129.44 PTS. 7,215.13

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

854,663,416 84,314

TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) 5,945,827,981.03 ADVANCES 133 DECLINES 49 UNCHANGED 50

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

51.1740

Japan

Yen

0.008675

0.4439

UK

Pound

1.363700

69.7860

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128282

6.5647

Switzerland

Franc

1.083424

55.4431

Canada

Dollar

0.795292

40.6983

Singapore

Dollar

0.740576

37.8982

Australia

Dollar

0.720900

36.8913

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652238

135.7256

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266418

13.6337

Brunei

Dollar

0.737844

37.7584

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.029931

1.5317

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.9340

Euro

Euro

1.136800

58.1746

Korea

Won

0.000839

0.0429

China

Yuan

0.156905

8.0295

India

Rupee

0.013552

0.6935

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.238663

12.2133

New Zealand

Dollar

0.678600

34.7267

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036147

1.8498 Source: BSP

Robinsons Retail expands, opens 900th drugstore

By Jenniffer B. Austria ROBINSONS Retail Holdings Inc., the retail holding company of the Gokongwei Group, said Wednesday it continues to expand its drugstore business with the recent opening of its 900th outlet.

RRHI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the new Southstar Drug branch is located in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. It is a part of Southstar Drug’s strategic expansion into less penetrated areas in Luzon.

“With the current climate of rising health concerns among our customers, it is especially important for us now to be able to address their needs for reliable and trusted medicines. We are gaining momentum in growing our geographic footprint in line with this goal with even more store openings lined up for 2022,” said Christine Tueres, group general manager of RRHI’s drugstore segment.

RRHI’s drugstore brands Southstar Drug and Rose Pharmacy have a combined store network of 900 stores in the country.

Rose Pharmacy, which was acquired in October 2020, is the leading player in the Visayas and Mindanao.

RRHI also operates TGP, the country’s largest chain of generic drugstores with more than 2,000 stores nationwide.

Southstar Drug and Rose Pharmacy set up their own e-commerce platform amid the pandemic to offer greater convenience to customers through order and delivery services.

E-commerce sales of drugstore brands accounted for 3.8 percent of total drugstore sales in the first three quarters of 2021.

RRHI is also engaged in five other business segments, including supermarkets, department stores, DIY stores, convenience stores and specialty stores.

Drugstore business is the second biggest revenues contributor for the group, accounting for 18.2 percent of total sales from January to September 2021.

RRHI had 2,179 stores across its business segments with total gross floor area of 1.48 million square meters as of end-September 2021.

CHEVRON VOLUNTEERS. Vegetables sourced from farmers in Pampanga and Nueva Ecija are carefully packed by volunteers of St. Isidore the FARMer Learning Center Inc., a partner organization of Chevron Philippines Inc., and donated to 80 families in Barangay Pagibig sa Nayon, Quezon City. Chevron, marketer of Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants, held its second blended annual Chevron Volunteer Week with both virtual and real-world activities. For this year’s series of activities, Chevron provided aid to local communities while promoting a more sustainable lifestyle to the employee-volunteers through online workshops.

Automotive sales increased 20% to 268,488 units in 2021

By Othel V. Campos

V

EHICLES sales grew 20 percent in 2021 from a year ago despite the lingering impact of the pandemic, two industry groups said Wednesday.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and Truck Manufacturers Association said in a joint report vehicles sales reached 268,488 units last year, up from 223,293 units in 2020, but still below the prepandemic sales of 369,941 units in 2019.

All vehicle segments posted incremental sales outputs in 2021, the two groups said.

“Looking back at last year’s performance, the automotive industry

has remained remarkably resilient with an overall growth of 20 percent compared with the same performance a year ago. That is no small feat indeed,” said CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez.

Passenger car sales grew by 22.4 percent in 2021 to 85,260 units over 2020’s 69,638 units, while the commercial vehicle segment sold 183,228 units, up 18.9 percent from 154,155 units in 2020.

Gutierrez said December recorded the highest monthly sales performance since the pandemic hit the industry in March 2020.

Monthly sales in December posted a 5.3-percent increase to 27,846 units from 26,456 units in November. Passenger car sales went up by 2.95 percent to 8,447 from 8,205 units, while commercial vehicles sold hit 19,399 units, or 6.3 percent higher than the 2020 sales of 18,251 units.

Gutierrez said the industry managed

BPO firm Iqor set to recruit 6,000 new employees in 2022

BOOSTER SHOTS. Cebu Pacific steps up efforts to protect every Filipino amid the COVID-19 surge through the rollout of booster vaccination for employees. The CEB/ JG Covid Protect Booster Vaccination Program is open to all employees regardless of the source of the primary series, whether from the office or other external sources. On Jan. 11, CEB administered booster shots to 200 employees through the vaccination program of the Gokongwei Group’s COVID Protect. The program will run for several days with 200 employees to be boosted per day. CEB and its subsidiaries are among the first to be inoculated in the group.

BOI asked to finalize Strategic Investment Priority Plan this month

By Julito G. Rada THE Fiscal Incentives Review Board, chaired by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, asked the Board of Investments to finalize this month the Strategic Investment Priority Plan.

The BOI, an investment promotion agency, is attached to the Department of Trade and Industry.

The SIPP will determine the priority industries, projects and activities that can be granted fiscal incentives by the government under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for

to register positive sales growth for four straight months.

Data showed that on a year-on-year basis, sales improved by less than 1 percent in December from 27,596 units sold in the same month in 2020. Passenger car sales fell 3.8 percent in December from 8,781 units a year ago, while commercial vehicles sales outran December 2020 sales by 3.1 percent from 8,781 units.

Gutierrez said the industry is maintaining the positive outlook for 2022, as it hopes to return to pre-pandemic sales levels with more innovative and environmentally-sound automotive technology.

“The industry remains optimistic for a continued recovery this year from the COVID-19 pandemic downturn as progress on inoculation has provided hopes for a better outlook for the wider economy, but ‘business as usual’ is still unlikely as challenges remain at hand,” he said.

Enterprises Act. Dominguez said in the meeting of the Cabinet-level interagency board the release and publication of the SIPP would serve as the first step in attracting potential investors.

“As I have said before, once the categories are identified, the next step is for each of the investment promotion agencies to identify the specific companies they want to invite, and then discuss with them what it would take for them to invest in the country,” Dominguez said.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, who co-chairs the FIRB, agreed with

Dominguez. Lopez said the current SIPP is effective but a transitional one, based on the 2020 Investment Priorities Plan of the BOI. Lopez directed the BOI to finalize the SIPP for presentation to the board this month, considering that a number of industry studies and parameters were considered in the drafting.

The CREATE Act, which became effective in April 2021, reduced the corporate income tax rate from 30 percent to 25 percent, and rationalized the grant of fiscal incentives to investors.

BUSINESS process outsourcing provider Iqor (Philippines) Inc. is expanding operations in the Philippines by increasing the local talent pool by at least 20 percent in 2022 after a similar 20-percent growth last year.

Iqor Philippines senior vice president and general manager for digital and emerging technology Tod Hoddinott said while other industries were having difficulties during the pandemic, Iqor, like any other BPO company, managed to survive and increase manpower as demand for BPO services surged.

“In fact, we grew during this period of time. We hired more capable people and we provided opportunities to those who have lost their jobs,” he said in a webinar Wednesday.

Iqor expanded its headcount by 20 percent in 2021, representing an additional of 5,000 jobs.

“For 2022, expect us to ramp up our hiring efforts for premier telco accounts in Iloilo alone and we still have other accounts with vacancies to fill. We have our seasonal, retail and financial programs and that’s many jobs to be filled-in,” said Iqor director for recruitment for Visayas and Mindanao Roselle Lao. The company’s satellite office in Iloilo, a next wave city for BPO services, expanded its operations by hiring 4,000 BPO agents, despite the 20 months of continuous lockdown.

Hoddinot said the firm was reviewing various geographies where it could also expand in the Philippines.

“We will continue to push the Philippines as a world-class destination for BPO work, wherever that maybe appropriate to our customers,” he said.

Iqor is operating in nine countries including the Philippines, employing more than 45,000 workers. The bulk of its operations is centered on 16 different locations accounting for 75 percent of Iqor’s global operations.

Othel V. Campos

Petron bares plan to issue $500-m notes

By Alena Mae S. Flores PETRON Corp., the country’s largest oil company, said Wednesday it will issue up to $500-million worth of US dollar-denominated senior notes to finance debt repayment and partially fund a power plant project.

Petron said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board, at the meeting of the executive committee, authorized the company to offer and issue the US dollar notes under terms and conditions that the management may determine.

The company said it obtained an approval in-principle from Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited for the listing and quotation of the notes on the SGX-ST. The notes will be traded on the SGX-ST in a minimum board lot size of US$200,000 for as long as the notes are listed on the SGX-ST and the rules of the SGX-ST require.

Petron tapped Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. Ltd. as the sole global coordinator, and DBS Bank Ltd., HSBC, MUFG Securities Asia Limited, SMBC Nikko Securities (Hong Kong) Limited, Standard Chartered Bank and UBS AG Singapore Branch as joint lead managers and joint bookrunners.

Petron operates the only integrated oil refinery in the Philippines and is a leading oil marketing company.

The company has developed and maintained high-quality petroleum products and consistently made significant investments in upgrading its facilities.

It also focused on increasing production of higher-margin white products and petrochemicals while minimizing production of low-margin fuel products.

IN BRIEF BSP warns vs printing of banknotes’ images THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas warned the public on Wednesday that printing images bearing the facsimile or likeness of Philippine banknotes may result in legal action.

“Pursuant to BSP Circular 829, Series of 2014, the act of reproducing the image of any legal tender Philippine currency banknotes, or any part of one, whether in black and white, in color, or combination of colors, without authority or approval from the BSP, is subject to imprisonment of five to 10 years,” the BSP said in a statement.

This reminder comes after the National Bureau of Investigation, together with the BSP Payments and Currency Investigation Group, arrested an individual suspected of selling money or cash envelopes using the image and design of the 1000-Piso New Generation Currency banknote.

“The public may be allowed to reproduce images of Philippine banknotes if authorization or approval from the BSP has been secured for educational, historical, numismatic, newsworthy, or other relevant purposes that will maintain, promote, or enhance the integrity and dignity of the Philippine currency,” the regulator said.

The public may request approval from the BSP to print or reproduce images of Philippine banknotes through its Payments and Currency Investigation Group.

Julito G. Rada

PLDT’s fiber coverage to hit 1m households PLDT Inc. said Wednesday it is on track to reach a million households with fiber this year despite the pandemic.

“We already have about 12 million homes passed and about 5.29 million ports—by far the biggest base for ports available. So by 2022, there will be a big push as Home figures as a major revenue driver for growth for PLDT,” PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.

PLDT Home connected more than 800,000 households with fiber last year.

Heading to 2022, PLDT Home remains competitive in introducing more attractive and relevant Home plans for the connected Smart Home.

These include the new Unli Fiber Plans ranging from 50Mbps speeds for Plan 1699 to 1000Mbps for Plan 9499, along with other Fibr Plus plans that bundle Wi-fi mesh devices to keep all corners of the home connected.

“We introduced the newest set of Fibr plans with upgraded speeds to further give every Filipino family the best digital experience,” said Butch Jimenez Jr., senior vice president and head of PLDT Home Business. Darwin G. Amojelar

Figaro Coffee bares expansion program FIGARO Coffee Group Inc. said it expects sales to further accelerate over the next three to five years as the company continues to roll out more stores.

Figaro said during a recent investors briefing it registered a 56-percent growth in sales in the first half of 2021 to P1.33 billion from P853 million a year ago on the back of high delivery sales.

It said that over the next three to five years, growth would be much faster as it aims to open more outlets using proceeds from the upcoming initial public offering.

The company said its store expansion is more focused on the rollout of Angel’s Pizza stores, which has been its revenue driver for the past couple of years.

The group looking expand the brand outside Metro Manila. Jenniffer B. Austria

Sports

Grizzlies win 10th straight; Suns cool off fiery Raptors LOS ANGELES—Ja Morant scored 29 points as the red-hot Memphis Grizzlies won their 10th-straight game with a 116-108 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night.

Morant seized control in the final moments, scoring five points in the final minute as the third-place Grizzlies closed the gap on the second place Warriors in the Western Conference standings.

“I felt like I was aggressive. I got going very early,” said Morant. “I made them change their scheme up. If you blitz me I feel like I have a lot of guys who can score the basketball.

“Pretty much cat and mouse, we just had to take what their defence gave us.”

The Grizzlies are now within 2 1/2 games of the Warriors after having been eight games back on November 29.

Ziaire Williams and Tyus Jones had 17 points each for Memphis in front of a crowd of 17,800 at FedExForum arena.

Jones keyed a fourth-quarter rally that put the Grizzlies ahead for good.

He connected on all five of his threepoint attempts.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 27 points, while Klay Thompson finished with 14 points. Andrew Wiggins and Gary Payton II scored 13 each.

Morant, the 2020 rookie of the year, is just a week removed from a sprained knee that sidelined him for 12 games.

He has consistently been able to elevate his game against the best teams in the league, scoring 30 or more points against the Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, and Los Angeles Lakers during the 10-game streak.

The Warriors were missing Draymond Green who was out with a sore left calf.

Elsewhere, Jae Crowder scored 19 points and Chris Paul finished with 15 points and 12 assists as the Phoenix snapped Toronto’s six-game winning streak with a 99-95 victory in Toronto.

Devin Booker provided the lategame heroics for the Suns, nailing the go-ahead jump shot with 62 seconds remaining and then adding two free throws with six seconds left before fouling out. Booker finished with 16 points.

Booker shot four for 13 from the field and two of seven from three-point range.

“It was a fight all night,” he said.

“They beat us up a little bit, but down the stretch we picked it up a little bit and did what we had to do.”

Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges scored 12 points in the win at Scotiabank Arena.

“That’s one of those games you’ve got to put your hard hat on,” Paul said. AFP

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2022

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Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies goes to the basket against Andrew Wiggins of the Golden State Warriors during the second half at FedExForum. AFP

WORLD GAMES ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Muaythai association appeals to netizens: Vote for Delarmino

By Randy Caluag

T

HIS is one of the best times to show that Filipinos are a powerhouse on the worldwide web.

Philip Delarmino

World Muaythai champion Philip Delarmino has fallen behind after the first two days of online voting for the 2021 World Games Athlete of the Year honors.

The martial arts community is calling on Filipino online users to spare a little of their time and cast their votes in favor of the Filipino candidate.

“Let’s show our support and help our Muaythai National Athlete Phillip Delarmino and win this Award,” said the official Facebook page of the Muaythai Association of the Philippines. “Let’s get

behind King Phillip! Make sure to vote for him every 4:00 pm until January 23.”

The 31-year-old Delarmino is among the 24 candidates from different sports around the world for the prestigious award by the international multi-sport competition that holds sports events not contested in the Olympic Games.

Hockey player PR Sreejesh of India is the current frontrunner since the online voting started on Jan. 10 with 25,988 votes. Coming in at second is Paige Pierce (Flying Disc) of the US with 15,1567 votes.

Delarmino is currently in a group of five candidates with 4,000-plus votes so far, along with Michele Giordano (Wushu) from Italy, Ekaterina Mikhaylushkina (Underwater Sports) from Russia, Melissa Martinez Aceves (Kickboxing) from Mexico, and Sara Lopez (Archery) from Columbia.

Voting ends on Jan. 23 and Filipino netizens need to break the trend and put Delarmino up front.

Delarmino, who has been a member of

the national team for 10 years now, captured the men’s -57kg diadem in the 2021 IFMA World Muaythai Championships in Phuket, Thailand. The victory also earned him a slot in the World Games set July 7 to 17 in Birmingham, USA. “We are making history. (Delarmino) is the first Filipino athlete to be nominated as the Athlete of the Year in The World Games,” the post added.To vote for Delarmino, click the link: https:// www.theworldgames.org/…/Athlete-ofthe-Year The instruction says: “You can vote for your candidate once every 24 hours. First, click on the “Vote” button for Phillip Delarmino (who will receive two votes). Then, to make your vote count, click on the “Vote” button for your second favorite candidate (who will receive one vote).”

The Philippine Sports Commission and individual supporters have also shared the post urging Filipino netizens to vote for Delarmino.

PH women’s football team welcomes 4 newcomers

By Peter Atencio FOUR new faces have joined the Philippine women’s national football team in time for the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. The newbies, namely Filipino-French Katrina Guillou and Fil-Americans Kiara Fontanilla, Dominique Randle and Isabel Flanigan are expected make their presence felt when the Filipina booters plunge into action in the meet to be held from January 20 to February 6 in India.

Guillou, 28, is a midfielder currently playing for Swedish team Piteå IF, while Fontanilla comes from Eastern Oregon University.

Randle is a student-athlete from the

University of Southern California, while Flanigan is a junior player from Montverde Academy in Florida.

Australian coach Alen Stajcic also got two junior players in Keanne Alamo and Carleigh Frilles for the senior squad.

Alamo and Frilles already played for Team Philippines in the Under-16 and Under-14 levels in the past.

“I’ve got a lot of hope and a lot of belief that we can actually achieve the goal,” said coach Alen Stajcic, in a statement.

Midfielder Tahnai Annis will be the skipper for this campaign, to be assisted by her co-captain Hali Long.

Inna Palacios is returning to the squad with Sara Castaneda and Cam Rodriguez, Chandler McDaniel, Tara

Shelton and Sofia Harrison.

The Filipina booters will be reinforced

by Japan WE.League veterans Quinley Quezada of Chiba and Sarina Bolden of Saitama.

The squad also welcomes back Eva Madadarang of Roma, along with Ryley Bugay, Morgan Brown, Malea Cesar, Jessica Miclat, Anicka Castaneda and Olivia McDaniel.

“The players are all aligned and driven to succeed as one and that’s what we have to do to give ourselves every possible chance of getting one of those spots for the World Cup,” added Stajcic.

The Filipinas will first meet Thailand on January 21, Australia on January 24 and Indonesia on the 27th.

The first two matches will be in Mumbai, while the third one will be in Pune.

The nationals have been playing two friendlies every week to get in shape as they seek to qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Stajcic said the Filipina booters are continuously preparing for their coming games in Group B. The Philippines is in the same group with former Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup champion Australia and Southeast Asian countries Thailand and Indonesia.

Host India is with China, Chinese Taipei, and Iran in Group A, while Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Myanmar are in Group C.

Adiwang gives potent gameplan for Miado SENZO Ikeda may have lost two of his last three fights, but there’s no doubting just how dangerous the former Pancrase Flyweight Champion is inside the ONE Circle.

It’s for that reason that Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado should be wary when they face off at ONE: HEAVY HITTERS on January 14 in Singapore.

Lucky for him, Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang has his back and may provide valuable insight for his fellow Filipino to be able to come on top.

“Ikeda is a very tough fighter,” observed the Team Lakay rising star. “He has this Samurai mentality that he’s a fighter who will never surrender. You need to knock him out or submit him in order to stop him because that’s just how tough he is.”

Adiwang knows exactly what he’s saying.

The ONE Warrior Series contract winner faced off against Ikeda at ONE: CENTURY PART I back in October 2019 and had to come out hot off the gates to negate the strength and home crowd advantage of the Japanese fighter.

“When I faced him, I focused on my combinations because I know that he is a brawler. So we did plan to give a good show by striking with him and knocking him out, but he tried to take me down so I just went for Plan B and submitted him,” he recounted.

Adiwang went on a barrage from the onset before the repeated takedown attempts from Ikeda forced the Filipino to retort, first with a bulldog choke and eventually Lito Adiwang locking up the Japanese’s right forearm.

Ikeda unfortunately fractured his arm from that hold, forcing referee Motohiro Tsuruwa to call the bout at the 1:57 mark of round one.

Brief as that encounter may have been, Adiwang told Miado that his early aggression could take him to places against a brawler like Ikeda.

“Jeremy just has to be focused and believe in himself.

He needs to go and impose his will from the very start because that early barrage will help him very much in that fight,” he said.

Truth be told, Miado is very capable of doing such.

After all, he has shown that aggression in his last two fights against Miao Li Tao. He shocked the world with a killer flying knee in round one of their match at ONE: AGE OF DRAGONS in November 2019 and once again silenced his doubters with a second round technical knockout victory at ONE: NEXTGEN last October for his first win streak in ONE Championship.

His move to Marrok Force MMA Gym in Bangkok have certainly done him wonders, and what better way for him to show that he’s indeed for real with another victory against an opponent the caliber of Ikeda and stretch his win run to three.

Miado, at least, has found an ally in Adiwang.

“Both of them are good fighters, but I predict Jeremy will get the victory. I just wish them both good luck,” said the Thunder Kid.

Ernest John Obiena

Financial support pours in for Obiena CONCERNED individuals here and abroad are pitching in to help world No. 6 pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena get over his financial woes while training and competing abroad.

Retired Filipino pole vaulters in the United States and members of the Ateneo alumni are among those, who have been getting in touch with the 26-yearold Obiena and his backers, according to reports on social media.

Donations to help Obiena get by are being sent to him by numerous individuals via Paypal.

Obiena, who is now recovering from surgery in Germany after getting treatment for a minor knee injury, is getting sympathy from fans and track enthusiasts.

Private funds are pouring in after Obiena’s numerous followers learned that he has been struggling with his finances since August last year.

Because of his liquidation problems, funding for Obiena has been stopped.

But for humanitarian reasons, an undisclosed amount of money has been prepared by the Philippine Sports Commission for his minor knee injury. Peter Atencio

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Sports

THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2022

Watson, Player, Nicklaus named Augusta starters LOS ANGELES—Two-time Augusta champion Tom Watson will tee off alongside Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player as one of the three honorary starters at this year’s Masters, tournament organizers said Tuesday.

The 72-year-old, winner of the Masters in 1977 and 1981, will get the 86th edition of the major under way on April 7, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said.

Watson has a long history with the Masters, making his debut in the event as an amateur in 1970 before making 42 consecutive starts at Augusta between 1975 and 2016.

As well as his two victories, Watson finished runner-up on three occasions and posted 15 top-10 finishes in total.

His 58 sub-par rounds at Augusta are second only to Nicklaus, who holds the record with 71.

“Augusta National in April is one of my favorite places to be,” Watson said in a statement. “I am greatly honored to join my friends and fellow competitors, Jack and Gary, as an Honorary Starter in this upcoming Masters.” AFP

Novak confesses meeting sports journalist when he had COVID SYDNEY—Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic on Wednesday admitted meeting a journalist when he knew he had COVID-19, describing it as an “error of judgement”.

Djokovic also conceded he submitted a false declaration to the Australian government about his travel history between flying to Melbourne, though he blamed it on his agent.

The comments were in a statement posted to Instagram aimed at addressing the controversies surrounding his efforts to play at the Australian Open while being unvaccinated.

Despite the admissions, Djokovic insisted other reports about him appearing in public following his positive test for COVID-19 as “misinformation”.

He said the reports of his public appearances after his claimed infection were “very hurtful” to his family.

The 34-year-old world number one entered Australia last week with a vaccine exemption due to a positive test for COVID-19 on December 16.

The following day, however, he appeared without a mask at the launch of a Serbian stamp bearing his image and at an event in Belgrade for young tennis players.

Djokovic said he only received the positive results of the PCR test for COVID-19 infection on December 17, after the youth tennis event.

He made no mention of the stamp ceremony.

The player said he had a negative rapid antigen test on December 16 and then had the PCR test out of an “abundance of caution”.

The following day, he took a second rapid antigen test, which was also negative, before going to the children’s tennis event.

“I was asymptomatic and felt good, and I had not received the notification of a positive PCR test until after that event,” he said.

But Djokovic admitted that he also went ahead with an interview and photoshoot with French sports newspaper L’Equipe on December 18. AFP

Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open at the Melbourne Park tennis center in Melbourne. AFP

Djokovic admits ‘errors’ in dodging deportation M ELBOURNE—Novak Djokovic on Wednesday admitted “errors” in his travel papers and in his behaviour after a claimed coronavirus infection as he battled to stay in Australia and fight for a record 21st Grand Slam.

The world number one said his team had offered fresh information to the Australian government, which is pondering whether to cancel his visa, again, and throw him out of the country.

“We are living in challenging times in a global pandemic and sometimes these mistakes can occur,” the unvaccinated 34-year-old said in a statement released as he practiced on the courts of the Australian Open, which starts Monday.

The Serbian star flew into Melbourne a week ago claiming a vaccine exemption because of a positive PCR test result on December 16.

Border agents rejected his exemption saying a recent infection did not qualify,

Barty is hot favorite to win Australian Open Ashleigh Barty fired a warning to the rest of the Australian Open field after claiming the singles and doubles titles at the Adelaide International. AFP

The making of a book THE BOTTOM LINE LITO CINCO LAST year, I shared that the highlight of an otherwise bad year for me was finally finishing the book “Basketball, Beyond Passion” for Alex Wang.

The book reflects the growth of a social club of basketball lovers and metamorphosed into a medium for Alex to extend a helping hand to a lot of young and old cagers the past 25 years .

I was the lead writer, just as I was in the first book project I got involved with, “The Big Difference”, an auto biography of the country’s greatest cager, Caloy Loyzaga. It

tore up his visa and placed him in a detention centre.

But the vaccine-sceptic Djokovic’s highpowered legal team dramatically overturned the visa decision in court on Monday on a procedural matter related to his airport interview.

Now, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke says he is considering cancelling the visa another time, as fresh doubts emerge.

Djokovic, a nine-time Australian Open champion, described reports about his post-infection outings in Serbia as “misinformation”.

On the day after his positive test in Serbia, Djokovic appeared at a youth

tennis event and at a ceremony to honour him with stamps bearing his image, both apparently without a mask.

Djokovic, who made no mention of the stamp ceremony, said he only received the PRC test result after attending the children’s tennis event.

‘Error of judgement’ But he admitted that he also went ahead with an interview and photoshoot with French sports newspaper L’Equipe on December 18.

“I felt obliged to go ahead and conduct the L’Equipe interview as I didn’t want to let the journalist down but did ensure I socially distanced and wore a mask except when my photograph was being taken,” he said.

“On reflection, this was an error of judgement and I accept that I should have rescheduled this commitment.”

The tennis ace also admitted a mistake on his Australian travel declaration, in which a box was ticked indicating that he would not travel in the 14 days before

taking his flight to Melbourne.

In fact, social media posts and reports show he flew from Serbia to Spain during that period.

“This was submitted by my support team on my behalf—as I told immigration officials on my arrival,” Djokovic said.

“My agent sincerely apologizes for the administrative mistake in ticking the incorrect box about my previous travel before coming to Australia. This was a human error and certainly not deliberate.”

Djokovic’s public statement appeared to be aimed at swaying the government to let him stay in Australia.

Leading immigration lawyer Christopher Levingston said the government could cancel Djokovic’s visa on narrow criminal grounds, for example, because the travel declaration was incorrectly completed.

But the immigration minister may also annul the visa on broader character grounds.

If Djokovic knowingly dodged Serbia’s quarantine requirement for positive cases, he could be judged to be a risk for potentially not complying with public health orders while in Australia, Levingston said.

Various options to appeal would be open for both Djokovic and the government, but at the end of the day, the immigration minister can exercise his personal power to cancel the visa. AFP

was his son ex-PBA player Chito Loyzaga, an old friend of mine who requested if I can help him out with the book “The Big Difference” as his tribute to his dad.

Between these two book projects, the Loyzaga book entailed more difficulties for sure. In fact, had Caloy not decide to take a vacation from Australia, here in the country at the time that Chito was serving as a commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission and I was one of his two consultants with Nino Sinco, whose daughter photographer Anna Sofia was also involved, chances are, the book project would not have pushed through.

With Caloy here with his family, except for Joey and sister Princess, I told Chito we could do the book project as the principal interviewee was here.

I came up with the book concept as the contents and the flow, then came up with a

MELBOUR NE — Ashleigh Barty will be hot favorite to win her home Australian Open for the first time, but even with Serena Williams absent the world number one faces threats from all angles.

For the first time in a quarter of a century the first Grand Slam of the year will not feature either of the Williams sisters—Serena would have been pursuing a record-equalling 24th major crown but she is not fit.

With defending champion Naomi Osaka still working her way back to top form and fitness after a long break, the 25-year-old Barty has emerged as the clear favorite at Melbourne Park.

Like her rival Osaka, Barty was

list of veteran writers to co-author the book with me, including Quinito Henson, Beth Celis, Tessa Jazmines, Ignacio Dee and Henry Liao. Fred Nasiad, my partner for Wang’s book, did the research, while the late Albert Almendralejo worked on the admin side of the project.

We also spent a lot of time with the Loyzaga family, especially with Caloy and Chito, wife Vicky, and daughter Bing. I did three chapters plus several short anecdotes from people who personally knew Caloy.

I remember promising Vicky that we will finish the book while everyone was still in this physical world, and we did, launching it in 2013 at San Beda College, Caloy’s alma mater. Caloy left this world early 2016.

I also got involved in Baby Dalupan’s book, “The Maestro”, but only in the preplanning side. My biggest contribution was to suggest that Tim Cone does the foreword as he had the distinction of breaking Baby’s record of PBA titles.

On the other hand, the book for Alex, being a mini-book project only, was sup-

dumped out of the third round of the US Open in September and did not play the rest of the year, returning home to Australia because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Unlike the Japanese star, who pulled out of a warm-up tournament last week saying her “body got a shock” after playing her first matches for four months, Barty appears to be back in the groove already.

Barty won the French Open in 2019 and Wimbledon last year but her best performance in Melbourne was reaching the semi-finals in 2020, where she lost to eventual champion Sofia Kenin.

However, she fired a warning to the rest of the Australian Open field on Sunday, claiming the singles and doubles titles at the Adelaide International.

Barty pulled out of this week’s Sydney Classic, explaining that she needed to recover from her exploits, but said that her 14th career

posedly much easier and we could have finished it earlier, if not for the COVID pandemic, limiting our in-person meetings and interviews and the fact I underwent my quadruple bypass heart operation early March last year, though I did work on the book while recuperating at the house.

I also remember telling my doctors before the operation that they should not allow me to die as I still had to finish a book and maybe that helped me survive, too.

What added also to the difficulties in writing Alex’s book was his being a very sociable person that every time we meet at Punta resto bar in Mandaluyong, he would also invite other people not necessarily connected with the book.

I had to tell him to do one-on-one or only with another co-writer in Danny Simon.

This project gave me the opportunity to touch base with former basketball personalities, including ex-PBA player Fritz Gaston, whose national women’s team then received a lot of assistance from Alex, same with the likes of PBA gunners Ato Tolentino, Vergel Meneses, Vince Hizon,

singles crown was a huge confidence boost.

“When my back was against the wall I was able to produce some pretty good stuff,” she told the WTA. “Pre-seasons are good but you never quite know where that level is until you test yourself against the very best.

“And it’s been really nice to have some good hit-outs this week and I feel like I’m ready.”

Halep, Muguruza threaten Men’s tennis has been dominated by the “Big Three” of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, but women’s tennis remains wide open.

Last year’s four Grand Slams were won by four different women—Osaka (Australian), Barbora Krejcikova (French), Barty (Wimbledon) and Emma Raducanu (US) and Osaka and Barty’s early exits at the US Open underlined the point. AFP

to current players Robert Herndon and Allein Maliksi. They all gave their recollection of Alex as a basketball patron.

One difference in this book is the fact I asked Alex’s family, wife Joy and his kids, to write something on Alex, and the pieces came out beautifully.

And Alex ended up reading his book only when Fred finished the layout and we had it printed finally, launching it late December last year. One good thing, Alex agreed to sell his book but only if all proceeds go to the typhoon victims in the South.

Fritz and I took the challenge and so far, we are in target with at least P30,000 to be raised, including a personal donation from Alex.

By the way, allow me to congratulate me and my wife Marissa as we celebrate our 39th blissful and otherwise wedding anniversary on January 15, the products of such union include our three kids, JM, Janis, and Jemi, all grownups now, grandkid Livi, and a place of our own.

Not bad for a struggling sportswriter more than four decades ago.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2022

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Keeping Betty White’s legacy alive

By Patricia Taculao

A young Betty White

JUST before the world welcomed the New Year, everyone bade farewell to a pioneer of American television as news about the passing of Betty Marion White Ludden, or better known as Betty White, came to light. White was reportedly found in her Los Angeles home and passed peacefully in her sleep at 99 years old.

White would’ve turned 100 on Jan. 17 since she was born in 1922. It would come as no surprise if the actress did reach such an age. After all, the work she had done on television, seemed that White would live forever.

And she somehow did.

A p a r t from those close to her,

those who remember White’s career and contributions to society made sure that they expressed their affection and gratitude for the actress.

Even though it’s been years since the pinnacle of White’s career, today’s generation continues to remember her for her roles on and off-screen. To be fair, who could ever forget how hilarious she was as Sue Ann Nivens in The Mary Tyler Moore Show or how sassy she was as Rose Nylund in The Golden Girls?

Yet there’s more to White than just being an actress. When she was a child, her dream job was to become either a forest ranger or a writer. But everything changed when she fell in love with performing after taking the lead in the high school senior play that she wrote.

White’s entertainment career began in the 1940s. After graduating college, White began working in radio and later got her show, The Betty White Show.

In 1949, she co-hosted Hollywood on Television with Al Jarvis in Los Angeles.

The pair later delved into local television, landing White her first role in the sitcom Life with Elizabeth.

Despite the show’s low budget and minimal sets, it was evident that White was passionate about her role, which

eventually landed her first Emmy.

White continued to appear in sitcoms over the years. She earned her second and third Emmy nominations for her role (From left) Bea Arthur, Estelle Getty, Betty White, and in The Mary Tyler Moore Show Rue McClanahan in ‘The Golden Girls.’ in the 1970s.

As White’s work pace White simply substitutes Charlie for accelerated, her career culminated in Ludden. The gesture was so endearing her role in The Golden Girls where she that White sometimes finds herself pining starred alongside Bea Arthur, Rue for her departed husband even more so.

McClanahan, and Estelle Getty. She After The Golden Girls, White played the lovable widow Rose Nylund. continued to star in various TV series Throughout her portrayal of the character, and movies. In 2010, she starred in Hot White had a secret technique that helped in Cleveland, proving that, after all these her delve deeper into her character. years, she still has what it takes to make In 1961, White appeared as a celebrity audiences laugh. player on the daytime game show Her long and fruitful career landed her Password hosted by Allen Ludden. three nominations for the Screen Actors Two years later, the host proposed to the Guild Award for outstanding performance actress. Sadly, Ludden passed in 1981 by a female actor in a comedy series in due to stomach cancer. White considered 2011, 2012, and 2013, where she won the Ludden to be the love of her life, and while first two times. White was also nominated his death brought her much grief, she for 21 Primetime Emmys and won a total bravely carried on with her life. of five.

She eventually put her affection and After about 70 years of performing on longing for her late husband to use when television and appearing in movies, White she played the widow Rose. left a remarkable impact on society. All’s Whenever her character reminisces that left to say is, Betty, “thank you for about her late husband, Charlie Nylund, being a friend.”

AJ Raval, Sean De Guzman reunite in Roman Perez’s new crime romance

‘The Matrix’ billboard as seen along EDSA

‘The Matrix’ takes over Edsa IS MANILA inside The Matrix?

Motorists could have asked that question last Jan. 5 when major billboards along EDSA flashed “Return to the Source” and “Follow the White Rabbit” and iconic green digital rain for a literal Matrix takeover.

This “roadblock” activation is in celebration of The Matrix Resurrections, which opened in the Philippines on Jan. 12.

The EDSA billboards that participated in the “roadblock” are strategically located in Magallanes, Boni, Guadalupe Bridge, Shrine (Ortigas), and Cubao. Check out The Matrix - EDSA Takeover vignette below: YouTube: https://youtu. be/gr5XBDfhTi8; and Facebook: https://fb.watch/at2JS4NchW/ From visionary filmmaker Lana Wachowski comes The Matrix Resurrections, the long-awaited next chapter in the groundbreaking franchise that redefined a genre.

The new film reunites original stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in the iconic roles they made famous, Neo and Trinity.

Reeves reprises the dual roles of Thomas Anderson/Neo, the man once saved from the Matrix to become the savior of humankind, who will once again have to choose which path to follow.

Moss portrays the iconic warrior Trinity… or is she Tiffany, a suburban wife and mother of three with a penchant for superpowered motorcycles?

Joining Reeves and Moss are Jada Pinkett Smith, Lambert Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

The Matrix Resurrections is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a WarnerMedia company.

Stars banner ABS-CBN’s 100 days of fundraising activities for Odette survivors ALMOST a month after losing their homes, livelihoods, and loved ones, there are around 1.4 million Filipino families in areas devastated by Super Typhoon Odette who are still struggling to rebuild their lives in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To help our fellowmen get back on their feet, ABS-CBN has launched “Tulong-Tulong sa Pag-ahon: Isang Daan Sa Pagtutulungan,” a series of fundraising activities in 100 days from different groups within ABSCBN, starting with ABS-CBN shows and stars, with the goal of providing assistance to 100,000 affected families.

“Isang Daan Sa Pagtutulungan,” which marks the second phase of ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN Foundation’s online fund drive for Odette survivors. Activities started on Jan. 9 and will run until April 18. It kicked off with By Request, a benefit concert featuring Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid on FYE Channel on Kumu, the ABS-CBN Entertainment Facebook page and YouTube channel, and iWantTFC. “Your donation will reach our kababayans, especially as many are still experiencing difficulties and are in need of our help. Let’s pay it forward.

Generosity should not only happen during the holidays. We should share our blessings all year round,” said during the online concert, which as of 10:15 pm last night already raised at least P1 million as ABS-CBN Foundation awaits figures from other donation platforms.

After Regine, Kyle Echarri took over the mic on Jan. 10 followed by Ogie Alcasid on Jan 11. KD Estrada and Alexa Ilacad, Jed Madela, Yeng Constantino, D a r r e n

Espanto, and Erik Santos have also confirmed their participation in the coming days Through the kindness and generosity of individuals, groups, and corporations, ABS-CBN Foundation Sagip Kapamilya’s relief operations have already served 65,995 families as of January 8 in areas heavily hit

by Super Typhoon Odette including Antique, Bohol, Cebu, Dinagat Island, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Palawan, Southern Leyte, Siargao Island, Surigao City, among others.

Donors may also deposit to accounts of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc. through BDO (003930214711), BPI (4221-0000-27), PNB (12637000-4128), GCash, PayMaya, and PayPal accounts. International donations may be coursed through abscbnfoundation. org. More details are available on ABSCBN Foundation’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts and https:// foundation.abs-cbn.com. The campaign’s DSWD Authority/Solicitation Permit No. is DSWD- SB-SP-00026-21, valid nationwide until May 28.

Asia’s Songbird Regine VelasquezAlcasid

F

OLLOWING the success of Taya and Nerisa, this pandemic’s breakout stars Sean de Guzman and AJ Raval team up once again in the romantic crime movie Hugas, directed by Roman Perez, Jr. ‘Hugas’ is the third movie pairing for AJ and Sean

Sean de Guzman and AJ Raval in the romantic crime movie ‘Hugas’

In their third movie pairing, AJ plays Liezl, a girl from the province, who is thrust into a crime syndicate led by Boss Dencio (Jay Manalo). Liezl’s Uncle Boyong (Soliman Cruz) is the one who introduces her to the gang. Whatever the boss wants her to do, Liezl does well.

But when she marries Al (Sean), Liezl already wants out of the syndicate.

Al, is a clever hitman. It’s the reason why he was taken in by Boss Dencio. The syndicate relies on him when they want people dead. Thanks to the syndicate, Al and Liezl met, but gratitude won’t make them stay. Al wants to start a new life with his wife and the only thing to do is for them to run away. Carrying a big bag of cash, the couple flees from the gang,

and thus begins a series of mishaps. Boss Dencio will chase them to the ends of the earth to get the money back.

“We’ve become good friends since our first project together. And we’ve been talking about how our latest film could help us be recognized for our acting skills and not just for doing sexy scenes on screen,” AJ told the press in a recent press conference.

The 21-year-old star believes that her friendship with Sean has helped them be comfortable doing intimate scenes. Both have always been very vocal about how comfortable they are in doing delicate scenes, so their fans are guaranteed to enjoy another round –or rounds— of steamy love scenes in this movie.

“We’re no longer embarrassed or uneasy seeing each other’s body during sexy scenes. And that’s what I admire about him. At this point, parang malaki na ang tiwala ko sa kanya kaya sobrang kumportable na ko sa kanya,” she shared.

The director seconded, “They are so professional. From their first project together up to this one, you can see how they evolved as actors. I wouldn’t be surprised if people would recognize them for their acting skills.”

Streaming on Jan. 14 on Vivamax, Hugas also includes Cara Gonzales, Stephanie Raz, Deberly Bancore, Joko Diaz, Bob Jbeili, Lester Lansang, Gilleth Sandico, and Lotlot Bustamante in the cast.

TV exec conferred with Command Plaque by AFP GMA Network’s First Vice President the implementation of the AFPHSCTR. recognition,” said Amoroso. “Aside from and Head of Regional TV and Synergy He was appointed as its Committee this being a confirmation that we are on Oliver Victor B. Amoroso was recently Chairperson for Communications and the right track in our duties as members conferred a Command Plaque by the Advocacy. of the Multi-Sector Advisory Board, this Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) “I would like to thank the AFP Health also serves as an inspiration to do more for his remarkable contribution to the AFP Service Command, especially Brigadier for our country and support our modernHealth Service Command Transformation General Edgar Cardinoza, for this day heroes, the Filipino soldiers. I would also like to thank GMA Network Roadmap (AFPHSCTR) MultiChairman and CEO Atty. Felipe Sector Advisory Board (MSAB).

L. Gozon as well as President Amoroso was honored for and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, “championing the Armed Forces Jr., for allowing me to help the of the Philippines Health Service AFP HSC,” he added.

Command Transformation Amoroso received the Roadmap towards strong Command Plaque from functional systems and processes Brigadier General and of good governance and Commander of the AFPHSC genuine transformation that Edgar Cardinoza, PAF last Dec. successfully led to the conferral 3 at the AFP HSC Camp in V. of the Armed Forces of the Luna, Quezon City. Also present Philippines Transformation were Assistant Chief of Staff Roadmap Institutionalization for Communication, Electronics Pathway Proficient Status with and Information Systems LTC Gold Governance Trailblazer Ephraim Parangalan, PN; Certification.

Chief of the Public Information In 2020, at the height of a Office LTC Jonathan Rico, global pandemic, Amoroso was selected as a distinct member of GMA Network’s First Vice President and Head of Regional TV and MC (GSC); and Assistant Chief the Multi-Sector Advisory Board Synergy Oliver Victor B. Amoroso (center) was recently conferred of Staff for Intelligence – H2 LTC Jomar Tocloy, PA. that provides expert advice in a Command Plaque by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2022

Life HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Your wellbeing as a top priority

Japanese beauty brand Hada Labo develops skincare kits for its hydrating, moisturizing, and brightening effects.

W

E HEAR a lot of talks or discussions about how to take care of yourself so that you can take care of others, or how companies advocate wellness programs for their employees who are one of their best assets if not the best. It’s important to walk the talk or become an ambassador, otherwise, the talk remains just that — a talk and not an advocacy.

for you. Of course, it is best to be aided by a dermatologist’s advice.

A cult fave Japanese beauty brand Hana Labo has been making rounds for skincare kits for its hydrating, moisturizing, and brightening effects through trial sets. I have yet to try but according to its official release, Hada Labo offers two product ranges that can keep the skin all aglow. They have the Hydrating line or Goku Jyun for hydratBY JOBA BOTANA ing and moisturizing skin and the Premium Whitening line or Shiro Jyun for achieving crystal bright complexion and preventing dark spots.

The Hydrating Goku Jyun starter set contains the Hydrating Personally, I set rules or boundaries on this so I can perform Face Wash, an ultrafine foam that gently washes away impuriwell at work and at the same time, so that my personal life will ties, dirt, and oil without drying or irritating the skin with two not suffer. This calls to mind my previous column where my types of Hyaluronic Acid. It’s the perfect first step in preparing doctor friend talked about how to take care of one’s health the skin for enhanced absorption of skincare ingredients. This — physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. For ex- set also includes the famous Hydrating Lotion, infused with four ample, some of my friends say that the line between working types of Hyaluronic Acid to fully hydrate skin up to its innermost hours and personal time has been blurred by the pandemic. layers to get that significantly soft, smooth, and supple skin. To For me, it’s important to set time for work and time for per- finish off this three-step routine, the pack includes the Hydrating sonal pursuits. And really honor it. Save for times when you Light Cream, with its light watery texture and four types of Hyareally have to adjust, follow it. I realized I am a more effective luronic Acids that are meant to lock, replenish, and store moisworker when I am able to devote time for my other personal ture deep into the skin, layer after layer. pursuits in life so I take rest or personal breaks seriously.

Hada Labo is available at Watsons, and online at Lazada and ••• Shopee. For more beauty and skincare tips, visit hadalabo.com.

Skin’s aid amid changing seasons ph and follow @HadaLaboPH on Facebook and Instagram.

If you’re like me whose skin easily reacts to the changing weather, you’ll be on the lookout for what skincare works best You may reach the author at joba.botana@gmail.com Creating a work-life balance makes you an efficient worker and also lets you experience the joys of life.

Six tips for an optimistic 2022 LEAVE behind self-criticisms in 2021 and lead a more optimistic life this 2022.

Positive thinking helps with stress management. It likewise lowers levels of distress and depression and equips people with coping skills for trying times. It allows an approach to unpleasant scenarios

in a more constructive way. It fosters better psychological and physical well-being and comes with various health benefits: greater resistance to the common cold improved cardiovascular health and increased lifespan.

Optimism takes time and does not happen overnight. The medical editors and industry specialists of Mayo Clinic, a non-profit organization committed to clinical practice, education and research, and expert- and whole-person care to people in need of healing, have shared some tips to be more positive. For a bright and more hopeful year ahead, Benilde Well-Being Center (BWC) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde has compiled these reminders.

Here are six pointers for an optimistic 2022: Identify areas to change. First, it is crucial to recognize particular factors in your life that make you feel pessimistic.

Is it your relationships, environment, daily commute, school, or work? Check yourself. Try to find a way to put a constructive twist on your negative thoughts. Take a pause and evaluate your inner feelings.

Start and practice positive self-talk.

Follow one simple rule: Do not say anything to yourself that you would not say to anyone else. Be gentle and grateful. Instead of saying “I’ve never done it before”, think “It’s an opportunity to learn something new”. Do not entertain self-criticism – give everything a chance and always be open to new perspectives.

Be open to humor. Amid the challenges, give yourself permission to smile,

Be gentle and encouraging with yourself.

Find even the littlest joys in everyday life.

laugh, and be happy. Seek humor and find the littlest of joys in everyday mundane happenings.

Follow a healthy lifestyle. Engage in physical activities and exercise to positively affect mood. Follow a healthier diet to fuel both mind and body. Adapt stress management techniques and hobbies. Optimistic people do not excessively smoke or drink alcohol.

Surround yourself with positive people. Helpful advice and insightful feedback come from reliable and dependable support systems. These are the people around you – whether it be a significant other, family, friends, or workmates.

Engage in physical activities

JOB WELL DONE

Your health and happiness hub at SM North Edsa THE recent pandemic has made us aware more than ever that health is indeed wealth. . . and a great source of happiness.

The good news is that SM City North EDSA offers a wide range of available medical and health care services including medical check-ups, eye care services, hearing and audiometry tests, dental treatments, chiropractic adjustment, pain management, mobility and cosmetic, and medical Dermatological services.

There’s no need to go to the hospital for your regular check-up: The Medical City Clinic (UGF, The Annex) offers a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures targeted to address a broad array of diseases. Contact 8396-9899 to inquire about doctors’ availability, specialty, and schedule.

Healthway Multi-Specialty Center (5F, The Block), meanwhile, offers #TheFullCircleOfCare of comprehensive range of products and services including specialist consultation, Diagnostic procedures, specialized procedures and Outpatient surgery. For more information, visit www.healthway.com.ph MyHealth (2F Northlink Building) Clinic www.myhealth.ph. believes that everyone should be able to take care of their health and wellness; while Kaiser Medical Center (at GF Tower 5, North Towers) provides a wide array of diagnostic and medical care services ranging from immediate quality medical care instilling health literacy and healing, to consultation for individuals. You may call these numbers for an appointment: Tel. No.: (02) 828-89819 Mobile: 0917-318-6288 See the world more clearly and beautifully PerfectSight Eye Center (3F North Link Building), which offers general as well as subspecialty care including Ophthalmologic Diagnostic Procedures and Consultations and Surgery. Patients are encouraged to call for an appointment at 8352-1620 or 0917 517 4448.

Do you want to hear the good news? Ear Diagnostics Clinic (Annex LGF) will help you hear the good news as it delivers excellent service, by providing precise, timely, and comprehensive audiologic services at reasonable prices. They also offer a variety

Kaiser Medical Center provides diagnostic and medical care services

of hearing aid models available as well as risk-free hearing aid trials. Visit https://www. facebook.com/EarDiagnosticsMetroManila for more information.

Posture Perfect Manila Hearing Aid (3F Chiropractic offers North Towers, on the other chiropractic care to hand, is a complete hearing various ailments care center, offering its patients the highest standards of hearing care consultations, and a wide range of hearing aids, hearing accessories, and audiometers from worldrenowned brands. It recently celebrated its 45 years so watch out for their upcoming discounts. Call or book your appointment online www.tinyurl.com/ message at https://www.facebook.com/DentalWorldManila for more information.

BookAppointmentMHA Healthy Smile Dental Center (2F North Managing pain through physical therapy is key to improving quality of life, as it can Tower), on the other hand, is a multi-specialty affect our ability to think, our mood, and pre- dental clinic, center for specialties in all of the vent us from enjoying things we enjoy. Re- following major fields of Dentistry: Cosmethabwise Pain and Mobility Clinic (3F North- ic, Pediatric, Geriatric, Prosthodontics, Orlink) is an ambulatory out-patient physical thodontics, Oral Surgery, Implantology, and medicine and musculoskeletal clinic that Dental diagnostics. Book your appointment specializes in physical therapy and acupunc- through 09952590683. D’ Tooth Kingdom ture. Simply call or text us at our CP 0922 Corporation (5F The Block) makes dental appointments fun for your kids and the kids 9370442.

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Looking good is often key to feeling good. health, muscle strength, flexibility, and range of motion. Posture Perfect Chiropractic (3F Pamper your skin at Dermclinic (LGF AnCity Center) offers Chiropractic care to nu- nex) the pioneer and leading Dermatological merous ailments, from alleviating neck and Center in the Philippines, which offers expert back pain to lowering blood pressure; while hair and skincare services as well as a wide Mabuhay Chiropractic Clinics encourages range of services and breakthrough proceeveryone to have their spine checked to re- dures. Visit https://www.facebook.com/derlieve or eliminate pain, and improve mobil- mclinicph to learn more about their services.

The Belo Medical Group (5F The Block) ity, Book your appointments at https://www. facebook.com/PosturePerfectPH, and Call pioneers the latest surgical and non-surgical beauty breakthroughs. Committed to transMabuhay at (02)888-24476.

You’ve got a lot more reason to smile with forming patients into the most beautiful version SM City North EDSA’s dental clinics. Dental of themselves, Belo offers skin enhancements, World Manila (3F Northlink) offers Dental facial improvements, body contouring, and x-rays are essential, preventative, diagnostic other services for your medical aesthetic needs. tools that provide valuable information not Visit https://www.facebook.com/BeloSMNorth visible during a regular dental exam. Send a to book your appointments.

Health concerned consumers can find a comprehensive range of products and services in Healthway Multi-Specialty Center.