Manila Standard - 2022 October 18 - Tuesday

Inflation takes toll on daily life

Ibon Foundation cites difficulty to cope with high prices despite pay hike

By Darwin Amojelar

THE high prices of petroleum products as well as the elevated inflation have made it difficult for Filipino workers to make ends meet, despite the minimum wage hike that took effect on June 1, according to a local think-tank.

Ibon Foundation cited as an example the P570 minimum wage in Metro Ma nila, which it said was barely half the P1,119 per day wage needed for a family of five to live decently.

On a monthly basis, Ibon estimates a family of five with a monthly income

of P24,333 will spend P2,522 for water, electricity, and gas – the third highest expense after food (P12,731) and house rental (P4,323).

The Philippine Statistics Author ity earlier reported that the country’s headline inflation rate rose to 6.9

percent in September, significantly higher than the 6.3 percent in August this year and the 4.2 percent in the same month last year.

This trend is observed in other countries as well, given the same experience of subdued demand or a low base the past year, because of COVID, and the external pressures this year from commodity prices, lo gistics bottlenecks, weather shocks, and wide swings in the exchange rate against the US dollar.

“The government’s priority is to

Cheaper imported sugar at P70/kilo in market Nov.

HARD

By Othel V. Campos, Joel E. Zurbano, and Vito Barcelo

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) will begin selling cheaper imported sugar at the offices of the Sugar Regulatory Adminis tration (SRA) in Quezon City and Bacolod City, once the imports arrive by end-Octo ber or early November 2022.

The SRA will sell sugar directly to consumers at a fixed price of P70 per kilogram (kg).

Consumers may also avail of cheaper sugar from Kadiwa rolling stores and Kadiwa on Wheels as part of government efforts to bring reasonably-priced sweet ener directly to

Diesel price hike wipes out 5 weeks worth of rollbacks

By Alena Mae Flores

TODAY’S P2.70 per liter price in crease for diesel has wiped out five consecutive weeks of rollbacks, De partment of Energy data showed.

This is the second consecutive week of upward adjustment in domestic pump prices, with an increase of as much as P2.90 per liter for kerosene and P0.80 per liter for gasoline as the country’s net oil import bill more than doubled to $9.705 billion in the first six months.

Oil firms last week raised the price of diesel by P6.85 per liter, kerosene by P3.50 per liter, and gasoline by P1.20 per liter.

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE Department of Education on Mon day said the mandatory daily face-toface classes in all public schools will push through as scheduled on Novem ber 2, while private schools may con

PBBM: Tourism ‘high potential driver’ to transform economy

By Rey E. Requejo

tinue with blended learning.

At the same time, DepEd Usec. Epi maco Densing said the department would remove the 50-minute mother tongue language as a subject in a bid to decongest the K-12 curriculum.

“We will continue using the mother

FOR MARAWI’S HEROES.

of the Armed Forces of the Philippines offer

to their

parted comrades before the Marawi Pylon at the Libingan

mga Bayani in Taguig City

the

(Story

tongue as a medium of instruction for students in kindergarten to Grade 3. But we also agreed on something that can help decongest the curriculum... We all agreed in the curriculum and instruc tion division to do away with the 50 minutes of mother tongue as a subject,”

Densing said. Under the K-12 program, the mother tongue subject focuses on the develop ment of students’ speaking, reading, and writing skills in their first or local lan guage. There are 19 local languages being

DILG to meet media groups on protection

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said it will meet with media groups to thresh out security measures aimed at protecting them from various threats in the wake of the killing of radio commentator Percival Mabasa earlier this month.

By Rey E. Requejo

Forces.

Ambassador to the Philippines

that the US State Department

the

Carlson revealed

DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. made this statement after lawmak ers and various media groups expressed concern over surprise visits by police to the homes of some journalists.

THE tourism industry is among the country’s high potential drivers for economic transformation, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized

on Monday as he graced the Philip pine Tourism Industry Convergence Reception at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

The President was with First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos and House Deputy Speaker and Ilocos Rep. Sandro Marcos.

Vice President Sara DuterteCarpio, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Tourism Secretary

UNITY TOAST FOR TOURISM. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (center) leads the toast at the Philippine Tourism Industry Convergence Reception on Monday with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, Senior Deputy Speaker Sandro Marcos, Deputy Speaker Duke Frasco, Cabinet members, and partner private stakeholders leaders at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. DOT photo

AFP marks 5th Marawi anniversary

THE successful liberation of Marawi City from the hands of the Islamic State-inspired Maute terrorist group five years ago highlights the government’s commitment to suppress terrorism, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.

“The Marawi incident showed the firm resolve of the government against terrorism. It was the turning point in a sense that since then we have seen the downward trend in frequency and in tensity of terror activities perpetrated by local terrorist groups,” AFP spokes person Col. Medel Aguilar said.

The fifth anniversary was commem orated yesterday starting with a wreathlaying ceremony led by Presidential

Adviser for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. at the Marawi Pylon at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.

“The AFP shares the honor and glory of saluting all our heroes who helped liberate the City of Marawi from the clutches of terrorism, five years ago,” Aguilar said.

He said the service and sacrifice made by these heroes will serve as a

legacy that will live on forever in the hearts and minds of the Filipino people.

“We owe it to the valiant and coura geous men and women in uniform who fought the Maute terrorist group so that we could still fly freely the Philippine Flag over Marawi City,” he said.

“The crisis may have been over, but we have never left Marawi. Our soldiers are still actively participating in peace and development efforts to ensure that this unfortunate event in our history will never happen again,” Aguilar added.

Aguilar said the fight against terror ist threats is not the sole responsibility of the government or the security sec tor but of every citizen of the republic.

“We must continue to strengthen the whole-of-nation approach toward preventing and countering violent ex tremism. Let us motivate our people, especially the youth, to be advocates of peace in their communities,” he said.

The Marawi siege started on May 23, 2017.

An estimated 847 terrorists and 168 military and other security personnel were killed in the five-month-long battle.

The fighting was declared over on Oct. 23, 2017, after authorities con firmed the death of Abu Sayyaf lead er and ISIS emir in Southeast Asia Isnilon Hapilon and Maute Group cofounder Omar Maute.

Gov’t rushing to fix roads, power after TS ‘Neneng’

By Vince Lopez

Christina Garcia-Frasco, and Deputy Speaker and Cebu Rep. Duke Frasco were also in attendance.

Mr. Marcos backed the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) plan to give Phil ippine gateways a facelift and create more roads to key destinations to at tract more tourists to the country after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Given that tourism is a “driver” of the economy, the President said the govern ment must do everything “to make sure that this asset that the Philippines has must be used to bring jobs to people, to bring visitors to our country.”

“It became very clear from the very beginning, that as we transform our economy, one of the possible and high potential drivers for the transformation of the economy was tourism, and the reason, I think, to us all is quite obvi ous... because we in the Philippines have been so fortunate to have been born to this very beautiful country,” Mr. Mar cos said in his keynote speech.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said government agencies have ramped up road clearing operations and power restoration efforts in areas affected by Typhoon “Neneng.”

In a social media post, Mr. Marcos said electric lines are being restored in 13 municipalities in the Ilocos region

Cheaper...

The Bureau of Customs (BOC), meanwhile, said it seized smuggled sug ar worth more than P228 million at the Manila International Container Termi nal (MICT) in Tondo, Manila

The seized sugar came without SRA import clearance and was part of the continuing drive by the government against the illegal importation of ag ricultural products, said BOC acting Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz.

He said the confiscated refined sug ar came from Thailand and arrived in the country on Sept. 24 inside 76 con tainer vans.

and five provinces in Cagayan Valley.

The President added that road clearing continues in the 34 impass able sections while food packs have been delivered to families in 32 evacuation centers as well as other affected communities.

Earlier, Mr. Marcos said the govern ment has deployed assets to assist in the rescue and relief operations.

Based on initial reports from the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Manage ment Council (NDRRMC), President Marcos said some 27,914 individuals have been affected in Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region, and the Cordillera Ad ministrative Region.

IN BRIEF

Soriano named comms adviser

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday named film director Paul Soriano as Presidential Adviser for Creative Communications.

Soriano directed Marcos’ first State of the Nation Address in July, as well as the latter’s presidential campaign commercials.

Soriano took his oath of office yes terday. He is the nephew of First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and his wife, TV host and actress Toni Gonzaga, was known as an ally of Marcos.

However, Malacanang has yet to release Soriano’s appointment papers or clarify his job description under the post. Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez

‘Special treatment’ for Remulla’s son?

HOUSE Deputy Minority Lead er France Castro on Monday de nounced the supposed special treat ment given to drug suspect Juanito Jose Diaz Remulla III, son of De partment of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Castro in a statement noted the two-day delay before Juanito’s arrest was publicized.

“His father who was in Geneva was even among the first to know of the arrest,” Castro said. “What transpired during the almost two-day delay?”

Castro also questioned why Juan ito’s face was blurred in his mug shots, which she said was different from the “common practice” of releasing unal tered mug shots of drug suspects and parading them “in front of the media as early as they can.” Maricel V. Cruz

Heart attack kills ‘Coco’ Rasuman

THE Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said Jachob “Coco” Rasuman, the leader of an investment company said to be behind a multibillion-peso pyramiding scam, died due to a heart attack in New Bilibid Prison.

used in schools across the country.

Meanwhile, under the blended learn ing scheme, private schools can have three days of in-person classes and two days of distance learning, and eventu ally four days of in-person classes, and one day of distance learning.

“DepEd is cognizant of the current situation of the private sector due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandem ic – the amount of investment in on line learning technologies, the devel opment and institutionalization of best practices on blended learning, and the unfortunate closure of small private schools because of losses,” it added.

The Coordinating Council of Pri vate Educational Associations of the Philippines thanked DepEd for “giv ing primary consideration to students’ and parents’ choice of platforms.”

“This also gives the flexibility need ed to strengthen innovation in basic [education] schools and maximize the benefits of hybrid learning modalities, even as we also integrate in-person classes in schools,” the group said.

The Federation of Associations of Private School Administrators (FAPSA) said private schools would have suffered “more problems” if forced to implement full face-to-face classes next month.

“Even our own parents do not want to send their kids to school daily since the outbreak or COVID-19 is very much around,” FAPSA President El eazardo Kasilag said.

House ways and means committee chairman Albay Rep. Joey Salceda on Monday lauded the decision of DepEd.

The SRA has asked each importer to commit 10 percent of their imported sugar allocation to be sold through the DA at P70 a kilo based on the sugar importation policy for the crop year 2022-2023.

The SRA said the initiative is only tempo rary and will respond to the demand while waiting for sugar mills to start milling.

Once most sugar mills are fully oper

Inflation...

make sure that there is a sufficient and affordable food supply for every Fili pino family,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said.

The top five contributors to the Sep tember inflation are electricity, gas, and other fuels, operation of personal trans port, meat, fish, and housing rentals.

It is noted, however, that the inflation of meat has slowed from 12.8 percent in September 2021 to 9 percent in Septem ber 2022.

“Today’s inflation is far more com plex than what we have seen in recent decades. The government and its stake holders need to collaborate for shared solutions,” Balisacan said.

In the near term, ensuring sufficient food supply, while assisting the most vulnerable sectors will help us hurdle the current challenges,” he added.

According to Ibon in its Septem ber report, the absence of quality jobs, persistent poverty, and lack of savings make it difficult for the people to cope

pone elections lies with the Commis sion on Elections after determining “serious causes” under Section 5 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC).

ational, there will be a sufficient supply of affordable sugar, the SRA said.

As of Oct. 14, 2022, SRA has issued clearances to import sugar to 13 inter national sugar traders with a total vol ume of 33,772.50 metric tons (MT) of

with the high cost of living.

The group estimates over six mil lion Filipinos are without jobs (includ ing discouraged workers and those not immediately able to take up work) as of June 2022.

Meanwhile, as of July 2022 there are supposedly 4.8 million additional jobs created since January 2020 but over half (54.7 percent) or 2.7 million of this is just in part-time work.

Over one-third is just self-employ ment (37.6 percent, 1.8 million) and al most one-fourth (22.4 percent, 1.1 mil lion) are just unpaid family workers.

Ibon added that the government should ensure substantial funds to keep vulnerable workers and their families from falling into deeper poverty and to help them recover amid high prices and a weak economy.

The PSA earlier reported that the num ber of employed persons grew by 800,000 to 47.4 million from 46.6 million, while unemployment declined by 388,000 to 2.6 million from around 3 million.

But underemployment grew by 655,000 to 6.5 million from 5.9 million.

The Philippine economy, as meas

refined sugar that is intended for con sumers and end users.

Part of the importation will be dis tributed or sold to groceries and super markets as well as public and wet mar kets through the Kadiwa Project.

ured by gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.4 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, slower than the re vised 8.2 percent expansion in the first quarter and 12.1 percent a year ago.

Economic growth in the first half, on the other hand, averaged 7.8 percent, above the target range of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent set by the government.

Economic managers expect the annu al GDP growth to settle within a range of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent from 2023 to 2028.

IBON earlier said that the quarter-onquarter contraction of the economy in the second quarter of 2022 shows that recovery remains weak and requires more determined government action.

“This economic contraction is not an anomaly but a red flag that the coun try’s economy and Filipino households are struggling. This could worsen un less the new administration ensures that the 2023 national budget provides a substantial stimulus such as with sig nificantly larger funds for social protec tion and support for small businesses and production sectors,” the local thinktank added.

Over the weekend, GMA-7 broad cast journalist JP Soriano said on his Twitter account that a man who iden tified himself as a police officer vis ited his residence.

“According to records available today, there is one PDL Jhacob Ra suman who died yesterday due to Myocardial infarction. His family already claimed the remains of the dead PDL,” BuCor Deputy Director General Gabriel Chaclag, quoted by an ABS-CBN News report, said. Chaclag said the family has al ready claimed his remains from the prison. Willie Casas

Envoy...

military financing (FMF) to be used for defense modernization according to the needs” of the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND).

Carlson said it was “in conjunction with the ongoing consultation that we have already discussed throughout the year between our two militaries.”

Interviewed by reporters at her residence in Makati City, the envoy stressed the grant offer came after the Philippines scrapped its deal to purchase military choppers from Rus sia, which was also part of the coun try’s military modernization efforts, in consideration of the United States’ position.

She said the amount could be used by the DND to “offset” future military helicopter purchases, among others.

“But we would not dictate the modernization efforts within the Department of National Defense,” Carlson added.

Privacy Act. If the PNP really wants to coordinate with or check on us, this should be done at our office, not at our homes,” Soriano said.

Macalintal’s petition, however, did not include the SK elections.

With the passage and signing of RA 11935, all incumbent barangay and SK officials must serve until their succes sors are elected next year or they can be removed or suspended earlier for a cause.

Subsequent barangay and SK elec tions will be held every three years.

However, Macalintal argued that Congress has no power to postpone the holding of barangay elections and to ex tend the term of current officials.

“The Constitution gives Congress the power to determine or fix the term of office of barangay officials. Clearly, the Constitution does not give Congress the power to postpone the barangay elec tions nor to extend the term of office of barangay officials,” Macalintal said.

According to him, the power to post

If Congress is empowered to post pone the holding of elections, it would remove the authority of the poll body under the OEC, Macalintal said.

“Thus, by enacting a law postponing the scheduled barangay elections, Congress is in effect executing the said provision of the OEC or has overstepped its constitutional boundaries and assumed a function that is reserved to Comelec,” he said.

“It is clear that the poll body has the sole power to postpone the elections based on reasons under Section 5 of the Omnibus Election Code,” Macalintal added.

He said postponing the conduct of ba rangay elections would also violate the constitutional right of the people to due process since they are effectively “forced to accept” the appointed officials upon the expiration of their term in December 2022, without hearing or notice.

He said the Philippine National Po lice (PNP), which is under the DILG, was committed to providing security to journalists under threat and invited press groups to discuss such measures.

Abalos added that a letter has been drafted and addressed to various media networks and organizations and would be distributed in the coming days.

This week’s price increase offset the fiveweek rollback, resulting in a net increase of P.070 for diesel, and a net decrease of P3.10 for gasoline and P3.55 for kerosene.

Data from the DOE showed that Dubai crude went up by $2.11 per bar

Soriano said he called Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro and confirmed that police officers were knocking on media workers’ doors to check for threats.

He also found out that another jour nalist had called the local chief execu tive as cops also visited his home.

“This is a clear violation of the [Data]

rel to $93.28 per barrel last week from $91.17 per barrel last week.

DOE director for the oil industry management bureau Rino Abad said consumers can expect pump prices to continue rising because of the decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its al lies to cut production by 2 million bar rels per day starting next month.

Abalos said he has talked to Sori ano and apologized to the members of the media over the alarm caused by the incident.

He has ordered the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to go through the proper channels to reach out to media workers instead of going to their residences.

“Oil prices will continue to go up. The only way that will be reversed is if OPEC+ cannot fulfill its announce ment to cut production,” Abad said.

Ahead of the production cut, Presi dent Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is propos ing to source fuel from other countries such as Russia to secure the country’s oil supply requirements, Energy Secre tary Raphael Lotilla said.

SMUGGLED SUGAR. Officials led by Bureau of Customs Commissioner Yogi Ruiz, CIIS Director Jeofffrey Tacio, and MICP-CIIS Chief Alvin Enciso show some of the P228 million worth of smuggled sugar intercepted Monday at the Manila International Container Port.

Business groups urge Ombudsman to work with ARTA

By Othel V. Campos

BUSINESS groups on Monday called on the Office of the Ombudsman to closely work with the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) to continuously improve public services and correct misaligned practices of government offices.

The 32 business groups said they recognize the role of a public van guard like ARTA and its importance in cutting cumbersome procedures and transactions in government.

“We would like to appeal to the Om budsman to work with ARTA, so they may together give us the improvement in government services we need, and continue the upgrading that has been started so effectively,” the groups said in a joint statement.

The groups said they were con cerned when the Ombudsman called for ARTA’s abolition, after a group of disgruntled people filed for its disso lution.

The case was brought before the Court of Appeals as to the role of ARTA and the Court confirmed that ARTA was operating legally, even adding that it was doing a much-need ed job.

“We agree that the Ombudsman, within the wide scope of its authori ties, has a role to play in improving government services, but ARTA’s pri mary role is to improve government services,” the groups said.

They likewise recognize the diffi culty of doing business with the gov ernment which is a perennial problem for businessmen, and a disincentive to invest in the Philippines.

While much improvement is still needed to strengthen the ease of doing business, the business groups noted that ARTA delivered and continues to deliver the services expected of it in almost 3 years since it was conceived.

Businesses benefitted from faster approvals for permits, licenses, etc. which have been simplified and great ly speeded up.

Comelec agrees to cut budget for BSKE

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has agreed to reduce additional spending as much as possible, decreasing its proposed budget for 2023 to P4 billion from the original P10 billion.

“The commission was able to squeeze it to P4 billion, hoping that amount would be acceptable to [the senators],” Comelec chairman George Garcia said.

The Senate subcommittee on finance presided over by Senator Imee Marcos on Monday meanwhile decided to cancel the Comelec budget hearing due to the commission’s failure to present sufficient documents.

“I have not received the budget of the barangay, SK elections for Octo ber 2023. I have not received the slides

regarding the payment of our (poll) workers, OFWs, and certain other is sues that I requested. Nothing has been submitted, except the old PowerPoint that is unresponsive to the queries of most of my colleagues in the Senate,” Marcos said.

Marcos also described the proposed P10 billion additional funding for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) as an “outrageous de mand.”

Garcia, after the budget hearing was

suspended, said “the Comelec knows our current problem with money. And be cause of that, we join [the government] in saving. If saving money is needed and we can find a way, the Comelec will do it.”

The Senate is currently on recess but continues to conduct budget hearings.

The Comelec was supposed to spend P8.5 billion for the BSKE, which has been reset from December 5 to October next year. Garcia said the country has 91 million BSKE voters, 25 million of whom are SK voters only.

By next year, the poll body estimates an additional 5 million to 7 million voters, 30,000 more precincts from the current 199,000 precincts, and 100,000 additional election workers as registration will be held anew from November to May 2023.

Garcia said they will submit the docu

ments required by the Senate panel by Monday afternoon.

The Comelec is proposing a bigger budget following the move to reschedule the BSKE from December this year to October 2023. The P10 billion additional fund is on top of the agency’s present bud get of over P8 billion.

Marcos expressed disbelief over the amount. She, instead, proposed of just over P1 billion additional budget for the commission.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier signed Republic Act No. 11935 postpon ing the BSKE.

With the latest postponement, continu ing voter registration, a bigger budget, and a redesign of the ballot template are some of the Comelec’s new concerns. With

Joel E. Zurbano

Families of fallen rescuers get P2m cash, biz packages

SAN Miguel Corporation (SMC) said its president and CEO Ramon Ang has given P10 million to the families of the five men who were killed while conducting rescue op erations in Bulacan during Typhoon Karding.

According to SMC, Ang provid ed P2 million each to the families of Troy Agustin, George Agustin, Marby Bartolome, Jerson Resurrec cion, and Narciso Calayag Jr., and offered them business start-up pack ages.

The five rescuers were killed in a flash flood in Barangay Camias in San Miguel, Bulacan. Authorities said the five men perished after they were hit by a wall that collapsed.

“I join fellow Filipinos in thank ing our brave rescuers for their hero ism. My hope is that their families will get to see how much we all ap preciate them,” Ang, in a statement said.

“They inspire us to do selfless deeds in our everyday lives. Their ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty

will not be forgotten,” the executive added.

Ang further said he joins millions of Filipinos “who will forever be grateful for their bravery and sacri fice and dedication to duty.” He met and condoled with the families of the five men, who were all members of the Bulacan Provin cial Disaster Risk Reduction Man agement Office (PDRRMO).

Ang also personally handed the checks and offered business start-up packages to the family representatives of the fallen rescu ers during the meeting attended by Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando and Bulacan 4th District Rep. Lorna Silverio at the SMC headquarters.

The families of the fallen rescuers expressed gratitude to Ang.

“Sobrang pasasalamat po. Hindi po namin ine-expect po ito at sobrasobra po itong natanggap namin mula kay RSA. Bata pa po ang mga anak namin kaya mahaba-haba pa po ang tatakbuhin,” said Jessa Agustin, wife of Troy.

PREPARING FOR NOVEMBER 1. A worker from Domrose Candle factory in Caloocan City ar ranges and packs candles in preparation for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. The local government has opened cemeteries to the public. Manny Palmero

PBBM eyes new department to manage water resources

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. is looking for a new government agency to efficiently manage the country’s water resources for drinking and irrigation needs.

“Water is too important. Supply, our freshwater supply, is generally going down and irrigation is not as widespread as it should be,” the President said state television during the recent Legislative-Executive Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting.

The Chief Executive hinted that he would support a bill proposing the creation of a Department of Water Services.

“The problem is too large that we need to have a team of experts directing the 20 different concerned agencies under one roof to ensure that they would manage our water resources efficiently,” Marcos explained.

There are pending bills in both legislative chambers for the creation of the Department of Water Resources and a Water Regulatory Commission.

Lawmakers, however, said that to save money, a commission should be created instead of a full department.

In his State of the Nation Address in July,

Marcos mentioned the creation of the Department of Water Resources in his legislative agenda that he presented to Congress.

He said the government would also look into the “precarious” freshwater supply situation in the country, especially in the urban areas. He added that many water supply systems date back to the 1950s, and they must now be rehabilitated and improved.

The new department will implement the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), which Mr. Marcos has proposed as the strategic framework for national water management, policy making, and planning.

The President described the IWRM as “an approach to promote the coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources to maximize economic and social welfare without compromising our ecosystem.”

Meanwhile, the president also discussed at the LEDAC job generation, trade policy, pandemic recovery efforts, and the need to improve tourism services and infrastructure.

The proposed DMR supposedly will set policy and implement structural reforms on water management and address supply issues.

In a meeting with officials from Isabela, Marcos also discussed several programs to address agricultural challenges in the region, including building new dams and rehabilitating the existing ones.

They talked about the enhancement of post-production and irrigation facilities, as well renewable energy.

The creation of the proposed department is among the priority pieces of legislation of the Marcos administration.

Senator Grace Poe in July refiled a bill seeking the creation of the Department of Water Resources.

Under Poe’s bill, the DWR will be the primary policy, planning, coordinating, implementing, monitoring, and administrative entity of the executive branch of the government responsible for the comprehensive and integrated development and management of the water resources of the Philippines.

QC is wealthiest city; Cebu is richest province—COA

QUEZON City is still the country’s wealthiest city in terms of assets, while Cebu remained on top as the richest province.

A 2021 report by the Commission on Audit (COA) indicated that Metro Manila’s largest and most populous city has assets totaling P451.007 billion.

On the other hand, Cebu has P215.27 billion total assets.

The COA report also showed that the municipality of Carmona, Cavite is also the country’s wealthiest town with P6.211 billion worth of assets.

The report covers financial statements of 1,676 or 97.7 percent of the 1,715 local government units in the Philippines, consisting of 81 provinces, 1,488 municipalities, 22,680 barangays and the Bangsamoro government composed of 21 ministries and offices.

Here is the ranking of the local government units (LGUs) in terms of assets as prepared by the COA:

CITIES

Quezon City: P451.007 billion

Makati: P238.561 billion

Manila: P65.252 billion

Pasig City: P51.176 billion

Taguig: P36.116 billion

Cebu City: P33.343 billion

Mandaue: P33.006 billion

Mandaluyong P31.44 billion

Davao City: P26.555 billion

Caloocan: P23.383 billion

PROVINCES

Cebu: P215.27 billion

Rizal: P30.637 billion

Batangas: P29.705 billion

Davao de Oro: P23.211 billion

Bukidnon: P19.455 billion

Negros Occidental: P10.025 billion

Ilocos Sur: P17.907 billion

Iloilo: P17.399 billion

Isabela: P16.419 billion

Palawan: P16.108 billion

MUNICIPALITIES

Carmona, Cavite: P6.211 billion

Limay, Bataan: P4.794 billion

Silang, Cavite: P3.738 billion

Cainta, Rizal: P3.393 billion

Taytay, Rizal: P3.274 billion

Binangonan, Rizal: P3.141 billion

Caluya, Antique: P3.11 billion

Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur: P3.044 billion

Cabugao, Ilocos Sur: P2.966 billion

Rodriguez, Rizal: P2.915 billion

Limay, Bataan was the wealthiest municipality in 2020, with total assets worth P4.463 billion while Carmona, Cavite took a quantum leap from 8th place with total assets amounting to P2.471 billion.

The annual financial report for LGUs was submitted by COA officer-in-charge Roland Pondoc to the offices of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on September 29.

IN BRIEF

MMDA gears up for weeklong PHITEX

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is enforcing a twoday stop-and-go traffic scheme along Andrews Ave. in Pasay City.

The traffic measure started on Monday in connection with the weeklong Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) 2022, the biggest government-organized travel trade event in the country.

Court

the Manifestation of Compliance

filed by the

The petitioner Jay Francis Gervacio filed a verified petition for the correction of entry in his Certificate of Live Birth and for the cancellation of the Certificate of Live Birth belatedly registered.

The petitioner alleges that he was born June 11, 1989 at East Avenue Medical Center with the name Jay Francis Soriano, as indicated in his Certificate Live Birth No. 91-58078. In his Certificate of Live Birth the name of his father was Eduardo Ortañez Soriano and his mother is Lalaine Castillon Gervacio. It was also indicated therein that his father and mother were married at Batac, Ilocos, Norte on September 29, 1987. He was also belatedly registered under the name Jay Francis Castillon Gervacio in his Certificate of Live Birth No. 2001-3780 of the Registry of Deeds of Taguig City. A perusal of his Certificate of Live Birth No. 2001-3780 discloses that there is an Affidavit of Delayed Registration executed by Lalaine G. Soriano by reason of negligence. Lalaine C. Gervacio supplied erroneous information including the name of his father in his Certificate of Live Birth to hide the fact that she is a single mother and his son was born out of wedlock.

However, when he started to go to school, petitioner started to use the name Jay Francis Castillon Gervacio since his mother did not like to follow the erroneous information stated in his Certificate of Live Birth.

To avoid confusion, petitioner prays that after due notice, publication and hearing, an Order be issued cancelling his Certificate of Live Birth No. 2001-3780. Petitioner also prays that the following corrections be made in his Certificate of Live Birth No. 91-58078.

1. In Entry No. 1 pertaining to the name from SORIANO to GERVACIO.

2. The middlename from GERVACIO to CASTILLON

3. In Entry No. 9 pertaining to the name of the father, to correct the entry from Eduardo Ortanez Soriano to Eduardo Ortaliza Castro

4. In Entry No. 12 pertaining to

Expert: Clean public toilets, potable water to avoid cholera

By Willie Casas

AN EXPERT on infectious diseases has urged the government to provide clean public toilets and potable drinking water to address the rising incidence of cholera in the country.

Dr. Mary Ann Bunyi, former president of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines, in light of a Department of Health (DOH) report showing that there were 3,729 reported cholera cases since last January 2022, indicating a 282 percent increase compared to the same period in 2021.

“I hope the government could provide a good structure for the public water system, I hope all water facilities are chlorinated, and I hope they could also provide a proper structure for toilets so that we can improve sanitation,” Bunyi said in a public briefing.

Bunyi also called on the government to engage with communities and encourage people to clean their own surroundings to mitigate cholera infections.

Based on DOH’s latest data, most of the cholera cases this year occurred in the Eastern Visayas, Davao region, and Caraga.

However, 258 cases were recorded from August 28 to September 4 alone, and most of which came from Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas.

Asked why cholera infections were prevalent in these regions, Bunyi said that it may be due to access to contaminated water and poor sanitation.

“There are many communities that still use deep wells, hand water pumps, and even rivers as their source of drinking water,” she said.

MMDA acting chairman Carlo Antonio Dimayuga III deployed 139 personnel along the dedicated route for the seamless movement of delegates from the airport to the billeting hotels, venues, and other engagement areas.

Aside from the deployment of its personnel, the agency has also prepared ambulances and tow trucks to respond to emergencies.

The event, which will be held from October 18-24 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, Newport World Resorts, Manila, was organized by the Tourism Promotions Board, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism.

Established in 1996, PHITEX hosts qualified buyers worldwide who participate in business appointments with Philippine sellers. Participants also experience the country’s tourist spots through pre/post tours.

Joel E. Zurbano

DOH confers 2 awards to Las Piñas City gov’t

THE Las Pinas City government has received two awards from the Department of Health (DOH) for outstanding health programs and best practices in using funds from the agency.

The Metro Manila Center for Health Development (MM-CHD) recognized the city for its efficient use of DOH funds, and its prompt and correct liquidation.

The local government was also awarded with a plaque of appreciation for supporting the DOH’s various programs providing equitable access to quality and affordable health care services in the city in accordance with the Universal Health Care.

City officials led by Vice Mayor April Aguilar and Dr. Juliana Gonzales received the awards during the MM-CHD 35th anniversary celebration held at the Manila Hotel on Oct. 14.

Aside from the special awards, the MM-CHD also gave Las Pinas a check worth P150,000 that can be used by the local government as an additional fund for its medical services and health programs. Joel E. Zurbano

LTO summons SUV driver who hurt traffic enforcer

By Rio N. Araja

THE Land Transportation Office on Monday vowed to extend all assistance to its traffic enforcer who was hit by a sports utility van (SUV) driver the officer was apprehending for traffic violation along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue busway in Caloocan City.

Renan Melitante, Intelligence and Investigation Division chief, issued a showcause order against the driver of the Ford Everest van, who is reportedly the relative of a city mayor in Metro Manila.

A separate show-cause order was also issued to the registered owner of the vehicle.

Both have been directed to appear at the IID office on Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. to submit a written comment or ex-

planation as to why they should not be charged with obstruction of traffic, reckless driving, use of unauthorized accessories, duty to procure license and duty of driver in case of accident.

LTO found out that the driver does not live anymore in the address he provided for the past several years.

According to LTO Field Enforcement Division, the victim, Butch Sebastian, was directing traffic at the area when he instructed the SUV driver to move forward.

Instead of moving forward, the driver turned on his blinker and siren, then ran over the left foot of Sebastian.

The suspect tried to flee using his blinker and siren, but Sebastian blocked his way.

Under Republic Act 4136 or the Land

Transportation and Traffic Code, only authorized government vehicles, such as ambulances, fire trucks and police cars, are allowed to use blinkers and sirens.

“Time and again I have stated that the LTO will not hesitate to prosecute erring drivers regarding the unauthorized use of sirens andblinkers, but most especially those who commit violations against LTO enforcers and any traffic enforcer for that matter, who are on the road fulfilling their duties to keep our roads and the motoring public safe,” LTO chief Assistant Secretary Teofilo Guadiz III said.

“Our country’s traffic laws apply to everyone. We will not spare anyone from prosecution regardless of whoever they are or their status in life,” he added

KAMPILAN AWARD. Former Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III receives the Kampilan Award, the highest recognition given by the Bangsa M’Ranaw Congress hosted by its Executive Council led by chairman Sultan Firdausi Abbas, vice chairman Sultan Subair Mustapha, and secretary general Datu Agakhan Dianalan held at the Manila Hotel on Oct. 15.

QC SOLON AT CANNES. Quezon City Rep. Arjo Atayde is currently in MIPCOM Cannes at the French Riviera for the special screening of the pilot episode of Cattleya Killer, ABSCBN International Productions’ rst ever international series with the actorturned politician in the starring role. Produced in partnership with Nathan Studios Inc., the project is described as

time that a proudly made

series will be showcased to industry

in anticipation of securing

BBM, FL genuinely care for the poor

UNKNOWN to many, the First Couple President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos have a big heart for the poor.

I had the privilege to witness this on Saturday during our gathering at the Elsie Gaches Village (EGV) in Muntinlupa City, a shelter for abandoned women and children accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in coordination with the local government.

Madam Liza could not hold back her tears as children lined up and took turns to receive an early Christmas gift from the First Lady. She bought all the arts and crafts/products made by the resident women at the facility.

Despite her high place in society coming from a prominent family and being a successful lawyer, Madam Liza has a special place for the poor women and children.

She likewise instructed EGV’s administrators to step up production of their arts and crafts and she will procure them all to give out as gifts to her friends and visitors.

This goes to show that the leadership of PBBM and Madam Liza truly gives importance to the welfare of this poor and disadvantaged sector of our society.

The EGV serves as one of DSWD’s temporary residential care for abused and abandoned women and children, who otherwise would be wandering aimlessly in the streets of Metro Manila and elsewhere.

The residence accommodates women up to 60 years old who suffer from autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and Down Syndrome, and at least two of the residents battle with psychosis.

The center’s services adapt a holistic approach for the residents’ physical, psychological, emotional and social wellbeing and development through the center’s educational, job skills training, arts, music and sports programs.

On the President’s birthday last month, BBM and the First Lady went to the White Cross Orphanage in San Juan City.

Like EGV, the DSWD accredited childcaring agency provides temporary shelter for children, aged 0–6 years born to unwed mothers, indigent families, mentally or physically-incapacitated parents, or victims of incest or rape.

At White Cross, the children are provided with medical assistance, early-childhood education and infant care.

The orphanage visit shows that President BBM takes after his father and he shares such quality with the First Lady LAM, a big heart for the disadvantaged poor.

So, Christmas came early to the orphanages as the First Couple treated them to snacks and toys that brought smiles to the children there.

At White Cross, BBM in casual clothes gestured to several kids to come near him and said hello. I heard him asking them in a fatherly voice, “Anong gusto nyo, anong kailangan nyo?”

One could see in the President’s eyes his genuine concern for the young who were either orphaned or abandoned, ending up at the shelter.

A law practitioner and professor known by her initials “L.A.M.,” the First Lady shares BBM’s sympathy for the poor. Charity is something they both have been involved in long before the idea of running for president came up.

Before leaving with BBM for the United Nations General Assembly in New York, First Lady LAM discussed with me extending

assistance to people who come to her personally for help with various concerns, such as medical and burial assistance.

Although LAM is a very private person, people in dire need come to her through friends, connections in the law practice or the academe – and she turned out to be a truly helpful person.

I learned that LAM has also asked the assistance of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for “ayuda” or financial aid on hospitalization costs of ailing poor kababayans.

Also concerned about the welfare of single parents or solo parents, LAM asked about the progress in drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2022.

One could see in the President’s eyes his genuine concern for the young who were either orphaned or abandoned, ending up at the shelter

The new law aims to develop a comprehensive package of social development and welfare services for the growing number of solo parents and their children to be carried out by the DSWD.

During the height of the pandemic crisis in 2020 and 2021, the government implemented the blended learning and holding of online classes as face-to-face schooling was suspended nationwide amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Former senator BBM and his wife LAM knew many, many poor students lack the capacity to buy cellphones and tablets needed to use in their online classes and research to accomplish their modules and chat online with their teachers.

BBM was a regular guest on my tele-radyo program Tutok Tulfo at PTV-4 and Radyo Pilipinas during which he gave away tablets to hundreds of poor parents and children who called in.

During our Cabinet meetings, BBM never forgets to ask me about the status of the various DSWD assistance programs for poor Filipinos.

To prove true to his first State of the Nation Address promise, “Di namin kayo iiwan,” the President vowed to muster all available government resources to augment the financial aid to Filipinos in extreme difficulty.

Indeed, hope floats as BBM and LAM have a special place in their heart for the poor and the commitment to help the disadvantaged to overcome difficulties and hardships.

Loathsome is an understatement

THEgeneral robotic reaction to the unlooked-for weekend house visits by police to residences of journalists—print, broadcast, news agency or any media platform— appears laudable.

But the way it was carried out, in parts of Metro Manila, left a bad taste in the mouth in the ranks of members of the fourth estate, days after the slaying by still to be arrested suspects in the death of a broadcaster in the metropolis.

We give a hand to law enforcers wanting to secure members of media, but, to borrow the words of Senator Jinggoy Estrada, the execution, which appears to be without a direct order from higher authorities, is “stupid and contemptible.”

What is galling at this point is the home visits were done by some, save an isolated few – by men not in uniform and were not coordinated with the journalists’ employers and the local government units that have jurisdiction over the journalists.

Let’s hear it from Senator Estrada: “And the most glaring of all, how could they get hold of very personal and sensitive

We share Senator Estrada’s view that the unannounced and uncoordinated home visits of PNP personnel to some journalists last Saturday was a clear violation of the Data Privacy Act

information such as a home address of a journalist? I can see the sense in this move of the PNP but its execution is rather contemptible. It’s the most stupid idea, I must say.”

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also expressed similar sentiments regarding the incident: “How did the PNP get access to the reporter’s private information?”

We strongly feel that police and other law enforcement agents must know how to properly enforce laws and not violate these, appearing as it does now, absent any contrary and reasonable explanation, that the PNP violated the Data Privacy Act and they should answer for this.

We share Senator Estrada’s view that the unannounced and uncoordinated home visits of PNP personnel to some journalists last Saturday was a clear violation of the Data Privacy Act.

“It’s the most stupid idea, I must say. If they really wanted to know who among the journalists has been receiving death threats, the news organizations with which they are affiliated should be the first ones they have contacted,” Estrada said.

The thunderclap reaction of the Philippine National Police, while admitting they would release specific guidelines on how police officers should reach out to media practitioners, submits a boisterous boo-boo with the PNP spokesman admitting there was no direct order from Camp Crame nor from the regional director.

The guidelines should be released promptly, with copies forwarded to media organizations and LGUs, including, where necessary, the barangay levels.

PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo said the only instruction relayed to headquarters was to coordinate with media personalities and find out if they had been receiving threats following the killing of broadcaster Percival Mabasa, known by his on-the-air name as Percy Lapid.

Need for DDR has become imperative

PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. did the right thing by rejecting calls for the resignation of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla following his son Juanito Jose Diaz Remulla III’s arrest on the charge of drug possession of kush or high-grade marijuana imported from the United States worth P1 million.

Under the law on illegal drugs, the possession of a prohibited drug like the one the 38-year old son of Sec. Remulla had is a non-bailable offense.

At this point, following the arrest of Sec. Remulla’s son, I can only commiserate with the family and share their grief and pain because of the devastation wrought by the case.

Especially so, with the dear and close friend of my wife, Ditas Remulla, who is now 89 years old and the matriarchal head of the family.

I also commiserate with Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, a very good friend. Just as the Justice Secretary said, “I see this as a test to our family, to myself and in many ways a test to our country on how we handle a sensitive matter like this. I’m the head of the justice department and I will let justice take its course.”

***

When I read a report that the Philippines is now considered the country most prone to disasters and calamities, I was not surprised.

that focuses and strategizes solely on the mitigation in the aftermath of a disaster and calamity, knowing fully well that in the aftermath of a disaster or calamity people affected by the thousands are in dire need of immediate relief and continue to rely on donations from private sectors and even from abroad.

There is a need for a department with its own budget for relief, my gulay!

Such a department can even strategize the need for building evacuation centers with the necessary amenities and facilities so we no longer have to take over school buildings, gyms and basketball courts and a department that focuses on areas which are prone to landslides and mudslides.

Mister President, your hesitancy in naming a permanent member of the Cabinet—the DOH, the DA—has become a negative thing in your presidency

outlaw once and for all the POGOs.

There is really no choice for him, considering that soon enough the country will be opening its doors to tourism

If the country must attract foreign investors, BBM must realize that peace and order is first and foremost to foreign investors.

Aside from this, reports have it that China has blacklisted the Philippines as a tourist destination for mainland Chinese following crime and criminality involving POGO Chinese workers.

Mister President, it’s time you show some teeth and ban once and for all all POGOs in the country.

***

If President Marcos Jr. still keeps himself as the acting secretary of the Department of Agriculture, he must have some reasons for doing so.

By Arman Serrano

TWO years have passed since the COVID-19 pandemic turned our world upside down; in that time we have learned much about the virus and how best to deal with it.

For one thing, vaccines are already widely available and have protected us from the severe illness that characterized the first year of the pandemic.

Also, the virus itself has evolved and has become less potent, and while people still get infected, most cases are mild and do not need hospitalization.

As a result, according to the Department of Health (DOH) itself, even a surge would not pose a big problem because hospitals are not expected to become overwhelmed.

This is the wisdom behind the decision of the Department of Education (DepEd) to finally allow face-to-face classes in schools across the country.

We have learned to live with the virus and know how to hold these classes safely. While some are allowed to do blended learning for now, by November all schools will be required to hold in-person classes.

So what’s up with UP, then?

Of all schools in the country, it is the state university that should be leading the way in handling the virus and showing how full face-toface classes should be done.

Instead it has retreated in its own shell and continued blended learning — to the detriment of its students, especially those who cannot afford laptops or tablets and high-speed internet connection.

That is the bottom line here: online and blended learning are anti-poor measures that only benefit the rich and leave the poor far, far behind.

With millions of families left without or with less income by the pandemic, students have been hard put to cope with learning because they had neither the gadgets nor the internet connection with which to do it.

It is true that modules were made available for students, but without instruction from an actual teacher, these were limited at best and useless at worst — especially since many parents ended up answering them for their children.

Now that the door has been opened for actual classes to be held, one would expect that UP would be at the forefront and leading the charge back to the classrooms.

It is traditional, yes, but it is also highly

effective: classroom instruction is where one can get stimulated by direct discussions with teachers and fellow students.

There is no lag, no “loading,” and no need to wait for one person to finish talking before interjecting.

It is true that classroom instruction needs to be tweaked to account for new technology, but at its very heart, face-to-face classes are hard to beat when it comes to education.

UP has a lot to answer for, and Senator Pia Cayetano is making sure it is held accountable.

In fact Senator Pia, who is the chair of the subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Finance, had already hinted that the state university might not get its proposed budget of P21.8 billion in its entirety.

UP has retreated in its own shell and continued blended learning — to the detriment of its students, especially those who cannot afford laptops or tablets and highspeed internet connection

“You want budget?” she said, addressing UP officials. “Show me you’re making an effort to do the most basic — allow the students to have face-to-face classes. Show me you are making that effort. Because otherwise, I’ll focus my efforts where it is most appreciated.”

What’s up, UP? Do your students right — especially the poorer ones — and get them back to school.

(Arman Serrano is an educator who has mentored doctoral students in the field of communications.)

I am now 95 years old and I have seen and gone through all kinds of disasters and calamities that the country has gone through-super typhoons, cyclones, floods and storm surges, that have killed thousands of people and devastated infrastructure and agriculture, strong earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that destroyed centuries-old churches and historical structures, and killing people by the hundreds and thousands, and devastated agriculture and livelihood.

I cannot remember when, but typhoon “Yoling” which had its eye in Metro Manila, was so powerful that from my house along EDSA at Philamlife Homes, I saw the house of the squatters across the highway from us fly and be wiped out.

And, of course, how can people forget “Ondoy” which poured into Metro Manila the equivalent of rains for 30 days that soon enough flooded the metropolis.

Lately was super typhoon “Karding”which could have devastated Metro Manila were it not for the Sierra Madre Mountains that protected the metropolis from many more calamities and disasters to which the country is prone to.

Yes, we have an ad hoc government agency--the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), an agency that has since devolved in municipalities, cities and regions, that are put into action whenever there is a disaster or calamity.

Strangely, all through these years and decades, there has never been a President who thought of creating a department, knowing full well how the country is prone to disasters and calamities.

Fortunately, during the Last Congress the House of Representatives passed a bill creating the Department of Disaster Resilience or DDR which has since long been pending at the Senate.

But, sad to say, only Senator Bong Go seems to realize the urgency and critical need for such a department.

Santa Banana, it is sad to note that it seems that only he knows the imperative need and urgency for such a department to take charge of “rescue, relief and rehabilitation” in the aftermath of disasters and calamities.

Bong Go, who realizes the imperative need for such a DDR keeps on pushing for the creation of such a department

Such a DDR is imperative and critically needed, Santa Banana.

And yet, President Marcos Jr. wants instead an agency under the Office of the President, not a desperately-needed department, because, he says, a DDR would cost money.

Santa Banana, since when did a President measure the need for a department with money.

It is precisely for this reason why I admire and commend Senator Bong Go for continually pushing for the enactment of a DDR; he is involved in helping fire victims, flood victims, and other victims of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions.

Sen. Go knows full well, my gulay, the plight of the people who become victims of such disasters and calamities.

For the nth time, such a DDR should be enacted.

We need it like yesterday and especially so with the report that the Philippines is now considered the most prone to disasters and calamities.

Mister President, for the sake of millions of our countrymen who have become victims of disasters and calamities, please, please prioritize and declare the urgency of the long pending bill at the Senate to be enacted into law.

***

The problem of whether or not to outlaw POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) has become a choice of either outlawing the POGOs entirely or partially keeping those that have paid their taxes, permits to operate and other government obligations.

By doing so, the government will be losing P200 billion revenue and the reported “social cost” of POGO workers abandoning houses and condominium units that they have rented and possible loss of work for Filipinos attached to the POGOs.

As far as I am concerned, there is no choice at all, with gangs from Mainland China like the Triad and Bamboo, coming to the Philippines and making the country their playground to kidnap their fellow Chinese for ransom and even killing them.

BBM should use his political will and

For one thing, first and foremost, food security has become the top concern of the country, coupled with it is inflation which has made prices of basic commodities exorbitant.

My gulay, there are continued reports that vegetables and other agricultural products are being smuggled into the country. Onions, for instance, are also being smuggled. These and other concerns continue to challenge the President way beyond his first 100 days in office.

While I can understand the fact that BBM continues to hold on to the Department of Agriculture as secretary, what bothers me is his hesitancy in appointing a permanent Department of health secretary, knowing full well that COVID-19 is still very much with us.

While there are some experts now saying that “endemic” or the end of pandemic may soon end the health crisis with COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region already declining, there also reports that COVID-19 cases are increasing in some nine provinces. This means that the Philippines is not free of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This simply means that the health crisis must be attended to by a permanent DOH Secretary.

Officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire seems to be capable. For this reason, why doesn’t BBM just make her DOH Secretary. If not, there are some health experts who have shown themselves capable of handling and managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mister President, your hesitancy in naming a permanent member of the Cabinet has become a negative thing in your presidency.

Considering the fact that we are now beyond the first 100 days of the presidency, personally, I believe it remains an acid test and a challenge for your political will.

There was no PNP instruction for the police to go to the residences of journalists to ask if they had been threatened.

Ukraine war pushes 4 million children into poverty—UN

PARIS—Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting economic fallout have thrown four million children into poverty across eastern Europe and Central Asia, the UN children’s agency said Monday.

“Children are bearing the heaviest burden of the economic crisis caused by the war in Ukraine,” UNICEF said.

The conflict “and rising inflation have driven an additional four million children across eastern Europe and Central Asia into poverty, a 19 percent increase since 2021”, it said.

UNICEF drew its conclusions from a study of data from 22 countries.

Russian and Ukrainian children have been most affected since Moscow’s attack on its neighbor in February.

“Russia accounts for nearly threequarters of the total increase in the number of children living in poverty due to the Ukraine war and a cost-ofliving crisis across the region, with an

additional 2.8 million children now living in households below the poverty line,” UNICEF found.

The blow to Russia’s economy from Western sanctions combined with its large population to produce the outsize effect.

“Ukraine is home to half a million additional children living in poverty, the second largest share,” UNICEF added.

Romania followed closely behind, with a further 110,000 children in poverty.

“Children all over the region are being swept up in this war’s terrible wake,” said UNICEF regional director for Europe and Central Asia, Afshan Khan.

“If we don’t support these children and families now, the steep rise in child poverty will almost certainly result in lost lives, lost learning, and lost futures.” AFP

Russian ‘kamikaze drones’ strike Kyiv: Ukraine

KYIV—Russian-launched

“kamikaze drones”

attacked Kyiv early Monday, the Ukrainian presidency said, describing the strikes as an act of desperation nearly eight months into a war that has claimed thousands of lives.

Air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv short ly before the first explosion at around 6:35 am (0335), followed by sirens across most of the country.

“The capital was attacked by kamika ze drones,” the president’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on social media.

“The Russians think it will help them, but it shows their desperation,” he added.

“We need more air defense systems and

as soon as possible. More weapons to de fend the sky and destroy the enemy.”

The attacks come exactly a week af ter Russia unleashed a massive wave of missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital and cities across the country.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said the drone attack had caused a fire, dam aged several buildings in the central Shevchenkivsky district, and warned

residents to take shelter.

“Fire departments are working. Sev eral residential buildings were damaged. Medics are on the spot,” he said on Tele gram.

“We are clarifying the information about the casualties.”

The mayor also posted a picture of what he said was the charred wreckage of one of the kamikaze drones, loitering munitions that can hover while waiting for a target to attack.

‘Iranian drones’ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zel ensky last week said Iranian drones were used in Russian attacks on energy infrastructure in several Ukrainian cit

ies, although Tehran denies supplying Russia with weapons for the war.

On October 10, Russian missiles rained down on Kyiv and other cities in the biggest wave of strikes in months.

The attacks killed at least 19 people, wounded 105 others, and sparked an in ternational outcry.

Moscow carried out further strikes on October 11, though on a smaller scale, striking energy installations in western Ukraine far from the front.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the strikes were in retaliation for an explosion that damaged a key bridge linking Russia to the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula. AFP

92 migrants found on Greek-Turkish border

ATHENS -- Ninety-two migrants were found almost naked and bruised after allegedly being forced across the Evros river from Turkey into Greece, Athens said Sunday, a charge fiercely denied by Ankara.

EU border agency Frontex confirmed to AFP the arrival of the group in cir cumstances which the Greek ministry for civil protection said sent out an “in human image.”

“The Frontex officers reported that the migrants were found almost naked and some of them with visible injuries,” said Paulina Bakula, spokeswoman for the organisation.

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said in a tweet that it was “deeply dis tressed by the shocking reports and im ages of 92 people, who were reported to have been found at the Greek-Turkish land border, stripped of their clothes”. Bakula, speaking from Frontex’s

Warsaw HQ, said Frontex officers worked with Greek authorities to pro vide the migrants -- mainly Afghans and Syrians -- with immediate assistance.

She added the organisation had informed the agency’s fundamental rights officer of a potential rights violation.

Greek minister for civil protection Takis Theodorikakos accused Turkey of “instrumentalizing illegal immigration” in the latest of a series of recriminations on migration between the neighbors.

Speaking on Skai television, The odorikakos said many of the migrants told Frontex that “three Turkish army vehicles had transferred them” to the river which acts as a natural border.

In a series of scathing comments on Twitter, the Turkish presidency denied any responsibility for the migrants and blamed Greece for the “inhuman” situation. AFP

UK’s Booker Prize returns, oldest author nominated

LONDON—Britain’s Booker Prize for fiction on Monday holds its first large-scale awards ceremony since 2019 with six novels in the running— including the oldest author yet nomi nated, and the shortest book.

Queen Consort Camilla will award the coveted prize at the televised cer emony, in one of her highest-profile appearances since her husband King Charles III ascended the throne last month.

The evening event will also feature a speech by singer-songwriter Dua Lipa, as it resumes in front of a full inperson audience following the Covid pandemic.

All but one of the six shortlisted au thors is due to attend in person. Eng lishman Alan Garner, who turns 88 on Monday, is expected to appear virtu ally.

Garner, who made his name with children’s fantasy titles and folk retell ings, is shortlisted for “Treacle Walk er”, which is the shortest finalist novel by word count.

At least four inmates killed in fire at Iran prison

PARIS—At least four Iranian inmates died in a fire in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison overnight, the judiciary said Sunday, further stoking tensions one month into protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini.

The Iranian authorities blamed the fire on “riots and clashes” among pris oners, but rights groups said they had little faith in the official version of events.

“Four prisoners died due to smoke inhalation caused by the fire, and 61 were injured,” the judiciary authority’s website Mizan Online reported.

Four others were in “serious condi tion”, it said, adding that the fire had been extinguished.

Prisoners’ relatives and rights groups voiced grave fears for the inmates and said authorities had used tear gas at the facility.

Gunshots and explosions were heard during the blaze from inside the com plex, illuminated by flames and smoth ered by smoke, in video footage posted on social media channels.

The fire came after four weeks of protests over the death of 22-year-old Amini, following her arrest for alleg edly violating Iran’s strict dress code for women.

The wave of demonstrations has turned into a major anti-government movement in the Islamic republic, con fronting its clerical leadership with one of its biggest challenges since the oust ing of the shah in 1979.

Evin, infamous for the ill-treatment of political prisoners, also holds foreign detainees and thousands facing crimi nal charges.

Hundreds of those arrested during

Japan PM orders probe into Unification Church

TOKYO—Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ordered a government probe into the Unification Church on Monday, after the assassination of former premier Shinzo Abe renewed scrutiny of the sect.

The church has been in the spot light because the man accused of killing Abe was reportedly motivat ed by resentment against the group, which has been accused of pressuring adherents to make hefty donations and blamed for child neglect among members.

Officially known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Uni fication, the organisation was found ed in Korea by Sun Myung Moon and its members are sometimes called “Moonies”.

The church has denied wrongdo ing, but a parade of former members have gone public with criticism of its

practices, and revelations about its links with top politicians have helped tank Kishida’s approval ratings.

Kishida told parliament on Monday that there were “many victims” of the church and its related groups who had found themselves in poverty or facing a family breakdown.

“Efforts to help them are still insuffi cient,” he said, so “the government will ex ercise its right to probe the church, based on the Religious Corporations Act”.

The government also wants to imple ment other measures, such as strengthen ing “initiatives to prevent child abuse and help the offspring of religious followers with their education and employment”, Kishida said.

Local media said the probe would ex amine whether the church had harmed public welfare or committed acts at odds with its status as a religious group.

AFP

the recent demonstrations and in a crackdown on civil society have been sent there.

“We do not accept official explana tions,” the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR), adding it had re ceived reports that guards had sought to “incite” prisoners.

Rights groups reported night-time protests in Tehran in solidarity with Evin detainees, and more demonstra tions were held Sunday, including at Tehran University.

Iranian rights activist Atena Daemi, herself a long-time inmate of Evin, wrote on Twitter that in the early hours of Sunday several buses and ambulanc es were seen leaving the facility.

She said some prisoners in Ward 8, which houses political detainees, had been transferred to another jail.

Bolsonaro, Lula in first Brazil face-to-face election debate

SAO PAULO—Far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro and leftist challenger Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva traded jabs and insults as they squared off Sun day in their first-ever head-to-head debate, two weeks from Brazil’s pres idential runoff election.

Lula attacked Bolsonaro as a “little dictator” and the “king of fake news,” drawing accusations of lying, corrup tion, and a “disgraceful” record in re turn, as the rivals sparred in the first debate for their polarizing secondround showdown on October 30.

Front-runner Lula, the charismatic but tarnished ex-president (2003-2010) who is seeking a comeback at 76, was particularly fiery in criticizing Bolso naro over his handling of Covid-19, which has killed 687,000 people in Bra zil, second only to the United States. Attacking Bolsonaro over his re sistance to buying vaccines and em brace of unproven medications such as hydroxychloroquine, Lula said the president “carries the weight of those deaths on his shoulders.”

“Your negligence led to 680,000 people dying when more than half could have been saved,” the ex-met alworker said in his trademark grav elly voice.

Bolsonaro, 67, sought to shift the fo cus to the issue of corruption—a weak spot for Lula, who was jailed in 2018 on controversial, since-overturned charges stemming from the investigation of a massive graft scheme centered on staterun oil company Petrobras.

“Your past is disgraceful... You did nothing for Brazil but stuff public money in your pockets and those of your friends,” Bolsonaro said, calling Lula a “national shame.”

“Lula, stop lying, it’s bad for you at your age,” said the ex-army captain at another point, simultaneously defend ing his own record and taking a shot at his rival’s age.

Already bitter, divisive, and full of mudslinging, the campaign has if anything veered further into negative territory since the first-round vote.

Lula’s camp has embraced attack strategies once seen more on the farright, scouring archive video foot age of Bolsonaro and pouncing on unflattering quotes to try to link him to freemasonry and cannibalism, for example. AFP

DRONE STRIKE. A man is seen falling on the ground after a blast following a drone attack (inset photo) in Kyiv on October 17, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP

MORNING STRETCHING. Children exercise on the banks of the Yamuna River near the Taj Mahal in Agra, India at sunrise on October 17. AFP

NUCLEAR TEDDY. A photo shows a teddy bear with a yellow X, a symbol against nuclear waste shipments and nuclear power, next to other figurines, near the open-cast mine Garzweiler in Luetzerath, western Germany on October 16. German multinational energy company RWE plans to demolish houses in the village of Luetzerath for coal mining and brought forward its exit from coal power to 2030 on October 4, amid fears the country’s plans to abandon fossil fuels are wobbling following the energy crisis caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

TOP GAINERS

1.39 0.23 19.83%

7.11 1.11 18.50%

5.85 0.75 14.71%

0.9 0.08 9.76%

6.44 0.4 6.62%

3.09 0.18 6.19%

0.8 0.04 5.26%

0.81 0.04 5.19%

799 37 4.86%

2.85 4.74%

TOP LOSERS

3.27 -1.18 -26.52%

0.74 -0.08 -9.76%

0.54 -0.04 -6.90%

2.46 -0.15 -5.75%

68.2 -3.8 -5.28%

3.04 -0.16 -5.00%

0.175 -0.009

MOST ACTIVE

VALUE (PHP)

8,434,200 276,502,535

6,619,900 276,290,750

9,686,700 231,730,750

1,855,120 222,841,057

1,533,380 171,841,434

198,660 155,443,685

13,789,600 144,713,394

9,679,900 124,778,304

84,005 121,810,830

1,292,350 118,102,427

unveils fiscal measures in wake of budget turmoil

LONDON, United Kingdom—Brit ain’s new finance minister Jeremy Hunt will unveil tax and spending measures later Monday, bringing forward part of his fiscal plan to calm markets after a botched debt-fueled budget.

Hunt, who was parachuted into the job on Friday to replace sacked Kwa si Kwarteng, will “make a statement bringing forward measures from the medium-term fiscal plan” that is due on October 31, the Treasury said in a statement.

Prime Minister Liz Truss fired Kwarteng on Friday after their recent tax-slashing budget sparked mar kets chaos, fueling intense specula tion over her political future just one month after taking office.

Monday’s measures “will support fiscal sustainability”, the Treasury added, after last month’s notorious mini budget had sent bond yields spiking and the pound collapsing on fears of rocketing debt.

“This follows...further conversa tions between the Prime Minister and the Chancellor over the weekend, to ensure sustainable public finances underpin economic growth,” it add ed.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Hunt met with the governor of the Bank of England and the head of the Debt Management Office to discuss the plans late on Sunday.

Following his shock appointment, Hunt hit the ground running Saturday with a warning of looming tax hikes as he dramatically reversed course on right-wing Truss’ radical program of economic reform.

Market climbs; SMIC, DMCI lead advancers

firm eyes modular nuclear due to heavy gas cuts from

rose Monday, bucking the trend in other markets, ahead of the release of thirdquarter corporate earnings and following reports that remittances continued to post solid growth.

STOCKS

Remittances, which account for about a tenth of the gross national income, grew 4.3 percent in August, support ing the positive outlook for consumer spending in the country.

Meanwhile, Asian markets started the week in mixed fashion as Friday’s rally petered out.

The PSEi, the 30-company bench mark index of the Philippine Stock Ex change, gained 65 points, or 1.1 percent, to close at 5,970.33, as four of the six subsectors advanced.

The broader all-share index also went up 20 points, or 0.7 percent, to settle at 3,198.63 on a value turnover of P6.6 bil lion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 87 to 76, while 49 issues were unchanged.

Eight of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by SM Invest ments Corp. which jumped 4.9 percent to P799.00 and DMCI Holdings Inc. which added 4.3 percent to close at P10.60.

The latest strong US inflation reading ramped up bets that the Federal Reserve will hike borrowing costs by 75 basis points twice more before the end of the year, stoking concerns the world’s top economy will flip into a recession.

All three main indexes on Wall Street finished sharply lower Friday.

There was a little disappointment among investors after Chinese President Xi Jinping at the weekend reasserted his commitment to the zero-Covid strategy of lockdowns that has hammered the economy this year.

“We expect that the existing Covid measures, that is the number of Covid tests, quarantine days, etc, will remain the same after the Party Congress,” said Iris Pang at ING.

“This will continue to put fiscal pres sure on local governments, and when the number of Covid cases increase, we should keep seeing localised lock downs.”

Traders are also keeping tabs on loom ing earnings reports, with expectations that higher rates and prices will have eaten into companies’ bottom lines.

Eyes are also on Tokyo as the yen sits around a three-decade low against the dollar owing to US rate hike expecta tions and the Bank of Japan’s refusal to tighten monetary policy, citing a need to support the economy.

The yen is approaching 150 to the dollar for the first time since 1990, but while officials have said they are keep ing tabs on developments, they have yet to intervene in markets for a second time, having done so last month.

European stocks opened higher Mon day, after the UK government unexpect edly announced that it will later unveil some taxation and spending plans to ease markets turmoil over its botched debt-fueled budget. With AFP

HELSINKI, Finland—Finnish utility Fortum said Monday it will study the possibility of building new nuclear re actors, including small modular reac tors, after the company suffered heavy losses due to Russian gas cuts.

“The assessment focuses on the Finnish and Swedish markets,” the company said in a statement.

The two-year assessment will “iden tify the commercial, technological and societal requirements” for both small modular reactors and conventional large reactors.

Looking to “renew its strategy fo cusing on sustainable electricity”, the move comes after Fortum booked heavy losses from Russian gas cuts through its majority shares in German energy giant Uniper.

Fortum built Finland’s first nuclear power plant in Loviisa on the country’s southern coast in 1977.

In September, full power tests began at the Nordic country’s fifth nuclear re actor, in Olkiluoto, after the problemdogged unit had been delayed for over a decade.

“The challenges of implementing nuclear power are well known,” Lau rent Leveugle from Fortum said in a statement.

Sweden’s future government also announced plans on Friday to build new nuclear reactors to meet the country’s rising electricity needs.

In June, Swedish energy group Vat tenfall said it was examining the pos sibility of building at least two small modular nuclear reactors.

In recent years, support for nuclear energy has grown in Finland, spurred by concern over climate change.

A May poll by the trade association Finnish Energy showed 60 percent of Finns supported nuclear power, a re cord high.

But after Finnish group Fennovoima in May terminated a nuclear power project with Russia’s Rosatom, cit ing risks linked to the war in Ukraine, there have been no other nuclear reac tor projects in the pipeline. AFP

Credit Suisse reaches deal with US on mortgage-backed securities

ZURICH, Switzerland—Credit Suisse said Monday it would pay $495 million as part of a deal reached with US pros ecutors in a long-running dispute over mortgage-backed securities, settling one of the last legal cases dating back to the 2008 financial crisis.

The European lender said in a state ment it had agreed with New Jersey authorities to make the “one-time pay ment... to fully resolve claims” for com pensation, and said it had already provi sioned the amount.

In the claim filed in 2013, Credit Su isse was criticized for not having pro vided sufficient information on the risks

relating to $10 billion of mortgagebacked securities.

Switzerland’s second-biggest bank said Monday that the agreement “marks another important step in the bank’s ef forts to pro-actively resolve litigation and legacy issues.”

“Credit Suisse is pleased to have reached an agreement that allows the bank to resolve the only remaining RMBS [residential mortgage-backed securities] matter involving claims by a regulator and the largest of its remaining expo sures on its legacy RMBS dock et,” the statement said.

Subprime mortgages, credit granted to borrowers often with poor credit histories or insufficient income, were packaged into financial products and sold to investors.

But as borrowers defaulted on many of those mortgages, investors had no way to tell what portion of the loans in the derivatives were bad. Those prod ucts were at the heart of the 2008 fi nancial crisis, which sparked a global recession and brought the international

financial system to the brink of collapse.

Last year, Credit Suisse paid $600 million to financial guarantee insurer MIBA to settle other long-running liti gation connected to the US subprime mortgage crisis Credit Suisse said last January it was increasing the provisions set aside for the MBIA case and others involving mortgage backed securities by $850 million. AFP

JAPAN VITICULTURE. This photo taken on Sept. 9, 2022 shows a worker explaining to volunteers about how to pick Koshu grapes during harvest time at a small vineyard in the city of Koshu, Yamanashi prefecture, the birthplace of viticulture in Japan and the country’s most iconic wine. With its abundant rains and formidable humidity in summer, Japan does not seem to be an ideal land for wine, but local winegrowers have gradually been able to adapt and the quality of their wines has improved considerably over the past two decades. AFP

Peso tumbles again to 59 per dollar on Fed hike concerns

THE peso tumbled to an all-time low of 59 against the US dollar for the fourth time this month, on the finan cial markets’ expectation of further rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve in November.

Data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed the local currency closed at 59 a dollar Mon day, weaker than 58.935 on Friday. Trading volume reached $524.9 mil lion, down from $542.8 million on the previous trading day.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said in a report the relatively weaker peso could increase the possibility of further local policy rate hikes and more intervention in the local foreign exchange market by the Bangko Sen tral ng Pilipinas.

BSP Governor Felipe Medalla had said local monetary authorities would not allow excessive movements in the peso-dollar exchange rate.

Medalla said in the annual recep tion for the banking community the BSP had been “very active” in the foreign exchange market.

“We will not allow excessive changes in the exchange rate...,” he said. “There are so many other things happening right now... It is very fluid but we hope the dollar will weaken.”

The country’s widening trade defi cit also weighed on the peso this year, as monthly merchandize imports are now double the exports mainly on higher oil prices.

Data from the Department of En ergy showed that total oil imports reached $9.931 billion in the first half, up by 115.4 percent from $4.6 billion a year ago, as volume in creased 12.702 billion liters from 11.302 billion liters.

The country’s net oil import bill, or the difference between oil exports and imports, also soared 132.9 percent in the first six months to $9.705 billion from $4.166 billion a year earlier. Oil exports amounted to only $226.57 million in the six-month period.

Julito G. Rada and Alena Mae S. Flores

August remittances grew 4.3% to $2.72b, supporting recovery

By Julito G. Rada

REMITTANCES grew 4.3 percent in August to $2.72 billion from $2.61 billion a year ago, supporting the economic recovery and helping stabilize the country’s balance of payments.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that in the first eight months, cash remittances reached $20.99 billion, or 3.0 percent higher than $20.38 billion registered in the same period last year.

Economists said remittances could peak in the fourth quarter and help tem per the depreciation of the peso against the US dollar. The peso closed at a re cord low of 59 against the greenback Monday.

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman William Co said in an earlier statement overseas Filipino

workers had the capability to increase remittances to over $50 billion or P3 trillion in the next few years from $32 billion in 2021.

“The expansion in cash remittances in August 2022 was due to the growth in receipts from land-based and sea-based workers,” the BSP said in a statement.

The BSP said the growth in cash re mittances from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Qatar contribut ed largely to the increase in remittances in the first eight months.

Personal remittances, which include non-cash items, reached $3.02 billion in August, also up by 4.4 percent from $2.89 billion posted in the same month last year.

This resulted in the cumulative per sonal remittances rising by 3.0 percent to $23.34 billion in the eight-month pe riod from $22.67 billion a year earlier.

“The increase in personal remittances in August 2022 was due to remittances sent by land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more, and seaand land-based workers with work con tracts of less than one year,” the BSP said.

Remittances from OFWs were con sistently the fourth largest in the world after India, China and Mexico.

The Philippines is among the biggest suppliers of nurses around the world, accounting for at least 20 percent of the total globally. It is also the biggest sup plier of seafarers worldwide, accounting for about 20 percent to 25 percent of the total.

The deployment of OFWs has be come more diversified over the years to include more countries.

Cash remittances hit a record $31.418 billion in 2021, up 5.1 percent from $29.903 billion in 2020.

The 5.1-percent expansion missed the 6-percent growth target set by the BSP, but it was a significant im provement from the 0.8-percent con traction in 2020 at the height of the pandemic.

Remittances were equivalent to roughly 8 percent to 9 percent of the nominal gross domestic product and represented 32 percent to 37 percent of income from exports of goods and ser vices and 26 percent to 37 percent of gross international reserves.

Security Bank launches P3-b fixed-rate bond sale

SECURITY Bank Corp., one of the country’s larg est universal banks, launched on Monday the offer period for its fixed-rate peso bonds with a mini mum issue size of P3 billion.

The bonds, with an oversubscription option, will have a tenor of 1.5 years and will be marketed at a fixed-rate of 5.3 percent per annum. The pub lic offer period will run from Oct. 17 to Oct. 28, 2022.

Minimum denominations were set for P1 mil lion and increments of P100,000 thereafter.

“Proceeds will be used to support the bank’s lending activities and expand its funding base,” the bank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

Security Bank will list the bonds on the Phil ippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. on Nov. 10, 2022 to provide secondary market liquidity to in vestors who would like to trade the instruments.

The bonds will be issued out of the bank’s P100-billion peso bond and commercial papers program.

Security Bank mandated Philippine Commer cial Capital Inc. as the sole bookrunner and PCCI and SB Capital Investment Corp. as joint lead ar rangers and selling agents. Julito G. Rada

Century Pacific brands certified plastic-neutral

CENTURY Pacific Food Inc., one of the larg est branded food and beverage manufacturers in the Philippines, said Monday its brands obtained plastic-neutral certification for the second straight year.

CNPF said in a disclosure to the stock ex change securing the plastic neutral certification for its brands demonstrate the company’s full compli ance of the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022 or the Republic Act 11898.

The EPR bill, which lapsed into law in July 2022, requires companies to establish programs that would reduce their production, importation, supply or use of plastic products.

Among the CNPF brands that were certified ‘net zero plastic waste’ are Argentina, Birch Tree, Coco Mama, unMEAT, Hunt’s, Swift, Century Quality Bangus, Angel Coffee Creamer, Wow, Home Pride and the newly launched Choco Hero. These brands make use of flexible plastic packag ing.

Being ‘net zero plastic waste’ means that an entity’s plastic footprint is effectively offset by recovering an equivalent amount of plastic waste, preventing it from leaking into nature, and ensur ing it is processed safely. Jenniffer B. Austria

Manulife PH names Hora as new president, CEO

MANULIFE, a leading international financial ser vices provider, announced the appointment of Ra hul Hora as the new president and chief executive for the Philippines effective Oct. 3.

Semirara Mining approves record P14.88b in special cash dividend

By Alena Mae S. Flores

SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp. said Monday its board approved the issuance of special cash dividend amounting to a record P14.88 billion.

This is equivalent to P3.50 per out standing common share for sharehold ers on record as of Oct. 31, the com pany said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

“This is 100 percent more than the P1.75 special cash dividends declared

last year and the highest dividend ever declared by SCC,” the company said.

It said the dividends would be paid on Nov. 15.

The company issued the special divi dend on the back of a 311-percent in crease in first-half net income to P25.8 billion from P6.3 billion it earned a year ago on higher coal prices.

It is the company’s highest net in come for any given semester, driven by all-time high coal selling prices and increased spot electricity sales volume

DITO Telecom open to amicable settlement with PLDT over P430-m service payments

By Darwin G. Amojelar

DITO Telecommunity Corp. said Mon day it is open to an amicable settlement with PLDT Inc. to resolve the alleged un paid services amounting to P430 million.

“We are going to a legal process, but I want to say about this ... we are open always to finding an amicable settle ment,” DITO chief administrative offi cer Adel Tamano told reporters.

“Interconnection is important to us,” said Tamano, adding that this is man dated by law.

PLDT earlier served DITO a notice of material breach and demand for pay ment as a result of the latter’s alleged refusal to pay P429.726 million for contracted services which PLDT per formed and delivered to DITO.

The services involved the building and provisioning of transmission facili ties that DITO required and used for the delivery of telecommunication services to subscribers, according to PLDT.

PLDT also threatened to terminate its interconnection agreement with DITO if the latter would not settle the P430million balance it allegedly owed.

also said DITO

owed P622 million for alleged violation of interconnection rules.

DITO earlier filed cases before the Phil ippine Competition Commission against the two leading telecom companies and accused them of abuse of dominance.

“We have chosen to go to PCC be cause of certain issues with the telcos. [But] it doesn’t mean that our doors are closed to having faith negotiations and finding solutions within the industry,” Tamano said.

“Even before we went to the PCC, the issue of ISR [international simple resale] which Globe and Smart are say ing we should pay ...But our point is that the ISR is an industry issue. So, let’s find an industry solution. Unfortu nately, they didn’t agree with us, and hence we go to PCC to find a solution for this,” said Tamano.

DITO chief technology officer Ro dolfo Santiago had said 70 percent to 80 of every 100 calls to Smart and Globe were unable to connect. “Our subscrib ers are mad because of poor intercon nection,” he said.

The National Telecommunications Commission set a minimum grade ser vice of 1 for every 100 calls.

at elevated prices.

The company also paid P1.50 per share in regular cash dividends in April for income generated in 2021.

“With the additional special cash dividend, the total dividend payout of SCC to its shareholders for 2022 will be P5.00 per share, the highest in its corporate history,” SMPC said.

This translates to a total dividend payout of P21.3 billion for 2022.

SMPC said contributions from coal and SEM-Calaca Power Corp. soared

364 percent and 299 percent, respec tively, while that of Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp. rose 7 percent in the first half.

About 85 percent of the group’s net income came from coal, followed by SCPC at 11 percent and SLPGC at 4 percent.

SCPC and SLPGC generated basel oad power for the Luzon-Visayas grid. Both supply electricity through bilater al contract quantity and the wholesale electricity spot market.

Hora will be a member of Manulife’s Global Leadership Team, reporting directly to Sachin Shah, general manager for emerging markets at Manulife.

Hora is an award-winning insurance industry veteran, with extensive experience in the Philip pines and across Asia.

“We are pleased and excited to have Rahul join us to lead our next phase of growth in the Philippines, a key Southeast Asian market where we’ve been for 115 years,” said Shah. “Rahul’s track record of leadership and wealth of experience strengthens our execution and will accelerate helping more Filipinos live ev ery day better.”

“I am excited to start a new chapter with Manu life, a leading international financial services pro vider, serving Filipinos since 1907. I am proud to join at a point where we are taking our business to new heights, serving Filipinos’ health, protection, retirement, and financial needs and maintaining a strong commitment to developing innovative financial products and solutions that respond to customers’ evolving protection needs,” Hora said.

Haus Talk taps portion of IPO proceeds to acquire Biñan property

By Jenniffer B. Austria

LOW-COST housing developer Haus Talk Inc. said Monday its board of direc tors approved the reallocation of a por tion of the P750-million initial public of fering proceeds to acquire a property in

Binan, Laguna province.

Haus Talk said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board agreed to reallocate P62 million allotted for land acquisition as a par tial payment for the purchase of the Calasiao and Sta. Rosa properties.

would now be used as

partial payment for land acquisition of the 12-hectare Biñan property, it said.

“Given the magnitude of the Biñan and Bacoor projects of the corpora tion, the board decided to cancel the implementation of the purchases of the Calasiao and Sta. Rosa properties and instead refocus the corporation’s resources on its more prime projects,” Haus Talk said.

The company plans to develop the Biñan property into economic residen tial housing units which are expected to generate about P3.4 billion in sales.

It is also rechanneling P35.9 million in IPO proceeds allotted for project de velopment of its property in Mariveles, Bataan to the project development of the Biñan.

Haus Talk said it planned to start the project development in November.

Haus Talk, established in the 1980s by the Madlambayan family from Pampanga, has properties in Antipolo, Laguna, Marikina and Metro Manila.

It has sold almost 1,900 housing units and develops another 2,300 units until 2023.

The company was listed in the small, medium and emerging enter prises board of the Philippine Stock Exchange in January.

Globe

TOURISM HERO. Microtel by Wyndham Pampanga of the Laus Group of Companies receives three awards from the city government of San Fernando for its contributions to Pampanga’s local tourism industry. Microtel by Wyndham general manager Donna Ravina (center) receives on behalf of the hotel the recognition as a COVID-19 Tourism Hero for serving as an isolation and quarantine facility at the height of the pandemic. It was also recognized as a child-safe tourism establishment and as an accredited establishment for progressive levels of operating quality and adherence to internationally-recognized standards.

Magnolia’s Jio Jalalon voted PBA’s best for week

BEHIND a balanced attack, Magnolia cruised to another smooth ride opposite NLEX and Northport to maintain perfection and solidify its hold of the solo spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

The dominant Hotshots, with Serbian reinforcement Nicholas Rakocevic at the helm, tr ounced their last two assignments by an average winning margin of 16.0 points for a searing 5-0 start midway through the import-flavored conference.

But while the unbeaten run could be attributed to the Hotshots’ collective effort, an unheralded sparkplug from the bench in Jio Jalalon made it easier for Magnolia as it shored up its bid for a twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs.

The scrappy guard continued to shine on his role in leading the Hotshots’ shock troopers behind astounding averages of 14.0 points on 63-percent shooting clip, 7.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds versus the Road Warriors and the Batang Pier.

The two-time All-Defensive Team member stamped his biggest mark on the defensive end with 5.0 steals in two games to become the Cignal PlayPBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period Oct. 12-16.

Jalalon beat out Converge gunner Maverick Ahanmisi and Phoenix sniper Tyler Tio for the weekly citation being handed out by the men and women regularly covering the PBA beat.

Against NLEX, the former Arellano U standout unloaded 18 points, five rebounds, eight assists and six steals in only 26 minutes of play as Magnolia ran away with an easy 11197 win.

The Cagayan de Oro native would not be denied against the Batang Pier a few days later as he poured in 10 points, two rebounds, seven assists, and four steals including a buzzerbeating triple at the end of the third quarter to give Magnolia a 20-point lead heading home.

On top of those numbers was Jalalon’s key defensive job on counterparts Kevin Alas of NLEX and Robert Bolick of Northport to solidify his stature as one of the best defensive lynchpins in the league today.

PSC to tap private sector support for 2 programs

By Peter Atencio

THE support of the private sector will be tapped when two programs involving elite athletes and grassroots development are finally unveiled by the Philippine Sports Commission.

The government sports body expects that sponsors with a generous heart will comeforward to support these two undertakings, which will be an offshoot of the Project: Gintong Alay, an elite level national sports program in the past.

PSC chairman Noli Eala said the support of private companies and individuals is important in carrying out, Duyan ng Magiting and Gintong Laban, a tweak of Project Gintong Alay, which was a plan of action for sports that the Philippine government implemented under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos from 1979 until 1986.

“In order to solicit the help of the private sector, you need to have a genuine and sustainable sports program. And this is what we are building, and which we hope to present to the private sector,” explained Eala.

The PSC chief said the programs are now on their planning stages, slated to be launched within a month’s time.

Duyan ng Magiting (Cradle of the Brave), the first component of the PSC program, is described as entry-level events that lead to the Philippine National Games.

On the other hand, Gintong Laban (Golden Fight) is about the highperformance aspect of elite athletes. Here, the welfare of Filipino athletes competing at the elite level will be worked on in order to bring out the best in them.

“We have already talked to some generous donors, and we should be making some announcements (on this) maybe in a few weeks,” added Eala.

Sports

12 Pencak Silat PH athletes bag medals in India tourney

By Randy Caluag

TWELVE

of the 15 athletes of Team Philippine bagged medals, with the duo of Alfau Jan Abad and Almohaidib Abad winning the country’s lone gold in the weeklong 6th Asian Pencak Silat Championships that concluded on Sunday at the Sheri-Kashmir Indoor Stadium in Srinagar, India.

The duo will share the gold in the men’s double artistic event even as the rest of the Philippine team members took two silvers and 8 bronze medals in the tournament participated in by about 150 athletes from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Kazakhstan, Nepal, the Philippines, and host India.

“We are happy because most of our athletes will come home with medals around their neck. Their success is for the glory of the country. We are forever grateful to the full support of Philip-

pine Sports Commission,” said Philippine Pencak Silat Association secretary general Inier Candor.

Taking home silver medals were Edmar Tacuel in the Men’s Solo Artistic ( Seni Tunggal Putra ) and the squad of Jessa Pitulan, Dela Cruz Anne, Tolentino Elman and Ziara Mari Oquindo in the Artistic Trio Women’s ( Regu Putri).

The bronze medalists were Alfau Jan Abad - Mens Solo Artistic ( Seni Bebas Putra); Jaciren Abad (Class C), Mark James Lacao (Class D), Ian Chrstpher Calo (Class E), Alvin Campos (Class E)

The event is part of the preparation of the Philippine Pencak Silat squad to the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games slated for April next year.

There will be 17 Silat events in the biennial meet.

Brodeth leads locals’ romp in PPS Ormoc

KIMI Brodeth scored an expected sweep of the girls’ top two crowns while Gerald Gemida posted a win and a runner-up finish as the locals dominated the PPS-PEPP Mayor Lucy TorresGomez National Juniors Tennis Championships at the Ormoc Midtown courts in Leyte over the weekend.

Brodeth, 16, swept her way to the championship of her age group, capping her romp with a 6-0, 6-0 rout of Kate Imalay from Danao, Cebu, then she surpassed her 1-2 finish in last week’s Buglasan Festival meet with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Corazon Lambonao in the 18-U finals of the Group 2 event presented by Dunlop.

SMART/MVP National New Face of the Year TKD tourney set

NEWBIES and summer clinics campers get the feel of excitement and thrill in a competitive competition as the Philippine Taekwondo Association hosts the 2022 SMART/MVP Sports Foundation National New Face of the Year Taekwondo Championships on October 22 and 23 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila.

The event highlights the progress and development of young taekwondo practitioners as they trade styles and techniques against unfamiliar sparring opponents in the two-day competition supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and MILO.

As the championship is confined to newcomers, it gives them the right exposure and experience in an actual competition.

The tournament will be participated in by all affiliated chapters and branches of PTA throughout Metro Manila and nearby provinces including the military branches of service.

About 1,500 participants were confirmed to participate in the ‘Kyorugi’ which features Senior, Junior Cadet, Grade School and Toddler events for both male and female categories, while ‘Poomsae’ is an individual event for colored and blackbelt.

Parents and guardians are advised to enrol their children while sports enthusiasts are cordially invited to witness this event. Competition begins at 9 a.m. onwards.

Just like in any other sports program, taekwondo thrives on the development of the athletes’ drive, skills, confidence and discipline, while elevates human spirit to greater heights of achievements.

Gemida, on the other hand, foiled Kenzo Brodeth, 6-4, 6-2, to claim the boys’ 16-U trophy but John David Velez thwarted his fellow Ormocanon’s drive for a “double” with a 6-4, 6-0 win in the 18-U championship.

But Gemida went on to share the MVP honors with Kimi Brodeth with the duo bracing for a tougher challenge as the country’s longest talent-search, put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro, heads to Baybay City, also in Leyte, starting Thursday.

Listup is ongoing. For details, contact Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

Meanwhile, Kenzo Brodeth took the 14-U diadem with a

1-0(ret.) win over Manuel Jocson from Baybay, while Sogod’s Urcisino Villa crushed Claudwin Tonacao from Bogo, Cebu, 6-1, 6-3, to clinch the 12-U trophy. Imalay, on the other hand, made up for her loss to Kimi Brodeth in the premier division of the event sponsored by Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez by trouncing Chloe Ortega from Tuburan, Cebu, 6-2, 6-2, in the 14-U championship, while Ormoc’s Ma. Caroliean Fiel matched her Buglasan Festival win by downing Donna Diamante, 6-2, 6-2, in the girls’ 12-U finals of the event supported by ProtekTODO, PalawanPay, the Unified Tennis Philippines and UTR (Universal Tennis Rating).

and Joash Mariño Cantoria ( Class G) in the Male Tanding event.

Also taking bronze medals in the Female Tanding were Angeline Viriña (Class A) and Ziara Mari Oquindo (Class B).

Magnolia’s Jio Jalalon continued to shine on his role in leading the Hotshots’ shock troopers behind astounding averages of 14.0 points on 63-percent shooting clip, 7.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds versus the Road Warriors and the Batang Pier.

Kimi Brodeth (left), with Gerald Gemida, enhances a promising career with a ‘twinkill’ at home

A young girl in red armor connects with an axe kick to her rival during previous competition.

The 12 Filipino medalists in the 6th Asian Pencak Silat Championships held in Kashmir, India.

Heat promise to ‘scrap to death’ in East

that has eluded him so far.

Creamline, Petro Gazz

collide for lead share

CREAMLINE and Petro Gazz renew their rivalry in an early clash of the league’s crowd drawers today (Tuesday), seeking a share of the lead with idle Chery Tiggo even as UAIArmy and F2 Logistics try to check their skid in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference elims at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

The Angels shocked the highlyfancied Cool Smashers to reign in this tournament in 2019 and have clutched the crown through the pandemic. They kicked off their title-retention drive with a tough 27-25, 25-22, 28-26 win over the Choco Mucho side, another crowd favorite, last Tuesday.

But Creamline has gotten back at Petro Gazz in the finals twice, both in the Open Conference in 2019 and 2022, with the Cool Smashers launching their record grand-slam bid with a 25-22, 25-18, 26-28, 25-22 victory over the PLDT High Speed Hitters last Thursday.

That makes their 5:30 p.m. faceoff all the more worth watching with Creamline expected to suit up with top hitter Tots Carlos, who missed their initial game with a sore back, and import Yeliz Basa out to impose her will after yielding the center stage to locals Ced Domingo and Alyssa Valdez the first time out.

Domingo, the finals MVP in the Invitationals, clinched the Player of the Game honors with a 17-point showing while Valdez flashed another vintage performance with her own 17-point output she spiked with 13 excellent receptions and the same number of excellent digs.

But the Angels are hardly unfazed by their arch rivals with import Lindsey Vander Weide keen on surpassing her 25-point explosion against the Flying Titans. Jonah Sabete’s impressive 14-point, 14-dig, 11-reception exploits also beg for an encore, guaranteeing another highpowered action that has marked the initial week of the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

The 2:30 p.m. clash between Army and F2 Logistics is also tipped to provide fireworks with both teams raring to nail the first win after dropping their first two in an attempt to get back in the hunt in the round robin elims among nine teams.

The Lady Troopers yielded to the High Speed Hitters in five and to the newcomer Akari Chargers in three while the Cargo Movers bowed to the Crossovers in three with a depleted roster and then lost to the Flying Titans in four.

Matches are telecast every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on One Sports, One Sports+, Cignal Play and Smart Gigaplay with hashtag #TheHeartofVolleyball.

MIAMI—Had

Jimmy Butler’s late three-point effort in game seven of last year’s Eastern Conference championship game not bounced off the rim, the Miami Heat would have reached their second NBA Finals in three years.

And while few predicted the Heat would go deep in the playoffs last season, it’s perhaps a little surprising that the same view prevails again heading into this campaign.

The Heat, say the pundits, just don’t have enough firepower to prevail in a conference where the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks are the favorites to finish as top seeds.

Opinion is cool on the Heat, largely because the club failed to make any big moves during the off-season and return with an almost identical roster to last season.

But the Heat seem to enjoy being overlooked, using what they view as

disrespect as fuel for their fire.

“They don’t talk about us out there in the media and all that,” center Bam Adebayo said in a recent interview with Sirius XM radio. “But when it comes down it, a lot of people don’t like playing us. They don’t. They don’t like playing us.”

Adebayo suspects the absence of bigname stars, with the exception of six-time All-Star Butler, leads many to undervalue the team but knows opponents are well aware of what they are facing on court.

“I don’t know if it’s, you know, the scrappiness. But yeah, we play great, ugly basketball,” he said.

“We going to scrap you to death.”

In Erik Spoelstra, the Heat have one of the most successful coaches in the league and team president Pat Riley is one of the most widely respected figures in his role.

But the figure who perhaps best epitomizes the determined, aggressive style played by the Heat has no grand job title and barely features on the court.

Miami-born Udonis Haslem remains on the roster despite having reached the age of 42, largely because of his importance to the locker-room culture.

More than just representing continuity with the Heat of Shaqille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, Haslem is in many ways an enforcer of the Heat’s standards as his infamous courtside verbal confrontation with Butler last season highlighted so explicitly.

Haslem’s 20th NBA season is likely to be his final one and he sees Adebayo as the man to continue his legacy as the “gatekeeper” of the Heat approach and is determined to push Butler towards the championship ring

“I want to pass the torch to Bam as the next bearer of the culture,” he told ESPN recently.

“I want to continue to mold and help Jimmy be the champion that he deserves to be. And I just want to leave this locker room headed in the right direction.”

The new arrival who will have to quickly get on board with those standards is 19-year-old Serbian Nikola Jovic, a 6-foot-10 small forward who was drafted 27th overall and who has made a good early impression.

Yurtseven will step up

But while the names remain the same, Spoelstra believes there will be different features to his team this season.

There are high hopes for guard Tyler Herro, who had eight 30-point games off the bench last season and who has been tied to a new long-term deal. There’s also a belief that Kyle Lowry can truly deliver after a mixed effort last season following his trade from Toronto. AFP

OKBet launches ‘Play It Forward’ campaign to support athletes

By Roy Tomandao

PAVING the way for the next generation of Filipino athletes, local gaming platform OKBet officially launched its ‘Play It Forward’ campaign last Wednesday at the Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo, Manila.

As part of this initiative, the company announced that it will be hosting a basketball camp this October for aspiring talents aged 16 to 20 years old.

Participants will be trained by players and coaching staff from the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League team GenSan Warriors OKBet, including its head coach Marlon Martin. The camp promises to help them grow holistically, as it aims to develop their skills, knowledge, and values.

Foreign bets seek top nish in Alveo 5150

THREE of the 30 foreign triathletes vying in the Alveo 5150 Subic Bay look to stir up the chase for the overall championship when the premier endurance race held under the Olympic-style setup is fired off this Sunday (Oct. 23) in the country’s top triathlon hub.

Singapore’s Liam Chan, Korean Hyunji Ko and Byron Sanborn of the US have stepped up their preparations for the upcoming 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run event, seeking to spoil the local bets’ expected control of the season’s third and last 5150 race in new normal.

“We are finally back to the country’s triathlon capital and we are now down to our last 5150 and Sprint race of the year,” said race director Neville Manaois. “We have prepared a challenging but wonderful racecourse and at the same time have guaranteed a safe race for everyone.”

Aside from the overall crown, Chan and Ko are also eyeing to top the 20-24 agegroup category in both sides while Sanborn

Punch and punishment

do to big-ego players with multi-million deals and a short fuse? I’ll make sure my accountant sets aside funds for punching expenditures. Or better yet, put a portion of the money on escrow so that you have an idea of how many people you can punch with the money you can afford to spend on your new personal choice of sending a message through a non-verbal channel.

Kapow!

IF basketball fans thought that Draymond Green punching teammate Jordan Poole was unbelievable, well, their shock came too early because clearly, the punishment that Draymond got for such an unacceptable act was simply appalling.

Wait a minute—is this Golden State trying to change the game again? Like how they made small ball and three-point shooting on aggregate the new norm?

Because I don’t think this punch-a-teammate-for-a-fee will catch on. Or will it? If I am an NBA player now, can I just punch some guy and just expect to pay the fine? Can you imagine what this reality will

You don’t like heckling fans? Punch ‘em, and pay the fine. You don’t like your coach not giving you minutes?

Punch him—or check with your front office if it is cheaper to do it Latrell Sprewell style, that’s just a smart business decision, you know. Just make sure your finances are up-to-date and you have enough on your projected earnings for this new kind of luxury. Annoyed by the no-call from refs? Well, suckerpunching seems to be in vogue these days so give it a go. Are teams pissed off at each other? Have them meet at

is one of the men to watch in the 25-29 division of the event organized by the IRONMAN Group/Sunrise Events, Inc.

Other foreign bidders include those from France, South Africa, Slovenia, United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, Turkey, New Zealand, Japan, Ireland, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Australia.

Keen competition is also seen in the Go for Gold Sunrise Sprint as well as in the relay all-male and all-female, the relay mixed competitions of the event sponsored by Alveo, SBMA, Finis, Rudy Project, Sante Barley, Lalamove, Active, Manila Bulletin and Tempo, Listup is ongoing. For details, log on to www.ironman.com. For the Sunrise Sprint, log on to www.goforgold.sunrisesprint.com.

The IronKids, meanwhile, kicks off the triathlon weekend with another huge field clashing for top honors in the youngsters’ version of the swim-bike-run race set at

center court and give them a free pass for sanctioned fisticuffs.

Ah, finally! I’ve long dreamed of allowing professional basketball players to fight each other like what those really tough folks at the NHL do, so that we can see who among these players are really up for trading blows and who among them are just faking a tough guy act – and they are the worst, kin of those who flop.

But if all of these suggestions are outright outrageous and unacceptable, then why let Draymond off the hook with something that does not even qualify as a slap on the wrist? Punching your teammate is bad. Even in sports where people are expected to punch each other, they still draw a line.

Let’s put punching and punishment in context, shall we?

Paul Daley was banned from UFC after he punched Josh Koscheck after the fight was over in UFC 113 in Montreal. When boxer James Butler Jr. punched Richard Grant after the match was over, he was convicted of aggravated assault and served four months in Riker’s Island and was suspended indefinitely by the New York State

various distances.

But focus will be on the battle for the overall championship and in various age-group classes with the country’s top triathlon clubs represented, including Trimac, Trimaya, Baguio Benguet Tri, Polo Tri Team, Without Limites, SN Tri Team Southplus Tri, Wyn Racing, Team Triumph, Fit PH, East PH Triathlon Team, TSMC, Team Armada; SBM, Paynet-Amigo Tri, Encore Multisport, TriClark Scania, SN Athletics, Re/Max Capital, Fit Bahrain, Cruz Control Multisport, Sante Barley, Alveo Ayala Land Tri, Alco Cars Tri-Team, Tri-Natin, Trifast and Furious, Globe Tri Team, 94 Cycle, Pangasinan Multiport, The Next Step Tri and Omega Triathlon Team, among others.

The Next Step Tri is headed by Bea Quiambao, who is the athlete to beat in the distaff side, having ruled the Bohol 5150 last July, while Omega Triathlon will be led by Boholano Jonathan Pagaura.

Athletic Commission.

This is boxing and MMA, two sports where punching is the norm. Where people who punch each other are at least in the same weight category (you don’t need a scale to know that Draymond and Jordan belong in two different weight categories).

And even in boxing or MMA, you can’t just go punching anyone whenever you feel like it. There are consequences, serious cons equences±a concept the Golden State Warriors front office seems to have difficulty understanding, accepting, and implementing judging by how they handled this punching incident.

Not everyone is a professional athlete so let’s thresh this out in a way that is relatable to everyone. If I go to work tomorrow and punch someone, I will be fired for sure. My boss or the person I just punched can even call the cops and have me arrested for assault.

So you, over there, who think teammates punching each other is normal and ok, do you see now how a culture of unchecked aggression is not just unacceptable but is plain wrong? Fighting among teammates should just be shoving each

To formalize the shared commitment, OKBet’s Vice President for Marketing and Business Development Robert Chen and corporate social responsibility manager Pebbles Muniz signed a memorandum of agreement with GenSan’s representatives Valerie Flores and team manager Mermann Flores.

Among those chosen as pilot beneficiaries are students from the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program of Marcela Agoncillo Elementary School, Rajah Solaiman Elementary School, and Pedro Guevarra Elementary School.

Muniz welcomed the participants in attendance, who were accompanied by their teachers.

“As we officially launch our Play It Forward sports program, we are hoping to reach more grassroots individuals that the program can cover, and develop sports-driven values [for] the youth,” she said.

She also thanked the GenSan Warriors OKBet roster for gracing the event. The entire team was present, except for its point guard Gerald Anderson, who instead prepared a short video message to share words of advice and encouragement to the participants.

other, jawing and cussing each other, throwing things, and kicking stuff. Can you imagine the NBA, or the world we’d live in, if punching anyone is met with leniency bordering on nonchalance?

Letting Draymond Green walk away with just a fine after punching a teammate is a slap on the face of basketball and everyone who treats it as a gentleman’s game. Basketball is supposed to be a tool that we can use to teach young kids the value of sportsmanship and camaraderie, about channeling your aggression towards something positive. It is a slap in the face of the NBA which promotes its players as role models for kids.

If you want to teach kids about fighting, then tell them this: if you want to punch somebody, give him the choice to step forward and fight, or back away and shut up. That’s how angry people who still value dignity—his and the other person’s—do it. At least give the other person time and fair warning so that he can get both fists up.

If there is one thing you can learn about Ime Udoka this year, it’s making your interactions with colleagues consensual.

Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat looks on during a preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Miami, Florida. AFP

‘Halloween Ends’ starts strong in topping box office

UNIVERSAL scarefest Halloween Ends scored a strong start this weekend, topping the North American box office with an estimated take of $41.3 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.

The movie, ostensibly the last in a long string of profitable “Halloween” films, again stars

Jamie Lee Curtis in a tale replete with throat-slashing, choking, fatal falls, and a mysterious masked sewerdweller.

Analysts had predicted a somewhat higher number: $50 million or so. But given the film’s simultaneous release on the Peacock streaming service and its production cost of just $30 million, its take was “excellent,” said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research.

The weeks before Halloween always smile on horror films – and this weekend another gruesome film, Paramount’s Smile , placed second at $12.4 million. Sosie Bacon stars as a therapist whose grasp on reality is shaken by a horrifying event.

In third place for the Friday-through-Sunday

NYC mayor makes historic attendance at TOFA

THERE was unmistakable excitement as the honorees shuffled in, the piano played, and the mayor strode to his seat. A first in history for any sitting NYC mayor to attend a Filipino event.

On September 16, The Town Hall was luminous with New York City dignitaries and exemplary Filipino Americans celebrating the 12th The Outstanding Filipinos in America (TOFA) awards with their families and friends. It was almost filled to capacity with more than 1,200 guests garbed to the nines, women in carefully pinned hair, and men dressed in Barong and glitzy suits.

Mayor Eric Adams saluted New York’s “vibrant Filipino population.” They have always been part and thriving “in our metropolitan melting pot,” he states in a certificate presented to TOFA.

Executive Producer Elton Lugay, who founded TOFA in 2011, said the idea then, as it is now, was to “use the event as a platform to celebrate our achievements in America.” On this evening, 28 national honorees, eight Lifetime Achievement Awardees, and three Global Awards recipients were met with long, thunderous applause echoing throughout the iconic hall where Billie Holiday, Celine Dion, and previous TOFA recipients Lea Salonga and JoKoy had performed. “They make all of us proud,” he said.

TOFA’s resident host Boy Abunda announced the 28 honorees who happily marched to the stage to share their stories — and claim their trophies: Hate crime survivor Vilma Kari and daughter Elizabeth Kari (both advocates against Asian violence); decorated U.S. Army officer Col. Odelia Tablit; first openly gay FilAm mayor of Boynton Beach, Florida Mayor Ty Penerga; Bergenfield, New Jersey Mayor Arvin Amatorio; Commissioner Anne del Castillo of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment; Jessica Caloza, first Filipina commissioner of the L.A. Board of Public Works; Kelly Ilagan Coldiron (former White House Liaison executive director); Eight-time Emmy Award-winning producer Lisa Lew; Hollywood actor Reggie Lee; Live Nation PH Director Rhiza Pascua

Social media sensation Bretman Rock; ultramarathon runner Gerald Tabios; Vallerie Castillo-Archer, first Filipino executive chef at LA’s Yamashiro; ‘Miss Saigon’ veteran actor and musical theater producer Miguel Braganza; R&B artist and entrepreneur Garth Garcia; concert producers Robert and Melissa Mendoza; UERM Medical Foundation founder Dr. Emilio Quines; pediatrician and concert singer Dr. Winston Umali; Family physician Dr. Alicia Almendral; skincare and wellness doctor Dr. George Homer Mendoza Philanthropist and founder of 101 Heroes Foundation in L.A. Edwin Santiago; Philippine National Bank General Manager Eric Bustamante; community organizer Eddie Echavez; physical therapist Dr. Maria Clarissa Ramos; nursing director Dr. Maria Ruth Lopez; nurse practitioner Dr. Georgio Dano; Humanitarian and fitness mentor Deekie Gaerlan; and spa and beauty entrepreneurs Richard and Imee

The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to individuals whose reach, influence, and good name have inspired the community toward certain goals or actions. They are Ambassador Mario de Leon for government service; Brendan Flores for community service; Steven Raga for politics and advocacy, Ruben and Janet Nepales for journalism; Rod Mercado for business; Alexis Monsanto for fashion; Rely Manacay for arts and culture; and Juliet Payabyab for volunteer service. Their certificates carried the signature of President Joe Biden as pointed out by PIX 11 morning news anchor Hazel Sanchez, herself a TOFA awardee in 2017.

Two newsworthy personalities and a broadcast pioneer are the three Global Awards recipients. Highest-ranked junior tennis player Alex Eala; Philippine network GMA Pinoy TV; and Dubai-based celebrity fashion designer Michael Cinco

“The best and the brightest,” remarked Consul General Elmer Cato in a video address from the Philippines. He said Filipinos truly shine in the global arena because of “our excellent work ethics, integrity, and ingenuity,” qualities that “make us truly exceptional.”

Spectacular dance performances rendered by Parangal Dance Company, Tribu Cebu, and Kinding Sindaw gave the evening its color and Filipino spirit. Actress Lydia Gaston of Easter Sunday fame, After Three, and the TOFA Performing Artists comprising 20 local talents, sang to a live band under the musical direction of Maestro Bobby Ramiro with TOFA theme song scoring by Gene Juanich

The 12th TOFA Awards was presented in part by Financial Rescue and the Farah Delance Foundation.

period, down one spot from its release last weekend, was Sony’s live-action/computeranimated musical comedy Lyle, Lyle Crocodile at $7.4 million. Javier Bardem, Shawn Mendes, and Constance Wu star.

Another Sony film, history-inspired The Woman King , held tight at fourth place, with $3.7 million in ticket sales.

Viola Davis stars as the leader of an all-female army of African warriors.

And in fifth, dropping two spots, was 20th Century’s comedy thriller Amsterdam , at $2.9 million. It stars Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington AFP

Working girl Heart Evangelista independent in Paris

IN A recent Instagram live stream session, Heart Evangelista revealed that she got herself an apartment in Paris and that she’s saving up to purchase nice furniture for her flat.

“I just got myself an apartment so I do not really plan to buy anything else because I have like all of my nice furniture. I really want it to be very, very nice and I’m saving up for that. But I’ve also been so busy doing anything, to shop. So the only time that I got to spare is to be on my bed and rest,” she said.

When the actress flew to Europe, many of her fans wondered if she has already decided to stay there for good. And that was answered during the same Instagram live when she said that she won’t be living in Paris permanently since she also has projects in the Philippines.

“I need to work to support my lifestyle. I have to be independent to pay for my stuff so that I don’t need to ask for support. So, I have to work hard. I don’t believe that you need to ask for financial assistance all the time. I’m not like that. I’m a working girl.”

The Kapuso star explained that her Europe and fashion week trips are part of her job.

“It’s not just a whim or caprice

or a leisure thing. It’s not easy. It’s just nice on my part because it’s something which I love to do. I love dressing up. It’s really a full-time job. For one, I’ve never really been the type who just stays home. I’m very creative with my time. As I’ve mentioned earlier, I’m a working girl. I’m not the type who will always ask for financial assistance. I work.”

Curiously, when is she coming back to the Philippines?

“Indefinitely!” Heart stated.

• •

•

It’s public knowledge that Kim Chiu’s relationship with Xian Lim is running into its tenth year. Many of their fans are curious as to when it would level up or when they’ll get married considering that many of their peers have already settled down.

“Well, we talk about it in passing. You just have to watch out for it. Anyway, we’re just in our early ‘30s. In today’s setting, it’s still early to jump into marriage. So, we just enjoy our relationship,” she avers. Does she think Xian is the “One” for her?

“He is my Mr. Right. He doesn’t give me headaches. He is very loyal. Even if he meets a lot of girls, he will still pick me. I’m confident about it. As I’ve said, he’s very loyal.”

At present, Kim is still with Star Magic, the talent management arm of ABSCBN while Xian has transferred to Viva Artists Agency and can be seen in GMA-7 programs. Does this scenario have advantages and disadvantages to their status as a couple?

“Actually, there’s none. We are doing our projects individually and separately. I believe it is part of our growth as individuals. We have to stand for the choices we make in life,” she ends.

GMA raises PH flag in global awards scene

GMA Network continues to raise the Philippine flag on the global stage as it reaps honors from prestigious international award-giving bodies.

Just this October 8, GMA Public Affairs’

The Atom Araullo Specials won Best Asian Documentary in the 4th Asia Contents Awards (ACA) at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) Theater in Busan, South Korea.

The Atom Araullo Specials’ “Munting Bisig (Young Arms),” which was the only Philippine entry shortlisted in the said festival, bested other Asian shows produced by Netflix, Asian Boss (YouTube), and TV Asahi Production (YouTube).

This is the second international award that The Atom Araullo Specials won this year. Last April, the same episode gave the Philippines a Gold World Medal at the prestigious 2022 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards. The documentary delved into the plight of children working amid the global pandemic to help their families survive even if they were exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

GMA Network likewise led the Philippines’ National Winners in the News and Current Affairs categories at this year’s Asian Academy Creative Awards.

Besting other nominees to win Best Newscast is 24 Oras Weekend

The weekend news program anchored by Pia Arcangel and Ivan Mayrina is also the country’s representative for the Best Single News Story category. The Asian Academy Creative Awards lauded Jonathan Andal report on Typhoon Odette.

The Atom Araullo Specials continues its winning streak, taking home the “Best Documentary” honor for the documentary

“Mata sa Dilim.” Atom Araullo is also the Philippine representative for the “Best News or Current Affairs Presenter/Anchor” category for GTV’s flagship newscast State of the Nation

Meanwhile, the country’s pioneering wildlife, travel, and conservation program Born to be Wild was named “Best Natural History/Wildlife Show” for its “Primer Planet” episode. This is another milestone for the show hosted by Doc Ferds Recio and Doc Nielsen Donato, which will be celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Fresh from its highly successful season finale, Lolong is set to compete on the international stage as well. 2022’s Most Watched Philippine TV show was hailed as the national winner in the “Best Visual/ Special Effects” category.

Rounding up the list of Kapuso winners is the award-winning infotainment show iBilib, which took home the National Award for “Best Infotainment.” is hosted by Chris Tiu

As National Winners, they will represent the Philippines in the Grand Awards and Gala Finals this December. The awarding will be held in Singapore as part of the Singapore Media Festival.

Considered Asia Pacific’s “most prestigious awards for creative excellence,” the Asian Academy Creative Awards gathers the best of the best from 16 nations representing the region’s content industry.

Nickie Wang

Patricia Taculao,

‘Halloween

Lee Curtis (front) and James Jude Courtney

Heart Evangelista during Paris Fashion Week 2022 (Photo from Getty Images)

Atom Araullo takes home

Award

Richard (left) and Imee Maghanoy with Boy Abunda (center)

From left: Rod Mercado of Financial Rescue, Liza Bautista, Janet Nepales, Boy Abunda, Brendan Flores, Dr. Angie Cruz, and Elton Lugay

A night of fun and great music mark Sunshine Place’s 8th year

MEMBERS and guests of Sunshine Place recently celebrated the recreational center’s eighth anniversary with a tea party theme –with great music, great company, and lots of fun with raffle give aways.

Sunshine Place’s President Lizanne Uychaco thanked Sunshine Place found ers, members, and staff who are the Sun shine of Sunshine Place.

“Today I just want to thank everybody for your friendship, for the camaraderie, for making the Sunshine Place what it is today. We have so much to look forward to, and are grateful that we can get to gether again, a little bit, a little more in a safe way,” she said.

It was an evening of great music as the Pastor brothers traveled all the way from Batangas to serenade members - Atty.

Tony Pastor with classic piano pieces, and a duet with his brother Rafael.

It was also an evening of dance as Tap Dance Class and Dekada Class members performed to the beat of “Uptown Funk” and “Macarena” also entertained guests and even made everyone join them in dancing with their energetic moves.

As a way of thanking its members, Sunshine Place raffled off gift certifi cates, tickets to Sunshine Classics 2022, and handbags in colorful prints. An award was also given to the evening’s Best Dressed.

The anniversary celebrations also fea tured a throwback corner or time capsule where photos from Sunshine Place’s milestones and activities in the past years were shown. A big canvas was also pro vided for members and students to write

their anniversary messages and well wishes for the senior hub.

The Sunshine Place, a senior recre ation center under the Felicidad Tan Sy Foundation, is a venue for adults to live actively, through engaging in recreation al classes and age-appropriate physical training programs. It is the venue to be entertained, socialize, and reflect; a place of happiness and wellness for one’s mind, body, and soul.

For more updates, like and subscribe to our Facebook Page @SunshinePlace56J upiter and YouTube channel, Sunshine Place: Senior Recreation Center. Or fol low our Instagram account @sunshine placeph. You may also want to check our website at http://www.sunshineplaceph. com/

Four years of pampering

MassageMNL celebrates anniversary with new offerings

By Joba Botana

ONEof the best ways to end a tiring week is to pamper yourself with a massage. For massage lovers like myself, I don’t wait for the end of the week, when the need calls for some good massage, I go for it.

It was easier before the pandemic as several names in the wellness industry offer home ser vice massage. The pandemic made it extra dif ficult. However, a leading name in the industry has found a way to reach out to a wider market and even made its offerings a little more extra than usual.

One of the first and leading premium home service massage companies in the Philippines, MassageMNL, found an opportunity to expand its client base when the government started im posing rules and regulations after a series of hard lockdowns. As it celebrates its 4th year in the industry, MassageMNL soars to greater heights with new offerings.

“We at MassageMNL always strive to find ways to improve and adapt to the constantly changing times. Our mission is to give our cus tomers the utmost care and comfort and the best quality of service,” says its founder Janine Khazaie during its recent 4th-anniversary cel ebration held at The Astbury Private Members

Club where invited members of the press and celebrities got to enjoy quick relaxing massages and some wellness treats.

The event was also attended by special guests actress Cheska Garcia-Kramer and her hus band former PBA mainstay Doug Kramer along with their son. The venue transformed into a cozy and relaxing space that some of us could not help but strike a pose for the gram.

Earlier this year, MassageMNL expanded to include beauty services. With the Beauty by MassageMNL line, customers can now indulge in various cult-favorite beauty services such as the Intimate Whitening Technology, Oxygeneo Facial, the new Jelly Facial, Emsculpt, and the non-surgical skin contouring and sculpting treat ment Thermage FLX 5G.

We have spent the past years researching and testing different beauty services to ensure that we only give the best to our customers,” Khazaie shares. “We have safety protocols in place such as weekly antigen testing for all our therapists, riders, and staff. There is also strict monitoring at the staff house to make sure everyone is in good health to service our clients,” she adds.

MassageMNL also introduced the MassageBar and the game-changing Khozy Package to rein force its market lead and boost its massage and beauty services.

The MassageBar is perfect for spa parties at home or even if you just want to gather your friends and families for a relaxing spa day fea turing an Instagram-worthy spa set-up where

customers can indulge and choose from all the signature MassageMNL premium and special ized services and a customized concoction cre ated by MassageMNL’s mixologist to level up your home spa experience.

The Khozy Package, on the other hand, ele vates your relaxation experience with your loved one, perfect for a couple’s night-in or a motherand-daughter or besties bonding day. It offers a complete spa set-up that includes 1.5 hours of Premium massage for two, towels and massage beds, and even spa speakers and humidifiers to replicate that spa experience at your home.

MassageMNL also offers MNL at Work, a workplace massage service that advocates im proving employees’ wellness and productivity and aims to help lower stress levels, increase concentration, and reduce muscle strain injuries at work.

“For us, 2022 is a year of new heights,” said Khazaie. “It’s also a year for us to look back and see how far we’ve come. With a wide range of products and services, we’re here to help you to Be restored to your best. “

Founded in 2018 by Khazie, MassageMNL has indeed gone a long way with more to come as it continues to expand to different areas of Metro Manila, add more services to its growing list, and find a new headquarters to call its home.

Follow MassageMNL on Facebook, Insta gram, and TikTok for the latest announcements and promos. You can also book your home ser vice massage via www.massagemnl.com

Hard Rock International celebrates 23rd annual ‘Pinktober’ campaign

HARD Rock International continues to support breast cancer awareness and research with its 23rd an nual Pinktober campaign taking place throughout the month of October.

Hard Rock locations around the world on October 1 started participating in fundraising efforts support ing the Hard Rock Heals Foundation, the charitable arm of Hard Rock, with proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society and local charities.

Hard Rock has donated millions of dollars toward breast cancer research over the last 22 years of the Pinktober campaign. Last year, Hard Rock raised over $700,000, representing the largest amount the company has fundraised since the inception of the program back in 2000.

Kicking off this year’s Pinktober activations is a special partnership and highly-anticipated dinner se ries with world-renowned chef and breast cancer sur vivor Dominique Crenn. Hard Rock will also offer Pinktober limited-edition menu items.

Crenn is currently the only female chef in the United States to attain three Michelin Stars for her restaurant Atelier Crenn, in San Francisco, Califor nia. In partnership with Crenn, Hard Rock created a limited-time menu item of Baja Style Shrimp Tacos exclusively available at Hard Rock Cafes around the world, with a portion of proceeds donated to a local charity chosen by the Cafes.

Crenn also hosted a curated dinner series kicking off at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Holly wood with events at Abiaka Wood Fire Grill on Sep tember 27 and Hard Rock Cafe on September 28, fol lowed by a special dinner at Hard Rock Hotel New York on October 7. Invited guests include fellow breast cancer survivors, caretakers, and American Cancer Society supporters.

“It’s with great honor and pride that Hard Rock International supports those affected by breast can cer across the globe with our 23rd annual Pinktober. All is One is a Hard Rock motto that we are thrilled to see come to life each year through our work with American Cancer Society, community members, team members, and local charities, benefitting such an important cause,” said Jon Lucas, Chief Operat ing Officer of Hard Rock International.

“This year, we’re proud to partner with Chef Dom inique Crenn, a breast cancer survivor, who shares our passion for raising awareness and giving back to local charities and communities,” Lucas added.

Hard Rock Café Manila is supporting this global initiative by partnering with ICanServe Foundation, Inc., a breast cancer advocacy group. A portion of the sales from the Pinktober menu items will be do nated to the said foundation.

For more in formation on Hard Rock In ternational and how you can support Pinkto ber visit www. hardrock.com/ pinktober

San Miguel Pale Pilsen releases limited edition cans

Miguel Pale Pilsen con tinues to serve exciting bond ing experiences for family and friends with its best-tasting brew. Bringing together peo ple from all walks of life, the iconic Filipino beer connects with the current culture and influences the local life

To further inspire gen erations of drinkers, San Miguel Pale Pilsen plugs into music to immerse its followers

a vibe. With the release of its

limited edition ‘Play Pilsen’ cans, San Miguel Pale Pilsen lets drink ers explore worlds of music teth ered on the brand’s distinct taste.

The whole barkada can enjoy three different playlists for dif ferent moods: Rewind and take a step back with classic OPM hits; Tambay and take it easy with chill/ lounge music; and Galaw and show your moves through upbeat dance music.

Getting started on these delight ful playlists is easy. 1) Scan the QR Code found on every limited edi

tion “Play Pilsen” cans; 2) Click the link which will lead you to a Facebook post; 3) Click the Spoti fy® link and head over to your de sired playlist; and 4) Listen while enjoying San Miguel Pale Pilsen. Get the San Miguel Pale Pilsen “Play Pilsen” cans to collect and enjoy or to share as a perfect BEERegalo for the holidays. Or der now from select supermarkets, groceries, and convenience stores, or through SMB Delivers via 8632BEER (2337) or www.SMBDeliv ers.com

Sunshine

Conchitina Bernardo at the throwback corner (Time Capsule) originally posted in the 2nd floor where photos from Sunshine Place’s milestones and activities in the past years are shown

Virtuoso Atty. Tony Pastor playing classic piano pieces Turkish March by Mozart and Valse Romantico by Ernesto Lecuona

RAMOS

SAN

VALDEZ

PUROK

ALL

ALL

INTERIOR

RR 3,289.00

RR 3,577.00

RR 3,289.00

RR 3,289.00

RR 3,289.00

RR 3,289.00

RR 2,775.00

CR 4,348.00 RR 2,525.00

CR 3,306.00 RR 1,981.00 A1 92.00 A2 75.00 A4 50.00 A16 50.00 A49 43.00 A50 37.00

CITY/MUNICIPALITY : BANGA

: SOUTH COTABATO

CABUDIAN

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO

CITY/MUNICIPALITY : BANGA

BARANGAY : CABULING

STREET NAME

SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

LOTS

ALONG

INTERIOR

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : BANGA BARANGAY : CINCO (BARRIO 5) STREET NAME SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

ALL LOTS

VICINITY

REV

1,596.00

1,306.00

1,063.00

833.00

32.00

100.00

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

CR 2,033.00 I 1,527.00

ALONG THE ROAD RR 1,721.00

INTERIOR LOTS

RR 1,247.00 GP 38.00 A1 78.00 A2 63.00 A16 56.00 A50 40.00

PROVINCE

ALL

INTERIOR

4,194.00

5,500.00

RR 2,528.00

RR 3,249.00

RR 2,412.00

CR 4,000.00 RR 3,250.00

CR 3,679.00 RR 2,412.00

CR 2,984.00 RR 1,894.00 2,734.00 A1 125.00 A2 95.00 A4 65.00 A16 80.00 A40 2,734.00 A49 35.00 A50 25.00

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : BANGA BARANGAY : DERILON STREET NAME SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M ALL LOTS CR 992.00 I 754.00

ALONG THE ROAD RR 690.00 INTERIOR LOTS RR 550.00 A1 88.00 A16 71.00 A50 50.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : BANGA BARANGAY : EL NONOK STREET NAME SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

NATIONAL

ALL

ALONG

INTERIOR

CR 3,392.00 RR 1,529.00

CR 3,136.00 RR 1,509.00

CR 2,508.00 RR 1,084.00 2,008.00

A1 92.00 A2 75.00 A4 53.00 A10 53.00 A16 53.00 A37 43.00 A49 41.00 A50 35.00

PROVINCE

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

CR 2,791.00 RR 721.00

CR 2,185.00 1,608.00 RR 536.00 A1 115.00 A2 83.00 A4 45.00 A14 50.00 A16 50.00 A49 26.00 A50 20.00

CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M ALL LOTS

VICINITY

CR 1,094.00 I 790.00

ALONG THE ROAD RR 787.00 INTERIOR LOTS RR 636.00 A1 104.00 A14 83.00 A16 71.00 A50 51.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : BANGA BARANGAY : IMPROGO (VILLAGE POBLACION) STREET NAME SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

ANTONIO LUNA ST.

VICINITY

CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

RR 1,533.00 BURGOS ST. QUEZON ST-NW TO NAT’L HW CR 2,573.00

RR 1,557.00

NE SIDE OF BONIFACIO ST. RR 1,533.00 GOMEZ ST.

CR 2,573.00 RR 1,557.00

JOSE RIZAL ST. CR 4,925.00 ROXAS ST

CR 6,250.00 RR 1,533.00

QUEZON ST BURGOS ST CR 2,005.00 MABINI ST RR 944.00

ALL OTHER LOTS

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : BANGA BARANGAY : KUSAN ( BARRIO 8) STREET NAME SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

ALL LOTS

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : BANGA BARANGAY : LAM-APOS STREET NAME SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

5,302.00

1,936.00

5,302.00

1,936.00

2,542.00

1,936.00

7,250.00

1,936.00

CR 1,906.00 I 1,398.00

ALONG THE ROAD RR 850.00 INTERIOR LOTS RR 790.00

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

CR 2,156.00 I 1,398.00 X 1,906.00

ALONG THE ROAD RR 937.00 INTERIOR LOTS RR 736.00 GP 37.00 A1 104.00 A16 71.00 A50 51.00

VICINITY CLASSIFI-

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : BANGA BARANGAY : RIZAL (BARRIO 3) STREET NAME / SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

PROVINCE

BARANGAY

COTABATO

(POBLACION)

1,200.00 1,695.00

A40 1,643.00 A1 65.00 A2 50.00 A4 35.00 A6 35.00 A7 29.00 A10 24.00 A12 28.00 A16 30.00 A18* A49 21.00 A50 20.00

PROVINCE

COTABATO

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

RR 474.00

RR 390.00 CR 575.00 GP 20.00 A1 43.00 A2 28.00 A3 28.00 A4 28.00 A6 25.00 A7 16.00 A10 16.00 A11 20.00 A12 18.00 A13 28.00 A14 28.00 A16 28.00 A21 38.00 A26 16.00 A36 16.00 A40 575.00 A48 20.00 A49 16.00 A50 14.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : LAKE SEBU BARANGAY : LUHIB STREET NAME

SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

ALL LOTS

VICINITY

ALONG THE ROAD

INTERIOR LOTS

CR 625.00

X 575.00

GP 20.00

A1 55.00

A2 28.00

A3 28.00

A4 28.00

A6 23.00

A7 18.00

A10 16.00

A11 20.00

A12 18.00 A13 28.00

A14 28.00

A16 28.00

A21 38.00

A26 16.00

A36 16.00

A40 575.00

A48 25.00

A49 16.00 A50 14.00

CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

RR 474.00

RR 390.00 CR 575.00

A1 38.00 A2 28.00

A3 28.00 A4 28.00 A6 25.00

A7 16.00 A10 16.00

A11 20.00 A12 18.00 A13 28.00 A14 28.00 A16 28.00 A21 38.00 A26 16.00 A36 16.00 A48 25.00 A49 16.00 A50 14.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : LAKE SEBU BARANGAY : MACULAN (UPPER AND LOWER MACULAN) STREET NAME SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

ALL LOTS ALONG THE ROAD

INTERIOR LOTS

VICINITY

CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

RR 318.00

RR 268.00 CR 450.00 GP 20.00 A1 40.00 A2 30.00 A3 26.00 A4 26.00 A6 25.00 A10 17.00 A12 19.00 A13 26.00 A14 26.00 A16 26.00 A36 16.00 A49 16.00 A50 14.00

: T’KONEL

NAME

RR 268.00

RR 225.00 CR 454.00 GP 20.00 A1 45.00 A2 27.00 A3 26.00 A4 26.00 A10 16.00 A11 18.00 A13 26.00 A14 26.00 A16 26.00 A36 17.00 A48 20.00 A49 17.00 A50 14.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : LAKE SEBU BARANGAY : NED STREET NAME SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

ALL LOTS ALONG THE ROAD

INTERIOR LOTS

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

RR 268.00

RR 225.00 CR 450.00 I 470.00 A1 35.00 A2 27.00 A3 26.00 A4 26.00 A7 16.00 A10 15.00 A11 18.00 A12 19.00 A13 26.00 A14 26.00 A15 18.00 A16 26.00 A19 19.00 A20 19.00 A21 30.00 A23 28.00 A36 17.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO

TAPULANGGA ST-NATL

4,078.00

4,078.00

1,069.00

4,078.00

1,069.00

ADELFA ST. CR 5,930.00

1,086.00

ALBERT MORROW ST. CR 5,930.00 RR 1,086.00

ALUNAN ST. RR 1,086.00 CR 4,078.00

APITONG ST. RR 1,086.00

BAYABAS ST. RR 1,069.00

BONIFACIO ST RR 2,067.00 CR 7,205.00 X 6,705.00

BOSTON ST. DURIAN ST-NATL HIGHWAY RR 1,069.00 CR 4,078.00

TAPULANGGA ST-NATL HIGHWAY RR 1,069.00

BURGOS ST RR 2,067.00 CR 6,705.00

CAMANTIGUE ST. RR 2,090.00

CAMIA ST. RR 2,090.00

CONFESSOR ST RR 1,069.00 CR 4,078.00

DAHLIA ST. DURIAN ST-NATL HIGHWAY RR 1,086.00 CR 2,703.00

DEL PILAR ST RR 1,069.00 CR 4,109.00

DURIAN ST RR 1,047.00 I 6,005.00

FLORIDA ST. DURIAN ST-NATL HIGHWAY CR 3,032.00

TAPULANGGA ST-NATL HIGHWAY RR 1,454.00 RR 1,443.00

TAPULANGGA ST-NATL HIGHWAY RR 1,443.00 CR 3,032.00

GOMEZ ST RR 1,193.00 CR 4,078.00

ILANG-ILANG ST. RR 1,204.00 CR 2,624.00

JACINTO ST. RR 1,204.00 CR 4,078.00

JOSE P.RIZAL ST. DURIAN ST-NATL HIGHWAY

TAPULANGGA ST-NATL HIGHWAY

3,750.00

1,193.00

3,250.00

LANZONES ST. RR 1,193.00

LAPU-LAPU ST.

LEDESMA ST. DURIAN ST-NATL HIGHWAY

TAPULANGGA ST-NAT’L HIGHWAY

TAPULANGGA

1,204.00

3,272.00

1,193.00

4,032.00

1,193.00

1,193.00

2,624.00

1,193.00

2,624.00

1,069.00

MAGSAYSAY

PROVINCE

4,078.00

1,204.00

3,250.00

1,193.00

NATIONAL

AGUSTIN SUBD.

ASSO OF POLOMOLOK

BAGTINDON SUBD.

BARANGAY SITE

BAYAN SUBD.

DELAMBACA SUBD.

DESEO SUBD.

FIN SUBD.

LADARAN SUBD.

LANSANG SUBD.

LAPID SUBD.

LEYSON SUBD.

MATULUNGIN

OLANO SUBD.

PRK. PAG-ASA

PMCO VILLAGE III

PUBLIC MARKET

PUMAVAPI

SUMMERLIGHT SUBD

ALL OTHER

*Removed

PROVINCE

CITY/MUNICIPALITY

ALL LOTS

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : POLOMOLOK BARANGAY : PAGALUNGAN STREET

SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

CR 6,031.00

I 6,031.00

RR 1,878.00

RR 830.00

RR 830.00

RR 830.00

RR 830.00

RR 1,171.00

CR 2,670.00

RR 830.00

RR 850.00

CR 2,670.00

RR 1,121.00

CR 2,670.00

RR 830.00

RR 830.00

RR 830.00

CR 2,670.00

RR 850.00

RR 830.00

RR 850.00

RR 830.00

RR 830.00

CR 3,016.00

RR* *

RR 830.00

RR 830.00

RR 760.00

CR 2,050.00

A4 55.00 A16 55.00

A40 1,000.00 A50 45.00

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

825.00

RR 675.00

A4 49.00 A13 48.00 A16 48.00 A36 42.00 A40 700.00 A50 40.00

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

NATIONAL HIGHWAY I 2,750.00 CR 3,084.00 RR 1,250.00

ALL OTHER LOTS ALONG

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : POLOMOLOK BARANGAY : PALKAN STREET NAME SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

ROAD RR 900.00

RR 775.00 A1 64.00 A4 58.00 A13 55.00 A16 55.00 A35 54.00 A40 700.00 A50 45.00

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

ALL LOTS ALONG THE ROAD CR 2,537.00 I 2,043.00 RR 892.00 INTERIOR RR 718.00 A4 50.00 A13 49.00 A16 49.00 A36 42.00 A50 40.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : POLOMOLOK BARANGAY : POLO STREET NAME SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

PROVINCE

COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY

BARANGAY

BANDA

BARCELONA ST. PUROK STA. CECILIA RR 1,137.00

BEGONIA ST. PUROK LIBERTAD RR 1,125.00

BILLANES ST. PUROK LIBERTAD CR 3,607.00 RR 1,570.00

BONIFACIO ST. PUROK LAPU-LAPU VILLAGE RR 1,345.00

BURGOS ST. PUROK BAGONG SILANG RR 1,368.00

CANTERO ST. PUROK STA. CECILIA RR 1,125.00

CENTRAL SCHOOL CR 3,619.00 X 3,619.00

S. CELDA ST. PUROK SAN VICENTE CR 3,450.00

A. CLARIN ST. PUROK SAN VICENTE RR 1,125.00

CONFESSOR ST. PUROK LIBERTAD CR 3,467.00 RR 1,418.00

COSMOS ST. PUROK LAPU-LAPU VILLAGE RR 1,125.00

DEL PILAR ST. PUROK LAPU-LAPU VILLAGE RR 1,615.00

DELA CRUZ ST. RR 1,345.00 CR 3,467.00

FABIANA ST. CR 5,165.00 RR 1,903.00

FAELDONIA ST. CR 5,165.00

FAELDONIA SUBD. RR 1,939.00

A. FEREN STREET RR 1,939.00

FUTOLAN ST (FUTOLIAN ST.) CR 3,300.00 RR 1,345.00

GABRIELA ST. PUROK LAPU-LAPU VILLAGE RR 1,100.00

GEN.P.SANTOS AVENUE PUROK SAN VICENTE CR 3,686.00

HOLMINA ST. PUROK STA. CECILIA CR 3,300.00 RR 2,691.00

FRONDOZO ST. PUROK SAMPAGUITA RR 1,574.00

JUAN LUNA ST. PUROK LAPU-LAPU VILLAGE RR 1,574.00

LAPU-LAPU ST. RR 1,574.00

EBORDE SUBD RR 1,574.00

PAMPLONA SUBD.

CALANZA SUBD

CABANAL, ALICIA SUBD

QUEDA ST.

CUADERNAL, MARIA SUBD.

SUGANOG, ADELINA SUBD

LAUREL ST.

LIBERTAD ST.

MACAPAGAL

MAGALLANES

MAGELLAN

MAGSAYSAY

MARKET

PEDI-AN

LAPU-LAPU VILLAGE

LIBERTAD

1,574.00

1,574.00

1,574.00

1,574.00

1,574.00

1,574.00

3,350.00

1,175.00

3,300.00

1,369.00

: TANTANGAN BARANGAY : CABULING

STREET NAME / SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

A1

A2

A4

A16 71.00 A23 80.00

GP 22.00 A1 56.00 A2 45.00 A3 38.00 A4 38.00 A6 36.00 A7 28.00 A10 25.00 A12 37.00 A15 30.00 A16 38.00 A23 40.00 A34 38.00 A36 30.00 A37 37.00 A41 31.00 A44 34.00 A47 34.00 A49 30.00 A50 25.00

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

ALL LOTS ALONG THE ROAD RR 399.00

ALONG THE ROAD CR 496.00

ALONG THE ROAD 496.00

INTERIOR LOT RR 303.00 CR 389.00 390.00 GP 14.00 A1 56.00 A2 40.00 A3 38.00 A4 38.00 A5 30.00 A6 32.00 A7 25.00 A10 24.00 A12 27.00 A14 37.00 A15 23.00 A16 38.00 A23 40.00 A34 37.00 A37 38.00 A44 23.00 A47 26.00 A49 22.00 A50 20.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : TANTANGAN BARANGAY : MAGON STREET NAME

INTERIOR

439.00

RR 268.00 GP 24.00

A1 68.00 A2 58.00 A3 53.00 A4 47.00 A6 47.00 A7 26.00 A10 28.00 A11 29.00 A12 37.00 A14 38.00 A16 49.00 A23 49.00 A25 37.00 A34 38.00 A36 28.00 A37 30.00 A44 29.00 A47 30.00 A48 31.00 A49 28.00 A50 23.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO

: TANTANGAN BARANGAY

ALL LOTS

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

ALONG THE ROAD RR 403.00

ALONG THE ROAD CR 490.00

ALONG THE ROAD I 487.00

PROVINCE

STREET

ALONG

ALONG

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH

RR 557.00 CR 582.00 532.00 A16 80.00 A23 86.00

RR 303.00

CR 389.00

408.00

RR 243.00 GP 24.00 A1 61.00 A2 48.00 A3 38.00 A4 38.00 A7 26.00 A10 28.00 A12 32.00 A14 29.00 A15 28.00 A16 42.00 A23 43.00 A34 42.00 A36 28.00 A37 29.00 A44 29.00 A47 29.00 A49 28.00 A50 23.00

A2

38.00 A4 38.00 A5 30.00 A10 25.00 A12 27.00 A14 29.00 A16 38.00 A23 40.00 A25 32.00 A34 38.00 A36 25.00

A37 27.00

581.00

26.00

26.00

25.00

20.00

SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M NATIONAL HIGHWAY

RR 676.00 CR 753.00 CL 753.00 I 753.00

A1 96.00 A10 40.00 A14 58.00 A16 71.00 A23 80.00

A34 71.00

TACUB RR 363.00 CR 458.00 GP 24.00 A1 47.00 A50 20.00

ALL LOTS ALONG THE ROAD RR 365.00 ALONG THE ROAD CR 521.00 ALONG THE ROAD I 521.00 INTERIOR LOT RR 277.00 I 408.00 A1 48.00 A2 40.00 A3 33.00 A4 33.00 A5 30.00 A6 32.00 A7 25.00 A10 25.00 A12 30.00 A14 29.00 A15 25.00 A16 33.00 A23 40.00 A25 32.00 A34 33.00 A36 25.00 A44 26.00 A47 29.00 A49 25.00 A50 20.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : TANTANGAN BARANGAY : MANGILALA STREET NAME SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M NATIONAL HIGHWAY RR 657.00 CR 753.00 I 753.00 A1 103.00 A23 80.00 A34 69.00

ALL LOTS

RR 353.00

CR 439.00

I 440.00

RR 268.00 GP 24.00 A1 51.00 A2 40.00 A3 33.00 A4 33.00 A5 30.00 A6 32.00 A7 25.00 A10 25.00 A12 27.00 A14 38.00 A15 25.00 A16 33.00 A23 40.00 A34 32.00 A37 33.00 A44 26.00 A47 26.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : TANTANGAN BARANGAY SAN FELIPE

NATIONAL HIGHWAY

INTERIOR LOT RR 318.00 GP 24.00 A1 51.00 A2 40.00 A3 38.00 A4 38.00 A5 30.00 A6 32.00 A12 36.00 A14 37.00 A16 38.00 A21 47.00 A23 40.00 A37 30.00 A47 29.00 A48 28.00 A50 21.00

STREET NAME / SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM VICINITY

CATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

676.00

1,131.00

1,131.00

1,031.00

119.00

92.00 A16 92.00 A23 92.00

PUROK 2 HAPPY LIVING SUBDIVISION RR 527.00

VALEENLAND SUBDIVISION RR 363.00

ALL LOTS ALONG THE ROAD RR 363.00

ALONG THE ROAD CR 585.00

ALONG THE ROAD I 585.00 INTERIOR LOT RR 275.00 GP 24.00 A1 65.00 A2 54.00 A3 49.00 A4 49.00 A5 30.00 A6 32.00 A7 25.00 A10 28.00 A12 38.00 A16 49.00 A23 49.00 A37 30.00

25.00

32.00

26.00

28.00

25.00

20.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : TANTANGAN

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : T’BOLI BARANGAY : KEMATU

STREET NAME

SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

ALL LOTS

VICINITY

ALONG THE ROAD

INTERIOR LOTS

27.00

A50 14.00

CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

RR 250.00

RR 200.00

A4 30.00

A10 16.00

A13 30.00

A14 30.00 A16 30.00 A34 30.00 A36 18.00 A41 16.00 A44 16.00 A50 14.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : T’BOLI BARANGAY : LACONON STREET NAME SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

ALL LOTS

VICINITY

CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

CR 350.00 I 300.00

ALONG THE ROAD RR 248.00

INTERIOR LOTS

RR 204.00 GP 20.00 A1 45.00 A3 30.00 A10 16.00 A11 16.00

A13 30.00 A14 30.00 A16 30.00 A36 16.00 A41 16.00 A48 19.00 A49 16.00 A50 14.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO

ALL LOTS

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : T’BOLI BARANGAY : LAMBANGAN STREET NAME SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M ALL LOTS ALONG THE ROAD RR 236.00 INTERIOR LOTS RR 195.00 CR 300.00 I 250.00

GP 20.00 A1 40.00 A10 16.00 A14 24.00 A16 25.00 A36 16.00 A49 16.00 A50 14.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO

CITY/MUNICIPALITY : T’BOLI BARANGAY : SINOLON STREET NAME /

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : T’BOLI BARANGAY : LAMBULING STREET NAME SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ.

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : T’BOLI BARANGAY : LAMHAKU

4TH REV

300.00

225.00

193.00 I 275.00

20.00 A1 45.00 A4 30.00 A10 16.00 A13 30.00 A14 30.00 A16 30.00 A50 14.00

J

J.LUNA

J.

JOSE

L.BALAYON

PUROK

2,009.00

CR 3,313.00

PROVINCE

3,066.00

1,820.00

2,334.00

PROVINCE

ALL LOTS* ALONG THE ROAD

CATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M

2,544.00

2,544.00

676.00

451.00

25.00

55.00

49.00

50.00

45.00

1,000.00

24.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : TUPI BARANGAY : CROSSING RUBBER STREET NAME SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M NATIONAL HIGHWAY

CR 2,544.00 I 2,544.00

ALL OTHER LOTS ALONG THE ROAD RR 701.00

LOTS RR 451.00 I 1,995.00

A1 100.00 A4 52.00 A16 52.00 A40 800.00 A50 24.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : TUPI BARANGAY : KABLON STREET NAME SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

VICINITY CLASSIFICATION 4TH REV ZV/SQ. M NATIONAL HIGHWAY

CR 2,544.00 I 2,544.00

ALL OTHER LOTS ALONG THE ROAD RR 597.00 INTERIOR LOTS RR 451.00 GP 25.00 A1 55.00 A4 49.00 A13 60.00 A16 45.00 A40 800.00 A50 24.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : TUPI BARANGAY : KALKAM STREET

SUBDIVISION/CONDOMINIUM

ALL LOTS

REV

2,544.00

2,544.00

442.00

334.00

25.00

55.00

49.00

45.00

24.00

PROVINCE : SOUTH COTABATO CITY/MUNICIPALITY : TUPI BARANGAY : LINAN STREET

SOUTH COTABATO

NO ZONAL VALUE HAS BEEN PRESCRIBED FOR A PARTICULAR CLASSIFICATION OF REAL PROPERTY

THE APPROVED SCHEDULE OF ZONAL VALUES FOR A PARTICULAR BARANGAY -

ZONAL VALUE HAS BEEN PRESCRIBED FOR A PARTICULAR CLASSIFICATION IN A PARTICULAR STREET/ SUBDIVISION IN A BARANGAY, THE ZONAL VALUE PRESCRIBED FOR THE SAME CLASSIFICATION OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE OTHER STREET/SUBDIVISION WITHIN THE SAME BARANGAY OF SIMILAR CONDITIONS SHALL BE USED; AND

NO ZONAL VALUE HAS BEEN PRESCRIBED FOR A PARTICULAR CLASSIFICATION OF REAL PROPERTY IN ONE BARANGAY, THE ZONAL VALUE PRESCRIBED FOR THE SAME CLASSIFICATION OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN AN ADJACENT BARANGAY OF SIMILAR CONDITIONS SHALL BE USED.

2. PREDOMINANT USE OF PROPERTY.

a.) ALL REAL PROPERTIES, REGARDLESS OF ACTUAL USE, LOCATED IN A STREET/BARANGAY/ZONE, THE USE OF WHICH ARE PREDOMINANTLY COMMERCIAL SHALL BE CLASSIFIED AS “COMMERCIAL” FOR PURPOSES OF ZONAL VALUATION

b.) THE PREDOMINANT USE OF OTHER CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTIES LOCATED IN A STREET/BARANGAY/ZONE, REGARDLESS OF ACTUAL USE SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR PURPOSES OF ZONAL VALUATION.

ZONAL VALUES OF CONDOMINIUM UNIT/TOWNHOUSE:

THE TITLE OF A PARTICULAR CONDOMINIUM UNIT/TOWNHOUSE IS -

A CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE (CCT), THE ZONAL VALUE OF THE LAND AND THE IMPROVEMENTS SHALL BE TREATED AS ONE; OR

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE (TCT), THE LAND AND IMPROVEMENT SHALL BE GIVEN SEPARATE VALUES, i.e.