Manila Standard - 2022 February 24 - Thursday

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MARCOS LAYS DOWN LABOR AGENDA WITH TUCP, ALU OFFICIALS

By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz PARTIDO Federal ng Pilipinas standard-bearer Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. vowed Wednesday to immediately address the problems hounding the labor sector to ensure better labor conditions for the country’s workforce if he is elected president in the May 9 national elections.

In a meeting with officials of the labor-focused groups, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and the Associated Labor Unions, the

64-year-old Marcos discussed the problems and issues that lay siege to the sector and outlined his plans and programs to address them.

While he supports the creation of a separate department for migrant workers, Marcos said all the other agencies that deal with the labor sector should be streamlined.

“I will have to put the layout in detail because the issue has become so involved. Lots to fix, structurally lots to fix. Agencies must be streamlined, because there are too many (offices), our workers, confused as to where Next page

ONE WITH LABOR. Partido

Federal ng Pilipinas presidential candidate former Sen. Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos, Jr. (center) poses House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez (right), Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez (2nd from left) and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza (3rd from left). Ver Noveno

Oil prices soar near $100/bbl May swing to $120 as Ukraine crisis deepens; PH recovery in peril

By Alena Mae S. Flores, Julito Rada and Othel V. Campos

Ukraine sets defense tack vs. Russia’s all-out attack

F

EARS of a possible full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine have pushed the world price of oil close to $100 a barrel, a development that could slow down the country’s economic recovery.

UKRAINE'S security council on Wednesday approved plans to declare a state of national emergency as it mobilized its military reserve Wednesday and urged its citizens to leave Russian territory as Moscow sharpened its demands, increasing fears of all-out war.

The measure, which must be

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 11 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Arnel Ty of the LPG Marketers Association warned that if Russia invades Ukraine and oil prices continue to spike, this could lead to a serious global shortage of the commodity.

Ty said the impact of the Ukraine crisis is already being felt as oil prices soar.

Other analysts raised fears that world oil prices could go as high as $120 per barrel.

“The world oil market price continues to increase, and that affects our domestic oil retail price,” Ty said.

“European countries are heavily dependent on Russian oil. If Europe shifts their oil requirements to the Middle East,

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3,655,709 1,534

55,449

55,977

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3,544,283

2,729

ON TENTERHOOKS. Ukrainian National Guard servicemen stay in guard after activists set symbolic tomb crosses with the inscription "Russian occupier" during a rally outside the Russian embassy in Kyiv. (Below, from left) A handout picture released on February 23, 2022 by the press service of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in an unknown location of Ukraine shows a Ukrainian plane taking part in the exercises. Russian military vehicles, on the other hand, are seen loaded on train platforms some 50 km off the border with the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic in Russia's southern Rostov region. AFP

(As of 4 PM, FEBRUARY 23)

Higher SRP seen with increases in production cost

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

EVERY PESO COUNTS. Marlito Reyes, a 57-year-old jeepney driver, counts his coins in front of a gasoline station along Rizal Avenue in Avenida, Manila, on February 23, 2022. Norman Cruz

THE successive increases in fuel prices have jacked up manufacturing costs, which may be passed on to consumers, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Wednesday.

In an interview with Dobol B TV, Lopez estimated that the higher fuel prices had a 3.5 percent impact on the cost of production.

Manufacturers, however, have not

DFA starts to move Pinoys in Ukraine to safer ground

By Vito Barcelo and Rey E. Requejo

positioned near parts of Eastern Ukraine, an official of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said THE PHILIPPINES has started in-coun- Wednesday.

However, OWWA chief Hans Cacdac try relocation of Filipinos in Ukraine to Next page safer ground, as Russian troops reportedly

HELPERS NEED HELP.

A foreign domestic helper on her Sunday rest day packs up her belongings after an operation against people who fail to comply with social distancing measures at a subway in Hong Kong’s Central area on February 20, 2022, amid the city's worstever coronavirus outbreak. AFP

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NCR mayors push for Alert Level 1 by Mar. 1

By Joel E. Zurbano, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Willie Casas

THE Metro Manila Council recommend- Capital Region under Alert Level 1 beed Wednesday to the Inter-Agency Task ginning March 1.

Force for the Management of Emerging Metropolitan Manila Development Infectious Diseases to place the National Next page

ATC: 16 ORGS HAVE LINKS TO CPP-NPA

PULSE, OCTA: BE WARY OF KALYE SURVEY

NEWS / A3

NEWS / A4

Govt to send medical team to HK to care for sick OFWs

By Vito Barcelo THE Philippines is planning to send a medical team to Hong Kong to assist overseas Filipino workers who have tested positive for COVID-19, the Over-

seas Workers Welfare Administration said yesterday as the city reels under its worst coronavirus outbreak to date. “[Labor Secretary Silvestre III] Bello said this is what we are planning [to do]...Some of our OFWs are in the

isolation facility by the Hong Kong authorities. So, there must also be coordination, proper coordination with the Hong Kong authorities,” OWWA administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Oil...

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this would create a shortage,” he said, adding that this applied to shipping vessels and the fuel itself.

The Department of Energy (DOE), however, said it believes there is enough oil supply to meet the country’s demand.

“As far as prices are concerned, they’re going up, but as far as supply is concerned, it’s there,” said Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella. “So it’s more of how we go about our business where we don’t have to spend much for additional costs. That’s where the energy efficiency campaign comes in again.”

“Prices will go up but what the Downstream Oil Industry Bureau is looking at is the supply is there. So you don’t have to worry too much because of that,” Fuentebella said.

While high prices are a concern for motorists, he said the phenomenon would “fizzle out.”

Rino Abad, director of the DOE Oil Industry Management Bureau cited projections by Platts that the tight supply in the global market may normalize by May or June.

Abad said the government’s ongoing programs to help the affected sectors such as the Pantawid Pasada Program, fuel discounts to the agriculture sector and private sector initiatives to provide fuel discounts would ease the impact of high prices.

PetroEnergy Resources Corp. vice president Francisco Delfin Jr. agreed with Fuentebella that the high oil prices are more of a concern to consumers as they affect the prices of goods and transpiration.

“The lesson there is that things will not always stay that high. There will always be developments that will sort of temper this down. How long that will take, nobody knows,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (Philreca)

Ukraine...

From A1

formally approved by parliament, requires stepped-up document and vehicle checks, among other measures, the council's secretary Oleksiy Danilov said.

They would apply to all parts of Ukraine except for its two Russianbacked eastern separatist regions, where a deadly insurgency that has claimed more than 14,000 lives broke out in 2014.

British foreign minister Liz Truss said it was "likely" that Kremlin chief President Vladimir Putin would "follow through on his plan for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine."

US President Joe Biden announced tough new sanctions against Russia for "beginning" an invasion of Ukraine, but

Higher...

From A1

yet petitioned for a rise in the suggested retail prices of their grocery items, he said.

Since the start of the year, pump prices of fuel products have gone up P8.75 per liter for gasoline, P10.85 per liter for diesel, and P9.55 per liter for kerosene.

Meanwhile, a militant lawmaker on Wednesday urged President Duterte to call for a special session of Congress to approve a measure suspending the excise tax on oil for at least six months.

Deputy Minority Leader and Rep. Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna issued the statement, saying the national government should "take preemptive measures that will cushion the impact on the prices of commodities, including oil, due to the brewing tensions in Eastern Europe."

"Holding a special session is still feasible before the campaign period of local candidates starts. We can also have a blended session to push this measure," Zarate said.

He said suspending the excise tax on oil products would immediately lower the price of fuel products and even the price of basic commodities.

Zarate warned, if the excise tax is not suspended, this may result in "price shocks just like what happened in 2018 when the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law was implemented."

"Duterte and his economic managers cannot escape the blame now because their TRAIN law is punishing even more the people during this pandemic-aggravated crisis," Zarate said.

The measure proposing recommend-

Govt...

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As of Wednesday, Cacdac said eight out of 76 OFWs who have been infected with COVID-19 were confined in hospitals.

“Eight are in the hospital, admitted to the hospital and all the rest are in isolation facilities. It’s either they are in employer’s home isolation—mostly in employer’s home isolation—or Hong Kong government isolation or in non-government organization isolation,” he added.

He said the Philippine government had so far provided food, hygiene kits, and

expressed concern over the high oil prices and their impact on power rates.

Philreca also said the current situation magnifies the need to push for energy security.

According to reports, international prices of oil are at a seven-year high at the moment.

“This shows that there is really a need for us to work on the country’s energy security and independence,” Janeene D. Colingan, Philreca executive director, said.

“For the industry, one of the solutions to this problem is really to intensify further and support the renewable energy industry.

Unfortunately, more than 10 years after the enactment of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, it seems like we are still far away from the golden age of renewable energy,” she said.

She said DOE should support legislative proposals that will help mitigate the impact of high oil prices on consumers, for example, removal of multiple and unnecessary taxes on the energy supply chain.

She said while this may reduce government tax collections in the short term, increasing the purchasing power of people would eventually result in higher consumption taxes.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the immediate impact from the Ukraine crisis has been a spike in global oil prices. High inflation, he added, could slow down the country’s economic recovery.

Wire reports on Wednesday said the futures for Brent crude, the benchmark in international energy markets, added $1.45 a barrel, or 1.5 percent, to settle at $96.84 and earlier climbed to $99.50, their highest level since 2014.

Also in Europe, natural-gas prices rose 10 percent to €80, equivalent to $91.65, per megawatt-hour after Germany halted the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in response to Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Economists earlier this year said the

Philippines was on the path to recovery following a stronger-than-expected gross domestic product expansion of 5.6 percent in 2021, a significant turnaround from the 9.6-percent contraction a year ago due to the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, inflation in January 2022 continued its downward trend and eased to a 15-month low of 3 percent from 3.2 percent in December 2021.

But the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas last week raised the inflation forecast this year to 3.7 percent from 3.4 percent made during last December's meeting, taking into account, among other reasons, higher oil prices. The forecast for 2023 was also slightly raised to 3.3 percent from 3.2 percent previously.

Ricafort said the Philippine financial markets were indirectly affected recently by geopolitical risks involving Ukraine, not only through higher oil prices, but also on US global bond yields.

Ricafort also said the peso weakened recently against the US dollar---among the weakest in a month---partly due to higher global oil prices that led to higher oil imports, on top of more hawkish Fed signals recently.

However, he said the peso exchange rate has been relatively stable recently.

On Wednesday, the peso closed at 51.1 to a dollar, 44 centavos stronger than the 51.45 a day ago, the strongest since the 51.05 on Feb. 3, 2022.

Meanwhile, global debt watcher Moody's Investors Service said Wednesday that since its rated issuers in the Asia-Pacific region---including the Philippines---have limited direct exposure to Russian or Ukrainian entities, there would not be any immediate or direct ratings impact from the situation in Ukraine.

"Nonetheless, issuers in APAC may not be immune to second round effects of a conflict. Among the possible transmission channels are commodities prices, trade effects and financial market disrup-

tion," Moody's said in a report.

Moody's said the global price of oil and liquified natural gas (LNG) is likely to rise sharply in the event of a conflict, which will be positive for the relatively few exporters in the Asia Pacific region and negative for the substantially greater number of net energy importers.

However, it said a mitigating factor is that several Asian economies have longterm supply contracts in place for LNG which will limit the impact of fluctuations in the spot price.

The Philippines enjoys an investment grade rating of "Baa2" from Moody's.

Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Rating also gave the country investment grade ratings.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), meanwhile, said in terms of trade, the Philippines would not be affected significantly, as its trade volume with Russia and Ukraine remains small.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said, however, that the Philippines would be affected by the disruption in the prices and supply of oil and key commodities like wheat, iron ore, and the high degree of uncertainties that could affect global recovery efforts.

Bilateral trade with Ukraine was estimated at around $200 million while it ranked as the 40th trading partner of the Philippines.

Lopez said the DTI has initiated a study on how deeply the Ukrainian crisis would affect the Philippines’ economic recovery.

The impact on manufacturing will be a 3.5 percent hike in overall production costs, based on the initial computed estimates of the DTI. “Our formula shows a 5 to 7 percent impact on manufacturing with the 70 percent increase in crude oil prices, so far.

This is about a 3.5 percent impact on production costs, notwithstanding the impact on other factors of production,” he said.

This, however, could still drive prices up for goods and services.

said there was still time to avoid war.

Japan and Australia followed suit early Wednesday with their own stringent penalties for Moscow and individuals connected with the aggression against Ukraine.

Biden announced what he called the "first tranche" of sanctions, including steps to starve Russia of financing and target financial institutions and the country's "elites."

But he left the door open to a final effort at diplomacy to avert a full-scale Russian invasion.

"There's no question that Russia is the aggressor, so we're clear-eyed about the challenges we're facing," the US leader said.

Biden's address followed a wave of sanctions announced by Britain and the European Union, after Putin recognized

the self-declared Donetsk and Lugansk separatist regions this week.

Germany also announced it was halting certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia.

Kyiv's President Volodymyr Zelensky has put Ukraine's more than 200,000 reservists on notice that they will receive summons to return to their units.

Ukraine also urged its approximately three million citizens living in Russia to leave.

Western capitals say Russia has amassed 150,000 troops in combat formations on Ukraine's borders with Russia, Belarus and Russian-occupied Crimea and on warships in the Black Sea. Ukraine has around 200,000 military personnel and Wednesday's call up could see up to 250,000 reservists aged between 18 and 60 receive their mobilisation

papers.

Moscow's total forces are much larger – around a million active duty personnel – and have been modernised and re-armed in recent years.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Putin said that Moscow had recognised the independence of Ukraine's separatist regions within their administrative borders, including territory still controlled

by Kyiv – raising the specter of a clash.

He added that Western-brokered peace agreements on Ukraine's conflict no longer existed and stressed that the deployment of Russian troops would "depend on the specific situation... on the ground."

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance had "every indication" that Moscow "continues to plan for a fullscale attack on Ukraine." AFP

ing the reduction or suspension of the excise tax on fuel products amid their increasing prices is awaiting plenary approval in Congress.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, said he plans to file a bill to institutionalize the Pantawid Pasada fuel subsidy program for public transport, to address the adverse effects of oil price hikes.

He said institutionalizing the Pantawid Pasada Program was more economically viable than suspending excise taxes on fuel.

The Department of Finance pushed back on the call to suspend the excise tax, saying this would be inequitable and would hurt the country’s economic recovery in the long run.

Gatchalian said the suspension of fuel excise taxes would forego P271.238 billion in revenues while the Pantawid Pasada program would cost the government P1.936 billion, covering all public utility vehicles (PUVs).

Gatchalian said that the almost 2 billion peso-fund is already covered by the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA) as there is a P2.5 billion allocation for the continuing implementation of the program.

“This is a tried and tested program already," Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian suggested the electronic transmission of the fuel subsidy to ensure its timely remittance to the targeted beneficiaries.

Data from the Department of Energy (DOE) showed that the price hikes since December 28 last year reflected an increase of P6.80 or 10.85 percent per liter for gasoline, P10.20 or 21.70 percent for diesel, and P8.23 or 15.86 percent for kerosene. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

NCR...

Authority Officer-in-Charge and General Manager Romando Artes said the MMC, composed of 17 mayors in NCR, approved MMDA Resolution 22-06 and unanimously agreed to lower the restriction status of the capital region from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1 by next month.

"The resolution was already sent to the IATF earlier today. The basis of the MMC to ease the restrictions in the region is to open up the economy to ensure job generation,” said Artes at the press briefing at the MMDA headquarters in Makati City.

“The NCR's positivity rate for COVID-19 is now at 4.64 percent, way below the 5 percent standard of the World Health Organization."

Citing the Department of Health’s COVID-19 Situationer in the NCR, as of Feb. 21, the region accounts for 32 percent of the confirmed cases nationwide and a Regional Average Positivity Rate of 4.64 percent with only one LGU remaining at moderate risk classification while the rest are already at low risk classification based on the 2-week growth rate and average daily attack rate.

The DOH Health Care Capacity Utilization Status in the NCR also showed that the Health Care Utilization Rate and COVID-19 Bed Utilization Rate in the Region are both on a downward trend and equally stand at 24.8 percent.

Artes assured that the local chief executives of the NCR were ready and fully capable of implementing the IATF-prescribed health and safety protocols under COVID-19 Alert Level 1.

He added that despite the conduct of political activities such as motorcades and caravans, no notable spike of COVID cases were recorded in the past two weeks.

Meanwhile, Artes announced that the agency is studying the possibility of implementing a modified Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program or number coding scheme during rush hour in the morning.

At present, the number coding is implemented on weekdays, 5pm to 8pm, except holidays, and only covers private vehicles.

“We are studying to widen the coverage of our modified number coding scheme from 7am to 9am. I have met with the district heads of our Traffic Discipline Office. Based on their assessment, from 10am-5pm, light traffic situations are observed on major thoroughfares,” Artes said.

He disclosed that the MMDA did not want to impose the number coding for the whole day due to lack of public transportation.

The MMC is the governing board and policy-making body of the MMDA. In related developments, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Metro Manila was already capable of being under Alert Level 1 by March.

He said the IATF would meet today (Thursday) and deliberate on the proposal to ease restrictions in Metro Manila.

The country on Wednesday logged 1,534 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 3,655,709, the Department of Health reported.

Positivity rate was at 6.1 percent. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

power banks to affected OFWs. “And then, of course, when they are out of the hospital and have recovered they will receive $200 financial assistance...If they want to go back to the Philippines, we will provide them with livelihood assistance, and if they have college level-dependents, they will be given scholarship contracts,” the OWWA chief said.

Cacdac reiterated that employers who will fire sick OFWs in Hong Kong will face labor cases and sanctions.

“The possible sanction will be a labor case if they terminate our OFWs. The next one will be on the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. Secre-

tary Bello declared that employers who have treated our workers like that will be blacklisted,” he said.

Cacdac added that these employers would also face penalties by the host territory.

"On the Hong Kong side, the labor authorities said that’s illegal termination and then, here on the POEA, the blacklisting of employers who carry out illegal termination,” he added.

Meanwhile, a coalition of NGOs serving migrant workers said the number of domestic helpers needing immediate help with home quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 had increased from a handful to nearly 70 in less than a week.

The coalition told Hong Kong media it was trying to secure alternative accommodation for the workers, including university dormitories or religious retreat housing, but they were being frustrated by social-distancing rules and red tape.

HELP For Domestic Workers first received urgent calls from five domestic workers last Wednesday who had nowhere to serve their home quarantine after testing positive for the coronavirus. The number of requests had since jumped to 68, it said.

At one shelter, 11 domestic workers were crammed into a single room, she said, emphasizing the situation was "not ideal, especially if people were sick."

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DFA...

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said that of the more than 300 Filipinos in Ukraine, only few have signified their intention to be repatriated.

He said two Filipinos have already informed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of their intention to go home.

They were assured that they would get assistance for their flight back to the Philippines.

“As of now, there are no reports that military forces are already fighting, but we have already started our relocation efforts,” Cacdac said, adding three batches of Filipinos have been relocated to safer areas.

Cacdac said he expects more Filipinos will opt to come home and avoid the looming war between Russia and Ukraine.

Last week, six Filipinos, including a child with a Ukrainian father, arrived in the country as they availed of the government's repatriation program.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the government’s free repatriation flight offer for Filipinos in Ukraine was still on the table.

"Our chief and singular concern is to take out of harm’s way our fellow Filipinos in Ukraine and bring them to the nearest places of safety by the fastest possible way," Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said in a statement.

"Our offer to take Filipinos in Kiev is underway and Undersecretary Sarah Arriola is spearheading the repatriation effort for Filipinos who want to come home," he added. Arriola is the undersecretary for the Migrant Workers' Affairs Office at the DFA. As of Feb. 18, the DFA has repatriated six Filipinos from the European nation.

Last week, the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw, which exercises jurisdiction over Ukraine, also deployed a consular team to Kyiv to enable faster coordination with the Filipino community and the relevant authorities.

The DFA's statement came as tensions mounted in the region following the announcement of President Vladimir Putin that Russia would officially recognize certain areas of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said Moscow's decision can be considered “a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and was inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”

The Philippine Embassy in Moscow, meanwhile, stands ready to assist Filipinos who want to enter Russia from the Ukraine. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Marcos...

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they should approach,” he lamented.

TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Mendoza, for his part, conformed with Marcos’ plans to streamline agencies, noting that overseas workers have met difficulties in their overseas employment, especially among household contract workers in the Middle Eastern countries.

In line with his aim of ensuring better labor conditions for workers, Marcos also expressed interest in making into a priority bill the Security of Tenure Act, which aims at amending the Labor Code to further protect workers’ rights by prohibiting labor-only contracting in the private sector.

Marcos pointed out that the version of the bill that President Rodrigo Duterte vetoed in 2019 for “unduly broadening” the scope of labor-only contracting, and effectively banning other forms "that are not particularly unfavorable to employees," should be amended to ensure that it will live up to its aim of further protecting workers’ rights.

“We need to study carefully how to amend it so that it will really give protection to our workers so that it can be legislated. We have to fix it because our countrymen are forced to work overseas because the labor conditions here are low and not good,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mendoza, who is also TUCP president, raised the need to hire additional manpower for agencies such as the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Overseas Workers' WelfareAdministration to enable these agencies to better serve the welfare of at least 10 million Filipino migrant workers.

“In one day, they process thousands of contracts, and then they only have a few people. They lack foreign language interpreters who can help OFWs who have future problems in their jobs. We have millions of OFWS and they contribute a lot to our economy, so we need someone to focus on them,” Mendoza said.

The presidential candidate said this is why he sees the need for streamlining the agencies concerned so that there will be an agency focused solely on local workers and another one on overseas workers.

However, he stressed that the end goal would be to make overseas employment merely an option for Filipinos. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

News

THURSDAY, FEBUARY 24, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Expand pilot motorcycle taxi program in PH’ THE government should allow at least four —not just two—motorcycle taxi firms to participate in its pilot program, as the Philippines shifts to a “new normal” that may again see a high demand for public transportation.

“As we reopen the economy, we’ll need public transportation. The land sector—rail, buses, jeepneys—aren’t ready yet for a sharp rise in demand from the commuting public,” Representative Edgar Sarmiento, chair of the transport committee of the House of Representatives, said in a radio interview.

Sarmiento said he would ask the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to explain why only two firms—Angkas and JoyRide—are currently in its motorcycle taxi pilot program. A third player, Move It, has a too insignificant footprint in the business to count.

There should be at least four players in the program so that commuters would have more choices, he said. He said trains, buses, and jeepneys are still limited to filling up just 70 percent of their seats.

“That means 30 percent are dislocated. How are they going to commute? While we’re reopening the economy, everyone should be ready, including those on two wheels, the motorcycle taxis,” he said.

There are now over 7 million motorcycles across the Philippines from just 3.5 million in 2010.

Sarmiento said just a fraction of that number would be more than enough to meet the commuting public’s needs.

Sarmiento is the main author of House Bill 10572, which seeks to legalize and regulate the operations of firms providing motorcycle-for-hire services.

Once it becomes a law, the bill will allow all qualified companies that employ motorcycle riders via ride-hailing apps to ferry passengers or deliver food, parcels and mails to secure a franchise from the government.

Junk ‘no vax, no ride’ rule, Court asked

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court (SC) has been asked to declare as unconstitutional the government’s “no vaccination, no ride” policy, despite it was already lifted implemented when the National Capital Region (NCR) was still under COVID-19 Alert Level 3 last January and subsequently lifted last Feb. 1 when NCR was deescalated to Alert Level 2.

In a petition filed on Wednesday, the PASAHERO party-list stressed that the SC that the policy and other government measures allegedly discriminate Filipinos who are unvaccinated against COVID-19.

“The ban on unvaccinated passengers from using public transportation was effective for a period of less than a month, a duration too short for the issues subject of this Petition to be fully litigated,” the group argued.

“Moreover, there is a reasonable expectation that the Petitioners will again be subjected to the same ban of using public transportation. The nature of COVID-19 as a disease which constantly evolves has compelled the Philippine Government to revert to a more stringent Alert Level 3, as shown by the government’s actions in the past three months,” it added.

Aside from the PASAHERO party-list, the two other petitioners are Marcelino Dela Cruz Jr. and Leonardo A. Lituania who, the petition stated, are both unvaccinated individuals.

Named respondents are Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, and Romando P. Artes as officer-in-charge of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

A3

IN BRIEF ‘Foreigners can now enter PH without EED’

STA. MESA CONNECTOR. Officials of the Department of Public Work And Highways and NLEX Corporation inspected the progress of the Sta. Mesa section of the NLEX Connector project. The three-kilometer road forms part of the eight-kilometer NLEX Connector which extends the expressway southward from NLEX Harbor Link Caloocan Interchange. Manny Palmero

Anti-terror body names 16 groups linked to CPP-NPA T HE Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has named 16 underground organizations linked to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPPNPA) as terrorist groups.

In Resolution No. 288 (2022) dated January 26 and signed by ATC vice chairperson and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., the ATC found probable cause to designate the following organizations as “terrorist groups of persons, organizations or associations” based on verified and validation information, as well as testimonial and documentary evidence.

The list includes: Revolutionary Council of Trade Unions (RCTU); Katipunan ng mga Samahang Manggagawa/Federation of Labor Organizations (KASAMA); Pambansang Katipunan ng Magbubukid/ National Association of Peasants (PKM); Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan/Patriotic Movement of New Women (MAKIBAKA); Kabataang Makabayan/

Patriotic Youth (KM); Katipunan ng Gurong Makabayan/Association of Patriotic Teachers (KAGUMA); Makabayang Samahang Pangkalusugan/Patriotic Health Association (MASAPA); Liga ng Agham Para sa Bayan/League of Scientists for the People (LAB); Lupon ng mga Manananggol para sa Bayan/ Committee of Lawyers for the People (LUMABAN); Artista at Manunulat ng Sambayanan/Artists and Writers for the People (ARMAS); Makabayang Kawaning Pilipino/Patriotic Government Employees (MKP); Revolutionary Organization of Overseas Filipinos and their Families (COMPATRIOTS); Christians for National Liberation (CNL); Cordillera People’s Democratic Front (CPDF); Moro Resistance Liberation Organiza-

tion (MRLO); and Rebolusyonaryong Organisasyong Lumad/Revolutionary Organization of Lumads (ROL) The resolution said the designation is aimed at eliminating, preventing, and suppressing the financing of terrorist acts, support and recruitment of members, and the supply of weapons to terrorists.

The groups had been identified by the official website of the National Democratic Front (NDF) which enumerated these underground organizations as its “member organizations.

The resolution also said CPP founder Jose Maria Sison, in his keynote speech for the NDF’s 48th anniversary in April 2021, identified these underground organizations, along with the CPP-NPA, as allied organizations of the NDF. Esperon further maintained that the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) has funded and supported antigovernment activities such as alternative schools reportedly indoctrinating innocent youth. With Maricel V. Cruz

PEACE COVENANT.

Tabaco City Mayor Krisel Lagman was joined by other local candidates during the unity walk, interfaith prayer rally, and peace covenant signing for national and local elections held at Christ the King plaza in Tabaco City.

Norman Cruz

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) said that visa-required foreign nationals who are parents or children of Filipinos may now enter the country without an entry exemption document (EED) from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

In a statement, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said that while the said foreigners are no longer required to present EEDs upon arrival at the airports, they are still required to secure the appropriate visas from any of the Philippine embassies or consulates abroad.

Morente said that policy is pursuant to the latest resolution issued by the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATFEID) which amended a previous resolution that exempted only foreign spouses of Filipinos from securing an EED before entering the Philippines.

However, the BI chief stressed that the sticker visas of these foreign parents and children of Filipino citizens should contain the notation: “Foreign Spouse/Parent/ Child not covered by IATF Resolution 160-B; No EED Required.” Vito Barcelo

Belmonte orders probe vs. cop in alleged shooting QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Wednesday ordered the Quezon City People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) to investigate the shooting incident involving a student allegedly by a member of Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

Belmonte ordered the probe after Adrianne Castor, a 22-year-old student, filed a complaint against Police Corporal Reymark Rigor on February 8.

“While I acknowledge that the QCPD is our partner in maintaining law and order, it must be clear that I have no tolerance for rotten policemen in Quezon City.

I am ordering Atty. Calinisan of the PLEB to act on this matter with absolute dispatch,” Belmonte said in a statement.

“Our quick and resolute action is the only way we can alleviate the anguish of Mr. Castor and his family, and reassure the general public that Quezon City is a safe place to be in, where no police abuses are allowed,” she added.

Castor said in his complaint he was on his way home to Scout Rallos Extension on board a Grab vehicle when he noticed a motorcycle rider driving in a “drunkenly manner.” Maricel V. Cruz

Salceda offers legislative help in avian flu control REP. Joey Sarte Salceda on Wednesday offered legislative support for the agricultural department’s programs to contain the spread and mitigate the effect of H5N1 strain of avian flu among duck and quail farms in Bulacan and Pampanga.

Salceda, the chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means and co-chair of the House Economic Stimulus and Recovery Cluster, made the statement as he committed to help the Department of Agriculture (DA) to fight a burgeoning outbreak of the bird flu.

“I write to you to offer my full support, as Co-Chair of the House Economic Stimulus and Recovery Cluster, for the Department of Agriculture’s efforts to contain the recently discovered H5N1 strain of influenza among duck and quail farms,” Salceda said in a letter to Agriculture Secretary William Dar. Salceda offered to request the Bureau of Customs, which he oversees as House tax chair, to strengthen efforts to fight avian flu and ensure that smuggled poultry is condemned immediately upon apprehension. Maricel V. Cruz

Ex-poll exec Kho named 15th Associate Justice of Supreme Court RETIRED Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Antonio Kho Jr. has been appointed as the 15th associate justice of the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo received Kho’s appointment papers from the office of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on late Wednesday afternoon, February 23.

Kho took the post vacated by then Associate Justice Rosmari Carandang who retired last January 9. He retired as Comelec commissioner last Feb. 2.

The SC has appointed Carandang as chancellor of the Philippine Judi-

cial Academy (PhilJa), the judiciary’s education arm.

His appointment as SC associate justice completed the membership in the 15-member High Tribunal. Based on the reorganization done by the SC in its three divisions early this month of February, Kho is expected to be assigned to the court’s third division.

There will be a vacancy in the SC on May 14 with the retirement of Senior Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas Bernabe.

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has yet to submit its nominees to the post.

A check with the internet showed that

Kho is a native of Jolo in Sulu. He finished his law degree at the San Beda University Law School. He was 10th placer in the 1991 bar examinations.

The new SC magistrate was a former undersecretary of the Department of Justice and law professor at the Arellano Law School, San Beda University, and De La Salle University College of Law. Carandang meanwhile assumed on Wednesday her new post as PhilJa chancellor of. Carandang succeeded Chancellor Arturo Brion, also a retired SC member.

The new PhilJa head retired January 9

as SC magistrate. President Duterte, as of 2 p.m. on February 23, has not appointed her replacement in the 15-member bench.

In a statement issued by the SC’s public information office, Carandang is the second lady chancellor of PhilJa. The first head of the academy was the late Justice Ameurfina Melencio Herrera.

Another past chancellor was retired SC Justice Adolfo S. Azcuna whomBrion succeeded.

Carandang served the SC for more than three years. She was the 9th placer in the 1975 bar examinations.

Rey E. Requejo

DOLE flagship program exempted from Comelec ban

By Vito Barcelo

NEW SKAL MEMBERS. Skal International Makati president Jimmy Bautista (3rd from left), vice president Farid Schoucair (in barong), Secretary-General Deedee Ledonio (right), and director Cynthia Carreon (left) with newly-inducted members Teddy Tee, president, Power Models Event Management; Dean Cid, COO Phinma Hospitality, Microtel

by Wyndham; and Carmela Prospero Dumol of Philippine Airlines. The event coincided with the Skal General Membership meeting and Networking, hosted by Conrad Hotel at their Presidential Suite in partnership with Ralph’s Wines and Spirits.

THE Department of Labor and Employment’s flagship program TUPAD is exempted from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ban on poll campaigns and will continue to be available to displaced and disadvantaged workers in the informal sector, including the youth.

Director Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla of the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns said the Comelec granted the request of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III for the exemption of five DOLE programs from the activities prohibited during the election period.

She said that aside from the popular “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvan-

taged/Displaced Workers” program, four other DOLE programs were exempted by the poll body.

“We have applied for the said exemption on January 18, 2022, and was issued an approval on February 10, 2022, signed and approved by Comelec Acting Chairperson Socorro Inting. With this exemption, we will continue to implement the flagship programs of the department, especially our TUPAD even this election period,” Trayvilla said.

Trayvilla said that aside from TUPAD, the exempted DOLE programs enumerated in the Comelec resolution are the Government Internship Program (GIP); JobStart Philippines Program (JSP); Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES);

and the DOLE Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP).

The resolution noted that Bello has highlighted the said DOLE programs to be exempted from the ban as they are demanddriven and have continuously served the marginalized, vulnerable, and under-privileged beneficiaries/ workers for decades.

It also specified the approval of the targeted number of beneficiaries for each DOLE program such as the hiring of a total of 18,888 young workers for the GIP; 1,000 youth beneficiaries for the JSP; 75,758 for SPES; 29,613 poor, vulnerable, and marginalized workers for the DILP; 585,074 up to 4,736,681 displaced, u deremployed and seasonal workers for its TUPAD, DILP.

News

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022 E-mail: mst.daydesk@gmail.com

47 ex-Arroyo execs endorse Leni Robredo NEARLY 50 government officials under former President Gloria MacapagalArroyo are endorsing Vice President Leni Robredo for president in the May 9 elections – in stark contrast to the former Chief Executive who is backing the candidacy of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The 47 officials during the Arroyo administration issued a joint statement on Wednesday, saying: “We vote Leni Robredo for President. She leads the Philippines through the pandemic and other fronts. With her, we stay safe, restore our economy and social fabric, and keep our Republic whole and secure.”

This developed as Robredo is set to visit vote-rich Cebu province again on Thursday and to unveil a jobs plan to SEA OF PINK. Vice President Leni Robredo is surrounded by indigenous people, youth, women, and religious sectors of Maramag, Bukidnon, and surrounding towns on Wednesday. The presidential candidate was welcomed by Maramag Mayor Jose Joel Doromal, present to the voters.

Following a two-day visit to North- Vice Mayor Maribeth Lopez, and members of the Maramag Municipal Council who gave her a tour of the Maramag Municipal Hall. VP ern Mindanao, Robredo will meet with Leni Media Bureau Cebuano volunteers and supporters, religious groups, and members from various sectors, as well as attend people’s rallies, to thank her supporters and outline her plans if elected President.

This latest endorsement for the Vice President adds to the growing list of pronouncements of support for her presidential bid in the May 9 elections.

Previously, 23 Cabinet secretaries and senior officials under former President Fidel V. Ramos backed Robredo’s presidential run, expressing grave concern over the “proliferation of misinfor“When you do a convenience sam- not very sound,” Guido said.

ILIPINOS should mation, dubious promises and outright These statements came after faculty pling, which I think is what a kalye surfalsehoods” emerging ahead of the polls. be more discerning vey is, if you go along the street and you members of the University of the PhilipRobredo also got the endorsement of of election survey ask people what they feel, that’s not a pines’ School of Statistics earlier urged nearly 100 former Cabinet members, serandom sampling. People who would the public to be cautious of online opinnior officials, Armed Forces of the Philresults, especially the soanswer are people who would basical- ion polls made with what it called “unippines (AFP) chiefs, and top diplomats called “kalye surveys”, ly be willing to share their opinions,” clear methodologies.” who served under former President BeHolmes said in a virtual forum.

OCTA Research and Pulse Asia both nigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. in the run-up to the May “She is rock-steady for military “You cannot reflect that as an opinion said they have been open with how they 9 national elections, might, human security, and peace talks. of other people who basically were ran- conducted surveys and called on FilipiShe guards our Exclusive Economic survey firm Pulse Asia domly selected.” nos to scrutinize the organizations that Zone with constant vigilance and OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David, carried out a particular survey, especialand analytics group OCTA honorable diplomacy. As President, who was also at the forum, said “kalye” sur- ly their background.

Chief Diplomat, and Commander-inResearch said in separate vey results could be problematic without the Holmes lamented that such surveys Chief, Leni Robredo stands in front statements Wednesday. proper use of statistical and mathematical have already been reported in the media of our great battles, here and beyond These people-on-the-street surveys can- methods in conducting them. without any details on how the survey our shores. Vote Leni Robredo. Let the not be counted as representative of all Filipi“We can’t put a high level of reliance was carried out and what their sampling Philippines lead,” the Arroyo adminisnos, Pulse Asia President Ron Holmes said. on these results if the methodologies are methods were. tration executives said.

See past ‘kalye surveys,’ Pulse Asia, OCTA tell PH F

IN BRIEF

Tito ready for VP rivals in CNN debate on Sat.

VICE-PRESIDENTIAL candidate Senate President Vicente Sotto III is more than prepared to face his rivals in upcoming debates.

He said it will give him a better chance to lay out his plans alongside running mate Sen. Panfilo Lacson to uplift the lives of the Filipinos.

This coming Saturday, CNN Philippines will host a vice presidential debate with seven candidates confirming their attendance -- Sotto, former Rep. Walden Bello, Manny SD Lopez, Rizalito David, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Carlos Serapio, and Dr. Willie Ong. Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio and Rep. Lito Atienza will not attend the event.

On Sunday, the same network will host a presidential debate with nine of the 10 candidates expressing their willingness to participate. They are Lacson, Leody de Guzman, Ernesto Abella, Jose Montemayor Jr., Norberto Gonzales, Sen. Emmanuel Pacquiao, Faisal Mangondato, Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, and Vice President Leni Robredo.

Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is the only presidential candidate to skip the debate citing conflict of schedule. Macon Ramos-Araneta

15k Davao kids benefit from Sara scholarship

LAKAS CMD vice-presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has said a total of 14,940 students have received scholarship assistance under the “Tulong Dunong Program,” a joint project of the City Government of Davao and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

“This was in hope that their lives will improve,” Duterte said in a statement.

The P300-million project is solely funded by the City Government of Davao, with the beneficiaries given P7,500 per semester for four academic years, as long as they will not get a failing mark in any subject.

Norman Baloro, focal person of the Tulong Dunong Program, said it was initially a component from the “High Priority Bus System Project” of the city as a social intervention for PUJ drivers and operators to aid their children in going to school.

“But when we did a profiling of our PUJ drivers and operators, only some of them had children in college,” he added.

The Tulong Dunong Program, said Baloro, was then extended to all interested Dabawenyo students in tertiary education to “maximize and utilize the provided budget,” including children of solo parents, OFWs, sidewalk vendors and other indigent and deserving students. Maricel V. Cruz

BACK TO FRONT. Partido Reporma standard-bearer Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson (seated right) and running mate Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III (left) listen to senatorial candidate Dr. Minguita Padilla deliver her message to a socially-distanced crowd at a gym in Batangas City on Wednesday. Earlier, the team paid a courtesy call on Batangas City Mayor Beverly Dimacuha and Rep. Marvey Mariño and visited the towns of Rosario, San Juan, and Padre Garcia. Partido Reporma Media Bureau

Isko eyes regional Senate, 2-party system among reforms

By Rey E. Requejo PRESIDENTIAL candidate Isko Moreno Domagoso on Wednesday declared that he will push for charter change to institute political reforms that will pave way for a regionally-elected Senate and the shift to a two-party political system to bring about unity and equality and political stability through a more inclusive government.

“If we really want unity, we can show that Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon are equal, the senators should be voted in their region. Two per region, so that’s 34 senators,” Moreno told reporters before embarking on

a motorcade around Marikina City.

“To at least reassure the people of Samar, Leyte, or Iloilo, Batanes, Tawi-Tawi, that they have a senator who is their neighbor, knows their culture, traditions, and customs or their heritage, who will fight for government resources for their regions and respective areas,” the 47-yearold standard-bearer of Aksyon Demokratiko said.

In particular, Moreno seeks amendment of the 1987 Constitution to make way for a bigger Senate with two senators being elected in each of the country’s 17 regions for a total of 34 senators from the current

24 elected nationwide.

Moreno said it is his dream and aspiration to give candidates like Aksyon’s Samira Gutoc, and other well-meaning individuals, including indigenous peoples (IPs), a fighting chance to become senator and give their respective regions and culture equal representation and opportunity in the Senate.

“Because I want to see senator Igorot, because he was elected in his region. I want to see a Moro senator, a Lumad, or other compatriots in their respective areas, wherein, they will have a specific, geographical constituency,” Moreno stressed.

Rules for vote areas for PWDs, seniors, ‘heavily preggy’ issued THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has released its general instructions for the voting process of persons with disability, senior citizens, and those heavily pregnant for the May 9 national elections.

Comelec Resolution 10761 states that Emergency Accessible Polling Places (EAPPs) will be established in voting centers and select places for the PWDs, senior citizens, and heavilypregnant voters.

EAPP refers to a room or makeshift/ temporary polling place established on the first floor or at the ground level of a voting center or outside of it but in close proximity of it, where a PWD, senior citizen and heavily pregnant voters may vote on Election Day. Voting in EAPPs shall be from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., while voting in satellite EAPPs shall be from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“The Commission shall ensure that the voting procedures in the EAPP, including the facilities and materials therein are appropriate, accessible and easy to understand and use, and that reasonable accommodation shall be granted to persons with disabilities, senior citizens and heavily pregnant voters in order that they may fully exercise their right to suffrage,” it said.

The poll body said one EAPP must be established in areas with one to seven barangays, two for those eight to 14 barangays, and three for those 15 and above barangays.

“All EAPPs must have an ample space capable of accommodating at least 10 PWD, SC, and/or heavily pregnant voters, including wheelchair-users and assistants, at any given time.”

Accessibility is important in EAPPs as they should have ramps, large print signages, and directional signs at the entrance of the voting center leading to the EAPP, accessible washroom, and Filipino Sign Language Interpreter, as far as practicable, the Comelec added.

The poll body said a PWD, senior citizen or heavily-pregnant could vote in the EAPP or polling precinct where his/her precinct is assigned.

No mudslinging from us, Lacson, Sotto promise STRESSING they have never launched personal attacks against any national candidate, Partido Reporma presidential bet Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said they will stick to their issues-based campaign and refrain from mudslinging even after the votes are cast in the May 9 national elections.

The Lacson-Sotto tandem promised this Wednesday after a campaign sortie in Batangas, following reactions from critics, who said the longtime public servants were using other candidates to prop themselves up to the electorate, particularly their constant line of going after “thieves” and stopping corruption in government.

Also, Lacson and Sotto reminded Filipinos there was nothing to feel nostalgic about the Philippines under Martial Law and a tyrannical rule when cronyism and persecution trended at the expense of genuine public services.

Walking reporters down memory lane during a recent “Meet the Press” forum, the presidential duo said anyone who was already alive when Filipinos staged a bloodless uprising to end the Marcos dictatorship must never forget the crucial events that led to it. “‘Pag sinabi kong galit kami sa magnanakaw, galit kami sa magnanakaw.

Wala kaming sinasabing galit kami kung kanino. Walang tao. Kung may tinamaan, hindi namin kasalanan ni Senate President ‘yon, Lacson told Batanguenos in Batangas City.

[When I say we despise thieves, we despise thieves. We are not saying we are mad at someone. No person (was mentioned). If someone got hit by that, it’s not my fault or the Senate President’s.] Macon Ramos-Araneta

Pacman wants world-class Pateros ‘balut’ PROMDI presidential candidate Sen. Manny Pacquiao said he wants Pateros to be a world-class exporter of ‘balut’ and salted egg as he aired his support for this small local government unit.

Should he become President, Pacquiao guaranteed no town or city will be left behind in his campaign against poverty and corruption.

During his visit Tuesday to Pateros, a small southern Metro Manila town, Pacquiao said that all towns and cities, big or small, must get all the support.

He said this will ensure that all Filipinos, including those residing in small municipalities like Pateros, can have decent homes and livelihood.

In the continuation of his campaign sorties, Team Pacquiao navigated through the narrow streets of Pateros on a motorcade before conducting a forum with the fire victims of Brgy.

San Juan together with the town’s tricycle drivers and ambulant vendors.

He also visited Pateros Mayor Ike Ponce

III as a show of courtesy and respect.

In the forum, Pacquiao said he would “discipline” all government officials, and those who would not toe the line in his war against corruption will be arrested and jailed.

Pacquiao said the only way for Filipinos to trust and respect their leaders is for them to see that the government is dead serious in its campaign against corrupt officials.

He also stressed the importance of having a leader who fears God and is devoted to His teachings.

Due to corruption, he said the government lost huge amounts of money.

Pacquiao said the government’s revenue became smaller and smaller while the budget grew bigger.

He lamented that the Philippines is continuously abused and plundered by corrupt government officials because the people lack discernment and are easily deceived P5K CHALLENGE. Presidential candidate Manny Pacquiao buys fresh chicken with lofty campaign promises. from a vendor at the Balintawak Public Market on Wednesday as he conducts his own Macon Ramos-Araneta ‘P5,000 Challenge’ to see how much basic goods he could get for his budget.

Opinion Population immunity

THE Department of Health recently announced that the country has overcome the Omicron crisis. With a little more than a thousand cases being reported daily, the country is back to being low risk. Metro Manila mayors already agreed on placing the region under Alert Level 1 next month. Meanwhile, neighboring countries such as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, and South Korea are still dealing with the Omicron surge.

The government’s national vaccination drive clearly helped against the worst case scenarios posed by COVID-19. Despite the surge during the holiday season, the majority of the cases were mild and manageable. Needless to say, our experience with Omicron substantiates the studies we read about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.

If our experience does not convince you enough, look at Singapore and Japan, both of which have notably high immunization rates against COVID-19.

Both posed record high infection rates during the Omicron surge but significantly fewer deaths. Singapore saw a rising number of infections yet a controlled number of critical cases in hospitals. Singaporean authorities reportedly attributed the milder cases and manageable ICU occupancy to the high vaccination rate which currently stands at 96 percent of the eligible population fully vaccinated. Japan reportedly recorded high deaths in elderly facilities and related this to the low rate of older people receiving booster shots. Hong Kong, which currently has one of the worst outbreaks in Asia, noted that almost 90 percent of the deaths recorded in their fifth wave of COVID-19 were unvaccinated patients. Reports show that authorities appeal to the public to get vaccinated.

As the Department of Health announced, we can further ease restrictions if we meet the suitable conditions for the new normal—low reproduction rate and low health care utilization rate.

At present, it seems that the country is ready for this. However, another rel-

IN EASTERN Europe, a region once ruled by Moscow with deep resentment against Russia, unverified claims and anti-Western disinformation are making surprising inroads as the regional crisis deepens.

In Slovakia, which neighbors Ukraine, disinformation about the situation has been widely shared even by some members of parliament.

Lubos Blaha from the leftist opposition Smer party, who has over 170,000 Facebook followers, posted after Putin’s speech questioning Ukraine’s existence that “I’m convinced [Putin] wants peace.”

Blaha claimed that Ukraine “provoked and threatened Russia” while “the West was hectoring it.”

He added that the country is “controlled by oligarchic clans, neonazism and russophobia are on the rise, and corruption is in full bloom.”

‘Czech Elves’ Slovakia seems to have been particularly susceptible to pro-Kremlin disinformation.

The country of 5.5 million, which shares a 97-kilometer (60-mile) border with Ukraine, signed a defense pact with the United States this month, allowing US troops to operate on its territory.

That agreement provoked fierce opposition from the government’s political rivals as well as a sizable part of Slovakia’s population and became a favorite target of disinformation and propaganda.

As a result, anti-US, anti-NATO and even anti-EU sentiments are on the rise in Slovakia.

An opinion poll last month by the Slovak Focus agency found that 44 percent of respondents believed the US and NATO were responsible for the es-

evant factor we need to consider is the vaccination rate.

As presented in this week’s Talk to the Nation, the national vaccination rate as of February 21 is only at 69 percent of the target 90 million Filipinos, while there are an estimated 2.4 to 3 million senior citizens who have yet to receive the vaccine. Pediatric vaccination, on the other hand, is ongoing.

Get vaccinated.

Please.

We can surmise that vaccine hesitancy remains, especially among the elderly. The national government intends to conduct house-to-house and mobile vaccination for greater access to people.

While we hope for the success of these two proposals, I reiterate my call to the Department of Health to conduct discussions on vaccine hesitancy and vaccine efficacy at the grassroots or barangay level. Having doctors and other medical professionals who can answer questions directly on site can help address doubts and assure the unvaccinated public.

We should also take into account that comorbidities may add to their unwillingness. Perhaps, the doctors can also provide medical advice to those who are reluctant to get vaccinated.

I also urge the government to equitably distribute vaccines, especially in regions where both cases and vaccinations are low. Let us not forget that cases are low partly because of the increasing vaccination in the country. Should another surge occur, these regions are at most risk for another lockdown or, worse, high mortality.

Along with many others, I am hopeful that the new normal would be just a stone’s throw away. While cases are continuously declining, I urge the unvaccinated public not to get complacent.

If we are to overcome this pandemic, it is important that everyone takes part in protecting everyone else, not only through practicing minimum health protocols but also by getting vaccinated.

You do not only protect yourself but also the people around you. At the risk of being repetitive, I strongly and tirelessly urge the public to get fully vaccinated and, if eligible, get booster shots.

Only then can we confidently say that the pandemic will soon end.

calating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, while only 35 percent held Russia responsible.

The anti-NATO narrative is particularly significant as one of Russia’s demands has been for the withdrawal of additional NATO forces sent to the region in the wake of Moscow’s annexation of Crimea.

“Already in January, there was a massive increase in disinformation aimed at justifying Russia’s aggression against Ukraine,” said Bohumil Kartous, a spokesman for the Czech Elves, a network of several hundred online vigilantes.

“This topic now far outweighs any other, including Covid,” said Kartous, whose group publishes monthly reports about fake news being shared in the Czech Republic and the wider region.

False posts seek to paint Ukraine as a “corrupt failed state” governed by “fascists” and practicing “genocide on its Russian-speaking population”, the Elves wrote in one of their reports on the conflict.

Roman Maca, an analyst at Praguebased think tank Institute for Politics and Society said there had been “a huge uptick” in disinformation in the region.

Maca said it was “interesting to see how many people and groups which have in the past two years fought against Covid measures now jump on the pro-Russian propaganda and start spreading this type of misinformation”.

‘Creates a sense of insecurity’ In the weeks leading up to Putin’s decision to authorize Russian troops to enter eastern Ukraine, various videos circulated online in the region, supposedly showing Ukrainian troops getting ready for invasion or entering Russian territory.

AFP Fact Check found that many of these videos showed unrelated military drills filmed years earlier. Some of the footage came from 2014 when Russia an-

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EDITORIAL

Disinformation on Ukraine resonating in eastern Europe

By Ladka Mortkowitz

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

L

Legal but wrong EGALITY isn’t always the point, particularly when we expect our leaders to lead by example.

It may be legal for the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ask that he be picked up by an official police helicopter from an exclusive island resort where he spent some “private time” over the weekend, but is this really the best use of government resources?

This is the question that begs to be answered, after the official police chopper sent to pick PNP chief Dionardo Carlos up from Balesin Island, an exclusive, members-only beach resort in Quezon province, crashed Monday morning, killing a patrolman and injuring the pilot and the co-pilot.

In a statement released to reporters on Tuesday, Carlos said he followed police procedures in requesting the chopper, and did so because his private ride off the luxury island would be delayed.

“Over the weekend, I attended the PMA (Philippine Military Academy) Alumni Homecoming at PMA, Baguio City and returned to Crame, QC Saturday afternoon,” Carlos said.

Leaders should lead by example.

“The following day, Sunday afternoon I traveled to Balesin island for private time and scheduled to return Monday morning via private transport. However, I was informed that due to unforeseen circumstances, said private transport would only be available in the evening of Monday,” the PNP chief added.

“This prompted me to request for an admin flight to transfer/move me back to Camp Crame Monday morning so I can perform my duties. The flight directive was allowed and issued following PNP rules and regulations.”

Carlos said he regrets the accident and the death of patrolman Allen Noel Ona, and assured the public that a thorough investigation of the incident is underway.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a separate statement that Carlos’s supposed trip was legal even if it was for a personal function.

“He’s the CPNP (chief PNP) and as the CPNP attending official functions, it is just rightful for him to use the PNP chopper,” Año said.

“You cannot separate private time from an official time. As CPNP, it’s included in his privileges as head of the organization,” he added in Filipino.

But Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief running for president, made a distinction between official and personal functions, saying that using government resources for the latter would be problematic.

Moreover, from a policy standpoint, just because something is the established practice does not make it right.

By his own admission, Carlos asked to be fetched from a personal activity, so the only “official function” would be his return to police headquarters by Monday morning instead of in the evening. Was that worth the use of government resources—and the tragedy that followed?

In these digitally enabled times when so much can be done remotely, we think not.

Scrap Oplan Baklas AS WE all know, the Comelec is the guardian of the integrity of our elections. It is the primary government agency tasked by the Constitution to ensure fair, honest and peaceful elections. Every time we have elections, the Comelec basically becomes the most powerful government agency because in a way, it takes over the reins of government. Since we are having elections every three years, one can appreciate the kind of power the Comelec wields.

Public work projects, for instance, must secure Comelec exemption if a certain project can proceed during the election period or not. Rotation or assignment of key government personnel must also be cleared by the Comelec. The best demonstration of this power is the matter of posting election campaign materials.

All political parties and candidates are required to post their campaign materials in common areas. All the sizes of these posters are prescribed and if this is not followed, these posters are removed and confiscated in what we all know as Oplan Baklas by roving inspectors from the Comelec and local government representatives who sometimes are not given the same instructions. Even posters inside private properties are not spared by the overzealous inspectors of the poll body.

This is the reason why the camp of VP Leni Robredo is complaining. The Comelec splashed a white paint over a mural of the Vice President and her running mate inside a private property. One wonders whether that was absolutely necessary. The rationale of the Comelec as the agency’s spokesperson said is to level the playing field when it comes to propaganda by the candidates.

nexed Crimea, while another video was a 2018 fake masquerading as a BBC report.

‘Ukraine attacked Russia!’ screamed some Serbian tabloids.

Some of the fakes “portray NATO as the one being responsible for the current situation, while Russia is supposedly just resisting long-standing efforts to threaten its security,” Kartous said.

“This resonates with a certain segment of the population,” he said, referring to the Czech Republic, which has sent ammunition to help Ukraine.

“For some, it builds on similar earlier claims and cements their conviction.

For others, it creates a sense of insecu-

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

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

Sometimes, the Comelec has that remarkable knack of shooting itself in the foot.

But is this way to level the playing field? It may appear to be so at first glance but after careful analysis, the effort is actually impractical and misplaced. If I remember correctly, the practice of having a common area for election posters was to reduce election clutter which were difficult to clean after every election. This is especially true with the pasting of old paper campaign materials in public places which were difficult to clean and can remain an eye sore for years. But most election campaign posters nowadays are easy to clean being disposable like tarpaulins that are mostly used. Most of the common areas for posters are not also big enough to accommodate all the signages of national and local candidates.

Besides, these posters in common areas are only good for pedestrians and almost useless to motorists because of the difficulty of reading the posters in moving vehicles.

All the press releases of the Comelec showing roving inspectors destroying and confiscating tarpaulin campaign posters are unnecessary and should be stopped altogether. Furthermore, limiting the display of campaign materials can be argued as denial to free speech.

In addition, election posters make our democratic elections lovelier and cleaning the clutter is a small price to pay for the exercise. Instead, the Comelec should direct its efforts to more mean-

rity which in turn creates resistance to the (Czech) government’s efforts to help Ukraine defend itself,” he said.

In parts of the region that have traditionally been more pro-Russian, Moscow’s narrative of Ukrainian aggression is already well-cemented.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told TV Pink this week that 85 percent of his countrymen will “always side with Russia whatever may happen.”

Serbian tabloids this week repeated an unverified claim that Russian forces had destroyed two Ukrainian armored vehicles that entered Russia.

“Ukraine attacked Russia!” screamed the front pages of Serbian tabloids on Tuesday, hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he would recognise two separatist regions in Ukraine and order troops to be sent in. AFP

ingful activities that will ensure fair and honest elections. For instance, why is the Comelec not targeting and policing social media where most of the public is getting their political news according to a recent survey? There are plenty of false and questionable releases that we read on social media that are not being deleted. Another is the proliferation of poll surveys trying to condition the minds of the voters. And shouldn’t the Comelec stop the publication of these poll surveys 45 days before the elections, to be fair to everyone? Another area is whether the Comelec is technically competent to ensure that there will be no interference in the electronic transmission of the votes.

Although the public has been informed that the operating program for the elections is now under the custody of the Banco Sentral ng Pilipinas, what really matters most is the forensic ability of the Comelec to monitor, detect and prevent if there is electronic interference.

Another area where the poll body should focus its attention is seeing to it that its decisions are absolutely beyond reproach. It must bear in mind that the public is not stupid. Waiting too long before releasing a decision is not helpful for the reputation of the poll body.

The disqualification case of BBM for example should have been handled decisively with the decision being released at the earliest possible time. It was the wait that made people wonder what was causing the delay.

It does not also help to install red and green lights which are the colors of a presidential team at the entrance of the Comelec’s main office.

Sometimes, the Comelec has that remarkable knack of shooting itself in the foot and achieving the very opposite of what it wants to accomplish.

MORE OPINION ONLINE (www.manilastandard.net)

Sowing disunity

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

World

Standard THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

B2

TODAY mst.daydesk@gmail.com

UKRAINE CONFLICT THREATENS ‘THE PEACE OF ALL’

Pope: ‘Increasingly alarming’ scenarios P ope Francis said Wednesday that “increasingly alarming scenarios” were emerging in Ukraine that were threatening “the peace of all” amid fears of a Russian invasion.

“Despite the diplomatic efforts of these past weeks, increasingly alarming scenarios are emerging,” the pontiff said at the end of his weekly general audience.

“I ask all of the parties involved to abstain from any action that could cause still more suffering for the population,” he said.

Francis also said that next Wednesday, which is Ash Wednesday in the Christian calendar and the beginning of the period of Lent, would be a “day of fasting and of prayer for peace.”

“So that the reign of peace can preserve the world against the madness of

war,” he said.

The pope has already called for peace in Ukraine.

But the latest comments are his strongest yet and come two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered “peacekeepers” to move into two breakaway Ukrainian regions now recognized by Moscow as independent.

The move has further raised fear Russia could move into other parts of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, in eastern Europe, a region once ruled by Moscow with deep resentment against Russia, unverified

Pope Francis

claims and anti-Western disinformation gional crisis deepens. are making surprising inroads as the reIn Slovakia, which

neighbors

UN: World must brace for more extreme, devastating wildfires THE number of major wildfires worldwide will rise sharply in coming decades due to global warming, and governments are ill-prepared for the death and destruction such mega-blazes trail in their wake, the UN warned Wednesday.

Even the most ambitious efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions will not prevent a dramatic surge in the frequency of extreme fire conditions, a report commissioned by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) concluded.

“By the end of the century, the probability of wildfire events similar to Australia’s 2019–2020 Black Summer or the huge Arctic fires in 2020 occurring in a given year is likely to increase by 31–57 percent,” it said.

The heating of the planet is turning landscapes into tinderboxes, and more extreme weather means stronger, hotter and drier winds to fan the flames.

Such wildfires are burning where they have always occurred, and are flaring up in unexpected places such as drying peatManila

LEGAL NOTICE Standard

TODAY

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ABDUHADI S. MUALLAM was extrajudicially settled among his heirs on February 8, 2022, as per Doc. No. 321, Page No. 66, Book No. XIII, Series of 2022, before Notary Public Atty. Romeo M. Corporal.

last 13 December 2006, has been lost as per Affidavit of Loss, Doc. No. 481; Page No. 97; Book No. I; Series of 2022, before Notary Public Atty. Ma. Cleofe L. Jaime of Pasay City

(MS-FEB. 24, 2022)

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC Be it known that below project-based employee has finished his contract

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This advertisement is to adhere to POEA requirement only.

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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 221, QUEZON CITY IN RE: PETITION FOR THE CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF “JOVEL DAMES DAWATON BONNIT” TO BE AMENDED(CORRECTED AS “BRYAN JAMES BONNIT BAGSAO” IN THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY OF QUEZON CITY WITH REGISTRY NO. 99-42118; AND FOR THE CORRECTION OF THE NAME OF THE FATHER FROM “NA” TO “JOSEPH AGSIB BAGSAO” SPEC. PROC. NO. 10382-SP

R-QZN-21-

BRYAN JAMES BONNIT BAGSAO, Petitioner, -versusEVELYN DAWATON BONNIT, JOSEPH AGSIB BAGSAO, EDEN JACINTO BAGSAO, THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF QUEZON CITY, AND ALL OTHER PERSONS WHO HAVE CLAIM OR INTEREST, Respondents. x---------------------------------------------x

ORDER A verified Petition was filed before this Court on December 2, 2021 by petitioner, BRYAN JAMES BONNIT BAGSAO, praying that after due notice, publication and hearing, judgment be rendered to allow the correction of name from JOVEL DAMES DAWATON BONNIT to BRYAN JAMES BONNIT BAGSAO and to order the Local Civil Registrar the correction thereof in the Certificate of Live Birth with Registry No. 9942118, and to correct the portion for the name of the petitioner’s father from “NA” to “JOSEPH AGSIB BAGSAO”.

Finding the verified Petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the Court gives due course thereto.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Israel missiles hit Syria town on Golan Heights truce line

(MS-FEB. 10, 17 & 24, 2022)

No

FLARE UP. A firefighter controls the burned field to fight the wildfires of a native forest at Paraje Uguay in Argentina on February 22, 2022.

Almost 800,000 hectares have been consumed by wildfires that have destroyed more than nine percent of Corrientes province. AFP

lands and thawing permafrost.

“Fires are not good things,” said coauthor Peter, an expert in forest fire management at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

“The impacts on people – socially, health-wise, psychologically – are phenomenal and long-term,” he told journalists in a briefing.

Large wildfires, which can rage uncontrolled for days or weeks, cause respiratory and heart problems, especially for the elderly and very young.

A recent study in The Lancet concluded that exposure to wildfire smoke results, on average, in more than 30,000 deaths each year across 43 nations for which data was available.

Economic damages in the United States – one of the few countries to calculate such costs – have varied between $71 billion to $348 billion in recent years, according to an assessment cited in the report. AFP

ISRAEL bombarded a Syrian town near the armistice line on the Golan Heights with surface-to-surface missiles early Wednesday, state media reported, without any immediate mention of casualties.

It is the third time this month that Israel has hit targets inside Syria as it keeps up a bombing campaign against pro-Iranian forces supporting the Damascus government in Syria’s more than NOTICE OF LOSS decade-old civil war.

Notice is hereby given that the original BOI “The Israeli enemy Certificate of Registration No 2006-158 in the carried out a strike name of Carmen Copper Corporation, issued

general circulation in the Philippines once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks at petitioner’s expense, upon coordination with the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Quezon City.

Hearing on the verified Petition, is hereby set on July 18, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. before this Court at Room 608, 6/F, Hall of Justice-Annex, City Hall Complex, Quezon City, at which date, time and place all interested persons are required to appear and show cause why the petition should not be granted.

Let copies of this Order be posted by the Branch Sheriff thirty (30) days before the hearing date at the following places at the expense of the petitioner: 1. At the main entrance of the City Hall Building, Quezon City; 2. On the bulletin board of the Court, Hall of Justice Bldg., Quezon City; and, 3. At the Barangay Hall of the barangay where the petitioner resides.

Likewise, let a copy of this Order be furnished the Local Civil Registar of Quezon City, the Office of the Solicitor General, Makati City; the Office of the City Prosecutor, Quezon City; the Civil Registrar General, and the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Further, petitioner through counsel is ordered to furnish respondents Evelyn Dawaton Bonnit, Joseph Agsib Bagsao, Eden Jacinto Bagsao, a copy of this Order with the Petition and its annexes thereto at their given address, and to show proof of compliance hereof before the hearing date.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, December 16, 2021.

(Sgd.) JOCELYN A. SOLIS-REYES Presiding Judge

WHEREFORE, let a copy of this Order be published in a newspaper of (MStandard-Feb. 17, 24 & Mar. 3, 2022)

with several ground-to-ground missiles” fired from the Israeli-occupied sector of the Golan Heights at around 12:30 a.m. (2230 GMT Tuesday) against the town of Quneitra in the UN-monitored buffer zone, the official SANA news agency said, citing a military source.

It said the strike had caused material damage but gave no other details.

Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there had been several explosions in Quneitra “following Israeli strikes on military posts” near the armistice line.

Since civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes, targeting government positions as well as Iranbacked forces and fighters of the Shiite militant movement Hezbollah.

Israel rarely comments on individual strikes but it has vowed repeatedly to prevent its arch foe Iran from extending a footprint in Syria.

On February 17, Israeli artillery in the occupied Golan shelled the town of Zakiya, south of Damascus. On February 9, Israeli warplanes and artillery hit Syrian anti-aircraft batteries in response to a missile fired into Israel. AFP

Husband arrested in case of chained woman in China CHINESE authorities said on Wednesday they had arrested a man accused of keeping his wife chained in a shack and punished at least 17 local officials over a case that has sparked viral outrage.

The incident triggered intense debate on mental health and human trafficking in January after a blogger’s video showed her with a chain and padlock around her neck in freezing weather in Jiangsu province.

Provincial authorities said the woman was found to have schizophrenia and had been sold several times, including once in 1998 for 5,000 yuan ($790), after being taken from her village in southwestern Yunnan province.

Officials said “special actions to comprehensively and thoroughly investigate and rectify the violation of rights” were being taken.

They added that the woman – known as “Xiaohuamei”, which means “little plum blossom” and is likely a nickname – is a mother of eight children and is receiving hospital treatment.

Officials in the area where she was found had initially denied allegations of any abduction and trafficking but higher-level investigations were launched after a public outcry.

Xiaohuamei is said to have disappeared after living for a few months with a man in Jiangsu who had bought her, and was soon taken in by a couple who operated a hotel, the probe found. AFP

Ukraine, disinformation about the situation has been widely shared even by some members of parliament.

Lubos Blaha from the leftist opposition Smer party, who has over 170,000 Facebook followers, posted after Putin’s speech questioning Ukraine’s existence that “I’m convinced [Putin] wants peace.”

Blaha claimed that Ukraine “provoked and threatened Russia” while “the West was hectoring it.”

He added that the country is “controlled by oligarchic clans, neonazism and russophobia are on the rise, and corruption is in full bloom.”

In the weeks leading up to Putin’s decision to authorize Russian troops to enter eastern Ukraine, various videos circulated online in the region, supposedly showing Ukrainian troops getting ready for invasion or entering Russian territory. AFP

PEDIATRIC TESTING. Children queue up with their families for COVID-19 tests outside a community vaccination center in Hong Kong on February 23, 2022 as the city faces its worst coronavirus wave to date. AFP

Severe drought in Horn of Africa drives 13m people to hunger crisis VAST swathes of land stretching from southern Ethiopia to northern Kenya and Somalia are in the grip of a severe drought that has left 13 million people facing hunger.

Across these regions, where people eke out a living from mainly agro-pastoral activities, the three rainy seasons since the end of 2020 have been marked by low rainfall, exacerbated by a locust invasion that devastated crops between 2019 and 2021.

“The population of the Horn makes up only four percent of the global population, but it represents 20 percent of the population that is food insecure,” Michael Dunford, World Food Program (WFP) regional director for eastern Africa, said earlier this month.

According to the UN agency, 5.7 mil-

lion people need food aid in southern and southeastern Ethiopia, including half a million malnourished children and mothers.

In eastern and northern Kenya, where the president declared a state of national disaster in September because of the drought, another 2.8 million people need assistance.

In Somalia, the number of people classified as severely hungry could rise from 4.3 million to 4.6 million by May if urgent action is not taken.

The authorities there declared a “state of humanitarian emergency” in November.

“Malnutrition has reached crisis levels,” said Victor Chinyama, a spokesman for UNICEF in Somalia. “The time to act is now.” AFP

Send vaccines to end N. Korea virus isolation —UN expert THE world should provide millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines to North Korea, where “draconian” anti-pandemic measures are worsening an already-severe food crisis, a UN human rights expert said Wednesday.

The impoverished nation has been behind a rigid self-imposed coronavirus blockade since early 2020 to protect itself from the pandemic, with the economy suffering and trade all but stopped.

The country’s “draconian” antiCOVID measures, including border closures and further limits on domestic freedom of movement, have worsened the food crisis, Tomas Ojea Quintana, UN special rapporteur on human rights, said.

Crucial domestic market activity has been cut off, and international aid workers have been forced to depart, with humanitarian operations all but halted, he said, adding that vulnerable populations were at risk of starvation.

The international community should “agree on a strategy to provide the DPRK with 60 million doses of vaccination to cover at least two shots for the entire population,” Quintana said at a press briefing in Seoul Wednesday.

Vaccinations are “the key to opening the DPRK’s border... and bringing it out of isolation,” he added, using the acronym for North Korea’s official name.

North Korea has yet to confirm a single case of the novel coronavirus.

According to the World Health Organization, North Korea had by the end of 2020 conducted 13,259 COVID-19 tests, which all came back negative.

It had been due to receive more than 1.7 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through the Covax programme last year, but rejected them due to concerns over side effects, Yonhap reported at the time.

It has also rejected offers of vaccines from allies Russia and China, local reports say. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

B4

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

Business

BIR closes 18 POGOs in Cagayan, warns other non-compliant firms T compliant POGOs. “The BIR will shut down and/or penalize erring or noncompliant POGOs,” it said.

HE Bureau of Eighteen POGO licensees of the Internal Revenue on Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Wednesday told non- including their support service providers, were temporarily closed during compliant online gaming enforcement operations by the BIR on licensees and service Feb. 11.

The BIR identified the POGO entities providers to register and as Asian BGE Limited, Fine Day Holdpay taxes or face closure ings Limited, Hana Talk Inc., NCGAC Limited, NEO Kingdom Limited, Oak just like what happened Tree Services Limited, Succeed Asia to 18 licensed Philippine Limited, Wealthy Leap and WUS Techoffshore gaming operators nologies Holdings Limited.

The support service providers of the in Cagayan province.

It said in a statement it would take POGO licensees whose operations were appropriate action against erring or non- also suspended included Alpha Fortune

By Julito G. Rada

Management Solutions Inc., Empire Group International & Management Tech Services Inc., Hi-Source Services Inc., Kui Business Services Inc., Lyndhurst Services Inc., Pacific Solutions Management, Rimrock ICT Services Inc., Succeed Asia Ventures Inc. and Top Asia Leisure and Entertainment Corp.

Following the raids, BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay said the closure of unregistered POGO entities, along with other tax enforcement activities, served as a deterrent for those who would commit tax violations.

“We urge all taxpayers to comply with the bureau’s registration requirement, filing and payment of taxes and other tax obligations in order to avoid facing

business closure, penalties and possible criminal charges before the court,” Dulay said.

The BIR said the business operations of the 18 POGO licensees and their service providers would remain suspended until the BIR’s registration requirements and other pertinent tax regulations were complied with and the corresponding deficiency taxes and penalties were paid.

About 40 POGO licensees and 168 POGO service providers are registered with the BIR. The agency said that as part of its mandate, it would conduct regular surveillance and raids of non-compliant POGOs as they cheat and deprive government of revenues for pandemic response.

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Wednesday, February 23, 2022 -76.7 PTS. 7,364.21

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP)

1,201,753,763 98,380 7,780,299,071.27

ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

86 93 67

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

51.4450

Japan

Yen

0.008690

0.4471

UK

Pound

1.359100

69.9189

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128177

6.5941

Switzerland

Franc

1.085305

55.8335

Canada

Dollar

0.783147

40.2890

Singapore

Dollar

0.743439

38.2462

Australia

Dollar

0.721900

37.1381

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652942

136.4806

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266539

13.7121

Brunei

Dollar

0.740686

38.1046

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.030898

1.5895

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

14.0078

Euro

Euro

1.132800

58.2769

LandBank-DBP merger still on the table—DOF THE merger plan for state-run Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines remains on the table, based on a statement made by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III during the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines’ general membership meeting on Tuesday.

“As regards to DBP, I think we really have to review the viability of DBP on its own. We just recently concluded the merger of UCPB and LandBank. I prioritized that over the merger with DBP because, if you analyzed it, we have a potential risk of failure for UCPB that will cost PDIC [Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp.]

P150 billion,” Dominguez said.

“So we decided we will put UCPB first in a safe place, and then moving forward,” Dominguez said.

The Duterte administration in 2016 stopped the planned merger of LandBank and DBP, which was approved

by President Benigno Aquino III through Executive Order 198.

The merger would have resulted in a bank with combined assets of P1.71 trillion based on data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as of end-2015.

Dominguez said that “we are also proposing a change in the charter of LandBank, which I don’t think can get passed in this administration.”

LandBank has a stupid charter which says only cooperatives can invest in it,” he said.

“So what we are doing is increasing the authorized capital of LandBank from P200 billion to P800 billion, increasing the paid-up capital to P200 billion, and hopefully, start listing LandBank to the stock market to the extent of about 20 percent, with no group holding more than 5 percent of LandBank. So that is the plan. That is the proposed legislation that we have done.

I hope it gets done by the next administration,” Dominguez said during the FINEX event. Julito G. Rada

IN BRIEF Vivant’s COREnergy upbeat on prospects

COREnergy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vivant Energy Corp., is bullish over its business prospects as companies adapt to Korea Won 0.000839 0.0432 the new normal, and seek out cost saving China Yuan 0.158050 8.1309 energy-related engineering solutions as well India Rupee 0.013401 0.6894 as solar rooftop projects under the open acVACCINE DELIVERY. Cebu Pacific has delivered over 50 million COVID-19 vaccine doses across the country to date, reaching Malaysia Ringgit 0.239006 12.2957 cess regime. another delivery milestone as the government ramps up vaccination for the children and the elderly and booster jabs for the New Zealand Dollar 0.673100 34.6276 The company is preparing to address the vaccinated individuals. It safely airlifted life-saving vaccines to 28 areas since March 2021, including Bacolod, Boracay, Bohol, Butuan, Taiwan Dollar 0.035901 1.8469 demands of businesses and the industry as Source: BSP Cagayan de Oro, Cauayan, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Legazpi, Kalibo, Masbate, Naga, it adapts to an environment that has been Ozamiz, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, San Jose, Siargao, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, Tawi-Tawi, Virac and Zamboanga. changed by YELLOW COVID-19, BLACK and looks for a CYAN MAGENTA partner that adds value to their operations.

Manila COREnergy president Al Douglas Villaos said the performance of licensed retail elecTODAY tricity suppliers (RES) in 2020 and 2021 indicate that business and industry are gradually adapting to the changed landscape.

16th to 22nd Floors, Fort Legend Towers 31st Street corner 3rd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City 1634 “COREnergy onboarded several new RES accounts, delivered cost saving energy-related Statement of Condition engineering solutions to key customers, and (Head Office and Branches) despite significant supply chain and logistics two additional onshore storage tanks will be As of December 31, 2021

By Alena Mae S. Flores issues, commissioned a few solar rooftop projAMOUNTS integrated by the end of the second phase in ects in multiple areas,” Villaos said.

ATLANTIC, Gulf & Pacific International ASSETS CURRENT QUARTER PREVIOUS QUARTER 2024.

He said COREnergy’s performance in the Holdings said Wednesday it signed a longThe PHLNG will have a scalable onshore Cash and Cash Items 598,248,744.12 554,807,663.50 past two years amid COVID signaled that Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) 4,723,217,440.82 6,788,315,994.80 term charter agreement with ADNOC Logis- re-gasification capacity of 504 million stanmany business owners have realized the Due from Other Banks 1,192,416,156.49 862,043,365.68 Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss 699,595,874.01 502,281,248.26 tics and Services over the supply of liquefied dard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) and 257,000 importance of having flexible, reliable and Available-for-Sale Financial Assets-Net 5,435,868,345.14 5,879,880,979.92 cost-effective electricity.

Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets-Net 6,630,902,784.75 5,596,716,779.12 natural gas to AG&P’s import terminal in cubic meter of storage that will ensure the Loans and Receivables - Net 31,021,221,814.08 33,197,618,686.88 Alena Mae S. Flores Interbank Loans Receivable 1,833,414,050.00 2,254,200,000.00 Batangas Bay.

Standard

AG&P, Abu Dhabi oil company sign charter agreement for LNG transport

Loans and Receivables - Others Loans and Receivables Arising from RA/CA/PR/SLB General Loan Loss Provision Other Financial Assets Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture and Equipment-Net Real and Other Properties Acquired-Net Other Assets-Net

29,006,559,992.69 647,553,986.00 466,306,214.61 453,338,116.92 994,256,231.88 91,324,118.36 955,753,065.50

30,226,199,591.47 1,127,462,734.00 410,243,638.59 464,006,991.71 993,761,811.98 94,062,583.32 1,316,158,564.23

TOTAL ASSETS

52,796,142,692.07

56,249,654,669.40

Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Deposit Liabilities Bills Payable a) Interbank Loans Payable Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities

126,239,469.93 37,340,057,848.41 2,039,960,000.19 2,039,960,000.19 129,295,439.80 2,639,488,983.80

250,859,936.28 39,486,018,792.82 2,343,876,831.07 2,343,876,831.07 460,939,766.03 3,012,035,178.44

TOTAL LIABILITIES

42,275,041,742.13

45,553,730,504.64

5,505,833,769.57 (290,452,043.35) 5,305,719,223.72

5,505,833,769.57 (115,628,828.53) 5,305,719,223.72

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

10,521,100,949.94

10,695,924,164.76

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

52,796,142,692.07

56,249,654,669.40

Financial Standby Letters of Credit Performance Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Commitments Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Trust Department Accounts a) Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts b) Agency Accounts Derivatives Others

1,161,373,251.26 196,642,664.76 1,329,141,938.32 618,191,800.00 917,982,000.00 1,470,062,657.94 581,848,423.62 888,214,234.32 11,191,608,650.00 38,161,970.67

1,326,632,394.92 198,045,760.71 1,127,882,918.61 363,200,000.00 5,614,165,311.67 1,590,785,758.02 614,555,045.51 976,230,712.51 14,466,058,719.99 1,885,301,447.91

TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

16,923,164,932.95

26,572,072,311.83

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Gross Total Loan Portfolio (TLP) 32,434,393,222.41 Specific Allowance for credit losses on the TLP 946,865,193.72 Non-performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs 852,963,233.37 b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) 2.63% c. Net NPLs 339,473,953.85 d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) 1.05% e. Ratio of total allowance for credit losses to gross NPL (%) 165.68% f. Ratio of specific allowance for credit losses on the gross TLP to gross NPL (%) 111.01% Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross of allowance for credit losses 4,368,681,150.34 DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses 17,515,342.22 Ratio of DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to TLP (%) 0.05% Gross Non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables 0.00 Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivable to TLP (%) 0.00% Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Micro and Small Enterprises 2.43% b. 2% for Medium Enterprises 2.21% Return on Equity (ROE) (%) 0.19% Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis a. Total CAR (%) 26.92% b. TIER 1 Ratio (%) 26.06% c. CET 1 (%) 26.06% Deferred Charges not yet Written Down 0.00 Unbooked Allowance for Credit Losses on Financial Instruments Received 0.00 Basel III leverage Ratio (BLR) on Solo Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations i. Capital Measure - Tier 1 9,937,588,889.68 ii. Exposure Measure 54,535,287,625.69 iii. Total BLR (%) 18.22% Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) on Single Currency Basis, as prescribed under regulations i. Total High-Quality Liquid Assets (HQLA) 18,145,905,593.36 ii. Total Net Cash outflows 13,646,220,393.40 iii. Total LCR (%) 132.97%

34,458,348,267.03 850,485,941.56

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) expects to complete the NLEX Connector Road by the end of the year “We are delighted to see the progress of this vital infrastructure which is included in the government’s ‘Build! Build! Build!’ infrastructure program. Right now, we have accomplished 87 percent right-of-way acquisition for the entire project,” said DPWH Senior Undersecretary Rafael Yabut.

“The DPWH team is committed to turn over

by June 2022 the remaining right-of-way so we can complete this road by yearend,” he added.

A public-private partnership project between the DPWH and Metro Pacific group’s NLEX Corp., the elevated expressway aims to serve as a long-term solution to the worsening traffic congestion in Metro Manila especially major thoroughfares such as EDSA and C5—benefitting thousands of motorists and commuters.

The NLEX Connector, which is part of the Luzon Spine Expressway Network, will be operating above the Philippine National Railway lines. The PNR right-of-way is being shared by the NLEX Connector and the North South

LIABILITIES

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings

CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

691,510,540.31 2.01% 288,696,585.78 0.84% 182.32% 122.99% 4,172,783,304.77 17,281,043.97 0.05% 0.00 0.00% 2.32% 1.34% 1.81% 25.63% 24.78% 24.78% 0.00 0.00 10,161,387,609.13 58,738,150,626.29 17.30% 19,589,168,834.26 10,421,051,962.04 187.98%

I/ We hereby certify that all matters set forth in this Published Balance Sheet are true and correct, to the best of my knowledge and belief.

(Sgd.) ANDREW A. FALCON Chief Finance Officer (Signature Over Printed Name)

(Sgd.) OLIVER D. JIMENO President and CEO (Signature Over Printed Name)

The agreement includes the delivery of ISH, a floating storage unit with a combined offshore and onshore terminal that will have an initial capacity of five million tons per annum in preparation for the completion of AG&P’s offshore terminal by the third quarter. ADNOC Logistics is a unit of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. of the United Arab Emirates.

The 137,512 cubic meter FSU will be located at AG&P’s new facility, and is being chartered for 11 years with an option to extend by another four years. The FSU will provide customers with supply resiliency even during storms.

AG&P is constructing the import terminal, dubbed PHLNG, for commissioning in two phases.

The first phase will be commissioned with the FSU storage in the third quarter, while the

high availability and reliability of natural gas to customers.

AG&P, a leading downstream LNG platform and infrastructure development company, said the terminal will also act as a gateway in providing breakbulk LNG supply to several islands across the country.

“PHLNG will store LNG and dispatch natural gas, providing a critical, clean transition fuel for the Philippines. We are privileged to have ADNOC Logistics and Services, a foremost global leader in LNG logistics, as our partner to transition the Philippines to cleaner fuel through AG&P’s PHLNG import terminal,” said Joseph Sigelman, chairman and chief executive officer AG&P Group.

ADNOC L&S will provide a Japan-built, Moss-type containment vessel as FSU for the project from its fleet of eight LNG ships.

DPWH: NLEX road link completed by year end Commuter Railway (NSCR), which is also under construction.

Upon its completion, the NLEX Connector will be an integrated expressway connection between the NLEX and Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3—significantly cutting travel time from NLEX to South Luzon by at least 60 percent.

Since expressways are not covered by the truck ban policy and the NLEX Connector can accommodate Class 3 vehicles or large trucks, this new route will significantly improve the mobility of truckers and accessibility of the North and South Harbor as well as international airports such as NAIA and Clark.

“Our team is working together with our government partners so we can deliver this project on schedule. We are anticipating that once this elevated expressway opens, around 35,000 motorists will further experience convenience and be spared from the traffic in congested city roads,” Nemesio Castillo, NLEX vice president for Tollway Development and Engineering, said.

Seen as a crucial infrastructure, the NLEX Connector is expected to stimulate economic development in Manila, Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas, as well as surrounding areas.

AyalaLand Logistics posts P780-m income

AYALALAND Logistics Holdings Corp.

(ALLHC) said net income in 2021 rose 11 percent to P780 million on the strong demand for industrial lots and increased leasable areas.

ALLHC, the developer and operator of industrial parks and real estate logistics facilities, said revenues also increased seven percent to P3.99 billion.

The company attributed the positive performance on the reopening of the economy which helped improve overall business activity.

“Despite the ongoing crisis, ALLHC showed commendable operations in 2021.

Our performance remained sound and we posted healthy growth, enabling us to carry on with our growth aspirations. We are optimistic that business activity will continue to improve this 2022,” said ALLHC president and chief executive Rowena Tomeldan.

The company In 2021 ventured into the cold storage marketing by acquiring two facilities. The purchases added 7,300 pallet positions into its portfolio and registered revenues of P49 million from the new segment. Jenniffer B. Austria

Kia PH sees sales surging 60% in 2022

COMING from a rebound year in 2021, Kia Philippines aims to sustain sales momentum at 6,000 units in 2022, 60 percent higher from the 2021 full year sales of 3,798 units.

Company president Manny Aligada said the brand is banking on favorite models like the Stonic, Soluto, Selto and the new Kia Carnival launched Thursday.

“We are confident that 2022 will be much better and therefore we are looking at 6,000 brand new units. 2021 was an encouraging period for us as we deliver 76 growth rate (from 2020 sales). We will continue to do great things to improve our market share to 1.7 percent (in 2022),” he said during the virtual launch of Kia Carnival.

Despite the lingering pandemic, Kia’s market share in 2021 stood at 1.3 percent, with sales already catching up to pre-pandemic levels.

The brand is also bullish to expand its presence in the Philippines with plans to bring the number of dealerships to 46 by the end of 2022 from 39 dealers.

Othel V. Campos

Sports

NLEX snaps Alaska Aces’ 3-game win streak KJ McDaniels, Jericho Cruz and Kevin Alas took turns in providing big baskets for the NLEX Road Road Warriors, who snapped the Alaska Aces’ three-game winning run with a 106-89 win on Wednesday in the 2021-22 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

McDaniels and Alas, who took charge in a big, first-quarter offensive, knocked in 27 and 19 points, respectively, to power the Road Warriors to their sixth win in nine matches.

Jericho Cruz added 21 points for the Road Warriors, doing most of the damage in the third period for NLEX, which remained on track for a quarterfinals slot.

Road Warriors’ coach Yeng Guiao Guiao said their back-to-back wins have eased his worries after the team missed players like Calvin Oftana and Tony Semerad because of injuries.

“We were able to complement their absence. Malaking bagay ito,” said Guiao.

The Road Warriors, who knocked in 13 of 38 triples throughout the game, got 12 points from Cruz in the third, with his trey in the last 5:02 putting the contest out of reach as they took a 25-point spread, 75-50.

The Road Warriors eventually enjoyed their biggest edge at 29 at 8657 behind Kris Porter’s jumper, at the 1:17 mark of the third.

Earlier, the Road Warriors connected with seven three-pointers in the first quarter to construct a commanding 38-17 edge.

Alas strung up three triples, while Mike Nieto and McDaniel canned in one and two, allowing NLEX to take command following a 0-2 start.

Peter Atencio

Mickelson apologizes for Saudi, PGA remarks MIAMI—Phil Mickelson apologized Tuesday for remarks about the US PGA Tour and Saudi backers of a proposed rival tour, saying he will “desperately need some time away” from golf.

The 51-year-old left-hander, winner of six major titles and the reigning PGA Championship titleholder, also lost long-time sponsor KPMG after issuing a lengthy apology on Twitter.

Author Alan Shipnuck released excerpts last week from his upcoming book about Mickelson, the US star calling the Saudis “scary” with a “horrible record on human rights.”

“Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it?” Mickelson said about the potential for joining the Saudi tour.

“Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates,” he said. “They’ve been able to get by with manipulative, coercive, strong-arm tactics because we, the players, had no recourse.”

Mickelson was quoted as saying he was willing to work with the Saudi Golf League despite human rights issues because it would provide leverage to create change on the PGA Tour.

“I used words I sincerely regret that do not reflect my true feelings or intentions,” Mickelson said Tuesday.

“It was reckless, I offended people, and I am deeply sorry for my choice of words. I’m beyond disappointed and will make every effort to self-reflect and learn from this.”

Mickelson said off-the-record comments were shared out of context and that his actions “have always been with the best interest of golf.”

Rory McIlroy was among many players who ripped Mickelson for his remarks, with Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson distancing themselves from the Saudi league last weekend in the wake of Mickelson’s remarks being revealed.

“I have made a lot of mistakes in my life and many have been shared with the public,” Mickelson said. “My intent was never to hurt anyone and I’m so sorry to the people I have negatively impacted.

“This has always been about supporting the players and the game and I appreciate all the people who have given me the benefit of the doubt.”

Still, Mickelson criticized the way the game is being guided—without being specific. AFP

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

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NLEX import KJ McDaniels encounters stiff resistance from Alaska’s Maverick Ahanmisi in a PBA Governors’ Cup game won by the Road Warriors, 106-89.

With Korea out, Gilas begins FIBA stint vs India on Friday

By Peter Atencio

S

TAYING healthy and focused continues to be the main priority of the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team.

National head coach Chot Reyes said this after the Korea Basketball Association decided to withdraw the participation of its national squad in

the Asian Qualifier for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup which begins Thursday at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

“Let’s just focus on the things that we can control. Right now, that is our preparation, which is our health, to stay focused mentally, and also emotionally,” said Reyes in an Instagram message to scribes.

The decision of Korea to pull out came on Monday evening on the eve of their 7:30 p.m. departure for Manila on Tuesday, when one more player tested positive for COVID-19, bringing to 10 the total number of players infected.

A few hours after the Koreans announced their withdrawal, RT-PCR tests were done on members of the Gilas pool and all tested negative, according to Reyes.

“So, right now, the best thing that we can do is stay ready, to be prepared. And the only thing we can focus on is our health,” added Reyes.

With Korea out of the picture, host Philippines begins its campaign with a game against India on Friday at 6 p.m., before taking on New Zealand at 7 p.m. on Sunday. New Zealand opens the tournament Thursday as it battles India at 3 p.m.

The Philippines’ clash with Korea is expected to be moved in the third window in June, if Korea does not get sanctioned.

Gilas’ 15-man pool is composed of NorthPort’s Robert Bolick, TNT standouts Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario, Poy Erram, Kelly Williams, Gab Banal and Kib Montalbo, naturalized big man Angelo Kouame, Japan B. League players Dwight Ramos, Thirdy Ravena, and Juan Gomez de Liaño, Overtime Elite signee LeBron Lopez, and Gilas draftees William Navarro, Jaydee Tungcab and Tzaddy Rangel.

Tan, Ebdane, Canlas, Galvez shine in Ormoc fencing meet JODIE Danielle Tan ruled the 12-under girls’ foil event, while Victoria Ebdane powered her team to a gold-medal win in the 12-under team mixed foil in the Mayor Richard Gomez Fencing Cup on Thursday at the Ormoc City Superdome in Ormoc City.

Tan, of Canlas Fencing (CF)/St. Jude Catholic School, bounced back in the gold-medal bout of a tightly contested defensive match she won, 2-1, against Ebdane, who swept the opening pool round that included a similar 2-1 triumph versus Tan, but had to settle with the silver medal.

Tan and Ebdane of CF/Home SchoolRoces arranged a final round rematch by beating their respective semifinal foes, fellow CF fencers Willa Liana Galvez and Kirsten Shanelle Catantan, who both earned the bronze medal.

Lucas Palafox defeated Yohann Malik Roldan for the gold medal in the 12-under boys foil, which likewise saw competitions in the Junior and Cadet levels, as well as the seniors for the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games qualifiers.

PH Team head coach Amat Canlas (in red shirt) with his Canlas Fencing students (from left) Kirsten Shanelle Catantan, Yohann Malik Roldan, Yuna Samuelle Canlas, Victoria Ebdane, Jodie Danielle Tan, Willa Liana Galvez, Christine Morales and Lucas Palafox.

Ebdane, however, came back with a vengeance as she led Team B with Galvez and Yuna Samuelle Canlas to a 26-15 victory against top seed Team A of Tan, Catantan and Roldan to capture the gold medal in the 12-under team mixed foil category.

Team B booked a spot in the final round with a 24-15 decision over Team C. In the 10-under girls’ foil, Yuna Canlas bagged the gold medal, while Willa Galvez earned a silver medal as the former scored a 10-6 win against

the latter in the finals. Roldan and Christine Morales settled with the bronze medal.

“It’s very important to start our kids early, and it’s also very important for them to be joining competitions because when they join competitions, especially when they win, it really gives them the interest and it inspires them,” said Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, who is also the president of the Philippine Fencing Association.

“I’m hoping that these kids will continue fencing until they become part of the varsity team or the national team.”

In the 10-under mixed epee division, Francis Gabriel Batican won the gold, Praizer Igot took silver medal, while Princess Amara dela Cruz and Rex Carl dela Cruz went home with the bronze.

In the 13-under team mixed epee, Jauz Lovaine Assis, Rex dela Cruz and Edel Royeras won the gold for Team B, Team A of Erika Nicole Dejano, Jillian Glaze Dejano and Sheska Dejano got the silver, and Batican, Igot, James Dylan Yap and Elizza Maureen Ecalla pocketed the bronze for Team C.

PLDT, Smart execs welcome FIBA World Cup trophy

SBP Chairman Emeritus and PLDT Chairman Manuel V Pangilinan and PLDT and Smart President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio lead the milestone event at the PLDT headquarters in Makati City

THE prestigious FIBA Basketball World Cup trophy has arrived in the Philippines as part of a series of global appearances.

Marking this milestone event were Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Chairman Emeritus and PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT and Smart President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio, Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Wireless Business Jane J. Basas, Head of Sports Jude H. Turcuato, and Chief Commercial Advisor Noel C. Lorenzana at the PLDT headquarters in Makati City.

The ‘Naismith Trophy’ captures the prestige and tradition of FIBA’s flagship competition. Unveiled in 2017, the international basketball league’s ultimate prize is made al-

most entirely out of gold and features a roll of honor listing all the world champions.

“To see the trophy up close and in person is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for basketball fans.

For us at PLDT and Smart, we’re not just here to witness basketball history unfold right before our eyes. We’re here to make sure Filipinos get to experience the games and root for the Philippine team,” said Panlilio, who also serves as SBP’s President.

Filipinos can view the trophy at the Smart Store in SM Mall of Asia on February 23, 2022.

“All of us here wish Gilas all the best in their quest to have a very active and successful participation in these qualifying rounds to the

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023,” Pangilinan said. When asked about the importance of having the Naismith trophy in the Philippines, Pangilinan candidly added, “It is our fondest hope that we keep it here next year, right?”

Smart joins international brands Bitci, Ganten, J9, Molten, Nike, TCL, Tencent, Tissot, and Wanda in supporting the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. The global event will be jointly hosted by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia. The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will hold its final phase here in the Philippines in August next year.

Basketball fans can watch the games by downloading GigaPlay on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Sports

Standard

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TODAY THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

Nadal wins, matches best career start

A

CAPULCO—Rafael Nadal matched his best career start to an ATP Tour season with a victory Tuesday in his first match since capturing the Australian Open title, reaching the second round of the Mexican Open.

The 35-year-old Spanish lefthander defeated US lucky loser Dennis Kudla 6-3, 6-2 to book a hardcourt date with American Stefan Kozlov in the last 16.

“It has been a positive start, a good victory in straight sets. That’s always very positive for the confidence,” Nadal said.

“I played a very solid match, a good effort today. Of course there are a couple of things that I can do better, but in general terms, I played well so I can’t complain at all.”

The victory lifted Nadal to 11-0 this year, matching his best career start to any season. He also won 11 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 214 MANDALUYONG CITY IN RE: PETITION FOR DECLARATION OF THE PRESUMPTIVE DEATH OF JOVEN BONILLO JARANDILLA CIVIL CASE NO. R-MND-21 -01624-CV JENEL MANCERA JARANDILLA, Petitioner. x --------------------------------------------x

ORDER A verified petition for the declaration of presumptive death of Joven Bonillo Jarandilla (JOVEN) was filed by petitioner Jenel Mancera Jarandilla (PETITIONER) on 23 July 2021.

In her petition, PETITIONER alleged that she is of legal age, filipino citizen, and with residence address at No. 10 F. C3 Suntrust Treetop Villas Condo Residences, Coronado Street, Barangay Hulo, Mandaluyong City.

PETITIONER’s absentee spouse Joven Bonillo Jarandilla (JOVEN) is likewise of legal age, Filipino whose present address and whereabouts is allegedly unknown.

PETITIONER and JOVEN were married in a civil rite ceremony conducted by Hon. Elizabeth Gutierrez-Torres, Presiding Judge of Metropolitan Trial Court, Mandaluyong City on 28 February 2003 . Out of their union, the couple begot two children, namely: Patricia Isabela M. Jarandilla born on 20 October 2003 and Nathalie Mancera Jarandilla born on 4 August 2006. PETITIONER and JOVEN lived together and acquired real properties in Sta. Rosa Laguna.

PETITIONER averred that her spouse JOVEN was employed as a part time driver to a businessman. On 09 May 2009, JOVEN called PETITIONER that he will go to National Capital Region to collect from his employer his three (3) months unpaid salaries. PETITIONER, needing money for her children, agreed to meet JOVEN at Starmall. However, after series of phone calls, JOVEN did not show up. At around 9:00 o’clock in the evening PETITIONER went home to Sta. Rosa Laguna. The following day, PETITIONER tried again to call JOVEN, but she did not receive any response from him . After two (2) weeks of waiting, PETITIONER tried to locate her spouse JOVEN through his parents, siblings, and relatives, but to no avail. PETITIONER reported the incident to the office of Barangay Labas, Sta. Rosa City and blotter the same. However, she failed to secure any certification of the said report because the records of the office were destroyed during the onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy.

PETITONER also tried to report the matter to the Police Station in Sta. Rosa City.

However, no report was made.

Meanwhile, sometime in June 2009, PETITIONER, through an informant, filed a complaint with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) against the members of PACER operatives, who allegedly were responsible for the abduction/kidnapping of her spouse JOVEN. After an operation was conducted, a person was released from the custody of PACER. Unfortunately, said person was not his spouse JOVEN but a certain Mark.

PETITIONER tried to inquire from Mark about the whereabouts of her spouse JOVEN, but

matches in a row to begin the 2014 campaign before losing to Swiss Stan Wawrinka in an Australian Open final.

Nadal won his men’s record 21st Grand Slam title at last month’s Australian Open, breaking the career mark of 20 Slam crowns he had shared with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

World number five Nadal broke 100th-ranked Kudla in the fourth game for a 3-1 lead and held from there to claim the first set of their first career meeting.

When Kudla sent a forehand long to surrender the first break of the sec-

ond set, Nadal seized a 2-1 lead and held at love to 3-1.

Nadal broke again for a 4-1 edge and held twice more, claiming the victory on a forehand winner.

Fourth seed Nadal fired eight aces and won 36 of 40 points on his serve in the dominating outing.

The Spaniard seeks his 91st career ATP title and third of the year, having also won a Slam tuneup tournament at Melbourne.

Medvedev chases No. 1 Russian top seed Daniil Medvedev, the reigning US Open champion whom Nadal rallied past in five sets in the Australian Open final, began his run at the world number one ranking with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Frenchman Benoit Paire.

“It’s always not easy to come back after some rest and some time off competition,” Medvedev said. “I felt like my sensations were not at the top today, but I managed to fight

until the end against a very tough opponent and I’m happy that I managed to win.”

If Medvedev wins the Acapulco title, he is assured of overtaking Djokovic atop the rankings no matter how the Serbian star fares this week at Dubai.

“If Novak would not be playing, then maybe it would be a little bit more in my mind because it would only be me that it depends what I can do,” Medvedev said.

Medvedev would become the 27th player to reach world number one and only the third Russian, joining Yevgeny Kafelnikov (1999) and Marat Safin (2000-01).

The last player outside of Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and Britain’s Andy Murray to sit atop the rankings was American Andy Roddick in February 2004.

Medvedev will next play Spain’s 68th-ranked Pablo Andujar. AFP

she did not obtain any information from Mark.

PETITIONER stopped seeking help from CHR operatives because she had run out of funds. Thereafter, PETITIONER sought help from her police friends and JOVEN’s parents to inquire whether JOVEN was in jail.

The whereabouts of JOVEN remains unclear.

PETITIONER thought of publishing the incident, however she was dissuaded by her parents-in-law saying that JOVEN will return if he is still alive.

PETITIONER suffered financial difficulties supporting her children. She went to Cebu to find a good job, but it did not help.

She returned to Mandaluyong City and applied for a teaching position. Meanwhile, PETITIONER and her children resided at the house of her parents-in-law in Aklan.

Their financial struggles worsened because her parents-in-law can barely support them.

Thus, her parents-in-law told her to find a partner who could help her and her children.

Eventually, PETITIONER and her children returned to Mandaluyong City where she began teaching. In 2010, her former lover started courting her. She informed her parents-in-law as well as her other in-laws and they did not object to it for the welfare of the two children. Thus, PETITIONER decided to marry her partner and filed the instant petition.

JOVEN has been absent for more than eleven (11) years, specifically from 09 May 2009 until the filing of this petition. Since then, JOVEN’s whereabouts is unknown to the PETITIONER and their children Patricia lsabela M. Jarandilla and Nathalie Mancera Jarandilla. Thus, PETITIONER presumed that her husband JOVEN is already dead.

WHEREFORE, finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, notice is hereby given that this case shall be heard for the presentation of jurisdictional requirements, through in court hearing, on 08 March 2022 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning at the Regional Trial Court, Branch 214, Third Floor. New Hall of Justice Building, Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City, at which time and place, any person or entity having interest in this petition may come and show cause, if any, why the petition should not be granted.

Let this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive week in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines to be determined by raffle pursuant to P.D. 1079 at petitioners’ expense and be posted in the Court’s bulletin board for at least three (3) weeks before the scheduled hearing.

SO ORDERED. Mandaluyong City.

12 January 2022 (Sgd.) IMELDA L. PORTES-SAULOG Presiding Judge Copy furnished: Office of the Solicitor General Office of the City Prosecutor, Mandaluyong City Atty. Julian T. Tutanes B29 L5 Riverview Drive, Ridgemont Executive Village, San Isidro, Taytay, Rizal Jenel Mancera Jarandilla No. 10F, C3 Suntrust Treetop Villas Condo Residences, Coronado Street Brgy. Hulo, Mandaluyong City Joven Bonillo Jarandilla (Publication) Office of the Clerk of Court Regional Trial Court, Mandaluyong City (MStandard-Feb. 17, 24 & Mar. 3, 2022)

SASO VISITS THE COUNTRY CLUB. World No. 7 Yuka Saso (center) holds her huge US Women’s Open trophy

as she poses with fellow LPGA campaigner Dottie Ardina (second from left), former US Girls’ Junior champion Princess Superal (second from right) and young ICTSI players Arnie Taguines (left) and Mafy Singson during a visit to The Country Club Tuesday. The many-time spearhead of the national team is on a 13-day break, renewing ties with relatives, former teammates and friends while acclimatizing as part of her buildup for the resumption of her LPGA campaign in Singapore and Thailand starting next week.

Ayala forms Center for Excellence in Sports Ayala Corporation announced today the creation of the Ayala Center for Excellence in Sports, which aims to deploy the resources of the Ayala Group of Companies in support of the next generation of Filipino athlete.

“The Ayala Group has long seen the impact that sports can have on many facets of its businesses.

In fact a number of our senior executives have represented the country on national teams in different sports, including Ayala Land’s Chris Macasaet in men’s volleyball and AC Energy’s Jaime Urquijo in rugby,” said Jan Bengzon, the center’s program director.

“We believe strongly that Filipinos deserve better access to world-class sports facilities across the country and will continue to work to find ways to support the next generation of Filipino athlete to achieve their full potential.” he added.

The Center’s initial programs will include the redevelopment of the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub inImus, Cavite, into a world-class training center for national athletes in partnership with Ayala Land.

The Center will also be launching the Atletang Ayala program, which will provide support and opportunities for individual national athletes who are aspiring to qualify for the 2024 Olympics.

These programs are expected to be launched in the first quarter of 2022

Courtside love story on PSC’s Rise Up, Shape Up THE Philippine Sports Commission brings together romance and love for sports in a special love month webisode of Rise Up, Shape Up this Saturday.

The special episode will feature the love story of former volleyball stars Arlene Apostol and Antonio Ladimo on how the sport became a cupid matchmaker in their 20-year relationship.

Apostol and Ladimo both played

in UAAP Volleyball and were part of the men’s and women’s volleyball teams, which played in the Southeast Asian Games in the 1980s -1990s.

Both had stellar performances in the international games with Arlene being part of the national volleybelles, who bagged gold medals for the country in 1985, 1987, and 1993 SEA Games. Her winning record also included silver and bronze medal wins during the 1983 and 1991

biennial meet, respectively.

Antonio, on the other hand, was part of the men’s squad that bagged a bronze medal in the 1991 Games.

“The episode hopes to show a different picture of sports and its players, by showcasing how it can be fertile ground for blossoming friendship and love instead of just competition,” PSC Women in Sports Commissioner oversight Celia H. Kiram said.

“Aside from the romance, we want

our audience to understand that love and passion for sports do create meaningful and life-changing connections. Sports, beyond the competitive spirit in the court or fields, bring people together,” added Kiram who will discuss the brief history of volleyball in her “K-Isport” segment.

The love story of Arlene and Antonio Apostol will be streamed live on PSC’s Rise Up Shape Up Facebook page at 7 PM.

Barredo sweeps 3 badminton games REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TARIFF COMMISSION

(MS-FEB. 24, 2022)

SARAH Barredo swept all of her assignments to pace the winners on opening day of the MVP Second Badminton Cup, Wednesday at the Olympic Badminton Center in Ugong, Pasig City.

Barredo closed out her day with a comfortable win past Anthea Marie Gonzalez, 21-8, 21-13, to go undefeated in three matches. The National University senior earlier took down Christel Rei Fuentespina, 21-6, 21-9, and dominated Angel Valle, 21-13, 21-11, to lead the women’s singles race.

The 22-year-old Barredo was happy to compete again after almost a year. She said, “Happy rin kasi nagkaroon kami ng tournament in preparation for the Southeast Asian Games. “’Yung preparation kasi namin since lockdown, ang dami ring hindrance for us to train.

Pero at least nag-train ako ng maayos and I think prepared naman ako for this tournament,” she added.

A pair of fellow UAAP standouts in Jaja Andres and Mikaela De Guzman joined the UAAP Season 81 Rookie of the Year atop the standings Sarah at 3-0 for the day after winning over the same Barredo opponents.

UP’s Andres defeated Valle, 21-17, 21-10, then Gonzalez, 21-13, 21-13, before downing Fuentespina, 21-12, 21-13. Meanwhile, Ateneo’s De Guzman opened her tournament with a win over Gonzalez, 21-17, 21-15, before winning past Fuentespina, 21-8, 21-7, and Valle, 21-8, retired, in that order.

The three will test their mettle against each other on Thursday for a place in the final the following day.

Ros Pedrosa and age-group standout Jewel Albo paced their group in the men’s singles as both went unscathed for the day.

Pedrosa blanked Jefferson Oba-ob, 21-10, 21-14, before going through the wringer over former La Salle stalwart Kenneth Monterubio 22-20, 21-16. On the other hand, Albo comfortably won past Jefferson Oba-ob, 21-10, 21-13, and then over Robert Ishmael Ramos, 21-8, 21-12.

Mark Anthony Velasco and RJ Oba-ob paced the other pool with similar 2-0 win-loss records.

Velasco scored a 21-23, 21-13 victory over Lance Vargas before sweeping JM Estrada, 21-13, 2114. while RJ Oba-ob had to outlast Vargas in three, 20-22, 21-16, 21-8, before closing the day’s action with a win over Clarence Villaflor, 21-19.21-13.

A grand total of P 200,000 is at stake for the winners of all the four events in this tournament backed by Smash Pilipinas, SMART, MVP Sports Foundation, the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Philippine Sports Commission, Leisure and Resorts World Corporation, Metro Pacific Investments, Concrete Stone Corp., and Robinson’s Land.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

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In conservative Singapore, plus-size actors take centre stage “I DARE you, watch me as I undress,” sings actor Ross Nasir in a Singapore musical comedy about dating as a plus-size woman, highlighting a nascent fat acceptance movement in a city-state that once forced children to join weight loss programs.

“Fat-shaming” — discrimination based on weight — is still common in Singapore and across Asia, activists say, but there are signs that the traditional view that only slim can be beautiful is being challenged.

“It just took a longer time for people in Asia to get used to fat acceptance, but it’s growing,” explains the 35-year-old, whose show Big Brown Girl shines a light on the prejudices curvy women face when looking for love.

Singaporean actress Ross Nasir during a rehearsal at the Esplanade Theatre While many Western

countries have seen diverse body shapes in advertising campaigns and fuller-figured models such as Ashley Graham and Paloma Elsesser, Asia is still seen as lagging behind.

Singapore’s controversial scheme to weigh schoolchildren and send those regarded as overweight to join mandatory fitness programmes ran from the 1990s to 2007 -- but some feel it reinforced prejudices that linger on today.

Activist Aarti Olivia Dubey, who has more than 30,000 followers on her Instagram account “curvesbecomeher”, says: “When it comes to our unconscious biases, when it comes to weight stigma, it’s still very much a problem.”

And while the anonymity of the online world can encourage vitriol from trolls, social media is also helping drive change.

Dubey is among a new generation of influencers on TikTok and Instagram, reaching a global audience with body positive messaging.

Dubey says shows such as Big Brown Girl are also a sign society’s attitudes are slowly changing.

The play, commissioned by Esplanade, Singapore’s national performing arts centre, lets the audience choose

Rising star VINCE RILLON shines in erotic movie series ‘L’ V

INCE Rillon is having some breakout moments this pandemic. After appearing in a string of Vivamax features like Siklo and Sisid, the indie star turned mainstream actor is headlining L, an erotic three-part movie series written and produced by award-winning director Jon Red.

excites Lucas all the more, and he meets with her a few more times.

Lastly for Episode 3 titled “Lipat” (by Roman Perez), a beautiful, mysterious woman named Lucy (Cara Gonzales) starts inquiring about an apartment with Lucas. They start telling personal stories to each other where Lucy admits that she has been unfaithful with her husband. The next day, Lucas goes back to the apartment to look for Lucy, but the caretaker says that the only Lucy the caretaker knows is the former tenant of the apartment who has been gone for so many years.

“Doing this project was really a challenge. It’s my first time to work with three different directors,” Vince admitted.

“Each director has a different style. And Vince (right) plays a young freelance it’s interesting how artist who’s coping after his they took care of the girlfriend, played by Stephanie Raz character and made (left) leaves him him very consistent throughout the entire trilogy,” he carried on.

Every Sunday, s t a r t i n g February 27, viewers will get to experience L streaming on Vivamax.

Streaming on February 27, L is a trilogy featuring short films from directors Topel Lee, EJ Salcedo, and Roman Perez, Jr.. It also stars Cara Gonzales, Ayanna Misola, Cloe Barreto, and Stephanie Raz. “I feel fortunate that Viva entrusted me this project,” Vince said during the movie series’ virtual junket held early this month.

“I cannot be thankful enough for this opportunity to showcase my talent,” the young actor added.

In the story, Vince plays a young freelance artist named Lucas who tries to overcome loneliness after his girlfriend Lana (Stephanie Raz), suddenly left him. A strange turn of events leads Lucas to meet three different girls who will drive his lust over the edge.

In Episode 1 entitled “Larawan” (directed by Topel Lee), Lucas finds a stunningly beautiful girl at an art gallery in Batangas. She introduces herself as Louise (Misola), and after getting a few Ayanna Misola drinks, they end up at her apartment. with Vince Rillon After passionate sex, Lucas discovers something about Louise that would surprise him.

Meanwhile in Episode 2 “Liko” (helmed by EJ Salcedo), Lucas started a habit of driving around the streets of Manila. One night on his drive, he picks up Liza (Cloe Barreto), an attractive woman whom he thought was a prostitute.

They talk and then check in at a motel. Before parting ways, Lucas attempts to pay for Liza’s services but she refuses to accept the money, telling Lucas she is not a prostitute, but just Cloe Barretto (left) and Vince Rillon a poor and lonely housewife. This Vince Rillon

which dates Ruby goes on out of 10 potential scenarios, in Singapore and overseas.

The comedy is based on the experiences of Nasir, cowriter and director Melissa Sim, and other stories they have gathered over the years.

“When you think of dating or love story or romance, you don’t automatically think of it from a perspective of a bigger person,” Nasir says.

“When we don’t see someone who is similar to our shape and size and colour you begin to think that maybe these things don’t happen for these sorts of people — but they do.”

The production also touches on the issue of race as Nasir is a member of the ethnic Malay community, a minority in predominantly ethnic Chinese Singapore.

“Being brown also has its difficulties” in Singapore, she concedes.

Finding love can be “a little bit harder for someone who is a little bit bigger, or comes from a minority group,” she added.

The success of Big Brown Girl follows the 2021 hit show The Other F Word, a one-woman autobiographical show by plus-size actor Miriam Cheong. AFP

Why Philippines isn’t ready to be gender-inclusive

By Patricia Taculao

shared and reposted the photo left malicious or JUST last Saturday, degrading comments February 19, singer Jake about Jake’s appearance Zyrus posted a photo on and gender identity. social media and shared his It’s saddening to see progress as a transgender that these people don’t male. have the decency to “Pinag-isipan kong maigi treat others, especially kung ipo-post ko ba ‘to. Kasi those from marginalized lagi kong iniisip kung anong communities, with the sasabihin ng ibang tao. Sa respect they deserve. ilang taon na nag-transition H o m o p h o b i a ako, masaya ako sa naging remains rampant in takbo ng buhay ko, pero lagi the Philippines today. parin akong nai-insecure Although some consider sa katawan ko. Siguro The photo that Jake Zyrus posted it a joke, the dangers dahil na rin sa standard ng on social media of spreading prejudice karamihan,” his post read. about a certain group of people don’t make Jake, formerly known as Charice society more accepting of them.

Pempengco, initially came out as a gay There are several reasons for people’s woman in 2013. By 2017, he came out repulsive behavior against the LGBQT+ as a transgender male after having a male community. The most common one is chest reconstruction done and beginning the years of prejudice ingrained among testosterone treatment to complete his individuals that being anything other than transition. a male or female is a sin or an illness.

In the photo, Jake is seen topless, Even though the medical field stopped showing how far he’s come since the the inhumane treatments for “curing” surgery and treatment for his gender sexuality issues, people continue to carry reassignment. prejudice and violence toward members of “Pagtawanan mo o hindi, hindi mo the LGBTQ+ community due to a vicious alam ang sakit, iyak at mga dugo na cycle of misinformation, abuse, and closepinagdaanan ko bago ako nagkaroon ng mindedness. confidence na buong buo ko i-post ito,” he On the other hand, while some people continued. consider themselves allies of the LGBTQ+ The musician ended his post by saying community, they limit themselves to he’s finally comfortable with what he sees understanding only gays and lesbians in himself. He added that he posted the because these are the most common gender photo to inspire his fellow transgenders, identities they know of. not ask for opinions.

A true ally of the LGBTQ+ community “Kung naghahanap kayo ng sign o doesn’t select which genders they confidence para ipakita at maging proud support. Instead, they take the extra step sa kung sino ka, tara sasabayan kita. Para of understanding the nuances of the other sayo ‘to,” Jake said. members of the LGBTQ+, including Such a message of hope and self- transgenders, queers, pansexuals, asexuals, acceptance warrants a warm welcome and and more. congratulations from the public because The Philippines still has a long way to it promotes body positivity and support go before it becomes a gender-inclusive for transgenders struggling with their country. Yet aside from laws, events, and transitioning. Jake’s friends and supporters, other ways to show support to the LGBTQ+ along with members of the LGBTQ+ community, the most significant change community, happily commented on the post must come from Filipinos themselves. about how the musician inspired them and It’s time to stop homophobic jokes and that they’re proud of the man he’s become. the violence against LGBTQ+ members Unfortunately, not everyone shares to create a safe space where everybody is the same sentiments. Many netizens who welcome.

‘Pamilya ordinaryo’ director Eduardo Roy Jr. dies

By Patricia Taculao EDUARDO Roy Jr., the acclaimed director behind thought-provoking movies Pamilya Ordinaryo, Lola Igna, and Fuccbois, has passed on according to an announcement from his bereaved family.

Roy perished on February 21 at the Saint Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City.

“He died of a massive pulmonary embolism due to hospital-acquired pneumonia. He had been diagnosed late

GMA Network’s Kapuso Month celebration continues to spread love and hope THIS Kapuso Month, GMA Network sends virtual hugs to viewers from all parts of the world as the country’s leading broadcast company reinforces the power of being together in the name of love and hope.

Although being together physically might still be a challenge as the

threats of the pandemic remain, GMA urges Filipinos to continue spreading love even at a safe distance and assures that better times are ahead for those who remain hopeful.

To make the Kapuso Month even more vibrant, a video plug was also released with a cheerful tune titled, “Love and

Hope Together.” The song was performed by Thea Astley and Jeremiah Tiangco from The Clash Season 2, with lyrics by Emman Rivera, and music by Ann Figueroa.

Adding more kilig in the February campaign are the newly-launched Sparkle love teams: Mavy Legaspi and

Kyline Alcantara; Abdul Raman and Shayne Sava; Allen Ansay and Sofia Pablo; Bruce Roeland and Althea Ablan; and Jamir Zabarte and Zonia Mejia.

Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, as well as Bea Alonzo along with other Kapuso artists also sent in

their messages of hope in this season of love.

With GMA Network, Filipinos are always reminded that any trials can be surpassed as long as we love and hope together.

For more Kapuso updates this Kapuso Month, visit www. gmanetwork.com.

Allen Ansay and Sofia Pablo

Bruce Roeland and Althea Ablan

Jamir Zabarte and Zonia Mejia

Mavy Legaspi and Kyline Alcantara

Abdul Raman and Shayne Sava

Award-winning director Eduardo Roy Jr.

last year with Burkitt’s Lymphoma Stage IV,” the official statement said.

Burkitt’s Lymphoma is a form of nonHodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, where cancer starts in immune cells called B-cells. It is associated with impaired immunity and can be rapidly fatal if left untreated.

The news of the late director’s passing shocked his fans and friends, who took to social media to express their grief and post tributes for Roy. In the span of his career, Roy had accumulated a total of 16 wins from both local and international film festivals for his work in Indie (independent) movies.

A wake will be held from February 24 to 26, at the Arlington Memorial Chapels Hall A in G. Araneta Avenue, Quezon City, where guests can visit the remains and pay respects to the world-renowned director who contributed to the excellence of Philippine cinema.

Nickie Wang, Editor lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

Life

Make your home COVID-safer 24/7

Choosing the right pots and planting mediums promote healthy plant growth

A better life awaits Filipino families who choose to make the smart choice with Panasonic

WHAT if there’s a hero that can provide you and your family with clean and healthy indoor air 24/7?

This is the ground-breaking declaration of Panasonic Air-Conditioning Philippines during its February 11 Air Conditioner Convention, as it unveiled to dealers the big news about nanoe X Generator Mark 2, a new level of improved innovation of the nanoe™ technology.

Through a virtual conference attended by 200+ participants, Panasonic revealed research results on nanoe™ – it has been proven to inhibit four types of novel coronavirus variants – Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta in a 45-liter test space (with size of 350mm×350mm×400mm), in as fast as two hours by over 99.7 percent.

This breakthrough news in health and wellness will in effect, provide hope for Filipinos to make their homes and business spaces safer and more sanitized for kids, elders, and working individuals.

In 2021, Panasonic conducted a test with a third-party organization and confirmed the effectiveness of each of the four variants (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta). Given this, nanoe™ can be expected to have an even stronger inhibitory effect on novel coronavirus variants.

The company again conducted a verification in view of the status of the spread of viral infection. What were the research results? Here’s the gist: Panasonic Corporation has verified the inhibitory effect of nanoe™ technology with benefits of hydroxyl radicals on four novel coronavirus variants, namely Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta, in collaboration with the Japan Textile Products Quality and Technology Center (QTEC).

In the same event, Panasonic announced news about the nanoe™ X Generator Mark 2 which produces 9.6 trillion

hydroxyl radicals per second – a level up in eliminating odors, inhibiting pollutants, and moisturizing skin and hair. That means, this new technology is two times stronger in performance versus the current nanoeTM X (4.8 trillion hydroxyl radicals per second). This also means that the nanoe X Generator Mark 2 may inhibit the novel coronavirus faster and stronger.

The X-Premium Inverter Split-type model comes with iAUTO-X feature, temperature and humidity control, builtin WiFi adaptor, perfect for residential or home use. The new Inverter 4-Way Ceiling Cassette comes with wider flap to produce powerful and 360° airflow that could reach long distances of air throw.

Meanwhile, the new Inverter CeilingMounted model comes in a slim design of 235mm thickness, improved installation flexibility, and airflow that could reach long distances of air throw. Lastly, the Inverter Adaptive Ducted type model comes with a low noise level for a common indoor ducted type. It has improved installation flexibility that can be mounted either vertically or horizontally, depending on the AC application and requirement of the users – a first in the Philippines.

Related to this, Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation shared that it has been exporting nanoe™ X-equipped Window-type Inverter Air Conditioners in Hong Kong and Taiwan. It is also in Hong Kong (Shokukanken, Inc.) where an inhibition test featuring the Windowtype Air Conditioner model showed that nanoe™ X has an inhibitory effect against adhered influenza virus (H1N1) over 99.9 percent in two hours.

For more information about nanoe™, nanoe™ X technology, and nanoe™ X Generator Mark 2, visit www.panasonic. com/ph/nanoe.

Staying in or out, here’s how you can up your sunscreen game THERE’S one thing about sunprotection and hyaluronic acid screens that people usually get and nine other moisturizing wrong—skipping it when ingredients in a hydrating gel spending time indoors. Using format that absorbs quickly sunscreen when going out into skin for a water-light makes perfect sense, but apweightless feel. Both sunplying it when working from screens also have vitamin home or lounging around C to fight dark spots for the house? It simply doesn’t visibly fair and radiant skin. click.

Finally, the Sarafit TintHere’s something to keep ed Base rounds out the Skin in mind: the sun’s skinAqua range. It protects damaging UV rays can also Protect your skin from harmful the skin from UVA/ UV rays by using the ideal penetrate dark clouds and UVB rays with SPF50, sunscreen products glass windows. Working PA+++, and also offers or sitting by a window at home already blue light protection. It’s in natural light exposes the skin to UVA and UVB that shade that helps brighten skin complexcan lead to premature aging, sunburn, ion and even out skin tone. It also conand skin cancer. This isn’t the only tains concealer powder to help makeup threat we should be concerned about. products adhere better to the skin. This The blue light from our laptop, phone, sunscreen also has a sheer finish that and TV can cause skin pigmentation and glides on easily and absorbs quickly break down collagen. for an invisible weightless feel. It’s also While we can’t really avoid the sun sweat-resistant and has quick dry foror stop using our gadgets, we can give mula, allowing sweat to easily evaporate our skin a protective barrier and prevent so skin won’t feel sticky throughout the damage by religiously wearing the right day. sunscreen every single day. Japanese Sunplay also has products that probrand Sunplay offers Skin Aqua, which vide superior protection against UVA includes products that can help us up and UVB rays. These include Ultra our sunscreen game by combining skin- Shield SPF130 Lotion, Ultra Shield SPF friendly ingredients into their formula. 130 Body Mist, and Water Kids SPF60 It’s a range of beauty sunscreens that are Lotion. All three have a distinct ‘Watery perfect for daily use, especially as part Liquid’ formulation that’s lightweight, of a regular skincare routine as they’re non-greasy, and transparent on skin. also formulated to hydrate, brighten, Sunplay also has sunscreens that are and moisturize the skin. specially developed for outdoor sport There are three products under this activities like the Sport SPF120 Lorange. First is the UV Watery Essence tion and Sport SPF120 Body Mist. Both that offers UVA/UVB protection with boast of SPF 120 PA++++ for broad SPF50 and PA++++ and enriched with spectrum UVA/UVB protection. hyaluronic acid, sunflower seed oil, and Check out Sunplay at select Watsons rosemary leaf extract to hydrate and branches nationwide, or shop online at moisturize skin and prevent moisture watsons.com.ph. loss from daily sun exposure.

Learn more about the benefits of The other is the UV Watery Gel with wearing sunscreens, follow @sunplayUVA/UVB with SPF50 and PA++++ PH on Facebook and Instagram.

How to not kill your house plants

S

ERIOUSLY, how many of us like the idea of having actual plants in our home yet don’t know how to tend to one?

what happened before I could finally and proudly say to myself that “Yes, I can tend to a plant and grow one from seedling.” I mean, I’m not yet a true-blue “plantita,” unlike my sister who once plucked two leaves from an old ZZ plant I inherited from the previous tenant of my apartment, then planted each on a pot. Months later they’ve grown big and healthy I couldn’t help but be amazed at her having a green thumb. Somehow, even if botanists have a very simple explanation to this, it seemed a little bit magiYou know exactly which cal to me— just plucking a leaf and sticking it on soil and part of the house you’d then weeks later it becomes a full-blown plant. However, like to put in a giant pot of if you can relate to my story, there’s hope for you and some monstera or aloe vera. You’re sure a snake plant would tips from me: be nice in this or that corner. You imagine having some 1. Know your plants. You don’t have to be an expert. I’m healthy herbs by your windowsill, cutting tops from time very far from one. In fact, I’m a novice but I know what to time for your favorite pasta dish. You’ve been follow- a basil plant looks like and I can definitely tell when it’s ing a number of “plant parents” on Instahealthy or not, which leads to… gram and you feel like you’re ready to be 2. Know when your plants need water. one. Plus, you can’t discount the benefits My certified “plantito” and “plantita” of having houseplants, right? It gives your friends say that I should be more conplace a fresh and inviting feel and look; a cerned with over-watering than under-wanatural air-purifier; improves your mood; tering them plants, but it’s always best if reduces fatigue; and lowers stress and you can tell right away if they need some anxiety. The list goes on. watering or not. The easiest way is to stick But the truth is, you’ve never even takyour finger a few inches into the soil. If it’s en care of a cactus before, or the first and dry, then go get your sprinkler or sprayer. only time you attempted to, the poor thing 3. Choose the right pots. You can’t use a died on your office table. You don’t even tiny pot for your giant ZZ plants and defihave an idea if you over-watered it or it nitely, your succulents don’t have to live badly needed some sunlight and it didn’t in a pot big enough to house a rubber tree. get any in its short life.

What I mean to say is, consider the size of The first time I brought home some the plant, the material of the pot, and its succulents from Baguio, most of them drainage capability. died within a few months. I was disheart4. Be aware if your plant is more of a ened, to say the least. I had about 20 dif- Learn more about your plants and sun or shade lover. Honestly, this is a ferent varieties of indoor and outdoor pay attention to their needs tricky part for me. I guess the reason why plants that all seemed perky and healthy my first few attempts at “mothering” when I got them. I had almost zero experience in caring plants didn’t work was that I had no idea which of my for a plant so I asked the person I got them from how plants needed more sunlight or shade. I’m still learning to properly care for them. I told her I was wary because about [the right ] temperature, humidity, and ventilation the plants seemed to be used to the upland for different types of plants. I’d say better learn from your weather and that the hot and humid Ma- plant-lover friends who have been successfully tending to nila might not be a conducive place a garden full of healthy plants. And do some research and for them. She brushed it off and said reading (though I can only count in one hand the times I that “if you give it the TLC did this). it needs, it can adapt in 5. Use the right soil. This one is probably the easiest to its new environs.” Alas, do especially for those who have no prior experience or I didn’t know the ten- knowledge about taking care of houseplants. Why? Beder loving care they cause you only need to buy a sack of soil from your local required and so garden store or simply order online. Tell the seller the kind they perished. of plant you plan to grow and ask what soil is good for it.

This was last Basically, you want the potting soil to have the right balyear. ance of nutrition, aeration, and water absorption.

I’ve since 6. Use fertilizer. And use it properly so that it can supl e a r n e d ply enough nutrients for your plants to achieve healthy and much growth. More importantly, know when to decrease the of it can use or pause the regimen. Some plants require fertilizbe attrib- ers, some don’t need as much. Or if you’re like some of uted to a sys- my friends, they make their own compost and mix it tem of trial-and-error. with their garden soil. I’m not yet at that level. Maybe Not really something I’d recom- someday. mend for one to try, but that’s I’m sure there is more to learn in this area. But you know what they say about “experience being the best teacher.”

Many plant enthusiasts prefer So, go ahead. Try it. If you fail, begin again, until you can Monsterras because of they’re easy to say that “ finally, it’s a job well done.” care for

Family of plushies brings sports fun into your home JAPANESE lifestyle retailer Miniso brings sporting fun and cuteness to your home and office with its new Mini Family Series.

The Mini Family Series is an original collection from Miniso, featuring Mini Family pals: Minisau, the Dino: Memo, the kitten; Shiba Inu, the puppy, Bunbun, the rabbit; Piglet, the piggy; and Penpen, the penguin.

These warm and comfy, cuddly, and

The MINI Family Sports Series brings active fun to Miniso PH stores

adorable plushies believe that “Life and Sports is Fun,” which makes them a great team for the sports they love, football.

The Miniso x Mini Family Sports Series features functional yet playful items that will get you fit-spired. These include gadget accessories such as desk and mouse pads in Team Red and Team Blue designs; as well as wireless speakers with night lights for your cool

Surprise someone with Miniso’s Mini Family Sports Blind Bag Collection

down.

Play some hoops with its storage bins and keep your home tidy with a floor mat. There are also coasters and ceramic mugs for your coffee breaks.

Conveniently shop for your favorite Miniso x Mini Family Sports Series instore or online via shop.minisoph.com.

For more updates, follow MinisoPhilippines on Facebook and Miniso PH on Instagram.

Coffee time with cute Minisau and Penpen of the MINI Family Series

Enjoy your coffee with this MINI Family Sports Ceramic Mug set with stirrer