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Laylo survey puts BBM way ahead of rivals with 63% preference rate By Rey E. Requejo PARTIDO Federal ng Pilipinas standard-bearer Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has further widened his voter preference lead of 46-percent over his nearest rival in the presidential race,

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 22 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

according to the latest Laylo Research pre-election survey conducted from February 14 to 21, 2022. Marcos recorded 63 percent voter preference among the 3,000 respondents in the survey, indicating that he has Next page

New oil price hike set: P2-3/L No letup seen amid Ukraine crisis, P15 minimum jeepney fare pushed

By Alena Mae S. Flores and Maricel V. Cruz

UMP prices are expected to go up by P2 to P3 per liter next week, as a transport group petitioned the government for a 66 percent increase in the minimum jeepney fare, from the current P9 to P15.

WOMEN RISING. Some 140 employees of the Senate, led by Senate Gender and Development chairperson Maria Valentina Cruz, dance to kick off this year’s Women’s Month celebration. The One Billion Rising Dance Mob aims to raise awareness against any form of violence against women.

Next week’s gasoline price hike will be the 10th consecutive weekly increase since January, and industry sources expect prices to go even higher amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Pump prices fell within the range of P70 to P80 per liter in Metro Manila, while in some provinces, gasoline prices reached closed P100 per liter. Dubai crude, the benchmark for oil products in the Philippines, has gone up by $6.69 per barrel to $101.82 per barrel Next page

Nuclear power now part of PH energy source By Vito Barcelo and Alena Mae Flores

DOH reminds PUVs to limit capacity to just 100%

PRESIDENT Duterte has signed an executive order to establish a nuclear energy program for the Philippines to support the country’s growing power demands. The order, signed on Feb. 28 could be a major milestone for the country’s energy sector, which suffers regular power outages, but it will likely meet

By Willie Casas, Darwin G. Amojelar and Vito Barcelo

the capacity of public utility vehicles (PUVs) under COVID-19 quarantine Alert Level 1. “It looks like we are going back to THE Department of Health (DOH) the pre-pandemic days where we see expressed concern on Thursday over beyond 100 percent capacity in public

vehicles,” Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in Filipino, noting the overcrowding in some buses. “We just want to remind everyone, especially the operators, as well as to Next page

OFWs in HK with COVID climb to 221 By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

War collateral damage: 1m refugees flee Ukraine DISPLACED. A man holds his child as families who fled Ukraine due to the Russian invasion wait to enter a refugee camp in the Moldovan capital Chisinau on March 3, 2022. (Inset) At a train station in Lviv, western Ukraine, a woman holds her child as she arrives from Odessa. AFP

ONE million refugees have fled Ukraine in the week since Russia’s invasion, the United Nations said Thursday, warning that unless the conflict ended immediately, millions more were likely to flee. “In just seven days we have witnessed the exodus of one million refugees from Ukraine to neighbouring countries,” UN

refugee chief Filippo Grandi tweeted. “Unless there is an immediate end to the conflict, millions more are likely to be forced to flee Ukraine,” Grandi warned. According to frequently updated UNHCR data, 1,002,860 have now fled Ukraine since Russian President Next page

Maute leader named emir of ISIS in Southeast Asia A LEADER of the terrorist Maute Group has taken over as the new emir or commander of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) Southeast Asia, the military said Thursday. It identified the new ISIS official as

Abu Zacariah (real name Faharudin Hadji Satar) who took over ISIS Southeast Asia last year, according to Brig. Gen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II, commander of the Army’s 103rd Brigade. Zacariah has standing arrest warrants

for kidnapping, arson, murder and frustrated murder, Cuerpo said. “We received information that Abu Zacariah had been designated as emir of ISIS Southeast Asia. We Next page

THE number of Filipinos in Hong Kong who contracted the COVID-19 has climbed to 221, according to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier directed Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to spearhead the repatriation of OFWs who were fired by their employers after testing positive for COVID. There is no update yet, though, on this order. POLOHong Kong Labor Attache Melchor Dizon said that out of the 221 OFWs, 43 had recovered while others remained in hospitals, with their employers, in government quarantine facilities, non-government organization (NGO) facilities, or hotels. Those still in the houses of their employers and in boarding houses Next page

WILDLIFE DAY. A

caretaker gives Mali, the 50-year-old elephant of the newly-renovated Manila Zoo, her favorite meal on Thursday, March 3, 2022, during the global celebration of World Wildlife Day with the theme of recovering key species for ecosystem restoration. Danny Pata

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50,458

56,538

3,557,909

1,349

(As of 4 PM, March 3)

CHED halts scholarships for freshmen By Othel V. Campos LACK of funds has prompted the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to suspend the scholarship application process for incoming firstyear college students. “The suspension is an offshoot of budget inadequacy in the Commission’s FY 2022 budget for StuFAPs (Student Financial Assistance Programs),” CHED said Next page

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for the week of Feb. 28 to March 2 from $95.13 per barrel on Feb. 21 to 25. As of March 2, Dubai traded at $110 per barrel. Energy Undersecretary Gerardo Erguiza Jr. said they plan to ask the oil companies to stagger the sharp increase, but said this would provide only temporary relief. “If you delay that, the cost will be higher the next week,” Erguiza said. He said President Rodrigo Duterte has engaged his Cabinet to speed the assistance to the sectors affected most by the oil price spikes due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This includes P2.5 billion “Pantawid Pasada Program” in the 2022 budget to ease the burden of the transport sector. The government is also providing P500 million worth of fuel discounts to farmers and fishermen through the Department of Agriculture. Erguiza said the Department of Energy (DOE) is also monitoring reports of fuel stations allegedly selling petro-

leum products at nearly P100 per liter and will impose sanctions, if needed. Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on energy, said he is open to reviewing the Oil Deregulation Law of 1998 “to improve transparency among industry players and assess the benefits to our consumers.” The DOE has proposed amendments to the Oil Deregulation Law to compel oil companies to unbundle or detail what goes into the price per liter of fuel, set minimum inventory requirements and give the government powers to step in when there is a sharp rise or a prolonged increase in the prices of oil products. “Considering that this is a 24 year-old law, the review can be helpful in optimizing the oil industry,” the senator said. “However, a fundamental problem on why we are experiencing high prices of oil is because of our over dependence on improved oil. We import almost 100 percent of our oil requirements. As long as we import oil, we will be susceptible to global oil shocks that we have absolutely no control of,” Gatchalian said. He renewed his call for more explo-

ration of new domestic oil and gas reserves, and a transition to renewable energy as well as electric vehicles in the medium to long term. Meanwhile, the Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP) filed a petition with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to increase the minimum fare in jeepneys to P15 as fuel prices continue to rise. In its petition, the group said the rising costs of fuel and basic commodities meant that drivers of public utility jeeps can no longer provide their families three meals a day. They asked for a “conservative fare increase” of the minimum fare to P15 for the first four kilometers. LTOP president Orlando Marquez acknowledged that the fare increase would hurt commuters but said jeepney operators and drivers have to make a living. Lawmakers on Thursday said Congress should tackle bills to suspend fuel taxes if it holds a special session to review the 1998 Oil Deregulation Law. “I am for revisiting the law that deregulated the oil industry, but in terms of providing our people immediate and

direct relief from soaring fuel prices, suspending taxes on oil products is considerably a better option,” said Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor. He said among Malacañang’s proposals in the review of the 1998 law is the building of oil reserves that can be drawn upon when world oil prices shoot up. “I am for that. But how many years would that take? In the meantime, our people are clamoring for instant relief,” he said. Reps. Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna and Arlene Brosas of Gabriela urged Malacañang to certify as urgent a bill suspending the excise tax on oil products and called for a special session to deal with skyrocketing fuel prices. Zarate, a House deputy minority leader, said Malacaņang should walk the talk by certifying as urgent a bill that will repeal or at the minimum review and amend the Oil Deregulation Law. Brosas said the House committee on ways and means panel already approved the substitute bill in November last year. “Since Congress adjourned, the ball is on Malacanang’s court to call for a special session and certify the measure as urgent,” Brosas said.

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our local governments and our government agencies… let’s maintain 100 percent capacity,” she added. “Do not go beyond the 100 percent capacity because this could be the source of diseases again and our COVID-19 cases could increase again,” she said. Metro Manila was placed under the least restrictive level in a five-tier COVID quarantine system starting March 1 as the number of new cases dropped in the country. Under the said alert level, public transportation is allowed to operate at full capacity. However, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday said public transport drivers should not allow standing passengers, even after quarantine restrictions were loosened. Zona Tamayo, LTFRB’s regional director for Metro Manila, said 100 percent capacity does not mean bus operators may accommodate standing passengers. Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation on Thursday said it will increase the passenger arrival cap at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from 5,000 to 10,000 in anticipation of the influx of passengers. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the agency’s aviation sector has prepared for the downgrading of the NCR’s alert level status to fully reopen the economy. “Two days ago, we hit 7,500 for inbound passengers at the NAIA. And we are expecting in the next couple of days it will be 10,000 passengers. Are we ready for the gradual increase from 5,000 to 10,000? The answer is ‘yes,;” Tugade said. Under Alert Level 1, airlines are allowed to operate at 100 percent passenger capacity with mandatory safety measures in effect. Tugade likewise announced that the NAIA Terminal 4 will resume its operations on March 28, 2022 with domestic travel posting an increase of over 150 percent from January to February this year. Similarly, the newly-inaugurated NAIA Taxiway Charlie will allow the airport to accommodate more arrivals and departures per day. The upgraded taxiway will increase slots from the previous 34 to 40 aircraft to 44 to 46 aircraft.

Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion on February 24. Grandi said the numbers were rising with incredible speed. “I have worked in refugee emergencies for almost 40 years, and rarely have I seen an exodus as rapid as this one,” he said. “Hour by hour, minute by minute, more people are fleeing the terrifying reality of violence,” he said. The UN’ aid chief on Thursday pleaded for humanitarians to be allowed to work unhindered in the Ukraine conflict, in an interview with AFP. “Protect civilians, for God’s sake, in Ukraine; let us do our job,” the UN’s emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths said, adding that with $1.5 billion rapidly raised for urgent aid, “we have the resources.” More than half of those who have fled Ukraine have crossed into neighboring Poland. Hungary, Moldova, Hungary and Slovakia have also welcomed many refugees. The UNHCR said more than 505,500 people have left Ukraine for Poland in the past week. Poland’s border guards put the figure at over 575,000 by early

Thursday, with 95,000 having crossed on Wednesday alone. Countless people have also been displaced inside the Ukraine. Grandi said UNHCR staff and other humanitarians were “working where and when they can in frightening conditions” inside Ukraine. “Our staff stay, even at great risk, because we know the needs in the country are huge.” The UN refugee chief also hailed the “remarkable” response of governments and local communities in surrounding countries that have received more than one million refugees. “International solidarity has been heart-warming,” he said. “But nothing – nothing – can replace the need for the guns to be silenced; for dialogue and diplomacy to succeed. Peace is the only way to halt this tragedy.” France on Thursday expressed fear that the worst phase of Russia’s war on Ukraine could be yet to start, with key Ukrainian cities at risk of encirclement by Russian forces. “I think it is possible that the worst is ahead of us,” Foreign Minister JeanYves Le Drian told France 2 TV, saying that Russia would look to besiege cities after its initial expectations of a quick victory were scuppered by Ukrainian

resistance. “The Russians entered Ukraine looking for a blitzkrieg, a fast advance that would allow Russia to control Ukraine,” said Le Drian. “It was not the case, due to the exemplary, courageous and strong resistance from the Ukrainians.” He said after the fall to Russia of the southern city of Kherson – confirmed by Ukraine overnight – centers including Kharkiv in the east, Mariupol in the south and Kyiv itself were at risk of encirclement. “As forces build up around those cities we can fear a siege mentality,” he said. Germany, for its part, will increase its weapons deliveries to Ukraine by sending 2,700 anti-aircraft missiles to the conflict zone, a government source told AFP on Thursday. The government “approved further support for Ukraine,” involving the delivery of STRELA-type anti-aircraft missiles of Soviet manufacture, which were previously used by the army of communist East Germany, the source said. Germany’s first arms consignment of 1,000 anti-tank and another 500 antiaircraft missiles has already been dispatched to the front, the government said on Wednesday. AFP

New oil... From A1

Maute... From A1 have evidence on that,” he said, adding “he was among those who joined the Marawi siege but got out during the early stage of the fighting.” The Maute group laid siege on

CHED... From A1 in its Facebook post. In a memorandum dated February 21, CHED Chairperson Prospero de Vera III instructed the commission’s regional offices to disseminate the information on the matter to avoid the spread of fake news and confusion among students who are interested in applying. Meanwhile, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) reminds all educational institutions to not burden parents, as well as their minor children, with additional costs and requirements as the country’s educational institutions pre-

are waiting for the call of Hong Kong’s Center for Health Protection so they can be transported to a quarantine site. “Out of these 221 OFWs, 43 recovered, 95 are with their employers, 22 in government quarantine facilities, 22 in NGO facilities, 23 in boarding houses, six in hotels, and eight in hospitals,” he said. There were reports that some employers terminated Filipino domestic helpers who have tested positive for the virus. Dizon said three domestic workers in Hong Kong who were terminated after they contracted the virus were already rehired by their employers. He assured that the Philippine Overseas Labor Office was ready to assist Filipino workers who will be terminated by their employers because they are COVID-19 positive. He added that the Hong Kong government has also vowed to assist

them and has warned employers against terminating Filipino workers. Dizon said Hong Kong had zero reported COVID-19 cases during the early part of January. However, in the same month, cases suddenly climbed to 100. From 6,000 cases during early February, cases rapidly increased to around 55,000 now. To combat the upsurge of COVID-19 cases, the Hong Kong government strictly implemented social distancing and temporarily banned social gatherings. They also required vaccine passes in establishments such as gyms and restaurants, according to Dizon. To help the OFWs affected by the COVID surge and those who got infected, Dizon said that the agency will provide food assistance, hygiene kits, power banks, and $200 (over P10,000) and financial aid upon their recovery. Earlier on, the head of the Senate labor committee sought more aid for COVIDinfected overseas Filipino workers in

Hong Kong and urged the government to send a fully-staffed Navy ship to accommodate Filipinos turned away from overwhelmed Hong Kong hospitals. Sen. Joel Villanueva, citing the remittances of OFWs totalling P162 billion, urged that the 200,000-strong community of OFWs in Hong Kong receive bigger help from their homeland. At the same time, Villanueva said if a Navy ship could be sent as a fullystaffed floating hospital to accommodate Filipinos turned away from overwhelmed Hong Kong hospitals, “then it would be of great help.” “[There are just] two or three sailing days from Manila, [and there are] AFP personnel and equipment available,” he said. Villanueva, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resource Development, said any aid by the Philippine government should be cobbled together with the remittances record of Filipinos from Hong Kong in mind.

Marawi City in May 2017 which lasted five months that claimed the lives of 168 soldiers and policemen, 47 civilians and 1,000 terrorists including then ISIS-Southeast Asia emir Isnilon Hapilon. Zacariah was among at least 60 terrorists inside the camp of the Maute Group that was assaulted by govern-

ment troops and military bomber planes in Maguing town in Lanao del Sur Tuesday this week. Cuerpo said the fighting killed seven Maute members, one soldier, and left four others injured. Authorities said they received reports that Zacariah was planning atrocities during the Ramadan next month and

during the national elections in May, Cuerpo said. But he said the military “in Lanao del Sur continue to intensify our operations to eliminate the threats and achieve our ultimate goal of establishing lasting peace and progress for the people of Mindanao. Our operations are very specific and surgical.”

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pare for the return in-person classes. ARTA director general Jeremiah Belgica said the agency supported the Department of Education’s (DepEd) position that vaccination of students, though encouraged, was not mandatory. In other words, children are not required to get the vaccine before being able to attend their classes. Schools, colleges, and other educational institutions must be reminded that the students’ parents are the ones to decide on whether they will have their children vaccinated against COVID-19 or not, ARTA said. The agency will continue to monitor the situation on the ground to ensure that no educational institution is forcing students to submit additional requirements.

Nuclear... From A1 strong opposition from those who have safety concerns. In Executive Order No. 164 dated Feb. 28, Duterte cited the experience of highly developed countries which shows that nuclear power can be a “reliable, cost-competitive, and environment-friendly energy source.” “The national government commits to the introduction of nuclear power energy into the state’s energy mix for power generation,” the order said. The EO outlined the national government’s position for a nuclear energy program, taking into account

economic, political, social, and environmental objectives. “For the country to achieve its sustained growth targets, it must ensure that it has a reliable, secure, sustainable, quality, affordable electricity supply, including sufficient reserve to guarantee that there will be no disruptions in the power supply,” the order said. Toward this end, and taking into consideration the experience of developed and growing economies, nuclear power shall be tapped as a viable alternative baseload power source along with alternative energy resources, to address the projected decline of coal-fired power plants, which come under increasing environmental opposition, the docu-

Fil-Chi groups to donate P2m to aid OFWs THE president of the Chinese General Hospital in Metro Manila, Dr. James Dy, has offered to donate P2 million to the Department of Labor and Employment to help repatriate Overseas Filipino Workers infected with coronavirus 2019. In a statement, Dy said this would be done through his organizations -the Filipino Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Inc., (FCGCCI) and the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association, Inc. (PCCAI). With the surge of COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong, the administrative region’s health system has been overwhelmed by the rise of infected residents. “I was moved with pity upon learning of the sad plight of our ‘kababayans’ in Hong Kong who were forced to sleep in airport terminals and public parks for the past two nights after employers advised them to go home upon testing positive for COVID-19,” Dy said in a statement. Dy requested Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to contact the Department of Foreign Affairs through the Hong Kong Labor Attache and offered to help. He initially thought of sending Molnupiravir, an oral antiviral treatment drug for COVID 19 infection, together with doctors and nurses to help take care of the OFWs but there was no available flight to Hong Kong. Dy then offered to help charter a plane to bring home the sick OFWs through the Department of Labor and Employment. “This is a simple token of gratitude to our modern-day Filipino heroes. We wanted to help assure the health and well-being of our OFWs who are working hard for their families and are stranded and sick abroad,” Dy said. He added: “These heroes are an important backbone of our economy through their monthly remittances of hard-earned money from abroad. Now is the time to look out for them in their time of need.”

Laylo... From A1 the support of the majority of Filipinos, with 6 out of 10 voters choosing him over the other candidates. On the other hand, Vice President Leni Robredo had 17 percent. Tied for the third spot with seven percent each are Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Sen. Manny Pacquiao, followed by Senator Ping Lacson with three percent. Marcos also dominated the major voting areas with voter preferences in NCR at 61 percent, North/Central Luzon at 80 percent, South Luzon/Bicol at 48 percent, Visayas at 53 percent, and Mindanao at 71 percent. The voter preference by region also showed the Solid North voting bloc stands behind the UniTeam as Marcos posted 80 percent in North/Central Luzon, 86 percent in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), 91 percent in Ilocos, and 98 percent in Cagayan Valley. Among the top reasons why respondents preferred Marcos over the other candidates were his distinguished public service career, his achievements as local chief executive of Ilocos Norte, and his intelligence which shows a clear grasp on issues. Marcos has appealed to everyone to join the ‘Kilusan ng Pagkakaisa’ as a means for Filipinos to commit themselves to nation-building. Marcos and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, have repeatedly said that achieving unity is the first step toward sustained economic recovery and progress.

ment said. “Life cycle emissions from nuclear power chains are comparable with the best renewable energy chains and several orders of magnitude lower than fossil fuel chains,” it said. “The state envisions nuclear power as a viable component to bridge the gap between rising energy demands and supply, taking into account learnings from the past, national, social and economic development pathways, as well as international legal and regulatory frameworks, and best practices,” it added. The Department of Energy (DOE) earlier completed a feasibility study on the viability of introducing nuclear power in the country’s energy mix.

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Heart disease cases rise 28% in PH during pandemic — PHA By Willie Casas

SOON TO BE COMPLETED. Work continues at the Unified Grand Central Station (Common Station) at North Edsa in Quezon City. The station is expected to be completed before the end of President Duterte’s term. Transport Secretary Arturo Tugade with H.E. Kazuhiko Koshikawa-Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, along with other MRT officials inspected the ongoing construction. Manny Palmero

DHSUD awards 200 new houses to Maranaws By Rio N. Araja DEPARTMENT of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Authority Secretary Eduardo del Rosario as Task Force Bangon Marawi chairperson on Thursday turned over more than 200 permanent shelters to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and inaugurated public infrastructure “as the massive government-led rehabilitation is heading into the homestretch.” He, along with Stean Tshiband, a representative of the United Nations Resident Coordinator; Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra and TFBM field office manager Assistant Secretary Felix Castro Jr., spearheaded the awarding of the permanent subdivisionlike housing in Barangay Gadongan. “This is another solid proof of our commitment to bring back better Marawi and more resilient Maranaws. New homes, fresh starts for our brother and sister Maranaws,” he said. “This is also in pursuit of our principle considering shelter as a right of every Filipino family and it is our responsibility to capacitate them, especially the underprivileged and in this case the IDPs, to have access to decent housing in resilient and sustainable communities,” he added. “We remain on track to complete the rehabilitation by about 95 percent this June and will finish all the remaining projects by December this year. With your hard work, we can do it,” he further stated.

THE Philippine Heart Association (PHA) said on Thursday that cases of heart diseases in the Philippines increased by 28 percent in 2021, which may have been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Tumaas ng 28 percent. Nakakagulat at nakakatakot. Halos 30 percent ‘yan. Ito ay nangyari during the pandemic, so ibig sabihin may epekto talaga ang pandemic sa cardiovascular disease (Heart ailments increased by 28 percent . This is surprising and frightening. That’s almost 30 percent. This happened during the pandemic, so it means that the pandemic affects cardiovascular disease.),” PHA president Dr. Gilbert Vilela said during a Laging Handa” briefing. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data show that ischaemic heart diseases were the leading cause of death from January to October 2021 with 110,332 cases or 18.3 percent of the total deaths in the country. This was a 28-percent increase from

Gov’t lauds villages for virus response By Joel E. Zurbano

HE government on Thursday recognized more than 49,000 barangays in the country for their excellent response to protect their communities against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The Barangay Health Emergency Response Team Excellence Awards in Thwarting the Coronavirus Disease (BEAT COVID- 19) Project awards were given to the 49,914 barangays nationwide in recognition of their significant efforts in the government’s COVID-19 response. Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said that the BEAT COVID-19 Project is a pat on the back for the exemplary performance of the 49,914 BHERTs across the country

leading to the current downtrend of COVID-cases in the Philippines. “We have to give credit where credit is due. Our BHERTs have been with us even before Day 1 of the pandemic. They are the ones working in communities. They have been instrumental in our country’s fight against COVID-19 and through the BEAT COVID-19 Project we are telling them that we see their contributions and that we value them,” he said. “This [BEAT COVID-19 Project] is a

small token of our acknowledgment for our BHERTs’ service to the Filipinos as they selflessly risked their lives and health to provide necessary assistance to the people,” he added. The DILG chief said that BHERTs has been the constant partners of the national government and other instrumentalities of the government in addressing COVID19-related concerns in the communities together with the hired contact tracers and members of the Local COVID-19 Task Forces. As the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) approved the easing to COVID-19 Alert Level 1 status of National Capital Region (NCR) and 38 other areas in the country from March 1 to 15, Año said that “it is vital that we commend the people that help us get here.”

LIMITED FACE-TOFACE CLASSES. OIC Principal Sancha M. Padilla (standing right) is introduced by a teacher to the Grade 3 students during the expanded phase of limited face-toface classes at the New Era Elementary School in Barangay New Era, Sampaloc 5, Dasmarinas City, Cavite on Thursday. All school personnel and pupils have been vaccinated.

Supreme Court set to test online payment system for court-related fees By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court (SC) will pilot test its online payment of all court fees from lawyers and litigants, and others fees like those for clearances, certifications, and other court services. Dubbed as the “Judiciary Electronic Payment Solution,” the online payment will be tested in 20 first-level courts in the country based on a circular issued by the Office of the Court Administrator. In a statement released by the SC’s Public

Information Office, Court Administrator Raul Villanueva said that clerks of court of the 20 pilot courts were directed “to adopt the Interim Guidelines Implementation of the JEPS which, among others, designates the Union Bank of the Philippines (UBP) system as an alternative mode of payment of legal fees and other collections, in addition to the Fortune Pay Online Portal, until the integration of the latter with the system.” Participating courts during the pilot test include the Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC), Quezon City; MeTC Mandaluyong

City; MeTC, San Juan City; Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) in Malolos City, MTCC, Baguio City; MTCC, Angeles City; MTCC, Cabuyao City; MTCC, Naga City; MTCC, Vigan City; MTCC, Ilagan City; MTCC, Puerto Prinsesa City; MTCC, Bacolod City; MTCC, Lapu-lapu City; MTCC, Dumaguete City; MTCC, Tacloban City; MTCC, Zamboanga City; MTCC, Cagayan de Oro City; MTCC, Cotabato City; MTCC, Dipolog City; and MTCC, Davao City. The clerks of court will post the instructions on how to pay electronically using

UBP system on the payment windows or bulletin boards of their respective courts, both in English and in the local dialect of the place where the pilot court is situated. “The JEPS is aimed at making the assessment and payment of legal fees and other collections of the Judiciary more convenient by providing the litigants, their counsels/ representatives, and persons requesting for clearances, certifications, and other services from the court the option to pay online through major banks as conduit,” the SC said.

QC government holds free mass wedding for more than 6,000 indigent couples By Rio N. Araja OVER 6,000 indigent couples have legitimized their union in month-long mass wedding in Quezon City. Dubbed “Feb-ibig,” the mass weeding included 6,233 indigent Quezon City couples who have been living together, some for as long as four decades, were finally able to solemnize their union through the Kasalang

Bayan for free. The children of the couples who were married through the city government’s program may now change their illegitimate status to legitimated children by subsequent marriage. Executive Order No. 209 of 1987 or the Family Code of the Philippines (Article 165) defines illegitimate children as “children conceived and born outside a valid marriage.” Aside from

that, Article 176 of the Family Code also states that illegitimate children have less rights compared to legitimate children. Legitimated children by subsequent marriage shall enjoy the same rights as legitimate children and this effect shall retroact to the time of the child’s birth (Article 179-180, Family Code). The city government said the couples could also enjoy the legal ben-

efits that come with marriage. All fees for the marriage processing are free, including the application for marriage license and registration of marriage certificate. The traditional cake-cutting and wine tasting were also participated in by selected newly-weds after the ceremony to add to the mass weddings’ festivities. They also receive wedding gifts from their sponsors.

the 86,164 deaths or 16.9 percent of the total deaths in the country during the same period in 2020, the PSA added. The second and third causes of deaths in the country were cerebrovascular diseases and deaths due to COVID-19, respectively. He said that the cause of this case growth may be due to the fear of people with heart conditions to go to the hospitals as they may get infected with the coronavirus disease, enduring their pain while not being able to take medicines. He added that anxiety and mental stress can also lead to a heart disease as they “create a massive systemic inflammation.” “‘Yung mga taong may sakit sa puso, pwedeng maitulak sa heart attack. ‘Yun namang mga taong walang sakit sa puso, pwedeng magkasakit sa puso. Bukod doon” (People with heart disease can have a heart attack. Those people who don’t have heart disease, can get heart disease. Aside from that). “It creates a behavior that is unfriendly to a person’s cardiovascular health,” Vilela also said.

Las Piñas sets month-long vax ‘Bayanihan’ By Joel E. Zurbano MAYOR Imelda Aguilar on Thursday led the launching of a month-long “Bayanihan sa Bakunahan sa Las Piñas,” a program aimed to fully protect the city’s entire population against coronavirus disease. “This program aims to bring closer to the residents the city’s health services particularly the inoculation of COVID-19 jabs to individuals who remain unvaccinated and to those who are set to receive their booster shots,” Aguilar said. The city chief executive said 21 vaccination teams, with each team composed of four to five members led by City Health Office (CHO) chief Juliana Gonzales will be dispatched in the different barangays for the massive inoculation of her constituents. Aguilar said the vaccination teams deployed in the different barangays will also be distributing paracetamol and Vitamin C to those individuals who will receive their COVID-19 jabs. She added 20 fixed posts will be set up in every barangay in the city in order for the residents to have an easy visit for their inoculation and the administering of booster shots. Aside from the setting up of 20 fixed posts in the different barangays, Mayor Aguilar said there will be also a team who will conduct house-to-house vaccination that will render their services to senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs). The mayor also advised residents with comorbidities to visit the vaccination sites identified by the city government for proper monitoring of the patients.

Quezon solon, two others face illegal detention charges By Jimbo Gulle SERIOUS illegal detention charges have been filed against Quezon Province 4th District Rep. Angelina “Helen” Tan, her husband Department of Public Works and Highways Region 1 Director Engr. Ronnel Tan, and a newspaper correspondent with the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office for their alleged roles in the imprisonment of a councilor of Lopez, Quezon. According to the complaint filed by Lopez Councilor Arkie Manuel OrtizYulde, the Tan couple and Jaime Aquino, the correspondent in Pangasinan of a national daily, were liable for the charge under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code as “through fraudulent and illegal means, they have skewed judicial processes.” Yulde was jailed for five months on three charges of rape, serious illegal detention, and child abuse, but was freed last Feb. 9 as the cases were dismissed “not only for lack of legal basis but also on ground of denial of the right to speedy trial,” the councilor said in his complaint. Makati Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Susan T. Villanueva received the councilor’s complaint Thursday afternoon. Rep. Tan, Ilocos Region DPWH Director Tan, and Aquino have yet to comment on the charges at press time.

Comelec sets campaign for poll newbies

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) and election watchdog Democracy Watch Philippines are set to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Friday to promote voter education among Filipino youths and first-time voters in the May 9 polls. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, in a statement Thursday, said the agreement will pave the way to the voter education campaign called Vote Right 2022! -- a series of seminars and lectures to be conducted in partnership with various schools, universities, and non-government organizations nationwide using virtual platforms. “We recognize that educating and empowering the youth sector on the right of suffrage is a collective duty that falls upon not just the Commission but the entire Filipino community -- it really does take a village. Thus, we fully support initiatives that focus on young and first-time voters, because the numbers clearly show that they comprise a huge chunk of registered voters in the May 9 elections,” he added. The Comelec has also committed to field resource persons for the various activities to be conducted. Subject to pertinent data privacy laws, rules, and regulations, the poll body said DemWatch will also be given access to data necessary for the fulfillment of the objectives under the agreement. “DemWatch was Comelec’s partner as early as in the 2016 elections and has extended significant assistance in our voter education programs. We hope to replicate our gains in the 2022 polls,” the poll body official said. As a non-government poll watchdog, DemWatch in recent years has been a key resource organization in various congressional hearings of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Automated Elections

System (JCOC-AES), Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms of the House of Representatives, and Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation in the Senate. The signing ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. at the Comelec Session Hall, 8th floor, Palacio del Gobernador, Intramuros, Manila with acting chairperson Socorro Inting and Jimenez representing the poll body and Francesco Javier Pangalangan, lead convenor of Democracy Watch and convenors Lloyd Ian Zaragoza and Orlando Oxales.

News

BBM-SARA IN BALAYAN. Lakas-CMD President and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez (right) chats with vice presi-

dential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte (center) and presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left) during the Grand Campaign Rally of UniTeam at Balayan, Batangas on Thursday (see story below). Ver Noveno

Isko to resume Rody’s drug war but without ‘tokhang’ By Rey E. Requejo PRESIDENTIAL candidate Isko Moreno Domagoso on Thursday vowed to continue the Duterte administration’s war against illegal drugs, but he will put an end to the controversial “Oplan Tokhang” that have been implemented by law enforcers in pursuing drug suspects unless armed with a search or arrest warrant. “As long as there is search warrant and warrant of arrest. Under the law you can do that any time of the day. As I have said, the war on drugs will continue, then we will recognize the laws that exist and that is what we will implement,” Moreno said. He was interviewed in Pilar, Bataan before the start of the motorcade going

to Balanga City where he paid a courtesy visit to Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos of the Diocese of Balanga. The 47-year-old standard bearer of the Aksyon Demokratiko made the pronouncement when asked if he will continue “Oplan Tokhang” as part of his war against illegal drugs if he becomes president. Under Oplan Tokhang, which translates to knock and plead, authorities visit suspected drug users’ homes and ask them to stop using illegal drugs. Tokhang, however, drew criticisms because of thousands of killings, mostly of small-time users in impoverished areas. But more than going after users and street-level pushers, Moreno said he will focus government resources to go after the big-time distributors of the il-

Lacson wants to end ‘repair and disrepair’ cycle of roads PARTIDO Reporma standard-bearer Senator Ping Lacson expressed his dissatisfaction at the quality of national roads he and his team had to navigate on their way to Bicolandia this week after a two-day visit to Quezon Province recently. In a press conference held at the provincial capitol here on Wednesday, Lacson said he wants to hold the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) accountable over the broken road segments along Maharlika Highway, which they passed from Lucena City enroute to Camarines Norte. “We went through that all the way from Quezon, from Lucena all the way here, there are segments of roads—and you know, this is anecdotal when it comes to the Bicol region, right—that stretch of highway is undergoing endless repairs,” he said. Should he get elected as the 17th president, Lacson said he will conduct a post-construction audit of the various road projects implemented by the DPWH and its contractors to determine if the materials used were substandard and go after whoever were short-changing Filipino taxpayers. “If only we have that (audit system), of course, these contractors, the DPWH, the implementing agencies will be on their toes and they will ensure the materials they are using are not substandard.” “So, we don’t have that. And no one gets charged, no one gets jailed, when six months later after the road was constructed, it is already broken. The only thing we can do is utter profanities whenever our vehicles pass through uneven roads,” he added. Macon Ramos-Araneta

legal substance. “For me, the war on drugs will continue. In this war on drugs, we do not tolerate the sale of drugs. But the thing is we must go to the source. We’ll go after the source,” Moreno stressed. While President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war has stopped syndicates from manufacturing illegal drugs in the country, Moreno noted that the Philippines remains to be flooded with illegal substances. “If it is true that there is no manufacturing here, it means it enters our borders. That is probably part of the smuggling of products into our country. And they enter us, if they used to be able to produce one kilo, only two kilos in a plant, now if they can enter, tons,” he noted.

Pacquiao pushes higher pay, stipends for village workers By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ISKO IN QUIRINO. Presidential candidate Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso is welcomed at Nagtipunan town by Quirino Province gubernatorial candidate Rosario Camma and Mayor Nieverose Camma-Meneses during the Aksyon Demokratiko campaign sortie on Thursday. Mayor Isko arrived on board a helicopter before presenting his platform to various indigenous peoples and residents. Norman Cruz

CHAMPIONING the cause of the country’s barangay workers, PROMDI presidential candidate Sen. Manny Pacquiao yesterday declared his commitment to push for the regularization, salary standardization, and the special risk allowances during calamities for barangay personnel. Pacquiao declared this in conjunction with his adoption as a son of Brgy. Poblacion Oeste in Dagupan City on the second day of his sorties in Pangasinan province. In his talks with Brgy. Poblacion Oeste chairman Macmac Gutierrez during a “boodle fight” with barangay officials and residents, Pacquiao said that he has filed a bill which seeks to give barangay personnel regular salaries just like other government workers.

Robredo seeks Mindoro priests’ help to fight misinformation The Vice President cited the powerful you would not like to waste it,” she said. force of youth. “This is why I am asking you as first“The youth here, who among you are time voters to use the power in your VICE President Leni Robredo on Thursday met with priests in Ori- first-time voters? Many of you are first- hands. Do not waste your vote by voting ental Mindoro, seeking their help time voters. When it is your first time, wrong,” Robredo added. to fight disinformation against candidates. The presidential candidate visited the Pinamalayan municipality and told the Diocesan priests that their biggest problem was “disinformation machinery” that had been prevailing for many years. Robredo said she is working with different religious groups to enable her gather the best practices to stop disinformation during elections. “It doesn’t have to be a campaign for me but the truth so that the people’s decisions are based on the truth,” she said. The priests vowed to “campaign for the truth.” MONSOUR IN BATANGAS. Senatorial candidate Monsour Del Rosario Pink-clad supporters of Robredo, presses the flesh Thursday as he toured the towns of Taal, San Luis, Lemery and Balaymostly the youth, welcomed her at the an in Batangas. The Partido Reporma candidate also visited the market in Cuenca to Pinamalayan Park. greet the traders and buyers there.

By Rio N. Araja

Batangas governor convinced UniTeam ‘is exactly what country needs now’ Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas on Thursday expressed strong conviction that the UniTeam tandem of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential bet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte is exactly what the country needs at this time. “Let us unite. That is our goal. Let us set aside arrogance. Our goal is to promote the dignity of the Filipino people,” Man-

“So, there must be something wrong with our port of entry, whether it is air or water. And remember we are an archipelagic country, and we don’t have enough resources to guard our country’s more than 7,000 islands. So most likely here he enters. So we have to watch, we have to tighten,” Moreno said. Among the things Moreno intends to do to address the issue once elected is to appoint a retired Navy flag officer who has the expertise in guarding the country’s borders and preventing the entry of illegal drugs as Defense secretary. The Manila city mayor also wants to strengthen the capabilities of the Navy and the Coast Guard in terms of ships, personnel and firepower to serve both objectives.

danas appealed to Filipinos Thursday, during an ambush interview on the sidelines of the BBM-Sara UniTeam’s huge campaign rally in Balayan, Batangas. The campaign battle cry of Marcos and Duterte, who were both present at the event, has been that of unity. Also, against a backdrop of a waning pandemic and a bright prospect of a nation rising from the ashes of the destruction brought about by COVID-19, Marcos Jr. on

Thursday said there is a need to revisit the pandemic preparedness bill that was filed by the late senator Miriam Santiago. Marcos stressed that the move is intended to ensure “that the country will be ready to address any health issue of this magnitude that could threaten and disrupt the public health system in the future.” Answering a question during interview, Mandanas acknowledged that Batangueños in particular haven’t carried Marcos to

victory in past elections. But he said the May 2022 polls will be different, since the conditions are now different. With this, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) stalwart guaranteed that the entire province of Batangas would be behind BBM-Sara come election day. He said Batangas has 1.8 million registered voters. Rey E. Requejo

Pacquiao has authored Senate Bill 1956 or the “Barangay Officials Salary 2 Standardization Act of 2020” which seeks to amend the Local Government Code to finally give barangay officials and personnel their regular salaries and special risk allowance during calamities. The bill which remains pending in the Senate, “seeks to provide regularization, salary standardization, and additional benefits that will supplement those already provided in existing laws, rules, and regulations, in favor of all appointed and elected barangay officials.” The bill also proposes that barangay chief executives, the members of the Sangguniang Barangay, the Sangguniang Kabataan Chairperson, the Barangay Secretary, and Barangay Treasurer are declared as regular government employees of the government thereby allowing them to enjoy the benefits of all government workers.

Joy B files 100+ cyber-libel cases vs. rival Defensor QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Thursday filed over 100 cyber libel suits against Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, her rival for the mayoralty in the May 9 elections, before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office for allegedly “crossing the boundaries of free speech.” Defensor supposedly posted on social media that Belmonte organized a “Baklas army” removing his campaign materials, and that in the same post, he labeled the mayor as “mapanghati, mapanira, kasukasuka, at kapit-tuko sa kapangyarihan” [divisive, slanderous, sickening, and grasping tightly to power]. “I don’t usually look at Facebook pages, especially if I know that they would be of no use or benefit. In truth, as soon as he [Defensor] decided to run for mayor, we already knew that he would engage in the kind of behavior he is now displaying,” Belmonte said. “Sometime in early February, however, I was informed by a concerned citizen that his official posts were already libelous. When I finally read them, I confirmed that these were no longer acceptable nor tolerable, and legal lines were crossed,” she added. Defensor laughed off Belmonte’s complaint, dismissing it as “a cheap publicity gimmick.” “The complaint is silly and futile because Mayor Belmonte is an elected official, not a private individual. And she knows this,” the congressman said in a statement. Rio N. Araja and Maricel V. Cruz

Opinion Opinion as testimony THE word “opinion” has different meanings. It may be defined as a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind of a person about a particular matter; a belief stronger than impression; or the formal advice of an expert (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). It may also refer to the reason given for a court’s judgment, finding, or conclusion (Barron’s Law Dictionary). People enjoy giving opinions about politics, sports, government, economics, and most recently the pandemic, its extent, and (hopeful) end. Opinions are as ubiquitous as persons peopling an area. Mainstream and social media have opened the floodgates of public opinion, whether twisted or well-meaning. Opinions are sometimes generated by interviewing bystanders, who unfortunately often possess only the bare minimum of facts concerning the issue being discussed. These are sometimes packaged as public opinion. Opinions are also generated through surveys, both traditional or street (kalye) surveys. The topics may range from voter preferences, to satisfaction ratings, or to the current administration’s handling of controversial issues such as the West Philippine Sea, appointments in government, or alleged graft-ridden government transactions. However reliable traditional surveys tout themselves to be, these are not evidence admissible in court for an election protest or contest case, the reason being that the respondents in those surveys are not readily identifiable, and that it does not significantly represent the class it claims to represent. For instance, can two to three thousand respondents adequately reflect the preferences of the entire voting population? The outcome may also vary depending on the economic, educational, and political interests or prejudices of the respondents, as well as question construction. Opinion is not acceptable in court since a witness must have personal knowledge of the matter he will testify on. However, the opinion of a witness may be received in evidence if he will testify on a matter in which he has special knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education (Section 52, Rule 130, Rules on Evidence). The witnesses who are allowed to give their opinion in court are known as expert witnesses. Some of these experts are doctors, psychotherapists, medico-legal officers, property appraisers, ballistic experts, and forensic chemists, among others. Experts will have to be qualified as such before they testify unless the parties stipulate his or her expertise. In one case, the Supreme Court admitted

A DIVIDED US Supreme Court heard arguments on Monday in an environmental regulation case with potentially far-reaching implications for the Biden administration’s fight against climate change. The high-stakes case concerns the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants, which produce nearly 20 percent of the electricity in the United States. As the Supreme Court was hearing arguments, the United Nations issued a landmark report containing dire warnings over climate change. While the three liberal justices on the ninemember Supreme Court appeared largely to support arguments that the EPA was operating within its brief, several of the conservative justices appeared skeptical. “This agency is doing greenhouse gas regulation,” said Justice Sonia Sotomayor, one of the liberal members of the court. “This is in, you know, exactly in its wheelhouse.” Jacob Roth, arguing for The North America Coal Corp., said the EPA is going beyond its remit. “The agency is asking questions like: Should we phase out the coal industry? Should we build more solar farms in this country? Should we restrict how consumers use electricity in order to bring down emissions? “Those are not the types of questions we expect the agency to be answering,” Roth said. In 2007, the Supreme Court, by a narrow majority, ruled that the EPA has the power to

the testimony of a pathologist in a medical negligence action against a hospital and its doctors for the death of a child due to dengue fever. Although the expert witness specialized in pathology, he attended not less than 30 seminars on the subject, was exposed to pediatrics, had practiced for 16 years, and handled not less than 50 dengue-related cases (Casumpang v. Cortejo, G.R. No. 171127, March 11, 2015).

Not all forms of opinion are accepted by the court. It is not necessary for some expert witnesses to have perceived the matters he or she will testify on. However, there may be experts who can be called to confirm a previous opinion based on his perception in situ. For example, a DNA expert who interpreted the DNA result or a medico-legal officer who conducted the autopsy of the deceased victim. In certain cases, ordinary witnesses may give an opinion on identity, handwriting, and mental sanity (Section 53, Rule 130, Rules on Evidence). It is common to see in court an accused being positively identified by a witness, or to recall an out-of-court identification of a person made after seeing the suspect in a police line-up identification. An ordinary witness may also give an opinion on handwriting to which he or she is familiar with. This corrects the notion that only a handwriting expert can testify on the genuineness of handwriting. In fact, the Rules on Evidence allows the comparison of the contested handwriting and the admitted handwriting specimen of the subject by the court or a witness (expert or not) (Section 22, Rule 132, Rules on Evidence) . An opinion can be given of the mental sanity of a person as long as the ordinary witness is sufficiently acquainted with the former. Furthermore, a person’s impressions of the emotions, behavior, conditions, or appearance of another may also be the subject of an opinion of an ordinary witness (Section 53, Rule 130, Rules on Evidence). All these matters of opinion of ordinary witnesses are, in fact, based on their perception. It is reliable and trustworthy, because conclusions are formed based on actual perception. However, opinions on handwriting, mental sanity, or identity can still be refuted by an expert. This can occur when the handwriting is difficult to decipher; when a person’s mental state is punctuated by lucid intervals set against a backdrop of a possible personality disorder; or when a body is mangled beyond recognition. More serious mental disorders brought about by systemic illness or substance abuse may also need elucidation by an expert. Full version on www.manilastandard.net

regulate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants under the Clean Air Act of 1970. In 2015, Democratic president Barack Obama unveiled his Clean Power Plan, which was intended to combat global warming by reducing carbon dioxide emissions from coal- and gas-burning plants and shifting energy production to clean sources such as solar and wind power.

Experts said humanity is perilously close to missing its chance to secure a liveable future. The Clean Power Plan was blocked in the Supreme Court in 2016 and repealed by former Republican president Donald Trump, who replaced it with his own industry-friendly Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule. Trump, a climate change skeptic hostile to government regulation of industry, also nominated three justices to the Supreme Court, giving conservatives a 6-3 majority. ‘Constrain EPA authority’ The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia threw out Trump’s ACE rule on the last day of his presidency, setting the stage for the case currently before the Supreme Court: West Virginia vs EPA. West Virginia and several other coalproducing states asked the Supreme Court to intervene and define the powers of the EPA. The case has also been embraced by opponents of strong government regulatory authority. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, argu-

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EDITORIAL

US Supreme Court hears climate case as UN issues stark warning

By Chris Lefkow

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

Food supply and oil stock

HE Russia-Ukraine conflict has amplified the need to secure national food supply and keep a healthy oil inventory. A well-fed nation and ample oil inventory will assure the wheels of the economy are moving.

There is nothing much the Philippines can do about soaring oil prices in the world market. Prices will keep increasing because of the uncertainty of the war that disrupts the crude supply chain. The same is true with commodities like wheat and corn. With Russia and Ukraine as major wheat and corn suppliers, prices have gone up steeply in the world market. The Philippines will eventually feel the impact of rising feed wheat and corn prices—local hog raisers rely heavily on wheat and corn feeds for their production. Skyrocketing oil prices and more expensive pork will certainly exert pressure on the inflation rate and reduce the purchasing power of consumers. The

Weaning away the Philippines from oil imports is the bigger challenge. twin negative effects of the war on the Philippine economy may be temporary, depending on how soon the RussiaUkraine war ends. But the Philippines should learn its lessons from this geopolitical conflict. Minimizing the economic fallout from the European conflict is the challenge faced by the Philippines. President

Duterte the other day agreed with the recommendation of the economic team to, among other things, strengthen the economy and stabilize prices by boosting local production to ensure food stability in the Philippines. Increased food production and less reliance on imports are the ideal situation and they can certainly be done. Weaning away the Philippines from oil imports is the bigger challenge. The Philippines should now intensify its shift to electric-powered vehicles to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Public and private vehicles and mass transportation such as buses and rail should run on electricity fed by batteries, solar and wind farms, geothermal energy, hydro and other renewable sources.s Attaining energy and food security for a country like the Philippines is a big leap forward. It will shield the nation from the vagaries of the world oil and commodities market—and wars that fracture the supply link.

Asia-Pacific countries poised to transform agrifood systems By Qu Dongyu

Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

idly across Asia and the Pacific, from West Asia, all across South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia to the Pacific island countries.

THE current nutrition situation in Asia and the Pacific is difficult in many areas across the region. About 40 percent of its inhabitants cannot afford a healthy diet, and in some areas the fight against hunger has seen reversals rather than advances. Progress toward meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of defeating both poverty (SDG 1) and hunger (SDG 2) has been thrown off track amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated both lives and livelihoods. Luckily, the picture is not all bleak and there are signs of optimism and dynamism. Advances in the region’s agrifood systems are changing the ways in which food is sustainably produced, marketed and consumed. This transformation reflects a greater awareness by Asia-Pacific producers and a growing demand from consumers for healthier, more nutritious foods. Crop and livestock farmers, fishers, pastoralists, other producers and retailers – large and small – are successfully turning to innovative ideas and digital technologies. These improvements in production and sustainable resource management keeps more money in their pockets, while also helping to reverse environmental degradation. All this is helping to create a paradigm shift that is taking shape in other parts of the world too. In Asia and the Pacific, there is a clear and growing movement toward innovation and digitalization along the entire agrifood value chain. Retail grocery and food shopping is an important example. This is not only a phenomenon of well-developed economies, with four out of five sales of online food and grocery purchases taking place in the Asia-Pacific region. This is just one aspect of the agrifood systems overhaul that is reshaping countries rap-

In the Pacific’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS), grassroots entrepreneurs are increasingly stepping forward. Their innovative smartphone apps help producers and consumers to make informed, nutritious choices. The private and development sectors are also leveraging increasingly available data to make the supply chain of agricultural commodities to markets more efficient and timely, and to map areas vulnerable to extreme weather events. Several of these innovations were showcased at the ‘SIDS Solutions Forum’, the first of an event to be held biennially, co-convened in August 2021 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Fiji. There are still some challenges in accessing data on demand and without interruption, as we saw when Tonga’s undersea communications cable was severed during the eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai volcano. But these setbacks will bring forth the new ideas needed to overcome them! At FAO, we are working with our Members across Asia and the Pacific region to transform agrifood systems to be MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable - to the benefit of all. Through the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, we are assisting policy makers in their plans to further leverage data, technology and innovation to meet the SDGs targets by 2030.

ing before the court for the administration of President Joe Biden, said the justices should just wait until the EPA publishes its new rules, expected before the end of the year. “The DC Circuit’s judgment leaves no EPA rule in effect,” Prelogar said. “No federal regulation will occur until EPA completes its upcoming rulemaking. “Petitioners aren’t harmed by the status quo,” she said. “Instead, what they seek from this court is a decision to constrain EPA authority in the upcoming rulemaking.” In its brief to the court, West Virginia accused the EPA of acting like “the country’s central energy planning authority.” Justice Samuel Alito, one of the more conservative members of the court, questioned how far the EPA could go in regulating emissions. “Is there any reason EPA couldn’t force the adoption of a system for single family homes that is similar to what it has done, what it is claiming it can do, with respect to existing power plants?” Alito asked. Prelogar, the solicitor general, replied that the EPA “has never listed homes as a source category and couldn’t do so because they are far too diverse and differentiated.” Robert Percival, director of the Environmental Law Program at the University of Maryland, said the conservative majority on the court

“seems determined to put a stake in the heart of a regulation that has been dead for years in order to rein in EPA in the future.” UN experts, in the report issued Monday on the global impacts of climate change, said humanity is perilously close to missing its chance to secure a “liveable” future. “The cumulative scientific evidence is unequivocal: Climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and planetary health,” the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said. Any further delay in global action to cut carbon pollution “will miss a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all,” the 195-nation IPCC warned. Before the Supreme Court hearing, Harvard University environmental law professor Richard Lazarus said there was “good reason for concern” the conservative-leaning court would argue that Congress does not have the power to delegate its regulatory powers to the agency. Given the stalemate in Congress, he said “such a ruling would seriously threaten the national government’s ability to address some of the nation’s most pressing problems.” The Supreme Court is expected to issue its decision in West Virginia vs EPA before June. AFP

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

They are doing this through innovation and digital technologies, and FAO ready to support its members in the region.

We are proactively identifying and supporting digital villages across the region as part of FAO’s 1,000 Digital Villages Initiative. We are continuing to nurture and promote country-led SIDS solutions and Hand-in-Hand partnerships, which includes advising on climate event mitigation and adaptation, and helping to overcome the damage caused to lives and livelihoods by the pandemic and the climate crisis. These are among the topics that will be discussed at the 36th Session of the FAO Asia and the Pacific Regional Conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from 8 to 11 March. FAO Members from the region – 46 in total – will come together to build on the transformational agenda and actions under the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31, along with the recommendations of the UN Food Systems Summit 2021. FAO is leading in hosting the recently established Coordination Hub for the follow up of the Summit, which will support countries in further developing and implementing national pathways towards agrifood systems transformation in line with national priorities. Working with our Members in Asia and the Pacific, we will create even stronger partnerships with academic and research institutions, civil society organizations, cooperatives, parliamentarians and the private sector, with the inclusion of women and youth, as part of our commitment to the global efforts to build back better. FAO is supporting the region to think big and act concretely. We are providing a constructive hand, but we need many more hands to reach our collective goals. For a better world with a better future for our children, we need better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all – leaving no one behind. For this, we need strong political will and efficient, effective and coherent multilateral actions.

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AS WILD STORM FRONT KILLS 13

Australia orders 200,000 to flee floods

ustralia’s emergency services Thursday ordered 200,000 people to flee from the path of a wild storm that has killed 13 people in a week of record-setting east coast floods, but the city of Sydney escaped the worst of the deluge. Manila

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IN RE : Amendment to CAB Resolution Numbers 32 And 72 S. 2018 on Capital and Operational Requirements for the Grant of Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

Authorities issued severe rain and wind warnings for a 400-kilometer (250-mile) stretch of the coast as water levels rose rapidly – including in suburbs around Sydney, Australia’s largest city and home to five million people. The unpredictable storm front has crawled southwards along the east coast from Queensland to New South Wales, creating havoc as rivers and reservoirs broke their banks with water swamping homes up to their roofs. A low-pressure system sat off the coast hundreds of kilometres north of Sydney,

dumping the heaviest rain in that area and was less than had been predicted. sparing the city from a feared downpour, said Major floods are still under way in some meteorologist Ben Domensino of Weather- areas west of Sydney along the Hawkesbury zone. and Nepean rivers – which snakes across the “Sydney escaped the heaviest falls today,” city’s suburbs – said a spokeswoman for the he told AFP, predicting that the storm would New South Wales bureau of meteorology. CYAN MAGENTA weaken by Friday. “That’s a systemYELLOW that is veryBLACK big and it will The Warragamba Dam in southwestern take a while for it to ease off,” she warned. Sydney, which supplies 80 percent of the In the historic town of Windsor – where city’s water, has been spilling over since the many of Australia’s oldest surviving Euroearly hours of Wednesday. pean buildings are – Paul Caleo joined other The forecast of peak overflow at the dam locals watching the Hawkesbury River rise was downgraded by nearly half on Thursday above the local bridge, cutting off access to because rainfall in the dam’s catchment areas homes and farms. AFP

RESCUE OPERATIONS.

x-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x

RESOLUTION NO. 82 (BM 11-11-29-2021)

A handout photo released on March 3, 2022 shows Australian Army aircrewman Sergeant Rick Scott (top) from the School of Army Aviation conducting a rescue from an MRH-90 Taipan helicopter near the northern New South Wales city of Lismore during Operation Flood Assist 2022. Australian Defense Force/AFP

WHEREAS, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), in a Board Meeting held on 25 May 2018, adopted and issued CAB Resolution No. 32 (BM 03-05-252018) “Guidelines on Capital and Operational Requirements for the Grant of Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity”, providing for the minimum capitalization requirement for start-up (and existing) airlines applying for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to offer commercial air transport services, as well as required minimum number of aircraft for its intended operation; WHEREAS, CAB Resolution No. 32 s 2018 was amended by CAB Resolution No. 72 (BM 08-11-29-2018) relative to the operational requirement to align with Memorandum Circular issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP, Memorandum Circular 26-18, “Amendment to the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations Part 9 PCAR 9 – Air Operator Certification and Administration), Required Minimum Number of Aircraft for the issuance of Air Operator Certificate” dated 07 September 2018; WHEREAS, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on 22 January 2019, issued CAAP Memorandum Circular 02-19 (MC 02-19), Addendum to CAAP Memorandum Circular 26-18, providing for exemptions to the three (3) aircraft requirement for the grant of an Air Operator Certificate (AOC). The said MC 02-19 provides: “(a) The Authority may issue and AOC if, after investigation, the Authority finds that the applicant: (4) Has at least three (3) aircraft, one (1) of which must be owned by the applicant. The aircraft ownership requirement does not apply to existing AOC holder that meets one of the following: (i) Owned at least one (1) aircraft for a period of one year from the issuance of the original Air Operator Certificate (ii) Engaged in commercial air operations for ten (10) consecutive years from the issuance of the original Air Operator Certificate; (iii) Currently leas ing at leas t five (5) Philippine -regis tered aircraft; or (iv) Has a paid-up Capital oiat least Five Hundred Million (500,000,000.00) Pesos f or inte rnational Air Operators and Fifty Million (50,000,000.00) Pesos for Domestic Air Taxi Operators “ WHEREAS, the primary purpose of CAB Resolution No. 32 s 2018, is to prevent “paper airlines” from entering the market; however, item IX of CAB Reso 32 s. 2018 has to be clarified to ensure the continuous financial fitness of existing carriers and to ensure compliance the capitalization and aircraft requirements, paid-in capital or Additional Paid-in Capital (APIC) are to be included in the interpretation of “paid-up capital” and in considering or determining the overall financial health of existing carriers, subject to other conditions; WHEREAS, there is a need to align the capitalization and aircraft requirement of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), whereby the CAB defers to the technical expertise of the CAAP with respect to the aircraft/technical requirement and the CAAP adopted the capitalization/financial requirements prescribed by the CAB; WHEREAS, the foregoing amendments are to be read with CAB Resolutions 32 and 72 s. 2018; NOW, THEREFORE, premises considered, the Board RESOLVES as it hereby RESOLVES to APPROVE and ADOPT the following amendments to CAB Resolution No. 32 (BM 03-05-25-2018) “Guidelines on Capital and Operational Requirements for the Grant of Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity” and CAB Resolution No. 72 (BM 08-11-29-2018) “Rationalizing Capital and Operational Requirements for the Grant of Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity”: III. Operational Requirement: An applicant-carrier, securing a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to operate commercial air transport services, of whatever nature, (i.e. scheduled, non-scheduled; international, domestic) shall have, in its fleet, at least three (3) serviceable aircraft, one (1) of which must be owned by the applicant-carrier. Provided however, that the three (3) aircraft requirement shall not apply to existing CPCN holders, likewise holders of an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and shall have met any of the following: (i) Owned at least one (1) aircraft for a period of one year from the issuance of the original Air Operator Certificate (ii) Engaged in commercial air operations for ten (10) consecutive years from the issuance of the original Air Operator Certificate; or (iii)

Currently leasing at least five (5) Philippine-registered aircraft;

IX. Existing grantees of Certificate Public Convenience and Necessity to Operate Domestic Scheduled and Non-scheduled Operations shall be required to comply with the foregoing capitalization requirement within a period of one (1) year from the effectivity hereof or upon renewal of its CPCN, whichever comes first. For purposes of compliance with the capitalization requirement of existing CPCN grantees, Additional Paid-In Capital (APIC) shall be deemed included provided that: a. APIC has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and an SEC Certificate of Creation of APIC have been issued. b. such grantee has been a holder of a CPCN for a period of at least five (5) years prior to this issuance.

REINIER PAUL R. YEBRA Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Department of Transportation Alternate Chairman

Eight dead in Romania helicopter, fighter jet crashes EIGHT military personnel died after their helicopter and fighter jet crashed on Wednesday in bad weather in eastern Romania near the Black Sea, marking the REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT MANDALUYONG CITY BRANCH 278 COLUMBIA OWNER’S ASSOCIATION, INC., As duly reprensented by Ms. Diseree B. Sedigo, Defendants, CIVIL CASE NO. R-MND-19-00821-CV For: Enforcement of Lien -versusRODOLFO V. CRUZ, Plaintiff, x-------------------------------------------------------x

WHEREAS, by virtue of Writ of Execution issued by HON. JAIME FORTUNATO A. CARINGAL, Presiding Judge of the Branch 278, Regional Trial Court, Mandaluyong City, on March 24, 2021, in Civil Case No.R-MND-19-00821-CV wherein COLUMBIA OWNER’S ASSOCIATION, INC., As duly reprensented by Ms. Diseree B. Sedigo as the plaintiff and Mr. RODOLFO V. CRUZ as the defendant, with postal address at No. 27 Milkway Drive, Blue Ridge II, Quezon City, for the recovery of the sum of Four Million Seven hundred Seventeen Thousand One Hundred Sixty-Seven and 59/100 Pesos (Php 4,717,167.59) as well as One Hundred Sixty Five Thousand Pesos (Php 165,000.00) by way of attorney’s fees, Levy was made by Sheriff WILLIAM T. CHENG on February 10, 2022 , thru the Registry of Deeds of Mandaluyong City, on rights, interest, and participation of said defendant Mr. RODOLFO V. CRUZ in the following condominium unit together with all the improvements existing thereon to wit: CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 5182 Registry of Deeds - City of Mandaluyong LEVEL: Tenth Floor UNIT : 102 UNIT TYPE: Studio type with parking spaces B-48 and B-49 UNIT AREA (SQ.M.): 139.00

in the diagramatic floor plan appended to the enabling or master deed of the condominium project annotated on TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE 9588/T-48 which embraces and describes the land located at MANDALUYONG CITY, with an area of one thousand one hundred eighty three (1183) square meter.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on April 13, 2022 or soon thereafter without further notice.” Prospective bidders or buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title of the said real property and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be. Mandaluyong City, Philippines, February 11, 2022 (Sgd.) WILLIAM T. CHENG Sheriff IV

EDMUNDO F. GAMMAD Member

EDGARDO M. LOPEZ Member

Attested by:

WARNING: It is absolutely prohibited to remove deface or destroy this Notice of Sheriff’s Sale on Execution under penalty of Law. Copy Furnished: VILLAREAL LAW Counsel for the plaintiff Suite 304 Web Jet Bldg., 64 Quezon Ave., cor .. BMA Ave. Quezon City Columbia Owners Association, Inc. Plaintiff GIF Columbia Tower, Ortigas Ave, Mandaluyong City

CLARABEL ANNE R. LACSINA Acting Board Secretary

Rodolfo Cruz Defendant 27 Milkyway Drive, Blue Ridge II, Quezon city Vicente R. Munoz, Michael R. Munoz, and Dorothy R. Munoz 51 Sparrow St. Green Meadows Subdivision Quezon City

Noted: CARMELO L. ARCILLA Executive Director (MS-MAR. 4, 2022)

FLOWER POWER. A child puts a flower on the entrance of the Russian Embassy in Uruguay during a demonstration against the Russian invasion in Ukraine in Montevideo. AFP

of THE COLUMBIA TOWER

“All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.”

JIM C. SYDIONGCO Director General Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Member

Later Wednesday, the fighter jet was also found, having crashed near Cogealac, an uninhabited area near the Black Sea, the defense ministry said. The 31-year-old pilot died, it added. “It is premature to discuss possible causes. Certainly, there were unfavorable weather conditions, but we can’t comment now,” spokesman General Constantin Spanu said on local television on Wednesday. The helicopter pilot had reported adverse weather conditions and had been ordered to return to base, according to the ministry. All IAR 330-Puma and MiG LanceR aircrafts will be grounded while the cause of the crash is under investigation. AFP

NOTICE OF SALE ON EXECUTION OF REAL PROPERTY

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of said Writ of Execution and in accordance with Rule 39, Section 19, of the Rules of Court, Sheriff WILLIAM T. CHENG will sell at PUBLIC AUCTION to the HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH OR MANAGERS CHECK and in Philippine Currency on March 25, 2022 at 09:00 A.M. or soon thereafter at the New Hall of Justice of Mandaluyong City, Regional Trial Court Branch 278, Maysilo Cirlce, Mandaluyong City, the rights, interest and participation of defendant Mr. RODOLFO V. CRUZ, in the above described real property in order to satisfy said Writ of Execution, together with interest, costs, sheriff’s fees and the expense of sale.

EDWIN R. ENRILE Undersecretary for Legal and Special Concerns Department of Tourism Alternate Vice-Chairman

worst day of air force accidents in recent years. The EU member is on the front line to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank as Russia is invading neighboring Ukraine and has seen international reinforcements arrive in recent weeks. The IAR 330-Puma helicopter crashed in the area of Gura Dobrogei, 11 kilometers (seven miles) from the airfield, killing all seven aboard, the defense ministry said. It was searching for the MiG 21 LanceR, shortly after the fighter jet – part of a formation of two MiG-21 LanceR planes performing air patrol missions – lost contact and disappeared from the radar.

Antonio O. Mendoza Deputy Sheriff RTC Branch 58, Makati City (Manila Standard-Feb. 18, 25 & Mar. 4, 2022)

Russia news channel dropped in Africa SOUTH African satellite broadcaster Multichoice cut Russia’s RT news channel from its pan-African DStv service, saying Thursday that EU sanctions had forced the move. “Russia Today (Channel 407) shall not be carried on the DStv platform until further notice,” Multichoice said in a statement. “Sanctions imposed on Russia by the EU have led to the global distributor ceasing to provide the broadcast feed to all suppliers.” Africans looking to watch RT woke Thursday to a message on their screens reading: “The channel that you are trying to watch is

not running at this time.” Multichoice’s DStv provides satellite TV across sub-Saharan Africa. It counts more than 20 million paid subscribers across the continent, but its viewership is much higher as families and communities share the service. South Africa’s TelkomONE streaming platform also dropped RT. The EU on Tuesday banned broadcasts by RT, formerly known as Russia Today, which it considers a propaganda organ of the Kremlin parroting disinformation over what was happening in Ukraine. AFP

UAE relations with US facing ‘stress test’ THE United Arab Emirates and the United States are facing a “stress test” in their relationship, a senior Emirati diplomat said Thursday, as Russia’s war in Ukraine strains ties. Yousef al-Otaiba, the Emirati ambassador to the US, was speaking days after the UAE abstained in a UN Security Council vote on a resolution demanding a Russian withdrawal from Ukraine. “Our relationship with the US is like any relationship. It has strong days where the relationship is very healthy, and days where the relationship is under question,” he told the In-

ternational Defence Industry, Technology and Security Conference in Abu Dhabi. “Today, we’re going through a stress test, but I’m confident that we will get out of it and we will get to a better place.” The wealthy Gulf state hosts US troops and has been a strategic partner to Washington for decades, but it also has growing economic and political ties with Russia. The UAE, which currently holds the UN Security Council presidency, on Friday abstained from voting on a US-Albanian draft resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. AFP (MS-MAR. 4, 2022)

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Europe cuts Russian banks from SWIFT

PSEi March 3, 2022

TOP GAINERS

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE

COAL

0.315

0.055

21.15%

2 3

ACEX VUL

28 1.12

2.85 0.11

11.33% 10.89%

4 5 6 7

BCB MA NRCP BKR

5.4 0.011 0.69 2.21

0.5 0.001 0.06 0.19

10.20% 10.00% 9.52% 9.41%

LCB

0.175

0.014

8.70%

9 10

ION ECP

0.76 4.47

0.06 0.35

8.57% 8.50%

TOP LOSERS 1 ACE 2 FOOD

LAST PRICE CHANGE 1.38 -0.12 0.58 -0.05

% CHANGE -8.00% -7.94%

3 4

OPM MBC

0.012 9.38

-0.001 -0.59

-7.69% -5.92%

MHC

0.34

-0.02

-5.56%

6 7

SOC WLCON

0.6 27.65

-0.03 -1.25

-4.76% -4.33%

8 9 10

PHN EEI SEVN

20 5.94 72

-0.9 -0.25 -3

-4.31% -4.04% -4.00%

MOST ACTIVE

1 ICT 2 SCC

VOLUME 3,495,840 17,777,600

VALUE (PHP) 790,803,262 568,009,245

3 4 5

BDO SMPH SPNEC

4,079,510 11,517,700 187,664,000

533,795,672 450,813,575 398,750,990

6 7 8 9 10

TEL SM BPI AC NIKL

199,625 329,900 2,951,750 311,750 29,932,100

356,784,970 311,022,490 290,683,184 264,905,970 243,340,903

Sri Lanka urged to increase taxes, devalue currency COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—The International Monetary Fund warned crisis-hit Sri Lanka on Thursday that its foreign debt was “unsustainable,” and called for devaluation and higher taxes to revive the almost bankrupt economy. The pandemic pushed the South Asian island’s tourism sector—a key foreign-exchange earner—off a cliff, and the government in March 2020 imposed a broad import ban to try to shore up foreign currency. But more than two years on, Sri Lanka is grappling with food and fuel shortages, which this week saw its public transport crippled as buses ran out of diesel and the state imposed blackouts. Following its annual review of the cash-strapped country, the IMF said its fast-dwindling foreign reserves were inadequate to service the country’s current foreign debt of $51 billion. Official data shows Sri Lanka needs nearly $7 billion to service its foreign debt this year, but the country’s external reserves at the end of January were only $2.07 billion—just enough to finance one month’s imports. The IMF stressed “the urgency of implementing a credible and coherent strategy to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability,” recommending a return to a “marketdetermined and flexible exchange rate”—meaning a devaluation of the Sri Lankan rupee. While the central bank’s set rate is 197 rupees to the dollar, a thriving black market offers 260 rupees for US currency notes. This disparity has led to a more than 50 percent decline in foreign remittances through official banking channels. But the IMF noted the country’s economic woes began pre-pandemic. Soon after taking office in November 2019, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa cut several taxes nearly in half, the IMF said, driving down government revenues and forcing it to borrow more. Among recommendations to address the crisis was to raise income taxes and VAT, “complemented with revenue administration reform,” the IMF said. AFP

US Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Powell testifies before the House Financial Services Committee on Capitol Hill, in Washington, DC, on March 2, 2022. The impact of the conflict in Ukraine on the US economy is ‘highly uncertain,’ and the central bank will need to adjust quickly to ensure the post-pandemic recovery continues, Powell said Wednesday. AFP

Market bounces back; Semirara, ICTSI climb

TOCKS rebounded Wednesday along with the rest of Asia after Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell said the bank would hike interest rates gradually to fight inflation, though oil marched towards $120 as the Ukraine conflict continues to roil energy markets.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 84.07 points, or 1.2 percent, at 7,388.09 on a value turnover of P8.2 billion. Gainers beat losers, 121 to 76, with 41 issues unchanged. Semirara Mining and Power Corp., the biggest coal miner, surged 7.5 percent to P32.70, while International Container Terminal Services Inc., the biggest port operator and owned by tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., advanced 4.6 percent to P228. PLDT Inc., the largest telecommunications firm, climbed 4.6 percent to P1,830, while Nickel Asia Corp., the largest nickel miner, rose 4 percent to P8.15. The rest of Asian stock markets also advanced. With the Russian invasion of its neighbor hammering all assets across the board as uncertainty reigns supreme, traders were given a much-needed shaft of light on Wednesday when the Fed boss eased concerns over its plans for tightening policy.

Powell told lawmakers he was in favor of a moderate pace of rate increases, with a 25-basis-point lift this month, as he tries to nurture the economic recovery while keeping a lid on prices, which are rising at their fastest pace in 40 years. He warned that the “near-term effects on the US economy of the invasion of Ukraine, the ongoing war, the sanctions, and of events to come, remain highly uncertain.” The comments soothed concerns that officials could announce an aggressive 50-basis-point lift. The issue of Fed tightening has cast a pall over markets for months, bringing a near two-year rally to an abrupt end, and that has now been compounded by the Ukraine crisis. Powell did, however, say the bank would remain “nimble” to events and would act more aggressively if needed down the line. Meanwhile, St. Louis Fed chief James Bullard said he was for a “rapid withdrawal of policy accommodation,” as Chicago president Charles Evans added that policy was currently “wrong-footed” and should be tightened. Still, Powell’s comments were able to “appease risk-markets by ruling out a 50 basis-points hike in March, while simultaneously promising inflation vigilance at following meetings,” said Citigroup strategists William O’Donnell and Edward Acton. With AFP

BRUSSELS, Belgium—The European Union on Wednesday cut seven Russian banks from the SWIFT payment system and banned Kremlin-controlled media outlets RT and Sputnik from broadcasting into the bloc. The measures, effective immediately, were the latest ratcheting up of the Western-coordinated sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, now in its seventh day. “At the speed of light, the European Union has adopted three waves of heavy sanctions against Russia’s financial system, its high-tech industries and its corrupt elite,” European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement. The cumulative punishment over the past week, also targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, ministers and oligarchs supporting his rule as well as Russia’s central bank, has already caused Russia’s economy to buckle. But so far there is no sign of it deterring Putin from an escalation of his war. And EU officials said the sanctions—as well as Russian countermeasures—would inevitably also hit the bloc’s economy, though to a lesser degree. Wednesday’s latest sanctions, signaled since the weekend, exclude listed banks from the global SWIFT interbank messaging network which allows for quick and secure transactions. The list comprised Russia’s secondbiggest lender VTB Bank as well as Bank Otkritie, Novikombank, Promsvyazbank, Rossiya Bank, Sovcombank and VEB (Vnesheconombank), all of which were deemed to have direct financing links to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The list did not name Russia’s biggest bank Sberbank or another significant one, Gazprombank, in order to allow EU countries to pay for Russian gas and oil deliveries. But a senior EU official said the list would be kept “continuously under review” and could be changed according to “how the situation is evolving on the ground.” He added that, with cumulative earlier sanctions by G7 partners, “slightly more than 80% of the (Russian) banking system is subject to some sanctions,” in the form of the SWIFT ban, asset freezes and financing sanctions imposed by the EU, the United States and Britain. AFP

Cairo’s newspaper vendors go silent as sales collapse By Bassem Aboualabass CAIRO, Egypt—Newspaper sellers were once a dime a dozen on Cairo’s bustling streets, but now the vendors hawking hot-off-the-press editions have fallen almost silent. As elsewhere in the world, Egypt’s print media has been in sharp decline as news has moved mostly online and readers tend to stay up-to-date via their smartphones. In Egypt, a country of 103 million people, the trend has been especially stark since the government, which publishes most newspapers, has also raised their prices. “No one buys newspapers anymore, especially since they got more expensive,” said a vendor in her 50s known as Umm Mohammed, wearing a woolen shawl against the winter chill. Critics also bemoan the homogeneity of the press in a country tightly ruled by army-marshall-turned-President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, where censorship and self-censorship are common. The stacks of newspapers and magazines before Umm Mohammed have hardly shrunk all morning, she said, sitting at her kiosk in Cairo’s western Dokki district. Between 6 am and 3 pm, she said she had earned just 15 Egyptian pounds, or about $1. The government three years ago raised prices of dailies from two to three pounds, and of weeklies from three to four pounds, citing costlier raw materials and dwindling subscriptions. This dampened print circulation in the Arab world’s largest country, where the average family income is around 6,000 EGP, or $380, per month. Sales collapsed further last July when the government scrapped evening newspaper print editions. “People used to come by to get the evening paper and then pick up a couple of other issues on the way,” said Umm Mohammed. “Now we don’t even have that.” “It’s mobile phones everywhere. People passing my kiosk often ask: ‘Oh, people are still selling these, even with everything online?’ “That really upsets me. This is our livelihood. What are we supposed to do?”

A woman sits in a chair next to newspapers on display at a newsstand along Kasr al-Aini street in the centre of Egypt’s capital Cairo on February 17, 2022. AFP

‘Need to innovate’ Microbus driver Tareq Mahmud, 44, stopping near the kiosk, said he hadn’t bought a newspaper in 11 years. “I stopped when I realized that the journalists I was reading in the paper every morning were the same ones I had watched on television” the previous evening, he told AFP. “And I think there are many like me who stopped around then.” According to official statistics, Mahmud is right: Egypt in 2019 published 67 titles—public, private or linked to political parties—down from 142 in 2010. Circulation roughly halved from more than one million copies to 539,000 over the decade. Ahmad al-Taheri, editor-in-chief of the Rose alYoussef weekly, a staple of Egyptian journalism for almost a century, said media need to innovate, including in their distribution. “We need to find new outlets,” he told AFP, suggesting new pandemic-era sales points: “Why not pharmacies?” Media in ‘sorry state’ This is hardly a solution for Umm Mohamed, who after 18 years in the business is planning for her retirement. In the absence of a trade union or other support system, she, like other vendors, recently signed up to a modest pension scheme with state-run publisher the Ahram Foundation. But even this pension is not guaranteed.

Abdul Sadiq el-Shorbagy, head of the National Press Authority, told parliament in January that the state press is indebted, owing over $573 million in taxes and insurance payments. Press outlets are bleeding cash as going online has yet to turn a profit for them, with most content offered for free and advertising revenue proving insufficient. Imad Eddine Hussein, editorin-chief of the private daily AlShorouk, bemoaned the “sorry state” of the press in Egypt. All front pages tend to look almost identical, reporting on the same presidential speeches or ministerial announcements. “It’s all the same, across every newspaper, so readers are turning away from them,” said Hussein. “If it continues like this, it’s not just the state press that’s going to disappear, private newspapers will too.” AFP

(MS-MAR. 4, 2022)

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

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

DOT sees steady travel recovery; PH hosts major forum By Othel V. Campos THE Department of Tourism said Thursday it sees a sustained recovery of the tourism sector as the Philippines becomes the first country in Asia to accept fully-vaccinated foreign leisure travelers under the most relaxed entry protocols. “We are proud to say that our entry requirements are delivered in a simple format, without the need for facility-based quarantine primarily for fully vaccinated visitors. Tourists are allowed to travel to all reopened tourist destinations in the country as long as they comply with the requirements from the local government units with jurisdiction over these areas,” said Tourism secretary Berna RomuloPuyat. The Philippines is also set to host a global tourism summit in April. It started to accepting fully-vaccinated foreign leisure travelers from visa-free countries starting Feb. 10 this year. Puyat said tourist arrivals since then gradually picked up, and the DOT looks forward to an uptick in the summer season and the Holy Week break in April. Data from the agency showed that as of Feb. 28, the number of international tourist arrivals reached 47,715, including 26,306 foreign visitors and 21,409 balikbayans. Aside from the suspension of the country classification system, fullyvaccinated leisure travelers from visa-free countries listed under EO 408 are no longer required to undergo quarantine as long as they are able to present a negative RT-PCR result. The United Nations World Tourism Organization and the World Health Organization called for the lifting of travel bans in February, stating that the bans do not provide added value and continue to contribute to economic and social stress. The DOT has been proactive in making proposals to the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases that would balance the recovery of the sector and the restoration of jobs without compromising the health and safety of the workers and visitors.

ICTSI’s net profit increased by 57% to $443m in 2021 INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. said Thursday net income jumped 57 percent in 2021 from a year ago, on higher volume growth and improved trade activities. The port operator said net income amounted to $442.83 million last year, up from $282.07 million in 2020 as revenue from port operations went up by 24 percent to $1.87 billion from $1.51 billion. “I’m pleased to report a strong set of results for 2021. Higher volume growth and improvement in trade activities as economies have started to recover have enabled throughput to increase by 10 percent, with EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization] pushed higher from new terminal contributions,” said ICTSI chairman and president Enrique Razon Jr. “Whilst we are hopeful heading into 2022 that the worst of the COVID-19 crisis is behind us, we are mindful that these results were achieved during a global pandemic which countries are recovering at different rates from. However, we are aware of the potential social, political and economic impact arising as a result of the disconcerting events unfolding in Ukraine and as such are monitoring the situation closely,” Razon said. ICTSI handled consolidated volume of 11,163,473 twenty-foot equivalent units in 2021, higher by 10 percent than the 10,193,384 TEUs handled in 2020 primarily due to volume growth and improvement in trade activities as economies recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions; and new contracts with shipping lines and services at certain terminals. Darwin G. Amojelar

Business PLDT obtains P50-b bids to buy its 6,000 cell sites P By Darwin G. Amojelar

LDT Inc., the country’s largest telecommunications company and parent of Smart Communications Inc., said Thursday it received offers amounting to more than P50 billion from foreign tower companies interested in purchasing its 6,000 cell sites nationwide.

“The final bids that we received [for the tower sale] last March 1 is in the north of P50-billion mark,” PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan said in the company’s financial briefing. Pangilinan said the sale of the towers would provide the company a bit of liquidity and reduce debt moving forward. “The sale that we are looking at

is 6,000 towers, broken down into two portfolio or 3,000 each,” PLDT and Smart Communications president and chief executive Alfredo Panlilio said. Panlilio said six foreign tower companies joined the final bids. PLDT expects to complete the transaction by the second quarter this year. The company said it slashed its 2022 capex to between P76 billion and P80 billion from P89 billion in 2021. The company said the lower capex aimed to “achieve positive free cash flow, alongside revenue growth and controlled opex.” PLDT recoded an all-time high of P185.7 billion in service revenues last year, up from P173.63 billion in 2020. Net income, which excludes exceptional costs, grew by 9 percent to P26.4 billion in 2021. Telco core income, excluding the impact of asset sales and Voyager Innovations, rose 8 percent to P30.2 billion, ahead of earnings guidance of P30 billion. “2021 proved to be record-breaking year for PLDT as we delivered all-time

highs across the board despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, calamities and hyper competition,” Panlilio said. “This exceptional performance sets the foundation for 2022 and beyond as we continue to build on our strengths as an integrated telco and our commitment to serve our customers in the best way possible. With our strategic transformation initiative in place and our evolving fintech ecosystem, we are well positioned to maintain our growth momentum moving forward,” he said. PLDT attributed the higher service revenues last year to strong Home broadband business, which grew by 24 percent to P47.8 billion. Enterprise revenues also went up by 4 percent to P42.2 billion, and wireless revenues reached P86.2 billion. Panlilio said consolidated service revenues were expected to grow by midsingle digit in 2022 and telco core income to settle between P32 billion and P33 billion this year. Pangilinan said 2022 marks the start of a new era for PLDT.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Thursday, March 3, 2022

84.07 PTS. 7,388.09

TOTAL VOLUME

1,822,787,386

TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES

102,087 8,255,155,524.56 121

DECLINES

UNCHANGED

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

51.3910

Japan

Yen

0.008658

0.4449

Pound

1.341000

68.9153

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127995

6.5778

Switzerland

Franc

1.086366

55.8294

Canada

Dollar

0.791891

40.6961

Singapore

Dollar

0.738934

37.9746

Australia

Dollar

0.729600

37.4949

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652801

136.3301

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266546

13.6981

Brunei

Dollar

0.736214

37.8348

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.030581

1.5716

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.9931

Euro

1.112300

57.1622

Korea

Won

0.000831

0.0427

China

Yuan

0.158203

8.1302

India

Rupee

0.013226

0.6797

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.238436

12.2535

New Zealand

Dollar

0.678400

34.8637

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035696

1.8345 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

DMCI Mining triples net income to P1.7b DMCI Mining Corp., the mining unit of DMCI Holdings Inc., said it trebled its net income to a record P1.7 billion last year from P575 million in 2020 on higher shipment and surging nickel prices. DMCI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the mining unit shipped a record 1.9 million wet metric tons of nickel ore in 2021, up by 18 percent from 1.6 million WMT shipped in 2020. Revenues grew 63 percent in 2021 from P2.5 billion to P4 billion. Excluding a nonrecurring income of P247 million mainly due to deferred tax liability re-measurement, core net income soared 144 percent to P1.5 billion from P575 million. “2021 was a banner year for us. We were able to take advantage of the strong China demand and elevated nickel prices because our two mining assets were operational the whole year,” said DMCI Mining president Tulsi Das Reyes. Jenniffer B. Austria

Figaro eyes growth through franchising

NEW BSP COMPLEX. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno (second from left) signs the contract on the architectural and engineering design services for the New BSP Complex in New Clark City during an onsite ceremony. Global integrated design and technology architectural firm Aidea Inc. won the bid for the contract. It was represented by president and chief executive Abelardo Tolentino Jr. (third from left). Witnessing the event are Monetary Board member Anita Linda Aquino (left) and Aidea business cluster head Mary Anne Nicolas.

Insurance regulator puts Eternal Plans under conservatorship By Julito G. Rada THE Insurance Commission placed Eternal Plans Inc. under conservatorship beginning January this for the latter’s alleged failure to comply with directive to fill the cash deficiency in its 2018 trust fund as required under the Pre-Need Code of the Philippines. Eternal Plans, a Pasig City-based pre-need company established by the late Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua in 1981, offers life, pension and education plans. Commissioner Dennis Funa signed the conservatorship order against Eternal Plans on Jan. 20, 2022, citing the company’s “continuing inability or unwillingness to comply with the Order of the Commission pursuant to Section 49 of the Pre-

Need Code [Republic Act No. 9829].” Funa named John Apatan, the division manager of the commission’s conservatorship, receivership and liquidation division, as ex-officio conservator for the Eternal Plans. Section 49 of the Pre-Need Code provides that, “a conservator may be appointed to take charge of the assets, liabilities and the management of such company, collect all moneys and debts due the company and exercise all powers necessary to preserve the assets of the company, reorganize its management, and restore its viability.” Funa said in a memorandum to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III dated Jan. 31 that Eternal Plans had asked for regulatory reprieve with an additional request to undergo re-

habilitation after failing to meet the commission’s deadline to make cash infusion sufficient to fill its trust fund deficiency. “We find this request consistent with the regime of conservatorship. Hence, the case of the company falls under the conservatorship process under the Insurance Code,” Funa said in the report to Dominguez. Funa said no more correspondence and/or submission was received by the commission from Eternal Plans and the “required trust fund deficiency remains deficient.” The commission’s directive was for Eternal Plans to infuse cash into its trust fund within five days from the receipt of the IC’s letter dated Nov. 18, 2021.

FIGARO Coffee Group Inc. is betting on franchising to accelerate store network expansion. Figaro said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it is expecting more investors to start venturing into franchising with the continued reopening of the economy. “With a concrete strategy now in progress that’s boosting the company’s performance towards reaching its year-end goals, The Figaro Coffee Group is definitely seeing more and more existing partners coming back to franchise yet again,” the company said. It said Clover Arangote, an investor from Western Visayas, franchised and opened two Angel’s Pizza stores in Iloilo while one is currently in the works and will be launched in Aprilin Bacolod. “At the very start, we had high confidence that Angel’s Pizza will be loved by the Ilonggos considering the high quality of the products and its value for money,”Arangote said. “But apart from that there’s also a fastgrowing market for pizza since the onset of the pandemic considering people became fond of ordering online or through 3rd party delivery services,” he said. Jenniffer B. Austria

Meralco sees over 6% sales growth this year MANILA Electric Co., the biggest retailer of electricity, expressed optimism energy sales this year will exceed the 6-percent volume growth achieved in 2021 as more commercial and industrial businesses open up. “Six percent is achievable and more if commercial picks up because, well, industrial sales continue to be robust,” Meralco first vice president and chief commercial officer Ferdinand Geluz. Geluz said Meralco is still finalizing February sales, “but all indications lead to an increase of 6 percent at least for Meralco, so we estimate Meralco volume to be more than 3,700 gigawatt-hours.” Early this week, Meralco reported a 13-percent increase in consolidated core net income in 2021 to P24.6 billion from P21.7 billion in 2020. This was driven by the return of energy sales volumes to near prepandemic levels and contributions from the power generation business. Consolidated distribution utility energy sales volumes went up 6 percent to 46,073 gWh in 2021 from 43,572 gWh in 2020. Alena Mae S. Flores

Vape bill provides more teeth to protect youth THE approved vape bill provides more teeth to existing regulations to protect the youth, while providing adult smokers less harmful alternatives to cigarettes, according to proponents of the landmark legislation. Rep. Sharon Garin, chairperson of the House committee for economic affairs and a member of the House bicameral conference committee that ratified the bill, said this would strengthen regulations to discourage minors from using cigarette alternatives such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. She said the consolidated House Bill 9007 and Senate Bill 2239, also known as the vape bill, bans the sale of e-cigarettes with flavor descriptors that appeal to the youth, which is more restrictive than existing regulations. “With the passage of the vape bill, we are solidifying the provisions of RA 11467 and Executive Order 106 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte and in particular banning the sale of e-cigarettes with flavors other than menthol and tobacco,”

Garin said. She said prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes with flavor descriptors that appeal to the minors is another layer of protection, in addition to the flavor ban that exists today. House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta noted that the vape bill has strong provision to safeguards minors. “Out of the 30 provisions of the entire bill, half of it is for prohibition, especially [for] minors who should not be given access to these products,” he said. Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Estrellita Suansing, a long-time health advocate and one of the authors of the bill, said they are cognizant of the concerns related to flavors when they drafted the measure. “The vape bill is very restrictive when it comes to flavors. We understand that flavors should not be used to target minors and non-smokers. The goal has always been to reach adult Filipino smokers and convince them to use these products instead of cigarettes,” said Suansing.

TOP TAXPAYER. Petron Corp. is again named by the Bureau of Customs as among the Philippines’ top taxpayers and importers in 2021, a testament to the oil firm’s commitment to nation building. At the awarding ceremony during BOC’s 120th year celebration are (from left) Finance Undersecretary Antonette Tionko, Petron commercial services supervisor Jake Magana, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Petron Synergy Group manager Leonisa Talosig and Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero. Petron has consistently ranked as the highest contributor to the government’s fuel marking program, which seeks to address tax leakages from fuel smuggling.

Phoenix 5 whips Alaska, arrests skid

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

By Peter Atencio RJ JAZUL keyed in two important baskets in the dying seconds, lifting the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters to a 104-99 triumph over the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The 5’11” Jazul tallied 21 points and found two big scoring opportunities in the final minute that allowed the Fuel Masters to bounce back from three straight losses Jazul struck with a layup off new import Du’Vaughn Maxwell’s assist with 54 ticks left, handing the Fuel Masters a four-point cushion at 10197. After Yousef Taha’s layup kept the Aces within range at 99-101, Maxwell put the Fuel Masters in front by four again following his driving shot with 20 ticks to go, 103-99. The Aces still had winning chances, but a turnover by Michael Digregorio allowed Jazul to go for a steal, leading to a split charity off Robert Herndon’s foul for the final tally in the 10-second mark. “We just stuck together. If we play offense on this team, it’s going to be hard to win,” said Fuel Masters’ coach Topex Robinson. Jason Perkins finished with a gamehigh 22 points for the Fuel Masters, who finally earned the upperhand for good, following seven lead changes. Perkins’ triple with 5:22 left gave the Fuel Masters a 95-93 lead. Maxwell, who recently left Ukranian club team SK Cherkasy Monkeys to replace injured Dominique Sutton, impressed Robinson.

Weightlifting hopes to win 3 SEAG golds HOPES are high that the country will have three weightlifting gold medals in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam. And one of them could come from newcomer Vanessa Sarno, who is a rising star in the women’s 71-kg category. The 18-year-old Sarno caught everyone’s attention when she won the gold medal in the Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan last year. Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas chief Monico Puentevella has added Sarno to his list of gold-medal potentials, next to Olympians Hidilyn Diaz and Elreen Ando. “Hidilyn will get one, Elreen will get another one, and Sarno will probably get another one,” said Puentevella on the weekly program, “Power and Play.” Sarno, who is from Tagbilaran, Bohol, lifted 103 kgs in the snatch, 128 kgs in the clean and jerk for a total of 231 in Tashkent, better than the gold medal-winning performance of Kristel Macrohon during the 2019 SEA Games. Macrohon claimed the women’s 71-kg gold during the SEAG with her lifts of 93, 123 and 216. Back in 2019, the country won two golds and three silvers to place third overall when the games were held in Manila. At that time, Diaz (55 kgs) and Macrohon claimed the golds. Ando seized a silver medal in the women’s 64kg, along with Margaret Colonia in the women’s 59kg. Peter Atencio

Alaska’s Olu Ashaolu shoots against Phoenix’s Matthew Wright in a PBA Governors’ Cup game won by the LPG Super Masters, 104-99, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday.

Gilas PH Women coach in search of players in US By Randy Caluag

ILAS Pilipinas Women’s Team coach Patrick Aquino is dead set on successfully defending the women’s basketball gold in the coming Southeast Asian Games.

Gabi Bade

Football is back FOOTBALL is definitely back in the country in many ways than one. The domestic league is about to start within the month and the Philippine Azkals will get to regroup and participate in two friendlies before March ends, and hopefully we get to see Gerrit Barba Holtmannn, the current toast of the Bundesliga after his VfL Bochum side stunned German giants Bayern Munchen in convincing fashion. Nonong Araneta, the Philippine Football Federation chief, confirmed at least one good news in making this possible. “May passport na siya. Nakakuha na and we will definitely call him up,” he said. The Philippine Azkals are expected to take part in the tri-nation football series featuring the Philippines, host Singapore, and Malaysia from March 21 to 29, 2022 at the Lions’ National Stadium as part of the teams’ preparation for the third and final leg of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 in China. The three teams will play each other

He is now in the United States looking for at least four players with Filipino heritage to help fill the big hole left by the team’s top center and internationalist Jack Animam. The 6’5” Animam will miss the 31st SEA Games slated for May in Vietnam as she is still undergoing rehabilitation from the operation on the ACL injury she sustained during a game in the Serbian league. “She (Animam) can contribute so much. She’s a big once. Singapore will compete in Group F against Myanmar, Tajikistan and host Kyrgyz Republic in Bishkek. Malaysia, on the other hand, will host Bahrain, Turkmenistan and Bangladesh in Group E hostilities. Araneta says the dates are FIFA windows – meaning clubs are obligated to release their players to play for their respective national squads. Which brings us to the discussion on the country’s chances in Ulaanbaatar in June. Araneta says they expect improved weather in the Mongolian capital three months from now. “Weather is just right for us. It is neither too cold or too hot because the last time we played there in March, weather was -7 degrees. So when we get there by June, the weather is so much better. Pag-dating ng June, fair weather na du’n,” Araneta explained. Weather aside, Araneta says the Philippines got a good draw. “I think Palestine is the weakest among the top teams in the tournament. Our host, Mongolia, we have beaten them before also and they lost 12-0, nothing, I think, against Japan, but has beaten Laos in a close game. We also have a good chance against Yemen. So it’s not a bad draw. It’s a good draw. We have a big chance to qualify,” Araneta said. The top teams in the six groups will automatically advance and the next best five

factor. We’re just hoping na makabalik na siya,” said Aquino in an interview over Radyo Pilipinas Dos. Aquino, though, maintained that his main priority is the Asian Games in September in China. “Defending champion tayo sa SEA Games kaya dapat ding paghandaan, but the goal is to compete at the highest level. First time tayo maglalaro in the history of the Asian Games, dapat maganda ang maipakita natin,” Aquino said. The multi-titled mentor of the National University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines said he will conduct tryouts in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago for the Under-16 and Under-18 teams. For the SEA Games’ squad, she already has several prospects, including Gabi Bade, daughter of former Philippine Basketball Association player Chris Bade. Gabi, who played US NCAA Division basketball with the Sacramento State, is coming off a professional stint in Cyprus.

second placed will also secure their tickets in the tournament proper. I was so fortunate to cover the 2019 Asian Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, both in the United Arab Emirates, and despite the Azkals losing all their matches in the group stage, the moment that I saw our flag being raised and the Lupang Hinirang being played for the first time at the continent’s biggest football tournament then was worth all the pain and difficulty in getting there. Araneta says we have another chance of seeing the sun and the three stars being raised and the Lupang Hinirang being played again in China next year. Another big factor for the Azkals is the fact that most of the potential players that will be called for national duties will have no problem with regard to their conditioning. “Most of our players are playing in tournaments in the countries where they are currently based. So fitness will not be a concern. And most of them are playing in the first divisions,” Araneta added. Despite its domestic concerns, Araneta says Palestine is still the favorite to top Group B. “Palestine will definitely be the team to beat in our group.” Incidentally, United City FC and Kaya FC Iloilo are in the 2022 AFC Champions League. United City will compete in Group G along with BG Pathum United of host Thailand, Korea’s Jeonnam Dragons

and Australia’s Melbourne City. Kaya, on the other, will have a tougher route to get into the group stage. They will start their bid this March 8 against a team from Australia. The team, however, is coming off from a championship run in the Copa Paulino Alcantara last November. They have to defend that title this March as the Copa begins this March 14, barring any unforseen factors. Five teams are competing in the opening of the domestic league. Aside from Kaya, United City will also participate along with the Azkals Development Team, Maharlika FC and Mendiola FC 1991. The opening of the domestic is one step toward football normalcy in the country. It will give local-based Azkals to get considerations in joining the training pool. But more importantly, it is a welcome distraction against the usual, predictable offerings of the circus known as the national poll campaign where a number of clowns, convicted felons, robbers, thieves and other not-so-trustworthy people dominate, according to “reputable” surveys. If the same principles are being applied in choosing players for the national teams to our local polls, then probably we have better chances of knowing our candidates. But sadly, one can still top the surveys even just for saying a word and its manifestations in 17 minutes. Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

Republic of the Philippines TODAY Department of Transportation CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD

IN RE : Amendment to CAB Resolution Numbers 32 And 72 S. 2018 on Capital and Operational Requirements for the Grant of Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity x-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x

RESOLUTION NO. 82 (BM 11-11-29-2021) Pursuant to the provisions of Section thirteen of Republic Act Number Seven Hundred Seventy-Six, as amended by PD 1462 and EO 217, the following rules are hereby promulgated for the observance of all persons concerned in connection with the conduct of all hearings and investigation before the Civil Aviation Board. CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS RULE I – TITLE AND GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF PRACTICE Section 1. Title. This set of rules shall be known and cited as the 2021 Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure before the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). Section 2. Scope and Applicability. These rules shall govern pleadings, practice and procedures before the CAB in all matters of hearing, investigation and proceedings within its jurisdiction. It shall, to the extent applicable, govern the relationship between the Board, its staff, and its stakeholders. However, the Board, to best serve public interest and subject to due process, may in any particular matter exempt itself from these Rules and apply such fair and reasonable procedures to assist the parties in obtaining speedy and judicious disposition of cases. The Rules of Court Shall apply suppletorily. Section 3. Construction. These Rules shall be liberally construed to protect and promote public interest and to assist the parties in obtaining just, speedy and inexpensive determination of every action or proceeding. Section 4. Parties. Parties to a proceeding before the CAB may be an applicant/ petitioner, oppositor or complainant. An applicant/petitioner is any person or group of persons, natural or juridical, applying for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), Foreign Air Carrier Permit (FACP) or any other authorization or permit to operate air transportation services, as well as enforcement proceedings. An oppositor is any person, who having a substantial interest capable of pecuniary estimation, opposes an application. Substantial interest shall mean that the oppositor shall be adversely affected by the application. A complainant shall be any aggrieved person, group of persons, natural or juridical, who files a complaint on matters within the jurisdiction of the Board, or who seeks remedies for violations of the terms and conditions of the CPCN, the Air Passenger Bill of Rights or any other permit or authorization issued by the Board. Any person, natural or juridical, against who, a complaint is filed shall be called the Respondent. Section 5. Venue. All applications for permits issued by the Board shall be filed with the Central Receiving Unit (CRU) of the CAB. Hearings on any proceeding may be held at such time and places within the Philippines, or by any other platform, as it may provide by Order in writing. Section 6. Disqualification from practice before the Board. The Board may, after hearing, disqualify from appearing, either temporarily or permanently, any person found to have engaged in unethical or unprofessional conduct before the Board. Provided, that the disqualification shall be without prejudice to the filing of any administrative, civil or criminal case against the erring person. RULE II – PLEADINGS – FILING AND SERVICE Section 1. Pleadings. Formal application, petition or motion, any other document or pleading, with the exception of passenger/consumer complaints, shall be in writing, in the English language and printed in the original copy. Passenger/Consumer complaints may be handwritten in either English or Filipino language. Electronic copies shall likewise be filed with the CAB via email or any other electronic means. A formal application, petition or motion must contain proper identification of the parties concerned, a reference or case number, a brief description of the nature thereof, a concise but complete statement of the facts relied upon and the relief sought. Section 2. Verification. Applications for issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity or Foreign Air Carriers Permit (CPCN/FACP), petition for any changes, formal complaints, oppositions and other initiatory pleading shall be verified. A Judicial Affidavit and such other documents as would reasonably establish prima facie proof of the factual allegations, duly notarized, shall likewise be attached to the pleadings.

the Board for its consideration and disposition; (10) To make initial or recommended decisions to the Board (11) To take any other action authorized by this procedure or by provisions of existing laws. The Examiner’s authority in each case will terminate either upon the service of a recommended decision, or upon the certification of the record in the proceeding to the Board, or upon the expiration of the period within which exceptions to his initial decision may be filed, or when he shall have withdrawn from the case upon considering himself disqualified. The Hearing Examiner or any person who has been associated with the Civil Aeronautics Board as a member, officer, or employee shall not be permitted, within one year from the date of the termination of such association, to appear before the Board in behalf of, or to represent in any manner, any party in connection with any proceeding which was pending before the Board at the time of his association with the Board, unless he shall first have obtained the written consent of the Board upon a verified showing that he did not give personal consideration to the matter or proceeding as to which consent is sought or gain particular knowledge of the facts thereof during his association with the Board. RULE V – APPLICATIONS FOR AIR CARRIERS PERMIT Section 1. Coverage. All applications for issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) and Foreign Air Carriers Permit (FACP) to operate commercial air transport services shall be heard by a hearing panel. The hearing panel shall be chaired by a Hearing Officer, HED, and composed of members from the ACASFAD, AORD, LED and the PRD, as may be necessary. Section 2. Foreign Air Carrier’s Permit. A Petition for issuance of a Foreign Air Carrier’s Permit (FACP) shall be accompanied by a Diplomatic Note, stating among others, that the foreign carrier is duly designated by its Home State. Section 3. Contents. An application/petition for an air carrier permit to operate air transport services shall contain a concise statement of the identity of the applicant, service proposed or authorization applied for, the routes or points to be served, frequency, number of aircraft, and such other information necessary to show fitness, willingness and capability to operate the services applied for. Application must be subscribed and verified by the applicant. Applications for FACP must contain the full name and address of the applicant, the nature of its organization (individual, partnership, corporation, etc.) and, if other than an individual, the name of the country under the laws of which it is organized and the statutory citation of such laws, if any. The citizenship of the applicant should be indicated, as well as the percentage of the direct and indirect beneficial interest held by each government and aggregate of nationals of each country, other than that of the applicant’s country. If the applicant is government-owned or controlled in whole or in part, the extent of such government ownership or control must be disclosed. Section 4. Notice of Hearing. A notice of Hearing, signed by the Hearing Officer, setting forth the date and time of the hearing shall be issued upon the receipt of the application, in accordance with Section 5, Rule II. The Notice of Hearing shall be posted in the CAB website, which shall constitute as sufficient notice to all parties concerned. Notices of Hearing for new applications must be published for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation on the applicant/petitioner’s account. The Notice shall likewise be posted in the CAB website. Section 5. Appearance of Applicant and Counsel. Applicant, whenever applicable, shall appear personally and must be accompanied by counsel of choice during the hearing. All notices and orders shall be served to counsel of record, which shall constitute as proper service to the client. In case of corporations, partnerships, cooperatives, or any other juridical entity, other than a natural person, any responsible corporate officer or partner shall be allowed to appear as representatives upon presentation of the necessary Special Power of Attorney or a Board Resolution and Secretary’s Certificate designating said representative, shall be presented together with the representative’s identification documents. Personal appearance of applicant and counsel may be dispensed with, as may be warranted, such as when hearing is done virtually. Section 6. Failure to Appear. If the applicant or his duly authorized representative fail to appear, without justifiable cause, on the initial scheduled hearing, the Hearing Officer shall cause the resetting of the case to another date. No Motion to Reset shall be granted if the same exceeded two (2) times within the period of one (1) month. Furthermore, failure to appear on the third (3rd) scheduled hearing shall cause the dismissal of the application for lack of interest without prejudice to the filing of a new application and payment of filing fees. Section 7. Failure to comply with Jurisdictional Requirements. If the applicant fails to cause the publication of the Notice of Hearing or submit proof of notice to affected operators on the scheduled hearing, a Second Notice of Hearing may be issued upon request and payment of the required fees. Failure to comply with the publication or service requirements shall cause the dismissal of the case, without prejudice to re-filing. RULE VI – APPLICATIONS FOR LETTERS OF AUTHORITY Section 1. Scope. This rule shall apply to all other indirect air carriers over which the Board exercises jurisdiction and secures before it a Letter of Authority, particularly the following applications:

A pleading is verified by an affidavit stating that the person verifying has read the contents thereof and that the facts alleged are true and based on his own personal knowledge. A pleading which lacks verification shall be considered as an unsigned pleading and therefore not considered filed.

a. b. c. d.

The Board, on its own motion or upon motion of any party, may strike or dismiss or require amendment of a pleading, not in substantial conformity with the applicable rules or is otherwise insufficient in form and substance.

Consumer-related complaints shall be governed by Rule VII of this Administrative Order. Section 3. Application/Petition. An application/petition for the issuance of a CPCN or any other permit or authorization from the Board. It may be considered opposed or unopposed. An unopposed application shall proceed ex-parte. Opposed applications shall be heard, allowing all parties to present their respective arguments, in open hearing, either physical or virtual, or in writing, through pleadings, as may be warranted. An interested party, who appears during the presentation of jurisdictional requirements, who initially appears as an observer but reserves the right to oppose, depending on the development of the case, may be allowed to oppose the application, provided however, that the opposition is made known, during the hearing. The observer/oppositor shall thereafter be required to manifest and formally enter his opposition in writing. Section 4. Opposition. Any party who contests an application must file a written opposition on or before the scheduled initial hearing of the application. Section 5. Date of filing. Applications/Petitions documents required, by any section of this Chapter, shall be filed with the Central Receiving Unit (CRU) of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). An application/petition shall be deemed filed, after a preevaluation finding completeness in form and substance, upon payment of the filing fee, either electronically or manually. Section 6. Service Upon Parties. Pleadings, other than initiatory pleadings, filed with CAB’s CRU shall be accompanied by a proof of service to all parties to the proceeding, as may be applicable. Service shall be made by any of the following modes: personal delivery, registered mail, registered courier services, or by electronic mail or other authorized electronic means, with leave of the Hearing Officer. Section 7. Proof of service. Proof of service of any document shall consist of one of the following: a. A certificate of mailing executed by the person mailing the document, and the registry attached to the pleading served; b. An acknowledgement of service signed by a person receiving the service personally, or a certificate of the person making personal service; c. An affidavit of service executed by the person who delivered the pleading or document/s to the service provider, together with the courier’s official receipt or document tracking number; or d. An affidavit of service executed by the person who sent the e-mail facsimile, or other transmission, together with a printed proof of transmittal. Whenever service is made by way of registered mail, electronic mail or other authorized electronic means, the date of mailing or electronic transmission shall be considered as the date of service. Whenever service is made by personal delivery or by a registered courier services, the date of such delivery shall be the date of service. Section 8. Service of Decision, Resolution and Order. All Decisions, Resolutions and Orders of the Board shall be served upon all parties or their counsels who have entered their appearance, as much as practicable, by personal delivery, by registered mail or through a registered courier service. Section 9. Service upon Parties Represented by Counsel. A party represented by or who appeared through counsel, shall be served through counsel on record. Service to counsel shall be considered service to the principal. It shall be upon the counsel on record to inform and update his principal. Should there be a change/ replacement of counsel during the course of any proceeding, the counsel on record shall be required to file a Motion to Withdraw as Counsel and the new counsel to file the corresponding Entry of Appearance. CHAPTER II PROCEDURES FOR APPLICATIONS RULE III – PROCESSES WITHOUT HEARING Section 1. Coverage. The following petition shall be processed without the necessity of hearing: a. b. c. d.

Unopposed applications Ad hoc charters Waivers Special permit/authority, such as but not limited to: schedules, extra-section flights, e. Other applications or filings not subject to contest under CAB rules or other regulations Section 2. Filing. Applications/petitions under Section 1 of this Rule, together with supporting documents, shall be filed with the central receiving unit (CRU) of the CAB or via electronic means. Unless otherwise specified, one original copy of each document required or permitted to be filed under these rules shall be filed with the CAB. Section 3. Approval. If the petition/application is sufficient in form and substance, and the documentary requirements shall have been complied with, the Board, through the Office of the Executive Director or any person authorized to act on his behalf, shall issue a Letter of Approval or Letter of Authority. Section 4. Opposition. In case an application or petition, falling under Section 1 of this Rule is opposed, the same shall be forwarded to the Hearing Examiners Division for appropriate action. Section 5. Motion for Reconsideration. Any interested party seeking to appeal or to reconsider an approval issued under this Rule, shall file the necessary motion indicating the ground/s for such appeal or reconsideration together with supporting proof/evidence. The procedures on Motions shall apply. Section 6. Appeals. Resolutions of the Board are appealable to the Court of Appeals. RULE IV – HEARING PROCEDURE Section 1. Examiners. The term “Examiner” as used in this Chapter includes presiding officers, hearing examiners, individual members of the Board or any other representative of the Board authorized to conduct a hearing. Section 2. Powers. An Examiner shall, among others, have the following specific powers: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) to

To issue notice and to hold hearings; To administer oaths and affirmations; To examine witnesses; To issue subpoenas and to take or cause depositions to be taken; To rule offers of proof and to receive relevant evidence; To regulate the course and conduct of the hearing; To hold conferences, before or during the hearing, for the settlement or simplification of issues; To rule on motions and to dispose of procedural requests or similar matters; Within his discretion, or upon the direction of the Board, to certify any question

Authority to operate as an International and/ or Domestic Airfreight Forwarder; Authority to operate as an Offline Carrier Authority to Operate as a Cargo Sales Agent / Breakbulk Agent; Authority to Operate as General Sales Agent for Passenger or Cargo for Domestic Airlines; Authority to Operate as General Sales Agent for Passenger or Cargo for Foreign Airlines;

Section 2. Contents. All applications for Letters of Authority shall be filed with the Central Receiving Unit of the CAB. Any entity desiring to apply for the above enumerated permits/authority shall file for an application for the issuance of a Letter of Authority (LOA). The application shall contain information about the applicant, the type of application, form of organization, citizenship, capitalization, and such other information necessary to show the applicant’s fitness and capability to operate the services applied for. Application must be subscribed and verified by the applicant.

CAB may initiate the case by docketing the formal complaint filed. The complaint shall thereafter be formally served to the respondent and the proceedings shall proceed in accordance with this Chapter. However, nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to limit the authority of the Board to institute or conduct any investigations or inquiries within its jurisdiction, in any other manner or according to any other procedure, which it may deem necessary or proper under the circumstances. The Hearing Officer shall provide the parties with a written notice of the time and place of hearing. Section 5. Answer. Within seven (7) days after the date of service of a complaint, unless a different period is specified, the respondent shall file an answer to the complaint. All answers shall fully and completely advise the parties and the Board of the nature of the defense and shall admit or deny specifically and in detail each allegation of the complaint unless the respondent is without knowledge, in which case, the respondent shall so declare and his statement shall be considered as a denial. Allegations of fact not denied or controverted shall be deemed admitted. Matters alleged as affirmative defenses shall be separately stated and numbered and shall, in the absence of a reply, be deemed to be controverted. Section 6. Failure to Appear. If the complainant or respondent fails to appear on the scheduled hearing without justifiable cause, the complaint shall be resolved ex parte. Section 7. Default. Failure of the respondent to file and serve an answer within the time and in the manner prescribed by this Chapter shall be deemed waiver thereof and the hearing may proceed ex-parte. Section 8. Offers of Settlement. Any party to passenger or consumer complaint, at any time prior to final decision thereof, may submit offers of settlement or proposals of adjustment. Each offer or proposal shall be submitted in writing and addressed to the CAB, which will promptly advise the party or parties submitting same whether the offer or proposal is acceptable. The submission of such offer or proposal shall not alter or delay the course of the proceeding unless so ordered by the Board. This does not include other economic enforcement complaints (i.e. violation of the terms and conditions of the permit, economic regulations, commission of any of the acts enumerated under Chapter VII, RA 776). Section 9. Motion for immediate suspension of operating authority pendente lite. All motions for the suspension of the economic operating authority of an air carrier during the pendency of proceedings to revoke such authority shall be filed with, and decided by the Board. Section 10. Procedure when no enforcement proceeding is instituted. Within a reasonable time after a formal complaint has been received and considered, the CAB shall either proceed in accordance with Section 4 of this Chapter or shall advise the complainant, in an Order, that no enforcement proceedings will be instituted with respect to his complaint citing the reasons therefor. Such Order shall be considered as an Order dismissing the complaint. The complainant may file a Motion to review or reconsider such ruling within ten (10) working days from receipt of the Order. The motion shall be acted upon by the Board within fifteen (15) working days from receipt thereof. Complaints, which are on its face, wanting of merit or falls outside the jurisdiction of the CAB shall no longer be docketed and the complainant shall be advised thru email or letter of such determination. Section 11. Orders or Resolutions. The complaint shall be resolved on the basis of the merits of the case. RULE VIII – TIME AND MOTIONS Section 1. Computation of time. In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by these rules, by notice, order or regulation of the Board or the Examiner, or by any applicable statute, the first day shall be excluded, and the last day included. If the last day of the period so computed falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period runs until the end of the next working day. When the period of time prescribed is three (3) working days or less, intermediate Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays shall be excluded in the computation. Section 2. Continuances and extensions of time. Whenever a party has the right or is required to take action within a period prescribed by this Chapter, by a notice given thereunder, or by an order or regulation, the Board, or the Examiner assigned to the proceeding may (a) before the expiration of the prescribed period, with or without notice, extend such period; or (b) upon motion, permit the act to be done after the expiration of the specified period, where the failure to act is clearly shown to have been the result of excusable neglect. Section 3. Motions. An application to the Board or an examiner for an order or ruling not otherwise specifically provided for in this Chapter shall be by motion. After the assignment of an Examiner to a proceeding, and prior to his recommended decision, or the expiration of the period within which exceptions to his initial decision may be filed, or the certification of the record to the Board, all motions shall be addressed to the Board. All motions shall be made at an appropriate time depending upon the nature thereof and the relief requested therein. Section 4. Form and contents. Unless made during a hearing, motions shall be made in writing; shall state the grounds therefor and the relief or order sought, and shall be accompanied by any affidavits or other evidence desired to be relied upon. Motions made during hearings, answers thereto, and rulings thereon, may be made orally on the record unless the examiner directs otherwise. Section 5. Answers to motions. Within ten (10) working days after a motion is filed, or such other period as the Board or Examiner may fix, any party to the proceeding may file an answer in support of or in opposition to the motion, accompanied by such affidavits or other evidence as it desires to rely upon. Section 6. Oral arguments; briefs. No oral argument will be heard on motions unless the Board or the Examiner otherwise directs. Written memoranda or briefs may be filed with motions or answers to motions, stating the points and authorities relied upon in support of the position taken. Section 7. Disposition of motions. The Examiner shall pass upon all motions properly addressed to him, except that, if he finds that a prompt decision by the Board on a motion is essential to the proper conduct of the proceeding, he may refer such motion to the Board for decision. The Board shall pass upon all motions properly submitted to its for decision.

Section 3. Verification Process. Except for paragraph b, Section 1 of this Rule, the Receiving Officer shall conduct initial evaluation of the completeness of the documentary requirements and shall compare the duplicate copies of the documents with the original. If the documents are found incomplete, the receiving officer shall issue a Completion of Requirements Form to the stakeholder; the application form and documents as attached, shall be returned to the applicant. The applicant shall be informed of the pending status of its application and the reason for the return.

Section 8. Appeals to the Board from rulings of examiners. Rulings of Examiners on motions may not be appealed to the Board prior to its consideration of the entire proceeding except in extraordinary circumstances. An appeal shall be disallowed unless the Examiner finds, either on the record or in writing, that such an appeal is necessary to uphold public interest or to prevent undue prejudice to any party. If an appeal is allowed, any party may file a brief with the Board within such period as the Examiner directs. No oral argument will be heard unless the Board directs otherwise. The rulings of the examiner on motion may be reviewed by the Board in connection with its final action in the proceeding irrespective of the filing of an appeal or any action taken on it.

If the application is complete and payment of filing fees has been made, the application shall be forwarded to the Air Carrier Accounts and Field Audit Division (ACASFAD) for verification.

Section 9. Effect of pendency of motions. The filing or pendency of a motion shall not automatically alter or extend the time fixed herein or any extension granted hereunder to take action.

Section 4. Hearing by Special Authority. The application shall be referred to Financial Analyst from ACASFAD. The Financial Analyst shall receive all documentary requirements presented by the applicant. Hearing, for purposes of this Rule shall consist of giving the applicant an opportunity to present evidence in support of its application. The Financial Analyst shall review and evaluate all the documents as presented and/or submitted by the applicant.

RULE IX – SUBPOENA

The applicant shall fill up the application form and attach all documentary requirements prescribed in the checklist, as may be approved by the Board.

Section 5. Notice of Preliminary Hearing. A Notice of Preliminary Hearing, signed by the Chief, ACASFAD, shall be issued to the applicant upon receipt of the application and all the complete documentary requirements and proof of payment of filing fee. For original applications, the applicant shall be required to have the notice published at least once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation. An affidavit of publication shall be secured by the applicant as proof of completion of publication, which shall be submitted to the Board as part of its documentary requirements. Service of Notice to existing airfreight forwarders shall be made in accordance with Section 6 of Rule III. For renewal applications, a copy of the application and the notice shall be posted in CAB bulletin board and website. Failure to comply with the publication or service requirements shall cause the dismissal of the case without prejudice to refiling. Section 6. Unopposed Applications. An unopposed application shall proceed ex-parte. Section 7. Opposed Applications. Parties opposed to the granting of an application must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence within ten (10) working days from the date of publication, furnishing a copy of the same to the applicant, and if any so desire, appear before the Board. Failure on the part of the interested party to register its opposition on time shall be construed as waiver of its right to be heard. All opposed applications shall be sent to the Hearing Examiners Division, which will set the case for hearing. Opposed applications shall be governed by the procedures under Rule V hereof, as may be applicable. Section 8. Proceedings. The Financial Analyst assigned to the case shall evaluate the unopposed application, taking into consideration the completeness of all the attached documents including the financial viability of the applicant. The Financial Analyst shall review the financial statements submitted.

Section 1. Subpoena. (a) An application for a subpoena requiring the attendance of a witness or the production of documentary evidence at a hearing may be made without notice by any party to the Examiner designated to preside at the reception of evidence, or, in the event that an Examiner has not been assigned to a proceeding or the examiner is not available, to any member of the Civil Aeronautics Board for action by himself. (b) An application for a subpoena for documentary or tangible evidence shall be in writing except when made during the course of a hearing. Such application, whether written or oral, shall contain a statement or showing of general relevance and reasonable scope of the evidence requested, and shall describe the documentary or tangible evidence to be subpoenaed with as much particularity as is feasible. (c) The Examiner or member of the Board shall issue the subpoena requested if the application complies with this section. No attempt shall be made to determine the admissibility of evidence in passing upon an application for a subpoena, and no detailed or burdensome showing shall be required as a condition for the issuance of a subpoena. It is the purpose of this section, on the one hand, to make subpoena readily available to parties, and, on the other hand, to prevent the improvident issuance of subpoenas to secure evidence which is unrelated to the issues of the proceeding or wholly unreasonable in its scope. (d) Where it appears at a hearing that the testimony of a witness or documentary evidence is relevant to the issues in a proceeding, the Examiner may issue on his own motion a subpoena requiring such witness to attend and testify or requiring the production of such documentary evidence. (e) Subpoenas issued under this section shall be served upon the person to whom directed either by personal service or registered mail. Any person upon whom a subpoena is served may, within five (5) days from service or at any time prior to the return date thereof, whichever is earlier, file a motion to modify or quash the subpoena. If the Board has not acted upon such a motion by the return date, such date shall be stayed pending Board action thereon. CHAPTER III TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

The Financial Analyst shall conduct and regulate the proceedings before him and carry out all measures necessary and proper for the efficient performance of his duties. He may require additional documents, especially in cases of poor financial condition of the applicant to prove its continued financial viability.

Section 1. Repealing Clause. These Rules effectively repeal the provisions contained in Administrative Order No. 1 s. 1960, approved on 19 February 1960.

It is the duty of the Financial Analyst to proceed with all reasonable diligence. The application shall be processed within the allowable period, as may be prescribed by the Board.

Section 2. Separability. Provisions which are found to be contrary to law or the Constitution shall be deemed ineffective, all others shall continue to be effective.

Section 9. Dismissal due to fault of applicant. If, for no justifiable cause, the applicant fails to submit all the required documents or fails to pursue the application for an unreasonable length of time, or to comply with these Rules or any order, the application may be dismissed, without prejudice to the right of the applicant to refile the same.

Section 3. Effectivity. These Rules of Procedure shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication.

Section 10. Recommendation of the Financial Analyst. The Financial Analyst shall prepare its recommendation to the Board, indicating the applicant’s financial viability and fitness, willingness to operate, and its ability to perform the services applied for, within the time allotted. The Financial Analyst shall prepare a Memorandum approving or denying the application.

REINIER PAUL R. YEBRA Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Department of Transportation Alternate Chairman

Section 11. Approval of the Application and Ratification of the Letter of Authority. The Executive Director, by virtue of the delegated authority, shall approve the Memorandum and Letter of Authority, granting the applicant a period of five (5) years to operate, subject to the terms and conditions that the Board may impose. The said Letter of Authority shall be subject to the ratification of the Board.

EDWIN R. ENRILE Undersecretary for Legal and Special Concerns Department of Tourism Alternate Vice-Chairman

RULE VII – ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS Section 1. The Legal and Enforcement Division (LED) shall hear passenger or consumer complaints and such other enforcement complaints as may be directed by the Board. A special authority shall be issued to the Hearing Officer to preside over complaint proceedings. All other proceedings for enforcement of the economic regulatory provisions of RA 776, and rules, regulations, orders, limitations, conditions and requirements issued by the CAB may be heard before the Hearing Examiners Division (HED) or the Legal and Enforcement Division (LED), as may be directed by the Office of the Executive Director. Section 2. Contents. The complaint shall contain a description of the nature thereof, and a concise statement of facts which would show the violation of the terms and conditions of the permit or authority and economic regulations issued by the CAB. The complaint, together with supporting documents, must be filed with the CAB through the LED via email, or other electronic/online platform. Complaints endorsed to the CAB by other agencies, such as, but not limited to DTI, PCC, “888” hotline shall also be acted upon in accordance with the foregoing procedures. Section 3. Notices; Hearing. The Hearing Officer shall issue the corresponding Notices attaching thereto a copy of the complaint and directing the respondent to appear in the proceedings and/or to file an Answer. The Respondent shall file an Answer within seven (7) working days from receipt of the Notices, unless a different period is specified. Failure of the respondent to file an Answer within the given period shall constitute as waiver of the Respondent to appear and be heard in the proceedings. The Hearing shall proceed on the date, place and time stated in the summons, if necessary. Section 4. Institution of enforcement proceedings. Whenever in the opinion of the CAB there are reasonable grounds to believe that any provision of the act or any rule, regulation, order, limitation, condition or other requirements established pursuant thereto, has been or is being violated; that efforts to arrive at an adjustment or settlement have failed; and that investigation of the alleged violation is in the public interest, the

JIM C. SYDIONGCO Director General Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Member

EDMUNDO F. GAMMAD Member

EDGARDO M. LOPEZ Member

Attested by: CLARABEL ANNE R. LACSINA Acting Board Secretary

Noted:

CARMELO L. ARCILLA Executive Director MS-MAR. 4, 2022)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Entertainment Kim Kardashian (left) and Kanye West

Nickie Wang,, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

SINGLE LADY ANEW

Kim Kardashian wins divorce bid from Kanye West REALITY TV star Kim Kardashian’s marriage to Kanye West officially ended Wednesday when a Los Angeles judge finalized her divorce from the rapper now known as Ye. Kardashian appeared before the court virtually but Ye was represented only by his lawyer, who brought no objection to the end of the marriage. Ye had publicly fought the

Cignal brings back Pinoy comedy hits on BuKo Channel WITH summer just around the corner, Cignal relives the good old days of Pinoy TV humor as BuKo Channel brings back some OG classic comedies such as the hit fantasy sitcom Okay Ka, Fairy Ko, and more. A well-loved 1987 series that had an amazing 10 yearrun, Okay Ka, Fairy Ko was top-billed by Vic Sotto, Alice Dixon, Charito Solis, Aiza (Ice) Seguerra, and many more. This is the sitcom’s first-ever Philippine TV comeback since the ‘80s. Apart from the return of Okay Ka, Fairy Ko, BuKo makes it a total feel-good season by airing other Pinoy Classic Hits, including Daisy Siete, the phenomenal afternoon drama anthology starring the Sexbomb Girls, Vic Sotto’s Daddy DiDoDu, and Wow Mali!, the weeknight comedy gag show hosted by master prankster Joey De Leon. Completing this comedic buffet is the hit sketch comedy show Bubble Gang to make your Saturday nights enjoyably nostalgic and fun. Followers of the hit BuKo Originals are in for a big treat this March as Maine Mendoza’s trending vlog-type travel magazine show #MaineGoals premieres its much-awaited Season 2 on March 7, while Pokwang serves more delectable cooking tips in the fresh new episodes of Kusina Ni Manang premiering on March 12. BuKo has more in store as this first-ever 24/7 all-comedy channel serves more refreshing original content that will fill the viewers’ appetite for bellyaching fun. This March, BuKo will also launch BalitaOnenan!, which is set to deliver the country’s latest and hot news parody with a dash of humor and an outpour of hilarity, led by the three of the country’s funniest comedians: Alex Calleja, Kaladkaren, and Wally Bayola. Catch all these BuKo Originals and hit comedy comebacks exclusively on Cignal TV CH. 2, SatLive TV, and Cignal Play.

Buffet of comedy shows on BuKo channel

separation, including with social media posts imploring Kardashian to reconcile. Kardashian filed for divorce last year after months of press reports about marital strife and as Ye battled with mental health issues. “I very much desire to be divorced. I have asked Kanye to keep our divorce private, but he has not done so,” the 41-year-old Kardashian wrote in a declaration filed to the court last week.

“I believe that the court terminating our marital status will help Kanye to accept that our marital relationship is over and to move forward on a better path which will assist us in peacefully co-parenting our children,” she added. Kardashian and West have four children: eight-year-old daughter North, son Saint, six, daughter Chicago, four, and two-year-old son Psalm. The pair, who began dating

in 2012 and married in a lavish ceremony in Italy two years later, rapidly became one of the world’s most instantly recognizable couples. It is the first divorce for Ye and the third for Kardashian, who came to fame with the US reality TV series Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which followed the lives of her family members in Los Angeles. She is now in a relationship with 28-year-old comedian and actor Pete Davidson. AFP

A modern take on the legend of ‘Ibong Adarna’ The cast of ‘Adarna Gang’

(From left) JC Santos, Coleen Garcia, and Diego Loyzaga

ON Red’s Adarna Gang is a contemporary version of the epic story of Ibong Adarna. The film is described by the notable director as a social commentary about crime, politics, and family issues. While the story of Ibong Adarna follows three princes who go after a magical bird whose marvelous voice could heal their father, his latest film

is set at the present time and carries different plot twists. “It’s an experimental film. And it had been on my shelves for 15 years. So,

when Viva asked me to do it and then they greenlighted the movie, I saw it as an opportunity to reach out to a bigger audience kasi yung kuwento niya may love tapos pwede siyang lagyan ng action,” Red told the press during the film’s virtual media conference. In the Ibong Adarna epic, the hunt is one aspect of the whole narrative that makes the story exciting, especially with the bird’s cunning escape. Adarna Gang, on the other hand, also involves hunters and prey but the pursuit plot of the modern version is motivated by two things: revenge and thirst for power. In place of the three princes are three men being honed to become crime syndicate leaders. Instead of a healing bird, there’s a grieving daughter. Now, who is out to get who? Coleen Garcia plays Adriana, the only daughter of Jose (Soliman Cruz) and Maria (Mickey Ferriols). Adriana is aware of her father’s involvement in a syndicate, but it’s not being discussed in their family. She’s looking forward to a provincial life that her father has promised, but this dream is shattered when Jose gets killed. JC Santos plays Juan, one of the

three adopted sons of Fernando (Ronnie Lazaro), the syndicate’s big boss, and his wife Valeriana (Sharmaine Buencamino). Compared to his two brothers, Juan is quite laid back. Knowing that their fathers are friends, he also tries to befriend Adriana. Diego Loyzaga plays Diego, the youngest in their family. While he’s known for being a veteran as a ladies’ man, he still has a lot to learn in running the syndicate. He follows orders and tries to get things done. Mark Anthony Fernandez plays Pedro, the eldest son and the most ambitious of all. He will not hesitate to get rid of anyone who he thinks is a threat to the syndicate. Just like in the centuries-old Philippine folklore, Juan, Diego, and Pedro are sent out to go on a hunt. Whoever captures Adriana first will be greatly rewarded. Certain that Fernando’s family is behind the death of her father, Adriana vows to eliminate them one by one. Written and directed by Jon Red, Adarna Gang streams exclusively on Vivamax on March 11.

Miss World Philippines 2021 queens to compete internationally FIL-Australian Kathleen Paton is finally competing on the international pageant stage as she vies for Miss Eco International title, which 7th edition is set in Cairo, Egypt from March 6 to 18. The 24-year-old beauty was born in Boracay Island but migrated to Australia as a child. She aims to be the second Filipina to wear the crown after Cynthia Thomalla’s title conquest in 2018. A former Miss Manila 2018 and Miss Teen International 2017, Paton is pursuing a Business Management degree at Victoria University. She advocates mental health being a survivor herself after suffering mental health issues since she was 18 when she was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety in Australia. She created an Instagram account called PONO Society, from the Hawaiian word ‘pono’ which means ‘righteousness’ where she shares nuggets of wisdom on how to be better mentally. Paton, who sings and plays the violin, is following after two consecutive first runnerup finishes by Philippine representatives with Maureen Montagne in 2019 and Kelley Day in 2020-2021. Reigning Miss Eco International is Gizzelle Uys of South Africa. Meanwhile, Miss Environment

Philippines 2021 Michelle Arceo is set to compete in the first Miss Environment International 2022 pageant to be held in Mumbai, India, on April 2. Arceo, a 23-year-old, Filipino-American, born in California, USA, was Ms. BodyCon 2019 and the grand winner of Gandang Filipina 2017 competition of Willie Revillame’s GMA Wowowin show. ••• Blue, yellow and white rule Marianne Martin’s new fashion collection FASHION designer Marianne Martin is focusing on blue, yellow, and white in her upcoming show for Fashion Forte at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ortigas on March 24, 6:00 p.m. “Sky blue projects the calmness and tranquility of water. Yellow is for optimism, enthusiasm, and positivity. White stands for a woman’s purity and cleanliness of heart,” Martin explains. The models will walk the ramp in informal wear like mini-skirts and shorts and formal ball gowns. There will be a mix of operatic ball gowns, construction, and clothes inspired by dream cuts. Meanwhile, in a nod to the challenging pandemic times, Martin said her new collection will have fewer beads, Swarovski crystals, and other embellishments. The touches of luxury will be subtle and less

dramatic. But the overall look remains softly feminine but fierce. “Women had to endure a lot since the pandemic started,” noted Martin. Thus, she wants to inspire and boost their confidence through her collection. Martin believes fashion should not only target beauty. It should also have social relevance and help the community cope with present problems. Models will walk the ramp in informal wear like mini-skirts and shorts and formal ball gowns. There will be a mix of operatic ball gowns, construction, and clothes inspired by dream cuts. ••• Mrs. Asia Pacific Global 2019 birthday to orphans ON HER 46th birthday celebration, former Mrs. Asia Pacific Global 2019 Avon Morales brought cheers to the orphans housed at the Social Development Center in Pasay City on Saturday. Morales, a TV host, HR head and former Rotary president has been consistently fulfilling her personal mission to help others even in these times of the pandemic. Morales, with the cooperation and support of the Queen of Hearts Foundation, headed by CEO Mitzie Go Gil, hosted a special program for the children and handed out toys, hygiene kits, clothes, and food packs to the 20 girls and 11 boys under the care of the institution Morales started to get involved in charitable work taking inspiration from

her mother’s triumph over the “Big C.” She has been passionate about advocating empowerment of the underprivileged communities.

Kathleen Paton

Michelle Arceo

Avon Morales distributing goods to orphans

‘Kadenang Ginto,’ ‘A Love to Last’ now airing in Latin America THE country’s leading content provider, ABS-CBN, continues to expand its reach beyond local borders with Spanish-dubbed versions of its top-rating series Kadenang Ginto and A Love to Last now airing on various Latin American TV networks. Kadenang Ginto or La Heredera, starring Andrea Brillantes, Francine Diaz, ‘Kadenang Ginto’ stars Andrea Brillante Dimples Romana, and Beauty (left) and Francine Diaz

Gonzalez, is currently airing in Ecuador on free TV Ecuavisa. Meanwhile, A Love To Last (Un Amor Duradero), is currently airing in Latin America on Panamericana TV in Peru and on pay-TV via the 24-hour telenovela channel Pasiones TV. The romantic-family series stars Ian Veneracion, Bea Alonzo, Iza Calzado, Julia Barretto, JK Labajo, Enchong

Dee, Hannah Lopez, and Ronnie Alonte. Other ABS-CBN telenovelas had previously been a runaway success in Latin American countries Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic, including Pangako Sa’Yo (The Promise), the 2015 remake of ABS-CBN’s popular telenovela about Yna and Angelo’s love story amid heavy

tensions among their families. Apart from being embraced in Latin America, the telenovela also received international acclaim, with one of its stars Jodi Sta. Maria getting nominated as Best Actress in the 2016 International Emmy Awards for her performance in the series. Since ABS-CBN started distributing its content in Latin America in 2016, it has already

sold over 2,000 hours of content in the region, and on top of that, a scripted format deal in Mexico for The Promise. Along with its successes with Latin American audiences, ABSCBN shows enjoy large following in Africa and Asia, with Bagong Umaga airing in 41 African countries and La Vida Lena and Huwag Kang Mangamba airing in Myanmar, among others.

Life

Nickie Wang, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

Marian Rivera joins Shopee family as its latest celebrity ambassador

Leading e-commerce platform introduces ‘Consumer Day’ with its first 2022 mega sale

SHOPEE, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, introduces “3.15 Consumer Day,” the first mega sale of the year. Shopee is pioneering “3.15 Consumer Day” to bring more value and joy to all shoppers, who are now using e-commerce to fulfill their needs all year round. Online shoppers can be part of the mega sale that features the widest variety of products, made better with Free Shipping with P0 min. spend, P1 Deals, and 10 percent off daily. The promo started on March 3, kicking off the celebration with the 3.3 Consumer Day. Shopee will also launch its #ShopeeCelebra-

tesYou campaign to bring more cheer to users across the 3.15 period. Throughout the campaign, Shopee will surprise and delight its biggest fans on social media, while users stand a chance to win big prizes by taking part in various activities and contests across Shopee’s official platforms. Adding to the 3.15 celebrations, Shopee welcomes Marian Rivera as its newest brand ambassador. Marian will star in a brand new Shopee commercial for 3.15 Consumer Day. She will also appear in the 3.15 TV Special happening at 5:00 p.m. on March 15. Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines

The baker is in How doctor-actress Maricar Reyes found sweet success and joy in baking

“S

URGERY looked fun,” multi-hyphenate Maricar Reyes said matter-of-factly when I asked if she had a dream specialization. Some people may not know but the actress, author, entrepreneur, and content creator is also a licensed medical doctor.

said, “At Shopee, our users are at the heart of all that we do. This drives us to keep innovating, so that we can create new features, services, and campaigns that bring joy to their lives. As more people shop online and enjoy our year-end festivals, we are introducing 3.15 Consumer Day to bring the same excitement and fun to the first half of the year. We are thrilled for our first 3.15 Consumer Day and we hope to deliver even more joy to everyone.” For more information about Shopee 3.15 Consumer Day, visit https://shopee. ph/m/consumer-day

Maricar Reyes

Heber Bartolome sculpture unveiled at Erehwon A LIFE-SIZED sculpture of folkrock icon Heber Bartolome silently playing his guitar has recently been unveiled by his brother Jesse and his other friends and relatives at the Behn Cervantes The Roofdeck of the Erehwon Center for the Arts. The sculpture is surrounded by the floor painting of artist Leeroy New. The image is by sculptor Jose “Al” Giroy, a protégé of National Artist Napoleon Abueva. Al Giroy has done the two other life-sized sculptures at the Center’s top floor: those of theater pioneer Behn Cervantes that stands in welcome at the entrance to the entertainment ven-

ue; and National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin who is depicted toasting his favorite bottle of beer. Bartolome’s last public performance was at The Roofdeck last September 2021, as he started off Erehwon’s Filipino Music Legends Series with the rendering of his iconic and long-enduring song, “Tayo’y Mga Pinoy.” In 2019, the artist staged his solo art exhibit at Erehwon, which was opened by National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera. Bartolome and his organization of musicians and composers known as MUSIKA, were very active members of the Erehwon Arts Council.

“When Mr. M gave me an opportunity in showbiz, I entered with a clear conscience and with the support of my parents,” Maricar explained. Her friends were also there during the transition period. “They were supportive, although some wished I lived a quieter and safer life outside of the spotlight.” What seemed like a major plot twist in her life story had a subplot when Maricar later ventured into baking.

cake business Maricar’s Chocolate Cakes was born. She shared, “It was a toss up between what Richard was familiar with because of his dad’s restaurant - a Chinese beef noodle shop - or what I wanted, chocolate cake. Our other business partner chose the cake business, too, so Richard conceded.” Maricar revealed having a sweet tooth and that she has been baking since high school. “Nothing fancy, though,” she explained. “But Richard and I started Maricar got her Biology degree from experimenting with recipes and it Ateneo de Manila University and took took us eight months to come up with up Medicine at the University of Santo one we could be truly proud of.” Tomas. It was in 2008 when she passed True enough, the couple’s initial the medical licensure exam. concoction that came in their signa“After getting my medical license, ture gold tin can was already remarkI worked in a private clinic for a few able. It was rich, moist, and had the months before I got the call from Mr. right amount of sweetness. M,” Maricar said alluding to star mak“We knew we had to come up with er Johnny Manahan who was then something distinct because there are the head of ABS-CBN’s talent manso many other chocolate cake busiagement arm, Star Magic. nesses out there,” the proud business Maricar, who started out as a televiowner openly shared. sion and print model, has since venMaricar also paid tribute to her hustured into various roles as an actress. band’s big role in giving unique flaChanging paths has crossed Marivors to their products. car’s mind halfway through medical “He comes up with out-of-the-box school. She said, “I started modeling ingredients that give our cake that in college. But it was only around my Maricar (right) with her life and business partner special something,” she added. second year in med school did I conRichard Poon What Maricar was describing persider a different career.” fectly matched the magic that was in Maricar admitted to wanting a busi“In 2014, Richard and I thought it was their first well-received item on the menu ness of her own early on but decided to earn her medical degree in honor of her time to start a business together,” she re- years ago - the choco-liquor cake that had parents. She fulfilled a dream she de- called. Maricar got married to crooner a subtle hint of alcohol. Today, their product Richard Poon just a year before their line has expanded to premium cake chunks clared in second grade. in jars and chocolate spread. For her personal favorite, Maricar swears by the classic dark chocolate cake. “I’m a chocolate person,” she said. The passionate baker went on to share what she enjoys most about baking, “It’s the smell when the cake is in the oven.” Her favorite part is when she tests a small portion of each batch to ensure that the quality meets their set standards. On her way to success, I could not help but wonder if Maricar found anything useful from her medical background. “It was easier to understand the science of baking,” she said. “My medical knowledge also helped keep my team safe and healthy during the pandemic.” From a small home baking project, the business is now available in key cities all over the country. Given the current crisis, orders are made online in the meantime. Asked what she would advise others who are contemplating on making a career shift, Maricar laughingly responded, “Please go to Relationship Matters PH Youtube channel and watch the video, The Middle of 3 Circles.” In the vlog, she and Richard thoroughly explained how one should find the middle ground among passion, potential, and profit. To me, the desire to create a positive impact on others is what is truly inspiring about Maricar Reyes and her Being a doctor makes the science of baking easy to learn for Maricar “sweet success.”

A life-sized sculpture of Heber Bartolome by sculptor Jose “Al” Giroy

Partnership promoting acceptance,

inclusion for people with Down Syndrome LONG-TIME partners Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Inc. (DSAPI) and SM Cares have teamed once again up to promote acceptance and inclusion of persons with Down Syndrome. This is in observance of National Down Syndrome Consciousness Month, held every February. The observance of the National Down Syndrome Consciousness Month aims to facilitate meaningful and timely discussions on the many issues concerning people with Down Syndrome, including their families, advocates, and those who care for them. DSAPI celebrates its 30th founding year this 2022. SM Cares and DSAPI’s partnership began when DSAPI held its Happy Walk in SM Megamall in 2007. Since then, the event has been held annu-

ally garnering more participants and increasing scale year after year. Today, SM Cares continues to aid DSAPI in fulfilling its goal to offer support to families who care for persons living with Down Syndrome, with Happy Walk celebrating its 19th anniversary this year. Another notable partnership initiative was the recently launched Health Care Record Book project for persons with Down Syndrome. SM Cares is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, with programs to support communities, promote social inclusion and care for the environment. Its CSR advocacies include the Environment, Persons with Disabilities, Women & Breastfeeding Mothers, Children & Youth, Senior Citizens, and the Bike-Friendly SM Program.

The Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Inc. celebrates its 30th founding year this 2022